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Ballerina (Prima Donna)

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"Ballerina"
Song
B-side"Face to Face" (7")
"Sebastian" (12")

"Ballerina (Prima Donna)" is a song by British singer-songwriter Steve Harley, released as a non-album single in 1983.[1] "Ballerina (Prima Donna)" was written and produced by British songwriter/musician/producer Mike Batt, who was also a friend of Harleys.[2]

Background

The song was recorded by Harley after Batt had approached him with the track. Harley liked the song and agreed to record it. The song was recorded in the spring of 1983 at Lansdowne & Abbey Road Studios.[3] Released in June, the song reached #51 on the UK Singles Chart, lasting on the chart for six weeks. It originally debuted at #91 in early August 1983.[4]

Around the time of the single's release, Harley appeared for an interview on the TV show Scotland Today, where the interviewer asked "What is "Ballerina (Prima Donna)", what made you come back to the music scene?" Harley replied "Well, there's probably a lot of reasons. I never really left it. I've been very busy, I just haven't toured much, or released many records, because I don't want to be known for putting out a string of flops." The interviewed continued "Well, you have written quite a few you haven't released, why was that?" Harley stated "You have to wait for the right time. I'd like to think that I have some degree of integrity, I don't need to jump on bandwagons and release lots of them, just to try and get success for successes' sake. I have to wait for the right song."

During the appearance on the show, the interview noted "I'm interested to see that you used to write and produce your own songs. This one is written by Mike Batt of Wombles fame, doesn't sound like your usual style?" Harley replied "No, I still obviously write nearly everything I record, but Mike wrote this song, came to me and my record company and said 'I've got this for Steve, I've known him a few years, never working with him though', and he sang it. And when he sang it to me on the piano, he's a very talented boy Mike Batt, and he sang it like me, and I fell for it. I couldn't help it, and so we recorded it yeah." Finally, Harley was asked "Will you be coming back with a tour?" Harley replied "Well we're doing the Reading Festival at the end of August, and when "Ballerina" is in the Top 10 then I can get all around the country again." The interviewer concluded "Well we'll hope that's not too long."[5]

On Harley's official website, a diary entry dating 31 January 2013 spoke of the song being rehearsed for possible live performances by the Harley and his current touring band. In the entry, Harley also described the song, stating "We're rehearsing "Ballerina (Prima Donna)" – I actually agree that it's a bit cheesey, but we've had lots of requests for it, all from women, to be honest. It has a bitter, accusing air, written by my good mate Mike Batt at a time of low self-esteem (wouldn't have lasted long!), but maybe we can give it a one-off night out at Buxton, then shelve it again."[6]

Release

The single was released via 7" and 12" vinyl through RCA Records and Stiletto Records, while RCA handled the marketing.[7] It was released in the UK, as well as Germany. Although the single's sleeve listed the song as a Harley solo single, the vinyl credited the song to his band Steve Harley & Cockney Rebel.[7]

The 7" vinyl featured the B-Side "Face to Face" which was written and produced by Harley.[8] The B-Side has remained exclusive to the single since.

The artwork for the single, designed by BBB Design, was largely a black background with a ballerina figure (Amanda Lord) on the bottom right of the sleeve. The back of the sleeve featured a picture of Harley and the lyrics to the A-Side.[9][10]

The 12" vinyl version was released in both the UK and Germany, where the German version featured a new version of "Sebastian" as the B-Side, which was originally released as Cockney Rebel's debut single in 1973, from the album The Human Menagerie. This new version was produced by Batt, who approached Harley with the idea of re-recording the track, which Harley agreed to go along with. In the UK, the 12" vinyl actually swapped both tracks around so that "Sebastian" became the A-Side and "Ballerina" became the B-Side.[11] The 12" vinyl's artwork was also different and featured a close up view of a ballerina sat on a chair, holding a teddy bear to the ground.[12] On the 7" vinyl version, the 12" vinyl edition is mentioned, where it stated "An extended 12-inch version of "Ballerina" - c/w a new, previously unreleased version of "Sebastian", is available in a different picture bag on Stiletto Records."[9]

Following the original release, the song has remained largely unavailable anywhere else, and has never been issued on CD or any Steve Harley compilation - although the one compilation the song did make an appearance on was the Steve Harley Anthology album from 1986, which was released as a double-vinyl set only via EMI Records.[13] The original "Ballerina" single releases, as well as the Anthology compilation, are now out-of-print.

Promotion

The main form of promotion was the music video which was created for the single. The song was performed live on a few occasions around the time of its release, however has not been played by Harley live since except a one-off performance during 2013. In late August 1983, Harley performed the song live at the Reading Festival, and in January 2013, a snippet of an audience recording of the live version was unofficially uploaded to YouTube.[14]

Shortly before the appearance at the Reading Festival, Harley appeared on the TV show Scotland Today, where he was interviewed. Before and after the interview, shots of an alternative music video was shown.[5]

Music video

The video was filmed at the Prince Edward Theatre, Old Compton Street, London. It featured a storyline of a ballerina performing at a theatre, when her boyfriend (Harley), who has watched her performance, catches her with another man backstage afterwards - causing Harley to confront her in the dressing room. Harley ends up leaving her, and in distress she hands back the bouquet of flowers given to her by her secret lover, and tearfully watches Harley's shadow disappear as he leaves down the stairs. Harley is then seen leaving the theatre, and calls a taxi, as the ballerina sits on an empty stage in sadness. Other merged shots within the video feature the ballerina performing on stage, and close-up shots of Harley singing the song's first two chorus sections. The video was created in similar style to a film and featured opening and ending credits.[15] Since being unofficially uploaded onto YouTube in late 2009, the video has gained over 12,000 views.[15]

The music video uses a slightly alternate version of the song, which is identical to the single version, except for a short guitar introduction which is performed at the very beginning of the video version.

In the 13 September 1983 issue of Aldershot News & Mail, an article titled "TV Debut for Ballerina" was published, based on ballerina Maria Roselli who had made her television debut with Harley. The sixteen-year-old appeared as a guest on Freeze Frame, a Television South West programme for young viewers, and shared centre stage with Harley, where she performed a background ballet for "Ballerina (Prima Donna)". She spoke of Harley, stating "I'm a fan. I didn't really know of him until I heard him, but I thought the song was very nice."[16]

Later in 1986, Harley returned to the Prince Edward Theatre when he auditioned on stage with Hal Prince for Phantom of the Opera. This was a performance in front of twenty or so business angels. Harley was given the starring role, but was later replaced close to rehearsals by Michael Crawford.

Music video cast

  • Steve Harley - The Boyfriend
  • Olivia Komlosy - Ballerina
  • Carlo Manzi - Stagedoor Johnny
  • Rob Boughton - Stagehand
  • Rosie Watts - Lady in Box
  • Paul Watts - Gentleman
  • Rosie Walsh - Young Girl
  • Sam Cordani - Taxi Driver
  • Sally Stairs - First Dancer
  • Lyndsey Neal - Second Dancer
  • David Otterwell - Theatregoer
  • Maureen Hannaford-Naisbitt - Theatregoer
  • Nipper - Dog
  • Robert Harris - Man in Theatre Bar

Track listing

7" Single
  1. "Ballerina" - 4:57
  2. "Face to Face" - 3:29
12" Single (UK release)
  1. "Sebastian" - 4:06
  2. "Ballerina" - 4:57
12" Single (German release)
  1. "Ballerina" - 4:57
  2. "Sebastian" - 4:06

Chart performance

Chart (1983) Peak
position
UK Singles Chart (The Official Charts Company)[17] 51

Personnel

  • Producer and Arranger on "Ballerina" - Mike Batt
  • Producer and Arranger on "Sebastian" - Mike Batt
  • Producer on "Face to Face" - Mike Batt
  • Writer of "Ballerina" - Mike Batt
  • Writer of "Face to Face" - Steve Harley
  • Writer of "Sebastian" - Steve Harley
  • 7" Vinyl Sleeve Artwork – BBB Design
  • 7" Vinyl Sleeve Photography – Terry Walker
  • 7" Vinyl Sleeve Model - Amanda Lord at Freddie's

References

  1. ^ "Steve Harley & Cockney Rebel - Ballerina at Discogs". Discogs.com. Retrieved 3 December 2012.
  2. ^ "The Great Steve Harley and Cockney Rebel Story". Steveharley.www.50megs.com. Retrieved 3 December 2012.
  3. ^ "Steve Harley & Cockney Rebel - Ballerina (Vinyl) at Discogs". Discogs.com. Retrieved 3 December 2012.
  4. ^ http://www.officialcharts.com/artist/18068/steve-harley/
  5. ^ a b http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sMLmlQSbeYc
  6. ^ "Official Steve Harley Website UK - DIARY 31/01/13". Steveharley.com. Retrieved 7 February 2013.
  7. ^ a b "Images for Steve Harley & Cockney Rebel - Ballerina (Prima Donna)". Discogs.com. Retrieved 3 December 2012.
  8. ^ "Steve Harley And Cockney Rebel - Ballerina (Prima Donna) / Face To Face - RCA - UK - STL 14". 45cat. Retrieved 3 December 2012.
  9. ^ a b "Ballerina (Prima Donna) - record sleeve". Images.45cat.com. Retrieved 29 June 2013.
  10. ^ "Steve Harley & Cockney Rebel - Ballerina (Prima Donna) (Vinyl) at Discogs". Discogs.com. Retrieved 3 December 2012.
  11. ^ "Images for Steve Harley & Cockney Rebel - Sebastian / Ballerina". Discogs.com. Retrieved 3 December 2012.
  12. ^ "Singles 1976-83". Harleyfanzone.com. Retrieved 3 December 2012.
  13. ^ Steffen Hung. "Steve Harley - Anthology". hitparade.ch. Retrieved 3 December 2012.
  14. ^ YouTube (20 January 2013). "Ballerina Primadonna". YouTube. Retrieved 2 February 2013.
  15. ^ a b "Steve Harley - Ballerina". YouTube. Retrieved 3 December 2012.
  16. ^ "TV Debut For Ballerina". Harleyfanzone.com. Retrieved 7 February 2013.
  17. ^ http://www.officialcharts.com/artist/18068/steve-harley/
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