Released to coincide with the compilation album Barry White – The Collection, it reached number 63 on the UK singles chart in January 1988.

[2] In 1997, British singer, songwriter and actress Lisa Stansfield covered "Never, Never Gonna Give You Up" for her eponymous album.

The song was remixed by prominent US producers: Frankie Knuckles, Mark Picchiotti, Hani, Steven Nikolas and Brendon Sibley.

[15] Larry Flick from Billboard described it as "a sultry rendition" and added that the singer is "breathing enough stylistic variation into the lyrics (...) maintaining a reverence that will sit well with fans of the original recording."

He noted that Stansfield "is supported by a rumbling funk groove that is underlined by hip hop-savvy turntable scratches and iced with caressing disco strings.

[17] William Stevenson from Entertainment Weekly opined that Stansfield "sings with an irresistible urgency, seductively wrapping her silky voice around each phrase while building in intensity.