Apple Venus, Volume 1

Apple Venus Volume 1 is the thirteenth studio album by the English rock band XTC, released in February 1999. It was the first on the band's own Idea Records label through Cooking Vinyl and distributed in the United States by TVT Records. Peaking at #42 in the UK, the album features self-described "orchustic" (orchestral and acoustic) arrangements. It came seven years after the group's previous LP Nonsuch (1992), in which time songwriters Andy Partridge and Colin Moulding had amassed a large stockpile of material. The album was the last to include Dave Gregory as a member of the band. He departed during the recording sessions — as did producer Haydn Bendall. In late 1999, XTC released Homespun, which contains demos from Apple Venus. This was followed in 2002 with Instruvenus, containing the backing tracks of Apple Venus. In 2003, Mojo ranked Apple Venus at number 47 in its list of the "Top 50 Eccentric Albums". The album was included in the book 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die.