The Last Goodbye (Steve Harley song)

"The Last Goodbye"
Single by Steve Harley & Cockney Rebel
from the album The Quality of Mercy
B-side "Understand (Live)"
Released 6 February 2006
Format 7", CD
Genre Pop, Rock
Length 3:54
Label Gott Discs
Pinnacle Records (distribution only)
Writer(s) Steve Harley, Jim Cregan
Producer(s) Steve Harley
Steve Harley & Cockney Rebel singles chronology
"A Friend for Life"
(2001)		 "The Last Goodbye"
(2006)

"The Last Goodbye" is a single by British rock band Steve Harley & Cockney Rebel, released as the only single from the band's 2005 album The Quality of Mercy.[1] However, the previous 2001 single "A Friend for Life" would also be included on the album. "The Last Goodbye" single was released in early 2006 and would be the band's last physical single to date, although the band and Harley continue to perform live and released the 2010 studio album Stranger Comes to Town in 2010.[2]

Background

"The Last Goodbye" was written by Harley and Cockney Rebel's ex-guitarist Jim Cregan, whilst the song, including the single's b-side, was produced solely by Harley.[3] The single peaked at #186 in the UK for a total of one single week in the Top 200 during mid-February 2006.[4]

The song, like the entire The Quality of Mercy album, was recorded at Gemini Recording Studios in Ipswich and was mastered by Denis Blackham at Skye Mastering.[5]

Release

The single was released on both 7" vinyl and CD in the UK only, released via Gott Discs, whilst Pinnacle Records handled distribution throughout the UK.[3][6] Both versions of the single featured the same b-side which was "Understand (Live)" - a seven-minute live recording of the album track from the band's 1976 album Timeless Flight.[7] The live track was recorded at Blackheath Concert Hall in London during 2001.[5]

Promotion

No music video was created for the single, and the main form of promotion was the band's live performances. In total, two unofficial privately recorded videos of the band performing the song live have surfaced on YouTube.[8] One features the band performing the song live in the Netherlands during 2005.[9]

Track listing

7" Single
  1. "The Last Goodbye" - 3:54
  2. "Understand (Live)" - 7:03
CD Single
  1. "The Last Goodbye" - 3:54
  2. "Understand (Live)" - 7:03

Critical reception

In a review of The Quality of Mercy album from Birmingham 101 Gig Guide, the song was mentioned, where the review stated "Harley's in fine voice, and this album is easily the best thing he's done in years. Co-penned by ex-Rebel Jim Cregan, opening track "The Last Goodbye" shows his ability to pen classic, radio friendly quality pop hasn't dimmed with the years, a fact ably reiterated by the chorus friendly tumbling folksy "Saturday Night at the Fair" and the 60s sounding "No Rain on This Parade"."[10]

Birmingham Mail reviewed the one of the band's concerts in mid-2008 at the Birmingham Town Hall, where they noted that the show opened with "the wonderful The Last Goodbye."[11]

The Norwegian site VG reviewed the album upon release and writer Stein Østbø stated "It has been ten years since the last album, and now he's back on the Norwegian label. Harley sounds much more traditional in 2006 than thirty years ago - that a lot of the classic Harley-character is cut away, is perhaps the disc's weak point - but he still writes beautiful, melodic songs in a safe pop-rock landscape, including the initial "The Last Goodbye" and "No Rain On This Parade", as well as the heavy and angry "The Last Feast"."[12]

Rune Westengen of the Norwegian site RB, reviewed the album upon its release, where the song was described as a "more rocking, Costello-like track."[13]

In the Q Magazine of November 2005, writer John Aizelwood reviewed the album and highlighted the song as one of three "Download" pick tracks.[14]

In November 2005, Carol Clerk of Classic Rock magazine reviewed the album, and stated "Baring his soul in public for the first time, Steve Harley has produced what might just be his best album to date. "The Quality of Mercy" is brimful of songs that are intensely personal and sometimes harrowing but, musically, very approachable. Here, Harley surveys his reality as a middle-aged father hoping his 25-year marriage will survive the empty-nest crisis. Still, the bright up-tempos of "The Last Goodbye" and the lovely, gentle melodies that carry "Journey's End (A Father's Promise)" and "A Friend for Life" offset the deep anxieties at the heart of the lyrics."[15]

Chart performance

Chart (2006) Peak
position
UK Singles Chart (The Official Charts Company)[4] 186

Personnel

The Last Goodbye

Understand (Live)

Other

References

  1. ↑ "Steve Harley - The Quality Of Mercy (CD) at Discogs". Discogs.com. Retrieved 2012-12-09.
  2. ↑ "Steve Harley - Stranger Comes To Town (File, MP3) at Discogs". Discogs.com. Retrieved 2012-12-09.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 "Steve Harley And Cockney Rebel - The Last Goodbye / Understand (Live) - Gott Discs - UK - GOTTV741". 45cat. Retrieved 2012-12-07.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 "Chart Log UK: H & Claire- Hysterix". Zobbel.de. Retrieved 2012-12-07.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 "The Last Goodbye - single sleeve". Images.45cat.com. Retrieved 2013-06-29.
  6. ↑ "Steve Harley & Cockney Rebel - The Last Goodbye (Vinyl) at Discogs". Discogs.com. 2006-02-06. Retrieved 2012-12-07.
  7. ↑ "Steve Harley & Cockney Rebel - Timeless Flight (Vinyl, LP, Album) at Discogs". Discogs.com. Retrieved 2012-12-07.
  8. ↑ "Steve Harley- Last Goodbye". YouTube. 1976-08-05. Retrieved 2012-12-07.
  9. ↑ "Steve Harley - The last goodbye". YouTube. Retrieved 2012-12-07.
  10. ↑ "Official Steve Harley Website UK - "Quality of Mercy" Album Review from Birmingham 101 Gig Guide". Steveharley.com. 2006-03-22. Retrieved 2012-12-07.
  11. ↑ "Steve Harley and Cockney Rebel, Town Hall, Birmingham". Birmingham Mail. 2008-06-11. Retrieved 2012-12-07.
  12. ↑ "Steve Harley & Cockney Rebel: "The Quality Of Mercy" - VG Nett". Vg.no. Retrieved 2012-12-07.
  13. ↑ "Steve Harley & Cockney Rebel: The Quality of Mercy" (in Norwegian Bokmål). Rb.no. Retrieved 2012-12-07.
  14. ↑ http://www.harleyfanzone.com/70/Scrapbook/Reviews/Quality_Of_Mercy/Q.htm
  15. ↑ http://www.harleyfanzone.com/70/Scrapbook/Reviews/Quality_Of_Mercy/Classic_rock_article.htm