Chalkhills Digest Volume 3, Issue 122
Date: Monday, 2 June 1997
Chalkhills Digest, Volume 3, Number 122
Monday, 2 June 1997
Today's Topics:
XTC estentialism
Five Senses Working Overtime in Tuchpe, Nepal
Last posting!
Responses, observations, etc.
A few brief comments...
Convention
Stuck inside of Chalkhills with the good ol' blues again
More Bass Thread
It's just a complicated game...
bassaholics
Various replies
peadair mac gearailt ag gaire...
More Rock Reads
Fave bassists
Upsy Daisy
Gay Bassists on Acid (should be on Ecstacy? :)
Gorky's Zygotic Mynci
What can I say?
All you pretty girls TAB
The Running Theme: Handel.
Houston interview
Captain Beefheart lives?
Administrivia:
Enough with the bass players, already. In any case, surf the Chalkhills
web site and check out the many changes. There's a new "Sounds and MIDI"
page, "Real by Reel" has been updated, and of course check out the
"Products" page. Some new "Charts and Tablature" as well.
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The views expressed herein are those of the individual authors.
Chalkhills is digested with Digest 3.3d (John Relph <relph@sgi.com>).
Who cares? You wrote the note.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
From: jason.phelan@mcmail.vanderbilt.edu
Date: Thu, 29 May 97 15:44:34 CST
Message-Id: <9704298649.AA864945757@in2.mcmail.vanderbilt.edu>
Subject: XTC estentialism
Hello chalkhillians,
I am certainly envious of the recent get-together as I so wanted to be
in England at this time of the year. Maybe our Atlanta thing will be
cool. I have been on a search for this kind of relaxation or just
peace of mind about the way life is going which lead me to have a very
strange memory.
There is a time in the evening in the middle of light and dark where
no sound is ever uttered and no thought ever starts. And if you found
it you'd wonder, "How come I've never been here before and why would I
want to leave. It's like a sweet dream."
Just a place with no movement or meaning, no decisions and nothing to
lose. You could gather your senses together and then ( and only then )
you could choose between being born or not dying, breathing and moving
through time, as slow as you'd like.
Sometimes it is murder to find and if you look it will not come at
all. Is it possible to wait patiently for it to come and to fall in
your hands on it's own untill you don't notice you were involved in a
lfe before this one? If it is, here I am....
I see the whole picture of life and I know what it's worth. But
somehow I am lead to believe that this feeling has always been first.
It's been here before money existed, my friend, and way before
music t.v.....
Maybe it's just me.
I want to find it.
I need to get back.
I hope XTC gets a damn good label. Imma gettin boored.
Phelan
------------------------------
From: dougs@sybase.com (Doug Smith)
Message-Id: <9705292132.AA28113@surya.sybase.com>
Subject: Five Senses Working Overtime in Tuchpe, Nepal
Date: Thu, 29 May 1997 14:32:09 -0700 (PDT)
I want to share with the Chalkhillians a little story:
Whilst on a trek around the Annapurna in Nepal, at about 8,000 meters above
sea level, there is a village called Tuchpe (between Jomsom and
Kalipani, I seem to recall).
I stayed overnight there at the Tuchpe Inn, where I met an amazing
assortment of travelers: Two Aussies, Dave and Kylie Moir, Two Brits:
Dave and Vickie Beale. We all hit it off in the solarium watching the
weather change on Dahlagiery. I mentioned that I had read in the Lonely
Planet about a distillary in the area called the Mustang Distillery that
made brandy. We all went for a stroll down to the distillary and bought
some homemade brandy from a really nice older Nepali woman.
After that we returned to the lodge and had dinner
with the Inn keeper. We were kept warm by pots of hot coals under the
table as we filled up on some delicious Nepali food.
After dinner, Dave Beale noticed a guitar hanging on the wall and asked
the Inn keeper if he played. He responded, "No, but this is for the
guests". At this point Dave Beale, fortified with the strong Mustang
Brandy played a few rousing songs.
The owners children were mystified by the music they were hearing (there
is no electricity or radio up there). At one point I asked Dave if he
knew any XTC, and he started playing a great rendition of "Five Senses
Working Overtime". The children loved it. Vickie used the song to teach
the children to count to five in English, by making hand jestures during
the chorus:"I've got One,Two,Three,Four, Five ...Senses working
o-VER-time!", while Dave played. It was a truly magical time for us all.
The next day while treking onward, I asked Dave how he knew XTC. It
turns out he's from Swindon. In fact he practically grew up listening
to the lads play.
Since then, we've kept in touch. While they were in New Zealand, they
stayed with a guy who had an email account at his college. I forwarded
him the Chalkhills, and he was amazed that there were so many "fanatics"
out there!
Dave and Vickie are somewhere in Hong Kong right now, working their way
back to Swindon. When they get to a place with a PC and internet, they
will let me know what's up. And when they do, I'll let you know.
By the way I know this has absolutely nothing to do with the ego battles
of the internet that have been popping up from time to time.
Wake up you dreamers!
***********************************************************
"Your heart is the big box of paint,
and others the canvas we're dealt.
... Dont let the loveless ones sell you a world wrapped in grey"
- Andy Partridge
**********************************************************
------------------------------ Message-Id: <199705292210.PAA17010@f10.hotmail.com> From: "Ben Gott" <xtcfan@hotmail.com> Subject: Last posting! Date: Thu, 29 May 1997 15:10:35 PDT Chalkhillians, I'm not going to make my goodbye a long one, but am just going to say that I will be unsubscribing from Chalkhills because I don't want them to pile up in my mailbox over the summer (I'm not sure when I'll be able to check my mail!) Please keep writing to me, though - let me know what you think of my version of "Battery Brides" on "Chalkhills' Children"; comment on the quality of "Upsy Daisy"; send any tidbits of information you want. Over the past two years, I have really come to enjoy this list. Chalkhills was my first foray into the world of electronic communication, and I am grateful for the intellect and emotion that people express here (even if it can get out of hand.) The next time I write to all of you I'll be at college. Time sure flies. -Ben * --------------------------------------- Ben Gott http://www.wp.com/58596 "D" means destruction.
------------------------------ From: gopack@postoffice.worldnet.att.net Subject: Responses, observations, etc. Date: Thu, 29 May 1997 22:02:16 +0000 Message-ID: <19970529220214.AAA349@CTX> A little of this... In #3-119, Cheryl wrote: > >CORRECTION- >'The Loving' is the only Mr.P song I HATE. I also loath 'My Weapon' >but thankfully that is not either Andy or Colin who wrote it. I also don't have any personal affinity for "The Loving" (not as annoying as "Big Day" - the worst XTC song IMHO), but I must take issue with "My Weapon." When I first heard it (way back in 1983), I was struck by the obvious comic/social commentary, esp. when put together with "Super Tuff." And it also has the novelty of letting us all know in which direction XTC could have gone with Barry... >Dave Ledbetter wrote: > >I agree. I just couldn't get into "The Dub Experiments". Neither could I - but they are fun to listen to every once in a while.
------------------------------
Message-ID: <338DE364.7BEA@prodigy.net>
Date: Thu, 29 May 1997 20:13:24 +0000
From: dke <dke@prodigy.net>
Organization: Prodigy Internet
Subject: A few brief comments...
Hi there!,
So far, so good with the lobbying of Ryko, a bunch of us have
already posted on their message board, but we could use a lot more input
over there if we're going to have much of an impact. Please go there
when you get a chance, and let them know what a devoted fan base XTC
truly has!
Re: bassists...My apologies to Colin, who I do think is a fantastic
bass player, but Tony Levin is simply awesome in his talent on both the
bass and 'the stick' (a truly amazing bass/guitar hybrid), and Mick Karn
(japan / dali's car / bill nelson) has a sound and technique that is
truly his alone.
Finally, re: Matt Keeley's take on the 'Scissorman' lyrics...I could
be wrong, but I always viewed them as Andy being pissed about
censorship.
Thanks, and remember...'Lobby Ryko'!!!
Doug Ellison (who doesn't even have the knowhow to be in CAPS even!)
------------------------------ Date: 30 MAY 97 10:50:55 AST From: PCulnane@dca.gov.au Subject: Convention Message-ID: <0000miiswowg.0000kacueuuy@dca.gov.au> Hi all, Thanx Peter Fitzpatrick and Simon Sleightholm for those very entertaining accounts of the recent get-together in Basingstoke. Sounds like you all had a great time! In the matter of getting together with a fellow XtC enthusiast, there's nothing I could recommend more if ever list members get the chance to do so. Even a one-to-one get-together, as my fine feathered friend Dom Vanabbe and I have done twice now, can be enormous fun and a rewarding experience, let me tell ya! BTW, Peter Fitz: any plans to release a transcript of that interview held with Andy (the one you solicited questions for)? p@ul
------------------------------ Date: Fri, 30 May 1997 12:36:02 +0100 From: Andy Miller <AMILLER@waterstones.co.uk> Subject: Stuck inside of Chalkhills with the good ol' blues again Message-ID: <213ED035639@postoffice.whsmith.co.uk> Roger said: >the last thing rock'n'roll needs is a bloody academic, intellectual >dissection. Whoa! (as you Americans say!) big statement... now lets have >some constructive argument about that!!! I'm serious! In trying to >intellectualise something so visceral and immediate isn't it sort of, >well... a bit silly? Well, duh! OK, Rog, let's all stay dumb, and chug a few beers, and listen to some good old "rock'n'roll", as you quaintly refer to it. Briefly:- I agree with Rog up to a point. XTC, of all bands, should make you want to BROADEN YOUR MIND. We should talk about all sorts of things on this list, because MUSIC DOES NOT EXIST IN A VACUUM!!! Andy, Colin and Dave feed all sorts of influences into making music other than just music! eg. books, films, their childhood, their environment and so on and on. That's the way we listen to music too, whether we like it or not. Furthermore, it's a UNIQUE quality of this list that the people on it find themselves sufficiently stimulated by discussions of XTC's music to want to go on and talk about further ideas that stem from those discussions. But I think Rog is contradicting himself if he beats the drum for the above, and then turns around and says discussion of (I can't resist) "rock'n'roll" by, say, Marcus or Murray or Marsh or whoever, that broadens its scope beyond the "and then they went on tour and then they released a record and then they went on tour again" school of thought, is a bad thing. I've been lucky enough to meet Greil Marcus on several occasions (through my job) and I'm happy to set the record straight. Far from being a pseud or a smart arse Marcus is a brilliant and sincere writer whose work is inspired and informed by music that he loves. His misfortune is to be publishing books to an audience many of whom think civilization began and ended when Johnny Rotten stuck a safety pin through the Queen's nose. (Yes, I know it was Jamie Reid, but you get the point...) Oh, and this ain't "rock'n'roll", this is POP! Yours in anticipation of being completely ignored Andy Thanks MARK
------------------------------ Message-ID: <338E7CB3.40E9@airmail.net> Date: Fri, 30 May 1997 07:07:38 +0000 From: The Hendersons <fernkl@airmail.net> Organization: none Subject: More Bass Thread Brian Matthews wrote: >"I don't feel that any piece of music from a catalog needs a virtuoso on > bass guitar, unless it's appropo... the bass is a supporting aspect of > the musical whole for the most part..." I agree. "Walking" bass lines are appropriate only in certain musical situations; in addition, how does that make the mark of a great bass player? In my opinion, bass lines are the most spectacular when they ground the song-- root it in space and time, if you will. Even better, when they ground the song and have melodic merit of their own, independent of the song as a whole. P. McCartney has often been sited for this style with his Beatles work. Mr. Moulding is definitely of this school of thought... Regards to all-- Jim Henderson
------------------------------ Date: Fri, 30 May 1997 08:34:27 -0400 (EDT) Message-Id: <199705301234.IAA12361@cyber1.servtech.com> From: Joshua Hall-Bachner <harlequin@tmbg.org> Subject: It's just a complicated game... >I believe that often in analysing things (like rock'n'roll) you >destroy the mystery. Perhaps, but you substitute something else: a deeper understanding of the song. I do lyrical "analyses" and such all the time, to figure out what a song means, what it does, how it works. When the song I look at is well-written, I often end up enjoying the song more. IMHO, if a song is so flimsy that a little examination, of either the music or the lyrics, will "destroy" it, well... >This may be obvious to most but I have only within the last year >began to notice that there seems to be more than just an >accasional reference to the sea in XTC music. Yep, that's one of XTC's incredibly over-common themes (along with fire and fireworks...) Our very own Mitch Friedman actually did a piece (available on Chalkhills' Children, I believe) called "XTSea Medley" which makes use of this fact. >I had a genuine XTC nightmare: Marilyn Manson bludgeoning, >thudding and croaking his way through "Burning with Optimism's >Flames". Woke me right up, it did. Naaaah, MM would never do that song. It's not "the world sucks and I want to die" enough. Now, "Travels in Nihilon"... Aaaaah! I'm sorry! I must repent! >after all that money THE ORIGINAL VINYL SOUNDS BETTER ! Assuming, of course, that you've already made the $10,000 investment on the super-ultra-hi-fi system. In which case, I don't think you need to worry about the cost of CDs. >Rock superstars XTC release their first feature film since bursting on to >the music scene back in 1978. Bravo, bravo! Nice job, Ralph. >Re: Is Dave Gregory gay? (the final word) Sadly, I don't think it will be. Personally: Um, homophobia is bad. Bigotry is bad. Can we all agree on that, at least? Josh It really doesn't matter where we put our, umm... /-------------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. ------/
------------------------------ Date: Fri, 30 May 1997 08:53:27 -0400 (EDT) From: Dave Seaman <SEAMAN@A1.ISD.UPMC.EDU> Subject: bassaholics Message-id: <C220ZWWDCRJDA*/R=EDISON/R=A1/U=SEAMAN/@MHS> its great to see homage given to pete thomas of the attractions and graham maby, as well. in addition to colin and that paul guy from liverpool, these are some of the very best. (at least in the rock/pop genre, i think...)
------------------------------ Message-Id: <199705301454.HAA28972@sgi.sgi.com> Date: Fri, 30 May 1997 10:42:29 EDT From: "Todd Bernhardt" <tbernha@columbiaenergy.e-mail.com> Subject: Various replies Well, now: Anyone noticed the latest Chalkhills paradox? Amanda leaves the list, and its frequency *increases.* Go figure. >From Brian T.(for 'Toast') Matthews: >To Becki Digregorio (I do hope no faux pas by capitalizing proper names here... as we ALL should do - it makes reading the English language easier, I'll thank you)< Excuse me for a second here, but who are you to tell anyone whether or not their fingers need to touch the shift key while they type? This is an Internet mailing-list digest. We don't need no stinking capitalization rules. Sheesh. And as far as "appalling and unnecessary" behavior goes, I think heterosexual males (to my dismay) have a lock on it. Sexuality doesn't matter when it comes to aggressive behavior like that, just as it doesn't matter when it comes to music or anything else. Double sheesh. On a lighter note, you folks have me laughing out loud at the movie scenes, but I'm still waiting for the Saturday morning cartoon... RogerFromOz pointed out: >In trying to intellectualise something so visceral and immediate isn't it sort of, well... a bit silly?< Absolutely. Many of the times in my life that have been most thrilling, and definitely my times as a musician, are when I was caught up in the "flow" of something and my conscious thought about whatever I was doing was obliterated by simply "becoming" what I was doing. As far as the centipede proverb goes, I can relate -- there are several classical piano pieces I learned as a child that I simply cannot play now if I actively try to think about them. If I stop trying to remember and just play them, though, they come right out. John Wedermeyer: Your story (and Ian's) about meeting Dave G. was a gas! Plus, I know that you were nervous w/he and Lyle in the audience, and I know that nervousness can work for you, but relax -- every time I listen to Becki's CD, I'm more impressed with your playing. And that's saying something, coming from a person who's fought with/gotten cynical about more than one guitarist during his career... ;^) >From Karl Witter: > In the USA, Donny Osmond was headlining in "Dreamcoat" for much of 1996.< *Shudder.* and... > If Jeff Lynne has "talent but no taste" (yeah, a good escription) where does that leave Andrew Lloyd Webber?< Well, if as our friend Stormy Monday sez, Lynne is the antiLennon, does that make ALW the antiSondheim? :^) and... > Wonder if he's [Pat Mastellotto] drumming full-time with a group or still sessioning.< He's currently studying at the knee of MISTER Bill Bruford, in Robert Fripp's current "double trio" lineup of King Crimson: PM and BB on drums, RF and Adrian Belew on guitars, Trey Gunn on Warr Guitar and MISTER Tony Levin on bass and Chapman stick. Ralph DeMarco asks: >And what about Wallace preferring cheese to female companionship?< More important, what about him preferring Gromit to female companionship? Do you think we can start a bestiality thread on the list? (Just imagine the possibilities: "I have several friends/acquaintances who are into bestiality, and..." That oughta keep us going until the next album, eh? :^) ByeBye!
------------------------------ Message-Id: <199705301617.RAA28378@indigo.ie> From: "Daniel Prendiville" <modjp@indigo.ie> Date: Fri, 30 May 1997 12:01:08 +0000 Subject: peadair mac gearailt ag gaire... 'Lo... If anyone wants to know what Peter Fitzpatrick was giggling at at the Basingstoke XTC convention last weekend, e-mail me privately... As you were... Daniel Prendiville Daniel's Den - http://indigo.ie/~modjp Daniel's Den - http://indigo.ie/~modjp
------------------------------ Message-Id: <199705301640.JAA05890@access.tucson.org> From: "J. D. SMX" <jsmelser@access.tucson.org> Organization: Access Tucson Date: Fri, 30 May 1997 10:02:47 -0700 Subject: More Rock Reads Geetings Fellow Chalkhillians: On the subject of Rock and Roll reading material, I found the book Up And Down With The Rolling Stones quite fascinating. It's just like you're there with the Stones doing the things they do; like partying with the Beatles, scoring drugs, and total blood transfusions. There's also a good book about Iggy Pop but the proper title escapes me right now...something like Give Me It or I Want It All. Enjoy! SMX J. D. SMX Video Engineer Access Tucson jsmelser@access.tucson.org
------------------------------ From: kraig olmstead <kraigo@netcommcorp.com> Subject: Fave bassists Date: Fri, 30 May 97 11:59:00 PDT Message-ID: <338F23EF@msmail.netcommcorp.com> Since someone asked, Here are some of my favorite bassists. No particular order. I was shooting for a list of ten, but it got a little longer than that (eleven): Jaco Pastorius - one of the two bassists who forever changed the way electric bass was played. James Jamerson - Motown's bassist. He practically invented electric bass. (He's the other one who forever changed the way electric bass was played). John Entwistle - perhaps the first rock 'n' roll bass hero. Will Lee - New York studio guy and on David Letterman. Brilliant. Colin Moulding Gordon Sumner Graham Maby - I figured I'd get shot if I mentioned Sting by name. These guys inspired me to play bass. I'd also mention Michael Halliday of the Suburbs and Jim Clifford (?) of the Wallets, but quite likely noone on this list ever heard of them. Tony Levin - Need I say more? Mike Watt - Minutemen and Firehose - what an aggressive bass player. Listen to the Minutemen's _Double Nickels on a Dime_. Those guys are all over the place, so why does it work? Who cares, it does! Milt Hinton - Very forward thinking jazz upright bass player. He was slapping before Flea and Stanley Clarke were born. Paul McCartney - !!! I'd also like to mention Tommy Stinson of the Replacements, Pete Farndon of the Pretenders, Bruce Thomas of the Attractions... So many great bass players, so little time to practice. KO
------------------------------ Message-ID: <338F207F.296E@stewmac.com> Date: Fri, 30 May 1997 14:46:23 -0400 From: Keith Hanlon <hanlon@stewmac.com> Organization: Stewart-MacDonald's Guitar Shop Supply Subject: Upsy Daisy Time to delurk. A record store friend of mine snagged a promotional copy of Upsy Daisy Assortment. There's no booklet, but there is a short XTC history on the back cover. Here's a transcription: ------------------------- "One of alternative rock's most respected and prolific groups, XTC has been creating it's unique brand of quirky pop for the last two decades. Upsy Daisy Assortment (The Sweetest Hits) encompasses tracks from the band's eight most recent albums. Formed in 1977, XTC quickly distinguished itself with its innovative rhythms and melodic twists. In 1978 White Music and GO2 we released, though they were available only as imports in the States. The next year the band issued Drums and Wires which boasted the band's first English Top 20 hit, "Making Plans for Nigel." The album also laid the foundation for success in the U.S. with an official American release. XTC's next album, Black Sea (1980), which featured the vibrant "Generals and Majors," subsequently charted in the U.S. Top 50. Major changes followed 1982's more acoustic double album, English Settlement - which included the U.K. hit "Senses Working Overtime" - when four years of grueling tours came to a halt. While onstage in Paris, the band's lead vocalist and guitarist, Andy Partridge, collapsed from a combination of stage fright and frustration at struggling to reproduce the band's music live. Shortly thereafter, XTC stopped touring for good. In 1984 XTC released Mummer on Geffen. The label then reissued not only the compilation Waxworks: Some Singles 1977-1982, but the band's entire catalog. Later in 1984, XTC came out with a new studio album, the harder, busier The Big Express. 1986 saw the release of Skylarking with the controversial hit, "Dear God." In 1989 they released Oranges and Lemons, which was the No. 1 Modern Rock album of 1989. The infectious track "The Mayor of Simpleton" was Billboard's No. 1 Modern Rock track for five weeks. In 1991, XTC cleaned out its vaults and Geffen released Rag 'N' Bone Buffet, a compilation of cuts never before released in the U.S. Closing Upsy Daisy Assortment (The Sweetest Hits) is XTC's No. 1 Modern Rock hit, "The Ballad of Peter Pumpkinhead," from the band's 13th and most recent album, 1992's Nonsuch." --------------------------- It's nice to have all these tracks together. I especially like the fact that "This World Over," "Seagulls Screaming," "Grass," "Dear God," and "Chalkhills and Children" are free from seques. I can finally put them on mix tapes without the end of the previous tune! CONVERT ALERT CONVERT ALERT COVERT ALERT My record store friend asked me, "What XTC should I listen to? I've never heard them." I immediately recommended "English Settlement," which was in their used bin. He put it on in the store, and he loved it. (Applause) Now if I could only get him to find a copy of Robyn Hitchcock "Beautiful Queen" CD.... Keith H
------------------------------ Date: Fri, 30 May 1997 15:28:03 -0400 (EDT) From: Sean Hennessey <suggs@sunspot.tiac.net> Subject: Gay Bassists on Acid (should be on Ecstacy? :) Message-ID: <Pine.SUN.3.95.970530145908.26079A-100000@sunspot.tiac.net> Hallo all and sundry, All apologies for the awful subject line, but I just had too... Ted harms wrote: > and Sean Hennessey wrote: (I just love seeing my name in lights) > > I agree with Bob Mould on his attitude, being gay is just your sexuality, > > not your whole being. There's a hell of a lot more going on in a single > > person to define whether they are good or bad than just who they fancy. > > Well....it's not that easy. > > For some people, being gay (or any other trait) is an integral part of > their person and its something which they display proudly. Others, don't > want it to be an issue and refuse to make it an obvious part of how they > carry themselves. It is very important to understand Toni Morrison's > literature that she is an Africa-American female while Cecil Taylor being > gay is not important to appreciating his music. Actually, agreed whole heartedly. My problem, and I will admit this, is that I am not gay. I realize that a lot of gays feel that it's an important part of who they are, and like to 'flaunt' that aspect of themselves. I'm sure there's gobs of cliches I'm missing here, but to me being hetero-sexual has never been an overwhelming part of my overall lifestyle (unless I'm on the pull, but that's another joke). It seems odd to me that a person would want that to be a big part of the definition, but stepping back and seeing the problems that gays have had to face over the years, maybe taking control of it in that way and really pushing it in people's faces *is* the best way to deal with it. Music is an abstract art, and most of the emotions dealt with in Bob's or Andy's songs can be attributed to any sex, no emotions or ideas are entirely the domain of any one. With more personalized and direct work, like, I assume, Toni Morrison (who I'm afraid I'm ignorant of), yes it is important. But in that case, don't they tell you anyway, or make it apparent somehow? > What all this means is that it makes it difficult to categorize soembody > without knowing/understanding them first. And this is the way it should > be. Too true and very well stated. That's why I say that sexuality is just a part of a whole person, not the whole. You have to judge each by their own values... > (And yes, I play the bass, too. I'm sure we could form a few bands with > all the musicians on this list...) The lovely idea of a single list band with hundreds of storming guitars and basses (any drummers? I used to be one, but am now guitar/bass full-time) is hilarious. I want to put in my 'bass list' because I'm obnoxious and shall anyway. 1.) John Entwhistle; 2.) Andy Rourke; 3.) Paul McCartney; 4.) Mishi Shonen Knife; 5.) Colin; 6.) That funny looking one from Supergrass (I know, which funny looking one?). My bass choices are purely from the fact that *I* tend to prefer more melodic, or even just plain moving bass parts to the old root thing and I really have a hard time with the slap/thump school of bass. I think the instrument is an amazing thing, so musical but so rarely played for what it's worth (hell, I just started playing it with a band and already I think it's more fun than the 6-stringer in a lot of ways. Free-er to). I could be posh, I admit (if I had the instant recall), coming from having played Jazz drums for so many years and pull out names like Jimmy Garrison, or Mr PC (Paul Chambers ?), guys whose sheer groove (and *don't* anyone ever tell me those old 'Trane albums w/ one o' the above and Elvin Jones didn't *groooooove*) could drive you into the floor. But that's different, that's jazz and that's double bass. I respect guys like Tony Levin (*anyone* who can keep up with Fripp) quite a bit, I was amazed by him and the chopsticks he had attached to his fingers at the (urghh) Anderson Bruford Wanker and Howe show (Mommy dragged me, I hate Jon Anderson), but the sheer musicality, frequent simplicity, and inherent poppiness in the above lot just slays me... And Mishi's cuter than every other bassist on the planet... Combined... :) (A quick aside, my band Tweety UK, is essentially 4 XTC fanatics who happen to play together too. We're always telling Ken, bassist guy, to 'do Colin'. Oh well, not funny, but neither is their complaint that I keep rewriting Respectable Street...) Tara - Sean
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 30 May 1997 15:53:57 -0700 (PDT)
Message-Id: <199705302253.PAA20460@surf.com>
From: Dean Martucci <martucci@surf.com>
Subject: Gorky's Zygotic Mynci
Can anyone tell me more about this band? I just found their album
"Barafundle" and it is super. Probably it's more kosher to reply directly to
me rather than the digest, but in any case I think some of you will enjoy
this band.
Sort of a dreamy folk XTC sound; lot's of High Llhamas in there too. I
believe the musicians are actually Scottish (yes?). They are also partial to
using the emminently readable Welsh spelling wherever possible on their sleeve.
And finally, as there seem to be a number of Elvis Costello fans here, there
is a new Japanese CD single out by Zenji Nagahata called Modernist - Passion
Pistol. The Attractions back him on two songs (the title tune and one called
Homerun Man)! Good stuff. On Sony.
Dean
~*~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~*~
Dean Martucci martucci@surf.com San Mateo,CA USA
~*~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~*~
------------------------------ Message-Id: <199705302328.BAA27547@utrecht.knoware.nl> From: "Mark Strijbos" <mmello@knoware.nl> Organization: The Little Lighthouse Date: Sat, 31 May 1997 00:34:57 +0000 Subject: What can I say? Dear Chalkers, Last week, three great XTC-related events took place. Here they are (in no particular order) : 1. The Convention was absolutely as great as everyone already described it. I really enjoyed seeing lots of my dearest online friends and the T shirt is fabulous! Well done, Mike! Opinions and (video)tapes were exchanged, a few drinks were shared and a lovely time was had by all... We _really_ should meet more often :) 2. At the Pop and Guitars Sale at Christies several interesting XTC items came up for auction in three different "lots": - The Canadian Black Sea "gold" disc, as presented to Colin Moulding, went for (i think) # 280... - The guitar that was signed (but not played???) by Andy was sold for # 580 (gasp) The bidding was quite fierce and it all went very fast but I managed to get lot #206. This included a copy of Black Sea signed by Andy and Colin, a black "satin" Black Sea tour jacket ( from the US tour???) and the framed original artwork for the UK Sgt Rock fold-out single sleeve, all in near perfect condition. This lot fetched # 420. Plus "Bidder's Premium" and VAT of course :( Some professional traders who were present were amazed at the high prizes paid for the XTC items. me too! ;) 3. Also during our stay in the UK my girlfriend (who used to hate our Heroes) started listening to Black Sea - secretly, while I was away. Now she actually likes Black Sea! She likes Colin's songs best, and did not care much for track 7,8 or 9... On the CD these are of course the "bonus tracks" that should have been added after the original running order instead of being sandwiched between the A and the B side. Yours ecstatically, Mark Strijbos at The Little Lighthouse http://utopia.knoware.nl/~mmello ===> Mark's Random XTC Quote <==She got to be obscene to be obheard
------------------------------ From: PAUL FERGUSON <p.ferguson1@lancaster.ac.uk> Message-Id: <199705310140.CAA23221@unixb.lancs.ac.uk> Subject: All you pretty girls TAB Date: Sat, 31 May 1997 02:40:01 +0100 (BST) I've sent chord tab for 'All you pretty girls' to chalkhills - criticism warmly welcomed. cheers, Paul.
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Message-Id: <199705310518.WAA15230@mail.eskimo.com>
From: "Matt Keeley" <mrme@eskimo.com>
Date: Fri, 30 May 1997 22:17:33 +0000
Subject: The Running Theme: Handel.
Hello all. Just a little reminder, POST TO THE RYKO MESSAGE BOARD!!
Just follow this handy link:
http://www.rykodisc.com/3/indexs.html
Now back to the regularly scheduled message:
> From: Ted Harms <tmharms@library.uwaterloo.ca>
> > I'd say that my top bassists are:
> > 2. Graham Maby (TMBG)
> Not wanting to date myself, but Graham Maby played on numerous Joe Jackson
> albums (see, I'm calling them albums, not CD's!) and left after 'Big
> World', I think, and then went on and played with Marshall Crenshaw. But
> I heartily agree with his presence on the list - and he plays with a pick,
> too! (But my list would include Bruce Thomas of The Attractions...)
I've heard about that, but I listed TMBG, since that's who I'm mainly
associated and acquainted with (not in real life... I wish it were in
real life, but...). Maybe one of these days I'll check out some of
Graham's other bands. Hey, that's how I found out about the defness
that is XTC and Shonen Knife, neh?
> From: sunhouse@best.com
> Needless to say, Dave was as nice as he could be and I REALLY enjoyed
> talking with him (once I relaxed!). He is a class act!! No earth-shattering
> news to report: the band STILL has no record deal... apparently Andy is
> really holding out for a double album as there are over 40 SONGS written
40 SONGS??!!?? Whoo-hoo!!!! <Insert Handel's Messiah here>
> >From Keith Beck:
> >XTC are to sign a label deal in the UK this week, and hope to have an
> >album out in February, this is from the horses mouth folks.
If this is true, I'd be overwhelmed in the feeling of glee. <Insert
Handel's Messiah here>
> From: "Witter, Karl F" <WitterKF@aetna.com>
> >[Matt Keeley] I didn't really get (Scissor Man) lyrics,
> >but when I sat down to read them, I realised how, well,
> >sick they were!
> It's a character from some German children's stories, as
> a Chalkie was good enough to dig up recently. (I'd never
> heard of it myself.) Not surprised that Andy knows of it.
> And yes, fairy tales get that sick! Remember the original
> Hansel and Gretel ended up with them eating the witch.
Well, I've always been an advocate of freaky stories for children...
y'know, scare the little buggers into being good. Heheh.
Anyway, hoping for a new XTC album soon.... (and the anyway count has
decreaased drastically!)
Matt
PS: I've completely reconsidered my feelings on Colin's early stuff.
He was always good. It's just "Life Begins" and "Heatwave" that get
on my nerves. And not so much "Heatwave" as "Life". "Life" really
bugs me though. And also the thing about "Train Running Low on Soul
Coal" and "I Remember the Sun" from a couple messages back... I may
have already retracted my statement on the crappiness of the tracks,
but I need to make sure. Those are really great songs..... heh.
-=>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.
------------------------------ Message-ID: <33904A95.F90@sysnet.net> Date: Sat, 31 May 1997 11:58:13 -0400 From: Julian Cook <siogo@sysnet.net> Organization: TravelFinder.com Subject: Houston interview Wasn't there an interview in Houston where Andy equated Jesus to being a jewish terrorist and they pulled the plug on his interview? Anyone have that? Julian Cook
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Date: Sat, 31 May 1997 11:32:15 -0500
Message-Id: <v02110100afb70d7ad7ad@[144.92.181.148]>
From: jhackney@facstaff.wisc.edu (John M. Hackney)
Subject: Captain Beefheart lives?
Chalkhillians,
Last issue Jason NeSmith mentioned that Captain Beefheart doesn't
venture much out of his trailer in the Mojave--- I could be mistaken, but
isn't he *dead*? I thought that he died about two years or so ago, of some
neurological disorder. Anyone able to confirm this?
John
------------------------------ End of Chalkhills Digest #3-122 *******************************
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