Mirror Mirror (10cc album)

Again featuring just two of 10cc's core band members, Graham Gouldman and Eric Stewart, the album included performances by Paul McCartney on two tracks, Andrew Gold on two tracks and Rick Fenn on one track.

Mirror Mirror was more a combination of two solo albums than a conventional 10cc production. Gouldman and Stewart played together on only one track – an acoustic reworking of their 1975 hit, "I'm Not in Love", one of only three songs on the album that bore a Stewart-Gouldman joint songwriting credit. Songs written by Stewart, including one co-written with McCartney, were recorded in France, while Gouldman's songs, one of which was co-written with musical theatre lyricist Tim Rice and another with Gold, were recorded in London.

Following the tour to support Mirror Mirror, Stewart announced his departure from 10cc, adding that as far as he was concerned, he was done with the band, and to date, he has rebuffed all suggestions of a reunion. Gouldman, however, has continued with his own lineup for 10cc, still touring as of 2016. ^[1]

Background and recording

Gouldman admitted the album was "almost like two-halves of an album", largely a result of the fact that he and Stewart began recording in separate countries. "Vaguely, we intended starting off these tracks and then bring them together, finish them together, which a lot of people do," he said. "But it never happened, we got so into what we were doing, we wanted to keep it pure. I don’t like to say we hoodwinked the people, but you could say it’s not quite what it appears to be, and anyone with any sense, who reads the credits, could see that."^[2]

One of Gouldman's songs, "Ready To Go Home", was written after the death of his father, Hyme Gouldman, in 1991. Gouldman re-recorded the song for his 2000 album, And Another Thing..., when he observed in the liner notes: "It reflects my feelings at the time. I suppose I was trying to put a positive slant on his passing, remembering all the things we had done together and his artistic legacy to me. The last verse of the song best reflects my feelings on this. This song has been recorded by many artists and remains one of my favourites. Very emotional."

Reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
Allmusic	^[3]

Allmusic panned the album, commenting that the claim of "I'm Not in Love" being reworked is dubious, since the track has no noticeable differences from the original recording. They summarized the rest of the album with "songs flashing the group's trademark lyrical wit generally tend toward musical vaporware, while those revealing an occasional glimmer of instrumental creativity go nowhere fast on the songwriting."^[3]

Track listing (Expanded Edition)

At least three different versions of the album exist. The most common version of the album has 10 songs. A European version of the album leaves out one song ("I'm Not in Love: Rework of Art Mix"), but also adds five new tracks: "Yvonne's the One" (Written by Eric Stewart and Paul McCartney, and first attempted in February 1985 during the sessions for Paul's Press to Play album, but remade and completed on this album, with Paul returning the favour by playing rhythm guitar), "Margo Wants the Mustard", "Blue Bird", "Now You're Gone", and a 1995 acoustic rendition of "I'm Not in Love". The Japanese version has 15 tracks, including all five new tracks, and the "Rework of Art Mix" version of "I'm Not in Love". The track listing below is based on that of the Japanese version.

"I'm Not in Love (Rework of Art Mix)" (Eric Stewart, Graham Gouldman) – 5:51
"Peace in Our Time" (Gouldman, Steve Pigott) – 4:03
"Code of Silence" (Stewart) – 5:39
"Take This Woman" (Stewart, Gouldman) – 3:51
"Yvonne's the One" (Paul McCartney, Eric Stewart) – 4:26*
"The Monkey and the Onion" (Gouldman, Tim Rice) – 3:17
"Margo Wants the Mustard" (Stewart) – 3:54*
"Ready To Go Home" (Andrew Gold, Gouldman) – 4:37
"Everything is Not Enough" (Stewart) – 4:28
"Blue Bird" (Graham Gouldman) – 4:04*
"Age of Consent" (Stewart) – 5:24
"Grow Old With Me" (Gouldman) – 3:22
"Why Did I Break Your Heart" (Stewart, Gouldman) – 5:18
"Now You're Gone" (Gouldman) – 3:01*
"I'm Not in Love (Acoustic Session '95)" (Stewart, Gouldman) – 3:30*

(*) Songs not included on the standard 10-track version of the album.

Personnel

10cc

Eric Stewart — lead and backing vocals, lead guitar, keyboards, percussion
Graham Gouldman — lead and backing vocals, guitars, bass guitar, percussion, mandolin
Adrian Lee — bass, programming, arrangements, keyboard, backing vocals, brass section, percussion, accordion, vibes, acoustic guitar
Rick Fenn — lead guitar ("Peace in Our Time")
Gary Wallis — drums, percussion

with

Paul McCartney — rhythm guitar ("Yvonne's the One"), strings, electric piano, frogs, crickets, percussion ("Code of Silence")
Andrew Gold — lead vocal ("Ready To Go Home"), backing vocals ("Grow Old With Me")
Steve Pigott — keyboard, drum programming
Ian Thomas — drums
Gary Barnacle — saxophone
Peter Thoms — trombone
Lise Aferiat and Nicola Burton – violin
Chris Goldscheider – viola
Andrew Hines and Patrick Jones – cello

References

10cc

Graham Gouldman Eric Stewart Kevin Godley Lol Creme Paul Burgess Rick Fenn Stuart Tosh Duncan Mackay Tony O'Malley

Studio albums	10cc Sheet Music The Original Soundtrack How Dare You! Deceptive Bends Bloody Tourists Look Hear? Ten Out of 10 Windows in the Jungle …Meanwhile Mirror Mirror

Live albums	Live and Let Live The Best of 10cc Live

Compilations	100cc Changing Faces - The Very Best of 10cc and Godley & Creme Greatest Hits ... And More The Very Best of 10cc Greatest Hits 1972-1978 Strawberry Bubblegum

Box sets	Greatest Songs and More (Great Box) Tenology

Singles	"Donna" "Johnny Don't Do It" "Rubber Bullets" "The Dean and I" "Headline Hustler" "The Worst Band in the World" "The Wall Street Shuffle" "Silly Love" "I'm Not in Love" "Life Is a Minestrone" "Art for Art's Sake" "I'm Mandy Fly Me "The Things We Do for Love" "Good Morning Judge" "People in Love" "Dreadlock Holiday" "Reds in My Bed" "For You and I" "One Two Five" "It Doesn't Matter at All" "Les Nouveaux Riches" "Don't Turn Me Away" "The Power of Love" "Run Away" "Memories" "We've Heard It All Before" "24 Hours" "Feel the Love" "Food for Thought" "Woman in Love" "Welcome to Paradise" "I'm Not in Love (Acoustic Session '95)"

Related articles	Discography Doctor Father Godley & Creme Hotlegs Wax/Wax UK

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