ORIGINAL SOUNDTRACKERS

In 1975, 10cc and Queen reigned supreme with I'm Not In Love and that also happened to be the Christmas No 1. But how did both Bohemian Rhapsody. The former was the chart-topping sound of the game-changing singles happen that year, and which, wonders Paul summer and a production landmark, the latter a multi-part song-suite McNulty, remains the most revolutionary example of 70s songcraft?

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Hot Space

In 2021, 10cc founder member Graham Gouldman, inspired by the deep space James Webb telescope, wrote a song called Floating In Heaven. He asked the best-known astronomer in the UK, Queen's Brian May, to play on it. May accepted and then returned the favour by inviting Gouldman to join him at the yearly Starmus science festival (of which May is the co-founder). The two performed Gouldman's new song as well as reaching all the way back to 1965, to rock out on Heart Full Of Soul, Gouldman's second hit single as a writer - originally recorded by The Yardbirds. It was a satisfying moment to see the ambassadors from their respective bands coming together, seeing their often strikingly similar careers intersecting for once, rather than running on parallel tracks.

Procession

“An overdub has no choice; an image cannot rejoice.” Gerry Goffin and Carole King 1975. Queen and 10cc. Bohemian Rhapsody and I’m Not in Love. What was in the air then? How did Queen and 10cc come to release their defining records within months of each other? Listeners were receptive to innovation then, and being primed for it, they demanded it. And 50 years ago, they were rewarded with twin jolts from these uncompromising masterpieces. Both were six-minute-long, UK No 1 singles. And both continue to fascinate to this day.

Yet the status of the respective bands has diverged. Queen pulled inexorably ahead: in 2024, they finished second to The Beatles in Radio 2's poll for best British band (10cc made the long-list of 54). In 2025, Queen were crowned the most played rock act of the 21st century on UK radio and TV; David Bowie, U2, Oasis and Fleetwood Mac completed the Top 5.