Chalkhills Digest Volume 7, Issue 19
Date: Monday, 19 March 2001
Chalkhills Digest, Volume 7, Number 19
Monday, 19 March 2001
Topics:
Brian was a quiet sort of bloke ...
Mummers/Washers/Caesers
"That Thing You Do"
all things must pass
Zappa
About that last issue...
That Thing You Don't
reissue mania
Re: Boingo Replacement (not XTC)
Tough choice
Kingston, Jamaica
Does humor belong in music?
"The Shed is Green"
TISSUE TIGER, HIDDEN DRAGON
XTC
Ethel was a tree.. and other tails from the Vienna woulds..
What This Country Needs Right Now (Another Two Cent Opinion)
DG solo / Belated best of 2000
FYI
Stuff and Nvnsense
The ratings game
Bubblegum question
Zap-heads, REJOICE!
this and that
My train is derailed
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I'll spin with rage, all summertime, you made a miniature sun.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Date: Fri, 16 Mar 2001 11:49:08 +0000
From: Steve.Pitts@i-tcs.com
Subject: Brian was a quiet sort of bloke ...
Message-ID: <OFE216B088.5F27E371-ON80256A10.003738ED@thesaurus-computers.co.uk>
Chalkfolks,
In #7-17 the Skylar King wittered:
> Take for instance the band who did "OFFSHORE BANKING BUSINESS". That was
definitely their 15 minutes <
Nope, 'Sound Of The Suburbs' was their fifteen minutes, and I have to take
issue with your dissing the band (although bear in mind that I've never
seen the film concerned, so my attitude is purely based on the records that
I own). They might not be right up there with the very best of UK 'punk'
(FWIW I'd put Wire, Ruts, Buzzcocks, The Clash, The Adverts, X-Ray Spex,
The Damned and the original Sex Pistols plus probably Siouxsie & The
Banshees in that category along with ('not strictly punk but from the same
era' - and there I was bitching about someone categorising music!!) XTC,
The Jam, Joe Jackson, Squeeze, Elvis Costello and Ian Dury) but they
produced some good stuff on both their first two albums and I'd rate them
alongside bands like Penetration, The Only Ones, Rezillos, Undertones,
Stiff Little Fingers and The Stranglers - fun to listen to but a little
spotty in places. Having said that, the first two albums of both The
Members and Penetration are ones that I'd not skip over to get to something
else when browsing my record collection, so perhaps I'd rate them both in
the first group after all.
Smudge opined:
> > NP: Beth Orton - Trailer Park
Yep, that's where I'd put her as well :-) <
LOL. Funnily enough, I can't work out whether or not I like it. I recently
won some record vouchers in a competition at work and decided that I'd
spend them on stuff that I wouldn't normally buy. I ended up with four CDs
- the aforementioned BO, Jeff Buckley's 'Grace', 'Tea For The Tillerman' by
Cat Stevens and 'Something Else by The Kinks'. The latter is a real gem,
and Jeff Buckley's voice makes my neck hairs stand on end (although some of
the material itself doesn't do a great deal for me) but the other two are
still in the 'uncertain' bucket.
Cheers, Steve
NP: Jethro Tull - Too Old To Rock 'n' Roll: Too Young To Die!
------------------------------ Date: Fri, 16 Mar 2001 10:30:56 -0700 From: "Angie Kelson Packer & Shaun Packer" <nick@aros.net> Subject: Mummers/Washers/Caesers Message-ID: <00f601c0ae3e$dce870c0$b219adcf@packer> Hey, hey boys-n-girls, Chalkers and Chalkettes! Firstly, my dear Mr. Boyle, who has "been having too many flashbacks with too much clarity recently. I blame Angie K. P." I beg your pardon <G>! My insane mother (c'mon on, we all have 'em) did *not*, to the best of my knowledge, raise me to be some sort of Dr. Who/Star Trek-ish, hallucinogenic time-travel device. : ) But, glad to be of assistance, none the such, I mean none the less. And Harrison....Creamy thighs and labia? I'm blushing! <G> Moving on...I'm getting confused, which is way to easy for you people to do to me. Especially when the kids are out of school for 2 weeks. Shooting fish in a barrel. Me, not the kids. Anyway, I have some serious questions about this voluntary division into the Mummers, (Deb, what about hand-crochet, multi-colored tea-cozieees I mean, ponchos, for when the weather turns cool?) Washaways, (What are our uniforms? And are they laundered regularly?) and Black Caesars, I mean Seasers (Ah, a simple wardrobe). Do we have specific guidelines? Do these groups have Mission Statements? Do the Mummers go 'round advocating fashion sense? Are the Washaways in charge of domestic cleanliness? Are the Black Caesars in charge of Piracy? Of course the first priority is Spreading the Good Word about XTC, but is there more? Does anyone else remember (gulp) the SuperFriends? I mean, AquaMan, WonderWoman (you *do* know those are implants), and the rest all Fought Evil, but they had various sub-specialties, like our gang, I mean group, of XTC Superheroes. Can we extend the hand of fellowship unto others? Sorry, childhood flashback to Sunday School. For the Dukes Division: Wardrobe, psychedelic bell-bottoms and tube-tops; mission, spreading peace, love and joy. Nunsuchers: Wardrobe: something from the medieval re-creation society; mission, mediating discussion and debate about XTC songs; Apple Venusians: Wardrobe, fig leaves from the Eve-n-Adam collection; mission, gardeners, with a speciality in Orchids. Seagull Screamers: wardrobe, rain slickers; mission, ornithology and creating subtle unrequited love mix tapes to hand out on street corners. Can we belong to multiple factions? Can't we all just get along? You do all realize these questions will keep me awake nights. That is, when I'm not hurtling people backward through time. <G>. ------------------ I'm in the process of putting together a killer summer-thrash tape to listen to in my 12-year old Volkswagen with a persnickety cassette. My lead song? Mechanic Dancing. Everyone sing: Alcohol is an easy key. Helps you unwind And dance with me To a disco trot from Germany Of course, a perennial fave, No Thugs in Our House, everyone Sing: No thugs in Our House Are there dear? We made that Clear Will be there somewhere. I'm regressing to my angry young man phase. Which is truly difficult when you're an almost 35 year-old (Eek! No, I said *eek*, not *geek*) stay-at-home mother of 3 little chicks. Mischievously yours, Angie
------------------------------ Date: 16 Mar 2001 18:49:00 -0000 From: ctyner@clemson.edu Subject: "That Thing You Do" Message-ID: <20010316184900.41938.qmail@reit.pair.com> "How are paragraphs 1 and 2 of this message connected? Hanks and others (I believe the guys from "Fountains of Wayne") wrote a whole soundtrack of imaginary hits, all of which sound like things you would have heard on the radio in 1964. In fact, I'm sure that the title song would have been a hit" I could be misremembering, but I seem to recall that the title of the film was determined well in advance, and that a bunch of bands submitted their own themes. I remember that TMBG recorded something for it... Adam Schlesinger's was selected.
------------------------------ Date: Fri, 16 Mar 2001 14:28:14 -0500 From: "Rich Greenham" <rgreenham@thebear.net> Subject: all things must pass Message-ID: <fc.000f4ca3007888c43b9aca00c2d5fa74.7889c1@cfrb.com> jim writes: >Does anyone >else make a George Harrison/Colin Moulding connection when Colin sings >about "no dark horse like me..." in "Wonderland? You got 'er there, Buddy! For me, "Wonderland" has always had this "Harrisonesque" twang about it... I think that it's the guitar solo that sounds most "George-ian" to me! In a March Mayhem vein: Anyone know who Andy and/or Colin have picked to take the NCAA Basketball Final? I'm pretty sure that I read somewhere that Andy was a huge Kentucky Wildcats fan! : ) Slainte! rich
------------------------------ Date: Fri, 16 Mar 2001 15:37:55 -0400 From: Andrew Boyle <uscolor@uscolor.com> Subject: Zappa Message-ID: <v04210102b6d81972e3c3@[192.168.0.3]> Finally, we have a little rain! Anyway, I have to agree with Sir John in regards to "Joe's Garage" being one of the best Zappa albums. I kind of settled in there after exploring a bit. I was in my Senior year when Valley Girl came out and Frank yanked me right into "Ship Arriving Too Late To Save a Drowning Witch". So, I started going backward toward his earlier stuff. Frank was in that avant garde set of people I was just a little too young to enjoy. They looked awfully scary to me. Why just this year I am starting to delve into Beefheart (Thanks, again, Vee!). So, I would start around Sheik or Joe's. Joe's is at least funnier. To me. Don't start. :-) Out. Andrew Boyle Orlando, FL
------------------------------ Date: Fri, 16 Mar 2001 15:39:18 -0500 From: "Todd Bernhardt" <todd.bernhardt@enterworks.com> Subject: About that last issue... Message-ID: <3AB279F6.377709A3@enterworks.com> Organization: Enterworks, Inc. Hi: Debie Edmonds revealed: > Oh yeah - in Holmes Music in Swindon there is a second-hand drum kit for > sale (the make escapes me, sorry) that used to belong to Andy's Dad. Ian > Gregory informed me of this, so I went and checked it out. Do you fancy > buying it to add to your musical instrument collection, Mr Strijbos? Hey kids, I've got an idea ... why don't we take up a collection, and buy it as a group, and it'll be the drumset that we use whenever any of us gets together to jam. I'll store it at my place, okay? Too bad Ryan Anthony's subject line: > Subject: Put to the Comfy Chair for heresy was separated from Andrew Sneddon's: > Subject: Alright, I confess! by Barry Andrew's organ (Klaus Bergmaier's subject line). Ah well, it's probably not the first time Barry's organ got in the middle of things... >From Jayne: > The "well someone has to like Reign of Blows" Warrior Queen You're not the only one, dearie. Wonderful harmonica, very cool drums, dissonant guitars. What more could you ask for in a song? Steve Johnson had a GREAT idea: > Instead, I will simply issue a challenge: If you don't like > "Bungalow" or "Dear God" or "Smartest Monkeys" or whatever, then write > something better! As Mr. Partridge says, anybody can do it if they > just get off their lazy cheeks. So let's submit our entries in the > "Write Something Better Than XTC's Worst Piece of Crap" contest. AKA the "Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is" rule, to be instituted immediately. Right, John? John...? > [ Although I admit I find this topic somewhat amusing, I > hereby request that it be taken off-list. Thanks. -- John ] Oh. Sorry. Mike Myers theorized about "That Thing You Do": > How are paragraphs 1 and 2 of this message connected? Hanks and others (I > believe the guys from "Fountains of Wayne") wrote a whole soundtrack of > imaginary hits, all of which sound like things you would have heard on the > radio in 1964. <snip> > They created not only an imaginary record label, but depicted a roster of > popular artists who exist only in the movie, and created a really great > soundtrack as well. As I mentioned, the songs are as good as some > compilations you might buy today of REAL artists from that time frame. Correct me if I'm wrong on this, folks, but didn't Andy re-record "My Train Is Coming" for submission to the soundtrack of this film? I think he did... Finally, many people wrote about Zappa, including our estimable moderator (funny that you mention "Conehead," John ... I wonder just what Frank and Laraine Newman *did* during/after his appearance on the show? And, given that his appearance was around Hallowe'en time, is "Goblin Girls" also about her?) I'd add only one thing to what others have said (and are going to say): Consider all the great musicians who applied to and studied at the "School of Frank," including Adrian Belew, Steve Vai, Terry Bozzio, Vinnie Colaiuta, and Mike Keneally, among many others. Something Good had to be going on there for so many top musicians to hold him in such high regard. Yes, his music is difficult, in many senses of the word -- and that's just the way he wanted it. Life's a ball! TV tonight... -Todd
------------------------------ Date: Fri, 16 Mar 2001 17:06:38 -0800 (PST) From: Tyler Hewitt <tahewitt@yahoo.com> Subject: That Thing You Don't Message-ID: <20010317010638.20732.qmail@web2105.mail.yahoo.com> Michael D. Myers discussed That thing You Do, comparing it to the aborted bubblegum album. Not the best comparison, IMO, as songs are written for movies fairly often, with a charecter credited with writing it. Wasn't one of the Costello/Bacharach songs originally written for a film about a songwriter? The songs in That Thing you Do are kind of, well, empty headed and fluffy as well, which keeps to the spirit of the those times, I know. The couple of demos I've heard from the bubblegum project seem really clever abd well written, but there is oviously a bias on my part as well. It seems like I remember reading somewhere (was it in Song Stories? I'm too lazy to check) that Andy sent someone connected with That Thing You Do a tape of My Train is Coming, but they weren't interested in using it. This is off-track some, but my landlord does custom wallcoverings for a living, and actually did all the interiors for That Thing You Do. he has a bunch of designs from the '60's that his father came up with, and used those in the film.
------------------------------ Date: Fri, 16 Mar 2001 17:09:54 -0800 (PST) From: Tyler Hewitt <tahewitt@yahoo.com> Subject: reissue mania Message-ID: <20010317010954.22130.qmail@web2103.mail.yahoo.com> Paul Culnane's post about the reissues from www.mojo4music.com was worded in a way that suggests that the cardboard mini-lp covers on the XTC reissues will be limited to the Japanese pressings. Does anyone know for sure? Those cardboard covers sound great, and I'd sure hate to miss out by waiting for the U.S. reissues.
------------------------------ Date: Fri, 16 Mar 2001 22:37:19 -0500 From: "Brian" <mattone@bhip.infi.net> Subject: Re: Boingo Replacement (not XTC) Message-ID: <007d01c0ae93$9c4a1460$d10bffd1@Brian> Tschalkgerz! >Actually, I've found a pretty good replacement for my beloved Boingo--a >local(San Francisco) "swing from Hell" band, Lee Press-on and the >Nails. They have that Boingo sensibility (they even cover Goodbye, Goodbye >and Pico and Sepulveda) and Dan's wild man act. I recommend you >check them out. Due to a tangle with their record company (sound >familiar?) their first albums aren't available, Lee Press-on recommends >that you download them from Napster. ;) Napster, huh? Anyplace else? I'd love to check these guys out... >Now, next time I'm at my sister's house on Topanga, I'm going to drive up >the road to Elfman's house and pummel him until he agrees to releash >another OB album. Score to "A Civil Action" my ass. Well... I love a lot of his movie scores, but I haven't heard this one. I can't begrudge the guy what he wants to do with his creativity. But, yeah... I would love to hear a new Boingo album - or even a new solo album (he gets all the guys to help him on that stuff, anyway). -Brian Matthews http://www.stonetrek.com Oh, uh... XTC content? Uhhh... weren't we talkin' about Boingo? ;-) You already know what I think!
------------------------------ Date: Fri, 16 Mar 2001 23:17:51 -0500 From: "Chris" <chris@compudrivel.com> Subject: Tough choice Message-ID: <000e01c0ae99$3b32fb00$8e3a0040@compudrivel.com> My favorite XTC song? Inevitably it changes as I roll on through life. I used to like Dear God, hell I like every song on Skylarking. I can't name one that's better than the rest. Here's a better question to myself: What is the weakest track on Skylarking? The only resolution I have is to name "That's really super super girl". Because above all (IMHO) it doesn't fit into the soundscape of the album. But, alas, the lyrics DO make it Skyworthy!! It is altogether an anti-relationship song, comparable to the Police's "Every breath you take". So, in the final analysis, I put my vote in for "Dear God". This is a painful sacrifice because it is this track that brought me to XTC (and to Chalkhills) in the first place. Et tu, Brutus? Chris compudrivel (in general, not my own) powers the internet
------------------------------ Date: Sat, 17 Mar 2001 01:12:23 -0600 From: "Joe Funk" <twosheds@mindspring.com> Subject: Kingston, Jamaica Message-ID: <002b01c0aeb1$9e476f60$7721fea9@user> From: KINGSTUNES@aol.com >Big Express - > 11 songs > Clunkers - Everday (sic) Story of Smalltown > SR - 91% Smalltown - a clunker? Tom, is that you?....... Whatcha been smokin? Jomama
------------------------------ Date: Sat, 17 Mar 2001 10:30:57 From: "Duncan Kimball" <dunks58@hotmail.com> Subject: Does humor belong in music? Message-ID: <F330kkZIhTrBoe2U8QV0000290a@hotmail.com> Rory: Oils are great, true, So are: - Hunters & Collectors - Paul Kelly - The Reels - Mental As Anything - Icehouse - The Church - Richard Clapton - INXS (up til about KICK) - Splut Unz - Regurgitator - Powderfinger etc, etc, etc ... 2nd-favourite group? Today? The Hollies. Just found two cheap 2nd-hand Best Of .. disks (60s and 70s) released on Disky. Fair value at $10 each. Easy to forget what an incredible vocal group they were, what great songs they had, and what a huge influence they were on so many bands. Especially out here in the colonies, where they cast a spell on many many groups in the 60s, which could still be detected as far along as the Little River Band. BTW Penfolds Grange is a hugely overrated and wildly overpriced yuppie quaff IMO. Try DeBortoli if you can find it. Cheaper by a mile, and as good as anything I've tasted. In fact most Aussie wine - like most Aussie music - is as good, if not better than, the overseas counterparts, except that Aussies seem to be about the only people who know it. And yes, we have produced some world-class cricket cheats, haven't we? On Zappa: David - I agree with everyone - almost. I respectfully dispute Chris Coolidge's claim. He did not disappear up any part of his own anatomy in the 70s. The more I listen, the more I realise he just never stopped being amazing. Not everyone can like all of it (tho I'm trying) but there is incredible music to be had on almost every record. Have to agree with Chris on this tho - if you possibly can, get the first three albums FREAK OUT, WERE ONLY IN IT FOR THE MONEY and ABSOLUTELY FREE and listen to them in order. They are (A) the epitome of everything exciting about the music of the 60s (B) a pinnacle of 60s production (C) funny as a fit (D) quite scary in places and (E) probably the most unique and innovative albums of the era except TROUT MASK REPLICA, which he produced anyway. But another record is integral in this sequence and you CANNOT leave out the sublime LUMPY GRAVY which supremo Zappa-maniac Ben Watson rightly considers a pivotal work in the Zappalogue. The cut-up dialogue is hilarious, but it has some absolutely stunning instrumental passages too, and thematically it's probably the key to most of his work. And while you're at it, get Ben Watson's book THE NEGATIVE DIALECTICS OF POODLE PLAY. Some of it is rubbish IMO, and I find his conceit of a Marxist-Freudian interpretation of Zappa's work utterly stupid in places, and inappropriate generally. (Not to mention being the acme of Eighties uni-lefty-decontructvist-postmodernist wankerism). That being said, it is and will remain a singular and valiant first atttempt at a global analysis/interpretation of Zappa's oeuvre, which really hits it mark in many places and is certainly one of the best and bravest books of its kind, despite its many shortcomings. I have not read the 2nd edition, which I believe corrects numerous factual errors (many picked up by Mike Keneally, I think) so hopefully that has improved it. And yes yes yes - get HOTS RATS which is almost everyone's favourite Zappa album, and please please get THE GRAND WAZOO which is its glorious sequel. I also heartily recommend LATHER which, now restored to its intended glory, re-integrates the mutilated segments that appeared as the late 70s LPs STUDIO TAN, LIVE IN NEW YORK, SLEEP DIRT and ORCHESTRAL FAVOURITES. Why? Because Warners in their acutely finite wisdom wouldn't release the 4 record set, and leaned on the other company through whom he tried to get it released independently, leading to the bitter and protracted lawsuits that happily Frank won, enabling him, after spending almost a decade and a large fortune, to get the rights to all his old recordings back. I also vehemently commend to you the YOU CAN'T DO THAT ON STAGE ANYMORE series. Vols I and II are pure magic, and I defy anyone to find a better-played, more exciting live recording than the absolutely electrifying version of 'Big Swifty' on Vol I, played by the classic mid-70s live group that included George Duke and Ruth Underwood, who stunned audiences worldwide, as anyone who saw them will attest. But if you want a recommendation for one record to start with (and I'm sure I've said before) go and get THE BEST BAND YOU NEVER HEARD IN YOUR LIFE. A great selection of highlights from his whole career up to 1988, an incredible combo that FZ himself considered his very best touring band, and peerless recording. Plus, as usual, funny as hell. The extended sequence on Disc One of Zoot Allures- Mr Green Genes-Florentine Pogen-Andy-Inca Roads-Sofa #1 is breathtaking, sidesplitting and contains some of the best ensemble playing I've ever heard. Dunks
------------------------------ Date: Sat, 17 Mar 2001 09:49:34 +0000 From: John Peacock <johndrewp@zoo.co.uk> Subject: "The Shed is Green" Message-ID: <3AB3332D.85618365@zoo.co.uk> Organization: The Nice Organization Debra wrote: > [The Visitor] also snuck down the alleyway behind Andy's house and touched > "the shed". Did you all know that the shed is green? ================================================================ [Two JAPANESE TOURISTS in Swindon standing in the alleyway behind Andy's House.] FIRST JAPANESE TOURIST: The Shed! SECOND JAPANESE TOURIST (nods enthusiastically): The Shed! [The two tourists turn to each other and then return their gaze to the shed] SECOND JAPANESE TOURIST (pointing): The Shed is green! FIRST JAPANESE TOURIST: So. The Shed is green. [The two tourists take photographs of the Shed] [A pause.] FIRST JAPANESE TOURIST (suddenly): Touch the Shed! SECOND JAPANESE TOURIST (nodding): Touch the Shed! TOGETHER: Touch the Shed! [They do so, then sigh deeply with satisfaction. Another pause.] FIRST JAPANESE TOURIST (calling out): Mekkanira! SECOND JAPANESE TOURIST: So! Mekkanira! [A GIANT ROBOT appears, looming up over one of the houses.] The Tourists (together): Mekkanira! Touch the Shed! [The GIANT ROBOT does so. All three sigh deeply.] ANDY (from within the Shed): Oi! Keep it down! Some of us are trying to do vocal overdubs! ================================================================ What do you mean, "stereotypes"? John -- Obligatory self-promotion thing: http://website.lineone.net/~grangousier/home.html http://www.mp3.com/peacock
------------------------------ Date: Sat, 17 Mar 2001 09:43:52 -0800 From: "Long's" <wlong2@carolina.rr.com> Subject: TISSUE TIGER, HIDDEN DRAGON Message-ID: <000701c0af09$d52349c0$8f961a42@q6s2h0.carolina.rr.com> Debating the worth of an individual XTC release is a splendidly fruitless endeavor. It's all good. That said, I'll throw in with the Mummer's. Finally got to see Crouching Tiger, wow. If you've a deep muscle bruise for this genre then this is a must see. This film is mesmerizing. What a treat to see someone get the Kung-Fu movie right. (apologies to Akira Kurosawa) Neat site too: http://www.crouchingtiger.com/flash4.htm Skylar King: When you say "pipe-fitter" do you mean a plumber, or is that some sort of prison lingo? Deb: Those measurements are actually a wee bit on the conservative side. I'm far too ORGANized to give you incorrect information. (see last name) Bags of barmy guitar! wesLONG
------------------------------ Date: Sat, 17 Mar 2001 10:17:57 -0600 From: "GLEN GREEN" <greenmanolishi@worldnet.att.net> Subject: XTC Message-ID: <005801c0aeff$1b902960$ddab560c@oemcomputer> What is all this fuss with Zappa about, who cares about green tights, I thought this was about XTC, I just joined this list and maybe misunderstood its context. I was hoping to read and involve myself in in depth discussions about XTC and their music. As far as what album is better than what other album this is ludicrus, ANY AND ALL ALBUMS AND SONGS THAT WAS BLESSED BY XTC ARE GREAT and they all have a special meaning to me as well. Somedays I like English Settlement then Somedays I like Apple Venus it just happens to be the mood that I am in.I have very fond feelings for black sea because it was the album that was released after I saw XTC live in 1980, but thats not to say I don't have feelings for white music, or oranges and lemons. But in closing I am glad to read mesages from people who at least heard of XTC PEACE!! Glen
------------------------------ Date: Sat, 17 Mar 2001 15:18:12 -0600 (CST) From: Brown <i.sundog@verizon.net> Subject: Ethel was a tree.. and other tails from the Vienna woulds.. Message-ID: <200103172118.PAA75202256@smtppop1pub.verizon.net> One or two digests back, someone had the nerve to say that he/she would leave River Of Orchids off of AV1.. With all due respect, dear sir/madam, this question begs to be asked- ARE YOU INSANE!?! First of all, River Of Orchids is exquisitely crafted and it is as beautiful a piece as anything Herr Partridge has ever composed.. It's Andy's grand-mal seizure in a florist's shop!..In other words, my sugar beets, River Of Orchids is wonderfully spastic AND intoxicating.. More importantly, River Of Orchids *belongs* at the beginning of Apple Venus because it establishes a lush, other-worldly atmosphere that the rest of the album builds upon and sustains.. Apple Venus would not succeed without River Of Orchids. Period. Speaking of album openers, which XTC album starters really rawk yer werld? Besides River Of Orchids, I'd say Beating Of Hearts on Mummer, and Respectable Street from Black Sea do it for me. Both songs are pulse quickening, dramatic entrance statements, and they let you know precisely what kind of trip you're about to take.. (though Mummer and Black Sea go in opposite directions.. they both kick tail feather, don't they?) I also like Runaway as the opener on English Settlement.. Runaway doesn't get me on my feet like ROO and RS, rather it gently entices me to come inside the album, which works within the context of English Settlement's acoustic/pastoral flavor. Klaus revealed: <<I just found out that I play the very same organ as Barry Andrews did, while he was in XTC.>> ..I cannot *begin* to imagine how surprised you were, Klaus (wink-wink).. how did Barry take the news? ..my dear Klaus, you must be careful what you say 'round here <G> >From Yak(back): <<PLEASE try apostrophe first...it's funny, clever and instrumentally awesome.>> Yes, Yes, and Dear Goddess in my Blue Heaven, but Yes!.. Apostrophe must be in your first or at the very least, your second I.M. injection of FZ, Smudge! It is the album that inspired me to pick up an electric guitar.. and here it is, 20+ years later and I *still* don't know what to do with the damn thing! <<NP: On shuffle.>> Good call, John.. I have *all* of On Shuffle's albums! ;) ..and Jaynie-my-Jayne, try not to worry about squeezing in to those tantalizing tights.. that's the miracle of lycra, luv! ..What an *amazing* age we live in.. Debora Brown --"You have to come to terms with stupidity, and make it work for you"-- Frank Zappa
------------------------------
Date: Sat, 17 Mar 2001 21:11:18 +0100
From: "Mark Strijbos" <mmello@knoware.nl>
Subject: What This Country Needs Right Now (Another Two Cent Opinion)
Message-ID: <20010317200138.9D1503901F@mail.knoware.nl>
Dear Chalkers,
At last, good tidings from Lady Cornelia!
> Dear God, how long has it been since I've graced these hallowed halls?
too long i'm afraid, things just haven't been the same without you
You wouldn't believe some of the stuff that has been going on here
at this court. Heresy, blasphemy and the blackest of magick!
The evil wizard Pop Boy said:
> If even the worse tracks that xtc have written are better than any
> other band has ever produced
what do you mean, "worse tracks" ???
Go wash your mouth with carbolic soap and shut your ff-ing pie trap
> (as is often tediously commented upon on this list)
Isn't that why this list was invented? to bore each other instead of
our loved ones, cow-orkers & friends.
Meanwhile Steve Pitts asked:
> anyone else see Cerys Matthews (of Catatonia) performing
> Kirsty MacColl's 'Fifteen Mintues' on the TV at the weekend
> (as part of a documentary on Kirsty)?? I was stunned
me too! shivers down my spine actually, what an incredible voice
and what a fantastic song. almost too real, too close for comfort...
Splendid documentary by the way, round of applause to the Beeb for
taking a little time to do it right and proper, with love and respect.
And somebody else quipped:
> > The George Harrison remastered All Things Must Pass is great
> > to (another top 10 album for me)
well, it's certainly a large album by all standards but _great_?
couple of real stinkers there too IMHO.
And a very definite case of "Nomen est Omen" if you ask me
> In the latest Mojo magazine it's reviewed and summarised as "the
> best solo album ever by any of the Beatles". Opinions?
here's one: 99% of the world population doesn't know shit about
anything. Journalists and other media types certainly not excluded.
They can summarise all they want but there are some minor points
i'd like to raise: Imagine, Plastic One Band, Walls & Bridges, Band
On The Run to name but a few.
Of course i also have to tediously point out here that the best work
of any other artist or band doesn't even come close to the brilliance
of our own beloved XTC (praise be their name).
yours in xtc,
Mark Strijbos at The Little Lighthouse
http://www.knoware.nl/users/mmello/
or http://come.to/xtc
------------------------------
Date: Sun, 18 Mar 2001 04:10:41 +0000
From: Phil Hetherington <phil@emdac.demon.co.uk>
Subject: DG solo / Belated best of 2000
Message-ID: <C9eXjAABVDt6Ewrl@emdac.demon.co.uk>
I'm WAY behind on my Chalkhills, so apologies if you know this
already (well I did mention it once before but nobody seemed to
notice)...
Dave Gregory has written and performed a track called "October's
Carousel" which appears on the 2CD compilation "Green Indians",
for more information see:
www.emdac.demon.co.uk/phil/shrk/refu_d.html
This includes an address to write to (the linked web page
doesn't seem to work yet, at least it didn't just now).
I've also put a full track listing on:
www.emdac.demon.co.uk/phil/shrk/comp_d.html
(It's somewhere near the bottom of that page).
-=-=-=-=-
And on a separate subject, I know we're about a quarter of the way
into 2001 but I haven't posted my 'best of 2000' yet, so for anyone
who cares, here it is (I'm keeping it brief for a change - no really,
you should see last years):
Favourite album of 2000:
Mansun "Little Kix"
Nos. 2-10 in no particular order:
Ryan Adams "Heartbreaker"
Joseph Arthur "Come To Where I'm From"
Barefoot Contessa "Oh, The Sweet Power"
Coldplay "Parachutes"
Crashland "Glued"
Goldfrapp "Felt Mountain"
OMD "Peel Sessions 1979-1983"
Quickspace "The Death Of Quickspace"
XTC "Wasp Star"
Biggest disappointments:
Barenaked Ladies "Maroon"
Belle And Sebastian "Fold Your Hands Child, You Walk Like A Peasant"
Elastica "The Menace"
Go-Kart Mozart "We're Selfish & Lazy & Greedy"
(this one is barely worthy of being used as a frisbee)
Levellers "Hello Pig"
The Wannadies "Yeah"
Best compilation of 2000:
Various - Cambridge Folk Festical 1998-99
Favourite singles of 2000:
Coldplay "Yellow"
Levellers "Happy Birthday Revolution" (pity about the album)
Looper "Mondo '77"
Mansun "I Can Only Disappoint U"
Mansun "Electric Man"
Best back catalogue discovery (from 1999):
TV Smith "Generation Y"
Prize find in secondhand shop (single from 1991):
Shoulders "Shoulders"
Best live band of 2000:
Yat-Kha
If anyone wants to see further musings on any of the above please
feel free to email me and I'll do my best. 2000 wasn't a great
year music-wise though, to be honest.
Phil
--
_
|_) |_ * | Me: http://www.emdac.demon.co.uk/phil/
| | ) | | Then for Shriekback add: shrkindx.html
=========== Or for Gang Of Four: gof/gof_indx.html
------------------------------
Date: Sun, 18 Mar 2001 15:26:24 +0100
From: "Mark Strijbos" <mmello@knoware.nl>
Subject: FYI
Message-ID: <20010318141641.5EC6939019@mail.knoware.nl>
Dear Chalkers,
Vernon Hickle objected to the use of acronyms when we refer to
songtitles on this list.
> (Don't you f#$%^ng hate it when people use this device
> to save a few keystrokes?
no.
in fact that's not why we do it, it's more like our secret code : if you
don't get it, the message obviously wasn't meant for you anyway.
Real fans know all the acronyms by heart of course... AYRM? :)
yours in xtc,
Mark Strijbos at The Little Lighthouse
http://www.knoware.nl/users/mmello/
or http://come.to/xtc
------------------------------ Date: Sun, 18 Mar 2001 13:58:41 -0500 From: "squirrelgirl" <squirrelgirl@hitter.net> Subject: Stuff and Nvnsense Message-ID: <024301c0afdd$a6fe70e0$454ec0cf@meredith-s> Howdy 'Hillians, Wow, I'm just catching up on the latest whirlwind of posts. I'm so far behind! It's been one of those winters here in Florida where everyone makes a mass exodus from "Up North", and my guest room has been constantly occupied by a varying cast of relatives, friends, and people I swear I've never met but am too embarrassed to ask who they are... guess our little election debacle didn't scare everyone off. Welcome to the several newbies that have recently posted. Good to have you in these here Hills. >From 'Hills 7-17 and 18: >Science has a few things (even still) to learn (or in a Tesla context, maybe re-learn), Hey, I'm not one of those 95% of scientific illiterates. Even I know that Tesla was a pseudo-metal band from the late '80s. >Midnight Oil The best thing to come out of Australia since... And here I always thought they were from Philadelphia > Remember the journey of a 1000 miles begins with a single step! Actually, the journey of 1000 miles begins with a broken fan belt and a leaky tire. Deb, have you been taking late night sneak-peeks around Andy's shed again? That's where you got the moss-green tights idea, isn't it? I guess we'll have to do another one of our "tough-love interventions" to break this compulsion. Does anyone know what happened to our lovely list's cartographer, who was going to map out the locations of Hillian-dense population centers? I'm very curious how we're distributed across this antheap. Maybe it was just another governmental ploy to institute that Big Brother thing, by having us all give our geographical coordinates, which will be linked to our Social Security numbers and our credit card purchases, to ultimately track our sleeping habits. I like Mummer but have to be in the proper mood to listen to Nonsuch in its entirety. I don't see why so many people are down on Omnibus, though - it's one of the few songs on Nonsuch that I never skip. Maybe it's wishful thinking that more people here in the South could be so open-minded (if they ever saw a green-skinned girl, they'd immediately douse her with algaecide). Enough blather for now; I'm gonna go curl up on the couch and enjoy the gloomy, rainy day. SG
------------------------------ Date: Sun, 18 Mar 2001 16:11:45 EST From: KINGSTUNES@aol.com Subject: The ratings game Message-ID: <8.11c39013.27e67e91@aol.com> Just a reminder, if any of you are going to do the XTC satisfaction poll, I want your results by Sunday, March 25th. I will average them and list the final result the following Monday. Again, take any XTC release you wish to rate, decide which tracks you could do without (what you consider 'clunkers'), divide that number by the total number of tracks, round to two digits, and subtract from 100 to get the percentage. You can analyze any release you wish on your total list. I'll even take compilations and CD + vinyl version of the same releases. (I just did the studio releases, but that was my personal choice.) Feel free to list the clunkers - I'll post the complete clunker list as well. And then I'll DUCK! (You wouldn't believe the grief I've gotten for Helicopter already!) It's all in fun! Later! TK %-) "That's the most unheard-of thing I ever heard of." -Senator Joe McCarthy
------------------------------ Date: Sun, 18 Mar 2001 16:26:44 -0600 From: "Bob O'Bannon" <batchain@earthlink.net> Subject: Bubblegum question Message-ID: <200103182227.OAA14219@gull.prod.itd.earthlink.net> >I was thinking about Andy's concept for the aborted "Bubblegum Album". If >I understand it correctly, Andy proposed that the band would record a whole >album of material, and each song would be attributed to a different "fake" >band, all of which had silly names. I believe the proposal was such that >the label (Virgin?)...... Given the fact that XTC no longer is with Virgin, what are the chances the bubblegum project could be resurrected with TVT? Bob
------------------------------
Date: Sun, 18 Mar 2001 16:43:05 -0600
From: "vee tube" <veetube@hotmail.com>
Subject: Zap-heads, REJOICE!
Message-ID: <F138y3rB07XOq3JkrKd00003790@hotmail.com>
http://www.zappa.com
Hey, see that link?
Go there! Please!
Or...
http://www.sonicnet.com
Search....zappa.
You'll find over 70! FAN SITES!
Go there! PLEASE!
If your advise to me is to "Scroll on Finboy!"
May I suggest you do likewise?
[ please take this topic off-post -- Vee ]
XTC content:
I bet Andy hasn't listened to more
than 2 hours of zappa in his life!
[ please take this topic off-post -- Tube ]
!---:)
------------------------------ Date: Sun, 18 Mar 2001 18:43:20 -0500 From: Virginia Rosenberg <vmr423@earthlink.net> Subject: this and that Message-ID: <B6DAB247.176%vmr423@earthlink.net> first i'd like to say to debra:"thanks for the mummeries..." then i'd like to query mr. relph about parthenon huxley, whom he mentioned in the last posting. i must have read it some place (on a bumper sticker some place?-no that seems rather unlikely) that p h is the artist formerly known as rick rock. my copy of "mondo montage" is in rather a bad way after lo these many years and i would dearly love to have a listen-able recording of the oh-so-brilliant pop gem,"buddha buddha"-any suggestions? lastly, i'd like to commiserate with vernon re: lazy abbreviators. it's not so bad when the references are to the albums, but there are too many song titles out there, and when hillfolk are going on about their favorite song, tmwmlatm, i just tend to skip ahead to the next passage or posting which looks to be easier to handle- i'm not on this list to *work* for crying out loud! oh-and a little xtc mention- i'm *not* a morning person, but a few mondays (blech!) ago, i woke up to a nasty, rainy day (yes, the world seemed wrapped in grey), and somehow knew to trudge over to the cd player and play "we're all light". believe me, any song that can set me to dancing around my house on a dreary monday a.m. has got some powerfully good vibes-just in case you were needing a testimonial re: the efficacy of xtc...(try saying it 10 times fast-go ahead, i dare ya.) parenthetically yours, virginia
------------------------------ Date: Mon, 19 Mar 2001 10:53:17 +1100 From: "Culnane, Paul" <Paul.Culnane@DCITA.GOV.AU> Subject: My train is derailed Message-ID: <17E19E6D5085D41196240000E896881D01584462@g5dccbr0ms01.dcita.gov.au> I found Mike Myers' post in 'Hills #18 about "That Thing You Do" quite interesting. But there's a further XtC connection to what Mike says. As many of you will know, Andy has been bashing around with a song called "My Train Is Coming". It's earliest incarnation (as far as I know) was as a fairly straight demo recorded with full band during the Terry Chambers era, but not taken any further. Andy pulled the song out again to submit to the soundtrack of the Phil Collins film "Buster" but it was rejected. "Phil Collins was going through his megalomanic phase and all the songs in the film had to have him playing or producing or whatever" - quoth AP. About a decade later, the song was again resurrected and submitted for the soundtrack to "That Thing You Do". Despite this fresh version cramming every Hard Days Night musical cliche into the arrangement of the song, it again failed to make the cut. Andy is resigned to this Beatle-esque gem never seeing the light of day: "I think it's God's way of telling me that song's never going to be more than a B-side... or a C-side!" Keen collectors can find all three known versions of MTIC on various bootlegs, but it's to be hoped that at least one version of the tune might show up the Virgin box set. ~~p@ul
------------------------------ End of Chalkhills Digest #7-19 ******************************
Go back to Volume 7.
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