I have Gizmo My Way on the CD re-issue and have had another listen to it. Nice instrumental, I agree it would have made a better final track.

Wall Street Shuffle is possibly my 2nd fave 10CC track and ever-relevant. I always thought Worst band In The World was self-deprecating and intentional given they chose it as a first single when it's not remotely obviously a single, quirky and amusing.

 

I also assume the title of the album 'Sheet Music' is also a self depreciating pun.

 

Wall Street Shuffle is certainly one of the best topical/political based songs I have heard.

 

 

 

3. Windows In The Jungle (1983)

 

 

This will come as a surprise and I will attempt to put a case for Windows In The Jungle to be as high as this. It was 10cc's ninth album and looked like it would be their last until their revival in 1992. It's a concept album based around life in a big city. Eric Stewart said he wanted it to sound like Pink Floyd with multi-part songs in the vein of Feel The Benefit but was prevented by the record company who wanted hit singles. Nevertheless, there are two eight minute songs included.

 

The opening track, one of those two eight minute songs, is 24 Hours. It starts with jungle sounds which give way to the sound of a car horn and traffic noise. My favourite song on the album, the lyrics are a day in the life of the city from the night shift workers coming home just before "newspaper boys cutting the mist like a knife" all the way through to "neonic heat flooding the darkness with light". With a couple of guitar solos thrown in and the customary tempo change in the middle, this is the group's finest song from their 80s albums.

 

Next, we have the reggae sounding Feel the Love (Oomachasaooma) which did get some airplay on Radio 1 and managed to creep into the top 100 (and as high as number 7 in the Netherlands). The tennis themed video was directed by their former bandmates Godley & Creme. I had never seen it before so I just had a look on youtube. It really isn't great. Considering they did the innovative videos for Every Breath You Take by The Police and Rockit by Herbie Hancock in the same year, they didn't exactly help them to promote the single with that effort, even if they didn't have the same budget.

 

Yes I Am is a good ballad with some gospel style backing vocals and a saxophone solo. It leads into an instrumental section which segues into the next track Americana Panorama which is another favourite of mine. The group have often written songs with an American theme and this one appears to be a bit critical and reading the lyrics now, could apply to what's going on there now.

 

Side two starts with the breezy City Lights which might have made a good single although they were so out of sync with what everybody else were doing at this point, nothing that they could have put out would have been a UK hit. Food For Thought uses food and drink terms as metaphors for something a bit naughtier while Working Girls deals with sexism in the workplace. Those two tracks are a bit of a dip in quality.

 

The final song, Taxi Taxi, is the other eight minute track and my second favourite. Like 24 Hours, it acts as a bookend to the album with a similar lyrical theme although this one follows one person in the city rather than its inhabitants as a whole. The three minute outro is wonderful.

 

The lead vocals on each song are all by Eric Stewart, apart from the 'Phil' section on 24 Hours (every time someone on here asks when will Philip complete the Buzzjack upgrade, I hear that verse in my head as the lyrics fit that situation) and the usual 10cc sense of humour is mainly absent, but the production all the way through is top notch. If I was giving marks out of ten to each song, the average score might not be as high as albums I have rated below it but it's a piece of work that's greater than the sum of its parts for me. Also, while I did already have the greatest hits album in my record collection in 1983, this was the first 10cc studio album I bought so I have a certain fondness for it which is enough to put it in third place.

 

Best track - 24 Hours:

 

I’m not a fan of 10cc but I’ll try a flick through your #1 album when you get there

I'm pretty sure you will like it, or at least some of it.

thats a complete blank for me, I'd even forgotten it came out though I vaguely recall the 2 tracks you start with, but it's been 40 years more or less since I last heard them - give or take the tracks I heard on their tourdate in Nottingham in 1982-ish and in Basingstoke a few years ago! :o

2. How Dare You! (1976)

 

 

How Dare You! was the fourth album by 10cc and the last to feature all four of the original line-up. It opens with the instrumental title track which has some fine guitar work. This segues straight into Lazy Ways, with Eric Stewart on lead vocal, supported by some dreamy instrumentation. It has a slow pace to it, but not quite a ballad. We then have the craziest song on the album, I Wanna Rule The World, sung by Lol Creme in a variety of different tones, about someone who wants to do just that. The verse that mentions "the army of kiddy-winkies and terrible tiny tots" would appear to indicate that he's not very old.

 

The production all the way through the album is excellent but particularly stands out on I'm Mandy Fly Me, my favourite track by a narrow margin. The song was based on Eric Stewart seeing a tramp in Manchester gazing up at a poster for National Airlines which featured a glamorous stewardess. He wrote it with Graham Gouldman and it was almost discarded until Kevin Godley added the wonderful instrumental break with acoustic guitars combining with two electric guitar solos. Released as the second single, it got to number 6.

 

Next we have the Godley/Gouldman song, Iceberg, on which they share lead vocals, which is about an orphan left in a basket who has grown up to be a dangerous individual. This leads on to the first single, Art For Art's Sake, which reached number 5. The album version is two minutes longer with an extended intro and outro. It features plenty of tempo changes including that slowed down middle section with its layered backing vocals.

 

The next two tracks are probably the weakest. Rock'n'Roll Lullaby, as its title would suggest, is directed at a baby. Maybe one of its writers, Gouldman & Stewart, had a child at this point in time. Then we have the Godley & Creme written Head Room. I think this is the first time I've actually read the lyrics, I hadn't paid much attention to them before. I'm just going to say that they're very smutty and leave it at that.

 

Finally, we have the other contender for best track, the epic ballad Don't Hang Up, which starts with a harp sound and piano and then Kevin Godley singing the verses like a female soul singer. The Spanish sounding middle section, with castanets, reminds me of the one in Queen's 'Innuendo'. The lyrics tell of a divorced man trying to get back in contact with his ex-wife. It's a beautiful song to bring the album to a close.

 

Overall, this is a great album of wide-ranging songs with some fine production and vocals from all four members of the group. It spent 30 weeks on the album chart, peaking at number 5.

 

Best track - I'm Mandy Fly Me:

 

That's one I bought in the 70's, I adore I'm Mandy Fly Me, and Art For Art's Sake is a goodie. I must re-visit the last track as it's not one I recall and havent heard it in decades. I very much do recall the amusing I wanna Rule The World, and also Iceberg, and the naughty Head Room, which I also was only sort of half aware was on about something else, I was quite naive in those days! I must dig out my vinyl copy of this album again, the first 3 I have on CD (and vinyl the first two) but not this one....!

1. The Original Soundtrack (1975)

 

 

There was never any hesitation from me to pick The Original Soundtrack as 10cc's best album, it's full of musical treats. After only receiving 4% of the royalties from their contract with Jonathan King, the group moved to Mercury Records for this, their third album, after being offered $1million.

 

The album opens with French street sounds, a falling glass bottle and a creaky opening door. It's the wackiest song they ever recorded, Une Nuit A Paris. Originally 25 minutes long, the Godley & Creme written song was condensed to a more sensible nine minute mini-operetta set in the world of Paris prostitutes. The vocals are shared out and it's difficult to know who sings each line as the four of them are so versatile in how they can change their voices. I've considered entering this track to the BJSC just to see the reaction in the listening session, maybe I might do so next year.

 

Next, it's 10cc's best known song, I'm Not In Love. Written by Stewart and Gouldman and first recorded in a conventional way with guitars, it was rejected by the other two and binned. It was only revived after members of studio staff continued to sing the melody as they went about their business. Kevin Godley came up with the idea of using voices instead of instruments and the multi layered backing vocals were painstakingly put together using tape loops. The album track is six minutes long and a shorter version was put out as a single but from memory, Radio 1 mostly played the full version. It's a timeless piece of music that I will never get tired of hearing.

 

With those two long tracks, only Blackmail remains on side 1. Much rockier, it features some outstanding guitar work from Eric Stewart, especially the 90 second outro, and that chugging sound earlier on, I'm not sure what musical instrument produced that.

 

Side 2 starts with another rock song, The Second Sitting For The Last Supper, the highlight of which is the frenetic piano solo from Eric at the end. Things slow down for the beautiful ballad, Brand New Day, sung so well by Kevin and Eric and backed with a dreamy production. There are no weak tracks here but Flying Junk, about a drug dealer, is my least favourite. It's saved by a great outro.

 

Life Is A Minestrone was the lead single and got to number 7. This is where the clever wordplay that they are known for reached its peak, but it's also a very catchy, joyous tune which is probably the main reason it was a big hit. The album closes with the marvellous Film Of My Love, written by Godley & Creme but sung by Graham Gouldman, his finest hour as a vocalist. The lyrics are packed with movie metaphors to describe a relationship while the music has an Italian restaurant sort of sound to it.

 

The album got to number 3 on the UK album chart and was the most enduring, with 19 weeks in the top 10 and 40 weeks in the top 75. There's so much inspiration and innovation here, it's without doubt my favourite album by the group.

 

Best track - I'm Not In Love:

 

I'm Not In Love is still one of the greatest records ever made, loved it then love it now. Oddly, Life Is a Minestrone was my least-fave 10CC single of the 70's and put me off buying the album for decades. I think it was the food references, I just didn't like them! I like it now well enough, just wish they'd put equally clever very different lyrics to it.

 

Une Nuit is a goodie, and the rest I've heard but none of them have I heard many times, so I don't have the sense of affection for the album that the others with the original line-up give me. So I probably can't really compare it properly till I get the time to play it 10 or 20 times!

6. Deceptive Bends (1977)

 

 

Deceptive Bends was the first 10cc album to be released after the departure of Kevin Godley and Lol Creme who had become frustrated at the disparity between the experimental music they were coming up with and the more pop leaning songs that Eric Stewart and Graham Gouldman were writing. The title came from a road sign on the A24 between Leatherhead and Dorking, near to their recording studio. All nine tracks were jointly written by Stewart and Gouldman.

 

Two singles had been big hits before the album was released, helping it to number 3 on the album chart. It opens with the guitar driven pop song, Good Morning Judge, which reached number 5, followed by The Things We Do For Love which has some great vocal harmonies. That one got to number 6 and was also a top five hit in the US. Marriage Bureau Rendezvous is a reminder that before the internet and mobile phone apps, some people would go to an office and fill out forms to find a partner. The third single, a top 40 hit in America, is the wonderful ballad, People In Love, which combines the strings so well with the guitars.

 

Modern Man Blues lives up to its title with a raw, bluesy sound while the quirky Honeymoon With B Troop would have gained the approval of Godley & Creme if they were still in the group. The two minute I Bought A Flat Guitar Tutor is full of musical notation puns while matters of health are covered in You've Got A Cold.

 

The album closes with the 12 minute epic, Feel The Benefit, which some of you might recall is my favourite all time 10cc song. Part 1 has some wonderful vocals from Eric, backed by those strings, while part 2 has Graham's trademark calypso sound. Then we have the brilliant merging of guitars and strings in part 3.

 

Deceptive Bends is like a valley. The first four tracks are very good, there's a dip in the middle, and then you have the masterpiece at the end. Often while listening to it, once I get beyond track 4, I'm just waiting for Feel The Benefit to come round so I think sixth place out of eleven is the right placing for this album.

 

Best track - Feel The Benefit:

 

 

Oh look, I've finally got round to catching up with this :o

 

Deceptive Bends was the first 10CC album I bought, largely on the strength of the singles. Feel The Benefit immediately became my favourite track.

That's one I bought in the 70's, I adore I'm Mandy Fly Me, and Art For Art's Sake is a goodie. I must re-visit the last track as it's not one I recall and havent heard it in decades. I very much do recall the amusing I wanna Rule The World, and also Iceberg, and the naughty Head Room, which I also was only sort of half aware was on about something else, I was quite naive in those days! I must dig out my vinyl copy of this album again, the first 3 I have on CD (and vinyl the first two) but not this one....!

I'm Mandy Fly Me remains my favourite 10CC single.

I'm Not In Love is still one of the greatest records ever made, loved it then love it now. Oddly, Life Is a Minestrone was my least-fave 10CC single of the 70's and put me off buying the album for decades. I think it was the food references, I just didn't like them! I like it now well enough, just wish they'd put equally clever very different lyrics to it.

 

Une Nuit is a goodie, and the rest I've heard but none of them have I heard many times, so I don't have the sense of affection for the album that the others with the original line-up give me. So I probably can't really compare it properly till I get the time to play it 10 or 20 times!

I love Life Is A Minestrone. I agree with Rollo's memory that the full version of I'm Not In Love was the one played on radio. Capital Radio (the original London-based station) certainly played it a lot. Much of that may well have been due to the late, great Roger Scott who hosted what is now known as the drivetime show. He had a daily chart based on phone-in votes from listeners. I'm Not In Love spent a long time at number one.

Okay I’ve listened to your #1 album… firstly the opening track was absolutely awful, I loathe those vocals and I was very worried about what I had let myself in for. It just felt a complete mess to me.

 

I knew the big single already which is good. I was surprised there on in that it felt a little bit like listening to a Beatles album, albeit more the Paul and Ringo side of them. I can’t say I’d rush back to hear it again but it wasn’t bad.

Thanks for taking the time to listen to it. One Night In Paris is a bit of an acquired taste.

Okay I’ve listened to your #1 album… firstly the opening track was absolutely awful, I loathe those vocals and I was very worried about what I had let myself in for. It just felt a complete mess to me.

 

I knew the big single already which is good. I was surprised there on in that it felt a little bit like listening to a Beatles album, albeit more the Paul and Ringo side of them. I can’t say I’d rush back to hear it again but it wasn’t bad.

 

Maybe you'd prefer their earlier quirky stuff (like I do, big singles aside). The first album is full of fun, pastiches of older music genres, but also has serious riffs rock tracks, rousing number one pop song and touching ballads. It definitely does not sound like The Beatles! :lol: As they'd signed to Mercury, a big label, for The Original Soundtrack, I think they were expected to provide commercial success and move the balance more towards serious than playful.

It's always very difficult to listen to older music for the first time if you didn't hear it at the time. I didn't dislike the album and I suspect I'd usually align to the serious music rather than playful so I would guess that this would be up my street more than the earlier ones.

 

I think I found it a little jarring at first because I'm Not In Love is probably the only song I knew of theirs and that opening track was so far removed from it

Ah then Greatest hits of 10cc and godley and creme is the way to go. Pretty sure you would like under my thumb or cry from the 80s and maybe im mandy fly me and wall street shuffle or rubber bullets from the 70s. I did enter speed kills into bjsc a decade ago to no avail. Too tock for pop fans not indie enough for indie fans... :lol: