Graham Gouldman, the co-writer of 10cc's iconic hit 'I'm Not in Love', has revealed that the song was once blamed for destroying a man's marriage. The 1975 chart-topper, often hailed as one of the greatest love songs in pop history, continues to evoke powerful emotional reactions nearly five decades after its release.
Gouldman recalled an encounter with a stranger who approached him and said the song had ruined his marriage. 'I don't know what happened. He didn't go into the details and I don't think I wanted to know what I was partially responsible for,' the 79-year-old musician said.
The six-minute epic spent two weeks at number one, won three Ivor Novello awards, and has been played over three million times on US radio stations. It has been covered more than 60 times and tells the story of a lover denying their feelings despite all signs to the contrary.
Gouldman noted the song's powerful impact on listeners, saying, 'People tell me happy and sad things about that song. It's powerful. They identify it with a break-up, or meeting someone, or events that led to happy families.' He added that when performed live, the mood in the audience shifts noticeably, with some smiling and others wiping away tears.
The recording process took three weeks, with each band member singing 'ahhh' 16 times for each note, creating a choir of 48 voices. Gouldman admitted that while they knew the song was special, they didn't anticipate it becoming a major hit. He now believes it will be one of those songs that endures long after they are gone.
Gouldman will perform with his current 10cc lineup at the Cheltenham Jazz Festival next month, playing all the hits including 'I'm Not in Love', 'The Things We Do for Love', and 'Dreadlock Holiday'. He expressed regret that the original band members never reunited, saying, 'It's something I've always regretted - that we couldn't have sorted something out.'
