HOW DARE YOU!

One of the coolest things about reviewing albums is listening to full length recordings of bands I knew about(when I was young) from the hits on the radio, but that's all I knew about them. 10CC might be the biggest surprise for me as far as not sounding anything like I thought they would based on what I had heard. Those vocal arrangements, vocal tones and expressions really brought ZAPPA and QUEEN to mind. And the humour, in the ZAPPA mode. Not my thing but it was hard not to be impressed with this band despite feeling that both "Sheet Music" and "The Original Soundtrack" were pretty hit and miss.

"How Dare You!" is next in line as I just have these three records from the band. I did not expect this to be a step up from those two but I feel it is. Look at the endless things each musician plays, and then hear the vocals and lyrics, well the songs really, which I feel are much more consistent than the previous two records were. Godley and Creme would both leave after this album to form, well, GODLEY & CREME. I don't know but I feel this is the one 10CC record where those two were just hitting their stride, most of what they were coming up with worked, even for the adventerous Prog fan like myself.

The entertainment value here is high and the lyrics remind me of what maybe Zappa , Fagen and Becker(STEELY DAN) would have come up with if they were in a band together. Hmmm... ZAPPA, STEELY DAN and 10CC on a triple bill back in the day? Get in line for that one. "Lazy Ways" seems like such a simple little pop tune but check out those lyrics which seem silly, but how is this so uplifting to me? Repetitive but it works. "I Wanna Rule The World" is hilarious and ZAPPA sounding with the vocals and arrangements. There's even a short disco section. Yikes! "I'm Mandy Fly With Me" actually brought Canterbury to mind simply for the whimsical vocals and easy sounding music. There's zither on this one.

"Iceberg" is catchy like most of the tracks are but with QUEEN-like vocals and harmonies. "Art For Arty Sake" is the one track that stands out for me. Fuzz bass too! But yes some aggressive instrumental work on this one but man how can you not like this one? That ZAPPA quota is high here. "Head Room" works for me with the beats and bass with vocals and guitar over top. So catchy. "Don't Hang Up" ends it and it's the longest at almost 6 1/2 minutes. Too funny at times, I'm laughing out loud. Nice bass and QUEEN comes to mind on the chorus.

A pleasant surprise and I'm happy to own this one. I want to say this ends my 10CC adventure, and it does, but I have one GODLEY & CREME record I've been spinning on and off for weeks to get to for me to close the book on these guys.