XTC
From L to R: Andy Partridge, Colin Moulding, Dave Gregory, Terry Chambers
Background information
Origin	Swindon, England
Genre(s)	New Wave Alternative rock
Years active	1972–present
Label(s)	Virgin Records Idea Records
Associated acts	The Dukes of Stratosphear
Website	http://www.xtcidearecords.co.uk/
Members
Andy Partridge Colin Moulding
Former members
Dave Gregory (1979–1998) Terry Chambers (1973–1983) Barry Andrews (1976–1979)

XTC are an influential new wave band from Swindon, England. Image File history File links File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_England_(bordered). ... Swindon is a town in Wiltshire in the South West of England. ... Motto: (French for God and my right) Anthem: God Save the King/Queen Capital London Largest city London Official language(s) English (de facto) Unification    - by Athelstan AD 927  Area    - Total 130,395 km² (1st in UK)   50,346 sq mi  Population    - 2006 est. ... A music genre is a category (or genre) of pieces of music that share a certain style or basic musical language (van der Merwe 1989, p. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... Alternative rock (also called alternative music[1] or simply alternative) is a genre of rock music that emerged in the 1980s and became widely popular in the 1990s. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... Virgin Records is a British recording label founded by British entrepreneur Richard Branson, and Nik Powell in 1972. ... Idea Records is a British independent record label. ... For the drug, see Ecstasy. ... Andy Partridge (born November 11, 1953 in Malta) is a founding member, guitarist and chief songwriter of the new wave group XTC. He lives in Swindon, Wiltshire, where he was raised. ... Colin Moulding (born August 17, 1955, in Swindon, Wiltshire, England) is a founding member of the new wave rock/pop group XTC, its second songwriter, vocalist, and bassist. ... Dave Gregory Dave Gregory Dave Gregory (born September 21, 1952, in Swindon, Wiltshire, England) was the lead guitarist of the new wave rock/pop group XTC from immediately prior to the recording of the Drums and Wires LP in 1979 to his leaving the band in 1999. ... Terry Chambers was born in Swindon, Wiltshire, England July 18, 1955. ... Barry Andrews was a member of British band XTC, who went on to have a short-lived solo career. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... Swindon is a town in Wiltshire in the South West of England. ... Motto: (French for God and my right) Anthem: God Save the King/Queen Capital London Largest city London Official language(s) English (de facto) Unification    - by Athelstan AD 927  Area    - Total 130,395 km² (1st in UK)   50,346 sq mi  Population    - 2006 est. ...

History

The early years, 1972–1977

First coming together in 1972, the core duo of Andy Partridge (guitars & vocals) and Colin Moulding (bass & vocals) went through many band names (including The Helium Kidz and Star Park) over the next five years. As the Helium Kidz, they featured in a small NME article as an up-and-coming band from Swindon. Drawing influence from the New York Dolls and the emerging New York punk scene, they played glam rock with homemade costumes and slowly built up a following. Drummer Terry Chambers joined in 1973. Keyboard player Barry Andrews followed in 1976, and the band finally settled on a name: XTC. By this time, the punk rock movement was in full swing, and XTC had found their style, a unique brand of hyperactive pop mixed with funk, punk, ska, reggae, and art rock. Andy Partridge (born November 11, 1953 in Malta) is a founding member, guitarist and chief songwriter of the new wave group XTC. He lives in Swindon, Wiltshire, where he was raised. ... Colin Moulding (born August 17, 1955, in Swindon, Wiltshire, England) is a founding member of the new wave rock/pop group XTC, its second songwriter, vocalist, and bassist. ... The New York Dolls are a rock band formed in New York City in 1971. ... Glam rock (also known as glitter rock), was a style of rock and roll music popularised in the early 1970s. ... Terry Chambers was born in Swindon, Wiltshire, England July 18, 1955. ... Barry Andrews was a member of British band XTC, who went on to have a short-lived solo career. ... Punk rock is an anti-establishment music movement beginning around 1976 (although precursors can be found several years earlier), exemplified and popularised by The Ramones, the Sex Pistols, The Clash and The Damned. ... Funk is an African American musical style. ... Punk rock is an anti-establishment music movement beginning around 1976 (although precursors can be found several years earlier), exemplified and popularised by The Ramones, the Sex Pistols, The Clash and The Damned. ... This article does not cite its references or sources. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... It has been suggested that Experimental Rock be merged into this article or section. ...

The touring years, 1977–1982

In 1977 XTC was signed by Virgin Records. They recorded the 3D - EP that summer, and followed it up with their debut LP White Music in January 1978. White Music received favorable reviews and entered the British top 30, but lead single "Statue of Liberty" was banned by the BBC for making lewd references to the famous statue. Virgin Records is a British recording label founded by British entrepreneur Richard Branson, and Nik Powell in 1972. ... 3D EP XTCs 3D EP was the bands vinyl debut. ... White Music is an XTC album. ... 1978 (MCMLXXVIII) was a common year starting on Sunday. ...

Original UK 45 rpm single picture cover: XTC - Making Plans For Nigel

After their second effort, Go 2, and the accompanying bonus disc Go + (a collection of dub mixes of songs from the album), Andrews left and was replaced by guitarist and keyboardist Dave Gregory. Andrews went on to form Shriekback and also worked with Robert Fripp's League of Gentlemen. With Gregory's arrival, the band scored their first charting single, Moulding's "Life Begins at the Hop". Image File history File links XTC - Making Plans For Nigel. ... Image File history File links XTC - Making Plans For Nigel. ... Go 2 is an XTC album released in 1978. ... Go 2 is an XTC album released in 1978. ... Dave Gregory Dave Gregory Dave Gregory (born September 21, 1952, in Swindon, Wiltshire, England) was the lead guitarist of the new wave rock/pop group XTC from immediately prior to the recording of the Drums and Wires LP in 1979 to his leaving the band in 1999. ... Shriekback is a rock band formed in the early 1980s by Barry Andrews, formerly of XTC and League of Gentlemen (keyboards/synthesizers/vocals), Carl Marsh (guitars/vocals), and Dave Allen, formerly of the Gang of Four (bass). ... Robert Fripp (born May 16, 1946 in Wimborne Minster, Dorset, England) is a guitarist and a composer, perhaps best known for his founding role in the band King Crimson. ... Life Begins at the Hop is a single by XTC released in 1979. ...

The loss of Andrews' distinctive keyboard playing started the band on a path towards a more traditional rock sound, although Gregory also contributed occasional keyboards (and later, string arrangements). The resulting album, Drums and Wires, contained the band's first big hit, "Making Plans for Nigel" (right), which caused a minor controversy because of its lyrical reference to British Steel. The album found the band branching out into more overtly political topics, culminating in the unhinged ranting of "Complicated Game", which became one of the band's most well-known non-hits. Drums and Wires also marked their first sessions at London's Townhouse Studios. The studio was at the time much sought after for its highly reverberant "live" drum room, and it was greatly favoured by their producer of the time, Steve Lillywhite and his engineer Hugh Padgham. Drums and Wires is an XTC album released in 1979. ... British Steel is a large British steel producer, privatised in 1988 under the Thatcher government. ... Steve Lillywhite (born in 1955) is a well-known British music producer. ... Hugh Padgham is a record producer and audio engineer, and, although he makes no claims to having any musical talent, has become one of the worlds most successful and influentual producers. ...

XTC on the cover of a 1980 issue of Smash Hits

During this period, Partridge also further indulged his love of dub, releasing a solo LP in 1980 under the name 'Mr Partridge'. The album, Take Away/The Lure of Salvage, featured radical dub deconstructions of music from the preceding XTC albums. Later the same year Moulding and Chambers released the "Too Many Cooks In The Kitchen" single under the name The Colonel. Image File history File linksMetadata XTC_-_Smash_Hits_Mar_Apr_1980_magazine_cover. ... Image File history File linksMetadata XTC_-_Smash_Hits_Mar_Apr_1980_magazine_cover. ... Smash Hits is a British music magazine aimed primarily at teenage girls. ... Take Away/The Lure Of Salvage is a record containing dub versions of XTC tracks released under the Mr. ...

Their 1980 LP, Black Sea spawned the hit singles "Sgt. Rock (Is Going to Help Me)" and "Generals and Majors". The song "Sgt Rock" namechecks the comic book character of the same name and reflects Partridge's lifelong obsession with American comics, particularly the work of Steve Ditko. This is considered one of the most consistent albums by XTC. Black Sea is not as dark as its predecessor, Drums And Wires, although it is still focused on big drums and sharp guitars. ... One of Joe Kuberts evocative covers for Sgt. ... The Amazing Spider-Man Annual #1 (1964): Cover art by Ditko. ...

The last major hit of XTC's touring phase was "Senses Working Overtime", the first single from their double album English Settlement and a top 10 hit in 1982. At the peak of their popularity, the band embarked on a major tour, but Partridge suffered a breakdown on stage during one of the first concerts of the tour in Paris on March 18, 1982. Senses Working Overtime is a single by XTC released in 1982. ... The term Glorious Revolution refers to the generally popular overthrow of James II of England in 1688. ... City flag City coat of arms Motto: Fluctuat nec mergitur (Latin: Tossed by the waves, she does not sink) Paris Eiffel tower as seen from the esplanade du Trocadéro. ... March 18 is the 77th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (78th in leap years). ... 1982 (MCMLXXXII) was a common year starting on Friday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

The studio years, 1982–1992

Andy Partridge's breakdown, which manifested itself as uncontrollable stage fright, was reportedly precipitated by his wife throwing away his supply of Valium. According to the band's biography, Andy had become dependent upon the drug after it was prescribed to him as a teenager during his parents' divorce. He reportedly was never withdrawn from the drug and became dependent on it. Stage fright refers to an anxiety, fear or persistent phobia related to performance in front of an audience. ... Diazepam, brand names: Valium, Seduxen, in Europe Apozepam, is a 1,4-benzodiazepine derivative, which possesses anxiolytic, anticonvulsant, sedative and skeletal muscle relaxant properties. ...

Concerned about her husband's dependence on the drug, Partridge's wife ill-advisedly threw his tablets away — without seeking medical advice — just before the Paris concert. Not surprisingly, Partridge suffered anxiety attacks of such severity that he was soon forced to withdraw from touring permanently. The European and British dates were cancelled and after one show in San Diego the whole US leg was also abandoned. Since then, XTC has been exclusively a studio band, although they have given occasional live-to-air performances from radio stations, and have made a handful of TV appearances as well. Nickname: Americas Finest City Location of San Diego within San Diego County Coordinates: Country United States State California County San Diego Mayor Jerry Sanders City Attorney Michael Aguirre City Council Scott Peters Kevin Faulconer Toni Atkins Tony Young Brian Maienschein Donna Frye Jim Madaffer Ben Hueso Area    - City 963. ...

Chambers left the band shortly thereafter, during the recording of their 1983 album Mummer. He was unhappy with the confines of the studio, and also felt the loss of income that resulted from their withdrawal from touring (he did not write, and so received no publishing royalties). Another major factor was his relationship with his Australian girlfriend; they subsequently married, and Chambers migrated to Australia and settled in Newcastle, New South Wales. Rather than finding a replacement, XTC has used a series of session drummers over the years, including Peter Phipps, Prairie Prince of The Tubes, Dave Mattacks of Fairport Convention, Pat Mastelotto of King Crimson and Mr. Mister, Chuck Sabo, and Dave Gregory's brother, Ian Gregory (as "E.I.E.I. Owen"). Mummer is an XTC album released in 1983. ... Newcastle CBD Newcastle is the sixth largest and the second oldest city in Australia and the second largest in the state of New South Wales. ... Peter Phipps is a rock drummer. ... Prairie Prince Prairie Prince is a rock drummer. ... The Tubes are a San Francisco-based theater rock band, popular in the late 1970s and early 1980s, legendary (and/or infamous) for early live performances that combined lewd quasi-pornography with wild satires of media, consumerism and politics. ... Dave Mattacks is a rock and folk drummer. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... Lee Patrick Mastelotto (born September 10, 1955 in Chico, California) is a rock drummer who has worked with King Crimson and XTC. Pat started playing the drums at the age of 10. ... King Crimson is an English musical group founded by guitarist Robert Fripp and drummer Michael Giles in 1969. ... Mr. ... Chuck Sabo is a rock drummer. ...

If Mummer saw Partridge cooling his heels with pastoral songs like "Love on a Farmboy's Wages", the band's next album took a noisy left turn. 1984's The Big Express, surprised both their record company and fans alike with its abrasive sound and became XTC's poorest seller to date. The album was nonetheless a personal high point for Partridge, who considers songs such as "(The Everyday Story of) Smalltown" and "Train Running Low on Soul Coal" amongst the best he has ever written. The Big Express An XTC album released in 1984. ...

In 1986, the band travelled to Todd Rundgren's studio-in-the-woods in Woodstock, New York to record Skylarking. Although the pairing of XTC and Rundgren was highly anticipated by fans, the sessions were less than enjoyable for the band. Rundgren had insisted that the band send him, in advance, demos of all the songs that they thought they might tackle for the record. When the band got to Woodstock, Rundgren had already worked out a running order for both the recording and sequence of the album itself. True to his "hands-on" studio production style, Rundgren insisted that everyone adhere to his scheme. This did not sit well with the band, Partridge in particular. The two egos of Rundgren and Partridge clashed frequently during the recording of Skylarking and when it was finished Partridge said that he was not at all happy with the resulting product. Partridge has since softened his view, describing the album as "a summer's day baked into one cake." Todd Harry Rundgren (born June 22, 1948 in Upper Darby, a suburb of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA) is an American musician, singer, songwriter and record producer. ... Woodstock, New York The name Woodstock is associated with two locales in New York. ... Skylarking is a 1986 album by XTC. Considered by many to be their finest album, Skylarking displayed songwriting and arranging heavily influenced by The Beatles of Revolver and Sgt. ...

Skylarking revived the band's commercial fortunes, earning critical accolades and spawning the controversial hit "Dear God", which was originally issued as the B-side of the album's first single, "Grass". Interest in the song saw the album re-pressed with "Dear God" included and the new version of the LP sold 250,000 copies in the USA. ("Dear God" replaced "Mermaid Smiled", which was absent from the album until it was finally reinstated for the remastered Skylarking CD in 2000.) "Dear God" later received additional attention when Sarah McLachlan recorded her own version . Sarah Ann McLachlan, OC, OBC (born January 28, 1968) is a Canadian musician, singer and songwriter. ...

The band's follow up, Oranges and Lemons, produced by Paul Fox, was their biggest seller yet, with "Mayor of Simpleton" and "King for a Day" getting heavy airplay on MTV. It was during this period that Partridge began a relationship with an American fan, Erica Wexler, the niece of famed American record producer Jerry Wexler. Although signs of the failing of Partridge's first marriage were evident as far back as English Settlement (notably on the album's closing track, "Snowman"), it was some time before the still-married Partridge felt comfortable with Wexler's advances; this awkward situation is chronicled in the song "Another Satellite". However, the relationship finally came to fruition after Partridge's first wife Marianne left him. Wexler and Partridge are happily together. Oranges and Lemons is a 1989 album from XTC. The album produced a minor hit single, The Mayor of Simpleton, the only XTC song ever to hit the US charts. ... Jerome Jerry Wexler (born 10 January 1917) is a music journalist turned highly influential music producer, and is regarded as one of the major record industry players behind 1960s soul music. ...

During their long career, XTC have also released material under a variety of pseudonyms, including two albums of psychedelic parodies as "The Dukes of Stratosphear" (ultimately released on a single CD, Chips from the Chocolate Fireball, simultaneous with the second album's vinyl release), a Viz comics promotional single as "Johnny Japes and his Jesticles", a Christmas-themed single as "The Three Wise Men" and a guest appearance on their own tribute album Testimonial Dinner as "Terry and the Lovemen". Psychedelia is a term describing a category of music, visual art, fashion, and culture that is associated originally with the high 1960s, hippies, and the Haight-Ashbury neighborhood of San Francisco, California. ... Parody of Back to the Future In contemporary usage, a parody is a work that imitates another work in order to ridicule, ironically comment on, or poke some affectionate fun at the work itself, the subject of the work, the author or fictional voice of the parody, or another subject. ... For the drug, see Ecstasy. ... Chips from the Chocolate Fireball: An Anthology is a CD-only compilation album by The Dukes of Stratosphear, XTCs mid-eighties alter-ego. ... Cover of Viz (issue 57) Viz is a popular British adult comic magazine that has been running since 1979. ...

Their 1992 album, Nonsuch (named after Henry VIII's fabled palace), united them with famed UK producer Gus Dudgeon and drummer Dave Mattacks. The album featured the US and UK hit tunes "Dear Madame Barnum" and "The Ballad Of Peter Pumpkinhead"; the latter brought the band perhaps its greatest success after the early 1980s. (The video for "Peter Pumpkinhead" made an unusual comparison between Jesus and John F. Kennedy.) Despite its success, soon after its release, a contractual dispute with their label, Virgin Records, saw XTC go "on strike" from 1992 through 1998, finally resulting in the termination of their contract. They issued no new material during this time, although two compilations were released: Upsy Daisy Assortment and the 2-CD set Fossil Fuel: The XTC Singles 1977-1992, which featured remastered versions of their singles, including many tracks not issued on CD before. Nonsuch is a 1992 album by XTC. Tracklist Ballad of Peter Pumpkinhead My Bird Performs Dear Madam Barnum Humble Daisy Smartest Monkeys Disappointed Holly Up on Poppy Crocodile Rook Omnibus That Wave Then She Appeared War Dance Wrapped in Grey Ugly Underneath Bungalow Books Are Burning Categories: Album stubs | 1992... For the play, see Henry VIII (play). ... Gus Dudgeon (1942 - 2002) was a British record producer, and the inventor of audio sampling as a musical device. ... Dave Mattacks is a rock and folk drummer. ... This article is about Jesus of Nazareth. ... For other persons named John Kennedy, see John Kennedy (disambiguation). ... Virgin Records is a British recording label founded by British entrepreneur Richard Branson, and Nik Powell in 1972. ... Upsy Daisy Assortment is a U.S.-exclusive compilation by XTC, released after Geffen Records declined to distribute the 1996 double-disc Fossil Fuel: The XTC Singles 1977-1992. ...

Management and contractual problems had dogged the band throughout their career, and around the time of the recording of Nonsuch they had to make a legal settlement with their former manager. Although most fans assume (and the lyrics of "I Bought Myself a Liarbird" from The Big Express imply) that there was some financial impropriety involved, the terms of the settlement imposed a "gag" on the band and have prevented them from speaking publicly about the matter.

The final straw for the band was Virgin's scuttling of their 1992 single "Wrapped in Grey", which was pressed up in the tens of thousands, and then recalled and destroyed by the label. The band asked that Virgin either allow them to re-negotiate their contract or release them, but the label stalled for years until finally agreeing to release them after a change of management at the company.

Going independent, 1992–present

After leaving Virgin, Partridge had their accounts audited and it was discovered that the company had withheld substantial royalty payments from them. The settlement of the accounts provided the group with much-needed cash flow, allowing Partridge and Moulding to install fully-equipped studios and work comfortably at home. They are now able to record the majority of their work themselves, although they have used major commercial studios (including Abbey Road Studios in London) for some sessions. Finally released from Virgin, they formed their own label, Idea Records, and embarked on the recording of the ambitious "Apple Venus" project, a collection of the best material written during the band's dispute with Virgin. The band's initial plan had been to record a double album, featuring one disc of acoustic and orchestral songs and one of electric songs. However, financial constraints forced the band to abandon the double album plan and finish and release the first volume before completing the second. The legendary recording studio Abbey Road Studios, created in November of 1931 by EMI in London, England is best known as the legendary recording studio used by the rock artists: The Beatles, Cliff Richard, Pink Floyd and The Shadows. ... This article is about the capital of England and the United Kingdom. ... Idea Records is a British independent record label. ...

However, this did not prove to be the end of their problems. Dave Gregory left the band during the recording sessions for Apple Venus Volume 1 after 20 years' service, and to the horror of the band's loyal fans. Gregory was unhappy with the plan to record an album whose arrangements relied largely upon orchestral instruments and keyboards. What was not mentioned was that the cutting back on his part on the new XTC recordings, particularly the string arrangements (taken over by Andy Partridge), meant considerably fewer "points" in the calculating out of royalties; as Gregory never wrote any songs for the band, this resulted in a significant dent in his potential income from the album, basically reducing his payments to that of a session musician (Gregory is credited as a session musician rather than as a band member on the finished album, as he left before it was completed). Partridge later claimed in a press interview that he and Colin were going to sack Gregory anyway because of his sullen attitude during the recordings, and that they had waited for him for six years to write the orchestral arrangements, and had finally told him that they would not let him stop the project. Apple Venus Volume 1 is an XTC album released in 1999 on the bands own Idea Records. ...

Dave Gregory's contribution to the XTC sound had been immense; the technical skill of his guitar and keyboard playing, and his orchestral scoring, had facilitated a huge expansion in the group's sonic possibilities. His skills also encouraged, perhaps goaded Partridge to new heights of musicianship. It is some measure of how liked he was by the XTC fanbase that they gave Moulding & Partridge pelters on the band's official forum for his departure — and some measure of their mutual respect for their fans and Gregory that the criticism went uncensored. The three got back together for a charity reunion of their Dukes of Stratosphear alter-egos years later, and Partridge has recently (November 2006) revealed that he and Gregory have rekindled their friendship.

The band's next record, Wasp Star (Apple Venus Volume 2) was the guitar-heavy collection Gregory would have preferred. In October 2005, the two albums were reissued together in the 4-CD Apple Box collection. Wasp Star (Apple Venus Volume 2) The second volume of the Apple Venus set. ...

Now in control of their own work and with their own small studio, Partridge and Moulding have released instrumental and demo versions of their first two albums on Idea, Apple Venus and Wasp Star. Having left Virgin, relations have improved and Andy Partridge has since released a series of albums of demos of his songs (mainly from the Virgin years) under the title of Fuzzy Warbles in 2002, on a new label imprint APE. Colin Moulding declined to contribute his demos to the series. The Fuzzy Warbles series includes eight volumes along with a bonus CD, Hinges. The Canadian Vancouver based singer-songwriter and jazzpoet Veda Hille has released her latest album Return of the Kildeer (2005) on APE records. // Fuzzy Warbles A prospective 10 disc rarities collection from XTC guitarist and frontman Andy Partridge (6 discs have been released so far. ... // Fuzzy Warbles A prospective 10 disc rarities collection from XTC guitarist and frontman Andy Partridge (6 discs have been released so far. ... Veda Hille (born August 11, 1968 in Vancouver, British Columbia) is a Canadian singer-songwriter. ...

A boxed 4-CD compilation, Coat of Many Cupboards, spanning the band's time with Virgin, was also released in 2002.

The 2005 inclusion on Apple Box of the first new XTC tracks in five years ("Spiral", written by Partridge and "Say It", by Moulding), offered hope that the band might continue. However, in November 2006, Partridge told several interviewers that Moulding no longer had any interest in writing, performing or even listening to music. Partridge has said he would not continue XTC without Moulding, and that therefore he has been forced to regard XTC "in the past tense," with no likelihood of a new project unless Moulding should have a change of heart. (Ironically, Partridge says he and Gregory, their differences now resolved, have tentatively considered working together again.)

Discography

Studio albums (with chart position)

White Music 1978	Go 2 1978	Drums and Wires 1979 US #176	Black Sea 1980 US #41
English Settlement 1982 US #48	Mummer 1983 US #145	The Big Express 1984 US #181	Skylarking 1986 US #70
Oranges and Lemons 1989 US #44	Nonsuch 1992 US #97	Apple Venus Volume 1 1999 US #106	Wasp Star (Apple Venus Volume 2) 2000 US #108

Image File history File links XTC_White_Music. ... White Music is an XTC album. ... Image File history File links XTC_Go_2. ... Go 2 is an XTC album released in 1978. ... Image File history File links XTC_Drums_and_Wires. ... Drums and Wires is an XTC album released in 1979. ... Image File history File linksMetadata XTC_-_Black_Sea_album_cover. ... This is considered one of the most consistent albums by XTC. Black Sea is not as dark as its predecessor, Drums And Wires, although it is still focused on big drums and sharp guitars. ... Image File history File links XTC_English_Settlement. ... The term Glorious Revolution refers to the generally popular overthrow of James II of England in 1688. ... Image File history File links XTC_Mummer. ... Mummer is an XTC album released in 1983. ... Image File history File links XTC_bigexpress84. ... The Big Express An XTC album released in 1984. ... Image File history File links Xtcsl2. ... Skylarking is a 1986 album by XTC. Considered by many to be their finest album, Skylarking displayed songwriting and arranging heavily influenced by The Beatles of Revolver and Sgt. ... Image File history File links Orangesandlemons. ... Oranges and Lemons is a 1989 album from XTC. The album produced a minor hit single, The Mayor of Simpleton, the only XTC song ever to hit the US charts. ... Image File history File links XTC_Nonsuch. ... Nonsuch is a 1992 album by XTC. Tracklist Ballad of Peter Pumpkinhead My Bird Performs Dear Madam Barnum Humble Daisy Smartest Monkeys Disappointed Holly Up on Poppy Crocodile Rook Omnibus That Wave Then She Appeared War Dance Wrapped in Grey Ugly Underneath Bungalow Books Are Burning Categories: Album stubs | 1992... Image File history File links Apple_Venus. ... Apple Venus Volume 1 is an XTC album released in 1999 on the bands own Idea Records. ... Image File history File links WaspStarAppleVenus2cover. ... Wasp Star (Apple Venus Volume 2) The second volume of the Apple Venus set. ...

The Dukes of Stratosphear releases

25 O'Clock 1985 (Vinyl only 12" EP)

Psonic Psunspot 1987 (Vinyl only Album)

Chips from the Chocolate Fireball 1987 (CD compilation of 25 O'Clock and Psonic Psunspot)

Image File history File links Dukes_25oclock. ... This article is being considered for deletion in accordance with Wikipedias deletion policy. ... Image File history File links Dukes_of_Stratosphear_PsonicPsunspot. ... Psonic Psunspot is the second release of the Dukes of Stratosphear, a band formed by members of XTC. The album, like the previous 25 OClock, is inspired by the 60s psychedelia. ... Image File history File links The_Dukes_Of_Stratosphear-_Chips_From_The_Chocolate_Fireball. ... Chips from the Chocolate Fireball: An Anthology is a CD-only compilation album by The Dukes of Stratosphear, XTCs mid-eighties alter-ego. ...

Compilations, instrumentals, demos and live albums

Waxworks: Some Singles 1977-1982 1982	Beeswax: Some B-Sides 1977-1982 1982	The Compact XTC 1987	Explode Together: The Dub Experiments 78-80 1990
Rag and Bone Buffet: Rare Cuts and Leftovers 1990	BBC Radio 1 Live in Concert 1992	Drums and Wireless: BBC Radio Session 1977-89 1994	Fossil Fuel: The XTC Singles 1977-1992 1996
Upsy Daisy Assortment 1997	Transistor Blast: The Best of the BBC Sessions 1998	Homespun 1999	Homegrown 2001
Coat of Many Cupboards 2002	Instruvenus 2002	Waspstrumental 2002	Apple Box 2005

Image File history File links Waxworksxtccover. ... Image File history File links XTC_-_Beeswax. ... Image File history File links Xtctcx. ... The Compact XTC is a compilation album by XTC released in 1987. ... Image File history File links XTC_-_Explode_Together. ... Image File history File links XTC_-_Rag_and_Bone_Buffet. ... Image File history File links XTC_-_BBC_Radio_1_Live_in_Concert. ... BBC Radio 1 Live in Concert (1992) is a recording of an XTC live performance from 22nd December 1980. ... Image File history File links DrumsAndWireless. ... Image File history File links XTC_-_Fossil_Fuel. ... Image File history File links XTC_-_Upsy_Daisy_Assortment. ... Upsy Daisy Assortment is a U.S.-exclusive compilation by XTC, released after Geffen Records declined to distribute the 1996 double-disc Fossil Fuel: The XTC Singles 1977-1992. ... Image File history File links XTC_-_Transistor_Blast. ... Image File history File links XTC_-_Homespun. ... Homespun is a demo album by XTC. A companion to Apple Venus Volume 1, it has the same running order as its parent album. ... Image File history File links XTC_-_Homegrown. ... Homegrown is a demo album by XTC, released a year after its parent album Wasp Star (Apple Venus Volume 2). ... Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (400x708, 177 KB) Original release CD cover - record covers are fair use. ... Coat of Many Cupboards is a Boxed set by XTC released in 2002. ... Image File history File links XTC_-_Instruvenus. ... Instruvenus (2002) is an instrumental version of XTCs Apple Venus Volume 1 album released in 1999. ... Image File history File links XTC_-_Waspstrumental. ... Waspstrumental (2002) is an instrumental version of XTCs Wasp Star (Apple Venus Volume 2) album released in 2000. ... A photo my roomie took of an apple box. ... An apple box of common proportion and appearance The term apple box, or apple crate, is used in the production of film or photography to indicate a mobile box or platform sturdy enough to support weight. ...

Fuzzy Warbles albums

Fuzzy Warbles Volume 1 2002	Fuzzy Warbles Volume 2 2002	Fuzzy Warbles Volume 3 2003	Fuzzy Warbles Volume 4 2003
Fuzzy Warbles Volume 5 2004	Fuzzy Warbles Volume 6 2004	Fuzzy Warbles Volume 7 2006	Fuzzy Warbles Volume 8 2006
Hinges 2006

Image File history File links Andy_Partridge_-_Fuzzy_Warbles_Volume_1. ... Fuzzy Warbles Volume 1 is the first volume in the Fuzzy Warbles series released in December 2002. ... Image File history File links Andy_Partridge_-_Fuzzy_Warbles_Volume_2. ... Fuzzy Warbles Volume 2 is the second volume in the Fuzzy Warbles series released in December 2002. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Andy_Partridge_-_Fuzzy_Warbles_Volume_3. ... Fuzzy Warbles Volume 3 is the third volume in the Fuzzy Warbles series released in February 2003. ... Image File history File links Andy_Partridge_-_Fuzzy_Warbles_Volume_4. ... Fuzzy Warbles Volume 4 is the fourth volume in the Fuzzy Warbles series released in February 2003. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Andy_Partridge_-_Fuzzy_Warbles_Volume_5. ... Fuzzy Warbles Volume 5 is the fifth volume in the Fuzzy Warbles series released in September 2004. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Andy_Partridge_-_Fuzzy_Warbles_Volume_6. ... Fuzzy Warbles Volume 6 is the sixth volume in the Fuzzy Warbles series released in September 2004. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Andy_Partridge_-_Fuzzy_Warbles_Volume_7. ... Fuzzy Warbles Volume 7 is the seventh volume in the Fuzzy Warbles series released in September 2006. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Andy_Partridge_-_Fuzzy_Warbles_Volume_8. ... Fuzzy Warbles Volume 8 is the eighth volume in the Fuzzy Warbles series released in September 2006. ... Image File history File links Andy_Partridge_-_Hinges. ... Hinges is the ninth and final volume in the Fuzzy Warbles series released in September 2006. ...

Other compilations

• Eighties Goldies (1980) A French Cassette-Only Compilation of First Six Singles & B-Sides.
• The Tiny Circus of Life (1992) Limited French Compilation.

Singles and EPs

• "Science Friction" (October 7, 1977 — withdrawn)
• 3D - EP (October 7, 1977)
• "Statue of Liberty" (January 1978)
• "This Is Pop?" (April 1978)
• "Are You Receiving Me?" (September 1978)
• "Go +" (October 1978) 6-song EP of dub mixes, included with first edition of Go2, reissued on Explode Together
• "Life Begins at the Hop" (April 1979, #44 UK)
• "Making Plans For Nigel" (September 1979, #17 UK)
• "Ten Feet Tall" (March 1980 — US Only)
• "Wait Till Your Boat Goes Down" (March 1980)
• "Generals and Majors" (August 1980, #32 UK)
• "Towers of London" (October 1980, #31 UK)
• "Take This Town" (November 1980)
• "Sgt. Rock (Is Going To Help Me)" (December 1980 #16 UK)
• "Love At First Sight" (January 1981 — US/Canada Only)
• "Respectable Street" (March 1981)
• Live & More EP (April 1981 — Japan Only)
• 5 Senses EP (September 1981 — Canada Only)
• "Senses Working Overtime" (January 1982, #10 UK)
• "Ball and Chain" (February 1982, #58 UK)
• "No Thugs In Our House" (May 1982)
• "Great Fire" (April 1983)
• "Wonderland" (June 1983)
• "Love On A Farmboy's Wages" (September 1983, #50 UK)
• "All You Pretty Girls" (September 1984, #55 UK)
• "This World Over" (November 1984, #99 UK)
• "Wake Up" (February 1985, #94 UK)
• "Grass" (September 1986, #100 UK)
• "The Meeting Place" (February 1987, #100 UK)
• "Dear God" (June 1987, #15 Billboard Rock Album Tracks Chart, #99 UK)
• "The Mayor of Simpleton" (January 1989, #46 UK, #1 US Modern Rock, #72 US Hot 100)
• "King for a Day" (April 1989, #11 US Modern Rock, #82 UK)
• "The Loving" (August 1989)
• "The Disappointed" (March 1992, #33 UK)
• "The Ballad of Peter Pumpkinhead" (May 1992, #71 UK)
• Demo Tracks (July 1992 — Japan Only)
• "Wrapped In Grey" (September 1992, withdrawn)
• "A Hello Selection" (November 1994) (Andy Partridge) limited edition 4-song EP of demos, only available to members of They Might Be Giants' Hello Recording Club
• "Easter Theatre" (April 1999)
• "I'd Like That" (June 1999)
• "I'm The Man Who Murdered Love" (May 2000)
• "Where Did The Ordinary People Go?" (December 2005 Internet-Only)

3D EP XTCs 3D EP was the bands vinyl debut. ... Life Begins at the Hop is a single by XTC released in 1979. ... Live & More EP Live & More EP is a Japanese-Only EP release by XTC. It was issued on April 21, 1981 on Virgin/Victor Records. ... XTCs 5 Senses EP is a Canadian-only EP released on September 18, 1981 on Virgin/Polygram Records. ... Senses Working Overtime is a single by XTC released in 1982. ... Wonderland is a single by XTC, written by Colin Moulding and taken from the album Mummer. ... They Might Be Giants (commonly abbreviated to TMBG) is an American alternative rock duo consisting of John Linnell and John Flansburgh, collectively known as the two Johns or John and John. Known for their experimental pop music, they have been popular on college campuses and earned a reputation for intellectual...

Other notes

They were mentioned in "XTC vs. Adam Ant" by They Might Be Giants, but did not appear on the track. TMBG had earlier covered "25 O'Clock" on the A Testimonial Dinner tribute album. Primus covered the song "Making Plans for Nigel" on the "Miscellaneous Debris" EP and the song "Scissor Man" on the "Rhinoplasty" EP. Adam Ant (born Stuart Leslie Goddard) is an English rock artist, lead singer of 1980s New Wave/post-punk group Adam and the Ants and later a solo artist. ... They Might Be Giants (commonly abbreviated to TMBG) is an American alternative rock duo consisting of John Linnell and John Flansburgh, collectively known as the two Johns or John and John. Known for their experimental pop music, they have been popular on college campuses and earned a reputation for intellectual... Primus is an American rock band formed in California in the mid-1980s. ...

Marillion included this line in the song "Drilling Holes" from their Marbles album in 2004: "We ordered extra tea/listened to XTC/under a shady tree/went back to bed at three...." Marillion are a British Rock group formed in Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire, England in 1979, whose career of 13 studio albums to date is generally regarded as comprising two distinct eras, delineated by the departure of original frontman Fish in late 1988 after their first 4 albums and the subsequent arrival of... Some historic marbles For other uses, see Marbles (disambiguation). ...

French duo Nouvelle Vague covered "Making Plans for Nigel" in 2004. Nouvelle Vague (French for new wave AND (Portuguese for bossa nova) is a bossa nova group initiated by French musicians Marc Collin and Olivier Libaux. ... 2004 (MMIV) was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

The XTC tribute album A Testimonial Dinner was released in 1995. One track, "The Good Things", attributed to Terry and the Lovemen, was actually XTC themselves, using yet another pseudonym.

Several of their most recent albums have titles that appear as lyrics in songs on the previous album.

• Skylarking includes the song "Ballet for a Rainy Day", which contains the words "orange and lemon raincoats roll and tumble together just like fruit tipped from a tray".
• The next album, Oranges and Lemons, includes the song "Chalkhills and Children", which contains the words "while some nonsuch net holds me aloft".
• The next album, Nonsuch, includes the song "Then She Appeared", which contains the words "apple venus on a half-open shell".
• The next album is Apple Venus, vol. 1.
• The first two connections were pure coincidence, but a fan pointed out the connections and Partridge chose the title for Apple Venus by looking through the Nonsuch lyrics. The next album Wasp Star is not a lyric from Apple Venus but a name given to the planet Venus in times past. As the second volume of the Apple Venus project, the title also reflects the alternate style of the songs as compared to volume 1.

The song "Then She Appeared" from the album Nonsuch appeared on a third season episode of Gilmore Girls during the second on-screen kiss between the characters of Rory and Jess. Bold text Adjective Venusian or (rarely) Cytherean (*min temperature refers to cloud tops only) Atmospheric characteristics Atmospheric pressure 9. ...

The band appeared on the Carmen Sandiego: Out of this World CD as XTC with a song called "Cherry In Your Tree" and performed on several other tracks, purportedly at the request of the host of the Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego TV show, Greg Lee, who is said to be a big fan.

"No Language In Our Lungs" from Black Sea was featured in an episode of the NBC-TV series, Freaks and Geeks in 2000. Freaks and Geeks was an American television series, created by Paul Feig and produced by Judd Apatow, that aired on NBC during the 1999–2000 TV season. ...

"Making Plans for Nigel" was recently featured on the soundtrack of Layer Cake, a 2004 film. Layer Cake (also spelled L4YER CAK3) is a 2004 British gangster thriller, directed by Matthew Vaughn. ...

They also performed a remarkably faithful version of the Captain Beefheart song "Ella Guru" on a Beefheart tribute album Fast & Bulbous: A Tribute to Captain Beefheart. Don Van Vliet (born Don Glen Vliet on January 15, 1941 in Glendale, California) is a musician and visual artist, best known by the pseudonym Captain Beefheart. ...

XTC's song "Happy Families" is featured on the soundtrack of the 1988 John Hughes film, She's Having a Baby. The Crash Test Dummies version of XTC's "The Ballad of Peter Pumpkinhead" is featured on the sound track of the 1994 comedy, Dumb & Dumber. Also, XTC's song "Take This Town" is used in the film Times Square. John Hughes (born February 18, 1950 in Lansing, Michigan) is a noted American film director, producer and writer, responsible for some of the most successful comedy films of the 1980s and 1990s. ... Shes Having a Baby is an American movie, released in 1988, which was directed by John Hughes. ... For the mannequins, see Crash test dummy. ... Wikiquote has a collection of quotations related to: Dumb & Dumber Dumb And Dumber is a comedy film starring Jim Carrey and Jeff Daniels, released in 1994. ... Times Square is a 1980 movie starring Trini Alvarado, Robin Johnson, and Tim Curry. ...

XTC was the first band/artist to perform songs with acoustic guitars on MTV (May 1989) - before the popular series Unplugged was created. Unplugged refers to musicians performing live using only acoustic instruments; that is, without plugging in amplified instruments (e. ...

Related artists and collaborations

The following artists have worked with members of XTC:

• Joan Armatrading
• Peter Blegvad
• Harold Budd
• Captain Sensible
• Doctor and the Medics
• John Leckie
• Thomas Dolby
• Peter Gabriel
• Steve Lillywhite
• Aimee Mann
• Martin Newell
• Todd Rundgren
• Hugh Padgham
• Ryuichi Sakamoto
• Saeko Suzuki
• Jennifer Trynin
• David Yazbek
• Sam Phillips (singer)
• Cathy Dennis
• Nicky Holland
• Terry Hall
• Mark Isham
• Brian Vander Ark

The following bands have worked with members of XTC: Joan Anita Barbara Armatrading (born in Basseterre, Saint Kitts on December 9, 1950 and raised in Birmingham, England) is a singer, songwriter, and guitarist. ... Peter Blegvad (born 14 August 1951) is an American musician, singer-songwriter, and cartoonist. ... Harold Budd (born May 24, 1936) is an American ambient/avant-garde composer. ... Captain Sensible today Captain Sensible (born Ray Burns, April 24, 1954 in London) is a singer and guitarist (and sometimes bassist) who founded the punk rock band The Damned in 1976. ... Doctor and the Medics were a London-based Psychedelic rock band most prominent in the mid to late 1980s. ... This article is about the British music producer. ... Thomas Dolby Thomas Dolby (born Thomas Morgan Robertson, on 14 October 1958) is an English musician best known for his 1982 synth pop hit She Blinded Me With Science. He is also a successful session musician, music producer, inventor and entrepreneur, whose company Beatnik, Inc. ... Peter Brian Gabriel (born February 13, 1950, in Chobham, Surrey, England) is an English musician. ... Steve Lillywhite (born in 1955) is a well-known British music producer. ... Aimee Mann (born September 8, 1960) is an American rock guitarist, bassist, singer, and songwriter. ... Martin Newell in 2006 Martin Newell (born 1953), also known as the Wild Man of Wivenhoe, is an English rock musician, poet and author. ... Todd Harry Rundgren (born June 22, 1948 in Upper Darby, a suburb of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA) is an American musician, singer, songwriter and record producer. ... Hugh Padgham is a record producer and audio engineer, and, although he makes no claims to having any musical talent, has become one of the worlds most successful and influentual producers. ... Ryuichi Sakamoto at his New York City studio September 2003 Ryuichi Sakamoto (坂本 龍一 Sakamoto Ryūichi, born January 17, 1952, Nakano, Tokyo, Japan) is a Japanese musician, composer, producer and actor. ... Jennifer Trynin, commonly Jen Trynin, is a singer-songwriter from Boston. ... David Yazbek wrote the lyrics to the musical adaptation of Dirty Rotten Scoundrels. ... Leslie Phillips, aka Sam Phillips, (born January 28, 1962) is an American singer and a songwriter. ... Cathy Dennis (born March 25, 1969 in Norwich, England) is a Singer, Songwriter, Record producer and Actress. ... There have been two well-known British entertainers named Terry Hall. ... Mark Isham (born September 7, 1951 in New York City) is an American trumpeter, synthesist, and composer. ... Brian Vander Ark (June 19, 1964) is the lead singer of the band The Verve Pipe. Born in Grand Rapids, Michigan, Vander Ark began playing guitar at age 8. ...

• Blur
• L'Affaire Louis Trio
• The Chills
• The Lilac Time
• The Residents
• Haircut 100
• The Woodentops
• Moonriders
• Voice of the Beehive
• Porcupine Tree
• The Milk And Honey Band

Blur are an English rock band. ... Taking a leaf out of the Beatles Help!, the Chills signal COLD in semaphore on the cover of their first studio album. ... The Lilac Time is a band from Herefordshire, England, formed by Stephen Duffy and his brother Nick in 1986. ... The Residents are an avant garde music and visual arts group. ... Haircut One Hundred (also known as Haircut 100) was a pop-New Wave band formed in 1980. ... The Woodentops were a British independent label rock band that enjoyed considerable critical acclaim, and moderate popularity in the mid-1980s. ... Voice of the Beehive are an Anglo-American pop band formed in the late 1980s by American sisters Tracey Bryn and Melissa Brooke Belland in London, with a variety of drummers and bassists to assist. ... Porcupine Tree is an English progressive rock band formed in Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire, England by Steven Wilson. ...

References

External links

• XTC official site
• Chalkhills: XTC fan site
• Optimisms Flames: another fan site
• The h2g2 Edited Guide Entry, XTC - The Band
• XTC Fan List