XTC Reel by Real: XTC: The Big Express

			The Album The Songs Recording Info The Singles Art Reviews Discographical Info

Andy: “If Mummer was a gentle chug through the countryside, then The Big Express is a loco derailing itself in the rusty goods yard. An altogether more industrial affair. Slashing electric guitars, sheets of steel bass and diesel oil drums. An iron opera, steam powered and brick encased.”

Andy: “Call me stupid, but these were good records. If you bastards don't want to buy 'em, what can I do? I had faith in my art.”

Lyrics, Charts and More

1. Wake Up ⁺
2. All You Pretty Girls
3. Shake You Donkey Up
4. Seagulls Screaming Kiss Her, Kiss Her ⁺
5. This World Over ⁺
6. The Everyday Story of Smalltown
7. I Bought Myself a Liarbird
8. Reign of Blows (Vote No Violence!)
9. You're the Wish You Are I Had
10. I Remember the Sun
11. Train Running Low on Soul Coal

The CD also includes three bonus tracks:

• Red Brick Dream
• Blue Overall
• Washaway

Recording Information

Recorded at Crescent Studios, Bath, England, and Odyssey Sound, London, England, Spring 1984.
Produced by David Lord and XTC.
Engineered by David Lord with additional engineering by Glenn Tommey.
Mixed by Phil Thornalley and XTC at RAK Studios, London, England, July 1984.
Phil Thornalley was assisted by Matt Barry.
⁺ Mixed by David Lord and XTC.
Originally released on 15 October 1984 in the U.K.
Reached No. 38 on the U.K. album chart.
Reached No. 181 on the Billboard album chart in the U.S.A.

Andy Partridge - Vocals, Electric Guitars, Linn Drum and Harmonica
Colin Moulding - Vocals, Bass Guitars
David Gregory - Electric Guitars, Piano, Mellotron and Synthesisers
with the help of:
Peter Phipps - Drums
Stuart Gordon - Violin and Viola
Annie Huchrak - ‘Choir’ on ‘Wake Up’ (Arranged by David Lord)
Steve Saunders - Euphonium on ‘Seagulls’

Some working titles for this album were Shaking Skinheads, Hard Blue Rayhead, The Son of Hard Blue Rayhead, The Bastard Son of Hard Blue Rayhead, and finally Coalface.

Singles

All You Pretty Girls

This World Over

Wake Up

Art

cover of the Caroline USA The Big Express CD 2001 reissue	cover of the Virgin Canada The Big Express cassette	cover of the Geffen USA The Big Express cassette
lyrics from The Big Express CD	band photo from The Big Express	A T-shirt for The Big Express
front cover of The Big Express from The Philippines	back cover of The Big Express from The Philippines	trade ad for The Big Express
trade ad for The Big Express (slight return)	Limelight, XTC Discography 1977 - July 1985 issue

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