1982 Songs: Senses Working Overtime
By Four Walls
@FourWalls (86575)
United States
July 17, 2022 10:46am CST
Rain! Hooray! Some areas are now in the “severe drought” category (although around here, those are usually short-term descriptors), so the rain is a blessing. You know what else is a blessing? Great music! Here’s another song from forty years ago….and one that almost made the top ten list.
Senses Working Overtime - XTC
Man, I love this song. The British trio’s only UK hit, believe it or not, is this happy little ditty.
This was my introduction to XTC. A friend of mine owned a record store named after this band (Ear X-tacy), that’s how much he loved the band. They didn’t tour much because front man Andy Partridge had a panic attack onstage one night, and that was the end of that.
But they made plenty of great albums. And some of the best post-punk pop around.
Senses Working Overtime
Written by Andy Partridge
Recorded by XTC
From English Settlement, 1982
(Today’s 1972 song: “Stay With Me”)
Trying to take this all in:
RewardsTop suggestions for senses working overtime xtcXTCBandSenses Working OvertimeWorking OvertimeSongTop suggestions for senses working overtime xtcXTCBandWorking OvertimeSongXTC Senses Working OvertimeLiveXTCTop SongsXTC Senses Working OvertimeReaction
5 people like this
6 responses
@much2say (57760)
• Los Angeles, California
18 Jul 22
I watched this just now . . . and initially I thought I didn't know this one. But once it got to the chorus part - ah - yep, I remembered . . . I have not heard this in years. Maybe it wasn't played a lot? Was this a one hit wonder kinda thing?
1 person likes this
@much2say (57760)
• Los Angeles, California
19 Jul 22
@FourWalls I seem to recall hearing this on our KROQ station - hits of the 80s - my peers who listened to this station were mostly not into the Top 40 pop kinda stuff. I found "Mayor of Siimpleton" on YouTube . . . I don't think I heard this one.
1 person likes this
@FourWalls (86575)
• United States
18 Jul 22
XTC was primarily a “college” or “underground” favorite in America. This wasn’t a commercial hit but it did get a lot of airplay with the college rock set. Their one hit in the US was “Mayor of Simpleton” in 1989.
1 person likes this
@DaddyEvil (174208)
• United States
17 Jul 22
I don't remember this one.
We got some nice showers last night and again this morning. We need more, though.
1 person likes this
@FourWalls (86575)
• United States
18 Jul 22
The Cardinals game was postponed because of rain in St. Louis today. Yesterday they said the temperature at game time was a “nice 99 degrees.” 
We had plenty of rain today but it’s that “tropical” humidity feel, where it’s almost evaporating before it hits the ground. Ick.
And who are you kidding? You don’t remember any song! 
(In all seriousness, I do appreciate you stopping by, even though music isn’t your forte.)
We had plenty of rain today but it’s that “tropical” humidity feel, where it’s almost evaporating before it hits the ground. Ick.
And who are you kidding? You don’t remember any song! (In all seriousness, I do appreciate you stopping by, even though music isn’t your forte.)1 person likes this
@DaddyEvil (174208)
• United States
18 Jul 22
@FourWalls 
I like talking with you, so other than your vacation trips, music discussions are pretty much what you write.
Hey! I've known two of them this month alone! 
I like talking with you, so other than your vacation trips, music discussions are pretty much what you write.
Hey! I've known two of them this month alone! 1 person likes this
@FourWalls (86575)
• United States
17 Jul 22
“Hey, hey, what can I say, there’s more songs for the countdown and the innocents can all live safely, all live safely….”
As usual, I’ll see you at the 1972 song for a nope (although you may know that one).
As usual, I’ll see you at the 1972 song for a nope (although you may know that one). 1 person likes this
@LindaOHio (222285)
• United States
18 Jul 22
I don't know this song or this group. Our brown grass finally got some rain!
1 person likes this
@FourWalls (86575)
• United States
18 Jul 22
We got over our “brown streak” a week or so ago. But it was very brown. The clover was almost black! 
1 person likes this
@FourWalls (86575)
• United States
17 Jul 22
It was one of those songs I didn’t know the title to, but knew that “one, two, three, four, five” bit quite well. I do like “Mayor of Simpleton” better, but that was, I think, ‘88 or ‘89. And hey, can’t win ‘em all! 
1 person likes this
@porwest (112717)
• United States
17 Jul 22
@FourWalls Sometimes sharing even the obscure is good. You never know what gems may have been forgotten, and if they get remembered, it could bode well for some of these now nursing home resident musicians as they could wind up getting paid for a few extra spins on my Spotify playlists. lol
1 person likes this
@58lordstreet (1668)
•
17 Jul 22
I was thinking you got it wrong (I should have known better lol) turned out I was thinking of INXS, I do remember that song though
1 person likes this
@FourWalls (86575)
• United States
18 Jul 22
INXS did have a similar “jangling pop/rock” sound to them, didn’t they.
