Ball and Chain (XTC song)

"Ball and Chain" is a song written by Colin Moulding of XTC for their 1982 album English Settlement. It was issued as the second single from the album on 26 February 1982, following the success of the band's biggest hit "Senses Working Overtime". The single reached No. 58 in the charts.[1]

"Ball and Chain"
Single by XTC
from the album English Settlement
B-side"Punch and Judy" (Partridge) "Heaven is Paved With Broken Glass" (Partridge)
Released26 February 1982
RecordedOctober – November 1981
StudioThe Manor, Shipton-on-Cherwell, Oxfordshire, England
GenreRock
Length4:28
LabelVirgin Records
Songwriter(s)Colin Moulding
Producer(s)Hugh Padgham
XTC singles chronology
"Senses Working Overtime"
(1982)		 "Ball and Chain"
(1982)		 "No Thugs in Our House"
(1982)

Background

Colin Moulding has described the song as "a little chant from the terraces" concerning redevelopment in Swindon Town Centre.[2] Moulding felt that "the whole Swindon area seemed to be under the hammer", citing the 1978 demolition of the Baptist Tabernacle in favour of a car park as an example.[3][4] Musically, Andy Partridge has said the song was based on The Beatles' Getting Better. Allmusic's Ned Raggett considers the song to have a "jaunty music-hall style" that "shows the band's appreciation for older styles of English pop starting to come through".[5] Moulding has dismissed "Ball and Chain" as "not much of a song", feeling that he went "off the boil" during this period until Skylarking.[2]

The song was first recorded at The Townhouse Studio and Air Studios in March 1981. Virgin had suggested the band record "Ball and Chain" and "Punch and Judy" with Clive Langer and Alan Winstanley, the team who produced Madness, for release as a double A-side single.[2] Early in recording sessions, Langer walked out, apparently feeling his contribution was not needed. The band completed the recordings with Winstanley, however they were not released until 25 March 2002 on Coat of Many Cupboards.[3][2] Both songs were rerecorded with Hugh Padgham producing during the sessions for English Settlement in October and November 1981. "Ball and Chain" appeared as the second track on the album, and it was backed by "Punch and Judy" and "Heaven is Paved With Broken Glass" for its single release, both songs having been recorded for but ultimately left off English Settlement.[6][7] The single sleeve shows a house in Westlecott Place, Swindon who's occupant Peter Uzzell refused to move out despite every house around his being demolished. The song was played at Uzzell’s cremation ceremony in October 2018, the first piece of music played at Swindon’s North Wiltshire Crematorium.[8][9] A music video was produced for the song, appearing on the 1982 home video release "Look Look".[10]

Reception

Writing for Allmusic, critic Ned Raggett noted an "increasing skill" in Moulding's vocal delivery. He praised the "sheer joy" of the song's arrangement and the "gloriously fun" ending. He considered the keyboard work to "date the track to an extent" but called it "yet another XTC classic".[5]

Personnel
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References
  1. "Official Charts". Official Charts. Retrieved 31 August 2018.
  2. "Ball and Chain". Chalkhills. Retrieved 29 August 2018.
  3. "Colin discusses 'Ball and Chain'". Chalkhills. Retrieved 29 August 2018.
  4. "Swindon's Baptist Tabernacle". BBC. Retrieved 30 August 2018.
  5. Raggett, Ned. "Ball and Chain - XTC | Song Info". Allmusic. Retrieved 31 August 2018.
  6. "Punch and Judy". Chalkhills. Retrieved 30 August 2018.
  7. "Heaven is Paved With Broken Glass". Chalkhills. Retrieved 30 August 2018.
  8. Hayns-Worthington, Sid. "North Wiltshire Crematorium opens to families across Swindon". Swindon Advertiser. Retrieved 9 October 2018.
  9. "XTC". swindonweb. Retrieved 30 August 2018.
  10. Hall, Oliver (2017-01-20). "'Look Look,' the XTC home video companion". Dangerous Minds. Retrieved 31 August 2018.
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