XTC Reel by Real: Video

An attempt to build an index to information concerning recordings made and songs written by XTC.  Herein you may find lyrics, charts and tablature, recording information, personnel, anecdotes, and more.  A work in progress.

Contents: Albums · Songs · Video · Covers · Credits

XTC at the Manor

Documentary of the recording of “Towers of London” at The Manor. Recorded August 24-26, 1980 (following the release of Black Sea); aired on October 10, 1980, on BBC2. The version of “Towers of London” recorded during the programme is not the album version.

Look Look — A Video Compilation

Compilation of promotional videos.
Originally released in 1982 in the U.K.
Also released in 1982 in Japan under the name Best Hits.

Andrew Swainson: “. . . [Andy Partridge] told me that he'd asked Virgin for a painting by Giuseppe Arcimboldo of a woman's face made out of fish.” [“The Water”]

Andy: “Virgin vid compilation was based on Pidgin concept for television,which was BOX BELONG LOOK LOOK.They didn't get it,shortened it,LOOK LOOK”

1. This is Pop?
2. Statue of Liberty
3. Are You Receiving Me?
4. Life Begins at the Hop
5. Making Plans for Nigel
6. Towers of London
7. Respectable Street
8. Generals and Majors
9. All of a Sudden (It's Too Late)
10. Ball and Chain
11. Senses Working Overtime

front cover of Japanese Best Hits video collection	Japanese Look Look laserdisc	the Japanese Best Hits VHS tape and contents
back cover of Japanese Best Hits video collection	inside the box of Best Hits	the Look Look laserdisc itself
the booklet included with the Look Look laserdisc	A sampling of Look Look, the XTC singles video collection, 1982 Virgin Japan [Part 1]	A sampling of Look Look, the XTC singles video collection, 1982 [Part 1]
A sampling of Look Look, the XTC singles video collection, 1982 Virgin Japan [Part 2]	promotional info sheet for Look Look

XTC Play at Home

Part of a series filmed for Channel 4 (C4) and broadcast on 16 October 1984, this programme documents XTC in their native town of Swindon. Filmed in July 1983. Includes a live acoustic version of “Train Running Low on Soul Coal” as well as the following promotional video clips:

1. Wonderland
2. Beating of Hearts
3. Love On a Farmboy's Wages
4. Human Alchemy
5. In Loving Memory of a Name
6. Funk Pop a Roll

“Wonderland” promo video	video for “Beating of Hearts”, from XTC Play at Home, Channel 4, 1983	“Love on a Farmboy's Wages” promo video, from XTC Play at Home, Channel 4, 1983
“Human Alchemy” promotional video	“Funk Pop a Roll” promo video, from XTC Play at Home, Channel 4, 1983	video for “In Loving Memory of a Name”, from XTC Play at Home, Channel 4, 1983
XTC Play at Home contains an acoustic jam of “Train Running Low on Soul Coal” performed by Dave and Andy in a park setting.	“Train Running Low on Soul Coal” acoustic in Swindon, from XTC Play at Home, Channel 4, 1983

The Road to Oranges & Lemons

Promotional video sometimes known as The XTC Puppet Show. Filmed to promote the release of Oranges & Lemons, 1989.
Released on the Blu-ray reissue of Oranges & Lemons on 30 October 2015 in the U.K.

Times Square

Feature film, 1980. XTC contribute “Take This Town” to the soundtrack of this film.

URGH! A Music War

Feature film, 1981. XTC perform “Respectable Street” live and Andy joins in with The Police performing their song “So Lonely”.

The Ocean's Daughter

The award winning 1983 underwater film made by Mike Portelly in which “A diver is taken on an undersea odyssey into the heart of the ocean, where mysterious forces are at work that give rise to the Ocean's Daughter, born to deliver a stark warning. . .” The film has not been commercially released. Andy Partridge composed a number of tracks for the film:

1. Ocean's Daughter
2. Aqua Deum
3. The Familiar
4. Girl In Water Colours
5. Primal Gallery

Thomas Dolby: Thomas Dolby

Video collection EP, 1984. Andy Partridge contributes harmonica to the music of “Europa and The Pirate Twins”, but does not appear in the video.

The Laughing Prisoner

An hour-long television special with Jools Holland includes “The Man Who Sailed Around His Soul” and “The Meeting Place” filmed at Portmeirion, Wales (location for filming The Prisoner), for The Tube, 1987. Ian Gregory played the part of the drummer.

She's Having a Baby

Feature film, 1988. XTC contribute “Happy Families”, in a remixed version, to the soundtrack of this film.

Thomas Dolby: The Golden Age of Video

Video collection, 1989. Andy Partridge contributes harmonica to the music of “Europa and The Pirate Twins”, but does not appear in the video.

Coney Island

Documentary, originally produced for PBS's American Experience, 1991. XTC contribute “Frost Circus (No. 5 in the Homo Safari series)” to the soundtrack of this made-for-TV film.

Me Myself & Irene

Feature film, 2001. XTC contribute “I'd Like That” to the soundtrack of the film. The song does not appear on the soundtrack album.

Wonderfalls

Television show, 2004. Andy Partridge contributes “I Wonder Why the Wonderfalls”, the theme song for the show. 12 episodes of the show include the theme song (the pilot episode did not). At least two versions of a promotional video were filmed.

Layer Cake

Feature film, 2004. XTC contribute “Making Plans For Nigel” to the soundtrack of the film.

Freaks and Geeks

Television show, 1999-2000. XTC's song “No Language In Our Lungs” was featured in episode #9 - “The Diary”, first aired on 31 January 2000.

Gilmore Girls

Television series, 2000-2007. XTC's song “I'm The Man Who Murdered Love” was featured in Season 1, Episode 2 - “The Lorelais' First Day at Chilton”, first aired on 12 October 2000. XTC's song “We're All Light” was featured in Season 1, Episode 9 - “Rory's Dance”, first aired on 20 December 2000. The Three Wise Men's song “Thanks For Christmas” was featured in Season 1, Episode 10 - “Forgiveness and Stuff”, first aired on 21 December 2000. XTC's song “Earn Enough For Us” was featured in Season 1, Episode 12 - “Double Date”, first aired on 18 January 2001. XTC's song “Then She Appeared” was featured in Season 3, Episode 51 - “Let the Games Begin”, first aired on 19 November 2002.

Hot Fuzz

Feature film, 2007. XTC contribute “Sgt. Rock (Is Going To Help Me)” to the soundtrack of the film.

Chorus

Compilation video, 2010. Recorded for the French television program Chorus, XTC perform “This is Pop” live at Théâtre de l'Empire, Paris, France, 10 December 1978.

Wallace & Gromit's World of Invention

Television series, 2010. XTC's song “The Meeting Place” is excerpted briefly on the soundtrack of Episode 1 - “Nature Knows Best” (though it's hardly worth mentioning).

Ashes to Ashes

Television series, 2008-2010. XTC's song “Sgt. Rock (is Going to Help Me)” was featured in Season 1, Episode 5 - “The Smoking Gun”, first aired on 6 March 2008.

Knife Machine: 3 extracts from the Nobot EP

Video, 5 June 2013. Art direction and additional production by Andy Partridge.

Half and Catch Fire

Television series, 2014-. XTC's song “Complicated Game” was featured in the premiere episode, first aired on 1 June 2014.

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