Chalkhills Digest Volume 2, Issue 36
Date: Monday, 20 November 1995
Chalkhills Digest, Volume 2, Number 36
Monday, 20 November 1995
Today's Topics:
Re: Chalkhills Digest #2-34
Senses,Sexism and Sergeants
my intro to XTC
Relay
XTC Demo CDs
Reply for PRODUCERS
XTC hearings
sexism
xtc
Re: ignored in English-speaking countries
Various mumblings
The Case of the Missing Andy Boy PART 4 OF 4
First-weirdist-timer
Simon Mayo 4 XTC
XTC Merchandise
The definitive truth about Collideascope
re: ten bad songs
XTC Missionary Work
RE: Demos vs. actual releases
Many posts - first introduction
Weird places to hear XTC
MUZAK
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Sunday church and they look fetching.
---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Sat, 18 Nov 95 13:23:29 EST From: "John M. Chamberlain" <JC7704A@american.edu> Organization: The American University Subject: Re: Chalkhills Digest #2-34 This may be old news (I'm a grad student and rarely have time to do more than skim Today's Topics, if that) but there's a great cover of "Shiny Cage" on a 1994 CD called Fortune, by a strange and interesting L.A. band called Giant Ant Farm. (It's the only cover on the album, which gives some indication of the unique vision). Address is Vaccination Records, P.O. Box 3995, Long Beach, CA 90803.
------------------------------
Date: Sat, 18 Nov 1995 19:37:02 +0000 (GMT)
From: Kevin Donnelly <kevin.donnelly@st-hughs.oxford.ac.uk>
Subject: Senses,Sexism and Sergeants
Uh, yeah, very neat explanation of Senses...thanks.But it doesn't
explain the actual lyrics ("innocents all sleeping safely &c &c") but
that doesn't really matter I suppose. It's still a great song. And
it's also surprising the number of people for whom it was their
introduction to XTC. Coincidence?Or part of some great plan of God's
to prove that he is _not_ offended by "Dear God" (assuming he exists
of course-but we've heard that one before)?
Someone mentioned Andy P being "sexist". I think the lyrics of Sgt. Rock
(>>>) speak for themselves ("make the girl mine, keep her stood in line")
but it's a great song and an example of the wit that makes XTC so special.
I also reckon I'll stick up for Living through Another Cuba;which
is,er,brilliant basically; although I can't offer an intellectual
argument for it. Nice guitar bits, especially live.
No word yet on the "Senses working Overtime" video? Such as who can
supply me with it?
And we could dance....
Kevin ">>>" D.
------------------------------ Date: Sat, 18 Nov 1995 14:26:33 -0600 (CST) From: Trix Are For Kids <sol3804@tam2000.tamu.edu> Subject: my intro to XTC Well, I had resolved to lurk a while longer but I when I read someone else's post about hearing XTC in the Gap, I figured this would be the perfect opportunity/segue into my story of discovering XTC. Because you see, it was also in the Gap. A little over a year ago I was in the Gap when "Peter Pumpkinhead" started playing. I just stopped right there and listened to it. When it finished, I went up to the registers and asked if they knew who the band was that played that song. Of course they didn't have a clue. Fortunately I am very persistent. I asked all my friends until I finally found someone who told me that it was XTC. I then went out and bought Nonsvch. Not knowing exactly what they had out, I checked for albums that I didn't have in music stores and gradually acquired the majority of their albums (this is still an ongoing process). I was shocked when I realized how long they have been around. What I want to know is, how could I have been alive so long and never have heard of them?? It was mere chance that I discovered them when I did. I take my case as a particularly strong argument for sharing the music of XTC with all those you know and care about. -sara
------------------------------ From: BugRoom@aol.com Date: Sat, 18 Nov 1995 15:57:25 -0500 Subject: Relay I have a message received to me via snail-mail to relay to this here list. It comes from Ian C. Stewart. Ear it is: "Patrick Partridge! Write me again! You didn't send your address!" (end of message) Bug
------------------------------ Date: Sat, 18 Nov 1995 16:04:06 -0500 Subject: XTC Demo CDs From: "David G. Shaw" <dshaw@tiac.net> I just received a catalogue from Alibi Records, which lists XTC Demos #1-7. How do I find out what the contents of each disc are, which ones are recommended, and which I should avoid?
------------------------------
Date: Sat, 18 Nov 1995 16:22:30 -0500
From: produce@magicnet.net (Arthur James Virgin)
Subject: Reply for PRODUCERS
>From: Randy Watkins <randyw@sisna.com>
>New topic for input.....how about discussing (in addition to the cover
>songs)....PRODUCERS for XTC? I personally think they'd do a helluva lot
>better by themselves, but since the record company insists on
>producers....
Ummmm..something I can sink my teeth into...
First off let me say that Andy & Company would do fine producing
their own records (ie..Brian Eno to Andy Partridge "You dont need a
producer"), the only problem is artists who produce their own records tend
to think in the same realm as the time they wrote the songs. Other outside
influences (producers) bring in something else ->another opinion about song
structure and especially sonic textures!
My choices for producers:
1) Mitchell Froom producing..Tchad Blake engineering... (God of all
production teams...period. They would add such great sounds I wouldnt
know what to do with myself.
2) Jon Brion producing...Some of you may know who Jon Brion is. He played
with the "Grays" and produced both of Aimee Mann's solo albums. He would
add the touch of experimentation that would blow XTC songs into the
stratosphere!
3) Stephen Street producing...Heard "Parklife" or "The Great Escape" by
Blur? Thats why....
4) Jon Leckie producing.... Bring Jon Leckie back!!!!! That new Radiohead
album was his turning point...What a great producer!
I could go on..but nah. BTW, if you would like to see more on
these and other producers please visit my www page at
http://www.magicnet.net/~produce
:)
AJ
"Skylarking was like a summers day
baked into one cake" - Andy Partridge
------------------------------ Date: Sat, 18 Nov 95 16:52 EST From: Jeffrey Langr <0005392548@mcimail.com> Subject: XTC hearings The only unexpected place I'd heard XTC music is in a class on the history of popular music at the University of Maryland, c.1985. The teacher cranked up Generals & Majors and what was surprising is the considerable amount of people I knew in the class that recognized the song. Last cover that XTC should do: "In-a-gadda-da-vida", Iron Butterfly Jeff L., psycho
------------------------------ Date: Sun, 19 Nov 1995 12:13:18 +0000 From: fisher@easynet.co.uk (Mark Fisher) Subject: sexism I'm intrigued to know how Laura Parent reckons Down in the Cockpit - a song that is explicitly about men's inadequacy and women's competence - can be classified as sexist. "Man acting like a farmer and he's treated the woman like a poor cow - we got to treat you better from now," isn't my idea of misogyny. Or does she mean Andy is sexist towards men? Mark Fisher (fisher@easynet.co,uk)
------------------------------ From: JColbyX@aol.com Date: Sun, 19 Nov 1995 08:05:56 -0500 Subject: xtc OK, OK, if all us voyeurs have to stand up and be counted, than Yes! Yes! I too am a new subscriber. Greetings to all those who imbibe in the wonderful, sometimes frustrating love of all that is XTC. I try not to read a too much into all the boys say, as I feel that somtimes a song is just that. Although the thought of Andy sitting at a huge piano digging his toes in a pile of sand (or Chalkdust) ala Brian Wilson is an amusing one. Most interesting place to hear an XTC song? Doesn't just hearing an XTC song make a place more interesting-he said jokingly. For anyone that did'nt know, there is an album called "URGH! A Music War" with a pretty good live version of "Take This Town" on it. I have a pretty bad live version of a band I used to be in doing "Burning With Optimisms Flames" if anyone is interested. And though I know it may have scarred me for life, I actually had the artwork from the XTC Single "Peter Pumpkinhead" tatooed on my right bicep. Lets just say the song left quite an impression on me... Stop me before I type again! JIM
------------------------------
From: bllklly@olsen.ch
Date: Sun, 19 Nov 95 19:20:11 +0100
Subject: Re: ignored in English-speaking countries
> You said a mouthful, buster. I just came back from a year of study in
> Germany, where they [the radio, most young people--or at least the record
> labels] largely ignore musicians UNLESS they do songs in English. Must
> have to do with unit sales--the German-speaking market not profitable enough
The pro-English bias is really a shame. However, the German MTV equivalent,
VIVA, shows that there is a market for music in the German language.
And there are a lot of good bands that record in German:
Die Aerzte fun-punk
Die Toten Hosen fun-punk
Die Fantastischen Vier rap
Die Prinzen humorous a capella pop
Einstuerzende Neubauten industrial art noise
The Inchtabokatables Irish-influenced rock
Das Auge Gottes mixed styles from the East
Selig similar to the Mission
Heinz Rudolf Kunze nerd-turned-rocker a la Elvis Costello
Udo Lindenberg grandpa of German rock a la Mick Jagger
to name just a few I listen to. There are lots more out there, and even
more in Austria and Switzerland. I've read the comment in interviews more
than once that the songwriter for a German band said s/he finally got tired
of writing in English and knowing that the lyrics weren't as good as s/he
could do in German. But this seems to be a minority opinion.
I can't say that any of the above bands is directly comparable to Xtc,
but maybe some of you Kreidehuglern out there want to branch out into real
international music.
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 20 Nov 1995 13:36:18 +1000 (GMT+1000)
From: Vzzzbx <h8hc035@wilbur.mbark.swin.oz.au>
Subject: Various mumblings
#> From: heller megan j <mjhell@mail.wm.edu>
#> Even when, a few months later, I first got into
#> "gothic" music and started wearing all black, XTC remained my
#> favorite band. Actually, I'm still wearing all black, and XTC is
#> _still_ my favorite band. :)
Another one! I wear all-black and have heaps of goth friends, and XTC's
my favourite as well!
#> From: vanvalnc@is2.nyu.edu (Chris Van Valen)
#> Here's my contribution to the ongoing debate over what's not top
#> shelf XTC material(IMHO):
#> It's Nearly Africa
#> Melt The Guns
#> Human Alchemy(Gee, Andy--slavery is bad? Who knew!)
#> Shake You Donkey Up
Aww... The first two are my favourite tracks off English Settlement by a
_mile_ [that driving beat gets me hyped like nothing else], and Shake You
Donkey Up is the one I have up loudest. Incredible power in that song.
I suppose it has a lot to do with what you look for in songs, and what you
don't pick up that others do. Each to their own. :)
#> From: Randy Watkins <randyw@sisna.com>
#> Has anyone ever noticed that XTC has a really gifted knack for
#> writing phenomenal endings to their songs? [...] and the chaos
#> of "Lord Deliver Us...".
That chaos reminds me of the end of 'Being For The Benefit Of Mister
Kite', and it finishes side 1 of Sgt Pepper in the same way as
'...Elements' finishes side 1 of Mummer. Brilliant.
#> From: Michelle Pratt <mpratt@aacn.nche.edu>
#> I think what I like most about their music is that it's not just
#> something you bop up and down to. Once you listen to the lyrics,
#> there's no going back.
That's definitely true for me as well. I have trouble listening to
a lot of stuff I loved before I went mad on XTC because it's just not up
to scratch anymore. XTC has raised my standards to the point where I'm
now having immense difficulty finding _anything_ that's as good now.
#> From: BObannon@aol.com
#> you do have to believe what Jesus has required, which
#> is exclusive belief in Him as the Savior of the world. That's His
#> requirement, not mine.
You don't have to believe in it, because there's a huge chance it's a big
fairy tale. And you have to believe in him to say it's his requirement.
#> I'm just relating to you what He has said. If
#> you don't believe He said this, you'll have to come up with some
#> good evidence to support your claim.
There are some superb arguments against the idea that 'He' exists/existed,
but most religious folk don't want to listen...
#> From: James Poulakos <engjcp@gsusgi2.Gsu.EDU>
#> When I heard that France had imposed a sort of quota-system to
#> enforce French-langauge films and songs (a French friend tells me
#> that every 5th song on French radio must be by a French artist),
#> I snorted. Snobs, I thought.
We have similar requirements in Australia. Our radio stations have to put
out a minimum of 20% Australian content, and out free-to-air television
networks have to broadcast a minimum of 55% [!] local product.
#> From: "Christopher R. Coolidge" <ccoolidg@moose.uvm.edu>
#> Well, my dear, there's nothing an atheist can do if he doesn't
#> know if he believes in anything or not...
#> -Monty Python
I should point out that it's 'nothing an athiest _can't_ do'. Sort of
has the sentence supporting the right side of the argument now. :)
#> From: Laura Parent <laura@geosun1.sjsu.edu>
#> So we've established that AP is an atheist. Has anyone else ever
#> noticed that he's also quite sexist as well? (i.e. Down in the
#> Cockpit?)
I think it's AP putting on a sexist persona [that's _not_ his own]. This
persona is terrified that women are now considered to be equal to men.
IMHO, of course. :)
--
h8hc035@wilbur.mbark.swin.oz.au
'The music business is a hammer to keep you pegs in your holes, but please
don't listen to me. I've already been poisoned by this industry!'
-- Andy Partridge
------------------------------
Date: Sun, 19 Nov 1995 22:31:24 -0800
From: dfranson@earth.execpc.com (Dave Franson)
Subject: The Case of the Missing Andy Boy PART 4 OF 4
Trouser Press/October 1983 pp. 26-29
The Case of the Missing Andy Boy PART 4 OF 4
by Harry George
[continued from installment three...]
Far from the world's hockey stadiums, Andy Partridge has not been idle.
He's produced Peter Blegvad, of Slapp Happy fame, for Virgin. Partridge
also played with Blegvad ("a cross between John Denver and Laurie
Anderson"), as did Moulding and ex-Feelies drummer Anton Fier. He's
further keeping a producer's eye on the Cocteau Twins.
Then there's his soundtrack music for the film Liquidream by Mike Portelly,
still unfinished. "He's an excellent underwater photographer and has done
several fashion spreads where the models stand on the sea bed and hold
their breath. It's a modern-day mermaid story; the music probably sounds
like some XTC B-sides in the 'Homo Safari' series. Somebody told me the
other day that we skipped number four in the series; it wasn't
intentional."
The "Homo Safari" series of mock-ethnic recordings is one example of the
artistic freedom XTC apparently enjoys at Virgin. Partridge has also
dabbled in dub remixes, among them a solo album, Take Away/The Lure of
Salvage.
"We got the leeway only because we paid for it. Take Away was great fun;
I've gone on to use those lessons in our music."
Unlike most dub reggae, Partridge's remixes leave the original tunes
virtually unidentifiable.
"It's like you've driven this car around and you're fed up with its shape.
You say OK, I'm gonna get a welding torch, hammer and saw, chop the car up
and make something else out of it. I did Take Away totally royalty-free at
a cost of 2,000 [pounds Sterling], which is nothing, and said, 'Don't
charge a lot of money for it, 'cause I don't like expensive music.' In
Japan it was hailed as a work of electronic genius and outsold all the XTC
albums. They had to press it up again with liner notes in Japanese.
"Someone did a ballet to Go Plus [a 1978 dub EP included with some
pressings of Go 2] in New York when it came out, I discovered a year
later."
Although convinced XTC is omitted from every rock reference book -- "They
go 'X, X-Ray Spex, Yes, Neil Young!"' -- Partridge takes consolation in a
select crop of cover versions.
"An all-girl South African group did 'Complicated Game.' A Bavarian oompah
band did 'Making Plans for Nigel' as 'Making Plans for Otto' (in German).
Dave Stewart and Barbara Gaskin have done 'Roads Girdle the Globe'; it's
slick, with a terrific Todd Rundgren board solo."
XTC's sophisticated, ironic music doesn't exactly lend itself to the Hit
Parade. David Bowie may be able to resort to the contrived moon-Junery on
"Let's Dance," but one can't imagine Partridge writing a modern equivalent
of "Twisting the Night Away."
"We'd feel bad about being that obvious. It would be acting as if I had
less intelligence than I really have."
XTC's refusal to take the calculated path puts the future of Mummer in
doubt. If "Wonderland," the next single, isn't a hit, Partridge doubts the
album will come out. One hopes the band's modus operandi finds favor with
record company and fans sooner than later.
For the moment, cups of tea, model airplanes and a dog named Charlie Parker
are having the best effect on Partridge's work. May he never become
Swindon's answer to Brian Wilson, Phil Spector and John Fogerty, an
isolated talent eroded by self-doubt.
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 20 Nov 1995 01:14:11 -0600
From: mhopper@siue.edu (Mark Hopper)
Subject: First-weirdist-timer
Hello chalkhillians! In the vein of this first time thing and weirdest
places.....The first time I heard XTC was on a camping trip to Michigan. My
best friend played Skylarking and Drums and Wires for me. I remember sitting
absolutely still in the cool August night air, staring at the stars, and
listening to the Summer's Cauldron/Grass/Meeting Place portion. Reflecting
on my day, I believe that those 3 songs perfectly captured the trip and the
experience. Over the course of 6 days, we listened to the entire tape
approximately 25 times! Now I can't go camping without a copy of the tape in
my backpack. Also, try reading "A Midsummer Night's Dream" on camp. There's
something about the wilderness, a summer night's fete, and meeting a new
lover that is perfectly captured in both artistic pieces.
The weirdest time was while I was touring a new grocery store (noted
for its wide selections of exotic fruits and foreign foods) that I heard
"King for a Day". Again experiences are indelibly intertwined...the song and
shopping a store where a person could find anything they wanted.
The second weirdest was "Vanishing Girl" at one of those steakhouse
chains.
Does anyone know when and where there will be another XTC
convention? I was in attendance at the Princeton one. I hope that they'll be
doing it again there soon.
Mark
------------------------------ From: "RUSSELL" <T.R.Russell@newcastle.ac.uk> Date: Mon, 20 Nov 1995 11:40:27 GMT0BST Subject: Simon Mayo 4 XTC <Apparently Mrk Radcliffe is a bit o a fan on the quiet.> I heard Radio 1's Simon Mayo raving about XTC when they released The Disappointed (he even interviewed Andy on air on the 'phone - no, it's true). Recently my sister heard him saying that XTC were about to release something and getting very excited about it (where he got his info from, I would love to know) So perhaps national radio is starting to give our chums a better press..? Or am I just dreaming? Tim (This is my fifth entry so I thought I could drop my surname - sounds more friendly, I think)
------------------------------
From: "RUSSELL" <T.R.Russell@newcastle.ac.uk>
Date: Mon, 20 Nov 1995 11:57:39 GMT0BST
Subject: XTC Merchandise
Does anybody know where I can get hold of some XTC stuff.
Especially t-shirts and posters so that I can do my <Missionary Work>
more effectively.
As I'm fairly new, could someone please put me straight on the
following issues:
1. What is "muzak"?
2. Is "Demos 6" an album?
3. Is "Testimonial Dinner" an album?
4. Is "Chip-Choc Fireball" available on CD? - If so, where can I get
hold of a copy?
5. Have XTC ever made a video compilation?
6. What is the likelihood of ever being able to see them live?
Thanks for your help.
Tim
xxx
------------------------------ From: "RUSSELL" <T.R.Russell@newcastle.ac.uk> Date: Mon, 20 Nov 1995 12:17:47 GMT0BST Subject: The definitive truth about Collideascope I know that there's a lot of controversy surrounding who sings the vocals on this song, so let me set the record straight (the stylus keeps falling off). Mr. Partridge appeared to me in a dream last night. He told me that Collideascope was actually sung by Nancy Reagan (Ron's wife, for those readers who were born after 1988). I couldn't believe this at first (understandibly) but he went on to say how Ron had written him a letter telling him how he was a big fan and that "Melt the Guns" was the prime driving force behind the "Get rid of lots of nuclear missiles" strategy which, as we all know, had been so important in establishing a good relationship with the Soviet Union and would Andy mind if his wife could sing on a couple of tracks on their next album as she had a lovely singing voice. Andy agreed and, borrowing a next-door-neighbour's "Build-Your-Own Time Machine" kit, went back in time and recorded the Dukes' album, with Elvis Presley on guitar, Buddy Holly on pan-flute and Che Guevara on marimbas. At least that'll end that ridiculous debate. By the way - the strangest place I ever heard XTC was actually down a coalmine. I was having a picnic down ther one day when I heard "Scissor Man" coming through a hole in the rock. I peered through the whole to determine the source of the music and spotted a party of pygmy coal-people (an indigenous species of land-dwelling, nocturnal killer whales) doing the mash-potato to it. Funny what happens when you listen to XTC all the time, isn't it? Yours Honestly, Tim
------------------------------
From: Saints3Den@aol.com
Date: Mon, 20 Nov 1995 08:44:36 -0500
Subject: re: ten bad songs
Dear ten bad song friend. I just have to reply. You are of course
entitled to your opinion, and you may not like those songs, HOWEVER you
mention Human Alchemy and say something along the lines of gee, slavery is
bad.. who knew? You seem to be saying that since we already know slavery
is wrong,there is no need to tell anyone. This can be equated to saying
"Andy,you are our teacher,but don't try to teach us anything,because we may
already know it."( Im not sure if I'm really getting my point across.) I
thoroughly enjoy this song, but what is really being said is not that
slavrey is bad,but that in reality slavry enslaves the master. Check out
the end of the song.
Also, IMHO Melt the Guns is the signature song of XTC. No other song
embodies all that XTC can be . It is complex.loud,thoughtful,musically
excellent,lyrically strong ,catchy , and you can make out most of the
lyrics without consulting the inner sleeve.
And... It's Nearly Africa just happens to be ths song which hooked me on
to the world of XTC... My brother had been hustling around the house one
day,OK. Every once in a while, he would burst out with a "shake your bag o'
bones" or a couple of "any day now;any day now ,now"'s needless to say, I
arsked him what in the hell he was babbling on about and the rest is,of
course history. (Just thought i'd stick in my intro to the band.)
Enough of that, a couple of questions,though .
1) who sings the syllable "BA" in living through another cuBA! ?
2) IN Grass Colin uses the line" Laying on the grass" ...
In Ladybird, Andy uses the line" Laying on the grass" as well. Can
anyone think of any phrases that appear in songs by both of them? More than
a two word phrase, at least! Anyone? bye , eddie
------------------------------ Date: Mon, 20 Nov 1995 10:23:42 -0500 (EST) From: Natalie Jane Jacobs <gnat@umich.edu> Subject: XTC Missionary Work A tough business, but someone has to... well, maybe not. I had one success story in high school - I turned my friend Colin into a raving addict, and he in turn converted his friend Sean. I have memories of driving around in Sean's car shrieking along with "Oranges and Lemons." (Yes, my high school days were wild.) I'm currently working on a much tougher case. My friend Bryan mainly likes Gothic and industrial music (his wife calls it "furnace-clanking music") and considers "pop" to be a dirty word. However, he likes Shriekback a lot, which I'm using as a lever to worm XTC into his affections. We watched the URGH! video together: his first comment at seeing Andy was "Who IS this guy?" I think he liked it, though. Continuing my mission, I lent Bryan "Go2" - it's abrasive enough for him and has Barry Andrews on it. He listened to the first side and pronounced it "cute." "Jumping in Gomorrah" had a "good beat." (Bryan's 8-month-old baby liked it, too). I don't think I've won him over yet. Maybe I never will. But XTC fans are nothing if not persistent... Natalie Jacobs ************** "Gods by the bushel! Gods by the pound!"
------------------------------ Date: 20 Nov 1995 10:47:50 -0500 From: "Ken Salaets" <ksalaets@itic.nw.dc.us> Subject: RE: Demos vs. actual releases >From Thomas Long: >>One thing that came to mind was how much each writer had arranged their songs beforehand - the background vocals on the demos are very intricate, and carried over virtually intact to the Skylarking recording sessions. And from "The Case of the Missing Andy Boy PART 3 OF 4:" >>Moulding, however, had said that he and Partridge (XTC's two songwriters) make demos of their songs, which the group follows pretty closely. >>"Not totally true," Partridge states. "We give a general atmospheric description and ask if the others can contribute something..." Again, judging from the demos I have heard, their songs seem all but finished before the band ever walks into the studio. At least in most cases. So, why bother having an outside producer at all, especially when Andy seems so reluctant to let go of the reins? And particularly, why bother if it leads to further delays in getting out their material!! KS
------------------------------ Date: Mon, 20 Nov 95 11:22:37 EST From: ldsteve@MIT.EDU (Stephen Gilligan) Subject: Many posts - first introduction I've posted a number of times but never introduced myself. Unconsciously rude. My wife say I do that to her all the time, (never introduce her to an acquaintance). Must have been the sixties..... My first introduction to XTC came with the new wave of 1978. I've always loved British pop (ever since the you-know-whos) and when Elvis Costello, The Records (anyone remember them?), Bram Tchakovsky, Joe Jackson, and of course XTC came over, we eagerly gobbled up their music. I always found The Sex Pistols a bit too abrasive and The Clash were too important for me. Andy and the boys were fun, inventive, and MELODIC! However, the only album I bought was Black Sea 'cause Generals & Majors just blew me away! I also got the "No Thugs" single (with cut outs) and introduced many of my musician friends to the band. Then I kinda lost touch with them until one day one of the aforementioned friends complimented me on my musical tastes, especially XTC, who'd just released a killer album that he praised up and down. I admitted that I hadn't heard it, or even thought about XTC for a while. I found Skylarking a bit later and fell completely and totally in love with it immediately. I bought O&L the day it was released (on cassette for some reason?!?) and was a bit disappointed at first. It has since become my favorite disc, well, it is until I listen to Nonsuch, or English Settlement (my new fave!), or Skylarking, or Big Express, or, well, you get the picture. Anyway, I've begun looking for tapes, bootlegs, singles, anything. Yes, it has become an obsession. I see no signs of it abating and you folks only feed the fire, so to speak. So if you ever feel that you're going overboard and drowning in a sea of XTC remember, you're not alone. Just logon and jump in!! I'm off to a store someone told me about that may have demo stuff I don't have yet. I hope, I hope, I hope... - Stephen
------------------------------ From: Michelle Pratt <mpratt@aacn.nche.edu> Subject: Weird places to hear XTC Date: Mon, 20 Nov 95 08:42:00 PST Imagine walking into a leather store in the mall and hearing some random mix of songs eventually leading into a Christmas theme that began with - you guessed it - "Thanks for Christmas." In fact, it followed me everywhere. As I thought about it, I realized that every year in almost every store in every mall I went to in the area they played some Christmas music mix that included that song...
------------------------------ Date: Mon, 20 Nov 95 12:11:35 EST From: Peter <ST002436@BROWNVM.brown.edu> Subject: MUZAK A number of years ago, DEVO put out a greatest hits record which was actually them doing MUZAK Versions of their "hits." If I remember right, some of the songs sounded a lot like the soundtrack for the really early Mickey Mouse cartoons like "Steamboat Willy." The whole thing was very weird. Let's see how I can relate this back to XTC?...Brian Eno produced that cool cover they did of "Satisfaction" that has a tweaked rhythmic groove not unlike "Nigel." How psyched are you to hear what Andy Partridge sounds like fronting Talking Heads? Forward in all directions. Peter
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