Make Me Smile (Come Up and See Me)
Encyclopedia
"Make Me Smile" is a song written and recorded by Steve Harley
. It was originally recorded by his band Steve Harley & Cockney Rebel
on the album The Best Years of Our Lives
and released as a single in 1975. In a television interview recorded in 2002, Steve Harley described how the lyrics are vindictively directed at the former band members, whom he felt had abandoned him.
More than a hundred and twenty cover version
s of the song have been recorded by other artists, most notably Duran Duran
and Erasure
.
and the Irish Singles Chart
in February 1975.
"Make Me Smile" has been reissued three times in the UK: a 1992 release reached number 46; a 1995 release reached number 33 after being used in the Carlsberg TV advertisement; and a 30th Anniversary remix
of the song, released as a single in June 2005, taking the track to number 55.
The acoustic guitar solo by Jim Cregan
is widely believed to have been recorded during a sound check that was captured on tape and later used when it was realised it added to the song. However Cregan's acoustic guitar break was recorded late at night in Abbey Road Studios in several takes. Amongst the other contributors was Marc Bolan
on acoustic rhythm guitar and on backing vocalist
s was the future chart-topper, Tina Charles.
According to the EMI producer of the single Tony Clark, it was Marc Bolan who made the phone call to 'Top of the Pops' and had Harley in the BBC studio that same evening of the recording.
The song was used in the soundtracks of the films The Full Monty
(1997), Velvet Goldmine
(1998), Best - The George Best Story (2000), Saving Grace
(2000), and Blackball
(2003). It was also used in a 2006 Marks & Spencer
advertisement.
The song was later included as a playable song in Lego Rock Band
(2009) for the Seventh Generation of Games consoles
.
Track Listing
of "Make Me Smile" was released as the B-side to Duran Duran
's 1984 number one single "The Reflex
". On the label and sleeve, the song's original title was reversed and listed as "Come Up and See Me (Make Me Smile)". The band frequently covered the song during their early 1980s concerts, and this recording was made during a live performance for the BBC College Concert series. The entire concert was released on the live CD/DVD Live at Hammersmith '82!
in September 2009.
After dropping the song from their set list for over twenty years, the reunited Duran Duran brought the song back as a surprise encore at their 28 May 2005 homecoming gig at the Birmingham Football Ground to an audience of 25,000 fans. Harley was invited to perform with them, but was unable to attend.
The Duran Duran version of the song appeared on the soundtrack to the movie Threesome
(1994), and as a bonus track on the double CD single for "Perfect Day", from their 1995 covers album Thank You
.
Track Listing
included "Make Me Smile (Come Up and See Me)" on their cover version
s album Other People's Songs
. After the UK Top 10 success of their previous single "Solsbury Hill
", Erasure charted well again when "Make Me Smile" hit number fourteen.
A live performance recorded in Copenhagen
on is included on the DVD The Erasure Show - Live in Cologne
.
The music video
sees Erasure members Vince Clarke
and Andy Bell
in the midst of computer-generated special effects and graphics. The statue in the video also appears in their 2005 video for "Breathe
".
Erasure's version appeared in the first episode of season one of the television show My Name Is Earl
in 2005.
Track Listing
CD single
DVD single
Suzi Quatro
covered the song on her Aggro-Phobia album in 1976. Australian group, Nick Barker & the Reptiles
' version reached the top 30 on the Australian Recording Industry Association
(ARIA) Singles Chart
in November 1989.
A version by The Wedding Present
peaked in the UK Singles Chart at #25 in 1990, as a track on the 3 Songs EP
. Steve Harley was very positive about this version: "There are 120 cover versions of Make Me Smile, but only The Wedding Present have done it differently. They did a punk version and made it kick. They understood the venom in the lyrics."
Robbie Williams
recorded a medley of "Make Me Smile (Come Up And See Me)", "You Can Leave Your Hat On
" and "Land of 1000 Dances" as a B-side to "Let Me Entertain You
" in 1998.
Steve Harley
Steve Harley is an English singer and songwriter, best known for his work with the 1970s rock group Cockney Rebel, with whom he still occasionally tours .-Biography:As a child, Harley suffered from polio, spending four years in hospital up to the...
. It was originally recorded by his band Steve Harley & Cockney Rebel
Steve Harley & Cockney Rebel
Steve Harley & Cockney Rebel are an English rock band from the early 1970s. Their music covers a range of styles from pop to progressive rock. Over the years they have had five albums in the UK Albums Chart and twelve singles in the UK Singles Chart.-Career:...
on the album The Best Years of Our Lives
The Best Years of Our Lives (album)
The Best Years of Our Lives is an album by Steve Harley & Cockney Rebel released in March 1975. It was their first album that used Harley's name ahead of the band...
and released as a single in 1975. In a television interview recorded in 2002, Steve Harley described how the lyrics are vindictively directed at the former band members, whom he felt had abandoned him.
More than a hundred and twenty cover version
Cover version
In popular music, a cover version or cover song, or simply cover, is a new performance or recording of a contemporary or previously recorded, commercially released song or popular song...
s of the song have been recorded by other artists, most notably Duran Duran
Duran Duran
Duran Duran are an English band, formed in Birmingham in 1978. They were one of the most successful bands of the 1980s and a leading band in the MTV-driven "Second British Invasion" of the United States...
and Erasure
Erasure
Erasure are an English synthpop duo, consisting of songwriter and keyboardist Vince Clarke and singer Andy Bell. Erasure entered the music scene in 1985 with their debut single "Who Needs Love Like That"...
.
Steve Harley & Cockney Rebel version
"Make Me Smile (Come Up and See Me)" was Steve Harley & Cockney Rebel's biggest selling hit, selling over one million copies globally. It was their only number one hit, topping both the UK Singles ChartUK Singles Chart
The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
and the Irish Singles Chart
Irish Singles Chart
The Irish Singles Chart is Ireland's music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by the Irish Recorded Music Association and compiled on behalf of the IRMA by Chart-Track. Chart rankings are based on sales, which are compiled through over-the-counter retail data captured...
in February 1975.
"Make Me Smile" has been reissued three times in the UK: a 1992 release reached number 46; a 1995 release reached number 33 after being used in the Carlsberg TV advertisement; and a 30th Anniversary remix
Remix
A remix is an alternative version of a recorded song, made from an original version. This term is also used for any alterations of media other than song ....
of the song, released as a single in June 2005, taking the track to number 55.
The acoustic guitar solo by Jim Cregan
Jim Cregan
Jim Cregan, born James Cregan, 9 March 1946, Yeovil, Somerset, England is an English rock guitarist and bassist who best known for his associations with Family, Steve Harley & Cockney Rebel and Rod Stewart. Cregan is a former husband of the singer Linda Lewis and worked with her as a record producer...
is widely believed to have been recorded during a sound check that was captured on tape and later used when it was realised it added to the song. However Cregan's acoustic guitar break was recorded late at night in Abbey Road Studios in several takes. Amongst the other contributors was Marc Bolan
Marc Bolan
Marc Bolan was an English singer-songwriter, guitarist and poet. He is best known as the founder, frontman, lead singer & guitarist for T. Rex, but also a successful solo artist...
on acoustic rhythm guitar and on backing vocalist
Backing vocalist
A backing vocalist or backing singer is a singer who provides vocal harmony with the lead vocalist or other backing vocalists...
s was the future chart-topper, Tina Charles.
According to the EMI producer of the single Tony Clark, it was Marc Bolan who made the phone call to 'Top of the Pops' and had Harley in the BBC studio that same evening of the recording.
The song was used in the soundtracks of the films The Full Monty
The Full Monty
The Full Monty is a 1997 British comedy film directed by Peter Cattaneo, starring Robert Carlyle, Mark Addy, William Snape, Steve Huison, Tom Wilkinson, Paul Barber, and Hugo Speer. The screenplay was written by Simon Beaufoy...
(1997), Velvet Goldmine
Velvet Goldmine
Velvet Goldmine is a 1998 British/American drama film directed and co-written by Todd Haynes. The film tells the story of a pop star based mainly on David Bowie's 'Ziggy Stardust' character and is set in Britain during the days of glam rock in the early 1970s.Sandy Powell received another Academy...
(1998), Best - The George Best Story (2000), Saving Grace
Saving Grace (2000 film)
Track Listing# "Introduction" – 1:02# "Grace's Theme" – 2:42# "Take a Picture" – 5:55# "Make Me Smile " – 4:07# "Spirit in the Sky" – 3:56...
(2000), and Blackball
Blackball (film)
Blackball is a 2003 British comedy sports film, borrowed from the Australian film, Crackerjack about Cliff Starkey , a fictional rebellious young bowls player. His dream is to play for his country, but always preferred to play by his own rules, much to the disapproval of the local bowls club...
(2003). It was also used in a 2006 Marks & Spencer
Marks & Spencer
Marks and Spencer plc is a British retailer headquartered in the City of Westminster, London, with over 700 stores in the United Kingdom and over 300 stores spread across more than 40 countries. It specialises in the selling of clothing and luxury food products...
advertisement.
The song was later included as a playable song in Lego Rock Band
Lego Rock Band
Lego Rock Band is a music video game and part of the Rock Band series developed by Harmonix Music Systems, but also incorporates elements from other Lego video games as developed by Traveller's Tales. The game is published by Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment and MTV Games...
(2009) for the Seventh Generation of Games consoles
History of video game consoles (seventh generation)
In the history of video games, the seventh generation of consoles is the current generation , and includes consoles released since late by Nintendo, Microsoft, and Sony...
.
Track Listing
- 7" single (UK)
Chart performance
| Chart (1975) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| UK Singles Chart UK Singles Chart The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ... |
1 |
| Dutch GfK GfK The GfK Group, established in 1934 as Gesellschaft für Konsumforschung is Germany's largest market research institute, and the fourth largest market research organisation in the world, after Nielsen Company, Kantar Group, and IMS Health... chart |
5 |
| Dutch Top 40 Dutch Top 40 The Dutch Top 40 is a weekly music chart, which started as the "Veronica Top 40", because the offshore radio station Radio Veronica was the first to introduce it. It remained "The Veronica Top 40" until 1974, when the station was forced to stop broadcasting... |
6 |
| Irish Singles Chart Irish Singles Chart The Irish Singles Chart is Ireland's music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by the Irish Recorded Music Association and compiled on behalf of the IRMA by Chart-Track. Chart rankings are based on sales, which are compiled through over-the-counter retail data captured... |
1 |
| Chart (1976) | Peak position |
| US Billboard Pop Singles Billboard Hot 100 The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday... |
96 |
| Chart (1992) | Peak position |
| UK Singles Chart UK Singles Chart The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ... |
46 |
| Chart (1995) | Peak position |
| UK Singles Chart UK Singles Chart The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ... |
33 |
| Chart (2005) | Peak position |
| UK Singles Chart UK Singles Chart The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ... |
55 |
Duran Duran version
A live cover versionCover version
In popular music, a cover version or cover song, or simply cover, is a new performance or recording of a contemporary or previously recorded, commercially released song or popular song...
of "Make Me Smile" was released as the B-side to Duran Duran
Duran Duran
Duran Duran are an English band, formed in Birmingham in 1978. They were one of the most successful bands of the 1980s and a leading band in the MTV-driven "Second British Invasion" of the United States...
's 1984 number one single "The Reflex
The Reflex
"The Reflex" is the eleventh single by Duran Duran, released worldwide on 16 April 1984.The song was heavily remixed for single release and was the third and last to be taken from their third album Seven and the Ragged Tiger.-Song history:...
". On the label and sleeve, the song's original title was reversed and listed as "Come Up and See Me (Make Me Smile)". The band frequently covered the song during their early 1980s concerts, and this recording was made during a live performance for the BBC College Concert series. The entire concert was released on the live CD/DVD Live at Hammersmith '82!
Live at Hammersmith '82!
Live at Hammersmith '82! is a live album by the band Duran Duran. Originally recorded at the Hammersmith Odeon on , it was released by EMI Records on as a CD/DVD double pack....
in September 2009.
After dropping the song from their set list for over twenty years, the reunited Duran Duran brought the song back as a surprise encore at their 28 May 2005 homecoming gig at the Birmingham Football Ground to an audience of 25,000 fans. Harley was invited to perform with them, but was unable to attend.
The Duran Duran version of the song appeared on the soundtrack to the movie Threesome
Threesome (film)
Threesome is a 1994 film, written and directed by Andrew Fleming. The film is an autobiographical comedy mixed in with some social commentary, and is based on the college memories of Fleming. It was given an R rating by the Motion Picture Association of America...
(1994), and as a bonus track on the double CD single for "Perfect Day", from their 1995 covers album Thank You
Thank You (Duran Duran album)
Thank You is a covers album by Duran Duran released in April 1995, their follow-up to 1993's Duran Duran . It did well on the charts , but was received very negatively by critics...
.
Track Listing
- 7" single (UK: EMI / DURAN2)
Erasure version
British pop duo ErasureErasure
Erasure are an English synthpop duo, consisting of songwriter and keyboardist Vince Clarke and singer Andy Bell. Erasure entered the music scene in 1985 with their debut single "Who Needs Love Like That"...
included "Make Me Smile (Come Up and See Me)" on their cover version
Cover version
In popular music, a cover version or cover song, or simply cover, is a new performance or recording of a contemporary or previously recorded, commercially released song or popular song...
s album Other People's Songs
Other People's Songs
Other People's Songs is a cover album by Erasure.The album was originally conceived as a solo project for singer Andy Bell. Once Vince Clarke, the other member of Erasure, became involved, it was released as Erasure's tenth studio album. The tracks were handpicked by Clarke and Bell as ones that...
. After the UK Top 10 success of their previous single "Solsbury Hill
Solsbury Hill (song)
"Solsbury Hill" is a song by British musician Peter Gabriel, about a spiritual experience atop Solsbury Hill in Somerset, England. Gabriel wrote the song after his departure from the progressive rock band Genesis, of which he had been the lead singer since its inception, explaining the reasons...
", Erasure charted well again when "Make Me Smile" hit number fourteen.
A live performance recorded in Copenhagen
Copenhagen
Copenhagen is the capital and largest city of Denmark, with an urban population of 1,199,224 and a metropolitan population of 1,930,260 . With the completion of the transnational Øresund Bridge in 2000, Copenhagen has become the centre of the increasingly integrating Øresund Region...
on is included on the DVD The Erasure Show - Live in Cologne
The Erasure Show - Live in Cologne
The Erasure Show - Live in Cologne is a DVD released by British synthpop duo Erasure which was a live concert from their sellout 2005 world tour, The Erasure Show...
.
The music video
Music video
A music video or song video is a short film integrating a song and imagery, produced for promotional or artistic purposes. Modern music videos are primarily made and used as a marketing device intended to promote the sale of music recordings...
sees Erasure members Vince Clarke
Vince Clarke
Vince Clarke is an English synthpop musician and songwriter. Clarke has been involved with a number of successful groups, including Depeche Mode, Yazoo, The Assembly and Erasure....
and Andy Bell
Andy Bell (singer)
Andrew Ivan "Andy" Bell is the lead singer of the English synthpop duo Erasure. He also has a solo career, with the albums Non-Stop and Electric Blue.-Early life:Andy Bell originates from the Dogsthorpe area in Peterborough...
in the midst of computer-generated special effects and graphics. The statue in the video also appears in their 2005 video for "Breathe
Breathe (Erasure song)
"Breathe" is a song by British synth pop duo Erasure. It was released by Mute Records in the UK and the U.S. as the first single from the band's eleventh studio album Nightbird....
".
Erasure's version appeared in the first episode of season one of the television show My Name Is Earl
My Name Is Earl
My Name Is Earl is an American television comedy series created by Greg Garcia that was originally broadcast on the NBC television network from September 20, 2005, to May 14, 2009, in the United States...
in 2005.
Track Listing
CD single
- UK: Mute / CDMUTE292
- UK: Mute / LCDMUTE292
DVD single
- UK: Mute / DVDMUTE292
Chart performance
| Chart (2003) | Peak position |
Total weeks |
|---|---|---|
| Danish Singles Chart | 19 | 1 |
| German Singles Chart | 58 | 4 |
| Swedish Singles Chart | 51 | 1 |
| UK Singles Chart | 14 | 3 |
Other cover versions
Punk Band Pinky & The Exploding Hippos did a versionSuzi Quatro
Suzi Quatro
Susan Kay "Suzi" Quatro is an American singer-songwriter, bass player, and actor.She scored a string of hit singles in the 1970s that found greater success in Europe and Australia than in her homeland, and had a recurring role on the popular American sitcom Happy Days.-Music:Quatro began her...
covered the song on her Aggro-Phobia album in 1976. Australian group, Nick Barker & the Reptiles
Nick Barker
Nicholas "Nick" Paul Barker is an Australian singer-songwriter and guitarist who formed a Melbourne-based rock, power pop band Nick Barker & the Reptiles in March 1988. Their cover version of Cockney Rebel's "Make Me Smile " reached the top 30 on the Australian Recording Industry Association ...
' version reached the top 30 on the Australian Recording Industry Association
Australian Recording Industry Association
The Australian Recording Industry Association is a trade group representing the Australian recording industry which was established in 1983 by six major record companies, EMI, Festival, CBS, RCA, WEA and Universal replacing the Association of Australian Record Manufacturers which was formed in 1956...
(ARIA) Singles Chart
ARIA Charts
The ARIA charts are the main Australian music sales charts, issued weekly by the Australian Recording Industry Association. The charts are a record of the highest selling singles and albums in various genres in Australia. ARIA commenced compiling its own charts in-house from the week ending 26 June...
in November 1989.
A version by The Wedding Present
The Wedding Present
The Wedding Present are a British indie rock group based in Leeds, England, formed in 1985 from the ashes of the Lost Pandas. The band's music has evolved from fast-paced indie rock in the vein of their most obvious influences The Fall, Buzzcocks and Gang of Four to more varied forms...
peaked in the UK Singles Chart at #25 in 1990, as a track on the 3 Songs EP
Extended play
An EP is a musical recording which contains more music than a single, but is too short to qualify as a full album or LP. The term EP originally referred only to specific types of vinyl records other than 78 rpm standard play records and LP records, but it is now applied to mid-length Compact...
. Steve Harley was very positive about this version: "There are 120 cover versions of Make Me Smile, but only The Wedding Present have done it differently. They did a punk version and made it kick. They understood the venom in the lyrics."
Robbie Williams
Robbie Williams
Robert Peter "Robbie" Williams is an English singer-songwriter, vocal coach and occasional actor. He is a member of the pop group Take That. Williams rose to fame in the band's first run in the early- to mid-1990s. After many disagreements with the management and certain group members, Williams...
recorded a medley of "Make Me Smile (Come Up And See Me)", "You Can Leave Your Hat On
You Can Leave Your Hat On
"You Can Leave Your Hat On" is a song written by Randy Newman and appearing on his 1972 album Sail Away. It was made famous by Joe Cocker when featured in the 1986 Adrian Lyne film 9½ Weeks during the striptease scene....
" and "Land of 1000 Dances" as a B-side to "Let Me Entertain You
Let Me Entertain You (Robbie Williams song)
"Let Me Entertain You" is a song written by Robbie Williams and Guy Chambers. Released as the fifth and last single from Williams' debut album, Life Thru A Lens. It has no connection to the songs by Queen or Shakespears Sister carrying the same title. In March 1998, the track became a top three hit...
" in 1998.