XTC were an English rock band formed in Swindon in 1972. Fronted by songwriters Andy Partridge and Colin Moulding,the band gained popularity during the rise of punk and new wave in the 1970s,later playing in a variety of styles that ranged from angular guitar riffs to elaborately arranged pop. Partly because the group did not fit into contemporary trends,they achieved only sporadic commercial success in the UK and US,but attracted a considerable cult following. They have since been recognised for their influence on post-punk,Britpop and later power pop acts.
Oranges &Lemons is the 11th studio album and the second double album by the English band XTC,released 27 February 1989 on Virgin Records. It is the follow-up to 1986's Skylarking. The title was chosen in reference to the band's poor financial standing at the time,while the music is characterised as a 1980s update of 1960s psychedelia. It received critical acclaim and became the band's highest-charting album since 1982's English Settlement,rising to number 28 in the UK and number 44 in the US.
Black Sea is the fourth studio album by the English rock band XTC,released 12 September 1980 on Virgin Records. It is the follow-up to the previous year's Drums and Wires,building upon its focus on guitars and expansive-sounding drums,but with more economical arrangements written with the band's subsequent concert performances in mind,avoiding overdubs unless they could be performed live.
Colin Ivor Moulding is an English bassist,singer,and songwriter who was one of the core members of the rock band XTC. Moulding wrote their first three charting UK singles:"Life Begins at the Hop" (1979),"Making Plans for Nigel" (1979) and "Generals and Majors" (1980).
English Settlement is the fifth studio album and first double album by the English rock band XTC,released 12 February 1982 on Virgin Records. It marked a turn towards the more pastoral pop songs that would dominate later XTC releases,with an emphasis on acoustic guitar,12-string electric guitar and fretless bass. In some countries,the album was released as a single LP with five tracks deleted. The title refers to the Uffington White Horse depicted on the cover,to the "settlement" of viewpoints,and to the Englishness that the band felt they "settled" into the record.
"Garden of Earthly Delights" is a song written by Andy Partridge of the English rock band XTC,released as the opening track on their 1989 album Oranges &Lemons. Partridge wrote the song as a children's guide to the world dedicated to his son Harry Partridge. He intended it to sound "like this crazy tapestry of camels and elephants and belly dancers and all the Arabian Nights,interwoven -- a big ornate Eastern rug come to life." It features Arabic modalities and a guitar solo played through two harmonizers set to different intervals.
Nonsuch is the 12th studio album by the English band XTC,released 27 April 1992 on Virgin Records. The follow-up to Oranges &Lemons (1989),Nonsuch is a relatively less immediate and more restrained sounding album,carrying the band's psychedelic influences into new musical styles,and displaying a particular interest in orchestral arrangements. The LP received critical acclaim,charted at number 28 in the UK Albums Chart,and number 97 on the US Billboard 200,as well as topping Rolling Stone's College album chart.
Drums and Wires is the third studio album by the English rock band XTC,released 17 August 1979 on Virgin Records. It is a more pop-orientated affair than the band's previous,Go 2 (1978),and was named for its emphasis on guitars ("wires") and expansive-sounding drums. The album was their first issued in the United States and their first recorded with guitarist Dave Gregory,who had replaced keyboardist Barry Andrews earlier in 1979. It features a mix of pop,art rock,new wave and punk styles with much rhythmic interplay between XTC's two guitarists.
Skylarking is the ninth studio album by the English rock band XTC,released 27 October 1986 on Virgin Records. Produced by American musician Todd Rundgren,it is a loose concept album about a nonspecific cycle,such as a day,a year,the seasons,or a life. The title refers to a type of bird (skylark),as well as the Royal Navy term "skylarking",which means "fooling around". It became one of XTC's best-known albums and is generally regarded as their finest work.
Apple Venus Volume 1 is the thirteenth studio album by the English rock band XTC,released on March 2,1999. It was the first on the band's own Idea Records label,distributed through Cooking Vinyl in the United Kingdom and TVT Records in the United States. The album relies heavily on strings,acoustic guitars and keyboards,expanding upon the more orchestral approach developed on the group's previous LP Nonsuch (1992),whilst its lyrics reflect themes of paganism,middle age,romance and rebirth. Apple Venus Volume 1 was met with critical acclaim and moderate commercial success,peaking at number 42 on the UK Albums Chart and number 106 on the Billboard 200 in the US.
The Big Express is the seventh studio album by the English rock band XTC,released on 15 October 1984 by Virgin Records. It is an autobiographical concept album inspired by the band's hometown of Swindon and its railway system,the Swindon Works. In comparison to its predecessor Mummer (1983),which had a modest,pastoral approach to production,the album features a bright,uptempo sound marked by studio experimentation and denser arrangements,setting a template that they further developed on subsequent albums.
25 O'Clock is the debut record by English rock band the Dukes of Stratosphear and the eighth studio album by XTC,released on April Fools Day 1985 through Virgin Records. It was publicised as a long-lost collection of recordings by a late 1960s group,but actually consisted of new tracks recorded by Andy Partridge,Colin Moulding,and Dave Gregory of XTC with Gregory's brother Ian.
Coat of Many Cupboards is a box set by English rock band XTC,released in 2002. It acts as an anthology of their 15 years on Virgin Records. It is their first compilation of any kind to include tracks by their alter-ego,the Dukes of Stratosphear.
"Dear God" is a song by the English rock band XTC that was first released as a non-album single with the A-side "Grass". Written by Andy Partridge,the song lyrics grapple with the existence of God and the problem of evil. Partridge was inspired by a series of books with the same title,which Partridge viewed as exploitative of children. The song was originally intended for the album Skylarking,but left off due to concerns from Partridge and Virgin Records. After college radio DJs across America picked up the song,US distributor Geffen Records recalled and re-pressed Skylarking with the track included.
"Mayor of Simpleton" is a song written by Andy Partridge of the English band XTC,released as the first single from their 1989 album Oranges &Lemons. The single reached No. 72 on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart,No. 1 on its Alternative Songs chart,and No. 15 on its Mainstream Rock chart,becoming the band's best-performing single in the United States.
"Making Plans for Nigel" is a song by English rock band XTC,released by Virgin Records as the lead single from their 1979 album Drums and Wires. It was written by Colin Moulding,the band's bassist. The lyrics are told from the point of view of overbearing parents who are certain that their son Nigel is "happy in his world",affirming that his future,to be spent working for British Steel,"is as good as sealed",and that he "likes to speak and loves to be spoken to".
The Dukes of Stratosphear were an English rock band formed in 1984 by Andy Partridge,Colin Moulding,Dave Gregory,and Ian Gregory. Modelled after psychedelic pop groups from the 1960s,the Dukes were initially publicised by Virgin Records as a mysterious new act,but were actually an XTC spin-off band. They recorded only two albums:25 O'Clock (1985) and Psonic Psunspot (1987). In the UK,the records outsold XTC's then-current albums The Big Express (1984) and Skylarking (1986).
"Sgt. Rock" is a song by the British band XTC. Written by frontman Andy Partridge,it was released as the band's 12th single in December 1980,charting in the UK Singles Chart at No. 16 on 21 February 1981,being XTC's biggest single chart success to that date. The song also reached the Irish Singles Chart,peaking at No. 20.
"All You Pretty Girls" is a song written by Andy Partridge of the English rock band XTC,released on their 1984 album The Big Express. It peaked at number 55 on the UK Singles Chart,and its music video cost £33,000 to make. Partridge remembers that song came about while he was "dicking around,playing some Hendrix. ... I was just playing this little two-note,quasi-Hendrix thing,and I liked the inherent melody in it."
"Wake Up" is a song written by Colin Moulding of the English rock band XTC,released as the opening track on their 1984 album The Big Express. It was the third and last single issued from the album,following "All You Pretty Girls" and "This World Over",and peaked at number 92 on the UK Singles Chart.
