Dear God was actually taken off of the album primarily because Andy thought he couldn't properly approach such a big subject in a 3m song - he thought he bodged it, and was quite bemused at the inevitable outrage once stations aired it over 'Grass'. That said, Todd and Andy are both remarkable talents - but working together clearly brought a clash of egos. Andy did mellow, and acknowledged Todds exceptional work later. His description of recording Skylarking with Todd in XTC's "Song Stories" book is probably accurate: Two Fuhrers, one bunker. Another Satellite is a superb song that fits well within the Skylarking aesthetic, but a song which Andy later regretted given its subject matter. If there is a weak link on the album, it's Big Day. It's still a great song, just not as memorable as the rest of the album. Finally, I own the corrected-polarity version of Skylarking - i'm not sure if it's better or worse than the original in terms of quality, but it has the best, most complete running order of the album (1st issues and 2nd issues obviously drop key songs - Dear God, and then Mermaid Smiled) and also has the cover the band originally wanted (but were never going to be allowed to use) so that's a plus, lol...
Is anybody here going to mention the guy who is interviewing Todd? Hmmm? It's Mark Maron on the WTF Podcast. There's probably 45 more minutes out there.
Who is the ignoramus doing the interviewing? He knows nothing about XTC. this is a really vile interview, and the interviewer just drinks the kool aid.
Uh, I have to disagree with Todd about “Another Satellite”. It’s one of the most brilliant songs on the album lyrically with its scathing lyrics about romantic interest from a jaundiced recipient who was already in a relationship, and it fits perfectly into the song cycle and is captures the main character in the Fall stage of life in a unique and incisive way. That being said, the entire album is brilliant and is one of the most perfect sounding albums I’ve ever heard.
Brilliant insight by Todd into XTC in the production process... However baffles me that a host of the show is too lazy to do any research you know anything about what is going on IE what album Todd produced and how many records XTC has. This is probably an indicator of how much energy he puts into everything
Todd's contributions to Skylarking are indisputable but I think some of his bitterness toward Andy comes from the realization that Andy is a far more gifted songwriter/ musician than he is. Also, Mark M is an a-hole.
I love XTC and Andy but in all fairness from what I've heard he is a bit of a brat. He even said one time that when he was a kid if he wasn't winning the game he would storm off and go sulk.
I realise this interview is 7±yrs old... ...But is Todd REALLY STILL irritated by Andy Partridge and his meddling with his own album ("Skylarking", obviously) from all those years way back when...!? 🤔🤦🏻♂️🤷🏻♂️ I mean, he DID know that Andy Partridge wasn't very well, regarding his mental health! 😵💫👈🏼 😐😡 I can *_obviously_* understand Todd's frustrations trying to make the album next to Andy. But personally, I can also *_slightly_* understand Andy's mental state somewhat too - what with having my own issues, although not identical to his, I know what it feels like to be in a depressed, fragile and frustrated mental state. (To feel so abnormal and *know* that you're not thinking straight - you feel like you're an alien, because you just don't 'get' other people) I wonder if Andy really cares? 🤔 I doubt it though. So anyway, yeah, Todd... You asshole! 😁 BTW my favourite Todd Rundgren story is the one where he was on tour in the 1970s and Iggy Pop was having an affair with Bebe Buell. Iggy passed out on valiums in his bath and flooded the bathroom, ruining the bedroom ceiling below!😁 Bebe had to get it all fixed and replastered before Todd got back from tour! Which she did! And apparently he was none the wiser! 😄🤷🏻♂️
I was really enjoying this video up until the last few seconds where Todd implies that XTC never made another good album after Skylarking and never had any success with the band after Skylarking. That is an absurd claim. It's a ridiculous claim. It proves that Todd is not immune to being petty such as he accuses Andy being. I'm no Andy fanboy. I'm just looking at this from the perspective of a guy who's been in some bands and experienced various band personalities and kind of seeing all shades of it. Not only did XTC have more success after Skylarking, with it's highest charting songs, but I would contend that every album since English Settlement is a masterpiece, with or without Todd producing. I have no problem listening to complicated music or lush music as long as those features serve the song and serve the music. Maybe Todd would rather keep it simple like he has in his own career. That's personal preference. All I know is that these two overwhelming personalities didn't get along and ended up making one of the greatest rock albums of all time, whether or not either one of them will admit to it. I'll go an extra step and claim Dear God to be the greatest rock song ever written and recorded when you consider all the things, large and small, that religion involves, all the context, And how well Andy capsulized them and presented them in mere minutes, all the beautiful music. Are there any deeper questions to ask in all of humanity as far as religion: "Is there a conscious creator-deity or not? If there is a deity, what kind of deity and how are we supposed to serve this deity?" Religion impacts all of us whether or not we choose to believe in a deity. It shouldn't. Has any other song on the subject dug down so deeply into the nerve of the topic with claws and teeth? None come to my mind. People can take my advice or trash it, but if I was in Todd's place in an interview at this point in his life and this late in the game, I would bury the hatchet and focus more on how interesting it was that they were battling and how it birthed a fantastic piece of art, instead of trying to build his POV up while he drags Andy's point of view down. I could say the same about Andy as well. And I have. Wouldn't it be great if they could just forget about their grievances and have a 50th year concert to celebrate the making of the record, if we can all wait that long? I would love to see a live performance with a backing symphony and string quartets to perform it live. Hand Andy all the Valium he needs, lol. Or get somebody to stand in for him, as he had suggested before, so he could take a Brian Wilson's position on the side of the stage. As somebody who has ADHD and has lost my place on stage because I was daydreaming, I can totally empathize with Andy not wanting to perform. He has the same problem. That's what caused his anxiety to begin with. I think that's another cheap shot by Todd. Annie got damaged from his long-term Valium prescription and then went cold turkey ignorantly and it screwed him up. It's hard to condemn somebody or drag him down on something like that. It doesn't seem right.
I love Another Satellite but the fact that it was almost exactly Andy’s demo checks out to me. It feels unfinished/empty compared to the rest of the album, Andy’s vocals save it
Doesn't seem like they are on good terms after all these years. Todd's brashness didn't quite align with Andy Partridge's British demeanor. There's interviews of Andy critical of Todd in the studio.
Interesting how views change over time. A few weeks ago I posted a question on the XTC subreddit, asking members what their favourite XTC album was - at least half the responses was for Big Express. Major fans cite it as their masterpiece - it's also Andy Partridge's favourite XTC album. I haven't heard the Steven Wilson remix of Big Express yet but I must admit the brash, trebly production put me off a little - by XTC standards anyway. The songs are great, of course, but I'd much rather listen to Terry Chambers drumming on a real kit than listen to a programmed Linn Drum.
Although Skylarking is a great album with lots of memorable tracks and moments, it's not one of my favourites. It's the one album I'd say where XTC didn't quite sound like themselves. Todd was obviously trying to get a more commercial sound for the band, and it was certainly more accessible than The Big Express - another great album, but very much for the hardcore fans. Todd deserves credit for helping XTC sell a lot more records in the States - although it was another poor-selling album in the UK. Must have been a nightmare for Colin and Dave having to put up with Todd and Andy's power struggle!
Partridge is a well known insufferable little prick within the music industry ... He is not even worthy to be involved with a true creative genius ... such as Todd Rundgren ... FFS !!!
The album is a masterpiece, but not because of Todd Rundgren because of Andy Partridge. Please don’t try to take credit for their brilliant work when most of yours is only mediocre.
Todd’s a little confused. I don’t know if Todd’s dissing Another Satellite (which is great, and has been on all versions of the album) or Mermaid Smiled (which is meh, and was the song in the original release that was later cut and replaced by Dear God).
Ive heard contemporary and retrospctie inerviews by Parttrisge about this album. On the press tour t the time he dosnt seem nearly as negative as Todd claims here. At least not in the ones Ivelistened to. Patridge basically says this or hat was the producer's idea, I usually would have done XYZ instead but he isnt trashing it. In more recent inerviews he sayd tht h clashed constantly in he studio with Todd. But still seems diplomatic about it. I think Todd is a little thin skinned. Maybe there are things Andy said publically that relate cliaely to clashes behind closed doors and Todd cant separate the two.
Cmon now Todd. To imply that XTC created nothing afterwards that was equal to or surpassed Skylarking is just succumbing to juvenile schoolyard name calling. Get over it and be the better person.
Rungren’s pov is fascinating and skylarking is a great record however he sounds like kind of a bully. He makes some valid insightful points but he doesn’t give Partridge nearly enough respect as an absolutely phenomenal once in a generation songwriter. Imo it’s rungren who is the brat.
Very interesting insights from Todd, about what was ailing XTC's albums at the time, and it sounds about right. Sharp analysis. About their conflict: In the XTC documentary "This Is Pop", Andy does admit he has a "problem with authority", specifically with people telling him what to do. Which of course is what a producer is hired to do. But it's somewhat heartening that Andy at least sees the error of his ways, even if he ultimately is unable to change them. Good thing he found Colin and Dave, who put up with it through all those years.
All respect to Todd but it pisses me off how the interviewer buys hook line and sinker into his badmouthing of Andy, all the while clearly not having a clue about XTC (by the way, one in a handful of the greatest pop bands that ever existed, period) - he probably doesn't even know Skylarking, asks if it was their 4th LP (lol) and yet joins in the all-too-easy judgement on the situation he knows only one side of, only because he wants to be such a buddy of Todd's. A little pathetic, imho
Skylarking is a really impressive work. It was the closest thing I'd heard to a late stage McCartney produced Beatles LP. If I have a criticism, it was almost too perfect. Not enough of an edge.
"I don't think Todd would like Loveless by MBV, psycho-acoustically-speaking" - C.C. Baxter
Dear God was actually taken off of the album primarily because Andy thought he couldn't properly approach such a big subject in a 3m song - he thought he bodged it, and was quite bemused at the inevitable outrage once stations aired it over 'Grass'. That said, Todd and Andy are both remarkable talents - but working together clearly brought a clash of egos. Andy did mellow, and acknowledged Todds exceptional work later. His description of recording Skylarking with Todd in XTC's "Song Stories" book is probably accurate: Two Fuhrers, one bunker. Another Satellite is a superb song that fits well within the Skylarking aesthetic, but a song which Andy later regretted given its subject matter. If there is a weak link on the album, it's Big Day. It's still a great song, just not as memorable as the rest of the album. Finally, I own the corrected-polarity version of Skylarking - i'm not sure if it's better or worse than the original in terms of quality, but it has the best, most complete running order of the album (1st issues and 2nd issues obviously drop key songs - Dear God, and then Mermaid Smiled) and also has the cover the band originally wanted (but were never going to be allowed to use) so that's a plus, lol...
Is anybody here going to mention the guy who is interviewing Todd? Hmmm? It's Mark Maron on the WTF Podcast. There's probably 45 more minutes out there.
Another satellite is hardly a lousy song to replace Dear God. Another satellite is probably one of the best songs.
Who posted this? Rungren? Come on its Rundgren.
This is Marc effin Maron's podcast, "WTF" It's great. He even interviewed Obama when he was president.
XTC does not need a record producer.
Sheesh. 😂 I would have loved to be a fly on the wall during recording. Another Satellite is an amazing song btw. One of my favorites.
Who is the ignoramus doing the interviewing? He knows nothing about XTC. this is a really vile interview, and the interviewer just drinks the kool aid.
Uh, I have to disagree with Todd about “Another Satellite”. It’s one of the most brilliant songs on the album lyrically with its scathing lyrics about romantic interest from a jaundiced recipient who was already in a relationship, and it fits perfectly into the song cycle and is captures the main character in the Fall stage of life in a unique and incisive way. That being said, the entire album is brilliant and is one of the most perfect sounding albums I’ve ever heard.
Brilliant insight by Todd into XTC in the production process... However baffles me that a host of the show is too lazy to do any research you know anything about what is going on IE what album Todd produced and how many records XTC has. This is probably an indicator of how much energy he puts into everything
Todd's contributions to Skylarking are indisputable but I think some of his bitterness toward Andy comes from the realization that Andy is a far more gifted songwriter/ musician than he is. Also, Mark M is an a-hole.
Todd's commitment to getting this album done so well is what made it so great.
I love XTC and Andy but in all fairness from what I've heard he is a bit of a brat. He even said one time that when he was a kid if he wasn't winning the game he would storm off and go sulk.
Anal demands...I didn't know it was that bad.
And... Colin Haye?! 🤔🤦🏻♂️🤷🏻♂️ The singer of Men At Work?! Think he means Colin Moulding...
I realise this interview is 7±yrs old... ...But is Todd REALLY STILL irritated by Andy Partridge and his meddling with his own album ("Skylarking", obviously) from all those years way back when...!? 🤔🤦🏻♂️🤷🏻♂️ I mean, he DID know that Andy Partridge wasn't very well, regarding his mental health! 😵💫👈🏼 😐😡 I can *_obviously_* understand Todd's frustrations trying to make the album next to Andy. But personally, I can also *_slightly_* understand Andy's mental state somewhat too - what with having my own issues, although not identical to his, I know what it feels like to be in a depressed, fragile and frustrated mental state. (To feel so abnormal and *know* that you're not thinking straight - you feel like you're an alien, because you just don't 'get' other people) I wonder if Andy really cares? 🤔 I doubt it though. So anyway, yeah, Todd... You asshole! 😁 BTW my favourite Todd Rundgren story is the one where he was on tour in the 1970s and Iggy Pop was having an affair with Bebe Buell. Iggy passed out on valiums in his bath and flooded the bathroom, ruining the bedroom ceiling below!😁 Bebe had to get it all fixed and replastered before Todd got back from tour! Which she did! And apparently he was none the wiser! 😄🤷🏻♂️
I also think Todd is a genius. That said, I never thought Skylarking was one of the best albums.
I'm sure Todd Rungren and Andy Partridge butted heads a lot.
I was really enjoying this video up until the last few seconds where Todd implies that XTC never made another good album after Skylarking and never had any success with the band after Skylarking. That is an absurd claim. It's a ridiculous claim. It proves that Todd is not immune to being petty such as he accuses Andy being. I'm no Andy fanboy. I'm just looking at this from the perspective of a guy who's been in some bands and experienced various band personalities and kind of seeing all shades of it. Not only did XTC have more success after Skylarking, with it's highest charting songs, but I would contend that every album since English Settlement is a masterpiece, with or without Todd producing. I have no problem listening to complicated music or lush music as long as those features serve the song and serve the music. Maybe Todd would rather keep it simple like he has in his own career. That's personal preference. All I know is that these two overwhelming personalities didn't get along and ended up making one of the greatest rock albums of all time, whether or not either one of them will admit to it. I'll go an extra step and claim Dear God to be the greatest rock song ever written and recorded when you consider all the things, large and small, that religion involves, all the context, And how well Andy capsulized them and presented them in mere minutes, all the beautiful music. Are there any deeper questions to ask in all of humanity as far as religion: "Is there a conscious creator-deity or not? If there is a deity, what kind of deity and how are we supposed to serve this deity?" Religion impacts all of us whether or not we choose to believe in a deity. It shouldn't. Has any other song on the subject dug down so deeply into the nerve of the topic with claws and teeth? None come to my mind. People can take my advice or trash it, but if I was in Todd's place in an interview at this point in his life and this late in the game, I would bury the hatchet and focus more on how interesting it was that they were battling and how it birthed a fantastic piece of art, instead of trying to build his POV up while he drags Andy's point of view down. I could say the same about Andy as well. And I have. Wouldn't it be great if they could just forget about their grievances and have a 50th year concert to celebrate the making of the record, if we can all wait that long? I would love to see a live performance with a backing symphony and string quartets to perform it live. Hand Andy all the Valium he needs, lol. Or get somebody to stand in for him, as he had suggested before, so he could take a Brian Wilson's position on the side of the stage. As somebody who has ADHD and has lost my place on stage because I was daydreaming, I can totally empathize with Andy not wanting to perform. He has the same problem. That's what caused his anxiety to begin with. I think that's another cheap shot by Todd. Annie got damaged from his long-term Valium prescription and then went cold turkey ignorantly and it screwed him up. It's hard to condemn somebody or drag him down on something like that. It doesn't seem right.
I love Another Satellite but the fact that it was almost exactly Andy’s demo checks out to me. It feels unfinished/empty compared to the rest of the album, Andy’s vocals save it
The ego on this twat!
Doesn't seem like they are on good terms after all these years. Todd's brashness didn't quite align with Andy Partridge's British demeanor. There's interviews of Andy critical of Todd in the studio.
Interesting how views change over time. A few weeks ago I posted a question on the XTC subreddit, asking members what their favourite XTC album was - at least half the responses was for Big Express. Major fans cite it as their masterpiece - it's also Andy Partridge's favourite XTC album. I haven't heard the Steven Wilson remix of Big Express yet but I must admit the brash, trebly production put me off a little - by XTC standards anyway. The songs are great, of course, but I'd much rather listen to Terry Chambers drumming on a real kit than listen to a programmed Linn Drum.
Agoraphobia = Crippling Valium addiction
1 2 3 4 5 senses working overtime 😎
Funny story. Todd’s a wit.
If you like Skylarking, be sure to check out the "Dukes of the Stratosphere" albums. It's actually XTC, but as if they banded in the 60s.
Although Skylarking is a great album with lots of memorable tracks and moments, it's not one of my favourites. It's the one album I'd say where XTC didn't quite sound like themselves. Todd was obviously trying to get a more commercial sound for the band, and it was certainly more accessible than The Big Express - another great album, but very much for the hardcore fans. Todd deserves credit for helping XTC sell a lot more records in the States - although it was another poor-selling album in the UK. Must have been a nightmare for Colin and Dave having to put up with Todd and Andy's power struggle!
Partridge is a well known insufferable little prick within the music industry ... He is not even worthy to be involved with a true creative genius ... such as Todd Rundgren ... FFS !!!
The album is a masterpiece, but not because of Todd Rundgren because of Andy Partridge. Please don’t try to take credit for their brilliant work when most of yours is only mediocre.
Todd’s a little confused. I don’t know if Todd’s dissing Another Satellite (which is great, and has been on all versions of the album) or Mermaid Smiled (which is meh, and was the song in the original release that was later cut and replaced by Dear God).
Partridge is an insufferable bore with an over inflated ego.
Oooooh clearly Todd and Andy had a fun time on that record 🤣… ended with an awesome album tho , egos all the way up to 11
Ive heard contemporary and retrospctie inerviews by Parttrisge about this album. On the press tour t the time he dosnt seem nearly as negative as Todd claims here. At least not in the ones Ivelistened to. Patridge basically says this or hat was the producer's idea, I usually would have done XYZ instead but he isnt trashing it. In more recent inerviews he sayd tht h clashed constantly in he studio with Todd. But still seems diplomatic about it. I think Todd is a little thin skinned. Maybe there are things Andy said publically that relate cliaely to clashes behind closed doors and Todd cant separate the two.
Andy Partridge killed XTC because of his personality and his mental problems. Period.
Todd is spot on
Cmon now Todd. To imply that XTC created nothing afterwards that was equal to or surpassed Skylarking is just succumbing to juvenile schoolyard name calling. Get over it and be the better person.
bit harsh tbf
Referring to serious, intentional music as "product" is sooo wrong.
Rungren’s pov is fascinating and skylarking is a great record however he sounds like kind of a bully. He makes some valid insightful points but he doesn’t give Partridge nearly enough respect as an absolutely phenomenal once in a generation songwriter. Imo it’s rungren who is the brat.
Rungren's the coolest.
Nonsuch is perfect. End of story.
Is Wonderland on this Album? Great tune ...Todd IS God.Dear Todd!
Very interesting insights from Todd, about what was ailing XTC's albums at the time, and it sounds about right. Sharp analysis. About their conflict: In the XTC documentary "This Is Pop", Andy does admit he has a "problem with authority", specifically with people telling him what to do. Which of course is what a producer is hired to do. But it's somewhat heartening that Andy at least sees the error of his ways, even if he ultimately is unable to change them. Good thing he found Colin and Dave, who put up with it through all those years.
This interviewer has no idea - Skylarking was their 9th album. 🙄
All respect to Todd but it pisses me off how the interviewer buys hook line and sinker into his badmouthing of Andy, all the while clearly not having a clue about XTC (by the way, one in a handful of the greatest pop bands that ever existed, period) - he probably doesn't even know Skylarking, asks if it was their 4th LP (lol) and yet joins in the all-too-easy judgement on the situation he knows only one side of, only because he wants to be such a buddy of Todd's. A little pathetic, imho
another satellite > dear god. nonsuch > skylarking. john cale > todd rundgren. sayin'
Skylarking is a really impressive work. It was the closest thing I'd heard to a late stage McCartney produced Beatles LP. If I have a criticism, it was almost too perfect. Not enough of an edge.
Maybe Andy is a genius. I had to buy Skylarking twice.