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.
Colin Ivor Moulding is an English bassist, singer, and songwriter who was one of the core members of the rock band XTC. Though he was less prolific a songwriter than his bandmate Andy Partridge, Moulding wrote their first three charting UK singles: "Life Begins at the Hop" (1979), "Making Plans for Nigel" (1979) and "Generals and Majors" (1980).
Drums and Wires is the third studio album by English band XTC, released on 17 August 1979, on the Virgin record label. The album marked the debut of Dave Gregory, who joined the band as lead guitarist following keyboardist Barry Andrews' departure in early 1979. Gregory went on to remain with the group up until 1998, during the recording of Apple Venus Volume 1.
Apple Venus Volume 1 is the 13th studio album by the English rock band XTC, released in February 1999. It was the first on the band's own Idea Records label through Cooking Vinyl and distributed in the United States by TVT Records. 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). Apple Venus Volume 1 was met with critical acclaim and moderate sales, peaking at number 42 on the UK Albums Chart and number 106 on the US Billboard 200.
The Big Express is the seventh studio album by the English rock band XTC, released 15 October 1984 on 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 would develop on subsequent albums.
Rag and Bone Buffet: Rare Cuts and Leftovers is a compilation album by XTC released in 1990. An odds and sods collection, it brings together B-sides, BBC sessions, soundtrack contributions, both sides of two singles released by offshoot The Three Wise Men, a solo single recorded by Colin Moulding as The Colonel and other obscurities. It is notable for including some of the most eccentric numbers in their catalogue such as "Cockpit Dance Mixture", "Countdown to Christmas Party Time" and "History of Rock & Roll".
Homespun is a demo album by XTC released by Cooking Vinyl and Idea Records. A companion to Apple Venus Volume 1, it has the same running order as its parent album. It was reissued in 2005 as a part of the Apple Box.
Coat of Many Cupboards is a box set by 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.
Apple Box is a box set by XTC compiling Apple Venus Volume 1 and Wasp Star along with their respective demo albums Homespun and Homegrown. It is the third box set of their career following Transistor Blast: The Best of the BBC Sessions and Coat of Many Cupboards, released by Idea Records.
"Senses Working Overtime" is a song written by Andy Partridge of the English rock band XTC, released as the lead single from their 1982 album English Settlement. He based the song on Manfred Mann's "5-4-3-2-1" (1964). The album and single became the highest-charting records XTC would ever have in the UK, peaking at number five and number 10, respectively.
Instruvenus is a 2002 instrumental version of XTC's Apple Venus Volume 1 album released in 1999 by Idea Records.
Waspstrumental is a 2002 instrumental version of XTC's Wasp Star album released in 2000 by Idea Records.
Explode Together: The Dub Experiments 78-80 (1990) is an XTC compilation album which includes Mr Partridge's Take Away/The Lure of Salvage LP and the Go + EP. Recorded during sessions on various breaks for the albums Drums and Wires and Black Sea, the album consists of remixes with additional overdubs and sometimes new vocals recorded by Andy Partridge. The material consists of tracks recorded for the band's first three albums. Partridge would also occasionally write new lyrics for some of the compositions included here as well.
Fuzzy Warbles Volume 1 is the first volume in the Fuzzy Warbles series, released in December 2002. The Fuzzy Warbles Series brings together demos, rarities and side projects from XTC founding member Andy Partridge.
Fuzzy Warbles Volume 7 is the seventh volume in the Fuzzy Warbles series, released in September 2006. The Fuzzy Warbles Series brings together demos, rarities and side projects from XTC founding member Andy Partridge.
The Dukes of Stratosphear were an English rock band formed in 1984 by Andy Partridge, Colin Moulding, Dave Gregory, and Ian Gregory. Modeled 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).
"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.
"Respectable Street" is a song written by Andy Partridge of XTC, released as the opening track on their 1980 album Black Sea. According to Partridge, the song is about English streets and "the hypocrisy of living in a so-called respectable neighborhood. It's all talk behind twitching curtains. It's all Alan Bennett land." Discounting the Canada-only "Love at First Sight", it was the fourth and last single issued from the LP. BBC Radio banned the song because of its references to abortion and a "Sony Entertainment Centre".
