Steve Harley & Cockney Rebel (October 15, 1976) – "(I Believe) Love's A Prima Donna" b/w "Sidetrack 1 (Group Version)" Format: 7" Single: UK
Released during October 1976, "(I Believe) Love's A Prima Donna" was issued as the second single from Steve Harley & Cockney Rebel's fifth studio album Love's A Prima Donna. Following the success of the band's cover of "Here Comes The Sun" earlier that year, the single was selected as the next release from the album campaign.
Written and produced by Steve Harley, the record blended pop and rock influences and became the final charting single by Steve Harley & Cockney Rebel before the group's split in 1977. The single reached No. 41 on the UK Singles Chart and remained within the UK Top 50 for four weeks.
The song was subsequently included on later retrospective releases, including Greatest Hits (1987) and The Cockney Rebel – A Steve Harley Anthology (2006).
RECORDING
The song was recorded at Abbey Road Studios during sessions for the Love's A Prima Donna album between June and September 1976.
Both the A-side and B-side were written and produced by Steve Harley.
Engineering duties were handled by Tony Clark, assisted by Pat Stapley, with mastering by Ken Perry.
STYLE & THEMES
The song combined pop and rock elements with frequent tempo and rhythm changes. Contemporary reviews highlighted its strong melodic structure, prominent chorus and elaborate production style.
According to commentary supplied in EMI's Music Talk magazine, the song explored the emotional realities of love and relationships, presenting "love" itself as the central character of the narrative.
The arrangement incorporated layered backing vocals, keyboard textures and a theatrical production approach that reflected Steve Harley's distinctive songwriting style during the mid-1970s.
TRACK‑BY‑TRACK NOTES
• (I Believe) Love's A Prima Donna — Written and produced by Steve Harley. Issued as the second single from the Love's A Prima Donna album and became the final Steve Harley & Cockney Rebel chart entry before the band's split.
• Sidetrack 1 (Group Version) — Written and produced by Steve Harley. Issued as the B-side and remained exclusive to the single. A related composition, "Sidetrack 2", later appeared on the Love's A Prima Donna album.
RELEASE HISTORY
The single was issued by EMI Records in October 1976.
Commercial releases appeared in the United Kingdom, Belgium, Germany, Japan and the Netherlands.
Several promotional and test pressing editions were also manufactured, including UK white-label and promotional copies and a German test pressing.
A promotional UK pressing carried the stereo version on one side and a mono version on the reverse.
The release was supported by television appearances, including a performance by the band on Top Of The Pops on October 21, 1976. Steve Harley also performed the song on ITV's Supersonic during the same promotional period.
CHARTS & CERTIFICATIONS
EUROPE
UK Singles Chart — Peak: 41 — Weeks in Top 50: 4
PERSONNEL
Steve Harley — vocals, guitar, songwriter, producer
Jim Cregan — guitar, backing vocals
Duncan Mackay — keyboards
George Ford — bass, backing vocals
Stuart Elliott — drums
Lindsay Elliott — percussion
Tony Rivers — backing vocals, backing vocal arrangements
John G. Perry — backing vocals
Stuart Calver — backing vocals
PRODUCTION
Produced by Steve Harley
Engineer: Tony Clark
Assistant Engineer: Pat Stapley
Mastering: Ken Perry
Label: EMI Records
NOTES
The single was also issued carrying the more familiar artist credit Steve Harley And Cockney Rebel.
Some releases credited the B-side differently from the standard commercial issue.
The single followed the UK Top 10 success of "Here Comes The Sun".
"(I Believe) Love's A Prima Donna" became the final charting single by Steve Harley & Cockney Rebel before the band's dissolution in 1977.
The song was later included on Face To Face: A Live Recording, Greatest Hits and The Cockney Rebel – A Steve Harley Anthology.
RELEASE VARIANTS TABLE
Artist | Title | Label | Country | Catalogue | Date | Format |
Steve Harley & Cockney Rebel | (I Believe) Love's A Prima Donna | EMI | UK | EMI 2539 | October 15, 1976 | 7" Single |
Steve Harley & Cockney Rebel | (I Believe) Love's A Prima Donna | EMI | UK | EMI 2539 | 1976 | 7" White Label Mono Single |
Steve Harley & Cockney Rebel | (I Believe) Love's A Prima Donna | EMI | UK | EMI 2539 | October 15, 1976 | Promo 7" Single |
Steve Harley & Cockney Rebel | Love Is A Prima Donna | EMI | Belgium | 4C 006-06263 | 1976 | 7", 45 RPM, Stereo Single |
Steve Harley & Cockney Rebel | Love Is A Prima Donna | EMI | Germany | 1C 006-06 263 | 1976 | 7", 45 RPM Single |
Steve Harley & Cockney Rebel | Love Is A Prima Donna | EMI | Germany | 1C 006-06 263 | 1976 | 7", 45 RPM Test Pressing |
Steve Harley & Cockney Rebel | (I Believe) Love's A Prima Donna | EMI | Japan | EMR-20171 | 1976 | 7", 45 RPM, Stereo Single |
Steve Harley & Cockney Rebel | Love Is A Prima Donna | EMI | Netherlands | 5C 006-06263 / 5C 006-06 263 | 1976 | 7", 45 RPM Single |
TRACKLIST TABLE (ALL FORMATS)
Format | Catalogue | Tracklisting |
7" Single | EMI 2539 | A. (I Believe) Love's A Prima Donna (4:11) B. Sidetrack 1 (Group Version) (2:46) |
Alternative 7" Single | EMI 2539 | A. (I Believe) Love's A Prima Donna (4:11) B. Sidetrack 1 (2:46) |
UK Promo 7" | EMI 2539 | A. (I Believe) Love's A Prima Donna (Stereo Version) B. (I Believe) Love's A Prima Donna (Mono Version) |
SOURCES Discogs, 45 World, Wikipedia, BBC Official Charts.
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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