XTC - Ball and Chain

robsargent4 Says:

Mar 24, 2011 - Ah, the 80s - I just missed them, but there's still something left of them in songs like this.

GloucesterAdam Says:

Mar 26, 2011 - David left because, according to Andy, he had developed a 'bad attitude' towards working with him and Colin. However, I think it's because Apple Venus was not going to be as 'guitary' as their other albums and so David would only be paid as a guest musician. Happily, Andy and David are friends again and maybe there's a (slim) chance they could do a new song or two one day. Colin fell out of love with music and quit the group in 2005 meaning the end for XTC :(

melomane2010 Says:

Apr 9, 2011 - The bridge on this track is magnificent, as nearly all XTC bridges are. I think it should be required study for all potential pop song writers.

melomane2010 Says:

Apr 9, 2011 - They had a falling out, about money and artistic direction and about artistic direction affecting money - simple as that really, nothing new in the music world. But while XTC went on an extended hiatus in the 90's in order to break their contract with Virgin, Dave and Colin had to do menial jobs to make ends meet. Andy did not, since he had the lion's share of the royalties coming in. Again, nothing new. Glad they're mates again.

melomane2010 Says:

Apr 9, 2011 - Oh and as far as Apple Venus not being "guitary" that's hogwash, some of Dave's tastiest licks are on that album. I think Dave wanted to do one "great" album including the best of Apple Venus and Wasp Star, but given how magnificent Apple Venus turned out (maybe XTC's best album ever), I wouldn't have changed a thing, other than get Dave on Wasp Star, because that was one of XTC's weaker albums that could have used a bit more invention from Dave. And better songs from Colin.

vonzeke Says:

Apr 24, 2011 - I liked Mummer.

Lovethemseventies Says:

Apr 26, 2011 - Love this song so much, thanks for posting.Colin seemed so shy whenever he was interviewed but he came to life in the videos, it's almost as though someone flicked a switch and a more animated Colin came to life! This song is timeless, still sounds every bit as good now almost 30 years later.

mogger11 Says:

May 13, 2011 - Colin's quality + Andy's quantity = dead heat overall

ramacure Says:

May 20, 2011 - lo mejor de la new wave

mrmantra69 Says:

Jun 11, 2011 - .....oh SkyLarking......; ^ {)

CONSIDERABLYMORE1 Says:

Jun 19, 2011 - The enduring feeling from XTC's body of work is their intense love of England and all that was good about it. Sadly that England was systematically destroyed by two of the most savagely abusive ideologies known to man - Thatcherism and Blarism.

CONSIDERABLYMORE1 Says:

Jun 19, 2011 - i imagine it represents father time being seduced by a sexual entity hired by the corrupt town planners and property developers to rid the country of its architectural heritage.

derektheburster Says:

Jul 10, 2011 - I would suggest England as we know this once great country, has been degraded, vilified, and raped by the immigrants from east europe, and pakistan/india. These parasites produce nothing, they suck the lifeblood of the country, & breed vermin. If you have to blame someone, then lay the blame at Heath's door, he was in power when the scum from uganda, began arriving here in 1971. great band tho.

CONSIDERABLYMORE1 Says:

Jul 11, 2011 - I would like to distance myself from this xenophobic and hate fuelled diatribe. Hopefully youtube will find some way of removing this racist garbage. Visit any "all whote" relatively affluent provincial town or village throughout the UK to find the sort of repulsive, materialistic driven attitudes I am talking about.

Nello7 Says:

Oct 10, 2011 - I could not have versed this any better! I now have an adult perspective of their art and it is more prescient than I could have imagined. They are in the same league as Dylan, but less prolific, and we can almost understand the lyrics about 70% of the time!

dugtook Says:

Nov 18, 2011 - i wonder what would have happened if colin m. led this band instead of andy? i would never trade the way it was but hmmmmmm.

richardmarez Says:

Jan 16, 2012 -  fuck mary weather ha!!!

SuperMegaUberGenius Says:

Jan 17, 2012 - 1932 driver is a toadpainted orange cheeks/watch?v=uGNtZ_fAWXM1952 unsavory1982 alice and vondeland2002 time slaugherteredagain the lysrgy erase 2032hey said it's 20122035 if we survivetwenty thirty three whats up with dat, bugs, whats up with thatturn to /watch?v=uGNtZ_fAWXM2033 a = free

SuperMegaUberGenius Says:

Jan 17, 2012 - when the plasitc bolermen on the spot standing statues  of cavemen or little piigys ziplining with blue pinwheels2034 militant wars scrubbing floors

SuperMegaUberGenius Says:

Jan 17, 2012 - the 24th dave is , thus, unhandedly, unslalaughtered great command, sir.distint and suucint. far swwt 2012 huawowwhen the plasitc bolermen on the spot standing statues of cavemen or little piigys ziplining with blue pinwheels2034 militant wars scrubbing floors

SuperMegaUberGenius Says:

Jan 17, 2012 - then when we have already met you for once again 2035 handle the messiah right and leave the naoah book for the kicks time is about crucial now

Hemimod Says:

Feb 11, 2012 - XTC are and have been the Pink Floyd of the 21st to the 31st century. Those keyboard + bass parts in this song exceed regular musicianship. By far.

cominroitover80 Says:

Feb 27, 2012 - dude...what kind of drugs are you on and where can i get some? personally i prefer the 23rd dave myself, 24th dave was kind of a blowhard.

housewares Says:

May 7, 2012 - Gotta 2nd all the great commentary re: 2034 militant wars & "Blarism"