XTC – 45: Vol.1

XTC's 45 - Vol. 1 gathers the band's singles from 1977 to 1980, a stretch when the 7-inch was still a central pop form and XTC treated each release like its own event. Starting with Science Friction and running through the soundtrack rarity Take This Town, it catches Andy Partridge and Colin Moulding developing from sharp-edged punk and new wave into something more idiosyncratic, with flashes of ska, pop craft and studio mischief already in place.

What makes this set especially useful is how clearly it maps XTC's early growth. These were the records that established both Partridge and Moulding as distinct songwriting forces, while the arrival of guitarist Dave Gregory helped broaden the band's range. Key singles such as Making Plans for Nigel and Are You Receiving Me? show how quickly XTC moved beyond nervy debut-era energy toward a more inventive, melodic sound without losing their bite.

This edition is drawn from newly transferred original singles masters and also includes the US A-side version of Ten Feet Tall, a small but telling detail from a period when the band seemed determined to keep experimenting from release to release. For listeners who know XTC mainly through the later albums, this is a concise way to hear why their singles catalogue still stands up on its own.

Features

• Newly transferred original singles masters
• 200g Black Vinyl