Books Are Burning (Live on the BBC's The Late Show, 1992)
The first ever box set devoted to XTC, 60 tracks covering XTC's 10 classic 1978-1989 period albums (including their Dukes Of Stratosphear side project). All tracks have been digitally remastered. 2002.
The first ever box set devoted to XTC, 60 tracks covering XTC's 10 classic 1978-1989 period albums (including their Dukes Of Stratosphear side project). All tracks have been digitally remastered. 2002.
"I've had this set for a while now, but recently discovered two hidden tracks.
The won't play automatically as most hidden tracks do as these are buried in the pre-roll BEFORE track 1. Insert disc 2, hit play, as the track begins to play, pause and rewind/review back past the beginning.
The First on is on disc 2. The next is on disc 3, and it is 9 minutes of live material."
Want real cheese in an age of Velveeta?
Maine Writer | Maine, USA | 04/07/2002
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Okay, maybe that wasn't the best analogy. XTC can be a little bit cheesy now and again, but cheesy in the sense of a rich Stilton marbled with thin blue-green veins, a wrinkled rind, and a dense, complex flavor. Or maybe a Wensleydale with a fine curd and complex undertones?Enough about cheese, though. It's easy to forget what originality is all about. Even accomplished songwriters like Sting (who represents the high-end of the current mainstream pop spectrum) never throw a curveball at you, and seem more interested in preening their image than pushing the pop envelope and challenging their audience. XTC is nothing if not idiosyncratic, unexpectedly blending pop paradigms in new, original ways. Even when they expressly try to imitate a genre (like sixties psychedelia in "Chips from the Chocolate Fireball" or "Psychedelic Psunspot"), they bring a deftness and tone to the work that makes their songs become true originals.I take some risks in saying this, but Coat of Many Cupboards may be as good a place as any for someone to start their XTC experience. It's risky for several reasons. First, if you start with Disc 1, you may be put off by the band's original, sparse sound and new wave sensibilities. You may ask yourself, "Does Joe Jackson sing for this band?" The answer is "No, no, a thousand time, no!" (But, as an aside, check out Joe's version of "Statue of Liberty" on the XTC tribute album "A Testimonial Dinner." Spooky.) But stick with it. I really think you need to walk with this band through the years to fully appreciate them and their musical development. (If you're tempted to throw the whole collection in the trash part way through Disk 1, at least listen to the demo version of Making Plans for Nigel ... ). Second, they've got some pretty crude demo versions sprinkled throughout. Some very rough gems, indeed. But, this is where Coat of Many Cupboards really shines. In the past, I get the sense that Andy Partridge's vanity kept him from releasing anything but the most polished "demos," and I can understand why. You don't like the world to realize that can actually sing off key sometimes. Finally, these four disks are a lot to cheese to bite off in one meal. You may need something to settle your head if you listen to all of it in one sitting.All of which should give you some indication as to why I think that this set is necessary medication for all XTC fans. I, for one, have let XTC's early CDs gather dust for years. I can't tell you the last time I listened to Go2, White Music, or even Drums and Wires. After Coat of Many Cupboards, I'm ready to go back and savor those old vintages. I'm setting aside two full gigabytes of my iPod to XTC.Of course, no review would be complete if it didn't include a mention of some of what I consider to be the highlights ... a previously unreleased version of When You're Near Me I Have Difficulty; a rejected single version of Towers of London; an early work tape of Senses Working Overtime; the live version of Yacht Dance (man these guys are good); a home demo for "All You Pretty Girls" (off-key singing and all); and Didn't Hurt a Bit (a Nonesuch out take).And guess what? My copy is autographed!"
Less than essential but still delightful
Wayne Klein | My Little Blue Window, USA | 04/03/2002
(4 out of 5 stars)
"Xtc...big business finally figures out that they deserve a boxed set or two. That's just what we get--two. This second boxed set collects rarities, unreleased tracks, alternate versions and demos/bsides that never made the albums. Sadly, much of this material would have been better served on the appropriate original albums as bonus tracks.The fact that they were even realized makes me a happy camper. I'm not going to complain too much. Cupboard is actually a better overview of the band than many of the compilations Virgin has put out over the years. Although missing a number of key b sides (most notably My Paint Heroes, The Good Things and Down A Peg), Cupboard is a pretty good mix of the band's material. The sound quality on the bulk of the material included is far superior to the bootlegs that have been floating about for years. Andy Partridge's blunt Terrorism sounds like is could only have been written after 9/11. What's amazing is the fact that Partridge wrote and released the demo recording 16 years ago. What's truly fascintating is to evasdrop on the band's stylistic shifts via the unreleased tracks and rehearsal tapes.The liner notes and booklet are very illuminating and compliment the set very well. The comments from Andy Partridge and Colin Moulding are frank, honest and occasionally funny as hell. Harrison Sherwood's delightful essay is the comic foil to the more serious songs. Sherwood manages to break through the collective Xtc psyche and twist out again with a number of thoughtful, insightful observations about why the band's music has with stood the test of time (something that can't be said about many of the band's contemporaries).I'm pleased as punch that most of this material has been remixed and remastered for CD. The sad part is that it took so darn long for this to happen. Still, after XTC's 7 year strike I'm happy this fine collection is finally seeing the light of day. Although not essential for new fans, Coat adds to the luster and reputation of this terrific English band. Let's hope that they have fans on the board for the Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Fame. If Talking Heads, The Ramones and other bands than began in the same era can be recognized, surely these talented and consistent guys from Swindon deserve recogition as well."
Genius in a box
Wayne Klein | 08/09/2002
(5 out of 5 stars)
"The distilled genius of Partridge and Moulding (purveyors of superior pop to the gentry) in a box. Even the giggly out-takes and home demos from a damp room in Swindon sound a thousand times better than any of the over produced digital piffle in the charts today. Andy Partridge's gift for turning out dynamite pop songs as easily as blinking is magnified even more here than on the studio albums, the demos, rough cuts and live performances are just great. There's too much here to single out one great highlight, as they are all great for various and sundry reasons.The packaging is superior, and the information on each track from Andy and Colin (and even Barry Andrews) is illuminating. Stop reading this review and buy it! But beware, it will make the rest of your record collection sound like very thin stuff indeed."
An Irresistible Collection of XTC Rarities.
G. Merritt | Boulder, CO | 01/11/2009
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Having never experienced a live XTC performance is among the few regrets I have in life. The band toured primarily during its years with Virgin Records, 1977-1982, and before Andy Partridge's breakdown in Paris on March 18, 1982. It was during this time that the band (Andy Partridge, lead vocals; Colin Moulding, lead vocals, bass; Dave Gregory, guitars; and Terry Chambers, drums) released their debut their debut LP White Music, their hit singles, "Life Begins at the Hop," "Making Plans for Nigel," "Generals and Majors," "Senses Working Overtime," "Ball And Chain," "No Thugs in Our House," and their quintessential 80s masterpiece, English Settlement. Released in 2002, Coat of Many Cupboards is an anthology of XTC's fifteen years with Virgin Records. The superb 4-disc box set includes, among various outtakes, demos, home recordings, and alternate acoustic versions, many rare live tracks from XTC's touring years. These live tracks, in particular, capture the raw energy and excitement of the band's Clash-like, live performances.
What makes this anthology so irresistible is that most of the tracks collected here have never been released previously. The material will appeal mostly to die-hard XTC fans, and reveals the band's amazing evolution from a Britpop-punk club act to a Beatlesque studio band. The collection also includes a 60-page booklet as well as track-by-track liner notes by Partridge and Moulding. All tracks have been digitally remastered, and include:
Disc: 1
1. Science Friction (CBS Demo)
2. Spinning Top (Live @ Eric's, Liverpool - 1977)
3. Traffic Light Rock (Live @ Eric's, Liverpool - 1977)
4. Radios In Motion (From White Music)
5. Let's Have Fun (White Music out take)
6. Fireball XL5/Fireball Dub (White Music out take)
7. Heatwave Mk.2 Deluxe (White Music out take)
8. This Is Pop (Single version)
9. Are You Receiving Me? (Go 2 out take)
10. Things Fall To Bits (Go 2 out take)
11. Us Being Us (Go 2 out take)
12. Life Begins At The Hop (First rehearsal - extract)
13. Life Begins At The Hop (First recording, unused)
14. Making Plans For Nigel (Demo from Swindon Town Hall)
15. Ten Feet Tall (From Drums and Wires)
16. Sleepyheads (Drums and Wires out take)
Disc: 2
1. Meccanik Dancing (Live @ The Marconi Club, Sydney,1979)
2. Atom Age/Hang Onto The Night/Neon Shuffle (medley) (Live @ The Marconi Club, Sydney,1979)
3. Life Begins At The Hop (Unused US single recording)
4. Reel By Real (Unused single recording)
5. When You're Near Me I Have Difficulty (Unused single recording)
6. Helicopter (DJM version) Unused US single recording)
7. Towers of London (Rejected single recording)
8. Generals and Majors (Rehearsal tape)
9. No Language In Our Lungs (From Black Sea)
10. Sgt. Rock Is Going To Help Me (From Black Sea)
11. Paper and Iron (Live @ The Lyceum, London, 1980)
12. Crowded Room (Live @ The Lyceum. London, 1980)
13. Senses Working Overtime (Early work tape)=20
14. Snowman (Live @ The Hammersmith Odeon, 1981)
15. Ball and Chain (Unused single recording)
Disc: 3
1. Punch and Judy (Unused single recording)
2. Fly On The Wall (From English Settlement)
3. Yacht Dance (Live on The Old Grey Whistle Test,1982)
4. Jason and The Argonauts (From English Settlement)
5. Love On A Farmboy's Wages (Demo)
6. Wonderland (Home demo)
7. Ladybird (From Mummer)
8. All You Pretty Girls (Home demo)
9. Wake Up (Home demo)
10. The Everyday Story Of Smalltown (From The Big Express)