XTC “Oranges and Lemons”

Today’s Cool Album of the Day (#327 in the Series) is XTC, Oranges and Lemons

OK, I was looking at some of the members in our facebook group. I know that we have many people involved in radio. If you’re one, I have a question for you. How could “The Mayor of Simpleton” NOT have been a huge hit? It only reached #72 on the Billboard Hot 100 Singles chart. How could a music director get a copy of this song and decide, “No, we’re not going to play this track.” What the heck could they possibly be thinking? “The Mayor of Simpleton” is one of the most perfect pop songs ever written. If there is a track that deserved to get airplay, then that was it.  There, now I feel better!

“The Mayor of Simpleton” wasn’t the only great song on this album. I could almost make the same statement for “King For a Day.”  Speaking of “King For a Day,” let me take a second to hype the video playlist below. I’ve included a performance of XTC performing the song on David Letterman back in 1989.  They sounded really great too. It’s a shame we’ve never been treated to more tours by this fantastic band.

Oranges and Lemons peaked at #44 on the Billboard Top 200 Albums chart.

Track listing

All songs written and composed by Andy Partridge, except where noted.

1. “Garden of Earthly Delights”  5:03
2. “The Mayor of Simpleton”  3:58
3. “King for a Day” (Colin Moulding) 3:37
4. “Here Comes President Kill Again”  3:35
5. “The Loving”  4:11
6. “Poor Skeleton Steps Out”  3:34
7. “One of the Millions”  (Moulding)  4:35
8. “Scarecrow People”  4:13
9. “Merely a Man”  3:27
10. “Cynical Days”  (Moulding)  3:17
11. “Across This Antheap” 4:51
12. “Hold Me My Daddy”  3:47
13. “Pink Thing”  3:48
14. “Miniature Sun”  3:57
15. “Chalkhills and Children” 4:56

Personnel

• Colin Moulding – vocals, bass
• Andy Partridge – guitar, vocals
• Dave Gregory – guitars, vocals, keyboards
• Pat Mastelotto – drums

Additional personnel

• Mark Isham – horns
• Paul Fox – keyboards
• Franne Golde – backing vocals

• Check out our write up of XTC’s  English Settlement (Done a long time ago!)
• Listen to Oranges and Lemons on the “Cool Album” MySpace Page
• See more write ups from 1989.

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