Top Ten 10cc Songs

Photo: By Klaus Hitscher Derivative work by Bluesatellite [CC BY-SA 2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

There are bands in rock and roll history that cannot be compared to any other band. 10cc was one of those bands. However, when a band is wholly original and sounds like no one else, it makes it much more difficult for a writer to describe their sound. Nonetheless, we can describe what they represented. The first word that comes to mind when thinking about the music that the band released is the word “wit.” 10cc was a clever band that wrote incredibly witty lyrics that bordered on satire, sarcasm, and humor. They were brilliant musicians who composed music of depth and spirit. The band showcased theatrics, special effects, and a gift for memorable melodies. One could hear, at times, Frank Zappa, The Beatles, and Steely Dan in their music. But their sound was all their own.

The band’s first album 10cc was released in 1973. For the next four years, the four members of the band, Kevin Godley Lol Creme, Graham Gouldman, and Eric Stewart, released three more albums until the group split up in 1976. Graham Gouldman and Eric Stewart continued on as 10cc, releasing several more albums. In 1995, Eric Stewart left the band. The group still continues to tour, with Graham Gouldman as the only original member.

This list will focus on the band 1970’s period when all four members if the group made some of the most interesting rock and pop songs of the classic rock era. Even when they split in 1976, Gouldman and Stewart continued to have success with the band. Godley and Creme continued to work together on many different musical and video projects. If you have never heard of the band, we hope this list turns you onto one of those bands that should never be forgotten.

# 10 – I’m Mandy Fly Me

Opening up our Top Ten 10cc songs list is the dynamic and entertaining track “I’m Mandy Fly Me.” This great song was released on the How Dare You album in 1976. This was the most highly anticipated record of the band’s career because it was the follow-up to their most successful album up to that point The Original Soundtrack. The The Original Soundtrack album featured their smash single “I’m Not In Love.”

# 9 – Rubber Bullets

The 10cc song “Rubber Bullets” was released on the band’s first album 10cc in 1973. That album spawned five singles. “Rubber Bullets” was the third single released from the album. However, the third is the charm as the single “Rubber Bullets” reached the number 1 position on the U.K. pop charts. 1973 was a fabulous year in pop music that featured albums like Elton John’s Goodbye Yellow Brick Road, Bruce Springsteen’s debut album Greetings for Asbury Park, and Billy Joel’s Piano Man album. WOW!

# 8 – Art For Art Sake

The group 10cc consisted of not only four incredibly gifted songwriters but also four amazing multi-instrumentalist musicians. Their talent as musicians is certainly on display in the great track “Art For Art’s Sake.” The guitar work on “Art for Arts Sake,” is outstanding. The song was released on their brilliant 1976 album How Dare You.

# 7 – One Night In Paris

As a kid, I never knew what this piece of music was about, but I knew I liked it. Forty years later, I am still trying to figure it out. However, it remains one of my favorite 10cc songs. The song “One Night In Paris” was released on the band’s 1975 album The Original Soundtrack. It was a song that was arranged in separate movements on the record. At over 8 minutes long, it stood as one of the longest pieces of music the band had ever recorded.

# 6 – The Dean and I

This is why we love 10cc. We won’t explain this one. The song was issued on the band’s first album in 1973. The song “The Dean and I” was the fourth single released from the record. Half of the album’s tracks were released as singles from the record.

# 5- Dreadlock Holiday

The great grooving track “Dreadlock Holiday” is the first of only two 10cc songs on this list that were released by the band after they spit up. The song “Dreadlock Holiday” was released on the band’s 1978 album Bloody Tourists. The song was a huge success for the band in Europe as it reached number one on the UK pop charts. It did not do as well in the United States.

# 4 – The Worst Band In The World

One of the earliest 10cc songs on this list was released on their 1974 album Sheet Music. The song featured the lead vocals of Lol Creme. How could you not love a band that released a song entitled “The Worst Band In The World?” Frank Zappa once released the album The Best Band You Never Heard, but we love this 10cc title a bit more. The song never charted that high, but the guitar work and great vocal by Lol Creme made this one of our favorite 10cc songs.

# 3 – Things We Do For Love

“The Things We Do For Love” was released on the band’s fifth album, Deceptive Bends. That album was released in 1977. During the early recording sessions for the album, 10cc members Kevin Godley and Lol Creme departed the band to form their own group and venture called Godley and Creme. While most bands probably would have broken up after losing fifty percent of their members, Eric Stewart and Graham Gouldman continued on and scored one of the biggest hits of the band’s career. The cool album cover was designed by the Hipgnosis team responsible for all the classic Pink Floyd Album Covers like Dark Side of the Moon and Wish You Were Here.

# 2 – Don’t Hang Up

“Don’t Hang Up,” was the follow-up to the band’s 1975 smash “I’m Not In Love.” However, the song was never released as a single. We never understood why because it was easily the best song on the How Dare You album and as you can see one of the best 10cc songs of the band’s career, at least in our opinion. The song was the closing track on the record. It was one of the band’s most beautiful melodies ever written, even though it was bathed in sarcasm and wit like most of the band’s material. It’s easily the best ending of any of the 10cc songs ever released.

# 1 – I’m Not In Love

To this day, fans still go crazy over this song. This was simply the most original pop song released in 1975. It remains one of the most original songs ever recorded. The song was the highlight of the band’s career in their quest to mix pop sensibility and original melody with daring techniques, superior arrangements, and recording skills. Amazingly, it was not the first choice to be released as a single.

The record company released the song “Life is a Minestrone,” as the first single in March of 1975. “I’m Not in Love” was not released until May 1975. It reached number 2 on the Billboard Top 100. It faced major competition that Summer and Fall from songs like Elton John’s “Philadelphia Freedom,” The Eagles “One Of These Nights,” Paul McCartney’s “Listen To What The Man Said,” and David Bowie’s “Fame.” But even competing against the giants of rock and roll, 10cc stood its ground with one of the most cherished songs in popular music history.