In a 7 year period from the autumn of 1972 to the winter of 1978, 10cc were rarely ‘off air’ as a series of singles repeatedly crashed the UK charts. With 11 top 10’s of which 3 hit the top spot,10cc established themselves as a stellar pop band capable of producing memorable, yet stylistically diverse songs with broad appeal. Formed in Stockport in 1968, the ability to create these very different yet equally catchy songs came from the fact that unlike most groups who’d usually have one songwriter or song-writing team, within 10cc there were two teams. Kevin Godley and Lol Creme were essentially more experimental and interested in the visual arts as much as song, whilst Graham Gouldman and Eric Stewart were predominantly ‘pop’ writers. All were multi-instrumentalists and competent producers so in short each could very much ‘hold their own’ when it came to making music. Between 1972 and 1978 they would score 5 UK top 10 studio albums but despite the success and perhaps as a result of their huge individual talents Godley and Crime would depart in 1976 and go on to further success as a duo. More than just a best of, the Essential 10cc gives listeners the chance to engage with some of the best pop and most creative music of the 70s.