Chalkhills Digest Volume 3, Issue 113
Date: Wednesday, 14 May 1997
Chalkhills Digest, Volume 3, Number 113
Wednesday, 14 May 1997
Today's Topics:
those dang old demos
All exotic fish I find...
Andy's Response to Chalkhills Children
XTC CAN BE #1 ON KROQ IN LA!!!
Giggling wordy Bird
It's Good to be Bach!
Jars of Clay
Terry Chambers and Dragon
Not quite bedtime after all...
First Post... who-hoo.
Glasters gigs of yore
Andy's dog
Okay, so I lied, Friday's my last day.
I'm Dead.
Re: More on Paula Cole
No Discs in My Store
NO FAIR!!!
Dave & Amy
Basingstoke meets Colorado
TRAINRunning low on soul coalSPOTTING
Dear Friends.....A Message and a Story (Way too long......... sor ry)
Administrivia:
To UNSUBSCRIBE from the Chalkhills mailing list, send a message to
<chalkhills-request@chalkhills.org> with the following command:
unsubscribe chalkhills
For all other administrative issues, send a message to:
<chalkhills-request@chalkhills.org>
Please remember to send your Chalkhills postings to:
<chalkhills@chalkhills.org>
World Wide Web: <http://chalkhills.org/>
The views expressed herein are those of the individual authors.
Yes I'm sleeping, my mind's on the blink.
---------------------------------------------------------------------- From: shaefner@falcon.cc.ukans.edu Date: Tue, 13 May 1997 16:36:09 -0500 (CDT) Message-Id: <199705132136.QAA01799@services.midusa.net> Subject: those dang old demos arthur james virgin <audio@one.net>: >For some reason I was under the impression that these demos were "new". >The songs you have up have been available for more than a year now (at >least I've had them for about a year now). sorry to mislead if others got this impression...keep in mind though, these songs are still brand new to most chalkies and certainly to the "outside world." Mark Strijbos" <mmello@knoware.nl> declared: >I hope so too but Andy makes his money to feed his kids by selling >these songs.... >We all know that Andy does not object to some tapes being >traded between individuals (he said so) but if you are putting songs >on a website you are in fact distributing them to the whole world and >their uncle. Don't you think that you are exaggerating it a bit? I seriously doubt if many people besides Chalkhills subscribers will visit the page to listen to the demos. I am not putting these on a commercial site, nor am I registering the page with Yahoo, Lycos, etc. This is a virtually-unknown-to-the-masses, personal homepage. Besides, how many people are not going to buy the new album because they heard RA clips of DEMO versions over the net? If a demo tape (much more tangible than hearing the songs over the net) doesn't stop people from buying the album, hearing them over the net certainly isn't going to stop them). Anyone intent enough on hearing these songs to resort to using this medium is going to be at the record shop the day of the release to snatch the album. >IMHO maybe you should try to get permission _before_ you do something >like this... - don't you agree? Like I said above, hardly anyone (if anyone) besides chalkies will hear the songs, and Andy is perfectly ok with that. Besides, how practical is it for me to get express permission from Andy? I think that one of the many people that emailed me thanking me, etc. put it perfectly: "There seems to be some elitism from the "haves" though, because now they aren't the only ones with access to the demos." -Scott http://www.sky.net/~shaefner/andy_demos.htm
------------------------------ Date: Tue, 13 May 1997 17:58:06 -0400 (EDT) Message-Id: <199705132158.RAA22921@cyber1.servtech.com> From: Joshua Hall-Bachner <harlequin@tmbg.org> Subject: All exotic fish I find... Um, my XTC info for this digest: Well, last week I was on this school trip: I was one of thirty (out of 200 students) picked as being a "Natural Helper" and listener by secret ballot, so I got to go with the rest on a three day retreat. One portion of that was a "sharing" session, where we brought out something that meant something to us. Well, I decided to go a rather two-level, roundabout way: in order to both share how important music is to me, and provide some of my view on life, the universe, and everything, I wanted to play a song that I felt had meaningful lyrics. And I of course needed something that was enjoyable musically the first time you hear it. So I went with "Wrapped In Grey." Anyway, people liked it. One person came up to me later to talk about the lyrics, and one of the trainers said "that was beautiful" and had me write down the album info so she could get the CD herself! On another front, I've just given another friend an XTC mixtape. Further details as events warrant. >I don't know about Matthew Sweet's release, but he played producer on NO >DOUBT's 'Tragic Kingdom' which is a fine record. Ahem. Umm, I won't say anything other than that, when I read the lyrics to "Don't Speak," I can rarely recall ever seeing something with so little substance in so many words. >And a friend of mine told me that the MORPHINE release was great (haven't >heard it, though). While the lyrics to _Like Swimming_ didn't impress me on a quick skim, if nothing else Morphine have a *very* interesting lineup (saxophone, 2-string slide bass, and drums.) >Alas, I find cassettes of 'Oranges And Lemons' in cutout bins >for $3.99... what in the hell is the world coming to? How many records do *you* think XTC would sell without being on the cheapo "Geffen Goldline"? The only people I've gotten to buy XTC records did so because they were cheap. (Although, actually, I think Sarah Newhouse payed more for a used O&L than they would have for a new one, which is kinda sad, really...) >Amanda, I for one, will miss you while you're gone. Being very new to >'Chalkhills', I don't know what hideous thing you must have done in the >past. Thing*s*. With an s. Really, though, without amanda, what would we talk about? Songs with monkeys in them? >first, if anyone is a fan of jason falkner (jellyfish, the grays) <snip> >went and saw him play this past tuesday at a small venue in san jose. Right, then. So *who* died of autoerotic asphyxiation? Um, this goes back a while, but I *like* the Spinane's second album. I still need to go get the first one... sometime... Josh Buying knives! /-------------Joshua Hall-Bachner-------------Chaos Harlequin-------------\ | harlequin@tmbg.com http://www.servtech.com/public/particle/ | |"We all have our idiosyncracies -- maybe thinning hair, or gum disease." | \---- Kowanko, "Will You Come To?" ------ Thank You, And Goodnight. ------/
------------------------------ Message-ID: <32510B652669CF11BA1D00805F38219E09660C24@DUB-04-MSG> From: Peter Fitzpatrick <peterfit@MICROSOFT.com> Subject: Andy's Response to Chalkhills Children Date: Tue, 13 May 1997 17:06:41 -0700 I just spoke with Andy for a few minutes (yes - he was in great mood, I can only guess that label negotiations must be going well.....let's hope eh ?) I asked for some reaction to Chalkhills Children. Colin, Dave and Andy each have a CD copy of the tribute tape. First of all : it's kinda difficult to express the spoken word in written form - "the printed word must be forgiven". So when you see a word like "funny" it can have all sorts of meanings. I'll try to explain how Andy said it (cos reading this back I realised that his comments might actually be insulting if mis-understood). Suffice to say : he LOVES the album. He has played it several times in the past week (how many of us have done that recently to any album ?) and genuinely likes everything on the album. Of course there's some stuff he doesn't 100% like but it's more a question of his babies (as he calls his songs) being subject to the reworking of complete strangers than the way in which they were reworked. If anything he prefers a genuine reworking than a straight reading but is flattered by the care put into the recordings (hey, if anyone knows the work that goes into a home recording he does). I took a few notes as we chatted. He opened his review by describing the listening experience as "some of them "OUCH!" and some of them "GREAT!" " So, without further ado..... XTSea Medley - Andy had received a tape of this from Mitch a while back so he's quite familiar with it. He told me that Mitch almost asphyxiated (sp. ?) while doing the "barum" vocal part......<message to Mitch....he thought this was hilarious.......some friend eh ? <GRIN> > Battery Brides - Really likes this. Day In, Day Out - A clumsy naivete (sp?). Definitely likes. Making Plans for Nigel - Great ! (hey - I'm chuffed, what can I say ?) The Somnambulist - congratulations Richard. This is a close reading of the original *and* he likes it. All of A Sudden - Really interesting chord changes , caught his ear. It's Nearly Africa - nice guitars & bass My Love Explodes - "gloria explodes hahah !" 1000 Umbrellas - *really* liked it Dear God - couldn't give a fair comment because he's heard it before, but recognised it straight away Sacrificial Bonfire - "funny" in a *good* way (it's the way the word "funny" is used by some English people, definitely a positive) Kaleidascope - "A Very *Individual* Version" (laughs), got a kick out of it. Discque Bleu - Shock ! hadn't heard it in years ! "can you say 'reverb'?" liked it and reminded him of a track he had forgotten about Chalkills & Children - Very Unusual Goosey Goosey - Very Funny ! Got a big kick out of it. Living in A Haunted Heart - not bad at all ! Books are burning - likes the "found sound" Now I don't know if the next bit will upset some subscribers but he said that he prefers this to the "official" tribute "Testicular Dinner" (his words....). While he likes "Testimonial Dinner" there's something more personal about this album that he finds really appealing. I mentioned that Richard Pedretti-Allen has gone to considerable personal expense to produce this project (in more ways than one). I described his situation as being "in hock" (English parlance for owing money, usually to a pawn shop) and probably being left with a few tapes. He totally empathises because, as he put it, "I've been in hock to Virgin for 19 years". But he reckons that they'll sell out - based on the quality [so Richard, get ready for the onslaught of orders] Over And Out....
------------------------------ Message-ID: <3379046F.749E@sprynet.com> Date: Tue, 13 May 1997 17:16:47 -0700 From: Chan <arniepie@sprynet.com> Subject: XTC CAN BE #1 ON KROQ IN LA!!! IMPORTANT-READ ME NOW LA radio station KROQ is having a Memorial Day list of the top 106.7 bands of all time. Let's STUFF the ballot box with XTC on a list of your 3 favorite (KROQ) bands. Together we can put XTC back on their everyday playlist! As their music spreads throughout Southern California, XTC will finally receive the acclaim they deserve. Send postcards to: KROQ P.O. Box 10670 Burbank, CA 91510 and faxes to (213) 520-1FAX
------------------------------ Message-Id: <1.5.4.32.19970514035125.00694870@pop.mindspring.com> Date: Tue, 13 May 1997 23:51:25 -0400 From: "Jason 'Buffy' NeSmith" <jnesmith@mindspring.com> Subject: Giggling wordy Bird "Mark Strijbos presented us with the querry >True in 1980 but I think that some of Andy's guitar parts on the Big >Express in particular owe a great deal to Charlie Parker's bebop >style. Any takers? Ooh! Ooh! I got one! "I Remember the Sun" , the big descending motif on the frozen- sounding guitar that seems to be falling non-linearly down the stairs. I can't find anymore that smack of be-bop-isms, though. I always found it interesting that one rarely hears hints of XTC's more jazz/blues based influences like Captain Beefheart of Charlie Parker. I think that some examples might be the guitar parts on 'Poor Skeleton' and 'Limelight'. Does anyone else have examples? A couple of weeks ago I went on a little road trip (during which I fell in love with a fellow XTC fan). After the recent testimonies regarding Mummer, I realized I had never heard it without the superfluous extra tracks (they're mostly not very good, IMHO, and don't try to convince me otherwise) I taped it for the trip, and, well, I still don't think it's one of their best albums. Many masterful songs (BOH, LOAFW, FPAR, etc.) Loads of interesting moments (i.e. the huge chordal pool before the coda of "In Loving Memory..."; the wonderfully present bass note in BOH, etc.), but taken together, still not near the top for me. Sorry, I just can't get into "Ladybird". On a more positive note... I've recently learned that a college aquaintance of mine that used to call XTC a band of 'dorks' has totally revised his opinions, and they're now one of his favorites. A different bunch of friends (from the Athens band Ceiling Fan) recently said they couldn't take Drums and Wires off of the turntable (that's right, folks). The tide is turning!!! More disconnected observances. The guitar chords in "...Liarbird" during the "All he could say" section...those are just too damn fast for human hands! I'd like to thank everyone for the xtc parodies about YOU KNOW WHO, and I thought you might like to know that they will all be appearing in my brand new musical about this list entitled "AMANDA!" I'll be offering you all the standard John-Fogerty-level publishing contract. But seriously, I've got something a little different to trade. I've got a compilation tape of my own four-track recordings from 1990 through 1993 called "Consumer" under the guise of Casper Fandango & the Knees. It's about 55 min. and has 5 cover songs (no XTC), 16 originals and a couple of really short things. It doesn't suck, if I do say so myself. If anyone has XTC demos or live stuff--or your own original creations-- I'd love to trade witch ya. Even our non-US listees! I'd love to hear your stuff. I'm also close to finishing up a new tape. End-product-wise, I'm still in the cassette ghetto, but this time I'm recording on half-inch eight track, and my songwriting has improved. If anyone's got a couple thousand dollars to give away, I'll gladly put it on CD. (I can dream.) Okay, that's enough, bed time. love and pretty girls, Buffy quote of the week: "I forgot to point out the lesbian." -Val visit the Orange Hat Cyberhose Page, or you won't have any fun! http://www.mindspring.com/~jnesmith
------------------------------ Message-ID: <337938B9.1D88@earthlink.net> Date: Tue, 13 May 1997 20:59:54 -0700 From: Wesley Hanks <whanks@earthlink.net> Subject: It's Good to be Bach! Friends, Finally back to normal after a major system crash and change in provider. My apologies to those who have tried to write me recently and received bounces. I am still in hot pursuit of cans of "XTC" high-caffine power drink. (Las Vegas is a test market from the makers of the infamous Jolt! Cola.) I have lost all addresses and saved mail, so folks I've been corresponding with, please write. I haven't forgotten you. Song that is currently in favorite mode for no apparent reason is "JUMP". Have a pastoral day, Wes
------------------------------ Message-Id: <01BC5FF0.4AFCC300@default> From: Dummyhead Girl Tatyanna <tatbenav@mail.aim-net.mx> Subject: Jars of Clay Date: Tue, 13 May 1997 22:43:24 -0500 Christopher, did you say something about Jars of Clay? Here is the general scoop about them: Dan Haseltine - lead vocals, programming, and lyric writer. Matt Odmark - programming and guitar. Tim Smith - drums and percussion. Charlie Lowell - BGV's, piano, and organ. Stephen Mason - BGV's, guitar, and bass. Their CD named Jars of Clay produced by them includes this songs: 1. Liquid 2. Sinking 3. Love Song For A Savior 4. Like A Child 5. Art In Me 6. He 7. Boy On A String 8. Flood 9. Worlds Apart 10. Blind They seem very religious. I've just seen one video about them "Flood," and it is cool. See you real soon in the real world! Brad's Future Wife, Dummyhead Girl Crash Test Dummies rule the world, the universe, the infinitive, and beyond! CTD are the rulers of the rulers forever and ever! Brad Roberts rulz! Backstreet Boys, Jars of Clay, Beck, Pulp, and XTC rock! Spice Girls suck! Deal with it, there's no way out!
------------------------------ Message-Id: <3.0.1.16.19970513235954.36bf3ee4@pop.mindspring.com> Date: Tue, 13 May 1997 23:59:54 From: Mark Rushton <rushton@mindspring.com> Subject: Terry Chambers and Dragon In Chalkhills Digest #3-112 From: Andrew Notarian <apn@UDel.Edu> >I read on the Sugarplastic Web Site today, I noticed that they have a new >drummer -- a certain TERRY CHAMBERS.. I thought, "No, he's surely being a >recluse off in Australia, or something like that." I wrote to the author >of the web page and wrote back, saying he doesn't know if this Terry >Chambers is the one from XTC, but that he does think he was in a band >called Dragon (or something similar). Well, at least it's not a joke on >the webmaster's part, perhaps the Sugarplastic themselves? I mean, Terry >Chambers isn't exactly a common American name... Terry Chambers was the drummer for Dragon (Aussie band) from around 1984 to 1986, when the band broke up due to the drugs death of a member. I worked at an indie radio station when their "Body and the Beat" LP came out (correct title?). It was decent mainstream pop and "Rain", the single, was a pretty big worldwide hit for them - except for the US of course! The only reason I bothered with the album was because I saw Terry's mug and thought, "Oh, THAT'S where he went after he quit XTC!" Mark Rushton author of the Bill Nelson/Be Bop Deluxe/Red Noise/Channel Light Vessel web site: http://soli.inav.net/~rushton/nelson.html
------------------------------ Message-Id: <1.5.4.32.19970514050823.00687a48@pop.mindspring.com> Date: Wed, 14 May 1997 01:08:23 -0400 From: "Jason 'Buffy' NeSmith" <jnesmith@mindspring.com> Subject: Not quite bedtime after all... Just read digest #3-112, and I have more to say. Okay, last year I used the word 'psychedelic' to describe 'That Wave', and I got reemed for even suggesting that XTC had ever seen pot. True enough that they probably don't use the stuff, but please don't say that drugs don't influence their music, anyway. Most of the bands they admire are steeped in hemp smoke. John Relph gave the definitive line on the subjuect, however... >Besides, you don't need drugs to be weird. Think of Frank Zappa. Ahh, Zappa, don't get me started. That's one meticulous STRAIGHT weirdo. monnickj@ubk.co.uk wrote: >High Fidelity <snip> >To me it is the best Rn'R read since the very wonderful 'paperback writer' >dismantled the beatles. Hey, someone else knows that book? It was the first book on the Beatles I ever read (I was eight when Lennon was killed), and it messed me up for a good long time. I was going around trying to find their debut album entitled, "Were Going to Change the Face of Pop Music Forever". I highly recommend it to any Beatles fan. song of the day--"Tell Me About Your Drugs", Robyn Hitchcock (can't wait for the movie!!!) love and the waves look painted on, Buffy quote of the week: "I forgot to point out the lesbian." -Val visit the Orange Hat Cyberhose Page, or you won't have any fun! http://www.mindspring.com/~jnesmith
------------------------------
Message-Id: <199705140534.WAA20078@mail.eskimo.com>
From: "Matt Keeley" <mrme@eskimo.com>
Date: Tue, 13 May 1997 22:33:20 +0000
Subject: First Post... who-hoo.
Hello all... I'm a long time poster, first time reader... y'know, you
never realise how old/hideous that joke is until you first make it
yourself. Anyway... Hello.
> Subject: The Partridge Report - 5/11/97
> award though. Later he found out that he had also won an award for the "This
> World Over" 7" single artwork with all the postcards of bombed out cities
> but had never been notified of the news until now.
Is there anyway to see the single artwork? I've only seen the cover
with the "Push Once" cover/label from Chalkhills Image archive.
Sounds pretty cool.
> No deals have been signed with any labels yet but there seem to be three
> unnamed frontrunners currently. One is a major label with great distribution
> but not a great profit sharing setup, another is an independent label that
> would offer lots of money but not great distribution, and a third is a
Well, I personally would go with one of the indies, because I really
hate the fascistainment megacorporations (Thanks Myke!), but
distribution in Japan is a big issue... In the states, they're still
going to be on Geffen, right? Doesn't Geffen have a Japanese outlet?
If so, maybe they could take over... but then again, I don't know
much about Geffen records, other than they're part of Time-Warner,
which ties with Virgin as my least favourite megacorp.
> Potential producer and big fan Chris Hughes (Adam and the Ants, Tears for
> Fears) has been on the phone with Andy for about 3 hours every morning
> recently trying to convince him of making only one album instead of the two
> that Andy wants to make. He did admit that Nonsuch was too long and the best
> length for an album is about 40 minutes so the idea of doing one really long
> album doesn't seem to be a possibility.
I personally like long albums. I think about 50-60 minutes is the
best time. The 30-40 ones seem to go by way too quickly... esp.
with a good band like XTC. I'd personally like to see the 2 record
idea tho'. What was it, a normal XTC album, a more orchestral/toned
down record, and then the debated Bootleg record? That's 3, but it
would work, I think, at least.
> Subject: _Upsy Daisy_ review
> brilliant songs. _Upsy Daisy Assortment_(Virgin) thankfully brings the best
Geffen, right? I thought Virgin had nothing to do with it. Doesn't
matter...
>Subject:XTC Tribute
> I was about to go to be last night when I hppened to turn on MTV. There
> was an ad for 120 minutes, and the teaser line was "...and a tribute to
> the British band XTC."
Wait a minute... you mean to tell me MTV actually played a video? Or
at least part of one? And it was one that deserved airplay?? Is
this a late April Fool's prank...? (Sorry, just angry and bitter on
the demise of the M in MTV)
>Subject:Peyote Buttons & Hookah
>There
> is no doubt in my mind that the "cactii" in question are those little
> houseplant variety, the cute little things you put in your sunny
> window
First thing I thought of was the houseplant... maybe because my mom
has a ton of the buggers....
Since my crappy mailer program chopped off the rest of my copy, I'll
just give the general gist of the rest I was about to say... as for
the accordion, I'm always doing fantasy arrangements in my head...
XTC, Shonen Knife, etc... I only wish I had an acc.
As for my stats (Swiped from the poll):
Age-16
Sex-Male
Religion-Devout Agnostic (Figger that one out!)
Residence-USofA, physically, Japan/UK/Australia Mentally.
Preference-Heterosexual
Marital Status-Single (I should hope so...)
Age first heard XTC-15
First song heard-25 O'Clock (TMBG Cover)/First XTC song "Garden of
Earthly Delights" or "25 O'Clock (Dukes)" (Can't remember which I
played first, I bought both O&L and Chips at the same time for a
friend. He didn't like O&L and didn't care for the Dukes one, so I
now own both, giving me a total of 2 copies of O&L!)
Friends listen to XTC-Not really... I did give Skylarking to a
friend who said he liked it.
Race-Caucasian (dull, eh?)
Bands: XTC, Shonen Knife, They Might Be Giants, Beatles, Dukes,
Barnes and Barnes, Weird Al. Yay.
Anyway, speaking of Shonen Knife, just got a copy of 712 (from a
friend on loan) and they mention XTC in the first track of the
record... but we all knew they were fans, esp. after "Bear Up
Bison"...8)
Well, I guess I've bored everyone enough... Bye, all.
Matt
-=>Matt Keeley mrme@eskimo.com<=-
I Have Learnt | Visit my home page
the Value of | http://www.eskimo.com/~mrme
Human Sacrifice| I used to be temporarily insane!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Now I'm just stupid! -- Brak
Yeah.
------------------------------ From: D.L.Wilson@business.salford.ac.uk Message-ID: <19970514124325.3805.qmail@metis.salford.ac.uk> Date: 14 May 97 13:28 Subject: Glasters gigs of yore Does anyone know if the band have ever graced a stage at Glastonbury? In eager anticipation of this year's line-up, I can't help thinking that they would go down a storm there. Come to think of it, have XTC ever played an outdoor gig? Very excited at the prospect of gigs in the future. See you at the front row.
------------------------------ Date: Wed, 14 May 1997 14:59:07 +0200 From: sellheim@zfn.uni-bremen.de (Erich Sellheim) Message-Id: <9705141259.AA58354@alf.zfn.uni-bremen.de> Subject: Andy's dog Hello everyone, in one of the last digests someone asked why Andy would call his dog "Charlie Parker". Although I don't know the answer, I have a suggestion: Maybe he's a birddog (Anyone remember the Everly Brothers?) Best wishes, Erich
------------------------------ Date: Wed, 14 May 1997 09:57:27 -0500 (CDT) From: amanda caryl owens <ACOEA@jazz.ucc.uno.edu> Subject: Okay, so I lied, Friday's my last day. Message-id: <01IIUSQEWFUA8XU1X1@jazz.ucc.uno.edu> Thank God my brother has an exam Friday...affords me more time to bug the shit out of all of you! So, here are the customary responses: JES: >Think of how *I* feel. Tea Leone down the aisle with THAT twerp. Sheesh. It's not gonna last at all, so don't worry. BEN GOTT >Four words: "read the back issues." Amen to that. Although I do agree with her statement that CTD rules the world etc., etc. It's a good thing not to be so enthusiastic about it. HARRISON SHERWOOD >Oh, and Amanda, I _hate_ to be the one to break it to you, dearie, but Dave >Gregory is as gay as a French trombone. .......please tell me you're joking, because if you're not, you'll all have to excuse me while I run to the loo and vomit. NOT that I have a thing against gays, but it's bad enough that I have a crush on a gay male friend of mine right now. It just would not be fair if Gregsy was gay. It's shame to us straight as nails, obsessed females......... How do you know if he's gay? He dated girls when he was younger, eh? Didn't he say in a 1989 People interview that he joined XTC because he thought it would be something to tell his children one day? ANGEL ON MY SHOULDER (Mark Strijbos) >In the last (Amanda?) Digest Huh?????? >I'm addicted to smoking pot Of all the stuff you've told me about yourself, this was never mentioned...... >He never "did" anything illegal and/or dangerous because he's afariad this mgith seriously damage his health. Agreed. The guy's been a diabetic for.....a good 29 years now. You think at this age, or any other age for that matter, he'd want to do anything to risk his health? Diabetics, even those who take care of themselves dilligently, are susceptible to so much, and their health tends to deteriorate as they get older (why am I suddenly starting to feel like a mother hen worrying about her little chickens?) As far as the rest of the band goes, in the early days Barry was seen backstage sniffing strange substances between gigs, and he and Terry ate Magic Mushrooms one night. (After which Terry locked himself in his room for fear that Barry was trying to kill him.) Colin, I dunno about, but it is true that Andy's idea of a high was downing large quantities of cider, nothing else. >John, are you still moderating this list? I must agree with you on this also. DG, everyone appreciates their bands on their own time, but if you want to see what the majority of Chalkhillians think about Brad Roberts and Co., check back into the archives and read past issues. You'll want to keep your admirations to yourself from then on. Fuck. Now I'm gonna never look at Gregsy the same way. Ciao for now, Amanda XTC song of the day-Melt the Guns non XTC song of the day-Trapped In a Box-No Doubt Je me souviens du soleil
------------------------------ Message-Id: <v02140b03af9e2ec88ff3@[166.84.204.104]> Date: Tue, 13 May 1997 11:03:20 -0400 From: yazbek@panix.com (David Yazbek) Subject: I'm Dead. In response to the thousands-- many-- several-- okay four missives I've received recently-- here are some responses that may or may not interest you all. 1. The song that Partridge and I wrote for my upcoming album is recorded. Andy is singing backups on it and playing some groovily haunting guitar. It's called "You Are Here" and there are some explosive, quirky horn arrangements that will excite the listener and more than likely flumux whichever unlucky independant radio promoter is assigned it. 2. Yes, "The Laughing Man" sold better in France than here. A whole lot better. Like ten times better. I have no idea why except that it got a lot of favorable print reviews and I guess that counts for something there. 3. No, I DON'T know what label XTC is going to be on. 4. Thanks, they've cleared up considerably but there is still occasional bleeding when I scrape too vigorously. 5. My new album will be called "Tock" I think, and I'll be mixing it mid-June so maybe it will be out in the fall- more likely in the new year. 6. Yes, I played on a bill with the Verve Pipe last year and they were extremely pleasant guys. We played a big hall in Philly and drew less than a hundred people so it was an odd evening. I wouldn't mind opening for them now that they've had a big hit. Boy, were they loud. Their lead guitarist is quite original- I love the way he uses a whammy-bar. They gave me a free hat.
------------------------------ Date: Wed, 14 May 1997 11:17:32 -0400 Message-Id: <v01510100af9f4cbf0917@[128.122.161.36]> From: vanvalnc@is2.nyu.edu (Chris Van Valen) Subject: Re: More on Paula Cole >From: "J. D. SMX" <jsmelser@access.tucson.org> >Subject: More on Paula Cole > >This Paula Cole: if it's who I think it is she used to be Bob >Geldof's girlfriend back in the 80's and I think I have her singing >These Boots Are Made For Walkin' on an old BEF compilation. > >Anyway, she's of the XTC era and been around that long; no wonder she >still enjoys listening to them. I believe you're thinking of Paula YATES, whose connection to the music business stems from the fact that she was a nude model and the filet mignon of British groupies in the late 70s-early 80s before having two of Geldof's children. She parlayed her notoriety into a co-hosting gig with Jools Holland on a British Music TV program called "The Tube". Haven't heard anything about her in the last ten years or so. CV Still believe in that chunky stew -- Dinty Moore
------------------------------
From: gravity@loop.com
Message-Id: <3.0.32.19970514090420.006902e4@pop.loop.com>
Date: Wed, 14 May 1997 09:04:26 -0700
Subject: No Discs in My Store
hi john murphy here
new guy,yep that's me.
tried reading through old chalkhills.
i didn't get too far. have lot's to do.
some call it a life.i call it slavery,i digress.
a friend called me from florida.said he was having no luck finding our
heros on disc.his cassettes having worn out.
i said no problem i will search new/used stores here in L.A.
turns out,and correct me if i'm mistaken.
the entire xtc catalog is fossil fuel indeed.out of print as they say.
saw fossil fuel for $40.00 u.s. is that right?nice package.
buy up those old used cds or will something marvelous be here in the
future?discs do wear out kiddies.no matter what the man said.
a round of pink things for the house!
peas
------------------------------ Message-Id: <01BC6063.477E0040@monterrey0409.infosel.net.mx> From: Dummyhead Girl <tatbenav@mail.aim-net.mx> Subject: NO FAIR!!! Date: Wed, 14 May 1997 10:00:44 -0500 Hey, are you gonna kick me of this list just because I like Crash Test Dummies? CTD are big fans of XTC, so I thought of liking XTC too. I am 13 years old, does that mean I am the youngest one in this Mailing List? Coo-hoo. I am from Mexico. See you real soon in the real world! Crash Test Dummies and XTC rule the world, the universe, the infinitive, and beyond! CTD and XTC are the rulers of the rulers forever and ever! Deal with it, there's no way out! PS I changed my phrase, happy now?
------------------------------ Date: Wed, 14 May 1997 14:06:37 -0400 (EDT) From: "Elaine M. Christensen" <gecko@cyberspace.org> Subject: Dave & Amy Message-ID: <Pine.SUN.3.94.970514135719.3591A-100000@grex.cyberspace.org> I'm a little confused about this talk of Dave Gregory's sexual preference. Wasn't he involved with Amy Mann (Til Tuesday)? or was that just a vicious rumor? I really don't care which way he swings - either way he's still one fine musician. (This is my first post after lurking for years, I hope it's kosher.) Elaine
------------------------------ Message-ID: <c=US%a=_%p=Raymond_James_Co%l=MAIL-970514185227Z-1420@mail.rjconsult.com> From: Ed Miller <emiller@rjconsult.com> Subject: Basingstoke meets Colorado Date: Wed, 14 May 1997 12:52:27 -0600 Hello everybody! This is the official call to arms for Colorado Chalkers. Peter Fitzpatrick and I will provide an Internet link using Microsoft NetMeeting between the "convention" in Basingstoke and Denver. I plan to provide chat, whiteboarding, audio and VIDEO (if all goes well). It will be nice to see some of you here in Denver and those on the other side of the big lake for the first time! Email me at emiller@rjconsult.com if you're interested. One other thing re: >Andy Is Dead brouhaha, to lift us out of our petty >backbiting and angst-engendered doldrums: I can't believe you think Andy's still alive!!!! We all know he died back in June in that drug-crazed, high-speed chase involving a Geffen/Virgin attorney, a young Australian groupie and a large piece of farming equipment.... cactus farming equipment, I think. Regards, Ed Miller emiller@rjconsult.com
------------------------------
From: jason.phelan@mcmail.vanderbilt.edu
Date: Wed, 14 May 97 14:25:30 CST
Message-Id: <9704148636.AA863645275@in2.mcmail.vanderbilt.edu>
Subject: TRAINRunning low on soul coalSPOTTING
Dear Chalksters,
WITHDRAWAL DIARY ENTRY #222
Choose a job, choose your MTV, choose your shoe-gazer of the week or
skinny, piano playing wench, choose your electronica rhythm #42 and
your white-bread MC to shoove et doon yer bloooody threwt. Not me,
matey. I'm oon XTC.
Today I woke up with "those pains" again.
I rolled out of bed and scrambled, half awake, for ANYTHING related to
"You-know-what". Everything has been used. There are Cd jewel boxes
strewn across the carpet containing nothing but the airbrushed layer
with the titles. Even the covers are gone due to them being analyzed
out of existance. Puddles of melted video, and audio tape collect on
the floor from my loops in the machines. Can't even see through the
burned phosphorus screen to see if my last hope...a new "Chalkhills"
has been electronically deposited. I am hurting.
"Dear God" said he could get me something to pass the time, but when
I finally get to his flat, it's not but a bloody "Haircut 100" audio
tape. "It's kinda like XTC, innit?". I stick it in my ear anyway.
I imagine huge pristine vaults of memoribillia. Obsessively
categorized into video, photos, audio, clippings, new releases and
three weeks paid vacation to shift through the lot.
However, I find myself back at my own place, face down, having
arranged the bits I have found in my carpet (lint, hair, staples, toe
nails, etc) into a relief of Barry Andrews.
I am hurting.
Looove,
Ewen MacPhelan
------------------------------ Date: Wed, 14 May 1997 13:20:41 -0700 From: "Macdonald, Robert" <RMacdonald@bcbc.bc.ca> Subject: Dear Friends.....A Message and a Story (Way too long......... sor ry) Message-id: <BF4081FF169CD0118C4600805FBEEAE90AB412@BCBCMAIL> Dear Friends Some of you know me. Some of you don't. I've been on Chalkhills for the past eight months. I've posted a few times when I had a question or have been searching for something. The responses from you have always been fast and friendly. I've several times now been overwhelmed with the generosity of members. In return I've tried to follow their example and have written to a number of people to answer questions if I knew the answer or could provide them with something I could get for them here. For the most part though I've sat back and read (and read) and not posted very much. But, I've been thinking about this for awhile and feel like I want to talk to all of you. Unlike some people (who I won't bother to name) I find this whole internet posting idea a strange and wonderful thing, but I also find it quite daunting. Why should you have to... or want to read what I say? Am I about to invade your mind with meaningless drivel? Oh hell....I'll do it anyway. Here's what I want to say. I feel like I have made a whole new bunch of friends here even though some of you don't know I'm here listening to (reading) what it is you have to say. Simon is a friend and I've never written to him, but I can relate to him, I laugh knowingly at his put-downs of himself, I enjoy hearing from him, maybe I've even learned things from him. The same could be said about Ira. I've written to him once in response to his computer questionnaire. He wrote me a really friendly note back almost immediately. I plan on getting in touch again, and I am hoping that Ira would be happy to hear from me. Parrish, it's great knowing you're there in Austin awaiting the latest news, and keeping me up to date with what's happening with you. The myriad of stories and how peoples lives have been affected by this one band is fascinating to follow. Now I want to tell you a story. Here we are a mere handful of people spread out all over the globe connected by this love of music and especially the love of one band. Many write in digest after digest looking to meet with other XTC fans in the same State or the same Country. Even I feel a connection when another Canadian posts. But for one summer in my life it was much different for me and I want to tell you about it. Yes a story. This could be you. OK now close your eyes and I'll begin. You are a young kid who loves music. The first record you bought when you were nine was the American Graffiti soundtrack. Next purchase was the Beach boys Endless Summer double album followed closely by both the Beatles Red and Blue albums. This is your grounding in music. Now we're travelling to age fifteen in the year 1980. You're one of three kids sitting in a room listening to a new album Black Sea by XTC. Your friend has bought it after hearing Generals and Majors played on the radio. You remember hearing an earlier song Making Plans for Nigel. "Play Respectable Street"..."No, play Generals and Majors"..."No, play Travels in Nihilon" (yes there's always someone, even back in 1980). Time passes and of the three only you remain an XTC fan. The others have drifted away and fallen into the trap of Loverboy and Brian Adams (shame of Canada). You've decided XTC are your favourite band and you own Go2, Drums and Wires, Black Sea and the brand new double album English Settlement! Now at seventeen you are at a party. There are some people there who are from another school from across town. You're there with your walkman and mixed tapes that you carry with you everywhere. The ZZ Top tape that some Rugby jock (nothing against the sport of Rugby) put on earlier finally comes to an end. You boldly head towards the tape deck and throw in your tape. The Police, Split Endz, Squeeze, Boomtown Rats, Elvis Costello and the Attractions and of course XTC. The tape lasts about two songs. Rugby jock and his friends are asking you what the hell you're doing with that shitty music. The band Rush is quickly put in the tape deck. Threats of physical violence float around the room. Suddenly a guy you've never met before come to your defence. He's not the biggest guy, but he's willing to stand up for you because of your taste in music. Feeling outnumbered and with Tom Sawyer playing in the background it's time to leave the party. Suddenly you are with this other group of people from across town. Guys and girls. You think they seem pretty cool and they seem to think the same about you. Walking around you befriend one of the group and they invite you to another party the next weekend. At this party you meet about twenty more people that you can really relate to, talk about music with. Great music is playing all night long. Some of it you know, some of it you've never heard before. XTC is played on a mixed tape. Weeks pass, and this person is now your closest friend. Someone who loves music as much as you. Your friend has introduced you to three large groups of people from around town. Each group basically goes to a different school and don't know each other, but somehow over the next six months you and your friend, along with the music you both love, will become the glue that sticks these like-minded people together, if for only a summer. Several months of hanging out in the evenings drinking tea and coffee and talking with various new friends (You're now eighteen, not yet drinking age). Relationships between people within these groups blossom. Every once in awhile there will be a party where your friend and you introduce more and more people to each other. The end of the school year approaches and a big party is planned at your friends house (parents will be away). Almost a hundred people are expected. Your friends house is big and modern and has a huge room that takes up almost a whole level that you have set up for dancing. You and everyone love to dance and will dance for hours at the party. The night arrives and you and your friend have just completed new mixed tapes just for that night. People begin to arrive and everyone is decked out in their latest clothes. Diagonal zippers, ripped jeans, vintage dresses, army fatigues, safety pinned pockets, black three button blazers, mini skirts, hair dye, hair gel, pointy black shoes from Shelley's sent by a cousin in London, hi-top All-Stars, and bowling shoes stolen from the Lanes in the small town two hours away. Some people could be described as New Wave or Punks or Mods or New Romantics, or Ska fans. Hardly anyone in this big group differentiates each other with these labels. All of these people have an incredible tolerance for each others tastes and see each other as rebels against the mainstream. You put on the first tape as your friends arrive and make sure the music doesn't stop until the night is over. A couple starts to dance and you and many others quickly join in. People keep arriving and the house is filling up. People are drinking and some may be doing other things, but most people are spending their time spinning and hopping to the music. It is from the music that most of them get their energy. "Police on my Back" by the Clash comes to the end and the familiar strains of "Senses Working Overtime" begins. Do you think this is a good song to dance to? Have you ever seen sixty plus people at a party jumping around to it and screaming out the chorus...."ONE, TWO, THREE, FOUR, FIVE ....SENSES WORKING OVERTIIIIIMMMMEE!"? Well you have now. You are there. You are in the same house with a hundred other people that all know and love XTC. Just close your eyes and stand there a minute. Listen to Andy's vocals, Colin's bass line, Dave's guitar. Now add the voices of sixty people jostling around you enjoying this great song just as much as you are. These same people who will keep dancing and singing along later in the night when "Generals and Majors" comes up right after the Undertones "Teenage Kicks" and right before the Special's "Gangsters". Before the night of June 24th, 1983 is out you and your friends will have listened to The Jam, The Cure, U2, OMD, The Psychedelic Furs, Ultravox, Adam and the Ants, The Buzzcocks, The Beat, Devo, The Clash, Elvis Costello, Echo and the Bunnymen, Wall of Voodoo, Madness, The Ramones, Generation X, Talking Heads and many more bands, and much more XTC. Well that's the story. What happened to all these friends? When the summer came to the end people naturally drifted off to different University's and Colleges, moved to bigger cities, changed tastes in music and clothes, got married, had children, etc. just like most of us. The XTC fans around me over the years had dwindled down to about half a dozen hard-core fans. Where does that lead us. Why back to Chalkhills of course. Eight months ago I met all of you and the numbers are now once again on an upward path. Cheers to you all. Rob Macdonald Victoria, B.C. Canada p.s. I don't know if I was able to get the feeling across at all, but I wrote all this for you XTC fans who have discovered the band in isolation, without the support of others to share your passion for this great music. I wanted you to have the sense of what it was like, how great it felt. ...better send it quick, before I chicken out and just hit the delete button!
------------------------------ End of Chalkhills Digest #3-113 *******************************
Go back to Volume 3.
15 May 1997 / Feedback