10cc – Deceptive Bends

10cc are one of my favorite bands and I hope I would be forgiven in saying I didn’t really get into them until a few years ago! You see 10cc are one of those bands that had so many hits, people don’t even realise, ‘oh THAT’s 10cc!’ wow! yet somehow, they drifted off into obscurity.

Deceptive Bends is not necessarily my favorite album but equal first with Rubber Bullets and Sheet Music. In fact this was the first album after the band split in 1976, which I bet Gouldman and Stewart were super proud of considering it generally holds up to their previous collaborative efforts with Godley and Creme (original 10cc line-up).

These guys pushed the limit of pop music and were innovators for their time. Gouldman and Stewart were the mainstream pop influence while Godley and Creme were the crazy out-there artistic influence. Yin and Yang, Order and Chaos, Pop and Experimental coming together in perfect harmony. Its a shame they split but I image it would have been impossible considering their individual talents and passion charting different courses.

Deceptive Bends I guess has that stronger ‘mainstream’ pop influence and less crazy (but fun classic 10cc changes still exist).

I was given my copy of this album by my best mate and I’m pretty sure he only spent $10-$15! We have since gone to see them 2 times perform at the Palms at Crown. This of course was just Gouldman along with Rick Fenn, Mick Wilson and Mike Steven. Still an unbelievable live show!

My favorite tracks on the album are Morning Judge, The Things We Do For Love, Honeymoon with B Troop and most notably Feel the Benefit (Pts 1,2&3). 

Feel the Benefit is such a cool song and was amazing performed live during both of the shows at the Palms. Gouldman began by telling the story of when he was a child growing up in England his mother would often use the phrase ‘you won’t feel the benefit’ implying that when he came inside from the cold and didn’t take his jacket off he ‘wont feel the benefit’ (of the warm jacket) when he goes back out into the cold. In the song he turns the phrase to if you don’t wear your shoes outside you won’t feel the benefit.

The song itself is an 11 minute song consisting of 3 parts. Part one ‘Reminisce and Speculate’ has been compared to the Beatles – Dear Prudence which is very true! It starts with a guitar line along with orchestral arrangement. I also really like the melody of the vocals and the epic feel it sets up for the entire song. Part 2 ‘A Latin Break’ incorporates elements of Reggae and Latin music but with a pop influence. Part 3 ‘Feel the Benefit’ in my opinion is the best part. It re-introduces the opening guitar line with full orchestral parts and ends with 2 minute all out guitar solo full of raw grit and emotion!