The Consequences Podcast

Here’s the second part of Carol Jason’s funny and moving account of her summer of ’67.

 

Will Black, Brown and Beige’s dreams come true? Paul and Sean have loved this parable of the three Pop hopefuls. We hope you have too.

 

Some of the rare musical treats here are really unexpected and special.

We're pausing our sequence of three chats with Paul Burgess to feature someone with an even earlier, close association with the 10cc fold.

Carol Jason was seventeen, and one third of folk-based outfit Black, Brown and Beige when, in 1967, for a white hot period of six months - her band found themselves right at the centre of the action. Managed by Harvey Lisberg and working closely with Graham Gouldman, they recorded at two legendary London studios, whilst jostling for songs penned by one of the biggest hit writers of the age (Graham). Ultimately. no recordings were issued and the band moved on to other things. However, as we shall hear, these formative experiences started Carol on a career as a professional musician that continues to this day.

Carol's 1967 diary forms the basis of this episode, brought to life by her honesty and irrepressible personality, in this chat with Sean and Paul. We believe NONE of this story has been told before, or even known of - and it speaks well of Harvey, Graham and the Manchester music scene in general. It is an intimate and somewhat innocent portrait of another age. And speaking of age, how young the protagonists were - Carol turns 18 and Graham 21 during the course of the story. 

But... there is more! Thanks to Carol's generosity, Sean and Paul have restored and brought back to life several unique acetate recordings, featuring Carol and her band, as well as a swathe of previously unknown Graham songs and recordings. These recordings - and Carol's reaction to hearing them for the first time in 55(!) years - make this a must listen episode. Enjoy.

Welcome to part two of Paul and Sean’s conversation with 10cc’s faithful stoolsman of 49 years!

 

We’re sure this will be a riveting listen for any 10cc fan.  We look predominantly at the band’s more turbulent times during the 1980s, after the heady honeymoon of Bloody Tourists. To his incredible credit, Paul B is diplomatic, tactful and fair in all of his accounts.  But it must be said that his thoughts on Eric’s sad near-fatal car accident and the subsequent deterioration in the band’s fortunes, and the relationship between Graham and Eric, are the podcast equivalent of 'page-turners’! There is one story, from Paul’s last tour with 10cc mk III, that is toe-curling.

 

We’re delighted to also bring you some audio snippets that have never been heard before - including a 1983 TV appearance, among others - for which we owe Dave Jarvis our thanks, as ever.

 

We’ll be talking to Paul again very soon, and we’re relishing the prospect of digging deep into the less well-known corners of his career.

It’s been a long time coming, but the planets finally lined up to bring 10cc’s second longest-serving member into the Consequences spotlight!

 

Paul Burgess has been the absolute backbone of the band’s live line-up since their very first gig in the Isle of Man in 1973. He of course took over the drum stool for studio projects with Kevin’s departure, and his contributions are exceptional. Hearing his modest explanation for his instinctive and improvisational approach to recording is quite something to hear.

 

In this, the first part of three-episode chat with Paul, we look at his early days as a jobbing drummer on the Manchester scene, his introduction to Strawberry Studios via David Rohl’s band Ankh (later Mandalaband), and his associations with later 10cc members such as Rick Fenn in his 70s Prog Rock outfit Gentlemen. Manchester was a small world, indeed!

 

Paul takes us through his fascinating experience of 10cc Mk I and into the first post-Godley and Creme project, Deceptive Bends. 

We think today’s pod will blow your mind!

 

Paul and Sean are really excited to share with you some extracts from two DAT tapes recorded over 20 years ago.  They consist of various mixes made from the original multi-track tapes of ’24 Hours’ (from 1983’s Windows in the Jungle album) and ‘People in Love’ (Voodoo Boogie)’.  

 

The latter saw some kind of release in poorer quality form on the ’Tenology’ box set. It was of course the very last recording made by all four of 10cc's original members. This fact alone makes this an important historical artefact! On one hand, a failed experiment that Kevin and Lol hated so much, it split up the band!  On the other, could there actually be some Strawberry magic hidden in its twenty four tracks?  Godley and Creme are certainly on typically creative and off-piste form here, so prepare for some amazing surprises! Eric and Graham’s contributions are sterling too, of course.

 

Your two podcasters have discussed ’24 Hours’ and its accompanying album several times before, but we’ve never had an opportunity to look so closely at the excellent musicianship and beautiful sounds of the original multi-track.

 

A treat in store here then, promise!

 

With huge thanks to the two devoted individuals who retrieved the original studio tapes and mixed these tracks.

 

Today, Sean and Paul are extremely excited to announce our unique tribute concert to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Stockport's most famous band: 10cc! This is a two-night residency at Stockport's Garrick Theatre, on Friday 24th and Saturday 25th June 2022. Tickets for both shows can be booked using the link below. 

It's going to be an ambitious homage to some incredible music, including *all* the great 10cc hits and a selection of stunning, classic album tracks and lost gems. 50cc will also be showcasing some of the wonderful solo songs written by Lol Creme, Kevin Godley, Graham Gouldman and Eric Stewart since the 1960s. These will include lesser-known classics by The Mockingbirds, Mindbenders, Herman's Hermits, Godley & Creme and Wax.  Some of these songs have never been performed live before!

As a special and unique treat for fans of 10cc and Stockport's iconic Strawberry Studios, this concert will feature the first ever live tribute to Godley & Creme's epic 1977 debut album, 'Consequences'.

Ticket link: https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/50cc

Hope to see you there!

Some people have had a disproportionately successful music career, having written, produced, engineered or played on a staggering number of sublime pop records.  One such person is Phil Thornalley.

 

Phil cut his teeth in the studio in the late 1970s with pop supremo Mickie Most before a precocious career engineering, producing and/or playing with The Cure, Prefab Sprout, Johnny Hates Jazz and Thompson Twins, among many others. His work on TT’s ‘Into the Gap’ earned him a Grammy nomination. Paul and Sean of course quiz him on his time working with Andrew Gold and Graham Gouldman on their second set of Wax songs, ‘Magnetic Heaven’. Since the ‘80s, he’s enjoyed some spectacular success as a songwriter, most famously perhaps with Natalie Imbruglia’s ‘Torn’ and two number ones for Pixie Lott.  He’s also worked with Bryan Adams.  So this guy has some pretty spectacular pedigree!

 

Phil’s production style in the mid-late 1980s - along with that of his peers - could be dismissed lazily as dated or of-its-time, but closer examination reveals some delights. We were gobsmacked by his recycling of 10cc’s pioneering tape loop techniques for his work on an ‘80s classic…. We won’t spoil the surprise!

 

The biggest revelation though has been Phil’s own ‘band’ project: his two albums as Astral Drive.  Possibly Sean’s favourite new discovery of the year! It’s deliciously great pop, full of hooks, great melodies and 60s/70s sounds, and we have a lot of fun quizzing Phil on his obvious influences: Todd Rundgren features heavily!

This episode will be absolute music to the ears not just of Strawberry Studios enthusiasts, but all fans of the 80s and 90s Manchester ('Madchester'!) music scene.

 

Jonathan ‘Baz’ Barrett, better known to this podcast as the Stage Manager for the wonderful Strawberry Studios Forever concert in Stockport in September, was a fully-fledged Strawberry recording engineer during its last six years, from 1987 to 1993. His fascinating stories paint a vivid picture of sessions and recordings involving some of Manchester’s most iconic bands.  None more so than Joy Division, and we try to illustrate Baz’s amazing account of Martin Hannett’s pioneering production work on Love Will Tear Us Apart with some incredible isolated vocal and instrumental parts. We’ve even tried to re-imagine one of these, so apologies to Mr Hannett if we’ve got this completely wrong…

 

Other tales include Happy Mondays, Stone Roses, Cocteau Twins, the BBC and some other less well-known bands such as The High, Mighty Force, Ashley & Jackson and his own band Rig. 

 

This a real love letter to Strawberry’s final years, and it’s only fitting that we ask Baz to name his ‘pet’ Strawberry sound of all time.  You won’t be disappointed!

Welcome to the Consequences Podcast’s first venture outside the 10cc universe! We’ll still be dipping our toes back into the Kevin/Lol/Graham/Eric sphere as and when, but for now we present an extraordinary conversation with a true songwriting legend: Mr Dean Friedman!

 

Seen unfairly as a one hit wonder, Friedman’s career spans nine eclectic albums and regular international tours. His loyal following is treated to intelligent, witty and beautiful songs. As a talented multi-instrumentalist, he really is the full package. Truly one of the most entertaining people we’ve ever met.

 

Much of this chat centres around his new album, ‘American Lullaby’. It’s a characteristically eclectic affair, with all the usual high-octane wordplay, wit and melodic/harmonic beauty. This time though, he really packs a lyrical punch. Inspired (appalled?) by recent events in American politics, the pandemic and vicious culture wars, Dean’s gloves are off. Prepare to be dazzled by his incredibly thoughtful analysis, honesty, moral and political compass and live performances here. One in particular is a comedy masterclass!

 

We also delve into other parts of his career, notably his underrated ‘Rumpled Romeo’ album from the early 80s, which includes his most successful song, ‘McDonald’s Girl’. There’s also room for discussion on some of his less well-known songs, and of course we *had* to look at ‘Lucky Stars’. Why is it so misunderstood as a ‘guilty pleasure’?

 

And we ought to say at this juncture that we simply couldn’t resist chatting about 10cc and Consequences in this chat! We just can’t help ourselves.

Here’s our attempt to condense the events of an incredible day into a single podcast!

 

On 18th September 2021, nearly five hundred people convened at the beautiful Stockport Plaza for Strawberry Studios Forever. Organised and hosted by the inimitable local music champions John and Rosemary Barratt (of Seven Miles Out fame), this was an incredible live musical tribute to one of the UK’s most influential music hubs.

 

We hear short excerpts from every act, guest appearance or song performed by Peter Wadsworth, Selket (from Ramases), Derailer, Phil Mealey, 11 Hours, Eamonn O’Neal, Liv May & Billy Graham, Dr Uke, The Siders, The Sean and I (and Gizmo!), The Panamas, Paul Ryder (Happy Mondays) and Kashmere. The performed songs covered many of Strawberry's iconic recordings, by the likes of 10cc, Ramones, Joy Division, Happy Mondays, Inspiral carpets, Stone Roses and others. Quite a list!

 

During and after the day, Paul and Sean interviewed a number of the participants, including John Barratt, Selket and Stage Manager Jonathan ‘Baz’ Barrett. All three have unique and fascinating experiences of their time at Strawberry.

 

And the Consequences podcast just wouldn’t be complete without Graham’s contribution, would it?