Magnetic Heaven

ANDREW GOLD

Andrew in 1976 on the cover of his album "What's Wrong With This Picture"

Andrew worked as a studio guitarist especially with Linda Rondstadt in the seventies and also released very successful solo work including the hit singles "Lonely Boy", "Never Let Her Slip Away" and "Thank You For Being A Friend". That last song is best known as the intro to the TV series of "Golden Girls". He also was in two bands: Floating House Band and Bryndle (releasing the single "Woke Up This Morning" in 1970).

GRAHAM GOULDMAN

Andrew in 1966

Graham played in various band since 1963: High Spots, the Crevattes, the Planets and the Whirlwinds. In late 1964 he formed the band Mockingbirds including Lol Creme. They released a single written by Graham titled "For Your Love" which would later become a hit for the Yardbirds. By now he never charted with his own material himself but became a successful songwriter and wrote some songs for the Yardbirds ("Heart Full of Soul"") , The Hollies ("Bus Stop"), Herman's Hermits ("No Milk Today") and Wayne Fontana ("The Impossible Years") and many more. Again he played in several bands like High Society, The Manchester Mob and The Mindbenders (including Eric Stewart). In 1968 he released his first solo album titled "The Graham Gouldman Thing". In 1970 Graham joined Kevin Godley, Eric Stewart and Lol Creme to form Hotlegs. They had a hit single with the song "Neanderthal Man". They very quickly changed the name of the band to 10CC and scored many hits.

10CC

10CC in 1976

In 1976 Godley and Creme left 10CC to continue working together as a duo. Eric Stewart and Graham Gouldman continued as 10cc and scored more hits including "The Things We Do For Love" and "People In Love" from their 1977 album "Deceptive Bends" and "Dreadlock Holiday" from "Bloody Tourists" (1978). The album "Look Hear" from 1980 flopped including the singles released from the album.

In 1981 10cc was working on the album "Ten Out Of 10". Lenny Waronker (producer and executive of Warner Bros.) invited Andrew Gold to record with the band. The US release of that album featured 3 songs co-written and co-produced by Andrew. It resulted in the offer for Andrew Gold to join 10cc permanently. Something he refused because of other commitments at that time.

WORLD IN ACTION/COMMON KNOWLEDGE

Common Knowledge single "Don't Break My Heart"

Common Knowledge single "Victoria"

When 10cc Broke up in 1983 Graham Gould persuaded Andrew to visit him at home in Mottram St. Andrew to write and record some songs. After 7 months they decided to form a band called "World In Action" and released a single titled "Don't Break My Heart" in 1984. To avoid confusion the name of the band was changed to "Common Knowledge" because there was a TV Show on ITV with the name "World In Action". With the new name the single was reissued as well as a second single titled "Victoria" released in 1985. Both Singles flopped and the recorded album was shelved.

Single cover of "Ball And Chain"

Single cover of "Right Between The Eyes"

WAX

Then they signed a new contract to start working on new material but in this case under the name of Wax. The first single released as Wax was "Ball And Chain" in 1985 but still didn't impress. But then everything changed in 1986 when the second Wax single was released titled "Right Between The Eyes" reaching #60 in the UK, #43 in the USA, #24 in the Netherlands and #1 in Spain. Then they released their first album "Magnetic Heaven" in 1986.

More albums followed in 1987 titled "American English" including the hit "Bridge To Your Heart" and "A Hundred Thousand In Fresh Notes" in 1989 including "Wherever You Are". Finnalyy in 1998 the shelved album by Common Knowledge was finally released as Commmonknowledge.com.