10cc: Quirky, Clever, and Infused with Zappa and Beatles Influence
Hailing from Stockport, 10cc is an English band that found major commercial success during the ’70s and remains active more than five decades later.
Influenced by the late-period Beatles and Frank Zappa, 10cc was anything but middle-of-the-road. Like Supertramp, they blended prog, rock, and pop, often featuring long instrumental sections and a mix of contrasting styles.
As with all great bands, the key to their success lay in the tunes. Let’s explore some of the most important 10cc tunes and how they shaped the band’s legacy.
In 1973, 10cc released their debut album. One tune in particular, Rubber Bullets, gave the band its first U.K. #1—albeit for just a week. Two other singles from the debut, Donna and The Dean and I, also made it into the top 10.
Their second album, Sheet Music, didn’t chart as well, but the third, The Original Soundtrack, marked a breakthrough. Here we find the band’s most iconic tune, I’m Not In Love, a ballad famous for its layered vocal production—meticulously built over hours in the studio.
The Rise of Classic 10cc Tunes: From Studio Experiments to Global Hits
I’m Not In Love was almost scrapped. Originally conceived as a bossa nova, the band members didn’t like the direction. But after people around them kept pointing out the strength of the tune, they gave it another go—this time recording the now legendary vocal “ah’s” that form the backbone of the backing track.
The result was more than just a hit in the U.K.—I’m Not In Love charted around the world, propelling 10cc to international fame and enabling them to tour globally in larger venues.
Following this success, a Greatest Hits album landed in 1976. Shortly after, their fourth studio album, How Dare You, hit the shelves. Without any standout 10cc tunes, it didn’t match the commercial performance of their earlier records.
In 1977, they bounced back with Deceptive Bends, an album that delivered another hit—The Things We Do For Love, which reached the top 10 in five countries.
A live album followed later that year, and in 1978, 10cc released Bloody Tourists, featuring what I consider their finest tune: Dreadlock Holiday. It climbed to #1 or #2 in six countries and became the band’s final big hit.
In just five years, 10cc had cemented their place in music history. Though no more chart-topping singles followed, the strength of classic 10cc tunes has kept them touring the world ever since.
10cc Tunes | Related Pages
Dreadlock Holiday | Chords + TAB
You can learn how to play Dreadlock Holiday by 10cc using chords, lyrics, a chord chart, chord analysis, and Spytunes video guitar lessons.
| Gm (Dm) | Cm (Dm) | Gm (Dm) | Cm (Dm) |
I was walking down the street, concentrating on truckin’ right…
Start learning with the full lesson series: Dreadlock Holiday – Guitar Lessons with TAB.
10cc on the web
