Editing XTC (section)

===''Skylarking'' and ''Psonic Psunspot''===
[[File:Todd Rundgren 1978 (cropped).jpg|thumb|left|upright|''[[Skylarking]]'' producer [[Todd Rundgren]] performing with [[Utopia (American band)|Utopia]] in 1978]]

During a routine meeting in early 1986, Virgin executives threatened to drop the band from the label if their next album failed to sell more than 70,000 units.<ref name="Mojo1999"/> One reason why the group was not selling enough records, Virgin reportedly concluded, was that they sounded "too English".<ref name="Keyboard87">{{cite journal |last1=Greenwald |first1=Ted |title=XTC's Reluctant Keyboardist Reveals Rundgren's Production Style |journal=[[Keyboard (magazine)|Keyboard]] |date=November 1987 }}</ref> The label forced the group to work with one of their selected American producers. When shown a list of their names, they recognised none except for [[Todd Rundgren]].<ref name="Albumism">{{cite web |last1=Nelson |first1=Terry |title=TRIBUTE: Celebrating 30 Years of XTC's 'Skylarking' |url=http://www.albumism.com/features/tribute-celebrating-30-years-of-xtc-skylarking |website=Albumism.com|date=26 October 2016|access-date=20 September 2017}}</ref> Gregory was a fan of Rundgren's music, particularly since hearing the 1978 album ''[[Hermit of Mink Hollow]]''. His bandmates were not as familiar with Rundgren, but Gregory urged the group to work with him: "I reminded Andy that Todd had produced one of his favourite New York Dolls records [''[[New York Dolls (album)|New York Dolls]]'', 1973]. In the absence of any better alternatives, he agreed."{{sfn|Myers|2010|p=256}} Once contacted, Rundgren offered to handle the album's entire recording for a lump sum of $150,000, and the band agreed.<ref name="Skylarking diffuser">{{cite web |last1=Zaleski |first1=Annie |title=30 Years Ago: XTC Finds Pop Perfection with 'Skylarking' |url=http://diffuser.fm/xtc-skylarking/ |website=Diffuser.fm |date=27 October 2016|access-date=20 September 2017}}</ref>

In January 1986, Partridge and Moulding mailed Rundgren a collection of more than 20 demo tapes they had stockpiled in advance.{{sfn|Myers|2010|p=257}} Compared to previous XTC albums, much of the material contrasted significantly with its mellower feel, lush arrangements, and "flowery" aesthetic.<ref name="MagnetSkylarking" /> Rundgren responded with the idea of a [[concept album]] to bridge "Colin's 'pastoral' tunes and subject matter and Andy's 'pop anthems' and sly poetry. ... The album could be about a day, a year, or a lifetime.&nbsp;... Using this framework, I [Rundgren] came up with a sequence of songs and a justification for their placement and brought it to the band."{{sfn|Myers|2010|pp=257–258}}

After the group arrived at Utopia Sound recording studio in upstate [[New York (state)|New York]], Rundgren played a large role in the album's sound design and drum programming, providing them with string and brass arrangements, as well as an assortment of gear.<ref name="MagnetSkylarking" /> However, the sessions were fraught with tension, especially between him and Partridge, and disagreements arose over drum patterns, song selections, and other details.<ref name="rundbang">{{cite news|last1=Parker|first1=Adam|title=Rundgren still bangs the drum all day Rock and roll titan to play at Music Hall|url=http://www.postandcourier.com/features/arts_and_travel/rundgren-still-bangs-the-drum-all-day-rock-and-roll/article_7b358388-63b5-5e1d-bdbc-02afdcdee8a2.html|newspaper=[[The Post and Courier]]|date=6 February 2016}}</ref> Partridge likened the power struggle to "two [[Hitler]]s in the same bunker".<ref name="Chicago2000" /> He expressed resentment toward Rundgren's contributions when sessions concluded, but later softened his view and praised the result.<ref name="Mojo1999"/> Rundgren said that in spite of all the difficulties, the album "ultimately ... sounds like we were having a great time doing it. And at times we ''were'' having a good time."<ref name="rundbang"/>

{{Quote box|quote=On ''[[Skylarking]]'' ... the band has accomplished the remarkable feat of pulling the kinks out of its music without sacrificing its peerless originality. The band members have become the deans of a group of artists who make what can only be described as unpopular pop music, placing a high premium on melody and solid if idiosyncratic songcraft.
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|source = —Writer [[Michael Azzerad]], 1989<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/artists/xtc/albums/album/260407/rid/6211360/ |title=XTC: ''Oranges & Lemons'' |magazine=[[Rolling Stone]] |date=23 March 1989 |access-date=18 June 2011 |last=Azerrad |first=Michael |author-link=Michael Azerrad |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080203204606/http://www.rollingstone.com/artists/xtc/albums/album/260407/review/6211360 |archive-date=3 February 2008}}</ref>
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''Skylarking'' spent one week on the UK album charts, reaching number 90 in November 1986, two weeks after its release.<ref name="OCC"/> Moulding's "[[Grass (XTC song)|Grass]]" was chosen as lead single. It was issued exclusively in the UK with the B-side "[[Dear God (XTC song)|Dear God]]", an outtake. "Dear God" became so popular with American [[college radio]] stations who imported the record that [[Geffen Records]] (XTC's US distributor) recalled and re-pressed ''Skylarking'' with the track included.<ref name="Mojo1999"/> Controversy also broke out over the song's anti-religious lyrics, which inspired some violent incidents. In Florida, a radio station received a bomb threat, and in New York, a student forced their school to play the song over its public-address system by holding a faculty member at knife-point. Nonetheless, the commercial success of "Dear God" propelled ''Skylarking'' to sell more than 250,000 units, and it raised the band's profile among American college youth.<ref name="Mojo1999"/> In the US, the album spent 29 weeks on the ''Billboard 200'' and reached its peak position of number 70 in June 1987.<ref name="Billboard200">{{cite magazine |url=http://www.billboard.com/artist/277881/xtc/chart?f=305 |title=Billboard 200: XTC |date=2017 |magazine=Billboard |access-date=27 February 2017 }}</ref> The music video for "Dear God" received the 1987 ''Billboard'' Best Video award and was also nominated for three categories at the [[MTV Video Music Awards]].<ref name="Schabe">{{cite web|last1=Schabe|first1=Patrick|title=XTC: A Coat of Many Cupboards|url=https://www.popmatters.com/xtc-coat-2496118960.html|website=PopMatters|date=5 May 2002}}</ref> ''Skylarking'' ultimately became XTC's best-known album<ref name="DahlenFuzzy">{{cite web|last1=Dahlen|first1=Chris|title=Andy Partridge – Fuzzy Warbles Collector's Album|url=http://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/9785-fuzzy-warbles-collectors-album/|website=Pitchfork|date=19 January 2007|access-date=20 September 2017}}</ref> and is generally regarded as their finest work.<ref name="Skylarking diffuser"/>

Partridge was reluctant to make another Dukes album, but to appease requests from his bandmates and Virgin Records, ''[[Psonic Psunspot]]'' (1987) was recorded. This time, 10 songs and a £10,000 budget was supplied, while John Leckie returned as producer.<ref name="Mojo1999"/> Once again, the Dukes' record outsold XTC's previous album in the UK (''Skylarking'' in this case). Partridge felt it was "a bit upsetting to think that people preferred these pretend personalities to our own personalities ... But I don't mind because we have turned into the Dukes slowly over the years."<ref name="HuntPhaze"/> Likewise, Moulding felt that the "psychedelic element was being more ingratiated into the pie" since ''25 O'Clock''.<ref name="MagnetSkylarking" /> When issued on CD, ''Psonic Psunspot'' was combined with ''25 O'Clock'' and given the title ''[[Chips from the Chocolate Fireball]]'' (1987).<ref name="XTCAMbio"/>