I remember where I first heard, 'Virginia Plain' by Roxy Music, in 1972, it was on the radio in one of our older smaller school yards. I wasn't to get into them (at all) until 1973. However, I did think it was an interesting sound...(they, and Ferry in particular, were to exert considerable influence over me...)

A similar thing happened with me and Cockney Rebel. Again, I remember where I was when I first saw and heard 'Judy Teen', by Cockney Rebel, in 1974. I was sitting on our lounge floor, watching and listening to the band (plus 'Judy') perform it, on television. I didn't get into them (totally) until January 1975, but when I did, it totally transformed the next seven months for me (with a continuance of influence...)

I didn't buy that many singles in the '70's, because I was into albums.

So, 'Spaced Out' (1974), 'Big Big Deal (1974) and 'Another Journey' (1975), passed me by. I never heard any of these in later live shows.

The middle track is brilliant (except maybe for it's length) - also I hadn't realised (until today) that was Steve's start of a solo career, being released as a single in November 1974 (between the first and second Cockney Rebel).

'Spaced Out', very London, like a very cool Chas 'N Dave. For me, Paul Jeffreys bass is a standout...

'Another Journey', the sound of the second Cockney Rebel. Steve's harmonica playing is sublime, very Dylanesque...

I may need to edit my 'Triptych Twenty Twenty Six' thread, to include this (Big Big Deal). Classic Cockney Rebel really, and with that 'octave shift' I go on about.

Have a good weekend...

For the last week or so, since I started this thread and the one adjacent to it (The Biggest Hit), I've been obsessed by 'Big Big Deal'.

I've been waking up and that song is in my brain. It's groove. It's Harley attitude. The persona was honed during or after the successes of 'Judy Teen', 'Mr Soft' and 'The Psychomodo', 1974.

That attitude is inherent within 'Sweet Dreams', 'Big Big Deal' and the position Harley then found himself in (by 1974) - more heightened than what happened immediately after the initial album release, in my view (with hindsight).

I've searched for chords to Big Big Deal, but my cursory searching hasn't delivered. I was also wondering about the top line and so I sat at my keyboard. Bear with, because I'm almost a non-musician (a phrase that Eno and Ferry used to drop, back in the day).

I'm reasonably sure (from ear, but don't rely on it!) that the A chord is involved(?) One thing I'm more sure about is the top line of the later part of the song (phonetically and perhaps slightly peversely on my part) the part I think might be better forty five seconds shorter...where the lyrics turn to 'dar de dar...' I think the top line to one phrase of that is:

E-F#-E-Db-B-A-A-B-A-D-D-D-E-D-Db

Of course I haven't separated the crochets from the quavers, but if you play that note sequence whilst you're listening to the Harley voice at the outro, you'll play the tune...

The main part of the start to the middle of the song, I can't be sure of top line there, because I'm not skilled enough and Harley sings them quite quickly. Maybe I could in time.

Anyway, I love it, and I'm surprised that drama hasn't (yet) been sampled...x

I'm going to ask Sash if she can get it on download for me, next time, she gets a few, for each of us. X