Chrome Plated Squeaky Clean

10cc : Tokyo

[Purchase]

On September 1, 1978 10cc released Bloody Tourists, the second of the band's albums without the artsy Godley and Creme and the last of the band's classic titles. I loved this album when it came out. Hearing these polished, clever tunes takes me right back to my days as a teenager seeking musical  refuge in a strict boarding school. Decades later I'm less impressed with the humor and the Caribbean influences of songs like "Dreadlock Holiday" and "From Rochdale to Ocho Rios". I'm no fan of "Shock on the Tube" and can't even enjoy the disco bridge of "The Anonymous Alcoholic". I guess I grew up.  

The stand out track for middle aged me is the deep cut "Tokyo", based on production values I should quickly add. 

Yes at this point 10cc was really missing Godley and Creme. Where the hell were they? The answer is below.

Godley and Creme : This Sporting Life

[Purchase]

In 1978 Godley and Creme followed up their three album set, Consequences, with L. The first time I ever called my college radio station with a request was for "This Sporting Life", which led the DJ to complement me on my choice, ( Every one else wanted to hear something from the Violent Femmes debut). I found a cassette of this for 99 cents in the cutout bin at a Woolworth's in 1981. Best dollar I ever spent!

 L is what we all wanted from the quirky and more surreal half of the original 10cc. "This Sporting Life", the 7:25 lead off track, begins by asking "Are you bored? Are you jaded? Has all enthusiasm faded?". It's a cosmic montage of a tune, a musical "Revolution No 9",  that ends with a crowd chanting "jump, jump, jump" to a suicidal man on a ledge. L is one of 1978's great unknown gems. 

I Don't Like Cricket

10cc : Dreadlock Holiday (long version)

[Purchase]

In August of 1978, 10cc's new single "Dreadlock Holiday" began its climb up the U.K.charts to #1. The song was based on a true life experience Eric Stewart shared in Barbados with Justin Haywood of the Moody Blues, recounted in the book 1000 UK #1 Hits by Jon Kutner abd Spencer Leigh:

"Justin and I were on a para-sailing raft in the middle of the ocean and I was strapped into this parachute gear. I was towed behind a speedboat at high speed. I took off and waved goodbye to Justin. He was then left on the raft with three black guys, one Jamaican and two from Barbados. The Jamaican guy said to Justin, 'I like your silver chain, man, I'll give you a dollar for it.' Justin replied, 'come on, it's worth a lot more than that and it's a present from my mother.' And this guy said, 'If this was Jamaica, I would cut your hand off for that.' I came back and asked Justin if he wanted to have a go. He said, 'No, let's get off this raft as quick as we can, I have had some problems.' When we got back to England, I relayed the story to Graham (Gouldman) and we wrote a song around it."

As you might imagine, Jamaica did not immediately make this a theme song for its tourism campaign. In fact, the lyrics, the faux Jamaican accent ( don't you queer me pitch?) ,  and the video now come across as more than a bit racist. Too bad, because 10cc were a favorite band of mine at the time.