Na Na Hey Hey (Kiss Him Goodbye) by Steam - Record Album (1969)

"Na Na Hey Hey (Kiss Him Goodbye)" by Steam

The Steam self-titled debut album, released in late 1969 on Mercury Records, was a studio-concocted project built entirely around the massive success of its titular hit single, which had unexpectedly topped the Billboard Hot 100. The band itself didn't actually exist as a touring entity when the song was recorded; instead, it was the creation of producer Paul Leka, Gary DeCarlo, and Dale Frashuer, who famously improvised the "Na Na Na" chant as a placeholder for lyrics they hadn't written yet. The resulting album is a fascinating mix of bubblegum pop, soulful rock, and experimental filler—most notably the lengthy, percussion-heavy instrumental "First Child"—designed to capitalize on a single that had been originally intended as a throwaway B-side. Despite the album's moderate sales compared to the single's multi-platinum status, it cemented the "Na Na Hey Hey" hook as a permanent fixture in global pop culture, eventually transitioning from a radio staple to the definitive anthem of sports stadium taunting. By the time the follow-up singles failed to gain traction in 1970, the "Steam" moniker was largely retired, leaving the album as a unique artifact of the late-60s "studio-only" band phenomenon.

Donation by: John Jr. & Carol Babina

Curators Note: My grandfather's cousin, also named Jay Babina ironically, was a member of the band Steam. Although he didn't appear on the actual "Na Na Hey Hey" recording, he was the guitarist for the touring band who promoted the single. On the album cover, he can be seen in the second row on the right, and in the video performance of "Na Na Hey Hey (Kiss Him Goodbye)" that is attached, he can be seen on the far left playing the guitar.