The Best XTC Albums Ranked

[@robinjones6999]

Wow I cant believe you got to this. The Big Express celebrates SwinDon which was a famous centre of steam engine building and the original cover was die cut, round. After 40 years I have suddenly found them and bought most of their vinyl material but its costing me an arm and a leg. Nonsuch was originally a palace planned by Henry VIII and never built and the space is now a public park. The cover of English settlement represents huge cutting in the local chalk hills. Virgin ripped them off and the rest is history - I have to agree with your choices. The best band you've never heard of! Sorry to ramble.

[@andynewzealand]

Hi Robin - You beat me on correcting Mazzy about SwinDon. Andy still lives there with his family and collection of tin soldiers and little plastic toys you used to get in cereal packets (well, he would, wouldn't he?) - and he's still making wonderfully sounds in his garden shed! I agree totally with you re: best band you've never heard of!

[@vinylrec]

XTC is one of those rare bands that never made a bad album. Here's my ranking for today: 1) Apple Venus, Vol. 1 2) Skylarking 3) Black Sea 4) Drums and Wires 5) English Settlement 6) Mummer 7) The Big Express 8) Oranges & Lemons 9) The Dukes of Stratosphear - Chips from the Chocolate Fireball 10) Nonsuch 11) Wasp Star (Apple Venus, Pt. 2) 12) White Music 13) Go 2

[@ejude83]

Apple Venus and Wasp Star are incredible records. I had been dying for new XTC and thought they were done making music by the time Apple Venus came out, and it just sounded like perfection for me. Generals and Majors was my intro to XTC, Oranges and Lemons is my number one album, though.

[@pumpichank]

One of my favorite bands. Colin Moulding is a desperately under recognized bass player, not to mention a great songwriter in his own right. I remember being blown away by Mayor of Simpleton when it came out and I just had to learn the bass line. I actually recorded a play along of it during the pandemic and published it on my own Zbwedicon YT channel.

[@Anglovox]

"Wake Up" on The Big Express BLOWS ME AWAY every time I hear it!...having first heard it upon it's release FORTY years ago!

[@robdent6787]

Fantastic. Thank you Mazzy. Really love and enjoy all your broadcasts.

[@BillsBoxOfSound]

Enjoyed your take on the XTC catalog, there are so many that have done this(including myself), and the inclusion of some of the CD compilations was a wise addition. ✌️& 💙, Mazzy!

[@jammun1time1]

Thanks Mazzy! I picked up English Settlement at Tower Records one day, took it home, put it on the turntable, and was blown away. Suddenly XTC had a customer for life. I'd rate The Big Express a bit higher, but that's just me. Then I had been laid off or fired, I can't remember, from my job and between temp jobs basically had a summer off. So I'd go have lunch with my wife (who thankfully still had a job) and I had made a cassette of Skylarking and I'd listen to that in the car going to and coming from meeting her that summer and it's not only a great album, it brings back memories of what was both a difficult (Earn Enough For Us) and beautiful year in my life. I love this band.

[@jaznjim59]

It is moments like this that makes videos like yours so great. All I can say is WOW! I had never heard of this band, how I'd missed hearing of them in the 80's is beyond me. After watching your video I streamed "Skylarking" on the way to work and was blown away. It has everything that appeals to my eclectic taste in music. I will definitely be purchasing the CD. Thanks for turning me on to them, and keep up the great videos!

[@mazzysmusic]

Happy you enjoy the record. Check more out 🌸

[@franksmusic2880]

I'm lucky I got to see XTC open for the Talking Heads at the Beacon theater in NYC on New Years Eve 78-79. One of my top 5 concerts of all time. English Settlement is also my fave album from them.

[@samglendenning9884]

XTC are one of my fav bands Mazzy; thanks for doing this video 😀🎶

[@thehufflepuffhermione]

I was hoping you would rank them soon. I am so glad you did this video.

[@Wickford_N_Gauge]

Greetings from Ireland Mazzy ☘️ Picking a favourite XTC album is like picking a favourite child 😱 hopefully your enthusiasm for the music will encourage more people to discover what is such a gorgeous catalog of work ❤️ I would have put Mummer a little higher, “Love on a farm boys wages” is one of my personal favourites though 😁 Loved the whole episode 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 Peace ☮️ out

[@WilFennell]

Brilliant ranking of an essential band that must remain our little secret. Not a word to the kids out there who need ironic distance to shield them from the quirky whimsical delight--yes, the ecstasy. -- Enjoying your videos in Kyoto!

[@motorlibro]

English Settlement and Dave Gregory's 12 string - all I can say is that it is/was an epic combo. I had tickets to see them at the Kabuki in SF - one of the performances on that cancelled tour... Thanks for this ranking!

[@davidellis5141]

I was at the Palladium in Hollywood the night before when Andy refused to play.

[@MrEjw3]

Thanks Mazzy! I've noticed Transistor Blast on your wall for some time. Love English Settlement. Really great album I can always listen to. Brought the 80s to life for me that's for certain. Peace!

[@ericcapossela6530]

Love XTC! Really enjoyed this. Thanks Mazzy

[@Van_Slowfade]

Thanks Mazzy!!! English Settlement is a top 5 record for me, not just among XTC records - but all my records.

[@bobzubb]

you are clear headed in this ranking and what amazes me is,...that so much of this music is unknown these days to many. Beatles on steroids...strike that...exponential variety.

[@GabrielSoma5899]

Mazzy nice to see you doing this ranking after a few appearances on the channel. XTC albums can be like eating a triple scoop sundae on a hot day. I think Dave Gregory commenting on recording the album 'Oranges and Lemons' said to effect there was a 24 track studio recorder and they used every track in the recording song by song. I wonder whether their genius in song writing and arranging is in the 30 singles they released and collected on CD Fossil Fuels; packing hook after hook into compact three to four minute pop symphonies rather than stretched out double albums. After getting back into their catalogue this year I found the extensive tribute album "Garden of Earthly Delights;XTC a celebration" with 49 different contemporary artists giving their songs a 2020 sheen. It shows good to great written pop songs are largely indestructible despite the passage of time.

[@theheepster]

Your Top 3 are mine too. Senses working overtime is in my opinion one of the greatest Pop Songs of all time. Thank you for this video about this outstanding Band.🇩🇪

[@mcpop3005]

Fantastic ranking of XTC albums Mazzy! They’re on my Mt Rushmore of music along with REM, Elvis Costello and The Beatles (obvious choice). I find it difficult to rank their stellar output but most days I’d put Skylarking at the top- a Desert Island Disc for sure! Take care/ Matt

[@GlenKellawayfromthebasement]

Mazzy..I am a little late on this one..in the last six months I have become obsessed with XTC…I previously had Drums and Wires and Oranges and Lemons and enjoyed them..Once I heard the Black Sea I was really excited and jumped in the deep end..I think English Settlement is my favourite..I have most of the Steven Wilson remixes on CD/Blu-ray audio..a few vinyl albums..Just picked up the 3 CD set of Fuzzy Warbles..the rocumentary This Is Pop is a great doc of the band..I have watched it three times..awesome video👍❤glen

[@bruzewill7081]

Good job nailing down the best of XTC. I would recommend your video to anyone asking for awesome music to pursue. This music is as fresh as the day it was released and I have never grown tired of it.

[@alm5693]

Thanks so much for this show. My ranking of their albums is a little different (I thought the two albums after Terry quit were fascinating for the changes the band was going through), but there are so many wildly different reasons to like XTC that no two listeners will see their catalog the same. I will say (for myself) that replacing Barry Andrews with David Gregory was the best move the band ever made. I wanted to see them play at the Guthrie Theater in Minneapolis when they were touring English Settlement, but Andy has his breakdown before they got here.

[@ChrMmn]

Great video & what a surprise #1! English Settlement is my favorite XTC album too. Yacht Dance is my #1 song & so quintessentially Andy. Great albums can transcend the sum of their parts. Collin's songs got me into XTC so I could appreciate Andy's quirky, synaesthetic genius, but I wish Collin did more tracks. King For A Day is the perfect song. Mayor of Simpleton, Generals & Majors, Making Plans For Nigel are all major contenders too.

[@progrocktommyscorner]

Mazzy enjoyed your video. It has really encouraged me to pickup more albums by XTC. I only have GO TO in my collection. Take Care.

[@MrLovell1971]

Great group in ‘ 96 my friend Jose’ played Life Begins with A hop man I was hooked the musicianship top notch i had to have that Track I started to collect a small XtC vinyl collection I found a OG Uk Skylarking which is my number 1 and about a two years ago I found that same Dear God 12” while digging in Wisconsin loved your ranking Mazzy . Lovellandrew

[@deanjonasson6776]

Helpful ranking, Mazzy. Back in the day, I started with (the perfect) SKYLARKING and gradually acquired all the albums released afterwards. The only album that disappointed was ORANGES & LEMONS (for some reason). At the time, a compilation sufficed for the earlier material but now I see I'm going to have to dig a little deeper into the past. Cheers!

[@bandcouver]

Oranges and Lemons grew on me. When I first listened to it when it came out in February of '89 I thought it was a bit overproduced and had a 'what have they done?!!!' reaction to it. But once I had repeated listening to it, I warmed up to it. "Chalkhills & Children'-my gawd, what a gorgeous, sublime song...and that's just the start.

[@deanjonasson6776]

@@bandcouver I'll certainly be revisiting O&L and hope to also feel the warmth. Thanks, Mark!

[@Warp75]

Apple Venus Vol. 1 for me. Great channel recently subbed.

[@rbg9866]

Nonsuch is my absolute favourite! I think with "quirky" music if you listen repeatedly it embeds into your brain. I was using this album almost as a drug in the 90s. Trip Shakespeare's Across the Universe was another similar album of the era this album reminds me of and that I also love.

[@garyolshan4177]

Agree. Tough call with the great XTC, but I come back to Nonsuch more than any other XTC gem.

[@bandcouver]

@@garyolshan4177 'That Wave' is one of my favourite XTC songs that's from the sometimes rather overlooked 'Nonsuch'.

[@rosssmith8481]

I have seen a fewnof these videos, and usually nonsuch ranks 6th or 7th. I would rank it number 2.

[@ManchesterBlackSheep]

My second fave, but I do think it's the best produced of all their albums.

[@feber16]

XTC has been one of my very favorite bands since the 80s. I saw them open for the Police in Chicago in 1980 when the only song I knew from them was "Nigel". My favorite period of their music is the latter half of their career with the more lush, harmonic sounds. Hard to pick one favorite album but my top albums are Apple Venus 1, Skylarking, NonSuch and Oranges and Lemons. Now I want to get all of them out and play them again! I love Colin Mouldings songs too - wish he had more of his music on the albums. I would rank Mummer much higher. I really love the songs Wonderland and In Loving Memory of a Name on that record.

[@NickP333]

Andy Partridge is an absolute fabulous songwriter. Great ranking, Mazzy. I agree with your top 4. The UK 2xLP version of English Settlement is better than the US version, imo. I’m still missing a few of the other 8, but hope to rectify that. Glad you didn’t forget The Dukes of the Stratosphere. Fantastic video. Thanks!

[@tomrobinson5776]

Nice to see a ranking of one of the great unsung bands ever, the incomparable XTC. I agree with your first choice Mazzy. English Settlement may not have the consistent flow of other albums they made, but has some of my absolute favorite XTC tunes. Senses Working Overtime, Jason and the Argonauts, All Of a Sudden, Runaways, etc. I do think a single version would have been ideal by weeding out some of the marginal material. If fact I’ve made my own version of English Settlement, by trimming some of the fat and adding an outtake from the sessions. Runaways Ball and Chain Senses Working Overtime Jason and the Argonauts All of a Sudden No Thugs In Our House Blame The Weather Yacht Dance English Roundabout Snowman

[@myquealer]

The US release of this actually was one record with 10 songs. Pretty close to your list but it includes Melt The Guns and It's Nearly Africa instead of Blame the Weather and Yacht Dance.

[@brentcunliffe745]

Andy Partridge is one of the great songwriters. They had a marvellous run of U.K. singles. I was lucky enough to see them in their very early days - Middleton Civic Hall. Thanks for this.

[@bacarandii]

I just came upon a batch of your ranking videos today and I'm happy to see you love XTC as much as I do. I will have to give the Dukes of Stratosphere records a revisit as I was mildly underwhelmed by them originally but haven't listened to them in years. (Maybe I should file them with XTC rather than under "D" so they'd catch my eye more easily.) I urge you to give "Mummer" and "Apple Venus" another spin, both of them pastoral records -- something they share with "English Settlement." I'd rank all of them above the pre-1980 stuff. Have you seen Ari Aster's 2019 pagan "folk horror" film, "Midsommar?" I think "Apple Venus" (with "River of Orchids," "Easter Theatre," "Greenman," "Harvest Festival," etc.) could have served as the soundtrack...

[@Sentimental_Mood]

Great band, fabulous songs. I saw them perform live many years ago in west London supported by Squeeze. Great gig to say the least.

[@playvinylinthemilkynight1879]

I was introduced to XTC by way of English Settlement, saw the video for Senses Working Overtime on MTV. Then when they released Skylarking, I bought it and was disappointed it didn't have Dear God on it, after seeing them play the video on 120 Minutes - this was 1986 and I was a freshman in college. I actually sold it back to the record store. Young foolish college kid. Later I came across my girlfriend's copy of Skylarking and it had Dear God, so I started listening, but to the whole album, not just that song, and it became one of my favorite albums of all time, a perfect album. Nice ranking, agree with a lot of it, although I would put English Settlement 2nd, and Mummer and Big Express higher. Take care! Great vid.

[@ZackFox]

Loved this video. I’ve been an XTC fan for 30 years. I just made it through my own version of a real life Your Dictionary

[@vayres7512]

Great video ,dude. I discover this band very late in my musical life but it´s a superb band.

[@Badger_Watch42]

What a great video, My favourite is Skylarking followed by Nonsuch but XTC are such a fantastic band with amazing output. I liked "Your Dictionary" on Apple Venus but I haven't revisited that album for a long time. Glad someone took the time to highlight there output.

[@yassassin6425]

Skylarking is a flawed album for me, redeemed in the main by its musicality and masterful songwriting. At its worst, it invokes those Rutles songs penned by Neil Innes. 'Ballet for a Rainy Day' reminds me of 'Cheese and Onions' and with it's 'Glass Onion' glissando segue into 1,000 Umbrellas one is left with a sense of the derivative and uninspired. And the Beatles parodies got even worse on 'Oranges and Lemons'. Also, surely we could have been spared a song dedicated to Colin Moulding's son's wedding ffs? I think the strongest track on the album is Moulding's 'Sacrificial Bonfire', or possibly 'Another Satellite' about Partridge's muse and then estranged lover. Todd Rundgren was contemptuous, scornful and dismissive of this dismissing it as a 'stupid song' and Andy's decision not to include 'Dear God' on the album as 'cowardice'. I prefer to approach XTC during their genuinely artistically relevant and progressive period, as opposed to a contrived Beatles tribute act.

[@jodijodijodi]

Great vid, at one point you mentioned Murmur and it made me think it would be cool if you did one of these videos but for R.E.M

[@zundap100]

Thanks Norman, here is a lot of info about XTC.

[@billkeon880]

From the bands that started after the classic rock period until the late 70s, for me there are three that I go back to the most and are my favourites... REM, Elvis Costello and XTC. No weak tracks on most of their catalogue. My list would be 1 Oranges, Skylarking, Black Sea, Drums and Wires, Nonsuch, English Settlement , Dukes, Go 2, White Music and the rest. I only heard ES for the first time about a few years ago and don’t know why I overlooked it for so long. Even their lowest ranking for me is still 4/5 stars and the rest are fives. Soooo underrated

[@markparsons2678]

I have an old comp on CD called Waxworks: Some Singles 1977-82 and then I have the 2019 CD + Blueray of the Dukes called Psurroundabout Ride. May have to check out some of their proper albums.

[@podcastwasmitrockundvinyl9387]

Finally. Marvellous. We are so damned happy. Speaking for all the Xtc Fans in the world. The few WHO are still Alive and kicking! We like your ranking, but we think That skylarking is overrated and mummer underrated. Our First three are Black sea/Drums & Wires/english settlement - followed by the dukes.

[@mazzysmusic]

This was a fun one. Love them. 🌸

[@gerardmccavana4905]

Looking forward to hearing this

[@seamuscolgan7654]

Great band and an interesting guide to their whole career! I only started getting into them last year and only own the following LP's: Drums & Wires, English Settlement, Skylarking & Mummer. I can't seriously rank them yet, but English Settlement & Skylarking are certainly going to always be their two best albums.

[@wk4max263]

My buddy Steve knocked on my door the other day and gave me a copy of English Settlement! completely out of the blue!! What a Brilliant mate!!!..Max,Liverpool ,England😎

[@mazzysmusic]

Very cool 🎶

[@marclahn7072]

Ya know (as most do), I usually differ with rankings. But this one's an outlier. From #12 to #1...it's just spot on how I would rank them myself. Now, I might "like" Black Sea and D&W a bit better than Skylarking, but hey, I'm a Rock loving lifelong guitarist ..that's just how we're wound up (or should I say, "wired") But what I mean is, there's no denying the greatness of Skylarking, so I couldn't rank it lower than #2 (and I of course, do love it) But yes, "ENGLISH SETTLEMENT" for me as well (or should I say Mazz well?) And damn, for the very same reasons. Not only the excellent songs, but the cover as well. Album Covers matter to me too, and ES is also my fave XTC jacket! So great list, Mazzy. I obviously agree... to the "T" in XTC! --------- *Wanted to say that "Making Plans For Nigel" was also my gateway song into XTC, back in 1979 when I was 13. I still rank that song high, and for those very reasons. Such a groove! **As for comps, I still love the hell out of WAXWORKS. One of those near perfect "best ofs" that always satisfies! Played it a lot in the 80s. I also have Transistor Blast and love that one too. Great BBC stuff. *** Until this day, I never connected (a very obvious connection) the Black Sea cover with 10cc's "Deceptive Bends" Funny though, I finally did, as you pulled Black Sea out of the green sleeve, just before you mentioned it. And then you mentioned it. Heh. - I love *10cc* , btw. Have since childhood. Another underrated, or better, "underappreciated" great band from the Golden Age of ROCK. Esp. those albums from 74-78 (w/ Original Soundtrack, How Dare You!, Sheet Music & Deceptive Bends beng the best of the lot!) "Blackmail" ⚡

[@toddgrove2709]

Perfect. Absolutely. Tomorrow I will witness Terry Chambers in STL drum all of this.

[@toddhill7483]

I appreciate your rankings from my long time favorite band. Love every album.. i can't say that about any other band, except perhaps Sparklehorse. So hard to rank them, as they seem to frequently change. 13 Wasp Star 12 Oranges and Lemons 11 Apple Venus 10 Go To 9 White Music 8 Nonsuch 7 The Big Express 6 Dukes-Chips From the Chocolate Fireball 5 Mummer 4 Drums and Wires 3 Skylarking 2 Black Sea 1 English Settlement

[@mazzysmusic]

Cool. So many great records ✌🏼

[@jeremywilson8040]

Thanks Mazzy, a fair assessment I would think...I'm old enough to have bought these records chronologically as they were released (here in England) and can still remember the disappointment of hearing Mummer and The Big Express for the first time, but what a return to form with Skylarking, which is probably my number one...I would probably rank The Dukes higher if we're allowing these, but have to say I only discovered them in later years. As I understand it, the band went 'on strike' over royalties from Virgin and recorded and released these songs without Virgin's knowledge or permission. I'm always amazed by how many in the VC show XTC records, as here in the UK I would say they're still quite niche as an albums band, being known more for their singles...

[@tempohouse9999]

Thanks for that Mazzy! One of your best insights and an example of the appreciation and knowledge that was so sadly lacking in the mainstream UK press. Is my memory deceiving me or were there two versions of "Skylarking" - the second one being a corrected version a la "Kind of Blue" but with corrected polarity or some other techy stuff? Must check the collection, keep on doing it Norman!

[@mazzysmusic]

Yeah the box version I showed included the corrected version. 🌸

[@andynewzealand]

@@mazzysmusic Hi Mazzy- I've got the original, which I love. I'm thinking of getting the corrected polarity version (the completist gene in me, I guess). My question is: Is there a big difference in sound? Cheers and peace. Andy.

[@teckertime]

English Settlement a TOP 5 of mine since it came out. A true Masterpiece.

[@brucybabyy7355]

bravo! yesterday i watched for the nth time the doc " this is pop " brilliant!.

[@markwhyatt8923]

Swindon, home of XTC, was at the heart of the British railway industry, hence the Big Express with a big train wheel on the cover.

[@michaelmerinar8355]

Thanks, Maz, for your thoughts. My original UK vinyl copy of “nonsuch” has a single sleeve, but has two discs in two nicely decorated thick paper sleeves.

[@olegyamleq7796]

mixed alone by todd... thanks for this great video...

[@brett.altEIGHTies]

Apple Venus is a masterpiece exhibiting the extraordinary talent of Partridge and Moulding

[@krollpeter]

... and that applies for both Apple Venus and Wasp Star. But there are a couple of unworthy materials in between sheer brilliance, especially on Wasp Star. I wish they had combined the best of these two on one single CD ... I suspect the result would have been their best! With this point Dave was right. The old XTC audience did not readily accept an orchestral album after so many years of silence. Among them... me. We wanted the quirky, clever pop back! After a dozen of listenings I realized Apple Venus is actually some of the best stuff they ever did, interrupted by 2 or 3 weaker songs. Also, it is gorgeously recorded.

[@colincampbell8871]

Good commentary on another one of those great underrated English bands that didn't quite achieve the popularity they deserved. Top notch songwriting, vocals and guitars; what else is there???

[@davidellis5141]

My Top Three from XTC are Drums & Wires , English Settlement & Black Sea. Favorite tracks are Complicated Game , Wake Up , Runaway , Summers Cauldron & Making Plans For Nigel. Seek out The Lure Of Salvage by Mr.Partridge which is a fun record of stripped down XTC tracks. Great band 👌

[@davidgreensmith7862]

ahhhh ... just seen that you realised at around 7m 15 , well done !!! (or is your cameramen from god's own country ! :-)P.S. it's not 'panties in a bunch', it's 'knickers in a twist' (shakes his head at incessanr americanisation !)

[@davidgreensmith7862]

i'm now going to explore some of your other videos ... thanks for taking the time to put your reviews on the net ! Well doney indeedy. PS do u go frequently to car boot (sorry garage) sales looking for vinyl ? or does the freshly looking opened cellophane covers give you away as a bulk buyer of pristine copies ? although in the last 5 years or so vinyl has become more & more x-pensive (damn those young whippersnappers getting 'into' real sound 🙂IDEA - maybe you could do a video alongside a whippersnapper, each of you giving your views across generations ? . Just a thought. PPS - I only see CDs racked up in th background of your video ... why not do (at least one) with the real McCoy ( b.t.w. who was he then, surely nor Jim's sidekick ... err ... klingons on the starboard bow, starboard bow ... kling- ..... sorry getting carried away there :-) ) in the backdrop ?

[@mazzysmusic]

I have a vinyl and a cd library. Other videos show vinyl. I don’t do garage sales much. Sometime people’s old collections find me

[@gharris2389]

Black Sea was one of the first vinyl records I ever bought when I was about 15. Still sounds great

[@wayneklein2474]

Great job Mazzy.

[@mibutler]

Making Plans for Nigel was also my entry into the band. What an amazing song.

[@gerardmccavana4905]

Great watch/listen. All XTC's albums are great...personally, I'd have Nonsuch and Oranges & Lemons in my top 5.

[@tsmberk]

I just heard the Steven Wilson remix of Big Express and have to say that album has climbed the ranks for me. Mummer (I too think of REM and mistitle it) 22:57 and Express are two albums And Partridge think’s don’t get the love they deserve, or at least he likes them. Anyway, Big Express has much of the 80s sheen/reverb/production stripped for the remix. A great service. There are recent video interviews with Dave Gregory or Andy speaking about Big Express. And, a book which chronicles a 19 year old boy who gained access to the recording sessions. Mazzy’s list is pretty good here, though I’d put the first two at the bottom, as they hadn’t added Dave Gregory or found their voice. Barry Andrews is great and highly unique, but it’s like a different band. That being said, there is no such thing as a bad XTC album!

[@mazzysmusic]

Thanks for commenting such a wonderful band ✌🏼

[@histubeness]

Great list. --You should have mentioned "Another Satellite" on Skylarking. One of my favorites.

[@mazzysmusic]

I could have mentioned every song 😎

[@jonnybsidetv]

Black Sea album from front to back. One of my favorite albums of all time from any band 👍

[@crunchyballs]

That #1 pick I completely agree with. I was waiting....

[@markspooner1224]

I thought that was a pretty good ranking, I can't really argue with that. It's great that you're such a fan.

[@georgegeysen6499]

I loved English Settlement, Mummer, Skylarking and Oranges and Lemons ... then someone turned me onto Black Sea, WHite Music and Drums and Wires ... and then I got into Apple Venus ... sublime and beyond. Pretty perfect. Partridge is a genius for sure and Colin is an amazing melodic bassist, but Dave Gregory also provides layers of sound and shimmer and, later, the work of Prairie Prince, Pat Martellato and Dave Mattacks cannot be overlooked.

[@alm5693]

One lovely quirk about the Go To cover is that part of the back cover text is blacked out. You need to pull out the insert to find the missing portion of the text and align it correctly against the back cover in order to read the full text. My cat Edward didn't rank Rag & Bone Buffet highly. There are tooth punctures all over the cardboard CD sleeve. Same with the crown-shaped box for the 5" CD of King For A Day. The XTC collection was too close to the floor.

[@markplank5929]

Refreshing to view XTC reviews.

[@1nelsondj]

My tasted is different since "Mummer" is my favorite by XTC. There are some darker songs you don't normally get from them, plus the opening Indian-flavored 'Beating of Hearts', the anthem 'Funk Pop a Roll' with these scathing lyrics: 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. Tell us how you really feel about the music business, Andy. 'Love on a Farmboy's Wages' is irresistibly catchy, 'In Loving Memory of a Name' is a haunting one by Colin followed by 'Me and the Wind', an off-kilter Andy track. #2 for me is the pastoral "Skylarking" followed closely by "Drums & Wires", "Oranges and Lemons" and the Dukes of Stratosphear CD which has both the EP and album together. I love how you can pick out the influences from the Beach Boys, Traffic, The Pretty Things, etc.

[@glennsutton3435]

I would put The Big Express higher, maybe because it was the first XTC album I had on CD at a time when I was mainly listening to that format, so I played it a lot. I love the Dukes stuff so much that those releases might just be my number one, although Oranges also vies for that spot. Heck, they're all great.

[@johnallison6474]

Ladybird.....Great for a summer drive .

[@iammovingtokorea]

I plan to visit Swindon someday. Want to see where it all started. 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿

[@catsofsherman1316]

Skylarking is tops for me. Then Black Sea and The Dukes of Stratosphear. I have the cd compilation of the Dukes and the Lp. I gotta get those Steven Wilson reissues.

[@benglassman]

INHO: Check out The Dukes of Stratosphear alter ego stuff as well as Andy Partridge Fuzzy Warbles , both of which I would put in the middle of this pack. 1.Skyarking ( Cmon Its the Pet Sounds of the 80's) 2. English Settlement 3. NonSuch 4. Mummer 5.Oranges and Lemons 6. Apple Venus Vol 1 7. Wasp Star (A venus vol 2 ) 8. Black Sea 9. Big express 10. Drums and Wires 11. Go 2 12. White Music

[@Universityofvinyl]

Good picks

[@catsofsherman1316]

Prairie Prince told me that he did the drums for both Apple Venus and Wasp Star but for some reason Andy decided to have someone else redo the drums for Wasp Star. Do you know if there are the Prairie Prince versions of the Wasp Star songs on that box set?

[@markwhyatt8923]

The cover of English Settlement is the Uffington Horse, carved in chalk against a grass background. It's a truly magical place.

[@bandcouver]

XTC are a band I got to know in 1979 with their videos 'Making Plans For Nigel', 'Life Begins At The Hop' & 'This Is Pop' being aired late at night on Vancouver's CKVU TV. Then after 1982 ,with 'Senses Working Overtime' being the last XTC song I heard on commercial radio, I didn't hear anything from them again until 1987, when I started listening to alternative sources for music like CBC FM ,( back when it was good. It's shite now. Stupid government. ), and Much Music ,(Canada's MTV), played 'Dear God' and other songs I missed from their wilderness years of 1983-84. Everybody's order of their favourites is different. Mine changes day to day. I warmed up to 'Mummer' & 'Big Express' when I got them on CD, and heard early demos of them and got to know how they evolved into the recorded versions. It's the production on those albums that can scare away people from them. Sometimes the lyrics are buried-which is half the battle of XTC songs. But there's still some of their best songs on both. "Wake Up", "Seagalls Screaming Kiss Her Kiss Her", "Train Running Low On Soul Coal", "Great Fire", "Deliver Us from the Elements", "Me & The Wind", "Ladybird", "This World Over", "The Everyday Story of Smalltown", "I Bought Myself A Liarbird", "You're the Wish You Are I Had", "I Remember the Sun"....

[@duckbrew]

Ever heard 'you bring the summer' a song Andy wrote for the lastest monkeey's album from a few yrs back? With Mickey on the vocal. Heavenly

[@garyolshan4177]

Love it!

[@catsofsherman1316]

Great song.

[@MytePro]

Just made a few videos doing this but I think you cover it. Still I’d put Nonsuch way higher. Probably because it was my first. You have Andy’s Hello Recording?

[@johnaston3983]

XTC, Folk,Pop,Rock,Jazz,Psychedelic,Punk and Weird. Mr Partridge and friends have made over the years their very own 'White Album' collection of songs and more. Should be in the Hall of Fame and very underrated.

[@gidgetmaurer123]

I'm going have to pick up the new mixes of the top 2, which is how I'd rank them also. I also think Big Express would be in my top 4 or 5.

[@frankthorne11]

Thank you.

[@Living_Matrix1]

My top 12 would be very similar. English Settlement also my no. 1. I was about 12 when I bought it, and some of the songs freaked me out at first (no thugs in our house). But before long I loved every track - and still do.

[@spinynorman8217]

The 'p' is silent in cupboard. Very interesting review, thank you.

[@bdfitzg]

Hey Mazzy, You mentioned at the end of this segment you reference an expanded 5.1 version of English Settlement (my favourite XTC release as well). I had heard that the masters required for a 5.1 release have not been found for English Settlement. Am I mistaken and if I (happily) am incorrect where might I look for said release? Cheers! Fitz

[@benglassman]

I agree Bro those 2 albums are the two best of the decade I believe

[@johntyndall1373]

Great video, Mazzy. XTC are one of the best recording artists of all time. Have you picked up the two EPs from Andy Partridge on Ape House records: My Failed Songwriting Career, volumes one and two?

[@mazzysmusic]

Yes I gave picked up those EPs ✌🏼

[@terrykeenan4308]

Such a wonderful and creative band that has never received the respect they deserve, probably because of not being able to tour due to Andy’s illness. You’re right when you say there are no clunkers. Hidden gems on all their albums. If I were to rank my top 5 it would be 1. Black Sea 2. Oranges and Lemons 3. Skylarking 4. Drums and Wires 5. English Settlement

[@rasardo1]

Fom XTC I've got everything, including a boxset with all the japanease CD editions. They are one of the best post-punk english bands, and Colin Moulding and Andy Partridge are among the best writers in England, "popwise "(and further on), that's for shure. They also never recorded a bad album and they evolved, thankfully, without loosing criativity. My personal rank is: 1) Black Sea 2) Skylarking 3) Mummer 4) Apple Venus, Vol. 1 5) English Settlement 6) Nonsuch 7) Drums and Wires 8) Wasp Star (Apple Venus, Pt. 2) 9) White Music 10) The Big Express 11) Oranges & Lemons 12) Go 2

[@MarsCapone]

New fan VS longtime XTC fan. Love it! Best album is 🍊🍊🍊+🍋🍋🍋… I’ve been listening since Skylarking came out and just now realized the eye in the C so it can see 🤦‍♂️

[@bodensick]

Yes, I do realize that I wrongly put Generals and Majors on "Drums..." MY BAD! Doesn't matter which album it's on...it's Top 40 tripe. Whenever someone tells you that an artist latest album is "more accessible"...WATCH OUT! We had that problem in the late 70's to mid 80's with Punk bands that made angry, edgy and original rock only to sell out in order to be more "accessible" more radio receptive. Is that a bad thing? Not if that's what you're into.

[@jimjam8949]

Such a hard job ranking them. Different aspects to rank in all of them. However I couldn't live without Nonsuch.

[@user-iz8gg4id5r]

My ranking (I did not bundle Apple Venus/Wasp Star): 13. Mummer (The only XTC album I have trouble listing to all the way through. I dubbed it "Andy Tries Too Hard") 12. White Music (If they had left off All Along The Watchtower, it would have moved up a spot) 11. Go 2 10. The Big Express 9. Nonsuch (Sounds great, but it's lacking something. Expected more of it since it was produced by Gus Dudgeon) 8. Wasp Star (Stupidly Happy is another one of Andy's most underappreciated songs. My issue with the album, and Apple Venus, is that Colin's tracks are really dull.) 7. Oranges and Lemons (A wonderful album but often sounds like some Dukes castoffs. The last track "Chalkhills and Children" may be Andy's greatest song ever.) 6. Drums & Wires 5. Black Sea 4. English Settlement 3. The Dukes stuff (Chips From The Chocolate Fireball CD is what I consider to be the Dukes album) 2. Apple Venus Vol. 1 (If they took all of Andy's material from this and Wasp Star and left off Colin's, it would be unbeatable.) 1. Skylarking

[@silkhead44]

I have all the Steve Wilson remixes on blueray...top notch....and you get instrumental versions as well...karaoke anyone