Black

I remember this being the album of choice at a friends shared flat. It was the meeting place before parties, pub etc, and after pub in those 10 pm closing days. The original vinyl release came in a printed plastic carrier bag, I wonder how many of those have survived, I guess very few.I loved this album, not least because of the added associations of the good times that I associated it with. My first vinyl copy got played to death and was eventually jettisoned along with most of my other vinyl in the CD age. My CD copy, annoyingly, had “bonus” songs inserted in the middle, which really annoyed me on first playing. I was thankful when I was able to upload it to iTunes and put the songs into the correct order.Now I have got round to getting XTC on new vinyl again. These 200gm discs are superb, the sound quality is brilliant and I am transported again back to my youth and those get togethers in the flat on Hawkhill, Dundee and to buying my own copy in the record shop in the West Port, at the other end of Hawkhill.The songs are a brilliant development of the style started on the previous album (Drums and Wires) and there is real joy in them, despite the enormous touring pressure that the band were under around the writing and recording of the album. I can’t remember which arts programme made a documentary about it but it focussed mostly around the recording of one song, Towers of London (a song title hijacked by that embarrassingly bad pseudo-punk band.) This album and band deserve much more recognition.This vinyl edition of this brilliant album sounds BRILLIANT!

As much excitement and joy as the first time i played this in 1980.. One of their finest albums with great memories.200g vinyl is a very good pressing, clear and crisp and no noise on quiet sections.

Fantastic !!

Great album undermined by poor quality control. Unfortunately buying new a album is no guarantee that it will arrive in pristine condition. For example, XTC’s Black Sea vinyl edition arrived promptly and securely packed. However, the liner sleeve was split on all three edges and the album itself was covered fine paper dust that rendered it unplayable until I purchased a professional record cleaner (product name withheld).It’s such a shame that XTC spend so much time in the studio, meticulously creating beautiful music for it to then fall at the last hurdle through extremely poor quality control.

Classic album on heavyweight vinyl, no more to add

One of XTC’S best albums! It’s quite hard to get your hands on most of their vinyl. Really speedy delivery.