The 10cc appreciation thread

[EMG456]

Graham Gouldman was one of my early influences.

 

Saw them on every tour from Sheet Music up to Deceptive Bends.

 

Sadly for me, the creativity that was fuelled by the tensions between the two songwriting teams vanished when Godley and Creme left but what a run they had.

 

Always amazing live as well.

[12stringbassist]

When they split into two halves I was dismayed. Godley and Creme's L album totally made up for the disappointment.
Imagine what could have been if they'd just taken a year off, though.

[NancyJohnson]

There's a very good documentary on You Tube:

 

 

 

If you want to dig deeper, 'Worst Band in the World' biography is great, too.

 

We have friends that are huge fans; monied, they'll happily trawl around Europe following them when they're touring.

 

[NancyJohnson]

5 hours ago, 12stringbassist said:

When they split into two halves I was dismayed. Godley and Creme's L album totally made up for the disappointment.
Imagine what could have been if they'd just taken a year off, though.

 

I remember seeing Lol Creme on Blue Peter demonstrating the Gizmo thing; it seemed (to me) at the time that the reason behind the breakup was solely to benefit this unit/thing. 

 

My early teen mind couldn't grasp why they would walk away from 10cc for that.

[Mickeyboro]

23 minutes ago, NancyJohnson said:

 

I remember seeing Lol Creme on Blue Peter demonstrating the Gizmo thing; it seemed (to me) at the time that the reason behind the breakup was solely to benefit this unit/thing. 

 

My early teen mind couldn't grasp why they would walk away from 10cc for that.

Too much talent in one band, I guess…

[NancyJohnson]

13 minutes ago, Mickeyboro said:

Too much talent in one band, I guess…

 

Can you imagine the egos at work here?  Gouldman with his pre-10cc writing credits and Stewart with Strawberry Studios, The Mindbenders and his session work.  Godley and Creme both seemed quite obstinate and difficult.

 

 

[RAY AGAINST THE MACHINE]

I purchased the How Dare You album on cassette and couple of singles as a kid . Great album at the time . Got bored of I’m not in Love and Dreadlock Holiday pretty quickly.

The BBC4 documentary was pretty good a few years back .

[Mickeyboro]

1 hour ago, NancyJohnson said:

 

Can you imagine the egos at work here?  Gouldman with his pre-10cc writing credits and Stewart with Strawberry Studios, The Mindbenders and his session work.  Godley and Creme both seemed quite obstinate and difficult.

 

 

There’s been a mega fallout between Gouldman and Stewart, sadly. 
 

Also, Jonathan King skims/skimmed off royalties as payment for letting them leave his UK label. I asked GG if that still applied and got very short shrift!

 

All in all, quite a story. 

[EMG456]

9 hours ago, 12stringbassist said:

When they split into two halves I was dismayed. Godley and Creme's L album totally made up for the disappointment.
Imagine what could have been if they'd just taken a year off, though.

Agreed.

L, Ismism, Freeze Frame and the Music from Consequences all amazing albums but not always an easy listen - miles away from the smooth pop of Gouldman and Stewart.

[rushbo]

1 hour ago, EMG456 said:

Agreed.

L, Ismism, Freeze Frame and the Music from Consequences all amazing albums but not always an easy listen - miles away from the smooth pop of Gouldman and Stewart.

As the 10cc albums got smoother. Godley and Creme stepped up and made a handful of records that had a real edge. I was never that sold on 'Consequences' (although 'Five O'Clock in the Morning' is a breathtaking tune), but 'L', 'Freeze Frame' and 'Ismism' are incredible. 'L' especially - that's a really abrasive record. If you're a G+C fan, and you haven't heard Godley's solo album 'Muscle Memory,' you really should check it out. 

Edited 10 hours ago by rushbo

[wateroftyne]

1 hour ago, Mickeyboro said:

There’s been a mega fallout between Gouldman and Stewart, sadly. 

I wonder what the root of that is..?

Also, it puzzles me why Stewart has dropped out as much as he has. How someone as talented as that can just... stop... is really strange.

[Mickeyboro]

10 minutes ago, wateroftyne said:

I wonder what the root of that is..?

Also, it puzzles me why Stewart has dropped out as much as he has. How someone as talented as that can just... stop... is really strange.

AFAIK Stewart doesn’t approve of the group continuing. But then he is 80… Gouldman slightly younger. 
 

GG is definitely boss of the current iteration. He has a post-gig curry delivered to his own dressing room. Nice work if you can get it!

Edited 10 hours ago by Mickeyboro

[wateroftyne]

1 minute ago, Mickeyboro said:

AFAIK Stewart doesn’t approve of the group continuing. 
 

He lost an eye in a car crash which may have influenced his decision to retire. 
 

GG is definitely boss of the current iteration. He has a post-gig curry delivered to his own dressing room. Nice work if you can get it!

Ah... I'd heard about the car crash but didn't realise it was that severe. That explains the sunglasses on later vids.

 

It's a shame. GG's band seem to do a great job. I was going to try and see them at Gateshead next year but the only seats left are rubbish, and Paul Burgess has retired, so decided not to.

 

Another to add to my all-too-long 'I wish I'd seen...' list.

 

 

[Mickeyboro]

Funnily enough I edited that bit as it was 1979, and I thought maybe not so relevant…