Chalkhills Digest Volume 3, Issue 153
Date: Wednesday, 13 August 1997
Chalkhills Digest, Volume 3, Number 153
Wednesday, 13 August 1997
Today's Topics:
Sgt. Pepper Is Going To Help Me and Other Off Topic Claptrap
Radio, Radio Part 3
off-the-cuff
They All Might Have Golden Guts
Blowing your theory like a french trombone
The Embarrassment Of Richness
Robyn Hitchcock's Swindon reference
non XTC-CD label blunder-Gruppo Sportivo
Beatles first stereo LP release?
A is for Analogue
Rockpallast!
RE: MOMMYHEADS (letter to the anti-self)
Hey Happy Happy Ness
elvis & xtc
Skylacking vs. Skylarking and other fine points
MOMMYHEADS recommend Ron Sexsmith
One more try
Dear Todd
not so great rock read
Give the People What They Want
non-xtc, xtc related, just read it please
Reel By Real
Black Sea Bar
everything's eerily come full circle
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---------------------------------------------------------------------- Message-ID: <33F0E9BF.3FD6@sprintmail.com> Date: Tue, 12 Aug 1997 15:54:55 -0700 From: Stormy Monday <stormymonday@sprintmail.com> Subject: Sgt. Pepper Is Going To Help Me and Other Off Topic Claptrap Folxtc, >From Jeff Langr: > Sgt. Pepper sounds pretty damn dated while Village Green Preservation > Society remains near timeless. Sgt. Pepper remains one of the most important, influential and timeless albums of our time. I'm thankful for Ray Davies and the Kinks though, if only for their influence on the young and precocious Andy Partridge. Listen, we all like to sing the praises of unsung heroes. It is great fun to look down upon very popular acts and say, "You think they're good? You should hear XTC and The Kinks!". The Beatles transcend all genres, appealing to musicians and casual listeners, young and old. >From john murphy: > > Listen to a "mono" Sgt. Pepper sometime,on vinyl of course, > you will enjoy the music as it was "supposed to sound". Actually, George Martin and the Beatles did two separate mixes of Sgt. Pepper, one mono and one stereo. SP was considered innovative at the time, winning 4 Grammys, including Best Album, Best Contemporary Album, Best Album Cover and Best Engineered Album. The stereo mix still sounds fresh, especially when listened to on the headphones. I know that the Grammys are bogus and political, but I mention this to point out that back in 1967, when Rock and Roll was still considered to be a fad and not counted as serious music by the "Establishment", Sgt. Pepper "broke through" and told the world that the Beatles (and their contemporaries) were not just kids bashing about on electric guitars, but were actually a new generation of artists, making a much bigger contribution than the established acts of the "Hit Parade". We like a lot of stuff that is un-recognized by the masses. This is not necessarily an indication of our rare taste and high intellect, although it is certainly fun to believe that! It is more a manifestation of music being more important in our lives than in the lives of others. The fact is, XTC's music is challenging and sometimes difficult, requiring patience. I'm not surprised at all that they are not big stars. Movies, television and radio are all driven by profit. The radio programmers bet their jobs on new records, and they are afraid to play challenging records, because many people will tune to another station. Is anyone surprised at the success of The Spice Girls (The Village People for the 90's) or Hanson (recycled, watered down Motown that goes down as easy as ice cream)? Sure, WE think that that stuff is tripe, but we represent a very small part of the market place. If I was an A&R man for a label, I would have signed The Spice Girls in a minute. Who cares if they'll be around in two years? They had money written all over them. At least music such as the "Big Express" made to the record stores against all odds. Thankfully, there are artists like XTC that really care about art. How many other "XTC's" have died on the vine, because no one would sign them? It isn't anyone's fault, it is just an unfortunate aspect of our lives. *** Does anyone remember The House Martins? If someone has some of their music, please e-mail me privately, and perhaps we could arrange for a trade. I can't find them anywhere, but I seem to remember a compilation CD. I should have snatched it up. *** >From James Dignan: > > In fact, I'd regard XTC, Costello and Jackson as > some sort of British trinity of like-minded musical acts which really > grabbed my attention in the late 70s I love Joe Jackson. A fine musician, drawing from a large musical palette. Reggae, Jazz, Punk, New Wave, Classical, Latin and Rock and Roll were all part of Joe's repertoire. Sometimes a little weak in the lyrics, but the music was so good, I never cared. Obviously "Look Sharp", "I'm The Man" and "Night and Day" were very successful for him, but "Body & Soul", "Big World", "Blaze Of Glory" and "Jumpin Jive" are also great albums. Anybody remember Graham Parker and The Rumour? He always claimed that Joe and Elvis ripped him off. Maybe they did, but I like EC and JJ much better. The Rumour was a hot band! So were Ian Dury & The Blockheads. "I've got Mercury Poisoning, its fatal and it doesn't get better". "There ain't half been some clever bastards (lucky bleeders, lucky bleeders...)" And about Todd... He did a great job on Skylarking, but I really like "Another Satellite". Andy has a lot of fun with puns, metaphors and double meanings in that one. Stormy Monday PS. Someone asked about "You'll take an inch but you'd love a mile"? That was from The Ozark Mountain Daredevils song, "Jackie Blue".
------------------------------ Date: Tue, 12 Aug 1997 16:17:58 -0400 (EDT) From: Natalie Jane Jacobs <gnat@engin.umich.edu> Subject: Radio, Radio Part 3 Message-ID: <Pine.SOL.3.91.970812160044.19105B-100000@azure.engin.umich.edu> Well, here I am, fresh and tingly from slogging through the 3-hour "XTC Blowout Spam-o-Rama" on my friend's radio show this afternoon. It went really, really well and we even got a few requests, as well as one caller who thought "It Didn't Hurt a Bit" was by the Grateful Dead (!!). My friend, the aptly-named Colin, did all the technical stuff, I was the resident XTC expert giving history and background on the songs, and we both decided what songs to play, making it up as we went along. Simon Sleightholm and John Christensen both got thanked on the air for supplying all the demo and interview tapes, so each of you has used up one of your fifteen minutes of fame. Please note this in your private logs. For interested parties, the set-list was as follows: Science Friction, Statue of Liberty, River of Orchids, It's Nearly Africa, Beating of Hearts, Respectable Street (live), Wake Up, Extrovert, Towers of London, Agony Andy (episode 1), Garden of Earthly Delights, Vanishing Girl, Skylarking Interview LP (side 1), Margaret Freeman (The Residents w/ Andy), The Forgotten Language of Light, Ceramic Avenue (Partridge/Budd), Night of the Comet (Partridge/Blegvad), Omnibus, No Thugs in Our House, Yacht Dance, Helicopter, It Didn't Hurt a Bit, All You Pretty Girls (Crash Test Dummies), Everyday Story of Smalltown, Goosey Goosey, Ella Guru, Heaven is Paved With Broken Glass, Generals and Majors, Mermaid Smiled, The Green Man, History of Rock and Roll Mark, I'm really sorry we couldn't get on "You and the Clouds" for you - in a terrible mishap, we ended up taping over half of it. Good thing it'll be on the new album... I hope. Anyway, apart from that, it was fun, and I wish all of you had been able to listen in. Natalie Jacobs Perdix: The Andy Partridge Appreciation Page http://www-personal.umich.edu/~gnat/perdix.html
------------------------------ Message-Id: <l03102801b016764434bb@[146.6.72.39]> Date: Tue, 12 Aug 1997 15:36:36 -0500 From: jason garcia <h.h.name@mail.utexas.edu> Subject: off-the-cuff Twists and turns, >In case anyone else might have heard it, it's the song with the chorus >"I never thought you were a junkee/because heroine is so passe." Anyone >heard of them? Yes; and I became Butt-Head for a second: "uh, huh-huh, this SUCKS!" >Sgt. Pepper sounds pretty damn dated while Village Green Preservation >Society remains near timeless. Maybe you should go BACK an album to "Revolver", then sit in the corner and weep at ITS timelessness. That album sounds so fucking MODERN, even today, that it's scary. Ben, I think Andy plays the Prophet V throughout "Fly on the Wall" (had to post that publicly so I'd be legit) >My two cents on TR: his New World Order was a piece of garbage. There >should have been a warning sticker on the front. >All the best >Bill Green Yep. A bit much for the list, wouldn't you say? So, who's going to see Sheryl Crow? I mean, Michael Penn? randomly yours, Jason
------------------------------ Date: Tue, 12 Aug 1997 17:33:27 -0400 (EDT) Message-Id: <v01510100b01646407a7d@[128.230.1.59]> From: pebrantl@mailbox.syr.edu (Paul Brantley) Subject: They All Might Have Golden Guts I'm sure this Andy quote has appeared before, but hey: "..but time has humbled me into admitting that Todd conjured up some of the most magical production and arranging [Skylarking] conceivable." So shut the fuck up. Who else (other than XTC) has been continually reinventing himself in the indifferent face of pop culture for the past 25 years? Todd, indulgent, self-centered, quirky, inconsistent? -- sounds like a typical Chalkhills subscriber. Sounds like someone possessed. Has anyone noticed (or commented on, I've been away) the similarities between some of Andy's Golden Guts demos and the b-side/bonus tracks from the recent They Might Be Giants box set of early stuff? Amazing what a love of cheezy sounds might inspire. Brantley
------------------------------ From: BRJohnson1@aol.com Date: Tue, 12 Aug 1997 17:51:59 -0400 (EDT) Message-ID: <970812175117_329511708@emout09.mail.aol.com> Subject: Blowing your theory like a french trombone P@ul of Oz wrote: >>Those of us who file our CD collections alphabetically may have noticed that David Yazbek albums will always nestle alongside those of XtC on the shelf ,,, I just realised that some clever-clogs is likely to write in and claim to be a big collector of Xymox!<< No, but i do own a few "Weird Al" Yankovic albums that do the trick nicely. Brad "but i thought you alphabetize backwards in the southern hemisphere " Johnson
------------------------------ Message-Id: <199708122213.AAA04595@utrecht.knoware.nl> From: "Mark Strijbos" <mmello@knoware.nl> Organization: The Little Lighthouse Date: Wed, 13 Aug 1997 00:19:23 +0000 Subject: The Embarrassment Of Richness Dear Chalkers, First of all: The Greatest Living Englishman is a great album. It's not perfect (after all it's not by XTC, is it?) but it's a fine piece of work from a wonderful weird and very English songwriter/performer. I find it a bit embarrassing that someone on this list would dismiss it as (i quote) "an embarrassment". Then Paul of Oz alerted us all to this: > Those of us who file our CD collections alphabetically But how does one file them if they are _all_ by XTC ? ;) > may have noticed that David Yazbek albums will always nestle alongside > those of XtC on the shelf. > Just one of those strange things in life. Yazbek would no doubt be pleased > about that! I think he probably is; but it gets even stranger: if you file them 'thematically' or by genre his album is also bound to pop up next to XTC or maybe next to the Testimonial (or Testicle) Dinner cd which he produced ! Weird huh? > Oh, hang on. I just realised that some clever-clogs is likely to write in > and claim to be a big collector of Xymox! Rats, there goes another > half-baked cosmic theory...... Xymox used to be called Clan Of Xymox when they were just another band from a provincial Dutch town. Maybe they guessed they would be easier to find if they were filed under 'X' ??? Who knows... But anyway, IMHO this means they are cheating :) yours trainspottingly, Mark Strijbos at The Little Lighthouse; the XTC website @ http://utopia.knoware.nl/~mmello ===> The Random XTC Quote <=== Why bless my soul, I'm already there...
------------------------------ Date: Wed, 13 Aug 1997 13:02:40 +1200 (NZST) Message-Id: <v01540b00b0176089817e@[139.80.228.146]> From: james.dignan@stonebow.otago.ac.nz (James Dignan) Subject: Robyn Hitchcock's Swindon reference >Seeing all the recent Robyn Hitchcock references here got me to wondering >about something... Do I hear a tip-of-the-hat to XTC in "Ride" from the >_Perspex Island_ CD (another fine production from XTC-alum Paul Fox)? About >four minutes into the song he sings "sitting in a carriage in the pouring >rain.... in Swindon." Or does he? Am I mishearing this? And if not, does he does sing this, but the clue is the next line "...in an anorak" Anoraks are the trademark clothing of the REAL trainspotters - those who go ut and collect engine numbers. And Swindon was, of course (along with Crewe) one of Britain's two main railway centres. So I think it's more a reference to railways than to XTC James (who was responsible for the version of "Ride" on the Glass Flesh tribute album...)
------------------------------ Date: Wed, 13 Aug 97 06:11:49 UT From: "brynne and scott " <brynneandscott@msn.com> Message-Id: <UPMAIL10.199708130616180260@msn.com> Subject: non XTC-CD label blunder-Gruppo Sportivo I know there are a few fans of this band on the list so here's some info: I just thought I'd warn everybody about the new live release of Gruppo Sportivo, "Second Life" on Amsterdamned Records. The info on their web page says, "The recording quality verges on unbelievable. Fun for everybody." The quality is definitely UNBELIEVABLE. The cd is a note slow, causing the vocals and music to drag. I have the original import called "Sing Sing" which got it right and sounds excellent. I've emailed the label at jelly@guavajelly.com, but have received no reply. Scott S
------------------------------ From: "Johan Ekdahl" <johan.ekdahl@programbyran.se> Subject: Beatles first stereo LP release? Date: Wed, 13 Aug 1997 09:48:23 +0200 Message-ID: <002be0448070d87SOFIA@programbyran.se> Sorry; no XTC-connection here. "Gravity" wrote: >Listen to a "mono" Sgt. Pepper sometime,on vinyl of course, >you will enjoy the music as it was "supposed to sound". Correct me if I'm wrong, but I do beleive that Pepper was in stereo. And how about Rubber Soul and Revolver? Anyone able to shed some light on this? (On the original issue: The absolutely most horrible example, IMHO, of destroying a recording when re-mastering for CD is ZZ Top's first album).
------------------------------ Message-ID: <c=GB%a=_%p=Benfield_Group%l=BENEXCHG-970813093708Z-8373@benexchg.benfield.co.uk> From: Gary Minns <Gary.Minns@benfield.co.uk> Subject: A is for Analogue Date: Wed, 13 Aug 1997 10:37:08 +0100 >>The bit that got me was the back-masking on 25 O'clock >>It got me thinking whether it was standard form for CDs and >>cassettes to contain back-masking even though it's pretty >>much impossible to make any sense of it on these formats > >If your computer has a CD-ROM unit (most do now), you can >play the CD and record the selected backmask and then reverse >it in your favorite sound editing program Er, right, that's cleared that up then! It's okay, I'm not technophobic, it's just that the powers that be have decreed that sound producing software is not necessary to run an insurance office. Harsh but not entirely incorrect. And continuing the recent vinyl-CD debate: >I felt like we've all been a little cheated by this digital revolution I know what you mean. There is a certain depth to vinyl that is somewhat lost on CD and CD singles are just cack compared to 7 inch singles (remember the excitement when you rushed down the record shop to get your 1st day release of All You Pretty Girls or This World Over). I guess that music is analogue and no matter how well you record it to digital it is still, effectively, a conversion and, like all conversions, loses something. Vinyl was analogue and the music went down on it in the original analogue form. Goddamit, that's progress for yas. They'll be sending people to the moon next. Gary
------------------------------
From: a.de.koning@bpa.vnu.com
Message-ID: <C12564F2.0033D2B9.00@bpa.vnu.com>
Date: Wed, 13 Aug 1997 11:49:31 +0200
Subject: Rockpallast!
Hi all,
So I sent email to the Rockpallast folks half a year ago telling them I was
so sad I missed the repeat of the XTC concert last year. Of course I didn't
tell them I already had a copy (thanks again Pelle!), but I was hoping to
be able to update the quality.
So they wrote back saying they would put my request on their list.
So I thought: yeah, right. Sure.
So you can imagine my surprise when this morning I got back email saying:
>Vieleicht interessiert Dich das attachment (28.09.97). Viel SpaB!
>Schone GruBe
>
>Peter Ruchel
>Rockpalast
Here's the important piece of the attachment:
28.09.97 SIMPLE MINDS
01.33 - 06.15 Uhr (Sartory Saal Koln am 06.06.82)
INXS
(Markthalle Hamburg am 08.05.84)
XTC
(Markthalle Hamburg am 10.02.82)
UB 40
(Sartory Saal Koln am 19.07.81)
So get those recorders ready this time!
Andre :-)
------------------------------ From: christej@vrinet.com Message-ID: <852564F2.00450098.00@vrinet.com> Date: Wed, 13 Aug 1997 09:29:41 -0400 Subject: RE: MOMMYHEADS (letter to the anti-self) >From: Jonathan Christensen <jon9091@ix.netcom.com> >Subject: MOMMYHEADS > >Hey! Thanks for the tip on The Mommyheads. I really liked it!! OK, this is too much... I really must step forth and disagree with "myself." I've been on this list for a couple years now and have really enjoyed all the musical recommendations. Besides amassing a small collection of XTC demos, interviews, and rarities, I've discovered aural pleasures from Jellyfish, Jason Falkner, Robyn Hitchcock, The Sugarplastic, Wondermints, Ben Folds Five, Willie Wisely, The Lilac Time, Supergrass, Radiohead, Martin Newel, Blur, The Posies, Fountains of Wayne, American Music Club, and of course, our very own Becki di Gregorio, through Chalkhills. Then came The Mommyheads. Full of confidence--based on glowing reviews read here--I searched my used CD haunts until I finally found it. Excitement soon turned to revulsion: It sounded less like XTC and more like Weezer Lite. The singer's voice sent my pets scurrying for cover. It was a sad moment: After two years of wonderful tips--tips devoured with utter confidence--I had bought my first piece of crap, IMHO. Musical preferences are subjective, of course, so your mileage may vary, but just know that there is a flipside to all the Mommyheads-praising that you've read here... XTC Content: Skylarking (aka "Skylar King"--but not "Skylacking," which is something wholly other) is not only my favorite XTC album, but it is my all-time fave album, period. So I must ask: Replace "Season Cycle" (or was it "Another satellite"?) with "Mermaid Smiled"? Are you daft?! As for Mr. Rundgren: As far as I know I have never heard a single Todd Rundgren song and my ignorance hasn't seemed to affect my love for Skylarking. Wow, the new Little Express has more first-hand band info than ever... Jasper (John "not Jonathon" Christensen)
------------------------------
From: jason.phelan@mcmail.vanderbilt.edu
Date: Wed, 13 Aug 97 08:56:21 CST
Message-Id: <9707138714.AA871487944@in2.mcmail.vanderbilt.edu>
Subject: Hey Happy Happy Ness
Hi Dear chalkchildren,
Hey , it's getting awfully XEROX like lately on the list.
Everyone is writing the same thing.
Maybe if we got some news about the band,
Our idea writing spots would start to ring.
By the way, ATN (music news of the world) has a review on the
Mommyheads album and by jove, (that was for the English people on the
list) they have sound clips for guys like me who have only heard
people talk about them. I listened and I honestly liked. Pure Pop
beauty.
I am willing to sell my sole to work for IDEA.
Notice I said sole as in shoe, or fish.
Anyways.....
Love Phelan.
------------------------------ Message-ID: <33F1CACF.FAA1471F@gate.net> Date: Wed, 13 Aug 1997 10:55:13 -0400 From: Mark Irvin <mdirvin@gate.net> Subject: elvis & xtc I find it interesting that others here like EC alongside XTC...i guess we know great music when we hear it.......Pump it up....Are you receiving me? The more you love music.....the more music you love. Mark Irvin......mdirvin@hotmail.com
------------------------------ Message-ID: <DC43D92F01291300@ametsoc.org> Date: Wed, 13 Aug 97 10:57:00 -0500 From: dgershmn <dgershmn@ametsoc.org> Organization: AMS Subject: Skylacking vs. Skylarking and other fine points Mark Gottschalk noted: >One thing though before I go. I fairly recently attainted Skylarking, >and I noticed its spelling. Some of you in the past have mistakenly >called it "Skylacking." I'm not much of a retentive about spelling, >but consistently screwing up the spelling of one of the greatest albums >of all time gets kind of irritating to some of us. Well, I'm not much of a retentive about misinformation (okay, maybe I am sometimes), but you appear to be confused, Mark. I don't believe anyone here has ever referred to "Skylacking" without meaning the XTC fan tribute tape put together in '96 by our friend Ian Stewart. Check out the info about it on the Chalkhills website. And Captain Chaos (Josh, that is) had this to say about removing backmasking on CDs: >Well, first, it seems rather obvious that the labels would leave on >the back-masking -- not only would removing it harm the artistic >integrity of the piece, but it would also be a huge friggin' hassle >to do it! My first thought on the subject exactly. Why would you WANT to remove the backmasking just because it might not be possible to hear it backward? When it comes down to it, my guess is that a relatively small percentage of people ever bothered trying to play a song on vinyl backward anyway. And if you can hear the backward sound in any way, shape, or form when playing the song forward, removing it would therefore change the song. Kind of a no-brainer, no? On a non-XTC tangent, I was listening to the Cars' "Candy-O" the other day (on vinyl, since you asked). A great album, I have to say, and it contains one of my favorite song transitions ever: "Shooby Doo" into "Candy-O." And the funny thing is, "Shooby Doo" is merely an average song at best on its own...but as a lead-in to the excellent "Candy-O," it works perfectly. Just a thought I wanted to share. Got a lot on my head, Dave Gershman
------------------------------
From: martucci@surf.com
Date: Wed, 13 Aug 1997 08:01:25 -0700 (PDT)
Message-Id: <199708131501.IAA09836@surf.com>
Subject: MOMMYHEADS recommend Ron Sexsmith
From: Jonathan Christensen <jon9091@ix.netcom.com>
>Hey! Thanks for the tip on The Mommyheads. I really liked it!!
>Anybody else have recommendations while we wait??
Resurfacing from a long lurk....with a small bit of xtc content (always
trying though), in the Aug 8, 97 BAM Magazine that highlight's Bill
Crandall's interview with Andy P., there is also an article on the
Mommyheads, page 41.
Within, Mommyheads bassist Jeff Palmer himself recommends Ron Sexsmith:
"We just saw RS at Border Books....I was in the midst of really foul mood,"
he says, "just really feeling down about everything in general, and then I
saw that Sexsmith show and realized that I can still be moved by music. He
just totally blew me away. Is was like "Wow, music did that."
To fill in, I was also at this event - a 12:30pm (yes, nearly morning!
Singers: when does *your* voice usually wake up?) free show on a Friday at
the BB in Union Square, San Fran. Ron did about 6 songs, mostly from his new
record "Other Songs." On Interscope records. His first also on Interscope is
also wonderful.
But see him live!! He remains on the road - but tour details at Pollstar
(and Ron's homepage) are very incomplete. The best place to get info is at
Bill Bonks' website: http://www.pacificnet.net/~bonknet/billbonk/Tour.html.
Bill Bonk is on bass (toured with Aimee Mann on her last US tour) & the
drummer is Don Kerr.
Lot's of stops worldwide coming up for them. Note the Sept 8 & 12 shows in
Dublin Ireland. Another Ron Sexsmith admirer, a Declan Little Hands of
Concrete or some such lives over that way. They have sung together backing
up Big Al Anderson on his last record, so you never know......
I was really glad to see Andy liked the Ruben Blades version of TMWSAHS. My
fav on the Testicular Dinner (yes, from this interview. You've discussed it
already?)
Dean
~*~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~*~
Dean Martucci martucci@surf.com San Mateo,CA USA
"Lie down and be counted, what are we standing for?"
- N. Innes
~*~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~*~
------------------------------ From: Cheryl <McGREGOC@regents.ac.uk> Date: Wed, 13 Aug 1997 16:38:15 GMT Subject: One more try Message-ID: <BF196D148F@regents.ac.uk> Hello chalk friends! I'm going to try this question one more time. The last time posed it I got stony silence. I don't know if this is because you all thought it was completely lame or because of the MAJOR flame war that was raging at the time. Here goes: In my ponderings, I've often wondered what it would be like if Mr. P and Colin have ever swapped songs to sing. What do you fellow fans think? Which songs do you think would work? Which ones would make you ill if the other were to sing them? In a discussion with a fellow chalkie, we've pondered over if Colin could sing "Melt the Guns". The verdict was nay. Or what IF Mr. P had written "Bungalow"? Would it have had the same impact? Okay, so this question is a bit different from the intended question but I thought it was interesting. Just something to ponder. Sitting in the thinker pose, Cheryl
------------------------------ Message-Id: <l03102800b017aa0df245@[146.6.72.39]> Date: Wed, 13 Aug 1997 13:15:41 -0500 From: jason garcia <h.h.name@mail.utexas.edu> Subject: Dear Todd >John Lennon's letter to Todd AWESOME. Thanks for sharing; I had always heard of that letter and wanted to know what he said. Jason
------------------------------ From: monnickj@ubk.co.uk Message-Id: <199708131730.SAA23803@sys4.cambridge.uk.psi.net> Date: Wed, 13 Aug 1997 15:49:13 +0000 Subject: not so great rock read Greil Marcus and the Invisible Republic I have to say this is another dreadful and sloppy piece of writing by the man. The best things about the book are that it is short and that it may encourage Sony to release the material officially because it is great . I would avoid the book for stacks of reasons- 1He writes in a rambling form - i could find no particular order - and this allows him to stretch a one paragraph idea into a book without having to put it into any order. For GM this is great because it gets him away from any continuity/development and I doubt if he is concerned about the reader. It's as if he can't help pressing the Kerouac button on his pc. 2 He doesn't address the issue of what are (and are not) the basement tapes. The 5 cd set on which he bases the book is the most complete and the obvious starting point. However, he takes it no further and there is no investigation why stuff was released when .For example that set does not include some the stuff on a 4 lp vinyl issue in the mid 80's which includes a session with Tiny Tim (which I'd love to hear so if any body out there has it ....). 3 The Tiny Tim visit I'm not sure how GM feels about irony but TT's visit is the business because at the very moment when dylan was visiting the past here comes a performer who made his name by digging up old standards, albeit from a different direction. Commonality or what ? I imagine that GM just could bring himself to include such a prat like the late TT in his ramblings. 4 He never mentions that Levon Helm refused to co-operate (but leaves this implicit a comment about GM's friendship with Robbie Robertson. 5 elvis costello gets called in to provide a completely superfluous quote, one of EC's worst habits. I'd like to thank my local library for stocking the book I realise this is not XTC fare and so if anyone wants to reply it might better to so off chalkhills Cervantes and Don Quixote STICK WITH IT (whoever was struggling) It a fantastic rambling masterpiece with ideas and shaggy dog stories from all over the place. I have read it twice and, yes, it is probably the best book ever written. I write this as someone who hated English Literature as school. kinks I would go along with the kinks being great and all that in the late 60's/early70's but to me there is a slackness about their albums including the classic ones which leave you thinking that they could have done it better but couldn't be bothered. Cheryl Mcgregor & XTC Stuff Just to add that next door to Reckless on Brewer Street, London W1 is Selectadisc which always has a limited stock of XTC at excellent prices, cd only CD's To hell with the sound quality of vinyl ; have you ever tried to turn over a liquorice pizza whilst holding a baby ? I rest my case jon on the turntable - Introducing Reuben Gonsalez *---------------------------------------------------------------- The views expressed are of the individual, and do not necessarily reflect the views of The United Bank of Kuwait PLC. *----------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------ Message-Id: <s3f1dfcc.046@elsevier.com> Date: Wed, 13 Aug 1997 16:24:17 -0400 From: Ralph DeMarco <r.demarco@elsevier.com> Subject: Give the People What They Want Dear One-Armed Bandits and Affillated Members: Re: Administrivia: Enough Todd Rundgren already! I must admit, I started the whole thing. I was simply interested in other views about one of my favorite musicians. I realize that Chalkhills is devoted to XTC, however, when we Chalkers have had our say regarding TR, than we will cease discussing him at such length. What makes Rundgren such an interesting topic for Chalkhills? Well...the controversy surrounding the Sylarking production and considering he maticulously produced XTC's most popular album ever...I can't see why this thread of conversation would be so annoying that you would feel so compelled to attempt gentle persuation to cease and disist it. We all love XTC but - no band or tastes should exist in a vacuum, and besides...we all know songwriters and musicians are influenced by each other and it is very interesting to discuss the connections and learn about an artist we've never known much about. It also lets you hear some XTC in a whole new way - which we all should desire! So...... From: bartok@adan.kingston.net (steady eddy) RE: John Lennon's letter to Todd Rundgren I pulled this same letterfrom a TR website (I forget what magazine it was from) but the TR site did not offer the text of the original interview to which John felt compelled to responded to. John was obviously pissed off and ribbed him somewhat .. but showed respect to Todd by at least confessing that he really liked his work. John Lennon took the time to respond to Todd because John was a sensitive person who wanted to set the young wipper-snapper straight. Re: Kinks / XTC Someone posted they thought my statement about Ray Davies really being a true working class hero (not John Lennon) was crazy. Why don't you read Davie's lyrics and maybe you'll stop gagging and really understand what I am talking about. Muswell Hillbillies is a perfect example of what I mean. Also I refer you to the much praised by Andy P. 'Autumn Almanac'. The list could go on. In fact, the working class content of XTC is no accident. The Beatle's, on the other hand, were never comfortable confining themselves to small-town sensiblities and anxieties. The John and Paul could never have written 'Apeman', though I admit, Ray or Dave could never have written 'Across the Universe'. Andy said XTC won't do an un-plugged show because 'everybody's doing it now', and perhaps they would do something electric on the back of a flatbed truck somewhere. Since when does Andy Partridge care what the new fad is? I would kill to see XTC on Un-plugged - granted it would shot without much of an audience - perhaps family and friends? Love you all....Ralphie
------------------------------ Date: Wed, 13 Aug 1997 17:06:01 -0500 (CDT) From: The Gottschalks <gotts@tenet.edu> Subject: non-xtc, xtc related, just read it please Message-ID: <Pine.OSF.3.91.970813165508.22639B-100000@Joyce-Perkins.tenet.edu> for no apparant reason than to hear me ramble. Danny Elfman is a musical god. That's hardly up to debate. Now, if he did anything with XTC (joined the band for all I care! Oingo Boingo split up.) it would be great. I confess I don't know who the hell Mr. P is, I've never heard The Kinks or Todd Rundgren, and so on... Forgive me, I'm young (17 now). But let me just add that Elfman's work in Men In Black was one of the most original scores he's done. It's a classic Danny Elfman film. Indeed, R.E.M. should try to attempt to bring XTC back to a certain extent, seeing as how they admire them. But then, do artists generally stand behind what they say? Not really. That's all. I don't have too much to say. Adios, and remember, write things that will interest me. Thank you. MARK A. GOTTSCHALK
------------------------------ Message-Id: <199708132237.AAA17969@utrecht.knoware.nl> From: "Mark Strijbos" <mmello@knoware.nl> Organization: The Little Lighthouse Date: Thu, 14 Aug 1997 00:43:08 +0000 Subject: Reel By Real Chalkers, I just have to mention I received a large shipment of XTC rarities today; some hard to find 7"singles and a number of cassettes including the Polish Nonsuch pirate edition and the Virgin UK Go2 & Go+ "review tape". To the best of my knowledge this is the only (semi-regular) release containing both the Go2 album and the Go+ 12"tracks. Is this true? But... does anyone have any old XTC cassettes lying around??? I don't mind if they are worn out as long as the original j-card is in good condition... I have loads to swap or trade. Including XTC slipmats for your recordplayer Please please email me privately if you have anything to offer... Then Mark (not me!) said: > "Skylacking." I'm not much of a retentive about spelling, but > consistently screwing up the spelling of one of the greatest albums of > all time gets kind of irritating to some of us. An old Chinese proverb says : check out the Chalkhills Archives to avoid egg on face ;) 'Skylacking' is of course a tribute tape compilation made by XTC fans but I'm sure zillions of Chalkies will have told you by now ! yours retentively, Mark Strijbos at The Little Lighthouse; the XTC website @ http://utopia.knoware.nl/~mmello ===> The Random XTC Quote <=== Clear as children's chalk lines on the paving
------------------------------ Message-Id: <199708132237.AAA17961@utrecht.knoware.nl> From: "Mark Strijbos" <mmello@knoware.nl> Organization: The Little Lighthouse Date: Thu, 14 Aug 1997 00:43:08 +0000 Subject: Black Sea Bar Chalkers, I'm sorry but I forgot to add this: > 3: Has anybody have any idea why Black Sea was chosen as a Album title > as a lot of the titles are fairly consistant with the track content of > the albums. Not really, but the band (except Terry) wanted to call it Terry And The Lovemen but Virgin did not like that at all. Why did they settle for Black Sea? Probably because it was easy to go with a naval theme in the sleeve artwork etc. but nobody (at Virgin) was very happy with the results and the green bag was yet another compromise between label & band. BTW: somebody once pointed out here that the "props" used on the Black Sea sleeve were from the Sheraton bar ( he recognized the 'S'). And the name "Black Sea Bar" is very common of course... could there be a connection? yours inevitably, Mark Strijbos at The Little Lighthouse; the XTC website @ http://utopia.knoware.nl/~mmello ===> The Random XTC Quote <=== We felt the air from from your hands all clapping time
------------------------------ Message-Id: <33F255F5.A446F129@appsig.com> Date: Wed, 13 Aug 1997 17:48:53 -0700 From: Peter Jeong <peter_jeong@appsig.com> Subject: everything's eerily come full circle <owner-chalkhills@chalkhills.org> wrote: > There was an article in the May 1997 issue titled, > "The Greatest Songs of All Time". > One Andy Partridge of XTC prattles on about > a song titled "Autumn Almanac". > Mind you it's very nice prattling. > It's a tune written by Ray Davies and performed by said Kinky people. > Here is the end of Andy's quote-"Damn,I wish I'd written this song. about a week ago, i was introduced to the kinks mailing list by somone's post to this list (forgive me, whoever you are, i've forgotten your name, but not your act of kindness!). i mentioned to someone on the kink's list what a great song autumn almanac was. just this morning i had the kink's "autumn almanac" and "sunny afternoon" on repeat in my car cd player throughout my whole 35 minute commute to work! now on the xtc list i find that andy partridge admired this song as well. wow. everything's eerily come full circle, i have affirmation that i have great taste in music, and i feel at peace with the world (that'll last a few picoseconds). jive talkin', pete
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