Kiss and Say Goodbye
Encyclopedia
"Kiss and Say Goodbye" is a song recorded by the American R&B
vocal group The Manhattans
. The song was written by Manhattans member Winfred "Blue" Lovett. The original demo of the song was recorded with The Manhattans backing band, "Little Harlem." After hearing a tape of the recording, producer/arranger Bobby Martin decided to re-record the song with MFSB
at Sigma Sound Studios in Philadelphia. Released as a single, in both a version that included a mid-song rap spoken part (aimed toward the R&B market) and one that omitted it (aimed toward the pop market), over a year later, the song became a worldwide hit for the group, spending two weeks at number one on the U.S. Pop
and U.S. R&B
charts. and reaching number four on the UK Singles Chart
in the summer of 1976. In the U.S., the song was the 400th #1 hit on the Billboard Hot 100
pop singles chart. It also became just the second single to earn double-platinum certification status, after the RIAA established the designation in 1976. (Johnnie Taylor
's "Disco Lady
" had been the first a few months earlier.) Hong Kong Pop Diva Anita Mui
's rendition of this song, "Cherish When We Meet Again" (珍惜再會時), was the final song she performed before her death from Cervical Cancer
in December 2003.
Rhythm and blues
Rhythm and blues, often abbreviated to R&B, is a genre of popular African American music that originated in the 1940s. The term was originally used by record companies to describe recordings marketed predominantly to urban African Americans, at a time when "urbane, rocking, jazz based music with a...
vocal group The Manhattans
The Manhattans
The Manhattans are an American popular R&B vocal group, with a string of hit records spanning four decades. Their best known million-selling songs being "Kiss and Say Goodbye" and 'Shining Star' in 1980...
. The song was written by Manhattans member Winfred "Blue" Lovett. The original demo of the song was recorded with The Manhattans backing band, "Little Harlem." After hearing a tape of the recording, producer/arranger Bobby Martin decided to re-record the song with MFSB
MFSB
MFSB was a pool of more than thirty studio musicians based at Philadelphia’s famed Sigma Sound Studios. They worked closely with the production team of Gamble and Huff and producer/arranger Thom Bell, and backed up such groups as Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes, the O’Jays, the Stylistics, the...
at Sigma Sound Studios in Philadelphia. Released as a single, in both a version that included a mid-song rap spoken part (aimed toward the R&B market) and one that omitted it (aimed toward the pop market), over a year later, the song became a worldwide hit for the group, spending two weeks at number one on the U.S. Pop
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
and U.S. R&B
Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs
Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, is a chart released weekly by Billboard in the United States.The chart, initiated in 1942, is used to track the success of popular music songs in urban, or primarily African American, venues. Dominated over the years at various times by jazz, rhythm and blues, doo-wop, soul,...
charts. and reaching number four on the UK Singles Chart
UK Singles Chart
The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
in the summer of 1976. In the U.S., the song was the 400th #1 hit on the Billboard Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
pop singles chart. It also became just the second single to earn double-platinum certification status, after the RIAA established the designation in 1976. (Johnnie Taylor
Johnnie Taylor
Johnnie Harrison Taylor was an American vocalist in a wide variety of genres, from rhythm and blues, soul, blues and gospel to pop, doo-wop and disco.-Early years:...
's "Disco Lady
Disco Lady
"Disco Lady" is a 1976 single for Johnnie Taylor that went on to become his biggest hit. It spent four weeks at number one on the Billboard Hot 100 and six weeks on the Billboard R&B chart in the U.S. It was also the first single to be certified platinum by the RIAA...
" had been the first a few months earlier.) Hong Kong Pop Diva Anita Mui
Anita Mui
Anita Mui Yim-fong was a popular Hong Kong singer and actress. During her prime years she made major contributions to the cantopop music scene, while receiving numerous awards and honours. She remained an idol throughout most of her career, and was generally regarded as a cantopop diva...
's rendition of this song, "Cherish When We Meet Again" (珍惜再會時), was the final song she performed before her death from Cervical Cancer
Cervical cancer
Cervical cancer is malignant neoplasm of the cervix uteri or cervical area. One of the most common symptoms is abnormal vaginal bleeding, but in some cases there may be no obvious symptoms until the cancer is in its advanced stages...
in December 2003.
External links
- [ "Kiss and Say Goodbye" song review]. Allmusic.com.