"Never" is a song by American rock band Heart, released on August 29, 1985, as the second single from the band's eponymous eighth studio album (1985).[2] It was written by Holly Knight, Gene Bloch (from the band Device) and "Connie" (a pseudonym for Ann Wilson, Nancy Wilson, and Sue Ennis).
| "Never" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Single by Heart | ||||
| from the album Heart | ||||
| B-side | "Shell Shock" | |||
| Released | August 29, 1985 | |||
| Genre | Hard rock | |||
| Length | 4:07 | |||
| Label | Capitol | |||
| Songwriter(s) |
| |||
| Producer(s) | Ron Nevison | |||
| Heart singles chronology | ||||
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| Music video | ||||
| "Never" on YouTube | ||||
"Never" is a rock song with an uplifting lyric to a person who has been discouraged by love. Like the preceding "What About Love", the music video for "Never" received heavy rotation on MTV.
"Never" peaked at number four on the Billboard Hot 100, marking the first time that Heart earned consecutive top ten entries, and the first time a Heart album generated two top ten singles. In the UK, it was a Top 10 hit in 1988 as part of a double A-side reissue with "These Dreams", intended to capitalise on the success of "Alone" the previous year. While "Never" was ostensibly the lead track, airplay focused almost exclusively on "These Dreams".
A reworking of the song appears on the Japanese version of Heart's live album The Road Home.[3] "Only in that version of 'Never'," observed Nancy Wilson, "did the song get the rootsy vibe that stands up to time."[4]
Reception
Cash Box said it is "a slow driving ballad" that has "a succinct arrangement and production."[5] Billboard called it "crisply buoyant power rock."[6]
Personnel
Heart
- Ann Wilson – vocals
- Nancy Wilson – lead guitar, background vocals
- Howard Leese – lead guitar, keyboards, background vocals
- Mark Andes – bass guitar
- Denny Carmassi – drums
Additional musicians
- Peter Wolf – synthesizers
- Lynn Wilson – background vocals
- Holly Knight – keyboards
Technical
- Scotty Olson – guitar technician
- Gary Chalk – drum technician
- Ron Nevison – production, engineering
- Mike Clink – engineering assistance
- Brian Foraker – second assistant engineer
- Mike Reese – mastering at The Mastering Lab (Hollywood California)
Charts
| Chart (1988) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Europe (Eurochart Hot 100 Singles)[13] | 34 |
| Ireland (IRMA)[14] | 10 |
| UK Singles (OCC)[15] | 8 |
Year-end charts
| Chart (1985) | Position |
|---|---|
| US Cash Box Top 100 Singles[16] | 71 |
| Chart (1986) | Position |
|---|---|
| US Billboard Hot 100[17] | 18 |