XTC- Yacht Dance REACTION & REVIEW

[@rachelxtc]

Such a beautiful song from one of the many spectacular albums by XTC. Do Complicated Game next!

[@jamesdignanmusic2765]

A hidden gem from XTC's collection, and one of my favourite of their songs. That guitar line is beautiful, and Andy's syncopated vocals (not Colin!) suit it perfectly. (If Andy wrote it, he almost always sang it, and if Colin wrote it, he nearly always sang it). As I read it, it's a love song about the start of a new relationship - "no need to think of past loves, this is a new journey we're on".

[@kevinmottram9491]

Next up, 'All of a Sudden'. One of my all time favourite XTC songs, and one that should have been a single.

[@rachelxtc]

@kevinmottram9491 One of my favorites too, and I think a song everyone can relate to in some way. Complicated Game is my all time favorite though!

[@a.k.1740]

I've always found "Yacht Dance" to have tropical vibes. This track as well as the previous one "No Thugs in Our House" were played for the English television program The Old Grey Whistle Test on February 11, 1982. If "No Thugs in Our House" was played during the short tour for English Settlement , however "Yacht Dance" was only played once on the OGWT. To see the energy emanating from Andy Partridge during this tv show, one could not suspect that he was going to end up falling apart during what was to become the last tour of XTC forever!

[@shanewalsh2262]

Astonishing how sounds in the form of music can paint a vivid picture (to me) of small yachts bobbing around in the breeze . Marvellous track .

[@rodneygriffin7666]

That would be Andy Partridge singing.

[@jayburdification]

I think he thinks Colin is the more prolific one. That would be Andy.

[@murdockreviews]

This is one of the most intricate tracks on English Settlement. The guitar work is gorgeous. Looking forward to "All of a Sudden".

[@dunringill1747]

You have stumbled into my favorite XTC song here. It has a very mesmerizing melody that I can get lost in as I visualize a bunch of small yachts bobbing around a lake in a light breeze. Another song with a different mesmerizing melody that I recommend - 'Drive Somewhere' by The Vulgar Boatmen.

[@sandiscott4640]

Thanks for this! One of my favorite songs!! Love XTC!!!!

[@deancarter9210]

Saw them live on the BBCs Old Grey Whistle Test in 1982 segueing from this nice acoustic driven song into the banging 'No Thugs In Our House' effortlessly and became an instant fan, realising these guys out of all the punk/new wave bands were the only ones who could switch like the earlier prog/heavy bands bands between genres/styles satisfyingly, dynamically, musically... they pissed over all the other bands of the time that were bigger sales wise.

[@johnmavroudis2054]

What a banner week for me and the channel! TWO of my all-time favorites (XTC and THE CHAMELEONS) gracing my YT playlist! “Yacht Dance” was an immediate ❤️ for me as I played it. Andy’s rollicking vocals over that dancing flamenco guitar is magic. Cheers!

[@gowensbach2998]

This is one of my favorite songs by them, but I am a huge XTC fan, and so many of the songs are my favorites.

[@anabellelei8540]

My fav on the album! Yay!

[@elegantirony78]

Drums and Wires is a really great album from XTC. The version with Oh Heli is awesome

[@rachelxtc]

YES!! I have the Drums and Wires album cover tattoo on my arm!

[@markdrechsler5660]

This is where the album takes a great turn. Andy Partridge is an amazingly gifted songwriter, lyricist and singer. Give me this over “Ball and Chain” any day. And I like “Ball and Chain,” it’s a fine, straightforward song. I hope you someday decide to do the “Mummer” album, when they became studio nerds. There are hints of that, too, throughout “English Settlement.” I think that’s how this grew into a double album. Amazing band. Glad you are ok 😂

[@davidcopson5800]

Sorry to hear you're not so keen on Ball and Chain. I'm quite attached to it.

[@davidwoolbright3675]

By far my favorite track from this album! Absolutely love it!!

[@TheProgCorner]

Keep the XTC train rolling!!! I love this song…

[@shanewalsh2262]

oh yeah

[@jtenaz]

Dave Gregory is the guitarist in that song. The first acoustic song by Partridge in the XTC discography.

[@markclamp5030]

Dave is playing the nylon string guitar parts, Andy is playing the other parts. I think that Dave's playing is particularly beautiful on this recording

[@a.k.1740]

...and "Ten Feet Tall" was XTC's first acoustic track (composed by Colin Moulding) on the Drums and Wires album in '79.😉 The single version of "Ten Feet Tall" on the other hand is electric!

[@sylvanm4216]

@@a.k.1740 Love "Ten Feet Tall" - I've gradually come around to feeling that the somewhat obscure electric version is the definitive recording.

[@a.k.1740]

@@sylvanm4216 These two versions of "Ten Feet Tall" are ultimately quite close but I always preferred the more stripped down album version and this also seems to be the case for Andy and Dave according to them.

[@andyf2837]

The track that should have been a single - would have smashed the barriers to make them as big as they should have been.

[@buddygripple7512]

I really hope you dig into Mummer and The Big Express after this JP. They're both super underrated even by XTC fans.

[@jtenaz]

Good call

[@davidwoolbright3675]

That’s because Mummer is weird and not real good

[@buddygripple7512]

​@@davidwoolbright3675 It's definitely a little overcooked and Andy's brain was still melted after the Valium withdrawal, but I dunno, I've always really liked it. As far as I can tell everything but Human Alchemy ranges from pretty damn good to great.

[@brucer2152]

Such a great song...but then this entire recording is excellente.

[@jameswarner5809]

You can tell it's Andy not Colin singing because Andy always bends and accentuates words more than Colin.

[@jamespaivapaiva4460]

Hate to 'barge' in, but following the 'ark' of the tuna. X.T.C. 'craft'ed a sailing song of love's start, before it reaches the 'main brace'. Not yet at it's 'pinnace'acle! It has a nice flow as it sails on, 'yachts' to like.But it's brevity leaves me stuck on a 'raft', it's too 'dinghy'! I could have listened to a 'tub'-full, 'canoe' dig? Anyway if I 'launch' into more of this, I'll never 'ketch' up with my work. Time to finish my 'schooner' of coffee,(good right till the 'bottom'). And with a 'scow'l and a 'bucket' row through the rest of the day. Here's hoping everything with you is 'hulk'y -'dory'! Peace & Love, from a washed up water rat. Oar revoir.

[@HippoYnYGlaw]

I remember this! Lost Soul Mate had the album, but the winds were too strong 4 us. The word is Twee. A woody yet tinny one. Anyone else Dig Field Music on this here channel? Tones of Town is a Fab LP, as is Plumb hof course.

[@jtenaz]

I like Field music. Measure and Commontime are my favorites.

[@HippoYnYGlaw]

@@jtenaz I discovered their discography in 2017 after neglecting Measure despite liking Them that Do Nothing in 2012. Commentators always compared them to Talking Heads XTC Gentle Giant 10cc Genesis and Hall & Oates! Their sound is definitely Unique though! It's Field Music. Ironically, I don't think JP will take to them. Another Cardiacs situation possibly?

[@jtenaz]

@@HippoYnYGlaw I think than JP can love Measure.

[@sylvanm4216]

Generally speaking, the vast majority of XTC songs from 79-92 will have both Partridge and Gregory on guitar (barring the occasional track where Dave is restricted to keyboards). Colin's great bass playing is probably what pops out to most people first, but Andy and Dave's magical "twin guitar" chemistry is one of the signature features of the band that you discover when you dig deeper into their music.

[@davidcopson5800]

Plain sailing listening to this. Keep up the good work.

[@JustJP]

⛵Ty David

[@artrock101]

Andy sings the songs he wrote, Colin sings his songs... it's a shame most reactors seem to skip right over one of the most important aspects of music: the songwriting.

[@Databhoy]

Listening to that great nylon string guitar riff makes me think Adrian Belew-era King Crimson could have done a great version of this song.

[@YeSLeDrawTUM]

Love XTC 👌 but still waiting for more Prefab Sprout. Jordan the comeback album please

[@m06een00]

I haven't checked the credits on this song, but definitely not Colin singing. The really quirky/poetic lyrical stuff is always Andy, as well as the unusual chord progressions. And then there's Andy's characteristic wailing vocals. Colin writes the more conventional songs of which this is not one of them.

[@mastertoymaker5249]

This song is near perfect. That Yacht Dance was considered filler just shows how amazing the whole album is. Now you just need to do XTC's Complicated Game" Cheers! ❤

[@JohnLovesSpain]

Swindon's finest!

[@rachelxtc]

Absolutely!

[@sicko_the_ew]

I know that 'uh-oh' feeling better than I'd like. (I think I've said why before, so no need to go digging up that smelly old bone again. One thing about things that have already happened is that although they can't "unhappen" at least you can hope they don't happen again. And even if in some cases it's stupid to allow such hopes, it does help with sleep quality most nights.) Good to see you didn't end up with a personal emergency on your hands. The song was great, anyway. :D

[@ProgBartleby]

Andy Partridge is the main singer in XTC...not Colin!

[@frankpentangeli7945]

Andy is singing, not Colin.

[@RexGroovi47]

More XTC more of the time

[@shanewalsh2262]

Absolutely

[@-davidolivares]

This may cause a stir but I much prefer Andy’s vocals than Colin’s. Don’t care, Colin is a little boring to me sometimes and I think Nigel is underwhelming. There, I said it. Try to distinguish between the two singers better please. A bit cringy. Love Dave’s guitar work, uhhhh so good. As far as the scare, the other night someone pounded on my front door twice and freaked me out of my nap. I jumped up, grabbed my aluminum bat, thank you softball, and the phone set to be able to 911 ready, grabbed a couple knives and waited… and nothing. Finally went back to sleep. Yes, puts you in a different head space.

[@sylvanm4216]

Andy is an underrated singer. He's not always what most people would call pleasant-sounding, and I can understand why there are folks who just can't stand him, but he's extremely creative and wide-ranging in how he uses his voice. Colin's voice is a bit "nicer", but more limited.

[@jamespaivapaiva4460]

Fight or flight, will get you every time. And in most cases it's just garbage. (or garbage trucks!)🚚🤩✌.

[@rogerpatton2242]

Andy has the rest of the songs except at the end.. only two more songs from Colin..

[@summertime_blooz]

No, this is substandard XTC. Never liked it at all. Definitely the LPs weakest track. I think It was dropped from the US release.

[@Kevvinm]

My least favorite on the lp, and I think you’re right, wasn’t on the U.S. release.