Members Steve Robinson Posted August 5, 2015 Members Share Posted August 5, 2015 DG has to be one of the most tasteful and expressive guitarists ever. Have a listen to "Liberty Daze" at the link below... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members blue2blue Posted August 5, 2015 Members Share Posted August 5, 2015 And he did some of their string arrangements, too. I guess I'm one of the lucky Americans to have seen XTC on our own shores (Whisky a Go Go, February,1980). It was a great show. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Vito Corleone Posted August 5, 2015 Members Share Posted August 5, 2015 Definitely the unsung hero of that band. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Steve Robinson Posted August 5, 2015 Author Members Share Posted August 5, 2015 Couldn't get the link to work; let's try again... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members blue2blue Posted August 5, 2015 Members Share Posted August 5, 2015 Cool! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Steve Robinson Posted August 5, 2015 Author Members Share Posted August 5, 2015 You lucky swine. Never did get to see them. Yeah, Gregsy's string arrangement on 1000 Umbrellas is a cracker isn't it? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Steve Robinson Posted August 5, 2015 Author Members Share Posted August 5, 2015 Agreed. He was the icing on the cake. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Steve Robinson Posted August 5, 2015 Author Members Share Posted August 5, 2015 A word from Ed Woltil about Dave's playing: To say that it's a thrill to have Dave Gregory of XTC play guitar on one of your songs is an understatement. I'm not sure people quite understand when I tell them — Dave's been on my Top Ten list of favorite guitarists ever since XTC's Black Sea album first shook my world. So when we sent him Liberty Daze as a work in progress (vocals, acoustic guitar, drums and some keyboards) without any instructions or helpful ideas other than "please work your magic" we weren't quite sure what to expect. Try to imagine the mixture of shock and joy we felt when he sent us the guitar parts you're about to hear. First of all, the capoed six-string bass that comes in at about the 0:22 mark (capoed six-string bass? Who thinks of that?). Then, the fantastic Brian May homage (Dave's words!) that comes swelling in at the second verse — and then, of course, the impeccable lead solo and following guitar fills. Why are you still reading? Listen for yourself and enjoy! - Ed Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Anderton Posted August 5, 2015 Members Share Posted August 5, 2015 "Black Sea" is one of the greatest rock albums of all time in my book. The intensity and power is pretty amazing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members nat whilk II Posted August 5, 2015 Members Share Posted August 5, 2015 So is that Dave Gregory playing that great lead on Pink Thing? Sounds like Skunk Baxter kicked up a notch. I'd listen to that song more often if the imagery wasn't so...uh, exhibitionistic or something. nat whilk ii Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Steve Robinson Posted August 5, 2015 Author Members Share Posted August 5, 2015 Yes, that was a slippery lead on "Pink Thing" wasn't it? I've heard mention of Dave's fondness for Steely Dan before, and it's pretty apparent on that track. Brilliant stuff. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Vito Corleone Posted August 6, 2015 Members Share Posted August 6, 2015 Easily on my short list of best bands of all time. The talent and genius of Andy Partridge goes without saying. And although he only contributed a couple of songs on each album, it was Colin Moulding who often came up with the catchiest hooks and best singles. And Dave Gregory took it all to the next level. More than just the icing on the cake. He was baked right in. This became pretty apparent on the Apple Venus Vol. II record. His absence was notable, IMO. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members AlamoJoe Posted August 6, 2015 Members Share Posted August 6, 2015 "Drums and Wires" is my favorite by XTC. It's hard to improve on "Making plans for Nigel" or "Ten feet tall"..IMHO of course...All a matter of taste. I've been striving to write something close to that level of composition ever since...Never even come close.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Geoff Grace Posted August 6, 2015 Members Share Posted August 6, 2015 "Black Sea" is one of the greatest rock albums of all time in my book. The intensity and power is pretty amazing. That's certainly my favorite XTC album! There is no language in my lungs to describe how great that record is. I love Dave Gregory's guitar hook for "Respectable Street." Skylarking and English Settlement are my next favorites. I used to sing "No Thugs In Our House" in a cover band back when that song was current. I was lucky enough to watch them perform at the Arizona State Fair, of all places, in support of that album. They warmed up for the Police, who had some success at that point—with "Message In A Bottle" and "Roxanne"—but had yet to break big. I believe it cost all of $3 to get into the state fair and watch the concert for free. If I recall correctly, that was XTC's final tour. Best, Geoff Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members AlamoJoe Posted August 6, 2015 Members Share Posted August 6, 2015 That's certainly my favorite XTC album! There is no language in my lungs to describe how great that record is. I love Dave Gregory's guitar hook for "Respectable Street." Skylarking and English Settlement are my next favorites. I used to sing "No Thugs In Our House" in a cover band back when that song was current. I was lucky enough to watch them perform at the Arizona State Fair, of al places, in support of that album. They warmed up for the Police, who had some success at that point—with "Message In A Bottle" and "Roxanne"—but had yet to break big. I believe it cost all of $3 to get into the state fair and watch the concert for free. If I recall correctly, that was XTC's final tour. Best, Geoff I suspect you are right Geoff...About it being their last tour. Andy Partridge suffered from crippling stage fright. I'm envious you got to see them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Geoff Grace Posted August 6, 2015 Members Share Posted August 6, 2015 It's too bad for us fans that Partridge's stage fright cut their touring days short. He reportedly became addicted to valium during his touring years as a means to subdue his fear; so it was otherwise for the best that he gave it up. Best, Geoff Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Steve Robinson Posted August 6, 2015 Author Members Share Posted August 6, 2015 Agreed. Whenever I hear "Burning With Optimism's Flames" I end up feeling out of breath afterwards. The energy is ridiculous, and again, Gregory's guitar parts are the work of a master. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Steve Robinson Posted August 6, 2015 Author Members Share Posted August 6, 2015 Easily on my short list of best bands of all time. The talent and genius of Andy Partridge goes without saying. And although he only contributed a couple of songs on each album, it was Colin Moulding who often came up with the catchiest hooks and best singles. And Dave Gregory took it all to the next level. More than just the icing on the cake. He was baked right in. This became pretty apparent on the Apple Venus Vol. II record. His absence was notable, IMO. Spot on there, mate. I often wondered how some of those Wasp Star songs would have sounded with Dave's touch. As great as the songs were, they probably would have been er, stratospheric, if he'd been allowed to finger paint all over them. A shame we never got to hear them that way. It's amazing to say that really, because Partridge is a fantastic guitarist himself. It's just that the true magic happened with the two of them interacting. Did someone mention, "Language In Our Lungs"? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Folder Posted August 11, 2015 Members Share Posted August 11, 2015 And he did some of their string arrangements, too. I guess I'm one of the lucky Americans to have seen XTC on our own shores (Whisky a Go Go, February,1980). It was a great show. I saw them in April of 1981 at the B&L Warehouse in Athens, Georgia. The opening act was a popular local band called R.E.M. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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