More Than Somewhat – The Very Best of Steve Harley
| More Than Somewhat – The Very Best of Steve Harley | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Compilation album by | ||||
| Released | 23 March 1998 | |||
| Genre | Pop, Rock | |||
| Length | 71:43 | |||
| Label | EMI Music | |||
| Steve Harley/Steve Harley & Cockney Rebel chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Alternative Cover | ||||
 2000 re-issue as "Best of the 70's" | ||||
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| Allmusic | Unrated[1] |
| The Virgin Encyclopedia of 70s Music |   [2] |
| 24.000 Dischi (Italian Dalai editore book) | [3] |
More Than Somewhat – The Very Best of Steve Harley is a compilation album by Steve Harley, released in 1998. It features material from Cockney Rebel, Steve Harley & Cockney Rebel and Harley's solo career. The compilation contains sixteen tracks, covering Harley and the band's career from Cockney Rebel's 1973 album The Human Menagerie to Harley's 1996's album Poetic Justice. At least one song from each studio album is included, except for Harley's 1979 album The Candidate.[1][4]
Background
Harley and the band's first UK compilation since 1987's Greatest Hits, More Than Somewhat – The Very Best of Steve Harley was released in March 1998. It gave Harley his first appearance in the UK Albums Chart since the band's 1977 album Face to Face: A Live Recording. The compilation peaked at #82 in the UK, and stayed in the Top 100 for two weeks.[5]
Coinciding with the compilation's release was Harley's 1998 "Stripped to the Bare Bones" tour. This tour was Harley's first using his newly-developed acoustic format. Accompanied by instrumentalist Nick Pynn, the pair played over a hundred dates that year across the UK and Europe.[6]
Release
The compilation was released by EMI Music on CD in the UK and across Europe. EMI Music also issued a UK promotional version of the album, which came in a black 'advance listening CD' sleeve.[7] Later on 1 March 2003, the album was given its first digital release. The compilation's artwork design was handled by Peacock, with a photograph of Harley taken by Terry Fincher. In 2004, the album was re-issued on CD by Phantom Import Distribution/EMI Music Distribution.[8]
In 2000, the compilation was re-issued across Europe by Disky under the new title Best of the 70's.[9] This release had the same track-listing, but new artwork of the original Cockney Rebel line-up. Another re-issue by Disky/Disky Communications followed in 2005, but in the Netherlands only, as part of The Ultra Selection series. Again, this re-issue had new artwork.[10][11]
Track listing
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Make Me Smile (Come Up and See Me)" | Steve Harley | 4:00 |
| 2. | "(Love) Compared with You" | Harley | 4:19 |
| 3. | "Judy Teen" | Harley | 3:40 |
| 4. | "Mr Raffles (Man, It Was Mean)" | Harley | 4:33 |
| 5. | "Mr Soft" | Harley | 3:18 |
| 6. | "Sebastian" | Harley | 6:55 |
| 7. | "That's My Life In Your Hands" | Harley, Hugh Nicholson | 3:49 |
| 8. | "Here Comes the Sun" | George Harrison | 2:56 |
| 9. | "All Men are Hungry" | Harley | 4:46 |
| 10. | "Roll the Dice" | Harley | 3:25 |
| 11. | "The Best Years of Our Lives" | Harley | 5:44 |
| 12. | "Star for a Week (Dino)" | Harley | 4:36 |
| 13. | "Rain in Venice" | Harley, Robin LeMesurier | 4:50 |
| 14. | "The Last Time I Saw You" | Harley | 5:36 |
| 15. | "Psychomodo" | Harley | 4:02 |
| 16. | "Irresistible (Remix)" | Harley | 5:12 |
Chart performance
| Chart (1998) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| UK Albums Chart[5] | 82 |
References
- ^ a b "More Than Somewhat: The Very Best of Steve Harley - Steve Harley : Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards". AllMusic. Retrieved 3 July 2013.
- ^ The Virgin encyclopedia of 70s music - Colin Larkin - Google Books. Books.google.co.uk. Retrieved 3 July 2013.
- ^ Ventiquattromila dischi. Guida a tutti i dischi degli artisti e gruppi piů ... - Google Books. Books.google.co.uk. Retrieved 22 May 2013.
- ^ "Steve Harley - More Than Somewhat: The Very Best Of... (CD) at Discogs". Discogs.com. Retrieved 3 July 2013.
- ^ a b "Chart Log UK: H & Claire- Hysterix". Zobbel.de. Retrieved 3 July 2013.
- ^ The Rough Guide to Rock - Google Books. Books.google.co.uk. Retrieved 3 July 2013.
- ^ "More Than Somewhat". Harleyfanzone.com. Retrieved 3 July 2013.
- ^ "More Than Somewhat: The Very Best of Steve Harley - Steve Harley : Releases". AllMusic. Retrieved 3 July 2013.
- ^ "Steve Harley & Cockney Rebel - Best Of The 70's (CD) at Discogs". Discogs.com. Retrieved 3 July 2013.
- ^ "The Ultra Selection - : Release Information, Reviews and Credits". AllMusic. 2 May 2005. Retrieved 3 July 2013.
- ^ https://www.discogs.com/Steve-Harley-Cockney-Rebel-The-Ultra-Selection/release/6360700