On Returning (1977–1979)

On Returning (1977–1979) is a compilation album by English rock band Wire. It was released in 1989 and comprises recordings of the band from 1977 to 1979 (the albums Pink Flag, Chairs Missing and 154, which are also each represented graphically on the album cover), and is seen as the band's first "best of" album, complemented four years later by 1985–1990: The A List which is the "best of" of the band's second era. The album is named after the band's track "On Returning" which closes the album, originally released on the band's third album 154 (1979).

On Returning (1977–1979)
Compilation album by Wire
Released	1989 (1989)
Recorded	1977–1979
Genre	Post-punk art punk punk rock
Length	74:31 (CD)
Label	Restless
Producer	Mike Thorne
Wire compilation album chronology
''On Returning (1977–1979)'' (1989) The Peel Sessions Album (1989)

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic
Robert Christgau	A
NME	8/10

CD track listing

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"12XU"	Bruce Gilbert, Robert Gotobed, Graham Lewis, Colin Newman	1:56
2.	"It's So Obvious"	Gilbert, Gotobed, Lewis, Newman	0:52
3.	"Mr. Suit"	Gilbert, Gotobed, Lewis, Newman	1:25
4.	"Three Girl Rhumba"	Gilbert, Gotobed, Lewis, Newman	1:24
5.	"Ex Lion Tamer"	Gilbert, Gotobed, Lewis, Newman	2:18
6.	"Lowdown"	Gilbert, Gotobed, Lewis, Newman	2:27
7.	"Straight Line"	Gilbert, Gotobed, Lewis, Newman	0:46
8.	"106 Beats That"	Gilbert, Gotobed, Lewis, Newman	1:13
9.	"Strange"	Gilbert, Gotobed, Lewis, Newman	3:58
10.	"Reuters"	Gilbert, Gotobed, Lewis, Newman	3:02
11.	"Field Day for the Sundays"	Gilbert, Gotobed, Lewis, Newman	0:29
12.	"Champs"	Gilbert, Gotobed, Lewis, Newman	1:47
13.	"Feeling Called Love"	Gilbert, Gotobed, Lewis, Newman	1:22
14.	"I Am the Fly"	Lewis, Newman	3:07
15.	"Dot Dash"	Lewis, Newman	2:24
16.	"Practise Makes Perfect"	Gilbert, Newman	4:06
17.	"French Film Blurred"	Lewis, Newman	2:35
18.	"Another the Letter"	Gilbert, Newman	1:08
19.	"I Feel Mysterious Today"	Lewis, Newman	1:56
20.	"Men 2nd"	Lewis	1:42
21.	"Marooned"	Gilbert, Lewis, Newman	2:20
22.	"Sand in My Joints"	Lewis	1:51
23.	"Outdoor Miner"	Lewis, Newman	2:51
24.	"A Question of Degree"	Lewis, Newman	3:11
25.	"I Should Have Known Better"	Lewis	3:50
26.	"Two People in a Room"	Gilbert, Newman	2:09
27.	"Blessed State"	Gilbert	3:28
28.	"The Other Window"	Gilbert, Lewis	2:09
29.	"40 Versions"	Gilbert	3:28
30.	"A Touching Display"	Lewis	6:55
31.	"On Returning"	Newman	2:06

LP track listing

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"12XU"	Bruce Gilbert, Robert Gotobed, Graham Lewis, Colin Newman	1:56
2.	"It's So Obvious"	Gilbert, Gotobed, Lewis, Newman	0:52
3.	"Mr. Suit"	Gilbert, Gotobed, Lewis, Newman	1:25
4.	"Three Girl Rhumba"	Gilbert, Gotobed, Lewis, Newman	1:24
5.	"Ex Lion Tamer"	Gilbert, Gotobed, Lewis, Newman	2:18
6.	"Lowdown"	Gilbert, Gotobed, Lewis, Newman	2:27
7.	"Strange"	Gilbert, Gotobed, Lewis, Newman	3:58
8.	"Reuters"	Gilbert, Gotobed, Lewis, Newman	3:02
9.	"Feeling Called Love"	Gilbert, Gotobed, Lewis, Newman	1:22
10.	"I Am the Fly"	Lewis, Newman	3:07
11.	"Practise Makes Perfect"	Gilbert, Newman	4:06
12.	"French Film Blurred"	Lewis, Newman	2:35
13.	"I Feel Mysterious Today"	Lewis, Newman	1:56
14.	"Marooned"	Gilbert, Lewis, Newman	2:20
15.	"Sand in My Joints"	Lewis	1:51
16.	"Outdoor Miner"	Lewis, Newman	2:51
17.	"A Question of Degree"	Lewis, Newman	3:11
18.	"I Should Have Known Better"	Lewis	3:50
19.	"The Other Window"	Gilbert, Lewis	2:09
20.	"40 Versions"	Gilbert	3:28
21.	"A Touching Display"	Lewis	6:55
22.	"On Returning"	Newman	2:06

Personnel

Wire

• Bruce Gilbert – guitar
• Robert Gotobed – drums
• Graham Lewis – bass guitar, vocals
• Colin Newman – guitar, vocals

Production

• Bruce Gilbert – design
• Jon Savage – compilation producer, liner notes
• Mike Thorne – producer

External links

• On Returning (1977–1979) at Discogs (list of releases)