A Closer Look (Steve Harley & Cockney Rebel album)

A Closer Look
Compilation album by Steve Harley & Cockney Rebel
Released 1975
Genre Pop, Rock
Length 47:37
Label EMI Records/Capitol Records
Steve Harley & Cockney Rebel chronology
The Best Years of Our Lives
(1975)		 A Closer Look
(1975)		 Timeless Flight
(1976)

A Closer Look is a compilation album by Steve Harley & Cockney Rebel, released in America during 1975. It features material from the original line-up of Cockney Rebel, as well as Steve Harley & Cockney Rebel line-up.[1]

Background

Despite gaining a number of hits across Europe and the UK, Steve Harley & Cockney Rebel had yet to break the American market by 1975. However the band had gained a cult following in the country. During 1975, the band's American label attempted to break the band into the mainstream by releasing the compilation A Closer Look. Around the same time, the band embarked on a tour of the country as support act for the Kinks.[2] Although the album failed to create any commercial success for them, it provided a sampler of this group's work up to that point. The ten tracks on the compilation had been previously released by EMI Records Limited and Capitol Records, Inc. on the studio albums: The Human Menagerie, The Psychomodo, and The Best Years of Our Lives.[3][4] One song that was notably omitted was the UK Top 5 hit "Judy Teen".[5] The album was mastered at Capitol Mastering.[3]

Although the album failed to make an impression on the charts, "Make Me Smile (Come Up and See Me)", a number one UK hit, would make an entry on the American Billboard Hot 100 in 1976, peaking at #96. It lasted within the Top 100 for three weeks. This was Harley's only charting entry in America.[6]

In attempt to gain interest in the UK, Melody Maker magazine featured a black-and-white advert promoting the album, available from EMI International as a "special import".[7]

Release

The album's original release on vinyl LP in America featured an inner sleeve with lyrics. The release remained out-of-print for a number of years, until it was released on CD in 2001. This release was issued as a double-album set by BGO Records with the 1976 Love's a Prima Donna album. It has not been made available on CD as a stand-alone release.[8]

Track listing

All songs written and composed by Steve Harley.

No. Title Length
1. "Make Me Smile (Come Up and See Me)"   3:58
2. "Mr Raffles"   4:32
3. "Panorama"   5:36
4. "Hideaway"   3:47
5. "Sebastian"   6:55
6. "Sweet Dreams"   2:03
7. "Psychomodo"   4:02
8. "Mr Soft"   3:17
9. "Mirror Freak"   5:10
10. "Tumbling Down"   5:51

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Allmusic[5]
Miami Newsfavourable[9]
Milwaukee Journalfavourable[10]

Allmusic writer Donald A. Guarisco reviewed the album, writing: "A nice sampler of this group's glory days, "A Closer Look" divides its time between the two sides of Steve Harley & Cockney Rebel: short pop tunes that blended clever lyrics with hook-filled tunes and lengthier, often orchestrated epics that allowed songwriter/vocalist Steve Harley to give full rein to his arty ambitions. In the pop arena, the most memorable highlights are "Come Up and See Me (Make Me Smile)," and "Mr. Raffles". As for the epics, the most impressive ones are "Sebastian," and "Tumbling Down". Although it omits some crucial hits like "Judy Teen" and was released too early to include anything from the excellent "Love's a Prima Donna" album, "A Closer Work" remains a solid introduction to the career of an underrated but very worthwhile group from the artier side of glam rock." Guarisco highlighted "Make Me Smile" and "Mr Raffles" by labelling them the album's two AMG Pick tracks.[5]

In the Miami News of 28 May 1976, music critic Jon Marlowe spoke of the compilation, stating "All his previous albums ("The Human Menagerie", "The Psychomodo", "The Best Years of Our Lives", and a greatest hits package called "A Closer Look") have been filled with classic material such as "Tumbling Down" and "Cavaliers"."[9]

In the Milwaukee Journal of November 26, 1975, the album was reviewed by journal staff member Pierre-Rene Noth, who wrote: "The latest US release by Harley and his Cockney Rebel band is "A Closer Look" on EMI. It's a "best of" collection from his previous three albums, which were among the best kept secrets the record stores ever had. Harley, a former journalist, does an unusual cabaret style rock marred in the past by great inconsistency. One wow number, then two duds, one wow number, then three duds... This "best of" selection finally provides Harley with what he needed most - some severe editing. In the process, "A Closer Look" becomes a unique album by a unique artist. Since almost no one on these shores has heard what he's done in the past, it's not hard to consider this a brand new album by a brand new artist. Included are "Mr. Raffles," "Sebastian," "Psychomodo" and "Tumbling Down," which are particularly enthralling."[10]

Personnel

References

  1. ↑ "Vinyl Album - Steve Harley And Cockney Rebel - A Closer Look - EMI - USA". 45worlds.com. Retrieved 22 February 2015.
  2. ↑ "The Great Steve Harley and Cockney Rebel Story". 50megs.com. Retrieved 22 February 2015.
  3. 1 2 http://www.discogs.com/Steve-Harley-Cockney-Rebel-A-Closer-Look/release/777587
  4. ↑ "A Closer Look". harleyfanzone.com. Retrieved 22 February 2015.
  5. 1 2 3 Donald A. Guarisco. "A Closer Look - Steve Harley & Cockney Rebel - Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards - AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved 22 February 2015.
  6. ↑ "Steve Harley & Cockney Rebel - Chart history - Billboard". billboard.com. Retrieved 22 February 2015.
  7. ↑ "STEVE HARLEY & COCKNEY REBEL A CLOSER LOOK ADVERT 1975". eBay. Retrieved 22 February 2015.
  8. ↑ "A Closer Look/Love's A Prima Donna". harleyfanzone.com. Retrieved 22 February 2015.
  9. 1 2 "The Miami News - Google News Archive Search". google.com. Retrieved 22 February 2015.
  10. 1 2 "The Milwaukee Journal - Google News Archive Search". google.com. Retrieved 22 February 2015.
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