Let The Day Begin...Let The Day Start!: Day 230 - XTC (2)

Drums and Wires - XTC

Virgin

Produced by Steve Lillywhite

Released 17th August 1979

UK Charts #24

US Charts #176

Original Tracklist

A1 Making Plans For Nigel
A2 Helicopter    
A3 Day In Day Out
A4 When You're Near Me I Have Difficulty
A5 Ten Feet Tall
A6 Roads Girdle The Globe
B1 Real By Reel
B2 Millions    
B3 That Is The Way
B4 Outside World    
B5 Scissor Man
B6 Complicated Game

2001 CD Reissue Bonus Tracks

13. Life Begins at the Hop
14. Chain of Command
15. Limelight

Personnel
    Andy Partridge - vocals, guitars, synthesizers
    Colin Moulding - vocals, bass
    Dave Gregory - guitars, keyboards, background vocals
    Terry Chambers - drums, percussion, background vocals

with:
    Andy Partridge, Colin Moulding, Dave Gregory, Terry Chambers, Steve Warren, Hugh Padgham, Al Clark, Jumbo Van Reinen - Vernon Yard Male Voice Choir on "Roads Girdle the Globe"
    Dick Cuthell - trumpet on "That is the Way"

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Drums and Wires was the third Studio Album release from Swindon boys XTC.

The first 20,000 copies of the album came with a Free 7" Single that featured Chain of Command / Limelight (which were added to the 2001 CD Reissue).

Life Begins At The Hop was not on the original album release, though it was included on some international versions and was also added to the 2001 CD Reissue. The single, released in April 1979 on Clear Vinyl peaked at #54 in the UK Charts. Life Begins At The Hop is my favourite XTC single.

The single was also the first outing for new guitarist Dave Gregory who had replaced Barry Andrews. Andrews departure to Robert Fripp's League of Gentlemen and eventually the forming of Shriekback after the GO 2 album left the band considering whether Thomas Dolby should be his replacement but in going for Gregory they developed a more rockier sound.

The only single from the album was Making Plans For Nigel was released in September 1979 and peaked at #17 in the charts.

Let The Day Begin...Let The Day Start!