SHEET MUSIC

Amazed as I am to see this brilliant little album on PA, there is not a lot here to interest the hardened progger, but don't be fooled, beneath the quirky little pop songs lies some clever writing with few clues to how 10cc's music was to develop over the next few years, becoming much more deep and sophisticated.

The memories came flooding back when I dug out the LP version of this album, I see the CD reissue includes "24 Carat Man of Means" and "Gismo My Way", good songs which originally appeared on singles B-sides. To the album proper, all the songs on the album are catchy and cleverly written and performed, from the amazing riff in "Wall Street Shuffle" to the quirky "Oh Effendi". "Sheet Music" still sounds fresh and original, excellent sound quality, bags of studio effects and great musicianship.

"Wall Street Shuffle" is a satire on high finance and has that amazing heavy guitar riff I mentioned earlier, this was a big hit back in 1974, and contains every financial cliche you can think of! The group send themselves up on "The Worst Band in the World", it shuffles along to lines like "we've never done a day's work in our lives and we're earning zillions - up yours - up mine...", some very unusual lyrics but one of favourites, and " a little bit of plastic with a hole" still applies to CD's!!! "Hotel" leads in slowly with some atmospheric tweets and jungle noises to put you in the mood, then breaks into a calypso style rhythm, the song is a satirical ditty about living on a carribean island, shades of "Dreadlock Holiday"! "Old Wild Men" is a slow but beautiful song about..... being "over the hill" and far away (like me). The next track "Clockwork Creep" is the funniest on the album, which is about a bomb on a plane, will it go off or will everybody be saved...time is running out!!!!

Side 2 kicks off with the great boogie style guitar riff of "Silly Love", which is right we all get rather silly about love, being up all night etc. "Between you and me I think itsssss....SILLY!" Still love hearing "romance depends on cliches and toupees and three phase.."! "Somewhere in Hollywood" has some interesting instrumental effects and time changes, tinkling piano, and as the title suggests is about "lights..action..sound", and film directors in general, and the vulnerable starlet. The next song "Baron Samedi" , another favourite of mine starts as a Santana-style rhythm which breaks into a slower chorus, and includes a few studio tricks, reminds me very much of early ELO. Plenty to keep the listener interested on this one!! The track "The Sacro-Iliac" is a quirky little song about a "new" dance, learn it and you'll never be alone at the bar again. The last track "Oh Effendi " is a quirky little song about War and Oil in the desert, rather topical these days it seems! The last phrase in the song, "There's no more goodies in the pipeline" thankfully didn't apply to 10cc, this LP was still just the start!

Overall a very listenable album, some may find it rather poppy but I have always had a soft spot for it and enjoyed doing the review!