Today we’re giving away Andy Partridge’s new Fuzzy Warbles boxed set. The 9 CD collection, available via the XTC frontman’s Ape label, is cleverly packaged like a children’s stamp album. And it comes with stickers. (How Beck!) More deets via Amazon:
The Fuzzy Warbles Collectors Album brings together over 100 songs from XTC frontman Andy Partridge’s songwriting archive. Recorded over the years whilst Andy and XTC were signed to Virgin Records and later to the Idea and Ape labels, the material is spread across eight volumes featuring songs and alternate versions of many XTC favorites that never made it onto the respective final albums or never made the cut when the final tracklistings were decided. There are also songs Andy never got to complete that he’s re-visited and finished off especially for this Fuzzy Warbles series.

We’re really digging the Nonesuch and Skylarking demos (ever hear the skiffle version of “Dear God”?!), but there are dozens of songs that should have been on XTC albums. Like this one:
If you want to win this lovely Collectors Album, just post in the comments your favorite XTC song by Monday 11/20 at 6 PM EST. (If you get blocked by our newly uncooperative spam filter, don’t worry, we’ll be finding and publishing the legit comments before the contest ends.) As always, we’ll randomly pick a winner, who will be the envy of all his or her bookish new wave friends.
Good luck!
P.S. XTC’s infamous Paris ’82 performance, in which Andy’s on-stage breakdown results in the band never playing another concert…







































Senses Working Overtime
Senses Working Overtime
Senses Working Overtime
“Love At First Sight” from “Black Sea,” an album so dear to my heart, I still drool over it all these years later. It’s a frozen-in-time artifact that still sounds vital and fresh 25 years later…
Frivolous Tonight is definitely my favorite!
“Complicated Game”
Burning With Optimism’s Flame
“Senses Working Overtime”
A perfect encapsulation of everything grand about XTC (and power pop in general)
Picking a favorite is next to impossible.My favorite over-looked XTC song would be “This World Over” from
The Big Express. Did I win yet?
“Peter Pumpkinhead”, because it’s strangely moving. And because Crash Test Dummies tried to kill the song by covering it, but they failed. The song still lives!
R.I.P. “Androgynous”, though. Lousy Crash Test Dummies!!!
“Here Comes President Kill Again.” I thank you for your time.
dear god
hope you got the letter
and I pray
that I win this contest
no thugs in our house
I like Grass
I like Grass
There are so many faves! I’d have to go with “I Can’t Own Her.” Such a dramatic and lovely song.
There are so many faves! I’d have to go with “I Can’t Own Her.” Such a dramatic and lovely song.
There are so many faves! I’d have to go with “I Can’t Own Her.” Such a dramatic and lovely song.
oh gosh…..dear god!
There are so many faves! I’d have to go with “I Can’t Own Her.” Such a dramatic and lovely song.
I’ve always been partial to “Burning with Optimism’s Flames”.
My fav song is not on this collection…”Easter Island.”
“Dear God”, brings me back to the days when Brother John told me it was o.k to get neck rubs..
Ah, good times..
“Dear God”, brings me back to the days when Brother John told me it was o.k to get neck rubs..
Ah, good times..
I’ll go with “Grass” because (get this) it’s kind of about pot. And the video makes me think of the summer.
Love on a Farmboy’s Wages. The peak of their music’s loveliness.
senses working overtime (and yes – i instantly win the ‘no imagination with this crowd’ award there)
Recently my favourite is “Your dictionary”, ‘coz it goes around in my head for hours, and I heard it at least six weeks ago! Or is it Life is Good in the Greenhouse? Sergeant Rock?
And there are so many more that pop up now and then!
The Man who sailed around his Soul, Making Plans for Nigel, Senses working Overtime, Mayor of Simpleton, My Bird Performs, ’til Burning with Optimism’s Flames (I recall that when I’m down). Impossible to name them all. Maybe more memorable songs than any band after the Sixties (time of The Big Four: Beatles, Stones, Kinks, Who)
Love on a Farmboy’s Wages
Grass
Dear Madam Barnum
Knights in Shining Karma
Greenman
Garden of Earthly Delights
Earn Enough for Us.
Mayor of Simpleton today
Then She Appeared
The Ballad of Peter Pumpkinhead
Chalkhills and Children
Wonderland
Dying
This World Over
Dear God
Im the man who murdered love
Your Dictionary
Making Plans For Nigel
That’s Really Super, Super Girl
Summer’s Cauldron.
1000 Umbrellas
King For A Day
Off the top of my head
Love on a Farmboy’s Wages
Grass
Dear Madam Barnum
Knights in Shining Karma
Greenman
Garden of Earthly Delights
Earn Enough for Us.
Mayor of Simpleton today
Then She Appeared
The Ballad of Peter Pumpkinhead
Chalkhills and Children
Wonderland
Dying
This World Over
Dear God
Im the man who murdered love
Your Dictionary
Making Plans For Nigel
That’s Really Super, Super Girl
Summer’s Cauldron.
1000 Umbrellas
King For A Day
Off the top of my head
Love on a Farmboy’s Wages
Grass
Dear Madam Barnum
Knights in Shining Karma
Greenman
Garden of Earthly Delights
Earn Enough for Us.
Mayor of Simpleton today
Then She Appeared
The Ballad of Peter Pumpkinhead
Chalkhills and Children
Wonderland
Dying
This World Over
Dear God
Im the man who murdered love
Your Dictionary
Making Plans For Nigel
That’s Really Super, Super Girl
Summer’s Cauldron.
1000 Umbrellas
King For A Day
…off the top of my head
Best XTC song: Train running slow on soul cole
“Generals and Majors” Pure genius.