Tumbling Down (Cockney Rebel song)

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 due to growing tensions. Harley then assembled a new line-up under the name Steve Harley & Cockney Rebel.[3] In January 1975, EMI chose to release "Tumbling Down" as a promotional single in America. It was released under the new band's name.[2]

As a promotional single, "Tumbling Down" was not eligible to make a chart appearance. Although it was not a single in the UK or Europe, the song remains one of Harley's most popular. Since its release, it has become a regular inclusion at Harley and the band's concerts and has appeared on numerous compilations. The song was recorded during February-March 1974, and was mastered at Abbey Road Studios.[4][5] It features an orchestra and choir, with arrangements by Andrew Powell.[2]

"Tumbling Down" 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.[2]

Following its release on The Psychomodo album, and as a single, the song has also appeared on various Steve Harley & Cockney Rebel compilations, including 1975's A Closer Look,[6] 1980's The Best of Steve Harley and Cockney Rebel, 1987's Greatest Hits, 1999's The Cream of Steve Harley & Cockney Rebel and 2006's The Cockney Rebel - A Steve Harley Anthology.[7][8] The song has also appeared on the 2013 various artists compilation Love Ballads.[9]

The song's regular inclusion in live set-lists has meant live versions of the song have also been recorded and released. On 14 April 1975, Steve Harley & Cockney Rebel performed the song as part of their set at the Hammersmith Odeon, London. The concert was filmed and released as a film titled Between the Lines.[10] In 1977, the song was included on the band's live album Face to Face.[11] This version was also placed on the B-side of "The Best Years of Our Lives (Live)" single, released from the same album.[12] The song was performed at the band's 1984 concert at the Camden Palace, London, which was filmed for TV and released on the VHS Live from London in 1985.[13][14] Two acoustic versions have also appeared on Harley's 1999 live album Stripped to the Bare Bones and 2003's Acoustic and Pure: Live.[15][16][17]

Upon release, Record Mirror reviewed The Psychomodo album, describing "Tumbling Down" as, "grand and orchestrated." [18] American morning broadsheet The Milwaukee Journal contemporarily said, though they have, "heard a hundred better albums so far [in 1975]," "Tumbling Down" shows, "flashes of talent." [19] Jon Marlowe of The Miami News mentioned the song in a 1976 review of the band's Love's a Prima Donna album, referring to "Tumbling Down" as one of, "only ... two all-time classic songs [Steve Harley has written] ... 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."[20]

Dave Thompson of AllMusic retrospectively reviewed The Psychomodo and said that "Tumbling Down," along with the preceding track "Sling It," "encompasses ten of the most heartstoppingly breathless, and emotionally draining minutes in '70s rock." He continued, "though ["Tumbling Down"]'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."[21] Donald A. Guarisco of AllMusic also spoke of the song in a review of the A Closer Look compilation, referring to the song as, "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."[22]

German website Altona Info spoke of the song in 2009, commenting, " ... the music has withstood the test of time without damage," and calling the song, "a real pop gem."[23] In the 2007 Italian book 24.000 Dischi (24,000 Discs), authors Riccardo Bertoncelli and Cris Thellung said "Tumbling Down" is one of a handful of, "fine examples of a decadent rock that uses a lot of the shape of the ballad and enriches it with very theatrical choreography."[24]

7" Single

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

Cockney Rebel

• Steve Harley – vocals, producer
• Jean-Paul Crocker – electric violin, guitar
• Milton Reame-James – keyboards
• Paul Jeffreys – Fender bass
• Stuart Elliott – drums, percussion

Additional personnel

• Alan Parsons - producer
• Andrew Powell – orchestral and brass arrangements
• Chris Blair - mastering

• Lyrics of this song at MetroLyrics