The recent book looking at the career of one of the UK’s most innovative bands is Liam Newtons ‘10CC - The Worst Band in the World’
The title is of course ironic and is actually the title of one of their early tunes.
Formed in 1970 , 10CC is best remembered for the first 5 albums in their 70’s heyday - with the massive single “I’m Not In Love” from 1975.
To many -including myself - that single really is the soundtrack of a generation and takes me right back to the summer of 1975.
Utilizing the limits of what 16 or 24 track analog recording could do - that song in particular features numerous stacked vocals singing the background melody notes - that would then be controlled by the faders on the board to form the chords- and the huge wash of sound that made this dreamy soundscape.
The book describes the process magnificently - and the research must be commended -it truly is a great read.
10CC never really achieved the massive worldwide acclaim they deserved - especially in the USA. Their choice of record labels and not going with either early producer Jonathan King- or signing to Richard Bransons new Virgin Records are examined.
Its sad this hugely innovative band has been criminally underrated - until recently.
What 10CC had was four extremely proficient songwriters.
Graham Gouldman pre 10CC wrote “For Your Love” for the Yardbirds in the 60’s as well as other hits.
Eric Stewart had chart success with the Mindbenders in the 60’s as well.
The original 10CC lineup would split in 1976 with Godley and Creme going on to be music video innovators working with Visage ,Frankie Goes To Hollywood , Wham! and many other artists in the 80’s.
The band established their own Strawberry Studios in 1969 in Stockport near Manchester - and used innovative techniques like overdriving the board with a guitar going in direct , to produce a spiky saturated transistor tone that would sit in the track.
Godley and Creme would develop the Gizmo guitar effect that produced infinite string sounds -notably on Led Zeppelins song “In The Evening” from 1979.
As a postscript - in my position at 3M selling studio mastering tape : in 1992 or 1993 - I received a phone call from Eric Stewart who requested a quantity of 3M open reel digital tape, as he would be transferring the first 5 albums from analog to digital on a Song DASH 24 track.
I spent a memorable morning in a west London studio with Eric and the engineer - as we transferred the original 16 track and 24 track analog tapes to digital.
It was mind blowing to see the original tapes and recording paperwork -with track titles like “Good Morning Judge” from 1977’s “Deceptive Bends” album.
I had fond memories of buying that album and singing along to it as a teenager!
Obviously this was pre- social media and cellphones 30 years ago - so we just got on with the job with no fanfare or photos!
Eric was a really modest and very nice guy - in some ways like the character of the whole band.
10CC were around at the time when record labels could actually develop acts and cultivate innovation and experimentation over many albums.
Sadly those days are gone with more premeditated song composition and production today.
Thankfully we have the recorded legacy of 10CC - go check them out and be inspired!
More info here:
https://us.rocket88books.com/products/10cc-the-worst-band-in-the-world-paperback