A Testimonial Dinner: The Songs of XTC

by TESTIMONIAL DINNER: SONGS OF XT

Overview

Though most tribute albums aren't worth the cost of the packaging, A Testimonial Dinner deserves a listen simply because the artists involved appear to have been selected more for their love of XTC than for their MTV appeal. Spacehog's take on "Senses Working Overtime" captures the perky but warped pop sensibilities perfectly, while Sarah McLachlan's haunting acoustic version of "Dear God" is, even by Andy Patridge's admission, arguably better than the original. Ruben Blades' invigorating Latin spin on "The Man Who Sailed Around His Soul" is simply magical, and They Might Be Giants lend their quirky style to a cover of "25 O'Clock," a song originally recorded by XTC's side-project the Dukes of Stratosphear. To top it all off, even XTC shows up (disguised as Terry & the Lovemen) to contribute "The Good Things," a lilting, psychedelic track reminiscent of the Summer of Love's groovy, harmony-laden pop. With nary a dud to be found, A Testimonial Dinner is the rare tribute album that does its subjects proud. ~ Bret Love

Product Details

Release Date:	10/17/1995
Label:	Thirsty Ear
UPC:	0700435701922
Rank:	112413

Tracks

1. Earn Enough for Me  - Freedy Johnston  - Andy Partridge
2. Senses Working Overtime  - Andy Partridge  -  Spacehog
3. All You Pretty Girls  -  Crash Test Dummies  - Andy Partridge
4. Wake Up  - Colin Moulding  -  Verve Pipe  -  XTC
5. Making Plans for Nigel  - Colin Moulding  -  Rembrandts
6. Dear God  - Sarah McLachlan  - Andy Partridge
7. The Man Who Sailed Around His Soul  - Ruben Blades
8. Another Satellite  -  P Hux  - Andy Partridge  -  XTC
9. 25 O'Clock  -  They Might Be Giants  -  XTC
10. The Good Things  -  XTC  -  Terry & The Lovemen
11. Statue of Liberty  - Joe Jackson  - Andy Partridge  -  XTC

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Terry & The Lovemen   Primary Artist
Ruben Blades   Primary Artist,Vocals
Crash Test Dummies   Primary Artist
Joe Jackson   Primary Artist,Vocals,Maracas,Keyboards
The Rembrandts   Primary Artist
Sarah McLachlan   Primary Artist,Guitar,Vocals
Spacehog   Primary Artist
Freedy Johnston   Primary Artist,Guitar,Vocals
The Verve Pipe   Primary Artist
P. Hux   Primary Artist
They Might Be Giants   Primary Artist
Greg Leisz   Guitar,Mandolin,Guitar (Bass),Guitar (Steel),Guitar (Electric)
Parthenon Huxley   Guitar,Vocals
Erik Sanko   Bass
Graham Maby   Bass,Guitar
Don Heffington   Drums
Graham Edwards   Guitar (Bass)
Donny Brown   Drums,Vocals
John Linnell   Vocals,Keyboards
Tony Barrero   Trumpet
George Gonzalez   Bongos
Gary Burke   Drums,Maracas
Brian Minato   Bass (Electric)
Danny Wilde   Guitar,Vocals
Richard Steel   Guitar
Ruben Rodriguez   Bass
Dave Sinclair   Guitar (Electric)
Luke Doucet   Guitar
Phil Solem   Guitar,Vocals
Ray Vega   Flugelhorn
Royston Langdon   Guitar (Bass)
Renaldo Jorge   Trombone
Oscar Hernandez   Piano
Camille Henderson   Vocals (Background)
Antony Langdon   Guitar,Vocals
Brian Vander Ark   Guitar,Vocals
Brian Doherty   Drums
Angel Papo Vasquez   Trombone
Chris Sharrock   Drums
Bob Glaub   Bass
Johnny Cragg   Drums
Pat Mastelotto   Drums
Ellen Reid   Vocals (Background)
A.J. Dunning   Guitar,Vocals
David Sinclair   Guitar (Electric)
Rob Miller   Bass,Vocals (Background)
Raymond Vega   Flugelhorn
Gordon Townsend   Drums,Vocals (Background)
Brad Vander Ark   Bass,Vocals
Terry   Bass,Guitar,Vocals
Mitch Dorge   Drums
Doug Corella   Keyboards,Percussion
Benjamin Darvill   Harmonica
Alan Sood   Drums
Eddie Montalvo   Congas
Dave Kershaw   Bass,Mellotron,Bass (Acoustic),Organ (Hammond)
John Flansburgh   Guitar,Vocals
John Walsh   Trumpet
Ralph Irizarry   Timbales
Dan Roberts   Bass
Brad Roberts   Guitar,Vocals

Technical Credits

David Yazbek   Compilation Producer,Producer,Liner Notes,Executive Producer
Ed Thacker   Mixing
Greg Reely   Engineer
John Diaz   Mixing,Engineer
Brad Roberts   Programming
XTC   Composer
Danny Wilde   Producer
Spacehog   Performer
Joe Jackson   Mixing,Producer,Performer
Phil Solem   Producer
Ruben Blades   Performer,Executive Producer
Pierre Marchand   Mixing,Producer
Jim Rondinelli   Engineer,Producer
Neil Dorfsman   Engineer
Oscar Hernandez   Brass Arrangement
Paul Angelli   Mixing
Dann Wojnar   Mixing
Michael Vinas   Arranger,Producer
Paul Mitchell   Mixing,Engineer
Steve Boyer   Engineer
Andy Partridge   Composer
Colin Moulding   Composer
Irwin Chusid   Liner Notes
Crash Test Dummies   Producer,Performer
Ed Roynesdal   Mixing,Producer
Freedy Johnston   Performer
Sarah McLachlan   Performer
Paul James   Engineer
Michael Bosley   Mixing,Engineer
Mitch Dorge   Programming
Duncan Stanbury   Mastering
Mark Droescher   Design,Artwork
Michael Hofmann   Producer
The Verve Pipe   Performer
They Might Be Giants   Producer,Performer
The Rembrandts   Performer
Dan Roberts   Programming