Back Street Luv
"Back Street Luv" is a song by British rock band Curved Air, written by band members Ian Eyre, Sonja Kristina and Darryl Way. It was included on the Second Album and released as a single in July 1971 by Warner Bros. Records (K16092).[1] On September 18 "Back Street Luv" reached number 4 in the UK Singles Chart, its highest position.[2] In 1971 Warners also released it as a single in Netherlands (16092), Germany (16 092/WB 8029), France (16092) and Portugal (N-63-6). In 1975 a considerably more intense live version appeared on Curved Air – Live and was released as a single in the UK by Deram, but unlike the original recording it failed to make any commercial impact.[1][3]
| "Back Street Luv" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Single by Curved Air | ||||
| from the album Second Album | ||||
| B-side | "Everdance" | |||
| Released | July 1971 | |||
| Genre | Art rock | |||
| Length | 3:36 | |||
| Label | Warner Bros | |||
| Songwriter(s) | Ian Eyre, Sonja Kristina, Darryl Way | |||
| Producer(s) | Colin Caldwell, Curved Air | |||
| Curved Air singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
Rock critic Dave Thompson called "Back Street Luv" "one of the band's own finest moments" and "also one of the crucial singles of the early 1970s".[4]
In 1997, Salad covered the song on the Childline charity album.[5]
Track list
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Back Street Luv" | 3:36 |
| 2. | "Everdance" | 3:06 |
Personnel
Original studio version
- Sonja Kristina — vocals
- Francis Monkman — EMS VCS 3, Hohner pianet, guitar, Hammond organ
- Ian Eyre — bass
- Florian Pilkington-Miksa — drums
(Darryl Way, though the chief writer of the song's music, does not play on the original recording.)
Live version from Curved Air - Live
- Darryl Way — VCS3, electric piano
- Sonja Kristina — vocal
- Phil Kohn — bass
- Florian Pilkington-Miksa — drums
- Francis Monkman — guitar, organ
Live version from Alive, 1990
- Darryl Way — synthesizers, backing vocal
- Sonja Kristina — lead vocal
- Florian Pilkington-Miksa — drums
- Francis Monkman — guitar, bass
Editions
- 1971 — Second Album (3:36, WEA International
- 1971 — Second Album (5:56, Collectors' Choice Music)
- 1975 — Live (3:47, Repertoire)
- 1976 — Best of Curved Air (Warner Bros.)
- 1994 — Progression (Alex Records)
- 1995 — Journey to the Edge: Progressive Rock Classics (3:35, Music Collection)
- 1995 — The No. 1 70’s Rock Album (3:40 Alex)
- 1995 — Progressive Pop: Inside the 70’s (3:50, See For Miles Records)
- 1999 — Rock Festival (Insight)
- 2000 — Alive, 1990 (4:26, Mystic Records)
- 2006 — Absolute 70’s (Crimson Productions)
- 2006 — Classic Rock Presents Prog Rock (3:37, Gut-Active)
- 2006 — Good Morning Vietnam 2 (3:50, Disky)
- 2006 — My Sounds Rock (Disky)
- 2007 — Head Full of Rock (3:36, EMI)
- 2007 — The Prog Rock Album (3:38, Crimson Productions)
- 2007 — The Sound of the 70s (3:35, Warner Strategic Marketing)
- 2008 — The Best of Curved Air (Repertoire)
- 2008 — Legendary Rock (3:48, MP Records)
- 2010 — The Old Grey Whistle Test (3:33, Rhino)[6]
References
- "Back Street Luv". www.discogs.com. Retrieved 2010-08-13.
- "Back Street Luv UK Charts". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 2010-08-13.
- Joynson, Vernon (1995). The Tapestry of Delights Archived 2011-08-25 at the Wayback Machine. London: Borderline Books.
- Dave Thompson. "Second Album". www.allmusic.com. Retrieved 2010-08-13. …It’s also one of the crucial singles of the early 1970s.
- "Childline". www.allmusic.com. Retrieved 2011-07-20.
- Back Street Luv. - www.allmusic.com.