The Story Of 10cc

Saw Graham Gouldman and his 10cc band recently in Wellington. He dressed like a superannuated accountant but what a great musician and songwriter! Never realised he wrote Pamela Pamela and Carousel and For your Love , as well as 10cc hits. His musicians were excellent and it was a great night out. I still think Pamela Pamela was plagiarised for the Wombles of Wimbledon song. Very similar chord structure.

I have been a 10CC fan since the beginning. I have all of their LPs, plus Graham Gouldman's soundtrack for Animalympics, plus their later CD production, and all of Godley&Creme's output. I perhaps lack something by Gouldman and Wax.

Although I realise it's just great pop, and have always acknowledged that the two 'couples' inside the band had somehow contrasting musical ways, I have always thought it was a bunch of talents like very rarely has occurred in the music business. The time was not perhaps the most favourable for their intelligent and conceptual pop, being somewhat halfway between progressive and punk, but I loved them and still love them. I am occasionally amazed at how little is told about them here, or elsewhere in music threads. Godley&Creme's records alone would deserve ample appreciation and discussion.

I found it a very interesting watch and learned a lot I didn't know before about the group and its members.  Inspired to have a 10cc night at some point now.

I'll have to watch this on catch up. I love the 10cc albums up to the point Godley and Creme left. Thanks for pointing it out. 

I could have sworn I programmed it after an earlier warning. Of BBC are no bloody help , no iPlayer entry yet , but I guess all the formation cooking house finding programmes are on their microseconds after finishing.

Nigel,

I agree that starting from Deceptive bends I too had to follow two separate careers with schizoid attitude - the pop songs, some of which still very nice, on the one side, the clever, non-commercial experiments on the other. That would seem to show that the great minds in 10CC were Godley and Creme, but the last Stewart&Gouldman disc - Meanwhile - is very listenable and well produced, plus featuring the other two singing. In the mid-90s I admit it was a little out fashioned, but today I am able to see the whole of it as a pleasant part of my musical youth.

When punk arrived in 1977 I left everything I'd listened to up to that point behind, other than the wonderful Steely Dan. I've re-bought a fewof 10cc's albums very recently - Sheet Music, The Original Soundtrack and How Dare You? and am reminded of how good they are, especially How Dare You?  I looked up G&C's L album earlier, but it's really expensive and seems to be available only as a Japanese import. I must watch the programme. 

Saw them a couple of times in their heyday and also knew one of the band.

Very interesting programme.  Played How Dare You afterwards.  

L is a great disc. I love their lyrics. To realise just how clever and intriguing a story can be told in a song with just two chords or so, though, I suggest a listen to Joey's Camel, from 'ismsm'.

I thought it was pretty interesting, and I don't even like 10cc!

The problem was that their music always seemed rather pleased with itself; witty, melodic and well-produced certainly, but rather smug. The "boys" weren't smug at all, in fact they came across  very well, except for Stewart, who seemed a bit brittle. They seemed like  a hardworking, talented quartet with a lot of ideas. Lol Creme I liked a lot.

I still can't stomach their music, though.

10cc were just one wavelength in a wide spectrum. A very talented group of people who deserve as much praise as the usual suspects. Enjoyed it very much. It would have been nice (for me) if they has dwelt more on before and after 10cc but with only an hour available....

BBC dragging it's feet again, still no iPlayer entry.

OK it's available from the website but not from the smart TV platform. How annoying

BigH47 posted:

BBC dragging it's feet again, still no iPlayer entry.

OK it's available from the website but not from the smart TV platform. How annoying

 

Howard, I watched it on my smart TV last night...

Perhaps LG aren't as smart as they think? :-)

I'n now thinking it might be Sky that's no so smart as I was going through Catch Up TV.

Indeed it's so, I found it on the LG smart section BBC iPlayer. 

Thanks Kevin.

Mine's a Samsung H. Pretty smart.

PICNIC problem I'm afraid.

Programme was very good though lots of stuff I didn't know. Not sure if they were all in the same place whilst filming but seemed friendly enough to each other.

Their music(as 10CC)  gets regular plays around here.

So did the show mention how they got their name?

Yes.It was apparently given by Jonathan King. Which seems apt given its derivation.

Just caught up n iPlayer, never really rated them but certainly must give them another chance.

I always thought their lyrics were mindless but i see now they were not designed to be deep and meaningful.

SJB