XL1

For the Volkswagen XL1 experimental car, see Volkswagen 1-litre car.

XL1 is the second solo album by Buzzcocks frontman Pete Shelley. It was released in 1983 and reached number 42 in the UK Albums Chart, remaining in that listing for four weeks.^[2] The single "Telephone Operator" charted at No. 66 in the UK Singles Chart, making it his biggest single release there.^[2] The original release was packaged with a computer program for the ZX Spectrum which displayed lyrics and graphics in time with the music.^[3]

XL1
Studio album by Pete Shelley
Released	May 1983
Recorded	1983
Studio	Genetic, London
Genre	New wave
Length	41:28 44:55 (with ZX Spectrum information locked groove)
Label	Genetic/Island
Producer	Martin Rushent, Pete Shelley
Pete Shelley chronology
Homosapien (1981) XL1 (1983) Heaven & the Sea (1986)

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
Allmusic	^[1]

XL1 had a different running order in the US and contained an edited version of "Many a Time". The original UK album was reissued on CD by Grapevine in 1999 and by Western Songs in 2006, both including two B-side "dub" mixes as bonus tracks.

Track listing

All tracks composed by Pete Shelley.

UK version

Side one

1. "Telephone Operator" – 3:14
2. "If You Ask Me (I Won't Say No)" – 4:20
3. "What Was Heaven?" – 5:04
4. "You Know Better Than I Know" – 5:04
5. "Twilight" – 3:08

Side two

1. "(Millions of People) No One Like You" – 4:07
2. "Many a Time" – 6:41
3. "I Just Wanna Touch" – 3:04
4. "You & I" – 3:00
5. "XL1" – 3:27
6. Z X Spectrum Code

1999/2006 CD bonus tracks

11. "Telephone Operator/Many a Time (Dub)" – 13:13
12. "If You Ask Me/No One Like You (Dub)" – 5:46

UK XL1 + Dub Mix Album cassette

Side one

1. "Telephone Operator" – 3:14
2. "If You Ask Me (I Won't Say No)" – 4:20
3. "What Was Heaven?" – 5:04
4. "You Know Better Than I Know" – 5:04
5. "Twilight" – 3:08
6. "(Millions of People) No One Like You" – 4:07
7. "Many a Time" – 6:41
8. "I Just Wanna Touch" – 3:04
9. "You and I" – 3:00
10. "XL1" – 3:27

Side two (dub mixes)

1. "Homosapien (Dub)"
2. "I Don't Know What It Is / Witness The Change (Dub)"
3. "Telephone Operator / Many a Time (Dub)"
4. "If You Ask Me (I Won't Say No) / No One Like You (Dub)"
5. Z X Spectrum Code

US version

Side one

1. "Telephone Operator" – 3:15
2. "Many a Time" – 4:18
3. "I Just Wanna Touch" – 2:54
4. "You Know Better Than I Know" – 4:48
5. "XL1" – 3:25

Side two

1. "(Millions of People) No One Like You" – 4:05
2. "If You Ask Me (I Won't Say No)" – 4:20
3. "You and I" – 3:01
4. "What Was Heaven?" – 5:05
5. "Twilight" – 3:12

Personnel

Musicians

• Pete Shelley
• Barry Adamson
• Jim Russell
• Martin Rushent

Technical

• Martin Rushent – co-producer
• Pete Shelley – co-producer
• Joey – computer visuals
• Mike Prior – photography
• Bruno Tilley – cover

Charts

Chart (1983)	Peak position
Australia (Kent Music Report)^[4]	55

References

1. XL1 at AllMusic
2. Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 495. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
3. Headen, Joey. "Story of XL1". Headen.com. Retrieved 16 March 2012.
4. Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 270. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.