Cavaliers: An Anthology 1973-1974

Cavaliers: An Anthology 1973-1974
Compilation album by Cockney Rebel featuring Steve Harley
Released 29 October 2012
Genre Rock/pop, glam rock, progressive rock
Label EMI
Cockney Rebel featuring Steve Harley chronology
Stranger Comes to Town
(2010)		 Cavaliers: An Anthology 1973-1974
(2012)		 Birmingham (Live with Orchestra & Choir)
(2013)

Cavaliers: An Anthology 1973-1974 is a 2012 remastered four-disc box-set anthology compilation album by Cockney Rebel.[1]

The anthology chronicles the recording career of the original line-up of Cockney Rebel, between 1973 and 1974. The set includes both of the band's albums The Human Menagerie (1973) and The Psychomodo (1974), as well as all the singles and non-album B-Sides. It also includes early alternative versions and mixes of tracks from both albums, a BBC in Concert session, a John Peel session and two tracks performed live on the Old Grey Whistle Test.[2]

The anthology was released in the UK and Europe by EMI, on CD. The set was mastered and remastered at Abbey Road Studios by Adam Nunn.[2]

The compilation was named after an album track from The Psychomodo album. The sleeve notes, under the heading "Young, Feisty and Fearless", were written by Harley himself, in which he recalls the writing of the songs, formation of the early stage of his career, and the recording of the two albums with the original line-up. Harley also made note that he was considering performing the two Cockney Rebel albums in their entirety. On 24 November 2012, Harley performed the two albums at the Birmingham Symphony Hall, with a 50-piece orchestra and chamber choir. The following year saw the release of the live album Birmingham (Live with Orchestra & Choir).[3]

Contents

Both of the band's albums are featured on Disc One and Two respectively: The Human Menagerie (1973) and The Psychomodo (1974), along with B-Sides, and other tracks.

On Disc One there are four bonus tracks aside from the original debut album. A DJ Edit of "Sebastian" was created for sending to DJ's for radio play. "Rock and Roll Parade" was B-Side to "Sebastian". "Judy Teen" was the band's first UK hit in early 1974, with the B-Side being "Spaced Out". Disc Two features two bonus tracks in addition to the band's second album. "Such a Dream" was the B-Side to "Mr. Soft". "Big Big Deal" was released in November 1974 as a non-album single, as Harley's solo debut, during the period between the band's split, and the formation of the second line-up.[4]

Disc Three largely consists of previously unreleased alternative versions, as well as other mixes, mainly of The Human Menagerie album. The alternative versions had been recently discovered at the time.[2] The early version of "Judy Teen" is dated 1 March 1973, recorded at Audio International Studios. A stereo mix of "Crazy Raver" is included, along with an unedited version of "Rock and Roll Parade", an alternative mix of "Mr. Soft" and the full version of "Big Big Deal".[4]

Disc Four features live performances from the band at the BBC in Concert, on the Old Grey Whistle Test and a John Peel Session.[5] The five tracks from the band in concert at the BBC were recorded on 22 January 1974 at the Hippdrome, Golders Green in London. It was first transmitted on 26 January 1974, and was introduced by Pete Drummond. The two tracks from the Old Grey Whistle Test were recorded on 10 February 1974 at the BBC TV Centre in London. The John Peel session, featuring five tracks, was produced by Tony Wilson for the BBC. It was recorded at Langham 1 on 28 May 1974, and first transmitted on 11 June 1974.[4] The two Old Grey Whistle Test tracks had not appeared on CD before, while the other performances on Disc Four had been previously released on the band's 1995 Windsong International compilation Live at the BBC.[6]

Track listing

All songs written and composed by Steve Harley.

Disc one

No. Title Length
1. "Hideaway"   3:52
2. "What Ruthy Said"   2:32
3. "Loretta's Tale"   4:13
4. "Crazy Raver"   3:47
5. "Sebastian"   6:59
6. "Mirror Freak"   5:13
7. "My Only Vice"   2:52
8. "Muriel the Actor"   4:11
9. "Chameleon"   0:48
10. "Death Trip"   9:54
11. "Sebastian (DJ Edit)"   3:54
12. "Rock and Roll Parade"   2:55
13. "Judy Teen"   3:45
14. "Spaced Out"   3:01

Disc two

No. Title Length
1. "Sweet Dreams"   2:05
2. "Psychomodo"   4:03
3. "Mr. Soft"   3:17
4. "Singular Band"   3:00
5. "Ritz"   7:17
6. "Cavaliers"   8:33
7. "Bed in the Corner"   3:32
8. "Sling It!"   2:43
9. "Tumbling Down"   5:58
10. "Such a Dream"   5:07
11. "Big Big Deal"   4:33

Disc three

No. Title Length
1. "Sebastian (Early Version)"   8:17
2. "Hideaway (Early Version)"   4:06
3. "Chameleon (Early Version)"   0:49
4. "Death Trip (Early Version)"   8:51
5. "Loretta's Tale (Early Version)"   4:48
6. "Crazy Raver (Early Version)"   4:04
7. "Mirror Freak (Early Version)"   5:37
8. "My Only Vice (Early Version)"   2:59
9. "Rock and Roll Parade (Early Version)"   3:31
10. "Judy Teen (Early Version)"   4:11
11. "Crazy Raver (Stereo Mix)"   3:46
12. "Rock and Roll Parade (Unedited Version)"   3:29
13. "Mr. Soft (Alternate Mix)"   3:22
14. "Big Big Deal (Full Version)"   5:36

Disc four

No. Title Length
1. "Hideaway (At the BBC in Concert 1974)"   5:03
2. "Crazy Raver (At the BBC in Concert 1974)"   3:50
3. "Loretta's Tale (At the BBC in Concert 1974)"   4:40
4. "Sebastian (At the BBC in Concert 1974)"   7:37
5. "Death Trip (At the BBC in Concert 1974)"   11:26
6. "Hideaway (Old Grey Whistle Test 1974)"   4:16
7. "My Only Vice (Old Grey Whistle Test 1974)"   2:48
8. "Bed in the Corner/Sling It! (John Peel Session 1974)"   6:08
9. "Mr Soft (John Peel Session 1974)"   3:16
10. "Sweet Dreams/Psychomodo (John Peel Session 1974)"   5:44

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Allmusic[7]
Mojo[2]
Q Magazine[2]
Uncut[8]

Allmusic writer Stephen Thomas Erlewine stated: "Needless to say, this [collection] is not for the causal fan - after all, Harley's biggest hit, "Make Me Smile (Come Up and See Me)," is nowhere to be found - but rather for those who want to dig deep, and those may not be limited to Harley fanatics, either. During these early years, Cockney Rebel blurred the lines between prog, glam, Canterbury, Roxy, and other arty flights of fancy, slowly gathering a sense of style and flash. "The Human Menagerie" is a little gangly but "The Psychomodo" is a full-stop gem, and fortunately that's the period that gets the greatest exploration here. Certainly, this box is for serious listeners, but it offers plenty of surprises and pleasures within its four discs."[7]

In the January 2013 issue of Mojo magazine, the compilation was described as: "Steve Harley's glam origins across four CDs. Melodically rich, playful and charismatic."[2]

In December 2012, Q magazine wrote: "These first two albums, spread over four CDs to encompass demos, live versions and extraneous singles, show how close Harley came to greatness."[2]

Uncut magazine's Jim Wirth described the set as a "4CD triumph for art-pop's 'Cocky Rabble'." He noted: "The high-concept theatrical rock showcased on Cockney Rebel’s first two albums is bigger on bravado than innovation, but Harley's determination, control freakery, and incipient narcissism scythe compellingly through Cavaliers, (a four disc compilation), demo recordings, Peel Sessions, live material and all."[8]

Personnel

Cockney Rebel

The Human Menagerie

The Psychomodo

Anthology

References

  1. ↑ "Cavaliers". harleyfanzone.com. Retrieved 24 March 2015.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "Cavaliers [An Anthology 1973-1974]: Amazon.co.uk: Music". amazon.co.uk. Retrieved 24 March 2015.
  3. ↑ "Official Steve Harley Website UK - The Times – a brilliant, 4-Star Review". steveharley.com. Retrieved 24 March 2015.
  4. 1 2 3 Cavaliers: An Anthology 1973-1974 liner notes booklet credits
  5. ↑ http://www.discogs.com/Cockney-Rebel-Featuring-Steve-Harley-Cavaliers-An-Anthology-1973-1974/release/4079127
  6. ↑ http://www.discogs.com/Steve-Harley-Cockney-Rebel-Live-At-The-BBC/release/2404114
  7. 1 2 Stephen Thomas Erlewine. "Cavaliers: An Anthology 1973-1974 - Cockney Rebel - Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards - AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved 24 March 2015.
  8. 1 2 Uncut (27 November 2012). "Cockney Rebel - Cavaliers - Uncut". Uncut. Retrieved 24 March 2015.
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