What killed XTC's commercial success was Andy's anxiety and stage fright. Back in the 80s, if you didn't tour, you didn't sell music. There was only one band prior to then that got away with staying ion the studio. If they'd toured and promoted their albums they'd all be wealthy men.
@ktwoa Yep this American did. ;-) These beings were shared though by a UK Angel. Since then one of my fave's. A band before its time; NOW people are becoming aware of truths + the words can NOW be understood. Sad but I agree these beings should be global. Just a fantastical share from a being from across the 'Pond' as we say. THANKS to each of the band members and vocals too. Love when you can understand the Lyrics. Such a treat. ;-))) I also agree come from the hiding place + bring us music.<3
Possibly my favourite ever XTC song, such powerful, yet beautiful lyrics. Have recommended this band to so many people and all of them have loved them.
We need this music in America. Badly. So glad a UK friend of mine introduced me to this wonderful group. Such talent WOW-ing my soul to the core. Such different genre-types that are all original. NO copy-cat stuff like many groups, their sound is so Heavenly. LOVE this about them. Never a boring tune. Just pure genius. Peace and Love!! So beautifully and truthfully stated my friend. :)
This is and was every bit as thought provoking and beautiful as The Police's "Every Breath...". Sad to say, as is oft the case in this world, the lesser and insincere of the two becomes the global hit.
Come on Andy P, come out of retirement, reform the band, and show a new generation how fab XTC are - Magazine did it, you can too. Surely at your age there is nowt to lose, no need to fear the stage, and every reason to prove to a wider audience what genius songwriters you lot are!
@ravinella we can but hope, however I think a reformation of XTC is very unlikely to say the least. Or maybe in it's old form - a new XTC with Andy & Holly Partridge, Pino Palladino, Gary Husband and Lyndon Connah could possibly work. Pino and Gary aren't in bands at present (Gary has left Level 42) and Lyndon Connah could be tempted to work with Gary again (was with Grupo Mark King and Level 42 before Mike Lindup rejoined them). So, it's possible that an XTC band could be around for 2011.
@NathanClarkeYT That would be an interesting combination, and it could work - however it would be a 'watered down' XTC and I'm not sure that Andy or the fans would be over-enthusiastic. For me, if they did reform it would have to be Andy Partridge, Colin Moulding, David Gregory, Barry Andrews and Ian Gregory.
@AldofromBordeaux Bands reuniting for reunion gigs and tours is one of the big profitable trends of the depressed live music scene. The Stone Roses did one good album and just made £12.3m off 3 reunion gigs. XTC released classic after (neglected ) classic and if they got some good promoters behind them, who would begrudge them a pension payday? What about a set of gigs in Swindon? I always pined to see them live.
@AldofromBordeaux Yes, Andy has said that without Colin, there is no XTC. I completely agree with him. Andy and Dave have patched things up in recent years, and while that would be an interesting collaboration, it's not XTC.
Interesting, yes. Pete Phipps is the drummer on many songs on the album but not on this one. It's the LinnDrum drum-machine programmed by Andy Partridge. The miming guy is Dave Gregory's brother Ian, also known as E.I.E.I Owen, drummer in Dukes of Stratosphear.
Don't know the name of the grand piano/violin player. Stuart Gordon played the violin on the record.
Andy said it was Pete actually drumming on this song, not the Linn Drum. He made a remark about using real drums for the quieter songs and the Linn for the louder ones.
@lokrume04 It was from a BBC programme called 'Saturday Superstore', and was hosted by Keith Chegwin with another portion hosted by Mike Read. Colin and Andy were also featured elsewhere in the show reading trivia questions and reviewing videos with other folks (such as Strawberry Switchblade). XTC also mimed along to "All You Pretty Girls" as well. And it was from October 1984. (Yes I have the VHS somewhere).
Interesting vid...our drummer, Pete Phipps is the drummer on the album, and this song, but it's someone else miming his drum parts in the vid!! What a liberty! Great track, and great drumming Pete!
I once read that XTC has 'only' sold 3 million records. Sounds awfully low, but if that's true, that would make them the most overtalented/undersold band in history - by light years.
That article must have meant on a certain album only. These guys are fucking brilliant and have been around for about 30 years if I'm not mistaken. Not saying you're wrong but I have to question the sources used here.
I love this song, I came back 25 years ago the first time that I listen it. I was socked with the lyrics and music. I was transported to the 80's decade thanks!!!
FAB-sounds like "Omegaman" by The Police.XTC is very underrated crew much like The Church,The Fixx or Icehouse.Exactly such fantastic song can write only Englishman
Probably the most underrated XTC album here. I mean i know it was the least commercial of all of XTC's albums, but i have it among others and Big Express is damn good.
I dunno, I think it's more commercial than Go 2, White Music and Mummer. 'Wake Up' was an odd choice for a single, but this and 'All You Pretty Girls' should have been massive hits.
Well, its certainly speaks to STILL more tan ever spaeks to the Christian right. "The reason way we murdered everythig upon the surface of the world, so we could stand right up and say we did it in his NAME!?" THat crescendo has to be one o the most dramatic moments ever recorded!
first time i heard this, when it came out it scared the living daylights out of me due to the time of its relice. And now when i listen to it to day i still have that sence of doubt about our future as a human race and if there ever was going to be a last record played on the radio, then this would be it. How ironic is this song when it can be played in any decade and still touch a nerve. Great song though.
Did you all know folks, Andys beard is painted on !!!! One of the great XTC songs this, The drums aren't real though, Blame the 80s linn drum for that.
Where'd ya get this from Lokrume?? Don't remember ever seeing this at the time - looks like typical BBC footage of the 80s - what is it 'Pebble Mill at One' or something??
What killed XTC's commercial success was Andy's anxiety and stage fright. Back in the 80s, if you didn't tour, you didn't sell music. There was only one band prior to then that got away with staying ion the studio. If they'd toured and promoted their albums they'd all be wealthy men.
mjedelman 7 months ago
sin dudas la mejor cancion de XTC, Andy un genio unico
ramacure 9 months ago
Youtuber jtenaz uploaded the All You Pretty Girls performance. watch?v=PpBIo7xQQeg
101Volts 9 months ago 2
This has been flagged as spam show
I wish this band would stop jerking my heartstrings! !978 to 2011.
puntagordy 1 year ago
I wish this band would stop jerking my heartstrings!
puntagordy 1 year ago
this is one of my favorite XTC songs!
efisherspfld 1 year ago
ugh. UGH. this song brings tears to my eyes.
psychosulk 1 year ago
Yet another sheer masterpiece from XTC
jhetta22 1 year ago 3
Never heard this one...it´s a surprise, like it very much....MORE FANTASTiC ´80´s music at my channel!!!!
dot4design 1 year ago
love it. was this a single???
mensamoo 1 year ago
@mensamoo Yes, 84-10-29 on Virgin VS 721.
lokrume04 1 year ago
love this song.
have it on vinyl -- 'the big express'
sorry the beginning and end got chopped!
first time i saw this video, i think. wow. after all these years.
yaggy9 1 year ago
what a great song - I love the chord changes - Andy Partridge is a genius.
pint6x 1 year ago 2
fantastic !! absolutley incredible .. enough .. already no more wordd s outta me
ahisse 1 year ago
Any chance anyone will listen to the words?
ktwoa 1 year ago 2
@ktwoa Yep this American did. ;-) These beings were shared though by a UK Angel. Since then one of my fave's. A band before its time; NOW people are becoming aware of truths + the words can NOW be understood. Sad but I agree these beings should be global. Just a fantastical share from a being from across the 'Pond' as we say. THANKS to each of the band members and vocals too. Love when you can understand the Lyrics. Such a treat. ;-))) I also agree come from the hiding place + bring us music.<3
nancyl2 1 year ago
Possibly my favourite ever XTC song, such powerful, yet beautiful lyrics. Have recommended this band to so many people and all of them have loved them.
Lovethemseventies 1 year ago 2
greatest power ballad of all time
nick1137 2 years ago
what does power ballad mean?
sidewalkpilot 1 year ago
Another gem by the underrated and excellent XTC.
pazzensutra 2 years ago 25
We need this music in America. Badly. So glad a UK friend of mine introduced me to this wonderful group. Such talent WOW-ing my soul to the core. Such different genre-types that are all original. NO copy-cat stuff like many groups, their sound is so Heavenly. LOVE this about them. Never a boring tune. Just pure genius. Peace and Love!! So beautifully and truthfully stated my friend. :)
nancyl2 2 years ago 4
@pazzensutra hear hear mate there are non better
haleohualil 1 year ago 2
This comment has received too many negative votes show
hoe did this dude e make money. back inn1984??
earlymtv 2 years ago
This is and was every bit as thought provoking and beautiful as The Police's "Every Breath...". Sad to say, as is oft the case in this world, the lesser and insincere of the two becomes the global hit.
Come on Andy P, come out of retirement, reform the band, and show a new generation how fab XTC are - Magazine did it, you can too. Surely at your age there is nowt to lose, no need to fear the stage, and every reason to prove to a wider audience what genius songwriters you lot are!
ravinella 2 years ago 19
@ravinella we can but hope, however I think a reformation of XTC is very unlikely to say the least. Or maybe in it's old form - a new XTC with Andy & Holly Partridge, Pino Palladino, Gary Husband and Lyndon Connah could possibly work. Pino and Gary aren't in bands at present (Gary has left Level 42) and Lyndon Connah could be tempted to work with Gary again (was with Grupo Mark King and Level 42 before Mike Lindup rejoined them). So, it's possible that an XTC band could be around for 2011.
NathanClarkeYT 1 year ago 2
@NathanClarkeYT That would be an interesting combination, and it could work - however it would be a 'watered down' XTC and I'm not sure that Andy or the fans would be over-enthusiastic. For me, if they did reform it would have to be Andy Partridge, Colin Moulding, David Gregory, Barry Andrews and Ian Gregory.
GloucesterAdam 7 months ago
@ravinella the problem in this case seems to be Colin's desire to avoid anything related with Music since the last 3
or 4 years...as Andy Partrige stated ...But to my humble opinion, if XTC should reunite again...that would be with Dave Gregory...
AldofromBordeaux 5 months ago
@AldofromBordeaux Bands reuniting for reunion gigs and tours is one of the big profitable trends of the depressed live music scene. The Stone Roses did one good album and just made £12.3m off 3 reunion gigs. XTC released classic after (neglected ) classic and if they got some good promoters behind them, who would begrudge them a pension payday? What about a set of gigs in Swindon? I always pined to see them live.
CrimsonCom 3 months ago
@AldofromBordeaux Yes, Andy has said that without Colin, there is no XTC. I completely agree with him. Andy and Dave have patched things up in recent years, and while that would be an interesting collaboration, it's not XTC.
SirHatchporch 1 month ago
@ravinella Colin Moulding quit music. Andy still does music on his own. He released an album in 2010.
TheErogenousZone 3 months ago
Any chance these later XTC videos will be released on DVD? All we see here in the states are the Look Look ones...
drbeat1 2 years ago
Interesting, yes. Pete Phipps is the drummer on many songs on the album but not on this one. It's the LinnDrum drum-machine programmed by Andy Partridge. The miming guy is Dave Gregory's brother Ian, also known as E.I.E.I Owen, drummer in Dukes of Stratosphear.
Don't know the name of the grand piano/violin player. Stuart Gordon played the violin on the record.
lokrume04 3 years ago 4
Andy said it was Pete actually drumming on this song, not the Linn Drum. He made a remark about using real drums for the quieter songs and the Linn for the louder ones.
jordancooperlalala 2 years ago
@lokrume04 It was from a BBC programme called 'Saturday Superstore', and was hosted by Keith Chegwin with another portion hosted by Mike Read. Colin and Andy were also featured elsewhere in the show reading trivia questions and reviewing videos with other folks (such as Strawberry Switchblade). XTC also mimed along to "All You Pretty Girls" as well. And it was from October 1984. (Yes I have the VHS somewhere).
monkeytrousers 1 year ago
Interesting vid...our drummer, Pete Phipps is the drummer on the album, and this song, but it's someone else miming his drum parts in the vid!! What a liberty! Great track, and great drumming Pete!
kevinandrewmoore 3 years ago
I love that song. I have the album Big express. A great song on thet album.
jamezpackerfan 3 years ago
Masterwork.. Massimo, Roma.
massimospera74 3 years ago
great song
griffithstoby64 3 years ago
I once read that XTC has 'only' sold 3 million records. Sounds awfully low, but if that's true, that would make them the most overtalented/undersold band in history - by light years.
nonsuchfabio 3 years ago 5
That article must have meant on a certain album only. These guys are fucking brilliant and have been around for about 30 years if I'm not mistaken. Not saying you're wrong but I have to question the sources used here.
PhantomDog 3 years ago
I love this song, I came back 25 years ago the first time that I listen it. I was socked with the lyrics and music. I was transported to the 80's decade thanks!!!
penny1900 3 years ago
true enough, but it is a true today as
then....
gergsar 2 years ago
Easily one of the best if not the best song ever written by this band...written during height of the cold war it is still timeless today.
jams3kds 3 years ago 5
It Begins It Begins.
pERRYsTRONG 3 years ago 2
Andy and Frank Zappa are the voices of truth in music.... long live both of them!
brodtoddman 4 years ago 5
I agree, but... may I add Paul Mc Cartney and Peter Gabriel?
Lyktwz 3 years ago
I'll give you Peter but not Paul.
PhantomDog 3 years ago
I'll give you Peter Gabriel but will trade McCartney for Brian Wilson. Teenage symphonies, man. You can't beat them ;-)
Efrasnel 2 years ago 2
One of the most beautiful songs ever recorded...
Elgrandeshit 4 years ago 3
back to my night job
gabetvc15 4 years ago
what is london like?
gabetvc15 4 years ago
FAB-sounds like "Omegaman" by The Police.XTC is very underrated crew much like The Church,The Fixx or Icehouse.Exactly such fantastic song can write only Englishman
dandysek 4 years ago
The first time i heard this song i cried, I still do after all these years
Drumjug68 4 years ago 4
Andy Partridge is THE greatest songwriter of the late 20th century. This song is a perfect example of his genius.
goonsquid 4 years ago 3
i never get tired of this one. it starts off so understated, but ends so powerfully.
they are genius.
almadora 4 years ago 3
This gem of a song only got to number 93 in the UK charts !! How sad is that ?
xtstevie 4 years ago 4
Probably the most underrated XTC album here. I mean i know it was the least commercial of all of XTC's albums, but i have it among others and Big Express is damn good.
scissorsman311 4 years ago 3
I dunno, I think it's more commercial than Go 2, White Music and Mummer. 'Wake Up' was an odd choice for a single, but this and 'All You Pretty Girls' should have been massive hits.
paulsmartialarts 4 years ago
Wonderful example of Partridge's mastery with words,a very underrated band.
666eggsiseggs 4 years ago 4
Well, its certainly speaks to STILL more tan ever spaeks to the Christian right. "The reason way we murdered everythig upon the surface of the world, so we could stand right up and say we did it in his NAME!?" THat crescendo has to be one o the most dramatic moments ever recorded!
merkiron 4 years ago
The Beatles wish they could invent a melody like this.
turntapzap 4 years ago 5
first time i heard this, when it came out it scared the living daylights out of me due to the time of its relice. And now when i listen to it to day i still have that sence of doubt about our future as a human race and if there ever was going to be a last record played on the radio, then this would be it. How ironic is this song when it can be played in any decade and still touch a nerve. Great song though.
vhxtc1 4 years ago 2
bit of a harsh topic for a morning kids programme dont ya think? Still an awesome song and has jerked a few tears from me I can tell ya!
shortyktfc 4 years ago
It was on one of the early morning kids programs of the time, Sarah Greene introduced this, Along with All you pretty girls.
xtstevie 4 years ago
Did you all know folks, Andys beard is painted on !!!! One of the great XTC songs this, The drums aren't real though, Blame the 80s linn drum for that.
xtstevie 4 years ago
Where'd ya get this from Lokrume?? Don't remember ever seeing this at the time - looks like typical BBC footage of the 80s - what is it 'Pebble Mill at One' or something??
nik418 4 years ago
This was originally on Saturday Superstore with Mike Read in 1985
ghggroup 4 years ago
Brilliant music and lyrics, Big Express one of my fave XTC albums...
"Will you tell them about that far off and mythical land
And how a child to the virgin came?
"Will you tell them that the reason why we murdered
Everything upon the surface of the world
So we can stand right up and say we did it in his name?"
ivictor 4 years ago
this song reminds me of The Police it does, especially the drumming, very stewart copeland-esque if i may say....melancholic song this surely is
oogie11 4 years ago
1984....2004...2007...this world over....
gergsar 4 years ago
man, what can i say? an intelligent, lovely, and deeply cool song. perfect for sailing down dark highways, loud, with all the windows open.
julianveronica 4 years ago