XTC - MTV Studios - New York, NY - May 16, 1989

XTC - MTV Studios - New York, NY - May 16, 1989
"Scarecrow People"
"Blue Beret"
"King For A Day"
courtesy of xtc4u.org

[@IrvoDominguez]

Mr. Partridge voice is so beautiful here, wow.

[@jonathaninkent]

Dave Gregory's playing here is just marvellous.

[@georgegeysen6499]

Pretty much everything he did with this band was brilliant.

[@davidwaller3790]

Even Todd Rundgren admired him during the Skylarking sessions!

[@jarrettherman3258]

@@davidwaller3790 it's no surprise really. between the guitar solo on 'supergirl' and the string arrangement on '1000 umbrellas', it would take a tin ear and a heart of stone (aka, johnny "i hate pink floyd" rotten.. though i do like PiL) to not give due respect. i'd wager even frank zappa would have tipped his cap to those contributions... so of course todd - being one step closer to earth than frank on the human-extraterrestrial spectrum, as well as on the condescending prick spectrum (they're 2 of my heroes, so i say this with love..) - would have no problem appreciating his contributions. as they say, game recognize game. todd might have had an ego to match his superhuman talent, but - from what i can tell - the moments where he seemed like a dick to whoever he was working with.. it wasn't without a purpose... namely to bring out the full potential of a group for the sake of making the best music possible. in the case of skylarking, it's pretty well-documented that andy received the lion's share of todd's toddness.. and rightly so, it seems. colin and dave have both gone on record saying andy could be somewhat of a dictator.. it's no wonder they clashed so fiercely in the process.. but i imagine dave and colin got along with todd just fine. todd was responsible for skylarking having the highest concentration of colin songs of any xtc album. and, being an excellent musician in his own right, i'm sure he instantly recognized that dave was a high caliber musician, and most likely just sat back and let him do his thing. i know for a fact todd praised dave's string arrangement on '1000 umbrellas'. i recall him saying he never intended it to be on the final tracklist after hearing andy's rough demo. and i completely understand that, because i can't imagine that song without the string arrangement, nor would i ever want to.. he single-handedly turned what would have been an outtake, or - at best - a lull in the album, into a transcendent masterpiece of baroque pop.. and the guitar solo on 'supergirl', (short and sweet, in classic xtc fashion.. 'reel by reel' comes to mind as another gem), is a bite sized bit of ambrosia for the ears.. as a guitarist myself, i can say with confidence that at least 95% of players worth their salt would cream their pants upon hearing that solo for the first time.. i'm not sure if todd has remarked upon it publicly, but i'd bet my right arm he was in heaven every time he played it back on the console.. it kinda sounds like a solo todd might compose.. great minds think alike as they say.. both he and xtc certainly had a knack for exploiting the lydian mode, to great effect. as did frank zappa coincidentally.. anywho, i'm gonna cut myself off here.. i've already devoted way too much thought for a comment that will be seen by 2-3 people.. it's all your fault davidwaller3790... you just had to bring up todd rundgren and skylarking.. now my whole day is shot...

[@ChipMatthews]

Oranges and Lemons is quite possibly the greatest pop album ever made, for me at least. Absolute genius from start to finish. Definitely a contender for my favorite album of all time.

[@williamb2845]

Certainly among the best of that decade. Still stands up extremely well.

[@mrjah603]

Maybe this is an unpopular opinion, but Oranges and lemons is the record that made me stop listening to XTC, and I was a hardcore fan up until then.

[@ChipMatthews]

Probably not that unpopular. It's a fairly big change in sound from their earlier stuff. For me it represents their pinnacle though.

[@mrjah603]

Yeah, a lot of fans loved it. To me, the best XTC albums were Drums and Wires, Black Sea and English Settlement. I soldiered through Mummer, Big Express and Skylarking, and when it was announced that O&L would be their return to brash, guitar driven pop, my hopes were high that we would be getting some classic XTC. Then I heard the songs and it drove home what I already knew: the old XTC, which I loved, was gone for ever.

[@ChipMatthews]

Skylarking was really my introduction to XTC so I didn't have any expectations based on their earlier albums. It was much later that I went back and discovered a love for the whole discography.

[@jasmadams]

Been a fan for 35 years, and I had never heard Blue Beret. The whole set here is amazing.

[@drunvert]

One of my top bands from early 80s. Soundtrack of my High school

[@bxs204]

The greatest injustice... every displayed.... by the Rock-n-Roll Hall of Fame.... has to be.... not recognizing the brilliance of XTC.

[@nicolasmrn]

the hall of fame don't deserve XTC

[@2008alde]

the RR hall of fame might as well be the Roly Poly Hall of shit... If Foreigner, Bad Company, Free, Paul Rogers have been passed by .. don't ever expect the talent of XTC to ever be considered. Fuck the RRHOF

[@fuckamericanidiot]

@Eric Menig Right on. Neon Shuffle, to Battery Brides, to When You're Near Me I Have Difficulty, to Life Begins At The Hop, to Sgt Rock, to Senses Working Overtime, to Ladybird, to All Of You Pretty Girls, to Dear God, to Garden Of Earthly Delights, to My Bird Performs, to River of Orchids - as just a clasped handful of their brilliance to show their evolution. They had true greatness from the start to the end.

[@bradoozy]

Don’t worry about the joke that is the Rock Hall.

[@145inA]

All hail... King Ellipsis...

[@encarsia9]

Love the 1 applause. How I feel every time I tell someone about this band.

[@kidsmoked]

Love Colin Moulding's voice on King for a Day. Always superb. 💖

[@zebonaut]

That chord change of Scarecrow People in the end is so soul wrenching brilliant ..

[@fuckamericanidiot]

The Peel session version is the best, just like so many others

[@Boylieboyle]

lol he's got a habit of doing that eh?

[@hiller1957]

still love these guys - best band ever - truly

[@peterbrusch1493]

"Scarecrow people" is so complex and the voice of Andy Partridge is so extraordinary.

[@marioartecona7301]

Dave can sure play... so underrated.

[@bradsmith7311]

Always,one of my very favorite players

[@aydnofastro-action1788]

These songs are great examples of how this “band” succeeded in throwing every wrench into our tired expectations and categories. The complexities of the harmonic progressions alone would take to task any classical music symphony. They attempted and succeeded in sweeping every category of music into XTC and throwing it all for a loop. “Talent hits a target no one else can hit. Genius hits a target no one else can see. “ -Schopenhauer

[@kelvinwilson9217]

XTC first band to have stage set for MTV, and were first to go unplugged. MTV didn't like the idea, and in the end many bands copied that idea. The music of XTC is timeless, and quite rightly compared to Lennon and McCartney as song writers.

[@UchronianKing]

Both Partridge and Moulding (I love those names!) wrote some timeless classics. Sadly, XTC doesn't get the vintage radio airtime to be properly recognised in the public eye; certainly big music fans of Indie Pop, Progressive Rock, etc will have heard of the band, but unfortunately they were somewhat obscured into the background by other mainstream groups. Making Plans for Nigel was seen as something of a breakthrough, as was Senses Working Overtime, and at least both were aired on TOTP (a big show back in the day!). Personally, I also liked the keyboard style of Barry Andrews during the first two albums - XTC Go 2 is one of my favourite albums. I had no idea that XTC were the first band to go unplugged in a studio environment. Not sure if it's the same sort of thing, but Jethro Tull did something called the 'dressing room tapes' whilst doing gigs in Zurich (can be found on the 1989 Rock Island album).

[@mcsuibhne005]

"MTV didn't like the idea".. are you sure you don't mean MTV "did" like the idea? Apparently this was the catalyst for MTV unplugged- a hugely successful and popular show.

[@sleepinginoffice]

Didn't know xtc was first to play a show at MTV studios AND first to play "unplugged" . Does not surprise me though. A group you really have to listen to actively to appreciate. Big fan.

[@not2L8t]

XTC, one of the very few post 60s-70s artists that were (and are) eloquent poets + song writers + musicians. On top of that, they refused to be like any other bands at all. For this they paid the price, low airplay at a time where sadly that actually mattered. Had things gone a bit differently, they would have been wildly popular. But then, maybe by not being - they didn't succumb to the pressure to sell out. Regardless, even their early work still sounds crazy relevant today. Cheers Andy, Colin, and Dave! You guys unrock!

[@Drewbott1]

Cheers to whoever put this out to the digital media world.

[@shiboof]

AMEN to that one

[@harryt140e]

Brilliant!!! Indeed, a big thank you for the person who made this available 😁.

[@wjf1950]

Brilliant writers and musicians......they were so under appreciated..... Thanks Andy for learning how to be comfortable playing live~ 25 years ago......and what we're stuck with out there today!

[@mcsuibhne005]

I randomly came across XTC a few months ago and have been hooked since. This is prob my fav live video of theirs . I'm drip feeding myself albums so I can enjoy hearing them fresh for as long as possible

[@skylark9770]

I miss these guys so much.

[@steve1751]

Andy is probably an egomaniac but the guy really is one of the all-time best songwriters. I imagine he was incredibly tough to work with but in the end he was right a lot more than he was wrong. Personally I find him very interesting to listen to in interviews. A great sense of humor. One of a kind for sure.

[@pauldavis7318]

His interview with ProgCast on youtube is so entertaining and informative. One of the best interviews I have ever watched. It's spread across three Episodes

[@bradsmith7311]

Not an egomaniac at all,very self depreciating. Just a regular high functioning brilliant creative guy

[@georgesonm1774]

@@pauldavis7318 that's an incredible interview! they're talking for like 6 hours about all kinds of stuff - comic books, Beefheart, prog associations, 60s psych pop singles, early sci-fi, gear, songwriting... and Andy takes the time to ask about the interviewer's own musical project - a wonderful conversation, ultimately just two dudes exchanging ideas about what they're passionate about

[@georgesonm1774]

from a bunch of interviews I've heard with him, he's a sweet guy. I'm guessing he might have been very attached to realizing his vision(s) without compromising to others, and at times perhaps insecure as to his position within the band (he admitted to that himself), but ultimately - I just feel he was really gifted (compulsively creative, maybe) and really fragile (he's been through a lot!), not a bad dude at all.

[@steve1751]

@@georgesonm1774 Well said. He was/is a rare talent and a great person as well!

[@badrogue66]

Dave Gregory is absolutely sick on Scarecrow People

[@djworldrenowned]

i don't know how Andy controlled everything so much that they sound better than 99% of bands in the studio, what a live recording...epic

[@nicolasmrn]

He has the music poping in his veins.

[@JosephScott-ct9sw]

"Andy controlled everything" He didn't. Three great talents here.

[@ifeelafool]

@@JosephScott-ct9sw thats right.

[@chuckt4558]

Brilliant, under appreciated, timeless lyrics, fantastic layered guitar playing. XTC were one of a kind.

[@guitarvocs]

Sadly, the lyrics of Scarecrow People were never so relevant as today. Andy Partridge is a prophet.

[@bradoozy]

A man of true superficial ideas.

[@georgesonm1774]

What do you mean? Superficial ideas?

[@DouglasLippi]

Lol the environment has been man's concern since man existed. Great song, but not a big revelation or anything.

[@limagris]

I just love this incredible album... and scarecrow people made me realize the brilliant way this songwriting duo delivered music. Thanks XTC! Perú loves u, or at least me.

[@rosievela9909]

Oranges & Lemons Is Astounding & Brilliant Beyond Comprehension. I’m Listening To It 24/7

[@paulmumford7595]

Agreed!

[@PeterPumpkinhead1]

Great footage. I moved out to Vancouver in '89 from Belfast and bought the 'Oranges and Lemons' album out there. Great memories. Back in Belfast 23 years later, still very much listening and liking Swindon's finest. Long live XTC!

[@TheColininla]

Damn, these guys were amazing.

[@randyabramovitz4501]

Love that last song. Such an enthusiastic audience.

[@peterbrusch1493]

Brilliant as always. One of the best bands ever.

[@twentysixlinx327]

I drove up from Philly w 2 friends during college to Tower Records on Broadway in NYC for a rare Oranges & Lemons record signing event. I brought 3 bead necklaces to give them. Andy had clearly been drinking just to soften the edges of what must have been an excruciating PR requirement. Even so, he was extremely gracious. I told him I wished I had all their music but the cd's were crazy expensive. He honestly was embarrassed and wished the music wasn't out of reach for fans. Neither Colin nor Dave really talked to anyone. Andy talked to everyone as earnestly as he could. I imagine it was an awful experience for them. I still have the poster they signed. Incredible talent and insight.

[@erikpate1697]

The first song I heard from them. Was respectable street, I was instantly hooked.

[@trumpgottagoitmfa9216]

SHoulda GOT COLIN AN ACOUSTIC BASS DAMMIT!!!!!

[@aggierowe9574]

Wow their lyrics still hold up years later!

[@spray53]

How the hell did they not record Blue Beret? That is extraordinary.

[@ejude83]

It would’ve fit perfectly, thematically, on Apple Venus.

[@owenonion]

BRILLIANT , such a masterful melodical musical band, 36 years since I heard this is pop and they have given me so much and will until I pass on. legends of the highest calibre

[@superorangeish]

Everytime Andy sings I realize the importance of what he's singing about.

[@RodM.Peters]

Don't care if the masses don't dig this band. In fact, I'm happy it's that way! If everybody loved them then they'd be Hall and Oats or something like that, instead of one-of-a-kind XTC.

[@nicolasmrn]

The first and my favorite MTV unplugged along with Caifanes one 💚

[@shiboof]

JUST THE BEST. Miss this so much.

[@cforanify]

This is one for the memory book- Kudos to you all for putting this out in the cosmos for us all to enjoy!

[@dunecampbell3996]

King for a Day, what a great anthem for restraint and reflection.

[@JuanCarruyo]

Blue Beret is such an insane flex of a composition.

[@tracehazarrrrd]

wow this is great, how did this not start a revolution? lol

[@markushofer4874]

Thank you for uploading this. Here you can see 3 great musicians at work. LOVE IT!

[@debrafetzko180]

Love, love , love this! cannot keep my eyes off of Andy!

[@BlueRidgeParkway]

brilliant...brilliant...and Brilliant! Three cheers for XTC :-)

[@costabotes9107]

The most underrated band in rock history, period. Individually, geniuses. Collectively, the most consistently interesting group post Beatles, hands down. What a legacy. They will be remembered.

[@thisisnotapipe6878]

Andy. Always have loved you! The Concierge of Protest Songs!

[@bxs204]

incredible live set....wow!

[@wowwhywow]

people don't realize...this was the mtv performance that inspired the unplugged shows that went on for years at MTV...this and the Eurythmics

[@alexnejako777]

wow MTV with good music amazing!

[@j1thom]

If I'm not mistaken this is the first "Unplugged" session. Although no one realized it at the time. Leave it to XTC! And OH, Gregsy!!! All of them, just brilliant!

[@ARMTOAST]

Jethro Tull actually beat them to the punch 2 years before! On a side note, did you know Ian Anderson is thanked in the liner notes to Drums and Wires for interrupting their rehearsal for "being too loud"?

[@j1thom]

Haha, Andy is such a smartass!

[@georgesonm1774]

Heh

[@hiller1957]

the one band I regret never seeing - always loved, but unfortunately have to see cover bands to get a feel of seeing them LIVE. This is absolutely a treasure. Thanks for loading, someone!!! Unreal!!!

[@arthistorylite]

I had a ticket to see them at the Hammersmith Lyceum in 1981 (I think?!) but it was called off due to Andy’s mental health issues. I’ve been a massive fan since 1979 and would like to warmly shake them all by the hand and let them know what absolute pleasure they’ve brought to my life.

[@pseudosun]

xtc is special. The arrangements and sounds bring on emotions and moods that are unique and powerful

[@paulpeartsmith]

Mcartney would be proud.

[@Mordred478]

I remember seeing this as if it were yesterday. For me, the sparse recognition of this band's genius, of Andy and Colin's prodigious songwriting talent, and the accompanying lack of commercial reward from it all, has a strange connection to the lyrics of Scarecrow People. It's about failing to value the things of value, and opting instead for what is cheap, soulless and crass.

[@joneskellerful]

You're so right! They are genius.

[@michaelthomas366]

These guys are talented from top to bottom. Saw them perform back in 1980 w/the police. Definitely one of my all time favorite concerts.

[@juanitacarrollyoung2979]

I could see why

[@kidsmoked]

I can hear how parts of this song made it into That Wave. 🙏

[@paulmumford7595]

Yep!

[@davidstobie2751]

I hope with all my heart that Nashville is listening.

[@jeebsgold]

Here a slight shade of That Wave in Blue Beret.

[@kidsmoked]

Jeebs Gold agreed. 🥰

[@markdavis1685]

Still far and away the best bunch of talent to emerge from this country. Oh. and any other country for that matter. Incredible talent.

[@pureevilhotsauce6490]

Scarecrow People, what a masterpeice. And to think it (apparently) nearly didn't make it onto the album...

[@jonathanbennetts2632]

the first ever MTV unplugerd.

[@riveroforchids]

Andy's vocals on scarecrow people are just incredible!!!!!!!!!!!

[@limonfernandez421]

The First Mtv Unplugged

[@rallokkcaz]

These versions of the song are actually better than the album versions, can't stop listening. With the exception of King for a Day. Shame this was such a short acoustic tour.

[@Jani_ianto_hun]

Can't thank you enough for the upload, really appreciated. I've listened to XTC since... I don't know, decades, whatever. But always in audio. It's just awesome that we can see them playing live in the 80-90's, even after they stopped playing "real live shows"' with audience. Fav album was always the English Settlement, now I considering to purchase it on vinyl, and it is shocking to see that there are so many different releases...

[@kidsmoked]

These men know how to serve a song. 🙏

[@oldrottenhead]

bliss

[@brianbernard2083]

Nice to see fairly recent posts here. Hello friends of Andy's. I listen to all the stuff I can of his. Wish I could afford fuzzy warbles so I settle for what I find here. For those who play guitar, I found some tunes on Ultimate Guitar website. Hey Brothers and sisters ( this probably sounds silly) But I am so hooked on this music. I know some of you understand. Say hello. Peace ALL

[@MrCoolix]

Hello! =) so am I.

[@juanitacarrollyoung2979]

So excited about the recent Andy Partridge/ Robyn Hitchcock collaboration, Planet England 🇬🇧

[@paulmumford7595]

I understand!

[@debbiedodson6256]

So tell me again, how is XTC not considered the best band ever?!

[@gergsar]

+Debbie Dodson they are within the top 3 or 5, and in no particular order

[@moonbeanification]

Right?!

[@debbiedodson6256]

Still I don t think they get near enough credit. XTC is bloody brilliant.

[@MrMatijas16]

Well they're at least two reasons: 1.The Beatles 2. The Beach Boys ;)

[@mrjah603]

Beatles maybe, but the Beach Boys were a nothing more than a second-rate barber shop quartet. Even in the studio they could barely perform a listenable song. They were adequate musicians at best. They were popular, sure, but they were far from the best of anything. Just one man's opinion.

[@tobywilkinson5878]

I adore both bands! It's hard not to hear the similarities. But then, I think XTC are one of the most influential and unheralded bands of all time.

[@rockinblue978]

Incredible band from beginning to end.

[@incognito7479]

XTC has a way of mixing satire with truth in a rather comfortable and unique way. He with an ear will hear.

[@ska63]

Wow....this is so great.

[@MikeGervasi]

Back then we really felt this was the start of a possible live tour..alas no...

[@debralarue2596]

Maybe they are too good for rock n roll hall of fame? Some of their choices are beyond funny when you set them next to XTC.

[@SonicVineyard]

they should have done more like this.....unplugged....live..........in pubs

[@femusclover1]

soizic de st john rosse unfortunaly Andy can’t. Hé suffers from claustrophobia, I guess

[@shiboof]

@@femusclover1 intense stage fright, yes.

[@thechronicnoizeco.6675]

Wonderful

[@BlackRoomProductions]

"Some people are dying cause the other people're busy blowin' them away."

[@Loshia2002]

Oh, I absolutely LOVE this....damn Andy and his stagefright, I'd give anything to see these guys play live just once! I almost saw 'em but unfortunately Andy decided to have his infamous meltdown just before their gig at the Palladium and...well, the rest is history. Still, I keep my hopes up...maybe someday, right?

[@KonaMark1]

Or his valium addiction.

[@georgesonm1774]

It was actually the effect of his quitting valium (unaware of the consequences), and he got hooked on it as a child

[@johnmccann8319]

So amazing!💚

[@brufrog]

so great

[@FockingA]

Thanks.

[@Sunburst42]

Amazing

[@lotsofhats3224]

I drool watching these guys play and sing

[@MikeGervasi]

You know why? Because just as everything has become cheaper and disposable, so has music. Nothing worth creating is given time to grow and people who can create that music are passed over for the easy buck. There are a couple of people carrying the torch (Grohl, Homme) but when you have to go back to the old guard for solid music you feel the timer is running out.

[@saekimizuharuru]

xtcに出会えて良かッた。

[@DouglasLippi]

4:31 lol to the sole clapper

[@xnonsuchx]

XTC started MTV Unplugged before MTV Unplugged officially started

[@johnny88sunday]

I've read that this is considered the first "MTV Unplugged" performance too... what a way to start, aswell!

[@salmonesque]

Christ that is good.

[@garyscorah]

Just brilliant.

[@MikeGervasi]

We had such hopes when they did the "Acoustic Tour" that Andy would finally relent and actually play some shows. Unfortunately it wasn't to be. But damn, does Colin look happy to be doing this or what?

[@beemelonhead1]

Blue Beret is amazing.. of course all the songs are but how could Blue Beret not be good enough to put on an album?

[@geofflee6038]

Too fkn brilliant for this world!

[@silkhead44]

the best unplugged that ever happened

[@rickmakoul1439]

Clinically underrated band.

[@chrishedlund2688]

Stunning. Would have been one of the best MTV Unplugged episodes ever with an mc and audience. Even more special without them