XTC - All You Pretty Girls

[SapphireM]

This song stays with you always. I remember i used to sing it constantly and my 3 year old song picked up on it - interesting times! (he is 9 now and still loves it and is working out the chords on guitar!

[Morthund]

as the pirates of penzanze said "she has the ruin of a fine woman about her"

what a lovely sediment....er, sentiment

[Morthund]

what an intro...

[ducklady]

reminds you of the simpler times..locking yourself in your room with your music. My second fave xtc song

[prinznevsky]

this screams bhangra remix...

[FeatureTheCreature]

Man, I wish so much that XTC had a complete video compilation. They have SO many great videos, including this one! If only Virgin would let it go already...

[melomane2010]

Wow, never saw this before. So amazingly close to the video I had in my head for this absolute darling of a song.

[1desperate1]

Fantasctic nostalgic 80 clip....Super Great !!!

[HARION9]

i love this one

ずっとこの曲が好きです、もう30年近く。

[SapphireM]

I love this...the tone is the man not the officer, The music itself constructs the military aspect and the song escapes from it...fantastic!

[macxtc]

my boyz.....

[TheRealCritique]

no offense, and I will love XTC to my death, but this was the beginning of the end.

This is where the pop took over the guts....I liked a lot of Skylarking, but this is where things got fed up somehow. All the treacle-pop post English Settlement hangs over their earlier catalogue, sending the uninitiated astray from the great great pop PUNK/ROCK/SKA etc they were through ES.

[lcacwelder]

They really shake your donkey up.

[PAULLONDEN]

Too fucking clever for their own bloody good they were.

These "other band" wannabees,sold zilch.

Were a nice personal Branson hobby though,although...he's still fuming over the million he lost on them.

[jerflm4]

they had a great aesthetic. catchy and clever like all good britpop with this weird, fairy tale/fable vibe. plus they could rock. still listen to them, "nonsuch" especially.

[SupernalOne]

XTC really liked to work in the pop genre, didn't they? Sort of 60's pop, a little psychedelic, and little Mod-ish, with nods to all sorts of other musical styles. Are they still together, I wonder?

[doverstraits]

excellent

[101Volts]

How many videos were made for songs from The Big Express?

[Wiganmaher]

A very English video that borrows a lot from Gilbert and Sullivan. Loved it then and love it now

[TheMightyHartley]

The Big Express is underrated IMHO; the album has some real gems on it.

[bibliola]

Thanks for posting. I'd never seen it! I have the _Look Look_ collection, but this was most definitely not on it!

[rgatoski]

Pure genius. No one can touch Partridge when he's at his best.

[thenameisbond]

"Wake Up" was my favorite track on The Big Express, but it's difficult to find.

[tonlitt]

See if you guys can find an old video compilation VHS called LOOK LOOK by XTC tracks are: Tracks: 1. This Is Pop; 1. Statue Of Liberty; 3. Are You Receiving Me?; 4 Life Begins At The Hop; 5. Making Plans For Nigel; 6. Tower Of London; 7. Respectable Street; 8. Generals And Majors; 9. All Of A Sudden; 10. Ball And Chain; 11. Senses Working Overtime. Colin was going to release it on DVD, but now it seems he has lost interest

[777Kareena]

Trivia~ : What other XTC video shows Andy getting arrested?

[fuckamericanidiot]

are you receiving mayyyy??

[777Kareena]

You are sooo right! They lift Andy right off of the desk. Thanks!!!

[ApatheticTurtle]

Ball and Chain?

[bandcouver]

This just may be from a video tape I sent to someone in Knoxville. It looks like its from a spotlight that did on Much Music. I used to bug the hell out of them to play XTC videos. Especially the videos I rarely saw of theirs including this one.

[23Daves]

That may very well be true. I live in London, but downloaded this from a fileshare site back in 2003 (I think?) It's not impossible that whoever you sent the tape to uploaded it there, and I ended up copying it over to here.

[macxtc]

@bandcouver ya.... real stupid...feel bad about yourself for about a mine t XTC!!!!

[Darrylizer1]

One of my favorite songs from a somewhat overlooked album The Big Express.

[vol108um]

a blast from the past

seems like a lost song

keep it

thanks

[stylophobia]

Heard this covered by Jim Moray at the Cambridge folk festival two weeks ago-I gigged there too boast boast. With respect to Mr. Moray I prefer Mr. Partridge`s version. Good songs will live on !

[PennyLanePrincess]

this is so gay im sorry

[fuckamericanidiot]

why are you sorry? it's just your opinion :)

[bigarv65]

Every time I hear this song I go back: 1985, Berlin Germany, the Stardust disco near McNair Kaserne. Man, those were the days. As for the band Andy did try too hard to be different, but otherwise XTC always had great tunes.

[macxtc]

Every album has a reference to the sea in some way... be it sailors, mermaids, anchors, ships, waves, etc.. XTC is pure genius... and never harmful to any group of humankind

[thewurzishere]

haha i luv this song

[xyaqua]

Start of their themed albums, XTC is awesome. Reminds me of the stuff my Dad would play from his days in the navy in WW2. A little bit of Harry belafonte(sp?) calypso tossed in... really cool.

XTC is way too underrated. Best music investment i ever made.

[BML8384]

I remember this video being played in the 80's on STV as a time filler on Saturday mornings between childrens programmes and 'World of Sport'. Never knew it was XTC.

What a brilliant invention YouTube is...

[mrkranen]

Youtube Rocks. Where would I ever see this stuff without it. Seriously, its great.

[fatgirl1935]

Did XTC write a bad song?? Never in all their albums was there a dud...if any band could claim true musicianship the like of the beatles, it's these guys...remarkable stuff all the way 'round..lyrics, music, presentation.SKYLARKING is pure genius from end to end.

[KaitainCPS]

I don't like "President Kill Again".

I think that's pretty much it.

[cathridge]

They wrote plenty of weak songs. Many of their B-sides and throwaways were very substandard for them and even me. But the majority of their music that made it onto their albums is superior especially to the very mediocre music out there.

[srwt1234]

i like them, and i only found them today lol

[capnlunatic]

this is the worst video imaginable but it's in my top 5 xtc songs so i 5'ed it anyway lol

[ffunkddup1]

they still are massive, bless 'em. OLAY LIVE FOR HEAVEN'S SAKE. LIVE!!! I saw them once. bloody amazing

[KaitainCPS]

Loads of people seem to dislike this song, but it's one of my ten favourite XTC tracks. Awesome and underrated.

[demak655321]

wpder if they did it on purpose ........ never heard them acknowledge it ...more proof xtc were way ahead of thier time....XTC FUKIN ROCKS

[demak655321]

wow fukin smashing pumkins stole the concept from hthis video.......blatently ...

[TerribleFLY]

these guys actually have talent. Unlike most new bands. Especially new bands on VIRGIN capital

[LittleLinguist]

My favorite XTC song! So glad to find it here.

[mrsnappycat]

lmao i love this songgggggg

have since like freshman year and biy was that many many years ago

[crispthief]

Have you heard JIm Moray's cover of this? It's really good.

[DangerYourselfCopies]

i have it right here

watch?v=cw1kN10H1aI

give it a listen

[OwlyMIrror]

Did you tape this off the Blues Spotlight on Much Music? God, I used to love that show.

[ggh7664]

It might be a bit hissy and scratchy, but it's still 100X better than the crap that is played on the air today.

Thanks for posting.

[ktwoa]

@ggh7664

damn tooting!

[TheAndiHall]

@ggh7664 here here! Thank an unknown creator for the professional appreciators of music out there... keepin' it alive!! :)

[Bloodygoodpub]

Love this one. Brilliant.

[monkeytrousers]

C'Mon Virgin! A COMPLETE XTC DVD is looong overdue I believe!!

[c3lt1957]

What a blast from the past hahaha.

As for scratched & hissing...? it's more than bearable if you like this Vid.

Thanks

[mattkristy]

Sad song....

[HighSeasons]

TUNEEEEEE

[kirky67]

The world needs an officially-released top-quality collection of XTC's videos. What a brillaintly imaginate band they were - and thankfully are again.

[xnonsuchx]

Andy's said a few parties wanted to release an official compilation, but that the sour breakup w/ Virgin has made things difficult.

[marsvine]

??? what is the connection between Kate Bush and this?! strange. I like this though!

[cupcakequeen97]

Well oranges and lemons is good. english settlement is better. what album is wake up on?

[narrator6]

the album is called 'big express'

[cranie4]

No what I call country is not the Mutt Lange produced stuff that wouldn't have a banjo within miles of it. Folk music that tells stories is Seeger,John Jacob Niles, Guthrie, Dylan. When I think "Americana" The Dead don't come to mind...we in the USA call that a JAM Band. Ironically "The Band" DO...a mostly Canadian group...All respect to Martin's genius..you're saying the tires make the Lamborghini. And I believe if I WERE going to support your argument it would be "Brian Epstein" not Martin.

[cupcakequeen97]

this music video is funny!!!!

[pier23ca]

The sea and songs of the sea.

They rock the soul.

[alanwhit]

Crash Test Dummies actually do a killer bersion of this song ... its on the 'My Own Sunrise' extended single (B Side). XTC are the original and best though.

[deimelr]

these guys suck monkey arse!

[HarryPartridge]

You clearly know absolutely nothing about music

[darriejohn]

Good to see you sticking up for your dad ;-) The monkey's arse was obviously full of top tunes!

[darriejohn]

Good to see you sticking up for your dad ;-) The monkey's arse was obviously full of top tunes!

[hoosrnight]

You know nothing.....a great song, from a great band!!!!

[meljhenderson]

God, what an underrated band. Can't believe they only had 1 top ten single in the UK.

[runner99]

It's hard for me to rank XTC albums because I really like most of them but I would have to say English Settlement rules; it was my introduction to them. Then, The Big Express a close 2nd.  Thanks for the great post, 23Daves!

[terminalmf]

Yikes! English Settlement DOES rule! I must've accidentally copies and pasted in the wrong place in my arrangement of yay's and nay's.

[pier23ca]

XTC peaked by Drums and Wires.

Those recordings you mention show Andy, Dave and Colin as technicians.

Dull. Zip feeling.

Branson was right about these guys.

[cranie4]

Peaked THAT early? The very FIRST album with Dave? How is anything on English Settlement, Black Sea, or later less than D&W?

Now if you said that about Nonesuch and subsequent albums then yes I would agree.. it's them being more studio guys than a "band". But they were definitely heading upwards after Drums and Wires.

[pier23ca]

Black Sea is good, for them. However, English Settlement is a dirge to what was XTC.

Typical of an Atheist Progressive Minister, AP gives one preachy sermon after another layered over top of weak tunes.

[cranie4]

Oranges and Lemons is weak? Skylarking which was produced by and contributed to by an undisputed rock legend (Rundgren) is weak?

Maybe what you mean is it's more pop than you like. You want the mad Barry Andrews keys, the punky AP finger breaking chords.

I will agree that if you're looking for Gen X THAT version ended at Black Sea. But to slag off the rest is silly.

[pier23ca]

Rundgren = overhyped. On each following recording, Andy gets preachier and the din ekes.

As composed pieces, the songs lack focus and the lyrics do not tell stories. Pub goers don't feel like singing along.

[cranie4]

Do they sing Stairway To Heaven in pubs?

That's not a bar to measure how good or bad a song is..is it?

I will agree that TR could put out self indulgent rubbish..or genius depending on his mood. Mostly when he produced others though it was Genius. Look at the list and see if that's not the case.

Again..I think you liked the ballsier punky XTC...and not the more layered pop sound.

I take it you didn't like The Beatles much?

[pier23ca]

Stairway blows -- a Jimmy Plagiarist ripoff of Randy California.

Beatles = mfg. frauds. One biggest con jobs in history.

Right, a good song tells a story of men (OE word for the OFr "person") and makes you want to sing along.

[cranie4]

I give credit to you for knowing your Spirit. Anyone reading this who doesn't understand listen to "Taurus" by Spirit and you will.

I totally disagree about the Beatles.You are making it sound like Oreo's suck because they come in a nice package. It's the content that really matters no?

A song that tells a story of men and makes you want to sing along .. I think what you are referring to is called "Country" music and it's chock FULL of people and their lives, cars and dogs.

[pier23ca]

What you call "country" is Pop Music in the Pop Idiom with Top 40 gloss.

Folk music tells stories. In the USA, we call it Americana -- like some songs of the Grateful Dead.

Petofile Townshend, Ray Davies, Hendrix -- all exposed the hacks that the Beatles were. If not for G. Martin, the Beatles would have been playing dive clubs for their lives.

[KaitainCPS]

You probably just handle the complexity. They start getting into complex arrangements and counterpoint melodies. If you have a musical mind, their later stuff is awesome.

[bandcouver]

Agreed. Their later stuff is amazing. Some people like their earlier stuff better because, perhaps, it can be more jarring musically. I like all their music. The music industry, for the most part, doesn't understand more complex music, therefore a good number of people aren't exposed to it. How the hell did people understand The Beatles then? I find more challenging arrangements make for much more exciting music. XTC are one of the all time best acts. People can be odd sometimes. hahaha

[GoteeDevotee]

I was in this video, It was one of the best three days I've ever spend filming. I wont bore you with which one was me. But Andy Partridge was a great bloke and not in any way "look at me I'm famous".

[scissorsman311]

They show Dave playing percussion in this video in a gag-like manner. Dave actually played all the keyboards in this, your main sailor rhythm.

[julosx]

The best sailor's song ever !

[MrSExperience]

sound diff. than the album version

[scissorsman311]

It sounds a bit downbeat compared to the album version. But then again, i've noticed that with many music videos.

[aqualash]

It shows how versatile and accomplished these guys are...I still haven't heard music this melodic since.

[nibesaki]

I agree with you.

[monkeytrousers]

the most 1980's definition of anything...

[matelot95]

The flags on the hoist at the beginning of the video spell XTC

[redgrrl]

one of my favorite XTC songs ever...(and i have SO many being a rabid fan for the last 20 some years) "fathom's asleep..and in my dreams we are rocking in a similar motion",.....raw sexuality, lyrically put...LOVES it!

~redgrrl

aka Charity Bedwell

[fuckamericanidiot]

they're so versatile, that's just the best thing in my opinion

[fuckamericanidiot]

Baaaaarum! Baaaaaarum! i can only say nice things about this band, and people who post great videos of great bands. I've only recently started listening to the 'compact xtc' compilation, that's all i've heard, but i wanna hear more and i don't know where to start. can anyone help me out, it would be greatly appreciated. I'm normally mean and cuntish on youtube but i can be nice. ok shut up mike

[yennyfervidal]

Start to listening Black Sea, then you should follow with Drums and Wires, English Settlement, Mummer, Skylarking, and finally Apple Venus.

That´s a one way ticket. You will be one of us

[hink32]

I had this as a teenager on a vhs tape that i recorded on the TV and nearly wore it out at the time....thanks for the memories

[strongbutmighty]

i can't stop listening to this song! Andy you totally rock!

[dwalkmusick]

OH, man, I forgot all about this song: this totally rockz!!!!!

[SeattleCat64]

XTC R GO!...like real gear fab!

[Pad78vw]

Been a fan since 'This is pop!', never seen this vid, excellent, when will we get an XTC DVD???!

[depechevery]

Never knew this video existed.Love it love it. love XTC! JUST LOVE!

[omtara]

Freakin' love this song -- thanks for posting this!

[Blackhawkphil]

This is excellent.. don't suppose there's a better quality version anywhere?

By the way, this was actually a big push for XTC.. Virgin spent £35000 on the video. It completely flopped unfortunately. I think it's a great song, though maybe too weird for the singles market - it doesn't really typify XTC,

Phil

[colininla]

Among the wonderful things about Andy's music and XTC in general. . .NONE of their songs are typical. They never have had a 'sound' as such and the experimentation and evolution of their music is genius. That they've never been adequately lauded is a crime.

[yiltannaci]

Brilliant song. I love this one, serious yet funny aswell. What's this lol thing all about though ?

[harriter88]

Partridge Loves History-This sounds like a classic 19th century sailors-shanty song(Only with a great backbeat)Andy P- Genius.

[TheDistorted]

Fantastic video. Love it. Cheers.

[yhinau]

v many thanks - I've been looking for this one for years

[jedishampoo]

Love it love it. I adore this song but never knew it had a video (and how many times have you heard that? LOL). Thank you so much for finding it and posting it.

[95thFoot]

Never knew this video existed.These guys had a bottomless fount of imagination. Thanks for posting it!

[lordwindowlicker]

One of my favorite XTC songs... I never knew a video existed.  I agree with the person above.. we NEED a DVD with all their videos + road to oranges & lemons.. etc. It must be done.

[highflyer68]

My favourite part (aside from the video) is seeing the MuchMusic spotlight logo. Oh Canada.

[sanslatete]

Brilliant! Wish they'd release all these old videos on DVD!

[zerojoy]

i love this video. been watchin it since i was 3. my mom was a huge music video collector whe they first came out. they were genious in the early 80's

[lego77]

Excellent! Where do you keep coming up with these old xtc videos?  Thanks for posting it! I never thought I would ever see these.

[rienparticular]

bless you for posting this, it's fantastic.