Oh, now I remember the Hitchcock collab, my bad. I'm not too keen on his voice so I listened to that maybe twice. And the Monstrance and Blegvad things... sorry, not my cup of tea. But this EP I really like!
Just listened to this for the first time. Anyone else think that "The Mating Dance" is a dead ringer for a Colin song? The title and the subject matter sound like Colin material, and whether consciously or not, he even sounds like Colin singing - especially at the start. Perhaps Andy instinctively knew that Colin's 25% had to be there one way or another? This will need a few more listens to assess how good it is. The amount of surface noise on the vinyl is disappointing.
Andy was on the "What Do You Call That Noise?" podcast last month, and talked a lot about these songs and songs on volume 2. What Do You Call That Noise? The XTC Podcast - XTC's Andy Partridge – My Failed Songwriting Career on Stitcher
Solo work with Andy singing of recent vintage: My Failed Songwriting Career Vol 1 EP Apples & Oranges / Humanoid Boogie 7" Cavegirl digital single (though I think that's a 90s recording) and here's the tricky one: Unwrap You at Christmas (Andy's recording was included on The Monkees' Christmas Party Plus! EP)
On a podcast AP recently said vol. 2 is ready, but backlogs at the vinyl pressing plant has delayed its release, as is now commonly the case.
I think it's my fave on the EP. Does anyone know who it was written for, and who sings the 'f** all' line on guest vocals? (apparently the intended recipient sang this bit)
In fact its a definite yes. In a podcast or whatever interview Andy ecen told ue thr song namee and played snippere of them. Said an Xmas themed one will happen too. I believe a rock n roll one as hebput it also.
Ok looking back at what I jotted down here are the titles. The man himself told us. Nothing mysterious. They sounded very nice from thr snippets he played 2nd EP song titles which were played for a brief snippet in the above interview: Let's Make Everything Love Come On Back See-saw Kiss The Third Rail
In 2012 he co-wrote a full album with Mike Keneally (but he doesn't appear on it). The album is called Wing Beat Fantastic - Songs written by Mike Keneally and Andy Partridge, and it's excellent. Lots of Keneally DNA and lots of Andy DNA in it. (There's only one song and a few instrumentals that are penned by Keneally only). Listen to this and you'll hear "Andy", even if he didn't participate in the recording: Mike Keneally In 2013, a companion remixes/demos album is released, called Wing Beat Elastic. Contrary to the main album, you can ACTUALLY hear Andy !, singing the demo of Your House (except for the first verse). Mike Keneally And then 4 months later, Mike Keneally released a solo album, called You Must Be This Tall. This Keneally album contained a leftover from the writing sessions with Andy, an instrumental called Indicator. Andy is actually playing guitar on this track. Mike Keneally
It sounds like Miles Hunt from the Wonderstuff, but I can’t imagine he’d feel comfortable singing someone else’s song. My guess would be Robbie Williams, who was known to be touting for songwriting ‘partners’ in the post-XTC period and may have wanted Andy to afford him some vicarious credibility before ultimately deciding to go with Stephen Duffy. If true, I’d be gutted, mind.
Yes. It is the Zappa guy from '88. Mike is a huge fan of XTC (and also of The Beatles, Miles Davis, and many many other bands and types of music)
This is a fun EP and a welcome addition to my slim AP 21st century playlist: Wonderfalls Domo-Arigato-Gozaimasu Apples and Oranges Humanoid Boogie Turn Me On Deadman (with Robyn Hitchcock) Flight Attendants, Please Prepare For Love (with Robyn Hitchcock) Got My...(with Robyn Hitchcock) Planet England (with Robyn Hitchcock) Cavegirl (this one I combined with my Fuzzy Warbles material) Ghost Train Great Day Maid Of Stars The Mating Dance The songs sung by Robyn still scream "Andy Partridge" in lyric, music and production, so I included them.
You could add 'Unwrap You at Christmas' to that playlist: The Monkees - Christmas Party Plus! And 'Tin Toy Clockwork Train': Andy Partridge - Tin Toy Clockwork Train
I had no idea that Unwrap You At Christmas demo existed, thanks. Tin Toy Clockwork Train is included with my other Dukes songs where it fits nicely, nice.
