Threaded Thursday — Gordon Says Good-Bye

After yesterday’s Blue Prelude, which Woody Herman used as a theme, we pick up the thread with another entry in the very specific subgenre of Sad Gordon Jenkins Songs Used as a Theme Song by a Clarinet‑Playing Bandleader: the 1935 Jenkins classic Good‑bye, the long‑time closing theme of Benny Goodman.

Sixteen versions await — let’s lower the needle and begin the spin...

🎩 Goodman’s Gloomy Goodbye (1935)

The first recording came from Benny Goodman in late 1935. Jenkins had written the tune a couple of years earlier while arranging for Isham Jones, who reportedly found it too sad. Benny, however, thought it was perfect for his rising band — and perfect as a theme.

Benny's Victor recording was released at the beginning of 1936. Let's spin it:

Jenkins arranged it, Bunny Berigan supplies the muted‑trumpet obbligato to BG's clarinet, and Jack Lacey adds that lovely trombone solo. A moody, unmistakable classic.

🎙 Kirk’s Kansas City Curtain‑Closer (1939)

Good‑bye didn’t get many other recordings in the ’30s — Goodman’s ownership was that strong — but we do get one more: Andy Kirk’s 1939 Decca side, featuring Pha Terrell singing the lyrics for the first time:

It is a rule of the universe that I must mention that Andy Kirk’s band was underrated and Mary Lou Williams was awesome!

First bit of label intrigue: The label does not include the old-school hyphen in the title.

🌙 Eckstine’s Elegant Exit (1949)

Jump ahead a decade and we meet up with Billy Eckstine, who recorded the tune for MGM:

Mr. B never disappoints. He often dug up older songs that suited his style before it became a thing.

The Album Era Arrives

As LPs take hold in the early ’50s, Good‑bye becomes an album‑cut favorite — moody, slow, atmospheric, perfect for side‑closing.

🎼 Jenkins’ Triple‑Threat Tearjerker (1950)

Gordon Jenkins includes it on his Decca album that also included his version of Blue Prelude — Plays His Own Compositions — with Bonnie Lou Williams returning for the vocal:

A Jenkins song, arranged by Jenkins, conducted by Jenkins — the Jenkins trifecta.

🎷 Ammons’ After‑Hours Adieu (1950)

Tenor star Gene Ammons recorded it as a single for the new Chess label:

Label intrigue: Chess prints the title as Good Bye. Two parts, but no hyphen!

🎹 Kelly’s Blue‑Note Bow‑Out (1953)

A beautifully shaded instrumental from pianist Wynton Kelly on Blue Note’s New Faces – New Sounds:

🎧 Taylor’s Turntable Farewell (1954)

Fellow pianist Billy Taylor’s Prestige version follows:

The album is apparently titled Billy Taylor Plays for D.J.s — but only on the back cover. The front is just Billy’s hands!

🎺 Chet’s Cool‑School Send‑Off (1954)

Chet Baker’s instrumental (he wasn't singing yet) take appears on Chet Baker Ensemble (Pacific Jazz):

More label intrigue: the LP label spells it Goodby. The sleeve gets it right, though!

🌙 Connor’s Lullaby Leave‑Taking (1954)

Chris Connor includes Goodbye on her Bethlehem album Sings Lullabys for Lovers:

A lovely reading. Chris looks heartbreakingly sad on the cover — maybe she was listening to the playback of this tack!

💔 Dinah’s Dramatic Departure (1956)

Dinah Washington adds her version on the EmArcy album Dinah:

Fun fact: Wynton Kelly is in the band here too!

🎸 Mary Kaye’s Midnight Melt‑Away (1956)

The Mary Kaye Trio includes it on their Decca LP A Night in Las Vegas:

Guitarist/singer Mary and her trio are often credited as the first true Las Vegas “lounge” act — which is extremely cool!

🌆 Mundell’s Moonlit Mood‑Maker (1956)

Guitarist Mundell Lowe contributes a warm instrumental on Guitar Moods by Mundell Lowe (Riverside):

A guitar mood indeed. I remember first hearing Mundell Lowe's name as one of the musicians that Ray McKinley introduces on his 1947 recording of Howdy Friends. Who else but Ray could rhyme Mundell Lowe with fortissimo?

🎺 Butterfield’s Bittersweet Bounce‑Off (1956)

Still in 1956, the great trumpeter Billy Butterfield had a version of Goodbye on his That Butterfield Bounce album on the Westminster label, which was also issued as a 45 rpm single:

A brilliant trumpeter — though “bounce” is not the first word that pops into my mind when I think of Billy!

🎶 Frosh Four‑Part Farewell (1957)

The Four Freshmen include it on 4 Freshmen and 5 Trumpets on Capitol:

You can hear the harmonies that caught young Brian Wilson’s ear and helped shape The Beach Boys’ sound.

🌑 Sinatra’s Lonely‑Night Leave‑Taking (1958)

Frank Sinatra delivers a deeply moody version on Only the Lonely (Capitol):

Nelson Riddle arranged the album, but given Frank and Jenkins’ long history, you know Gordon must have smiled at this one.

🎤 Benny & Rosie’s Reunion Reprise (1956)

Let’s cheat a bit chronologically and slip back to 1956 for a perfect bookend: Benny Goodman revisiting “Goodbye” with his Sextet and guest vocalist Rosemary Clooney on Columbia:

By then Benny had played Good‑bye roughly a zillion times — and with The Benny Goodman Story hitting theaters that year, Goodmania was in full bloom.

Whether it’s Good‑bye, Goodbye, Good Bye, or even Goodby, it’s always a sad parting — but a beautiful one.

Warehouse Whispers — The Hyphen That Hid in the Stacks

Around the Warehouse, they say Good‑bye was the hyphen that refused to retire.

Variations like "to‑day” and “to‑night” slipped out quietly, but this dash kept lurking in the drawers like it knew where the bodies were buried.

Maybe Jenkins liked the old‑world sigh it gave the title. Maybe no one wanted to be the one to chase it out. Either way, it has a ton of period charm!