SONG SUMMARY
```“Goodbye” is a blues-rock interpretation of the Steve Earle song, taken from The Fluffy Jackets’ 2024 album The Rise And Fall Of The Songwriter. The recording has a particularly personal connection to Manny Charlton of Nazareth, who suggested the song to Helge Rognstad and helped begin work on it shortly before his death in 2022. Helge decided to finish the song as a tribute to his friend, mentor, producer and long-time musical collaborator and the song became the first single from this album.
The finished recording features Neil Murray (Whitesnake) on bass and Croatian drummer Matija Bajtal, while also using two of Manny’s own guitars as a tribute — his Duesenberg Starplayer TV Streamline and 1950s Hofner lap slide guitar.
```SYNC LICENSING & RIGHTS
```Sync context and uses:
A heartfelt, emotionally charged interpretation of Steve Earle's “Goodbye”, recorded by The Fluffy Jackets for the 2024 album The Rise And Fall Of The Songwriter. The song carries themes of farewell, loss, remembrance, friendship and acceptance, delivered through expressive vocals, blues-rock guitars, slide guitar and a distinctive fretless-bass opening.
Its intimate, cinematic atmosphere and emotional storytelling make it particularly suited to film and television drama, documentaries, biographical stories, relationship scenes, remembrance, personal journeys and emotionally powerful closing sequences.
Master Rights Owner (this performance):
Helge Rognstad
Sync Licensing / master clearance explanation:
Helge Rognstad controls and can license the master recording (this specific performance by The Fluffy Jackets). As this is a cover version, the underlying composition is owned by the original songwriter and publisher. Any sync licence will therefore require clearance of both the master recording rights (Helge Rognstad) and the publishing rights (the composition copyright owner).
Contact information / to license the master recording (this performance):
Helge Rognstad – contact link
Genre:
Rock
Subgenre:
Blues Rock / Classic Rock / Roots Rock / Alternative Rock
Mood:
Emotional, reflective, heartfelt, warm, nostalgic, melancholic, intimate, soulful, atmospheric, sincere, contemplative, uplifting, farewell, friendship, remembrance, loss, mentorship, tribute, love, reflection, personal journeys, honouring memories, acceptance, moving forward.
Similar Artists:
The Fluffy Jackets, Nazareth, Manny Charlton, Whitesnake, Steve Earle, Gary Moore, The Black Crowes, Tom Petty, The Rolling Stones, Joe Bonamassa, Chris Cornell, classic blues-rock and roots-rock artists
Keywords:
Steve Earle cover, blues rock cover version, emotional rock ballad, tribute song, Manny Charlton, farewell song, goodbye song, remembrance, friendship, mentorship, loss, emotional storytelling, reflective guitar rock, slide guitar, vintage analogue sound, male vocals, cinematic rock, dramatic scenes, character moments, personal journey, roots rock, Americana influence
```TRACK IDENTIFICATION - Goodbye
```| Track Information | |
| Duration | 03:31 |
|---|---|
| ISRC | USX9P2344238 |
| Song title | Goodbye |
| Written by | Steve Earle |
| Album Release (year) | The Rise And Fall Of The Songwriter (2024) |
| Artist | The Fluffy Jackets |
| Rights | |
| Copyright | (P) 2024 Helge Rognstad (this performance) © 2024 WB Music Corp., EMI Virgin Music Inc., Primary Wave Earle, South Nashville Music |
| Production | |
| Produced by | Helge Rognstad |
| Mixed by | Helge Rognstad |
| Additional vocal engineering by | Shane Shanahan, Westpoint Studios |
| Recording Year | 2024 |
| Mastered by | Tim Turan |
| Language | English |
| Explicit Content | No |
| WAV Available | Yes |
| Dolby Atmos Available | No |
| Releases | |
| Compilation Release | 20 Greatest (2007–2027) (2027) |
| Original Release | The Rise And Fall Of The Songwriter (2024) |
PERSONNEL & PRODUCTION
```Personnel
Helge Rognstad – vocals, guitar
Neil Murray – bass
Matija Bajtal – drums
Recorded at:
The Fluffy Jackets Sound Studio, Bergen, Norway. Bass recorded in Selkirk, Scotland. Drums recorded in Vinkovci, Croatia. Vocal overdubs recorded at Westpoint Studios, Acton, London, UK.
Instrumentation and recording equipment used:
Male lead vocals, electric guitar, acoustic guitar, fretless bass, electric bass and a drum kit.
The recording has particular significance as it was the final recording suggestion made by Manny Charlton (Nazareth, 1941–2022) to Helge Rognstad before Manny's passing.
Recorded as a tribute to Manny, the track incorporates two instruments previously owned by him: his 2016 Duesenberg Starplayer TV Streamline Catalina Blue (without an f-hole), used for the main guitar parts, and his 1950s Hofner lap steel guitar, tuned to Drop D tuning and played at full volume for the distinctive slide parts.
Helge Rognstad recorded additional rhythm guitars and the opening pinch harmonics using a 2011 Gibson Les Paul Wildwood Custom Shop (bridge pickup: 8; treble: 3). The guitar recording chain used a Shure SM57 positioned in front of a Fender Princeton Reverb amplifier (volume 3, treble 6, bass 3, speed 6.5, intensity 4), routed through a Neve 1073 SPX microphone preamp. The lead vocals, performed by Helge Rognstad, were captured across two recording sessions.
Initial vocals were recorded at The Fluffy Jackets Sound Studio, Bergen, Norway, using a Neumann TLM 103 condenser microphone through an Avalon VT-737sp channel strip into a UAD Apollo x8 interface, recorded in the UAD Luna DAW. Vocal processing included corrective EQ to reduce nasal resonance in the 400–700 Hz range.
On 3 April 2023, additional vocal overdubs were recorded at Westpoint Studios, Acton, London, engineered by Shane Shanahan. The recording chain comprised a Sony C800 microphone, Neve 1081 microphone preamplifier, Un-Fairchild compressor, Michelangelo EQ (Hendy Amps), and MAAG EQ 500 Series, routed through an SSL G-Series mixing console.
The vocal performances (from Norway and the UK) were then comped at The Fluffy Jackets Sound Studio, blending selected takes to create the final vocal performance featured on this master recording.
Drums were performed in Croatia by Matija Bajtal in Croatia using a Ddrum Dios Maple kit (10", 12", 13", 16" toms, 22"x20" kick), Mapex Black Panther Sledge Hammer 14"x6" snare, and Amedia cymbals. Microphones on the drums included Sennheiser e902/e901 on kick, Shure SM57 on snare, Sennheiser e904 on toms, Behringer C2 on hi-hat and ride, and Rode K2 for room ambience, routed through preamps into an Audient iD14 interface.
Bass was performed by Neil Murray (Whitesnake, Black Sabbath, Gary Moore) and recorded in Selkirk, Scotland, directly through an Audient iD14 interface into Logic. Neil used two instruments: a Spectorcore 4 fretless bass with passive EMG pickup and black nylon-coated strings for the opening section, creating an upright-style tone, and a Nordstrand Acinonyx short-scale bass with flatwound strings and neck pickup for the main band sections.
Note of interest:
After Neil Murray decided to retire from recording and live performance in July 2026, the Nordstrand Acinonyx bass was sold to Helge Rognstad and is now part of The Fluffy Jackets Sound Studio collection in Bergen, Norway.
OFFICIAL ARTWORK AND PRESS RELEASES
```
Music Video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=riI09mhrWu4
Press releases:
The Fluffy Jackets announce new album (2024)
The Fluffy Jackets Unveils Single in Tribute to Late Producer and Nazareth Guitarist Manny Charlton
```MEDIA AND LISTENING
```The making of The Rise and Fall of The Songwriter (2024)
- The making of The Rise and Fall of the Songwriter (2024) by The Fluffy Jackets (article)
- Recording vocal overdubs for Goodbye at Westpoint Studios, Acton, London (article)
Other Relevant Features
- Neil Murray’s Nordstrand Acinonyx Bass — the bass acquired from the Whitesnake and Black Sabbath bassist.
- Five guitars previously owned by Manny Charlton — 5 guitars aquired from the Nazareth guitarist and producer.
- Building The Fluffy Jackets Sound Studio — Includes including signal flow, microphones, preamps.
- Guitars, Amps & Pedals at The Fluffy Jackets Sound Studio — overview of guitars & equipment at the studio.
- 20 years of Neil Murray (Whitesnake) with the Fluffy Jackets — bass guitars behind the sounds.
Streaming (external link):
Available in physical formats:
CD, Vinyl
Official Store:
```DISCLAIMER
```The information published on this page is provided in good faith and is intended as a reference for music industry professionals, including music supervisors, licensing agencies, publishers, broadcasters, distributors, journalists, researchers, and other parties seeking information about the recordings featured on The Fluffy Jackets – 20 Greatest (2007–2027).
While every reasonable effort has been made to ensure that all information is accurate, complete, and up to date at the time of publication, no representation or warranty is made regarding its completeness, accuracy, or suitability for any particular purpose. Metadata, rights information, publishing details, and industry identifiers may change over time or be updated by the relevant rights holders, collecting societies, publishers, or other authorised organisations.
Anyone relying on the information provided on this page should independently verify all rights, ownership, publishing information, identifiers (including ISRC, ISWC and IPI numbers), and licensing details before entering into any commercial agreement, obtaining licences, or making decisions based on the information presented.
The copyright owner, publisher, artist, website owner, and any associated parties accept no liability for any loss, damage, costs, claims, or consequences arising directly or indirectly from the use of, or reliance upon, the information contained on this page, including any errors, omissions, or inaccuracies.
If you believe any information is incorrect or requires updating, please contact us so that we can review and, where appropriate, correct the information as quickly as possible.
```LICENSING & RIGHTS ENQUIRIES
```For sync licensing, master use, publishing clearance, film and television licensing, advertising, documentary, broadcast or other media use, please contact:
Contact:
Helge Rognstad (The Fluffy Jackets) – Contact
```