What Are You Listening To?

[Music Head]

from my library (vinyl)



I needed a great album today. I got it with this fifth release from Andy and the boys. Another pleasant break from what was popular in the era. The british invasion continued it's run with me. XTC was formed in 1976 by Andy Partridge and Colin Moulding. The rest would come later. Signed by Virgin in '78 the band had a greater impact in the U.K, than here, as this one only made it to #48 with the spectacular track of Senses Working Overtime not even touching the top 40. Love a total of 5 tracks on here making it a LOVE album. XTC was not a band that enjoyed performing live with Andy having some stage fright issues, refusing to go on at their U.S. debut in California on the release of this album. Their appearance was canceled (due to illness) and the band would never play another live gig. Cool story. The last I heard from these guys was the '92 Nonsuch release, but I see they've had 2 more. Anybody have those? any good? Damn it, I feel cheated. While researching this I see this was originally a double album in the U.K. and was released as a single album here, which of course is what I have. Missing 5 tracks from the U.K. version.

I LOVE THIS ALBUM

Worst Track - Jason And The Argonauts

Best Track - Senses Working Overtime

Hey, hey,
The clouds are whey.
There's straw for the donkeys,
And the innocents can all sleep safely,
All sleep safely.

My, my,
Sun is pie.
There's fodder for the cannons,
And the guilty ones can all sleep safely,
All sleep safely.

And all the world is football-shaped
It's just for me to kick in space
And I can see, hear, smell, touch, taste
And I've got one, two, three, four, five
Senses working overtime
Trying to take this all in.
I've got one, two, three, four, five
Senses working overtime
Trying to taste the difference
'Tween a lemon and a lime
Pain and the pleasure
And the church bells softly chime.

Hey hey,
Night fights day.
There's food for the thinkers,
And the innocents can all live slowly,
All live slowly.
My, my,
The sky will cry
Jewels for the thirsty,
And the guilty one's can all die slowly ,
All die slowly.

And all the world is biscuit-shaped,
It's just for me to feed my face,
And I can see, hear, smell, touch, taste,
And I've got one, two, three, four, five,
Senses working overtime
Trying to take this all in.
I've got one, two, three, four, five,
Senses working overtime
Trying to taste the difference,
'Tween a lemon and a lime,
Pain and the pleasure,
And the church bells softly chime,

And birds might fall from black skies,
And bullies might give you black eyes,
And busses might skid on black ice,
But to me it's very, very beautiful ˇ
(England's glory!)
Beautiful ˇ
(A striking beauty!)

And all the world is football-shaped,
It's just for me to kick in space,
And I can see, hear, smell, touch, taste,
And I've got one, two, three, four, five,
Senses working overtime
Trying to take this all in
I've got one, two, three, four, five
Senses working overtime
Trying to tell the difference
'Tween the goods and grime
Turds and treasure
And there's one, two, three, four, five
Senses working overtime
Trying to take this all in
I've got one, two, three, four, five
Senses working overtime
Trying to taste the difference
'Tween a lemon and a lime
Pain and the pleasure,
And the church bells softly chime.

1) Runaways ***
audio - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ziUgcimUkuA
2) Ball And Chain **
video - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4a9wowg4AjI
3) Senses Working Overtime ***
video - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m6LNe3kftnA
4) Jason And The Argonauts **
audio - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PQIklhh-MuI
5) Snowman ***
audio - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z53zPEn-58c
6) Melt The Guns ***
audio - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eBGc5h1yWHQ
7) No Thugs In Our House ***
live - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rPEESN8flA8
8) It's Nearly Africa **
audio - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KsqClrqlI1Y
9) English Roundabout **
audio - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=akrD84P_zxU
10) All Of A Sudden (It's Too Late) **
audio - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_gZ274Wy6_Y

3's - 5
2's - 5
1's - 0

Grade - 2.5