"Goodbye" | ||||
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Single by Mary Hopkin | ||||
B-side | "Sparrow" | |||
Released | 28 March 1969 [1] | |||
Recorded | 1 March 1969 | |||
Studio | Morgan, Willesden, London | |||
Genre | Folk | |||
Length | 2:23 | |||
Label | Apple | |||
Songwriter(s) | Lennon–McCartney | |||
Producer(s) | Paul McCartney | |||
Mary Hopkin singles chronology | ||||
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"Goodbye" is a song written by Paul McCartney (but credited to Lennon–McCartney) and performed by Mary Hopkin. It was released on 28 March 1969, and it reached No. 2 in the UK singles chart, prevented from reaching the top position by the Beatles' single " Get Back". [2] In the US, released 7 April 1969, the song reached No. 13 on the singles chart. In the Netherlands and Ireland the single peaked at No. 1. [3] [4]
The song was conceived as a follow-up to the success of Hopkin's first single, produced by McCartney, titled " Those Were the Days", which was highlighted on her debut album Postcard, one of the first records issued by the newly founded Apple Records. [5] In later years, McCartney had little recollection of creating the song, which was written in a great hurry to capitalise on Hopkin's popularity, but he did recall being told by a boat skipper from the Orkney Islands that it was the man's favourite song, which seemed appropriate to McCartney since, "if you think of it from a sailor's point of view, it's very much a leaving-the-port song." [6]
A year went by [after I first recorded for Apple] before [Paul McCartney] wrote "Goodbye." And that was after I'd said, "Look, how about another single?" But I understood. Obviously his priority was the Beatles, that's natural. ... It's a good song for its kind, but whether it was suited to me, I don't know. [7]
– Mary Hopkin, 1995
To assist Hopkin in learning the song, McCartney recorded a solo demo at his home, 7 Cavendish Avenue, London, in early February 1969. [8] The song was arranged by Richard Hewson, who had also orchestrated "Those Were the Days," [9] and produced, along with its flip side, "Sparrow", by Paul McCartney on 1 March 1969 at Morgan Studios in Willesden. [1] [10] To better match Hopkin's voice, the key was raised from C major to E major. [11] The recording was Apple's first official double-A-side, and the first Apple record to feature a full-fledged picture sleeve. [12]
For the recording, Hopkin sang and performed acoustic guitar, while McCartney played bass guitar, an acoustic guitar introduction and solo, along with lap-slapping percussion and drums. Backing vocals, horns and strings, in Hewson's arrangement, were overdubbed. [11] The session was filmed by Apple's Tony Bramwell for a promotional clip. In the footage, Hopkin can be seen miming to the song inside the studio, combined with shots of her and McCartney in the control room listening to a playback. [11]
The flip side "Sparrow" was written by Benny Gallagher and Graham Lyle, a songwriting duo signed to Apple Publishing. The recording took place on 2 March 1969; Hopkin sang and played guitar, McCartney added maracas, a session musician played upright bass, and Hewson arranged a choir part. [13]
Mary Hopkin met her future husband, record producer Tony Visconti, while making foreign-language versions of the song. [14]
The song was one of only two hits to be omitted from the compilation disc The Songs Lennon and McCartney Gave Away, issued originally in 1971 and re-released in 1979. [15]
On 28 April 2014, "Goodbye" was released digitally along with "Those Were the Days" on Mary Hopkin Music. [16]
Billboard praised Hopkin's "fine vocal work" and McCartney's "exceptional" production. [17] Cash Box described it as a "melodic lilter with a tap dance track and some powerful instrumental work." [18] Record World called it "a charming Lennon-McCartney tune...about a girl with a wanderlust." [19] Allmusic critic Richie Unterberger described "Goodbye" as a "pleasant and catchy romp, rather like a Continental European folk love ballad in tone, with a dash of music hall." [20]
For many years bootleg recordings existed of McCartney's original demo of the song, recorded for Mary Hopkin. [21] The international online magazine PopMatters published McCartney's demo along with critical commentary expressing a preference for the composer's version over Hopkin's rendition. [22]
The original demo by McCartney was officially released on the Super Deluxe Edition of Abbey Road in September 2019. [23]
Weekly singles charts
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Year-end charts
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