Kronomyth 2.0: 10cc GETS THEIR SHEET TOGETHER. This might be the most perfect piece of plastic pop in the universe. It might also just be a brilliant record from a brilliant band; I suppose there’s some wiggle room there. Unfortunately, 10cc never released an album so good as Sheet Music again. Of course, Paul McCartney never released an album as good as Abbey Road either, and I kept buying his albums. The magic of Sheet Music is that you get the melodic genius of Graham Gouldman and Eric Stewart and the art-pop sensibilities of Kevin Godley and Lol Creme swirled together, resulting in songs like “Silly Love,” “The Sacro-Iliac” and “The Worst Band In The World” (my favorite 10cc song, despite long-held loyalties to “The Things We Do For Love”). By the time the third track (“Hotel”) rolls around, you’re either a lifetime member of the 10cc fan club or you’re not. Of course, I was hooked after “Donna,” but not everyone gets excited by doo-wop sendups. The only complaint I have against Sheet Music is that the band never tried to duplicate it. The album’s closing line, “there’s no more goodies in the pipeline,” while not exactly prophetic, marks the end of an era; from here on, the band would struggle to get their big ideas into succinct pop packages. But that’s a problem for another day. Here, oddity and melody lope along happily: “Somewhere In Hollywood,” “Baron Samedi,” “Clockwork Creep,” “Wall Street Shuffle.” Their first album was also wonderful in spots, although it sometimes felt like a novelty record. Sheet Music is strange, but it’s no novelty; we’re clearly in the realm of inspired genius here. If you enjoy pop music with a sense of humor and adventure, you’re gonna love this Sheet.
Original LP Version
A1. The Wall Street Shuffle (Eric Stewart/Graham Gouldman) (4:02)
A2. The Worst Band In The World (Lol Creme/Graham Gouldman) (4:50)
A3. Hotel (Kevin Godley/Lol Creme) (5:00)
A4. Old Wild Men (Kevin Godley/Lol Creme) (3:18)
A5. Clockwork Creep (Kevin Godley/Lol Creme) (2:45)
B1. Silly Love (Lol Creme/Eric Stewart) (3:56)
B2. Somewhere In Hollywood (Kevin Godley/Lol Creme) (6:38)
B3. Baron Samedi (Eric Stewart/Graham Gouldman) (3:40)
B4. The Sacro-Iliac (Kevin Godley/Graham Gouldman) (2:30)
B5. Oh! Effendi! (Eric Stewart/Kevin Godley) (2:50)
CD reissue bonus tracks
11. 18 Carat Man of Means
12. Gismo My Way
13. The Worst Band In The World (radio version)
The Players
Lol Creme, Kevin Godley, Graham Gouldman, Eric Stewart. Produced by 10cc; engineer, mixed and final reduction by Eric Stewart.
The Pictures
Sleeve design and photos by Hipgnosis. Tinting by Maurice Tate. Graphics by George Hardie NTA.
The Plastic
Released on elpee, cassette and 8-track in May 1974 in the UK (UK Records, UKAL/KUKC 1007), the US and Canada (London/UK Records, AUKS 53107/UKR O 83107), Japan (UK Records/King, SLC 531) and Uruguay (London, 3214496) with lyrics insert; reached #9 on the UK charts and #81 on the US charts. Also released on elpee in 1975 in Yugoslavia (Decca/Jugoton, LSDC 70741).
- Re-issued on elpee in 1983 in the UK (Mercury, PRICE 8).
- Re-packaged with 10cc (first album) on 2-for-1 compact disc in 1990 in the US (DCC, DZS-053) with one bonus track, “Waterfall.”
- Re-issued on compact disc and cassette in 1992 in the UK and France (Castle, CLACD/CLAMC 186).
- Re-packaged with Ten Out of 10 on 2-for-1 compact disc on March 30, 1999 in Russia (10CC-428).
- Re-issued on compact disc in 2000 in the US (Repertoire, REP 4843) and on May 31, 2000 in Japan (Teichiku, TECP-25271).
- Re-issued on compact disc on May 26, 2004 in Japan (Imperial, TECI-21222).
- Re-released on expanded compact disc in 2007 in Europe (7T’s Records, GLAM CD 26) with 3 bonus tracks.
- Re-released on 180g vinyl elpee in 2014 in the UK (Not Bad Records, BADLP007).
