TS: Eric Stewart Vs. Graham Gouldman Vs. Lol Creme - Vs. Kevin Godley

Stewart was the main songwriter and probably the best singing voice. Graham Gouldman had some good songs, while Lol Creme was more of a novelty guy, more central in the early Jonathan King incarnation of 10cc than in the more "serious" mid 70s heyday one.

Anyway, it's Kevin Godley for me. If only for his major contribution to masterpieces such as "Don't Hang Up", "Somewhere In Hollywood" and "Une Nuit a Paris"

omg roffle creme

Stewart was the main songwriter

What? How do you work that one out? Gouldman's written more good songs than the other three, so he wins I suppose. Also:

Lol Creme was more of a novelty guy

Geir strikes again.

hmm. even though he's the only one not to get a writing credit on "i'm mandy, fly me" -- my favourite 10cc song of them all -- i'm going to go with kevin godley, too. i'm not expert enough to be able to pinpoint each member's contribution, but i love godley and creme with a passion, and, y'know, he was the voice. pretty reductive, but tough.

(also, every time i've seen him interviewed, he comes across as a fantastically likeable, pissed-off, miserable, funny, intelligent dude.)

Gouldman's written more good songs than the other three, so he wins I suppose.

Most 10cc songs were credited to Stewart/Gouldman. Even before the two others left. So I guess you could include Gouldman in that too (and he wrote some excellent songs before joining 10cc)

Those two were more straighforward pop guys, though, while the two others were more "progressive" in their way of approaching music. Creme is, for me, let down by too many novelty songs and 50s/early 60s pastiches on the first two 10cc albums though.

Is this the "pick the worst member of 10cc"?

No it is not.

Anyroad, yeah, Kevin Godley seems like the dude.

yeh, i think so. actually, i was pondering this in a series of almost-certainly-unread facebook musings the other day ... the effect this song, and particularly this performance has had on me. seems as good a place as any to share the link!

Oh I knew it was going to be that one.

The performance that said "OK scrap that "Consequences" nonsense, let's do this instead" and everyone went "alright!"

gouldman, but i voted for lol creme because he has the best name in rock n roll

It's pronounced "Crem" tho.

Lol is a better name in the Internet age than it was back then.

Automatic thread bump. This poll is closing tomorrow.

i'd forgotten all about this.

lol

this is kind of impossible for me since these guys worked in teams so often. i'm going to go with stewart just because i think strawberry studios was his and he did more of the engineering work.

*though i prefer godley and creme's style in general

Lol is a better name in the Internet age than it was back then.

-- Geir Hongro, Monday, January 14, 2008 12:51 PM (1 week ago) Bookmark Link

Short for "Lots of Laughing Creme"

One of the most Jewish of British bands?

Godley, for his part in ISMISM and also for this, which maybe deserves its own thread actually.

I love Ismism. I played my dad's copy of it obsessively when I was about 12. I haven't heard it for over 20 years but I bet I could still remember 90% of the words.

I have that "One World One Voice" album. Saw the TV program and sort of digged it so I ended up buying the album. Don't think I've listened to it during the past 15 years - at least - but parts of it were rather great.

Not too big on "Ismism" though. Great singles (and amazing video for "Wedding Bells", which sort of kicked them off as video directors), but the rest of the album leaves me cold. I prefer "Freeze-Frame", and most of all the amazing "An Englishman In New York".

Automatic thread bump. This poll's results are now in.

no gouldman votes? you fools

Seriously, I would say Gouldman did his most important work in the 60s. Of course, 10cc were great, but if who sings is an indicator, it seems Stewart contributed more than Gouldman to 10cc's more poppy and accessible songs, while Godley & Creme took care of the "arty" and/or "quirky" ones.

Btw. I just listened to "American English" by Wax and it was better than I remembered. "The Promise" is (it seems) the last great song he wrote.

what have we learned here?

that no-one gives a shit?

That, after contributing to this thread, I didn't vote! Ditto for several others I'm guessing.

Graham Gouldman's soundtrack for the Animalympics special now out on UK iTunes

https://itunes.apple.com/gb/album/animalympics-original-soundtrack/id948442680

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Animalympics_soundtrack

The lead track was the most depressing song about being a sportsman I ever heard.

Meantime, forthcoming Godley/Creme sessions release from the late 60s

https://www.cherryred.co.uk/product/godley-creme-frabjous-days-the-secret-world-of-godley-creme-1967-1969/

(And Gouldman and Stewart are involved as well so there you go.)

I'm curious to hear this, as "Take Me Back" and "Fly Away" were standouts on the Hotlegs album they put out in 1971. They hadn't figured out their lyrical perspective yet, but those are very pretty melodies.