Throwing back to the week of July 18, 1976, we find R&B group The Manhattans atop the Billboard Hot 100 with ‘Kiss and Say Goodbye,’ by far their biggest hit.
Written by the deep-voiced Winfred Lovett, who also provides the spoken word intro, the song spent two weeks atop the Hot 100 and was a worldwide hit, topping the charts in a handful of other countries. The song also topped the R&B chart and ended the year as one of 1976’s most popular singles.
Given all that success I expected to recognize the song, but I can’t say I’ve ever heard it before. It certainly goes down easy, and I can see why it was a hit. I’m not a fan of the spoken part, which is true for pretty much every song that features one.
Note: Happy Birthday to my mother, who would have made a great R&B singer.
Old songs. Great memories.
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This has got to be the saddest day of my life
I called you here today for a bit of bad news
I won’t be able to see you anymore
Because of my obligations and the ties that you have
We’ve been meeting here every day
And since this is our last day together
I wanna hold you just one more time
When you turn and walk away, don’t look back
I wanna remember you just like this
Let’s just kiss and say goodbye
[Verse 1: Gerald Alston]
I had to meet you here today
There’s just so many things to say
Please don’t stop me till I’m through
This is somethin’ I hate to do
[Chorus 1: Gerald Alston]
We’ve been meeting here so long
I guess what we done, oh was wrong
Please darlin’, don’t you cry
Let’s just kiss and say goodbye
[Verse 2: Gerald Alston]
Many months have passed us by
I’m gonna miss you, I can’t lie
I’ve got ties and so do you
I just think this is the thing to do
[Chorus 2: Gerald Alston]
It’s gonna hurt me, I can’t lie
Maybe you’ll meet, you’ll meet another guy
Understand me, oh won’t you try, try, try, try, try, try, try?
Let’s just kiss an’ say goodbye
[Outro: Gerald Alston]
I’m gonna miss you, I can’t lie
Understand me, oh won’t you try?
It’s gonna hurt me, I can’t lie
Take my handkerchief an’ wipe your eyes
Maybe you’ll find, you’ll find another guy
Well let’s kiss and say goodbye, pretty baby
Please, don’t you cry
Understand me, oh won’t you try?
Let’s just kiss and say goodbye
Meet Me In Montauk 
Thank you for the compliment and birthday wishes but alas I cannot carry a tune 🤷🏻♀️
This is really where my being 5 years older than you makes a difference as I remember this song, though not really the spoken word part so much.
Happy birthday to soul sista’ Peg!😀🎂🎉