Chalkhills Digest Volume 3, Issue 126
Date: Monday, 9 June 1997
Chalkhills Digest, Volume 3, Number 126
Monday, 9 June 1997
Today's Topics:
Chalkhills' Kids/Andy Belew
Karn's solo efforts (Off topic, sorry!)
Peter Fitzpatrick
Errata
Close But No XTC
The prodigal returns....
Silvery Chords
Brief lapse of nonsense, but I'm back.
Synchronicity
Another Best Bassist Nomination
I am back
English Settlement Liners
Me, on Internet "radio"!
Baroque and Hopeful
Take it out on her
Chalkhills and XTC
more chords, and wanted
The Goons & the Beatles (0% XTC content)
temporary 'bye y'all
Rarity?
The Deeper Meaning
Chalkhills Children '96
Congrats, complaints and congrats
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If she held them would you trust her?
---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Fri, 6 Jun 1997 19:35:21 -0700 (PDT) Message-Id: <v01510101afbe137e43f5@[206.80.14.15]> From: mf@well.com (Mitch Friedman) Subject: Chalkhills' Kids/Andy Belew I'm sure that I'm not the only one who thinks that the Chalkhills' Children tape is fantastic and entertaining as hell. It sounds as good as anyone could hope for (thanks to Richard's meticulous engineering skills) and the versions of XTC songs are all interesting at the very least. My favorites are, um, well actually I like all of them except for one but I'll leave it up to you to figure out which one that is. In my mind, this is the best of the four fan tribute projects and is much better than Testimonial Dinner. Now here's some interesting potential news for you. Thanks to Jim Smart, I joined the Adrian Belew mailing list which is amusingly called BIG ELECTRIC ChAT about 2 weeks ago. There is a website run by the same guy who monitors the list and it's filled with all sorts of excellent info about Adrian and his career. I've been a big fan of his for 16 years now so I'm glad Jim told me about it. Adrian has email but doesn't participate directly with the list. Instead he will occassionally take the time and answer everyone's questions and post these to the list. Sometime last year he was asked which artists he would like to work with (I believe this info was posted to Chalkhills in the recent past) and he mentioned that the idea of sending an ADAT back and forth amongst he, Andy and David Byrne was a compelling thought. I tend to agree! So last Monday when I spoke to Andy I told him about Adrian's idea and he said he was interested and asked me to tell Adrian to ring him up! Well I didn't have Adrian's number nor had I ever met him so I emailed the guy who runs his list and asked him to forward my message about Andy wanting to speak with him and gave my phone number. On Wednesday morning I got a call from Adrian and he's a really nice guy. We spoke about lots of things including how he finally figured out a way to actually make money from his music and I gave him Andy's number. He was very excited about the whole idea and was going to call Andy on Thursday. If I hear anything more about this I'll let all of you know! Mitch
------------------------------ Message-Id: <l03010d00afbeef14edb9@[200.250.246.155]> Date: Sat, 7 Jun 1997 08:34:47 -0300 From: Paulo X <paulox@bastecnet.com.br> Subject: Karn's solo efforts (Off topic, sorry!) Hi everyone, Paulo, from Brazil, de-lurking here: Peter McCulloch says: > >Great choice! His rubbery fretless technique is uniquely identifiable. But >what's he been up to lately? I know he's got a few solo CDs out, but I >haven't been able to find any of them. I happen to be a Japan/Sylvian/Rain Tree Crow/Whatever-the-guys-do fan. Karn's played some gigs with fellow japan-ese Barbieri and Jansen in Europe. Regarding his solo efforts, IMHO _Dreams of Reason Produce Monsters_ (1987) is his best by far. It's his most coherent record. You can get more info at Keesjan's Alchemy homepage: http://web.inter.NL.net/users/K.vanBunningen/music/sylvian/index.html WARNING: The following contains *some* XTC content: I did take my time one of these days to actually *read* the info on the booklet of Marc Almond's _Enchanted_ which a friend had lent me and was astonished to notice that Dave Gregory plays guitar in one of the tracks! Best wishes, Paulo (whose list of favorite bass players include Percy Jones, Ian Maidman, and Martyn P. Casey)
------------------------------
Message-Id: <199706071246.NAA21707@linux.nildram.co.uk>
From: "Keith Beck" <ericb@vip.solis.co.uk>
Date: Sat, 7 Jun 1997 13:46:38 +0000
Subject: Peter Fitzpatrick
Hello everyone,
I was reading Simon Sleightholme's excellent
review of our recent get together in Basingstoke, and I was enjoying
it immensely, until it got to the part when he explained that someone,
(a so-called fellow XTC fan) had indeed stolen Peter Fitzpatrick's
autographed Oranges and lemons sleeve, this for me had soured a
great day, I never got to see this cover, apparently Andy had drawn a
a very funny penis image on his own caricature.
I hope the person who did this awful deed is reading this,
if so I suggest you redeem yourself and send
this back to Peter anonymously, and maybe then, you may be able to
live with what you have done to a fellow fan, Peter was kind enough
to bring all this signed stuff for us to see, and also to show us his
excellent video, and internet software, he was very gracious about
it, and told us, as we scrambled about the floor looking to see if it
had been dropped, "It's no big deal, I'll get Andy to sign another
for me", with all due respect Peter, this is not the point, if you do
get him to sign another copy, it won't be the same, he probably won't
do the same doodle, and if you ask him to do that same doodle, then
it just won't be the same. I don't see why this person would want this
item, it wasn't signed for him/her, this is why I personally don't
care to buy signed copies of records etc, the autographed stuff I
have has been signed for me. It may seem to some people that I am
over reacting slightly, but I know what it's like to lose something
like this, I once lent all my XTC singles to a friend a few years
back, and when he moved to London he took my singles with him, and it
took me a long time to replace them, and of course, I've never been
able to replace my copy of Science fiction 7". Peter must have felt
very sick inside on a day that was a celebration of our favourite
band, so on behalf of that bastard out there somewhere, I'd like to
apologize on his/her behalf.
On a happier note thank's to Peter for sharing that wonderful track,
("We're all light")with us, just take note of this fellow Chalkies, this
will be on the new album, the song was just stunning, the electricity is
back.
Bye bye for now, Keith.
------------------------------ Message-Id: <199706071527.RAA22968@utrecht.knoware.nl> From: "Mark Strijbos" <mmello@knoware.nl> Organization: The Little Lighthouse Date: Sat, 7 Jun 1997 16:33:56 +0000 Subject: Errata Dear Chalkers, Just a few things I have to set straight: 1. The Dave Gregory - Robbie Williams connection does not exist. Dave played on Mark Owens solo album and not on Making Plans For Nigel by Robbie Williams. Both are ex-Take That members that's how I got confused. In the excellent Basingstoke Convention Interview (is there a tape available yet?) Colin told us that R.W's manager approached their manager to ask permission to cover this masterpiece AND to slightly alter the lyrics... So the "fist of steel" instead of "British Steel" was intentional and not a mistake 2. I got the Play At Home video from David Goody, not from Daniel. I met so many lovely people at the Convention that I forgot a lot of the details and the beer didn't help much either :) The inimitable Daniel P. gave me a copy of "The Prisoner" with XTC miming their way through The Man Who Sailed Around His Soul. 3. The Canadian XTC "gold" disc sold at Christie's was not for Black Sea but was presented to Colin Moulding for selling lots of Drums And Wires albums. bye, Mark Strijbos at The Little Lighthouse http://utopia.knoware.nl/~mmello ===> Mark's Random XTC Quote <=== She got to be obscene to be obheard
------------------------------ Message-Id: <199706072127.XAA05579@utrecht.knoware.nl> From: "Mark Strijbos" <mmello@knoware.nl> Organization: The Little Lighthouse Date: Sat, 7 Jun 1997 22:34:43 +0000 Subject: Close But No XTC Chalkers, I have just added a very strange XTC record to my collection... It's a 3 track 12" called the "On A Mission EP" by an artist (or group?) who calls himself XTC. The label is Conqueror Records (London) and the music is some sort of techno/trip hop/dub cut-up groove; not totally unlike some of the XTC dub tracks in fact... yours in an anorak, Mark Strijbos at The Little Lighthouse http://utopia.knoware.nl/~mmello ===> Mark's Random XTC Quote <=== Snipping, snipping, snipping goes the scissor man
------------------------------ From: "Lee Lovingood" <lvngoods@beachlink.com> Subject: The prodigal returns.... Date: Sat, 7 Jun 1997 19:12:53 -0400 Message-Id: <19970607190920.05cad220.in@mail.beachlink.com> Hi all, Man, it has been a long time since I posted, or for that matter, even read a Chalkhills digest. I just had a little time and was reading through a couple of digests. I don't even want to know what the whole Dave Gregory thing is about. Frankly, I could care less, and totally agree that this isn't the place for such ponderings, whatever it was. That being said, and even though this isn't really XTC related, I thought those with like minds, (as the majority of Chalkhills subscribers seem to be, musically anyway) would appreciate my recommending a fine album like the new one from Prefab Sprout entitled "Andromeda Heights". If you live in the U.S. chances are you didn't even know they had a new one. It was released in the U.K. only on May 5. It took me a whole month and twenty bucks to get it, but it is incredibly good. Find it, however you can, listen to it and love it. I do! Just so this post has some info about XTC, I agree that every fan should have "Drums and Wireless". Excellent! Also excellent is the Mobile Fidelity version of O&L. Magnifique! "The Bible mentions four, I tell you there's one - Love is the fifth horseman of the apocalypse...." (Prefab Sprout) Peace and Love Lee (me)
------------------------------ Date: Sat, 7 Jun 1997 16:37:32 -0700 (PDT) Message-Id: <l03020900afbf36d164a6@[207.211.99.71]> From: Dave Blackburn <dblack@inetworld.net> Subject: Silvery Chords Hi folks, My last post pertaining to the great sound of Drums and Wireless yielded a reply from a proud BBC insider-thanks much for that. I was wondering if the mixes on it were painstakingly done over several days to recreate the album mixes or if (staggeringly) they were done on the fly. I notice on the liner there was 1 week between taping and broadcast so I imagine the former was the case. Still, pretty amazing work; you'd have to be a fan to nail those mixes like that. Jon asked where one can buy D&Wireless...I got mine on a trip back to England; perhaps one of the Chalkhillians in the UK could find a good source over there for us over here? One hates to give more revenue to the Virgin megastore, but I guess they get their pound of flesh one way or the other. Being a big Captain Beefheart fan I am fascinated by the Beefheart/Partridge connection (Trout Mask was Andy's favorite album at one point according to an interview I read in Simon's Bungalow). I realized listening to Roads Girdle the Globe last night where all the dense polychords and hominid vocal delivery came from-Trout Mask...the song Hobo Chang Ba uses exactly that lobotomy voice, and the double-guitar dissonances in the song were a Magic Band staple too. A number of recent postings commented on the unique chord progressions in most XTC songs. I too was turned on by just that when I first heard the intro riff of This is Pop, back in '79. What about the parallel Major 9 chords in Miniature Sun. And what about the parallel Maj9#11 voicings in the bridge of Rook? (not to mention the brilliant 9/8 alternating hand piano part in that same section.) According to Andy in interviews, he uses open tunings a lot (open E in particular I believe) which can give you lush silvery chords without too much trouble, but which make transcribing quite tough. Plus, they will sometimes use a sampled guitar strum (Another Satellite) and build the melody around non diatonic motion from that. And then there is their use of "polyrhythm" such as the 3 against 4 comping pattern of one guitar in Burning with Optimism's Flames, or the bizarre melody phrasing in Miniature Sun which sounds like quarter note quintuplets over a swing four or pealing bells in an English vllage. Yes indeed, these are composers in the fullest sense of the word---and pulling it all off in the straitjacket that is commercial pop too; my hat is permanently tipped. I think Chris Hughes would make a fine XTC producer but I think David Bascombe that did Tears for Fears' Seeds of Love would be even better-just a thought. Dave Blackburn, San Diego CA
------------------------------
Message-Id: <199706080110.SAA02056@mail.eskimo.com>
From: "Matt Keeley" <mrme@eskimo.com>
Date: Sat, 7 Jun 1997 18:08:17 +0000
Subject: Brief lapse of nonsense, but I'm back.
Hello...
Maybe you noticed that I didn't post last digest. More likely, you
had better things to worry about, like whether your refrigerator was
running... (self-esteem? Who needs it?!)
> From: Joshua Hall-Bachner <harlequin@tmbg.org>
> ><insert Handel's Messiah here>
> Don't you mean, <insert XTC's "Burning With Optimism's Flames" here>?
I think that would be better, especially since I just bought Black
Sea (along with White Music). Thing I want to know is, why didn't
they release that as a single, and release Sgt. Rock instead?? I've
heard that even Andy didn't care too much for Sgt Rock? BWOF is such
a great song! (And the acronym is onamotopoeic... I hope I spelt that
somewhere close to right)
> >Does this even include the songs that were on those Demo Tracks CDs?
> No, -- the entire purpose of the Bootleg album is to release the type of
> songs that were on the Demo Tracks CDs. Just ones that were released on
> official singles.
Cool... I was just a little curious on that one... now I may rest
easy.
> From: andycuth@fia.net
> My one brain cell, that is left working, is sending a message that there
> was a discussion on this website about XTC either writing or performing
> on James & the Peachtree, a Disney movie soundtrack. Can anyone confirm
> what my brain cell is telling me?
Close. Andy sub'd some demos, and the execs decided they weren't
right for the movie. My hypothesis: They were too good, in the same
way as Peter Pumpkinhead. I've listened to one of the songs (Everything'll be
Alright), and it's about 25-100x better than anything that made it into the
movie. Maybe they didn't want the other non-Andy songs to sound like crap?
> From: Dave Ledbetter <dbetter@acton.com>
> I have tried to order this from CDNow. It's listed as backordered though so
> I despair of ever getting it. If any of you know where I can find this,
> preferably on CD, please email me privately and tell me where. I would be
> most grateful. I've never even heard it!
I've backordered things (OK, one) through CDNow before, and I got my
copy. Thing is, I'm pretty sure what I ordered was out-of-print, and
it's mainly just getting rid of what was in the warehouse now... so
don't despair, mia amiko, you'll probably end up getting it.
BTW, for the record, the thing I ordered was Barnes & Barnes
Zabagabee video... like anyone cares.
Ah well, that's this world over.
Matt
-=>Matt Keeley mrme@eskimo.com<=-
Living Through | Visit my home page
Another | http://www.eskimo.com/~mrme
Cuba -- XTC | I used to be temporarily insane!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Now I'm just stupid! -- Brak
(ICQ UIN: 1455267, Name: MrMe)
Yeah.
------------------------------ Date: Sat, 7 Jun 1997 22:48:17 -0400 From: J_ARTECONA@RCMAD.UPR.CLU.EDU Message-Id: <970607224817.2280328e@RCMAD.UPR.CLU.EDU> Subject: Synchronicity well, all, first off I am gld we are off the nasty thread.....goodriddance! I am sorry it happened although I was afraid it would, I can assure you that its presence onthis list was due to an unfortunate circumstance and was never intended for public consumption. RIP. Boy am I glad that captain beefheart is alive, I am a big fan and was under the misimpression that he was either very sick or dead. Sorry he isn't making music anymore, I think his last two albums where the apex of his career IMHO. I once saw a cd of him playing live in NYC but didn't pick it up because it cost 50 bucks.....I am so sorry I didn't jump at the chance....more info re his poetry cd will be welcome. About Brian Wilson's Smile, I just got turned on to him and am totally amazed! Now I know where a lot of people got their ideas eg the beatles for one. The guy was truly gifted. Can anyone tell me what happened to him? Did he suffer the fate of SYd Barret and go nuts or did something else happen. I remember a 60 minutes piece on him a few years back and he sounded sort of loony. Last bit....I believe in synchronicity (an acausal connecting principle) because I had recently been hearing Drums and Wireless and was reminded of what a great cd that is...really great sound and remarkable performances..its amazing what three really talented guys and a drum machine can sound like....XTC live...... hopefully before the next millenium. If I was terminally ill and the Make a Wish foundation asked me what I would like it would definitely be a live XTC performance (Hmmmmm, interesting) ADIOS
------------------------------ Message-Id: <339A1A67.52C1@a.crl.com> Date: Sat, 07 Jun 1997 20:35:27 -0600 From: Ed & Pam <ednpam@A.crl.com> Subject: Another Best Bassist Nomination Hello fellow C-hillers! Starting with 1984's "Difford & Tilbrook" album and continuing up to the latest studio release by Squeeze, "Ridiculous", Keith Wilkinson has long been one of the most underrated bassists today. His playing on the tracks "The Last Time" from the "frank." CD, "Everything In The World" from "Some Fantastic Place", and all of "Cosi Fan Tutti Frutti" are the definition, to me, of great pop bass playing - commanding but not overpowering, dynamic & distinguished, breaking a few melodic &/or rhythmic conventions along the way, but all the while, still fitting the song like a hand in glove. Colin and Bruce T. do this on a regular basis I whole-heartily agree, but I thought Keith should get his due. By the way, does it seem all the great pop bassists are English (Paul, Nick Lowe, Graham Maby, John Paul Jones, and where does Tony Levin hail from??). Ed in S.F., waiting patiently for 5 years
------------------------------ From: HENTOE@aol.com Date: Sun, 8 Jun 1997 00:05:02 -0400 (EDT) Message-ID: <970608000501_117161710@emout19.mail.aol.com> Subject: I am back Hi, all--I am back. I was without access for about a month, so I am a little behind. Did the new album come out yet? (just kidding). If Dean and Rob are reading--drop me a line--the computer ate your addresses!!! I was reading one of the Rocket from the Crypt (one of my other favorite bands) pages the other day. I thought you might be interested in the way the lead singer, Speedo, describes a band that he recently saw. He says that they were rockin'--a cross between the Jam and XTC live. Now, having a band who knows there stuff as well as Rocket commend you is a GOOD thing. But we already knew all that.... anxiously awaiting the new album, -kate
------------------------------ Message-Id: <199706080434.NAA08421@inetnif.niftyserve.or.jp> Date: Sun, 08 Jun 1997 13:33:00 +0900 From: <PXD07057@niftyserve.or.jp> Subject: English Settlement Liners I seem to have a recollection that when I first layed hands on the vinyl Edition of English Settlement, there was all kinds of recording data listed on it, song by song, including who used what instruments, etc. But, this data is nowhere to be seen in the CD booklet and I have not seen a vinyl copy for sometime (for those who want to know, it was probably the Japanese edition, which came out with only ten songs and was not a double album. I, being a penniless High School student then, could not afford to buy a copy, and probably borrowed one from the public library. This was about 8 years ago). Does anybody have the information listed above? If so, would they be so kind as to share it? Or is me memory completely wrong? Daisuke Nakai <PXD07507@niftyserve.or.jp>
------------------------------ Message-Id: <l03102802afc0d8371d98@[146.6.72.33]> Date: Sun, 8 Jun 1997 16:59:14 -0500 From: jason garcia <h.h.name@mail.utexas.edu> Subject: Me, on Internet "radio"! Howdy. Anyone else think "Wonder Annual" is a great song that you didn't think was so great when you first heard it? (That happens to me quite a bit with XTC). Now for the news: I, as my "group" name TOP 40, have been selected as one of 102 artists to compete in the FIRST EVER Internet talent competition the Demo Derby, put on by new independent record label Callner Music in association with The Metaverse and Billboard Live. Sometime in the coming weeks, one of my songs, "The Trouble With Being Nice", will be featured with 10 or 12 others on the RealAudio show The Delivery Room, to be voted on by the Internet audience. I encourage all of you to go to the site and check it out (and perhaps vote for me :)!) The top 2 songs from each week move on to Round II and the grand prize winner receives a recording contract from Callner. All of the voters get put in the virtual hat for prize drawings. Here is what you can do- go to http://www.demoderby.com to check out the music and vote! I won't be on for another week or two, but I'll keep you "posted"! Enjoy, Jason
------------------------------ Date: Sun, 08 Jun 1997 16:14:34 -0600 (CST) From: y9d62@ttacs1.ttu.edu Subject: Baroque and Hopeful Message-id: <Pine.PMDF.3.95.970608155119.538970542D-100000@TTACS.TTU.EDU> Thanks for destroying that cancer, Cpt.Chalkhills. I wonder why the same group of bassists keep coming up. I bet Mssrs.Mac, Thomas, Levin, Lee, and the lot are great. I'd be willing to concede the Squires, Entwhistles, Mouldings, Wilsons, and any poppers you'd care to name. But I guess nobody here listens to jazz, or doesn't hear anything outstanding in the work of Charles Mingus. I love him. I wonder if you guys don't, or just don't listen to him. Anyone ever use the term Baroque to discribe XTC? I think it's rather appropriate. Formal, ornate, extremely textural. And tuneful to boot. Perhaps the nature of modern pop--primal, free, use of repitition--helps explain why our men in Swindon don't get any 'props.' One thing I have noticed that XTC have in common with many of today's headliners is their respect and integration of styles from the past. It seems that throwbacks are in vogue, but reinterpretation is not. Zep might very well have made a tune like "Highway Love Song" by Stone Temple Pilots, but I don't think Brian Wilson would ever do anything as complex as "Humble Daisy." What I'm trying to say is that XTC sounds like an extension of past musical ideas, rather than a recycling. Evolution sounds like that. I have a strange feeling that somewhere down the line, "Love On A Farmboys Wages" will pop up in a textbook right by "Erlkonig," "Claire De Lune," "Summertime" and "God Only Knows" for music students to analyze the hell out of, and learn to hate because they're studied so much. If only we could be around to see it, no? Dominique
------------------------------ Date: Sun, 8 Jun 1997 19:54:56 -0400 (EDT) Message-Id: <199706082354.TAA16322@cyber1.servtech.com> From: Joshua Hall-Bachner <harlequin@tmbg.org> Subject: Take it out on her >My one brain cell, that is left working, is sending a message that there >was a discussion on this website about XTC either writing or performing >on James & the Peachtree, a Disney movie soundtrack. Can anyone confirm >what my brain cell is telling me? Andy *was* going to do the soundtrack for "James and the Giant Peach," but for various reasons someone else ended up doing it instead. The movie came out early last year, IIRC. <"MY WEAPON"> >I try to convince people that it goes along with the concept of the album >and it's more of a mocking thing than anything else. But they don't buy >that. Who are these people? IMHO, it's quite obviously not supporting the position of the singer -- I mean, look at some of the lines in the song: "I don't know what she done wrong but I want to hurt her." >I obviously don't believe in the subject matter, and I think it's more >effective because of the way it's sung without sarcasm or irony (see Toad >the wet sprocket's _Hold her Down_) Exactly. And the fact is, they had exactly the same problem with that song. (For those who don't know, HhD is an anti-rape/abuse song, but since the song uses the same technique (using the position of one of the attackers) in the chorus, many people seem to think it's a pro-rape anthem, of all things. (The "take the night back" line at the end of the song evidently didn't tip them off...) -- it forces the listener to actually step into the lives of this 'kind of person', also outlined in Beat Town and Meccanic Dancing. Hey, there. "Meccanik Dancing" is just about some schlub who works a 9 to 5 factory job all week and needs to "unwiiiiiind," as Andy sings it, on the weekend. Josh She doesn't value the attention she receives... /-------------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: Sun, 8 Jun 1997 14:35:42 +0900 (JST) Message-Id: <199706080535.OAA27582@japan.co.jp> From: mikewix@japan.co.jp (mikewix) Subject: Chalkhills and XTC At 2:25 PM 97.6.7, John Relph wrote: > Also, to those of you who believe this is an abridgement of your right > to free speech: Chalkhills is not a public forum. Although I allow > anybody to subscribe, I also reserve the right to refuse service to > anyone. Think of Chalkhills as a cafe where we can get together to > discuss XTC, their music, their records, the people in the band, and > most of all, why we enjoy XTC. Please keep a civil tongue in your > heads. No yelling. No fights. I make a mean cup of coffee, too. This is spot on, right on the mark, and I just wanted to thank Mr. Relph for _finally_ doing something about it. I've been subscribing (if that's the right word) to this Digest for the past two years, and in all that time, I have not, in all honesty, seen, read, and put up with so much BS in the past month or two (with the exception of the absolutely terrific posts from those of you who were fortunate/determined enough to attend the XTC convention in England the other week. After reading the reports and such, I am English Settlement-green with CROCODILE envy that I was unable to go--hope to see all of you next year!) that I have almost been tempted to leave this most warm and friendly corner of cyberspace....what once was (and still is, from time to time) a forum to chat about xTc (past, present, and future going-ons), and also the many musicians and bands associated with them (however distant and faint that link may be) almost turned into a dirty, mudslinging junk heap of a place. Hooray and Three Cheers for our fearless list administrator for stepping in. Now let's get back to some XTC--isn't this what we used our browser search engines to find in the first place? :-) Peace, Michael Wicks P.S. Kudos and Congrats to Simon and Natalie--Gurus of XTC Knowledge! Songs of the Month (as far as I'm concerned; From Hong Kong to China: Knuckle Down Melt The Guns Reign of Blows (VOTE NO VIOLENCE)
------------------------------
From: PAUL FERGUSON <p.ferguson1@lancaster.ac.uk>
Message-Id: <199706082021.VAA01078@unixa.lancs.ac.uk>
Subject: more chords, and wanted
Date: Sun, 8 Jun 1997 21:21:41 +0100 (BST)
Two things this time. First, I've contributed chords to 1000 Umbrellas
and Crocodile to the archive - I know these already exist and I hope I'm
not treading on any toes. Second, I'm going to be finishing my final
year at Uni in 3 weeks time, and my future with email and the internet
will come to an end indefinately. With no new intake of XTC for the
foreseeable future, I am starting to panic, and need something to take
away with me. So, as I finally get to the point, can anyone help me. I
am trying to find XTC I haven't heard already. I need copies of the
following (Not originals but good audio tape recordings - I reckon I've
got more chance of getting a response if you only have to send a copy,
not the original):
Jules Verne's Sketchbook
Window Box
The Bull with the Golden Guts
Hello Selection
Mayor of Simpleton 3"CD:
Living in a haunted heart
The Good Things
Ella Guru
Nonsuch Demos
Oranges and Lemons Demos
Skylarking Demos
and any other demos not eventually used on albums
I'll pay money - and it's probably best if I optimize the number of
people I talk to, to save on postal costs.
If you can help, email me to discuss what you can give me, tape quality
and price.
cheers,
Paul.
------------------------------ Message-Id: <v01540b07afc122088f88@[139.80.100.160]> Date: Mon, 9 Jun 1997 16:00:11 +1300 From: james.dignan@stonebow.otago.ac.nz (James Dignan) Subject: The Goons & the Beatles (0% XTC content) >Heard the Beatles Anthology version of "You know My Name, Look Up the >Number?" It's rather extended and hops from one genre to another. When >they get thru with the ska-rocksteady part, there's some very goofy >mutterings and novelty noises that conjure up Monty Python in a big way. >Let's not forget Ringo w/ P. Sellers in "The Magic Christian" which also >gave us Badfinger doing Paul's "Come & Get It." Of course, George went on >to produce a number of Python flix... and lets not forget who produced many of the Goons' recordings back in the fifties - one Mr. George Martin... James James Dignan___________________________________ You talk to me Deptmt of Psychology, Otago University As if from a distance ya zhivu v' 50 Norfolk Street And I reply. . . . . . . . . . Dunedin, New Zealand with impressions chosen from another time steam megaphone (03) 455-7807 (Brian Eno - "By this River")
------------------------------ Message-Id: <v01540b0cafc12402064b@[139.80.100.160]> Date: Mon, 9 Jun 1997 16:08:21 +1300 From: james.dignan@stonebow.otago.ac.nz (James Dignan) Subject: temporary 'bye y'all Well, if you think that your southernmost listmember is a bit quieter than normal for the next few days, it's because I'll be going into hospital on Wednesday for minor surgery. I should be out of action for only a day or two, but I doubt I'll feel much like emailing for a while after that. So take care y'all, and hopefully I'll be annoying you again soon! James PS - I won't unsub, so don't write too much while I'm away! James Dignan___________________________________ You talk to me Deptmt of Psychology, Otago University As if from a distance ya zhivu v' 50 Norfolk Street And I reply. . . . . . . . . . Dunedin, New Zealand with impressions chosen from another time steam megaphone (03) 455-7807 (Brian Eno - "By this River")
------------------------------ Date: Mon, 9 Jun 1997 01:51:12 -0700 Message-Id: <v01510100afc16d90eb33@[194.128.83.69]> From: fisher@easynet.co.uk (Mark Fisher) Subject: Rarity? On the same weekend as I received copies of Chalkhill's Children (thank you Richard) and Seven Worthies (thank you Becki, thank you Simon), I picked up a rarity I didn't even know existed. It's an Australian 7" copy of Generals and Majors (b/w The Somnambulist) pressed in transparent green vinyl, apparently as some sort of promotional gimmick for some live gigs. It comes with a flyer that reads: XTC [Black Sea era logo] Australian Tour August-September 5th Adelaide, Thebarton Town Hall 6th Melbourne, Festival Hall 7th Sydney, Capitol Theatre 10th Ambassador Nightclub, Newcastle 19th Brisbane 20th Gold Coast 'Playroom' Does anyone know anything more about it? Is it especially rare? - Mark http://easyweb.easynet.co.uk/~fisher/
------------------------------ Message-ID: <c=GB%a=_%p=Benfield_Group%l=BENEXCHG-970609120030Z-227@benexchg.benfield.co.uk> From: Gary Minns <Gary.Minns@benfield.co.uk> Subject: The Deeper Meaning Date: Mon, 9 Jun 1997 13:00:30 +0100 >...to suggest the deeper meaning is not there is ignoring the door >to the inner self... > >...deeper meanings are there, in every line, if one chooses to explore. >If one doesn't, that's cool, but they're there! Not necessarily. The psychiatric profession may well argue such a case but there are still a lot of people in this world who actually say what they mean. I always had great debates with my English Literature teacher about Shakespeare. She was trying to explain what Shakespeare actually meant and I always argued that he was just telling a story. It got me a few detentions but it was fun to see her try and explain how she could possibly know what some guy was thinking 400 years ago! I recall a brief interview with Andy Partridge circa 1982. The interviewer asked what the line "all the world is football shaped" meant from Senses. AP replied: "...the psychedelic one! If you think I mean all these laces going up the Atlantic then you're mistaken...". I'm quoting from memory so the exact words used may be different but the gist is the same. Ultimately, it matters not how much we all hypothesise, the only person who knows what he meant by an XTC lyric (or any other work) is the author himself. Saludos Gary "Fascism may be good at making trains run on time, but you wouldn't like some of the destinations." - Terry Pratchett
------------------------------
Message-Id: <s39bce0a.064@dictaphone.com>
Date: Mon, 09 Jun 1997 09:26:03 -0400
From: Tim Kendrick <TKEN@dictaphone.com>
Subject: Chalkhills Children '96
Hi Everyone!
I LOVE the Chalkhills Children '96
compilation. Every cover song on it
is wonderful! I especially like the covers
of "Sacrificial Bonfire" and "Collideascope".
The best compliment I can think to give these
two is to say they are almost as good as the
originals!!!
But all the covers are good (actually my contribution
is the weakest one!) and I was very pleasantly
surprised at how professional sounding many of
them are.
Thanks Richard for all your efforts (and to Peter,
for your work on the limited edition CD)!!!!
This turned out to be a fantastic project and
I'm glad I was part of it.
Tim K.
------------------------------ From: TBERNHA@columbiaenergy.com Subject: Congrats, complaints and congrats Message-ID: <0017110000077978000002L182*@MHS> Date: Mon, 9 Jun 1997 10:53:42 -0400 Yo: Sir John of Relph wrote: > Also, to those of you who believe this is an abridgement of your right to free speech: Chalkhills is not a public forum. Although I allow anybody to subscribe, I also reserve the right to refuse service to anyone. < And, may I point out to everyone not already aware of this, John does this *extremely* infrequently. I have been amazed by his tolerance and his patience with certain threads, esp. compared to other lists that I've seen where the "editor" has to frequently declare topics off-limits for the sanity of all involved. I applaud John's everyday efforts with this list -- he is a big part of what makes this list the best on the Internet, IMO -- and applaud his decision to shut this particular subject down. Bob Thomas complained: > I hope you toasted all your sad, deprived mates, who sat home tending the kids and holding back the tears. < Well, my friend, at least you weren't the only sad, deprived mate out there... I had the added frustration of spending all day Saturday trying to find the conventioneers out on the Internet, but to no avail (no dig at you Peter, I know these things go wrong sometimes...) "When we get to England..." Joshua Hall-Bachner pointed out: >>There's a colorful, full page advertisement for Upsy Daisy in the July issue of CMJ monthly. It shows a happy ittle lamb leaping in the air over a meadow of flowers, butterflies, and bees (I assume this is the cover art).<< >Oh, great, that's how to get people to buy the album. Why not just print "wussy" in big letters on the front?< :^) :^) What, Josh, you expect marketing smarts from Virgin? Andrew Lippitt said: > Although it's probably too late for some, I want to urge everyone to avoid track by track reviews of the tribute tape to avoid hurting feelings. It's one thing to slam the Rembrandts for a crappy cover of 'Nigel' but quite another to post here saying you hate, dislike, loath, or can't stand any of the creative efforts of contributing musicians that subscribe to this list.< I agree completely. What I'd like to say about the compilation is that it is -- in every way except sound quality -- far, far better than Testicular, um, Testimonial Dinner. There's not a straight-ahead cover on the tape -- every single song takes an XTC song and does something original with it, which is, IMO, the whole point of an album like this (otherwise, why not listen to the original?). This was the reason why the Verve Pipe's "Wake Up" and Ruben Blades' "Man Who Sailed..." were the standout tracks for me on TD. My congratulations to everyone who contributed. I found myself listening to the tape and grinning like an idiot at the talent and originality of my fellow list members. And a "Yo, my MAN" to Richard Pedretti-Allen for a fine job of management. It was worth the wait. And count me in for CC '97! ByeBye!
------------------------------ End of Chalkhills Digest #3-126 *******************************
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