Chalkhills Digest Volume 3, Issue 75
Date: Tuesday, 28 January 1997
Chalkhills Digest, Volume 3, Number 75
Tuesday, 28 January 1997
Today's Topics:
Joke
On "I Can't Own Her"
Better Late?
1996 Top 17
Monkees, Chambers, etc.
TMBG live on NY radio
XTC Screwed In The Future?
Cathy Dennis album/SKYLACKING update
I Love Hate
Re: Drummer for next album
RE: Green 10 Song Demos
Re: Anything XTc
My Top Ten
Love Them Dukes
Woe.
Hey, did you ever wonder...?
All sorts of things XTC
Re: Herbert Groenemeyer
addendum to my last post...
Silly me, I cant think of a proper subject line!
An Interlude
Born in a trunk
A new motto?
some old chestnuts
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And I may as well wish for the moon in hand...
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Message-Id: <s2ec752c.058@dictaphone.com>
Date: Mon, 27 Jan 1997 09:28:04 -0500
From: Tim Kendrick <TKEN@dictaphone.com>
Subject: Joke
QUESTION:
How many Chalkhill subscribers does it take
to change a lightbulb ???
ANSWER:
Four.
One to change the bulb, one to say the old bulb was better,
one to say the new bulb is better, and one to say that Andy didn't
give us enough bulbs.
------------------------------
From: jason.phelan@mcmail.vanderbilt.edu
Date: Mon, 27 Jan 97 08:20:07 CST
Message-Id: <9700278543.AA854381806@in2.mcmail.vanderbilt.edu>
Subject: On "I Can't Own Her"
On "I Can't Own Her"
"Imagine "That Wave" after being kicked in the Nuts by True Love."
That is the Best description of a song I have ever heard.
Phelan
------------------------------ Date: Mon, 27 Jan 1997 10:29:33 -0400 (AST) Message-Id: <v01510101af122425e703@[204.191.146.146]> From: enrico@fox.nstn.ca (Erich W.) Subject: Better Late? Well, it's only been like two months, but My local paper (the Ottawa Citizen) finally reviewed FF. Here's the gist of it: "Here's a fine compilation album to flesh out your collection. This double disc, 31 song XTC release highlights leader/songwriter Andy Partridge's impressive record from the early post-punk new wave to the present. The early hits work just as well today. The superior, original version of The Ballad of Peter Pumkinhead Shows Canada's CTDs may have generated a hit with their cover version, but the man who wrote it does it better (sorry, AMANDA). Bonus points for not adding a third disc and making this an expensive box set" They went on to include a clip of Peter Pumpkinhead on their touch-tone sample line. Bye-Bye!! Erich, repeatedly dialing the touch tone line and holding it up to anyone who walks by.
------------------------------ Date: Mon, 27 Jan 1997 07:49:45 -0700 (MST) Message-Id: <199701271449.HAA09792@snowden.micron.net> From: philco@micron.net (Phil Corless) Subject: 1996 Top 17 Okay, I'll join in.... Here's my Top 17 CDs of 1996: 1. Crowded House - Recurring Dream (Greatest Hits) 2. Elvis Costello - All This Useless Beauty 3. New Zealand Symphony Orchestra - ENZSO 4. Cracker - The Golden Age 5. Paul Kelly - Live at The Continental And Esplanade 6. Squeeze - Ridiculous 7. Elvis Costello - Costello/Nieve 8. Crash Test Dummies - A Worm's Life 9. Jars Of Clay - Jars Of Clay 10. Jason Falkner - Presents Author Unknown 11. Joe Jackson - Greatest Hits 12. Dave Matthews Band - Crash 13. REM - New Adventures In Hi-Fi 14. Brian Stevens - Prettier Than You 15. Various Artists - Lullaby And Goodnight 16. The Chieftains - Film Cuts 17. Various Artists - Common Ground, Voices Of Modern Irish Music *-------------------------------- Phil Corless Boise, Idaho philco@micron.net *-------------------------------- http://netnow.micron.net/~philco/
------------------------------ Date: Mon, 27 Jan 1997 08:35:29 -0600 (CST) From: AMANDA OWENS <ACOEA@jazz.ucc.uno.edu> Subject: Monkees, Chambers, etc. Message-id: <01IEP98ASFNA8ZLOVE@jazz.ucc.uno.edu> Jason: I do believe Mike is back with the band for the tour....but Mike never was my favorite member. Even back in the 60's he seemed to have a bit of an attitude problem. But he's cool, they're all cool. Was Terry a good drummer? Hell yeah! The drumming on Black Sea, esp. Travels in Nihilon, Respectable Street, and Paper & Iron is incredible. Later, AMANDA Amanda's XTC song of the day: Desert Island non-XTC song of the day: More Than a Woman (Sorry, it was the last song I heard before I got out of my car this morning. It's sort of stuck in my head at the moment.) THE ALL-TIME BEST ANDY QUOTE EVER, TOPPING EVEN THE CRASH EST DUMMIES QUOTE.... When Andy was asked whether or not he's work wit Michael Stipe, this is what he said.... "I'd tell him he'd have to work on his songs first." AMEN BROTHER PARTRIDGE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (Wait, Crash Est Dummies? I've got to slow down my typing, damnit!)
------------------------------ Date: Mon, 27 Jan 1997 11:00:38 -0500 Message-Id: <9701271600.AA24696@notesgw2.cc.bellcore.com> From: "Michael D. Myers" <mmyers@notes.cc.bellcore.com> Subject: TMBG live on NY radio Chalkhillians who also like They Might Be Giants; I just noticed on a radio station website that TMBG is going to be live on WNEW 102.7 in New York City on Vin Scelsa's "Idiot's Delight" show, Sunday 2/2/97 sometime during his 8pm to 2am timeslot. In case you've never heard Vin, his show is a free-form blast of semi-obscure tunes, poetry, book reviews, and most importantly, live spots with not-so-famous artists (for the most part). Artists seem to enjoy being on his show because he gently provokes them into discussing the whys, whens and hows of their songwriting skills with a lot of humor mixed in. Since quite a few people listen to him, it's also a good plug. Vin never fails to get at least 3-4 live songs done in the studio by the artist. Sometimes bands have been known to perform very weird arrangements of their songs for him just for fun. I probably won't be around to tape it, so maybe someone else can. Just thought I'd pass that on.... Now for XTC content: as for the 10 songs or more!! debate, I side with the crowd that says "give us 10 new tunes ASAP, and follow it up with another one with 10 more." Hey, I just want some great new tunes, and if they rip us off a little bit to get a few extra sheckles, I don't mind. They are really the classic starving artists, so it's a fair deal IMHO. However, I find it unbelievable that "they just realized that they were only getting paid for 10 mechanical song licenses per release", as reported recently in a post to this digest. It would seem logical that they were subject to approximately the same terms and conditions that every other artist lives with for their ENTIRE career (regarding the 10 mechanical licenses), not just their last 2-3 albums. How could they not have known that? Are they really that naive? Do they have really poor management and legal representation? Or is the story just misreported such that the real truth is that this payment issue only became unbearable lately in conjunction with all the other record company crap? Later, Mike (who really, really, really wants a new XTC release this year)
------------------------------
Message-ID: <32ED0FE7.2C09@sprintmail.com>
Date: Mon, 27 Jan 1997 12:28:23 -0800
From: Stormy Monday <stormymonday@sprintmail.com>
Subject: XTC Screwed In The Future?
Folxtc,
>In fact, five years from now you will probably
>subscribe to XTC via the net and download their product directly for
>about 20 bucks a year.
>The balance is starting to tip in
>the artist's favor.
I disagree. I believe because of technology, the golden age of the
rich recording artists will be over. Revenue will come from live
performances and (shudder) product endorsements and merchandising.
Once the downloading technology becomes available to the masses at a
reasonable price, what is to stop people from copying? I think
digital technology is going to drastically change the music business
for the better, (we won't be at the mercy of the big record companies,
i.e.; if you've recorded a hot record, you can put it on the web, and
people can hear it without having a "suit" deciding whether or not the
song is marketable), but since it will be possible to make exact
copies of recorded music, it will be difficult for the artist to
control the distribution.
Many of us already make cassette copies of CD's from friend's
collections. If we really like the music, we'll fork over the money
to purchase a legal copy, because we want the digital quality and the
packaging. What is our motivation to buy anything, if we can get the
whole package for free? Certainly the artwork and liner notes will be
easily distributed once a soft copy exists. Sure, it is unfair to the
artist, (and I'm certain many of us in the newsletter are offended by
my apparent disregard for the artist's lack of compensation for
his/her efforts) but people are people. Even If I or you feel that it
is unfair, are any of us naive enough to believe that the masses are
going to worry about the artist? Many people pay for one cable hookup
and then "splice in" other TV's in their home without losing a lick of
sleep over it. Many others have "bootleg" copies of software on their
PC's, and really aren't too worried about the software vendor's loss
of revenue. And how many of us have paid for every piece of
"shareware" that we've ever used? Certainly not the majority.
This is something that every recording artist should be worried about.
It will be nice to be free from the power that the record companies
have enjoyed for so long, but I expect that the true artists (XTC,
Elvis Costello {fill in your favorites}) are going to suffer a whole
lot more than the pre-packaged craftsmen (Journey, Bryan Adams).
So, as always, the artist gets the short end of the stick.
"Of course, this is just my opinion. I could be wrong." - Dennis Miller
"They call it Stormy Monday, But Tuesday's just as bad." - T-Bone Walker
Mike
------------------------------ Message-ID: <32ED4D82.5D5E@netwalk.com> Date: Mon, 27 Jan 1997 16:51:14 -0800 From: Ian C Stewart <stewart@netwalk.com> Subject: Cathy Dennis album/SKYLACKING update I nearly shat myself when I found out that my girlfriend Cathy Dennis was writing with Andy Partridge. I've had a "special thing" for Cathy since about 1990... many people are mystified by my "relationship" with someone I've never actually MET, considering she's from Norwich in England and I haven't been out of Ohio in a long time. All I can tell you is it's a good thing my wife Bjork isn't the jealous type. According to the tasty Cathy fanpage "Am I That Kinda Girl", http://easyweb.easynet.co.uk/~clearlogic/fanpages/cathy.htm the album has only been released in Canada, Germany and Japan at this point, the UK release is set for late February and as far as I know there's no US release on the boards yet. Pooey. Cathy rules. I can't wait to hear the track they wrote together. Amazing. My "band" Star*Pillow will soon be decimating the entire "Move To This" album a la Skylacking. Speaking of which... SKYLACKING is very very close to selling out. If you're interested in acquiring this soon-to-be-piece of history, all I can say is GET ON IT. NOW. Seriously, five copies remain. So... yeah. Once they're gone they're GONE. Bye-yeee Ian "My love's for you, oh baby baby Taste My Love." -Cathy Dennis she calls me baby.
------------------------------ Message-Id: <v02140b03af11885072fc@[166.84.204.104]> Date: Sun, 26 Jan 1997 18:26:29 -0400 From: yazbek@panix.com (David Yazbek) Subject: I Love Hate Hi All, Yazbek here. In response to some recent e-mails, and one in particular from a Chalkhillian, I'd just like to fill everyone in on the fact that I have not played out in many months because of the birth of my child. I'm in the middle of my new album, "Tock", and hopefully will start playing out again in the next couple of months. Yes, Partridge is involved- we're attempting to co-write two songs. Thanks to everyone who actually bought "The Laughing Man", especially those who liked it. Yazbek
------------------------------ From: kraig olmstead <kraigo@netcommcorp.com> Subject: Re: Drummer for next album Date: Mon, 27 Jan 97 16:40:00 PST Message-ID: <32ED4B89@msmail.netcommcorp.com> I guess I wasn't aware that this was an actual thread, but my vote for a drummer for the next album is Manu Katche who played on most of Peter Gabriel's _So_ and _Us_ albums as well as a couple of Sting's offerings (_Nothing Like the Sun_ and _Soul Cages_) and _The Lion_ by Yousou N'Dour (BTW, if you get a chance to hear Yousou's _The Guide_, it's a really good album). Manu Katche just kills me - absolutely a brilliant drummer. Anybody know what he's been up to lately? He left Gabriel (Billy Cobham took over - don't get me started on how brilliant he is) but I haven't heard anything about him for a couple of years. Kraig
------------------------------ From: J_ARTECONA@RCMACA.UPR.CLU.EDU Date: Mon, 27 Jan 1997 19:58:54 -0500 (EST) Message-Id: <970127195854.20208668@RCMACA.UPR.CLU.EDU> Subject: RE: Green 10 Song Demos About the 10 song bit...I am perfectly happy top accept anything by XTC, and if breaking it into smaller pieces gives them more money, so much the better. I hate to see this brilliant man toiling in relative obscurity and getting screwed by Virgin. ANything I can do. Also , I AM GREEN WITH ENVY (crocodiiiiiiiiiiiile) when I hear the AP demos mentioned......its like watching people eat and not being invited.....I'll take the crumbs! So I throw out this message into the desert of chalkhills. ..if anyone could help this obsessed and forlorn wannahear....please do. I live in Puerto Rico and no one knows shit about XTC here....and all I can do is ogle lasciviously at those in the know....why not me! AHHHHHHHH! Oh well, enough begging and I hope someone takes pity on me and throws me a couple of previousle unheard by my ears AP compositions...I'll offer whatever music or money i may have. Besides that, love those comments in Chalkhills....and the guy who reports on Andy, THANK YOU, just hearing about him sooo close makes me feel SPECIAL . Enough already.
------------------------------ From: Davejh5@aol.com Date: Mon, 27 Jan 1997 19:20:13 -0500 (EST) Message-ID: <970127192000_1994083899@emout10.mail.aol.com> Subject: Re: Anything XTc On the subject of 10 songs on a CD, at this point in time I'll take anything new. I'll settle for a 3 song CD. 5 years is ridiculous. I've had 3 kids since the last XTC album.By the time the new album comes out XTC will have missed the whole Seattle grunge scene. I doubt if and when the new album comes out whether it will get much airplay. I never heard anything off the latest Squeeze album on any local so called alternative station. Radio wants to keep up with latest fads, thats why we have to listen to crap by one hit wonders (ie The Offspring, Seattle wannabees Bush). XTC will always be our cult band,never to be heard in the mainstream. Which is fine with me.
------------------------------ Date: Mon, 27 Jan 1997 19:42:37 -0500 (EST) From: "Christopher R. Coolidge" <ccoolidg@zoo.uvm.edu> Subject: My Top Ten Message-ID: <Pine.A32.3.91.970127192322.52584A-100000@gnu.uvm.edu> Well, here's my top ten for '96: 1. You? Me? Us?-Richard Thompson- The album I'd introduce RT neophytes to. One disk of Celtic rock and roll with amazing electric guitar, one of bleak acoustic dirges that would make a gargoyle cry. 2. Old New Borrowed And Blue- Fairport Convention- RT's old band, without drummer Dave Mattacks(yes, the one who played on Nonsuch!), the result being the closest thing to British bluegrass I've ever heard, if bluegrass musicians ever sang traditional medieval cheating songs so gleefully. Worth the effort, though not exactly mainstream rock. 3. I'm Alright-Steve Earle- One of America's greatest songwriters in any genre is out of jail, a new man, and with piss and vinegar intact. "More Than I Can Do" is a mid-period Beatlesque piece of work which will have you tapping your toes and hoping the lyrics aren't autobiographical. 4. Sex America and Cheap Trick(box set)- I know, they've been maligned on this list, but their biggest hit "The Flame" came from a pile of unsolicited songwriting demos, and the record company practically threatened to drop them ever since. Give them a chance- this puppy is crammed with alternate takes, live covers of the likes of The Move and The Velvet Underground, lots of unreleased stuff, and oh yeah, a few hits and choice album tracks. Take a chance on it- they're worth it! A bit of trivia- Cheap Trick grew out of a post-Todd Rundgren lineup of The Nazz, with Stewkey and drummer Thom Mooney bringing in Rick Nielsen and Tom Petersen, eventually changing the band name to Sick Man Of Europe, then Fuse at their record company's insistence. Stewkey was replaced by Robin Zander just a year before the first album when it wasdecided Stewkey couldn't cut it live. Nazz drummer Thom Mooney was alsoreplaced by Bun E. Carlos at one point. 5. Anthology #3- The Beatles- I trust there's no introduction necessary. 6. Amazing Disgrace-The Posies- Another one that grew on me. I found the louder rock sound jarring at first, but the hooks are still there, just angrier. You won't find the more honeyed tones of their previous album here, except on the final track "Will You Ever Ease Your Mind." 7. Cubist Blues- Alan Vega/Alex Chilton/Ben Vaughn- Why didn't anybody think of this before? Rumor has it they wrote the album in the studio as they went along, Chilton and Vaughn trading off instruments, and Vega yelping, whooping, hollering and muttering all over it and contributing improvisational lyrics as only he can. 8. Driving Blind- A band from Montreal thatOs getting some airplay in Vermont. Used to be called Monkey Walk. DonOt know why they changed the name. Sort of like Steely Dan dragged calmly into the O90Os with a hip-hop backbeat. Much less produced than Steely Dan, though. Sounds much more like the work of two people, and no horn charts or jazz changes. 9. Tidal- Fiona Apple- I agree with Amanda- this girl is one of the three or four most gifted songwriters to come along in several years, with or without a vagina. You wouldnOt know sheOs only nineteen, which Kate Bush practically gave away by comparison many years ago. Kate reeked of precociousness, FionaOs wise beyond her years. 10. Walking On Locusts- John Cale- IOve been a huge fan since the late O70Os, and this may just be his best ever. When I saw him live the new material was so transfixing on first listening the obligatory Ogreatest hitsO(sic)were a letdown by comparison. XTC should have released something new last year. If they had, it would be in there for sure.
------------------------------
Message-ID: <32ED5C27.58F9@macomb.com>
Date: Mon, 27 Jan 1997 19:53:43 -0600
From: John Mietus <sirchuck@macomb.com>
Organization: Uncle Twitchy Enterprises
Subject: Love Them Dukes
Greetles,
I have only just (by my wife's good graces) obtained an e-mail account
and begun to explore the wonders (and horrors) of the internet, and the
discovery of this newsgroup was like unto a godsend for me, as I had
lost track with what Andy & Co. were up to lately. Thank you all for
keeping me informed.
In perusing the Archives, I spotted someone asking about the source
material for the Dukes of Stratosphear tracks, which are just about my
favorite XTC tunes (I was turned on to XTC shortly after O&L came out by
a friend who, knowing my passion for the Beatles, insisted that I hear
"Mayor of Simpleton," and asked me if I had heard the Dukes. The rest
is history). So I thought I would offer my two cents. I welcome
critique and debate...
"25 O'clock" begins with the obvious Pink Floyd pardoy, but the bulk of
the song is clearly a remake of "I Had Too Much To Dream Last Night" by
the Electric Prunes, with a very Ray Manzerik keyboard solo thrown in
for good measure.
"Bikeride To The Moon" is clearly a Syd Barrett tribute (the reference
to the Floyd song "Bike" being the primary inspiration I suppose, though
in both lyrical and musical content they are hardly similar).
"My Love Explodes" - I've never been able to identify who they're doing
here. Anybody?
"What In The World?" is another almost-note-for-note remake of the
Beatles' "Only A Northern Song," though the lyrical content is
reminiscent of "In The Year 2525" by...oh, hell, one of those one hit
wonder bands.
"Your Gold Dress" has always struck me as an unholy fusion of early Pink
Floyd and early Moody Blues. Live the horror.
"Mole In The Ministry" - The Walrus was Andy.
"Vanishing Girl" sucked me in right away, sounding as it does like it
could have been one of those killer throw-aways off _Revolver_ that
Lennon would have dismissed but anyone in the know would think just
rocked ("And Your Bird Can Sing," "She Said She Said," etc.).
"Have You Seen Jackie" strikes me as something Keith Moon would have
made the Who record, though it could just as easily been off of The
Mother's _Freak Out_ or _We're Only In It For The Money_.
"Little Lighthouse" could just as easily be an Amboy Dukes song as it
could Buffalo Springfield.
"You're A Good Man Albert Brown (Curse You Red Barrel)" - just Andy
doing his best Paul McCartney granny song. Gotta love it.
"Collideascope" - from McCartney to Lennon. Follow her down to a bridge
by a fountain, and careful, don't look down the wrong end...
"You're My Drug" is about as "Eight Miles High" as I can imagine...
"Shiny Cage" - another note-for-note remake, this time of another
_Revolver_ track, "I'm Only Sleeping."
"Brainiac's Daughter" is coming to take you away, take you today...
"The Affiliated" - Well, this one has had me stumped for some time.
It's always just sounded like a Colin XTC song to me. Anyone?
"Pale And Precious" of course, has a good vibration about it...
If this is a dead or tired topic, I suppose I owe an apology, but on the
other hand, it's still fun. And I find it funny that people dislike or
don't want to talk about the similarity between XTC and The
Beatles...after all, how can you ignore it? The first time I heard
_Nonsuch_ the first thought I had was that Andy had been listening to
_Abbey Road_ and _Pet Sounds_ quite a bit. Which was fine by me. And I
agree with Jason Garcia completely about the whole _White Album_ thing,
e.g. Paul McCartney: "It's the bloody Beatles' _White Album_. It's
great. Shut up." And I have to extend that feeling to _Nonsuch_ and
_Oranges and Lemons_ and the upcoming (thank god) effort. Whatever they
put out will be great, it'll be XTC, and we'll love it.
A friend of mine once said that, despite XTC being his favourite group,
_every_ album, on his first listen, was something of an effort to enjoy.
By the second listen, he was completely in the groove. Something to
think about.
I've rattled on long enough, and people are telling me to stop. So I
will. Thanks for reading, you've got a lucky face.
John
------------------------------ Message-Id: <v03007804af131bbc1165@[207.77.26.159]> Date: Mon, 27 Jan 1997 22:16:42 -0500 From: Ira Lieman <ira@myself.com> Subject: Woe. OK, what's the deal with this? So far in the past 2 months, three vocal contributors of this list have left. First Paul "Insane" Culnane of Oz, then Dan Prendiville (who contributed TWICE to the Skylacking set), and now Simon Knight. And they haven't left on the most "friendly" terms. They're upset with SOMETHING. This begs the unfortunate question: WHAT'S WRONG HERE? Has the list gotten too controversial? Too pedestrian? To immature? You want to know my theory? We're straying a little too far from the topics at hand. How do I qualify to make such a statement? I just today researched the archives [Thanks for keeping them, John!] and I realized that my first post was over 2 years ago (Jan 14 95). So I will speak as the grizzled veteran. This is the *XTC* mailing list. We're here to discuss all things XTC. The topics might stray, which for the most part is fine. But they should stay close enough to XTC that it stays worthwhile. OK, there are times that the whole list should know about something, but when 2/3 of the list postings in a given week have nothing to do with XTC and everything to do with Joe Jackson, the Crash Test Dummies, and albums of 45:00 and under, something's got to give. People have e-mail addresses for a reason. Let's use them. You can send your worthwhile comments on this issue to mine. NOT to the list. -ira
------------------------------ Date: Tue, 28 Jan 1997 16:58:54 +1300 (NZDT) Message-Id: <v01540b04af13e058e146@[139.80.200.201]> From: james.dignan@stonebow.otago.ac.nz (James Dignan) Subject: Hey, did you ever wonder...? >It was: "Red wigglers, the Cadillac of worms" (old song). < >Now, maybe somebody can back me up on this, but I'm almost completely and >100% certain that it ISN'T an old song, but rather one of the few >advertising accounts Herb Tarlek managed to get for his radio station in >Cincinnati.< >WKRP? Remember?< I do believe you're right! No evidence, mind you, but that definitely sounds familiar. Ah, the good old days - all the station staff at Otago's student radio station sitting round watching WKRP, trying to work out whether it was a documentary someone had secretly made about us... thanks to this series, our news editor put tape on the office floor to indicate where his walls should be... but I digress. James
------------------------------ Date: Mon, 27 Jan 1997 23:16:45 -0500 From: Martin R Esselink <105641.1731@compuserve.com> Subject: All sorts of things XTC Message-ID: <199701272317_MC2-1040-486D@compuserve.com> Hello All, This is my first posting to chalkhills, so pardon me if my subjects are all over the map. Regarding a recent comment about the length of O&L, and that some of the material seemed to be filler; maybe it's because it was the first XTC purchase I made, or maybe it's because I am a huge Pat Mastelotto fan (if XTC were going to have a permanent drummer, he'd be my first and only choice) but I don't think there's any weak spots on that album. Regarding old material vs. new, to me it's like asking a deeply religious person if he prefers the old testament or the new; I just think of the XTC catalog as the musical bible. Do any XTC fans on the list have a liking for Barenaked Ladies? A band that I feel approaches songwriting with the same wit, intelligence, and musical ability as XTC. Cya Marty Esselink
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 28 Jan 1997 08:06:58 +0200
Message-Id: <97012808065891@c31.rb.op.dlr.de>
From: hosken@c31.rb.op.dlr.de (Paul Hosken)
Subject: Re: Herbert Groenemeyer
>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.
_Chaos_ is not new, it's at least 2 years old.
>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!
Most likely most of you have seen Herbert because not only is he musician,
but an actor as well, and he had a major part in the film "The Boat" (Das
Boot). As far as I know he always records his albums in German and then
maybe does an English version. His most recent album was released last
year and comes in 2 parts - a live acoustic disc and a live electric disc
(a bit like _You Me Us_ from Richard Thompson I suppose). If you're
interested in hearing some of his albums then I'd recommend:
_4630 Bochum_ - His best and most famous. There's not a bad track
on this one, and it contains "Maenner" and "Flugzeuge
Im Bauch" two of his biggest hits.
_O"_ - Not quite as consistent as _Bochum_ but it does have
it's moments.
_Chaos_ - Similar to _O"_ in it's patchiness.
Also, the single release of the track "Chaos" came on a multimedia CD5 with
a video track. I believe this was the first German Audio/ROM of its kind.
I haven't heard any of Herbert's albums in English, so I can comment on
how good the translations are - personally I also prefer the original
language versions of songs even if I don't know what the hell they're
going on about, but usually something's missing from the 'feel' when they're
not sung in the singer's tongue.
Paul
------------------------------ From: shaefner@falcon.cc.ukans.edu Date: Tue, 28 Jan 1997 02:46:54 -0600 (UTC -06:00) Subject: addendum to my last post... Message-id: <01IEQBH1XV4I00OXZB@KUHUB.CC.UKANS.EDU> Not sure what happened in the transition, but my last post didn't completely make it to the digest...here is the rest, in it's 'cohesive' entirity. 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 cohesiveness? No. Besides, I am constantly swithing CD's as the mood strikes - especially when I am really paying close attention to the music, alone in the car, for example. Finally, to any english chalkie who is willing to lend a "helping hand" - I need insight/advise/etc. because my girlfriend and I are planning a six month trip to England beginning this summer. We are going with a college-sponsored program and the idea is to find a job and place to live and make enough money to support yourself and have a good time. So what I need is information about living arrangements, expenses, 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: <v03010d02af1367547e64@[10.10.19.54]> Date: Tue, 28 Jan 1997 09:59:33 +0100 From: Andre de Koning <a.de.koning@bpa.nl> Subject: Silly me, I cant think of a proper subject line! Hi Challks, Last weekend I listened to some Chris Rea stuff (and read the small print in the booklets which I often skip) and found some similarities I wanted to share. - Dave Mattacks plays drums on a few of his albums - Gus Dudgeon producted his first albums (ok, ok, so I also checked the pop-encyclopedia) - he's had trouble with a record company that did not understand him - he would prefer to release 2 albums a year (I believe Andy said that in an interview once) Of course there are BIG differences: the music is a quite different style to begin with. But he frequently tours, has a substantial following in the UK en Europe (and not in the US), etc. But I thought it worth mentioning anyway (flame away if you want). Oh, about some of the other threads: - count me in on the Go2 club (hey, I have even made a lyrics insert for the CD years ago, does that count or what?) - That Wave is one of my faves - I don't like top 10 lists - 2 CD's/10 songs per CD: whatever! Just as long as it gets released THIS year! - "I'll be downstairs if you think you need me. I'll still be downstairs if you think you *don't* need me." -- Mr. Blint (Consequences/Godley&Creme) -- Andre de Koning a.de.koning@bpa.nl
------------------------------ Message-ID: <c=AU%a=_%p=JDEAUNZ%l=MEL_SERVER-970128112227Z-171@mel_server.jde.com.au> From: Paul Haines <Hainesp@melbourne.jde.com.au> Subject: An Interlude Date: Tue, 28 Jan 1997 21:22:27 +1000 Chalkhills, I went to the Soundgarden/You Am I concert on Sunday night here in Melbourne. Haines PS Oh yeah, in between acts they played XTC's 'Oranges & Lemons'. They were the only songs I knew all the words for. Stopped halfway through 'Poor Skeleton Steps Out.'
------------------------------ Message-ID: <c=US%a=_%p=AETNA%l=AETNA/AETNA/0031181E@aetna.aetna.com> From: "Witter, Karl F" <witterkf@aetna.com> Subject: Born in a trunk Date: Tue, 28 Jan 1997 10:23:00 -0500 >[Keith Sawyer] Oh yeah, anyone who posits girl groups are not 'hard' >enough and then doesn't at least mention Babes in Toyland...shouldn't >be discussing girl groups. Re: Babes in Toyland. There's an eponymous book written about their genesis. At one point, the author lists the duties of an A&R type at a record label. One of the things this particular A&R man might do, for the presumed good of us all, is to "cajole Squeeze into using fewer chords". With a sad, knowing smile I muttered "Too old, too literate, too English." >But I suspect the real reason for releasing two separate CDs is...to >charge the buyer twice. WHICH IS COMPLETELY ALRIGHT WITH ME. Musical >artistry is often shortchanged by society's dollar votes. I would >happily fork over $50 a year for an hour's worth of new XTC material. Ah, most all us would, but who else? There's more to the neat concept of "society's dollar votes" than whether XTC consciously "try to write that hit". How they position their work to maximize non-fan sales is something to consider if radio picks up on a new song as it did Peter Pumpkinhead. (I don't want them to pander, just to make enough $$ so they're not "stuck in Swindon".) How about separate, shorter acoustic & electric CDs priced less that the industry standard? >[Dave Gershman] "We've come to know [albums] ever since they stopped being >just collections of singles...post-Beatles." Back in the days before the integrated stage musical, a musical play was often pieced together with inane plots, songs from the composer's trunk dropped into the score without real regard, or even from other composers, and no raison d'etre for the characters singing. These old shows spawned hundreds of great songs you'd recognize by the Gershwins, Rodgers & Hart, Porter, Berlin, Kern, etc. The actual shows, for the reasons listed, are usually unwatchable and hardly revived today except as "nostalgia". So if pre-Beatles rock albums were allegorical to song collections that ended up as old-style musicals, the Beatles reinvention of the rock/pop LP could be described as a watershed on the order of "Showboat" or "Oklahoma!". >[Ira] What? You don't like "In Loving Memory of a Name?" It's possibly my >favorite Colin song! (OK, flame away.) In my top 5 Colins. Mr. M takes the subject, ties it to that bumpy bass hook, and the result is reflective & contemplative, not some "Top Gun" soundtrack reject or with an overwrought "very special episode" feel. >[Chris Miner] I never thought I'd read about Go West on Chalkhills >either [a *VERY* guilty pleasure-only my record supplier knows!]) That's why I'm here: SOMEbody has to assuage your guilt. >[Scott at UKansas] 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 cohesivenss. Boy, and I thought MY attention span was short :-)! Sometimes, yes it is that important. It's what makes me return to an album time and time again. It's also the kind of thing that commands my attention, to the point that I know Skylarking's running order forwards, backwards and upside down, but I haven't memorized Nonsuch's yet. "Let's go someplace where there's CHEEEEEESE!"*, Karl *Wallace, "The Wrong Trousers"
------------------------------ Message-Id: <199701281539.HAA01504@sgi.sgi.com> Date: Tue, 28 Jan 1997 10:32:49 EST From: "Todd Bernhardt" <tbernha@columbiaenergy.e-mail.com> Subject: A new motto? Hiya, Chalkholios: Randy Hagler spake (as part of his first post, no less): >All other music is just a distraction until the next XTC album comes out.< I think the list has a new motto... ByeBye!
------------------------------ Date: 28 Jan 97 18:06:00 GMT From: david.mcguinness@bbc.co.uk (David McGuinness) Subject: some old chestnuts Message-Id: <"<2685EE3281821573>2685EE3281821573@GW.BBC"@-SMF-> Hi folks - 1) Rundgren-bashing. No-one has indulged in this for a while so here goes. I've noticed that when I listen to Fossil Fuel, I almost always skip the Skylarking tracks. Strange. Skylarking is a wonderful album and I love it to bits. Then I realised - it's because the sound is terrible. Rundgren was a terrific producer and an inspired arranger, but as a recording engineer he was amateurish at best. When you hear his tracks in the context of other XTC stuff, they really just sound tinny and horrible. Has anyone bought the 24-carat gold CD of this? Does it sound any better??? 2) Raymond Scott. Andy wrote some of the sleeve notes for a tribute album to the above-mentioned genius. It was by a group called the Wooden Indians (aka The Beau Hunks Sextette), and I think it was called Celebration on the Planet Mars. Unfortunately the copy I had a loan of has disappeared so I can't share Mr Partridge's words of wisdom. Anybody got one? 3) Andy's voice. For those who find it a bit on the harsh side, just listen to the CTD's appalling noise on All You Pretty Girls from A Testimonial Dinner, and you'll be reaching for the Big Express in no time. I promise. Bye for now David McGuinness
------------------------------ End of Chalkhills Digest #3-75 ******************************
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