Chalkhills Digest Volume 4, Issue 56
Date: Tuesday, 17 February 1998
Chalkhills Digest, Volume 4, Number 56
Tuesday, 17 February 1998
Today's Topics:
Suffering...?
Robert Woods and the Issue of Mania
XTC Sandwich - Good Sign?
RE: One Tin Soldier
Astronomy 101
Amazon.com
Well It Was, Hello
Okay, okay
Straight To Ya
promotional copy not for sale, total time 30:10
Wow.......
Helping from a Distance
Jimm Chanson
Replies
Adam Sandler
Singles
Just a quick quote about something......
XTC & Ben Folds Five
Six year itch.
Rag And Bone Buffet Sampler
Last call for Liner Notes
The Sincerest Farm of Flannery
Re: I NEED DEMOS
Nonsuch
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---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Thu, 12 Feb 1998 22:03:39 -0600 (CST) From: Marshall Joseph Armintor <mojo@owlnet.rice.edu> Subject: Suffering...? Message-ID: <Pine.GSO.3.95q.980212214825.8238A-100000@long-eared.owlnet.rice.edu> While waiting on an appoinment at school the other day, I picked up the Feb 98 issue of The Web Magazine lying on the table in the waiting area (not really a room...more of a hallway). On page 60, they review a Pearl Jam site (www.fivehorizons.com, for those interested), with the following lead sentence: "With Pearl Jam keeping a lower profile these days, thank Eddie - er- God that the band's fans (perhaps the longest-suffering lot since XTC suporters) have kept their alterna-flames lit in the form of exhaustive sites such at this one..." Let's see. The last time XTC had new wax (uh...metal 'n' plastic) out there, Pearl Jam had been in existence for a year, and _Ten_ was getting hot....since that time, PJ have a had THEIR ENTIRE CAREER OCCUR, releasing four full length albums as of last week; they tour fitfully, sure, but there's no comparison a't'all. Folks, we are the _hardest_ people in the rock 'n' roll universe. Nice to know others care about our plight. Unless a Chalkhead wrote that blurb... Marshall
------------------------------
Message-ID: <34E3E2DC.5383A189@crocker.com>
Date: Fri, 13 Feb 1998 01:06:20 -0500
From: Eric Leidberg <yetti8@crocker.com>
Subject: Robert Woods and the Issue of Mania
This is my first post. Lets get to it, shall we?
I dont agree with Steve Graff.. Who would want Andy Partridge to stay a
perennial teenager? Drum and Wires was a good outing, but the
sentiments expressed in Roads Girdle the Globe wouldnt have
neccessarily brought me back for more. Although it was certainly a
better
disc than most bands put out after ten years, Drums and Wires was
only a half-baked meal, and personally I prefer my Partridge well-done.
To give up a little mania for the deeply satisfying lyrics, and
wonderful melodies that were to come, was certainly worth the loss.
That being said, I disagree as well with Robert Woods, and his
description of the early XTC. The ONLY thing even remotely and truly
80s-frenetic-spike-haired about the band, was Andys goofy arrow pants
on their first cover. XTC had about as much to do with Nick Lowe, and
skinny ties as my grandmother. Their early music was lumped, as we all
know, into that package because the idiots in the industry didnt know
what else to do with them.
But, as mentioned in the subject area the real issue is mania.
Andy has always been quoted as saying that the first two discs were his
spottty, adolescent stage, and he was somewhat embarassed by them. I
certainly cant disagree with that, but I wouldnt exactly call them
adolescent. Maybe, more child-like. After Drums and Wires and through
to The Big Express, is where we see the adolescent phase: the
questions, the confusion and rage, the emotional ups and downs. When
Andys valium supply got flushed, and therapy probably helped to make
life at home, (at least back then!,) somewhat peaceful, I think some of
our heros anger and confusion got allayed. He didnt always ask the BIG
QUESTIONS anymore. Now, I dont begrudge Andy his peace and
poo-poo Humble Daisy. This man continues to astound me with his
lyrical brilliance, and as far as Im concerned can use as many
orchestral bits as he likes. But, some of the psychic confusion or the
mania, was what really slayed me, and honestly, I kinda miss it. Its
the age-old question:
Do you have to be completely out of your mind to create great art?
I dont know.
Liz Spencer
"And by the half-light of burning republics Joe Stalin looks just like
Uncle Sam..."
------------------------------ Date: Fri, 13 Feb 1998 10:09:16 -0500 (EST) From: Thomas Slack <tgs@telerama.com> Subject: XTC Sandwich - Good Sign? Message-ID: <Pine.BSI.3.95.980213095905.15631A-100000@frogger.lm.com> Well, my Friday the 13th has gotten off to a good start. Last night when I pulled into my driveway and was about to turn the radio off, "Mayor of Simpleton" came on, so of course I had to sit there in my garage and listen to it. Then this morning, as soon as I turned it on, the sounds of "Dear Madam Barnum" came blasting out. This station does play XTC occasionally, but I seem to be hearing more lately. Could it be that word of a new album has stoked up renewed interest? (Let's hope.) Happy Bad Luck Day, Tom Slack PS- Speaking of which, keep an eye out for 13 Turtles in Musician Magazine's BUB contest. 'Nuff said.
------------------------------ Date: Fri, 13 Feb 1998 14:07:45 -0500 From: J_ARTECONA@RCMACA.UPR.CLU.EDU Message-Id: <980213140745.21413f3f@RCMACA.UPR.CLU.EDU> Subject: RE: One Tin Soldier Hey all, just a thought on the money thread....whatever happened to that really rare toy soldier we were going to buy for Andy? I think that would be much more appropiate and probably free of tax problems. I'm in for 20. I also spent 45 for the Andy Hello! cd.....I still have all the others in their sleeves except for John Linnel's State Songs (quite good BTW). And I bought the cd of the demos as well and thought it was well worth it, it was a fine and clean recording which I can keep forever and I really don't think anyone is getting rich of that scheme. And while I am at it, I was really touched by Dave Gregory's gift to Amanda. What an incredibly nice person! Just as I always thought he would be, a noble soul indeed. And while I would kill to hear the songs I understand his concern and shall live without the pleasure unless he changes his mind. Life is good in the greenhouse, and Amanda I was very happy for you, what a Christmas surprise! Anyway, last bit of news was I spent a weekend in a lovely little island off the east coast of Puerto Rico with the most incredible bioluminescent bay. ANyway, during my daily trips to the beach I was pleased to keep seeing this boat called X-T-Sea although I never got close enough to it to ask if they too loved the boys from Swindon. Maybe I am not the only XTC fan in this desert island after all. Enough already. PANCHO PRXTCFAN
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 13 Feb 1998 13:42:30 -0500 (EST)
From: ALEXW@hsc.edu (Alexander Werth)
Subject: Astronomy 101
Message-id: <v01530503b109febcc83e@[208.6.80.51]>
>Anybody got any ideas for other XTC tunes with astronomical significance? I
>can think of "I Remember The Sun" and "Miniature Sun" right off the bat.
>
>-Brian
How about the obvious "Another Satellite," plus "Season Cycle" and "Across
This Antheap" ("The stars are laughing at us...")?
------------------------------ From: Marston_Allen@mccann.com Message-ID: <852565AA.006C078D.00@menycntf5.mccann.com> Date: Fri, 13 Feb 1998 15:13:11 -0500 Subject: Amazon.com Hello fans, FYI, Amazon, the world's largest bookstore, has the Chalkhills and Children XTC biography by Chris Twomey for under $20 US delivered, sa well as many of the band's recordings on cassette and cd. You can also order the new book, XTC: The Authorized Story Behind the Music, due out in June, and it will be delivered when it gets published. Just search for XTC on the homepage, and you're in. Live from the Swindon Youth Club, Marston
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 13 Feb 1998 14:01:55 -0500
Message-ID: <00154B00.001706@scudder.com>
From: Ian_Baker@scudder.com (Ian Baker)
Subject: Well It Was, Hello
From a lurker... I've loved XTC from the moment I saw them on the
Black Sea tour. I came to see The Police (Zenyatta was just coming out
and THEY were unknown to the general public.
But I left with XTC (the show warmup band) in my brain. Bought
EVERYTHING. Every picture disc, every import 7" and 12", the badges,
the t-shirts. EVERYTHING I could find. And kept at it for quite a few
years.
A tad disappointed when all my hard won b-sides became CD fodder. I
know, I know, I know what you're saying, and you're right... but some
of the romance WAS lost when 1) you didn't have to work so hard to get
it 2) it was now on an 'indestructible' format so it didn't have the
delicate, perishable feel of vinyl and 3) latecomers missed some
brilliant cover art and packaging of the old singles.
Whatever.
The reason I emerge is that I'D LOVE TO HAVE A CD OF 'THE DEMOS'. I've
stopped my earlier obsessive ways but I miss XTC like a friend I
haven't received a letter from in a long time. Plus (and I don't want
to jump into the Nonesuch battleground) some of the last studio stuff
didn't do much for me.. and I think it was more the production than
the songs or performances.
A slightly less produced, rougher version would make me VERY VERY
happy.
I've seen some posts of the DEMOS CD with a full color booklet... a
labor of love. Who has 'em? Who has that friend's letter.
email me at ian_baker@scudder.com
thanks in advance!
------------------------------ Message-Id: <3.0.32.19980213171816.0093f930@smtpgw.ametsoc.org> Date: Fri, 13 Feb 1998 17:18:16 -0500 From: David Gershman <dgershmn@ametsoc.org> Subject: Okay, okay For my comment to J.J. Pinto, Dave Ledbetter scolded me back: >In other news, Dave Gershman scolds: > >>Who do you think you are to say "we" in your sentence, to >>include the rest of us in such a small-minded spit of a remark? I'm fairly >>certain that I speak for most of the people on this list when I say >>that... > >It's probably not the most effective approach to denounce Mr. Pinto as the >spokesman, only to then claim the position as your own. Yeah, but...but...but...oh, never mind. Point taken. Set, match. Dave
------------------------------ Message-Id: <199802132323.AAA23626@mail.knoware.nl> From: "Mark Strijbos" <mmello@knoware.nl> Organization: The Little Lighthouse Date: Sat, 14 Feb 1998 00:33:54 +0000 Subject: Straight To Ya Dear Chalkers, I suppose everybody knows how one never ceases to discover new bits in XTC's music, those lovely small details you never noticed before even though you think you "know" all those songs by heart... In fact, this has always been one of the reasons i love them so much! Today i discovered such a hidden gem in The Loving (1989!) Crank up them headphones real high at the end of the song; where Colin is signing his infamous "straight to ya" lines. In the background there is this beautiful little choir singing not unlike the Beach Boys circa Good Vibrations. Wow! Where did they get those singers? :) It's absolutely amazing and brill, it made my miserable day much better and I just wanted to share it with you all. yours in xtc, Mark Strijbos at The Little Lighthouse the XTC website @ http://come.to/xtc and http://www.knoware.nl/users/mmello
------------------------------
From: Epidermis1@aol.com
Message-ID: <cd185e8.34e4dc16@aol.com>
Date: Fri, 13 Feb 1998 18:49:40 EST
Subject: promotional copy not for sale, total time 30:10
hey everybody-
i am just full of questions i guess, because i have another one. i was
wondering if anybody knows how much a record i just got is worth or if it's
worth anything- a friend of mine bought it for me, and i dont know how much
she paid. i'm just curious, it's red and on the cover it just says "LIVE THE
WARNER BROS. MUSIC SHOW" it's for radio prgrams and it provides for
comercial breaks, it's skylarking with breaks between songs where andy talks
about each song. it was made in 1979. anybody have any ideas?
yours,
libby.
------------------------------ From: LadyCPlum@aol.com Message-ID: <8ac538bc.34e5212e@aol.com> Date: Fri, 13 Feb 1998 23:44:28 EST Subject: Wow....... My one response this week is directed at Jason Legacy...... It never occured to me before, but what you say rings a very harsh truth.It DOES seem that XTC has done nothing over the last few years to try to reach new fans. But to each his own. Cheers, Amanda XTC song of the day-New Broom non XTC song-Don't Fear the Reaper-Blue Oyster Cult
------------------------------ Message-ID: <34E56672.6850@ix.netcom.com> Date: Sat, 14 Feb 1998 01:40:02 -0800 From: Eric Rosen <rimshot3@ix.netcom.com> Subject: Helping from a Distance Hi all, Re: M. Strijbos remark: "Do you love them because nobody else does or would you be thrilled if they had a number 1 with a bullet?" I would love to see XTC at the height of fame and popularity PROVIDED it did NOT threaten their future artistic freedom and control. Re: Richard Pendretti-Allen's reply re: non-profits: At the end of my original post, I acknowledged that there could be complications because it could be construed as "profit-oriented" if it were assisting IDEA. The remarks were merely "brainstorms" meant to come up with a viable way to help the band. I have absolutely no reason to doubt what you say about having the IRS "crawl up your butt and through your intestines" (thanks for the warning!) however, non-profit status is NOT a prerequisite for that!!! I work for an extremely well-known, privately owned, highly profitable corporation and down the hall from our wing is a room staffed with an IRS agent who's been there for years and all he does is analyze our returns. Re: Helping the band: If it be our fate to have to help from a distance (buy more, turn others on, etc.) that's fine but I just can't get it out of my system that there's more we can do (especially in this wired age). I can't help but think of the Beatles arrival at JFK and how the screaming girls were induced with T-shirts and stuff to act their most manic (Oh, that shrewd Brian Epstein). So, in the '90's, my thoughts are in the digital domain [QUALIFIER - these ideas and efforts would require a well-coordinated effort that is tactful, tasteful and rolled out in phases - as opposed to everyone running off helter skelter to do their 2 cents]-- 1. One fellow (from NYC I recall - how's life in my hometown?) mentioned creating a web site to help publicize the album. This could be done at relatively low expense however, it's not something that lends itself to mass participation. Nevertheless, this is precisely the type of project for which I hereby publicly volunteer. In fact, what I do at work all day is build online interactive training content (HTML, Shockwave, JavaScript, etc.). I would be only too eager to put these skills to non-corporate use!! As it would NOT be commerce enabled, there would be no reason for the IRS to "crawl up our butts" however, it could be chock full of links to places where the new album could be purchased. The site could be optimized for search engine hits and be actively registered with the major ones. 2. The site could gather visitor statistics via forms and this info could be passed on to IDEA. 3. Another idea is to use newsgroups in the same fashion as the screaming ladies at JFK in '64. Plant a buzz but don't be a crass spammer about it. There are other groups with viable connections to XTC (Costello, Hitchcock, etc.) plus ones that are generic (alt.whateverkindofmusic). 4. Email the URL (or attach the website homepage) to our friends not on this list. 5. Repeat the email thing to every music journalist on the web (again don't be a crass spammer about it). 6. Repeat the email thing to every appropriate radio station on the web (again don't be a crass spammer about it). 7. People with ties to XTC (Mitch, John Wedemeyer, etc.) could put out feelers to them about doing online concerts via RealMedia streaming technology (now shouldn't Andy consider this "having his cake and eating it too!"). [I could see it now... XTC playing out of a flatbed truck - indoors for digital transmission] Anyway, these are a few stream-of-consciousness ideas and I want to encourage the Chalkhills community to keep coming up with more. By April, we should have a solid list and a few people ready to project manage and implement. ******************************************** The more distasteful the truth, The less it will be believed in America -- 1944 Radio Show "High Command" ********************************************
------------------------------ From: CCooli9575@aol.com Message-ID: <44889616.34e59e09@aol.com> Date: Sat, 14 Feb 1998 08:37:11 EST Subject: Jimm Chanson >I can't be trusted to be objective when it comes to Lennon, but having >said that, let me say this: An artist like him is rare. While I don't >doubt that there are some very talented people out there whose music >never reaches the ears of the masses, we do get to hear a good deal of >music by some extraordinary people, and I can't see any of them being >"just as talented as" John Lennon. His vision, coupled with the many >talents of his bandmates and producer changed the face of music in the >20th century, and had an impact on the world at large. A sage observation indeed, but I can tell you from experience that there's people out there just as talented as John Lennon(or Andy, for that matter)who just some how never got it together. There was one Jimm Chanson(or Jim Erickson, his given name)who I knew in college who quite frankly is the most talented unsigned songwriter I have ever met. By the age of twenty-one he'd written and demoed at least three concept albums or rock operas(one of which, I believe, was based on Heidegger's Being And Time, a weighty concept and very difficult read in its original form), and was performing some very energetic Elvis C./Squeeze/XTC-influenced rock and roll with his band The Answer, including among the sometime members Harrison Sherwood's brother Bob(so, there's a connection to this list, though not XTC). Jimm, unfortunately, was also severely manic-depressive or something similar. His bursts of creative energy would be sabotaged by months of inactivity and dementia, during which he'd be unable to function. I'm not sure if he even graduated. All he's got to show for it was one song on The Malarians' LP of about ten years ago, the band The Answer eventually turned into, and a whole lot of rough demos of brilliant fully-realised songs in embryonic form that will probably never see the light of day. Sad. Most cities and towns have at least one person like this, though few of Jimm's potential. I'm a songwriter myself and people like him make me wonder why I bother; I'm not an original like him, just a good mimic like Clive Gregson or those guys from The Rembrandts. In fact that's probably why I haven't written much lately. There's just too many second-rate songwriters out there; why should there be one more?
------------------------------ Message-ID: <34E6678C.665B@erols.com> Date: Sat, 14 Feb 1998 22:57:00 -0500 From: Todd and Jennifer Bernhardt <toddjenn@erols.com> Subject: Replies Yo: Tony Nowikowski said: >When the new album comes out, buy an additional copy (or two) and donate them to your local library.< I think this is a great idea. Ladies and Gentlemen, MR. Stormy Monday said: >Unfortunately, the arts are driven by profit. If your definition of success is reaching the masses, you must be able to demonstrate that your "art" is marketable. As much as I love the music of XTC, I can't blame their lack of commercial success on anything but the fact that their music isn't commercial, whatever that means. Certainly their music has had more opportunity to reach the public at large than the aspiring musicians on this list. How did "The Dave Matthews Band" get signed? They were playing to packed houses and marketing their own merchandise to their fans. The labels can't ignore that type of success. While it isn't fair, it is a reality: if you can prove that people will buy your music, you can get signed.< This reminds me of what a friend I had long ago used to say as we sat doing our humdrum jobs in a Washington, DC, recording studio (duplicating tapes, mostly, but HEY, we worked in a recording studio, right?) listening to the radio. I was still very much the prog-rock musical idealist, and he was the ultimate pragmatist. We'd hear a song, I'd rip into it for being simplistic and inane, and he'd say, "You're right, it's a stupid song, but hey, it sells" -- as in, "They're on the radio and you're not, so maybe you should shut your pretentious little yap and learn what you can from this tripe." I came to realize that he was right: in music (and in life, for that matter) you can learn from just about anyone, whether you respect them or not, and even if they're showing you what NOT to do. Jason Legacy said: >They have done NOTHING to reach out to us in the past 5 years, at least nothing in my memory. Do they fully realize their responsibility in the delicate artist/fan relationship? They have seemed woefully ignorant for a decade now.< First off, let me say that, IMO, XTC owes us NOTHING. They bear no responsibility in this "relationship" -- it is completely consensual, and all of us, at any time, has the option of ending it. The only responsibility I see the band as having is to their respective muses. The moment XTC stops being a truly great band is the moment when they begin to care about "the delicate artist/fan relationship" instead of caring about their art and their individual relationship to it. I'm happy to have the opportunity to get the briefest of glimpses into THAT relationship by buying their albums. Anything on top of that (live shows, etc.) is gravy, IMO. For a far-more eloquent and insightful discussion of this topic than I can provide, check out Robert Fripp's posts on www.elephant-talk.com about the nature of the audience/artist relationship. Along those lines, Mark Stribos asks: >how would we, as their loyal(?) fans, react if Firework would be a bit of a success and XTC would be catapulted to sudden fame and fortune? Do you love them because nobody else does or would you be thrilled if they had a number 1 with a bullet?< Count one vote for thrilled. For as long as I've listened to them, I've wanted them to get the recognition they deserve. If anything, I think a hit album and some $$ would be the greatest thing in the world for the band. They'd be able to relax and concentrate on making great music, instead of dealing with all the mundane nuisiances that come along with living from royalty check to royalty check. Plus, people might stop looking at my XTC FAN license plate and thinking I'm a drug addict. BTW, Yazbek and crew were in fine form last night here in NoVa. The only problem was, I thought he was headlining and so I sauntered in at 9:45 with some friends after a leisurely dinner to find that Yazbek was the backup band and had started at 9:30. They played 'til 10:30 (the crowd convinced them to play two encores), and I and my friends picked up some copies of his newest CD, Tock. Great album, and it includes a song cowritten with our favorite musical genius, Mr. P, who also sings and plays. Bug your local megarecordchainoutletstore to STOCK TOCK -- keep in mind Harrison and Stormy's dialogue about artists that deserve to be heard, and don't be an accomplice in keeping this talented guy and his merry men mired in obscurity. In fact, they're playing a CD-release party in NYC on Thursday night, and I'm thinking ROAD TRIP -- what other NuYawk Chalkhillers are gonna be there? Drop me a line.
------------------------------ Message-Id: <34E688FB.E9953B23@bowdoin.edu> Date: Sun, 15 Feb 1998 01:20:13 -0500 From: Ben Gott <bgott@bowdoin.edu> Organization: Loquacious Music - http://www.wp.com/58596 Subject: Adam Sandler This is sketchy on the XTC content... Funnyman Adam Sandler has a new film out, entitled "The Wedding Singer." It takes place in Ridgefield, CT (!!) in 1985, and has a great soundtrack. Included on the CD are "How Soon is Now?" by The Smiths, and..."Everyday I Write the Book," by Elvis Costello! Isn't that awesome? Of course, it's sandwiched in between "Hold Me Now" and "White Wedding," and the version of "Video Killed the Radio Star" is performed by The Presidents of the United States of America, but still... Sorry to consume bandwidth, but just one more Elvis thing: who else thinks that "The Bridge I Burned," the first track on his "Extreme Honey" collection, kicks some serious ass? I do. E-mail me privately and we shall discuss his effective use of samples. Dig it! Oh, what the hell: obligxtc...I've been listening to "Drums and Wireless" a lot. Anyone like the "No Thugs" on there better than the "English Settlement" version? And what about that great piano chord at the end of "Runaways"? Also, if anyone cares, I think that David Byrne's "Feelings" is the best album of 1997, and Morrissey's "Alma Matters" the best single. -Ben I am the son and heir of nothing in particular. * -------------------------------------- * B e n G o t t :: Bowdoin College (207) 721-5142 :: Brunswick, ME 04011 Own Yazbek's new album! http://www.war.com * -------------------------------------- *
------------------------------ Date: 16 FEB 98 10:57:04 AES From: PCulnane@dca.gov.au Subject: Singles Message-ID: <0000nzprxrlj.0000mimsouks@dca.gov.au> Hello! I was wondering whether the band may have formulated plans for singles (CD and/or vinyl) to be culled from the new album yet? I'd be interested to know what the b-sides might be. Perhaps two or three songs that get properly recorded but don't make the final cut of the album? Or maybe some demos of songs that aren't scheduled for inclusion in the current recording sessions, as occurred with the various single releases accompanying Nonsuch? Could Mitch ask Andy or Dave when next he speaks with either? p@ul
------------------------------ From: LadyCPlum@aol.com Message-ID: <b2eb840e.34e7b005@aol.com> Date: Sun, 15 Feb 1998 22:18:27 EST Subject: Just a quick quote about something...... Getting back into the old routine of more than one post per digest, I must say this....the talk of not feeling sympathy for XTC's financial plight has made me think a little. It IS, after all, their decision to not tour, although it appears Andy's opinion carries more weight than Colin and Gregsy. I found an interesting coupla quotes from an 89' interview w/Dave about the band's non- touring state. Here's an excerpt of the 'view.... DB-"If you could play with anybody right now, who would be some of the people you'd like the opportunity to play with?" DG-(....skip list of many names)".....But to be totally honest with you, I'd like XTC to tour so that I could have my old job back because that was the best gig of all." DB-"What do you think, come the 90's, will we ever see the band on stage again?" DG-"It's a distinct possibility, but don't hold your breath waiting for the event. I'd like to think that we will because otherwise my days are numbered. I mean, what am I going to be doing ten years from now, you can''t be a sideman in a band that only makes records, I don't think that's possible." Food for thought, and interesting considering that it's been almost ten years since the 'view was conducted. I wonder........... Tis all for now, Amanda AMANDA'S quote of the day-"Spam spam spam spam spam spam spam......."
------------------------------ Date: Sun, 15 Feb 1998 22:57:17 -0600 (CST) From: James Dupuy <dupuy@nol.net> Subject: XTC & Ben Folds Five Message-ID: <Pine.GSO.3.96.980215223814.20325A-100000@grassy.nol.net> Hello Chalkhill People Just wanted to thank the people on this digest for turning me onto Ben Folds Five. I went to see them last Thursday night, (in Houston) sporting my Chalkhills T-shirt, and had my ass thoroughly blown away. It was kinda nice having people come up and comment on how they like XTC for once. (thanks for the chalkhills t-shirt) I was a little surprised that they did not know about Chalkhills but I did let them know that it existed and to look out for the new cd. I can see why XTC fans would like BF5. I took three of my band members who don't like XTC but I think they enjoyed the BF5 show. One of them is now a BF5 fan. (there is hope after all) The tightness of the band impressed them as I was hoping it would. Now if only I could get them into XTC. I also watched the JamTV internet display of the Chicago show of BF5 and was wondering if XTC would do something like this. Anybody know if they would be interested in something like this? Also is it possible to save to disk the RealMedia stream that these JamTV shows generate? "When you're near me I have difficulty..." Jim Dupuy
------------------------------ Message-ID: <31790FAD9CB8D011BD6A0000F877207D352080@tu-server2.micromass.co.uk> From: Wood Robert MMUk <robert.wood@micromass.co.uk> Subject: Six year itch. Date: Mon, 16 Feb 1998 09:04:14 -0000 Jason Legacy wrote in 4-55: >> it's been a while since I posted, <snip> I feel next to no sympathy for them in terms of a financial standpoint. They chose to stop touring. Perhaps it can be blamed on Andy's stagefright, fine, yet there are numerous other routes of self-promotion, including acoustic shows, radio-station tours(which I know they did), etc. My point is that their musical exile is largely self-imposed. Every one on this list is obviously a highly faithful XTC-devotee, and if we are their grassroots, than they have what thousands of bands can't have. THEY ARE LUCKY. They have done NOTHING to reach out to us in the past 5 years, <snip> They are intelligent men who must know that great talent alone will not bring them financial security. Not at all. << Feel free anyone to correct me if I'm wrong, but the reason they've not released anything for six years is because they were forced into a corner by Virgin, and the best way to get out of their contract was to go on strike. You can't blame them for that, surely? Acoustic shows are still live shows, so I don't see how that makes it so much easier for Andy. Over the years as far as I understand it, they've been *seriously* ripped off by management so helping them out (taking the practical difficluties out of the equation) seems like a perfectly acceptable notion to me. Sure they know great talent alone will not bring them money. Dave certainly has done extra curricular stuff with the likes of Aimee, but what's the point in Andy doing something that makes him physically ill? Nothing is worth ruining your health for. I'd much rather have a band that makes the occasional great album than a knackered touring band. The only thing I can't quite understand is the lack of merchandise available. There are many fans who would genuinely love to be able to buy the likes of T-Shirts; I hope that Idea records latches on to this...
------------------------------ Message-Id: <3.0.3.32.19980216070000.007ba100@mail.execpc.com> Date: Mon, 16 Feb 1998 07:00:00 -0600 From: Dean Zemel <dbzemel@execpc.com> Subject: Rag And Bone Buffet Sampler If anyone is looking for a Rag and Bone Buffet Four Song Sampler (Extrovert, Heaven Is Paved With Broken Glass, Blame The Weather and Respectable Street) to complete that XTC collection (oh hell, when is an XTC collection ever complete?), email me privately. As long as I'm here, if Keith Beck is out there, you've changed your email address (you naughty boy) and I'd appreciate hearing from you! Hope all out there are well..... Dean Zemel dbzemel@execpc.com
------------------------------ Message-ID: <211D4A0926D2D011859E0060972D88482C8869@azmail.rjconsult.com> From: "Miller, Ed" <emiller@rjconsult.com> Subject: Last call for Liner Notes Date: Mon, 16 Feb 1998 10:25:40 -0700 Chalkawamba, I will be closing out the "liner notes" summary of CC'97 songs three days after the release of this digest. If you are a CC'97 artist and haven't yet sent me your info, please do so ASAP. Thanks to all who have sent me their notes so far. This has been very interesting and entertaining reading for me. I'm looking forward to getting it out to everyone very soon. Ed
------------------------------ Message-ID: <c=US%a=_%p=BTG._Inc.%l=EXCH_HQ-980216195806Z-618@exchserver.btg.com> From: "Sherwood, Harrison" <hsherwood@btg.com> Subject: The Sincerest Farm of Flannery Date: Mon, 16 Feb 1998 14:58:06 -0500 Hey, I think my favorite part of "The Everyday Story of Smalltown" is near the end when they go "Shangri-La, Shangri-La, la-la-la, la-la-la..." >From: "Pedretti-Allen, Richard" <Richard.PedrettiAllen@octel.com> >Subject: No way on Non-profit > >Let me put it this way, if you donated to the >Red Cross and they in turn gave your money to some "troubled" company >like BTG Incorporated (personally, I say it might be a good time to buy >their stock. Ticker: BTGI), you might feel like your donation was a >little "misappropriated" which is exactly the term the IRS will use. An admirable stock tip, Richard! I personally have quite an alarming amount of my life's savings tied up in it, and, well, while "down the toilet" might be stretching a point, "thinking about a cool refreshing dip in the bidet" seems to fill the bill. Whatever the hell it's doing in there, it's got the door locked and the grunting and splashing noises are getting the rest of us mighty antsy. > >From: Rhoblidnen@aol.com >Subject: Echoed Phrase Thingy > >My newly acquired "Bosom" Buddy, Harrison writes: >> [Andy's compositional use of echoed phrases: What's it called?] > >the name for this particular technique is "Imitation" Exactly one bar later Dave Blackburn (dblack@access1.net ) chimes in, >I learned it as "Imitation" Did you *plan* that, guys? It was great! Not only do we get two nice, concise, clearly stated definitions of the term, but your posts, taken together, provided an *example* as well! Now it's up to the rest of us to hit our cue (...two, three, four!): Fa-la-la-la-la, etc.! >From: "Mark Strijbos" <mmello@knoware.nl> >Organization: The Little Lighthouse >how would we, as their loyal(?) fans, >react if Firework would be a bit of a success and XTC would be >catapulted to sudden fame and fortune? Excellent question, Mark, something I've pondered as well. I honestly can't see XTC becoming a sudden household word, no matter how successful Firework turns out to be: they are, as others have pointed out, not aimed at the right demographic, not MTV-friendly, not--pace Amanda, Natalie, etc!--sexy (in the conventional, toothpaste-model sense), too smart for their own good, etc., etc. Even if they do this "back-of-a-truck" tour they've been talking about, they won't get the exposure they need to put an album into the stratosphere, sales-wise. They are (all together now, everybody!) A Cult Band. Given the right publicity, the right reviews, the right word-of-mouth, they'll sell comfortably, make themselves some money. People who are inclined to buy an XTC album will buy one. With a radio hit on the order of "Mayor of Simpleton" they'll make a few new converts. But "sudden fame and fortune"? Not in this lifetime. One thing is guaranteed, something we'll have to think long and hard about: When the new record hits, the Chalkhills list itself is inevitably going to undergo a massive upheaval. The subscriber list will grow exponentially, and we will have an enormous rehashing of stuff we've already driven into the ground. Picture the cliquish specter of "old hats" versus "new blood," yet another--and lots more virulent--revival of the Annual "Dear God" Festival of Theologically Unsound Opinion-Mongering, constant finger-wagging reminders to check the FAQ before posting, all that self-policing that groups like this have to do if The Tone is to be Preserved. Ick. A thought: The Firework cover art and liner notes are probably at this point only a vague glimmering of the beginning of a thought that's just now starting to appear on people's to-think-about-sometime-soon list, but one wonders if Chalkhills (the list or the website) will be mentioned in the credits, the way The Little Express was on "Skylarking"? It's not like they don't know how to work word-of-mouth, and they _are_ aware of where the butter on the side of their bread is coming from (if that's the expression I want). Mr. Relph, care to comment? Anyone contacted you about this? >Do you love them because nobody else does or would you be thrilled if >they had a number 1 with a bullet? Well, I can't speak for anyone else, but *I* love them because of their high energy level, their air of slightly menacing sexuality, and their dreamy leather trousers. I swear, the night I first saw them in that dank, sweaty nightclub, with the worshipful crowd twisting frenetically to an urgent rock-and-roll beat, their leader cracking abusive jokes at the expense of the adoring Sheilas staring up at him with unconditional love, the quietest member of the group piercing me with his torrid working-class glare and enquiring with undisguised sarcasm, "Why, what brings Mr. Lipschitz here?" I was sure I was witnessing a turning point in history. Harrison "A Cellarful of Toys in the Attic" Sherwood
------------------------------ Date: Mon, 16 Feb 1998 14:32:29 -0800 Subject: Re: I NEED DEMOS Message-ID: <19980216.143231.4310.0.daante@juno.com> From: daante@juno.com (Tim Chervenak) HELP!!!! I am new to Chalkhills, and I have just learned of these demo CD's. Can someone please email me directly and let me know what is out there and how I can get my hands on these recordings??? Tim
------------------------------ Date: Mon, 16 Feb 1998 15:54:20 -0800 (PST) From: Misty Shock <mccrtny@u.washington.edu> Subject: Nonsuch Message-ID: <Pine.OSF.3.96.980216154837.11038C-100000@saul3.u.washington.edu> What is the exact origin of the title, Nonsuch? I remember watching an interview on Rage in which Andy stated that it was taken from the name of the castle of Henry VIII, only later to discover that it meant "without equal." However, it was recently pointed out to me that it is one title in an ongoing trend in which the title is taken from a song on the previous album. Hence, Firework --> "My Bird Performs," Oranges and Lemons --> "Ballet For a Rainy Day," *and* Nonsuch --> "Chalkhills and Children." Which story is correct? Or is this just a funny coincidence? Sorry if I am covering old ground. nl: Nick the Knife, Nick Lowe Misty Shock mccrtny@u.washington.edu "No round of drinks can extinguish this feeling of love and engulfing bliss." --Andy Partridge
------------------------------ End of Chalkhills Digest #4-56 ******************************
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