"Say Goodbye to Hollywood"
Cover art for the 1976 single
Single by Billy Joel
from the album Turnstiles
B-side"Stop In Nevada"
ReleasedNovember 1976 (UK)[1]
Recorded1976 at Ultrasonic Recording Studios, Hempstead, NY
GenrePop rock
Length4:38 (Album version)
3:53 (Single version)
LabelColumbia
Songwriter(s)Billy Joel
Producer(s)Billy Joel
Billy Joel singles chronology
"The Entertainer"
(1974) 		"Say Goodbye to Hollywood"
(1976) 		"James"
(1976)
"Say Goodbye to Hollywood"
Cover art for the 1981 single version
Single by Billy Joel
from the album Songs in the Attic
B-side"Summer, Highland Falls"
Released1981
RecordedJune 1980 at Milwaukee Arena, Milwaukee, WI
GenrePop rock
Length4:25
LabelColumbia
Songwriter(s)Billy Joel
Producer(s)Phil Ramone
Billy Joel singles chronology
"Sometimes a Fantasy"
(1980) 		"Say Goodbye to Hollywood"
(1981) 		"She's Got a Way
(Live)"
(1981)

"Say Goodbye to Hollywood" is a song written and performed by Billy Joel, first released in 1976 on his album Turnstiles as its opening track. It was originally released in the United States as the B-side to "I've Loved These Days" before being released as A-side in various countries like the UK, Germany and Australia in November 1976, with "Stop in Nevada" as the B-side.[2] However, the song achieved greater recognition in 1981 when a live version from Songs in the Attic was released as a US single, with the live version of "Summer, Highland Falls" as a B-side. Joel wrote the song after moving back to New York City in 1975; he had previously relocated to Los Angeles in 1972 in an attempt to get out of an onerous record deal. The man who represents this song on the Turnstiles album is the man wearing sunglasses and holding a suitcase.

Production and influence

Joel has stated in his university lectures that he wrote the song with Ronnie Spector and The Ronettes song "Be My Baby" in mind.[2][3] Indeed, Joel notes that the two songs share a very similar beat, recycling the iconic drum intro of "Be My Baby".[4] The song's production was also specifically modeled on the "Wall of Sound" production method of her ex-husband Phil Spector, who produced "Be My Baby" in that manner. The song utilized a backing band throughout the track, with new instrumental layers appearing throughout the song, such as backup singers in the refrain and strings starting from the second verse. However, whether this effect had been achieved was in dispute, with biographer Mark Bego claiming it was successful in this regard, while music critic Stephen Holden disagreed.[5] Billboard said that it "has the intensity and flair of Phil Spector's early '60s classics."[6] Record World said that the live version "sounds better than the original," with "a perfect blend of concert spontaneity and studio clarity."[7]

Covers

Charts

Chart (1976) Peak
position
Australia (Kent Music Report)[9] 45
Chart (1981) Peak
position
Canadian Singles Chart[10] 27
U.S. Billboard Hot 100[11] 17
U.S. Billboard Adult Contemporary[12] 35

References

  1. ^ Strong, Martin Charles (1995). Great Rock Discography. Canongate Press. p. 436. ISBN 978-0-86241-541-9.
  2. ^ a b "Say Goodbye To Hollywood by Billy Joel". Songfacts.com. Retrieved January 28, 2013.
  3. ^ Billy Joel University Lecture on Video on YouTube
  4. ^ "Songs with the 'Be My Baby' drum intro". Ilxor.com. Retrieved January 28, 2013.
  5. ^ Duchan, Joshua S. (2017). "2". Billy Joel: America's piano man. Lanham: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers. pp. 22–24. ISBN 978-1-4422-4205-0.
  6. ^ "Top Single Picks". Billboard. September 12, 1981. p. 79. Retrieved 2023-01-21.
  7. ^ "Hits of the Week" (PDF). Record World. September 12, 1981. p. 1. Retrieved 2023-03-01.
  8. ^ "Hits of the Week" (PDF). Record World. April 23, 1977. p. 1. Retrieved 2023-02-16.
  9. ^ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 156. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
  10. ^ "Top Singles". RPM. Collectionscanada.gc.ca. November 7, 1981. Retrieved January 28, 2013.
  11. ^ Whitburn, Joel (2013). Joel Whitburn's Top Pop Singles, 14th Edition: 1955-2012. Record Research. p. 435.
  12. ^ Whitburn, Joel (2002). Top Adult Contemporary: 1961-2001. Record Research. p. 127.
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