Chalkhills Digest Volume 4, Issue 66
Date: Monday, 30 March 1998
Chalkhills Digest, Volume 4, Number 66
Monday, 30 March 1998
Today's Topics:
Hiroshi Takano & XTC
If you enjoyed "THE DUKES"...
London musical "sighting" in Gap
Has XTC gone soft?
BFF @ LV
Re: The Brains
Martin Newell CD sighting
Attention Austin Area Chalkhills Folks
Re: KC XTC
Peel Sessions?
One Thousand Umbrella Heads
Andy The Prophet
Green Man & Mirror Man
re: good old rock reads (no-XTC)
Hmm....
Upsy Daisy Assessment
Milcon 98-03
an XTC picture
Four Moles Dali
Re: LOVErmont
Re: Van Vliet
Ice Cream Genius/Dave Gregory
The Captain, the Residents and You
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---------------------------------------------------------------------- Message-Id: <199803271930.OAA36994@mail1y-int.prodigy.net> From: "Noble K Thomas" <MOONSILVER@prodigy.net> Subject: Hiroshi Takano & XTC Date: Fri, 27 Mar 1998 13:28:15 -0600 I was checking out Hiroshi Takano's web site and ran across an interesting XTC LIVE link as follows: http://www.jah.or.jp/~aigara/ayu/xtc1.htm At the above site there is a listing of many XTC song titles and I'm unclear as to what the relevence to XTC is as the titles are in English but the rest in Japanese (or at least some language I have not, at this time, mastered yet). Since they are listed under a LIVE link I assume these are live renditions of the XTC songs as performed by other artists (Japanese?). Or perhaps Takano himself? Could a Japanese chalkhiller please clarify?... FYI: Hiroshi Takano is a cool Japanese musician. After hearing Skylarking he pursued Todd Rundgren as a producer resulting in two very hip recordings: CUE & AWAKENING (recorded with Tony Levin among others). I went to his web site hoping to find catalog numbers for those as well as his first solo CD HULLO HULLOA and his latest RAIN OR SHINE (I personally have about 5 or 6 Takano CDs but wanted to order more for my store). Any help regarding those numbers would be greatly appreciated... Also, I should note that PETER BLEGVAD is slated to have his collaborative recording with JOHN GREAVES titled KEW RHONE released soon. Remastered and enhanced it was originally released in 1977. The LILAC TIME's Astronauts has been re-issued in Japan with 7 bonus tracks.... http://www.silvermoonmusic.com
------------------------------ Date: Fri, 27 Mar 1998 14:42:49 -0600 From: Rick Avard <avari@internetmci.com> Subject: If you enjoyed "THE DUKES"... Message-id: <01BD598E.A0FCEBC0@usr8-dialup48.mix1.WillowSprings.mci.net> For all you "DUKES" fans out there who love the 60's-style rip-off, please check out THE FRATERNAL ORDER OF THE ALL's CD called "Greetings From Planet Love". It's incredible!!!! Actually, it's all done by Andrew Gold (of "Lonely Boy" & "Thank You For Being A Friend" fame) and while most of the songs are definitely influenced by The Beatles and The Beach Boys, there's a little bit of 60's magic in it for everyone!!!! It is available from Andrew's website - "andrewgold.com" & I can't recommend it highly enough... Otherwise, this is the first time I've posted to Chalkhills and I must say I've enjoyed reading each and every issue!!!! I'm a little bit behind in what's going on with the new album, but hopefully I'll catch up. It seems to me that many people have demos from the new album - is there any way to get copies of these???!???! I would love to hear from anyone about this on private e-mail.
------------------------------ Date: Fri, 27 Mar 1998 20:36:00 +0000 From: cthulhu.engr.sgi.com!sgi.engr.sgi.com!pidesign.attmail.com!PIDESIGN!PILONDON!PAUL (Paul) Subject: London musical "sighting" in Gap Message-ID: <MS-MAILG-3.0-Note-pidesign-PAUL-0890963307> Where? GAP, Picadilly Circus, London. When? 3 Saturdays ago What? King for a Day Shocked... stunned! Why? a. It's not a shop I usually go in and b. I, an xTc fan, walks in just before the track starts and am able to stay and listen to it all the way through. Anything else? Oh yes, please everyone stop whinging about Skylarking/Oranges and Lemons/Nonsuch. Learn, breath and grow with the group. May be it's a function of age? How many C'Hillians who prefer the older stuff are of the younger age bracket? I'm not saying that I don't like White Music, Go2 etc. but, of those that I play regularly, (ma autre-demi hardly listens to any music at all!) it's usually Big Express onwards. Am I going anywhere with this? No! It's 20:30 on a Friday and I'm waiting to reboot a few servers and Chalkhills 4-65 just scrolled in. That's it.. I'm off home - have a good weekend. Gosh and crikey! ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Paul Stratford Systems Manager Opinions expressed here are mine all mine and nobody would be interested in them anyway. "no time to fuss and fight" xTc "Bloody Hell! It's Milhouse Milton" P Bond ----------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------ Message-Id: <72EDB966944AD1118DC90080D820748847BF0F@ex-campus2> From: "Pedretti-Allen, Richard" <Richard.PedrettiAllen@octel.com> Subject: Has XTC gone soft? Date: Fri, 27 Mar 1998 13:23:17 -0800 More non-XTC xtc ======================================================= Xtc Copyright Tc for the X Window System Division of Computational Thermodynamics Department of Materials Science and Engineering The Royal Institute Of Technology 100 44 Stockholm Sweden tc@met.kth.se Copyright (C) 1995, Mikael Schalin Xtc software, both binary and source (hereafter, Software) is copyrighted by Mikael Schalin (MS), and ownership remains with MS. MS grants you (hereafter, Licensee) a license to use the Software for academic, research and internal business purposes only, without a fee. Licensee may distribute the binary and source code (if released) to third parties provided that the copyright notice and this statement appears on all copies and that no charge is associated with such copies. Licensee may make derivative works. However, if Licensee distributes any derivative work based on or derived from the Software, then Licensee will (1) notify DCT regarding its distribution of the derivative work, and (2) clearly notify users that such derivative work is a modified version and not the original Xtc. Comments and questions are welcome and can be sent to tc@met.kth.se. ========================================= This prevelance of other things labelled XTC is starting to bug me. I'm bugged. While there is no obvious trademark violation in the sense that some other musicians are trying to market themselves as XTC, there is still some value in XTC defending their name. If too many people are allowed to use the XTC name for too long a time, the name can become kind of an "eminent domain" thing. "Local use" means "geographical priority" in trademark-talk. So if the above Mikael can prove that his code is more widely established, he technically has the legal possibility of forcing XTC to market under some variant of their name in Sweden (witness the band UK Squeeze until the "US" Squeeze ceased to exist, though I do not know of any actual releases by "US" Squeeze). Apple Records filed suit against Apple Computer when the computer company developed some music-related software. They felt that that was getting too close to their domain. In most cases that go to court, the "Junior" user of the name loses to the "Senior" user but if the senior user has not been distributing product (this may make us thankful for Fossil Fuel and Upsy Daisy) under that name, they could end up having a very tough time defending their trademark. Additionally, if XTC failed to trademark "XTC" they will have a tougher time proving their "ownership." Anyone who has read this far is probably saying, "Whats to prove? The albums were released! They have dates on them." I don't think that XTC has stuck with a logo (i.e., Chicago) or servicemark (i.e., Rolling Stones Tongue and Lips) and not that they needed to or should have. Their individual uses are protected (i.e., someone else can't use the Drums & Wires XTC image) but the actual name may not be. It is considerably tougher to defend a unregistered trademark on heritage alone. The name should be trademarked by the band. Even if it already is trademarked, to continue to hold the mark it must be defended or it becomes meaningless and unsecured. Here endeth the lesson. Cheers, Richard p.s. To the guy selling XTC demo track CDs for $15, in case you are thinking about a new entreprenurial venture into the world of trademarks, in hopes of selling it back to the band at a tidy profit, you have to market a distributed product under that name. In the end, you'll only ever get to meet XTC's lawyers.
------------------------------ From: "Wesley Hanks" <whanks@earthlink.net> Subject: BFF @ LV Date: Fri, 27 Mar 1998 14:19:35 -0800 Message-ID: <000001bd59ce$6dae0ca0$e44b2599@default> Hi, If anybody is planning on catching the Ben Folds Five gig May 8th @ the Hard Rock in fabulous Las Vegas, drop me a line. "OOoohh Look! Check out that Sex Pistols slot machine." Spotted the Phish 2 cd set of their Halloween performance of Quadrophenia at a local used record store. With an incredible amount of money changing hands, I would be willing to pick it up for the someone. Swashing as well as Buckling, Wes
------------------------------
From: btm@ns1.mindmagic.com
Message-ID: <351BE333.261B@ns1.mindmagic.com>
Date: Fri, 27 Mar 1998 17:34:46 +0000
Subject: Re: The Brains
Tschalkgerz!
I'm back!
>My three degrees are:
I once interviewed Tom Gray of the Brains for my college newspaper,
the Technique (The South's Liveliest College Newspaper);
The Brains' first two LP's were produced by Steve Lillywhite;
You know the rest...<
Would this be the same Brains from the Atlanta area?
If so, I used to have something by them - album called 'Electronic
Eden'?
One and the same?
Hopefully soon to come: ;-)
MIDI's of "Burning With Optimism's Flames" and "Living Through Another
Cuba".
Ciao for niao,
-Bradenton Brian
------------------------------ Message-ID: <001a01bd59e1$609edea0$b2eeb5cf@daedalus> From: "Robert Triptow" <rtriptow@skyhouse.org> Subject: Martin Newell CD sighting Date: Fri, 27 Mar 1998 16:30:39 -0800 For those of you still seeking a copy of Martin Newell's and Andy Partridge's 'The Greatest Living Englishmen,' I saw yet another copy in the bargain bin at Borders Bookstore in San Francisco this week. The last time I announced such a sighting, I got lots of e-mails asking about it, so the demand must still be strong. Go get it, Newell/Partridge fans!
------------------------------ Message-ID: <351BE93D.5C08@mail.utexas.edu> Date: Fri, 27 Mar 1998 19:00:31 +0100 From: Peter Ermey <petrus@mail.utexas.edu> Subject: Attention Austin Area Chalkhills Folks Hey, I just wanted to invite any of you Austin, TX area folks to a cool show happening this Tuesday, March 31 at The Blue Flame (on 7th and Red River). My band Handshake, which could be described as XTC meets Poi Dog Pondering with a four piece horn section, will be opening up for Thumb of the Maid, a very cool band from Berkeley currently on tour. If you like Robyn Hitchcock or Martin Newell then you will probably dig them as the lead singer and songwriter is heavily influenced by Hitchcock, who incidentally is a big fan of theirs as well. It should be a lip smackin' good time so come on down and say hi.
------------------------------ Message-ID: <351C6CBD.E2E8E1E7@worldnet.att.net> Date: Fri, 27 Mar 1998 21:21:33 -0600 From: "Jeffrey W Wall M.D." <QUINCUNX@worldnet.att.net> Subject: Re: KC XTC Jennifer Ralston wrote: > No way, Doc! If you've been listening to them for that long, please don't > > tell me you never caught a show by the Mongol Beach Party or Grumpy > *somewhere* in Kansas City anytime between about 1987 and 1994. If > not, you missed out on some of the biggest XTC fans living in KC. > They performed covers of "Toys" and "Work," but their original music > was hugely influenced by our Swindonian friends. I lived in K.C from 83-89 while I was doing that college/med school thing, I just moved back her last year - so it looks like I may have missed out on the glory days of XTC covers on the great plains. It broke my heart to see that Parody Hall was no more (the twice yearly David Lindley shows were the best - what I would have given to see XTC there). Jeff
------------------------------
Message-Id: <3.0.1.32.19980328025751.00697a8c@130.127.28.14>
Date: Sat, 28 Mar 1998 02:57:51 -0500
From: Adam Tyner <ctyner@CLEMSON.EDU>
Subject: Peel Sessions?
I searched Gemm.com for XTC as I do periodically and came across a CD
entitled "The Peel Sessions" or somesuch. I didn't see this on the 'radio'
section of the discography, and I was wondering if anyone knows anything
about this. I'd imagine it's a mislabeled D&Wireless, but I'm just curious
in case it happens to be something more. :)
-Adam
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------------------------------ From: BobCrain <BobCrain@aol.com> Message-ID: <507559b9.351d4df5@aol.com> Date: Sat, 28 Mar 1998 14:22:27 EST Subject: One Thousand Umbrella Heads Comment: From: jes <xtc@mindspring.com> two pieces of commercial nonsense for Mercury records called "Unconditionally Guaranteed" and "Moonbeams and Bluejeans." Hey now, "My Head Is My Only House When It Rains" is a FINE song. The Tubes did a lovely version of it on their "Now" album.
------------------------------ Message-ID: <351D7266.7CB1@sprintmail.com> Date: Sat, 28 Mar 1998 16:57:58 -0500 From: Stormy Monday <stormymonday@sprintmail.com> Organization: Stormy Monday Enterprises Subject: Andy The Prophet Folxtc, Disclaimer: The issue of guns in America is a complex one to be sure, and this newsletter is not the proper forum to debate the pros and cons of gun control. This post is not designed to start a gun control thread. Having said that, I'm angered, frustrated and frightened by the prospect of my children being gunned down by a classmate at school. If only we had the courage and the wisdom to have listened to the unrecognized profit, Andy Partridge. "Children will want them Mothers supply them As long as your killers are heroes And all the media Will fiddle while Rome burns Acting like modern time Neros" * * * " Melt the guns You oughta melt the guns NOW!" Peace. Stormy Monday
------------------------------ Message-Id: <v03007800b143bfe05dbe@[198.53.7.171]> From: Erich Walther <enrico@fox.nstn.ca> Subject: Green Man & Mirror Man Date: Sun, 29 Mar 1998 10:29:47 -0400 This is from a book review of "Missing the Midnight" by Jane Gardam that appeared in The Ottawa Citizen this morning: ..."Parables, fables, allegories are best left unexplained. Something of this is hinted at in the last piece, "The Green Man", knowingly subtitled 'an eternity'. Seen from a speeding car on the highway, the Green Man is a shadow, the stump of a tree, a scarecrow. Old people have known him in their youth and can't believe he's still alive. In less than 50 pages, Gardam tells the immortal creature's endless story - his dealings with nature, Christ, the Devil and Death. In Gardam's telling, the Green Man becomes the missing god of our poor contemporary mythology. Exactly which of our experiences the green Man is supposed to reflect, we quite properly don't know, and yet we read the fable with a shiver of recognition" Is this Andy's Green Man? Regarding the mighty Captain, I say buy anything you can find. Although there are some losers (Unconditionally Guaranteed was a true nadir) there are gems of genius in pretty well every recording. Zoot Horn Rollo (Dan Harkelroad) is writing a book about his days with the Magic Band which is due out sometime in the next few months. Anyone with a real interest should check out the Home Page Replica web site which leads to many bizarre corners of cyberworld (wanna find out what Bunk Gardner's up to?). Weird genius Henry Kaiser's page shows that he's made an album Beefheart covers, and Don French (Drumbo) has an album of Beefheart tunes arranged for solo drummer - feel free to play along on your steel appendage guitar! "The stars are matter, we're matter, but it doesn't matter" - Don van Vliet.
------------------------------ Message-ID: <B9B4268C8F87D11195DC0000F840FABEC7F276@DUB-MSG-02> From: Peter Fitzpatrick <peterfit@MICROSOFT.com> Subject: re: good old rock reads (no-XTC) Date: Sun, 29 Mar 1998 10:12:25 -0800 Yes - agree with the recommendation of Sulpy's book. However the reason that >Unfortunately Sulpy does not give you those conversations direct but >instead his precis, a pity because these must be more interesting than the >music, a band falling to pieces but the guys never able to articulate their >feelings, finding it difficult being a man, even the beatles. I am sure >that the get back dialogue would make a great piece of theatre, especially >if some one like kafka were directing. is (from what I have read) that Apple stopped them quoting from the unreleased tapes/video (yes a lot of this material is available on bootleg video) because it's tehcnically copyright material (not even the attitude that it was for academic-style publication didn't help) >The book is available direct from the author as well as elsewhere. Sulpy >also produces a beatles fanzine '910', anybody know if it any good ? Yes the 910 is very very good. Subscribe if you're into Beatles material and have gone beyond the "oh you mean Paul McCartney was in a band before Wings?" stage... over & out.. -Peter
------------------------------ Message-Id: <199803280140.RAA08108@mail.eskimo.com> From: "Matt Keeley" <mrme@eskimo.com> Organization: The Dead Cat Revolutionary Army Date: Fri, 27 Mar 1998 17:40:40 +0000 Subject: Hmm.... Hmm, I just realised something.. I hope that in my painkiller induced stupor I didn't send my last post to owner-chalkhills... if I did, sorry about that, and thanks for forwarding it to the correct address...8) And if for once in my life I didn't screw up, well, I suppose I just sort of did to make up for not screwing up before...heh.. Anyway.... > From: "Jason 'Buffy' NeSmith" <jnesmith@mindspring.com> > While someone is asking Dave about that, also ask them if Virgin took the > money to make that never-used promotional item out of XtC's advance. Why bother? Knowing most companies as well as Virgin, the answer is most likely in a word "yes". In two words, "fuck, yeah!" 8) Ah well.. it'd be nice if they didn't.... but a Fascistainment Megacorporation being nice... now that would be a sight to see... probably in the land where everyone's says "how'd you do" and no one has a lot to do, eh? > From: "David vanWert" <mcknife@xsite.net> > Why do XTC bother to write songs? Why did Van Gogh bother to paint? Why did > the French bother to build the Eiffel Tower? That's easy... because they were bored, or in the case of Van Gogh, insane... I mean, those are the two main reasons anyone does anything, I think... maybe to make money as well, I suppose. So yes. They carved the white horse of uffington for one or more of three reasons: a) They were bored b) They were loonies c) Someone paid them I'm not sure who would pay them.. maybe some sort of primitive JCs... Ah well, that's this world over... Matt Living Through | (ICQ UIN: 1455267, Name: MrMe) Another | http://www.eskimo.com/~mrme Cuba -- XTC | I used to be temporarily insane! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Now I'm just stupid! -- Brak Yeah.
------------------------------ Message-ID: <3518698D.1762@sprintmail.com> Date: Tue, 24 Mar 1998 21:18:54 -0500 From: Stormy Monday <stormymonday@sprintmail.com> Organization: Stormy Monday Enterprises Subject: Upsy Daisy Assessment Folxtc, Herne exercised his or her right of free speech and proclaimed: >Upsy Daisy Assortment---I have to say that this is the worst album I bought >in 1997. I'd have to say that this was the BEST album that I've purchased since "Nonsuch". And >Who is this is for then? It is for me, to listen to in my car on the way to and from work. Here are my personal opinions about a collection of songs that rivals any compilation album that I have ever heard. Life Begins at the Hop Colin and the band rip through this old club favorite. Reminds me of an early "Dave Clark Five" record. Andy plays a very cool guitar solo, qualifying himself early on as one of the top 20 influential guitarists of the U.K. If you've seen the video, you know Dave is happy to have climbed aboard this ride. Making Plans for Nigel Where Colin tells his Mum and Pop that contrary to their way of thinking, he's made his choice to be a musician. We can all rejoice in that decision. I love the way Andy sings "In his world!" This was, for many of us in the U.S., our first introduction to XTC. Generals and Majors Years before recording and releasing "War Dance", Colin makes the point and drives it home. So many subtle XTC flourishes, including great drum fills by Terry Chambers and some neat acoustic guitar before it was hip. Respectable Street The Beach Boys get frustrated with their judgmental neighbors. I prefer the unedited album version, but I love the way Andy sings "Bang the wall for me to TURN down". This is easily one of their best records, representing everything we love about this band. Senses Working Overtime Just when we thought we'd heard it all, Andy topped himself once again. Lyrically beautiful, great Rickenbacker guitar courtesy of Dave and fluid, McCartney-esque bass playing by Colin. If there were any justice in the world, this song would at least get half of the airplay that Lynyrd Skynrd's "Free Bird" enjoys on classic rock radio. Simply one of the best records ever released by any band. Ball and Chain Like McCartney's answer to Lennon's "Strawberry Fields", Colin offers us this record as a perfect complement to Andy's "Senses". Unlike "Penny Lane", "Ball and Chain" was allotted its own "A" side status. The synth riff in this song is as good as it gets. No Thugs in Our House Funny lyrics, social satire, monster movie riff, percussive acoustic rhythm guitar and Andy growling. Who else could have gotten away with all of that in a pop song? Love on a Farmboy's Wages This is a lovely song. The music works beautifully with the bittersweet lyrics. Listen to the way Andy sings "Deep, under winter snow". I can close my eyes and picture a barn with snowdrifts and a tractor parked outside. The folky upbeat acoustic guitar lick stands in contrast to the resignation in the lyrics, illustrating a conflict to which many of us can relate. I can imagine so many people who've never even heard of XTC loving this song, if only they could hear it. Funk Pop a Roll XTC rocks out against the music business machine. If Elvis Costello was angry when he wrote "Radio Radio", Andy Partridge was downright livid when he cranked this one out. The guitars are perfect behind the part that goes "It will fix you rabbits up, with your musical feed". I know some people are turned off by Andy's more blatant lyrics, but I'm not because they sound heartfelt to me. When Sting sings "History will teach us nothing", he sounds pedantic and condescending. When Andy sings "But please don't listen to me, I've already been poisoned by this industry", who doubts his word? This World Over Speaking of Sting, this one sounds like the best Police song ever. Seagulls Screaming Kiss Her, Kiss Her Only Andy Partridge could have dreamed up this gem, and only XTC could have recorded and released it. I could imagine myself as a young man with a lady on a beach, wanting to kiss her but fearing rejection, and hearing the squawk of the seagulls mocking me and daring me on. This song remains one of my personal favorites. Grass This is the first single from "Skylarking", the album that many fans regard as XTC's finest. This song is rife with double entendres amidst a lush production. Colin may not be as prolific as Andy, but this song ranks among XTC's best. Dear God This, for good or ill, is most likely XTC's best known song, because of its controversial lyrics. Considered blasphemous by some, I prefer to think of it as an indictment of mankind. I find it funny that even God is not exempt from Andy's verbal assaults! Earn Enough for Us Someone once said that this was a sequel to "Love on A Farmboy's Wages". Again, many of us can relate to the problems of a young couple with a baby on the way. Andy, being clever as always avoids the cliche by declaring that he CAN take humiliation. I can feel the wind blowing through "the roof held together with holes". The Mayor of Simpleton This may be Andy's greatest love song. The line "When all logic goes cold and all thinking gets done / You'll be warm in the arms of the Mayor Of Simpleton" says it all. The song of course is a contradiction, because it is obvious that her friends are wrong; the singer is a genius. I can't argue with the line "I don't know how to write a big hit song" because he has none. Why this (and many other XTC songs) was not a hit remains a mystery. King for a Day Colin and the boys are inspired by Tears For Fears' "Everybody Wants To Rule The World". The 1980's were a time of greed and excess, and Colin reminded us of where our priorities should be. Chalkhills and Children This is a deeply personal and philosophical song from the mind of Andy Partridge. The light and airy music takes me places that I like to go when I listen to music. The Disappointed Andy finds himself among the broken-hearted. The first time I heard this within the context of my own divorce, I was wearing an ironic grin while listening to the line "Once, I had no sympathy / For those destroyed and thrown away by love." The Ballad of Peter Pumpkinhead I consider this to be one of XTC's best pop songs. Andy has said that he was feeling sorry for the decaying Jack-O-Lantern in his yard and was inspired to write this song. Cynical as ever, Andy observes that truth and goodness will not be appreciated. Having been raised a Roman Catholic, I can't help but enjoy lines like "Showed the Vatican, what gold's for". And the music is superb. Long live the first amendment. Stormy Monday
------------------------------ From: Blushift <Blushift@aol.com> Message-ID: <24f8a871.351ee74a@aol.com> Date: Sun, 29 Mar 1998 19:28:56 EST Subject: Milcon 98-03 Well, I have returned from the 1st(?) annual Midwest US Milcon XTC Convention and have to say that I truly enjoyed myself. Many thanks to Kate Burda and Jennifer Geese who both organized the meeting and made me feel very welcome. I should have done more homework on the lyrics as I failed myself on Jennifer's trivia test. I personally enjoyed all of the band talk and am glad it was not limited to just that. I learned a lot about some of my fellow 'Hillers and about what a class act they are. Of special note though, was Jennifer's X-T-C shaped homemade pretzels (get 'em while there 'ot). And thanks to Dave Franson for bringing the videos (hadn't seen Generals and Majors in 18 years). We laughed, we cried. No, wait, that was Andy in Prince of Orange. Looking forward to more meetings in the future. Spanky (sometimes does by David)
------------------------------ Date: Sun, 29 Mar 1998 16:35:30 -0800 (PST) Message-Id: <199803300035.QAA41633@mando.engr.sgi.com> From: John Relph <relph> Subject: an XTC picture I received the following message and I thought y'all might be interested. -- John --- begin forwarded message --- Date: Sat, 28 Mar 1998 07:12:42 +0000 From: Thomas Cray <cray@enteract.com> Organization: Thomas Cray Design Hey John, a fan directed me to you because I'm working on a site that contains a very old, cool, and never before seen photo of XTC. I thought you might want to throw a post on your email list so fans can enjoy it. Here's the URL: http://www.megsinet.com/~natkin/webmaster/4.html It was taken in Chicago when they were on tour with the Police. Take care, Thomas Cray --- end forwarded message ---
------------------------------ Date: Mon, 30 Mar 1998 15:35:45 +1200 (NZST) Message-Id: <v01540b00b144acf56e42@[139.80.53.31]> From: james.dignan@stonebow.otago.ac.nz (James Dignan) Subject: Four Moles Dali >>Richard Pedretti-Allen describing a lager lout: "'Oy loyk to get reeelly >>peessed on Four-X and then, whenever Arsenal wins a football match, I >>smosh somebodies fice in.' >Why would someone from either Arsenal or Swindon have an accent which if I >say what you've written, sounds like he's from Dudley? (or 'Doudleyyy' - >think NASAL). IIRC... 'I likes ter...' would be the start for the norflunnen (i.e. Arsenal area). And 'Oy loik ter gart rurley..'. is more Swindonian. Dudley? That's up towards Bairbigub (erm, Brum) somewhere, isn't it? >Hello... just wanted to add that on the 25 O'Clock 12" (which I recently >recieved from Dave Gershman, along with the Skylarking original US >pressing - thanks a lot), there are a couple of messages engraved in the >run out grooves also: Side 1: To Be Taken Twice Dali and Side 2: I Can See >Four Moles hmmm! I take it from this that the Who music have been an influence as well! "Four moles", indeed! James (go the Gunners!)
------------------------------ From: CCooli9575 <CCooli9575@aol.com> Message-ID: <b24f8df1.351f1398@aol.com> Date: Sun, 29 Mar 1998 22:37:57 EST Subject: Re: LOVErmont >Greetings from snowy Vermont, fellow chalkers. Anyone else here from my >neck of the woods? I noticed a Maine person. Hey, stop stealing our >tourists, willya? You KNOW our leaves are prettier. Here's another Vermonter, I'm the one who saw the attractive young woman walking out of KSV Communications in Burlington a while back with a vinyl copy of Go 2 under her arm. I'm tucked way up in the mountains in Starksboro, probably more fans of Alan Jackson up here than XTC. >So anyway, there I am, waiting for my sandwich at the deli today, when I >see a black can in the cooler with big yellow letters "XTC." All right, >I'm intrigued. Did the lads finally get smart and come up with a good >pale ale? Well, it was billed as (I believe) a guarano drink, which >sounds a little too much like guano to be appetizing. The slogan on the >can said, "the carbonated beverage that's like a slap in the face." Might be the same deli; I've seen the stuff in a mere two or three places in Vermont. Tried it once, it really shakes you donkey up, quite a packet. :-)Guarana is a South American herb with a high caffeine content, more than coffee or tea supposedly. I didn't need any more caffeine for the rest of the day. It has no connection with our boys, however. Chris
------------------------------ From: CCooli9575 <CCooli9575@aol.com> Message-ID: <a21fdbd5.351f139b@aol.com> Date: Sun, 29 Mar 1998 22:38:01 EST Subject: Re: Van Vliet >Tepid, spotty, tired and dull is this little piece of clear >vinyl (yes, it was pressed in a plastic bag on clear vinyl) and is not >worth owning. (Unbelievably, he dropped even further in the depths with >two pieces of commercial nonsense for Mercury records called >"Unconditionally Guaranteed" and "Moonbeams and Bluejeans." Disastrous and >alarming, I bet the master tapes don't even exist anymore.) Matter of opinion; I love Clear Spot myself, though I agree with you about the other two; UG is pleasant and listenable but sounds more like Blood Sweat And Tears on a good day(which wasn't very often, except for the album with Al Kooper), but Bluejeans And Moonbeams is utter crapola, one of the worst albums by a musician I respect. Says something that the best song on the album is a JJ Cale cover. I still stand by Clear Spot's funky bluesy feel, and it's a CB album I can play in public without clearing the room. For getting rid of unwanted guests, however, Trout Mask Replica is the ticket, in Lester Bangs' words, "a musical monolith if there ever was one." Chris Coolidge Full of "Big Eyed Beans From Venus that stare at you as you pop 'em in your mouf."
------------------------------ From: suzanne_cerquone@cid.cvg.stercomm.com Message-Id: <9803308912.AA891269182@mail.autocatalog.com> Date: Mon, 30 Mar 98 09:46:33 -0500 Subject: Ice Cream Genius/Dave Gregory Mark Strijbos at The Little Lighthouse wrote: >>Before I go a word of thanks to David G. for donating the "Ice Cream Genius" cd featuring that other David G. Those of you who don't already know this one should consider giving it a spin. It's totally different than XTC of course but very nice; in particular the guitar parts :)<< Steve Hogarth (or H)'s "Ice Cream Genius" is indeed a great album. I also have a live show from this album, featuring Dave Gregory and Richard Barbieri (Japan) as well. Gregory's guitar playing at this show is quite diverse, from rock-em-sock-em guitar riffs to pleasantly mellow sitar noodlings. And they do a pretty straightforward version of "Senses Working Overtime." Hogarth introduces Gregory, says he is from Swindon, and that he is "English as the day is long," which garnered some laughs. If anyone is interested in this boot, let me know. It is not the best quality (I'd give it a C+), but it's interesting all the same. --Suzanne PS: kzimmer@together.net: My vote is that Andy IS really crying on "Prince of Orange."
------------------------------
Message-ID: <19980330182151.16808.rocketmail@send1c.yahoomail.com>
Date: Mon, 30 Mar 1998 10:21:51 -0800 (PST)
From: Bill Gibron <bgibron@yahoo.com>
Subject: The Captain, the Residents and You
Bravo!
Any site which lists XTC and the Captain in the
same posting get my extreme thumbs up. For
those of you scared by the words that warn of the
Captains eclectic "music", DON'T BE. Patience is
a virtue, and the Captain rewards it ten-fold.
Start with "Sue Egypt" off of "Doc at the Radar
Station". Slowly work to "Ice Cream for Crow" from
album of same title. If you're lucky and live in the UK
(as an American, and a Floridian American, I can
honestly say that any place must be better than here) look for
"Shiny Beast (Bat Chain Puller)" with the superb
"Tropical Hot Dog Night". Finally, for those who
dare, "Trout Mask Replica" is the Gravity's Rainbow
of music. Listen to it...oh...a trillion times and it never
sounds the same way twice. Give Don Van Vliet a
reason to stop painting and come back to music.
BUY HIS STUFF, and BUY EXTRA XTC WHILE
YOU ARE AT IT.
Yet, Captain Beefheart is not the only obscure(?!?)
artist that XTC has worked with/for/influenced by, etc.
The Residents also worked with Mr. P on their "Commercial
Album" If Captain Beefheart is difficult, the Residents are
impossible. No? Listen to their version of "Satisfaction" just once
and tell me it doesn't drive you to aural membrane mutilation.
ITS NOISE ITSELF...and yet, strangely beautiful. They
are famous (for the uninitiated only) for making a whole album
called "Eskimo" about the life of an Eskimo. No songs, just
"sounds reminiscent of life in the tundra" YEOOOOWW!!!
Lou Reed's "Metal Machine Music" makes more sense.
Still, the Residents do have their commercial side, and the
"Commercial Album" is just that: sixty-second long commercial
pop songs. Lene Lovitch, Debbie Harry, (ringing any familiar bells
here?) and Mr. P all worked on the album. Andy's playing and singing
can be found on the song "Margaret Freeman". Check it out. (I'm almost
done boring those in the know. Just another minute)
So impressed with this, was Mr. P, that he went on to create his
own 22 second masterpiece, "The History of Rock and Roll" for the
album "Miniatures" (It can also be found on Rag and Bone Buffet")
So, try the Residents, and Captain Beefheart, won't you?
Good.
(Also, check out the They Might Be Giants
song "XTC vs. Adam Ant" - pretty
cool...and guess who wins?)
Now, on to the new...
Never one to back down (or shut up) to the expression
of one's opinion, here is MY top 11 XTC musical
moments:
11. The fading organ signature at the end of "Seagulls
Screaming, Kiss Her Kiss Her"
10. The transition from acoustic to electric guitar in
"No Thugs in Our House"
9. The incredible intro to "Battery Brides"
8. The huge whomp of the drums in "Roads
Girdle the Globe" before the final chorus
7. The gorgeous electronic soundscape that
ends "The Somnambulist"
6. The interlocking acoustic duel of "Yacht Dance"
5. "Bungalow"s fully orchestrated and anthemic ending
4. The brash steel guitar at the start of "Terrorism"
3. The "Wakey Wakey" chorus of "Collideascope"
2. The opening monster power chords in "Reign of Blows"
1. Andy's shout of "Love" at the end of each chorus
of "Rocket from a Bottle"/ Andy's braying of "Jackass"
at the end of each verse in "Shake You Donkey Up"
Honorable Mention:
- the bombardier drums at the start of "Thanks for Christmas"
- the drum and guitar intro of "Dear Madam Barnum"
- the jangling guitars of "Funk Pop a Roll"
- Colin's bass on "Limelight"
- Dave's solo in "Day In, Day Out"
Now, another challenge to you of all reading
and no writing: The Lyrics
Some of the best wordplay since Lennon and
Costello live in the music of XTC. Here are my
top 11 picks. (I like the 11 idea. One more than 10)
11. Dear Madam Barnum
10. Burning with Optimism's Flame
9. Roads Girdle the Globe
8. Snowman
7. The Mayor of Simpleton
6. Scarecrow People
5. Wrapped in Gray
4. Millions
3. The Somnambulist
2. Ballet for a Rainy Day
1. Then She Appeared
Please, post your own. I know that I am
new to the `Hill and all, but I feel like
we don't share enough about our true
fascination with the music and lyrics. We
all seem to be tied up in the $ and demo
issues, and who knows what and when this
will occur, etc. I, for one, like all that info, but
I also LOVE to hear what others think about
the words and music. John Lennon was a great
thinker, and tragic figure, but HIS SONGS
WILL LIVE FOR A MILLION YEARS!!!
Why? Ah, thats the stuff. Thats something we
should discuss here. I want the new album as much as
anyone else, but lets talk about whats already there.
Lets beat that horse until it is good and dead (like I
said, I'm new and don't know much about post-life
prior to 6 months ago.)
XTC are the later day Beatles. Stick that in your
pipe and toke it. I'll tell you why, then you respond
back. Its called communication. Back and Forth.
Tet - a - tet. Lets Rap, dudes.
Now, I am not saying that Partridge/Moulding will
TOTALLY CHANGE the world like Lennon/McCartney
did (I should know, I lived through it). But there are strong
similarities. Andy, the troubled and brilliant wordsmith with
strong rock overtures (Lennon), Colin, the cute (?!?)
popsmith (McCartney), Dave, the silent (except for
here in Chalkhills???) guitar God (Harrison) and...
well...Ringo is just Ringo. They mature from the
basic (Meet the Beatles/Go2) to the
experimental (Revolver/Mummer), the
difficult and powerful (White Album/Big Express)
to the pop majestic heights (Abbey Road/Nonsuch)
There's even a masterwork thrown in for good
measure (Sgt. Pepper/Drums and Wires/Black Sea/ES - you pick)
Now, they don't sell as many records as the Fab Four,
and they may not have a similar cultural place. But
I can bet that when cover bands in the 2040 are
looking for pop to play, XTC will be in the song
book with the Boys from Liverpool (that is, if they
can figure out those weird guitar chords and
signatures).
That was my opinion, what's yours?
I want to see more lists.
I want a Beatles/XTC debate.
Input, my fellow `Hillers, input.
Add your two cents.
(In public or private bgibron@yahoo.com)
Marketing suggestion of the day: if your have
the ability to control the minds of youth, as I do,
make them XTC tapes and MAKE THEM LISTEN
to them. Kids need guidance. Let the guys guide!
BILL
------------------------------ End of Chalkhills Digest #4-66 ******************************
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