Chalkhills Digest Volume 6, Issue 7
Date: Wednesday, 12 January 2000
Chalkhills Digest, Volume 6, Number 7
Wednesday, 12 January 2000
Today's Topics:
The crew lost theirs at dice
RE: Paying Attention
XTC wedding songs
Bliss, Oh Bliss !
It's your...
Re: Wedding Songs
Ti Jean
"guns don't kill people..."
George and guns (was Re: melt them!)
Re: Homespun vs. AVv1
wedding songs
Changing my money in the temple...
New developments
Re: melt them!
Re: melt them!
Re: Homespun vs. AVv1
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---------------------------------------------------------------------- Message-ID: <387B9C95.5B52E773@zfn.uni-bremen.de> Date: Tue, 11 Jan 2000 22:11:49 +0100 From: Erich Sellheim <sellheim@zfn.uni-bremen.de> Subject: The crew lost theirs at dice Hello everyone, something for the trainspotters: I recently saw a TV ad for a game in which you had to roll around several dice, thus changing their numbers (is that the word?). My question: Isn't that also the concept behind one of the games invented by Andy Partridge and presented in the 1983 TV documentary "Play At Home", called (I think) "Anthill"? Even the spelling of the game's name (the one in the ad) seems to be a clue: it's called "Tactix"! Or is all of this more like an indication that I'm getting paranoia? Confusedly yours, Erich Sellheim
------------------------------ From: Chauncy14@aol.com Message-ID: <ce.ce50e7fa.25ad3a23@aol.com> Date: Tue, 11 Jan 2000 21:00:03 EST Subject: RE: Paying Attention Hey folks, Bob Estus enquired: <Can anyone else here confess of an XTC induced absent mindedness?> When my mother was in the hospital recently, recovering from surgery and an infection, I wondered over to read the medical chart. On it was the diagnosis: Incarcerated Umbilical Hernia. Now, it just popped out, I read aloud to my siblings and both parents, "Mom, did you know you had an Incarcerated Um-bi-LI-cal Hernia?" [Emphasis on the third syllable, second word...of course you should know the reference herein.] And, the clan retorted, "What was that?" Now, since that inside-humor of a statement, when recalling my mother's diagnosis to other friends of the family, it still pops out wrong...Um-bi-LI-cal...goofy, eh? <----and I break out in song ..."who's pushing the pedals on the season cycle.." Regards, Chauncy in Chicago
------------------------------ Message-ID: <017001bf5cce$55fc9c20$a6841818@we.mediaone.net> From: "Drew MacDonald" <drewmacdonald@mediaone.net> Subject: XTC wedding songs Date: Tue, 11 Jan 2000 23:26:26 -0800 As others have noted earlier in this thread, "Harvest Festival" is a good song to play at a wedding. I did just that at my sister's reception a few months ago, and three different guests came up to ask me what "that beautiful song" was. New XTC fans aborning! Drew
------------------------------ Message-ID: <20000112115335.28655.qmail@hotmail.com> From: "Andrew Gowans" <ratwhacker@hotmail.com> Subject: Bliss, Oh Bliss ! Date: Wed, 12 Jan 2000 22:53:35 EST Ho, Ho, Ho There Folks ! Why the Chrissy mention ? Well, after receiving a modicum of personal spending money from my favourite relatives I have plugged some glaring holes in my CD collection. Until very recently I have had only Mummer, Nonsuch, Upsy Daisy Assortment, The Dub Experiments and AV1 on CD and my ageing tape collection to supply my daily dose of XTC. Only White Music and Homespun are oustanding deliveries on my internet spending spree, with a few select purchases, say Drums and Wireless and Transistor Blast for starters, at Birthday time. But why the gaps ? Well, there be vinyl in that thar shed, luvvingly packed in cardboard and zip-lock plastic. Shame they and my old turntable cannot be accomodated, ah well..no room at the inn. The goodies arrived over a period of a week, almost a package a day in the mail. Wow ! Like, usually all I get is bills, well these DID have bills with them but they are for something tangible unlike telephone and power accounts etc. Ensconced at my wash-up station in the kitchen I have been almost overwhelmed by the music, the hooks, the vocals, the lyrics, the images. I have had to calm my good lady by insisting that the drooling and frothing at the mouth are caused by the steam and soap of washing up (I think she believes me ?). I must dash to check the status of my remaining orders my suppliers. One last thing, I have been keeping track of the various prices for XTC and Dukes CD's at a few of the internet-based suppliers, CD Now, Amazon, Music Strip, MuZic Depot, Virgin Megastore, Chaos Music and Sanity (The last 2 in Australia like me) and if any are interested I can give you a quick rundown of the better prices available as of quite recently. Mail me off-list if you wish. Bye now, Andrew Gowans
------------------------------ From: "Barry Koch" <barry@together.net> Subject: It's your... Date: Wed, 12 Jan 2000 08:15:20 -0500 Message-ID: <NCBBJIDGOJNFJLOFJEJGOEPCCHAA.barry@together.net> Robeach11@aol.com wrote: > I'm getting married on the 22nd.... any ideas on XTC "marriage > songs"? I've got a few clues, but would like some input. And yes, I > exposed my fiancee to XTC and she really digs 'em. "Big Day"? Ha ha. Barry
------------------------------ Message-ID: <387C3DC9.724A@bhip.infi.net> Date: Wed, 12 Jan 2000 08:39:41 +0000 From: Brian <mattone@bhip.infi.net> Subject: Re: Wedding Songs Tschalkgerz! "Burning With Optimism's Flames" - it is HER day. "I Can't Own Her" - well, you CAN'T... and it's a pretty song. "Down In The Cockpit" - man needs a woman to pull him right out of it... what IT is, I'm not sure. "Ladybird" - I'll admit to perhaps not much deep understanding of the real points behind some of these tunes, but at least the wedding audience will have even LESS of a clue. "Love On A Farmboy's Wages" - of course. "Ball And Chain" - no- sorry, strike that... :-) -Brian Matthews http://www.angelfire.com/fl/sapringer
------------------------------ Message-ID: <001401bf5d07$a64112e0$795791d2@johnboud> From: "John Boudreau" <aso1@mocha.ocn.ne.jp> Subject: Ti Jean Date: Wed, 12 Jan 2000 17:59:57 +0900 >>>As Truman Capote said of Jack Kerouac: >>>"That's not writing, that's typing." >Truman Capote was everything I as a writer wanted to be, minus >the panama >hat and the lisp... Jack Kerouac was everything I as a writer wanted to be , minus the plaid lumberjack shirts and cheap wine ( sake man myself ) . Oh - and Capote had his head up his ass when he referred to Kerouac's work as " not writing ... that's typing " , and history proves that . Sketching/spontaneous prose is Kerouac's major formal achievement , and a source of joy for readers . Check out not only On The Road , but also Visions Of Cody ; The Dharma Bums ; The Subterraneans ; or Big Sur . Sushiman
------------------------------ Message-ID: <387C8DA1.49A19DCD@ci.conover.nc.us> Date: Wed, 12 Jan 2000 09:20:17 -0500 From: erik schlichting <eriks@ci.conover.nc.us> Subject: "guns don't kill people..." Patricia wrote: "If a person has the malicious intentions of hurting another person, it doesn't matter if they have access to a gun or not. They will find a way to accomplish their goals..." Yes. This is precisely the reason that whenever I'm attacked by a vicious, crazed individual, I prefer that they are using a knife or fork, rather than a gun. I think my chances of thwarting or surviving a gun-less attack are much better than when being shot. Erik
------------------------------ Message-ID: <B195726DB50AD2118E880008C7FAA6FC0141F694@newman.partech.com> From: Janis VanCourt <Janis_VanCourt@partech.com> Subject: George and guns (was Re: melt them!) Date: Wed, 12 Jan 2000 09:54:48 -0500 Patricia <gypsypg@pacbell.net> put forth: <<If a person has the malicious intentions of hurting another person, it doesn't matter if they have access to a gun or not.>> Oh, but it matters immensely. A gun makes murder ever-so-much easier, don't you agree? <<They will find a way to accomplish their goals, however twisted other people think those goals and/or people are.>> Well, in the case of George Harrison's assailant, whose the goal was presumably the murder of George and his family, that turns out not to have been the case. Thank the gods. <<Point in fact, I believe that he was stabbed.>> Yes, that's correct; the stab wound was in fact only an inch away from his heart. A close-range bullet in the same location would surely have meant his death. <<I understand that the point was that it could have been much worse had the assailant been armed with a gun.>> Specifically, the point is that another beloved, generous, artistic and beautiful human being would no longer be on the planet with us had the assailant been armed with a gun. <<But, without a gun, he still managed to get past security and into his room!>> Yes, well. Knives tend to be much quieter, I'll grant you that. <<It is not a gun that kills a person, it is the person holding the gun that kills a person (or animal, et cetera).>> Oh please. All due respect for personal opinions, but how long will folks go on spouting and believing the lame and faulty "people kill people" argument? For murderers, guns are a means to the end, and when we remove guns from the equation, innocent folks tend to stay alive. <<Shall we melt the "sick" individuals too?>> If you insist. But wouldn't it be nicer and more humane to help them with their illnesses instead? Perhaps early on, even, before they resort to violence? <<What about knives and sharp objects such as forks?>> I find this comparison offensive in the extreme. John Lennon wasn't poked to death with a freaking *fork*; he was shot in the chest. Give the criminally insane all the pointy cutlery you like, just give them therapy and treatment and support as well, and for gosh sakes, keep them away from any bloody firearms. <<And, who will be deemed a just determiner of whom and what shall be melted?>> Perhaps that could be determined by a little process we call democracy. And perhaps halting the sale and manufacture of handguns (devices the only purpose of which is to put a hole in a human) would be a good place to start. <<Let's play this out further...when the law abiding public has been stripped of all means to defend itself, who will protect them from the non law abiding public?>> This is hardly a question of bad guys versus good guys anymore. Because sadly, good guys go postal, too. Melt them, (now) Janis
------------------------------ From: RiknBkr@aol.com Message-ID: <dc.dc98f923.25adf61c@aol.com> Date: Wed, 12 Jan 2000 10:22:04 EST Subject: Re: Homespun vs. AVv1 > By the way, the year half the Beatles turned to shit was 1972--Lennon > released his awful Sometime in New York City and McCartney released Wild > Life. Both are horrible albums with absolutely nothing to recommend them. > Then again, the hard-core Beatles fan might appreciate them. I personally > like one track on Wild Life--McCartney answers How Do You Sleep? with the > song Dear Friend. I'll have to delurk here for a moment. That was the year I bought my first single, which was incidently Ringo's "Back of Boogaloo". As bad as those albums were, Paul and John came out with a few good singles for that year that didn't make it on any album. Paul had "Give Ireland Back to the Irish" (unfortunately his next release was "Mary had a little lamb", but that was statement on his part) and "Hi, Hi ,Hi". Where John had "Happy Xmas (War is Over)". That may not have been a productive year for an ex-Beatle, but those songs still get played quite a bit. Ok back to lurking. Cheers, Phil C.
------------------------------ Message-ID: <20000112170905.8585.qmail@web2102.mail.yahoo.com> Date: Wed, 12 Jan 2000 09:09:05 -0800 (PST) From: Tyler Hewitt <tahewitt@yahoo.com> Subject: wedding songs RE: "I'm getting married on the 22nd.... any ideas on XTC "marriage songs"? I CANT BELIEVE i'm the only person to think of this, so I guess I'm the only one willing to be cynical, but how about "Big Day"?
------------------------------ Message-ID: <3AE4C7B8CC1BD31194140008C7B14DE8012DE449@hfd-exch008.aetna.com> From: "Witter, Karl F" <WitterKF@aetna.com> Subject: Changing my money in the temple... Date: Wed, 12 Jan 2000 11:19:01 -0500 >Rob in Carson: I'm getting married on the 22nd.... any ideas on XTC >"marriage songs"? I've got a few clues, but would like some input. >And yes, I exposed my fiancee to XTC and she really digs 'em. I persuaded the church organist to roll out a piano and play "Then She Appeared" right before the processional. For this I cobbled together my own sheet music by ear, which was amazing since I'm practically musically illiterate. I neglected to mention that XTC also were the "Dear God" band. I feel that I'll pay for that someday. >Kevin Diamond: is it just me, or does it feel like the public has >worse taste in music than in any other art medium? It isn't you, it's how you experience the medium. -Books you can read alone without a book club convening over some best-selling fluff, and all the Stephen Kings and Michael Crichtons in the world won't destroy the publishers and writers who don't aspire to be sold in airport shops. -Movies eventually show up in art cinemas (of which even Hartford CT has two) and video; even an introvert like me can find someone to make the experience communal with. -I can't complain about theater when "Chess" is being staged at the Bushnell again, and I live two hours via train from New York. -In painting, sculpture, jazz and classical music my learning is so poor that I can't begin to pretend snobbery. Then there's popular music. Plug in the headphones for days on end; at some point pop music, to those of us of a certain age and so inclined, means communal dancing in semi-public settings. The mob rears its head. At least my mob (30's-40's, generic suburban, college-bred) have awfully low standards. Among three holiday parties (my job, wife's job, New Year's) I encountered audience and DJ conspiracies to play the same set list, except for a newer line dance and Will Smith soundtrack single here & there. This is unchanged in 5 years. All the "not at my wedding" songs were there. I couldn't even get a word in edgewise with something like The One Grunge Song Everyone Knows, Violent Femmes' "Gone Daddy Gone" and Cake's "Never There". The sole reward: One DJ arranged all the men on one side and all the women on the other, and had them sing Meatloaf's "Paradise by the Dashboard Light" at each other. Muttered I, to my wife: "Wow! It's like Grease meets Ethan Frome!" Two sign-offs this time: "I hate my generation. I offer no apologies." "One is supposed to be gay and cheerful, and have a good time." "How? By being stupid?" Karl PS Bonus points to those who can name the 2 sources of those lines.
------------------------------ Message-ID: <D9E6CEC7734AD111BCF70090273C5D67011ABEB0@user8.chemonics.net> From: Todd Bernhardt <TBernhardt@chemonics.net> Subject: New developments Date: Wed, 12 Jan 2000 11:28:47 -0500 Hi: Just a quick clarification. Randy Hiatt said about King Crimson: >I think you mean "double trio".. as in one group with 2 trio's inside it...or 6 players divided into 2 dividings of: drummer, sticker, guitarer.< Nope. They're down to a four-piece. Tony Levin's schedule has not allowed for involvement in the album KC currently has in the works, and God, erm, Bill Bruford declined to participate, citing the band's emphasis on electronica and his own current preference for more-acoustic and jazz-oriented endeavors. Apparently the door remains open for their return, but for now KC is a double-duo. >From Paul Stratford: >I've not been reading the list for a while (I've even been deleting them unread for about 2 months - I was busy - yes, *that* busy) what's the latest on AV v2 and FW?< Want the latest info? Check out http://chalkhills.org/digests/ Simply type in the phrase you're searching for, and the issue(s) it's contained in magically pops up! Apparently, something called a "search engine" is responsible for this. Rumor has it that information about Marillion and the School Guide to XTC can also be found in previous issues of Chalkhills, and can be found in similar fashion. What *will* they think of next? Todd
------------------------------ Date: Wed, 12 Jan 2000 09:22:14 -0600 Subject: Re: melt them! From: William Loring <bloring@tirerack.com> Message-ID: <B4A1F846.996%bloring@tirerack.com> Patricia wrote: > It is not a gun that kills a person, it is the person holding the gun > that kills a person (or animal, et cetera). Shall we melt the "sick" > individuals too? What about knives and sharp objects such as forks? > And, who will be deemed a just determiner of whom and what shall be > melted? This is as old an excuse as you can find, and it just doesn't work for me. While it's true that a gun (or a nuclear bomb for that matter) does not kill a person by itself, it is also quite true that a person with a gun has the capability to efficiently kill far more people than a person without a gun. This is simply a price I am not willing to pay. Could the kids at Columbine have "found a way" to kill as many people as they did, without guns? I've not advocated outlawing knives, forks, pointy sticks, high fat foods, or bad people. Guns, and handguns in particular have only one purpose: to kill people. Many believe that killing humans is wrong. I happen to be one of those people, and I think it's clear that XTC shares this view as well. Removing guns from society will not turn the world into a violence-free, loving world, but it _will_ prevent many accidental and intentional deaths each year. There really can be no questioning this, in my mind. Patricia also wrote: > Let's play this out further...when the law abiding public has been > stripped of all means to defend itself, who will protect them from the > non law abiding public? The public is _supposed_ to be defended by their elected officials, and the system of laws and law enforcement officials that they put in place. Since I am not a police officer, it is not my job to make the streets "safer" by gunning down those who I _perceive_ to be a threat to me. Anyway, all of this really gets away from the original point, which I think was this: What did Andy Partridge mean when he said "Melt the Guns"? Personally, I don't think he meant "pass laws against gun ownership," although I certainly wouldn't mind seeing some more controls put in place here in the US. What I think he meant was this: DECIDE to melt the guns. Make up your mind that you don't need a gun. If you have a gun, destroy it. If enough people come to the conclusion that guns are not necessary for humanity's survival, then the problem will go away on its own. This may seem hopelessly optimistic, but I rather like the idea of people willingly laying down their arms. "Knuckle Down!" I'm sorry for the long gun rant, but I think it's particularly relevant to XTC and their lyrics. Flame away if you like. Regards, William Loring
------------------------------ Message-ID: <200001122000140790.004AD5A1@mail.tin.it> Date: Wed, 12 Jan 2000 20:00:14 +0100 From: "HowTired" <nopat@tin.it> Subject: Re: melt them! Patricia wrote... >If a person has the malicious intentions of hurting another person, it >doesn't matter if they have access to a gun or not. They will find a >way to accomplish their goals, however twisted other people think >those goals and/or people are. killing, I think the whole point is about "killing", not "hurting". This remembers me a Monty phyton sketch in which they had to learn to defend themselves from assailants armed with a basketful of strawberries... :)) More guns means *also* more killings, not only more protection. It's just a matter of being willing to pay the price. >Let's play this out further...when the law abiding public has been >stripped of all means to defend itself, who will protect them from the >non law abiding public? Now are you going to tell us how do you think they manage in the rest of the world? Europe, for instance?
------------------------------ Message-ID: <200001122003190390.004DA6C8@mail.tin.it> Date: Wed, 12 Jan 2000 20:03:19 +0100 From: "HowTired" <nopat@tin.it> Subject: Re: Homespun vs. AVv1 >You could argue that Homespun is an "alternate" version of Apple Venus >Volume One. While the Anthology analogy isn't exact, the way they compare >to the finished product is similar to how Homespun compares with AV1. I'm >surprised that you were disappointed since Andy's demos rarely vary from >the finished product (in terms of the arrangements, etc.) While the >Beatles Anthology series only recently appeared, the bootlegs have been >floating around since 1970 or so -- they have been available just not >officially. And you used to pay a lot of money for vinyls with unlistenable songs, I know. That's why is a good thing the Anthology eventually came out, although in my opinion they did mess a little too much with the songs. Take "a day in the life": why mixing together pieces from 3 different tapes instead of publishing 2 or 3 full unfinished versions at different stages of the recording/mixing sessions? What's the point in that? Those are not the 1967 Beatles rehearsing, it's just the 1998 (remaining) Beatles messing with the mixer. back to XTC, I had this romantic idea of listening to an acoustic guitar version of "river of orchids", I'll admit it. My fault. :) Still I think Colin' s rough versions are the best part of the CD. But my question remains: why Andy/Colin felt the urge to publish this ? All in all it remains an unnecessary album. I believe Andy is becoming a little self-indulgent with age. (Come to think of it, "how Easter Theatre came to be" was quite self-indulgent too) >By the way, the year half the Beatles turned to shit was 1972--Lennon >released his awful Sometime in New York City and McCartney released Wild >Life. Both are horrible albums with absolutely nothing to recommend them. >Then again, the hard-core Beatles fan might appreciate them. I personally >like one track on Wild Life--McCartney answers How Do You Sleep? with the >song Dear Friend. I am convinced that at least half of the "shitty" post-1970 songs by John or Paul would have been regarded as good songs if released in 1969. (let's face the truth, "Let it be" had no more than a couple of really great songs, and John was already missing. But no one has ever said or written that "dig a pony" is shit, though it undoubtedly is.) toto.
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