Goodbye to Love by Carpenters

Album: A Song for You (1972)

Charted: 9 7

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Songfacts®:

In the 1940 movie Rhythm On The River, Bing Crosby played a songwriter trying to come up with a song called "Goodbye To Love." Although the song's title was mentioned several times in the movie, no such song ever existed. Richard Carpenter happened to see this movie on late-night television and decided that it was great title and HE would write the song for his sister Karen to sing. >>>
Suggestion credit:
Ken - Louisville, KY
The fuzzy guitar solo was played by Tony Peluso. It was his first contribution to a Carpenters record and he subsequently joined the duo's recording and touring band as lead guitarist. Peluso also provided the voice of the DJ on the Carpenters hit version of "Calling Occupants (Of Interplanetary Craft)."

"Tony Peluso was a very talented guy," Richard Carpenter told Mojo magazine in 2022. "He played with Mark Lindsay when he opened some shows for us and I saw him do a couple of solos. So when I wrote the song and pictured the arrangement, I imagined it with the oxymoron of a melodic fuzz guitar solo and asked Tony."

Following the death of Karen Carpenter in 1983, Peluso moved on to record producing, working with recording artists such as Smokey Robinson, The Temptations, Michael Jackson and Boyz II Men.
It was Karen Carpenter who called Peluso. She told him she and Richard were working on a song called "Goodbye to Love" and he wanted him to play on it. "He showed up and said, 'I don't read music,'" Richard Carpenter recalled to Mojo. "So I sang and played the melody for him and said, 'When you get to here, just take it away.' And he did. 99% of that solo was done on the first take."

Comments: 22

Ginny WhiteSteve in Canada. it is strange about you loving that guitar solo, because I have read other comments, that Carpenter fans hated that song because of it. guess you can't please everyone
Mike from U.s.a.@Anthony - Kingsport Tennessee, are you talking about the music or lyrics? What was changed, the lyrics? Can you post your mother's lyrics for us?
Mike from U.s.a.@Joel - Victoria, Bc, Richard Carpenter composed the music.
Barry from Sauquoit, NyOn July 9th 1972, "Goodbye To Love" by the Carpenters entered Billboard's Hot Top 100 chart at position #68; and August 20th, 1972 it peaked at #7 (for 2 weeks) and spent 10 weeks on the Top 100...
It reached #2 on Billboard's Adult Contemporary Tracks chart...
Between 1970 and 1982 the duo had twenty-eight Top 100 records; twelve made the Top 10 with three reaching #1, "Close To You" (for 4 weeks in 1970), "Top of the World" (for 2 weeks in 1973), and "Please Mr. Postman" (for 1 week in 1975)...
They just missed having eight #1s when "We've Only Just Begun", Rainy Days & Mondays", "Superstar", "Hurting Each Other", "Yesterday Once More" all peaked at #2...
R.I.P. Karen (1950 - 1983) and Richard will celebrate his 68th birthday in three months on October 15th, 2014.
Joel from Victoria, BcCan anyone confirm the composer of this piece "I say Goodbye to Love" for me if it was not composed by Richard Carpenter? I mean the music not the lyrics. I also emailed Richard and asked him at the same time. Don't expect him to reply at time soon but I really would like to know. It is a very beautiful piece.
Jim from West Palm Beach, FlThis sadly seems to be Karen Carpenter's swan song for her life.
Jim from West Palm Beach, FlThe guitar solo has a definite George Harrison influence.
Paul from Wayne, NjThis song starts out like a simple ballad but Tony Peluso guitar is what blew me away...I remember as a teeen workin upstate NY at a resort in "72 we had to clean the bar/casino every morning me and my two buddies would get up @ 7 am from a night of partying till the wee hours andf grab a handful of quarters and fill the juke box by mistake one of us pressed th ewrong buttons and "Goodby...came on naturally being rockers we looked at each other like..."oh no" not the carpenters and when that lead came on we looked at each other like oh S#$t!!!!! this is awesome! who is this dude! needless to say till this day 40yrs later i still get the chills listening to him riffin at the end!
"
Camille from Toronto, OhPretty much all of The Carpenters greatest hits are my favorite. What a voice. What a band.
Ed from Canton, OhThis is a jammin carpenters song. hmmm. I never thought I would say that.
Anthony from Kingsport Tennessee, TnRichard Carpenter did not write this song... "Goodbye to love" It happens that My mother wrote this song many years ago... "Johnnie May herron" wrote this song.. I have the lyrics that she wrote on a sheet of paper many years ago... Such a sad lie... My mother was the heart behind this song. Period. the song was changed a little but still the same feelings my mmother had at the time she wote it... I Just wished people knew the truth. Thanks mom for being you...
Mike from Crestview, Flso sad KAren died so young! such a AMAZING voice probably would've hada long career in music. Always a great song, even more so since Karens demise, she really put hear heart into this one. RIP Karen.
John from Dundee, United KingdomOne of the greatest guitar solos ever.
Seen Tony Peluso playing this on crutches in a live UK show.
Karen's not bad either and well, Richard.
Steve from Las Vegas, NvFrom what I understand, "Goodbye To Love" was Karen's favorite song until she found "I Need To Be In Love" (released in 1976).
Bennett from Watervliet, NyIn the movie, "Rhythm on the River"; Basil Rathbone plays a songwriter who's famous for writing a song named "Goodbye to Love". Bing Crosby is a uncredited songwriter that writes songs that Mr. Rathbone takes the credit for. Mr. Rathbone wrote the song "GTL" before Mr. Crosby was hired. A #7 song in October 1972, "Goodbye to Love" is probably the First Power Ballad.
Timmyt from Brea, CaActually Karen only mentioned once in 1976 that "I Need To Be In Love" was her favorite song at that time. I suspect upon her passing her favorite song had to be one from her solo album. Maybe Guess I Just Lost My Head".

"Goodbye To Love" is a classic amongst classics and at the time of it's release (1972) Karen did mention that this was her favorite song.
Guy from Woodinville, WaMy favorite Karen Carpenter song, and there is plenty of competition! Based on how her life went, this song is SO poingnant! Topped off by a brilliant, cutting-edge quitar solo. It doesn't get any better.
Joe from Monroe, NyThis song was actually the first "Power Ballad". Think about it.....6 months before "My Love" by Paul & Wings, here was a ballad, sung beautifully as always by Karen Carpenter, that had a heavy metal guitar solo in it !!
Paul from Worthing, EnglandA beautiful heartfelt song, if this doesn't bring a lump to your throat then you must be comatose.
Tammy from Nashville, TnThis was not her favorite song. Her favorite out of the Carpenters collection was "I need to be in love" because she identified with the words.
Rodney from Mountain Home, ArThis was Karen's favorite song -one she deeply related to because of her own personal life.
Steve from Hamilton, CanadaThis song must have prompted a lot of rock fans to view the Carpenters in a different light. I know I did. Tony Peluso's guitar licks are extraordinary.

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