The song, initially created only as a studio exercise to test drum sounds on new recording equipment, sold over two million copies and reached No.

1 in Italy and Germany and was also a Top 20 hit in Australia, Canada, France, Ireland and Japan.

It featured a simple repeated chorus and a heavy drum rhythm that Gouldman's manager, Harvey Lisberg, has claimed became influential in pop music.

The advance was particularly timely for Stewart, who was considering selling his house and moving to something smaller to provide him with more funding for the studio.

But we had a girl at the studio… Kathy Gill, I think her name was, who had very, very nice legs and she used to wear these incredible hot pants.

"[3] Stewart said Philips were not entirely content with the song, however: "The next thing that happened after we'd done the deal was that we got a phone call from them.

An album, Thinks: School Stinks and a follow-up single, "Lady Sadie", differed markedly from the sound of "Neanderthal Man" and drummer Kevin Godley later admitted the band failed to properly capitalise on their hit with interviews or other promotional work.

[2] "Neanderthal Man" was featured in a number of 10cc compilation albums, including 1997 The Very Best of 10cc, 2006 Greatest Hits ... And More, 2017 Before, During, After - The Story of 10cc.