10ccs of My Love

That's right, more than the average male. One cc more, to be exact, and that's what made the band that much more...potent. Lol Creme, Kevin Godley, Eric Stewart and Graham Gouldman were more than just a "band", too. 10cc comprised a unit of 4 excellent musicians, whose songwriting abilities together mixed for a incredible potion of various musical sounds and styles. They seemed like the one band that took all of their Beatles influences' and mixed them with just about every other genre of music that they had been exposed to in their lives. Every album contained passages of music that flowed effortlessly between Rock n' Roll, Pop, R&B, Cabaret, Country, Psychedelia, Hard Rock, Jazz, Euro Pop, Reggae, Folk, World...

Like the Beatles, they toured little and kept most of their activity confined to the studio of their choice, Strawberry Studios. There they made some of the most delicious sounding albums of the 1970's - the eponymous debut album, Sheet Music, The Original Soundtrack, How Dare You!, Deceptive Bends and, yes, even Bloody Tourists!.

Most of all (for me), the production was simply some of the best of the 1970s, as well. 10cc were one of the bands from the seventies (like Supertramp, Pink Floyd, Rush, Alan Parsons, etc.) who made good use of their studio time and technology of the day to maintain near perfect sounding music. Of course, with the digital remastering technology today, their original recording is even more captivating to listen to.

If one is a beginner of 10cc, then I would sincerely suggest you try the double best of. If you are brave enough to plunge deeper into their pool of work, then the obvious first 2 albums to indulge in would have to be The Original Soundtrack and How Dare You!. Others might suggest Sheet Music, but that would the 3rd suggestion from me.

Combined, The Original Soundtrack and How Dare You!, you have the zenith of creativity between the 4 original members, for after How Dare You!, Creme and Godley would leave the band for their own ventures (Remember "Cry"?). The other 2 remaining albums from the 1970's - Deceptive Bends and Bloody Tourists! were the first 2 albums under the new wings of Stewart and Gouldman. Deceptive Bends contained the classic hits "Good Morning Judge" and "Things We Do For Love" but also the finer "You've Got A Cold" and "Honeymoon With B Troop". It really was an overall great album with nothing to lose on it. Most 10cc judges out there believe Bloody Tourists! to be a mediocre effort by Stewart and Gouldman but I disagree. "Dreadlock Holiday" is the sure fire hit (and was), but the real beauty in the album is in the songs "Tokyo", "Last Night", "Take These Chains" and "Shock On The Tube". IMHO they all stand up to near anything from the previous 4 albums.

However, on The Original Soundtrack and How Dare You! is where the magic of 10cc lay. The Original Sound track and it superb Hipgnosis designed LP cover was home to their #1 Hit single "I'm Not In Love" (#2 in USA) and some of their best songs written ever. Side two was the real charmer with the blazing rocker "The Second Sitting Of The Last Supper" (check out the dueling piano and lead guitar in the last minute) with its religiously challenging lyrics. Side two continued merrily with more top notch songs - "Flying Junk", "Brand New Day" and the brilliantly sarcastic & philosophical number "Life Is A Minestrone". Side One had not only the #1 hit, but elegantly started off with the very European sounding classic cabaret inspired epic operetta "Un Nuit en Paris". One of the most challenging compositions by a rock band, next to maybe Something by Frank Zappa. No one else was recording & releasing anything quite like it.

How Dare You! may not have had a replica Intl. #1 song, but they did make another Top 10 impression on the UK charts with "I'm Mandy Fly Me" and "Art For Art's Sake" (two amazingly great songs!). Even serious depth songs from the band like "Rock n' Roll Lullaby", "Head Room" (hilarious song about learning about sex) and "Don't Hang Up" showed the breadth of their abilities as musicians. Again, Hipgnosis dedicated some more memorable artwork for the gatefold cover.

There is no question, listening to 10cc requires some thinking (just like Zappa's music does), especially when venturing beyond the hit singles. The music of 10cc was cerebral. It challenged your sense of humor and your sense of music tastes. The fact that they weren't more popular than they were is a catastrophic injustice in the view & perspective of most any music critic, but the truth lies in the music.

If you can stretch your own musical tastes and boundaries, appreciate great lyrics with humor and emotion... Oh yeah, and love good Pop Rock with a high IQ, then 10cc will astound and delight you in ways you may never have known.

I would have posted an original video by the band but Universal Music has blocked any attempt to embed the bands videos.