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.

Tracklisting

1. Summer’s Cauldron
2. Grass
3. The Meeting Place
4. That’s Really Super Supergirl
5. Ballet For A Rainy Day
6. 1000 Umbrellas
7. Season Cycle
8. Earn Enough For Us
9. Big Day
10. Another Satellite
11. Mermaid Smiled
12. The Man Who Sailed Around His Soul
13. Dear God
14. Dying
15. Sacrificial Bonfire
16. Summer’s Cauldron
17. Grass
18. The Meeting Place
19. That’s Really Super Supergirl
20. Ballet For A Rainy Day
21. 1000 Umbrellas
22. Season Cycle
23. Earn Enough For Us
24. Big Day
25. Another Satellite
26. Mermaid Smiled
27. The Man Who Sailed Around His Soul
28. Dear God
29. Dying
30. Sacrificial Bonfire

Apple Music

Videos

XTC - Dear God

More Videos

• The Man Who Sailed Around His Soul (Remastered 2001)
• Summer’s Cauldron (Remastered 2001)
• XTC - Grass
• Earn Enough For Us (Remastered 2001)
• That’s Really Super, Supergirl (Remastered 2001)
• XTC - Skylarking (Full Album) [HD]
• The meeting place

Release Images

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Release Information