graham gouldman - 5th july 2002

Graham Gouldman

Carl Wayne: By the miracle of communication, we have on the line the brilliant Graham Gouldman. Graham, how’re you doing?

Graham Gouldman: Hello Carl, how are you?

CW: Well, I’m fine! So, why thirty years, Graham, after “The Graham Gouldman Thing”, why have we had to wait thirty years for “And Another Thing?”

GG: Oh, well I was busy doing other things! (laughter from both) I had a few other things to do, and because of 10cc, I suppose, and my work with Wax after that, I felt all the songs I was writing and co-writing went into those projects. Then I had some time on my hands and found that there were a few songs that I’d written that I really loved and for one reason or another didn’t get placed with any other artist. I decided it was time to put them down on another CD.

CW: I know what you’re doing these days of course, because I worked with you recently, in Belgium, we did a great gig in Genk.

GG: That’s right, good old Genk!

CW: What a great band you have there. Rick Fen on guitar….

GG: Yeah, it’s a great band, I’m very proud of the boys, they’re wonderful musicians and good friends as well.

CW: It’s nice though, it’s quality stuff, that’s what I like about it, it’s really good. It’s like when people come and watch the Hollies, or when you do a Hollies show, one after the other these hits come and you keep thinking “Blimey, I’d forgotten that one! And there’s another one, and there’s another one!”

GG: I know, it is amazing. People come up and say exactly that after the shows. That’s the thing though, we want to remind people, particularly of the music of 10cc. There seems to be almost a reaction against what’s been happening in pop music today. There are people of our generation, if I may be so bold as to put us in the same generation…

CW: Us old boys!

GG: ..yeah, they want to hear good quality music. There’s a lot of good mucic today that’s fine, but a lot of our generation want to hear some proper pop stuff.

CW: Yeah, I agree, there’s a fine line. I find that here on my programme, you’ve just got to be careful what you do play. Is it today you’re doing Epsom, by the way?

GG: We did it last night.

CW: How was it?

GG: It was really good, it was great. It was freezing, but it was really good.

CW: I did it last year with The Hollies.

GG: The racecourse is really looking after the punters, you know, they can come and have a great afternoon or evening, and then watch the band as well. Wonderful audience.

CW: I know, I went there thinking I was going to meet Lester Piggott and Willie Carson, but the only thing I saw was a screen! About four horses, and that was about it! Anyway, let’s go back to this album, because we played a wonderful track called “Dancing Days” when we were trying to get you on the line. I mean, you’ve got some great musicians on this as well, haven’t you?

GG: Yeah, and great songwriters. Most of the songs I have co-written. I like collaboration very much. I’ve worked with people in Nashville, I have a writing partner in Italy, and some people in the UK as well. I like to mix it up a bit.

CW: Well, it’s quality stuff, isn’t it?

GG: Well, we like to think it’s quality stuff!

CW: It is, aye, it’s quality stuff, lad! (in his best Yorkshire accent) I mean, when you think of the stuff you’ve done, it’s all been quality stuff.

GG: Well, I hope so, I think when you’re writing or performing or whatever you’re doing, you’ve got to please yourself first of all. It has to go through your own filter before it’s allowed out. If I’m embarrassed about something or think it’s rubbish, then I’m certainly not going to let anybody else hear it!

CW: There’s another track on here which of course I know, because you sent it to me some time ago, called “Can Anybody See?” which is very Gerry Rafferty, it’s lovely. You sent it to me for The Hollies primarily.

GG: That’s right, you phoned me up, asked me, and I acted upon your orders!

CW: Let me just cross this bridge with you, don’t you think it’s time The Hollies recorded again?

GG: I think there’s no doubt about it. I would imagine that you would be on a very major label, but there are other important acts that are still recording, and putting stuff out, and selling it, even if it’s just via the internet.

CW: Of course.

GG: And they’re selling lots of records, you know, because there’s a market there. And how do you know if there’s a market, you have to try it. But for a band like the Hollies, a classic, established act, one of the backbones of the Sixties, which is the backbone of everything else that followed, then I would say, yes, there is a market for you. As I said to you when we were in Belgium, it’s something that I’d love to be involved in.

CW: Well, I’m going to twist the boys’ arms, because we’re away again over the next week in Germany. I’m certainly going to impress upon them, especially after listening to this album.

GG: Carl, tell them that you spoke to Graham, he’s a little bit upset, he might have to send the boys round!

CW: We got a boy over here in Birmingham, called Big Albert! Graham, I’m going to play you out today with a great track from this album. I wish you luck with it, it should be a major success. Ladies and gentleman, this is Graham Gouldman and “And Another Thing”, thirty years after his first album. You take care.

GG: Thank you very much, Carl.

CW: And this is a Graham Gouldman classic song, it’s called “You Stole My Love"

Transcribed by Helen Macdonald for The Official Carl Wayne Website