Chalkhills Digest Volume 3, Issue 140
Date: Friday, 18 July 1997
Chalkhills Digest, Volume 3, Number 140
Friday, 18 July 1997
Today's Topics:
Subject: But tell us how you REALLY feel...
Vox Phantoms - (some XTC content, some not)
Jellyfish vs. XTC
Bridges of muscle...
Life Is Very Short
Posts Wrapped in (Shades 0f) Grey
I have a bridge for sale...
How about Matador Records?
that lamb ain't right
King of Idiots and King of America
Some XTC Demos Available
Italian import album
25 O'Clock LP found
FS: Upsy Daisy Assortment
Bumper Cars?
cd-release party shindig
You thought you'd get rid of me...
Pleasantly surprised that someone's got it right. (subliminal mes sage
Skylarking vinyl
That was the week that was
V2
The Mitch Report 7-17-97
happy birthday...
XTC
Light Traffic Rock
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---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Tue, 08 Jul 97 11:23:27 PST From: "MARK HEGGEN" <mark_heggen@studio.disney.com> Message-Id: <9706088683.AA868386636@ccmsmtp2.wds.disney.com> Subject: Subject: But tell us how you REALLY feel... Gee, and I really LIKE "Jesus Blood Never Failed Me Yet". AND Falkner's album. AND Jellyfish. AND XTC. AND Squeeze, M. Penn, Crowded House, the Fabs, Jon Brion, etc., etc. The trouble with weenies is they can only stand to have one thin stream running through them. Flush it and move on. -Mark
------------------------------ Message-Id: <199707082136.QAA12627@dfw-ix7.ix.netcom.com> From: "Steve & Lauren Perley" <huduguru@ix.netcom.com> Subject: Vox Phantoms - (some XTC content, some not) Date: Tue, 8 Jul 1997 17:39:03 -0400 In Chalkhills 3-139, there was this: >two of them had guitars, one guitar was that odd-shaped type that >was popular in the mid 60's and with band like The (English) Beat. And this: >In the "The Onion" photo it looks like Dave >is holding a Vox Phantom. Is this what The Beat used? I never knew... >For some reason I thought all those 80's ska bands played Rickenbackers. Sorry for not crediting the sources... Yes, sharp-eyed Chalkies, that is indeed a Vox Phantom. Some of you who remember the Peter Pumpkinhead video will recall seeing Dave with it there. I think they flashed on it during the 1.5 seconds of the crashing chord just before "But he made too many enemies..." No, I don't have any videotape of that, so don't ask me to copy it for you...Sorry! But I digress - the Phantom is one of the coolest looking guitars of all time, but it's also sort of a piece of crap in varying degrees depending on whether it was made in England or Italy. The VOX company changed hands a few times. You may have seen someone in The Beat use one, but not the whole band. It was probably picked up really cheaply in a music shop somewhere. Of course, they later became highly sought after and really pricy. The last time I saw one for sale was in a really well-stocked vintage guitar store in Maine about 10 years ago. They had 3 or 4 of them priced at $500 and up. ($500 for the crappy Italian model, with apologies to our Italian readers!) Fans of the Fuzztones will recognize the Phantom from Rudi Protrudi's tres cool "skull and crossed Vox Phantoms" tattoo. Other users: Greg Kihn, the guy in Agent Orange, heck, that's all that I can remember at the moment, but it wasn't really a Ska thing...just guys who liked goofy guitars. Steve
------------------------------ Date: Tue, 08 Jul 1997 17:23:55 -0600 (CST) From: y9d62@ttacs1.ttu.edu Subject: Jellyfish vs. XTC Message-id: <Pine.PMDF.3.95.970708170614.560018342A-100000@TTACS.TTU.EDU> Regarding our relatively untalented heroes: As long as we remember everyone secretly hates everyone else, we can take these funny comments as nothing more than isolated incidents received in mass. Seriously, if I were to go find all the people that think XTC suck, then...well, I guess I still wouldn't find that many people because nobody I talked to on the Brian Wilson page had ever heard of them. But nevertheless, I shouldn't be offended by this blow to the empire any more than I am by They Might Be Giants, or Barenaked Ladies. I don't know; I'm beginning to get the feeling that everyone has opinions about things. And what's more, they're no worse than mine. Ack. Dominique P.S.--Jellyfish stink
------------------------------
Message-Id: <199707090016.RAA17642@mail.eskimo.com>
From: "Matt Keeley" <mrme@eskimo.com>
Date: Tue, 8 Jul 1997 16:59:51 +0000
Subject: Bridges of muscle...
Pardon the hideous psuedo-pun in the subject...
> From: james.dignan@stonebow.otago.ac.nz (James Dignan)
> oh, no! Consider such excellent bridges as All of a Sudden, and Paper and
> Iron, which would be infinitely inferior if not for the bridge. Then
> there's "Then she appeared", "Towers of London", the list goes on and on.
> Most importantly, Senses Working Overtime, where the melody of the bridge
> so cleverly and beautifully mimics the melody of the church bell chime
> mentioned in the chorus.
I don't know... I think that All of a Sudden is perfect with or
without the bridge (hey, Saturday, out of Go2, Mummer and ES, I
bought ES, simply because I was addicted to All of a Sudden! Wasn't
disappointed by the rest of the record either... as for that guy on
the Jellyfish board, he needs a boot to the head. Tolerance for
other people's opinions, Smolerance smor smother smeople's
smopinions...hehe)... As for the rest, I agree... Paper and Iron's a
great song but the bridge makes it a lot better.... Same with "Then
She Appeared" and the complete version of "Senses" (what's up with
the single edit? I mean, one line isn't going to shorten the song by
too much, and it's not like the bus line is offensive or anything...
feh on single edits!)... and I personally think the Towers bridge is
one of the best things in the song...
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.
------------------------------
Message-ID: <33C330EB.192F@sprintmail.com>
Date: Tue, 08 Jul 1997 23:34:19 -0700
From: Stormy Monday <stormymonday@sprintmail.com>
Subject: Life Is Very Short
Folxtc,
> the bridge of "King for a day" ("You're only here once... ") has clearly
> been lifted from
> the chorus of "We can work it out" by the B-tles ("life is very short...")
> The melody's the same, although in a different rhythm, and some of the lyrics
> ["... fuss and fight...") match almost exactly. So I sippose
> it must be an intended hat-off to McCartney, given the overwhelming
> Beatles influence on XTC.
I think that if anything, it is a tribute, but he'd be tipping his hat
to Lennon. "We Can Work It Out" is an example of Lennon/McCartney
having two different song fragments that sounded good together. Paul
had the "Try to see it my way" part, but no "middle eight". Rumor has
it that Paul McCartney was the first person to exclaim the now famous
line "Where's that confounded bridge!", and John said, " 'ere it is,
Flatop!" and played him the "Life is very short" part.
I don't hear the melodies as being too terribly similar.
John and Paul both did their share of "tributes" as well. Ask Chuck
Berry about "Come Together".
I've posted this before, but I'll say it again. I find "King For A Day"
similar to TFF's "Everybody Wants To Rule The World", thematically and
musically, but I don't consider KFAD a rewrite, a rip-off, or anything
else but a great song.
and,
James Dignan reminded us...
> - I know that "instrumental" and "effective" are not good synonyms in
> all cases. However, to say "this song was not instrumental in putting
> across my ideas", whcih is what Andy appears to be saying as far as I can
> see, is the same as saying it was not effective.
further proving Andy's point.
Great lyrics are usually a little vague, meaning different things to
different people. I respect James' opinion about that line being a pun,
and I respect Josh's opinion about it being the most important line in
the song, but I hear it simply as a "knock off" line that sounded cool
and fit the subject.
James also asked ...
> why does nobody ever mention that great song "Paper and Iron" here?
> Doesn't anyone else like it?
I do. I think that it is a very cool song.
Dr. S. Monday
------------------------------ From: rimshot3@ix.netcom.com Message-Id: <33C32CB4.496F@ix.netcom.com> Date: Tue, 08 Jul 1997 23:16:20 -0700 Subject: Posts Wrapped in (Shades 0f) Grey >Subject: Re: free speachers >Regarding Eric Rosen's post in the last issue.... >I guess I should be ready for anything when I read a disclaimer at the >beginning of a post stating a lack of XTC follows, but this is over the >edge IMHO. Ed, I'm not out to upset you, per se, but I'm an ardent free speecher... The disclaimer re: lack of XTC content was placed there knowing full well that it was a questionable post however, your reply overlooks several critical components of that disclaimer. One, that there's a tendency to overlook the long history of social activism contained in XTC's lyrics. Examples abound (Melt the Guns, Down in the Cockpit, Human Alchemy, Dear God, Reign of Blows, Wardance, Here Comes President Kill, etc, etc). Perhaps, I was not emphatic enough on that point. By and large, I find it **a tad** reprehensible that their lyrics are so activist and yet this list's posts are so rarely in a similar mode. So, what followed the disclaimer was - in context. Two, there was a connection, however tenuous, in that the judge in the case hardly seemed unbiased much like Graham's dad in "Thugs." >If I want to read about barbecued children or hear the real audio of the >related trial or BBC story or whatever, I'm definitely not going to look >for that info on Chalkhills. There are plenty of better places on the >net for that kind of stuff. What are you looking for in Chalkhills, a sedative? Given the outrageous nature of the charges, I thought it was only good "netiquette" to give the link to anyone who would be inclined to think, "this guy must be fabricating this from whole cloth." >I'm sorry to those free speachers out there, but the page down key does >not work in this case. Please explain what the above sentence is trying to say. >I guess you got your shock effect, Eric. Take it somewhere else, please. I'll take shock effect where I can get it :) Sorry, you're offended but given the first component of the disclaimer plus the fact that it was not a long post, I should think that the page down key would have minimized your discomfort rather effectively. Besides, making that post was, in effect, saying that, I for one, sometimes see the world through the righteous prism that is the lyrics of XTC. I'm proud of that. On many occasions, XTC has said in song what I have thought and felt about the "weighty" issues of life (regardless of whether they do so eloquently or not). Why shrink away from that? Perhaps, I should have been more emphatic in this regard as well but then again, I like writing in such a way that multiple readings can yield multiple nuances. Is this too, to be condemned? Why are so many people so uncomfortable with matters beyond what fits in a prescribed box?
------------------------------ Message-Id: <3.0.1.16.19970708123341.089700ce@cyber1.servtech.com> Date: Tue, 08 Jul 1997 12:33:41 From: Chaos Harlequin <harlequin@tmbg.org> Subject: I have a bridge for sale... >However, to say "this song was not instrumental in putting across my ideas", >whcih is what Andy appears to be saying as far as I can see, is the same as >saying it was not effective. I don't think that *is* what Andy is saying, though. He's saying that he tried to get across his message without using words, but even though they can't say what he *really* means, they're the only thing he's got to put across his message. >oh, no! Consider such excellent bridges as All of a Sudden, Okay, it's got a decent bridge, although I still find the song as a whole to be somewhat boring. (Sorry.) >and Paper and Iron, which would be infinitely inferior if not for the bridge. >"Then She Appeared" Agree with you on again here. Paper and Iron succeeds where other Andy bridges fail, in that it sums up the song in a short, compact format without sounding overdone or poorly written. And the TSA bridge is just wonderful... >"Towers of London", The question is, does it go in the direction of Dublin? (Oh, come on, you knew someone had to make that joke.) >Most importantly, Senses Working Overtime, where the melody of the bridge >so cleverly and beautifully mimics the melody of the church bell chime >mentioned in the chorus. I like the little mutterings as well: "England's Glory!" "A *Striking* Beauty!" >but I saw a CD copy of Nonsvch and the cover was solid red - is this >what the UK release looks like? I believe some copies of the album had the solid red cover, with the Nonsuch castle silkscreened in gold on the actual CD jewel case. >Tracy Thorn and Ben Watt AKA Everything But The Girl. Living in a house with a huge fan, I've heard my share of their stuff -- pretty good, although the only albums I enjoy as a whole are _Acoustic_ and, what's the one with "Missing"? Josh, living up to his (hopefully still good) name... /---------------------------Joshua Hall-Bachner---------------------------\ | harlequin@tmbg.org 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: Wed, 9 Jul 1997 10:00:45 -0400 Message-Id: <9707091400.AA16803@notesgw2.cc.bellcore.com> From: "Michael D. Myers" <mmyers@notes.cc.bellcore.com> Subject: How about Matador Records? Chalkies: I was listening to a new Guided By Voices CD last night in my car; I love those goofballs. They are pretty far out there, extremely prolific, occasionally melodic and don't have a big following. All of a sudden it hit me: if Matador Records (their label) can pick up this bunch and give them the level of artistic freedom that they enjoy, why can't it do the same for our beloved XTC? Matador also has some bigger, more mainstream names, and they seem to have the correct distribution outlets necessary because you can get their releases anywhere. And, Andy, Colin and Dave could have their picture taken with Madonna (the label founder)! Well, maybe not. Anyway, just my 2 cents (or pence; take your pick). Mike
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 9 Jul 1997 11:39:21 -0400 (EDT)
From: FA ken clinger <clinger@duq2.cc.duq.edu>
Subject: that lamb ain't right
Message-Id: <Pine.OSF.3.95q.970709113208.13034A-100000@duq2.cc.duq.edu>
I got my copy of UPSY DAISY ASSORTMENT, and was surprised by the cover. I
was expecting a cute and fluffy lamb, with butterflies and bluebirds in
the air, etc. Instead, the lamb's eyes look slightly demented to me, its
wool is less-than-fluffy, and it's in a rather desolate field. Has the
lamb been abandoned? Is Andy trying to tell us something? Could this
perhaps be "wuzzy with a dark edge" or something?
-+- -+- -+- -+- -+- -+- -+- -+- -+- -+- -+- -+-
You have just read e-mail by Ken Clinger.
<clinger@duq2.cc.duq.edu>
You may now resume your previously-scheduled life
-+- -+- -+- -+- -+- -+- -+- -+- -+- -+- -+- -+-
------------------------------ Message-ID: <33C3D7F2.5E2D@stewmac.com> Date: Wed, 09 Jul 1997 14:26:58 -0400 From: Keith Hanlon <hanlon@stewmac.com> Organization: Stewart-MacDonald's Guitar Shop Supply Subject: King of Idiots and King of America Some idiot wrote: >I can't remember the last time I have worked so >hard to restrain myself from ejecting a disc midway >through. This was worse even than "Jesus' Blood Never Failed Me Yet." That says enough about this guy's taste; Gavin Briar's "Jesus" is fookin brilliant (and a great CD to clean your house by). I won't go into his/her XTC bashing... :) Lee Lovingood wrote: > (Elvis, like Andy, sometimes get's the feeling that no one is hearing > him, so I have taken it upon myself to try to recruit the right people, and > I could think of no better place to start than Chalkhills.) Good work! EC has been in my CD layer non-stop for the last 3 years. Nothing like a Ryko Reissue campaign to rediscover a master songwriter. By the way.... have you posted to the Ryko message center recently? No? Well... don't just sit there... go to it! XTC on Ryko! Bye for now. -- Sincerely, Keith Hanlon Stewart-MacDonald's Guitar Shop Supply http://www.stewmac.com (800)-848-2273
------------------------------
From: andycuth@fia.net
Message-ID: <33C3EFCE.64C5@fia.net>
Date: Wed, 09 Jul 1997 13:08:46 -0700
Subject: Some XTC Demos Available
I have mine but am willing to help other in acquiring. I found a store
near my house with three of them. They have two copies of the first, one
copy of the Helium Kids, and one of the Live. The problem is they will
not do mail order. However, I will to help out others. E-mail me
privately and we can handle this off the mailing list postings.
Andy
--
| ("`-/")_.-'"``-._ |
|A. E. (Andy) Cuthbert . . `; -._ )-;-,_`) |
|Advanced Environmental Concepts =(v =)' _ )`-.\ ``-' |
|4450 California Place #226 _. -_..-_/ / ((.' |
|Long Beach, CA 90807-2229 ((,.-' ((,/ |
|andycuth@fia.net |
------------------------------ Date: Thu, 10 Jul 1997 21:12:24 -0400 (EDT) From: Andrea Rossillon <alr@UDel.Edu> Subject: Italian import album Message-ID: <Pine.SOL.3.95.970710210417.8640A-100000@copland.udel.edu> Hello, I just joined the mailing list. The intro to the question: About three years ago, I found in an import bin a CD, produced in 1990 by Multicoloured Music (Italy) on Living Legend Records, entitled "Making Plans for Andy". It has 13 live tracks from two years, 1978 and 1982. (1978) Radios in Motion Statue of Liberty Set Myself on Fire New Town Animal All Along the Watchtower This is Pop dance Band Neon Shuffle (1982) No Thugs in Our House Senses Working Over Me (sic) Making Plans for Nigel Sgt Rock (sic) Life Begins at the Top (sic) It's mostly in English, tho' there is some Italian on the paper inside the jewel box. The question: Has anyone seen this before? I've only looked at the Chalkhills website, and I found no mention of it, so I thought I'd ask. I'm curious to see if anyone else has it, or if this is even an authorized edition. -Andrea Rossillon
------------------------------ Date: Fri, 11 Jul 1997 01:48:52 -0700 (PDT) From: Wesley Shaw <weshaw@teleport.com> Subject: 25 O'Clock LP found Message-ID: <Pine.GSO.3.96.970711014656.3832C-100000@kelly.teleport.com> I recall somebody mentioning that they were looking for the 25 O'Clock LP: I stumbled across it today. If you're still looking, message me and I'll give you the store's address/phone and I'm sure they'd ship it. -Weshaw -- -- -- -- -- -- weshaw@teleport.COM We will skate across the storm as if we're wheeling sea birds . . . . -A. Partridge
------------------------------ From: Jed_Levin@instinet.com Message-Id: <852564D1:0049DF59.00@tusmail.instinet.com> Date: Fri, 11 Jul 1997 09:32:10 -0400 Subject: FS: Upsy Daisy Assortment I have a brand new copy of the Upsy Daisy Assortment CD that I just bought yesterday, and only listened to once, which I'd like to sell for $10, which includes postage. Why am I selling it? Well, I used to like XTC a lot (I followed them up through Oranges and Lemons), then I sort of lost interest. After reading a lot of the Chalkhills website yesterday, I read about the Upsy Daisy CD and thought it'd be fun to hear those old songs again, and bought the CD. It WAS fun, but it's just not something I'm going to want to listen to again. They're a great band, but I just don't feel like repeated listenings to their stuff anymore. But, it's a very good selection on the CD, so if you're interested, please email me directly, as I'm not subscribed to this list. Thanks! Jed Levin Jed_Levin@instinet.com
------------------------------ Message-Id: <199707122102.OAA28502@netcomsv.netcom.com> Date: Sat, 12 Jul 1997 13:58:30 -0700 From: Burlingame <peets218@peets.com> Subject: Bumper Cars? G'day from lurker-land, To those of you who've heard the New Andy Demos: Am I the only one who thinks that Bumper Cars is one of the most "suspect" songs that he has written in a long while? Perhaps ever? Maybe it's just an aberration among an incredible bunch of songs. >there has been very little mention of one of pop musics greatest >songwriters. In case you haven't guessed it by now, I am speaking of one >Elvis Costello. I have feared the scorn that might have been heaped on me should I mention the aforementioned gentleman. You now have, and I second your motion. >the two are the undisputed kings of their respective niches. It just strikes me >as odd that alot of us, myself included, were probably into Elvis around the >same time we discovered XTC, and yet, I rarley hear mention of Costello. See the above message. Things get a little rough if "we" stray from the subject at hand. By the way, what's the release date for the album-in-progress? Still wearing out my copy of the new demos, O.Mullane (XTC song of the day: Cherry In Your Tree)
------------------------------
Date: Sat, 12 Jul 1997 15:32:00 -0700
From: becki digregorio <ziglain@cruzio.com>
Subject: cd-release party shindig
Message-ID: <9707121522.aa29706@mail.cruzio.com>
greetings chalkhills folks,
just a quick note to let you all know that the official cd-release party
for "seven worthies... of the bamboo grove" will be held next month,
thursday august 21st here in santa cruz (california) at a club called "the
kuumbwa jazz center." all the musicians on the cd will be there, plus some
special guests. no promises about mr. gregory's presence, tho i won't rule
out the possibility
(i'm debating whether to invite him or not, to be honest). but anyone in
the bay area is most welcome to attend. i'm very excited about the show,
and with the caliber of musicians i have the honor of playing with it
should be one heck of an evening.
for those of you unfamiliar with my cd, it features john wedemeyer on
guitar, randy hayes on drums, rick walker on drums and percussion, don lax
on violin, and dave gregory (yes, _our_ dave) contributed guitar and
keyboards on three songs. i play bass and 12-string and do the vocals.
anyone in the bay area familiar with john and randy's band "WHaT" might
like to know that their bass player endre tarczy will be one of the special
guests, lending his bass and keyboard talents, as well as helping out on
vocals.
if anyone is interested in more info about the cd, kindly check out the web
site that wondrous simon sleightholm has put together for me, at:
http://www.users.dircon.co.uk/~nonsuch/bdg.htm
thank you very much, and sorry for the lack of xtc content.
peace to all,
becki of the grove
("`-/")_.-'"``-._
. . `; -._ )-;-,_`)
=(v =)' _ )`-.\ ``-'
_. -_..-_/ / ((.'
((,.-' ((,/
------------------------------ Message-Id: <v01550104aff1716c0c12@DialupEudora> Date: Tue, 15 Jul 1997 15:16:55 -0500 From: gott@mail.li.com (Ben Gott) Subject: You thought you'd get rid of me... Hey, Chalkhillians! I'm back! (And you thought you'd have a peaceful, Ben-free summer! Boy, were you wrong.) I'm psyched to get caught up, and have lots of XTC stories to tell, but I wanted to share a great quote I heard, attributed to Laurie Anderson, and regarding our discussion of critics a few months ago: "Writing about music is like dancing to architecture." Perfect. Good to be Bach, as always. -Ben ------------------------ Ben Gott http://www.wp.com/58596
------------------------------ Date: Tue, 15 Jul 1997 13:33:29 -0700 From: "Macdonald, Robert" <RMacdonald@bcbc.bc.ca> Subject: Pleasantly surprised that someone's got it right. (subliminal mes sage Message-id: <BF4081FF169CD0118C4600805FBEEAE90AB442@BCBCMAIL> Hey folks. Here's another one of those posts that starts with "I just heard XTC on the radio". But this one is a little different. Last Friday afternoon I jumped into my car, turned the key on and was hit by that strange feeling that others have written about. That......hey wait a minute... I know this song....MY GOD, it's XTC on the radio! It's funny how something one knows so well can seem different hearing it when you don't expect it. The radio station I had playing was KNDD 107.7 "The End" from Seattle. This is a "new music/alternative" station that plays lots of Smashing Pumpkins, Nirvana, Silverchair, Bush, Radiohead, Verve Pipe, Ben Folds , etc. etc. They also play some 80's "new wave" music and the like, although I had never heard them play XTC. The song that was playing was Mayor of Simpleton, so I turned it up as I drove away. Now I was surprised enough hearing the song being played but what actually surprised me even more was what was said afterward. I'll try and write word for word what I heard. "That was the influential British group XTC with The Mayor of Simpleton off of their album Oranges and Lemons which came out in 1989. You'll find this song on the just released "best of " called Upsy Daisy Assortment which we will be giving copies away on location tomorrow morning at ....(can't remember where). This cd was released as part of a contractual agreement that allowed XTC out of their current contract. The band is set to sign with a new label and have plans to release one or possibly two albums early next year. Keep a look out for that." Wow. I was amazed that a radio station actually got a story pretty much right on. I was scared that they were going to play the song and then say....."XTC...one of those British new wave bands who are on the "Where are they now" pile". XTC being promoted....haven't seen that in a long, long time. On a different subject. How many people out there write posts and are just a little bit scared of getting the facts wrong and being jumped all over for it. I have this little scenario run through my head. For instance I write that Oranges and Lemons came out in 1990 and someone writes back, "you loser, every "real" fan knows it came out in 1989, clearly you are a Chalkhills Fake, a fraud, you just started listening to them last year because a band mentioned them in an interview", and I plead back, "No! it's not true, I've been listening to them for seventeen years, honest, you must believe meeeeeeeeeaaaaannddyyaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhh!!!!" Silly I know, but I can't be the only one who feels it. Hope everyone's enjoying their summer Cheers, Rob. Rob Macdonald Victoria B.C. Canada
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 15 Jul 1997 17:40:34 -0500
Message-Id: <v02110100aff165442868@[144.92.180.141]>
From: jhackney@facstaff.wisc.edu (John M. Hackney)
Subject: Skylarking vinyl
Chalkhillians,
Can anyone tell me what a fair price is to pay for a copy of
"Skylarking" on vinyl? The copy in question is catalogue #GHS24117, the
Virgin U.S.A. (Geffen) version that has "Mermaid Smiled" instead of "Dear
God". It is in near-mint condition, a small scuff on the outer sleeve but
the inner sleeve and the disk itself are in mint condition.
Thanks,
John
John M. Hackney
Department of Botany
University of Wisconsin-Madison
------------------------------ Message-ID: <c=US%a=_%p=AETNA%l=HFD-EXCH003-970716125825Z-179353@aetna.aetna.com> From: "Witter, Karl F" <WitterKF@aetna.com> Subject: That was the week that was Date: Wed, 16 Jul 1997 08:58:25 -0400 Our local "alternativo" station has had the legally-required 3-pak of XTC from which to choose for their weekly oldies show. While the DJ was chattering off birthdays this Sunday, I recognized a familiar few seconds of a guitar and drum loop; it was the opening of "Life Begins at the Hop". Now if I can only get them to play something from "Drums and Wires" or "Black Sea" en toto. Speaking of mastering and volume and such, I noticed that "Mermaid Smiled" on "Rag & Bone Buffet" is way louder than the rest of my American vinyl "Skylarking". Anyone wish to fill in on how that came to be? Is that difference heard on vinyl Skylarkings w/Mermaid Smiled v. R&BB? >[Derek]But Geffen really dropped the ball on the album >cover retrospective page...they used the CD REISSUE versions. They're probably not interested in getting folks to swing by used record stores; they'd rather have them fight over the single copy of "Black Sea" at the mega-mall box. >[Melissa]An MSN tech support [sends my problem] into "technial >escalation" (a scary term indeed!) That's only scary to you, the uninitiated. We tech professionals use the term "Hindenberg effect" behind customers' backs :-). Matt Keeley, Scott Taylor, and other fellow Lehrer-philes: It's just one cult after another here, isn't it? >[Bob Thomas] BTW, Karl isn't doing very much to dispel the >lumbering-ignorant-male-who-can't-do-his-own-clothes-shopping >myth we hear so much about. Read up on cotton fabrics, gents ;-). Don't fear. The usual cure (hot wash with whites and three hours in the dryer) will fix my shirt. "Poisoning pigeons in the park", Karl Andy P on The Sex Pistols reforming: "People go and see them again! Talk about a dog returning to his own vomit!"
------------------------------ Subject: V2 Message-ID: <19970717.143934.21327.0.nightmusic1@juno.com> From: nightmusic1@juno.com (Steve M Ransom) Date: Thu, 17 Jul 1997 14:36:48 EDT First time to the list Lurking for years FYI According to Billboard columnist, Melinda Newman, in her column "The Beat" XTC was ver close to signing with V2 Records. Richard Branson's V2 Records. Could it be? Leisure conglomerate McCarthy Corp. just aquired 33% of V2 for $73M. according to Virgin Group's Will Whitehorn.... "you will see some big name deals over the next two years....." "If theres the right opportunity with the right artist who has a good back catalog, there are certainly the resources to do a deal of that nature." V2 is planning to release "eight significant albums before the end of the year." "V2 will consentrate on deals where we create - to a certain extent - a federation of independant labels by taking stakes in them and acting as a central processing house to help distribte and market worldwide. In the next 14 months, you will see a few new thrusting labels with whom we've done deals." Sorry if this is old news. Anyone else hear anything? SteveRRRRRRRRR
------------------------------ Date: Thu, 17 Jul 1997 19:42:30 -0700 (PDT) Message-Id: <v01510101aff4230ef83c@[206.15.84.18]> From: mf@well.com (Mitch Friedman) Subject: The Mitch Report 7-17-97 By the time you'll be reading this you will have already heard the long awaited news . . . But the purpose of this message is both a threat and a recommendation. Basically if a whole bunch of you don't heed my words of advice I just may get ultra-stingy with future XTC news! This is the story . . . Occassionally you may have seen references to a band called The Mommyheads on this list. No doubt these references would have been written by myself or Keith Hanlon; both of us being very big fans. See The Mommyheads were recently signed to Geffen records after putting out 4 albums on very obscure independent labels since 1989 or so. I've known the band personally since around May of 1990 when I heard a live radio performance of theirs on WFMU in NJ and then went to see them in person a few days later. At the time they were quite quirky and poppy so I was curious if they were XTC fans. Of course they were! Adam Cohen, the principle songwriter and guitarist was a huge XTC fan and I lent him my 8 hours of XTC videos and demos to dub before they moved out the SF a few days later. Since then I have seen them live about 20 times and have everything they've ever released. This is a band that doesn't sound like XTC but has a great deal in common with them. As a live band they are amazingly tight and creative and feature excellent and intricate musicianship and odd time signatures and rhythms. Their songs are wry, beautiful, rocking, tuneful, odd, quirky, poppy, catchy, jazzy, bluesy, lyrically sophisticad, memorable and very original. On record they sound just the same only recorded better. They have a distinctively odd keyboard playing member, and are very nice people too. You all know how much I must like XTC and yet there are times when I would go so far as to say that The Mommyheads are a better band. Sacreligious maybe but also true. I implore anyone who listened to past Chalkhills advice and purchased and enjoyed The Sugarplastic, Jason Faulkner, Martin Newell, etc. to sprint to your nearest record store and buy The Mommyheads on Geffen. You will not be dissappointed, in fact you may be blown away. Mitch
------------------------------ Date: Fri, 18 Jul 1997 11:13:08 -0400 (EDT) From: Ted Harms <tmharms@library.uwaterloo.ca> Subject: happy birthday... Message-ID: <Pine.OSF.3.95q.970718111016.445A-100000@library.uwaterloo.ca> Terry Chambers turned 42 on July 18. There was/is a nice little write on the band on the Addicted to Noise birthday roll which can be found at http://www.addict.com/MNOTW/lofi/970818/970818_695.html Also contained an interesting bit of info: I didn't know that Barry Andrews was once a member of King Crimson Ted Harms Library, Univ. of Waterloo tmharms@library.uwaterloo.ca 519.888.4567 x3761 "summer in the world; / floating on the waves / of the lake." - Basho
------------------------------ Date: Fri, 18 Jul 1997 11:23:07 -0500 (CDT) From: Matt John <mjohn@richland.cc.il.us> Subject: XTC Message-ID: <Pine.LNX.3.96.970718112028.8096B-100000@mail.richland.cc.il.us> Hey. I'm new on this list. Why aren't there any postings. I heard that XTC had the most active fans on line! Are you all busy at work? Or are you unemployed and sleeping? Or are you in other parts of the world where it's night time? bored, MJ
------------------------------ Date: Fri, 18 Jul 1997 15:12:58 -0700 Message-Id: <199707182212.PAA00461@mando.engr.sgi.com> From: John Relph <relph> Subject: Light Traffic Rock Ah, yes. It must be summer. The traffic on Chalkhills has finally eased up. I put it in a letter, what could be better? Lots of changes on the Chalkhills web site, check it out. New articles, links to articles on the web, and more. -- John
------------------------------ End of Chalkhills Digest #3-140 *******************************
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