John Howard --- "Goodbye Suzie" (1974)

"Goodbye Suzie" is the first track --- and was the first single, originally released in October 1974 --- from John Howard's debut album "Kid in a Big World" (CBS Records). The album --- which was recorded at Abbey Road and produced by Tony Meehan --- was completed in late 1974 and released in February 1975.

CBS asked John's A & R manager Paul Phillips to remix "Goodbye Suzie" for both the album and single (which itself was edited down to a more radio-friendly length), as they felt his piano and vocal were not prominent enough in Meehan's production.

Although "Goodbye Suzie" reached #23 on Radio Luxembourg's Power Play Top 30, BBC Radio One refused to play it, claiming that it was "too depressing."

In 2003 --- after the album's being out of print for many years --- RPM Records/ Cherry Red released a re-issue of Kid in a Big World, including several never-before-heard demos, session takes, and B-sides. Meehan's original production of "Goodbye Suzie" also got its first commercial release on the CD, now closing the album, while Phillips' remix opens the set --- as it did on the 1975 L.P.

N.B. Phillips' single edit (which misses out the middle eight of the album version) is now available as a bonus cut on the album Technicolour Biography.

Both the song and the album are available on iTunes and other digital music providers.

The CD of the album is available through RPM Records at http://www.cherryred.co.uk/rpm/artists/johnhoward.php --- as well as through Amazon and other online retailers.

The video was put together by John Lumea.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Goodbye
• Suzie

[julianhatwell]

@BaronVonPenguin couldn't agree more.

[BaronVonPenguin]

7 likes? Thats fucking criminal though not surprising. Amazing song, amazing album and even more amazing that every gimp I talked to today could tell me who sung what on the X Factor on Saturday but sadly would never ever hear a song of this quality let alone appreciate it.

[rocky01ist]

Love this, John - as I do with all your songs:-)