Let The Day Begin...Let The Day Start!: Day 316 - XTC (#3)

Happy Birthday to Andy Partridge  - founding member of the Swindon New Wave/Post Punk (and another dozen labels I care not to type) Band - XTC. He's 63 years old today.

Thought I'd shine the spotlight on XTC's fourth Studio Album The Black Sea today.

A well received album and their highest placed chart album until 1982 when they released English Settlement which saw that peak at #5 in the UK. The Black Sea even reached the steady height of #1 in New Zealand!

The album spawned a number of hit singles as well, with Generals and Majors becoming their first US charting single (though lowly at #104). Sgt. Rock went one place higher than Making Plans For Nigel and peaked at #16.

The Black Sea - XTC

Virgin

Produced by Steve Lilywhite

Released 12 September 1980

UK Chart #16

US Chart #41

New Zealand Chart #1

The Black Sea (2001 CD Reissue with Bonus Tracks

A1 Respectable Street    
A2 Generals And Majors    
A3 Living Through Another Cuba    
A4 Love At First Sight    
A5 Rocket From A Bottle    
A6 No Language In Our Lungs    
B1 Towers Of London    
B2 Paper And Iron (Notes And Coins)    
B3 Burning With Optimism's Flame    
B4 Sgt. Rock (Is Going To Help Me)    
B5 Travels In Nihilon

Bonus Tracks on 2001 CD Reissue
12. Smokeless Zone
13. Don't Lose Your Temper
14. The Somnambulist 

Personnel
    Terry Chambers - Tama drums, Tama Snyper drum synthesiser, free form vocals
    Dave Gregory - guitars, synth, piano, vox humana
    Colin Moulding - vocals, Epiphone Newport bass
    Andy Partridge - vocals, guitar, synth

Singles on The Black Sea

    A Generals And Majors    
B Don't Lose Your Temper
    Released: August 1980

UK Chart #32

US Chart #104

   A Towers Of London    
B Set Myself On Fire (Live)
    Released: October 1980

UK Chart #31

Track B recorded Live At The Rainbow, 17th September, 1979.

    A Sgt. Rock (Is Going To Help Me)    
Ba Living Through Another Cuba (Live) 
Bb Generals And Majors (Live)
    Released: December 1980
UK Chart #16 

B-Side recorded live at The Lyceum, London 12th October 1980.
 

A Love At First Sight    
B1 Beatown (Live)    
B2 Roads Girdle The Globe (Live)    
B3 This Is Pop (Live)
Released: 23 January 1981 (Canada only)

Side B recorded live at the Marconi Club, Sydney, Australia.

 

 A Respectable Street*    
B1 Strange Tales, Strange Tails    
B2 Officer Blue
    Released: March 1981

*Remixed version, featuring slightly rewritten and re-sung lyrics.

Let The Day Begin...Let The Day Start!