In un periodo, quello degli anni '70, in cui la musica rock, soprattutto quella inglese, proponeva autori seriosi e gruppi che volevano dare al loro pubblico una musica spaziale e fantastica, i vari Genesis e Yes, a Manchester nel 1970 si formano i 10cc che saranno autori di un pop ironico e da classifica per tutto il decennio.
La formazione inizialmente era composta da Kevin Godley (batteria), Lol Creme (chitarra), Eric Stewart (chitarra e voce solista) e un bizzarro e talentuoso autore di buble-gum music, nonchè polistrumentista, Graham Gouldman. Nel 1977 però il gruppo perde Creme e Godley che avviano una fortunata collaborazione che porta alla produzione di dischi di musica sperimentale e negli anni '80 diventano autori di video, i più famosi li realizzano per i Duran Duran; i due rimasti non si scoraggiano e assunto un nuovo batterista realizzano quello che il loro lavoro migliore, "Deceptive Bends" è infatti la summa della loro arte, non avendo uno stile preciso i 10cc costruiscono le loro canzoni citando i gruppi più disparati, Beach Boys e Beatles su tutti, e si cimentano in collage caleidoscopici in cui fondono reggae con rock, il jazz, il prog, il pop più genuino e molto altro. Alla fine questo enorme minestrone è portato ad un compimento sorprendente, infatti nonostane Stewart e Gouldman amino particolarmente le sovraincisioni e perdano molto tempo in arrangiamenti complessissimi (quelli delle voci soprattutto), l'album regge benissimo e dimostra il loro particolarissimo talento nel costruire canzoni bizzarre ma veramente riuscite.
Si parte con "Good Morning Judge", un brano che parla di un delinquentello assiduo frequentatore delle aule dei tribunali, la musica è immediata, un rock grezzo nella parte della chitarra, il basso di Gouldman regge il tutto perfettamene, curioso il video della canzone con Stewart e Gouldman impegnati a impersonare i vari personaggi dell'immaginario processo. Un'altra canzone molto ironica, questa volta si parla di influenza, è "You've Got A Cold", ancora una volta un brano trascinante giocato molto sulle voci di Stewart e Gouldman, chiara e leggera la prima, bassa e pesante la seconda, tipicamente beatlesiana è "The Things We Do For Love" che rimanda al primo periodo del gruppo di Liverpool; il gruppo invece omaggia i grandi amici Paul e Linda McCartney con "People In Love", brano che sa molto di Wings, il finale è sancito dalla mini suite "Feel The Benefit Part 1, 2 & 3", il gruppo quì si cimenta in orchestrazione, suoni caraibici e tanta atmosfera prog che alla fine soddisfa appieno l'ascoltatore.
Alla fine un lavoro molto british e decisamente kitsch che rallegra e diverte, da notare la cover, anche quella nella piena tradizione ironica dei 10cc, le loro canzoni sono sì a volte banali e un po' melense ma il loro modo di porle è veramente singolare, molti altri artisti hanno cercato di copiare il loro stile non stile, i Queen per esempio, ma Stewart e Gouldman sono di ben altro spessore.
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01 Good Morning Judge (02:56)
Well good morning Judge, how are you today
I'm in trouble, please put me away
A pretty thing took a shine to me
I couldn't stop her so I let it be
I couldn't stop her so I let it be
I couldn't stop her so I let it be
I couldn't stop her so I let it be
He didn't do it, he wasn't there
He didn't want it, he wouldn't dare
Well good morning Judge, yes I'm back again
I'm in trouble, so it's back to the pen
I found a car but I couldn't pay
I fell in love and I drove it away
I fell in love and I drove it away
I fell in love and I drove it away
I fell in love and I drove it away
He didn't do it, he wasn't there
He didn't want it, he wouldn't dare
I didn't do it, I wasn't there
I didn't want it, I wouldn't dare
Alcatraz is like a home sweet home
I'm so wanted and I'm never alone
San Quentin is the place to be
I'm so happy I don't wanna be free
So happy I don't wanna be free
So happy I don't wanna be free
So happy I don't wanna be free
03 Marriage Bureau Rendezvous (04:06)
Well I've been lookin' after number one for too long
And it seemed that love was passing me by
So I thought I better do something about it
And that's why I'm sittin' here lookin' cross the table at you
That's why I'm sittin' here lookin' cross the table at you
Well a lonely man needs a marriage bureau
Where they sit you right down and you fill in a form
Would you like a blonde or a black or a blue rinse
Do you like 'em small, love 'em slim long and tall
Do you like 'em small, love 'em slim long and tall
Oh no, too many questions
I'm looking for a girl like momma used to be
She's cooking up a dream, she's baking ecstasy
Won't it be fine when
I find her
Would I like to take her to a movie or the theatre
Would I pick her up at home or would I like to meet her
Somewhere we could take a good look at each other
Smile and say hello or walk away
Smile and say hello or walk away
So I'm squeaky clean in and out of the bath
I never shaved so close before
I'm gonna put on a tie
I'm gonna shine up my shoes
I'm gonna slick back my hair
I've got nothin' to lose
Oh, I'll be stinkin' so good
Like I'm drowning in a sea of cologne
(Hey) do you know you remind me of someone
(Ooh) but I'm here making eyes at you
And I think we're gonna say goodbye to the bureau
Close the files, turn the page, start anew
Close the files, turn the page, start anew
06 Honeymoon With B Troop (02:50)
My baby, she's crazy, she's lazy
So she's always bummin' around
Girls in France don't stand a chance
'Cos I've always got my baby around
So, don't touch her
Oh, it's so fine, and you know what's mine is mine
At night we, sleep tight we
Stay close together 'cos the temperature's down
But baby, says maybe
Each time I try to get my fingers around
Please don't touch her
Sittin' with a tentpole, what a bloody jamboree
Listen to our motto, be prepared for ecstasy
Here comes the bride
My baby, goes topless
And brings her beauty to a bottomless day
She's bathing, al fresco
And all her mystery is there on display
So, don't get too close
Oh she's so fine, and you know what's mine is mine
Ooh it's a drag when you're hitched to a dream
And the boys in the gang think she's part of the scenery
You're never alone and the tension is painful to see
One night I, crept in and,
Got on my knees and tried to make her my wife
One reef knot, two grannies
And we were bound to stay together for life
Now we'd like to....
07 I Bought a Flat Guitar Tutor (01:48)
I bought a flat
Diminished responsibility
You're de ninth person to see
To be suspended in a seventh
Major catastrophe
It's a minor point but gee
Augmented by the sharpness of your
See what I'm going through
Ay to be with you
In a flat by the sea
08 You've Got a Cold (03:40)
Your nose is runnin'
And your eyes are red
Your head is achin'
You'd be better in bed
From the bottom of your fever
To the throbbing in your toes
You've got a cold
You've got a cold
You're searching madly
To find a cure
But the mercury's rising
To a hundred and four
You've got a beauty, a bad ass
The mother of them all
You've got a cold
You've got a cold
Ain't no use in fightin' it
Get into bed and try to sweat it out
Hot toddies won't help you
Warm blankets won't sweat it out
Inhalants just choke you
Hot flushes will tell you
Anyway you've got it
Ain't no doubt about it
Nothin' new about
You can scream and shout it
Hot toddies won't help you
Warm blankets won't sweat it out
Inhalants just choke you
Hot flushes will tell you
Anyway you've got it
Ain't no doubt about it
Nothin' new about
You can't fight it
Foreign bodies in your Kleenex
You've got no taste at all
While your system is dyin'
The bugs are havin' a ball
You've got a beauty, a bad ass
The mother of them all
You've got a cold
You've got a cold
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