Transistor Blast: The Best of the BBC Sessions

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Transistor Blast: The Best of the BBC Sessions
Box set by
XTC
Released24 November 1998
Recorded1977-1989
GenrePop rock
Length194:19 (4 CD Total)
LabelCooking Vinyl
XTC other chronology
Upsy Daisy Assortment
(1997) 		Transistor Blast: The Best of the BBC Sessions
(1998) 		Homespun
(1999)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
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Fretplay link
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Transistor Blast: The Best of the BBC Sessions is a 4-disc boxed set by the English rock band XTC, released by Cooking Vinyl in November 1998, just three months prior to the studio album Apple Venus Volume 1.[1][2]

Tracks on the first two discs are culled from various BBC radio sessions the group performed on over the years, notably for John Peel and David Jensen.[3] Discs three and four are live recordings, the latter of which was previously released as BBC Radio 1 Live in Concert[4] and is now titled Live in Concert 1980 on streaming services such as Spotify and Apple Music.

"Opening Speech" from the first disc is Andy Partridge imitating John Peel.[5]

Track listing[edit]

UK CD: COOKCD152[edit]

All songs written by Andy Partridge, except where noted.

Disc one[edit]

Studio sessions
  1. "Opening Speech" – 0:49 [John Peel Show: Recorded 8 October 1979; Aired 15 October 1979]
  2. "Life Begins at the Hop" (Colin Moulding) – 4:19 [David "Kid" Jensen Show: Recorded 21 May 1979; Aired 31 May 1979]
  3. "Scarecrow People" – 4:13 [Richard Skinner Show: Recorded 16 March 1989; Aired 5 April 1989]
  4. "Seagulls Screaming Kiss Her, Kiss Her" – 4:21 [Bruno Brookes Show: Recorded 11 October 1984; Aired 20 November 1984]
  5. "Ten Feet Tall" (Moulding) – 2:53 [John Peel Show: Recorded 8 October 1979; Aired 15 October 1979]
  6. "Garden of Earthly Delights" – 5:33 [Andy Kershaw Show: Recorded 16 March 1989; Aired 11 June 1989]
  7. "Runaways" (Moulding) – 4:41 [David "Kid" Jensen Show: Recorded 14 January 1982; Aired 25 January 1982]
  8. "When You're Near Me I Have Difficulty" – 3:07 [David "Kid" Jensen Show: Recorded 21 May 1979; Aired 31 May 1979]
  9. "I'm Bugged" – 3:34 [John Peel Show: Recorded 21 September 1977; Aired 26 September 1977]
  10. "Another Satellite" – 4:21 [Sunday Live Show: Recorded and aired 22 February 1987]
  11. "You're the Wish (You Are) I Had" – 3:24 [Bruno Brookes Show: Recorded 11 October 1984; Aired 20 November 1984]
  12. "Crosswires" (Moulding) – 2:10 [John Peel Show: Recorded 20 June 1977; Aired 24 June 1977]
  13. "Roads Girdle the Globe" – 5:03 [John Peel Show: Recorded 8 October 1979; Aired 15 October 1979]

Disc two[edit]

Studio sessions
  1. "No Thugs in Our House" – 5:23 [David "Kid" Jensen Show: Recorded 14 January 1982; Aired 25 January 1982]
  2. "One of the Millions" (Moulding) – 4:26 [Andy Kershaw Show: Recorded 16 March 1989; Aired 11 June 1989]
  3. "Real by Reel" – 3:48 [John Peel Show: Recorded 8 October 1979; Aired 15 October 1979]
  4. "The Meeting Place" (Moulding) – 3:08 [Sunday Live Show: Recorded and aired 22 February 1987]
  5. "Meccanic Dancing (Oh We Go!)" – 2:36 [John Peel Show: Recorded 13 November 1978; Aired 23 November 1978]
  6. "Poor Skeleton Steps Out" – 3:27 [Richard Skinner Show: Recorded 16 March 1989; Aired 5 April 1989]
  7. "Into the Atom Age" – 2:27 [John Peel Show: Recorded 21 September 1977; Aired 26 September 1977]
  8. "The Rhythm" (Moulding) – 2:55 [John Peel Show: Recorded 13 November 1978; Aired 23 November 1978]
  9. "This World Over" – 4:33 [Bruno Brookes Show: Recorded 11 October 1984; Aired 20 November 1984 - actually the 7" version misfiled]
  10. "Snowman" – 4:42 [David "Kid" Jensen Show: Recorded 14 January 1982; Aired 25 January 1982]
  11. "Danceband" (Moulding) – 2:40 [John Peel Show: Recorded 21 September 1977; Aired 26 September 1977]
  12. "Making Plans for Nigel" (Moulding) – 4:06 [David "Kid" Jensen Show: Recorded 21 May 1979; Aired 31 May 1979]
  13. "Jason and the Argonauts" – 5:42 [David "Kid" Jensen Show: Recorded 14 January 1982; Aired 25 January 1982]

Disc three[edit]

1978/79 – Live in Concert recordings
  1. "Radios in Motion" – 3:21
  2. "Crosswires" (Moulding) – 2:06
  3. "Science Friction" – 3:34
  4. "Statue of Liberty" – 2:58
  5. "The Rhythm" (Moulding) – 2:55
  6. "I'll Set Myself on Fire" (Moulding) – 3:27
  7. "New Town Animal in a Furnished Cage" – 1:55
  8. "All Along the Watchtower" (Bob Dylan) – 5:58
  9. "Beatown" – 3:24
  10. "This Is Pop?" – 2:37
  11. "Dance Band" (Moulding) – 2:49
  12. "Neon Shuffle" – 4:32
  • All tracks recorded for Sight & Sound in Concert at The Hippodrome, Golders Green, London, 9 March 1978, except tracks 3, 5 and 9, recorded for Live in Concert at Paris Theatre, London, 17 January 1979.

Disc four[edit]

Live in Concert, Hammersmith Palais, 22 December 1980
  1. "Life Begins at the Hop" (Moulding) – 3:55
  2. "Burning with Optimism's Flames" – 4:29
  3. "Love at First Sight" (Moulding) – 3:03
  4. "Respectable Street" – 3:52
  5. "No Language in Our Lungs" – 4:58
  6. "This is Pop" – 2:49
  7. "Scissor Man" – 4:58
  8. "Towers of London" – 5:13
  9. "Battery Brides" – 7:20
  10. "Living Through Another Cuba" – 3:29
  11. "Generals and Majors" (Moulding) – 4:37
  12. "Making Plans for Nigel" (Moulding) – 4:21
  13. "Are You Receiving Me?" – 3:16

Personnel[edit]

Credits adapted from the liner notes of Transistor Blast (technical personnel)[6] and Drums and Wireless: BBC Radio Sessions 77–89 (XTC).[7]

XTC
Technical
  • Tony Wilson – producer (disc 1: 1, 5, 13 / disc 2: 3, 5, 8)
  • Bill Aitken – producer (disc 1: 2, 8 / disc 2: 12)
  • Nick Gomm – producer (disc 1: 2, 8 / disc 2: 12)
  • Pete Watts – producer (disc 1: 3, 6 / disc 2: 2, 6)
  • Ted De Bono – producer (disc 1: 4, 11 / disc 2: 9), engineer (disc 1: 3, 6 / disc 2: 2, 6)
  • John Sparrow – producer (disc 1: 7 / disc 2: 1, 10, 13)
  • Malcolm Brown – producer (disc 1: 9, 12 / disc 2: 7, 11)
  • Phil Ross – producer (disc 1: 10 / disc 2: 4)
  • Jeff Griffin – producer (disc 3: 1, 2, 4, 6-8, 10-12 / disc 4[n 1]
  • Chris Lycett – producer (disc 3: 3, 5, 9)
  • Dave Dade – engineer (disc 1: 1, 5, 9, 12, 13 / disc 2: 3, 5, 7, 8, 11)
  • Tim Durham – engineer (disc 1: 3, 6 / disc 2: 2, 6)
  • Mike Robinson – engineer (disc 1: 7 / disc 2: 1, 10, 13)
  • Ian Cooper – mastering
  • Andy Partridge – artwork, liner notes (disc 3 and 4)
  • Andrew Swainson – artwork
  • Colin Moulding – liner notes (disc 1 and 2)

Notes[edit]

  1. ^ On BBC Radio 1 Live in Concert, released in 1992, Pete Dauncey is credited as producer and Paul Nixon as engineer.[8]

References[edit]

  1. ^ Guarino, Mark (25 December 1998). "XTC is back with boxed set 'Transistor'". chalkhills.org. Chicago Daily Herald. Retrieved 26 January 2022.
  2. ^ Erlewine, Stephen Thomas (n.d.). "Transistor Blast: The Best of the BBC Sessions". Allmusic.com. Retrieved 26 January 2022.
  3. ^ Graff, Gary (1 December 1998). "XTC - Transistor Blast". chalkhills.org. Wall of Sound. Retrieved 26 January 2022.
  4. ^ "Transistors? What are Transistors?". chalkhills.org. Moscow. August 1999. Retrieved 26 January 2022.
  5. ^ "Opening Speech". chalkhills.org. Retrieved 26 January 2022.
  6. ^ Transistor Blast: The Best of the BBC Sessions (Media notes). XTC. Cooking Vinyl. 1998.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  7. ^ Drums and Wireless: BBC Radio Sessions 77–89 (Media notes). XTC. Windsong International. 1994.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  8. ^ "BBC Radio 1 Live In Concert". discogs.com. Retrieved 16 August 2022.


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