Chalkhills Digest Volume 1, Issue 452
Date: Saturday, 1 July 1995
Chalkhills Digest, Number 452
Saturday, 1 July 1995
Today's Topics:
Nicely,Nicely Jane
One Song...
Sports Illustrated and XTC
Another producer suggestion.....
One Song Backyard Concert
XTC and PUNK
A Respectable Remix
XTC/Punk Fans, Not *That* Question Again!
Re: Barry's trouser trout
BBC Live concert
Re: Barry's trouser trout
XTC movie
Eno's thoughts on producers...
Hollywood Beckons ?
Neil Finn & XTC
Respectable & Bulbous
TLE!
an idle musing (sorry, it mentions an ex-Beatle)
1980 Live in Concert CD
Ye Olde Card Game NONSVCH & Geffen/DGC Homeruns
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Lying beside me like a parcel of fat.
---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Thu, 29 Jun 1995 12:37:56 +0200 From: sellheim@zfn.uni-bremen.de (Erich Sellheim) Subject: Nicely,Nicely Jane Hello everyone, recently someone wrote in who had troubles with the last line of "Susan Revolving";well,I couldn't make out the very last word,but I think the last two lines start like that: The whole world is fawning Right in front of .... I guess the word "her" would be the most logical,but somehow Andy seems to sing something different(perhaps he hadn't even completed the lyric as the song stops there). Anyway,I have the words of another Dukes demo song,Nicely,Nicely Jane. Here they are: Nicely,nicely Jane whiles away her hours Nicely,nicely Jane,cutting heads from flowers No one knows why she does this No one knows why she's vague and hazy Except once she was jilted And that made the girl a trifle crazy Nicely,nicely Jane whiles away her hours Nicely,nicely Jane,cutting heads from flower children By the way,does anyone know what Andy is singing near the end of "Hang on to the Night"(1:49)? It sounds something like "Watch all the boys say",but this doesn't make too much sense to me. He also sang this line repeatedly in a concert I have on tape,so I guess it has some meaning. Any help appreciated. So long,Erich
------------------------------ From: RCroz75755@aol.com Date: Thu, 29 Jun 1995 09:01:46 -0400 Subject: One Song... If I had to choose one song that I would want to hear live, my first choice would be "Earn Enough for Us" but, because that song is so short I would pick a song of greater length - my choice would be "Train Running Low on Soul Coal". Does anyone know what AP is saying at the end of "Skeleton Steps Out"? Something like "roll you lazy bones". I apologize if this question seems stupid but for some strange reason it's not clear to me. Must have been all those late nights at the clubs standing in front of the P.A. system.....or i'm just getting old! Rob Crozier
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 29 Jun 95 10:12:54 EDT
From: sun1!sun3!akrebs@uunet.uu.net (Aaron Krebs)
Subject: Sports Illustrated and XTC
June 12, 1995 issue of SI has an article about English Soccer and
fanaticism about it, and leaping off page 66 at me was the following
excerpt:
"One of every five viewers at the Cock 'n Bull is American.
The Man United U.S. Supporters Club has a branch in nearby
Redondo Beach. And the owner of a Geo Prizm, license plates
SOCR XTC, that is parked in a lot in Crystal City, Va.,
surely agrees with what the SOCR-mad English pop group
once sang:
And all the world is football-shaped
It's just for me to kick in space."
True trivia, I confess. And to all those who responded to me about
the XTC Demo CDs, I apologize for what must appear to be a grand
blow-off. I swear it wasn't supposed to happen this way; expect an
email from me in the next few days - I wasn't able to accomodate every
person's requests, so I'll be going in the dreaded in-order-received
method...
+------------------+---------------------------------------------------+
|Aaron H. Krebs | "Listen up son, and pay attention. How ya gonna |
|Systems Analyst | learn anything if you always got your head in |
|akrebs@varcom.com | a book?" -- Foghorn Leghorn |
+------------------+---------------------------------------------------+
------------------------------ From: smcdow@arlut.utexas.edu (Stuart McDow) Subject: Another producer suggestion..... Date: Thu, 29 Jun 1995 09:58:57 -0600 (CDT) How about Tomas Dolby? An XTC album produced by TMDR with a sound and feel of 'The Golden Age of Wireless' would be an amazing thing. FWIW: AP appears on that same album, but that's not news. -- Stuart McDow Applied Research Laboratories smcdow@arlut.utexas.edu The University of Texas at Austin
------------------------------ From: smcdow@arlut.utexas.edu (Stuart McDow) Subject: One Song Backyard Concert Date: Thu, 29 Jun 1995 10:00:29 -0600 (CDT) One song concert: It'd have to be 'Complicated Game', with about 100,000 Watts of power pipes directly into my brain. Oh, and I get to sing with AP, too. -- Stuart McDow Applied Research Laboratories smcdow@arlut.utexas.edu The University of Texas at Austin
------------------------------
From: HFTC@grove.iup.edu
Date: Thu, 29 Jun 1995 11:10:06 -0500 (EST)
Subject: XTC and PUNK
Organization: Indiana University of Pennsylvania
Hey folks,
In answer to the question of how anyone can appreciate
both XTC and punk, let me increase perplexity. I first was
intro'd to XTC in late 1979, shortly after I had discovered
many of the first wave English punk bands. They fit right
in to my listening habits with absolutely no need for
ideological/aesthetic adjustment on my part. Sure, the
sound was different, but the ENERGY, that was definitely
kindred. The punk movement, in my opinion, has been grossly
misrepresented in popular culture as representing only
loudness, violence, noise, sloppiness, etc. This is wrong.
The early punk bands know how to write a hook; they were
reacting to the pristine and exclusionary musicianship of
the early seventies with a celebration of brash amateurism
and adventurism. Just listen to Sex Pistols, Wire, X-Ray
Specs, etc. and you'll find pure pop hooks beneath the
whirlwind of amature enthusiasm. XTC fit very snugly
into this ideal, even though their sound could not be so
easily pigeonholed.
Further, many of the so-called untalented punk
bands grew in musicianship while expanding their creativity
and experimentation. The Clash became, for too short a time,
a genuine and angry voice of political radicalism within the
mainstream. Wire became an equal of XTC in the realm of
experimental pop. Johnny Lydon is still deconstructing
our ideas of what constitutes music. Pere Ubu (American)
continues to create sublime pop firmly rooted in
impressionism and the avant guarde. I listen still to all
of the above, with enthusiasm. Let me throw in Nirvana as
well. Brilliant, angry, tragic. And, I'll even defend
Offspring - they've earned their place with a solid album
full of loud hooks; they remind me of the Damned. A kind of
guilty pleasure, but pleasure nonetheless.
Anyone interested should check out Rhino's DIY
compliation CDs. The two volumes of English punk contain
most of the seminal cuts from that time. Ditto the New
York and L.A. collections. Particularly early XTC fans
should find a lot to like on these CDs. And it's worth
noting that XTC themselves appear on both of the DIY
English pop compilations.
In short, punk was smart; punk was full of catchy
hooks; punk was a ripe field of experimentation. All things
we love about XTC themselves.
-Edward J. Whitelock (Mr. Ed)
------------------------------
From: swilcox@computer.org
Date: Thu, 29 Jun 95 09:06:23 est
Subject: A Respectable Remix
Eric Muller asks:
Was anyone else moritified by the version of Respectable Street that
appears on "Rag and Bone Buffet?" I simply can't believe that the
boys allowed themselves to be talked into watering down the lyrics so
pathetically for release as a single.
I seem to remember railing against the small minds of radio
programmers when I first bought this single oh-so-many years ago. But
then I actually listened to the music. What this version loses in the
lyrics, it makes up for in the music: IT ROCKS! I've never decided
whether this is a different performance or just a different mix (I
favor the former explanation), but it is distinctly harder-edged than
the album version. Has anyone else noticed the difference? Does anyone
know whether this was one of those "recorded live in the studio for
the BBC" sorts of gigs (like the Tower of London B-sides)?
-- Steve Wilcox
------------------------------ Date: Thu, 29 Jun 1995 09:11:34 -0700 From: mgooch@scn.org (Marshall Gooch) Subject: XTC/Punk Fans, Not *That* Question Again! Our fellow Chalkhillbilly, Amanion, asks: "Is anyone perplexed as to how someone can be an XTC fan *and* a fan of punk music?" (emphasis mine). Many of us XTC fans discovered the band around the same time we discovered punk rock. I would have to see that probably my two favorite bands of all time are XTC and The Damned, and I also really love The Clash, Buzzcocks, and The Jam. So what's so perplexing about it? Do you think that XTC fans only dig the same things you do? Oh yeah, and just to prove my tastes have- n't stopped expanding, I am also a fan of Belly, have just discovered Rahsaan Roland Kirk and John Coltrane, and I also dig the Louvin Bros. and Hank Williams. I'm 32 years old, and I'm just discovering music. Do yourself a favor and seek some other stuff out. XTC may not be around forever! **AND PLEASE!** Let's not have everybody answering "Where were you/what were you doing when you first heard XTC?" We've have that thread *way* too many times on Chalkhills! -- \\ Marshall Gooch | PO Box 23217 | Seattle, WA 98102-0517 USA // // mgooch@scn.org | MGooch@medio.net \\
------------------------------ From: Adrian <DOVERAL@lib.bham.ac.uk> Organization: The University of Birmingham Date: 29 Jun 95 17:48:09 GMT Subject: Re: Barry's trouser trout In Digest #451 Russell Shaddox wrote: > From: "Russell Shaddox" <Russell.Shaddox@QuickMail.Yale.edu> > [some stuff deleted] > ... But I don't think "My Weapon" > is clearly written as satire. I know several people who are turned off by > this song's "sexism," including myself. And if I'm going to blame anyone > for that, it's going to be Barry's crappy songwriting! I'd like to spring to Barry's defence here. The jaunty, bouncy, sneering tune and arrangement on MW surely have just the right combination of straight-up and send-up to steer attentive listeners to the 'satirical' interpretation? I agree that the lyrics *on their own* are open to a straightforward reading but I think the music's just wonderful in the way it undercuts this. --- Adrian Dover --- a.l.dover@bham.ac.uk
------------------------------ Date: Thu, 29 Jun 1995 13:13:59 -0500 (CDT) From: Devoto David <devoto@jove.acs.unt.edu> Subject: BBC Live concert I just bought the XTC Live in Concert CD from December 1980...and it's made me want the band to tour again. One thing that sticks out for me is Andy's guitar playing: with Dave and Andy's guitars in separate speakers, it's interesting to see who played what on each song (For instance, I always thought Andy played the "riff" on Life begins at the Hop, but it's Dave). Andy's playing is fantastic, even the flanged guitar intro to Respectable Street! His style complements is short, quirky vocal style, while Dave's lines are very fluid and "soloistic" (if that's a word!) Listening to Colin's bass, it sounds like he's playing a Rickenbacker bass...similar to Geddy Lee's (of Rush) live sound in the 80's. Colin's singing is much more energetic than I thought it would be live, with lots of "yeah's!" and other dialogue during the songs. To me, it's strange how totally different Andy and Colin's voices are, but when they sing together, it's hard to tell who is signing which part (esp. on Are you Receiving me?). When Colin complements Andy, it sounds like Andy is harmonizing with himself, and vice-versa. I've had the same problem on some of their songs on record also. One question (may be trivial!?): On the Black Sea photos, one picture has Colin in the middle of the group, and the other picture has Andy in the middle during a show...did they trade places on the stage during a show (for those who have seen them live...) Anyway, just some comments; If you don't have the album, I would recommend it! Dave P.S. Anybody have any other live tapes or videos out there?
------------------------------ From: 7IHd <ee92pmh@brunel.ac.uk> Subject: Re: Barry's trouser trout Date: Thu, 29 Jun 1995 21:06:34 +0100 (BST) # From: "Russell Shaddox" <Russell.Shaddox@QuickMail.Yale.edu> # # In response to a post from 7IHd <ee92pmh@brunel.ac.uk>: # # Barry was pretty upset because apparently (the press) completely # misunderstood (My Weapon), which was meant to be a pro-feminist anti-macho # song. # # seanbe@microsoft.com wrote in CH450: # # >> the trouble is that for critics/listeners who don't have a sense of # >> satire, it's impossible to differentiate between confession and # >> dramatic monlogue. # # I think the trouble in this case has nothing to do with critics or # listeners. It's not incumbent on the listener to figure out that a poor # songwriter is being tongue-in-cheek. That's not so say that a listener # can't lack the cultural equipment to understand satire, or even be too # obtuse to understand. Happens all the time. But I don't think "My Weapon" # is clearly written as satire. I know several people who are turned off by # this song's "sexism," including myself. And if I'm going to blame anyone # for that, it's going to be Barry's crappy songwriting! To be honest, taking 'My Weapon' on its own I'd be inclined to agree that Barry messed up on this one. However, have another listen to 'Super-Tuff' and once you've figured out the songwriting style to that one, apply the same train of thought to 'My Weapon' and it all makes sense. I think. Ob-one-off-one-song-gig-song: 'Crowded Room'. Don't ask why, I haven't a clue! PS: What's this I hear of, a new Gang Of Four single? Eh? _ |_)|_ *| | | )|| http://http2.brunel.ac.uk:8080/~ee92pmh/ ========
------------------------------ Date: Thu, 29 Jun 1995 16:17:49 -0400 (EDT) From: bradley e preuss <bpreus01@fiu.edu> Subject: XTC movie For some reason whenever I think about the subject of a movie, Christopher Walken keeps popping into mind to play the part of Andy. Regarding Joe Pesci playing the part of Barry....I don't think so. Hunter Thompson has more of a resemblence to Barry than Pesci does. As far as the song I'd most like to see them perform, it's a toss up between Real by Reel and Respectable Street...hmm, tough decision. Oh, and if anyone's in the Miami, Florida area e-mail me. I'd like to possibly get together--talk and trade XTC. Brad Preuss
------------------------------ Date: Fri, 30 Jun 1995 15:22:24 +1300 From: james.dignan@stonebow.otago.ac.nz (James) Subject: Eno's thoughts on producers... Just a weird thought I had... Eno, early on in XTCs career, said that the band didn't need a producer, they could easily produce themselves. I *think* this was in such early days that Barry was still with the band. Looking at Barry Andrew's's work with Shriekback, I notice a definite Eno influence in his sound (I'd LOVE to hear Eno produce a Shriekback album!!!). Could it be that Eno was referring to Barry as a possible source of production inspiration? Having said that, is Barry still on friendly terms with XTC? I realise he hasn't done much in the production line, but... James James Dignan, Department of Psychology, University of Otago. Ya zhivu v' 50 Norfolk St., St. Clair, Dunedin, New Zealand pixelphone james.dignan@stonebow.otago.ac.nz / steam megaphone NZ 03-455-7807 * You talk to me as if from a distance * and I reply with impressions chosen from another time, time, time, * from another time (Brian Eno)
------------------------------ From: "R.L.Crane" <R.L.Crane@sheffield.ac.uk> Date: Fri, 30 Jun 1995 10:33:43 +0100 Subject: Hollywood Beckons ? An XTC Movie? Well, how about :- David Lynch as Andy Partridge Kyle McLachlan as Colin Moulding Michael Palin as Dave Gregory - (good call!) Robert De Niro as Terry Chambers And directed by D lynch, too! He couldn't make an odder movie than than 'Chalkhills and Children' the book was..... And put me down for 'Travels In Nihilon' as the one 'live ' track! A reccently relocated Will Yum!
------------------------------ From: RCroz75755@aol.com Date: Fri, 30 Jun 1995 10:48:52 -0400 Subject: Neil Finn & XTC In response to a post from Eliot Fish regarding Neil Finn's XTC influence I though I would post an excerpt from the Crowded House list pertaining to a new album coming out in september from a collaboration of the Finn brothers (Neil & Tim) and its similarity to the Dukes: iankiwi@iconz.co.nz writes >I recently said that the Finn song *Newhai* reminded me of an >XTC song, and it came to me where I have heard this sound. XTC >made a record under the pseudonym of "Dukes of Stratosphere" >and it's a song called "Your Gold Dress" (or at least the verse part >of it - not the chorus) that sounds so much like *Newhai*. >"Dukes", by the way, is both a really fantastic record, in my >opinion, a boasts a fair bit of the psychadelic, whimsical qualities >of much of the "Finn" product, although it is much more heavily >produced. Many parts of the "Dukes" record is hilariously >Beatle-esque (uh-oh), and with some Beach Boys (gulp) a la >"Heroes and Villians" thrown in for good measure. They >nevertheless pulled off this very convincingly while delivering a >terrifically entertaining record. I thought that some of you might be interested in reading this. If you want to get on the Crowded House mailing list the address is: ch@listproc.wsu.edu Rob Crozier
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 30 Jun 95 13:26:02 PDT
From: John Relph <relph@presto.ig.com>
Subject: Respectable & Bulbous
I received the latest issue of _The Little Express_ yesterday!
So be patient, and renew your subscription. By the way, _Limelight_
is essentially defunct.
"Bill Moxim" <BMOXIM@epi.soph.uab.edu> writes:
>
>I don't know off-hand where else it may have been released. Perhaps on
>the Beefheart tribute album you mentioned (I wasn't aware of one!) as well.
>I'm sure I've spotted it elsewhere - but it was DEFINATELY on that single.
Well, it FIRST appeared on the Captain Beefheart Tribute Album:
Fast & Bulbous
A Tribute to Captain Beefheart. compilation album, produced by
Alan Duffy. includes XTC: Ella Guru.
+ LP, Imaginary, ILL 200, June 1988.
+ CD, Imaginary, ILL CD 200, June 1988.
Don't forget to read the XTC Discography (in the Chalkhills Archives).
Eric Muller <EMuller@UWYO.EDU> writes:
>
>All of the talk about Respectable Street in the most recent Digest prompts
>me to ask the following: was anyone else moritified by the version of
>Respectable Street that appears on "Rag and Bone Buffet?" I simply can't
>believe that the boys allowed themselves to be talked into watering down the
>lyrics so pathetically for release as a single.
Believe it. The BBC wouldn't play the original ("contraception", "sex
position", et al were too racy) so XTC re-recorded the song with new
vocals (and lyrics). I like the re-recorded version for the backing
vocals. They're a bit different from those on the original.
>From: vertigo@well.com (Giancarlo Cairella)
>
>Does anyone have more details on this (label, release date)? The
>"Miniatures" album is one of my favorites and I'd kill to have a copy on CD...
Again, from the XTC Discography:
Miniatures
compilation album of 51 ``mini-masterpieces'' by various
artists includes Andy Partridge: The History of Rock and Roll.
+ CD, Voiceprint UK, VP159CD, 1994. reissue.
Algae99@aol.com writes:
>
> XTC does do "Ella Guru", almost note
>for note. Somebody's voice was altered to sound like the Captain.
Actually, I don't believe any voices were "altered" other than
self-inflicted throat abuse. Andy Partridge definitely did the very
low voices, I don't know about the others.
-- John
------------------------------ From: m.mccormick2@genie.geis.com Date: Sat, 1 Jul 95 05:01:00 UTC Subject: TLE! Who else got their new Little Express this week? It was cool to see Andy hanging out in Swindon with fellow genius Adrian Belew. (Maybe he will put in a guest appearance on the next King Crimson LP!) Other notables: Andy does have full custody of daughter Holly; they did leave their US label Geffen as well as Virgin; Andy plays on the next Thomas Dolby album, and may do a song on Ellen Reid's (Crash test Dummies) solo album; Dave Gregory plays on most of Martin Newell's next; XTC may finally have a manager again; the tribute album comes out this fall; Andy may score the next Tim Burton movie; XTC convention officially canceled this year.... Read all about it in TLE! <Mike>
------------------------------ Date: Sat, 1 Jul 1995 02:00:32 -0400 (EDT) From: "Tom X. Chao" <tqc8542@is.NYU.EDU> Subject: an idle musing (sorry, it mentions an ex-Beatle) Have you seen the Pizza Hut ad featuring Ringo? In it, he becomes so enraptured by the "stuffed crust" pizza that he decides he should get "the lads" back together so that they can share one of these delectable dough-discs. He vocalizes his plan mightily, of course (otherwise the viewer wouldn't have a clue what the f--- was going on). Suddenly, Davy Jones, Mickey Dolenz, and Peter Tork appear, all consuming vast quantities of "stuffed crust" pizza and exclaiming over Ringo's genius (at being hired to pitch cheesy comestibles on television), thereby blowing Ringo's fab mind. He concludes by muttering, "These are the wrong lads" or some such. Anyway, my question is: don't you think that Pepsico Inc. could move a lot more units of product if they would use Andy, Colin, and Dave as the surprise guests in this commercial? And Todd Rundgren instead of Ringo? "And all the world is PIZZA-shaped/It's just for me to feed my face," etc. How about Elvis Costello reuniting with the Attractions for this ad? --Tom X. Chao
------------------------------ From: Jim_Nichols@mgdmug.org Date: Sat, 1 Jul 95 08:49:51 GMT Subject: 1980 Live in Concert CD Organization: MacGroup-Detroit USA, Detroit area's largest Mac users group I just picked up the 1980 "Live in Concert" BBC Radio One CD now avalabile domestic in the US for only $10.99!, I almost paid $24.99 in December for the import. Although $24.99 still would have been worth it! This is the 1st time I've listened to this recording and if you don't own it I reccomend it! It's on Griffin Music(not to be confused with Geffen)This looks like the only wortwhile title they offer unless your into NAZARETH (ROCK ON DUDE!)
------------------------------ From: Jim_Nichols@mgdmug.org Date: Sat, 1 Jul 95 08:50:03 GMT Subject: Ye Olde Card Game NONSVCH & Geffen/DGC Homeruns Organization: MacGroup-Detroit USA, Detroit area's largest Mac users group A couple of years ago I picked up the "Ye Olde Card Game NONSVCH" (for those unfamilar with it, it's the card game concentration but this contains the artwork from the Nonsvch album.) Anyway is this a limited promo or was this something you could buy at any record store in the UK? Also at the same time I picked up a box of "baseball" type cards called "Geffen/DGC Homeruns" which includes a card for "Chips from the Chocolate Fireball" & "Oranges&Lemons" with bios on the back of them.Not sure how rare this is either.
------------------------------ End of Chalkhills Digest #452 *****************************
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