Chalkhills: The XTC Resource
Top Headlines
The CD release of Live Boots Emerald City, Cherry Hill, New Jersey 17th April 1981 is imminent! Originally broadcast on FM radio and released on Record Store Day 2026 on 200gm vinyl, it has now been mastered for a 2 CD release on 19 June 2026.
Record Store Day 2026: Live Boots - Live At Emerald City 1981 is the first of what we hope is a series of official releases of previously bootlegged performances. Recorded in Cherry Hill, New Jersey, on April 17, 1981, and originally broadcast on FM radio and released on bootleg LPs, it is now being released as a double LP on 200gm vinyl, mastering supervised by Andy Partridge. We hope this will also become available for download in the near future.
The 2025 Drums and Wires CD/Blu-ray presents the album and a number of additional tracks in Dolby Atmos, mixed and produced by Steven Wilson as he approached an album he first mixed in 2014 and again brings a fresh aural perspective to one of 1979’s most memorable albums – a line ascribed to the 2014 mixes that’s even more accurate now.
Steven Wilson comments that “during the remix process it became apparent that the masters of “Officer Blue” and “That is the Way” were both slowed down significantly for the original release. It’s not uncommon for tracks to be slightly speeded up during mastering to make them sound sprightlier, but no one could remember why, in this case, the tracks were slowed down. For the 2025 mixes, in consultation with Colin Moulding - songwriter of both titles - the decision was made to include B-side “Officer Blue” as the band recorded it, at the correct speed for the first time.
In the case of “That is the Way” - it being a key album track - the new mix has been slowed down to match the familiar album version but additionally, a bonus version is included which has no adjustment to the pitch and is exactly as the band recorded it”.
Joining the new Dolby Atmos mix is all of the audio material first presented on the (now long-unavailable) 2014 edition when Steven Wilson remixed the album in new stereo and 5.1 editions alongside a number of additional tracks all presented on Blu-ray here with minor revisions and a set of stereo instrumentals of the album.
Other News
Recent Site Updates
May 9, 2026: Songs - The 3 Clubmen: "Look At Those Stars"
May 3, 2026: Songs - XTC: "Stupidly Happy"; Press - Reviews of Skylarking (1987), Reviews of Wasp Star – Apple Venus Volume 2 (2000), Reviews of Fuzzy Warbles (various volumes) (2002-2006), Reviews of Coat of Many Cupboards (2002), Reviews of Complicated Game: Inside the Songs of XTC by Andy Partridge and Todd Bernhardt (2016), Reviews of Monstrance: Monstrance (2007)
May 2, 2026: Songs - The Dukes of Stratosphear: "Your Gold Dress", The Dukes of Stratosphear: "You're My Drug", The Dukes of Stratosphear: "What in the World??...", The Dukes of Stratosphear: "Vanishing Girl", The Dukes of Stratosphear: "The Affiliated", The Dukes of Stratosphear: "Shiny Cage", The Dukes of Stratosphear: "Collideascope", The Dukes of Stratosphear: "Brainiac's Daughter", The Dukes of Stratosphear: "Bike Ride to the Moon", The Dukes of Stratosphear: "25 O'Clock"; Discography - XTC: Live Boots Emerald City – Cherry Hill, New Jersey 17th April 1981 Official Bootleg; Songs - XTC: "No Language In Our Lungs"
April 19, 2026: Discography - XTC: Live Boots - Live At Emerald City 1981 – Official Bootleg
April 18, 2026: Songs - XTC: "When You're Near Me I Have Difficulty", XTC: "Towers Of London", XTC: "This is Pop?", XTC: "Statue of Liberty", XTC: "Sgt. Rock (Is Going To Help Me)", XTC: "Scissor Man", XTC: "Roads Girdle the Globe", XTC: "Respectable Street", XTC: "Real by Reel", XTC: "Paper and Iron (Notes and Coins)", XTC: "Outside World", XTC: "Making Plans for Nigel", XTC: "Love at First Sight", XTC: "Living Through Another Cuba", XTC: "Life Begins at the Hop", XTC: "Helicopter", XTC: "Generals and Majors", XTC: "Burning With Optimism's Flames", XTC: "Ball and Chain"; Discography - XTC: Drums and Wires
April 4, 2026: Discography - Chris Braide & Andy Partridge: Queen of the Planet Wow! – The Songs of Andy Partridge + Chris Braide, Andy Partridge & Chris Braide: Woman at a Spinning Wheel, Andy Partridge & Chris Braide: Sister Shame! – The High Priestess of Planet Wow Appears!
Join the Discussion
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.