Song · XTC
“Fly on the Wall” by XTC
From the album English Settlement (1982)
“Fly on the Wall” by XTC appears on 2 radio countdowns from 1 station between 2002 and 2003. It was first released in 1982 on the album English Settlement. Its best result is #605 on the Fred XM Top 2044 Songs of All-Time (July 2003). In the combined RockLists rankings it is #4,572 alternative song of all time.
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Colin Moulding wrote "Fly on the Wall" for English Settlement, the double album XTC released on Virgin on 12 February 1982, and he sings it too, lead and backing vocals both, while playing fretless bass. Around him, Dave Gregory switches between 12-string and electric guitar, Andy Partridge adds synthesizer and Terry Chambers drums.
Hugh Padgham, who had engineered the band's previous two LPs, produced the record with XTC at The Manor Studio in Oxfordshire, and it marked a turn toward pastoral pop, longer songs and more intricate arrangements, with fretless bass and 12-string guitar right at the center of the new sound. It was a record made partly to get off the road: Partridge, worn out by touring, hoped a less stage-friendly sound would ease the pressure, and after the tour behind it collapsed, XTC stayed in the studio for good.
Written with AI assistance from RockLists chart data, MusicBrainz.
RockLists rankings
Alternative & Modern Rock
All Rock Formats
All-time and decade countdowns
| Year | # | Station | Countdown | of |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 | 1874 | Fred (XM 44) | Fred XM Top 2002 Songs of All-Time (July 2002) | 2002 |
| 2003 | 605 | Fred (XM 44) | Fred XM Top 2044 Songs of All-Time (July 2003) | 2044 |
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