Make Me Smile (Come Up and See Me)

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"Make Me Smile (Come Up and See Me)"
"Make Me Smile (Come Up and See Me)" cover
Single by Steve Harley and Cockney Rebel
from the album 'The Best Years Of Our Lives'
Released 1975
Recorded 1974
Label EMI
Writer(s) Steve Harley
Producer(s) Alan Parsons
Chart positions
  • #1 (UK)
Steve Harley and Cockney Rebel singles chronology
"Big Big Deal"
(1974)
"Make Me Smile"
(1975)
"Mr. Raffles"
(1975)

"Make Me Smile (Come Up and See Me)" is a song recorded by Steve Harley and Cockney Rebel and released on the album The Best Years Of Our Lives. It reached number one in the UK chart in February 1975. The song has been reissued twice: a 1992 release reached Number 46; and a 1995 release reached Number 33 after being used in the Carlsberg TV advertisement. It has also been used in a Marks and Spencer advertisement (2006) and the soundtrack to the movie Blackball (2003).

Some people have previously commented that musically the song seems to be strongly influenced by Roxy Music, however the Harley song possesses an irresistible hook line and quality of production rarely seen in a Bryan Ferry song. In a television interview recorded in 2002, Steve Harley described how the lyrics are vindictively directed at the former band members, whom he felt had abandoned him - a fact which eludes a majority of listeners who enjoy the apparently happy chorus.

A 30th Anniversary Remix of the song was released as a single in June 2005, taking the track to Number 55 in the UK Charts.

Contents

[edit] Duran Duran version

The song was frequently covered by Duran Duran in their concerts in the early 1980s. A recording of one of these 1983 live performances, during which Harley joined the band on stage, was used as the b-side to Duran Duran's 1984 number one single "The Reflex", although the title was reversed to "Come Up and See Me (Make Me Smile)" . It also appeared on the soundtrack to the movie Threesome (1994), and as a bonus track on the double CD single for "Perfect Day", from their 1995 covers album Thank You.

The reunited Duran Duran brought the song back as a surprise encore at their May 28, 2005 homecoming gig at the Birmingham Football Ground, to the delight of the 25,000 fans in attendance. (Harley was invited to perform with them, but was unable to attend.[1])

  1. ^ Steve Harley - 2005 Diary Archive

[edit] Erasure version

"Make Me Smile (Come Up and See Me)"
"Make Me Smile (Come Up and See Me)" cover
Single by Erasure
from the album Other People's Songs
Released April 7, 2003
Format CD Single
DVD single
Recorded 2002
Genre Synth pop
Length 03:58
Label Mute Records
Writer(s) Steve Harley
Producer(s) Gareth Jones,
Erasure
Chart positions
  • 14 (UK)
  • 58 (Germany)
Erasure singles chronology
"Solsbury Hill"
(2003)
"Make Me Smile (Come Up and See Me)"
(2003)
"Oh L'amour (August Mix)"
(2004)

British pop duo Erasure included the song on their cover versions album Other People's Songs. After the surprise UK top-ten success of their previous single "Solsbury Hill", Erasure charted well again when "Make Me Smile" hit number fourteen. It also climbed to number fifty-eight in Germany.

The music video sees Erasure members Vince Clarke and Andy Bell in the midst of computer-generated special effects and graphics.

[edit] Track listings

[edit] CD single #1 (CDMUTE292)

  1. "Make Me Smile (Come Up and See Me)" (Dave Bascombe Edit Mix)
  2. "Oh L'amour" (Acoustic)
  3. "Walking in the Rain" (37b Remix)

[edit] CD single #2 (LCDMUTE292)

  1. "Make Me Smile (Come Up and See Me)" (Dan Frampton Radio Mix)
  2. "Make Me Smile (Come Up and See Me)" (Manhattan Clique Extended Remix)
  3. "When Will I See You Again" (37b Remix)

[edit] DVD single (DVDMUTE292)

  1. "Make Me Smile (Come Up and See Me)" (Dave Bascombe Mix)
  2. "Can't Help Falling in Love" (37b Remix)
  3. video: "Solsbury Hill" - directed by Vince Clarke
Preceded by:
"January" by Pilot
UK number one single(Steve Harley version)
February 22, 1975
Succeeded by:
"If" by Telly Savalas
Erasure
Vince Clarke | Andy Bell
Erasure discography | B-sides and non-album songs
Albums/EPs: Wonderland | The Circus | The Two Ring Circus | The Innocents | Crackers International
Wild! | Chorus | Abba-esque | I Say I Say I Say | Erasure | Cowboy | Loveboat | Other People's Songs | Nightbird | Union Street
Compilations: Pop! - the First 20 Hits | Hits! The Very Best of Erasure
Box Sets: EBX 1 | EBX 2 | EBX 3 | EBX 4
Singles: Who Needs Love Like That | Heavenly Action | Oh L'amour | Sometimes | It Doesn't Have To Be | Victim of Love | The Circus | Ship of Fools | Chains of Love | A Little Respect | Stop! | Drama! | You Surround Me | Blue Savannah | Star | Chorus | Love to Hate You | Am I Right? | Breath of Life | Take a Chance on Me | Who Needs Love Like That (remix) | Always | Run to the Sun | I Love Saturday | Stay With Me | Fingers & Thumbs (Cold Summer's Day) | Rock Me Gently | In My Arms | Don't Say Your Love Is Killing Me | Rain | Freedom | Moon & the Sky | Solsbury Hill | Make Me Smile (Come Up and See Me) | Oh L'amour (remix) | Breathe | Don't Say You Love Me | Here I Go Impossible Again / All This Time Still Falling Out of Love | Boy
Video/DVD: Sanctuary - the EIS Christmas Concert 2002 | Hits! the Videos | The Tank, the Swan and the Balloon | Great Hits Live - Live at Great Woods | The Erasure Show - Live in Cologne