Musical Chairs

a cryptic puzzle by Emily Cox and Henry Rathvon

Explanation only + Answers + Grid entries
Solution grid

Across

  • 1.
    (m)ARCHERS
  • 7.
    lorry (homophone of Lorre)
  • 11.
    CO(mm)ERCE
  • 13.
    LAPSE (homophone of laps)
  • 15.
    RADIO (anag.)
  • 16.
    MANACLE (hidden )
  • 17.
    G-ROVEL (anag. + y)
  • 18.
    W-EIRD (anag. + w)
  • 20.
    VISORED (anag.)
  • 22.
    ROSE (double def.)
  • 23.
    MINDS (double def.)
  • 25.
    s(i)MlLE
  • 28.
    M-ACE
  • 30.
    replete (anag. without a, p)
  • 32.
    STAND (double def.)
  • 34.
    A-LARUM (mural rev.)
  • 36.
    (s)MAL(l)-LARD
  • 37.
    RAG-AS
  • 38.
    SE(A)TS
  • 39.
    RESORT (pun)
  • 40.
    T-EASE
  • 41.
    GUESSED (homophone of guest)

Down

  • 2.
    roamer (hidden)
  • 3.
    SPICE-D (anag. + d)
  • 4.
    (up)RIGHT
  • 5.
    REM-(l)OVE(r)
  • 6.
    SLA-VI-C
  • 7.
    LANES (anag. without y)
  • 8.
    OP(tic)AL
  • 9.
    relied (pun)
  • 10.
    M-ELODY (anag. + m)
  • 11.
    CROWNS (double def.)
  • 12.
    R-E-CORDS
  • 14.
    CORNETS (double def.)
  • 19.
    ROLL (homophone of role)
  • 21.
    TONIC (double def.)
  • 22.
    RI(P)PLE (anag . + p)
  • 23.
    ME-A-SURE
  • 24.
    SAD-IST (anag.)
  • 26.
    BASEMEN (hidden)
  • 27.
    GUITARS (anag.)
  • 28.
    DRU(M)MER (anag. + m)
  • 29.
    FANFARE (pun)
  • 30.
    MET-RIC
  • 31.
    E-LATE
  • 33.
    ARGOS (hidden )
  • 34.
    ALAS (saliva rev. without i and v)
  • 35.
    MASS (double def.)