Generals and Majors

1980 single by XTC

"Generals and Majors"

Single by XTC
from the album  Black Sea
B-side| "Don't Lose Your Temper"
Released| August 1980
Recorded| 1980
Genre|

* Post-punk[1]
* pop[2]

Length|

* 4:05 (album version)
* 3:42 (single version)
* 5:02 (rehearsal tape version)

Label| Virgin
Songwriter(s)| Colin Moulding
Producer(s)| Steve Lillywhite
XTC singles chronology
| "Wait Till Your Boat Goes Down"
(1980)  | "Generals and Majors"
(1980)  | "Towers of London"
(1980)

|
|

Music video
"Generals and Majors" on YouTube

"Generals and Majors" is a song written by Colin Moulding of the English rock band XTC, released as the first single from their 1980 album Black Sea. Moulding accordingly wrote the song as a satirical take on the phrase "oh, what a lovely war".[3] The song charted in the UK single chart at No. 32 and No. 104 on the US singles chart, while reaching No. 28 on Billboard's Album Rock Tracks chart. It was the first XTC single to chart in the U.S., and it also had chart success in Canada, Australia and New Zealand.

The track was initially released as a double 7" single with a gatefold sleeve, limited to 15,000 copies.[4] The additional record featured Moulding's "Smokeless Zone" and Partridge's "The Somnambulist".

## Music video

[edit]

The music video shows the band playing servers and a group of men in military uniforms; one of them is Richard Branson, driving a Go-kart and jumping on a bouncy castle. According to Andy Partridge, Branson appeared "because he's a complete publicity hog. He decided he was gonna turn up and keep suggesting that he be in the video. That is the worst video ever made by man."[5]

## Personnel

[edit]

XTC

* Andy Partridge
* Colin Moulding
* Dave Gregory
* Terry Chambers

## Charts

[edit]

Chart (1980)  | Peak
position

|

Australia (Kent Music Report)[6] | 24
Canadian Single Chart[7] | 92
New Zealand Single Chart[8] | 16
UK Singles Chart[9] | 32
US Billboard Bubbling Under Hot 100[10] | 104
US Billboard Album Rock Tracks[citation needed] | 28

## See also

[edit]

* List of anti-war songs

## References

[edit]

1. ^ Schabe, Patrick (27 October 2006). "The Man Who Sailed Around His Soul". PopMatters. "1980's Black Sea sold well on the album charts on the strength of its solid post-punk tracks, including "Respectable Street", "Towers of London", and "Generals and Majors"."
2. ^ Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. XTC - Fossil Fuel: The XTC Singles 1977-1992 (1996) Review at AllMusic. Retrieved March 19, 2024.
3. ^ Bernhardt, Todd (29 December 2008). "Song of the Week -- Colin's take". Chalkhills.
4. ^ "Chalkhills: XTC Discography: Singles and EPs". Chalkhills.org. Retrieved 31 December 2017.
5. ^ Pierson, Pat (September 2007). "Permanent Bliss: The Immutable Pleasures of XTC". Filter.
6. ^ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992. St Ives, NSW: Australian Chart Book. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
7. ^ "Results - RPM - Library and Archives Canada". Collectionscanada.gc.ca. Archived from the original on 15 December 2013. Retrieved 31 December 2017.
8. ^ Hung, Steffen. "charts.nz - New Zealand charts portal". charts.nz. Retrieved 31 December 2017.
9. ^ "XTC - full Official Chart History - Official Charts Company". Officialcharts.com. Retrieved 31 December 2017.
10. ^ "XTC - Biography, Albums, Streaming Links". AllMusic. Retrieved 31 December 2017.

## External links

[edit]

* Discogs entry
* "Generals and Majors" on Chalkhills

* v
* t
* e

XTC

* Andy Partridge
* Colin Moulding
* Terry Chambers
* Barry Andrews
* Dave Gregory

Studio albums|

* White Music
* Go 2
* Drums and Wires
* Black Sea
* English Settlement
* Mummer
* The Big Express
* 25 O'Clock
* Skylarking
* Psonic Psunspot
* Oranges & Lemons
* Nonsuch
* Apple Venus Volume 1
* Wasp Star (Apple Venus Volume 2)

Compilations|

* Waxworks: Some Singles 1977–1982
* Beeswax: Some B-Sides 1977–1982
* The Compact XTC
* Chips from the Chocolate Fireball
* Explode Together: The Dub Experiments 78-80
* Rag and Bone Buffet: Rare Cuts and Leftovers
* Drums and Wireless: BBC Radio Sessions 77–89
* Fossil Fuel: The XTC Singles 1977–92
* Upsy Daisy Assortment
* Transistor Blast: The Best of the BBC Sessions
* Coat of Many Cupboards
* Apple Box
* Psurroundabout Ride

Other albums|

* 3D EP
* Homespun
* Homegrown
* Waspstrumental

Singles|

* "Statue of Liberty"
* "This Is Pop?"
* "Life Begins at the Hop"
* "Making Plans for Nigel"
* "Generals and Majors"
* "Towers of London"
* "Sgt. Rock (Is Going to Help Me)"
* "Respectable Street"
* "Senses Working Overtime"
* "Ball and Chain"
* "Wonderland"
* "Love on a Farmboy's Wages"
* "Thanks for Christmas"
* "All You Pretty Girls"
* "This World Over"
* "Wake Up"
* "Grass"
* "The Meeting Place"
* "Dear God"
* "Mayor of Simpleton"
* "King for a Day"
* "The Disappointed"
* "The Ballad of Peter Pumpkinhead"
* "Easter Theatre"

Other songs|

* "Seagulls Screaming Kiss Her Kiss Her"
* "Garden of Earthly Delights"
* "Wrapped in Grey"

Related media|

* A Testimonial Dinner: The Songs of XTC
* Fuzzy Warbles
* 1
* 2
* 3
* 4
* 5
* 6
* 7
* 8
* Great Aspirations
* The Greatest Living Englishman
* Take Away / The Lure of Salvage
* Through the Hill
* XTC: This Is Pop
* Planet England

Other topics|

* Discography
* The Dukes of Stratosphear
* Ian Reid
* Seagull Screaming Kiss Her Kiss Her (band)

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