“The Best Years of Our Lives”/”Tumbling Down” was released by EMI on 12 August 1977 as the only single from Steve Harley & Cockney Rebel’s live album, Face to Face: A Live Recording (1977). The single failed to chart in the UK.
Background
Following the release of the band’s fifth studio album Love’s a Prima Donna in October 1976, the band embarked on an eight-date UK tour in December to promote it. A number of concerts were recorded on the tour, along with the band’s one-off charity concert at London Rainbow in February 1977. Harley then selected the best tracks for release on a double live album. A day before its release, the band’s split was announced. Face to Face: A Live Recording was released in July 1977 and reached at number 40 in the UK charts. To promote the album, a live single was released in August, with “The Best Years of Our Lives” chosen as the A-side, and “Tumbling Down” as the B-side. The single did not enter the UK Top 50.
Release
The single was released by EMI Records on 7-inch and 12-inch vinyl in the UK only. It was the band’s first single to be released on the 12-inch vinyl format, which itself was labelled as being limited edition. The single was also the band’s first to be released in the UK with a picture sleeve and featured the same photograph of Harley on stage on both sides of the sleeve. According to Record Mirror, the 12-inch version of the single was limited to 10,000 copies.
Critical reception
Upon its release, Sheila Prophet of Record Mirror said, “This one is live and it’s a cracker. Just listen to the way he controls the audience – amazing. It’s easily the best track on Face to Face and though I don’t know how valid it is as a single, it’s a worthwhile buy for any hard-up fans who can’t afford the fancy double album package.” John Dilley of the Harborough Mail wrote, “Good number but doubtful if it will ever go anywhere.” In a review of the live album, Geoff Barton of Sounds called the song “always an emotional highspot”. Tony Parsons of the NME remarked that the “imagery-charged live cut” is “the song the Fag End of Glam Rock troops used to pretend they were being butch over on the terraces”. He continued, “Hymn-like dirge turgid in the extreme, strictly for the hard-core who never got round to throwing out the Dan Dare togs.”
Track listing
7-inch single
- “The Best Years of Our Lives” – 5:00
- “Tumbling Down” – 6:34
12-inch single
- “The Best Years of Our Lives” – 5:00
- “Tumbling Down” – 6:34
Personnel
Steve Harley & Cockney Rebel
- Steve Harley – vocals
- Jo Partridge – lead guitar
- Duncan Mackay – keyboards
- George Ford – bass guitar
- Stuart Elliott – drums
- Lindsey Elliott – percussion
Additional musicians
- Tony Rivers – backing vocals
- John G. Perry – backing vocals
- Stuart Calver – backing vocals
Production
- Steve Harley – producer
- Tony Clark – engineer, co-producer
- David Jacobson – live sound
- Ken Perry – mastering
