Irresistible (1986)

Background

In 1986, “Irresistible” was remixed and released again as a single. For the new version, Harley worked with recording engineer Stuart Breed at Air Studios in London. Breed came to Harley’s attention through Most, who knew of his work. For the remix, the pair used the original 1985 recording session on a 2-inch master tape. Breed and Harley mixed-and-matched parts of the track and experimented with equipment. The song ended up being sped-up and dramatically altered from its original form. The original version’s guitar solo was replaced by a keyboard solo, which had been recorded during the original sessions with Most. The vocals used were from a different take from the original 1985 24-track 2-inch tape.

Speaking to Record Collector in 1992, Harley said of the remixed version, “‘Irresistible’ came out [in 1985], but this is a new mix and it’s fabulous. I gave it to a guy who works at Air Studios in London, Stuart Breed. He has done a fantastic job. I went in initially as the producer to do it with him, but after half an hour of this guy hitting the buttons and doing fantastic things with sampling machines, I said ‘I’m going for a cup of tea, you get on with it’.”

In 2013, the engineer Matt Butler recalled, “Breed did an exceptional job, not least as a maintenance engineer made a career-threatening error on the morning of the session and recorded a sublime 1kHz tone over the original multi-track up until around the first chorus of “Irresistible” as made by Mickie Most a year before. The client [Steve Harley] kept his cool of course and he and Stuart came up with this gem of a version.”

Harley told the Evening Times in 1986 that he hoped the single would “firmly re-establish me on the music scene”. He continued, “We’ve re-released the song, but it’s not the same record as last year. This one’s been completely re-done – it’s a whole new record. We did a lot of work to change and improve it. Mickie and I have always believed it’d be a hit record. Although it got a lot of airplay last year, for some reason it just never sold in the shops.”

“Irresistible” was released in June 1986 as the lead single from Harley’s forthcoming solo album El Gran Senor, but it failed to enter the top 100 of the UK Singles Chart, stalling at number 158. In May 1986, Harley announced his intention to embark on a UK tour in September 1986 to promote El Gran Senor. However, soon after the release of “Irresistible”, RAK folded and was sold to EMI, which in turn resulted in the album being shelved and Harley left without a record deal. Some of the songs due to appear on the album would appear on Harley’s 1992 album Yes You Can, including Breed’s five-minute extended remix of “Irresistible” as the opening track. In 2015, Harley commented on the song, “I always thought it should be a hit. I found it hard to give up trying!”

Release

“Irresistible” was released by RAK Records in the UK on 23 June 1986. Both the 7-inch and 12-inch formats came with a colour picture sleeve, featuring a photograph of Harley taken by John Stoddart. The 12-inch format features an extended remix of “Irresistible”. The B-side, “Lucky Man”, was written by Harley and produced by Most. It was exclusive to the single and has not appeared on any other release since. The song features Mick Ronson on guitar and Mark Brzezicki on drums. Harley had first met Ronson in the 1970s and during his sessions with Most, Harley contacted Ronson and asked him to play guitar on the track. Harley later recalled, “Mick played guitar on ‘Lucky Man’. It’s a white reggae rhythm. Mick was as easy as could be, musically he was very quick and adaptable. I experimented with several guitar approaches, and naturally they were all well within his scope.” Speaking to Classic Rock in 2008, Harley said, “I produced a track for myself in the mid-80s – a song called ‘Lucky Man’ – with Mick on electric guitar. It was difficult for me. Not that Ronno was a problem himself – you couldn’t wish to meet a nicer, more generous man and musician – but I was in awe of him, even though we had socialised somewhat and shared a mutual respect.”

Promotion

On 30 July 1986, Harley appeared on the BBC television chat show Wogan, presented by Terry Wogan, which featured a performance of “Irresistible”. The same date also saw the broadcast of Harley performing the song with his backing band on the ITV children’s TV programme Razzamatazz.

Critical reception

Upon its release, the Newcastle Evening Chronicle reviewed the single and commented that the song was “as the title says”. Andy Gill of New Musical Express described “Irresistible” as “fairly pleasant” but in reference to the sleeve he added, “Only Brian Eno can afford to recede that much and remain a celebrity, Steve.” Robin Smith of Record Mirror wrote, “Out once again is this darn catchy song, all sweaty and breathless. I’d much rather listen to this than That Petrol Emotion or Easterhouse any day. Harley is now nearly as bald as Phil Collins. Is this a sign of further great things to come?” John Lee of the Huddersfield Daily Examiner described it as “a bouncy and endearingly catchy number”. He noted the song’s failure to make “much impression” when originally released in 1985, but believed this time it would be a hit. Niall Donnelly of the Bolton Evening News stated that it’s a “pleasant enough song, but it’s difficult to see who will buy it”. Simon Warner of the Halifax Evening Courier called it “highly resistible” and added that the “rather muggy remix probably won’t fare better” than the original did.

Track listing

7-inch single (UK)

1. “Irresistible” – 3:26
2. “Lucky Man” – 3:36

12-inch single (UK)

1. “Irresistible” (Extended Re-Mix) – 5:12
2. “Lucky Man” – 3:36

Personnel

Production

• Mickie Most – producer
• Stuart Breed – remixer
• Matt Butler – engineer

Other

• John Stoddart – photography
• Shoot That Tiger! – sleeve design

Charts

UK Singles Chart: 158