Chalkhills Digest Volume 4, Issue 33
Date: Friday, 21 November 1997
Chalkhills Digest, Volume 4, Number 33
Friday, 21 November 1997
Today's Topics:
corrections and commentary
An Answer to a Question
Can't Think of One
Another long post (yawn)
Snogging and Shagging redux
Cassettes Ready!
Young un?
Oh wow man........
"Memorable" artists
How I came to XTC and other stories
Your Dic./Dear God, Nirvana
'edbangin'
DOH!
CC97 update (LONG)
Here and now
Orquestra On Fire
Fancy a snog?!
tha contendahs
XTC's new album name & cover
Just a few quick bits & pieces....
Snogging
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Punch and Judy did it truly and were married in a haste.
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Message-Id: <l03020901b09993a458dd@[206.252.158.42]>
Date: Thu, 20 Nov 1997 05:47:03 -0400
From: aka Louise <rmckenzi@dti.net>
Subject: corrections and commentary
[Joshua Hall-Bachner (Chaos Harlequin) <harlequin@tmbg.org> apparently wrote:]
[someone else previously wrote:]
>>Missing from all mention was my second favorite demo: I'd like that.
>>>>Hmm...
>
>Oh, very true. Where'd it go? We've gotten news of "The Last Balloon,"
>but ILT is still missing in action.
no, it's going on, at least according to Andy. i'm going to make up a list
of the latest songs we have definitely pinned down as A-list, B-list and
rejects for the next Squawkhills.
>Hmm indeed. I'd much more like to see Dame Fortune and I'd Like That than,
>say, Your Dictionary and The Last Balloon. Sigh.
this is certainly shaping up to be a strange album. sort of upbeat and
depressing at the same time. but i guess that's the point of the
orchestral/rock album split, if indeed they're still going by that. but
"The Wheel and the Maypole" and "The Green Man" are awfully similar to my
mind, both sort of Olde Country Folke. and then you have "The Last Balloon"
and "Knights in Shining Karma" - gently nostalgic bits of tooth
decay-inducing strings. "Easter Theatre"/"Harvest Festival" - you get the
point. hmmm. a couple of songs i hadn't thought in a million years would
make it are going on, and the ones i thought were sure-fire go-aheads got
negged. i'm excited to see what they do with this two-headed monster - i
hope it'll be nothing like _The Greatest Living Englishman_.
><Explode Together>
>>the copy i found was an import (but i think they all are) in an
>>overpriced mall record store. so i had to shell out for it. suck.
>
>Hah. I got a used copy for $8 at a local medium-sized record store.
well, you don't have to rub it in. i was forced to buy mine in Stockholm,
Sweden while on vacation for about $30 US, all because at that time (1995)
i hadn't seen it anywhere in the States. i think my copy was used, too, but
it was hard to tell as the record store employees were not very
forthcoming. well, i don't care - i think it was worth it, so there!
[Amanda (lady cornelius plum) <ACOEA@jazz.ucc.uno.edu> apparently wrote:]
>Ed-As much as these people are enjoying their success right now, do you
>think in 20 years people are going to remember who Beck, Paula Cole (who
>>has such hairy armpits she looks like she has Buckwheat in a headlock),
>>and Sarah McLachlan are? Artists these days have ZERO staying power,
>>something that XTC is fortunate enough to have been blessed with, mainly
>>because of us sorry ass devotees ;) Most of the supergroups have been
>>around since the 60's. The Seattle flavor of the month has long since
>>disappeared, thank God for small favors. These days you have to die a
>>violent death to be remembered. I'll bet any money that if You Know Who
>>hadn't blown his brains out that Nirvana would be amongst the forgotten
>>and discarded bands of the early 90's, and he'd be working at a gas
>>station right now to support his little girl. (Poor dear.)
tasteless remarks about Paula Cole's armpits aside (sorry, but i think
about the only place that would go over well is on South Park Meets Beavis
and Butthead [which is probably coming up soon on ComTV], and disregarding
Beck who's been critically acclaimed enough to make anyone sick (even
though i have been known to like him on occasion), i agree with you for the
most part. i mean, Reel Big Fish? come on. and Sarah McLachlan, whose
boring melodies are only matched by her unbelievably trite lyrics, has
always struck me as god-awful. but i have to disagree about Nirvana - if
Kurt Cobain hadn't just come up with the most brilliant pop song of his
career ("Heart-Shaped Box") i might agree, but i think he was only getting
better. now Eddie "Mr. Principle" Vedder, on the other hand, is a complete
idiot who wants to shoot himself in the foot by singing in a ridiculous
pseudo-country groan instead of the lovely sonorous tones that made him
famous. i miss the Eddie of "Jeremy" and "Alive" - even though the songs
weren't great, he at least had a decent voice, which is more than i can say
for most of the alterna-bands out there. please, Dave Pirner from Soul
Asylum couldn't sing his way out a wet paper bag if his life depended on
it.
>Scenario-Could anyone see Andy and Howard Stern going at it? Who'd get the
>word in edge-wise?????
i actually think that would be a genuinely amusing sight - AP would
certainly not kiss Howard's ass, unlike most of his guests, and he'd
definitely be able to talk rings around him. i wonder if he'd have the
nerve to nail Howard for being the jerk he often is. they would probably
bond over the fart jokes and Mary Anne's evilness, though. of course, it'll
never happen, unless "Your Dictionary" (the censored radio version, of
course) goes to number 1 and _Firework_ consequently sells a million
albums. which will be happening about the time Lord Cornelius Plum calls
you up and professes his undying love for you. (i was going to use an
example along the lines of some awful '70's or '80's group that had been
languishing in deserved obscurity suddenly reforms and goes on tour, but
having seen a recent poster for the Foreigner/El DeBarge concert
[imaginatively and oh-so-amusingly titled "Long Time No See"], i think
perhaps a less plausible scenario is in order.) :), Amanda, all in good
fun, you know.
it has come to my attention that i made two mistakes lately - a) "Shore
Leave Ornithology (Another 1950) uses the evocative bassline of "Pulsing
Pulsing", of course, not "Strange Tails" - luckily no one seems to have
noticed, and b) Thomas Dolby's first album was called _The Golden Age of
Wireless_. i was too lazy to look it up at the time, but i really should
have been able to remember it as it's the only Dolby album i really love at
this time, although i keep hearing good things about _Astronauts and
Heretics_.
all right, i *will* stop babbling now,
- brookes
(aka Louise)
----------------------rmckenzi@dti.net-------------------------------
R. Brookes McKenzie aka Louise B. Minetti
I know a way to swim
All the way downtown - Mark Sandman (Morphine), "Like Swimming"
------------------http://www.dti.net/rmckenzi------------------------
------------------------------ Message-ID: <c=US%a=_%p=SELECT_Software_%l=SELECT_OX_MAI-971120110943Z-6695@select_UK_mail.selectst.com> From: Catherine Sweeney <CatherineS@selectst.com> Subject: An Answer to a Question Date: Thu, 20 Nov 1997 11:09:43 -0000 Advance apologies if this appears weeks after I send it thus referring to a digest of aeons past. My e mail is up the spout. Anyway... to the person who asked if Thomas Dolby is still alive, I say yes. According to "The Guardian" On Line section, which appears with jobs in the IT industry every Wednesday (for only 40p - a bargain), I opened up to find an article on one T Dolby. It was about a year ago, so I can't remember everything, but the gist of it is that he is no longer in the music business but runs his own small IT company. Basically, he's always been obsessed by computers, so decided to set up his own firm. Not sure if they sell computer programs or consultancy, but he seems like a nerdy techno head, so he's probably a programmer. He was very happy. In the picture, he was sitting there surrounded by VDU's. Blinded by science, bless his heart. He looked very sensible and grown up. So now you know.
------------------------------ Message-ID: <840C6065282CD111A6B400805FEA5AC51690C3@BENEXCHG> From: Gary Minns <Gary.Minns@benfield.co.uk> Subject: Can't Think of One Date: Thu, 20 Nov 1997 12:25:03 -0000 Re Dukes backmasking: >...As for where it appeared, my copy of "25 O'Clock" >does have it in the Side 2 run-off grooves... Correct. Backwards and sped up. It's difficult to get to play it on some turntables. If you have one of those ones where the arm automatically lifts off at the end then you might miss it. >...and I think it's also on the Chips CD right before >"Vanishing Girl"... Correct again. It just sounds like Mickey Mouse on helium when you hear it at full pelt. As was discussed a few digests back, it's much harder for Joe Public to tamper with the CD and get to hear it correctly. You need PCs with CD attachments and shit like that. BTW, has anyone ever gone through all their XTC CDs to make sure there's no hidden tracks anywhere? I had 1977 by Ash for about 6 months before I realised there's a whole song hidden before track 1. Re Live recordings: >>>...but for my $ the live version of I'll Set Myself On >>>Fire that appears on the b-side of Towers Of London >>>is one of the most fantastic jewels to be had... >> >>...Isn't that the same recording that was on the "Hope & >>Anchor Front Row Festival" live double album?... > >...Nope, those were "I'm Bugged" and "Science Friction"... Thanks for the correction, Mark. My memory ain't as reliable as it used to be! Gary
------------------------------ Message-Id: <l03020901b099de5e31f6@[141.212.142.135]> Date: Thu, 20 Nov 1997 09:24:12 -0400 From: Natalie Jacobs <gnat@umich.edu> Subject: Another long post (yawn) Mr. Kinks inquires, >A ROCK 'N' ROLL FANTASY. Does anyone have a preference as to what XTC song >they would prefer to WAKE UP to? As I've mentioned before on the list, I have already been woken by a Dukes song (either "Little Lighthouse" or "Collideascope," I can't remember) and the organ outro to "Ugly Underneath" - both pleasant ways to start the day. Considering my resistance to getting out of bed, I think "Gold" would be just fine - turned up extra-loud! Of course, you'd have to pry me off the ceiling, but still... "Buffy" remarks, >Speaking of Tuli, I recently purchased a criminaly abused copy of the Fugs' >album, 'It Crawled Into My Hand, Honest.' This is on my list of "best album titles of all time," along with the Pogues' "Rum, Sodomy, and the Lash" and Robyn Hitchcock's "Gotta Let This Hen Out!" I'm glad to hear it's as good as the other two albums... AMANDA blasphemes, >Ed-As much as these people are enjoying their success right now, do you >think in 20 years people are going to remember who Beck, Paula Cole(who has >such hairy armpits she looks like she has Buckwheat in a headlock), and >Sarah McLachlan are? Now, hold on a second, there! Don't you be bad-mouthing the Beck-meister! He's a true original, and I think posterity will reflect that. His eclecticism, dadaist sensibilities, and musical facility all lift him above the average "alternative" swill that passes for music these days. Even if he's not to your taste, lumping him in with bland one-hit wonders like Paula Cole is unfair. James Isaacs sez, >I would think they would not make any videos for this album, and kudos to >them if they don't. Unreturned investment funds. Does anyone actually >watch MTV, hoping to see an XTC video? Ain't ever happened, ain't gonna >happen in the future. Mmm... back in the day, I do recall planting myself in front of the TV and refusing to move until MTV played "The Mayor of Simpleton." No, they didn't find me months later with cobwebs all over me - they played it within the hour. But that was in 1989. I have been wondering whether XTC will make a video. I know they hate videos. Besides the philosophical objections (you should visualize the music yourself, etc.), videos have been a colossal and frustrating waste of time, money, and energy for them, with lackluster and frequently embarrassing results. *But*, in this mass-media era, I don't know how far they'd get in terms of radio airplay and record sales without a video helping them along. Yeah, I know, Pearl Jam don't make videos, but they're already huge. XTC could really use all the promotion they can get, and I'm sure they realize that. Keeping that in mind, I think their answer to the video question will still be "no." Not worth it to them, I suspect. Kate opines, >*****You and the Clouds--are they actually considering letting this slide by? > I think this is their best bet for a single...... I agree 100%. It's the most accessible and catchy song out of all the 1995 demos, besides being absolutely gorgeous. I suspect that the reason this is on the B list - and the reason "Wonder Annual" has been dropped - is because both are quite old and they probably want to make way for the newer stuff. I had something else to say, but I forgot it. Aren't you relieved? Natalie Jacobs Perdix: The Andy Partridge Appreciation Page http://www-personal.umich.edu/~gnat/perdix.html
------------------------------ Message-ID: <c=US%a=_%p=AETNA%l=HFD-EXCH003-971120144026Z-34455@aetna.aetna.com> From: "Witter, Karl F" <WitterKF@aetna.com> Subject: Snogging and Shagging redux Date: Thu, 20 Nov 1997 09:40:26 -0500 Not that I haven't sounded incomprehensible before, but I sent out my last post by hitting the wrong key before I was finished... >[David vanWert] How many times did Theo go out on a limb to >introduce someone to Vincent's work, only to be met with, >"Gee, it's awfully yellow, isn't it?" Just love it, babe. Can't you see Theo schmoozing the crowd, wearing wraparound sunglasses indoors, gold chains and shirt- open-to-the-sternum? Or would he be the austere type, black t-neck, beret, slicked helmet o'hair and fake little stamp- sized eyeglasses? There's no business like art business, Karl PS Thanks to Chalkmeister Relph for the Chronological R&BB.
------------------------------ Subject: Cassettes Ready! From: wwilson@mail07.mitre.org (Wesley H. Wilson) Message-Id: <971120095251.2175@mail07.mitre.org.0> Date: Thu, 20 Nov 97 09:52:52 -0500 Way back in May 1997, two Chalkhillians were kind enough to send me cassettes of stuff I needed. THANKS. I have tapes to send to both of you: (Jeff?) Beecher from California and Steve Schiavo from Texas, please e-mail me your current mailing addresses and your tapes are on their way! Speaking of tapes, did anyone record Jonatha Brooke on The River (FM station in MA) two weeks ago? Damn! I was in my car at the time and only heard it. Help if you can: wwilson@mitre.org Wes Wilson P.S. Thanks to Ben Gott for the words of encouragement. P.P.S. I like Colin's comment in the latest issue of The Little Express, regarding imperfection in recordings.
------------------------------ Message-ID: <34744B6D.5E56@yha.attnet.or.jp> Date: Thu, 20 Nov 1997 23:38:38 +0900 From: Colin <cseditas@yha.attnet.or.jp> Subject: Young un? WHEN DID YOU SEE THE LIGHT? I've been enjoying hearing about how people got into XTC in the first place so I thought I should join in . . . I'm 27 now, do I still count as a young un? Does anyone remember Sgt Rock performed 'live' in the Top of the Pops studio around 12/13 years ago. Or was it more? Anyhow, being a young Beatles fanatic, I pricked up my ears as soon as John Peel introduced the band as "the lovable mop tops from Swindon" (a bit strange now I think about it) and I was hooked after that song. I went straight to the library to get what ever I could and came back with a battered up BEESWAX. I love that record, but I can't find it anywhere on CD. D+W, Mummer, Skylarking and Black Sea all fight over the number 1 spot for me. BAD SONG LIST I find this interesting too. A lot of people seem very into Nonsuch and O+L. Great album covers but I'm not all that taken by the music. O+L always seemed rather stiff to me. It sounded like they were strapped to rather clumsy sequencing, a shame for a band with such a great rythmic feel. To tell you the truth, I find 'The loving' and 'The disappointed' excruciating. As some posters have noted, we presumably love XTC for their inventiveness and originality. I found those two songs (the sound and structure, not necessarily the words) wearyingly predictable, obvious and trite. Don't mean to offend anybody. There is a lot of stuff on the two albums that I love, but it also seemed that there was a conscious (at times) effort to sound more palatable in the music market. At the time I thought it a sellout. Since joining this list I've been relistening and looking for a different perspective. XTC have produce such a wide variety of stuff that I think its completely natural for there to be a wide range of likes and dislikes. Where better to talk about them than on this list? 'XTC' SIGHTINGS Somebody was talking about the 'XTC' scrawls being found on walls and desks etc. As far as I know, in Britain anyway, it has nothing to do with our XTC. I saw a lot of this graffiti around in the late eighties and early nineties; they were references to "ecstacy" and the rave culture of the time. I even heard of a few people buying O+L by mistake, thinking it would be something a little different. Sorry. A bit long for a first post maybe. 1998 is going to be some year. It's not many times in my life that I'm going to get the WORLD CUP and a new XTC album within a few months of each other. Colin
------------------------------ Date: Thu, 20 Nov 1997 09:46:15 -0600 (CST) From: lady cornelius plum <ACOEA@jazz.ucc.uno.edu> Subject: Oh wow man........ Message-id: <01IQ880RZJY690410P@jazz.ucc.uno.edu> When cold medicine says it's alcohol free, shouldn't you NOT get sleepy and dopey? I guess I'll have to screw around on the computer for awhile till the effects of this lovely cold rememdy abate, 'cause I sure as hell am not driving 40 odd miles to my house in this condition!!!!! Anyhoo, enough of that. Onto the treasured RESPONSES!!!!! (If I jabber, thank the makers of Dimetapp for setting me into such a loopy state of mind.) Per & Greg-I had actually meant to address the worst songs list in my last post, but it slipped my mind. I see nothing wrong with having a bit of discussion over what we feel are some of XTC's "not-quite-up-to-par" works. Just because you're a fan of a band does not mean you must love every one of their songs. It's all in good fun, and as long as it stays peaceful, no harm done IMHO. (Slight pause for a huge coughing fit.) The Young Ones-Ah, my first taste of XTC....I also heard about them via the pages of Rolling Stone, but it wasn't a review of an album, it was an interview with Brad Roberts. There was just something about him leaning into that tape recorder and proclaiming "Andy I love you, I love you. Come to me Andy" that mystified me. So I dragged out my sister's "Never Mind the Mainstream" tape and popped it in to hear "Dear God". I was a bit taken aback, because the song was so....almost angry, I felt, not the type of music I usually listen to. And at the time, I hated Andy's singing voice. But then I ran to my brother's room and grabbed his She's Having a Baby soundtrack to listen to "Happy Families", which I wasn't too impressed with either. (Two strikes!) However, my curiosity kept getting the better of me so on a shopping trip three years ago I grabbed a tape of O&L and was blown away by it. And the rest is history........ THMMP! Ladies and gentlemen of Chalkhills, it is my regret to say that Lady Cornelius Plum cannot continue her post, as she is feeling a wee bit peaked and must retire to the nearest desk for a quick snooze. She wishes you all farewell, and to John and Brian-Sorry the tapes are taking so long, I'll put them in the mail tomorrow, I promise. Ciao, Lady Cornelius Plum XTC song of the day-That's Really Super, Supergirl non XTC song of the day-Superman's Song-Crash Test Dummies
------------------------------
Message-Id: <3.0.32.19971120113521.00948210@smtpgw.ametsoc.org>
Date: Thu, 20 Nov 1997 11:35:22 -0500
From: David Gershman <dgershmn@ametsoc.org>
Subject: "Memorable" artists
Just wanted to respond briefly to this tidbit from Amanda:
>As much as these people are enjoying their success right now, do you
>think in 20 years people are going to remember who Beck, Paula Cole(who has
>such hairy armpits she looks like she has Buckwheat in a headlock), and
>Sarah McLachlan are?
Paula Cole, probably not; Sarah McLachlan, possibly; Beck, ABSOLUTELY.
Performers and bands that mark turning points in rock are going to be
remembered, and I would group Beck in that category without hesitation. His
amalgam of rock, folk, hip-hop, country, samples, and more has already been
and will continue to be very influential for years to come. Mark my words!
And on that same thread...
>I'll bet any money that if You Know Who hadn't blown his brains
>out that Nirvana would be amongst the forgotten and discarded bands of the
>early 90's, and he'd be working at a gas station right now to support his
>little girl. (Poor dear.)
NOT. Again, "Nevermind" was a huge turning point in rock music, regardless
of the "grunge" overkill that may have ensued...it set the stage for
greater acceptance of "alternative" music (and the subsequent overkill of
THAT term and the watering down of its usefulness, unfortunately). It may
even end up leading, however indirectly, to greater success for XTC's new
album ("Nonsuch" may have come too soon after to benefit from the
repercussions). So don't be so quick to dismiss it! (Besides, it ROCKS, as
they say at the finest musical institutions.)
Dave Gershman
------------------------------ Message-ID: <n1332091700.33769@mac.aaos.org> Date: 20 Nov 1997 12:27:03 U From: "Wiencek, Dan" <wiencek@mac.aaos.org> Subject: How I came to XTC and other stories Hi Chuckles ... Since we're telling stories here, I wanted to weigh in with mine: In 1989, a dear friend of mine sends me a mix tape containing, among other things, Poor Skeleton Steps Out and Scarecrow People. Unfortunately, I'm at the height of my snotty Dylan phase, and find these two songs cutesy, overproduced, and annoying. Yet I still dig the tape out, every few months, and listen to these tracks, still telling myself I don't really like them. Such hypocrisy only lasts so long. Finally, in March of this year(!), I find Oranges and Lemons used and buy it. Shortly thereafter I discover the Mayor of Simpleton. Oh my ... how did I make it through college without this music? The album opens up and soon every song is rearing its head and declaring itself a masterpiece: Garden of Earthly Delights, One of the Millions, Chalkhills and Children, Miniature Sun ... not a dud among them. (Well, maybe Cynical Days.) Other purchases follow rapidly: Mummer (very quirky and odd, but with lots of keepers), Skylarking (marvelous--gets better with each listen), Nonsuch (a great album--can't see what anyone has against it), and Big Express (quirky like Mummer, but more rockin' ... I dig it). Oh yeah, and the demos, of course (thank you Steve and Matt). All these are great to varying degrees, but nothing quite comes up to O&L for me, kind of a musical first love. The last album I felt that strongly about was Los Lobos' Kiko, where I would basically tell people, "If you don't think this is great music, then one of us has no taste, and I don't care if it's me." It's great to find music that makes you feel that way, and there are only a handful of albums in my sparse collection that occupy that status. And now here I am among all you fine folk. There have been verious predictions as to how the new album will be received by the public and press. For myself, I must admit I have dire visions. I keep hearing this smarmy Rolling Stone review in my head, in which terms like "has-been," "retread," and "pretentious" appear below two and a half red stars, or I imagine a Spin review in which the new album is compared unfavorably with the work of half a dozen indie bands who made one or two albums each before breaking up and fading into total obscurity. Don't get me wrong, I think the new stuff is fantastic, but I think XTC's time, in the public's mind, has passed. Screw 'em, they don't know what they're missin' ... And on a shockingly unrelated note: Someone inquired about a rumor which maintained that Thomas Dolby had jumped to his death off a roof. It sounds like the source of this rumor was misremembering the Pop-Up Video segment featuring She Blinded Me With Science, in which one of the pop-ups stated that an actor in the video, seen dancing on the roof of the hospital, later committed suicide by jumping from a different roof. As far as I can remember, Dolby is never on the roof himself at any time in the video. Dan/IL, laying my head with yours
------------------------------ Message-Id: <3.0.32.19971120121819.0069adb4@acton.com> Date: Thu, 20 Nov 1997 12:18:21 -0600 From: Dave Ledbetter <dbetter@acton.com> Subject: Your Dic./Dear God, Nirvana Rob writes: >Your Dictionary doesn't seem to be a favourite in this neck of the >woods, but I'll wager it is a potential Dear God... I agree. Lady Cornelius Plumb Theorizes: >These days you have to die a violent death to be >remembered. I'll bet any money that if You Know Who hadn't blown his brains >out that Nirvana would be amongst the forgotten and discarded bands of the >early 90's, and he'd be working at a gas station right now to support his >little girl. (Poor dear.) That is a bet I will take. I count myself lucky I was not one of the people who missed this music. The lyrics and music are simple, unlike XTC. But there is something there that moves me as much as anything by XTC. He would probably be dead by now anyway from his drug use. (And don't forget, his death gave us the new and improved Courtney Love -- Ha!). Just look at the success of Foo Fighters, Dave Grohl's band, to know Nirvana would still be popular. Of course, your point that all the shitty bands which mimiced Nirvana are crap is a good point. Everyone knows the best band-marketing plan is a dead musician. Actually, when the whole drummer debate was going my vote would have been for Dave Grohl. Technically, who knows? But the gut can drive a song like nobody's business (see Nirvana/Foo Fighters). Dave Shitting future for Brian to eat.
------------------------------ Message-Id: <2.2.32.19971120194213.0068e398@popmail.dircon.co.uk> Date: Thu, 20 Nov 1997 19:42:13 +0000 From: Simon Sleightholm <nonsuch@dircon.co.uk> Subject: 'edbangin' Hi there, A couple of weeks ago I met up with Cheryl McGregor and David Pardue (hi folks) and we had a joyful traipse (or in Cheryl's case a bit of a *stumble* - Scrumpy Jack _will_ do that to a girl...) around York and generally lived it up (or sideways) for a day or two. As we were driving about in the car with the stereo playing I floated a _really_ dumb question; If "Wayne's World" had been a movie about XTC fans, what tune would they have used in the head-banging scene instead of "Bohemian Rhapsody"? We were stuck for an answer... So what do you reckon? Not just a song we would all raise en eyebrow too and say "Why yes, professor, an interesing blend..." but one that would get the whole car rocking with motion? I think "Traffic Light Rock" would do it for me, or "Young Cleopatra"... Alleged human being (!) signing off... Simon -+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+- http://www.users.dircon.co.uk/~nonsuch/bungalow.htm (http://come.to./bungalow) -+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+- An XTC resource - "Saving it all up for you..."
------------------------------ Date: Thu, 20 Nov 1997 19:19:43 -0400 (AST) Message-Id: <v03007800b09a2d62f703@[198.53.7.222]> From: Erich Walther <enrico@fox.nstn.ca> Subject: DOH! I finally decide to beg you kind people for a copy of the demos and we have a national postal strike! It must be Karma...Anyhoo, if any of you can supply me with the demos (I've heard none of them) please post me privately (I might have some vinyl I'd be willing to trade for you plastic freaks) "Firework" will, of course, radiate correctly! Erich in Ottawa, the town that never wakes
------------------------------ From: Richard.PedrettiAllen@octel.com Message-Id: <72EDB966944AD1118DC90080D8207488121C96@ex-campus2> Subject: CC97 update (LONG) Date: Thu, 20 Nov 1997 15:46:18 -0800 When I originally started taking reservations for contributions to Chalkhills' Children '96, I figured that I "wouldn't get in anyones way" by reserving "Over Rusty Water." It was done as a goof and I was going to pick a song after everyone else had made their selections. A couple people asked me if I was REALLY going to cover Over Rusty Water (and WHY?). Real considerations were to do a Fire-n-brimstone-preacher version of Complicated Game (this came close to being), a rap version of Across This Antheap (given enough time and urban emotional recall, I could have a lot of fun with this one. "Enough time" is the catch, so someone PLEASE steal my idea!), a reggae shuffle for Peter Pumpkinhead, an jagged-industrial version of Set Myself On Fire... even Goodbye Amandasaurus got some consideration. After some frustrated and unproductive jamming (I tried to impose high-tech on decidely low-tech intentions) with Psycho-Semitics, Randy Posynick and Paul Carnine, I retreated to my music room and went for depth and darkness, emerging with The Somnambulist on CC96. At the point of compiling CC96, I realized the hidden value of Over Rusty Water! What a great way to make each side of a tape more even (i.e., no lenghty silence on one side)! What started as a bit of cryptic, inside semi-humor became reality when my house was being remodelled and all of my music gear was in storage with the exception of my hacked-up '62 Fender six-string, Roland amp and a few stomp boxes. I needed to record something for CC97! I took a line-out signal from the amp into the DAT machine and set about recording multiple tracks, SERIALLY. I took the tape of this fluvial anti-production and digitized the individual tracks onto a PC at work and compiled them there into the blurry bouillabaisse that (I feel) qualifies as a cover of ORW because it fades in, has "sheck-sheck-sheck" running throughout and ends abruptly. Peter Fitzpatrick has done a wonderful job at creating the master tape! Let me say that top quality mastering is a tough job when you are working with songs from the same artist. Attempting to reconcile material from so many different sources into some that can reasonably called a "master" is suicide fodder. Owners of both CC96 and CC97 will hear the difference that Peter has made. A moment of silence, please, for all the brain cells and nerve endings that Peter gave to make this project come to be. Without further ado and drunken dogerall; ALMOST OFFICIAL TRACK LISTING OF CHALKHILLS' CHILDREN '97 :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: Reel by Reel --by Harrison Sherwood Summer Grass --by The Carrie Nations (Simon Knight) Easter Theatre --by Jason Garcia Down A Peg --by Randy Christopher Blue Overall --by Eric Adcock Dear Madam Barnum --by Ira Lieman Seagulls Screaming Kiss Her, Kiss Her --by Naoyuki Isogai Traffic Light Rock --by Marshall Armintor Dear God --by Jennifer Geese Toys --by Steve Clarke The Ballad of Peter Pumpkinhead --by Ed Miller and Gary Williamson Life Is Good In The Greenhouse --by J.D. Smelser Wrapped In Gray --by Peter Fitzpatrick Punch And Judy --by The Psycho-Semitics (Randy Posynick) The Mole From The Ministry --by Christopher Moll One of the Millions --by Dave Gershman Snowman --by Mark G. Cuevas and Jeff Castanon Over Rusty Water --by Richard Pedretti-Allen I plan on posting ordering information on Monday, November 24. I have a feeling that you'll be very pleased with the results.
------------------------------ From: Blushift@aol.com Date: Thu, 20 Nov 1997 23:13:41 -0500 (EST) Message-ID: <971120231341_1205038748@mrin85.mail.aol.com> Subject: Here and now >The songs that invited the most disagreement... were "I Can't Own Her" >and "Your Dictionary." How about a compromise? >> A combined effort entitled "I can't own your dictionary"(Zoot was my uncle mix) 8) Z--O--O--T, is that how you spell me?... >The mastertape for Chalkhills Children '97 has gone back to Richard >Pedretti-Allen, all nicely cleaned up and mastered. Can't wait for this either >do you think in 20 years people are going to remember who Beck, Paula >Cole... and Sarah McLachlan are? Sorry my dear Miss Plum, but I have to disagree with your inclusion of Sarah on this list. I believe she will enjoy the similar semi-infamous cult status our own boys have in some years to come. She may not be as quirky or versatile, but she has some true songstress talent. I do agree on 'staying power' these days. Everyone on God's green earth is so busy trying to figure out what the next craze/phase will be that music is turning out the loser (along with the listeners). Praise be to MTV 8( Mr Relph - Thanks for the R&B order - now I HAVE a reason to use that 'program' button See ghouls creaming, kiss circus sir! David (sometimes goes by Spanky)
------------------------------ Message-Id: <199711210405.PAA04412@warchivegw.riv.csu.edu.au.> From: "Simon Knight" <sknight@warchivegw.riv.csu.edu.au> Date: Fri, 21 Nov 1997 14:49:17 +0000 Subject: Orquestra On Fire Thanks Mitch for the news on the new album - but, other than PP, no mention has been made of any other session players. I'm hoping the band are planning to use real strings, brass, woodwind and whatever else they might need. I've assumed Hayden was chosen for both his previous work with xTc and his experience with recording orchestral instruments. So, any news on that front - or has the budget limited the scope somewhat? I like the name "Firework" - a good duality signalling the new album's importance as a Work of art: a flaming new work burning with excitement and vitality! Life's like a rocket from a great set myself on fire. Sparks, matches, burning, catherine wheeled, a striking beauty! - a recurrent xTc theme. Fossil Fuel had an match pictured in the spine. Light the match and now they're about to explode high in the sky! Stand back a safe distance, xTc are about to GO OFF! [You can laugh now P@ul]
------------------------------ Message-ID: <31790FAD9CB8D011BD6A0000F877207D236C55@tu-server2.micromass.co.uk> From: Wood Robert MMUk <robert.wood@micromass.co.uk> Subject: Fancy a snog?! Date: Fri, 21 Nov 1997 08:48:00 -0000 As requested, the meaning of snogging... Actually snog is one of my favourite words. Partly to do with the sound of it and partly, I guess, because of its meaning. A good hard kiss! Usually tongues and all! <g> It's wierd actually, maybe some of the other Brits'll remember how in the mid/late '70s and very early early '80s it was a vogue word, and then disappeared for quite a few years. At the beginning of the '90s it reappeared and is back in common usage. And I salute it as a splendid word! It's time for you American Chalksters to introduce it across the pond. (It would be good to see you using one of our words rather than the usual migration of words from America to here...dudes. <g>)
------------------------------
Message-Id: <l03020901b09a3c3ee31f@[206.252.158.56]>
Date: Thu, 20 Nov 1997 15:36:48 -0400
From: aka Louise <rmckenzi@dti.net>
Subject: tha contendahs
chalkmillians -
so as of right now we have the following division of the songs for _Zoot_,
straight from the source:
A-list:
River of Orchids
Easter Theater
Church of Women
My Brown Guitar
I Can't Own Her
Knights in Shining Karma
Playground
Harvest Festival
We're All Light
Stupidly Happy
The Green Man
I'd Like That
The Last Balloon
The Wheel and The Maypole
Your Dictionary
Fruit Nut [CM]
Boarded Up [CM]
Frivolous Tonight [CM]
In Another Life [CM]
B list*:
You and The Clouds
Wounded Horse
Reject List:
Dame Fortune
Prince of Orange
The Ship Trapped in the Ice
I Don't Want to Be Here
Bumper Cars
Wonder Annual
Standing In For Joe [CM]
Mates [CM]
--------------------------
[CM] denotes one of the few songs penned by Colin, of course.
* - since there are only 19 songs on the A-List, the speculation is that
perhaps both "You & the Clouds" and "Wounded Horse" will make it onto the
album, or maybe they'll use something older that hasn't been mentioned
before by them - "The Man Who Murdered Love", for example, or "Where Did
the Ordinary People Go?" - or maybe the current A-List will be full of long
songs so that the extra minutes are used up. who knows? i personally can't
wait to find out.
- brookes
(aka Louise)
----------------------rmckenzi@dti.net-------------------------------
R. Brookes McKenzie aka Louise B. Minetti
Oh my country tears of thee
How the circus makes the world safe for anarchy
- Andy Sturmer/Roger Manning (Jellyfish), "Brighter Day"
------------------http://www.dti.net/rmckenzi------------------------
------------------------------ From: Heccubus@aol.com Date: Fri, 21 Nov 1997 08:58:09 -0500 (EST) Message-ID: <971121085809_-803691505@mrin39> Subject: XTC's new album name & cover Chalkhill's children, I, for one look forward to XTC (particularly Andy) deciding what they want to do for an album cover and name and look forward to the surprise. A self-titled elpee these days is really over used gimmick. There is not one XTC cover or album title that I dislike in any way. I will always remember opening XTC's brand new album, Black Sea, pulling it from the green paper bag and relishing in the album cover's exquisite detail. I was into album art way back then at the the age of 12. Here's to an interesting cover with a title from the group's collective imagination. Lincoln Damerst Today's favorite XTC song - all of them, especially Strange Tails, Strange Tales.
------------------------------ Date: Fri, 21 Nov 1997 08:47:54 -0600 (CST) From: lady cornelius plum <ACOEA@jazz.ucc.uno.edu> Subject: Just a few quick bits & pieces.... Message-id: <01IQ9KJ4QMQG903CBY@jazz.ucc.uno.edu> Let's see....if I remember correctly, snogging is kissing when a bit pissed off. (At least this is what Neil Forrester of Real World London fame said.) And on one TMBG note-With the exception of a few songs (Particle Man, Birdhouse in Your Soul, Istanbul Not Constantinople), TMBG is a fairly asi asi band. I have Factory Showroom and I like it, but I have to agree with the Great Partrdige (hello spelling!!!!!!) about it. "eh?" Ciao, Lady Cornelius Plum Still burning at 102 degrees fahrenheit
------------------------------ Message-ID: <840C6065282CD111A6B400805FEA5AC51690CB@BENEXCHG> From: Gary Minns <Gary.Minns@benfield.co.uk> Subject: Snogging Date: Fri, 21 Nov 1997 16:46:59 -0000 >...Okay, Anglo-Anglicans (as opposed >Anglo-Americans...), what is SNOGGING... Hasn't that one made it over the pond? I thought Hugh Grant or someone would have let it slip on a chat show. It is the childish/adolescent slang for kissing (of the girlfriend/boyfriend kind as opposed to the saying goodnight to mummy and daddy kind). 13 year old boys would die of embarrassment if any of their mates caught them "snogging" after school with the freckle faced girl. You get the idea. I'll presume that "shagging" isn't an English colloquialism and has travelled overseas. Gary
------------------------------ End of Chalkhills Digest #4-33 ******************************
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22 November 1997 / Feedback