Chalkhills Digest Volume 3, Issue 143
Date: Thursday, 24 July 1997
Chalkhills Digest, Volume 3, Number 143
Thursday, 24 July 1997
Today's Topics:
Albums galore...
a couple of recommendations
well cut off my legs and call me shorty!
Two items with tenuous XtC connexion
A lot!
Re: Flint and Styling
A great "Idea"
re: The Mommyheads
Re: Americans and Eric Matthews
Shake Your Bag of Bones
Angry Young Ralph
Sundry comments
The Greatest Idea
a little XTC won't hurt
Mista Matthews and a proposition...
Icehouse
Important CD Singles from the UK
Re-> I've a feeling '97 wil
Brand spanking new!
Greatest Englishman--cheap
MoS arrangement
Re: Brain Storm
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---------------------------------------------------------------------- Message-Id: <3.0.1.16.19970722210429.363fd404@cyber1.servtech.com> Date: Tue, 22 Jul 1997 21:04:29 From: Chaos Harlequin <harlequin@tmbg.org> Subject: Albums galore... Matt Keeley: >Agh! Sorry... All of a Sudden is one of my favourite songs... Matt, meet Mark. Mark, meet Matt. :) >has AP regained his hearing yet? He never lost hearing in the one ear (I believe it was his left, though I'm not sure) and he claims to have gotten it back around 50% in the other, which is quite good, considering what could have happened. >much-discussed-but-probably-not-gonna-happen Andy's Shed album! Au contraire! The bootleg album seems to be more likely than ever -- Andy actually convinced Colin to do it, when initially he refused outright, and I believe he'd already begun experimenting with stuff to lay down for it. Viva Bootleg Album! >Can it be found anywhere else, and if not, is it worth buying the >aforementioned collection, (assuming I can still find it)? It's currently unavailable anywhere else. As for whether it's worth it, well, that depends: do you adore "Candymine"? Is it worth $15 to hear Andy deliver the most (shameless) sexual innuendo ever committed to a children's song? Are you unable to stand *not* possessing any record that has Brian Doherty (ex-TMBG drummer) on it? Then yes. Otherwise... >I have this demo of songs Andy put together in 1995 that a friend passed >along to me. It has about 25-30 songs... <snip> Has anyone heard this tape >or any of these songs? Both sets of demos (the J&TGP demos and the demos recorded between 1992 and 1995 for inclusion on a new album) have been floating around for quite some time now. >They're fu-kin' great! As other Chalkhillians surely know by now, I think the '95 demos are the best stuff Andy has ever written. Almost everyone who has heard them agrees that they are excellent. Oh, yeah, that reminds me. I forgot to mention: XTC HAVE AN HONEST TO GOODNESS RECORD DEAL! WA-HOOOOOOOOOO! JHB /---------------------------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. ------/
------------------------------ Message-Id: <v01540b0aaffb2b2cfed0@[139.80.100.167]> Date: Wed, 23 Jul 1997 16:30:19 +1300 From: james.dignan@stonebow.otago.ac.nz (James Dignan) Subject: a couple of recommendations Heard a band for the first time yesterday that I think other Chalkhillers might enjoy - they're a bouncy band of Scandinavians called the Wannadies - their album "Bagsy Me" has a large number of Beatlesque (yeah - I hate that term too) influences, and has just the barest suggestion of XTC influences too, musically at least. Lyrically... well, I think they lose a bit in the translation from the Swedish (Norwegian? Danish?). But it's a good light breezy album that certainly had me bopping along merrily. Another recently heard album worth mentioning was the even more Beatles like "Show World" by Florida's Redd Kross. With a name like that, they sound like a rap band, but no. Very sixties influenced. A little one-dimensional, perhaps, but again, I'd listen to them again. James
------------------------------ Message-Id: <l03102800affb577ff49b@[146.6.72.33]> Date: Wed, 23 Jul 1997 01:55:25 -0500 From: jason garcia <h.h.name@mail.utexas.edu> Subject: well cut off my legs and call me shorty! Chalklisters, >When people ask me what raises XTC (and of course the Beatles and a few >others) above the crowd, it's this sort of thing that I point to. I hope you ask them first if they have anything they need to be doing, then tell them to sit down and have a drink. Wow, that's a handful. I tend to agree on these sorts of things, in a really really vague sort of way (i.e., I'm from the school of songwriting that says, "if you analyze it TOO much, you'll screw it up somehow"), but I doubt that Andy's sitting there telling himself these things. I think when you have listened to music religiously throughout your life, you just kind of "feel" it out somehow. Of course, can't really speak for Andy, but it seems to me that subtle things like that just COME, sort of naturally, and then you look back on them when you're done and think, "oh hey, there's that little bit that repeats there, that's kind of cool!", and then play it off like you MEANT to do that. You don't really think when you write songs, you just feel; that's been my experience. Well we should all thank Mitch for news well-received. So they're going into the studio the week AFTER that, right? :) Love and rockets, Jason
------------------------------
Date: 23 JUL 97 14:54:09 AST
From: PCulnane@dca.gov.au
Subject: Two items with tenuous XtC connexion
Message-ID: <0000xnpbrlph.0000vfjdzrnz@dca.gov.au>
Chalkmeisters,
1) I met a fellow Chalkhillian, Eliot Fish, the other night. Thru the simple
expedient of dubbing off some XtC demos for him, I was offered free entry to
a big three-band show where Eliot's band, Big Heavy Stuff, were
playing. Eliot plays bass, in tandem with another XtC nut, drummer Nick
Kennedy - one of the mightiest behemoths of a rhythm section you're likely
to hear! The band fairly blew my mind, with the wonderful songs of Greg
Atkinson really having room to breathe in a live setting. The guys extended
warm and friendly hospitality to me, making me feel like a real V.I.P. What
a thrill it was for me to meet them and natter away about XtC this and XtC
that. As this encounter was at the same venue as my meeting with the XtC
guys some 18 years ago, and again around my birthday, the night bought some
eerie similarities. Mind you, I was the one "sucking more piss" this time
'round! ;^) Thanx Eliot, Nick, Adam and Greg for a truly wonderful night
that I won't forget in a hurry.
By all accounts, my mate Dom in Melbourne had a similar "meeting of the
minds" the following night. Aren't XtC fans a luvverly lot?!!!
BTW, Big Heavy Stuff don't sound at all like XtC, but neither are they by
any means a "heavy" or "metal" band as their name may imply. I'd simply
recommend their new album "Maximum Sincere" to anyone on this list who wants
to hear what kinda rock music, at the *quality* end of the scale, is coming
outta Oz right now. (This album should get a worldwide release so everybody
can hear it, it's that good!)
2) This "three star" review, by Paul Davies, came from the Q Magazine
website:
Nicky Holland
Sense And Sensuality
Epic epc 487992-2
Former Ravishing Beauty Nicky Holland has had considerable subsequent
success as a songwriter for, among others, Celine Dion, Cyndi Lauper,
Oleta Adams, Tears For Fears and Tina Turner. On this solo venture, her
co-conspirators include XTC's Andy Partridge and Lloyd Cole. The songs
sweep along with a dramatic orchestral flourish, strings dipping in and
out of the keyboards and generated beats, her vocals at times recalling
the blissed out dream tones of Julee Cruise. The cover version curveball
is a sultry version of Python Lee Jackson's In A Broken Dream, while the
self-penned songs drift between the snapshot portraits of John's First
Wedding, the raw emotions of Dear Ingrid and Nothing and the altogether
darker Cry To Me.
PS: Great to hear the news about the new record deal/label. Thanx for the
info, Mitch.
Cheers
p@ul-of-oz
------------------------------ From: a.de.koning@bpa.vnu.com Message-ID: <C12564DD.0034E503.00@bpa.vnu.com> Date: Wed, 23 Jul 1997 12:46:56 +0200 Subject: A lot! Hi Chalks! First of all: Thanks Mitch, for the Great News! I'll drink to that (in fact I'll drink to anything). Congrats to Mark (he of the Big Little Lighthouse) who was the first to have the news prominently on display on his Web pages. I've just returned from my vacation in England, and have a few things to cover. Oldest things first: About the Macintosh startup-sound: A colleague (Mac guru) told me there are four different startup sounds for Macs, depending on the model and processor type. The PowerMac I use currently (a 8500) has a startup sound that sounds more like the intro for the Nits's 'Nescio'. The ones that start up with a 'Miniature Sun' chord sound are Quadra's and the ones with a 601 PowerPC. I don't think this has been mentioned before: John Leckie's name is spelled 'Lackie' on my Go2 CD sleeve. FF in the 'special edition' case: I bought one during my vacation. It was in Newport (on the Isle of Wight) where I visited three (3!) shops that all still have that special edition available. I got mine for 15ponds99 (the cheapest one). Does anyone know how many of these 'special' things were made? Oh, and yes, I like it. It's a nice 'end of an era' thing (the spelling errors and the non-exsistant liner notes add to the 'Virgin don't give a damn' touch) Picked up 'Oranges & Lemons' for 1pound25. It's a collection of childrens songs I saw at Safeway. I just had to have it :) In the same category: Beeswax for 2pound99 (a steal, but I didn't buy it: we don't have any furniture that requires waxing :) My daughter rode a rocking horse called (I'm not making this up) 'Holly' in Devon (the Miniature Pony Centre). And does anyone (like, our English readers) know if 'Whirly Bird' is a common name for a Helicopter in England? That's what those things are called in Legoland, Windsor (I've been all over that beautiful country, it seems) Enough rambling from me, on with more praise and cheers in this digest! Andre (who at work has to trade his Mac in for a Windows NT thinghy in two weeks... horrors!) de Koning
------------------------------ Date: Wed, 23 Jul 1997 09:11:18 -0700 Message-Id: <199707231611.JAA13670@mando.engr.sgi.com> From: John Relph <relph> Subject: Re: Flint and Styling Ralph DeMarco <r.demarco@elsevier.com> wrote: > >?* "Burning with Optimism's Flame": I was checking the lyrics section >of Chalkhills and noticed that the line "Now you see I'm smiling / >back to juvenile'ing / I learnt her lesson / in like flint and styling >/ all the world is neatly curled around my littlest finger" I thought >the line should be "in like Flynn". Am I wrong or was Andy being his >usual clever self by changing it to "in like flint" You are wrong. Derek Flint was the main character of at least two James Bond type spy films, _Our Man Flint_ (1965) and _In Like Flint_ (1967). Flint, played by James Coburn, had a knack for breaking in. Thus, "In Like Flint". (_Austin Powers_ spoofs _Our Man Flint_.) -- John
------------------------------ Subject: A great "Idea" Message-ID: <19970723.121940.6543.1.nightmusic1@juno.com> From: nightmusic1@juno.com (Steve M Ransom) Date: Wed, 23 Jul 1997 12:16:29 EDT Thanks for the news Mich Friedman. Annie DeFranco has her own label and makes lots of $ (Of course she tours) Keep us informed SteveRRRRRRRRR
------------------------------ Message-Id: <v03007801affb7eaa4a84@[38.227.118.4]> From: david@connors.com (David Friel) Subject: re: The Mommyheads Date: Wed, 23 Jul 1997 12:28:03 -0400 To follow up on today's post on the Mommyheads...they're a local San Francisco band I went to see a couple months ago for the first time. I had heard a lot about them and their XTC-esque sound. What a bunch of malarkey! These guys bored me to no end. Not only is their music completely uninspiring and light years from anything even approaching XTC, they have no charisma on stage whatsoever. The whole experience was a tremendous disappointment. I'm curious to hear if anyone else on Chalkhills has seen them. - Dave (still freezing his arse off in SF)
------------------------------ Message-Id: <v01540b00affbe3f27a65@[132.170.24.13]> Date: Wed, 23 Jul 1997 11:47:24 -0500 From: dcm80229@pegasus.cc.ucf.edu (Derek Miner) Subject: Re: Americans and Eric Matthews "Lee Lovingood" <lvngoods@beachlink.com> wrote: >Ah, America! Land of the wee and home of the slaves. Three words - Think >For Yourselves! The assembled crowd then responds in unison: "Yes, yes, we have to think for ourselves!" >(Lee climbs down from his soapbox, like Moses from the mount, and >proclaims gleefully....) > >"Perhaps this is old news, but, I have just learned that the new Eric >Matthews disc, "The Lateness of the Hour", is due in stores on August the >twenty sixth. And yes, he is still on Sub Pop! If for no other reason, I >have a feeling '97 is gonna be a good year! (Yes, that is a line from >Tommy.) Sub Pop has sent out preview discs already - if you know someone who works at a record store or writes about music, you might be able to scam a copy. Try used CD shops, too. If you liked the first Eric Matthews disc, you should like this one as well. The feel is very much the same. Incidentally, Jason Falkner does some work on this new disc, co-producing and playing on several of the tracks. I personally liked the last track on the disc (can't remember the title - but the advertising material said it's Matthews' favorite as well).
------------------------------ Message-ID: <33D657AA.41C67EA6@aur.alcatel.com> Date: Wed, 23 Jul 1997 15:12:42 -0400 From: Dempsey Elks <elksdw@aur.alcatel.com> Organization: Alcatel Network Systems, Inc Raleigh, NC Subject: Shake Your Bag of Bones Reading some of the postings recently I feel that many of the listeners here are quit a bit younger than myself. I'm not going to state my age here but I first heard about XTC, or read about the band in one of the music magazines in 1979. I didn't actually hear XTC until a few years later. I had some friends (artist) who were living together in an old house. We had been listening to Adrian Belew, Talking Heads, Flying Lizards.....that sort of thing. I poked my head in the door and there they were dancing dervishly about in the huge parlor to this new music. "Black Sea" was on the turn table and immediately I was hooked. The rhythm, the sound of the guitars the vocals and the lyrics were infecting. Over the last 15 or 16 years I have been almost obsessed at times with the XTC bug, buying import records and waiting for the next album. I have turned many friends on to this music and driven many room mates to insanity from constant playing of the LPs. Things are much more calm for me now but I still remember that feeling of waiting for the next LP and how the world seemed to stand still until it was out. I'm a little better now (mellower with age) but I still get chills thinking about a new record/CD with new songs. Glad to see so many others into this band. Dempsey
------------------------------ Message-ID: <33D6AB30.5C35@sprintmail.com> Date: Wed, 23 Jul 1997 18:09:04 -0700 From: Stormy Monday <stormymonday@sprintmail.com> Subject: Angry Young Ralph Folxtc, The often estute Ralph DeMarco tells us: > have always felt that "The World is Full of Angry Young Men" is > one of Colin's best songs! The arrangements are great with Dave's > jazzy guitar riffs and gentle piano, and the lyrics, ... and asks us: > Does anyone else > feel this way about that song or am I a lone voice in the wilderness? I for one, think that this is one of the band's finest moments. Colin's lyrical vision is clear and honest. The arrangement reminds me that at least Dave, (if not the entire band) is a Steely Dan fan. It calls to mind some of the tracks from the excellent "Katy Lied" collection. If you don't know what "feel" means, listen to this one again. Stormy Monday
------------------------------ Message-Id: <l03020905affbf61a0e45@[141.212.142.135]> Date: Wed, 23 Jul 1997 14:32:04 -0400 From: Natalie Jacobs <gnat@umich.edu> Subject: Sundry comments Scott Taylor remarks, >Must be something in the water. Or something that the music services are >pushing to our local DJs, anyway, because on MY local alternative station >this week, while I was out grabbing a bite on my lunch hour, played a 3-pack >XTC retrospective with historical commentary in between. They played "Dear >God," "25 O'Clock," and "Mayor of Simpleton." When was the last time YOU >heard the Dukes on the air? Not too long ago, actually - a few weeks ago I was woken by a voice saying, "You can't get the buttons these days." But my radio alarm was tuned to the college radio station, which also recently woke me with the little organ outro from "The Ugly Underneath." But even on commercial radio I have been hearing a *lot* of XTC in the past month - "Generals and Majors" on an oldies show two days in a row, "Earn Enough for Us" and "Dear God" as #428 and #90-something in theTop 500 Alternative Songs of All Time (picked out of a hat at random, I presume), and even a brief plug for "Upsy Daisy" a while back. Hmmm. . . good vibes, I guess. Steve Perley sez, >That's why I let that supposed >Laurie Anderson quote slide. When she said "Writing about music is like >dancing about architecture" she was quoting Frank Zappa I've heard that quote attributed to so many people! I originally heard it attributed to Elvis Costello. Does anyone know the real provenance of this quote? Just curious. . . it's a good quote, whoever said it. Richard Pedretti-Allen remarks, >With songs like Season Cycle, Andy wears his "Beach Boys" heart on his >sleeve and many people say, "Ooooh, well done! How clever." But if >another band hints of XTC, many fans (a word derived from "fanatic") do >not view it as homage, but rip on it abject disdain. Are McCartney fans >grousing about Colin's creative bass lines? Mmph. Well, the reason *I* get annoyed with bands that sound like XTC is that, while XTC wear their influences well and integrate it into their sound, a lot of these derivative folks simply haven't got a sound of their own, and wear their influences like a borrowed suit. I was surprised to find that I liked Martin Newell even though his XTC (and Beatles, and Kinks) influences are all over the place, and I realized that's because he has got his own sound, his own unique thumbprint, beneath all the influences. Lee Lovingood rants, >Although the new Prodigy album may be selling as well across >the pond as it is here, and by saying that I hope you can tell that I think >Fat of the Land is nearly an hours worth of discordant, annoying noise, at >least artists like Prefab Sprout can still make it onto the charts there. >They would be laughed off the airwaves here in the states. Why? It is music >that makes you listen. Sorry - call me a banal American, but Prefab Sprout's music makes *me* want to listen to something else. Indeed, if given a choice between "Fat of the Land" and whatever yawn-inducing Prefab Sprout album Simon Sleightholm played for me (I think it was "Jordan: The Comeback"), the guy with the green hair would win every time. That's not to say that you don't have a point, mind. . . be bloody, bold, and resolute, Natalie Jacobs Perdix: The Andy Partridge Appreciation Page http://www-personal.umich.edu/~gnat/perdix.html
------------------------------ Message-Id: <199707232327.BAA09950@utrecht.knoware.nl> From: "Mark Strijbos" <mmello@knoware.nl> Organization: The Little Lighthouse Date: Thu, 24 Jul 1997 00:35:24 +0000 Subject: The Greatest Idea Dear Chalkers, Thank you Egil Erlandsen for alerting us to this 'special summer stock sale' : > To those of you who happen to be in Amsterdam this summer, > and are looking for the Newell/Partridge CD "The Greatest Living Englishman": > It is available for a mere 9.90 dutch guilders (some 5-6 US dollars) I have the US edition already (signed by Martin Newell) but will get another one this Saturday. Anyone interested in a copy? I'd be more than happy to get a few extra... it's a brilliant CD; very British singer/songwriter stuff and it was recorded in Andy's shed (yes, The Shed!) BTW: Martin N. told me when he was busy signing the booklet that he had never seen the American version before. He was surprised to see how "they" had given both him and Andy "top billing" on the cover & spine etc... Before I go I just have to shout it out once: "YESSSSSSSS!" Exactly what I was hoping for... their own label! But contributing to the costs of promotion? I think not... If _everybody_ on this list (1000 or 2000 people?) contributed 100 US dollars each you'd still have next to nothing. And I don't expect that everybody can afford this kind of donation. Launching any "product" in the global marketplace is almost impossible without some kind of big money backing you. But I'm not sure if XTC should be aiming for world domination a la U2... IMHO they are quite comfortable in their own little niche yours in ecstasy, Mark Strijbos at The Little Lighthouse; the XTC website @ http://utopia.knoware.nl/~mmello ===> The Random XTC Quote <=== Hail mother motor, hail piston rotor, hail wheel!
------------------------------ Message-Id: <l03102801affc63606f5b@[146.6.72.39]> Date: Wed, 23 Jul 1997 20:49:43 -0500 From: jason garcia <h.h.name@mail.utexas.edu> Subject: a little XTC won't hurt Hey there misters and misses, For all those who claim they hear NO XTC influence in the music of The Sugarplastic: The Sugarplastic's XTC influence hits me only on a few songs: "Sheep", with its synchronized drum-bass in the verse, and "Any Time at All", with its random perky guitar phrases and stop-start bits in the middle. This is reminiscent of "White Music" and "Go 2", mostly. Other than those 2 albums they don't really sound like XTC. But you've got to admit that those bits are pretty XTC-related. And of course there's the phrase "The Ugly Underneath" in "Soft Jingo". That's my $0.10 on it. Jah-SON.
------------------------------ Message-Id: <199707240223.TAA26491@mailgate31> Subject: Mista Matthews and a proposition... Date: Wed, 23 Jul 97 21:04:36 -0600 From: <aostermann@sprintmail.com> >"Perhaps this is old news, but, I have just learned that the new Eric >Matthews disc, "The Lateness of the Hour", is due in stores on August the >twenty sixth. And yes, he is still on Sub Pop! If for no other reason, I >have a feeling '97 is gonna be a good year! (Yes, that is a line from >Tommy.) That statement made my day. Cheers to Eric for sticking with Flydady and Sub Pop and to Sub Pop for holding onto a good thing. Of course, they have the Scud Mountain Boys and Zumpano too, so cheers to them overall. (Maybe they should ahve signed XTC...heck they released a one-off single by Cheap Trick, and now that Red Ant is kaput....) Anyhow, I'd like to be the first to volunteer all my spare time to be XTC's press publicist and PR man. I'll work for free, just as long as I get demos, advances and acetates of everything Andy commits to tape. I can see the business card already: "Adam J. Ostermann: Idea Man". I like it..... Adam J. Ostermann
------------------------------ Message-Id: <199707241241.FAA24569@f23.hotmail.com> From: "Rob Crawford" <robcrawford@hotmail.com> Subject: Icehouse Date: Thu, 24 Jul 1997 05:41:50 PDT >From: "Mark Strijbos" <mmello@knoware.nl> >Organization: The Little Lighthouse >Subject: Soul Coal & Snowman Decloaking again ! My company EMail system won't send outside EMail again so once again hotmail is in use ! Anyway: >BTW: I was (pleasantly) surprised when I read in the new Andy >Partridge interview from Consumable Online that the Australian >Icehouse bloke Ivor Davis was going to collaborate with >him. I think his name is actually Ira Davis as I remember when their 1st UK release Strange Little Girl (as I seem to remember) was reviewed on BBC Radio 1 by Andy P and Mick Karn (please pardon my spelling) from Japan (at the time). The single was slagged off by Mick Marn for sounding line a Japan single (which it did) and Andy promptly pointed out that David Sylvian (Japans singer), was ripping off Bryan Ferry. Anyway AP pointed out that Icehouse had supported XTC in Australia and where a pretty good band and pointed out that every band stole part of their sound from somewhere. I have the padio prog on tape somewhere and is from around 81 or 82 >This makes him very probably the only musician in the world to >have worked with both Andy P. and Terry Chambers but NOT with XTC... Well sort of. Regards Rob...
------------------------------ Subject: Important CD Singles from the UK From: wwilson@mail07.mitre.org (Wesley H. Wilson) Message-Id: <970724091142.7430@mail07.mitre.org.0> Date: Thu, 24 Jul 97 09:11:43 -0400 Three CD singles from Stephen Duffy are due for release in mid-August. Stephen Duffy's new CD, on which Andy is involved, is slated for UK release on 1 September and is titled "I Love My Friends." If you're a Duffy fan, he collaborates with Alex James (of Blur) and a guy from Elastica on the UK CD single "Hanging Around." They've cleverly titled themselves Me Me Me. This CD single has a great track called "Hollywood Wives" which makes the $9 price well worthwhile. Speaking of CD singles, a while back someone slagged the new Nick Heyward 7-inch single, "Today," saying it sounds like Oasis. I've listened to it and think that comparison is merely superficial, especially when it comes to the CD single tracks like "Dear Miss Finland" and "3 Colours." I say BUY IT, it's the cleverest "guitar crunch pop" I've heard in ages. Nick claimed that he recently listened to nothing but Revolver for a whole month; how could you not like the guy? And he thinks Andy is one of the most far out, original guitarists around. Wes
------------------------------ Message-Id: <n1342369151.13619@ncldq04.cloud.nt.com> Date: 24 Jul 1997 14:02:57 +0000 From: "Justin Radford" <Justin.Radford.cnt42887@nt.com> Subject: Re-> I've a feeling '97 wil Hello people..... I was just looking over my latest newsletter when I came across a post which I felt I just had to comment on: >Although the new Prodigy album may be selling as well across >the pond as it is here, and by saying that I hope you can tell that I think >Fat of the Land is nearly an hours worth of discordant, annoying noise, at >least artists like Prefab Sprout can still make it onto the charts there. >They would be laughed off the airwaves here in the states........... >..........If it is number one, you gotta have it or you will be shunned by your friends. God >knows what a tragedy that would be! It sickens me, yes, but to each his own, I suppose. I >feel, however, that those who lose touch with the spiritual side of music are as good as >dead. Although I do agree with the sentiment of Mr. Lovingood's post (especially the comment about the single minded banality of American society), the rather insular views of some XTC fans is a bit worrying. My mate Matt (did any of you meet him and his lovely wife Julia at this years convention?) introduced me to them way back in the mid 80's when I was around 16. I often find myself feeling heartily pleased with the state of our (British) music scene where peoples tastes are often pretty wide and varied. I love XTC they have been a part of my collection for the last decade or so but I also love the Prodigy, Radiohead, Supergrass and a variety of other quality British 'indie' bands. The thought of eating, sleeping, breathing XTC like a lot of you chalkhillians do, doesn't exactly light my fire that's for sure. Still as I often say....each to their own. Later, Justin....
------------------------------
From: bob_prowse@sw2000.com
Date: Wed, 23 Jul 97 17:38:58 GMT
Message-Id: <9706238697.AA869705578@gateway.sw2000.com>
Subject: Brand spanking new!
OK, I've only recently got on to email and this is the first newsgroup
I've subscribed to. (Well, of course I would) Wow! I love it! Its
brilliant reading all this stuff about the boys after no 'news' for so
long.
Two things: Could someone help get me up to speed and please tell me
about this Upsy Daisey thing you all seem to keep referring to.
Second, I would be well up for contributing (financially) to Tim K's
'idea' about helping to promote 'Idea'
How about some others?
For now,
Bob P
------------------------------ Message-Id: <199707240522.WAA10199@proxy4.ba.best.com> From: "Robert Triptow" <rtriptow@skyhouse.org> Date: Wed, 23 Jul 1997 22:27:04 -0800 Subject: Greatest Englishman--cheap Just an item for anyone who's been hungry for a copy of 'The Greatest Living Englishman' by Newell/Partridge: I saw it in Borders bookstore, San Francisco, in the budget bin for something like $6.
------------------------------ Date: Thu, 24 Jul 1997 10:34:28 -0700 Message-Id: <l03102800affcdebf10e9@[206.171.126.186]> From: Dave Blackburn <dblack@access1.net> Subject: MoS arrangement Hi all, Harrison Sherwood's detailed analysis of the arrangement of Mayor of Simpleton in CHD#3-141 should be required reading for any songwriter aspiring to learn about song craft. I might add that the XTC catalog is full of such polished pop diamonds going right back to the basic, and aptly named "This is Pop" on through "Earn enough for Us" to advanced compositions like"Humble Daisy". Incidentally, the guitar voicings in the intro and tag of "This is Pop" are deeply sophisticated for a band's first album, especially one that came out during a vehement period of anti-intellectualism in pop music. Kudos to Harrison for bringing such intelligent commentary to the list. Dave Blackburn. Dave Blackburn/Robin Adler; dblack@access1.net
------------------------------ Message-Id: <199707241856.MAA03286@hahp1.cs.mci.com> From: "Turner, Trent" <Trent.Turner@EXCHANGE.MCI.com> Subject: Re: Brain Storm Date: Thu, 24 Jul 1997 12:56:06 -0600 Our good buddy Tim had the following brain storm: From: Tim Kendrick <TKEN@dictaphone.com> Subject: What an IDEA ! (well someone had to say it) (snipping, snipping, snipping goes the scissor man) That got me thinking. Many on this list have indicated in the past that they would be willing to send money directly to the boys for listening to some of the bootlegs. Would any/many among us be willing to contribute money for promoting the new release(s) when it comes out ??? tt> Yep! You betcha! Sure! Let me know! Promoting a CD takes a lot. It needs much more than just telling all your friends about it. Proper promotion includes radio and video airplay, magazine ads, record store promotions/posters/displays, billboards, etc. It gets very expensive. Normally the record companies pay for all of this. Unless all these distributors Mitch posted about are willing to do this, it will fall on XTC themselves. tt> What would be a GREAT idea (pun kinda half way intended) would be for IDEA to exploit the resources of this mailing list. Imagine what we could do to help promote a new album if we were all given a script to follow to call up record stations, fax info around, buy time on NPR, cable TV, etc. tt> I DON'T know what is involved in promoting an album/group, but I would definitely do my part to help out here in Colorado Springs! tt> Mitch, please feel free to volunteer my services to our boys! Thanks, Trent Turner Is this a great time, or what? ;-) All of the sudden, we' found the cupboard's full!
------------------------------ End of Chalkhills Digest #3-143 *******************************
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