Chalkhills Digest Volume 1, Issue 455
Date: Friday, 14 July 1995
Chalkhills Digest, Number 455
Friday, 14 July 1995
Today's Topics:
rarities
Re: Great Guitarists
Re: Live XTC, Hello! (The Affiliated)
Hello address
Re: Swindonian Supertramp
(none)
Re: Gilbert O'Sullivan/O&L
Swindon's Musical Sons again
Re: Ella Guru (again!)
David Yazbeck's CD - Help!
various comments
Re: Chalkhills Digest #454
Dear God/Dying/Bonfire
Another XTC experience. . .
The Wizard of Philadelphiaz
Various
Chalkhills Artists- Help!
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---------------------------------------------------------------------- From: Algae99@aol.com Date: Wed, 12 Jul 1995 15:10:25 -0400 Subject: rarities It seems that there has been much discussion here about that various recordings people have that I have never heard of in my life, despite my rabid attempts to find them. Since I am rather new to this, I do not know if what I have is considered rare, or if what I do not have is not considered rare by everyone else. (Does that make sense?) Anyway, I have thought the best and fastest way to resolve this is to write down what I have that I consider rare, and I can be graded on it. Since I also want more stuff, as we all do, perhaps I could send someone some blank tapes, and we could even out our rare stuff, and a sort of musical socialism could evolve. Here's my stuff: -Mayor of Simpleton 3" CD single, mentioned in #454 -King For A Day 3" CD single, with dance remix and 2 demos -This Is Live, also mentioned in #454 -Acoustic Tales, containing most of the songs listed in #454, and some BBC sessions -Love On A Farmboy's Wages 12" single, with 3 live tracks (somehow this became slightly warped) I supose that is about it. In conclusion, does anyone really like "Through the HIll"? I like about half, and half of it annoys me to death. I also stand by my self-producing concept. Andy said in an interview after "Nonsuch" came out that Gus Dudgeon did not do much except get in their way. This is, in my opinion, their best sounding album, and in no way do I find it self-indulgent.
------------------------------
Date: 12 Jul 95 16:05:10 EDT
From: John.J.Pinto@Dartmouth.EDU (John J. Pinto)
Subject: Re: Great Guitarists
I saw a book published by GPI (Guitar Player Institute?) titled
"1000 GREAT GUITARISTS"
by Hugh Gregory (no relation) which on page 61 featured a capsule profile of
Dave Gregory. The book seemed to cover all genres of the modern era; jazz,
blues, country, rock etc. No mean feat to rate in their top one thousand.
------------------------------ Date: Wed, 12 Jul 95 16:08:01 EDT From: dabl2@lhc.nlm.nih.gov (Don Lindbergh) Subject: Re: Live XTC, Hello! (The Affiliated) On Wed, 12 Jul 1995 08:13:32 -0700 you wrote: >From: bradley e preuss <bpreus01@fiu.edu> >Subject: Live XTC > >Hiya Chalkboards(?) > > Anyways, I recently got my hands on another live XTC CD that was >recorded in 1979 in Philadelphia. The name of it is Fab Foursome in Philly. ..deletia... So how does it sound compared to the legit live BBC. Do you know/can you tell if the boot is a soundboard or audience recording? thankee --Don dabl2@lhc.nlm.nih.gov >From: Melissa Reaves <MREAVES@KENTVM.KENT.EDU> >Subject: Hello! ..stuff deleted... >1. I vote for The Affiliated as the name for us XTCers. Don't like >hillbillies (as a name, not that I don't like any of you out there who >may happen to be Rural Americans). Did someone else say The Affiliated >already? Or did I make it up? Either way, that's how I vote. I agree, good name. Still, strictly speaking, doesn't sort of have a Dukes-ish connotation more than XTC-ish. Further, Chalkhills has now been around long enough for me to really get used to it and like it. I think it's stuck now. --Don dabl2@lhc.nlm.nih.gov
------------------------------ Date: Wed, 12 Jul 1995 18:54:36 -0700 From: Riches@Cyberstore.ca (Michael Riches) Subject: Hello address I've been reading a lot here about Andy Partridge's release on Hello Records. I know it's a They Might Be Giants mail-order-only label. Can anyone tell me what their address is and how I can order the AP album? Is it a TMBG fan-club only thing, or can anyone order their discs? And what's the album like? Self-produced? Any cover art or liner notes? I'd appreciate it if someone could pass along any details. I can be reached at Riches@Cyberstore.ca
------------------------------ Date: Thu, 13 Jul 1995 14:51:38 +1200 From: james.dignan@stonebow.otago.ac.nz (James) Subject: Re: Swindonian Supertramp >>Does anyone know of any other bands / singers or whatever who were born or >>brought up in Swindon? > >Watch the _XTC Play at Home_ video for more information along this >line. I think one of the guys in Supertramp is also from Swindon. Quite possible, since the very first incarnation of Supertramp (before they even had that name, from memory) had Swindonian Gilbert O'Sullivan on piano. Thankfully, this incarnation never recorded. As foir the people dissing Gilbert, he was bad, but there have been worse. Sort of a cross between Bobby Goldsboro and Leo Sayer (and looking a bit like Sayer, too), but probably preferable to either of them. 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)
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 12 Jul 1995 20:09:30 -0700
From: Riches@Cyberstore.ca (Michael Riches)
>From: Melissa Reaves <MREAVES@KENTVM.KENT.EDU>
>To the person who a while back asked if anyone else found Andy sexy. From
>the lack of response she received, I'd have to guess that others agree
>with me in saying "no." {.....} All the recent photographs of him show him
>well concealed--either hunched over looking pensive or if he is standing
>out in the open he's wearing styles that camoflage his girth. {.......}
Or perhaps people didn't respond to the original post because a) sometimes
people are bashful about talking about these things, b) there aren't that
many females subscribing to the group (although more should, but that's
rock n' roll for ya) or, as in my case c) males attracted to Andy are shy
about outing themselves infront of a bunch of strangers.
Now, I really don't care if AP looks like Cary Grant or Abe Vigoda...
either way, it's great music, and discussing his looks here is really
grasping at straws (how can we tell we've been waiting too long for the new
album?). Nonetheless, I'll grasp at a straw or two myself and stand up in
his defence.
I started listening to XTC when I was 17 and saw the video for All You
Pretty Girls. I couldn't get over that dashingly cute singer in the sailor
suit. I didn't really like the song much (mostly the chorus) but something
about Andy kept me intrigued and I bought The Big Express. When I opened
the cover I was suprised at how much more attractive he was in those
charming spectacles. As I subsequently bought the entire XTC catalogue
over the period of a year (for the MUSIC, not the pictures!) I was
continually struck by the image of this quaint young man who seemed to
embody all I considered English; literate, witty, clever, quirky, and
boyishly handsome. Yes, for a while I had a crush.
So there you have it Melissa. Mr. Partridge does indeed have sex appeal.
I'd put him up there with Hugh Grant in my books (though maybe a couple
notches below, but still quite high). As for looking pensive, I find his
photo in the booklet for Oranges & Lemons strangely appealing. He looks
like he needs a big hug, very cuddlesome.
And he's not a "piggy." So what if he's a bit chubby? Everyone gets
fatter when they get old. It'll happen to you too one day Melissa. Don't
chuckle about it now.
------------------------------ From: ChrisMezzo@aol.com Date: Thu, 13 Jul 1995 00:00:43 -0400 Subject: Re: Gilbert O'Sullivan/O&L In a message dated 95-07-12 12:43:31 EDT, you write: >Basically, what ever you do, do not listen to any of this man's >music. (Sorry Gilbert - just not my cup of <insert beverage>) Postum? Oops too late fer me...sorry but I think his music is worthwhile, if not of the magnitude of the Fabs, Brian Wilson, or our own Swindonites..."Clair" is quite clever, and even a 20-years later listen to "Get Down" forces a 2nd listen to the lyrics (you're a bad dog baby.......hmmmmm?) Now I don't go out of my way to check out Gilbert O', but if it's there, I'll listen. XTC-related for the record, my fave tune so far: "Chalkhills and Children". The lyrics are so ultra-wistful, I'm actually moved to tears at times (and that ain't easy)...now that I now what it's about via that Andy snippet a # of Chalkhills' back, it's easier to unnerstand from where he cometh, not to mention the sine-wavish organ sound and the mixed feels between rhythm/Andy and Mastelotto's traps & buttons...Also many of the Dukes' tunes. I've read many posts decrying O&L as "unlistenable" among other things, to which I say: "HUH?!?!?!?!" My God, the maturity I hear there is unmistakable, AND it's the 1st complete XTC album I've heard....I know, "listen to English Settlement...Drums and Wires etc", well I have received 3 comp tapes covering White Music to Nonsuch plus other rarities, and the early stuff is really good, but perhaps what does it for me is the tune constructions or something, I found stuff like "Radios in Motion" and "This is Pop" quite harsh and simplistic in comparison to "Miniature Sun" or "Garden of Earthly Delights" (or "C&C"), I liked 'em, plus the original Nigel (I heard Primus' version first and thought it did large justice) and stuff I learned about right here, like "Generals and Majors" and "Respectable Street" (!), but I think O&L is a great album, hardly a low point on it for me. Ain't democracy wonderful? C Mezzolesta
------------------------------ From: jpnichol@mlsma.mlm.att.com Date: Thu, 13 Jul 1995 08:59:51 +0100 Subject: Swindon's Musical Sons again In the last _Chalkhills_ John Relph writes: >I think one of the guys in Supertramp is also from Swindon. Can't believe I forgot this. I know very little about Supertramp, but yes, one of the members is from Swindon, and if you look at the back cover of _Breakfast in America_, you will see him reading a copy of the _Evening Advertiser_, Swindon's local evening paper. Which probably got a front-page mention in the paper itself. XTC connection. By coincidence, I picked up a copy of Supertramp's _Crime of the Century_ in a charity shop here in Swindon last weekend, spotless condition, 75p. While paying for it at the cash desk, I noticed the old dear behind the counter cleaning an old copy of the _Making Plans for Nigel_ 7" single (with an old rag). "We get a lot of this stuff, XTC". "Well, they're local boys, they were very popular a few years back" says I. "Oh, I know. I know his mum, whats-his-name, Andy the singer. She still lives in Penhill, used to work in the chemist's." So there you have it, a Partridge family update from Oxfam. I bought a copy of Cat Steven's _Tea for the Tiller Man_ for 75p too... JP Nicholls
------------------------------
From: adkoning@hvsag01.att.com (Andre de Koning)
Date: Thu, 13 Jul 95 09:50:21 +0200
Subject: Re: Ella Guru (again!)
Steve Johnson <steve-j@teleport.com> wrote about "Mayor of Simpleton":
>I think the Virgin CD single is kinda rare because I look EVERYWHERE
>for XTC stuff wherever I go and own the only copy of it I've ever
>seen in stores.
Amazing! Here in the Netherlands the Virgin 3" CD was the one I kept
running into when I was at record fairs or plowing through cut-out bins
over a year ago. I remember it clearly because I was trying to get my
hands on the "Dear God" CD single (I finally have it, thanks again
John!). I haven't been to a record fair for over a year, but I plan on
going to one this fall. If there are chalk******* still looking for it
drop me some email and I can have a see. I have seen plenty of copies in
cutout bins for rediculously low prices (a few guilders, that's one or
two dollars dollars nowadays) but you can bet once Chalkhills #454 gets
spread they'll all be gone...
By the way, from looking at the discography I think you're right about
the geffen CD single. Geffen does not seem to have a version on CD that
has the demo songs.
Bye,
,
-- Andre de Koning
------------------------------ Date: 13 Jul 1995 08:17:32 -0500 From: "Wesley Wilson" <Wesley_Wilson@iegate.mitre.org> Subject: David Yazbeck's CD - Help! Over six weeks ago I ordered the David Yazbeck CD, "The Laughing Man," from a US CD importer. I have not yet received the CD. Naturally, I'm disappointed; but I'm also a little surpirsed that the importer is having trouble getting this disc! I'm still hoping that they come through, but in the meantime I'm seeking alternatives. If you have a source for this CD, please e-mail me. So far I've heard two tracks from this CD and they sounded very good. Hey! I understand my drawing made The Little Express. I haven't gotten the issue yet, but I look forward to getting it. Also heard that Martin Newell has a new album forthcoming, The Off-White Album? I had a daydream about the new XTC album. I heard a Colin song, something with the word "street" in the chorus. A piano was supplying most of the percussion and the song sounded really powerful, allaying people's fears that a drummerless album would lack punch. Colin was singing really loudly. The song was really poppy, like an old Kinks' song. When the new album comes out we'll have to see if my premonition is correct. Today I took a detour through the town of Concord, MA. Where there once was an apothecary shop, now is a gourmet coffee outlet. One thing that I'd like to know, where did the ordinary people go? Wes
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 13 Jul 1995 09:42:41 -0400 (EDT)
From: "Craig E. Canevit" <canevit@UTKVX.UTCC.UTK.EDU>
Subject: various comments
1). Last time, John Relph <relph@presto.ig.com> said, in response
to Rob Crozier <RCroz75755@aol.com>'s query
> >
> >Does anyone know what AP is saying at the end of "Skeleton Steps Out"?
> >Something like "roll you lazy bones".
>
> I think Andy sings "Watch out, here comes Bony Boy".
I can't admit to having listened solely to hear this part,
but I heard the song just yesterday and recalled that I have
always heard this part as "watch out, here comes poor man bones."
2). Here's a remark for those fans of later material who haven't been
able to appreciate Drums and Wires: keep listening! I have been
plugging it in as background music when I go to the computer lab,
and while I have had the album since 1989, I haven't liked it
(except for "Helicopter" and "Scissor Man") until these past few
weeks. I have the people who hyped "Complicated Game" to thank for
getting me curious about what they loved about this song. Thanks!
3). "Paul Stratford" <haryan@easynet.co.uk> remarked that:
> AAAGGHH! Now we're going to have to explain to the Americans who
> Gilbert O'Sullivan is!
I suspect that anybody in America who's listened to enough
adult contemporary in the 70s or oldies stations since then is pretty
likely to have heard "Alone Again (Naturally)," the most pathetic
(literally) song since "Seasons in the Sun." Oddly enough, I sort
of like the song when I've had too much to drink. The man has
obviously listened to quite a lot of Paul MacCartney.
4). Meat Beat Manifesto, one of the most listenable of the techno/
industrial/sampling bands, is also from Swindon. I've heard them
sample that band from Liverpool, but not XTC.
5). Everybody who thinks about it will agree: the only person who
could pull off playing Andy in a movie would be the grownup actor
who played "Oliver" on the Brady Bunch.
--
Craig E. Canevit <http://cobweb.utcc.utk.edu/~canevit>
------------------------------ Date: Thu, 13 Jul 1995 10:14:48 -0600 (MDT) From: Eric Muller <EMULLER@UWYO.EDU> Subject: Re: Chalkhills Digest #454 Two brief comments on the most recent digest: (a) Lay off Gilbert O'Sullivan! The guy wrote "Claire," for chrissake! (b) Supertramp from Swindon? I thought they were Canadian. (And while we're on the subject, what ever happened to *them*? Did somebody finally unplug that annoying electric piano they always seemed to use?) Eric emuller@uwyo.edu
------------------------------ From: AngryYngMn@aol.com Date: Thu, 13 Jul 1995 21:04:30 -0400 Subject: Dear God/Dying/Bonfire Yes! Finally! Someone who feels like I do about that musical thread at the end of Skylarking! Dear God is a great intro to Dying because it's asking the question if we believe in a higher being, then Dying laments one who just croaks for no apparent reason, and then Bonfire gives us hope about the earth in general. Leave it to Colin to make "When they carried you out your mouth was opened wide" so beautiful. -AYM
------------------------------ From: LTaylor279@aol.com Date: Thu, 13 Jul 1995 22:36:40 -0400 Subject: Another XTC experience. . . Went to Borders Bookstore to pick up the new CD import of the BBC radio sessions. On the way to the cash register, I spotted an entire rack of bookplates that bore some of our favorite depictions from nonsvch. Now I can plaster all my books with the etheral Then She Appeared . And passing the bargain shelves, 2 recipe books wrapped together with a red ribbon had the simple title: _Oranges and Lemons_. None of the recipes inside would appeal to Andy, I fear, but for $4.98, what the heck ;-) The backyard song for me would have to be a long, thrashing, bitter Across This Antheap. Oh, and for the movie thing, I haven't a clue. Perhaps the boys could play themselves in a rehashed version of Help! The Search for a Better Director (my sincerest apologies for alluding to those darn B*****s.) LaShawn Taylor Ain't nothing in the world like a black-skinned girl Make your Shakespeare hard and make your oyster pearl
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 13 Jul 95 22:28:10 PDT
From: John Relph <relph@presto.ig.com>
Subject: The Wizard of Philadelphiaz
bradley e preuss <bpreus01@fiu.edu> writes:
>
> Anyways, I recently got my hands on another live XTC CD that was
>recorded in 1979 in Philadelphia. The name of it is Fab Foursome in Philly.
Probably recorded live at Emerald City, Cherry Hill, New Jersey, April
17, 1981, via radio WMMR. The show was broadcast live and has been
bootlegged widely. If you look at the song titles it's obvious it
wasn't recorded in 1979.
>lungs, Ball and chain, Paper and Iron, Love at first sight, Roads
-- John
------------------------------ Date: Fri, 14 Jul 1995 15:51:17 BST From: Martin Wilson <mw25@mailer.york.ac.uk> Subject: Various I think what Andy sings at the end of 'Skeleton' is: "Shake your bag of bones" and "Look out here comes funny bones". I do hope noone is going to compare XTC with Gilbert o' Sulivan. If so I will personally come round and walk all over you with a large shire horse. (not that this will cause you anything like as much pain as listening to the man's music). I don't like Chalkhillbillies either (far too many 'L's for a start). The Affiliated sounds good though having once been one of THE affiliated... (Non-Brit. Trans: A member of the Working Mens Club and Institute Union. An outdated institution which enabled blue-collar workers to recreate in minature the kind of evil bureaucracy nomally associated with trying to get into CIA headquarters) ...I have no wish to be one again. What about 'The Smartest Monkeys' or given that the lads haven't released anything for three years, 'The Disappointed'. If the fabbest four wanted to play in my garden they would have to bring their own machetes and mosquito nets but it would be worth it to hear 'Train Running Low on Soul Coal', which I reckon they could stretch out for about an hour. It would be sadly appropriate for them to play it here in York as the local railway works has just closed leaving the town's economy soley dependent on students and chocolate (what a winning combination). - Martin York "Where the men are hunky and the chocolate's chunky" (Nestle's oppinion, not mine) UK
------------------------------ Date: 14 Jul 1995 10:58:38 -0500 From: "Wesley Wilson" <Wesley_Wilson@iegate.mitre.org> Subject: Chalkhills Artists- Help! Any artists/designers in the Chalkhills community? If so, I need your help. I am working on an XTC collage. My plan is to laminate some of the photos of the band and then frame it all. I have standard lamination paper (clear), but it seems so boring. Is anyone aware of contact paper or lamination paper that is interesting? Any details appreciated! Ideally, I'd like to find something that would create a 3D effect, like you see on some bubblegum cards. Wes
------------------------------ End of Chalkhills Digest #455 *****************************
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