IN 1975, 10cc members Graham Gouldman and Eric Stewart longed to write a “serious love song” but they wanted it to be a little left of field. Together, the pair penned I’m Not In Love – and the dreamy, ethereal sound was created by layering their vocals.
“I always thought we could write a great [love song], but we didn’t want to do anything too obvious,” recalls Gouldman. “Eric came up with the perfect title, which sounded like I’m in love but I’m not, you have to decide. It was an interesting concept.”
The band – which, at the time, also included Kevin Godley and Lol Creme – found fame following the release of 1973 song Rubber Bullets, which was No.1 in Britain. Gouldman says the song wasn’t played on the BBC at the time because of riots in Nothern Ireland.
“We were always influenced by Americana, and the Beach Boys, and films like Angels With Dirty Faces,” says Gouldman.
This year, 10cc (minus Godley and Creme, who left the band in 1976) will celebrate its 40th anniversary. Next week they kick off a fifth tour of Australia since 1970, promising to play all their hits.
“It seems in the last three or four years, there’s been a resurgence of interest in the band,” says Gouldman. “Things always go in cycles, but I think it’s the fact it’s our 40th anniversary that’s really concentrated in people’s minds. Now people are reassessing us and giving us the credit we deserve.”
10CC plays Trak Lounge, Toorak, on March 14 and Shoppingtown Hotel, Doncaster, on March 16. Bookings: trakloungebar.com or shoppingtownhotel.com.au
