SAY GOODBYE TO HOLLYWOOD

Studio version

Bobby's drivin' through the city tonight
Through the lights in a hot new rent-a-car
He joins the lovers in his heavy machine
It's a scene down on Sunset Boulevard

Say goodbye to Hollywood
Say goodbye to my baby
Say goodbye to Hollywood
Say goodbye to my baby

Johnny's takin' care of things for a while
And his style is so right for troubadours
They got him sitting with his back to the door
Now he won't be my fast gun anymore

Say goodbye to Hollywood
Say goodbye to my baby
Say goodbye to Hollywood
Say goodbye to my baby

Movin' on is a chance that you take
Any time you try to stay together
Whoa
Say a word out of line
And you find that the friends you had
Are gone forever
Forever

So many faces in and out of my life
Some will last
Some will just be now and then
Life is a series of hellos and goodbyes
I'm afraid it's time for goodbye again

Say goodbye to Hollywood
Say goodbye to my baby
Say goodbye to Hollywood
Say goodbye to my baby

Movin' on is a chance that you take
Any time you try to stay together
Whoa
Say a word out of line
And you find that the friends you had
Are gone forever
Forever

So many faces in and out of my life
Some will last
Some will just be now and then
Life is a series of hellos and goodbyes
I'm afraid it's time for goodbye again

Say goodbye to Hollywood
Say goodbye to my baby

Page last updated: 13 Sep 2007

In Jan 1977, Bruce Springsteen and The E Street band joined Ronnie Spector at CBS Studios, New York City, NY, for the recording of SAY GOODBYE TO HOLLYWOOD (written by Billy Joel for the Ronettes) and BABY PEASE DON'T GO (written by Steven Van Zandt for Ronnie Spector). Roy Carr writes in the New Musical Express (July 9, 1977) that "such was the empathy betwixt Ronnie Spector and The E Streeters that both 'Say Goodbye To Hollywood' and 'Baby Please Don't Go' were cut and dried in one evening and overdubs applied the next".

Bruce appeared on the first track only, playing acoustic guitar. However, his involvement on the recording was not credited due to the lawsuit with Mike Appel that enjoined Springsteen from recording at the time. Both Steven Van Zandt and Ronnie Spector have later verified Springsteen's contribution on the recording of SAY GOODBYE TO HOLLYWOOD. He did not perform on BABY PEASE DON'T GO. The E Street Band received its first official recording credit on the two tracks. To date, it remains the band's only non-Springsteen credit.

The "SAY GOODBYE TO HOLLYWOOD / BABY PEASE DON'T GO" single was released in Apr 1977. It was the first thing Cleveland International Records has released. It was arranged and produced by "Sugar" Miami Steve. The picture sleeve featured an outdoor shot of Ronnie Spector, Bruce Springsteen, and the entire E Street Band, most probably taken during the Jan 1977 recording sessions in New York City.

In 1995, both sides of the single were also included on Dangerous 1976-1987, an Australia-only compilation CD of 16 tracks covering Ronnie Spector's later years.

In a 1999 interview, Ronnie Spector did confirm that several additional songs (titles undocumented), with Bruce taking a major role, were completed during these Jan 1977 sessions, and were intended for a possible album release that never came to fruition. Spector noted that Springsteen has those unissued recordings.

SAY GOODBYE TO HOLLYWOOD was performed with Ronnie Spector on 17 Feb 1977 at Richfield Coliseum, Cleveland, OH, during the Born To Run Tour. Check out the live 17 Feb 1977 version.

Liner notes by Dave Marsh on the back sleeve of the "Say Goodbye To Hollywood / Baby Please Don't Go" single:

It's a great temptation to view Ronnie Spector as a rare and precious treasure that we once held but somehow slipped away. After all, so many of us fell in love the first time we heard her sing -- "Be My Baby," "Do I Love You," "Walking In The Rain," or one of the half dozen other singles she made as Veronica, lead singer of the Ronettes, with producer (and later husband) Phil Spector, from 1963 to 1965. And since 1965, as Ronnie acknowledges, nothing has quite measure up to the magic of those moments.

Well, it only takes about 15 seconds to realize that the magic is back -- it happens in the introduction to "Say Goodbye To Hollywood" with a mighty screech from the hot horn of Clarence Clemons. Clemons plays tenor sax, but it might as well be a herald's trumpet announcing the return of the queen of our hearts. And then Ronnie comes in, once more that invitingly ominous mix of innocence and temptation.

She has, as usual, attended brilliant support. Miami Steve Van Zandt, who produced, played guitar, and wrote, "Baby Please Don't Go" is devoted to expanding and developing rock and soul traditions. "Steve is the first guy since Phil that knows how to handle me," Ronnie says. "And it's amazing, because I never thought that anyone could capture my particular sound on record again like Phil did, in the same way. But Steve did."

Van Zandt had the aid of his cohorts in the 'E' Street Band on this record. "Say Goodbye To Hollywood" is pure power, but listen also to "Baby Please Don't Go," where Roy Bittan's piano has a music box delicacy and Clemons' sax is used to soothe rather than scourge.

Some of us have dreamed for years of a moment when Ronnie would rise again, the Teen Queen once more, to seduce us with the passion of her music. This is no imitation Ronettes record. Like all works of devotion, it is timeless. And that, I think, is the realization of our dream -- and of Ronnie's. "I'm here," says Ronnie Spector. "I never felt." When you hear what's inside, you'll never doubt her.

Dave Marsh