Goodbye Stranger

Infobox Single
Name = Goodbye Stranger


Artist = Supertramp
from Album = Breakfast in America
Recorded = September 1978
Released = August 1979
Genre = Rock music
Length = 5:50
Label = A&M
Writer = Rick Davies/Roger Hodgson
Producer = Supertramp, Peter Henderson
Chart position = * #15 (US)
* #57 (UK)
Last single = "Breakfast in America" (1979)
This single = "Goodbye Stranger" (1979)
Next single = "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. Rick Davies performs all the vocals and plays the Wurlitzer electric piano. Roger Hodgson plays the electric guitar, including the guitar solo during the conclusion by using a Wah-wah pedal.

This track was one of three from the "Breakfast in America" album where a promotional film was made (the others were "The Logical Song" and "Breakfast in America"). In the film the band played the track on a soundstage. In the video for Goodbye Stranger Roger Hodgson and John Helliwell lip synch. In addition, John also plays the Hammond organ in the video (and in live performances of the track on the Breakfast in America tour). In live versions performed on the Breakfast in America and ...Famous Last Words... tours, Rick sang some of the falsetto, but Roger and John sang backup. John Helliwell also does the whistling before the second chorus.

It was featured on the TV show "WKRP in Cincinnati" on the episode "Baby, If You Ever Wondered".

It was featured on the 1999 "Magnolia" soundtrack 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).

Personnel

* Rick Davies - Wurlitzer piano, lead and backing vocals
* Roger Hodgson - electric guitar
* John Helliwell - whistling
* Bob Siebenberg - drums
* Dougie Thomson - bass guitar