I hope that was an appropriate use of quotation marks.

I don't think I'm 'bashing' Andy - I worship the man - I am merely listing facts that suggest that he adopts an assertive attitude regarding XTC's ouptut, and that Colin and Dave were much less so.

Here's another fact: Andy has stated in print that he decided against Thomas Dolby replacing Barry Andrews because he didn't want another songwriting keyboard player in the band.

Jeff's right to say that Andy doesn't like these kind of discussions, but I have offered the man enough praise over the years to be able to state a balanced opinion. I don't know the man, but I've heard and read lots about him - often from his perspective. Andy Partridge is assertive about XTC's output for the right reasons: he wants the music to be the best it possibly can be - and he has succeeded!

It's been said before - what Andy Partridge wants, XTC gets! He clearly likes things done his way, which is no bad thing - I like things done his way too![/i]

He liked the band gang (careful how you say that ) sort of thing as long as he was the leader of the gang. Sort of thang.

Hello again.

For what it's worth, I'm not sure that I totally agree as you only need to look at the demos to see that for those albums Andy's were virtually finished and were literally recorded as they were. I'm therefore completely with SM on this one.

For me, Standing In For Joe certainly wasn't underproduced for example and whilst there was no orchestra on the AV1 tracks, Fruit Nut and Frivolous Tonight don't suffer for this and were the necessary other side of the coin that Colin always brings to an XTC album.

Back to my box ...... !

The energy inside a band can never be fully understood by those outside. It´s about coopeeration and a delicate balance between different personalities, abilities, talants and so on.

What I don´t understand is, when it comes to XTC, that the conclusion often is that the ride "must have been tough for Colin and Dave".

With all due respect to Colin and Dave, but the hardest working man in XTC was and is Andy. Now, how come that so few say "that must have been tough for Andy with all that pressure"?

Think about it.

And then maybe you realize that you don´t have a clue!

Well said Per.
OK its a matter of opinion to say Colin's AV1 and WS songs were under produced but they sound perfectly good to my ears.
Colin may have the opinion that they were over produced, who knows?

We can all pretend we know more about music than others and add an extra instrument or two to someone elses work years afterwards.

A finished product is a finished product! Enjoy it for what it is.

Don´t worry PA. It´s okay. As you say, it´s your opinion and I just feel an urge to test some stuff on you.

Because have you ever thought about that it can be like this?

Andy writes 15 songs. Colin 4.

Only room for 12 so 7 have to be dropped.

1 of Colins 6 of Andys.

I have a feeling that has been the pattern for almost all records. Maybe not Skylarking. What does that say? Well, first of all that more of Andys songs have been voted out. Why? Because the best songs always wins? Or because it´s good for the balance with as many CM songs as possible? Or a mix of that? Your guess is as good as mine...

Pandroid my friend, when you write "I suspect that Colin and Dave rarely got to do things their way" you really give your self out on deep water. In my ears that is a very far stretched conclusion. Are you really sure about that?

I suspect that playing 'referee' is a good deal of the producer's job with XTC.

Andy is da man. But fucking hell Per stop kidding yourself. Why can't he be a genius song writer/performer and an awkward fucker too. Perhaps you need that combination to get the sort of top-notch results XTC produced.

I think they call it "Type A."

I can't think of many genious songwriters who don't want to have full creative control. For better or worse.

As much as I like some of Colins songs, imo he just isn't in the same creative league as Andy.

Andy is the mad scientist, who vomits nonparail music and lyrics, Colin the ever tasteful and quiet bas player with many nice and some great songs.

I love XTC for Partridge's Songs and therefore am very glad that he headed the direction of the band. But I'm fully aware that his bandmates might have had a hard time fighting for their creative freedom and that sometimes the last 5 or 10 percent that make a great song magical are contributed by some "fresh ears" (producer, bandmates).

Its easy to pick out the negative stories PA.
I think you should list all positive things too. Doubt it though because, for instance, Andy saying to Colin "great song mate" and to Dave "Bloody eck Dave, fuckin' brilliant riff" spoils the illusion

A different scenario:-

1979 Andy Quits XTC, the surviving members carry on with Colin Moulding taking on main song writing and front man duties.

XTC new single Too Many Cooks disappears without trace.

BA Robertson joins band as he suits style of songs being written

XTC disappear without trace and as Moulding's average of 2 songs written a year causes XTC's latest Album to be mostly a covers album.

XTC last heard of playing Butlins



All in fun.

I listed a number of facts in order to back up my argument - that's how it works - justifying one's argument.

You listed a number of bizzarre events that never took place.

I suspect that Colin's songwriting has suffered from being in Andy's shadow.

Andy is a genius with the single-minded vision of an artist - good on him!

I'm not having a go at him.

All in fun.