Biography of 10cc

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The biography of 10 c.c., as a band, begins under the name of Hotlegs back in 1970. Hotlegs, already containing three quarters of the ladder 10 c.c. had been working together in various circumstances. The core at that time was the duo project of Kevin Godley and Lol Creme, who were getting back into music business after years or stuying in graphic design. They had recorded several demo recordings for a company called “Marmalade” in 1968, that ran out of money shortly afterwards. These recordings had been initiated by Graham Gouldman, using Eric Stewart of The Mindbenders for the guitar parts. Eric Stewart, interested in the technical side of music production, had put himself into working at Strawberry Stdios, Stockport. So after the demise of “Marmalade” these three started recording and composing songs for “Kasenatz Katz”, major purveyors of bummblegum music. Graham Gouldman, who had already been working for them some time longer, provided his songs to the likes of Tony Christie, Ohio Express etc.

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Album Review: Craft Spells – Gallery EP

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Craft Spells

With synth-pop slowly overtaking the indie music scene, Craft Spells takes a nostalgic approach to the popular genre. The musical project of California native Justin Vallestros first came on the scene in 2009 before releasing their debut album, Idle Labor, in 2011. Their new EP, Gallery, the first release from the outfit since that debut, is an indie tribute to the ’80s with a modern twist and a rather chill, West Coast-esque vibe.

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Remember Donna Summer: listen now to five classic songs

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Love to Love You Baby (1975)

This was the song that introduced Summer, producer Giorgio Moroder and disco itself to Middle America. The full-length version was 17 minutes of Summer in paroxysms of arousal, accompanied by a hypnotic synth/percussion arrangement. The radio edit chopped out the X-rated segments, but left listeners in no doubt that Summer, her voice a languid conduit for Moroder’s insinuating keyboard washes, was working herself up to the point of…well, her groans said it all. That such a singular song reached No 2 in the Billboard chart – to put it in context, one of that year’s biggest albums was Bruce Springsteen’s Born to Run – attested to its power.

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Off! @ Whisky A Go Go

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50a87e7f

If I have one major issue with modern punk music, it’s the inherent conservatism. For all the posturing and sloganeering, most modern punk is about as cutting edge and diverse as graffiti art. It tends to be posing for the sake of cool rather than for any real passionate cause. Fortunately, Off! is cut from a different cloth. Just take a look at that line up. There’s former members of Burning Brides in there. The drummer used to be in both Hot Snakes and Rocket From The Crypt, arguably the best and most under-appreciated American punk rock band of the last two decades. And the frontman is none other than Keith Morris, formerly of the legendary Black Flag and Circle Jerks. Maybe we should be kneeling before these guys rather than standing as they come on stage. This is musical royalty we’re talking about.

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