Chalkhills Digest Volume 3, Issue 85
Date: Tuesday, 25 February 1997
Chalkhills Digest, Volume 3, Number 85
Tuesday, 25 February 1997
Today's Topics:
Adrian Belew Meets XTC
Weekend update...
how can you smile?
Tennis overhead
Thank you Amannda
XTC video tree
Re: Martin Newell bit in MOJO Feb 97--no XTC content
Second XTC Post
New Demos Please
Becki P.S.
Influential XTC
Your Chance to Interview Andy
Re: Are you going to have to tell me or should someone else....
King Strut lyrics
XTC (what else?) heh-heh
Lennon & Todd
Chin falling and Spicy time
Grass Question
Terraced Houses
blue beret
Cleaners from Venus
another producer suggestion
...and now the news
back from London
Another Belew Mention Of XTC
Keeping the Dream Alive dept.
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Church of women performing a miracle raising the living!
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Message-Id: <1.5.4.32.19970219043111.0068c16c@mail.execpc.com>
Date: Tue, 18 Feb 1997 22:31:11 -0600
From: Dean Zemel <dbzemel@execpc.com>
Subject: Adrian Belew Meets XTC
In addition to adoring the music of our lads from Swindon, I'm a big
fan of Adrian Belew and subscribe to the digest, Big Electric Cat.
Adrian participates in BEC and the official Adrian Belew web page and
we were invited to pose questions to Adrian and he answered them in
the last issue of BEC. My question mostly pertained to XTC and here
is the question and answer:
---- begin forwarded message ----
Date: Wed, 15 Jan 1997
From: Dean Zemel <dbzemel@execpc.com>
Subject: Questions4Adrian
1. Describe your get-together with Andy Partridge. Did anything
musical come out of it? Might anything musical come out of it?
2. What session or production work, if any, do you have on your plate?
Dean Zemel
*AB*ANSWER*
King Crimson was recording "Thrak" in Bath, England at Real World
Studios. Pat Mastelotto (who played on Oranges and Lemons) invited Andy
and Dave Gregory by the studio. They invited us to dinner in Swindon.
On a rainy day off Pat, Trey Gunn, and I took the train to Swindon,
not far from Real World.
I had mentioned my love of trains to Dave and so our first stop
was to a terrific train museum in Swindon where we spent the afternoon.
Next we went to a local pub for a pint and the requisite
hilarious tales. They're very funny. Dinner was at Andy's preferred
local Indian restaurant (I love Indian cuisine) and it was delicious.
Our final destination was Andy's house. Following some living
room chit chat Trey and Andy and I went out back to Andy's studio. The
studio is housed in a tiny gardener's shed so small the three of us barely
fit inside. Andy first played us demo tapes of three or four new songs
which were incredible. I can't wait to hear them on record. On the walls
hung several guitars and quite naturally an improv session evolved which
lasted perhaps two hours. It had its' moments to be sure but sadly, it
wasn't recorded.
A splendid time was had by all.
XTC is a great band, one of the few I listen to. Someday I hope
to be involved in something they do.
Session work, nothing is planned. It seems to come in waves.
There are two possible upcoming productions: Santa Sabina from
Mexico City and The Irresponsibles from the Boston area. Nothing is
written in stone, of course, but I produced Santa Sabina once before.
Their music is so distinct I can't catagorize it for you.
The Irresponsibles were the winners of Musician Magazines' Best
Un-signed Band contest. I was one of the judges. Cool songs, great
vocals, backed by a string quartet, in fact, they are not unlike XTC.
The Irresponsibles have everything but a record label. As soon as the
executive world takes its collective head out of the sand and signs them
I plan to be there producing.
---- end forwarded message ----
In case anyone was interested.........
------------------------------ Date: Wed, 19 Feb 1997 12:45:52 -0800 (PST) Message-Id: <199702192045.MAA11495@f19.hotmail.com> From: " Ben Gott" <xtcfan@hotmail.com> Subject: Weekend update... In response to Ira's comments about our little XTC party -- we had quite a good time listening to music, eating bad Chinese food (but Ira never had to go into the bathroom, which looked like something out of "The X-Files"), and trying to figure out whether or not AMANDA thinks that Dave Gregory still looks fashionable with a beard in the "Respectable Street" video. (Speaking of AMANDA, I am also on the Crash Test Dummies list -- although I'm dropping it, because it's silly -- and I can verify that she was called the names that she mentioned. At least Chalkhillers have the decency to e-mail those names to her privately...) Anyway, I hope the Michigan Chalkhills party goes well, and I'm glad that you got "English Settlement" on CD, Natalie! BTW, Freedy Johnston's new album, "Never Home," is being released next weekend. Graham Maby plays bass on the album, and it is produced by Danny Kortchmar (sp?), who has also worked with James Taylor, et al. Simon -- continue with your stories! My mom has placed the speakers of our stereo in the living room a whopping eight inches apart! -Ben * ------------------------------------------- Ben Gott http://www.wp.com/58596 The Hotchkiss School
------------------------------ Message-Id: <199702192108.PAA29289@mamba.arlut.utexas.edu> Subject: how can you smile? Date: Wed, 19 Feb 1997 15:08:30 -0600 (CST) From: "Stuart McDow" <smcdow@arlut.utexas.edu> I won't go into the details (you're not interested anyway), but I was summarily dumped this week. Rather than go out and cry in my beer and listen to my housemate's C&W "She Done Me Wrong" music (it has its place), I went home and belted out "1000 Umbrellas" and "Snowman" along with Andy. It made me feel much better. Thought I'd share that with y'all. -- Stuart McDow Applied Research Laboratories smcdow@arlut.utexas.edu The University of Texas at Austin
------------------------------ Date: Wed, 19 Feb 1997 17:21:00 -0500 (EST) Message-Id: <199702192221.RAA00088@cyber1.servtech.com> From: Joshua Hall-Bachner <particle@servtech.com> Subject: Tennis overhead >Remember, VD sucks when you're all alone. It sucks even more for the other person when you're not! >"E-Bow letter? E-Bow Shite. R.E.M. can't shit without it being held up as a >holy relic. I've heard Stipe wants to work with me." I will merely offer my opinion that Andy is either: a) Too snobbish to accept an alternate lyrical form (Abstract to Andy's Realism), or b) Just jealous 'cause R.E.M. have their new album out and he doesn't. :) >While on the subject of bricks and mortar, why is everybody on such a >downer about 'Bungalow' ? I think this song has now officially been discussed enough to become a FAQ entry. Mr. Relph? :) >I recall reading in a Melody Maker from years ago >that there were several tracks that didn't make it on to the Skylarking >album and they were supposed to make it on to B-sides. We got four of them: Let's Make A Den / Terrorism / Find The Fox / The Troubles. >Newbury Comics >*(Manchester, NH if you're looking for it. Heck, they may have a web site >of something...) http://www.newbury.com >Howdy Amandahillians, I'm jealous now. Everyone's forgotten about me. :( Amanda, do we need to form a Famous Chalkhillians Anonymous group? >Hmmm. After my initial shock, I've decided your abreviation "VD" >means Valentine's Day. But back when *I* was in college, "VD" meant >"venereal disease", shorthand for any affliction we now refer to as >an "STD" (sexually transmitted disease). Thank goodness I'm not the only person who noticed that. I thought I was some sort of sicko, or something. Perhaps that's just the results of Lonely Valentine's Syndrome... I have to say, though, that's one of the best Freudian slips I've heard in a while, right next to the person who wrote that he "busted a guy" while watching the "Homerphobia" episode of "The Simpsons." :) Josh Decaying through brown... /-------------Joshua Hall-Bachner-------------Chaos Harlequin-------------\ | particle@servtech.com http://www.servtech.com/public/particle/ | |"We all have our idiosyncracies -- maybe thinning hair, or gum disease." | \---- Kowanko, "Will You Come To?" ------ Thank You, And Goodnight. ------/
------------------------------ Date: Wed, 19 Feb 1997 15:54:13 -0800 (PST) From: "J. Brown" <ringostr@u.washington.edu> Subject: Thank you Amannda Message-ID: <Pine.A41.3.95b.970219154505.29578C-100000@dante19.u.washington.edu> Thank you Amanda for constantly talking about Brad Roberts on this list. It always annoyed me before but now i am so thankful. Because you Amanda won me and the Rest of the University of Washington College Bowl team a trip to New York City!. For those of you who don't know, College Bowl is a team trivia comptetion. In the finals of our Regional Tournament against the sinsiter University of Oregon one of the last questions started "Brad Roberts left his job..." and I rang in and answered "Crash Test Dummies". that ten points won the game for us 200 to 190. again thank you. jason, who hates CTD and Brad's Bovine vocal style but is still thankful %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% % Jason Wilson Brown %% "In an ocean or in a glass, % % ringostr@u.washington.edu %% Cool water is such a gas" % % Seattle, Washington, USA %% -Brian Wilson % %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
------------------------------ Message-Id: <3.0.32.19970219195337.00937d00@pop-lnh.mv.net> Date: Wed, 19 Feb 1997 19:53:45 -0500 From: Tom Paluzzi <tmp@tmp.mv.com> Subject: XTC video tree Being one of the many who paid for a copy of the XTC video compilation and never received it, i was wondering if anybody out there did get a copy and would be interested in making a copy for myself? I have lots to trade and/or will send blank videos... Email me if interested... Thanks, Tom
------------------------------ Date: Wed, 19 Feb 1997 19:12:22 -0800 Message-Id: <199702200312.TAA18870@zook.lafn.org> From: av578@lafn.org (James Dawson) Subject: Re: Martin Newell bit in MOJO Feb 97--no XTC content At 10:54 AM 2/17/97 -0800, Ian C Stewart wrote: >Hi again. > >I promised myself I wasn't ever going to post again but some things >just can't be helped... Here's a reason to hunt down a copy of MOJO >magazine's February 1997 issue--- apart from the truly smashing Nick >Drake cover story (swoon!) there's a feature on Progressive Rock with >a sidebar by Martin Newell entitled "The Kings Of Bad Timing." Got a >minute? Read on. (snip) Ian, thanks so much for going to the trouble of posting the entire article -- which was great! (I got it through the Newell-related "Jangly" mailing list, so I didn't mind the lack of XTC content.) I wish Martin would think about writing an entire book of prose. This article, like his liner notes (on the "Cleaners From Venus" CDs, especially) was really entertaining. Also: I read in the "ICE" CD newsletter that "Greatest Living Englishman" is about to be re-released in the UK with two bonus tracks and new packaging. Damn, I hate it when this happens. There's something about buying an album twice that really ticks me off...but, anyway, there it is, for anyone who is interested. --James Dawson av578@lafn.org
------------------------------
From: RJCHRISTEN@aol.com
Date: Wed, 19 Feb 1997 22:44:23 -0500 (EST)
Message-ID: <970219224422_1581672654@emout06.mail.aol.com>
Subject: Second XTC Post
Dear Chalkhillians,
First, I have to apologize for the typo-philled post I submitted last
week. College Music reviewer, indeed! Where did you go to scool RJ, 'Drunken
State U."? I'll try to do beeter this time.
Fritz Stolzenbach/HNS <Fritz_Stolzenbach@notesgw.hns.com mentioned "....a
short-lived band from the sixties called "The Left Banke." Their big hit
was "Walk Away Renee," but -- Good Lord -- they've got a bunch of unheard
pop masterpieces as well. I think their one compilation album is out on
Rhino."
I totally agree!! I used to play them on my college radio show, which
was mix of 60's oldies, 70's progressive, and 80s "alternative" in the
neopsychedelia vein (XTC much included!). The Left Banke, headed by musical
genius Michael Brown, was hailed as "Baroque Rock" in their time, but sadly,
it failed to catch on as Acid Rock & Bubblegum rolled over it. The Rhino
compilationis stupendoes. A good tune that should have been the follow up to
"Walk Away Renee" is "Pretty Ballerina", which is far more gothically
romantic rocking then the title would reveal. Also good is a gypsy-flaored
piece called "Desiree" Check it out!
Someone, whom I cannot recall at this time, mentioned that O&L's "PInk
Thing" is about Andy P's baby boy. Gadzooks! I am such a Pre-vert! I've
always thought it was about... well... about...well...I am a sick little
monkey. Listening to it again, I agree, It's about a Baby Boy....
To: T Lewis. WOW!!! A Celeb!!! I greatly enjoy "Over the Hedge" that does
appear in my local paper. A lot of folks have asked me if my screen name is
based on your character. Actually, your character seems to be based on Me!
Thank you for deciding to share your thoughts on XTC!
I have a plan for XTC to conquer American Radio. They disguise themselves as
the Dukes of Stratoshear, put out more wild, wacky, & weird tunes, but with
a backwards nonsense parts, and we start spreading rumors on the Internet
about "Satanic messages", "recipes for hallucinagatic substances", and
"naughty lyrics". Dumb teenagers buy and request it, conservative social
critics decry it, ministers burn it, congressmen vote to villify it, and it
becomes a hit like like all those 2 Live Crew tapes of the 80's--- except
this time the kids don't get stuck with crappy music....
Well, I'm eagerly awaiting the new stuff!!
RJ
------------------------------ From: lizneil@netcom.ca Date: Wed, 19 Feb 1997 23:57:45 -0500 (EST) Message-Id: <1997219205717441@ix.netcom.com> Subject: New Demos Please OK I can't take it anymore! I have to hear at least a few of Andy's new demos. And sadly I have nothing to trade for them. Could some poor soul take pity on me and tape some of them for me? Please reply via E-mail and don't bore the list. Neil Oliver lizneil@netcom.ca
------------------------------
Message-Id: <v01530500af313887245c@[206.86.6.87]>
Date: Thu, 20 Feb 1997 00:57:24 +0000
From: sunhouse@best.com (John Wedemeyer)
Subject: Becki P.S.
Hello All!!;
Just wanted to de-lurk long enough to add my 2-cents worth to the
discussion of Becki Digregorio's upcoming CD ,(featuring Dave Gregory),
since I had the distinct pleasure of playing guitar on it.
First of all, Becki's description of her music, while accurate, was a
tad modest. Allow me to quote from Dave's letter, which I have in front of
me: "Both Andy and I were much impressed, not just with your tape, but with
your voice, too - a cross between Grace Slick and Sandy Denny, methinks,
and not a bad place to be at all". Couldn't have said it better!!
I cannot tell you how excited Becki is, (and I for her), to have had
Dave and Andy working on her project! She and I are *major* XTC fanatics,
so this one has really thrown us both for a loop! (I have to plead guilty
to encouraging her to ask Dave to contribute..."he seems like a pretty nice
guy" I remember saying to her. Understatment Of The Year!!).
And what contributions they are!! Dave adds a "tortured" guitar solo
to "Godbox". In his letter he describes the solo as "suggesting sound
emanating from black thunder clouds!" As always, Dave hits the proverbial
nail on the head and delivers!!
He adds some perfectly cheesy Vox organ to Becki's cover of The Nazz's
"Open My Eyes" lending just the right amount of psychedelia to the track.
(Lord Cornelius Plum LIVES!!).
And the highlight, for me, is his guitar solo on the very
Indian-influenced "Inside The Dream". Utilizing a "flutey" tone which he
accurately likens to Cream's "World Of Pain" and "We're Going Wrong", Dave
has constructed a solo which is beautiful! It sounds very spontaneous,
despite its' being very worked-out. (Think of Robert Fripp soloing with
Clapton's "woman tone"). As usual, it fits the song PERFECTLY!!
Words can't describe the feeling of hearing Dave soloing over MY
rhythm playing...a very humbling experience, indeed! And knowing that
Dave's overdubs were laid down in "the Shed" with Andy at the helm is a
treat beyond compare!!
By the way, at this time Becki is an independent artist (read:she
isn't yet signed). You will almost certainly have to order the CD from her
directly if you want one. I hear it is set for a March release.
Becki has every reason to be proud:she is a very talented singer/songwriter
and has put together a great CD. When we first met, she was playing bass
and singing in a cover band. I am so glad to see her making the move into
an all-original project!
As for Dave and Andy, it sure is good to know that these 2 guys are as
nice as they are brilliant!! What an inspiration....
And as for me, I was honored to participate! Thanks again, Becki, for
letting me soil your tracks!!
Regards;
John Wedemeyer(sunhouse@best.com)
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 20 Feb 1997 10:48:49 GMT
From: jpnichol@mlswc.uk.lucent.com (nsi4020000-Nicholls)
Message-Id: <9702201048.AA29373@mlswa. uk.lucent.com>
Subject: Influential XTC
XTC on the Web:
Check out the online _Rough Guide to Rock_ at:
http://www.roughguides.com/RG_WWW/Rock/rock_con.html
And particularly:
http://www.roughguides.com/RG_WWW/rock/final_rock_entries/XTC.html
JP Nicholls
------------------------------ Message-ID: <c=US%a=_%p=msft%l=DUB-04-MSG-970220120545Z-46511@INET-04-IMC.microsoft.com> From: Peter Fitzpatrick <peterfit@MICROSOFT.com> Subject: Your Chance to Interview Andy Date: Thu, 20 Feb 1997 04:05:45 -0800 Ok here's the deal. I will be assisting in an interview to take place with Andy Partridge at some time in the next few weeks. [ In the very near future I'll have some *very* cool news for you all - it involves Andy and it involves technology....oh and music too.] Here's how you can have your question included in the "pool" Mail me with the EXACT subject line "AP Interview" (minus the quotes, the A and P are uppercase). The questions will be pooled together and they all stand a pretty good chance of being included. So ...... what are you waiting for ? -Peter
------------------------------ Date: Thu, 20 Feb 1997 08:49:04 -0600 (CST) From: AMANDA OWENS <ACOEA@jazz.ucc.uno.edu> Subject: Re: Are you going to have to tell me or should someone else.... Message-id: <01IFMSPBSK8M8X483R@jazz.ucc.uno.edu> I used the abbreviation "VD" full well knowing what it meant. I came across the tagline "VD sucks when you're alone" last year. It means that Valentine's Day sucks when you have no one to BE your Valentine! And TBH, I'm not too amused with some people referring to us as Amandahillians. The reason I post so much is because sometimes I'll forget to post something that I find is of some value, so I go back and I post again. Other times, we won't get a Chalkhills for a few days and I'll be itching to post something and end up accumulating all the posts in one digest. So there. Peace, Me.
------------------------------ Date: Thu, 20 Feb 1997 16:51:39 +0100 From: sellheim@zfn.uni-bremen.de (Erich Sellheim) Message-Id: <9702201551.AA32727@alf.zfn.uni-bremen.de> Subject: King Strut lyrics Hello everyone, I've got a request concerning Peter Blegvad's song "King Strut" which was co-composed by Andy Partridge. If anyone has the lyrics of this song or would care enough to transcribe them, I would be very grateful if he/she could send them either to the list or to my e-mail address. Thanks in advance and best wishes, Erich
------------------------------ Date: Thu, 20 Feb 1997 09:59:35 -0600 (CST) Message-Id: <1.5.4.16.19970220095930.25ffa63c@mail.utexas.edu> From: "Jason \"Freak\" Garcia" <h.h.name@mail.utexas.edu> Subject: XTC (what else?) heh-heh Hi-ho! >Old Adventures In Hi-Fi Thanks, Simon. That was a great story. >I know there has been much urging to discover Prefab Sprout in recent posts, >but as one who considers their music - from "Swoon" to "Jordan" - bland and >weak I must urge all interested parties to take care and borrow or copy >someone elses CD before splashing out cash. I'd have to agree there. Definitely go to a used CD store and try to find them there first. It's the kind of "pop" that I consider "bubblegum". >"I'd heard of XTC but never actually listened to anything by them until I >read the review of Oranges and Lemons. "I thought 'Cool, I think I'll try >this out'. Thanks dude-now I'm out eight bucks." I remember reading that. The word "dude" just brings to mind some 21 year-old guy with shoulder-length hair holding a copy of the latest Beastie Boys record (not to say you can't like the BBoys & XTC [isn't Amanda a case in point? Don't remember...], but, well, you know). I had something else to say, but I forgot. Jason "Can you take me back where I came from can you take me back?"
------------------------------ Message-ID: <330CCC86.5823@sprintmail.com> Date: Thu, 20 Feb 1997 14:13:26 -0800 From: Stormy Monday <stormymonday@sprintmail.com> Subject: Lennon & Todd Folxtc, >From p@ul-of-oz writes: >Among many things, the Runt discusses the Skylarking project. >Go to: http://www.krause.com/goldmine/is_409/cvrstry/cvrstry.htm If you are a Lennon fan, visit the interview page and find Lennon's letter to Melody Maker. It is a response to some disparaging remarks that the young Todd made about Lennon and the Beatles. It is hilarious. "Life is sometimes shorter than you think!" Mike
------------------------------ From: McGREGOC <McGREGOC@regents.ac.uk> Date: Thu, 20 Feb 1997 21:18:13 GMT Subject: Chin falling and Spicy time Message-ID: <CA2BC0027C@asdf011.regents.ac.uk> Hello dere! Gene stated: >And save for Bugalow, there was no musical experimentation, no new >ground broken. My chin hit the keyboard when I read that! What about Rook? That was the immediate thought that jumped into my head when I read that statement. That song is a real departure from any other previous songs I have heard by XTC. That song is amazing! Its taking us into a realm that, I guess, Mr. P. has been wanting to "experiment" with. I'm not trying to flame ya Gene, not in the least! You just have me thinking about what makes this album special to me. I guess I'm just a sucker for this more mature sound they are cultivating here but yet they combine their experience with pop into it. I see Nonsuch as a transition album and what is about to happen is something completely new for the band. I'm just predicting here. Got my fortune teller's hat on and paper moons and suns hanging about me. Where's my tarot cards?! I don't think every song on the album is wonderful. I'm rather indifferent to Bungalow. It just sounded to bland to me. What I do like about it, is it creates a feeling (in me at least) of the past like the 30's or something like that. But there really is nothing that I thought was orginal about the song. I always thought Omibus was rather original( Yes! I know a majority of you people do not like this song). I love that discontinant sound to it. That is the word that came to mind. The word riddles that are hung about the song. Its such a happy song! How can you not like it? It sounds very unique to me. Even with the songs I'm indifferent to, I think it is such a wonderful melodic album. XTC all grown up and dressed in a new suit. It just makes my heart swell. *sigh* BuD said: >I won't quote the Spice Girls this time, Cheryl! Oh! Just ruin my fun! What am I going to give you a hard time about then?! Zig away my friend! HA! ..before I sputter out! Cheryl
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 20 Feb 97 09:55:00 PST
From: "Sean Robison" <sean_robison@cpsmtp.CP.Disney.com>
Message-Id: <9701208564.AA856473935@cpsmtp.cp.disney.com>
Subject: Grass Question
And, no, it's not "Is this song about drugs or having sex on a lawn".
There's a lyric in the song, "Your mate has gone, she didn't want to
be alone" that raises a few questions for me.
Who is the singer? (Yes... I know Colin is THE singer. But who is the
'character' singing the song?) Since Colin is male, I assume the
'character' of the song is male. But...
1. 'your mate has gone, SHE didn't'... does this imply the 'singer' is
cavorting with another guy?
2. Is the 'singer' female?
3. Does line 'your mate has gone' actually mean 'she's gone with me'
as opposed to 'she's gone away'?
Am I mishearing the lyrics? Obviously, this song is a masterful
example of how the band's lyrics can be interpreted in a variety of
ways.
And, on a side note, lump me in with the group that likes the album
"Nonsuch".
Sean
------------------------------ Message-ID: <MAPI.Id.0016.007269616e2e43614342413530303031@MAPI.to.RFC822> From: Brian Carter <Brian.Carter@btinternet.com> Subject: Terraced Houses Date: Thu, 20 Feb 97 22:14:06 GMT David Pardue was asking about terraced houses (Chalkhills 3-82). He need look no further than the sleeve of the single "Ball and Chain" for an example of the definitive British terraced house. (Refer to Chalkhills web site if you haven't got the single). Now here's an interesting story... The houses pictured are not just any old row of terraced houses, but must have been the inspiration for the song itself. These houses stood in Westcott Street, Swindon, just off of Westcott Place, on the main but narrow road into town from the West. Sometime around 1981 the powers-that-be decided that they were going to demolish the whole street - we assumed so that they could widen the road. In true British style, the occupants of one of the houses decided they would have none of this: they were going to stay right where they were. This is exactly what they did. They sat and watched as the rest of the street was duly flattened, except for the houses either side, which were helping to hold their house up. They held out for several years. "Ball and Chain" was recorded in Autumn 1981 and the house was still occupied in November 1983, because I took a photo of it then (although I think it was finally demolished soon afterwards). The ironic thing is, they didn't widen the road. A school and sheltered accommodation for elderly people now stand on the site. However, don't imagine that Andy Partridge lives in a house that looks like this. Although his house is a terrace (i.e. it is joined to the houses either side without any gaps), he lives in a large Victorian house in Swindon's more up-market Old Town. It isn't the country mansion you would expect a pop star to own, but would be on a par with a "bungalow by the sea" in his parents' eyes. ...well I thought it was interesting! Brian Carter Swindon, Wiltshire, United Kingdom
------------------------------ Message-ID: <330CD2DC.5DB1@ix.netcom.com> Date: Thu, 20 Feb 1997 16:40:28 -0600 From: Scott Powers <nonsuch@ix.netcom.com> Subject: blue beret hi all, This is my first post to the list so it'll be a short one. If any of you are dying to hear the Verve Pipe's version of Blue Beret you can hear the whole song in Realaudio format through their website: http://www.thevervepipe.com/music.html It's a ok version of the song but I didn't think much of them when I saw them live, and they didn't play Blue Beret either. Also has anyone ever noticed that Andy Partridge is thanked in the liner notes of Toad the Wet Sprocket's album In Light Syrup? -scott
------------------------------ Date: Thu, 20 Feb 1997 15:45:04 +0000 (GMT) From: "H.Davies" <H.Davies@law.hull.ac.uk> Subject: Cleaners from Venus Message-ID: <Pine.SUN.3.91.970220153523.2151A-100000@monroe> Regarding Martin Newell, does anyone out there have or has anyone heard anything by the Cleaners from Venus, the band that featured Martin Newell and Giles Smith. I'm curious to know what they were actually like after reading Giles Smith's book "Lost in Music". It seems apparent that they were very influenced by XTC. Huw Davies
------------------------------ Date: Fri, 21 Feb 1997 20:53:56 -0500 From: Martin R Esselink <slinkman@compuserve.com> Subject: another producer suggestion Message-ID: <199702212054_MC2-1196-7650@compuserve.com> All, If it's not too late to add another name to the producer wish list, I'd like to submit Kevin Killen, who appears to be a capable engineer also. His credits include Mr. Mister's "Go on.." (Pat Mastelotto on drums), and Jude Cole's "I dont know why I act this way" (Pat Mastelotto on drums). Come to think of it, maybe its not Killen, maybe its Pat. Maybe my subject line should have been 'another shameless Pat Mastelotto plug' Thanks Amanda. Cya Marty
------------------------------ From: whanks@ix.netcom.com Date: Sat, 22 Feb 1997 21:13:02 -0600 (CST) Message-Id: <1997222191411741@ix.netcom.com> Subject: ...and now the news Hello chalks, The local tv news reported a fire that destroyed the "Sunny Jim" food factory - manufacturers of Sunny Jim brand peanut butter somewhere in the Pacific Northwest. Simon! I married your wife's twin sister! Your description of her taping efforts of the radio had me rolling. Maybe one day science will identify the "let's-place-the-speakers-on-top-of-each-other-to-save-space" gene. Until then - keep loving them. The March 1997 issue of "British Heritage" magazine is devoted to ancient britain. <insert joke here> The following is an exerpt regarding the Uffington Horse: "The Ridgeway is one of Britain's most ancient highways, once a migratory route for wild animals, then a highway for Iron-Age traders, and now a footpath used by recreational walkers. The road begins at Beacon Hill in Buckinghamshire, and runs for 85 miles along the crests of the Downs to Overton Hill in Wiltshire. Along the way it pierces the chalk hills of the Chilterns, and there it passes near two of England's most puzzling ancient monuments, Uffington Castle and the White Horse. The presence of these prehistoric constructions has suggested to some researchers that this spot may once have been a tribal boundary. The 375- foot-long chalk figure, if the supposition is true, would have been a marker to warn away trespassers (although the 30-degree slope of the hill makes it difficult to see from the valley below), while the fort would have provided a more tangible means of repelling invaders. The fort, however, is older than the horse, and so the link between the two may be less direct. The chalk horse resembles the stylized animals found on Belgic coins used by local tribes and may have been a recognized emblem of the local inhabitants. The disjointed, abstract figure scarcely resembles a horse, but in fact the depiction very effectively conveys a sense of elegence and motion. The figure may represent the Celtic horse-god Epona, (a name from which the English word "pony" derives) but this identification, even if certain, would still not pin down an exact date of origin for the White Horse, because the later Romans adopted the horse-god into the pantheon and could have been responsible for the chalk figure." The lecture has ended, turn of the slide-carosel and remind the students that mid terms are fast approaching... Cheers, Wes "It adds to the mystery when you don't know what's going on." Crow T. Robot
------------------------------ Date: Mon, 24 Feb 1997 14:00:02 +0100 (CET) From: James Isaacs <jisaacs1@aixterm1.urz.uni-heidelberg.de> Subject: back from London Message-Id: <Pine.A32.3.91.970224135602.28238A-100000@aixterm6.urz.uni-heidelberg.de> So, I was in London for a few days. Good to be around people who did not speak a savage language! At Tower Records in Piccidilly Circus, I managed to procure a copy of Chalkhills & Children, the definitive (and only, that I know of) biography of XTC. Good read. Some not too flattering photos of the lads circa 1976. I went to some record stores to try and find something rare, but only came up with singles that I could not take back with me, so I left them. It was funny to see them, because it has been a while since I have seen singles with original artwork (Meeting Place, Wait til Your Boat goes Down). Did not make it to Swindon, alas. Perhaqps next time. James
------------------------------ Message-Id: <1.5.4.32.19970225054039.0068d7dc@mail.execpc.com> Date: Mon, 24 Feb 1997 23:40:39 -0600 From: Dean Zemel <dbzemel@execpc.com> Subject: Another Belew Mention Of XTC There has been another installment of questions answered by Adrian Belew in the Belew Digest, Big Electric Chat, including the following, the answer of which mentioned our lads from Swindon: >Are there any contemporary well-known muscians of your >peerage whom you'd like to work with, yet have not been able? >Who are they, what about them draws your interest and/or >admiration, and why haven't you collaberated? >*AB*ANSWER* > > It would fulfill a life-long dream to work with Paul McCartney, >George Harrison, or Ringo Starr, (by the way the song "Lone Rhinoceros >was written with Ringo in mind as the singer) but it is highly >presumptuous to think I could. Still I've always had strong ideas of >a style of writing Paul and I could accomplish. > We've already mentioned XTC and The Wilburys. How about the >Kronos String Quartet with me playing wild hairy Foxxtone guitar (as >in "Of Bow And Drum") or a guitar duet with Jeff Beck, my favorite >guitarist along with Robert Fripp and Hendrix. > Producing a Bowie track would be interesting. Or to co-write a >song about John Lennon with Yoko Ono. > How about this idea: sending ADATs back and forth between >myself, David Byrne, and Andy Partridge with each of us filling in the >missing places in each others' ideas. That would be compelling. > I have loads of collaborative ideas. What they usually lack is >time, financial support, or interest from the collaborating partner(s). Interesting stuff, eh? Too bad we couldn't get Andy, Colin and/or Dave to do that here...or could we?
------------------------------
Date: 25 Feb 97 09:38:00 GMT
From: david.mcguinness@bbc.co.uk (David McGuinness)
Subject: Keeping the Dream Alive dept.
Message-Id: <"<A5F7123381821573>A5F7123381821573@GW.BBC"@-SMF->
I was listening to Mixing It on Radio 3 last night (the great live sampling
fiend Bob Ostertag was in session with lunatic vocalist Phil Minton).
Introducing a track by San Francisco band Swell, Robert Sandall was heard
to utter: 'I like Swell, because rather like XTC, they take conventional
song structures and then fill them up with all manner of striking oddities:
errant basslines, unexpected chords, untoward vocals and such.' Mark
Russell didn't like it much: after the track ('Throw the Wine' from the
album 'Too many days without thinking'), one of his many comments was 'I can
see the XTC comparison, but for me it didn't have all the unexpected twists
and turns that XTC have'.
Proof positive that our brave lads are not forgotten!
Bye for now
David
------------------------------ End of Chalkhills Digest #3-85 ******************************
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25 February 1997 / Feedback