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Fossil Fuel: The XTC Singles 1977–92

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Fossil Fuel: The XTC Singles 1977–92
Compilation album by
XTC
ReleasedSeptember 1996
Recorded1977–1991
GenreAlternative rock
Length117:38
LabelVirgin
XTC other chronology
A Testimonial Dinner: The Songs of XTC
(1995) 		Fossil Fuel: The XTC Singles 1977–92
(1996) 		Upsy Daisy Assortment
(1997)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[1]
Q[citation needed]

Fossil Fuel: The XTC Singles 1977–92 is a compilation album by XTC released in 1996. It was their third such greatest hits album following 1982's Waxworks: Some Singles 1977-1982 and 1985's The Compact XTC. It collects all 31 of their Virgin Records UK singles in chronological order. It does not include their pseudonymous singles as The Dukes of Stratosphear, The Three Wise Men or The Colonel.

The two discs reflect their shift in popularity from Great Britain to the United States in the mid-1980s. Some of disc 1's tracks ("Making Plans for Nigel", "Sgt. Rock (Is Going to Help Me)", "Senses Working Overtime") were top-40 hits in their homeland while a handful of songs from disc 2 became popular on stateside college radio ("Dear God", "Mayor of Simpleton", "The Ballad of Peter Pumpkinhead").

The compilation closes out with "Wrapped in Grey", which had been released as the third single from 1992's Nonsuch and then quickly recalled and deleted by Virgin Records, an event which effectively ended XTC's association with the label.

It reached No. 33 on the UK Albums Chart.

Track listing

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UK CD: CDVDX 2811

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All songs written by Andy Partridge, except where noted.

Disc 1

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  1. "Science Friction" – 3:14
  2. "Statue of Liberty" – 2:52
  3. "This Is Pop?" – 2:40
  4. "Are You Receiving Me?" – 3:04
  5. "Life Begins at the Hop" (Colin Moulding) – 3:47
  6. "Making Plans for Nigel" (Moulding) – 4:12
  7. "Ten Feet Tall" (Moulding) – 3:13
  8. "Wait Till Your Boat Goes Down" – 4:20
  9. "Generals and Majors" (Moulding) – 3:41
  10. "Towers of London" – 4:38
  11. "Sgt. Rock (Is Going to Help Me)" – 3:36
  12. "Love at First Sight" (Moulding) – 3:07
  13. "Respectable Street" – 3:07
  14. "Senses Working Overtime" – 4:34
  15. "Ball and Chain" (Moulding) – 4:29
  16. "No Thugs in Our House" – 5:10

Disc 2

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  1. "Great Fire" – 3:50
  2. "Wonderland" (Moulding) – 4:15
  3. "Love on a Farmboy's Wages" – 3:59
  4. "All You Pretty Girls" – 3:59
  5. "This World Over" – 4:45
  6. "Wake Up" (Moulding) – 3:40
  7. "Grass" (Moulding) – 2:42
  8. "The Meeting Place" (Moulding) – 3:13
  9. "Dear God" – 3:37
  10. "Mayor of Simpleton" – 3:57
  11. "King for a Day" (Moulding) – 3:36
  12. "The Loving" – 3:54
  13. "The Disappointed" – 3:38
  14. "The Ballad of Peter Pumpkinhead" – 5:03
  15. "Wrapped in Grey" – 3:46

Charts

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Chart performance for Fossil Fuel: The XTC Singles 1977–92
Chart (1996) Peak
position
Australian Albums (ARIA)[2] 105
Canada Top Albums/CDs (RPM)[3] 64
UK Albums (OCC)[4] 33

Certifications

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Certifications for Fossil Fuel: The XTC Singles 1977–92
Region Certification Certified units/sales
United Kingdom (BPI)[5] Silver 60,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

References

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  1. ^ Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "XTC – Fossil Fuel: The XTC Singles 1977–1992 Album Reviews, Songs & More". AllMusic. Retrieved 2 April 2023.
  2. ^ "Bubbling Down Under Week Commencing 5 October 1992". Bubbling Down Under. Retrieved 5 October 2024.
  3. ^ "Top RPM Albums: Issue 9835". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 2 April 2023.
  4. ^ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 2 April 2023.
  5. ^ "British album certifications – XTC – Fossil Fuel – The XTC Singles 1977–92". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 2 April 2023.
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