Chips from the Chocolate Fireball [Original recording remastered]

Amazon.com essential recording
XTC created the Dukes of Stratosphear almost on a lark, as an excuse to play the kind of music they grew up listening to and playing. The invention of the pseudonym gave them the opportunity to wear on their sleeves the influences they had only hinted at as XTC. The Dukes released two records between 1985 and 1987 and they are both compiled in their entirety on Chips from the Chocolate Fireball. Listening to Chips is like sifting through a '60s psychedelia bin at a good used record store. The only thing missing are the pops and crackles as you drop the needle onto the neglected vinyl. The best of the era is re-created here with reverence and an amazing attention to detail: Syd Barrett's childlike lyrics, the Blue Cheer fuzz-guitar frenzy, dissonant Sgt. Pepper strings and horns, and good old Brian Wilson-style indulgences.

The record opens with "25 O'Clock," which instantly recalls the Electric Prunes' "I Had Too Much to Dream Last Night." From there the references become more obscure: the Count Five's "Psychotic Reaction" is invoked by the bombastic guitar sludge of Sir John Johns (Andy Partridge) and Lord Cornelius Plum (Dave Gregory) on "My Love Explodes," while "Bike Ride to the Moon" is demented enough to have appeared on Pink Floyd's Piper at the Gates of Dawn. Other high points include the Hollies-inspired "Vanishing Girl" and the Beatles-style piano stomp "You're a Good Man Albert Brown." The record closes with the priceless "Pale and Precious." With its dead-on Wilson brothers harmonies and faux theremin, the song plays like an undiscovered gem from the Beach Boys' Smile sessions. --Paul Ducey

Product Description
Remastered reissue of 1987 compilation for XTC's psychedelic side-project combines their debut EP '25 O'Clock' with their full length 'Psonic Psunspot'. 16 tracks. 2001 release.

Chips from the Chocolate Fireball,Xtc,The Dukes of Stratosphear,Caroline,Pop,Rock,Rock/Pop

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Chips from the Chocolate Fireball [Original recording remastered]

Average customer rating: Brilliant tribute to psychedelic music Love the Beatles, XTC and Britpop? You'll love this! Phun, Phun , Phun Not Quite The Beatles or Pink Floyd, but.... Glean from the Peppermint Ice Cube

Chips from the Chocolate Fireball Manufacturer: EMI Int'l ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music Neo-Psychedelia | Rock | Alternative Styles | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music General | Pop | Styles | Music Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music General | Rock | Styles | Music Psychedelic Rock | Classic Rock | Styles | Music Classic Rock | Rock | Indie Music | Stores | Music Classic Rock | Imports | Stores | Music Rock | Imports | Stores | Music Similar Items: Skylarking English Settlement Oranges & Lemons Drums and Wires Nonsuch ASIN: B00005AV1R Release Date: 2001-06-18

Tracks:

1. 25 O'Clock
2. Bike Ride To The Moon
3. My Love Explodes
4. What In The World??...
5. Your Gold Dress
6. The Mole From The Ministry
7. Vanishing Girl
8. Have You Seen Jackie?
9. Little Lighthouse
10. You're A Good Man Albert Brown
11. Collideascope
12. You're My Drug
13. Shiny Cage
14. Brainiac's Daughter
15. The Affiliated
16. Pale And Precious

Amazon.com essential recording

XTC created the Dukes of Stratosphear almost on a lark, as an excuse to play the kind of music they grew up listening to and playing. The invention of the pseudonym gave them the opportunity to wear on their sleeves the influences they had only hinted at as XTC. The Dukes released two records between 1985 and 1987 and they are both compiled in their entirety on Chips from the Chocolate Fireball. Listening to Chips is like sifting through a '60s psychedelia bin at a good used record store. The only thing missing are the pops and crackles as you drop the needle onto the neglected vinyl. The best of the era is re-created here with reverence and an amazing attention to detail: Syd Barrett's childlike lyrics, the Blue Cheer fuzz-guitar frenzy, dissonant Sgt. Pepper strings and horns, and good old Brian Wilson-style indulgences.

The record opens with "25 O'Clock," which instantly recalls the Electric Prunes' "I Had Too Much to Dream Last Night." From there the references become more obscure: the Count Five's "Psychotic Reaction" is invoked by the bombastic guitar sludge of Sir John Johns (Andy Partridge) and Lord Cornelius Plum (Dave Gregory) on "My Love Explodes," while "Bike Ride to the Moon" is demented enough to have appeared on Pink Floyd's Piper at the Gates of Dawn. Other high points include the Hollies-inspired "Vanishing Girl" and the Beatles-style piano stomp "You're a Good Man Albert Brown." The record closes with the priceless "Pale and Precious." With its dead-on Wilson brothers harmonies and faux theremin, the song plays like an undiscovered gem from the Beach Boys' Smile sessions. --Paul Ducey

Album Description

Remastered reissue of 1987 compilation for XTC's psychedelic side-project combines their debut EP '25 O'Clock' with their full length 'Psonic Psunspot'. 16 tracks. 2001 release.

Customer Reviews:

Brilliant tribute to psychedelic music.......2007-06-20

This is worth it just for "Mole From The Ministry". The whole album pays a loving tribute to the best of 60's psychedelic music without mocking it. One of XTC's best albums.

Love the Beatles, XTC and Britpop? You'll love this!.......2007-04-24

if you like britpop, the beatles and/or xtc, this is a clever and fun collection of the entire Dukes library, the alter ego of XTC, in homage to the Beatles.

some of the tunes are just so well done, and the hooks so well crafted that you'll find this is an enjoyable revisit, year after year. you are unlikely to sell this one used.

just simply fun, and much more creative and loyal to the sound of the Beatles than anyone else has done.

Phun, Phun , Phun.......2007-03-17

This recording by the Dukes, aka XTC, is just plain fun and entertaining. The problem with a lot of the music from the psychedelic era was that while they may have included the prerequisite sound effects or drug themes, the tunes themselves were just plain stupid. XTC's strong suit has always been clever songwriting and knowing not to take themselves too seriously. The playing on this collection is great. The bombastic drums, guitars and terrific vocals put to shame most of what passes for rock music today, and these guys were just screwing around for the fun of it. Even though this was a fun recording as homage to the psychedelic peroid, it still contains all that fans of XTC have come to expect from their work: clever wordplay in the lyrics, great musicianship and pristine production. They even have a few special effects here and there that would have made the best of sixties psychedelia (Beatles, Pink Floyd) proud.

Not Quite The Beatles or Pink Floyd, but...........2007-03-10

The record starts off with a cheezy tribute to Pink Floyd, that I think is worthy of Spinal Tap. I still don't know if this was serious, or tongue-in-cheek. While this album will never be my favorite, I am liking it more with each play. "Vanishing Girl" is the one tune that really stands out. If you are new to XTC, I would hold off on buying this CD and go for "English Settlement" or "Skylarking".

Glean from the Peppermint Ice Cube.......2006-10-30

As funny as it is beautiful.

And its really really...both.

Average customer rating: Brilliant tribute to psychedelic music Love the Beatles, XTC and Britpop? You'll love this! Phun, Phun , Phun Not Quite The Beatles or Pink Floyd, but.... Glean from the Peppermint Ice Cube

Chips from the Chocolate Fireball The Dukes of Stratosphear Manufacturer: Geffen Records ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music Neo-Psychedelia | Rock | Alternative Styles | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music General | Pop | Styles | Music Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music General | Rock | Styles | Music Psychedelic Rock | Classic Rock | Styles | Music Similar Items: Skylarking English Settlement Oranges & Lemons Drums and Wires Nonsuch ASIN: B000000OQR Release Date: 1990-10-25

Tracks:

1. 25 O'Clock
2. Bike Ride To The Moon
3. My Love Explodes
4. What In The World??...
5. Your Gold Dress
6. The Mole From The Ministry
7. Vanishing Girl
8. Have You Seen Jackie?
9. Little Lighthouse
10. You're A Good Man Albert Brown (Curse You Red Barrel)
11. Collideascope
12. You're My Drug
13. Shiny Cage
14. Brainiac's Daughter
15. The Affiliated
16. Pale And Precious

Amazon.com essential recording

XTC created the Dukes of Stratosphear almost on a lark, as an excuse to play the kind of music they grew up listening to and playing. The invention of the pseudonym gave them the opportunity to wear on their sleeves the influences they had only hinted at as XTC. The Dukes released two records between 1985 and 1987 and they are both compiled in their entirety on Chips from the Chocolate Fireball. Listening to Chips is like sifting through a '60s psychedelia bin at a good used record store. The only thing missing are the pops and crackles as you drop the needle onto the neglected vinyl. The best of the era is re-created here with reverence and an amazing attention to detail: Syd Barrett's childlike lyrics, the Blue Cheer fuzz-guitar frenzy, dissonant Sgt. Pepper strings and horns, and good old Brian Wilson-style indulgences.

The record opens with "25 O'Clock," which instantly recalls the Electric Prunes' "I Had Too Much to Dream Last Night." From there the references become more obscure: the Count Five's "Psychotic Reaction" is invoked by the bombastic guitar sludge of Sir John Johns (Andy Partridge) and Lord Cornelius Plum (Dave Gregory) on "My Love Explodes," while "Bike Ride to the Moon" is demented enough to have appeared on Pink Floyd's Piper at the Gates of Dawn. Other high points include the Hollies-inspired "Vanishing Girl" and the Beatles-style piano stomp "You're a Good Man Albert Brown." The record closes with the priceless "Pale and Precious." With its dead-on Wilson brothers harmonies and faux theremin, the song plays like an undiscovered gem from the Beach Boys' Smile sessions. --Paul Ducey

Album Description

Remastered reissue of 1987 compilation for XTC's psychedelic side-project combines their debut EP '25 O'Clock' with their full length 'Psonic Psunspot'. 16 tracks. 2001 release.

Customer Reviews:

Brilliant tribute to psychedelic music.......2007-06-20

This is worth it just for "Mole From The Ministry". The whole album pays a loving tribute to the best of 60's psychedelic music without mocking it. One of XTC's best albums.

Love the Beatles, XTC and Britpop? You'll love this!.......2007-04-24

if you like britpop, the beatles and/or xtc, this is a clever and fun collection of the entire Dukes library, the alter ego of XTC, in homage to the Beatles.

some of the tunes are just so well done, and the hooks so well crafted that you'll find this is an enjoyable revisit, year after year. you are unlikely to sell this one used.

just simply fun, and much more creative and loyal to the sound of the Beatles than anyone else has done.

Phun, Phun , Phun.......2007-03-17

This recording by the Dukes, aka XTC, is just plain fun and entertaining. The problem with a lot of the music from the psychedelic era was that while they may have included the prerequisite sound effects or drug themes, the tunes themselves were just plain stupid. XTC's strong suit has always been clever songwriting and knowing not to take themselves too seriously. The playing on this collection is great. The bombastic drums, guitars and terrific vocals put to shame most of what passes for rock music today, and these guys were just screwing around for the fun of it. Even though this was a fun recording as homage to the psychedelic peroid, it still contains all that fans of XTC have come to expect from their work: clever wordplay in the lyrics, great musicianship and pristine production. They even have a few special effects here and there that would have made the best of sixties psychedelia (Beatles, Pink Floyd) proud.

Not Quite The Beatles or Pink Floyd, but...........2007-03-10

The record starts off with a cheezy tribute to Pink Floyd, that I think is worthy of Spinal Tap. I still don't know if this was serious, or tongue-in-cheek. While this album will never be my favorite, I am liking it more with each play. "Vanishing Girl" is the one tune that really stands out. If you are new to XTC, I would hold off on buying this CD and go for "English Settlement" or "Skylarking".

Glean from the Peppermint Ice Cube.......2006-10-30

As funny as it is beautiful.

And its really really...both.

Average customer rating:

Chips from the Chocolate Fireball Dukes Of Stratosphea Manufacturer: Phantom Sound & Vision ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD ASIN: B000A2POE0 Release Date: 2001-05-28

Average customer rating:

Chips from the Chocolate Fireball Dukes Of Stratosphea Manufacturer: Dgc/Geffen/Reunion ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD ASIN: B00000BYI2 Release Date: 1989-01-11

Tracks:

1. 25 O'Clock
2. Bike Ride To The Moon
3. My Love Explodes
4. What In The World??...
5. Your Gold Dress
6. The Mole From The Ministry
7. Vanishing Girl
8. Have You Seen Jackie?
9. Little Lighthouse
10. You're A Good Man Albert Brown (Curse You Red Barrel)
11. Collideascope
12. You're My Drug
13. Shiny Cage
14. Brainiac's Daughter
15. The Affiliated
16. Pale And Precious

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