Thinks: School Stinks (1970)
7.5cc
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 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, but is already OOP again.
Neanderthal Man (4:20)
How Many Times (4:28)
Desperate Dan (2:26)
Take Me Back (5:17)
Um Wah, Um Woh (4:51)
Suite F.A. (13:12)
Fly Away (2:54)
Run Baby Run (3:03)
All God’s Children (4:06)
5 Comments
Find it HERE.
The first time I ever heard "Neanderthal Man" was on whatever volume of Rhino's "Have A Nice Day" series it is on.
I thought it was a bad CD — drums way in front and vocals *way* in the back.
But somebody told me that it was intentional. Go figure.
Is the rest of the album "odd" like that song?
Not in the "novelty" way that "Neanderthal Man" is. It's odd in a commercial pop radio sense, though. Much of it's like an under-developed 10cc. Give a listen to the streaming song for another taste.
I bought the album when it was released and like Shriner wondered about the mix of Neanderthal Man with its drum heavy and vocals light mix. I would love to hear it remixed.
Mike
genius has to start somewhere,just listen then listen again then youll get it if not well its not for you.