Go 2 is the second studio album by the English band XTC, released 6 October 1978 on Virgin Records. The United Kingdom version contained no singles, but the American and Canadian versions included the single "Are You Receiving Me?" released on 27 October 1978 along with a music video produced for the song.
It is the final XTC album to feature keyboardist Barry Andrews, who went on to form Shriekback.
Background
By August 1978, XTC were prepared to record their follow-up to White Music. The band had contacted Brian Eno to produce after they learned that he was a fan, but he declined, telling them that they were good enough to produce themselves. Virgin rejected Eno's advice, and the group instead returned to Abbey Road with producer John Leckie. The "2" was added by Andrews. Its cover was designed and executed by Hipgnosis, and the cover consists of an essay about how album covers are used to attract potential buyers of the album. On the first British pressings of the LP version of the Go 2 album, the track listing on the vinyl disc label mimicked the type style of the cover art. The label is crammed full of text. In some non-English speaking countries, the group shot that was featured on the album's inner sleeve in the UK was used instead as the album cover. The French 13-track album, including the bonus track "Are You Receiving Me?", was one of the releases that featured this sleeve. Yugoslavia was another country that issued this version of the sleeve.
The essay would change depending on the medium (vinyl or CD) and label (Virgin, Epic or Geffen) the album was released on. A separate essay was prepared for cassette editions in the UK.
Release and Go+
Go 2 was released in October 1978 to positive reviews and a number 21 chart peak.
| rev2 = Chicago Tribune
| rev2score =
| rev3 = Christgau's Record Guide
| rev3score = B−
| rev4 = Pitchfork
| rev4score = 6.9/10
| rev5 = Q
| rev5score =
| rev6 = The Rolling Stone Album Guide
| rev6score =
| rev7 = Sounds
| rev7Score =
| rev8 = Spin Alternative Record Guide
| rev8score = 7/10
Like White Music, Go 2 was given praise in Sounds, Melody Maker, and the NME. The Nottingham Evening Post wrote that "there's a wider range of experimentation, less instrumental clutter and a hatful of unpredictable twists," and noted that the hooklines are "just as tricksily devastating."
Track listing
- CD issues prior to 2001 placed the bonus track between tracks 5 and 6 on side one of the album.
Go+
Bonus EP included with initial LP pressings – later included on Explode Together: The Dub Experiments 78-80. Track notes adapted from XTC: Song Stories (1998), by XTC and Neville Farmer.
Personnel
XTC
- Andy Partridge – guitars and vocals
- Colin Moulding – bass and vocals
- Barry Andrews – Crumar organ, Farfisa organ, Wurlitzer electric piano, Minimoog, Clavinet, grand piano, vocals and saxophone
- Terry Chambers – drums and vocals
Additional personnel
- John Leckie – production/engineering
- Martin Rushent – associate production (uncredited)
- Haydn Bendall – engineering assistance (Abbey Road unit)
- Pete James – assistant engineer (Abbey Road unit)
- Andy Llewelyn – engineering assistance (Matrix unit)
- Jess Sutcliffe – engineering assistance (Matrix unit)
- Dave Eagle – photography
- Hipgnosis – cover artwork
Charts
{| class="wikitable"
!Chart (1978)
!Peak<br> position
|-
|Australia (Kent Music Report)
|align="center"|93
|-
|United Kingdom (Official Charts Company)
|align="center"|21
|}