"The Big Express" was XTC's album released in 1984. It was one of XTC's harder-edged albums, in contrast to the pastoral "Mummer" and "Skylarking" which were released in sequence with it. The track, "I Bought Myself a Liarbird" is about their former manager, Ian Reid. XTC took full advantage of their studio-bound status with The Big Express, creating their most painstakingly detailed, multi-layered, sonically dynamic album to date. The more upbeat material and brighter sound recall some of the band's earlier moments, but most of all, The Big Express signals a turning point for the band, setting the blueprint for their later approach -- a combination of studio perfection matched with impeccable songcraft that results in a thoroughly consistent and enjoyable album beginning to end. Skylarking, the album that followed, gets much more glory, and certainly its impact was greater (this one was virtually ignored), but really, The Big Express covers much of the same territory and is just as strong an album in many ways. Three songs were added to the CD reissue -- "Red Brick Dream," "Washaway," and "Blue Overall" .
The singles released from the album were "All You Pretty Girls", "This World Over" and "Wake Up".
Track List:
01. Wake Up (Colin Moulding) - 4:40
02. All You Pretty Girls (Partridge) - 3:40
03. Shake You Donkey Up (Partridge) - 4:19
04. Seagulls Screaming Kiss Her, Kiss Her (Partridge) - 3:50
05. This World Over (Partridge) - 5:37
06. Red Brick Dream (Partridge) - 2:01
07. Washaway (Moulding) - 3:01
08. Blue Overall (Partridge) - 4:26
09. (The Everyday Story of) Smalltown (Partridge) - 3:53
10. I Bought Myself a Liarbird (Partridge) - 2:49
11. Reign of Blows (Vote No Violence!) (Partridge) - 3:27
12. You're the Wish You Are I Had (Partridge) - 3:17
13. I Remember the Sun (Moulding) - 3:10
14. Train Running Low on Soul Coal (Partridge) - 5:19
Released: 15 October 1984
Recorded: Early 1984 at Crescent Studios, Bath, England
Genre: Pop rock
Length: 53:24
Label: Virgin Records
Produced By: David Lord and XTC
Mixed By: David Lord, Phil Thornalley
Personnel:
Peter Phipps - Drums
Dave Gregory - Guitar [Electric], Piano, Mellotron, Synthesizer
Stuart Gordon - Violin, Viola
Colin Moulding - Vocals, Bass
Andy Partridge - Vocals, Guitar [Electric], Drum Programming [Linn Drum], Harmonica
0 comments:
Post a Comment