A column dedicated to great songs, old and new.
December 20, 2005
Written by Monty Seward
From It's Time, Eagle Records reissue, 2004
Originally released in 1994
First, a little background: I'm a complete Solar Records freak. Solar was a Southern California R&B label that released consistently tasty dance music, often featuring killer bass lines, undeniable hooks, and shiny production provided by bubblegum-group escapee Leon Sylvers III. Some of Solar's best releases came out during the early 80s, which is my favorite era of R&B because of its adventurous mix of funk, synth-pop, new wave, and (gasp) disco. I recently picked up an imported 3-disc Solar Records box set that made me very happy, indeed.
It's Time
Howard Hewett
Howard Hewett first became famous with Shalamar, one of Solar's mainstay artists. Shalamar was at first glance a kind of prefab disco group; the two other members were (future hitmaker) Jody Watley and dancer Jefferey Daniel. Though all three members were talented, I always found myself drawn to Hewett's vocals. He is a masterful, nuance-filled singer, and his vocal style turned ditties like "Sweeter as the Days Go By" into soul-stirring testimonies, with his glittery high notes and vocal gymnastics. After departing Shalamar in the early 80s, Hewett embarked on a risk-taking solo career that has included unique, soul-injected versions of The Eagles' "I Can't Tell You Why" and Dylan's "Just Like a Woman", proving he is bent on using his voice for interesting interpretive means.
"Say Goodbye" was written by songwriter/producer Monty Seward, a longtime close collaborator of Hewett's. It is a piano ballad of the highest order: uncluttered accompaniment, concise, truth-telling lyric, and a haunting, intense vocal performance. Hewett's vocal is so impressive here, it's almost distracting from the "let's-get-real" message of the lyric, which posesses a disarming, quiet power. I personally like every line of the lyric, but dig this concluding verse:
We could say all the words we need to hear:
I love you, and I love you too, my dear
We could take romance to heights unknown
But when we're done, still feel all alone
We could find just the right words to say:
I still love you, but it's not the same...
We could "take the time to clear our minds"
Or we could say
Goodbye
Throughout "Say Goodbye", Seward's lyric and Hewett's vocal perfectly capture the shattered emotions of a couple who know they're about to part. Emotional procrastination, denial, keeping up appearances, and sexual backsliding are all covered with a deft but delicate touch, leaving the astute listener a little shell-shocked, in spite of the pretty music. It's no wonder the first vocal sound we hear on the track is Hewett taking a deep breath; he knows the power of what he's about to unleash.
It would have been difficult to predict the complex emotions of something like "Say Goodbye" just by listening to Hewett's work with Shalamar. That's always the beauty of following an interesting artist; we're never quite sure where they're going to take us. As much as I love his work on Solar, I'm glad he broke free, and decided to deal with subjects beyond romantic love and the dancefloor. Hewett's voice, always rapturously beautiful, is a decidedly compelling vehicle for the intricacies and subtleties of the darker side of love, and "Say Goodbye" is a first-rate example of the depth of material his solo career covers. Check it out.
You can always blast the Shalamar hits afterwards.
pcm
Purchase:
It's Time
at Amazon.com
at Tower
Records
To learn more about Howard Hewett's solo work, or to purchase It's Time, visit howardhewett.com