Our first album recorded after the success of ‘Donna’. Because it had to be recorded quickly it has a freshness and immediacy. One of my favourites.

Our best album, epitomizing what 10cc was all about. Unique songwriting and production. Paul Macartney was recording an album with his brother Mike Mcgear in our studio in the evenings and we were recording during the day. The studio was full of his equipment as well as ours so we used his drum kit and Mellotron. Thanks Paul. His presence definitely inspired us.

Our first album for Phonogram records, so a change of label and a decision to make a different kind of album. We always liked the idea that our songs created pictures in the mind and a lot of our songs were inspired by the movies. Hence the title. Contains at least two classics, Kev and Lol’s ‘One Night In Paris’ which was going to take up one side of the album until Eric and I got the editing knife out, and ‘I’m Not In Love’. Nuff said.

The beginning of the end for the original 10cc line up. Kev and Lol felt that everything was getting too predictable, with the constant cycle of writing, recording, doing press, promotion, rehearsals and touring. Although a fine piece of work one can detect the storm clouds gathering.

Eric and I were on a mission to prove the nay sayers wrong, those who thought that 10cc couldn’t survive without Kev and Lol, who had now departed the band. Together with Paul Burgess on drums we went into our new studio, Strawberry South in Dorking Surrey. We talked a lot about whether or not we should keep the name 10cc, but after recording a couple of tracks (Things we do for love and Good morning judge) we decided that it still sounded like 10cc. It was different, obviously without Kev and Lol, but it is an album I am very proud of.

Eric and I really hit our stride and with our newly formed road band, including Rick Fenn and Paul Burgess, who are in the current 10cc, we went into the studio with guns blazing. This album is significant in that it produced our third number one record, Dreadlock Holiday, which also turned out to be our last hit.

There was a long gap between Bloody Tourists and this album. The reason was that Eric had a very serious road accident that put him out of commission for over a year. Consequently when we reconvened many things had changed. Although it has its moments, it lacks the inventiveness and spark of the previous albums, It does have a great ‘Hipgnosis’ designed cover though.

Our record company, in an effort to give 10cc more appeal in the USA, suggested we work with an American writer/producer. Enter Andrew Gold. The three tracks that he co-wrote and produced with us were all released as singles. As a result of this Eric and I asked Andrew to join the band but, due to his own commitments and a fear of flying, he didn’t. A great shame as his contribution really helped lift this album.

This album certainly had Its moments, ‘Feel the Love’ is one for me, and is also notable for having the superb Steve Gadd and Simon Philips on drums. We went back to Strawberry North studios in Stockport to record this album for reasons I can’t remember. This was to be the last recording by 10cc at Strawberry North in Stockport.

After many years apart, pursuing different projects, Eric and I got back together to write a new batch of songs. All was going well until we started recording in New York. Our record company wanted us to have an American producer,Gary Katz. He was very good at choosing the other musicians that would work with us including the late, great Jeff Porcaro on drums and Freddie Washington on bass. Both amazing musicians. Unfortunately this album suffered from a lack of communication between ourselves and Gary. He seemed to spend more time on the phone than in the control room. Eric left the recording early. Bad vibes all round. Consequently I cannot listen to ‘Meanwhile’.

The relation between Eric and I had got so bad that this album was really two solo albums put together under the name 10cc. For all that it had some very good moments. It was helped by the fact that it was co-produced by the talented Adrian Lee who oversaw the project. This album produced 10cc’s last single. Ironically it was called ‘Ready to go home’.

This album does what it says on the tin: This is the very best of 10cc.