Chalkhills Digest Volume 3, Issue 74
Date: Monday, 27 January 1997
Chalkhills Digest, Volume 3, Number 74
Monday, 27 January 1997
Today's Topics:
the foggy path in my head
These Are a Few of My Favorite Songs...
The fluffy XTC factor and dawning memory
craig kilborn
(Results of) The Continuing Lack of XTC
Re: Smashing Pumpkins (no XTC content)
Thank you and goodnight
ten songs
H and Herbert G and TEN DARN SONGS
whoo boy!
Still discussing dollars for demos
How to tell if it's XTC!
that sound
killer's eyes
A disco trot from Germany
Andy finally hits the mainstream!!
XTC Content With Substance
1980 live XYC
I'll let you know
The mighty KRP
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The kind of screw your toolbox lacks.
---------------------------------------------------------------------- From: McGREGOC <McGREGOC@regents.ac.uk> Date: Sun, 26 Jan 1997 17:49:07 GMT Subject: the foggy path in my head Message-ID: <F549270605@asdf011.regents.ac.uk> Hello again, I was thinking about what I wrote in my previous post and I realized I was rather vague in one part. Please forgive me, my body has been attempting to get sick so at times my mind was cloudy. I asked in one part about do they get paid for the extra songs on the CDs. What I was refering to was on my Blacksea, Mummer, The Big Express and I think White Music there were six to seven extra songs added that were not on the original album releases. Was compensation given to the band for the addition of these songs on the CDs? I highly doubt it but, thats what I was refering to. To Autumn Howell: I've been thinking about this topic of XTC and the blasphemy of the Dear God video. I highly doubt that THAT much thought went in to a video and I can't see that XTC would go for such a mean spirited theme. Autumn, XTC have included the Beatles as an influence on their music. Really, is the theme of Dear God any worse than John Lennon declaring that the Beatles were more popular than Jesus? Nope, and if you listen to Dear God closer you'll see that it has to do more with the anguish and pain that humanity suffers than the fact that Mr. P. is stating that God does not exsist. You can also ask yourself why is he telling God that he does not believe in him IF he does not believe in him? Just a few thoughts And thus ends my ramblings for the day, Cheryl
------------------------------ Message-ID: <32E9CAA6.7073@pacbell.net> Date: Sat, 25 Jan 1997 00:56:06 -0800 From: The Haglers <raah@pacbell.net> Subject: These Are a Few of My Favorite Songs... Hello all, My favorite songs have been mentioned way too many times lately to hold back my first post any longer. I've visited Chalkhills ocassionally from work for over a year, and finally got to subscribe a couple of months ago when we got a machine at home. Enough lurking! My wife and I are long time XTC fans. As a matter of fact, I'm proud to embody jes' generalization of an "early listener...who lists 'Black Sea' as their favorite XTC album." I sympathize with those of you who have to sneak away to listen to XTC so that your significant other doesn't have to listen to it. We have the simpler problem of fighting over which song to hear first. Although the survey is long over, my 5 desert island songs are: Jason and the Argonauts, Rocket from a Bottle, That Wave, Wake Up, and Little Lighthouse. Please, play them loudly. And often. Enough bio, on to the topics... Mike (Stormy Monday <stormymonday@sprintmail.com>) asked: > Does anyone else besides me think that Terry Chambers was a GREAT > drummer? Yes, "Rocket" and "Jason" are proof. Natalie Jane Jacobs confessed: > I finally realized that "That Wave" was pretty cool when it ended > and I was sorry it was over I looked through the back-issues and was surprised to find that there were very few positive mentions about this song. Hmmm... When I listen to Nonsuch I often skip to "Omnibus" and let it segue into "That Wave" (that way I don't feel guilty about only listening to one song). Then, I play TW a few more times for good measure. Yes, the guitar solo DOES smoke (way too short), but check out the bass work too. TW also has some of my favorite nuances, the most notable being the melody itself: e.g. "I flew down to the bottom of the sea" rises and crashes like, a wave maybe? The melodies of Yacht Dance and Jason provide a similar watery effect. >...has anyone out there had a total 180 degree turn around about a particular > song/album/CD Yes, although maybe more like 170 degrees, about "Seagulls Screaming Kiss Her, Kiss Her". While in Paris last year, we stumbled across "Drums and Wireless" in the Virgin Megastore (under the Louvre, of all places). Finding it was the highlight of the trip. Anyway, great version of "Seagulls..." on that album. "Roads Girdle the Globe" too, now that I mention it. Anyway, there doesn't appear to be a shortage of, er, opinions (my own included) about the relative merits of the albums and individual songs. This is all pretty silly. Rather, I've been wanting to make some sweeping statements (everyone likes those!) about the band and what sets them apart from other bands. Nothing profound, but here goes anyway: 1. XTC's songs have enough subtlety, both musically and lyrically, to stand up to *repeated* listenings over many years. How many albums (Black Sea) stay fresh (Black Sea) and interesting for over 16 years (Black Sea)? 2. Their albums have a lower "Filler Quotient" than most (any?) other bands or artists. 3. If you don't like a particular song or album, you simply haven't listened to it enough times. (Looks like I better start listening to Skylarking. Think 1000 times would be enough? Does Mermaid Smiled count?) 4. All other music is just a distraction until the next XTC album comes out. Alberto Castagna <mc4950@mclink.it> asked: > But is there, between the chalkills, someone who likes EXACTLY the same > bands I love? If yes, would you to signal me some band that I don't know? Well, not exactly all of them, but there is plenty of overlap (like early Heads, especially More Songs about Buildings and Food!) Based on what you listed, I can easily recommend Adrian Belew. All of it is great, but you might start with "Here" (or the latest, "Op Zop Too Wah") and work your way back. Finally, to John, thanks for making a great site. Randy (in name and often in spirit) "I think all right-thinking people are sick and tired of being told that ordinary decent people are fed up in this country with being sick and tired." -- Monty Python
------------------------------ From: McGREGOC <McGREGOC@regents.ac.uk> Date: Sat, 25 Jan 1997 16:49:33 GMT Subject: The fluffy XTC factor and dawning memory Message-ID: <DC49706B46@asdf011.regents.ac.uk> Hey there everyone! Thanks for the great responses about the sound of XTC. All varied and great! It was neat to see how others view XTC's sound and what makes is identifiable to them. Since I had never had the chance to experience hearing a song by them first on the radio I just wondered...and I remembered(sometimes my thoughts are a little slow) When I first bought Testimonial Dinner and heard The Good Things I thought " they are good....... they sound like XTC!" The more I listened the more I thought hmmmm. so I looked at the gate folder and put two and two together BUT, I didn't have anyone to concur with me so I harboured the thought until chalkhills was found and my question answered. So I guess in my own way I will know when I hear them. That will be thrilling to hear a new song of theirs being played on the airwaves. Can't wait! DeWitt! thanks for your compliment on my post and for the reminder about Colin and how the new song could be from him! Silly me. No ill will intended against him. He is great! >>has anyone out there had a total 180 degree turn around about a particular song/album/CD.... Yeah! I hated Mummer when I first heard it! It was too fluffy for me!(must be that Umph! thing) Since first hearing it, I have come around to the softer side of the band, infact I play it quite regularly now. They have a way of coaxing me in. " Come on, its nice and warm in here", "Well, alright if you insist." A big round of appause, a pat on the back, and two snaps in a circle for JH3 concerning "album lengths and contracts from hell" How smart of you to think of that. I'm envious. Very good point made. I comend you. Yes, the fact that they only got paid for ten songs off each of those albums is horrendous! And what about the CDs sold now with all the extra songs included? Do/Did they receive any extra compensation for that? Wow! Todd Bernhardt- you're a tongue in cheek kind of guy, huh! Thanks for all the kind thoughts I've gotten from other post-ers on the list. You make me smile! As I gush all over the place. Warm fuzzies for everybody! Thus ends another meandering in my thoughts, Cheryl
------------------------------
Date: Sun, 26 Jan 1997 13:54:28 -0700 (MST)
From: cminer@cougarnet.byu.edu (Chris Miner)
Subject: craig kilborn
Message-id: <01IEO6825E08001901@yvax.byu.edu>
SMX wrote:
I forgot to ask, did anyone else see Xtc spraypainted on the wall
behind the flamanco dancer during the "moment of zen," at the end of
the Daily Show one day last week?
I respond:
Wow!!! I never thought the two worlds of Craig Kilborn and XTC would EVER
collide. (Then again, I never thought I'd read about Go-west on chalkhills
either [a *VERY* guilty pleasure-only my record supplier knows!]) I'm on
chalkhills and I run the Craig Kilborn WorshipCenter on the web.
http://www.itsnet.com/home/lminer/craig
Thanks to XTC, the world is one!
-chris m.
Chris Miner
_____________________________
http://www.byu.edu/~cminer
------------------------------ Message-Id: <v01550100af1172a4d8f0@[146.6.72.20]> Date: Sun, 26 Jan 1997 15:35:38 -0600 From: h.h.name@mail.utexas.edu (jason garcia) Subject: (Results of) The Continuing Lack of XTC Good day, sunshine. > "All things must pass", maybe (and even that has a side or so of >jam noodlings). That's actually a double album; the third record was intended as a freebie. > Except for "Stepping Out," which I used to listen to >when I was about six, everything else was completely new, and a sonic feast. Cool! I've been thinking about getting that, but wasn't sure if I'd like all of it. With that recommendation, I might just buy it. Of course, I've always loved "Stepping Out". > However, I find the inclusion of bonus tracks >between the original side one and two on Drums & Wires (GEFD-4034) to be >totally wrong! Ruins my day, it does! That's why they 'ave "program" on the CD, mate! Re: Top 10s Hmmm...that's difficult. Although it seems like I've been buying a lot of music this past year (relative to the little I bought in '95 but nothing compared to my XTC-collecting days), most of it is by old pals (save for The Sugarplastic). These old pals have already been talked to death so I won't mention them here; however I will say the The Monkees' "JUSTUS" was one of the big surprises of the year. Definitely worth a listen. I'm still waiting to hear from you guys on the subject of BOSTON (the city, not the band). If you have any opinion at all on the town, please email me. (You can also email me about the band, but keep in mind that I think they suck, despite the fact that it's usually hard for me to change the station when "More Than a Feeling" comes on.) P.S. - I just had to retype this whole message when my Macintosh decided to freeze up, so I just want to say this-- MACINTOSH SUCKS!!! Have a (great, wonderful, incredible, life-affirming) day. Jason "FIII-YERRRRRRRRRRRRRRR-HERRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!!!!" (R.E.M.)
------------------------------ Date: Sun, 26 Jan 1997 18:35:50 -0500 (EST) From: "Christopher R. Coolidge" <ccoolidg@zoo.uvm.edu> Subject: Re: Smashing Pumpkins (no XTC content) Message-ID: <Pine.A32.3.91.970126182617.80140A-100000@gnu.uvm.edu> Speaking of Smashing Pumpkins, my brother gave me Melon Collie for Christmas last year, telling me, "Very interesting stuff- sounds a lot like XTC!"(????)My brother's rather unusual- he has one of the most diverse and eclectic record collections of anyone I know, but he's never been able to grok XTC for some reason; too pop for him or something. He'd probably love The Big Express if he gave it a chance. He likes the Dukes, though, which figures, '60's obscurantist he is. I find very little resemblance between the Pumpkins and XTC; I think my brother heard "1979" on the radio and decided the whole album sounded like that. On the basis of that one song you could make a case for the resemblance, Corgan's rather annoying voice aside. I listened to the album twice, lent it to a friend who took it to NYC with him where it was stolen out of his car. I don't miss it. He did tape it for me, but I haven't even bothered to listen to the tape yet. Corgan's voice ruins their potentially good material for me.
------------------------------ Message-Id: <199701270040.LAA10554@warchives.riv.csu.edu.au.> From: "Simon Knight" <sknight@warchivegw.riv.csu.edu.au> Date: Mon, 27 Jan 1997 11:16:27 +0000 Subject: Thank you and goodnight >anyone who subscribes to this list that complains of "ONLY" ten >song albums ought to have their brain cells re-counted... As i stated before, CDs are extraordinarily expensive in australia. A cd is 1/9 of my pay. I don't earn much money and have to carefully weigh out each purchase before i buy it. XTC aren't your average band, they can and have delivered longer records devoid of filler. Why should we expect any less from them? I always thought people wanted more from records. Since being on this list i've learnt most people don't have the patience to delve into deeper or more complicated works. Just give us the frosting: ten obvious hit singles and program out anything that challenges our concepts of what constitutes an interesting song and we don't like on the first listen. Funk pop a roll DOES beat up your soul. Please unsubscribe me from the list, Mr Relph.
------------------------------ Message-Id: <v01540b00af11e0d84569@[139.80.228.167]> Date: Mon, 27 Jan 1997 15:35:34 +1100 From: james.dignan@stonebow.otago.ac.nz (James Dignan) Subject: ten songs Another thought on the 10 songs dispute... (apologies if this has been brought up in the last coupla digests - I'm a bit behind...) After a couple of years soul searching, Australia's The Church (who bear some similarities musically, stylistically and historically with XTC) recently released a new album. It had only ten songs on it. It did, however, clock in at 68 minutes. And before you think that only bands with some arty or prog rock tendencies can get away with that, remember that Dire Straits picked up a moderate mainstream following with their epics (the tracks on Love over Gold averaged 8 minutes; on Brothers in Arms and Making Movies the average was over 6 minutes. This was the band's most popular period). I'm not suggesting that XTC might be abandoning the 3-5 minute marvel - the demos we've heard are proof that that isn't the case - or that they should change their style of music. But I for one would be interested to see them throw a "wrong 'un" in there. How would we react if, buried amongst nine "pop songs" from the boys there was a 15 minute masterpiece (can you imaging a 12 minute version of Deliver us from the Elements, Chalkhills and Children, or Travels in Nihilon???). James
------------------------------ Date: Sun, 26 Jan 1997 19:21:35 -0800 Message-Id: <199701270321.TAA21252@barley.adnc.com> From: studio seventeen productions <ambient@adnc.com> Subject: H and Herbert G and TEN DARN SONGS >I saw a recent post elsewhere that Steve Hogarth's (of Marillion) band called >"H" was releasing their new CD "Ice Cream Genius" in Europe on January 21st. >No U.S. release date was mentioned. Dave Gregory plays guitar on the CD. Has >anyone purchased this yet? If someone has this I would love to see their >review of it. dawn says: the release dated has been pushed back to something like 2/26. However, they are on tour in early Feb in the UK, unknown if DG is in the touring band (but one would hope so). (Note: this information from the Marillion list). and she should know because she is WAITING for this record.... THEN >And finally (sorry about the length of this post), but I have not seen the >new CD by Herbert Groenemeyer called "Chaos" get a mention on Chalkhills yet. >I heard he originally recorded the album in German. He decided to also do an >english language version and contacted Andy Partridge to help with the >translation and to make sure the lyrics made sense. I know nothing about >Herbert Groenemeyer, so if anyone who is familiar with him could post some >info it would be appreciated. Please also let me know if this is worth >buying! remarkably (Dave says) I *DO* know who he is. Or at least a little tiny bit about him. Herbert sings the part of The Herbalist in THE FALL OF THE HOUSE OF USHER released a few years back by the remarkable Peter Hammill. He is indeed German, but I can say at least that on the single track from Usher he sings on.....that he has a great voice! Extremely powerful, a near match to Hammill himself. I believe that Herbert may also have translated some of Hammill's work into German so that Hammill could sing them in German. Which he then did, he made an entire CD of various tracks sung in German (many of which sound better than their English originals- the combination of the German language and Peter Hammill's voice is overwhelming to say the least!) i'll probably look for CHAOS now too.... FINALLY I've refrained from commenting on the TEN SONGS thread until now.....but Firstly, it's speculation anyway. Secondly, everyone seems to *assume* that if it's ten songs, each will be 3 - 4 minutes long and they will lose out because the CD ends up only 30 - 40 minutes long. Thirdly, length, sequencing and song order are very important, and, IMHO, should be entirely up to the artist. Fourthly, has it nae crossed any of yer minds tha the boys might (just for the hell of it perhaps) do four 17-minute long songs (including a cover of Helter Skelter-just KIDDING)? Or segue together 28 brilliant 2 1/2 minute pop gems? Or do two 3-minute wonders and a 45 minute space improv? Anything can happen, and often does. When I sequence a set of songs, i ask myself: what is appropriate? If thirty minutes yields a solid block of quality, then 30 minutes it should be. If the nature of the pieces indicates a 74 minute block, then 74 minutes it should be. I leave it up to Andy & co. They've always made pretty good decisions before. Wow, I guess that thread was really bugging me!!!!!! I'm bugged, dave at studio seventeen * * * * * * * * * * * * it takes six minutes to fill and eleven minutes to empty... -Mr. Blint (Consequences/Godley & Creme) visit: http://www.adnc.com/web/ambient/index.html seventeen: the ambient music page
------------------------------ Message-Id: <v01540b00af11a7f3252d@[208.211.100.72]> Date: Sun, 26 Jan 1997 22:36:57 -0600 From: kmarkman@netwestonline.com (Debutante) Subject: whoo boy! Well, well, well, a lot happens wheb you go away! Hello fellow Chalkhillians. After trying to dig myself out of the huge pile of Chalkhills I had, I finally gave up and skipped to the most recent one. My eyes were starting to get all fuzzy. Between being on vacation for 2 weeks and then moving, I've been out of youch for almost a month, but fear not, I'm back. If any of my responses are outdated, humour me. Thanks. First off, thank you once again to Ira for the XTC videos and devil dogs. And for keeping me from being bored at work. Was watching Look Look again the other day and was pretty much reduced to mindless hero worship. As far as records being too long, etc, I have pretty much decided that I'll listen to anything that they put out, regardless. Andy could sing Happy Birthday and I'd listen. XTC does *not* get played on the radio here in West Texas, so I have to rely on my CD collection to give me my fix. Finally, I'm going to try and resurrect the XTC Texas party, for anyone who is interested. I just found out that there's going to be some big record/cd sale thingy (the exact name of which I have at work, sorry) in Austin, I think on March 22-23. My boyfriend and I intend to drive the 6 hours to go and spend our money, so I think this would be an ideal time to meet fellow TXtcANS. We had a problem last time finding a place to hold the party, but maybe we could just meet somewhere. Surely there are zillions of polaces to eat and hang out in Austin? Anyway, let me know what you think, cause I'll be saving my pennies. Well, that's all I can think of for now, I have a million messages to reply to. XTC in 97 ( I hope!)!!! -Kris ############################################################## "She's got someone to come over and braid her hair..." (Wagon)
------------------------------ Message-Id: <01BC0BD8.8CFC07A0@tturner.cs.mci.com> From: Trent Turner <trent.turner@mci.com> Subject: Still discussing dollars for demos Date: Sat, 25 Jan 1997 14:07:19 -0700 Folks, See my comments imbedded below. tt original comments> >Could someone, say our good buddy Mitch, set up a bank account that us folks >on the mailing list could send money to for our possession of demos? From: particle@servtech.com (Chaos Harlequin) This was raised a little while before. Other than my half-facetious objection that "People are greedy and suck," tt> No objection here, except for me & thee of course ;-) I believe the other main problem was that it's not really so much that the lads are annoyed that we're getting these demos for free, but that it would be so easy for someone to press up a bootleg CD of them. tt> It's already easy! However if we look at the shareware model, the 'artist' recognizes the improbability of preventing unauthorized copies, and instead capitalizes on the tendency of folks to share things they like! While sending royalties to the band would be a great step (one that I would wholeheartedly support, and one for which I might even be able to scrape up some cash:) I don't know how much it could do to help the underlying problem. tt> It doesn't 'fix' the underlying problem, it changes the nature of the situation from a problem to a possible source of income. It won't make anyone rich, but there are a LOT of folks who have been able to profit well from the shareware model! tt> I definitely believe XTC needs to profit more from their hard work. I would definitely and immediately pay for demos, bootlegs, videos, etc. if there were mechanism available that I knew would go directly to the artist! I have more thoughts on this if anyone is interested in continuing this thread off-line! XtatiCally yours, Trent Turner Is this a great time, or what? ;-) Have I been such a fool? [Attachment omitted, unknown MIME type or encoding (application/ms-tnef)]
------------------------------ Message-Id: <01BC0BD8.92859240@tturner.cs.mci.com> From: Trent Turner <trent.turner@mci.com> Subject: How to tell if it's XTC! Date: Sat, 25 Jan 1997 14:23:36 -0700 Well, for me it's usually that the song awakens me & makes me feel. So much music is mind numbing, XTC is exhilarating, whether it's something sweet like Ladybird, or something else mild like Travels in Nihilion. Also, I think XTC's music is always so richly textured, I have often described it as cacophonic. (I amazed at how often I get challenged as to the existence of the word: cacophonic!) There are always a lot of layers deftly interwoven, and I find that the lyrics are usually interwoven within the texture of the sound. I LOVE IT! Trent Turner Is this a great time, or what? ;-) Far too many men dressed up as soldiers ...
------------------------------ Message-Id: <v01510105af11fb9a47f1@[204.188.73.158]> Date: Sun, 26 Jan 1997 20:56:44 -1000 From: jimsmart@hula.net (Jim Smart) Subject: that sound What makes the sound of XTC? What is their trade mark? What identifies them? To me, one of the things is their odd chord changes, rhythms, and melodies. These guys would never make a rockin' 4 chord song like Oasis, the Beatles, or most other bands/songwriters. Never. And I suspect that's why a lot of us are here. They usually veer away from "normal" chord changes, into "wrong chords", and can be downright atonal at times. (This is more true of Andy than Colin, I think)....also....more cool, odd, and unusual rhythms than any other band. And yet, so catchy! To me, these are the things that would clue me into a song being by XTC, if I wasn't already damn sure, because I put it on myself, since I never hear it any other way. Jim Also, I think it would be great for the next XTC album to have strong personalities to butt heads with our boys....Stewart Copeland on drums, Elvis Costello producing....that would be great for the product, but hard on Andy. What's that old saying about too many chiefs spoil the view? Too many cooks in the kitchen....hey... an XTC song! jimsmart@hula.net "If I should die at sea, do something for me, write a little note send it off afloat" XTC
------------------------------ Message-Id: <v01510104af11fa73028c@[204.188.73.158]> Date: Sun, 26 Jan 1997 20:56:54 -1000 From: jimsmart@hula.net (Jim Smart) Subject: killer's eyes Dear Donkey Shakers: many of you have been posting the name of John lennon's assasin here recently. As a fairly avid Beatle fan (I play the part of Paul in a local all Beatles band), I feel I should let you know that that name must not be mentioned. I am really enjoying Chalkhills, except that i keep coming across the name that must not be mentioned. Just my 2 cents worth, Jim
------------------------------ Message-Id: <199701270658.HAA11230@utrecht.knoware.nl> From: "Mark Strijbos" <mmello@knoware.nl> Date: Mon, 27 Jan 1997 08:01:54 +0000 Subject: A disco trot from Germany Dear Chalkies, Last issue Jim Smart confessed: > A friend gave me a tape of Go2. I absolutely > hated it. Couldn't stand it. Thought it sounded out of tune. Moved > on to Squeeze, Talking Heads, and the rest. Don't feel bad about this Jim :) The first XTC album I ever heard was Go 2 as well and I hated it too. I just could not relate to it and I quickly turned to more accessible stuff like the B52's and the Heads... I think it's fair to say that XTC takes some getting used to for most people - I hear this a lot from others as well. And Magnus Fredholm wrote to say: > However, I find the inclusion of bonus tracks between the original > side one and two on Drums & Wires (GEFD-4034) to be totally wrong! > Ruins my day, it does! Hear hear! I agree 100% Bonus tracks should be put after the "regular" tracks and certainly not between LP sides. I know that most artists/producers put a lot of thought into the running order of the tracks and this should not be messed about! bye 4 now, Mark Strijbos at The Little Lighthouse http://utopia.knoware.nl/~mmello/ ===> Mark's Random XTC Quote <== Clear as children's chalk lines on the paving
------------------------------ From: shaefner@falcon.cc.ukans.edu Date: Mon, 27 Jan 1997 01:08:57 -0600 (UTC -06:00) Subject: Andy finally hits the mainstream!! Message-id: <01IEOTR8V67M00LTSS@KUHUB.CC.UKANS.EDU> Did anyone else notice that our own Andy Partridge plays a less-than-starring role in _My Fellow Americans_? He is the one driving the golfcart for Walter Manthou (or perhaps for Jack Lemmon, I can't remember - it was one of the presidents) during the golfing scene. Anyone else notice the resemblance? I have an alternate take on the 10 song CD issue: perhaps Mitch's post is a conspiracy between him and Andy to get fan's reactions to the idea before going through with it. ;^) james.dignan@stonebow.otago.ac.nz analogized: (yes it's a word, I looked it up) >>>Just because the technology's there to release CDs at 79 minutes or whatever it doesn't mean that that length becomes the law, and everyone else is 'skimping'. That's like saying "The speed limit is 50 miles per hour, so to drive at only 49 m.p.h. is a crime".<<< Just to counter your silly analogy, all in good humor of course: Where I live, if the speed limit is 55 MPH, it IS a CRIME to drive less than 45 MPH. So does that make it a crime to release only 40-45 minutes of music on a 75 minute CD, which is what Andy and company are proposing, assuming song length is an average of 4 - 4.5 minutes?? ;^) My personal take on the issue is that XTC has been out of the studio for nearly 5 years now. Obviously, they have way more than 20 songs which could be included on a double disc set. Personally, I want to hear as much XTC as I can get my hands on. I have heard many of the demo songs that never made the cut, and a lot of them are amongst my favorite tracks. Besides, is "album cohesiveness" really that important? I don't think I have ever listened *attentively* to a whole album in one sittin'. If an album is playing in the background, am I going to notice its lack of cohenses, etc. And if anyone has an extra room that you're just dying to rent out... Anyway, email me if you can (& want to) help. >From This World Over, -Scott http://falcon.cc.ukans.edu/~shaefner
------------------------------ Message-Id: <v02130500af123b8630b2@[134.32.48.177]> Date: Mon, 27 Jan 1997 11:32:08 +0000 From: varga@ferndown.ate.slb.com (Stephen Varga) Subject: XTC Content With Substance There's been a lot of critisicism lately, with a lack of XTC content. For example, there was one case recently of someone requesting some tips for travel in London, when , quite honestly this should have been referred to another newsgroup perhaps something travel related. It's understandable, that with no new material in the pipeline, there's nothing new to say, or is there? There are a lot of fans out there who don't know all the details about XTC's past history. The Chalkhills biography is by no means a complete account. Here's some of my experiences of XTC past. In 1984, Andy Partridge did a slot on Radio 1 called Agony Andy. Yes, you guessed it - an agony uncle! This ran for about 6 weeks. One of the problems given to Andy went something like this: CALLER: I really love my girlfriend. I've been buying flowers for her regularly and saying how much she means to me. However, I'm getting the impression I'm scaring her off. What am I doing wrong? ANDY'S REPLY: It sounds to me like you're being far too serious. Remember Cyndi Lauper's "Girls Just Want To Have Fun?" You need to do just that and I'm sure that everything will be fine, then. Around 1987, both Andy P and Dave G contributed album reviews for a magazine called New Hi Fi Sounds. This lasted several months. One quote I remember for Andy was that DAT will never take off. We're at the stage where soon we'll have recording devices with no moving parts. I'm sure other Chalkies out there would like to share some XTC info that not everyone knows. Please keep your postings relevant to only XTC. Most of us want quality - not quantity! Steve Varga
------------------------------ From: Damian Foulger <Foulger@cardiff.ac.uk> Organization: UWCC Date: Mon, 27 Jan 1997 11:40:12 GMT Subject: 1980 live XYC Message-ID: <AB14556A05@nrd2s.cf.ac.uk> Chear Dalkhillians, I'd had my eye on the 1980 live XTC album for a long while now and when I saw it last week for stlg7 I bought it. I must say that I wished I'd bought it sooner. It is amazingly good. I now understand what all you lucky people who have seen them live were going on about. The energy of this live performance is incredible. I would urge everyone to listen to it and then rue the day when XTC stopped touring. :-( I would now give my high-teeth to see them live. Funny though, because in the performance and in a written description of the gig that is printed on the sleeve Andy really seems to love the whole experience! Not just going through the motions, but really enjoy it. What happened in those short years? Andy also speaks highly of Terry Chambers input into XTC whilst they toured. Dames tWd (Life is good in the greenhouse:XTC) "I am quite happy to wear cotton without knowing how it works" - Black Adder
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Date: Mon, 27 Jan 1997 11:33:13 -0500 (EST)
From: Allan Hislop <Allan_Hislop_at_UKCDEE01@ccmail.bms.com>
Subject: I'll let you know
Message-id: <9700278543.AA854379111@ccgate0.bms.com>
In Chalkhills #3-73, Jim wrote
>I would love to see reviews of Mark
>Owens (ex- Take That member) new CD that features Dave Gregory called
>"Green Man". Is it worth buying to hear Dave's guitar playing?
I've just had to buy that cd for my wife's birthday - honest guv.
She likes the 2 singles, so asked for the cd.
Her birthday's not until 1st Feb, so I won't get to hear it until
then, but I'll let you know when I do - unless someone else beats me
to it.
Allan
------------------------------ Date: Mon, 27 Jan 1997 14:36:39 +0100 (CET) From: James Isaacs <jisaacs1@aixterm1.urz.uni-heidelberg.de> Subject: The mighty KRP Message-Id: <Pine.A32.3.91.970127142921.19681H-100000@aixterm1.urz.uni-heidelberg.de> Hooray to Don for recognizing the best TV show America put out in the 80's. That is probably not saying much, but WKRP was the weirdest show I can recall. Anyway, for some reason I think I remember a "Drums & Wires" poster, but this could be a memory implant the replicants gave me. And, I am kicking myslef repeatedly because I have the demo tape, but I accidentally left it in the US, and I am back here in the Vaterland until July. James
------------------------------ End of Chalkhills Digest #3-74 ******************************
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