Emerging out of the blue in 1972 with the witty high school pop pastiche 'Donna', 10cc were quickly hailed by the era's pundits as the ultimate studio whizz-kids, fusing classic 60s-style melodies and harmonies with the latest advances in recording technology at the band's own Strawberry Studios in Stockport.

Those deft recording skills had actually been carefully honed during a three-year studio apprenticeship that had started in 1969, when bubblegum kings Kasenetz Katz hired Strawberry and instructed the quartet to ghost tracks that would appear (mainly in the US) under a variety of aliases that included Silver Fleet, Crazy Elephant and the Ohio Express.

For the first time ever, Strawberry Bubblegum anthologises the cream of those 1969-72 recordings, with the now semi-legendary Kasenetz Katz sessions - on which the band wrote, played and sung every note, even adding falsetto female backing vocals! - joined by a variety of other pseudonymous recordings and collaborations that range from pre-10cc harmony pop nuggets to glam rock-style football tributes. With every track (some never before issued in the UK) appearing on CD for the first time, Strawberry Bubblegum, which comes with comprehensive liner notes and rarely glimpsed illustrations, is the release that 10cc aficionados have been demanding for years. 

SAUSALITO (IS THE PLACE TO GO) Ohio Express
(Gouldman) Released in US July 1969 (UK November 1969), A-side of Buddah 201065.
Produced by Kasenetz/Katz. Lead vocal: Graham.

COME ON PLANE Silver Fleet
(Gouldman/Kasenetz/Katz) Released in US February 1971, A-side of Uni 55271.
Produced by Kasenetz/Katz/Gouldman. Lead vocal: Kevin.

TAMPA, FLORIDA Peter Cowap
(Cowap/Gouldman) Released in UK March 1971, B-side of Pye 7N 45042.
Produced by Strawberry Productions. Lead vocal: Peter Cowap.

HAVE YOU EVER BEEN TO GEORGIA? Garden Odyssey
(Gouldman) Released in UK January 1972, B-side of RCA 2159.
Produced by Eric Stewart & Graham Gouldman. Lead vocal: unknown

TRAVELLIN' MAN Tristar Airbus
(Gouldman) Released in UK 28 January 1972, B-side of RCA 2170.
Produced by Strawberry Productions. Lead vocal: Graham.

CRICKETS Peter Cowap
(Cowap/Hillary) Released in UK 31 July 1970, A-side of Pye 7N 17976.
Produced by Eric Stewart. Lead vocal: Peter Cowap.

SUSAN'S TUBA Freddie & the Dreamers
(Cordell/Gouldman) Released in UK April 1971, A-side of Philips 6006 098.
Producer unknown. Lead vocal: Freddie Garrity.

TODAY Festival
(Godley/Creme) Released in UK 6 October 1972, A-side of RCA 2275.
Produced by Strawberry Productions. Lead vocal: Kevin.

UMBOPO Doctor Father
(Godley/Creme) Released in UK 14 August 1970, A-side of Pye 7N 17977.
Produced by Lol Creme. Lead vocal: Kevin.

SAFARI Peter Cowap
(Gouldman/Cowap) Released in UK June 1971, A-side of Pye 7N 45071.
Produced by Strawberry Productions. Lead vocal: Peter Cowap.

DA DOO RON RON Grumble
(Greenwich/Barry/Spector) Released in UK 29 June 1973, A-side of RCA 2384.
Produced by Strawberry Productions. Lead vocal: unknown, possibly Lol.

THE JOKER Garden Odyssey
(Gouldman/Greenfield) Released in UK January 1972, A-side of RCA 2159.
Produced by Eric Stewart & Graham Gouldman. Lead vocal: unknown

FUNKY CITY Manchester City F.C.
(Godley/Creme/Gouldman) Released in UK April 1972, B-side of RCA 2200.
Produced by Strawberry Productions. Lead vocal: Lol (with Kevin)

THE MAN WITH THE GOLDEN GUN Peter Cowap
(Cowap/Gouldman) Released in UK March 1971, A-side of Pye 7N 45042.
Produced by Strawberry Productions. Lead vocal: Peter Cowap.

WHEN HE COMES Fighter Squadron
(Gouldman/Katz/Kasenetz) Released in US March 1971, A-side of Bell 966.
Produced by Gouldman/Katz/Kasenetz. Lead vocal: Kevin.

ROLL ON Doctor Father
(Godley/Stewart/Creme) Released in UK 14 August 1970, B-side of Pye 7N 17977.
Produced by Lol Creme. Lead vocal: Eric.

WICKED MELINDA Peter Cowap
(Cowap/Hillary) Released in UK 31 July 1970, B-side of Pye 7N 17976.
Produced by Eric Stewart. Lead vocal: Peter Cowap.

WILLIE MORGAN Tristar Airbus
(Smith/Gouldman) Released in UK 28 January 1972, A-side of RCA 2170.
Produced by Strawberry Productions. Lead vocal: either Jeff Smith or Peter Cowap

PIG BIN AN' GONE Grumble
(Stewart/Creme/Gouldman/Godley) Released in UK 29 June 1973, B-side of RCA 2384.
Produced by Strawberry Productions.

WARM ME Festival
(Stewart/Gouldman) Released in UK 6 October 1972, B-side of RCA 2275.
Produced by Strawberry Productions. Lead vocal: Eric.

OH SOLOMAN Peter Cowap
(Gouldman/Cowap) Released in UK June 1971, B-side of Pye 7N 45071.
Produced by Strawberry Productions. Lead vocal: Peter Cowap.

BOYS IN BLUE Manchester City F.C.
(Godley/Creme/Gouldman) Released in UK in April 1972, A-side of RCA 2200.
Produced by Strawberry Productions.

THERE AIN'T NO UMBOPO Crazy Elephant
(Godley/Creme) Released in US May 1970, A-side of Bell 875.
Produced by Ritchie Cordell/Graham Gouldman. Lead vocal: Kevin.

TAMPA, FLORIDA Ohio Express
(Cowap/Gouldman) Allegedly released in US July 1970, A-side of Buddah BDA 171.
Produced by ? Lead vocal: ?
Does this exist?

+ hidden track
SANTA CLAUS Leslie Crowther
(S Hilary) Released 4 December 1970, A-side of Pye 7N 45020.
Produced by Hit Factory Productions. Lead vocal: Leslie Crowther