The latest single from Steve Harley is a deceptively simple song, of the type that you need years of experience to pull off so well.

It has a Beatles/George Harrison feel, with lyrics that are straightforward but heartfelt - a plea for ordinary people to band together and show their essential humanity to try to make the world a better place.

Harley's vocals are rich and assured - in fact, this is a very mature song which grows on you with each listen.

Forty years since the release of Steve Harley and Cockney Rebel's classic Best Years of our Lives - which feature the classic singles Make Me Smile (Come Up and See Me) and Mr Raffles - he is on the road playing the whole of that brilliant album.

I caught his show at Bridgewater Hall at Manchester this week, which featured three other members of the band that recorded that album - drummer Stuart Elliott, guitarist Jim Cregan and keyboardist Duncan Mackay - back together again for the first time in around 38 years.

Cockney Rebel featuring this line up were the first band I saw live back in the 1970s so it was a real treat to see them back together again, playing great tracks like Panorama and the weird and wonderful Back to the Farm from Best Years.

The other half of the set featured songs chosen by followers of Harley online - and a good choice it was too, with highlights including All In A Life's Work, Nothing Is Sacred, Love's a Prima Donna and Love (Compared With You).

Harley, who has played many gigs in Kendal, Ulverston and Barrow over the years and whose song A Friend For Life was recently covered by Rod Stewart on his new album, is being interviewed by Steve Wright on Radio 2 this week. The new single will no doubt get a deserved airing.