<Table> <Tr> <Td> "Mama's Pearl" (1970) </Td> <Td> "Never Can Say Goodbye" (1971) </Td> <Td> "Maybe Tomorrow" (1971) </Td> </Tr> </Table> <Tr> <Td> "Mama's Pearl" (1970) </Td> <Td> "Never Can Say Goodbye" (1971) </Td> <Td> "Maybe Tomorrow" (1971) </Td> </Tr> <P> "Never Can Say Goodbye" is a song written by Clifton Davis and originally recorded by The Jackson 5 . The song was originally written and intended for the Supremes; however Motown decided it would be better for the Jackson 5 . Released as a single in 1971, it was one of the group's most successful records . It has been covered numerous times, most notably in 1974 by disco diva Gloria Gaynor and in 1987 by British pop group The Communards . </P> <P> 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 #2 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 #1 hit on the Billboard Black Singles chart in the United States . In the United Kingdom, it reached #33 on the UK Singles Chart . </P>

Who wrote never can say goodbye by the jackson 5