Billy Joel - Say Goodbye to Hollywood

First performance: 17/02/1977

Coverinfo

Bruce covered the song 4 times : 
 
1977-05-13 Monmouth Arts Center, Red Bank, NJ (Late) 
During both the early (first show) and Late (second show):
Two separate admission shows. Independent recollections from those present indicate that Springsteen was on stage for the entirety of both shows. The gigs were originally scheduled as a standard Southside Johnny & The Asbury Jukes gig. However Southside became ill and couldn't perform so Steven Van Zandt came to the rescue by organizing The Asbury Park All-Star Revue - a combination of The Asbury Jukes, The E Street Band, Ronnie Spector and Springsteen. Van Zandt was the lead vocalist (with Bruce on guitar/background vocals) on most of the tracks .
 
 
1977-05-13 Monmouth Arts Center, Red Bank, NJ (Early)
1977-05-12 Monmouth Arts Center, Red Bank, NJ
Off-Tour :Two concerts tonight were originally scheduled (along with the two shows the following night) as regular Southside Johnny & The Asbury Jukes gigs. However Southside became ill (suffering from a recurring throat ailment) and couldn't perform so Steven Van Zandt came to the rescue by organizing The Asbury Park All-Star Revue - a combination of The Asbury Jukes, The E Street Band, Ronnie Spector and Springsteen. Due to Southside's illness and a lack of time for Van Zandt to prepare to lead, tonight's two shows were rearranged into a single concert starting at midnight. Van Zandt was the lead vocalist (with Bruce on guitar/background vocals) on most of the tracks .
 
THIS TIME IT'S FOR REAL / GOT TO GET YOU OFF MY MIND / WITHOUT LOVE / SHE GOT ME WHERE SHE WANTS ME / LOVE ON THE WRONG SIDE OF TOWN / LITTLE BY LITTLE / IT AIN'T THE MEAT (IT'S THE MOTION) / WHEN YOU DANCE / BABY, I LOVE YOU (with Ronnie Spector) / WALKING IN THE RAIN (with Ronnie Spector) / SAY GOODBYE TO HOLLYWOOD ( with Ronnie Spector) / BE MY BABY (with Ronnie Spector) / THE FEVER / I DON'T WANT TO GO HOME / HAVING A PARTY / YOU MEAN SO MUCH TO ME (with Ronnie Spector) / THUNDER ROAD / RENDEZVOUS / BACKSTREETS / BORN TO RUN
 
 
Photo Billy Smith
 
 
1977-02-17 Richfield Coliseum, Richfield, OH 
During The Lawsuit Tour. The song featured a guest appearances with Ronnie Spector and Flo & Eddie  
  

Songinfo

"Say goodbye to Hollywood" is a song written by Billy Joel who originally released it on his 1976 album Turnstiles. Joel has stated in his university lectures that he wrote the song with Ronnie Spector and The Ronettes song "Be My Baby" in mind. The song Indeed share a very similar beat. Recognizing Joel's tribute, Ronnie Spector recorded her own cover version of "Say Goodbye to Hollywood" in 1977 with the E Street Band, soon after Joel released his first recording of the song on Turnstiles.
 
 
 
The song was also offically recorded by the E Street Band. The E Street Band received its first official recording credit on the song, and to date, it remains the band's only non-Springsteen credit. The song was produced by Steven Van Zandt (credited as "Sugar Miami Steve"). The single's picture sleeve features an outdoor shot of Ronnie Spector, Bruce Springsteen, and the entire E Street Band, most probably taken during the January 1977 recording sessions in New York. Bruce appeared only on 'Say goodbye to Hollywood' playing acoustic guitar. However, his involvement in 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 the track.  
 
 
 

Bruce on the artist

Billy Joel on Bruce Springsteen :
 
Bruce and Billy Joel are long time friends : Joel’s favorite song 
 
Billy Joel performed 12 times together with Bruce:
 
 
 
2018-07-18 Madison Square Garden, New York City, NY
2012-11-02 Rockefeller Center, GE Building, Studio 6A, New York City, NY
2011-10-01 Beacon Theatre, New York City, NY
2009-10-29 Madison Square Garden, New York City, NY
2008-10-16 Hammerstein Ballroom, New York City, NY
1999-03-15 Waldorf-Astoria Hotel, New York City, NY
1995-04-12 Carnegie Hall, New York City, NY
1992-11-10 Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum, Uniondale, NY
1988-01-20 Waldorf-Astoria Hotel, New York City, NY
1987-12-13 Madison Square Garden, New York City, NY
1974-12-14 Auditorium, New Brunswick, NJ 
 

Lyrics

Johnny's driving 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 taking 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

Moving on is a chance that you take everytime
You try to stay together (oh-oh-oh, oh, oh, oh)
Say a word out of line
You find that the friends you had are gone forever, and ever

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 Hollywood
Say goodbye to Hollywood
Say goodbye to my baby

Ohhh, oh-oh-oh
My, my baby
Ohhh, oh-oh-oh
My, my darling