XTC Summer's Cauldron

[Hulloder]

Superb album-opener, this track is

[MrArthurAxident]

I like to play this way up loud on my i pod in the middle of winter , close your eyes and it takes you back to summer

[SolsburyHill22]

Todd Rundgren produced this magic.

[misterdeadly1]

One of those songs I wish John Lennon had lived to hear. Perhaps he'd dismiss it like he did ELO ("I Am the Walrus music"--for those who pined for that type of Beatles song, he suggested ELO). Maybe the songs mashing into each other, the concept album thing like on Sgt. Pepper and Abbey Road, wouldn't really be to his taste--that was more Paul's innovation--but it would still be great if he'd had the opportunity to hear this variation on what he, and the other Beatles, pioneered.

[celtbop]

wonderful song, there is a post out there that is faded, not cut. Also...the Fuzzy Warbles version is more to my preference, check it out sometime.

[CONSIDERABLYMORE1]

I so agree with all of the sentiments on here. Colin Moulding's bassline is also worth a mention - typically understated (at a time when so many bass lines were over the top and ego driven) part of XTC's strength has always seemed to be the fact that there were four extremely talented writers, all pulling there weight and hand crafting their parts to produce masterpieces. Not one single note or beat of the drum was without deep consideration.

[fuckamericanidiot]

it actually sounds like a sweltering hot summer's day, genius

[gabetvc]

Fuit of sweating golden inca

[SuperMegaUberGenius]

could be the best album ever

rush hemispheres comes in deuce undertoad

[jphenicie]

oh.. i love this album

[upyerrzzz1]

Brilliant song/album/band. They never got HUGE huge, but they were very popular in the late 70's /early 80's, having been part of that fantastic new wave era. Yeah, I always thought of them as a Beatles for the 80's, as far as their melodies and lyrics went. Wish I caught them in concert...too bad Andy has/had severe stage fright.

[puntagordy]

This song has always taken away my blues. 

[didifin9]

One of the great albums of all time. And pre-empting Apple venus. What a track. Pure poetry to music. 

[Whatever999ish]

Great Song, great album. One of the few albums you could pop in and let play beginning to end.  (except for that one song before "Dear God", something like "The man who sailed around his soul", I think). I'd always hit the fast forward button on that one. Thanks for posting.

[Zepster77]

@Whatever999ish Oh wow, i always liked that one a lot... it had a definite "film noir" quality about ti.

[mdknutson]

best album

[evlgenius09]

please don't pull me out, this is how I would want to go

[probrojeffro]

Sad that these guys never got the recognition they deserve. Personally, I'd put them up there with the best (Floyd, CSNY, Zep, Who, etc.) Trend setters and trend makers. Genius and a joy to listen to. God bless XTC. Peace!

[guinnesstrail]

Give it another 25 years but Skylarking will enter into the top 20 rock/pop albums of all time. It's that good. Prairie Prince's drumming keeps many a song afloat-amazing!

[DrBojayHookah]

Captain Beefheart is gone. Andy Partridge must surely now be the world's greatest living eccentric musical genius.

[LampwicksCigar]

Why am I in the mood for some grass right about now?

[jazztree1430]

This has got to be one of my favorite albums ever from the pop genre. I swear, they remind me of the Beatles...like an 80's version of them. Thanks for posting this! :0)

[mdknutson]

@jazztree1430 a beattles beach boys thing

[darrynray]

I swear I hear a dragonfly buzzing around my head in this song. Grass should definitely been included in this

[TheBrilliantGeniuses]

remarkable the best chord progression lasts til yawn 2010 mark twain time now...

/watch?v=fCMq6_vEZZw

[apocalypsegirl666]

Lying in the grass with the trees doing kaleidescopic shit above...yeah, this song has total memories attached. Psychedelic relaxing in the undertow...XTC was seriously underrated.

[MrWallygator2]

One could argue that "Skylarking", produced by one of my all-time musical heroes, Todd Rundgren, was XTC's "Blood on the Tracks" insofar as the Lp was a milestone for them after so many phenomenal Lp's before this one. And what a majestic achievement: production aside, Andy and Colin's songwriting is on full display here and they prove, as always, to be two of the finest Pop writers to come out of the U.K.--far surpassing many of their contemporaries.

[fitzwarine09]

In partial thanks to Todd Rundgren, this music is a first rate as it gets.

[ryanclock85]

Grass! GRASS!!!

[lizard3k]

So was there never an official vid for this?

[evlgenius09]

Thanks. Beautiful.

[probrojeffro]

Skylarking Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh .........

[mdknutson]

@probrojeffro best album ever!!

[ubiquitousbliss]

a band with a talent way before their time

[londoncab100]

An absolute education and tutorial in the beauty of ( pop ) music is what the album Skylarking is all about . Why this band are not God like status is just criminal when you see and hear what is being churned out as pop music now .

This album is a total escape trip that takes you on a birth to death voyage that will never be eclipsed .

[probrojeffro]

@londoncab100 If I could, I'd thumbs up this comment to the end of time. Thanks XTC for my musical sanity.

[bijeto]

Today was the kind of day that exemplifies this song.

[evlgenius09]

you are so lucky...these days are worthless (beyond worth)

[TBarneck]

This is exactly how I want to go...

[etfjwmnb]

summer`s cauldron is just such a wonderful sounding name

[fatgrl1935]

...when miss full day's done, and sir sun sets down, me, I'm found floating round and round like a bug in brandy in this big bronze cup...

[32INCHSTRIPER]

@fatgrl1935 When Miss Moon lays down and Sir Sun stands up...

[fatgrl1935]

@32INCHSTRIPER thanks for the correction...had written that so long ago, and had by now learned the true lyrics, which are, of course, more brilliant than my muddled ones.

[mdknutson]

You must listen to this cd from start to finish......that is the way they do it. Like the beach boys did it.

[deptofrevz]

love these guys - andsuch a great song .. first heard it in '86 - i worked @ the college radio station and one of the djs got a promo project andy partridge did, giving a run-down of the whole album, song by song.. such a wonderful piece! never forget it.

-wish i still had that cassette!

[tonebenderx]

Lovely song, but you really need to include "Grass." They flow together and should really just be considered on song.

[clayguy33]

Right on, Chuck. Skylarking is like a great novel that you don't want to end.

[chucktriplett]

Skylarking and Apple Venus are both masterpieces en toto. Skylarking is easily one of the top 5 albums of the 80s

[nevets4ever]

Magical......"drowning here in summer's cauldron".....buzzzzzz....(fly­-by bee)..."please dont pull me out this is how I want to go".....exactly my first love experience...all burning passion. XTC yeah!

[andreaprodan]

English summers summed up.

Erotic shyness is so British. Great Bass lines.

Partridge finds the perfect singing solution.

Bliss.

[rawdealist]

i bought this album when it was released...great stuff

[IAmKrow]

Such poetics lyrics and uplitfing music

[codypendant2084]

i truly love this album! It reminds me of my first true love! i used make out with my boyfriend! we'd have a first class time. 20 years later my first love has passed on, and i'm left with this warm feeling everytime i hear this album...

music and the human brain...go figure!

[juliowho]

I remember the day I listened to this album for the 1st time. I used to work for this rock station where we were expected to act as robots. Then one day, I got these keys to the recording studio where an imported edition was there lying. I'd never heard about XTC and the effect was so inspiring. My wonderful secret.

[IGotMadOverReggaeton]

I have the urge to listen to this song on some 10K dollar turntable with some 50K tube amp. If you've got that setup, invite me over. I'll bring the brandy.

[decofernandes]

@IGotMadOverReggaeton hahahahhaahhahhahaahahah good

invite me too, and just for you to know, this is so new to me, fatastic album, greatings from Brasil

[IGotMadOverReggaeton]

@decofernandes Greetings, Deco. I don't know why I'm responding to this 6 months later, and with the coming of autumn tomorrow, but greetings to you down in Brasil. So...autumn. What track would that be on the album?

[tglutton1]

@IGotMadOverReggaeton never had the opportunity to listen to anything on that kind of rig, but we used to say, how to you make a 500 dollar stereo sound like a 10 thousand dollar stereo ? take a 5 dollr hit of acid ! ;O)

[IGotMadOverReggaeton]

@tglutton1 After a thousand hits, which would be about 3 years of listening, you're halfway to a 5K dollar system!

[fatgrl1935]

I remember being in college and thinking I was the only person who knew who these guys existed...then I met my boyfriend and on the 1st date he said, "You've probably never heard of my favorite band..."lol Nice to see other fans...

[beaverliqour]

This song brings back so memories. Summer, Love, and all of the above

[CuteePie83]

Life-changing album (for me). It's release not only coincided with a long-awaited spring in Boston MA, but also my first ever love affair. You put those three things together and you have what I would call a permanent soft spot. Plus, I love the way the album begins with this incredible Abbey Road-like medly... One song goes into the next without any break..So cool.

[ALEXNYC2008]

@CuteePie83 - even though my kids were born considerably after this album was released ( son - 90 daughter 94) I would play this CD loud in the living room as the warm months would start to unfold and my kids would just dance arounfd the room so this particulat XTC cd will always have that permanent sost soft with me. Everysong is a gem and O love how Todd Rungren sets the "bug" noies to a syncopated beat

[supersport22]

these lyrics are just insane....mesmerizingly brilliant.

[coffycup75]

I love this song, what a great album in general.

[krisnelson800]

this is a really cool song.

[NewestViewest]

When I listen to them I get an original, not touched there feeling of wonder, depth of meaning, and soul to soul to soul to soul Round and round like a bug in the wind with a big bugs soul. Shazba!!!!!!1

[seanoco7]

love it, i listened to this everyday for a whole summer driving the 401 in ontario; put me in another place.

[phill90212]

Wonderful posting.....XTC were very much a band who lived in under the baseline and thank God they were never commerialized and that's what made them...SUPERB!!

cHEERS

[Purplepen123783]

@phill90212 Dio faggoy your are really foaoy

[elfinfae]

Grass is a place in england... IDIOTS.

[mortysand]

You kids don't know what this song discusses?

[reivenlocke]

This whole albun is a continuing concept piece....this is a good song, but is better complemented with "Grass".

[MrPrizmatic]

this song makes me feel so strange

[Zepster77]

You should let "Grass" be a part of this vid as well, don'tcha think???

[murcuryvapor]

Agreed.

[lcacwelder]

@Zepster77 yes please do!

[SalsaDepraved]

@Zepster77 Sir, they are complimentary pieces. I could not agree more.

[demarcor38]

great song!

[SpreadingLoveAround]

nice colors remembrances

[Drumjug68]

I just started crying tears of joy, takes me back to when life was simple @ 17 years of age. What has this world come to? XTC have made my life better.

[ReelX4U]

XTC is an excellent band. This song reminds of summer days lying in the tall grass with no worries. Please don't pull me out this is how I would want to go. They have such a unique lyrical and musical style. XTC4Eva!!!

[SamLowrySF]

ran into Todd Rundgren at a Crowded House show at Wolfgangs here in San Francisco shortly after this Lp was released- thanked him for the great work -

awesome music / great memories

[SpreadingLoveAround]

well i must say pucky to Todd RundG. that sellout commercial , were just discussing grewat chord changes progressions

[beaverliqour]

and to Think Andy Partridge didnt like the results

[dmw321]

i wont go so far to say they are the best band since the bealtes, but this particular album is excellent, one of my favorites.

[joesenter]

Ditto

[fab4art]

They're definitely one of the best British bands since The Beatles I reckon. Squeeze too : )

[mazzxtc]

The best band ever after the Beatles '63 onwards

[severrian]

Grooviest bass line ever.

[jamezpackerfan]

a great song by xtc

[brucewayne909]

my cat goes crazy during the intro to this song. her ears are turning every which way & she looks up expecting to see birds ( I think ) Todd Rundgren certainly left his mark all over this LP

[SpreadingLoveAround]

yeah my cat too, only a few bands make my cats purr and love so cattingly. i.e. good YES, some floyd, and this. Perfection to animals makes the ultimate cut.

[thedupper]

C'mon!!! don't tease us here, FallingDown08! How about 1000 Umbrellas, Dear God, and Man who Sailed????!!! Yep, I'm being greedy, but would love to see those here, too... esp. "umbrellas", as there is no good version of it posted anywhere on youtube.

[lordwindowlicker]

I'm sure you own the album.. I have three copies of Skylarking, why not pop one into your CD player?

[postagb]

great

[tamalli]

Honestly, my favorite song. De todo.

[dholway]

After seeing XTC's official "Grass" video, I am happy to find that they didn't try to film one for "Summer's Cauldron".

[almadora]

dazzling, just in time for summer, thank you.