Mr. Raffles (Man, It Was Mean)

"Mr. Raffles (Man, It Was Mean)"
Single by Steve Harley & Cockney Rebel
from the album The Best Years of Our Lives
B-side "Sebastian (Live)"
Released 16 May 1975
Format 7"
Genre Pop, Rock
Length 4:33
Label EMI Records
Writer(s) Steve Harley
Producer(s) Steve Harley, Alan Parsons
Steve Harley & Cockney Rebel singles chronology
"Make Me Smile (Come Up and See Me)"
(1975)		 "Mr. Raffles (Man, It Was Mean)"
(1975)		 "Black or White"
(1975)

"Mr. Raffles (Man, It Was Mean)" is a single by British rock band Steve Harley & Cockney Rebel, released as the second single from the band's album The Best Years of Our Lives in 1975.[1]

Background

"Mr. Raffles (Man, It Was Mean)" was written by Harley and produced by both Harley and Alan Parsons. Following the success of the previous single "Make Me Smile (Come Up and See Me)" which went to the UK #1 Spot, "Mr. Raffles (Man, It Was Mean)" was selected as the follow-up single, after Harley, the band, and EMI Records all came to agreement on its release. The song was a success, and peaked at #13 in the UK for a total of six weeks. It debuted on the chart at #40 in early June 1975.[2]

Like the album, the song was recorded at EMI Studios, Abbey Road, and Air Studios, London, during November and December 1974. The song was mastered at EMI Studios as well.[3]

On The Best Years of Our Lives album, the song's title was shortened to "Mr. Raffles".[1]

In the June 2010 issue of Mojo magazine, Harley revealed that the song's titular character refers to a fictional thief created by author E.W. Hornung. He explained: "Raffles was a master thief. He was a con artist too. I use his name to invoke a religious allegory, yes. We see religion and its leaders in our own ways: Sham: "Man, it was mean to be seen in the robes you wore for Lent, you must've known that it was Easter." The Devil within: "Then in Amsterdam you were perfect fun. You never let on you had a gun and then you shot that Spanish Dancer." Truthfully, I always think these references and allusions are obvious to listeners, and it feels a little pretentious to explain. It's not T.S. Eliot, I know, but I was a serious young man!"[4]

Release

The single was released via 7" vinyl in the UK, Belgium, Finland, Germany, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Japan and Yugoslavia. All releases were through EMI except for the Yugoslavian release which was through Jugoton.[5][6] A UK promotional demo copy/DJ copy of the single was also released, which simply highlighted "Demo Records - Not for Resale" as the only difference from the main release.[7] The single featured the b-side "Sebastian (Live)" - a live version of the Cockney Rebel debut single and song from the 1973 album The Human Menagerie. The b-side was recorded live at the Hammersmith Odeon, London on 14 April 1975. The track was written by Harley and was produced by Harley and Parsons. The vinyl noted on the b-side "Live version: Increase volume to compensate for reduced level."[8] The live performance of the song featured drummer Stuart Elliott's brother Lyndsey Elliott and English guitarist Snowy White.

The UK, Finnish and New Zealand releases featured no artwork and used a generic sleeve instead, whilst other country releases did - each with different artwork. The German and Yugoslavian releases each featured a photograph highlighting Harley performing on stage. The Dutch release featured a close-up photograph of Harley, the Japanese release highlighted a photograph of Harley smoking outside a gate, and the Belgian release featured large text over a black background only, with no photograph.[5]

Following the original release on The Best Years of Our Lives album and as a single, the song has also appeared on many Steve Harley & Cockney Rebel compilations, including the 1975 American EMI release A Closer Look,[9] the 1980 EMI release The Best of Steve Harley and Cockney Rebel, the 1987 EMI release Greatest Hits, the 1992 EMI UK release Make Me Smile - The Best of Steve Harley And Cockney Rebel, the 1999 EMI Gold release The Cream of Steve Harley & Cockney Rebel, the 2000 Disky UK release Best of the 70's, and the 2006 EMI remastered three-disc box-set The Cockney Rebel - A Steve Harley Anthology.[10]

A live version appeared on the 1995 Windsong International UK compilation Live at the BBC, which Harley recorded for Nicky Campbell in 1992.[11]

In 1989, a live performance of the song was professionally filmed during the band's come back "All is Forgiven" tour. The performance was released on 20 October 1989 as a VHS, titled "Steve Harley + Cockney Rebel: The Live".[12] The VHS was released on DVD on 20 February 2012 via Odyssey, under the title "Steve Harley + Cockney Rebel Live".[13]

The live version from Brighton and Northampton in 1989 was also released on the Steve Harley & Cockney Rebel 1990 album Live and Unleashed,[14] and its many UK re-issues under various titles, such as the 1993 release Live in the UK,[15] the 1996 release Make Me Smile - Live on Tour,[16] the 1997 release Steve Harley & Cockney Rebel[17] and The Best Years of Your Life.[18] In Germany, a release of the album was issued in 1993 under the title Star for a Week.[19]

Promotion

The band appeared on UK music show Top of the Pops to perform the song - the broadcast episode dated 5 June 1975.[20] The show was wiped and presumed lost, however an audio recording of the performance exists.[21]

The song has also been performed live on many occasions, including a professionally filmed performance at the Hammersmith Odeon, London, on 14 April 1975, which is where the b-side "Sebastian" was taken from.[22] Numerous audience recordings and video footage exists of the track being performed live in recent years.[23]

Track listing

7" Single
  1. "Mr. Raffles (Man, It Was Mean)" - 4:33
  2. "Sebastian"
7" Single (UK promo)
  1. "Mr. Raffles (Man, It Was Mean)" - 4:33
  2. "Sebastian"

Critical reception

Donald A. Guarisco of Allmusic spoke of the song in a review of The Best Years of Our Lives album, stating "This album was a big hit in his native England, thanks to the fact that it spawned two major hit singles. The first was "Mr. Raffles," a surreal yet romanticized portrait of a convention-flaunting outlaw. The odd lyrics work thanks to the phenomenal tune backing them up, which contrasts gentle verses built on piano and acoustic guitar with choruses that work in a surprising but slickly integrated reggae beat."[24]

In an Allmusic review of the 1976 compilation A Closer Look, Guarisco described the song as "an impressionistic tune that layers surreal, Bob Dylanesque wordplay over a lushly produced musical backdrop that mixes keyboard-driven soft pop with reggae."[25]

Guarisco had also highlighted "Mr. Raffles (Man, It Was Mean)" as an album standout by labeling it an AMG Pick Track.[25]

On 8 April 1975, Record And Popswop Mirror reviewed The Best Years of Our Lives album, stating "...Thus the minute ragtime overture preceded by eerie space-age sounds, leads into songs which have both poetic form and quality. Mr Raffles deserves to be singles out as an absolute classic, but each song has a distinct character, culminating in the personal message - the title track."[26]

In the 1996 book "Rock: The Rough Guide" by Jonathan Buckley and Justin Lewis, the book mentioned Harley and the song, stating "The anthemic title track "The Best Years of Our Lives" and "Mr. Raffles" (the follow-up single to "Make Me Smile") both found Harley at his lyrical best."[27]

Chart performance

Chart (1975) Peak
position
UK Singles Chart (The Official Charts Company)[2] 13

Personnel

Additional personnel

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 "Steve Harley & Cockney Rebel - The Best Years Of Our Lives at Discogs". Discogs.com. Retrieved 2013-02-24.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 "The Official Charts Company - Mr Raffles (Man It Was Mean) by Steve Harley And Cockney Rebel Search". The Official Charts Company. 6 May 2013.
  3. ↑ "Steve Harley & Cockney Rebel - The Best Years Of Our Lives (Vinyl, LP, Album) at Discogs". Discogs.com. Retrieved 2013-02-24.
  4. ↑ http://www.songfacts.com/detail.php?id=19818
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 "The Best Years Of Our Lives". Harleyfanzone.com. Retrieved 2013-02-24.
  6. ↑ "Steve Harley & Cockney Rebel - Mr. Raffles (Man, It Was Mean) at Discogs". Discogs.com. Retrieved 2013-02-24.
  7. ↑ "Steve Harley & Cockney Rebel - Mr. Raffles (Man, It Was Mean) PROMO (Vinyl) at Discogs". Discogs.com. 1975-04-14. Retrieved 2013-02-24.
  8. ↑ "Sebastian - single label". Images.45cat.com. Retrieved 2012-06-29.
  9. ↑ "Mr. Raffles - Steve Harley & Cockney Rebel, Steve Harley : Listen, Appearances, Song Review". AllMusic. Retrieved 2013-02-24.
  10. ↑ "Steve Harley & Cockney Rebel Discography at Discogs". Discogs.com. 1976-08-05. Retrieved 2013-02-24.
  11. ↑ "Steve Harley & Cockney Rebel - Live At The BBC (CD) at Discogs". Discogs.com. Retrieved 2013-02-24.
  12. ↑ "Steve Harley and Cockney Rebel: Greatest Hits [VHS]: Steve Harley: Amazon.co.uk: Video". Amazon.co.uk. 1989-10-20. Retrieved 2012-12-07.
  13. ↑ "Steve Harley + Cockney Rebel Live [DVD]: Amazon.co.uk: Steve Harley & Cockney Rebel: Film & TV". Amazon.co.uk. 2012-02-20. Retrieved 2013-02-24.
  14. ↑ "Steve Harley & Cockney Rebel - Live And Unleashed (CD) at Discogs". Discogs.com. Retrieved 2012-12-25.
  15. ↑ "Live in the Uk (UK Import): Amazon.co.uk: Music". Amazon.co.uk. Retrieved 2012-12-25.
  16. ↑ Thompson, Dave (1996-06-25). "Make Me Smile - Steve Harley, Steve Harley & Cockney Rebel : Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards". AllMusic. Retrieved 2012-12-25.
  17. ↑ "Steve Harley And Cockney Rebel - : Release Information, Reviews and Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved 2012-12-25.
  18. ↑ "Steve Harley & Cockney Rebel, The best years of your life live CD New / Sealed". eBay. 2012-12-16. Retrieved 2012-12-25.
  19. ↑ "Steve Harley & Cockney Rebel - Star For A Week (CD, Album) at Discogs". Discogs.com. Retrieved 2012-12-25.
  20. ↑ ""Top of the Pops" Episode dated 21 October 1976 (1976) - Soundtracks". Uk.imdb.com. Retrieved 2013-02-24.
  21. ↑ YouTube (2011-01-12). "Cockney Rebel-Mr Raffles TOTP's.". YouTube. Retrieved 2013-02-24.
  22. ↑ YouTube (2012-12-10). "Steve Harley and Cockney Rebel - Mr Raffles - April 14th 1975 - Hammersmith Odeon". YouTube. Retrieved 2013-02-24.
  23. ↑ "steve harley raffles". YouTube. Retrieved 2013-02-24.
  24. ↑ Guarisco, Donald A. "The Best Years of Our Lives - Steve Harley & Cockney Rebel : Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards". AllMusic. Retrieved 2013-02-24.
  25. ↑ 25.0 25.1 Guarisco, Donald A. "A Closer Look - Steve Harley & Cockney Rebel : Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards". AllMusic. Retrieved 2013-02-24.
  26. ↑ "Best Years". Harleyfanzone.com. Retrieved 2013-02-24.
  27. ↑ Rock: the rough guide - Jonathan Buckley, Justin Lewis, Rough Guides (Firm) - Google Books. Books.google.co.uk. Retrieved 2013-02-24.