Viva la Difference

Last updated
Viva La Difference
Eric Stewart - Viva La Difference.jpg
Studio album by
Released8 January 2009
Recorded2006-2008
StudioEMSinc Studios, France
Sphere Studios, Mauzen & Miremont, France
Genre Rock
Length51:20
Label Strawberry Soundtracks
Producer Eric Stewart
Eric Stewart chronology
Do Not Bend
(2003)
Viva La Difference
(2009)
Anthology
(2017)

Viva la Difference is the fourth album by Eric Stewart released in January 2009.

Originally, the album was planned to be released in late 2006/early 2007, [1] but because of the restoration of a building he bought the recording of the album was delayed several times. [2] [3]

Just like the previous album, Stewart played all the instruments except for drums played by Alain Merlingeas on this release. The album is stated to be both more in a blues vein and 10cc in style than Do Not Bend. [4] [5] The song that provided the title for the previous album "Do Not Bend" appears here.

"Gnome Sweet Gnomes" was written about Gnomes of Zurich, which is a disparaging term for Swiss bankers. The term was used by Harold Wilson who was a Labour Party politician in 1964 when he accused the Swiss bankers of pushing the pound down on the foreign exchange markets by speculation. [6]

The album was reissued in 2011 with bonus tracks taken from the Do Not Bend album.

Track list

All tracks written by Eric Stewart

  1. "Gnome Sweet Gnomes" – 5:21
  2. "It's in the Blood" – 4:56
  3. "Friends Like These" – 4:52
  4. "Down by the Palace" – 5:41
  5. "Do Not Bend" – 4:36
  6. "Millennium Blues" – 3:55
  7. "Viva La Difference" – 3:36
  8. "We're Not Alone" – 5:41
  9. "Word of the Mouth" – 3:43
  10. "Sleep at Night" – 4:35
  11. "Can't Get Enough" – 4:24

2011 reissue Do Not Bend bonus tracks

  1. "You Are Not Me" – 4:37
  2. "A Friend in Need" – 5:08
  3. "Fred and Dis-Audrey" – 4:13
  4. "Rappin' with Yves" – 3:21
  5. "The Gods Are Smiling" – 4:30
  6. "A Human, Being" – 4:18
  7. "No No Nettie" – 3:13

Personnel

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References

  1. "Eric Stewart interview with StudioAuditions.com". Studioauditions.com. Archived from the original on 6 April 2014. Retrieved 29 September 2014.
  2. [ dead link ]
  3. "Message from Eric Stewart at 10cc fan website, 12 December 2007". The10ccfanclub.com. Retrieved 29 September 2014.
  4. Archived 22 October 2007 at the Wayback Machine
  5. "Eric Stewart Viva La Difference Album". Ericstewart.uk.com. Archived from the original on 2009-05-17. Retrieved 2012-03-13.
  6. "The Official 10cc Fan Club/Latest News". The10ccfanclub.com. Retrieved 2012-03-13.