As it is the 40th anniversary of its release, just curious if there’s any love for “I’m Not In Love” by 10cc. I understand it is used briefly in Guardians of the Galaxy (haven’t seen it yet), which is a good thing, I think, for the exposure to new generations of folks. While I wasn’t particularly a fan of the group I fondly remember when it was released and upon hearing it on a state-of-the-art (for 1975) stereo and how it blew me away. Even now I can hear something new in it when I listen. The story of its origin and production is a good read. Lots of innovation and hard work went into the song. Anyone?
I don't really have any particular love for that "evergreen" song, in particular, but I'm a HUGE fan of 10CC, especially the Godley & Creme period. Art rock at its very best!
I think even Paul McCartney was inspired by the song's production values. I believe it was for Macca's "Hope of Deliverance"-era album.
I know the song fairly well and it is yet another of those mid-to-late '70s songs that is forever trapped in its era as far as my memories and associations of it go. Songs are powerful that way.
Meanwhile, I'll have to wait until 2016 for the thirtieth anniversary of "Don't Dream It's Over", which always gave me that "I'm Not in Love" vibe.
Thanks, I appreciate your thoughts. Jim, I didn’t know that about McCartney, thanks! Thor, I get your point but I’ve always thought that INIL was actually in keeping with that deliberately-over-the-top winking style of other songs they did, even though to the casual Top-40 listener it comes off as the usual love song. I’d have to say that “The Things We Do For Love” would be the atypical 10cc Top-40 style song. What do you think?
Thanks, I appreciate your thoughts. Jim, I didn’t know that about McCartney, thanks! Thor, I get your point but I’ve always thought that INIL was actually in keeping with that deliberately-over-the-top winking style of other songs they did, even though to the casual Top-40 listener it comes off as the usual love song. I’d have to say that “The Things We Do For Love” would be the atypical 10cc Top-40 style song. What do you think?
Oh, I agree. But they were always able to channel the pop stylings of the past and merging it with the present. It's part of their project -- very unstable songs that suddenly move from this genre to this genre within just a few seconds. Whether it's the reggae stylings of "Dreadlock Holiday" or the 50's pop song vibe of, say, "Johnny Don't Do It".
I was a fan as soon as I heard "Neanderthal Man" when it was a new 45 release (the group was called Hotlegs back then -- and the eventual lp under that name was superb). I loved their off-kilter, sort of swoony approach to pop music -- they reminded me a bit of the group, The Move -- with some of the ironic wit of Bonzo Dog Band thrown in. With sometimes a romantic edge similar to Bryan Ferry and Roxy Music. There was also a cult group called The Wackers that I adored that had some similar sounds and art-song aspirations.
Cinematic pop with gorgeous soundscapes and a good measure of irony. I thought some of their songs were just about perfect pop compositions.
Agreed. Strange that none of them tried film music (as far as I know). Several of the songs had a cinematic quality -- eclectic as they might have been.
My appreciation of 10cc lies mainly in how smart they were and how their sense of lyrical irony never prevented those songs from succeeding on the level that they were satirizing.
Back when it was first released, one of my favorite records was "100cc", compiled (by Jonathan King, I believe) from their first 2 albums proper. I presume this was because those 2 had not yet been released in North America. I played it to death, dissecting everything about it.
I had the same relationship to HOW DARE YOU? and partially BLOODY TOURISTS. I didn't like them at first, but eventually came to like them a LOT. Played those cassettes to death, and subsequently the CD's as well. Lots of other CD's as well, but those were the two main albums for me.
According to band member Eric Stewart, that background with the massed vocals and the electric piano was one of the most difficult things to create for the song. Nevertheless, a fine song, and one of the best of the '70s.
Thanks, I appreciate your thoughts. Jim, I didn’t know that about McCartney, thanks!
Now that I think about it, McCartney's "Flying to My Home"--from the Flowers in the Dirt era--was what I was thinking of and has aspects of the 10cc sound:
Now that I think about it, McCartney's "Flying to My Home"--from the Flowers in the Dirt era--was what I was thinking of and has aspects of the 10cc sound.
Surely working with Eric Stewart must have rubbed off on him quite a lot.
I was just thinking about the video for "So Bad". That's a cute video. Classy too. And I love that song--it's one of my favorites by him. Say what you will about the man, but he loved his wife.
"Waterfall" "The Worst Band In The World" "Somewhere In Hollywood" ... man, those are the money shots--some of the best songs written by any band ever. Oh--and "Good Morning Judge". I love that one too. Great fun to play. I've got the house to myself--I think I'll do that right now!
I quite like 10CC - Rubber Bullets is amazing - but I hate this particular song.
Big boys don't cry, my arse.
I'm afraid I have to agree. INIL is so long and, well, boring. I hate the long winded sound where it's just that vocal 'ahhhhh' from start to finish. The others mentioned here are fine, and I had the Neanderthal Man single. Love Rubber Bullets.
Did they do a single where the lyrics included "peep through the bathroom door, see your sister in the raw"? I remember being at primary school - so 9-10 years old, and the kids liking this because it was 'rude'.
I have a story. Bear with me because it's a silly, inconsequential story.
Back in the early 80's... One day at work, the payroll clerk hears "Dreadlock Holiday" on the cafeteria radio--she says she LOVES that song and asked if I'd make her a mixtape. A swell way to network back then, I thought. Afterwards she said it was nice, but she thought 10cc was a reggae band and that's the kind of tape she thought I was making for her.
I have a story. Bear with me because it's a silly, inconsequential story.
Back in the early 80's... One day at work. the payroll clerk hears "Dreadlock Holiday" on the cafeteria radio--she says she LOVES that song and asked if I'd make her a mixtape. A swell way to network back then, I thought. Afterwards she said it was nice, but she thought 10cc was a reggae band and that's the kind of tape she thought I was making for her.
... later on, made her a reggae tape.
He, he...cute. "Dreadlock Holiday" is actually one of the songs I've performed karaoke-style a few times. But it's quite unusual -- like "I'm Not In Love", in a way -- in that it sticks with one style throughout; it doesn't leap around with weird chord changes, style jumps etc. like most of their other work.
