The Cockney Rebel - A Steve Harley Anthology
by Steve Harley

I thought this 3 CD box would be an interesting buy, since I did not know much about Harley's post "Love is a Primdonna" recordings. I really liked all the early Cockney Rebel albums, and bought them on vinyl during the 1970's. Moreover some of the rare single-tracks such as "Rock'n Roll Parade", "Judy Teen", "Spaced Out" and "Big Big Deal" were included too, so I did not hesitate very long to order the CDs'.

It had been some years since I last had listened to the old vinyl albums, and the return to the best songs from the first 5 albums was really a pleasure. Songs like "Loretta's Tale", "Bed in the Corner", "All Men Are Hungry" and "Love Compared With You" sounded at least as good as I remembered them. And the hits were all appealing as ever ( with one exception).

What surprised me, though, was that the long "progressive" classical inspired compositions which Harley wrote for his early albums sounded uninspired and longwinded. Seems to me that songs like "Sebastian", "Death Trip", "Ritz", "Tumbling Down" and "The Best Years of Our Lives" have not aged very well - best of the five clearly is "Tumbling Down" which is a great song, but too long.

Harley's later albums from "Hobo With a Grin" generally have a "thinner" sound appearing uneven compared to his EMI records, but each album contribute a least one good song, making the compilation a satisfying listen.

From "Hobo With a Grin" "Riding the Waves for Virginia Wolf" ranks among Harley's very best songs. "The Candidate" has "One More Time".

"Star For a Week" from "Yes You Can" sounds like an outtake from "Timeless Flight" - a great song. "That's My Life in Your Hands" from "Poetic Justice" probably would have been a hit, had it been recorded when Cockney Rebel were on top of their popularity around 1973-74.

Two songs from "Quality of Mercy" deserve being brought forward. "Coast of Amalfi" is a hauntingly beautiful tune and "Journey's End" is nearly as good.

Apart from the aforementioned "long" tracks from the early albums, which I would have replaced with classics like "Mirror Freak", "Muriel the Actor" and "Singular Band", I think it's a very well-compiled box. Another good early B-side "Another Journey" would have been a nice addition, too, But of course, you can't have it all. Along with box is a 12-page booklet with an interesting but rather brief biography and short notes about each track.