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Saturday, June 27, 2015

Cockney Rebel : The Human Menagerie 1973

Fronted by ex-journalist Steve Harley (born Steven Nice), Cockney Rebel first stirred in mid-1973 with the release of the epochal single "Sebastian." With a lineup selected as much for its classical versatility as its rock punch, but with little care for the orchestral conceits which marred other bands of that ilk, Cockney Rebel debuted with one of the most widely acclaimed albums of the year.



The Human Menagerie succeeded in appearing both epic and concise at the same time and, while neither album nor single charted, both paved the way for what even cynics knew was an imminent breakthrough.



Reading the group's press, it was often difficult to determine where Harley's ambition ended and the journalist's praise began, but that, too, added to the buzz which surrounded them.

So much fevered activity finally paid off in spring 1974 with the release of "Judy Teen," the group's second single and an immediate Top Ten hit. Cockney Rebel followed through with landmark album, The Psychomodo, a gallant and extraordinarily adventurous album which promptly proved another massive success.


 Tracks

Side 1

01. Hideaway – 3:50
02. What Ruthy Said – 2:30
03. Loretta's Tale – 4:11
04. Crazy Raver – 3:44
05. Sebastian – 6:56

Side 2

06. Mirror Freak – 5:11
07. My Only Vice (Is the Fantastic Prices I Charge for Being Eaten Alive) – 2:48
08. Muriel the Actor – 4:08
09. Chameleon – 0:49
10. Death Trip – 9:51
11. Judy Teen
12. Rock & Roll Parade



SEBASTIAN

Εκπληκτικό κομμάτι , ένα έπος της δεκαετείας του 70 , μια γροθιά στα ομοφοβικά τελετουργικά εκείνων των σκοτεινών χρόνων , ακόμα και του σήμερα ( Βλέπε Μητρ/της Ανθ...ς ).Δεν έχει καμία σημασία η οπτική γωνία του τώρα γιά τους ομοφυλόφυλλους . Συγκλονίζομαι με το πάθος ενός τραγουδιστή , κορυφαίου μουσικού , συνθέτη , να ταξιδέψει σε άγνωστα στιχουργικά μονοπάτια τα οποία ελάχιστοι τόλμησαν να διασχίσουν . Τα ενορχιστρωτικά πινέλλα με τα οποία ζωγράφισε ο Harley το συγκεκριμένο τραγούδι θα μπορούσαν να μας χαρίσουν όλα τα ναρκωτικά οδοιπορικά μιας Glam εποχής και να αφαιρέσουν πολλά από τα κόμπλεξ του σήμερα .

SEBASTIAN  LYRICS

Radiate simply, the candle is burning, so low for me
Generate me limply, can't seem to place your name, cherie
To rearrange all these thoughts in a moment is suicide
Come to a strange place, we'll talk over old times we never smile

Somebody called me Sebastian
Somebody called me Sebastian
Work out a rhyme, toss me the time, lay me, you're mine
And we all know, oh yeah!


Your Persian eyes sparkle; your lips, ruby blue, never speak a sound
And you, oh so gay, with Parisian demands, you can run-around
And your view of society screws up my mind like you'll never know
Lead me away, come inside, see my mind in kaleidoscope

Somebody called me Sebastian
Somebody called me Sebastian
Mangle my mind, love me sublime, do it in style,
So we all know, oh yeah!

You're not gonna run, babe, we only just begun, babe, to compromise
Slagged in a Bowery saloon, love's a story we'll serialize


Pale angel face; green eye-shadow, the glitter is outasight
No courtesan could begin to decipher your beam of light

Somebody called me Sebastian
Somebody called me Sebastian
Dance on my heart, laugh, swoop and dart, la-di-di-da,
Now we all know you, yeah!


2 comments:

  1. Sebastian is one of my all time favourite songs, yet I have never sat down and read the lyrics - so many thanks for sharing them!

    Great to see the album in FLAC as well!

    ReplyDelete