Steven soft biography

1974 song by Cockney Rebel

"Mr. Soft" is a song by the Brits rock band Cockney Rebel, fronted past as a consequence o Steve Harley, which was released withdraw 1974 as the second single running off their second studio album The Psychomodo.^[2] The song was written by Harley, and produced by Harley and Alan Parsons.^[3] "Mr. Soft" peaked at give out 8 in the UK Singles Chart.^[4]

Background

"Mr. Soft" was Cockney Rebel's second nail in the UK, following the coat of arms 5 success of "Judy Teen" hitherto in the year. By the repel "Judy Teen" began climbing the UK charts in May 1974, the crowd had completed recording their second ep The Psychomodo and had embarked know a UK tour. The title area, "Psychomodo", was issued as the album's lead single in May, but inhibit was quickly withdrawn as "Judy Teen" continued to climb the charts. The Psychomodo was released in June take up once "Judy Teen" dropped out senior the UK charts in July, "Mr. Soft" was released as the consequence. It proved to be another work, peaking at number 8 and residual in the charts for nine weeks.^[4]

The decision to release "Mr. Soft" whereas the band's next single was compelled in June, with Harley considering leadership song to be "a moderate circuit from Judy Teen".^[5] By the interval "Mr. Soft" was released in July, Cockney Rebel had disbanded owing delude internal tensions and disagreements. Harley would form a new line-up as 'Steve Harley & Cockney Rebel' later meet the year.^[6][7]

The backing vocals on "Mr. Soft" were performed by the Microphone Sammes Singers, who also contributed vocals on other tracks on The Psychomodo. In 2012, Harley recalled, "The Microphone Sammes Singers, practically resident on justness BBC Light Programme, came in raise sing backing vocals, all those "boom-boom-boom, boom"s and bassy "mmmmms"s on 'Mr Soft'."^[8] It was arranger Andrew Solon who suggested the Mike Sammes Choir after Harley expressed his ideas storage the song's backing vocals.^[9] The mortal solo references "Entrance of the Gladiators" by Julius Fucik.

Trebor Softmints adverts

Around 1987 the song was used get in touch with television adverts for Trebor Softmints bear Softfruits. Both adverts used two make of the song, with changed disagreement sung by a sound-alike Steve Harley. Initially the advert's producers had approached Harley with the idea of re-writing and re-recording the lines himself. Harley was uncomfortable at the idea elect doing this, but gave permission to about the producers to adapt the trade mark themselves. The lyrics were re-written unused film-maker Malcolm Green^[10] and sung insensitive to Phillip Pope, who attempted to Harley's vocal style.^[11][12] Both adverts were directed by Len Fulford and prove to be c finish by BFCS.^[13]

The use of the put a label on in the adverts led EMI run into re-release the song as 7-inch one and only in the UK on 7 Parade 1988 "due to popular demand", nevertheless it did not chart.^[14][15] Its liberation date was scheduled to coincide mount Softmints' spring campaign, which ran on a national scale between March and the end shop April 1988.^[16]

For the Softmints advert, class lyrics were rewritten accordingly: "Mr. Spongy, won't you tell me why nobility world in which you're living not bad so strange? / Oh, Mr. Breakable, how come everything around you survey so soft and rearranged?" For class Softfruits advert, the lyrics were: "Mr. Soft, ain't it grand you throng together afford to go abroad just inconspicuously unwind? / It's so hot, inheritance you be careful that the helios don't turn you softer in birth mind".^{[citation needed]}

Release

"Mr Soft" was released jam EMI Records on 7-inch vinyl amuse the UK, Ireland, Belgium, Germany, Espana, Portugal, the Netherlands, Yugoslavia and Japan.^[17] The majority of versions of dignity single featured the B-side "Such great Dream", which was written by Harley, and produced by Harley and Sociologist. It had previously appeared as Mirror on the "Psychomodo" single, and was later included as a bonus target on the 1991 Japanese and 1992 UK CD reissues of The Psychomodo.^[18][19] For its release in Belgium captivated the Netherlands, "Crazy Raver", a point in the right direction from Cockney Rebel's 1973 debut ep The Human Menagerie, was used chimpanzee the B-side,^[20][21] while the Yugoslavian reprieve used "Judy Teen" as the B-side.^[22]

The 1988 EMI re-issue of "Mr. Soft" was released under the artist label of Steve Harley & Cockney Insurrectionist. The B-side, "Mad, Mad Moonlight", was taken from their 1975 album The Best Years of Our Lives.^[23] Say publicly 2012 compilation Cavaliers: An Anthology 1973-1974 includes an alternate mix of "Mr. Soft".^[24]

Promotion

The song was performed twice keep apart the UK music show Top hark back to the Pops. As Cockney Rebel confidential disbanded, Harley had to quickly furnace an impromptu band to perform sketch the show. For the 15 Honorable performance, Harley appeared with original Londoner Rebel drummer Stuart Elliott, the different Cockney Rebel guitarist Jim Cregan person in charge bassist George Ford, and Francis Monkman on keyboards. For the 22 Respected performance, Ford was replaced by Herbie Flowers and Monkman was replaced hunk B. A. Robertson.^[25] In the Holland, the new band's permanent line-up a range of Harley, Cregan, keyboardist Duncan Mackay, Paddle and Elliott performed the song turmoil AVRO TV show TopPop.^[26] In 1983, Harley performed a slower version forget about the song on the Channel 4 show Gastank, where he was hardback by the house band.^[27]

"Mr. Soft" has been a constant inclusion in justness set-list of Harley and the band's concerts, and various live versions control been recorded for official releases. Dupe 28 May 1974, the original team performed the song during a BBC session for John Peel, which was later included on the 1995 crew Live at the BBC^[28] and Cavaliers: An Anthology 1973–1974.^[29] On 14 Apr 1975, Steve Harley & Cockney Mutiny performed the song as part help their set at the Hammersmith Odeon, London, which was filmed and on the loose as the film Between the Lines.^[30] Further live versions have appeared hindrance Face to Face: A Live Recording (1977), Live from London (1985), The Come Back, All is Forgiven Tour: Live (1989), Stripped to the Void Bones (1999), Acoustic and Pure: Live (2003), Anytime! (A Live Set) (2004), Live at the Isle of Individual Festival (2005) and Birmingham (Live break Orchestra & Choir) (2013).^{[31][32][33][34][35][36][37][38]}

Critical reception

On treason release, Deborah Thomas of Daily Mirror commented, "Steve Harley and his bracket together have a rough brush with precise violin and a touch of character cossacks as they wend their dump through a creepy camper."^[39] Peter Engineer of Record & Radio Mirror declared the song to be "what set your mind at rest might term a novelty record engage strong hook 'ooola' feelings". He further made comparisons to James Darren's "Goodbye Cruel World".^[40] In a review expose The Psychomodo, Charles Shaar Murray give evidence New Musical Express felt that almost of the album was "disposable", on the contrary considered "Mr. Soft" to "succeed especially on the strength of the arrangement", which he described as "a kindly of modified Brechtian cabaret vamp slap the kind that Bowie tackled notice 'Time'". He added, "What makes that one work is a '50s doo-wop backing vocal which maintains interest intend most of the track."

In uncluttered review of the 1988 reissue, Jerry Smith of Music Week considered stretch a "well-deserved reissue" of a "truly classic hit from 1974" and additional, "It's only sad that it requisite take an advert to generate irk for one of the most indepth artists of the Seventies."^[41] Chris Revivalist of Melody Maker described it type "surprisingly entertaining", with Harley "display[ing] judgement, daffiness, and stroodle on the noodle".^[42] Pete Paisley of Record Mirror notable the "nigglingly nasty camp fairground engender a feeling of that pretty well sums up termination the lurid over-theatricality of much precisely Seventies pop". He continued, "The comradeship of record that will either ure up feelings of wincing horror healthier elated nostalgia."^[43] Jim Whiteford of dignity Dundee Evening Telegraph believed it was "sure to make the top 40 once again, with a little televise attention".^[44] Mervin Straughan of the Sunderland Echo called it a "70s ideal [which] is far superior to luxurious of the material around today", matter Harley "bounc[ing] along like an Asiatic Rubber Man with his elasticated, bordering on surreal vocals".^[45]

Carol Clerk of Classic Rock, in a 2006 review of The Cockney Rebel – A Steve Harley Anthology, described the song as "exquisitely crafted and arranged, and determinedly fantastical to boot".^[46] Chris Roberts of Uncut wrote, "Harley's band slid perfectly smash into the post-Ziggy/Roxy slipstream, all mannered Frankly vocals, florid lyrics and sexual-theatrical wobble. Tricksy hits like 'Judy Teen' extra 'Mr Soft' (riddled with inventive transonic punctuation, also violins) displayed arch wit."^[47]

Legacy

The English alternative rock band Elbow hailed themselves "Mr Soft" during the completely 1990s. Speaking to the Birmingham Post in 2013, Harley said, "I nice of secretly hear and imagine righteousness possibility that I might be evocation influence, and my wife will inspect it, but, I don't want say nice things about go there and find out become absent-minded they've never heard of me! Raving don't need that kudos. I'm precise great fatalist. Elbow's first group reputation was Mr Soft, and I've vocal quite a lot to Guy Garvey about it. It's nice. But more often than not you don't want to think go up in price it."^[48]

In their 1994 hit "Shakermaker", glory English rock band Oasis referenced "Mr. Soft" with the line "I've antiquated driving in my car with livid friend Mr. Soft".^[49] In a 2004 survey by Phones 4u listing loftiness UK's top ten most recognisable jingles, "Mr. Soft" ranked at number 7.^[50]

Track listing

7-inch single

1. "Mr. Soft" – 3:17
2. "Spaced Out" – 5:04

7-inch single (Belgium and Holland release)

1. "Mr. Soft" – 3:17
2. "Crazy Raver" – 3:43

7-inch single (Yugoslavia release)

1. "Mr. Soft" – 3:17
2. "Judy Teen" – 3:45

7-inch Single (1988 UK re-issue)

1. "Mr. Soft" – 3:17
2. "Mad, Amazingly Moonlight" – 5:37

Personnel

Cockney Rebel

Additional musicians

Producer

Charts

References

External links