Chalkhills Digest Volume 3, Issue 103
Date: Wednesday, 23 April 1997
Chalkhills Digest, Volume 3, Number 103
Wednesday, 23 April 1997
Today's Topics:
Ageism: Less about XTC
Re: In defence of Swindon
Andy demos, Pat Fish & unrelated disdain
Re: real guys don't read
Tokyo chalkhills meeting
Spring!
Re: Stage Freight
First Post
Ray Davies Encounter
Oranges and Responses
First Time Posting...
Unsubscribing
Too many geeks in the Kitchen
Dave Marsh and Andy Partridge
Re: >1)How did you become expossed the addictive music of XTC?...
Newell / Mayor CD-single
Hey there hi there ho there.....
XTC video fraud, cont'd.
Grammy
criminal acts......!
Season Cycle
Upsy Daisy Assortment compilation
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Merely piles of harmless bones.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
From: Bob Thomas <BobT@cait.wustl.edu>
Subject: Ageism: Less about XTC
Date: Tue, 22 Apr 97 09:41:00 CDT
Message-ID: <335CCEE3@msgw.cait.wustl.edu>
Friends:
Natalie knew when she wrote:
>I'd like to declare myself the only person on this list who hates the Ben
>Folds Five. There. I've done it. I've said it. Oh, it's sad to be all
>alone...
that we would not leave her steeping in her identity crisis. You are not
alone, but we don't hate here. You and I don't care for BFF (gosh, why
can't we all just get along?).
I have owned that first CD since it was recommended here in Chalkhills.
Did I mention I don't care for it? I've played it, telling myself I
should like it. Recently, a friend said "give it another try, they're
Jellyfish unplugged!" Ahhh!! Now I get it. Not. Jellyfish was a
splendid band. Hooks, musical allusions galore, great harmonies,
gorgeous production. Unplug them and you get . . . not BFF. I don't
think I'm salvageable. Natalie has given me the courage to go on from
here, knowing I'm neither perfect nor alone. Courage, girl.
To be fair, the real enthusiasm shown for BFF on this list came from
those who saw them live. I have an opportunity to see them coming up
soon. What to do?
The Colorado Springs correspondent wrote:
>BTW, it seems 1957 was a very GOOD year for Chalkhillians. At least two of
>us at the table will turn 40 this year, and I notice a lot of references to
>39 in the list.
Wow, that's as old as you can get isn't it? : {
This concern with age is making me a little nervous. Especially when I
read things like:
>I was prompted to write in response to the 16-year old who wanted to know
>the oldest member. I may not be the oldest, but I'm 40.
Sorry, I snipped your names. We know from the survey (last year?) that
you are not the oldest, only as old as everyone in Colorado Springs. And
who was the teen who wanted know the oldest member? Our surveyor knows
the age of about 100 members who responded. The average age was
something like 31 or 32 years. I wonder if we have aged since then? Are
we 32-33?
RE: Mummer
Well, I like it, and I wish I had something intelligent to say about it.
JHB explained his objections well (and for such a young man! :), and I
too have had problems with the production on the album. But my response
is entirely emotional and related to my introduction to XTC. I can't do
without those songs, despite their limited strengths and suboptimal
presentation. I'm with Natalie on Ladybird, but there's no need to
shout, young lady. ;-}
You're as old as you are. And so am I.
Regards, everyone.
Bob
------------------------------ Date: Tue, 22 Apr 1997 15:56:55 +0100 (BST) From: Chris Clee <cmc@sanger.ac.uk> Subject: Re: In defence of Swindon Message-Id: <Pine.OSF.3.91.970422155501.11526A-100000@manta> hear hear old chap chris in Cambridgeshire......now if you want boring flat fields visit....only joking looks great on a misty morning
------------------------------ Message-Id: <199704221517.LAA20638@gate3.fmr.com> Date: Tue, 22 Apr 1997 10:42:00 -0400 From: "Sawyer, Keith" <keith.sawyer@FMR.Com> Subject: Andy demos, Pat Fish & unrelated disdain Joshua Hall-Bachner <particle@servtech.com> sez: >The '95 demos are very possibly the best material Andy has ever written. >From RGtG '95 (River of Orchids) to the tragic love song Andy's been trying >to write for 19 years (I Can't Own Her) a truly amazing set of recordings. I >can't wait to see what happens when Colin and Dave get their hands on >them... Besides the embarrasing double-entendre flop of Some Lovely and the heavy-handed tone of Church of Women (it is damn catchy, though) I'd have to agree. Both I Can't Own Her and You and the Clouds... stand out as acutely capturing a different apsect of the emotion of love and fostering a little resurgence during the listen. Other favorites include "Your Dictionary" (which is an enjoyably nasty little piece of work, though my overbearing sense of logic would like the spelled word to be a bit more cleanly dichotomous vs. the said word), "Wonder Annual" (which just *sounds* like a perfect XTC tune, especially in the chorus), and I'd Like That. Don Rogalski <tonikuo@ms10.hinet.net> delurks: >I unlurk here with a sudden desire to know if anyone loving XTC also had >a deep experience with THE JAZZ BUTCHER? I know I did, and saw them play >Winnipeg many years ago, when they had a song out called "Mr. Odd" in >which the word "Winnipeg" was mentioned. I own three of his albums (I say his, since the Jazz Butcher seems to be mainly the creation of Pat Fish), and after the upbeat, crisp poppiness of Cult of the Basement he's taken on a bit dreamier texture to his songs, though they are certainly no less satisfying. Girls Say Yes and waddya? are two of my more recent favorites of his. I'm afraid I don't have his latest one, nor do I know much about his output during the mid-to-late 80's. <http://www.adjective.com/htdb/jbc/index.html> has more info. Natalie Jacobs writes: >I'd like to declare myself the only person on this list who hates the Ben >Folds Five. There. I've done it. I've said it. Oh, it's sad to be all >alone... Take heart, you're not the only member of this list who experiences a bit of spontaneous nausea upon mention of their name. Or the Barenaked Ladies. Another Chalker once described them as 'cloying,' a very apt descriptor for both these bands. The most recent Posies album is very accurately named. keith "What's a little self-mutilation? So you'll bleed on the next generation" -Kowanko, 'Daddy Long Legs'
------------------------------ Message-Id: <199704221514.KAA08011@onyx-206.southwind.net> From: dbrhoten@sjcf.com (David B. Rhoten) Date: Tue, 22 Apr 1997 09:34:00 -0500 Subject: Re: real guys don't read Organization: Schaefer Johnson Cox Frey & Associates, PA - (316)684-0171 On 21 Apr 97 at 10:53, Huw Davies wrote: >I recently got the book "The New Book of Rock Lists" by Dave Marsh >and James Bernard and there is something in it that annoys me. Andy >Partridge is listed under the list of 'Rockers Who Should Read >Fewer Books' and there is the comment: "To take a break, and just >to remind yourself that you're a real guy, not a fictional conceit. >(You are, aren't you?)" Is this a fair comment? Andy may try to be a >bit clever sometimes, but I don't think he overdoes it. What's wrong >with trying to bring a bit of intelligence to pop music anyway? Ray >Davies, Elvis Costello and Robert Fripp are also listed, by the way. The implication is that "real guys" don't read/aren't intelligent. If that's the case, then I guess I'd rather be in the company of a bunch of "unreal guys" like Andy and Elvis.... David Rhoten dbrhoten@sjcf.com Schaefer Johnson Cox Frey & Associates PA 220 S. Hillside Wichita, Kansas 67211-2197 voice (316) 684-0171 fax (316) 684-8835 http://www.sjcf.com
------------------------------ Date: Wed, 23 Apr 1997 00:51:11 +0900 Message-Id: <199704221551.AAA113182@skyhawk.asahi-net.or.jp> From: Tetsuya Shimizu <uk9t-smz@asahi-net.or.jp> Subject: Tokyo chalkhills meeting Hi, Dear chalkhillians, Tokyo Chalkhills party was held on Saturday 19 and I could be released from the frustration of (more than ) 10 year's standing ! Thank you Mr. Steve and this mailing list. Domoarigato Steve-san. Tetsuya Shimizu / uk9t-smz@asahi-net.or.jp
------------------------------ Message-Id: <2.2.32.19970422160714.0069e168@popmail.dircon.co.uk> Date: Tue, 22 Apr 1997 17:07:14 +0100 From: Simon <nonsuch@dircon.co.uk> Subject: Spring! >From Natalie Jacobs :- >To me, Mummer is >a spring album - early spring, like March or April. The delicate beauty >of Love on a Farmboy's Wages and Ladybird, the gusts of March gales in Me >and the Wind, and the buoyant celebration of life-in-death of In Loving >Memory of a Name all say "spring" to me. But maybe that's just me. I agree, Nat. Since the spring hit (Tigger-style) I've been getting out on my bike a lot and the three tapes I keep in my little belt-caddy are "Mania" - The Lucy Show, "458489A" - The Fall, and "Mummer". It's a great album to listen too when cycling through the countryside around a small English town. Though my home town is smaller than Swindon, it has a similar vintage and heritage - in this case it evolved from the mining industry rather than the railway - and is the hub of a cluster of tiny villages and hamlets. My 12-mile ride takes me each evening past the dormant wheels of the pit-head winding gear, in the lee of the aluminium plant and the power station (with the sea behind), past churches and churchyards, tiny village libraries and schools, farms, fields, horses tethered on the verge by the roadside and yet more mine workings. Mummer is a perfect accompaniment to this journey. It's also just about the right length for the full trip - the last notes of "FPAR" die as I get into the tricky roundabout system on the outskirts of the town. Booling along a country road, with the sun at your back and a slight breeze in your face is an ideal way to absornb the atmosphere songs like "Ladybird" (a *classic* XTC moment - I can't imagine any other band coming up with that song) and "Farmboys's Wages". The only problem with listening to music while cycling is that the tempo influences my pedalling rhythm, so I coast serenely to "Wonderland" and pelt like nobody's business to "Deliver Us From The Elements". Very wearing (though not to same extent as my attempts to keep up with "Walking On Sunshine" in the gym which always seems to come around on their looped tape when I'm on the effing stepper). Mummer not only has just the right timing (easy pace for when I hit the long straights and knock up the gears, and slightly more perky bits for the frantic up-hills-in-low-gear sections), but it has exactly the right atmosphere, which is important when immersing yourself so deeply in sound and vision. I've experimented with a lot of tapes for my fixed route and when I've chosen a wrong 'un the journey has been unpleasant and irritating - like watching "The Third Man" with the soundtrack to "Duck Soup" overdubbed in place of it's own. Two great elements that mix to produce a distracting mess. >By the way, I don't think there's nearly enough shouting about Ladybird or >Me and the Wind on this list, so - THEY'RE GREAT SONGS! Go Nat! Though I do now have a slight problem with "Me And The Wind" because it's the track I fell off my bike to on Monday night and will now be forever associated in my mind with the sight of approaching tarmac and the thought "I'm pleased I bought this helmet." >I'd like to declare myself the only person on this list who hates the Ben >Folds Five. I second that emotion. I think it's a Muppets scam myself. Simon +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ http://www.users.dircon.co.uk/~nonsuch/bungalow.htm +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ XTC? Are they still going? Follow me and find out..
------------------------------ Message-Id: <3.0.1.32.19970422094600.006f1194@mail1.electric.net> Date: Tue, 22 Apr 1997 09:46:00 -0700 From: David Hathaway <davidh@electric.net> Subject: Re: Stage Freight >From: gtr80@juno.com (Gerardo Tellez) >planning one? What about Andy's stage freight? One other thing, has Andy's stage freight would either be : [A] What he based The Big Express on... [B] What he used to haul his guitars and clean underwear around in as a lad... His stage -fright- appears to be very real though... 8) w w w . m o n k e y - b o y . c o m David Hathaway, CEO Of monkey-boy.com, davidh@monkey-boy.com
------------------------------ Message-ID: <335D5E2E.5F30@gate.net> Date: Tue, 22 Apr 1997 20:56:14 -0400 From: Mark Irvin <mdirvin@gate.net> Subject: First Post Well, I suppose...since I've been lurking about, enjoying the chalkhills posts, I better come forward and introduce myself. Hello. My name is Mark Irvin, I'm 32 years old, married with two beautiful children and, yes, an XTC fan. I'm originally from Omaha, NE, but I've lived in Florida since 1989. The first XTC song I ever heard was "This Is Pop" - wow! I was 15 years old, and heard on a compliation album entitled "This is New Pop '80" (great compilation!). Also on this album was "Making Plans For Nigel" Other greats on this early Virgin compliation included Magazine, Human League (before the girls), OMD, the Skids, John Foxx, the Flying Lizards, and the Ruts. "This Is Pop" was soon my fave. I rushed to my favorite record store and found "Drums and Wires" on the shelf. I (gulp) bought the 8 track. LOL. I later purchased "White Album" and "Go2" on vinyl. I gobbled up "Black Sea" as soon as it came out. Then it was (and still is) an impatient wait for the next release. This current wait however has been the longest!! Any word on it? My favorite album or song really depends on my mood...all of them are so delicious! From "Statue of Liberty" to "War Dance". I look forward to sharing with all of you. Hats of to the chalkhills organizers!
------------------------------ Message-Id: <l03010d05af830db1ffb4@[204.119.240.129]> Date: Tue, 22 Apr 1997 18:00:45 -0700 From: Craig Vreeken <CVreekn@ns.net> Subject: Ray Davies Encounter Since there's not much going on with XTC (yet), and a few posts recently about Ray Davies and the Kinks, I thought I'd relate an encounter we recently had with Ray Davies here in Sacramento. Ray played a solo show a few weeks ago at our local Crest Theater, a very nice old place with great acoustics. He did the previously mentioned "Autumn Amanac", "Two Sisters", "Waterloo Sunset", "Victoria", "Village Green" and a bunch of other obsure and not so obscure songs. In between he told stories and read from his recent autobiography. It was a wonderful show. Afterwards, some friends of ours wanted to hang out to see if they could meet Ray. My wife and I along with another couple decided to go grab a late snack, so we drove to a Spanish Tapas restaurant about 1/2 a mile away. There were only a few people in the restaurant. We ordered and were eating, when I saw a man that looked a lot like Ray Davies by the bar, ordering a beer. I thought, "Naw, it can't be." But it was. My wife, Lee, approached him, told him how much we enjoyed the show, and asked for his authograph. He replied "Of course, darling" and signed our ticket stubs. Needless to say, my wife and I were on cloud nine. A purely chance encounter with one of the greats. Craig Vreeken http://www.ns.net/~CVreekn/index.html
------------------------------ Date: Tue, 22 Apr 1997 21:13:20 -0500 (CDT) From: The Gottschalks <gotts@tenet.edu> Subject: Oranges and Responses Message-ID: <Pine.OSF.3.91.970422203917.2336C-100000@francis.tenet.edu> Hello to my brothers and sisters of the Council of XTC. I'll quit the lameness right now. "How did you become exposed to the addictive music of XTC?" Well, I first noticed that in They Might Be Giants and Crash Test Dummies interviews, XTC were mentioned several times. I realized then that they were probably a great band. (pretty much like Sarah found out about them) Then, my cousin played me a song from an MTV tape called "Never Mind the Mainstream" or something, and I saw that the tape contained "Dear God." (Amanda, is this the tape you found it on?) I instantly loved the song, but I must say I don't find the words terribly intelligent. To me the message of the song is pretty sophomoric and obvious, something that I observed about Christianity when I was like eleven. Well, it's still a beautiful song. "What does XTC do for you that makes you a fan?" Just like most of the others who responded, I just love their music and lyrics (best song lyrically: Wrapped In Grey). They're just a painfully original and great band! To those who are upset about some guy saying that Andy is one of the rock and roll artists who reads too many books: Do we listen to retarded people when they speak of subjects such as these? No. They are below our intellectual level, and nearly incapable to make sane judgements that require lots of thinking. The guy who wrote that commentary, granted, is not retarded, but he's considerably less intelligent than Andy, XTC, and the fans of XTC. Throwing Andy onto a list of rock and rolls musicians is wrong, because rock and roll is not generally supposed to be that intelligent. So does that mean that XTC aren't ordinary rock'n'roll? Yes. They are so far above the bands that the commentator liked that he didn't know how to take Andy's intelligence with a rock'n'roll spoon. James, I don't think that XTC are avoided on the radio because their songs run together. They have no problem with cutting songs short that have definite endings, so why would they not like songs that run together if they can just cut them short? XTC aren't played on the radio very much because they're not mainstream, even as an old band, and their last album was in '92. Eric, I hope you know that Rag And Bone Buffet becomes better the more you listen to it. I hope you at least like the songs Mermaid Smiled (my favorite XTC song of the ones I know), Ten Feet Tall, Extrovert, Scissor Man, and Take This Town. Give it another listen! I saw someone post some mailing list humor, so I guess it won't hurt if I tell a joke for those who want to hear it. If you don't want to hear a joke, just scroll to the next message. Here it goes: Three guys, one of whom is a Polock (No offense to you Poles, but I had to choose SOME group, and that's the way I heard it.) want to join the mafia. The initiation is that each man has to shoot his wife. So they go the first guy's house. The boss gives him a gun and tells him to go into his wife's room and shoot her. He goes in, and after a few minutes of silence he comes back and says he can't do it; it's just not worth it. So they go to the second guy's house. He goes in with the gun, and just like the first guy he comes back not having shot his wife. He can't do it either. So, finally, they goes to the Polock's house. He goes in with the gun and there's a minute of silence. Suddenly there comes the sound of a struggle- crashes and bangs and what not. Then he comes back and says: "Damn, guys, you didn't tell me this gun was loaded with blanks. I had to beat her to death!" Well, I hope you liked it. Farewell, everyone. -Mark gotts@tenet.edu
------------------------------ Message-Id: <199704230312.UAA20755@sweden.it.earthlink.net> From: "Joshua Crime" <joshuacrime@earthlink.net> Subject: First Time Posting... Date: Tue, 22 Apr 1997 23:09:58 -0400 Well, I am going to finally post to this after all this time (or should I say, For all this time... :-)) I have been listening to XTC since I was living in Heidelberg. I can remember my old hometown television station switching over to the BBC when it went off the air. We used to get this "video" show of some kind from England over the BBC and I remember seeing INXS's "The One Thing" and something by a band called XTC. Never had heard of them at the time (this was almost 16 years ago). I never heard anything about them in my little rural neck of the woods at all until I was in Germany and saw English Settlement. That changed my life for all time. I have never experienced a lyric full of amazing allegory and compassion and insight like a Partridge lyric. Moulding's stuff is really down to earth and "homey" feeling. Ever since then I have been a major XTC devotee. I really hope that they come out with a new CD full of new material soon. I am having withdrawl bad...<G> As far as favorites go, I really don't have any, save for the fact that Go2 and White Music don't exactly thrill me to death. There are some good things on there, like Battery Brides and Science Friction. But besides that, I really love Mummer, Drums and Wires, Skylarking (of course), English Settlement...heck, I love them all. Hope to hear from some Chalkhillians at my new home, Colorado!!!!! Joshua [Attachment omitted, unknown MIME type or encoding (text/html)]
------------------------------ From: nihilon@crisscross.com Message-Id: <v03007800af83a96de094@[202.217.215.210]> Subject: Unsubscribing Date: Wed, 23 Apr 1997 12:27:39 +0800 Hi all, I know it's off topic, but I thought it was funny. Found on a discussion list: At 06:42 PM 4/1/97 -0500, Dave Verschleiser wrote: >Would someone PLEASE tell me how to unsubscribe from this list??? Here's how to unsubscribe: First, ask your Internet Provider to mail you an Unsubscribing Kit. Then follow these directions. The kit will most likely be the standard no-fault type. Depending on requirements, System A and/or System B can be used. When operating System A, depress lever and a plastic dalkron unsubscriber will be dispensed through the slot immediately underneath. When you have fastened the adhesive lip, attach connection marked by the large "X" outlet hose. Twist the silver- coloured ring one inch below the connection point until you feel it lock. The kit is now ready for use. The Cin-Eliminator is activated by the small switch on the lip. When securing, twist the ring back to its initial condition, so that the two orange lines meet. Disconnect. Place the dalkron unsubscriber in the vacuum receptacle to the rear. Activate by pressing the blue button. The controls for System B are located on the opposite side. The red release switch places the Cin-Eliminator into position; it can be adjusted manually up or down by pressing the blue manual release button. The opening is self- adjusting. To secure after use, press the green button, which simultaneously activates the evaporator and returns the Cin-Eliminator to its storage position. You may log off if the green exit light is on over the evaporator . If the red light is illuminated, one of the Cin-Eliminator requirements has not been properly implemented. Press the "List Guy" call button on the right of the evaporator . He will secure all facilities from his control panel. To use the Auto-Unsub, first undress and place all your clothes in the clothes rack. Put on the velcro slippers located in the cabinet immediately below. Enter the shower, taking the entire kit with you. On the control panel to your upper right upon entering you will see a "Shower seal" button. Press to activate. A green light will then be illuminated immediately below. On the intensity knob, select the desired setting. Now depress the Auto-Unsub activation lever. Bathe normally. The Auto-Unsub will automatically go off after three minutes unless you activate the "Manual off" override switch by flipping it up. When you are ready to leave, press the blue "Shower seal" release button. The door will open and you may leave. Please remove the velcro slippers and place them in their container. If you prefer the ultrasonic log-off mode, press the indicated blue button. When the twin panels open, pull forward by rings A & B. The knob to the left, just below the blue light, has three settings, low, medium or high. For normal use, the medium setting is suggested. After these settings have been made, you can activate the device by switching to the "ON" position the clearly marked red switch. If during the unsubscribing operation, you wish to change the settings, place the "manual off" override switch in the "OFF" position. You may now make the change and repeat the cycle. When the green exit light goes on, you may log off and have lunch. Please close the door behind you. [ Included for the mailing live naive amongst us -- John ]
------------------------------ Message-Id: <1.5.4.32.19970423045904.0068f6ac@pop.mindspring.com> Date: Wed, 23 Apr 1997 00:59:04 -0400 From: "Jason 'Buffy' NeSmith" <jnesmith@mindspring.com> Subject: Too many geeks in the Kitchen Thank you, Jennifer Ralston <jennifer_ralston@tbwachiat.com> for giving us the time-lapse review. I read each digest the day it comes in, or next day at the latest, so it was interesting to get the zoomed-out picture version. A big Chalkie secret handshake goes out also to KIMBERLY MARTIN from the Giant Peach (nyuk nyuk) Get in contact with Mr. Stormy Monday at <stormymonday@sprintmail.com> We're gonna have an Atlanta branch party one of these days. BTW, Kimberly, have you ever heard of a band called Orange Hat? I play drums for 'em and half of us are from Gainsville, GA, home of the life-size statue of a chicken. Not quite the Uffington horse, but important nonetheless. Okay, it's too subjective to settle on, but I agree with James Isaacs. Murmur is a fall album for all the reasons he stated. I remember Sarah 'linnellgirl' from my time on the TMBG list. For a while I was getting both lists, but for my money (that is, none) this list has better dialogue. Sarah was one of the people that had interesting things to say. Not to brag about how many bands I'm in, but I also play drums part-time for Atlanta band Feyerabend, and we do a kick-ass cover of the Jazz Butcher song "Mr. Odd" That's all! That's it! Goodnight! love and I'm 25, Buffy quote of the week: "I can be weird AND be in charge" -Val visit the Orange Hat Cyberhose Page, or you won't have any fun! http://www.mindspring.com/~jnesmith
------------------------------ Message-ID: <335D9EA6.1E81@sprintmail.com> Date: Tue, 22 Apr 1997 22:31:18 -0700 From: Stormy Monday <stormymonday@sprintmail.com> Subject: Dave Marsh and Andy Partridge Folxtc, > I recently got the book "The New Book of Rock Lists" by Dave Marsh > and James Bernard and there is something in it that annoys me. Andy > Partridge is listed under the list of 'Rockers Who Should Read > Fewer Books' and there is the comment: "To take a break, and just > to remind yourself that you're a real guy, not a fictional conceit. > (You are, aren't you?)" Is this a fair comment? Andy may try to be a > bit clever sometimes, but I don't think he overdoes it. I don't know much about James Bernard, but I've been exposed to Dave Marsh's reviews on and off for years. He's one of those critics that has a very narrow view of what Rock and Roll should and should not be. He doesn't listen to music with his ears, heart and mind, he analyzes it against a set of axioms that decree "The Ramones, Lou Reed, and Bruce Springsteen" (among others) are the "William Shakespeares" of rock music, and hold in contempt artists like "Rush" and "Jethro Tull". While it is perfectly acceptable to have such opinions, I'm always leery of critics that believe thusly because I don't believe that they come by them naturally. I don't much care for the music of Jeff Lynne, Bob Seger, John Mellancamp, or even the Ramones, but it isn't because some "expert" told me that they weren't any good; I just don't like them. I remember back in 1974, I claimed that I didn't like David Bowie. I thought his orange hair, his silly clothing and his sexual ambiguity were ridiculous, and liking his music might somehow make a statement about the listener. Well, I was at a friend's house, who at the time was a lot more open-minded and confident than I was (probably similar to Joshua Hall Bachner!), and he said to me, "I want you to listen to this", and before I had the chance to ask who it was, "Rebel Rebel" was shaking the windows of his bedroom. Now at that time, many of the New York rock radio stations (it wasn't "classic" yet) were staying away from groups like David Bowie, Roxy Music and The New York Dolls, so I had never heard the song. Needless to say, I thought it was great. Imagine the look on my face when I found out that it was David Bowie! He taught me a valuable lesson. I decided that I would no longer like or dislike music for philosophical reasons; I would listen to it at face value and accept it or reject it based on how it made me feel. I have very little regard for many music critics, because they clearly do not do this. If someone were to ask me why I love my girlfriend, I'm certain that I could come up with a litany of her many positive attributes (she's brilliant, attractive, loves Andy Partridge and XTC, etc.) but there are many women who share those attributes, and yet I don't love them. We've all met people that perhaps made some type of overture that implied an interest beyond the platonic, and even though they met all of the abstract qualifications that we may have decided were mandatory in our choice of a lover, we couldn't return the emotion. The contrary is also true. Many of us have found ourselves in love with individuals that are clearly bad candidates for a mate, and yet the feeling was real. I can love a song, and apparently tell you why I do, and yet you may present another song to me that possesses all of the attributes of the first song, and yet I might hate it. Who knows why? And just for the record, Andy Partridge doesn't TRY to be clever. Cleverness is in his nature. If I may borrow a line from Rodney Dangerfield, "Andy Partridge, is he clever? Look up clever in the dictionary, there's his picture!". Stormy Monday
------------------------------ Date: Wed, 23 Apr 1997 09:01:12 +0100 (BST) From: Chris Clee <cmc@sanger.ac.uk> Subject: Re: >1)How did you become expossed the addictive music of XTC?... Message-Id: <Pine.OSF.3.91.970423085820.16779A-100000@manta> Making Plans for Nigel seemed somewhat appropriate in the early 80's when the Conservative government of Margret Thatcher decided to destroy Liverpool and Merseyside...myself and a lot of mates spent some time on the dole when she had finished .."Making Plans...." chris
------------------------------ From: T8903545@donau-uni.ac.at (T8903545) Date: Wed, 23 Apr 1997 10:44:54 +0000 Subject: Newell / Mayor CD-single Message-ID: <19970423083533714.AAA61@pc_budin.donau-uni.ac.at> Hello Chalkhillmen and -women! Last weekend there was a record convention in Vienna. I somehow managed to get Martin Newell's "Greatest Living Englishman" and the legendary CD-single "Mayor of Simpleton" there, as well as Cathy Dennis' "Am I The Kinda Girl?". I didn't know about that Newell album from 1993. After listening twice I find it great and it makes me curious for more of Newell's stuff. Does anyone know which company distributes his work in Central Europe (respectively Austria)? I would be interested in "Cleaners from Venus" and the "Off-White Album". Are there even more? Does Newell have a website? The CD-single "Mayor" was never really available in Austria, as far as I remember, although - like I see now, that I got it - it was even produced in Austria!!! (the European release, as are all European Sony releases and many Virgin products of that time, some XTC amongst them). I do like this single, I haven't really checked out if there's any difference to the O&L version (it appears to be a bit faster - is that possible?). Haven't been listening to O&L for quite a while, what a great song. ELLA GURU. First of all I got to say, that I've been looking for Fast'n'Bulbous heavily for over a year or so. But it was impossible to get it anywhere in this country. I don't know Cpt. Beefheart's original version, but this recording makes me say: I'm not really sad, that Fast'n'Bulbous didn't cross my way. But maybe I need some time to get used to this song. LIVING IN A HAUNTED HEART is another goodie I've never heard before. THE GOOD THINGS - I knew that song in Terry's version, but I almost like it even better here. It sends shivers down my spine. One of the many masterpieces by CM. That's it again from Austria (after a longer break). I didn't have to tell anything new, but I had to write this down. Most of all I remember the sun... Best wishes Klaus
------------------------------ Date: Wed, 23 Apr 1997 08:15:58 -0500 (CDT) From: LOUISIANA LOLLIPOP <ACOEA@jazz.ucc.uno.edu> Subject: Hey there hi there ho there..... Message-id: <01II1DL0WJQG8X2M30@jazz.ucc.uno.edu> I'm sure there are more teenagers out there than just the six of us mentioned. And we have newbie Kim, who's 18, so that's seven at last officail count. I think it's coming time for another Chalkhills "Who's On This List" type-poll, but I'm not gonna do it. BTW-Interesting lil tidbit. Richard Branson spoke before a US Congressional Committee yesterday about some merger with British Airways and American Airlines. Everytime I heard him open his mouth to talk, I could not get Andy's spot on impressions of him out of my head, so I spent the whole time saying "I'm trying to kill myself in as many different ways as possible." (You'll only understand that if you have the Oranges & Lemons puppet show circa 89.) Ciao! Amanda XTC song of the day-Ella Guru non-XTC song of the day-Don't Fear the Reaper-Blue Oyster Cult Je me souviens du soleil
------------------------------ Date: Wed, 23 Apr 1997 09:22:00 -0400 Message-Id: <97042309220022@mbcc.mass.edu> From: sharedon@mbcc.mass.edu (Don) Subject: XTC video fraud, cont'd. well, i've heard from nearly a dozen victims of Erik A.'s XTC video scam - people who paid $12 to this person and never got anything. are there any Canadian chalkhillians who might be willing to venture a trip or call to your local post office to find out for us anything regarding postal fraud law in your country, so we can see what recourse we might have? meanwhile, i am still working to co-ordinate info and tape-tree possibilities for the folks who have been in touch with me, and appreciate their help and patience. don
------------------------------ Message-Id: <199704231610.JAA22541@f19.hotmail.com> From: "Ben Gott" <xtcfan@hotmail.com> Subject: Grammy Date: Wed, 23 Apr 1997 09:10:40 PDT Since I was unaware of this, I thought that some of the newer Chalkmonsters would be too: "Nonsuch" was nominated for a Grammy in 1993. (Does anyone remember who won?) Thanks for the Talking Heads response, everyone. "Remain in Light" is going to be next. -Ben * ----------------------------------------------------------- Ben Gott http://www.wp.com/58596 "We're pointing our wheels to tomorrow..."
------------------------------ From: SLEDZNH@aol.com Date: Wed, 23 Apr 1997 12:15:01 -0400 (EDT) Message-ID: <970423121500_-667055535@emout17.mail.aol.com> Subject: criminal acts......! Chalkhillians, >Any other Chalkies carried out criminal acts in the name of the band? While in college (a long, long, time ago in a faraway place...), one of my dorm windows faced a rock onto which a fraternity had painted their gaudy greek letters onto. I always thought these people were a bit lame and didn't care much for their "advertising" outside my window. One night me and a buddy snuck out and painted "XTC" over their letters - much preferable in my book. NOTE: Please do not try this at home - painting rocks is a bonehead thing to do in the first place!!! >"On and on and on. On and on and on" (name that tune) The XTC song from O&L , "Across this Antheap" - for $10,000 please..... Thanks to Steve for the description of the Tokyo "convention". Sounds like a blast! Perhaps a similiar meeting could be set up in Boston for those of us here in the northeast U.S. -James
------------------------------
Message-Id: <3.0.32.19970423191327.0069ba84@online.no>
Date: Wed, 23 Apr 1997 19:13:34 +0200
From: Karl Harald <karloe@online.no>
Subject: Season Cycle
Exiting to see so many different opinions on XTC albums and
the season they belong in.
Here's my own opinion
English Settlement- winter (imagine it snowing like hell
outside, while sitting by a
warm fireplace with a hot
cup of coffee, listning to it)
Mummer- Late spring, early summer
Skylarking- Andy says it best himself "a summer day baked
into one big cake"
Nonesuch- Autumn - Autumn - Autumn (xtc's most emotional
album to date)
Also am I the only one dos not have an extraordinary story
on how I got into XTC? (just read some exellent reviews,
heard a song or two and the rest is history)
By the way has anyone heard the tracks colin has written
since Nonsuch and Andys since 1995? (it is supposed to be
quite a few)
XTC song of the day-Ladybird
regards from
Karl
------------------------------ Date: Wed, 23 Apr 1997 16:09:16 -0400 (EDT) From: Ted Harms <tmharms@library.uwaterloo.ca> Subject: Upsy Daisy Assortment compilation Message-ID: <Pine.OSF.3.95q.970423160247.24863A-100000@library.uwaterloo.ca> In the Music News of the World of Addicted To Noise from April 23, comes news that Geffen's 19-track xTc compilation will be released on June 3rd. There are no new tracks (duh - it's a best of) but no word on which mixes they'll be using...) The article also mentions that the lads are free of Virgin and looking/talking to new lables to release slews of demos recorded during Virgin-induced limbo. If I was any more computer literate, I'd probably be able to post the article here, but alas, I am totally ignorant of such wizardy. Anyways, the general index is at http://www.addict.com/html/lofi/MNOTW and it should be up until the end of the month. To Don who liked Jazz Butcher: I also know a Bryan who saw Neil Young at the BlueNote Cafe in Winterpeg. Maybe it's the same guy....please email me to see if we can track this guy down! Ted Harms Library, Univ. of Waterloo tmharms@library.uwaterloo.ca 519.888.4567 x3761 "My cows, they have such velocity!" - from 'La Scala' by Richard Condie
------------------------------ End of Chalkhills Digest #3-103 *******************************
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