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September 4, 2022: Mr. Partridge returns with another volume in his continuing demo series. This
volume is entitled
My Failed Christmas Career - Volume 1, and is
now available for pre-order. The EP will be released on 21 October 2022 on
CD and 12-inch vinyl. One of the songs was recorded by The Monkees, but this EP
includes the original demo version with lead vocals by Holly Partridge.
February 27, 2022: Volume 2 of
My Failed Songwriting Career is now available
for pre-order, and will be released on 8 April 2022. These songs were written
by Mr. Partridge for other artists, but were not used, and so he has recorded
them and released them himself.
May 23, 2021: Burning Shed announces
Colin Moulding: The Hardest
Battle, his first ever solo release (if you disregard the single by
"The Colonel", that is). The EP contains two songs and an "exploratory demo".
It is characterized as a tantalising glimpse into the creative process of one
of the UK's finest songwriters. The EP will be released on 2 July 2021,
pre-order now.
March 6, 2021: In Episode 28 of
The ProgCast, Andy Partridge said he will be releasing
16 "or so" EPs over an unspecified period, containing demos of songs written
for other artists, which he's calling
My Failed Songwriting Career. Most of the
artists requested songs in a certain style (for example, "McCartney", classic
rock, folk, Christmas, etc.). Andy would write several songs for them to choose
from, and they would pick one, often not the one he thought was the best,
leaving him with an enormous backlog of worthy songs. The songs are not about
himself, but written to order or, as he says, it's him "in fancy dress." Most
of these demos were recorded very quickly, sometimes with the artist present,
so he's spending time now "tarting them up" for release, but only the best (in
his opinion) of the many demos that were recorded. Volume 1 will be released on
23 July. [
Thanks to Tom Demi]
Ape House News
October 10, 2018: CLASSIC XTC VINYL RELEASES
September 29, 2017: BLACK SEA now in 5.1
March 8, 2017: POWERS RETURNED
December 3, 2016: XTC SHIRTS AU GO GO
October 17, 2016: SKYLARKING NOW IN 5.1
Chalkhills is a web resource dedicated to
XTC
(the now defunct band). Peruse Chalkhills to find a wealth of information about
XTC, their music and recordings, and much more.
Chalkhills was
created by me,
John Relph, and is infrequently
updated (I try to have a life) so check back often. Chalkhills was the longest
extant XTC mailing list, created in April 1989 as an offshoot of the venerable
Love-Hounds list and killed off (in a bizarre kitchen accident, of course) in
August 2014. Chalkhills is the longest extant XTC web site, first hacked
together in May 1994, although FTP archives were first made available in April
1991.
“Shut your wretched pie trap, you ridiculous
prick.”© John
Relph
Other News
February 18
Doug Downing has some ideas on “
Vanishing Girl”.
February 11
Tim Harris has scratched an itch, and posted chords to “
Love's What I Want” (a bonus track on The Monkees' CD
Good Times!).
Recent Site Updates
February 18, 2023: Press - Reviews of Oranges & Lemons (1989); Songs - The Dukes of Stratosphear: "Vanishing Girl"
February 11, 2023: Discography - Steve Conte: Wicked Cool, Launch 43, The History of Punk Vol. 1, Lounge Music Volume 3 – Vital Presents Best of 98, XTC: Drums and Wires, Laughing Stock: Songs For The Future
January 14, 2023: Discography - Anton Barbeau: Morgenmusick
Twitter: apehouseXTC