"Never Let Me Go" is a blues ballad song by American R&B/blues singer Johnny Ace, written by Joseph Scott and released in 1954 under Duke Records. The song is featured on the albums My Songs and Memorial.[1] "Never Let Me Go" was one of his eighth consecutive top ten R&B hits in a row, including "My Song", "Cross My Heart," "Please Forgive Me," "The Clock," "Pledging My Love," "Saving My Love for You," and "Anymore". The song was R&B hit and peaked to No. 9 in October 1954 on BillboardsRhythm & Blues Records chart.[2]
R&B/soul singer-songwriter Luther Vandross recorded a cover of the song for his 1993 album of the same name; the saxophone solo on this version is performed by Kirk Whalum.
Critical reception
Larry Flick from Billboard wrote, "LV wraps those golden vocal cords around a more tried and true R&Bballad—the likes of which his legion of fans have come to love. He is aided by an arrangement that is chock full of stately piano lines, as well as a lush sax solo and a slow, swaying rhythm base."[4]