Making Plans for Nigel - cover of XTC for Workfest

[ODH]

Making Plans for Nigel, 1979 single for XTC from the Drums and Wires album.  For the workfest.

If ever a song could really be said to have changed someone's life it's this one for me.  In 1979 I was 14 years old, living in a top floor council flat in Newport with unbroken views over the Llanwern Steel works. This is a photo I took from a nearby railway bridge in 1976...



There was a massive expectation that boys at my school would go on to work at the steel works.  This song opened my eyes to that and changed my attitude.  I ended up studying acoustics in Salford University and this song had a lot to do with that change of direction.

And I know that a lot of people here have a special connection to the XTC song, so I hope I've done it justice.

[Hook]

Wow brother, this is stellar! I gave this one a try a few fests ago but didn't gel with it, always been one of my favorite XTC songs though & you really did it justice. One absolute great listen!
Rock On!

[Oldrottenhead]

a lovely intimate version, braw tell yer maw. this one means a lot to me too. i bought white music when it came out and everything thereafter this one included. at the time my boss at work was a big music fan, but i couldn't turn him onto xtc, he said "in a years time everyone will have forgotten them".

[Redler]

Fantastic version!! Really good tones here and nice job on vocals! XTC is one of the most significant bands to me...

Well done!

Piepod bound!

[Flash Harry]

Wow Nick, this is a different song, gentler and more melancholy, I love the arrangement and the instrumentation. The picture is fitting. the '70's were pretty grim really.

On its way to my PiePod.

I'm gonna steal this one. It's going on the synth tour.

[Pete C]

Nice cover Nick !  You've given it a much different feel than the original, altogether a much more pleasant vibe.
When I hear the original it always takes me back to a party at one of my friends - the song was pounding away in the background while I was awkwardly snogging a girl while struggling with the effects of drinking too much beer. Ah .. being a teenager !  So while the original brings back uncomfortable memories of sweaty nausea, your version made me feel good!

Pete

[cuthbert]

Very well done - this was also one of my introduction songs to XTC. Definitely digging your interpretation of this old chestnut!

[Geir]

Oh this is very nicely done !!

So many details to take in. Really an excellent arrangement. And the fragility in your voice here lifts this performance to another level !!

Well done !!

[Groundy]

Brilliant, I had forgotten all about this song,
Really well done Nick. love it....

Alex

[Hilary]

I'm very fond of the song too. I love the arrangement, especially all the subtle percussive details. I was going to do this one a while back and never got around to recording it, probably for the best.

Another creative cover, jam-packed with talent!