Too Late for Goodbyes explained

"Too Late for Goodbyes" is the first single (second in the US) from Julian Lennon's debut studio album Valotte (1984). It featured the harmonica of Jean "Toots" Thielemans, and it was a top-10 hit, reaching No. 6 in the UK Singles Chart in November 1984,^[1] and No. 5 on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart in late March 1985.^[2] B-side "Big Mama" has been described by Lennon as "semi-hard rock".^{[3] [4]}

Cash Box said that "a galloping reggae backbeat and some exquisite Muscle Shoals guitar work back up Lennon’s spare lyric phrasing and lend the song a strong ride."^[5]

"Too Late for Goodbyes" peaked at #1 on 16 March 1985 at the US Adult Contemporary chart,^[2] spending two weeks at the top of this chart. The music video for the song was directed by Sam Peckinpah,^[6] and produced by Martin Lewis.^[7] To date, it is the most successful song of Lennon's career.

Track listing

UK 7" single (Charisma JL1)^[8]

1. "Too Late for Goodbyes" – 3:30
2. "Well I Don't Know" – 4:35

US 7" single (Atlantic 7-89589)^[8]

1. "Too Late for Goodbyes" – 3:30
2. "Let Me Be" – 2:12

UK 12" single (Charisma JL112)^[8]

1. "Too Late for Goodbyes" – 3:30
2. "Big Mama" – 3:16
3. "Well I Don't Know" – 4:35

US 12" single (Atlantic 0-86899)^[8]

1. "Too Late for Goodbyes (Extended Special Mix)" – 5:55
2. "Too Late for Goodbyes" – 3:30
3. "Let Me Be" – 2:12

Musicians

• Julian Lennon – lead vocals and backing vocals, synthesizers, electronic drums and drum machine
• Barry Beckett – synthesizer
• Justin Clayton – rhythm guitar
• Martin Briley – rhythm guitar
• Marcus Miller – bass
• Toots Thielemans – harmonica

Charts and certifications

Weekly charts

Chart (1984–1985)	Peak position
Australia (Kent Music Report)	13
Canada RPM Top Singles[9]	6
Canada RPM Adult Contemporary[10]	1
Germany	26
New Zealand	24
South Africa (Springbok)[11]	18
Sweden	17
Switzerland (Swiss Hitparade)	30
UK (Official Charts)	6
US Billboard Hot 100[12]	5
US Billboard Adult Contemporary[13]	1
US Billboard Top Rock Tracks	11
US Cash Box Top 100[14]	7

Year-end charts

Chart (1985)	Rank
Canada RPM Top Singles[16]	67
US Billboard Hot 100[17]	77
US Cash Box[18]	70

See also

• List of Hot Adult Contemporary number ones of 1985

External links

• Web site: Too Late for Goodbyes – Original Music Video – directed by Sam Peckinpah. 14 July 2011. YouTube.

Notes and References

1. https://www.officialcharts.com/artists/ Julian Lennon's UK chart positions
2. "[{{BillboardURLbyName|artist=julian lennon|chart=all}} Billboard chart history for Too Late for Goodbyes]" Billboard.com. Retrieved 9 July 2010.
3. Web site: Burianek . CJ . Valotte: Big Mama . Heyjules.com . https://web.archive.org/web/20170901200851/http://heyjules.com/lyrics/bigmamma.html . 15 June 2013. 1 September 2017 .
4. Harvey, Phil (Host); Lennon, Julian (Star) . 23–28 May 1985 . Too Late For Goodbyes The Julian Lennon Radio Special . Radio . 15 June 2013 . Radio International .
5. Reviews. Cash Box. 19 January 1985. 2022-07-26. 8.
6. Web site: Burianek . CJ . 1984 – The Debut Release Valotte . Heyjules.com . https://web.archive.org/web/20181026182813/http://www.heyjules.com/bio/1984.html . 15 June 2013. 26 October 2018 .
7. Book: Encyclopedia of American Cinema. 2007. MobileReference.com. Boston. 9781605011455. illustrated.
8. Web site: Burianek . CJ . Julian Lennon Singles from the 80s . Heyjules.com . 15 June 2013.
9. Web site: Item Display – RPM – Library and Archives Canada . 30 March 2012. 2018-01-04.
10. Web site: Item Display – RPM – Library and Archives Canada . Collectionscanada.gc.ca . 1985-05-04 . 2018-02-18.
11. Web site: SA Charts 1965–March 1989. 1985-02-01 . 13 January 2020.
12. Joel Whitburn's Top Pop Singles 1955-1990 –
13. Book: Whitburn, Joel . Joel Whitburn . 1993 . Top Adult Contemporary: 1961–1993 . Record Research . 138.
14. Web site: Cash Box Top 100 Singles, March 30, 1985 . 18 February 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180218210205/http://tropicalglen.com/Archives/80s_files/19850330.html . 18 February 2018 . dead .
15. Web site: Top 100 Singles 1984. Music Week. 13 September 2022.
16. RPM's Top 100 Singles of 1985 . . 43 . 16 . 28 December 1985 . 18 February 2018 .
17. http://www.musicoutfitters.com/topsongs/1985.htm Musicoutfitters.com
18. Web site: Cash Box Year-End Charts: Top 100 Pop Singles, December 27, 1985 . 18 February 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140712115455/http://tropicalglen.com/Archives/80s_files/1985YESP.html . 12 July 2014 . dead .