Chalkhills Digest Volume 3, Issue 1
Date: Sunday, 22 September 1996

          Chalkhills Digest, Volume 3, Number 1

                Sunday, 22 September 1996

Today's Topics:

                 More Thoughts On Matches
             James' giant peach of a question
              Fossil Fuel reviewed in Sweden
                          Holly
                 Any truth to this rumor?
           Where Do They Bake Beautiful Girls?
              Dear God, I like Fossil Fuel !
                    scouse and Gabriel
                   Fossil Fools / blah
                   Fossil Fuel (again)
       Easter Theatre lyrics -Final transcription?
            loud family/sugarplastic confirmed
                    lyrics suggestion
           return of the dreaded monkey thread
                       Ron Sexsmith
             Re: Ball and Chain/Sister Europe
                     Re: HuxleyMiller
                Re: Partridge on the radio
                 CD Bootlegs.....where ?
           XTC's guitar tunings & misc. lyrics
                 Dr. Demento's Funny Five
                       More from me
         Blades y lo que dice en "The Man WSAHS"
                         TD faves
                   Youngest XTC Fan...
                      Plea for demos
                     Demos or Demons?
                    ...Gastronomic....
                   Bacon Bros. and XTC
       They just turn up in the darndest places...
                Looking for demos/Found FF
                        XTC CDS FS
               This is really really scary

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Another year's gone by, the world's grown older.

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

Message-ID: <01BBA6D1.E25641A0@qrvl-67ppp56.epix.net>
From: Tim Schreyer <schreyer@epix.net>
Subject: More Thoughts On Matches
Date: Fri, 20 Sep 1996 08:52:22 -0400

Jeff Langr <jeffrey.langr@mci.com> said:
> Jon Eva wrote:
> >There is a rather obscure picture of a match inside the cd case, I've
> >never really understood XTC's minor obsession with matches ('England's
> >Glory ... A Striking Beauty!' and the cover to 'Wait 'Till Your Boat
> >Goes Down' spring to mind). Can anyone explain this to me?
>
> Don't forget the sound of a match striking at the start of Set Myself
> on Fire.  Fire is also rather prevalent, with the following coming to
> the top of my head:
>
[fine list of XTC flame references snipped]
>
> As far as what it all means, sounds to me like Andy is Beavis in
> disguise (Fire! Fire!)...

I think the lure of the match image is more along the
lines of burning and explosion than just flames.
The match is a potent little package which when lit
burns sharply and quickly, only once and no stopping it.
It can evoke feelings of potency, urgency, and "you've
only got one chance so you better get it right."

You can find some uses of this metaphor in XTC tunes, most
notably:

  "All Of A Sudden (It's Too Late)" --
     "life's like a firework -- you're only lit once and
      you must stand and radiate correctly"
  "Rocket From A Bottle"  -- the whole song pretty much
  "Burning With Optimism's Flames"  -- the burning thing
  "Great Fire" -- "the animals are panicking"

I think if these more along the urgency and finally side
of flames rather than the cleansing, redemption side, e.g.
"Sacrificial Bonfire".

Any support or derision? :-)

   Tim

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

From: isksa@zipnet.net
Date: Fri, 20 Sep 1996 13:50:07 -0400 (EDT)
Message-Id: <v02130500ae684aaeff83@DialupEudora>
Subject: James' giant peach of a question

>From: james.dignan@stonebow.otago.ac.nz (James Dignan)
>Is "Rook" the only XTC song on which Colin does not play???

Off the top of my head, Colin is also absent on 1000 Umbrellas.  And
probably at least some of the Homo Safari series.  Maybe Somnambulist.  Red
Brick Dream.  Yaddyaddya.

Speaking of Paper Snow, River of Orchids lyrics read a lot like Talking
Heads' 'Nothing But Flowers'.  Love that tune.  When's the release date for
the Heads' thang?  Album title?  Record label?

Please note that the silent c in "Yazbeck" is also invisible: Yazbek.
And, having seen it quite often as I scroll through the digests, I think
Constantine Pappas is just an incredibly cool name.  I hate being so
monosyllabic myself.

Gene

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

Date: Fri, 20 Sep 1996 14:34 +0200
Message-id: <199609201234.CGjz@memo.volvo.se>
From: =?iso-8859-1?q?P=C4R?= NILSSON <PVKU.PARN@MEMO.VOLVO.SE>
Subject: Fossil Fuel reviewed in Sweden

I was surprised to see a short review of FOSSIL FUEL in today's issue
of Goteborgs-Posten, Sweden's second largest morning newspaper - I was
under the impression that FF would only be released in the UK. It
received a note of 4 (out of 5), and here's a translation of the text:

"The only objection would be that the Dukes of Stratosphear are
psychedelically absent. Apart from that, this double CD by Swindon's
contribution to the history of music is a gold mine, filled with
intelligent music that is both pop-historically interesting and very
much alive. Good pop lasts long."

I seem to recall that the recent demographic survey showed that a
whopping 5% or thereabouts of the Chalkhills subscribers were Swedish,
so let's see some chart action here! :)

Cheers,

Par

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

Message-Id: <199609201713.KAA05919@dfw-ix4.ix.netcom.com>
From: "Mark G. Cuevas" <litserv@ix.netcom.com>
Subject: Holly
Date: Fri, 20 Sep 1996 10:08:04 -0700

From: Marc_LaFoy@magic.ca
> Upon reading this it occurred to me that perhaps "Poppy" could be
> interpreted as Pop himself, Andy, giving his daughter a horsey
> ride. Wutcha think? 

I think that's excellent.  What about this:  Holly rides Poppy in the way
Andy rides Pop.  Both are lost in their worlds.

Good thing for us.

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

Date: Fri, 20 Sep 1996 09:24:04 -0600 (CST)
From: AMANDA OWENS <ACOEA@jazz.ucc.uno.edu>
Subject: Any truth to this rumor?
Message-id: <01I9P3ESV2RM8ZVL1G@jazz.ucc.uno.edu>

I just picked up the Crash Test Dummies biography, and there was something in
there about Andy Partridge agreeing to help keyboardist Ellen Reid out with
her upcoming solo album (which according to the book, set Brad Roberts' mouth
to watering.) Anyone know if this is true or author embellishment here?

Amanda again for the third time

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

Date: Fri, 20 Sep 1996 17:48:33 +0400 (EDT)
From: Thomas Slack <tgs@telerama.lm.com>
Subject: Where Do They Bake Beautiful Girls?
Message-ID: <Pine.3.89.9609201723.A19548-0100000@bosconian.lm.com>

In the womb, of course. Keep the oven warm for 9 months, and Lo and Behold..

TS

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

Message-Id: <199609202155.XAA03097@utrecht.knoware.nl>
From: "Mark Strijbos" <mmello@knoware.nl>
Date: Sat, 21 Sep 1996 00:32:28 +0000
Subject: Dear God, I like Fossil Fuel !

Dear Chalkies,

Regarding the Fossil Fuel compilation:
Does anyone know if ALL the tracks were remastered/remixed for this
occasion? The early singles really sound terrific now; much better than
on any other cd IMHO.
My guess is that all pre O&L singles have been remastered but I'm not
sure... Anyone know anything about this?

I must say that it's a great compilation ( much better than previous
efforts ) and very suitable as a gift for potential converts.
Now when will Virgin release the b-sides?

BTW: does anyone have a spare Dear God CD single or a
UK Peter Pumpkinhead 7"single ???
Email me privately if you have anything for sale/trade.

bye,

Mark Strijbos at The Little Lighthouse
http://utopia.knoware.nl/~mmello/index.html

===> Mark's useless XTC quote for today <==
There's no youth culture only masks they let you rent

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

From: jrsnipp@interserv.com
Date: Fri, 20 Sep 1996 15:15:12 -0700
Message-Id: <199609202215.PAA07458@m1.interserv.com>
Subject: scouse and Gabriel

varga@ferndown.ate.slb.com (Stephen Varga) writes:
>  There I was watching Brookside (Scouse soap to our overseas friends)
	(intervening stuff cut)
>  voiceover by famous Radio 1 Scouse DJ, John Peel.

My dictionary lists "scouse," short for "lobscouse," as a baked dish or
stew made ususally with meat and hardtack.  So, obviously, I am missing the
appropriate connotation.  Care to enlighten?

later on Stephen Varga writes:
>  It would be ironic if this became XTC's most successful record ever at a
>  time when they have just lost their Virginity and went into profit for the
>  first time only last year.

This reminds me, didn't Peter Gabriel get cut from Virgin only to record
"So" for Geffen?  (Or maybe not...)

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

Message-ID: <thomyJAiQ0QyEw2y@emdac.demon.co.uk>
Date: Sat, 21 Sep 1996 02:25:54 +0100
From: Phil Hetherington <phil@emdac.demon.co.uk>
Subject: Fossil Fools / blah

Someone whos name this crappy mailer isn't telling me said:

>Me:  Excuse me, I was wondering if you could tell me if you will be getting
>the new XTC compilation in.  It was to be released this week or last.
>
>17 year old Nineties hip chick:  Ecstasy?  (turns and looks at her equally
>puzzled friend)
>
>Me:  Yeah, XTC (pronouncing it as it appears)
>
>17 year old Nineties hip chick:  Well, uh, we don't get any compilation
>albums anyway.
>
>Me:  Thanks.

You think you've got problems. OK, I didn't have any problems buying it
(well, I was in the main Virgin Megastore in the middle of London; price
#16.99 for those taking notes, and HMV had it at a pound more which is
the only reason I swallowed my pride and went to Virgin anyway). But I
digress...

Me: Do you know if there are any singles to be released to promote that?
    (pointing to ltd.ed. copy of Fossil Fuel)

17 year old Nineties hip chick (UK edition): Fossil Fuel? Is that the
name of the band?

I hung about long enough to establish that the most recent singles
listed were from Nonsuch, but I also spotted on the screen a reference
to a 7" of 'Making Plans For Nigel' issued on Old Gold in about 1992.
Does anyone know anything about this? (Apologies if it's in the
discography already...)

Anyway, FF is nice to have, especially as I didn't have any of the
previous compilations. What are these comments about having WTYBGD
on CD? Wasn't it on 'The Compact XTC' or 'Waxworks' or even both? Or
was there another version? I just bought the 7", it was cheaper...

I didn't realise 'This Is Pop' was so radically different to the
album version.

The match is cool. If you wiggle the CD from side to side you can
get it to disappear and reappear - kept me happy for ages, that did.
Pity about the '2 Disc' printed over the case, which sort of spoils
the effect, but it's still cool.

Ob-non-XTC-content:             ( :-) )

'Leave' is the best track R.E.M. have ever done; worth buying the
new album for that alone. (Actually, I'm probably the only person
that likes it, but hey.)

The new OMD album is pretty decent, but with the obligatory duff track
here and there. But a return to form nonetheless.

The new Suede album is growing on me a lot, and is probably my favourite
of the recent batch of releases. Which, considering the poor reviews,
isn't bad. I especially like 'Filmstar'.

The new Christy Moore album is OK, not a patch on the live show though.

I've just received an advance copy of 'Shine', the debut EP from a fine
band called Toucan who I've seen live a few times over the last year.
Discovered them supporting Shriekback, no less. Anyway, it's out in the
middle of October, and will probably sink without trace and be worth a
fortune when they're really famous in about 3 years time. So there. :-)

Talking of Shriekback (see, I threw some XTC-related stuff into this bit
after all), I've also received a promo copy of a new v/a compilation,
released on World Domination, called 'Into Topological Space', which
includes the previously unreleased 'Terribly Swolen' by Shriekback.
Sorry, I don't have the official release details yet, but when I get
them I'll post them. (For anyone not in the know, Shriekback is Barry
Andrews' band.) As for what I think of it, er, it's different.

But most importantly, I've finally tracked down a copy of Danny Elfman's
soundtrack to 'The Nightmare Before Christmas'. Now, I'm sure I've heard
of Mr. Elfman, and it was probably on this list, so if anyone who can
tell me anything at all about him would care to email me privately...?
If he was on the Carmen Sandiego CD or something then my apologies, but
I don't have the CD here to check.

Finally, anyone emailing me over the next 4-5 weeks should be prepared
for a long delay in replying, as I won't be able to get near this
computer.

Apologies for waffling. :-)

Phil H.

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

Message-ID: <HUNsaEA450QyEwRI@emdac.demon.co.uk>
Date: Sat, 21 Sep 1996 03:10:00 +0100
From: Phil Hetherington <phil@emdac.demon.co.uk>
Subject: Fossil Fuel (again)

Almost forgot to add...

Who else noticed that the CD was pressed by EMI in...
Swindon!??

I claim my prize. :-)
--
Phil Hetherington

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

From: Keith Hanlon <ad180@seorf.ohiou.edu>
Message-Id: <199609210438.AAA20050@big.seorf.ohiou.edu>
Subject: Easter Theatre lyrics -Final transcription?
Date: Sat, 21 Sep 1996 00:38:25 -0400 (EDT)

I've finally had the time to sit down with everyone's interpretations of
the "Easter Theatre" lyrics. I never used "gamboling" much in my
vocabulary - this is better than the "Word Smart" books!

Thanks to Eddie (Saints3Den@aol.com), Joshua Hall-Baker
(particle@cyber1.servtech.com), my good friend Chris Forbes ( a
non-subscriber XTC fan- SnappyG@aol.com),
and Brookes McKenzie (RMCKENZI@smith.smith.edu). Take a bow folks! You all
gave some great suggestions for these lyrics. Sometimes it was very
difficult to decide!

"Easter Theatre"

Gold sun rolls around
Chocalate nipple brown
Tumble from your arms
Like the ground your breasts swell
Land awake from sleep
Hares will kick and leap
Flowers climb erect
Smiling from the moist kiss of her rainbow mouth

CHORUS

Stage left
Enter Easter and she's dressed [in your yolk]
Stage right
Now the son has died, the father can be born
Stand up
If we'd all breathe in, we'd blow away the smoke
New Life
We'd have called her new life [or "we don't call her new life"]

[Golden] mounts the tree
Pleads for you and me
Scratching on the lamb
Gamboling with spring step
Buds will laugh and burst
Racing to be first
Turning all the soil
As the prompters' fingers threw her
Spinning screech

REPEAT CHORUS

Easter... in her bonnet
Easter... in her hair
Easter... are there ribbons
[She ties... everywhere]
(last chorus omit "she ties")

REPEAT CHORUS

NOTES:

1.  At the end of the chorus, Andy does say "smoke," not "snow" as many
people have suggested. Listen to it with headphones and you can hear him
pronounce the "k" as the background vocals are singing "new."

2.  It has been suggested that the first word in the second verse is
either "hunter" or "hunger." If I had to pick between the two, I'd pick
hunter. But I always hear a word that sounds like "olden." Then I saw
Brookes' post which suggested "golden." Duh!

3.  "She ties... everywhere"  is debatable. I think he pronounces "where"
oddly. Other suggestions have been: "Free ties," "Eat I'd," and "she tries." I
tend to believe that she ties ribbons everywhere. Makes sense to me no
matter how Andy chooses to say it!

4. It sounds like "she's dressed in your yolk" in the chorus, but to be
completely honest with you, I don't know what that means!

On a related topic:  I know a lot of people are wanting copies of these
demos. We have been told by a fellow listmember and friend of Andy's
(Mitch?) that Andy is not comfortable with these songs circulating. It's a
terrible position to be in  - I'm happy I have them, but I'd also like to
respect Andy's feelings. Should we debate as to whether or not a tape tree
is ethical??  It would certainly make a lot of people happy. (Before I get
email asking for copies, let it be known that I
 can't; my second tape deck broke!)

Thanks again for the input everyone. This is still open to debate, so
email me if you have suggestions!

Keith

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

Date: Fri, 20 Sep 1996 17:58:29 -0400
Message-ID: <24313D80.@metagroup.com>
From: RobertD@metagroup.com (RobertD)
Subject: loud family/sugarplastic confirmed

     If it's not too late ...

     Loud Family and SugarPlastic will perform in store at Brass City
     Records in Waterbury Conn. Sunday the 22nd. Scheduled start time is 4
     p.m., expect a crowd it's been well publicized all over the state.
     Both bands play Saturday night at the Municipal Cafe (aka The Muni) in
     downtown Hartford. a third band is scheduled to play as well.

     I'm headed into NYC Saturday to check out a Raymond Scott tribute -
     I'm sure this is the kind of stuff that influenced A.P. as a child. RS
     composed the music for Merrie Melodies and other great cartoons from
     the 40s and 50s. RS' "Powerhaus" was also used heavily on Ren and
     Stimpy.

     Anyone heard a better price than $26 for Fossil Fuel? Walter at Brass
     City has four or five copies. But any XTC collector is balking at the
     price since everything has been available before. In fact, Wait Til
     Your Boat Goes Down was on the Japanese CD issue of Beeswax, so indeed
     nothing on FF is new to CD as far as I know.

     Is anyone interested in bidding for the King For A Day 3-inch CD
     (crown cut) with KFOAD (12-inch version), Paint My Heroes (A.P. demo)
     and Skeletons (C.M. demo)? e-mail me with your bids.

     I'm hearing so much about the "new" demos, how can I get a copy. I'll
     send a blank tape to anyone who can make me a dub. e-mail me, and I'll
     send you my XTC file.

     ciao for now,

     Bob D.

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

From: PiriyaV3@aol.com
Date: Sat, 21 Sep 1996 16:24:11 -0400
Message-ID: <960921162410_1243924672@emout11.mail.aol.com>
Subject: lyrics suggestion

Hiya Chalkhillians, I'm going to be brave and suggest a couple corrections to
the "I Can't Own Her" lyrics. :)

In a message dated Wed, 18 Sep 1996 22:27:05 -0400 (EDT) Joshua
Hall-Bachner <particle@servtech.com> wrote:

>> Forever more. Is that a (?) request?
>> Is that something so funny?

Forever more.  Is that an ODD request?
Is that something so funny?

>> Of all the things you got
>> The thing you want the most
>> Is there a chance the one thing that you just can't have?

Of all the things you've got
The thing you want the most
Is there, and she's the one thing that you just can't have.

Okay, that's all from me.  Andy's lyrics are so terribly hard to decipher
as is!  I admire anyone who takes the time to transcribe all of these! :D

By the way - where is everybody ordering Fossil Fuel from??  What exactly
is it, anyway?  I remember reading about the release of it long ago, but
now I REALLY want to have it...please email me privately if you have any
info that you'd like to share!

Thanks,
Piriya

"Little teeth, little teeth, it's a wonder you can eat.  Throw your food upon
the floor, mash it up with your feet." - The Sugarplastic

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

Date: Sat, 21 Sep 1996 13:20:22 -0700 (PDT)
Message-Id: <v01510100ae69931d5bcc@[206.15.69.68]>
From: mf@well.com (Mitch Friedman)
Subject: return of the dreaded monkey thread

Hey Everyone,

Don't worry, I'm not gonna harp on that chimp thing from a few months ago,
but during that whole period I noticed that absolutely no one mentioned the
song "Like a Monkey in a Zoo" by Daniel Johnston. I'll get back to that in
a minute.

On the top of today's (Sept. 21st) list is a fond happy birthday to Dave
Gregory. Also sharing a birthday with Dave is none other than me. How lucky
could a guy get? Now if I could only share his guitar playing genius . . .

I'd like to throw in my sincere thanks and appreciation to all the people
who have recommended some great music since I joined Chalkhills. Ben Folds
Five, Eric Matthews, The Sugarplastic, The Loud Family, Jason Faulkner --
all excell- ent additions to my CD rack. Now it's my turn to strongly
suggest a disc for your collections . . .

K. McCarty 'Dead Dog's Eyeball' - Songs of Daniel Johnston

This album came out in late '94 and I just can't refrain from blathering
about it any longer. Here's a little background:

Daniel Johnston is a talented, prolific, and clinically depressed
songwriter who lives in Texas. He's put out about 12 terribly recorded home
tapes and has several LP's as well. His songs are very catchy,
self-deprecating/loathing, sad and funny, intelligent and emotional. Kathy
McCarty is the lead vocalist/ songwriter/guitarist of an Austin, Texas band
called Glass Eye and a friend of Daniel's. 'Dead Dog's Eyeball' is her
first solo album and consists entirely of covers of about 18 of Daniel's
songs. She has a really strong and emotive singing voice and a very
creative production sense. The album was recorded at a fellow Glass Eye
bandmember's home ADAT studio so the album has a great pure sound. There is
very little reverb on any of the mostly acoustic instruments and believe
me, you'll love the sound of a real piano and drums. Every song is arranged
in a different style so there is some real variety to the album.  It is one
of those discs that you find yourself listening to every day for weeks at a
time. I've had it for almost 2 years and I still love it as much as the
first time I heard it. It's on Bar None records out of New Jersey.  GET
IT!!!

Mitch

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

From: myke <jerk@earth.execpc.com>
Message-Id: <199609212002.PAA10570@earth.execpc.com>
Subject: Ron Sexsmith
Date: Sat, 21 Sep 1996 15:02:47 -0500 (CDT)

While we're on the subject of amazing singer-songwriters, does anyone else
like Ron Sexsmith?  I hold the rather lofty opinion that his album is the
finest musical thing ever made, but I expect there are some lesser
admirers here too.

Don't ever dare call me chickenhead,

myke

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

Date: Sat, 21 Sep 1996 15:47:21 -0500 (CDT)
From: ierano_j@DD.PALMER.EDU
Subject: Re: Ball and Chain/Sister Europe
Message-id: <Pine.PMDF.3.91.960921154412.485803B-100000@DD.PALMER.EDU>

James Dignan mentions similarity between  Ball and Chain and Psych. Furs
Sister Europe, both covered by Icehouse.

I have both the original recordings and can not recall any similarities.
Perhaps it was in the Icehouse rendition of these songs.

Joe Ierano

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

Message-Id: <v01540b03ae6a0abdd68b@[204.254.68.9]>
Date: Sat, 21 Sep 1996 14:24:01 -0700
From: gondola@deltanet.com (E.B.)
Subject: Re: HuxleyMiller

>From: JStoffs@aol.com
>
>Does anyone know anything further about P. Hux?  I've checked some major
>record stores and about all I've found out is that their full name is
>Parthenon Huxley, which sounds a little bit like a Monty Python character
>to me.

Parthenon Huxley is the lead GUY's name, not the group's name. He also
released a solo album on Columbia in the late '80s. Seems like he may have
backed up somebody famous before that, but I forget.

>From: dgershmn <dgershmn@ametsoc.org>
>
>[The Loud Family's Scott Miller] was having a great time on
>stage and was in fine voice and humor throughout the show.

The "miserably whining" SCOTT MILLER in fine voice??? Hold
everything...stop the presses!!!  ;)

I think the Loud Family is *OK*, but I don't like them as well as Game
Theory, and neither band is anywhere near in the same league as XTC. I like
the Sugarplastic a lot better than the LF too. <Shrug>

Miller will never top The Big Shot Chronicles,
Eb

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

Date: Sat, 21 Sep 1996 22:23:19 +0100
Message-Id: <199609212123.AA18484@felix.dircon.co.uk>
From: casey@dircon.co.uk (Mick Casey)
Subject: Re: Partridge on the radio

Hi
I don't often post to the group, just normally lurk around. However, thought
I'd let you all know that AP is special guest on Gary Crowley radio show,
London station GLR, Thursday night 26 Sept.

To those of you outside London (most of you, I guess) this is hardly
relevant and to those of you outside the UK, "Who's Gary Crowley?".
Fair point.

However, if there are any particular gems forthcoming from the interview I
may be tempted to post again.

Keep up the good work, y'aall...

* ----------------------------------------------------------
I have nothing to declare except my jeans.

Mick                       casey@dircon.co.uk
* ----------------------------------------------------------

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

Message-Id: <199609212135.WAA06853@aoife.indigo.ie>
From: "Peter Fitzpatrick" <beatle@indigo.ie>
Subject: CD Bootlegs.....where ?
Date: Sat, 21 Sep 1996 22:38:44 +0100

Hi all,
Where oh where can I lay my hands on XTC CD Boots ??
I'm particularly interested in those Japanese "Demos" series that I've seen
mentioned a couple of times.
now listening to : XTC "Nonsvch"
http://aoife.indigo.ie/~beatle

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

Message-Id: <3242B815.54E2@siu.edu>
Date: Fri, 20 Sep 1996 10:28:21 -0500
From: Doug Downing <groove25@siu.edu>
Subject: XTC's guitar tunings & misc. lyrics

Hi!

Does anyone out there know of any alternative guitar tunings used by
XTC for particular songs?

There's been more than one posting in this digest or on the
Chalkhills webpage that hints that some XTC songs were created (and
therefore best played) with non-standard tunings, yet these mystery
tunings never seem to be revealed.

Anyone have any ideas?  (Perhaps a music magazine article or a video
performance would offer some clues...)
------------
On a totally different subject...

Brookes McKenzie offered this correction for a particular line of
"I'd Like That":  "toasting fork, I'll be done"

I'd always heard the line as "toasting four, copy done."  "Four"
being a setting on your toaster, "done" being a status on a xerox
machine (at least in my mind).  Two really quick ways of saying,
"Stick a fork in me, babe, I'm done."

Someone else was bitching that they left the "Coca" off "Coca-Cola"
on the "Life Begins at the Hop" lyrics in the Fossil Fuel CD
booklet.  Sorry, but it's never been "Coca-Cola."  It's always been
"c-c-c-cola."  A nasty stuttering affliction poor Colin only
recently overcame.  We try not to talk about it, as he's rather
sensitive on the subject.  (I still say he has a bright future ahead
of him in the British steel, stee-ul, stee-ul, stee-ul. Yeah, yeah.)

--Doug Downing

* ---------------------------------------------------------
"You take me to heaven from deeper than hell ever, Doug"
					--Andy Partridge
* ---------------------------------------------------------

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

Date: Sat, 21 Sep 1996 19:31:54 -0400 (EDT)
From: Christie <cbyun@cep.yale.edu>
Subject: Dr. Demento's Funny Five
Message-ID: <Pine.LNX.3.91.960921192911.22833B-100000@www.cep.yale.edu>

Just a quick note--I'd Rather Have a Bottle in Front of Me than a Frontal
Lobotomy appeared in Dr. D's list of top groovy song titles (or something
equivalent).  That along with You Scream, I Scream, We All Scream for Ice
Cream.  Okay, now I'll step down and find something to do.

Christie

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

Date: Sat, 21 Sep 1996 20:19:57 -0400 (EDT)
Message-Id: <199609220019.UAA10079@cyber1.servtech.com>
From: Joshua Hall-Bachner <particle@servtech.com>
Subject: More from me

Okay, guys. Three quick things:

1) No more lyrics from me. I'll post a short message if I send some more to
Chalkhills (the website), but no more on the list because it's annoying Mr.
Relph. :)
2) If anybody is wondering why I send in one huge e-mail after each digest
instead of a bunch of small ones: it's easier, it's a habit I've developed
>from reading a lot of "bounce" lists (where sending more than a couple
messages per day is bad form), and I read my mail offline in Eudora, so
copy/paste into a single e-mail is the easiest way.

> don't you think that
>all of Colin's demos for _Nunchuk_ are a thousand times better than
>the drivel that actually got on the album? okay, well, so it's only
>two songs - "Down a Peg" and [where did all the ordinary people go?]

Actually, it's more than that. Don't forget "It Didn't Hurt A Bit" (great
song, BTW) and Car Out Of Control (not quite as good). Yeah, I think they
should have dumped TSM and Wardance in favor of some of these.

>Josh: (re: "Easter Theatre") i _swear_ he's saying "smoke" - you can hear
>the delayed 'k' - furthermore even though i know it makes less sense in the
>overall scheme of the song, it makes more sense in terms of the line - "If
>we'd all breathe in and blow away the snow" is slightly illogical - and
>rhymes better.

I dunno...after listening carefully, I do hear a "k"...but I also hear a
distinct "nuh" as opposed to a "muh". Maybe Andy couldn't make up his mind.
Anyway, I don't see how that line is illogical, anyway.

>By the way, does anyone actually use Andy's answerphone message from
>"The Bull With The Golden Guts" on their answerphone? What sort of
>comments has it brought? I really wanted to use it on my Voicemail at
>work, but I don't think the company would be too impressed.

I do! The comments include:

- probably about 15 people who have hung up, thinking that they have the
wrong number;
- (*very* nasal accent) "Ooooh, very creative."
- Above's daughter who called back two minutes later to hear it herself, and
said "Neato."
- Hysterical laughter
- From my grandmother: "What is that music?"
- "I like it."

>>Au contraire, there jerky. "Bake" is what I meant and "bake" is the lyric.
>>As to interpretation, go for it.
>
>Hey, fella, easy there. If you can't accept a difference of opinion on your
>lyric readings without getting all testy about it, don't bother mentioning
>them here.

Well, to some degree, when the lyrics sheet says "bake" and Andy *very
clearly* enunciates the "b" sound in "bake", it's sort of silly to post
something like "Well, that *can't* be the lyric!" The actual lyric of the
song is "bake", there is no room for interpretation or disagreement there.
That *is* how the song goes. You can interpret it however you want. But
except for cases where the published lyrics are *obviously* wrong, they're
usually the best way to go.

>I also wish to ask....why such a condescending attitude towards Brad
>Roberts/ Crash Test Dummies? They are just fans of the band expressing that
>admiration through their music. All the snooty remarks about how much their
>song versions suck really aren't necessary (although, like I said earlier,
>I wasn't too impressed with Peter Pumpkinhead.)

Their PP was pretty flat, but I guess you could chalk that up to evil
corporate scum. However, their version of All You Pretty Girls is really
good; it changes the song a lot; they make it their own song. That's what
makes for a good cover.

>I'm with DeWitt.  But let me state it somewhat more emphatically.  I'm
>getting just a bit tired of these selfish little "so-called" Chalkhillians
>who drone on about demos they damn well know most of us have never heard.
>Despite repeated requests (read pleas) for sharing they continue to mock by
>posting guesses to lyrics ad nauseum.  Are you listening JHB?  Don't be a
>weenie.

If you saw my post in the last Chalkhills, I offered to dub any of those
demos for anyone who wants them, and even gave an URL
(http://www.servtech.com/public/particle/boot.html) where you can see what I
have. I REPEAT: I WILL DUB THOSE UNRELEASED DEMOS FOR WHOEVER WANTS THEM.
But if I start getting 100 responses, don't expect to be getting the tapes
back that quickly. (As in, within the same calendar season as you sent
them...) I have school to deal with. And, BTW, I have promptly and politely
responded to everyone who e-mailed me asking for dubs in the affirmative.
Did you e-mail me? No. So why get on my case? I guess I could have prefaced
my lyrics with "E-mail me if you want a copy" but I sort of assumed that if
you saw that I had them and wanted a copy that you'd e-mail me. I always
e-mail anybody who posts about some rare cassette or concert bootleg that I
want, even if I don't think they'll help me out. The worst that can happen
is that they'll say no.

And on that topic, I think the undecipherable female vocal in "Prince of
Orange" is actually "Fairytale".

And if I can actually remember, I'll try to do one of those "semi-sigs" that
people do, like so:

Josh, spokes of the sun god delay you.

/---------------------------Joshua Hall-Bachner---------------------------\
|     particle@servtech.com    http://www.servtech.com/public/particle/   |
| "And I see nations playfully hurl snowballs packed with stone and clay."|
\--------------XTC, "You And The Clouds Will Still Be Beautiful"----------/

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

Date: Sat, 21 Sep 1996 21:19 -0600 (MDT)
From: Miles or Gigi Coleman <coleman@cougarnet.byu.edu>
Subject: Blades y lo que dice en "The Man WSAHS"
Message-id: <0DY46L6SC00E5G@ACS2.BYU.EDU>

>P.S.  In the last verse of the Blades version, he says something in
>Spanish about XTC.  Does anyone know what he's saying?

I'm pretty sure he says:

"De Ruben Blades y Son del Solar  para ti, un abrazo a la gente de XTC!"

In other words:

"A hug to the guys from XTC from Ruben Blades and the Son del Solar!"
(that's his band)

This is actually a fairly common practice for salsa and merengue bands, that
is, announce their band in the song somewhere.  These guys just happen to be
really friendly and add a bit of appreciation to the boys.

Miles
Miles and Gigi Coleman		Provo, Utah
http://www.byu.edu/~coleman		Family Home Page
http://www.byu.edu/~coleman/guatenor	Guatemala City North Mission Alumni Page
http://www.mission.net		Index for Alumni of LDS Missions

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

Date: Sat, 21 Sep 1996 21:40 -0600 (MDT)
From: Miles or Gigi Coleman <coleman@cougarnet.byu.edu>
Subject: TD faves
Message-id: <0DY47JO0B00MVR@ACS2.BYU.EDU>

>Whenever I reach for Testimonial Dinner, it's always to hear "The Man
>Who...", (which several others on this list have already praised), or my
>other favorite, "Another Satellite".  The reason I'm writing is because I
>haven't heard anyone else mention this track as being among their favorites
>on the TD album.  The P. Hux version is dramatic, energetic, and inventive,
>yet still true-to-form.

Second that motion.  I'm already biased to Ruben Blades version because he
is fantastic musician and I really like latino music, be it merengue or
salsa or traditional.  This track and P. Hux's are the strongest on the disc
followed by McLachlan's and The Verve Pipe's.  Can't really appreciate the
track by our "friends" The Rembrandts.  Except for the do wop ending it's
pretty ordinary.  A surprise for me was the Freedy Johnston track.  Didn't
like it much the first few times I heard it, but have grown quite fond of it
now.  Guess that's the way it is.

Bought Crimson's "Thrak" the other day.  What does anyone else think?
Thought it a little strange.  I had never heard any of King Crimson's stuff
previously.  You can send any opinions to me if you don't want to take
precious XTC space.  Besides, it's scarce these days, right Josh?  :)

Miles

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

From: "Kevin A. McGrail" <roland@digital1.peregrinehw.com>
Message-Id: <199609220539.BAA24879@digital1.peregrinehw.com>
Subject: Youngest XTC Fan...
Date: Sun, 22 Sep 1996 01:39:39 -0400 (EDT)

Quoting some damn young whipper snapper named Joshua Hall-Bachner
> I'm probably the youngest XTC fan in existence at this moment, still
> being a
> freshman...in High School.

A relative o' mine is about 6 (2nd grade age) and adores the Carmen Sandiego
Soundtrack... THough she placed that damn cake for breakfast song over
Cherry in Your Tree, BUT she did know who the band was!!!!!!

And my children have not yet been born, and the will like XTC or
else... How many adopted children have not liking XTC to blame?  I say
we use em for food and end the overpopulation problem at the same
time... Anyone who isn't an XTC fan, is fit for fodder... Vote for me
and I'll set you free!

Quoting John Relph:
> Okay, enough lyrics already!  If you would like to contribute
> lyrics, please submit them to the Chalkhills pages (send e-mail
> to <owner-chalkhills@chalkhills.org>), and then send a note
> to Chalkhills saying they've been submitted.  Thank you!

Ditto... though it did impress all my pals that I got an XTC fan
listserv mailing nearly daily because of them... Then again maybe some
of them can get a job at Virgin and do a decent job on the lyrics...
The FF ltd edition had the WORST formatted text with a horrid amount
of typos... I know some of them were on purpose, (absorption, cola,
etc) but Jeez...

Kevin "Sleep only interferes with my Caffeine Consumption" McGrail

--
Kevin 'Roland' McGrail    "I'm a 21st Century digital  -- )- )- ) ) )-- ) )--
5103 Ox Road                   boy...I don't know how  ---- )---- )-- )------
Fairfax, VA  22030-4562            to live, but I HAD  -- )- )--- )---- ) )--
(703)591-5825 (H)/(703)273-3795 (W)    a lot of toys"  roland@peregrinehw.com

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

From: box@nemesis.com.au
Date: Sun, 22 Sep 1996 16:35:04 -0500
Message-ID: <TCPSMTP.16.9.22.-16.35.4.2156250573.1768737600@nemesis.com.au>
Subject: Plea for demos

I'm desperate too.  And, after reading the posts from David Goody,
William Ham, Bruce Bubier, Jason NeSmith, etc, etc, I've decided to do
the plea thing to.  So if anyone is possibly willing to send me copies
of demos [especially JVS/TBWTGG] could you _please please_ let me know
by email [box@nemesis.com.au].  I don't have a lot to trade [nothing
special in my collection apart from the gold Skylarking CD] but I'll be
happy to offer money or whatever it takes really.

Oh, and just a note to Mark Cuevas:  The butler won't bring you your
slippers if you kick him in the face.

Thanks again people, happy Chalking...  :)

Adam

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

Message-ID: <32453EE3.2EE3@bright.net>
Date: Sun, 22 Sep 1996 08:28:03 -0500
From: R+K Carvey <carveys@bright.net>
Subject: Demos or Demons?

September 22, 1996

Hello, kids,
Demos seem to be a hot topic of late, with an increase in both the requests
for dubs and/or locations and methods to purchase, right down to actual
decodings of demo lyrics (and corrections of said decodings!).  It's coming
to a head, isn't it?  Frustration has finally wriggled to the surface, as
shown with this quote from Mark G. Cuevas (litserv@ix.netcom.com):

	"...Money doesn't seem to be the issue.  Most of us would gladly
	give our benefactors a few bucks for their time and effort.
	Moreover, it would elevate their stature in the eyes of their peers
	(e.g., fellow and fellowess Chalkhillians)."

	"I say put up or shut up.  Either spread the wealth by offering to
	dub the demos or email your guesses privately.  We've waited long
	enough for more ear candy from The Great Ones.  We don't need to
	have salt poured on the wounds. [Yes, I'm mixing metaphors.]..."

Each time I see a posting regarding demos, I always think this:  What does
the artist think with regards to this?  Does Andy and Colin actually receive
any compensation for the distribution and sale of these demos (and if you
are in possession of a CD version of the demos, obviously you purchased it
as a "behind the counter" item at a music shop -- dubbed cassettes, of
course, present a gray area; victimless crime?  Who can say?)?  Perhaps
Andy should include "releasing demos independently" as part of the new
deal with (to-be-named) recording company, in order to please
Chalkhillian-sized fans, as well as grabbing a little extra cash (taking it
out of the hands of the bootleggers)?  What opinions do YOU have as to the
existence of demos in the publics' stereos?

(This subject is not for me to render judgment.  As far as blacklistings are
tabulated, mark me as "guilty"; I purchased an illegally produced CD of
XTC's radio concert from K-ROQ from 1989.  I will now be damned for all
eternity.  Thanks.)

Sincerely, your pal,
Roger Carvey

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

From: jrsnipp@interserv.com
Date: Sun, 22 Sep 1996 09:24:30 -0700
Message-Id: <199609221624.JAA21647@m1.interserv.com>
Subject: ...Gastronomic....

Both Jim Zittel and John Relph are looking for the CD by Hiroyasu Yaguchi
called "Gastronomic" released in 1988.  I have such a copy and, though I am
not interested in selling it, I would be happy to dub it for trade.  E-mail
me if interested....

I found the cd in the XTC section of the local independent record store I
frequented. (Obviously they knew that it was more likely to sell of pitched
as Partridge product.)  It cost me $29.97 American.  I was quite
disappointed that for thirty bucks the album only runs at 35 minutes and
change!  Since AP is only on six of ten tracks, it is hardly the best
investment in XTC terms.  Further, he gets no writing or producing credits.
The credits are humorous, though, listing AP as playing on various tracks,
gorilla guitar, space guitar, african guitar + chorus, english gentleman's
guitar, and (my fave) triple partridge guitar.  Other names I recognize on
this cd are Steven Jansen and Richard Barbieri (of beloved Japan fame) and
Robert Bell (of the infrequently recording Blue Nile).

Overall, the album has a real "YMO with sax instead of synth" sound.  If
you like jazz-pop instrumentals, this is certainly tasty.  (Don't let that
"+ chorus" throw you, there are no dulcet Andy vocals, just huh's mixed so
low you can barely make them out.)

Peace,

Joe Snipp
yeah, yeah, yeah "snippin snippin goes the scissorman," funny!  :|

PS  If its not in the Chalkhills database, its here:

Yaguchi, Hiroyasu "Gastronomic"  Invitation Records (VDR-1482)  1988.

The only address and phone number listed is for his management, Orange Paradox.
303 Daikanyama-Heights,
7-8 Daikanyama-cho,
Shibuya-ku,
Tokyo 150, Japan

telephone 03-496-6901

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

From: Ben Gott <bgott@mail.hotchkiss.pvt.k12.ct.us>
Subject: Bacon Bros. and XTC
Message-ID: <SIMEON.9609221329.A@muahost.mail.hotchkiss.pvt.k12.ct.us>
Date: Sun, 22 Sep 1996 13:01:29 -0500

Happy week, all my Chalkhill friends,

So here's the deal. This summer, I was at a Bacon Brothers
concert. In case you don't know who these fine gentlemen
are, one is Kevin Bacon, and the other is his brother,
Michael. The concert went pretty well - the encore was the
theme from "Footloose" - and I got to talk to both Kevin
and Michael after the show.

I also got to talk to their bass guitarist, a guy from NYC,
whose name escapes me now. I was wearing my "XTC" button,
and he asked if I was a fan. "Sure!" I replied. "XTC
rocks!" He then related to me a story about attending every
XTC concert he could in the early 80s, and actually getting
to meet Andy et al. I was blown away! We chatted for a
while about various XTC-related things, at which point he
had to go mingle with some other people.

I went back to Kevin and asked, "Your bassist is an XTC
fan. Have you ever heard them?" Unfortunately, both Kevin
and Michael's answer was: "No." "Ask him to play 'English
Settlement' for you," I said.

"'English Settlement'." said Kevin. "Gotcha."

-B

XTC SONG OF THE DAY: Season Cycle

***
Ben Gott
bgott@mail.hotchkiss.pvt.k12.ct.us

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

Message-Id: <199609221749.KAA00238@dfw-ix11.ix.netcom.com>
From: "Steve Perley" <huduguru@ix.netcom.com>
Subject: They just turn up in the darndest places...
Date: Sun, 22 Sep 1996 13:49:10 -0400

Howdy, Chalkies!
I'm listening to the new Hoodoo Gurus disc (Blue Cave) as I check out my
e-mail.  As Chalkhills #159 is scrolling onto my screen, what do I hear the
fabulous Dave Faulkner singing on track #2?
"LSD, down on me,
PCP, down on me,
THC, down on me,
PCP, down on me,
MSG, down on me,
XTC, down on me,
FAB, down on me,
RIP, down on me,
MTV, go down on me!"
All the really brilliant bands hate MTV, don't they?  After all, how can
you compete with a 48-hour "Real World" marathon?
Steve

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

Message-Id: <199609230151.VAA04400@mime3.prodigy.com>
From: CQSN59A@prodigy.com (MR CHARLES   SILVERMAN)
Date: Sun, 22 Sep 1996 21:51:30, -0500
Subject: Looking for demos/Found FF

Hello Chalkaholics !

Here's another plea to any generous owners of demos. If anyone is
willing to make a dub, please E-mail me privately. I've been seeing
all these lyrics posted and, to borrow an idea from the band, its
kind of like having the straight bits in the jigsaw with a huge
something missing in the middle. In this case, the music.

If anyone in the States is looking for the limited CD of FF, I was
able to mail order mine from Siren Disc in California (www.sirencd.
com). It only took 4 days from the release date last Mon to get it
using regular S&H. BTW, I have no connection with Siren. I'm just a
satisfied customer.

Welcome back, B.G.

Thats about it,
Charlie

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

From: Boris6@aol.com
Date: Sun, 22 Sep 1996 22:15:15 -0400
Message-ID: <960922221514_483528549@emout08.mail.aol.com>
Subject: XTC CDS FS

I've got a few XTC items left in my CD collection that I'm willing to part
with.
E me if you're interested.
Doug

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

Date: Sun, 22 Sep 1996 22:37:32 -0400 (EDT)
From: "Jennifer L. Geese" <jlg@tardis.svsu.edu>
Subject: This is really really scary
Message-Id: <Pine.OSF.3.91.960922222526.9372A-100000@tardis.svsu.edu>

Hi all -

Just had to share an interesting little piece of info that I discovered
quite by accident.  My mother is a teacher, and for Hispanic Heritage
Month the students at her school are doing a program during which they
will perform the Macarena.  Since I know how to do it and didn't have to
work that day she asked me to come teach the kids.  Now I know you're all
asking yourselves "What does this have to do with XTC?"  Well, driving
home that afternoon Ijust happened to be listening to Dear Madam Barnum
while thinking of ways to get the dance to stick with the kids.  AND....
I discovered that you can Macarena perfectly to DMB.  This scares me.

Still no luck finding Fossil Fuel.  None of the stores I've checked in
have any listing for it.  I'm getting extremely frustrated.  Anyone with
any information please let me know.

Thanks,

Jen

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

End of Chalkhills Digest #3-1
*****************************

Go back to Volume 3.

23 September 1996 / Feedback