Never Let Her Slip Away

"Never Let Her Slip Away" is a song written by Andrew Gold, who recorded it for his third album, All This and Heaven Too. The single reached #5 on the UK Singles Chart, and #67 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1978.[1] Queen frontman Freddie Mercury contributed harmony vocals to the song, as an uncredited background singer.[2] A 1992 cover version by dance outfit Undercover was also an international hit.

"Never Let Her Slip Away"
U.S./UK vinyl single
Single by Andrew Gold
from the album All This and Heaven Too
B-side"Genevieve"
ReleasedJune 1978
GenreSoft rock, jazz rock
Length3:23
LabelAsylum Records
Songwriter(s)Andrew Gold
Producer(s)Andrew Gold
Brock Walsh
Andrew Gold singles chronology
"Thank You for Being a Friend"
(1978)		 "Never Let Her Slip Away"
(1978)		 "Kiss This One Goodbye"
(1979)

Background

As revealed in his liner notes for All This and Heaven Too, Gold wrote "Never Let Her Slip Away" about meeting actress and Saturday Night Live alumna Laraine Newman who was his girlfriend when he composed the song.[3] Besides Freddie Mercury's, other background vocals were provided by J. D. Souther and Timothy B. Schmit, and the saxophone was played by Ernie Watts.[4][5]

In 1995, comedians Vic Reeves and Bob Mortimer performed a cover of the song on their show The Smell of Reeves and Mortimer. "Never Let Her Slip Away" was also featured on the soundtrack of the film Alan Partridge: Alpha Papa (2013), as a personal favourite of the principal character.[6]

In conversation on the podcast WTF with Marc Maron, Dave Grohl, singer, songwriter and guitarist of the renowned rock band Foo Fighters, called "Never Let Her Slip Away" "the most beautiful piece of music ever written," and "maybe one of the most melodically sophisticated songs I’ve ever heard in my entire life," and noted his plans to record a cover version of the song.[7]

Chart performance

Undercover version
"Never Let Her Slip Away"
Single by Undercover
from the album Check Out the Groove
Released2 November 1992 (1992-11-02)
GenreDance
Length3:28
LabelPWL
Songwriter(s)Andrew Gold
Producer(s)Steve Mac
Undercover singles chronology
"Baker Street"
(1992)		 "Never Let Her Slip Away"
(1992)		 "I Wanna Stay with You"
(1993)

British dance group Undercover covered the song on their album, Check Out the Groove (1992). This version also reached number 5 in the United Kingdom, as Gold's original did. It additionally reached number 2 in Ireland, number 3 in Belgium, number 4 in Finland and number 7 in the Netherlands. On the Eurochart Hot 100, the track peaked at number 11 in December 1992.

Critical reception

Music & Media wrote about the song: "Once again Undercover has hit a goldmine with a cover of a '70s singer/songwriter's work. This time it's the Andrew Gold 1978 classic. The crucial difference is that this is more beaty."[15]

Track listing

CD single

  1. "Never Let Her Slip Away" (Essential Edit) – 3:28
  2. "Never Let Her Slip Away" (Essential Mix) – 4:59
  3. "Sha Do" (Extended Mix) – 5:41

Charts

Weekly charts
Chart (1992–1993) Peak
position
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[16] 23
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[17] 3
Denmark (IFPI)[18] 8
Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[19] 11
Finland (Suomen virallinen lista)[20] 4
Germany (Official German Charts)[21] 16
Ireland (IRMA)[22] 2
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[23] 7
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[24] 8
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[25] 23
UK Singles (Official Charts Company)[26] 5

Year-end charts
Chart (1992) Position
UK Singles (Official Charts Company)[27] 49
Chart (1993) Position
Belgium (Ultratop)[28] 54
Germany (Official German Charts)[29] 85
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[30] 125

References
  1. Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 230. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
  2. Freddie Mercury provided uncredited backing vocals per these sources:
  3. "Liner Notes for All This and Heaven Too" (PDF). Andrewgold.com. Retrieved 2016-10-13.
  4. Owston, Jim (2011-06-11). "Reading between the Grooves: Andrew Gold R.I.P". Zeegrooves.blogspot.co.uk. Retrieved 2016-10-13.
  5. "La Bible de la Westcoast Music - Cool Night -: Andrew Gold "Thank You For Being A Friend: The Best Of Andrew Gold" (1997)". Labibledelawestcoast.blogspot.co.uk. Retrieved 2016-10-13.
  6. Sherwin, Adam (23 July 2013). "A-ha! Alan Partridge movie Alpha Papa gives airtime to forgotten pop classics". The Independent. Retrieved 28 August 2013.
  7. "Episode 353: Dave Grohl". January 17, 2013. Retrieved June 22, 2019.
  8. "Image : RPM Weekly - Library and Archives Canada". Bac-lac.gc.ca. Retrieved 2016-10-13.
  9. "Image : RPM Weekly - Library and Archives Canada". Bac-lac.gc.ca. Retrieved 2016-10-13.
  10. "Ultratop.be – Andrew Gold – Never Let Her Slip Away" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50.
  11. "Nederlandse Top 40 – Andrew Gold" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40.
  12. Whitburn, Joel (2002). Top Adult Contemporary: 1961-2001. Record Research. p. 104.
  13. Scaping, Peter, ed. (1979). "Top 200 Singles in 1978". BPI Year Book 1979 (4th ed.). London, England: The British Phonographic Industry Ltd. pp. 186–89. ISBN 0-906154-02-2.
  14. "1978 Year End". Bullfrogspond.com. Retrieved 2016-10-13.
  15. "New Releases: Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. December 5, 1992. Retrieved January 28, 2020.
  16. "Austriancharts.at – Undercover – Never Let Her Slip Away" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40.
  17. "Ultratop.be – Undercover – Never Let Her Slip Away" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50.
  18. "Top 10 Denmark" (PDF). Music & Media. Retrieved January 28, 2020.
  19. "Music & Media: Eurochart Hot 100" (PDF). Music & Media. Retrieved January 28, 2020.
  20. Pennanen, Timo (2006). Sisältää hitin - levyt ja esittäjät Suomen musiikkilistoilla vuodesta 1972 (in Finnish) (1st ed.). Helsinki: Tammi. ISBN 978-951-1-21053-5.
  21. "Offiziellecharts.de – Undercover – Never Let Her Slip Away". GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved September 24, 2019.
  22. "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Never Let Her Slip Away". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved September 24, 2019.
  23. "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 2, 1993" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40 Retrieved September 24, 2019.
  24. "Dutchcharts.nl – Undercover – Never Let Her Slip Away" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved September 24, 2019.
  25. "Swedishcharts.com – Undercover – Never Let Her Slip Away". Singles Top 100.
  26. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved September 24, 2019.
  27. "Year End Charts: Top Singles". Music Week. January 16, 1993. p. 8.
  28. "Jaaroverzichten 1993" (in Dutch). Ultratop. Retrieved September 24, 2019.
  29. "Top 100 Singles–Jahrescharts 1993" (in German). GfK Entertainment. Retrieved September 24, 2019.
  30. "Jaarlijsten 1993" (in Dutch). Stichting Nederlandse Top 40. Retrieved December 1, 2019.
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