Chalkhills Digest Volume 2, Issue 118
Date: Saturday, 1 June 1996
Chalkhills Digest, Volume 2, Number 118
Saturday, 1 June 1996
Today's Topics:
Complicated Game
Re: Tom and Joe and Colin
Bungalow/Kevin Gilbert
the near future
Bungalow
Bungalow, moonlighting
Re: Colin the worlds best bass player
Like The Dukes? Try this band...
Re: Italian Prophet
Nasty!
Re: The "Pay for Andy's House" Tour
Frost Circus/Coney Island, etc.
Appreciating Colin
An Oldie but a Moulding
"Beatlesque"
Re: Producer's Poll Results
Chalkids Contributor's Information
Re: Skylacking
"Unresponsiveness"/More Colin
The boys' next move...
beach boys, englishman and a test
RE: Chakhills' Children
Re: Curt & Roland: A DISCLAIMER
Vintage pix
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---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Wed, 29 May 1996 23:09:19 -0700 (PDT) From: Randy Posynick <posynick@netcom.com> Subject: Complicated Game Message-ID: <Pine.3.89.9605292251.A12704-0100000@netcom21> Richard Pedretti Allen wrote: > Seriously, the bridge lyrics in Complicated Game have me stumped. > They are so wet with echo that I can't decipher them. Is there some > edition of DRUMS AND WIRES that list the lyrics? HELP! > It may be something like: > They want to talk, they want it rolled > Do just ...... stick ...... show > Little (friendly?) arrows and a very bad aim > It's just a complicated game > If you know please reply! Additionally if you are better at > deciphering chords than me (not surprising) and have any idea what > these are (some are easy for me, a few are not), send those too. Here are the bridge lyrics (from D&W liner notes): they wanted tom they wanted joe to dress 'em up and stick 'em out on show they were arrows in a very bad aim it's just a complicated game Here are the chords (my basic interpretation): main bit: G Gmaj7/F# G Gmaj7/F# + . . . + . . . + . . . + . . . D7 B sus4 - 3 C D + . . . + . . . + . . . Gmaj7/F# G Gmaj7/F# G + . . . + . . . + . . . + . . . bridge: A - F C D A- F C D + . + . + . + . + . + . + . + . The G and Gmaj7/F# chords are played without the third. Not too sure about that Gmaj7/F# chord, in general.... Haven't picked apart the guitar solo for hints yet.... Randy Posynick posynick@netcom.com
------------------------------ Message-Id: <199605301018.MAA25902@utrecht.knoware.nl> From: "Mark Strijbos" <mmello@knoware.nl> Date: Thu, 30 May 1996 12:16:55 +0000 Subject: Re: Tom and Joe and Colin Dear Chalkies, > they wanted Tom > they wanted Joe > to dress 'em up and stick 'em out on show The Tom and Joe mentioned in the lyrics of "A Complicated Game" are none other then Tom Robinson and Joe Strummer! At least, that's according to the Melody Maker "Drums & Wires" album review ( august 18, 1979 ) and this musicpaper used to be quite _close_ to our boys in those days, so this is probably true. So this seems to be yet another stab by AP at the music industry. > they were ( only ? ) arrows in a very bad aim How true... Older Chalkies will probably remember how the industry tried to cash in on "the Punk/New Wave thing" with the Clash and the Tom Robinson Band. Tom was so PC he wrote "Glad To Be Gay" when he wasn't... And the Clash? Just listen to Sandinista! and weep... Funk-pop-a-roll! Mark BTW: Colin is fab! Almost all his songs are real gems... And don't forget, he's the best melodic bass player on this planet ( ask ANY bass player who knows XTC - he'll agree ) IMHO only Paul McCartney comes close to Colin - sometimes! <- XTC quote for today -> There is no muscle in our tongues to tell the world what's in our hearts
------------------------------
Message-Id: <v01530502add2b8bbcf14@[206.86.6.87]>
Date: Thu, 30 May 1996 04:02:31 +0100
From: sunhouse@best.com (John Wedemeyer)
Subject: Bungalow/Kevin Gilbert
Greetings!
Just wanted to add my voice to the chorus of "Bungalow" enthusiasts...I
LOVE THAT SONG!! It reminds me of Van Dyke Parks. (Circa-"Song-Cycle"). I
remember obtaining a tape of the "Nonsuch" demos prior to the albums'
release and "Bungalow" was one of my faves. I love the finished product as
well.
I've always been puzzled as to why my XTC friends didn't like this song.
(Becki Digregorio's reaction, I believe, was "Colin has REALLY lost
it"...meaning his marbles). Oh well.
On another note, I was very saddened to learn of the death of Kevin
Gilbert. Being a Bay Area boy, I was very familiar with his work and had
MUCHO respect for the guy. He was a brilliant pop songwriter as well as an
amazing producer and musician. And one heck of a nice guy, to boot.
His bands, Giraffe and Toy Matinee, were the cream of the crop in San
Jose. Everyone here figured he was gonna put us on the musical map. Kevin
was definitely one of the best popsters to come out of the South Bay and he
will be sorely missed.
Best Wishes To You All,
John W.
"All their fancy play-talk/sticks in out throats like cocktail swords"- Andy
------------------------------ Message-ID: <31ADA1B2.3CEB@televar.com> Date: Thu, 30 May 1996 06:25:06 -0700 From: T Lewis <tlewis@televar.com> Subject: the near future Chalklettes: Dopey note, but I have to get it out of my head: In a fairly recent issue someone noted our boys' penchant for particular metaphors that pop up repeatedly through the discography. My entry: fireworks; ie: "life's like a firework, you're only lit once and you must stand and radiate correctly" (great line, I think). "like a rocket from a bottle shot free" "the brightest fireworks are lighting up my sky" "like a firework to which we're tied, be prepared to go through your ceiling" also...assuming that an album will be coming out in the next 1-2 years, any way of getting the chalkhills and/or bungalow URLs on the liner notes? Over and out...T
------------------------------ From: Angry Young Man <aym@j51.com> Message-Id: <199605301326.JAA02874@j51.com> Subject: Bungalow Date: Thu, 30 May 1996 09:26:13 -0400 (EDT) I love the song Bungalow too...asamatteroffact I'm cuing it up right now....aah. :) But after hearing all you guys wax philosophical about the song that recalls memories of the English seaside, must it be ME that reminds you that not too long ago we were having a discussion here about this very song and someone realized it was a great Colin double-entendre for, um, well, uh, "backdoor" sex? In the "Grass" tradition, Colin makes a song that's even LESS obvious to its (less wholesome) double meaning, and for that I applaud him. Congrats to the band on their loss of professional Virginity...and we're looking forward to the next angry rages from Andy and the next double meanings from Colin and the next kick-ass guitar solo from Dave and the next drummer- and producer- of the month to join the club. Later guys! -ira "Saving it all up for you..."
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 30 May 96 09:55:11 CDT
From: "Bernhardt, Todd" <tbernhardt@aga.com>
Message-Id: <9604308334.AA833471628@cc.perftech.com>
Subject: Bungalow, moonlighting
Hi, fellow Chalkaholics:
All this talk about Bungalow has prompted me to say publicly what I
said to Christie privately: I think it's the best Berlin-era ballad
David Bowie never wrote.
Seriously, I agree with everyone's assessments (and got a hearty laugh
-- as usual -- out of Simon's post) and I, too, think it's a mixture
of serious yearning and tongue-in-cheek crooning.
As far as the extra money issue goes, I remember reading in "The
Little Express" that Dave and Colin (not Andy, who, I gather, makes
more money than either of them since he gets the lion's share of
publishing money as principal songwriter) were moonlighting as one-way
drivers -- you know, when people move and need their cars driven
one-way to their new destination. The driver drives it there and then
takes the train, bus, plane, whatever, back. This was one of the most
depressing things I ever read in that wonderful newsletter, and made
me despair for the future of the band, but HEY!!! They're not Virgins
anymore! That's cause enuf for celebration...
ByeBye!
------------------------------ Message-Id: <9605301539.AA07117@MIT.MIT.EDU> Date: Thu, 30 May 96 11:39:09 -400 From: ldsteve@MIT.EDU (Stephen Gilligan) Subject: Re: Colin the worlds best bass player With apologies to Paul, I really do believe Colin is the most innovative, molodic, even inspirational bass player I've ever heard. I find myself saying, "Now what would Colin play here" when trying to come up with bass lines of my own. It used to be Paul. Hmmmm, I'm must be getting younger.... My Colin Top Ten: Generals & Majors, In Loving Memory.., Grass, Shiney Cage, Generals & Majors, English Roundabout, Life Begins at the Hop, Bungalow, Generals & Majors, Cynical Days; actually I could go on but it does say top ten. Although I have enjoyed XTC from the get go, Generals and Majors, (and the girl who lived in the attic), got me hopelessly hooked. I never get tired of hearing them, especially when I don't expect it, (King for a Day in the Shaws supermarket, I must have spent twice what I normally would that day!!). I'd help charter a CFC if asked. See ya - Stephen
------------------------------ Subject: Like The Dukes? Try this band... From: wwilson@mail07.mitre.org (Wesley H. Wilson) Message-Id: <960530122524.22166@mail07.mitre.org.0> Date: Thu, 30 May 96 12:25:27 -0400 A few months ago I bought "Acid Yantra" by a band called Sundial. I dunno; I liked the cover artwork (lots of color in an era of drab CD artwork) and the instruments listed on the back of the CD. The mellotron! Favorite of many 60's artists including The Moody Blues, King Crimson, The Pink Floyd... I like the album. And I read a review of it on "Muze" that read something like: Sundial attempts to reproduce faithfully (as did XTC as The Dukes) the sounds of the psychedelic 60's, right down to the sound of the cymbal crashes and the voice through a Leslie speaker effect popularized by The Beatles on Revolver. It's unlike The Dukes' stuff, tho, in that there's little, if any, tongue-in-cheek humor. But there's some great guitar work by Gary Ramon, who also worked with Polyphemus on "Stonehouse", another 60's soaked album. His guitar sounds like a cross between Hendrix and Jefferson Airplane, and his playing is melodic. I love this retro stuff. The Dukes was perhaps the first retro psychedelic band, and I've been following the thread ever since. Wes
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 30 May 1996 10:42:36 -0400
Message-Id: <199605301442.KAA14378@zork.tiac.net>
From: sirris@tiac.net (sirri & gino)
Subject: Re: Italian Prophet
Hi friends, the Italian quote:
> "non voglio essere un eroe, per nessuno. mi considero un Puck invecchiato,
non un qualche dio hollywoodiano dello spettacolo.", mentioned in #2-117,
can be translated as follows: "I don't want to be a hero, for anybody. I
consider myself an aged Puck [or rather "punk"?], not some stardom god from
Hollywood".
As an Italian prophet of the XTC credo since 1980, I happen to have
one of the few copies of the very first Italian book on the jolly chaps from
Swindon. It's "XTC", by Vittorio Azzoni, published by Gammalibri in 1986.
Among other memorabilia, it contains an exclusive interview, some pictures
and even a page of drawings and sketches by Andy. And a lot of quotes, like
this:
"We are the cultural stereotype of English ethnicity" (NME, October
1983).
That is, the wise man already sensed the perils of a "successful career".
------------------------------ From: "R.L.Crane" <R.L.Crane@sheffield.ac.uk> Date: Thu, 30 May 1996 17:48:01 +0100 Subject: Nasty! Message-ID: <22D87B44FD0@Broomhead.shef.ac.uk> > And now that there's only Roland left, shouldn't his band be renamed Tear For > Fear? Oh tee hee.... Or better yet "One Down One To Go" Har Har Har!!!! ;-) Only Joking ! love Will Ether/Ore
------------------------------ Message-Id: <9605301757.AA08834@uu3.psi.com> Date: 30 May 1996 10:45:05 U From: "Stein_Alex" <stein_alex@twehbo.com> Subject: Re: The "Pay for Andy's House" Tour Oops... I meant to say "After DAVE toured with Aimee Mann..."
------------------------------
Message-Id: <c=US%a=_%p=BDD%l=BDD/MSMAIL/0000486F@nt_mail.bdd.com>
From: "Grimm, Chris" <GRIMMC@BDD.com>
Subject: Frost Circus/Coney Island, etc.
Date: Thu, 30 May 1996 15:14:00 -0400
Greetings Chalkhillians!
As this is my first posting, I hope you'll bear with me.
>This reminds me. About three years ago I settled in to watch a documentary
>on the prime of Coney Island, the US fairground to end all fairgrounds. It
>was a superb bit of work, made even more so by the appearance of "Frost
>Circus" at odd points throughout the programme. Even now I scan the listings
>to see if it is showing again. Did anyone else see it? Has anyone got a
>copy? Or know what it was called?
"Coney Island" is a documentary film by Ric Burns, brother of Ken Burns
("The Civil War", "Baseball"). In addition to being an extraordinary
film, it's soundtrack features the noted song by the lads. The
documentary was produced as an installment in the PBS documentary series
"The American Experience." I bought a copy of the film from PBS Home
Video, though I don't have a catalog or phone number now (at work) - I
can try to track something down if anyone would like. The wonderful
quality to the documentary is that Burns portrays historical events in a
very mythical manner, leaving viewers both shocked and enchanted by a
world which they can hardly believe would have actually existed. His
documentary skills were used in a similarly mythological, albeit darker,
way in "The Donner Party" (a film which also benefited from a stellar
soundtrack - particularly Badalamenti's (sp?) "Dark Spanish Symphony"
(available on the "Wild at Heart" soundtrack)- to create a rich mood),
about both the heroism and tragedy of a 19th-century pioneer wagon train
that became mired in an early winter storm in the Sierra Nevada
mountains of California, leading some members to eventually resort to
cannibalism to survive. Neither soundtrack is available on CD. Ric
Burn's films are stylistically similar to the better known longer works
by his brother, but the moodier quality (at least in the shorter form)
works better, in my opinion, than the more upbeat almost Disnification
of history in "The Civil War" and "Baseball". Ric Burns most recently
produced the 6-hour series "The Way West," which is most similar to the
work of Ken. I only go into this because the same quality of thoughtful
art that appeals to me in these films is probably what appeals to me in
the music of XTC. I hope others might also be interested.
Does anyone else think that Skylarking (or maybe a somewhat expanded
version) would be perfectly suited for stage adaptation?
That's all for now...
Chris G.
------------------------------ Date: Thu, 30 May 1996 15:30:48 -0400 (EDT) From: Natalie Jane Jacobs <gnat@umich.edu> Subject: Appreciating Colin Message-ID: <Pine.SOL.3.91.960530150431.19275A-100000@zaxxon.rs.itd.umich.edu> In a classroom, there's always the clever guy at the front - you know, the class clown, making everyone laugh, messing with the teacher's head - and then there's the quiet kid at the back who sits there scribbling away at something, and everyone ignores him until he suddenly says something so brilliant that it blows everyone away. That's Colin, there at the back. I didn't realize how much good stuff he's done until I read other people's lists of favorite Colin songs - "English Roundabout," "One of the Millions," just about everything from "Skylarking" - I hadn't really thought about it before. When someone's not in your face, you tend to ignore him, or at least underappreciate him. To previous mentions of great Colin tunes, I'd like to add some of his early ravings like "Crossed Wires" and "I'll Set Myself on Fire" - what a wonderful shrill yap that man had... almost more obnoxious than Andy's. I also like the demos of his that I've heard, like "Find the Fox" and "Where Did the Ordinary People Go?" The demos he did for "Skylarking" are really spare and wiry and interesting - pencil sketches as opposed to Andy's oil paintings. Great stuff. I'm afraid I never cared for "Bungalow." The best I can say about it is that it effectively conveys dreariness... which is not something that interests me much. But when I hear you all raving about it, I keep thinking I'm missing something - like reading a book with some of the pages cut out. Maybe I'll blow the dust off my copy of "Nonsuch" and give it another whirl. So let us lift a glass to Mr. Moulding. All hail Colin! And those other two as well, while we're at it, but especially that kid at the back with the bass guitar. Hooray! Natalie Jacobs http://www-personal.umich.edu/~gnat ************** Reality dies at dawn!
------------------------------ Date: Thu, 30 May 1996 18:37:39 -0400 (EDT) From: Christie <cbyun@cep.yale.edu> Subject: An Oldie but a Moulding Message-ID: <Pine.LNX.3.91.960530182021.12403A-100000@www.cep.yale.edu> Hi Everyone, Well, I'm happy to report that several people wrote in to say that they thought "Bungalow" is a fabulous tune. I heartily agree. You know, I used to hate it, but now I love it. Who knows why. At least it inspired some emotion (disbelief, then dislike) anyway. Simon Sleightholm, your description was spot on about what I imagine when I listen to "Bungalow". And this is a late thank you to William Ham-Bevan (hope I got your name right!) for your excellent long time ago analysis and explanation of the tune. I used to hate the Big Express too, but now I love it. It's an even better concept album than Skylarking IMO. Does anyone else have that hatred turned to adoration syndrome? Our great leader John Relph is absolutely right about spending time every day listening to something you hate. Maybe this means I'll eventually love those Barry Andrews ditties on Go 2. Nah, I doubt it. Christie
------------------------------ Date: 31 MAY 96 09:25:37 EST From: PCulnane@dca.gov.au Subject: "Beatlesque" Message-ID: <0000dlznpxlf.0000bdtpxdjx@dca.gov.au> Good morning to the calcium-enriched, I spied a fun little item in the April '96 issue of British rock mag Mojo, that I thought might be of interest. They have a regular feature called "home taping", in which various staff writers compile their own imaginary cassettes based on a set theme. This time Paul du Noyer tackles a "Beatlesque" theme - songs that have a distinct, well, Beatlesque sound. Among many delights, du Noyer chose "The Mole From The Ministry" for inclusion, and this is what he had to say about it: "The Dukes, of course, were an alter-ego trip for XTC back in the mid-'80s, allowing them to dabble happily across the psychedelic pallet (sic). The last track on '25 O'Clock' alights upon the most mimicked Beatle track of all, 'I Am The Walrus'." My ears always prick up at the slightest mention of our chalk-stained chums. And this item saw fit to mention "Beatlesque" songs from quite a few of my other favourites: Badfinger, Cheap Trick, Crowded House, T.Rex, World Party, The Lightning Seeds, Harry Nilsson, et al. Might even be fun to actually make up the tape that du Noyer suggests. Bye for now, Paul
------------------------------ Message-Id: <199605310145.LAA12262@warchives.riv.csu.edu.au.> From: "Simon Knight" <sknight@warchivegw.riv.csu.edu.au> Date: Fri, 31 May 1996 10:40:38 +0000 Subject: Re: Producer's Poll Results Well, here are the results of the recent producers poll. Thanks to all the people who voted. (Oh, and big thanks to whoever pointed out Mitchell Froom's work with American Music Club. I'll have to track that album down). Here are the main contenders: Mitchell Froom 7 Geoff Emerick 6 Brian Eno 4 T-Bone Burnett 3 Hugh Padgham 2 Paul Fox 2 This weird and wonderful collection of people received one vote each: Brian Wilson, Norman Smith, Ray Shulman, Gary Katz, Roy Halee, Brendan O'Brien, Prince (!), Bob Clearmountain, Walter Becker, David Bascombe, Harry Vanda / George Young, Van Dyke Parks, Roy Wood, Jack Joseph Puig, Thomas Dolby, Paul Fox, John Leckie, Steve Lillywhite, Don Was, Bill Nelson, Tchad Blake, Joni Mitchell, David Yasbek, Donald Fagan / Walter Becker, David Gilmour, Daniel Lanois, Mitch Easter, Scott Litt, George Martin As long as we're really tossing ideas around, can you imagine the results with Kate Bush? I've noticed no-one has suggested that XTC produce themselves. Do people think the guys need a strong hand in the studio? Their production work for other people shows they have the capability to do it themselves. Onto another topic: Why are people ragging on Colin? His songs bring another interesting dimension to XTC's sound. I find his straight-ahead songwriting a nice counterpoint to Andy's more extreme style. Top three Colin songs: Washaway, Vanishing girl, In loving memory of a name Does anyone else think "Collideascope" sounds like Andy trying to write a slice of Colin? Even down to the vocal delivery... I'm sure i'm not the only one who thought Colin sang this the first time i heard it. And as for "Bungalow", well, you wouldn't find a song like that on a Bon Jovi album would you? It's XTC's willingness to explore different styles and moods that make them so interesting. Look at how the lyrics are carefully constructed to sound like a real estate ad (the use of short direct syllables and rich visual imagery). Not many lyricists can paint such a clear cinematic picture with such short melody lines. No matter what you think of the song, you can't deny you can visualise it perfectly, can't you? So hey, leave Colin alone! And i haven't even mentioned his incredible bass playing...
------------------------------
From: richard.pedrettiallen@octel.com
Date: Thu, 30 May 1996 15:21:27 -0700
Message-Id: <1AE21EB0.1240@corp.octel.com>
Subject: Chalkids Contributor's Information
WHEN SUBMITTING YOUR TAPE PLEASE INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING
INFORMATION. ALL, SOME OR NONE OF IT WILL BE INCLUDED ON THE
J-CARD, SPACE PROVIDING.
===================================
Chalkhill's Children Artist Profile
Sender's Name:
Address:
City/State:
Zip:
email:
Artist(s) or Group Name:
Song Performed:
Source of Original:
Performers/Instruments:
===================================
The songs reserved are:
1. Robin Myrick
(The Comfortable Chair) ?
2. Phillip McEachern ?
3. Peter Fitzpatrick Making Plans for Nigel OR Grass OR The Disappointed
4. Sean Altman Ten Feet Tall
5. Miles Coleman Dying
6. Ben Gott Battery Brides
7. Chris Spillios Dear God
8. Harrison Sherwood Living In A Haunted Heart
9. John Christensen 1000 Umbrellas
10. Curtis Settino
(Canoofle) Scissor Man
11. Steve Lutz Season Cycle
12. Natalie Jacobs Rook
13. Dolph Chaney Respectable Street
14. Steve (Skeg) Perley My Love Explodes
15. Nick Mitchell
(Mirrors) Toys OR Ladybird
16. John Hedges Disque Bleu
17. Christopher Burgess All Of A Sudden (It's Too Late)
18. Randy C Sacrificial Bonfire
19. Ned Robie Rocket From A Bottle OR Roads Girdle The Globe
20. Walt Michulka Generals & Majors OR Bike Ride To The Moon OR Your
Gold Dress
21. Mitch Friedman "XTSea" Medley
22. John Neil I'm Bugged OR Ballet For A Rainy Day
23. Gene Yoon Everything
24. Erich Walther Travels In Nihilon
25. Martin Monkman Thanks For Christmas
26. Christopher Burgess This World Over
27. Christopher Coolidge Wrapped in Gray
28. Naoyuking Iso ?
29. Tom Slack Meeting Place
30. Paul Brantley When We Get To England
31. Carnine/Posynick/Pedretti-Allen
Complicated Game
32. Tim Kendrick ?
33. Eric Day It's Nearly Africa
If your listing is not correct, email me directly. I lost a bunch of email in
the process of an system upgrade. I relied and my computer and lost(again).
What made me think "upgrade" implied "improvement"?!
Klaus Bergmaier claims to be the only man in Austria who knows XTC. I'm not
disputing the statement, just thought I'd pass it along.
Cheers, Richard
------------------------------ Date: Thu, 30 May 1996 20:52:40 -0700 Message-Id: <199605310352.UAA02445@dfw-ix10.ix.netcom.com> From: huduguru@ix.netcom.com (huduguru) Subject: Re: Skylacking >Ian could respond with a little more appreciation >for those who made an effort. I spent alot of time >putting together a version of Season Cycle, and after >sending it, never got so much as a "Thanks, but we're >not interested." Good luck to those of you with a >"reserved" song. >TS Amen to that, brother! I sent Ian a version of Ballet For A Rainy Day in November, and got back a letter saying that it would be on the tape. Then another saying that it would be out in March. Next thing I know, I see that the song is up for grabs. Then that someone else had it. Granted, my version was pretty straight, but as far as I'm concerned... Fuck Him and his silly pretentious fanzine! Sorry for the language, but I feel that it's called for in this case. Can't wait for the Chalkhills Tribute Tape! (I'm pretty sure that I'm still on THAT one!) Steve
------------------------------ Date: 31 May 96 00:28:27 EDT From: studio 17 productions <104151.1063@CompuServe.COM> Subject: "Unresponsiveness"/More Colin Message-ID: <960531042827_104151.1063_IHO33-1@CompuServe.COM> someone said: >Good luck to those of you with a "reserved" song I do not know Ian (The Skylacking Man) but as a musician with 20 odd years experience performing and recording my own music, and working a regular day job to pay for the privilege of being a musician, I know firsthand how busy one can get when assembling an album. This makes your already 70 hour week (say 40 regular job 30 music making jobs) even longer. I've submitted a piece for SKYLACKING, and I too have many hours of work in it. But if it doesn't make it, it doesn't make it. If Ian has time to respond "no thanks", he'll respond "no thanks". If he doesn't respond at all I'll understand, and try (harder) again next time. To "warn" the rest of us seems unneccesary somehow. I think it a bit unfair to Ian to judge that he is "unresponsive" because your song probably didn't get picked. This is purely an impartial view as I have never met him as I said. I'd at least give him the benefit of the doubt...the man is probably BUSY. Carry on, make more music, sent it out to the world. they'll either listen or they won't. Enough said! Onto the important things in life: I said last time that IN LOVING MEMORY OF A NAME was one of my fave Colin tunes. Several people mentioned FLY ON THE WALL, which is stunning in the opposite extreme. WHAT a great vocal! truly wild. dave @ studio 17 productions
------------------------------ Message-Id: <v01530502add43ff4f122@[132.170.24.43]> Date: Fri, 31 May 1996 01:31:25 -0500 From: dcm80229@pegasus.cc.ucf.edu (Derek Miner) Subject: The boys' next move... For a while now, I've been contemplating what XTC might try next, and I've had an interesting theory for just about as long. Remember back when the boys suffered a bit of a slump with "Mummer" and "Big Express"? Not to say that the albums are bad (especially since all XTC fans have different tastes, even within the catalogue), just that things weren't going along swimmingly in the creative department. Then along came The Dukes of Stratosphear. The band got excited about music, had some fun, and set themselves up for their next couple records, which some consider to be their best (at least in the later period). Well, what all this is leading to is: Since critics started to come down on XTC for Nonsuch, and they've been out of the studio (as a group) for almost five years, wouldn't it be interesting for them to get re-energized by a pseudonymous side-project? Do you think the energy will come back once the band gets together to record as a threesome or will they still suffer from post-contract wrangling blues? Would they need to try something light and fun to get back in the spirit? Just an idea for speculation... P.S. Finally got to hear the whole Sugarplastic album. And, like someone told me, the thing's far from original, but it's a great listen. CMJ had said they lift liberally from Partridge, but I have only noticed a couple particular things. I plan to listen more in depth to pick out some obvious rips, 'cause they are definitely lurking there. "Polly Brown" is ripe with some BLATANT XTC riffs, and one track early on has a "late riser" chorus that IMMEDIATELY brought to mind Paul McCartney's "Jet." = Derek =
------------------------------ From: MSDONATI@aol.com Date: Fri, 31 May 1996 07:19:30 -0400 Message-ID: <960531071928_404390185@emout09.mail.aol.com> Subject: beach boys, englishman and a test Hello! Please note: this was composed about a month ago. The thoughts are still relevant so I thought I'd still share. Enjoy! I've been a non-participating member of this group for almost five months and I must say that I am always impressed by the quality and variety of information that is posted -- thanks to John Relph for his dedication in supporting this adventure. Anyway, the reason(s) I've decided to cross the lurkerline are: 1) I've never been a big Beach Boy's fan. Actually I'd usually change the station whenever they would come on the radio. Obviously I never gave them a chance because, after reading the XTC/Beach Boy's stuff a while back, I broke down and bought "Pet Sounds". All I can say is WOW! This is amazing stuff, especially considering when it was recorded -- I highly recommend it to anyone. 2) Within the last several weeks, I finally heard Martin Newell's "The Greatest Living Englishman" from start to finish. Many times. Like over and over and over. My thoughts - THIS IS POP at it's best! Great lyrics, great tunes just a very enjoyable disc. My question is, is his latest offering as good or even close? 3) Regarding the thread about the lack of popularity and the "acquired taste" nature of the lads, I decided to do my own focus-group-of-one on a co-worker. She is an avid fan of Sting and James Taylor, so I figured she would be objective. I gave her Oranges and Lemons and Nonsuch with the instructions to give them a listen and just let me know her thoughts. Her comments were that they were very good and she especially liked, as she put it, "the words". Next, I'll have her give Skylarking a try. 4) Now for something completely different: A friend of mine who works for a bank was telling me about a "smart card" (computer chip on a card) credit card project taking place in the UK. Guess where the site is - you got it, Swindon, home of the 3 lads and the big roundabout. Apparently the test is going so well, that Visa USA and MasterCard are scrapping their test protocols to adopt the Mondex (UK card issuer) protocol. Of all places! That's all for now - back to the village of ex-lurkers - mark "I talk in pictures not in words" - P. Gabriel
------------------------------ Message-ID: <01BB4F09.62912540@dublin-ts5-131.indigo.ie> From: Peter Fitzpatrick <Beatle@indigo.ie> Subject: RE: Chakhills' Children Date: Fri, 31 May 1996 15:53:04 +-100 I've just started work on my tune "Making Plans for Nigel". Hard bit has been re-learning the guitar. I played it upto about 6 years ago and recently bought a new one (been playing keyboards since then). Fortunately it's worked out pretty ok so far. Now that I've experimented a little on the sounds I've swayed away from doing a note-for-note cover version and will try to do something a little original. Should sound like an absolute gas - my Irish brogue and those lyrics. Ha Ha. How's everyone else doing ?
------------------------------ Date: Fri, 31 May 96 17:33 BST-1 From: joeo@cix.compulink.co.uk (Psion plc Joe Odukoya) Subject: Re: Curt & Roland: A DISCLAIMER Message-Id: <memo.836664@cix.compulink.co.uk> Just to say... > Are "Curt" and "Roland" such uncommon names that this becomes an > internationally viable assumption? Probably not, but together... > And why do we see these posts now, twelve years after the LP's > release, after hundreds of issues of Chalkhills? Come on Ben & Joe, when > you get together to fabricate your trans-Atlantic trolls, you're going to > have to do better than this. Sorry to rain on your parade (whoever you are) but I have never heard of this Ben guy (I read chalkhills so infrequently these days). I'm afraid coincidences DO happen and this was one... > But seriously, let's put this one to rest before it becomes another "Dear > God" thread. We all know that Andy, Colin and Dave were just gently > thanking the Kurzweil (familiarly known as "Curt" among Teutonic > keyboardists) and Roland companies, Sorry, I don't buy it. The Bath connection seems much more likely (to me!) but it probably isn't worth speculating on. I was just wondering if someone knew "the real truth"... Bye - Joeo - ||| [Ov0] -
------------------------------ Date: Fri, 31 May 1996 15:34:55 -0400 (EDT) From: BEAULAC MARIO <m246274@er.uqam.ca> Subject: Vintage pix Message-Id: <Pine.HPP.3.91.960531143714.11112A-100000@nobel.si.uqam.ca> Hiyall Chalkhillians, I stumbled across a new (?) book which might interest fans of the early, "punkyish" XTC, at least on a visual level. Be warned, though: its subject is the record company we've all come to despise and whose shackles our trio has finally gotten away from... The book is called "VIRGIN, A History of Virgin Records", by Terry Southern (I suspect this isn't the late great author of "Candy" and "The Magic Christian"), and the publisher is -- no kidding -- "A publishing company". Don't expect big revelations about the inner workings of the beast: this is mostly a self-absorbed picture-book put together almost haphazardly, with minimal editorial input and maximum navel-gazing. (The book sells for a whopping $37.95 in Canada.) So why bring it up? Well, it's got a great looking spread of the Partridge-Moulding-Andrews-Chambers XTC on pages 62-63, prominently featuring a quite energetic looking Andy -- you almost feel those creative sparks flying! There are two other pictures of the band in the book (pages 167 and 247 -- I may have missed some, since I leafed through it pretty fast), one more of the quartet and another of the actual trio, an outake from the Skylarking LP's inner sleeve photo session (in full color). It's worth a look, and at least it gives a fair shake to the band, which is much more than they actually got at the end of their horror story with Virgin, as we all know (and more than they get in some near-sighted "history of r'n'r", etc., books). The Scissor Man P. S.: What's the deal with those continuing -- and annoying -- swipes at the "over thirty" constituency? If one follows that half-assed notion to its logical conclusion, then Andy, Colin and Dave would be amongst the "unaffiliated", wouldn't they? Isn't it high time to leave behind that divisive and unproductive "generational divide" bit and concentrate on the unifying factor here, over and beyond all demographics? Just my 2 cents.
------------------------------ End of Chalkhills Digest #2-118 *******************************
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