- Genres: Rock
Biography
Named in whimsical tribute to Simon and Garfunkel, Frabjoy and the Runcible Spoon comprised Kevin Godley, a former member of Graham Gouldman's Mockingbirds, and Lol Crème, once Godley's bandmate in the early-'60s group the Sabres.Since that time, the pair had studied for diplomas in graphic design; together they designed the cardboard models which went out with such movies as The Railway Children and Cromwell, but by the end of 1968, the pair were making demos, funded by Jim O'Farrell of the Kennedy Street management structure which also handled Gouldman and the Mindbenders. Gouldman, meanwhile, was working as a session man at Giorgio Gomelsky's Marmalade label, and one day asked Godley to join him at a session. Gomelsky took one listen to Godley's ethereal falsetto and promptly offered him and Crème a deal.
As Frabjoy and the Runcible Spoon, the duo began work on an album in September 1969. Basic tracks were recorded at Gouldman and Mindbender Eric Stewart's own Strawberry Studios, with that pair as backing musicians. A single, "I'm Beside Myself," appeared in early 1969, while another track from the sessions, "To Fly Away," appeared on Marmalade's 100% Proof label sampler (where it was mistakenly credited to Godley and Gouldman). The same team also convened for a Gouldman cut on that same album, "The Late Mr. Late."
Unfortunately, Marmalade folded only shortly after this pair of releases and the Frabjoy album was abandoned. Hopes that Marmalade's parent company, Polydor, might pick up the option were raised briefly when "I'm Beside Myself" found its way onto a label compilation, but nothing came of it, and the quartet returned to Strawberry to set in motion the sequence of events which would, three years later, see them emerge as 10cc. ~ Dave Thompson, All Music Guide
