Tumbling Down (Cockney Rebel song)

Background

In June 1974, Cockney Rebel released their second studio album The Psychomodo. At the end of a major UK tour in late July, the band split-up over growing tensions and disagreements. Later in the year, Harley would assemble a new line-up under the name Steve Harley & Cockney Rebel. During late 1974, EMI chose to release "Tumbling Down" as a promotional single in America. It was released under the new band's name.

As a promotional single, "Tumbling Down" was not eligible to make a chart appearance. Despite not being issued as a single in Europe or the UK, it remains one of Harley's most popular songs. Since its release, it has become a staple at Harley's concerts and has appeared on numerous compilations. The song was recorded during February/March 1974, and was mastered at Abbey Road Studios. The song featured an orchestra and choir, with arrangements by Andrew Powell.

Release

The single was released by EMI Records on 7" vinyl in America only. For its release as a single, the album version of "Tumbling Down" was cut down from six minutes to almost half the duration. Both sides of the vinyl feature the same song; the A-side in stereo and the B-Side in mono. The single was issued in a generic sleeve.

Following its release on The Psychomodo album, and as a single, the song has also appeared on various Steve Harley & Cockney Rebel compilations, including the 1975 American EMI release A Closer Look, the 1980 EMI release The Best of Steve Harley and Cockney Rebel, the 1987 EMI release Greatest Hits, the 1999 EMI Gold release The Cream of Steve Harley & Cockney Rebel and the 2006 EMI box-set The Cockney Rebel - A Steve Harley Anthology.

The song has also appeared on the 2013 various artists four-disc compilation Love Ballads.

Promotion

The song has been a regular inclusion in Harley and the band's set-list when performing live. On YouTube, audience recorded footage exists of the song being performed at various concerts.

A number of official live versions have also been released. 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. In 1977, the song was included on the band's live album Face to Face. This version was also added as the B-side to the live version of "The Best Years of Our Lives", released as a single from the album in 1977.

Later in 1984, the song was part of the band's recorded concert at the Camden Palace in London, which was filmed for a special TV broadcast. In 1985, the same concert, including the song, was released on VHS, titled Live from London. Two acoustic versions later appeared on Harley's 1999 live album Stripped to the Bare Bones and 2003's Acoustic and Pure: Live.

Track listing

1. "Tumbling Down (Stereo)" - 3:23
2. "Tumbling Down (Mono)" - 3:23

Critical reception

In the 1 June 1974 issue of Record Mirror, a review of The Psychomodo album noted: "They now have a raw edge that got lost amid the sweet production of their first album. If your never ends are tattered by the lyrics, you can almost look to the music for comfort. At times it's punky - Sling It - or grand and orchestrated - Ritz and Tumbling Down - then just plain loony - Mr Soft."

In the 11 February 1975 issue of the American morning broadsheet The Milwaukee Journal, a review of The Psychomodo album stated: "There are flashes of talent here, particularity on "Psychomodo", "Mr. Soft" and "Tumbling Down." A full orchestra often backs him up. Interesting, but we've heard a hundred better albums so far this year - and it's only February."

In the 3 December 1976 issue of The Miami News, music critic Jon Marlowe reviewed the band's Love's a Prima Donna, and mentioned "Tumbling Down", writing: "For those not familiar with Harley's previous musical accomplishments, suffice to say he's only written two all-time classic songs "Cavaliers" and "Tumbling Down"; and to hear him lead the audience in a rousing sing-along of "Oh dear look what they've done to the blues" is nothing short of a musical miracle."

Dave Thompson of AllMusic retrospectively reviewed The Psychomodo album, and commented: "The hopelessly romantic "Bed in the Corner" opens another door entirely - relatively straightforward, astoundingly melodic, it was (though nobody realized it at the time) the closest thing in sight to the music Harley would be making later in the decade. Here, however, it swerves in another direction entirely, the dawn of a closing triptych - completed by "Sling It" and "Tumbling Down" - which encompasses ten of the most heartstoppingly breathless, and emotionally draining minutes in '70s rock. Indeed, though the latter's final refrain was reduced to pitifully parodic singalong the moment it got out on-stage, on record it retains both its potency and its purpose. "Oh dear!" Harley intones, "look what they've done to the blues." The fact is, he did it all himself - and people have been trying to undo it ever since."

Donald A. Guarisco of AllMusic spoke of the song in a retrospective review of the A Closer Look compilation. He stated: "As for the epics, the most impressive ones are "Sebastian," a slowly building ballad that adds layers of orchestration and choral vocals as it lays out a gothic tale of a romantic obsession that gives way to insanity, and "Tumbling Down," another dramatic opus that gradually builds from quiet piano chords to an orchestral blowout as Harley vocalizes a pained but elegantly crafted tale of facing a grim destiny."

George Starostin retrospectively reviewed The Psychomodo album for his website, writing: "...Fortunately, after testing our patience with these lumpy monsters, the album picks up steam again with the remaining three songs - the mock-sentimental "Bed in the Corner", the amazing, crazy-violin-heavy 'Sling It!', and the romantic, soothing finale in the "Tumbling Down" ballad where you won't understand a single line until you get to the plaintive 'oh dear, what have they done to the blues?' coda. If anything, though, the song is so goddamn beautiful it serves as a perfect example of lyrics not being important. At all. More of that gorgeous orchestration that made "Death Trip" such a wallop. An anthemic singalong which causes you to join in even if you don't know what the hell you're doing."

On 21 September 2009, the German website Altona Info spoke of the song in an article on Harley. The author commented: "Steve Harley and his band were in any case always in both areas in the Middle. With its extravagant outfit was undoubtedly the formation of the then-current glam rock. So it's good that at least the music has withstood the test of time without damage. Songs such as "Sebastian", "Tumbling Down" or the aforementioned "Make Me Smile" are to this day as a real pop gems."

In the 2007 Italian book 24.000 Dischi (24,000 Discs), written by Riccardo Bertoncelli and Cris Thellung, a review of The Psychomodo album noted the song, stating: "Sweet Dreams, Psychomodo, Mr. Soft, Tumbling Down are fine examples of a decadent rock that uses a lot of the shape of the ballad and enriches it with very theatrical choreography."

Personnel

Additional personnel

Yvonne Keeley version

In 1974, Dutch singer Yvonne Keeley released her own version of the song as her debut single. Like Cockney Rebel's original version, Keeley's version was produced by Harley and Parsons.

Background

In 1974, following the split of the original Cockney Rebel line-up in July, Harley met Yvonne Keeley and decided to work in the studio with her. In the studio, Keeley recorded "Tumbling Down", as well as "Loretta's Tale", which had originally appeared on Cockney Rebel's 1973 debut album The Human Menagerie. EMI released the single in August 1974, however it was not a commercial success and failed to enter the UK Top 50. Harley would go on to a relationship with Keeley and they would work together in the studio again. Keeley would provide backing vocals on future Cockney Rebel albums, while Harley would also produce her follow-up single "Concrete and Clay", released in June 1975. Keeley would cover "Hideaway", also from The Human Menagerie, as the B-Side to "Concrete and Clay".

On "Tumbling Down", Scottish musician Ian Bairnson played Les Paul guitar. It was one of Bairnson's earliest sessions and was one that had the most impact on his career. At the time, Bairnson had moved from Edinburgh to London to make it in the music business with the Scottish rock band Pilot, who had yet to gain a hit single. After being impressed by his playing on the song, Harley had asked Bairnson to join Cockney Rebel. At the time, Harley was still searching for a new Cockney Rebel line-up. Faced with this dilemma, Bairnson ended up choosing to stay with his band, who gained their first hit with "Magic", later in November that year.

Release

The single was released by EMI Records on 7" vinyl in the UK only. The B-Side was "Loretta's Tale". A UK promotional demo copy/DJ copy of the single was also issued by EMI, which simply highlighted "Demo Records - Not for Resale" as the only difference from the main release.

Track listing

1. "Tumbling Down" - 4:25
2. "Loretta's Tale"

Personnel

Velvet Goldmine

The song was featured in the 1998 British/American drama film Velvet Goldmine, directed and co-written by Todd Haynes. The fictional band who covered the song for the film soundtrack were Venus in Furs and lead vocals were handled by Jonathan Rhys Meyers. Meyers would also cover "Sebastian" for the film, while Steve Harley & Cockney Rebel's original version of "Make Me Smile (Come Up and See Me)" was also included.

Meyers' version of "Tumbling Down" was made available on the Velvet Goldmine' original motion picture soundtrack release.

Background

In a June 2000 interview with the Swedish web publication Bomben, Harley spoke of the version:

"I was never much of a part of all that [glam rock]. More theatrical for one album, I suppose. But it ended there. When my friends and I first saw Velvet Goldmine, we thought, "straight to video." i.e.: not much of a film, really. My opinion was not improved after seeing it a second time, I'm afraid. I was only caught up at all when the Bowie character "recorded his video" for his "new single" "Tumbling Down". I thought there was magic about the shoot. But in all it isn't the best portrayal of a hedonistic time, simply because it was made by an American who really never was part of it all."

In an April 2010 interview for the independent.ie website, Ed Power asked Harley for his opinion on the version. Harley said:

"Velvet Goldmine... actually, I saw that in the cinema. I'm one of the few! It didn't run for very long. We were invited to the opening in Edinburgh. When it finished my tour manager stood up and said, 'straight to video'. I understand Bowie refused to let them use his music. I agreed they could use mine. Thank you David (hah!). God bless you mate. It's always flattering that people would do one of your songs."

Critical reception

In the 11 December 1998 issue of The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, a review of the soundtrack album described the song as "a rainy-day cover of Harley's "Tumbling Down"."