Chalkhills Digest Volume 4, Issue 45
Date: Tuesday, 27 January 1998

          Chalkhills Digest, Volume 4, Number 45

                 Tuesday, 27 January 1998

Today's Topics:

                          NAB 98
                 THE HILLS ARE ALIVE.....
                      CC, SF, et al.
                    Tour Info, please?
              Re: XTC video from the "tree"
                 Re: Brian Stevens--help
                     Smell and Scent
          The Mrs always looks the bleedin' same
                          CC '97
                        XTC party
                      mind wandering
         Chalkhills Computer Usage Survey Results
                     XTC ra download
             Meccanik Chanting, Oh We Go. . .
               WARNING: Tunnel Of Darkness
                   In my dweems we fwy!
             Re: Best of 97 [no XTC content]
                       From E-Pulse
              love on a farmboy's wages tab
                     CC '97 is great!
                       Web / Yazbek
                    Prettier than You
          ROCK READS & 'YOU'RE MY DRUG' BASSLINE
                 new listener and orgasms
                   Don't Ring Us review

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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>).

Drive around in tiny little circles in a suit turned skin.

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

Message-Id: <199801212353.QAA16959@access.tucson.org>
From: "J. D. SMX" <jsmelser@access.tucson.org>
Organization: Access Tucson
Date: Wed, 21 Jan 1998 17:00:58 -0700
Subject: NAB 98

Hello Chalk Hill People:

I just wanted to be the first to organize a Chalkhills meeting at NAB
this year.  If anyone who's going to be there wants to get together
for an XTC chat, just let me know off list.  Same goes for anyone
who'll be in  Las Vegas  April 7-9th.  L8r, Chalkies,  SMX

J. D. SMX
Engineering Services Manager
Access Tucson
jsmelser@access.tucson.org

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

From: LadyCPlum <LadyCPlum@aol.com>
Message-ID: <543dbe41.34c68b21@aol.com>
Date: Wed, 21 Jan 1998 18:56:15 EST
Subject: THE HILLS ARE ALIVE.....
Organization: AOL (http://www.aol.com)

with the sound of Griswold......

I have to agree with whoever said it's been a slow month.
"WHERE HAVE ALL THE CHALKHILLS GO-O-OOOOOOOONE??????"

There is but one response I have to the last digest, and the winner is......

MITCH!!!!!-I recall telling Dave in the card I sent him that he was full of
shit when he said he couldn't sing. I think he's got a great voice. (Not to
derail the subject, I just find it odd that I can like Brad R.'s voice and
Dave's voice at the same time....but I digress......) Why do you think I turn
off my front end speakers when King For a Day Comes on???? So I can hear
Dave's backing vocals loud and clear, that's why!!!!!!

And that's all for now!
Lady Cornelius Plum
XTC song of the day-Beating of Hearts
non XTC song-Brave Sir Robin-The Minstrel-Monty Python and the Holy Grail

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

Message-Id: <34C69A24.FF6E3E01@iname.com>
Date: Wed, 21 Jan 1998 20:00:23 -0500
From: Ben Gott <loquacious@iname.com>
Organization: Loquacious Music
Subject: CC, SF, et al.

Hey, Chalkids!

Yes, you've been reading the e-mails from Mitch and Ira about our little
New York get-together at the Yazbek concert. I've decided to petition
W.A.R.? to let me be the official Yazbek "mailing list operations
manager" and "artist-to-audience clipboard liason." Also, Chalkies,
don't forget that Yazbek's new album, "Tock," is due out in February!
Check the W.A.R.? site for info: http://www.war.com.

I will be in San Francisco in the middle of March. If any SF residents
want to get together, let me know. I'd love to chill with some of you,
and chat XTC.

Beware: a new Crash Test Dummies album in March. I promise not to talk
about it on the list, but keep your e-mail box open, Amanda!

>What smell comes to mind during an XTC song ?

>think of
>"Summer Cauldron"......
>"Life Begins at the Hop".....
>"Big Day"...

"Summer's Cauldron": A trip to NYC with my best friend Bob; Manny's
Music; Suzanne Vega's "Days of Open Hand"; falling asleep in a Subaru
Legacy.

"Life Begins at the Hop": Sitting on the futon in my living room with
Ira and a copy of the "Life" video on Mr. VCR. Yeah, nice car boys. Just
don't eat at the Chinese place that Ira and I went to!

"Big Day": The computer lab at my high school, which is the first time I
listened to it.

Also, "English Settlement" is a travel album...Every time I'm on a train
or a bus (or on a long car trip), I listen to the entire thing beginning
to the end (even "Fly on the Wall"!)

CC'97 is spectacular! I'm so psyched to possess it. Richard and Peter,
you've really outdone yourselves...Maybe I'll call your voicemail and
leave another message, Peter... ;-)

Don't worry. Be happy. Only a few months till the "Fireworks"...
-Ben

XTC SONG OF THE DAY: "Big Day" (what the hell...)
ALSO...Jellyfish, "All is Forgiven"

Congrats on your degree, Cheryl! Only three more years 'til I get the
undergrad degree...Geez, that seems like a long time.

* ---------------------------------------------- *
B e n   G o t t   ::               Bowdoin College
Telephone         ::                (207) 721-5142
Internet          ::   http://travel.to/loquacious
Im ready now. Dont look back. Im ready for this.
* ---------------------------------------------- *

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

Message-Id: <199801220100.SAA17126@access.tucson.org>
From: "J. D. SMX" <jsmelser@access.tucson.org>
Organization: Access Tucson
Date: Wed, 21 Jan 1998 18:08:12 -0700
Subject: Tour Info, please?

Hello Chalkhillmeisters,

Does anyone out there know of a more comprehensive (better) tour site
on the web than Pollstar or Tourdates?  I find them both pretty lame.
I don't know where else to check.

XTC fantasy of the day.....
(this is only a fantasy, so don't get your panties in a bunch.)

The Future:  After XTC puts out their new album and they are touring
the States for sure:

There's a Chalkhills bus that we charter to follow the whole tour.
The only limitations upon who rides in it is based on our locations.
A chalkhill member can fly to the city before XTC plays their
hometown, ride the Chalkie-bus back to their city, and continue on to
the next city (if he/she wants), and then fly home again.  3 shows
maximum.  But I would imagine most would only do two shows.
Either fly to the date before their hometown and ride the bus back
and not continue on to their third...or hop on after the show in
their hometown and ride the bus to the next show, then fly home
afterward.  Whew. (Hope I made myself clear.)

Imagine (that's what fantasy is all about) the commings and goings of
various and everchanging Chalkhills members on the bus, all the fun
and interaction, the recalling of the live performance we'd just seen,
the anticipation of the one we are on the way to.  We'd all meet and
know each other by the end of the tour and the names on list would
have faces and voices attached. And Chalkhills members would be an
even closer knit group.

Draw a picture of the Chalkhills bus here.

Now, back to reality.    SMX

J. D. SMX
Engineering Services Manager
Access Tucson
jsmelser@access.tucson.org

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

From: XTCLIME <XTCLIME@aol.com>
Message-ID: <4367a55f.34c6e665@aol.com>
Date: Thu, 22 Jan 1998 01:25:39 EST
Subject: Re: XTC video from the "tree"
Organization: AOL (http://www.aol.com)

Hello,

   My name is Dan and I live in Seattle.  I sent a check for $20. US almost
1.5 years ago to Erik Anderson.  I know he has forgot about me.  I once
received the video that was apparently damaged by x-rays from customs.  I
sent the video back in a lead bag inclosed with an additional check for $20
US.  This was processed though the bank as well as the first check for the
same amount.  I'm $40 "in the hole" and I don't have a video to watch &
charish.  I wanted to write "Chalkhills" about this matter.  I have made
many unsuccessful attempts to contact him about this matter.  I ask if
anyone can help me find a contact for this person and maybe make the video
available to me once again.  I thank you all for efforts you may choose to
give.  I am very willing to pay for any expences.

Sincerly,

 Dan Limestall

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

Message-Id: <v03007803b0eccc28cd90@[209.86.87.249]>
Date: Thu, 22 Jan 1998 05:27:29 -0500
From: Curtiss Hammock <curtiss@macbeth.com>
Subject: Re: Brian Stevens--help

Kevin wrote:
>
> 	But the whole ordeal has made me ven more dedicated to get
> "prettier than You".  so I am enlisting the help of anyone
>  who will offer.  Tell me where to go or who p call or even get it
> yourself and make me send you shipping mney and cost and a  tip oir
> whatever! I want it!

You came to the right place! Here are two places you should be able to
find it:

www.qdivision.com (look for the QDivision Store)

www.notlame.com (look for the Pure Pop Music Store)

I had a bit of trouble finding this, myself, but believe me, it is worth it.

The other two members of The Cavedogs also have albums out: Poundcake's
"Aloha Via Satellite," and The Gravy's "Hangman's Pop." I highly recommend
both (all three, if you count Brian's disc).

If you'd like more information about Brian Stevens and the other Cavedogs,
have a look at the officiall website (which I run):
http://www.macbeth.com/cavedogs. There's also a newsgroup:
alt.music.cavedogs, and I post a bunch of Cavedogs .MP3s in
alt.binaries.sounds.mp3.

Later!

Curtiss

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

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

From: PTBrookie <PTBrookie@aol.com>
Message-ID: <d23eea48.34c737b2@aol.com>
Date: Thu, 22 Jan 1998 07:12:31 EST
Subject: Smell and Scent
Organization: AOL (http://www.aol.com)

When I hear the song "Ten Feet Tall", I immediately smell "Hazelnut"!!!  :)
Don't ask me why....I just do!

Patti

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

Message-ID: <c=US%a=_%p=SELECT_Software_%l=SELECT_OX_MAIL-980122122349Z-555@select_UK_mail.selectst.com>
From: Catherine Sweeney <CatherineS@selectst.com>
Subject: The Mrs always looks the bleedin' same
Date: Thu, 22 Jan 1998 12:23:49 -0000

I'm bored.  Here's some rubbish.  I'm only joshing here, so don't get
your knickers in a twist by any of it.

I'm not listening to the one Squeeze album I have ever again (this isn't
joshing, this bit is true).

Chris Difford, what a rogue and charlatan he is.  I'll give him 'Up the
Junction', that's for sure.  If my name was Annie, I'd get my gun.
However, since my surname is Sweeney, I'll get that Difford villain in a
shed up at Heathrow, and do 90 all over him in my Renault.  You just
watch.  (I know enough Squeeze lyrics to keep this going for ages, but
you deserve better).

Now for the boredom induced joshing.....

So,  getting a response out of Le Gregory entails being female and
obsessing about him for a long time.  Hmmmm - would it be really radical
of me to suggest that he probably communicates with both genders, or am
I being a rash and impetuous fool?  Probably.

But let that pass.  I've perked up considerably by this news.  For,
applying the logic to myself, I'm now gagging for the postman to call.
I've fancied him for at least 16 years (Dave Gregory, not the postman).
By my reckoning, that's taken me from very tender girlhood to red hot
womananhood.  I haven't obssessed, tho', which may count against me if
it's a requirement.  But I prefer to adopt a 'that Dave Gregory chap,
I've considered him to be very good looking for a very long time'
approach, and then get on with my tea and biscuits, rather than do
anything crazed and time consuming which interferes with my daily life.
This may not be enough, but it'll have to do.  (I think I may have
watched too many Jane Austen adaptations on BBC, and it isn't doing me
any good.  They'd better do some Hardy or Dickens, and quick).

I tell you something, though - he's probably torturing himself as we
speak trying to think of a suitable parcel to send me.  I reckon this
will delay the entire album, to be honest.  He won't be able to
concentrate on anything other than postal charges.  All because of me.
I apologise to you unreservedly.  He'll have to send himself, because
there's nothing else worthy of me.  So, if you want an album from XTC
this year, and I think you do, you'd better tell Dave to find out how
much it would cost to send himself through the post.

I bet Andy prefers Hardy and Dickens to Austen.  And rightly so.  Austen
sucks.

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

Message-ID: <34C777DB.745D0A9C@myself.com>
Date: Thu, 22 Jan 1998 11:46:19 -0500
From: Ira Lieman <ira@myself.com>
Organization: Ogilvy & Mather
Subject: CC '97

Hey Chalkholio (is that plural?)

I just want to add my two cents...Chalkhills Children '97 is great. I
have played it the whole way through about 5 or six times since I got it
(fast forwarding or skipping my own contribution...you all feel free to
do the same, please.) and I just love it.

A comment about my contribution: I had wanted it to be titled "Dear
Mad(Am) Barnum" ... if you need explanation on what lead me to
bastardize the once-beautiful song, I'd be happy to give it privately.

But the most inventive contribution award MUST go to Simon Knight -- I
don't know what you did or how you did it, or how you got your sister to
share brain waves with you to come up with your finished product, but I
just LOVE what you did...I never heard the songs together the way you
must have heard them in order to do what you did, but it just came out
great. Kudos!

-ira, who's voice isn't really that high, really!

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

From: Cgeorge971 <Cgeorge971@aol.com>
Message-ID: <be91a4e0.34c7c988@aol.com>
Date: Thu, 22 Jan 1998 17:34:46 EST
Subject: XTC party
Organization: AOL (http://www.aol.com)

Hi Chalksters,

I'm thinking about hosting an XTC party in the next couple of months.  Are
there any Chalkhillians in the Providence/SE Mass?Boston area interested?  I
own a house in the 'burbs, and was thinking about good food, videos, boots,
etc. on some Saturday, perhaps when it was starting to get warm (or at least
be springlike).  Any interested persons please e-mail me privately.

Also, are there any plans to spin any cd's of the latest Dave G solo stuff?
The great guy who put the '96 demos on disc (and who shall remain nameless)
will forever have my gratitude.  I feel funny about requesting a copy from
Ms.Plum, because although I am a supporter of hers and have never badmouthed
her, she must be getting swamped with requests.  Plus, she doesn't know me or
owe me.  Anyone want to trade for a copy of the DG tunes?  I have a
substantial collection of rare items for trade.

One last thing: I've seen several references to songs that are newer than
the 95/96 demos, such as Playground.  Does anyone have copies of these to
trade?  Please email me if you do.

Hope all your days and nights are filled with XTC,

George

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

Message-ID: <19980122235459.21532.rocketmail@attach1.rocketmail.com>
Date: Thu, 22 Jan 1998 15:54:59 -0800 (PST)
From: Cheryl <cxtc@rocketmail.com>
Subject: mind wandering

Hello chalkfriends,

>Peter's invitation to a Proustian procession through
>the smoke rings of my mind has conjured in me a
>reverie so powerfully nostalgic that I'm afraid I can
>only arouse myself from Mnemosyne's laudanum-scented
>arms long enough to mutter, "Too Many Cooks in the
>Kitchen... cinnabar...
>rust... mucilage... dried plasticine...
>fresh...human...blood...."

Harrison - In those rare moments I can decode your
messages...you frighten me!  I bet you astound your
enemies and confuse your friends, don't you?  ;)

It's strange and fasinating how people tend to attach
memories to songs or for that matter smells.  Each
song takes me to a different place in my life.
Jumping off the smell wagon and into my own dream
world, songs like
'Merely A Man' take me back to the fall of '96 when I
first got my own place and driving from my mothers to
my place in all of 5 minutes.  In fact, the whole
album,Oranges and Lemons, reminds me of that time.
Landing my first 'real' job, having my own place and
tooling around in my own car.

I remember I had put together a compilation
containing one song off of each XTC album.  I stayed
up late taping and retaping trying to get it juuuust
right.  That next morning, into the tape deck it went
and for months after it stayed.  That first morning
always sticks because I had the volume up and
bursting through speakers comes 'All Along the
Watchtower'. Great start to the day!

'King For a Day' reminds me of when I discovered XFM
in London.  It was summery out and I had the windows
wide open.  I'm sitting there enjoying my cup of tea
when this song comes on that sounds really familar...

>Oh, and major congrats to Cheryl for her Masters
>Degree.  Well done, my friend.
Thank you Simon!  I owe you a hug for that!  : )

I think I'm in a slump right now.  Whenever I look at
my CDs and that includes my XTC ones, I just don't
know what I want to listen to.  I want to listen to
something, but I don't know what.  It's like standing
in front of the fridge with the door wide open and
seeing all this lush food but not knowing what to
eat. *sigh*  I hate that.  Anyone else ever have that
problem?

Still patiently waiting,
Cheryl

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

Date: Thu, 22 Jan 1998 20:59:23 -0800 (PST)
Message-Id: <199801230459.UAA43339@mando.engr.sgi.com>
From: John Relph <relph>
Subject: Chalkhills Computer Usage Survey Results

Some of you may remember the computer usage survey that Ira Lieman
<ira@myself.com> conducted some time ago.  Ira has been very busy
lately, so it fell to me to compile the survey results in my copious
free time.

To be succinct, there were 35 respondents to Ira's survey.  Here are
the results:

1) What computer do you use most often (feel free to be specific)?

As expected, the PC (clones, Pentia, and laptops) won out.  21 people
use a PC, 13 use a Macintosh, and one lonely respondent uses a UNIX box.

2) Is this at home or at work?

The majority of respondents use their computer at home.  17 people use
their computer only at home, 10 only at work, and 8 people use a
computer both at home and at work.

(The results of this question are a somewhat questionable because some
people work at home.  So are they using their computer at home or at
work when they read Chalkhills?  You be the judge.)

3) How do you receive Chalkhills on e-mail?

people  access
------  ------
10.33   c) Through independent local ISP
 8.33   a) Through work network with web access
 5      d) Through national ISP (i.e. Netcom, Mindspring, IDT, etc.)
 4      f) Through college internet connection
 3      b) Through work network with no web access
 3      e) Through online service (America OnLine, Compuserve, etc.)
 1.33   g) other (explain, I think I'm covering all the bases)

It would appear that most people have web access, roughly half use the
'Net through work or school, and local independent Internet Service
Providers (ISPs) are the way to go.

4) How internet-savvy do you consider yourself? (where 1 need help to
   check my mail" and 10 wrote the mail program")

Of course, we're all more savvy than the average bear...

Here are the simple statistics:

35 responses.  The mean of the responses was 6.03.  The standard
deviation is 1.88, which basically says the bulk of the responses were
between 4 and 8.  Two people gave a response of 10, and nobody
answered 1.  Here's a really crappy histogram:

	 **
	***
      * ****
     ******* *
    1234567890

So there you have it, folks.  The first Chalkhills computer usage
survey in a nutshell.

	-- John

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

Message-ID: <n1326577805.49670@mac.aaos.org>
Date: 23 Jan 1998 09:15:49 U
From: "Wiencek, Dan" <wiencek@mac.aaos.org>
Subject: XTC ra download

I'm not sure how long this has been active, but WXRT, one of the better
Chicago radio stations, has posted XTC's in-studio appearance in Real Audio.
You can get it here:

http://www.wxrt.com/sounds/xrtfiles/

Haven't heard it yet, but it's supposed to include Mayor of Simpleton.

Dan/IL

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

Message-ID: <19980123173436.22059.qmail@hotmail.com>
From: "Steve Stearns" <xteve@hotmail.com>
Subject: Meccanik Chanting, Oh We Go. . .
Date: Fri, 23 Jan 1998 09:34:35 PST

Hi all.

It 's another rainy depressing day in Seattle. (Surprise, surprise).
However, a few days ago I won tickets to go see the Sonics play against
Cleveland. (this is pro basketball for those outside the US)

Anyways, one of the songs they played in between the action was none
other than "Mayor of Simpleton!"  I must admit it sounded a little
strange sandwiched between Gary Glitter songs and some of the other
hip-hop-esque stuff they usually play at these kind of events, but it
got me thinking. . .What XTC song(s) would be most likely to become
something you'd hear at a sporting event?  I mean something the whole
crowd claps along to and maybe shouts to.  I think probably "Merely a
Man" is the closest tune they have to a real out-and-out stadium rocker,
but I'd be interested to know what other Chalkhillers think.

Later,

Steve

PS Why not come in? The carpet is fine!!!

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

Message-Id: <199801232126.WAA12148@mail2.knoware.nl>
From: "Mark Strijbos" <mmello@knoware.nl>
Organization: The Little Lighthouse
Date: Fri, 23 Jan 1998 22:36:40 +0000
Subject: WARNING: Tunnel Of Darkness

Dear Chalkers,

> I was perusing Tunnel Records' web page and saw that they have 2
> XTC bootleg CDs on the auction block.  I'm not a particularly big
> fan of this company (they told me one "in-stock" CD would arrive in
> 4 weeks AT THE LATEST, and it's been over 2 months),

Mmm - I hope for your sake you are more lucky then I was.
Tunnel Records sold me stuff they did not have in stock and couldn't
deliver AND they sold me a couple of forged promo singles with fake
"for promo use only" stickers.
It took me a long time to get the balance of my order back from them
and they did not take back the forgeries.

I know others have had similar experiences with this company so I
must warn everybody very strongly to be extremely careful if you deal
with them.

> BTW, the CDs are "USA 1980" and "This Is Live", neither of which
> have setlists remarkably different from the official live CD.  ;)

That's because the tracks on both boots were taken from the same
concert ( December 22 1980?) as the official Live at the Beeb CD.
The sound quality is much worse of course !

Both the official CD and the "USA 1980" (sic!!! this show was
recorded in London) bootleg misspell Scissor Man. Is this another
hidden clue? Am I the walrus? Goo-goo ga-joob!

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

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

Message-Id: <1.5.4.32.19980124022722.00697b04@pop.mindspring.com>
Date: Fri, 23 Jan 1998 20:27:22 -0600
From: "Jason 'Buffy' NeSmith" <jnesmith@mindspring.com>
Subject: In my dweems we fwy!

(Sportsfans, this weeks subject title is taken from the inside photos of the
great Joni Mitchell album, Don Juan's Reckless Daughter.  All interested
parties should immediately pick a copy up.  It's used here to seigue ever so
subtly into the main topic of the post, which is as follows...)

I had a dream last week that I was actually in the studio playing drums for
XtC.  It must've been Chris Difford's because the place was practically
stripped bare of any studio neccessities like walls or electrical outlets.
The only person I remember was Dave Gregory.  He was pretty pissed off at
the state of things, and I was a bit nervous.  For some reason, I didn't the
dream out until I woke up. Weird.

We got through the holidays without anybody saying 'Andy Partridge in a Pear
Tree?'

>From: Mitch Friedman <mitchf@mindspring.com>
>Subject: DGCD?
>
>To respond to Phil Hetherington's request/suggestion of Dave pressing up
>more of his CDs and making them available through Chalkhills, I would
>seriously doubt that this is going to happen any time soon. Dave originally
>sent me a tape of his covers earlier this year and after listening to them
>and suggesting to him that the people of Chalkhills would eat the stuff up,
>he replied that he was very nervous about making any of his covers available
>for legal reasons, i.e. he did not get permission from any of the original
>artists to do the covers in the first place

Technically speaking, he doesn't need permission, but he would have to pay
them.

Richard, sorry to hear about your dad.

And Steve Mcallister, you've got one busy nose.  That was a GREAT list.
'chewing gum in a hat shop?'  Heavenly...

And to anyone that might care, Lookit Meee Records, my little record
company, which is temporarily cassette bound, has released two new albums
this year already.  (I've made up for the inferior medium with attractive
and innovative packaging...)  E-mail me if you'ld care for details.  It's
good post-modern pop music, I tell ya.

Anyway, commercial's over.  I'm going to New York with my girlfriend this
week, so if anybody's got any good tips on things I shouldn't miss, gimmie a
call at my friend Dan's house.  The number is (201) 330-8674 in Weehawken,
NJ.  We're gonna go see Woody Allen play some jazz Monday night!

love and a tuna fish under each arm explaining what each one was to be used
as evidence against us,

Buffy (Jason to my mother)

now playing: The High Llamas 'Hawaai'
Lookit Meee! rekkids...
http://www.mindspring.com/~jnesmith

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

Message-ID: <GeVuauAS6Uy0Ew5n@emdac.demon.co.uk>
Date: Sat, 24 Jan 1998 02:14:42 +0000
From: Phil Hetherington <phil@emdac.demon.co.uk>
Subject: Re: Best of 97 [no XTC content]

>and a
>special stupid packaging award goes to Paul Weller, for
>(a) supplying the album in a box just slightly too big
>for my CD rack,

Sorry for replying to the list after saying replies to
me only, but there wouldn't have been much point writing
to myself.

Anyway, I forgot to add that, with the UK rule on "only
a maximum of 4 free gifts or it doesn't count for the
charts", the record company really cocked up with this
album, as they included 4 postard prints _and_ a card
of the album cover, or something, hence 5. There was
also a standard issue in a normal box, but for the
first 3 or 4 days on sale the collectors edition didn't
count towards the charts; once they realised they
actually sent teams of people around the big shops to
open all of the copies and take one of the pictures out,
so for the rest of the week the sales counted. But the
damage was done, and the few thousand copies sold in
those first few days were the difference between the
No.1 it should have been and the No.2 it was declared as,
when it entered the charts.

Needless to say, I got in early and mine has the full
complement of cards. Not that I knew about this until
afterwards.

Anyway, just thought it might amuse people. If not, sorry.

Phil
--
 _
|_) |_  * |    My web page: http://www.emdac.demon.co.uk/phil/
|   | ) | |    Shriekback web pages: The above + shrkindx.html
===========

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

Message-ID: <34C9EA70.35CBD682@concentric.net>
Date: Sat, 24 Jan 1998 07:19:45 -0600
From: Dave White <margnate@concentric.net>
Subject: From E-Pulse

6. independent record of the week:

A lot of people (and not a few musicians) get annoyed when critics use
reference points and comparisons in reviews--"So-and-so sounds like
Solomon Burke backed by the Buckaroos" and the like--thinking it
amounts to pigeonholing. But sometimes it's just such an immediate
reaction. Case in point: The first time KEN SIEGERT's 'UP FROM THE
MURKY DEPTHS' CD hit the laser beam at epulse headquarters, I
excitedly thought former XTC genius Andy Partridge had cut a new
album. (XTC fans get excited about things like that.) But wait--now
the singer sounded more like David Byrne! By that time I was in front
of the stereo to see what was playing. Now, you may think comparing
Siegert to Partridge and Byrne suggests he's an imitator. He's
not. His songs have a quirky pop flair not unlike theirs, and
superficially his voice is similar. But the more you listen to the CD,
the more Siegert's originality comes out. The first half of 'Up From
the Murky Depths' rolls along with one catchy gem after another--"The
Invisible Thread," "Who Told the Winter," "Skyline Drive," "Can't Help
Falling Down," "Your Train Out," the very David Byrnish "Sadsack
Novel" -- that will have you wondering why some bigger label hasn't
snapped this guy up. (Some people have noticed: He's a past winner of
the "Best Unsigned Band" contest in 'Musician' magazine.) The second
half of the CD drags a bit, but what disc doesn't these days? If
you're interested, the Boston-area based Siegert sells his album
through his website (www.augenblickrecords.com/murky-depths.html) for
$9. To find out more, email kensvak@augenblickrecords.com or
call/write to Augenblick Records at Box 808, Ipswich, MA 01938, (978)
356-0835. Tell 'em epulse sent you.

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

Message-ID: <34CB9315.DD7F4CD7@worldnet.att.net>
Date: Sun, 25 Jan 1998 13:31:34 -0600
From: rodney tahija <rtahija@worldnet.att.net>
Subject: love on a farmboy's wages tab

I don't know for sure, but it seems that Andy's guitar is tuned to an
open E chord tuning, which makes the song much easier to play. Thank You
.RODNEY

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

Message-ID: <34CBDB5C.1331@earthlink.net>
Date: Sun, 25 Jan 1998 19:39:56 -0500
From: Tim Kendrick <tim63@earthlink.net>
Subject: CC '97 is great!

Congrats to everyone who contributed to
the Chalkhills' Children '97 tape.  The tape
is great!!!  Everyone did a fantastic job!

Extra special congrats to Harrison Sherwood for REAL BY REEL,
Randy Christopher for DOWN A PEG, and Eric Adcock for BLUE OVERALL.
Those are my three favorites on the tape - all 3 are as good as
the originals (IMHO).  Wonderful job guys!!!!!

   Tim K.

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

Date: Mon, 26 Jan 1998 12:20:34 -0800 (PST)
Message-Id: <199801262020.MAA59805@mando.engr.sgi.com>
From: John Relph <relph>
Subject: Web / Yazbek

Residents of those calcium carbonate hills:

I don't know if y'all have been paying attention and surfing the
Chalkhills pages lately, so here's a little bit of information about
recent updates thereto.

First and foremost the "Art Gallery" section has been reorganized into
four parts: Cover Art, Promo Photos, Fan Photos, and Miscellaneous.
(My lovely wife suggested I further break down the Cover Art section
into Album Art, Single Art, and other stuff, but I refrained.)  I also
moved video captures to the XTC Video page (which is also the home of
the archived videos from Bob Estus' Roundabout).

Mark Garland sent in a good number of excellent photographs of the
1980 XTC show at Gaston Hall, Georgetown U, D.C., now residing in the
Fan Photos section.  Mark deserves a round of applause for these
photos, so check 'em out.  (He also snagged a set list from a show at
The Bayou a year later, also scanned and in the gallery.)

Steven Graff has lent his ears to the task of transcribing lyrics for
some of the recent demos.

On another topic, I highly recommend the forthcoming Yazbek record
_Tock_.  That man is sick and twisted.  I love it.  _Tock_ is crass
and catchy.  Andy Partridge co-writes one song on which he also sings
and plays his brown guitar.  (I wonder if that's the one Dennis Fano,
of Fano Guitars, made for him.)  You can check out a few songs from
_Tock_ on W.A.R.?'s website: www.war.com.

Enjoy!

	-- John

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

Message-Id: <34CCDFC8.F1A915E@iname.com>
Date: Mon, 26 Jan 1998 14:11:20 -0500
From: Ben Gott <loquacious@iname.com>
Organization: Loquacious Music
Subject: Prettier than You

Interested Chalkhillians,

The Brian Stevens album "Prettier than You" is available on the Web
through AB-CD, out of Norwalk, CT. Their address is:

http://www.ab-cd.com

I have ordered from them before, and find them to be respectful, prompt,
and moderately well priced. This CD lists for $10.97.

They also have:

Cathy Dennis: "Am I The Kinda Girl" $27.97

Martin Newell: "Box of Old Humbug" (contains "GLE," "Let's Kiosk," and
"The Off-White Album") $36.97 (3 CDs)

Martin Newell: "Greatest Living Englishman" +2 (bonus release) $26.97

-Ben

* --------------------------------------------- *
B e n   G o t t       ::          Bowdoin College
(207) 721-5142        ::  http://www.wp.com/58596
Why waste good time fighting the people you like?
* --------------------------------------------- *

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

Message-Id: <TFSKCPXR@ubk.net>>
From: Jonathan Monnickendam <monnickj@ubk.net>
Date: Mon, 26 Jan 1998 12:45:02 +0000
Subject: ROCK READS & 'YOU'RE MY DRUG' BASSLINE

If you want to read more the source of that bassline look no further than
Johnny Rogan's recent book on the Byrds,Timeless Flight.

There's plenty about the all of the Byrds, including original bassman Chris
Hillman,but what makes it extraordinary is that he has spoken to the key
members about critical moments over the years so you get a range of views on
subjects such as the departure of Gene Clark and Crosby's comments at
Monterey. This gives the book a feeling of dynamics and makes it a guide on
how McGuinn ran a bunch of the most creative musicians into the ground. One
area which he did not cover, but I hope somebody will, is the music Gene
Clark was playing in 67/8, after the Byrds but before Dillard and Clark, as
he was hitting the stage with Clarence White's perhaps making his first
appearance in an electric band.

Lost in Music by Giles Smith
I know this has been on Chalkhills before and I would add my recommendation.
Judging by the first few chapters it is 'high fidelity' territory but with
more obsessive music  detail and less outside world/human race involvement.
It includes stuff like the line up at the 1971 weeley festival (which i
found interesting, sad person, because i just received a tape of Mott's
performance). The chapter comparing the approaches men and women take to
finding a record is brill.

The Dukes of the Stratosfear
The Dukes have made a comeback ; well,  sort of as the chips CD is back in
the usual record shops along Oxford St., London as well as the very
excellent Selectadisc on Berwick St. If you want it there it is, go and get
it, you'd better hurry

If anybody wants Julian Copes 'Kraut Rocksampler',  Nick Kents 'The Dark
Stuff' or some old John Otway newsletters please e-mail me separately.

Reasons to believe
Bill Bruford's drumming in an experimental stripped down Crimson
(fripp/bruford/levin/gunn) a while back at the Jazz Cafe
Richard and Terry Thompson (his son with Linda Peters) duetting on 'a heart
needs a home' with no trace of irony

In the CD player ;  Echoes by Gene Clark

jon

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

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

Message-Id: <m0xwwdY-0002ytC@sunx1.uscs.susx.ac.uk>
From: mandyt@central.susx.ac.uk (Mandy Taylor)
Subject: new listener and orgasms
Date: Mon, 26 Jan 1998 22:04:12 +0000 (GMT)

How's it going?

I've roped in a new fan to the world of Xtc. She kind of liked them
and I kept working on it and now she's besotted (sp?) with Drums and
Wires. It started with Helicopter when we were talking and her finely
tuned ears happened to pick up on the end where Andy's singing "round
roundroundroundroundrararar rah rah.." and she was like "ooo-ooh!"
and so I was like, "there's plenty more where that came from" thus I
showed her the last two minutes of All Along The Watchtower and the
end of Complicated Game, and it's done the trick.
So maybe she's not into Xtc for exactly the right reasons, but I
think she genuinely likes Drums and Wires..I'll ween her onto the

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

Message-Id: <199801271619.JAA13836@access.tucson.org>
From: "J. D. SMX" <jsmelser@access.tucson.org>
Organization: Access Tucson
Date: Tue, 27 Jan 1998 09:29:13 -0700
Subject: Don't Ring Us review

Hello Chalkmiesters,

I've listened to the Chalkhills' Children tape several times now and
all I can say is "It's grrrreat!"  Each time I listen to it I hear
something different and it's always cool.  It truly is the next best
thing to a real XTC album and I dub it
better-than-Testimonial-Dinner.
It's solid!  Thanks to all the contributers.    JD SMX

J. D. SMX
Engineering Services Manager
Access Tucson
jsmelser@access.tucson.org

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

End of Chalkhills Digest #4-45
******************************

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27 January 1998 / Feedback