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Cover of Nonsuch by XTC — Cover: Nonsuch

Song · XTC

“Dear Madam Barnum” by XTC

From the album Nonsuch (1992)

“Dear Madam Barnum” by XTC appears on 16 radio countdowns from 2 stations between 1999 and 2014. It was first released in 1992 on the album Nonsuch. Its best result is #404 on the CD101 Top 2001 Songs of All-Time (December 2000). In the combined RockLists rankings it is #976 alternative song of all time.

16countdowns

2stations

#404best position

0#1 finishes

0top 10 finishes

1999–2014years charted

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Dear Madam Barnum (2001 Remaster)

Video from YouTube (XTC - Topic). Pressing play loads YouTube's player. Watch on YouTube

"Dear Madam Barnum" comes off XTC's 1992 album Nonsuch, an Andy Partridge song with a bounce in its step. Partridge wrote the words and music, sings lead and plays acoustic guitar and tambourine, and Dave Gregory piles on the color: acoustic and electric guitars, Hammond organ and even a whistle. Colin Moulding holds down the bass, Moulding and Gregory join Partridge on backing vocals, and guest Dave Mattacks drums.

Gus Dudgeon produced and Nick Davis mixed, and the result is bright, brisk, meticulously arranged pop that sounds like it was built by craftsmen who enjoy showing their work.

Written with AI assistance from RockLists chart data, MusicBrainz.

RockLists rankings

Alternative & Modern Rock

#976 of all time

All Rock Formats

#1,935 of all time

All-time and decade countdowns

Year	#	Station	Countdown	of
1999	404	CD101	CD101 Top 2000 Songs of All-Time (December 1999)	2000
2000	404	CD101	CD101 Top 2001 Songs of All-Time (December 2000)	2001
2001	405	CD101	CD101 Top 2002 Songs of All-Time (December 2001)	2002
2002	405	CD101	CD101 Top 2003 Songs of All-Time (December 2002)	2003
2002	1362	Fred (XM 44)	Fred XM Top 2002 Songs of All-Time (July 2002)	2002
2003	405	CD101	CD101 Top 2004 Songs of All-Time (December 2003)	2004
2003	792	Fred (XM 44)	Fred XM Top 2044 Songs of All-Time (July 2003)	2044
2004	405	CD101	CD101 Top 2005 Songs of All-Time (December 2004)	2005
2005	406	CD101	CD101 Top 2006 Songs of All-Time (December 2005)	1994
2007	1063	CD101	CD101 Top 2008 Songs of All-Time (December 2007)	2008
2008	1075	CD101	CD101 Top 2009 Songs of All-Time (December 2008)	2009
2009	1101	CD101	CD101 Top 2010 Songs of All-Time (December 2009)	2010
2010	1141	CD101	CD101 Top 2011 Songs of All-Time (December 2010)	2011
2011	1178	CD101	CD101 Top 2012 Songs of All-Time (December 2011)	2011
2013	1238	CD101	CD101 Top 2013 Songs of All-Time (December 2013)	2012
2014	1286	CD101	CD101 Top 2014 Songs of All-Time (2014)	2013

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