Chalkhills Digest Volume 2, Issue 122
Date: Wednesday, 12 June 1996
Chalkhills Digest, Volume 2, Number 122
Wednesday, 12 June 1996
Today's Topics:
Andy did not produce Jane's first album
Re: Colin's Hermits on "Without The Beatles"
PauL/AnDy
Quips and quibbles
Belew overall
Andy produced J. Siberry???
jane siberry and KaTe bush
Re: Sorry, Mr. Yazbek
Re: Jane Siberry
Mutton culpa
YAZBEK'S BITTER
Yet more bass talk
A Celebration - English Settlement
Re: Bob Clearmountain
final things
Laundry
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---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Tue, 11 Jun 1996 02:17:29 -0400 (EDT) From: "Tom X. Chao" <tqc8542@is.nyu.edu> Subject: Andy did not produce Jane's first album Message-Id: <Pine.OSF.3.93.960611021436.906A-100000@is.nyu.edu> Andy Partridge did not produce Jane Siberry's eponymous independent release (Street Records SRCD 002-2). I have my copy right here. The producers are Jane Siberry, David Bradstreet, and Carl Keesee. Unless Andy was using a pseudonym. TXC
------------------------------ Message-Id: <199606111006.LAA20866@aoife.indigo.ie> From: "Peter Fitzpatrick" <beatle@indigo.ie> Subject: Re: Colin's Hermits on "Without The Beatles" Date: Tue, 11 Jun 1996 11:05:49 +0100 > "Colin's Hermits" do a cover of I Am The Walrus. > > Bongo drums > & the Proteus Orchestra The Proteus Orchestra is a synth......
------------------------------
Message-Id: <MAPI.Id.0016.00696c76612020203535324230303035@MAPI.to.RFC822>
From: JoE Silva <silva@mond1.ccrc.uga.edu>
Subject: PauL/AnDy
Date: Tue, 11 Jun 96 07:29:46 EDT
> Maybe Paul should
>consider collaborating with Andy to
>help revitalize his songwriting...it
>almost worked when he collaborated with
>Elvis Costello!
Sure sounds like a no-brainer, but I think Elvis has a
lot more noteriety, thus could have made this Macca
connection a bit easier. Paul seems fairly insulated to
a lot of what goes on/went on in music over the last...
....oh, 15 years or so (even though he has enough
teenagers afoot to keep him clued in...), and probably
has no idea who Andy is. You always read these
stories about famous pop musicians who are given
a cassette of something well known and to them
it's a complete revelation because they've been in
their own private vacuum for so long. I was actually
fairly stunned that someone said that Andy had made
a comment about Ash!
--------------------------
JoE Silva
Senior Contributor
Consumable Online
silva@mond1.ccrc.uga.edu
"BanG BanG" - Maxwell
------------------------------ Date: Tue, 11 Jun 96 12:38:33 CDT From: "Bernhardt, Todd" <tbernhardt@aga.com> Message-Id: <9605118345.AA834518678@cc.perftech.com> Subject: Quips and quibbles Hi, Chalkaholix: From: JoE Silva <silva@mond1.ccrc.uga.edu>: > Recently chatted with sir Belew and he made mention of >his great affection for Andy and XTC's music (he says they're >one of the few bands that he keeps up with these days...). >He'd apparently would really like to work with Andy sometime in >the future when his schedule allows. When I mentioned to him >Andy's being known as a bit "difficult" to work with, he laughed >and said he didn't think he would have that problem with him at all. Of course he's not concerned about Andy! The man works with Robert Fripp on a daily basis! :^) From: DeWitt Henderson <dewitth@lanl.gov> >I read the last Chalkhills Digest, and I guess I missed the original >discussion or comments, but evidently 20-somethings and 30-somethings >were sniping at each other (about what?). Who cares? I mean, let's >welcome anyone who's intelligent and adventurous enough to recognize >XTC's music as GOOD, regardless of their age!!! So I'm not even going >to state my age - as far as I'm concerned, anyone who listens to XTC, >Squeeze, Elvis Costello, etc. is cool. I guess that means you're over 30, huh? :^) (That's okay, so am I.) Actually, we're not sniping -- as someone mentioned in the last issue, this all springs from flame-bait some moron posted a while ago that suggested, among other things, that ALL listeners of XTC were over 30. From: Martin_Monkman@fincc04.fin.gov.bc.ca > The current Squeeze experience mirrors much of what XTC is currently > going through. The article also offers some explanations for why > Squeeze (and by extension, XTC) don't sell very well -- mostly that > they are too English, too literate, and too old. I'm not going to make any friends here with this one, but I think it's also because Squeeze hasn't put out anything particularly new or innovative since the '80s, when Difford and Tilbrook started believing, prompted by the press, that they were the next Lennon/McCartney. It also could be because they're, in my experience anyway, TERRIBLE live. I saw them in 1986, I think, and I can truly say they were one the worst live bands I've ever seen. Glenn Tilbrook was the only one "on," the others were completely uninspired and the mix was mush (despite the fact that I was sitting in the "sweet spot," about 15 feet behind and slightly above the mixing board). Don't get me wrong -- I liked them enuf in the first place to see them, but I was terribly disappointed. From: varga@ferndown.ate.slb.com (Stephen Varga): >Does anyone out there know any more about the problems with Ian Reid which >is not mentioned in the Chalkhills and Children Biography? I know that whenever Andy mentions Ian Reid, he makes sure to point out that the "G" in his last name is silent. Please be kind to me about the Squeeze slam ... ByeBye!
------------------------------ Message-Id: <2.2.32.19960611193826.0067d7e4@mail.sonyinteractive.com> Date: Tue, 11 Jun 1996 12:38:26 -0700 From: Bob Estus <bestus@sonyinteractive.com> Subject: Belew overall Hillfolk, On a belew note: I add my vote for Adrian as producer. Too bad, but not really, he sounds pretty busy. Did anyone that bought the Eric Matthews cd think he was going to break into "Lone Rhinoceros" on the third track. Natalie Jane Jacobs at <gnat@umich.edu> forked out: >This has probably been pointed out before, but I've noticed >that XTC do a lot of songs about work, economic realities, money, etc. Coincidentally? the reverse (may be sinister) of xtc, CTX is one of the largest mortgage companies in the U.S. Traded on the New York Stock exchange bearing the same initials.(insert spooky organ music) -Bob
------------------------------ Date: Tue, 11 Jun 1996 19:14:50 -0400 (EDT) From: BEAULAC MARIO <m246274@er.uqam.ca> Subject: Andy produced J. Siberry??? Message-Id: <Pine.HPP.3.91.960611182651.15455A-100000@nobel.si.uqam.ca> Hiyall Chalkhillians, in Chalkhills #2-121, Christopher R. Coolidge posted the following: > Speaking of Jane Siberry, Andy produced her first album(Canadian only >release, forget the title), so there's already a connection. Now, unless Mr Partridge used one of the following pseudonyms, he's not listed on the record for his production work: the LP lists Jane Siberry, David Bradstreet and Carl Keesee as producers. This is the first I've ever heard of a Siberry/Andy connection. Not that the idea doesn't sound great (it does), but I seriously doubt he had something to do with that first, self-titled Jane Siberry album from 1981 (which, BTW, is a very strong contender for an "all-time worst sleeve art" award). The album is neither bad nor especially memorable, and it has none of the sonic hallmarks enlivening Peter Blegvad's 1983 album "The Naked Shakespeare", which WAS produced by Andy (to noticeable and pleasurable effect). On another note, the "I Am the Walrus" cover by Colin's Hermits is extremely good news! Alas, that German import-only item is a bit costly... Now, wouldn't it be great if the song was issued as a double A-side 45 with the 1990 "Strawberry Fields" cover? You're the Wish You Are I Had, indeed... Thanks again for the uplifting news! The Scissor Man
------------------------------ Date: Tue, 11 Jun 1996 19:59:19 -0400 From: flaky white stuff <woj@terrapin.rutgers.edu> Message-Id: <199606112359.TAA13195@terrapin.rutgers.edu> Subject: jane siberry and KaTe bush in v2 #121, "Christopher R. Coolidge" <ccoolidg@moose.uvm.edu>: > Speaking of Jane Siberry, Andy produced her first album(Canadian only >release, forget the title), so there's already a connection. jane siberry's first record, self-titled, was produced by jane, david bradstreet, and carl keese. it's available in the states on east side digital. in v2 #120, "Simon Knight" <sknight@warchivegw.riv.csu.edu.au> sez: >Actually, Kate has a new single due out next week, with a new album >to follow in a month or so. if so, you know something that a million rabid KaTefans (tm) (myself included) over on love-hounds don't. the only known KaTe release coming out soon is her track on the _common ground_ compilation. care to provide some details? (sorry for no xtc content, i just rejoined after a long absence.) woj
------------------------------ Date: Tue, 11 Jun 1996 21:30:09 -0400 From: nmcgrath@world.std.com (Nancy McGrath) Message-Id: <199606120130.AA16175@world.std.com> Subject: Re: Sorry, Mr. Yazbek In Chalkhills Digest #2-121, Erich in rainy Ottawa <enrico@fox.nstn.ca> spake thus: > A few months back I posted about ordering The Laughing Man and being told I > could only get it from Japan. Well, the CD comes in and the store is asking > $54.00 CDN. for it! I'm sorry, David, but with that kind of money I'd > expect it delivered personally :-) THE LAUGHING MAN has been released much closer to Canada's borders in recent times. See if the store can order it from W.A.R.? Records in the U.S.; it should be a lot cheaper than the Japanese version! If it's less expensive to order from England (what with Canada being part of the Commonwealth and all), it's also available there on the Humbug label. ...Or spend the money on bus fare to NYC, then see Yazbek in person and pick up a copy at Tower or HMV... Nancy McGrath nmcgrath@world.std.com
------------------------------ Date: Tue, 11 Jun 1996 22:43:33 -0400 Message-Id: <199606120243.WAA25620@dcez.dcez.com> From: "J. D. Mack" <jdmack@nicom.com> Subject: Re: Jane Siberry >From: "Christopher R. Coolidge" <ccoolidg@moose.uvm.edu> > Speaking of Jane Siberry, Andy produced her first album(Canadian only >release, forget the title), so there's already a connection. Ummm ... I have the album in my hand (titled, simply, "Jane Siberry), and the production is credited to Jane, David Bradstreet, and Carl Keesee. J.D.
------------------------------ Message-Id: <v01530504ade3eb462818@[139.80.100.159]> Date: Wed, 12 Jun 1996 15:35:38 +1200 From: james.dignan@stonebow.otago.ac.nz (James Dignan) Subject: Mutton culpa I said: >As for the song Bungalow, it is priceless, in its own quirky way. Any of >you who know New Zealand's band the Muttonbirds might know a similar song >by them, called "A Good Address", which I secretly think may have been >influenced by Bungalow. um... not the Muttonbirds. Make that Don McGlashan's previous band/acting troupe "The Front Lawn" James
------------------------------
From: yazbek@pipeline.com
Date: Wed, 12 Jun 1996 03:24:46 GMT
Message-Id: <199606120324.DAA09859@pipe1.ny2.usa.pipeline.com>
Subject: YAZBEK'S BITTER
Hey There,
You can imagine my frustration when people e-mail me or post in Chalkhills
that they are having trouble finding my album ("The Laughing Man") or are
being told it is only available as an expensive import. The fact is, it is
out on an american label called What Are REcords? (or W.A.R.?) You can
order the damn thing from W.A.R.? 2401 Broadway/BOulder, CO/80304 or you
can call them at 303-440-0666. Do me a favor if you call them-- tell them
you couldn't find it in your area. By the way, we'll be playing the Danbury
Modern Folk Festival on July 28th in Danbury, Conn. along with five other
bands and Jamie Bloch, who Andy Partridge turned me on to. I'm excited
about it because he's really good. Look for his C.D.
Oh, while I'm typing-- we opened for The Verve Pipe in Philly last Thur.,
and they're quite spectacular live. They did a great rendition of "Wake Up"
on the tribute album and their own tunes are extremely musical yet
grindingly loud. CHeck them out.
Call your local station and request "Black Cowboys on the Beach" , "Welcome
To My World" or "Monkey In THe middle" from "The Laughing Man" and I will
pay you one hundred dollars.
YAZBEK
------------------------------ Message-ID: <40DFD62F01291300@ametsoc.org> Date: Wed, 12 Jun 96 09:29:00 -0500 From: dgershmn <dgershmn@ametsoc.org> Organization: AMS Subject: Yet more bass talk Not to belabor the ongoing bass-player thread, I hope, but for an excellent example of the kind of playing that undoubtedly "moulded" Colin's style (sorry), take a close listen to McCartney's bass on the Beatles' "Rain"...it never ceases to amaze me. It's a perfect example of using the bass to create a second melody line to complement the vocal melody. And not to belabor the Sugarplastic reviews either, but I just picked it up after getting a generally good impression of it from posts here. It's quite XTC-ish, no matter how much Ben Eshbach may supposedly not be aware of it, and immediately enjoyable. I don't think it falters all that much in the later parts of the disc, as some have said, actually...it may just be that it's a little less XTC-like, which really ought to be okay from the point of view of originality. Anyway, if you've got some extra bucks lying around, I'd recommend it as a good listen. XTC Quote of the Day: "I don't know how many pounds make up a ton/Of all the Nobel prizes that I've never won."
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 12 Jun 1996 23:18:44 +0900 (JST)
Message-Id: <199606121418.XAA19710@gol1.gol.com>
From: mwicks@gol.com (Michael Wicks)
Subject: A Celebration - English Settlement
Hello Fellow Chalkhillians!
Well, the dust has (seemingly) settled as to the "review" debate of a
couple months ago, so on
with another "brief" installment of XTC album reviews. Colin's heartfelt
opening track ("oh, Runaways, please come home" ), starts the album out.
Then, his pleas calling for and end to sensless development by greedy
contractors and corporations, turning neighborhoods into motorways and
office blocks ("save us from the Ball and Chain"), shows us that Senor
Molding provided us with some of his strongest songs yet. Nowhere is his
(I would guess) dislike for the city more evident than in my top 5 colin
fav, English Roundabout. I remember reading a couple comments by those
who live in/near Swindon to avoid it at all costs precicely because of the
Roundabout. Whew!
The theme of family, society, and racial issues, crop up often on ES.
My second favourite song, next to SWO(absolutely stunning...I could go on
and on about it for.... : - ) ), has to be No Thugs..., just
drips with social satire; a middle-class family who tries to convince
themselves that they are normal, that their son is an angel, that all the
crime and violence and ugliness is on the outside, when in fact it has
already seeped in. So many things going on in this song. Fantastic!
Then there is Melt the Guns, with it's (IMHO) double meaning--In
Twomey's bio, he says that it is about the futility of the arms race. Just
recently, though, I thought it might be about television and/or
movies--Hollywood, perhaps?--, and all the violent, decadent programming on
it, that influence our children. "children will want them, mothers supply
them, as long as your killers are heroes". I tend to think it could be
about both; my favourite line: "I'm speaking to the Justice League of
America" if only because I used to read the comic of the same name
voraciously when I was a kid! : - )
The rhythmic funkiness of It's Nearly Africa, with it's world music
beat and calls to "shake your bag of bones and mend your missing links"
gets me into a happy, dancing mood every time I hear it! Terry's best
drumming was saved for this album. Very surprised to hear that this was
originally written in 1975 during the Helium Kidz days! ; Wonderful
sentiments throughout; As in Knuckle Down. I naturally think about the
conflict in Northern Ireland and just wish that I could play this song for
anyone who's angry enough to do violence against another human. Put them
down!
And how about the wonderful acoustic journey of Yacht Dance? What a
pretty song. Have any of you out there covered this song? All Of A Sudden
has the reverse effect for me; a very beautiful ballad, but so sad, so
hollow, when a relationship reaches that point when "it's too late", and
you can't go back because "in all your hurry, you've accidentaly locked the
gate..."
In the Final Song on the Album category, there is IMHO none better
(pre '82) than Snowman. The crystal-like tinkling sounds that begin the
song obviously remind me of snow falling a 'la "It's A Wonderful Life".
Haven't we all been treated like a snowman at one point or another? The
song is simply : Flawless!
Finally, a few questions that someone out there might have an answer
for:
First, I must be the only person that has this desire to want to
hear Dave Gregory sing more!Needless to say he is one of the best
guitarists to ever play the damn beast. Now even though he says he can't
sing, I still love those two lines he sings in "Leisure". Now, does
anyone know of any other instances when his voice can be heard (background
vocals, non-xtc songs) on any other songs?
Also, I was wondering just how many different pressings/album
versions there are of E.S.?
Why were two lines from SWO deleted/taken out of the video made for
the same song?
I believe they are, "...and bullies might give you black eyes, and buses
might skid on black ice".
And finally, a challenge: Does anyone have a tape/video/promo
flyer/program/photos/anything relating to XTC's last concert, which was in
San Diego, CA on April 3rd, 1982? Did a girl actually get up on stage and
dance/act crazy right in front of Andy throughout the whole show?
Needless to say, I have overextended my comments (actually, I
haven't even scraped the surface ;-) ) And I do apologize profusely
for the length! Thank you for taking the time and reading it, and ... good
nite! -Michael
------------------------------ Date: Wed, 12 Jun 1996 11:46:15 -0400 (EDT) From: "Christopher R. Coolidge" <ccoolidg@moose.uvm.edu> Subject: Re: Bob Clearmountain Message-ID: <Pine.A32.3.91.960612114430.23134E-100000@moose.uvm.edu> Regarding Bob Clearmountain as producer, check his work with Bruce Springsteen, Simple Minds and Bryan Adams to see what he could do for XTC. No thank you. Then again, if they need a hit that bad...
------------------------------ Message-Id: <9606121752.AA25138@hpl.lut.ac.uk> From: C Browning <C.Browning-95@student.lboro.ac.uk> Subject: final things Date: Wed, 12 Jun 96 18:52:53 BST hi chalkhill people, well term is about over so no more e.mails for me, but here are a few final comments from me before i depart from the mailing list. the comments about andy partridge sounding like paul mccartney sometimes - i don't know if its just me but everytime i hear HOLLY UP ON POPPY i hear paul mccartney in andy's voice. probably is just me. also, about XTC touring. i know they don't - which is fine by me, one of the best things about XTC for me is andy being a little stage struck, cos it helps me realise i'm not the only one (there are so many XTC songs for shy people - wrapped in grey, burning with optimism's flame, extrovert...no wonder i love them so much) - but what would stop them doing something like LATER.......with Jools Holland or something? i can't see andy minding too much cos teh audience is small and the public outing would boost sales. also final point. bass player lists. i love the bass guitar and am so chuffed danny thompson the best bassist i have ever heard got a mention. but my second favourite - no mention at all, and i'm sure a lot of you will have heard his stuff - Dennis Cowan of the Bonzo's of course. his bass on mr apollo and especially busted are exquisitely wonderful. sad loss to us all - talking of which andy's songwriting is much more like neil innes' than paul mccartney. anyway thats teh last badly typed e.mail from me. thanks for teh chalkhills its been entertaining to say the least.. here's to the next album bye and thanks bc in u chris browning
------------------------------ Date: Wed, 12 Jun 1996 20:58:11 -0700 From: relph (John Relph) Message-Id: <199606130358.UAA08398@mando.engr.sgi.com> Subject: Laundry Miles Coleman <coleman@cougarnet.byu.edu> quoted: > >Re: The Verve Pipe, Villians(RCA) > >Or maybe it's just a bloated, >cringe inducing bore. Rating: D --Mike Flaherty" > >Any comments? Anyone heard the album? I happen to like the album. A few of the tracks are really very good, and it makes for a good listen. It's not a standout album, but it's definitely one of the better ones I've heard lately. arthur james virgin <produce@magicnet.net> adds: > >album "Great Divide" by SemiSonic... Fantastic catchy pop tunes!! Some good tunes, but I actually prefer the Verve Pipe! michael wilson <tomservo@uoknor.edu> says: > >Anyone interested in Jellyfish might want to look out for a release by a >band Imperial Drag. I gave them a listen at the local shoppe and I thought they were more along the lines of Lenny Kravitz: recycled 70's glam. Not bad, mind you, but I didn't buy it. >From: Randy Posynick <posynick@netcom.com> > >So who is Bizarre Depiction? The Chalkhills archives has a little advert >for "Skylacking", their soon-to-be-released tribute tape.... Are there >two Chalkhills-endorsed tribute tape projects going on simultaneously? As a matter of fact, yes. In fact, if you check the _Skylacking_ page, you'll see there are a few tunes still up for grabs! So don't delay, tape today! Bizarre Depiction is one Ian C Stewart. Ian has put together two prior "tribute" tapes, both of which are very, well, interesting! Definitely some new takes on old songs. Erik Anderson <Erik.Anderson@city.saskatoon.sk.ca> writes: > > xTc, in case anyone didn't know, >were the first band EVER to do an unplugged session for MTV -- mostly >because of Andy's condition. The session was aired on MTV and the material >is also included on the CD "Kings for a Day" if you can find it. But it was not an official "Unplugged" session. And much to my chagrin there is no mention of XTC in the official _MTV Unplugged (tm)_ picture book. And finally: I am on vacation, so no Chalkhills next week. Phil, I'm in Weiser. Go to the Intermountain Campground and ask for me at the office. Peace. -- John -- You're telling me there are these people who live in round felt huts, they are called Kurds, they live in yurts, they milk yaks, and they make youghurt? Naaahhh...
------------------------------ End of Chalkhills Digest #2-122 *******************************
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