The Album The Songs Recording Info Reviews Discographical Info Tour Programme The Singles Art

English Settlement (1982 Virgin). Released as a double album, this is XTC at the height of their powers. A stylistic triumph, where country/folk cheerfully rubs shoulders with anthemic pop.

Andy: “I gave away my acoustic guitar in a TV contest and had to buy a new one, suddenly all these new tunes flowed out! Colin gets fretless, Dave goes 12-string, Terry still ‘just 'its 'em’. This 15-track warehouse of songs sounds expansive, fresh, unfinished and vast. It was to become many people's favourite XTC album.”

Andy: “Why don't we make an album we don't have to reproduce on stage? We can use acoustic instruments, we can overdub keyboards, we can use pianos. . . The first of the multi-coloured records.”

Lyrics, Charts and More

1. Runaways
2. Ball and Chain
3. Senses Working Overtime
4. Jason and the Argonauts
5. No Thugs in Our House
6. Yacht Dance
7. All of a Sudden (It's Too Late)
8. Melt the Guns
9. Leisure
10. It's Nearly Africa
11. Knuckle Down
12. Fly on the Wall
13. Down in the Cockpit
14. English Roundabout
15. Snowman

Recording Information

Recorded and mixed between 5 October and mid-November 1981 at The Manor, Oxfordshire, England.
Produced and mixed by Hugh Padgham and XTC.
Engineered by Hugh Padgham. Assisted by Howard Gray.
Originally released on 12 February 1982 in the U.K.
Reached No. 5 on the U.K. album chart.
Reached No. 48 on the U.S. album chart.

Progressive Media, April 26, 1982:

English Settlement, Number 1, Progressive Radio Album
XTC, Number 12, Commercial Radio Airplay
XTC, Number 1, College / Non-Commercial Airplay
XTC English Settlement, Number 1, Reporters' Picks
XTC "Senses Working Overtime", Number 2, Stand-Out Cuts
XTC "Runaways", Number 20, Stand-Out Cuts
XTC English Settlement, Number 1, In-Store Play
XTC, Number 4, Audience Response (most requested)
XTC English Settlement, Number 2, Imports
XTC English Settlement, Number 9, Progressive Retail Album

andy - vocals, guitars, alto sax, mini-korg, backing vocals, anklung, percussion, frog
colin - vocals, bass guitars
dave - guitars, mini-korg, prophet V, percussion, piano, backing vocals
terry - drums, percussion, drum synthesiser, backing vocals
hans de vente - special guest vocal support

Singles

Senses Working Overtime

Ball and Chain

Blame the Weather

No Thugs In Our House

Art

Andy Partridge from English Settlement liner	Colin Moulding from English Settlement liner	Dave Gregory from English Settlement liner
Terry Chambers from English Settlement liner	XTC from English Settlement inner sleeve	English Settlement cassette cover (Geffen USA)
English Settlement ltd. ed. CD cover	cover of the Japanese English Settlement CD	back cover of the Epic USA English Settlement LP
English Settlement promo photo, from Coat of Many Cupboards	English Settlement Tour Programme	English Settlement sticker
the English Settlement promotional key ring and bottle opener	a promotional t-shirt	the jacket worn on stage by Andy Partridge during the English Settlement tour
English Settlement promo poster from Epic Records USA	English Settlement promotional poster	US trade advertisement for English Settlement

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