XTC and Dukes of Stratosphere

[soundsweird]

It may come as a surprise to some of you that the remasters were also remixes, at least in some cases, so you may want to keep both versions as I did. Listen to the beginning of the first track on Oranges and Lemons (Garden of Earthly Delights), and you'll hear an obvious difference between the original and the remaster. Another reason I kept the originals: the remasters are a bit bright for my tastes, like many remasters.

[ThomasKDye]

Did they even play live? I'm not up on my XTC facts but I have a lot of respect for them.

By the way, I don't know if you knew this, but from what I remember, Nick Davis actually did the lion's share of the mixing for XTC's "Nonsuch," from what I hear. Next chance you get, you should ask him if he has any interesting stories about the lads. I'd love to know any!

[jkelman]

I have both, though I never bothered to A/B for sound quality differences. If you're at all a purist, the original Geffen CDs were terrible in that they placed the bonus tracks after what was the first LP side - so right smack in the middle of the CD (this was extra jarring on The Big Express in particular. The Geffen Skylarking also omitted "Mermaid Smile." I can't remember any other issues offhand, but those were pretty big reasons for me to get the 2002 reissues.

Just want to be sure: my CDs are on Caroline/EMI and are dated 2001 - are these the right ones? My Skylarking does have Mermaid Smiles, so I am assuming so...

[JIF]

It may come as a surprise to some of you that the remasters were also remixes, at least in some cases, so you may want to keep both versions as I did. Listen to the beginning of the first track on Oranges and Lemons (Garden of Earthly Delights), and you'll hear an obvious difference between the original and the remaster. Another reason I kept the originals: the remasters are a bit bright for my tastes, like many remasters.

Ok. So, I guess I'll stick with my copies.

[Pr33t]

Just want to be sure: my CDs are on Caroline/EMI and are dated 2001 - are these the right ones? My Skylarking does have Mermaid Smiles, so I am assuming so...

Yep, those are one and the same. Just branded as Virgin for the European release / Caroline for North America.

[MYSTERIOUS TRAVELLER]

I loved them from the moment Drums and Wires was released!
The decline began with Skylarking
They jumped the shark by Oranges and Lemons

My all-time fav is English Settlement (the double LP version)... now THATS great stuff there!
Mummer is great too

[paulus]

I don't know whether XTC as a whole are prog. They went through quite a various evolution.

I really love all of it.

But Dukes of Stratosphear is definitely PSYCH, which is my favorite kind of prog.

That was the precursor to a lot of the Elephant 6 stuff, which was a major Neo-Psych movement in the 90s. And Neo-Psych is not like Neo-Prog. It's as good as, maybe better than, the originals.