Deceptive Bends is the fifth studio album by British art rock band 10cc, released on April 21, 1977. It marked a significant transition for the band following the departure of founding members Kevin Godley and Lol Creme in 1976. That left Eric Stewart and Graham Gouldman to carry on under the 10cc name.
Despite the reduced lineup, Deceptive Bends is widely regarded as one of the band’s most successful and accessible works, both commercially and critically. After the split, Stewart and Gouldman decided to continue as a duo, employing session musicians for recording. The title Deceptive Bends refers to road signs in the UK indicating a series of unexpected curves,
perhaps a metaphor for the band’s own twists in direction. The album was written almost entirely by Stewart and Gouldman, who also handled production duties at their own Strawberry Studios South1 in Dorking, Surrey. Notably, the album’s most famous track, “The Things We Do for Love”,
had originally been rejected by Godley and Creme during the How Dare You! sessions. Ironically, after their departure, it became one of 10cc’s biggest hits, reaching No. 5 on the Billboard Hot 100 in the U.S. and No. 6 in the UK Singles Chart. Other singles from the album included “Good Morning Judge” and “People in Love.”
Tracks
Song (Lead Vocals) Length
All tracks written by Eric Stewart and Graham Gouldman
Side One
- “Good Morning Judge” (Stewart) 2:55
- “The Things We Do for Love” (Stewart) 3:27
- “Marriage Bureau Rendezvous” (Gouldman) 4:04
- “People in Love” (Stewart) 3:48
- “Modern Man Blues” (Gouldman and Stewart) 5:35
Side Two
- “Honeymoon with B Troop” (Gouldman) 2:46
- “I Bought a Flat Guitar Tutor” (Stewart) 1:48
- “You’ve Got a Cold” (Stewart) 3:36
- “Feel the Benefit”
- I: “Reminisce and Speculate”
II: “A Latin Break”
III: “Feel the Benefit” (Stewart and Gouldman) 11:32
- I: “Reminisce and Speculate”
Deceptive Bends shows a shift away from the experimental tendencies of earlier albums like The Original Soundtrack or Sheet Music and toward more straightforward pop-rock songwriting. Tracks like “Good Morning Judge” and “Marriage Bureau Rendezvous” reveal a more humorous, upbeat side, while “People in Love” is a soft, melancholic ballad. “Feel the Benefit,” the album’s 11-minute epic,
closes the record and is often cited by fans as a high point, drawing comparisons to The Beatles in its orchestration and structure. The lyrics throughout the album balance wit and warmth, often exploring themes of love, infidelity, and romantic disillusionment. “The Things We Do for Love” epitomizes this balance, wrapping frustration in a catchy, almost breezy melody. “Feel the Benefit,” in contrast, is more serious in tone, addressing alienation and yearning for authenticity.
Band
- Eric Stewart – lead, co-lead and backing vocals, electric lead (all tracks) and rhythm guitars, slide guitar, piano, Fender Rhodes electric piano, organ, Moog synthesizer, maracas
- Graham Gouldman – lead and backing vocals (all tracks), bass guitar (all tracks), fuzz bass, electric lead and rhythm guitars (all tracks), 12-string acoustic guitar, acoustic guitar, organ and dobro, autoharp, tambourine, handclaps, triangle, guiro
- Paul Burgess – drums (all tracks), tambourine, cabasa, “wah” piano, gong and handclaps, congas, triangle and piano stool, bell-tree and roto-toms, wood blocks and vibraphone, agogô, claves
- Del Newman – string arrangements
- Jean Alain Roussel – Fender Rhodes electric piano and organ
- Tony Spath – piano, oboe
Upon release, Deceptive Bends received positive reviews and restored faith among fans concerned about the band’s future. It was a commercial success, particularly in the U.S., where it achieved Gold certification. Critics praised the tight songwriting and polished production, though some noted the absence of Godley and Creme’s more avant-garde influence.
The album is often ranked among 10cc’s top releases. In fan polls and retrospectives, Deceptive Bends typically appears in the top three, alongside Sheet Music (1974) and The Original Soundtrack (1975). The song “The Things We Do for Love” remains one of 10cc’s most enduring contributions to pop music.
The album cover was designed by Hipgnosis, the legendary design group known for their work with Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin, and Genesis. The cover depicts a surreal underwater rescue scene, with a woman in distress and a diver pulling her from a submerged car. It’s a dramatic, cinematic image that contrasts with the more pop-oriented sound of the album.
The ambiguous imagery plays into the idea of deception hinted at in the album’s title. Deceptive Bends has been reissued several times on CD, including remastered versions with bonus tracks. Some editions include single edits and B-sides like “Hot to Trot.” Vinyl and cassette editions from 1977 are now collectors’ items. A Japanese SHM-CD edition and a deluxe reissue in the 2000s helped reintroduce the album to audiophile and collector markets.
The guitar riff at the beginning of “Feel the Benefit” is reminiscent of the Wings, “Venus and Mars”.
Footnotes
- Strawberry Studios South was a recording facility established by 10cc members Eric Stewart and Graham Gouldman in Dorking, Surrey, following the success of their original Strawberry Studios in Stockport. Opened in the mid-1970s, the South location was built as a state-of-the-art private studio, allowing Stewart and Gouldman to continue producing music independently after the departure of Godley and Creme. It was here that 10cc recorded their acclaimed 1977 album Deceptive Bends, showcasing the studio’s advanced equipment and acoustics. The studio’s setup reflected Stewart’s meticulous approach to sound engineering, and it remained a key creative hub for 10cc during the late 1970s and early 1980s. While not as publicly active as the Stockport studio, Strawberry Studios South was pivotal in sustaining 10cc’s high production standards during their transitional period. ↩︎
Further Reading
Sources
- Richard Manning “10cc Deceptive Bends 1977” https://www.richardmanning.co.uk/hipgnosis-album-cover-art/10cc–deceptive-bends–1977/20
- Wikipedia “Deceptive Bends” https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deceptive_Bends
- Discogs “10cc – Deceptive Bends” https://www.discogs.com/release/15549898-10cc-Deceptive-Bends
- AllMusic “Deceptive Bends 10cc” https://www.allmusic.com/album/deceptive-bends-mw0000654689
- Prog Archives “DECEPTIVE BENDS 10cc • Prog Related” https://www.progarchives.com/album.asp?id=12394
- Steemit “Hipgnosis album art : DECEPTIVE BENDS by 10cc, 1977” https://steemit.com/art/@mandibil/hipgnosis-album-art-deceptive-bends-by-10cc-1977
- Antony Parks “Deceptive Bends” https://www.antonyparks.com/portraits/p/deceptive-bends
- Wikipedia “The Things We Do for Love (song)” https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Things_We_Do_for_Love_%28song%29
