Chalkhills Digest, Volume 5, Number 88

                Saturday, 13 February 1999

Today's Topics:

                      The Last Laugh
             XTC Videos Wanted / TMBG Demos?
                        Re: Froom
                      this and that
           I'd Like That Released as a Single?
                        March MOJO
              Hell must be freezing over...
                     "I'd Like That"
                      Wanted: Demos
          Re: Don't Look a Gift Horse in the Ass
              An Open Letter to Dave Gregory
                     XTC IN CHICAGO!
          Borders in-store appearance confirmed
Info needed on XTC appearances - - Colorado listening party
                      No XTC on MTV?
                      Voyeurs - All!
                          A plea
                       Ramblin' Guy
                      miscellaneous
                        ewwwwwwww!
                    Re: I'd like that
                    Um, Bill Ike Ell?
    Oh God! Not another posting from her. (that's me)
             FEB-25 Chicago In-Store tapers?
It was a somewhat ordinary and quiet commute home from work.

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10 days!

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

Date: Fri, 12 Feb 1999 15:39:15 -0800 (PST)
Message-Id: <199902122339.PAA27583@mando.engr.sgi.com>
From: John Relph <relph@engr.sgi.com>
Subject: The Last Laugh

Anti-cheeseheads:

I got a good laugh when I went to the SoundStone (www.soundstone.com)
site and searched for XTC's "Apple Venus".  You might too.  I
recognized the artwork as the faux cover art I had drawn up for my own
amusement.  Someone at SoundStone had surfed to Chalkhills and pinched
the cover art!  ROTFL!

Anyway, what's new on Chalkhills you ask?

 * Stephanie Takeshita sent in part 2 of SPINonline interview.
 * Tim Harris sent in chords to "The Ship Trapped in the Ice" and "Grass".
 * Dave O'Connell sent in a CMJ Review of "Apple Venus".
 * Wes Hanks keeps busy, and you can see the evidence here, as he sent in
   a number of items (and I probably forgot one or two):
   + Charleston Daily Mail review of
   + New Times Broward-Palm Beach review of "Transistor Blast"
   + Chicago Daily Herald review of "Apple Venus"
   + Billboard reviews of "Song Stories"
 * Neil Oliver sent in a Billboard article on the release of "Apple Venus"
 * John Greaves sent in a Vancouver Province review of "Apple Venus"

Last but not least, Frederic Solans has been very very good to me as
of late.  His most recent contributions have been scans of the cover
of the MOJO CD, as well as a couple of scans of French XTC marketing
collateral.  If you're in France, you might want to check out this
plan at http://reality.sgi.com/chalkhills/images/promo/MD1999-Plan.jpg
to find out what's in the works for magazine, radio, and television!
You might want to check it out even if you're not in France!

Surf Chalkhills today!

	-- John

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

Message-ID: <19990211235953.16669.qmail@hotmail.com>
From: "* Hobbes *" <hazchem25@hotmail.com>
Subject: XTC Videos Wanted / TMBG Demos?
Date: Thu, 11 Feb 1999 15:59:51 PST

In late 1995 i did a trade with a fella in England for two three hour
video tapes chock full of XTC Goodies.  Due to a lack of good character
judgement on my part, these tapes fell out of my possession and i'm
obviously never going to see them again.

Anyway, would this English fella I traded with back in 1995 still be on
this list and interested in doing me another set?  I can offer you some
more recent demos in trade.  Was your name Robert???  Sorry if the
details are a little fuzzy, it's been a bloody long time - I traded you
a bunch of demo tapes including a Skylarking Studio Works in Progress
set which i was the only one on the list to have at the time.

There were two three hour video tapes you sent me - including a terrible
live performance of Books are Burning, which made me wonder if Andy was
drunk; a great stomping version of Radios In Motion that craps all over
the album version; Andy on a breakfast show walking in a garden wearing
a very dodgy hat; an outdoor live show from the Drums and Wires period
with Andy wearing some kind of Edwardian Cravat and Flat Hat; The
Meeting Place and The man who sailed around his soul videos from the set
of the prisoner; the half a beard performance of This World Over; Andy
and Colin taking calls from kids on a tv show, (colin looking quite
embarrassed as a pre-teen girl confesses she thinks he's REALLY cute);
the Wonderland and Peter Pumpkinhead videos; the XTC at the Manor and
Play at home documentaries; a very fuzzy version of the Rockpalast show,
half of which is on each tape.  The second tape repeats a large chunk of
it about halfway through but has some more stuff at the end.  Ring any
bells?  It was great stuff that i never really had time to view properly
before i lent them and I'd love another copy!  Thanks - i've got a wide
collection of demos and interviews on offer.  I'm from Wagga Wagga in
Australia, surely that rings some bells, aye?

Also is there anyone who might have a copy of the 1984 / 1985 TMBG Demo
Tapes or John Henry demos (also pinched, probably ended up in melbourne)
who might be interested in trading for xtc stuff with me?

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

Message-Id: <v01540b06b2e91ffe9cf9@[192.168.0.72]>
Date: Fri, 12 Feb 1999 13:04:16 +1300
From: james.dignan@stonebow.otago.ac.nz (James Dignan)
Subject: Re: Froom

>  Actually, Froom had nothing to do with the Finn Bros album; the Finn
>Bros produced it themselves with some help from Tchad Blake(who's Froom's
>right hand man and engineer of choice, so perhaps Froom gets some blame by
>association). Presumably it's the sound they wanted. [...] He's also done
>some pretty straightforward pop production, as in Crowded House's albums
>or Los Lobos' Kiko. As I stated before, I'm mainly not sure XTC can afford
>him right now. Otherwise they'd be a great match.

well, how about Neil Finn himself? He's produced a few good albums here in
NZ (Dave Dobbyn's "Twist" comes to mind, and I'm pretty sure he did Bic
Runga's "Drive"), and much of "Together Alone" was  produced by the
Crowdies themselves. You could do a lot worse than that!

James

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

Date: Thu, 11 Feb 1999 20:06:16 -0500 (EST)
Message-Id: <v03007804b2e8e284702e@[209.86.129.8]>
From: Mitch Friedman <mitchf@mindspring.com>
Subject: this and that

Hi Dee Ho,

A few things . . . in this week's Village Voice, somewhere in the movie
section, on the lower right corner of one page is an ad which basically
says "XTC wishes you a Happy Valentine's Day" and then "flowers climb
erect, etc. etc. rainbow mouth" is printed under which can be seen a heart
shape with Apple Venus Volume 1 spelled out and a note saying that the
album will be in stores February 23rd.  It looks to me like TVT is doing a
good job promoting it already.

About the possible songs for AV2 . . . at the present time, "The Shipped
Trapped In the Ice" and "I Don't Want to Be Here" will not be on the
album. "Ship" certainly won't ever be recorded because it's a song about
the band not being able to get out of their record contract with Virgin. I
have personally urged and pleaded with Andy that "I Don't Want To Be Here"
should most definitely be on the album but at the moment he's not
convinced. He wrote it for Cathy Dennis originally. If enough of us mention
it to him then I'm sure he will change his mind as he said that he thinks
XTC needs a few more good songs for the next album anyway to bring it up to
AV1's level.

Mitch

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

Message-ID: <19990212023857.9195.rocketmail@send101.yahoomail.com>
Date: Thu, 11 Feb 1999 18:38:57 -0800 (PST)
From: Jon Rosenberger <wile1coyote@yahoo.com>
Subject: I'd Like That Released as a Single?

Greetings Chalkers and Chalkette's

On the Ebay Web site someone is Auctioning off a "I'd Like That" CD
Single

Anyone know if this is a Single Release or just a Promo?

It is just the one track.

6 Days till the Japan Release.

Can't Wait!!!

Jon Rosenberger

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

Message-ID: <000401be5664$3f6a4500$ba38a8c2@nhpdf>
From: "Charles Eltham" <charles.eltham@virgin.net>
Subject: March MOJO
Date: Fri, 12 Feb 1999 08:46:21 -0000

Steady on!!!

Just wanted to share the news with fellow chalkfolk that the March issue of
MOJO has a 13 page (yep! 13) feature article on the band, including a lot
of stuff about DG's departure.

Haven't even read it yet, just keen to pass it on. It looks good reading.
MOJO is often very accurate, fair and comprehensive in it's writing.

AND

There's a review of Jason Falkner's new album! The ex-Jellyfish man has
done some truly excellent stuff, both on his own (Author Presents and the
new album) and with Eric Matthews. Somebody recently posted something about
JF's old band The Grays. I'd do pretty well anything to get hold of their
album Ro Sham Bo, or a copy of some sort. Anyone there who can help?

This is all too much. Back to work.

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

Date: Fri, 12 Feb 1999 09:45:46 -0500 (EST)
From: Ted Harms <tmharms@library.uwaterloo.ca>
Subject: Hell must be freezing over...
Message-ID: <Pine.OSF.3.96.990212094216.15618A-100000@library.uwaterloo.ca>

>From Addicted to Noise 'Music News of the World', from Friday, Feb. 12

> Rapper Willie D To Cover XTC
>
> Gangsta rapper and former Geto Boy Willie D has updated the XTC tune
> "Dear God" -- from the British post-new-wave band's 1986 disc Skylarking
> -- for his currently untitled next album, set for release later this
> year.  XTC fans, in the meantime, can sate themselves with new material
> when that band releases its latest LP, Apple Venus Volume 1, Feb. 23.

Also, the label 'post-new-wave' seems to be a little out-of-sorts with the
band still around.  Are there any other 'post-new-wave' bands still
kicking around? (maybe Blondie, but I always thought they were more
no-wave...)

Ted Harms                                      Library, Univ. of Waterloo
tmharms@library.uwaterloo.ca                           519.888.4567 x3761
"But all things excellent are as difficult as they are rare."  B. Spinoza

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

Message-Id: <3.0.5.32.19990212103535.0095dd80@smtpgw.ametsoc.org>
Date: Fri, 12 Feb 1999 10:35:35 -0500
From: David Gershman <dgershmn@ametsoc.org>
Subject: "I'd Like That"

Apparently, in case this hasn't already been confirmed, "I'd Like That" is
indeed being released as a single, not just as the song being pushed for
radio play. How do I know? Well, it appears that someone is auctioning off
a copy of the CD single on Ebay -- you can check it out at:
http://cgi.ebay.com/aw-cgi/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=66110721 -- and I
have nothing to do with the auction, in case you were wondering...

Dave Gershman

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

Message-ID: <19990209023711.15960.qmail@hotmail.com>
From: "monsieur creekbird" <creekbird5@hotmail.com>
Date: Mon, 08 Feb 1999 18:37:09 PST
Subject: Wanted: Demos

Hello, people.  I'm new to chalkhills but a long, long time XTC fan.
Naturally, I anxiously await the release of AV1!  I too have had dreams
of finding a non-existing XTC album in a record store.  I vaguely
remember one such album having a picture of a dolphin jumping out of the
sea (not unlike the Illuminatus Trilogy cover...hmm...)
Anyway, although I have everything available commercially by XTC, I have
only recently become aware of the demos that exist out there (Jules
Verne, etc...).  Since I do home recordings myself and prefer the sound
of these to most 'produced' recordings (and have dreams of getting new
XTC material) I am DYING to find out how I can obtain copies of these!
Help, anyone!?!
- chris ashworth  (creekbird5@hotmail.com)

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

From: CCooli9575@aol.com
Message-ID: <53b03c01.36c40d59@aol.com>
Date: Fri, 12 Feb 1999 06:15:37 EST
Subject: Re: Don't Look a Gift Horse in the Ass

>So, lets get a little poll going here: Who thinks Skylarking would have
>been better with Ol' Mr. Froom ( or any likewise producer )?
>Todd has his ups ( A wizard, a True Star ), and his downs ( TR-1), But
>"Skylarking" is definitely one of his gems.

  I'm actually a Todd fan myself; I also think he's a genius half the
time and a horse's ass half the time(like most geniuses). I happen to
remember an interview conducted after the release of Skylarking in
which Andy remarked that the only reason they hired Todd was Virgin
handed them a long list of producers and Todd was the only one they'd
heard of. Andy was skeptical about Todd's song sequencing idea, his
cheesy synth and sequence programming, his dislike of "Dear God" and a
number of other outtakes, and very likely his religious views, at one
point even accusing Colin of "having a hankering for religion too." I
wish I could remember which magasine it was in. Any more recent
comments from Andy to the contrary suggest that time has mellowed his
opinion with Todd and Skylarking. I still think it's a flawed but
brilliant album myself; the one song on later pressings that Todd
nixed, "Dear God," is the only one I come close to disliking on the
whole album. Even DG I enjoy hearing on the radio occasionally. I have
the version with "Mermaid Smiled" myself.

Chris

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

From: "Michael Versaci" <stormymonday@sprintmail.com>
Subject: An Open Letter to Dave Gregory
Date: Fri, 12 Feb 1999 07:54:26 -0500
Message-ID: <000001be5686$d2e80520$6b6b0a26@laptop-mversaci.mtwconsulting.com>

Dear Dave,

I think that it is admirable and wise of you to be taking the high road when
discussing the break-up with the press.  Be it a business, a marriage, or a
band, break-ups are complicated, and people on the inside strive to make
some sense of it all and then attempt to explain it to people on the
outside.  In fact, only the members of the "arrangement" know what happened,
and even then each one's understanding of the situation is born of their own
perceptions and often quite different than the others'.

Anyone with an ear for music can easily see the incalculable difference you
made when you joined XTC.  The other members must have been elated with the
results.  What a stark contrast there is between "Go 2" and  "Drums &
Wires"!  It seems you were just getting warmed up when one compares "D&W" to
the band's subsequent releases.

My belief is that both you and XTC can prosper in the aftermath of the
break-up.  I suggest that you put the word out that you are available for
sessions, and perhaps find a manager to  help in the procurement of some
work.  I would not be surprised if people like Paul McCartney, Elvis
Costello, David Bowie, Steve Winwood and many others become interested in
your services.  Don't forget that your name may not mean much to the casual
music listener, but XTC has always been a "musician's band", and you are
known and well respected by your peers.

In closing, I'd like to say that I love XTC's music.  I admire each member
for your amazing talents and exquisite taste.  One member's words spoken in
the wake of the break-up cannot possibly diminish my appreciation of your
music nor alter my gratitude for all of the happiness that you and your
band-mates have brought to me since I discovered you back in 1981.

I look forward to listening to the records that you will be making in the
future.

Sincerely,

Michael "Stormy Monday" Versaci

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

Message-ID: <19990212180914.10548.rocketmail@send106.yahoomail.com>
Date: Fri, 12 Feb 1999 10:09:14 -0800 (PST)
From: Tyler Hewitt <tahewitt@yahoo.com>
Subject: XTC IN CHICAGO!

AIEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE! (that's a scream of happiness)

Just got off the phone with Border's music dept. They have confirmed
that XTC will be in the store THURSDAY, FEB. 25. Thay didn't have any
other info, such as what time they will be there, etc. But they did
confirm. Border's is at 830 N. Michigan Ave. on the 'Magnificent
Mile'(upscale shopper's paradise). their phone # is (312) 573-0564.
Hope all of you in the Chicago area can make it. I'll definately be
there.

Tyler

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

Message-ID: <697A4CA51395D111A658AA00040058069D9FA2@NT6>
From: "Wiencek, Dan" <wiencek@aaos.org>
Subject: Borders in-store appearance confirmed
Date: Fri, 12 Feb 1999 12:11:06 -0600

Just spoke to a lad at Border's in Chicago.  XTC are indeed slated to
appear on the 25th of this month, which is a Thursday, not a Saturday.
Unfortunately, no other info is yet available, but I've noticed these
things generally take place in late-morning, early-afternoon.

Naturally, I will make every effort to be there.  I'd be interested to hear
from any other listees planning to attend.

Dan

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

Message-ID: <2043F72A2C73D2119D5B0008C74CA17B1DF9FF@azmail.rjconsult.com>
From: "Miller, Ed" <emiller@rjconsult.com>
Subject: Info needed on XTC appearances - - Colorado listening party
Date: Fri, 12 Feb 1999 11:12:02 -0600

Hi, everyone...

Could someone please let Chalkhills know when Andy and/or Colin will be
making promotional appearances?  I'm hoping they'll visit Denver soon.
Perhaps TVT can fill us in.

BTW... fellow ***Colorado*** residents....  I think we should have an
Apple Venus listening party... say Friday the 26th or Saturday the 27th.
Any takers?  I'll host it at my house in Englewood if that makes sense.
Email me soon and I'll organize it.

Returning to lurk mode...

Ed Miller

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

Message-Id: <199902121818.NAA09736@mail.bna.bellsouth.net>
From: "RoadKill" <csberry@mail.bna.bellsouth.net>
Date: Fri, 12 Feb 1999 12:23:30 +0000
Subject: No XTC on MTV?

Music Blvd states:
>   The first single from Apple Venus Vol. I, "I'd Like That," hits radio
> on Feb. 15. At press time, XTC has no plans to tour behind the record or
> make a video, but they will do a promotional run in the States,
> including in-stores in Los Angeles, Denver, New York, and San Francisco,
> in late February/ early March.<<<

Aaaarrrrrrrgggggghhhhhh!  No video!?!  I understand Andy's hatred for
the videos that he has had to do in the past, but all of us that have
seen his video ideas in Song Stories know that he has a chance to
take the reigns on this too.  Radio coverage is great.  I'm thrilled
to read the growing list of stations that are adding "I'd Like That."
I've notified all the stations that XTC would be in format and
expressed my desire that they join in on the adds.  But...the
addition of a video to this promotional push would certainly solidify
and broaden the audience exposed to them.  Wouldn't it be nice that
VH1 had XTC in the WATN show and a video in rotation?  Nearly two
decades ago we heard words that have been proven over and
over..."Video Killed the Radio Star."  You would be surprised how
many stations wait until MTV adds a video until they play the single.

Cory

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

Message-ID: <19990212184600.15670.rocketmail@web1.rocketmail.com>
Date: Fri, 12 Feb 1999 10:46:00 -0800 (PST)
From: nross <phoenixyellowrose@rocketmail.com>
Subject: Voyeurs - All!

Todd Bernhardt: (or Bill):

   Bill, why do you refuse to admit we had something together?
It makes me so sad... I think I need a smoke... oh, Damn! My cigar
is still wet!

Damn... that really didn't cum (oh, excuse me) come off as clever
as I thought it would.

XTC information:
 For those in DC area... I've been writing to Allen Scott of the morning
program on WHFS and he said (in his first response) that there are
no plans as of this moment to do another interview with XTC.
Then, I asked them if they will EVER play the new stuff (which I've
not heard them play yet)... here is the response:

We do play new stuff from them in the morning from time to time.
I'll see if we can play a bit more for you :-)

allen

So... there seems to be hope in the DC area!

Well, go back to the grind.
-Nicole

===

"... It takes all sorts of in and outdoor schooling to
get accustomed to my kind of fooling" -R.Frost

Astrology is even slipperier than logic.
-- Robert Heinlein

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

Message-Id: <s6c43626.052@chemonics.com>
Date: Fri, 12 Feb 1999 14:07:49 -0500
From: Todd Bernhardt <tbernhardt@chemonics.com>
Subject: A plea

Hi:

Got to make this quick, have to get to a meeting, but want to get this
off (get OFF! agh!) quickly to overcome "Chalkhills time lag."

The intrepid Andrea Lynn Rossillon (who gave the best XTC/Beatles
comparison I've yet seen) said:
>He also told me that XTC would be at the Borders' on Michigan Avenue
in Chicago on Saturday, Feb.25, at about 6 pm.<

Okay people, let's get organized about this!  I've written TVT asking
for a schedule and was told they're only doing radio shows, and got no
mention of what their promo itinerary is. Now, there's a distinct
possibility I'm not asking the right people at TVT, but is there ANY
WAY we can find out what the band's promo schedule is, so we can try
and make sure that all of these events are well-attended? People in
the know -- can you help us? Can all of us tie up the Internet with
queries about their schedule and pass along the info to the list? The
last thing I want to happen is to find out that XTC was at the Borders
a block and a half away from my office _yesterday_. I'd have to ...
hurt somebody.

Speaking of queries and wanting to hurt somebody:
>Jerry Falwell, head of Praise the Lord ministries and the founder of
the
Moral Majority, today released a statement saying that the teletubby
Tinky-Wink is a homosexual<

My gawd ... ol' Jerry must have a real problem with his own
tinky-winky to be so threatened by a bloated purple mutant who carries
a purse. Speaking of bloated purple mutants, why doesn't he go after
Barney, fer christsakes? He's always seemed a little fey to me ...

Congrats, Ira. Welcome to the great adventure.

Jeff Langr said:
>Some sounds of Brian Wilson and (I know
some of you will hate this) ELO.<

*shudder*  Puhleeze. The only thing they have in common w/ELO is the
fact that each band has three letters in its name.

And Belinda, funny that you call it WAW. My sister in law calls it a
"weewaw" but more for the onomatopoeic value of the word than as an
acronym.

Finally (shit! I'm late!!), Robert Dassie said:
>Speaking of frothy, Andy seems to be spitting the acid lately, no?
From all that I have read, it appears that Andy a) has a piss poor temper,
and b) doesn't think much about keeping personal issues personal.<

Can I just ask everyone to keep in mind that we have no idea what
really happened between the members of the band, and everything we say
here is supposition, pure and simple? I think we should all try and
stay away from trying to draw conclusions about motives when we have
no solid base for our assumptions. Remember, there're three sides to
every story: yours, mine and the truth. No one is blameless here, no
one should be exclusively blamed.

Todd

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

From: skylarker@iname.com
Message-Id: <9902121439180R.29567@weba6.iname.net>
Date: Fri, 12 Feb 1999 14:39:18 -0500 (EST)
Subject: Ramblin' Guy

Dear Apple-Venusians,

Oh, these chalkhills have come fast and furious as of late.

Quite interesting. New things almost everyday!

For some reason, though I have liquid audio up and running correctly, every
time I click to hear "I'd like that" it never does anything. It just opens
a window which searches then says, something about the server not being
available....Any help would be appreciated.

I think I like XTC because they have no pretense of trying to be cool or
hip. They produce this beautiful music that is always happy.  (Even when
it's sad, go figure).

I don't think arguing on this sight serves any purpose but to make us ALL
look like assholes.

I mean, I've been reading the articles. Andy sees this list sometimes I
believe like a gathering of fanatics----FAN-ADDICTS. I am not trying to say
you should censor yourself or not give your criticism. Not at all. I love
those kind of discussions.  But think before you post.

If you are doing it just to show everyone how clever you are, well then
that is too subjective.  You will never win anyone over.

Discussion, criticism, questions, sharing our musical tastes and news:
These are the things that make this sight so much better and different than
EVERY SINGLE OTHER LIST.

I am also going crazy because everyone in the world, except Tower Music is
saying that AVI is out on the 23rd. TOWER says it's MARCH 2nd. What is the
deal. I don't want to wait through all the English and Japanese listers
orgasms about it. I want to get mine on too!

BY THE WAY: ANY MR. SHOW FANS OUT THERE?

Have a lovely wait and play nice!:)

Love and Kisses
Skylarker

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

From: "Michael D. Myers" <mmyers@notes.cc.bellcore.com>
Message-ID: <85256716.006C835A.00@notes950.cc.bellcore.com>
Date: Fri, 12 Feb 1999 14:45:45 -0500
Subject: miscellaneous

Chalksters and Chalkettes;

- I am so glad to hear official confirmation from TVT that AV1 will in fact
be released on February 23 because that's my birthday!  All of this talk
about the release date slipping was taking away some joy from my impending
celebration, but now that we have confirmation, it's going to be one of my
best birthdays yet.

- John Irving wrote a very peculiar note recently when he was speaking
about the Mommyheads: "They broke up a few years ago, but Adam is now
fronting a band called Adam Elk.  Those in SF should try to catch him
before he ends up a smart-pop Danny Gatton."

John, I don't get your drift.  Danny Gatton was one of my favorite
guitarists;  he became despondent over his inability to support his family
(because of a terrible record deal;  sound familiar?) and committed suicide
a few years ago.  Danny could play anything and was a hero to many
professional musicians.  His ability to play blues, jazz, rockabilly, etc
made him legendary;  he won "Best Guitarist" awards from some trade
magazines and associations.  He clearly was an artist whose talent was many
times bigger than his financial success.  So I guess I can't connect your
statement to my memories of Danny.......

- I am one of the people who have heard the AV demos, and while they let me
know that the quality of Andy's songwriting is at an all-time high, the
sparse arrangements make me hunger for the real thing;  just wait a little
longer, a little longer.......

Mike

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

Message-Id: <199902122003.PAA22333@hammurabi.nh.ultra.net>
Date: Fri, 12 Feb 1999 14:58:55 -0500
Subject: ewwwwwwww!
From: "Duncan Watt" <kanuba@nh.ultranet.com>

dammit! I got yolk all over me!

You know how you hear a song once and it sticks, but then literally two
times more you never want to hear it again (think "Tubthumping", "Pass The
Dutchie"(or "Put Down The Duckie"), or anything written by Andrew Lloyd
Webber)? Then you hear something that just doesn't work right, doesn't sit
right, pisses you off because now you're going to have to actually stop
thinking about what's going to happen next on "Party Of Five" or whether or
not Echinacea actually works or not or what Jesse 'The Body'(sorry, it's
Jesse 'The Mind' now, isn't it) would say to Jesse 'The Pig' Helms if they
were taking a piss(well, one of them would be *trying* to take a piss)
together in the Politicians Washroom, and *think*, and even then you don't
know if you like it or not even then? Then you hear it again and it begins
to take shape, little things begin to square off and take places on your
opening mindscreen, the pattern, oh, yeah, you get it now, but no, you're
wrong... then you have an outline, why the hell is that there? then the Big
Picture starts to emerge, here's the frame, the puzzle edges, now it's
cooking, up to a decent simmer and you take it off the heat and drop in the
butter and WOW...it's all coming like a rush of blood, you can't stop it
now, but why would you, here it is, all the glittering goldendrops and
icicle lights glinting as it turns slowly for you to stare at, in all of
it's majestic wonder, all violins and reverb, all polypulse and voiceswirl,
everywhere you look there's another image to hear, all the combined years of
constant practice of all those musicians all sitting together in one room
all arch-reaching for the same thought, and it's here, and you can hold it
in your mind-hands and really look at it, each delicate part, a froggy
bassoon, a crisptinkly chimebell, a low hunting horn, a fast flowing group
of strings, a cracklepop snare, a flamethrow of brass, and... and words!
words both clever and sincere, poetic and profane, a wish for it all to be
not just a little better than it is, but all of what it *could* be, heaven,
here, now! Human emotion and thought wrung from life and all it's details,
portrayed through the one language every human can understand: music

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

Message-ID: <36C4946B.4B6BB922@biocomp.unl.edu>
Date: Fri, 12 Feb 1999 14:51:55 -0600
From: Peter Mullin <pmullin@biocomp.unl.edu>
Subject: Re: I'd like that

Well, I couldn't wait any longer, so I went to TVT and listened to "I'd
Like That" and listened to "I'd Like That" and listened...however, when I
try to download the song, it fails to play past about the 5-second mark,
skipping out at that point and crashing the computer.  Anyone else had that
problem?  And, by the way, I don't feel guilty...

Peter Mullin

"...like a really high thing, say, a sunflower..."

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

From: "Michael Versaci" <stormymonday@sprintmail.com>
Subject: Um, Bill Ike Ell?
Date: Fri, 12 Feb 1999 15:59:48 -0500
Message-ID: <001b01be56ca$a0d94a50$6e6b0a26@laptop-mversaci.mtwconsulting.com>

Folxtc,

"Season Cycle" sounds more like a Beatle record than a Beach Boys' record to
me.  The bass part is classic McCartney, and the rhythm section during
"Who's (round & round) pushing the pedals on the Season Cycle" is vintage
Beatles, sorta like "Penny Lane".

Sure you can trace XTC's influences, and in there you'll find The Kinks, The
Beatles and The Beach Boys /Brian Wilson among other artists.  The thing is,
they somehow manage to borrow from the best without sounding cheap or
derivative.  On the contrary, their music is unique, and it more than holds
its own when played side by side with the aforementioned artists.  Some
might use the words  "eclipse" and "exceed" for two of the three.

I believe that the days of "XTC?" are numbered...

Michael Versaci

Complete the following:

   "XTC is to "ELO" as

a) A Porsche is to a Ford Pinto?
c) Elvis Costello is to Michael Bolton?
d) John Cleese is to Benny Hill?
d) A redwood tree is to a chia pet?

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

Message-ID: <19990212210514.16751.rocketmail@web4.rocketmail.com>
Date: Fri, 12 Feb 1999 13:05:14 -0800 (PST)
From: nross <phoenixyellowrose@rocketmail.com>
Subject: Oh God! Not another posting from her. (that's me)

Astrology is even slipperier than logic.
-- Robert Heinlein

Ah, well.

I can't remember who posted this, and... stooopid me, forgot to
copy that in, but... in a thing? from a music store thing? this was
included:

> Despite realizing that he is losing potential income from the illegal
sales, XTC frontman Andy Partridge sees the lighter side of the issue.
"It's a perverse form of flattery, really," says Partridge. "In a way
it's bootlegging, so I guess everyone shelling out these dollars owes me
a pint!" <

and my response:

Andy (and Colin)... come on over to DC and I'll buy you both a pint!

okay... I'll lay off the postings for today.

hey... she said "lay", he he he.

-Nicole

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

Message-ID: <36C4A138.7FE2@pottsville.infi.net>
Date: Fri, 12 Feb 1999 16:46:32 -0500
From: Chris Kushmider <chriskus@pottsville.infi.net>
Subject: FEB-25 Chicago In-Store tapers?

Hello,

As free public performance is open to legal taping in most states
{illinois included I believe}, if anyone intends on recording this show,
please drop me a mail.

--
Thanks,
Chris
--
"People see no worth in you - oh, but I do."- Morrissey
http://www.geocities.com/SunsetStrip/Studio/1670/

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

Message-Id: <s6c4337f.063@tcwgroup.com>
Date: Fri, 12 Feb 1999 13:57:36 -0800
From: "Dane Pereslete" <peresd@tcwgroup.com>
Subject: It was a somewhat ordinary and quiet commute home from work.

It was a somewhat ordinary and quiet commute home from work.
Stopped at an intersection, en-route to retrieve our son from day-
care, my wife and I discussed events in the coming months.

I turned to my wife and informed her that in addition to my other
scheduled absences from work in the coming months for such
usual, mundane ordinary events such as taking my son to the
pediatrician for his 1 yr. checkup, etc., that she could expect me
to take Tuesday February 23rd off as well.  As I greedily rubbed
my hands together, plotting out every luscious detail of my day
off from work on RELEASE DAY! (standing at the checkout
counter, freshly wrapped CD in hand, the crinkling of the shrink-
wrap, the loud cursing during the futile attempt at opening of
same, hearing those first glorious notes ooze like honey from the
speakers and grille of my stereo), she got a quizzical expression
on her face that was quickly replaced with the shock of recognition.

"That's the release date of that record, isn't it?".  I shook my head in
affirmation, offering nothing more than a witless and sheepish grin.
"You've lost it!...you're completely obsessed!", she proclaimed.  I stut-
tered and fumbled, quickly trying to clarify and defend my actions with
something along the lines of "But they only release an album once
every generation or so!...surely, that's reason for celebration!" or
"Sheer genius such as this can only be properly savored in medi-
tative solitude!", but only aborted sentence fragments prevailed.

We eventually had a good laugh over it, but it made me seriously
reflect on the current state of affairs.  It has been such an unbear-
ably long time since XTC fans have had a new album to gush
about that I have followed very closely all events leading to the re-
lease of AV 1.  I hungrily devoured each page of Neville's book.
Obsession is the only proper description for what I feel right now.
IT SCARES ME.  I've always considered myself very even keeled
about everything...in NO WAY could I ever resort to FAN OBSES-
SION.  However, lately it appears that this is so.  I can't deny that I
fully intend to skip a day's work to PURCHASE AND LISTEN TO
A CD.

Does this qualify me for examination by a psychiatrist?

Am I making too much of this?

Would professional assistance even help?

Or is it something only Drs. Partridge and Moulding can cure?

The answers, I'm sure, will become evident in the next few weeks.

Stay tuned...

*----------------------------------------------------------------
 Logging in from beautiful Glendale, CA  USA
 "Getting oh, so impatient!"
daneperes@aol.com -or- bramage64@aol.com

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

End of Chalkhills Digest #5-88
******************************

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