Though most tribute albums aren't worth the cost of the packaging, A Testimonial Dinner deserves a listen simply because the artists involved appear to have been selected more for their love of XTC than for their MTV appeal. Spacehog's take on "Senses Working Overtime" captures the perky but warped pop sensibilities perfectly, while Sarah McLachlan's haunting acoustic version of "Dear God" is, even by Andy Patridge's admission, arguably better than the original. Ruben Blades' invigorating Latin spin on "The Man Who Sailed Around His Soul" is simply magical, and They Might Be Giants lend their quirky style to a cover of "25 O'Clock," a song originally recorded by XTC's side-project the Dukes of Stratosphear. To top it all off, even XTC shows up (disguised as Terry & the Lovemen) to contribute "The Good Things," a lilting, psychedelic track reminiscent of the Summer of Love's groovy, harmony-laden pop. With nary a dud to be found, A Testimonial Dinner is the rare tribute album that does its subjects proud. ~ Bret Love, All Music Guide
A Testimonial Dinner: The Songs of XTC
10/17/1995 | Thirsty Ear
All Music Guide Review
Track Listing
Credits
- Graham Maby
- Bass, Guitar
- Pierre Marchand
- Producer, Mixing
- Pat Mastelotto
- Drums
- Rob Miller
- Bass, Vocals (Background)
- Eddy Montalvo
- Conga
- Greg Reely
- Engineer
- Ellen Reid
- Vocals (Background)
- Brad Roberts
- Guitar, Vocals, Programming
- Dan Roberts
- Bass, Programming
- Jim Rondinelli
- Producer, Engineer
- Ed Roynesdal
- Producer, Mixing
- Erik Sanko
- Bass
- Chris Sharrock
- Drums
- Dave Sinclair
- Guitar (Electric)
- Phil Solem
- Guitar, Vocals, Producer
- Ed Thacker
- Mixing
- Gordon Townsend
- Drums, Vocals (Background)
- Angel Papo Vasquez
- Trombone
- Raymond Vega
- Flugelhorn
- Michael Vinas
- Arranger, Producer
- David Yazbek
- Producer, Liner Notes, Executive Producer
- The Verve Pipe
- Performer
- Terry
- Bass, Guitar, Vocals
- Michael Bosley
- Engineer, Mixing
- Mitch Dorge
- Drums, ?, Programming
- Graham Edwards
- Guitar (Bass)
- Brian Minato
- Bass (Electric)
- Spacehog
- Performer
- Tony Barrero
- Trumpet
- Donny Brown
- Drums, Vocals
- Doug Corella
- Percussion, Keyboards
- Johnny Cragg
- Drums
- Luke Doucet
- Guitar
- A.J. Dunning
- Guitar, Vocals
- George Gonzalez
- Bongos
- Camille Henderson
- Vocals (Background)
- Antony Langdon
- Guitar, Vocals
- Royston Langdon
- Guitar (Bass)
- Alan Sood
- Drums
- Richard Steel
- Guitar
- Brian Vander Ark
- Guitar, Vocals
- Brad Vander Ark
- Bass, Vocals
- John Walsh
- Trumpet
- Dann Wojnar
- Mixing
- Ray Vega
- Flugelhorn
- Duncan Stanbury
- Mastering
- Mark Droescher
- Artwork, Design
- Rubén Rodríguez
- Bass
- David Sinclair
- Guitar (Electric)
- Paul James
- Engineer
- Paul Mitchell
- Engineer, Mixing
- Crash Test Dummies
- Producer, Performer
- Sarah McLachlan
- Guitar, Vocals, Performer
- Parthenon Huxley
- Guitar, Vocals
- Danny Wilde
- Guitar, Producer, Vocals
- Freedy Johnston
- Guitar, Vocals, Performer
- Brian Doherty
- Drums
- Paul Angelli
- Mixing
- Steve Boyer
- Engineer
- Gary Burke
- Drums, Maracas
- Irwin Chusid
- Liner Notes
- Benjamin Darvill
- Harmonica
- John Diaz
- Engineer, Mixing
- Neil Dorfsman
- Engineer
- John Flansburgh
- Guitar, Vocals
- Bob Glaub
- Bass
- Don Heffington
- Drums
- Oscar Hernandez
- Piano, Brass Arrangement
- Michael Hofmann
- Producer
- Ralph Irizarry
- Timbales
- Renaldo Jorge
- Trombone
- Dave Kershaw
- Bass, Organ (Hammond), Mellotron, Bass (Acoustic)
- Greg Leisz
- Guitar, Guitar (Steel), Guitar (Electric), Mandolin, Guitar (Bass)
- John Linnell
- Keyboards, Vocals
- Rubén Blades
- Vocals, Performer, Executive Producer
- Joe Jackson
- Keyboards, Producer, Mixing, Vocals, Performer, Maracas
- The Rembrandts
- Performer
- They Might Be Giants
- Producer, Performer










