Chalkhills Digest Volume 11, Issue 30
Date: Thursday, 7 July 2005
Chalkhills Digest, Volume 11, Number 30
Thursday, 7 July 2005
Topics:
The Old Chalkhills
Friday Night At The Dublin Castle
Ringo Au Go Go
Revolution in the Head (was: Ringo)
Best Band You Never Heard Of
Puffy Pink Ringo 8
Re: Ringo / P Hux Responses
XTC - The Meeting Place 2005
A Singles Man?
R-I-N-G-O and Ringo was his name-o
drummers
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---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Mon, 4 Jul 2005 10:08:28 -0700 (PDT) From: Ed Miller <miller80112@yahoo.com> Subject: The Old Chalkhills Message-ID: <20050704170828.47166.qmail@web50302.mail.yahoo.com> Chalkers, Mike Versaci wrote last time... ******* Folxtc, I very much appreciate the thoughtful responses to my my comments regarding Ringo. I miss the old Chalkhills, and this last issue reminded me of how things used to be around here. ******* I couldn't agree more. I rejoined the list recently after years of abscence. Things are quite different around here - quite toned down I'd say. But it sure is nice to see the interaction about the Ringo issue and to note how well most Chakhillers write (present company excluded). Thanks for the observation, Mike. Oh yeah. In a nutshell, I think Ringo sucks as a drummer, but I love him. If I recall my rock trivia, it seems that Ringo replaced Pete because the band needed a more "technical" drummer. Maybe so, but that still cracks me up. Later all, Ed Miller Denver, Colorado
------------------------------ Date: Mon, 4 Jul 2005 19:53:50 +0100 (BST) From: Rory Wilsher <rory_wilsher@yahoo.co.uk> Subject: Friday Night At The Dublin Castle Message-ID: <20050704185350.42423.qmail@web25304.mail.ukl.yahoo.com> Hillians, Can I just say how thoroughly and utterly X-sTatiC rocked da house (see? I'm cool...I'm down wiv da kidz!) on Friday night? These four guys really do make an exceptionally good noise, and it was appreciated again by many. I particularly liked the fact that they tackled tracks from The Big Express and Oranges & Lemons, as well as playing the classics. Rory Wilsher
------------------------------ Date: Tue, 05 Jul 2005 10:39:50 +1000 From: "Andrew Gowans" <ratwhacker@hotmail.com> Subject: Ringo Au Go Go Message-ID: <BAY103-F15F919514E2C8607557704C9E60@phx.gbl> Hi Folks, My 2c worth - Like most of you I grew up listening to the Beatles music and it can be a bit out of left field when you hear comments like these. However, I think familiarity may be smoothing out the wrinkles in our musical mind's-eye (please excuse the horrible mixed metaphors, but it explains my opinion on the issue). A couple of sites that may provide hours of entertainment on the subject: http://www.pootle.demon.co.uk/wgo.htm and http://www.beatles-discography.com/ There was also an artice in Guitar player magazine back in the 80's that discussed the Beatles' abilities and techniques and it's generally complimentary of Ringo. George was always a great fan of his and even Paul has said that the Beatles gelled as a band once he joined. Jim Keltner, the famous session muso, is also a fan of Ringo's idiosyncratic style. However, John has been quoted as responding to a question on whether Ringo was the best drummer in the world by saying that he wasn't even the best drummer in the Beatles - referring to Paul's drumming on some tracks. Who's right? Who's wrong. I don't know, but it has been an intersting thread. Cheers, Andrew P.S. - before being too critical have a look at how quickly (or hastily) a lot of the B's tracks were put down.
------------------------------ Date: Mon, 4 Jul 2005 17:42:46 -0700 (PDT) From: Benjamin Lukoff <blukoff@alvord.com> Subject: Revolution in the Head (was: Ringo) Message-ID: <Pine.LNX.4.44.0507041738590.21702-100000@vaal.killerlink.net> Michael Versaci <michael_versaci@yahoo.com> wrote: > >I think you might enjoy reading Ian McDonald's 'Revolution In The Head' < > > Mr. Sherwood would agree, but the book is out of print and hard to > find. I'm sure I would really like it. The book is technically out of print, but not too hard to find...a couple of copies are available here of the old edition: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0805042458/chalkhills And, I am pleased to see a second edition is coming out in just a few weeks: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1844138283/chalkhills That's the US. The British edition is already out: http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/1844138283
------------------------------ Date: Mon, 4 Jul 2005 18:42:36 -0700 (PDT) From: rolndart@sonic.net Subject: Best Band You Never Heard Of Message-ID: <5039.209.148.125.79.1120527756.squirrel@webmail.sonic.net> We had a few nominations for this"distinction" including Kevin Gilbert and the Mommyheads. OK here's mine: The Pillbugs You generally can't find their cds in the stores, read reviews of their music, see them live or hear them on the radio (well I guess that's true for most good bands nowdays.) They embody the spirit and vocabulary of 60s music, but are not revivalists or reconcructionists. Sure you can pick out their influences, The Beatles, Beach boys and other groups, but the songwriting and performances are genuine and individual, beautifully produced and styles diverse. Great vocals, vintage guitar and keyboard sounds, sitars, string arrangements, killer harmonies and hooks. They just don't stop. And no I am not in the band ;-) MR
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 5 Jul 2005 11:34:21 +0100
From: Adrian Ransome <Adrian.Ransome@tsi-ltd.co.uk>
Subject: Puffy Pink Ringo 8
Message-ID: <497FEA72C392D3118AE700508B7311770D311676@nt4server03.tsi-ltd.co.uk>
Hai!
Remember Jellyfish? The band that gave us The King Is Half Undressed, Baby's
Coming Back and the disgustingly talented Jason Falkner? Ever wondered what
happened to the standing-up-drummer front man & main songwriter Andy
Sturmer? Did you, like me, believe he had fallen into the same kind of
musical black hole that seems to have claimed those loveable lads from
Swindon (gratuitous Xtc reference to keep me on topic right there, folks)?
Well, Mr Sturmer hasn't disappeared. He is now the backroom boffin behind a
Japanese pop duo who feature in the kid's cartoon Hi Hi Puffy Ami Yumi. I
noticed his name whizz by in the credits the other day when my oldest boy
was watching said cartoon on some cable channel. A quick Google of Puffy Ami
Yumi will direct you to both the Cartoon Network site and also to the
official band site where you could be unfortunate enough to listen to a
snippet of their version of the Jellyfish classic "Joining a Fan Crub (sorry
- Club)".
Let's all leave Ringo alone, shall we? He's just got his bus pass and his
pension book this week and will be feeling a little glum, poor lamb. Let's
divert our attentions to Nick Mason instead. What a stunningly uninteresting
drummer he is. There he was on Live 8, 400 drums and cymbals surrounding him
and all he managed was his traditional trademark Floyd ride/snare plod. For
Cliff's sake, he's in a prog rock band!! He should be hitting every single
drum and cymbal in as complex and mind-boggling a manner as possible in
unfeasibly indecipherable time signatures!
For those thinking what a fantastically altruistic event Live 8 was, let's
just consider the empty Pink Floyd section in my local record emporium
yesterday, the television adverts for Razorlight's album on Sunday evening
("As Seen On Live8!!") and the geezer down the bottlebank last night with
Echoes blasting out of his car stereo. On the BBC coverage, Jo Whiley
clearly upset Madonna with the wry observation that "your career only really
took off after your Live Aid appearance, didn't it?"
ade
------------------------------ Date: Tue, 5 Jul 2005 11:40:20 EDT From: Hbsherwood@aol.com Subject: Re: Ringo / P Hux Responses Message-ID: <102.644d2589.2ffc03e4@aol.com> > From: Michael Versaci <michael_versaci@yahoo.com> > > >I think you might enjoy reading Ian McDonald's 'Revolution In The Head' < > > Mr. Sherwood would agree, but the book is out of print and hard to > find. I'm sure I would really like it. Not out of print! Not hard to find! You'll be thrilled to know it's being reissued this month with new material covering the "Beatles at the Beeb" and the "Anthology." How exactly they're going to do this when the author died by his own hand in 2003 is not a question I'm prepared to answer. Obituary for MacDonald: http://www.siue.edu/~aho/musov/Ian.html Pre-order your copy of the new edition: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1844138283/chalkhills Ringo had more nipples than anyone on this distribution list. Go on -- prove me wrong. Harrison "Ask me how I know" Sherwood
------------------------------ Date: Wed, 6 Jul 2005 00:06:50 -0500 From: "David Lake" <david@blushift.co.uk> Subject: XTC - The Meeting Place 2005 Message-ID: <001d01c581e8$845536a0$c6220d18@10dbPad> ** XTC - The Meeting Place - 2005 ** The Place: Swindon, England The Dates: Friday, 30 Sept through Sunday, 2 Oct, 2005 What's Missing? You! An unequaled gathering of Chalkhills subscribers, XTC Idea forum members and other fans from all over the world are set to meet in Swindon, England at the end of September this year to celebrate the band we all know and love. This gathering will take place over two nights and two days and bring to you many XTC related activities, musical performances and other special features to remember for years to come. The website containing even more information regarding discounted pre-registration, transporation and housing recommendations, news, and more are available through this link: http://www.xtcthemeetingplace2005.co.uk We, from the organisation committee, hope that you can join us for this memorable weekend. Cheers, David
------------------------------ Date: Wed, 6 Jul 2005 10:02:14 -0400 From: KEVIN.WOLLENWEBER@jpmorgan.com Subject: A Singles Man? Message-ID: <OF8EF78B9B.A9EE4503-ON85257036.004B955A@jpmchase.com> Folks: Just wondered whether anyone heard about the forthcoming XTC singles collection, due sometime this month. Will this be an extensive set, covering B-sides and added tracks when it comes to CD singles, etc.? I just wondered whether this is the disk or set of disks that would take the place of RAG 'N' BONE BUFFET. I'm still awaiting that gem since there are many cuts from that specific disk that never appeared elsewhere. I guess now, unfortunately, neither Andy nor Colin have any control over the way the catalogue is treated, and Virgin can continuously reissue more greatest hits packages. Nevertheless, why should I just assume it will be more drudgery? If I hear that this will be a genuinely well-thought-out package, I will definitely support it and wish it well regarding sales figures. Meanwhile, I'd heard that the lead-off track on a forthcoming box set from Rhino, acting as a third volume/adendum to the fantastic NUGGETS series, this one being bands of the '70's, '80's and '90's that were seemingly effected by the whole psych explosion of music of the late 1960's, called CHILDREN OF NUGGETS, will be none other than the magnificent Dukes of Stratosphere, performing "Vanishing Girl". While Rhino is the company that tends to minimize the importance of all it touches since the catalogues now owned by them are numerous, they are (or were) so thorough and, despite the somewhat sarcastic liner note or two, they seem to have a desire to relate to the fan. I wished that Virgin would stop whining about the albitross around their neck and relinquish XTC material to either Andy and Colin or to Rhino who would have possibly done for them what they had done for Elvis Costello. Yeah, there is a such thing as overkill, but there is enough material in those vaults to warrant a fanatic's box around any period in XTC's career, but I don't think that would happen since there was much said, sometimes by either Andy or Colin, around the sales of the catalogue, on this list, and there would be much said on this list and throughout the industry if the catalogue were released *ANYWHERE* again, even if it were done right!! But I'll be wanting to hear any news of the singles disk or set of disks. It is listed in ICE Magazine as being issued this month, but there are no accompanying articles as to just what this disk will include aside from A-sides (sigh). Kevin
------------------------------ Date: Wed, 06 Jul 2005 09:35:02 -0700 From: "Wayne Klein" <wtdk123@msn.com> Subject: R-I-N-G-O and Ringo was his name-o Message-ID: <BAY108-F2585525AB3F39E8A4BD23BF9D90@phx.gbl> Regarding the Ringo flap about his playing-if you listen to Michael Clarke of The Byrds (except for the first album where a couple of tracks were session players) and just about any rock 'n' roll drummer from the time frame you'll find inconsistency in the playing. I'd agree that part of Ringo's value as a player was the "feel' he brought to a song. Is he a metronome--no. I play piano and both my brother's are musicians (one of them a drummer) and that's never bothered them. Was Terry Chambers a perfect drummer? Nah but, again, it was the "feel' that he brought to the material. I always think of the "experiment" with the drum machine on "The Big Express"--much of the material with the drum machine was interesting but soul less. Many of the drummers from the 60's working without click tracks (which may make some folks sound perfect but takes the soul and feel out of the music) had a much more distinctive personality to their playing. One chief complaint I always heard about a lot of music during the 80's (and part of the 90's) was how "slick" it sounded with a generic soul less quality. I tend to associate that with the use of click tracks. I'm always reminded of a friend who would go on and on about how a certain (unnamed) gutiarist would play perfectly. I remarked, "that's not rock'n'roll". If a machine can do it is it truly music or just organized noise? Anyhow, my two cents for what its worth--I'd rather listen something played less than perfect with soul and inspiration than something played flawlessly without any sense that it was actually played by a human being.
------------------------------ Date: Wed, 6 Jul 2005 22:39:14 +0100 From: <cornwallis@cwctv.net> Subject: drummers Message-ID: <015cc1439210675DTVMAIL2@smtp.cwctv.net> HELLO GUYS, MUCH TALK ABOUT RINGO.NO RINGO,NO BEATLES.NO CHAMBERS,NO EARLY XTC CLASSICS.THE DRUMMING IN MAKING PLANS FOR NIGEL IS UNIQUE.MORE TO THE POINT,TRY AND COPY IT,TERRYS CONTROL OF PEDALS TAKES SOME DOING.ORIGINAL DRUMMERS ARE JUST THAT. kind regards, DAVE BANCROFT
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