Customer Reviews

Never Let Her Go

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

So nice to finally have some of the missing pieces in the David Gates story available on CD. After the slightly-saccharine title tune "Never Let Her Go" are some excellent songs, including hard-rockers like "Angel," "Watch Out" and "Chain Me." Even on the harder-edged songs, melodicism abounds, as it always does with Gates, but for those who like his more well-known softer side, there are excellent tracks like "Playin' On My Guitar," "Someday," and others. "Strangers" is a haunting tune, but my personal favorite is the upbeat "Greener Days." While best known for his ballads, Gates displays a wide range of styles on this short, but very rewarding album.

David Gates' 'First' album was such a tour de force that the second one was never going to match it, but he had a pretty good stab at it. Sadly there's no epic on here like 'Clouds Suite' but there's plenty of variety and a whole bunch of memorable songs done very nicely.
The title track and the exquisite 'Part Time Love' also appeared on his 'Goodbye Girl' album, though they appeared here first.
'Angel', 'Watch Out' and 'Chain Me' are the album's three 'rockers' though we're not talking Iron Maiden here, just David Gates with bit of attitude. For me they're okay but I can't take them totally seriously.
Much better are songs like 'Playin' on My Guitar' which probably should have been a hit single. It's one of my favourite Gates songs of all time and has a really haunting melody.
'Light of My Life' is an okay song with a typically well fleshed out and distinctive guitar solo (a feature of many of Gates' songs), while 'Someday' is the album's soppiest ballad (nice tune though), 'Greener Days' and interesting uptempo tune with a catchy hook and the final track, 'Strangers' an odd and slightly melodramatic tale about people not connecting with each other.
Though there's not exactly a bad song, there are a few that don't try too hard among the gems like 'Part Time Love and 'Playin' on my Guitar'. It's also a very short album - one of the shortest I own I reckon. He wouldn't have got away with it in today's world of sixty minute CDs and bonus tracks!
Even so, I still highly recommend this album to fans of David Gates and applaud the record label for finally, after 33 years, releasing it on CD.

I own all of David Gates' solo albums, and of all of them, "Never Let Her Go" is the best one. Sure it sounds a lot like Bread, as three-forths of the group are laying down the tracks. David's vocals are as perfect, with Larry Knechtel's keyboard work as flawless as ever, and Mike Botts drumming really defining "in the pocket". The songs are all very different, and always stay with you. David is one of the greatest creators of romantic pop music of all time. Buy this one.

A few years back I was fortunate to find a 1999 Canadian release of this cd. I had been hunting for it & finally found it. So a cd of this was actually released after about 24 years of its original release. I had purchased the vinyl lp back in the 70's....played the heck out of it until it got too "crackly". Then I purchased it a second time a few years later; and was happy to finally find the cd.
I remember when I first heard the title cut on the radio, it was good to hear that David Gates had kept going, even after the breakup of Bread. I've always considered David to be "the master composer of love songs". Every song on this album is very listenable. I'm particularly partial to the title cut "Never let Her Go". In my opinion his best composition as a solo artist (just my opinion). The inner lyrics sleeve in the original album shows this was composed in 1965. Why didn't he release it then?...Hmmmm!
If you're a Bread fan, don't think twice. Just get this album. You won't be disappointed! Enjoy!

I was 5 when this came out and my parents bought it so I guess I have a sentimental connection with it and it's been one of my all time fave albums ever since. Just brilliant songwriting. Playing On My Guitar is just perfect and I'm amazed it hasn't been covered to become a hit for someone else. Hell I'm tempted to cover it myself. Every track is great in my opinion. Just buy it!

Of all of his solo recordings this one is by far my favorite. There are several tracks that are great to sing to. Whether you like fast or slow there is something for everyone. The most fun track is one called "Chain Me" Just a really enjoyable album. I'm now happy because I recovered all of the solo albums of his that I thought I had lost forever.

Available after 30-plus years being out-of-print. Title cut, especially, sounds just like his old group, Bread - not a bad thing! Efficient service by seller.