Chalkhills Digest Volume 4, Issue 125
Date: Wednesday, 12 August 1998

         Chalkhills Digest, Volume 4, Number 125

                Wednesday, 12 August 1998

Today's Topics:

        playing the devil's astrological advocate
                   New York Stories Too
                       XTC Survey!
                       Re: Football
                  A quick question.....
                         You Am I
                      Tightened Belt
                     Rim-shot Replys
                         Interim
              Clarification/Lyrics/Split Enz
                Split Enz and some Aussies
                          Kinky!
                      Blow You Away
         Attn: Todd (who was at the Atlanta Bash)
                   XTC vs. Duran Duran
                 The remastering fantasy
                BBC & Those Missing Songs
                    The Meeting Place
               He's not dead, he's chuffing
                     Aliens among us
                  REVIEW: Robert Wegmann
                    Back from Bauhaus
                4 cd track listing request

Administrivia:

Looking for new music?  Surf to Chalkhills Recommends!

By the way, I think that is quite enough Astrology for one list.

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    The views expressed herein are those of the individual authors.

    Chalkhills is compiled using Digest 3.6 (John Relph <relph@sgi.com>).

You - you put your hands together.

----------------------------------------------------------------------

Message-Id: <v01540b07b1f4213a694c@[139.80.101.4]>
Date: Mon, 10 Aug 1998 16:03:04 +1200
From: james.dignan@stonebow.otago.ac.nz (James Dignan)
Subject: playing the devil's astrological advocate

>Here are 10 questions to ask supporters of astrology:

here is a devil's advocate answering them for you!

>1) What is the likelihood that one-twelfth of the world's population is
>having the same kind of day?

none. Properly calculated (rather than from the throwaway newspaper)
astrology works out the 12 sun signs, the 12 ascendents, and the locations
of about ten different 'heavenly bodies', mapping them onto 12 houses. That
works out at about 12 to the power of 13, or 106,993,205,379,072 different
possible combinations.

>2) Why is the moment of birth, not conception, crucial for astrology?

at that moment, the human body is under its greatest stress and therefore
prone to be most affected by external influences. Some schools of astrology
do calculate for conception time as well. It may also be that the
womb'shields' the growing foetus in some way, or that the quickening of
birth is the single most important moment in a human's life. You might
equally ask when does a foetus become a human (let's not go there...)

3) If the mother's womb can keep out the astrological influences until
birth, can we do the same with a cubicle of steak?

good question, although irrelevant for two reasons. 1) how would you get
the foetus from the womb to the cubicle? 2) how many foetuses do develop
within cubicles of steak? If you did nmanage to incubate a foetus from
conception within a steak cubicle, then the moment of 'quickening' - the
first independent breath and heartbeat would probably be the best to use.
Or do you plan to keep the child in the cubicle for the rest of its life?

>4) If astrologers are as good as they claim, why aren't they richer?

Unless you believe in predeterminism [1] the future is never hard and fast.
It may well be that chaos theory plays a part, like the butterfly's
wings/hurricane business. You tell someone they will die when a ship sinks,
and they don't go on board the ship. Their absence may lead to a chain of
events that stops the ship from sinking. As to "Black Monday", a
surprisingly large number of astrologers did predict that there would be a
crash around the end of that year, but so did quite a large number of
economists.

>5) Are all horoscopes done before the discovery of the three outermost
>planets incorrect?

being as they are the furthest (known) planets from earth, these planets
are thought to produce only relatively minor effects. Horoscopes cast
before that time might have been about 1 or 2% less accurate due to this

>What if astronomers find a tenth planet? What about asteroids and
>planet-sized moons of the outer solar system?

the same applies. As for asteroids, again, some schools take several of the
larger asteroids into account.

>6) Shouldn't we condemn astrology as a form of bigotry?

no, we should condemn only those who use it as such. Should we condemn
religion as a form of bigotry, or only those who use religion to gfurther
their claims that some people are better than others?

>7) Why do different schools of astrology disagree so strongly with each other?

who do economists disagree with each other? Or weather forecasters? Or
music critics? Whenever there is a practice that involves interpretation of
a multitude of different factors, there is bound to be disagreement. An art
is simply a science with too many variables.

>If astrology is a science, as its proponents claim, why are its
>practitioners not converging on a consensus theory after thousands of
>years of gathering data and refining its interpretation? Scientific ideas
>generally converge over time as they are tested against laboratory or
>other evidence. In contrast, systems based on superstition or personal
>belief tend to diverge as their practitioners carve out separate niches
>while jockeying for power, income, or prestige.

again, like economics, politics, psychology, astronomy, meteorology,
palaeontology... there are damn few sciences where there is no 'jockeying'.
Are you trying to tell me that all astronomers agree about the origin of
the universe? Or all palaeontologists agree as to why the dinosaurs became
extinct?

>9) If astrological influence is carried by an UNKNOWN force, why is it
>independent of distance?

>All the long-range forces we know in the Universe get weaker as objects
>get farther apart.

why do you assume that an unknown force will obey the rules of known forces?

>10) If astrological influences don't depend on distance, why is there no
>astrology of stars, galaxies and quasars?

because they are not solarcentric, perhaps? There is no reason to believe
that, in the dim mists of the future, a human born on Rigel IX would be
influenced by Mars of the Moon. It would be influenced by Rigels I to VIII,
plus Rigel. If it is possible to posit a force that affects all the lanets
within one solar system equally irrespective of their distance, it is
equally possible to posit that it would only affect those planets, and that
each solar system is unaffected by forces from other such systems.

>Any (unaltered) photograph would have shown the eclipsed Sun against the
>backdrop of the stars of Gemini, the next constellation over to the west.
>No one COULD have won this contest. Maybe thousands of years ago the Sun
>would have been in Cancer, but not today... ooh, that nasty little
>precession thingy! Mr. Mayer merely wanted people to start looking up at
>the sky and see for themselves that they have had their craniums up their
>bums for far too long.

why do you assume that it is the constellation that is important? Sure
there has been precession. But to the ancients, the twelve names chosen may
have simply been ways to divide the year into twelve parts. Someone born
during the time of the year known as Cancer may well share certain
characteristics with people born thousands of years ago at the same time of
year. If so, it is more likely because people born in July have all shared
the same type of climate during their gestation periods [2]. The terms have
remained simply because they are easy to use, to separate them from the
twelve months - our other way of breaking the year into twelve pieces. Next
you'll be telling me that there aren't twelve constellations along the
zodiacal path (what about Ophiuchus?), and that they aren't all the same
size!

Next question?

James

[1] and, as they say, predeterminism was doomed from the start!
[2] which begs the question - should the same descriptions be used for
people inthe southern hemisphere?

PS - I don't believe in astrology, but then again us Geminis never do...;)

PPS - Steve Bunda - I share two of your Pop Rushes! My top six would be
Airscape, Cindy of 1000 lives, The Byrds' "Wasn't born to follow" (that
dual guitar solo), the first note of the Hollies "All I need is the air
that I breathe", The Chills' "Submarine Bells", and the moment when Brian
Eno's vocals join in on the last chorus of James's "Sometimes (Lester
Piggott)"

------------------------------

Message-ID: <35CE7A72.5A3DDD2F@earthlink.net>
Date: Sun, 09 Aug 1998 21:43:30 -0700
From: KenL <herne@earthlink.net>
Subject: New York Stories Too

Oops...

Forgot one other XTC find.  While in the basement of Generations
Records, I found a giant (approx. 3-sht size poster for Nonsuch.  It was
Nonsuch red with a little castle icon.  It said XTC's new album Nonsuch
featuring 'the Disapppointed'.  It was only ten dollars and I think they
still have a few.  It's not the most brilliant poster ever...the lads
aren't pictured...but what the hell.  It's big and red and it says XTC.
Since  XTC posters are hard to find I snagged it.  I think somewhere in
my archives I have another poster with the album cover and their
pictures.  I'll have to dig that and the Oranges and Lemons one I have
one of these days.

I also should mention that out of boredom I started buying XTC
cassettes.  So far they've been easy to find.  I got Nonsuch and Dukes
of the Stratosphear Psonic Sunspot.   The others were sprinkled
throughout various stores but I just bought two.  I already have Oranges
and Lemons.  I've seen all the others in stores except for Go2 and White
Music but I'm sure they'll turn up.  My other challenge will be to find
the import Skylarking because I prefer the original to the Dear god/US
rendition.  It's the only Skylarking I own, both vinyl and CD.

Till we meet again

------------------------------

Message-ID: <9008165AB825D1118A1600A024A166195961B5@CHOWAN>
From: "Martin, Alan" <Alan.Martin@ncxix.hcg.eds.com>
Subject: XTC Survey!
Date: Mon, 10 Aug 1998 10:58:53 -0400

It is with a heavy heart that I report the following news.  I recently
had a harddrive crash... AGHHHH!  And YES I DID lose all of the surveys
that had been sent to me to date.  Unfortunately, I was unable to save
that information because my backup did not contain any of the most
recent e-mails sent.

Now I know that all you computer savy chalkies kept a copy of your
survey answers after you sent them to me.... right?  And, if you didn't,
I apologize sincerely for not having been able to save them.

SO.... this OBVIOUSLY means the deadline for submissions has been
extended.  To those of you who do have copies... PLEASE email them to me
again.  If anyone needs another copy of the survey to complete, simply
e-mail me at AMartin777@aol.com and I will send it along.

For those of you who completed the survey and didn't retain a copy of
your answers, I hope you will see this as a chance to "rethink" (and I
only mean that in the most positive way) your results.

To those of you who simply don't have the energy to do it all again, I
don't blame you one bit.  However, I would like to extend the deadline
to September 15th though, so that everyone has plenty of time to go at
it and/or go at it again.  If you are new to the whole thing then
GREAT!!  This is your chance to participate.

Again, I apologize and hope that this doesn't wreck the whole thing.

Send any/all correspondence concerning this matter to
AMartin777@aol.com.  THANKS!

Alan J. Martin
ECS
(919) 851-8888 x3076
Alan.Martin@ncxix.hcg.eds.com

------------------------------

From: sfrankli@ECHG.ORG.UK
Message-ID: <8025665C.00543FCF.00@Inet.echg.org.uk>
Date: Mon, 10 Aug 1998 16:50:04 +0100
Subject: Re: Football

I have been lurking and posting for a couple of months and was thrilled
that AP has been passed the comments about 'Your Dictionary'. Lets hope
that it makes it.
The main reason for the posting is that I have noticed a couple of
references, including mine , to football teams (Soccer to Molly and Co.)
I have a theory that folk who have an interest and appreciation of non
mainstream music and are interested in sport , are more likely to support
either their local side or perhaps an unfashionable one. and probably
support them with a passion rather than just a passing interest.
I would like to use Chalkhills to carry out a survey to see if this may be
the case. (Not really anything to do with XTC, but what else can we do
whilst waiting for the book and the next album ?)
I don't think that the band have any particular football affiliations and I
will avoid the opportunity of cheap jibes about Swindon Town.
So please post me direct even if it is only with the name of your team and
I will report back the findings. I am expecting to get a spread of
''smaller''teams rather than a load of  Man U or Liverpool fans, but who
knows ?
To keep this fresh please respond within the next 7 days or even better NOW
as the boss is away on his hols.

Steve Franklin
SFRANKLIN@ECHG.ORG.UK

------------------------------

From: LadyCPlum@aol.com
Message-ID: <722f4b13.35cf82bf@aol.com>
Date: Mon, 10 Aug 1998 19:31:10 EDT
Subject: A quick question.....

Does anyone have any idea when the next Little Express is coming out???????

Cheers,
Amanda
XTC song of the day-Wonderland
non XTC song-Reap the Wild Wind-Ultravox

------------------------------

From: Joel Reamer <reamerj@stu.beloit.edu>
Message-Id: <199808110203.VAA24170@stu.beloit.edu>
Subject: You Am I
Date: Mon, 10 Aug 1998 21:03:05 -0500 (CDT)

   Chalkfolk.

      I just wanted to confirm Brent John Palmer's observation about You Am
I's "Mr. Milk." If it isn't a direct tribute to XTC, then they most
definitely need to be sued for some kind of infringement!;) The resemblance
is shocking.
      I posted a message about this stuff earlier this summer with no
response. I often hear XTC snippets from Eric Matthews and The Style
Council, especially. But I could just be hearing things. Hmmm...
      Please start a thread on this, although I'm sure it's been played out
in the past.
                                        Joel.
     P.S. I e-mailed Veronica about this privately, but just to warn
evryone: The new Liz Phair has been in my college radio station's studio for
about a month now, and after repeated listenings, I've gotta say: It's a big
fat clunker. Maybe time will prove me wrong, and I hope so, but it seems to
me like Whitchocolatespaceegg has all the flavor of a brown paper bag.

------------------------------

From: MFa2707621@aol.com
Message-ID: <a1478f8e.35cfa72e@aol.com>
Date: Mon, 10 Aug 1998 22:06:37 EDT
Subject: Tightened Belt

Chalkers,

Mark said:
"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?"

Well, all I have to say that I can't afford it.  You have to think about the
XTC fans who wouldn't be able to afford the 4 CD boxed set.  Yes, I want it,
but I have to pay for school, bills and other things.  I'm feeling
frustrated with some of the XTC fans, because they can get most of the XTC
stuff.  Yes, I could get copies from some of you, but that's not the same as
having the originals.

And I don't understand this whole "sell out" thing.  What we don't want XTC
to be popular?  We just XTC for ourselves?  Once a band gets popular we say
that they are "selling out".  I don't like that term.  It's stupid.  If a
band doesn't want to get popular than they shouldn't make records or go on
tour.

These are my own opinions, if you don't like them please e-mail me
privately.  I've had enough of some of you bad mouthing people on the
mailing list.  If you have a gripe about something tell that person
privately.  The e-mail addresses are on the top of the posts.

Boy, that made me feel better.  I'm usually not this bitchy, but I didn't
like what I was reading.  I'm so glad to have Chalkhills because I can voice
my opinion.

Bye for now.

Molly

------------------------------

Message-ID: <19980811024941.27927.qmail@hotmail.com>
From: "Bob Crain" <bobcrain@hotmail.com>
Subject: Rim-shot Replys
Date: Mon, 10 Aug 1998 19:49:41 PDT

All,

I second the concerns on the projected high price of the box set, but
hey, we're starved for new XTC material, even if it is old...

>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.

Joy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  Blegvad's coming to DC!  See you there,
NoVa-DC-Balmer fans....

>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.

Outstanding band!

And in regards to Nazz, the first album is called "Nazz"...if you like
Todd at all, you will not be disappointed!

-Bob Crain

------------------------------

Message-Id: <35CFC100.47C7DEA4@usa.net>
Date: Mon, 10 Aug 1998 22:57:00 -0500
From: Ben Gott <loquacious@usa.net>
Organization: Loquacious Music - http://www.bowdoin.edu/~bgott
Subject: Interim

Hillians,

In the interim, I thought I'd dig out a few non-XTC albums and give 'em
three cheers...

Suzanne Vega - "Nine Objects of Desire" - This is a beauty. Husband Mitch
Froom delivers his best production yet; it fits beautifully with his wife's
amazingly pure voice. Some of her best songwriting yet, influenced heavily
by the birth of her child. "Caramel" appeared in the movie "The Truth About
Cats and Dogs."

The Smiths - "The Queen is Dead" - Yes, I'm a Morrissey fan. Got a problem
with that? However, I enjoy this album more for Johnny Marr's amazingly
complex guitar work than simply for Moz's vocals. It was released the same
year as Peter Gabriel's "So," to which it bears absolutely no resemblance
(although "So" is another album to pull out and listen to again).

Grandmaster Flash & the Furious Five - "Message from Beat Street" - Rhino
Records does it again -- but this time, they bring us some great cuts from a
seminal rap band. I do like this album very much, and "The Message" remains
(probably) the greatest rap ever penned.

Tori Amos - "Little Earthquakes" - It's pop! It's art rock! It's acapella!
Quick -- if you blink, you'll miss it! "Girl" and "Winter" remain two of my
favourite Tori tracks, and they make this album much more accessible than
her more recent work (IMHO).

XTC - "Drums and Wires" - Really! Put this in again...and think about the
fact that Steve Lillywhite was, like, 10 years old when he produced it.

As for XTC content: could one of our friends find out when there will be new
XTC t-shirts and bumper stickers available? (I had made a sticker myself for
my 1990 Saab, but it was in an accident involving a rainstorm and a two-ton
tree limb.  Now, I have a 1996 VW Jetta -- but without an XTC sticker!)

Anyhoo...until next time,
-Ben

+-----------------------------------------------------------+
    Ben Gott :: Loquacious Music :: Salisbury, CT 06068
      http://www.bowdoin.edu/~bgott :: (860) 435-9726
   Cross-legged on the bed, she gazed across the town...
+-----------------------------------------------------------+

------------------------------

From: ElizaS33@aol.com
Message-ID: <57acbc17.35cfbae6@aol.com>
Date: Mon, 10 Aug 1998 23:30:44 EDT
Subject: Clarification/Lyrics/Split Enz

Quoth Todd:

>>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.<<

Why, thank you! But he does, in fact, like both modern classical music *and*
Andy's stuff more. Did I use a nonspecific pronoun or something, resulting in
mass confusion? I hate when that happens!

As far as lyrics, he has recently started listening, and overall I'm not sure
it's a good thing. One female pop artist who I particularly like, and who he
knows quite well personally  *and* really liked her albums before, springs to
mind; now whenever we have her records on, he'll suddenly say, "Oh, for god's
SAKE, (her name here)!" Then he says, "Well, you're the one who told me to
start listening to the lyrics!" Man, you get what you wish for...

And from Brent:

>>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.  <<

I agree heartily with this, but would disagree slightly with the
recommendations. Time & Tide, absolutely; my other favorites of theirs are
Second Thoughts (a more polished, for better or for worse, release of Mental
Notes, which contains the indispensible track The Woman Who Loves You) and
Dizrhythmia. And just to be contrary, I'm also wildly fond of Beginning Of The
Enz, a collection of early acoustic demos that I believe was released quite
without the band's consent. A new 2-disc retrospective, Spellbound, is a good
starting point, I think.

I've found their CDs quite accessible in the states, although many of them are
imports. Try Tower or Virgin.

Elizabeth (who once almost had to accept tickets and backstage passes to an
Air Supply concert just to be polite)

------------------------------

Message-Id: <v01540b02b1f568914b44@[139.80.101.17]>
Date: Tue, 11 Aug 1998 15:34:11 +1200
From: james.dignan@stonebow.otago.ac.nz (James Dignan)
Subject: Split Enz and some Aussies

>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).

a couple of minor quibbles... the Enz were based in New Zealand until about
1980, except for those times when they were recording (even then, they
seemed to regard NZ as 'home', referring to it frequently in songs like
"Six months in a leaky boat"). I'd have to say that there are vaguely
xtc-ish moments on some of their work, although unless you like the arty,
quirky, Roxy Music-ish sound of their early stuff Mental Notes is not a
good place to start. The albums from 1977-1983 are all goodies though:
Dizrythmia, Frenzy, True Colours, Waiata (also known in some places as
Corroboree), Time and Tide, and Conflicting Emotions.

The joy of these albums is not only the interplay of the Finn brothers and
the developmnt of Neil's superb songwriting skills (later put to good use
in Crowded House), but also the excellent musicianship of keyboardist Eddie
Rayner and bassist Nigel Griggs. For those of uyou interested in peculiar
but effective key and chord changes, too, such songs as Waiata's "Iris"
(chorus in C#, verse in C) and "Ships" (which is really odd, but I haven't
quite worked it out yet!) are worth the price of admission for that alone!

True Colours is the most accessible starting point, although if you can
handle XTC there is no reason why Waiata or Time and Tide shouldn't become
a firm favourite.

As to Bryan Ferry, The Enz supported Rxy on their first British tour circa
1974, and Phil Manzanera was so impressed that he offered to produce their
second album (Second Thoughts), which was largely a reworking (and
improvement on) Mental Notes.

As regards the excellent Ed Kuepper, I suggest trying "Serene Machine",
"Character Assassination", or the best of "The Butterfly Net". Excellent!
Other excellent Aussie bands I would recommend include the Triffids, the
Church, Hunters and Collectors, and the GoBetweens. Some Midnight Oil and
Cruel Sea is also very good. Or for something more obscure (and impossible
to find!), Porcelain Bus.

James

PS - all together now: I must must must make a mental note-a-make a mental
note-a...

------------------------------

Message-ID: <01BDC512.7299B0C0@e2c2p48.scotland.net>
From: Robert Wood <wobbit@bigfoot.com>
Subject: Kinky!
Date: Tue, 11 Aug 1998 10:07:06 +0100

In 4-124 Colin Seditas Said...

>> 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. <<

Yeah, not only that it's been re-released on vinyl in the UK as part of this
series of heavy vinyl classic albums. :-) So you can get to hear it
properly! <g> It *is* a top album!

------------------------------

Message-Id: <s5d01cea.096@4thestate.co.uk>
Date: Tue, 11 Aug 1998 10:24:24 +0100
From: Andy Miller <ANDYMILLER@4thestate.co.uk>
Subject: Blow You Away

Hello,

Blow You Away - fantastic! It sounds like the Rutles playing an XTC song!
No, scratch that, it sounds like Green Day playing a Neil Innes parody of
an XTC song. But we love it.

Catherine Sweeney wrote:

>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.

Ooh, you're nasty!

NB. This is the funniest thing anyone has written here for months. More
like this please.

Nick Riddle - scared now?

Best
Andy

PS. Rufus Wainwright ... Rufus Wainwright ... Rufus Wainwright

------------------------------

Message-Id: <v04011700b1f5c19984e9@[209.86.20.39]>
Date: Tue, 11 Aug 1998 05:39:37 -0400
From: Curtiss Hammock <curtiss@desertisle.com>
Subject: Attn: Todd (who was at the Atlanta Bash)

I'm trying to get in touch with the Todd that was at the Atlanta Bash this
past Saturday. Please drop me a line at:

curtiss@desertisle.com

Thanks!

Curtiss
 Curtiss R. Hammock II                    Atlanta, GA, USA
 Online Portfolio       http://www.desertisle.com/curtiss/
 The Cavedogs          http://www.desertisle.com/cavedogs/
 Funk Pop A Roll   http://www.desertisle.com/funkpoparoll/

------------------------------

Message-Id: <9808110918.AA39719@jhensley>
Date: Tue, 11 Aug 1998 09:18:39 -0500
From: "Jon Hensley" <jhensley@eb.com>
Subject: XTC vs. Duran Duran

>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.

I don't know whoever said that XTC and Duran Duran have similarities but
they are very wrong. They have nothing whatsoever in common (music
wise). However, I wouldn't say that Duran Duran is crap. Perhaps now but in
their early years they were great. Listen to their first album (Duran Duran)
and their second (Rio). John Taylor's bass lines on Rio are amazing and
convinced me to pick up the bass. After that I discovered Andy Rourke (The
Smiths) and Colin Moulding but it was Duran that got me interested in music
and making my own music.

Jon

------------------------------

Message-ID: <35D0568F.7B64@staff.prodigy.com>
Date: Tue, 11 Aug 1998 10:34:55 -0400
From: Jim Samuelian <james@staff.prodigy.com>
Subject: The remastering fantasy

While being incredibly bored (and disgustingly sweaty) on the treadmill
at the gym the other night while some large ladies insisted we all watch
America's Funniest Friggin' Videos on TV, I suddenly had this fantasy
about winning some huge Powerball lottery and starting a reissue CD
label and buying the rights to all the XTC albums (and Miracle Legion,
The Jam, and Joe Jackson as well, but that's another story) and
rereleasing them.  I decided on the following rules:
* Remastered to sound as close as possible to the original vinyl
versions.  My 2LP UK-Virgin of English Settlement sounds so much better
than the CD its not funny.  I'm not usually one for vinyl vs. CD wars,
but this one is so obvious.
* All albums would be faithful to their original packaging--lyrics, pix
etc.--and no lame "3 non-LP tracks!" labels marring the front covers.
* In fact, no bonus tracks allowed.  I'm not a purist about most things
in life, but I don't like Black Sea and Mummer and others having b-side
tracks wedged in the middle of the original running order.  So there
would be a separate 2CD release called Beeswax that would have all the
b-sides etc on them.  The only exception: both Dear God and Mermaid
Smiled on Skylarking (to satisfy both camps), and Life Begins is on
Drums and Wires, as that's the (US) version I grew up with!
* Extra releases, while we're at it: 3CD release of Andy demos (I want
When We Get To England on CD dammit!), 3CD live anthology.
Okay, a nice little fantasy, but it was fun!
-Jim

------------------------------

Message-Id: <TFSKPGTW@ubk.net>>
From: Jonathan Monnickendam <monnickj@ubk.net>
Date: Tue, 11 Aug 1998 13:24:57 +0000
Subject: BBC & Those Missing Songs

* 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?<

Yeah,  i know the feeling .

But I wonder whether AP & Co have looked beyond the BBC archive for the
missing BBC sessions ?

An XTC fan at the time might have taped those broadcasts and be willing to
pass them on. I offer this only because i know that this has worked for
other bands and I'd love to hear stacks more of the D&W/BS/ES era.

Volunteers please step forward.

jon

* ---------------------------------------------------------------
The views expressed are of the individual, and do not
necessarily reflect the views of The United Bank of Kuwait PLC.
* ---------------------------------------------------------------

------------------------------

Message-ID: <B82F8C4D16A0D1119FDC0001FA6A4BC90159EA22@hfd-exch003.hartford.aetna.com>
From: "Witter, Karl F" <WitterKF@aetna.com>
Subject: The Meeting Place
Date: Tue, 11 Aug 1998 11:41:10 -0400

On the list of XTC-themed travel destinations:

A restaurant in Queensbury, NY (the Glens Falls area) is called
The Meeting Place. Nothing particularly inviting about it, being
dropped onto a half-square-mile of asphalt, but then again XTC
doesn't have a song named after the attached motel. (No, "Days Inn,
Day Out" doesn't qualify.)

We safe in you concrete robe,
Karl

PS I think 80's music was more fun, but I'm willing to wonder if
my age has something to do with it. Is anyone else pondering what
I'm pondering?: Go-Gos: fun. Belinda Carlisle solo: not hardly.

------------------------------

Message-Id: <s5d0336e.018@chemonics.com>
Date: Tue, 11 Aug 1998 12:02:52 -0400
From: Todd Bernhardt <tbernhardt@chemonics.com>
Subject: He's not dead, he's chuffing

Hi:

Ralph DeMarco asked:
>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?<

Don't know whether there's a knighthood involved, but a guy named John
Johns has been doing work for my company. I kid you not. Maybe he had
to flee England after the, um, "accident"?

--Todd, who's glad that his parents were a little more creative in the
naming department.

------------------------------

Message-Id: <v03007802b1f5d319a8cb@[208.240.250.142]>
From: Ken Herbst <ken@bamadvertising.com>
Subject: Aliens among us
Date: Tue, 11 Aug 1998 11:11:50 -0600

Another loud thanks to all the folks who've been giving their
recommendations for new (and old) music aside from XTC.

I forgot to mention a band I discovered in New Zealand last winter
that I really liked called _EyeTV_. Really good powerpop with a mod
edge. Great songwriting, too.

Also have to say that New Zealand, though being a small country
(roughly the size of the state of Colorado), has produced an amazing
number of terrific bands and musicians. And, all of the musicians I
met there (even people in well known acts) were extremely gracious and
friendly. One band even gave me a ride from the airport to my hotel
after we struck up a conversation. Fans of the Finn Brothers, Crowded
House, Split Endz should visit the beautiful coastal town of _Dunedin_
on the south island, to get that Swindon-pilgrimage adrenalin rush.

Mr. Dignan, you're a lucky man, indeed!

Also, before I forget, you've got to check out the MIT List of Radio
Stations on the Internet. What an amazing site. You can hear music and
talk radio from all over the globe. WAY WAY COOL!!

Go there immediately........ http://wmbr.mit.edu/stations/

Bye bye -- Ken Herbst

------------------------------

Date: Tue, 11 Aug 1998 11:05:52 -0700 (PDT)
Message-Id: <199808111805.LAA24679@mando.engr.sgi.com>
From: John Relph <relph>
Subject: REVIEW: Robert Wegmann

Folks,

After a long wait, Robert Wegmann's latest release, _Red Hair_,
finally arrived in my atomic mail box the other day.  (Robert
explained there had been delays in getting the CD pressed.)

It was well worth the wait.

Robert has updated his sound, having taken up the Stick, and _Red
Hair_ sounds like King Crimson meets Bill Nelson in a technoambient
undercurrent.  Melodies come in and out of phase, the bass growls,
and atmospheric washes of sound abound.

Check out Robert's page at http://home1.gte.net/fumiko/

Sometimes progress is good.

	-- John

------------------------------

Message-Id: <199808111929.MAA12988@access.tucson.org>
From: "J. D. SMX" <jsmelser@access.tucson.org>
Organization: Access Tucson
Date: Tue, 11 Aug 1998 12:37:14 -0700
Subject: Back from Bauhaus

Flam-a-diddle, perididdle, crash!

Hi Chalkers,

I'm just now getting my head back on straight after having seen the
Bauhaus Resurrection at the Palladium in LA last month.  It was
fantastic.  For those of you, like me, who would've seen them back in
the early 80's but never got the chance, don't miss it; they're
better than ever.  The USA tour starts this week so check Pollstar
for the venue nearest you.

And, no, I wasn't bitten by any scary vampires.  But, the guy in the
Bunnysuit was a hoot!  I'll also be at the San Diego and Mesa shows,
BTW.

Chalk it up to,  SMX

------------------------------

Message-Id: <3.0.5.32.19980811223509.007cdc80@pop3.demon.co.uk>
Date: Tue, 11 Aug 1998 22:35:09 +0100
From: The Larsons <MereBrian@larson4.demon.co.uk>
Subject: 4 cd track listing request

> Mark Strijbos wrote in 4-124:
>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.

Can you post the track listings for these?  Enquiring minds want
to know...

Cheers,

Steve
* ------------------------------
Larson Family Web Page:
http://www.larson4.demon.co.uk
* ------------------------------

------------------------------

End of Chalkhills Digest #4-125
*******************************

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12 August 1998 / Feedback