XTC - The Mayor Of Simpleton - Full Complete Long Version Video

[@gavind9487]

That bassline deserves its own place in history.

[@augustusbetucius1572]

The entire thing, not just the main verse part. The entire thing is orchestral in its approach. Pure genius.

[@rhysf.505]

Oh yea it's great.

[@tracehazarrrrd]

I can't help but try playing it on guitar, it's so amazing...

[@powerpopaholic876]

Bass line by Andy Partridge.

[@paulgernon5391]

Reminds me of Foxton

[@robsan52]

Opened for the Police in Seattle. Left the Police show after a couple songs, went outside and there they were hanging out on the steps of their bus. Got to talk to them a little over an hour...such good guys, all of them, just normal young men intensely talented. I played nothing but XTC for a couple weeks after.

[@mikegomes1084]

Did Oingo Boingo open before XTC?

[@williameichenberger8581]

Yes, I saw that tour at UCSB Oingo Boingo, XTC, The Police. To this day I call this the best concert I have ever seen.

[@hobbygamer6220]

Rob Aldridge i would NEVER walk out on the police ( AFAIKC ) so i guess i, sadly, wouldnt have your experiene. If i knew this would happen i would walk out without hesitation. What YEAR was this ?

[@janetdaily5774]

I had such a crush on Partridge in my twenties. His way of putting things won my young heart over. Just a brilliant lyricist.

[@_BirdOfGoodOmen]

@@williameichenberger8581 I was otoh pumped that happened. The Police and Oingo Boingo were both in my top 5 before I learned about XTC. discovered them in 2015 learned about that lineup in '17 and on the one hand it's cool they stood that close to the precipice of greatness but on the other, I was born 12 or 13 years after that lineup so I never even had a chance to see them live.

[@noonthumbs2644]

I knew Dave's parents, they lived about 50 yards from me. They were instrumental in getting me and my husband together 43 years ago! Love XTC, local lads done bloody good.

[@gary1961]

Two bands I never saw live and regret it to this day are Prefab Sprout, and XTC, two of the finest bands and songwriters this country has ever produced.

[@adamsmith307]

Prefab Sprout?! F*ck off!

[@badsexofficialthingy2026]

Sprout were shite

[@secretcomper8225]

Funnily enough I've become obsessed with both bands lately, great lyrics and very melodic.

[@thebasedgodmax1163]

@@badsexofficialthingy2026 they weren't THAT bad but yeah I don't think they're fine songwriters at all.

[@Charlosduncan]

@@badsexofficialthingy2026 I just saw your video, I don't think you're in any position to call anyone "shite" dude.

[@henrythornton8358]

What a band - what a song - what a tragedy that they never got the worldwide success that they deserved. Even their references are superb ..... The Avengers here, The Prisoner there and JFK . Genius.

[@georgewashington7850]

Can you elaborate

[@sPi711]

​@@georgewashington7850 If you need elaboration, then elaboration is impossible. You'd have to go back and get familiar with the TV shows The Avengers and The Prisoner, etc, for clues.

[@RaysTrack]

I love the whole production of the Oranges and Lemons album. Can't understand why it's not rated more highly.

[@deepalmer3960]

One of the best bass lines ever! 40 plus years later and I still love these guys!!!

[@Musique61414]

1000% concurrence.

[@richardvincelette9741]

Agreed

[@jamoncure]

Are you THE Dee Palmer??? if so, saw you at RamsHead Annapolis MD with Martin and crew a few years ago!

[@deaconbluezzz]

"Well I don't know how many pounds make up a ton of all the Nobel Prizes that I've never won", may be my favorite single line in any pop song ever written.

[@harmonium8198]

Me too! He was smart to leave it for last; otherwise, anything afterward would have been anticlimactic.

[@standupphilosopher7059]

Yes!!!

[@lupodelupis3672]

I think that XTC have never wrote a bad song. Andy and Colin are two great artists.

[@robertcapek2425]

It's 2021 and this song still gives me ther best goosebumps of my life :-)

[@sirbones]

:-D

[@jessicakarsten987]

It is a masterpiece

[@PAPAKILL13]

This will sound crazy coming from a longtime XTC fan, but I just burst into tears out of nowhere hearing this for the first time in years. I mean I wept hardcore! I love Andy and I'm blessed for having his music and Colin also, change my life.

[@iangarrard338]

Now 2023. Still does.

[@tabeccaletford408]

This song is so sweet and andy partridge is still the world's most underrated songwriter

[@Danimal1577]

It doesn't get any more British than this. And Colin Moulding's bass-line, brilliant!

[@JonnieCometLtd]

I can believe that. And here I thought Moulding used a Rickenbacker; but that looks like a Hagstrom--?

[@kevgamble]

The bass line on Partridge's demo has the magnificent main riff, but a lot of the "life" of the bass line - how the parts of the song connect together, the playing in the bridge, and the vital and brilliant descending riff at the end - was absent from the demo. Not sure how those parts came together.

[@kevgamble]

Moulding recorded the song with a Wal bass. From what I've read he's never owned a Rickenbacker and the one in the video is a copy. He used a lot of Fenders in the early years, with a few oddball basses mixed in, and got some wonderful sounds from an old Vox bass on their final couple of albums.

[@flooberbloob]

Moulding taking it to another level on his natural instrument?

[@kwak1466]

I find the music of The Kinks is even more British than XTC's one. So both brilliant ;)

[@bigguspeepus]

The King for a Day ending though... everything about this is just so meticulously crafted. So unbelievably underrated.

[@tonypestell7453]

My bucket list includes seeing XTC live and so bloody glad they toured Australia in 1979 and I saw them at Sydney University roundhouse. I pity everybody in the world that missed out.

[@flooberbloob]

I have that on VHS!

[@kidsmoked]

flooberbloob Upload it!!!

[@HaveIGotMuseForYou]

Seeing Andy and XTC having fun playing out their dreams as the Monkees/Beatles in this video, and epic song, emphasises how underappreciated they still are. They should be national treasures.

[@PAPAKILL13]

International

[@chipmuellemann7901]

One of the best pop songs ever written. Crisp clean and driving. An amazing band then and this song holds up all these years later. My hat is off!

[@michaelcandon2971]

100%

[@thekingsservant1793]

One of the best bands of all time

[@pseudosun]

As time goes b, xtc becomes more of a treasure. Colin plays for the song, not for himself. Much respect 👌

[@badsexofficialthingy2026]

Best comment.

[@Griddiho]

This clever and well-produced video is so good that it actually does justice to the song. An integral part of XTC was always their humor and flare for visual puns. Really, they were up there with the Beatles for the complete experience they offered the owner of their physical records (an experience lost with Mp3 files).

[@jenniferlapidus2229]

This was in heavy rotation on the Boston alternative radio stations, the winter I started dating my (now) husband. 30 years later it still takes me back to college and the early stages of our life together!

[@j.s.connolly8579]

For those who haven't seen the Documenter XTC: THIS IS POP I HIGHLY RECOMMEND IT!!!

[@danielbrockett9544]

Saw it when it was first released but now it seems to have disappeared? Anyone know where one can see This is Pop in the U.S.?

[@czarpaul01]

@@danielbrockett9544 it ran on Showtime so if you have that channel on demand you should be able to get it.

[@ratbones620]

This is so crazy! My Dad used to play this song all the time and I kind of forgot about it. This is bringing back so many good memories. The KZbin algorithm works wonders sometimes (:

[@michaelcarmody7546]

Pop just doesn't get any better than this. Pure joy.

[@MST785]

This was released when I was 19. I'm 52 now. They were the Beatles for my generation.

[@badsexofficialthingy2026]

Nice comment, I'm a few months older. I know it's what middle aged people say but what the fuck went wrong with music and fashion ? Also, who were the Irish beatles? There must have been a popular band we didn't know of from the emerald Isle. My favourite Irish band is only London Irish and they are all in their 70s now.

[@MST785]

@@badsexofficialthingy2026 Thin Lizzy. You're welcome.

[@ninjabluefyre3815]

If they had been up to making a TV show based on this video, I would be binge watching it right now.

[@JonnieCometLtd]

SAME!

[@skylark9770]

Me too!

[@TONE11111]

i wish THIS kzbin.info/www/bejne/rGWZmo1jbtqag8k was on every night...

[@MelvinOfTheWorld]

Andy and Colin are pop geniuses,...this song STILL holds up. Pop perfection!

[@jeanarscott7886]

This song always makes me happy. I have loved it forever and it always gives me the same feeling.

[@badsexofficialthingy2026]

Now kids have Lizzo, I'm glad I'm old.

[@francescaa8331]

Construction of the song and the baseline - and the production - just everything! Plus a really fun video with all this great British stuff in it including a nod to The Avengers.

[@live4marilyn]

If only THE MAYOR OF SIMPLETON could be KING FOR A DAY!!

[@BaccarWozat]

Too bad he's actually PRESIDENT KILL AGAIN

[@paulsenkans3401]

Or Prime Minister Andy Partridge?

[@WSNO]

Its wild how sometimes things need to be out of sight and out of mind for a while before they really catch fire and burn their brightest. XTC know mostly as "oh the lads from Swindon" back in the old days finding the popularity and listeners they deserved all along in the internet age

[@peterion9066]

Sheer genius . Perfect pop . Only the band that The Beatles could have been , if they had tried harder .

[@mattsrollingworld1081]

Mister Ion, Thank you for one of the most tersely satisfying comments I've read in months. I have too many acqaintances who never escaped their Beatles phase. These are otherwise erudite folk, but mention of the Kinks or Clash, nets you a blank stare. Nice work. I'll be brandishing that like the perfectly balanced rapier it is.

[@Mordred478]

Gods, I love them.

[@walterhenze7118]

Another great song by the English! Wendy Wonderful- Karen Bird is a beautiful young lady in this video. Andy Partridge looks dapper in his wardrobe for this vid. This video received heavy airplay on MTV back in 1988 or 1989...

[@deanc.5984]

Who is karen Bird? More info?

[@rosievela9909]

XTC is Genius Tuneage 🎹🎸🎤💘

[@josephharris6062]

I love the way it flows along without getting boring, these guys are great!!!!

[@peterbrusch1493]

XTC is one of my top ten bands.

[@joanjett8814]

Definitely a treasure find for me.. I absolutely just love their music..,

[@jardersonmartins7905]

My favorite band ever ...

[@kennethedwards3936]

I remember loving this song a long time ago. Still do.

[@marioborgo4520]

I get pissed off because they were so great..and could never see them!

[@davidellis5141]

Last tour 1982 Andy had nervous breakdown . Stage fright.

[@cotiaratv3651]

This is a masterclass in songwriting. Just listen.

[@sanchopp]

What a great bassline. Great BAND. Love them.

[@StevieReidEFC]

Fantastic video. Thanks for uploading

[@davidrubien9673]

Sublime, transcendent, genius.

[@duncanrs]

This so reminds me of the Avengers from the 60s the ones with Dianna Rigg and Patrick McGee

[@garynelson561]

That's intentional. I think the thing she's wearing is almost exactly like something Emma Peale (Dianna Rigg) wore.

[@erwinwoodedge4885]

@@garynelson561 Peel...

[@happydude6713]

@@garynelson561 True but she looks more like Tara King (Linda Thorson)

[@j.s.connolly8579]

YEP! That's EXACTLY what they were going for! :D

[@waysilentbob6976]

@@happydude6713 you have a very good point Sir

[@suntmechanic]

always loved it since 1989

[@davidpollak685]

Wtf this is incredible guys, I’m astounded

[@mamakifrombigisland]

I love Colin, the bass line holds it all together, and besides, he's so cute ! (>

[@simonknott224]

The most criminally, under rated group......EVER !!

[@scottleipski1015]

MY FAVORITE TUNE BY THESE GUYS!!!!!!!!!!

[@qwargy]

Like so many other XTC songs, it should have been a number 1 hit around the world! As good a song as anything the Police or the Beatles came up with!

[@edwardharley9]

yeah what happened?

[@tomcarl8021]

I worked security at an XTC concert at the Beacon Theater in Los Angeles, 1987. I saw Andy, in a rage, throw a record executive out of a window, and Colin was involved in a brawl with a biker gang after the show. It was shockingly violent and horrific. The audience rioted in the streets and destroyed hundreds of small, family-run businesses. It was awful. Truly awful.

[@elizabethkizzar5489]

I remember first finding this video. I am a Major fan of the Avengers (British version not American) and just loved it and found more of their music and never looked back.

[@josejones7025]

THE WHOLE BAND XTC is a Masterclass

[@paulmaynard408]

Wonderful, wonderful song.

[@xtstevie]

This is how to play the Bass Guitar...... Hats off to Colin Moulding.

[@darrylwiggins1156]

Bookish,clever,and sarcastic.God bless Andy Partridge.

[@dinodev78]

Colin is so overlooked as a Master Bass Player. Simply Criminal.

[@royphillips7435]

No wonder this group are held up by most people as one of the top 5 English music makers we've produced , nothing after the late 70s comes close 👌

[@steverose1977]

My favourite song.

[@veerchasm1]

Such a great song and album

[@dundaravewine2390]

Love this band- saw them live twice!

[@nicolek.3614]

Imagine how big XTC would have gotten if only Andy had been able to "write a big hit song". Alas, we'll never know.

[@cccheeks8819]

I was there on the Video Shoot. Silly Fact. At 2:01 Andy accidentally cut a huge Fart and the whole Band couldn't stop laughing!

[@halsigmund3426]

Would you be able to confirm who Wendy Wonderful is? Like so many, I find her quite appealing, but have never been able to find out who she is. There are so many on various blogs who have tried to find out.

[@johnmitchell452]

@@halsigmund3426 she's Karen Bird - she's a writer and director - she was a video director back in the late 80s for the likes of Godley & Creme.

[@brufrog]

They should be on that RNRHOF induction list...

[@andrewrosen6508]

So agree with this!! Dude, I don't get it. Maybe we can. start a petition or something!

[@maddrbob650]

@@andrewrosen6508 In the wasteland that is modern music, these accomplished masters of songwriting and storytelling are sorely missed. XTC/The Dukes of Stratosphear/Three Wise Men/David Dreams were an immensely talented band, with an unusual breadth of styles, subjects, and moods that are reflected in their fairly prolific output, especially from about 1980- 1990, when they did some of best and most thoughtful power pop of that era. It's unfortunate that Partridge's stage fright kept them from touring, but even as a studio band, they made their mark, and each record during that decade- long stretch contained several gems, and more than a few masterpieces. Some compared them to a second coming of the Beatles; however, they didn't ape anyone in particular (except when deliberately doing so, with tongue in cheek), although they were influenced by many of their predecessors from that era. The Dukes records capture their love of that period masterfully, and they give it their own humorous twists in a tasty homage. Still, as good as those are, their less psychedelic songs like Love on a Farmboy's Wages, Dear God, Runaways, Senses Working Overtime, Ballet for a Rainy Day, Wake Up, Summer's Cauldron, Living Through Another Cuba, Down in the Cockpit, The Mayor of Simpleton, Peter Pumpkinhead... just FLOWED. Their star burned very brightly and most uniquely for a long time, by any standards. And the schlock Rock Hall of Fame continues to populate itself with marginal bands that sold a lot of records without an iota of the originality, depth or charm these guys had.

[@reversefulfillment9189]

Nice. Love it.

[@BlueArcStreaming]

Love XTC

[@viktorvaughn9766]

sooooo good sound quality!

[@donaldcharleston7822]

My go to feel good music!! 💪🎤🎼🎹

[@nightsampler]

What makes this song great? Rick knows!

[@jessicakarsten987]

Rick Beato?

[@jamiewesson6606]

hes lying he can write a big hit song

[@rhysf.505]

I know right?

[@paulw.9669]

That's technically not true, unless you call a 'number 10' a "big hit".

[@jackmerlotdoesntliveherean9652]

Lookin' good in what is believed to be one of those Angora chain link sweaters all the kids are talking about, Andy.

[@nancyg158]

Their music is just as brilliant as their hairstyles.

[@edward2448]

One of the most underrated bands ever. I own 12 albums of theirs

[@deanc.5984]

More info on Karen Bird/ Wendy Wonderful please. ..GREAT SONG.

[@plasticsurgerydisaster6180]

Pat Mastellotto! Had no idea he played with XTC.

[@MegaCirse]

X T C est plus que le reflet d'une époque, c'est un astéroïde fantôme qui revient jeter son dévolu sur l'art sonore. Une onde prodigieuse chargée de paradoxes d'où s'échappent l'obscurantisme la féérie et l'irrationnel, facteurs hypnotiques défiant les âmes vulnérables en quête d'absolu. Cette architecture sonore est un court tunnel qui mène à la lumière !!!

[@gaylasmith5279]

Brilliant lyrics!

[@Dragondave1000]

This is just so good !

[@gylesdawson5247]

Much respect ,John the barn tiler

[@darlamundine]

So sweet.

[@manolokonosko2868]

The video is nonsense, don't look for a storyline there, but the song is superb. The original album US CD and LP pressings on Geffen Records sound like crap, but fortunately - it took decades - the album was remastered, remixed and reissued on both CD, audio Blue Ray and Vinyl. The sound is spectacular. They did a great job here.

[@thesledge3481]

Fave bass line, but I love this video. It's mental. As it should be :D

[@BillPeschel]

"Oranges and Lemons" is one of those albums in which there's not a bad track. "Across This Antheap" is such a visually evocative songs I've dreamed about doing a music video to it.

[@bluebellbeatnik4945]

i love this song

[@joeoconnor5400]

Some of Andy Partrige's sleeve notes for the some of the deluxe remastered CDs are quite amusing.

[@ferrari8080]

thanks for the upload my friend

[@davidellis5141]

I know one thing. That's I Love You. Andy- Deep!!

[@amplifier2]

Never understood why they were not bigger back then - now that I‘m seeing them ...

[@wadeyearsago]

Just a jewel!

[@garycrawford3026]

I am tripping every time I listening to xtc ...I love you😜

[@johnny88sunday]

"and my home computer has me on the run" 😂

[@rafaelfernandeslopesdeoliv1700]

I want to marry that bass line.

[@therussiandragon616]

I just love how he pronounces "Uni-vorce-ity. Purposeful or a Swindon thing?

[@HaveIGotMuseForYou]

Speaking as a Swindonian, a bit of both. Goes well with the song, but a true Swindon accent has that 'twang' on the "r''. As a kid I couldn't say 'girl' properly, and still can't say 'squirrel'. ha

[@badsexofficialthingy2026]

He's just taking the piss, univeeerrrsitee round year

[@badsexofficialthingy2026]

@@HaveIGotMuseForYou you probably say it like me, not wrong but everyone thinks we are thick.

[@imanostalgic1530]

As an American I always heard it as Uni-Var-si-Ty, and couldn't discern if it was just the accent or a bit of snark at the coeds going for the jocks. Had the CD back in the day though, and thought Andy was adorable. The video rocks as much as the song, even after all these years.

[@edlawn5481]

@@HaveIGotMuseForYou I always wondered why Andy sounded like Justin Hayward of the Moody Blues, then I discovered that Justin is a fellow Swindonian.

[@paulgaier4525]

XTC did music and music videos extremely well. If more bands were like this in the 80s MTV wouldn't have sucked so much.

[@andyhinds542]

Whatever happened to talented bands like this who were masters of their craft??

[@standupphilosopher7059]

Best song❤❤❤❤

[@pilpelpilpel7854]

best single of the 80's ! enough said

[@realityboost4405]

I'm here to send out a simple plea to all ladies and gentlemen who are starting a wonderful family…Firstly, thank you and I sincerely hope you have a wonderful life…Secondly, I'd only ask you to consider introducing your children to the absolute JOY of music…Which is always about emotion, craft, empathy and technique…to that end…🥰

[@Alan-it5kt]

Brilliant song, incredibly performed. And how awesome that the video gives credit to everyone who participated - who does that?