Audio CD review:
XTC - Waxworks: Some Singles 1977-1982

XTC - Waxworks: Some Singles 1977-1982

Band: XTC Title: Waxworks: Some Singles 1977-1982 Rating: Release Date: 1992-08-25 Media: Audio CD Tracks: 1: Science Friction - XTC, Partridge, Andy 2: Statue of Liberty - XTC, Partridge, Andy 3: This Is Pop? - XTC, Partridge, Andy 4: Are You Receiving Me? - XTC, Partridge, Andy 5: Life Begins at the Hop - XTC, Moulding, Colin 6: Making Plans for Nigel - XTC, Moulding, Colin 7: Wait Till Your Boat Goes Down - XTC, Partridge, Andy 8: Generals and Majors - XTC, Moulding, Colin 9: Towers of London - XTC, Partridge, Andy 10: Sgt. Rock (Is Going to Help Me) - XTC, Partridge, Andy 11: Senses Working Overtime - XTC, Partridge, Andy 12: Ball and Chain - XTC, Moulding, Colin

Nice early XTC singles collection It's basically a collection of Some Singles (ommitting No Thugs In Our House, Love At First Sight, Respectable Street and Ten Feet Tall) and unwitting rounds out the Terry Chambers/Touring/Quartet era (Terry left the band literally days after Waxworks was released). This collection was originally packaged with Beeswax: Some B-Sides 1977-1982 and released in November of 1982. It's a nice introduction to the band to someone who is partial to New Wave and somehow does not know XTC. I lent a shoddy cassette copy to DAVEMMR years ago. . . I believe Drums & Wires converted him - I digress. Containing "Making Plans For Nigel", "Generals & Majors", "Senses Working Overtime", "This Is Pop" and Statue Of Liberty" which are some of the best singles released in the new wave era makes it a nice addition to any collection. The version of "Wait Till Your Boat Goes Down"(another GREAT single) included here is slightly remixed from the original single version (that version appears on the amazing Fossil Fuel collection). Half of the songs here are in their original "single edit" versions. Beeswax: Some B-Sides was released on CD in Japan only in 1992 (the same year Waxworks was released on Geffen in the US) Great for someone who's on the fence and just "likes" XTC. A Nice Place To Dip Your Toe In The Water. Basically a compilation of early single A-sides,it contains a lot of XTC's catchiest tunes,and beloved classics. If you're one of those people who've heard of XTC,but never really heard their stuff,or wondered what all the hullaballoo was all about,this is as good a starting place as any. ( such as "This Is Pop!","Making Plans For Nigel",and "Senses Working Overtime" ). If you seek a larger assortment,or longer ranging selection of material,try "Fossil Fuel" or "The Uppsey Daisy Assortent". But for a first time listen,you cannot go wrong here. Satisfying, but incomplete A double CD set of Waxworks/Beeswax would have made a nice offering to the digital XTC offerings. It's a true shame that in all the years of reprinting Waxworks on CD, Virgin never took the time to produce the "Beeswax" collection of B-sides during the same period. The singles-collection of the Beatles of New Wave The non-workingmen Beatles of New Wave. XTC were (and still are, by the way) a great British band, combining great musical skills with a Pythonesque sense of humour. This collection brings you some of their more non catchy tunes like 'Making Plans For Nigel'. Check it out!. You can see a complete list of all XTC discography, or go back to the XTC tabs