XTC - The Big Express on CD & BLU-RAY

XTC’s seventh album, “The Big Express” was virtually ignored on release, much as its immediate predecessor “Mummer” had been. If Mummer was XTC’s quiet album, this was its polar opposite: bright, brash, noisy - even cluttered on occasion if the song demanded it - as it became a concept album of sorts, a partly autobiographical reflection on growing up in an industrial town, Swindon, with its history of engineering and railway accomplishments. Perhaps in keeping with that tradition of technical innovation, the album also made extensive use of (at the time) new technology with Linn-Drum programming (alongside drummer Peter Phipps), E-mu Emulator and other synths claiming space among the more traditional guitars, bass and drums mix under-pinning the vocals. This technology was juxtaposed with technology of a slightly earlier pop/rock era as phasing, backwards tapes and the inclusion of a mellotron hinted at a psychedelic influence that would move more centre-stage with the band’s next project – ‘The Dukes of Stratosphear’. With XTC no longer touring, the sound radically different to any previous XTC album, in a musical climate where the upper end of the charts reflected national radio, producing the most mainstream result for years: Lionel Richie, Sade, Spandau Ballet, Howard Jones, Tina Turner, Queen – Frank Sinatra’s final solo studio album… the space for a metallic, post-punk concept album about growing up amidst the ghosts of Swindon’s industrial heritage proved non-existent. Of course the songs were as good as on any other XTC album - a very high standard indeed – but they went largely unheard. Given that position, it would be easy to conclude that the timing was wrong for the album. But the best musicians follow the music and allow the times to catch up with that; precisely what happened when XTC released its next album “Skylarking” in 1986. Just as “Mummer’s” reputation (and sales) has increased over the years, “The Big Express” is now regarded as a ‘neglected classic’ of its era. Now remixed by Steven Wilson in stereo, 5.1 Surround Sound & Dolby Atmos, the full impact and power of the album can be appreciated. Already given studio quality previews to an invited audience in London and LA at L-Acoustics studios, the reaction was one of collective awe at the amount of newly apparent detail & clarity in the Atmos mixes. As ever with XTC, the full package on the Blu-ray disc includes every recorded song from the era, ranging from demos through to the aforementioned Spatial Audio mixes.
Tracklist:

2023 Stereo Mixes
CD-1Wake Up
Arranged By [Choir] – David Lord
Choir – Annie Huchrak
4:44
CD-2All You Pretty Girls3:43
CD-3Shake You Donkey Up4:25
CD-4Seagulls Screaming Kiss Her Kiss Her
Euphonium – Steve Saunders*
4:01
CD-5This World Over5:41
CD-6The Everyday Story Of Smalltown3:57
CD-7I Bought Myself A Liarbird2:49
CD-8Reign Of Blows3:34
CD-9You're The Wish You Are I Had3:20
CD-10I Remember The Sun3:12
CD-11Train Running Low On Soul Coal5:10
Bonus Tracks
CD-12Red Brick Dream2:05
CD-13Washaway3:01
CD-14Blue Overall4:32
2023 Dolby Atmos And 5.1 Mixes
BD-1Wake Up
Arranged By [Choir] – David Lord
Choir – Annie Huchrak
4:45
BD-2All You Pretty Girls3:42
BD-3Shake You Donkey Up4:24
BD-4Seagulls Screaming Kiss Her Kiss Her
Euphonium – Steve Saunders*
4:01
BD-5This World Over5:40
BD-6The Everyday Story Of Smalltown3:57
BD-7I Bought Myself A Liarbird2:50
BD-8Reign Of Blows3:34
BD-9You’re The Wish You Are I Had3:19
BD-10I Remember The Sun3:12
BD-11Train Running Low On Soul Coal5:12
Additional 2023 Dolby Atmos And 5.1 Mixes
BD-12Red Brick Dream2:04
BD-13Washaway3:01
BD-14Blue Overall4:31
2023 Stereo Mixes
BD-15Wake Up
Arranged By [Choir] – David Lord
Choir – Annie Huchrak
4:45
BD-16All You Pretty Girls3:42
BD-17Shake You Donkey Up4:24
BD-18Seagulls Screaming Kiss Her Kiss Her
Euphonium – Steve Saunders*
4:01
BD-19This World Over5:40
BD-20The Everyday Story Of Smalltown3:57
BD-21I Bought Myself A Liarbird2:50
BD-22Reign Of Blows3:34
BD-23You’re The Wish You Are I Had3:19
BD-24I Remember The Sun3:12
BD-25Train Running Low On Soul Coal5:12
Additional 2023 Stereo Mixes
BD-26Red Brick Dream2:04
BD-27Washaway3:01
BD-28Blue Overall4:30
2023 Stereo Out-Takes
BD-29Broomstick Rhythm (Guide Vocal)3:56
BD-30The Troubles (Big Express Version – Backing Track)4:20
Instrumental Mixes
BD-31Wake Up4:43
BD-32All You Pretty Girls3:42
BD-33Shake You Donkey Up4:24
BD-34Seagulls Screaming Kiss Her Kiss Her
Euphonium – Steve Saunders*
4:01
BD-35This World Over5:25
BD-36The Everyday Story Of Smalltown3:57
BD-37I Bought Myself A Liarbird2:48
BD-38Reign Of Blows3:34
BD-39You’re The Wish You Are I Had3:19
BD-40I Remember The Sun3:12
BD-41Train Running Low On Soul Coal5:10
BD-42Red Brick Dream2:04
BD-43Washaway3:01
BD-44Blue Overall4:31
2001 Original Stereo Mixes And Extra Tracks
BD-45Wake Up
Arranged By [Choir] – David Lord
Choir – Annie Huchrak
4:42
BD-46All You Pretty Girls3:40
BD-47Shake You Donkey Up4:19
BD-48Seagulls Screaming Kiss Her Kiss Her
Euphonium – Steve Saunders*
3:50
BD-49This World Over5:34
BD-50The Everyday Story Of Smalltown3:56
BD-51I Bought Myself A Liarbird2:48
BD-52Reign Of Blows3:30
BD-53You’re The Wish You Are I Had3:14
BD-54I Remember The Sun3:10
BD-55Train Running Low On Soul Coal5:04
BD-56Red Brick Dream2:01
BD-57Washaway3:05
BD-58Blue Overall4:24
Album Demos
BD-59Wake Up4:08
BD-60All You Pretty Girls4:15
BD-61Shake You Donkey Up3:27
BD-62Seagulls Screaming Kiss Her Kiss Her3:36
BD-63This World Over (Extract From Writing Tape)3:13
BD-64The Everyday Story Of Smalltown4:02
BD-65I Bought Myself A Liarbird3:03
BD-66Reign Of Blows5:06
BD-67You’re The Wish You Are I Had3:22
BD-68I Remember The Sun4:23
BD-69Train Running Low On Soul Coal4:19
Extra Demos
BD-70Red Brick Dream1:24
BD-71Washaway3:26
BD-72Blue Overall3:03
BD-73Now We All Dead (It Doesn’t Matter)3:09
BD-74Work3:03
BD-75Gangway, Electric Guitar Is Coming Through1:50
BD-76Broomstick Rhythm3:37
BD-77Shiny Cage3:01
BD-78A Patriotic Romance4:51
  

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