- Paperback: 317 pages
- Publisher: Hyperion; illustrated edition edition (31 Dec 1998)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0786883383
- ISBN-13: 978-0786883387
- Product Dimensions: 19 x 14 x 2 cm
- Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars See all reviews (18 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 1,565,094 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
Format:Paperback
This is a game of two halves, firstly it's a good book with a lot of info for the novice XTC fan and a fair bit for those who've grown up with them.
There's detailed track by track info and recording details, as well as some good banter between the boys.
Enough to recommend this heartily. From my point of view there's a small thing that overall spoils this book for me, and it's Neville Farmers interjections in the interviews.
Neither amusing or ironic, in fact he comes across as a bit of an annoying berk. It's the humorless comments underneath the photo's and aforementioned contributions
to the reminiscences that grate (were you there at the time then Nev?).
Something that stops this book from being a 10/10 down to a 7/10. A real shame, if Farmer had shut up and let the band speak for themselves it would have been
brilliant. Maybe judging by the 'list' of his 'achievements' on the back cover (yes, you're a multi talented writer/performer/author/artiste and Peter Gabriel website manager, nice one!), his ego got in the way.
There's detailed track by track info and recording details, as well as some good banter between the boys.
Enough to recommend this heartily. From my point of view there's a small thing that overall spoils this book for me, and it's Neville Farmers interjections in the interviews.
Neither amusing or ironic, in fact he comes across as a bit of an annoying berk. It's the humorless comments underneath the photo's and aforementioned contributions
to the reminiscences that grate (were you there at the time then Nev?).
Something that stops this book from being a 10/10 down to a 7/10. A real shame, if Farmer had shut up and let the band speak for themselves it would have been
brilliant. Maybe judging by the 'list' of his 'achievements' on the back cover (yes, you're a multi talented writer/performer/author/artiste and Peter Gabriel website manager, nice one!), his ego got in the way.
Format:Paperback
Andy Partridge, Colin Moulding and Dave Gregory made two of the finest albums of the 80's - Skylarking & Oranges and Lemons - and a brace of classic singles - Mayor Of Simpleton, The Dissapointed, Senses Working Overtime, Sgt Rock, Making Plans For Nigel - this is basically their story from the mid 70's until the late 90's.
It's full of amusing stories, anecdotes, tour bust ups, studio arguments and the stories behind the songs. As with the records this is Andy Partridge's show and it's his wry sense of humour and love of the absurd that makes this book such a great read.
From the bands humble beginnings in rural Wiltshire to commercial success and large cult following in America, XTC talk frankly about their successes and failures. Bad label deals, stage fright, control freakism, fights with producers and all manner of weird and wonderful experiences. It's all here. Partridge is the talker, Moulding the quiet family man and Gregory the 'muso'.
In retrospect it's also fascinating to hear Partridge and Moulding discussing the 'then' unreleased tracks that would later make up the stunning Apple Venus Vol 1 and it's electric and eccentric follow up Wasp Star.
Much like the Squeeze book 'Song by Song' this isn't just about the ideas behind the songs and who played what and when in the studio - it's also about the 70's and 80's in Britain - Swindon under Thatcher is painted as a depressingly grey and introverted town - and Partridge's mistrust of the music industry is writ large on almost every page.
Read the book and then listen to the records with fresh ears - it's not rocket science. If you don't like XTC though avoid.
It's full of amusing stories, anecdotes, tour bust ups, studio arguments and the stories behind the songs. As with the records this is Andy Partridge's show and it's his wry sense of humour and love of the absurd that makes this book such a great read.
From the bands humble beginnings in rural Wiltshire to commercial success and large cult following in America, XTC talk frankly about their successes and failures. Bad label deals, stage fright, control freakism, fights with producers and all manner of weird and wonderful experiences. It's all here. Partridge is the talker, Moulding the quiet family man and Gregory the 'muso'.
In retrospect it's also fascinating to hear Partridge and Moulding discussing the 'then' unreleased tracks that would later make up the stunning Apple Venus Vol 1 and it's electric and eccentric follow up Wasp Star.
Much like the Squeeze book 'Song by Song' this isn't just about the ideas behind the songs and who played what and when in the studio - it's also about the 70's and 80's in Britain - Swindon under Thatcher is painted as a depressingly grey and introverted town - and Partridge's mistrust of the music industry is writ large on almost every page.
Read the book and then listen to the records with fresh ears - it's not rocket science. If you don't like XTC though avoid.
Format:Paperback
The great thing about this book, from my Wiltshire perspective, is it's not just about XTC, it's about Swindon. It seems true in a way that Chalkhills and Children didn't. It's so Gorse Hill. So utterly Rodbourne. So are XTC, and whether you know or care about Swindon that much, it's apparent from this book how important the otherness of their hometown is to the musical otherness that is XTC. Buy Buy.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
something for the weekend...:-)
Oh, I'm not gonna go overboard and write a detailed review of the book. Suffice it to say that it provides the die-hard XTC fan with practically all the information they need to... Read more
Published on 20 Nov 1998
Interesting book only scratches the surface of xtc
Since reading a review of this in Q magazine, I had been eagerly anticipating this book on XTC. I have to admit I was a little disappointed. Read more
Published on 12 Nov 1998
A long-awaited bite for starving fans.
One has no choice but to roll out the five-star carpet to Mr. Farmer's book if but for only one reason: If you have taken the time to read this book you are an insufferable XTC... Read more
Published on 30 Oct 1998
A must-have for the devoted fan
XTC fans tend to go overboard in their devotion to the band (and I'm no exception, I suppose, believing them to be the greatest pop band of the past twenty years) and this book... Read more
Published on 15 Oct 1998
He Remembers His Time in the Navy
"Clever and crude, funny and fatuous, serious and silly, deep and daft," XTC have over the course of twenty-odd years offered the world a feast of ever-unfolding... Read more
Published on 13 Oct 1998
Finally!
Long-suffering and impatient XTC devotees who've been waiting for the follow-up album to 1992's "Nonsuch" can while away the remaining months with this well-written... Read more
Published on 11 Oct 1998
Neville Farmer and XTC are a winning combination
Neville Farmer has just scored a major hit with the eminently readable release "Song Stories: The Exclusive Authorized Story Behind the Music. Read more
Published on 10 Oct 1998
Stories to Savor
I'm the first to admit that I'm addicted to XTC. I subscribe to Chalkhills, the XTC-fan Internet mailing list, as well as to The Little Express, the printed newsletter for fans. Read more
Published on 9 Oct 1998
He Remembers His Time in the Navy
"Clever and crude, funny and fatuous, serious and silly, deep and daft," XTC have over the course of twenty-odd years offered the world a feast of ever-unfolding... Read more
Published on 5 Oct 1998
Todd, the Munster
Finally! I thought this book would never come out. All in all it's a very enjoyable read. The only overall comment I'd make is that I get the impression that when Andy, Colin and... Read more
Published on 28 Sep 1998
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