10cc - 10cc / Sheet Music

Mock-rock takes off

When 10cc first hit Manchester streets in 1973, it faced accusations of being just a weeny bit self-satisfied. The four members were old hands from big local bands, respected sessioneers and, in Graham Gouldman’s case, one of the 60s’ top mod songwriters. Now here was an album of arch doo wop and rock parodies with an art-rock sheen, all drenched in American culture and mock-Americanese. Donna, Johnny Don’t Don’t It, The Hospital Song. Hmm. Despite the familiarity of Rubber Bullets and the great The Dean & I, it isn’t an album you can trust, even today.

Sheet Music left behind the retro focus as the rootless 10cc became an English precursor to Supertramp, with state-of-the-art production and the whole world waiting for a clever musical nod or one-liner. Oh Effendi rhymes ‘bourbon’ with ‘turban’; The mockcalypso Hotel suggests Tarzan is gay; The Worst Band In The World makes you think they’re going to say ‘shit’. In 1974, it briefly seemed the way forward.

7T’s | GLAM CD 25 / GLAM CD 26

Reviewed by Derek Hammond
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