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"Respectable Street" is a song written by
Music journalist John Harris highlighted "Respectable Street" as "one of the most evocative items in Partridge's oeuvre." In 1996, critic Jack Rabid praised its "sardonic crack" and wrote "am I the only one who's noticed that super-fans Blur have ripped this song off three times already???!!!!"
In 1982, it was the only song XTC performed at a televised gig simulcast in Paris, which became one of the last live performances of their career. Partridge experienced a panic attack mid-performance and walked off the stage.
It is the first XTC recording in which Dave Gregory contributed his keyboard playing.
Respectable Street
on Discogs
Respectable Street
on MusicBrainz XTC songs 1980 songs 1981 singles Songs written by Andy Partridge Virgin Records singles Song recordings produced by Steve Lillywhite Songs banned by the BBC Satirical songs Works about suburbs {{1980s-rock-song-stub
Andy Partridge
Andrew John Partridge (born 11 November 1953) is an English guitarist, singer, songwriter, and record producer who founded the rock music, rock band XTC. He and Colin Moulding each acted as a songwriter and frontman for XTC, with Partridge writi ...
of XTC
XTC were an English rock band formed in Swindon in 1972. Fronted by songwriters Andy Partridge (guitars, vocals) and Colin Moulding (bass, vocals), the band gained popularity during the rise of punk and new wave in the 1970s, later playing in ...
, released as the opening track on their 1980 album ''Black Sea
The Black Sea is a marginal mediterranean sea of the Atlantic Ocean lying between Europe and Asia, east of the Balkans, south of the East European Plain, west of the Caucasus, and north of Anatolia. It is bounded by Bulgaria, Georgia, Roma ...
''. According to Partridge, the song is about English streets and "the hypocrisy of living in a so-called respectable neighborhood. It's all talk behind twitching curtains. It's all Alan Bennett
Alan Bennett (born 9 May 1934) is an English actor, author, playwright and screenwriter. Over his distinguished entertainment career he has received numerous awards and honours including two BAFTA Awards, four Laurence Olivier Awards, and tw ...
land." In another interview Partridge reveals that Respectable Street was based on a real street Bowood Road in Swindon
Swindon () is a town and unitary authority with Borough status in the United Kingdom, borough status in Wiltshire, England. As of the 2021 Census, the population of Swindon was 201,669, making it the largest town in the county. The Swindon un ...
, which was diagonally opposite the flat above a shop on Kingshill Road where he was living at the time he wrote it. Discounting the Canada-only "Love at First Sight", it was the fourth and last single issued from the LP. BBC Radio banned the song because of its references to abortion and a " Sony Entertainment Centre".
Legacy
Music journalist John Harris highlighted "Respectable Street" as "one of the most evocative items in Partridge's oeuvre." In 1996, critic Jack Rabid praised its "sardonic crack" and wrote "am I the only one who's noticed that super-fans Blur have ripped this song off three times already???!!!!"
In 1982, it was the only song XTC performed at a televised gig simulcast in Paris, which became one of the last live performances of their career. Partridge experienced a panic attack mid-performance and walked off the stage.
It is the first XTC recording in which Dave Gregory contributed his keyboard playing.
Personnel
XTC * Terry Chambers * Dave Gregory * Colin Moulding *Andy Partridge
Andrew John Partridge (born 11 November 1953) is an English guitarist, singer, songwriter, and record producer who founded the rock music, rock band XTC. He and Colin Moulding each acted as a songwriter and frontman for XTC, with Partridge writi ...
Variations
* Original album version, ''Black Sea'' (1980) * Single remix (1981) * Live versions ** ''BBC Radio 1 Live in Concert'' (1982, recorded November 1980) ** ''Urgh! A Music War
''Urgh! A Music War'' is a 1982 British concert film featuring performances by punk rock, new wave, and post-punk bands and artists. Filmed in August to September 1980 it was directed by Derek Burbidge and produced by Michael White and Lynd ...
'' (1981)
* Home demo, live studio demo, and instrumental versions released on 2017 expanded edition of ''Black Sea''
References
External links
*Respectable Street
on Discogs
Respectable Street
on MusicBrainz XTC songs 1980 songs 1981 singles Songs written by Andy Partridge Virgin Records singles Song recordings produced by Steve Lillywhite Songs banned by the BBC Satirical songs Works about suburbs {{1980s-rock-song-stub