Close but No Cigar (Thomas Dolby song)

"Close but No Cigar"
Single by Thomas Dolby
from the album Astronauts & Heretics
B-side	"Neon Sisters"
Released	27 April 1992
Length	4:26 (album version) 4:05 (single version)
Label	Virgin
Songwriter(s)	Thomas Dolby
Producer(s)	Thomas Dolby
Thomas Dolby singles chronology
"My Brain Is Like a Sieve" (1989) "Close but No Cigar" (1992) "I Love You Goodbye" (1992)
Audio
"Close but No Cigar" on YouTube

"Close but No Cigar" is a song by English singer and musician Thomas Dolby, released by Virgin Records on 27 April 1992 ^[1] as the lead single from his fourth studio album, Astronauts & Heretics (1992). The song, which was written and produced by Dolby, reached number 22 on the UK singles chart.

Background

"Close but No Cigar" is an autobiographical song that Dolby was inspired to write based on a past relationship. The young woman originally cast Dolby aside, but later admitted that she had made a mistake when they met later in life. ^[2]

The song features Eddie Van Halen on guitar. Dolby met Van Halen through their respective wives as both were actresses and knew one another. In a 2017 interview with Ultimate Classic Rock , Dolby recalled, "I'd hung out with Eddie a few times socially, and we'd sort of discussed it [working on Dolby's new album]. I definitely had him in mind for the guitar work on 'Close but No Cigar' and the solo on 'Eastern Bloc'." ^[3]

Music video

The song's accompanying music video was directed by Michel Gondry. ^[4]

Critical reception

Upon its release as a single, pan-European magazine Music & Media wrote, "Supported by a chopping guitar riff by Eddie Van Halen, 'Close but No Cigar' is a strange hybrid of radio-friendly tunes and idiosyncratic arrangements." They added that it was a "great return to form by a man who scored such illustrious hits as 'I Scare Myself' and 'Hyperactive'". ^[5]

Track listings

7–inch and cassette single (UK and Europe) ^{[6] [7]}

1. "Close But No Cigar" – 4:05
2. "Neon Sisters" – 4:52

CD limited edition single #1 (UK and Europe) ^[8]

1. "Close But No Cigar" – 4:05
2. "Beauty of a Dream" (Piano & Vocal) – 5:05
3. "Close But No Cigar" (version) – 4:21
4. "Neon Sisters" – 4:52

CD limited edition single #2 (UK and Europe) ^[9]

1. "Close But No Cigar" – 4:05
2. "Hyperactive" – 4:14
3. "She Blinded Me with Science" – 3:40
4. "I Scare Myself" – 5:37

Cassette and CD E.P. (Australasia) ^{[10] [11]}

1. "Close But No Cigar" – 4:05
2. "Hyperactive" – 4:14
3. "She Blinded Me with Science" – 3:40
4. "I Scare Myself" – 5:37

Personnel

"Close but No Cigar"

• Thomas Dolby – vocals, keyboards
• Eddie Van Halen – rhythm guitar
• Larry Treadwell – guitar
• Matthew Seligman – bass
• Jill Colucci – backing vocals
• Mike Kapitan – commentator

Production

• Thomas Dolby – production (all tracks)
• Tim Friese-Greene – production ("She Blinded Me with Science")

Other

• Larry Vigon – art direction, design
• Brian Jackson – design
• Vladimir Paperny – illustration

Charts

Chart (1992)	Peak position
Australia (ARIA) [12]	107
Eurochart Hot 100 Singles [13]	78
Germany (GfK) [14]	88
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ) [15]	14
UK Singles (OCC) [16]	22

References

1. "New Releases: Singles". Music Week . 25 April 1992. p. 21. ISSN   0265-1548.
2. "Whatever happened to Thomas Dolby?" . Yorkshire Evening Press . 10 June 1992. p. 5. Retrieved 27 August 2025– via Newspapers.com.
3. Wardlaw, Matt (3 January 2017). "Thomas Dolby on Working with David Bowie, Eddie Van Halen, Def Leppard and Foreigner: Exclusive Interview". Ultimate Classic Rock . Retrieved 27 August 2025.
4. Medsker, David (20 May 2009). "Pop Goes the World: Thomas Dolby, "Eastern Bloc"". Popdose. Retrieved 27 August 2025.
5. "New Releases: Singles". Music & Media . Vol. 9, no. 23. 6 June 1992. p. 12. OCLC   29800226.
6. Close but No Cigar (UK and European 7-inch single sleeve). Thomas Dolby. Virgin Records. 1992. VS 1410, 115 246.
7. Close but No Cigar (UK and European cassette single sleeve). Thomas Dolby. Virgin Records. 1992. VSC 1410, 412 846.
8. Close but No Cigar (UK and European CD limited edition single #1 sleeve). Thomas Dolby. Virgin Records. 1992. VSCDG 1410, 665 246.
9. Close but No Cigar (UK and European CD limited edition single #2 sleeve). Thomas Dolby. Virgin Records. 1992. VSCDT 1410, 665 328.
10. Close but No Cigar (Australasian cassette E.P. sleeve). Thomas Dolby. Virgin Records. 1992. VSC 1410.
11. Close but No Cigar (Australasian CD E.P. sleeve). Thomas Dolby. Virgin Records. 1992. VSCDT 1410.
12. "Week commencing 15 June 1992". 15 June 2024. Retrieved 27 August 2025.
13. "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles". Music & Media . Vol. 9, no. 23. 6 June 1992. p. 23. OCLC   29800226.
14. "Cockney Thomas DolbyRebel – Close But No Cigar" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved 27 August 2025.
15. "Thomas Dolby – Close But No Cigar". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved 27 August 2025.
16. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 27 August 2025.