Who Did It Better? - XTC vs The Crash Test Dummies - The Ballad Of Peter Pumpkinhead

[@ghichens3418]

Yep ! XTC get my vote .

[@gverlies]

Crash test dummies don’t even reach the ankles of xtc

[@mightyV444]

Awww... I was expecting the verses in the Crash Test Dummies' version to be sung with that typical deep voice! Now _that_ would've been cool! 😄 Anyway, there actually _is_ a Halloween connection, because it says on the Wikipedia page for the XTC original, "The song was inspired by a jack o'lantern Partridge had carved and placed on a fence post in his garden for Halloween", followed by some further info 😊 No surprises to read that there'd also been a second, edited/censored version of the XTC video clip for the US market.

[@KmanRulez]

These were the better known CTD hits. Superman's Song. /Mmm Mmm Mmm Mmm/Afternoons & Coffeespoons/The Ballad of Peter Pumpkinhead (feat. Ellen Reid) ... They actually released 8 albums.

[@Svatopluk]

XTC, of course, but the CTD version was solid (although the sixth is missing from second chord [on G major]). It is interesting to note that most covers of XTC songs are pretty faithful to the originals, rather than re-imaging them. This probably has to do with the level of detail in so many of their songs. Fun show!

[@chrisbryz1652]

Crash test dummies forsure

[@davidellis5141]

XTC ..Absolutely 💯 ! A classic single 👌

[@SPKdesign1]

I agree.

[@cyclops60]

Decent version by CTD but adds little to the original, I prefer covers that make their own mark. This is one of my favourite XTC songs, especially love the opening guitar and harmonica. XTC win for me. Cheers guys!

[@garyking2622]

Obviously XTC

[@johnmavroudis2054]

❤ XTC FOREVER. I like the Crash Test Dummies version... but prefer the original. Canadian Brilliant Music suggestion: THE NEW PORNOGRAPHERS: "The Laws Have Changed," "Mass Romantic" "Sing Me Spanish Techno" ... this Canadian band has so many great songs... Cheers!

[@garyking2622]

New Pornographers have many more good albums than mediocre ones, I have about 4

[@johnmavroudis2054]

@@garyking2622 All of their albums have at least a few brilliant songs. Amazing band.

[@rileyclawson9323]

Crash Test Dummies had better mastering on the percussion and a really precise drummer, making it feel cleaner and neater overall. They've clearly got more/better microphones for percussion. It's always easier to improve on something pre-existing than it is to pave your own way. I wish the discussion went more toward, "wow, that's a pretty accurate emulation of what XTC did in their original piece, but look how they took a different direction with it". I know that's a concept illustrated in broad strokes, but hopefully it's constructive. Thanks for the content!

[@mightyV444]

PS: You two have my compassion in regards to that neighbour with the loud car! I've had similar experiences in the past and can relate.

[@hanierfamily]

This guy just gets louder every week.

[@mightyV444]

@@hanierfamily - Dang! 😒

[@andyf2837]

XTC - it's their song but CTD is okay and at least got XTC a mention

[@jameswarner5809]

When anyone covers a band you really like, it always provokes a mixed reaction. On the one hand, you are pleased that someone else likes them enough to do the cover, but on the other, you're precious about the original. As a big XTC fan, I'm going to say the original is best. My favourite cover of an XTC song is a live radio session recording of This Is Pop, released as a b-side by Charlotte Hatherley (ex-Ash guitarist), but I do have to admit that I'm a huge fan of hers and three people I know were in her band at the time.

[@hanierfamily]

Well, it makes it a bit more personal when you know the people doing it. We haven't done 'This is Pop' yet. We'll have to check it out soon.

[@mightyV444]

@@hanierfamily - 'This Is Pop' is earlier XTC and another goodie 😊

[@mightyV444]

@James Warner - I watched a Bat For Lashes live show several years ago (on YT, and it was my first BFL impression, too), and the guitarist/bassist looked vaguely familiar to me; Did a bit of online digging then, and she turned out to be Charlotte Hatherley, and I'd seen her with Ash in '97, nearly 20 years earlier! 😀

[@jameswarner5809]

@@mightyV444 Yes, Charlotte was a guitar for hire for a few well known acts. She also toured with K T Tunstall and Bryan Ferry. Her first three solo albums are excellent quirky guitar pop, then she went synth pop for the fourth which, while still good, doesn't reach her earlier heights for me. One year I saw her live eleven times in small venues around London. I became a bit of a groupie and met, and subsequently became friends with, a few people in her band.

[@mightyV444]

@@jameswarner5809 - Oh yes, true! I do remember spotting her in KT Tunstall's band, too! 😀 I'll check out her solo stuff some time soon! Thank you for the tip, James! 😊

[@TZ61]

Didn't know C.T.D. had covered this very faithfully, but a slight nod to XTC. XTC, themselves, didn't do many covers (at least, not on record) but their cover of "All Along the Watchtower" ranks as one of the more bizarre of any cover song. It sounds like you answered my question about whether or not you know Crash Test Dummies fourth album which flopped here in the states, but I've always liked it. There is a song on it called "A Little Something" which features Ellen Reid, and it may be a future contender for a Canadian Content installment. Great upload.

[@sylvanm4216]

Great song. The Crash Test Dummies version is well done, but so faithful as to be almost redundant. Ideally you'd like to hear more creativity in a cover. As someone mentioned below, XTC recorded a VERY creative cover of Dylan's "All Along the Watchtower" - it isn't to everyone's tastes, but I have a soft spot for it, and it's fun to be able to listen to such wildly different interpretations of that song.

[@hanierfamily]

True. Crash Test Dummies didn't stray too far from the original.

[@TheHarryAdam]

Love CTDs but XTC just blow them away. Just a class track from XTC😊

[@Adam_Le-Roi_Davis.]

XTC for the win, it's far better in my opinion.

[@moretoknowshow1887]

Both versions are great. I've always said XTCs version was more a serious story of the passion/crucifixion while CTDs was a take on The Life Of Brian. Both are great..

[@bryanforis1839]

XTC is the best great live band 2lead singers great music

[@geraldlibby6417]

Crash test dummies for me . Great reaction guy’s.

[@spiderboris79]

XTC are making a deep dark song about political conspiracies (the video has got a lot of stuff in it) while CTD (I'll give them an acronym too) have got a fairly faithful cover which ties into a movie. SO THERE

[@jonathancole833]

I think that I was the other person who requested this comparison! As others have said, musically there isn't a great difference in the two versions - its more about whose vocals you prefer.

[@forestbrooks4025]

Crash test dummies!

[@colrhodes377]

I wasn't much of a fan of the song but I think The Crash Test Dummies were better

[@KmanRulez]

I am more familiar with the Crash Test Dummies version of Peter Pumpkinhead. I like the percussion and the vocals (harmonizing) better in the Crash Test Dummies version. Nothing wrong with XTC...just prefer CTD!!!

[@SPKdesign1]

Definately XTC but the other one wissnae bad.

[@warrennicholsony.fernando4513]

Definitely XTC was better!

[@ScottBone-xs2pv]

xtc

[@johnroberts1708]

RIP Kennedy.

[@Ray1969.]

Hey Mr Hanier… you do realize it’s music right? You’re allowed to move. Jeez, loosen up brother!! Lol

[@BRIANZ969]

XYC-better -- They wrote it-I am not a fan of covers unless I'm doing it Brian Birch

[@drg3712]

This is not a proper question.

[@8poundquark]

No comparison. XTC❤ CTD was awful and a sad bar band rendition.