|
Steve’s route from the printed to the performed word had given Cockney Rebel something that very few other groups had – their own publicist who could handle the media without becoming a victim of it. It was this, coupled with the group’s obvious abilities that helped to build up Cockney Rebel into group that was going somewhere. All they needed now was a hit.
There first album “Cockney Rebel” aka “The Human Menagerie” was released in 1973. The cover photo immediately announces the feel of the album, it has an air of decadence, and while it has subsequently become something of a classic at the time it had no real commercial impact. For the record buying public Steve’s ability to marry pop sensibility with a certain complexity was too much to take on an initial release. Even so the album did deliver the group its first taste of chart success, across Europe however not in the UK, with “Sebastian”.
Cockney Rebel had there first taste of UK chart success in May 1974 with “Judy Teen”. With both the group and single’s approach complimenting the Glam Rock ‘movement’ it hit number 5 in the charts. In July the group were hailed as the outstanding act of 1974 and this was followed up by “Mr. Soft” hitting number 8 in August. With Cockney Rebel making the big time and breaking the charts they became a success - unfortunately success does not always result in happiness. While the group had been formed as a vehicle for Steve it had actually operated as a form of collective, now however Steve was in the limelight and the other members of the group were very much in his shadow. By the time “Mr. Soft” hit the charts the original Cockney Rebel were no more.
Forming a new Cockney Rebel, Steve was now billed as “Steve Harley and Cockney Rebel” and he responded by writing the song that people who’ve never heard his name can probably sing. Making number 1 within two weeks of its release, becoming an instant classic and selling over a million copies the song was, of course, “Make Me Smile (Come Up And See Me)”. Reputedly written about the break-up of the original Cockney Rebel, the song works so well in that it allows the listener to make their own interpretation of the words. To develop this success Steve’s earlier song was, “Mr. Raffles”, reworked into a radio friendly length and made it to number 13 in June 1975.
Taking time of from releasing singles, and on the back of US chart success for “Make Me Smile”, Steve and the group toured the US supporting the Kinks at the beginning of 1976. Following this Steve took time to develop and merge different styles of music resulting in the “Love’s A Prima Donna” album of 1976. While this contained his other well remembered hit, a cover of George Harrison’s “Here Comes The Sun” (used as the intro by the BBCs “Holiday” program for a number of series), the follow up single “Love’s A Prima Donna” didn’t touch the charts.
From a chart perspective Steve disappeared at this point but he never left the music scene. He’s kept recording and performing through the years and can be regularly heard presenting “Sounds of the Seventies” on Radio 2. He’s had a lifetime of pursuing the dream career he first realised at the age of 12 and how many of us can claim to have done that? If I’d had Steve’s tenacity maybe I would have become the stunt man I always wanted to be.
|