Godley & Creme - An Englishman In New York

Music video by Godley & Creme performing An Englishman In New York. © 1979 Polydor Ltd. (UK)
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[@stevendimmock4791]

These guys had talent and ideas by the bucket load. Not everything hit home, but when it did, boy!! was it great. The most original thinkers in rock music.

[@xxryder1]

You're not serious!?

[@davidmillar6708]

@@xxryder1 Err, yes. Look at their back catalogue.

[@xxryder1]

@@davidmillar6708 "The most original thinkers in rock music". GTFO!

[@trebleking1641]

I wouldn't go that far, mate. This hadn't a hope of doing anything in the UK at that time.

[@ZenFox0]

I was looking for Sting's "Englishman in New York" and stumbled across this. Happy I did.

[@AllRequired]

This is kickass, that's meh.

[@fazolis2024]

this one came out earlier 😈😈😈😈😈😈😈😈😈😈😈😈😈😈😈😈😈😈😈

[@captainjamescook2978]

Look up Wide Boy. You will love it

[@fazolis2024]

@@captainjamescook2978 wide boy is so good

[@pressplay7918]

Me toooooooo😊

[@simonmarleys5368]

The two most unlikely pop stars ever - and all the more brilliant for it - a beautiful cynical masterpiece

[@GlenAnderson71]

Made the top ten in the Australian charts back in 1980. Awesome song

[@gjmob]

I remember it well on Countdown. They also created the music video for Herbie Hancock's 'Rockit' in 1984.

[@stumeister5507]

Indeed. I remember absolutely hating this song and here i am now 43 years later liking it a lot

[@KingFahtah]

I was a kid back then. The ABC played it all the time. It freaked me out more than the daleks

[@paulcooper5748]

I remember it.

[@CJArnold-hq3ey]

Hahahaha you old coot 😵

[@JohnnyMoulder]

Heard this for the first time today while listening to an 80s internet radio station. Love it!

[@benji274]

Every lyric is an absolute zinger

[@MagruderSpoots]

I can't think of anything they wrote that wasn't brilliant

[@ricksantana1016]

Godley & Creme sure knew how to paint and craft a song especially when working with the limited technologies of the 70’s and 80’s they were truly ahead of their time respectively…

[@darrenl]

Incredible to think that this song only became a hit in a small number of European countries and in Australia! Such an original late 70s piece and video. Definitely deserves more recognition in music history!

[@riffcat04]

You think? I’m thinking that this is just the kind of quirky off-beat song that remains firmly underground. Not unlike the rest for their catalog and that of their former band 10cc.

[@darrenl]

@@riffcat04 True. But only in the countries where it didn't chart. In Australia, Belgium, Germany and the Netherlands it was a fairly big hit

[@peterhoare3219]

@@riffcat04 Aussies have a LONG history of embracing bands that otherwise would go NOWHERE. And the bands are the first to tell you.. We BROKE Abba worldwide, and they were never really that huge elsewhere at the time. Down here, undying love of ABBA is like a fucking RELIGION. I'm getting drunk so unable to think correct. But yeah, Aussies have GREAT taste in music. It makes me CRY that SO MANY of our own BRILLIANT bands never ever received any success overseas. There's all manner of reasons for that, been shut out by record companies overseas protecting their own stars, uup to the sheer cost and logistics of travel from down here In terms of music and all manner of things, we punch WAAAAAYYYY above our weight. In short, Aussies KICK ARSE!! 🙂

[@darrenl]

@@peterhoare3219 That very true! When I've looked at discographies on Wikipedia I've noticed that big bands and obscure ones alike often first charted not only in Australia, but also in places like New Zealand, Netherlands, Germany, UK and Ireland. These countries seem to have the most progressive music scenes in the world. I also believe Australia gave first significant chart success to artists like Blondie and even Madonna. And heaps more, too many to mention. Most recently that Glass Animals song Heatwaves was huge success in Australia like a year before ANYWHERE in the world.

[@peterhoare3219]

@@darrenl Aussies also have a LONG history of claiming bands from N.Z as OURS!!!! Starting with Split Enz) Pack of English convicts Down Under P.S As I type this 'God Save The Queen! She ain't no human being!' I bought a Sex Pistols Tshirt to celebrate 😛 I'm NOT looking forward to TV for the next few weeks down here. It'll just be wall to wall Queen Lizzy shit

[@manosparavida3551]

Groundbreaking arrangement, production and genius perfection. I believe that sums up Godley and Creme.

[@notandnowavailableonyoutub2855]

One thing about Kevin and Lol, they knew how to direct a memorable video! The list of classics they produced is insane!!

[@shanestephens2314]

I'm sure I remember seeing somewhere that they directed some of Queen's videos.

[@gnome1882]

Directed Numb by U2 too

[@grunthostheflatulent9649]

The video to Herbie Hancock's Rockit, was done by these guys.

[@DeejvilleTV]

Check out Skate Attack featuring skateboarder Stacey Peralta and music by Bomb The Bass. It was the brainchild of Lol Creme whose son nagged him to do a music video with skateboarding in. One of the longest music videos released.

[@andrewbintang4591]

their 'cry' video was groundbreaking

[@lostinmusik]

I’d forgotten all about this, what a song and what video too. Bloody hell, they didn’t f*ck about in the late 70s / early 80s did they?

[@sentimentalbloke185]

1979

[@athendemosh8001]

Awesome. Loved this as a kid. 40 years later still brilliant!

[@halo5725]

40 years and I'm still finding tracks I didn't hear back then

[@gerhardthen8851]

I had this song bouncing around my head all day... funny....I was about 13 years old when this song was released. The mechanical band is such an interesting and surreal touch.... especially the "robot guy" short circuiting in the beginning. Godley and Creme were out there....Art for Art's sake!....."Walk tall, walk straight, spit the world right in the eye...the stronger the wood, the straighter the arrow......." Genius.

[@adrianbrowne7874]

"Godley & Creme" the lyrical and visual epitome of unrestrained genius!!

[@ritual64]

Kevin Godley & Lol Creme - loved to push the boundaries with 10cc and they made incredible music when they left the band to go form their duo. This song is pure brilliance imho.

[@TheOxtorner]

Kevin Godley und Lol Creme waren schon mit 10cc die kreativsten Musiker ...10cc und Godley&Creme für mich musikalisch das BESTE einer Dekade

[@simondara1971]

The stronger the wood, the straighter the arrow... legendary line...

[@thompjackson]

I was 7 and I committed it to memory as potentially useful information. Haven't needed to use it as yet.

[@hughblack6831]

Oh, how I wish in an alternative universe that Kevin and lol got back together with Eric and Graham and we had the best music EVER! Just Watched the best selling songs month by month from 1980 - god its truly after 1990.

[@markdaly1903]

this is my first time seeing and hearing this...godley and creme are geniuses

[@stephenwebster1368]

Yes Mark we know that Listen to Kevin godleys Solo album muscle memory it's brilliant mate

[@Elitist20]

At last a clear version of this! When I saw it on Australian TV in 1980 it looked like it was a kinescope recording.

[@Jasonm25870]

A song that has never left my head for 41 years. I knew it was Godley and Creme but could never figure it out until someone postedit on Facebook 4 weeks ago.

[@stephenwebster1368]

Yes Jason proper music legends thier videos were brilliant

[@Dharzjinion]

Dito, just found it :)

[@disconnectica]

Must be the best and craziest lyrics ever in this musical traffic jam. I can only dream of writing lyrics and music this insanely good and goodly insane.

[@fraupitzler9385]

I think the original 10 cc still with Godley and Ceme was on the same level as the Beatles...big shame they had to splitt and halve their musical might in the process ! Why they did not get all the recognition they deserved will for ever remain a mistery to me!

[@robertballot3869]

Not a mystery. Beatles success had as much to do with how cute they were as with their brilliance as songwriters. I say this only half tongue-in-cheek. But the good news is this. Due to the Fab Four's success, record companies made the judgment that the public yearned for sophisticated songcraft. It did not. And in retrospect, this should come as no surprise. In the meantime great musical talents were given free reign to express themselves, with the expectation that the public would thrill to the creativity. Although this turned out to be an incredible miscalculation of the market, those of us who *were* that market benefited beyond all we could imagine. The 70s gave us so much wonderful well-crafted and intelligently composed music. If you were out looking for it, scarcely a week would go by without you're finding something new to challenge your mind and captivate your ears. A lucky break I say!

[@MusicVersa]

10cc were hugely popular in the mid-70s in the UK. They had five consecutive top-10 albums and 12 top-40 singles in the UK and a #2 hit in the US. They sold 15 million albums in the UK and 30 million worldwide, and are regarded by a lot of people as one of the greatest groups of the 70s. I think they had the success and recognition they deserved.

[@lockedin60]

I love them and I agree. Their Greatest Hits are just something unreal. I finally "discovered them" about 2012-2013. I was around when I'm Not in Love. Another brilliant song that was a recording studio masterpiece. But unless you dug deeper in the 1970s you would miss out on a lot of things. Like Me. Stewart sang the 60s Pop Hit-Groovy Kind of Love. Gouldman was a member on the waning days of the Mindbenders. Gouldman wrote massive hits for The Hollies, The Yardbirds and Herman Hermits. Just a lot of talent, creativity and you Got Stewart and Gouldman's Studio Strawberry Studios in Stockport, UK. Just a lot of Rock History at least on the UK side.

[@christophersmith5095]

Graham Goulman said it best when replying to why 10CC weren't as big as QUEEN. He replied, succinctly, 10CC didn't have a front man.

[@lockedin60]

@@christophersmith5095 Interesting. Queen did have a wider appeal because of the personality and flair of Freddie. But I think as time as moved on the 10cc members at least individually have had an appeal to their audiences. Still working in their perspective areas.

[@gctlewis]

Godley & Creme and 10cc are the pride of Stockport! 😍

[@stephenwebster1368]

Yes guy we know that All four are legendary artists. Queen were a brilliant band but only had Freddie as front man These guys cud do it all The lot

[@marionf.6728]

Vergessen...und jetzt wieder mit Video...wahnsinn...extraklasse..!!

[@geoffreyjonathanwilson5826]

British music legends.

[@stephenwebster1368]

Yes Geoff they are I saw them in sheffield in 1976 They played how dare you album all the way through Most bands were not in the same league. Listen to Kevin godleys new solo album It's brilliant

[@geoffreyjonathanwilson5826]

@@stephenwebster1368 That's brilliant

[@ingridthurner3651]

I must say, after all the years, and those are many, I prefer musicicans and Bands from England (scotland and Ireland, too). They really have a lot of charme and charisma.

[@ingridthurner3651]

I must say, after all the years, and those are many, I prefer musicicans and Bands from England (scotland and Ireland, too). They really have a lot of charme and charisma.

[@markmorgenstern]

my god you can totally see this as a pre-test for the Rockit video. These guys were always brilliant.

[@stevevandecasteele3375]

Iconic song! Legendary video clip!

[@jocksilver7]

when you can so naturally pull reference cards from Steely Dan, Sparks, Utopia and TenCC, it's undoubtedly a Genius sign. Incredible song and video.

[@vincentwilliamson8561]

Decades ahead of their time

[@leegray99]

I had forgotten all about this song

[@matof1428]

I'll be a little off "topic" , but the mannequins immediately reminded me of the German band Kraftwerk

[@stconstable]

Perhaps inspired by Dr. Phibes' orchestra.

[@Jasonm25870]

I've been looking for this for about 30 odd years. Saw it on a music programme somewhere in the early 80's. It's been in my head since then and I could never think who did it.

[@alexseta9117]

OMG Jason. Same here. I just posted the same thing as YOU!! LOL

[@bramleydragon]

And I bet it's the 'strange apparatus" bit that's stuck in your head. 😂😂

[@user-oe3zx7st5u]

A fabulous song and a great, groundbreaking clip. When I first saw Peter Gabriel's "Sledgehammer" clip, I couldn't help but think of this fabulous, quirky creation. A jazz cigarette or two certainly helped! And yes, saw it on Countdown!

[@user-oe3zx7st5u]

Me too! As a first-year-out teacher in a remote NSW community, in 1980, I loved this clip and its out-there vision. "Games Without Frontiers" was another wonderful imagining of a world beyond my trucker-town classroom. It takes me so vividly back to a time of such loneliness and isolation, and how much great music comforted and inspired me.

[@rosemarymurlis-hellings8138]

And me.

[@somekindofbrain]

I saw this back then and when I talked to people about how fkin good it was, they just blanked me. It was like I was the only person who knew about it. Now I know that was a good thing

[@kevinfisher5492]

I came here expecting Sting, and ended up with DEVO.

[@peztopher7297]

My thoughts exactly.

[@David-mg1yj]

or The Abominable Dr Phibes.

[@80sandretrogubbins25]

The lyrical phrasing and rhythm of the verses is like Sting, coincidentally.

[@robbo811]

This is far far superior

[@tessjuel]

@@80sandretrogubbins25 You have to listen very carefully to find similarities between Godley and Creme's and Sting's songs but if there are some, they may not be a coincidence. Sting was of course very familiar with Godley & Creme's "Englishman in New York" and he must have thought of it when he wrote his song witht he same title.

[@mickeydodds1]

Genius ..... pure genius.... at so many levels.

[@annsnan]

Still amazing in 2020

[@steenlaursen9205]

Still absolutely amazing in 2020. :-)

[@Dharzjinion]

@@steenlaursen9205 Still an absolut blast in 2021 :)

[@sharonlee4773]

Its still amazing here in 2038! I'm from the future.I cant explain right now but DONT step on the wasp on Tuesday..........................................

[@maddog8621]

It's captivating! But enjoyable. They are such geniuses

[@Ernstberger]

and 2022 !

[@marigoldwhite867]

Love the tune there is something surreal about their music, very alternative.

[@roboi2241]

There was so much different stuff happening in 79 and new genres of music coming at you from all angles, I remember this slipping through the net and wondering why. Thought it was the 10cc follow-up to Dreadlock Holiday, just because of the distinctive Lol Creme solo bit in the middle but didn't know Godley & Creme were ex-10cc at the time.

[@MizzSparkle90]

Such talented guys. Kings of arrangements, directing videos, intros... songs? everything.

[@daughterofamod]

mind blowing masterpiece

[@THIRV]

2024 anyone? And I’ve never heard this song before. I only know of their U.K. hit singles, so maybe this one didn’t score? Although it’s earlier than Under Your Thumb I guess. Such talented guys, and there’s absolutely more than a hint of Sparks here! Brilliant. ❤

[@Pwecko]

Listen to I Pity Inanimate Objects.

[@THIRV]

@@Pweckothat’s another new one on me! Thanks! Will do! Cheers. 😊

[@timchromecast]

I have this song on many 80s compilations, must have been a huge hit? My dad has the 7" if I remember well.

[@THIRV]

@@timchromecast I’m intrigued so I just checked. It was a respectable chart hit in Belgium, Netherlands, Germany and Australia! Wow. And yet it didn’t make the 100 in U.K. or USA. A shame, and I guess it’s why I’d not heard of it, as I only know they’re hits. But I’m going to check out more of their work now. Cheers Tim. Best wishes. Si.

[@THIRV]

@@timchromecast your dad had great taste in music Tim! Great memories that will stay with you forever. ❤️👍

[@ingridthurner3651]

This song is genius. I first heard it, when I was a teenager and there was no KZbin or anything like that, so I had my own phanatasies about this song (like it is when you are reading a book) and I must say, it is not so far away from my visions. Thank you for uploading.

[@CJArnold-hq3ey]

You tried taping it off the TV with a old Taperecorder

[@Melbournelost66]

What a great song! This came out in my early teens. The music of this era was fantastic!

[@koitorob]

My favourite Godley and Creme song! Never played on the radio though... I remember me and a mate trainspotting MANY years ago at York station and nipping into the station canteen for an apple pie and spotting a jukebox. We wandered across for a looksee and saw Under Your Thumb listed. It was in the charts at the time. We put some money in and chose it about six times. After about the fourth playing the woman behind the counter walked to the jukebox and switched it off at the wall. When we complained she told us to piss off! CLEARLY NOT a fan!

[@brandon1351]

One of the underrated/important groups of the 20th century. So ahead of their time along with their contemporaries i.e Frank Zappa, Split Enz, XTC

[@bryanpartington3260]

I have never heard this one before and i have already fallen in love with it , Especially the video. Its better than any unimaginative CGI filled crap you get now.

[@scoincollecterb]

This song is awesome. I have searched sooo long for it. I only knew the dolls were dancing.

[@CJArnold-hq3ey]

Ain't no age for Rock n Roll film Clip

[@PaulTaylor1]

Me and my best pal loved this when it first came out, and I always think of him when I hear it. But what happened to the Avon crawling bit??? 🤭

[@craigmontgomery2610]

These guys were the genius behind 10cc

[@dugites]

Brilliant like so much of their 10cc music.

[@mehcol]

Always loved you guys from Donna and Sheet Music.Respect.

[@paulhagen5645]

The video has a nightmare quality about it. I like it!

[@mariapezzano204]

Loved it so much.

[@guuskuster8568]

Wat een geweldig nummer. Nieuw tijdperk voor de muziek.

[@Housephonestimes4]

Real Ten CC! Love it!

[@geoffreyjonathanwilson5826]

I think Kevin & Lol really were very talented in many ways and very creative too

[@christopherwest4580]

One of the most underrated songs of the 70,s and still sounds great in 2023.

[@dancingvirgil]

Underrated by who exactly?

[@chrisplunkett2814]

@@dancingvirgil By absolutely no one apart from people who pop up on random KZbin videos to pretend they've seen something no one else in the world has seen.

[@user-lu9ry7zm6p]

I remember as a child I would be glue to the TV to this song I never forgotten this song

[@user-pk9lb6gj9o]

カット割りが絶妙‼️ 歌詞のストーリーを正確に伝わる構成も実にお見事な感が‼️

[@jannyhilverts6412]

Hail to radio Noord, the Netherlands for playing this song today!

[@bramleydragon]

Greetings from the UK. Yes, the Netherlands obviously appreciates great music.

[@Billiards1963]

Great song. Loved the heads spinning right around.😄

[@StultissimiAmatorii]

One of the best albums I ever found in my Frenchys days was Changing Faces: The Best of Godley & Creme.

[@pauljones4960]

Makes the callipers on my fish refer me friendly. Well, if they can talk bollocks so can I. I love this piece of ART! It is so good. I love so much. Thanks guys, so much work went in to this.

[@MsVictorcrumbs]

Really love his singing voice alot

[@trickygoose2]

Amazingly, he is the only one of the original line-up of 10CC that didn't sing the lead on a UK number 1 single.

[@SLB4523]

Insanely clever album. Pure genius.

[@harro16]

Luvvvved it in '79, still do, fantastic vid.

[@rogerbillings5081]

Wow! Band reminds me of the automaton band from the Dr Phibes horror films. Great song.

[@miriambloemraad5100]

Me too❤ I thought I was the only one😉

[@afrancis1582]

This just appeared in my recommendations. I’d completely forgotten this until I heard it. Never seen the video, but I remember it being played on the radio when I was at school.

[@davidpinnington213]

yep popped on my feed and recognised straight away - had not apprecaited how good the lyrics were - time to revisit G&C for me.

[@SCPLAYZ235]

im litterally 10 years old and i love this song

[@Iljinarchive]

Masterpiece

[@saturdayplayer2492]

Bloody hell, they were talented.

[@manosparavida3551]

It was inevitable, as they were formally band members of 10cc.

[@johnmcvicar8475]

JUST FANTASTIC THIS WAS THE FUTURE HOW I MISS VIDEO MUSIC CLIPS🎶🎶🎶🎶

[@caeserromero3013]

It's like they dropped acid with Sparks before they recorded this...this could easily have been the Mael brothers

[@ArtB414]

It would fit perfectly into Sparks reportire. I think It has a little bit from "At Home, At work, At play" contained in 2:03 - 2:13

[@Polygor2]

A very good observation

[@clareshaughnessy2745]

Just before? Bloody hell, I wouldn’t want to be tripping with all this going on around me!

[@robertjohnston4280]

Accurate comment, Mr. Romero.

[@christopherwest4580]

Got that right,i can just see them on stage together .

[@DudemanSwede]

Fantastic music, fantastic video, fantastic guys!

[@moscouagent212]

Masterpiece !

[@Madkid73]

Greatest lyrics known to man.

[@manos3790]

Way ahead of their time ' Godlley & Creme'. Another amazing track of the same time by 10cc/Godlley & Creme, was Snack Attack.

[@zippymk13]

Good call, great track.

[@matthewperris]

Snack Attack was released three years later from this, released 1982 (although a 7min version appeared on the ismism album in 1981). The remix version (the more regularly played one and indeed the one on the Changing Faces Greatest Hits album) didn't appear until 1987.

[@andyhinds542]

This is sheer brilliance!

[@Yokodono]

Just vibin' to music that has existed for longer than I have.

[@steve_xvida]

I adore this song!!!

[@joesse01]

I searched for this song for years. Just now it came to my mind - it might be apparatus, not operators!

[@Zongadude]

Best. Song. Ever.

[@fredgien]

Zongadude No, that’s CRY!

[@blakes8126]

I feel that too. Can't stop listening.

[@user-yc5um2pl5v]

Finally saw this almost mythical video! A bit creepy, but fascinating. Led directly to them working with Visage on "Fade to Grey" and "Mind of a Toy" (getting the best video of the year award for the latter) and further to a tremendously successful carrier in music video.

[@marigoldwhite867]

I like those weird men in it, its totally different, godley and creme are very talented

[@danpetitpas]

Never heard this in the US. Great song. But in 1979, the US was all about New Wave.

[@aliensporebomb]

I had absolutely no idea there was a video for this song. Wow!

[@blauphus2]

Pure creamy, god-like genius!

[@kenlane6655]

!0CC were brilliant and underrated. A Northern English band who had their offices in Withington, Manchester, such albums as "How Dare You" were totally brilliant. These two were pretty good on their own.

[@trevorwinkworth1208]

this film clip is incredible.

[@dj1NM3]

It's nice to see that Dr Phibes orchestra continued to get work, after he had his revenge and disappearance.

[@DH-3on_sAm]

they left 10cc and created this. ❤

[@Don_Camillo]

Underratet title, pushed aside when sting brought another song with a similar title a few years later.

[@clivegreaves8074]

Great tune and video saw it once on the telly but no airplay on radio so never really sold many sad really.

[@richardfinlayson1524]

Great song, loved it as a teenager, intriguing.

[@guleet75]

The 70,s and 80,s , The best decades for Music !

[@GoonerBob42]

How can you tell? You didn't live through the 50's /60's!

[@guleet75]

@@GoonerBob42 lol i did'n even live through the 90's !

[@isabelladestegonzaga5529]

@@GoonerBob42 ; Aber er hat recht . In keinem anderen Jahrzehnt haben sich in so kurzem Zeitraum, soviele neue Musikstile entwickelt, wie in den 70er Jahren. Die 80er waren bombig für elektronische Musik. Ich weiss das - ich war dabei .

[@GoonerBob42]

@@isabelladestegonzaga5529 As with most things, it's a matter of opinion. I was a teenager in the 50's and saw the amazing birth of Rock'n'Roll, which was an experience nobody of a younger age can understand. I also have the advantage of witnessing ALL other types of music in every decade since then, and although music has become more sophisticated, it doesn't necessarily make it any better. However, I think it's fair to say that whatever music people grow up with, it probably remains their favourite music for the rest of their lives.

[@guleet75]

You have to admit though the music from the 50,s 60,s 70,s 80,s and to some extent the 90,s was the best Era for Music ! I mean we had Soul Music Rocknroll Pop Music ECT ECT !!

[@thereal_kpatz]

I was 12 and loved it

[@freddy1571]

Really liked this song back in 79 ,also being a horror movie buff myself, it had a weird scary feature about it.

[@stevewren1079]

Love this track