The Dukes of Stratosphear
Encyclopedia
The Dukes of Stratosphear was a pseudonym used by the British rock band XTC
in the mid to late 1980s, concurrently with XTC's continued musical activities. The project was intended as a homage to 1960s pop and psychedelic music
by groups such as The Beatles
, The Byrds
, The Kinks
, The Zombies
, The Beach Boys
, The Small Faces
, Jefferson Airplane
, Pink Floyd
and The Pretty Things
.
The band released two records under this pseudonym, the mini-album
25 O'Clock
(1985), and the full-length album Psonic Psunspot
(1987). The two releases were compiled onto a single CD under the title Chips from the Chocolate Fireball: An Anthology
, which was released simultaneously with the vinyl issue of Psonic Psunspot. The Dukes were also mentioned in the credits of XTC's 1986 album Skylarking
, where they were thanked for the loan of their guitars.
In 1991, Andy Partridge produced two tracks, "It's Snowing Angels" and "Then She Appeared", intended to be released as a hoax flexidisc attached to the cover of Strange Things Are Happening magazine. Although credited to fictional bands "Big Chief Cigar Choc Champion" and "The Golden", these tracks were a continuation of the Dukes recorded oeuvre in all but name. The magazine folded before the single could be pressed, although "Then She Appeared" would later be reworked for the Nonsuch
album. "It's Snowing Angels" would be released in 1994 via John Flansburgh
's Hello Recording Club (this time credited to the Dukes), and both tracks were included on the Fuzzy Warbles
anthology.
Several sequels were proposed but ultimately abandoned, including the mock rock opera The Great Royal Jelly Scandal, an animated feature film of 25 O'Clock, a 'prequel' album as "The Mersey Dukes", and a glam rock parody as "The Stratosphear Band". In 1992, XTC proposed a spiritual successor to the Dukes in the form of The Bubblegum Album, a compilation of mocked-up one-hit-wonder 1970s pop singles. The album was half completed but rejected by Virgin. This rejection was one of the main contributing factors to the seven-year feud between the band and Virgin. Several of these tracks were reworked and released on various XTC albums and compilations.
The 2002 XTC rarities compilation Coat of Many Cupboards
premiered a hitherto unheard 20-second section of narration recorded for Psonic Psunspot but not used. This does not appear on any other XTC/Dukes release.
The band briefly reformed in 2003, to record the track "Open a Can (Of Human Beans)" for the MS Society
charity compilation album The Wish List. This track later reappeared on the Fuzzy Warbles anthology and the re-release of 25 O'Clock.
In 2008 Andy Partridge recorded a promotional single for Eurostar
as The Dukes - "Tin Toy Clockwork Train" - which was given away free at railway stations. This, and a rejected earlier attempt - "Black Jewelled Serpent of Sound" - were added to 25 O'Clock for its 2009 re-release.
On 20 April 2009 both records were released on CD for the first time in their own right - along with demo recordings, bonus tracks and brand new sleeve notes from the band. These editions are credited to "XTC as The Dukes of Stratosphear" and were released on Andy Partridge's
Ape House record label (they are also the first XTC recordings to which Virgin Records have relinquished the rights).
Both 25 O'Clock and Psonic Psunspot were produced by John Leckie
, whose adopted pseudonym was Swami Anand Nagara.
XTC
XTC were a New Wave band from Swindon, England, active between 1976 and 2005. The band enjoyed some chart success, including the UK and Canadian hits "Making Plans for Nigel" and "Senses Working Overtime" , but are perhaps even better known for their long-standing critical success.- Early years:...
in the mid to late 1980s, concurrently with XTC's continued musical activities. The project was intended as a homage to 1960s pop and psychedelic music
Psychedelic music
Psychedelic music covers a range of popular music styles and genres, which are inspired by or influenced by psychedelic culture and which attempt to replicate and enhance the mind-altering experiences of psychedelic drugs. It emerged during the mid 1960s among folk rock and blues-rock bands in the...
by groups such as The Beatles
The Beatles
The Beatles were an English rock band, active throughout the 1960s and one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts in the history of popular music. Formed in Liverpool, by 1962 the group consisted of John Lennon , Paul McCartney , George Harrison and Ringo Starr...
, The Byrds
The Byrds
The Byrds were an American rock band, formed in Los Angeles, California in 1964. The band underwent multiple line-up changes throughout its existence, with frontman Roger McGuinn remaining the sole consistent member until the group disbanded in 1973...
, The Kinks
The Kinks
The Kinks were an English rock band formed in Muswell Hill, North London, by brothers Ray and Dave Davies in 1964. Categorised in the United States as a British Invasion band, The Kinks are recognised as one of the most important and influential rock acts of the era. Their music was influenced by a...
, The Zombies
The Zombies
The Zombies are an English rock band, formed in 1961 in St Albans and led by Rod Argent, on piano and keyboards, and vocalist Colin Blunstone. The group scored a UK and US hit in 1964 with "She's Not There"...
, The Beach Boys
The Beach Boys
The Beach Boys are an American rock band, formed in 1961 in Hawthorne, California. The group was initially composed of brothers Brian, Dennis and Carl Wilson, their cousin Mike Love, and friend Al Jardine. Managed by the Wilsons' father Murry, The Beach Boys signed to Capitol Records in 1962...
, The Small Faces
The Small Faces
The Small Faces were an English rock and roll band from East London, heavily influenced by American rhythm and blues. The group was founded in 1965 by members Steve Marriott, Ronnie Lane, Kenney Jones, and Jimmy Winston, although by 1966 Winston was replaced by Ian McLagan as the band's...
, Jefferson Airplane
Jefferson Airplane
Jefferson Airplane was an American rock band formed in San Francisco in 1965. A pioneer of the psychedelic rock movement, Jefferson Airplane was the first band from the San Francisco scene to achieve mainstream commercial and critical success....
, Pink Floyd
Pink Floyd
Pink Floyd were an English rock band that achieved worldwide success with their progressive and psychedelic rock music. Their work is marked by the use of philosophical lyrics, sonic experimentation, innovative album art, and elaborate live shows. Pink Floyd are one of the most commercially...
and The Pretty Things
The Pretty Things
The Pretty Things are an English rock and roll band from London, who originally formed in 1963. They took their name from Bo Diddley's 1955 song "Pretty Thing" and, in their early days, were dubbed by the British press the "uglier cousins of the Rolling Stones". Their most commercially successful...
.
The band released two records under this pseudonym, the mini-album
Extended play
An EP is a musical recording which contains more music than a single, but is too short to qualify as a full album or LP. The term EP originally referred only to specific types of vinyl records other than 78 rpm standard play records and LP records, but it is now applied to mid-length Compact...
25 O'Clock
25 O'Clock
25 O'Clock is an EP from XTC which was released under the pseudonym The Dukes of Stratosphear, and was also the title song from that release...
(1985), and the full-length album Psonic Psunspot
Psonic Psunspot
Psonic Psunspot is the ninth studio album from XTC which was released under the pseudonym The Dukes of Stratosphear in 1987.Like the previous album 25 O'Clock, this album is inspired by the 1960s psychedelia...
(1987). The two releases were compiled onto a single CD under the title Chips from the Chocolate Fireball: An Anthology
Chips from the Chocolate Fireball
Chips from the Chocolate Fireball: An Anthology is a CD-only compilation album from XTC which was released under the pseudonym The Dukes of Stratosphear...
, which was released simultaneously with the vinyl issue of Psonic Psunspot. The Dukes were also mentioned in the credits of XTC's 1986 album Skylarking
Skylarking
Skylarking is XTC's eighth studio album, released on 27 October 1986 and produced by American musician Todd Rundgren. Skylarking is a "life-in-a-day" semi-concept album which displayed songwriting and arranging heavily influenced by The Beatles, The Beach Boys and The Kinks...
, where they were thanked for the loan of their guitars.
In 1991, Andy Partridge produced two tracks, "It's Snowing Angels" and "Then She Appeared", intended to be released as a hoax flexidisc attached to the cover of Strange Things Are Happening magazine. Although credited to fictional bands "Big Chief Cigar Choc Champion" and "The Golden", these tracks were a continuation of the Dukes recorded oeuvre in all but name. The magazine folded before the single could be pressed, although "Then She Appeared" would later be reworked for the Nonsuch
Nonsuch
Nonsuch may refer to:*Nonsuch House, 1579, on London Bridge*Nonsuch Palace, an English royal palace built by Henry VIII in what is now Surrey*Nonsuch Park, a public park in the London Borough of Sutton, part of the larger park associated with the palace...
album. "It's Snowing Angels" would be released in 1994 via John Flansburgh
John Flansburgh
John Conant Flansburgh is an American musician. He is half of the longstanding Brooklyn, New York-based alternative rock duo They Might Be Giants, for which he writes, sings and plays rhythm guitar...
's Hello Recording Club (this time credited to the Dukes), and both tracks were included on the Fuzzy Warbles
Fuzzy Warbles
The Official Fuzzy Warbles Collector's Album is a CD box set of rarities from XTC guitarist and frontman Andy Partridge. The box set brings together the eight previously released Fuzzy Warbles volumes and includes an exclusive ninth disc entitled Hinges. Rather than release a solo album Partridge...
anthology.
Several sequels were proposed but ultimately abandoned, including the mock rock opera The Great Royal Jelly Scandal, an animated feature film of 25 O'Clock, a 'prequel' album as "The Mersey Dukes", and a glam rock parody as "The Stratosphear Band". In 1992, XTC proposed a spiritual successor to the Dukes in the form of The Bubblegum Album, a compilation of mocked-up one-hit-wonder 1970s pop singles. The album was half completed but rejected by Virgin. This rejection was one of the main contributing factors to the seven-year feud between the band and Virgin. Several of these tracks were reworked and released on various XTC albums and compilations.
The 2002 XTC rarities compilation Coat of Many Cupboards
Coat of Many Cupboards
Coat of Many Cupboards is a box set by XTC released in 2002. It acts as an anthology of their fifteen years on Virgin Records. It is their first compilation of any kind to include tracks by their alter-ego, The Dukes of Stratosphear.-Disc one:...
premiered a hitherto unheard 20-second section of narration recorded for Psonic Psunspot but not used. This does not appear on any other XTC/Dukes release.
The band briefly reformed in 2003, to record the track "Open a Can (Of Human Beans)" for the MS Society
Multiple Sclerosis Society of Great Britain
Multiple Sclerosis Society of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is a British medical research charity dedicated to curing the neurological condition multiple sclerosis...
charity compilation album The Wish List. This track later reappeared on the Fuzzy Warbles anthology and the re-release of 25 O'Clock.
In 2008 Andy Partridge recorded a promotional single for Eurostar
Eurostar
Eurostar is a high-speed railway service connecting London with Paris and Brussels. All its trains traverse the Channel Tunnel between England and France, owned and operated separately by Eurotunnel....
as The Dukes - "Tin Toy Clockwork Train" - which was given away free at railway stations. This, and a rejected earlier attempt - "Black Jewelled Serpent of Sound" - were added to 25 O'Clock for its 2009 re-release.
On 20 April 2009 both records were released on CD for the first time in their own right - along with demo recordings, bonus tracks and brand new sleeve notes from the band. These editions are credited to "XTC as The Dukes of Stratosphear" and were released on Andy Partridge's
Andy Partridge
Andrew John "Andy" Partridge is an English singer, songwriter, and guitarist. He has been known as Sir John Johns and Melchior and rose to fame as a founding member, guitarist and chief songwriter of the pop/new wave band, XTC. He lives in Swindon, Wiltshire, where he was raised.Partridge also...
Ape House record label (they are also the first XTC recordings to which Virgin Records have relinquished the rights).
Members
The pseudonymous personnel included:- Sir John Johns (Andy PartridgeAndy PartridgeAndrew John "Andy" Partridge is an English singer, songwriter, and guitarist. He has been known as Sir John Johns and Melchior and rose to fame as a founding member, guitarist and chief songwriter of the pop/new wave band, XTC. He lives in Swindon, Wiltshire, where he was raised.Partridge also...
) - singing, guitar, brain buds - The Red Curtain (Colin MouldingColin MouldingColin Ivor Moulding is a bassist, songwriter and vocalist. He is a founding member of the band XTC. Though less prolific than bandmate Andy Partridge, Moulding wrote many of the group's most popular songs, including their first three UK hit singles: "Life Begins At The Hop", "Making Plans For...
) - electric bass, song stuff - Lord Cornelius Plum (Dave Gregory) - mellotron, piano, organ, fuzz-tone guitar
- E.I.E.I. Owen (Ian Gregory) - drum set
Both 25 O'Clock and Psonic Psunspot were produced by John Leckie
John Leckie
John Leckie is a British music producer, notable for producing many high-profile albums such as The Stone Roses's debut and Radiohead's The Bends...
, whose adopted pseudonym was Swami Anand Nagara.
Discography
- 25 O'Clock25 O'Clock25 O'Clock is an EP from XTC which was released under the pseudonym The Dukes of Stratosphear, and was also the title song from that release...
(1985, Vinyl only 12" EP; 2009 CD) - Psonic PsunspotPsonic PsunspotPsonic Psunspot is the ninth studio album from XTC which was released under the pseudonym The Dukes of Stratosphear in 1987.Like the previous album 25 O'Clock, this album is inspired by the 1960s psychedelia...
(1987, Vinyl only Album; 2009 CD) - Chips from the Chocolate FireballChips from the Chocolate FireballChips from the Chocolate Fireball: An Anthology is a CD-only compilation album from XTC which was released under the pseudonym The Dukes of Stratosphear...
(1987, CD compilation of 25 O'Clock and Psonic Psunspot)