the recording features 12-year-old michael jackson singing a serious song about a love, with accompaniment from his brothers. although such a record was unusual for a teenage group, "never can say goodbye" was a number-two hit for three consecutive weeks on the "billboard" pop singles chart, stuck behind three dog night's "joy to the world" (may 8 – may 22, 1971), and a number-one hit on the "billboard" black singles chart in the united states. in the united kingdom, it reached number 33 on the uk singles chart.