Released 17 February 1999 Length 50:09 Artist XTC Label Canyon International | Recorded January–August 1998 Language English Release date 17 February 1999 | |
 | ||
Similar XTC albums, Pop rock albums | ||
Apple Venus Volume 1 is the thirteenth studio album by the English band XTC, released in 1999. It was the first on the band's own Idea Records label through Cooking Vinyl and distributed in the United States by TVT Records. It reached #42 in the UK. As with the two previous albums, the album's title appears to have been taken from the lyrics of a song on the previous album, in this case "Then She Appeared" from Nonsuch:
Contents
Then she appeared
Apple Venus on a half open shell
The album was the first time the band had released anything since going "on strike" against their label, Virgin Records. Apple Venus Volume 1 was originally supposed to be a double album, but Andy Partridge and Colin Moulding were convinced to break the album up into two, with the orchestral material on Apple Venus Volume 1 and the other material released on Wasp Star (Apple Venus Volume 2). The material for both albums was largely written in the aftermath of Nonsuch. While Partridge continued to write new material, all of Moulding's material was older songs that were submitted for earlier projects and rejected.
In 2002, XTC released an instrumental version of the album entitled Instruvenus.
Apple Venus Volume 1 was the last XTC album to include Dave Gregory as a member of the band. He departed the band during the recording sessions.
Legacy
In 2003, Mojo ranked the album at number 47 in its list of the "Top 50 Eccentric Albums". The album was included in the book 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die.
UK CD: COOKCD 172
All tracks written by Andy Partridge, except where noted.
Personnel
Additional musicians
Production
Songs
1River of Orchids5:53
2I’d Like That3:50
3Easter Theatre4:37