Traffic Light Rock

(Partridge)

Presented Free by Record Mirror 7" single with live recording of “Traffic Light Rock”

Recordings Art Lyrics Chords and Tablature

Recordings

1. Live version, 1'50.
   Recorded live at Eric's Club, Liverpool, on 13 August 1977.
   Recorded by Manor Mobile.
   Engineered by Newell/Heeley.
   Mixed by XTC at Abbey Road.
   Released in December 1977 on the The State Disco Party / Presented Free by Record Mirror compilation EP in the U.K.
   Also available on Coat of Many Cupboards.
   Andy Partridge - Guitar and Vocals
   Colin Moulding - Bass and Vocals
   Barry Andrews - Keyboards and Vocals
   Terry Chambers - Drums

   Andy: “The scallies that inhabited the greasy gloom of Eric's were a really good natured bunch, despite the fact that DJ, Roger Eagles I think his name was, would attempt to pummel them into depressed submission by playing the heaviest, dark Satanic dub you could imagine all evening. It was oddly thrilling though and obviously made an impression on us, which was first to surface on our own dub experiments later that year. Listen to ‘Fireball XL5/Fireball Dub’ on this disc. ‘Traffic Light Rock’ was one of our encores on this evening as Barry could stick to piano, his organ having given up the ghost. Anyone who attended our early gigs may remember Barry would spray paint a phrase that sprang into his mind, on the back of his Lawrence piano, changing it every few shows. Some that I can remember include ‘All Human Life is Here’, ‘Dominance and Submission’, ‘Forbidden or Compulsory’, ‘Dianne Fluck’ (real name of Swindon screen starlet, Diana Dors), ‘Brian Hatred’ and ‘Dog Breath’. For the full effect, have six cans of Breaker, take your shirt off, turn the stereo up to antisocial and yell ‘bromide’.”

2. Studio version, 1'40.
   Recorded for White Music.
   Released in February 1978 on Guillotine compilation in the U.K.
   Also available as a bonus track on compact disc releases of White Music.
   Andy Partridge: guitar, vocals
   Colin Moulding: bass, vocals
   Barry Andrews: keyboards
   Terry Chambers: drums

   “Following the success of their 3D-EP and the release of their magnificent new album ‘White Music’, this is an XTC track which can't be found on either. The pride of Swindon, now worshipped nationwide, this combo is in the process of changing the shape of the universe.”

3. CBS demo.
   Recorded at CBS Studios, second session, January 1977.
   Not released.

[Thanks to R. Stevie Moore and Jon Rosenberger]

Art

Presented Free by Record Mirror 7" single with live recording of “Traffic Light Rock”

label of Presented Free by Record Mirror 7" single with live recording of “Traffic Light Rock”

Lyrics

I'm out and I'm driving
Got my eyes on romance
She says I've got a brand new thingey
Want to show you this dance
I say am I learning it steady
She say Look you're doing it already

It's the traffic light rock
Stop 'n go
All of the time
It's the traffic light rock
Stop 'n go - all of the time

I'm out by the dance hall
Best buddy by my side
He says I've got a brand new car
I want to take for a ride
I say can we take Joan and Freddie
He say no they ain't ready

Chords and Tablature

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