XTC

[steve-soar]

[Cat Burrito]

I was at school near Swindon in the very early 80s so XTC were pretty big news. I'm not a huge fan of the 80s but they were a great band

[Hobbayne]

I thought the Black Sea album was brilliant! Some great tracks "Generals and Major" and "Respectable Street" to name a couple.
I had this album on vinyl and recently found it on itunes for a fiver!.
I think Andy Partridge had a nervous breakdown and doesnt play anymore!

[tonyf]

[url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ErWSYJYKM-Q"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ErWSYJYKM-Q[/url]

I got turned onto XTC a few years ago. Just brilliant....

Apple Venus is an immense album.

[bassatnight]

A very underrated band who a lot of people have covered, much like another great underrated band Talk Talk.

[simon1964]

[quote name='bassatnight' post='1066697' date='Dec 22 2010, 12:38 PM']A very underrated band who a lot of people have covered, much like another great underrated band Talk Talk.[/quote]

Definitely, and Colin Moulding is a very underrated bassist too.

[Sibob]

Andy is totally fine now (the issue with playing live is well documented), still writing and recording lots, a rather prolific writer really. I hung out with him a fair bit when I was dating his daughter a couple of years ago, a more stand-up guy there could not be .
Some amazing tunes, although I prefer the middle to late career!

Check out the Fuzzy Warbles collections!

Si

[essexbasscat]

Always liked these

[The Admiral]

There is a very interesting chapter in Will Hodgkinson's book 'Song Man' where he spends a day with Andy P at his home in sunny Swindon, which covers a bit about his career since XTC : writing with Cathy Dennis etc.

One to spend your Christmas book token on perhaps, as it also contains musings on songwriting from a number of other big names, including Keith Richards and Ray Davies.

[url="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Song-Man-Adventure-Single-minded-Songwriting/dp/0747584958"]http://www.amazon.co.uk/Song-Man-Adventure...g/dp/0747584958[/url]

A

Edited December 22, 2010 by The Admiral

[steve-soar]

Why I put this in the Recording section is beyond me, "ah-mmmm, wine-o-clock possibly arrived too early yesterday?"

Oh, that'll be why.

[Cairobill]

Two of my favourite bands right there...


[quote name='bassatnight' post='1066697' date='Dec 22 2010, 12:38 PM']A very underrated band who a lot of people have covered, much like another great underrated band Talk Talk.[/quote]

[Cairobill]

And just to drop a slice of Talk Talk here. Utterly amazing track, really gorgeous.

[url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_cIWsQuYVeg"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_cIWsQuYVeg[/url]

When they're on form they make Radiohead sound like Shakatak

[quote name='Cairobill' post='1067783' date='Dec 23 2010, 01:51 PM']Two of my favourite bands right there... [/quote]

[apa]

XTC are, for me, part of my chilhood and teen years. I have pretty much everything they did up till Apples and Venus on vinyl :-D

For me they can do no wrong. They are the greatest pop band that never was. The biggest shame is Terry Chambers giving it all up to go and work on a building site in Australia!! Even Barry Andrews was cool on keys.

Very good musicians.

Fav tracks of the top of my head?

When your near me I have difficulty
Ten feet tall
Blame the weather
Respectable street (Love the lyrics in that lmao - soooo true)
No thugs in our house (Same again about the lyrics)
Battery brides

Realy like Andys solo album too. A very early example of remixing.

Anyone say a word against the Swindon boys and I'll BIFF yah!

A

P.S. Is the Mural of them still on the side of that building in Swindon? lol

Edited December 23, 2010 by apa

[BottomE]

one of the first covers i learnt was "Making Plans for Nigel" - for the 80s this was a very good band