Best love song ever? An Ivor Novello award honouring 10cc’s UK number one single and worldwide hit “I’m Not In Love” could be yours
An original Ivor Novello award is expected to spark a worldwide bidding battle. The ground-breaking song, number one in the UK singles charts for two weeks in 1975, won the band worldwide acclaim and three Ivor Novello awards for Best Pop Song, International Hit of the Year and Most Performed British Work. It reached number one in Ireland and Canada, number two in the US and made the top 10 in Australia, New Zealand and several European countries. Now 10cc fans have a chance to call the award for Most Performed British Work their own when it comes up for auction at Hansons Auctioneers on March 14 with an estimate of £1,500-£2,000. It belongs to 10cc’s former co-manager Ric Dixon – a man who played a part in bringing the musical geniuses together. It will be sold alongside a gold disc presented to him to recognise sales of more than 100,000 copies of 10cc’s Greatest Hits 1972-1978, estimate £200-£300. Also in the sale is a silver disc presented to Mr Dixon to recognise more than £150,000 worth of sales of 10cc’s album Bloody Tourists in 1978 (£200-£300); a Music Week Award for the sleeve design of 10cc’s Deceptive Bends (£40-£60) and 30 Syd Lawrence Orchestra albums, around half of which were produced by Mr Dixon. The opportunity to buy the music memorabilia comes courtesy of his wife, Jill, as her husband can no longer appreciate the music that dominated his life. Mrs Dixon said: “Ric has vascular dementia and, sadly, can’t enjoy these wonderful items anymore. But I know he would want someone who loves 10cc’s music to have them.” Mr Dixon, 82, now lives in a nursing home in Cheshire, visited daily by his devoted wife who lives nearby. She is supported by their two children, Alison and John.
Mrs Dixon said: “As well as vascular dementia, Ric had a terrible accident in 2007 when he was 73. He fell badly, gashed his head and kinked his spine while walking our dogs. We used to breed Gordon setters. The spinal injury wasn’t picked up straight away and took its toll. He never really recovered and can’t walk now.” Though illness has robbed Mr Dixon of his memories, his wife’s are as strong as ever and she vividly recalls how her husband carved his name in music history when the Manchester pop scene burst into vibrant life during the swinging 60s. The couple, Manchester-born-and-bred, married at St Chrysostom’s Church in their home city in 1962 when a new generation of music was about to sweep the UK - and the world - off its feet.
“We even had a band serenading us at our wedding - Ted Lee and the Olympics,” said Mrs Dixon. “My husband intended to be a trombonist with the Altrincham Brass Band but became interested in jazz and pop. He went on to open The Oasis, one of the first coffee dance clubs in Manchester. “I remember watching the Beatles play there before they were big. They were paid £25 and not many people were watching them. Bands like The Hollies and Tom Jones performed there. “Ric managed the Mindbenders and had his own booking agency but went on to work for Kennedy Street Enterprises, a major Manchester management and entertainment agency. “He was involved in organising concerts for some of the biggest bands in the world – including Abba’s first UK tour in 1979. “He arranged a beautiful hotel for Abba, Scandinavian food and bought the two girl lead singers, Agnetha Fältskog and Anni-Frid Lyngstad, gold strawberry necklaces which they were often photographed wearing.” But it is the 10cc years that Ric will be best remembered for, a supergroup that broke America and honed their distinctive sound at Strawberry Studios in Stockport, which Ric invested in. “He met 10cc - Graham Gouldman, Eric Stewart, Kevin Godley and Lol Creme - at Kennedy Street in the early 70s,” said Mrs Dixon. “Kevin and Lol would come and sit in Ric’s office drawing, they were very artistic. Ric introduced Eric Stewart to Kevin and Lol, they got on well and the rest is history. Graham Gouldman was managed by Harvey Lisberg, who later became co-manager of 10cc – but Ric did most of the managing. “He organised the band’s tours of America, Australia, Japan and all their European dates. He was also involved in negotiating a contract which switched 10cc from the Jonathan King label to Philips Phonogram. “Ric really understood music, was artistic and had a very good head for business. He travelled with 10cc to Japan and introduced them in Japanese. He also helped at Strawberry Studios during the making of I’m Not In Love.” The song’s distinctive wall of voices was created by recording Gouldman, Godley and Creme singing ‘ahhh’ 16 times for each note of the chromatic scale, building up a ‘choir’ of 48 voices for each note of the scale. “Suffice to say, this was technically tricky and involved lots of tape loops to keep the sound going,” Mrs Dixon explained. “Ric was among those holding screw drivers vertically at the corners of the studio for the tape to run around. “He also produced the Syd Lawrence albums at Strawberry Studios, using his musical ear to ensure success.” Mrs Dixon speaks with pride and deep affection. She has been married to Ric for 55 years. She took his eye when he spotted her working for Cunard Eagle Airways in Manchester. “He used to wave at me through the office window as he walked past. We have had a happy and fulfilling life. He retired in his 40s and we spent many years breeding Gordon setters, dogs being our other great love. I hope by selling these items, Ric will get the recognition he deserves for managing a band that have brought pleasure to millions. I still hear I’m Not In Love – even in Marks & Spencer.” Claire Howell, music specialist at Hansons Auctioneers, said: “I’m Not In Love is on my jukebox at home. 10cc were brilliant, an iconic 1970s group and for a 10cc superfan, the Ivor Novello award or the gold and silver discs would be incredible to own.” The Ric Dixon music memorabilia will be sold at Hansons Auctioneers on March 14. To find out more, email jspencer@hansonsauctioneers.co.uk or call 01283 733988.
Editor’s notes: Hansons Auctioneers, based at The Auction Centre, Heage Lane, Etwall, Derbyshire, DE65 6LS, was launched by Charles Hanson in 2005. Its London office, launched in January 2018, is based at 77 Bridge Road, Hampton Court Village, with auctions being held at the Normansfield Theatre, Teddington. The company offers free antique valuations and a wide range of auctions. Derbyshire-born Charles Hanson is well known for his appearances on TV shows such as Bargain Hunt and Celebrity Antiques Road Trip. Hansons Auctioneers is regulated by RICS.