Stranger Comes to Town

Stranger Comes to Town
Studio album by Steve Harley
Released 3 May 2010
Genre Rock, pop rock
Length 49:46
Label Repertoire Records
Producer Steve Harley
Steve Harley chronology
The Cockney Rebel - A Steve Harley Anthology
(2006)		 Stranger Comes to Town
(2010)		 Cavaliers: An Anthology 1973-1974
(2012)

Stranger Comes to Town is a studio album from English songwriter and musician Steve Harley. The album was released in 2010 and was Harley's first studio album in five years, after the Steve Harley & Cockney Rebel album The Quality of Mercy.

The album became the first album solely credited to Harley to make an appearance on the UK chart, where it peaked at No. 187 in mid-May 2010.[1] It also reached #20 on the UK Independent charts.[2] The album spawned two digital-only singles – "Faith & Virtue" and "For Sale. Baby Shoes. Never Worn".[3][4] "Faith and Virtue" was also released as a radio promotional CD single.[5]

The album was released by Repertoire Records in the UK and Germany via CD.[6][7] It was available largely worldwide as a digital download.[8]

As published on the official Repertoire Records website, Harley described the new album as "a labour of love". The website also highlighted songs labelled as stand out tracks; "Faith & Virtue", "Take the Men & the Horses Away", the poignantly titled "For Sale. Baby Shoes. Never Worn" and "2,000 Years from Now".[9]

The song "True Love Will Find You in the End" is the album's only cover – written by American singer-songwriter Daniel Johnston and originally appearing on his 1984 album Retired Boxer.[10] Harley chose the song after he had requested ideas of a song to cover from fans on his own official forum.

Background

In Classic Rock magazine of May 2010, Harley gave an overview of the album, stating: "The essence of the stories on this album is the 'Stranger' bit. That's the mystery. It's a metaphor, an allegory for modern life and invasions of privacy and all the things that have entered into the Western world and ruined it."[11]

In a May 2010 article by The Bolton News, Harley spoke of the album's theme, stating "It's a sort-of protest album. I'm sick of the greedy people running the country and the fact that everything is being dumbed down."[12] In a May 2010 article with The York Press, Harley again spoke of the album's theme and how the overall message is like a state-of-the-nation report. "I'm not a Grumpy Old Man but... what's happening to this country? I don't like the dumbing-down from the moment our Prime Minister said 'Call me Tony'. I've been angry ever since. Kids are growing up in a world where there's no deference. What was wrong with 'sir' or 'madam'? The album is a new-fashioned protest album. It's not Blowin' in the Wind or Masters of War, but deep down, what are we coming to?"[13]

Harley also spoke of the album's title and where it came from, with the article's writer nothing that it "could be interpreted as the comment of a man who feels estranged from what is going on around him, although its roots lie in a casual comment." Harley stated "I borrowed it. When I was up in Norfolk we went to a village pub to get the stress off with a pint of Guinness, and we heard these two people say 'Stranger Comes to Town'. They asked, 'What are you doing here, Steve?', so I gave them a line from Eccles in The Goons: 'Everyone has to be somewhere'." Finally, the article noted that "Harley's sense of yearning for better times is writ large on a new record whose songs have clearly troubled him as he prepares to turn 60 next February." Harley stated "You never rest as a songwriter. You're always looking for the muse to come and sit on your shoulder, and I can't take the stress. Well, every five years, I can... though this might be the last one. I've so much to say on this album."[13]

Writing and recording

Produced entirely by Harley, the album was recorded at Leeders Farm Residential Studios, Spooner Row, Norfolk, UK, and was mastered by Denis Blackham at Skye Mastering.[14] It was recorded with members of Harley's longstanding touring band Cockney Rebel.[15] In a May 2010 article by the BBC, Harley stated "We all came up here to Leeders Farm and stayed for three or four weeks to make the album. It's a major studio."[5] To create what Harley called "a proper record", he spent "12 hours a day, maybe more, 11 till midnight, for at least 28 days" in the studio.[13]

In the May 2010 article with The York Press, Harley was interviewed and stated that the album was hard work. He was quoted "I've had five years of ripping my own ears off. It really doesn't get any easier. It's an odd thing that with most jobs, the older you get, the easier it becomes and the slicker it is, but I wouldn't say that's the case with songwriting. A painter can go out with a blank canvas and say 'I'll paint that', but for a musician it's not like that. I have three pianos in the house but it's not the tune that's difficult, it's the words that are a struggle – and like John Lennon said, 'it's not about filler words'." Harley also spoke of the recording studio stating "I've never worked before at a residential studio, but this time I've been at a Tudor farmhouse in north Norfolk with a couple of big ponds. It's very similar to my house in Suffolk, except that I don't have a studio and I don't want one. I'm a technophobe and I've no interest in twisting knobs and gizmos – though everyone in my band, all five of them, have home studios."[13]

In the May 2010 article by The Bolton News, the article noted the album had been a true labour of love for Harley and that the track "Faith & Virtue" has been in Harley's mind for ten years. Harley stated "The single was being played on the radio and my wife said 'I've always loved that song.' I explained that I'd only just finished the song when I realised that I'd actually been playing it on my piano for the last ten years and hadn't got round to recording it." Finally, the article also noted that the title track is about life and uses the sea as an analogy, where Harley explained "It's not a new idea. Samuel Taylor Coleridge used it hundreds of years ago."[12]

In the May 2010 article by the BBC, the article highlighted Harley's recording with Wymondham school children, where six school pupils sang backing vocals on Harley's latest single of the time "2,000 Years from Now". The inclusion of the local children, aged 10–11, was a last minute decision and the close proximity of the studio and Spooner Row Primary meant that the children and school were happy to help. Harley was quoted "It's fantastic. We had a really good time – they worked very hard and picked it up so quickly. I'd almost finished this track and I said to my engineer, 'There's a primary school down the road isn't there, I'd like some school kids on this track because the lyric is about the future of the planet'. Three hours later they were all here and two hours later we'd done it."[5]

Track listing

No. TitleWriter(s) Length
1. "Faith & Virtue"  Steve Harley, Barry Wickens 4:50
2. "Take the Men & the Horses Away"  Lincoln Anderson, Stuart Elliot, Harley, James Lascelles, Wickens 4:11
3. "For Sale. Baby Shoes. Never Worn."  Harley 5:00
4. "Stranger Comes to Town"  Harley 4:10
5. "This Old Man"  Harley 5:27
6. "True Love will Find You in the End"  Daniel Johnston 3:46
7. "No Bleeding Hearts"  Harley 7:05
8. "Blinded with Tears"  Jim Cregan, Harley 5:02
9. "Before They Crash the Universe"  Harley 4:30
10. "2,000 Years from Now"  Robbie Gladwell, Harley 5:39

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllmusicUnrated[16]
Record Collector[17]
Express.co.uk[18]
The York Pressfavourable[19]
Rocktimes (German)favourable[20]
Lancashire Telegraphfavourable[21]
The Bolton Newsfavourable[12]

Critically the album was well received by both critics and fans.[8][22][23]

Terry Staunton reviewed the album for Record Collector, giving it three stars and writing "The continued presence of (Come Up & See Me) Make Me Smile on film soundtracks and in TV adverts no doubt helps keep the wolf from Harley's door but, intermittent shows on Radio 2 aside, he can’t be accused of trading wholesale on 70s nostalgia. There's little of the arch art rock of Cockney Rebel on his latest release, though the lyrical adventure of old survives. Here you’ll find affecting portraits of dignified war veterans (This Old Man), couples coming to term with hardship (For Sale, Baby Shoes, Never Worn) and against-the-odds romantic optimism (True Love Will Find You in the End). It's sturdy, timeless singer-songwriter fare, Harley's acoustic guitar front and centre, caressing his still mannered vocal, embellished by piano and violin. Before They Crash The Universe, with its ringing chords and Hammond accompaniment, could almost be Bruce Springsteen, but Harley remains his own man for most of the album. He delivers precisely what his diehard fans have been waiting for, though fresh converts may be hard to come by."[17]

Simon Gage for Express.co.uk reviewed the album upon its release, writing "Do you remember Steve Harley and his band Cockney Rebel? He'd turn up on Top of the Pops back in the Seventies in some outlandish outfit, usually chewing gum as he sang his massive hit Make Me Smile. Well he's back. The music is simple, raw and thoughtful but the likeability is still there and the songs interesting (For Sale. Baby Shoes. Never Worn. is heartbreaking). It won't do what Make Me Smile did for him but it's an album he must be proud of."[18]

In a review of a Steve Harley & Cockney Rebel live concert at the Grand Opera House in York during mid-2010, writer Jon Butler for The York Press mentioned and praised the album, stating "With the passage of time Steve Harley has lost a lot of his early seventies affectations – but none of his edge. Indeed his voice has held up well, very well in fact, and the new material from his latest album, "Stranger Comes to Town", is strong stuff and worthy of closer inspection because Harley has something to say that's worth listening to. His lyrics reflect where he's at along the journey of life, and his vigour for performing live is undiminished."[19]

German site Rocktimes published a review of the album which was written from Michael 'Mike' Schröder. The review stated "With Cockney Rebel, he took 2005 his most recent album "The Quality of Mercy" which I lay to everybody with pleasure in the heart. Soulful put forward and emotional songs that seek their equal. Now, five years later, is his latest work "Stranger Comes to Town". Already during the first run of the album exudes a certain familiarity, without appearing as plagiarism of his previous records. In the totality of the work turned out pretty quiet and often lives, apart from Harley's voice of the violin, the piano and minimalist percussion. That makes the whole thing quite relaxing and is therefore ideal as a balance to a stressful day. When out tip I recommend, among others, the opener "Faith & Virtue", that settles immediately in the ears. The longest song on the album is "No Bleeding Hearts". Vocally, you can see here the Steve Harley of the 70s, even more clearly than the other numbers. Those who prefer something more rock, like a fat Hammond should definitely a listen to "Blinded With Tears", my personal favourite! Conclusion: Songwriting: top, singing: top, variety: no luck, game assets: top! A decent, solid album!"[20]

Lancashire Telegraph published a review of the album from Andrew Thomas, stating "Steve Harley albums do not come along all that often – about every five or six years is the norm. For a long-term fan like me, then, a new set of Harley originals is always a time of anticipation. Although well into his fifties, Harley – whose biggest hits came in the period 1973–76 – can always surprise me and that's the case on Stranger Comes To Town. This is a striking set with three or four standout tracks – a welcome album from an innovative writer and performer."[21]

The Bolton News reviewed the album upon its release and included interview quotes from Harley himself, where writer Martin Hutchinson stated "Harley is back. This eagerly anticipated new studio album, Steve's first for five years, features ten brand new songs and is Steve Harley at his very best. His anger and emotion comes across in the lyrics of the new songs like "No Bleeding Hearts" and "True Love Will Find You In The End". Thoughtful use of double-bass (courtesy of Lincoln Anderson) gives the tracks upon which it's used a totally different feel than if a bass guitar had been used. Lyrically insightful, musically magnificent. Harley at his very best."[12]

Chart performance

Chart (2010) Peak
position
UK Albums Chart[1] 187
UK Independent Album Breakers Top 20 Chart[24] 7
UK Independent Albums Chart Top 50[25] 20

Personnel

Production

Other

References

  1. 1 2 "Chart Log UK: H & Claire- Hysterix". Zobbel.de. Retrieved 2012-12-09.
  2. ↑ http://www.officialcharts.com/charts/independent-albums-chart/20100509/131/
  3. ↑ "iTunes – Music – Faith & Virtue – Single by Steve Harley". iTunes Store. 2 May 2010. Retrieved 2012-12-09.
  4. ↑ "iTunes – Music – For Sale. Baby Shoes. Never Worn – Single by Steve Harley". iTunes Store. 27 June 2010. Retrieved 2012-12-09.
  5. 1 2 3 "BBC – Steve Harley records with Wymondham school children". BBC News. 18 May 2010. Retrieved 2012-12-09.
  6. ↑ "Stranger Comes to Town by Steve Harley : Reviews and Ratings". Rate Your Music. Retrieved 2012-12-09.
  7. ↑ "Steve Harley – Stranger Comes To Town (File, MP3) at Discogs". discogs. Retrieved 2012-12-09.
  8. 1 2 "Stranger Comes to Town: Amazon.co.uk: Music". Amazon.com. Retrieved 2012-12-09.
  9. ↑ "Stranger Comes to Town". Repertoire Records. Retrieved 2012-12-09.
  10. ↑ "Retired Boxer – Daniel Johnston : Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards". AllMusic. Retrieved 2012-12-09.
  11. ↑ http://www.harleyfanzone.com/70/Scrapbook/2010/Welcome.htm
  12. 1 2 3 4 "CD Review: Steve Harley – Stranger Comes To Town (From The Bolton News)". Theboltonnews.co.uk. 24 May 2010. Retrieved 2012-12-09.
  13. 1 2 3 4 "Steve Harley & Cockney Rebel, Grand Opera House, York, May 28 (From York Press)". Yorkpress.co.uk. 28 May 2010. Retrieved 2012-12-09.
  14. ↑ "Stranger Comesto Town – album cover". Ecx.images-amazon.com. Retrieved 2013-06-29.
  15. ↑ "Steve Harley & Cockney Rebel Stranger Comes To Town UK CD album (CDLP) (500837)". Eil.com. Retrieved 2012-12-09.
  16. ↑ "Stranger Comes to Town – Steve Harley : Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards". AllMusic. Retrieved 2012-12-09.
  17. 1 2 "Stranger Comes To Town -Steve Harley |". Record Collector. Retrieved 2012-12-09.
  18. 1 2 "Steve Harley: Stranger Comes To Town (Comeuppance Records) album review | Express.co.uk – Home of the Daily and Sunday Express". Daily Express. 30 April 2010. Retrieved 2012-12-09.
  19. 1 2 Butler, Jon (29 May 2010). "Jon Butler reviews Steve Harley & Cockney Rebel at the Grand Opera House, York (From York Press)". Yorkpress.co.uk. Retrieved 2012-12-09.
  20. 1 2 "ROCKTIMES – CD Review / Steve Harley – Stranger Comes To Town". Rocktimes.de. 22 July 2010. Retrieved 2012-12-09.
  21. 1 2 "Steve Harley back with fine new set of songs". Lancashire Telegraph. 12 May 2010. Retrieved 2012-12-09.
  22. ↑ "Steve Harley & Cockney Rebel". Harrogate Theatre. 23 July 2011. Retrieved 2012-12-09.
  23. ↑ "Isle of Arts 2012 – Steve Harley – A Closer Look". Artsisle.org. Retrieved 2012-12-09.
  24. ↑ http://www.officialcharts.com/charts/independent-albums-breakers-chart/20100509/255/
  25. ↑ http://www.officialcharts.com/charts/independent-albums-chart/20100509/131/
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