Listener Crossword 4750: Solution Notes
I Want You by Twin
Puzzle explanation
All clues included one or more song or album titles by Bob Dylan. The first letters of the extra words spelt out “Dylan’s tenth album; every second unchecked cell”. Therefore the X referred to in the preamble meant Self Portrait (Dylan’s 10th studio album). Alternate unchecked letters in the grid (shown in red in the completed grid here) spelt “cut out grid, submit frame with your X”, so solvers were required to submit a “self-portrait” instead of the completed grid. Any form of portrait was accepted.
Clue explanations
Conventions: * = anagram, < = reversal
| No | Extra word | Answer | Explanation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Across | |||
| 1 | (D)esolation | CIRCLE | 2 meanings |
| 5 | (Y)es | PRUNER | PER around RUN |
| 10 | (L)egal | EDEMA | STEAMED * − ST |
| 12 | (A)ccompaniment’s | STEP ON | P in NOTES * |
| 13 | (N)it-pickers | LAGS | 2 meanings |
| 14 | (S)treet | TANNIN | ((Posi)TI(vely) + (Dig)N(ity) + N(ight) A(fter) N(ight)) * |
| 16 | (T)hings | AFFORD | (FAD FOR) * |
| 17 | (E)ating | BOLETUS | (TO(mbstone) + BLUES) * |
| 19 | (N)ational | PUCE | U in PC + (Kettl)E |
| 21 | (T)racks | STUPIDS | (PUT + DISS) * |
| 24 | (H)imself | DABBLER | BB in (DEAR + L(andlord)) * |
| 27 | (A)dds | ALTO | (A LOT) * |
| 29 | (L)ike | SAMNITE | A in (STONE I’M − O) * |
| 31 | (B)lasting | PECTIN | PET around C + (M)IN(e) |
| 33 | (U)nlikely | OMASAL | O(h) M(ercy) A(nd) S(aved) A(re) L(essons) |
| 34 | (M)ozambique | YAGI | (I + GAY) < |
| 35 | (E)ight | APOGEE | PA < + O’ + (Ni)G(ht) (spelt out) |
| 36 | (V)erse | EULER | (RUE around EL) < |
| 37 | (E)xpecting | SNORER | (Dream)S NO RE-R(elease) |
| 38 | (R)ecording | ANNEXE | (NE(w) + X) in ANE |
| Down | |||
| 1 | (Y)ours | CELEBS | CBS around ((th)E + L + E(motionally)) |
| 2 | (S)ong | REGALE | (IN THERE − IN THE) + GALE |
| 3 | (E)xtra | LAUF | (Dy)L(an) (w)A(s) (p)U(t) (o)F(f) |
| 4 | (C)ountry | ESPOUSE | E + SOUSE around P(ie) |
| 6 | (O)nly | READ OUT | (TOUR DATE) * − T |
| 7 | (N)ote | NONI | (IN ON − I) + I |
| 8 | (D)isc | ENIAC | HURRICANE * − HURR(y) |
| 9 | (U)sual | RONDES | SEÑOR * around D |
| 11 | (N)eglecting | DAGOBA | (Worl)D + AGO + BA(d) |
| 15 | (C)urses | NIPPON | NONI * around PP; ref. 7dn |
| 18 | (H)azel | EMBOWS | ME < + BOWS |
| 20 | (E)ternal | À LA PAGE | A + LAP + AGE |
| 22 | (C)hords | TRACHEA | TR + ACHE + A |
| 23 | (K)eeps | DOTAGE | DOGE around ((Dyl)A(n) + T) < |
| 24 | (E)ntitled | DADOES | ODE * in SAD < |
| 25 | (D)eath | FINALE | ALE after F(inishing) I(s) N(ot) |
| 26 | (C)hanging | RETIRE | RE + IR in T(h)E |
| 28 | (E)veryone’s | LEMAN | (LEANS − S) around M |
| 30 | (L)iking | CAPO | CA + OP < |
| 32 | (L)ove | THEN | THO’ − O + EN(d) |