I’m Not in Love

Hey there, Zoo Freaks, the Zoo Crew is spinning the dreamy vibes of I’m Not in Love by 10cc from their 1975 album The Original Soundtrack, and we’ve got some wild trivia to share! This track, written by Eric Stewart and Graham Gouldman, almost didn’t make it to your airwaves. Originally crafted as a bossa nova tune with guitars, it was trashed by bandmates Kevin Godley and Lol Creme, who called it “crap.” But the song’s melody stuck with the staff at Strawberry Studios, humming it around the place, convincing Stewart to give it another shot. Godley’s radical idea to ditch instruments and build a “wall of sound” with multitracked vocals—48 voices for each note of the chromatic scale—turned it into a six-minute masterpiece. Those lush, layered “ahhh” vocals? They took three weeks to record, with 12-foot tape loops strung across the studio, held up by a microphone stand. The iconic whispered line, “Be quiet, big boys don’t cry,” came from the studio’s teenage receptionist, Kathy Redfern, who was coaxed into recording after interrupting a session to tell Stewart he had a phone call. Her voice was so perfect it inspired the name of the 1980s band Boys Don’t Cry. Despite its length, pressure from fans and folks like Bryan Ferry pushed Mercury Records to release it as a single, and it soared to number one in the UK and number two in the US.

Here’s another juicy tidbit for you Zoo Freaks: the song’s creation was a game-changer for 10cc. Stewart wrote it after his wife, Gloria, teased him for not saying “I love you” enough, sparking a clever anti-love song that’s secretly all about love. The band’s innovative approach caught the ear of Mercury Records, who were so blown away they offered a five-year, five-album deal on the spot, pulling 10cc from their struggling label, UK Records. The track’s ethereal sound even influenced Billy Joel’s Just the Way You Are, and its inclusion in the 2014 film Guardians of the Galaxy introduced it to a whole new generation. On X, fans still rave about its timeless magic, with posts calling it a “musical masterpiece” that sounds as fresh today as it did in ’75.

Now, let’s rewind to how 10cc got their start. Formed in Stockport, England, in 1972, the band brought together four musical heavyweights: Graham Gouldman, Eric Stewart, Kevin Godley, and Lol Creme. These guys were no strangers to the scene, having crossed paths since the 1960s. Gouldman was a songwriting ace, penning hits like For Your Love for The Yardbirds and Bus Stop for The Hollies. Stewart had fronted The Mindbenders, scoring with A Groovy Kind of Love. Godley and Creme, childhood pals with a knack for art and music, brought an experimental edge. They started jamming together in 1968, working as session musicians and recording at Stewart’s Strawberry Studios, a Stockport gem they co-owned. By 1970, they were cutting tracks as Hotlegs, and after catching the eye of pop impresario Jonathan King, they became 10cc—a name King coined, cheekily referencing the average male ejaculation volume (though the band’s never confirmed that tale). Their 1972 debut single, Donna, a doo-wop spoof, hit number two in the UK, and their mix of sharp pop, humor, and studio wizardry set them apart.

Want to keep up with 10cc? Check out their official website at 10cc.world for tour dates and news on their Ultimate Greatest Hits Tour. Connect with them on Facebook, Instagram, and X for updates and throwback vibes. Fans can dive into the love at 10cc Fan Club on Facebook, where Zoo Freaks can geek out over the band’s legacy. For more on Eric Stewart’s solo work, visit ericstewart.uk.com. So, crank up I’m Not in Love, let those vocals wash over you, and stay tuned to THE ZOO for more groovy spins!