10cc – 20 Years: 1972-1992

A 14-disc celebration of an English institution packaged with superior sleeve-notes.

In the words of former 10cc man Kevin Godley: “People like their rock stars to live like rock stars. 10cc didn’t wear make-up, kill anyone, do smack… or commit suicide. No dysfunctional mythology equals unmemorable. That’s how it is.”

10cc didn’t live the clichéd rock-star life, and this 14-disc, 145-track collection shows that, musically, they dealt in clichés only for the sake of parody. Otherwise their arty, progressive and beautifully produced English pop-rock was richly diverse, melodically/lyrically imaginative and vividly memorable.

The 14CD package features all the band’s studio albums, with the exception of 1995’s Mirror Mirror, and includes Live and Let Live, the double live album from 1977, and two additional CDs of non-album tracks and alternate/singles mixes. In total, 20 Years offers 145 tracks.

Inspiration was there from the off. 10cc includes Godley and Creme’s 50s doowop pastiche Donna – written as a B-side but later the first of 10 Top 10 singles – the band’s first No.1 Rubber Bullets, and the brilliant, Beach Boys-infused The Dean And I, a marker of the creativity to come. This was a group of four talents, and two creative factions. Mega-hit I’m Not In Love (from 1975’s The Original Soundtrack) was written by the more traditional song stylists Stewart and Gouldman, but Godley and Creme’s art-house approach led to its innovative vocal arrangement. After the latter pair’s departure, 1977’s Deceptive Bends offered more mellow material such as The Things We Do For Love, but gutsy concert album Live And Let Live shows what a punchy unit the new, extended 10cc line-up were.

The band initially consisted of Graham Gouldman, Eric Stewart, Kevin Godley And Lol Creme and enjoyed commercial success during this period with ten top 10 singles and an impressive three number ones (‘Rubber Bullets’, ‘I’m Not In Love’ and ‘Dreadlock Holiday’). They also scored five consecutive top 10 albums (‘Sheet Music’, ‘The Original Soundtrack’, ‘How Dare You!’, ‘Deceptive Bends’ and ‘Bloody Tourists’).

Godley and Creme departed in 1976 but Steward and Gouldman carried on with various line-ups. The band ultimately disbanded towards the end of 1983 but continues as a touring band today with Graham Gouldman as the only fully-fledged original member. An 18-date world tour starts in March next year.

This box includes a 10,000 word essay on the band penned by Liam Newton, author of the band’s official biography, The Worst Band in the World.

20 Years 1972-1992 has been released on 26 January 2024 via Edsel.

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