The Original Soundtrack

The Original Soundtrack
Studio album by 10cc
Released March 11, 1975 (1975-03-11)
Recorded 1974
Studio Strawberry Studios, Stockport, Cheshire, England
Genre
Length 41:46
Label Mercury
Producer 10cc
10cc chronology
Sheet Music
(1974)		 The Original Soundtrack
(1975)		 100cc
(1975)
Singles from The Original Soundtrack
  1. "Life Is a Minestrone"
    Released: 28 March 1975
  2. "I'm Not in Love"
    Released: 23 May 1975
  3. "Life Is a Minestrone"/"Lazy Ways"
    Released: August 1976 (US Double A-Side)

The Original Soundtrack is the third studio album by the English art rock band 10cc. It was released in 1975 and peaked at number four on the UK Albums Chart. The Original Soundtrack includes the singles "Life Is a Minestrone", and "I'm Not in Love", the band's most popular song.

The album was recorded and produced by the band at Strawberry Studios in 1974 with Eric Stewart engineering and mixing. The album received good reviews when originally released on LP and cassette by Mercury Records in March 1975. The album has since been reissued on several occasions with bonus tracks and has been remastered. The artwork was designed by Hipgnosis and illustrated by artist Humphrey Ocean.

Background

The album was the first to be released by Mercury Records after signing the band for $1 million in February 1975. The catalyst for the deal was the fact the record executives had heard one song – "I'm Not in Love". Eric Stewart recalled:

At that point in time we were still on Jonathan King's label, but struggling. We were absolutely skint, the lot of us, we were really struggling seriously, and Philips Phonogram wanted to do a deal with us. They wanted to buy Jonathan King's contract. I rang them. I said come and have a listen to what we've done, come and have a listen to this track. And they came up and they freaked, and they said, "This is a masterpiece. How much money, what do you want? What sort of a contract do you want? We'll do anything, we'll sign it." On the strength of that one song, we did a five-year deal with them for five albums and they paid us a serious amount of money.[1]

The rest of the album, which was already complete, was released just weeks later.

The album's opening track, Kevin Godley and Lol Creme's "Une Nuit a Paris", is a nine-minute, multi-part "mini-operetta". In English, the title translates as "One Night in Paris" and the suite is divided into three separate parts:

  • Part 1 - One Night in Paris
  • Part 2 - The Same Night in Paris
  • Part 3 - Later That Same Night in Paris

Lyrically the song tells a tale of a British tourist in Paris, France. The locals attempt to con the man into buying items such as a Swiss watch and photographs. Eventually, the man ends up in the red-light district and although he feels ripped off, sleeps with a prostitute. Due to a series of complications, a policeman arrives on the scene and is shot dead.

The album's most famous song, "I'm Not in Love", was built around a simple title by Stewart. The song is noted for its innovative production, especially its richly overdubbed choral backing.

Reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Allmusic[2]
Robert ChristgauD+[3]

The Original Soundtrack was a critical and commercial success reaching No. 3 in the UK[4] and No.15 in the U.S.[5]

Ken Barnes gave the album a rave review in Rolling Stone, commenting, "Musically there's more going on than in ten Yes albums, yet it's generally as accessible as a straight pop band (though less so than the two preceding 10cc LPs)." He particularly praised the album for being ambitious without being excessive or pretentious, and for its lyrical content.[6]

Robert Christgau panned the album, remarking of the song "I'm Not in Love": "stretching your only decent melody (a nonsatirical love song) over six tedious minutes, is that a joke?"[3]

The first single "Life Is a Minestrone" was another UK Top 10 for the band, peaking at No. 7.[4] Their biggest success came with the song that sold the album, "I'm Not in Love", which gave the band their second UK No. 1 in June 1975, staying there for two weeks.[4] The song also provided them with their first major US chart success when the song reached No. 2.[7]

Track listing

Side one
No.TitleWriter(s)Lead vocalsLength
1."Une Nuit a Paris"
Stewart, Creme, Gouldman, and Godley8:40
2."I'm Not in Love"
Stewart6:08
3."Blackmail"
  • Stewart
  • Gouldman
Stewart, Creme, Gouldman, and Godley4:28
Side two
No.TitleWriter(s)Lead vocalsLength
4."The Second Sitting for the Last Supper"
  • Stewart
  • Creme
  • Gouldman
  • Godley
Stewart4:25
5."Brand New Day"
  • Creme
  • Godley
Godley and Stewart4:04
6."Flying Junk"
  • Stewart
  • Gouldman
Stewart4:10
7."Life Is a Minestrone"
  • Stewart
  • Creme
Creme4:42
8."The Film of My Love"
  • Creme
  • Godley
Gouldman5:07

Deluxe Edition bonus tracks

9. "Channel Swimmer" (Godley, Gouldman)
10. "Good News" (Godley, Creme)

Japanese Bonus Tracks

11. "Life Is A Minestrone (Single Edit)"
12. "I'm Not in Love (Single Edit)"

Personnel

References

  1. ↑ "I Write The Songs". Retrieved 15 January 2014.
  2. ↑ The Original Soundtrack at AllMusic
  3. 1 2 Robert Christgau. "Album: 10cc: The Original Soundtrack". Retrieved 15 January 2014.
  4. 1 2 3 "10 C.C." The Official UK Charts Company. Retrieved 15 January 2014.
  5. ↑ "10cc Awards". AllMusic. Retrieved 15 January 2014.
  6. ↑ Barnes, Ken (19 June 1975). "Album review". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on 1 December 2008.
  7. ↑ 10CC Hot 100 chart history, Billboard.com. Retrieved 13 October 2013.
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