Chalkhills Digest Volume 4, Issue 26
Date: Wednesday, 12 November 1997
Chalkhills Digest, Volume 4, Number 26
Wednesday, 12 November 1997
Today's Topics:
my choices
Suburban Angst and Becki
Last ditch attempt to post
the bends
Introducing myself to the Chalkhills gang.....
from Allstar online magazine
Hello disks
kibbles
and bits
Fireworks and more!
Album title
Like a rocket from a bottle
Flying Fish, Flying Lizards...at least they both fly
44
Performance Fantasy
Oh my Lord, I forgot all about it!!!!!!!!
I've got more suggestions for an album title....
Colin Redeemed
Wake Up and other Colin gems
Waiting patiently.
regarding the work in progress
Re: A List
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---------------------------------------------------------------------- From: Monical702@aol.com Date: Tue, 11 Nov 1997 11:51:45 -0500 (EST) Message-ID: <971111115145_1725627813@mrin43.mail.aol.com> Subject: my choices Hello, all! My choices for album title, in order of preference: Time to Spare Omnibus Then She Appeared Awaken You Dreamers (kind of wordy for a title, though) HAPPY BIRTHDAY, ANDY!!
------------------------------ From: MARKROCKS@aol.com Date: Tue, 11 Nov 1997 13:12:18 -0500 (EST) Message-ID: <971111131217_-1962927602@mrin44.mail.aol.com> Subject: Suburban Angst and Becki In #4-22, Dave Seaman wrote: << i can't figure how suburban and rural << kids can relate so much to these forms of (in my humble opinion) negative << and non-musical forms of music. i grew up in the suburbs, and most kids i << new didn't "live" the pain/alienation expressed in much of this music. i << guess i've always thought that they don't truly "like" the stuff as much as << that they are falling into trendiness. they're surrounded and immersed in << it, and don't know any better, like sheep. I respectfully disagree Dave. First, I don't believe that pain and alienation are the exclusive domain of urban cities. I know I had my fair share of it in Suburban Detroit, or least felt that I did as a teen, so that was all that really mattered to my fragile ego at the time. Second, although I imagine I'm in the minority on this list, I like some music that expresses that pain and alienation, and I'm 35 years old to boot! I like Marilyn Manson and NIN...I like NWA and the Beastie Boys. I can't really explain wholly why I do, but it certainly isn't because I'm following some trend blindly like a sheep. Finally, your suggested experiment ignores a crucial fact: you can't measure anything sperate from its surrondings. One reason people do or don't like XTC is because they are measuring it against the other music they hear, perhaps even the people they know who listen to it. When I got turned on to them so long ago, it was in context of a great surge of music and style coming from England. And my tastes, like it or not, were shaped by what was liked by my friends and disliked by those I did not respect as much. Speaking of influencing people's musical tastes, I want to thank this list for turning me on to Becki DiGregorio. What an incredible disk! If you're sitting out there, like I was, wondering if you should believe the hype she got on these pages a while back, all I can say is BELIEVE IT! John, you had some tough competition for guitar licks on that record, and you more than held your own. Although the _tortured_ guitar solo by Dave on Godbox still rules over all. Also in #4-22, Stormy Monday wrote: << Listen to the Terry & The Lovemen track from the tribute album, << and then imagine the AP demos << being recorded with the Dave, Colin and Prarie Prince. Did Prarie play on Good Things? I didn't realize that! XTC's hiring of him has made me go back and listen to Tubes records I haven't even thought about in years. And THAT is a beautiful thing. Mark XTC Song of the Day - Punch and Judy non-XTC Song of the Day - Mondo Bondage (The Tubes)
------------------------------ Message-ID: <19971111201309.8403.rocketmail@web1.rocketmail.com> Date: Tue, 11 Nov 1997 12:13:09 -0800 (PST) From: Cheryl <cxtc@rocketmail.com> Subject: Last ditch attempt to post Hello! Perhaps I'm not supposed to post anything today. Every attempt I have made has failed. Third one's a charm?! Let's see... Mr. Stormy Monday exclaimed: >Now, I know that I'm going out on a limb here, but I'm >in direct opposition to those who've been bracing >themselves for an inferior album: The new album will >be exceptional. Listen to the Terry & The Lovemen >track from the tribute album, and then imagine the AP >demos being recorded with the Dave, Colin and Prarie >Prince. Expect excellence, because that is what is on >the way. Ahhh! So well put! Go Stormy! Go! This gave me shivers just like when I read Dave Gersham's post about opening the new Cd. I love those bursts of positive thoughts! John B. from Madison, NJ, USA wrote: >This is an important exercise, because a question >hangs in the balance -- >what kind of sound do we want Andy, Colin, and Dave to >pursue? This question seems a bit bold to me. Who are we to decide what sound for XTC to pursue. I want it all!!! I want to hear every possible sound they can produce! Why you ask? Because they are just so damn good at making...music. This is their creative endevour and we are just lucky enough to get to enjoy it. It's like telling Picasso that the public only wants paintings from his blue era, so just paint blue mono-chormatic paintings please. I don't want to stiffle their creativity and saying something like "what kind of sound do WE want" tastes a bit like that to me. Just had to vent there. I guess I'm just not obsessed about one particular sound that XTC has covered. I enjoy most of their efforts no matter the "sound". OKay I'm going to get a bit sappy here. I've been on the list a year now and I just have to say that it's been great! Yes, there have been times that it's been up and down but for the most part I have really enjoyed reading the varied opinions and having the chance to air mine as well. Not only have I had the chance to talk "XTC" but I have made some exceptional friends. I just don't know what I would do without you all. I look forward to another exciting year with chalkhills. Take care everyone, Cheryl
------------------------------ Message-ID: <3468BF84.5A8426E2@MCI.com> Date: Tue, 11 Nov 1997 13:26:44 -0700 From: Jeffrey Langr <Jeffrey.Langr@MCI.com> Subject: the bends ...*does* have John Leckie, the producer, in common with XTC. >It has very little to do with XTC >It is "the Bends", by Radiohead. I didn't have >anything by them before, but wow, what a CD. OK Computer is even more incredible and highly recommended, although significantly different than The Bends. And... the Minutemen are great. Double Nickels on the Dime is the best collection of 40+ songs on one CD I've ever come across (some of us old hardcore & other sorts of freaks are more than familiar with albums jam packed with songs). Jeff L.
------------------------------ Message-Id: <199711112230.JAA27768@alphaa.hunterlink.net.au> From: "David Robson" <beat65@hunterlink.net.au> Subject: Introducing myself to the Chalkhills gang..... Date: Wed, 12 Nov 1997 09:29:55 +1100 Ahem....*pause*.....Hello Chalkhills and devotees of the sublime, the glorious XTC..... I am a new subscriber to this list and felt obliged to "make myself known" to all who reside here. My name is Dave Robson, I am 36 years old and I live in Newcastle, Australia. I first became aware of XTC in the southern summer of 1980, when I heard the single "Generals and Majors". Off I went to the local record shop and bought myself a copy of "The Black Sea" ( I rarely bought singles because I felt that if a single was good the album would be good - besides, it was on the album). The Black Sea rarely left the turntable that summer...it still takes me back to that time even now. Fast forward to 1981 and "Senses Working Overtime" Hit the airwaves. One of their best ever singles IMHO, once again an XTC album hit the turntable; "English Settlement" was and still is one of my favorite albums...so many wonderful songs.....1983 and I see a copy of the new album "Mummer" in the stores, once purchased it drops onto my turntable....disappointing..apart from "The Beating of Hearts" and the gorgeous "Love on a Farmboys Wages" it seemed to be lacking that XTC magic. Somewhat chastened by my failure to enjoy "Mummer" I don`t buy another XTC album until 1989, and once again It is a single that whets my appetite, the pop classic "Mayor of Simpleton"....the album "Oranges and Lemons" is chock full of belters...."Across this Antheap" "One of The Millions" "Chalkhills and Children"..And my favorite on this album "King for a Day". A close friend tells me that I missed a couple of albums and I grab a copy of "Skylarking" on his recommendation...AMAZING.....an album that evokes the English countyside romance/mysticism. Faves on this are "Seasons Cycle" "Thats Really Super Supergirl" "Earn Enough For Us" and "Dear God". 1992 now and I see an advertisement for "Nonsuch" in Rolling Stone. The album review says "XTC have built themselves another golden cage". I buy it and find an album of startling clarity and diversity. "Humble Daisy" "Then She Appeared" "Books are Burning" "The Disappointed"...I could go on. My favorite XTC album if the truth be known. NOW....I`ve waited (along with many others it seems) for what seems like an eternity for a new XTC album. Having read of their troubles with Virgin etc. I am hopeful that the 1998 slated album release will happen....6 years is far too long to wait. The development of XTC seemed to be accelerating with the last 3 albums...they are getting better and better at their craft...I just can`t wait!!! Interestingly my only bit of XTC re;lated trivia is the former drummer Terry Chambers lives not 20km from me in a suburb called Windale. Terry did some drumming for Australian/New Zealand group "Dragon" in the mid to late 1980`s, but became dissollusioned with the industry and vowed not to return. One of my friends who was forming an R&B band actually called him to see if he would like to "clear out the cobwebs" a couple of years ago...The coversation went something like this.. ROB. er Terry..Hi...Rob Baille here...Listen I`m starting a rhythm and blues band and your name came up as a possible drummer. We`d love to have you. Whaddaya say. *silence* Rob. Hello?? Terry. I`ve sold my drums, I don`t do that shit anymore. Don`t call back *click* Well as I look back I see I`ve posted a very long message but I hope it hasn`t bored anyone unduy. One last thing. Could someone tell me what the Dukes of Stratosphear albums are like? I understand that they are both available as "Chips From the Chocolate Fireball", but I`d appreciate any info you can give. Thanks. Dave Robson.
------------------------------
Message-ID: <31510B652669CF11BA1D00805F38219E033F87C2@DUB-04-MSG>
From: Peter Fitzpatrick <peterfit@MICROSOFT.com>
Subject: from Allstar online magazine
Date: Tue, 11 Nov 1997 15:59:40 -0800
reroduced without permission :
GOSSIP
What record label (hint: three letters) promises scoops to
publications (hint: think of a Converse shoe), then reneges on them?
That said, you may have already heard that the Verve Pipe's Brian
Vander Ark is collaborating with XTC's Andy Partridge on 10
songs. The two recorded together in Partridge's home studio in
Swinden, England, and we hear they have ideas for four more songs,
and that they're both big fans of each other's work...
http://www.allstarmag.com
all contents are the copyright ) 1996, 1997 of N2K Inc.
any derivative works of this content must hyperlink to and credit:
"Rocktropolis allstar News at http://rocktropolis.com">
Peter
------------------------------ From: a.de.koning@bpa.vnu.com Message-ID: <C125654D.0033638D.00@bpa.vnu.com> Date: Wed, 12 Nov 1997 10:55:14 +0100 Subject: Hello disks Kalkers, I just got the Andy 'Hello' disk and noticed something I haven't seen discussed yet: The sleeve says all tracks are copyright EMI Virgin. This means the guys would have to ask Virgin permission to use 'Prince of Orange' and 'Some Lovely', plus Virgin would earn money from the new album!! I just don't see it happening, no matter how good the songs are. Talking about 'Hello'disks: I have met someone who would be extremely grateful if I could get my hands on the Residents's Hello disk (Prelude to the Teds). If you have it then please get in touch with me: a.de.koning@bpa.vnu.com Andre
------------------------------
Message-Id: <l03020902b08db97d0bfa@[206.252.158.9]>
Date: Wed, 12 Nov 1997 07:09:43 -0400
From: aka Louise <rmckenzi@dti.net>
Subject: kibbles
chalklingtons -
side b of english settlement _rules_. apparently most people prefer side a,
whereas the only songs i can even stand on it are "Runaways", "Senses",
"Yacht Dance" and "All of a Sudden". i used to like "Jason" and "No Thugs"
but for some reason they've paled on me recently; i've always resented the
mere presence of "Ball & Chain" - in fact it would definitely be on my
Bottom 10 if i had such a thing. but side b is glorious - the only clouds
in the sky come from the minor irritations of "Fly on the Wall", which is a
great song by itself, but coming in between "Knuckle Down" and "Down in the
Cockpit" is just a bad place to be, man - it wrecks the flow. steering
ourselves around that accident, we come to "English Roundabout". this song
is my favorite Colin tune of all time, handily beating even such stalwart
contenders as "Wake Up" and "Vanishing Girl", and would probably end up in
the bottom half of my Top 10 XTC songs OAT. it would be the second best
song on the album if "Snowman" didn't come around and kick its ass all over
the map. however, even mighty Snowman cannot defeat the genius that is
"This is Africa". the ascending half-tone scale and the horns together
combine to blow my mind every time i hear it. the only other song i feel
this way about is "You're the Wish You Are I Had" in the chorus and the
bridge.
- brookes
aka Louise
----------------------rmckenzi@dti.net-------------------------------
R. Brookes McKenzie aka Louise B. Minetti
Signal ad
Signal ad
Signal ad
Commerciality! - AP
------------------http://www.dti.net/rmckenzi------------------------
------------------------------
Message-Id: <l03020900b08dad2a26c5@[206.252.158.9]>
Date: Wed, 12 Nov 1997 07:11:08 -0400
From: aka Louise <rmckenzi@dti.net>
Subject: and bits
[the usually sane David Gershman <dgershmn@ametsoc.org> apparently wrote:]
[John Relph had previously written:]
>>But _English Settlement_ came first. 1982. _Graceland_ came out in
>>1986. So _Graceland_ sounds like something off of _English
>>Settlement_ ("It's Nearly Africa", I think.)
>
>Doesn't really matter which comes first -- I could say that the Faces
>>sound like the Black Crowes without it necessarily implying anything about
>chronology. The point is that the two things sound similar in some way,
>which doesn't take away from XTC's song.
sorry, but that isn't true - saying the Faces sound like the Black Crowes
does imply that the Black Crowes came first, and since we know that to be
false, there's nothing to conclude but that you as speaker are unaware of
that fact. that's what's so offensive to me about second-rate ripoffs like
the Black Crowes (or Lenny Kravitz, or Oasis) - the fact that people who
don't know any better think that those hacks invented the stuff! this has
nothing to do with Paul Simon and "It's Nearly Africa", however, as i
personally think it's just a coincidence - i highly doubt that Paul Simon
would listen to XTC, and he was obviously listening to a lot of gospel
around that time (viz. his live album, i forget its name, that was released
in '82 or '83).
>Paul Simon also happens to be a master songwriter...his attempts at
>incorporating various ethnic styles in his music aren't meant to be held
>>up as an example of that style, any more than the Police could have tried
>>to pass off their music as actual reggae.
yeah, but don't you think that Paul Simon has gone a lot further insofar as
relying on those cultural elements in lieu of songwriting than the Police
ever did? and whereas the Police started out very reggae-influenced, they
slowly developed more and more of their own style ("Ghost in the Machine" -
hardly a reggae album by anyone's standards), whereas Paul Simon started
out sounding the way he always had (his first three solo records, up until
"Hearts and Bones") and gradually started using more exotic sounds until
his last album that sounded nothing like him and everything like a 12-piece
Brazilian band. i think Paul got a little carried away - he forgot that
what he does best is simply write amazing little songs and sing them
plaintively, and all this extraneous stuff gets in the way of the
songwriting, as far as i can tell. whereas XTC turned "It's Nearly Africa"
into an "exotic"-sounding song that still had the mark of their creation.
although having said that i have to remark that i do love _Graceland_ and
in fact all of Paul Simon's albums.
[Matt "Super Tuff" Keeley <mrme@eskimo.com> apparently wrote:]
>BTW, am I alone in thinking that the worst thing about "My Weapon" is
>not the lyrics or the subject matter, but the fact that it's so
>damned CATCHY? "don't know what she ... MY GOD! WHAT AM I SINGING?
>AGH!" Happened to me on more than one occasion.
um, yes - that is exactly why it's the song i love to hate and vice versa
(as Van the Man would say) - it's the double attack that's so deadly.
[Simon Sleightofhand <nonsuch@dircon.co.uk> wrote:]
>Do we really have to live the life to enjoy the music? The musicians don't
>>have to live it to write it (most of Andy's best "split up" songs were
>>written when he was still - as far as he knew - happily married; witness
>>"Everything"). Who knows?
yeah, but wasn't she in fact cheating on him at the time? he didn't know it
consciously, true - but he was still living it subconsciously, which is
exactly why it came out in his songs. the difference between "Dear Madam
Barnum" and "Your Dictionary" alone should be proof of this, being that the
latter is so heavy-handed and lyrically inept compared to the brilliant
metaphoric conceits of "DMB". i don't think this means that we all have to
live through a bitter divorce to understand the meaning and emotion behind
either song, however [potentially explosive "Dear God" analogy nipped in
the bud] - we just have to have lived at all.
HTH.
- brookes
------------------------------
Message-ID: <34699DEC.4770@earthlink.net>
Date: Wed, 12 Nov 1997 07:15:40 -0500
From: Tim Kendrick <tim63@earthlink.net>
Subject: Fireworks and more!
Some ramblings ...
>new wave and punk in the late 70s/early 80s is
>quite a bit different, and not nearly as destructive/anti-society
>as some of the "kill the police/abuse
>women/worship the devil" messages in gangsta rap
>and/or death metal.
Ummm... well, actually you're right about "new wave", but punk ????
"Real" punk is TOTALLY destructive and anti-society. That was it's
whole point!!! The GERMS, SEX PISTOLS, etc. - you can't get much
more destructive or anti-society than that. Gangsta rap songs are
children lullabuys compared to that. :)
>... will there ever be a chance that Dave will pen some songs ?
Actually Dave has written some instrumental music for
a couple of TV shows in the past. I don't think he's ever
attempted writing lyrics, but I remember reading once that
Andy was considering using some of Dave's instrumental pieces
on an XTC release, putting them in between Andy and Colin's songs
(as kind of an interlude or something). Wouldn't the new
"mellow/strings" part of the new release be appropriate for this????
>The following songs are being
>rehearsed but are now on the B list which means
>they may or may not make it:
>You and The Clouds Will Still Be Beautiful
<(Dave has come up with a great
>solo for it), Wounded Horse, The Green Man.
THE GREEN MAN on the B-list!!?! Say it isn't so!
Actually, this is the only one that Mitch posted about
that surprised me. I was sure GREEN MAN would be a definite go.
Mitch, is there any chance that "we" on this list could
somehow let it be known to the guys how much we like this one???
I mean, GREEN MAN and EASTER THEATRE seem to be most people's
favorites, based on the amount of posts/discusions they have
received.
>So far the working title is "Firework"
I like it. And it's a typical XTC word.
And the word "fireworks" is in "My Bird Performs",
so it keeps up the newer tradition of naming the
next album from a word or phrase from the previous one.
Anyone in the Northeast USA interested in maybe planning
another XTC get-together??? (Besides me and most likely Ira.)
Let me know!
Later!
Tim K.
HOMEPAGE: http://www.earthlink.net/~tim63
------------------------------ From: a.de.koning@bpa.vnu.com Message-ID: <C125654D.0048ECCA.00@bpa.vnu.com> Date: Wed, 12 Nov 1997 15:10:55 +0100 Subject: Album title Krijters, Eric Rosen <rimshot3@ix.netcom.com> wrote about the album title: >I'd like to see a title that expresses the duality of the next >recording. Something like "Riff-raff at the Opera" or "Crime in the >Suites." Any other IDEAS? How about them doing everything IKEA style? Fits the do-it-yourself theme (their own label). The could use IDEA as album title, with the IKEA lettertype and all (well, maybe they should ask first :) They could do the sleeve of the orchestral part with them sitting in a room decorated in the 'expensive' IKEA style and the rock part with them in a cheaper setup. On the 'worst songs' thread: I think the Beatles always had Ringo sing one song on each album. How about thinking of XTC's 'bad apples' (lemons?) as 'a Ringo song'? And I forgot to ask in my last posting: who is the female vocalist on 'Prince of Orange'? Andre
------------------------------
Message-Id: <l03020900b08f518941ba@[141.212.142.135]>
Date: Wed, 12 Nov 1997 09:24:49 -0400
From: Natalie Jacobs <gnat@umich.edu>
Subject: Like a rocket from a bottle
Hi kids,
In our last episode, Matt Kaden fulminated about his least favorite
songs... Matt, while I highly disagree with some of your choices ("Angry
Young Men"? "GOLD"???) you certainly are good at dissing them, which is
something I can always respect...
[amusing comments on "Smartest Monkeys," "Wardance," and "Bungalow" snipped]
Although I have grudging respect for "Bungalow," I still find it amazing
that these three songs made it on "Nonsuch" whilst several superior Colin
songs were left off (including one of my favorites, "It Didn't Hurt a
Bit"). I can only presume that glue-sniffing or a bad aspect of Jupiter
was responsible. Guys, just say no.
I would list my own least favorite songs, but you can probably glean many
of them yourself from the reviews on Perdix, and the rest I don't really
want to get into because a lot of people like them and I don't feel like
arguing. As for some of the other songs listed as least favorites, I have
to say that while I find "Watchtower" virtually unlistenable, I really
don't like Bob Dylan at all and I enjoy the brutal deconstruction of a
beloved icon. I'd much rather hear such a deconstruction than a perfect
snapshot a la "Ella Guru." Also, whoever was dissing "Day In, Day Out" -
that song is my theme song; it perfectly captures the utter tedium of an
unfulfilling day job. (Some would say it merely captures utter tedium, but
to each their own.)
Mighty Mitch Friedman reports,
>The following songs will not even be
>rehearsed: <gulp> Dame Fortune, Prince of Orange, The Ship Trapped in the
>Ice, I Don't Want to Be Here, Bumper Cars.
No "Dame Fortune"? Phooey. Oh well, at least it's a song that sounds OK
just as a demo. "Bumper Cars," "Prince of Orange" - it was nice knowing
ya. *sigh*
The following songs are being
>rehearsed but are now on the B list which means they may or may not make it:
>You and The Clouds Will Still Be Beautiful (Dave has come up with a great
>solo for it), Wounded Horse, The Green Man.
To what gods must we sacrifice to ensure that "The Green Man" gets on the
album? Can we send the band bribes? Chocolate? Vintage guitars, a new
fishing rod, antique toy soldiers? A Virgin record executive's head on a
stick?
The following songs are
>definitely being considered for the album(s): River of Orchids, Easter
>Theater, Church of Women, My Brown Guitar (Dave says Colin has come up with
>an amazing bass line for it), I Can't Own Her (turning out beautifully and
>suprisingly strong), Knights in Shining Karma (Andy will keep the original
>demo guitar part but they'll add new stuff to it; same with lots of Easter
>Theater too), Playground, Harvest Festival, We're All Light, Stupidly Happy,
>Your Dictionary.
"Your Dictionary" - bummer. That song makes me cringe. I'm still coming
to terms with "I Can't Own Her." As for the rest (the ones that I've
heard) - yay! "River of Orchids," double yay!
So far the working title is
>"Firework" which refers to the fact that tape first started running on
>November 5th which is some British holiday of note on which fireworks are
>involved in the celebration.
Guy Fawkes Day. "Please to remember the 5th of November, gunpowder treason
and plot/ I see no reason why gunpowder treason should ever be forgot."
(Some Brit can explain the history; I'm too tired.) I like "Firework" -
fits in with that long-standing Andy/pyromaniac theme. "Life's like a
firework..." etc. Of course, the title is probably going to be changed
about ten times before the album actually comes out...
Oh, and happy (belated) birthday, Andy!
Natalie Jacobs
Perdix: The Andy Partridge Appreciation Page
http://www-personal.umich.edu/~gnat/perdix.html
------------------------------ Message-Id: <3.0.32.19971112093000.00928600@smtpgw.ametsoc.org> Date: Wed, 12 Nov 1997 09:30:00 -0500 From: David Gershman <dgershmn@ametsoc.org> Subject: Flying Fish, Flying Lizards...at least they both fly Leapin' lizards! Or make that "Flying Lizards," as Jon Eva pointed out to me regarding my post that said, among other things: >> I've always categorized it with Devo's version of "Satisfaction" and >> The Flying Fish's version of "Money" -- both great deconstructive >> covers as well. Jon wrote: >Shouldn't that be The Flying Lizards? > >Whoever did it, it is a very fine cover. He is correct on both counts...please except my most humble Flying Apologies for messin' that one up. I KNEW something didn't quite sound right as I was typing that, but I couldn't quite put my finger on what it was. Dave Gershman
------------------------------ Date: Wed, 12 Nov 1997 10:09:00 -0500 (EST) From: Adam Lipkin <alipkin@bu.edu> Subject: 44 Message-ID: <Pine.A32.3.96.971112100503.105996A-100000@acs5.bu.edu> So it seems yesterday (11/11...woo, none of that American notation / British notation confusion; November 11 for us simple-minded folk) is Mr Andy Partridge's birthday. A Happy Birthday tip of the hat to him, if he's reading; which is possible, I suppose. Even if he's not, too. I didn't know about it until I saw it mentioned in the Boston Globe, of all places: "Rock singer-musician Andy Partridge of XTC is 44." Ah, recognition. Adam
------------------------------
Message-ID: <n1332796017.41746@relay.mcad.edu>
Date: 12 Nov 1997 09:20:00 -0600
From: "Cecile Bellamy" <cecile_bellamy@students.mcad.edu>
Subject: Performance Fantasy
I'm not one to write public entries to Chalkhills but since I'm in a
good mood, I feel like indulging my imagination a bit. I'm thinking that I
might have already written this but I'm not sure. There was a time
when people were writing requests as to when and where they would like to
see XTC perform and what particular song or songs they would play. I thought
about this and one that immediatly comes to mind is Ladybird. The song
itself gave me the ideal place for them to perform. There was a coffee shop
in Dinkytown on the University of Minnesota Campus Called Cafe Giotto, now I
think it's name is Expresso Royale. In the late 80's to early 90's, I would
go to this coffee house in the mid morning to get some hot chocolate and a
cream cheese kolachi for breakfast. On the left side of the entryway was a
small stage. I could easily see Andy, Colin, and Dave, with their choice of
percussive accompanyment performing this song in the midst of a relaxing
sunny morning.
Some other songs would be Yacht Dance, Humble Daisy,and Angry Young Men
keeping with that jazzy composition that the first song has.
Well, that's all I wanted to say, and please wish Andy a very happy birthday
from me.
Sincerly,
Cecile
------------------------------ Date: Wed, 12 Nov 1997 09:27:36 -0600 (CST) From: AMANDA CARYL OWENS <ACOEA@jazz.ucc.uno.edu> Subject: Oh my Lord, I forgot all about it!!!!!!!! Message-id: <01IPX117AN0Y8ZW0OX@jazz.ucc.uno.edu> I forgot to send a great big, huge, nasty, wet, sticky HAPPY 44TH to Sir Andrew John Partridge!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (And I'd even spotted his name in the birthday section of the paper that morning.) Well now, onto responses..... My dear, dear dear (why haven't you written to me lately) DEAR friend Matt Kaden----- I'll just have to take you to task for smashing up "The World Is Full of Angry Young Men." This is my favorite song on R&BB. I'm not sure if the lyrics are up to par, but the music is FABULOUS. I agree about Merely a Man and War Dance, however. I quite like the demo version of War Dance, actually. Colin's diction-Let's try to decipher the first line of "Heatwave"..... "The liketh it hah, the liketh a ten, the sthteals my inbred when I'm gone ahnahcabee, we're headed for a heeway." Sean-TO a certain opint, I have to agre with you about not hearing the demos. I've always felt a bit disappointed when I've heard the final product if I've heard demos first. I'm hoping that doesn't happen with this one. Mitch-Keep reminding Dave about the crazy chick on Chalkhills. (Just don't get into the whole Aimee Mann thing.) So Your Dictionary is being considered? I'm surprised at that. But Prince of Orange isn't even being REHEARSED??????? Curse you, Red Baron! I'm glad to see the bulk of the songs the Chalkhillians seem to like are being considered. Kenneth-Funk Pop a Roll was always a cool song. The video is even better....if you like seeing grown men roll around in the underwear and gob into the air. (I know I do ;) Now that I've got 25 O' Clock on vinyl, I've been vigorously trying to hear "You can fuck your atom bomb", but no luck! It is cool to play the songs backwards, though. Maybe there are more hidden messages in there somewhere... That's all for now, try to avoid the daylight. Ciao, Amanda XTC song of the day-King For a Day (Czar, I Dub Thee mix) non XTC-There's a Light Over At the Frankenstein Place-Janet, Brad, & Riff Raff I think Andy would 've made a great Dr. Frank-n-Furter back in the glam days......
------------------------------ Date: Wed, 12 Nov 1997 09:47:08 -0600 (CST) From: LADY CORNELIUS PLUM <ACOEA@jazz.ucc.uno.edu> Subject: I've got more suggestions for an album title.... Message-id: <01IPX1WXMI4I8ZW0OX@jazz.ucc.uno.edu> I dunno, firewhatever doesn't sound very attention grabbing. (Although we've been so deprived that ANYTHING would be attention grabbing these days.) (BTW-Check the new moniker....being AMANDA just wasn't fun anymore.) So, here we go....... Get On With It! Here We Go Again Mass Produced For the Masses It's About Time We're BBBBBBAAAAAACCCCCCCKKKKKK Dyslexia (and it would say "TCX", of course) XTC Demos-Take II Songs You've All Heard Already Whaddya think?????(Actually, add that to the list too...What Do You Think?) Ciao, Lady Cornelius Plum
------------------------------ Message-ID: <3469D0E5.4A4D@sprintmail.com> Date: Wed, 12 Nov 1997 10:53:09 -0500 From: Stormy Monday <stormymonday@sprintmail.com> Subject: Colin Redeemed Folxtc, Some time ago, I started the infamous "Bass Players" thread by lauding the playing ability of one Colin Moulding. Many of you claimed that Andy wrote/arranged Colin's bass parts. I stated that I figured that Andy probably suggested certain ideas for Colin, but he didn't spoon-feed Colin his parts. Mitch tells us from a (ahem) very reliable source ... > My Brown Guitar (Dave says Colin has come up with > an amazing bass line for it), Stormy Monday All three of them are brilliant in their respective roles.
------------------------------
Message-ID: <3469D44D.4B87@geocities.com>
Date: Wed, 12 Nov 1997 11:07:41 -0500
From: Troy Peters <troypeters@geocities.com>
Subject: Wake Up and other Colin gems
In her last missive, the inimitable Amanda Caryl Owens opined:
> I dunno, Wake Up confuses the crap out of me till the drums/piano kick
> in. I can never get the tempo right.
Ah, that, I think, is the point. The drums/piano kick in an eighth note
earlier than our ears expect, creating an off-kilter rhythmic drive that
certainly wakes *me* up.
WARNING: Semi-complicated musical jargon suffuses the next paragraph...
Our ears hear the opening in 4/4: one guitar playing four dotted
sixteenth notes followed by a quarter note (left channel), the other
playing four straight quarters (right channel). Seemingly a nice
groove. But then when the drums and (somewhat tinny) piano enter, they
come in a eighth earlier than anticipated. *It turns out* that both
guitar parts actually started on the offbeat, the so-called "and" of
beat one, rather than on the downbeat. So the left channel is really
eighth rest - four dotted eighths - eighth note. The right channel is
really eighth rest - three quarters - eighth note. But even once you
know the song, it is a bit tricky to anticipate the entry of the
drums-piano, because without a beat underneath it, the guitar panning
really feels like the first rhythm I described, rather than the second.
If this is all gibberish to you, my apologies.
I was disappointed with the Verve Pipe's "Wake Up" cover primarilly
because -- even though it's kind of a cool idea to transfer the panning
guitars of the original to a solo bass -- they open the tune with ten
bars of straight 4/4 (from the fadeout of the original), so when the
bass lick comes in, it is easy to hear it as offbeats. (Talk about
run-on sentences -- I guess that is why I am a musician, not a writer.)
It ends up losing much of the rhythmic tension.
I am so into "Wake Up," unquestionably one of my favorite XTC songs,
that a few years back I wrote a solo percussion piece that is basically
a set of variations on the opening rhythmic trick. It is called "Wake
Up!" ("wow! where did he come up with that title!") and you can check
out an excerpt from the very end of it on the web at
http://www.goddard.edu/wgdr/kalvos/peterst.html (sorry about the
personal plug, but I am not selling anything, and it was relevant...)
"Wake Up" has, on numerous occassions, been the track that I use to
convince other musicians that there is more to XTC than "Sgt. Rock" (a
song that I find many of my friends have held up as the ultimate icon of
XTC as annoying band). Several of these friends have been won over to
check out more XTC by the rhythmic drive and cynical darkness of "Wake
Up." Don't get me wrong, btw, I enjoy "Sgt. Rock"...
-----
An earlier thread on Colin's songwriting led me to finally follow
through last week on a project I have contemplated for years: an
all-Colin tape compilation. I decided any song that had been a single
should be included and that every major release should be represented by
at least one song. Of course, I tended to include songs that I like and
to exclude songs that I don't...
A 90 minute tape will easily hold this compilation:
Instant Tunes: Colin Moulding's songs for XTC
SIDE ONE: Dance Band / Instant Tunes / The Rhythm / Life Begins at the
Hop / Making Plans for Nigel / Ten Feet Tall (album version) / Generals
and Majors / Love at First Sight / Ball and Chain / English Roundabout /
Wonderland / In Loving Memory of a Name / The World Is Full of Angry
Young Men
SIDE TWO: Wake Up / I Remember the Sun / What in the World??... / Grass
/ The Meeting PLace / Vanishing Girl / Shiny Cage / King for a Day /
Cynical Days / My Bird Performs / Bungalow / Down a Peg / The Good
Things
Verdict: I love Colin and most of his songs. This tape has been making
my car a very happy place to be this week.
I still end up going with Andy if I *have* to choose, but the beauty of
XTC is that I don't have to choose. I will say, with some chagrin, that
from my perpective "Nonsuch" sees a drop in Colin's overall quality.
(Notice "War Dance" and "The Smartest Monkeys" aren't on this tape, and
I still don't know what to make of "Bungalow"...)
Anyway, I suppose you've heard enough of my blathering...
byebye,
Troy
------------------------------
Message-ID: <31790FAD9CB8D011BD6A0000F877207D1F699B@tu-server2.micromass.co.uk>
From: Wood Robert MMUk <robert.wood@micromass.co.uk>
Subject: Waiting patiently.
Date: Wed, 12 Nov 1997 16:16:18 -0000
>> Am I in the extreme minority of folks who don't want to hear the
demos so as not to spoil the album? While I'm like everyone in needing a
hit of new XTC, I feel listening to the demos will lessen the excitement
that has built up over six years. I want to get the album, rip open the
wrapper, pop the shiny disc in the player and have my mind blown out. <<
Couldn't agree more (except I want to put that beautiful black vinyl on
my turntable!)
Also who are we to judge their demos? They've done a bloody fantastic
job of turning demos into albums over the last 20 (phew!) years without
needing their fans' judgements on which should songs be included on the
album. It's *incredibly* annoying being told which of *your* songs
should be released by someone else.
<Rant mode off> <g>
------------------------------ Message-Id: <c=US%a=_%p=Barnes_?_Noble_I%l=MSENY1-971112163730Z-522264@mseny1.BN.COM> From: Greg Marrs <GMarrs@bn.com> Subject: regarding the work in progress Date: Wed, 12 Nov 1997 11:37:30 -0500 After reading Mitch Friedman's remarkable Dave Gregory report, I am compelled to make an offer of thanksgiving: I've sent a private thankyou to RocketRob for his wonderful CD of the Andydemos, but now must publicly acclaim him for the savior and archivist he is. I won't miss Prince of Orange, but the thought of never having heard The Green Man, Bumper Cars, or Dame Fortune is too disturbing by half. I feel I ought to order another copy of the cd just in case the inevitable toddler tragedy claims this one. I'm surprised to hear that I Can't Own Her is "turning out beautifully and suprisingly strong" -- must be a big change from its ersatz 10cc meets the Temptations incarnation on the demo. But I won't be too surprised if it is -- they are certainly capable of wonderwork. If the tunes that aren't making the cut are this good, just imagine how outfuckingrageous the songs that make it are going to be!
------------------------------ Message-ID: <3469E144.9007958B@stewmac.com> Date: Wed, 12 Nov 1997 12:03:01 -0500 From: Keith Hanlon <hanlon@stewmac.com> Subject: Re: A List > Having said that, I almost wish that I couldn't have heard the demos > until after the release of the new record ... because I can't help > but anticipate how great "The Green Man"and "River Of Orchids" would > sound once properly performed and produced. I'm beginning to feel the same way. I've lived with these songs for a year and a half now... it'll be hard to "relearn" them. I had the same experience with Robyn Hitchcock last year. I had live tapes of most of his newer songs, then I heard "Mossy Liquor," the LP of outtakes. THEN I heard "Moss Elixer," the album proper. By the end of the month, I was Hitchcocked out. That is an extreme example... I will never get XTC-ed out. Now that we have the "A list," I must say that I think they've picked the best songs. My only change would be to add "Dame Fortune" and drop "Knights in Shining Karma." Now I must get Rob's CD of demos! Later, Keith P.S. I hate it when people try to pick out errors in posts, but I don't think Prarie Prince played on the Big Express. That is all.
------------------------------ End of Chalkhills Digest #4-26 ******************************
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