The Goodbye Girl - David Gates (1977-78) 8/25/22

In 1977, the film "The Goodbye Girl" was released to theatres. It was written by Neil Simon...and was a starring vehicle for his wife at the time, Marsha Mason...along with Richard Dreyfus, Quinn Cummings and Paul Benedict.

As with many Simon plays and screenplays, it centered around theatre people. The short synopsis (from imdb.com): "After being dumped by her live-in boyfriend, an unemployed dancer and her 10-year-old daughter are reluctantly forced to live with a struggling off-Broadway actor."

All in all, it was a pretty darn good film; it was nominated for several Academy Awards (Richard Dreyfuss won for "Best Actor") and it cleaned up at the Golden Globes, winning "Best Musical or Comedy," with Dreyfus winning for "Best Actor," Mason winning for "Best Actress," and Neil Simon winning for "Best Screenplay." Quinn Cummings was nominated for "Best Supporting Actress."

Then, as a cherry on top, the theme song became a "Great Song of the '70s."

David Gates (the former lead singer of Bread) was tapped to write and record the theme, and in true "Bread fashion," he came up with a ballad that, when released in late 1977, climbed up the charts most likely for THREE reasons: It sounded like Bread...it fit the film perfectly...and people loved the film!

In 1978, It reached #3 on Billboard's Adult Contemporary chart, and #5 on Canada's matching chart. It became David's last Top 20 hit.

In 1993, it was used again in a Broadway musical version starring Martin Short and Bernadette Peters...and at one point, there was a television remake, which featured a version by Hootie and the Blowfish.

"The Goodbye Girl" by David Gates: a "Great Song of the '70s," from a "Great Film of the '70s!"

David:

Hootie: