Sebastian (song)

"Sebastian"
Single by Cockney Rebel
from the album The Human Menagerie
B-side	"Rock and Roll Parade"
Released	31 August 1973
Format	7"
Genre	Rock
Length	3:54 (7" version) 6:59 (album version)
Label	EMI Records
Writer(s)	Steve Harley
Producer(s)	Neil Harrison
Cockney Rebel singles chronology
"Sebastian" (1973) "Judy Teen" (1974)
Alternative Cover German cover of "Sebastian"

"Sebastian" is a song by British rock band Cockney Rebel, fronted by Steve Harley. The song was released as the band's debut single in 1973 from the album The Human Menagerie. It was written by Harley and produced by Neil Harrison.^[1]

Background

Described as a "Gothic love song" by Harley himself, the song featured a 50-plus piece orchestra and choir alongside the band, with orchestral arrangements by Andrew Powell.^[2][3] When it was released as the band's debut single in 1973, the song failed to become a commercial success in the UK. However it did manage to find success across continental Europe. It peaked at #2 in both Belgium and the Netherlands, as well as #30 in Germany.^[4] Since its release in the UK and Europe it has gained reputation over the following years as one of Harley's greatest songs. To date the song has consistently been included in his live concerts.

For the Netherlands programme Top 2000, Harley was interviewed during 2008 in a short documentary on his days busking in London. Harley spoke of the song and its meaning: "It's poetry. It means what you want it to mean. "Sebastian" is the conduit, the tubes through which I took myself on that journey to write the story. I can't say for sure, but I wouldn't have been far away from tripping when I wrote "Sebastian". LSD, certainly, created so many incidents in your life, so many images, so much madness and mayhem, as well as great tranquility if you were lucky. I can't define its meaning. It's like most poetry, it's a lovely word."^[5]

When the single failed to make the UK charts, EMI Records told Harley there were no potential singles from the album, and that the band had yet to record one. Harley responded by writing the follow-up single "Judy Teen" which went to #5 in the UK in early 1974.^[6] However, before the release of the band's breakthrough single, EMI decided to hold the song back at the beginning of the year while "Sebastian" was re-issued on 25 January (originally due to be 11 January), as the third time being released as a single. This was in hope of it becoming a chart hit, however "Sebastian" still did not make a chart appearance.^[7][8] In the Sunday Express of 5 April 2014 Harley spoke of the song's European success. He said "Sebastian was a number one in most of Europe in 1974. It happened so quickly. I didn't pay many dues to be honest. That's what the NME [New Musical Express] held against me at the time."^[9]

Harley first began performing the song during his days of busking. In the Daily Express magazine of May 2007 he revealed "I started busking in the early 70's, which gave me a platform to experiment on the public with my songs. I had one called "Sebastian", which was six minutes of gothic poetry! I got absolutely no money."^[10]

In 1983 Harley released a non-album single "Ballerina (Prima Donna)", a song written by Mike Batt, which just stalled outside the UK Top 50. For the 12" vinyl version of the single a new version of "Sebastian" was recorded, and this version was produced by Batt. In the UK, the 12" vinyl actually swapped both tracks around so that "Sebastian" was the A-Side and "Ballerina" became the B-Side.^[11]

Release

The single was issued in the UK, Belgium, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Italy, Japan and Mexico via EMI Records on 7" vinyl.^[12] For the single release the song was shortened down from the full-length seven-minute version to just under four minutes. Harley was never entirely happy about having the song cut down, but understood it was more likely to receive radio-play in the UK.

All issues of the single featured the same B-Side track "Rock and Roll Parade", which was exclusive to the single. It would later appear on the 2004 re-issue of the The Human Menagerie album as one of two bonus tracks, and also on the 2012 EMI box-set compilation Cavaliers: An Anthology 1973-1974.^[13][14] The Mexican version of the single was the only issue to feature a different b-side; the album track "Death Trip".^[15] Additionally an America promotional single was released, which featured the track on both sides of the vinyl, but one in mono and one in stereo.^[16]

All eight issues of the single were issued in different sleeve designs, with each one highlighting a photograph of Cockney Rebel. Six of these issues used the photograph seen on the cover of the The Human Menagerie album.^[17] In the UK and America though, the single was issued in a generic EMI sleeve.^[15][18]

In Italy, a 7" vinyl release saw "Sebastian" as the a-side, and T. Rex's "Truck On (Tyke)" on the 'b-side'. This was a double a-side jukebox single in a generic plain company sleeve.^[19]

The 2012 anthology Cavaliers: An Anthology 1973–1974 includes a previously unreleased early version of "Sebastian" on disc three, along with a "DJ Edit" on disc one.^[20] The song has appeared on the majority, if not all, of Steve Harley and Cockney Rebel compilations, while also featuring on a number of various artists compilations over the years.^[21][22]

Promotion

The song has consistently been part of Harley's set-list when performing live, remaining a popular part of the band's performances. On 3 June 1974, the band played at the Pink Pop Festival in the Netherlands, and this song was part of the set, which was professionally filmed.^[23] On 14 April 1975, Steve Harley & Cockney Rebel performed the song as part of their set at the Hammersmith Odeon, and this concert was filmed and released as two films in cinemas; Between the Lines and Star Fighter.^[24] In February 1976, the band performed a set on live in the "Beat Club" studio in Germany, which was professionally filmed, and included the song.^[25]

Various live versions of the song have appeared on a number of official releases. For the b-side of the 1975 hit single "Mr. Raffles (Man, It Was Mean)", a live version of "Sebastian" was added, recorded live at the Hammersmith Odeon, London on 14 April 1975.^[26] In 1991 when The Best Years of Our Lives album was released on CD the same live version appeared as one of two bonus tracks.^[27] Officially released live versions appeared on the band's 1977 live album Face to Face,^[28] the 1999 acoustic album Stripped to the Bare Bones and the 2004 live acoustic album Anytime! (A Live Set).^[29][30][31] The 1995 compilation Live at the BBC featured various tracks Harley performed for the BBC, and "Sebastian" was included as one of four songs recorded for Live in Concert, dated 22 January 1974.^[32] On the anthology Cavaliers: An Anthology 1973–1974 the same live version appeared on disc four.^[33]

A professionally filmed live performance at Camden Palace in 1984 for the Live from London VHS release included the song.^[34][35] In 1989, a live performance of the song was professionally filmed during the band's come back "All is Forgiven" tour. The performance was released on as a VHS, titled The Come Back, All is Forgiven Tour: Live.^[36][37] In 1991 Harley performed the song at the Night of the Proms.^[38]

In the Sunday Mail of 11 January 2004, it was revealed that Harley was to perform the song at the summer's Olympic Games in Greece, where he sang "Sebastian" beneath the historic Pathenon in Anthens at the climax of the event. Harley was quoted "About 12 years ago, a Greek singer recorded the song in his native language and it was a massive hit. So the International Olympic Committee want us to do a duet for the close of the games."^[39]

The song's live performance at the Isle of Wight festival in 2004 was released on the DVD Steve Harley & Cockney Rebel: Live at The Isle of Wight Festival.^[40] On 8 January 2011, Harley performed the song with his band and an Orchestra live at the Herre Avdelingen, NRK Marienlyst Oslo, in Norway. The performance was professionally filmed, along with "A Friend for Life" and "Make Me Smile (Come Up and See Me)". Since February 2011, the performance has gained over 370,000 views on YouTube.^[41]

On 24 November 2012, Harley performed live at the Birmingham Symphony Hall. The band, with the orchestra and chamber choir, made up about 50 performers together, and the band's first two albums were performed in their entirety. The live version of "Sebastian" appears on the CD and DVD release Birmingham (Live with Orchestra & Choir).^[42]

Track listing

7" Single

1. "Sebastian" - 4:03
2. "Rock and Roll Parade" - 5:03

7" Single (Mexican release)

1. "Sebastian" - 4:03
2. "Death Trip" - 9:54

7" Single (US promo release)

1. "Sebastian (Mono)" - 3:36
2. "Sebastian (Stereo)" - 3:36

Critical reception

In the New Musical Express, dated 8 September 1973, a review of the single stated: "The group's name sounds more applicable to a greyhound, but don't let it deter you from buying or borrowing (permanently) this wonderful record. It's a classically influenced ballad with the upper lead vocals placed, delicately, in the middle of the finest string and bass arrangement I've heard since the Titanic sank. The lyrics are a little contrived... but just you wait for the grand choral work. (Play it again, Sam.)"^[43]

A review of the same date appeared in the Melody Maker magazine, noting: "The Rebel are a very interesting band indeed, and this is an adventurous and unusual performance."^[44] Another contemporary review of the same date from Record Mirror magazine wrote: "Concert-classical type of string sounds here, and a strained voice, and a beautiful mood as that aforementioned strained voice gets at it. Lyrics are excellent, production first-class... and well, just ask for it, and listen to it."^[45]

Dave Thompson of Allmusic reviewed The Human Menagerie and spoke of the song, stating: "The labyrinthine "Sebastian" and the loquacious "Death Trip" in particular, possess confidence, arrogance, and a doomed, decadent madness which astounds. Subject to ruthless dissection, Steve Harley's lyrics were essentially nonsense, a stream of disconnected images whose most gallant achievement is that they usually rhyme."^[46]

Donald A. Guarisco of Allmusic reviewed the 1976 compilation A Closer Look, and 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"...^[47]

In the Classic Rock magazine of August 2004, Geoff Barton reviewed The Human Menagerie and stated: "It's about time "The Human Menagerie" was recognised as a classic. It begins hesitantly with "Hideaway," but builds insidiously until the arrival of the fifth track, the immense and immortal "Sebastian" (described by Harley as a 'Gothic love song' in his sleeve notes and also regarded as a gay anthem in some quarters). From there, there's no looking back."^[48]

Carol Clerk of Classic Rock magazine reviewed the The Cockney Rebel – A Steve Harley Anthology set in 2006, stating: "Sebastian was a brave first single with its choral and orchestral dramas, and while it flopped in Britain it was a success in Europe."^[49] Chris Roberts of Uncut magazine also reviewed the anthology set and noted: "Harley's ever-changing band slid perfectly into the post-Ziggy/Roxy slipstream, all mannered English vocals, florid lyrics and sexual-theatrical rock. Fan favourite "Sebastian" was a quite wonderful seven-minute epic with the unabashed self-importance of early Genesis."^[50]

George Starostin reviewed the album and song for his website. He said: "What would you do with a tune as weird as 'Sebastian'? Slow, gothic in stature (but not in tone), depressed and depressing, with a complaintive, humble, slightly electronically encoded vocal part and gorgeous orchestration, and a chorus that simply goes 'Somebody called me Sebastian... somebody called me Sebastian...' Harley seems to complain about his society-corrupted girlfriend in the lyrics, but what has that to do with being called Sebastian? What Sebastian? There's no answer, but there really shouldn't be one. There's just the depression of this decadent, ultimately meaningless world, which is what matters. Guess we should all be called Sebastian at some point."^[51]

Peter Hook of New Order chose six of his top tracks in the Metro issue of 8 April 2005. "Sebastian" was one of the six, and he revealed ""It's the first song that made me realise that there's more to music than pop. It wasn't throwaway. It builds up and down over nine minutes. Like "Bohemian Rhapsody", there's loads of different bits that go through it. The beauty of it is that you can listen to it over and over again and not get fed up with it."^[52]

Cover versions

• Dutch singer Patricia Paay, sister of Yvonne Keeley (who was Harley's backing vocalist and girlfriend of the time), recorded a version of "Sebastian" in 1975 for her album Beam Of Light, a quote taken from the same song. Harley produced the entire album, also penned the song "Understand" for her, (later recorded by Harley for the 1976 Steve Harley & Cockney Rebel album Timeless Flight), which was also on the same album.^[53][54]
• British band Far Corporation recorded a version of the song, which was released by Arista as a single in August 1987. Harley approved of the version, and agreed to make an appearance in the music video for the single. The video was shot during August at a castle in Vienna.^[55] On 29 August 1987, the band appeared on the German TV show Na Siehste! to promote the single, which again featured Harley making a guest appearance.^[56]
• Gregorian recorded a cover version in 1999 for their album Masters of Chant.^[57]
• The song was used 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. Additionally, two other Steve Harley and Cockney Rebel songs were used, "Tumbling Down" and "Make Me Smile (Come Up and See Me)". The original version of "Make Me Smile" was used, whilst like "Tumbling Down", "Sebastian" was covered by Venus in Furs/Meyers.^[58] However unlike the two other Harley songs, the cover version of "Sebastian" was not made available on the Velvet Goldmine original motion picture soundtrack release.^[59]
• Hans Peter Janssens, a Belgian musical actor, recorded a cover of "Sebastian" in Italian after Harley gave him permission to do the song in a new arrangement. It was produced by Bjorn Dobbelaere, and was released as a single in March 2008.^[60] Following on from this song, Jannsens would perform another of Harley's songs in Italian, "The Coast Of Amalfi" ("La Costa Di Amalfi"). The song originally appeared on the 2005 album The Quality of Mercy. Janssens' version used Harley's original version, with Janssens performing an overlaid vocal on top of Harley's "shadow-vocal".^[61] In February 2008 Harley was interviewed about Janssens and the cover of "Sebastian", and noted that the song "translated into the Italian language for me is very moving, I'm very touched by that."^[62]

Chart performance

Personnel

• Steve Harley - Lead vocals
• John Crocker - electric violin, guitar
• Paul Jeffreys - Fender bass
• Milton Reame-James - keyboards
• Stuart Elliott - drums, percussion
• Producer - Neil Harrison
• Engineer – Geoff Emerick
• Orchestral Arrangement – Andrew Powell
• Writer - Steve Harley

References