EP review: ANDY PARTRIDGE – My Failed Songwriting Career Vol. 2

May 15th, 2022 by jason

Ape House [Release date 8.4.22]

Following on from 2021’s excellent first volume, here are four more gems from Andy Partridge’s post-XTC period as a songwriter for hire. This is a great addition to what is building into a fascinating series.

Containing songs of love, longing and partnership, these are Andy-fied versions of some of the tracks that got away – the original demos having been ‘buffed up’ in the studio.

Catchy opener ‘Seesaw’ is an upbeat rocker reminiscent of The Small Faces, the title of which was inspired by the motion of the drum rhythm. Andy has referred to it as a close cousin of ‘Playground’, a song from XTC’s final album “Wasp Star”.

The sassy ‘Let’s Make Everything Love’ is described by Andy as “Songs For Swinging Lovers meets Mack The Knife” and was originally offered to several modern male jazz singers, all of whom turned it down.

The brief for ‘Come On Back’ was “a bit Beatle-y” which explains the John Lennon-esque vocal. It’s the sort of song you could imagine Liam Gallagher recording.

The EP is rounded off with ‘Love Is The Future’, which wasn’t written for anyone in particular and is dubbed by Andy as “an odd piece of angular space jungle pop”! It’s certainly a strange one, which just adds to the eclectic nature of this release.

The superb Andrew Swainson artwork follows the style of the “Vol. 1” sleeve (best appreciated on the 12” format), and the package includes lyrics and notes by Andy.

Also released on the Ape House label is a 200g super-heavyweight vinyl edition of XTC’s underrated 1983 album “Mummer”. Housed in its original, but never used, sleeve art, the album has been mastered with input from Andy Partridge and is fully approved by the band. ****

Review by Jim Henderson

Featured Artist: JOSH TAERK

Since early 2020 Josh has been entertaining us with exclusive monthly live sessions, streamed via Facebook.
In 2023 he signed a recording deal with Sony in Canada and released a new single on 15 September.

Next session: Sunday 1 December

Check out videos here: https://www.facebook.com/getreadytorockradio

David Randall presents a weekly show on Get Ready to ROCK! Radio, Sundays at 22:00 GMT, repeated on Mondays and Fridays), when he invites listeners to ‘Assume The Position’. The show signposts forthcoming gigs and tours and latest additions at getreadytorock.com. First broadcast on 20 October 2024.

UK Blues Broadcaster of the Year (2020 and 2021 Finalist) Pete Feenstra presents his weekly Rock & Blues Show on Tuesday at 19:00 GMT as part of a five hour blues rock marathon “Tuesday is Bluesday at GRTR!”. The show is repeated on Wednesdays at 22:00, Fridays at 20:00). This show was first broadcast 22 October 2024.

How to Listen Live?

Click the programming image at the top of the page (top right of page if using desktop)

Listen via Windows Media Player. Click or tap here and “open file”
Listen via other media player (eg. VLC) Click or tap here and “open file”

Get Ready to ROCK! Radio is also in iTunes under Internet Radio/Classic Rock
Listen in via the Tunein app and search for “Get Ready to ROCK!” and save as favourite.

More information and links at our radio website where you can listen again to shows via the presenter pages: getreadytorockradio.com

Power Plays w/c 11 November 2024

ARCANE MOON Hello Sun (indie)
S8NT ELEKTRIC XTC (Long Branch Records)
RIOGHAN Hands (Inverse Records)
ARCANA KINGS Here We Go (Curtain Call Records)
KLOGR face The Unknown (Zeta Factory)
BEYOND UNBROKEN Dance With The Dead (FiXT)
REVENGIN Decadent Feeling (Wormholedeath)

Featured Albums w/c 11 November 2024

09:00-12:00 The Best of 2003-2023 (Melodic Rock)
12:00-13:00 The Best of 2003-2023 (Melodic Hard Rock)
14:00-16:00 The Best of 2003-2023 (Singer Songwriter)