The Blasphemous Story of XTC & “Dear God” I New British Canon
XTC burst out of late 1970s Britain with hooks for days. While many of the punk bands around them proudly ignored anything before 1976, they took notes from The Beatles, Kinks, and Beach Boys and reformed them into pugnacious state-of-the-art pop. “Making Plans For Nigel,” “Generals and Majors” and “Senses Working Overtime” made their unique stamp on the UK Charts.
But when XTC stopped playing live in 1982, their career took a much more interesting turn. Unable to sell their Englishness to the UK, instead via calamitous recording sessions with Todd Rundgren and a dismissed b-side, XTC landed a punch squarely below the Bible Belt. This is New British Canon, and this is the story of “Dear God.”
#xtc #postpunk #musicdocumentary
Fact-checking by Chad Van Wagner.
00:00 Introduction
00:49 “This Is Pop” The Early Years of XTC
07:51 “Making Plans For Nigel” The Rise of Colin Moulding
14:10 “Senses Working Overtime” The XTC & The Agony
18:58 Skylarking: Last Chance For XTC
26:16 “Dear God” Fist-Fighting a Deity
32:34 “You Bring The Summer” Enduring Legacy
Bibliography
XTC: Song Stories by XTC & Neville Farmer, 1998, Helter Skelter
Complicated Game: Inside The Songs of XTC by Andy Partridge & Todd Bernhardt, 2016, Jawbone
Isle of Noise: Conversations with Great British Songwriter by Daniel Rachel, 2013, Picador
“Song of the Week — Andy’s Take” by Andy Partridge & Todd Bernhardt, Chalkhills, 2006-2009
This Is Pop (2017) dir. Roger Penny & Charlie Thomas
“XTC: Our 1989 Interview” by Rosemary Passantino, Spin Magazine, Apr 1989
“‘My dream had died’: XTC’s Andy Partridge on mental illness,…” by Fergal Kinney, The Guardian, Oct 2022
“The Stories Behind The Songs: Making Plans For Nigel” by Paul Lester, Classic Rock, Jan 2015
“Todd Rundgren In-Studio with Jonesy” by Steve Jones, 955KLOS, May 2019
“How we made: XTC on Making Plans for Nigel” by Dave Simpson, Colin Moulding & Terry Chambers, The Guardian, Apr 2020
“MAGNET CLASSICS: THE MAKING OF XTC’S ‘SKYLARKING'” by A.D. Amorosi, Magnet Magazine, Mar 2016
“PARCELS FROM A PATCHOULI PAST: AN INTERVIEW WITH ANDREW PARTRIDGE” by Bill Gibron, Popmatters, Feb 2010
“English Settlement – Andy Partridge: Small-town by perfectly formed.” by Peter Paphides, Mojo Magazine, Feb 2003
“Skylarking XTC Review” by Jazz Monroe, Pitchfork, Apr 2020
“XTC Ninjas of the Mundane” by Steve Pond, Rolling Stone, Apr 1989
“XTC’s Andy Partridge on COVID-19, Valium and 20 Years of ‘Wasp Star Apple Venus (Vol. 2)’” by Brenna Ehrlich, Rolling Stone, May 2020
“THE MAN WHO SAILED AROUND HIS SOUL” by Patrick Schabe, Popmatters, Oct 2006
“Heavy Load: Andy Partridge” by Ian Fortnam, Classic Rock, Feb 2016
“All-Time Classics: Skylarking by XTC” by Joe Standard, Uncut, Aug 2004
“English Settlement: The Rise and Fall and Rise of XTC” by Joe Silva, Ray Gun, Jan 1999
“XTC: ‘Til Death Do Us Part” by Chris Ingham, Mojo Magazine, Mar 1999
“The Great XTC Problem” by Craig W Thomas, Rock’s Backpages, 2006
“XTC: Senses Working Overtime” by Pete Paphides, The Word, Apr 2004
“XTC: An Everyday Story Of Country Punks” by Tim Lott, Record Mirror, Oct 1977
“The Agony & The XTC” by Chas de Whalley, Sounds, Nov 1977
“The Agony and the XTC” by Jim Green, Trouser Press, Aug 1978
“The Agonies of XTC” by Toby Goldstein, Creem, Apr 1979
“XTC: The Great Rock’n’Roll Swindon” by David Hepworth, Smash Hits, Nov 1979
“XTC: Making Plans for Andy Colin Terry and Dave” by Nick Kent, NME, Oct 1979
“XTC: Last Exit To Catalonia” by Paul Morley, NME, Sept 1980
“XTC: Optimism Is Next Week’s Thing” by Mike Stand, Smash Hits, Sept 1980
“XTC: Slaving For The Yankee Dollar” by Betty Page, Sounds, Dec 1980
Soundtrack
Luar – Citrine (https://soundcloud.com/luarbeats)
Jesse Gallagher – The Golden Present
Luar – Anchor (https://soundcloud.com/luarbeats)
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Comments
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@TrashTheory
October 18, 2024 at 4:46 am
Every now and then I get people asking for a playlist of every song mentioned in my videos: Well here's a Spotify link for this one:
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/3ul92QHaYkHxKJN2H3m5qv?si=109364e2708b4189
And the Youtube Music link:
https://music.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLooaZ33lSaldxagNZbFOStlyV94Nmkz0h&si=FyEZ8siWOYnJGnMf
@pitchforkcustom
October 18, 2024 at 4:46 am
nasty tone about andy throughout.. not great
@drk321
October 18, 2024 at 4:46 am
Dear God taught me it was ok to be the atheist I always felt was the right direction and path to go in life. Peace is wonderful.
@mikewalz5738
October 18, 2024 at 4:46 am
I thought Andy’s daughter Holly did that singing on Dear God.
@mikewalz5738
October 18, 2024 at 4:46 am
The Mole from the Ministry, was a good one from Dukes of Stratosphere, using mellotrons, like I Am the Walrus. Which Andy and Colin covered.
@mikewalz5738
October 18, 2024 at 4:46 am
Those background vocals make the song, like on Sgt Rock, Generals & Majors and others.
@MaciSpaulding
October 18, 2024 at 4:46 am
Thompson Maria Walker Larry Smith David
@Riddler_von
October 18, 2024 at 4:46 am
Off base for this video but can you do the story of Skinny Puppy please
@MalcolmBirtwell
October 18, 2024 at 4:46 am
Underrated absolutely! I've been following XTC since 1978 and will love them until I am no more
@ExcaliburDawn
October 18, 2024 at 4:46 am
I first remember xtc because my dad was called Nigel,so when 'making plans for Nigel' came out my mum started singing it to him and taking the piss.I was only about 10.
Edit: Just noticed it was '79 so i was 7.
@sometimeworld1
October 18, 2024 at 4:46 am
Dear God is terrific. Predates Richard Dawkins new atheism. Very much appreciate people who speak the truth.
@prepthenun
October 18, 2024 at 4:46 am
my girlfriend and i were listening to her "discover weekly" playlist on spotify. that's how i found "complicated game". at first i was eager to skip it since it starts rather slowly, but then the beat came in and it caught my attention. the chord progression was so interesting, so off and wierd; the rhythm – hypnotizing. just thinking about that song, especially about its second partgl gives me chills.
hands down one of the darkest, creepiest and heaviest songs ever written. it holds a special place in my heart, a spiritual one i would say, cathartic perhaps, altough leaving me with a little feeling of uneasiness at the same time. what a masterpiece
@NuFuckers
October 18, 2024 at 4:46 am
24:15–24:19 oh hell nawh 💀
@ArtRebelsBloc
October 18, 2024 at 4:46 am
Im a product of the alternative era recently i was listening to my local college radio station they played this song in the middle of the day and it was such pop wonder i had to look it up at home. i misheard the chorus as " and though i may be a man im a simpleton" found the song and im hooked i would love to make a pop hit like xtc
@jimjam8949
October 18, 2024 at 4:46 am
This was great. Thank you. Are they underrated? I dont think this is good question. Its like saying is Jazz underrated. Anything that takes a bit more work, time and commitment to listen to and absorb yourself in, is going to bypass and put off a huge part of the listening public. There was so much fairly good quality pop and rock around during their time. I guess they were just overshadowed at the time but what the huge corporates pushed our way. But given the depth of influence they seem to have had over many muscicians and music lovers, I have to say I dont think they are underrated.
@cunkfucklyVEVO
October 18, 2024 at 4:46 am
my dad was always a big XTC-head so I have some formative childhood memories of Skylarking on the rotation in his living room sound system. That album in particular worms its way into my brain all the time, but I love all of XTC's work! Loved the documentary
@reknowltoniii
October 18, 2024 at 4:46 am
I'm surprised you didn't draw any parallels to Television and Richard Hell or reference the 1992 Primus cover of Nigel … Great video though and I love your writing
@challst
October 18, 2024 at 4:46 am
My friends and I, who considered ourselves lovers of alternative) loved XTC. I'm surprised to learn that they broke out in the US with Skylarking. That was one of the later tapes I got (though I remember later buying Oranges and Lemons when it released). We loved and played the hell out of Drums&Wires, Go 2 (which had one of the greatest album covers of all time), Black Sea and The Big Express. I even had to buy a second copy of Black Sea when the tape deck ate my first one (and tape money was hard earned mowing lawns and weeding gardens).
@ghill628
October 18, 2024 at 4:46 am
You can't force people to listen to or appreciate good music, but that's their loss.
@Ducksauc3
October 18, 2024 at 4:46 am
This is the greatest YouTube channel ever .
@macrambo8370
October 18, 2024 at 4:46 am
XTC = WEEN = POP
@PeterMayer
October 18, 2024 at 4:46 am
I played Skylarking to death. And Dave Gregory's solo on Super Girl is superb.
@PeterMayer
October 18, 2024 at 4:46 am
Terrific song and right on!
@hynos323
October 18, 2024 at 4:46 am
Making plans for Nigel is definitely one of my favorite songs ever. I’m almost 50 now and this song never gets old.
@ldandha
October 18, 2024 at 4:46 am
Thank you. You are an incredible historian.
@QueenOfTheNorth65
October 18, 2024 at 4:46 am
It’s sad that Partridge equates the word “eccentric” with “damaged.” I always think of it as meaning “unique.” I love XTC’s music and have since I was in middle school in the late 70’s.
@SunshineCoastRealEstate
October 18, 2024 at 4:46 am
Excellent overview of the band and Andy. Congratualtions TT, good work. And Andy is too hard on himself re 'Dear God' – its one of the TOP 100 SONGS ever created. A classic.
@floridapmi
October 18, 2024 at 4:46 am
Love XTC, but I bet Andy is difficult to be around.
@gavgams
October 18, 2024 at 4:46 am
Great work Trash Theory. Another really interesting dive is Judee Sill’s profound influence on Andy, especially in his later beautiful works such as Knights in Shining Karma. https://youtu.be/T6cEreyGpYI?si=8CK_EAoTXtvEPRTF
I also really like the powerful human emotional spectrum Andy covers.. joy, Chalkhillls, wryness (Small Towns), climate (Last Balloon and This World Over, colonisation (Human Alchemy).
@peternicholls6532
October 18, 2024 at 4:46 am
Towards the end of this adventure.. the mention of ELO.. Peter Gariel.. & especially Kate ( Catherine ) Bush are worthy mentions in this vid about XTC. I only know of a few songs from this group. ..but I could identify.. & relate, to their music and their influences. They are all part of my upbringing..all part of my memories growing up. 🙂
@NauticaSea217
October 18, 2024 at 4:46 am
Dude! I'm hearing Andy! He knows what it's about! Religious or not, you've got to admire the genius of 'Dear God'.