Chalkhills Digest Volume 6, Issue 238
Date: Monday, 14 August 2000

         Chalkhills Digest, Volume 6, Number 238

                  Monday, 14 August 2000

Topics:

                      Millard Powers
XTC Content!! (and more postings about buildings and food)
             Final Note On Sampling & The CD
              "Take Away" and "Go+" on Ebay
                       mummer, etc.
                       Jump the Cup
                    The New Gilbertian
                         I'm back
                    "lay your head.."
                 stupidly happy go lucky
                  Peripheral XTC content
                        bottoms up
                      Don't Give Up
                Answering Todd's Judgement
                          Duets
                           Ants
                   When Mummer Came Out
                Acoustic Tales cover art?

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Is the airplane sweeping low?

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

Date: Sat, 12 Aug 2000 18:30:39 -0400
From: "Robert Cosentino" <robertlc@erols.com>
Subject: Millard Powers
Message-ID: <001b01c004ac$f2056620$ddc47ad1@robertco>

Check this guy out...
http://artists.mp3s.com/artists/68/millard_powers.html

Rob Cosentino
Nonsuch Productions
Owner/Producer/Engineer
http://listen.to/nonsuch

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

Date: Sat, 12 Aug 2000 19:20:32 -0400
From: MinerWerks <dminer@gte.net>
Subject: XTC Content!! (and more postings about buildings and food)
Message-ID: <a04310100b5bb8680515e@[63.25.150.158]>

Keith Walker asks:

>XTC content:  I have run across a copy of Big Express in a die-cut sleeve
>(it looks like a giant train wheel).  Is this sufficiently rare to snap up?
>(I'm not a completeist, but I'm always looking for a good deal)

If you don't want it, I'll take it! :-) Honestly, I'm not sure what
the value of the said piece is (it would vary widely depending on
condition, I'd imagine), but my recent descent into the geeky world
of turntables and vinyl has got me jonesin' for some clean XTC
platters. I recently pulled out a 12" of "Mayor Of Simpleton" I got
as a gift and played the demos on side B - no surface noise
whatsoever! I was shocked...
--------

Harrison "Pass the Parmesan" Sherwood writes:

>Can we, just for fun, give names to these two warring elements? I think of
>the nervous guitar riff as an expression of Fear, Uncertainty, Doubt--FUD,
>for short. And because I'm a whimsical fucker, let's call the melody's
>impulse toward cheerfulness and normality Elmer. Thus, "Stupidly Happy" has
>at its center the tension between Elmer and FUD.

  .
  ..
  ...

Harrison, could you remind us again which of your many talents is the
one that pays your bills?
(In other words, what do you do for a living?)

And for that matter, where are your:

A) influential and well-reviewed CDs?
B) copious tomes of fiction and non-fiction?
C) music school for tone-deaf XTC fans?
D) nationally syndicated newspaper column?
and
E) omelet cookbook?

= Derek "shocked and stunned" Miner = ("Yes, very stunned")

P.S. Anyone have an idea why my email program considers "B" and "D"
to be spelled correctly, but not "C" or "E"?

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

Date: Sat, 12 Aug 2000 21:25:14 -0400 (EDT)
From: Radios In Motion <radiosinmotion@iwon.com>
Subject: Final Note On Sampling & The CD
Message-ID: <380314615.966129917454.JavaMail.root@web193-iw>

This is the last point I will bring up about sampling.  A few of you have
lumped all sampling in one group as if its all just, well ignorant.  There
are people like Puffy who use instrumentals and he has enough money to hire
someone to write his music, but for some reason he prefers not to use too
much talent, but there are lots of good groups that sample phrases and
sounds.  One of those groups is They Might Be Giants.  The used tons of
samples on their albums along with an old drum machine.  I don't see how we
can have a double standard with Rap.

Michael Bolton can get a Grammy doing a cover of someone's song, but a Rap
artists who uses a sample and makes a whole song out of a loop is considered
talent-less.  I think recycling a beat takes a lot more skill then merely
doing a cover!  Regardless, when it comes to just a instrumental I agree
with you, but not when it comes to pieces of other songs.  To me it shows a
sign of respect to the artist it borrows from just as a cover does.

I am making a double CD containing a bunch of Rap from the past 25 years and
am putting the stuff you would not hear on the radio (and to give a
wholistic perspective, I may also put a few of the more popular
stuff/terrible stuff as well) just so you can at least give it a try.  I am
willing to trade as well.  Recently someone offered me a country CD and I am
going to try it.  I don't mean listen while clicking the forward button on
my CD player either!  I am going to listen to nothing but the country CD for
a week so I can develop an honest opinion rather than an armchair critic
opinion.

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

Date: Sun, 13 Aug 2000 01:58:08 -0400
From: David Gershman <dagersh@pobox.com>
Subject: "Take Away" and "Go+" on Ebay
Message-ID: <4.2.0.58.20000813015021.00990970@smtp.netway.com>

Hi Chalkhillions,

  Just wanted to let interested parties know that I just put up a couple of
hard-to-find XTC vinyl items up for bid on Ebay:

Mr. Partridge's "Take Away" (rare white-label version) and XTC's "Go+" EP.
Both are in near-mint playing condition.

Please have a look-see:

Take Away:
http://cgi.ebay.com/aw-cgi/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=408313296

Go+:
http://cgi.ebay.com/aw-cgi/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=408314692

For those of you not up-to-date on these platters, the two of them contain
most of what you now can only find on the "Explode Together" CD.

Both auctions end late on August 19. Have fun!

Dave Gershman

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

Date: Sat, 12 Aug 2000 22:32:17 -0700 (PDT)
From: Thomas Long <thlong@interchange.ubc.ca>
Subject: mummer, etc.
Message-ID: <Pine.GSO.4.21.0008122143150.20010-100000@inch.interchange.ubc.ca>

Venusians:

For all those who love Mummer, I salute you. It's the easiest of their
recordings to dismiss (with the possible exception of Go2), but it has
buckets of character.

I definitely remember where I was when the album "clicked" for me: riding
a bus along the drenched streets of Vancouver, a snotty 19 year old mod in
'83 (still mourning the breakup of my beloved Jam), miles from a walkman,
with Human Alchemy ringing in my head. Songs that seemed so difficult to
embrace suddenly fell into place when I was able to wrap my ears around
Human Alchemy's arrangement. I still rank Ladybird as one of their
best melodies; Funk Pop a Roll's lyrics should be required reading for any
aspiring musician; and the end of Deliver Us From the Elements continues
to scare the bejesus outta me.

Human Alchemy was actually a watershed tune for me in another way as well:
the first "weird" track I actually "got". Suddenly, a whole bunch of music
that I'd dismissed as horribly unfashionable came crashing in. And now I
look back at my beloved Jam as rather silly... all bowling shoes, pant
creases, and stupid haircuts. The Jam were great for a teenager in search
of an identity who'd missed the 60's, but fairly destructive in terms of
broadening one's outlook. The torch was passed to XTC, and damn if they
haven't dropped it since!

Thomas

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

Date: Sun, 13 Aug 2000 20:40:25 -0400 (EDT)
From: Brian Whitman <bwhitman@crudites.org>
Subject: Jump the Cup
Message-ID: <Pine.BSF.4.10.10008132039260.26768-100000@othala.pair.com>

Can anyone tell me the origin of the song "Jump the Cup"? What I hear is a
shortish instrumental with (synth?) strings and a whistley lead. Is this
XTC and when did they do this and for what?

Thanks!
-Brian

--
Brian Whitman
bwhitman@crudites.org
Crudites Sound Ventures

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

Date: Sun, 13 Aug 2000 15:43:43 -0700 (PDT)
From: pancho artecona <partecona@yahoo.com>
Subject: The New Gilbertian
Message-ID: <20000813224343.2919.qmail@web217.mail.yahoo.com>

Well, thanks to all of you who have kept mentioning
Kevin Gilbert I started listening to his stuff and
well....consider me among the converted. Quite the pop
songster and an incredible musician-facile with so
many styles its uncanny.  Thanks again.

And recently someone stated that Neil Young's songs
would never be used for sales purposes.....well just
the other day I heard a ditty that said

I want to give, I want to live,
and I'm searching for a Trojan Gold
keep me searching for a Trojan Gold
before I get cold

I guess EVERYONE is for sale after all.

I was rather flabbergasted when I heard Lipshitz
Kravitz' tune about Flying away for a car commercial
'while the song was still a hit' but then I heard Blur
for another car and realized its all kind of the same,
so much for my pithy moral superiority. I'm an amoral
cur anyhow. At least the estate of Nick Drake is
making some money.....

Anyway, my misheard lyric is still Napalm instead of
Maypole.

Pancho XPRXTCFAN

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

Date: Sun, 13 Aug 2000 21:18:16 -0700
From: jbkxtc@ev1.net
Subject: I'm back
Message-ID: <00d301c005a6$ae1510a0$0a525d3f@sony.com>

Hi all,

So, you probably didn't even notice I was gone, but I've been mostly
incommunicado for a month or so due to work and the fab International Pop
Overthrow festival.  But I'm back and a new e-mail address named in honor of
the band we all know and love.

Okay, I need some advice & info from my fellow Chalkhillians across the
pond.  I'm coming to London mid-September but will only be in town about
three days.  The fourth day will be spent in Bristol and HOPEFULLY in
Swindon but the rest of the time will be in London and I need
recommendations on record stores.  I know and have been before to the usual
haunts - Tower in Picadilly Circus, HMV and Virgin on Oxford or New Oxford
or whatever that street is.  BUT, I'm looking for the cool, used or new
stores where I can look for goodies.  Feel free to send your picks off list.

XTC content:  In two unlikely places here in L.A. I've heard XTC playing
over the in-store music system.  First it was "King for a Day" in the 24
hour Rexall Drugs in West L.A. and then "Senses Working Overtime" in a
sporting goods store in Marina Del Rey.  How great is that?

More later and thanks in advance for any record store advice,

John

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

Date: Sun, 13 Aug 2000 12:12:30 -0700
From: "J & J Greaves" <jgreaves@rapidnet.net>
Subject: "lay your head.."
Message-ID: <200008131924.MAA13169@mail.rapidnet.net>

Check out this info FYI:

http://emrs.chm.bris.ac.uk/morris/CClarke/GREENMAN.HTM

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

Date: Sun, 13 Aug 2000 15:21:47 -0500
From: "William Sherlock" <bdsherlock@earthlink.net>
Subject: stupidly happy go lucky
Message-ID: <41200080132021470@earthlink.net>

This afternoon my dear wife informed me that she just loves the song
"Wounded Horse". "It's a good wailing along song", she said. She also likes
SIFJ. These are probably the two least listened to songs on WS for me, but
I'll take what I can get, that is after I pick myself up off of the floor.
I know now how you feel Annamarie. She even confessed that she put the disc
on and listened to it while I was out listening to...

(General Public. Now, there's a band I haven't heard in a
while. It may be time to go get that disc from the
cabinet....)

Yes, Erik, they're back (or at least Dave Wakeling is). Saw them at the
Metro in Chicago, hard by Wrigley Field, on Friday last. Actually they
should have billed themselves as English Beat as that made up the vast
majority of the set list. Probably for the best, and it was truly a rockin'
show.

Bill  Sherlock

"I should be in bed, I need my 11 hours. I'm a real sleep addict. I started
off just napping. Then I got into the harder stuff...siestas. Before I knew
what was happening I was a sleep junkie."    Andy Partridge, Melody Maker,
8-18-79

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

Date: Sun, 13 Aug 2000 18:55:23 -0400
From: "squirrelgirl" <squirrelgirl@hitter.net>
Subject: Peripheral XTC content
Message-ID: <000301c00579$918a1020$1b48c0cf@meredith-s>

Howdy 'Hillians -

Yes, I'm a techno-idiot, and I'd like YOUR help in becoming a thieving
heathen.  My computer at work has a CDR-W so I thought I'd download
Vee-tube's MP3 files.  Got them converted to .wav files and all but am
having difficulty writing them to disc - the error message is something
about the buffer, which seems like the computer isn't giving the info to the
CDR fast enough.  The solution to this problem is beyond my limited computer
knowledge (in fact, it took me most of the afternoon to get as far as I did,
including defragging de frigging computer to see if that would help!)

I got as far as looking to make sure my computer and my CDR have
"disconnect" enabled, as per the instructions in the CDR manual, but I'm
stuck now, and having listened to Candy Mine, I want a portable version!

Please e-mail me off list if you can provide some assistance, or if you want
to chastise me for my descent into the hellish life of computer crime.
Thank you!

SG

NP:  Nonsuch

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

Date: Mon, 14 Aug 2000 14:07:41 +1100
From: SEBASTIEN MAURY 02 9950 3315 <maury.sebastien@abc.net.au>
Subject: bottoms up
Message-ID: <200008140416.OAA0000030572@inmail01.abc.net.au>

For the curious: my take on the French article below if this:

"If you search for "XTC.com" on the web, you come across...a porn site. Too
bad if you were after info on the British group XTC. But actually, it's not
so bad, given AP and CM's earthy sense of humour. No-one produces pop like
XTC any more; in fact not even XTC themselves do. It would be lying to deny
that they have yet to hit their peak (the unsurpassable English
Settlement). This, their 12th album, gives them a chance to relive their
glory days. The guitars, salvaged from the attic, tear apart with glee the
bucolic lace which was the specialty of the house of XTC.

Quand on tape XTC.com sur le web, on ichoue sur... un site de cul.
>Tant pis pour les infos sur le duo brittanique. Mais au fond, ce
>n'est pas si mal trouvi, tant l'humeur d'Andy Partridge et Colin
>Moulding s'affiche printaniere. Personne ne fabrique plus de la pop
>comme XTC. Pas mime eux puisqu'on mentirait en soutenant que leurs
>plus riches heures (l'indipassable English Settlement de 1982) n'ont
>pas dija sonies. Ce douzieme album leur donne l'occasion de
>s'encanailler comme aux plus beaux jours. Sorties du grenier, les
>guitares dichirent a plaisir la dentelle bucolique don't la maison
>XTC s'etait fait une spicialiti.

I particularly loved Altavista's translation of "cul" as "bottom". The mind
boggles.

Cheers,
Seb.

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

Date: Mon, 14 Aug 2000 10:57:41 +0200
From: Bergmaier Klaus <klaus.bergmaier@maxonline.at>
Subject: Don't Give Up
Message-ID: <41E0B760C85AD3119BE200E0291B6EE5057BF2@NTSRV>

Dear all!

I like "All of a Sudden", you're not the only one, Dave.
I like Squeeze's "Dominoe", just to let you know. It's much better than its
predecessor.
I absolutely love Ringo's song "Photograph". It always makes me cry.

I will never give up on:

XTC
Yes (although it's getting harder now)
Genesis (maybe they give up themslves)
Beatles and their solo stuff
King Crimson (+Belew)
Ultravox
Big Apple (my own band. Listen to them on West Beatown!)
Depeche Mode
Human League
Soundgarden
Kate Bush
Alice in Chains
Cud
Jars of Clay
Trip Shakespeare
Oregon

All the best from Austria
Klaus

http://www.charm.net/~duke/xtc/beatown2.html

Soundfiles:
http://www.charm.net/~duke/xtc/apple.aif
http://www.charm.net/~duke/xtc/apple2.aif

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

Date: Mon, 14 Aug 2000 06:07:39 -0400 (EDT)
From: Radios In Motion <radiosinmotion@iwon.com>
Subject: Answering Todd's Judgement
Message-ID: <380293229.966247662816.JavaMail.root@web184-iw>

First, let me address a few of your statements:

"Then why do you insist on constantly bringing up politics in this forum?"

No, someone else brought up politics, I only responded and added some of my
own comments.  I have never initiated a conversation about politics on this
list, or any other thing for that matter.

"And if you're going to consistently make such sweeping generalizations
about people -- which you've done the whole time you've been here, no matter
what subject matter you're on about or what name you've called yourself
while on the list -- why are you so sensitive when people call you on it?"

First, I have not made "sweeping generalizations" on this list other than
those regarding the politics.  I agree, they were "sweeping generalizations"
and maybe I should have worded that whole post differently, but then again,
I never called anyone an ass, or an asshole for that matter for stating
their opinion, whether I felt they were wrong or not.  To me, that is
unexcusable and childish.  Finally, I changed my name because I changed my
email address on the list.  The only name I call myself is "Brian." Radios
In Motion is my Band name and email address, which is the only reason I use
that.  At this point, I am used to seeing "RIM" or "Radios" when looking
through the list, so I kept that as the name in my mail program.

I will no longer talk politics because I do not want to argue.  I just want
to meet likeminded people on this list and I am sorry if my post infuriates
you that much.  If you, or anyone would like to speak, or argue off list
(maybe we can both vent our frustrations in a more appropriate place) email
me at radiosinmotion@iwon.com.  I'm sorry if my opinions offended anyone on
this list.  I was just speaking my mind.  Oh, and I am by no means a
"Moderate."  I am very liberal, I just don't agree with everything that some
liberals stand for.  I don't think its fair if I speak out and criticize
republicans or democrats if I don't at least look at liberals as well.   The
same thing goes for everything I have always stood for.  When I was a young
Punk, I did not like most punks.  I like to be critical of what I believe so
that I can either strengthen or weaken my own beliefs; thus changes are made
and I become a better person.  End.

If you want to speak to me, rather than flaming me on the list, which in my
opinion is worse than the initial argument in the first place, just email me
so we can keep this off the list so crap like this does not end up taking up
space any more.  Whether you want to flame me or just expand on something I
said, I don't think this belongs on the list. I looked back today at all the
topics since I have been here the past few months and even a few months back
and it seems that the same pattern goes on.  There is a whole history with
this list it seems.  It goes like this:

1. Someone say's something or states an opinion about something, whether its
XTC related or not. (something like, "Wasp Star Sucks")
2. Someone else gets bothered about that persons opinion and tries to prove
that person is wrong. (No it doesn't)
3. Somehow, this starts a domino affect and a bunch of people start arguing
there points and the whole list argues for a few weeks.
4. Somehow, 1 argument leads to several other arguments and no one wins
until its all dropped and someone bitches about all the off topic stuff.
5. The list gets back on topic and is fine for about 2 or 3 digests when all
of a sudden, we are back to square 1!

I'm sorry for my contribution to the crap on this list and I will stop now
and will no longer get into debates on this list.  I can see why this list
should be kept on topic.  I think we should all go out and join other lists
as well as chalkhills and no longer share any opinions about anything that
is not related to XTC on this list.  I hate to say this because I liked some
of the off topic conversations.  Because of it, I am going to be introduced
to Country music (which I still don't like, but am open to listening to it).
I have also been introduced to some artists I had never listened to before
that I now love.

However, it does not seem to go anywhere and does more harm then good.  In
no way am I any authority on this list and I am not telling anyone what to
do.  I am only saying that it might be better to limit some of these off
topic arguments.  Maybe we should all make an effort to try and keep
everything off list.  If we do post something off topic, we should include
our email addresses so we can keep the arguments (and flames) off list and
on list we can focus on meeting XTC fans and chatting about the future of
our favorite band.

I hope those of you bothered by my politics will forgive me and take this as
it is; A serious attempt to get back on topic and apologize for anything
that I said that disturbed anyone.
Thank you. (Now this post was moderate!)

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

Date: Fri, 11 Aug 2000 06:51:24 -0500
From: "Christopher R. Coolidge" <cauldron@together.net>
Subject: Duets
Message-ID: <l03130301b5b99626360a@[208.13.202.196]>

>Regarding Andy's appearance the "The List" - does anyone else think that
>Andy would make a great guest on the "Politically Incorrect" show?  I
>wish I could somehow influence them to do this but alas, I am only "one
>of the millions'....

  Andy was mismatched that week. Weird Al Yankovic has been hosting the
show this week, and has had some very interesting, personable and funny
guests(also closer to Andy's age!)such as Emo Phillips(one of the best
comedians still alive, IMO), Jackie Collins(I can't stand her books, but
she was actually pretty cool), Bill Mumy,(Danger! Danger, Will Robinson!)
and Teri Garr. Lat night the subject was What is your dream duet? Which got
me thinking of who Andy or Colin would be an appropriate duet with. Does
Erica Wexler sing? Weird Al himself was very personable and funny, and
thrilled to be hanging with these people, some of which he undoubtedly had
something to do with inviting on the show(Emo Philips has a role on UHF,
his late 80's cult movie). Something tells me he and Andy would be a better
mix than that idiot who was hosting the week that Andy was on. Some very
interesting duets were suggested, such as Paul McCartney and Brian Wilson
by Bill Mumy(dang! why hasn't that happened?)and Annie Lennox and Dr John
by Teri Garr. Those two would definitely be guests at my hypothetical
dinner party of the stars.

Christopher R. Coolidge

Homepage at
http://homepages.together.net/~cauldron/homepage.html

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

Date: 14 Aug 2000 11:51:00 +0100
From: "Robert Wood" <Robert.Wood@mutech.co.uk>
Subject: Ants
Message-ID: <00003748@mutech.co.uk>
Organization: Mutech Ltd

>> Has anyone noticed the similarity between the chorus melodies of XTC's
Melt The Guns' and Prince Charming' by Adam & The Ants? <<

Yes! My friend Dave has, he points it out every time I play Melt the
Guns. The git! <g>

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

Date: 14 Aug 2000 11:48:00 +0100
From: "Robert Wood" <Robert.Wood@mutech.co.uk>
Subject: When Mummer Came Out
Message-ID: <00003747@mutech.co.uk>
Organization: Mutech Ltd

Warren was asking what we thought when Mummer came out.

I was shocked to find she was gay, but then again it was the early '80s and
people weren't as liberal as they are now. If she came out now, people
wouldn't bat an eyelid.

Oh.

Sorry.

You meant the album.

Actually, I was fairly dissappointed when it came out, (after all the
previous release *was* one of the greatest albums ever recorded!) but
listened to it a lot anyway. It grew on me, with standout tracks being
Farmboy, Great Fire and the last four tracks. I remember especially the
last four tracks really capturing my imagination and loved the bit that
joins Loving Memory and Me and the Wind; what really worried me though was
the "buy buy" at the end of Funk Pop a Roll, I thought Andy was singing
"bye bye". With Terry leaving I thought Andy was saying that's it, game's
over. I was mightily relieved when Big Express came out.

I only ever really listen to the last four tracks now, I think they are all
awesome tracks that would make it on to any XTC compilation. Ladybird is a
superb track that many people who don't like XTC seem to enjoy. :-) Some of
Andy and Colin's best lyrics on those four tracks IMHO.

Rob.

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

Date: Mon, 14 Aug 2000 10:59:39 -0400
From: Tom Paluzzi <tmp@tmp.mv.com>
Subject: Acoustic Tales cover art?
Message-ID: <007001c00600$454ec250$9606c90a@btrd.bostontechnology.com>

Hi...

Does anybody have the color cover art
of the Acoustic Tales cd that they could
send me??

Thanks,
Tom

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

End of Chalkhills Digest #6-238
*******************************

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