XTC - The Big Express

XTC's 1984 album The Big Express CD + Blu-ray edition

Dolby Atmos, 5.1 Surround and stereo mixes by Steven Wilson!

XTC's 1984 album The Big Express CD + Blu-ray edition is the seventh in the ongoing series of expanded XTC reissues and as with the others it includes a wealth of audio including four album remixes by Wilson (Atmos, 5.1, stereo and instrumental), the whole album in demo form, plus extra demos and bonus tracks.

Described as "a neglected classic of its era," The Big Express made extensive use of new technology, at the time, with Linn-Drum programming (alongside drummer Peter Phipps), E-mu Emulator and other synths. It was a post-punk concept album about growing up in an industrial town.

"The Big Express is the closest we ever came to recording a ‘concept' album. It's full of Swindon and deep seams of life there, that run through myself, Colin, and Dave, (Terry too of course). It's populated by members of our families, our hopes and dreams. The things we wished for, or feared, a stew of memories." — Andy Partridge

The two-disc set is packaged in a digipak sleeve and resides in a cardboard slip case. It comes with a 16-page booklet.

CD features the complete album newly mixed in stereo + three additional tracks.

Blu-ray includes the newly mixed material as featured on CD in hi-res stereo, 5.1 Surround and Dolby Atmos plus 2023 stereo out-takes & instrumental mixes in hi-res stereo. Also includes the original album plus additional tracks in hi-res stereo. The complete album and more also appear in demo form (16/48 stereo reflecting the source material).

 

CD

2023 Mix

1. Wake Up

2. All You Pretty Girls

3. Shake You Donkey Up

4. Seagulls Screaming Kiss Her Kiss Her

5. This World Over

6. The Everyday Story Of Smalltown

7. I Bought Myself A Liarbird

8. Reign Of Blows

9. You’re The Wish You Are I Had

10. I Remember The Sun

11. Train Running Low On Soul Coal

Additional Tracks

12. Red Brick Dream

13. Washaway

14. Blue Overall

Blu-Ray

1. Wake Up

2. All You Pretty Girls

3. Shake You Donkey Up

4. Seagulls Screaming Kiss Her Kiss Her

5. This World Over

6. The Everyday Story Of Smalltown

7. I Bought Myself A Liarbird

8. Reign Of Blows

9. You’re The Wish You Are I Had

10. I Remember The Sun

11. Train Running Low On Soul Coal

Additional Tracks

12. Red Brick Dream

13. Washaway

14. Blue Overall

Additional Out-Takes

15. Broomstick Rhythm (Guide Vocal)

16. The Troubles (Big Express Version – Backing Track)

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