''Windows in the Jungle'' is the ninth studio album by British rock band

10cc 10cc are an English rock band formed in Stockport in 1972. The group initially consisted of four musicians – Graham Gouldman, Eric Stewart, Kevin Godley and Lol Creme – who had written and recorded together since 1968. The group featured t ...

, released in October 1983.

Background

The album became a return to the roots for 10cc as all the songs on the album were written together by Eric Stewart and Graham Gouldman, some of which were extended pieces with complex arrangements ("24 Hours", "Taxi! Taxi!", "The Secret Life of Henry"), reminiscent of the "Une Nuit a Paris" and " Feel the Benefit" from the earlier albums, and based on the unifying concept of love and life in the city. The album also continued the formula established by the previous 10cc album ''

Ten Out of 10 ''Ten Out of 10'' is the eighth studio album by 10cc. It was released in two different versions with the original edition coming in November 1981 and the US version coming in June 1982 respectively. Overview After two albums of 10cc as a six ...

'' for which the band consisted of

Eric Stewart Eric Michael Stewart (born 20 January 1945) is an English singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and record producer, best known as a founding member of the rock groups the Mindbenders with whom he played from 1963 to 1968, and likewise of 10 ...

and

Graham Gouldman Graham Keith Gouldman (born 10 May 1946) is an English singer, songwriter, and musician, best known as the co-lead singer and bassist of the art rock band 10cc. He has been the band's only constant member since its formation in 1972. Before 10cc ...

with other musicians taking part as session players, however again featuring long-time 10cc collaborators

Rick Fenn Richard Fenn (born 23 May 1953) is an English rock guitarist. He has been a member of the band 10cc since 1976 and has also collaborated with Mike Oldfield, Rick Wakeman, Hollies singer Peter Howarth, and Pink Floyd drummer Nick Mason. Hist ...

and

Stuart Tosh Stuart Mcbeath Tosh (born 26 September 1948), also known as Stuart Tosh, is a Scottish drummer, songwriter and vocalist. He was born in Aberdeen, Scotland. He recorded and toured with a succession of bands during the 1970s and 1980s, including ...

along with recent addition of

Vic Emerson Victor Emerson (1949 – 13 October 2018) was an English musician, songwriter and keyboardist. He was a founder member of the bands Mandalaband and Sad Café. He was co-writer of the latter's 1979 No. 3 UK hit single "Every Day Hurts" and the 19 ...

to the live lineup. However, the album marked the absence of Paul Burges for the first time since 1977 ''

Deceptive Bends ''Deceptive Bends'' is the fifth studio album by rock band 10cc, released in 1977. History The band started recording sessions for the fifth album in late summer of 1976 with the song " People in Love", at that time referred to as "Voodoo Boo ...

''. ''Windows in the Jungle'' was recorded in Strawberry Studios North, the first time 10cc recorded the album entirely there since 1976 '' How Dare You!'' as Strawberry Studios South was occupied at the beginning of the recording by

The Moody Blues The Moody Blues were an English rock band formed in Birmingham in 1964, initially consisting of keyboardist Mike Pinder, multi-instrumentalist Ray Thomas, guitarist Denny Laine, drummer Graeme Edge and bassist Clint Warwick. The group came to ...

for the recording of '' The Present''.

recalled that the finished album did not meet his initial expectations:

"Windows started as a concept album and I'm sorry I didn't pursue that goal, the pressure for the ''hit single'' always got in the way with 10cc albums.

I longed to be like
Pink Floyd Pink Floyd are an English rock band formed in London in 1965. Gaining an early following as one of the first British psychedelic music, psychedelic groups, they were distinguished by their extended compositions, sonic experimentation, philo ...
and just go for large musical statements like "One Night in Paris" and " Feel the Benefit", but we were locked onto the singles roundabout, the 'quick buck', and it was impossible to break free at the time. The album was not really very successful, 10cc wise, anywhere in the rest of the world really, but in terms of sales today it was a minor hit."Eric Stewart's reply to a question at his website
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The album turned out to be the last for 10cc for nine years, as well as their final album for

Mercury Records Mercury Records is an American record label owned by Universal Music Group. It had significant success as an independent operation in the 1940s and 1950s. Smash Records and Fontana Records were sub labels of Mercury. In the United States, it is ...

and final to be recorded in their own

Strawberry Studios Strawberry Studios was a recording studio in Stockport, England. Founded in 1968, it operated until the early 1990s. Formation The facility was originally called Inter-City Studios and located above a music store in the town centre. In early ...

. It was also the final studio album to feature musicians from the lineup formed during the making of ''

Bloody Tourists ''Bloody Tourists'' is the sixth studio album by the English rock band 10cc, released worldwide by Mercury Records and in North America by Polydor Records in September 1978. Recorded at Strawberry Studios South in Dorking, the album was produ ...

'' (1978) (except for the brief appearance of Rick Fenn on '' Mirror Mirror'').

Release and promotion

The album made only a brief appearance in the UK charts peaking at No. 70, but became a Top 10 in

Netherlands ) , anthem = ( en, "William of Nassau") , image_map = , map_caption = , subdivision_type = Sovereign state , subdivision_name = Kingdom of the Netherlands , established_title = Before independence , established_date = Spanish Netherl ...

peaking at No. 7. Two singles were released from the album, UK only "24 Hours" in early 1983 featuring live versions of " I'm Not in Love" and "

Dreadlock Holiday "Dreadlock Holiday" is a reggae song by 10cc. Written by Eric Stewart and Graham Gouldman, it was the lead single from the band's 1978 album, '' Bloody Tourists''. Composition The song was based on real events Eric Stewart and Moody Blues voca ...

" from the 10th Anniversary tour in 1982, and " Feel the Love (Oomachasaooma)", which was given a tennis-themed music video by former

members

Godley and Creme Godley & Creme were an English rock duo formally established in Manchester in 1977 by Kevin Godley and Lol Creme. The pair began releasing music as a duo after their departure from the rock band 10cc. In 1979, they directed their first music ...

. Both made low appearance in the UK charts at No. 78 and No. 87 respectively, but "Feel the Love" became a Top 10 hit in Netherlands again, also peaking at No. 7. A third single, released only in the Netherlands, was "Food for Thought" coupled with the non-album track "The Secret Life of Henry". It charted at No. 18. The album was reissued in 2006 in Japan and in 2014 in Europe featuring single edits and b-sides as bonus tracks.

Track listing

All songs written by

and

. # "24 Hours" – 8:09 # " Feel the Love (Oomachasaooma)" – 5:10 # "Yes, I Am" – 6:03 # "Americana Panorama" – 3:45 # "City Lights" – 3:34 # "Food for Thought" – 3:34 # "Working Girls" – 4:26 # "Taxi! Taxi!" – 7:39

Personnel

;10cc *

– lead vocals, guitars, keyboards, percussion *

– vocals, bass, guitars, percussion *

– vocals, lead guitar, acoustic guitar *

– keyboards *

– vocals, percussion, marimba, drums (on "Food for Thought") ;with *

Steve Gadd Stephen Kendall Gadd (born April 9, 1945) is an American drummer, percussionist, and session musician. Gadd is one of the best-known and highly regarded session and studio drummers in the industry, recognized by his induction into the ''Modern D ...

– drums, percussion * Simon Phillips – drums * Mike Timony – keyboards *

Mel Collins Melvyn Desmond Collins (born 5 September 1947, Isle of Man) is a British saxophonist, flautist and session musician. Collins has played in several progressive rock groups, having been a member of King Crimson on two occasions (the first from ...

– saxophones

Charts performance

Weekly charts

Year-end charts

References

{{Authority control 10cc albums 1983 albums Mercury Records albums Albums with cover art by Storm Thorgerson Albums recorded at Strawberry Studios Albums produced by Graham Gouldman Albums produced by Eric Stewart