1986-10-27
Skylarking
XTC
By Maeve C.
Todd Rundgren sequenced Skylarking from XTC’s cassette demos before recording began, a new way of working for the band. They flew to his studio in Woodstock, and later sessions moved to The Sound Hole in San Francisco. Andy Partridge has admitted there were battles with the producer.
The album is loosely built around a cycle, whether a day, a year or a life. “Summer’s Cauldron” runs straight into Colin Moulding’s “Grass” at the start, and “Sacrificial Bonfire” closes the sequence. The title borrows a Royal Navy word for fooling around, one Partridge’s father used at home.
Sources
uDiscover Music (Universal, owner of the Virgin catalogue): 'Released on October 27, 1986'. Rundgren sequenced from demos, Woodstock and The Sound Hole sessions, Partridge on 'battles', 'Summer's Cauldron' grafted onto Moulding's 'Grass', navy-father origin of the title word.Corroborates release 27 October 1986 on Virgin (UK), Geffen (US); loose concept album about a cycle such as a day, a year or a life; title's Royal Navy meaning.