Four guys from Swindon do Krautrock. This was the first Andy Partridge song where I realised I was in the presence of a major league songwriting talent.
I was only 15 at the time and had no idea what krautrock sounded like but I loved the whole album (GO2) for its hard social content which this exemplifies.
No problem, welcome. Check out some live bootlegs here (mostly unofficially released material*,) if you'd like: archive.org/details/@dharmanovel?and%5B%5D=subject%3A%22XTC+live%22&sort=titleSorter * By "mostly," I mean that maybe 2 individual song performances out of the whole list there were released as B sides to singles around 1979 - 1980.
For my money, this is their best song. I love the studio version on Go 2 and this live TV version is a treat. They were very interesting when they had Barry Andrew’s exposed Farfisa and upright piano.
A good point. The early, Barry Andrews line-up had greater harmonic variety with his keyboards than the later songs, in my opinion. The first two LPs and singles are top notch. I saw them live c. '79, an intense, rocking, sweat night !
Footage is visually killer, Colin's pout gets me everytime as much as the camera gliding upon Andy's guitar and Terry's drummin' at the beginning. The song is perfect. The pounding, soaring sound of the bass is enchanting and the plectrum dances freely upon the guitar strings creating that guitar wave. Go2 and White Music - the naive beginning, the best eras.
He does blink a few times. Maybe off camera he permanently has his eyes shut. But thanks for turning such a special piece of film for me personally into a perpetual stare off between Andy Partridge and myself. And yes. He wins everytime.
Great, I've now gone down the XTC rabbit hole again. It will be days of no sleep and disowning friends of mine who don't smell the wonderful magic they be cooking. I may dig my boombox out of the attic, grab the appropriate snacks and chemicals along with a satchel of DD's for the voracious appetite of the Sony, throw it all on top of a wheelbarrow half full of ice and beer for the slaking of any thirst that would dare try to interfere with the rager of a solo dance party I'll be having in the park !
I really love this little hunk o' musical perfection. I've heard better than a dozen versions, and they each seem to have a little personality of their own. None are repetitious. Each has a little bit you never noticed from the other versions. It's brilliant.
one of their best songs I used to think from there early couple of albums. Even back then they had a lot of quirky energy and character but they got colossally better.
This song began as something so much stranger than it became in live performances. But wait, no, it got a lot stranger too. This is a true jellyfish song.
I have so much love for Go 2, every song a miniature masterpiece. If only they could have recorded one more album w/ Barry Andrews before he left the band.
Drums and Wires is really the only album I can see Barry Andrews improving. The songs are already herky-jerky that his keyboards would help add to the already strange sound. Not so much with Black Sea onwards. Maybe The Big Express, but Andy and Dave's guitars fill in Barry's role in the music.
I totally agree. The Barry Andrews era XTC was great, especially Go 2. You even get two of his songs (with him on vocals) in “My Weapon” and “Super Tuff”.
Great to see this and 'The Rhythm' posted from this programme in 1978. It's me whose posted 3 tracks from it already, but I had no clue they performed more, thanks a lot for sharing these clips, great quality too...
The closest you can get now (I think) is EXTC - Terry Chambers performing XTC songs (endorsed by Andy Partridge) with the lead guitar from the Vapors and a bassist to complete the line up.
although Dave Gregory was a fine addition to the band and one helluva guitarist, allowing/getting rid of Barry was a real shame as he gave them such a unique sound that I missed in subsequent LPs - perhaps it was a case of musical ego with Andy, but whatever the reason I reckon he would have made valuable musical contributions if he had have stayed
Who knows? A cross between Shriekback and The Dukes? Barry and Andy did later collaborate on the Monstrance project which is as far away from those first two XTC albums as you can get.
The best songwriters and musical arrangers on the planet, and certainly my favourite Swindon based band in the 70s and 80s ..... Years ago I heard a live version of Battery Brides ... the intro section to which was amazing and that I have been searching for ever since. I was once told that it might have come from a live EP ... not sure if this was so, but if anyone knows the version that I am seeking, please please let me know.
Live in Concert, Hammersmith Palais, 22 December 1980? Disc 4 of the Transistor Blast: The Best Of The BBC Sessions box set. www.discogs.com/XTC-Transistor-Blast/release/958173 Or Towers Of London 7" EP www.discogs.com/XTC-Towers-Of-London/release/1385817
They became a totally different band when he left. You could say it was almost a new band. The time with Barry was very New Wave-ish and quirky. With Gregory they got more in the style of Beatles, a more Pop Rock direction.
Far better musicians than the average alternative/post-punk "musicians" playing the same little guitar line and same damn chord forever excused by the avant garde/VU/punk minimalism excuse ...
![Megan Thee Stallion - Neva Play (feat. RM) [Official Video]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/TpYTyAaTRts/mqdefault.jpg)
Four guys from Swindon do Krautrock. This was the first Andy Partridge song where I realised I was in the presence of a major league songwriting talent.
I was only 15 at the time and had no idea what krautrock sounded like but I loved the whole album (GO2) for its hard social content which this exemplifies.
Great version - it's weird realising that this is 42 years old.
Shows up what`s around now............maybe
Houiydeyouxm
Yup. It still sounds like the future
When I see these old XTC videos I get the feeling they were always shot on the keyboardists wash day.
break out of your waiting rawm and find yourself a waiting grawm
battury braaides hagh hah haave you ever triied
XTC, in all their forms, delivered big time.
hi this is one of my favorite bands now, sorry it took me a while to find
No problem, welcome. Check out some live bootlegs here (mostly unofficially released material*,) if you'd like:
archive.org/details/@dharmanovel?and%5B%5D=subject%3A%22XTC+live%22&sort=titleSorter
* By "mostly," I mean that maybe 2 individual song performances out of the whole list there were released as B sides to singles around 1979 - 1980.
Glad you found then and love them. Best band ever. Welcome. Enjoy!!
There you are, young man, you know your mother and I have been worried sick.
its okay i forgive you
You've got love Colin's famous Bjorn Borg bassline all through this classic XTC song which was always stunning live.....
The lighting on Andy makes me want Nerds candy.
I love this song. That bong-bong bassline and the steady crescendo.
For my money, this is their best song. I love the studio version on Go 2 and this live TV version is a treat. They were very interesting when they had Barry Andrew’s exposed Farfisa and upright piano.
A good point. The early, Barry Andrews line-up had greater harmonic variety with his keyboards than the later songs, in my opinion. The first two LPs and singles are top notch. I saw them live c. '79, an intense, rocking, sweat night !
FYI, it's a Crumar Group 49, not a Farfisa. Essentially an even cheaper alternative than the Farfisa combo!
Footage is visually killer, Colin's pout gets me everytime as much as the camera gliding upon Andy's guitar and Terry's drummin' at the beginning.
The song is perfect. The pounding, soaring sound of the bass is enchanting and the plectrum dances freely upon the guitar strings creating that guitar wave.
Go2 and White Music - the naive beginning, the best eras.
Eloquent and succinct. Nice one!
Norris Karloff I find your comment matches song+video both
1. objectively as they are
and
2. subjectively, as in my synopsis.
🖤
Pretty good production for regional English TV in 1978!
Freaking Perfect! I love Andy's playing harmonics on guitar!
DAMMIT MAN, BLINK ALREADY! Anyone else's eyes watering? ;)
He does blink a few times. Maybe off camera he permanently has his eyes shut. But thanks for turning such a special piece of film for me personally into a perpetual stare off between Andy Partridge and myself. And yes. He wins everytime.
andy has no eyelids
Great, I've now gone down the XTC rabbit hole again. It will be days of no sleep and disowning friends of mine who don't smell the wonderful magic they be cooking. I may dig my boombox out of the attic, grab the appropriate snacks and chemicals along with a satchel of DD's for the voracious appetite of the Sony, throw it all on top of a wheelbarrow half full of ice and beer for the slaking of any thirst that would dare try to interfere with the rager of a solo dance party I'll be having in the park !
Just love it and how Andy uses his voice in this, fabulous stuff.
It's hard to find enough praise, they were fascinating in their way of being other
I really love this little hunk o' musical perfection. I've heard better than a dozen versions, and they each seem to have a little personality of their own. None are repetitious. Each has a little bit you never noticed from the other versions. It's brilliant.
Timeless and totally sublime.
one of their best songs I used to think from there early couple of albums. Even back then they had a lot of quirky energy and character but they got colossally better.
Fkin awesome....Thats the music critic in me flooding out right there.
fuckin agree
Agree totally this is truly awesome!
Way too ahead of its time.
Wow, this is live I posted my comment watching this for the first time referring to the studio version, never seen this before what a treat.
This song began as something so much stranger than it became in live performances. But wait, no, it got a lot stranger too. This is a true jellyfish song.
this is the best song ever made and some people will actually disagree on that
I have so much love for Go 2, every song a miniature masterpiece. If only they could have recorded one more album w/ Barry Andrews before he left the band.
+Notecrusher my thoughts exactly. "Drums, Wires, & Hammers"?
I disagree.....Black Sea and DRUM & Wires were much better than GO2
Drums and Wires is really the only album I can see Barry Andrews improving. The songs are already herky-jerky that his keyboards would help add to the already strange sound.
Not so much with Black Sea onwards. Maybe The Big Express, but Andy and Dave's guitars fill in Barry's role in the music.
I totally agree. The Barry Andrews era XTC was great, especially Go 2. You even get two of his songs (with him on vocals) in “My Weapon” and “Super Tuff”.
Great to see this and 'The Rhythm' posted from this programme in 1978.
It's me whose posted 3 tracks from it already, but I had no clue they performed more,
thanks a lot for sharing these clips, great quality too...
The best english band.
It's sad that they no longer perform live.
The closest you can get now (I think) is EXTC - Terry Chambers performing XTC songs (endorsed by Andy Partridge) with the lead guitar from the Vapors and a bassist to complete the line up.
Great tune.
Fantastic. Thanks for posting.
A pleasure.
dawg quit staring at me like that youre making me nervous
im NOT GOOD WITH EYE CONTACT!
@@lunekitten you should try to improve it
@norged that is why im here im trying to build confidence but hes too scary
@@lunekitten at least it's not Barry Andrews
This is great! :)
Art-punk 🤟
never seen before, thanks
first time I've ever seen it too.....kind of a lame video......not one of their best songs from Go2
😎❤
Great find,Paul!
although Dave Gregory was a fine addition to the band and one helluva guitarist, allowing/getting rid of Barry was a real shame as he gave them such a unique sound that I missed in subsequent LPs - perhaps it was a case of musical ego with Andy, but whatever the reason I reckon he would have made valuable musical contributions if he had have stayed
Who knows? A cross between Shriekback and The Dukes? Barry and Andy did later collaborate on the Monstrance project which is as far away from those first two XTC albums as you can get.
Old Boy andy comes across in all interviews as a cool an nice chap..but there is something there, almost surfacing...nice chap,cheers
The best songwriters and musical arrangers on the planet, and certainly my favourite Swindon based band in the 70s and 80s ..... Years ago I heard a live version of Battery Brides ... the intro section to which was amazing and that I have been searching for ever since. I was once told that it might have come from a live EP ... not sure if this was so, but if anyone knows the version that I am seeking, please please let me know.
Live in Concert, Hammersmith Palais, 22 December 1980?
Disc 4 of the Transistor Blast: The Best Of The BBC Sessions box set.
www.discogs.com/XTC-Transistor-Blast/release/958173
Or
Towers Of London 7" EP
www.discogs.com/XTC-Towers-Of-London/release/1385817
Very darkly lit video of another long intro version at around 35:33 here ruclips.net/video/wR8MQOmIVoQ/видео.html
Love this tune. It would have been even cooler if they did that gradual pitch speed to normal like in the intro on the record though.
Awesome
Andy is a sight for sore eyes.
Because they were way more talented than the Beatles, they certainly proved that after 30 years.
Which BBC region was lucky enough to get this performance? Don't think it was west midlands....
This was one of many swindon viewpoint productions...not the bbc
The weird thing is that a friend of a friend sourced it years ago from the Beeb's archive, so I assumed it was BBC
Brill footage.
steve
Gary
Would this still be as good, without Barry Andrews synth?
One that ROUGH TRADE missed. Wry,sharp post punk.
Texas likes.
Is Andy partridge Allan partridge’s brother ? Or was Tony Wilson Steve cougan’s uncle ?
Tell us all, Simmon tomson.
Did you find much Madness or Specials?
they improved greatly when Barry Andrews left the band and they added Dave Gregory....Drums and Wires and BLACK SEA were much better than GO2
They became a totally different band when he left. You could say it was almost a new band. The time with Barry was very New Wave-ish and quirky. With Gregory they got more in the style of Beatles, a more Pop Rock direction.
Nearly agree with the above statement...but we have Radiohead, sorry.
Far better musicians than the average alternative/post-punk "musicians" playing the same little guitar line and same damn chord forever excused by the avant garde/VU/punk minimalism excuse ...