The 70's Game: Dr's Orders vs. Never Can Goodbye

[Rick Henry]

This round finds a running between Carol Douglas' "Doctor's Orders" and Gloria Gaynor's "Never Can Say Goodbye". Both songs were early disco hits released in late 1974.

Continue reading for more information on each song.

Carol Douglas - Doctor's Orders: Though she was already an experienced performer of ten years, it was “Doctor’s Orders” which claimed responsibility for the Brooklyn native attaining national recognition. That song - a remake of a popular British single by singer Sunny Leslie - began its climb to the top ten of R&B and pop charts in December 1974, and arguably gave large definition to an imminent category of music called “disco.” It wasn’t something planned that way, though, Carol remembers. “I really went on what my producers’ recommendation back then. I really just enjoyed singing, and I didn’t have much input on what I liked or disliked. In fact, ‘Doctor’s Orders’ wasn’t one of my favorites [of the songs I recorded in the 70’s] and still isn’t. But that’s the classic!”

Lo and behold, Carol was no stupid ingenue suddenly riding in on a magic carpet. She answered an ad in Showbiz magazine to audition for “Doctor’s Orders,” and got a five-year contract with Midland International Records “right off the bat” because of her thorough, well-groomed, and varied background in the industry. Her mother, Minnie Newsome, was a revered blues-and-jazz singer known throughout the New York club circuit; and her first cousin was Sam Cooke. Released in late 1974 Doctor's Orders, became a huge hit, reaching #2 on Billboard's Disco chart, #9 R&B and #11 on the Pop charts in January 1975. "Doctor's Orders" was written by Roger Cook, Roger Greenaway, and Geoff Stephens.

Gloria Gaynor - Never Can Say Goodbye: Written by future Amen TV star Clifton Davis. Gaynor was a singer with the Soul Satisfiers, a jazz/pop band, in the 1960s. Her first solo single was She'll Be Sorry/Let Me Go Baby (1965).

Her first real success finally came in 1975 with the release of her album Never Can Say Goodbye which established her as a disco artist. the song reached 31 on the disco charts and #9 on Billboard's pop chart in January 1975.

Which song will you vote for?

[ps11932]

I am voting for "Never Can Say Goodbye." It would have gotten my vote just on the basis of the song itself, but your recognizing Clifton Davis- always a favorite, cemented it. To me, NCSG is quite synonomous with that era of music, and captures pretty well the almost addictive spell that relationships (good or bad) can potentially have. I also remember this song occasionally being used as background music prior to commercial breaks during televised basketball games in the later 70's. Speaking of basketball it's almost tournament time. Go Panthers!

[YesterdayOnceMore]

Never can say Goodbye got my vote.

[Rick Henry]

"Never Can Say Goodbye" has also received my vote. All in all I feel the vocal performance on this particular song is much more powerful. gloria Gaynor chimed in with a powerful yet stylish performance here.

I remembered the song from a few years earlier when the Jackson Five made it a huge hit - I liked the song itself - but didn't care for Michael Jackson's high pitched (almost girl-like) sounding vocal - but when Gloria Gaynor recorded it I loved it immediately.

I also really enjoyed Carol Douglas' "Doctor's Orders" - this was a great R&B pop-disco song - but just not quite as powerful as "Never Can Say Goodbye".

[wisejester7]

Never Can Say Goodbye gets my vote this round.

[Rick Henry]

By unanimous vote "Never Can Say Goodbye" performed by Gloria Gaynor takes the crown and will join "Magic" by Pilot and "Rose Garden" by Lynn Anderson in the next semi-finals.

Though before the semi-finals we will have one more head to head round of the 70's Game to determine a fourth entry for the semi-finals.

This round is officially closed.