Generals and Majors

"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".[2] 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.

"Generals and Majors"
Single by XTC
from the album Black Sea
B-side"Don't Lose Your Temper"
ReleasedAugust 1980
Recorded1980
GenrePost-punk[1]
Length4:05
LabelVirgin
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

The track was initially released as a double 7" single with a gatefold sleeve, limited to 15,000 copies.[3] The additional record featured Moulding's "Smokeless Zone" and Partridge's "The Somnambulist".

Music video

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."[4]

Personnel

XTC

Charts
Charts (1980) Peak
position
Australia (Kent Music Report)[5] 24
Canadian Single Chart[6] 92
New Zealand Single Chart[7] 16
UK Singles Chart[8] 32
US Billboard Bubbling Under Hot 100[9] 104
US Billboard Album Rock Tracks 28

References
  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. Bernhardt, Todd (29 December 2008). "Song of the Week -- Colin's take". Chalkhills.
  3. "Chalkhills: XTC Discography: Singles and EPs". Chalkhills.org. Retrieved 31 December 2017.
  4. Pierson, Pat (September 2007). "Permanent Bliss: The Immutable Pleasures of XTC". Filter.
  5. Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992. St Ives, NSW: Australian Chart Book. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
  6. "Results - RPM - Library and Archives Canada". Collectionscanada.gc.ca. Archived from the original on 15 December 2013. Retrieved 31 December 2017.
  7. Hung, Steffen. "charts.nz - New Zealand charts portal". charts.nz. Retrieved 31 December 2017.
  8. "XTC - full Official Chart History - Official Charts Company". Officialcharts.com. Retrieved 31 December 2017.
  9. "XTC - Biography, Albums, Streaming Links". AllMusic. Retrieved 31 December 2017.
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