Chalkhills Digest Volume 4, Issue 92
Date: Thursday, 11 June 1998
Chalkhills Digest, Volume 4, Number 92
Thursday, 11 June 1998
Today's Topics:
Rag and Ben Buffet
Boston Dreaming
Re: Hard Days chord
First try
Greetings from Australia + more La's stuff
um... yeah...
Tock and others
Re: Quantum Leap
Oops
Posting
Harrison's Soapbox
Countdown To Atlanta Party Time
Bags Of Fun With Becki - The Side-Benefits Of Fandom
Politics
Dregs of the Earth?
Methody
extolling virtues of Mummer & Echo
Beatle Pumpkinhead
This is Pop
Stats and Such
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Now this is where the screen has led us all to.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Message-ID: <357DDDCA.7E48BA53@usa.net>
Date: Tue, 09 Jun 1998 23:14:05 -0200
From: Ben Gott <loquacious@usa.net>
Organization: Loquacious Music - http://www.bowdoin.edu/~bgott
Subject: Rag and Ben Buffet
Chalkmonkeys,
First, the dirt:
Religion: college student
Political Party: college student
Drugs: college student
Job: college student
<Insert snide comment about hip teenage trends here.>
Dreams: playing virtual croquet while drinking tea with Harrison Sherwood
Instruments played: guitar, keys, vox, and anything else
I find that "Mummer" and "The Big Express" hold huge, lumbering, handfulls
of joy for me...but "Oranges and Lemons" contains "Poor Skeleton Steps Out"
and "One of the Millions," two songs I'm going to have played at my funeral
(or, whenever). Mmmmm. Them's good listenin'. I think that each album has
its own charm (what a cop-out, Ben!), and "English Settlement" is my
favorite XTC album, but "Nonsuch" has "My Bird Performs" squished in at the
beginning....Aaargh! We're right back where we started! Buy them all, and
buy "Go2" *first*, dammit! Listen to "Meccanic Dancing" over and over
again, so that whenever someone says "Have a great weekend!", you start
humming "Can't wait until the weekend comes/I wanna be with all my chums..."
I do that.
I played Andy's demos at work today (I work at a small, indie bookstore when
I'm not college student-ing). They got noticed, those demos. Then, I played
"What's Going On?", which has got to be one of the best albums ever
made. None of my customers are hip enough for Marvin Gaye, though...I guess
I'll have to revert back to "Julio Sings! The Songs of His Youth" or Mel
Torment or Stevie Wonder played at half speed.
-Ben
XTC SONG OF THE DAY: "Mayor of Simpleton"
+------------------------------------------------------------+
Ben Gott :: Loquacious Music :: Salisbury, CT 06068
http://www.bowdoin.edu/~bgott :: (860) 435-9726
You've still got your dignity, or the next best disguise...
+------------------------------------------------------------+
------------------------------ Message-ID: <357E0361.5F999BD2@concentric.net> Date: Tue, 09 Jun 1998 23:54:09 -0400 From: DonSueP <DonSueP@concentric.net> Subject: Boston Dreaming Hi Chalkhippies, I'm psyched that James W. has volunteered to host an XTC gathering in Boston! I'm only 15 miles south in Randolph. And I remember that Karl Witter recently mentioned the Boston Globe, and Kirt can't be too far in VT. So, who else lives nearby and might be interested in, oh I don't know, sharing some tales over a beer for half an hour? Followed by some increasingly awkward pregnant pauses? Then maybe we could look for a scapegoat on who to blame the whole stupid mess, which would probably end up leaving James W. a pariah for life? Sounds good to me! Religion: "Just say no." - Raised Catholic, now another joyful atheist. A trend? Political Party: Democrat Drugs: "Just say know." Job: R&D Engineer Dream: "But it WASN'T a dream. It was real. And I was there. And so were you. And you. Oh, there's no place like Chalkhills." XTC Theme Song for My Life: Wrapped in Gray. "Awaken you dreamers . . ." See you in Boston, Don Parker p.s. If Dom happens to mention that I admitted I like Tool, don't believe him! It wasn't me, I swear!
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 9 Jun 1998 21:42:18 -0700 (PDT)
Message-Id: <199806100442.VAA06062@zoon.lafn.org>
From: bg769@lafn.ORG (Ian Dahlberg)
Subject: Re: Hard Days chord
Regarding Hard Days (please skip this Mr. Sherwood)
According to the Beatles "Complete Scores" book, one guitar plays
(bottom to top) XXDGCG and the other, GDGCDG (barred on the 3rd fret). A
'D' is in the bass. This book isn't gospel, I've come across a handful of
mistakes in it but it's a monumental work nonetheless. Hal Leonard's the
publisher.
I'm personally working on an XTC version of this book. Well, just
one album's worth at the moment: English Settlement. If any budding
guitarists out there can pitch in, so much the better. There's a lot to be
filled in, especially on the lesser mention songs like "Fly on the Wall,"
"Leisure," "Down in the Cockpit," etc. Upon completion, this book will be
available to everyone, of course. I'm hoping by the end of this year to
wrap it up. Help me!
Ian Dahlberg
------------------------------ Message-ID: <8191BF798BAFD111817B0001FA0E3A572F7D2D@ZSCED004> From: "ARCHER-MAY,Mark" <Mark.ARCHER-MAY@deetya.gov.au> Subject: First try Date: Wed, 10 Jun 1998 15:42:09 +1000 Greetings A first tentative step. I promised myself I wouldn't say that this is my first time but hey it happens only once. It's my first time contributing to Chalkhills, there that's out of the way. Hi and nice to be talking to all you folks. In common with Adam Davies I spent much of last sunday listening to JJJ's hottest one hundred to see if the song I voted for (sense working overtime) made it, I would have prefered "no thugs in our house or And then she appeared." but hey you've got to go for the main chance. I found one thing interesting when voting for my favourite song on the radio stations web sight they had a prompt sheet, suggestions of what they considered to be the best songs or most popular songs for each of the groups listed. XTC got three suggestions Generals and Majors, Making Plans for Nigel and Dear God. It was truly sad that XTC couldn't get a song in the chart but what is sadder is that the Cure got five , I get the feeling that the Cure still has a very good fan club in this country. Apart from the singles I try to avoid the Cure, depression is not my favourite thing. Something interesting that did make it onto the hottest one hundred Birdhouse in your Soul by They Might Be Giants. A little info about me for those that may care. My first XTC album Go 2 on vinyl, when it first came out, (I loved "Are you receiving me?")(I haven't got that LP any more I wish I did. Favourite XTC album, now, whatever comes off the shelf when I reach for the X's. Favourite song almost impossible to say but what jumps into my mind first (A sort of "Word Association" or is it "Song Association") "And then she appeared." Regarding Musical Tastes and the discussion that has drifted across this page. I think most of us listen to the music we listen to because we like it (but then I'm being simplistic). New tastes in music are usually generated by an interest or a curiousity, most people stop exploring music around their early twenties they find what appeals to them and that's it. Which is why retro radio station rate so damn well. I personally lost interest around about my 26th birthday give or take a year, everything that came out around that time seemed to be total garbage with a few exception. I became interested again about three years ago when I moved in with my then girlfriend, now wife, who is several years younger than me. I found a tonne of great stuff which I had been missing, in fact my wifes collection was great and the only things we had in common musically when we met were Thomas Dolby, Danny Elfman with or without Oingo Boingo and XTC so I had a huge new selection of music to listen to. Religion: Read the lyrics of Dear God (Basically Atheist but my heart is on my sleeve) Politics: So left wing I'm flying in circles Drugs: Caffeine Job: Currently a Public Servant (Civil Servant) who knows what the future will hold. Dream: Several Published Books. Yours with senses working overtime Mark
------------------------------
Message-ID: <357E2172.682FB743@squirrel.com.au>
Date: Wed, 10 Jun 1998 16:02:27 +1000
From: Luetjens <luetjens@squirrel.com.au>
Subject: Greetings from Australia + more La's stuff
Greeting Chalkhillers!
I've been lurking around on Chalkhills for about 6 months now,
devouring all the information I can get. It's gone from highs (the
release and brilliance of the demos) to lows (the departure of Dave) and
is always very interesting. Believe it or not there seems to be quite a
strong XTC following in Australia.... on Australias youth radio channel
JJJ they have "J Files" which focus on an artist or thing every Thursday
night ie. "Blur" or "Songs about the sea". They had an XTC one a couple
of months ago, maybe even last year, and the response was HUGE. There
was no way you could get through to request your favourite song. It was
a fascinating program with interviews and live material from their live
shows in Australia in the 70's.
I don't wish to turn this mailer into a La's site, but here's a bit
more info: The lead singer, Lee Mavers, is apparently still attempting
to either a) re-record their seminal first album or b) record new
material. Nobody knows, he's a real mystery figure. Apparently he sits
in his house singing songs to whoever will bring him drugs. John Power,
former bass player with the La's, does indeed now head Cast, though
they're a bit like Wings to the Beatles. Even they're name is derived
from The Looking Glass.... "The Change Is Cast". A different line-up
with Mavers at the helm (mind you, they have apparently had 20+
guitarists in their lifetime) supported Oasis at a show a couple of
years ago. Noel Gallagher once said... "we picked up where the La's left
off". Not a bad tribute.
Sorry to bore you if you have little or no interest in The La's.
Personally I think that they're right up there with the Stone Roses and
after all, XTC like them.
Cheers from Australia,
Peter Luetjens
P.S. I'm coming to the UK at the end of they year. Brits on this
list, how hard would it be to get a spot on a community radio station so
I could start and Australian Music Show. I think you'd all be surprised
at the quality of some of the music coming out of here.
------------------------------ Date: Wed, 10 Jun 1998 00:41:25 -0700 (MST) From: short1@aztec.asu.edu (LINDSAY DIANE WARREN) Subject: um... yeah... Message-id: <9806100741.AA08910@aztec.asu.edu> Religion: baptist... but can't say as I've been to church in years... Political party: republican... guess I'm not the norm! Drugs: none, unless you wanna count cigarettes and caffine... Job: none Dream: to have kids... not very exciting is it? for my XTC content?? saw on MTV a gym or something, called XTC... got me excited until I found out what it was... :) Lindsay
------------------------------ Date: Wed, 10 Jun 1998 09:30:00 +0000 From: cthulhu.engr.sgi.com!sgi.engr.sgi.com!pidesign.attmail.com!PIDESIGN!PILONDON!PAUL (Paul) Subject: Tock and others Message-ID: <MS-MAILG-3.0-Note-pidesign-PAUL-0897395506> After the amount written about Tock I finally bought it.... Oooooh! It is almost XTC with an american, make that californian, accent. Unless you're a real XTC prude\elitist (or may be you just don't like it) it's so close to the Swindonians, apres Big Express, that I found myself thinking it would be nice if Yazbek's chum would do a few cover versions, or at least a version of his *own* song "You are here." I can stop brain-humming "Here come the ducks" I wouldn't necessarily recommend it to someone who's a fan of the, er, older stuff (God, it's all getting a bit old by now!) Yes, it's quirky stuff but I'm a convert to the house of Yazbeck... but tell me is "Laughing Man" of the same ilk? Stats: Religion: Why, does it matter? FYI Extreme atheist Political Party: The sensible party of South west England (Even though I don't live there any more), the much derided Liberal Democrats. Job: Sadly, Systems Manager. Dream: Skiing and cycling every go, chalet in the Alps. New XTC album before the Millenium Dome is finished. A large proportion of americans put through the mincer (You know the one's I mean - it's not a general Flame against the US) Rap'n'stuff I listen to... anything I like. Of course most people that like XTC are going to revolve around a similar vein, but does that make them bad? No! (start cloying american national anthem bit). Surely, this is what our forefathers fought for? Blah de blah de blah... hang on I'm from the wrong country! Paul Stratford Extreme skiing on the down slope of life.
------------------------------ From: CCooli9575@aol.com Message-ID: <96b7a8c7.357e642b@aol.com> Date: Wed, 10 Jun 1998 06:47:06 EDT Subject: Re: Quantum Leap >I can't go on; I'll go on. [anyone get the allusion?][did I quote it >right?]) I can't go on. I must go on. -Sam Beckett(no, NOT Quantum Leap, the Irish expatriate in France author)
------------------------------ Message-ID: <357E64EC.F1EA2F09@erols.com> Date: Wed, 10 Jun 1998 06:50:21 -0400 From: Todd and Jennifer Bernhardt <toddjenn@erols.com> Subject: Oops Uh, oh: Jon Eva <jeva@oxmol.co.uk> said: >If you get Mummer today, then in five years time it will be your favorite, it just grows and grows.< Gotta agree w/that. "k. siegel" <beatlebird@hotmail.com> asked: >Actually, mine is a cassette version. Am I missing more than one song here? Where can I find a version of "the Sonambulist"? And moreover, is it good?< Yeah, it's on the CD version of Black Sea. Is it good? Well, IMO it's atmospheric and evocative -- more along the lines of Andy's avant-garde work than his usual pop songs. I like it. And now for the oops part... "David vanWert" <mcknife@xsite.net> pointed out: >Judging by copyright dates, Somnambulist predates anything off of Thomas Dolby's debut by a year or two. But I'm not familiar with his stuff before the first "Thomas Dolby" record so maybe he established the "ping" with Camera Club or somebody... Is that what you're saying?< Um ... yeah, that's it! Ahem. Actually, I didn't check the copyright dates -- I knew the songs had been done around the same time, but you're right -- the copyright "Europa and the Pirate Twins" (on which Andy plays) is 1981, a year after Black Sea. I assume, however, that TD was using this effect earlier, and know that he and Andy were friends in the late '70s (since TD lobbied to be Barry's replacement). And to Harrison -- good catches on the Beatles references, all (and on my typos!). But now you've got to tell us about The Duck. C'mon... --Todd
------------------------------ Message-ID: <000d01bd9465$bf8ae300$63985ed1@nate> From: "Gineen" <natalia@javanet.com> Subject: Posting Date: Wed, 10 Jun 1998 07:48:54 -0400 Subject: eARTHly dELiGHTs Hello all you fellow Chalkers. Well, It's been Oranges and lemons lately.....after go 2 for so long.....hehehee. Needed my change again. God I just love Go2, and all of the earlier punk ish XTC stuff. It's all XTC to me. It's all got Andys touch. Amazing though, I just rotate my XTC around and around. When I am in the mood for something different I find I reach for a different XTC tape then the one that is in my car tape deck, as opposed to a new band of some sort. Is this normal? hahaha. Been like this for years.......all started with drums and wires, then black sea every day.....always playing as I drove around.......and so began the never ending circling of XTC. So.....at the moment Oranges and Lemons. Great one! I love "pink thing" and of course "Chalkhills and Children".and then I am feeling I am headed back to Big Express again or perhaps Skylarking.............after this one plays a while......... Used to be Skylarking every day............but its been a while and I think It's time to bring that one out again. Am I supposed to be expanding my musical interests? Why oh Why does this band work so well for me? Thank god we have each other here at Chalkhills so perhaps I can get some sort of therapy from those in the same state. hahahaha. Gineen
------------------------------ Message-ID: <65706847FC74D1119E000000F801D38C18F330@NTFS03> From: "Deane, Simon" <simon.deane@dgj.com.hk> Subject: Harrison's Soapbox Date: Wed, 10 Jun 1998 21:28:37 +0800 A "short" note to Dom Lawson after Harrison's tongue-in-cheek, not-really-serious attack in 4-89. Don't take it to heart - he's just trying to wind you up. If you consider Harrison's wonderfully effervescent prose a little more carefully 2 things (amongst others) become clear. First, irony of ironies, Harrison's the one who's shadowboxing! Dom, you did rather set yourself up with the "Jesus Christ Superstar", hip hop and Heavy Metal comments - they deserved the kind of response contained in Harrison's first paragraph, but such an easy target. Then wading through the "essay" on hipness, it occurred to me: "Harrison, mate, how the hell do you know Dom's a victim of hipness? For all you know, Dom likes hip hop etc. without the help of Sony or Time Warner or "big business". And anyway, since when was Heavy Metal and hip hop hip?" Strawman? There really is no one else in the ring. Judging from Harrison's previous contributions this irony is intended just to catch us all out to show us how clever he is (but maybe not after the triumphalism of his posting in 4-91). As for the Tyranny of the Hip essay itself, this looks to me like something Harrison first wrote in the 6th Form (last 2 years of school before University (age range 16-18), for the septics and other non-Brits among us). [Adopts Monty Pythonesque "Gumby" voice] "duuh, everything's manipulated by big business." Big deal - so you finally worked out that commercial enterprises are here to make money from us? Did you really need Andy Partridge to tell you that? And because of that you're boycotting everything "new"? Surely you credit yourself with enough intelligence to be able to sift through what "big business" has got on offer and choose something which may please you - and if there is nothing: fine, so there's nothing. As an aside, remember that XTC were brought to us by Virgin and, in the States, Geffen: who knows - without them we'd never have heard of XTC. It seems to me that Harrison is himself the biggest Hip victim - he seems to be saying that he won't touch anything peddled by "desperate greedhead marketeers", that anything so peddled ain't "hip". I say: "lighten up, old chap, don't take things so seriously". As for the comments about "big business" buying up our oh, so subversive punk etc., if you're looking to subvert the established order through rock n' roll, you're backing the wrong horse, mate - that was obvious from the start, that's what always happens (cf. Elvis, Bill Haley, The Rolling Stones, Hendrix and so on ad infinitum). Most budding pop groups are in it for the sex and the money (including our heroes, if the "Chalkhills" book is to be believed) and if being "revolutionary" is a way of getting that (whether purposively or not) then so be it. On this analysis, they're just as manipulative as Sony. But whatever, if you like the music, who cares? If you want to subvert society, join the Socialist Worker Party or an anarchist cell or hole up in the woods and start mailing people home made bombs, or something. Sorry Harrison. I'm sure you're a great bloke, and nothing personal (well, maybe it is but no offence intended - like you say: "water off a duck's back")! It's just that I've started to find your missives highly irritating. I wouldn't worry too much (I'm sure you won't) though as, judging from the torrent of contributions agreeing wholeheartedly with your opinions but ruing the fact they can't express themselves like you, I'm probably the only person on this list who doesn't agree with you. Anyway this is a free list (isn't it?). Well that's enough of that - I've spent far too much time typing this crap. All the best Simon Deane
------------------------------ Message-ID: <357E9B21.36A4@sprintmail.com> Date: Wed, 10 Jun 1998 10:41:37 -0400 From: Stormy Monday <stormymonday@sprintmail.com> Organization: Stormy Monday Enterprises Subject: Countdown To Atlanta Party Time Folxtc, Religion: "Is often more trouble than it is worth." Political Party: "Tobacco-less smoke while watching CNN." Drugs: "Should be decrim - ahh, what's that word again?" Job: "A guy in the Bible that got zooted." Dream: "Number 9" Ok. Pete and I are ready to host the second annual "ATLANTA BASH IN HONOR OF XTC". We are working on the date, but it looks like a Saturday in July or August. Please e-mail Pete (pete_srd@mindspring.com) or myself (stormymonday@sprintmail.com) to indicate your interest. Stormy Monday
------------------------------
Message-Id: <2.2.32.19980610154911.006e2b08@popmail.dircon.co.uk>
Date: Wed, 10 Jun 1998 16:49:11 +0100
From: Simon Sleightholm <nonsuch@dircon.co.uk>
Subject: Bags Of Fun With Becki - The Side-Benefits Of Fandom
Well, thanks to this list I have a new guitar. It's probably nothing
compared to the sort of kit the proper musicians on this list have ('tis a
Guild acoustic), but it's my first genuine crafted musical instrument. My
previous guitars were; one "student" Classical acoustic (cracked and gaffa
taped because I once hurled it across the room in a fit of childish sexual
frustration - not as interesting as it sounds, sad to say); one "student"
small bodied (ah, the days when I could legitimately cradle a small-bodied
student in my lap...) 6 string acoustic; a second-hand twelve-string
acoustic, purchased in the semi-dark and later revealed to have perhaps been
the focus of a dispute among hounds; and a shocking pink Marlin Strat copy.
None of these had any musical merit at all.
I had been demoralised over the years because once I had been pretty
competent - nothing flashy, just reasonable rhythm guitar with a bit of
classical picking and flourishing available if given a long enough run-up.
But over the years my playing seemed to be getting worse and worse. When
Becki diGregorio came to stay she played a couple of these guitars and,
having absorbed a certain Englishness with her Carling Premier, she politely
pronounced them as "not bad" despite my insistence that they were crap. I
was interested to note that while we'd been browsing guitar shops in London
Becki's playing had been wonderful and clear, but when she played the same
stuff on my guitars her playing had the same delicacy as a junior school
recorder recital. Later during her stay we went to an open-mic thing and,
after watching her and others play, I began - thanks to certain hop-based
courage enhancers - to consider the possibility that I could do this too,
and that my shoddiness of play might be down, at least in part, to the
quality of my guitars. A _long_ conversation with Becki later and it was
decided that we should spend her last-but-one day in the UK looking in
guitar shops so she could give me some tips for a future puchase. I
mentioned the subject to my wife the next day and she said, "Well, if you're
going to look while Becki's here you might as well just get one while you
have the advice to hand." *Stunned* I told her that this was no cheapo
item I was after, but something that was likely to cost around a month's
wages. "Fine," she said. "If you're going to spend that kind of money I'd
sooner you did it while Becki was there to keep you in line." What a girl!
There _was_ a time, _many_ years ago, when I moved in the circles of
semi-professional musicians and was pretty up-to-date with where the quality
was, but that was all long behind me now. I needed help (and _boy_, did I -
I was possessed of some vague notion that Ovation guitars were the hip
thing...).
Left to my own devices (and trust me, my devices are pretty unleavable) I
would have bought the first guitar I saw in the first shop I went into.
Becki showed me how it was done. We trooped around the stores and I played
a few guitars in each. In one store I found the Guild; it felt all wrong,
sounded tinny and I didn't like it. "Give me thirty minutes", said the shop
chap. "I'll set it up for you." We went away, tried a Martin in another
shop - hmm, it sounded good to me when I was playing it, but when I stood
away from it and heard it being played I didn't like it. Then we went back
to the Guild. They guy had put "warmer" sounding strings on it, lowered the
action, done something delicate and intricate to the frets. Wow, it was
totally different. My fingers were stiff 'cuz my other guitars hadn't
really encouraged me to play them for long, but this instrument felt right,
it felt good. It put its tongue in my ear and kneaded my devices. I would
have paid the tag price, but Becki bargained fifty pounds of and got a heap
of free stuff lobbed in at that price. I had a proper guitar! With a case!
I handed over my credit card. He phoned through for confirmation. I hummed
and thrilled, and then hugged Becki a few times.
There were problems, however, with my credit card - it's not the only one I
have, but it was the only one I had with me - I'd forgotten all the stuff
I'd just put on it (train tickets, CD's and the like during the London
Gathering) and there wasn't enough left. I was gutted.
Over and above and way beyond the call of duty - and _at_last_ we reach the
point of this post - the sweet package of human wonder that is Becki said "I
have _my_ credit card," and helped me make the purchase. More hugs. "No
problem," she said. "You _need_ this guitar. Your others are _shite_". I
paid her back the very next day but I could not let this touching deed go
unheralded.
Thanks to Becki I have regained my confidence in my playing and now possess
a wondrous musical instrument which works _with_ me instead of against me.
It is something I will treasure for the rest of my life, not only as an
instrument, but also as a permanent symbol of a great friendship that came
about because of our appreciation of XTC. I hope the sentiment of this post
is not undermined by the fact that the catalyst for our initial contact was
"Bags Of Fun With Buster."
Still moved,
Simon
-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-
http://www.nonsuch.dircon.co.uk/bungalow.htm (http://come.to/bungalow)
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An XTC resource - "Saving it all up for you..."
------------------------------ Message-Id: <3.0.5.32.19980610153506.0079d7c0@mindspring.com> Date: Wed, 10 Jun 1998 15:35:06 -0400 From: JES <xtc@mindspring.com> Subject: Politics Religion: Harmlessly and happily agnostic, completely unwilling to inflict dogma Political Party: Activist Libertarian. The only hope for America to survive deep into the next millineum (which starts in Two Thousand And One, A.D. folks) is to return to Libertarianism. Drugs: Ibuprofen, alcohol, sex and marathons. Job: Manager of an engineering department for an army of architects, engineers, gnomes, and varlets. Dream: A Libertarian American congress and president, an end to the IRS and the rampant, mindless socialism in America, and a time when politicians actually start accepting the blame for their misdeeds and mistakes. JES http://www.mindspring.com/~xtc
------------------------------ Message-Id: <3.0.5.32.19980610153658.007a0220@mindspring.com> Date: Wed, 10 Jun 1998 15:36:58 -0400 From: JES <xtc@mindspring.com> Subject: Dregs of the Earth? Wow. Interesting that someone even BROUGHT IT UP. The Dregs were a Southern fixture during the 70's and into the 80's. Steve Morse, guitarist, won the Guitar Player Of The Year award (from Guitar Player magazine) so many times they simply made him ineligible from then on. He combines the speed and dexterity of those soulless boobs like Al DiMeola and Steve Vai, with the gentle emotion and grace of a Django Reinhardt or John McLaughlin. The band has featured violins as a prominent instrument, and has boasted the likes of Mark O'Connor and Jerry Goodman as fiddlers. Noteworthy, as well, are these facts: Rod Morgenstein eventually played drums for MTV staples Winger (although he always hooked up for the occasional tour with Morse or the Dregs to keep his sanity); Andy West formed Crazy Backwards Alphabet with Henry Kaiser and John French, and if you can find their excellent SST release (way, way, way outta print) you can hear a Russian language version of "LaGrange;" And, finally, the original violinist Allen Sloan is now an anesthesiologist in North Carolina. One hell of a band. They never made a bad record. Really. JES http://www.mindspring.com/~xtc
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Message-Id: <9806102000.AA15037@axtx0060.scent.mccaw.com>
From: steve mcallister <steve.mcallister-next@attws.com>
Date: Wed, 10 Jun 98 15:00:27 -0500
Subject: Methody
While privately I praised Mr Harrison on his lovely, eh, (diatribe?
rant? philippic?) post, I must say to the group I am heartened by the
general approval of the content. All together we shall prove we are
separate from *them*.
Welcome back to Amanda. Hope your trip to The Happiest Place on Earth
was just that. I'd pay full admission just to play Tron and ride The
Matterhorn - truely an E-Ticket ride if there ever was one (I realize my age
is now showing).
Religion: raised Methodist, but it just didn't take
Politics: no party affiliation.
Drugs: alchohol, caffine
Day Job: customer service at the Death Star.
Night Job: musician
thank you for playing
sm
ps- soon I'll have some C.Moulding bass transcriptions available to all who
want them. Right now they're packed. I'm moving. It sucks. Anyway, I
have 'Braniacs Daughter', 'Ladybird', 'Mayor of Simpleton' and a couple of
others all layed out and notated neatly (sorry, no TAB). Interested parties
should contact me - and I might even do one or two I've not already done on
request. Bass only please, them 6-string gadgets confound me.
------------------------------ Message-ID: <357EE68D.34A5@conovergis.ci.conover.nc.us> Date: Wed, 10 Jun 1998 16:03:25 -0400 From: erik schlichting <erik@conovergis.ci.conover.nc.us> Subject: extolling virtues of Mummer & Echo Greetings, fellow XTC fans, I am new to the Chalkhills group, though I have peeked in on the conversations here & there over the past couple of years. I occasionally look in to see what other bands people who like XTC are listening to. But it's time to break the silence. In reply to Jon's recent post suggesting the purchase of Mummer: I agree, buy Mummer. Mummer was my first large-scale exposure to XTC (sure, I'd heard Senses Working Overtime...) about twelve years ago, and it altered my musical taste & expectations like no other "new" music I'd ever heard. Mummer immediately sold me on XTC and sent me searching for more. While I still listen to every XTC album here & there, Mummer, Black Sea & Big Express get the most play time from me. On the subject of Echo & the B-men: A periodic dose of Porcupine or Ocean Rain does a body good. At the risk of repeating info that I missed in earlier posts, they recently put out a new album, Evergreen, which I thought was OK, nothing special. I have a question for those of you who are fortunate enough to live in areas with a broader idea of music than small-town North Carolina has, Are any of you familiar with ex-Talk-Talk frontman Mark Hollis' self-titled release? It's "unavailable" here, and I haven't been able to force myself to shell out almost $40 for it on the internet. Feel free to E-mail me at the listed address with thoughts, observations, or opinions. Thanks Erik
------------------------------ Message-ID: <19980610210254.21377.qmail@hotmail.com> From: "k. siegel" <beatlebird@hotmail.com> Subject: Beatle Pumpkinhead Date: Wed, 10 Jun 1998 14:02:53 PDT The ongoing mini- debate, as sponsored by Harrison Sherwood: I had written: >> I have always >> thought (in the back of my mind) that that chord sounds suspiciously >> similar to the chord at the beginning of "A Hard Day's Night". and HS responded: >If you value your life you will retract this question before the >entire place goes up in a holocaust of music theory. I am an >occasional denizen of rec.music.beatles, and I can attest that no >question on Earth--not even "Did Yoko break up the Beatles?"--is >better for setting off round after round of vitriolic poison-pen >oinkage than "What chord did George play at the beginning of 'A Hard >Day's Night'?" That's why I love living in America. I can say what I feel, without fear of being set on fire. That's also why I love the Internet. I can walk away from ridicule with a laugh and a smile, and no one can see just how badly my feelings have been hurt. The original musing above, by me, remains un-retracted. And of course Yoko didn't "break up" the Beatles. The Beatles broke up the Beatles. >but evidently the chord George played is...ambiguous. >Best >to leave it at that. >It may even have contained the notes B, E, and A. Ah, but I was close, wasn't I? Wasn't I? This curious posting constitutes mention in my Beatles web magazine. At best, it may turn some Beatles fans on to XTC. Deep in the heart of Swindon, Kristi
------------------------------ Message-Id: <l03102800b1a4fb33aba5@[207.104.109.106]> Date: Wed, 10 Jun 1998 20:36:47 -0700 From: Dave Blackburn <dblack@access1.net> Subject: This is Pop Evening Chalkfriends, The thread on chord voicings has me going now; I've always been a collector of groovy chords and perked my ears up when I hear someone using them. Hence, Steely Dan, Beefheart, Todd R, Stevie Wonder and of course XTC have been favorites for years. I think transcribing is the best ear training you can do for yourself and over the years I've scored out books of jazz and fusion charts, always trying to unravel ever more difficult music. Sometimes the mix is opaque and doesn't give a clear idea of what's being played but usually with a few repetitions the 'chord colors' start to reveal themselves. Tonight I had a crack at one that's always intrigued me: "This is Pop", a very gnarly combination of quartal harmony guitar chords over a bass line which uses fabulously dissonant notes. I believe there is a also a second guitar overdub adding thickness and further extending the chords. This tune let Partridge's dirty little secret out: that XTC in 1977 were no punk outfit at all. What's so funny is how this dense harmonic stuff collides with the very basic "what do you call that noise...pre-chorus and the boppy hook. To spell out the intro/verse riff as text would be loathsome reading for y' all and the chords are all based on fourths anyway so standard chord nomenclature does not apply, so if anyone's interested in the notated parts email me with your fax number and I'll send it along... with love from me to you. Dave Blackburn Fallbrook, Ca dblack@access1.net
------------------------------
Message-ID: <357F876C.3ADF8A3F@earthlink.net>
Date: Thu, 11 Jun 1998 00:29:48 -0700
From: Steven Graff <slapdash@earthlink.net>
Organization: SLAPDASH
Subject: Stats and Such
Hey folks,
Wanted to inject a little two-centism into the recent comment'ry.
For one thing, I don't see why most people hold White Music and Go2
in such low regard. I think that they fit best into an XTC buying
sequence somehwere in the middle, and bought chronologically. They are
intensely funny, cheeky records. Go2 is probably the farthest out any
band I favor has ever gone. Songs like the classic Battery Brides, and
Beatown are staples of any fan of Andy...and yes, though I've said harsh
things about Andy, I still am true to the corps...the Chalkhill Corps,
that is. Some people may not find them "satisfying" enough, but screw
'em. It's all good fun (and an eager band trying to make a place for
themselves in an ultimately fickle business).
My wayward stats
Religion: Former Catholic. Kept the guilt to counterbalance
whatever ego I have, and view things holistically otherwise. God is
either a forgone conclusion or the biggest practical joke ever played on
a civilization.
Political Affiliation: Was a Democrat til they lamed-out....won't
even bother being Republican...actually fed up with parties altogether,
though I still hold Conservative kinda leanings (topically).
Drugs and Booze: No drugs per se. Was on Prozac half-a-year.
Worked wonders, especially since I got into XTC at the same time. Can
only drink cider, and the occasional rum & coke, or the occasional rum.
Have no desire to smoke, snort or inject myself with anything ever.
Occupations: Teach High School English.Have my own band too.
Least favorite XTC album: Big Express...though I've grown to
tolerate the good intentions. The Everyday Story of Smalltwown is my
fave song.
Favorite XTC album: Black Sea.
I've said enough, which probably means I've said too much.
Steven
------------------------------ End of Chalkhills Digest #4-92 ******************************
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11 June 1998 / Feedback