B-side "Loretta's Tale" Format 7" Length 3:52 | Released 1974 Genre Rock Label EMI Records | |
"Hideaway" is a song by British rock band Cockney Rebel, fronted by Steve Harley. Released as the opening track on the band's 1973 debut album The Human Menagerie, "Hideaway" was released in 1974 as a single in Denmark only. It was written by Harley and produced by Neil Harrison.
Contents
Background
Following the commercial success of the band's debut single "Sebastian" on the European continent, as well as the band's 1974 follow-up "Judy Teen", EMI Records decided to release "Hideaway" as a single in Denmark only. Neither Harley or Cockney Rebel had any input regarding the release of the single.
Harley had first performed the song during his days of busking in the early 1970s, before Cockney Rebel were formed in late 1972. Having trained as a journalist for three years, Harley embarked on his musical career through "floor-spotting" within London folk clubs in 1971-72. In 1972, Harley began busking in London, in subways and runways under such places as Hyde Park Corner, Marble Arch, Leicester Square and Covent Garden.
Like the entire The Human Menagerie album, "Hideaway" would have been recorded in June-July 1973 at Air Studios in London. At that time, the studios were located in Oxford Street above a department store. "Hideaway" was the first song the band recorded during the sessions, and it would also appear as the opening track on the album.
In 1975, Dutch singer Yvonne Keeley covered "Hideaway" as the B-Side to her EMI single "Concrete and Clay". Both tracks were produced by Harley, who was Keeley's boyfriend at the time. The single did not enter the UK Top 50.
Release
The single was released by EMI Records on 7" vinyl in Denmark only. The single's B-Side "Loretta's Tale" was also taken from The Human Menagerie. It was written by Harley and produced by Harrison. The single was released with a black-and-white picture sleeve, which featured a photograph of the band.
Later in 1976, EMI released a 7" vinyl extended play in the UK, which contained four of the band's tracks, with one song appearing from each of their albums. The first of the four tracks was "Hideaway", chosen to represent The Human Menagerie.
Following its original release on The Human Menagerie, and as a single, the song has also appeared on a number of Steve Harley & Cockney Rebel compilations, including the 1975 American compilation A Closer Look, the 1980 release The Very Best Of Steve Harley & Cockney Rebel and the 1992 release Make Me Smile - The Best Of Steve Harley And Cockney Rebel. In addition, the song has appeared on two various artist compilations; the 1981 Arcade release Listen to the Music, and the 1991 EMI release This is Rock For Ever.
On the 2012 anthology Cavaliers: An Anthology 1973-1974, a previously unreleased early version of "Hideaway" was included on disc three.
Promotion
The song was included within the band's live set-list of the time. In 1974, Cockney Rebel made their first appearance on BBC's Old Grey Whistle Test. One of the songs the band performed was "Hideaway". This live version would later appear on disc four of the 2012 compilation Cavaliers: An Anthology 1973-1974, along with another 1974 performance of the song for the BBC "In Concert".
On 14 April 1975, Steve Harley & Cockney Rebel performed the song as part of their set at the Hammersmith Odeon in London. This concert was filmed and released as a film titled Between the Lines. This concert, including an audio version of "Hideaway", was later included on the 2014 definitive edition of The Best Years of Our Lives album.
In recent years, the song has occasionally been performed live by Harley and the band. On YouTube, audience recorded footage exists of the song being performed at various venues. On 24 November 2012, the band performed the song live at the Birmingham Symphony Hall. At this concert, Harley and the band, supported by an orchestra and chamber choir, performed the band's first two albums in their entirety, including "Hideaway". This live version appears on the CD and DVD release Birmingham (Live with Orchestra & Choir).
Track listing
- "Hideaway" - 3:52
- "Loretta's Tale" - 4:13
Critical reception
In the 4 May 1974 issue of the American magazine Billboard, a review of The Human Menagerie was published under the "Recommended LP's" section. Describing the album as "very pleasant soft rock sparked by folky electric violin work and subtle percussion", "Hideaway" was chosen as the album's best cut.
In the August 2004 issue of Classic Rock magazine of August 2004, Geoff Barton reviewed the BGO CD release of the album, and said: "It's about time "The Human Menagerie" was recognised as a classic. It begins hesitantly with "Hideaway", but builds insidiously until the arrival of the fifth track, the immense and immortal "Sebastian". From there, there's no looking back."
On the webzine Get Ready to Rock!, a September 2013 review of the Birmingham (Live with Orchestra & Choir) album stated: "The Human Menagerie opens with the beguiling and delicate touch of "Hideaway", which could easily fit into Mark Knofler's current set, albeit without the guitar."