Chalkhills Digest Volume 3, Issue 156
Date: Monday, 18 August 1997
Chalkhills Digest, Volume 3, Number 156
Monday, 18 August 1997
Today's Topics:
Tripe
XTC & EC SOTW-QOTW
John the Man, Chalkhistory, mismatched MIDI's, TGOED, ES#1, Moloko, but 'Sky
Born in August
Another boring recommendation
Sgt Pepper and the men from Hull
she, she, she! (i am the audience)
English Settlement is the Pivot
Brian Stevens correction
What in the world ... ???
Chips
The snowman IS the fly on the wall
It Wasn't Me / Mr. Moonlight
Swirl
New Album
One fact, one opinion
Let's Briefly Summarize...
Happy Birthday
Just 2 threads addressed: Lead Tracks & Todd
That's All Folks
Kink For A Day
Ecstatic Classic XTC Spelling Bee
XTC nontent
I Got Juju
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---------------------------------------------------------------------- From: linda hall <particle@servtech.com> Message-Id: <199708172232.SAA10499@cyber2.servtech.com> Subject: Tripe Date: Sun, 17 Aug 1997 18:32:13 -0400 (EDT) Hi, everyone. Ignore the From: field, this is your ever-lovable JHB, albeit in a slightly different guise... I'm sure this is way too long, but hey, I've been quiet for a while, I've earned it. Stormy Monday: >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.<snip> Amen. As much as we may dislike it, "tripe" is what keeps the music business going, just as with movies or any other mass-consumed media. My solution -- don't listen to commercial radio. Natalie: >Margaret Freeman (The Residents w/ Andy) Hmmm? I must have missed that -- when did it happen and how do I get a copy? >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. Eeek! So sad. Ah, the tragedy of taping over rare demo recordings... (Keith Sawyer, are you listening to me?) This is why I always punch out the little tabs -- I mean, if you ever need to dub on it again, it's not that hard to put the little piece of tape on there... Jason Garcia: >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. Another strong agreement. I just put this album on the other day, after letting it collect dust for several months. Wow. This album was old before I was born, but it's still amazing today, with the kind of pop and rock gems most bands only wish they could write. "Tomorrow Never Knows" is even more amazing when you think about the kind of equipment the band had to use to put it together... >Who else (other than XTC) has been continually reinventing himself in the >indifferent face of pop culture for the past 25 years? David Bowie? Oh, wait, that was a rhetorical question... Ralph DeMarco: >Andy said XTC won't do an un-plugged show because 'everybody's >doing it now' Don't forget that Andy modestly (*cough*) claims credit for the entire Unplugged phenomenon, as the first artist to do such a performance for MTV (although this was before the days of the regular "Unplugged" specials...) Graham Shore: >Regarding LP vs. CD, I could not agree more with the recent views >expressed that 'something is lost' in the transfer to digital. Ho hum. I know I'll be shot down as "that annoying young'n," but I really haven't found the difference to be significant. Surface noise and such completely ruin the listening experience for me, while I can live without the minute sound improvement provided by records. The issue of CDs not properly reproducing very quiet sounds does exist, although the latest U.S. News mentions a technique that will help combat that... That Milkmaid: >briefly (ha!) - does anyone else think that "My Bird Performs" is a >(possibly unintentional) dig at AP on Colin's part? I always figured that MBP was somewhat of a response to the Beatles' "And Your Bird Can Sing" -- using as it does the same metaphor, while taking the opposite side of the issue. John Wedemeyer: >I have always thought that XTC were masters of the cross-fade. AFAIK, the whole thing started when Lillywhite had a random idea -- "Let's crossfade all the songs!" -- and Hugh, seeing that it had been done on the last two albums, decided to keep it. After that, for better or worse, it's a tradition and we're stuck with it. Some of the crossfades are really nice -- That Wave into Then She Appeared is just amazing -- but others drive me crazy, like No Thugs into Yacht Dance.
------------------------------ Message-ID: <33F7A96D.646057EB@gate.net> Date: Sun, 17 Aug 1997 21:46:27 -0400 From: Mark Irvin <mdirvin@gate.net> Subject: XTC & EC SOTW-QOTW Just got back from the beach....not going to type much. For my SOTW: Desert Island and as for my answer to the QOTW: Oranges and Lemons. Garden of Earthly Delights begins a wonderful journey as it's opening track. It sets the mood for a garden of delightful music. And I might as well include Elvis Costello in this fun.....SOTW: I Want You. And far as QOTW: ahhhhhh, Imperial Bedroom (need I say more) but I can not forget to include My Aim Is True.....my two fav EC albums. Well, time to break out the aloe - take care of the beach damage. Any more Florida Chalkies? Email me! God Bless, Mark Irvin
------------------------------
Message-ID: <33F7B8C1.3731@bhip.infi.net>
Date: Sun, 17 Aug 1997 22:52:03 -0400
From: gregory <mattone@bhip.infi.net>
Organization: InfiNet
Subject: John the Man, Chalkhistory, mismatched MIDI's, TGOED, ES#1, Moloko,
but 'Skylarking' will be it
Tschalkgerz!
John Murphy is my man of the day here. He has offered to send me a copy
of the XTC demos I pleaded for before. I anxiously await their arrival!
I will at least kiss cyberass. Thank you, thank you, thank you, John!
You rule!
On to responses to the latest:
John, thanks for the brief history of Chalkhills... I'd been wondering
about that myself.
Just stopped by the Bungalow today, and noticed two new XTC (and
related) MIDI's by our esteemed Steve Clarke. Nice job, Steve...
however, I have one observation - why in the heck didn't you match up
the recorded measures with the sequence measures?
Jon in Philly dosen't like "The Garden Of Earthly Delights"... WOW!
Really? That song is, in my opinion, an XTC masterwork.
The quintessential XTC album? 'English Settlement', no contest. My fave
tune from there? "No Thugs In Our House". It will be the next MIDI that
I release.
Off topic, here... I picked up the debut from Moloko ('Do You Like My
Tight Sweater'), and it is a fun little album. I recommend it for those
in search of the different.
IMHO, 'Skylarking' will be the album that stands out in history, if
nothing else than because it had the most public notice.
Later, all
-Brian
Eating future and shitting past
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 18 Aug 1997 00:10:43 -0400 (EDT)
From: Natalie Jane Jacobs <gnat@engin.umich.edu>
Subject: Born in August
Message-ID: <Pine.SOL.3.91.970817232833.6271A-100000@azure.engin.umich.edu>
Kids -
First of all, a large happy birthday to Mr. Moulding. One of my folklore
books tells me that saying someone was "born in August" was a term of
high praise for a well-skilled person, and such praise certainly applies
to Colin - as well as to Elvis Costello, born August 25, and the wondrous
Aubrey Beardsley, bless his decadent little heart.
Secondly, I must point out that I FINALLY got "Black Sea" on CD and it
sounds fiiiine - i.e. not melted and drooled over and scritchy like my
old cassette. (Mark, you don't want it. Seriously.) However, as has
probably been pointed out before, a track as resolutely mellow as "The
Somnambulist" (while not a bad song by any means) really does not fit
with the uptempo mood of the rest of the album. Does a CD exist without
this track? I'll trade you...
SOTW - Making Plans for Nigel: I never cared for this song as much as I
felt I should. I love the sarcastic lyrics ("... but he loves to speak
and he loves to be spoken to") and Terry's wacko drumming but it doesn't
make my senses go bang the way, say, "Life Begins at the Hop" does.
Still, there's always that crazed video... hilarious and looks like it
was done for about ten pounds at three in the morning.
QOTW - Best opening track: "Beating of Hearts" springs immediately to
mind, but it doesn't really sum up the album, which is primarily low-key
and pastoral rather than ecstatic and dervish-like. So I'd go for
"Respectable Street," which rocks as hard as the rest of the album put
together, or else "Summer's Cauldron," all the loveliness of "Skylarking"
baked into one cake.
Finally, I feel I must point out to those of the AMANDA mindset that, if
recent photos are any evidence, the object of your affections, Mr.
Gregory, is definitely showing signs of hair loss. You may commence with
wailing and rending of garments.
Natalie Jacobs
Perdix: The Andy Partridge Appreciation Page
http://www-personal.umich.edu/~gnat/perdix.html
P.S. I am haunted by the idea that Elvis Costello should cover "Living
in a Haunted Heart." Am I a bad person?
------------------------------
Message-Id: <199708180423.VAA09924@mailgate32>
Subject: Another boring recommendation
Date: Sun, 17 Aug 97 23:23:01 -0600
From: <aostermann@sprintmail.com>
..since we're on the pseudo-subject of recommending bands, I'd like to
throw up THE
DIVINE COMEDY.
Fairly well-known in the UK, but is a complete unknown in the US, the
Comedy is essentially Neil Hannon, who plays the foppish British
pseudo-intellectual bit better than Blur's Damon Alburn. Although Neil
started playing REM-ish sort of jangle-pop everybody seemed to be making
in the early 90's, he soon followed the lead of his inspirational idol,
Scott Walker, and started making more elaborate, orchestral stuff. (If
you know not who Mr. Scott Walker is, well it's long story but he is
ewasily one of the more overlooked musical personalities of the 60s, and
still records in extremely sporadic intervals (his latest, 1995's ^Tilt^
is actually getting a proper US release this September, the first time
any of his studio albums have been, tho there's a nice Razor and Tie best
of floating around.)
Anyhow, if the rumor's true that Neil Hannon sends his releases to the
elusive Mr. Walker on a pillow with a dozen roses on top, then I'm sure
Scott would have enjoyed his latest effort ^A Short Album About Love^ the
most. Made with a string orchestra, Neil manages to make seven utterly
CLASSIC pop songs that belong to no decade. Songs like "If..." or "I'm
All You Need" could have been sung by Sinatra or Bennett, but have that
pop kick all us XTC obcessives like. (And face it, you gotta love sly
romantic nods like "If you were a horse/I'd clean the crap out of your
stable/and never once complain") Even the more baroque numbers like the
brooding "Timewatching" go down like the most inane Archies number.
Sadly, his albums are only available on mail order AFAIK, through a small
New Jersey company that is the US branch of UK indie Sentanta. But if you
enjoyed the more orchestral moments of ^Nonsuch^ ("Rook," "Wrapped in
Grey") than chances are you will hold this disc to your bosum as firmly
as I do. Anyone wanna back me up on this?
XTC content? Huh? Oh, that's right, this IS a XTC newsletter, innit?
My fave intro is off my fave XTC album, ^Go2^. The dischordant wheezy
keyboards of "Meccanic Dancing" sets up the listener for the strange ride
that lies ahead, carnival music for a downtown industrial factory. Top
class stuff.
Oh, and to the person who posted last time about scoring an Eric Matthews
promo - you lucky lucky expletive. I did manage to hear a cut off it from
one of those monthly samplers. The song was called something "Ideas That
Died Today" and I will vouch that people who loved ^It's Heavy in Here^
and raved will do more raving come the 26th of this fair month.
Adam
P.S. to JH -- the interview is coming, I have to find the second half
somewhere in the thousands of folders I have scattered in the inner
depoths of the ol' Mac....
------------------------------ Message-Id: <v01540b0ab01e3185f386@[139.80.100.150]> Date: Mon, 18 Aug 1997 17:06:43 +0000 From: james.dignan@stonebow.otago.ac.nz (James Dignan) Subject: Sgt Pepper and the men from Hull Stormy Monday <stormymonday@sprintmail.com> >Listen to a "mono" Sgt. Pepper sometime,on vinyl of course, you will enjoy >the music as it was "supposed to sound". amazingly, the track order on vinyl is not the originally intended one - side one got shifted around quite a bit. However it is possible to listen to the correct track order on CD by programming. Amazingly, it leaves an improved album (and I for one wouldn't have thought that possible with SPLHCB). The original order for side one was : SPLHCB; With a little help...; Being for the benefit...; Fixing a hole; Lucy...; Getting Better; She's leaving home. Try it! (info from the SPLHCB 20th anniversary CD box) >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. There is a best of CD from the fourth- best band from Hull: "Now that's what I call quite good". Contains 24 of their best: "Sheep", "Build". "Think for a minute", "Caravan of Love", etc etc etc - good value. Might be still available: It was released on Go! discs, cat. 828 344-2. James
------------------------------ Message-Id: <l03020900b01d92aaf749@[206.252.158.12]> Date: Mon, 18 Aug 1997 02:37:18 -0400 From: that milkmaid <rmckenzi@dti.net> Subject: she, she, she! (i am the audience) chalkloons - [John Relph wrote:] >Someone asked >>James: didn't some awful female singer ca. 1991 do a cover of >>"tomorrow never knows"? i seem to remember cringing a lot at her nerve. >I thought this was Sheila Chandra when she was singing with Monsoon. since i was the one who asked this originally, i'd have to say that i'm 99% sure that it wasn't - it was some woman under just her name, and i think i would have liked it more had it been Sheila Chandra, as she's actually good - at least i like her solo stuff on Peter Gabriel's Real World label. it couldn't have been Cathy Dennis, could it? i can tell that i'm never going to be relieved of the torment of trying to remember this ridiculous bit of trivia... i had to laugh at Jim Samuelian's remarks re: the relative merits of "Mother" and "Mr. Moonlight" - i actually like "Mother", too, but more as a novelty song than as a serious effort. i agree with whoever brought up "Miss Gradenko," though - i've always loved that song. "Mr. Moonlight" on the other hand, deserves to be programmed out of _Beatles for Sale_, along with some other dogs on the second side of that album. thanks to Keith and Simon for the kind words of praise - Keith, i take it you already have a dub of _Acorn_, but if you don't i'd be glad to make one for you (the record i have is not mine to sell, unfortunately). RE: Moxy F. - i have the new album and while i like it okay, i find it a little lightweight, although much better than their previous effort _bargainville_. they seem to have changed membership somewhat, for the better. although i do find it a little disconcerting that the best song on the album is the Bee Gees cover (!!) "Got to Get a Message to You". i think they have potential which has yet to be explored (Moxy Fruvous, not the Bee Gees!). Ben Gott - while i have forgiven you for mistaking my gender (i know it's tough, because most people named Brook(e)s are boys, but i am female - try to remember that, people), i still have things to go over with you, namely - look for the earlier albums _flying suit_ and/or _bingham's hole_ (in order of recommendation) by the Mommyheads. if you get really desperate, i might be persuaded to make you a tape of the better stuff from those albums, and throw in some other good stuff. all in the name of the Mommyhead army... you took issue with my statement that Jellyfish, Martin Newell, Yazbek, etc.'s main accomplishment is to sound like XTC. let me actually correct myself here - i think their BEST accomplishment is to sound like XTC. i.e., they don't always sound just like them, they have some original-sounding material, but i don't think any of their original stuff is any good. it doesn't really matter whether or not they're *trying* to sound like XTC - Ben what-his-face of the Sugarplastic claims that they're not - but some people are able to absorb/digest influences better than others, IMO, while some are just very transparent about it. i must agree with you about "Fortress Around Your Heart" - i was in the supermarket the other day and it was playing and i remembered all over again that Sting really can be brilliant when he wants to - that song was a hit, and it still isn't ruined by being overplayed, that's how good it is. your quote reminds me of something: The palace walls are strewn with tapestries and the windowpanes are splintered and shattered with a crumpled dog on every landing - Will Oldham, 'O How I Enjoy the Light' i take it yours is your own, if not i'd be interested to know who wrote it. - brookes ----------------------rmckenzi@dti.net------------------------------- R. Brookes McKenzie aka Louise B. Minetti "She was immaculately dressed, every stitch of clothing perfectly color-coordinated. Intellect blazed from her cornflower blue eyes." - Paula Graves, _12 Rites of Passage_ Part V (X-Files fanfic) ------------------http://www.smith.edu/~rmckenzi--------------------- (as in 'what's that milkmaid/ doing there?' - i.e., don't ask.)
------------------------------ Message-ID: <33F80E2E.4F2D@ix.netcom.com> Date: Mon, 18 Aug 1997 01:56:20 -0700 From: Eric Rosen <rimshot3@ix.netcom.com> Subject: English Settlement is the Pivot Me tinx itwuz Lee L. hoo sed: "English Settlement" didn't break any new ground. I humbly and respectfully DISAGREE VOCIFEROUSLY! The sheer originality of it is (still!) breathtaking. The first time you heard Senses you're gonna tell me you knew where the melody was going to go upon hearing "1-2-3-4-5 Senses working..." The up and down angularity of the word overtime is totally unpredictable, original, FRESH! They were doing things with percussion that was unheard of in the pop framework from which they operate. Ball & Chain, Melt the Guns, & All of Sudden get their textures from percussion first. Each is distinct yet simple (that's a feat in itself). The way Colin's fretless glissandos over it all creates depth & melody that belies their sparseness. That's what's so unique about XTC in general. They juxtapose very different rhythms and/or melodies simultaneously so that it's as if there's more than one song going on at the same time. Did No Thugs or Yacht Dance remind you of anything? What? Sounded to me like they had stepped off another planet steeped in other musical traditions not of this earth. Who was reaching as far back as they were with songs like Runaways? It sounds very medieval especially with that reapeating heavy "thump" in the percussion. When one looks back at the recording history of this band, ES is clearly a pivotal point. It's the last of the touring albums and the first of the studio oriented recordings. Food for the thinkers, indeed
------------------------------ Message-Id: <v03007801b01db880bb3f@[168.121.35.138]> Date: Mon, 18 Aug 1997 04:38:08 -0400 From: Curtiss Hammock <curtiss@macbeth.com> Subject: Brian Stevens correction In the last issue, I wrote of Brian Stevens' album, "Prettier Than You": > Now he's back on a solo album that I've been enjoying quite a bit. In > addition to some pretty decent and mature songwriting, it features an > all-star cast, including The Grays' Jon Brion (who contributes a killer > Clavichord track on "She Shines") and our own Dave Gregory on various > keyboards and guitars (Dave's parts were recorded by Andy in Swindon). > Excellent songs with some fine production. After listening to the album again yesterday, I discovered the name of the song wasn't "She Shines," but rather "Every Night She Glows." Sorry about that. It's still a great album. Curtiss --------------------- Curtiss R.Hammock II MacBeth Design Atlanta, GA, USA curtiss@macbeth.com www.macbeth.com
------------------------------ Date: 18 Aug 97 09:37:00 GMT From: david.mcguinness@bbc.co.uk (David McGuinness) Subject: What in the world ... ??? Message-Id: <"<AD53F83381821573>AD53F83381821573@GW.BBC"@-SMF-> Hello - Does anyone know whether everything on 25 O'Clock was put down on a 'only one take allowed' basis? That would explain the wonderful but wayward 'Rain' bass playing on What in the World. It wouldn't be half so much fun if Colin had gone back and straightened it out a bit. People are still posting about anklungs so here's my tuppence worth. If you have lots of them all tuned to different notes and lots of people with nothing better to do, you can play tunes a bit like handbell ringers. A long time ago when I was a music undergraduate, a bunch of us put on a concert with 'Classical Music's Greatest Hits for Anklungs and Piano' in it. Thing was, we didn't have an F sharp, so in the Blue Danube we all had to shout 'F sharp' very fast. The Grieg piano concerto was pretty funny though. Is anyone still reading this? -David McGuinness
------------------------------ Message-ID: <c=GB%a=_%p=Benfield_Group%l=BENEXCHG-970818091529Z-9430@benexchg.benfield.co.uk> From: Gary Minns <Gary.Minns@benfield.co.uk> Subject: Chips Date: Mon, 18 Aug 1997 10:15:29 +0100 >>It was the little squiggle of blurb that came after Mole and >>before Vanishing Girl on the Chips CD that confused me. >>Why bother to leave in a 2 second line of nonsuch that was >>not part of a song? I suppose the answer is: why bother to >>take it out? > >I believe the answer is that it was inserted especially *for* the >CD. AFAIK, "Chips" was never released on vinyl -- it was the >CD compilation of the EP-length "25 O'Clock" and the >album-length "Psonic Psunspot." So the backwards-masked >part was inserted to designate the segue between the two >(like we needed it!). Nope: the piece of back-masking *was* on 25 O'clock, in the run-out groove following Mole. It wasn't an addition purely for Chips, it just got transferred straight from 25 O'clock to the Chips CD. Gary
------------------------------ From: Cheryl <McGREGOC@regents.ac.uk> Date: Mon, 18 Aug 1997 11:51:31 GMT Subject: The snowman IS the fly on the wall Message-ID: <13252F30A17@regents.ac.uk> Hi there! QOTW Perry stated: >For me it is close between Beating of Hearts and Summers Cauldron... Ooo! Yeah! I agree there. I love the way Mummer opens up with Beating of Heats. It's one opening track that I don't skip. Same for Summers Cauldron. They just really pave the way for each track that comes after. I tend to skip the first two tracks on ES, they just seem to have a different feel from the rest of the album. I know this is going to put some of you into spasms because I said that, but I just think those two songs are weak, this is my opinion of course. And the ever-clever Jason Phelan said a couple of issues ago: >I can hear most of the songs on ES being switched and not suffering >in the slightest except maybe "All of a Sudden". I tried to "hear" Colin doing the Scat bit in Snowman but it put me into fits of giggles. I really don't think it would....work. And again Andy has that agony sound in his voice that the big C couldn't add to make that song as effective. On the flip-side I listened to Fly on the Wall and at first I thought, it would be an easy switch, but on closer listening I really couldn't place Andy's voice in that song. I don't know, maybe it's just my ears. I think perhaps, Mummer could be interchanged more easily than ES, again just stating my opinion. Ben Gott ventured: >I think that Colin would've done a good "Rook." Yeaaaaaaah. That would be a fun one to hear. As I bounce around here.... The first time I heard Making Plans for Nigel I was 15, wide-eyed and innocent, oh how things...stay the same. ; ) The song used to give me the creeps. It just sounded so strange to me. I liked it, though. I thought it was soo PUNK and weird. I never did know it was XTC until years later when I finally got into them. I always associated XTC with Senses Working Overtime and later Dear God ( go figure?!). Living in my own Oblivion, Cheryl
------------------------------ Message-ID: <33F882FA.5E35@sprintmail.com> Date: Mon, 18 Aug 1997 10:14:34 -0700 From: Stormy Monday <stormymonday@sprintmail.com> Subject: It Wasn't Me / Mr. Moonlight Folxtc, Ben Gott inadvertently attributed the following to me: >MARK A. GOTTSCHALK wrote, "That's all. I don't have too much to say. >Adios, and remember, write things that will >interest me. Thank you." That >is the request of the century. Who else but some 17 yr old kid would come >on a >mailing list with thousands of people and ideas and make that >request. I Me Mine. What a cute kid. I could just >ruffle his hair. I actually thought that was a pretty funny line. Chastising (if that was the original author's intent) a 17 year old is not my style anyway. Beatles stuff. > ...okay, how's this: listening to Beatles For Sale without Mr. > Moonlight...can we agree on that one?...or does that say something about > my relationship with, um, mr. moonlight?... Anybody who has read more than one or two of my posts can conclude that I love the music of The Beatles, so my defense of "Mr. Moonlight" should come as no surprise. I really do like their rendition of "Mr. Moonlight", mostly for John's incredible vocal track. Stormy Monday
------------------------------ From: fstolzenbach@hns.com Message-ID: <852564F7.004E4AF1.00@ngw2.hns.com> Date: Mon, 18 Aug 1997 10:27:39 -0400 Subject: Swirl - water does not go down - the plug-hole in the opposite direction in the southern hemisphere - when compared to the northern hemisphere. Wish I could agree here, but -- having lived in the southern hemisphere and watched it happen -- I'm afraid you're off the mark. The Monty Python fans among us may also remember a scene from Michael Palin's excellent "Pole toPole" series on A&E where he demonstrates the principle (well, sort of) by pouring water down the drain on the equator and watching it go STRAIGHT DOWN, with no swirl at all (which looks much creepier than you would think). But talk about a post with no XTC relevance! Let me fix that by saying that -- though I haven't heard the Brian Stevens CD, "Prettier than You", the Cavedogs CDs from earlier in this decade were pretty damn good; to get Jon Brion AND Dave Gregory on a Cavedogs-like product would be a real mind-blower! So, thanks for the tip. BTW, I'm going in the studio in the next couple of weeks to begin the long-delayed Chalkhills originals tape duplication process. -- FS
------------------------------ Message-ID: <33F85FED.A03D1936@gate.net> Date: Mon, 18 Aug 1997 10:45:02 -0400 From: Mark Irvin <mdirvin@gate.net> Subject: New Album i can't take this much longer
------------------------------ Message-Id: <199708181529.IAA14889@netcomsv.netcom.com> Date: Mon, 18 Aug 1997 08:33:56 -0700 From: Burlingame <peets218@peets.com> Subject: One fact, one opinion Happy day - One FYI: I went to see World Party at the fabulous Fillmore last Saturday evening. As has been the case for the last couple of tours, drummer extraordinaire Chris Sharrock was in the band. Obvious point: Chris did the drums for "The Good Things" on Testimonial Dinner, and was also in the La's (who I also had the great fortune to see about 7 years ago). AP has also been quoted as saying he'd love to have the aforementioned in "the band", whenever possible. Aye - he's a great drummer. One opinion: as much as I believe "Your Dictionary" to be one of the greatest songs AP has written, I see it as being a little too...personal? Vindictive? Libelous? Whaddya think? All for now, Owen M.
------------------------------ Message-ID: <33F8AC64.671D@sprintmail.com> Date: Mon, 18 Aug 1997 13:11:16 -0700 From: Stormy Monday <stormymonday@sprintmail.com> Subject: Let's Briefly Summarize... Folxtc, The quote at the end of Ben Gott's last post got my attention: > Genius is the ability to reduce the complicated to the simple. I related this to my girlfriend, and she quipped, "And the mark of the idiot is the ability to make the simple appear complicated". Stormy Monday
------------------------------ Date: Mon, 18 Aug 1997 14:08:28 -0400 (EDT) From: Ted Harms <tmharms@library.uwaterloo.ca> Subject: Happy Birthday Message-ID: <Pine.OSF.3.95q.970818140419.3216B-100000@library.uwaterloo.ca> On behalf of bassists everywhere, I'd like to (belatedly) wish Colin a happy 42nd birthday. To revive the languishing Colin-is-God thread, my vote (votes, actually) for the best xTc Colin-driven songs: 'Omnibus' and 'All Along the Watchtower'. Anybody care to dis/agree? <ducking> 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
------------------------------ Message-ID: <33F8C6C3.2D2E@a.crl.com> Date: Mon, 18 Aug 1997 14:03:54 -0800 From: Ed & Pam <ednpam@a.crl.com> Subject: Just 2 threads addressed: Lead Tracks & Todd Just 2 threads addressed: "Respectable Street" to start off "Black Sea" & "Making Plans For Nigel" off "Drums & Wires" do the best jobs of setting the album's tone. They always get me cranking the volume controls UP. And on a related note: the first time I heard "Prince Of Orange", I thought, "Man! Andy can still write the "Drums & Wires"-type quirky piece when he wants to! More! More!" When I first heard years ago that 2 of my favorite musicians, Andy & Todd were going to work together, I was just blown away. It resulted in their best "concept" album to date, IMHO (Their best "overall" album i.e., each track taken on it's own, is "English Settlement", but I digress . . . , ). Anyways, let's see an end to all of this Todd bashing; it really gets us nowhere. He's still a vital artist, contributing to the rich musical landscape that we in this discussion group all enjoy. I recently (last week) saw Todd solo in concert; he's still the iconoclastic, hair-shaking, psychedelic guitar-playing, piano balladeer that we all wish we could all be sometime. And Todd recently turned 49. Ya have to give the guy his due. Ed in S.F.
------------------------------ Message-Id: <3.0.32.19970818134002.00686870@pop.cancom.net> Date: Mon, 18 Aug 1997 13:40:52 -0700 From: The Village Green <green@vis.bc.ca> Subject: That's All Folks Re: the possibility of a song of the week and question of the week. I was pleased with the four or five responses in the last digest, as well as those received privately. However with the private responses I received it will not be worth the effort and so on that note bid the concept adieu. Incidently, the idea of a thread was to encourage discussion about XTC, not to hijack the discussion process and make every other topic irrelevant. I suppose what comes around goes around and for the fellow who thought things were rather Xerox better times are ahead. "If there is hope, it lies in the proles" Bill
------------------------------ Message-Id: <199708182048.WAA11839@utrecht.knoware.nl> From: "Mark Strijbos" <mmello@knoware.nl> Organization: The Little Lighthouse Date: Mon, 18 Aug 1997 22:53:51 +0000 Subject: Kink For A Day Chalkers, Just something that crossed my mind pondering the current talk about the merits of Ray Davies and his Kinks. In all their "official" recordings as XTC the band only 'covered' very few songs As far as i know they are: - All Along The Watchtower (the Hendrix version obviously) - Ella Guru (Captain Beefheart) - Tired Of Waiting For You (Ray Davies) Surely this must mean something? yours kinky, Mark Strijbos at The Little Lighthouse; the XTC website @ http://utopia.knoware.nl/~mmello ===> The Random XTC Quote <=== Trying to stem the flow of sand is useless
------------------------------ Message-Id: <199708182048.WAA11835@utrecht.knoware.nl> From: "Mark Strijbos" <mmello@knoware.nl> Organization: The Little Lighthouse Date: Mon, 18 Aug 1997 22:53:51 +0000 Subject: Ecstatic Classic XTC Spelling Bee Dear Chalkers, First: John Relph is 200% right. The name is spelled / pronounced as three separate letters ( EKS TEA SEA ) and that's the truth. I've got umphteen interviews on tape that prove I'm right. Then Todd ( no, not _the_ Toddzilla ;) said : > I think the thing that really hooked me on XTC was when I > first heard No Thugs in Our House segue into Yacht Dance -- I > remember thinking, "My God! What range!! THIS is talent!" Oooh yes!!! This particular bit sends shivers down my spine everytime i play the album. And I have to disagree with our hero Mr. Partridge regarding Terry's drumming on this album - in my ears it's "spot on"; not a drum hit too many and very subtle at times (Yacht Dance!). And if you play this bit, preferably the vinyl version, on a decent hifi with huge speakers and turn the volume right up to 11 you can actually feel those first bass notes and those awesome glissandos. Colin has once said that ES was a bit of a personal embarrassment; he had just bought a new fretless bass and (in his opinion!) not every note was played exactly as it should have been. Maybe so, but I'll bet you English Settlement will be _the_ XTC album that will stand the test of time. All that remains for me is to say DANK JE WEL to my fellow Dutchie Andre for alerting us all to the Rockpalast show repeat on German TV I'll try to get a few VCR's in line so I can to produce enough "masters" so everyone & their auntie can have a copy. yours fretlessly, Mark Strijbos at The Little Lighthouse; the XTC website @ http://utopia.knoware.nl/~mmello ===> The Random XTC Quote <=== Is it the aliens at the foot of my bed or is it the ale inside my head?
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 18 Aug 1997 16:59:59 -0500 (CDT)
From: y9d62@ttacs1.ttu.edu
Subject: XTC nontent
Message-id: <Pine.PMDF.3.95.970818164517.566399709A-100000@TTACS.TTU.EDU>
Speaking of...
Can: Just read in Mojo mag, Can albums have been rereleased.
Unfortunately, not in this country. You can get them through cdnow, or
other online shopping sites for about $25. I've always loved Can, and can
see a definite influence on XTC, especially in their uses of rhythm.
Lennon's letter: that's pretty funny
XTC content in posts: not as funny, but a lot more helpful
Timeless records: Why is this being used as a point of departure for
arguments? This is neurosis on an exsistential tip;
that is, it makes us happy, not correct.
My opinions: see Existential neurosis
Dominique
------------------------------ From: J_ARTECONA@RCMACA.UPR.CLU.EDU Date: Mon, 18 Aug 1997 18:13:00 -0400 Message-Id: <970818181300.226008a5@RCMACA.UPR.CLU.EDU> Subject: I Got Juju I had a great relationship with my mother until whe left me for my brother the little sucker got all the good milk. And she left me after I had killed my father and everything...talk about feeling inadequate! CAN-greatest 60's band and some of the best german music ever although I must disagree with AP regarding Mr. Mooney. He was an incredible singer but no one can ever come close to Damo Susuki, I mean the guy couldn't even speak english, how much better can it get. Holger Czukay....now that's one great bassist never mentioned in our poll, perhaps some might reconsider. Oh, and lastly, I am upset no one has responded to my post regarding Elvis Costello's opinion of AP and viceversa, and being a paranoid schizophrenic I am beggining to believe that this whole list's silence is part of a complicated plot to control me......ha! I am not falling for that so laught all you want, I am NOT that stupid. Try the next sucker because you ain't getting close to me. I CAN HEAR THE SEAGULLS SCREAMING KILL HIM KILL HIM! And the worst of it is that I will probably get censored and none of this will ever make it. That's ok, I still got juju.
------------------------------ End of Chalkhills Digest #3-156 *******************************
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