Cockney Rebel

23rd October 2021

 
Edinburgh Queens Hall

The last time I saw Steve Harley he was very much on the nostalgia trail, performing the whole of those magical first two Cockney Rebel albums.  On that occasion, it was to a packed Gateshead Sage.  This evening's gig was played out to an equally enthusiastic but, almost inevitably, much smaller audience.  

Only five songs survived the transition from Tyneside to Edinburgh, as Steve judiciously cherry-picked his extensive forty-plus year back catalogue.  Two of his later albums, 1992's Yes You Can and The Quality of Mercy (2006) provided us with almost half the set.  With, one of these, The Lighthouse providing one of the evening's high spots as Harley allowed violinist Barry Wickens free reign.

Riding The Waves - another long time favourite of mine, stole the first half of the show from a rather vapid Mr Soft. 

A trio of biggies completed the evening's entertainment, with the real puzzle being why Steve chose to ignore his freshly-released collection of covers: Uncovered.  

Mr. Harley has to walk with a stick these days.  Indeed, has had to for the last three years since injuring his hip in a fall.  All of which, I felt, added to his dignified elder statesman look.  Actually, when I glance at one or two of some of these pix, Claudio Ranieri springs to mind. 

Set list

How Good It Feels

Alibi

All Men Are Hungry

Love Compared To You

A Friend For Life

Nothing Is Sacred

Mr Soft

Riding The Waves (For Virginia Woolf)

Promises

                                             Interval

Here Comes The Sun

The Coast of Amalfi

Journey's End (A Father's Promise)

Rain in Venice

Lighthouse

Judy Teen

The Best Years of Our Lives

Encore

Come Up And See Me (Make Me Smile)