back once more, then, as opposed to forward, look you see. just a glance at a time when the singles chart, at least the UK version, actually meant something and mattered, and when music was both art and commercially viable. let me not try to moan (and whine) too much of the general sorry state of both in this brave new world.
so, a look (or glance) at the singles chart from this day (of publication, 25 May) in 1975. up at the top, or if you will business end, it was Tammy Wynette with Stand By Your Man at number one, hold off a rather or somewhat improbable challenge for top spot by Windsor Davies and Don Estelle. quite a bit of "s" related music in the remainder of the top ten, with Slade, Status Quo, The Stylistics and Showaddywaddy making an appearance.
on the outskirts of the all important (as in this was what was broadcast) top forty, specifically at forty one, there was the first chart appearance for I'm Not In Love by 10cc. this was the third (3rd) highest new entry for that week, with new releases Listen To What The Man Said off of Wings and The Hustle off of Van McCoy attracting just a few more early adopter purchases.
a fair, i think, and hopefully accepted as respectful observation to pass is that few, if any, immediately think of themselves as being huge or all that big fans of the band 10cc. yet then one may pause for some degree of thought, giving consideration to this song, as well as stuff like Dreadlock Holiday, Rubber Bullets, The Things We Do For Love and several others, and go "oh, yeah. actually they were bloody good. them".
rather difficult, i think, to categorise them, the band. on a "most" or closest like for like basis, i suppose one would say they fall into that Queen or Pink Floyd bracket of creating quite remarkably innovative, exploratory music which yet instills a sense of the anthemic and iconic. but yet the band would appear not to have quite been held to the same high icon standard in themselves, certainly not to the extent that the two other bands i mentioned.
quite the "slow burn", then, if i have my understanding of that term correct. certainly not a "sleeper" hit, for that would be one which amasses lots of money (and/or success) quietly, when of course it was not long for all and sundry to pay attention to this particular tune. it did indeed get to number one, very much so. not sure that saying it "sold by the bucketload" is correct, for i have never actually seen anyone go and buy records and carry them away in a bucket, but there you go.
no, i'm not going to disgrace myself by trying to write of the fascinating story of how this particular single was created. a whole range of essays, books and documentaries have already been produced on that subject, covering all aspects from the soundscape to the secretary. obviously my first instinct is to advise listening to the song (presumably again, for many of you), but after that do read up on, or watch with interest any of the things produced about how this song was, erm, produced.
yes, the one off of Windsor Davies and Don Estelle (something about grass or whispers or both) also made it to number one. which kind of stops it being spoken of in the way that Vienna off of Ultravox, or even Wonderwall off of Oasis, is/are spoken of, as in great songs that only got as high as two in the chart. sure, there are other reasons it is not spoken of in the same way.
with regards to 10cc, and here is absolutely not the place to discuss the background or provenance of their name, this song and me (moi), full well do i remember where i heard it for the first time. it was on a bus on a school trip, probably to or from the swimming baths, or as part of some school trip of some educational value somewhere. the bus driver had a provincial radio station on, and for reasons never made clear the DJ (or whatever) kept making announcements that he was going to play this song, some ten or eleven (or more or less) years after it was in the charts. when it got around to the time to play it, he gave it a long, laborious introduction, too. can't say i was all that impressed on my first hearing of it, least of all after the build up, but it has grown on me over the years.
further, or also, two of them in the band (Godley and Creme) went on to do a stack of stuff, with making the video for Two Tribes off of Frankie Goes To Hollywood just one of the things, but the one that i hold fondest.
be excellent to each other!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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