Thus, it's interesting to hear an extra verse in an early run through the bible-belt-bothering "Dear God" ("see 'em singing holy songs and start piling up the neutron bombs") or contemplating how much better, judging by Andy Partridge's home demo, "Ballad of Peter Pumpkinhead" could have sounded if they hadn't tagged on that E Street Band harmonica. Baffling, too, to hear how three songs from Drums and Wires were re-recorded as potential follow-ups to their first chart hit "Making Plans For Nigel" but were ignored in favour of the dreary and--seeing as it sunk without trace--prophetically titled "Wait 'Til Your Boat Goes Down".

Although comparisons to The Beatles became commonplace in later years, there was something about those early tunes--reading comics in bed on "Science Friction", wanting to be with "all my chums" on "Meccanik Dancing" and partaking of "nuts and crisps and c-c-c-cola on tap" at Church hall youth social events on "Life Begins At The Hop"--that was rather more Enid Blyton's Famous Five than Fab Four. But they did share some of the Moptops goonish wit, as evidenced by "Shaving Brush Boogie" from 1982's much-bootlegged Drunken Jam Sessions, although the public really ought to have heard the marvellous Hawkwind needlework tribute "Silver Sewing Machine". That this belated archaeological anthology will outsell most of those early singles is perverse. But despite their meagre chart history, XTC always did have a much brighter future than British Steel.--Kevin Maidment

Description
This 4CD retrospective of the Swindon punk-pop turned contemporary rock act includes many unreleased demos. The collection was put together to celebrate their 25 year recording career. Their only top ten single, 'Senses Working Overtime', is included.