Goodbye to Love
Encyclopedia
"Goodbye to Love" is a song composed by Richard Carpenter
and John Bettis
. It was released by the Carpenters
in 1972. On the "Close to You: Remembering the Carpenters" documentary, Tony Peluso
stated that this was one of the first, if not the first, love ballad
s to have a fuzz guitar solo.
Upon reviewing an old Bing Crosby
1940 film called Rhythm on the River
, Carpenter noticed that they kept referring to the struggling songwriter's greatest composition, "Goodbye to Love". He says `You never hear it in the movie, they just keep referring to it,' and he immediately envisioned the tune, and lyrics starting with:
While the Carpenters were working on the song, Carpenter decided that a fuzz guitar solo should be included. Karen Carpenter
called renowned electric guitarist Tony Peluso
and asked him to play on the record. Tony remembers: "At first I didn't believe that it was actually Karen Carpenter on the phone but she repeated her name again. ... It was at this point that I realized it was really her and that I was speaking to one of my idols." She told him that she and Richard were working on a song called "Goodbye To Love" and they were both familiar with his work with another band, and that he'd be perfect for the sound they were looking for. Peluso first played something soft and sweet, but then Richard Carpenter said "No, no, no! Play the melody for five bars and then burn it up! Soar off into the stratosphere! Go ahead! It'll be great!"
Carpenter first sketched out the melody while visiting London
in late 1971 with Bettis adding the lyrics in early 1972. The finished product was released on June 19, 1972, and reached #7 on the Billboard Hot 100
. It was the first song written by the songwriting team of Carpenter/Bettis to reach the US Top Ten. However, the Carpenters did receive hate mail
(claiming that the Carpenters had sold out and gone hard-rock) because of Richard's idea for a fuzz guitar solo in a love ballad, and some Adult Contemporary (AC) oriented radio stations refused to play the song because of this solo (which may have kept it from reaching #1 on the AC chart, becoming the first Carpenters A-side since "Ticket to Ride" not to be a #1 AC hit). However, many Carpenters fans today still admire the song for its uniqueness.
"Goodbye to Love", with its fuzz guitar solo in the middle, has been described as the prototypical power ballad.
The song currently receives frequent airplay on the Music of Your Life
network.
sitcom Red Dwarf
, in the Series Two episode titled Queeg. It is sung by the character Holly
(played by Norman Lovett
), in a scene where Holly, the ship's computer
, is being turned off in favor of a superior model.
Richard Carpenter (musician)
Richard Lynn Carpenter is an American pop musician, best known as one half of the brother/sister duo The Carpenters, along with his sister Karen Carpenter. He was a producer, arranger, pianist and keyboardist, and occasional lyricist, as well as joining with Karen on harmony...
and John Bettis
John Bettis
John Bettis is an American lyricist who has co-written many famous popular songs over the years. In 2011, John was inducted into both the Songwriters Hall of Fame as well as the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame....
. It was released by the Carpenters
The Carpenters
Carpenters were an American vocal and instrumental duo, consisting of sister Karen and brother Richard Carpenter. The Carpenters were the #1 selling American music act of the 1970s. Though often referred to by the public as "The Carpenters", the duo's official name on authorized recordings and...
in 1972. On the "Close to You: Remembering the Carpenters" documentary, Tony Peluso
Tony Peluso
Tony Peluso was an American guitarist and record producer. He was lead guitarist for pop duo Carpenters from 1972 to 1983....
stated that this was one of the first, if not the first, love ballad
Ballad
A ballad is a form of verse, often a narrative set to music. Ballads were particularly characteristic of British and Irish popular poetry and song from the later medieval period until the 19th century and used extensively across Europe and later the Americas, Australia and North Africa. Many...
s to have a fuzz guitar solo.
Upon reviewing an old Bing Crosby
Bing Crosby
Harry Lillis "Bing" Crosby was an American singer and actor. Crosby's trademark bass-baritone voice made him one of the best-selling recording artists of the 20th century, with over half a billion records in circulation....
1940 film called Rhythm on the River
Rhythm on the River
Rhythm on the River is a 1940 musical comedy film starring Bing Crosby and Mary Martin as ghostwriters whose songs are credited to a composer played by Basil Rathbone. James V...
, Carpenter noticed that they kept referring to the struggling songwriter's greatest composition, "Goodbye to Love". He says `You never hear it in the movie, they just keep referring to it,' and he immediately envisioned the tune, and lyrics starting with:
- I'll say goodbye to love
- No one ever cared if I should live or die.
- Time and time again the chance for
- Love has passed me by...
While the Carpenters were working on the song, Carpenter decided that a fuzz guitar solo should be included. Karen Carpenter
Karen Carpenter
Karen Anne Carpenter was an American singer and drummer. She and her brother, Richard, formed the 1970s duo The Carpenters. She was a drummer of exceptional skill, but she is best remembered for her vocal performances of idealistic romantic ballads of true love...
called renowned electric guitarist Tony Peluso
Tony Peluso
Tony Peluso was an American guitarist and record producer. He was lead guitarist for pop duo Carpenters from 1972 to 1983....
and asked him to play on the record. Tony remembers: "At first I didn't believe that it was actually Karen Carpenter on the phone but she repeated her name again. ... It was at this point that I realized it was really her and that I was speaking to one of my idols." She told him that she and Richard were working on a song called "Goodbye To Love" and they were both familiar with his work with another band, and that he'd be perfect for the sound they were looking for. Peluso first played something soft and sweet, but then Richard Carpenter said "No, no, no! Play the melody for five bars and then burn it up! Soar off into the stratosphere! Go ahead! It'll be great!"
Carpenter first sketched out the melody while visiting London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
in late 1971 with Bettis adding the lyrics in early 1972. The finished product was released on June 19, 1972, and reached #7 on the Billboard Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
. It was the first song written by the songwriting team of Carpenter/Bettis to reach the US Top Ten. However, the Carpenters did receive hate mail
Hate mail
Hate mail is a form of harassment, usually consisting of invective and potentially intimidating or threatening comments towards the recipient...
(claiming that the Carpenters had sold out and gone hard-rock) because of Richard's idea for a fuzz guitar solo in a love ballad, and some Adult Contemporary (AC) oriented radio stations refused to play the song because of this solo (which may have kept it from reaching #1 on the AC chart, becoming the first Carpenters A-side since "Ticket to Ride" not to be a #1 AC hit). However, many Carpenters fans today still admire the song for its uniqueness.
"Goodbye to Love", with its fuzz guitar solo in the middle, has been described as the prototypical power ballad.
The song currently receives frequent airplay on the Music of Your Life
Music of Your Life
Music of Your Life is a satellite-delivered radio network featuring the Adult Standards music format. Created by record executive and jingle writer Al Ham, and now under the direction of Marc Angell, Music of Your Life has more than 50 AM, FM and HD-2 radio station affiliates, and has been in...
network.
| Chart | Peak position |
|---|---|
| U.S. Billboard Hot 100 Billboard Hot 100 The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday... |
7 |
| U.S. Billboard Easy Listening Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks The Adult Contemporary chart is a weekly chart published in Billboard magazine that lists the most popular songs on adult contemporary and "lite-pop" radio stations in the United States... |
2 |
| Record World Record World Record World magazine was one of the three main music industry trade publications in the United States, along with Billboard and Cash Box magazines. It was founded in 1946 under the name Music Vendor, but since 1964 changed it to Record World, under the ownership of Sid Parnes and Bob Austin, both... |
6 |
| Canadian Singles Chart Canadian Singles Chart The Canadian Singles Chart is currently compiled by the U.S.-based music sales tracking company, Nielsen SoundScan . The chart is compiled every Wednesday, and is published by Jam! Canoe on Thursdays.... |
4 |
| Oricon Oricon , established in 1999, is the holding company at the head of a Japanese corporate group that supplies statistics and information on music and the music industry in Japan. It started as , which was founded by Sōkō Koike in November 1967 and became known for its music charts. Oricon Inc... (Japanese) Singles Chart |
55 |
| UK Singles Chart UK Singles Chart The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ... |
9 |
Cultural references
"Goodbye to Love" was used in science fictionScience fiction
Science fiction is a genre of fiction dealing with imaginary but more or less plausible content such as future settings, futuristic science and technology, space travel, aliens, and paranormal abilities...
sitcom Red Dwarf
Red Dwarf
Red Dwarf is a British comedy franchise which primarily comprises eight series of a television science fiction sitcom that aired on BBC Two between 1988 and 1999 and Dave from 2009–present. It gained cult following. It was created by Rob Grant and Doug Naylor, who also wrote the first six series...
, in the Series Two episode titled Queeg. It is sung by the character Holly
Holly (Red Dwarf)
Holly is the ship's computer on the science fiction situation comedy Red Dwarf.The character is played by Norman Lovett in Series I and II and, following a "head sex change" to look like his parallel universe alter ego "Hilly", played by Hattie Hayridge in the series 3 episode Backwards, is female...
(played by Norman Lovett
Norman Lovett
Norman Lovett is an English stand-up comedian and actor, best known for the role of Holly in Red Dwarf during the first, second, seventh and eighth series. His comedy has a quiet, dead-pan surrealism, and in 2000 he made a successful stand up tour, co-headlining with Chris Barrie, who played...
), in a scene where Holly, the ship's computer
Computer
A computer is a programmable machine designed to sequentially and automatically carry out a sequence of arithmetic or logical operations. The particular sequence of operations can be changed readily, allowing the computer to solve more than one kind of problem...
, is being turned off in favor of a superior model.