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🔘 Make Me Smile (Come Up And See Me) – Single: Jan. 1975

  • Writer: Cockney Rebel
    Cockney Rebel
  • Jan 31, 1975
  • 3 min read

Released in the UK on January 31, 1975, Steve Harley & Cockney Rebel’s “Make Me Smile (Come Up And See Me),” backed with “Another Journey,” appeared as a 7-inch vinyl single on EMI Records (EMI 2263). Written by Steve Harley and produced by Harley with Alan Parsons, the track became the band’s signature hit — a sophisticated glam‑pop anthem built on acoustic flourishes, sharp lyrical bite, and Harley’s distinctive vocal phrasing. Entering the UK Singles Chart on February 8, 1975, it climbed to No. 1 and remained on the chart for nine weeks. Issued in an EMI factory sleeve with a solid‑centre pressing, the single stands as one of the defining British hits of the mid‑1970s.


Label: EMI Records

Catalogue Number: EMI 2263

Format: 7" Vinyl Single (Solid Centre; EMI Factory Sleeve)

Released: January 31, 1975 (UK)


🔘 Track List

UK 7" Single — EMI Records – EMI 2263 — 1975

A. Make Me Smile (Come Up And See Me)

Written by: Steve Harley

Produced by: Steve Harley & Alan Parsons

B. Another Journey

Written by: Steve Harley

Produced by: Steve Harley & Alan Parsons

Recorded at: Abbey Road Studios, 1974

Published by: Trigram Music Ltd.


🔘 Key Highlights

• Released January 31, 1975

• A-side: Harley’s defining glam‑pop anthem

• B-side: Non‑album track from the same sessions

• UK peak: No. 1

• Chart run: 9 weeks

• Issued in EMI factory sleeve, solid‑centre pressing


🔘 The Story

“Make Me Smile (Come Up And See Me)” arrived at a pivotal moment for Steve Harley & Cockney Rebel. Following internal tensions and lineup changes, Harley channelled his frustrations into a lyrically pointed yet musically uplifting single. The result was a masterclass in glam‑pop craftsmanship — acoustic guitar flourishes, elegant arrangement touches, and Harley’s unmistakable vocal delivery, all shaped under the engineering precision of Alan Parsons.


The B-side, “Another Journey,” continued Harley’s introspective songwriting, offering a more reflective counterpoint to the A-side’s polished bite. Together, the tracks showcased Harley’s evolution as a writer and bandleader.


Commercially, the single was a triumph. Entering the UK chart on February 8, 1975, it quickly rose to No. 1, where it remained a defining hit of the year. Its nine‑week chart run cemented Harley’s place in the British pop landscape, and the song has since become a staple of classic rock radio, film soundtracks, and compilation albums.


Issued in a standard EMI factory sleeve with a solid‑centre pressing, the single remains a sought‑after item for collectors of mid‑’70s glam and art‑pop.


🔘 Variants (UK)

• 7", 45 RPM, Single, Solid Centre — EMI – EMI 2263 — UK — 1975

• 7", 45 RPM, Single, Promo — EMI – EMI 2263 — UK — 1975


🔘 Chart Performance


UK — Official Singles Chart

1 — Peak Position

Chart Run: 9 Weeks Total


🔘 Context & Notes

• A-side: Harley’s most successful and enduring composition

• B-side: Non‑album track from the same sessions

• Production: Steve Harley & Alan Parsons

• Sleeve: Standard EMI factory sleeve

• Historical placement: Breakthrough No. 1 hit for Harley & Cockney Rebel


🔘 Related Material

• “Judy Teen” (1974)

• The Best Years of Our Lives (Album, 1975)

• “Mr. Raffles (Man, It Was Mean)” (1975)

• Timeless Flight (1976)


🔘 Discography

Judy Teen — 1974

Make Me Smile (Come Up And See Me) — 1975

Mr. Raffles (Man, It Was Mean) — 1975

Timeless Flight — 1976


🔘 Mini‑Timeline

✦ 1974 — Recorded at Abbey Road Studios

✦ Jan 31, 1975 — UK single released

✦ Feb 8, 1975 — Enters UK chart

✦ Feb–Mar 1975 — Reaches No. 1, charts for 9 weeks

EMI Records (Catalogue: EMI 2263) released in Denmark.
EMI Records (Catalogue: EMI 2263) released in Denmark.

🔘 Glam Flashback

A polished, witty burst of mid‑’70s glam‑pop brilliance — Harley’s finest moment, wrapped in acoustic sparkle and lyrical bite.


🔘 Hashtags


🔘 Sources

Primary reference sources:

Wikipedia • Discogs • 45cat • BBC / Official Charts Company


🔘 Copyright Notice

All magazine scans, photographs, and original text excerpts referenced in this entry remain the property of their respective copyright holders. This Chronicle entry is a transformative, non‑commercial archival summary created for historical documentation and educational reference. No ownership of the original material is claimed or implied.





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