10cc

10cc's discography remains one of the most musically inventive collections of pop songs ever created. Their later output isn't nearly as interesting, and some of their most creative output is quite annoying, but they caught a special kind of lightning several times, and should be considered more highly for it.

From Ottokar 07/31/2014 09:24

My rating refers to the time when Godley & Creme were still in the band. After that 10cc declined into boredom, unfortunately.

10cc were a Manchester based outfit that formed in 1973 taking their name from the average volume of a human male ejaculation. (Not the first band to have such a moniker. The Lovin’ Spoonful beat them to it!).
Stewart, Crème and Godley were in a band called Hotlegs which had a UK # 2 single with Neanderthal man in 1970. They were joined by Graham Gouldman and the band were well placed with all members being accomplished and creative songwriters, musicians and vocalists. Stewart had been in the Mindbenders and Gouldman had been an exceptionally successful songwriter penning many hits for many groups including the Yardbirds, Hollies and Hermann Hermits.

They were an instant success and had a string of UK chart singles (11 top ten) and albums (7 top ten) throughout the 1970’s. Their music was hugely inventive and eclectic and their lyrics were hugely witty and ironic (often sometimes cringe makingly so). As songwriters the group split duties with Stewart working extensively with Gouldman and Godley working with Crème. Their work was often a parody or pastiche of earlier musical styles and many of their songs changed style mid song making such songs sound like mini operettas. They were masters in the studio and the production values of their albums were of the highest class.

Despite their huge success tensions within the band resulted with Godley and Creme going their own way in 1976 to follow a varied career during which, as well as including success as musicians, they also invented a new musical instrument called the Gizmo. They also became innovators in the new media of video and were at the forefront of such innovations as morphing. As a result their services as video directors were in huge demand during the 1980’s

Stewart and Gouldman carried on producing great music as 10 cc during the rest of the decade but after # 1 with Dreadlock Holiday in 1978 the hits effectively dried up and they stopped recording as an entity in 1983. Both Stewart and Gouldman went on to work with other major artists with various degrees of success. When the seventies are reviewed the contribution of 10 cc is often overlooked but it is true to say they produced the best and most sophisticated British pop music of the decade.

virtuoso musicians, tight composers, witty as fuck lyricists. Shoould be held in much higher regard than they are.

From Shadow23 03/02/2013 17:25

Delicious sound. Why are they only #492? Should be in the top 50