10cc Album: “How Dare You! [Bonus Track]”

Reading a couple of these reviews reminds me of a comment the Emperor of Austria once made about Mozart, "too many notes." Well we don't know if that's exactly what he said (although how ironic if he had). History has demonstrated that the Emperor was wrong about Mozart. Sure the guy had his musical flaws but inventiveness wasn't one of them. We do know, however, that some folks consider this talented quartet to be too clever by half with too many notes for their liking. Personally, I'd take the criticism as a compliment.

Perhaps they are too clever. How boring the world would be without the daring shown here on their last album as a four piece. Lazy Ways and I'm Mandy Fly Me feature melodies filled to the brim with wit and as rich as anything the Beatles or Beach Boys dreamed up. I Wanna Rule The World reminds you why these guys were held in such high esteem by their peers (like the late Frank Zappa, John Lennon and still breathing Paul McCartney); it's a twisted turn down paranoia street that manages to entertain as it informs.

The second part of the CD (or what used to be side 2 on vinyl) beings with the strong track Art for Art's Sake. It was originally written around the time of their previous album The Original Soundtrack but unrecorded. AFAS manages to satirize the art world in the same fashion as the band's Worst Band in The World (from Sheet Music) did the music biz. The songs that follow AFAS prevents this fine album from taking on any water and sinking beneath the waves of mediocrity. "Don't Hang Up" plays like a mini rock opera (much the same as One Night in Paris) in the tradition of the Who's "A Quick One While He's Away". Kevin Godley's angelic voice provides an ironic counterpoint to the possesiveness that clearly drives the character singing the song.

I've changed my mind about the bonus track. After the involved closer, Get it While You Can manages to close the album on a simple and elegant note. It actually sums up most of the themes on the album well and provides perfect closure to a fine album.

How Dare You is flawed but those flaws don't undermind this compelling, funny and melodic rock album. It's also clear listening to it that from here the original quartet didn't have any place else to go so it made sense for Godley & Creme to leave the band. Stewart and Gouldman continued to develop the 10cc sound and add more accomplishments to their achievements.

Be aware that the remaster has some alternate takes included that differ slightly from the original vinyl and CD's released by Mercury. That said although this isn't a perfect edition, it sounds much, much better than the original U.S. CD release which was sourced from an inferior copy of the original master tapes.

By the time they recorded this album it was clear that the democracy wouldn't work as well as before. How Dare You! allowed the original line up to perform a fine encore and take a bow before the final curtain dropped.

This album was conceived, written, performed, produced, and engineered by four of the best musicians to ever record pop music (after the Beatles, obviously, but even they didn't produce their best work). This album is a gold mine of pop hooks, melodies, clever lyrics, and good music in the British tongue-in-cheek tradition. This was the culmination of 6-7 years work between these four, Eric Stewart, Graham Gouldman, Lol Creme, and Kevin Godley, and it is a fine recording that, if you enjoy quality pop music, you must add to your collection. Everything here from the wistful to the bizarre, and I can't think of a better representation of '70s art rock (save maybe The Tubes 'Remote Control') available. One of my top ten favorite records of all time, all styles.

There are some albums that are just greater than the sum of their parts. Paul McCartney's RAM, Todd Rundgren's Hermit of Mink Hollow, and this album are three of my favorites in the genre.

This is not a singles-packed album, and only a couple of the tracks really send me by themselves. But when you put them all together, this is just a great piece of listening-- hooky, catchy and always interesting. Like the cover, the more you look at it, the more it gives you.

Because I've always listened to this as an album, the bonus track idea is jarring at first, but it does grow on you.

HOW DARE YOU! continues to show the growth of 10cc. Unfortunately, it was the last studio album produced by all four members. Shortly after recording the album, Creme and Godley left the band. The album is full of melodic, rocking music that represents the best of 70's rock music.

If any band continued the tradition of the Beatles, it was 10cc. This album is brimming with strong hooks, great playing and a production sound that has aged extremely well.

In many respects bands like FASTBALL, XTC and SQUEEZE would be influenced and use 10cc's extension of the Beatles sound as a blueprint for their music.

In many respects this album is 10cc's REVOLVER--it represents their songwriting at its peak. While Stewart and Gouldman would carry on their later albums, although as accomplished, never surpassed the quality of writing and production of this album.

YES! 10cc brought back the humor, sophisticated songwriting, and clever lyrics of the first two albums! I have the belief that the Original Soundtrack was a slight... not necessarily a mistake, but just a slightly weak effort thanks to a couple songs.

How DARE You! is such a solid listening experience from beginning to end, and I'm happy 10cc delivered with a classic.

The title song is an instrumental. An odd choice to open the album with a song like this, but by THIS point, oddness is something that just comes with the territory whenever anyone mentions 10cc. It's a rather fantastic instrumental too, and it takes a few close listens to appreciate.

"Lazy Ways" kind of reminds me of... me, haha. Actually the vocals feel a bit like Paul McCartney in spots, and even some Eletric Light Orchestra in other areas (such as the middle instrumental part, which is great). These lyrics are really great and actually make the vocal melody better when you pay attention to them.

The NEXT song is why I love 10cc so much- "I Wanna Rule the World" is the weirdest song ever, haha. I hear too many musical ideas for my brain to comprehend all of them at once! A song like this definitely takes at least four or five listens to fully understand. I hear vocals that resemble Paul Simon one moment, and the Bee Gees a quick moment later! This is seriously a great example of clever songwriting.

"I'm Mandy, Fly Me" was the big hit, but come to think of it, I've *never* heard classic rock radio play it ever. Not even once. This song feels serious but I don't think it's meant to be. Clever humor perhaps? Sort of like "I'm Not in Love" sounds serious but who knows if it really was meant to be taken seriously or not. Anyway, the vocal melody is terrific once again.

"Iceberg" is exactly like "I Wanna Rule the World" in that there must be at LEAST 20 different amazing things about the song that absolutely rule. The lyrics about being an orphan, and being in trouble ever since being in a basket on the freeway cracks me up every time. What an underrated band and album.

Looking for a break with a normal pop song? "Art for Art's Sake" fits the bill there. You will love that chorus because it's immediately memorable. I don't know what to make of the rest of the album. "Rock 'n Roll Lullaby" is just... weird, haha. Talking about the sandman coming to get you, but played like an old fashioned ballad. It's cool.

10cc really delivered with this underrated classic. Awesome band, awesome songs, awesome albums- 10cc should be talked about among the very best pop bands of the 70's.