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The Cockney Rebel hitmaker shares his favourite 70s records and memories.

The Cockney Rebel hitmaker shares his favourite 70s records and memories.

At the start of the decade, Steve Harley was living in London and working as a journalist. He began his singing career "floor-spotting" (singing for free as a member of the audience) in London folk clubs in 1971/72, but found the folk scene a little tame and, as he was constantly writing songs, formed Cockney Rebel as a vehicle for his own work. The band signed to EMI for a guaranteed three album deal in 1972 so Steve quit the day job, relinquishing his desk to a certain Richard Madeley (yes, that one!) who later said, "if you hadn't given it up to become a rock star, I may never have got my chance to become a reporter." The band released their first album in '73, and had two top 10 singles in 1974, but it wasn't until they released Make Me Smile (Come Up and See Me) in 1975 that their place in rock music history was confirmed: hitting no.1 across Europe and now recognised as one of the most played records in British broadcasting history.

1 hour, 55 minutes

Last on

Tue 28 Jan 2020 03:00
大象传媒 Radio 2

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See all episodes from Sounds of the 70s with Bob Harris

Music Played

  • The Jimmy Castor Bunch

    Troglodyte (Cave Man)

  • Pratt & McClain

    Happy Days

    • Television's Greatest Hits Volume 3 70s & 80s.
    • Silva Screen Records Ltd.

  • Queen

    Don't Stop Me Now

    • Jazz.
    • Island.
    • 12.

  • David Bowie

    Fame

    • David Bowie - Best Of Bowie.
    • EMI.

  • Electric Light Orchestra

    Mr. Blue Sky

    • The Very Best Of.
    • Frontiers Records.
    • T1.

  • Queen

    Crazy Little Thing Called Love

    • The Game.
    • Island.
    • 5.

  • Simon & Garfunkel

    Bye Bye Love

    • Bridge Over Troubled Water.

  • Olivia Newton鈥怞ohn

    Banks Of The Ohio

    • The Best Of.
    • EMI.
    • 10.

  • Fleetwood Mac

    Say You Love Me

    • 50 Years - Don't Stop.
    • Warner Bros.
    • 004.

  • Junior Campbell

    Hallelujah Freedom

    • 25 Years of Rock 'n' Roll - 1972.
    • Connoisseur Collection.

  • Joe Walsh

    Life's Been Good

    • Driving Rock (Various Artists).
    • Global Records & Tapes.

  • Lindisfarne

    Run For Home

    • Lindisfarne - On Tap.
    • Essential.

  • Emerson, Lake & Palmer

    Fanfare for the Common Man

    • The Best Of Emerson Lake & Palmer.
    • Atlantic.

  • Phoebe Snow

    Every Night

    • Uncovered (Various Artists).
    • Columbia.

  • Toots & The Maytals

    Reggae Got Soul

    • Mango.

  • Slade

    Gudbuy T'Jane

    • The Greatest Hits Of 1972 (Various).
    • Premier.

  • Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers

    American Girl

    • Greatest Hits.
    • MCA.

  • The Three Degrees

    When Will I See You Again

  • The Three Degrees

    When Will I See You Again

    • 25 Years Of Number 1 Hits Vol. 3 1974/75 (Various Artists).
    • Connoisseur Collection.

  • Steve Harley & Cockney Rebel

    Mr. Soft

    • Greatest Hits.
    • EMI.

  • The Walker Brothers

    No Regrets

    • Best Of Scott Walker & The Walker Bro.
    • Fontana.

  • Bob Dylan

    Belle Isle

    • Self Portrait.
    • Sony Music Entertainment UK Ltd.
    • 10.

  • Steve Harley & Cockney Rebel

    Make Me Smile (Come Up and See Me)

    • 20 Number 1's Of The 70's (Various).
    • MFP.

  • Cat Stevens

    How Can I Tell You

    • Steve Wright's Sunday Love Songs III.
    • Universal Music Tv/Bbc.

Broadcasts

  • Sun 26 Jan 2020 15:00
    大象传媒 Radio 2
  • Tue 28 Jan 2020 03:00
    大象传媒 Radio 2