Chalkhills Digest Volume 4, Issue 58
Date: Monday, 23 February 1998

          Chalkhills Digest, Volume 4, Number 58

                 Monday, 23 February 1998

Today's Topics:

                   He's Come A Long Way
                        Is it me?!
                        Chock Tock
                  XTC News / Rifff news
                     RE: AstroXTCies
                     us Chalkhillers
       no no no, a little more humanity please....
                      Relph in print
                Skylarking Interview disc
                me and my random thoughts
More Drums & Wireless, And How Not to Tour the World . . .
                        Well......
 Re: First contrib; Contribs;Burning; DG=Neil Morrissey?
            Milcon takes off! IMPORTANT INFO!
                   I'm just wondering?
             I just shook hands with the man!
                   Comments on comments
               What does AETATIS SVAE mean?
                      Bside request
                        Paula Cole
   Yazbek and a special guest at Arlene Grocery 2/19/98
                    Re: Go 2 The Chase
                     Success anyone?
                    Man Crashing Down
                An Englishman in New York
     Chalkhills' Children production notes available

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

Message-Id: <199802190004.BAA00127@mail.knoware.nl>
From: "Mark Strijbos" <mmello@knoware.nl>
Organization: The Little Lighthouse
Date: Thu, 19 Feb 1998 01:15:11 +0000
Subject: He's Come A Long Way

Dear Chalkers,

Our learned friend Amanda posted an interesting question about the
future of our Hero, that gentle guitar god and all-round wonderful
human being Dave :

>  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...........

Mmm... me too.
But Dave has since 'branched out' and done many things
outside of XTC. So i just hope that has kept him sane enough
to stay another decade or two... or three...

Funny that Dave considers himself a sideman though; IMHO his part is
an absolutely vital ingredient in the XTC recipe.

Before I forget:
> 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

Oh Harrison, you naughty boy! You almost had me there - i was just
about to cry after reading your gripping tale as i read the .sig!
But thanks for your, as ever  eloquent,  reply to my "excellent
question" :)
BTW: that glare must have been Terry's, right?

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

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

Message-ID: <31790FAD9CB8D011BD6A0000F877207D38C502@tu-server2.micromass.co.uk>
From: Wood Robert MMUk <robert.wood@micromass.co.uk>
Subject: Is it me?!
Date: Thu, 19 Feb 1998 08:42:34 -0000

In 4-56 Eric Leidberg (he of the broken apostrophe key! <g>) said:

>>     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. <<

I *assume* you're referring to me, Eric? Unless there really *is* a
Robert *Woods* on the list as well as me, Robert *Wood*. I am singular
(awaits ten tons of abuse for *that* comment!)

Now on the assumption that you *are* referring to me, er, I don't
remember writing anything *like* XTC being 80s-frenetic-spike-haired or
mentioning Nick Lowe and skinny ties! I just said that the music was a
more manic around the time of the early albums. In fact I was quoting
someone else's use of the word "manic".

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

From: DBMEIER0@wcc.com
Date: Thu, 19 Feb 1998 03:25:10 -0700
Message-Id: <00044D00.1586@wcc.com>
Subject: Chock Tock

     Chockhillians,

     At long last my copy of TOCK has arrived!  This is truly insanity of
     the highest fidelity.  I have seldom been jerked around in so many
     delightful directions as during the first 8 or 10 listenings of these
     well-faceted gems.  An impossibly perfect follow-up to Laughing Man.
     Big RIGHT-ON to Yazbek for acknowledging our own J. Relph too!

     If you haven't yet, BUY, BUY, BUY!!  Get one for your mailman, the gas
     meter reader, your kids kindergarten teacher, your ex-mother-in-law.
     Loved the W.A.R./Yazbek questionnaire too.

     Hey David, How about a west coast promotional tour?

     Oh yeah, xtc content -- a.p.'s contribution is SWINGIN'

     Dan "Burning Like a Pygmy" Meier
     Portland, OR

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

Message-ID: <B9B4268C8F87D11195DC0000F840FABE114C25@DUB-MSG-02>
From: Peter Fitzpatrick <peterfit@MICROSOFT.com>
Subject: XTC News / Rifff news
Date: Thu, 19 Feb 1998 03:43:25 -0800

First :
those people who have been waiting to get their Rifff competition prizes - I
have just got off the phone with Paul Bailey (band manager) and he's sending
the prizes to me.
one or two of them have gone missing along the way but he'll replace the
lost ones when Andy get's back to town (he's in New York for a couple of
weeks).
I'll forward them soon as they arrive.

Andy News :
Andy is appearing live on stage withYazbek tonight in New York. He'll be
playing some of the material he recorded with Yazbek on TOCK (his new album)

Album News :
Andy is in New York for a couple of weeks - Colin and Dave are working on
the album in his absence.
The album is more likely for an October release now - June is highly
unlikely

yes - promotional TV is being planned, he mentioned at least one show that I
can't tell you about (he asked me not to) but it would entail an ENTIRE show
with the band live (we're talking 45 minutes/ one hour). The only hint I can
give is that a certain Mr. Costello did something similar....

yes - worldwide TV appearances are planned, nothing specific known yet.

yes - they would like to play live (he joked that maybe Andy will enjoy his
appearance with Yazbek and will want to do it again !) please be clear :
they aren't planning a tour and it's just the eternal wishful thinking of
everyone (bar Andy of course) that they'll play live again

A merchandise deal has been sorted out and mailorder T-Shirts & other
goodies will soon be available.

Old XTC material re-issues :
I can't say too much here because it might cause problems,
due for release are :
tracks written with Llyod Cole, Julian Lennon (yes, I know !),
a track written with Brian from the VervePipe is up for inclusion in a major
film (can you say "at long last exposure" ? I knew you could !)
the Drums & Wireless album is possibly going to be released on Idea
(apparently it's reverted to them)
They are talking to Virgin about old material & it looks positive.
Previously unreleased Dukes material is possible - another Dukes album is
possible (please note the words "possible" - nothing 100% certain here)

All in all - good news.

Peter

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

From: J_ARTECONA@RCMACA.UPR.CLU.EDU
Date: Thu, 19 Feb 1998 12:30:15 -0500
Message-Id: <980219123015.20e04321@RCMACA.UPR.CLU.EDU>
Subject: RE: AstroXTCies

To Brian the astroman,

two great space songs are Space Wray and Rocket (one of the best unofficial
AP songs IMO) both from The Bull With the Golden Guts......I am sure they
can be found in this hill of friendly chalksters (myself included) if you
haven't heard them yet.

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

Subject: us Chalkhillers
Date: Thu, 19 Feb 1998 20:03:32 +0000 (GMT)
Message-Id: <E0y5cBw-00035d-00@sunx1>
From: Mandy Taylor <mandyt@central.susx.ac.uk>

Alright?
And a hiya to Molly, too. Stick with it, gal, it's not all bad here!
We're just *so* into Xtc that we talk about anything and everything,
and there's been so much valuable information I've got from being
subscribed to Chalkhills (I've recently acquired a mass of demos from
a very kind soul who came to my rescue -mucho thanks again mate!; I
would never have known about the new album/book/drama going on, or
about Guitar Player, or about Go2's original cover existing *and*
still lying under some of the copies in circulation -something
mentioned quite a while ago but still sends me into a daze when I
care to think about it...and oh GOD loads of stuff).
>From time to time someone goes "stop it!" when it seems too many
people have said they don't like the resonance of a triangle with a
bad attitude tucked away on a middle eight on an ancient b-side or
whatever, I've done it myself in the past (say "stop it", that is)
(I love all triangles with bad attitudes) and then you find all these
people agreeing with *you* and it's fab and it's groovy and I don't
think you should leave us,
-in short.
(Did anyone answer your other post concerning Xtc videos? There was
"Look, Look" but if you keep rumaging about there's plenty of
bootlegs kicking about.)
bye then, Mand

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

Message-Id: <199802192009.AA136938963@bronte>
From: Greg Marrs <GMarrs@bn.com>
Subject: no no no, a little more humanity please....
Date: Thu, 19 Feb 1998 15:05:28 -0500

I counted not one, but TWO separate Paula Cole references in the last
Chalkhills Digest...  Please -- no more!  The Crash Test Dummies are bad
enough -- at least they're remotely humorous.  If Sarah McLaughlin has
little or nothing to say lyrically, at least she's got a great voice. An
imitation Sarah Mclaughlin is just pointless...

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

Message-Id: <s4ec1dcf.032@phjw.com>
Date: Thu, 19 Feb 1998 11:55:30 -0800
From: "MARK G. CUEVAS" <MGCUEVAS@phjw.com>
Subject: Relph in print

A hearty congratulations to our esteemed Mr. Relph on being mentioned
in Yazbek's newest - Tock.  This is a fine release.  Buy it now.

Committee for Ubiquitous Chalkhills

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

Subject: Skylarking Interview disc
Date: Thu, 19 Feb 1998 20:40:12 +0000 (GMT)
Message-Id: <E0y5clQ-0003Ek-00@sunx1>
From: Mandy Taylor <mandyt@central.susx.ac.uk>

It says '1979' on the Skylarking Interview disc in reference to the
copyright date of Warner Bros. if memory serves (all my vinyl's at
home while I pine for it here at university...Actually) I'm gonna
come out of the old brackets here because I've just remembered
that last time I was getting a good look at my twelve inches before I
had to leave them (bloomin eck what a lovely pair how's yer father
doin'?) that I saw an incredibly small white bug crawling across
Terry's face on one of them -what was it likely to be? Can I do
anything about it? Am I to return home to find Terry's face/my vinyl
collection gone?
Back to Skylarking, I paid 35.99 pounds for it in Excellent
condition. It's whatever people are prepared to pay, really, with
values. If anyone hasn't got it and they'd like to then (I know it's
said elsewhere in the depths of all this Xtc web surfing stuff) get
Record Collector every month and a whole new (expensive, addictive)
world of information opens up before you. Alright Libs?
Yeah, so..I'm off.

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

Message-ID: <19980219205239.27049.rocketmail@web2.rocketmail.com>
Date: Thu, 19 Feb 1998 12:52:39 -0800 (PST)
From: Cheryl <cxtc@rocketmail.com>
Subject: me and my random thoughts

Hi there

Mr. Simon Deane remarked:
>Have any British members of this list noticed the
>remarkable similarity between Dave Gregory and Neil
>Morrissey (Tony) from "Men Behaving Badly"?
Not that I'm a Brit, but having seen the show...Yeah!
 He does look like Dave Gregory, doesn't he?! Never
thought of that.

On a similar note, I was watching Ivanhoe last year
and the evil prince guy looked just like Mr.
Gregory...with a bowl hair cut.

Just like Mr. Estus I received my CC tapes, both '96
and 97.  And I too was knocked out by the talent of
these people.  I am enjoying these tapes very much.
It's neat to be apart of a group with so many
talented people.  Not just in music, but in all
creative endevours.

Take care everyone,
Cheryl

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

Message-ID: <19980219230008.23075.qmail@hotmail.com>
From: "Steve Stearns" <xteve@hotmail.com>
Subject: More Drums & Wireless, And How Not to Tour the World . . .
Date: Thu, 19 Feb 1998 15:00:07 PST

Hello all.  Some thoughts on posts from the last Digest:

><<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"?>>
>
>I've found myself listening to Drums and Wireless more than any other XTC
>CD...  I'm also especially fond of the "Jason And The Argonauts" on there...

 Amen brother(s)! I think both "No Thugs" and "Jason" are superior to
their ES counterparts.  And how about the material from The Big Express
and Oranges & Lemons?  It's sometimes hard to believe that you're
listening to three men and a drum machine!

>Imagine if XTC, after becoming commercially successful, had put out "Mint
>Car" or "Discotehque".  (neither are totally without creativity, but both
>are relatively weak when compared to prior material, IMHO)

Imagine XTC then deciding to tour again,  putting on the "Totally
Stupendously Gigantic Inane Tour of the World At Large, Complete with
Berlin-Wall Sized TV Screen and Ticket Prices to Match"

Thank God for small favors, I'd rather see the guys on the back of a
pickup truck any day than pay for the Vegas-style insanity I saw on the
PopMart tour.

 The members
>of XTC have sacrificed alot to maintain their notion of integrity, and
>they are far more deserving of respect and fame than just about any
>other musicians I can think of. They are my heros, both for the beauty
>and originality of their music, as well as for the stance they have
>taken to further the notion that you should stick by your guns and do
>whatever it takes to express your art, despite the consequences.

Does anything else need to be said?

Can't wait until the weekend comes,

Steve

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

From: LadyCPlum@aol.com
Message-ID: <592cdf53.34ecdeb1@aol.com>
Date: Thu, 19 Feb 1998 20:38:55 EST
Subject: Well......

I picked up a copy of Guitar Player from the library (and was given an odd
stare by a three-piecer, apparently wondering why the hell the girl in the
freshly ironed shirt, crisp jeans and blazer was reading such a mag.....)
and read a bit of the article on British guitarist. Nice little piece about
Andy, FANTASTIC picture of him and Dave (that smile could melt polar ice
caps.......), but not without a few errors. (Last time I checked, Dear God
was released in 1987, not 89.....)
Now let's move on to the Canadian guitarists, dangit!

But one response this time out, and the lucky winner is......
MOLLY-Welcome to the club, medear, but might I clear the air right
quick....The reason some of us are complaining is plain out frustration with
the fact that we've seen no new product in the past six years. It's sort of
like having your favorite tv series go on hiatus and promise to return over
and over again. As much as you love the show, you get a bit bored with
reruns after awhile!

Tis all for now as far as XTC goes, but I do have one small non-XTC related
question to ask (as much as I know how much you guys hate this, I HAVE TO
ASK!!!!)

As you can tell by my recent posts, I'm becoming increasingly more obsessed
with Monty Python's Flying Circus. (Graham Chapman especially, brilliant
guy, shame to lose him all that time ago.) What my question is, does anyone
know of any major retail places that sell the episodes on video? Are they on
video????

Ciao,
Amanda
XTC song of the day-Chalkhills and Children
non XTC song-Harvest Moon-Neil Young
Python quote of the day-"I object to all this sex on television. I keep
falling off!"

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

Message-ID: <ZuGwIKAYAM70Ewx3@demon.co.uk>
Date: Thu, 19 Feb 1998 23:28:24 +0000
From: Jon Holden-Dye <jon@jhd-designs.demon.co.uk>
Subject: Re: First contrib; Contribs;Burning; DG=Neil Morrissey?

In article <65706847FC74D1119E000000F801D38C18F229@NTFS03>, "Deane,
Simon" <simon.deane@dgj.com.hk> writes
>Pop" over 20 years ago (God , that long). I have to say that I've liked
>almost everything they've done except "Mummer" and, altthough there are some
>brilliant things on it , "Big Express". "Nonsuch " is truly a great album -
>but at the time they came out I was similarly entranced with "Drums and
>Wires",  "Black Sea",  "English Settlement" and "Skylarking"  - they were

What, no Oranges & Lemons ??!!

>5. I've often in the past seen or heard about stuff like Dukes of
>Stratosphear albums, Rag and Bone Buffet etc. (and now this demo "release"

"Chips from the Chocolate Fireball" (Dukes' compilation) periodically
available - check the WWW CD stores (www.cdnow.com, etc.)

>6. Have any British members of this list noticed the remarkable similarity
>between Dave Gregory and Neil Morrissey (Tony) from "Men Behaving Badly"?
>Are they by any chance related? I think we should ....etc. etc.

Shurely shome mishtake . . .


>7. There's been a bit of talk about XTC's commercial success or lack of it.
>Well it's not entirely unknown to them - they've had some pretty major hits
>with "Making Plans for Nigel", "Generals and Majors" and "Senses Working
>Overtime", all of which I seem to remember made the "Top 3" in the UK
>singles charts and I'm sure "Drums and Wires"  was a top  3 UK album when it

Nigel - highest place #17
Generals & Majors - highest #32
Senses - #10 (highest placing the band achieved - so far !)
All courtesy the Guiness Book of British Hit Singles - as my decrepit,
old brain can't recall shit these days, as . . .

>"letter" I've ever written which at the age of 38 is a rather strange
>experience.

Just turned 43. Stranger still.

--
Jon Holden-Dye
"I like to keep an open mind - but
not so open my brain falls out." (Anon.)

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

Date: Thu, 19 Feb 1998 21:59:50 -0500 (EST)
From: "Jennifer L. Geese" <jlg@tardis.svsu.edu>
Subject: Milcon takes off! IMPORTANT INFO!
Message-Id: <Pine.OSF.3.91.980219215345.25638E-100000@tardis.svsu.edu>

Ok folks, the moment you've all been waiting for has arrived.  What's
that, you ask?  The official release of MilCon news, of course!

MilCon IS happening, and it is happening March 28 (sorry, Mike).  What we
need from you now are suggestions as to where we might hold this thing
(preferably somewhere where we could play music and eat and drink), and
some ideas as to what you might like to do at MilCon.  So, your mission,
should you choose to accept it is to get your reservation in ASAP so we
know how many to plan for, along with any ideas that you have.  Simply
e-mail me at jlg@tardis.svsu.edu with a "Yes, I can make it" or "No, you
stupid idiot, I can't possibly be there that day" and we'll count you in
or out as the case may be.  Until MilCon.

Jen

Rush right out and jump on the first Omnibus headed for Milwaukee.  you
won't be sorry!

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

From: MFa2707621@aol.com
Message-ID: <5f495f95.34ecf3e2@aol.com>
Date: Thu, 19 Feb 1998 22:09:15 EST
Subject: I'm just wondering?

Chalkers,

	I think I asked this question before, but I was wondering if the
video, Look, Look is still in print, and if anybody's seen it how they like
it?  Also, are there any chaces they will be releasing any new video
cassettes of their videos?  The only videos I have of the band are Mayor of
Simpleton and Dear God.  I would love to see the videos for King for a Day,
Ballad of Peter Pumpkinhead and Grass (if there was a video for that song).
I've seen part ot the video for Senses Working Overtime, and I prefer the
later videos.
	Maybe somebody knows this, but when the heck is Firework supposed to
be released?  I've read someplace it's supposed to be in September, but I'm
not sure if that's true or not.
	I still think the web site is a good idea.  Also I think there
should be an American fan club.  Maybe somebody can make a web page for the
American fans of XTC.  I would if I could, but I don't have the time to get
one started.
	I still think if people stop being so negative I'm going to
unsubscribe.  I don't really want to, but what's the use of bitching and
complaining.  It doesn't solve anything.
	That's all I have to say.

Molly
Buffalo, NY

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

Message-Id: <34ED0DC6.55D5@condenast.com>
Date: Fri, 20 Feb 1998 00:01:36 -0500
From: Alex McDonald <weasel@condenast.com>
Subject: I just shook hands with the man!

WooHoo!

	So, I just got back from the Arlene Grocery Yazbek gig, and while
Yazbek was great (as usual) and his band and guest performers were
excellent, the highlight of the the show was getting to meet and talk to
ANDY on Stanton street for about ten minutes after the Yazbek set.
	He seemed very well and younger than I had imagined, and was in town
not just to see Yazbek, but to speak to W.A.R. and other U.S.
distributors about making a deal with IDEA. I mentioned that there were
many enthusiastic volunteers on chalkhills that seemed to be happy to
develop web sites and do other publicity work to get things cooking not
just for XTC, but for IDEA and any other bands they were to produce.
	I didn't ask him about his thoughts on direct cash infusions to  IDEA
by chalkhillians, but I did let him know that there was a large crowd
that would buy just about anything they wanted to sell, including demo
tapes, T-shirts, belly-button lint, etc.

Anyhow, I had a great night... just wanted to let y'all know.

P.S. Buy the new Yazbek album... it's way cool.

* --------------------------
Alex McDonald
Conde Nast Publications
212-880-2557
weasel@condenast.com

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

Date: Fri, 20 Feb 1998 08:07 -0700 (MST)
From: Dewitt Henderson <Dewitt.Henderson@mci.com>
Subject: Comments on comments
Message-Id: <19980220150626.FJXZ452@[166.37.7.10]>

Hey amigos -

Re: the 'what if XTC suddenly became successful' thread - I agree
with both sentiments that I've seen expressed - yeah, it would be
great if they had a big hit CD, but realistically, I doubt if it
will happen.  But we might be surprised.

The 'reaching out to fans' thread - Todd, buddy, you and a few
others put it best.  Why does XTC have any obligation to do any-
thing for (or to? :^) us?  And I think you could look at it this
way too - they may not do 'tangible' things for us, but what
about this?  I think we've all experienced this:  you like a
band/artist's music, they're selling piles of albums/CDs, you go
to their concert, and they do this 80-90 minute cheapshot concert
and say 'see ya, suckers!'.  I'm paraphrasing a bit there, but
you get my drift:  some bands have little or no appreciation for
the very people who've made them rich and famous.  I get the
impression that XTC at least appreciates their fans.

Eric Rosen:  your email 'signature' is fabulous, man.  Too true.

Library donation of 'Firework'.  Good idea.

Mr. Sherwood - your point about what's likely to happen to the
list post-'Firework'.  Hmmmmm, could be, but then again, most
of the real fans are probably already here.  :^)

Carry on wayward sons (and daughters).

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

Message-Id: <199802201533.HAA00990@sgi.sgi.com>
Date: 20 Feb 98 10:33:54 -0500
From: Charlie Passut <charlie_passut@baseview.com>
Subject: What does AETATIS SVAE mean?

Inside the cover of the Nonsuch album, Andy, Colin and Dave appear in
medieval portraits.

There is text on all three of these portraits. On two of them (Colin's and
Dave's) appears the words "AETATIS SVAE," and then the numbers 36 and 39,
respectively.

Also, on Andy's portrait, the words "AETATIS JUE 38" appear.

The portraits are also on the Internet at
http://chalkhills.org/who.html

What does "AETATIS SVAE" and "AETATIS JUE" mean? Is it Latin?

(Please e-mail replies to charliep@baseview.com)

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

Message-Id: <199802210354.TAA12981@mail.rapidnet.net>
From: "J & J Greaves" <jgreaves@rapidnet.net>
Subject: Bside request
Date: Fri, 20 Feb 1998 19:55:55 -0800

Knowing that the lads read the old posts from time to time I'd like to
request politely that the "Dame Fortune" demo be made a bside for one of
the new singles, since it won't be part of Firework. I'd also like them to
know that the snippet of "Playground" from Rock Over London is getting
great reviews from my non-XTC fan friends. One more thing for Andy: Nonsuch
was great but this new batch is, IMHO as a  fan of the band for 19 years,
the best yet! Just do what you do!

John

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

Message-Id: <v03130307b114104ff286@[207.77.25.130]>
Date: Sat, 21 Feb 1998 00:04:35 -0500
From: Ira Lieman <ira@myself.com>
Subject: Paula Cole

>I think that, based on his vocal performance in "Dear Mad(Am)
>Barnum," Ira Lieman could sound like Paula Cole. Don't you, Ira?

No thank you. I don't whine that bad. It's bad enough that she HAS to wait
and can't stop complaining about it! Ack!

If I had to sound like a female artist it would be someone like Lisa Loeb,
I think. Or Michael Jackson.

-ira

< - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - >
     _/_/  _/ _/  _/_/_/_/  Ira Lieman          | Visualize
   _/  _/ _/ _/  _/ _/ _/  ira@myself.com       |      Whirled
  _/_/_/   _/   _/ _/ _/                        |            Peas.
 _/  _/   _/   _/    _/  www.intercall.com/~aym | Stop the Violins!

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

Date: Fri, 20 Feb 1998 11:17:43 -0500 (EST)
Message-Id: <v01510104b113049f3d96@[128.122.161.36]>
From: vanvalnc@is2.nyu.edu (Chris Van Valen)
Subject: Yazbek and a special guest at Arlene Grocery 2/19/98

Hi Calcium Carbonates,

Had already planned to go to Arlene Grocery last night to see Yazbek. After
all, I always go when he's in NYC. On my way home, I stopped in a record
store and some hairy guy(who looked a little too much like Charlie
Manson)grabbed me and shouted into my face(Ugh-bad breath!)"Where is he?
Where is he? Where is he?" Almost running away, I asked "Who?" Again, he
shouts "Andy! Andy! Andy!" I didn't know what he wanted until I realized I
was wearing a Chalkhills t-shirt. "I gusss he's in Swindon, I dunno..." "No
he's not! He was right in this store today! And you know where he is!" I
finally shook off this guy and explained that I didn't know where he was.
But it set me thinking. Yazbek. CD premier. No, it couldn't be! I got to
Arlene at about 8:10 ad Yaz was outside hangin' out. He gave me a hearty
hello and I told him to have a good show. He said it would be a special
show, he'll have a horn section and a guitarist tonight(instead of the
usual trio). I asked him if you-know-who was coming tonight. He said yes,
but be cool, talk, but don't mob him. I told him that I had met Andy
several times already, so I'm OK. Went inside, ran into Hillian Todd H.,
shortly thereafter Mitch Friedman. A peek out the small window revealed
that The Bespectacled One was outside. He came in, no fanfare, hung at the
bar. I realized that most of the people there didn't know who he was. Cool.
        The show, as usual, was rockin'. The usual audience participation
song, "Schmuck in a Vacuum", was wilder than ever. "Black Cowboys on the
Beach" still features the intro from Led Zep's "Ocean". No fish boning
tonight, though. Yaz mentioned that later in the show, they'd have a guest
guitarist. No, it couldn't be! Actually, it wasn't. A horn trio came up for
the last few songs. On one, Yaz said "I don't like to do this one because
it was co-written by Andy Partridge, and I have to split the royalties!"
They even did a Dave Brubeck piece. For the encore, Sean Altman came up to
do backup vocals. After the show I welcomed Mr. P back to our humble burg
and he gave me a hearty embrace. A most memorable evening.

CV

P.S. Ben Folds tonight. Yes!!!

If you have an unpleasant nature and dislike people
this is no obstacle to work. -- J.G. Bennett

Catch "Forever Knight" on the Sci-Fi Channel every
Mon-Thurs at 9PM and 1AM EST. -- Lucien LaCroix

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

From: CCooli9575@aol.com
Message-ID: <2f5da6fb.34eef28f@aol.com>
Date: Sat, 21 Feb 1998 10:28:13 EST
Subject: Re: Go 2 The Chase

  Seen today: attractive blonde woman walking out the door of KSV
Communications with a shrinkwrapped vinyl LP of Go 2 under her arm. Cool! I
wanted to chase after her to compliment her on her impeccable taste(it's not
my favorite XTC album, but even knowing it exists is the mark of a true-blue
XTC fan), but I didn't want to give her the wrong idea; my wife wouldn't want
me seen chasing strange women...

Chris

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

Message-Id: <199802202127.OAA04764@access.tucson.org>
From: "J. D. SMX" <jsmelser@access.tucson.org>
Organization: Access Tucson
Date: Fri, 20 Feb 1998 14:39:37 -0700
Subject: Success anyone?

Hello Chalksters -

> If Barbie is so popular, why do we have to buy all of her friends?
Because they put out.

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?

I think it would be great for the band; but if at their concert, I
have to sit next to someone who sings along with their new single
so loudly I can't hear the band...I'll be pissed.

>Perhaps we could have a secret, second digest.  Something along the
>lines of the masons.  You know-- by invitation only, secret to the
>death.  Uh... that is... unless you folks already have one... and I'm
>not on it.  OK, nevermind.

We voted on letting you in last week.  But we could only allow one
more member and we chose Ben Stein.  Better luck next time.

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

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

Message-Id: <199802212317.AAA09359@mail.knoware.nl>
From: "Mark Strijbos" <mmello@knoware.nl>
Organization: The Little Lighthouse
Date: Sun, 22 Feb 1998 00:28:34 +0000
Subject: Man Crashing Down

Daer Chalkers,

Last issue Molly said:
>  I just read the latest Chalkhills, and I'm amazed at what I read.
>  I subscribed to talk about XTC, not complain about
> them.  Why can't we talk about how we love the group, instead of
> attacking them.

Indeed! The rest of the world already hates them or doesn't care one
bit about XTC. We should keep the fire burning and spread their
gospel wherever we go, whenever we can.

So I applaud the suggestions made by several people regarding what we
fans can do to promote the new album. If we all succeed in getting
them on a radio station or in a magazine or paper we _can_ make a
real difference. The key to success in the music industry is not
brilliance but exposure and quite contrary to popular belief,
hits are not born but made.

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

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

Date: Sun, 22 Feb 1998 22:34:11 -0500 (EST)
Message-Id: <v03007803b1148881f9e4@[209.86.61.228]>
From: Mitch Friedman <mitchf@mindspring.com>
Subject: An Englishman in New York

Hello Hillies,

Let me start off by vigorously apologizing to anyone reading this who is
offended by hearing accurate information about what's going on with XTC. I
am truly sorry . . . for you.

As will be reported by several others, Andy is in NYC this week and was in
the audience for another great show by Yazbek on Thursday night. (BUY HIS
ALBUM) Also in the audience were ChalkieTalkies Brookes McKenzie, Todd
Bernhardt, Chris Van Valen, Alex McDonald, and yours truly (if I've left
anyone out I am sorry but I didn't know you were there!) Brad from Crash
Test Dummies was also there. I believe at some point in the evening every
one of us had the chance and pleasure to speak with Andy. He didn't get up
on stage and perform but that's alright because Yazbek did a fine job
regardless.

The next night I spent some dinner time with Andy and collected the
following information (which will in some cases be a description of how
certain songs will sound on the album and possibly what order they will be
in too -- do not read on if you don't want to know!) :

He told me that the new album probably won't be called "Firework" but the
other title he really liked "The History of the Middle Ages" (no medieval
cover art was to be used in conjunction with this; it's more to do with the
bands' ages) was vehemently voted down by Dave because he refused to be
categorized as middle-aged. He told me that there will be only one CD which
may now only have 16 songs on it (due to running out of money to finish
everything they've started and running out of time since they will all
probably have to fit on one CD) but the remaining things that don't get
finished could become tracks on The Bootleg Album or b-sides. Ideally (no
pun intended) the band would have released an album in '93 and another in
'95 so it's a shame that great material may have to be nixed from this one
album in '97.  He described two beautiful sounding packaging ideas which are
both too expensive. One was a 3D water cover in which the clear plastic CD
cover would have 3D (slightly raised plastic) coincentric ripples going away
from the center and the CD that would show through once the booklet was
removed would have a fish swimming away and a solitary pebble that would
have fallen causing the ripple effect. The whole thing was just way too
pricey to produce so it's been turned down. The other idea was to have a
very iridescent close up of a peacock feather and the eye looking design in
the center of it on shiny aluminium (his pronunciation) paper against a
matte white background but how one would mass produce that is beyond him. He
described how "River Of Orchids" (which will be the opening track on the
album) will start. There will be a much longer intro, almost a minute in
length which will start with the sound of individual tuned water droplets
and the spaces in between them will slowly fill in with string plucks and
cello twangs until eventually it all builds up into the rhythm of the song
and then the vocals come in. So in other words going from water droplets to
a full "river" over the course of the song. The album will start orchestral
and finish electric but no running order has been determined for sure yet
because no songs are fully finished. Colin has contributed another new one
called "In Another Life" (I think?). Mr. Moulding is already at work on his
vocals and Andy will be joining in sometime very soon. The band is scheduled
to be at Hayden Bendall's studio for two months to do the vocals and
remaining acoustic things and then 2 days at Abbey Road to record a 40 piece
orchestra.  Andy commented that he thinks he's finally gotten the '60s out
of his system but Dave keeps buying him presents like The Best of The Move
to make the cold turkey unintenionally more difficult. Andy has written some
material with the guy from The Verve Pipe including contributing a song he
couldn't finish for XTC called "Blow". Finally, he is fond of "A Nanny in
Manhattan" by The Lilys.

In case you were all interested, I passed on printouts of several comments
about Nonsuch, hearing the demos before the finished album, and some schemes
for money making ideas to benefit XTC that we could possibly take up. And to
finally end the discussion once and for all, he said "Please do not send us
any money!"

Buy buy,
Mitch

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

Message-ID: <211D4A0926D2D011859E0060972D88482DDCAB@azmail.rjconsult.com>
From: "Miller, Ed" <emiller@rjconsult.com>
Subject: Chalkhills' Children production notes available
Date: Mon, 23 Feb 1998 10:10:58 -0700

Hi, everyone...

The production notes from Chalkhills Children '97 are ready for
distribution.  They are quite enlightening... not to mention rather
amusing.  However, they are lengthier than originally anticipated so I
won't be posting them to the digest.  Please get your copy by doing the
following...

Send an email to me:

	emiller@rjconsult.com

and, in the subject line type:

	chalknotes

You will receive an automated reply within a few minutes.

I hope you enjoy reading them as much as I did!

Ed

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

End of Chalkhills Digest #4-58
******************************

Go back to Volume 4.

23 February 1998 / Feedback