Love's a Prima Donna

Love's a Prima Donna
Studio album by Steve Harley & Cockney Rebel
Released October 1976
Recorded June–September 1976
Genre Glam rock[1]
Length 45:39
Label EMI
Producer Steve Harley
Steve Harley & Cockney Rebel chronology
Timeless Flight
(1976)		 Love's a Prima Donna
(1976)		 Face to Face: A Live Recording
(1977)

Love's a Prima Donna is an album by Steve Harley & Cockney Rebel, released in October 1976. The album reached No. 28 in the UK Albums Chart in November 1976.[2]

Background

With the formation of Cockney Rebel Mark II, Harley saw big commercial success with the band's 1975 album The Best Years of Our Lives, which spawned the band's number-one, million-selling single "Make Me Smile (Come Up and See Me)". The following year saw the release of the following album Timeless Flight, which was a Top 20 success in the UK, though its two singles failed to make any chart appearances. Once promotion was completed for the album the band began recording Love's a Prima Donna, which would turn out to be the band's final album before Harley launched a solo career. The album was recorded over a four-month period at Abbey Road Studios in London (June–September 1976).[3][4] In a Record Mirror article dated 11 September 1976, it was announced that the album had been completed, and Harley was due to fly to Los Angeles to cut the disc. It was also noted the group were looking for a new guitarist, following the departure of Jim Cregan, who joined Rod Stewarts' band.[5] Jo Partidge, who provided guitar and backing vocals on "Here Comes the Sun", as well as backing vocals on "(If This Is Love) Give Me More", would replace Cregan on the band's following tour.

As well as showcasing the same style of glam rock used on the group's earlier records, the album draws upon a number of other musical styles including progressive rock, folk, doo-wop, and reggae.[1] Harley played electric guitar for the first time on record on "(If This Is Love) Give Me More". The song "Sidetrack II" was preceded by "Sidetrack 1", which was the B-Side to the "(I Believe) Love's a Prima Donna" single. "Here Comes the Sun" also contained the non-album B-Side "Lay Me Down", which remains exclusive to the single to date.

The lead single chosen to return Harley to the charts was a cover version of George Harrison's "Here Comes the Sun", originally recorded by The Beatles for their 1969 album Abbey Road. Released in July 1976,[6] it became the most successful UK cover, reaching #10 in the UK chart, lasting in the Top 100 for seven weeks.[2] With the album soon to be released, the second single released was "(I Believe) Love's a Prima Donna", which failed to become the big hit expected, though it did reach #41 in the UK. It lasted four weeks within the Top 100.[2] "(Love) Compared with You" was also issued as the third single, however this was in America only as a promotional release. The song was originally planned to be a single release in the UK, much like the cancelled "Psychomodo" single from 1974. However, the single release was cancelled.[7] With the release of the album, it peaked at #28 in the UK, lasting in the Top 100 for three weeks.[2] It became Harley's last studio album to reach the Top 100 in the UK.[8]

Later in 2015, Harley revealed to guitar-bass.net the albums that had most had an influence on him, under the "Soundtrack of my Life" section. One of the album's was his own Love's a Prima Donna, and he revealed: "This is not self-indulgence, I swear! I gave free rein to Jim Cregan during the recordings and he rewarded me with some brilliant parts, which I could harmonise with the keyboards. The more outlandish my production became, the more Jim pushed himself. Cockney Rebel started as a non-guitar band, and here we are offering up lashings of electric mayhem!"[9]

Release

The album was released via EMI on vinyl LP in the UK, US, Canada and Europe. Within Europe this included Germany, Sweden, Portugal, and the Netherlands.[10] In 1990 the album was given its first CD release by EMI. In 2001 BGO Records released the album on CD as a double-set with the 1976 American compilation A Closer Look.[11]

Promotion

The band embarked on a tour to promote the album. From this tour Harley recorded a number of concerts, sorted the best tracks and released a double live album in 1977 titled Face to Face: A Live Recording. It reached #40 in the UK,[2] and included six tracks from Love's a Prima Donna.[12]

A music video was created for the "Here Comes the Sun" single.[13] The band also performed the song on Top of the Pops.[14] "(I Believe) Love's a Prima Donna" was also performed on Top of the Pops.[15] Both songs have frequently appeared in Harley's live set-list over the years, while "(Love) Compared with You" has made occasional appearances in recent years.

Track listing

No. TitleWriter(s) Length
1. "Seeking a Love"  Steve Harley 0:43
2. "G.I. Valentine"  Harley 1:29
3. "Finally a Card Came"  Harley 2:28
4. "Too Much Tenderness"  Harley 4:16
5. "(Love) Compared with You"  Harley 4:20
6. "(I Believe) Love's a Prima Donna"  Harley 4:11
7. "Sidetrack II"  Harley 3:13
8. "Seeking a Love, Pt. 2"  Harley 1:09
9. "If This Is Love (Give Me More)"  Harley 4:25
10. "Carry Me Again"  Harley 4:30
11. "Here Comes the Sun"  George Harrison 2:55
12. "Innocence and Guilt"  Harley 7:13
13. "Is It True What They Say?"  Harley 4:41

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Allmusic[1]
Sounds[3]
Record Mirror[16]
Music Talkfavourable[17]
National RockStarunfavourable[18]
The Miami Newsfavourable[19]

Allmusic journalist Donald A. Guarisco retrospectively noted "Although he created a decadent glam rocker image through early albums like The Human Menagerie and The Psychomodo, Harley soon revealed a romantic heart beating beneath all the artsy sleaze on singles like "Judy Teen" and "Make Me Smile (Come Up and See Me)". This 1976 album allowed him to give full vent to his romantic thoughts via lushly crafted songs about the travails of love. Harley's ambitions occasionally overwhelm him, but the best songs rank with Harley's finest work and the album manages to overcome its occasional excesses thanks to a crisp, consistent production that keeps its genre-hopping sounding smooth. In short, it takes a few listens to assimilate, but it is an impressively crafted album that offers plenty of rewards for Harley fans and anyone who can appreciate glam rock at its most artsy."[1]

In Sounds magazine, dated 13 November 1976, Geoff Barton reviewed the album, stating

Love's a Prima Donna goes closer to the bone than ever before. In the past, Harley's lyrics have tended to be oblique and obscure, open to wide interpretation. With this latest album, however, he appears to be laying his life on the line - and it's often quite a painful thing to see. Dictionary definition of 'prima donna' is "a temperamental person" and this is how Harley would seem to regard love. The album is loosely conceptual, four subjects having overall dominance, these being - (a) looking for someone to love, (b) losing that love, (c) looking back to mother for 'spiritual' guidance and (d) expressing discontent with the rock 'n' roll business. Each sentiment comes across intensely, cutting through the listener like a keen blade. Harley bares his soul and comes across like some confused adolescent. What happened to Harley in his private life to make him record such an emotive album, I wouldn't like to guess. Suffice it to say that it is an incredible album, the playing and it's overall structure being unparalleled, voice effects and stacatto instrumental breaks abounding. "Love's a Prima Donna" is often amusing, sometimes embarrassing, but also - in a twisted, tangled sort of way - infinitely enjoyable.[3]

Barry Cain, writing for the Record Mirror magazine in November 1976, wrote "Choirs, nursery noises, nubile Lancashire lasses, you name it - Steve Harley's got it on his new album. He uses every conceivable gimmick in the book on this, his strongest elpee to date. So what if the guy can't sing a note. But with a voice like that who cares? He doesn't seem to be taking himself quite so seriously these days... and that makes for a flexible, more relaxed sound. A great album."[20]

In National RockStar, dated 20 November 1976, Paul Phillips wrote "Since this album contains the ugliest version to date of George Harrison's "Here Comes the Sun" it naturally has to be approached with some trepidation. "Here Comes The Sun" bears all the hallmarks of the accomplished lyricist desperately attempting to become the acclaimed musician/arranger - mistaking clumsiness for cleverness and arrogance for art. Unfortunately, these faults permeate the entire album. "(Love) Compared With You" and "Carry Me Again" are two tracks which work, not because they are simple songs, but because they are simply presented. What spoils the rest of the album is the desperation which attends Harley's efforts to be musical/innovative/disturbing. A pity that such a promising and outrageous talent as Harley's should be allowed to stoop to the low level which this album achieves."[18]

In the EMI Records Weekly News magazine, Music Talk (issue number 72), Rex Anderson detailed a track-by-track review of the album. In summing the album up he wrote "Philosophers have been trying to define "love" ever since Eve. Steve Harley believes "love" is a prima donna: Love is beautiful but it's a pain in the backside. The album is Steve's look at love. He sees it as a necessary evil, as something both dirty and beautiful. Much of it is, of necessity, sexual, but it is also comic and tragic. Musically the album is a masterpiece and listening to it to write this review brought home perhaps one of the most important facts about it which is that it must establish Steve as one of the finest producers in the country."[21]

In the Miami News of 3 December 1976, music critic Jon Marlowe reviewed the album, and wrote "This is the one that should make Harley/Cockney Rebel as big in America as they are in their native England. With "Love's a Prima Donna", Harley has decided to undertake the tattered and worn idea of a concept LP - but don't fear, the kid pulls it off in grande musical style. The album also finds Harley disposing of his decadent words and feelings - and he's now writing of finding somebody to love. Like the "nubile Lancashire lass" says at the end of the LP, "Love's a Prima Donna" is "great, terrific, great, great, no really, great, terrific, great."[19]

Chart performance

Chart (1976) Peak
position
UK Albums Chart[2] 28

Personnel

Band
Additional musicians
Production

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Donald A. Guarisco. "AllMusic review". Retrieved 1 December 2015.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 http://www.officialcharts.com/artist/18068/steve-harley/
  3. 1 2 3 Barton, Geoff (13 November 1976). "Dark Clouds on the Harley Horizon". Sounds.
  4. ↑ "Steve Harley And Cockney Rebel* - Love's A Prima Donna (Vinyl, LP, Album)". Discogs.com. Retrieved 2016-07-27.
  5. ↑ "Prima Donna Harley". Record Mirror. 11 September 1976.
  6. ↑ "Here Comes the Sun". 45cat. Retrieved 1 December 2015.
  7. ↑
  8. ↑ "STEVE HARLEY & COCKNEY REBEL | full Official Chart History | Official Charts Company". Theofficialcharts.com. Retrieved 2016-07-27.
  9. ↑ "Official Steve Harley Website UK - Soundtrack of my LIfe". Steveharley.com. 2015-11-10. Retrieved 2016-07-27.
  10. ↑ "Steve Harley And Cockney Rebel* - Love's A Prima Donna". Discogs.com. Retrieved 2016-07-27.
  11. ↑ http://www.steveharley.com/discography/13-steve-harley-and-cockney-rebel/200-loves-a-prima-donna-.html
  12. ↑ http://web.archive.org/web/20150703025222/http://steveharley.www.50megs.com/bio.html
  13. ↑ "Steve Harley & Cockney Rebel ~ Here Comes the Sun". YouTube. 2011-09-05. Retrieved 2016-07-27.
  14. ↑ "Steve Harley & Cockney Rebel - Here Comes The Sun [totp2". YouTube. 2008-09-23. Retrieved 2016-07-27.
  15. ↑ "Steve Harley & Cockney Rebel - Love's A Prima Donna". YouTube. 2012-12-13. Retrieved 2016-07-27.
  16. ↑ Cain, Barry (November 1976). "Cockney Chameleon Changes Colour". Record Mirror.
  17. ↑
  18. 1 2 Phillips, Paul (20 November 1976). "Prima Donna Falls Flat on Face". National RockStar.
  19. 1 2 Marlowe, Jon (3 December 1976). "Album Reviews". The Miami News.
  20. ↑ Barry Cain. "Cockney Chameleon changes colour". Archived from the original on 10 December 2014. Retrieved 1 December 2015.
  21. ↑ Anderson, Rex (1976). "Music Talk: Love's a Prima Donna". EMI Records Weekly News, Issue No. 72.
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