Big Big Deal

At the end of an extensive UK tour, the split of Cockney Rebel in July 1974 left Harley without a band. However, his label, EMI Records, were not dissuaded by the band's split, as Harley revealed in 2014: "The people at my record label, EMI, were right behind me. They believed I could find new band members without too much of a problem and continue on to a new level of success. They believed it wasn't a major stumbling block."[4]

During the period of auditioning new musicians and finalising a new line-up, Harley decided to keep the momentum of Cockney Rebel's recent hit releases going by releasing a solo single. With Cockney Rebel drummer Stuart Elliott,[5] Harley recorded "Big Big Deal" at Air Studios, London during September 1974.

Released as a single in November 1974, "Big Big Deal" failed to enter the UK Top 50. However, it did enter the unnumbered BMRB UK Breakers Chart on 23 November 1974 (which would be equal to a position somewhere between #51-60 on the UK Singles Chart, at a time when the national singles chart only ran to the Top 50).[6] Regardless, the single was successful in keeping Harley in the public eye, while the new line-up for Cockney Rebel was formed.

In April 2016, the song was covered by Darren Hayman and the Papernut Cambridge. It was released as a double A-side 7" single, along with a cover of the Paul Jones' 1967 song "I've Been a Bad, Bad Boy".[7][8]

"Big Big Deal" was released by EMI Records on 7" vinyl in the UK, Ireland,[9][10] Belgium and Germany.[11] The B-side, "Bed in the Corner", was written by Harley, and produced by Harley and Alan Parsons.[12] It was taken from the 1974 Cockney Rebel album The Psychomodo.[13]

No picture sleeve was included with the UK or Irish versions of the single, however, the German release featured a sleeve with a close-up photograph of Harley,[14] while the Belgian version had different artwork, featuring a close-up of Harley performing on stage.[15] A promotional 7" vinyl of the single was also released in the UK.[16]

Following its original release as a single, the track remained unavailable on any other release for a few years. It first appeared on the 1980 UK/European EMI compilation The Best of Steve Harley and Cockney Rebel.[17] It next appeared as a bonus track on the 1992 EMI CD re-issue of The Psychomodo.[18] It has also appeared on 2006's The Cockney Rebel – A Steve Harley Anthology,[19] and on 2012's Cavaliers: An Anthology 1973-1974. The song appeared on disc two, while on disc three, the full version of the track was added, titled "Big Big Deal (Full Version)" which is approximately a minute longer than the original version. This full version was previously unreleased.[20]

No music video was filmed to promote the single. On 24 October 1974, Harley performed the song, along with "Bed in the Corner", live on David Jensen's ITV show 45.[21][22] A music advert to promote the single was also released in Melody Maker on 9 November 1974, which highlighted the fact the single was Harley's "first solo single".[23] During October 1974, the new Cockney Rebel line-up included the song within their set-list for the three concerts they performed that month.

On its release, Sue Byrom of Record & Popswop Mirror felt "Big Big Deal" was not "as good" as Harley's previous material with Cockney Rebel and lacked "the force normally associated with Harley". However, she praised the song's latter section "when Harley goes into a semi la la la hook line".[24] In a December 1974 issue of Look-in magazine, an article on Harley commented: "The latest single, "Big Big Deal" is written, produced and performed by Steve, and the new group's not on it. It's a sign of his individuality and talent, and he's worked hard to get where he is."[25] Stephen Thomas Erlewine of AllMusic highlighted "Big Big Deal" as a standout track on the 2012 compilation Cavaliers: An Anthology 1973-1974 by labeling it an AMG Pick Track.[20]

• Steve Harley - vocals, producer (both tracks)
• Stuart Elliott - drums
• Pete Swettenham - engineer on "Big Big Deal"
• Alan Parsons - producer on "Bed in the Corner"