The combined song writing, instrumental and production talents of Graham Gouldman, Eric Stewart, Lol Creme and Kevin Godley made some of the most influential and memorable pop-rock songs of the late 70's and early 80's, from the pop parody of 'Donna' to the catchy rock of 'Wall Street Shuffle' to the Beatles-esque pop of 'The Things We Do For Love'. With eleven top 10 hits, including the number 1s 'Rubber Bullets', 'Dreadlock Holiday' and the iconic 'I'm Not In Love', 10cc were hugely popular, but the story didn't end when the band split. Hits from Godley & Creme and Wax show the former members still had the knack of writing a great song. This is the first 'best of' album for almost ten years and represents four decades of 10cc and some of the projects the four members were involved with before and after.

It’s been 10 years since the last ‘best of’, Where have you been and what have you been up to?

Where have I been? Good question. Well, I’ve been mainly writing for other artists including the late Kirsty MacColl, Paul Carrack, Gary Barlow, and various other people. I always like being on the road. I’ve had different versions of bands which finally ended up being 10CC featuring Graham Gouldman and friends, which we are going to tour next March. It’s not like full time but put it this way we were in New Zealand earlier this year, last year we were in Japan, the year before we were in Australia and doing various festivals and things, so we get around a fair bit.

How did you choose which tracks to include?

Well the tracks really chose themselves because they were all the hits. But there’s a difference with this album compared to the previous albums, which is that Universal wanted a 10CC and more. So I was asked to re-record some of my 60s songs and Kevin Godley and I have been working together as GG06 and put a couple of tracks of this incarnation on it as well. There’s also ‘A Groovy Kind Of Love’ by The Mindbenders and there are a lot of Godley & Creme stuff and the idea is to give more of a background to where 10CC came from and what happened to it afterwards as well.

There have been a few mumblings on various websites about there being a lack of Eric Stewart’s solo stuff on the new collection. Was this a business reason or does it go deeper?

I think the reason for that is that simply there were no hits.

It’s nice to hear your pre 10cc tracks being featured as nature intended so to speak.
Which holds the greatest memory for you?

I guess ‘For Your Love' (The Yardbirds) in a way as it was the first hit I had as a song writer. I don’t know, it’s always very hard to choose your favourite songs. I love them all really. There’s one song I like very much, maybe because it’s now such a long time afterwards that it’s become more relevant is ‘Old Wild Men’ written by Kevin & Lol. I think it s a fantastic track.

Coming right up to date, Beautiful Loser.com is a really powerful and emotive lyric.
What was the inspiration?

Well, really that’s Kevin’s lyric. He is a wonderful lyricist. He’s not really sure where it came from. He talks about parts of himself in the song; ya know the times gone by. It’s an idea he’s had for a long time. The song is a very adult song as you can tell. There is actually a longer version on our website www.GG06.co.uk It’s just an intriguing story of desperation, greed, and of tragedy of a beauty that’s faded.

Back to the earlier stuff. “The Things We Do For Love” is one of my desert island discs. Do you get a certain vibe when you hear a record like that for the first time and think “that ones a little bit special”

It depends. First of all, to finish the song it has to have a certain quality of its own. Whether it’s going to be a hit or not is never the issue it’s just if it has something that makes you want to finish it. Erm, there was one point in the recording of it when Eric was doing some backing vocals and I was in the control room and I suddenly realised that it had turned from a great track into a hit, and I remember saying to him “this is a hit”. So it was really just one little thing he did that altered the balance of the song. It’s odd you know, because I can tell you of cases where you think this could be a hit but aren’t hits at all and vice versa. You try not to think about it too much, keep doing what you’re doing and hopefully you get lucky.

 One of my favourite Sunday afternoon videos is the acoustic tv performance you  did with Neil Finn and Roddy Frame. How did that come about and were you a fan  of the other guys before and if not are you now?

 It came about quite simply when they rung me up and asked if I fancied doing it. There was something about that programme you know. A lot of people mention that.

 I think it was a good choice of people there was certain compatibility even though we  were all quite different. I knew Roddy’s songs, and I was a big Crowded House fan  anyway and I got to sing ‘Weather with you’.

We all got on and there was a really nice atmosphere. It was like come down maybe learn a few backing vocals but, you know if it had been me I would have gone can we meet a few days before and do a couple of run throughs but in the end the whole thing was really easy. I’m really quite proud of that show.

If I had to pick one things that I’ve done like that that people mention a lot it’s that programme. It never came out on dvd did it?

SW: No it didn’t
GG: Have a word with them get them to release it.
SW: I’ll get a petition going this very morning.
GG: I’ll sign it (laughs)

 How did you get involved with McFly?

Well, there’s a bit of nepotism here (laughs). My son Louis is one of the top A&R guys at Universal Music. Well, the thing with this is they love the 60s stuff and he’d talk to them about me and they suggested asking me to write some stuff with them. It was a bit of a chance for him to back it really. You know, your own dad. It would have been bloody horrible if it hadn’t worked out but fortunately it did and the track ended up being “I’ve got you” on the Wonderland album. I really liked working with them and I hope that I can work with them again. I think they are a cut above your average “boy band” and I don’t even think they have hit there stride yet. There is something about the feel and mix of their voices that remind me of early Beatles.

 Your son also signed The Feeling, is that correct?

Yeah, very much so. They are another great band. He played me the stuff before they were signed and it just sounded amazing. And of course they cite 10CC as an influence which is nice

I saw you as part of the SAS band in 2004. Have you got any more outings planned with Spike?

I’m doing some more at Christmas time. I love doing those gigs, we all have a lot of fun. You get to play with so many different artists; it always makes for a great gig.

Is there a 10CC song that you wish had written?

Well, I guess ‘The Dean & I’ or ‘Old Wild Men’ they are two of my favourite 10CC tracks.

Graham, thanks for taking the time for a chat.

You're welcome, it has been a pleasure, come and say hello when we are out on the road.