L (Godley & Creme album)

L is the second album by Godley & Creme. It was released in 1978. At 34 minutes, it is less than a third as long as the group's previous effort, the ill-received triple concept album Consequences (1977). Despite this, L was also not received well commercially.

L
Studio album by
Godley & Creme
ReleasedAugust 1978
RecordedMarch–June 1978; Surrey Sound Studios
GenreArt rock
Length34:22
LabelMercury Records
ProducerKevin Godley, Lol Creme
Godley & Creme chronology
Consequences
(1977)		 L
(1978)		 Freeze Frame
(1979)
Singles from L
  1. "Sandwiches of You" / "Foreign Accents"
    Released: 5 January 1979[1]
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Allmusic[2]
Birmingham Post[3]
Record Mirror[4]

The songs contain much variation and artistry, dissonances, complex time signatures and melodies, poetic lyrics, and some echoes from Frank Zappa's Over-Nite Sensation (1973). Zappa is even name-checked on the song "Art School Canteen." The album was played almost completely by Godley and Creme, except for saxophones, and a brief vocal cameo by Paul Gambaccini.

The lyrics retained the satirical stance of some 10cc material, with songs such as "The Sporting Life" and "Art School Canteen", which deal with suicide and art school angst.

The album cover depicts an "L-plate", used in some countries to designate vehicles with novice drivers ("Learner"). Although the duo were generally known as 'Godley and Creme', the original cover merely repeats their surnames around its perimeter (on the back) and delineates their 'group' name as 'Godley + Creme' on the spine.

Track listing
Side 1
  1. "The Sporting Life" – 7:25
  2. "Sandwiches of You" – 3:17
  3. "Art School Canteen" – 3:00
  4. "Group Life" – 4:11
Side 2
  1. "Punchbag" – 4:44
  2. "Foreign Accents" – 4:37
  3. "Hit Factory/Business Is Business" – 7:08

Personnel

Credits sourced from the original album liner notes and "Sound International"[5]

  • Kevin Godley – lead and backing vocals, drums (1, 2, 4, 5), xylophone (1, 2, 6), roto-toms (1), percussion (1, 2, 7), congas (3), triangle (4), clavinet (5), high-hat (6), tonal percussion (6), snare drum (6), bongos (7), drum machine (7), bass guitar (4)
  • Lol Creme – lead and backing vocals, piano (1, 3-7), Rhodes electric piano (1, 4), guitars (1, 2, 4-7), Kramer bass guitar (1, 2, 5-7), Gizmo (1, 3, 5, 7), Farfisa organ (1), Guild 12-string acoustic guitar (3), Guild acoustic bass guitar (3), clavinet (4, 6), drums (7)
  • Andy Mackay – baritone (7), tenor (6, 7), soprano (7), and alto saxophone (6, 7)
  • Paul Gambaccini – Bad Samaritan voices (1)
  • Jonathan Handelsman – alto and soprano saxophones (4)
  • Chris Gray, Nigel Gray – engineers

References
  1. "Fact Sheets" (PDF). Music Week. 13 January 1979. p. 27. Retrieved 1 January 2023.
  2. Allan, Mark. L at AllMusic
  3. Cowen, Andrew (14 August 2004). "CD Reviews: It's too little and too late". Birmingham Post. Birmingham Post and Mail: 52 – via ProQuest.
  4. Smith, Robin (19 August 1978). "Driving without L plates at last" (PDF). Record Mirror: 24 – via World Radio History.
  5. Denyer, Ralph (October 1978). "Godley & Creme". Sound International (Oct 1978): 34–37.
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