Goodbye Stranger

"Goodbye Stranger"
Single by Supertramp
from the album Breakfast in America
Released	July 1979
Recorded	September 1978
Genre	Progressive rock
Length	5:50
Label	A&M
Writer(s)	Rick Davies/Roger Hodgson
Producer	Supertramp, Peter Henderson
Supertramp singles chronology
"Breakfast in America" (1979) "Goodbye Stranger" (1979) "Take the Long Way Home" (1979)

"Goodbye Stranger" is a song by Supertramp, which first appeared on their 1979 album Breakfast in America.

The main "body" of the song is backed by a simple electric piano melody; the arrangement intensifies as the song progresses. This is eventually joined by intermittent electric guitar chords and bass. The song features several layers of vocals to complete the melody. Rick Davies sings the lead vocals and plays the Wurlitzer electric piano while Roger Hodgson sings background vocals on the chorus and plays the electric guitar, including the guitar solo during the conclusion. The song features falsetto vocals during the chorus, similar to those of the Bee Gees.

The track was one of three off Breakfast in America with a music video. In the video, the band play the track on a soundstage. Roger Hodgson and John Helliwell lip synch. In addition, John plays a Hammond organ.

It was featured on the TV show WKRP in Cincinnati on the episode "Baby, If You Ever Wondered". It was also featured on the 1999 soundtrack to Magnolia album, along with "The Logical Song".

A parody of this song, called "Goodbye, Toby" was featured on the 4th season finale of The Office, sung by Michael Scott (Steve Carell).^[1]

Charts

Personnel

• Rick Davies - Wurlitzer piano, organ, lead vocals
• Roger Hodgson - electric guitar and background vocals (chorus)
• John Helliwell - whistling and background vocals (chorus)
• Bob Siebenberg - drums
• Dougie Thomson - bass guitar

References