Chalkhills, Number 172

                 Thursday, 22 August 1991
Today's Topics:
                      skylarking cd.
           Re: Chalkhills #170 (Ermine Street)
    Re: Chalkhills #171 (WFMU Interview Transcription)
                    Signed Skylarking
                   for the discography
                     new item spotted
                         Tidbits
                   Re: Chalkhills #170

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Date: Tue, 20 Aug 1991 17:55 EST
From: "Thomas Covenant, waiting for the third chronicles"
Subject: skylarking cd.

Just what is the story with the cd of skylarking?
When I first bought this album back in 86, (on cassette)
it did not have the song "Dear God".  When I recently
perchased the CD, it had this song on it. (thank "god" for
that- its a brilliant song) I notice that there are in fact
Two versions of the CD.  One with D.G and one without.
Can someone explain what the story is here?

regards,
Tim O'Connor : T8800568@phillip.edu.au

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From: hvgtw!dhgpa!adkoning@hvlpb.att.com
Date: Tue, 20 Aug 91 09:41 MDT
Subject: Re: Chalkhills #170 (Ermine Street)

Tim Szeliga (snow@netcom.com) wrote in #170:
> Does anyone care to take a whack at
> explicating the lyrics of the chorus?
>
> "Bringing me back to rest
>  eternally and ever Ermine Street."

And I sort of expected a lot of responses to this. This morning, however, I
received #171 and no-one replied, so I'll try my bit.

I think the answer lies in the first line of the chorus:
"Chalkhills and children anchor my feet."

In the verses Andy describes having dreams ("Even I never know where I go,
when my eyes are closed") in which he goes higher and higher... until the
chalkhills and children bring him back to earth ("anchor his feet").

It could be he wakes up in the middle of the night from a child crying or
calling and he realizes that he's happy where he is and wouldn't want to be
anywhere else in the whole world (for those of you out there who don't have
children: yes, it is annoying if a child wakes up in the middle of the
night, but it can also bring up other emotions).

"Chalkhills" could stand for England, which could mean he doesn't want to
leave England to live anywhere else (some English artists move to the USA
to "make it there"; looks like he's no way going to do that).

"Bringing me back to rest, eternally and ever Ermine Street."
could mean that, although his mind takes him far away (in dreams), he's
living in "Ermine Street" (could be a nickname or an anagram, maybe it's an
image of England to him) and that's were he'll stay.

Hope this sounds like a logical explanation to at least someone...

--- Andre

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Date: Tue, 20 Aug 91 09:38:31 EDT
From: klm@cme.nist.gov (Ken Manheimer)
Subject: Re:  Chalkhills #171 (WFMU Interview Transcription)

Damn, i really love the interview transcriptions!  Thanks, Chalkhills,
thanks John, thanks mom (whoever's), thanks Woj (whatever u may
be)...

And a big resounding Yay fer Mr Partridge, 'cause he seems like such
an amiable and forthright fella.  Yahoo!

Ken
klm@cme.nist.gov, 301 975-3539

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Date:    Tue, 20 Aug 91 10:15 EDT
From: <MJG8@psuvm.psu.edu>
Subject: Signed Skylarking

Last week in a local record store there was a copy of the CD Skylarking that
had been signed by the three members of XTC.  The store manager (whom I
trust) says that the previous owner got it from the band at a record show in
NY.  I figured someone on this list would just die for it.  The cost was 25
bucks [if it's still there].  So if anybody wants it let me know and i'll buy
it and only charge you postage + $25.

Martin Gutowski                       Bitnet: mjg8@psuvm
Penn State University                 Internet: mjg8@psuvm.psu.edu

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Date: Tue, 20 Aug 91 09:46:17 CDT
From: rhb9805@usl.edu (Bird Rendell H)
Subject: for the discography

Fellow Chalkhillians--

I went to visit the local 'alternative music' DJ the other day (he
is only two buildings from where I work). They had just gotten in
a _Rag and Bone_ sampler. It had four tracks from R&BB. It was a CD5.

I thought the cover was attractive, and the disc is colored. I was
rather impressed. Dave [the DJ] played "Extrovert" just for me.

Dave will try to get it for me. Once the "newness" wears off. I think
it will make a nice addition (although I am FAR from a completist).

Then he played some ButtHold Surfers....well, we can't have
everything you know...   ;-)            (*Not that I am implying
the BHSers are not good...they just aren't XTC*)

Rendell

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Subject: new item spotted
From: Dances With Voles <jondr@sco.com>
Date: Tue, 20 Aug 91 10:11:28 PDT

I was at the KUSF Record Swap this weekend in San Francisco and I saw
lots of rare and exciting XTC items, none of which I really needed, or
could afford anyway...  First, there appears to be a brand new Geffen
radio promo CD-5 for Rag And Bone Buffet!  It has Extrovert, Heaven Is
Paved With Broken Glass, Blame The Weather and Respectable Street on
it.  It's in a cardboard sleeve, not a jewel box.  The sleeve was
quite pretty though and had nice artwork.  One table had it for $5,
but the guy right next to him was selling one for $10 so be careful if
you attempt to buy this.  Other items I saw: radio promo CD-5 for King
For A Day (just the one track on it - useless but I'd never seen it
before), Take This Town 7" single!!, original Go 2/Go + package (they
wanted $75 for it), the Look Look videotape, and lots of other
singles.  Quite a bonanza for collectors, which I'm not.  I just want
to have the songs, preferably on CD, and as far as I know, I've got
all the ones I want until the new album comes out...

Jon Drukman (love pantry)                       uunet!sco!jondr   jondr@sco.com
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Always note the sequencer - this will never let us down.

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Date: 20 Aug 91 14:16:11 EDT
From: Eric Singer <70323.3013@compuserve.com>
Subject: Tidbits

This is my first contribution to Chalkhills so IUm going to run off
about a few XTC tidbits on my mind:

1) There is this little squiggly sound that is found on the Dukes'
Chips From The Chocolate Fireball CD, inbetween the 25 O'Clock stuff
and Psonic Psunspot (that is, in between cuts 6-7).  I decided to sample
it and figure out what it was.  When you slow it down and play it
backwards, it is, interestingly enough, someone saying, "Hey go fuck
yourself with your atom bomb."  I think it might be Andy.

I had heard this sound before, played several times in a row, on a tape
of rare XTC stuff that a friend lent me.  Does anyone know what it was
on originally?

2) Does anyone out there have the "Johnny Japes & His Testicles" single
This is a single that XTC did anonymously, that was included in the
British comic, "Viz" 12/87 [VIZ 1].  The cuts are "Bags Of Fun With
Buster" & "Scrotal Scratch Mix".  I would love to get a tape of it.

3) Here's some rare/quasi-rare stuff I have that might be
of interest to others out in netland.  Email me about trading tapes of
your rare stuff for mine.

- Explode Together (import): includes all of GO+ (EP inc. w/ GO 2) and
Mr. Partridge Take Away: The Lure of Salvage; this is dub drivel from
Andy - not too good

- Dear God CD: with the entire Homo Safari series (1-6), a bunch of
instrumental cuts

- Black Sea Tour '81: a bootleg album from Hammersmith Odeon Feb. 1981,
good sound

- World War Three: another bootleg album, various locations 1979-80,
pretty good sound

- Acoustical Oranges & Lemons: Two 45's; live on KROQ-FM Los Angeles
5/29/89

Eric Singer
70323.3013@compuserve.com

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Date: Thu, 22 Aug 91 0:04:30 PDT
From: "John M. Relph" <relph@presto.ig.com>
Subject: Re: Chalkhills #170

Broadcasting live from Thomastown, Australia, here's ace reporter
Timothy O'Connor <t8800568@phillip.edu.au>:

>	Well I suppose I should start by indicating my fav XTC stuff.
>Basicly all of three albums: The big express,  Skylarking, and  Oranges &
>lemons.

Wow!  Another Chalkhead with a measure of taste!  After all, _The Big
Express_ is the best album XTC ever made (even if it did sell fewer
copies than _25 O'clock_).  "Wake Up": what an opener, I didn't know
Colin could write tunes that packed this much punch.  "Seagulls
Screaming...": tugs my heart, hey dude, go for it, or you'll lose it.
I know I've felt that way, and Andy puts it so well.  "Reign of
Blows": raw, hard edged, uncompromising, as befitting the lyrics, and
some great harmonica playing as well (Hey, Andy, play more
harmonica!).  "You're the Wish You Are I Had": where did he come up
with those lyrics?  I must have listened to this album almost every
day for at least six months after it was released (and probably drove
my then-girlfriend to distraction in the process).

Oh yeah, _Skylarking_ and _Oranges and Lemons_ aren't bad, either.

				. . .

I envy A.J. Fuller <fuller@andy.bgsu.edu> who says this:

>  These included an
>origianl Black Sea in the green bag and all (which I was excited to get
>finally!), and (perhaps of greater interest to you...) a promotional copy
>of the domestic CD of Rag & Bone Buffet along with a Geffen informational
>sheet describing the disc.  The CD is identical to the usual domestic
>pressing but with the word "PROMOTIONAL" stamped in red over the title
>on the CD itself.  Of more interest however is the info sheet that came
>with the disc...

I want it.  Now.  Heh heh.  I also want the radio promo 4-song CD
sampler that Geffen released.  If anybody out there finds either of
these, please let me know.

>"Since their emergence in 1978, XTC have remained among the most highly
>acclaimed, innovative, and consistently selling pop creators.  Now for
>the truly addicted and anal retentive fan, XTC have perpared a veritable
>smorgasbord of sound, _Rag_&_Bone_Buffet_.

So true.

>Andy Partridge talks about the tracks on _Rag_&_Bone_Buffet_:"

Jon Drukmaster and I agree that these comments (omitted here for
brevity) should be added to the _Rag & Bone Buffet_ CD booklet insert
available only from Chalkhills.  Call before midnight tonight.  I
don't know when I'll get 'round to it, but be patient.

>  This is my first post to the list although I heve been
>lurking here for quite a while, and I want to thank everyone, especially
>John, for all the great information and insights I have gained from
>reading the list!!!

You are welcome.  It's my pleasure.

				. . .

William H Stoner III <bilbo@cis.ohio-state.edu> says:

>Still hoping for a Bastard Sibling of Hard Blue Ray Head...

Oh yeah, that reminds me.  I was going to try to compile all of the
inner groove messages from XTC records.  Anybody care to chip in?

Here's the first: from _The Big Express_, it's "Bastard Son of Hard
Blue Rayhead".

	-- John

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May I introduce Oliver, our newest subscriber!

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---

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22 August 1991 / Feedback