Chalkhills Digest Volume 8, Issue 45
Date: Monday, 5 August 2002

          Chalkhills Digest, Volume 8, Number 45
		The "Gus is Dead" Issue

                  Monday, 5 August 2002

Topics:

                       Dear God...
          gus dudgeon & wife killed in car crash
                    Concerts and stuff
                       numbers etc
                    Flaming Jellyfish!
                    GUS DUDGEON KILLED
                   11 Different Animals
                        Gone: Gus
                     Gus Dudgeon RIP
                   gus dudgeon, r.i.p.
               Sad news from the wires ...
                 Former XTC producer dies
                    Re: Napster et al
                    Partridge sampled?
                  Jon Poole Zappa Album
                     RIP: Gus Dudgeon
                       Gus Dudgeon
  St. Louis, St. Cloud & Minneapolis Chalkies Take Note
               Musings about a lot of crap
                       New XTC Fans
                       XTC on eBay
                 Fred is in the building
                   Find your favourite
                  an amusing timewaster
                       Polar Fleece
                           Gus
                      Hot and Sticky
                     Oh So Frivolous

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Back to earth eternally and ever Ermine Street.

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

Date: Mon, 22 Jul 2002 03:26:41 -0400 (EDT)
From: "" <radiosinmotion@iwon.com>
Subject: Dear God...
Message-ID: <20020722072641.99A1027C7E@email.iwon.com>

Has anyone noticed that the 'Dear God' video is playing on VHIC almost
every day? Maybe XTC will attract a new audience with the recent 80's
craze going on.

By the way, a few weeks ago I asked about the differences between the
US Jewel Case CD's and the Japaneese 'Record-like' CD's. Well, I ended
up getting both, and there is absolutly no difference in quality. The
sleves for the Japaneese version has more pictures, lyrics, etc. than
the US jewel case edition.

It was especially nice getting Black Sea in that format because that
was always my favorite record in terms of looks. I love that green
sleve and the cover art.

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

Date: Mon, 22 Jul 2002 13:03:34 +0900
From: "jazzbo" <aso1@mocha.ocn.ne.jp>
Subject: gus dudgeon & wife killed in car crash
Message-ID: <000b01c23134$bfd20df0$06ce7e3d@FM2B25C593258D>

this just in from buddy DM :

bad day for C & I  - Gus Dudgeon & wife killed in car crash last night (
a.m. ) in uk .....  still in shock ....

sushiman

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

Date: Mon, 22 Jul 2002 14:11:52 +0000
From: "Duncan Kimball" <dunks58@hotmail.com>
Subject: Concerts and stuff
Message-ID: <F1510dkrY28j4mEWH1r0001369f@hotmail.com>

It's a relief to know that while the more mundane aspects of one's life can
be almost overpoweringly annoying and distracting, there are still some
things that can make you whoop with pure, unalloyed joy. This is one of
them:

BRIAN WILSON IS TOURING AUSTRALIA IN DECEMBER!

Thank Ozzy I lived this long. As long as that Death guy doesn't come for me
'til after December, I'll go peaceably. And I'll be happy to go in the place
of any well-known creative type he might be thinking of taking before me. If
I had a choice, I'd perhaps nominate Todd, or Brian, or maybe that guy from
The Semantics. (God I love that record).

I saw Elvis Costello last week and it was friggin' magnificent. Steve Nieve
is a bloody genius -- my admiration for him just grows and grows. Pete
Thomas -- magnificent -- the drummer's drummer. Shamefully, I forget the new
bass player's name but he was brilliant, and an excellent singer. Top light
show too.

One thing though --  it really makes me regret all over again that Andy
doesn't like touring. I know he thinks records are THE thing, and in one
sense he's quite right -- they are what will endure -- but it's so galling,
as a fan, that someone who was clearly a real master of his craft never gets
out in front of an audience any more. Doesn't he realise how great he is?
Listen to 'Transistor Blast' - what more proof do you need?

Speaking of great live bands, we saw Supergrass on Saturday night, first
time for us. Great set, but a poor show, so to speak. They TOTALLY rocked,
we were all pogoing about like teenagers ... but seriously folks, what is
*up* with this 70-minute gig routine? Is this normal for them? We were
stunned, not to mention leaving the show feeling rather ripped off. It was a
real pity;  everybody was really getting into it, Gaz looked really happy
and clearly enjoyed the ecstatic crowd response, but then they went off,
came back and did ONE encore (Elvis did four) and then just left. 70
minutes. Hmmmm (Elvis played 2 hrs +).

We're off to see Gomez tomorrow night and I CANNOT wait. Hopefully they'll
play a little longer (if they want to avoid being lynched haha).

Anyone else on the list into "Six Feet Under"? We love it, and I was
delighted to hear the other day that "Australia's own" Rachel Griffith has
been nominated for an Emmy. A fine show. Frances O'Connor is really
marvellous too.

However, just prior to that (here in Oz) they're showing "Sex & The City",
or as we have started calling it, "Sex and the Ciggies". We don't watch it,
but we've caught a few scenes now and then, waiting for SFU, and I can't
help wondering how much graft the producers (and Sarah Jessica Parker in
particular) must be getting from the tobacco lobby? Some really outrageous
"product placement" there. Fair dinkum, in the final scenes of tonight's
show (it had Hugh Hefner as a guest star I think), that girl lit up two
cigarettes within twenty seconds. Disgraceful.

On a vaguely related tangent, I was also very interested to read a recent
piece by Mike Moore, which revealed that while such potentially
life-threatening objects as nail clippers are banned on US airlines,
apparently the tobacco barons successfully lobbied Washington to ensure that
cigarette lighters and matches were NOT banned. Hmmmm.

Dunks

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

Date: Mon, 22 Jul 2002 10:58:04 -0400
From: "KEVIN BRUNKHORST" <kbrunkhorst@charter.net>
Subject: numbers etc
Message-ID: <web-2772964@dc-mxdb07.cluster1.charter.net>

Todd Bernhardt wrote:
AV1 apparently sold 80,000 units in the US, WS(AV2) sold
60,000.  Andy was very surprised and disappointed by this.
 He's still under the illusion that if you make great
records, they'll sell fantastically well.  Nowadays if
really seems to be the opposite. The worst albums sell the
best.

<snippage in which Todd points out the eight years that
went by since Nonsuch, and the change in the industry
since '92.

1.  It's quite possible that Andy and Colin have made far
more money moving 80K units of AV1 than they had with 300K
of Nonsvch.

2.  Your audience is usually somewhere around your own
age.  As Andy and Colin creep up on 50, their audiences
have acquired children, mortgages, car payments, etc.  The
aging of the audience happens to everyone, I think.  It
has nothing to do with the quality of music produced.

3.  Sorry, lads, but you can't expect to do so well if
your not willing to get off your asses and play for
someone once in awhile.  (I know better than to think it
will happen.)

4.  Anyone can make a record.  (I have mine right here
beside me.  Want one?)  It's harder to get someone
interested in listening to it and hopefully parting with
some of their wages.  Andy and Colin don't really DO that
much, do they?  Even if you don't want to play in fornt of
people, you could still be visible.  Even when the Beatles
went beyond the primitive limits of performance of the
time, they managed to find ways to stay in the public eye,
whether it be on film, or TV, or whatever.  I've often
wondered why XTC couldn't just get in front of a camera
once in while.  The visibility they got during the O&L
album, with the MTV performances, radio performances,
etc., was definitely a contribution to that record's sales
figures.

<snip>
... that the RIAA and Big Music Business are doing all
they can to save their corporate butts and stifle
competition from independent sources, and XTC needs to
come up with a
fresh business plan.

On the other hand, when I see the words 'business plan'
mentioned in close proximity to XTC, I shudder.

Kevin

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

Date: Mon, 22 Jul 2002 22:53:31 +0530
From: "Sughosh Varadarajan" <aqualung@hotpop.com>
Subject: Flaming Jellyfish!
Message-ID: <002b01c231ac$73ef6540$0100a8c0@sughosh>

Hallo chalkers!

First of all, I'd like to say a BIG thank you to all of you who've written
in with advice on "Bellybutton"..I guess I was always gonna pick it up but
this has kinda increased my resolve..just waiting for the Independence Day
Sale that's due to happen next month and maybe I can get a 100 bucks or so
off on it..

Secondly I am excited about the new Flaming Lips release (not to mention
jealous of all those who've already got it!). Haven't heard much of them but
a friend of mine insisted I sit down and listen to The Soft Bulletin..a
minute into it I didn't need much persuading! A spectacular album, probably
one of those from the 90s that affected me the most (apart from OK Computer
probably). Can't wait to hear this one! But I'll have to, of course..(:-(

Cheers all
Sughosh.

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

Date: Mon, 22 Jul 2002 19:49:33 -0500
From: "jbkxtc" <jbkxtc@mail.ev1.net>
Subject: GUS DUDGEON KILLED
Message-ID: <200207221949.AA131203194@mail.ev1.net>

I just saw at www.billboard.com that producer Gus Dudgeon died last night
in a car accident in England.

According to the story, his Jaguar veered off a motorway and down an
embankment in Berkshire, England.  A woman in the car, believed to be his
wife, was also killed.

The article mentions Gus producing "Nonsuch".

If you want to read the full article, you can go to Billboard's website.

Sad news, indeed.

JK

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

Date: Mon, 22 Jul 2002 19:24:44 -0700 (PDT)
From: Wes Long <optimismsflames@yahoo.com>
Subject: 11 Different Animals
Message-ID: <20020723022444.68963.qmail@web14905.mail.yahoo.com>

If you wanna see a full copy of the songbook... it's
on the www.optimismsflames.com site.  But guess what,
even on my digital connection the site is loading
slower than, well... something really slow.  I'm
working on it...

Until then... use this link to see the songbook. It
will open in it's own page, not within my sluggish
site. http://www.optimismsflames.com/animals-front.htm

Once all is corrected, I've got some more one of a
kind things to present to you all... including some
more freebie audio... and video.

wesLONG

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

Date: Mon, 22 Jul 2002 22:34:22 -0700
From: Steven Reule <steven@sac.sticare.com>
Subject: Gone: Gus
Message-ID: <4.1.20020722223222.00b26fa8@mail.obsessed-with-music.com>

This just in:

One-time XTC producer Gus Dudgeon and his wife were killed in an automobile
accident. The couple died after Dudgeon's car "veered off the M4 between
Reading and Maidenhead, and plunged down an embankment," according to the BBC.

Steven
steven@obsessed-with-music.com
http://www.obsessed-with-music.com

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

Date: Tue, 23 Jul 2002 13:07:31 -0400 (EDT)
From: RSMko@webtv.net (Marston Moor)
Subject: Gus Dudgeon RIP
Message-ID: <26575-3D3D8D53-839@storefull-2231.public.lawson.webtv.net>

the ugly underneath:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/Archive/Article/0,4273,4466749,00.html

silence,
r. s. m.
http://www.rsteviemoore.com/news.html

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

Date: Tue, 23 Jul 2002 17:17:15 -0400
From: "Ted Harms" <tmharms@library.uwaterloo.ca>
Subject: gus dudgeon, r.i.p.
Message-ID: <NDBBKGMDOKBCFDLBMPGOMEPCDJAA.tmharms@library.uwaterloo.ca>

Gus Dudgeon, producer of Nonsuch for xTc and numerous other artists (Elton
John, Bonzo Dog Band, David Bowie) died on Sunday, July 21st when his car
rolled over near Reading, west of London.

More information: http://jam.canoe.ca/JamMusic/jul23_dudgeon-ap.html

For his discography:
http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=R72454#APPEAR

Ted Harms | Library, Univ. of Waterloo | tmharms@uwaterloo.ca
"I needed a drink, I needed a lot of life insurance, I needed a vacation, I
needed a home in the country. What I had was a coat, a hat and a gun."
Phillip Marlowe

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

Date: Tue, 23 Jul 2002 14:22:36 -0700 (PDT)
From: Ira Lieman <ilieman@yahoo.com>
Subject: Sad news from the wires ...
Message-ID: <20020723212236.52342.qmail@web11206.mail.yahoo.com>

Chalkfolk, this is going to get to you quite late, with John on vacation
and all. Hmmm.

Gus Dudgeon, the "garish" producer who worked on Nonsuch, has been killed
in an auto accident.

Here's the BBC news...
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/2144817.stm

>From Launch.yahoo.com ...
Longtime Elton John producer Gus Dudgeon, 59, and his wife Sheila were
killed in a car accident in the U.K. on Sunday (July 21). The couple died
after Dudgeon's car "veered off the M4 between Reading and Maidenhead, and
plunged down an embankment," according to the BBC. Dudgeon's collaborations
with John started with the singer's 1970 self-titled album, which spawned
the hit "Your Song."

...snipping lots of Elton related stuff...

Dudgeon had also worked with the Rolling Stones, Marianne Faithful, XTC,
and David Bowie, among others. At the time of his death, Dungeon was
reportedly in the middle of a multimillion dollar legal battle in which he
claimed he was owed royalties on more than 14 of John's albums.

A bad link to the full text above follows:
http://music.yahoo.com/launch/news/launch/story.html?a=n/music/launch/news/launch/rock/20020723/24/p1

:(

-ira

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

Date: Wed, 24 Jul 2002 07:09:14 -0300
From: Paulo X <paulox@onda.com.br>
Subject: Former XTC producer dies
Message-ID: <l03130301b9642d02a9f8@[200.195.177.31]>

 From Rolling Stone:

>Producer GUS DUDGEON, who worked on recordings by ELTON JOHN, DAVID
>BOWIE, XTC and others, died in a car accident on July 21st near
>Reading, England; he was fifty-nine. Dudgeon's wife, Sheila, was also
>killed. Dudgeon served as Decca Records house engineer in the
>mid-Sixties, before producing Bowie's "Space Oddity" in 1969. The
>next year, he produced "Elton John," the first of several classic
>collaborations with the singer. "He was an incredibly talented
>producer and a very dear friend for many years," John said. "I will
>miss him terribly."

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

Date: Wed, 24 Jul 2002 14:29:25 +0100 (BST)
From: Bert Millichip <juan_the_man2002@yahoo.co.uk>
Subject: Re: Napster et al
Message-ID: <20020724132925.77547.qmail@web14801.mail.yahoo.com>

"Todd Bernhardt" deserves thanks for providing the one
glimmer of XTC content in the otherwise irrelevant
Digest #8-44:-

>>>Some fascinating grist for this mill was recently
provided to me by fellow Chalkie and playboy
millionaire Bob Crain. Check out Janis Ian's compelling
argument in favor of Napster et. al. (and condemnation
of The Biz) at:
http://www.janisian.com/article-internet_debacle.html<<<

Ian's central argument - that the likes of Napster
actually *increase* record sales - is certainly a lot
more compelling than your half-baked and diametrically
opposed theory that peer-to-peer music sharing
contributed to the low sales of AV I and II!!! I'm
surprised you didn't notice that.

"Christopher R. Coolidge" wrote:

>>>My wife made a couple of unintentionally hilarious
comments that demonstrates her blissful uncoolness
about pop culture/music when I was giving Bellybutton a
spin the other day; she asked "Who's this, Queen?"<<<

Hey, what's wrong with Queen??? Don't answer that.

I think I must work with your wife. A very dizzy
colleague of mine recently thought Badly Drawn Boy was
Acker Bilk!

Bert.

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

Date: Wed, 24 Jul 2002 09:49:33 -0400
From: "Ben Gott" <bgott@rectoryschool.org>
Subject: Partridge sampled?
Message-ID: <fc.00870b4a000e224400870b4a000e2244.e224e@rectoryschool.org>

Gang,

I've put some new Ben Gott songs on my MP3.com website (self promotion!),
but I've also included a work-in-progress called "Melody."  This tune, which
is the first I wrote with my new MIDI setup, contains samples of Steve
Reich's "Electric Counterpoint" and of an Andy Partridge interview.  So
check it out, won't you?

[ http://www.mp3.com/BenGott ]

You can listen to the other songs too, if you'd like -- but I'm not as good
as Becki, so don't get your hopes up!

-Ben

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

Date: Wed, 24 Jul 2002 10:18:14 -0500
From: Brown <i.sundog@verizon.net>
Subject: Jon Poole Zappa Album
Message-ID: <20020724151814.LVG16483.out016.verizon.net@cyclops>

I thought that some of you chilens migh be interested to hear about the
following:

---"Random Jon Poole (he of Cardiacs/Silver Ginger 5) will have his much
talked of solo CD album of Frank Zappa covers release on ORG Records on
September 23rd.

The album will be retailing is shops for around 10.00. However advance
copies can be ordered now for a price of 6 pounds including postage and
packaging. Stock is expected in August, copies will be sent out to those
who pre-order. The mail order price will increase to 10 pounds on
September 23rd. Order your advance copies now - 6.00 inc P&P payable to
'Organart', Unit 212, 326 Kensal Road, London, W10 5BZ.

The album has been re-mastered and comes in new artwork (well we'd have
never got it in to the shops with the old artwork!)

ORG305 "WHAT'S THE UGLIEST PART OF YOUR BODY? - THE WORKS OF FRANK ZAPPA
CIRCA
65-69"

Track listing - Uncle Meat/Flower Punk/Who Are The Brain Police?/Mother
People/Concentration Moon/Harry, Your A Beast/What's The Ugliest Part Of
Your Body?/Oh No/You're Probably Wondering Why I'm Here/The Legend Of The
Golden Arches (Interlude)/Dog Breath/Cruising For Burgers/Let's Make The
Water Turn Black/The Idiot Bastard Son/Brown Shoes Don't Make It/Peaches

Lots more details available from www.organart.com"---

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

Date: Thu, 25 Jul 2002 08:20:58 -0700
From: Harry Strole<hjstrole@earthlink.net>
Subject: RIP: Gus Dudgeon
Message-ID: <Springmail.0994.1027610458.0.52438500@webmail.pas.earthlink.net>

Apparently producer of "Nonsuch," Gus Dudgeon has passed away.  Here is the
obituary from RPM, an online music periodical:

British Producer Legend Gus Dudgeon Killed In Car Accident

Gus Dudgeon was killed in a car accident on July 21st near Reading in western
England; he was fifty-nine. Dudgeon's wife, Sheila, was also killed. Best
known for his collaborations with Elton John, Gus Dudgeon was one of the most
successful British record producers ever. Gus began his career in the mid-60's
working for Decca Records as in house engineer. Dudgeon worked on recordings
by John Mayall's classic "Blues Breakers With Eric Clapton," the Zombies' hit
"She's Not There," the Small Faces, Them and more. At the end of the decade,
he turned to producing, recording David Bowie's classic "Space Oddity" in
1969. During that same year, Dudgeon was hired to work with an unknown
singer/songwriter named Elton John. A year later, John's self-titled album was
released, marking the beginning of a long and successful collaborative effort
for the two. Dudgeon worked behind the boards for Elton John's classic 70's
albums, including "Tumbleweed Connection," "Madman Across the Water," "Honky
Chateau," "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road" and "Captain Fantastic and the Brown
Dirt Cowboy." After parting ways with John (the two would later reunite for a
few albums in the mid-80's), Dudgeon worked with Joan Armatrading, Chris Rea
and others in the late-70's and through the 80's. In the 90's, Dudgeon
produced XTC's "Nonsuch" and oversaw the reissue of Elton John's classic 70's
catalog. "I am devastated by the tragic news," John said. "He was an
incredibly talented producer and a very dear friend for many years. I will
miss him terribly."

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

Date: Sun, 28 Jul 2002 09:07:50 -0700 (PDT)
From: Tyler Hewitt <tahewitt@yahoo.com>
Subject: Gus Dudgeon
Message-ID: <20020728160750.16030.qmail@web14206.mail.yahoo.com>

This is an exerpt from a message posted to the JMDL
(the  Joni Mitchell equivalent of Chalkhills):

 From Netrhythms.co.uk, a great site focusing on
off-mainstream music,
especially Roots and Americana:

"It's tragic news that Gus Dudgeon and Sheila ("my old
lady") were both killed instantly when Gus' Jaguar
veered off the M4 and crashed in the
early hours of Sunday morning. Gus was best known for
his collaborations with Elton John, David Bowie and
many more and was one of the most successful British
record producers ever.

Sorry to be the bribger of bad news, but thought you'd
like to know.

Tyler

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

Date: Sun, 28 Jul 2002 15:19:26 -0500
From: "Richard" <rjpa1@attbi.com>
Subject: St. Louis, St. Cloud & Minneapolis Chalkies Take Note
Message-ID: <013f01c23674$2ea0edc0$04081fac@verisity.com>

If you like XTC from the 'Drums & Wires' and 'Black Sea' era, I'd bet a
weeks wages that you'd like Chomsky and they'll be on tour in the midwest on
the following dates.  You can hear tracks from their first CD on MP3.com.
You can visit their website for other info (www.chomsky.com).  You can page
down if you aren't there, don't care or are already in the know.

Wed July 31 10:00 pm
The Rocket Bar
St. Louis, MO
with: The Paper Hearts, Childrens Audio

Thu August 1
Prodigal Son
Chicago, IL

Fri August 2
Red Carpet
St. Cloud, MN
with: Iffy

Sat August 3
400 Bar
Minneapolis, MN
with: Rhombus, Manplanet

Disclaimer: I have no vested financial interest in Chomsky... they are just
friends that are worthy of the attention.  Get to know Chomsky!

Cheers,
Richard

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

Date: Sun, 28 Jul 2002 20:13:28 EDT
From: WTDK@aol.com
Subject: Musings about a lot of crap
Message-ID: <1a5.5d43acc.2a75e2a8@aol.com>

The latest and greatest experiment from the major labels....evidently
Universal Music Group is going to make a number of rare and difficult titles
available on line. The purpose is to pay as you burn I suppose. That's good
news for those who enjoy music that isn't No. 1 on the charts at present (or
anything by Mariah Carey, Whitney Houston or any of  that ilk that practices
histrionic songwriting and performances at the expense of intelligence, wit
or taste).

Why did AV1 outsell WS? I'd like to propose a third theory--the personal
appearance. I know that it brought a lot of fans out of the woodwork. There
were also fans that purchased AV1 fearing that the band might not be around
for too much longer (as Dave had just left the band).

Or maybe it was simply the fact that the band hadn't been around. Absence
makes the heart grow fonder (or so I've heard -- I personally believe it
makes the heart flounder but, hey, that's just me).

The third possibility is that many fans may have heard that WS wasn't very
good. It seemed to me that the album got slagged quite a bit on the list here
and by critics more so than AV1 (although the SF Chronicle was an exception
to that rule. Then again, their music staff  demonstrate that Einstein's
famous quip about both the universe and human stupidity being infinite -- and
he wasn't so sure about the universe -- might not be too far off the mark).

Maybe it was too music material in too short a span of time. I'd be
interested to hear what the sales results are on the Caroline remitters
recently released as well as the boxed set.  It also helps that rap, boy
bands and derivative R&B seem to be in vogue in the United States as well.
Saying that I'm always reminded of something Judith Crist once said (a US
television and film critic) someone else's trash is my treasure. I'm sure the
next generation will be pining after the stuff that's popular in the US now
in twenty years just as some of us think the same way about the 60's, 70's
and 80's).

Crap I was hoping to structure some sort of theory suggesting that the lack
of sales for Waspstar suggested the universe was really shrinking after all.
Back to the chalkboard.
Back to your regularly scheduled ranters....

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

Date: Mon, 29 Jul 2002 09:48:56 -0600
From: Kirk.Gill@equifax.com
Subject: New XTC Fans
Message-ID: <OF822E560F.E8139032-ON87256C05.00566A43@fin.equifax.com>

Forgive me for mentioning this, but my wife and I have just adopted four
children, ages 5, 4, 3, and 2. The were taken from their original home
because of neglect, but they'll never be neglected again.

My wife was out of the house this weekend for a few hours, and for the
first time I had them all just by myself. I decided that some music was
called for, and so they heard English Settlement for the first time. The
three boys ran around saying "1 2 3 4 5" every time they heard it, and the
girl, four years old, danced with her daddy for the first time to "Melt the
Guns."

Wish us luck !!!!!

k?

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

Date: Mon, 29 Jul 2002 21:02:29 +0100
From: "Peter Fitzpatrick" <peter.fitzpatrick@oceanfree.net>
Subject: XTC on eBay
Message-ID: <NGBBKKOLCDJDMIEGCEEICEIHCEAA.peter.fitzpatrick@oceanfree.net>

Fossil Fuel CD Cover signed by Andy, Colin and Dave

I have two, keeping one selling the other [ to subsidize my , uh, xtc habit
;-) ]

Those of you that know me will know it's the real deal.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=896224666&rd=1

-Peter

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

Date: Mon, 29 Jul 2002 19:58:28 -0700 (PDT)
From: Jim Smart <jimsmart1@yahoo.com>
Subject: Fred is in the building
Message-ID: <20020730025828.58273.qmail@web13502.mail.yahoo.com>

Chalkie Talkies:

Just a quick note to plug fellow Chalker Mitch
Friedman's new album "Fred". Relentlessly upbeat and
funny, Mitch tests the limits of the three minute pop
song in his own very very unique way. The fact that
Andy Partridge agreed to set some of Mitch's lyrics to
music says a lot. Would Andy do that with just any old
lyrics? When you hear the middle bit for I Wish I Was
A Kid Again, you'll know you're dealing with pure
Partridge.

Dave Gregory's score for "Brother Nature" is stunning.
Worth the price of admission just for these two gems.

Jim

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

Date: Tue, 30 Jul 2002 15:50:57 +0100
From: "Edward Collier" <edward.collier@techop.co.uk>
Subject: Find your favourite
Message-ID: <97D4513F808CA4439B1154BD307857DF058895@noddy.techop.local>

http://www.jaguaro.org/feature/03-09-02_wesk2.shtml

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

Date: Tue, 30 Jul 2002 16:51:44 -0700 (PDT)
From: Tyler Hewitt <tahewitt@yahoo.com>
Subject: an amusing timewaster
Message-ID: <20020730235144.95345.qmail@web14204.mail.yahoo.com>

If you go to the altavista search engine, you can
translate prases into different languages and back
again. http://babelfish.altavista.com/
Things always get interesting when translated a couple
of times.

Here's the lyrics to Reel by Real translated to French
then back to English:

In this secret time, invading us on our intimacy
Unknowing MIME, we play for the ministry which they
can film you in the bed or when you take a bath they
can attach adhesive tape to each cry they can attach
adhesive tape to each laughter they can turn you
around thus you do not know what is very recording
Vrai by occupied bees of reel the small ones that you
feel on truth by the reel documented downwards as of
the rats they are contagious upwards on each acute cry
on truth by the true reel by the reel by truth near In
this hidden time, ignorance can you to face preparing
for crimes, in the cinemascope of government they can
film you with work or when they let to you play they
can attach adhesive tape so that you them think can
attach adhesive tape so that you say them can scramble
your identification thus you will not know what is
Maintenant I extend swallow to sleep knowing that your
objectives piaulent now I eat my daily bread and into
the reel of band I will be introduced

Give it a try, it's good for a laugh, and makes you
less productive if you do it at work!

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

Date: Wed, 31 Jul 2002 05:31:14 -0700
From: melody <strwbrry@tidepool.com>
Subject: Polar Fleece
Message-ID: <3D47D88C.5E9F8C99@tidepool.com>

In just a few minutes of wearing my new english settlement polar fleece
out about town I was met with an amusing reaction. Their were many
people waiting in line behind me at the post office... the clerk called
me next; as I stood before him he took one look at the emblem and said
with great animation, "XTC! English Settlement! I've got all their
albums,"
a wonderful soliloquy from the postman... "underrated... love to see
them tour... every bit as good as the beatles." He proceeded to talk
about them for atleast three minutes singing snipets of tunes before
asking me what I needed here at the post office. There are matters more
important than business! Its not everyday you get to hear the postal
clerk belt out "love on a farmboy's wages." ...the polar fleece proves
very warm.

stephen
strwbrry

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

Date: Thu, 1 Aug 2002 11:43:03 -0700 (PDT)
From: travis schulz <xtcisadarngoodband@yahoo.com>
Subject: Gus
Message-ID: <20020801184303.92750.qmail@web12304.mail.yahoo.com>

Very sad to hear Gus Dudgeon has passed on.  Nonsuch
is my alltime favorite album- one that has totally
changed my life and I thank Gus for doing such a fine
production job on it.  I disagree with all the bashing
of this album- being too long and over laboured, but
it's the one that has that religious experience or
feeling you always hear Sgt. Pepper has.  So thank ya Gus...

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

Date: Thu, 1 Aug 2002 09:52:05 -0500
From: "Jamie Lowe" <jamielowe@msn.com>
Subject: Hot and Sticky
Message-ID: <002101c2396b$01bf66c0$40ce2a3f@unlpm>

Dear Chalkholders,

Thanks to all of you the wait is over!  XTC bumper stickers are now
available.  There are two 4 X 6 styles:

Style #1 is designed for the inside of a window and is white lettering on
clear vinyl and can be removed easily and moved to another location.
Which is a plus if you don't get it just right the first time.
Very discreet....and a cool addition to a window near you...

Style #2 is the traditional sticky back bumper sticker, suitable for
sticking almost anywhere, but this one you better get right the first time!

The link below provides a few more details on what they look like, or just
take a look at your English Settlement LP or CD cover.

http://dfbs.marhost.com/xtcbumpersticker/  They cost $4 each postage paid to
all USA residents and 5 Euros to European residents.  If you happen to be
somewhere else in this big square world we'll find an economical solution
for you too.

If you are interested please contact me directly and I will email you
ordering instructions.

Thanks,

Jamie Lowe

NP: Becki Digregorio "god's empty chair"  Own it, love it, highly recommend
it.

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

Date: Fri, 2 Aug 2002 15:01:19 -0400
From: KEVIN.WOLLENWEBER@jpmorgan.com
Subject: Oh So Frivolous
Message-ID: <OFF77DE76F.892D2E8F-ON85256C09.006244C6@chase.com>

As some of you have burned red with disdain toward the notion of XTC being
inducted into the Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Fame, I thought about my newest
skylarking purchase, that seven-disk set from Rhino records, titled after a
now famous mock exclamation from that Moon Unit and Frank Zappa poke at the
Valley Girl "phenomenon"(?), LIKE OH M'GOD--THE 80'S POP CULTURE BOX,
TOTALLY!  I bought the shag-carpeted '70's counterpart to this, with
complete and utter knowledge that this was pure fluff from beginning to
end, although I was a bit angry that David Bowie's "Fame", co-produced by
John Lennon, was included.  I get similar queezy feelings about the
inclusion of Pete Townshend and Thomas Dolby on this current '80's
retrospective of annoying "favorites", but I can safely announce that XTC
is *NOT* included here!  These sets are reserved for the most annoying
musical portions of the year...or, as in the case of the Townshend, Dolby
and Joe Jackson entries, the most overplayed songs.  I still like Joe
Jackson's "Steppin' Out" and the album on which the song can be found far
too much to say that the overkill of this song even came close to ruining
it for me.  I found it a breath of fresh air every time I heard it when
forced to listen to commercial radio.  Thankfully, the '80's and '90's were
times I learned that commercial radio was no longer the place to dwell.  I
grew up with "progressive" radio, where the DJ had full control over what
was played (within reason--I think that raw lyrics were always either
censored or played in reverse; and can you believe the line "Mother
Superior jump the gun" from the Lennon/McCartney song, "Happiness is a Warm
Gun" was such a lyric???).

The joy of progressive or album-oriented radio, though, was that there was
still much to play that would still be excepted by the FCC and we all
learned that our favorite groups, considered one-hit wonders by the mass
media, were in actuality far more diverse than they were given credit for.

At any rate, there were few moments during the 1980's and 1990's when I was
assaulted by all the dribble inherent on the radio--mostly at family
gatherings or 4th of July parties that featured very unimpressive DJ's with
no musical sense beyond that annoying "Barbie Girl" song (look for it, no
doubt, on the '90'S POP CULTURE BOX, whatever its alarming subtitle); so
the inclusion of such silly nonsense only serves to make me laugh at how
fast I'd forgotten about it.  I buy such expensive silliness the way some
folks buy novelty albums on vinyl or CD as they appear, like those "golden
throat" thingies butchering the Beatles, who were almost in grave danger of
becoming, themselves, such a silly novelty, although no one can call the
Fab Four a one-hit wonder!

I brought the set up to gleefully make mention that XTC is *NOT* included
in the mix.  I was almost thinking that they would be after I'd heard
Thomas Dolby in the mix.  "How dare they!" I screamed, among other
expletives; however, I don't expect Rhino Records, part of the
mega-corporate music structure, Warner Brothers, to have any respect for
good pop over bad, and Dolby's vanishing from the business tends to make
his great music an easy target for such nonsense collections, just as Frank
Zappa's death made him such a target.  I'm sure that Moon Unit Zappa hardly
wanted "Valley Girl" to somehow become an homage to such girls out West.
Her inclusion thereon was Frank allowing her to spew venom at some of her
classmates in high school!

In a way, perhaps it was good that Andy and Colin were out of commission
for a time.  Certainly, their fans will always clamor over their work and
they will not be forgotten, not with this COAT OF MANY CUPBOARDS set and
the reissue, in mini-LP sleeves, of their amazing first 10 albums.  In
fact, my only hope is that the demand for these limited editions increases
and more are printed.  This month, I look forward to finding DRUMS AND
WIRES, MUMMER, NONSUCH and the round-covered BIG EXPRESS!  Drool drool!  I
have to agree with fellow Chalkhillions who have told me over and over
again that the sound is indeed improved upon here, and y'all know how much
of a fan of mini-LP sleeves I am.  I'm sure we can all think of artists'
back catalogues whose covers deserve to be featured in this way--cover art
is as important as the albums still are in some cases!  Having lost my
sight long before buying XTC albums, I can't extoll the virtues of these
sleeves, but I'm still glad they exist.  It is a neat idea.  I just wish
that those baggies that the sleeves fit into and are their protective
covering were stronger.  My ENGLISH SETTLEMENT baggie split down the side;
AAARUGH!  But, rest assured, that is my only complaint!

Again, though, some of you other collectors will have to tell me if the
booklets coming with the new reissued jewel box editions actually do have
extra liner notes from XTC members regarding the recording of each album or
honorable mentions of favorite tracks.  If not, I'm afraid that I will call
the mini-LP's the *ONLY* editions of these albums I'll buy, depending on
how many I'm able to get.  The only  one I'm missing from the previous
batch is WHITE MUSIC.  And, oh, forgive me if I've wrongly called the first
album WHITE NOISE by mistake.  I'm obviously confusing that title with
something that was issued by someone else, and I can't recall the
individual or group who actually did call their new release WHITE NOISE.
Perhaps the lads of XTC would consider that as the name of a forthcoming
project...just for a skylark?

I'm still so back-logged on new and interesting releases.  The terrific
stuff flowing from Not Lame sounds amazing.  I'll be interested to hear
comments on the Jellyfish set when some of you receive your copies.  I only
recall two albums from this group; so I'm imagining that this is a
completist's set, and nothing could be finer to my mind at this point.
Also, Not Lame has promised a Jeff Lynn tribute called LYNN ME YOUR EARS,
featuring Todd Rundgren and Matthew Sweet among the roster of folks paying
homage to Lynn, the Move and Electric Light Orchestra--although, if you're
going to honor the Move in any way, you'd have to honor Roy Wood, who was
an equal part of that band's sound.  In fact, there wre times when I
enjoyed Roy's work over Jeff's.

Another such group is the Zombies.  Those of you who own the four-disk set
comprising just about everything the band recorded as a unit, know that
Colin Blunstone was as integral a part of that band as Rod Argent.  Their
combined contributions are what makes Disk Two of that set my favorite of
the entire project.  This is not to sneer at the rest of the set.
Completist packages like this do not make me feel that an artist's creative
spark is merely passe; it only shows me how diverse the artist or group
actually is.  When John and George were discounting Beatles as anything to
do with themselves during those turbulant final days at Apple Records, I
couldn't just follow suit and toss them aside.  There is nothing sweeter
than the four combining their talents during the RUBBER SOUL and REVOLVER
periods.  Judging by the influences clearly heard on some of our favorite
acts discussed herein, I know I'm not alone in that assessment.

And, finally, forgive me, Becky, for not ordering your disk as yet.  I'm
going to do so within the next few weeks.  I'm very anxious to hear this
set of songs, and I hope even that you can get yourself a gig at
Manhattan's Bottom Line, if you're somehow doing live shows around these
songs.  Recommendations that I've read here are enough for me, and I can
hardly wait to snag a copy.

Kevin

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

End of Chalkhills Digest #8-45
******************************

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5 August 2002 / Feedback