10CC

[dedicated_follower]

Today's free outdoor concert at South Shields was by 10CC. We went hoping that the weather would hold up, but during the latter part of the support group (Tadpole Pie), we had a quarter of an hour shower. We donned our coats and in my case, cape and sat it out regardless. I have a big cape which covers me and the chair I was sitting on. By the time 10CC came on stage the rain had stopped and although cloudy it was warm. We even got some sun. I caught some of it, I arrived home with a reddish face. Pleased we stuck it out as did most of the crowd.

10CC were very good, as I had expected. I haven't seen them before, so that was a bonus. Graham Gouldman was the lead member of the group, being the only original member (1972) still touring with the group. Also playing were Rick Fenn (joined 1977) lead guitar and drummer, Paul Burgess (also 1977).

Mick Wilson (percussion) did quite a bit of singing and had the higher register voice and sang on songs such as "Donna", their first hit.

Keyboard player, Mike Stevens, also came forward a played guitar as well.

Graham Gouldman's contribution to 60s music should not be forgotten and this was demonstrated when he acoustically played four of the songs he had penned for others, "Bus Stop" Hollies, "No Milk Today" Hermans Hermits, "Look Through Any Window" Hollies, "For Your Love" Yardbirds.

Here is the full play list. My personal favourites are "I'm Mandy, Fly Me", "Art For Art's Sake" "I'm Not In Love" and "Dreadlock Holiday". I occasionally sing the latter at karaoke. An album track I particularly like is "From Rochdale To Ocho Rios"

We were up dancing to "Rubber Bullets" at the end

Wall Street Shuffle
The Things We Do For Love
Good Morning Judge
I'm Mandy, Fly Me
Life Is A Minestrone
Art For Art's Sake
Bus Stop
No Milk Today
Look Through Any Window
For Your Love
Silly Love
Donna
The Dean & I
Building A Bridge To Your Heart
I'm Not In Love
Dreadlock Holiday
-------
Rubber Bullets

Rick, Graham, Mike, Paul & Mick

[winston]

10CC was an incredible band IMO and they had their roots firmly planted in the music business early on in the sixties.

Graham Gouldman is a great writer in my books and there should be no argument at all from his peers on that account. Here's just one more little bit of information for the record. Graham also wrote "Heart Full of Soul" which of course, was made famous by the Yardbirds.

BTW I also like the music of of Godley & Creme. They left the group in 1976 I believe.

Jim that was a great review. Hopefully they will get to tour Canada. They are an act that I will go out of my way to see.

[rictified]

I always liked them also, have several of their old LP's here, I'll have to dig them out. I always loved The Things We Do For Love was my favorite by them, even the flip side of the single was great, Good Morning Judge was also great, as was Dreadlock Holiday and Wall Street Shuffle. They were a very talented band.

[ozover50]

I have to agree..... a fantastic band. "I'm Not In Love" is an absolute classic!!

[rictified]

I didn't want to say it but you forced me Howard, haha! I never liked I'm Not In Love, but the lyrics were great though.
Rickenbacker bass throughout all their stuff no doubt too.

[ozover50]

Each to his own, Bob!

[winston]

Sorry Bob, but I have to side with Aitch on this one. "I'm Not In Love" is a great tune IMO.

[mgauction]

Graham Gouldman is one of the great icons of the 60s! Without his hit songwriting there might not have been much of a British Invasion! Would have liked to have been there, Jim.

[royclough]

Sorry Mike I cannot agree with you there facts are he wrote two top twenty hits for Yardbirds in the States, one top ten for Hollies and one top ten for Herman's Hermits. He did write two more hits for Hollies and Herman's Hermits but these just made top 40.

Surprisingly Hollies only ever managed 4 top 40 Hits in US. Yardbirds had 6 hits.

This earlier topic gives a breakdown of most successful UK acts in 60's in states.

British Invasion - Was it Hype? Part 1 Roy Clough 90 9 08-16-06 03:05 pm

Wayne Fontana who sadly is in prison awaiting sentencing always introduces one of his UK hits by GG like this, quite funny Wayne at times.

"Back in 60's Graham Gouldman wrote some great hit songs, Bus Stop for The Hollies, For Your Love for The Yardbirds - pause:

Then he wrote this pile of **** for me!"

Actually it was WF's biggest hit as a solo performer.

the song is
Here

[sowhat]

Well, to be honest, i kinda agree with Wayne...

[royclough]

You little devil Sheena, lyrics are poor to be fair but there is something about the song I like actually. Still think one of the best tracks Gouldman wrote which he recorded himself but WF also recorded and did IMO a better version of, was called The Impossible Years, if anyone wants to hear it I'll put it up, that track had a great message and lyrics.

[sowhat]

Hmmm, i was called many things, even a "witch", but "devil" is something completely new to me.
Actually, i cannot say the song isn't nice, but imho, it's kinda boring (repetitive?), putting into trance which is more like sleep, and the final seconds are kinda - hmmm - whiny. As far as the lyrics are concerned, it's hard for me to judge cause i can get around 40 % of words.

if anyone wants to hear it I'll put it up

Answer: positive.

[royclough]

Impossible years by both Wayne Fontana and Graham Gouldman plus GG's version of The Hollies hit, Bus Stop, their second biggest hit in the US charts.

Here

[sowhat]

Great song, i agree. Honestly speaking, i preferred the version with Wayne's vocals. He has something special about his voice. Musically, though, i'm not sure - it seemed to me that in Wayne's version, the horns are a bit out of place.

[royclough]

Know what you mean Sheena, but I think they enhance the song.