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18 of 18 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Fine album by later 10cc line up, May 7, 2000
Bloody Tourist is the second post Godley & Creme 10cc album. This album demonstrated that Deceptive Bends wasn't a fluke and that Stewart and Gouldman could capably continue without the duo. This loose concept album uses the tourist theme of the title for a wide variety of great songs (including Reds in my Bed and Dreadlock Holiday).In addition to the terrific Dreadlock Holiday, there is the Beatlesque Chains of Love. Stewart's excellent slide playing (which reminds me a bit of George Harrison--albeit considerably more skillful)along with his strong lead vocal are highlights of this great track. There are a couple of clunkers as well--this album probably could have been pared down to 8 strong tracks line The Original Soundtrack with the remainder as b sides.New member Rick Fenn co-writes one of the better tracks and, with later albums, would show as much skill as a songwriter as both Stewart & Gouldman. This is the last 10cc album that holds up well to the classic first four. I find You And I to be a nice song but filler. It hasn't aged as well as the single or the stronger album tracks. The sythesizer dates the song (the poor sounding remastering on this track doesn't help either). While the band would produce albums that were always memorable, the quality got a bit spotty after this album. I should mention that the out of print 10 out of 10 (which you can find occasionally at amazon auctions) and Window to the Jungle are both fairly solid albums. The former album is the better of the two and almost as good as this and Deceptive Bends. As to the issue of the sound quality. It varies considerably from track to track. Roger Wake (who supervised the fine mastering job on both Original Soundtrack and How Dare You!) fails to do a good mastering job here. Shame on you Roger! This reissue doesn't sound significantly worse than the previously issued CD version (the previous version sounds a bit more brittle and the depth and definition aren't as good as this versions best tracks) just different. The "wow" and "flutter" problem mentioned does cause some distortion. The sound isn't up to the same quality of the Mobile Fidelity Sound version of The Original Soundtrack or any of the other reissues (RIP MFS--you folks would have done a marvelous job with this CD). All I can suggest to fans of the band is to contact DCC (who put out the excellent 2fer of 10cc/Sheet Music)and convince them to license this CD. With Steve Hoffman at the sound board I don't don't this would sound terrific. A missed opportunity on the part of Polydor and Wake to truly make this fine album shine. A pity that Eric Stewart wasn't involved in remastering this. His talents as both producer and engineer would have improved this version considerably. 2 Stars for the variable sound quality but 4 stars for the bulk of the album. By the way, the bonus track (a b side from the Dreadlock Holiday single) is one of the best tracks on the album. It should have been substituted for one of the weaker album tracks.
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14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:
1.0 out of 5 stars
Beware the REMASTERED version of BLOODY TOURISTS, March 25, 2004
First, allow me to say that I have loved this album since it first came out on vinyl back in 1978 - it's full of the inventive and humorous music that 10cc has been known for.
However, when Mercury-UK remastered "Bloody Tourists" for reissue in 1997 (release #534 973-2), they botched it dramatically. There are obvious tape speed fluctuations all over the place, most dramatically on "Last Night," "Old Mister Time," "From Rochdale To Ocho Rios," and "Everything You Wanted To Know About!!!" Strangely the newly appended bonus track "Nothing Can Move Me" is without flaws - perhaps the source tape used for the main album was bad, or the machine it was run on was improperly calibrated. However, Mercury/Polygram should not have allowed this product to be distributed in the poor condition that it is in. Avoid this version at all costs, and hope that perhaps the Japanese release is a different master.
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11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
"Bloody Tourists" is bloody great indeed! quintessential 10cc; stylistic variety and great songwriting, November 4, 2004
10cc's "Bloody Tourists" was originally released in September of 1978--this was the follow up to 1977's "Deceptive Bends", & it was the second 10cc record without Godley & Creme who left the group in 1976 & continued to work as duo. Certainly their departure had a big impact on 10cc--they contributed largely to the songwriting & overall sound of the group. However, the other 2 original 10cc members, Eric Stewart & Graham Gouldman, were extremely talented dudes in their own right, and they're basically running the show on here, and the result is a brilliant album. I realize that this album is typically considered a disappointment compared to "Deceptive Bends", the first album without Godley & Creme, but it's actually quite the opposite--Stewart & Gouldman were considerably off their game on "Deceptive Bends", but here they bounced back in a big way, & 10cc's work would remain consistently strong/ brilliant until their initial breakup in 1983/ 1984, making this album quite a bit like a rebirth for them. Rick Fenn, Stuart Tosh, Duncan Mackay, & Paul Burgess were additional band members at this point, but apart from "Dreadlock Holiday" (as well as its non-LP b-side "Nothing Can Move Me", included here as a bonus track) which is credited as having been produced by the whole group, the entire album was produced by Stewart & Gouldman, & also, between the two of them, they were responsible for all of the songwriting apart from just a few co-writes from other members. As usual, there are a lot of different styles, terrific production values, & great performances. You still gets lots of wildly imaginative lyrics that are at times highly amusing, although the tone is overall a heck of a lot less "jokey" without Godley & Creme around, & considering how over-the-top they went at times, plus with the material on "Bloody Tourists" being as strong as it is, it's a welcome change. The album piles up great track after great track. The reggae tune "Dreadlock Holiday" and the somewhat country-fied "Take These Chains" are infectiously catchy. The gorgeous thought-provoking ballad "For You and I", and the amusing, irresitible "Reds In My Bed" (written by Eric & Stuart Tosh, with an excellent lead vocal by Stu) are each splendidly tuneful, as is the dramatic and hauntingly powerful "Old Mister Time". Graham's tender "Life Line" seamlessly moves from acoustic balladry to catchy reggae. Eric's multi-part, wild subway sex fantasy "Shock on the Tube (Don't Want Love)" is a blast--it starts off with him singing on top of a dreamy, choir-like backing, before switching into a mid-tempo quasi-barroom style rocker with prominent piano (I don't know how else to explain it) and an exciting, roaring Stewart vocal, & adds a catchy chorus & rip-roaring riffy sections. Eric's ode to "Tokyo" is pretty bizarre--admittedly, the lyrics are weak and rather embarassing, and the track doesn't entirely hold together, but the opening portion, before the drums kick in at 1:53 of the track, is truly arresting with the dreamy textured sound and the engaging, somewhat haunting melodicism. Graham's tropical-flavored "From Rochdale To Ocho Rios", with a great acoustic riff, expresses the frustration of travelling from place to place in upbeat, whimsical fashion--it's a tad fluff-ish, but it's still a lot of fun. "The Anonymous Alcoholic", in uncanny fashion, captures the woefulness of living with alcohol addiction--it fittingly starts off using slow R&B as a backdrop for a tale about a guy suffering from withdrawal who swears he won't drink again, though of course he can't help himself, & the music switches into disco-mode to coincide with the guy drunkenly hitting the dancefloor & getting himself into a mess of trouble--perhaps this is Stewart & Gouldman's attempt at their own "sound movie" (a term Godley & Creme used for their "Une Nuit A Paris" from the 1975 album "The Original Soundtrack"), but it doesn't sound at all forced & they pull it off excellently. The original vinyl LP ended with Stewart's "Everything You Wanted To Know About!!! (Exclamation Marks)" which has ultra catchy, highly syncopated verses, and the lyrics on this tune, as well as "Shock On The Tube", both demonstrate his seemingly intense obsession with casual sex and/ or sex without love, seemingly as an attempt to fill the emptiness of not having true love; this general theme would go on to become increasingly prominent with Stewart on his 1982 solo album "Frooty Rooties", which makes me wonder about the state of his personal life around this time. "Last Night" starts off in suprisingly grungey & dull fashion, but it does shift gears & overall it's not bad. Overall, the album is immensely enjoyable.
Unfortunately, as mentioned by other reviewers, this Mercury Records CD reissue numbered 534 973-2 does leave quite a bit to be desired. Yes, I do give a big thumbs up for the inclusion of the cool, bluesy "Dreadlock Holiday" b-side "Nothing Can Move Me"--that's a definite plus. However, the sticker on the front claiming "extensive sleevenotes" is highly exaggerated--you get a considerably unenlightening & tiring essay that sprinkles in quotes from the album's lyrics. The original gatefold vinyl LP featured a picture with all 6 band members, full performance credits for each tune, & printed lyrics for all of the songs--none of these are featured with this CD reissue. Plus, "Old Mister Time" is credited as having been co-written by Dave Mackay--I presume they must mean Duncan Mackay. Then, of course, there's the issue of sound quality. I will say that although speed fluctuations are indeed noticeable, the sound quality isn't a DISASTER--the speed fluctuations are actually quite minor. I mean, it's a damn shame to hear that the album's original master recordings were considerably damaged--you do unfortunately hear some 'wrinkled tape' noises, but it's not like the sound on this CD is so bad that it can't be enjoyed--disappointing though it is, it's not THAT bad. Certainly there's no need to avoid it at all costs, as another reviewer said. It'd be a shame if listeners pass on "Bloody Tourists", because it really is a must-have album, a terrific demonstration of the brilliance of Eric Stewart & Graham Gouldman.
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