Listener Crossword 4839: Solution Notes
Message by eXternal
Puzzle explanation
The letters replaced in the grid spelt out Calling Occupants of Interplan(et)ary Craft, the title (with ET omitted) of a song written by Canadian rock band Klaatu and originally released on their first album 3:47 EST in 1976. (The track was played to open night-time transmission of the pirate radio station Radio Caroline.) In 1977, American soft rock duo the Carpenters released their cover version, which reached the top 10 in the UK and Canada and charted at No 1 in Ireland. The letters ET (for extraterrestrial) were used to replace letters in row 12 of the grid, revealing THE CARPENTERS.
Clue explanations
Conventions: * = anagram, < = reversal
| No | Missing letter | Answer (changed letter) | Explanation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Across | |||
| 4 | POURPARLER | POURER around (PAR + L) | |
| 12 | (R)unlet | (C)ONDOS | CONDORS − R(unlet) |
| 13 | f(E)ast | REAT(A) | R + EAT + A |
| 15 | (S)ex | GRAND MA(L) | GRAND + MAL(e) |
| 16 | grip(P)ed | SCA(L)ELESS | LE in CLASSES * |
| 17 | Ant(E) | T(I)BET | BET after T(h)I(s) |
| 18 | h(E)ad | PI(N)-EYED | P(lant) + I + Y in NEED |
| 19 | (L)Abel | STA(G)ING | TAG in SING |
| 20 | CARIBE | CA + RIB + E(at) | |
| 23 | mis(U)sed | SL(O)SHIEST | (SLOES THIS) * |
| 27 | gen(E)t | HIPPI(C) | HIP + PIC |
| 30 | win(G)s | EN(C)ORED | (COR + ED) after E(verto)N |
| 32 | (I)mage’s | (U)NTURNS | UNIT − I(mage) + URNS |
| 35 | to(N) | TRO(P)E | T + ROPE |
| 36 | Act(I)on | STR(A)DDLES | (L(as)T + ADDRESS) * |
| 39 | loos(E) | ACTINIA(N) | I in CANTINA * |
| 40 | (C)hopped | THE(T)A | (ATE + HT) < |
| 41 | mo(N)ths | A(S)KERS | MASKERS − M |
| 42 | SESAME SEED | (SAME + SEE) in (SE + D) | |
| Down | |||
| 1 | Guinea(S) | GRI(O)TS | RIOT in GS |
| 2 | (C)old | CON(F)ETTI | (IT OFTEN + C) * |
| 3 | INDABAS | IN + DAB + AS | |
| 5 | T(O)ries | O(I)SE | (T)O(r)I(e)S (t)E(a) |
| 6 | To(R)e | (N)ARE | RAN < + E |
| 7 | bu(S)t | PHA(T)IC | P + (I CHAT) * |
| 8 | (D)on | RE(E)DER | homophone of READER |
| 9 | braw(L) | (R)AMMY | RAM + M(ulberr)Y |
| 10 | bun(G) | ÉTA(P)E | E + TAP + E(mergency) |
| 11 | (D)ire | RESI(L)ED | (I + ELDER’S) * |
| 14 | mat(E) | SP(A)LL | S + L(ino) after PAL |
| 15 | (S)ay | GLEN(N) | GLEAN + N − A |
| 21 | BIEN-ÊTRE | NET in BIER + E | |
| 22 | KHILATS | (SILK HAT) * | |
| 24 | cod(E) | INDI(A) | 2 meanings |
| 25 | (D)evil | SOR(R)A | SO + RR + A |
| 26 | Be(D) | TROLLE(Y) | YET < around ROLL |
| 28 | PUNICA | (PAN + (j)UIC(y)) * | |
| 29 | (R)allies | ENTI(C)E | APPRENTICE − (APP + R(allies)) |
| 31 | Remain(D)er | (R)ESIST | IS in REST |
| 33 | pa(I)n | N(A)CHE | (veniso)N + ACHE |
| 34 | (T)Old | (F)ATES | homophone of FÊTES |
| 37 | (P)Shaw | RA(T)S | STAR < |
| 38 | DONE | homophone of DUN | |