10cc

This humor-driven pop band, whose name is actually the metric total of semen the average male ejaculates during sex, became a top act in Europe and the U.K. but was mostly a cult sensation stateside. Consisting of an all-star cast of Manchester musicians, 10cc was one of the few bands where every member wrote and sang lead throughout entire albums. Obviously inspired by the "recording studio-is-an-instrument-in-itself" formula conceived by The Beatles, 10cc wrote intelligent and often hilarious pop songs.

Graham Gouldman had written hits for the Yardbirds, Herman's Hermits and other British Invasion bands; Eric Stewart had been in Wayne Fontana and The Mindbenders and appeared in the film To Sir, with Love; and Lol Crème and Kevin Godley were topnotch studio musicians. All of the members of 10cc were excellent writers and vocalists.

After 1976's How Dare You, the original lineup essentially splintered into two acts. Stewart and Gouldman remained as 10cc with a new six-piece lineup and Crème and Godley formed a video production team, eventually producing many of the innovative early MTV videos such as Herbie Hancock's "Rockit" as well as releasing albums as a duo. Fortunately, 10cc was able to continue to have hits and endure for another six years.

10cc would stay together until 1983, when, after the disappointing sales of their two last albums, they disbanded. Stewart went on to write songs with Paul McCartney for his Press album, and Gouldman went on to produce acts such as The Ramones before forming a duo with Andrew Gold, called WAX.