Apple Venus Volume 1

Infobox Album |
Name = Apple Venus Volume 1
Type = Album
Artist = XTC


Released = February 17, 1999
Recorded = January–August, 1998 at various locations
Genre = Pop rock, Folk, Chamber pop
Length = 50:09
Label = Cooking Vinyl
Producer = Haydn Bendall, Nick Davis
Reviews =
*Allmusic Rating|4.5|5 [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:8ll67uy0o0j0 link]
* Music Box Rating|4|5 [http://www.musicbox-online.com/xtc-av.html link]
*NME (7/10) [http://www.nme.com/reviews/xtc/671 link]
*Pitchfork Media (8.2/10) [http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/article/record_review/23334-apple-venus-volume-one link]
*PopMatters (favourable) [http://www.popmatters.com/pm/music/reviews/29687/xtc-transistor-apple/ link]
*"Q" Rating|4|5 [http://www.q4music.com/nav?page=q4music.artist.review&fixture_review=134177&resource=134177&fixture_artist=145441 link]
*Robert Christgau (B+) [http://www.robertchristgau.com/get_artist.php?name=xtc link]
*"Rolling Stone" Rating|3.5|5 [http://www.rollingstone.com/artists/xtc/albums/album/222152/review/6067788/apple_venus_volume_one link]
Last album = "Nonsuch"
(1992)
This album = "Apple Venus Volume 1"
(1999)
Next album = "Wasp Star (Apple Venus Volume 2)"
(2000)

"Apple Venus Volume 1" is an XTC album released in 1999. It was the first on the band's own Idea Records and distributed in the US by TVT Records. It reached #42 in the UK and spawned two singles: "I'd Like That" and "Easter Theatre."

Dave Gregory left the band before the release.

Track listing

UK CD: COOKCD 172

All songs written by Andy Partridge, except where noted.
#"River of Orchids" – 5:53
#"I'd Like That" – 3:50
#"Easter Theatre" – 4:37
#"Knights in Shining Karma" – 3:39
#"Frivolous Tonight" (Colin Moulding) – 3:10
#"Greenman" – 6:17
#"Your Dictionary" – 3:14
#"Fruit Nut" (Colin Moulding) – 3:01
#"I Can't Own Her" – 5:26
#"Harvest Festival" – 4:15
#"The Last Balloon" – 6:40

Personnel

Musicians

*Colin Moulding - vocals, bass
*Andy Partridge - vocals, guitars

Additional musicians

*Dave Gregory - piano, keyboards, keyboard programming, guitars, backing vocals
*Prairie Prince - drums, percussion
*Guy Barker - trumpet and flugelhorn solo on "The Last Balloon"
*Steve Sidwell - trumpet solo on "Easter Theatre"
*Nick Davis, Haydn Bendall - extra keyboards
*Mike Batt - orchestral arrangements for "Greenman" and "I Can't Own Her"
*All arrangements played by The London Sessions Orchestra under their leader Gavin Wright

Production

*Haydn Bendall - original production, engineering
*Nick Davis - additional production, engineering, mix
*Barry Hammond, Alan Douglas - recording engineers
*Simon Dawson - mix assistance
*Tim Young - mastering

Trivia

*Over seven years in the making
*Album title taken from a lyric in the song "Then She Appeared" on their last studio album, Nonsuch.
*Guitarist Dave Gregory walked out during the recording of the album, over musical differences and disagreements about his role in XTC ending a 20 year relationship as a band member.

XTC