Upsy Daisy Assortment is a U.S.

United States

The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...

-exclusive compilation by XTC

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:...

, released after Geffen Records

Geffen Records

Geffen Records is an American record label, owned by Universal Music Group, and operated as one third of UMG's Interscope-Geffen-A&M label group.-Beginnings:...

 declined to distribute the 1996 double-disc Fossil Fuel: The XTC Singles 1977-1992

Fossil Fuel: The XTC Singles 1977-1992

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 1987's The Compact XTC. It collects all thirty-one of their Virgin Records UK singles in chronological order...

.

It is perhaps their first compilation to be considered a Best of as it includes album tracks "Funk Pop a Roll", "Seagulls Screaming Kiss Her Kiss Her", "Earn Enough for Us" and "Chalkhills and Children" in addition to their better-known singles.

The cover art is a reproduction of a vintage 1945 travel poster called "Holidays in Switzerland" by Donald Brun.

Track listing

All songs written by Andy Partridge

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...

, except where noted.

1. "Life Begins at the Hop
   Life Begins at the Hop
   "Life Begins at the Hop" is a single by XTC released in 1979. Their fifth single, it was the first indication of a change in their late-seventies sound from urgent post-punk to power pop. As their sound changed, so too did their line-up as keyboardist Barry Andrews was replaced by second guitarist...
   
   " (Colin Moulding
   Colin Moulding
   Colin 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...
   
   ) – 3:47
2. "Making Plans for Nigel" (Moulding) – 4:12
3. "Generals and Majors" (Moulding) – 3:41
4. "Respectable Street" – 3:07
5. "Senses Working Overtime
   Senses Working Overtime
   "Senses Working Overtime" is a single by XTC released in 1982. It is at once the apogee of their early-eighties British popularity as well as their last gasp of mainstream success in their homeland...
   
   " – 4:34
6. "Ball and Chain" (Moulding) – 4:29
7. "No Thugs in Our House" – 5:10
8. "Love on a Farmboy's Wages" – 3:59
9. "Funk Pop a Roll" – 3:14
10. "This World Over" – 4:45
11. "Seagulls Screaming Kiss Her, Kiss Her" – 3:50
12. "Grass" (Moulding) – 2:42
13. "Dear God
    Dear God (XTC song)
    "Dear God" is a song on XTC's 1986 album Skylarking. It was not a part of the original Skylarking album, but after DJs across America picked up the song, Geffen Records decided to replace "Mermaid Smiled" with "Dear God." The song was inspired by a series of books with the same title, seen by...
    
    " – 3:37
14. "Earn Enough for Us" – 2:54
15. "Mayor of Simpleton" – 3:57
16. "King for a Day" (Moulding) – 3:36
17. "Chalkhills and Children" – 4:56
18. "The Disappointed" – 3:38
19. "The Ballad of Peter Pumpkinhead
    The Ballad Of Peter Pumpkinhead
    "The Ballad of Peter Pumpkinhead" is a single by XTC from their 1992 album Nonsuch. It was the band's second #1 hit on the Modern Rock Tracks chart. The song was covered and released as a single by Crash Test Dummies in 1995 for the soundtrack to the film Dumb and Dumber...
    
    " – 5:03