Stewart and Gouldman were straight pop-song-writers, who created the band’s most accessible songs; Godley and Creme were the experimental half of 10cc, featuring an Art School sensibility and cinematic writing. All are skilled multi-instrumentalists, vocalists, writers, and producers, and each could perform convincingly as lead singers, leading to favourable comparisons with The Beatles.
The band achieved its greatest commercial success during the 1970s.
In 1976 ... Godley & Creme left, releasing records under that name before making a significant contribution to the development of the music video in the 80s.
In 1977 ... 10cc embarked on an international tour with guitarist Rick Fenn, keyboardist Tony O'Malley and additional drummer Stuart Tosh and recorded a live album in 1977, "Live And Let Live", which mixed the hits with material from the previous three albums.
Fenn, Tosh, Burgess and keyboardist Duncan Mackay were full members of the band and performed on 1978 album "Bloody Tourists", which provided the band with their third UK No.1 single, the reggae-styled "Dreadlock Holiday".
1977-1983 ... After the departure of Godley and Creme, Stewart and Gouldman opted to continue as 10cc, bringing in to the studio drummer Paul Burgess, who had up to that point been their tour backup drummer. Their first album as a three piece band was "Deceptive Bends".
1984-1992 ... Separate projects - after 1983, the band went into recess as Stewart did produce recordings for Sad Café and Gouldman produced tracks for The Ramones before teaming up with Andrew Gold to form the synth-pop group Wax.
1992-1995 ... In 1992 the original four members reunited to record "Meanwhile", an album produced by Gary Katz of Steely Dan fame. ...the album was not a "reunion" in the strict sense of the word. All the album's songs were written by Stewart and Gouldman ... Creme and Godley agreed to guest on the album to fullfil their obligation to Polydor records.
1999-2009 ... since 1999 Gouldman has toured as 10cc consisting of Rick Fenn, Paul Burgess, Mick Wilson, Mike Stevens and/or Keith Hayman, with occasional guest appearances by Kevin Godley. The band has embarked on several national tours of the UK and various dates throughout the World playing 10cc hits, plus a section of Gouldman's hits written for others. Their first gig was at Ronnie Scotts jazz club in Birmingham in 1999.
Additional info:
There is much speculation about where the name of the band comes from but the general consensus was that it is named after the average amount of ejaculate in a single male orgasm. However one will find that the average is about 3cc ...the name "10cc" in fact comes from a dream: Jonathan King, the person who signed them, dreamed of a band called 10cc topping the charts in both the UK and America - see: snopes.com/music/artists/10cc.asp
Art For Art's Sake
10cc Lyrics
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Gimme your mind
Open your heart
Pull down your blind
Gimme your love, gimme it all
Gimme in the kitchen, gimme in the hall
Money for God's sake
Art for art's sake
Money for God's sake
Gimme the ready's
Gimme the cash
Gimme a bullet
Gimme a smash
Gimme a silver, gimme a gold
Make it a million for when I get old
Art for art's sake
Money for God's sake
Art for art's sake
Money for God's sake
Money talks so listen to it
Money talks to me
Anyone can understand it
Money can't be beat, oh no
When you get down, down to the root
Don't give a damn don't give a hoot
Still gotta keep makin the loot
Chauffeur driven
Gotta make her quick as you can
Give her lovin' make you a man
Get her in the palm of your hand
Bread from Heaven
Gimme a country
Where I can be free
Don't need the unions
Burying me
Keep me in exile the rest of my days
Burn me in hell but as long as it pays
Art for art's sake
Money for God's sake
Art for art's sake
Money for God's sake
Art for art's sake
Money for God's sake
Art for art's sake
Money for God's sake
The lyrics of 10cc's "Art For Art's Sake" express a cynical and satirical take on the music industry and society's obsession with money and materialism, juxtaposed with the idea of creating art for its own sake. The song begins with the singer asking for their lover's body, mind, and heart, but also for their love in various places, indicating a desire for physical pleasure and satisfaction. The refrain, "Art for art's sake, money for God's sake," plays on the common phrase, "art for art's sake" which means that art should be created for its own sake and without concern for its commercial value. However, the song suggests that money is the true motivation behind much of the music and art produced, and that even art created for its own sake is valued for its financial returns.
Throughout the song, the lyrics contain a critique of the music industry and a desire for success and riches. The lines "Gimme the ready's, gimme the cash / Gimme a bullet, gimme a smash" suggest that the pleasures of monetary success and fame can be intense and volatile. The lyric, "When you get down, down to the root / Don't give a damn don't give a hoot / Still gotta keep makin' the loot," reinforces the idea that the pursuit of money is unending, and that those who are successful must continue to create and profit.
The song's final verse expresses a desire for freedom and independence, but ultimately suggests that the desire for wealth and success supersedes all else. The lyric, "Gimme a country / Where I can be free / Don't need the unions / Burying me," indicates a desire for autonomy, but is followed by "Burn me in hell but as long as it pays," suggesting that even in the face of potential destruction, the singer is willing to prioritize financial gain.
Line by Line Meaning
Gimme your body
I want your physical presence and closeness
Gimme your mind
I want access to your thoughts, ideas and beliefs
Open your heart
I want to connect with you emotionally and have you share your feelings with me
Pull down your blind
I want you to remove any barriers or obstacles that prevent us from interacting freely
Gimme your love, gimme it all
I want to experience your love in its entirety
Gimme in the kitchen, gimme in the hall
I want your love in every aspect of our lives together
Art for art's sake
Creating art is valuable for its own sake, without regard to financial gain or commercial success
Money for God's sake
People prioritize money and monetary success over anything else, even religious beliefs
Gimme the ready's
I want access to cash readily available to spend
Gimme the cash
I want money, specifically cash
Gimme a bullet
I want weapons or other means of achieving power and control
Gimme a smash
I want to break things and cause destruction
Gimme a silver, gimme a gold
I want valuable metals that will bring financial security
Make it a million for when I get old
I want to have a large sum of money that will provide for me in the future
Money talks so listen to it
Money is a powerful force that can influence and control people
Money talks to me
I am willing to listen to and follow the guidance of money
Anyone can understand it
Money is a universal language that transcends cultures and backgrounds
Money can't be beat, oh no
There is nothing more powerful or desirable than money
When you get down, down to the root
When you strip away all the superficial elements, and get to the core issue
Don't give a damn don't give a hoot
I don't care or have any sense of loyalty or responsibility to the situation or people involved
Still gotta keep makin the loot
I still need to continue pursuing financial gain, even at the expense of others
Chauffeur driven
I want luxury and a high status symbolized by having a personal driver
Gotta make her quick as you can
Strive to gain sexual relations with a woman as quickly as possible
Give her lovin' make you a man
Sexual conquest is tied to masculine identity and power
Get her in the palm of your hand
Control the woman and make her do what you want
Bread from Heaven
I want to have access to wealth and luxury as if it were divinely bestowed upon me
Gimme a country
I want to have an entire country as my own, to exert ultimate power and control
Where I can be free
I want to have complete freedom to do as I please without any restrictions or consequences
Don't need the unions
I do not want to be held accountable or restricted by labor unions or other organizations meant to protect workers' rights
Burying me
I perceive labor unions as a hindrance or a potential threat to my power and control
Keep me in exile the rest of my days
I am willing to give up everything if it means I can maintain control and achieve great wealth
Burn me in hell but as long as it pays
I am willing to suffer any consequences or punishment, as long as it results in financial gain
Lyrics © MUSIC SALES CORPORATION, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Eric Stewart, Graham Gouldman
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind