Chalkhills Digest Volume 2, Issue 51
Date: Friday, 15 December 1995
Chalkhills Digest, Volume 2, Number 51
Friday, 15 December 1995
Today's Topics:
Re: Chills
XTC and the Kinks
Re: Chalkhills Digest #2-47
Producers'n'things
Skylarking DEMOS
Greetings
The Chills connection
Wierd places for XTC redux
Re: Chalkhills Digest #2-50
Rolling Stone mag/XTC ref
Thanks for Christmas gift idea
Re: Ripoffs?
git this
Rook
Looking for "The Big Express"
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----------------------------------------------------------------------
Date: Wed, 13 Dec 1995 18:06:28 +1200
From: james.dignan@stonebow.otago.ac.nz (James Dignan)
Subject: Re: Chills
>I nearly did backflips hearing of a possible XTC-Chills connection, but
>lost the info. Was it Mattacks & Moulding with Martin Phillipps? The
>Chills were one of my faves a few years back, and "Soft Bomb" and
>"Submarine Bells" are still highly recommended. If anyone has firm info on
>this collaboration, I'd love to know.
Maretin's new ("solo") album is due out in NZ around February (Flying Nun
time, i.e., February plus or minus three months). I would expect it to be
released O/S not too long after that.
BTW, there is a digest for those of you interested in the music of the
Chills, Bats, Verlaines etc - the NZ-pop list, for the best in nonBrit-pop
;).
For more information about it, send a "QUERY NZPOP-L" command to
LISTSERV@MITVMA.BITNET or LISTSERV@MITVMA.MIT.EDU
James
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 13 Dec 95 00:37 PST
From: timsarah@islandnet.com (Tim Chan)
Subject: XTC and the Kinks
In Chalkhills 2-48, Ewalther@eworld.com writes:
>As an aside, I'm wondering if anyone else hears a certain homage to the
>classic Kinks (1965-70) in some of Andy's song structures and subject
>matter. I tend to hear more of a Ray davies influence in some of the
>social/political lyrics and songcraft than I do that Fab Four. I'm thinking
>of such tunes as Waterloo Sunset, Well Respected Man, etc.
IMHO I do see many parallels with Ray Davies in terms of subject matter
and songcraft (and this includes Colin as well)--for example:
God: Kinks: "Big Sky"
XTC: "Dear God", etc.
The preservation of English "character":
Kinks: "The Village Green Preservation Society" etc
XTC: "The Everyday Story of Smalltown"
The music industry:
Kinks: most of the LOLA VS. POWERMAN... lp
XTC: "Funk Pop A Roll"
1st person account of financial struggle:
Kinks: "Dead End Street"
XTC: "Earn Enough For Us", "Love On A Farmboy's Wages"
Is "progress" good?
Kinks: "20th Century Man","Here Come the People in Grey" (both 1971),
"Last of the Steam Powered Trains"
XTC: "Ball and Chain", "Senses Working Overtime"
Runaway children:
Kinks: "Big Black Smoke", "Rosy Won't You Please Come Home"
XTC: "Runaways"
"Big Brother is watching":
Kinks: "Acute Schizophrenia Paranoia Blues" (1971 again!)
XTC: "Real by Reel"
The future of the Earth:
Kinks: "Apeman", "King Kong"
XTC: "This World Over", "Living Through Another Cuba",
"I Remember the Sun"
Sorry for the length of this--this was fun! Can other XTC/Kinks fans
add any more parallels?
Tim
usually at uu023@freenet.victoria.bc.ca
------------------------------ From: M Wilson <mw25@unix.york.ac.uk> Date: Wed, 13 Dec 1995 17:12:57 +0000 Subject: Re: Chalkhills Digest #2-47 > From: Margaret Quinn <maq1@midway.uchicago.edu> > Subject: Blur? Bleah! > The main thrust of this letter was to express my deep disappointment in > Blur's The Great Escape (great movie, though). My roommate actually bought > it after I told him that it got many recommendations on Chalkhills. Upon > putting it in the CD player, we were not able to listen to one song all the > way through. I guess this puts me in the Oasis camp now... Don't fall for this Oasis vs. Blur crap. It's just to get you to buy more of their records. Fact is neither of them could write their own names let alone a good song. >BTW: What do people think of Ms. MacColl? I prefer her dad's work. >(I know she's actually Scottish Are you sure? Her father was from Manchester but had a lifelong obsession with having Scottish credentials. > From: William HamBevan <whambeva@jesus.ox.ac.uk> > Subject: Uwe Nettlebeck > > I am reminded of something Julian Cope recently said, to the effect of > there being one simple test of a person's musical tastes. If they liked > 'The Faust Tapes' LP, then they were of sound taste; if not, not. Fairly > arbitary, perhaps, but... by God, it works!!! It hasn't failed me yet. > Incidentally (sorry about going off at a tangent) I have been unable to > find Cope's new book on Krautrock anywhere in Oxford - does it actually > exist? Has anyone seen it? If so please post it as I would love to buy myself it for Xmas. /\/\artin
------------------------------ From: Stephen Dewey <sdd@mfltd.co.uk> Subject: Producers'n'things Date: Wed, 13 Dec 95 18:37:00 GMT Hi, My first poting here if I remember rightly. No long-winded "how I got to know XTC" exposition here - I just heard bits'n'pieces, starting right back at White Music. Saw 'em in Concert on TV, then a friend got me Drums'n'Wires for Christmas, then I bought White Music meself, then a friend got me English Settlement, which was never out of my cassette player. My faves are Mummer (particularly Beating of Hearts), Big Express (particularly Liar Bird and Train Running Low on Soul Coal) and Skylarking (particularly Summer's Cauldron and Man Who Sailed..). Haven't yet even heard Nonsuch and Oranges and Lemons- does that mean instant removal from the list :) Just haven't had the money to buy em and have no XTC fans among my friends. Anyway, what I wanted to say was about producers - if, as someone said, Andy wants to move to a sort of orchestral sound, then I think Simon Jeffes of the Penguin Cafe Orchestra would be groovy. (I'm listening to their "Telephone and Rubber Band" at the moment). Ahhh - Simon Jeffes and XTC. I can hear it now... SteveD
------------------------------ From: GROOVE25@SIUCVMB.SIU.EDU Date: Wed, 13 Dec 95 12:49:54 CST Subject: Skylarking DEMOS Does anyone have a copy of the Skylarking demos that they'd like to copy and trade for something? (I'm planning a transcription project for the near future and thought the demos might be of help). If so, please e-mail me privately, keeping in mind that it may be a while before I can respond as my school (and e-mail access) is about to go on Winter break. Thanks, Doug Downing GROOVE25@SIUCVMB.SIU.EDU
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 13 Dec 95 16:29:12 CDT
From: "Lee Elliott" <LElliott@xetel.com>
Subject: Greetings
Greetings chalkheads! Can't believe the Blur vs. Oasis debate
has made it's way to the XTC camp. Cast one vote each for me.
I have just about everything Blur has released and just love these
guys to pieces. "Peter Panic" (B-side) is about as Andyish as
one can get without being the man himself. Oasis is also great,
albeit a lot less cerebral. Their new album has enough hooks to
catch a school of fish, if you go for that sort of thing.
I'll go off the deep end for a minute. I'd be XTatic if the next
album used any of the following combinations of producer/drummers:
T-Bone Burnett/Jim Keltner
Mitchell Froom/Pete Thomas
Todd Rundgren/Mike Urbano
Adrian Belew / Pat Mastellato(sp)
David Yazbek/ That dude from TMBG again (Nice job guys!)
Geoff Emerick/ Zak Starky (wink)
Hell, I'll be XTatic if they EVER get around releasing ANYTHING.
Peace to all!
Lee
------------------------------ From: Martin Bell/New Zealand/IDG Net <Martin_Bell/New_Zealand/IDG_Net@idg.com> Date: 13 Dec 95 17:43:08 Subject: The Chills connection >From: DougMash@aol.com > >I nearly did backflips hearing of a possible XTC-Chills connection, but >lost the info. Was it Mattacks & Moulding with Martin Phillipps? The >Chills were one of my faves a few years back, and "Soft Bomb" and >"Submarine Bells" are still highly recommended. If anyone has firm info on >this collaboration, I'd love to know For all those interested, here's the guff on Martin's new Chill's LP (as well as a little background info for the uninitiated).Martin was sitting directly behind me at Ray Davies Auckland concert last night, but all I had time for was a quick "hello", before he disappeared into the night. One day soon I'll try and corner him for some in-depth Chill's questioning. Anyway most of the following info is courtesy of Flying Nun, so please forgive the hype-ish tone of some of it - it's culled directly from the press bio. Acclaimed as one of New Zealand's most gifted songwriters and leader of The Chills, the most successful band on the Flying Nun label, the return of Martin Phillipps to the musical stage is a long-awaited and very welcome moment. After cementing a reputation on Flying Nun as one of independent music's finest acts, The Chills signed with American major label Slash in 1989. Two albums for Slash, Submarine Bells (1990) and Soft Bomb (1992) were critically acclaimed around the world but didn't sell enough to satisfy the demands of the major company. Martin returned to live in Dunedin after touring the world to promote Soft Bomb. There, he continued to write songs and in 1995 he re-signed with Flying Nun, now growing in size as an international independent label operating offices in Auckland, Melbourne, and London. He is recording and performing under the moniker Martin Phillipps and the Chills. In August 1995, Martin Phillipps flew to England to record the first album in this new phase of his career with producer Craig Leon (Martin was a great fan of Craig's work with the Ramones and Blondie; Craig has worked with heaps of bands through the 80s and 90s from the Fall to Eugenius and lots of other stuff but I don't have a list). Craig played some of the keyboards (Martin played guitar and keys as well as doing the vocals) and his partner, folk singer Cassell Webb, was also in attendance for spiritual guidance. When Martin's NZ rhythm section were denied entry to the UK, Craig enlisted Dave Mattacks and Dave Gregory. The sessions took place at Barrie Barlow's studio in Henley on Thames, the album was mixed at Wessex in Wales and mastered at Townhouse. Sunburnt is the recording closest in spirit to Martin's musical muse, a powerful set of songs with a sound that reaches deep into the listener. Arrangements are luxuriant with keyboards prominent -- much less "rock" than the two US-produced Slash albums, it reminds us of classic old Chills well-recorded. Late 1995 sees Martin Phillipps with a new lineup of the Chills assembled in Auckland NZ -- this time round, the group is an appendage to Martin's own name, but they are very definitely a band in the fine Chills tradition. Drummer Jonathan Armstrong, bassist Steven Shaw and keyboardist Steve Small have joined Martin. In November, six b-sides were recorded in Auckland for the first two singles Come Home and Surrounded. Release: the album will be released in NZ in March, the Come Home single in January. International release will probably be April-May and we are negotiating a US release through a major-affiliated indepdendent label. It will be on Flying Nun in Europe and Australia. Sunburnt tracklisting: As Far As I Can See; Premonition; Surrounded; Come Home; Sunburnt; Big Assessment; Swimming In The Rain; Dreams Are Free; You Can Understand Me; Lost In Future Ruins; New Millenium; Walk On The Beach; Secret Garden Come Home single tracklisting: Come Home; This Place Has Changed; Lies Lies Lies; Streets Of Forgotten Cool. Hope that satisfies you all until the single/album release! Martin "Drowning here in summer's cauldron" (for those of us in the Southern Hemisphere, anyway)
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 13 Dec 1995 20:57:05 -0500
From: aym@j51.com (Angry Young Man)
Subject: Wierd places for XTC redux
Today I went to run lots of errands. One stop on my itinerary was NBO to
look for clothes, because they're going out of business and everything's at
least 60% off or something wierd like that. The music was playing, and this
time of year it's all christmas stuff which I get very tired of very
quickly, so I wasn't planning on spending the day there.
I didn't really see anything I wanted so I was on my way out of the store,
and then I hear familiar chords on the speaker system, so I hung around the
door for a few seconds, and whaddayaknow? It's "Countdown to Christmas
Party Time!" The only time I listen to that song is when I'm playing Rag &
Bone Buffet, so I stayed to listen, as I browsed through the ugly flannel
shirts they were selling. I still didn't buy anything but at least there
was one good christmas song on the sound system. :)
< - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - > "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: Wed, 13 Dec 1995 19:11:48 -0800 (PST) From: Chris Coolidge <ccoolidg@moose.uvm.edu> Subject: Re: Chalkhills Digest #2-50 Re: producers; how about Tim Friese-Greene? He's known to me mostly as co-producer of the last couple of Talk Talk albums. Based on those albums I think he'd be a good choice for Andy's intention to take a more orches- trated direction.
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 13 Dec 1995 22:13:45 -0500
From: aym@j51.com (Angry Young Man)
Subject: Rolling Stone mag/XTC ref
Got my new *SPECIAL DOUBLE ISSUE* of Rolling Stone in the mail today and as
I flip thru they're reviewing some of the top albums of the year. Here's
their review of the eponymous album from "The Presidents of the United
States of America."
"These newly elected chief executives of the nut pop nation do a lot with
five strings -- two on Chris Ballew's bass, three on Dave Dederer's guitar
-- and a few merry melodies. That they've come so far with such meager
instrumentation and songwriting so arch that it makes the early XTC sound
like florid romantics is a surprise even to the Prezzies: 'We're not gonna
make it/Because there's a million better bands/With a million better
songs." Some of theirs are strictly canned ham ("Peaches"; the one about
the spider and the dune buggy). But the trio is unflappably exuberant in
its work, and when the hooks are right ("Lump," "Kitty"), the dada is
dandy."
MY QUESTION IS THIS: If anyone can make heads or tails out of the backwards
English written by this reviewer, could someone tell me if this is a knock
or a compliment towards our Swindonian friends. Thanks!
< - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - > "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
------------------------------
From: Saints3Den@aol.com
Date: Thu, 14 Dec 1995 09:52:00 -0500
Subject: Thanks for Christmas gift idea
Well , we may not have much in the line of >< + < merchandise to get as
Christmas gifts , But for the chalkhillian in your life , I have discovered
-wine!
I don't know if any one else has ever found any, but I have recently come
across...
( Grown and produced by Rodney Strong Vineyards, Windsor CA )
Chalk Hill Vineyard Chardonnay Chalk Hill, Sonoma County.1993 I dont buy,
or even shop for wine all that often, But I did for Thanksgiving ,and this
just jumped off the shelf to me . The description on the back label is quite
fitting. "Full- bodied, yet refined and elegant. Rich and complex with
Flavors of vanilla, green apple, pear, and pineapple (what! No oranges and
lemons?) balanced by firm acidity and toasty oak undertones. Long, luxurious
finish." Does this describe the wine or XTC? Made by a fan?
A while ago, I asked the question... Andy+ "laying on the grass"= Ladybird
Colin+"laying on the grass"=Grass Any other Shared lyrics on their
songs?
Only one taker,I forget who, sorry! "You did't notice that your #
had been called"
Shared by Fly on the Wall and Wake Up. Only 2 problems with this...
That line does not appear on Wake Up. and Both are Colins songs. Any real
answers? I don'tknow of any others. I finally found Testimonial Dinner My
biggest let down - Wake Up One Improved song Another
Sattelite ( much better without the FA FA FA FA FA TA TA TA I was always
embarrased by that part) My opinions! May be contradictory to yours , but
they are still valid until i change my mind.
------------------------------ Date: Thu, 14 Dec 1995 05:21:25 -1000 From: motherwest@InfoHouse.com (Michael) Subject: Re: Ripoffs? Hello, A recent thread about XTC borrowing/being-influenced-by prompts my two cents: Maybe it's been discussed before but it's interesting to sing the line - You're the wish you are I had. And then sing the line - Nothin's gonna change my world. One unique melody, two unique songs. Michael motherwest@infohouse.com http://www.please.com
------------------------------ From: "Smith, Daniel R." <DRS@DC4.HHLAW.COM> Subject: git this Date: Thu, 14 Dec 95 10:31:00 PST hahah! check this out: i was listening to pore skeleton steps out again the other day and the second chorus i swore andy p. and dick enberg were one and the same. andyp had the same inflection as dick enberg on the word skeleton. i couldn't find it wholly when i went through the track today...but some of the other words like "lout," do it too. for the many not familiar, dick enberg is a sprotscaster working for NBC. he covers mainly football american, golf (is that a *sport?!! %-) and the olympics. he's like 60 or so, i think, but very american. funny, huh? anyone else? also re: racist millions. i don't really think so, either. if anything, satire, perhaps? when you look at songs "knuckle down" and "omnibus" it seems very out of character. not that song-writers don't ever go out of character or aren't allowed too...but i think with what andy "preaches" in his other songs...this interpretation would only seem to hold up under satire. i think that's it for now. oh one other piece: i find sarah mcl's version of dear god horrid. it was nice to see someone try something different, but i don't really care for it. hah! i'd rather have trash can sinatra's take of "love on a farmboys wages!" notice they weren't included. hahah! 25 o'clock is funny though. mele kalikimaka! --daniel
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 15 Dec 1995 10:44:39 -0600 (CST)
From: kimw@rice.edu (Kim E. Williams)
Subject: Rook
Happy Holidays, Chalkhillians!
I've read quite a few times there are a lot of people who don't like
Rook. I lost my father this past June to cancer and that experience makes
you look at your own mortality. Kind of a scary prospect in itself. I've
always thought Rook was a great song and since his passing, it's become even
more meaningful.
I know it's not to everyone's liking. To each his own, but I wanted
to speak up in favor of probably one of my all time favorite songs.
Kim
"...So judge me not for what I did, but for what I didn't do." Best Thing
- Peter Blegvad
------------------------------ Date: Fri, 15 Dec 1995 14:01:46 -0500 From: Donald Francis <FRANCIDO@LANMAIL.SHU.EDU> Subject: Looking for "The Big Express" Please Help! If anyone knows where I can locate a copy of "The Big Express" on CD, please respond via private email. Thanks!
------------------------------ End of Chalkhills Digest #2-51 ******************************
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