A Closer Look (Steve Harley & Cockney Rebel album)
| A Closer Look | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Compilation album by Steve Harley & Cockney Rebel | ||||
| Released | 1975 | |||
| Genre | Pop, Rock | |||
| Length | 47:37 | |||
| Label | EMI Records/Capitol Records | |||
| Steve Harley & Cockney Rebel chronology | ||||
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| Professional ratings | |
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| Review scores | |
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   |
| The Miami News (US) | favourable |
| Milwaukee Journal (US) | favourable |
A Closer Look is a compilation album by Steve Harley & Cockney Rebel, released in America in 1975. It features material from the original Cockney Rebel line-up, as well as Steve Harley & Cockney Rebel line-up.
Despite gaining a number of hits across Europe and the UK since 1973, Steve Harley & Cockney Rebel had yet to break the American market by 1975. The band had gained a cult following in the country, but hadn't seen any commercial success. In 1975, the band's label EMI attempted to break the band into the American mainstream by releasing the compilation A Closer Look. This release coincided with the band's first tour of America later in 1975, when they toured as a support act for The Kinks.
Although the album failed to generate commercial success for the band, it did provide a sampler of this group's work up to that point. The ten tracks on the compilation were taken from the band's first three studio albums; The Human Menagerie (1973), The Psychomodo (1974), and The Best Years of Our Lives (1975). One notable omission was the UK Top 5 hit "Judy Teen". The album was mastered at Capitol Mastering.
The album failed to enter the US Charts. However, "Make Me Smile (Come Up and See Me)", a UK number one hit, would make an entry on the US Billboard Hot 100, peaking at #96 in March 1976. It lasted within the Top 100 for three weeks. This was Harley and the band's only charting entry in America.
The album's was released on vinyl in America through EMI Records, with Capitol Records handling the manufacturing. It featured an inner sleeve with lyrics and was mastered at Capitol Mastering.
In attempt to gain interest in the compilation in the UK, the 6 December 1975 issue of Melody Maker magazine featured a black-and-white advert promoting the album. The advert stated the compilation was available from EMI International as a "special import".
The album was later given its first CD release in 2001. This release was issued as a double-album set by BGO Records along with the 1976 album Love's a Prima Donna.
All songs written and composed by Steve Harley.
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