English Settlement

English Settlement is the title of the fifth studio album by British band XTC released on Virgin records in February 1982. It was also the group's first double album and their most successful to date, reaching no.5 in the UK album charts two weeks after its release.

The album was recorded at Richard Branson's The Manor Studio in Oxfordshire with producer Hugh Padgham. Band member Andy Partridge has commented: " ''I gave away my acoustic guitar in a TV contest and had to buy a new one, suddenly all these new tunes flowed out! [...] This 15-track warehouse of songs sounds expansive, fresh, unfinished and vast. It was to become many people's favourite XTC album." ''

The group recorded the album without any intention of playing it live, although they did record a BBC radio session for David Jensen featuring three of the tracks, broadcast on 25 January 1982, and appeared on The Old Grey Whistle Test on 11 February 1982 to perform Yacht Dance and No Thugs In Our House.

English Settlement was preceded by the lead-single Senses Working Overtime which became the group's first and only Top 10 single.

Personnel

 * Colin Moulding – lead vocals, backing vocals, bass guitars, mini-Korg synthesizer, piano, percussion
 * Andy Partridge – lead vocals, backing vocals, electric guitars, acoustic guitar, mini-Korg synthesizer, Prophet V synthesizer, anklung, alto saxophone, percussion, frog noises
 * Dave Gregory – synthesizers, guitars, backing vocals, percussion, piano
 * Terry Chambers – drums, electronic drums, percussion, backing vocals

Tracklisting
original UK LP V 2223

(cassette version TCV 2223 has same tracks over two sides)

Side One

1.	Runaways *

2.	Ball and Chain *

3.	Senses Working Overtime

4.	Jason and the Argonauts

Side Two

1.	No Thugs in Our House

2.	Yacht Dance

3.	All of a Sudden (It's Too Late)

Side Three

1.	Melt the Guns

2.	Leisure

3.	It's Nearly Africa

4.	Knuckle Down

Side Four

1.	Fly on the Wall *

2.	Down in the Cockpit

3.	English Roundabout *

4.	Snowman

all songs written by Andy Partridge, except * by Colin Moulding.

Re-issues

 * 2001 remastered CD contains standard 15 tracks as original album
 * 2016 Deluxe remaster 2x33rpm, 200g heavyweight vinyl LPs, CD mastered from the same original master sources, booklet, lyric sheet etc.