...Meanwhile
Encyclopedia
...Meanwhile is the 10th studio album by British pop band 10cc
. It was recorded at Bearsville Studios
in Woodstock, New York, The Hit Factory
, New York, River Sound Studios, New York, Bill Schner Studio, Los Angeles and Village Recorders, Los Angeles and released in 1992.
The album was the band's first in nine years and marked the brief comeback of original 10cc members Kevin Godley
and Lol Creme
: Godley performed lead vocals on "The Stars Didn't Show" and backing vocals on two songs, while Creme supplied backing vocals on six songs. It also featured appearances by singer Andrew Gold
, blues pianist Dr. John
and accomplished session musicians including Michael Landau
and Jeff Porcaro
, who were hired by Katz.
The album's closing song, "Don't Break the Promises", was co-written with Paul McCartney
.
revealed the background to their reunion: "A couple of years ago, an album came out called Changing Faces - The Very Best of 10cc and Godley & Creme
. That did really well and we all met up again for a lunch. It was to be presented with these fabulous platinum discs. Also round that time our record company made us a very nice offer that we couldn't really refuse, and the fact that we'd all come together again ... we'd sort of resisted working together again and it seemed like a nice thing to do."
But five years later he expressed some disappointment with the finished product. He said they had entered the studio with a stockpile of 22 songs. "We had some good songs," he said, "so we felt confident that we could still do it. Polydor were pleased with the demos, and so we did the album. But then we got to the studio, and we had problems with our producer. There wasn’t always harmony and I think it created it a very one dimensional album. It’s also got this darkness to it that I don’t like. Some of the songs, particularly 'Welcome to Paradise', which were brilliant when you hear the demos, didn’t translate into the studio."
He told Goldmine magazine he thought Polydor might have chosen Katz because of his strong association with Steely Dan
, a band with whom 10cc were often compared. "Our record company wanted an American producer, they thought it would help break the American market, and once you start to follow things like that, it’s the slippery slope. That and other things combined to make an album which could have been a lot better. There were two things that were wrong for me, I didn’t like his idea of bringing in session men; they weren’t our players, they weren’t our band. Jeff Porcaro was one of the finest drummers in the universe, Freddie Washington
the finest bass player. But anyone could have them and I was against this. Gary wanted to use his people, though. He’d always used them, he was very secure with them."
Eric Stewart
, also expressed some regrets over the album. "I love the Meanwhile tracks, but wish we hadn't gone to Gary Katz
for production. At the time it was thought by Polyglot
that we needed 'new blood' to produce us in a different way. I really enjoyed working with other musicians though, especially Jeff Porcaro on the drums, but in retrospect the production mess we got into leaves a bad taste in my mouth."
The album ended up costing £750,000 to make, thanks to extra production from Eric, and extra mixing from Robin Barclay. By the time the album was completed and ready to release there had been changes at Polydor and the new regime didn't believe it would be a hit, and spent very little to promote it – "Polydor spent £750,000 to make it and £7,500 to promote it" (Graham Gouldman in a hospital radio interview in 1993). The album narrowly missed the Top 75 album chart in the UK (though it made No.66 in the Network chart – an alternative to the official chart). The first single "Woman in love" was released on cd, cassette single and vinyl, backed with the non-album track "Man with a mission". The single included the album version of the track rather than the single edit that was issued to radio – and was finally made commercially available on the 2008 re-issue of the album.
The second single "Welcome to Paradise", a favourite of both Eric and Graham's followed, available on vinyl and cd single. A catalogue number was made available for a cassette single but this was never issued . The single also included the album version of the title track, with 2 further non-album tracks – "Don't" and "Lost in love", the former being the only track with lead vocals from Graham. The single, failed to chart and sank without a trace. In a magazine interview with Eric stated that there were 4 or 5 singles on ...Meanwhile. Graham Gouldman was interviewed by Mark Wardle on Tarka Radio – a hospital radio station – in 1993 and asked him what other songs had been selected for singles. He replied that "Don't break the promises" would have been the third single, and then "The stars didn't show" and "Wonderland" as fourth and fifth possible singles. Due to the lack of success on the first two singles, these were cancelled. Later that year, Polydor, who the band had signed a five album deal with, didn't take up their option and dropped the band.
In a 2006 interview Kevin Godley recalled the tension in the studio as he helped record it. He said: "I wasn’t involved with the making of this album at all so I know very little about how it was put together. I was simply asked to sing lead vocal on one song and was flown to New York to record it. The three of us had a lovely reunion breakfast on day one. As I recall all the basic tracks had already been recorded so it was myself, Graham, Eric and producer Gary Katz for two vocal heavy days.
"I do recall a strange atmosphere in the studio. An intangible awkwardness. Everything sounded 'great', everyone got on 'great', but there was an essential ingredient missing. I also sensed G and E growing apart. Gary Katz was acting as a political as well as creative buffer keeping personalities as well as music on course. I’ve never actually heard the complete album, although I did enjoy singing "The Stars Didn’t Show."
The album's liner notes included the line: "In memory of Hyme "The Rhyme" Gouldman (1908–1991)". Gouldman, an amateur playwright, was the father of Graham Gouldman.
The cover photography was supplied by the Prefecture de Police, Paris.
10cc
10cc are an English art rock band who achieved their greatest commercial success in the 1970s. The band initially consisted of four musicians -- Graham Gouldman, Eric Stewart, Kevin Godley, and Lol Creme -- who had written and recorded together for some three years, before assuming the "10cc" name...
. It was recorded at Bearsville Studios
Bearsville Studios
Bearsville Studios was a recording studio at Bearsville, New York just west of Woodstock, New York.The studio was opened in 1969 by Albert Grossman, manager of Bob Dylan, The Band, Janis Joplin and Todd Rundgren....
in Woodstock, New York, The Hit Factory
The Hit Factory
The Hit Factory was a recording studio in New York City famous for its clientele. It was officially closed for business April 1, 2005 whereas other Hit Factory studio locations remained open, such as in Miami, Florida.-History:...
, New York, River Sound Studios, New York, Bill Schner Studio, Los Angeles and Village Recorders, Los Angeles and released in 1992.
The album was the band's first in nine years and marked the brief comeback of original 10cc members Kevin Godley
Kevin Godley
Kevin Godley is a British musician and music video director.He was born in a family of Jewish descent, and went to North Cestrian Grammar School in Altrincham....
and Lol Creme
Lol Crème
Lol Creme is an English musician and music video director, best known for his work in 10cc. He sings, plays guitar and keyboards.-Biography:...
: Godley performed lead vocals on "The Stars Didn't Show" and backing vocals on two songs, while Creme supplied backing vocals on six songs. It also featured appearances by singer Andrew Gold
Andrew Gold
Andrew Maurice Gold was an American singer, musician and songwriter. His works include the Top 10 single "Lonely Boy" , as well as the singles "Thank You for Being a Friend" , and "Never Let Her Slip Away" ....
, blues pianist Dr. John
Dr. John
Malcolm John "Mac" Rebennack, Jr. , better known by the stage name Dr. John , is an American singer-songwriter, pianist and guitarist, whose music combines blues, pop, jazz as well as Zydeco, boogie woogie and rock and roll.Active as a session musician since the late 1950s, he came to wider...
and accomplished session musicians including Michael Landau
Michael Landau
Michael Landau is a prolific session musician and guitarist who has played on a large number of albums since the early 1980s with artists as varied as Seal, James Taylor, Helen Watson, Richard Marx, Steve Perry, Pink Floyd and Miles Davis...
and Jeff Porcaro
Jeff Porcaro
Jeffrey Thomas "Jeff" Porcaro was an American session drummer and a founding member of the Grammy Award winning band Toto. Porcaro was one of the most recorded drummers in history, working on hundreds of albums and thousands of sessions...
, who were hired by Katz.
The album's closing song, "Don't Break the Promises", was co-written with Paul McCartney
Paul McCartney
Sir James Paul McCartney, MBE, Hon RAM, FRCM is an English musician, singer-songwriter and composer. Formerly of The Beatles and Wings , McCartney is listed in Guinness World Records as the "most successful musician and composer in popular music history", with 60 gold discs and sales of 100...
.
Background to recording
In a 1992 radio interview Graham GouldmanGraham Gouldman
Graham Keith Gouldman is an English songwriter and musician who is a long-time member of British band 10cc.-Early life and 1960s pop career: 1946–1968:Gouldman was born in Broughton, Salford, England...
revealed the background to their reunion: "A couple of years ago, an album came out called Changing Faces - The Very Best of 10cc and Godley & Creme
Changing Faces - The Very Best of 10cc and Godley & Creme
Changing Faces – The Very Best of 10cc and Godley & Creme was the first compilation that included all the hits from 10cc and Godley & Creme. The album featured sixteen tracks including a remixed version of "Snack Attack" by Godley & Creme, that originally featured on their 1981 album Ismism...
. That did really well and we all met up again for a lunch. It was to be presented with these fabulous platinum discs. Also round that time our record company made us a very nice offer that we couldn't really refuse, and the fact that we'd all come together again ... we'd sort of resisted working together again and it seemed like a nice thing to do."
But five years later he expressed some disappointment with the finished product. He said they had entered the studio with a stockpile of 22 songs. "We had some good songs," he said, "so we felt confident that we could still do it. Polydor were pleased with the demos, and so we did the album. But then we got to the studio, and we had problems with our producer. There wasn’t always harmony and I think it created it a very one dimensional album. It’s also got this darkness to it that I don’t like. Some of the songs, particularly 'Welcome to Paradise', which were brilliant when you hear the demos, didn’t translate into the studio."
He told Goldmine magazine he thought Polydor might have chosen Katz because of his strong association with Steely Dan
Steely Dan
Steely Dan is an American rock band; its core members are Donald Fagen and Walter Becker. The band's popularity peaked in the late 1970s, with the release of seven albums blending elements of jazz, rock, funk, R&B, and pop...
, a band with whom 10cc were often compared. "Our record company wanted an American producer, they thought it would help break the American market, and once you start to follow things like that, it’s the slippery slope. That and other things combined to make an album which could have been a lot better. There were two things that were wrong for me, I didn’t like his idea of bringing in session men; they weren’t our players, they weren’t our band. Jeff Porcaro was one of the finest drummers in the universe, Freddie Washington
Freddie Washington
Freddie Washington was an American jazz pianist.Washington moved to California around the year 1918, where he joined Kid Ory's band in 1921. He recorded with Ory's band, and it is for his role in these sessions that he is primarily known. He led his own band in the 1920s and 1930s, in addition to...
the finest bass player. But anyone could have them and I was against this. Gary wanted to use his people, though. He’d always used them, he was very secure with them."
Eric Stewart
Eric Stewart
Eric Stewart is an English musician, songwriter and record producer most known for his tenure with The Mindbenders in the 1960s, and 10cc from 1972 to 1995....
, also expressed some regrets over the album. "I love the Meanwhile tracks, but wish we hadn't gone to Gary Katz
Gary Katz
Gary Katz is an American music producer, best known for his work with Steely Dan.-Steely Dan:Katz is most famous for his work as a producer on every Steely Dan album recorded during the first run of their career, from Can't Buy A Thrill in 1972 to Gaucho in 1980, as well as the Donald Fagen solo...
for production. At the time it was thought by Polyglot
Polydor Records
Polydor is a record label owned by Universal Music Group, headquartered in the United Kingdom.-Beginnings:Polydor was originally an independent branch of the Deutsche Grammophon Gesellschaft. Its name was first used as an export label in 1924, the British and German branches of the Gramophone...
that we needed 'new blood' to produce us in a different way. I really enjoyed working with other musicians though, especially Jeff Porcaro on the drums, but in retrospect the production mess we got into leaves a bad taste in my mouth."
The album ended up costing £750,000 to make, thanks to extra production from Eric, and extra mixing from Robin Barclay. By the time the album was completed and ready to release there had been changes at Polydor and the new regime didn't believe it would be a hit, and spent very little to promote it – "Polydor spent £750,000 to make it and £7,500 to promote it" (Graham Gouldman in a hospital radio interview in 1993). The album narrowly missed the Top 75 album chart in the UK (though it made No.66 in the Network chart – an alternative to the official chart). The first single "Woman in love" was released on cd, cassette single and vinyl, backed with the non-album track "Man with a mission". The single included the album version of the track rather than the single edit that was issued to radio – and was finally made commercially available on the 2008 re-issue of the album.
The second single "Welcome to Paradise", a favourite of both Eric and Graham's followed, available on vinyl and cd single. A catalogue number was made available for a cassette single but this was never issued . The single also included the album version of the title track, with 2 further non-album tracks – "Don't" and "Lost in love", the former being the only track with lead vocals from Graham. The single, failed to chart and sank without a trace. In a magazine interview with Eric stated that there were 4 or 5 singles on ...Meanwhile. Graham Gouldman was interviewed by Mark Wardle on Tarka Radio – a hospital radio station – in 1993 and asked him what other songs had been selected for singles. He replied that "Don't break the promises" would have been the third single, and then "The stars didn't show" and "Wonderland" as fourth and fifth possible singles. Due to the lack of success on the first two singles, these were cancelled. Later that year, Polydor, who the band had signed a five album deal with, didn't take up their option and dropped the band.
In a 2006 interview Kevin Godley recalled the tension in the studio as he helped record it. He said: "I wasn’t involved with the making of this album at all so I know very little about how it was put together. I was simply asked to sing lead vocal on one song and was flown to New York to record it. The three of us had a lovely reunion breakfast on day one. As I recall all the basic tracks had already been recorded so it was myself, Graham, Eric and producer Gary Katz for two vocal heavy days.
"I do recall a strange atmosphere in the studio. An intangible awkwardness. Everything sounded 'great', everyone got on 'great', but there was an essential ingredient missing. I also sensed G and E growing apart. Gary Katz was acting as a political as well as creative buffer keeping personalities as well as music on course. I’ve never actually heard the complete album, although I did enjoy singing "The Stars Didn’t Show."
The album's liner notes included the line: "In memory of Hyme "The Rhyme" Gouldman (1908–1991)". Gouldman, an amateur playwright, was the father of Graham Gouldman.
The cover photography was supplied by the Prefecture de Police, Paris.
Track listing
Personnel
- Eric StewartEric StewartEric Stewart is an English musician, songwriter and record producer most known for his tenure with The Mindbenders in the 1960s, and 10cc from 1972 to 1995....
— vocals, guitars, Rhodes piano, grand piano, slide guitar, strings - Graham GouldmanGraham GouldmanGraham Keith Gouldman is an English songwriter and musician who is a long-time member of British band 10cc.-Early life and 1960s pop career: 1946–1968:Gouldman was born in Broughton, Salford, England...
— guitars, vocals - Lol CremeLol CrèmeLol Creme is an English musician and music video director, best known for his work in 10cc. He sings, plays guitar and keyboards.-Biography:...
— backing vocals - Kevin GodleyKevin GodleyKevin Godley is a British musician and music video director.He was born in a family of Jewish descent, and went to North Cestrian Grammar School in Altrincham....
— lead vocals ("The Stars Didn't Show"), backing vocals - Jeff PorcaroJeff PorcaroJeffrey Thomas "Jeff" Porcaro was an American session drummer and a founding member of the Grammy Award winning band Toto. Porcaro was one of the most recorded drummers in history, working on hundreds of albums and thousands of sessions...
— drums, percussion - Freddie WashingtonFreddie WashingtonFreddie Washington was an American jazz pianist.Washington moved to California around the year 1918, where he joined Kid Ory's band in 1921. He recorded with Ory's band, and it is for his role in these sessions that he is primarily known. He led his own band in the 1920s and 1930s, in addition to...
— 5 string bass guitar - Michael LandauMichael LandauMichael Landau is a prolific session musician and guitarist who has played on a large number of albums since the early 1980s with artists as varied as Seal, James Taylor, Helen Watson, Richard Marx, Steve Perry, Pink Floyd and Miles Davis...
— guitars - David PaichDavid PaichDavid Frank Paich is a session musician, keyboard player, recording producer, arranger, vocalist and main composer of the Los Angeles-based rock/pop band Toto. David is the son of the late jazz composer, musician, and arranger Marty Paich...
— Hammond B3 organ, melody synth - Mac Rebenack (Dr John)Dr. JohnMalcolm John "Mac" Rebennack, Jr. , better known by the stage name Dr. John , is an American singer-songwriter, pianist and guitarist, whose music combines blues, pop, jazz as well as Zydeco, boogie woogie and rock and roll.Active as a session musician since the late 1950s, he came to wider...
— grand piano ("Fill Her Up", "Something Special", "Charity Begins at Home") - Paul GriffinPaul GriffinPaul Griffin may refer to:* Paul Griffin * Paul Griffin * Paul Griffin * Paul Griffin...
— synths - Bashiri Johnson — percussion, tambourine
- Frank Floyd, Fronzie Thornton, Curtis KingCurtis KingCurtis Albert King is a former pitcher in Major League Baseball. He played for the St. Louis Cardinals.-External links:...
, Tawatha Agee, Vaneese Thomas — backing vocals - Jerry HeyJerry HeyJerry Hey is an American trumpeter, flugelhornist, horn arranger, string arranger, orchestrator and session musician who has played on hundreds of commercial recordings, including Thriller and the distinctive flugelhorn solo on Dan Fogelberg's hit Longer....
— horn arrangement, trumpet - Gary Grant — trumpet
- Dan HigginsDan HigginsDan Higgins is an American saxophone and woodwind player. He has worked with such artists as Aerosmith, Stevie Wonder, Neil Diamond, Al Jarreau, Maroon 5, Kenny Loggins, Barry Manilow, Elton John, Go West, The Temptations, Lionel Richie, Joe Cocker and Eros Ramazzotti. He's also got over 300 motion...
— saxophone - Kim Hutchcroften — saxophone
- Bill Reichenbach Jr. — trombone
- Gordon Gaines — lead guitar
- Andrew GoldAndrew GoldAndrew Maurice Gold was an American singer, musician and songwriter. His works include the Top 10 single "Lonely Boy" , as well as the singles "Thank You for Being a Friend" , and "Never Let Her Slip Away" ....
— 12 string guitar ("Charity Begins at Home")