When I'm with You (Steve Harley song)

"When I'm with You"
Single by Steve Harley
B-side Theme From "Babbacombe Lee"
Released 1989
Format 7"
Genre Pop-rock
Length 3:32
Label Vital Vinyl
Writer(s) Steve Harley, Jim Cregan, Stuart Elliott
Producer(s) Harley, Cregan, Elliott
Steve Harley singles chronology
"Mr. Soft (re-issue)"
(1988)		 "When I'm with You"
(1989)		 "Make Me Smile (Come Up and See Me)" (re-issue)
(1992)

"When I'm with You" is a song by British singer-songwriter Steve Harley, released as a non-album single in 1989.[1][2] The song was written and produced by Harley and his ex-Cockney Rebel bandmates guitarist Jim Cregan and drummer Stuart Elliott.

Background

Throughout the 1980s, Harley did not release any new albums, but a handful of singles which either became minor hits or failed to chart.[3] Although he performed live on rare occasions in the early to mid-1980s, Harley wouldn't re-emerge fully until in 1989 when he toured the UK and Europe with a new line-up of the Cockney Rebel band. In early 1989 Harley went into the studio with Jim Cregan, Duncan Mackay and Stuart Elliott to record some demos. The sessions worked well, and were deemed successful. All three musicians Harley worked with for these demos were in the most successful reincarnation of Cockney Rebel, from 1975 to 1977.[4]

With a new manager Harley arranged to tour England and as well as Europe, and this tour was labelled as "The Comeback: All Is Forgiven" tour. For this upcoming tour Harley added a selection of new songs to his repertoire; "Not Alone Anymore" (the Roy Orbison-penned track from the 1988 album Traveling Wilburys Vol. 1 by supergroup Traveling Wilburys), and three original numbers; "Dancing on the Telephone", "When I'm with You" and "The Lighthouse". Upon embarking on the tour Harley released "When I'm with You" as a non-album single, purposely to promote the tour. Although the tour was a success, and Harley began to tour regularly afterwards, the single failed to chart.[4][5]

"When I'm with You" was Harley's first single of new material since 1986's "Irresistible", discounting the 1988 charity single "Whatever You Believe", which was a collaboration between Jon Anderson, Harley and Mike Batt. It would also be Harley's last release of new material until 1992. The two tracks "Dancing on the Telephone" and "The Lighthouse" would later be recorded for Harley's 1992 studio album Yes You Can, but the album would not include "When I'm with You".[6]

The B-Side is an instrumental track titled "Theme From "Babbacombe Lee", which was labelled on the vinyl as from the forthcoming movie Babbacombe Lee.[2] The song was written solely by Harley, and produced by Harley and Steve Hills.[2] The film, which never materialised, was to be based on the true story of John 'Babbacombe' Lee, who survived three attempts to hang him in Victorian times. The film was due to feature Harley as the leading character, however those involved with the project were never able to secure funding.[4] A different version of the track later appeared as a B-Side to the 1992 European CD single release of "Irresistible", a single taken from the Yes You Can album. The song was renamed to "The Waggon", and production was re-credited to Harley and Matt Butler, for Priceart Ltd.[7][8]

Release

The single was released via 7" vinyl through Vital Records in the UK only. The single was published by BMG Music and JSE Music Ltd., and distributed by Precision Records & Tapes Limited.[1] The single featured a black-and-white sleeve, with the front cover highlighting a close-up photograph of Harley.[9]

Following the song's release as a single, the song has not appeared on any other release or compilation. As a result it has never had a digital release, and therefore remains on the now out-of-print vinyl only. However a live version of the song, recorded from either Brighton or Northampton in 1989, was professionally filmed, and this was released on 20 October 1989 as a VHS, titled "Steve Harley + Cockney Rebel: Live".[10] In 2012, the concert was released on DVD under the title "Steve Harley + Cockney Rebel Live".[11]

Following the release of the footage, the same concert would again emerge as an album, first released as the Steve Harley & Cockney Rebel 1990 album Live and Unleashed.[12] It later received many UK re-issues afterwards under various titles, such as the 1993 release Live in the UK,[13] the 1996 release Make Me Smile - Live on Tour,[14] the 1997 release Steve Harley & Cockney Rebel[15] and The Best Years of Your Life.[16] In Germany, a release of the album was issued in 1993 under the title Star for a Week.[17]

Track listing

7" Single
  1. "When I'm with You" - 3:32
  2. "Theme From "Babbacombe Lee"" - 3:24

Personnel

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 http://www.discogs.com/Steve-Harley-When-Im-With-You/release/4454783
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 "45cat - Steve Harley - When I'm With You / Theme From "Babbacombe Lee" - Vital Vinyl - UK - VIT 3". Retrieved 27 September 2014.
  3. ↑ "Singles 1983-2002". Retrieved 27 September 2014.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 "The Great Steve Harley and Cockney Rebel Story". Retrieved 27 September 2014.
  5. ↑ Every Chart Topper Tells a Story. Retrieved 27 September 2014.
  6. ↑ "Official Steve Harley Website UK - Yes You Can (1992)". Retrieved 27 September 2014.
  7. ↑ http://www.discogs.com/Steve-Harley-Irresistible/release/4160717
  8. ↑ http://www.discogs.com/viewimages?release=4160717
  9. ↑ http://www.discogs.com/viewimages?release=4454783
  10. ↑ "Steve Harley and Cockney Rebel: Greatest Hits [VHS]: Steve Harley: Amazon.co.uk: Video". Amazon.co.uk. 1989-10-20. Retrieved 2012-12-25.
  11. ↑ "Steve Harley + Cockney Rebel Live [DVD]: Amazon.co.uk: Steve Harley & Cockney Rebel: Film & TV". Amazon.co.uk. 2012-02-20. Retrieved 2012-12-25.
  12. ↑ "Steve Harley & Cockney Rebel - Live And Unleashed (CD) at Discogs". Discogs.com. Retrieved 2012-12-25.
  13. ↑ "Live in the Uk (UK Import): Amazon.co.uk: Music". Amazon.co.uk. Retrieved 2012-12-25.
  14. ↑ Thompson, Dave (1996-06-25). "Make Me Smile - Steve Harley, Steve Harley & Cockney Rebel : Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards". AllMusic. Retrieved 2012-12-25.
  15. ↑ "Steve Harley And Cockney Rebel - : Release Information, Reviews and Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved 2012-12-25.
  16. ↑ "Steve Harley & Cockney Rebel, The best years of your life live CD New / Sealed". eBay. 2012-12-16. Retrieved 2012-12-25.
  17. ↑ "Steve Harley & Cockney Rebel - Star For A Week (CD, Album) at Discogs". Discogs.com. Retrieved 2012-12-25.