Introduction
A Gentle Farewell Serenade: Dean Martin’s “For the Good Times (Live in London)
Recorded during a June 1983 engagement at London’s Apollo Victoria Theatre, “For the Good Times (Live in London)” presents Dean Martin in one of his most emotionally resonant live moments. While the exact single‐release date for this live version remains unconfirmed, the original studio version appeared on his 1971 album For the Good Times.
Here, Martin’s warm, seasoned voice carries the soft weight of reflection rather than bravado. The song—originally penned by Kris Kristofferson—recognises that love sometimes changes—not with a dramatic exclamation, but with the quiet acceptance of time passing, of memories lingering, and of parting done with dignity. In this London performance, Martin delivers the lines not as a performer entertaining a crowd, but as a man speaking to hearts he’s travelled alongside.
Musically, the arrangement remains elegant and spacious—the backing band respectful, the instrumentation kept in service of the lyric rather than overshadowing it. What stands out is Martin’s phrasing: he lets the words breathe, pauses just long enough for the audience to sit with them, and returns with that unmistakable ease that only years on stage can build. For an older audience—who’ve known both the fullness of love and the ache when it fades—this performance acts as a kind of solace.
Beyond its immediate feel, this version becomes significant in Martin’s catalogue because it captures a live maturity. He isn’t chasing the bright lights of the sixties-Vegas lounges; instead, he’s leaning into memory, connection, and the assurance that some songs—some moments—linger beyond the applause.
If you’re revisiting Dean Martin’s work or encountering this live version for the first time, allow yourself the time to listen. Let the notes settle. Let the warmth of his voice remind you that love, when given and received, leaves echoes. And when one asks quietly, “For the good times, baby, I’ll get along with you,” in that gentle plea lies a lifetime.