Entertainment For Lively Minds
Bless you, Mr. Partridge!
I was absolutely delighted to hear that Andy Partridge won a Radio 2 Folk Award, in the Best Original Song category, for "All You Pretty Girls", performed by Jim Moray on the latter's excellent "Low Culture" album. I think I'm one of several in the Word Massive who feel that Andy Partridge is one of the greatest living English songwriters, but to my knowledge this is the first time his talents have been recognised with such a high-profile award. Jim Moray's interpretation is mighty fine, too. I recently saw him perform at Lichfield's Guild Hall (great venue, great beer, great atmosphere - yes, I do go on about it, don't I?), and "All You Pretty Girls" formed the finale of the set, with the entire audience singing along with enormous gusto. It made an old XTC fan very happy. As does this latest news. Arise, Sir Andy of Swindon!
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'Love On A Farmboy's Wages'...
is one of the finest contemporary folk songs of the last 30 years. I wonder if any of the folk crowd have covered it?
Fairport Convention
covered it on their last album. ( Er, I'm afraid I can't remember the title of the album though... )
Did someone call?
Sense of Occasion was the LPs name. Also, pop pickers, includes a Glenn Tillbrook composition.
Neither the tracks concerned nor the LP are all that good, despite the increasingly desperate claims of a return to past glories.
I agree.
( Which is probably why I couldn't remember the title ).
The Poozies
Did a fine version of it on one of their albums, and it's once again a regular feature of their live sets, since Sally Barker rejoined them a couple of years ago.
Quite right too.
Chap's a national treasure.
I heard..
..this on Radcliffe and Maconie last night. Beautiful. Great song well delivered.
I did think Jim sounded a bit like Dan Gillespie Sells out of The Feeling, mind you!
Andy Partridge
as we have all metioned from time to time, a much loved genius.
Now Andy get Colin to come down to the shed and get recording again. Soon! Please?
I believe that
the Dukes of Stratosfear canon is soon to receive a shiny reissue. Time for a little in-depth Word action, perhaps?
XTC
are,i believe,due to release a few re-issues sometime in the first half of this year. Believe 'Skylarking', 'English Settlement' and the afore mentioned Dukes are all in the pipeline for the full works.What other albums that follows after is anyone's guess and whether these will see the light of day this year, is again another question.
And yes, Mr partridge is a fab songwriter, and the recent news that XTC is no longer a going concern was a sad day
Andy Partridge
I know it's getting all a bit samey, but the man is a genius.
Who would have thought the post punk, new wave power pop would turn into the wonderful 80's albums they produced.
In typical fashion, as they got better, they sold less.
From Mummer to Nonsuch is an incredible journey. My fave is the Big Express, with All You Pretty Girls on it but the whole album is just fantastic. Seagull's Screaming, Smalltown, Train Running Low On Soul Coal, I'm gonna root it out now.
We've waited too long since the two excellent Apple Venus albums and the Fuzzy Warbles overload diminished the memory a little, but it's high time for another XTC album and please please get Dave Gregory back on board.
I believe
Andy Partridge and Dave Gregory have buried their differences recently, it seems that Colin is the one dragging his heels now, happy pottering away in his shed. Me thinks Mr P is a bit of a hard taskmaster.
Is it just me, but wouldn't a solo Colin Moulding lp be something to look forward to, a whole album of his domestic songs would be a delight
Just in case you are unaware
Pssst
Knew I had some "interesting" XTC tracks. Found them again on the interweb for you.
http://xtc4u.org/drunken.html
The Legend:
One night during the end of the English Settlement recording sessions XTC got a little tipsy. The engineer decided to keep the tape rolling... and this is the result.
My favourite is Silver Sewing Machine
P.S. it's also a bit Troggs Tapes at times. Not for little ears.