XTC -- The Big Express
- Artist: XTC
- Title: The Big Express
- Year: 1984
- Format: Vinyl 12 in.
- Rating (1-10): 7
- Owner: Mary
- Acquired: ? Looks like she got it used…
- Keeper: Yes
Uh… I never really know what to say about XTC. Some of their stuff is exciting and some is, as the kids say, “meh.” For me, The Big Express is somewhere in between. I’ve played it a few times in the last couple days. Now, I don’t want to play it ever again despite that a couple songs are stuck in my head. I’m sure Mary wants to keep it…
Second pic is from the liner, not the back of the record cover which is sorta meh.
XTC -- Waxworks and Beeswax Compilations
- Artist: XTC
- Title: Waxworks and Beeswax Compilations
- Year: 1982
- Format: Vinyl 12 in.
- Rating (1-10): 7
- Owner: Mary
- Acquired: Used, somewhere far from here, sometime long ago.
It’s a thoroughly ’80s evening. Mary is watching 200 Cigarettes and laughing about how Dave Chappelle’s character Disco Cabbie reminds her of me. (?) I have to say that at least he’s the coolest cat in the movie, with the best lines. This movie was made in 1999 but takes place in 1981. Of course it’s chockablock with some of our favorite music. One year later, 1982, these XTC compilations were released. It’s hard to believe they started so long ago.
XTC’s “Waxworks: Some Singles 1977-1982” (Wikipedia) and “Beeswax: Some B-Sides 1977-1982” were originally released together, but I think they later became separate albums. I have them pushed together in the picture below, but they are in fact physically separate records, not gatefold covers. I’ve never been a huge fan, but I do appreciate their music and have bought some of their records. My favorite song from both records is “Generals and Majors.”
XTC -- Generals And Majors
- Artist: XTC
- Title: Generals And Majors
- Year: 1980
- Format: Vinyl 7 in.
- Rating (1-10): 8
- Owner: Mary
- Acquired: 1985 ? Plan 9 Records in Richmond, VA.
- Keeper: Yes
I have Loverboy’s “Turn Me Loose” stuck in my head. That’s just weird. Anyhow, XTC… “Generals And Majors” is a great pop song and I’ve always liked it even though I’m not the biggest XTC fan. This package is another handsome twin 7 inch gatefold that also includes “Don’t Lose Your Temper”, “Smokeless Zone”, and my second favorite here “The Somnambulist.” What’d you call me?!? That last song is interesting and unexpected, minimalist and ethereal with some throbbing bass thing, or whatever. Dig it.
“So, Why, Don’t, You, Turn-Me-Loose… Turn-Me-Loose…”
