XTC - Funk Pop A Roll

[iaintsmeek]

So that's where this popvideo comes from. Fantastic. Brilliant band. When will they tour again ... in their wheelchairs? Who would care? With ideas like this.. and dance the night away. What fun!

[hejafish]

Funk pop a roll consumes you whole

Gulping in your opium so copiously

From a disco, everything you eat is waste

But swallowing is easy when it has no taste

[bent2]

Everything you eat is waste

But swallowing is easy when it has no taste

Brilliant lyrics!! And so true!!

[Crochetify]

Considerablymore1 I agree with every depression of your keyboard. I have never met anyone with a goatee beard who shouldn't be napalmed whilst fully conscious. Bring out the Branson.

[PremiseTester]

Funk-Pop-A-Roll beats up my soul. Not my favorite song of XTC's, but one of the most memorable "bites" of all time.

[reivenlocke]

Great '97 memory of "Upsy Daisy Collection", which also has this song on it. I got selected to go to Japan on the JET Programme and I bought that CD as a congratulations gift to myself. This was the song I played the most.

[MrGrace55]

I Deserted XTC after 'Mummer'. What a fool i was. I am now re-discovering this most precious of bands. Sheer brilliance. Funk pop a roll indeed Mr.Partridge.

[CONSIDERABLYMORE1]

I've forgotten how many long summer evenings I spent playing this out of the window of my Croydon family home window, hoping the listening youth would convert. I was wrong. Bye Bye

[CONSIDERABLYMORE1]

I've forgotten how many long summer evenings I spent playing this out of the window of my Croydon family home window, hoping the listening youth would convert. I was wrong.

[CONSIDERABLYMORE1]

Sublime! Swindon's finest at their bitter and twisted best! Supergrass' "Pumping on your stereo" owes literally everything to this song and video.

Will the defendant rise please. Simon Phillip Cowell you are guilty of crimes against the cultural fabric of the United Kingdom.

[CONSIDERABLYMORE1]

Sublime! Swindon's finest at their bitter and twisted best!

Will the defendant rise please. Simon Phillip Cowell you are guilty of crimes against the cultural fabric of the United Kingdom.

[CONSIDERABLYMORE1]

Sublime!

Will the defendant rise please. Simon Phillip Cowell you are guilty of crimes against the cultural fabric of the United Kingdom.

[RaymondScottArchives]

More cowbell.

[SistaPidge]

How fucking cool are they! Damn, I'm so happy to have seen this.

[mnaran]

I can't believe how prophetic this song turned out to be after all these years.

[101Volts]

@mnaran It was probably relevant then too, Maybe not as much as it is now but still. (Radios In Motion was also relevant at the time, I think)

[101Volts]

@101Volts *And Radios In Motion still is relevant

[paulgila22]

that colin is an amazing bassist! he & mccartney. whats in the water over there? : P

[Dentakulator]

Sorry if this has already been mentioned, but this clip is from a Channel 4 documentary called 'Play At Home' from about 1983. There was a series of six programmes, each one following a different pop combo of the moment, with behind-the-scenes footage, interviews and the like, interspersed with specially-shot videos like this one. Of the other subjects in the rest of the series: Big Country New Order, Siouxsie, The Cure and Echo and the Bunnymen. Woooo! There's loads of clips on YouTube.

[BillMinworth]

This is fucking angry!!!!

[PhantomSpanker]

I'm glad to see this is still up here. When Andy's getting covered with the tidal wave of records at 1:28, I noticed that English Settlement is among them (it's the green one with the white smudge). I also wonder if Mr. Partridge created some of the title cards. I know this is from that Play at Home program, and I find the level of effort and creativity in this and the other PaH vids surprising.

[mensamoo]

best lyrics of the century. sums up the total musical shite we've been forced to endure, thanks Andy.

[SupernalOne]

listen to that Mosrite twang

[101Volts]

@SupernalOne Where did you hear that they played Mosrite guitars? I'm a big fan of those guitars but have never heard that XTC played them. I see a few Gibsons in this video and a Rickenbacker but no Mosrite guitars.

[SupernalOne]

@101Volts

sorry I meant Rickenbacker -- my head was wedged, don't know where that came from - only the Ventures and Iron Butterfly used Mosrite that I know of

[101Volts]

@SupernalOne Ok, Thanks for replying. Perhaps you got The B-52's or The Ramones confused since they both played Mosrite guitars, The B-52's only playing them up until Ricky died as far as I know.

[SupernalOne]

@101Volts

interestingly enough, Mosrites and Rickenbackers have a similar sound - something to do with the bridge, the pickups, and whatever other guitar-maker's alchemy they can put in. The Fender Jaguar is made to give a surf-guitar sound as well. Have you checked out the various guitar demos on Youtube? Fun to hear various models played and their features described.

Cheers!

[101Volts]

@SupernalOne Well, The president of Mosrite worked at Rickenbacker in the 50s prior to founding Mosrite so there is definitely a connection there. I've played a Mosrite guitar and I have a good idea how they sound, Its kind of hard to describe. On the other hand, I don't really know how Rickenbacker guitars sound because I haven't played them much at all nor do I have much interest in them apart from a copy guitar I'd like to get my hands on.

[therealsoulproduct]

One of my favorites from the "Mummer" album. Great band, yet a very under-appreciated one.

[mrmarriottsgirl]

I adore this crazy ecclectic purely Britsh band - I'm so sick of hearing the word "genius" used to describe Partridge - but really what other word can we use - he's a musical force who certainly picked quality musicians to help him showcase his insane brilliant mind - so yeah here we go again - yes folks - he's a "genius".! Well they are all brilliant - perfect perfect XTC "bye-bye"!

[feefafo]

This is how to write a song/make a music video/be awesome.

[nick1137]

the new pornogrophers suck and should not be mentioned on an xtc video

[101Volts]

Its stupid talking about bands in other bands' videos like this as I am doing but I can honestly say that I think and believe you are unfamiliar with their styles which is why you don't like them. They don't suck in the slightest, The only thing is their styles are so unusual that they have little "First listener" Appeal. It took me a month and a half to become a fan of theirs!

[bandcouver]

Hi 101Volts. With XTC it depends on which era of their music you listen to first. If this was the first song of theirs you heard, I can understand how it might not have first listen appeal. XTC have other songs like "Life Begins At The Hop", "Generals & Majors", "Mayor Of Simpleton" and the "The Ballad Of Peter Pumpkinhead" which might appeal to you more. This song is a diatribe about the music biz: "They can fix you rabbits up. Big money selling you stuff that you really do not need."

[101Volts]

Thanks but I am already an XTC fan, You're right though - This song didn't appeal to me at first. I like Peter Pumpkinhead before I liked Bike Ride To The Moon too.

[mantarayZ7]

This video predated "Sledgehammer", actually. Classic XTC, staying true to their roots with this song. It would have fit perfectly well on "Black Sea." Awesome.

[MrLobeless]

big money selling you stuff that you really do not need, Just fantastic.

[shadouge4eva97]

i wonder how long this video must have taken to film

[KOSMICKEN09]

and btw i love XTC....i still have a lot of curiosity about music. great stuff isn't necessarily in the mainstream. there's all sorts of great stuff waiting to be discovered is what i meant...

[101Volts]

You're so right, Kosmicken. In your other comment too "Are people too lazy to look for music" Well its a combination of laziness and a lack of patience. People like what they have and when they try to look for something else they don't like it in the first listen so they pass it up. There's a really fantastic band right now (The New Pornographers) But they're ignored because they take time to appreciate. See next comment...

[101Volts]

(Continuing my last comment) They're vastly ignored because people aren't open minded enough. When you have people who decide whether or not they like a band on the first few listens you're guaranteed to have some problems.

[KOSMICKEN09]

good lord, are people too fucking lazy to look for music? there's lots of great music being made on independent labels, every video on here people talk about the good old days....yes there's lousy music in the top 40...but all you gotta do is read a few cool magazines, hunt around the music blogs, you'll find a lot of cool music....i do have an affection for the new-wave era though i have to admit...

[greggarypeccary1]

alright, name me 1 fantastic album from the last year, no sarcasm intended, id like to know what you think

[KOSMICKEN09]

all sorts of em-cheap trick 'the latest', julian casablancas 'phrases for the young', marshall crenshaw 'jaggedland', 'the visitor' by UFO, 'house of a thousand guitars' willie nile, 'roadsinger' yusuf aka cat stevens, 'them crooked vultures', 'fork in the road' neil young, 'in and out of control' the raveonettes, 'black gives way to blue' alice in chains, 'tinted windows' (self-titled lp),....to name a few...though i guess it's a matter of what you like...

[101Volts]

greggary - I can only name one good album from 2009 - Middle Cyclone by Neko Case. I probably don't know of enough bands or artists though.

[KOSMICKEN09]

lol see my comment at the bottom of the page for great lp's in 09....and seriously, look through all these blogspots, music blogs, you'll discover tons of cool stuff....

[cursorminer]

It has changed - it's got worse...

[StevieShanks]

This would be another excellent antidote to the X-Factor Xmas domination nonsense. It makes a strong case...sadly proving that nothing much has changed in the music industry during 26 years!!

[tomrom7]

Not just a great tune, but an attack on the sad state of the record business pushing crap... and people buying it!!!

[geech55]

How Wonderland was released as a single and not this song continues to befuddle. Aside from the industry's likely reluctance to promote such an indictment. Still, it would have turned a lot more ears their way.

[hennocksholinepurpur]

Spot on, mate. Although for me, 'Great Fire' from the same LP I think was an even worse choice considering they had this uber-gem on hand. Partridge has got to be one of the best and most acerbic lyricists ever. and 'Funk Pop A Roll' nails 'the biz' in one hammer-blow

[javiertenazas]

i love great fire!

[flooberbloob]

fucking brilliant lyrics about the music industry slaves...

[dynamohums]

Bloody brilliant.

[jackhandy0001]

I forgot about this song. Now I remember...

[Quidditch910]

This is probably the coolest stop-motion music video since Peter Gabriel's "Sledgehammer".

[brentjohnpalmer]

Although neither can beat "Nothing's Going to Happen" by New Zealand's Tall Dwarfs

[lalalovering]

xtc foreverrrrrrrrr

[OpaqueMoonlight]

hahaha this video is so fucking 80's style!!^^

[pitu96solo]

Me 44, and obviously my son Pitu 13, both crazy for xtc.

... but please don't listen to me, I've been already poisoned...

[TennesseeToddy]

Great Song! My Favourite. Loe & Power!

[starzarestars]

Might be their best song ever...but there's a lot of competition with all their other great songs!

[KerreyTheBitterSugar]

still one of my favourite bands of all time ^^

[hotdognights]

I love the way he shouts "bye bye" at the end. They thought Mummer was going to be their last album so they wrote a song slagging off the music industry and put it as the last track on the album.

[brentjohnpalmer]

It's a pity they didn't sign to Island or Harvest... they might've been given a better deal

[mignonhenne]

what if u2 didn't sign to island they might be nowhere now? i blame janet jackson.she got 80 million and virgin had no money to promote xtc.

[liveup5]

Brilliant tune.

[YOUENARYEN]

This is XTC's best video i've ever seen - for the moment, i'm following the time and still only in 1983 ... how lucky i am !

[cranie4]

Looks like PG borrowed a bit from this to make the Sledgehammer Vid.

[DoctorPatient]

ha! that was my immediate reaction to seeing this vid ... can't go wrong with stop motion animation if the music's good (and certainly "Sledgehammer" is a classic)

[mignonhenne]

i also like peter's "digging in the dirt".

[fhionaG]

love XTC!

[cjrmack]

Oh XTC, Great Great band. This song prettty much sums up why they were ot famous. By the time the late 70's punk movment was progressing into synth pop XTC was hitting their creative peak. They would never sell out to sell mass amounts of records.

[TomParryProductions]

Great video, wouldn't look out of place on a music channel today

[archigraf]

S-U-P-E-R-B!!!!

[pier23ca]

Branson was right. These bums were not worth further investment.

They went into the sewer after Drums and Wires.

[monkeytrousers]

I think you're on your own with that one. Regardless, Branson didn't make promotional decisions - the "investment" part alone being Branson's brainchild (Virgin). All he did was cash in on a movement "new wave/punk" and luck out. As far as XTC goes he liked XTC (why wouldn't he as they were very decent money makers for the label). XTC's commercial misfortunes lay elsewhere within the label.

[pier23ca]

Established Recording Label Big Wigs used the word 'punk' as a pejorative to name upstart record label owners -- Branson, Copeland (IRS), Blackwell (Island), Dammers (2 Tone).

Branson did not "cash in" on a movement. He was the movement.

There's no such thing as "punk music" -- it's just rock -- only one-time PUNK Record Label owners.

You comments lead me to believe that you fell indoctrinated by the hype.

[stargate669]

Absolutely and this is why Branson went around the world on a balloon he was upset over his decision and tried to drown and kill himself many times.

[Rono007]

WOW! I forgot all about this song... what a ride in the Way Back Machhine! Love it!

[blatspanner]

andy partridge,mindbogglingly great and still underrated.xtc were fushizzle.sorry.what?

[persinos]

They were TOO GOOD thats why. They had videos in clubs at the time however. They were lumped in with the "punk" movement however they were clearly more diverse. They GREW with time. The Dukes Of Stratosphere in the 80's and currently Apple Venus which is beautiful. Green Man I have heard in dance clubs. They Like the band Sparks were victims of the mediocrity of the masses as well as the capitolist music industry. Funk Pop A Roll that's why they wern't huge.

[montvilleballer1]

i couldnt have said it better myself...

[stargate669]

well we're all here listening to their music and talking about them! So, I think quality always survives despite the mediocrity of the masses! Most artists become popular after they die showing their true quality. This is why I'm trying to assassinate Britney Spears.

[YOUENARYEN]

Please try again ...

[pint6x]

great song - why weren't this band huge

[TighelanderII]

I never saw this before. Did this come out before "Sledgehammer"?

[pier23ca]

Dave Gregory, guitarist with XTC at this time played guitar for Gabriel on the IIII "Melt" recording, perhaps Sledgehammer too.

[4darin5]

hahaha yea, I remember when I was 14, I saw the name Dave Gregory on the liner notes on PG's melt album when I first bought it. I was like "Ok, Who's Dave Gregory?" Then, years later I started listening to XTC and I was like "Ahhhhhh now I see". : ) Favorite track from "Melt" is Lead a Normal Life.

[comicstripdude]

...Dear God... [lol] Love the song and the band, but has there ever been a more "80's" video?

[bugga18]

heh! love XTC!

[xtstevie]

Love the bit where they cover Terry's face in the promo poster near the end !!

[sanslatete]

I remember this series, the banshees were on another episode. Great to see again, thanks for posting!

[lego77]

That's awesome. Thank you for putting it up. One of my favorite songs by my favorite group.

[PowerSalad]

Man, where the heck did you get this??!! If only Virgin and Andy would patch things up long enough to get the DVD out, since we're ultimately the ones who lose.....how great it would be to have all the videos....

[23Daves]

I didn't get it through a legitimate source, put it that way....! I'm not too sure why this has a video, to be honest. I don't think it was released as a single anywhere.

[nedison]

Pretty sure it was made for part of the 'XTC Play at Home' program about XTC that was broadcast in the mideighties. You can get it here, if you can do bittorrent...

http://www.purelivegigs.com/fo­rums/showthread.php?p=29285#po­st29285

[sleepybomb]

wow! thx 4 the tip ... signed up and gettin' new stuff. good call.

[nedison]

No Problem!

[GloucesterAdam]

@23Daves I think it may have been especially made for the Channel 4 'Play At Home' series.

[paulsmartialarts]

@23Daves XTC 'Play At Home' Features a bunch of videos from Mummer album tracks. This is one that AP was actually reasonably happy with.

[lego77]

One of my favorite songs ever!