The title of today’s posting is a deliberate mistake but it does reflect what most folk think is the title of a #1 song from February 1975.
It is one of those timeless classics that has been re-released on a number of occasions, usually to coincide with its use in a TV commercial or a film soundtrack, and on each occasion it has made its way into the UK singles chart. It is a staple of nights with the karaoke machine and it is estimated there have been over 120 cover versions recorded.
It sounds like a happy, jolly sort of song and yet Steve Harley has said he is often bemused by the widespread love there is for it given his lyric was an attack on members of Cockney Rebel – the band had more or less disintegrated the previous year with the various members being disgruntled as being seen by fans and critics alike as mere backing musicians for the charismatic frontman.
Indeed, the fact that the song has such bitter and misunderstood lyrics has led the composer to say that of all the cover versions he has ever heard only one has captured its true meaning and understood the venom in the lyrics:-
mp3 : The Wedding Present – Make Me Smile (Come Up And See Me)
This particular song might have had 120 covers and that can’t be far off the number of wonderful and often weird cover versions of songs recorded over the years by The Wedding Present, a band who have never shied away from the genre. Some have worked a lot better than others and more often than not, if the track was one you weren’t familiar with, you’d reckon it was something David Gedge himself might have written. Their take on Make Me Smile (Come Up And See Me) is an absolute belter of a cover and it’s no surprise that the composer is a big fan.
It was released in in 1991 as part of a piece of work known as the 3 Songs EP, which was the first time the band had worked with Steve Albini, a partnership that would extend into the LP Seamonsters which is reckoned by many (including myself) as their ever piece of work. Certainly, it has been the highest charting LP of their entire career, reaching #13 in the UK album charts.
Here’s the other 2 songs from the EP:-
mp3 : The Wedding Present – Crawl
mp3 : The Wedding Present – Corduroy
Corduroy would be re-recorded for Seamonsters:-
mp3 : The Wedding Present – Corduroy (LP version)
Even after all these years I can’t make my mind up which one I prefer mind you…..but the noise after about 35 seconds of the single is one of my favourite bits of music ever…..turn it up and play very loud for best effect.
Enjoy.
THE NEW VINYL VILLAIN 
I remember being quietly disappointed when 3 Songs was released, as I perceived the jingle-jangle content had fallen from George Best/Tommy levels. But as I have grown older, I have grown to love this (and Seamonsters) more and more. Top songs, top cover, top post.
3 songs is one of the few Weddoes releases I own, and certainly my most treasured. Great cover version
Hate to be pedantic, but you know me and my love of all things Gedgey… the Weddoes actually first released a version of this song a year or so before 3 Songs. A slightly less noisy version appeared on the (now very rare) anti-Poll Tax benefit album ‘Alvin Lives (In Leeds)’. Some other cracking tunes on there included Lush doing ‘Chirpy Chirpy Cheep Cheep’, Robyn Hitchcock’s acapella take on ‘Kung Fu Fighting’ and Cud’s bizarre reworking of ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’.
(I’ll whizz a copy over to you if you want JC. Some good stuff on there for future articles I’m sure! Drop me a line if you’re interested.)
Everyday is a school day!!!!
I had no idea such a record existed…..and I’m very very very very interested…..
Rob/JC: but – imho – the best thing on that compilation is The Siddeleys doing ‘Love Grows’ … most perfect stuff!