Chalkhills Digest Volume 2, Issue 128
Date: Thursday, 27 June 1996
Chalkhills Digest, Volume 2, Number 128
Thursday, 27 June 1996
Today's Topics:
new album title
Re: Commercial success
my comments
current affairs (or "OLD FLAMES CAN'T HOLD A CANDLE TO YOU")
A tenuous link to #125
Colin's Bass, Nonesuch, Producers and Drummers
Slamming U2!?!?!
No Tours
Re: album names
T-Shirt Time
New Album Names, The Smartest Monkeys
RE: Green Acres
Sundried Divers
XTC Connections
Hep me, I'm seeing things....
Re: The Future of XTC
Quickie responses
the pig on green acres
Re: Joshua Hall-Bachner - English Settlement
A Fine New Band
the missing links
Homage to XTC...
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Back next week with another ridiculous tie knot.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
From: mallende@Phoenix.kent.edu (mark allender - king of the universe)
Message-Id: <9606271301.AA63528@Phoenix.kent.edu>
Subject: new album title
Date: Thu, 27 Jun 1996 09:01:09 -0400 (EDT)
i think the new album should be called Permanent Morgasm -- as found
in "That Wave."
thank you very much.
--
-makotu
mallende@Phoenix.kent.edu
uh...
------------------------------ Message-ID: <92EDD62F01291300@ametsoc.org> Date: Thu, 27 Jun 96 10:07:00 -0500 From: dgershmn <dgershmn@ametsoc.org> Organization: AMS Subject: Re: Commercial success BObannon@aol.com opined: > >This explains why U2 and REM, both of whom were at one time >commercial equals to Andy and Elvis, have been able to find the >success that has ignored our heroes: both U2 and REM are >unchallenging, predictable, and frankly, BORING bands that haven't >grown artistically one smidgen over the years. I obviously don't want to turn this into an REM or U2 discussion group, but I beg to differ with you. I think that, especially in REM's case, they've managed to become commercially successful DESPITE having maintained a pretty constant level of artistic growth. I love REM's early stuff, but how can you say that something like "Automatic for the People" does not show substantial artistic growth from the days of, say, "Reckoning"? That, for U2, "Achtung Baby" is not a huge leap from "October"? You may not care for the directions their music has taken, but if you actually were able to predict what either band was going to do next at any given point in their respective careers, you might want to consider a career in weather prediction. As for bands that are commercially successful despite not having anything even remotely like the talent of XTC, we need only look as far as all these pseudo-Pearl Jam-Nirvana-Nine Inch Nails bands that seem to be Flavor of the Day. And don't even get me started on Hootie and the Blowfish. In any case, I do feel that REM and U2 have maintained some level of artistic integrity, and shouldn't really be the targets of our dismay at the state of the music industry. I actually think that their ability to be commercially successful while maintaining their musical integrity is admirable. I'm not saying that either band is the equal of XTC, mind you, but I believe that if XTC were ever to achieve a higher level of commercial success, we could similarly expect them to maintain their integrity as well. Meanwhile, however, there would always be those former XTC fans who would go running off yelling "Sellout!!," simply because they achieved the success that has been such a popular topic of discussion here. I don't mean that at all in an accusational manner...it's just something that always happens, no matter what band you may be talking about. Dave Gershman "Don't you blame the man next door/It's not him"
------------------------------
Message-Id: <199606271636.KAA14554@mailhost.lanl.gov>
Date: Thu, 27 Jun 1996 10:37:52 -0600
From: dewitth@lanl.gov (DeWitt Henderson)
Subject: my comments
All right, I'll try not to send in my comments every time, BUT:
1) What's all this carping about "The Smartest Monkeys"? It
sounds as if I'm supposed to be apologetic, but hey, I LOVE
that song. For you people who don't, consider this: I'm
sure there are XTC songs (or anyone else's, for that matter)
that I thing are lousy but you love 'em. We all have different
tastes - just because we Chalkies like XTC still doesn't mean
we'll ALL like ALL their songs, eh?
2) TOM WAITS as a producer? Good Gawd! Speaking of different
tastes!?!?! I have very eclectic musical tastes - "commercial"
bands/artists and "non-commercial" of the same - but I absolutely
LOATHE Tom. If he even infected XTC's sound with 5% of what
appears on his 'music' (a euphemism), it'd ruin 'em. (OK, that's
just as opinionated as the people I'm referring to above).
3) "The Big Box of Paints" - yeah, my vote for the next CD title...
DeWitt Henderson
"Radio's in the hands of those who want to
anesthetize the way that you feel"
- Elvis Costello
------------------------------ Message-Id: <199606271701.SAA01677@aoife.indigo.ie> From: "Daniel Prendiville" <modjp@indigo.ie> Date: Thu, 27 Jun 1996 11:40:36 +0000 Subject: current affairs (or "OLD FLAMES CAN'T HOLD A CANDLE TO YOU") Just a few comments on some recent threads:- 1. Producers - (a) ROY WOOD - a true veteran of British pop music and one of my personal heroes. Too lightweight for some of XTC's more serious moments but, *perhaps*, an excellent choice to produce a new DUKES album? (b) BILL NELSON - I used to have a lot of time for this guy, particularly the Red Noise album (on which Dave Mattacks played drums, if memory serves). Once accused of being an XTC-copyist, strangely enough. I lost interest in him over the years due to his tendency to disappear up his own backside (artisitically speaking). Too artsy-fartsy for current XTC tastes, *perhaps*... (c) BRIAN ENO - if he can do it for U2, why not? Mind you, the artsy-fartsy criticism might also apply here and in any event you'd better get somebody with a decent pair of ears to mix... (d) DAVID LORD - Sir Andy appears to have been very complimentary of him after TBE (see relevant interview in Chalkhills), particularly in the area of arrangements. Worthy of a re-visit (if he's still alive) (e) GUS DUDGEON - nothing much wrong with the sound of NONSUCH - a very balanced XTC album; no "excesses", now you can't say that about all of 'em, can yer? (f) TONY VISCONTI (if he's still alive) - if he can do it for Bowie, T-Rex and the Radiators from Space, why not? (g) STEVE LILLYWHITE - no problems there (h) HUGH PADGHAM - ditto (i) JOHN LECKIE - ditto (j) THOMAS DOLBY - my personal choice; STEVE MC.QUEEN (not alive, very much dead in fact) still sounds good 11 years on. I'd imagine they're be a great deal of empathy there 2. Drummers XTC have been well served by all the drummers they've had since TC left. The comments made about the bould Terry in the 1983 IMRW interview were hardly complimentary: "...programmable... didn't think his drumming style was really right...he never had a delicacy of touch". However, maybe time has mellowed such strongly-held views (see sleeve notes of BBC1 concert CD). Interesting to note the diversity of experience among the drummers since TC, e.g. the Glitter Band, the Tubes, Fairport Convention. What next, TIGHT FIT? 3. Maturity The recent thread re. Squeeze/EC/XTC is very interesting. You can't expect people with 20 or so years in the music business to still write songs as if they were in their teens/early twenties (not unless your an Ozzy Osbourne or a Jonathan Richman fan or something). Naturally enough, they will try to reflect the changed circumstances of their lives (not so much boy meets girl as man meets bank manager, perhaps). If they're mature(!) enough to face those challenges in their lives and to try and express their problems by way of song, we should be mature enough to understand why, for instance Squeeze don't release COOL FOR CATS Mk. 9 or XTC don't release SON OF DRUMS AND WIRES. And another thing;* not every body* is going to like the entire XTC repetoire, but we should at least try to understand why WHITE MUSIC is so different >from NONSUCH and yet why it's so logical that the same group should've composed and recorded both albums, given the passage of time. Any way, there's nothing wrong with a rut; most stags swear by them. 4. And finally... (a) PARVENU(E) - typo, damn that arthritis... I note it has been known to mean "intrusive". Maybe I got the right meaning after all; (b) GET YER EYES TESTED - even my five-year old daughter knows that "I would have thought" is not a statement of fact, but a statement of opinion. Similary "most" is not the same as "all"; (c) I'M A FREUD NOT - CHALKHILLS is an excellent source of hard information on XTC and not only provides a means of letting people pool the information they have but also a forum for meaningful debate. Let's keep it that way, shall we? I'll promise not to get nasty anymore, if you keep your dreams for your analyst... (d) HUMAN SCREAMING - while flattered that I have been the inspiration for such an original piece of versification (ooops, big word there, five syllables) can I suggest that the author (what was his name, Art Semiotic?) proceed straight away to:- http://vh.radiology.uiowa.edu/Patients/IowaHealthBook/Tourette/TouretteSyndrome.html wherein he might find some solace. The section on Coprolalia is most relevant. (e)THE AGE OLD DEBATE - it's surely a thing of great wonder that there are XTC fans out there who are under 30, and who are unburden by the cares and woes of family life. I'm delighted that the torch will be carried into the next millenium etc. etc. But the 30-something family types would probably whup 'em blind at arm-wrestling. Lifting babies out of cots does great things for the biceps... (f) FLAME THROWERS PLEASE NOTE - if you feel like responding, post to me at modjp@indigo.ie. I'll try to respond asbestos I can. BTW, the skin grafts are coming on fine... Up the Desmonds! Daniel Prendiville
------------------------------ Date: Thu, 27 Jun 96 13:00:20 CDT From: "Bernhardt, Todd" <tbernhardt@aga.com> Message-Id: <9605278359.AA835902834@cc.perftech.com> Subject: A tenuous link to #125 From: Melissa Reaves <MREAVES@KENTVM.KENT.EDU> >Chalk, chalk, it's oooonly chalk! Haha, you Elephant Talker, you! >Anyway, in the course of the conversation, the guy told me that when >he was in college, all the XTC fans he knew were theater majors and >didn't I find that to be the case as well. Well, I don't find that >to be the case, so I want to ask you all whether a preponderance of >Chalkaholics are theater majors (not that I think you are) or if you >know theater majors who are XTC fans, 'cause I imagine them to be >among the least likely group of people to be computer jocks. I think we're probably "artsier" (the "F," of course, is silent) than most people, but I don't know about the theatre-major stuff... >Come to think of it, I don't believe I've heard a negative word about >[Yazbek's album] from any of you. Is this because we all actually agree >on something (un-bloody-likely) or because we don't want to hurt our >fellow listie's feelings? Actually, I think it's a great album. However, Mark Fisher <fisher@easynet.co.uk> >While I'm on the subject of XTC-related artists, does anyone hate Yazbek's >*Pinocchio's Nose* as much as I do? The rest of the album is enjoyable, but >that track reminds me too much of tapes that would occasionally come my way >when I was editing Limelight, sent in by bands that wanted to sound like >XTC but somehow missed the magic ingredient that makes them special. Kind >of heavy-handed and ugly-sounding without the melodic gift (which Yazbek >demonstrates ably elsewhere) to lift the song above its plodding structure. >What's more, it's misspelt in very big letters on the CD. disagrees to some extent. But I can sympathize with him, cause my wife doesn't care much for that one, either. (She also gets annoyed at how many times he repeats "Fight the one-armed man," but hey, sez I, that's pop for ya.) And now for something completely different: From: "J. D. Mack" <jdmack@nicom.com> >Actually, there is a link between Celine Dion and XTC. One of the >orchestral arrangements on Celine's latest album was done by Andrew Pryce >Jackman, who did the orchestral arrangements on "Fish Out Of Water" by Chris >Squire, which had Bill Bruford on drums, who now drums in King Crimson along >side Pat Mastelotto, who drummed on "Oranges and Lemons." So don't be so >quick to dis Celine! A tenuous link, at best! Actually, the reason "Lucky 7" is my favorite song on that album is that it doesn't feature the overbearing orchestral arrangements of some of the other songs. So I think I'll take Simon's advice and stay away >from Celine, much as I love Bill Bruford... And think about it, J.D. -- if you take your link concept to the extreme, the possibilities are endless, esp. given how incestuous the music industry is! For instance, to keep it simple, by your logic I should like Peter Frampton because Tony Levin played on one of his albums (something tells me TL needed a paycheck at the time). Of course, if a ":^)" was implied here, then maybe we should conduct a tenuous link project -- perhaps Chalkhillians should find some way of connecting the greatest pop band in the world with their least favorite band or musician! Could provide us with some fun while we wait for the next album...
------------------------------ Date: Thu, 27 Jun 1996 13:48:12 -0400 (EDT) From: Karthik Swaminathan <kqs7816@is4.NYU.EDU> Subject: Colin's Bass, Nonesuch, Producers and Drummers Message-Id: <Pine.OSF.3.93.960627131117.6563A-100000@is4.NYU.EDU> Hello Hello, There are quite a few threads here but not that much to say I guess other than where are XTC anyway and when will we have the next album? They should probably call it "Return of the Ghoste Band". McCartney was an amazing bass player, and was definetly an inffluence on Colins playing but what I miss was Colins more original style that he forged on the earlier XTC records, this kind of off kilter anchor that manages to sinque in at the perfectly oddest times type of playing. It was a heavier type of playing and swooped with his fretless. Examples are Greenhouse, I am the Audience, Roads Girdle, Respectable St.,Towers, all of ES, and a lot of Big Express. This playing style was so innovative and really defined the XTC sound for me. ....And so did Terry's drums, they were heavy and off but right on. The Terry/Colin combination rhythm dyanamics are missing from all the later records (though BE somehow manages at points). XTC are now just cute songs with clever lyrics. Speaking of which, I actually like Nonsuch a lot in that respect. Andys songs are so well crafted and beautiful and Colin's Bungalow is quite a fresh direction. Andy's voice is so smooth, almost McCartneyesque. I think, and I know this may sound typical, but I do think Eno would be a good producer for the next album. Andy has been wanting to work with Eno for years ( or so I've heard, thats why Battery Brides was written) and maybe it is about time they finally got together. And to the person who said U2 are quite boring, actually their last two records are amazing and fresh. They actually seem to have gotten less commercial over time unlike most other pop groups (though I agree REM completly bores me.) As a matter of that, I think Larry Mullen would be an interesing drummer for the next XTC record. I'd like to hear XTC chart new territory, since this is what got me interested in them in the first place, they were a progressive pop band. KS (pronounced Kay Ess)
------------------------------ Date: 27 Jun 96 14:22:54 EDT From: DaveKGold <70673.317@CompuServe.COM> Subject: Slamming U2!?!?! Message-ID: <960627182254_70673.317_FHP31-1@CompuServe.COM> BObannon@aol.com said: >>This explains why U2 and REM, both of whom were at one time commercial equals to Andy and Elvis, have been able to find the success that has ignored our heroes: both U2 and REM are unchallenging, predictable, and frankly, BORING bands that haven't grown artistically one smidgen over the years<< I heartily agree about REM (who I do find boring) but must disagree about this U2 not growing! There is a VERY serious progression in thier work over the last few years...consider the differences between Joshua Tree, Achtung Baby and Zooropa. Very different, and definelty some growth, and NOT boring, IMHO. It would be interesting to see what would happen if you let Mr. Eno produce XTC. Would make an interesting project if the Dukes would put their pasleys on again! "Heaven is Paved With Borken Glass....." DKG
------------------------------ Date: Thu, 27 Jun 1996 19:47:03 +0100 Message-Id: <199606271847.AA12286@felix.dircon.co.uk> From: Simon Sleightholm <nonsuch@dircon.co.uk> Subject: No Tours Mark Fisher (fisher@easynet.co,uk) wrote >I don't think playing live is any longer the answer for XTC. They were >brilliant when they did tour, but their subsequent material is not designed >for the live environment. Having just witnessed a report of a "punk weekend" in Brighton on VH-1 (back in the pub again) I concur with Mark on this. To see Jimmy Pursey of Sham 69 and Jake Burns of Stiff Little Fingers belting out their nigh-on-20 year old "hits" was a bit tragic. Forever constricted by the "punk" format and weighed down with an audience who wish this was 1976, they have progressed not one jot. It would have been terrible if XTC had allowed themselves to be restricted in such a way. Simon. * --------------------------------------------------- http://www.users.dircon.co.uk/~nonsuch/bungalow.htm * --------------------------------------------------- No Thugs In Our House, only XTC.
------------------------------ Date: Thu, 27 Jun 1996 15:15:51 -0400 (EDT) From: Boutros Boutros Ghali <romer@cooper.edu> Subject: Re: album names Message-Id: <Pine.SUN.3.90.960627151153.10098B-100000@magnum.cooper.edu> Forgive my ignorance, but am I to understand that each Xtc album name is culled from a line in a song from the previous album? The only one that comes to mind is Orange and Lemon from Ballet for a Rainy day. What song did Skylarking come from on The Big Express??!! Or is this something they have only done for, say, two albums? For that matter what song mentions Nonsuch? And does the Dukes album apply? Tom Romer
------------------------------ Message-Id: <m0uZMbT-000U71C@mis01.micron.net> Date: Thu, 27 Jun 96 13:19 MDT From: philco@micron.net (Phil Corless) Subject: T-Shirt Time Back by popular demand..... The Chalkhills T-Shirt! Because of all the messages I've received asking about the shirt, I will be doing another batch of them. The way this works is that you send me the money and then I put you down for the size you want. I can't afford to just make the shirts and then hope someone wants them. Anyway, it will be $15 for sizes SMALL through XL.... That includes the postage and packaging. For overseas people, email me privately and I'll contact the post office to see what the postage is to your particular country. The shirt is a Hanes Beefy-T 100% Cotton, very good quality. The color is Sage Green (almost exactly the color of the Skylarking album). To view the design (front and back) on the web, go to: http://netnow.micron.net/~philco/chalk.htm Sizes again are SMALL, MEDIUM, LARGE and X-LARGE. XXL and XXXL sizes are $3 more, so send $18 for those. Now the important part...... Send your check and size requirement to: Phil Corless 5889 S. Tulip Boise, ID 83705-7012 Once again, it's $15 for S-XL and $18 for XXL & XXXL. That's US and Canada. Overseas people contact me privately. That's it! You've got roughly four weeks before I trot off to the shirt shop. That ought to give you stragglers enough time. :) * -------------------------------- Phil Corless Boise, Idaho philco@micron.net * -------------------------------- http://netnow.micron.net/~philco/
------------------------------ Date: Thu, 27 Jun 1996 15:44:14 -0400 (EDT) Message-Id: <199606271944.PAA23854@cyber1.servtech.com> From: Joshua Hall-Bachner <particle@servtech.com> Subject: New Album Names, The Smartest Monkeys >> I dunno; if you mean Tricolor and Phrygian Cap, it's a bit too long (and too >> similar to Oranges & Lemons). Just "Phrygian Cap" could work, tho. Anyway, >> here are my choices for the next album name: > > Phrygian Cap sounds like some awful new They Might Be Giants song. > Nix. And your point is...? :) And, take it from someone who likes TMBG, they would never in a million years call a song "Phrygian Cap". :) > >> The Big Box Of Paints (from Wrapped In Grey) > > Maybe a title for Andy's third fan club release.. > "Nature's Sunken Wreck" is a good title, but perhaps as a song... I dunno. I still think NSW would be a good album title. Someone else wrote: >* People who dislike The Smartest Monkeys and/or fail to see the cynicism >are, IMHO, a few cards short of a full deck. The song is dripping with it! >Or, is it hip to say that Colin's cynicism has come full circle into >sincerity? 1) The thing about monkeys is old and stale. I don't need yet another song about people = monkeys. 2) The lyrics may be cynical, but they are also BAD. It's like Andy said, "Oh no, we don't have enough songs about how horrible human nature is on this album yet! Colin, write one quick!" 3) The music starts out fine (on the "well, man created..." bit) but quickly degenerates into a pathetic excuse for a song. BTW, I'm not trying to flame you, just the fact that Colin was obviously possessed when he wrote the song. /----------------------------Joshua Hall-Bachner----------------------------\ | particle@servtech.com http://www.servtech.com/public/particle/ | | "Life is like a jigsaw. You get the straight bits, but there's something | \------missing in the middle."--XTC, "All Of A Sudden (It's Too Late)"------/
------------------------------ Date: Thu, 27 Jun 1996 12:55:09 -0700 (PDT) From: Kevin Collins <kevcol@eskimo.com> Subject: RE: Green Acres Message-ID: <Pine.SUN.3.94.960627125251.27912A-100000@eskimo.com> >From: Miles or Gigi Coleman <coleman@cougarnet.byu.edu> > >>You know, fun and hilarity on the farm >>with Eddie Fisher and Eva Gabor? What was the pig's name? Anyone >>remember? > >Arnold Zukerman Actually I think it was Arnold Ziffel
------------------------------ Date: Thu, 27 Jun 1996 14:24:56 -0700 From: relph (John Relph) Message-Id: <199606272124.OAA12634@mando.engr.sgi.com> Subject: Sundried Divers In answer to a few postings in recent issues of Chalkhills... Giancarlo Cairella <vertigo@like.it> writes: > >I've just finished a very entertaining book, "Lost in Music - a pop >odissey" by Giles Smith. He's one of Q magazine's staff writers and former >member of Martin Newell's band "The Cleaners from Venus". I need a copy of the book. Ira Lieman <aym@intercall.com> says: > >Someone mentioned the Carmen Sandiego LP and XTC's "Cherry In Your Tree" >... well, I searched and I searched and I searched some more and I can't >find the blasted thing ANYWHERE!!!!!!!!! Have you looked in the Children's section at yer local? That's where I found it. It's on Zoom Express (BMG). barkerw@messaging.tfn.com (Welton Barker) asks: > > How about Dave Weckl? Who in the world is Dave Weckl? myke <jerk@execpc.com> opines: > > Phrygian Cap sounds like some awful new They Might Be Giants song. > Nix. I thought we went over this. The Phrygian Cap is a French contraceptive device... Right, James? -- 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...
------------------------------ From: richard.pedrettiallen@octel.com Date: Thu, 27 Jun 1996 14:39:36 -0700 Message-Id: <1D300A30.1240@corp.octel.com> Subject: XTC Connections It is surprisingly easy to make a relatively short, startling connection once you connect with a diverse producer (like Eno, Lillywhite), a session musician (like Chris Spedding, John Paul Jones or Jimmy Page) or someone who fronts a band of ever-changing personnel (like Sting, Byrne or Bowie). How about... XTC-David Byrne-John Goodman-Rosanne! Andy-Chris Franz-Robert Palmer-Andy Fraser-Paul Rodgers-Jimmy Page-John Paul Jones-Herman's Hermits (which could be continued through "The Pirates of Penzance" to take us to Linda Ronstadt then former-California Governor Jerry Brown to Ronald Reagan!) Andy-D.Byrne-Eno-John Cale-Patti Smith-Rod Swenson (Manager)-Jean Beauvoir (Plasmatics)-Little Steven (& the Disciples of Soul)-Bruce Springsteen-Max Weinberg-Conan O'Brien I could also get to Cat Stevens, Uriah Heep, Lulu, Johnny Cash, Doc Severinson, Rod Stewart, Olivia Newton-John, James Brown, Journey, Madonna, Quicksilver, MC5, The Rascals, Moody Blues, Mahavishnu Orchestra, Foreigner, Missing Persons, Abba, Brian Adams, The Buggles and Richard Pedretti-Allen in six steps, or less. I could go on but I already have. Sorry Simon! Richard Pedretti-Allen
------------------------------ Message-Id: <v01540b02adf8b03bd5fc@[199.171.191.100]> Date: Thu, 27 Jun 1996 15:05:24 -0700 From: gondola@deltanet.com (E.B.) Subject: Hep me, I'm seeing things.... The Indigo Girls the new Lennon/McCartney? Eddie Fisher starring in Green Acres? Mitchell Froom, King of the Grating Gimmick Percussion, producing XTC? I think I must've eaten some bad mushrooms...I'm hallucinating. GB PS By the way, you folks have taught me something. I never realized until recently that XTC albums were named after a line from the previous album. Wow, neat! How far back does this trend go? "Insanity is a blue St. Bernard, waiting patiently and faithfully by the door." -- overheard (unfortunately) on an IRC channel
------------------------------ From: Blwoll@aol.com Date: Thu, 27 Jun 1996 19:18:19 -0400 Message-ID: <960627191818_226568949@emout08.mail.aol.com> Subject: Re: The Future of XTC 1. The demos are absolutely fantastic. I think it is the most musically adventurous stuff XTC has yet put together, and the resulting LP will have a kind of Me and the Wind / Skylarking / Wrapped in Gray sound. I don't care what they call it, just record it!!! (The only bummer is The Last Balloon, but Green Man, Easter Theatre, Prince of Orange, Dame Fortune - WOW) 2. Colin is an amazing bassist, and it would not be XTC without him. He has McCartney's melodic sense, and technical skills which far surpass his. Incidentally, The Smartest Monkeys and Bungalow are brilliant tunes, but I don't care much for War Dance. 3. Stewart Copeland would be a great drummer, but isn't he busy writing operas? 4. As far as producers go, I think someone who captures live, acoustic instruments would be particularly well suited for the job. Check out Lou Giordino's production of The Connells on the LP Ring. Ruby? Clearmountain? Fox? I'm jump off a cliff. Let XTC, and not some studio wiz do the talking this time. 5. Great new records - The Connells with Ring, Bill Nelson with After The Satellite Sings, Jamiroqui with Rescue on Planet Earth, Peter Blevgard with Just Woke Up, and yes, David Yazbek - was Mississippi Honeymoon influenced by the new XTC demos? 6. Whoever said Andy Rourke was a great bassist had it absolutely right. So is Mike Mills of REM. But if you guys want some serious bass playing, listen to Michael Mannring or Victor Wooten or Jaco Pastouris. Those guys kick Tony Levin's behind. 7. Good Question - What is the definitive XTC song? I think it would have to be either Senses Working Overtime or Great Fire. But Easter Theatre on the demos comes close. Andy, or whoever knows Andy personally should tell him to feel proud. He has shown that artistic growth doesn't have to come to a screeching halt in pop music when you reach middle age. I hope Colin's writing has been equally productive. Phew. Ben
------------------------------ Message-Id: <199606280017.RAA21645@sgi.sgi.com> Date: Thu, 27 Jun 1996 20:13:00 -0500 From: Dik LeDoux <dik@ICON-INC.NET> Subject: Quickie responses Elephant Chalk? >From Volume 2, Number 127: Andrew Bissaro's comments about the production on past records giving them a "dated" sound should NOT go unheeded. And - his overall listing of what works and what doesn't on respective albums is insightful. I tend to agree that the immediacy of alot of the material has been lost, and that's why, once again I say - RICK RUBIN for the next producer. And Mike Martis: >And While I'm At It - The Most Beautiful, Most Urgent and Most >Enchanting XTC Songs (IMHO), In Order: Chalkhills and Children, Wake >Up, Jason And The Argonauts. ...Perfect one word summaries of these songs - C&C almost makes me cry with melancholy and J & the Argonauts is a world of its own. I used to play in a band in the early eighties and we were all XTC fans - doing several tunes - Respectable Street, J&A and some others - I always felt like I was coming out from under some kinda' drug when J&A was over. AND another thing - "pissed" has come to be an interchangeable term - especially since intercontinental random communication has become sucha hot item... so can we just drop the "pissed" thing. A friend of mine used to say "It's better to be pissed off than pissed on." SOMEONE MENTION THE BEARS? Check 'em out if you ever get a chance - those that burn twice as bright burn half as long, and the Bears were b-r-i-g-h-t. If some of you cannot find the albums (this was before CDs were big, and I doubt that any of it was reprinted), then email me directly and I'll get with you on a tape or something. I saw them in New Orleans at Tipitina's and am still in awe. You XTC fans would like 'em. bye for now. Dik \:)
------------------------------ Message-Id: <v01510100adf8e553199e@[198.207.230.58]> Date: Thu, 27 Jun 1996 19:30:56 -0600 From: blindpig@dwx.com (Kevin House) Subject: the pig on green acres Miles or Gigi Coleman <coleman@cougarnet.byu.edu> incorrectly answered the following question: >>You know, fun and hilarity on the farm >>with Eddie Fisher and Eva Gabor? What was the pig's name? Anyone remember? >Arnold Zukerman Mike Martis <mikem9@ix.netcom.com> Got it right >Finally, The Pig: Arnold. Arnold Ziffle. Next to Zeb, probably my >favorite Green Acres character. Personally my own favorite character was/is Mr. Haney how about that ella guru cover? xtc vs. captain beefheart! oink, oink! kevin house - the digital blind pig blindpig@dwx.com http://www.dwx.com/~blindpig/
------------------------------ Message-ID: <31D307F5.D@earthlink.net> Date: Thu, 27 Jun 1996 22:15:17 +0000 From: Thomas White <oedipus@earthlink.net> Subject: Re: Joshua Hall-Bachner - English Settlement >>the four XTC albums I have (ES, O&L, SL, and Nonsvch)<< What's wrong with you man!! Don't you know about "Lack Of Early XTC Albums Syndrome"? It can do all sorts of damage to a fellow. QUICK QUICK!!! To the CD Emporium -- you must purchase Drums and Wires immediately or you will surely die! Follow this with two doses of White Music and call me in the morning. --Tom
------------------------------
Message-ID: <31D3106A.2F6B@earthlink.net>
Date: Thu, 27 Jun 1996 22:51:22 +0000
From: Thomas White <oedipus@earthlink.net>
Subject: A Fine New Band
All you Chalkazoids seem to be pretty into Elvis Costello so -- check
out the band SUPERDRAG. A fine group of kids who have no doubt listened
to their share of EC stuff.
**you are feeling sleepy**
**your eyelids are growing very heavy**
**now you are extremely relaxed and must do as I command**
**buy the SUPERDRAG CD today**
**I will now count to 5**
**You will awaken feeling refreshed and wonderful**
** One...Two...Three...Four...Five**
--Tom
------------------------------ Message-Id: <v01530500adf904967a8d@[139.80.100.146]> Date: Fri, 28 Jun 1996 15:41:38 +1200 From: james.dignan@stonebow.otago.ac.nz (James Dignan) Subject: the missing links >How about a new thread; the most depressing XTC connection? Maybe someone out >there can provide a link from XTC to Rod, Jane and Freddy (one for the UK >Chalkies there), or XTC and The Goombay Dance Band. Any takers? Hmmm... Andy Partridge to Harold Budd (Through the Hill) to Brian Eno (Eno/Budd) to Francis Monkman (801). Monkman is thanked for providing Moog Synthesiser for the BeeGees travesty version of Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band. Let's go full circle here. Also thanked on that evil album was Ray Cooper, long-time percussionist of Elton John, who was one of only two musicians to coax John Lennon (co-writer of much of SPLHCB, and a dreaded B***le) out of retirement (the other was David Bowie, erstwhile cohort of Brian Eno). Elton John's backing vocalists on the "A single man" album were Watford Football Club. And at the end of last season, Watford were relegated to Division Two. They were replaced by newly promoted... Swindon Town! Which proves, without a shadow of a doubt, that XTC must come from Swindon! The truth is out there... somewhere... James
------------------------------ Message-Id: <m0uZV7G-0000YuC@stimpy.PCC.COM> From: troy@pcc.com (Troy Peters) Subject: Homage to XTC... Date: Fri, 28 Jun 1996 00:25:10 -0400 (EDT) Okay, with all this talk of how the Sugarplastic have ripped off our lads in the band, I decided I have to come clean... I am a composer of what I guess you would call contemporary classical music. A couple of years ago, I wrote a virtuoso percussion solo piece called "Wake Up!" based on the opening stereo separated guitar riff from the XTC tune of the same name. Want to hear a Real Audio sample? just visit http://sun.goddard.edu/students/wgdr/kalvos/peterst.html Although this might seem like a shameless plug, I am not in fact selling anything. And it is definitely XTC related... Thanks to Mr. Relph and all you Chalkhills pals for hanging in there in this long wait between albums. Not much longer... BTW, if you visit my page, drop me a note and let me know what you think. bye bye, Troy Peters troy@pcc.com
------------------------------ End of Chalkhills Digest #2-128 *******************************
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