The Mayor Of Simpleton Options

[Jeff Truzzi]

An old music friend - unfamiliar with XTC - comment on my Facebook posting of this song:
"Reminds me of Elvis Costello!"
(I can visualize Andy doing a full body cringe!)

Hey, I LIKE Elvis C, but I don't see many similarities - other than being excellent uptempo British pop.
I certainly can't recall any Elvis C remotely hinting at polytonality, which is what immediately caught my ear.
(The verse chords inferring C lydian & D major, with the bass line in G major.)
Also loved the tambourines hard panned left & right, one emphasizing beats 1 & 3 while the other does 2 & 4.

Not to mention the 'luddite' lyric.
And the cool polyrhythm 'round' at the end.

And even though I know Andy created the verse bass line, Colin sure does a helluva job in the chorus, bridge & tag!

Why this song wasn't a #1 worldwide hit, I'll never know.
In an alternate universe, it would have been.

I was really hoping this would be the song played on their live "David Letterman" appearance,
and was disappointed it was "King For A Day" instead.
But I subsequently heard that the live appearance wouldn't have happened at all unless it was a Colin song.
"One Of The Millions" would have blown people away...but I know, it wasn't a single.

Still, every time I hear the "Mayor" it gives me goosebumps, and a jolt of energy.
And it makes me smile.
(IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

[Jeff Truzzi]

I subsequently heard that the live appearance wouldn't have happened at all unless it was a Colin song.

I should have said "...the live appearance probably wouldn't have happened...."
I mean, they did plenty of AP songs on the US radio tour.
So it's more like 'enlightened speculation' than insider knowledge.

And no, it WASN'T Stu Rowe who mentioned it.