"Goodbye Stranger"
Single by Supertramp
from the album Breakfast in America
B-side"Even in the Quietest Moments"
ReleasedJuly 1979 (US)
12 October 1979 (UK)[1]
Recorded1978
StudioThe Village Recorder, Los Angeles
GenrePop[2]
Length5:50
LabelA&M
Songwriter(s)Rick Davies
Producer(s)Peter Henderson, Supertramp
Supertramp singles chronology
"Breakfast in America"
(1979) 		"Goodbye Stranger"
(1979) 		"Take the Long Way Home"
(1979)

"Goodbye Stranger" is a song by the English rock band Supertramp; it was written by Rick Davies.[3] The song first appeared on their sixth studio album, Breakfast in America (1979). The lyrics present an "optimistic view from a drifter."[4]

Reception

Billboard described "Goodbye Stranger" as "a fluid midtempo number highlighted by the band's near falsetto vocals, dominant keyboards and a strong melody line."[5] Cash Box said it has "intriguing, well-paced vocals" from Rick Davies, and the "high backup singing" from Roger Hodgson and "blithe, spirited instrumentation."[6] Record World said that the "keyboard/guitar & chorus hook provide a blithe fairytale effect."[4]

Ultimate Classic Rock critic Nick DeRiso rated it as Supertramp's fourth-best song, calling it a "snarky kiss-off from Davies" that "showcases the band's predilection for the Wurlitzer."[7] Brett Milano of UDiscover Music rated Roger Hodgson's guitar solo at the end of the song as one of the 100 all-time greatest.[8] Gary Graff of Billboard rated "Goodbye Stranger" as Supertramp's ninth best song, saying it's "one of the best executed trade-offs between Davies and Hodgson vocals" and has one of Supertramp's "hottest guitar solos."[9]

Personnel

Charts and certifications

Charts

Despite being met with only limited success in the UK, it was a major hit elsewhere, even a Top 20 hit in the United States and Canada, reaching number 15 and 6 respectively.

Certifications

Region Certification Certified units/sales
Canada (Music Canada)[21] Gold 75,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

In popular culture

The song plays in many films and television programs. In the episode "Goodbye, Toby" of The Office, Michael Scott sings a parody of "Goodbye Stranger" entitled "Goodbye, Toby".[22] In the episode "Goodbye Stranger" in the eighth season of Supernatural, the song plays on the Impala's radio after the angel Castiel disappears.[23] The song plays in the trailer of the 2023 film Beau Is Afraid.[24] It is also played in the 1999 film Magnolia, and the 2017 film I, Tonya.

References

  1. ^ "Supertramp singles".
  2. ^ Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Supertramp Breakfast in America Review". AllMusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved 22 August 2021.
  3. ^ Breakfast in America (1979). Inner sleeve credits. A&M Records.
  4. ^ a b "Hits of the Week" (PDF). Record World. 14 July 1979. p. 1. Retrieved 11 February 2023.
  5. ^ "Top Single Picks" (PDF). Billboard Magazine. 7 July 1979. p. 62. Retrieved 8 July 2020.
  6. ^ "CashBox Singles Reviews" (PDF). Cash Box. 7 July 1979. p. 18. Retrieved 1 January 2022.
  7. ^ DeRiso, Nick (22 July 2013). "Top 10 Supertramp Songs". Ultimate Classic Rock. Retrieved 8 June 2022.
  8. ^ Milano, Brett (11 September 2020). "The Best Guitar Solos: 100 Hair-Raising Moments". udiscovermusic.com. Retrieved 15 September 2020.
  9. ^ Graff, Gary (10 October 2017). "Supertramp's 10 Best Songs: Critic's Picks". Billboard. Retrieved 16 June 2022.
  10. ^ "Top RPM Singles: Issue 6849a." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 23 January 2021.
  11. ^ "Item Display - RPM - Library and Archives Canada". Collectionscanada.gc.ca. 27 October 1979. Retrieved 7 March 2022.
  12. ^ "Song artist 344 - Supertramp". Tsort.
  13. ^ "Supertramp – Goodbye Stranger" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 23 January 2021.
  14. ^ "Supertramp – Goodbye Stranger". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved 23 January 2021.
  15. ^ "Supertramp: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 23 January 2021.
  16. ^ "Supertramp Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard. Retrieved 23 January 2021.
  17. ^ "Supertramp Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved 23 January 2021.
  18. ^ Cash Box Top 100 Singles, September 15, 1979
  19. ^ "Top 100 Singles (1979)". RPM. 17 July 2013. Retrieved 7 March 2018.
  20. ^ Whitburn, Joel (1999). Pop Annual. Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin: Record Research Inc. ISBN 0-89820-142-X.
  21. ^ "Canadian single certifications – Supertramp – Goodbye Stranger". Music Canada.
  22. ^ Giant, M. "Goodbye, Toby". Television Without Pity. NBCUniversal. Archived from the original on 30 June 2013. Retrieved 7 June 2013.
  23. ^ Wright, Thomas J. (20 March 2013), Goodbye Stranger, Supernatural, retrieved 12 February 2023
  24. ^ Starkey, Adam (10 January 2023). "What song is in the 'Beau Is Afraid' trailer?". NME. Retrieved 11 January 2023.
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