10cc - The Very Best Of 10cc
10cc wrote some of the best pop songs ever. They were witty and satiric, they were poignant and affectionate, they had great beats and they told stories that resonated.
“I’m Not In Love”, “Rubber Bullets”, “Dreadlock Holiday”, “I’m Mandy Fly Me”, “Art For Art’s Sake”, “Life Is A Minestrone”, “Donna”, “Good Morning Judge”, “The Things We Do For Love”, “The Dean And I”, “Wall Street Shuffle” - great songs, terrific musicianship and inspired production.
“The Very Best Of 10cc” features all these hits and more. Out on April 20th on UMTV, the CD will be TV advertised and promoted by a major tour of the current 10cc fronted by Graham Gouldman.
Graham was one of the original members of 10cc when they formed in 1972 in Manchester. Songwriter extraordinaire, he’d already written “Bus Stop” and “Look Through Any Window” for the Hollies, “No Milk Today” for Herman’s Hermits and “For Your Love” and “Heart Full Of Soul” for the Yardbirds . His song-writing talents were put to good use in 10cc.
He’s the recipient of three Ivor Novello Awards for “I’m Not In Love” and two other Ivors for “Rubber Bullets”. He’s written five No 1 songs and countless other chart numbers. “I’m Not in Love”, which he wrote with Eric Stewart, has been played over 3 million times on US radio and is one of the most recorded songs of the 20th century. “Things We Do For Love”, which he also wrote with Eric, has been played over 2 million times on US radio and in the UK alone 10cc has sold more than 15 million albums.
The four strong 10cc (Kevin Godley, Lol Creme, Eric Stewart and Graham Gouldman) launched their career on Jonathan King’s ‘UK Records’ label with the 50s doo-wop pastiche “Donna”. It went to No 2 and the hits followed thick and fast.
In 1976 Godley and Creme left to pursue a recording and video production career while Stewart and Gouldman retained the 10cc tag. They recruited drummer Paul Burgess who had played with the original four members of 10cc on numerous tours and, later, additional members Rick Fenn (guitar), Stuart Tosh (drums) and Tony O'Malley (keyboards). Various changes followed but with Rick Fenn and Paul Burgess remaining constant to this day.
In 1983 Stewart and Gouldman parted ways (although briefly working together in the 90s) with the former producing Sad Café and collaborating with Paul McCartney while Gouldman produced Gilbert O'Sullivan and the Ramones before forming the duo Wax with Andrew Gold. (Wax has sold over 2 million albums to date.)