Chalkhills Digest Volume 4, Issue 122
Date: Wednesday, 5 August 1998
Chalkhills Digest, Volume 4, Number 122
Wednesday, 5 August 1998
Today's Topics:
A Comparison
The Left Banke's "Pretty Ballerina"
English Settlement versions
Musical Rush
Re: Liz Phair
XTC book, part 2
Eleven Feet Tall
Re: BBC Boxed CD Set
And we'll have fun, fun, fun...
From MTV, no less...
PB correction...
The universal pop language of breakdowns
Sounds like XTC?
Snippet of an Avengers review
Wheel Talk & xtcPop
The Disappointed?
Favorite Song Survey Results
thank you, thank you, thank you!
TVT Press Release
Dragon/Duffy
Mind games you can play at home with XTC
Wonderland
The Good Things
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---------------------------------------------------------------------- From: MFa2707621@aol.com Message-ID: <a8362d45.35c6529e@aol.com> Date: Mon, 3 Aug 1998 20:15:25 EDT Subject: A Comparison Chalkers, I was just thinking about something. I was just comparing two of my favorite groups, Talk Talk and XTC. Here it goes. Both Talk Talk and XTC are both from England. They both had three members. They both have creative songwriters (Talk Talk has Mark Hollis and XTC, of course, has Andy Partridge). One of the members left, Paul Webb (1990) and Dave Gregory (1998). The only difference is that Talk Talk broke up in the early 1990's, thank goodness XTC hasn't broken up. That's my observation. I'm not sure how great it is, but those are my thoughts. Bye for now. Molly
------------------------------
Message-ID: <19980804003236.482.rocketmail@send1e.yahoomail.com>
Date: Mon, 3 Aug 1998 17:32:36 -0700 (PDT)
From: Mark Rushton <markrushton@yahoo.com>
Subject: The Left Banke's "Pretty Ballerina"
A couple months ago I posted here talking about my first time finally
hearing the Beach Boys' "Pet Sounds" and totally digging it. I had
always hated the Beach Boys because of their early surfing songs
("Surfer Girl" and "Little Deuce Coupe", among others which I've never
liked) and especially for the wretched "Kokomo", but "Pet Sounds was
great.
So I was totally shocked on a Saturday morning drive to the post
office when the usually banal oldies station in town played The Left
Banke's "Pretty Ballerina". Now I've heard "Walk Away Renee" before
and it's more in-line with the Righteous Brothers and Association and
all that sort of quasi-vocal-orchestral stuff, but I've never heard
"Pretty Ballerina" because I would have remembered it.
Imagine "Skylarking"-era XTC, probably a tune sung by Colin, but full
of Andy's favorite Minor and 7th chords - with extra musicians
arranged by Dave. That's what it reminded me of. At first I didn't
know the song, it wasn't announced until afterwards, so I had no idea
who it was. Initially I thought it was an ad, because the song did
not sound 32 years old! I thought, "This isn't an oldie like 'Rockin
Robin' which proceeded it... Anyway, done a bit of reading up on the
"band" and may go and buy something eventually. Interesting story.
==
Stay young and keep in touch,
Mark Rushton
Author of the Bill Nelson Web Site
http://www.billnelson.com
------------------------------ Message-ID: <19980804005345.29038.qmail@hotmail.com> From: "Brent John Palmer" <brent_palmer@hotmail.com> Subject: English Settlement versions Date: Mon, 03 Aug 1998 17:53:45 PDT Re. Seb's enquiry about _English Settlement_: In Australia, the album was released as the single-LP. (However, 5000 double-album copies were pressed.) In the US, it was initially a single-disc affair as well, but just a couple of years later, Geffen re-issued it in 2-record form.
------------------------------ Message-ID: <6190AD736EFACF11BF2A00805F9AE82E012FA0BC@mpsexch.born.com> From: Steve Bunda <Steve.Bunda@born.com> Subject: Musical Rush Date: Mon, 3 Aug 1998 20:41:47 -0500 To Jason who discussed the rush of "You Little Fool", "Close To Me", etc.: I know exactly what you mean, including the Go Go's reference. I would like to suggest that there are songs that are like Calgon: They Take Me Away. Such as: EC's "How Much I Lied" (just for the piano riff), Robyn Hitchcock's "Airscape", and Billy Bragg's "Cindy Of A Thousand Lives". For some reason, those songs strike a "copper chord" with me. There's been some positive(?) vibrations about "The Smartest Monkeys" despite the grief it's been given in the past. Personally, I like the song, though I suppose it helps that my 6-year old loves it. He just asked if he could play some music and dug out "Nonsvch", spinning "Peter" and letting it rip right through "Bird", "Barnum", et al. As he and his little sister dance to these songs, I wonder if they'd like whatever I threw at them... They don't seem to get excited about anything else. "Tissue Tigers" is a big hit with them as well, and I agree with Brent that it could've stood on it's own as a single. -Steve
------------------------------
Message-ID: <19980804023601.16806.rocketmail@send1a.yahoomail.com>
Date: Mon, 3 Aug 1998 19:36:01 -0700 (PDT)
From: Veronica Kyle <veronicakr@yahoo.com>
Subject: Re: Liz Phair
>This is a cool teacher. One time, she played "Fuck and Run" by
> Liz Phair as an example of a song that could offend people. i was like
> "WOW! A Liz Phair fan!" Too cool.
>
> Tis all for now. back to lurking.
>
> Ken
Which reminds me, Liz has a new album coming out called
Whitechocolatespaceegg in less than 2 weeks! It's already getting
great reviews. I haven't heard anything from it yet, but I'll be the
first kid on my block with one!
Oh, and someone mentioned Rufus Wainwright. Sorry, guys I could
have told you about his brilliance back in March after I first heard
"April Fools". I've been too busy telling people on all the other
lists I belong to about him. As I've said before to others, I
guarantee you won't regret buying it. If you don't like it, make sure
you give it to someone you love, because it is one of the most
romantic albums in decades. It makes me swoon and feel all giddy
inside like when I listen to "Rocket From a Bottle" and "Braniac's
Daughter" and weep like when I hear "Snowman" and "Another Sattelite".
After listening to it, you won't be able to stop humming and wanting
to sing along out loud. I'm sure I get a few funny looks when I'm
driving to work, belting out these songs. Some have described the
music as "Popera" because, although it is pop, he is heavily
influenced by opera.
By the way, I'm going to see Rufus open for Lisa Loeb and Steve
Poltz tommorow night! I'm secretly hoping (OK, it's not a secret) that
his sister Martha, who sings on several songs will suddenly come down
with a little cold, thus forcing Rufus to call out to the crowd, "Does
anyone know my songs? I need a last minute understudy for my sister!"
At which time, I'll go running up to the stage screaming, "I do! I
know them all by heart!" Because otherwise I do not know how I'll
contain myself, keeping my seat during the entire show.
Veronica
P.S. I recently bought a copy of Beeswax on vinyl finally, only to
discover it has a skip in it! #@*%!
------------------------------ Date: Tue, 4 Aug 1998 00:37:12 -0400 (EDT) From: "Jennifer L. Geese" <jlg@svsu.edu> Subject: XTC book, part 2 Message-Id: <Pine.OSF.3.96.980804003217.26350C-100000@tardis.svsu.edu> Oh my very chalky friends, Sit and listen to my terrible tale of woe. It is perhaps not all my tale to tell, but tell it I shall. While at work this very night, which shall go down as the most horrible night in all of history, I checked the status of the upcoming XTC book. You may remember that a while back, my friends, I informed you that it ws to be available after the 5th of this month. Sadly, and with great regret, I must tell you that my screen now shows a horrifying date of September 1st. This is the publishing date that we have been given. If anyone has any questions, e-mail me privately and I will try and answer them. Jen, the disappointed "Blot the sun to black"
------------------------------ Date: 4 Aug 98 14:50:52 AST From: PCulnane@dca.gov.au Subject: Eleven Feet Tall Message-ID: <0000xnxxbxjb.0000wwuysaik@dca.gov.au> G'day Ch**ks, Finally a short moment in my current hecticity to comment on some recent Chalkposts: 1) becki, darling - yeah, Ambrosia! I'm a big fan of this fine LA band from late 70s-early 80s, but (a) was only aware of a comiplation CD and (b) could not bear to part with my treasured vinyl collection of their albums. However, I have prepared a high-quality cassette tape for you of their first two albums (S/T - the one you mentioned, and "Somewhere I've Never Travelled"); each of which involved Alan Parsons in mixdown engineer &/or producer capacities. Will that do for the time being, becki? No charge, except I'd love to hear "seven worthies" sometime, hint hint.... please send your acoustic address by private email. 2) Mark Strijbos - count on you to gimme the lowdown on that Canadian "Love At First Sight" EP, and that the live trax were recorded right here in Australia - "play at home", indeed! As always, thanx Mark for your help. Your "Lure of salvage" is (almost) in the mail, if you will just send me (ahem) your address too as I seem to have lost it. 3) OzDudes - Iain Murray and Roger McDonald - enjoying the wit and , er, wisdom. I have recently met the former, an XtC neophyte and a charming fellow to boot (pun he might appreciate). And yeah, Rog, we both drew the naughty bits until my theodolite fogged up. 4) Of course, another consummate legend, reason enough to cite Chalkhills as the source of some of the nicest people I've ever met, is P.D.R.V. But he's not here to defend himself so I won't try to embarrass him with my gushy superlatives. But *you* know who you are mate, and top o' the mornin' to you. This was written after a few too many ales at our new Irish theme pub. Shurely shome mishtake...... p@ul "no, I'm a mocker" culnane in Oz: XtC bastion
------------------------------ Message-Id: <v04011708b1ec6e1204dc@[134.32.48.167]> Date: Tue, 4 Aug 1998 09:11:40 +0100 From: Stephen Varga <varga@ferndown.tt.slb.com> Subject: Re: BBC Boxed CD Set On Sun, 26 Jul 1998 23:07:10 -0400 (EDT) Mitch Friedman wrote: >I spoke with Andy earlier today and amongst other things I found out *some* >more info about the BBC box set thing. It will come out in September but >won't be out in the US. It will be four discs: one of the material on Drums >and Wireless, one of the Live in 1980 disc that came out previously, one of >9 or 10 more songs from various BBC sessions (the ones they really wanted >were erased by the BBC prompting me to inquire as to whether Colin works for >them too!), and the final disc will be a live concert from 1978 combined >with a few tracks from a show from '79 which was Barry's last gig. This is not very good news. Although I'm keen to support XTC's own label, I'm not so keen about having to buy 2 CDs I already own again. Also, the fact that the remaining 2 CDs contain Barry Andrews era material and that the best sessions were erased leaving what seems like 9 or 10 substandard sessions left as the "new" material doesn't give me a great deal of excitement. I don't think I'll be wanting to buy this unless the price is right. How do other fans feel about this looking at the matter objectively? Nevertheless, I'll still be first in the queue for the forthcoming XTC biography, the new XTC album (Codename Firework) and the desperately needed Fossil Fuel video compilation. Stephen Varga
------------------------------ Message-ID: <35C6E93B.30067B3@erols.com> Date: Tue, 04 Aug 1998 06:58:04 -0400 From: Todd and Jennifer Bernhardt <toddjenn@erols.com> Subject: And we'll have fun, fun, fun... Hi: In our special "back from the beach" issue, Dom said: > Oh come on, this is silly. It was a joke, albeit a poor one, and hardly > worth getting steamed up over. I'm sure Harrison is man enough to ignore > my childish jibes. <snip> > Anyway, rumour has it that you and Mr Sherwood are pals. It's great that > you're prepared to stick up for your friends, but why not wait until > someone actually has a go at him? True, true, true and true. However, I certainly don't feel compelled to defend Harrison, and that wasn't my intent. I was talking about something _you_ were doing that _I_ found unnecessary. This list has always stood out for me as an island of civility in the anarchic sea of the Internet, and my (very) little shot across the bow was meant to defend that -- nothing else. > What, you want people to have fun? Oh good. Does that mean I can attempt > to be funny occasionally, or is that only allowed if it doesn't risk > winding up your friends? Frankly, I'm not the malicious type. Humour > doesn't necessarily translate, and as my girlfriend often points out, I'm > not that funny anyway. But I'm enjoying myself, and enjoying Chalkhills. > Let me have my fun! I promise you, no one will get hurt. Sorry. Guess I'm too literal minded, and I just don't get it. Even on the playground I was never into participating in that kind of fun, regardless of the ability of its target to defend him or herself. But I'm probably being too serious here. How about helping out the humor-challenged among us with some notation -- an emoticon or something -- of your intent, since, as you say, humor (esp. sarcastic or sardonic comments) doesn't necessarily translate well in print? Anyway, write to me and let's take this off the list. I'm sure we have plenty to talk about -- after all, any friend of Catherine Sweeney is a friend of mine... --Todd
------------------------------ From: ira@myself.com Message-ID: <35C70DB7.598F@myself.com> Date: Tue, 04 Aug 1998 09:33:43 -0400 Subject: From MTV, no less... Hey there... from MTV Snooz... >The album accompanying "The Avengers" movie is slightly more >eclectic, as Sugar Ray, Roni Size, Dishwalla and the Stereo MCs are >all on-board for the made-over '60s U.K. TV program. Two of the more >unique selections on the "Avengers" include "Blow You Away," a song >co-written by XTC frontman Andy Partridge and the Verve Pipe, and Annie >Lennox's cover of the Sugarcubes' "Mama" Cool, eh? From MTV! Who woulda thunk it? Hope your summer's been cool...Kris M., if you're watching, I hope your AC works...Yeesh. -ira
------------------------------ Message-ID: <35C73B18.69A7@schoollink.net> Date: Tue, 04 Aug 1998 09:47:20 -0700 From: Dan Phipps <phipps@schoollink.net> Organization: Champion International Subject: PB correction... Hello all! -- Just got a post from Chris Cutler of Peter Blegvad's band and he informed me that The Peter Blegvad Trio do indeed have a new album coming out at some point in September. Called HANGMAN'S HILL, it features the same line-up as that on the "Just Woke Up" disc! The trio is also planning a "small east coast tour" beginning in New York on 09.07 (that's Sept. 7 for all you UK-ers reading!) with guest Fred Frith at some of the gigs. (see below) Only downer to this news of a new PB release is the fact that Blegvad's US record label ESD will NOT be releasing it. Chris said -- > ESD will not release it in the US (long > story, but I decided not to licence it > to them this time, so it will come out > on ReR through Cuneiform/Wayside like > all our other releases. You can get it > from them, from us direct or at one of > the shows... So there is indeed a way to get a copy of this new album, if you're interested. So, XTC people, let's get together and show some support for a fellow cohort and friend of Andy Partridge and Colin Moulding by purchasing this new album, okay? Like Partridge and Moulding, this man is trying to make a living at his music as well, so we can at least be there to let him know that SOMEONE is indeed listening!!! How 'bout it? BTW, acc. to Chris, as part of the "small east coast tour," -- > This trio plays New York on 7th Sept (with guest > Fred Frith) and thereafter in Boston, Philadelphia, > Washington, Pittsburg, Cleveland and Chicago. Show some support!! Go see The Peter Blegvad Trio! Who knows who might be there? Maybe a Partridge? Hmmm... Sound as ever -- ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ /Dan Phipps <phipps@schoollink.net> "In the mountains of truth you never climb in vain." (Friedrich Nietzsche) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
------------------------------ Message-Id: <s5c7251d.050@4thestate.co.uk> Date: Tue, 04 Aug 1998 15:09:24 +0100 From: Andy Miller <ANDYMILLER@4thestate.co.uk> Subject: The universal pop language of breakdowns >From an interview with Blur guitarist Graham Coxon in today's NME (promoting his new solo album, The Sky is Too High): "I always said that I didn't want being on the road to feel like the norm, and it really did for a while. You get woken up, you get your food put in front of you, you get driven everywhere, and then you're back home and you feel... freaky. I know it sounds really Andy Partridge (lead singer of XTC and notorious sufferer from stage fright - NME) to say that, but that's what it gets like. So I'd start going AWOL and forgetting my passport on purpose..." So there you are. Not content with ripping off XTC musically, Blur also cultivate the same personal problems as their heroes. Coming soon... Dave Rowntree leaves to become a policeman in, er, New Zealand, yes that'll do, and Graham and Alex start driving vans for a living, while Damon goes deaf in one ear and records a whole album with Yazbek. Ha ha ha Best Andy
------------------------------ Message-Id: <s5c6da86.085@elsevier.com> Date: Tue, 04 Aug 1998 09:55:01 -0400 From: Ralph DeMarco <r.demarco@elsevier.com> Subject: Sounds like XTC? Dear One Armed Bandits and Affiliated Members: "...a cross between Sly Stone and XTC's Andy Partridge." Such was the blurb given to The Negro Problem - a group which recently performed at the Intel Music Festival in New York City. I didn't get to see them unfortunately. Has anyone heard of them? They sound interesting, No? My friends and I have had may discussions about what should be considered pop music. I have come to the conclusion that if it makes your toe-tap and your humming the melody the next day without realizing it - it's pop music. It's funny because XTC has all the crafty hooks and catchy melodies that define top 40 songs but with a significant difference - XTC is smart, perhaps too smart for their own good. Too bad people need to hear the same old crap. Any world where artists like Hootie and the Blowfish and Cheryl Crow sell truck loads of albums has little room for XTC. Sigh. Ralph
------------------------------
Message-Id: <3.0.1.32.19980804104738.006a2800@130.127.28.14>
Date: Tue, 04 Aug 1998 10:47:38 -0400
From: Adam Tyner <ctyner@clemson.edu>
Subject: Snippet of an Avengers review
Taken from http://www.wallofsound.com/reviews/stories/3687_35index.html:
"The rest of The Avengerssome songs from the movie, some "inspired" by
itaims for the dance floor (Utah Saints' "Technowledgy," Merz's tribal
"Many Weathers Apart") as well as the ears, with modern rockers like
Dishwalla ("Truth Serum") and the Verve Pipe ("Blow You Away") flaunting
tuneful melodies and catchy choruses."
Catchy choruses, eh? Wasn't the chorus Andy's contribution to "Blow You
Away"? :-)
-Adam
--
/=---------------- http://www.he-man.org/ctyner/ ----------------=\
http://www.awod.com/gallery/rwav/ctyner/
The home of He-Man, "Weird Al", Yoo-hoo, Killer Tomatoes, and more!
Demented music list admin O- MiSTie #67,326
------------------------------ Message-ID: <35C72A58.7250D7EF@conovergis.ci.conover.nc.us> Date: Tue, 04 Aug 1998 11:35:52 -0400 From: erik schlichting <erik@conovergis.ci.conover.nc.us> Subject: Wheel Talk & xtcPop Salutations, All, Ken <skybar80@juno.com> wrote: <<Now, on to another reason for my note - two CDs that XTCers might want to note are Catherine Wheel's "Adam and Eve>> > WOW! A chalkhed that likes CW!! In the last year or so, I too have discovered Catherine Wheel, though by an other-than-xtc relation. Two members of one of my other all-time favorite bands, the now defunct Talk Talk, appear on CW's "Happy Days" (and Tim Friese-Greene has appeared on all of them, I think). CW has a bit heavier electric guitar/feedback/fuzz sound than I generally like, but they've really grown on me. I have yet to purchase "Adam & Eve," but all the others have redeeming qualities, with (IMHO) "Happy Days" being the strongest. Those of you who followed xtc through the '80's and saw the first few years of MTV probably remember Talk Talk, those of you who missed 'em are missing out. BTW, their albums were recently re-mastered and re-released. Keith <Keith.Sawyer@fmr.com> wrote: > There's hasn't been much in the retro-pop genre that has really twigged my > ear since Brendan Benson's fabulous _One Mississippi_ Yes, yes, yes! This is a great disc. Of course, I never heard it get any airplay. "Crosseyed" should have been all over college and "alternative" radio. And, lastly, a bit about xtc & "pop": While xtc has often been described as "pop," they've never been "popular." For music to get popular, to chart in the top 40, it has to appeal to the 'least common denominator.' While I believe that there are plenty of xtc songs that should have charted, xtc has simply never appealed to the least common denominator. Their music is too complex, their lyrics too clever and understated. LISTENING to xtc requires too much attention, too much effort for the average record buyer. Peter Gabriel pretty much said that "Sledgehammer" and "Steam" were designed to be charting singles provided to help promote sales of their respective albums. I think that Partridge & Moulding could easily, purposefully write a top 40 single- just think of the Dukes with a release in 1967. But, how much of their talent would they have to leave in the box? Would they be selling out? Would it be what we expect from xtc? Personally, I wouldn't mind them throwing a "popular" crumb here & there to get the average music fan interested in the whole cake.... Erik
------------------------------ From: wwilson@star.zko.dec.com Date: Tue, 4 Aug 1998 13:54:47 -0400 Message-Id: <98080413544787@star.zko.dec.com> Subject: The Disappointed? Were you ever disappointed with a recommendation from another Chalkster on the list? I've gone out and bought two albums wildly recommended by folks, only to be disappointed. In trun, I have recommended discs to others and have wondered if they liked them? Please e-mail me privately on this. What did you buy that you found disappointing, and why? In turn, I can tell you what I've brought in to used record and tape stores for a few bucks or a trade. No judegments here (after all, there's no accounting for taste); I'm just curious. Thanks, Wes
------------------------------
Message-Id: <199808042119.OAA26470@sgi.sgi.com>
From: "Gerardo Tellez" <gtellez@access1.net>
Subject: Favorite Song Survey Results
Date: Tue, 4 Aug 1998 14:18:04 -0700
Hi Chalkers,
Remember the survey I started some digests back? If you don't, it was a
try to pick a favorite song off of each XTC album survey. Here are the
results...
White Music-Statue of Liberty
Out of all the songs off of every album, this one got the most votes.
Go2-Are You Receiving Me?
"Hey, that wasn't on the LP!" Well then, Meccanic Dancing won with Battery
Brides a close second.
Drums and Wires-Complicated Game
Black Sea-Burning With Optimism's Flame
English Settlement-Yacht Dance
What place did Senses end up in? Second.
Mummer-Great Fire
The Big Express-Seagulls Screaming Kiss Her, Kiss Her
Smalltown and Train Running Low on Soul Coal both where very close to
first.
Skylarking-TIE! Ballad for a Rainy Day and 1000 Umbrellas
Oranges and Lemons-Mayor of Simpleton
Nonsuch-Wrapped in Grey
Then She Appeared got a close second
Rag & Bone Buffet-Extrovert
The Dukes of Stratosphear-Collideascope
If you divide them into the LP format Bike Ride to the Moon won for 25
O'clock.
Pretty much no one voted for the rest of the cds, so I won't bother with
those results. If you have any questions about the survey like "what place
did (insert name of song) come in?" then send me an e-mail and I'll
respond. Thanks to everyone who voted.
Gerardo
PS: Does anyone know what the real name of the second song off of White
Music is? Cross Wires or X-Wires?
------------------------------ Message-Id: <v03007800b1ecf0d69299@[208.240.250.142]> From: Ken Herbst <ken@bamadvertising.com> Subject: thank you, thank you, thank you! Date: Tue, 4 Aug 1998 17:53:24 -0600 Hi everyone, Seems I followed up too quickly on my request for new music recommendations. Sorry. A big thanks to the terrific folks who listed some of their favorite underrated, under-exposed, or unknown bands. As for me, not a lot of new stuff has blown me away, with the huge exception of _Neil Finn's_ latest effort called, _Try Whistling This_ (Work Records). What a voice this man has! What song writing skills! Have to admit, though, this album took a couple of listens to get into. Crowded House fans rejoice, _Try Whistling This_ is a huge leap forward from the recent, uninspired_ Finn Brothers_ disc. Plus, he's out touring behind the album -- coming to Austin, Texas at the end of August! Looking backwards to the music of some of XTC's early contemporaries: If you haven't heard _The Jam's_ (Original Master Recording) remastering of _Sound Effects_ and _All Mod Cons_, rush out right now and give it a listen. It's worth twice the 20-something dollars I spent on it, and you get both albums on one disc! If you like truly experimental British electronica (e.g. Eno), nothing beats _Bill Nelson's_ early work which has now been released on CD. A great start is _Chamber of Dreams_ (Enigma Records). Not techno. Not ambient. Not like anything you've ever heard. Still fresh after 14+ years. Then there's _Robyn Hitchcock's_ large body of work. Both _Queen Elvis_ and _Eye_ are phenomenal, and should appeal to some of XTC's newer/ younger fans. And, as for the fellow who said he felt self-conscious about his age when going to clubs to hear new bands, I have to confess I feel the same way. Although, thankfully, I really don't look any older than most of them, yet. I'm only 34, but I can't Pogo for 4 hours at a time like I used to. Oh well..... Thanks again for all your recommendations. Please keep them coming. I'll try to report on some new music too. Yours -- Ken Herbst
------------------------------ Message-Id: <m0z3t0r-000TMyE@mail.airmail.net> Subject: TVT Press Release Date: Tue, 4 Aug 98 21:14:37 -0600 From: Della & Steve Schiavo <schiavo@airmail.net> For Immediate Release: LEGENDARY POP BAND XTC SIGNS TO TVT RECORDS * Songwriter Laureate Andy Partridge Brings Ecstasy To New Label And Long-Time Fans * New York, NY, July 30 -- TVT Records is proud to announce the North American signing of English pop purveyors XTC, one of the UK's most prolific and treasured musical imports. TVT plans to release the band's first studio album since 1992's Nonsuch during the first quarter of 1999 followed by a subsequent release in the Fall. XTC's first album under the TVT agreement will feature a mixture of orchestral and acoustic melodies along with the band's trademark lyrical content. The band's Fall 1999 release is scheduled to be a more traditional XTC pop album. The band previously recorded for Virgin Records in the UK and Geffen in the States. XTC founding members Andy Partridge and Colin Moulding are currently working on their yet untitled 15th studio album with producer Haydn Bendall (Kate Bush) and longtime collaborator and Nonsuch producer Nick Davis. The record also features former XTC guitarist Dave Gregory as well as the 120-piece London Sessions Symphony. The album was partially recorded at Abbey Road Studios in London and at band-mate Colin's Wiltshire home. "I like to call it an Orch-ustic record really," said Andy Partridge. "It's not Rock-n-Roll and we like it!" "The return of XTC already makes 1999 a great year for music," said TVT Records President Steve Gottlieb. "From what I've heard so far the songwriting for this orchestral record is some of Andy's best yet. This is a great addition to the TVT family." Formed in the urban English town of Swindon in 1975, XTC fashioned a smart, quirky brand of power pop that made them one of the most influential bands to emerge from the post-punk movement of the late-seventies/early-eighties. Their enigmatic 23-year career includes many critically lauded records, several offbeat "side" projects and an abundance of memorable singles including "Life Begins At The Hop" (1979), "Senses Working Overtime" (1982), "Dear God" (1987), "The Mayor Of Simpleton" (1989) and "The Ballad Of Peter Pumpkinhead" (1992).
------------------------------ Message-Id: <199808050321.UAA17439@mail.rapidnet.net> From: "J & J Greaves" <jgreaves@rapidnet.net> Subject: Dragon/Duffy Date: Tue, 4 Aug 1998 20:07:41 -0700 Folks: Terry Chambers did indeed work with Dragon on their Body and the Beat LP, and the songs Rain and Magic got airplay in N. America, which was probably about the only time they got noticed there. Terry left after that LP. There was a CD of that album out back in 1983? when it came out, but it's pretty impossible to find now. Dragon's lead singer Marc Hunter sadly recently died of cancer. Terry supplied steady, solid drumming to the LP, but wasn't used as creatively as in XTC. He did apparently really help out Dragon when they played live, which isn't too hard to imagine. This info comes from the Little Express before it was called the LE, back in 1983. Found Duffy's I Love My Friends yesterday and would like to add my thumbs up to those who have already mentioned this CD. Dave Mattacks plays drums on the two Andy produced tracks. John
------------------------------ From: ElizaS33@aol.com Message-ID: <fccc6773.35c7d2a9@aol.com> Date: Tue, 4 Aug 1998 23:34:00 EDT Subject: Mind games you can play at home with XTC Hi Chalkhillians, I've been lurking since 1995 (positively astounding, in retrospect) but this is my first post, mostly because I've been in a learning phase. I got into XTC much later than any person of refined tastes has an excuse for - well, it was 1995, actually - so I've been attempting to catch up for the last few years. I think I may have a handle on it now. Anyway, I thought that this was interesting and that some of you might find it so as well. My boyfriend is a classical musician for the most part. He's done some arranging & conducting for pop albums, but as an overall statement, he knows almost everything about classical & jazz, and about pop, other than projects he or his brother worked on of which he got free copies, not much since the heyday of the Beatles and the Monkees. So I've been catching him up on the past quarter century this year. As a music fan, I'm generally hooked by lyrics, melody, and/or the quality of the singer. He never listens to lyrics and hears the vocals mainly as nothing more than part of the orchestration. So when I put something on for him, I have no clue if he'll love it or hate it. I've taken to just putting CDs in the changer and not telling him anything about them, just to see what he says. He has no idea I'm using him as a pop guinea pig, poor darling. As far as XTC goes, I'm overwhelmingly partial to Andy's songs over Colin's. Although I don't really DISlike Colin's work, the only song of his I ever actively want to hear is My Bird Performs. I've always attributed this to a certain lack of subtlety in his lyrics. But without fail, my subject (who doesn't listen to lyrics and has no idea XTC has two songwriters) will, when a Colin tune comes on, get this perplexed look and say something like, "Well, I really liked the *last* song they did." I found it interesting that someone only listening to the overall musicality of the songs could see such disparity. But generally, I'd say he's becoming an XTC admirer. But: He likes Yazbek better. On the "other music" thread, much of the stuff I listen to, popwise, has gotten a nod or two on Chalkhills. But I'm curious to see if any of you are familiar with Andy Prieboy's work. (I run his mailing list.) I think many of you might really appreciate him, especially his solo work (he was also the frontman for Wall of Voodoo for their last three albums). He's got a delightfully warped, complex sensibility, both lyrically and musically. His last album, Sins of our Fathers, came out three years ago on Doctor Dream Records; in recent times, he's been polishing up his new musical, "White Trash Wins Lotto!", a Gilbert & Sullivan-styled satire about the life and times of Axl Rose. I'm going to steal a concise description from Jon Brion, because I can't do any better than he did: "The conceit is that it's about Axl, but it's really mostly just what Andy thinks about stuff." It's incredibly funny, and I'd recommend that any of you in the Los Angeles area try to catch its next performance at Largo August 15th. If anyone wants more information on Andy, email me... I've got the archives here! Elizabeth
------------------------------ Date: 4 Aug 98 22:55:32 -0500 Subject: Wonderland From: "David vanWert" <mcknife@xsite.net> Message-Id: <B1ED41EF-4B60B@206.126.235.46> On Tue, Aug 4, 1998 9:16 PM, <owner-chalkhills@chalkhills.org> <mailto:<owner-chalkhills@chalkhills.org> wrote: >The appeal is rooted in the emotional, not physical, >turns on the long-observed and highly-regarded, and hints at so >much more than the surface (common for XTC). Damn! It just feels >like there's some real cherishing going on here I must leap to the defense of this song as well (not simply because it's on my favorite XTC album, Mummer critics be damned!) but I have to say that my feeling is different about it. This song is about a guy who's crazy for this girl and they seem to have a good thing going but then she totally disses him because some popular athlete guy showed some interest in her, and then when the athlete moves on, the first guy is right there for her to pick up the pieces and they get back together and all is forgiven, but then she does it again! And Again!!! AND AGAIN!!!! THIS SONG IS FOR HER!!! WHAT'S HER FUCKING PROBLEM?!?!?! Or at least that's what I thought in high school when the album was released. I certainly wouldn't hold a grudge that long. ;-P David vanWert <mcknife@xsite.net> http://www.xsite.net/~mcknife "I don't know about the rest of you guys, but these tight, colonial pants are killing me. I gotta change before I pass out." Patrick Henry, 1776 (later condensed to "Give me liberty, or give me death.")
------------------------------ Message-Id: <v04011701b1ed244f99f5@[146.6.72.39]> Date: Tue, 4 Aug 1998 22:00:48 +0100 From: Jason Garcia <h.h.name@mail.utexas.edu> Subject: The Good Things More Bands You Can't Say Enough Good Things About >as an introduction to Pollard's >songwriting: start either with _Alien Lanes_ (1995... YES, I'll second that emotion. That's an entire ALBUM that will get stuck in your head. Not IMMEDIATELY, but soon enough you'll be humming things like "Big Chief Chinese Restaurant" and thinking it's as poignant as "Yesterday". Well, maybe not exactly, but I'm a HUGE fan of the album; it was definitely the most brilliant thing to come out that year. > Anything that's catchy and has vocal harmonies automatically >invokes the Liverpudlian B-Boys, but Bob's closer in spirit to >Ray Davies or Paul Westerberg or Gabriel. Probably, but the way something like "Alien Lanes" was put together most strikingly reminds me of the cut-and-paste technique of the Beatles' 'White Album'. A collage of songs. Not so XTC-related but I just had to second that... And by the way, I've just got a CD pressed of my three new songs, and the first 10 people who email me can get one absolutely FREE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Spreading the word, Jason
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