Psychomodo
"Psychomodo" | ||||
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Single by Cockney Rebel | ||||
from the album The Psychomodo | ||||
B-side | "Such a Dream" | |||
Released | 17 May 1974 | |||
Genre | Rock | |||
Length | 4:03 | |||
Label | EMI | |||
Songwriter(s) | Steve Harley | |||
Producer(s) |
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Cockney Rebel singles chronology | ||||
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"Psychomodo" is a song by the British rock band Cockney Rebel, fronted by Steve Harley. It was released in 1974 as the lead single from their second studio album The Psychomodo. "Psychomodo" was written by Harley, and produced by Harley and Alan Parsons.
Background
"Psychomodo" was recorded during sessions for The Psychomodo in February–March 1974. The song was inspired by the album's overall theme which was described by Harley in 1974 as "very much a concept: psychomodal – stream of consciousness".[1] On The Psychomodo, the song is preceded by the opening track "Sweet Dreams", which segues into "Psychomodo".
Release
EMI originally intended to release "Psychomodo" as a single in the UK, with a release date of 17 May 1974. Although copies were pressed,[2] EMI cancelled the single's release when the band's preceding single "Judy Teen", which was released in March 1974, began to climb the UK Singles Chart. It made its debut on 11 May and reached its peak at number 5 on 22 June.[3]
"Psychomodo" still received a single release in certain Europe countries (Belgium, France and the Netherlands) and became a hit in Belgium in June–July 1974.[4] The B-side, "Such a Dream", was written by Harley, and produced by Harley and Parsons. It was initially exclusive to the single, but then appeared as the B-side to the band's following single "Mr. Soft". "Such a Dream" has also appeared as a bonus track on EMI's 1990 CD release of The Psychomodo,[5] and on the 2012 compilation Cavaliers: An Anthology 1973-1974.[6]
Promotion
As a regular inclusion in the set-list, "Psychomodo" has been performed live by Steve Harley & Cockney Rebel on many occasions, and various live versions have been recorded for official releases. On 28 May 1974, Cockney Rebel performed it during a BBC session for John Peel, which was later released on the 1995 compilation Live at the BBC[7] and Cavaliers: An Anthology 1973–1974.[8] Other live versions have appeared on Face to Face (1977), The Come Back, All is Forgiven Tour: Live (1989) and Acoustic and Pure: Live (2003).[9][10]
Critical reception
On its release, the Belgian magazine Popshop was critical of the song for moving Cockney Rebel "in the rock direction". They added, "With songs like this Cockney Rebel could well become a one hit wonder."[11] In a review of The Psychomodo, Record Mirror stated: "The great merit of Harley's insanity is that it's laid bare here for every lost blimp to indulge. 'Psychomodo': 'I've been losing my head, I've been losing my way, I've been losing my brain cells at a million a day, I'm so disillusioned, I'm on suicide street...' Harley cleans out his soul and wherever he's going, he's going to take a lot with him."[12]
Donald A. Guarisco of AllMusic retrospectively reviewed the song, stating, "One of the highlights of Cockney Rebel was the wild lyrics of Steve Harley, who often fused serious ideas with dazzling wordplay along the lines of Marc Bolan. An interesting example of this approach is the title track from 1974's The Psychomodo". He described the "dense, wordy" lyrics as being "like a trip through the mind of a mentally frazzled rock star" and noted the "quick-paced verses of twisty melodic frills" and the "attention-getting chorus".[13] In a retrospective review of The Psychomodo, Dave Thompson of AllMusic stated, "Reversing the nature of The Human Menagerie, the crucial songs here are not those extended epics. Rather, it is the paranoid vignette of 'Sweet Dreams,' the panicked brainstorm of the title track; and the stuttering, chopping, hysterical nightmare of 'Such a Dream'."[14]
Cover versions
In 1980, the post-punk band Scars recorded a version of the song as the B-side to their single "Love Song", which was released on the PRE/Charisma label in May 1980.[15][16]
Track listing
7-inch single
- "Psychomodo" – 4:03
- "Such a Dream" – 5:03
Personnel
Cockney Rebel
- Steve Harley – vocals, producer
- Jean-Paul Crocker – electric violin, guitar
- Milton Reame-James – keyboards
- Paul Jeffreys – Fender bass
- Stuart Elliott – drums, percussion
Production
- Alan Parsons – producer
- Chris Blair – mastering
Charts
Chart (1974) | Peak position |
---|---|
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[17] | 28 |
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Wallonia)[18] | 42 |
References
- ^ Harvey, Pete (9 November 1974). "Steve Harley". Record & Popswop Mirror. p. 23.
- ^ "Cockney Rebel - Psychomodo / Such A Dream - EMI - UK - EMI 2161". 45cat. Retrieved 26 April 2013.
- ^ "COCKNEY REBEL; full Official Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 22 January 2022.
- ^ "Cockney Rebel - Psychomodo". ultratop.be. Retrieved 26 April 2013.
- ^ "Cockney Rebel - The Psychomodo (CD, Album) at Discogs". Discogs.com. Retrieved 26 April 2013.
- ^ "Cockney Rebel Featuring Steve Harley - Cavaliers: An Anthology 1973-1974 (CD) at Discogs". Discogs.com. Retrieved 26 April 2013.
- ^ "Steve Harley & Cockney Rebel - Live At The BBC (CD) at Discogs". discogs.com. Retrieved 20 July 2014.
- ^ "Cavaliers [An Anthology 1973-1974]: Amazon.co.uk: Music". amazon.co.uk. Retrieved 20 July 2014.
- ^ Thompson, Dave. "Face to Face - Steve Harley : Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards". AllMusic. Retrieved 29 June 2013.
- ^ "Steve Harley and Cockney Rebel: Greatest Hits [VHS]: Steve Harley: Amazon.co.uk: Video". Amazon.co.uk. 20 October 1989. Retrieved 7 December 2012.
- ^ "Cockney Rebel - Popshop July '74". Harleyfanzone.com. Retrieved 26 April 2013.
- ^ "New bands show the way". Harleyfanzone.com. Archived from the original on 18 May 2014. Retrieved 29 June 2013.
- ^ Guarisco, Donald A. "Psychomodo - Cockney Rebel, Steve Harley : Listen, Appearances, Song Review". AllMusic. Retrieved 26 April 2013.
- ^ Thompson, Dave. "The Psychomodo - Cockney Rebel, Steve Harley & Cockney Rebel : Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards". AllMusic. Retrieved 29 June 2013.
- ^ "Scars - Love Song / Psychomodo - PRE - UK - PRE 005". 45cat.com. 23 November 2011. Retrieved 10 October 2016.
- ^ "Scars (2) - Love Song (Vinyl)". Discogs.com. 6 October 2016. Retrieved 10 October 2016.
- ^ "Cockney Rebel – Psychomodo" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 27 June 2020.
- ^ "Cockney Rebel – Psychomodo" (in French). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 27 June 2020.
- v
- t
- e
- Steve Harley
- Stuart Elliott
- James Lascelles
- Barry Wickens
- Kuma Harada
- Robbie Gladwell
- David Delarre
- Oli Hayhurst
- John Crocker
- Adam Houghton
- Paul Jeffreys
- Nick Jones
- Pete Newnham
- Milton Reame-James
- Jim Cregan
- George Ford
- Francis Monkman
- Duncan Mackay
- Lindsey Elliott
- Jo Partridge
- Ian Nice
- Lincoln Anderson
- Paul Cuddeford
- Marty Prior
(Cockney Rebel)
- The Human Menagerie (1973)
- The Psychomodo (1974)
(Steve Harley
& Cockney Rebel)
- The Best Years of Our Lives (1975)
- Timeless Flight (1976)
- Love's a Prima Donna (1976)
- The Quality of Mercy (2005)
(Steve Harley)
- Hobo with a Grin (1978)
- The Candidate (1979)
- Yes You Can (1992)
- Poetic Justice (1996)
- Stranger Comes to Town (2010)
- Uncovered (2020)
- Face to Face: A Live Recording (1977)
- Stripped to the Bare Bones (1999)
- Acoustic and Pure: Live (2003)
- Anytime! (A Live Set) (as The Steve Harley Band, 2004)
- Birmingham (Live with Orchestra & Choir) (2013)
- A Closer Look (1975)
- The Best of Steve Harley and Cockney Rebel (1980)
- Greatest Hits (1987)
- Make Me Smile – The Best of Steve Harley and Cockney Rebel (1992)
- Live at the BBC (1995)
- More Than Somewhat – The Very Best of Steve Harley (1998)
- The Cream of Steve Harley & Cockney Rebel (1999)
- Best of the '70s (2000)
- The Cockney Rebel – A Steve Harley Anthology (2006)
- The Best of Steve Harley and Cockney Rebel (2008)
- Cavaliers: An Anthology 1973–1974 (2012)
& Cockney Rebel)
- "Make Me Smile (Come Up and See Me)"
- "Mr. Raffles (Man, It Was Mean)"
- "Black or White"
- "White, White Dove"
- "Here Comes the Sun"
- "(I Believe) Love's a Prima Donna"
- "(Love) Compared with You"
- "The Best Years of Our Lives (live)"
- "I Can't Even Touch You"
- "Irresistible"
- "The Last Goodbye"
- "Big Big Deal"
- "Roll the Dice"
- "Someone's Coming"
- "Freedom's Prisoner"
- "Ballerina (Prima Donna)"
- "Heartbeat Like Thunder"
- "Irresistible"
- "The Phantom of the Opera" (with Sarah Brightman)
- "Whatever You Believe" (as Anderson, Harley & Batt)
- "When I'm with You"
- "Star for a Week (Dino)"
- "A Friend for Life"
- "Faith & Virtue"
- "For Sale. Baby Shoes. Never Worn"
- "Ordinary People"
- "I've Just Seen a Face"
- "Out of Time"
- Live from London (1985)
- The Come Back, All is Forgiven Tour: Live (1989)
- Live at the Isle of Wight Festival (2005)
- Birmingham (Live with Orchestra & Choir) (2013)
- Discography
- List of songs recorded by Steve Harley
- Beam of Light
- Score
- "Dandy in the Underworld"
- "Madman"
- "Somebody Special"
- "Gi' Me Wings"
- The Alan Parsons Project