…Meanwhile

Infobox Album |
Name = ...Meanwhile
Type = Album
Artist = 10cc


Background = lightsteelblue
Released = 1992
Recorded =
Genre = Rock
Length = 51:25
Label = Polydor
Producer = Gary Katz, 10cc
Reviews =
* Allmusic rating|2.5|5 [http://allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:g9fqxqyhldke link]
Last album = "Windows in the Jungle"
(1983)
This album = "...Meanwhile"
(1992)
Next album = "Mirror Mirror"
(1995)

"...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 by Paul McCartney.

Background to recording

In a 1992 radio interview [cite web|url=http://www.the10ccfanclub.com/htm/framsart.htm|title=Eric Stewart & Graham Gouldman interviewed on radio|year=1992] Graham Gouldman revealed the background to their reunion: "A couple of years ago, an album came out called "Changing Faces", which was the 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." [http://www.the10ccfanclub.com/htm/injection011.htm "10cc: A Pure Injection Of Pop" by Dave Thompson, Goldmine magazine, April 11, 1997.] ]

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." [cite web|url=http://www.ericstewart.uk.com/questions5.htm|title=Eric Stewart's reply to question at his website]

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." [ [http://www.muzikreviews.com/kevingodley.php Kevin Godley interview at Muzikreviews.com] ]

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

# "Woman in Love" (Eric Stewart, Graham Gouldman) — 6:11
# "Wonderland" (Stewart, Gouldman) — 4:53
# "Fill Her Up" (Stewart, Gouldman) — 4:08
# "Something Special" (Stewart, Gouldman) — 3:23
# "Welcome to Paradise" (Stewart, Gouldman) — 6:14
# "The Stars Didn't Show" (Stewart, Gouldman) — 4:51
# "Green Eyed Monster" (Stewart, Gouldman) — 4:44
# "Charity Begins at Home" (Stewart, Gouldman) — 4:55
# "Shine a Light in the Dark" (Stewart, Gouldman) — 5:42
# "Don't Break the Promises" (Stewart, Paul McCartney, Gouldman) — 6:22

Personnel

*Eric Stewart — vocals, guitars, Rhodes piano, grand piano, slide guitar, strings
*Graham Gouldman — guitars, vocals
*Jeff Porcaro — drums, percussion
*Freddie Washington — 5 string bass guitar
*Lol Creme — backing vocals
*Michael Landau — guitars
*David Paitch — Hammond B3 organ, melody synth
*Mac Rebenack (Dr John) — grand piano ("Fill Her Up", "Something Special", "Charity Begins at Home")
*Kevin Godley — lead vocals ("The Stars Didn't Show"), backing vocals
*Paul Griffen — synths
*Bashiri Johnson — percussion, tambourine
*Frank Floyd, Fronzie Thornton, Curtis King, Tawatha Agee, Vaneese Thomas — backing vocals
*Jerry Hey — horn arrangement, trumpet
*Gary Grant — trumpet
*Dan Higgins — saxophone
*Kim Hutchcroften — saxophone
*Bill Reichenbach — trombone
*Gordon Gaines — lead guitar
*Andrew Gold — 12 string guitar ("Charity Begins at Home")

References