Chalkhills Digest Volume 2, Issue 18
Date: Monday, 30 October 1995
Chalkhills Digest, Volume 2, Number 18
Monday, 30 October 1995
Today's Topics:
Making Plans For Yazbek
The plaques
Testimonial Plaques
digesting dinner
A boy and his beer
TD I and TD II (?)
Re: Chalkhills Digest #2-16
Collaborations, Pseudonyms, et al.
TD 2
SPOOKY RUBEN!
Dear God
What about the Kinks?
Working out the Kinks
Re: Dear God?
Dinnerbell dinnerbell ring...
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---------------------------------------------------------------------- From: s.reule@genie.com Date: Sat, 28 Oct 95 06:43:00 UTC 0000 Subject: Making Plans For Yazbek Here's a few more ideas for Testimonial Dinner two: ----- Adrian Belew doing "Great File" (or even "Wake Up"). Brian Eno (in his bent pop days) doing "Millions". Crowded House doing "King For A Day". Wall Of Voodoo doing "Don't You Ever Dare Call Me Chickenhead". Leon Redbone doing "It's Snowing Angels". Nine Inch Nails doing "Complicated Game". ----- Anybody else wanna play...? Steven Reule Obsessed With Music
------------------------------ From: Peter Murray <pmurray@frontier.canrem.com> Organization: CRS Online's Frontier Subject: The plaques Date: 30 Oct 1995 02:52:32 GMT re: >From: ZITTEL@aol.com >The plaques pictured in Testimonial Dinner were created by the organizers >of the 1993 XTC Music & Friends Convention in Princeton, Illinois. The >convention was held on May 30, 1993. They were made to thank the band for >all the great music they have given us. XTC was, of course, not present at >the convention so they had to be mailed to the band. I believe plaques were >also given to Pete and June Dix who run the Little Express, and to a fan >from England who has been to all 4 XTC conventions (2 in England, 1 in >Canada, plus this one). The photo is credited to Pete and June (erroneously >named Amy in the booklet). The photo is in fact correctly credited to Amy Dix, one of Peter's daughters who accompanied Pete on a trip to Swindon where the photo was taken, I believe at the Moulding Residence. By the way, I visited with both Pete and Amy at the notorious Simcoe Hotel in Barrie last weekend, where I happened to be performing with a cover band. (Sorry, no XTC covers--this venue is more of a Dwight Yoakham and Lynyrd Skynyrd type venue ;) ) Those of you who for some bizarre reason aren't hip to The Little Express should become so immediately! It's a very artfully put-together, insightful and entertaining XTC newsletter that all fans of the band would love. Write for more info to: Box 1072, Barrie, Ontario, Canada L4M 5E1
------------------------------ Date: 30 Oct 95 09:47:54 EST From: John.J.Pinto@Hitchcock.ORG (John J. Pinto) Subject: Testimonial Plaques "<the convention so they had to be mailed to the band. I believe plaques were also given to Pete and June Dix who run the Little Express, and to a fan from England who has been to all 4 XTC conventions (2 in England, 1 in Canada, plus this one). The photo is credited to Pete and June (erroneously named Amy in the booklet).>" There really is an AMY. She is the eldest of the three Dix children and was at the Illinois convention. The "fan" who has attended all 4 XTC Conventions is PETER KITCHEN. A gentle giant of a man who proudly wears an XTC tattoo.
------------------------------ Date: Mon, 30 Oct 95 10:57:31 EST From: Jeff Rosedale <rosedale@columbia.edu> Subject: digesting dinner I have noone else to tell so here are my reactions to the 11 course meal. 1. Earn enuf... A decent effort! I like the mandolin. Honest effort to get it right. 2. SWOT Something went wrong here. Quiet middle 8 is innovative and interesting, but that's about all that appeals to me. The rhythm is sadly off. Silly vocals. 3. Pretty Girls This is a shell of a song. Guts removed. Brad's phone-effect voice is pretty decent. Lacks punch in a big way. Lounge lizard ending unforgivable. XTC Lite makes me nauseous. 4. Wake Up Has a bit of an edge that is pleasing. Oversyncopation is distracting but not entirely off-track. Needs reverb or something else to give it a third dimension. 5. Nigel Appreciated for sparse and minimal production. The drums do communicate the right messages here- accurate, but without the mack truck presence of dearest Ro-Terry. Vocals are all wrong but it can't be helped... wiry guitar says they paid attention to the bricks and mortar, though the fluidity and razor precision is not in the reflecting pool. Another lounge lizard ending...why?! 6. Dear God Hauntingly ambient, but XTC is not ambient music!!! Drum programming and synth thrust in face, guitars buried in mix. Teetering on edge of muzak but for fine vocal effort. 7. Man who sailed Percussive mastery. Thoroughly reworked and the best un-doing of a track on the disc. Vocals are over the top and comical especially at the end. Wonder what Andy would sound like dubbed over this track. 8. Another sat. Distortion where it doesn't belong. This is not David Bowie's Heroes. Also makes me believe Andy when he says that sometimes drums are superfluous. This one didn't fit on its graft. 9. 25:00 Differently good. Incredibly, sounds too polished!!! Fine vocals, though I useually like the other giant better. Drums were really nice, reminded me of Woodentops sound (Rolo, where are you know?!). Best appreciation for reverse coffee grinder keyboard. 10. Good things. Sad to see the real thing stacked up next to imitation- even really good imitation. Give us more. That being said, it's a great track- far fleshier than earlier demo version. Vocals and guitars make it lush and gorgeous. Play it again, Sam. 11. Liberteeeee Everyone was right about the bass. Joe is a keyboard master and his sounds do not disappoint- spookily accurate imitation of frantic dischordant style. Also not too layered to appreciate. Sameness and differentness preserved. Drum programming is out of place but this sounds like a believable 90's rendition of a time-encapsulated buzz. Overall- Thanx to the Yaz man for the fine service. I came away with new appreciation for the production of XTC, the depth and dimension of their sound, the correctness of their vocal style, the great rhythms they spin. And that one track of Swindon solid gold. Oh yeah. One more thing. The band "photo" on the back is a scream. Colin looks frustrated; Andy is looking down his nose at the world in true respectable street style; Dave is the only guy who manages a real smile with some warmth for the world... Thanks for listening --Jeff
------------------------------ Date: Mon, 30 Oct 1995 10:28:53 -0600 From: vanvalnc@is2.nyu.edu (Chris Van Valen) Subject: A boy and his beer I posted this a while ago I met Andy at the HMV Music Superstore at 72nd Street & Broadway for a record signing(Nonesvch) and he was sucking on a Miller Genuine Draft. I can only assume that's not what he would drink in the UK. Maybe it's any port(er) in the storm... Cheers(hic!) CV
------------------------------ From: Ben Gott <BENG@hotchkiss.pvt.k12.ct.us> Subject: TD I and TD II (?) Date: Mon, 30 Oct 95 12:22:00 est Some ideas (serious or not) for TDII: Wouldn't it be funny if... Cher: Funk Pop a Roll Newt Gingrich/Bill Clinton: Wake Up (depending on your position) Liz Taylor: Big Day (every day is a "big day" for Liz...) Michael Jackson: Merely a Man (ha ha ha) RuPaul: Have You Seen Jackie? Debbie Gibson: Vanishing Girl But, seriously... Sting: Chalkhills and Children Bjork: Little Lighthouse (think of her the next time you listen to the "love sure keeps a bright house..." part) Sarah McLachlan: Rook Peter Gabriel: Love on a Farmboy's Wages Mike Oldfield: Helicopter (s.c. "Five Miles Out") On another note, I pulled out "Mummer" yesterday, too. I didn't realise how much I'd missed songs like "In Loving Memory of a Name" and "Me and the Wind" until I heard them again. Wow! Some TD comments: -Don't you think that The Rembrandts (on "Nigel") sound like "Weird Al" Yankovic? -The Freedy Johnston version of "Earn Enough for Us" is competing with Andy's for my affections -I like "Another Satellite." P. Hux reminds me of David Rice (pick up his album "Orange Number Eight" on Justice Records!) Bye for now! Ben
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 30 Oct 1995 18:36:12 GMT
From: Nick.BROWN@DCT.coe.fr (Nick BROWN) (Tel (+33)88.41.26.74)
Subject: Re: Chalkhills Digest #2-16
At the request of an American reader of Chalkhills (who will undoubtedly
wish to remain anonymous since otherwise he will be inundated with
requests for a loaner), I have bought the CD by the Affaire Louis Trio
mentioned in Vol 2 #9 and #10, "L'homme aux mille vies".
It's rather curious to listen to Andy Partridge singing in French, but
that's what Cleet Boris (that's what he calls himself) sounds like. And
some of the guitar playing, especially the jangly bits, is so like Dave
Gregory you have to flick through the booklet to make sure he isn't
there as well as Colin Moulding, who actually IS on four of the tracks;
the four with the wonderful "slidey" bass sound, naturally.
There are even two photos of Colin; one looking bemused at some
after-dinner conversation (I guess his French might not be up to it),
and one listening earnestly to someone I assume to be the producer.
His face seems to have filled out; well, I guess he is over 40
now, and I imagine they fed him well.
All in all, a must-have for XTC fans, even if you don't speak French
and don't go for XTC-related curiosities: you'll just love the music.
If you want the CD reference number, you'll have to wait until it
gets to its recipient by Air Mail, and hope he mentions it here.
Please don't ask me to send any more copies - apart from anything else
it costs 135 FF (that's about $28 folks) just for the CD, never
mind the special envelope and the big stamps.
*------------------------------------------------------------------------
|\ | o _ |/ Life's like a jigsaw
| \| | |_ |\ You get the straight bits
But there's something missing in the middle
Nick Brown, Strasbourg, France (Nick.Brown@dct.coe.fr)
*------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------ From: JK1Carp@aol.com Date: Mon, 30 Oct 1995 15:07:51 -0500 Subject: Collaborations, Pseudonyms, et al. Ok. If 'Brian' ala 'Andy Paints Brian' is Brian Eno, and he once considered joining XTC and declined producing (this I have from the Chalkhills FAQ) then why not a collaboration of Partridge/Eno or has such there been? (Such there must have been way back when, and someone must have had a tape going at jam session or two, right...) And, catching up, is this Jules Verne Sketchbook on CD available? I guess the cassette is out of the question...? No mention of The Spys? I have a single: The Young Ones b/w Heavy Scene that IS the lads, from White Music era. Other Pseudonyms? Johnny Japes and His Jesticles has Andy. Was there a completely pseudonymous release by 'The Three Wise Men' of Christmas songs? I haven't gotten Testimonial Dinner yet, but I can't wait to here TMBG doing 25 O'clock! Josh - jk1carp@aol.com
------------------------------ Date: Mon, 30 Oct 1995 14:59:59 -0600 From: weisrot@cscoe.ac.com (Todd Weisrock - CIS) Subject: TD 2 Alright, I just have to throw my 2 cents in on ideas for TD 2. How about Violent Femmes covering No Thugs?
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 30 Oct 95 16:31:52 -0500
From: Paul_Myers@magic.ca (Paul Myers)
Organization: Magic Online Services Inc.
Subject: SPOOKY RUBEN!
Just heard this new CD by Spooky Ruben, it's got a real slacker-meets-Andy
Partridge feel to it. Lot's of lo tech (Beck like) stuff but the melodies
and chords and geez, pretty much everything sounds like Andy, but the guy
is like only 21 or something... This and Ben Folds Five are two reasons to
believe that we are not mad in the court of Power Pop. Queen is dead, long
live the King of america...
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
Magic Online Services Toronto Inc. (416) 591-6490
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
------------------------------ Date: Mon, 30 Oct 1995 17:11:44 -0500 (EST) From: "C.L. Wood" <u9400576@muss.CIS.McMaster.CA> Subject: Dear God Sarah did a wonderful new version of Dear God, and it is a refreshing new mood. BUT, no way is she anywhere near as expressive a vocalist as Andy. Early on in the song her soft sound is very nice and suitable to the mood of the song, just as Andy's vocals are suitable to his version. When the song starts building towards the climax, Andy's energy grows and grows, where as it seems Sarah can't keep it up, she isn't quite there. I love both versions, I just think Andy's singing is untouchable. Christopher
------------------------------ Date: Mon, 30 Oct 95 17:15 EST From: Jeffrey Langr <0005392548@mcimail.com> Subject: What about the Kinks? Someone else shares my heart re: the Kinks. Thanks Mitch F. for the information about Ray; I also noted the parallels between XTC and the 66 - 69 Kinks. I wrote a paper for a course in popular music at the U. of Maryland (got an A!) somewhere around 1985, and at the same time produced a tape with snippets from Kinks and XTC songs side by side, with a bit of written comparison for each. One thing I noticed is the paeans to the sun in many of Ray's songs (lazy old sun, big sky off the top of my head) which XTC picked up on (I Remember the Sun). There's also the train songs (Train Running Low...) and the songs about small town british life (Village Green -> Smalltown). I'll have to dig up my paper to remember more... Also note that this classic Kinks period occurred at a time when the Kinks were not playing live in the US (due to a ban from either skipping a tour date or not paying dues, depending on who you talk to). So, like XTC, Ray was able to sit back and write songs from his heart about the English life that apparently touched him most. Jeff L.
------------------------------ From: Gene_Yoon@brown.edu Date: Mon, 30 Oct 1995 18:21:06 -0500 Subject: Working out the Kinks >From: mf@well.com (Mitch Friedman) > >There's been a lot of discussion about >other bands that may be similar to XTC, but as far as I can remember, no >one has said too much about the Kinks. Kinks, yes. Many mentions of Kinks here and there moons ago in this digest. A couple weeks ago I saw a three-way interview in Q magazine (or was it Deadline? ...some glossy rock music rag from England anyway) with Ray Davies and Damon Albarn of Blur. They were all smiles, pictured arm in arm, sharing witty thoughts, Albarn obviously in awe of Davies and quite thrilled, an idol with his disciple. But the interview forgot all about the middleman, Andy Partridge. Would make sense, no? I skimmed through the article, and while they talked about all these other bands, no mention of XTC or Partridge. Disappointment. If I remember the Twomey bio correctly, Colin was a Kinks fan before Andy ever was, as the senior Moulding liked the group quite a lot and imparted his taste to his son as he was growing up. >From: glancaster@mecn.mass.edu > >for those who're still having trouble locating "Testimonial Dinner," try >cdnow - you can search for their web site, or telnet to cdnow.com; Noteworthy Music also has it for $12.69, their # is 1(800)648-7972. They deliver in the continental U.S. in two days. They provide overseas delivery too, I think. I'm guessing 'Dear God' is a single now--I'm hearing it a lot on the radio. The masses apparently approve. The DJ's only mention it as a Sarah McLachlan song and never make reference to the Testimonial CD, which is too bad. >From: ToddT8@aol.com > >Boy do I love D & W! BTW, does anybody else think that the songs added >to the CD sound like they belong on GO 2 more than D & W? I'm a sucker for bouncy catchy nonsensical/stupid-but-fun pop tunes (which might explain why I like most of Go2, the Farm, Shonen Knife, the B-52's), and often, depending on my mood, my favorite tracks on the Drums and Wires CD reissue are the middle three: Hop, Chain of Command, Limelight. They're great to exercise to (sorry, but synthesized covers of club songs won't cut it for me). Add the 'clapped out keyboards' and those three would feel at home on Go2, for sure. Gene
------------------------------ Date: 30 Oct 95 19:19:47 EST From: Charles Grace <76460.3232@compuserve.com> Subject: Re: Dear God? >Sarah McLachlan: A darker tone, almost haunting. This being my least >favorite song since it clashes with my religious beliefs, Sarah's vocals >make the lyrics more poignant. I'd rather not open a can of worms that has, I'm sure, been opened before - but I was thinking, while enjoying both TD and my lunch: The singer or author or fictional character relating "Dear God" may, by his words, not believe in God. But addresses him directly. Sorta like: "Hey, I don't believe in you." Who? You? You talkin' to me? I take the song to mean belief coupled with disbelief. He has a bone to pick, and knows who to pick it with... A very clever song by a very clever songwriter. Just thought I'd share this. C
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 30 Oct 1995 19:35:33 -0500 (EST)
From: COUNTESS CHOCULA <PALM1624@splava.cc.plattsburgh.edu>
Subject: Dinnerbell dinnerbell ring...
Organization: SUNY at Plattsburgh, New York, USA
Date sent: 30-OCT-1995 19:08:49
I just got on this list the other day after seeing the Testimonial Dinner
cd at my campus' radio station. It's in heavy rotation now, so I haven't
heard all of it yet, but I was psyched to see that TMBG did 25 O'Clock--
that really is the perfect song for them to do. It figures they'd be the
only band to cover a Dukes Of Stratosphear song.:) I did play it Saturday
morning on my show, and I thought it was absolutely wonderfull, though I
wish they had remembered to say "FIVE!" at the beginning of the song (well,
that's what sounds like what's being said in the original, anyway). Oh well
, I guess it'd be too carbon copy then, right? I also played Terry And The
Lovemen on my midnight show. I was going to play the Joe Jackson cover (
can't think of anybody more appropriate to cover an XTC song than him), but
then I found out who Terry And The Lovemen really were, so decided to go
with that one. I also played the original All You Pretty Girls (I don't
really like Crash Test Dummies much at all--their version of The Ballad Of
Peter Pumpkinhead is blasphemous, IMHO), and Great Fire, since I don't have
Mummer and really miss hearing that song. I think finding this tribute cd (
had no idea it was coming out) re-sparked my interest in XTC. Now I'm mad
at myself for only brining a copy of English Settlement with me to school.
:( It's my favorite, but it's just not enough!
I'll eventually buy TD, but I'll have to skip that Sara Mc whats-her-
face (that's not an insult, I do know her name but I just don't want to
mispell it) track because I can't stand to listen to Dear God; I turn it
off everytime it comes on the radio--it's also the reason why I spent $17
for an original copy of Skylarking (kind of mad 'bout that now, 'cause I
saw it for like, $3 this summer--three years too late I guess). Thank
heavens for Oranges And Lemons--if I had never heard Mayor Of Simpleton,
I'd probably still hate XTC. Hell, at least it's not Tori Amos doing Dear
God; just thinking about that makes me want to puke.
Somebody said something about wanting to see Blur do an XTC song--I love
Blur, but I don't know if they like XTC. I guess I could go back over to
the obnoxious and annoying Blur mailing list and ask, but I highly doubt
that the 15 year-old spastic females on the list have any idea who XTC are
(and a lot of the people on the list are British, too). :( Actually, I'd
really like to see The Jazz Butcher do an XTC song; not quite sure which
one, but maybe somebody has an idea? I usually put The Jazz Butcher in the
same category as XTC--if you like Robyn Hitchcock (why wasn't he on TD?)
and XTC (well if you don't you're not reading this message!), you're bound
to like The Jazz Butcher. A word of warning though--his albums are very
hard to find!
--Tracy
"thousands of people would die for a chance to be alone"
--The Jazz Butcher
"start the world, I want to get back on"
--Carter USM
------------------------------ End of Chalkhills Digest #2-18 ******************************
Go back to Volume 2.
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