Chalkhills Digest Volume 5, Issue 354
Date: Friday, 31 December 1999
Chalkhills Digest, Volume 5, Number 354
Friday, 31 December 1999
Today's Topics:
riddle of the ages
Geffen Skylarking LP w/ Mermaid Smiled
Until I Die
major musicians/composers this century
Best of 1999
nonsuch
Feedback for ROBEACH AND JIMS@INLINK
Mister lister
Word to the wise...
Rushmore
Pedro Pumkinhead
The End of the World News
Blur Blah Blah
minster hill and soft bulletin
Questions
music and politics
Boxing Day?
XTC-spotting in THE WEIRDEST place
Just raves today
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Burn up the old.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
From: CapnEndo@aol.com
Message-ID: <0.5b5cb471.259accda@aol.com>
Date: Tue, 28 Dec 1999 21:32:58 EST
Subject: riddle of the ages
In a message dated 12/27/1999 7:36:07 PM Eastern Standard Time,
<owner-chalkhills@chalkhills.org> writes:
> My
> NY's resolution: to bring more into the fold, to open peoples ears up to
> the under-appreciated music of xTc. I just don't understand why they are
> not the big rich rock stars that they deserve to be. I don't get it?
> why? why? why? Someone please explain!
> ---jeannie
It's true...we all feel this way I think, but paradoxically wouldn't you
feel somewhat cheated if the whole world discovered xtc? They have a cult
like following, and isn't wonderful when you meet up with another fan and
begin to talk about the music and lyrics. It's like finding a rare gem.
Isn't it wonderful when you introduce a dozen people to the music and 11 of
them look at you cross-eyed, but when you look at the 12th person he has this
glaze over his eyes and you know you got him? We do wonder why? why? why?
and the boys from Swindon do deserve their rewards and recognition but
somewhat selfishly I enjoy being one that introduces something wonderful to
someone instead of MTV. Definitely a "Catch 22."
Tom
"live forever or die trying" -Joseph Heller
------------------------------ Message-ID: <001901bf51a9$87db91e0$db6063d1@texas.net> From: "benhelen davis" <benhelen@texas.net> Subject: Geffen Skylarking LP w/ Mermaid Smiled Date: Tue, 28 Dec 1999 21:04:42 -0600 I just picked up a Geffen copy of Skylarking (on vinyl) that contains "Mermaid Smiled" instead of "Dear God." I know that later pressings of the album in the US contained "Dear God" because of the acclaim/outrage that it received as the B-side of the first single, "Grass." My question is: do I have a valuable XtC collectable, or is the "original" Geffen release of Skylarking worth little more than the $4 I plopped down for it? It's in very good condition (the label on side 2 is slightly torn, but otherwise it looks mint). I'm sure several someones on this list have an answer for me (e-mail me direct if you like). Thanks -BenD
------------------------------ Message-ID: <19991229152531.1533.qmail@web207.mail.yahoo.com> Date: Wed, 29 Dec 1999 07:25:31 -0800 (PST) From: pancho artecona <partecona@yahoo.com> Subject: Until I Die Hey There Chalkhillers, first of all, i would like to wish you all a happy new year, and may we hear A LOT more form XTC in the coming decade. First, 2 questions and an observation: 1- what came first, The Beach Boy's 'Darlin'' or 'Because" by the Beatles? 2- same for "then she appeared" vs "There she goes" by The La's.....they each seem to owe a lot to each other. Observation- does anyone else hear the germ for everything that Stereolab has done in the Beach Boy's song "Until I Die". I know I do. Now, about drugs. I just wanted to refute the point made that the only people involved in the discussion were those interested or affected by the subject. I used to shoot heroin and cocaine daily for years (which almost led to my death mind you, and which also started by smoking pot, aka the gateway drug). Thereafter I directed a drug and alcohol treatment center for 9 years and am presently studying to become a psychiatrist (somehow managed to salvage a sufficient number of brain cells), so my interest in drugs runs quite deeply. Drugs can be mind expanding but can also kill, so all I can say is be careful (that's what I plan to tell my kids, I also plan to tell them about my experience so they know they may have a genetic predisposition for abuse). Despite all that, I have always been pro legalization, although I must admit that in the case of cocaine it becomes a bit tricky because people will, if faced with unlimited supply, use cocaine until they die or start flapping on the floor like fish out of water (I have experienced a number of seizures as well as transient ischemic attacks due to abuse), only to come out of their stupor with an intense desire to do more cocaine. So I am not sure whether legalization of cocaine would be feasible. Pot and heroin yes, might as well collect all those taxes and ensure purity of product. But then there are all of these new 'designer' drugs eg- China White, Ecstasy, GHB whose long-tern sequelae I am unfamiliar with so I can't really form an opinion just yet. I have seen lots of OD's of GHB, which can mean sudden death if there is no medical help readily available (people basically stop breathing and need assisted mechanical ventilation for about 6-8 hours and then they just come out of it). Bottom line, as long as man exists, there are many of them who will look for ways to get stoned so we may as well ensure they get good drugs and make a little money out of it instead of allowing this incredible underground economy in the hands of colombians and others to flourish. If alcohol is legal, then drugs should be legal as well. Oh well, I guess I just refuted my own refutal. Go figure. Pancho XPRXTCFAN (XJNKY)
------------------------------ Message-ID: <074CBB342C7BD311971B00508B6F7FD443C44B@spc-mail.novainfo.com> From: "Roberts, Peter" <Peter.Roberts@novainfo.com> Subject: major musicians/composers this century Date: Wed, 29 Dec 1999 12:53:01 -0500 OK Chalkies... here's a poll with a slightly different twist...which composers and/or musicians have had the most impact on music in the 20th century?? And why?? I'll think about it and post my choices later. [ Please respond to Peter and he'll summarize later. -- John ]
------------------------------ Message-Id: <199912291855.LAA19392@access.tucson.org> From: "Jeff Smelser" <jsmelser@access.tucson.org> Date: Wed, 29 Dec 1999 11:47:26 -0700 Subject: Best of 1999 Hi Chalkfolk, The best albums of 1999 have to be AV1/Homespun and LIFT by Love and Rockets. It's been a whole year and we still can't stop listening to them. J D SMX
------------------------------ Message-ID: <19991229192332.26142.qmail@web2903.mail.yahoo.com> Date: Wed, 29 Dec 1999 11:23:32 -0800 (PST) From: nross <PhoenixYellowRose@rocketmail.com> Subject: nonsuch Just posting a few things before the new year. I have not been keeping up with the digests, so if I am repetitive... oh well. Someone listed their top book purchases this year... The best books I've purchased: The Harry Potter series... even though they are a bit old for my daughter, I insist on buying them... and reading them to her nightly. Dostoevsky: The Devils (aka The Possessed) and An Accidental Family (aka The Adolescent). Okay... so it took about a year for me to finish The Devils... but still it was a great book. I've not finished An Accidental Family yet... the character makes me ill sometimes... but if you can find a book containing characters who make you feel, you've found a good book. Favorite music purchase? other than XTC stuff... because, thats redundant. Fiona Apple- When The Pawn Belle and Sebastian - damn, can't remember the title (I think its their newest) Barenaked Ladies- Stunt, and their live album... very good. I think thats the main stuff that I BOUGHT this year... recommendations... do with them what you will! XTC related stuff... I'm just sitting here waiting for AV2... what more can I write on it? I love the music... but I suppose I'm just not in a deep enough mood to write about the lyrics and my opinions on them. Its been done, anyways, so why repeat? ===== Nicole's internet music station: http://www.imagineradio.com/mymusiclisten.asp?name=phoenixyellowrose
------------------------------
Message-ID: <386A54DB.A682EDC0@uswest.com>
Date: Wed, 29 Dec 1999 11:37:15 -0700
From: "John Lerfald" <jlerfal@uswest.com>
Organization: U S WEST Communications, Inc
Subject: Feedback for ROBEACH AND JIMS@INLINK
> From: Robeach11@aol.com
> And just a sidenote.... some of McCartney's solo work has been horrid
> ("Ebony & Ivory", "The Girl Is Mine", "Spies Like Us", "Say Say Say",
> etc...). This is true. But I feel much of his solo work has been sadly
> neglected. Songs like "Junior's Farm", "Getting Closer", "Arrow Through
> Me", "My Love",etc...... to me, sound great. Among the best work of the
> 1970's. My question is this.... had Paul just appeared out of the blue in
> 1970 (without ever being in a BIG band) , wouldn't music critics/historians
> have been quite enamored with him? I tend to think so. Call it fluff, but
> songs like "Let 'Em In" are really super tunes. Just curious for some
> feedback.
I agree. I am a huge McCartney fan; always have been. While it's
true a lot of his stuff can be downright difficult to listen too, a
lot of his stuff is very very good. I don't think there has been a
better melodist, ever. And of course he is a master on the bass, and
a pretty damn good guitarist too. Even his drumming is above average.
He is a damn fine musician, and if some of his stuff is lightweight,
so be it. When I want to listen to "heady" music I'll steer clear of
Macca, but when I need a lift or just something to enjoy, he fits the
bill quite nicely.
--
Jim S. <jims@inlink.com>
I also agree with you two gentlemen regarding Pauls work.
XTC vis a vis: IS IT ME or does I'D LIKE THAT from Apple Venus sound like a
McCartney tune??
------------------------------ From: fheaney@erols.com Message-ID: <003401bf522e$47d86340$a9e27ad1@default> Subject: Mister lister Date: Wed, 29 Dec 1999 13:55:27 -0500 John wrote: [a top CDs of the '90s list] > So what if you don't care. At least I'm real. Sort of. Not like some > people. This was the most intriguing list so far because every album on it was either (a) an album I loved to pieces or (b) an album I'd never heard. (Except for "Kamakiriad", which is just not up to "The Nightfly", but we'll let that one go. I am looking forward to the new Steely Dan studio album, "Two Against Nature", out Feb. 29, I hear.) So given that kind of taste overlap, I'll definitely be checking out some of the titles here. Thanks! He also mentioned Nordic folk music, and while I'm not familiar with Hedningnarna, may I recommend Varttina, a Finnish folk/rock combo (4 singers, 5 instrumentalists, periodic guests): crazy time signatures, beautiful harmonies, catchy as hell. Too great. "Kokko" is my favorite of their albums so far, but I haven't heard them all yet...though I plan to. Hope I didn't sound off too harshly about the new Julian Lennon album in my last posting. It's probably still worth your time and money if you're looking for some decent Beatle-y pop. Just don't have your expectations too high and you won't be disappointed. -- Francis "He is so gay and fancy free, and I wish all his money belonged to me." -- The Kinks
------------------------------ From: Hbsherwood@aol.com Message-ID: <0.a7a68e03.259bc6bc@aol.com> Date: Wed, 29 Dec 1999 15:19:08 EST Subject: Word to the wise... Folks: The picture on the "Happy Christmas" page of the Guitargonauts site is absolutely *hysterical*. Your life will be greatly enriched for having seen it. Off you go: http://www.guitargonauts.com/index-frames.html Harrison "That's me and Lucille there on the left" Sherwood
------------------------------ Message-ID: <000a01bf5247$a2644860$5654883e@pbncomputer> From: "chris browning" <chris@boodle.fsnet.co.uk> Subject: Rushmore Date: Wed, 29 Dec 1999 21:56:18 -0000 Not only can I heartily recommend the film Rushmore (an absolute gem! It barely came to any cinemas here in Nottingham, but thankfully I was made redundant the week it was on matinee and it made being jobless seem suddenly - to quote Sellars and Yeatman - 'a Good Thing') but the soundtrack has been definitely the most played CD of the last few weeks - a great collection of British invasion classics and other more unusual diversions such as Yves Montand and Zoot Sims. Heartily recommended - film and soundtrack. Actually this year has been pretty damn good for films - everyone (including me) has done their albums of the year, so here are my films of the year for a change. 1. Buena Vista Social Club - I love Wim Wenders, I loved the album, the combination - well I burst into tears of joy so may times. Emotional, beautiful, gorgeous - this music is timeless, and the love for it of their creators. Humbling. Great film. 2. The Straight Story - unexpected from Lynch I must say but again the tear ducts went flowing. Very recommended. 3. Rushmore - just bloody great 4. Go - Junior Pulp Fiction it may have been, and not quite as great as Swingers but still so ruddy life affirming and perfectly formed. Staisfying in the extreme. 5. Election - dark, nasty, fantastic and honourable mentions to 10 Things I Hate About You, PI, Blair Witch and lots of others which will come to me after I send this. Greatest cinematical moment of the year has to be watching Bringing Up Baby on the big screen at last. It has always been my favourite film ever and to see it as nature intended. Boy, life doesn't get much better than that I can tell you. Anyway I shall bore you no longer Happy New Year to you all..... Chris
------------------------------
From: "Mark Strijbos" <mmello@knoware.nl>
Date: Thu, 30 Dec 1999 00:21:14 +0100
Subject: Pedro Pumkinhead
Message-Id: <19991229231901.90FC7A6CE2@mail.knoware.nl>
Dear Chalkers,
Rob Carson said:
> I noticed Mark Strijbos mentioned a Filipino (!) 7" single of "Peter
> Pumpkinhead". This interests me greatly.
And so it should!
I'm glad i'm not the only one left here who gets excited about things
like this... heck, i already got excited when i discovered it existed!
> Any details?
Sure... it is backed by "Wardance"
It doesn't have a picture sleeve (alas)
Label: Dyna EMI / Virgin
Catalog #: VRN-6669
The label also states: "manufactured in the Philippines by Dyna
Products Inc. under license from Virgin Records"
On my copy someone scribbled "SEPT 23 '92" - probably the
release date
> How did ya get it?
Through eBay, but it was located in Swindon... fancy that !
> Where can I get one?
IMHO your best bet would be to keep checking the specialist
magazines (Record Collector, Goldmine), stuffy shops and online
listings like eBay and GEMM.
The availability of stuff like this is always very limited, usually just
one copy so you have to be quick on your feet if you do find what
you are looking for.
Tell you what - I will upload a scan of the label to my site. Surf to the
Little Lighthouse (URL at the bottom of this message) and check out
the Treasure Trove page.
yours in xtc,
Mark Strijbos at The Little Lighthouse
http://www.knoware.nl/users/mmello/
or http://come.to/xtc
------------------------------ Message-ID: <19991229231913.26457.qmail@web213.mail.yahoo.com> Date: Wed, 29 Dec 1999 15:19:13 -0800 (PST) From: pancho artecona <partecona@yahoo.com> Subject: The End of the World News Oh Chalkhills, I forgot to thank whomever suggested the Book 'The End Of The World News' by Anthony Burgess. A bit difficult to get a hold of but tremendously enjoyable! Its already in line for a reread. Thanks again! Oh, and to Macca lovers. My brother gave me this demo cd of Costello and McCartney with about 18 songs on it that include their hits (eg-Veronica and My Brave Face) but also all kinds of other stuff like Tommy's Coming Home. If anyone wants to trade for a tape of said Cd let me know privately. Oh, and as always forgot to give my appreciatins to this list. Still the best despite the absence of Simon Sleighton and others I've always loved to read. I do notice quite a lot of change that I don't always like but then again that is growth, for better or worse (I can always scroll down). I am sure some of the real old timers feel like the thing has gone to the doms. Be well, all. And go ahead and party like its 1999. Pancho XPRXTCFAN
------------------------------ Message-ID: <002101bf529d$38412600$e90801d5@bean1> From: "Jonathan Bean" <j_bean@talk21.com> Subject: Blur Blah Blah Date: Thu, 30 Dec 1999 00:09:00 -0800 After all this talk recently about blur, I decided to revist "Modern Life is Rubbish" once again, but still can't get into it, the influences are clearly Xtc/kinks et al but if proof further is needed just check out "Tracy Jacks" on "Parklife. Partridge pastiche or what my friends. Oh and have a happy new millenium!! (tongue firmly in cheek I think) Yours in XTC, Mr Bean
------------------------------ From: phoebeh@impop.bellatlantic.net Message-ID: <386ADF1F.1D47A10B@postoffice2.bellatlantic.net> Date: Wed, 29 Dec 1999 20:27:11 -0800 Subject: minster hill and soft bulletin > Thanks to the list I am joining in my praises to the great > Minster Hill cd....I havent been this excited about a band since > Drums and Wires hit the shores of the states. I need to hear more about them, anyone?!!! Also, loving the new Flaming Lips...as with the Minster Hill they are listening experiences kind of reminding me how I felt way back in 79' listening to the Wall. Get and enjoy..Two favorites for the year and the mil. Be safe Phoebe
------------------------------ Message-ID: <19991230020459.76541.qmail@hotmail.com> From: "garret harkawik" <funktaisia@hotmail.com> Subject: Questions Date: Wed, 29 Dec 1999 21:04:59 EST My english teacher gave my class a report to do and told us it could be on anything we want so, not surprisingly, I have decided to do it on XTC.Before I start, I have a few questions:1-when were Colin's kids born?Andy's? 2-when did Andy's wife leave him? 3-What has Barry been up to lately?Terry? 4-Who was the keyboardisrt before Barry? Going over my last post, I relized that I left out one of the best albums I bought in '99, which was Factory Showroom by They Might Be Giants. What an incredable album! And on a final note, I was wondering what are XTC fans called? I mean Graetful Dead fans are deadheads, Star Trek fans are trekkers, so what the hell are we? Garret Harkawik "Homer: 5$ for bear protection?!?!?! This must be the biggest tax increase in history! Lisa: Acually, it's the smallest. Homer: Bears can pay the bear tax, and I'LL pay the Homer tax. Lisa: Thats Homeowner tax, dad."-The Simpsons
------------------------------ Message-ID: <000601bf526b$eaf3fca0$625791d2@johnboud> From: "John Boudreau" <aso1@mocha.ocn.ne.jp> Subject: music and politics Date: Thu, 30 Dec 1999 11:15:45 +0900 Alec wrote : >Or you could have picked a big time Conservative, like Neil >Young, to make me feel real bad about what I wrote. Now, Neil >Young is >someone I do enjoy listening to even though it's confusing to me that >he >did admit to being a Reagan supporter. The same goes for James >Brown or >Prince for that matter: If I let the political/religious persuasions of musicians dictate who I did or didn't listen to , 75 % of my record/cd collection would never have been bought . Why is it so shocking or " confusing " that Neil Young " admitted " he was a Reagan supporter ? Is there some factor I am unaware of ? Or do you believe being a " conservative " rocker is hypocritical ? As for Raygun , he was governor of Calif. for years and won two presidential elections by whopping landslides ; obviously somebody besides " big time conservatives " supported him . Some picks for best of the decade include : XTC : Nonsuch ; Apple Venus 1 Robyn Hitchcock : Moss Elixir Durutti Column : Sex and Death The Orb : Adventures Beyond The Ultraworld Morphine : Good ; Cure For Pain Solar Quest : Orgship John in Sushiland
------------------------------ Date: Wed, 29 Dec 1999 19:43:36 -0800 (PST) Message-Id: <199912300343.TAA02468@mail2.deltanet.com> From: Brown <mb2@deltanet.com> Subject: Boxing Day? Ryan Anthony hath said- "Jennifer Chambers Lynch (David's daughter) tells me Boxing Day has to do with the de-limbing of beautiful young women, but I'm not sure I believe her." Wouldn't it be 'Boxing Helena' Day? :-)
------------------------------ Message-ID: <003001bf5284$ad92c120$f628fea9@user.msu.edu> From: "Kate Burda" <burdakat@pilot.msu.edu> Subject: XTC-spotting in THE WEIRDEST place Date: Thu, 30 Dec 1999 00:11:55 -0500 For those of you that attempt the Yahoo! Games offerings, guess who appeared in the crossword for today (12-29-99, "Book Report")? Yep, XTC! They're the answer to the 62 Down clue: British art-rock combo with a euphoric name. Never thought of XTC as being art-rock, but I guess it's better than being labeled adult contemporary. If you're interested in the puzzle, go to http://games.yahoo.com. You'll have to register to play any of the games they offer, but it's relatively painless and they don't ask for anything too personal. Kate P.S. AV1 was listed last week in the Detroit Free Press's Top 10 albums of the year. I believe it came in at number 9. I don't have the article in front of me, but I do remember the writer had a sentence or two of good stuff to say. P.P.S. My New Year's resolution: to buy lots of copies of AV2 and give them away to everyone I know.
------------------------------ Message-ID: <19991230032827.4086.qmail@web119.yahoomail.com> Date: Wed, 29 Dec 1999 19:28:27 -0800 (PST) From: Ryan Anthony <hamsterranch@yahoo.com> Subject: Just raves today Well, so much for my idea of scarfing up bargains in the stock market this final week of the year as a result of pre-apocalyptic panic-selling by investors who want to exchange their holdings in Cisco, Qualcomm, and Microsoft for bottled water, toilet paper, and cartridges. At least I hold a share of Chalkhills. Bravo to Christopher R. Coolidge (#5-351) for introducing me to a book titled *Sound Effects* by Simon Frith. Had I any musical talent at all, I would write a song in the author's honor and call it "Firth of Frith." Bravo to Todd Bernhardt (#5-352) for describing so articulately and infectiously the pleasure he gets from drumming along with his stereo -- more specifically, with the thumpsational *Black Sea* and *English Settlement*. Brava to Megan Heller (#5-353) for her "very weakly humorous offhand comment[s]." Keep the adjectives; lose the adverbs. Bravo to Harrison Sherwood (#5-353) for his entertaining Beatles-XTC essay. Thirty years ago, I would have cheered his provocative reference to the Fabsters' "incomprehensible taste in women" -- I assume he's speaking primarily of Lennon and McCartney, although a book could be written about the pair of sisters who between them married George Harrison, Eric Clapton, and Mick Fleetwood -- but not now. Lennon and McCartney, in their day the two most eligible bachelors on the planet, both married for love and, it turns out, for life. How many of us can, or will ever be able to, say as much? True, as a Tucsonan I owe Linda for bringing Paul here to live, but I'd have come grudgingly around to giving the girl her props regardless. (She loved this town enough to die here. I can only hope he won't come to hate it for that reason.) Harrison Sherwood concludes in his essay: "Everything eventually turns to shit." True, but take heart: Shit is fertilizer. Finally, to David Martin (#5-353), who asked, "are there any words that have the letters 'xtc' together in them?": Uh, I'll have to get back to you on that one. Ryan Anxtchony P.S.: How many checks/cheques will have to be torn up and thrown away because their writers begin the year with 1 instead of 2? How much, in pounds, shillings, ounces, euros, or galactic credits, will all those checks be worth? And how many times over would that sum of money suffice to jet every Chalkhillian to Swindon for a testimonial dinner?
------------------------------ End of Chalkhills Digest #5-354 *******************************
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