Chalkhills Digest Volume 1, Issue 321
Date: Monday, 24 January 1994
Chalkhills, Number 321
Monday, 24 January 1994
Today's Topics:
Bags Of Fun, All Right...!
Rolling Stone, January 27, 1994
Re: Chalkhills #320
Toothpicks? Fish?
Re: worst song discussion
Bull with Golden Guts tape
Those Pesky Last Lines
chalkhills bio/lists/xtcyclopedia
Re : Colin songs
Re: Chalkhills #320
Introduction
Re: Chalkhills #320
Re: ToDD (Chalkhills #320)
Aimee Mann on Conan O'Brien
[][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][] From: d.zemel@genie.geis.com Date: Fri, 21 Jan 94 04:54:00 BST Subject: Bags Of Fun, All Right...! At the request of at least one Chalkhillian, the lyrics for Bags Of Fun With Buster: "Who's that dragging what looks like a pink sack of spanners down the road? His swollen folly on a supermarket trolley to allieviate the load Testicular tomfoolery To the rescue of humanity It looks a lot of balls to me Fun and japes and merry frolics With Buster Gonad's bulbous bouncing... Bags of fun with Buster And his super scrotal cluster Who's that lad with his cobblers clad in a disguise of some form? When the cosmic power of a meteorite shower made them swell beyond the norm Now here he comes to save mankind His enormous nuts not far behind And they're not the salted kind He cures mutes and alcoholics When they first see his bulbous bouncing... Bags of fun with Buster And his super scrotal cluster There's bags of fun with Buster See them shine with evil lustre Buster! Watch out for that revolving door Ooh Buster! They look so incredibly sore Buster! Especially as you drag them through that powerful cleaning agent someone spilled upon the floor Ooh Buster! why do you let your sack swing so low? "Sax swing solo?" Yeah! Fun and japes and merry frolics With Buster Gonad's bulbous bouncing... Bags of fun with Buster And his super scrotal cluster Doctor Who could defeat the Daleks if he had Buster's swinging space age... Bags of fun with Buster And his double Sputnick thruster Bags of fun with Buster Just to stroke them would disgust her Bags of fun with Buster If she held them would you trust her? Bags of fun with Buster Loads more balls than General Custer Bags of fun with Buster Lots more scrots than you could muster" And the "B" side is entitled "Scrotal Scratch Mix" Honest!
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Date: Fri, 21 Jan 94 03:15:24 -0800
From: relph@presto.ig.com (John M. Relph)
Subject: Rolling Stone, January 27, 1994
Quoted from the "Random Notes" column, by Jancie Dunn:
It only looked impromptu when XTC's Andy Partridge
leaped onstage during Aimee Mann's show at New York
City's Bottom Line to sing "Collideascope". Says
Mann: "I figured once he heard me sing it and not do a
very good job, he'd push me out of the way and start
singing, which is pretty much what happened."
[][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][] Date: Fri, 21 Jan 94 10:12:37 PST From: Jon Drukman <jdrukman@us.oracle.com> Subject: Re: Chalkhills #320 OLIVER@slais.ubc.ca gives his Top 10 Colin Tunes: >The World Is Full of Angry Young Men > Another Colin song which noone else seems to like, and I think > it's great; one of his best lyrics, very perceptive about what > often happens to youthful cynics as they learn a bit about life. > I think it's XTC's most successful stab at a jazzy feel. love it. don't know about "most successful" (there are some strong contenders) but it's a really great song. someone else mentioned steely dan - right on. but about the rest of your top 10... well, at least you got "wake up" in there. :) Joe Lamy recommends: >- 10cc: yes, you heard me right. Check the bargain bins. absolutely, yes. don't just remember them as "that band that did I'm Not In Love." btw, godley & creme did some sterling work on their own as well - check out "Freeze Frame." 00balyon@leo.bsuvc.bsu.edu says: >>i was just wondering because recently i have heard of a hallucegenic (sp?) >>drug caleed xtc. > >correct me if i'm wrong, but i think the reason you've just heard of it >recently is because it is a recent drug (at least by that name). and (i'm >pretty sure on this one) the correct spelling for the the drug is ecstasy. xtc/ecstasy/mdma has been around since at least the early 1900s. it just wasn't popular as an underground club drug until the mid 80's. at which point, of course, they made it illegal. people still call it X or XTC (two alternative bands for the price of one!)... Mark_Colan.LOTUS@crd.lotus.com exclaims: >> It seems XTC often slight their guest >> singers this way (eg the little girl on Dear God). > >Goodness, I always thought that was a little boy! it is. Kevin Carhart <ukevc@mcl.mcl.ucsb.edu> disagrees: >Oliver said: >1993 was too depressing musically. > >Wow, I'm pretty surprised to hear you say that. New Mazzy Star, new Cocteau >Twins, new Kate Bush, new Morrissey and they all SUCKED. i was definitely bummed. >If you're waiting for more XTC, buy everything by all of the above, oh >and can I also mention Prefab Sprout, especially Jordan: The Comeback, >.... and the Monochrome Set just to get verbose................ Prefab Sprout are definitely awesome. Just beware that Jordan is a rather slick and sweet album. Not that I mind, but if you're looking for raw guitars, this ain't it. glickman@figaro.med.harvard.edu (Mark Glickman) speaketh: >> 2. Funk Pop A Roll (songs attacking popular music are usually the work of >> has-beens. glad to know that WASN'T the case here.) > >Oh my GOD!!!! This is the song that got me hooked on XTC forever. >How could anyone dislike a song that manages to use the word >"copiously" without shame?! :-) yup, one of my favorites as well. it's so nasty. Jon Drukman jdrukman%dlsun87@oracle.com ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- This calls for a very special blend of psychology and extreme violence.
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Date: 21 Jan 94 08:29:30 EST
From: Kyle Skrinak <70702.3054@compuserve.com>
Subject: Toothpicks? Fish?
Re: Steve Krause:
>>* On vocals, co-writing, and odd antics...one of Andy's few peers and a
potentially useful counterweight, Pere Ubu's David Thomas!
Hmmm, I love Pere Ubu, and David Thomas, but this tastes like
vanilla-onion-ketchup ice-cream to me. Loved the suggestions otherwise!
Re Mr. Ed: (condensed without permission:)
>>~ My vote for best album of 1993 goes to "Plants and Birds and Rocks and
Things" by Loud Family
>>~ His Name is Alive. Their "Home is in Your Head"
>>~ Pere Ubu. "Story of my Life"
Thank you, thank you, thank you.
Re: Pat Buzby
>>Some of my pix for bad songs :
>>3. Wait Till Your Boat Goes Down (no comment.)
>>4. almost anything else on Go 2.
Go on! Get outa here. ;-) I ~love~ this stuff! Actually, after reading the
Chaulkhills book, I've been endeared to "Wait till Your..." even more
Re: Voorhees
>>I keep seeing people who really get off on that throwaway, Dear Madam
Barnum. Go figger. I'll leave quickly to dodge all the electronically thrown
tomatoes:)
Forget tomatoes! I'm flicking boogers at you!!!! ;-)
Re: Oliver:
>>Is Dave secretly a great singer? Does Andy hate Colin's voice?
Yea, what's the deal on this?
Re: Walter Clark:
>>I always liked that one. In fact I think that Nonsuch is one of the better
albums...What's the problem?
I like Nonsuch too, I hate War Dance. These two points shouldn't be confused.
>>~ The Beautiful south
>>~ Concrete Blonde
>>~ The Beatles
>>~ R.E.M.
>>~ The Proclaimers
Wasn't one of the members of The Beautiful South in another band, who's name
escapes me at this moment, that was remarkably XTC-like? TBS had some great
promotional artwork for their last tour...
Who the hell are the Beatles? Actually, I burned out on the beatles in my
youth. Can't stand to listen to them as an adult. Perhaps its an age thing.
Please! All of you with strong opinions on other bands. More recommendations!
It's interesting to see that us XTC fans don't have generic musical tastes.
As if that were a surprise...
[][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][] From: mjm@cis.ufl.edu Subject: Re: worst song discussion Date: Fri, 21 Jan 94 15:54:18 EST I always thought that the guys had been generally following the "rule" that whoever wrote the song sings the lead vocal. But it sounds to me like Andy singing lead on "Wake Up" and "Too Many Cooks...". Are these exceptions to the rule, then?
[][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][] Date: Fri, 21 Jan 94 14:16:51 From: kpl@sybase.com (kevin patrick lynch) Subject: Bull with Golden Guts tape I'm looking for a phone number for Little Express, and/or information on "The Bull with the Golden Guts." I'd like to get a copy ASAP, and I have some XTC video, Jules Verne stuff that I can trade for a dub. Thanks, kpl@sybase.com
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Date: Fri, 21 Jan 94 14:38:53 PST
From: Chalkhills Administration <chalkhills-request@chalkhills.org>
Subject: Those Pesky Last Lines
Organization: Chalkhills Anonymous
And since you asked... Here is the list of Last Lines from the
Chalkhills Digests, and also, more importantly, where they came from!
Garden of Earthly Delights:
Welcome to a billion Arabian nights.
Just don't hurt nobody.
Don't hurt nobody 'less of course they ask you.
Hearts are built like rubber.
Gangway Electric Guitar (a demo, unreleased):
Gangway Electric...
Gangway electric guitar is coming through.
Gangway!
She just lifts up her skirts...
And pours down the truth on you.
Wait Till Your Boat Goes Down (the longest song title comprising
four-letter words):
A girl's best friend's not any consolation...
This is The End:
This is where the screen has led us all to.
A sign that says "Please Start Here Anew".
No hard feelings and no hard glands.
So here's where sweet and bitter rivers blend.
They won't drop Fat Boy on your town...
Brainiac's Daughter:
A splendid creme bun!
And I'm crazy for girls like that...
Then She Appeared:
All Edward leared.
Omnibus:
All of us take omnibus.
Make your Shakespeare harder.
You're The Wish You Are I Had:
And I made her drink a cup or two.
Goodbye Humanosaurus:
And that we spoke and threw a turd.
Mole From The Ministry:
And you shouldn't think me...
Go fuck yourself with your atom bomb.
Big Day:
Big day come and big day go...
Life goes on after the show...
But will your love have the fire and glow?
Like on the Big Day...
Are you deafened by the bells?
Sign on the dotted line.
Rip Van Ruben:
Asleep for a hundred minutes.
My Paint Heroes:
Barcelona, nuclear festive, wire women...
Here Comes President Kill Again:
Here comes President Kill again...
Broadcasting from his killing den.
Lets us vote someone like that in.
Sacrificial Bonfire:
Burn up the old...
Blue Beret:
But sharks made a meal out of him.
Don't kick your wife / Put down that knife.
No Language In Our Lungs:
But the words got in the way.
There is no language in our...
All Of A Sudden (It's Too Late):
But there's something missing in the middle.
Always Winter But Never Christmas:
Can't you hear the bells ringing out?
Countdown to Christmas Party Time (in case you couldn't tell):
Countdown to Christmas Party Time!
Rook:
Crow, crow / Spill all you know...
Is that my name on the bell?
Rook, rook, read from your book.
Psychadelic Christmas (from Geffen xmas promo disc):
Don't chainsaw your mother up.
Another Satellite:
Don't need another satellite.
Cairo? New Broom? The Rotary? I don't remember:
Down Down! Up Up! Down!
Danceband:
Heel to hell and toe to toe / In a 'Danceband'.
Extrovert:
I'm really burning, fit to boil up the sea.
Human volcano at a zillion degrees.
Dear God
I don't mean a big reduction in the price of beer.
When You're Near Me I Have Difficulty:
I have difficulty.
Red Brick Dream:
I heard the engine's dying breath.
Are You Receiving Me?:
I put it in a note, one night I wrote.
Just like the son of Sam.
Dear Madam Barnum:
I resign as clown.
Snowman:
I wait patiently, froze in history.
Mermaid Smiled:
I was lucky to remain beguiled...
Profession (a CUD song!):
I won't do your piecework.
Train Running Low on Soul Coal:
I'm a 30-year old puppy doing what I'm told.
Merely a Man:
I'm merely a man.
Seagulls Screaming Kiss Her, Kiss Her:
If you wait, November wins her.
Quicksilver (demo, not released):
In a pool of mercury.
Bungalow:
In the gorse, you shall be mine.
So we can fly away...
You wait and see.
The Rotary:
It's the rotary!
Zonked Right Out On Life:
Won't you bop on over Little Charlie...
It's za bees, za bows, zabaglio...
Rocket From a Bottle:
Jets should hide, I'll fly alongside.
Leisure:
Lazybones, look into the sun...
They can't teach me how to shirk correctly.
>From the intro to a live performance video of a song I don't remember:
Let's see you wriggle to this one...
Miniature Sun:
Man crashing down like a miniature sun.
What in the World?...:
Men are too bored, they're scrubbing floors.
Ariel (another CUD song):
Mermaids will take care of me.
Jason and The Argonauts:
Oh, my head is spinning like the world.
There may be no golden fleece...
Travels in Nihilon:
You've learnt no lessons...
There's no youth culture.
Only masks they let you rent.
We've seen, no Jesus come and gone.
Pearl (demo, unreleased):
Pearl oh Pearl, don't cloister yourself away.
The world's your oyster, come out to play.
Pink Thing:
Pink thing it's a whole new vibe.
Ra Ra for Red Rocking Horse:
Ra Ra for Red Rocking Horse.
Thanks for Christmas:
Santa's reindeer yawning now.
Thank you for the winter friendliness.
Thanks for Christmas!
Thanks for all the love and happiness.
She's So Square:
She's so square she's nowhere.
Chalkhills and Children (with intentional misspelling):
Some nonsuch net holds me aloft.
Wrapped in Grey:
Stand up naked and grin.
The Loving:
Strange trip.
The History of Rock and Roll:
Thank you and goodnight.
>from the Nonsuch promo written by Andy:
Thanks for the eartime.
My Love Explodes:
That's the most obscene abomination of a song!
1000 Umbrellas:
The Jesters will creep in.
The newly crowned monarch...
The Disappointed:
The disappointed All congregate at my house.
Woe.
Find The Fox:
The hunt is on to find the fox.
The Man Who Sailed Across His Soul:
The man who walked across his heart...
Warpaint (Happy Rhodes, from her album Warpaint):
The past is warpaint.
Books Are Burning:
The printed word is more than sacred.
You boys will tire of these games.
Pale and Precious:
The smell of the pinecones and the sea...
Hey Goosey Goosey:
The wisdom of the ancients in a box.
Pulsing Pulsing:
There's a beat in his arm still.
Obscene Procession:
They need their warfare to deflate 'em.
Whips and semen, adulterous confessions...
Season Cycle:
They're closing Winter down...
To Here Knows When (My Bloody Valentine, from Loveless):
To here knows when.
The Smartest Monkeys:
We're the smartest monkeys.
The Ballad of Peter Pumpkinhead:
Who'll pray for Peter Pumpkinhead?
Cynical Days:
You say it's just a passing phase...
Down a Peg:
You took me down, down, down a peg...
Holding the Baby (demo, unreleased):
You've been eclipsed by your own son.
Quoting from Chalkhills:
Zounds! A partridge forsooth!
**** Tha Police (NWA):
____ tha police!
Paper and Iron (Notes and Coins):
``I take home my notes and coins every week
I'm told I'm worth much more
but the Church says turn the other cheek''
[][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][] From: OLIVER@slais.ubc.ca Organization: SLAIS, UBC Date: 21 Jan 94 16:21:36 GM+5 Subject: chalkhills bio/lists/xtcyclopedia Me again. I've got a lot of homework to do and am avoiding it, hence my fixation on this list. Some reactions to stuff in Chalkhills #320: I'd agree with the person who commented that the XTC biography is pretty sketchy about the actual music. I would have liked to see a lot more specific commentary on how the songs get written and recorded other than just "Andy wrote all the songs for Mummer in the backyard" and "Andy kept telling Terry how to play the drums." The book does cover things like the Colonel or Three Wise Men singles quite well, explaining what these things are to the confused novice. But the discography is annoying; he doesn't even list the song on each album, though all the B-sides are chronicled thoroughly. After being somewhat flamed on the worst song list I have reexamined "Millions," "Deliver Us From The Elements" and "Roads Girdle the Globe" and will concede that there are likable things about each one, particularly the last. I stand by my other selections, however (and I forgot to put "The Meeting Place" on my list of Colin-faves). I too was appalled to see "Funk Pop A Roll" on someone's worst-list; that's a wicked track. I agree Peter Pumpkinhead is a bit simplistic but I think it's a fun song and a good album-opener; remember that it's a "Ballad" in the old sense of the word, and so has a repetitive structure and a narrative, hence the sing-along feel. I had an interesting idea that I probably would never be able to see through; what all XTC fans present and future need is an XTC song encyclopedia. This kind of thing has been done several times for the Beatles, and I think would be very interesting. It would list every song, including all the outtakes and demos, in alphabetical order, giving its location on albums and/or singles, and adding recording information, instrumentation, trivia, and comments from the band members and others about each song. This would answer a lot of questions and be fun reading. It would also take forever to produce. Any takers?
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Date: Sat, 22 Jan 1994 12:06:01 -0400 (EDT)
From: SPB0377@ocvaxa.cc.oberlin.edu
Subject: Re : Colin songs
Add me to the list of people who like "The World Is Full Of Angry Young
Men." Great song. The similarlity to "King Of The World" by Steely Dan was
mentioned; well, the first part of Colin's verse does use the same chord
progression as "King," but the songs are polar opposites in terms of attitude.
I love "King Of The World," too.
One favorite of mine that went unmentioned : "In Loving Memory of a Name."
Very nice. Also, "That is the Way."
Pat Buzby
Oberlin, OH
[][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][] Date: Sat, 22 Jan 1994 15:47:46 -0500 (EST) From: 00balyon@leo.bsuvc.bsu.edu Subject: Re: Chalkhills #320 could anyone tell me where the purchased and the price they paid for chalkhills and children. i have not seen it but then again i live in indiana. thanks ben 00balyon@bsuvc.bsu.edu
[][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][] From: suzanne182@aol.com Date: Sat, 22 Jan 94 18:12:08 EST Subject: Introduction The "Welcome to Chalkhills" message asked me to post a message introducing myself, so here goes: Female, married, aged 33, writer, XTC fan since the Seventies when I was a mere slip of a girl. As I child, I wanted to grow up to be Jean Shrimpton (or possibly Charlotte Rampling) and go live in Swinging London with John Lennon, but unfortunately something went very wrong and I came of age in the Reagan/Bush era. What a cruel blow! And John Lennon's gone now so my childhood dreams are well and truly crushed. I work in a nice software company but will soon be taking 1 or 2 years off with my husband to travel and have fun. Plan to emigrate to Ireland or at least base myself there. I read about Chalkhills in some "List of Lists" posting in Usenet news. Sorry, I forget which group, but it was something like "news.lists."
[][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][] Date: Mon, 24 Jan 94 12:27:20 MST From: jrcampbe@mines.utah.edu (James Robert Campbell) Subject: Re: Chalkhills #320 Joe Lamy brought up the band Jellyfish which has been mentioned here before as an XTC-ish band. This weekend while record-shopping I ran into a Jellyfish EP that had been designed circa early 60's ala the singles for 'Ball And Chain' and 'No Thugs In Our House'. The real kicker was that on the back of the CD, near the bottom, there was an advertisement for Charex record cleaner, sort of like XiTeC that was mentioned on the back of 'Ball And Chain', and is coveniently available in John's scanned images directory by FTP. I think I see some sort of connection here. --James
[][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][] From: McGowan_Jim/corp2_doc@t1 Date: Sun, 23 Jan 94 14:10:12 -0800 Subject: Re: ToDD (Chalkhills #320) Item Subject: Message text JoE (yeah, and I'm JiM) Silva writes: > In the Chalkhills bio, there's a photo of him doing backups on > 'Grass.' If you ever run into ToDD, I wouldn't broach the subject. Why? Does the no-love-lost feeling so frequently ascribed to Andy-on-Todd work in reverse? BTW, last Monday, January 17, the wife and I were all ready to head down to Fairfax High School to see Todd and his new multimedia-whatever-you-call-it show. It was, however, cancelled due to a minor seismic disruption earlier that day... - Jim McGowan jjm@qad.com
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Date: Mon, 24 Jan 94 11:40:30 PST
From: "John Relph" <relph@presto.ig.com>
Subject: Aimee Mann on Conan O'Brien
Unfortunately, I missed this one. Did anybody happen to tape the Conan
O'Brien show with Aimee Mann? It sure looks like Dave Gregory is in the
band for the show.
-- John
---------------
Subject: finally got to hear...
Date: Mon, 24 Jan 94 01:50:25 -0500
From: jeffy@syrinx.umd.edu
Later, the same evening, Aimee Mann appeared briefly on Conan O'Brien's
show and sang "Stupid" (or is that "Stupid Thing"). Aimee played bass, and
the two guitarists were the ones she's had on tour with her. I wasn't sure
if it was the same drummer or not. Nothing terribly new or exciting here,
but as a raving Aimee Man fan, it's nice to have...
Jeff
[][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][] For all administrative issues, such as change of address, withdrawal from the list, fan club addresses, discography requests (last update 21 January), back issues, FAQ list, etc., send a message to the following address: <chalkhills-request@chalkhills.org> The Chalkhills archives are available at "http://chalkhills.org/". The views expressed herein are those of the individual authors. The insect-headed worker-wife will hang her waspies on the line.
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