Skylarking
Sign in to saveSkylarking is the eighth 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 often regarded as one of their finest albums.
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- 171
- Total plays
- 497
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Key facts
- Album.cover
- xtcsl2.jpg
- Album.name
- Skylarking
- Album.type
- studio
- Album.artist
- XTC
- Album.recorded
- April–June 1986
- Album.genre
- Pop rock psychedelic
- Album.length
- 45:47
- Album.label
- Virgin (UK) Geffen (US)
- Album.producer
- Todd Rundgren
- Album.prev_title
- 25 O'Clock
- Album.prev_year
- 1985
- Album.next_title
- Psonic Psunspot
- Album.next_year
- 1987
via Wikipedia infobox
Key dates
- Published
- 27 October 1986
via Wikidata · CC0
Wikidata facts
- Instance of
- album
- Genre
- psychedelic music
- Followed by
- Psonic Psunspot
- Producer
- Todd Rundgren
- Performer
- XTC
- Record label
- Geffen Records
Show 3 more facts
- P407
- English language
- P7937
- studio album
- P291
- United Kingdom
via Wikidata · CC0
Article
37 sectionsContents
- Background
- Concept and style
- Production
- Session difficulties
- Recording
- Sleeve design
- Songs
- Side one
- "Summer's Cauldron"
- "Grass"
- "The Meeting Place"
- "That's Really Super, Supergirl"
- "Ballet for a Rainy Day"
- "1000 Umbrellas"
- "Season Cycle"
- Side two
- "Earn Enough for Us"
- "Big Day"
- "Another Satellite"
- "Mermaid Smiled"
- "The Man Who Sailed Around His Soul"
- "Dear God"
- "Dying"
- "Sacrificial Bonfire"
- Leftover
- Release
- "Dear God" controversy
- Polarity issue
- Retrospective reviews and legacy
- Track listing
- Original vinyl
- 2016/2024 expanded editions
- Personnel
- Charts
- References
- Works cited
- External links
Skylarking is the eighth 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 often regarded as one of their finest albums.
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.