The Things We Do for Love

Zoo Freaks, get ready to groove with the Zoo Crew as we spin "The Things We Do for Love" by 10cc from their 1977 album Deceptive Bends. This track, a smooth pop-rock gem, was the band’s first release after the departure of founding members Kevin Godley and Lol Creme, marking a pivotal shift for the group. Eric Stewart, who sang lead, shared in a BBC Radio Wales interview that the song’s lyrics were inspired by a real-life moment when he trudged through snow in Manchester to find a phone box to call his then-girlfriend, now wife, because his home phone lines were down. This vivid imagery of braving the elements for love became the heart of the song’s relatable narrative. Graham Gouldman, in a Songfacts interview, revealed he initially considered a darker theme for the song—suicide—but pivoted to the uplifting title “The Things We Do for Love” after Stewart’s suggestion, creating a light blue-hued chord progression that mixes major and minor keys for emotional depth.

The song’s creation wasn’t without tension. During the How Dare You! sessions, Godley and Creme were unimpressed with the track, with Stewart recalling Kevin’s blunt remark, “I don’t want to do any more crap like this,” as noted on Wikipedia. Despite their skepticism, the song soared, hitting number one in Canada, number five in the US and Australia, and number six in the UK. Its yacht rock vibe, as highlighted by American Songwriter, cemented its status as a soft rock staple. A quirky tidbit from a fan comment on Songfacts suggests Stewart’s girlfriend’s father, during a tense phone call, inspired the lyric “too many broken hearts have fallen in the river,” though this remains unconfirmed. The song’s universal appeal led to covers by artists like Amy Grant for the 1996 film Mr. Wrong and Tina Arena in 2014 for a breast cancer charity, as mentioned on Internet Archive.

10cc began in Stockport, England, in 1972, born from the creative synergy of four Manchester musicians: Graham Gouldman, Eric Stewart, Kevin Godley, and Lol Creme. Childhood friends Godley and Creme crossed paths with Gouldman at school, bonding over music at the Jewish Lads’ Brigade, as detailed on Wikipedia. The quartet honed their craft in the 1960s, writing and recording together, with Gouldman penning hits like “Bus Stop” for The Hollies and Stewart contributing to The Mindbenders’ “A Groovy Kind of Love.” By 1972, they united as 10cc, a name inspired by a cheeky, unverified claim about male anatomy, as Gouldman humorously noted in interviews. Their early work, like the 1973 chart-topper “Rubber Bullets,” blended art rock with pop wit, paving the way for global success with “I’m Not in Love” in 1975. The band’s innovative recording techniques, crafted at their own Strawberry Studios, set them apart as pioneers of 1970s pop-rock.

Despite the 1976 split with Godley and Creme, who pursued their avant-garde project Godley & Creme, Stewart and Gouldman carried 10cc forward, with drummer Paul Burgess joining for Deceptive Bends. The band continued to evolve, with Gouldman leading a touring lineup since 1999 after Stewart’s departure in 1995. Fans can connect with 10cc on their official website, Facebook, Instagram, and X. Zoo Freaks looking for community can join the vibrant 10cc Fan Club on Facebook or explore fan-curated content at 10ccfanclub.com, where devotees share stories, rare photos, and tour updates. Keep spinning those records, Zoo Freaks, and let 10cc’s timeless sound keep you grooving!