The Wheel and the MayPOLL: The XTC Poll Results Thread

and awaaaaaay we go

The meeting place!

Here's a collaborate Spotify playlist: http://open.spotify.com/user/mondosalvo/playlist/2OLN1q23VJKY1CRSjjIZ1w

Yay, might go about making a YouTube playlist too - to account for the (at least in the UK) lack of later album stuff of Spots

My brain just started playing Great Fire as a mental soundtrack.

Hooray for Peter Pumpkinhead!
(You people should be so glad I didn't vote)

it's sad, he had a harmonica

my super tuff songs better place high or I'm gonna have to break out MY WEAPON!!!

Lump check yr email...

Wait, sorry for being lame but, where, exactly, are the results? I don't see a list?

lol it's a countdown, enjoy the suspense

that was a great opp to do a pretend reaction to a fake list

haha thinking about it i guess there's no funny number 1s

Right then, thanks and sorry again.

Dominique claiming to be a songwriter & keyboardist in the Barry Andrews class, bold

sorry waitin on some graphics bear with me folks

There's a graphics bear with you? Tell him I said hi.

Graphics bears are notoriously slow, though, so we understand.

All of a sudden we find the cupboard bear

ok slight change of plan! going to count down the top 60 (although I will post a complete list at the end)

60. I'd Like That (556 points, 8 votes)
http://i1086.photobucket.com/albums/j449/HideousLump/XTC%20ILM%20Top%2060/60-IdLikeThat.jpg

would like to say that Lump really outdid himself with the images here we are in for a treat

59. Ten Feet Tall (559 points, 7 votes)
http://i1086.photobucket.com/albums/j449/HideousLump/XTC%20ILM%20Top%2060/59-TenFeetTall.jpg

58. Dear God (569 points, 8 votes, 1 No. 1 vote))
http://i1086.photobucket.com/albums/j449/HideousLump/XTC%20ILM%20Top%2060/58-DearGod.jpg

whoa these images

57. Brainiac's Daughter (583 points, 8 votes)
http://i1086.photobucket.com/albums/j449/HideousLump/XTC%20ILM%20Top%2060/57-BrainiacsDaughter.jpg

irl lol @ this img

56. English Roundabout (586 points, 8 votes)
http://i1086.photobucket.com/albums/j449/HideousLump/XTC%20ILM%20Top%2060/56-EnglishRoundabout.jpg

55. Dear Madam Barnum (599 points, 9 votes)
http://i1086.photobucket.com/albums/j449/HideousLump/XTC%20ILM%20Top%2060/55-DearMadamBarnum.jpg

"Dear God" so low!

also, too high, screw u kitchen person lol (re: atheist rights anthem)

Omg, my #4! Colin's greatest moment, seminal beauty, key changes forever, utter loveliness (English Roundabout)

also, too high, screw u kitchen person lol (re: atheist rights anthem)

― Ƹ༑Ʒ (imago)

Ha! Very happy to see my number one vote helped it make the list.

Ten Feet Fall is shockingly low. I just assumed that was an XTC favourite.

in doing this poll I realized I had not listened to the officially released version of Dear God in maybe 20 years or so. I have the original LP version of Skylarking which doesn't have it on it, so I'd pretty much forgotten about it. In retrospect while Mermaid Smiled is a great song, Dear God seems to fit the album-song-cycle thing better, the spiritual questioning coming in between Man Who Sailed Around His Soul and Dying makes more sense.

just assumed that was an XTC favourite.

― Kitchen Person

every song is an XTC favorite

So true.

great graphics!

Just noticed the initials on the images. Amazing!

These graphics are amazing Bear.

every song is an XTC favorite

bingo. I can't think of any song sans "Respectible Street" or "Chalkhills and Children" where I'll be able to say, "wow, that was too low"

54. Pale and Precious (602 points, 8 votes, 1 No. 1 vote))
http://i1086.photobucket.com/albums/j449/HideousLump/XTC%20ILM%20Top%2060/54-PaleAndPrecious.jpg

love this song a lot, it's funny to think that Partridge didn't really hear any of the late 60s Beach Boys stuff right up until this time, that it was fresh and new to him and he was like "oh I can bang out a pastiche of that, here we go" and have it come out so perfect

53. Roads Girdle the Globe (613 points, 8 votes)
http://i1086.photobucket.com/albums/j449/HideousLump/XTC%20ILM%20Top%2060/53-RoadsGirdleTheGlobe.jpg

52. The Ballad of Peter Pumpkinhead (615 points, 8 votes)
http://i1086.photobucket.com/albums/j449/HideousLump/XTC%20ILM%20Top%2060/52-BalladOfPeterPumpkinhead.jpg

TIE 51. Runaways (640 points, 9 votes)
http://i1086.photobucket.com/albums/j449/HideousLump/XTC%20ILM%20Top%2060/51-Runaways.jpg
TIE 51. Greenman (640 points, 8 votes)
http://i1086.photobucket.com/albums/j449/HideousLump/XTC%20ILM%20Top%2060/51-Greenman.jpg

50. Beating Of Hearts (644 points, 9 votes, 1 No. 1 vote))
http://i1086.photobucket.com/albums/j449/HideousLump/XTC%20ILM%20Top%2060/50-BeatingOfHearts.jpg

ok that's it for a little bit

"Runaways" one of the first of mine to make it.

hooray for Peter Pumpkin so low

hooray for Roads Girdle the Globe placing, I wasn't sure if that would make it

I know RGTG is a dry-run for No Language On Our Lungs but it's still p spectacular :)

Pale And Precious is if anything too perfect, enters the uncanny valley imo

I haven't heard the Dukes albums.

how do you feel about ridiculously on point pastiche efforts

I did vote for Pale and Precious, but imo, they hadn't quite figured out how to mimic Beach Boys backing vocals yet (though AP's Carl impression is pretty great)

imo if you like British 60s psych at all they are a treasure trove of clever lolz

xp

ok I guess "Pale and Precious" ranking that low is a shock, that's one I thought would get a lot of top 10 votes

that's why: I'm not a fan of either the BB or psychedelia generally, which is why I included few latter-day cuts.

Dukes EP is magnificent on its own terms & you might like it

from Psionic Sunspot onwards the last song of each album (with the exception of 'Books Are Burning imo) feels like it should be a strong contender for top 10, I was also surprised by how low Pale & Precious is

sold

the last song of most of their albums from any period u mean (with a very few exceptions)

Ballad of Peter Pumpkinhead and Runaways are my first 2 top 10 songs taken out (5 & 7). I find the Dukes stuff just way too precious,
though I'm aware that when many of the same idiosyncrasies show up on Oranges & Lemons, I'm delighted.

I tend to think English Settlement is the sleeper in the catalog.

would've thought Mummer and Nonsuch were

I love English Settlement for being this baggy, rambling double album that is also consistently brilliant all the way through

the world music moments on ES drag it down imo. Never really XTC's strong suit, bar a few moments here and there, but they sure went back to that well a lot. It was the 80s I guess.

ok next 10 comin up

49. Statue of Liberty (648 points, 9 votes)
http://i1086.photobucket.com/albums/j449/HideousLump/XTC%20ILM%20Top%2060/49-StatueOfLiberty.jpg

I always got the impression that Mummer and The Big Express where their most overlooked, this transition period between mk 1 XTC and their canonical best album (and also between their early modest UK success and later modest US success), but there are a lot of XTC narratives, I guess xp

ES is my favourite despite the missteps coz the good songs are earthshattering

o a white music song made it, how cute

I found the relatively high placement of this next one sort of befuddling

48. Sgt Rock (Is Going To Help Me) (654 points, 8 votes)
http://i1086.photobucket.com/albums/j449/HideousLump/XTC%20ILM%20Top%2060/48-SgtRock.jpg

47. Sacrificial Bonfire (656 points, 8 votes, 1 No. 1 vote))
http://i1086.photobucket.com/albums/j449/HideousLump/XTC%20ILM%20Top%2060/47-SacrificialBonfire.jpg

xp 1984?!

Very happy to see Roads Girdle the Globe make it. I never thought of it as one my favourites but when I was going through some of their albums before voting I really fell in love with it. The guitars on it sound really amazing.

I think Sgt Rock was one of their bigger UK hits? not as big as Nigel or Senses Working Overtime, but still xp

love the crackling fire sound effects in Sacrificial Bonfire. on relistening I noticed that Skylarking really lays these little details on thick. I assume this may have more to do with Rundgren than the band, those little meticulously crafted weird sounds that run through tracks like Summer's Cauldron/Grass with the buzzing cicados or The Meeting Place with its wheezing steam sounds and ratchets turning. I dunno how they resisted rain/thunder sound effects on Ballet for a Rainy Day lol

xp

Sgt Rock maybe works as satire in retrospect but Andy didn't half like pushing his luck

46. My Bird Performs (718 points, 10 votes)
http://i1086.photobucket.com/albums/j449/HideousLump/XTC%20ILM%20Top%2060/46-MyBirdPerforms.jpg

think it was a bigger hit than Nigel

I always got the impression that Mummer and The Big Express where their most overlooked, this transition period between mk 1 XTC and their canonical best album (and also between their early modest UK success and later modest US success), but there are a lot of XTC narratives, I guess xp

I love Big Express, Mummer never quite clicked with me though I love the first three tracks and the bonus tunes. I always found it weird that Mummer felt like a weaker one to me as judging by the bonus tracks and all the stuff on Rag & Bone Buffet from that era they had a wealth of really really good tunes then.

45. Travels in Nihilon (720 points, 8 votes)
http://i1086.photobucket.com/albums/j449/HideousLump/XTC%20ILM%20Top%2060/45-TravelsInNihilon.jpg

I think Sgt Rock was one of their bigger UK hits? not as big as Nigel or Senses Working Overtime, but still xp

― soref,

Those are their only three hits in the UK really. Charted higher than Nigel (By one place) but it's no way as well known.

44. (The Everyday Story of) Smalltown (736 points, 9 votes)
http://i1086.photobucket.com/albums/j449/HideousLump/XTC%20ILM%20Top%2060/44-EverydayStoryOfSmalltown.jpg

43. Are You Receiving Me? (743 points, 11 votes)
http://i1086.photobucket.com/albums/j449/HideousLump/XTC%20ILM%20Top%2060/43-AreYouReceivingMe.jpg

42. Wake Up (750 points, 10 votes)
http://i1086.photobucket.com/albums/j449/HideousLump/XTC%20ILM%20Top%2060/42-WakeUp.jpg

41. The Disappointed (758 points, 9 votes)
http://i1086.photobucket.com/albums/j449/HideousLump/XTC%20ILM%20Top%2060/41-Disappointed.jpg

40. Seagulls Screaming Kiss Her, Kiss Her (763 points, 10 votes)
http://i1086.photobucket.com/albums/j449/HideousLump/XTC%20ILM%20Top%2060/40-SeagullScreamingKissHerKissHer.jpg

My Bird Performs is such a beautiful song. As others mentioned in the nominations thread, Peter Pumpkinhead seems so long and when My Bird Performs it seems like a relief and the album can really start from there.

should have used the real graphics from the CD booklet for the Nonsuch tracks imo ;)

Travels In Nihilon was my #3 and of COURSE I voted it really high. It's almost as if they knew I existed and decided to make a careening 7-minute avant-garde blowout to keep me happy. One of my favourite air-drum songs, too

"My Beautiful Performs" is beautiful (love how abrupt the chorus is) if I don't have to listen to the lyrics.

*er "My Bird"

Two of my favourite XTC songs there both from Big Express. Seagulls Screaming was in my top 10. Such a strange and catchy song. The Everyday Story of Smalltown is the song of theirs I'll never understand why it wasn't released as a single. If that had been put out as the first single instead of All You Pretty Girls I'm convinced that would have been their 4th top 20 hit. Great song.

I think I read something where Moulding partly attributed Nigel's status as their best remembered song TO Nigel Lawson being chancellor between 1983-89 and 'Making Plans For Nigel' being used as a headline in newspapers

"All You Pretty Girls" sounds desperate ("We need a hit! Partridge, go write a hit!").

I don't know why I put 'to' in capitals xp

(oh and if I can say one more thing about TIN - that bassline, oh my god, the way it plays off the rest of the song)

"All You Pretty Girls" sounds desperate ("We need a hit! Partridge, go write a hit!").

― guess that bundt gettin eaten (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn)

Always hated it. It's one of three songs that stop Big Express from being a classic for me (Shake You Donkey Up and Reign of Blows being the other two)

I would be so happy if Shake You Donkey Up was in the top 40, but I'm not conident

39. Great Fire (794 points, 10 votes)
http://i1086.photobucket.com/albums/j449/HideousLump/XTC%20ILM%20Top%2060/39-GreatFire.jpg

38. 1000 Umbrellas (797 points, 10 votes, 1 No. 1 vote))
http://i1086.photobucket.com/albums/j449/HideousLump/XTC%20ILM%20Top%2060/38-1000Umbrellas.jpg

37. River of Orchids (801 points, 10 votes)
http://i1086.photobucket.com/albums/j449/HideousLump/XTC%20ILM%20Top%2060/37-RiverOfOrchids.jpg

36. Burning With Optimism's Flames (812 points, 10 votes)
http://i1086.photobucket.com/albums/j449/HideousLump/XTC%20ILM%20Top%2060/36-BurningWithOptimismsFlames.jpg

35. Yacht Dance (817 points, 9 votes)
http://i1086.photobucket.com/albums/j449/HideousLump/XTC%20ILM%20Top%2060/35-YachtDance.jpg

idk why songs 35-40 all have to do with fire/water

1000 Umbrellas my #11 (I had to reluctantly split it from its slightly-superior predecessor) but still an astonishing exercise in synthesis of major & minor

lol the last few songs are tweeeeee

I freakin adore My Bird Performs.

live version of Yacht Dance on Coat of Many Cupboards is one of my favourite things

Good lord, The Disappointed at 41?!

good song, possibly their second-worst video (absolute worst being Peter Pumpkinhead)

peter pumpkinhead has a video? oh god

'The Disappointed' was my No.3, with 'Travels in Nihilon' at No.2.

Part of me was baffled by their low placement, but then again this was always going to be a poll full of surprises.

Nonsuch would appear to be underrated IMO. If Pumpkinhead, Barnum and The Disappointed have already placed, I'm guessing Then She Appeared is done.

the disappointed is definitely one of the better songs i couldn't vote for coz then i'd have to carefully compare loads more songs (as are burning w/ o's f and river of orchids)

then she appeared def has a chance, it's the only one of those i voted for

The Disappointed's video is great! they surely have several videos that are worse than that

is Towers Of London the one with a Richard Branson cameo? that is the worst

peter pumpkinhead has a video? oh god

it's all about the JFK assassination/Zapruder film dontcha know

― Ƹ༑Ʒ (imago), Wednesday, October 15, 2014 2:53 PM (1 minute ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

The Disappointed's video is great!

uh ... have you watched this recently? Andy's complaints about it are pretty funny/sadly otm

(also I didn't vote for those songs because I strongly favour the ones I did vote for & what better way to propel them up the list than remove the competition haha)

Towers Of London the one with a Richard Branson cameo? that is the worst

That's Generals and Majors.

ILX polls are a blood sport. which I do like.

34. Another Satellite (835 points, 10 votes, 1 No. 1 vote))
http://i1086.photobucket.com/albums/j449/HideousLump/XTC%20ILM%20Top%2060/34-AnotherSatellite.jpg

33. This Is Pop? (847 points, 10 votes, 1 No. 1 vote))
http://i1086.photobucket.com/albums/j449/HideousLump/XTC%20ILM%20Top%2060/33-ThisIsPop.jpg

32. That's Really Super, Supergirl (854 points, 11 votes)
http://i1086.photobucket.com/albums/j449/HideousLump/XTC%20ILM%20Top%2060/32-ThatsReallySuperSupergirl.jpg

31. Season Cycle (858 points, 10 votes)
http://i1086.photobucket.com/albums/j449/HideousLump/XTC%20ILM%20Top%2060/31-SeasonCycle.jpg

fabulous image for "Supergirl"

:D my #19 & until i thought hard about how ballet for 1000 umbrellas is totally perfect my skylarking highlight, it's exquisite

lol you'll have to guess which one i'm talking about

30. King For a Day (861 points, 11 votes, 1 No. 1 vote))
http://i1086.photobucket.com/albums/j449/HideousLump/XTC%20ILM%20Top%2060/30-KingForADay.jpg

yep, there are choices here that let me know it's a miracle I ever agree with anyone on any point. Typical XTC list!

I watched The Disappointed video immediately before making that post! I just looked up Partridge discussing it on the song of week blog and I agree it looks New Romantic-esque, but this is good thing imo, especially for a song about pageantry and flamboyant displays of grief. I think at least some of the medieval weird perspective stuff did make it onscreen xps

there are choices here that let me know it's a miracle I ever agree with anyone on any point

name names!

"The Disappointed" and "King For A Day" are songs that make me believe XTC actually are dated dad-psychedelia. Especially "The Disappointed". So banal, so adult-contemporary. I cringe!

or maybe I just hate shuffles

brb scouring the 365 for a shuffle

haha I'm sure there some in there

Dammit, I've had a really busy day and have to get up early, wanna stay and see the rest of this rollout.

Amazing graphics! Esp Nihilon, fantastic!

Welp my #1 has placed (bonfire)

29. Then She Appeared (876 points, 12 votes)
http://i1086.photobucket.com/albums/j449/HideousLump/XTC%20ILM%20Top%2060/29-ThenSheAppeared.jpg

28. When You're Near Me I Have Difficulty (912 points, 12 votes)
http://i1086.photobucket.com/albums/j449/HideousLump/XTC%20ILM%20Top%2060/28-WhenYoureNearMeIHaveDifficulty.jpg

27. Helicopter (917 points, 12 votes)
http://i1086.photobucket.com/albums/j449/HideousLump/XTC%20ILM%20Top%2060/27-Helicopter.jpg

26. Rocket from a Bottle (937 points, 12 votes)
http://i1086.photobucket.com/albums/j449/HideousLump/XTC%20ILM%20Top%2060/26-RocketFromABottle.jpg

25. You’re The Wish You Are I Had (950 points, 12 votes)
http://i1086.photobucket.com/albums/j449/HideousLump/XTC%20ILM%20Top%2060/25-YoureTheWishYouAreIHad.jpg

24. Ballet For A Rainy Day (975 points, 12 votes)
http://i1086.photobucket.com/albums/j449/HideousLump/XTC%20ILM%20Top%2060/24-BalletForARainyDay.jpg

TIE 23. Snowman (985 points, 11 votes, 1 No. 1 vote))
http://i1086.photobucket.com/albums/j449/HideousLump/XTC%20ILM%20Top%2060/23-Snowman.jpg
TIE 23. The Meeting Place (985 points, 12 votes)
http://i1086.photobucket.com/albums/j449/HideousLump/XTC%20ILM%20Top%2060/23-MeetingPlace.jpg

22. Ball and Chain (1073 points, 14 votes)
http://i1086.photobucket.com/albums/j449/HideousLump/XTC%20ILM%20Top%2060/22-BallAndChain.jpg

21. Jason and the Argonauts (1084 points, 13 votes, 1 No. 1 vote))
http://i1086.photobucket.com/albums/j449/HideousLump/XTC%20ILM%20Top%2060/21-JasonAndTheArgonauts.jpg

and that's it for today kids

told u!

oh YAY HELICOPTER! one of the most annoying pieces of music ever. it's so awesome <3 my #21

oh and there's my #7, Ballet For The Greatest Middle Eight Ever Recorded

I also voted for Snowman & Ball & Chain AND Jason & The Argonauts, gonna shut up now, it's all too much. XTC rule

recap:

21. Jason and the Argonauts (1084 points, 13 votes, 1 No. 1 vote))
22. Ball and Chain (1073 points, 14 votes)
TIE 23. The Meeting Place (985 points, 12 votes)
TIE 23. Snowman (985 points, 11 votes, 1 No. 1 vote))
24. Ballet For A Rainy Day (975 points, 12 votes)
25. You’re The Wish You Are I Had (950 points, 12 votes)
26. Rocket from a Bottle (937 points, 12 votes)
27. Helicopter (917 points, 12 votes)
28. When You're Near Me I Have Difficulty (912 points, 12 votes)
29. Then She Appeared (876 points, 12 votes)
30. King For a Day (861 points, 11 votes, 1 No. 1 vote))
31. Season Cycle (858 points, 10 votes)
32. That's Really Super, Supergirl (854 points, 11 votes)
33. This Is Pop? (847 points, 10 votes, 1 No. 1 vote))
34. Another Satellite (835 points, 10 votes, 1 No. 1 vote))
35. Yacht Dance (817 points, 9 votes)
36. Burning With Optimism's Flames (812 points, 10 votes)
37. River of Orchids (801 points, 10 votes)
38. 1000 Umbrellas (797 points, 10 votes, 1 No. 1 vote))
39. Great Fire (794 points, 10 votes)
40. Seagulls Screaming Kiss Her, Kiss Her (763 points, 10 votes)
41. The Disappointed (758 points, 9 votes)
42. Wake Up (750 points, 10 votes)
43. Are You Receiving Me? (743 points, 11 votes)
44. (The Everyday Story of) Smalltown (736 points, 9 votes)
45. Travels in Nihilon (720 points, 8 votes)
46. My Bird Performs (718 points, 10 votes)
47. Sacrificial Bonfire (656 points, 8 votes, 1 No. 1 vote))
48. Sgt Rock (Is Going To Help Me) (654 points, 8 votes)
49. Statue of Liberty (648 points, 9 votes)
50. Beating Of Hearts (644 points, 9 votes, 1 No. 1 vote))
TIE 51. Greenman (640 points, 8 votes)
TIE 51. Runaways (640 points, 9 votes)
52. The Ballad of Peter Pumpkinhead (615 points, 8 votes)
53. Roads Girdle the Globe (613 points, 8 votes)
54. Pale and Precious (602 points, 8 votes, 1 No. 1 vote))
55. Dear Madam Barnum (599 points, 9 votes)
56. English Roundabout (586 points, 8 votes)
57. Brainiac's Daughter (583 points, 8 votes)
58. Dear God (569 points, 8 votes, 1 No. 1 vote))
59. Ten Feet Tall (559 points, 7 votes)
60. I'd Like That (556 points, 8 votes)

there have been fewer number ones than I expected so far

"Snowman" high on my ballot.

60-21 in the same afternoon is a bit of a whirlwind.

11 of my 31 have placed so far
You guys like drums n wires and nonsuch lots more than me

I totally forgot Jason and the Argonauts for my ballot.

It's a very interesting poll - such a rich catalogue, with not a lot of consensus.

Half my top 10 already spoken for.

I can't see my number one turning up at this rate.

I didn't vote, but goddamn there's a lot of Skylarking. I should've voted just for the satisfaction of not voting for a single thing from it (unless you count Dear God).

I totally forgot another satellite somehow. That's what I get for picking my skylarking choices from memory without looking at the track list.

my #1 already placed, but a lot haven't. I did choose a few Fuzzy Warbles, and getting the feeling they were basically voting for Nader

got Dominique down as the 1000 Umbrellas #1, willing to be stood corrected

it's true! Though even for me, hard to separate from Ballet

srsly

those two taken together may have threatened my top 3

anyway it's all incredible music

So many amazing songs.

You’re The Wish You Are I Had has to be one of my favourite XTC choruses. It gets stuck in my head for days every single time it.

When You're Near Me I Have Difficulty is another one that went a lot higher on my list when going through their albums just before voting. It's all about those noises that are supposed to symbolise the jellyfish.

Helicopter was just outside my top 10. One of the best bass lines ever and I love how manic Andy sounds on that one.

All the Skylarking songs that have placed are fantastic. That's an album that really works as a whole which is probably why I voted for almost all of it. Will be interested to see which songs miss out. I'd be ok with Big Day not making it but have a feeling Mermaid Smiled might miss out too which would be a real shame.

Surprised to see King For a Day and The Disappointed so high. Never been a big fan of either of those.

Interesting poll, in that so many people have specific records they connect with deeply, I know I do. Skylarking appears to be the consensus pick, although JF registers his dissent above, and it would appear even The Big Express has its defenders.
My own personal top 5 would be something like
Black Sea
Oranges & Lemons
English Settlement
Nonsuch
Skylarking

I have no idea what's coming in the top 20.

None of my top ten have placed so far (though I suspect a majority of them will). Any guesses on which Dukes tracks might make the top twenty?

Maybe Vanishing Girl? Mole From the Ministry is my favourite but not sure how popular it is.

mole will surely

girl too

I bet My Love Explodes is yet to come.

The Graphics Bear knows, but he's not telling.

Little Lighthouse is my favorite.

Those of you who were around: what was XTC's college presence 1979-1986, i.e. between D&W and Skylarking? "Senses Working Overtime" was big, according to CMJ. I guess I'm most curious about reception and airplay.

I did a lot of my ballot from memory and already found the first casualty: "My Bird Performs". Not a big fan of Nonsuch, but you can mentally jump that song a few places up since it should have been on my ballot

Nice to see the appreciation for "My Bird Performs," since it's always seemed that all of Colin's songs on Nonsuch were commonly loathed on ILM.

"Bungalow," however, does suck.

I was familiar with "Senses" in '83-84 due to MTV airplay and "Respectable Street" thanks to the Urgh! soundtrack. Unfortunately, my university didn't really have a functioning radio station while I was there. Those two songs and some good press (in Spin? RS?) led me to buy Waxworks/Beeswax.

Nice to see the appreciation for "My Bird Performs," since it's always seemed that all of Colin's songs on Nonsuch were commonly loathed on ILM.

"Bungalow," however, does suck.

― Hideous Lump

I love Bungalow but Smartest Monkeys and War Dance are so bad. Up there with very worst XTC songs for me.

Random comments (since I couldn't comment during the actual rollout because I was wearing my "Travels in Nihilon"-brand Isolator Helmet):

- "Beating of Hearts" was my #1. I went into this with no idea what was going to be #1, but that floated to the top over the other contenders "Generals & Major," the equally-unlikely "It's Nearly Africa," "Earn Enough for Us" and "Wrapped in Grey."

- "Roads Girdle the Globe" (which I type as "Roads Girdle the Glove" every damn time) was a song that took me years to like, and I'm not sure why. Maybe it's that weird deep voice Andy uses.

- I'm glad "River of Orchids" made the list, but there are two things that kept it out of my top 50:
1. There's such strange beauty and flow in this song, but that yelpy "I heard the dandelions roar in Piccadilly Circus" melody just does not fit.
2. Synth horns! Grrrrr!!

The yelpy part is my favorite part of "River of Orchids"! On average, I'd say my favorite part of any given XTC song is the part that was most annoying the first time I heard it

Cool results far, my #1 hasn't placed yet but I've honestly no idea if it stands a chance. Brilliant work with the images too, they're all very XTC. No real consensus on eras or albums at all (although I don't think that surprised anyone!). Wonder if there'll even be a single song with more than one #1 vote?

I'm shocked Seagulls is so low, would have been in my top 5

A word in defence of "Dear God". It didn't place high on my ballot, but if I'd been voting as a teenager it would have. In terms of the lyrics, I think it works in the same way that Kurt Vonnegut's writing does: as an antidote to received notions. Vonnegut's a great author, but he's not really readable as adult literature. DG is a great YA song, and if the lyrics induce some eye-rolling later in life, it does their particular power a disservice to dismiss them completely. Disregarding the lyrics, it's got an amazing melody (and the melody is rhythmically wonderful bedsides) and a top-notch middle eight. Just as tune qua tune it's great pop and deserves better than it gets.

^

(altho even as a teenager I was like, "why does he want beer to remain expensive?")

would prefer reduction in the price of tea, I expect

ok top 20 coming up

gonna roll these out a little more slowly than yesterday

20. Love On A Farmboy's Wages (1116 points, 14 votes, 1 No. 1 vote))
http://i1086.photobucket.com/albums/j449/HideousLump/XTC%20ILM%20Top%2060/20-LoveOnAFarmboysWages.jpg

A last minute addition for me. I didn't mark it down after my relisten through Mummer but then I kept singing it to myself/in my head over the next few days...

^YAY "Earn Enough For Us" prequel. Such an awkward song, but it works despite some wrongfooted moves (the bridge is not one of Andy's best). It was my #69 (!) but I would have been disappointed if it hadn't placed.

***

The only choice on the list so far that mystifies me is "You're The Wish". I never woulda pegged it to place at all, much less scraping the top 20. It's one of the few XTC songs I actively loathe. Such an unctuous chorus.

let's play god

certs

senses
nigel
game
lungs
thugs
children
street
majors
towers
earn
cauldron
grass
mole
hop
real

which leaves 4. theatre? girls? sudden? scissor?

oh, girl, obv (of the vanishing kind)

Totally agree about Dear God's melody, was listening to it the other day and wishing that the lyrics weren't so r/atheism, cause it's one of the best conventional melodies they wrote.

oh, MAYPOLE, lol

Red Brick Dream, duh

agree w hardcore dilletante that the middle 8 in LOAFW is a bit awkward, while not bad in isolation it sounds like it's flown in from another track/song entirely, like it was punched in. the rest of this song though... damn, so perfect. an obvious precursor to the Apple Venus stuff, the first real flowering of Andy's Brit pastoral psych side.

Is it too much to hope that Rook gets a place?

friction
affiliated
liberty
hop sha la la la la
R-O-T-A-R-Y..
"gather round..."
decency's jigsaw
"this must be make-believe.." oh that's the same song never mind
And win a night out.. with a FAMOUS paranoiac..

That's why I couldn't do a ballot: So many songs would end up with one vote..

I used to live on Rossmore Rd

Always loved this song, agree it was one of the first great examples of him writing in the psych-ish, pastoral mode. Just a pretty song, with a pretty sentiment.

i was a bit so-so on XTC's whole pastoral/madrigal vibe but I've since embraced it as something that's really quite original and unlike anything else a pop band has really done before or since.

oh there's precedents - Macca's Mother Nature's Son for ex.

"Love on a Farmboy's Wage" is one of the few of the pastoral songs for which I voted.

19. Complicated Game (1124 points, 13 votes)
http://i1086.photobucket.com/albums/j449/HideousLump/XTC%20ILM%20Top%2060/19-ComplicatedGame.jpg

that game looks awesome

oh there's precedents - Macca's Mother Nature's Son for ex.

― Οὖτις, Thursday, October 16, 2014 4:49 PM (2 minutes ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

Musically I don't really hear it. Mother Nature's Son is a nice fingerstyle pop tune, but it in no way resembles the pre-industrial folk vibe as 'Farmboys', 'Pretty Girls', 'Cauldron' or 'Maypole'. They have a distinct aesthetic, like late-medieval folk songs filtered through big, wet eighties pop production. It's quite unique AFAIK.

imo XTC were definitely more "English" sounding than the Beatles. I can't really think of other songs that sound like "Farmboy's Wages" either, and am not familiar enough with bands like Pentangle or Fairport Convention to say if they were precendents. Maybe something like the solo acoustic guitar songs on Yes records? Ha, pretty sure that's NOT what AP was going for...

My #2, was so nearly my #1 but someone else came along and moved it (my other cranial hemisphere)

but like

like

graaaaaaaaaaaaaggghhhhh

Maybe something like the solo acoustic guitar songs on Yes records? Ha, pretty sure that's NOT what AP was going for...

Xgau's early reviews of XTC suggest a Yes influence on the band.

xtc could make the most gorgeous, ornate English pastoral pop that had existed

they could also fire the most soul-searing, vicious, primal, hollow post-punk exocets into the sun of hypocrisy and spite

thus is xtc's glory

oh there's precedents - Macca's Mother Nature's Son for ex.

Muswell Hillbillies and Village Green sorta do this

theatre, girl, girls, maypole rounds off my prediction. if 'brides' gets in I will be surprised and ecstatic

and it would appear even The Big Express has its defenders.

This baffles me -- is TBE not thought highly of by XTC fans? I always loved it, except for "All You Pretty Girls" and "Seagulls" -- the stiffness of the drum machine programming ruins those.

it's kind of an ugly sounding album imo

which seems to have been the goal so ok fair enough but it's clangor is kind of a grind to get through for me

I like Big Express, but it took a few years, especially because it was the second XTC record I heard, after Skylarking. Now, I think it's one of their most interesting records (both on songwriting and production fronts), and has some of my favorite songs (voted for 4).

18. Wrapped in Grey (1151 points, 13 votes, 1 No. 1 vote))
http://i1086.photobucket.com/albums/j449/HideousLump/XTC%20ILM%20Top%2060/18-WrappedInGrey.jpg

a beauty, this one

o lol I even voted for this & forgot to predict it

the song that broke their relationship with Virgin

highest note ever sung by AP?

haha yeah maybe

TBE took me a long time to come round to. I don't know who thought "All You Pretty Girls" should have been a single; it's so murky and weird, with the ska-squeezebox carrying the instrumental load in the verses, the artificially harmonized submarine vocals in the chorus, the whistling solo (!) (?) (?!), the offkilter, oft unresolved Irish diddling in the outro... it's a mess. Kind of a glorious mess to my ears, but the pop audience could be predicted to run screaming. "Smalltown" would have been a better choice, IMO. The album as a whole is cluttery and clangy and deliberately rebarbative, but not as cohesive as it feels like it should be, and the highs aren't quite as high as the highs on their other records. This go-round I really grooved on its weirdness - the bizzare prog yee-haw vibe of "Shake You Donkey Up", the offbeat guitarplay in "Wake Up", the aggressive harmonica and in-your-face handclaps on "Reign of Blows". Definitely a "for fans only" kind of affair.

"Wrapped in Grey" one of those connoisseurs' picks that I have never warmed to (same for "Pale and Precious").

always liked "Wrapped in Grey" for the ending, and in very typical Partridge fashion, he lands on a minor 7th, only to go down to the 6th. I also happen to love "resolutions" like that (perhaps because of AP?), and the only other composer who comes to mind that does it a lot as well is Messiaen. Feeling-wise, it's like he ends the song on a confrontational question mark, but then resolves to utter uncertainty. Yay!

x-post

As I presumed, my taste in XTC differs greatly from the other folks who voted. Only 5 of my choices have shown up so far. Not much love for GO2 so far, and way to much for Nonsuch, imo.

best bit of wrapped in grey is the way the second chorus slams in, without that teasing bridge

I don't know who thought "All You Pretty Girls" should have been a single; it's so murky and weird, with the ska-squeezebox carrying the instrumental load in the verses, the artificially harmonized submarine vocals in the chorus, the whistling solo (!) (?) (?!), the offkilter, oft unresolved Irish diddling in the outro... it's a mess.

agree about all this - it sounds like 4 songs mashed together, and the changes are all jarring (isn't the chorus and its plagal cadence in another key altogether from the rest of the song?) It sounds like something from a bad musical about sailing ships.

my favorite on Big Express is actually probably This World Over

17. Summer's Cauldron (1225 points, 14 votes, 2 No. 1 votes))
http://i1086.photobucket.com/albums/j449/HideousLump/XTC%20ILM%20Top%2060/17-SummersCauldron.jpg

first entry with more than 1 no. 1 vote, btw

hopefully not the last!

is this the only XTC song to feature a melodica

Drowning here in summers cauldREEEEEEEEEEEE (enter gorgeous string section)

my favorite on Big Express is actually probably This World Over

― Οὖτις,

Mine too – their attempt at Rush or Police-type arrangements.

I think it's a melodica and not a harmonica in "Smokeless Zone," but not 100% sure.

haha that is not exactly a connection I would have drawn given my loathing for both

xp

have no idea what gear Rundgren/the band used to program those insect sounds, totally hypnotized teenage me

yeah this is an astonishing soundscape above anything else

16. Harvest Festival (1236 points, 14 votes)
http://i1086.photobucket.com/albums/j449/HideousLump/XTC%20ILM%20Top%2060/16-HarvestFestival.jpg

Would loooove a tech boffins rundown of the skylarking sessions

Xposts

haaaa I forgot this one too despite voting for it, my highest AV too

incredible lyric, incredible middle eight

yeah the pining for his lost childhood love at her wedding is very well drawn, this mixture of acceptance and regret and longing and nostalgia

have no idea what gear Rundgren/the band used to program those insect sounds, totally hypnotized teenage me

― Οὖτις, Thursday, October 16, 2014 1:26 PM (30 minutes ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

OTM! When I was listening to/obsessed with Skylarking in 1986-87 (seriously, I listened to it 2-3 times a day for 3-4 months solid), I thought, "Wow, the things they can do with computers! Dig those rhythmic insect sounds!"

When I next listened to Skylarking, 25 years later, I thought, "How the fuck did they do that in 1986?!"

less pining, more basking imo

it's a v emotionally mature overview of the great circle, which is apple venus' overarching concern, manifested here at it most simultaneously cosmic and intimate

I think the conflicted emotions are there - I agree its more positive than wallowing, it is a "mature" sort of song

"That's Really Super, Supergirl" sounds like Scritti Politti.

continuing in the lush orchestral ballads vein

15. Chalkhills and Children (1238 points, 15 votes, 1 No. 1 vote))
http://i1086.photobucket.com/albums/j449/HideousLump/XTC%20ILM%20Top%2060/15-ChalkhillsAndChildren.jpg

Glad to see Seagiulls and Smalltown placing. I love Big Express. Especially after the weaker opening songs are out of the way.

gr8 image

lovely song too. didn't vote for it coz it is almost cheesy but I did say almost

it took me awhile to come around to this song. not in love with organ/keyboard sounds

I always thought this is one of XTC's best songs -- I don't hear cheesy at all, in fact I hear a bit too weighty a sentiment for something that's supposed to be a pretty ballad. Letting go, submitting to one's lot in life, acceptance, but mixed with dreamy nostalgia and even wonder at self-discovery. Also, a great example of how to take Beach Boys influence and not sound like you're just copying the Beach Boys

x-post, re: keys sounds, I think O&L in general suffers from dated sounds (drums are the worst offender for me), but like the Big Express, it does have some of their most ambitious art/pop hybrid songs

Yeah, the overall sonics on O&L were always problematic for me. It was part of the reason that O&L was were I got off the XTC bus.

I did say almost! it grazes a sort of zen unctuousness but just about gets away with it on the strength of music + lyrical imagery

this is one of those O&L songs that is so well constructed it transcends the failings in its execution

yeah ^^this

Listening on headphones at the moment and, yes, the mix has got a lot happening w/out sounding cluttered, fer instance the keyboard line and harmonies.

Chalkhills and Children and Wrapped In Grey were both in my top five. Guess I'm a big fan of their ballads. Both incredibly beautiful songs. I'm not a massive fan of Oranges & Lemons at all but Chalkhills and the artwork are the two reasons I'll always keep that album in my collection.

I can't believe mine was the only number 1 vote for Chalkhills and Children, I thought that would be in the top five at least!

Just going back to The Big Express. The quality of that album is just so all over the place for me. I voted for eight of its songs but the other three I never need to hear again. I've given up hope of Liarbird making it now which ended up being my highest Big Express track.

the extra tracks hurt the album

I can't believe mine was the only number 1 vote for Chalkhills and Children, I thought that would be in the top five at least!

― soref

It was my number two. I'm very surprised it wasn't higher.

more surprises in store folks!

Chalkhills is kind of amazing for being a pop song where a pop singer writes about his kids and also a pop song where a pop singer writes about the hollowness of pop stardom that is not just not terrible but a masterpiece

no "Liarbird", no credibility. Seriously, that song should be part of any XTC primer just on subject matter alone

yeah xp

it is probably the best song I didn't vote for, sorry soref

I suppose this is partly because Partridge is not a 'pop star' in the way of, say, Sting or Phil Collins, no mansion or millions in the bank, but also Chalkhills doesn't sound smug at all, rather someone troubled finding something stable in their life, but song is still troubled and troubling

let's have some jingle jangle rock for a bit

14. Vanishing Girl (1287 points, 15 votes, 1 No. 1 vote))
http://i1086.photobucket.com/albums/j449/HideousLump/XTC%20ILM%20Top%2060/14-VanishingGirl.jpg

commonly referenced as a Hollies homage it's possibly better than any actual individual Hollies song. Insane Macca-esque bass runs through the entire thing, beautiful spangly guitar leads that I assume are Gregory. Production is actually kind of spare compared to a lot of the other Dukes' tracks. The hook and the playing make it such a great opener for the album tho.

the only Dukes track I could stomach tbh

yeah it's good & extremely vivid for its arrangement

impt development: my shuffle just segued immortal technique into 'snowman', collective unconscious respondin'

commonly referenced as a Hollies homage it's possibly better than any actual individual Hollies song.

I feel this way about most of the Dukes stuff

I guess major labels in the 80s really did have money to burn: "Let's get this straight: you haven't had any hits, none of your records have even gone gold, and you want us to release an album by your psychedelic-homage alter-ego under a name not even everyone in your tiny audience would recognize as being you? Sure, no problem!"

Voted Liarbird at #20. But I've placed nothing in the top 20 so far, the XTC ballads don't really do it for me.

guess major labels in the 80s really did have money to burn: "Let's get this straight: you haven't had any hits, none of your records have even gone gold, and you want us to release an album by your psychedelic-homage alter-ego under a name not even everyone in your tiny audience would recognize as being you? Sure, no problem!"

yeah this astounds me. The band and Virgin weren't even sure Skylarking would hit. And I bet even its success was of the treading water kind, allowing them to keep recording or recoup advances.

guess Complicated Game is a ballad, viewed a certain way

pls feel free to skip this overlong, inarticulate post in which I try and fail to explain what i like so much about Chalkhills and Children:

I was thinking about how XTC are a small-c conservative group in some ways, and how Chalkhills and Children is in the sense of valuing tradition, connection to the land and landscape and rooted-ness and family and continuity. I wouldn't call myself a political conservative and I think that's true of most people on ilx, but I do find something emotionally appealing in outlook despite myself and it is expressed so beautifully here, thinking about what works of art you don't agree with and find beauty in?
also: I always think of it as being about mental illness in some way, that terror of feeling disconnected from reality and like there is nothing to cling on to, and finding a temporary stability in these ideas of permanence (but the unsettledness never wholly goes away! the 'here I go again' sob at the end) (the ending is maybe my favourite part? I can't think of another song for which the adjective 'dreamlike' seems so appropriate, and at the ending the song seems to fold in on itself, all these different thoughts and memories and traditions, that sense that he is still a mystery to himself)

inarticulately grasping at something you can't quite pin down does seem sort of appropriate for this song

beautiful post

x-post

XTC's relation to their label was very weird in that the band clearly thought they were underappreciated (and certainly underpaid), and yet, like many of their post-punk peers, without big label support, there is no way they'd have attained the level of success they did. Andy Partridge in particular seems a man out of time in so many respects -- you'd think he'd be at the top of his game today, in the age of DIY and self-releases. But, he's not. He's on Twitter, but releases no more new music either solo or witih XTC. In the 80s, when XTC had management and a pipeline of releases/relationship with their label, I think all concerned parties agreed to go on with the program until the bitter end. Why not? It's not like Virgin was *losing* money on XTC, only that they weren't banking at the level they might have wished. And XTC simply didn't have any other options, due to their contract, and the fact that they really wanted to succeed.

After the strike, and the Apple Venus records (which were really just the unleashing of 90s backlog), it seems clearer to me how much this kind of band needs backing *and* pushing. tho AP probably wouldn't agree with me..

The band and Virgin weren't even sure Skylarking would hit.

And in the US, they were with Geffen, fresh off the Neil Young lawsuit (and before they'd even hit paydirt with Guns n' Roses).

surely age has something to do with that - Andy's noted that in middle age the idea of being in a gang of boys is not as appealing as it is in youth, and that the accompanying competitive drive also wanes

xp

13. No Thugs in our House (1303 points, 15 votes)
http://i1086.photobucket.com/albums/j449/HideousLump/XTC%20ILM%20Top%2060/13-NoThugsInOurHouse.jpg

was surprised by this placing. not a bad song, but not anything I have any special attachment to.

I didn't vote, but this would've been in my top 3.

Dig the "No Thugs" 7" picture sleeve finger-puppet theater!

http://assets.rootsvinylguide.com/pictures/xtc-no-thugs-in-our-house-theatre-pack-7-rare-single_4571807

'his viscous poly-paste breath comes out/their wall-paper world is shattered by his shout' one of their best couplets

This album's side a rage-out, heir to RGTG and No Language. All three are brilliant. Don't lose your temper, Andy!

that couplet continues the WASP metaphor (capitalisation intended) perfectly, a supreme lyric

surely age has something to do with that - Andy's noted that in middle age the idea of being in a gang of boys is not as appealing as it is in youth, and that the accompanying competitive drive also wanes

well sure, and it's not like he hasn't produced more than his fair share of music. I guess I just see a disconnect with so much effort put into getting out of obligations to Virgin, and then shutting down the store once the strike-era songs were out.

My #4 man I love that opening.

if his minor mania for post-Virgin collaborations is any indication he seems to really need other players to bounce off of

xp

'his viscous poly-paste breath comes out/their wall-paper world is shattered by his shout' one of their best couplets

The graphic I used for this song came from a wallpaper catalog. If you listen closely to the picture, you can hear Graham snoring away upstairs.

12. The Wheel & the Maypole (1335 points, 15 votes, 1 No. 1 vote))
http://i1086.photobucket.com/albums/j449/HideousLump/XTC%20ILM%20Top%2060/12-WheelAndTheMaypole.jpg

ha i'd just finished looking up the wallpaper book where you took the graphic from before you shared that.
xpost

My #6. Halfway through you're thinking 'shit me they're ending on a high'. Then the Maypole section comes in and it gets even better. Then he - they - fucking MERGE them and your mind explodes and XTC end

From a recent interview, it sounds like he's still writing plenty on his own but mostly just getting the ideas and fragments down on tape without any real plan at the moment to turn them into full songs. He essentially said that after the perceived (by listeners and himself) quality downturn of Wasp Star, he didn't want to just keep churning them out for their own sake.

Has anybody heard the Powers album yet?

"The Wheel and the Maypole" I discovered weeks ago at you guys' recommendation and have never regretted it. The song never stops finding new melodic curlicues.

I heard some youtube clips but the album itself was pressed in such limited quantities and it doesn't seem to be available digitally that I kinda doubt I'll ever be able to hear the whole thing

xp

Bass playing on psonic psunspot is delicious and amazing

Bass playing on all XTC is amazing. Andy and Colin finding each other one of those bizarre and thankful coincidences that pop sometimes throws up

I'm the same as Alfred re maypole. Heard it the other week and it soared to the top 5 of my ballot

That's Wasp Star's only entry, right? It is the most notable song on the record, but I mainly think it would be a much better record with more Dave - the thinness of the arrangements is the biggest problem.

Playground a lock for top 5 ;)

The record starts and ends well imo, but gets slightly lost in the middle - and by slightly I mean rather

No thugs one of those tracks that was not gonna be on my ballot at all until I actually listened to it again and it just rocks so hard, as hard as anything on Black Sea.

Bass playing on all XTC is amazing. Andy and Colin finding each other one of those bizarre and thankful coincidences that pop sometimes throws up

― Ƹ༑Ʒ (imago), Thursday, October 16, 2014 4:17 PM (3 minutes ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

I always thought Colin played some brilliant shit, but didn't Andy recently claim to have actually written most of those lines?

what?!

colin played fretless which always made me revere him a bit more

I'm sure Andy gave some guidance to Colin but "written" and "most" is surely a bridge too far

I had Stupidly Happy at 16. Looks bleak.

I threw Stupidly Happy right at the bottom of mine because cmon it's like a big puppy wanting you to love it

Yeah, I'll have to look for the interview, but I remember Andy saying something snarky like, "Everyone likes the bass on 'Mayor of Simpleton,' but I wrote it!"

xp haha, big puppy. well said.

the bassline on Mayor of Simpleton seems too intricate for anybody besides the bass player to have written it imo but what do I know

Think I found it. This is an interview Todd Bernhardt did with Andy for a now-defunct myspace blog (quoted here:

AP: [chuckles] People do these survey things, and say, "Let's vote for Colin's best bass line" or something, and they don't realize that the two bass lines they vote for -- "Vanishing Girl" and "Mayor of Simpleton" -- it's me playing bass on "Vanishing Girl"...

TB: Oh, I didn't know that.

AP: Yeah. Or "What in the World?" -- that's me playing bass as well.

TB: Get out of here!

AP: That's me on bass -- Colin's on rhythm guitar.

TB: And you came up with that bass line?

AP: Yeah.

TB: That's funny -- I've always thought that was him channeling McCartney.

AP: No, we had to cut it live. He obviously couldn't play the bass and the rhythm guitar, and I didn't know how the chords went, so instead of him teaching me the chords, I said, "Look, you play the chords, I'll play the bass, and we'll get this thing done before lunchtime!"

But the one they mention is "Mayor," and Colin had to work very hard to get that bass line. It's very precise. It took me a long time to work it out, because I wanted to get into the J.S. Bach mode of each note being the perfect counterpoint to where the chords are and where the melody is. The bass is the third part in the puzzle.

omg! :D

What In The World??... is my favourite Dukes song, mostly for that bassline

I always thought it was the most obscene abomination of a song that is trash, that is dirt, that is filth. I don't know what possessed them to write such a disgusting, degeneratized song as that. And I'm complimenting them by considering it a song.

wha

t in the world

ok I had no idea that's Andy on "Vanishing Girl" that's nuts

Well, lines Andy wrote notwithstanding, Colin Moulding is a pretty faultless bass player. Such great feel, very melodic player, and just generally doing the right thing at the right time. I think I read he turned down a touring gig with Pink Floyd?

Don't lose yr temper
Chain of command
Take This Town
Smokeless zone

There's a pretty interesting video online where Partridge talks about his guitar playing, and he spent a good bit of time talking about how he seeks out chords that reinforce the bassline.
It's kind of a guitar geek type video, but he talks about the bass more than any other similar-type video I have seen.

still it's the songwriting that carries the day, not who wrote what bit.

11. Grass (1347 points, 16 votes)
http://i1086.photobucket.com/albums/j449/HideousLump/XTC%20ILM%20Top%2060/11-Grass.jpg

If I had voted, No Thugs would have been my #2

this song's really ruuuude *giggles*

always liked the video for this one

altho I don't think I ever saw it at the time of release, only years later on the youtubez

the one Skylarking video I *did* see at the time was Dear God, which is pretty stupid

So is that it for Skylarking? Would love to see Mermaid Smiled make it but can't really see it placing now. Maybe Earn Enough For Us might sneak it.

quite glad it didn't make the top 10 tho as imo it's one of the least interesting songs on skylarking. that is the only negativity you'll see from me for the rest of the poll tho

earn enough will be in the top 10, absolute lock. didn't vote for it but 100% sure

There's a video for "Grass" ?! (rushes to youtube)

the one Skylarking video I *did* see at the time was Dear God, which is pretty stupid

Ha, yeah, I saw it around the time of release too, and it's pretty terrible. 120 Minutes also showed "Senses Working Overtime" once as a "cult classic" clip.

Still not sure what's going to make the top 10. A lot of songs I thought were certain to make it have already placed (Grass, Chalkhills, Wrapped In Grey and Summer's Cauldron) I think Black Sea is going to do very well, can see maybe five songs from it placing.

I'm concerned that my number one isn't going to sneak in there. There are lots of notable Black Sea songs to go.

10 of my predicted 'certs' left:

senses
nigel
lungs
street
majors
towers
earn
mole
hop
real

real by reel may be fanciful tho

My number one's from Apple Venus.....

easter theatre i guess

that was in my 'maybes' list

Battery Brides
Tissue Tigers
Take This Town

Easter Theatre will defiantly make it.

life begins at the hop isn't that good so maybe ilx has mercifully refrained (i was lying about no more negativity ;))

battery brides being top 10 would make my day

Would love 'Easter Theatre' to make the top 10. Given up hope of my #1 placing though.

Life Begins at the Hop is great. Is there any chance Senses is not that popular on here?

whoooooa

10. Towers of London (1426 points, 17 votes, 1 No. 1 vote))
http://i1086.photobucket.com/albums/j449/HideousLump/XTC%20ILM%20Top%2060/10-TowersOfLondon.jpg

good song, love the double-take middle-eight with those diddly keyboards contrasting the industrial thump of the rest of the song

I saw them on the Black Sea. Real highlight of my high school show going days. Towers was great, esp. Dave G's beautiful guitar fill just before the "Londinium" part. Still gives me chills.

strikes me as odd that Andy didn't insist on doing a more literal "construction"-sort of arrangement of this song, with parts being gradually added/accumulating, rather than the full barrel bang-n-clang from the first beat approach that they went with. It just seems like the kind of thing he would do.

too low. holy crap, I've never know anyone that saw them.

**Black Sea Tour***

ok wanna get this done before leaving for home so the top 10 are gonna come a little quicker

**Black Sea Tour***

!!!

I had a tape of their Cleveland show from that tour, and it was a blinder.

I also read that they were among the loudest bands of their era -- nearly Who-like in volume. Was that your experience?

Don't remember that Montgomery. It was at the Aragon Ballroom in Chicago so the acoustics were shit anyway.

Oh haha, yeah, I've seen a few shows there, and I've never seen one that didn't sound completely awful.

The BBC Radio 1 live disc sounds great, lots of Black Sea and before songs

I was away and missed the bulk of the top 20. Vanishing Girl was my #1 simply due to the fact that it's spent a solid couple months lodged in my head. It is the mother of all earworms

it's been retrospectively ruined a bit by sounding like 'the lion sleeps tonight', but fuck disney so yeah #1 accepted

9. Easter Theatre (1444 points, 16 votes, 1 No. 1 vote))
http://i1086.photobucket.com/albums/j449/HideousLump/XTC%20ILM%20Top%2060/09-EasterTheatre.jpg

Towers my #1. Such a breathtaking middle-eight.

Vanishing Girl...It's one of the catchiest choruses of all time.

when i first heard av vol 1 aged, what, 12 or 13, this was the mindblower. i played it to all my classmates. they were all 'ew wtf chocolate nipple brown'. but it was such a song! having the guitar solo after the first chorus and getting all *intense* after the second was kinda genius

Easter Theatre is such an incredible and beautiful song. Very happy to see it so high.

tbf of Apple Venus' big orchestral blowouts I slightly favour Greenman but fully understand why Easter Theatre is 'the one'

Vanishing Girl...It's one of the catchiest choruses of all time.

Yeah, I'd say so. I haven't heard it since 1988, and I can still remember how it goes.

8. The Mayor of Simpleton (1448 points, 17 votes, 2 No. 1 votes))
http://i1086.photobucket.com/albums/j449/HideousLump/XTC%20ILM%20Top%2060/08-MayorOfSimpleton.jpg

listening to this right now. it's pretty but wayyy too slick. or is that its appeal? will i yield in 15 listens' time

Sigh...

second listen and yeah that bassline is doing strange things to me

Had no idea this was so popular.

I batted around Street and Towers and Nigel as #1's for a minute, and then I realized 'oh wait, it's Simpleton'.

certs:

senses
nigel
lungs
street
majors
earn

surely, BUT...maybe not somehow?:

mole

WYAGM Albert Brown

What this is?

So many great songs that aren't even going to place!

That is how great they are

But yet so many marginal songs that did place...

it's all fairly uncontroversial bangerz from here on out tbf

x-post

yeah! I guess we should cover the also rans on the ILXTC song compilation

Didn't they release a single under the name The Fairly Uncontroversial Bangerz?

lol @ everyone who's surprised by this placing, even in the top 10. Mayor of Simpleton is one of the tentpoles of the XTC discog.

7. No Language in Our Lungs (1456 points, 17 votes, 1 No. 1 vote))
http://i1086.photobucket.com/albums/j449/HideousLump/XTC%20ILM%20Top%2060/07-NoLanguageInOurLungs.jpg

Photos have been brilliant throughout the countdown, but that one is absolutely killer.

^^

my #5

it's just... fucking enormous

I love everything about No Language in Our Lungs, and think it says as much about this subject as anyone has ever said -- which is saying something!

in fact, this being #7 means I'll probably have major problems with the top 5

will forever associate this song with:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8htYS8mf8iY

voice as instrument
guitar as voice
ineloquence as eloquence
eloquence as blunt instrument
all as nothing

This was also my number 5. I thought this might have a good shot at winning. One of my favourite guitar solos ever.

haha i'd forgotten that kooky keyboard bit just before the middle eight :D

will forever associate this song with:

I saw this when it aired and fell off the couch in shock. It's XTC! On a US network TV show!

xpost Poor Bill!

as a guy who was perennially picked last for any sports team AND an XTC fan that scene really hits home

Seriously.

6. Generals and Majors (1477 points, 18 votes)
http://i1086.photobucket.com/albums/j449/HideousLump/XTC%20ILM%20Top%2060/06-GeneralsAndMajors.jpg

sliiiightly regret putting this behind Travels In Nihilon on my ballot now, but I had to really

oh shit a new song! yeah this one's rly good as well, voted. language is BETTER but this was the single so fair enough

kinda wanna read Kriegstein's Sgt. Rock story tbh

xp

So, my brother and I have both always thought that Suede totally stole the bridge from Generals and Majors for the chorus of Moving. Never really seen anyone else comment on it. Is it just us?

listening to G&M just now I did the 'Hey!' and timed it perfectly :D

these are the songs of my childhood. like, this is a big deal

this song is good n catchy and polemical in the right way. at the same time it is oddly simple for an XTC song - like, upon giving it a try, I figured out how to play it almost immediately.

it's not oddly simple for a colin moulding song imo - he always played it way straighter. not that that's a bad thing with the playing talent at his disposal

5. Making Plans for Nigel (1650 points, 19 votes)
http://i1086.photobucket.com/albums/j449/HideousLump/XTC%20ILM%20Top%2060/05-MakingPlansForNigel.jpg

lol @ everyone thinking this would win

only slightly disappointed that song image does not involve Nigel Tufnel

anyway, seeya colin, u were a good songwriter

Is Life Begins at the Hop really going to miss out?

oh shit maybe not

welcome back colin

but then how is mole going to miss out? guess it's too silly/obv beatles pastiche for ilx ;)

i did not feel the need to vote for making plans for nigel, but it is undeniably a 'glorious slice of catchy post-punk' or whatever u call it nowadays

Apart from Respectable Street I'm not sure what else is going to make it. I guess Senses is going to place, I'm just not a massive fan so wouldn't mind if it missed out.

I thought Paper and Iron would definitely make the list but can't really see it being this high.

i am going to prepare an extra long senses writeup just for u kitchen person

senses
street
earn
life begins from the ministry

4. Life Begins at the Hop (1688 points, 19 votes, 2 No. 1 votes))
http://i1086.photobucket.com/albums/j449/HideousLump/XTC%20ILM%20Top%2060/04-LifeBeginsAtTheHop.jpg

delicious luncheon beef

http://talprid.net/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/mole-dead-1.jpg

Hurray! Wonderful song.

never knew there was a video for this one too
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7vq1U8BKsEw

which is actually p amusing

3. Earn Enough For Us (1798 points, 20 votes, 2 No. 1 votes))
http://i1086.photobucket.com/albums/j449/HideousLump/XTC%20ILM%20Top%2060/03-EarnEnoughForUs.jpg

This is a brilliant top 10 so far.

again, didn't vote for this but it's quite obviously a great song

the order of the last two is important though

Mole first then Street?

ban

2. Respectable Street (1870 points, 22 votes)
http://i1086.photobucket.com/albums/j449/HideousLump/XTC%20ILM%20Top%2060/02-RespectableStreet.jpg

this song was in the top 10 from the get-go and hovered very close to the top the entire time, despite not receiving any no. 1 votes. but it was on over 2/3rds of the ballots and that added up.

1! 2! 3! 4! 5!

why delay the inevitable any longer

1. Senses Working Overtime (2295 points, 25 votes, 3 No. 1 votes))
http://i1086.photobucket.com/albums/j449/HideousLump/XTC%20ILM%20Top%2060/01-SensesWorkingOvertime.jpg

this was no.1 from the beginning and never budged.

whoa, landslide

That vegetable man is giving me the creeps.

thanks for the poll and rollout!

right, so

senses working overtime. it's their biggest hit, their best song. how often does that happen? wasn't quite sure where to put it on my ballot (had it at #3 originally) but on listening to it i couldn't do anything other than promote it all the way. it's everything andy partridge has striven for in a smidge under five minutes. his raison d'etre, his apotheosis. his perfect synthesis of raucous post-punk and exquisite pastoral englishness. a song of absurd & multiplying riches, a song of mounting glories that get better even when you think they surely cannot. it's got the uncertain, coy opening, the awesome-stupid surreal lyrics, the shimmering, luminous musicianship, the ensemble ingenuity, the astonishing, rollicking middle-eight, the bird field recordings (for what are xtc other than interpreted english birdsong?), the miraculous bridge and above all that goddamned chorus, which i could hear forever - it's an elemental piece of english/british music, a monument of pop and of course one of the greatest songs ever written. the public had taste, once ;)

Nice writeup. Still think there's at least 80 better XTC songs.

some other quick details:

- 174(!) songs received votes
- 11 of these were from Fuzzy Warbles, which was decidedly underrepresented in the ballots, for whatever reason (I suspect most fans have not slogged through all 9 volumes, but there really are a lot of gems there, including):
126. Wonder Annual (166 points, 2 votes)
127. Ship Trapped in the Ice (164 points, 2 votes)
142. When We Get to England (99 points, 2 votes)
143. Young Cleopatra (96 points, 1 votes)
150. Born Out Of Your Mouth (85 points, 1 votes)
153. The Bland Leading The Bland (82 points, 1 votes)
TIE 156. Young Marrieds (76 points, 1 votes)
158. I'm Unbecome (73 points, 1 votes)
TIE 161. Tiny Circus Of Life (70 points, 1 votes)
169. Spiral (24 points, 1 votes)
172. Dame Fortune (16 points, 1 votes)

Tried to vote "Summer's Cauldron/Grass" as my #1 - it wound up pushing "Grass" to #2 (and the incredible/indelible "Garden of Earthly Delights" to #3. Was totally robbed IMO).

"Hop" and "Thugs" both vastly superior in their Transistor Blast renditions (and both placed high on my ballot based on those versions); that boxset immortal for those 2 cuts alone.

I called "senses" at #1 in the noms thread & was roundly rebuffed. Take that, ye haters of divinely inspired pop!

Great poll, thanks Οὖτις!

Yeah this was a great poll. Thanks so much for running it!

Full results list:

1. Senses Working Overtime (2295 points, 25 votes, 3 No. 1 votes))
2. Respectable Street (1870 points, 22 votes)
3. Earn Enough For Us (1798 points, 20 votes, 2 No. 1 votes))
4. Life Begins at the Hop (1688 points, 19 votes, 2 No. 1 votes))
5. Making Plans for Nigel (1650 points, 19 votes)
6. Generals and Majors (1477 points, 18 votes)
7. No Language in Our Lungs (1456 points, 17 votes, 1 No. 1 vote))
8. The Mayor of Simpleton (1448 points, 17 votes, 2 No. 1 votes))
9. Easter Theatre (1444 points, 16 votes, 1 No. 1 vote))
10. Towers of London (1426 points, 17 votes, 1 No. 1 vote))
11. Grass (1347 points, 16 votes)
12. The Wheel & the Maypole (1335 points, 15 votes, 1 No. 1 vote))
13. No Thugs in our House (1303 points, 15 votes)
14. Vanishing Girl (1287 points, 15 votes, 1 No. 1 vote))
15. Chalkhills and Children (1238 points, 15 votes, 1 No. 1 vote))
16. Harvest Festival (1236 points, 14 votes)
17. Summer's Cauldron (1225 points, 14 votes, 2 No. 1 votes))
18. Wrapped in Grey (1151 points, 13 votes, 1 No. 1 vote))
19. Complicated Game (1124 points, 13 votes)
20. Love On A Farmboy's Wages (1116 points, 14 votes, 1 No. 1 vote))
21. Jason and the Argonauts (1084 points, 13 votes, 1 No. 1 vote))
22. Ball and Chain (1073 points, 14 votes)
TIE 23. The Meeting Place (985 points, 12 votes)
TIE 23. Snowman (985 points, 11 votes, 1 No. 1 vote))
24. Ballet For A Rainy Day (975 points, 12 votes)
25. You’re The Wish You Are I Had (950 points, 12 votes)
26. Rocket from a Bottle (937 points, 12 votes)
27. Helicopter (917 points, 12 votes)
28. When You're Near Me I Have Difficulty (912 points, 12 votes)
29. Then She Appeared (876 points, 12 votes)
30. King For a Day (861 points, 11 votes, 1 No. 1 vote))
31. Season Cycle (858 points, 10 votes)
32. That's Really Super, Supergirl (854 points, 11 votes)
33. This Is Pop? (847 points, 10 votes, 1 No. 1 vote))
34. Another Satellite (835 points, 10 votes, 1 No. 1 vote))
35. Yacht Dance (817 points, 9 votes)
36. Burning With Optimism's Flames (812 points, 10 votes)
37. River of Orchids (801 points, 10 votes)
38. 1000 Umbrellas (797 points, 10 votes, 1 No. 1 vote))
39. Great Fire (794 points, 10 votes)
40. Seagulls Screaming Kiss Her, Kiss Her (763 points, 10 votes)
41. The Disappointed (758 points, 9 votes)
42. Wake Up (750 points, 10 votes)
43. Are You Receiving Me? (743 points, 11 votes)
44. (The Everyday Story of) Smalltown (736 points, 9 votes)
45. Travels in Nihilon (720 points, 8 votes)
46. My Bird Performs (718 points, 10 votes)
47. Sacrificial Bonfire (656 points, 8 votes, 1 No. 1 vote))
48. Sgt Rock (Is Going To Help Me) (654 points, 8 votes)
49. Statue of Liberty (648 points, 9 votes)
50. Beating Of Hearts (644 points, 9 votes, 1 No. 1 vote))
TIE 51. Greenman (640 points, 8 votes)
TIE 51. Runaways (640 points, 9 votes)
52. The Ballad of Peter Pumpkinhead (615 points, 8 votes)
53. Roads Girdle the Globe (613 points, 8 votes)
54. Pale and Precious (602 points, 8 votes, 1 No. 1 vote))
55. Dear Madam Barnum (599 points, 9 votes)
56. English Roundabout (586 points, 8 votes)
57. Brainiac's Daughter (583 points, 8 votes)
58. Dear God (569 points, 8 votes, 1 No. 1 vote))
59. Ten Feet Tall (559 points, 7 votes)
60. I'd Like That (556 points, 8 votes)
61. I Bought Myself a Liarbird (550 points, 8 votes)
62. The Man Who Sailed Around His Soul (537 points, 7 votes)
63. Scarecrow People (519 points, 7 votes)
64. Mermaid Smiled (510 points, 7 votes)
65. Paper and Iron (Notes and Coins) (509 points, 7 votes, 1 No. 1 vote))
66. I Remember the Sun (506 points, 8 votes, 1 No. 1 vote))
67. Little Lighthouse (487 points, 7 votes)
68. What In The World??... (480 points, 6 votes)
69. Battery Brides (471 points, 6 votes)
70. Wonderland (461 points, 5 votes)
71. Science Friction (454 points, 7 votes)
72. This World Over (445 points, 7 votes)
73. Garden of Earthly Delights (442 points, 6 votes)
74. Tissue Tigers (The Arguers) (437 points, 5 votes, 1 No. 1 vote))
75. Rook (436 points, 6 votes)
76. Poor Skeleton Steps Out (426 points, 6 votes)
77. Scissor Man (406 points, 6 votes)
78. Bike Ride to the Moon (391 points, 6 votes)
79. The Last Balloon (385 points, 6 votes)
80. Ladybird (380 points, 4 votes, 1 No. 1 vote))
81. Love At First Sight (377 points, 5 votes)
82. I Can't Own Her (376 points, 5 votes)
83. One Of The Millions (374 points, 7 votes)
84. Playground (373 points, 6 votes)
85. Neon Shuffle (357 points, 4 votes)
86. That Wave (344 points, 5 votes)
87. Across This Antheap (341 points, 6 votes)
88. Living Through Another Cuba (336 points, 5 votes)
89. All of a Sudden (It's Too Late) (329 points, 5 votes)
90. All You Pretty Girls (327 points, 4 votes)
TIE 91. The Mole from the Ministry (309 points, 5 votes)
TIE 91. Stupidly Happy (309 points, 4 votes)
92. Your Gold Dress (299 points, 4 votes)
93. Red Brick Dream (280 points, 5 votes)
94. She’s So Square (279 points, 4 votes)
95. Dying (278 points, 4 votes)
96. Red (274 points, 4 votes)
97. Funk Pop a Roll (273 points, 4 votes)
98. Chain of Command (267 points, 4 votes)
TIE 99. Radios in Motion (264 points, 5 votes)
TIE 99. Meccanik Dancing (Oh We Go!) (264 points, 4 votes)
100. Punch and Judy (258 points, 4 votes)
TIE 101. Real by Reel (255 points, 4 votes)
TIE 101. 25 O'Clock (255 points, 4 votes)
102. Crocodile (253 points, 4 votes)
103. Smokeless Zone (251 points, 3 votes)
104. Knuckle Down (249 points, 3 votes)
105. Miniature Sun (246 points, 3 votes)
106. Pulsing Pulsing (237 points, 3 votes)
TIE 107. My Love Explodes (236 points, 3 votes)
TIE 107. Bungalow (236 points, 3 votes)
108. Me And The Wind (230 points, 3 votes)
TIE 109. Humble Daisy (228 points, 3 votes)
TIE 109. Merely a Man (228 points, 3 votes)
110. You're My Drug (226 points, 3 votes)
111. The Ugly Underneath (218 points, 3 votes)
112. Beatown (213 points, 3 votes)
113. Fly On the Wall (210 points, 3 votes)
114. In Another Life (207 points, 3 votes)
115. Deliver Us From The Elements (200 points, 3 votes)
116. The Loving (199 points, 3 votes)
117. Train Running Low on Soul Coal (197 points, 3 votes)
118. Reign of blows (193 points, 3 votes)
TIE 119. The Rhythm (189 points, 3 votes)
TIE 119. It's Nearly Africa (189 points, 2 votes)
120. Your Dictionary (187 points, 3 votes)
121. Hold Me My Daddy (185 points, 3 votes)
TIE 122. You're a Good Man Albert Brown (Curse You Red Barrel) (177 points, 3 votes)
TIE 122. Don’t Lose Your Temper (177 points, 2 votes)
TIE 122. In Loving Memory of a Name (177 points, 3 votes)
123. The Affiliated (173 points, 3 votes)
124. Outside World (171 points, 3 votes)
TIE 125. Cross Wires (170 points, 2 votes)
TIE 125. The Somnambulist (170 points, 2 votes)
126. Wonder Annual (166 points, 2 votes)
127. Ship Trapped in the Ice (164 points, 2 votes)
128. Hang on to the Night (159 points, 2 votes)
129. Heatwave (158 points, 2 votes)
130. Blame the Weather (157 points, 2 votes)
131. Pink Thing (155 points, 3 votes)
132. Melt the Guns (152 points, 2 votes)
133. Day In Day Out (147 points, 3 votes)
134. Shake You Donkey Up (145 points, 3 votes)
135. The Smartest Monkeys (142 points, 2 votes)
136. Instant Tunes (133 points, 2 votes)
137. I'm the Man Who Murdered Love (115 points, 3 votes)
138. Jump (112 points, 2 votes)
139. Knights In Shining Karma (109 points, 2 votes)
140. I set myself on fire (104 points, 2 votes)
141. Wait Till Your Boat Goes Down (102 points, 2 votes)
142. When We Get to England (99 points, 2 votes)
143. Young Cleopatra (96 points, 1 votes)
TIE 144. Dance Band (93 points, 1 votes)
TIE 144. Life Is Good In The Greenhouse (93 points, 1 votes)
145. All along the watchtower (91 points, 1 votes)
146. Leisure (89 points, 1 votes)
147. That is the way (88 points, 1 votes)
TIE 148. super-tuff (87 points, 1 votes)
TIE 148. Shiny Cage (87 points, 1 votes)
TIE 149. Take This Town (86 points, 1 votes)
TIE 149. Extrovert (86 points, 2 votes)
150. Born Out Of Your Mouth (85 points, 1 votes)
151. Buzzcity Talking (84 points, 1 votes)
152. Down in the Cockpit (83 points, 1 votes)
153. The Bland Leading The Bland (82 points, 1 votes)
154. Books Are Burning (80 points, 1 votes)
155. Heaven Is Paved With Broken Glass (77 points, 1 votes)
TIE 156. Big Day (76 points, 2 votes)
TIE 156. Young Marrieds (76 points, 1 votes)
TIE 156. Thanks for Christmas (76 points, 2 votes)
157. Sleepyheads/Looking For Footprints (75 points, 1 votes)
158. I'm Unbecome (73 points, 1 votes)
TIE 159. Cynical Days (72 points, 2 votes)
TIE 159. Terrorism (72 points, 1 votes)
TIE 160. New Broom (71 points, 1 votes)
TIE 160. You and the Clouds Will Still be Beautiful (71 points, 2 votes)
TIE 161. Tiny Circus Of Life (70 points, 1 votes)
TIE 161. Frost Circus (70 points, 1 votes)
162. Desert Island (61 points, 1 votes)
163. Holly up on poppy (59 points, 1 votes)
TIE 164. Into the atom age (51 points, 1 votes)
TIE 164. The World Is Full Of Angry Young Men (51 points, 1 votes)
165. We're All Light (47 points, 2 votes)
166. Boarded Up (43 points, 1 votes)
167. Church of Women (41 points, 1 votes)
168. Have You Seen Jackie? (39 points, 1 votes)
169. Spiral (24 points, 1 votes)
170. Gold (20 points, 1 votes)
171. New Town Animal (19 points, 2 votes)
172. Dame Fortune (16 points, 1 votes)
173. Collideascope (10 points, 1 votes)
174. President Kill (1 point, 1 vote

yh thanks Nobody and thanks Lump the Graphics Bear too!

Thank you sir for this undertaking.

this was really interesting to run as it seems like this was one of the more unpredictable catalogs to poll. I was curious how the late period stuff would fare against the early period, and yet not surprised at all that Senses - which is p much right in the middle both aesthetically and chronologically - took the top spot. It's not my personal favorite but it makes sense that it would split the difference and get the general consensus votes; it appeals to both sides. It was interesting that the pastoral/orchestral ballads all got grouped together just outside the top 10. For awhile it looked like Wheel & the Maypole would be in the top 5 but it got shunted down as more early period-heavy ballots came in at the last minute.

if this makes anyone more appreciative of the breadth and depth of this band then mission accomplished afaic

what I will say is that you messed up the tied votes and that both ten feet tall and i'd like that can gtfo of the top 60 ;)

this was a lot of fun. thank you Οὖτις and Hideous Lump!

yeah amazing graphics! Well done.

awesome, man. Thanks!

This poll also helped me deal with ambivalences about the band, mostly by listening the shit out of the music.

Young Cleopatra highest ranking song with only 1 vote. Voter come out & explain yourself please.

Ladybird lowest ranking song with a no.1 vote.

President Kill was my no. 100, although if I'd remembered the Dukes or ever listened to the Warbles it would have been gone, gone from the list....

Stats:

Single most associated with XTC: "Making Plans for Nigel"
Biggest early eighties college hit: "Senses Working Overtime."
Exposure hit: "Dear God"
Biggest US hit: "The Mayor of Simpleton"

there is no language in our stats

Didn't vote as there's way too much I haven't heard or only heard once. But had I voted "Runaways" and "Greenman" would both be higher, and no longer tied. Also very surprised that "Love at First Sight" was so low.

Should have voted for Ladybird myself; it's absolutely lovely but not one of the songs I grew up with & hasn't *completely* clicked into place yet - it's definitely one of those I considered though. I know exactly who made it their #1, I think, although I notice it had an extremely high average placement - maybe the highest here for a song with multiple voters

Here's my list, bolded didn't poll. I think my surprise was how unloved the 90s releases are in general, and also, I expected White Music/Go2/Drums and Wires to have a bigger showing, given how often they are cited as icons of the new wave era. I like Mummer more than I thought, and hell, even The Big Express has Liarbird. Still no love for the Dukes records though.

1 The Mayor of Simpleton
2 Respectable Street
3 Making Plans for Nigel
4 No Thugs in Our House
5 The Ballad of Peter Pumpkinhead
6 Towers of London
7 Runaways
8 My Bird Performs Nonsuch
9 Your Dictionary Apple Venus
10 Earn Enough for Us
11 The Disappointed
12 Life Begins at the Hop
13 Ball and Chain
14 This Is Pop
15 Senses Working Overtime
16 Stupidly Happy Wasp Star
17 Then She Appeared
18 King for a Day
19 Crocodile Nonsuch
20 I Bought Myself a Liarbird The Big Express
21 Garden of Earthly Delights Oranges & Lemons
22 That's Really Super, Supergirl
23 Merely a Man Oranges & Lemons
24 I'd Like That
25 Dear Madam Barnum
26 Dear God
27 Generals and Majors
28 Scarecrow People Oranges & Lemons
29 Science Friction White Music
30 Sgt. Rock (Is Going To Help Me)
31 Grass
32 Paper and Iron (Notes and Coins) Black Sea
33 River of Orchids
34 Beating of Hearts
35 Are You Receiving Me?
36 Great Fire
37 When You're Near Me I Have Difficulty
38 Funk Pop A Roll Mummer
39 Living Through Another Cuba Black Sea
40 One of the Millions Oranges & Lemons

The big scandal of this poll is the poor showing for 25 O'Clock. I mean, what in the world??

68. What In The World??...
78. Bike Ride to the Moon
91. The Mole from the Ministry
92. Your Gold Dress
101. 25 O'Clock
107. My Love Explodes

i tried!

So did I! 4 out of 6 25 O'Clock songs made my ballot!

My top 50:

1. Beating of Hearts
2. Generals and Majors
3. It's Nearly Africa
4. Earn Enough for Us
5. Wrapped in Grey
6. Sacrificial Bonfire
7. Yacht Dance
8. 25 O'Clock
9. Wake Up
10. Green Man
11. Love on a Farmboy's Wages
12. Chain of Command
13. Senses Working Overtime
14. Vanishing Girl
15. Red
16. Life Begins at the Hop
17. Are You Receiving Me
18. Pulsing Pulsing
19. Another Satellite
20. Towers of London
21. King for a Day
22. Travels in Nihilon
23. Blame the Weather
24. Garden of Earthly Delights
25. Science Friction
26. Melt the Guns
27. Man Who Sailed Around His Soul, The
28. What in the World
29. Terrorism [Home Demo]
30. Mayor of Simpleton, The
31. Scarecrow People
32. Fly on the Wall
33. Crocodile
34. In Loving Memory of a Name
35. My Love Explodes
36. Little Lighthouse
37. Radios in Motion
38. Ballet for a Rainy Day
39. Rocket from a Bottle
40. Jump
41. Merely a Man
42. I Bought Myself a Liarbird
43. Pale and Precious
44. Roads Girdle the Globe
45. In Another Life
46. Bike Ride to the Moon
47. Poor Skeleton Steps Out
48. Helicopter
49. Dear Madam Barnum
50. Shake You Donkey Up

#51 to 75, unranked:
Chalkhills and Children
Collideascope
Complicated Game
Cross Wires
English Roundabout
Everyday Story of Smalltown, The
Funk Pop a Roll
I'd Like That
Instant Tunes
Jason and the Argonauts
Ladybird
Making Plans for Nigel
Meeting Place
My Bird Performs
No Thugs in Our House
Playground
Punch and Judy
Red Brick Dream
Reel by Real
Respectable Street
River of Orchids
Statue of Liberty
Summer's Cauldron
Take This Town
Washaway

#76 to 100, unranked:
Ball and Chain
Ballad of Peter Pumpkinhead, The
Down in the Cockpit
Extrovert
Fruit Nut
Happy Families
Harvest Festival
Heaven Is Paved with Broken Glass
Knights in Shining Karma
Miniature Sun
My Brown Guitar
Neon Shuffle
No Language in Our Lungs
Pink Thing
Rhythm, The
Runaways
Season Cycle
Smartest Monkeys, The
Smokeless Zone
Thanks for Christmas
This Is Pop
This World Over
Wheel and the Maypole, The
World Is Full of Angry Young Men, The
You're the Wish You Are I Had

Incredible that 'You're The Wish You Are I Had' made the Top 60 and 'Train Running Low On Soul Coal' didn't. 'The Wheel and The Maypole' was my #1.

XTC fandom is so personal and particular that it wouldn't surprise me if we all have at least one song in our top 10 that barely received any other votes.

143. Young Cleopatra (96 points, 1 votes)
TIE 144. Dance Band (93 points, 1 votes)
TIE 144. Life Is Good In The Greenhouse (93 points, 1 votes)
145. All along the watchtower (91 points, 1 votes)

^^^top tens with unique votes

i was one of these

I was too.

Great poll, thanks Οὖτις for running it, and thanks Hideous for really delightful artwork -- it caught the spirit of the band perfectly imo.

With about 2 days left to vote and almost no new listening achieved, I wound up just ranking Waxworks, Beeswax and "Respectable St." "Senses" ended up higher on my ballot than I initially thought it would.

1. Life Begins at the Hop
2. Making Plans for Nigel
3. Science Friction
4. This Is Pop?
5. She’s So Square
6. Are You Receiving Me?
7. Towers of London
8. Dance Band
9. Pulsing Pulsing
10. Generals and Majors
11. Wait Till Your Boat Goes Down
12. Respectable Street
13. Senses Working Overtime
14. Ball and Chain
15. She’s So Square
16. Heatwave
17. Instant Tunes
18. Statue of Liberty
19. Smokeless Zone
20. Don’t Lose Your Temper
21. The Somnambulist
22. Blame the Weather
23. Tissue Tigers
24. Heaven Is Paved With Broken Glass
25. Sgt. Rock Is Going to Help Me
26. Punch and Judy
27. Hang On to the Night

listening to some White Music deep cuts...they're really good, shit!

Points per album:

Skylarking (12,224)
Black Sea (10,574)
English Settlement (10,084)
Non-LP (6,924)
Drums & Wires (6,842)
Oranges & Lemons (6,735)
Nonsuch (6,713)
Apple Venus (5,734)
The Big Express (5,562)
Mummer (4,275)
Psonic Psunspot (3,671)
White Music (2,551)
Wasp Star (2,541)
25 O'Clock (1,970)
Go 2 (1,675)
Fuzzy Warbles (1,003)