Bloody Tourists

by

10cc

Edit

Bloody Tourist is the second post Godley & Creme 10cc album. This album demonstrated that Deceptive Bends wasn't a fluke and that Stewart and Gouldman could capably continue without the duo. This loose concept album uses the tourist theme of the title for a wide variety of great songs (including Reds in my Bed and Dreadlock Holiday).In addition to the terrific Dreadlock Holiday, there is the Beatlesque Chains of Love. Stewart's excellent slide playing (which reminds me a bit of George Harrison--albeit considerably more skillful)along with his strong lead vocal are highlights of this great track. There are a couple of clunkers as well--this album probably could have been pared down to 8 strong tracks line The Original Soundtrack with the remainder as b sides.

New member Rick Fenn co-writes one of the better tracks and, with later albums, would show as much skill as a songwriter as both Stewart & Gouldman. This is the last 10cc album that holds up well to the classic first four. I find You And I to be a nice song but filler. It hasn't aged as well as the single or the stronger album tracks. The sythesizer dates the song (the poor sounding remastering on this track doesn't help either). While the band would produce albums that were always memorable, the quality got a bit spotty after this album. I should mention that the out of print 10 out of 10 (which you can find occasionally at amazon auctions) and Window to the Jungle are both fairly solid albums. The former album is the better of the two and almost as good as this and Deceptive Bends.

As to the issue of the sound quality. It varies considerably from track to track. Roger Wake (who supervised the fine mastering job on both Original Soundtrack and How Dare You!) fails to do a good mastering job here. Shame on you Roger!

This reissue doesn't sound significantly worse than the previously issued CD version (the previous version sounds a bit more brittle and the depth and definition aren't as good as this versions best tracks) just different. The "wow" and "flutter" problem mentioned does cause some distortion. The sound isn't up to the same quality of the Mobile Fidelity Sound version of The Original Soundtrack or any of the other reissues (RIP MFS--you folks would have done a marvelous job with this CD). All I can suggest to fans of the band is to contact DCC (who put out the excellent 2fer of 10cc/Sheet Music)and convince them to license this CD. With Steve Hoffman at the sound board I don't don't this would sound terrific.

A missed opportunity on the part of Polydor and Wake to truly make this fine album shine. A pity that Eric Stewart wasn't involved in remastering this. His talents as both producer and engineer would have improved this version considerably.

2 Stars for the variable sound quality but 4 stars for the bulk of the album. By the way, the bonus track (a b side from the Dreadlock Holiday single) is one of the best tracks on the album. It should have been substituted for one of the weaker album tracks.

First, allow me to say that I have loved this album since it first came out on vinyl back in 1978 - it's full of the inventive and humorous music that 10cc has been known for.

However, when Mercury-UK remastered "Bloody Tourists" for reissue in 1997 (release #534 973-2), they botched it dramatically. There are obvious tape speed fluctuations all over the place, most dramatically on "Last Night," "Old Mister Time," "From Rochdale To Ocho Rios," and "Everything You Wanted To Know About!!!" Strangely the newly appended bonus track "Nothing Can Move Me" is without flaws - perhaps the source tape used for the main album was bad, or the machine it was run on was improperly calibrated. However, Mercury/Polygram should not have allowed this product to be distributed in the poor condition that it is in. Avoid this version at all costs, and hope that perhaps the Japanese release is a different master.