Skylarking

''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.

Like XTC's previous Dukes of Stratosphear side project, ''Skylarking'' was heavily influenced by the music of the 1960s. Most of its recording was at Rundgren's Utopia Sound Studio in Woodstock, New York. Rundgren played a large role in the album's sound design and drum programming, providing the band with orchestral arrangements and an assortment of gear. However, the sessions were fraught with tension, especially between Rundgren and bandleader Andy Partridge, and numerous disagreements arose over drum patterns, song selections, and other details. In 2010, it was discovered that a wiring error made during the mastering process caused the album to have a "thin" sound. The problem was corrected on subsequent remasters.

Upon release, ''Skylarking'' was met with indifference in the UK, rising in the album charts to number 90, while both of its lead singles " Grass" (backed with " Dear God") and " The Meeting Place" peaked at number 100. Early sales of the album were hampered by the omission of "Dear God" from the album's original pressings. In the US, the song became a college radio hit, causing US distributor Geffen Records to recall and repress ''Skylarking'' with the track included, and propelling the album to number 70. Following the song's growth in popularity, it was the subject of controversy in the US, inspiring many angry phone calls to radio stations and at least one bomb threat. ''Skylarking'' was later listed on "100 greatest albums of the 1980s" lists by '' Rolling Stone'' in 1989 and '' Pitchfork'' in 2002.

Background

In the 1980s, XTC underwent a gradual transition in their sound and image. Their albums became increasingly complex, and after frontman and songwriter Andy Partridge suffered a panic attack before a concert, the band ceased touring. In 1984, they released ''The Big Express'', which sold poorly and attracted little critical notice. According to Partridge, the group's psychedelic influences had begun "leaking out" through the use of Mellotron, phasing, and "backwards so-and-so". They followed up with the British-only mini-album ''25 O'Clock'', released on April Fools' Day 1985 and credited under the pseudonym " the Dukes of Stratosphear". The album was a more explicit homage to 1960s psychedelia that outsold ''The Big Express'', even before the Dukes were revealed to be XTC. Partridge remembered: "That was a bit upsetting to think that people preferred these pretend personalities to our own personalities ... they're trying to tell us something."

During a routine meeting in early 1986, Virgin Records executives threatened to drop the band from the label if their next album failed to sell more than 70,000 units. One reason why the group was not selling enough records, the label reportedly concluded, was that they sounded "too English". As was the case for their other records, the label refused to allow the band to act as their own producers, even though Partridge was already established as a producer of other artists. The group were given a list of American producers and the only name they recognized was Todd Rundgren's. To Virgin, he appeared to be ideal for XTC, as he had a reputation for completing troubled projects on schedule and under budget, such as Badfinger's ''Straight Up'' (1971) and Meat Loaf's '' Bat Out of Hell'' (1977). XTC was a rare example, he said, "where I was both familiar with the band's previous work and unnecessary as a 'songcraft' agitator." He had also attended one of XTC shows in Chicago during their 1980 '' Black Sea'' tour.

Guitarist Dave Gregory was a fan of Rundgren's music, particularly since hearing the 1978 album ''Hermit of Mink Hollow''. His bandmates were not as familiar with the producer. For bassist Colin Moulding, "I'd seen him on stage, on TV, with his Utopia stuff, and I thought it was way over the bastard top ... Then Dave started playing me one or two things. I heard ' I Saw the Light," and I thought, 'Christ, that's a really good song!' I didn't know he had that side to him. All that Partridge knew about Rundgren was his solo album '' Something/Anything?'' (1972). Gregory urged the group to work with him: "I reminded Andy that Todd had produced one of his favourite New York Dolls records New_York_Dolls'',_1973.html" ;"title="New_York_Dolls_(album).html" ;"title="' New_York_Dolls'',_1973">New_York_Dolls_(album).html"_;"title="'New_York_Dolls_(album)">New_York_Dolls'',_1973_In_the_absence_of_any_better_alternatives,_he_agreed."_Once_contacted,_Rundgren_offered_to_handle_the_album's_entire_recording_for_a_lump_sum_of_$150,000—including_tape_costs,_studio_hire,_lodging,_and_his_production_fee—which_the_band_accepted.

_Concept_and_style

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_Concept_and_style

In_January_1986,_Partridge_and_Moulding_mailed_Rundgren_a_collection_of_more_than_20_demo_tapes_they_had_stockpiled_in_advance_of_the_album._Rundgren_convinced_the_band_that_the_songs_they_had_written_could_form_a_concept_album_as_a_way_to_bridge_what_he_described_"Colin's_'pastoral'_tunes_and_subject_matter_and_Andy's_'pop_anthems'_and_sly_poetry."_He_also_suggested_a_provisional_title,_''Day_Passes'',_and_said_that_the_album_

The_chosen_songs_were_of_a_gentler_atmosphere_and_relations_were_drawn_between_tempo,_key_(music)">key,_and_subject_matter._Partridge_thought_well_of_the_selections,_but_was_annoyed_that_the_tracks_and_running_order_were_determined_so_early_on_in_the_process,_remarking_that_"you_hadn't_spoken_to_the_bloke_for_three_minutes,_and_he'd_already_been_hacking_and_throwing_your_work_in_the_bin"._Working_titles_included_''All_Day_Life'',_''Rite'',_''Rite_Things'',_''Leftover_Rites'',_''Summer_Good'',_and_''Pink_Things_Sing''.__They_settled_on_''Skylarking'',_referring_to_a_type_of_bird_(_skylark)_and_the_Royal_Navy_

The_Royal_Navy_(RN)_is_the_United_Kingdom's_naval_warfare_force._Although_warships_were_used_by__English_and_Scottish_kings_from_the_early_medieval_period,_the_first_major_maritime_engagements_were_fought_in_the_Hundred_Years'_War_against__Fr_...