Love this music, the list and your comments. I do not have an account on Apple or Spotify. I know it's more work, but if you put this mix on MixCloud people like me could listen to it 😁
I've put several mixes there and have not had any problem with copyright yet (knock, knock)
Setting Sons from The Jam in 1979. Favorites include The Eton Rifles, When You’re Young, and even their cover of Martha and the Vandella’s Heat Wave. Later editions that include Going Underground are even better, even if that song was released in 1980.
As one of the world's greatest XTC fans (I own every note the ever recorded), I love your inclusion of such a lesser-known, early song. As an aside, long before Fossil Fuel same out, I put together a tape of all the B-sides and "forgotten" songs, called Missing Lynx. I still have it somewhere with my (take a breath) cassette tapes. It includes such lesser-known gems as Science Friction, Wait Til Your Boat Goes Down, Officer Blue, Don't Lose Your Temper (one of my absolute faves), Gold, Are You Receiving Me?, Desert Island, Toys, Washaway, and Blue Overall. How many of those do you know?
Science Friction, Boat, Temper, and Receiving (that somehow I’d almost forgotten about until I read your comment). All terrific. I don’t recall the other songs. I bought the first album and was hooked on XTC immediately.
My first introduction to them was English Settlement (the U.S. version; single LP). My friend played it for me and it totally freaked me out. I couldn't believe I had never heard of them (until he played me Making Plans for Nigel, which I did not know was XTC). After that, I was hooked beyond redemption (LOL), and I bought all of their prior albums, then started buying the new ones from Mummer forward. And they NEVER disappointed. Sadly, I never got to see them live, but still got hours, days, years of enjoyment from their albums. One of my top five favorite groups of all time.
I never saw them live either. I was happy when I first discovered Big Big Train and found Dave Gragory was in the band. A different genre but a lovely connection. He's left BBT now but the train keeps rolling.
The Dukes of Stratosphere albums are something special too.
I, too, have the DOS albums, in a single CD set called Chips From the Chocolate Fireball. Beyond brilliant. They gently "lifted" from almost every major group of the 60s. And they "channeled" it all beautifully. I always imagined Kaleidoscope being sung by John Lennon. But my favorite song is You're My Drug.
This is one of those playlists where the writing is doing as much work as the sequencing. The clear-vinyl XTC detail, the Peel notebook habit, the cassette “change one track and you re-record half your life” reality—those are the tactile anchors that make the hour feel like a real time capsule instead of a nostalgia sampler.
A few things really landed for me: your read of “This Year’s Girl” as an indictment of the manufactured ideal feels exactly right; “Good Technology” is the kind of lyric-first pessimism that has aged into something uncomfortably accurate; and that Thompson Twins long version is the perfect example of a track that shouldn’t work on paper yet absolutely does in the body.
Also: thank you for the Kirsty MacColl note. That 12” “A New England” argument is nailed—seven minutes that somehow still moves like a three-minute single. I’d happily read the “write more about Kirsty MacColl soon” follow-through when you get there.
Love this music, the list and your comments. I do not have an account on Apple or Spotify. I know it's more work, but if you put this mix on MixCloud people like me could listen to it 😁
I've put several mixes there and have not had any problem with copyright yet (knock, knock)
https://www.mixcloud.com/mmrtnt/
I think it's okay if you don't put up multiple tracks by the same artist?
Thank you for this comment, Martinet. I am planning to do something on Mixcloud soon. Meanwhile I'll listen to yours - cheers for the link.
This one's my favorite - https://www.mixcloud.com/mmrtnt/2005-sxsw-faves/
Enjoy!
I love these rabbit holes! Look forward to diving into your playlist. Soooo excited to have you over for your Vital Records very soon 🙌🏻
Setting Sons from The Jam in 1979. Favorites include The Eton Rifles, When You’re Young, and even their cover of Martha and the Vandella’s Heat Wave. Later editions that include Going Underground are even better, even if that song was released in 1980.
Yes! The Jam at their peak.
As one of the world's greatest XTC fans (I own every note the ever recorded), I love your inclusion of such a lesser-known, early song. As an aside, long before Fossil Fuel same out, I put together a tape of all the B-sides and "forgotten" songs, called Missing Lynx. I still have it somewhere with my (take a breath) cassette tapes. It includes such lesser-known gems as Science Friction, Wait Til Your Boat Goes Down, Officer Blue, Don't Lose Your Temper (one of my absolute faves), Gold, Are You Receiving Me?, Desert Island, Toys, Washaway, and Blue Overall. How many of those do you know?
Thanks for making my day wit this list.
Science Friction, Boat, Temper, and Receiving (that somehow I’d almost forgotten about until I read your comment). All terrific. I don’t recall the other songs. I bought the first album and was hooked on XTC immediately.
My first introduction to them was English Settlement (the U.S. version; single LP). My friend played it for me and it totally freaked me out. I couldn't believe I had never heard of them (until he played me Making Plans for Nigel, which I did not know was XTC). After that, I was hooked beyond redemption (LOL), and I bought all of their prior albums, then started buying the new ones from Mummer forward. And they NEVER disappointed. Sadly, I never got to see them live, but still got hours, days, years of enjoyment from their albums. One of my top five favorite groups of all time.
I never saw them live either. I was happy when I first discovered Big Big Train and found Dave Gragory was in the band. A different genre but a lovely connection. He's left BBT now but the train keeps rolling.
The Dukes of Stratosphere albums are something special too.
I, too, have the DOS albums, in a single CD set called Chips From the Chocolate Fireball. Beyond brilliant. They gently "lifted" from almost every major group of the 60s. And they "channeled" it all beautifully. I always imagined Kaleidoscope being sung by John Lennon. But my favorite song is You're My Drug.
Excellent list!
All great stuff!
This is one of those playlists where the writing is doing as much work as the sequencing. The clear-vinyl XTC detail, the Peel notebook habit, the cassette “change one track and you re-record half your life” reality—those are the tactile anchors that make the hour feel like a real time capsule instead of a nostalgia sampler.
A few things really landed for me: your read of “This Year’s Girl” as an indictment of the manufactured ideal feels exactly right; “Good Technology” is the kind of lyric-first pessimism that has aged into something uncomfortably accurate; and that Thompson Twins long version is the perfect example of a track that shouldn’t work on paper yet absolutely does in the body.
Also: thank you for the Kirsty MacColl note. That 12” “A New England” argument is nailed—seven minutes that somehow still moves like a three-minute single. I’d happily read the “write more about Kirsty MacColl soon” follow-through when you get there.