After recruiting guitarist Rick Fenn, keyboardist Tony O'Malley and drummer Stuart Tosh as full-time members, 10cc returned in 1978 with Bloody Tourists, which yielded the number one reggae nod "Dreadlock Holiday." Following a series of unsuccessful efforts, including 1980's Look Hear?, 1981's 10 Out of 10 and 1983's Window in the Jungle, the group disbanded; while Stewart produced Sad Cafe and worked with Paul McCartney, Gouldman supervised recordings from the Ramones and Gilbert O'Sullivan before joining Andrew Gold in the duo Wax. In 1992, the original lineup of 10cc reunited for the LP Meanwhile, while only Gouldman and Stewart remained for 1993's Mirror Mirror.

10cc - 1973

Displaying a command of pop styles and satire, 10cc shows that they are a force to be reckoned with on their first album. Hooks abound, harmonies shine, and instrumentation is dazzling without being overdone. Though charges of "self-consciously clever" could be leveled at the group, their command of witty, Anglo-styled pop is so impressive that even those criticisms must be weighed against the mastery of styles. All four members sing lead and are talented songwriters, and this leads to a wide variety of styles that add to their vision. Featuring their number one UK hit "Rubber Bullets," 10cc wades through 10 selections of satire and parody. Arguably, one of the best is the opening cut, "Johnny Don't Do It" a parody of all the "death discs" of the late fifties and early 60's.(the misunderstood "bad but really good" guy who is killed in a wreck) More contemporary and bitingly sarcastic is "Headline Hustler," a commentary on the scandal hungry, ravenous media. Medical facilities and the treatment afforded there is given ripe 10cc commentary in "The Hospital Song." ("And when I go, I'll die of plaster casting love.") Whether doing loving parodies of the music they grew up with or satirizing contemporary issues, 10cc show themselves to be top level purveyors of pop on their debut recording. Some might criticize the group for being too self-satisfied with their own intelligence, but there is no denying the true craftsmanship and humor on their 1973 release. - Michael Ofjord

01 - (5:23) Rubber Bullets
02 - (3:01) Donna
03 - (3:43) Johnny, Don't Do It
04 - (3:45) Sand In My Face
05 - (3:56) Speed Kills
06 - (3:10) The Dean And I
07 - (3:11) Ships Don't Disappear In The Night (Do They?)
08 - (2:48) The Hospital Song
09 - (3:15) Fresh Air For My Mama
10 - (3:35) Headline Hustler

Sheet Music - 1974

Sometimes weird, sometimes jovial, sometimes downright snippy, Sheet Music is probably the single most sarcastic 10cc album available, with "The Worst Band In The World" qualifying for top satirical honors. The versatility and technical qualities of the band could be baffling to many listeners, but when they were on form, they were terrific. - Steven McDonald

01 - (4:10) The Wall Street Shuffle
02 - (2:51) The Worst Band In The World
03 - (4:59) Hotel
04 - (3:27) Old Wild Men
05 - (2:48) Clockwork Creep
06 - (4:07) Silly Love
07 - (6:47) Somewhere In Hollywood
08 - (3:53) Baron Samedi
09 - (2:39) The Sacro-Iliac
10 - (2:56) Oh Effendi
11 - (3:40) Waterfall

How Dare You ! - 1976

After scoring their commercial breakthrough with "I'm Not in Love" from 1975's The Original Soundtrack, 10cc continued to build on their good fortune with How Dare You. It didn't spawn another massive hit like "I'm Not in Love," but it is a well-crafted album that shows off 10cc's eccentric humor and pop smarts in equal measure. This time, the hit singles were "I'm Mandy Fly Me" and "Art for Art's Sake." The first tune is the fanciful tale of a plane crash victim saved from death by the stewardess of his dreams that plays out a poppy mock-exotica musical backdrop while the second is a tongue-in-cheek parody of commercial-minded artists set to a rocking, cowbell-driven beat. Elsewhere, How Dare You pursues a similar mix of zany humor and pop hooks: "Iceberg" brings its tale of a frigid romantic partner to life with an incredibly intricate and jazzy vocal melody, and "I Wanna Rule the World" is a witty tale of a dictator-in-training with enough catchy riffs and vocal harmonies for two or three songs. How Dare You loses a bit of steam on its second side when the songs' tempos start to slow down, but "Rock 'N' Roll Lullaby" and "Don't Hang Up" keep the listener involved through a combination of melodic songwriting and typically well-crafted arrangements. In the end, How Dare You never hits the giddy heights of The Original Soundtrack but it remains a solid album of witty pop songs that will satisfy anyone with a yen for 10cc. - Donald A. Guarisco

01 - (4:20) How Dare You
02 - (4:28) Lazy Ways
03 - (4:04) I Wanna Rule The World
04 - (5:29) I'm Mandy, Fly Me
05 - (3:48) Iceberg
06 - (6:08) Art For Art's Sake
07 - (4:06) Rock 'N' Roll Lullaby
08 - (4:29) Head Room
09 - (6:25) Don't Hang Up
10 - (2:58) Get It While You Can

Deceptive Bends - 1977

When Kevin Godley and Lol Creme left 10cc in 1976 to pursue a solo career, many thought it was the death knell for the group. However, Eric Stewart and Graham Gouldman kept the group alive as a duo (with the assistance of percussionist Paul Burgess) and turned in a surprisingly solid album with 1977's Deceptive Bends. It may lack the devil-may-care wackiness that popped up on previous 10cc albums, but it makes up for it by crafting a series of lush, catchy pop songs that are witty in their own right. Deceptive Bends also produced a pair of notable hits for the group: "Good Morning Judge" told the comical tale of a career criminal over a hook-laden, surprisingly funky pop backing while "The Things We Do for Love" was an irresistible Beatles pastiche that showcased 10cc's mastery of pop vocal harmonies. "People in Love," a surprisingly straightforward ballad built on a gorgeous string arrangement, also became a modest chart success. The remainder of the material doesn't stand out as sharply as these hits, but each of the tracks offers up plenty of naggingly catchy pop hooks, oodles of catchy riffs, and surprising twists in their arrangements. Highlights among the non-hit tracks include "Marriage Bureau Rendezvous," a satire of dating services set to a lilting soft rock melody, and "You've Got a Cold," a portrait of illness-influenced misery set to a percolating pop melody. The only place where Deceptive Bends slips is on "Feel the Benefit," the lengthy medley that closes the album. Its excessive length and hazy lyrics make it less satisfying than the album's shorter tunes, but it is kept afloat by a catchy, mock-Spanish midsection and some lovely string arrangements. All in all, Deceptive Bends is the finest achievement of 10cc's post-Godley and Creme lineup and well worth a spin for anyone who enjoyed Sheet Music or The Original Soundtrack. - Donald A. Guarisco

1 - (3:00) Good Morning Judge
2 - (3:36) The Things We Do For Love
3 - (4:10) Marriage Bureau Rendezvous
4 - (3:52) People In Love
5 - (5:42) Modern Man Blues
6 - (2:54) Honeymoon With B Troop
7 - (1:52) I Bought A Flat Guitar Tutor
8 - (3:44) You've Got A Cold
9 - (11:34) Feel The Benefit Pt 1-3

Bloody Tourists - 1978

After proving they could keep 10cc alive as a duo act with 1977's successful Deceptive Bends, Eric Stewart and Graham Gouldman pressed on in 1978 with Bloody Tourists. Although it scored some notable hits, it was a less consistent and less memorable affair than its predecessor. The problem with Bloody Tourists is that it feels like a group of session musicians trying to come up with songs in the 10cc style instead of a proper 10cc album. The eccentric humor that once flowed freely feels forced on this album: Reds In My Bed" is a lame stab at Cold War satire that never really succeeds in saying anything while Shock On The Tube (Don't Want Love)" tries to be daring with its tale of a subway sex fantasy and instead comes off as smutty and dull. Another problem is that the music propping up these narratives is lacking in both hooks and inspiration: the backing track for Take These Chains" is a dull attempt at rockabilly that sounds like an especially poppy Eagles outtake and The Anonymous Alcoholic" has a disco-parody portion that merely sounds like a mediocre example of the music it is supposedly sending up. However, the album's singles present a few bright moments: For You And I" is a lovely ballad that fortifies its attractive melody with some strong vocal harmonies and Dreadlock Holiday" chronicles the exploits of a hapless tourist in Jamaican against a catchy pop-reggae backdrop. Sadly, these are the first two tracks on the album so when they have passed there isn't much to look forward to. In the end, Bloody Tourists is competent enough to keep the 10cc's hardcore fans happy but the casual listener is advised to track down its hits on a compilation. - Donald A. Guarisco

01 - (4:36) Dreadlock Holiday
02 - (5:32) For You And I
03 - (2:47) Take These Chains
04 - (3:53) Shock On The Tube (Don't Want Love)
05 - (3:25) Last Night
06 - (5:56) Anonymous Alcoholic
07 - (4:18) Reds In My Bed
08 - (3:34) Lifeline
09 - (4:41) Tokyo
10 - (4:42) Old Mister Time
11 - (3:55) From Rochdale To Ocho Rios
12 - (4:37) Everything You Wanted To Know About!!!
13 - (4:08) Nothing Can Move Me

Look Hear? - 1980

01 - (5:18) One Two Five
02 - (3:47) Welcome To The World
03 - (3:44) How'm I Ever Gonna Say Goodbye
04 - (3:22) Don't Send We Back
05 - (5:15) I Took You Home
06 - (4:05) It Doesn't Matter At All
07 - (3:33) Dressed To Kill
08 - (5:12) Lovers Anonymous
09 - (3:00) I Hate To Eat Alone
10 - (3:46) Strange Lover
11 - (4:32) L.A. Inflatable

The Collection - 1992

01 - (3:57) The Wall Street Shuffle
02 - (2:51) The Worst Band In The World
03 - (4:58) Hotel
04 - (3:24) Old Wild Man
05 - (2:48) Clockwork Creep
06 - (4:04) Silly Love
07 - (6:43) Somewhere In Hollywood
08 - (3:50) Baron Samedi
09 - (2:36) The Sacro-Iliac
10 - (2:56) Oh Effendi
11 - (3:41) Johhny Don't Do It
12 - (3:42) Sand In My Face
13 - (2:58) Donna
14 - (3:07) The Dean And I
15 - (3:37) Headline Hustler
16 - (3:53) Speed Kills
17 - (5:17) Rubber Bullets
18 - (2:45) The Hospital Song
19 - (3:08) Ships Don't Disappear In The Night
20 - (3:06) Fresh Air For My Mama

Food For Thought - 1993

Like labelmates Status Quo, 10cc's back catalog has been so poorly handled that it has cheapened its legacy. The bins have been flooded over the years with budget-priced compilations put together with no thought whatsoever. Whether it was intentional or not, this comp is actually different. Concentrating on the band's Mercury years, someone screwed up and left off the real big hits ("I'm Not in Love" and "Things We Do for Love"), but added some gems and rarities from the later period that normally don't show up on compilations ("Power of Love" and "We've Heard It All Before," both featuring Andrew Gold). Some of the band's other lesser hits are here, including "Dreadlock Holiday," "Life Is a Minestrone," and "Good Morning Judge," but there are also forgotten gems like "Feel the Love," "Take These Chains," "Survivor," and the title track to enjoy. With only a few songs from the Godley & Creme years (although they are pictured on the front), Eric Stewart and Graham Gouldman's later years were never going to be as critically successful, but they remained master tunesmiths till the end. There is not a stinker in the bunch, but if you're looking for the perfect "hits" collection, this isn't it. 10cc was much more than a band with hits and it deserves more than an endless stream of budget compilations. Isn't it time for a proper box set? (For collectors, there is the single edited version of "One-Two-Five," which still leaves a good song behind, but removes some of the charm of the album version.) - Stephen SPAZ Schnee

01 - (4:34) Life Is A Minestrone
02 - (6:24) Don't Hang Up
03 - (3:01) Good Morning Judge
04 - (3:18) Last Night
05 - (4:11) One - Two - Five
06 - (3:43) We've Heard It All Before
07 - (7:36) 24 Hours
08 - (5:08) Dreadlock Holiday
09 - (4:06) Rock 'N' Roll Lullaby
10 - (2:43) Take These Chains
11 - (4:17) The Power Of Love
12 - (5:53) Survivor
13 - (5:14) Feel The Love
14 - (3:26) Food For Thought

Mirror Mirror - 1995

Mirror Mirror sets the tone from track one with a supposedly reworked version of previous hit "I'm Not in Love" that cannot be distinguished from the original. While new tracks peal off some pleasant moments, songs flashing the group's trademark lyrical wit generally tend toward musical vaporware, while those revealing an occasional glimmer of instrumental creativity go nowhere fast on the songwriting. [This version adds four bonus tracks.] - Roch Parisien

01 - (4:31) Yvonne's The One
02 - (5:45) Code Of Silence
03 - (4:10) Blue Bird
04 - (5:48) Age Of Consent
05 - (3:57) Take This Woman
06 - (3:22) The Monkey And The Onion
07 - (4:07) Everything Is Not Enough
08 - (4:43) Ready To Go Home
09 - (3:27) Grow Old With Me
10 - (3:57) Margo Wants The Mustard
11 - (4:08) Peace In Our Time
12 - (5:24) Why Did I Break Your Heart
13 - (3:07) Now You're Gone
14 - (3:31) I'm Not In Love [Acoustic Session '95]

The Very Best Of 10cc - 1997

The Very Best of 10cc is a comprehensive collection, featuring all of the group's biggest hits and best-known songs - including "Neanderthal Man," "Donna," "Rubber Bullets," "The Dean & I," "I'm Not in Love," and "The Things We Do for Love," as well as Godley & Creme's solo hit "Cry" - making it a definitive retrospective and introduction. - Stephen Thomas Erlewine

01 - (3:00) Donna
02 - (5:23) Rubber Bullets
03 - (3:09) The Dean And I
04 - (3:58) The Wall Street Shuffle
05 - (4:03) Silly Love
06 - (4:47) Life Is A Minestrone
07 - (6:10) I'm Not In Love
08 - (5:59) Art For Art's Sake
09 - (5:27) I'm Mandy Fly Me
10 - (3:36) The Things We Do For Love
11 - (2:59) Good Morning Judge
12 - (3:52) People In Love
13 - (5:07) Dreadlock Holiday
14 - (5:25) For You And I
15 - (3:57) Cry

The Things We Do For Love - 1998

01 - (3:34) The Things We Do For Love
02 - (4:44) Life Is A Minestrone
03 - (4:15) Art For Art's Sake
04 - (4:19) Lazy Ways
05 - (5:21) For You And I
06 - (2:56) Good Morning Judge
07 - (2:56) Get It While You Can
08 - (4:30) Hot To Trot
09 - (2:52) Channel Swimmer
10 - (3:33) Don't Squeeze Me Like Toothpaste
11 - (3:45) I'm So Laid Back I'm Laid Out

Alive In Japan - 2002

Captured on two consecutive nights of their 1993 tour of Japan promoting the almost forgotten ...Meanwhile album (which was a comeback after their previous release, 1983's equally obscure Windows in the Jungle), this double disc is a cleanly recorded document with few revelations. The Godley & Creme-less lineup runs through their catalog efficiently and with reasonable enthusiasm in front of a traditionally muted Japanese crowd. But these versions are too faithful and eerily similar to the original recorded ones. Since both founding members Graham Gouldman and Eric Stewart are aboard, the selections run largely to the post-How Dare You catalog. Not surprisingly, a few songs from ...Meanwhile ("Welcome to Paradise," "The Stars Didn't Show," "Shine a Light in the Dark") sneak into the set list. While these aren't terrible, they are clearly not up to the standard of the rest of the catalog and drag the pace down. Two Beatles covers (a strange, not really appropriate reggae version of "Paperback Writer" and a respectful "Across the Universe") pay tribute to 10cc's biggest influence, but are hardly illuminating, and eliminating them would also have allowed the music to squeeze onto a single disc. The yin-yang between the band's smirking sense of humor displayed in older tracks like "Wall Street Shuffle" and the slick adult MOR of "The Stars Didn't Show" doesn't work well in concert, especially when the group plays as submissively as they do here. Other than paying further tribute to the Beatles, the show and album-closing version of Larry Williams' classic rocker "Slow Down" sounds forced and out of place with the rest of the show. In other words, this set is for fans only; those new to 10cc would do better picking up any one of the band's many greatest hits discs available. - Hal Horowitz

Disc 1

01 - (4:55) The Well Street Shuffle [Live]
02 - (5:54) I'm Mandy Fly Me [Live]
03 - (3:11) Good Morning Judge [Live]
04 - (5:27) Welcome To Paradise [Live]
05 - (3:48) The Things We Do For Love [Live]
06 - (4:13) Across The Universe [Live]
07 - (4:52) The Stars Didn't Show [Live]
08 - (8:12) Art For Art's Sake [Live]
09 - (4:03) Paperback Writer [Live]
10 - (5:26) Shine A Light In The Dark [Live]

Disc 2

01 - (14:34) Feel The Benefit [Live]
02 - (6:11) Dreadlock Holiday [Live]
03 - (6:47) I'm Not In Love [Live]
04 - (7:46) The Bullets Medley: Rubber Bullets - Silly Love - Life Is A Minestrone [Live]
05 - (5:49) Slow Down [Live]