Synopsis

XTC perform "Towers of London" against recognizable London landmarks, moving between the Albert Memorial in Kensington Gardens and riverside locations near Tower Bridge. The band mime the song in a deliberately straightforward promotional style, while views of the Thames, bridges and historic architecture reinforce the track's meditation on London's past. Andy Partridge is also seen on a boat on the river, adding movement to an otherwise location-based performance film.

Factoids & Trivia

• The video was filmed on location in London in 1980, including the area around Tower Bridge and the Albert Memorial.

• "Towers of London" was initially expected to be the first single from *Black Sea*. After the video had been made, Virgin Records changed its plans and released "Generals and Majors" first.

• The single eventually reached No. 31 on the UK chart.

• The song was written by Andy Partridge and reflects on London's landmarks, industrial history and the workers who built them.

• The video is sometimes confused with *XTC at the Manor*, a BBC2 documentary from the same period. That program included a staged studio performance of "Towers of London", rather than being the official promotional video.

• The official video was later included among the archival extras associated with expanded editions of *Black Sea*.