Chalkhills Digest Volume 2, Issue 46
Date: Wednesday, 6 December 1995

          Chalkhills Digest, Volume 2, Number 46

                Wednesday, 6 December 1995

Today's Topics:

              Re: Chalkhills Digest #2-4  1
                    Producer / B*****s
                           Hi!
                     Get together...
                     "Millions," etc.
          various bits (Belew, Chills, Classism)
                Re: Stoned on U.S. history
                    VD Parks/La's/GBV
            Secret Out Tapes/Dave loves Elvis
                      An RT request
                     Mis-heard lyrics
               Re: Chalkhills Digest #2-43
                  The Verve Pipe & Andy
                    Chalkhills Newbie
                   Book: Lost In Music
                   Cleaners from Venus
                 Translator & Spent Poets
                 A Cynical Day for Colin
          reaching back a bit in the subjects...
                  Ernest Noyes Brookings
           Dave Gregory on new Brian Stevens CD
                 XTC covering themselves

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We find the sun's gone cold.

----------------------------------------------------------------------

Subject: Re: Chalkhills Digest #2-4  1
From: jd.mack@neteast.com (JD MACK)
Date: Sun, 03 Dec 95 09:54:00 -0500
Organization: Online Technologies, Inc. - Modem:  301-738-0000

-> >how about people relating XTC lyrics that they've misheard over the
-> years?

I've missed the last few chalkhills, so I hope I'm not repeating
something someone has already said.  I used to think the first line to
"Outside World" was "She has sex while singing in the sauna."

On a totally unrelated note . . .   Any notice the implied obscenity in
the lyrics of "1000 Umbrellas?"  Complete this line:

"So with a mop and a bucket
I'll just say . . ."

Typical cleverness from Andy.  Reminds me a bit of the song "Shaving
Cream."

J.D.

------------------------------

From: M Wilson <mw25@unix.york.ac.uk>
Date: Sun, 3 Dec 1995 16:12:11 +0000
Subject: Producer / B*****s

> From: Jeffrey Langr <0005392548@mcimail.com>
> Subject: Conny Plank

> *Now* we're talking.  Is Conny Plank still around?  He's got to be getting
> pretty old -- as I recall he was associated with Cluster in the early 70's.

> From: Jeffrey Langr <0005392548@mcimail.com>
> Subject: Ian Broudie?
 >  I still think Trent Reznor would be awesome for
> XTC: the sound would be great,

Trent could be a good choice but I think Conny Plank is a bit too mecanical.
 Jeffrey set me thinking though - what about Uwe Nettlebeck?  He turned out
some fine arty-pop with Slapp Happy in the 70s and he would be perfetct for
XTC.

On the subject of the B*****s.  We're drowning in them over here at the moment.
 The story of the B*****s documentary on TV is quite interesting though.  It
shows how sanitized they have had to become from their Hamburg club days, to
sell them to a wider audience.

Martin

------------------------------

Date: Sun, 3 Dec 1995 12:54:44 -0500
From: aym@j51.com (Angry Young Man)
Subject: Hi!

>Yep. How's life on the Billy Joel newsgroup, BTW? No sign of a CD reissue
>of 'Hour Of The Wolf' yet, I suppose? *sigh*

Alas, no, I doubt that the Hassles will ever reappear in *ANY* form...but
an educated fan is usually a bigger fan.

# And whaddaya all think of John Flansburgh? From They Might Be Giants? I
# don't think John would stifle the Swindonians' creativity -- I mean, look
# at TMBG!
>At first I thought 'no way', but actually - this might just work! It would
>certainly be interesting. Note that TMBG got Paul Fox (of O&L fame) to
>produce their last one thought, and a mighty fine record it was too.

You know, I never even thought about the Paul Fox connection between the
Johns and XTC...and I really like "John Henry" because it stretches the
limits of TMBG and their 'new live band' sound.  I think John Flansburgh,
who is acquainted with Andy (remember the Hello cd track?) would make a
perfect fit, with or without Paul Fox as co producer.

 < - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - >  "He's been stabbed in the back
    _/_/  _/ _/  _/_/_/_/  Ira Lieman          He's been misunderstood
  _/  _/ _/ _/  _/ _/ _/  Angry Young Man      It's a comfort to know
 _/_/_/   _/   _/ _/ _/  aym@j51.com           His intentions are good"
_/  _/   _/   _/    _/  http://www.j51.com/~aym          - Billy Joel

------------------------------

Date: Sun, 3 Dec 1995 12:55:14 -0500
From: aym@j51.com (Angry Young Man)
Subject: Get together...

Brady Lewis had a *GOOD* idea regarding a potential get together for
XTC'ers in the NY/NJ area.  Where do you guys live???  C'mon...over the
winter break from whatever college you're in or something we could all get
together for dinner/drinks or something on the NJ side of NYC...e-mail me
or BradyLewis@aol.com with ideas or other stuff. We'll figure something
out.

Maybe we'll have an international get together sometime soon...what would
be the geographical median between all of us? It seems there's a
concentration in the UK and the NZ/OZ area...  maybe we should all save up
some cash to meet in the Atlantic Ocean next spring. :)

 < - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - >  "He's been stabbed in the back
    _/_/  _/ _/  _/_/_/_/  Ira Lieman          He's been misunderstood
  _/  _/ _/ _/  _/ _/ _/  Angry Young Man      It's a comfort to know
 _/_/_/   _/   _/ _/ _/  aym@j51.com           His intentions are good"
_/  _/   _/   _/    _/  http://www.j51.com/~aym          - Billy Joel

------------------------------

Date: Sun, 3 Dec 1995 19:31:17 -0500 (EST)
From: Natalie Jane Jacobs <gnat@umich.edu>
Subject: "Millions," etc.

The reason I find this song racist is because it buys into a lot of
stereotypes about Asians and Asian culture: e.g. the lines "millions all
moving forward / Millions all babbling crossword" - seeming to indicate
that Asians are an unindividuated mass all speaking some "babbling"
language.  As for the final lines, it seems to me that the Japanese did
just fine in perpetrating atrocities without the "poison" of Western
thinking, while the Chinese took their "poison" fifty years ago (Marxism,
etc.)

Anyway, I think there's already a thread on this subject in the archives
(Mr. Relph?), so maybe anyone who wants to reply should do so by private
E-mail.

A final reason I'm so down on this song, BTW, is that I find it really
dull... snazz it up with a decent vocal line and I'd probably be a little
less harsh.  My favorite XTC songs are the really singable ones; my mezzo
voice fits pretty nicely into Andy's range (an octave higher, I assume -
I'm musically illiterate), so if it's fun to sing - especially if it's
got lots of ornamentation and turns and octave leaps and stuff - I like
it better.

Natalie Jacobs
**************
"Gods by the bushel!  Gods by the pound!"

------------------------------

Date: Mon, 4 Dec 1995 14:43:02 +0800
From: james.dignan@stonebow.otago.ac.nz (James Dignan)
Subject: various bits (Belew, Chills, Classism)

Rogier van Bakel <rogier@li.com>:
>I don't think I asked Belew about his influences in a very specific way,
>but I'd be surprised if he didn't at least appreciate XTC a great deal.
>The "Here" album is very Beatlesque/XTC-ish.

in an interview relayed to the King Crimson list a few months back, Belew
revealed that he is indeed a big XTC fan.

>As long as we're trashing Andy for his putative sexism in "Cockpit," how
>about that other nasty ism - classism? The entry for XTC in Spin's guide
>to alternative music brutally trashed "Meccanik Dancing" as a "loathing"
>put-down of the pursuits of the working classes. I disagree (and Spin is
>still a corporate rock whore magazine), but it's something to think about.

and Towers of London is a paean to the working class of Victorian Britain.

BTW - to the people who think the Chills have provided some fine pop from
the South Pacific - have a listen to the Bats' new album Couchmaster. It's
a beauty!

James Dignan, Department of Psychology, University of Otago.

Ya zhivu v' 50 Norfolk St., St. Clair, Dunedin, New Zealand
pixelphone james.dignan@stonebow.otago.ac.nz / steam megaphone NZ 03-455-7807

   * You talk to me as if from a distance
   * and I reply with impressions chosen from another time, time, time,
   * from another time                     (Brian Eno)

------------------------------

From: g.giusti@area.it (Giovanni Giusti)
Subject: Re: Stoned on U.S. history
Date: 04 Dec 1995 16:28:06 GMT
Organization: area bbs

In "Chalkhills Digest" #2-41, "Ken Salaets" <ksalaets@itic.nw.dc.us> wrote:

> >> And the JFK movie by Oliver Stone definitely does _not_ mention
> >> Communists.
>
> Uh, over here, Oliver Stone is not viewed as a historian of any sort.
> He makes movies!

OK, point taken. Let's leave Mr. Stone out of this.

But, do you suggest that JFK was killed by Communists? Or better, do you
suggest that AP *meant* he was killed by Communists?

Nobody out there ever read Andy discussing his political views? Maybe he
said it all in some interview, and the point would be solved.

G.

------------------------------

From: BObannon@aol.com
Date: Mon, 4 Dec 1995 11:37:26 -0500
Subject: VD Parks/La's/GBV

 My recommendation for a producer of the new XTC is Van Dyke Parks. He
certainly wouldn't deliver a particularly aggressive album, but I think
he'd be much more in line with Andy P's current stylistic ambitions. As I
recall, Andy has said that "Rook"-style tunes are the kind he's most
interested in creating lately (in fact, he even wanted to do an all-strings
album until E. Costello beat him to it); since Parks is so good at
producing and arranging strings, he'd be great for the job.

Somebody mentioned the La's, and I've wondered the same thing: what
happened to them? The story I heard in regard to their first (and only)
album is that they were so frustrated with Steve Lillywhite's production
(they were wanting something much more energetic and powerful) that they
quit in the middle of the recording session. Fortunately, enough tunes for
a full-length album had been recorded, so the record company went ahead and
released what they had, without the La's satisfaction or approval. Maybe
this whole situation was too much for them to deal with.

Finally, another band that has XTC tendencies is Guided by Voices. Their
CDs are recorded like a bad demo, but their songs are brilliant. Very
Brit-pop oriented

------------------------------

Date: Mon, 04 Dec 95 14:00:03 EST
From: "John Christensen" <christej@vrinet.com>
Subject: Secret Out Tapes/Dave loves Elvis

Question: Does anyone know the background of the "Secret Out Tapes"
(1980?). It sounds like an improvisational (drunken?!) jam with "the boys"
playing around with some Hendrix and Led Zeppelin songs (Pupil Hayes,
Community Worker Breakdown, Whole Lotta Age, etc.).  I didn't believe it
was really XTC until I listened closely to their unmistakable banter. What
IS the story on this?

Also, a few weeks back someone posted some nice comments Elvis Costello
made about XTC. Well, I'm going to close the loop and show that there is
some mutual admiration going on here . . .

In a December 1989 interview, Dave Gregory was asked what he thought of
Elvis:

"Oh yeah, I'm always interested in what Elvis Costello is doing, in fact, I
thought 'Spike' was probably the best album of this year.  When I bought
it, it just clear knocked my head off.  It was quite an interesting story
in as much as we were doing drum tracks at a studio called Ocean Way in Los
Angeles, and Elvis was in the studio next door working on Spike, and we'd
always be sneaking out into the corridors to listen through the walls for
what was coming out of his studio.  And I can still remember him doing the
vocals to 'God's Comic', just listening in the corridor to these wonderful
words.  So when the album finally arrived I was so pleased that it was such
a good record."

I have this wonderful image in my head of Andy, Dave and Colin tip-toeing
down a hallway -- giggling like naughty school children -- trying to steal
a listen to Elvis.  I wish I could have been there!

Jasper

P.S. Thanks to all of you "Robyn Hitchcock"ers who answered my call -- I
have more advice than I know what to do with!

------------------------------

Date: Mon, 04 Dec 95 13:03:31 CST
From: "Bernhardt, Todd" <tbernhardt@aga.com>
Subject: An RT request

    All this Chalkhills Chat about Richard Thompson (combined with what
    I've heard about him over the years) has me ready to take the leap and
    purchase some music.

    Any ideas from RT veterans to an RT neophyte about where to start?

    Perhaps you should e-mail replies directly to me to keep this from
    becoming an RT list spinoff.

    Thanks!

------------------------------

From: 7IHd <ee92pmh@brunel.ac.uk>
Subject: Mis-heard lyrics
Date: Mon, 4 Dec 1995 20:55:01 +0000 (GMT)

Regarding misheard lyrics, I have just (by listening to it) been
reminded of the line in 'Red Brick Dream' which I still hear as
'They made the Thomas and the James' but which _really_ says 'They
made the town a set of chains'. Given the railway theme of The Big
Express, this seems to me like a particularly apt mis-hearing.

(If anyone needs this explaining... Thomas the Tank Engine, James
the Big Red Engine... I think you know what I'm talking about...)

:-)

PS: One point about the photos on TBE... There's no way, back in the
days of the old GWR, Andy would have been allowed as an engine driver
or fireman or whatever wearing glasses. Having worked on a steam
railway myself, I recall talking to one chap (who must be in his late
50s by now, I'd have thought) who told me that his only two ambitions
in life were to drive a steam train and to get married. On the first
point he couldn't get a job on the railways at the time because of him
needing glasses, though he finally achieved it on the preserved
railway a couple of years ago. On the second point he never did, as
far as I know... This may seem like a minor complaint about the TBE
packaging, but it seems to be historically inaccurate and therefore
has always irritated me slightly.

PPS: Don't all rush at once for the 'XTC USA 1980' bootleg, or anything...
  _
 |_)|_ *|
 |  | )||   http://http2.brunel.ac.uk:8080/~ee92pmh/
 ========

------------------------------

Date: Mon, 4 Dec 1995 17:23:07 -0500 (EST)
From: "Christopher R. Coolidge" <ccoolidg@moose.uvm.edu>
Subject: Re: Chalkhills Digest #2-43

  Yes, Mitchell Froom did start out doing movie soundtracks; all low-budget
stuff that saw limited national release. The bulk of his soundtrack work is
collected on an album called The Key of Cool. Be warned: it's about as ex-
citing as listening to the sound of one-hand clapping. No resemblance to any
of the bands he later produced whatsoever. Lots of synths. This was before
he got interested in organic sounds; he actually learned his craft as we know
it today from The Del Fuegos, his first-ever outside production job. From
small things big things come...
  Didn't someone mention on the list something about Froom producing the next
XTC album? Did that fall through? If so, pity; XTC would join the long list
of favorites of mine who just happen to have worked with him; Richard Thomp-
son, Crowded House, Suzanne Vega(Mrs Mitchell Froom!), Ron Sexsmith, Elvis
C., Los Lobos...The list goes on, I'm sure. I'd like to second the motion
of T-Bone Burnett as an alternative choice. I'd love to be a Fly On The Wall
for the juicy theological discussions that no doubt would result.

"Come to think of it, I think he's got a hankering for religion too!"
-Andy Partridge

Chris Coolidge
11th Hour Cauldron Publications

------------------------------

Date: Mon, 4 Dec 1995 18:46:40 -0500 (EST)
From: kathryn lynne burda <klburda@umich.edu>
Subject: The Verve Pipe & Andy

	The Verve Pipe was just in Ann Arbor, MI this past Friday to
support their new album.  Our "newspaper" had an article/interview with
the band.  Here's the XTC-related excerpt:

	The Verve Pipe also recently recorded "Wake Up" for the new XTC
tribute "Testimonial Dinner."  Imagine winning the lottery, losing five
pounds without trying, and being offered the chance to ban the Olsen
twins from ever making another movie, and you probably still won't come
close to how the band felt at being chosen for such an honor.
	"(XTC) are a major influence on us," [drummer Donny] Brown
stressed.  "We were actually really fortunate to meet Andy Partridge
(lead singer of XTC) because he's kind of a recluse.  We were in New York
City and he came walking into the studio while we were there.  Honestly, I
looked at this guy who was written just beautiful lyrics, beautiful
melodies, some of the greatest stuff after the Beatles in the pop/rock
vein...  He came straight into the room, and I looked him straight in the
face and said, 'Holy shit!'  Here I am, looking at this guy who has a
COMMAND of the English language, and all I can think of to say is 'Holy
shit!'"  Brown laughed.  "It kind of drove it home that I'm from Saginaw."
	Linguistic slip-ups aside, Brown and company have it together
tight when it comes to performing the XTC material.  THe band belted out
an amazing version of XTC's "Blue Beret" at the Sanctum show, and also
feature the song on a Michigan band compliation called "So This is a
Compilation."
	As for the future of The Verve Pipe, the band is planning on
touring, touring, and more touring in support of their new album....

	The article went on to describe Brown's old van they used to
drive around in, and finished up by urging everyone to attend the show.
The Sanctum is a renovated church-turned-dance-club in Pontiac, Michigan
(northwest suburb of Detroit).  Saginaw is a city two hours northwest of
Detroit that can basically be considered culturally devoid of anything
new/interesting/entertaining.  (hey, I'm being honest about my hometown,
ok?).  Lastly, the Olsens are somewhat annoying twins who were (are?) on
the show "Full House" on ABC and were just in a film reminiscent of "The
Parent Trap."

Note the reference/comparison to the Beatles.  Boy, where was Mr. Brown when
the debate was raging?

------------------------------

Date: Mon, 4 Dec 1995 18:23:06 -0800
From: Scott.Shimomura@Ebay.Sun.COM (Scott Shimomura)
Subject: Chalkhills Newbie

I am a new to this list and felt the need to be published.  It is
refreshing to read a mail list that isn't filled with flame wars and
bickering that I put up with on the other list I subscribe. (Pavement
for those of you who care.)  I am in the process of reading some of
the back issues and have been pleasantly surprised by the maturity
and decorum exhibited by the members of this list.  It seems that
the the majority of "discussions" occur in private, where they belong.

Well, for XTC content, I originally got hooked to XTC at a laser light
show that used "Senses Working Overtime" complete with images of an
American style "football" instead of a "soccer" ball.  The first album
I actually bought was Oranges and Lemons.  I prefer what I call "pretty"
music that is evident in the more recent albums.  The early stuff
has been an acquired taste for me.

In my humble evaluation, XTC speaks to the naive, primitive part of
my consciousness.  The music is the voice of the liberal who firmly
believe that MEAN PEOPLE SUCK.  I don't think XTC are anti-Christianity
as much they are pro-individualism and spirituality.  They are the
messengers for people like me who long for the days of idealism, but
are stuck with the realities of a cynic.  Sometimes I consider myself
a born-again Hippie.

Anyways, continuing the thread on XTC-like bands, I was drawn for some
reason to Jellyfish. (I assume they have been mentioned numerous times.)
I don't know if they were dismissed as a 70's rip-off artist, but I enjoy
the vocals and music. Pick up "Spilt Milk" if you are interested.

Regards,

Scott

I waited and waited, but the XTC appearance on MTV's unplugged never
happened. Oh well, I will wait for the next album.

------------------------------

Date: 05 Dec 95 09:41:23 EST
From: David Rhoten <71450.2654@compuserve.com>
Subject: Book: Lost In Music

Hi:

A couple of people recently have mentioned a book by Giles Smith called
_Lost_In_Music:_A_Pop_Odessey_, published (in the UK) by Picador.  I've
called around to Bookstar and Borders, but neither have been able to find
it.  Does anyone have a source (does Dillon's do mail order? I probably
won't get back over to Britain for a year or two) and/or an ISBN number for
it?

I'd appreciate any info!

Dave

------------------------------

From: MRFrench3d@aol.com
Date: Tue, 5 Dec 1995 10:44:58 -0500
Subject: Cleaners from Venus

A few weeks back someone wrote in about a mailing list for fans of Martin
Newell and the Cleaners from Venus. I've got the Martin Newell cd, a
Cleaners compilation cd, the "Going to England" lp and a single, but I want
more.  Could the person please repost the address. I would appreciate it
greatly.

Although this is old news to most, the Martin Newell cd was produced by
Andy and is well worth a listen. The Cleaners specialized in gorgeous,
wimpy pop.  The "Going to England" album is terrific, although hard to
find. Anyone who has more knowledge about the Cleaners, please let me know.

Thanks,

bill

------------------------------

Date: Tue, 5 Dec 1995 11:19:11 -0800
From: richard.pedrettiallen@octel.com (Richard Pedretti-Allen)
Subject: Translator & Spent Poets

  Mellisa asked about Translator. Brian asked about Spent Poets.

  Translator was a San Francisco band who put out two albums that I know
  of.  Great stuff.  I wish there was more.

  HEARTBEATS AND TRIGGERS was released in 1982 on 415 Records (dist. by
  Columbia), Catalog no. ARC 38162 (vinyl).  It contained the only
  Translator song that I heard on commercial radio; "Everywhere That I'm
  Not."

  EVENING OF THE HARVEST was released in 1986.  Catalog no. C40296 (vinyl).

  Steve Barton and Robert Darlington were the primary writers and voices.
  I have no clue what they are doing now.
  ======================

  the Spent Poets released the self-titled CD in 1992.  Catalog no.
  GEFD-24467.  No subsequent output has shown up at the local CD store
  which is pretty disappointing because I love this CD.

  All vocal songs written or co-written by vocalist Adam Gates.

  Cheers, Richard

  "Hell's a golf course that sways like a drunken sailor..."
          -the Spent Poets (Walt Whitman's Beard)

------------------------------

From: Gene_Yoon@brown.edu
Date: Wed, 6 Dec 1995 04:31:24 -0500
Subject: A Cynical Day for Colin

In light of recent suggestions for more Colin recognition (I'm all for it)
I thought the following might be of interest.  Not exactly flattering,
though.

Andy Carvin, now an education technology guru, started a Chicago rag four
years ago called Art + Performance while at Northwestern as a grad student.
Big music enthusiast.  He did a rare Colin-only interview for an article
"right before Nonsuch was released a coupla years ago."  His "Worst
Interview Ever".

  Basically, he was the most depressing, cynical, and terse person I've
  ever interviewed. I'd like to think he was having a bad day, for I could
  rarely get more than a word or two out of him, apart from phrases like "I
  really only do it for the money any more," or something to that effect,
  if memory serves me (but that was the general tone of everything we
  talked about). After 15 uncomfortable minutes, I called it a day
  and trashed the tape I made - I knew I got absolutely nothing out of him.

  It was strange, and disappointing, because I had talked with him about 18
  months before that, and he was just fine. So, I just wrote the interview
  off and decided to wait until the next album came out.

  I knew I should have talked with Partridge that day. :)

  ac  [Andy Carvin <acarvin@k12.cnidr.org>]

I can't understand how Colin only does it for the money when XTC hardly
sells anymore.  In fact Testimonial Dinner has disappeared from the shelves
of even "alternative" record stores as quickly as it appeared.  :(

I'm sure Colin was just in a bad mood and forgot all about the good things
that day.  And I hear he's never one for verbosity (balances Andy P, I
suppose).  Still love his music.  Still convinced he's a nice guy.

Gene
"I got so much to say but I'm afraid it'll come out wrong."

------------------------------

Date: Wed, 6 Dec 1995 12:22:06 -0500 (EST)
From: heller megan j <mjhell@mail.wm.edu>
Subject: reaching back a bit in the subjects...

I realize that it's been a little while since we've discussed odd places
to hear XTC and MUZAK and XTC, but I had to throw this in.  The other day
I was at Giant, my local grocery store, waiting in line to have my
perscriptions filled and feeling generally awful as I've bene fairly ill
as of late.  They were playing a mixture a of Xmas MUZAK when, suddenly,
I realized that I was  humming along to it, and that they were playing
MUZAK of "Thanks for Christmas"!  It was quite a shock, and when I
mentioned it to my mum, she said, "Well, I guess nothing's safe, then."

megan h.

------------------------------

From: vertigo@well.com (Giancarlo Cairella)
Subject: Ernest Noyes Brookings
Date: Wed, 06 Dec 1995 19:40:17 GMT

As many of you probably know, the second volume of a compilation series
featuring songs with lyrics by Ernest Noyes Brookings includes a song credited
to XTC (actually a Andy Partridge solo work) called "Rocket".
The CD is titled "Places of general happiness".

Does anyone have more info about this series? Each volume usually includes
fine alternative bands (like Madder Rose and Morphine on vol. 4) and the songs
are consistently good.

I've got volume 2 "Places of general happiness", volume 3 "Delicacy and
nourishment" and volume 4 "Outstandingly Ignited" but I cannot find the
first volume anywhere (and I don't know its title). These CD are issued by
a Minneapolis label called ESD, but I think the first one might be on a
different label. Any info about volume 1
(title/label/availability/anything) and on who the hell is Ernest Noyes
Brookings :-) would be greatly appreciated....

Thanks.

--
URL: <http://www.well.com/user/vertigo>

------------------------------

Date: Wed, 6 Dec 1995 15:06:09 -0500
From: normanb@bu.edu (Norm Blanchard)
Subject: Dave Gregory on new Brian Stevens CD

Hi folks,

This is my first posting, so please be gentle.  I'm not sure if this has
been mentioned yet, but there's a new CD out by a guy named Brian Stevens
with Dave Gregory on guitar & keyboards.  The CD is called "Prettier Than
You", on a small Boston label, Q Division Records.  Brian Stevens was in a
Boston band called the Cavedogs (2 excellent albums out on Capitol before
splitting up), and I think he's also in Aimee Mann's touring band.  Anyway,
the liner notes state that "Dave Gregory's contributions recorded by Andy
Partridge at The Shed, Swindon, England".

So if you want to hear some excellent pop/rock in a Beatles (there, I've
said it and I have no regrets) vein, or if you want to hear what Dave's
been up to lately, the CD is out.  Q division's web address is:

                http://www.shore.net/~qdiv/q.htm

Now that I've gone back and read this, it sounds like I'm either related to
the guy or I'm Q Division's press rep.  Honestly, I'm just an old Cavedogs
fan who thinks this is a great album which XTC people would probably enjoy.

Norm

Norm Blanchard
normanb@bu.edu; (617) 353-2400
Boston University
Home of the Terriers, 1995 NCAA Ice Hockey Champions

------------------------------

Date: Wed, 06 Dec 1995 15:59:10 -0500
From: Tobin Munsat <tmunsat@pppl.gov>
Subject: XTC covering themselves

I wonder what would happen if some band covered one of the XTC songs before
XTC released the original- say someone got hold of the new demos and
arranged to publish a cover version before the next XTC record was produced
(obviously XTC would have to give the go-ahead).  Then XTC would be faced
with the same questions that the cover-band is usually faced with, i.e. how
faithful to the first version do I make it, which parts do I need to make
"my own," how can I possibly improve on this song that I like well enough
to cover, etc.  So XTC would have to be creating the "original" version *in
reaction to* the "cover" version rather than vice versa.  With all the
delays that XTC is having to face right now and all the good musicians
around that are fanatics of the fab-Swindonians, maybe this situation could
actually happen?  Merely one more way XTC could do something unique.
Merely a musing.  -Tobin

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End of Chalkhills Digest #2-46
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6 December 1995 / Feedback