143-611: The Official Fuzzy Warbles Collector's Album is a CD box set of rarities from XTC guitarist and frontman Andy Partridge . The box set brings together the eight previously released Fuzzy Warbles volumes, originally issued between 2002 and 2006 and featuring designs inspired by postage stamps . The Collector's Album packaging makes a nod to the philatelic theme which it affirms by featuring an exclusive ninth disc called Hinges . The large volume of material dates back to 1979. Tracks include mastered versions of long-circulated bootlegs and many demos of previously unreleased songs. Many of
286-528: A 40-piece band [that failed to] match the mathematical precision of [the arrangements] [...] The [recordings had to be sampled], cut and pasted together to achieve the " Vaughan Williams with a hard-on" sound required. By late 1997, Partridge and Moulding had amassed a large stockpile of material. The former's songs were an elaboration on the more orchestral style he developed with Nonsuch tracks "Omnibus", " Wrapped in Grey ", and "Rook". Moulding felt that "something
429-498: A Day " on Late Night with David Letterman marked the first time the group played in front of a live audience in seven years. A similar acoustic tour was planned for Europe, but cancelled when Partridge discovered that the Paris date would be broadcast from a sold-out 5,000 seater venue. After an unsuccessful attempt was made to coax Partridge back into regular touring, they took a short break. Partridge produced And Love for All (1990),
572-479: A Moulding composition. By this time, Moulding "wanted to ditch [our] quirky nonsense and do more straight-ahead pop." He was surprised to learn that the label chose his song as a single over Partridge's. Upon release, it was the first charting single for the band, rising to number 54 on the UK Singles Chart . For a period, most of the group's singles were not placed on their albums. Moulding explained that this
715-477: A Moulding song originally demoed for Oranges & Lemons , was credited under the pseudonym Terry and the Lovemen. In 1998, Song Stories , an authorized overview of the band's catalog by journalist and longtime friend Neville Farmer was published. Partridge said the book was badly edited and "used the crappiest quotes". For the orchestral Apple Venus , the budget allowed a day of recording at Abbey Road [with]
858-422: A bank syndicates a loan. Loans can be turned into securities through the securitization process. In a securitization, a company sells a pool of assets to a securitization trust, and the securitization trust finances its purchase of the assets by selling securities to the market. For example, a trust may own a pool of home mortgages , and be financed by residential mortgage-backed securities . In this case,
1001-512: A bass, with four strings, would be infinitely easier than playing a guitar, with six strings. That was a horrible misconception!" At the end of 1972, Moulding and drummer Terry Chambers joined Partridge's band, replacing Nervous Steve and Paul Wilson, and the group was renamed "Star Park (Mark II)". Other members would frequently join and leave the group. After Star Park opened for Thin Lizzy in May 1973,
1144-454: A beneficiary who is to receive the money, the issuing bank of whom the applicant is a client, and the advising bank of whom the beneficiary is a client. Almost all letters of credit are irrevocable, i.e., cannot be amended or canceled without prior agreement of the beneficiary, the issuing bank and the confirming bank, if any. In executing a transaction, letters of credit incorporate functions common to giros and traveler's cheque . Typically,
1287-440: A bit different" was appropriate for the band at this juncture, and shared Partridge's desire for a cohesive LP similar to soundtracks such as My Fair Lady and "stuff that Burt Bacharach wrote for various [films]". Partridge thought the new songs were "some of the best stuff, if not the best stuff, ever. It's even more intensely passionate than before." The group elected to divide the album into two parts: one of rock songs, and
1430-451: A bit more like The Police, with more international flavour, more basic appeal." Lascelles said that he had actually named Talking Heads , not the Police: "Andy likes to portray us as the strict, stern schoolmasters, but we never wanted him to compromise at anything we thought he was good at. Here were very talented songwriters – surely, surely, surely they can come up with that elusive thing that
1573-479: A company, since its cost of refinancing depends on its creditworthiness . Bonds below Baa/BBB (Moody's/S&P) are considered junk or high-risk bonds. Their high risk of default (approximately 1.6 percent for Ba) is compensated by higher interest payments. Bad Debt is a loan that can not (partially or fully) be repaid by the debtor. The debtor is said to default on their debt. These types of debt are frequently repackaged and sold below face value. Buying junk bonds
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#17331215532771716-407: A corrupt manager, life was a bit of a nightmare ... When I said we don't want to play live anymore, they [Virgin] completely stopped [promoting us] ... We ran on negative equity for 20 years. The cancelled American tour saddled XTC with a £20,000 debt, and since it left them unable to record new material, they decided to reexamine their financial affairs. Confused as to where their earnings had gone,
1859-412: A fixed lifetime, usually a number of years ; with long-term bonds, lasting over 30 years, being less common. At the end of the bond's life the money should be repaid in full. Interest may be added to the end payment, or can be paid in regular installments (known as coupons ) during the life of the bond. A letter of credit or LC can also be the source of payment for a transaction, meaning that redeeming
2002-424: A frozen deposit account." For the next decade, the entirety of the band's earnings would be invested in the continued litigation. The group supported themselves mostly through short-term loans from Virgin and royalty payments derived from airplay. At one point, Moulding and Gregory were working at a car rental service for additional income. Partridge was eventually left with "about £300 in the bank", he said, "which
2145-570: A late 1960s group. When asked about the album in interviews, XTC initially denied having any involvement. In England, the six-track mini-album sold twice as many copies as The Big Express , even before the Dukes' identity was made public. The album also achieved considerable sales in the US. During a routine meeting in early 1986, Virgin executives threatened to drop the band from the label if their next album failed to sell more than 70,000 units. One reason why
2288-417: A living. We've had 'em all these years and we've got their catalogue and the copyright to their songs for evermore and we've stitched 'em up real good with a rotten deal so, erm, maybe we should let them go.' I like to think that it was a guilt thing." One of the group's first new recordings since the strike was released for the tribute album A Testimonial Dinner: The Songs of XTC (1995). "The Good Things",
2431-440: A lot. But when he left I thought, Oh shit, that's the sound of the band gone, this space-cream over everything. And I did enjoy his brain power, the verbal and mental fencing." XTC went through a "silly half-hearted" process of auditioning another keyboardist. Although Thomas Dolby was rumoured as a replacement, Partridge said that Dolby was never actually considered. Rather than hiring a replacement keyboardist, Dave Gregory of
2574-506: A member, characterizing himself as "the archetypal pub-rocker in jeans and long hair. But the fans weren't bothered. Nobody was fashionable in XTC, ever." He grew more comfortable with the group after playing a few shows, he said, "and things got better and better". XTC were impressed by Steve Lillywhite 's work on Ultravox 's 1977 debut , and Siouxsie and the Banshees ' The Scream , and he
2717-524: A more direct sense, more bankruptcies also occurred due both to increased debt cost caused by deflation and the reduced demand. At the household level, debts can also have detrimental effects — particularly when households make spending decisions assuming income will increase, or remain stable, in years to come. When households take on credit based on this assumption, life events can easily change indebtedness into over-indebtedness. Such life events include unexpected unemployment, relationship break-up, leaving
2860-447: A part of its overall corporate finance strategy. A term loan is the simplest form of corporate debt. It consists of an agreement to lend a fixed amount of money, called the principal sum or principal, for a fixed period of time, with this amount to be repaid by a certain date. In commercial loans interest , calculated as a percentage of the principal sum per year, will also have to be paid by that date, or may be paid periodically in
3003-460: A penny of profits from either album sales or touring revenue. Reid, on the other hand, took out large loans from Virgin, borrowing against XTC's royalties, to the tune of millions of pounds by some estimates. Even after the band settled out of court with Reid, because of the terms of the contract, Virgin was able to hold XTC liable for the sum. Because of XTC's failure to tour, the likelihood of ever repaying Virgin dwindled further and further away. Over
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#17331215532773146-654: A radio station received a bomb threat, and in New York, a student forced their school to play the song over its public-address system by holding a faculty member at knife-point. Nonetheless, the commercial success of "Dear God" propelled Skylarking to sell more than 250,000 units, and it raised the band's profile among American college youth. In the US, the album spent 29 weeks on the Billboard 200 and reached its peak position of number 70 in June 1987. The music video for "Dear God" received
3289-420: A reference point for all other debt. There are deep, transparent, liquid, and open capital markets for Treasuries. Furthermore, Treasuries are issued in a wide variety of maturities, from one day to thirty years, which facilitates comparing the interest rates on other debt to a security of comparable maturity. In finance, the theoretical " risk-free interest rate " is often approximated by practitioners by using
3432-468: A repayment amount of 1.5 to 2.5 times the principle loan. Repayment periods are flexible; businesses can pay back the agreed-upon amount sooner, if possible, or later. In addition, business owners do not sell equity or relinquish control when using revenue-based financing. Lenders that provide revenue-based financing work more closely with businesses than bank lenders, but take a more hands-off approach than private equity investors . A syndicated loan
3575-470: A short time, helped the band reach a legal settlement with Ian Reid in 1989. However, they were again left with a six-figure debt. Virgin Records advanced the group enough money to cover their debt in exchange for the promise of four additional albums. Having written more than two dozen songs by 1991, some difficulties prolonged the start of recording sessions for the next album. Initially, the band had issue with
3718-569: A side project with Take Away / The Lure of Salvage in early 1980; a one-off record that appeared without much notice, except in Japan, where it was hailed as a work of "electronic genius" and outsold all other XTC albums. Black Sea , released in September 1980, reunited the group with Lillywhite and Padgham and was well-received critically. Singles " Generals and Majors ", " Towers of London " and " Sgt. Rock (Is Going to Help Me) " returned them to
3861-450: A £10,000 budget was supplied, while John Leckie returned as producer. Once again, the Dukes' record outsold XTC's previous album in the UK ( Skylarking in this case). Partridge felt it was "a bit upsetting to think that people preferred these pretend personalities to our own personalities ... But I don't mind because we have turned into the Dukes slowly over the years." Likewise, Moulding felt that
4004-485: Is a hit single. That was our psyche." After some remixing and additional songs at Virgin's behest, Mummer , the first product of the studio-bound XTC, appeared in August 1983. Virgin did little to promote the album and delayed its release by several months. At number 58, it was their lowest-charting album to date. The one single that did chart, " Love on a Farmboy's Wages ", did find significant airplay on BBC Radio 1. It
4147-526: Is a loan that is granted to companies that wish to borrow more money than any single lender is prepared to risk in a single loan. A syndicated loan is provided by a group of lenders and is structured, arranged, and administered by one or several commercial banks or investment banks known as arrangers. Loan syndication is a risk management tool that allows the lead banks underwriting the debt to reduce their risk and free up lending capacity. A company may also issue bonds , which are debt securities . Bonds have
4290-535: Is a process whereby a new, large loan application is submitted in order to compensate for numerous outstanding loans. Some amongst those who are heavily indebted often resort to debt consolidation as a means to resolve their financial difficulties. Upon obtaining the borrowed loan, those within the receiving end are then generally enabled to have a greater cash flow, resulting from lowering monthly payments, if not reducing interest rates . However, this varies from every claimant, in that their own eligibility for such
4433-496: Is a type of financial transaction , as distinct from equity . The term can also be used metaphorically to cover moral obligations and other interactions not based on a monetary value. For example, in Western cultures, a person who has been helped by a second person is sometimes said to owe a "debt of gratitude" to the second person. The English term "debt" was first used in the late 13th century and comes by way of Old French from
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4576-590: Is because biblically debt is seen as the responsibility of both the creditor and the debtor. Traditional Christian teaching holds that a lifestyle of debt should not be normative; the Emmanuel Association , a Methodist denomination in the conservative holiness movement , for example, teaches: "We are to refrain from entering into debt when we have no reasonable plan to pay. We are to be careful to meet all financial engagements promptly when due, if at all possible, remembering that we are to 'Provide things honest in
4719-482: Is considered paramount in determining the riskiness of an investment, under the notion that it becomes more risking under more debt. Governments issue debt to pay for ongoing expenses as well as major capital projects. Government debt may be issued by sovereign states as well as by local governments, sometimes known as municipalities. Debt issued by the government of the United States, called Treasuries , serves as
4862-423: Is considered secured if creditors have recourse to specific collateral . Collateral may include claims on tax receipts (in the case of a government), specific assets (in the case of a company) or a home (in the case of a consumer). Unsecured debt comprises financial obligations for which creditors do not have recourse to the assets of the borrower to satisfy their claims. Credit bureaus collect information about
5005-412: Is entirely dependent on their own overall circumstances; Should they meet specific requirements, being able to afford such, their requests are usually accepted; Should they fail the criteria, they're almost always swiftly rejected, regardless of their financial ability. Given the often monetary hardship of contenders, those providing these loans often charge at larger rates of interest than others; This
5148-407: Is mixed to the forefront; it's too well-arranged to be cacophonous, but there's a degree of sensory overload, especially given the band's newfound tendency to blast synthesizers in our faces. ... whether or not this album holds up for you depends on how much you like the band's boisterous side." It became the highest album they had in the charts since 1982's English Settlement , rising to number 28 in
5291-447: Is not repaid faster than it grows through interest. This effect may be termed usury , while the term "usury" in other contexts refers only to an excessive rate of interest, in excess of a reasonable profit for the risk accepted. In international legal thought, odious debt is debt that is incurred by a regime for purposes that do not serve the interest of the state. Such debts are thus considered by this doctrine to be personal debts of
5434-414: Is occasionally a matter of debate in the financial and institutional sectors, often ranging between analysts towards professors, generally concerning ethics involved in different areas. Companies also use debt in many ways for capital expenditures and other business investments produced in their assets , "leveraging" the return on their equity . This leverage , the proportion of debt to equity,
5577-661: Is often critiqued by its opponents, who claim that it is an unfair practice aimed at targeting those who are desperate and often holds arbitrary figures, although those in its defence claim it is a security measure aimed at ensuring its repayment obligations and must take precautions before offering large sums. Both arguments have resulted in greater debate amongst legislators in different nations, amidst demands for further regulation and more decreases in lending restrictions. Debt consolidation has also been an area of interest for loan sharks , leaving those heavily indebted vulnerable to extortionate rates. The idea behind debt consolidation
5720-557: Is really heavy when you've got a family and everyone thinks you're 'Mr Rich and Famous'." A court-enforced gag order restricts the band from speaking publicly on the alleged improprieties. According to Partridge, Reid was "very naughty" and left the band with roughly £300,000 in unpaid VAT. Music journalist Patrick Schabe elaborates: ... what is known is that [Reid] inked a deal with Virgin that wound up working out primarily for Reid, secondarily for Virgin, and not at all for XTC. Throughout their first five years of existence, XTC never saw
5863-518: Is seen as a risky but potentially profitable investment. Bonds are debt securities , tradeable on a bond market . A country's regulatory structure determines what qualifies as a security. For example, in North America, each security is uniquely identified by a CUSIP for trading and settlement purposes. In contrast, loans are not securities and do not have CUSIPs (or the equivalent). Loans may be sold or acquired in certain circumstances, as when
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6006-564: Is that many people, in particular those who are poor, have no access to affordable credit. Such debts can cause problems when they are not paid back according to expectations of the lending household. In 2011, 8 percent of people in the European Union reported their households has been in arrears, that is, unable to pay as scheduled "payments related to informal loans from friends or relatives not living in your household". A company may use various kinds of debt to finance its operations as
6149-458: Is the ratio of income available to the amount of debt service due (including both interest and principal amortization, if any). The higher the debt service coverage ratio, the more income is available to pay debt service, and the easier and lower-cost it will be for a borrower to obtain financing. Different debt markets have somewhat different conventions in terminology and calculations for income-related metrics. For example, in mortgage lending in
6292-419: Is the ratio of the total amount of the loan to the total value of the collateral securing the loan. For example, in mortgage lending in the United States, the loan-to-value concept is most commonly expressed as a " down payment ." A 20% down payment is equivalent to an 80% loan to value. With home purchases, value may be assessed using the agreed-upon purchase price, and/or an appraisal . A debt obligation
6435-461: The UK Albums Chart . Although the album was well received by the press ( Melody Maker , NME , Sounds , and Record Mirror all gave positive reviews ), none of its singles managed to chart. They rerecorded " This Is Pop " as a lead single. Its follow-up, " Statue of Liberty ", was banned on BBC Radio due to the lyric "I sail beneath her skirt". With each member placed on a £25 weekly salary,
6578-575: The debt-to-GDP ratio was very high. Economic agents were heavily indebted. This excess of debt, equivalent to excessive expectations on future returns, accompanied asset bubbles on the stock markets. When expectations corrected, deflation and a credit crunch followed. Deflation effectively made debt more expensive and, as Fisher explained, this reinforced deflation again, because, in order to reduce their debt level, economic agents reduced their consumption and investment. The reduction in demand reduced business activity and caused further unemployment. In
6721-432: The debtor , to pay money borrowed or otherwise withheld from another party, the creditor . Debt may be owed by a sovereign state or country, local government , company , or an individual. Commercial debt is generally subject to contractual terms regarding the amount and timing of repayments of principal and interest . Loans , bonds , notes, and mortgages are all types of debt. In financial accounting , debt
6864-589: The punk rock movement had emerged, which opened an avenue for the group in terms of record label appeal, even though the band did not necessarily fit in the punk dogma . Partridge remembered hearing the Sex Pistols ' " Anarchy in the U.K. " (1976) and feeling underwhelmed by its similarity to the Monkees or the Ramones: "That sort of spurred me on – watching this stuff that I thought was rather average." Soon, John Peel saw
7007-441: The reverberating drum sound associated with 1980s popular music. Between 1979 and 1992, XTC had a total of 10 albums and 6 singles that reached the UK top 40, including " Sgt. Rock (Is Going to Help Me) " (1980) and " Senses Working Overtime " (1982). After 1982's English Settlement , the band stopped concert touring and became a studio-based project centred on Partridge, Moulding and guitarist Dave Gregory . A spin-off group,
7150-511: The "psychedelic element was being more ingratiated into the pie" since 25 O'Clock . When issued on CD, Psonic Psunspot was combined with 25 O'Clock and given the title Chips from the Chocolate Fireball (1987). For their next album Oranges & Lemons , XTC traveled to Los Angeles to make use of a cheap studio rate arranged by Paul Fox , who was recruited by the band for his first production gig. Another reason for recording in
7293-460: The 1983 holiday single " Thanks for Christmas " under the pseudonym Three Wise Men. It was produced by David Lord , owner of Crescent Studios in Bath, and they subsequently negotiated a deal that allowed them to work as much as they wanted on their next album at his studio. Some of the album was recorded using a Linn LM-1 Drum Computer , and extensive time was spent on its programming. Partridge envisioned
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#17331215532777436-466: The 1987 Billboard Best Video award and was also nominated for three categories at the MTV Video Music Awards . Skylarking ultimately became XTC's best-known album and is generally regarded as their finest work. Partridge was reluctant to make another Dukes album, but to appease requests from his bandmates and Virgin Records, Psonic Psunspot (1987) was recorded. This time, 10 songs and
7579-677: The Bon Marche record shop in Swindon. Gregory was playing the Mahavishnu Orchestra 's album The Inner Mounting Flame (1971), which he later called "one of the watershed moments in my musical education." Partridge met Colin Moulding at the Stage Bar on Swindon's Old Town's Union Row, later known as Long's. Moulding had been playing bass since 1970 "because I liked music [and] I thought that playing
7722-471: The Doctor". Partridge recalled playing some demos for Virgin agents, and compared their reaction to the " Springtime for Hitler " scene from the 1967 film The Producers . The label rejected his idea. Virgin denied Partridge's requests to renegotiate or revoke XTC's contract. Paul Kinder believed that the label and the group were "poles apart" and that "the contract was so old it got to the point where Andy wanted
7865-427: The Dukes of Stratosphear , was invented as a one-off excursion into 1960s-style psychedelia , but as XTC's music evolved, the distinctions between the two bands lessened. XTC continued to produce more progressive records, including the albums Skylarking (1986), Oranges & Lemons (1989) and Nonsuch (1992). In the US, " Mayor of Simpleton " (1989) was their highest-charting single, while " Dear God " (1986)
8008-416: The Dukes, Partridge looked back on the project as the "most fun we ever had in the studio ... We never knew if it would sell ... We could never [subvert everybody's expectations] with XTC, as there was too much money involved and we were expected to be mentally honest and 'real.' Too much financial pressure." Released on April Fools' Day 1985, the album was presented as a long-lost collection of recordings by
8151-535: The Glitter Band , was quickly hired as a session musician to continue the recording sessions—XTC would never again employ a permanent drummer after Chambers' departure. In the meantime, Virgin released a greatest hits compilation, Waxworks: Some Singles 1977–1982 , to underwhelming sales. The group's new material was rejected by Virgin executive Jeremy Lascelles, who suggested that they write something more commercial. Partridge remembered, "He asked me to write something
8294-542: The Latin verb debere , "to owe; to have from someone else." The related term "debtor" was first used in English also in the early 13th century. Principal is the amount of money originally invested or loaned, on which basis interest and returns are calculated. There are three main ways repayment may be structured: the entire principal balance may be due at the maturity of the loan; the entire principal balance may be amortized over
8437-628: The Rolling Stones ' " Satisfaction ". The song became a number 17 hit and helped propel the album to number 37 in the UK. Before "Nigel", XTC had struggled to fill more than half the seats of the small club circuits they played. Afterward, the single was playlisted at the BBC, which helped the band secure two appearances on Top of the Pops . When touring resumed in November, every date was sold out. In later years,
8580-471: The Teardrop Explodes said], 'Quite frankly, Andy, this is shit. ' " Other complications arose; he developed some health issues, and his wife divorced him. In 1997 (also reported as in late 1994 ), XTC found themselves freed from financial debt and from Virgin after "making some heavy concessions". Partridge fantasised that people from the label "met in the dark and thought, 'These blokes are not making
8723-425: The UK and number 44 in the US. Additionally, it combined with Skylarking for the group's best-selling albums to date. " Mayor of Simpleton " reached number 46 in the UK and number 72 in the US, making it their only American single to chart. To support the album, XTC embarked on an acoustic-guitar American radio tour that lasted for two weeks in May. The shows were carried out without financial compensation for
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#17331215532778866-407: The UK and was nominated for an Ivor Novello Award . Its follow-up " The Ballad of Peter Pumpkinhead " reached number 71. " Wrapped in Grey " was intended as the third single, and about 5,000 copies were pressed before being withdrawn from sale. Partridge remembered thinking, "that's it, they've suffocated one of our kids in the cot, they've murdered the album, basically through ignorance." In 1993,
9009-558: The US in support of Black Sea as the opening act for the Police . At this point, they were playing in arena stadiums while Partridge's mental state was beginning to deteriorate, and he requested to cease touring, but was opposed by Virgin, his bandmates, and the band's management. He would occasionally experience moments of memory lapse to the extent that he would forget who he was. His then-wife Marianne blamed his illness on his longtime dependency on Valium , which he had been prescribed since
9152-450: The US with an American producer, said Gregory, was that "America was our biggest market". Mr. Mister (and later longtime King Crimson ) member Pat Mastelotto was the drummer for the entire album. The album was released in February 1989 with music that was in a similar psychedelic vein as the Dukes. In a retrospective review, The Quietus ' Nick Reed notes: "Nearly every instrument
9295-398: The United States, a debt-to-income ratio typically includes the cost of mortgage payments as well as insurance and property tax, divided by a consumer's monthly income. A "front-end ratio" of 28% or below, together with a "back-end ratio" (including required payments on non-housing debt as well) of 36% or below is also required to be eligible for a conforming loan. The loan-to-value ratio
9438-434: The ability of the debtor to honor his obligations and accordingly give him or her a credit rating . Moody's uses the letters Aaa Aa A Baa Ba B Caa Ca C , where ratings Aa-Caa are qualified by numbers 1-3. S&P and other rating agencies have slightly different systems using capital letters and +/- qualifiers. Thus a government or corporation with a high rating would have Aaa rating. A change in ratings can strongly affect
9581-476: The age of 12. She threw away the tablets, and over the next year, he experienced intense withdrawal effects that he later described as "brain melt". XTC became their own producers for their next album project. Until this point, Partridge had insisted that every part of the band's arrangements on record could be replicated live. He believed that "if I wrote an album with a sound less geared towards touring then maybe there would be less pressure to tour." As such,
9724-438: The album became the best-known of XTC's discography and Moulding and Partridge would look back on this point as the symbolic start of the band's career. To follow up "Nigel", the band released "Wait Till Your Boat Goes Down" (1980), a reggae -influenced Partridge song with production by Phil Wainman of Bay City Rollers fame. It was their lowest-selling single to date. Concurrently, Virgin issued Moulding's "Ten Feet Tall" as
9867-415: The album was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Alternative Music Album , but lost to Tom Waits ' Bone Machine . In 1993, Partridge conceived XTC's next project to be an album of bubblegum pop songs disguising itself as a retrospective compilation featuring 12 different groups from the early 1970s. The lyrics were also heavily sexual, with song titles such as "Lolly (Suck It and See)" and "Visit to
10010-412: The asset-backed trust is a debt issuer of residential mortgage-backed securities . Central banks , such as the U.S. Federal Reserve System , play a key role in the debt markets. Debt is normally denominated in a particular currency , and so changes in the valuation of that currency can change the effective size of the debt. This can happen due to inflation or deflation , so it can happen even though
10153-508: The band gained popularity during the rise of punk and new wave in the 1970s, later playing in a variety of styles that ranged from angular guitar riffs to elaborately arranged pop . Partly because the group did not fit into contemporary trends, they achieved only sporadic commercial success in the UK and US, but attracted a considerable cult following . They have since been recognised for their influence on post-punk , Britpop and later power pop acts. Partridge and Moulding first met in
10296-655: The band perform at Upstairs at Ronnie Scott's and asked them to appear on his BBC Radio 1 block. Partridge credited him as "responsible for us getting a recording contract. ... As soon as we recorded that session for the BBC, suddenly three or four record labels wanted to sign us up." After declining CBS , Harvest and Island , they signed with Virgin Records . In August 1977, XTC made their first commercially released studio recordings with producer John Leckie at Abbey Road , which appeared on their debut album 3D EP in October. Their first full-length record, White Music ,
10439-601: The band renamed themselves the Helium Kidz. Partridge's musical conceptions were "blown away" upon hearing the New York Dolls : "I suddenly just wanted to play three chords again and get out my mum's makeup and stuff." He subsequently wrote hundreds of songs for the Helium Kidz, and some demo tapes were sent to Decca Records . NME ran a small profile on the "up and coming" band, which consisted of Partridge, Moulding, Chambers and guitarist Dave Cartner: "They aspire to attain
10582-517: The band toured for the next five years. The group also made appearances on the children's television shows Tiswas and Magpie , which meant they would occasionally play for under-16 crowds on these early tours. Partridge enjoyed these early shows, but would later resent touring as the band's audience numbers grew and the performing experience became more impersonal. By August 1978, XTC were prepared to record their next album. The band had contacted Brian Eno to produce after they learned that he
10725-420: The band's first US single. According to Gregory, "Colin began to fancy himself as the 'writer of the singles'". In response to "the fuss made over Colin's songs", Partridge attempted to exert more authority in the group: "I thought I was a very benevolent dictator." Gregory disagreed, recalling that the band was "pretty tired" and that Partridge "could be a little bit of a bully". Partridge at this point released
10868-609: The band's stock-in-trade and didn't rock out until the last song, 'Funk Pop a Roll.' ... Mummer signaled a strange rebirth for XTC." Moulding thought that "when we came back from America after our aborted tour of 1982 ... people like Spandau Ballet had moved onto the scene; new groups were coming up and there was no place for us." Mojo journalist Chris Ingham summed up the period: "In 18 months, XTC had gone from Top 10 hits and critical superlatives to being ignorable, arcane eccentrics. Partridge later said "Your average English person probably thinks we split up in 1982". XTC released
11011-441: The band. Gregory commented that it was an "interesting" style of promotion, but "incredibly hard work", as the band performed at about four radio stations a day for three weeks: "We also did a live acoustic set for MTV in front of an audience which worried Andy a bit but he got through it." This inspired the network to invite more artists to perform stripped-down sets, calling the series " unplugged ". XTC's performance of " King for
11154-462: The band. In search of his replacement, Partridge found Barry Andrews through a "keyboard player seeks band" advertisement. Instead of a formal audition, the two went out drinking together. Andrews was immediately hired. During the first band rehearsal, Partridge recalled, "He sounded like Jon Lord from Deep Purple ; fuzz box, wah wah pedal, bluesy runs. I said, You don't have to play like that, you can play like us if you want. The next rehearsal, he
11297-444: The band." After the group arrived at Utopia Sound recording studio in upstate New York , Rundgren played a large role in the album's sound design and drum programming, providing them with string and brass arrangements, as well as an assortment of gear. However, the sessions were fraught with tension, especially between him and Partridge, and disagreements arose over drum patterns, song selections, and other details. Partridge likened
11440-544: The book Chalkhills and Children ) or a couple years afterward (according to Partridge). He legally retained the title of XTC's manager until near the end of the decade. In April 1984, the group learned that he had incurred them an outstanding value-added taxes [VAT] bill and that he had significantly mishandled their revenue stream. A lawsuit was filed by the band, while he counter-sued for "unpaid commission on royalties". Virgin were then "legally required to freeze royalty and advance payments and divert publishing income into
11583-509: The borrower and the lender are using the same currency . Some argue against debt as an instrument and institution, on a personal, family, social, corporate and governmental level. Some Islamic banking forbids lending with interest even today. In hard times, the cost of servicing debt can grow beyond the debtor's ability to pay, due to either external events (income loss) or internal difficulties (poor management of resources). Debt with an associated interest rate will increase through time if it
11726-548: The borrowing and repayment history of consumers. Lenders, such as banks and credit card companies, use credit scores to evaluate the potential risk posed by lending money to consumers. In the United States, the primary credit bureaus are Equifax , Experian , and TransUnion . Debts owed by governments and private corporations may be rated by rating agencies , such as Moody's , Standard & Poor's , Fitch Ratings , and A. M. Best . The government or company itself will also be given its own separate rating. These agencies assess
11869-429: The charts at numbers 32, 31 and 16, respectively. "Sgt. Rock" provoked feminist hate-mail for the lyric "keep her stood in line". Partridge regretted the song, calling it "crass but not enjoyably crass". " Respectable Street " was banned from BBC radio due to its references to abortion and a " Sony Entertainment Centre ". Partridge believed Black Sea was the closest the group had come to representing their live sound in
12012-584: The community as being populated almost entirely by people with physical, mental or emotional defects. In the 1960s, he was a fan of contemporary pop groups like the Beatles , but was intimidated by the process of learning guitar. When the Monkees grew popular, he became interested in joining a music group. He recalled watching local guitarist Dave Gregory performing Jimi Hendrix -style songs at churches and youth clubs: "Sort of acid - skiffle . I thought, 'Ah, one day I'll play guitar!' But I didn't think I would be in
12155-413: The conditions are defined unilaterally by the issuing municipality (local government), but it is a slower process to accumulate the necessary amount. Usually, debt or bond financing will not be used to finance current operating expenditures, the purposes of these amounts are local developments, capital investments, constructions, own contribution to other credits or grants. The debt service coverage ratio
12298-452: The course of a 20-year contract with Virgin Records, and after achieving gold and platinum status in album sales on a number of discs, XTC never saw any publishing royalties. During the middle months of 1982, Partridge spent his time in convalescence and writing songs. He later surmised that relinquishing Valium inadvertently gave him a new sense of creative direction: "I was thinking clearer and wanted to know stuff. Life's big questions." In
12441-424: The covers band Dean Gabber and His Gaberdines was invited to join as a second guitarist. Partridge remembered holding a "pretend audition" where Gregory was asked to play "This Is Pop", only for Gregory to inquire whether they wanted the album version or the single version: "We thought, 'Bloody oh, a real musician.' But he was in the band before he even knew." Gregory was anxious of whether the fans would accept him as
12584-528: The current yield of a Treasury of the same duration. The overall level of indebtedness by a government is typically shown as a ratio of debt-to-GDP . This ratio helps to assess the speed of changes in government indebtedness and the size of the debt due. The United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 17 , an integral part of the 2030 Agenda has a target to address the external debt of highly indebted poor countries to reduce debt distress. Municipal bonds (or muni bonds) are typical debt obligations, for which
12727-436: The debt was secured by specific collateral , such as a car or house, the creditor may seek to repossess the collateral. In more serious circumstances, individuals and companies may go into bankruptcy . Common types of debt owed by individuals and households include mortgage loans , car loans, credit card debt, and income taxes . For individuals, debt is a means of using anticipated income and future purchasing power in
12870-639: The demos are from the 1980s as well as the period in the 1990s when XTC was under obligation to Virgin Records , but not releasing albums. One highlight is a series of songs penned for Disney's James and the Giant Peach though not used for the film. This article about a 2000s pop rock album is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . XTC XTC were an English rock band formed in Swindon in 1972. Fronted by songwriters Andy Partridge (vocals, guitars) and Colin Moulding (vocals, bass),
13013-459: The documents a beneficiary has to present in order to receive payment include a commercial invoice , bill of lading , and a document proving the shipment was insured against loss or damage in transit. However, the list and form of documents is open to imagination and negotiation and might contain requirements to present documents issued by a neutral third party evidencing the quality of the goods shipped, or their place of origin. Debt consolidation
13156-536: The early 1970s and subsequently formed a glam outfit with drummer Terry Chambers . The band's name and line-up changed frequently, and it was not until 1975 that the band was known as XTC. In 1977, the group debuted on Virgin Records and were subsequently noted for their energetic live performances and their refusal to play conventional punk rock, instead synthesising influences from ska , 1960s pop, dub music and avant-garde . The single " Making Plans for Nigel " (1979) marked their commercial breakthrough and heralded
13299-416: The first two albums is focused into a cohesive statement with a distinctive voice that retains their clever humor, quirky wordplay, and decidedly British flavor. ... driven by the powerful rhythms and angular, mainly minimalistic arrangements." The distinctive drum pattern of its lead single, Moulding's " Making Plans for Nigel ", was an attempt to invert drum tones and accents in the style of Devo 's cover of
13442-462: The group devoted two weeks to the sessions. Calling themselves " the Dukes of Stratosphear ", the spin-off group consisted of Partridge and Moulding with Dave and his drummer brother Ian. Each adopted a pseudonym: Sir John Johns, The Red Curtain, Lord Cornelius Plum and E.I.E.I. Owen. At the sessions, the band dressed themselves in Paisley outfits and lit scented candles. With "nothing to live up to" as
13585-458: The group requested that manager Ian Reid help pay for the debts, but he refused, saying that they had owed him money. They tried distancing themselves from Reid by renegotiating their contract with Virgin. Six more albums were promised to the label in exchange for covering their debts, as well as a guarantee that subsequent royalty and advancement cheques be redirected into the band's own deposit account. Royalty rates were still kept relatively low, as
13728-489: The group to work with him: "I reminded Andy that Todd had produced one of his favourite New York Dolls records [ New York Dolls , 1973]. In the absence of any better alternatives, he agreed." Once contacted, Rundgren offered to handle the album's entire recording for a lump sum of $ 150,000, and the band agreed. In January 1986, Partridge and Moulding mailed Rundgren a collection of more than 20 demo tapes they had stockpiled in advance. Compared to previous XTC albums, much of
13871-450: The group was not selling enough records, Virgin reportedly concluded, was that they sounded "too English". The label forced the group to work with one of their selected American producers. When shown a list of their names, they recognised none except for Todd Rundgren . Gregory was a fan of Rundgren's music, particularly since hearing the 1978 album Hermit of Mink Hollow . His bandmates were not as familiar with Rundgren, but Gregory urged
14014-425: The group's A&R man Paul Kinder explained, they had "appalling management for a number of years. Usually if a manager has got any kind of business acumen he will renegotiate the contract to get a better royalty. A record company expects this, which is why they keep royalties low initially. It's just business really. Nobody addressed the contract for XTC." Reid remained XTC's manager until January 1983 (according to
14157-512: The group. After most of Andrews' songs were dropped from the final track list, the keyboardist told journalists that he foresaw the band "explod[ing] pretty soon". Go 2 , a more experimental venture, was released in October to positive reviews and a number 21 chart peak. Like White Music , it was given praise in Sounds , Melody Maker , and the NME . One of the tracks, "Battery Brides (Andy Paints Brian)",
14300-524: The heart to tell anyone you can't carry on so I'm gonna mess you up." The band's remaining tour dates in England were cancelled. After recovering from the episode, Partridge rejoined the group for their first tour of the US as a headlining act. The band played the first date in San Diego. Gregory said that they were "totally unrehearsed" during the performance because "we'd not played together for two weeks. ... It
14443-740: The idea that the further you are from cash (as with a credit card or other forms of payment), the less transparent it is and the less aware you are of how much you have spent. The less transparent or further away from cash the form of payment employed is, the less an individual feels the "pain of paying" and thus is likely to spend more. Furthermore, the differing physical appearance/form that credit cards have from cash may cause them to be viewed as "monopoly" money vs. real money, luring individuals to spend more money than they would if they only had cash available. Besides these more formal debts, private individuals also lend informally to other people, mostly relatives or friends. One reason for such informal debts
14586-435: The impossible dream of being able to throw a TV or two out of the window of an American hotel and have no one complain." This version of the group lasted until 1975, when the Helium Kidz decided to rebrand themselves and change their music to "three-minute pop songs that were fast and inventive." Gregory auditioned for the band at this juncture, but did not end up joining. His musicianship was determined to be "too good". It
14729-521: The interim, Chambers moved to Australia and started a family. Feeling dismayed by Partridge's decision not to tour, he had to be persuaded to return to Swindon for the next album's rehearsals in September. At one rehearsal, Partridge recalled asking Chambers for "tiny, cyclical, nattering clay pots", which he replied sounded "a bit fucking nancified". The newly-wed Chambers soon left the band to be with his wife in Australia. Drummer Pete Phipps , formerly of
14872-402: The interval, such as annually or monthly. Such loans are also colloquially called " bullet loans ", particularly if there is only a single payment at the end – the "bullet" – without a "stream" of interest payments during the life of the loan. A revenue-based financing loan comes with a fixed repayment target that is reached over a period of several years. This type of loan generally comes with
15015-744: The lending of "food money" was commonplace in Middle Eastern civilizations as early as 5000 BC. Religions like Judaism and Christianity for example, demand that debt be forgiven on a regular basis, in order to prevent systemic inequities between groups in society, or anyone becoming a specialist in holding debt and coercing repayment. An example is the Biblical Jubilee year , described in the Book of Leviticus . Similarly, in Deuteronomy chapter 15 and verse 1 states that debts be forgiven after seven years. This
15158-409: The letter of credit will pay an exporter. Letters of credit are used primarily in international trade transactions of significant value, for deals between a supplier in one country and a customer in another. They are also used in the land development process to ensure that approved public facilities (streets, sidewalks, stormwater ponds, etc.) will be built. The parties to a letter of credit are usually
15301-494: The making of Apple Venus Volume 1 (1999), after which the XTC name was used by the duo of Partridge and Moulding. In 2006, Partridge announced that his creative partnership with Moulding had disintegrated, leaving XTC "in the past tense". Moulding and Chambers briefly reunited as the duo TC&I in the late 2010s. Partridge and Gregory remain musically active. Andy Partridge and Colin Moulding grew up on Penhill council estate in Swindon . Partridge jokingly characterised
15444-450: The material contrasted significantly with its mellower feel, lush arrangements, and "flowery" aesthetic. Rundgren responded with the idea of a concept album to bridge "Colin's 'pastoral' tunes and subject matter and Andy's 'pop anthems' and sly poetry. ... The album could be about a day, a year, or a lifetime. ... Using this framework, I [Rundgren] came up with a sequence of songs and a justification for their placement and brought it to
15587-648: The moon and Virgin weren't prepared to give it him." Whatever new music the band recorded would have been automatically owned by Virgin, and so the band enacted strike action against the label. Prince and George Michael also went on a strike against their respective labels that was heavily publicized at about the same time. XTC's strike, however, received little press. In the meantime, Partridge produced Martin Newell 's 1993 album The Greatest Living Englishman and early sessions for Blur's second album . "I thought I did sterling work. ... Next day, [ David Balfe from
15730-424: The musical director of Virgin, who, after seeing the songs, was convinced the band "could do better" and asked them to write more material. With the band sitting on the material, the director left the label a year later, and his replacement liked the band's content, hurrying them to record the album. Gus Dudgeon produced, even though Partridge felt he was the wrong choice, and Fairport Convention 's Dave Mattacks
15873-452: The new music showcased more complex and intricate arrangements, song lengths were longer, and subject matter covered broader social issues. Much of the new material also featured acoustic instruments. Gregory bought a Rickenbacker 12-string and began contributing to the records as a keyboardist. In February 1982, English Settlement was released as the group's first double album. The hook of its lead single, " Senses Working Overtime ",
16016-467: The other of orchestral/acoustic songs augmented by a 40-piece symphony. They found a label, Cooking Vinyl , and a producer, Haydn Bendall , who had engineered XTC's debut EP back in 1977 and had significant experience in recording orchestras. Prairie Prince , who drummed on Skylarking , returned for the sessions. It soon became apparent that the band did not have the funds to record all the material they had. Gregory, Moulding, and Bendall wanted to reduce
16159-579: The parental home, business failure , illness, or home repairs. Over-indebtedness has severe social consequences, such as financial hardship, poor physical and mental health, family stress, stigma, difficulty obtaining employment, exclusion from basic financial services ( European Commission , 2009), work accidents and industrial disease, a strain on social relations (Carpentier and Van den Bosch, 2008), absenteeism at work and lack of organisational commitment (Kim et al. , 2003), feeling of insecurity, and relational tensions. According to historian Paul Johnson ,
16302-505: The phrase used for French cinema of a certain period . ... [Our music was] blatantly just pop music . We were a new pop group. That's all. Ian Reid , owner of a Swindon club named The Affair, was their third manager and brokered deals for the group to perform at more popular venues such as the Red Cow in Hammersmith , The Nashville Rooms and Islington 's Hope and Anchor . By this time,
16445-416: The power struggle to "two Hitlers in the same bunker". He expressed resentment toward Rundgren's contributions when sessions concluded, but later softened his view and praised the result. Rundgren said that in spite of all the difficulties, the album "ultimately ... sounds like we were having a great time doing it. And at times we were having a good time." On Skylarking ... the band has accomplished
16588-442: The present before it has actually been earned. Commonly, people in industrialized nations use consumer debt to purchase houses, cars and other things too expensive to buy with cash on hand. People are likely to spend more and get into debt when they use credit cards as against cash to buy products and services. This is primarily because of the transparency effect and consumer's "pain of paying." The transparency effect refers to
16731-418: The project to one disc, but Partridge insisted on spreading it over two LPs. It was decided that they release one album with the orchestral portions ("volume 1") and leave the rock songs for its follow-up ("volume 2"). A session was booked at Abbey Road, but the recording was rushed, lasting one day, and had to be edited over a three-month period. Debt Debt is an obligation that requires one party,
16874-465: The regime that incurred them and not debts of the state. International Third World debt has reached the scale that many economists are convinced that debt relief or debt cancellation is the only way to restore global equity in relations with the developing nations . Excessive debt accumulation has been blamed for exacerbating economic problems . For example, before the Great Depression ,
17017-437: The remarkable feat of pulling the kinks out of its music without sacrificing its peerless originality. The band members have become the deans of a group of artists who make what can only be described as unpopular pop music, placing a high premium on melody and solid if idiosyncratic songcraft. Skylarking spent one week on the UK album charts, reaching number 90 in November 1986, two weeks after its release. Moulding's " Grass "
17160-489: The same band as this kid on the stage." Partridge eventually obtained a guitar and taught himself how to play it with no formal training. At the age of 15, he wrote his first song, titled "Please Help Me", and attracted the nickname "Rocky" for his early guitar mastery of the Beatles' " Rocky Raccoon " (1968). By the early 1970s, his music tastes had transitioned "from the Monkees to having a big binge on this Euro-avant-garde stuff. I got really in deep." One of his first bands
17303-422: The stage during the opening song 'Respectable Street', and afterward, took a flight back to Swindon for treatment, which amounted to hypnotherapy . He described feeling nausea and stomach pains while on stage: "My body and brain said, You're hating this experience I'm going to make it bad for you. When you go on stage I'm going to give you panic attacks and stomach cramps. You're not enjoying this and you haven't got
17446-512: The studio. It remains XTC's second-highest charting British album, placing at number 16, and the most successful album in the U.S. of their career, peaking at number 41 on the Billboard 200 . That October, the documentary XTC at the Manor , which featured the band faking a studio session for "Towers of London", was broadcast on BBC2 . From 1980 to 1981, XTC toured Australia, New Zealand, Canada and
17589-411: The term of the loan; or the loan may be partially amortized during its term, with the remaining principal due as a " balloon payment " at maturity. Amortization structures are common in mortgages and credit cards . Debtors of every type default on their debt from time to time, with various consequences depending on the terms of the debt and the law governing default in the relevant jurisdiction. If
17732-559: The third album by the Lilac Time , and compered for an unbroadcast children's game show named Matchmakers . Gregory played for Johnny Hates Jazz , Marc Almond and Francesco Messina whilst producing for Cud . Moulding performed a special event concert with David Marx and the Refugees, a Swindon-based band that reunited him with Barry Andrews. Tarquin Gotch , who served as XTC's manager for
17875-414: The work as "industrial pop" inspired by Swindon, a "railway town". The result, The Big Express , returned the group to a brighter and uptempo sound marked by studio experimentation and denser arrangements, setting a template that they would develop on subsequent albums. He jokingly referred to some parts of the album as the only time the group were befallen with stereotypical 1980s-style production. It
18018-423: Was a devout Catholic). Partridge was feeling inspired by Nick Nicely 's 1982 psychedelic single "Hilly Fields 1892", and devised a recording project to fill the newfound gap in his schedule. The rules were as follows: songs must follow the conventions of 1967 and 1968 psychedelia; no more than two takes allowed; use vintage equipment wherever possible. After receiving a £5,000 advance from a skeptical Virgin Records,
18161-416: Was a fan, but he declined, telling them that they were good enough to produce themselves. Virgin rejected Eno's advice, and the group instead returned to Abbey Road with Leckie. Andrews appeared at the sessions with several original songs, but Partridge did not feel they were right for the band. He began taking Moulding and Chambers out for drinks without inviting Partridge, allegedly in an attempt to take over
18304-479: Was based on Manfred Mann 's " 5-4-3-2-1 " (1964), Both the album and single became the highest-charting records they would ever have in the UK, peaking at number five and number 10, respectively. In several territories outside the UK, the album was released as only a single LP. The group scheduled television appearances and an international tour in support of English Settlement . During a live-broadcast gig in Paris on 18 March, Partridge stopped playing and ran off
18447-455: Was because of an industry convention in the 1960s and the 1970s, and that when "we wanted to shift albums later on, that approach got blown out of the water." Drums and Wires , released in August 1979, was named for its emphasis on guitars and expansive drums. AllMusic reviewer Chris Woodstra wrote that it signalled "a turning point ... with a more subdued set of songs that reflect an increasing songwriting proficiency. The aimless energy of
18590-541: Was brought in as drummer. Nonsuch was received with critical acclaim when released in April 1992, and like Oranges & Lemons , peaked at number 28 in the UK, becoming their second consecutive and final Top 40 album. Rolling Stone ' s Michael Azerrad reviewed: "Emphasizing wonder and wit in opposition to the rage of most college rock , XTC makes alternative music for people who don't like ' alternative music '." Lead single " The Disappointed " reached number 33 in
18733-406: Was called "Stiff Beach", formed in August 1970. In early 1972, Partridge's constantly evolving group settled into "Star Park", a four-piece that featured himself with guitarist Dave Cartner, drummer Paul Wilson, and a bassist nicknamed "Nervous Steve". In 1972, Partridge became closer acquainted with Gregory, a diabetic then suffering from a bout of depression , while working as an assistant at
18876-470: Was chosen as lead single. It was issued exclusively in the UK with the B-side " Dear God ", an outtake. "Dear God" became so popular with American college radio stations who imported the record that Geffen Records (XTC's US distributor) recalled and re-pressed Skylarking with the track included. Controversy also broke out over the song's anti-religious lyrics, which inspired some violent incidents. In Florida,
19019-456: Was contacted to produce their third album with a drum sound that would "knock your head off". With engineer Hugh Padgham , the band embarked to the newly built Townhouse Studios , "with its now world-famous stone room"; Gregory later recalled that Padgham had "yet to develop his trade-mark ' gated ambience ' sound". Coinciding with Gregory's arrival, the band recorded " Life Begins at the Hop " (1979),
19162-411: Was controversial for its anti-religious message. Due to poor management, XTC never received a share of profits from record sales (of which there were millions), nor from touring revenue, forcing them into debt throughout the 1980s and 1990s. In 1993, they went on strike against Virgin, citing an unfair recording contract , and soon extricated themselves from the label. Gregory left the band during
19305-439: Was decided that the band have another name change. "The Dukes of Stratosphear" was considered, but Partridge thought it was too "flowery" and "psychedelic". He derived "XTC" from Jimmy Durante 's exclamation upon discovering the lost chord : "That's it! I'm in ecstasy!" The name was chosen mainly for its emphatic appearance in print. Meanwhile, owing to creative differences with Partridge, synthesizer player Jonathan Perkins quit
19448-493: Was going to say." The tour ceased. He continued his hypnotherapy treatment, fearing that he was turning into the archetypal rock burn-out (such as Syd Barrett ). "It got to the point where if I touched the front door knob, I wanted to throw up." For a period afterward, it was rumoured among fans and industry insiders that the group stopped performing because Partridge had died, and some American bands put on XTC tribute shows in his remembrance. [Because of our] bad record deal and
19591-484: Was immediately put to consideration, but the group could not go through with it due to their commercial obligations to Virgin. In November 1984, one month after The Big Express ' s release, Partridge and John Leckie traveled to Monmouth to produce the album Miss America by singer-songwriter Mary Margaret O'Hara , who had recently signed with Virgin. Partridge and Leckie were dismissed due to conflicts related to their religious affiliations or lack thereof (O'Hara
19734-479: Was like a maniac, like if Miró had played electric organ. Fantastic." December 1976 officially marked the beginning of the Partridge–Moulding–Chambers–Andrews line-up. The members cut their long hair and, for a time, wore " kung-fu mechanic" outfits on stage. I really didn't like the phrase 'punk'—it just seemed kind of demeaning. I didn't like ' new wave ' either, because that was already
19877-567: Was obvious that he was ill, but exactly what it was, no-one knew." On 4 April 1982, XTC were scheduled to headline a sold-out show at the Hollywood Palladium in Los Angeles. Partridge woke up that morning, he said, and "couldn't get off the bed. My legs wouldn't function. Walked to Ben Frank's coffee shop, where we'd all agreed to meet, in slow motion like I had both legs in plaster, trying not to throw up. I got in there, they knew what I
20020-413: Was released in October 1984, reaching a higher chart position than Mummer , but was "virtually ignored" by critics. Virgin invested £33,000 into the music video for " All You Pretty Girls " to little effect. The band were charged for the sum. When Gregory joined the band in 1979, Partridge learned that they both shared a longtime enthusiasm for 1960s psychedelic music . An album of songs in that style
20163-441: Was the first of a handful of XTC songs written over the years that reflected their poor financial state. Virtually every contemporary review of Mummer accused the band of falling out of touch with the contemporary music climate. Journalist Serene Dominic retrospectively wrote that the album was seen as "something of a disappointment at the time of release ... [It was] devoid of silly songs like 'Sgt. Rock' that had heretofore been
20306-549: Was then recorded in less than two weeks, and released for January 1978. Partridge characterized the album as " Captain Beefheart meets the Archies " shrouded in 1950s-style retrofuturism . He reflected that the album was the sum of everything the band enjoyed, including the Beatles, Sun Ra , and Atomic Rooster , but dismissed the contents as premature songs "built around this electric wordplay stuff". White Music reached number 38 on
20449-505: Was written in tribute to Eno. The album also included a bonus EP, Go+ , which consisted of five dub remixes of XTC songs. Andrews left the band in December 1978, while they were on their first American tour, and went on to form the League of Gentlemen with Robert Fripp of King Crimson . Partridge said: "He enjoyed undermining what little authority I had in the band. We were bickering quite
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