The Last Song (The Smashing Pumpkins song)

Song infobox
Name = The Last Song


Artist = The Smashing Pumpkins
Released = November 11, 1996
track_no = 2
Recorded = 1996
Genre = Alternative rock
Length = 3:51
Writer = Billy Corgan
Label = Virgin Records
Producer = Flood
prev = Thirty-Three
prev_no = 1

"The Last Song" is a b-side from the "Thirty-Three" single by The Smashing Pumpkins. Written by Billy Corgan, it is the only b-side written entirely after the album "Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness" was completed. After contemplating holding the song for the next Smashing Pumpkins record, Corgan decided the song was so in the spirit of "Mellon Collie" that is should be an extra track.cite news|first = Billy|last = Corgan|title = King B's|work = Guitar World|date = January 1997|language = English]

The song is of particular significance because the guitar solo used in the song is played by Corgan's father, William Corgan Sr. Although the relationship between the two was often contemptuous, after the song was released the junior Corgan expressed great pride and admiration for his father's influence on his guitar playing. In February 1997, Billy Corgan summed up this influence:

Billy Corgan and his father would later play together at a benefit concert for homeless teenagers called "The First Waltz". [cite web|url = http://www.vh1.com/artists/news/513084/19990326/smashing_pumpkins.jhtml|first = Chris |last = Nelson|title = Billy Corgan Performs With Father|work = VH1.com|date = 1999-03-26|language = English]

Upon the release of "The Aeroplane Flies High" box set, the song was included as the lead track on a promotional single and received attention from many reviewers and fans. Corgan himself considers "The Last Song" the most personally important song on "The Aeroplane Flies High". [cite web|url=http://www.spfc.org/online/qualityposts.html?content_id=542|title=Listessa Interviews Billy Corgan, 1998/05/29|accessdate=2007-06-08] "Rolling Stone" called the song "stately and anthemic, blessed with a delicacy and grace that is unlike anything else in the band's catalog." [cite web|url = http://www.rollingstone.com/artists/smashingpumpkins/albums/album/186423/review/5940740/the_aeroplane_flies_high|title = The Aeroplane Flies High: Review|accessdate = 2006-09-27|last = Moon|first = Tom|date = 1996-12-12|format = http|work = Rolling Stone|language = English] Despite this warm reception, the song was only played live in its entirety once, [cite web|url=http://splra.org/database/showsong.php?id=336|title=The Last Song|work=SPLRA.org|accessdate=2007-02-26] during the band's farewell show on December 2, 2000. [cite web|url=http://splra.org/database/showgig.php?gigid=953|title=2000-12-02, Metro|work=SPLRA.org|accessdate=2007-02-26]

References