The Last Goodbye (Steve Harley & Cockney Rebel song)

Last updated

"The Last Goodbye"
Steve Harley and Cockney Rebel The Last Goodbye Single Cover 2006.jpeg
Single by Steve Harley & Cockney Rebel
from the album The Quality of Mercy
B-side "Understand (Live)"
Released6 February 2006
Genre Rock
Length3:54
Label Gott Discs
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s) Steve Harley
Steve Harley & Cockney Rebel singles chronology
"A Friend for Life"
(2001)
"The Last Goodbye"
(2006)
"Faith & Virtue"
(2010)

"The Last Goodbye" is a song by the English rock band Steve Harley & Cockney Rebel, released on 6 February 2006 as a single from their sixth and final studio album, The Quality of Mercy (2005). [1] The song was written by Harley and ex-Cockney Rebel guitarist Jim Cregan, and was produced by Harley. [2]

Contents

Background

As with the rest of the material on The Quality of Mercy, "The Last Goodbye" was recorded by Harley and his touring line-up of Cockney Rebel at Ipswich's Gemini Recording Studios in 2005. The album was released in October 2005 and was the first studio album to use the Steve Harley & Cockney Rebel name since 1976. [3] "The Last Goodbye" was released as a single from the album on 6 February 2006. It peaked at number 186 in the UK Singles Chart and number 21 in the UK Independent Singles Chart Top 50. [4] [5]

Release

"The Last Goodbye" was released by Gott Discs on 7-inch and CD formats in the UK only, with Pinnacle Records handling the single's distribution. [2] [6] The sleeve features a close-up photograph of Harley, which was taken by Mick Rock. The B-side "Understand" is a seven-minute live recording of the song originally recorded for Cockney Rebel's 1976 album Timeless Flight . The live version was recorded at Blackheath Halls in London during 2001 and was produced by Harley. [3] [7]

Promotion

"The Last Goodbye" was featured in the set-list during the band's 50+ date UK and European tour promoting The Quality of Mercy in 2005. In an online diary entry dated 14 November 2005, Harley spoke of performing the song at a concert in Holland, "Last night I sang 'The Last Goodbye' entirely alone, largo, slow and dignified to open the show, until Robbie entered for a solo." [8] The song was also played during the band's 2006 UK and European tour, and was the opening track for the band's May–July 2008 UK tour. Since 2008, however, the song was rarely featured in the band's set-lists.

Critical reception

In a review of The Quality of Mercy, Birmingham 101 Gig Guide commented, "Co-penned by ex-Rebel Jim Cregan, 'The Last Goodbye' shows Harley's ability to pen classic, radio friendly quality pop hasn't dimmed with the years." [9] Carol Clerk of Classic Rock described the "bright up-tempo" song as "very approachable musically", which "offset[s] the deep anxieties at the heart of the lyrics". [10] John Aizelwood of Q highlighted the song as one of three "Download" pick tracks from the album. [11] Stein Østbø of the Norwegian website VG noted "The Last Goodbye" as an example of how Harley "still writes beautiful, melodic songs in a safe pop-rock landscape". [12] Rune Westengen of the Norwegian website RB considered it a "more rocking, Costello-like track". [13]

Track listing

7-inch single [14]

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

CD single [15]

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

Personnel

The Last Goodbye

Understand (Live)

Production

Other

Charts

Chart (2006)Peak
position
UK Independent Singles Chart Top 50 (OCC) [5] 21
UK Singles Chart (OCC) [4] 186

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Steve Harley & Cockney Rebel</span> British glam rock band

Steve Harley & Cockney Rebel were an English rock band who formed in the early 1970s in London. Their music covered a range of styles from pop to progressive rock. Over the years, they have had five albums on the UK Albums Chart and twelve singles on the UK Singles Chart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Steve Harley</span> English singer and songwriter (1951–2024)

Stephen Malcolm Ronald Nice, known by his stage name Steve Harley, was an English singer-songwriter and frontman of the rock group Cockney Rebel. He had six UK hit singles with the band in the mid-1970s, including "Judy Teen", "Mr. Soft", and the number one "Make Me Smile ".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Make Me Smile (Come Up and See Me)</span> 1975 single by Steve Harley and Cockney Rebel

"Make Me Smile (Come Up and See Me)" is a song by the English rock band Steve Harley & Cockney Rebel, released on 31 January 1975 by EMI as the lead single from the band's third studio album The Best Years of Our Lives. The song was written by Harley, and produced by Harley and Alan Parsons. In February 1975, the song reached number one on the UK chart and received a gold certification from the British Phonographic Industry in October 2021. It spent nine weeks in the Top 50, and as of 2015, has sold over 1.5 million copies worldwide. The song is one of the most-played songs in British broadcasting history.

<i>The Best Years of Our Lives</i> (Steve Harley & Cockney Rebel album) 1975 studio album by Steve Harley & Cockney Rebel

The Best Years of Our Lives is the third studio album by Steve Harley & Cockney Rebel, released by EMI on 7 March 1975. It was the first album to feature Harley's name ahead of the band's. The album was produced by Harley and Alan Parsons, and contains the band's only UK number one, the million-selling "Make Me Smile ".

<i>Timeless Flight</i> 1976 studio album by Steve Harley & Cockney Rebel

Timeless Flight is the fourth studio album by Steve Harley & Cockney Rebel, which was released by EMI in 1976. It was written and produced by Steve Harley.

This is the discography of English singer-songwriter Steve Harley, including releases by Cockney Rebel and Steve Harley & Cockney Rebel.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">(I Believe) Love's a Prima Donna</span> 1976 single by Steve Harley & Cockney Rebel

"(I Believe) Love's a Prima Donna" is a song by the British rock band Steve Harley & Cockney Rebel, released on 1 October 1976 as the second single from their fifth studio album Love's a Prima Donna. The song was written and produced by Harley. It reached number 41 in the UK Singles Chart and would be the band's last charting single before their split in 1977.

<i>The Quality of Mercy</i> (album) 2005 studio album by Steve Harley & Cockney Rebel

The Quality of Mercy is the sixth and final studio album by English rock band Steve Harley & Cockney Rebel, which was released by Gott Discs on 3 October 2005. The album was Steve Harley's first studio album in 9 years and the first in 29 years to be released under the Cockney Rebel name. The album was produced entirely by Harley, with Jim Cregan co-producing the track "A Friend for Life". The album's title is based on the Shakespearean phrase.

<i>Stranger Comes to Town</i> 2010 studio album by Steve Harley

Stranger Comes to Town is the fifth solo studio album from English songwriter and musician Steve Harley, released by Absolute on 3 May 2010. The album was produced by Harley.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Irresistible (Steve Harley & Cockney Rebel song)</span>

"Irresistible" is a song written and recorded by British singer-songwriter Steve Harley. It was released three times as a single; the first being in 1985 as a non-album single under his band's name Steve Harley & Cockney Rebel. In 1986, a remixed version of the song was released by Harley as a solo single in the UK, and in 1992, he re-released this version as a single in Europe from his solo album Yes You Can. "Irresistible" was written by Harley and produced by English producer Mickie Most.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Black or White (Steve Harley & Cockney Rebel song)</span> 1975 single by Steve Harley & Cockney Rebel

"Black or White" is a song by British rock band Steve Harley & Cockney Rebel, released on 14 November 1975 as the lead single from their fourth studio album Timeless Flight (1976). The song was written and produced by Harley.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Someone's Coming</span> 1979 song by Steve Harley

"Someone's Coming" is a song by English singer-songwriter Steve Harley, released in 1979 as the second and final single from his 1978 debut solo studio album, Hobo with a Grin. The song was written by Harley and Jo Partridge, and was produced by Harley.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">White, White Dove</span> 1976 single by Steve Harley & Cockney Rebel

"White, White Dove" is a song by the British rock band Steve Harley & Cockney Rebel, which was released in 1976 as the second and final single from their fourth studio album Timeless Flight. The song was written and produced by Harley.

<i>The Cockney Rebel – A Steve Harley Anthology</i> 2006 compilation album by Steve Harley & Cockney Rebel/Steve Harley

The Cockney Rebel – A Steve Harley Anthology is a remastered three-disc box-set anthology by Steve Harley, released in 2006. The anthology features material from Cockney Rebel, Steve Harley & Cockney Rebel and Harley's solo career. It covers all of Harley's albums, spanning over 33 years, from 1973's The Human Menagerie to 2005's The Quality of Mercy. The anthology was released by EMI Music UK. It was released on CD in the UK only. Today, the physical CD release is out-of-print.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">(Love) Compared with You</span> 1977 single by Steve Harley & Cockney Rebel

"(Love) Compared with You" is a song by the British rock band Steve Harley & Cockney Rebel, released in 1977 as the third and final single from the band's fifth studio album, Love's a Prima Donna (1976). Released as a single in America only, the song was written and produced by Harley.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">A Friend for Life</span>

"A Friend for Life" is a song by British singer-songwriter Steve Harley, released by Intrinsic Records on 30 April 2001 as a non-album single. The song was written by Harley and former Cockney Rebel guitarist Jim Cregan, and was produced by Cregan. Harley's first release of new material since his 1996 album Poetic Justice, "A Friend for Life" was later included on Steve Harley & Cockney Rebel's sixth studio album The Quality of Mercy (2005).

<i>Acoustic and Pure: Live</i> 2003 live album by Steve Harley (with Jim Cregan and guests)

Acoustic and Pure: Live is a live acoustic album by English songwriter and musician Steve Harley, released in 2003. The album features ex-Cockney Rebel guitarist Jim Cregan, while certain tracks also include other members of Cockney Rebel.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hideaway (Cockney Rebel song)</span> 1974 single by Cockney Rebel

"Hideaway" is a song by the British rock band Cockney Rebel, fronted by Steve Harley. Released as the opening track on the band's 1973 debut album The Human Menagerie, "Hideaway" was released in 1974 as a single in Denmark only. It was written by Harley and produced by Neil Harrison.

<i>The Best of Steve Harley and Cockney Rebel</i> 1980 compilation album by Steve Harley & Cockney Rebel

The Best of Steve Harley and Cockney Rebel is a compilation album by Steve Harley & Cockney Rebel, which was released in 1980. It features material from the original line-up of Cockney Rebel, the Steve Harley & Cockney Rebel line-up, and two tracks from Harley's solo career.

<i>Beam of Light</i> (Patricia Paay album) 1975 studio album by Patricia Paay

Beam of Light is the second studio album from Dutch singer Patricia Paay, which was released by EMI in 1975.

References

  1. "New Releases: Singles". Music Week . 4 February 2006. p. 31. ISSN   0265-1548.
  2. 1 2 "Steve Harley And Cockney Rebel - The Last Goodbye / Understand (Live) - Gott Discs - UK - GOTTV741". 45cat. Retrieved 7 December 2012.
  3. 1 2 "The Last Goodbye - single sleeve". Images.45cat.com. Retrieved 29 June 2013.
  4. 1 2 "Chart Log UK: H & Claire- Hysterix". Zobbel.de. Retrieved 7 December 2012.
  5. 1 2 "Official Independent Singles Chart Top 50 | Official Charts Company". Officialcharts.com. Retrieved 22 March 2018.
  6. "Steve Harley & Cockney Rebel - The Last Goodbye (Vinyl) at Discogs". Discogs.com. 6 February 2006. Retrieved 7 December 2012.
  7. "Steve Harley & Cockney Rebel - Timeless Flight (Vinyl, LP, Album) at Discogs". Discogs.com. Retrieved 7 December 2012.
  8. "Official Steve Harley Website UK - Steve Harley's Online Diary Archive 2005". 15 December 2006. Archived from the original on 15 December 2006. Retrieved 22 March 2018.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  9. "Official Steve Harley Website UK - "Quality of Mercy" Album Review from Birmingham 101 Gig Guide". Steveharley.com. 22 March 2006. Retrieved 7 December 2012.
  10. "The Quality Of Mercy - Classic Rock Review". Harleyfanzone.com. Retrieved 22 March 2018.
  11. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 18 May 2014. Retrieved 2 July 2013.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  12. "Steve Harley & Cockney Rebel: "The Quality Of Mercy" - VG Nett". Vg.no. Retrieved 7 December 2012.
  13. "Steve Harley & Cockney Rebel: The Quality of Mercy" (in Norwegian Bokmål). Rb.no. 27 March 2006. Retrieved 7 December 2012.
  14. The Last Goodbye (UK 7-inch single sleeve). Steve Harley & Cockney Rebel. Gott Discs. 2006. GOTTV741.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  15. The Last Goodbye (UK CD single sleeve). Steve Harley & Cockney Rebel. Gott Discs. 2006. GOTTCD041.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)