10cc are the subject of a comprehensive box set, 20 Years, celebrating the U.K. band’s acclaimed period from 1972 to 1992, which included three #1 singles and five top 10 albums. The 145-tracks across 14-CDs includes all of the studio and official live albums released in this period, as well as two additional discs featuring a selection of single edits and alternative mixes/versions and non-album B-sides. It arrived January 26, 2024, via Demon Music Group’s Edsel Records. It’ss available to order in the U.S. here and the U.K. here.
From the label’s announcement: 10cc formed in 1972 by Graham Gouldman, Eric Stewart, Kevin Godley and Lol Creme who between them were creative pop and experimental songwriters, as well as multi-instrumentalists, singers and producers. They recorded most of their albums at their own Strawberry Studios (North) in Stockport and Strawberry Studios (South) in Dorking.
Originally signed to the UK Records label, 10cc first charted in September 1972 with their ‘50s pastiche ‘Donna’, which narrowly missed the #1 spot but spent a quarter of the year on the U.K. chart. Six months later, 10cc had their first #1 single “Rubber Bullets.” After two albums they signed to Phonogram’s Mercury Records label in 1975.
Between 1972 and 1978, 10cc had five consecutive U.K. Top 10 albums: Sheet Music (1974), The Original Soundtrack (1975), How Dare You! (1976), Deceptive Bends (1977) and Bloody Tourists (1978). Their double live album, Live And Let Live, recorded while on tour in Manchester and London, reached #14 in 1977.
Related: Our Album Rewind of The Original Soundtrack
10cc earned three #1 singles in the U.K. among their twelve Top 30 hits there: “Rubber Bullets” (1973), their worldwide breakthrough, “I’m Not In Love” (1975) and “Dreadlock Holiday” (1978). Their other significant hits include “The Things We Do For Love,” “The Wall Street Shuffle,” “Life Is a Minestrone,” and “I’m Mandy, Fly Me.”
20 Years contains a 10,000-word essay written by Liam Newton, author of the band’s official autobiography, The Worst Band In the World. The album listings appear below.
CD1: 10cc (1973)
CD2: SHEET MUSIC (1974)
CD3: THE ORIGINAL SOUNDTRACK (1975)
CD4: HOW DARE YOU! (1976)
CD5: DECEPTIVE BENDS (1977)
CD6 & 7: LIVE AND LET LIVE (1977)
CD8: BLOODY TOURISTS (1978)
CD9: LOOK HEAR? (1980)
CD10: TEN OUT OF 10 (1981)
CD11: WINDOWS IN THE JUNGLE (1983)
CD12: …MEANWHILE (1992)
CD13: SOME OF THE BITS WE MISSED (1972-1979)!
CD14: MORE BITS WE MISSED (1980-1992)!
10cc are prominently featured in a 2023 memoir, I’m Into Something Good: My Life Managing 10cc, Herman’s Hermits & Many More!, written by Harvey Lisberg, who guided 10cc’s career and many others from the Manchester, U.K. music scene.
1 Comment
To me their greatest years were 1972-78. First six singles had great b-sides. After that i lost my interest to them.