Goodbye Girl (David Gates song)

This article is about the David Gates single. For the Squeeze song, see Goodbye Girl (Squeeze song).

"Goodbye Girl" is a song by David Gates, lead singer of Bread, which was released as a single in December 1977 following the premiere of the hit film of the same name. As the theme song to the film, the song reached number 15 on the Billboard Hot 100, becoming the biggest hit of Gates' solo career.^[1] It also reached number three on the Adult Contemporary chart.^[2] The song is from Gates' third solo album of the same name, released the following year.

"Goodbye Girl"
Single by David Gates
from the album Goodbye Girl
B-side	"Sunday Rider"
Released	December 1977
Genre	Soft rock
Length	2:45
Label	Elektra
Songwriter(s)	David Gates
Producer(s)	David Gates
David Gates singles chronology
"Never Let Her Go" (1975) "Goodbye Girl" (1977) "Took the Last Train" (1978)

Personnel

• David Gates – vocals, piano, bass, acoustic guitar
• Dean Parks – electric guitar
• Mike Botts – drums

Chart history

Weekly charts Chart (1977–1978) Peak position Australian (Kent Music Report) 38[3] Canada RPM Top Singles[4] 8 Canada RPM Adult Contemporary[5] 5 US Billboard Hot 100[6] 15 US Adult Contemporary (Billboard)[7] 3 US Cash Box Top 100[8] 9

Year-end charts Chart (1978) Rank Canada RPM Top Singles[9] 51 US Billboard Hot 100[10] 47 US Cash Box[11] 76

Cover versions

• Alternative rock band Hootie & the Blowfish released a cover of "Goodbye Girl" on their compilation album, The Best of Hootie & the Blowfish: 1993–2003 (2004). Their version was recorded for the television remake of the original film.
• British singer-songwriter Rumer released a cover version on her album Seasons of My Soul (2011).

References

1. Joel Whitburn's Top Pop Singles 1955-1990 - ISBN 0-89820-089-X
2. Whitburn, Joel (1993). Top Adult Contemporary: 1961–1993. Record Research. p. 94.
3. Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 122. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
4. "Item Display - RPM - Library and Archives Canada". Library and Archives Canada. 1978-05-13. Retrieved 2017-12-27.
5. "Item Display - RPM - Library and Archives Canada". Collectionscanada.gc.ca. 1978-04-18. Retrieved 2017-12-27.
6. "David Gates Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved June 11, 2018.
7. "David Gates Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard. Retrieved June 11, 2018.
8. "Cash Box Top 100 Singles, April 29, 1978". Archived from the original on February 14, 2015. Retrieved December 28, 2017.
9. "Top 200 Singles of '78 – Volume 30, No. 14, December 30 1978". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. 17 July 2013. Retrieved December 27, 2017.
10. "Top 100 Hits of 1978/Top 100 Songs of 1978". musicoutfitters.com. Retrieved 1 December 2017.
11. "Cash Box Year-End Charts: Top 100 Pop Singles, December 30, 1978". Archived from the original on September 29, 2018. Retrieved December 28, 2017.