Singles detailsDear God (Andy Partridge) a) Dear God / Big Day*
Notes The third and last single in Britain from the album Skylarking. "Big Day" is also from the same album. Some copies of the UK edition came with a postcard featuring the punctured hand picture on the front and the lyrics to "Dear God" on the back. b) Dear God; Big Day* / Another Satellite (BBC session) UK: 12", Virgin, VS 96012, 8/6/1987 [p/s; custom label design] c) Dear God 3.36; Homo Safari Series: No.1 Homo Safari 2.15; No.2 Bushman President 3.12; No.3 Egyptian Solution 5.13; No.4 Mantis on Parole 3.57; No.5 Frost Circus 3.53; No.6 Procession towards Learning Land 3.45 UK: CD5, Virgin, CDEP 3, 8/6/1987 [gatefold p/s] Note This CD collects all the Homo Safari Series tracks released hitherto. Later copies were packaged with a slimline CD case with artwork altered accordingly. d) Dear God / Grass* [edit] Canada: 7", Virgin/A&M, VS 1343, 1987 [no p/s] Notes Prompted by the escalating popularity of "Dear God" in North America, this is a reissue of the previous year's "Grass" b/w "Dear God," with the A- and B-sides reversed. Virgin Canada also reissued Skylarking, replacing "Mermaid Smiled" with "Dear God." e) Dear God / Mermaid Smiled USA: 7", Virgin/Geffen, 7-28394, 1987 [no p/s] Notes Geffen replaced "Mermaid Smiled" with "Dear God" on Skylarking, and repressed and reissued the album. "Dear God" was issued on 7" in its own right, with "Mermaid Smiled" on its B-side. f) Dear God (stereo) / Dear God (stereo) USA: 7", Virgin/Geffen, 7-28394, 1987 [promo; no p/s] g) Dear God; Extrovert / Earn Enough for Us; Grass* USA: 12", Virgin/Geffen, 0-20630, 1987 [Geffen generic die-cut cover] Recording Data "Dear God," "Mermaid Smiled," "Extrovert," "Earn Enough for Us," "Grass," and "Big Day" produced by Todd Rundgren for Alchemedia Productions. Recorded during the Skylarking sessions. String arrangement for "Dear God" by Dave Gregory with alterations and suggestions from Andy Partridge. The BBC live version of "Another Satellite" produced by Martin Colley and Jonathan Russle, and engineered by Frank Key. Originally transmitted from the BBC Maida Vale 3 Studio for the Sunday Live show on 22 February 1987. "Homo Safari" and "Bushman President" produced by Steve Lillywhite. Released as B-sides to the "Life Begins at the Hop" and "Making Plans for Nigel" singles, respectively. "Egyptian Solution" produced by Alan Winstanley and XTC. Released on the 12" version of the "Senses Working Overtime" single. "Mantis on Parole" produced by XTC. Released on the "Wake Up" single. "Frost Circus" and "Procession towards Learning Land" produced by XTC. Released on the 12" version of the "Great Fire" single. Songs composed by Andy Partridge and *Colin Moulding. A promotional video was produced for "Dear God." This video won the Best Concept prize at the 9th annual Billboard Video Awards. Trivia "Earn Enough for Us" was considered as the third single from Skylarking in Britain, but having seen "Dear God" climb up the North American charts, Virgin decided to release "Dear God" instead. May also be found on the album Skylarking May also be found on the album The Tiny Circus of Life (comp.) May also be found on the album Fossil Fuel: The XTC Singles 1977-92 (comp.) May also be found on the album Upsy Daisy Assortment: The Sweetest Hits (comp.) May also be found on the album The Greatest (comp.)
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