10cc Album: “Original Soundtrack”

If you have to start somewhere with 10cc, start with SHEET MUSIC (1974). This is arguably one of the best albums of the 70's, and certainly was a major influence on things to come in the 80's. Why SHEET MUSIC has never been elevated to the status it should have been is not a mystery. Sometimes bands are too good for their own good. Me? I think this is inspirational and would be a damn far sight better than most of the stuff you've listened to over and over again, and told is "classic". 10cc innovated, renovated and elevated pop rock music to new standards, and were definitely the most influential British band of the 7o's.

Your second stop on the 10cc highway/motorway should be this album, The Original Soundtrack. Some argue it's better than SHEET MUSIC, some say it's not. Either and or, you get incredibly well written songs, emmaculate production, two of the best singers Britain has had to offer, and a band that was in complete control of their musical output. You get songs about French prostitutes, Drug dealers, Blackmailers, Minestrone, Messiahs, and so much more. These 4 guys (Eric Stewart, Lol Creme, Kevin Godley and Graham Gouldman) had wit, smarts, talent and the ability to pull it all off. Every track is different from the last and you will not be bored.

They beat Queen to the opera, and like it's been said previously, with alot more humour and fun, but with technical brilliance. There are moments on this album that are musically beautiful, like the introduction of "Brand New Day", or "Flying Junk".

Mobile Fidelity does a great job of mastering classic cd's. Some of the outstanding examples include Building the Perfect Beast(Henley) and The Sky is crying. This album belongs in the same category due to the excellence in writing, engineering, performance and production.

10cc was first established in 1972, but all the participants knew each other before then performing in various bands together. Their first album 10cc had all the elements, but the songwriting hadn't matured to this level yet. Sheet Music is the band's first unqualified classic and this, their third album is the second.

One Night in Paris, although one of the funniest tracks(and musically challenging due to the variety of melodies that floats through it), hasn't aged as well as the other songs. I'm not in love can truthfully be called one of the great anti-love songs. Stewart and Gouldman do a terrific job of turning emotional cliches on their head in a song with an infectious melody. The middle eight of the song with the tape loops of backing vocals(yes, I, too thought for years it was a sythesizer)of the four members of the band singing harmonies is amazing. The second sitting for the last supper is another great song in a strong trio that includes Life is a Minestrone(one of the best--and funny--metaphors for describing life I've ever heard)and the beautiful Brand New Day. All the material is great, but these three stand out.

The engineering of the album(and production) is flawless for the time and still sounds terrific today(considering they were only using 16 track machines to make the album). The mastering job is uncredited(which I hate), but is superior. The only comparable version is the import cd released 2 years ago by Polydor. The dynamic range is similiar for both, but I'd give the edge to this disc based on sound and the Polydor disc based on content(it has 2 must have b side bonus tracks).

Altogether a great album(something that is said about too many albums now days) and one of the best from the 1970's.

This is the first album where it all came together. Great melodic hooks, strong songwriting, amazing harmonies and an ambitious, expanded musicial pallet that, while it featured all their influences on their sleeve(the Beatles, Cream, Frank Zappa), still managed to maintain and develop 10cc's identity.

Later artists like Squeeze and Elvis Costello were clearly influenced by both the sound of and witty, sarcastic songwriting of the band.

This album hasn't aged quite as well as the follow up, HOW DARE YOU!, but, like SGT. PEPPER and Queen's A NIGHT AT THE OPERA, represents the time when the album was recorded.

Although the mini-rock opera UNE NITE A PARIS is still fun and very interesting, it hasn't aged as well as the rest of the album and, like the Who's A QUICK ONE WHILE HE'S AWAY is, perhaps, a bit too coy and precious. Still, there's no denying that it is a fun track and a defining moment for establishing their unique style.

I'M NOT IN LOVE and THE SECOND SE! TTING FOR THE LAST SUPPER are both outstanding tracks but, the song that probably represents the album best is the comical, melodic LIFE IS A MINESTRONE--5 minutes of fun, with a tounge in cheek message.

This album is a terrific introduction to 10cc and should, along with HOW DARE YOU!, be in every record collection!

Simply said, the Godley-Creme-Gouldman-Stewart procreative combination of catchy hooks, tight harmonies, and witty lyrics make 1975's "The Original Soundtrack", recorded at their creative, artistic and literate peak, a truly classic album. Even though the absolutely fantastic, beautiful, my personal favorite of all-time "I'm Not In Love" primarily put 10cc on the commercial map, every track from top to bottom on this album is in a class of its own -FIRST. 10cc is indeed one of the classic supergroups in the world of art-rock. Simple - this is an essential album sounding even better on CD.

Note: This album is not a real Soundtrack album to any movie, play, etc. It is just the "witty " name 10cc gave this gem.

I saw 10cc during their "Original Soundtrack" tour (Beacon Theater, NYC) and they were incredible! (Any concert that opens with "Silly Love" and ends with "Film Of My Love" and a "Rubber Bullets" encore can't be all bad! ;) So I've got a soft spot in my heart (and maybe my head) for this CD. It's excellent! Of course we've all heard "I'm Not In Love", but overlooked tunes like "Brand New Day", "Blackmail", and "Flying Junk" are equally good! There's not a bad track on this CD! Every one is a winner! Must listening for all 10cc fans, and for those unfamiliar with the group. Deserves a spot in any CD collection. To paraphrase the opening song on this album: "One disc from these guys, is like a bunch from any other band" ;)