First released by Robert Knight (released February 1967).
Hit versions by The Association (released June 1967 US #2/MOR #1/CAN #1/NZ #6), The 5th Dimension (US #12/MOR #1/R&B #45/CAN #9 1972), Blue Swede (US #7/CAN #7 1974), The Addrisi Brothers (US #80 1977).
From the wiki: “”Never My Love” was a pop standard written by siblings Don and Dick Addrisi. Growing up, both Don and Dick played parts in their family’s acrobatic group, The Flying Addrisis. In the 1950s, they got in touch with Lenny Bruce about starting a singing career and moved to California. They auditioned for parts on the Mickey Mouse Club, but were rejected. Soon after, however, they signed to Del-Fi Records and recorded several singles which produced a modest chart hit for them in 1959, ‘Cherrystone’. The brothers enjoyed greater success as a songwriting duo.
“‘Never My Love’ was first released by Robert Knight (‘Everlasting Love’, 1967) in February 1967 on the album Everlasting Love but not released as a single. This was followed four months later by the arrangement recorded by The Association, the sunshine pop band from California, coming off back-to-back #1 hits (‘Cherish’ and ‘Windy’). But, the Associations’ ‘Never My Love’ was kept out of the number one spot by the Box Tops’ ‘The Letter’.
“The Top-15 cover by the 5th Dimension was produced by the same man behind the Association’s record, Bones Howe. Recorded live in 1971, their version reached #12 on the Billboard Hot 100 in November of that year. In 1974, the Swedish rock band Blue Swede covered ‘Never My Love’ with a more upbeat arrangement. Co-writers Don and Dick covered their own song with a 1977 recording that peaked at #80 on the Billboard Hot 100.
“Recorded by dozens of other notable artists since 1967, the music publishing rights organization Broadcast Music, Inc. (BMI) announced in 1999 that ‘Never My Love’ was the second most-played song on radio and television of the 20th century in the U.S.”
The Association, “Never My Love” (1967):
The 5th Dimension, “Never My Love” (1972):
Blue Swede, “Never My Love” (1974):
The Addrisi Brothers, “Never My Love” (1977):