George Clanton is the most interesting track, though a bit short. BUT - I am now going to go back and thoroughly enjoy one of my early 80s favs - XTC’s Black Sea!
Unfortunately I recorded it straight off the radio onto cassette. They did two radio station shows in Boston and I couldn’t get out of work to try to see them outside the studio so I recorded them.
These are all great, thanx for putting the work in to compile this list!
XTC was a major influence on me in my teens when I was making the move from wanting to be a guitar hero to wanting to write songs. They have TWO songs that probably make my Top 10 pop songs list (if I had a list like that) in Senses Working Overtime and Mayor of Simpleton. I don't think you can write smarter pop tunes that are still great pop songs, if that makes any sense.
That makes perfect "sense." I'm an XTC obsessive and still discover a million new things, both sonically and lyrically, when I play their albums. My top 10 pop-songs list could easily be all XTC! But I like to limit my lists to one song per artist -- unless the list is 50 or more.
If you don't know the podcast: What Do You Call That Noise? The XTC podcast, I highly recommend it. I've learned so much listening to it.
So glad to see my favorite here which is the George Clanton and Nick Hexum collab. Flawless little record that I find myself going back to every summer!
You were the one to turn me into a George Clanton fan! I should have credited you in the notes. Perhaps I will now, as I was trying to remember which of our large music Substack community did it!
I'm just happy to hear that you're enjoying George Clanton so much! I essentially kicked off my Substack three years ago with my favorite records of the year, and I had that one at number three and still wouldn't change a thing. Trying to figure out where GC's new one fits in the Top 50 this year!
Fats Domino sings "I'm gonna make you Queen for a day" in "Be My Guest"- another list?
Partial to XTC! Big Dukes of Stratosphere fan too!
Great stuff all around. I think I gotta go with the popular opinion that XTC wins.
Also...sorry, but I wanted to make sure you received my email response!
Oh- did you? I will search for it, as it didn’t appear in the original email thread.. Thanks for letting me know!
XTC all the way - a terrific song on what is probably their last great album!
Thanks, Jeremy! I plan to write (probably in early 2024) an album
dissection of Nonsuch and it being their last great album!;)
Cool! Maybe you’ll convince me it’s better than merely good...
I'll do my best!
I agree with Kevin. Who’d have thunk there were so many KFAD songs...
George Clanton is the most interesting track, though a bit short. BUT - I am now going to go back and thoroughly enjoy one of my early 80s favs - XTC’s Black Sea!
XTC- and the acoustic version I have from a live concert via a radio station tour they did in 89 is a brilliant version.
Any links to share? I remember hoping, hoping, hoping, that when they did the radio (and Letterman) tour that it would somehow lead to an actual tour.
Unfortunately I recorded it straight off the radio onto cassette. They did two radio station shows in Boston and I couldn’t get out of work to try to see them outside the studio so I recorded them.
Not sure where that cassette is.
These are all great, thanx for putting the work in to compile this list!
XTC was a major influence on me in my teens when I was making the move from wanting to be a guitar hero to wanting to write songs. They have TWO songs that probably make my Top 10 pop songs list (if I had a list like that) in Senses Working Overtime and Mayor of Simpleton. I don't think you can write smarter pop tunes that are still great pop songs, if that makes any sense.
That makes perfect "sense." I'm an XTC obsessive and still discover a million new things, both sonically and lyrically, when I play their albums. My top 10 pop-songs list could easily be all XTC! But I like to limit my lists to one song per artist -- unless the list is 50 or more.
If you don't know the podcast: What Do You Call That Noise? The XTC podcast, I highly recommend it. I've learned so much listening to it.
https://open.spotify.com/show/3OVvzN8gSdBHQ4pkI9WeE2?si=b9d77efda32445b4
So glad to see my favorite here which is the George Clanton and Nick Hexum collab. Flawless little record that I find myself going back to every summer!
You were the one to turn me into a George Clanton fan! I should have credited you in the notes. Perhaps I will now, as I was trying to remember which of our large music Substack community did it!
I'm just happy to hear that you're enjoying George Clanton so much! I essentially kicked off my Substack three years ago with my favorite records of the year, and I had that one at number three and still wouldn't change a thing. Trying to figure out where GC's new one fits in the Top 50 this year!
I did add a note about you turning me on to that song in the post! Hopefully some folks read it on the app to see the update!
I'm working on my end-of-year lists now, as it's such a time consuming process. Excited to check out yours when it's out!
My vote here is for XTC. It’s the perfect pop track.
Yeah, XTC will top most lists for me, being the uber-fan that I am. But the correct answer is: I love all my children equally!😀
Amazing! Thanks for this- never heard of him before. Maybe you should write up a piece on him! very trippy video.