Search - Steve Harley, Cockney Rebel :: The Best Years of Our Lives

Steve Harley's Best Album

James Choma | 05/04/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

""Best Years of Our Lives" is the definitive Cockney Rebel album. If you've never heard of the band before, that won't mean much, so let me put things into perspective. Cockney Rebel came onto the UK music scene in the early 70's. Their music could be described as touching on elements of T.Rex, David Bowie, and Roxy Music, but over time they were able to craft their own signature sound. With Cockney Rebel, you got a lot of variety: rock, jazz, opera, and avante garde -- quite a wide style range! They were very big for a time in the UK, but never really made a dent in the USA. This album contains one of their biggest hits, "Make Me Smile," (which has been covered by a ton of bands and shows up in a bunch of movie soundtracks) but the album as a whole provides the perfect listening experience from beginning to end. My favorite tracks are "Mad, Mad Moonlight," "Best Years of Our Lives," "Make Me Smile," and "Panorama." Steve Harley is still around and performs several dates a year in the UK. The man can still put on an excellent show and still retains a devoted fan following. If you are a fan of Steve Harley or 70's Glam Rock, do not pass this album up. This is a definite entry on my top ten desert island discs."

Greatest Commercial Success for Steve Harley

Paul Allaer | Cincinnati | 04/02/2002

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Only 1 year after the staggering and brooding album "Psychomodo" (see my review there), we find Steve Harley taking a 45 degree turn towards more accessible music and consequently broad commercial success. The original premise of Cockney Rebel (no electric guitars) is abandoned here (albeit only occasionally).1975's "Best Years of Our Lives" boasts 3 genuine hit singles, including of course the worldwide smash "Make Me Smile (Come Up and See Me)", but the equally delightful "Mr. Raffles", as well as "Mad, Mad Moonlight". Other key tracks include a paranoid "It Wasn't Me", a funky-sounding "49th Parallel", and of course the beautiful title track.Unlike the "Psychomodo" reissue, this album does contain bonus tracks, and what a find they are! First there is "Another Journey", the B-side of the "Make Me Smile" single, a great track that would have fitted nicely on the original album. Even more interesting is the 11 min. live version of "Sebastian", still perhaps the signature Harley song, from a 1975 Hammersmith Odeon show according to the liner notes. While the track initially stays close to the original, it eventually gives way to an ear-splitting electric guitar solo, which must have come to somewhat of a shock to audiences then, given what Cockney Rebel started out as. A must for any Steve Harley fan!"

Singular man- (if you like Bowie and the Kinks taka chance)

allismile0 | Miami, FL United States | 06/14/2002

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Steve Harley doesn't seem to be too famous here in the states, but he comes up in references through his music such as Mr. Soft being used in a TV commercial or Sebastain which was on the soundtrack of the movie Velvet Goldmine. I highly recommed people looking into this music- it has all the flair and intelligence of a Ray Davies (kinks) or David Bowie but with his own unique vision....
This was Steve Harley's third album after the sophisticated albums of Human Managerie (which I hear will be re-issued on cd in due time) and Psychomodo. This was a bit of a departure from his first two albums with more of a thought towards a mainstream sound. That isn't to say that this album is anywhere close to sounding mainstream though. Infact, the song writing is fantastic and fun and the word play is as clever as ever- it seemed that he was keeping in step with the progress of co-glam rockers Bowie and Roxy Music- Bowie by this time had moved far from the Ziggy Stardust persona and into Diamond Dogs and Young Americans and Roxy Music recorded Sirens before going on hiatus.
As on the Psychomodo, Alan Parsons (of Beatles and Pink Floyd fame as well as the "Alan Parsons Project" (ode to Austin Powers)) came in to helm the sound boards; and as always because of Parsons masterful technical ability the sound is emaculant.
The overall feel of the album could border on romantic but mischievious and of course a bit strange. there aren't any duds in the bunch and the performances are inspired- I recommend this only if you've listened to Psychomodo and liked it- obviously music this singular isn't for everyone; but if you like Bowie, or the Kinks I think you enjoy this."