FACT: There's a shopping centre in Liverpool that regularly plays a muzak version of 'Chalkhills and Children' to entertain the shoppers. TRUE!

So which did people prefer on TMWRNJ, Kevin Eldon as the priest or as the stylised version of himself, The Actor Kevin Eldon?

What are people's opinions on "Rag And Bone Buffet" then?

Obviously some tracks are rubbish filler and frankly should have stayed on b-sides, but some (notably 'Punch And Judy' and 'Happy Fmailies') are out and out classics.

I also have a sneaking admiration for 'Looking For Footprints', though I'm probably the only person in the world who does. Barring maybe Colin Moulding, of course.

Looking for Footprints was at one time one of the rarest XTC tracks out until they released Rag and Bone Buffet.It was one of the most expensive records I ever purchased from a record fair .Ten quid for a one track flexi disc I ask yer.I do like the chorus though.My favourite cut on Rag.. is Mouldings The world is full of Angry Young Men.He must have the most plaintive voice in rock after Nick Drake.Hmm I wonder how long this self indulgent XTC talk will continue before Gnome King Rob Sedgebeer comes along and breaks it up?Did you know that Alan McGee wanted to sign them to Creation (before Cooking Vinyl did) on a similiar deal he negotiated for Kevin Rowland .Partridge described AlanMc Gee as an Uber wank fan and was put off slightly by his sycophancy alledgelly.
Yours estatically

>So which did people prefer on TMWRNJ, Kevin Eldon as the priest or as the stylised version of himself, The Actor Kevin Eldon?

That Comedy Lab poetry thing he did was pretty good.

'Rag & Bone Buffet' kept me going for months when I was a penniless kid. 'Heaven Is Paved With Broken Glass', 'Too Many Cooks'....it all came too late for my purchase of the three wise men 7". You can imagine the cost. That's why I was penniless.

The CD is sequenced in an intelligent order but they're mixed over one another (note the top and tail of 'Thanks For Xmas'. Only fault, otherwise totally neccesary.

I'm sure Rob'll be okay about it. We've not exactly killed anyone yet.

I forgot about 'The World Is Full Of Angry Young Men' - it is class.

Think I have the XTC appearance on Revolver. If so then that episode will be getting encoded 'n' uploaded in the next few weeks. Will let you know.

Partidge is always so hard on their live performances claiming that they were never much cop live. I have a mate who saw them supporting The Stranglers,and he said they were incredible,practically sparks arcing from the stage.I wish thayd do one more gig.A big orchestral affair at the Albert Hall,and a secret gig in the Monarch playing all the frenetic early stuff.Partridge states you dont expect an artist to recreate his sculpture every night on stage.He asks, what is the fans obssession to see things live?Yeah,like he wouldnt have been first in the queue to have seen the Beatles tour Sgt Pepper at the time.

If you can get hold of XTC performing 'Neon Shuffle' on The Way They Were(Granada 1986) or that 'Science Friction' clip on VH1, you'll be left in no doubt about how good they were live. The only problem was that after Barry left there was no risk-factor in their stage act. They were very strictly replicating the album versions, with little variation.

I'd still be first in the queue to see them. I just wish Andy would stop saying 'maybe'.

Apparently he did get up on stage as a surprise at an Aimee Mann concert in the states a couple of years ago and accompanied her on a song or two..And according to a friend, played a solo spot one night in a pub in Bath regaling a handful of friends and fans a short XTC set.
A mate accosted Partridge outside Ronnie Scotts Jazz Club a couple of years ago and
AP was amazed anyone would recognise him in Britain these days and was quite chuffed.

And, Dave and Aimee Mann doing 'Collideascope' - there's a realaudio file of this on the XTC site Bungalow...

>And according to a friend, played a solo spot one night in a pub in Bath regaling a handful of friends and fans a short XTC set.

Stuff of legend, Mole. I hope it's true but the story just bolsters the "injured cult hero" image he's had since 82. I hate hearing stories like that! They sadden me.

Memory fails me, as I haven't read the book in question for a couple of years, but wasn't there an allusion in Chris Twomey's "Chalkhills And Children" about an inebriated Andy Partridge taking to the stage with his brother-in-law's band circa 1991???

True. He does it now and again, but that just ain't good enough? The equally reluctant Scott Walker wouldn't take to the stage at the recent Meltdown, but he would still occasionally shout from the back.

Did you finally get my message, TJ? I sent it a couple of days ago.

Yes I did - sorry I haven't replied yet, hopefully I will be able to this evening...