10 Essential Glam Rock Albums

10. Cockney Rebel - The Psychomodo

Steve Harley (here as part of Cockney Rebel) is primarily remembered as a one hit wonder these days.

1975’s “Make Me Smile” is a truly classic single, but before he made himself the headline act and embraced warm pop came The Psychomodo, a weird, often dark, always rocking album that showcases Harley’s distinctive, characterful voice and willingness to push musical boundaries.

With influences equal parts blues and Eastern mysticism, Cockney Rebel aren’t afraid to go long here. The album’s twin centrepieces are “Ritz”, laden with droning strings and phased vocals, and “Cavalier”, a creeping, paranoid epic which makes a somewhat problematic lyrical nod to one of Agatha Christie’s novels.

Perhaps the best track is closer “Tumbling Down”, a slow burner that climaxes with the whole of Cockney Rebel roaring across the fade out. They’d re-emerge shortly after as a slightly different proposition, but this hard edged group had a lot to offer besides the sweet pop most associate with Harley.

It’s weird and wild music by a daring bunch of operators.