Once again, Sean and Paul are joined by author Liam Newton and Pany Bogdanos for a detailed look at Eric Stewart's first two solo projects.
The first is a movie soundtrack from Just Jaeckin's 1980 French film 'Girls'. The project was ostensibly composed by Eric with 10cc keys man Duncan Mackay and aided by musicians Paul Burgess, Rick Fenn, Simon Phillips et al. We can't be too critical of it as an album, as much of it was intended as 'incidental' music, but much of it is pretty faceless, very much with a cod-Funk, electro-Disco late '70s feel. Sean singles out Duncan and Eric for some virtuoso playing, but there's little in these semi-instrumentals to get our pulses racing in the songwriting department. All of us agree that there are three stand-out tracks here: the much more coherent songs 'Warm Warm Warm', Girls' and 'Make the Pieces Fit'. Liam especially admires the latter, which was originally slated for 10cc's 'Look Hear' album. It's certainly a lovely, warm vocal and melody from Eric. Paul prefers the title track, and Sean raves about its textures and production; if only 'Look Hear' sounded a little bit more like this!
'Frooty Rooties', Eric's first proper solo album by his own reckoning, has more to offer. It's a fairly eclectic mix of musical styles that have excited Eric since his youth, and he's clearly enjoying himself, singing and playing superbly. We hear him pay tribute to the Blues, RnB, Boogie Woogie, Rockabilly, Psychedelia and Rock - many of which appear in one track, his musical compendium 'Guitaaaaaarghs' (arbitrary number of As!). But these are not the tracks that catch our ears. Much better in our mutual opinion are three tracks: the afore-mentioned 'Make the Pieces Fit' which glides out of the opening track 'The Ritual'. Here Eric gives epic treatment to rather mundane subject matter - going out on the pull - but achieves some nice musical sections and great production tricks in the process. He's busier and more creative at the knobs here than at any point after 1982.
But three out of the four us agree that, by far, the highlight of this record is the unassuming and gentle little song 'Doris the Florist'. Sean has a tinkle on his little classical guitar to throw some light on the beautifully Gouldman-esque chords, and we love the tenderness and subtlety of Eric's lyrics and treatment. A real gem.
We take a brief break from Eric-ness for a few weeks, while Paul and Sean venture into uncharted territory next time...
The Consequences Podcast 99 - Pany Turns the Tables: Paul and Sean on 50cc
The Consequences Podcast 98 - Do You Like Würms? Bull Session with Iain Hornal pt 2
The Consequences Podcast 97 - Saying the Word with Iain Hornal pt. 1
The Consequences Podcast 96 - Time, It’s a Flyer with your pilot Stuart Tosh
The Consequences Podcast 95 - Charlie Thomas pt. 2: Lots Of Love or Laughing Out Loud?
The Consequences Podcast 94 - Charlie Thomas on The Worst Documentaries in the World
The Consequences Podcast 93 - Chronicles of Modern Life: Henry Priestman on The Christians, his solo career and more rarities with Graham Gouldman
The Consequences Podcast 92 - Yachting Types: Henry Priestman on 10cc, Graham Gouldman, Yachts and his early years
The Consequences Podcast 91 - Paul Canning: Jiggery Pokery on the 10cc Bandwagon
The Consequences Podcast 90 - Paul Burgess pt 3: Journeyman par excellence
The Consequences Podcast 89 - Carol Jason and The Ballad of the Shape of Things, part 2
The Consequences Podcast 88 - Carol Jason and The Ballad of the Shape of Things, part 1
The Consequences Podcast 87 - Paul Burgess: Bloodied Tourists, 1978 - 83
The Consequences Podcast 86 - The Man at the Back: Paul Burgess, pt 1
The Consequences Podcast 85 - People Not in Love (for 24 Hours)
The Consequences Podcast 84 - 50cc
The Consequences Podcast 83 - Waxing lyrical with producer and songwriter Phil Thornalley
The Consequences Podcast 82 - Love Will Tear Strawberry Apart - with engineer Jonathan ‘Baz’ Barrett
The Consequences Podcast 81 - The Dean and Us
Consequences 10cc Podcast 80 - Strawberry Studios Forever: a ‘pod-umentary‘
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