Chalkhills Digest Volume 4, Issue 34
Date: Monday, 24 November 1997

          Chalkhills Digest, Volume 4, Number 34

                 Monday, 24 November 1997

Today's Topics:

               Re: Prarie Prince, Overdubs
                   My turn to admit ...
                 The Season of Egg Snogg
      The Good Things and how I Can't Own Them. . .
                          Blurb
                    Snowman revisited
             Of Stings, stinks, and a sly Fox
                        demo offer
      Chalkhills' Children '97 Ordering Information
                       Re: Snowman
              Gentle Retorts and Agreements
                  I found XTC when.....
              What Thomas Dolby is doing now
                Songs "missing in action"
                      Simon's Sphere
                         Replies
                         Arrival
                      Stranger Tales
               XTC's Bohemian Rhapsody!!!!
               Yazbek Self-promotion corner
                      Nigel's World
             life is good in the madhouse....
                    A New XTC Website
              Brookes, tell us more re: TGLE
                  The WorD from Prairie
                    Re: Staying Power
             Snogging, Shagging, and Singing
                     Re: Thomas Dolby
                       demos on CD
                      Dukes homepage

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The views expressed herein are those of the individual authors.

Chalkhills is digested with Digest 3.5b (John Relph <relph@sgi.com>).

Who cares?  You might be dead.

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

Message-ID: <3475B981.78D79D37@nlm.nih.gov>
Date: Fri, 21 Nov 1997 11:40:33 -0500
From: Don Lindbergh <dabl2@nlm.nih.gov>
Organization: National library of Medicine
Subject: Re: Prarie Prince, Overdubs

> From: a.de.koning@bpa.vnu.com
>
>...I understood XTC are now recording stuff in the studio and PP
>(Prairie Prince) will play his parts later.
>Isn't that a bit unusual? I always have the idea in my head that a
>track is started whith the group playing the basics *together* and
>then afterwards the polishing is done and extra stuff gets added. I
>guess my fear is that PP can not do much magic anymore when the
>tempo (or maybe even the basic drum patterns) are already fixed.

Well if you liked the feel of the Skylarking tracks that's exactly how
they were done.  All the rhythm tracks were done on the fairlight by
Todd and the other instruments were recorded using those for reference.
Then Prarie came in and overdubbed real drums.  You have to be good, but
by knowing how to play with time (ahead and behind the beat) you can add
'feel' to mechanized sounding tracks.  It's the same thing if you're
building tracks starting with the drums but also playing to a metronome
(click track).  A good drummer can play along with a perfectly in time
metronome yet give the drum track a certain 'feel' by playing slightly
ahead or behind the 'one'.  The ultimate challenge is to overdub drums
(or any instrument) on previously recorded tracks which are hopelessly
out of time or vary in and out greatly (recorded using no metronome
and/or with musicians who can't play in time) and still make it sound
good.

--Don
dabl2@nlm.nih.gov

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

Message-ID: <01BCF67B.61D6D210@nts-webdev>
From: Tony Nowikowski <tonynow@one.net>
Subject: My turn to admit ...
Date: Fri, 21 Nov 1997 12:27:17 -0500

... that I haven't yet heard the demos (HERETIC!) but would very much like
to rectify that situation ASAP.  Not really sure why I haven't spoken up
before ... as I said a couple of digests back, I tend to be "posting
challenged."

Any kind souls that would be willing to help me see the light, please e-mail
me privately.  I have nothing of extraordinary XTC value to offer in return,
but there IS always cold hard cash.  (And my gratitude, FWIW.)

Toodles,
tony

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

Date: Fri, 21 Nov 1997 10:02:06 -0800 (PST)
From: relph (John Relph)
Message-Id: <9711211002.ZM457280@mando.engr.sgi.com>
Subject: The Season of Egg Snogg

"Karl F Witter" <WitterKF@aetna.com> asks:
>
>Okay, Anglo-Anglicans (as opposed Anglo-Americans, which would
>be me, as I was raised Catholic and come from mainly German,
>Irish and Alsatian stock), what is _SNOGGING_?

I believe it is something like "sucking face", or perhaps "necking".
("But officer, we were only necking!" "Yeah?  Well, put your neck back
in your pants and go home.")

Gene_Yoon@brown.edu asks:
>
>Does anyone else find Dictionary's lyrics a
>tad cloying and sophomoric?

Perhaps, but also vitriolic and highly effective.  And a great
punchline on the song as well.

	-- John

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

Message-ID: <19971121192300.26556.qmail@hotmail.com>
From: "Steve Stearns" <xteve@hotmail.com>
Subject: The Good Things and how I Can't Own Them. . .
Date: Fri, 21 Nov 1997 11:23:00 PST

In reply to how this young 'un first came upon  XTC, it was 1987 and
"Dear God" had every rebellious agnostic high school student (self
included) onto this new band.  Loved the song but didn't buy the album
(at that time, silly me. . .)

Fast forward to 1989, O&L comes out and while racing down the road,
listening to the local "alternative" (or "post-modern" station as it was
called back in the day),  right after Ice-T's cover of "Pusherman" comes
this fantastic song, kinda like the Beach Boys, a little like Yes, with
a hook that had me  struggling to learn it on guitar for days
afterwards.  It was "Chalkhills and Children", and after that it was all
over for me, bought every album, etc.

BTW, I too must admit that I can't stand it any longer. . .if anyone out
there would be kind enough to make me a copy of the demos I'd greatly
appreciate it.  E-mail me at  xteve@hotmail.com.  Thanks VERY much. . .

Can't wait until the weekend comes,

Steve

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

Message-Id: <199711212000.VAA16732@utrecht.knoware.nl>
From: "Mark Strijbos" <mmello@knoware.nl>
Organization: The Little Lighthouse
Date: Fri, 21 Nov 1997 21:09:14 +0000
Subject: Blurb

Dear Chalkers,

Rob said:
> Ah, but it is there. It's that little highspeed backwards blurb
> after the final Mole From the Ministry fadeout that sounds like a
> tubby munchkin trapped in an entymologists jar.

I stand corrected. I said the Atom Bomb song wasn't used by the Dukes
but as several people have pointed out, I was 100% wrong....
I'll play nothing but XTC for the rest of the year to repent.

BTW: I'm pleased to notice that several young whippersnappers are
discovering the delights of XTC vinyl. The CD is a lovely medium for
everyday domestic use but there's nothing in the world as satisfying
as adding a 'real' XTC record to your collection.
But be careful - this high is very addictive :)

yours in ecstasy,

Mark Strijbos at The Little Lighthouse
 the XTC website @ http://come.to/xtc
and http://www.knoware.nl/users/mmello

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

Message-Id: <s4755999.007@phjw.com>
Date: Fri, 21 Nov 1997 09:42:16 -0800
From: "MARK G. CUEVAS" <MGCUEVAS@phjw.com>
Subject: Snowman revisited

The esteemed and clearly wise beyond his years Mr. Stijbos opined:

>Wait a minute, Snowman doesn't cut it? Why not?
>IMHO it's the perfect icing (no pun intended) on the Settlement cake . . . I
>think it's one of Andy's best jilted love songs (and he has written quite a
>few!) and it never fails to send shivers down _my_ spine.

I wholeheartedly agree.  This is one of the best songs on ES, and it's a
perfect ending for the album.  In the same way that the Christmas
season is the end of the year, Snowman is the end of the album.  We
saw this same idea in Skylarking, of course.  Then there's the jangly bells
trailing off at the end . . .  Ah bliss.

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

From: MARKROCKS@aol.com
Date: Fri, 21 Nov 1997 17:51:28 -0500 (EST)
Message-ID: <971121175127_447079353@mrin58.mail.aol.com>
Subject: Of Stings, stinks, and a sly Fox

In #4-29, Spanky muses:

<< By the way, has anyone noticed a slight Sting flavour
<< in 'Orchids' and 'You and the Clouds..'?

I noticed it immeadiately in 'You and the Clouds.'  It seems to me if
this doesn't make the final cut, Andy should consider selling it to
Mr. Summner and let him turn it into the hit it deserves to be.  I have
often introduced the song to people as a Sting tune, only to let them
know after that it was really XTC.

Also, some more noxious thoughts for Harrison (Paint Peeler) Sherwood:
- What do you suppose fuels those 'Bumper Cars'?
- Why do you think the Green Man turned green?
- We'll damn well need a 'River of Orchids' to cover that one up, Andy!
- F-A-R-T, is that how you spell kiss in 'Your Dictionary"

The list is endless, butt thankfully I'll end it here.

Except to add on the previous Phish thread, I noticed this morning that
none other than Paul Fox produced Phish's 'Hoist' record.  Not that it
bears too much connection to them covering 'Melt the Guns', since that
was at least seven or eight years prior.  Anyone had any luck finding that
Phish tape yet?  Only 15 days 'till I see them play live.  Boy, I wish I
could
say the same for XTC!

Mark Brown

XTC Song of the Day - 'Garden of Earthly Delights'
non-XTC Song of the Day - 'Godbox' - Becki diGregorio

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

From: Tom.Ragatz@state.mn.us
Date: Fri, 21 Nov 1997 17:14:16 -0600
Message-Id: <97112117141587@lafb.ag.state.mn.us>
Subject: demo offer

Need a copy?  E-mail me, I've got an extra.

Reply to : keragatz@mpls.k12.mn.us

Tom

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

From: Richard.PedrettiAllen@octel.com
Message-Id: <72EDB966944AD1118DC90080D8207488121CAA@ex-campus2>
Subject: Chalkhills' Children '97 Ordering Information
Date: Fri, 21 Nov 1997 16:27:10 -0800

To Order Your Copy Of Chalkhills' Children '96 or '97

Follow these rules explicitly!

Send your check, payable to Richard Pedretti-Allen, in U.S. FUNDS.

Mail your check or International Money Order along with a mailing label
to:

		Chalk
		3389 Creighton Place
		Santa Clara, CA USA  95051-1501

The mailing label (use a diskette label!) must include YOUR COMPLETE
ADDRESS, so that I can affix it to your package.

Please address the LETTER to "Chalk" so that it easy to sort from our
other mail.

Use the handy order below!     Moy!  Eez gawton foncy, asn'tee?

  =============================================
  Quantity

    ____   Chalkhills' Children '97

    ____   Chalkhills' Children '96 (limited supply!

  --If I run out of CC96 and you don't want another CC97 instead,
     include a seperate check for the incremental cost.)

  =============================================

I will ship the tape when your check clears.

I have rounded up to the nearest nickel to offset extraneous costs like
insufficient postage or having to send a letter back because I've run
out of tapes. Any money left over will be used to buy The Swindon Set a
pint of bitter and get them to say something quotable.

Pick the place closest to you to determine your cost.  If you know that
it costs more, send a bit more (for instance, if it costs 10% more to
ship it to Canada instead of the U.S., add a dime or two).

I realize that some of the steps in price are non-linear. It is due to
postage costs.

Quan - United States
1..........$5.55
2..........$9.80
3..........$13.85
4..........$18.50
5..........$22.30
6..........$26.40

Quan - England
1..........$7.50
2..........$13.10
3..........$18.50
4..........$24.50
5..........$30.30
6..........$34.90

Quan - Japan
1..........$7.50
2..........$11.50
3..........$18.90
4..........$22.50
5..........$30.30
6..........$34.90

Cheers, Richard

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

Message-Id: <v01540b00b09bf67181c9@[139.80.228.157]>
Date: Sat, 22 Nov 1997 14:46:13 +1200
From: james.dignan@stonebow.otago.ac.nz (James Dignan)
Subject: Re: Snowman

>As our heroes are busy creating their new masterpiece James Dignan
>said:
>
>> Snowman although a fine song - doesn't cut it as the "XTC closes the album
>> with a masterpiece" (a la Complicated Game, Travels in Nihilon etc)
>> to nearly the extent that "All of a Sudden" does. "
>
>Wait a minute, Snowman doesn't cut it? Why not?
>IMHO it's the perfect icing (no pun intended) on the Settlement cake.

It's a great song, but consider the way other XTC albums had ended up until
that time. What with Complicated Game and Travels in Nihilon, there was
clearly a trend towards grandiose album-enders (which was continued with
the likes of Chalkhills and Children and - dare I say this? - Books are
Burning). If you were to adsk me which track fits into this category
better, I'd pick All of a Sudden over Snowman any day.

James

 James Dignan___________________________________               You talk to me
 Deptmt of Psychology, Otago University               As if from a distance
 ya zhivu v' 50 Norfolk Street               And I reply. . . . . . . . . .
 Dunedin, New Zealand               with impressions chosen from another time
 steam megaphone (03) 455-7807               (Brian Eno - "By this River")

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

From: BobCrain@aol.com
Date: Fri, 21 Nov 1997 23:08:22 -0500 (EST)
Message-ID: <971121230822_1081101776@mrin45.mail.aol.com>
Subject: Gentle Retorts and Agreements

Hello All,

Here are my humble, but...

	...considered, responses to considered opinions:

Lady Cornelius questions:

>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 <is>?

			My bet is for Beck to be well
			appreciated for some years to
			come. His willingness to experiment
			with different styles seemingly
			exclusive (hip hop, country, folk)
			as well as a truly riveting talent
			for live performance (one of the
			best concerts of 1997 IMHO) will
			keep him interesting and vital
			for years to come.

JH3 enthuses:

>Barry<...>It's the hooks, I tellya!
>That's why we're all here, reading
>this digest! The hooks!

			Yeah, brother. Mr. Andrews injected
			much spice and vinegar to the already
			heady salad of the "early" XTC. There
			has not been as exciting a rock'n'roll
			keyboardist since. His keyboard attacks
			really get into my brain. And I mean
			that in a good way.

james isaacs posits:

>I don't ever listen to radio since
>ska took over.  Unfortunately, ska
>is now crap.

			I'd much rather hear punk-ska than
			hair-metal on my radio any day. Not
			implying that you like hair-metal
			(and if you do, more power to ya. I
			have been known to enjoy the song
			stylings of Ms. Lita Ford from
			time to time).

Andre ponders:

>I always have the idea in my head
>that a track is started whith the group
>playing the basics *together* and then
>afterwards the polishing is done and extra
>stuff gets added.

			Well, I think with modern recording
			technology what it is today, there
			is quite a bit of tempo-tweaking that
			can occur after the "tracks" are
			"laid down".  There may also be some
			opportunity for the four wise men to
			thrash it out together when they do
			"get it together in a cottage <shed>
			in the country."

Matt condemns:

>I put a pox on thee, Johns!  You have
>forsaken your DEVOid roots!  You are
>mocking Bob1 by your flagrant dis-use
>of the drum machine<...>

			Not completely. I was fortunate enough
			to catch the John-boys at Fletcher's in
			Baltimore, MD last summer, and they
			opened their show with a set from, as
			they put it, "They Might Be Giants '89."
			Prerecorded backing tracks (might have
			been midi, for all I know) and just the
			two humble bums on stage. Wiped the
			later full band set on the floor, in my
			estimation.

Bob Crain

	...Somewhere in Northern Virgina, USA...
				...Looking Forward to Firework.

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

From: HENTOE@aol.com
Date: Sat, 22 Nov 1997 02:09:12 -0500 (EST)
Message-ID: <971122020911_631760294@mrin45.mail.aol.com>
Subject: I found XTC when.....

Hello, again-

In response to the "how did the younger people find XTC thread"--

I was one of those who didn't catch on 'til "Mayor of Simpleton"--I was 14,
so that was relatively early--I went out and bought it the second I was done
babysitting for cash!

On my second trip to the record store I got "Psonic Psunspot" & "Skylarking"
& a few months later, "Go 2"--strangely, I realized they were my favorite
band the day I bought this one.....maybe because it is so different from the
other three--I like musically diverse bands.  I bought the (all time
favorite) "Big Express" next.....

Neal: thanks for "the shout out"--I think that was my 15 minutes....!

Brookes: sorry I confused you (and likely everyone).  I read that over and it
wasn't coherent at all--I think MUCH faster than I type--entire sentences
were left out of my post (by ME!)  The gist was: I Can't Own Her & Your
Dictionary are both valid songs about relationships gone bad.  At least ONE
"breakup" song is typical on any album following a divorce (not necessarily
"NECESSARY"--but more or less expected).  And, I think, as far as THOSE types
of songs go--these will do fine.....very well, even!   I also agree with
whoever said Your Dictionary may soon enjoy a Dear God sort of popularity--I
can really see that happening, actually: "huh huh, he spelled fuck..."

I can't believe I posted two times in one week...sorry if that bothers
anyone!!!
-Kate

PS--matt keeley (sp?)--you are funny--you are the man! (& Spaceghost e-mails
me every day!!!)

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

Message-Id: <v03007804b09c5141f755@[168.121.35.120]>
Date: Sat, 22 Nov 1997 04:11:06 -0500
From: Curtiss Hammock <curtiss@macbeth.com>
Subject: What Thomas Dolby is doing now

In the last Chalkhills, Catherine Sweeney <CatherineS@selectst.com> wrote:

> 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.

Dolby has been making a bit of a splash in the multimedia community with
his Beatnick web browser plugin. I haven't looked into it too deeply, but
I've seen a couple of articles about it, and it's an interactive,
low-bandwidth music kinda thing, like a cross between MIDI and MOD formats.
If you do a search on Beatnick, you'll probably come across his company's
web site.

Curtiss

---------------------
Curtiss R.Hammock II
MacBeth Design
Atlanta, GA, USA
curtiss@macbeth.com
www.macbeth.com

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

Message-ID: <3476D5CC.720B@earthlink.net>
Date: Sat, 22 Nov 1997 07:53:32 -0500
From: Tim Kendrick <tim63@earthlink.net>
Subject: Songs "missing in action"

Three songs are still MIA (missing in action):
  "CHILD'S NIGHT"
  "LIFE IS ALWAYS",
  "NEW COUNTRY SQUIRE" (Colin song)

Are these on the rejected list???

One thing we should all keep in mind - just because
a song is currently on the "definite" list doesn't mean
it will make the final album.  "Extrovert" was a definite
for SKYLARKING, but didn't make it.  "This is the End" was
a definite for O&L, until Andy heard the Muppets do a
similiar sounding song the night before recording was to
begin on it.  "Didn't Hurt a Bit" was a definite for NONSUCH,
but half-way through recording it, Colin changed his mind and
insisted that it be dropped.  So, I think we should all
be prepared for one or two of the "definite" songs being dropped
at some point.

>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"?
>
>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?

 NO THUGS IN OUR HOUSE - I know, because my friends and I actually
 have done this (more than once!).

  Tim K.

XTC SONG OF THE MINUTE:  "Didn't Hurt a Bit"

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

Message-ID: <01BCF71D.268B31E0.monkman@coastnet.com>
From: Martin & Jamie Monkman <monkman@coastnet.com>
Subject: Simon's Sphere
Date: Sat, 22 Nov 1997 08:01:15 -0800

Simon asks:

>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...

My immediate response is "Senses Working Overtime" ... the quiet verse, all
delivered with little knowing smiles between the occupants of the car, then
the en-masse "ONE-TWO-THREE-FOUR-FIVE [wait for Terry's fill] SENSES WORKING
OVERTIME!!!!!!!!"

Simon, driving the Austin Marina, gets to say the "England's Glory ... a
striking beauty" line.

Martin

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

Message-Id: <3.0.1.32.19971122111242.006a42a8@130.127.28.14>
Date: Sat, 22 Nov 1997 11:12:42 -0500
From: Adam Tyner <ctyner@CLEMSON.EDU>
Subject: Replies

For the comment about a head-banging XTC song for Wayne's World, without
much thought, I'll say Respectable Street (the album version).

<<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?">>

I really shouldn't go here, being an obsessive TMBG fan.  :)  I'd recommend
listening to more of their material, especially Lincoln, before coming to a
conclusion about the band.

TTYL,

-Adam
/----=========================================================----\
             http://www.awod.com/gallery/rwav/ctyner/
The home of He-Man, "Weird Al", Yoo-hoo, Killer Tomatoes, and more!
            TMBG Fan           O-         MiSTie #67,326

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

Message-ID: <34770D2C.422C@bu.edu>
Date: Sat, 22 Nov 1997 11:49:56 -0500
From: Ryan Walsh <factory@bu.edu>
Organization: Boston University
Subject: Arrival

XTC Fellas,
	I'm brand new to the XTC mailing list. I'd like to say hello and tell
you that I'm a student at Boston University in the Film program.  I've
been listening to XTC for about a year and a half.  My former teacher
made me a mix with Travels in Nihilon and Book Are Burning on it. While
everyone else was buying the new Bush and Green day CD's I was
scrambling around the Boston area trying to get XTC's entire
discography. It was a fun adventure and now I've got them all. So I look
forward to talking about the band etc etc etc...

	QUESTIONs
a_ Why is it that there are no guitar transcriptions for old XTC songs?
These seem to be easy and ones that I would be able to play but I can't
find any chord listings anywhere...
b_ You all seem to know about the new XTC album. Someone want to fill me
in ? Title, track listing, etc ? Thanks.
c_ Does anyone have any of the above average O&L accoustic sets? Email
me privately and I'll send you my list of stuff.

Thanks,
Ryan		factory@bu.edu

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

Message-Id: <34772446.AFCD9E10@iname.com>
Date: Sat, 22 Nov 1997 13:28:26 -0500
From: Ben Gott <loquacious@iname.com>
Organization: Loquacious Music
Subject: Stranger Tales

Chalkers,

Colin (not Moulding, goofballs!) wrote:

>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'm not a big fan of "The Loving," but I love "The Disappointed." Wanna
know why? I didn't love the song before last spring, but I've used it to
turn 5 -- that's right, 5 -- people onto XTC. And, when I say "turn on
to XTC," I mean to the extent of *buying* albums. (I also think that the
sampled guitars and the outro are spectacular.)

Dan Wiencek expresses:

>not a dud among them. (Well, maybe Cynical Days.)

Are Andy, Colin and I the only people in the world who love this song?
Please, someone...it's getting more crap than Go2!

Although I'm happy that I've heard and digested the demos, I'm happier
that there are a handful of songs (some Andy, all Colin) included on the
A-list that I haven't heard before.

I'm really looking forward to this.

-Ben

I also have a tape here of the '96 demos that was supposed to go to a
friend of my brother's...She hasn't responded yet, so it's [insert your
name here?] for the keeping. Please e-mail me personally.

* ----------------------------------------------- *
B e n   G o t t        ::           Bowdoin College
Telephone              ::            (207) 721-5142
Internet               ::   http://www.wp.com/58596
* ----------------------------------------------- *

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

From: HENTOE@aol.com
Date: Sat, 22 Nov 1997 13:35:03 -0500 (EST)
Message-ID: <971122133502_1081149946@mrin52.mail.aol.com>
Subject: XTC's Bohemian Rhapsody!!!!

XTC's Bohemian Rhapsody?

I think this is going to be the most interesting and fun Chalkhills thread,
yey, Simon!

hmmmmmm....it needn't be their BEST song--just a stupidly fun, catchy,
sing-a-long one.....

how about Meccanik Dancing?  (that is the first that comes to mind....I know
I'll think of a better one the second I send this...!)

Brookes:  can it be true? Did you SPEAK with XTC?  and did they ACTUALLY SAY
that there is a possiblility that The Man Who Murdered Love might be on
Firework?!!!!!  Please tell me you did!!!!!  (your posting mentioned some
speculation that it might happen--but I just assumed I was dreaming...?)
 Nevertheless, I will assume it is true and live in this happy little dream
unitl proven otherwise!!!  If it is true--THANK YOU, Brookes for telling
me--and THANK YOU XTC for considering it!!!!

gotta go,
-Kate

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

Message-Id: <v02140b00b09cfeb2a5c7@[153.35.39.246]>
Date: Sat, 22 Nov 1997 16:35:35 -0500
From: gloop@ntr.net (Yazbek)
Subject: Yazbek Self-promotion corner

Yo All.
Two things--
First, The band (humbly named YAZBEK) and I (same name) shall be opening
for Ben Folds Five at Georgetown (U.) on Dec. 4th. The rare
2-piano-power-trio bill.  Then we're doing the nearby IOTA club in
Arlington VA two days later on the 6th. We're trying to fit in a show in
Philadelphia at our usual spot, the North Star Bar on Dec. 5th. If you come
to any of these gigs, wear your t-shirt or something. Also, the new album,
TOCK, will be out in January and features a co-write with everybody's
favorite round-headed rock genius, A. Partridge that he also sings on. Buy
it and I wont bother you any more.
2. I spoke to the above English guy and his bandmates and everything seems
to be going well.  They are in a honeymoon period with their producer.
Let's hope it lasts through the mix.
God Damn Your Eyes,
Yazbek

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

Message-Id: <v01540b00b09cb0b81387@[169.132.98.46]>
Date: Sat, 22 Nov 1997 16:55:49 +0100
From: pjmuck@idt.net (Peter McCulloch)
Subject: Nigel's World

>Everyone knows the best band-marketing plan is a dead musician.

Yeah, can't wait to see how they rape and pillage INXs.

>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"?

Well, although Dear God's probably their most popular song, I don't think
it has much sing-along potential. My choice would be "Nigel". I'm guessing
there's still a fair amount of general public who remember it, and the
"ooo-ooo" backround response would give Wayne's back seat buddies something
to revel in.

>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!
>And I salute it as a splendid word! It's time for you American Chalksters
>to introduce it across the pond.

Sorry, but it's already made it's way over here at least in slang terms. I
thought I would refrain from offering the definition of snog that I grew up
knowing and loving for fear of grossing everyone out, but this last
definition is so radically different than the one I grew up with that I've
gotta speak up. "Snog" is another term for mucous or, ehem, snots, although
they are usually the hardr, crusty one's that can be shot across the room
at great velocity. There, I said it! I swear I never engaged in this
activity. Now please, don't ask me what "yugging" is.

>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]

Well, I for one am dissappointed to see Prince of Orange and Wonder Annual
gone, although I understand the reasoning. Here's another good reason to
hate Virgin, folks. Had XTC been able to release albums over the past 6
years, these songs would have never been let go. I do hope Andy revamps
those lyrics on Your Dictionary before it gets recorded, though. "S-H-I-T",
"F-U-C-K", sheesh!

>* - 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?

Well if they're headstrong about not putting "You and the Clouds" on, then
please make it be "Everything". Anyone else think that this is one of
Andy's most beautiful songs?

>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.

Yeah, it used to make sense when it served as a premier release, but I
don't understand the logic behind using it midway through an artist's
career.

I'm not going to bore you all with my top 10 worst songs list, so I'll just
pick one that's always annoyed the crap out of me, which I haven't seen
listed here yet: "Pulsing, Pulsing". Maybe no one's mentioned it because
it's a virtual non-entity, a painfully obvious album filler. The rhythm's
interesting, though, and at least Andy had the where-with-all to put it to
better use in "Shore Leave".

Regards,
Peter

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

Message-ID: <31510B652669CF11BA1D00805F38219E0362DAFD@DUB-04-MSG>
From: Peter Fitzpatrick <peterfit@MICROSOFT.com>
Subject: life is good in the madhouse....
Date: Sat, 22 Nov 1997 14:03:01 -0800

Richard Pedretti-Allen spake thus :
>> A moment of silence, please,
>>for all the brain cells and nerve endings that Peter gave to make this
>>project come to be.

uh, I'm ok....just leave me in the sand-pit for a while....no, really...it's
nice here...

"paranoia....paranoia....." hehehehehe. can't get it out of my head. (&
that's just he first few seconds of the tape !)

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

Message-ID: <347775F5.688B@sd.znet.com>
Date: Sat, 22 Nov 1997 16:16:53 -0800
From: Bob Estus <bobestus@znet.com>
Subject: A New XTC Website

Dear Hillfolk,

I would like to announce the grand opening of a NEW XTC WEBSITE, "the
Roundabout". http://www.znet.com/~bobestus/index.htm

Let's Go2 Swindon:

The largest, and by far most important, feature of this new site is "GO2
SWINDON". This was conceived last spring when I wrote then new list member
Brian Carter (of Swindon) on the idea of creating a virtual trip for fans to
XTC's hometown. We eventually had the time to work on it this summer and I'm
sure you'll be pleased with the results.

"Go2 Swindon", chock full of intriguing photos, contains many previously
unknown Swindon links to XTC's songs and album covers as well as Vol.1 of
selected snippings from XTC's own hometown paper The Evening Advertiser
(generously provided by Graham Carter, Evening Advertiser). I really
shouldn't give away any more so I'll bite my lip and tell you, You Must Go
There Now (please note that this is a simulated trip and is intended as a
surrogate to a *real* trip thereby maintaining the privacy the band deserve
and enjoy :^)

Other features include:

-The first online XTC video clip
It's Andy's much lauded Books Are Burning solo *LIVE* on the Late Show (GB).
(sounding a bit like the Church of Women solo in progress)

-The 5,000 Hats of Mr. P
The history of a mad cap indulgence.

As well as many other pictures and video stills. Please stop by and check it
out. It is a bit graphic intensive (apologies to the slow modems) but I
promise worth the wait! It's a gift to *you* the loyal fan.

see ya 'round,
-Bob

p.s. *Special* thanks go out to Brian Carter, a bright and industrious
fellow, who's labor proves him a true son of Swindon, Wiltshire. Cheers.

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

Message-Id: <m0xZTUu-000Cu1E@mail.airmail.net>
Subject: Brookes, tell us more re: TGLE
Date: Sat, 22 Nov 97 22:19:29 -0600
From: Della & Steve Schiavo <schiavo@airmail.net>

>this is certainly shaping up to be a strange album. [snip]
>i'm excited to see what they do with this two-headed monster - i
>hope it'll be nothing like _The Greatest Living Englishman_.

Brookes, this is an interesting comment!  Why do you think it might sound
like TGLE, and why would you rather it did not?

- Steve

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

Message-ID: <34777968.74B8@negia.net>
Date: Sun, 23 Nov 1997 00:31:37 +0000
From: JoE Silva <silva@negia.net>
Subject: The WorD from Prairie

Spoke to Prairie for a few minutes before
his Todd gig in Atlanta. Seems very psyched
about heading over to the sessions. He didn't
know what if any songs were tossed at this
point or much about the bands latest doings
label-wise. But all in all he seemed very keen
on being involved. Was tempted to ask him about
Todd/Andy/Skylarking but opted not to.
Plays the hell out of his little standup
kit though...
--

JoE Silva
Senior Contributor
Consumable Online

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

From: CCooli9575@aol.com
Date: Sun, 23 Nov 1997 08:44:30 -0500 (EST)
Message-ID: <971123084430_1671696486@mrin84.mail.aol.com>
Subject: Re: Staying Power

>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 ;)

  The jury's out on Beck and Paula Cole, but Sarah McLachlan put out her
first album in '88, so she's already earned staying power. These days if you
can stay in the business for ten years, that's staying power. As far as her
songs are concerned, the song she wrote about a guy who was stalking her a
few years ago is sheer genius and rather scary when you realise what it's
about, but the rest of her stuff I've heard I'm duly impressed by as the work
of a very intelligent and talented woman, but it doesn't set me on fire.

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

Message-ID: <19971123165235.26867.rocketmail@web1.rocketmail.com>
Date: Sun, 23 Nov 1997 08:52:35 -0800 (PST)
From: Cheryl <cxtc@rocketmail.com>
Subject: Snogging, Shagging, and Singing

Hey there!

Mr. Robert Wood commented:
>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>
<snip!>
Then....
>And I salute it as a splendid word! It's time for you
>American Chalksters to introduce it across the pond.
Right!  I've been...studying the Brit 'snog' on my
studies abroad here and don't you worry, I will take
my research back to the states and share my findings.
 I've become well versed in the....snog. ;)

The mighty Mr. Minns thought:
>I'll presume that "shagging" isn't an English
>colloquialism and has travelled overseas.
Not unless there has been a big explosion of interest
in 'Brit Talk' since I left.  Depending on what part
of the country you are in, people might think you are
talking about a dance.  So if you hop over to the
states and expect to..."pull" by saying, "Fancy a
shag?" That girl might just drag you out to the dance
floor and expect you to be John Travolta.

Simon....Simon....*sigh*.
Remember to always watch behind you. ;)

>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"?
Assuming you don't have to bang your head to any XTC
songs... after a long hard think on this one( during
my recovery)  I would say "Senses Working Overtime".
I could see a whole crowd of people screeching at the
top of their lungs, " AND I'VE GOT ONE, TWO, THREE,
FOUR, FIVE...SENSES WORKING OOOOOVERTIME!"
Hmm, maybe I should clear my head some more and think
again.

Back to my little virtual world,
Cheryl

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

Message-ID: <347859C4.2A0A@bhip.infi.net>
Date: Sun, 23 Nov 1997 12:29:08 -0400
From: gregory <mattone@bhip.infi.net>
Organization: InfiNet
Subject: Re: Thomas Dolby

Tschalkgerz!

Once and for all, yes, Mr. Dolby is STILL alive.

http://www.headspace.com/

You can even e-mail him.

****

>Dave
Shitting future for Brian to eat.<

Thank you, Dave. I'll take all I can get.

****

>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"?<

There is only one choice: "Senses Working Overtime"!

-Brian
Eating Dave's future shit and shitting Dave's future past, or
somethin'...

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

Date: Sun, 23 Nov 1997 10:30:07 -0800
Message-Id: <l03010d00b09e2fe2e000@[195.210.64.60]>
From: tezza adriano <tezza.verona@iol.it>
Subject: demos on CD

demos

Hi everybody from one of the XTC 's fan in Italy.
Can anyone make a copy for me ON  C D of the "new" demos?
i don' t have nothing to trade, but i can pay the cost....
thank you very much!!

CIAO !!!!

ps "I can't own her" is for me one of the most XTC 's beautiful song_

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

Message-ID: <01BCF817.917F3320.monkman@coastnet.com>
From: Martin & Jamie Monkman <monkman@coastnet.com>
Subject: Dukes homepage
Date: Sun, 23 Nov 1997 13:54:49 -0800

Greetings from the planet Smile!

The Dukes of Stratosphear now have a webpage of their very own ...
http://www.coastnet.com/~monkman/dukeweb/dukeindx.htm

Check it out.

Martin

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

End of Chalkhills Digest #4-34
******************************

Go back to Volume 4.

24 November 1997 / Feedback