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The "XTC are really really good" thread

Started by Stoneage Dinosaurs, July 19, 2015, 12:48:13 AM

Previous topic - Next topic

Jockice

Colin Moulding seems to be getting off totally unscathed here. So let's start on him. Shit haircut. Has a silly name. Is that enough?

Jockice

Quote from: Jockice on July 21, 2015, 08:27:13 PM
Colin Moulding seems to be getting off totally unscathed here. So let's start on him. Shit haircut. Has a silly name. Is that enough?

Stoneage Dinosaurs

Uh... toothy bugger? Had a slightly higher naff song rate than Andy?

23 Daves

The other factor in their lack of popularity is that they never seemed like 'the last gang in town'. They weren't The Clash, they weren't even Sham 69 or The Ruts. They were quite a studious and considered, nerdish band and there's always been a strong suspicion of that in this country, I think (certainly in the post-punk landscape, anyway, possibly not before).

That said, Wire (who I also love) don't suffer quite so terribly from lack of general acclaim. But then again, Wire always looked and seemed leaner and sharper, more aloof. Wire wouldn't have goofed around on Swap Shop or played on bouncy castles at The Manor, they'd have been awkward and evasive. Stuff like this matters to an awful lot of people (there again, Wire never had a proper hit, so XTC are probably better off financially at least).

purlieu

Not according to Andy - in interviews[nb]I encourge any fan to spend hours here if they haven't already.[/nb] he's often mentioned they received next to nothing from Virgin. Certainly Colin and Dave used to do session work and even 'normal' jobs between albums in the late '80s and '90s. Wire, on the other hand, seem to have been able to make a career off their music, even when focusing on solo projects during the group's various hiatuses.
But yes, there is a certain 'distance' or aloofness to Wire's music which makes them easier to like for a certain type of music fan. XTC's music would be nothing without their sense of fun, and fun is a dirty word to such people. Which strikes be as utterly odd. XTC make me smile and make me feel things. That's very important to me.

That said I also love Wire.

23 Daves

Quote from: purlieu on July 21, 2015, 10:23:21 PM
Not according to Andy - in interviews[nb]I encourge any fan to spend hours here if they haven't already.[/nb] he's often mentioned they received next to nothing from Virgin.

I always got that, but still felt they must be wealthier than Wire. When Andy says "next to nothing" I always assumed he meant a slightly-below-the-British-average salary. Whereas Wire have the advantage of having been signed to indies with fairer cuts, but also haven't really sold that many records.

I don't know the full data, obviously. I'd just be surprised if Colin Newman hasn't had to do donkey work between albums, just the same as Colin Moulding.

daf

Quote from: anant on July 21, 2015, 08:15:18 PM
They were great. 'Generals & Majors' was when I got properly acquainted

Tune in to Top of the Pops tomorrow night - I've lined up something special just for you.

Brundle-Fly

Quote from: purlieu on July 21, 2015, 10:23:21 PM
.
But yes, there is a certain 'distance' or aloofness to Wire's music which makes them easier to like for a certain type of music fan. XTC's music would be nothing without their sense of fun, and fun is a dirty word to such people. Which strikes be as utterly odd. XTC make me smile and make me feel things. That's very important to me.

That said I also love Wire.

Wire had fun too. This video is very XTC-ish with the clowning element.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j3fLn4FYWH0


Head Gardener

I have a complete run of the old A4 sized Limelight fanzine but I thought you might appreciate seeing the entire 1st issue here.
































Brundle-Fly

I've got a few of those Limelights. Allegedly, many years ago, one of its main contributors visited Colin Moulding in Swindon to interview him. After the chat, Colin dug out loads of lovingly kept XTC memorabilia and personal effects to show him. The fan asked if he could borrow it all to make copies/ photograph for the next 'zine and Colin obliged.

The next issue never came, the fan disappeared off the radar and Moulding never saw his souvenirs again but later heard this little shit sold his stuff off to various collectors.

Never meet your heroes? I think it's the other way round.

purlieu

Has anybody heard/got any of Andy's Fuzzy Warbles CDs?

daf

#71
All eight signed in gold pen plus Collectors Box and 'Hinges' bonus CD.

Aside from mastering them stupidly loud (clipping idiots!), every one is a gem.

Dame Fortune (vol. 1) :
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1eleqWoi-Ro
(written in '94 during the strike hiatus)
'Andy's take' : http://chalkhills.org/articles/XTCFans20070610.html

All I Dream of is a Friend (vol. 4) :
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ggDdEWZ-OtQ
(written for, and rejected from, the James and the Giant Peach Disney film)

I Gave My Suitcase Away (vol. 8) :
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y0HJtsOxQzY
(written for Jane Birkin - but rejected for being 'too jolly')

Brundle-Fly

Heard the very latest Partridge? His specially written song for the Japanese XTC convention held recently.



Andy Partridge -DOMO ARIGATO GOZAIMASU
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FXDQRvX04u4&feature=youtu.be

Stoneage Dinosaurs

http://youtu.be/Rl2OhSwU7XE
Mother of cunting fuck is Dave Gregory a bloody of the amazing guitarist

And that song is great as.fuck - both the pop hooks and the feeling of being adrift in the open fuckimg oblivion

Head Gardener



am currently getting my 11 year old educated in the ways of D&W in the car, so far so good

daf

According to Partridge's Twitter, one of The Beatles was a big fan of Skylarking!

QuoteXTC ‏@xtcfans  Aug 6
Met and chatted with
Spoiler alert
Ringo
[close]
.
Spoiler alert
Paul
[close]
said hello to me in corridor at AIR studios,I sort of ran...in fear.
Spoiler alert
George
[close]
loved SKYLARKING..
QuoteRodney Yirped ‏@Yirped  Aug 7
How did you find out that
Spoiler alert
George
[close]
loved Skylarking?
QuoteXTC ‏@xtcfans  Aug 7
He said so in an interview on a Dutch radio station.The DJ told us. Nice of him.

The guitar that Gregsy used for the solo on Supergirl ('The Fool SG') also has Beatley connections :
https://pulmyears.wordpress.com/2010/09/22/wizard-wednesdays-exclusive-skylarking-bonus-notes-with-xtcs-dave-gregory/


Brundle-Fly


23 Daves

Quote from: Brundle-Fly on August 12, 2015, 01:36:19 AM
The great lost XTC single? Barry on vocals.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_3cw9h2AQX4

Nah. It froths up nicely, but the chorus is too weak. It would have been a spiffing B-side or album track, though. I always thought the great lost XTC single was "Sleepyheads". https://youtu.be/Tmw1d_JNn-0

Brundle-Fly

Quote from: 23 Daves on August 12, 2015, 08:46:30 AM
Nah. It froths up nicely, but the chorus is too weak. It would have been a spiffing B-side or album track, though. I always thought the great lost XTC single was "Sleepyheads". https://youtu.be/Tmw1d_JNn-0

AKA Looking For Footprints. One the most expensive record purchases I ever made circa 1986. At that time you could only get that song on a Smash Hits flexi disc which I picked up at Brighton record fair. £8 for one muffled track.

Jockice

I don't remember that being on a Smash Hits flexidisc. They did have one though, with a track called Ten Feet Tall. They shared the disc with Olympian by The Skids. It was red.

Brundle-Fly

Quote from: Jockice on August 12, 2015, 01:10:08 PM
I don't remember that being on a Smash Hits flexidisc. They did have one though, with a track called Ten Feet Tall. They shared the disc with Olympian by The Skids. It was red.

Ah yes, my mistake. It came with Flexipop magazine.



Nowhere Man

Fucking hell, where the fucking fuck has XTC been all my life?!

I've just got into them in the last week because of this thread and the enthusiasm that you guys share for them. Obvious Beatles/Beach Boys influence and brilliant songwriting and even better production.

Fuck. Thats all I can say, bloody brilliant stuff lads.

Quote from: Angrew Lloyg Wegger on July 19, 2015, 01:12:42 AM
Yup, both the dukes albums are fantastic. It really says something that they can be both fantastic genre pastiches and great songs in their own right.

Dammit, I wish Nowhere Man was online so that I can see what he makes of Pale and Precious.

I love this! Probably the nicest/best tribute to Brian Wilson's production i've ever heard.
I've downloaded about 15 of there tracks so far but I should probably just nab them all because I haven't heard a single duff track yet![nb]Makes a nice change after listening to endless amounts of Elliott Smith too, which can get quite depressing sometimes![/nb]

Considering their influences, I almost can't believe how easily this group has passed me by. I even managed to get into the likes of The Residents before them!

Stoneage Dinosaurs

Woohoo!

Sounds like you've got a whole treasure trove of stuff to discover. If you like the Beatles-y poppiness then most of their later stuff is a must. Skylarking and Nonsuch are absolute essential abums as far as I'm concerned.


daf

Quote from: Nowhere Man on October 03, 2015, 02:03:39 AM
Fucking hell, where the fucking fuck has XTC been all my life?!

One of us! One of us! (Gooble Gobble, Gooble Gobble)

Congratulations - You have just found the hidden entrance to the cave of musical delights - most people walk on by, unaware that just behind that slightly dusty paisley curtain, a world of wondrous music awaits them.

But you, my fine feathered friend, have display'd yourself as one of the discerning few - a true epicurean of fine pop.

So tuck in thy bib - for a glorious aural banquet awaits you!

Brundle-Fly

Quote from: Nowhere Man on October 03, 2015, 02:03:39 AM

Considering their influences, I almost can't believe how easily this group has passed me by. I even managed to get into the likes of The Residents before them!

And conversely XTC got me into The Residents.

If you didn't know, Andy Partridge was a huge fan and wrote to the eyeballed ones to speak of his admiration. They invited him to San Francisco to perform the vocals on the track Margaret Freeman on their 1980 opus, The Commercial Album. He is credited  on the sleeve as Sandy Sandwich

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=144GRCOt6G4

Stoneage Dinosaurs

Quote from: Nowhere Man on October 03, 2015, 02:03:39 AM
I love this! Probably the nicest/best tribute to Brian Wilson's production i've ever heard.
This one off of Apple Venus is more than a tad Wilson-y too, you might like that.

Nowhere Man

Very nice song, lovely stuff![nb]Not my words, the words of Shakin' Stevens.[/nb]


Brundle-Fly

Quote from: Nowhere Man on October 04, 2015, 09:28:06 AM
Very nice song, lovely stuff![nb]Not my words, the words of Shakin' Stevens.[/nb]

And if you like XTC related* Wilsonesque pastiches then you would do no wrong than click on the link below.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E4Vn0YFE7U4


*Andy Partridge produced one of his albums but not on this occasion. Oops, I may have opened up another treasure chest with this fellow. Another songwriting god.