Chalkhills Digest Volume 4, Issue 124
Date: Monday, 10 August 1998
Chalkhills Digest, Volume 4, Number 124
Monday, 10 August 1998
Today's Topics:
haiku 3
responses
Blegvad & Frith
Open Your Box, Pandora
4 CD's -- Where's The Beef?
The Negro Problem
XTC Birthdays
random thanks
Top Tips? / pop sell out
Duran Duran
TR question
Cyber-Festival, XTC Testimonial, Box-Set
more sale stuff
A suitable title for an XTC album
Band recommendations from the Antipodes
Re: Air Supply
another "Avengers" review
AVENGERS VERVE PIPE track
Help
New York Stories -xtc/chalkhills edition
Just wondering
XTC's "hard" CD (the one after Firework)
My IRC Chat
Dragon
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A crown of thorns and dark deeds.
---------------------------------------------------------------------- Message-ID: <304D2C3DF164D111827200600837841F35FB17@einstein.moneystar.com> From: Jill Oleson <oleson@moneystar.com> Subject: haiku 3 Date: Thu, 6 Aug 1998 10:26:19 -0500 saw father, not me ecstasy for xtc "drums and wires" teen embarrassed was i having missed the obvious implied sex lost too duh, duh, duh, duh, duh duh, duh, duh, duh, duh, duh, duh duh, duh, duh, duh, duh such were days before INXS, FX, others turned clever cliche
------------------------------ Message-Id: <s5c9d0d3.032@chemonics.com> Date: Thu, 06 Aug 1998 15:49:14 -0400 From: Todd Bernhardt <tbernhardt@chemonics.com> Subject: responses Hi: * Veronica said: >Which reminds me, Liz [Phair] 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!< I'll be the second! (Actually, since I don't think I live on your block, I'll probably be the first on mine...) Thanks for the heads up -- I was wondering when the long-awaited new album was going to come out. * Stephen Varga asked: >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?< Well, it's hard to be objective when it comes to them. I'm not just a fan -- I want to support the band and their new label, so I'll buy the set, and give the CDs I already own to semi-fans who I know will appreciate them, and who will grow to like the band more, and buy more CDs, and talk about them to other people, and bring new fans into the fold. Or I'll keep them. * Thanks, Gerardo, for the survey results. Interesting that there wasn't a Colin song in the bunch. * And thanks to the Schiavos for passing on the TVT press release. Except for mixing up Nick Davis and Gus Dudgeon's roles in Nonsuch, they got it right. Great quote from Andy. * Glad to hear from you, Elizabeth. Tell your boyfriend to start listening to the lyrics. And something tells me he doesn't like more modern, dissonant classical music, or he'd like Andy's stuff more. :^) --Todd
------------------------------ Message-ID: <000a01bdc173$da86a960$a63d63c3@default> From: "David McGuinness" <dmcg@btinternet.com> Subject: Blegvad & Frith Date: Thu, 6 Aug 1998 20:52:31 +0100 Thanks to Dan Phipps for notice of the great Peter Blegvad's tour. >> This trio plays New York on 7th Sept (with guest >> Fred Frith) and thereafter in Boston, Philadelphia, >> Washington, Pittsburg, Cleveland and Chicago. Anyone in NY for the 7th (boy am I jealous) should note that Fred Frith, quite apart from being one of the greatest guitar players of all time, also had the good taste to share with Andy Partridge the privilege of being a guest on the Residents' Commercial Album in 1980 (or was it '79?). Admittedly AP did call himself Sandy Sandwich, but even so ... Go and hear Frith and have your mind blown to bits. Stick-on 'Fred' eyebrows will be THE fashion accessory of 1999. Or perhaps not. I'll have to make do with going to hear John Zorn in Edinburgh in a week or three. bye for now -David
------------------------------
Message-Id: <199808062001.WAA18968@mail.knoware.nl>
From: "Mark Strijbos" <mmello@knoware.nl>
Date: Thu, 6 Aug 1998 22:03:29 +0000
Subject: Open Your Box, Pandora
Dear Chalkers,
The upcoming box set popped up again:
> I'm not so keen about having to buy 2 CDs I already own again.
Me neither... but hey, i've got most XTC cd's twice or more already
and the money from this sale will at least go to them (in part) and
help them finish the new album(s).
As Mitch has said before, this is our chance to support the new XTC
album financially and get something in return as well.
If you are not a collector, give away the old cd's to a friend
> 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.
Yes, i agree that the missing studio tracks are bad news but the two
"Barry era" concerts are actually very good! I've got a cd-r with
both shows (they were released before on BBC Transcription Service
discs) and the 1978 show in particular is terrific; with our heroes
at their energetic best.
> I don't think I'll be wanting to buy this unless the price is right.
Money is only paper and iron, just think of it as putting bread in
the mouths of Andy's hungry children ;)
Besides, if _we_ are not going to buy this box set who will?
> "...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?
Yes, i'd _love_ to hear them. Sounds really interesting; and a lovely
name too! I must admit i can't imagine how somebody could even try
to cross those two... XTC must be the most un-funky band in the
universe and Sly _is_ funk.
yours in xtc,
Mark Strijbos at The Little Lighthouse
http://www.knoware.nl/users/mmello/
or http://come.to/xtc
------------------------------ Message-ID: <19980806230745.18230.qmail@hotmail.com> From: "Steve Stearns" <xteve@hotmail.com> Subject: 4 CD's -- Where's The Beef? Date: Thu, 06 Aug 1998 16:07:45 PDT In the last digest, someone commented on the upcoming 4-CD box set of BBC Sessions to be released: >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? Being completely objective, I agree with you 100%!!!! I for one won't want to pay import prices for at least 2 CD's worth of stuff I already have. It's a crying shame that the Beeb erased the other material. . .that may have made it a more worthwhile purchase, but as far as the live CD goes, can someone out there please tell me why there aren't any good recordings of the Black Sea/English Settlement tours? If so, why not release those live recordings instead of the Barry Andrews material? (Don't get me wrong, I like XTC with Barry, but come on, I think almost everyone would rather hear live D&W/BS/ES than the same old same old.) I'd MUCH rather spend my $ on the new record(s) when they come out. Favorite Song Survey Results: Thanx for the cool survey, Gerardo! I always said "Smalltown" was one of my all-time fave XTC songs! Can't wait until the weekend comes, Steve
------------------------------ From: ElizaS33@aol.com Message-ID: <57c57ed.35ca6d2f@aol.com> Date: Thu, 6 Aug 1998 22:57:50 EDT Subject: The Negro Problem How convenient... I delurk after three years just in time to answer a question I kind of know something about! The Negro Problem are a hugely popular Los Angeles band, and though I've never thought of them in those terms, Sly Stone and Andy Partridge isn't a terribly bad comparison. They have an indie CD out with the equally far out name, "Post Minstrel Syndrome." I'm blanking on the label, but I know it sold fairly respectably, so I'm guessing it shouldn't be too tough to find. I'm not an expert by any means, but I have seen them perform a few times and have really been impressed. In fact, this is a good reminder to me that I've been meaning to check them out further! >>What a far out name! You say Intel sponsored it? Wow, are we getting past political correctness in the name of something even more elusive, like... hip??!! ;)<< We're getting closer. But they couldn't get booked somewhere in Boston recently without changing their name, which they did not. (And because I'm sure someone's wondering, the singer/songwriter/all-around frontman is in fact black.) >>I almost typed, "like what do these 'guys' sound like?" [oops, guess I just did!] but that would have been mighty presumptuous of me now, wouldn't it?)?<< Well, last time I saw them, one member was definitely female! (However, so am I, and when someone addresses my group with, "Hi guys!" I always say hi back.) In fact, if any of you live in LA and are for some reason not going to see Jon Brion tomorrow (Friday) night, TNP are playing with a couple of other well- reviewed pop bands at 14 Below in Santa Monica. Elizabeth (who just *knew* there would be some stray Prieboy fans on this list... you guys are unrelentingly in-the-know, aren't you? ;-))
------------------------------ Message-ID: <19980807030453.9645.qmail@hotmail.com> From: "Bradley Wood" <brad372@hotmail.com> Subject: XTC Birthdays Date: Thu, 06 Aug 1998 20:04:53 PDT I beleive the XTC Birthdays and birth places are as follows: Andy: November 11, 1953 Malta Colin: August 7, 1955 Swindon Terry: July 18, 1955 Swindon David: September 21, 1952 Swindon Barry: September 12, 1956 London (West Norwood) Brad Wood brad372@hotbot.com
------------------------------ Message-Id: <v04011709b1efd64b8f88@[129.116.75.36]> Date: Thu, 6 Aug 1998 22:55:03 +0100 From: Jason Garcia <h.h.name@mail.utexas.edu> Subject: random thanks Hey guys, Just wanted to say thanks for the interest in my CD! I've got the 10 requests already, but anyone else who wants one just has to drop by my page at http://www.angelfire.com/tx/top40 and sign up on my mailing list! Thanks again, and we Austinites should really get together! Calling all Austinites, email me! Jason
------------------------------ Message-ID: <35CAE10E.3CC7A683@yha.att.ne.jp> Date: Fri, 07 Aug 1998 20:12:15 +0900 From: Colin Seditas <cseditas@yha.att.ne.jp> Subject: Top Tips? / pop sell out Non XTC content: A request for advice (e-mail me privately please)- The Nazz: I've heard their first album is a gem (in a garage / punk kind of way) but I don't know what it's called. I'm not always so keen on old Todd Rundgren, so I don't want to buy the wrong album. Anybody know anything about them? XTC content: A couple of posts ago, Erik Schlichting was talking about 'pop' and that XTC don't 'sell out' like real 'pop' bands. I'm sorry if I have mentioned it before, but doesn't anybody else feel that a song like "The Disappointed" was a sell out? I felt at the time (and still, now) that this was an attempt at writing that elusive 'hit' Erik was talking about. As for 'pop': it's there to move you. People move in mysterious ways. Colin S. As I write I'm enjoying a first listen to SUPERGRASS' "In it for the money". Have a listen! Recently been listening to the Kinks' "Village Green Preservation Society" album a lot. I know there are a lot of Kinks fans out there. If you don't know this album (and it doesn't seem to be widely known) go and get it.
------------------------------ Message-ID: <c=US%a=_%p=SELECT_Software_%l=SELECT_OX_MAIL-980807131625Z-38@selectmail.selectst.com> From: Catherine Sweeney <CatherineS@selectst.com> Subject: Duran Duran Date: Fri, 7 Aug 1998 14:16:25 +0100 There are lots of comparisons to be made between XTC and Duran Duran. For a start, both lead singers are male, and both groups released albums in the 80's. I don't know why I never noticed the similarities before now. Maybe it's because one of them is crap.
------------------------------ Message-Id: <s5cad8f7.093@chemonics.com> Date: Fri, 07 Aug 1998 10:36:14 -0400 From: Todd Bernhardt <tbernhardt@chemonics.com> Subject: TR question Hi: Very little XTC content here. Feel free to hit page-down unless you're a Todd Rundgren fan. I found out recently that "Up Against It," a musical written by TR that was never released in the States due to musicians' union concerns/problems (or so TR told me), is in fact available as a Japanese import. I like the four songs from the show that are included on "Second Wind," but wanted to ask if there's anyone out there who could tell me (off-list, natch) whether the import of the entire show is worth the considerable amount it's being offered for? Thanks. And now for some XTC ... sort of. Mike Myers asked: >Yes, I know that Dave Gregory quit XTC, but has he also quit the Dukes? :-) No word on that now, is there?< Well, as far as I know, Mike, Dave Gregory was never _in_ the Dukes. ;^) As for Lord Cornelius Plum, I think he died in the same bizarre kitchen accident (or was it a gardening accident?) that did in the rest of the band... --Todd
------------------------------ Message-Id: <s5cae2a4.041@elsevier.com> Date: Fri, 07 Aug 1998 11:18:44 -0400 From: Ralph DeMarco <r.demarco@elsevier.com> Subject: Cyber-Festival, XTC Testimonial, Box-Set Dear One Armed Bandits and Affiliated Members: Eric asked: >BTW, where in NYC is the festival held? The Intel Music Festival is not held in one place. Actually, it is a four night affair and is held in dozens of clubs all over the city (though mostly downtown). For a certain fee one can access every single performance live via the Internet. Last year I knew someone involved in it and I secured two passes. I saw about four bands for free - the most memorable being Combustible Edison. XTC content: I just recently (finally!) bought a used copy of Testimonial Dinner. Now I know why Chalkhills Children is so popular. It's great to hear other versions of XTC songs. Though I must say Sarah M's version of Dear God - which is the only song from the CD I've ever heard on the radio - is not very interesting. There is just too much from Skylarking as far as I'm concerned, though the best from that album has to be Ruben Blades' version of The Man Who Sailed Around His Soul - wow! I particularly appreciate CTD's All You Pretty Girls (though I've heard their original stuff and I hate it). And, who are Terry and the Lovemen? They sound a bit too much like XTC, hmmmm? I was pleasantly surprised by TMBG's 25 O'Clock. Come to think of it, a Duke's tribute CD would be very much appreciated by yours truly. Speaking of the Dukes: I recall Andy P. saying at some point that there would never be another Duke's album because "Sir John Johns is dead". Well, I was under the impression that Andy is Sir John Johns, so what are we to infer? I would love to think that Dave Gregory could still record with the Dukes again - but it ain't bloody likely. The New Box Set: Regardless of the complaints I've heard about it - I will buy it because I don't own any of the CDs that will allegedly be included. Hell, I don't like to buy everything at once because it leads to boredom...which is what happens when you've got nothing left to own by an artist. Ralph
------------------------------ Message-ID: <B9B4268C8F87D11195DC0000F840FABE0203C63B@DUB-MSG-02> From: Peter Fitzpatrick <peterfit@MICROSOFT.com> Subject: more sale stuff Date: Fri, 7 Aug 1998 18:56:32 +0100 </begin public service announcement> XTC Dear God (UK 7-trk CD inc Homo Safari Series, jewel p/s CDEP3) UK 20.00 / $ 32.00 XTC Live & More (Rare 1981 Japanese promo 6-trk 12" including live trks from London 1979 & 1980, cool 6" pic labels & insert, die-cut p/s) UK 30.00 / $ 48.00 DUKES OF STRATOSPHEAR The Mole From The Ministry (UK Virgin 7") UK 5.00 / $ 8.00 This is from a catalog/list of items for sale from: ESPRIT INTERNATIONAL LIMITED Esprit House Railway Sidings Meopham Kent DA13 0YS England E:Mail to sales@eil.com Tel (UK +44) (01474) 815010 Fax (UK +44) (01474) 815030 http://eil.com/ </end public service announcement> Peter
------------------------------
Message-ID: <19980808055943.27006.qmail@hotmail.com>
From: "Brent John Palmer" <brent_palmer@hotmail.com>
Subject: A suitable title for an XTC album
Date: Fri, 07 Aug 1998 22:59:43 PDT
Here's another suggestion for a suitable XTC album title:
"Swindon the Musicianship's Sails"
Brent
------------------------------
Message-ID: <19980808062557.3161.qmail@hotmail.com>
From: "Brent John Palmer" <brent_palmer@hotmail.com>
Subject: Band recommendations from the Antipodes
Date: Fri, 07 Aug 1998 23:25:56 PDT
Fellow chalkers,
Since my place of residence is in Australia, there are some artists I
would strongly recommend - even though it might be difficult to find
albums by them.
Firstly SPLIT ENZ (they formed in New Zealand, then migrated here in
1975) - influenced by The Beatles and David Bowie, they were considered
very ahead-of-their-time in their early days. (Their song "My Mistake",
for instance, came out in 1977 but could have been released in "82!)
Albums which are worth hunting down are _Mental Notes_ ('75/76), _True
Colours_ ('80), _Waiata_ ('81) and _Time and Tide_ ('82 - co-produced by
Hugh Padgham, by the way). Their innovative (even q****y at times!)
brand of pop endeared them to many in Australia & New Zealand. (Bryan
Ferry thought they were the best thing from this part of the world, too,
when he toured here with Roxy Music in the '70s.) Their stuff was
released on A&M (at least in America).
Also, ED KUEPPER - both his solo material, and his work with The
Laughing Clowns. Covering the eighties and nineties, this stuff
definitely transcends time!
A band from Brisbane (the 1.5 million-strong city where I live), who
made extremely classy pop records in the late 70s/80s, were The
Go-Betweens. Especially look for their 1986 album _Liberty Belle and
the Black Diamond Express_. It was released by the indie label Beggar's
Banquet, I think.
Now something actually XTC-related! Are the Ben Folds Five fans of the
band? Their song "Selfless, Cold and Composed" has a rather similar
sound to "The World is Full of Angry Young Men". Another Australian
band, You Am I, have a song called "Mr. Milk" which has verses closely
resembling the middle-eight ("And birds might fall from black skies...")
of "Senses...". Has anyone else noticed similarities between other
songs and those of XTC?
------------------------------ From: CCooli9575@aol.com Message-ID: <9940ed46.35cc48d0@aol.com> Date: Sat, 8 Aug 1998 08:47:10 EDT Subject: Re: Air Supply >Ken Herbst posted the following challenge in the last edition.... > >>First, let me say that I trust the musical recommendations of >Chalkhillians much more than, say, fans of Air Supply. And since I >trust your opinions, I'd like to hear about the other terrific music in >your lives that (perhaps) may have some connection with the spirit, >quirkiness, etc. of XTC.< I'm married to a serious Air Supply fan. Not just someone who likes their hits; she has every single album they've ever released, including several they've released since the hits dried up. The most recent, released last year, actually isn't bad. It's more similar to The Moody Blues in some ways, who I'm not a fan of either, but it's a distinct improvement. Their formerly unspeakable lead singer's voice has mellowed with age and doesn't have those uneartly highs that used to make me want to run screaming from the room when one of their hits came on the radio. Then again, maybe I've mellowed my opinion because I love my wife. I didn't marry her for her taste in music, there's other values that are more important, I've learned. Bands I enjoy that an XTC fan might like: The Saw Doctors(I found a promo album of theirs for a dollar, and it turned out to be quite good; contemporary Celtic rock with loud guitars cheek by jowl with penny whistles and pipes) The Kinks(listening to Something Else right now; Andy probably has a small shrine to Ray Davies in his bedroom) Construction Joe(local band) That's all I can come up with this early in the morning. Very little to do with XTC, but can't seem to keep them off my stereo, and recommended to serious music fans everywhere- Steve Earle(outlaw country rock singer songwriter whose politics are slightly left of Mao-Tse Tung; hated by the Nashville establishment, loved by other country musicians. Trisha Yearwood named her iguana after him) Richard Thompson(if he collaborated with Andy, he'd form a Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon link between Andy and Captain Beefheart, since he did a project with the Captain's drummer) Christine Lavin(If Bill Cosby were a middle aged white female folksinger with humor intact, he'd probably sound like her. Writes songs dealing with the funny and/or poignant side of daily occurences; her song about trying to kill a bug in her apartment is especially hilarious. Does goofy promotional things at her shows like doing the nails of female audience members as a pretext for getting to know a few people per show. Worth seeing even if you've never heard any of her songs.) Chris
------------------------------ From: STakesh@aol.com Message-ID: <79c40046.35ccc74f@aol.com> Date: Sat, 8 Aug 1998 17:46:53 EDT Subject: another "Avengers" review Hi, folks, Here's another "Avengers" review exerpt, this one from Billboard: With new material from Grace Jones, Annie Lennox, Sugar Ray, the Verve Pipe, Suggs, and Ashtar Command Featuring Sinad O'Connor, "The Avengers" is a first-rate collection with almost no filler. Highlights include [lists 4 others], the Verve Pipe's pop-rock nugget "Blow You Away," which sounds like a distillation of Squeeze, XTC, and the Smithereens; [lists 3 more tracks]. An album on which participants live up to their reputations. Really, isn't that too cute? And listing eight tracks as "highlights" seems a bit, well, undiscriminating; how many tracks are on this, anyway? And does anybody have any inside info on the making of the song? "'Seems? Nay, madam, t'is,...'" - Shakespeare, Hamlet Stephanie Takeshita
------------------------------ Message-ID: <35CCD329.A639ECD1@hotmail.com> Date: Sat, 08 Aug 1998 18:37:29 -0400 From: Ian C Stewart <autoreverse@hotmail.com> Organization: AUTOreverse Subject: AVENGERS VERVE PIPE track I found a brief Real Audio clip of VERVE PIPE's "Blow You Away" at http://www2.rocktropolis.com/main/events/avengers/ It's a damn fine song. Personally I've always thought the VERVE PIPE were kinda boring in that exactly-like-everybody-else-right-now way, but a big fat AP injection has 'em sounding damn fine. You know how in the CHALKHILLS AND CHILDREN book, when the shit hit the fan after they recorded "Skylarking" and Colin wanted to quit the band? And then they did the DUKES and everything was fine again? I think they should've done the DUKES again instead of letting Dave Gregory go. Oh well. And! Check out the August special on XTC videos I'm having: buy 6 tapes and get the 7th free! Details: http://www.netwalk.com/~stewart/xtcvideo.htm the wind just blew it off his head and sent it spinning, Ian C Stewart
------------------------------ From: MFa2707621@aol.com Message-ID: <1581bd56.35cd0793@aol.com> Date: Sat, 8 Aug 1998 22:21:06 EDT Subject: Help Chalkers, I need some help here. I've been trying to have chats on mIRC, and nobody comes to them. I don't know if that's because of something I did or nobody seems to want to chat with me. I've tried so hard to advertise it, but nobody comes. I'm going to try again next week, but if nobody shows up to it I'm going to stop doing the chats. Does anybody have any suggestions? I don't know what to do. HELP!!!!! Molly
------------------------------ Message-ID: <35CD2FD0.483CD8E1@earthlink.net> Date: Sat, 08 Aug 1998 22:12:49 -0700 From: KenL <herne@earthlink.net> Subject: New York Stories -xtc/chalkhills edition Hey Chalkhill people... While I was in NYC scouring record stores, I actually came across a few XTC boots. One that was "Live at Harrah's" and the other which was a live show from Philadelphia. Please note that if my memory is failing me and Harrahs is in Philadelphia...that the two boots were different live shows at different locations. But having already spent a fortune that day, and as I couldn't remember which vinyl bootlegs I possessed of the band, I thought I'd wait for another day. The major find of the trip came from a street vendor selling bootleg cassettes. Amongst all the usual suspects like U2 and what have you was a case marked "XTC:Dukes of the Stratosphear Demos". There was nothing elase written on the case and the vendor had no further information to offer so I just went ahead and got it for $8.00. I figured it would be okay as I have had good luck with vendors like this before. I once bought a casette of XTC at MY DAD'S PLACE, a live show from 1980 and it was great. Anyway...when I got back to L.A.< I finally listened to the tape. It turned out to be a strange mix of Dukes demos, Big express Demos, demos from Bull With The golden Guts, Jules Verne,and other oddities. Many of them were new to me so it was quite exciting. I have been fighting demo fever off until after the new album but these were mostly pre-92 as far as I can tell. After researching through the Chalkhills archives I was able to identify almost all of them: Please note all comments are based on first listen... Side a: 25 O'Clock Bike Ride to the Moon My Love Explodes Susan's Revolving Nicely Nicely Jane Instrumental---this one had had a heavy bass and surf sounding guitar Brainiac's Daughter---This was just guitar and something that sounded like someone banging on a rug passing for a drum Collideascope---This one sounded very close to the final album version except for some strange squeaking sounds in the middle. Little Lighthouse---with drum machine. Asain fairly close to final but without much if any bass. Probably from Jules Verne's Sketchbook When We Get to England---this one I loved!!! God I wish he had/will record this one for real. But Andy seemed to "dis" it in the liner notes so I won't hold my breath Then She Appeared---vocal very faint. It's Snowing Angels Shaving Brush Boogie---Now this by far the most ridiculous XTC song I have ever heard. At first I thought, since it was at the end, that it was some oddity that the previous owner didn't tape over. the guitar sounded almost like Eric Claptain after too much whiskey. the vocals were out there. Someone imitated Ed Sullivan I think. And the lyrics...."You got a shaving brush stuck up your rectum...etc. etc.---check the archives folks and you'll see what I mean. It's a laugh anyway. I side of the boys I'd never heard before. SIDE B Making Plans For Nigel(live I think)---this sounded like it was played very drunkenly at some small gig or party. At first Colin sings it as Making Plans for Greggsy. Instrumental--possibly Ridgeway Path Goodbye Humanasaurus---In all the years of reading about this one on the list I didn't know that was a pre-Nonsuch and that it sounded like/or contained elements of Then She Appeared. An odd song to say the least. Rocket Hey Goosey Goosey Blue Beret---I've heard this before as played on the KROQ accoustic bootleg that I have but I didn't remember it. I'll have to find it and compare. Zonked Right Out---this one is half beautiful and half f**cked up. I'll have to listen to it again to figure out which. the demented chanting/sampling of "Zonked RRRRiiiggghhtt out HA! HA! was pretty wild. Pearl Holding the Baby Monkees in Human Skin Suits Train Running Low on Soul Coal---accoustic Red Brick Dream---with train sound at the end Strawberry Fields Forever---a very faithful rendition with orchestral backing and all. Sounded like it was a completed studio version. I almost didn't recognise it as the boys until I heard some pronunciations that could only be Andy's "Strawberry fee-yulds" Anyway it was great. The tape finished with two Christmas bits. One was an actual song which has the lyrics in the archives. the other was a hilarious message from Andy urging us all to avoid boiling friends in a vat of their own phlegm if we plan on going hangliding...or something like that. All in all it was a lot of fun listening to the tape. I took a dip in the demo pool and I liked it. But I will still try to hold off seeking out the others until the New Year. My final XTC related bit from my trip was hearing Mayor of Simpleton on the Radio. WBER in Rochester New York played it as part of a 1989 Flashback hour. I still remember the first time I heard it getting on to the 405 freeway at Santa Monica on my way to Culver City. It was right after the first time I heard Elvis Costello's Veronica. KROQ's first spins of them were back to back on a February morning all those years ago. Sorry this post is so long. I haven't even got back to adding my bits on all the recent Chalkhills I caught up on. Oh well...that'll be next time. KL
------------------------------ Message-ID: <004101bdc35b$dc4e4840$25411dce@john.cfu-cybernet.net> From: "John Thomson" <j1thom@cfu.net> Subject: Just wondering Date: Sun, 9 Aug 1998 01:06:33 -0500 Delurking for a moment here to wonder; What did Sheryl Crow do to piss everyone off sooo much. Please respond privately
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Message-ID: <35CD5DA4.2C2186CB@earthlink.net>
Date: Sun, 09 Aug 1998 01:28:20 -0700
From: Steven Graff <slapdash@earthlink.net>
Organization: SLAPDASH
Subject: XTC's "hard" CD (the one after Firework)
Hey Chalkhill Kids
I was just listening in my car to some tapes and thinking, well,
who are the boys gonna call on when it's time for them to record their
harder edged stuff? I thought of two people who may not be the obvious
choice, but who may yield very interesting and fitting results.
First choice is Bob Mould. I was listening to one of the CD's by his
second band, Sugar, and by the variety on each CD (excepting "Beaster")
I think Mould and Partridge would have little to argue about (then
again, that's what everyone thought about every producer they were
teamed up with). The problem being, however that Mould has stated that
he hates producing because of the amount of times you hear songs over
and over again. Plus, last I heard, he was losing his hearing due to
playing his punk gigs of the 70's 80's without earplugs. Still, a worthy
thing to investigate, I say.
Second choice may be fitting only because of XTC's new home: Trent
Reznor. I'm not saying "give XTC the NIN treatment" AT ALL, but Trents
own spin on things may also help realize Andy and Colin's songs in
different and exciting ways. This is of course given that theyd agree
this time to "let the producer do his job." I doubt Trent (or Bob) would
seriously entertain their own designs on things in a way that would
compromise Andy and Colin's songwriting.
Any quiffs or qualms?
Also, check out my new updated site for my band Slapdash
(www.geocities.com/sunsetstrip/mezzanine/7965), which will be updated
monthly with show and CD reviews, pics, samples of my band's work, etc,
and which features a link to Chalkhills as well!
Yours in XTC
Steven Graff
------------------------------ From: MFa2707621@aol.com Message-ID: <ee0dddec.35ce4523@aol.com> Date: Sun, 9 Aug 1998 20:56:02 EDT Subject: My IRC Chat Chalkers, I just wanted to say that I'm going to try again with the IRC chat next Saturday. I'm going to have it at a different time. I was going to try 3pm EST. Let me know if you like that time. This will be my last chat I'll have for a while, because I'll be starting school soon. Bye for now. Molly
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Message-Id: <v01540b06b1f420e154f8@[139.80.101.4]>
Date: Mon, 10 Aug 1998 16:01:49 +1200
From: james.dignan@stonebow.otago.ac.nz (James Dignan)
Subject: Dragon
PCulnane@dca.gov.au a dit:
>Chris Vreeland asked in Chalkhills #121 about Dragon. Here's a brief
precis (p'raps the likes of kiwi James Dignan could correct me any
inaccuracies):
not many of them... I'll add a little more, though!
>*Formed in New Zealand circa 1975, were a heavy/prog style band on the
Vertigo label; released two albums in this vein
1974, in the same house in Ponsonby, Auckland that would also spawn Hello
Sailor, another of NZ's top groups of the 70s and 80s. Started as prog on
Vertigo.
>*Migrated to Australia circa 1977 and had a string of smash hit singles,
including at least three number ones - in a more pop-rock style. Were a
popular staple on Australian pop TV show "Countdown"
migrated '75. Moved to Polygram - flopped and were dropped. Changed style
to pop-rock and moved to CBS. Hits around this time (in NZ, at least)
included "April sun in Cuba", "Are you old enough?" (both 1978), "I'm still
in love with you" ('79). Albums include "Running Free" (1978), "O Zambezi"
(1978). Despite early setbacks (including the death of drummer Neal Storey
from a drug overdose - the first of several drug related deaths in the
band) they rise in popularity during the late 70s. Drug problems hound
several of the band's members during this time, as did other signs of
'riotous living' which led to such incidents as the whole tour party being
placed under house arrest at Magnetic Island, Queensland, and rumoured
connections withan infamous drug smuggling ring. Their first US tour, in
1978, continued in the same vein - including a near riot in Austin TX.
Basically, they partied, and partied hard. The band split up in 1979, but
reformed (both pronunciations!) in 1982.
*Terry Chambers joined the band around 1983 and participated in one album,
"Body and the Beat" as well as numerous singles from the album. A very
sartorial-looking Terry is to be spotted in the accompanying promo videos
of these singles. He toured extensively with the band during his tenure
Dragon reformed August 1982. By 1983, they had a new line-up: Marc Hunter,
Todd Hunter, Terry Chambers, Robert Taylor, Paul Hewson. Singles "Rain" and
"Magic" hit the charts, along with the album "Body and the Beat". A
gruelling tour followed, after which, Taylor and Hewson both quit. Hewson
was to die shortly after, again of a drug-related death.
*Dragon went on to record quite a few more albums after Terry left,
including the follow-up to "B&theB", "Dreams of Ordinary Men" which was
produced by one Todd Rundgren and released under the moniker Hunter in the
US - a fine album it is too.
also "Bondi Road", 1988, and several others, but DoOM is probably the best
of the later albums.
>Hope this helps. Vale Marc Hunter 1953-1998.
agreed. So long, Shooting star, It was a pleasure watching you glow.
James
------------------------------ End of Chalkhills Digest #4-124 *******************************
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