O/T: XTC - Making Plans For Nigel

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   Although it didn't chart in the states, Making Plans For Nigel was a top 20 hit in Canada & the UK in 1979 and 1980.

Almost all of the single releases list the same length as the LP (approximately 4:13). However, one release from Germany, apparently also distributed to the Netherlands, listed 3:54 as its length.

I found someone playing this 7" single on YouTube, and counted 10 "Nigel"s to silence. The LP version has 17 "Nigel"s to silence, so at least this one release is a slightly early fade.

I couldn't say if the other releases around the world were the LP length, or this slightly shortened version... but if you ever wondered if there was a "single version," there was in at least two countries.

Here are the three Discogs entries (all the same pressing), and my reference YouTube video:

Germany edit variant one

Germany edit variant two

Netherlands edit

YouTube video of vinyl single

Edited by NightAire

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NightAire Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Music Fan Joined: 20 February 2010 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 0	Post Options Post Reply Quote NightAire Thanks(0) Quote Reply Topic: O/T: XTC - Making Plans For Nigel Posted: 20 August 2022 at 12:03am
	Although it didn't chart in the states, Making Plans For Nigel was a top 20 hit in Canada & the UK in 1979 and 1980. Almost all of the single releases list the same length as the LP (approximately 4:13). However, one release from Germany, apparently also distributed to the Netherlands, listed 3:54 as its length. I found someone playing this 7" single on YouTube, and counted 10 "Nigel"s to silence. The LP version has 17 "Nigel"s to silence, so at least this one release is a slightly early fade. I couldn't say if the other releases around the world were the LP length, or this slightly shortened version... but if you ever wondered if there was a "single version," there was in at least two countries. Here are the three Discogs entries (all the same pressing), and my reference YouTube video: Germany edit variant one Germany edit variant two Netherlands edit YouTube video of vinyl single Edited by NightAire
	Gene Savage http://www.BlackLightRadio.com http://www.facebook.com/TulsaSavage Tulsa, Oklahoma USA

kaqueno Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Music Fan Joined: 02 November 2021 Location: Argentina Status: Offline Points: 1	Post Options Post Reply Quote kaqueno Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 20 August 2022 at 4:59am
	Perhaps this short version of 3:54, is included in the XTC – Waxworks - Some Singles 1977-1982 compilation, released in 1982, I don't have it, but it can be found on the web. https://www.discogs.com/es/master/71168-XTC-Waxworks-Some- Singles-1977-1982
	Marcelo - Argentina https://www.mixcloud.com/marcelo-guzman4/ - https://www.discogs.com/user/kaqueno/collection

mjb50 Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Music Fan Joined: 28 April 2021 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 19	Post Options Post Reply Quote mjb50 Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 20 August 2022 at 10:28pm
	I'm pretty sure I saw the video on MTV or Night Flight in the mid-'80s, so it wasn't completely unknown in the U.S. These all contain the exact same 3:53 mastering with poor stereo separation: • The Compact XTC (1985 UK/EU/JA CD) • Waxworks (1992 US CD) • New Wave Club Class•X 7 (1996 European v/a CD) This "6-Nigel" version is indeed just an earlier fade of the UK 7" playing in that YouTube video you linked to. I was unable to locate any 45 rips in a quick search on Soulseek; the only ones I found were fakes using tracks copied from CDs. Edited by mjb50

NightAire Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Music Fan Joined: 20 February 2010 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 0	Post Options Post Reply Quote NightAire Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 21 August 2022 at 1:37pm
	Your responses have brought up an interesting possibility: are there three lengths of this song? I don't have any of the above-mentioned collections. My copy came from the compact disc, "Drums & Wives" and I assume matches the vinyl LP version at 4:12. A very similar if not identical version is also on Just Can't Get Enough - New Wave Hits Of The '80s, Vol. 3. My early fade to match the YouTube video takes it to 4:00, although the video plays slightly faster. I don't believe the speed difference with take it to 3:54. All of the USA single release labels say 4:13... so were the USA singles matching the LP length, and the German singles labeled 3:54 actually 4:00? I guess I'm wondering if the "6-Nigel" version was created by well-intentioned producers who went by the label instead of listening to the actual 7", or if it really was available in the wild in 1979. (6 Nigels seems like a REALLY fast fade to me; even 10 Nigels seemed a little quick when I created the early fade but it was workable.) Edited by NightAire
	Gene Savage http://www.BlackLightRadio.com http://www.facebook.com/TulsaSavage Tulsa, Oklahoma USA