Chalkhills Digest Archive D
Date: Wednesday, 19 April 1989
Chalkhills Archives, Part D
Wednesday, 19 April 1989
Today's Topics:
Worst XTC song
Re: Worst XTC song
Re: Your first time?
O&L Horns (was: Re: Worst XTC song)
Re: O&L Horns (was: Re: Worst XTC song)
Re: O&L Horns (was: Re: Worst XTC song)
Worst XTC song
O&L Horns (was: Re: Worst XTC song)
O&L Horns (was: Re: Worst XTC song)
XTC outside activities
Pairs of Songs on O&L
The O&L debate continues! (Was Re: O&L Horns)
Re: The O&L debate continues!
Discography?
Re: Discography?
bunches of stuff....
Barry Andrews
[][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][] Date: Wed, 19 Apr 89 10:12:49 EDT From: warsaw@cme.nbs.gov (Barry A. Warsaw) Subject: Worst XTC song > I agree..."Leisure" has possibly the world's greatest saxophone solo! Actually one of my absolute favorite sax solos is in a (shudder, gasp!) non-XTC song: "Mirror in the Bathroom" by The (English) Beat. Its quite haunting (and appropriate for a song implying a slow slip into insanity). My least favorite song from OaL is definitely "President Kill". I can see why people like it a lot and I can appreciate the song; jes don't like it much :-\. Another short (slightly) relevant excerpt from Musician Mag: AP: "Each time we finish an album I think that's the last thing I'm ever going to write. Then somebody says, 'Time for another record, isn't it?' The motors start clicking inside and I think, 'Hmm, have I got any songs?' And each time it's usually better than the last time out. 'Chalkhills and Children' is as good as anything I've ever done. 'Here Comes President Kill Again' is a fine marriage, the way the lyrics fit the music." I agree with Andy, the lyrics and music of "President Kill" go together very well, but something about that song just grates on me, and its not the horns, thats the only redeeming part of the song for me. > Stewart -B
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Date: Wed, 19 Apr 89 07:40:12 PDT
From: batman@ebay.sun.com (Karl MacRae - The Surreal World of Customer Service)
Subject: Re: Worst XTC song
>I agree with Andy, the lyrics and music of "President Kill" go
>together very well, but something about that song just grates on me,
>and its not the horns
Fpr me, the irritating horns on O&L are one of the worst things about
it; they sound like the band are making fun of stupid horn sounds on 70's
records.
But what I dislike about "President Kill" is the drumming. The
guy on this record is competent, but totally uninteresting. That might
work with some bands, but XTC *need* better; someone with the kind of
'jungle drum' approach Chambers had. The drumming in "President Kill"
is just a silly, mundane military roll....
-Karl
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Karl MacRae UUCP: sun!batman ARPA:batman@sun.COM
Sun Microsystems, Milpitas, Ca. (The armpit of Silicon Valley)
"I would hane made this instrumental, but the Words got in the way!"
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[][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][] Date: Wed, 19 Apr 89 11:03:49 EDT From: "Elizabeth H. Bonesteel" <eboneste@ccm.bbn.com> Subject: Re: Your first time? I had a friend at work who told me one day that there was a song she'd heard on the radio that she couldn't get out of her head, and it was really pissing her off. I'd never heard the song - "Dear God" - but I had heard *of* the band. I bought "Skylarking" mainly because I was curious (that's the sort of shopper I am:-)) and found I liked it. I then picked up "Waxworks" and "The Compact XTC" and "Mummer" and...well, the rest is history. Strangest XTC moment: Lip-synching "Earn Enough For Us" to my best friend at my birthday party after drinking an entire bottle of cheap champagne. Liz
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Date: Wed, 19 Apr 89 08:38:09 PDT
From: duane@ebay.sun.com (Duane Day, I.R. - Applications Development)
Subject: O&L Horns (was: Re: Worst XTC song)
Boy, Karl, isn't this fun? Now we have a continent-wide (world-wide?)
forum in which to conduct our ongoing debate over _Oranges and Lemons_. :-)
>From: batman@ebay.sun.com (Karl MacRae - The Surreal World of Customer Service)
>Fpr me, the irritating horns on O&L are one of the worst things about
>it; they sound like the band are making fun of stupid horn sounds on 70's
>records.
The only song on which the trumpets strike me that way is "President Kill".
The trumpet on "Merely a Man" is obviously in the grand "Penny Lane"
tradition, and the trumpet part on "Miniature Sun" (if that one is a real
trumpet, as opposed to a sample) is more in the Weather Report vein. I
particularly like the way this phrase ends on the repeated note with
shorter and shorter lengths. (Please, I'm aware that Weather Report had
no trumpet player. It's the line, as well as the chords underneath the
line, that remind me of them...) And, if that's a trumpet doing the little
filigree parts on "One of The Millions", I have trouble thinking of a
precedent for that line.
>But what I dislike about "President Kill" is the drumming. The
>guy on this record is competent, but totally uninteresting. That might
>work with some bands, but XTC *need* better; someone with the kind of
>'jungle drum' approach Chambers had. The drumming in "President Kill"
>is just a silly, mundane military roll....
I think that upon listening to "Garden of Earthly Delights", it's pretty
obvious that Pat Mastelotto is capable of a more 'jungle drum' approach,
although I'd categorize it more specifically as middle east influenced.
I think you might be blaming the wrong person here - I really doubt that
Andy *wanted* jungle drums on "President Kill" and was overruled by either
Pat or the producer. In general, it seems to me that the arrangement
choices on _Oranges and Lemons_ were made by Andy, Colin and Dave, not
by the producer, the drummer, or Mark Isham (the trumpeter). (This is in
contrast to _Skylarking_, on which Todd's stamp can be heard at many
points.) This is mostly an unfounded impression, although I have yet to
read of squabbles at the _O&L_ sessions, while the conflicts between Andy
and Todd have been well-documented.
One more _O&L_ note - I, too, was instantly impressed by Colin's bass work
throughout this album. Aside from the previously noted "Delights" and
"Mayor", "Across This Antheap", "Scarecrow People", "Merely a Man", "One
of the Millions" and "Miniature Sun" all feature *incredible* bass parts.
In each case, the bass lines serve the traditional bass function (i.e.
"holding down the bottom", as if the bottom were in danger of floating
away) and yet add melodic and contrapuntal value as well. And, yes, I am
a bassist...
> -Karl
-- Duane
************************ |UUCP: {hplabs,decwrl,<others>}!sun!thismoment!duane
..but one of the choices | COM: duane%thismoment@sun.com
turns existence into art |ARPA: duane@sun.arpa
************************ |USPS: 2550 Garcia Ave. M/S M3-76, Mtn. View CA 94042
[][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][] Date: Wed, 19 Apr 89 09:21:51 PDT From: batman@ebay.sun.com (Karl MacRae - The Surreal World of Customer Service) Subject: Re: O&L Horns (was: Re: Worst XTC song) >Boy, Karl, isn't this fun? Now we have a continent-wide (world-wide?) >forum in which to conduct our ongoing debate over _Oranges and Lemons_. :-) Cool! Ok, Lets's go! >>But what I dislike about "President Kill" is the drumming. >I think that upon listening to "Garden of Earthly Delights", it's pretty >obvious that Pat Mastelotto is capable of a more 'jungle drum' approach, >although I'd categorize it more specifically as middle east influenced. It's still dull and mundane. >I think you might be blaming the wrong person here - I really doubt that >Andy *wanted* jungle drums on "President Kill" and was overruled by either >Pat or the producer. I don't buy that. The drumming has always changed with the drummer; if andy were concerned with the way the drumming sounded, he'd have had a more consistnt sound after chambers left. I'm sure he told the drummer 'Play a miltary beat'. What he got was just that; a military beat. But you can do more with that; one song on the Cure's 'Head on the Door' ilustrates that (Can't recall the name; something about 'The Armies that march inside her head...). Now, I'm not much of a drummer, but given a drum machine, I could program more interesting beats for a lot of those songs. Think of what a genius like chambers could have done. It would have been a brilliant album with only that change. >This is mostly an unfounded impression, although I have yet to >read of squabbles at the _O&L_ sessions, while the conflicts between Andy >and Todd have been well-documented. True, but the squabbles, IMHO, produced a far supeior finished piece. (As I've said, though, I think O&L is more listenable.) >One more _O&L_ note - I, too, was instantly impressed by Colin's bass work >throughout this album There, I agree with you 100%! Colin's actually an excellent bassist; something rarely noticed on XTC albums. I first really started to notice how good he was on Dukes; he has more room to cut loose on that album (As has Gregory, I think...). I think the main difference on O&L is the mix; they finally put the way up front, where it belongs, and for me, that's a welcome change. That's something I can say I like about O&L; the recording is the best they've ever had... I just wish they'd mixed the voices a little lower and the guitars higher. Ever since Barry left, they've been 95% a guitar band, and there's somne great guitar on O&L (Gregory gets to step forward, I think!). Your move, Duane! =B^) -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- Karl MacRae UUCP: sun!batman ARPA:batman@sun.COM Sun Microsystems, Milpitas, Ca. (The armpit of Silicon Valley) "Life's like a Firework; You're only lit once- And you must Stand and Radiate Correctly!" -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
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Date: Wed, 19 Apr 89 09:43:02 PDT
From: duane@ebay.sun.com (Duane Day, I.R. - Applications Development)
Subject: Re: O&L Horns (was: Re: Worst XTC song)
>>I think that upon listening to "Garden of Earthly Delights", it's pretty
>>obvious that Pat Mastelotto is capable of a more 'jungle drum' approach,
>>although I'd categorize it more specifically as middle east influenced.
>It's still dull and mundane.
Well, one man's meat, etc.
>>I think you might be blaming the wrong person here - I really doubt that
>>Andy *wanted* jungle drums on "President Kill" and was overruled by either
>>Pat or the producer.
>I don't buy that. The drumming has always changed with the drummer;
>if andy were concerned with the way the drumming sounded, he'd have had
>a more consistnt sound after chambers left. I'm sure he told the drummer
>'Play a miltary beat'. What he got was just that; a military beat.
Valid point. It could be that Mastelotto fell into the studio musician
trap of being a little cautious and restrained. Having done a little studio
work (although nothing anyone would have ever heard), I know that I am much
less adventurous when working on someone else's material than on my own.
>Now, I'm not much of a drummer, but given a drum machine, I
>could program more interesting beats for a lot of those songs.
I'd like to hear them. Maybe you should come over and try it on my Roland
R8 sometime... :-)
>Think of what
>a genius like chambers could have done. It would have been a brilliant album
>with only that change.
Well, I still maintain that it *is* a brilliant album. I'll grant that it
would have been a *different* album with Chambers, and some of the songs might
have had more of that XTC "bite". This raises another interesting topic for
discussion - who would you like to see as the drummer on the next album? Two
people that spring to my mind are Jerry Marrotta and Manny Elias, neither of
whom are doing anything now that I'm aware of.
>I just wish they'd mixed the voices a little
>lower and the guitars higher. Ever since Barry left, they've been 95% a guitar
>band, and there's some great guitar on O&L (Gregory gets to step forward,
>I think!).
Agreed, and that's another facet of _O&L_ which hasn't been discussed here;
the emergence of Dave Gregory as a "lead" guitarist. I think it's great,
and I think it's present in just the right quantity (the guitar synth solo
on "Delights", the fills between lines of "Merely a Man", etc.)
************************ |UUCP: {hplabs,decwrl,<others>}!sun!thismoment!duane
..but one of the choices | COM: duane%thismoment@sun.com
turns existence into art |ARPA: duane@sun.arpa
************************ |USPS: 2550 Garcia Ave. M/S M3-76, Mtn. View CA 94042
[][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][] Date: Wed, 19 Apr 89 13:38:15 EDT From: warsaw@cme.nbs.gov (Barry A. Warsaw) Subject: Worst XTC song Karl> on Wed, 19 Apr 89 07:40:12 PDT, Karl> batman@EBay.Sun.COM (Karl MacRae - The Surreal World of Customer Service) sed: Karl> But what I dislike about "President Kill" is the drumming. The Karl> guy on this record is competent, but totally uninteresting. That might Karl> work with some bands, but XTC *need* better; someone with the kind of Karl> 'jungle drum' approach Chambers had. The drumming in "President Kill" Karl> is just a silly, mundane military roll.... I don't know, I like the drumming on OaL. I especially like the sounds of the drums, which, while partly attributable to the engineering and production, does come in large due to Pat Mastelotto, otherwise known as the drummer for Mr. Mister. More quotes: MM: The drummer this time around was Mr. Mister's Pat Mastelotto, an old session-mate of Fox's. "I had known he was a big XTC fan," Fox says of the drummer, and he also thought Mastelotto's "bandier" approach -- that is, less like an L.A. session pro -- would fit in well with the group. "I knew that he could already play like Terry Chambers," Fox adds. Mr Mister agreed to lend out Mastelotto, who had a blast requesting old XTC songs during the tree weeks of rehearsals that preceded recording. Now *THAT* must have been fun! Anyway, Pat used lots of electronics to 'spice up' the percussion. I particularly like the 'snare' that he's using on "Eartly Delights", that kind of open, timbale/rototom sound that gives a more 'caribe' feel to the song. I think Pat should get some credit for his work on this album. He's very solid and driving while still providing an open-minded, enthusiastic style. Karl> -Karl -Barry
[][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][] Date: Wed, 19 Apr 89 14:07:57 EDT From: warsaw@cme.nbs.gov (Barry A. Warsaw) Subject: O&L Horns (was: Re: Worst XTC song) Duane> on Wed, 19 Apr 89 08:38:09 PDT, Duane> duane@ebay.sun.com (Duane Day, I.R. - Applications Development) sed: Duane> One more _O&L_ note - I, too, was instantly impressed by Colin's bass work Duane> throughout this album. Aside from the previously noted "Delights" and Duane> "Mayor", "Across This Antheap", "Scarecrow People", "Merely a Man", "One Duane> of the Millions" and "Miniature Sun" all feature *incredible* bass parts. Duane> In each case, the bass lines serve the traditional bass function (i.e. Duane> "holding down the bottom", as if the bottom were in danger of floating Duane> away) and yet add melodic and contrapuntal value as well. And, yes, I am Duane> a bassist... Yes, yes! That's the kind of bass playing I like (both to listen to and play) and I've been *really* getting into Colin's work (copping "Mayor" and "Delights", now for some older stuff too!). I've found some Moulding-isms creeping (:-) into much of my own playing these days. Duane> -- Duane -Barry
[][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][] Date: Wed, 19 Apr 89 14:13:25 EDT From: warsaw@cme.nbs.gov (Barry A. Warsaw) Subject: O&L Horns (was: Re: Worst XTC song) Karl> on Wed, 19 Apr 89 09:21:51 PDT, Karl> batman@ebay.sun.com (Karl MacRae - The Surreal World of Customer Service) sed: Karl> That's something I can say I like about O&L; the recording is Karl> the best they've ever had... I just wish they'd mixed the voices a little Karl> lower and the guitars higher. Ever since Barry left, they've been 95% a guitar Karl> band, and there's somne great guitar on O&L (Gregory gets to step forward, Karl> I think!). I can't really link together specific leads and songs right now, but in general I agree with you about the guitar work on OaL. Does Gregory play all those leads? Some of those are killer! I'll try to write down which ones in particular and talk about them in a few days. I'm sure much of the rhythm guitar is Andy himself, at least it sounds like his style, but if Dave is doing those leads, then he's as (relatively) underrated as Colin. Karl> Karl MacRae UUCP: sun!batman ARPA:batman@sun.COM -Barry
[][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][] Date: Wed, 19 Apr 89 19:17:00 EDT From: rpk@goldhill.com (Robert Krajewski) Subject: XTC outside activities XTC might be from the sticks, but they do get around. In particular, Mr. Partridge pops up in a lot of cool places: . ``And Through the Wire,'' Peter Gabriel III, (with Dave Gregory) . ``Urges'' by Thomas Dolby . Some songs on Walk Under Ladders by Joan Armatrading . Andy Partridge might also appear on some of Robyn Hitchcock's early (pre-Fegmania) solo work. They seem to be mutual admirers, at least. Andy Partridge produced the first Virgin solo LP by Peter Blegvad (The Naked Sheakespeare) formerly of Henry Cow and Slapp Happy, and now with the Lodge and the Golden Paliminos. It's extremely literate and thoughtful pop, and Colin Moulding also appears on it. The second LP (Knights Like This) is poppier and nowhere near as subtle; it was produced by David Lord, who also did the Big Express (and Peter Gabriel IV). Colin Moulding also appears on this LP, I believe. A long time ago, Colin Moulding put out a single under the name ``The General'' called Too Many Cooks. I've never heard it. I'd also consider ``Ella Guru'' to be an outside project, too; it's under the name XTC (appearing in the US as a B-side to the Simpleton EP and in the UK on the CB tribute album _Fast and Bulbous_), but it's also so different, given how they've progressed from their professed early influences. For those of you who have picked up Captain Beefheart's _Trout Mask Replica_ (now available on CD), the similarity between XTC's version and the original is amazing and amusing.
[][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][] Date: Wed, 19 Apr 89 19:26:09 EDT From: rpk@goldhill.com (Robert Krajewski) Subject: Pairs of Songs on O&L I've noticed at least two pairs of songs on Oranges and Lemons that dovetail pretty well thematically: Scarecrow People + Skeleton Steps Out Both these songs emphasis the constrained nature of civilized life (at least of that after the Industrial Age). They also seem to imply that it's very easy to quash out natural, healthy impulses on the basis of internalized social constraints (i.e. the ones inside ourselves that we got by being good grownups). Merely a Man + The Loving Both of these are ``big statement'' universal luv songs that are made somewhat less straightforward by varying amounts of lyrical wit and self-deprecating musical devices like obviously fake cheering crowds, and glam rock moves galore.
[][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][] Date: Wed, 19 Apr 89 16:32:55 PDT From: batman@ebay.sun.com (Karl MacRae - The Surreal World of Customer Service) Subject: The O&L debate continues! (Was Re: O&L Horns) Duane says: > This raises another interesting topic for >discussion - who would you like to see as the drummer on the next album? Hmm... Good question! My first choice would be pretty obscure; a guy named Mike Freitas (sp?) who plays with a local band (Palo Alto, CA) called Dot3. He's got the talent, the imagination, the feel, he's also got the raw energy... Other than that... Jerry Marrotta would be great, or perhaps... I can't recall his name, but the guy who played with Peter Gabriel on his last album... African drummers would work very, very well... -Karl -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- Karl MacRae UUCP: sun!batman ARPA: batman@sun.COM Sun Microsystems, Milpitas, Ca. (The armpit of Silicon Valley) "I'm Livin' in a Neon House- I'm Livin in Avalanche Road- I'm livin' in Hangover City!" Shriekback; 'Malaria' -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
[][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][] Date: Wed, 19 Apr 1989 16:44:43 PDT From: John M. Relph <relph@presto.ig.com> Subject: Re: The O&L debate continues! Duane says: > This raises another interesting topic for >discussion - who would you like to see as the drummer on the next album? Karl sez: > My first choice would be pretty obscure; a guy named Mike Freitas (sp?) >who plays with a local band (Palo Alto, CA) called Dot3. He's got the talent, >the imagination, the feel, he's also got the raw energy... > > Other than that... Jerry Marrotta would be great, or perhaps... >I can't recall his name, but the guy who played with Peter Gabriel on his >last album... African drummers would work very, very well... I think Jerry Marrotta or what's-his-name would be terrible choices. My feeling is that they would over-drum, trying to do too much. My favourite thing about Terry Chamber's drumming was that it was very simple in its complexity; there were few fills, few "Hey, listen, I'm drumming dramatically" bits. It was clean, but interesting. I don't know who I'd want to drum for XTC, though. I did like the fact that Mastelotto is at home with electronics as well as with acoustics. Of course, I was a sucker for the Linn and acoustic drum mix on _Big Express_. -- John
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From: Mike Machnik <mike_m@apollo.com>
Date: Wed, 19 Apr 89 19:46:55 EDT
Subject: Discography?
Hello,
First, thanks to John Relph for his time and effort in
making this thing possible.
I just started listening to XTC with the LPs 'Skylarking'
and 'Oranges and Lemons', and I got on this list so I might
learn a bit more about them. Does anybody have a discography
floating around that they might be able to either post to the
list or send to me? Along with that, I would especially
appreciate notes as to which albums are good to start out
with, etc.
To a casual fan like myself, the new album reminds me a lot of
the Beatles (cover, sound on several songs, images). Was
this intentional? Anybody else notice this? (I'm not much
of a Beatles fan although I have several of their albums - I
got sick of the 60s music and now I listen to 80s music).
- mike
[][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][] Date: Wed, 19 Apr 1989 17:17:39 PDT From: John M. Relph <relph@presto.ig.com> Subject: Re: Discography? mike sez: >I just started listening to XTC with the LPs 'Skylarking' >and 'Oranges and Lemons', and I got on this list so I might >learn a bit more about them. ... >I would especially >appreciate notes as to which albums are good to start out >with, etc. Oh no, here we go again. Yes, well, I think the best album to start out with is _The Big Express_. I am nearly alone in this. Nearly. Most people tend to recommend _English Settlement_. It's darn good, contains a lot of differently styled songs, from mostly acoustic to loud rock. Then there's _Drums and Wires_, which marked a few different transitions for XTC. It's got a lot of different styles, too, and has one of their best-ever songs, "Millions". Of course, the real answer is: "Start anywhere, and stop when you've reached the end." -- John
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From: sco!stewarte@ucscc.ucsc.edu
Subject: bunches of stuff....
Date: Wed Apr 19 15:03:19 1989
>Commonly held belief, is it true for you folks as well: Andy writes
>better words but Colin writes better music (and consequently a lot of the
>"hits")..
I'd say Colin writes prettier music, but not necessarily better.
>"Go 2": the HELL it doesn't have great tunes! C'mon, "Meccanik Dancing (Oh
>We Go)", and "Battery Brides (Andy Paints Brian)", "The Rhythm", "Are You
>Receiving Me?" etc... the only two clunkers are (not surprisingly) Barry's
>tunes ("My Weapon", "Super-Tuff"). IMHO, of course.
I didn't mean that it had no great tunes, but I definitely think it has
the highest proportion of mediocre songs of any XTC album. I kinda like
"My Weapon", but I think both "Super-Tuff" and "Beatown" are throwaways,
and I don't think that "Buzzcity Talking", "Red", or "Life is Good..."
are among XTC's all-time finest songs, either.
>Andy's solo LP: What a masterpeice! You can see why he's a Resident,
>alright. What a great album.
Careful -- if you run around referring to Andy as a Resident, someone's
bound to take you literally. Take Away is a great album, but it took
me a long time to recognize it. Of course, when I first got it I wasn't
a Residents fan, either.
[][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][] From: sco!stewarte@ucscc.ucsc.edu Subject: Barry Andrews Date: Wed Apr 19 15:16:14 1989 >Andrews left, did a couple of singles, and worked with The League of >Gentlemen. One of the singles says "Thanks to Colin for his" Mustang or >something, I don't remember offhand (and I don't have it). But I don't >think Colin was actually on the rekkid. > > -- John Yeah, he thanks Colin for his short-scale Fender Mustang (bass guitar, presumably; not to be confused with a Mustang fender!) and for "keeping me 'ed straight". For those who are interested, Barry's solo discography (to the best of my knowledge): Town And Country EP Virgin VS260 1979 Me And My Mate Can Sing Bring On The Alligators Mousetrap Sargasso Bar 7" EP. The musicians are David Marx, Rob Wilford and Barry Andrews. This one has the "thanks Colin" message. I've heard an XTC demo-tape version of "Sargasso Bar", so I'd guess it's one of the tracks that didn't get onto Go 2. Rossmore Road / Pages Of My Love Virgin VS248 1981 7" single; maybe 12" as well, I'm not sure. The personnel list is very long for this one; the A-side includes Robert Fripp, Patti Palladin and Steve New, while the B-side is performed by "Restaurant for Dogs" (Barry, David Marx from the last EP, and a bunch of others). No XTC folks on this record, either. The EP sounds like a logical extrapolation from Barry's stuff on Go 2; not bad, but not really essential. I don't remember what the second record sounds like, even though I own it; that should tell you something. (I got these for 50 cents each, by the way.) Neither of them sounds anything like Shriekback. I'd like to second Karl's recommendation of Shriekback -- but only early Shriekback, through "Oil and Gold". I find "Big Night Music" and after boring.
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