Where to begin? The superbly remastered sound that transforms even the most familiar cut (and, let's face it, most of this stuff has been reissued so often, you'd need to be deaf not to know it backwards) into a whole new listening experience? The 33-song selection that revives the greatest hits alongside some of the greatest
bits, to present a truly well-rounded examination of the full
10cc experience? The gleeful dip into both pre- and post-band history that places both "Neanderthal Man" and "Cry," and "Groovy Kind of Love" and "Bridge to Your Heart," into some kind of context? The two songs that premier
Kevin Godley and
Graham Gouldman's new project,
GG06? A lone
Gouldman four-song re-creation of his late-'60s Graham Gouldman Thing solo album? For anybody with even a passing fascination with the self-styled worst band in the world, Greatest Hits & More is such a treat that, no matter how many other "best-of" collections you already own, this is the only one you need.
The first disc is dedicated to the hits, from "Donna" to "Ready to Go Home," plus the aforementioned
Hotlegs,
Wax and
Godley & Creme monsters, and all of them sounding so fresh that one wonders just what tapes were used for past
10cc remasters? Certainly none that sounded this good. From there, disc two meanders through the album catalog, picking up the epics "Une Nuit a Paris" and "Feel the Benefit" among others.
Godley & Creme's "Wedding Bells" and "Under Your Thumb" follow; more from the duo would have been welcome, but instead,
Gouldman serves up fresh versions of "No Milk Today," "Bus Stop," "For Your Love" and "Heart Full of Soul" (the latter from his And Another Thing solo album, the remainder newly recorded). All four are delightful, but the real excitement lies with the final two cuts, by
GG06 -- "Son of Man," which takes a skewed History Mix-style look back at the birth of
10cc (among other things), and an edited version of "Beautifulloser.com," a moody ballad previously available only on the duo's website. In fairness, it's not the best song they could have selected ("Johnny Hurts" or "Hooligan Crane" would have made better choices), but still the promise of the pairing remains electrifying. This collection proves what a hard act they have to follow, after all. So far,
GG06 look like they can do it. ~ Dave Thompson, All Music Guide
