Album review : 10CC – The Stockport Shuffle (boxset, 6CDs + DVD)

November 15th, 2026 by brianmc

Cherry Red [Release date : 20.11.26]

Are you a completist? Are you a 10 cc fan?
If you’ve answered “yes” to both, then your moment has arrived.

An expanded synopsis of the Stockport Shuffle boxset informs us we have 6 CDs, built around remastered versions of the band’s first two albums.

It also includes a Blu-ray disc, with live TV performances and Surround Sound mixes.

A veritable treasure trove.

CD1 : 10cc/self titled (1973) remaster, plus singles

CD2 : Sheet Music (1974) remaster, plus singles and vinyl rarities.

CD3 : BBC Transcription disc, 1972-74, mono mixes, promos

CD4 : Extended Masters

CD5 : 10cc album sessions with highlights

CD6 : Sheet Music album sessions with highlights

Disc 7 Blu-ray : inc BBC In Concert and Dolby Atmos Sound Mixes

Closely following the career route pioneered by The Beatles at the end of the sixties, The Stockport Shuffle chronicles 10cc’s activities between 1972 and 1974.

The boxset focuses on the first two albums, but is otherwise full-to-bursting-point, including the thrilling, first-ever availability of numerous out-takes, works-in-progress and exploratory demos, some with different musical arrangements and lyrics and even alternative lead singers. With the addition of single mixes, non-album B-sides, promo-only DJ edits, BBCsessions and many other goodies. This is the definitive take on 10cc’s first two albums.

But first, what went before.
Graham Gouldman was a successful songwriter, having written classic pop songs for The Hollies (Bus Stop), The Yarbirds (For Your Love), Herman’s Hermits (Listen People/ No Milk Today). Eric Stewart was the handsome face, voice and guitarist of The Mindbenders. Kevin Godley and Lol Creme were the hugely talented art rock duo who had already released albums prior to joining 10cc.

A strange brew indeed. For the insiders who knew this history, no surprise that these two albums were full of musical imagination, done with glamour, adventure and melody, often with tongues firmly in cheeks.

And of course both stand on their own, buoyed up first by two musical pastiches: ‘Donna’ and ‘Rubber Bullets’ were the band’s first two chartbreaking single releases. In those days of mediocrity, it was impossible to peel back the layers. The rock charts were full of nondescript uniformity, and so these two very novel, satirical parodies hit everybody’s sweet spot.
The third single, ‘The Dean And I’ is as light as cake frosting, catchy, bouncy, and followed the first two into the UK Top Ten.

Sheet Music was an exciting, inventive album, perhaps not quite as commercial as the debut. Still, the singles, ‘Wall Street Shuffle’ and ‘Silly Love’ climbed the UK charts.
Allmusic’s Dave Thompson summarised that it was “perhaps the most widely adventurous album of what would become a wildly adventurous year”.

Alongside remastered versions of both albums and numerous singles are a dazzling number of previously unissued highlights, featuring alternative versions/ arrangements/ lyrics/ vocalists as well as works-in-progress, studio chatter, isolated vocal tracks and discarded instrumental/ vocal parts and BBC sessions.

When listening to all these extras, the most impressive aspect of what are boundlessly impressive recordings, is the richness of ideas and the depth of sound.

We’re witnessing the excitement and ambition and sheer talent of a band who were waist deep in ideas.

In 1973, we didn’t know we were waiting for 10cc and these two albums, but their arrival was cause for much celebration.

With a 40-page booklet featuring numerous rare photos, band quotes and a new 7,000 word essay on the band’s time at UK Records, we can live those moment vicariously, and enjoy each and every one. *****

Review by Brian McGowan

Featured Artist: JOSH TAERK

Since early 2020 Josh has been entertaining us with exclusive monthly live sessions,

Check out videos here: https://www.facebook.com/getreadytorockradio

Josh now hosts “Taerk’s Tracks” as part of the Singer Songwriter Sunday sequence on Get Ready to ROCK! Radio.

This is the second show broadcast on 25 October Josh presents some of his inspirational artists and tracks.

David Randall presents a weekly show on Get Ready to ROCK! Radio, Sundays at 22:00 GMT, repeated on Mondays and Fridays), when he invites listeners to ‘Assume The Position’. The show signposts forthcoming gigs and tours and latest additions at getreadytorock.com. First broadcast 18 October 2026.

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Power Plays w/c 9 November 2026

ZETRA Adrena (Nuclear Blast Records)
THE HARBOURS Breathe (indie)
SUM SUN Worth The Wait (indie)
SKERRYVORE Second Chance (indie)
WASTED WIZARDS WTF (Dalapop)
BLACKTOP MOJO Time The Killer (indie)

Featured Albums w/c 9 November 2026

09:00-12:00 The Best of 2003 – 2025 (Melodic Rock)
12:00-13:00 The Best of 2003 – 2025 (Melodic Hard Rock)
14:00-16:00 The Best of 2003 – 2025 (Singer Songwriter)

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