The Last Goodbye (Steve Harley & Cockney Rebel song)

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"The Last Goodbye"
Single by Steve Harley & Cockney Rebel
from the album The Quality of Mercy
B-side"Understand (Live)"
Released6 February 2006
GenreRock
Length3:54
LabelGott 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 British rock band Steve Harley & Cockney Rebel, which was released in 2006 as a single from their 2005 studio album The Quality of Mercy.[1] The song was written by Harley and ex-Cockney Rebel guitarist Jim Cregan, and produced by Harley.[2]

Background[edit]

In 2005, Harley recorded a new studio album, The Quality of Mercy, with his current touring line-up of Cockney Rebel. The album, including "The Last Goodbye", was recorded at Gemini Recording Studios in Ipswich, and was mastered by Denis Blackham at Skye Mastering.[3] The Quality of Mercy, which was released in October 2005 by Gott Discs, was the first studio album to be released under the band's name since 1976. As Harley's first single since 2001's "A Friend for Life", the album's opening track "The Last Goodbye" was released as a single in February 2006. "The Last Goodbye" peaked at number 186 in the UK Singles Chart and number 21 in the UK Independent Singles Chart Top 50.[4][5]

Release[edit]

"The Last Goodbye" was released by Gott Discs as a 7-inch CD single in the UK only, with Pinnacle Records handling the single's distribution.[2][6] The single's 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. This live version was recorded at Blackheath Concert Hall in London during 2001 and was produced by Harley.[3][7]

Promotion[edit]

"The Last Goodbye" was featured in the set-list during the band's 50+ date UK and European tour promoting The Quality of Mercy. Footage of the band performing the song live has since surfaced on YouTube.[8][9] 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."[10] After 2005, the song would be played during the band's 2006 UK and Europe tour, and used as the opening track for the band's May–July 2008 UK tour. Since 2008, however, the song has been very rarely featured in Harley and the band's set-lists.

Critical reception[edit]

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."[11] Carol Clerk of Classic Rock wrote, "The Quality of Mercy is brimful of songs that are intensely personal and sometimes harrowing but, musically, very approachable. The bright up-tempos of 'The Last Goodbye' and the lovely, gentle melodies that carry 'Journey's End' and 'A Friend for Life' offset the deep anxieties at the heart of the lyrics."[12] John Aizelwood of Q highlighted the song as one of three "Download" pick tracks from the album.[13]

Stein Østbø of the Norwegian website VG commented that Harley "still writes beautiful, melodic songs in a safe pop-rock landscape, including the initial 'The Last Goodbye'".[14] Rune Westengen of the Norwegian website RB described the song as a "more rocking, Costello-like track".[15] In a review of the band's 2008 concert at the Birmingham Town Hall, Birmingham Mail noted that the show opened with the "wonderful" "The Last Goodbye".[16]

Track listing[edit]

7-inch 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

Personnel[edit]

The Last Goodbye

Understand (Live)

  • Steve Harley – vocals
  • Robbie Gladwell – electric guitar, backing vocals
  • Barry Wickens – acoustic guitar, backing vocals
  • James Lascelles – piano
  • Lincoln Anderson – bass
  • Adam Houghton – drums
  • Vikki Beebee – percussion, backing vocals

Production

  • Steve Harley – producer
  • Pat Grueber – recording engineer on "The Last Goodbye"
  • Matt Butler – remix engineer on "The Last Goodbye"
  • Denis Blackham – mastering on "The Last Goodbye"

Other

  • Asgard – representation
  • Mick Rock – cover photo
  • Mark Scarfe at Aarlsen – original sleeve design
  • CLE Print – reprographics

Charts[edit]

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

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Steve Harley - The Quality Of Mercy (CD) at Discogs". Discogs.com. Retrieved 9 December 2012.
  2. ^ a b "Steve Harley And Cockney Rebel - The Last Goodbye / Understand (Live) - Gott Discs - UK - GOTTV741". 45cat. Retrieved 7 December 2012.
  3. ^ a b "The Last Goodbye - single sleeve". Images.45cat.com. Retrieved 29 June 2013.
  4. ^ a b "Chart Log UK: H & Claire- Hysterix". Zobbel.de. Retrieved 7 December 2012.
  5. ^ a b "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. ^ "Steve Harley- Last Goodbye". YouTube. 5 August 1976. Retrieved 7 December 2012.
  9. ^ "Steve Harley - The last goodbye". YouTube. Retrieved 7 December 2012.
  10. ^ "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)
  11. ^ "Official Steve Harley Website UK - "Quality of Mercy" Album Review from Birmingham 101 Gig Guide". Steveharley.com. 22 March 2006. Retrieved 7 December 2012.
  12. ^ "The Quality Of Mercy - Classic Rock Review". Harleyfanzone.com. Retrieved 22 March 2018.
  13. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 18 May 2014. Retrieved 2 July 2013.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  14. ^ "Steve Harley & Cockney Rebel: "The Quality Of Mercy" - VG Nett". Vg.no. Retrieved 7 December 2012.
  15. ^ "Steve Harley & Cockney Rebel: The Quality of Mercy" (in Norwegian Bokmål). Rb.no. 27 March 2006. Retrieved 7 December 2012.
  16. ^ "Steve Harley and Cockney Rebel, Town Hall, Birmingham". Birmingham Mail. 11 June 2008. Retrieved 7 December 2012.
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