Hotlegs.Thinks: School Stinks (1970) + You Didn’t Like It Because You Didn’t Think Of It – The Complete Sessions 1970-1971

It’s pretty amazing how idiosyncratic 10cc were, even when “first” starting out. I say “first” because they all had pedigrees by 1970 and, in fact, the only reason Graham Gouldman wasn’t in on these sessions is because he was in NYC selling songs at the time. Thinks: School Stinks is the original debut LP by those who would eventually become 10cc. If the cover looks familiar, it’s because Alice Cooper copped the concept for 1972′s School’s Out, This particular pre-10cc incarnation – Eric Stewart, Lol Creme, Kevin Godley – even had a minor hit with “Neanderthal Man,” a likable novelty curio, at best. The rest of this 9-song album (re-released only a year later, with a couple added tunes and a new title, You Didn’t Like It Because You Didn’t Think Of It) is like a quick sketch of the off-beat pop & avant pop ideas 10cc would pursue in following years. I can’t remember where I got these hard drive files (fairly clean vinyl), but thanks. Thinks: School Stinks would eventually come out on CD in 1994 & 2006.

Line-up / Musicians
- Eric Stewart / guitar, bass, arranger, vocals, producer
- Lol Creme / guitar, bass, arranger, keyboards, vocals, producer
- Kevin Godley / arranger, drums, vocals, producer
- Baz Barker / flute, violin
- Mike Bell / saxophone
- Ian Brooks / trumpet
- Rod Morton / tambourine
- Mike Timoney / organ
- Cheadle Hulme High School Choir / Vocals on "Suite F.A.
- Graham Gouldman / bass ("Today")
- Tony Harrison / String arrangement ("Today")