Chalkhills Digest Volume 4, Issue 126
Date: Thursday, 13 August 1998

         Chalkhills Digest, Volume 4, Number 126

                 Thursday, 13 August 1998

Today's Topics:

                         DD/UB40
                Re: Whitechocolatespaceegg
                Reznor, Primus and Jackson
                     5 XTC Mysteries
                        Re: Rigel
               re: The remastering fantasy
                  and another thing....
                       fwd: Hello!
               New releases related to XTC
              Aotearoa, rugged individual...
Your Top 40 Dictionary (and other assorted lunatic ravings)
Absolutely no XtC content (but some Rundgren bits, anyone?)
              There's A Lot Of It About....
                    More Blegvad Crap
                     Seamless Swindon
                 Looking For Voiceprints
                       randy rants
                  Exclusive XTC Scoop!!!
               Off topic, I need your input
                 Re: New York Stories Too
                   CD Box Tracklisting
                      Cooking Dinner
                        thanks Bob
                     #Skylarking Chat
               And interesting profile....

Administrivia:

    To UNSUBSCRIBE from the Chalkhills mailing list, send a message to
    <chalkhills-request@chalkhills.org> with the following command:

	unsubscribe

    For all other administrative issues, send a message to:

	<chalkhills-request@chalkhills.org>

    Please remember to send your Chalkhills postings to:

	<chalkhills@chalkhills.org>

    World Wide Web: <http://chalkhills.org/>
		or: <http://come.to/chalkhills/>

    The views expressed herein are those of the individual authors.

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

Kiss goodbye to my hopes.

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

Message-Id: <3.0.5.32.19980812222259.007c0c30@pop3.demon.co.uk>
Date: Wed, 12 Aug 1998 22:22:59 +0100
From: The Larsons <MereBrian@larson4.demon.co.uk>
Subject: DD/UB40

>in 4-125, Jon said:
>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.

OK, I'll come to the confessional now.  I visited the UK as an
impressionable teenager in the early '80's and was immediately enraptured by
what I heard on the radio: UB40 was doing "One in Ten" and Duran Duran had
hit the charts.  When I returned to the states after our holiday I went into
the first record store I saw and asked for the new UB40 album.  Imagine the
blank stares I got!  I lost interest in the Durans as I discovered the likes
of XTC and the Buzzcocks among many others but I agree with the above
assessment of their first album and still give it a listen from time to
time.

Cheers,

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

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

Message-ID: <19980812221926.2144.rocketmail@send1c.yahoomail.com>
Date: Wed, 12 Aug 1998 15:19:26 -0700 (PDT)
From: Veronica Kyle <veronicakr@yahoo.com>
Subject: Re: Whitechocolatespaceegg

  Well, Joel, in spite of your advice not to buy Liz Phair's new
album, I got it yesterday morning. I've listened to it 3 times now and
I love it. The only "clunker" IMO is the final song. Granted, no album
will ever match Exile in Guyville, but it's certainly better than Whip
Smart. Some might be interested to know that she has a lot of guest
artists helping her out on the instruments, including Scott Litt,
Peter Buck, Mike Mills, and Bill Berry.  The lyrics are great and the
melodies are really catchy and hummable. She cut out the potty-mouth
for the most part, which a lot of critics claimed was her trademark,
but I think it just means that she's matured and has found ways to
write sexy songs without using profanity.  So, to contradict Joel, I
say that it definitely deserves a listen by those not already familiar
and that most of her fans won't be quite as disappointed as he was.
  In regards to the person who was looking for cassette tapes of XTC's
earlier works, if you don't mind used copies, I'd be willing to donate
White Music and/or Go2. I have them on vinyl too, so I wouldn't miss
the tapes. E-mail me if you are interested.

Veronica

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

From: MPadg@aol.com
Message-ID: <9a26c44e.35d216c3@aol.com>
Date: Wed, 12 Aug 1998 18:27:14 EDT
Subject: Reznor, Primus and Jackson

> Second choice may be fitting only because of XTC's new home: Trent Reznor.

Rather than having him produce, he could rework the material from the
masters like he did recently with David Bowie. He put out a CD of many
versions of the same song - the one I heard was very cool.

I got the new Primus CD with Scissorman last night. I concur with a previous
post that it is pretty true to the original. It is very well done though.

I'm really enjoying Joe Jackson's "Heaven & Hell". It's the seven deadly
sins with guest vocalists and a heavy dose of classical arrangement. Very
interesting to hear Brad Roberts juxtiposed with a bassoon.

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

Message-ID: <33F0E554.830@bellatlantic.net>
Date: Tue, 12 Aug 1997 18:36:12 -0400
From: John Irvine <jirvine@bellatlantic.net>
Subject: 5 XTC Mysteries

Some of these are mysteries with no answers.  Some are answerable by
those who know the answers.  I don't.

1.  What gives with the giant leap in songwriting 'tween Go2 and Drums
and Wires?  Put any random song from D&W against and random song from
Go2 and there's no comparison.  Obviously there's the Dave vs. Barry
thing, but as far as I know Dave had nothing to do with the actual
writing on D&W.  Were those songs written before Barry left?   Was the
whole album not written until Dave was an integrated member?  What?

2.  Did XTC ever play non-LP songs live?  I'm thinking mostly of Take
This Town, Punch and Judy, Tissue Tigers, Smokeless Zone, Limelight, and
other kickin' songs I'd love to hear live.  Any bootlegs out there with
these songs?

3.  Is that Andy singing on those Helium Kidz demos?  The ones that
sound like Foreigner meets Elvis?  If so what was he smoking?  This
leads us to:

4.  Did Andy ever admit to using drugs.  I can imagine Colin and Dave
sharing a spleef, but Andy?  My wife wonders if amphetamines had any
influence on White Music.  I mean, listen to Colin's vocals - they make
David Byrne's early vocal style sound silky smooth.

5.  Does Elvis Costello realize that 13 Steps is a complete rip off of
You're the Wish...  Honestly, listen to them side by side, they have the
same chorus.  A huge plagiarism settlement might help with recording
costs for upcoming releases. Costello hasn't got the megabucks George
Harrison does, but he still makes pots more than our penniless
Swindonians.

Answers, I need answers dammit.

 Thanks Kate for the treasure trove of tapes - loved the live stuff,
loved the Giant Peach demos, mixed feelings about the new demos, will
use Helium Kidz tracks for torture when I become a dictator - except
Saturn Boy 2 which rules OK?

John Irvine

PS.  Not Lame is not lame.  They were the only "distribution" my band
ever got.  By a Jennifers CD from their website today!  We've already
been paid.

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

From: "Peter Dresslar" <pdresslar@worldnet.att.net>
Subject: Re: Rigel
Date: Wed, 12 Aug 1998 19:10:06 -0400
Message-Id: <19980812230311.OFTX19652@default>

> From: james.dignan@stonebow.otago.ac.nz (James Dignan)
> >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.

Rigel is a giant blue double star. No human could possibly live there, let
alone be born there. Scads of radiation, horrible rads. Take sunblock.

;-) peter (as long as we're talking minutae...)

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

Date: 13 Aug 98 10:04:33 AST
From: PCulnane@dca.gov.au
Subject: re: The remastering fantasy
Message-ID: <0000rnzzvxjh.0000nzthxvvx@dca.gov.au>

Jim Samuelian's post in 'Hills #125, about re-releasing XtC albums, and how
best to do it, was spot on, and corresponds almost exactly with a similar
little fantasy of my own.

Well done Jim!  Would that it were so.  No go and have a (cold) shower, you
sweaty beast.

~p@ul

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

Date: 13 Aug 98 10:17:22 AST
From: PCulnane@dca.gov.au
Subject: and another thing....
Message-ID: <0000vfrzrxjr.0000txlbzdhj@dca.gov.au>

Dammit, I hate it when I make spelling mistakes.  The word "no" in my last
post was supposed to be, of course, "now".

Re Jonathan Monnickman's suggestion about casting the net wider than just
the BBC archives to unearth rare XtC material for possible release....
The Triple-J radio network here in Australia holds in its archives the
complete recordings of concerts the band performed in Sydney in both 1979
and 1980  (I was at the latter show and it was a stormer, believe me).

As for XtC/Idea being allowed to acquire these tapes for release, I think
it possible, as precedents have been set.  Last year, Irish 3-piece Ash
released a full CD taken from a "Live At The Wireless" recording made by
Triple-J.  Additionally, alleged XtC plagiarists You Am I often issue
Triple-J recordings as b-sides to their singles.

The Sydney XtC recordings could perhaps do with some tweaking in the sound
quality department, but as an example of the quality of both sound and
performance, check out the songs "This Is Pop?" and "Are You Receiving Me?"
, issued as b-sides on the Japanese and Australian versions of the "Nigel"
single.

Maybe someone could suggest to someone at Idea to talk to someone at
Triple-J about releasing these concert recordings for someone (like you &
me) to enjoy????
~p@ul

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

Date: 13 Aug 98 11:12:57 AST
From: PCulnane@dca.gov.au
Subject: fwd: Hello!
Message-ID: <0000bdjttjbv.0000zvdvbpzn@dca.gov.au>

Chalkfolx
Recent Chalkhills have, for mine, seen a quantum improvement in content and
I've enjoyed reading a lot of the stuff therein, more so than during that
dodgy religion/politics discussion patch of a while back.  So thanks.  I
had to write to the redoubtable James Dignan personally, but then thought,
why not share my thoughts with you others (see below).

Meanwhile I'd better shut up for now & do some work.   ~p@ul
-------------
Original Text
From: Paul Culnane@Pol Coord@CMCA, on 13/08/98 9:53 AM:
To: Internet[james.dignan@stonebow.otago.ac.nz]

G'day James,
Thanx for responding to my recent Chalkhills post about Dragon, and filling
in the gaps. I find my memory is shot pretty much these days, although I do
vividly remember meeting Terry Chambers (for the second time) when the band
I was mixing for supported Dragon during their Body & the Beat tour. He's
such a cool guy!

Also, nice list of Aussie faves you have there - I completely concur with
your recommendations.

Re Porcelain Bus: do you know to what their name refers?  In case you don't,
 I'll tell you.  It's a euphemism for vomiting.  If you've got your head in
the toilet and gripping the sides of the bowl while throwing up, your
friends might say, "ah, he's driving the porcelain bus".  Aren't we
antipodeans delightfully disgusting sometimes?

Always a pleasure to read what you have to say in the 'Hills, James. Take
care
~p@ul

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

Message-ID: <35D23FAE.503947EA@ziplink.net>
Date: Wed, 12 Aug 1998 21:21:51 -0400
From: Cohnhead <cohnhead@ziplink.net>
Subject: New releases related to XTC

You know, I looked through the new releases at Newbury Comics on-line
(I'm from Boston so I'm biased, but check out http://www.newbury.com for
the Beantown perspective) and what are my must-haves of this week's
releases?  Primus: Rhinoplasty; They Might Be Giants: Severe Tire Damage
and Dr. John: Anutha Zone.

Now there are some similarities in these people, I suppose, not the
least of which is that they always appear on my must-have list when they
have new releases.  This time however, a greater strand was struck.
This, you have probably guessed is the beloved XTC.

It's actually kind of obvious.  Primus makes no bones about their
fanatacism.  This new CD is an EP (actually over 50 minutes) of fave
covers much as they had previously done on Miscellaneous Debris 6 years
ago.  That one included, "Making Plans for Nigel" as track 2 behind
Peter Gabriel's "Intruder".  Rhino puts our boys up top with "Scissor
Man" starting things off before PG's "The Family and the Fishing Net".

TMBG included "XTC vs. Adam Ant" on Factory Showroom and this new live
album features that cut and includes Joe Jackson's former bassist,
Graham Maby.

I guess the biggest surprise was Dr. John.  Now this guy has been around
since just about forever.  And between endless touring Mardi Gras
parties, feather headdress shopping, and the occasional commercial for
Ivory soap, the good doctor puts out his smooth, swampy albums with one
of the best voices going.

Now this one has Paul Weller on one cut and Jools Holland on another.
But what catches the attention is the tiny white letters on the back
bottom of the cover:  produced by John Leckie.  If you don't remember
this name, check back on your White Music or Go 2 records.

Not bad for one day, eh.

Dan

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

Message-Id: <v01540b03b1f7f1d23041@[139.80.100.160]>
Date: Thu, 13 Aug 1998 13:44:02 +1200
From: james.dignan@stonebow.otago.ac.nz (James Dignan)
Subject: Aotearoa, rugged individual...

>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!

heh! There are some very talented bands from this part of the world, to be
sure. So many, in fact, that "The Dunedin Sound" is a term that gained a
lot of media coverage a few years back to describe the Clean, Chills,
Verlaines, Bats, Straitjacket Fits, 3Ds, Sneaky Feelings, Look Blue Go
Purple, Snapper... It came to be regarded as an antipodean Athens GA.

If XTC fans want a few suggestions anbout some Kiwirock that they might
appreciate, I would (without hesitation) recommend the Muttonbirds albums
"Mutton Birds" and "Envy of Angels", the Chills' "Submarine Bells", the
Bats' "Daddy's Highway" and Straitjacket Fits' "Melt". I'd also suggest
that you could look at the more commercial sounds of Dave Dobbyn's "Lament
for the Numb" or Greg Johnson's "Chinese Whispers", or the low-fi oddness
that is the Tall Dwarfs "Fork Songs".

Funny, the Robyn Hitchcock mailing list has just been going kiwi music wild
too...

James (feeling right in his element)

PS - all that, and I didn't even plug my own music! ;)

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

From: Iain_Murray@hr-m.b-m.defence.gov.au
Message-Id: <4A25665F.000C722B.00@ncc-notes.hr-m.b-m.defence.gov.au>
Date: Thu, 13 Aug 1998 12:48:15 +1000
Subject: Your Top 40 Dictionary (and other assorted lunatic ravings)

Courtesy of fellow Chalksniffer Paul Culnane (who has destroyed my attempts
to cultivate a rebellious image by calling me a "charming fellow" - thanks
a bunch), I've finally had my first listen to Andy's latest demo
recordings. At this point, I feel I should refer back to a topic from about
six weeks ago (roughly) - namely, the chances of "Your Dictionary" getting
radio airplay and being the first single, et cetera.

Upon first listening, "Your Dictionary" doesn't immediately strike me as an
obvious potential single. I think that songs like "I Don't Want To Be
Here", "You And The Clouds Will Still Be Beautiful" and "Church Of Women"
would have more chance of receiving radio exposure (although I'm not
convinced that success is 100% dependent on getting your songs played on
some shithouse radio station that pays its bills by pandering to the latest
trends among dysfunctional thirteen-year-olds who haven't yet figured out
that the peak of the baseball cap is supposed to worn AT THE FRONT!!!).

....but I digress.

In 1977, the Sex Pistols released a charming little ditty called "God Save
The Queen" - just in time for Queen Elizabeth II's Silver Jubilee
celebrations. Of course, this moving patriotic anthem was misunderstood by
just about everyone at the time (**tongue-in-cheek alert**), and was banned
by radio stations all over Britain. This complete lack of airplay didn't
stop "God Save The Queen" from reaching #1 on the British singles chart (I
think it knocked the Jackson Five out of top spot, but don't quote me on
that), although the name of the group and the name of the song were blacked
out of all official chart listings. While I'm certainly not suggesting that
XTC should start spouting right-wing theories on TV talk shows in order to
gain the same level of notoriety, I *am* pointing out that there is a
precedent, and songs can still be successful with limited (or absolutely
no) radio airplay.

In short : radio stations - who needs 'em?

Anyway, while I'm here, I'd like to pick out a few bits from digests past.
The recent postings about The Nazz have led me back to The Yardbirds
(believe it or not, there is a connection). On the album "Roger The
Engineer", there is a track called "The Nazz Are Blue" - does anyone in
Chalkland know which one came first? Is this a Nazz tribute, or did they
pinch their name from Beck, Relf, et al?
Split Enz : for Australian Chalkheads who are interested, much (perhaps
all) of the Split Enz catalogue from the 1970s has been reissued on
Mushroom Records for $9.95 on CD. The ones I've seen so far are "Second
Thoughts", "Dizrhythmia" and "Frenzy" - I think the later (and more
popular) ones are still a bit more expensive....
James Dignan : our New Zealand correspondent mentioned the "excellent" Ed
Kuepper (couldn't agree more, BTW - "Character Assassination" is a
classic). Here's a question for James, or anyone else who can answer it for
me - about eighteen months ago, I saw a guy on a Saturday morning music
show who was referred to as "the Ed Kuepper of New Zealand", presumably
because he had also started in punk bands in the mid-1970s and was now
recording more acoustic songs. I think his name was Chris Knox, but I'm not
certain - has anyone heard of this guy, and if so, where can I find some
albums?

Thank you for your patience. I now return you to someone who knows what the
hell they're talking about.

Iain

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

Date: 13 Aug 98 13:16:39 AST
From: PCulnane@dca.gov.au
Subject: Absolutely no XtC content (but some Rundgren bits, anyone?)
Message-ID: <0000bdjttvrh.0000amgukyqq@dca.gov.au>

I've just had an eerie premonition (cue "Twilight Zone") theme, that
resident Chalk-rebel Iain Murray is gonna ask about the origins of the name
of Todd Rundgren's first band, the Nazz.  Yer on the ball here, Iain...
the group was indeed named in tribute to their heroes the Yardbirds,
specifically the song "The Nazz Are Blue".  Such was Rundgren's obsession
with the Yardies, that he presented a carbon copy cover of "Happenings Ten
Years Time Ago" on his solo "Faithful" album. An album worth checking out
for Runt-o-philes, as on it he also does, er, faithful reproductions of
Beach Boys, Hendrix, Dylan and two Beatles toons, along with several of his
own.

Iain, I'll leave it up to James Dignan to give you the guff on Chris Knox
etc.

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

From: Iain_Murray@hr-m.b-m.defence.gov.au
Message-Id: <4A25665F.0013A3BC.00@ncc-notes.hr-m.b-m.defence.gov.au>
Date: Thu, 13 Aug 1998 13:36:25 +1000
Subject: There's A Lot Of It About....

I have just had an eerie premonition that a certain member of our
Chalkmunity is having an eerie premonition of his/her own. There's a lot of
Twilight Zone stuff going around, isn't there?

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

Message-ID: <19980813040431.9973.qmail@hotmail.com>
From: "Bob Crain" <bobcrain@hotmail.com>
Subject: More Blegvad Crap
Date: Wed, 12 Aug 1998 21:04:31 PDT

>From the Cuneiform website:

http://members.aol.com/Cuneiform2/cuneiform.html

The News:
* --------------------------------------------------------------------
Although not Cuneiform acts, our friends PETER BLEGVAD, JOHN GREAVES and
CHRIS CUTLER will be doing a small US tour, and this
is too good not to list! More info [addresses, phone numbers] soon.
Monday, September 7th - NYC, NY - The Knitting Factory
Saturday, September 12th - Philadelphia, PA- Nick's Upstairs
Sunday, September 13th - Silver Spring, MD - Phantasmagoria (301)
949-8886
Monday, September 14th - Pittsburgh, PA - Millvale Ind Theater [with
David
Thomas & Two Pale Boys]
Wednesday, September 16th - Cleveland, OH - Speaking In Tongues [with
Les
Batteries]
Thursday, September 17th - Chicago - Martyrs
* ----------------------------------------------------------------------

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

Message-Id: <1.5.4.32.19980813043118.0067b594@mailgate.ee.surrey.ac.uk>
Date: Thu, 13 Aug 1998 05:31:18 +0100
From: Simon Saunders <S.Saunders@ee.surrey.ac.uk>
Subject: Seamless Swindon

Has anyone else noticed a special 'seam' of XTC songs which have a certain
coherence spread over the years ? Somehow, I always link 'Melt the Guns',
'This World Over' and 'Another Satellite' - I think musically rather than
lyrically, but I can't be sure.

I spent ten months working in Swindon,and commuting from Bath.  Bath was
described as "the death of ambition" while Swindon gets "a motorway service
station with some houses attached".  From the unlikeliest sources does
inspiration spring...all of which is thinly disguised XTC content in the
hope that I'll be allowed to say:

>>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.

Nonsense - two babies born in the same hour in a maternity hospital would
have identical charts.

Simon

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

Message-Id: <v04003a00b1f81dd82b7f@[12.72.202.65]>
Date: Wed, 12 Aug 1998 21:40:39 -0700
From: David Haakenson <dhaakenson@worldnet.att.net>
Subject: Looking For Voiceprints

>> Jonathan Monnickendam queried:

>> 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.

Great idea. They should try it. I just saw someone posting requests for
tapes from early BBC recordings of the Buzzcocks for an official EMI album
to be released next year. XTC could try the same. There's probably all
kinds of stuff out there. For the Buzzcocks, the offer includes returning a
digital remastered version of whatever they send in and credit in the album
liner notes.

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

Message-ID: <35D28B99.5ACF@gte.net>
Date: Wed, 12 Aug 1998 23:45:46 -0700
From: Randy Hiatt <rhiatt@gte.net>
Subject: randy rants

There has been talks here of "why aren't the boys really popular"....
heres my rant on this.

The music business isn't about art or public service.  The
formulas/niches the big fat cigar smoking guys in those office towers
have created are for the purpose of making "the business" lots of money
and not just from music sales, it's tied into all forms of marketing...
from your tooth paste to fashion markets, TV and ....

It will really be ugly when "music artists" start having to use product
names in their lyrics like the movie industry currently does for it's
"investors".

America has taken control of the worlds intake, to some degree, the
majority eat what they're told to eat.  I think a cultures music is
closely related to it's food intake.  Take the US, where did McDonnalds
come from?  We are raised on fast food, instant gratification... thus
our music industry is filled with one hit wonders, hollow, candy like,
instantly enjoyable "hits" that soon drive you nuts if you hear it one
more time, but have no fear another one is right there to replace it
when it does.

The boys put out full course meals (like feasts of old) and most of us
(trained on drive thru resturants) just don't have the patience to eat
anything but desert and miss out on XTC's brilliance.  Compare the
eating habits of Europe to the US sometime.  Where's my candy bars...?

If the industry promoted real art it would sell, but how many real
artists are out there compared to the Minilli Vanilli's.  The money
hungry industry has their condo's, limo's, airplanes, their 4th home in
some exotic land to support so they "create" artists when none fill
their bill.

Geeze, I live in Seattle, Grunge was a flavor of the week... was
Hendrix?  Grunge went global before it went local (I wonder how that
happened).

It's not about selling out it's about the formulas created and our
willingness to blindly buy into it.  Like Andy said "If my songs become
hits it's by accident".

I for one am glad they have hung in there.  I can't think of any who
have lasted this long, faced with their circumstances, and I'm glad they
never moved to LA or NYC.  Stay in Swindon boys, you are SuperMen.

Randy (what the hells got into me) Hiatt

"When in doubt....roll"
                Bruford

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

Message-Id: <v04011702b1f89646bd95@[134.32.48.244]>
Date: Thu, 13 Aug 1998 14:14:14 +0100
From: Stephen Varga <varga@ferndown.tt.slb.com>
Subject: Exclusive XTC Scoop!!!

Andy Partridge is to marry Erica Wexler. No other details on this at present.

I've just phoned Helter Skelter, the UK publishers of the forthcoming XTC
Song Stories book. The latest release date is now September 18th.

Stephen Varga

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

Message-Id: <199808131522.KAA12323@indy3.indy.net>
Subject: Off topic, I need your input
Date: Thu, 13 Aug 98 10:25:31 -0500
From: Rednoise <rednoise@indy.net>

I have a request,  I need info.
Chalkhills has a diverse and knowledgeble group of people in it, from what I
can see, and it seems the perfect forum to ask these questions.
Please reply to me at rednoise@indy.net

I've been a musician for quite awhile...Bands have always kind of accidently
stumbled into existence with me. Now I have the rare opportunity of
'inventing' the whole thing before it begins.  Being a musician, I can't say
for sure how people who's lives aren't directly tied to making music
interpret a new band...

What I would like to ask you all is this;
What excites you about a band ? What are the key elements in your minds ?
I mean, what would make you go to a club to see an original band, and what
would make you go back.....what would make you buy a CD unheard ?
What is it you'd like to hear or see in a band that you aren't seeing at
this point in time ?

Generally, I'm just looking for thoughts and opinions of people who aren't
musicians, per se.
Thanks for your input
Alan
rednoise@indy.net

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

Message-ID: <35D30D5F.7108@staff.prodigy.com>
Date: Thu, 13 Aug 1998 11:59:27 -0400
From: Jim Samuelian <james@staff.prodigy.com>
Subject: Re: New York Stories Too

> From: KenL <herne@earthlink.net>
> Subject: New York Stories Too
>
> It's big and red and it says XTC.

Now THAT'S a cool name for the new album!

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

Message-Id: <199808131712.TAA24987@mail.knoware.nl>
From: "Mark Strijbos" <mmello@knoware.nl>
Date: Thu, 13 Aug 1998 19:10:44 +0000
Subject: CD Box Tracklisting

Dear Chalkers,

Our mutual friend Steve Larson asked me about the tracklisting for
the BBC live shows that are about to be released on the upcoming Box
set ( the BOXTCD? )

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

Please note that this is the listing for the two complete shows as
released on the Beeb's Transcription Service discs. At this moment
there is no further information which tracks will end up on the Box
set. So, here it goes:

The first show was recorded at the London Hippodrome on the 9th of
March 1978.  BTW: This show was broadcast on both radio and
television (Sight And Sound program). Does anyone have it on VCR?

Introduction
Radios In Motion
Cross Wires
Statue Of Liberty
Set Myself On Fire
New Town Animal
All Along The Watchtower
This Is Pop?
Dance Band
Neon Shuffle

The second show was recorded at the Paris Cinema in London on January
the 7th of 1979.

Introduction
Beatown
Meccanik  Dancing
The Rhythm
Battery Brides
This Is Pop?
Crowded Room
Statue Of Liberty
Science Friction
Set Myself On Fire

BTW: in September 1979 a complete show at the Rainbow Theatre was
recorded by the Manor Mobile. This recording was to be used for the
XTC live album that never was...

Just two tracks (Set Myself On Fire and Battery Brides) survived as
b-sides of the Towers Of London doublepack single and if they are
anything to go by, this show is the best they ever recorded.
Sadly, this recording was made by Virgin and shall therefore probably
never see the light of day. Bloody shame, innit?

yours in a box,

Mark Strijbos at The Little Lighthouse
 http://www.knoware.nl/users/mmello/
     or http://come.to/xtc

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

Message-Id: <199808131712.TAA25004@mail.knoware.nl>
From: "Mark Strijbos" <mmello@knoware.nl>
Date: Thu, 13 Aug 1998 19:10:44 +0000
Subject: Cooking Dinner

Dear Chalkers,

As i was walking aimlessly through the local mall i was very
pleasantly surprised by finding a copy of Testimonial Dinner on
Cooking Vinyl. And this cd shop never carried XTC before!
I snapped it up immediately of course... one can never have enough
XTC (sorry, Molly!)

Just goes to show what a difference a good distributor can make
If you're not in the shops, you won't sell and IMHO that was a major
problem with XTC in the past. Virgin just didn't bother anymore i
suspect...

BTW: Collectors should note that the artwork of this 1998 issue on
C.V. is notably different from the 1995 (US) Thirsty Ear version, in
particular the design on the cd itself.

yours in xtc,

Mark Strijbos at The Little Lighthouse
 http://www.knoware.nl/users/mmello/
     or http://come.to/xtc

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

Message-ID: <35CAB627.7749@gte.net>
Date: Fri, 07 Aug 1998 01:09:17 -0700
From: Randy Hiatt <rhiatt@gte.net>
Subject: thanks Bob

Have much to say, but been too buisy (and still am)... anywho

 I just got a few tapes full of XTC demo stuff and I'm in heaven (I'll
 save comments for later).  Bob (http://www.znet.com/~bobestus/) and I
 met (1st time) at Siggraph last month where he hand delivered this care
 package to me, he knew I was in need (aren't we all).

 Just a public thank you to Bob for going way beyond the call of the
 wild.  We had many a good talks and we missed you other chalkers who
 may have attended.

 Can anyone tell me where Andy can be heard actually playing drums
 (midi or real)?  I "had" the Newell CD where Andy did something along
 this line (forgot which/what).  I'll buy it again (it's great).

 I now have a need for live video of the boys (suggestions?).

 You can tell alot about a band by their live work, personality,
 interactions, force and drive, as well as execution.  IMHO most bands
 today sound ok on CD but can suck live, this is a real yardstick for
 me.  "Good" bands sound better live then on CD.  Good live footage goes
 miles in converting  your friends to XTC as well.

 Molly:  you want attendance, get off AOL and I'm there.

 NonXTContent......DANGER DANGER........(divert your eyes now)

 Did WOMAD in "seattle" all 3 days.... not alot of Pop there but lots of
 Bang!  It was great, catch it next year if you can.

 For those wanting other music to get excited about try... King Crimson,
 Peter Gabe, Tears For Fears, Kate Bush, Lori Anderson, Bjork,  Tori
 Amos,  (old stuff: Gentile Giant, Yes, Genesis (Gabe years), PFM,
 Camel, Focus, Alan Holdsworth , Zappa) and any derivitives of the
 related players (thousands of possibilities there).  This is a short
 list (new installments may follow).

  As too the "what is Pop" question.. it's simple, anything other than
 Classical music that's played on the radio.  It's all about
 formulas/flavors... there's Top 40 (for men/women 18-34), AOR (Album
 Oriented Rock, Men 18-34), Active Rock, A/C (Adult Contempory, females
 35-54), Hot A/C (inbetween A/C and Top 40, women 25-40), Modern Rock
 (alternative), AAA (Adult Album Alternative), Classic Rock, Alternative,
 Heavy Metal, Grunge, Country, R&B, Hard Core Rap, Urban A/C, Gold R&B,
 Rhythmic Top 40 (sometimes called Churban), Hispanic Radio, New Age
 Contempory (NAC) Christian Contempory, it's all Pop.

 Randy in Seattle

 P.S.    I Love Odd Meter!  (there I said it)

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

From: MFa2707621@aol.com
Message-ID: <3ce97948.35d380a1@aol.com>
Date: Thu, 13 Aug 1998 20:11:12 EDT
Subject: #Skylarking Chat

Chalkers,

I just wanted to let you know that the #Skylarking chat is on this Saturday
afternoon at 3pm EST.  I hope to see you there.

Molly

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

From: LadyCPlum@aol.com
Message-ID: <4dddd12e.35d39555@aol.com>
Date: Thu, 13 Aug 1998 21:39:32 EDT
Subject: And interesting profile....

I found a profile on AOL whilst looking under ANDY PARTRIDGE, and came across
THIS wonderful quote.....
"Did you know Andy Partridge is a h*mo b*tch who takes it up the a**?"

Wonderful!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (Note the sarcasm.)

Cheers,
Amanda
XTC song of the day-Looking for Footprints
non-XTC song-One Week-Barenaked Ladies

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

End of Chalkhills Digest #4-126
*******************************

Go back to Volume 4.

14 August 1998 / Feedback