The Goodbye Notes - Unheard Of

David from Friends of the Iguana and this band
the Goodbye Notes has put together this wonderful post
for the SSS blog,
This is a beautiful collection of songs from a
truly special band which has ended after 13 years.
They split up just after releasing their second album
in 2009.
Over the last year David has been posting songs from
the band's vault on the group's facebook page,
many are still there...
facebook.com/pages/The-Goodbye-Notes/378839538

The excellent photos of the band are by Grant Heaton.

Thank you David for sharing this wonderful music
and band with us.





Brisbane’s The Goodbye Notes may be outside
current pop vogue,but if well-crafted ‘roots’
oriented songs and excellent musicianship were
the predominant criteria, they’d be destined for
the upper reaches of the charts.
Rhythms July 2001

The Goodbye Notes (1996-2009)
were an unusual Brisband:
melodic, acoustic and unironic.

Fronted by Barbara Fordham, and completely focused
on original material, the group’s clean, layered sound
drew on influences as disparate as Natalie Merchant,
Billy Bragg, EBTG, The Beautiful South, The Smiths and
Fleetwood Mac. The music press compared them to
Ron Sexsmith, Joni Mitchell and even The Seekers.
This selection of studio demos, covers and album cuts
offers a different perspective on the group.

Barbara and David Megarrity had worked together in
Brisbane theatre, and each had their own band:
Barbara The Hot Potatoes/Barb and the Bordellos,
and David Megarrity’s Friends of the Iguana.
A duo gig at the 1997 Brisbane Winter Solstice
Festival in Davies Park West End inspired songwriting,
and a first demo which included the take on
Billy Bragg’s Tank Park Salute found here.

A rhythm section Paul Morris (Ex-Spiral-I, Watertower)
and Neil Neilsen (Ex- cApe dIEM, The Gutless Wonders,
Adolf Jesus) was gathered, and the band played live
to fund the recording. Pianist Kellee Green often joined
them live and in the studio. Sets at venues like Rics
and The Press Club were bolstered by selected covers,
including the take on the Toothfaeries’
Leaky Boat recorded in 2001 for Radio 4ZZZ’s
Rockdebanana competition.

Their critically acclaimed debut album
Tender Document
was released in 2000. One Extra, included here,
can be found on Tender Document.

Tender Document is a …
great rock-pop record that’s as
addictive as one of its standout tracks –
chocolate, red wine, coffee and cigarettes.
Noel Mengel, Courier Mail 17 April 2000

By 2003 the group had several new children in the mix
and things had slowed down a bit. The only gig that year
was in the Spiegeltent at the Brisbane Biennial.
The band rounded off the year with a live demo session
of new material plus a version of Depeche Mode’s
‘Just Can’t Get Enough’.

Songwriting for the next album naturally turned to
considerations closer to home. The demo for blues track
Find the Time was shortlisted in 2007’s Q-Song Competition.
Demoing took in an acoustic cover of Scottish group
Trashcan Sinatras ‘Weightlifting’ (listen for the gecko).
The band premiered new songs at a
rooftop concert in Spring Hill.

The sold-out Tender Document was re-released.
Reasons to Stay was recorded in 2008/9, again by
Simon Monsour.
Album track Handmedowns is included in this collection.
The band celebrated the album’s release by breaking up.
Let You Go (live at the West End Club) is a sound desk
recording from the band’s last gig as a five piece.
David now represents ukulele player Tyrone,
and Barbara plays with her trio and in children’s act
Whoa Tilly.
Both the band’s albums are available for purchase online.

THE GOODBYE NOTES’ name is intrinsically
linked to the subject matter of their songs:
if they’re not about nearly finding
somebody they’re about losing them.
But don’t get the idea this band plays sad songs –
their delivery is so positive,
there’s no way you can leave with a sinking heart.
Eileen Dick: Live Review @ Ric’s Time Off 6.4.00





Track List

Blanket (Demo)
Handmedowns
Just Can't Get Enough (version)
Leaky Boat (Demo)
Let You Go (live)
One Extra
Tank Park Salute (Demo)
Weightlifting (version)

Download Here