Too Late For Goodbyes

Released in the UK in September 1984, this was the first single for Julian Lennon, who is John Lennon's first son. (His first American single was "Valotte.") His mother Cynthia got a divorce from John when Julian was just five years old, and for the next nine years, Julian rarely saw his dad. When he was 14, Julian reconnected with his dad and made occasional visits to his home in New York City. Julian inherited many of his father's musical gifts, including a knack for songwriting. He wrote "Too Late for Goodbyes" on his own and released the song when he was just 21. It was a Top 10 hit in both the UK and US, and helped him earn a Grammy nomination for Best New Artist, which he lost to Sade. "I had an old reel-to-reel Fostex in my first flat or apartment in London, which was in Kensington," Julian told us. "I remember just being in my living room. It was on the top floor walk-up of six flights. I just remember sitting there with a keyboard and writing this track."

Given his personal history, this song could be interpreted as Julian Lennon's message to his dad, who left him when he was young. Julian tells us that this is not the case. "Initially it was about a girl, a relationship," he said. "Then it was a few other friends in the room and I was bouncing ideas back and forth. I just ended up with that particular phrase and title and it seemed to stick. So it made sense to me, and voilà! Bob's your uncle. That's it. No hidden agendas on that one."

The album was produced by Phil Ramone, who had helmed albums by Paul Simon and Billy Joel. Ramone kept the production remarkably tasteful and mature considering he was working with a 21-year-old British kid in 1984. This is one of the more synth-heavy tracks on the album, but the keyboards were part of a mix with prominent guitar and bass.