Chalkhills Digest Volume 8, Issue 60
Date: Tuesday, 12 November 2002

          Chalkhills Digest, Volume 8, Number 60

                Tuesday, 12 November 2002

Topics:

                Happy Birthday Partsycakes
                  Hooked on Colophonics
        here's a word you don't see too often....
                  A Couple of Ramblings
          I'm dreaming of a Ken White Christmas
                  It can't get no worse
        Re: Trying Not to Bite on an Obvious Goof
 Okay, Okay, You Make A Good Point, But I'm Still Right.
       Don't Make Me Break My BOOT Off In Yer Ass!
         I think I have made some people upset...
                  You've got to admit...
                     I Am The Walnut
                    Ben is a big dork
                The Dukes of Beatlesphere
                 It can't get no worse...
                       Ten Man Mop
             Me used to be angry young man...
                   Kindless Matastrophe

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Cough and wheezing, they dribble pretension.

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

Date: Mon, 11 Nov 2002 21:49:01 -0500 (EST)
From: RSMko@webtv.net (Marston Moor)
Subject: Happy Birthday Partsycakes
Message-ID: <24133-3DD06C1D-5206@storefull-2236.public.lawson.webtv.net>

Today is 11-11-53 for somnambulists.

Mr Malta is a 49er. I wish he were a kid again. Me too.

Licky icky licorice,
1/2 rsm 3/4
http://www.rsteviemoore.com/news.html

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

Date: Mon, 11 Nov 2002 22:13:21 EST
From: StarlingV@aol.com
Subject: Hooked on Colophonics
Message-ID: <178.11954b09.2b01cbd1@aol.com>

Well, well, well.  I knew that Rare Books and Special Collections class I
took at liberry skule was not for nought.   My handy handbook, The ABC's of
Book Collecting by John Carter learneded me all about colophons, and I must
say the one in Coat of Many Cupboards puts me in mind of two pizza paddles
and a pie pan.  Although what connection this might have to the
printer/publisher remains a mystery to me.  Perhaps Mr. Swainson is a former
Domino's employee?

-Janis (who would rather be tortured for hours and hours than read one more
sentence of Fredson Bowers)

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

Date: Mon, 11 Nov 2002 22:13:53 -0500
From: Bon <bonnerjm@musc.edu>
Subject: here's a word you don't see too often....
Message-ID: <3DD071F0.C8A7D062@musc.edu>

My apologies if this has been discussed before, but here goes:

http://www.worldwidewords.org/weirdwords/ww-leu1.htm

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

Date: Mon, 11 Nov 2002 22:32:42 -0500
From: "Molly, the New Wave Queen" <mollyfa0000@worldnet.att.net>
Subject: A Couple of Ramblings
Message-ID: <001e01c289fc$2b8cb200$0804590c@vogmudet>
Organization: AT&T Worldnet

I'd first like to say, Happy Birthday to Mr. Andy Partridge.  I almost
forgot that it was his birthday until I read a post in another group I'm
part of.  This is so great.  I tip my virtual hat to Sir John Johns.  :p
I'm so happy, because VH1 Classic played one of my requests on their request
hour show.  They didn't say my name, but I know it was one of mine, because
when I wrote to them I listed a whole bunch of videos, including a bunch of
XTC videos.  They played, "King For a Day", which totally rocked.  Now if
only they would play, "All of You Pretty Girls" I'd be set.  :)

Molly, who can't wait to get her Beth Gibbons and Rustin' Man CD (Non XTC
content there, but I needed to say that :P)

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

Date: Mon, 11 Nov 2002 19:32:43 -0800 (PST)
From: Wes Long <optimismsflames@yahoo.com>
Subject: I'm dreaming of a Ken White Christmas
Message-ID: <20021112033243.58075.qmail@web14913.mail.yahoo.com>

Expanding a bit on Paul C's bit -

The once-famous, now defunct Swindon mural was painted
by Swindon's Ken White. This fellow is a hell of a
graphic artist - designed the backdrop to XTC's Black
Sea album, as well as one of the Virgin Records logos
- one that appeared on some of the planes in the
Virgin fleet.

Fellow XTCfans Neil and Adrian Warren supplied me with
two very nice photographs of the famed mural. Not, by
the way, not the only mural in Swindon - there are
actually a good many, done by Ken and some other
artists. Here are the two images:

Remember 1024x768 screen res -

http://www.optimismsflames.com/Swindonmural1.htm
http://www.optimismsflames.com/Swindonmural2.htm

Andrew Swainson (Cactus Design) may be using the two
images on an XTC poster that is being developed for
sale at the Idea site. Ahhhh... posters, where's my
neon-green US water-pipe when I need it?

At www.optimismsflames.com there are 5 three minute
snippets of exclusive Andy Partridge audio -
discussing the Fuzzy Warbles discs and some other
future releases. FREE... but you will most likely need
broadband to get at 'em.

Andy and I spoke at length on the cover art of every
XTC release, and a text version of that interview will
run later this month.

And if you wanna see something really cool:
http://www.optimismsflames.com/Newspaper/thextcpost.html
(I swear - it works this time - 1024x768)

Hmmm... what else? Oh yeah - don't sell bootlegs!!
Scooby Don't are as addictive as Scooby snacks (that
one's on the house boyz). The biggest shame in music
is that Brain Stevens doesn't have a recored contract
- his work with the Cavedogs is great, and the solo
album he did with the aid of Dave Gregory was
fantastic.

FIN

wesLONG
www.optimismsflames.com

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

Date: Mon, 11 Nov 2002 22:35:45 EST
From: WTDK@aol.com
Subject: It can't get no worse
Message-ID: <112.1a3d224a.2b01d111@aol.com>

In a message dated 11/11/02 6:44:59 PM Pacific Standard Time, someone writes:

> 1) You know the song used in the Philips commercials?  "You've got to admit
> it's getting better / Getting better all the time"?  Is that an actual
> song?
> It's catchier than Harrison Sherwood with a big net.

O.k. I'm going to assume this was a joke. The Beatles' Getting Better
violated courtesy of Michael Jackson and Sony/ATV. Nothing like have your
friends f**k you over! Macca played Getting Better along with She's Leaving
Home and a number of classic Beatles material on his recent tour. Go with the
original and ignore the commercials.

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

Date: Mon, 11 Nov 2002 19:45:49 -0800
From: Kyla <kyla17@earthlink.net>
Subject: Re: Trying Not to Bite on an Obvious Goof
Message-ID: <3DD0796C.EF717DB8@earthlink.net>

Well it's Kyla herself alone (my pet, Cordwainer Bird, died about a
month ago, any and all expressions of sympathy welcome - it's lonely
here without my best friend with feathers), after long perusals, I
finally spot a question I can answer from Ben Gott:

"1) You know the song used in the Philips commercials?  "You've got to
admit it's getting better / Getting better all the time"?  Is that an
actual song?  It's catchier than Harrison Sherwood with a big net."

Please, PLEASE, P*L*E*A*S*E* tell me you're joking, Ben. Anyway, you
have a quarter of your answer in Mr. Sherwood's first name.

Kyla
P.S. Law n Order is all over but the shouting, but yes, XTC does indeed rock.

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

Date: Mon, 11 Nov 2002 23:20:32 -0500
From: "Duncan Watt" <dwatt@fastestmanintheworld.com>
Subject: Okay, Okay, You Make A Good Point, But I'm Still Right.
Message-ID: <20021112042031.LTQ21905.sccrmhc02.attbi.com@[24.61.122.85]>

Okay so I wrote, without doing much research, to support my claim re: why
you can't find good music being promoted these days:

> Duncan Watt wrote:
>> I mean, Neil Fucking FINN doesn't have a record deal in the US!  Sure,
>> he's not going to hit the Top 40 today, but are you telling me that there
>> aren't enough fans in the whole country to support a small release and
>> campaign? Of course there are!

...and "Jason Brown (Echo Services Inc)" <v-jasobr@microsoft.com> screamed,
albeit partially correctly:

> What the hell are you talking about?  Neil Finn does have a record deal
> in the US.  He is signed to the decent sized indie Nettwerk America
> (which I think is distributed by a major label).
(etc.)

..to which I respond:

Hold those horses, Mr. Microsoft! You are, of course, completely right, Finn
*does* have a deal, for his record, "One All", released in May 2002, and I
didn't know that when I used him as an example. I was going on old facts,
and I should have checked what was up recently before shooting off Ol'
Trusty here.

But before you go riding off into the sunset, big boy, choke on some More
Facts, which I'm sure you also know, but neglected to mention, because they
goes to prove my original point: Finn's record, was *originally* released to
the entire world except for North America in MARCH 2001, more than a year
before! He could *not* get a record deal in North America for an entire
year, hence my comments. You want reference? All-Music.com, here's the link:

http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&uid=SEARCH&sql=A3f9as33qa3dg

So while I'm sure this particular example has a deeper story to it, and I
shouldn't have used it, and I'll let it die, the point is still the same: an
artist the size of Finn found himself unable to release a perfectly viable
piece of music in North America, because he didn't have a record deal for a
year. And that's just Fucking Stupid, and it happens all the time.

Your Pal Duncan, who really hopes that the Net can still become a place
where one can find any piece of music, for download, for a very reasonable
price, making giant record conglomerates useless and providing musicians
with a way to make a reasonable living making and selling Music.

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

Date: Mon, 11 Nov 2002 22:23:47 -0600
From: "vee tube" <veetube@hotmail.com>
Subject: Don't Make Me Break My BOOT Off In Yer Ass!
Message-ID: <F162qaJY4kJSFsxf4yp00000048@hotmail.com>

Date: Fri, 1 Nov 2002 08:45:27 -0600
From: "Joe Funk"

Subject: Boots For Sale??

"From: C Bisson
Once again, I thought I'd share some of the wealth.
Set 1  English Settlement Live Tour 1982"

This is a big No-No...  The sale of boots is not only illegal,
it's UNETHICAL and IMMORAL....

Please keep this shite off this list..

Jomama
(back to lurk)"

I take it Mr.Bisson is willing to "share the wealth" for a price?
You'll find some EXCELLENT XTC concerts for FREE at xtc4u.org. Including the
most excellent "Rockpalast" English Settlement Live Tour 1982 gig.

xtc4u.org does it's best to provide XTC fans with material we believe will
NEVER be released by the band. We do this because we love XTC and YOU, the
fans! Our site specifically says "If Andy or Colin ask us to stop, we will!"
To date we have received no such requests.

Don't pay for boot concerts! Get them FREE! @xtc4u.org.

And DON'T pay for outtakes or demos. Andy will be releasing all you want and
MORE very soon! Give HIM your money, NOT the scabs!

}---:)

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

Date: Mon, 11 Nov 2002 23:46:17 -0500
From: C Bisson <c.bisson@verizon.net>
Subject: I think I have made some people upset...
Message-ID: <3DD08799.4080206@verizon.net>

Well, too bad.

Todd, you should be ashamed yourself for making such a comment.  I do
believe *you* sold me a copy (tape) of Explode Together prior to its
release in the US.   "Joe Funk":  Let's take a review of nearly all the
LE classifieds that were put in by June or Peter D. and see how many
people have been selling bootlegs since around '86 or so.  Will you be
ignoring those issues?  Let us not forget Mr Relph's own offering of the
XTC Acoustic Radio Tour tape which, I believe, *sold out* in a matter of
days.  Tape or CD, the ramifications are equal.  The only one of you to
make a comment that was actually valid was our own dear Becki regarding
Remoulds, although her point came to late to be effective prior to a
reprimand towards me of this fact, which has been fixed.  How about all
the Chalkhills Children's offerings?  Have each and every one of you
earning credit for the songs contacted the rightful copyright holders
for permission?  I hope, though doubt, that this is the case.

Regardless, as I have always, always stated: Collecting XTC is a hobby,
not a business, of mine.  When I use the word "sale", the cost I give to
a 'buyer' is what it cost me to make, ship, and materials for the discs.
 That's about it.  There is no fancy pressing machine.  There are no
fancy labels.  The only "pretty" to the disc is the big "Memorex" or
"Maxell" on the label side.  Not much different than what we all did in
the age of cassettes.  If there is any one of you out there who has
never, ever dubbed a cassette for a friend or family member, copied a
video tape of a movie, photocopied a page in a book, driven slightly
over the speed limit, looked in the coin slot of a vending machine for
change, or any of the hundreds of other violations of the Internation
Copyright Act or any other international law, I apologize only to you.

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

Date: Tue, 12 Nov 2002 09:05:30 -0000
From: "Invention" <mark@inv.co.uk>
Subject: You've got to admit...
Message-ID: <002a01c28a2a$d94f2f20$a52cfd3e@custompc>

Ben

In answer to your 'question 1', about the song used on the Phillips
commercials...

It's by a 60's band called 'The Beatles' from one of their long playing
records called 'Sgt. Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band'. Both the band and
this album were rather popular in the 1960's. If you like XTC you might try
finding some more information on this band or even trying to find some of
their albums which now appear on Compact Disc format to further inform you.

The greatest thing about the use of this song on the commercial is they cut
the song off before the lyrics 'can't get much worse' appear. Someone in
Phillips marketing department obviously didn't consider the use of the song
beyond the line 'its getter better' and the implications that this might
have for their products.

Mark

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

Date: Tue, 12 Nov 2002 10:56:40 +0000 (GMT)
From: Dom Lawson <britishsteel666@yahoo.co.uk>
Subject: I Am The Walnut
Message-ID: <20021112105640.83419.qmail@web40512.mail.yahoo.com>

Ladies,

I don't know...there's always some smart-arse trying
to muscle in on my territory.

>>Dude, I've always preferred their "Necrophilic Orgy
>>in Entrails and Cum," but hey, you're the music
>>journalist!

Indeed I am. I give you 6 out of 10.

Actually, after your comment I was compelled to
reassess the entire Gorelord catalogue, and have come
to the conclusion that their finest moment is actually
'Crucified Goat Drenched In Blasphemic Blood'...it's
the McCartney-esque middle eight that does it for me.
Ah, sweet harmony!

And what made you leave your version of 'Dismembered
Virgin Limbs' off the Scooby Don't EP? I shed a tear,
I must admit...

>>Oh, nice to read the delightful expunges from Mr
>>Lawson:  welcome back
>>-a breath of farty air, well-required in these parts.

Sorry about that. I'll brush my teeth...

>>1) You know the song used in the Philips
>>commercials?  "You've got to admit it's getting
>>better / Getting better all the time"?  Is that an
>>actual song?

It's an old Gorelord tune. 'Crushed Skull On Christian
Shoulders', I think.

Here's a recommendation for all you Beatles
heads...the very magical talents of former Deep Freeze
Mice (what do you mean 'who?'?!?!) head honcho Alan
Jenkins can now be found in a band called The Thurston
Lava Tube, and their new album is utterly ace. Titled
'Me Ka Nahuku', it's a collection of Beatles tunes
played in the twangy surf stylee. Best of all, the
band have covered 'When I'm 64' in the style of
'Revolution 9'. They've also covered 'Revolution 9',
but not in the style of 'Revolution 9'. Maybe you had
to be there...sigh...anyway, I believe you can
download (or at least lend an ear to) their take on 'I
Am The Walrus' from their delightful website, which
can be found at:

http://homepages.stayfree.co.uk/lavatube/Pages/Music%20Downloads.htm

Marvellous stuff. Buy the album for Jesus.

And finally...

One thing I've really missed from Chalkhills is those
magical moments when people try and defend
'Wonderland'. Anyone else want to try? I double dare
you, muddy funster...

Right, I'm off to reinvent the wheel.

Salut!

Dom.

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

Date: Tue, 12 Nov 2002 07:56:21 -0500
From: Ben Gott <bgott@rectoryschool.org>
Subject: Ben is a big dork
Message-ID: <B9F664A5.6CB2%bgott@rectoryschool.org>

Funk soul brothers (and sisters),

All right.  All right.  We all need to CALM DOWN and discuss this like
reasonable, rational human beings.

First, a "thank you" to Wes, Annamarie, Sughosh, Jeff, and the others who
have written to me about "Getting Better."  I'm going out to buy "Sgt.
Pepper's" this morning.  "But Ben," you may be asking.  "How can you *not*
own any Beatles albums?!"

In all honesty, I own one (soon to be two) Beatles albums.  You must
realize, however, that I grew up in a very musically varied (but rather
weird) household.  My parents, who are both older, listen to music from the
1950's (my dad's a doctor and a jazz pianist), the 1970's (my mom loves
James Taylor, Joni Mitchell, and the others), and to the present day.  For
some strange reason, there's a whole decade there that's completely missing.
The only Beatles-related album I ever heard growing up was "Double Fantasy"
(which doesn't, I imagine, quite qualify).

I also have two half brothers (ages 41 and 39) and a half sister (age 41).
You'd think that they would be huge Beatles fans, but you'd be thinking
wrong.  My half sister loves Shawn Colvin and Cowboy Junkies.  One of my
half brothers listens to Emerson, Lake and Palmer, Michael Franti, Joan
Armatrading, and everything in between.  The other listens to whatever's
"cool" (he's a therapist who works with teenagers).  No Beatles there,
either.

You're still wondering how my 800 CD collection could be devoid of Beatles
material, though, aren't you?  The answer is simple: I just haven't gotten
there yet.  The music of my formative years was XTC; I seem to have started
in the 1990s and am working backward.  As I look at my CDs from across my
living room, I see tons of bands that sound *like* XTC or have been
influenced by them, but very few bands who have influenced the sound of our
boys from Swindon.

So perhaps this is the time.  Here we are, in 2002, and I'll soon be off to
buy my first real Beatles album.  I can remember what it was like
discovering some of my favourite bands (XTC included); it'll be fun to do it
again.  I mean, it must be cool for some of you to imagine listening to THE
BEATLES for the first time again.  Sure, it'll be different -- I'll be
popping the CD into the Harmon/Kardon instead of dropping the needle on the
wax -- but I'm psyched nonetheless.

And thanks, as always, to all my friends from Chalkhills for being there
when I needed you.

-Ben

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

Date: Tue, 12 Nov 2002 08:02:14 EST
From: JamieCFC1@aol.com
Subject: The Dukes of Beatlesphere
Message-ID: <24.2f23bdf2.2b0255d6@aol.com>

Hi all

First off:-> Ben Gott <bgott@rectoryschool.org> writes:-
1) You know the song used in the Philips commercials?  "You've got to admit
it's getting better / Getting better all the time"?  Is that an actual song
It's catchier than Harrison Sherwood with a big net.

Ah yes its by some band called the Beatles, you may know them, sound a little
like XTC on occasion... off some album about Peppers or something.

Secondly I have come across a pristine (as in... super duper) condition copy
of the vinyl LP (you remember those) of Psonic Psunspot by the Dukes, so
before it goes on ebay I thought I would offer it on the list, and no its not
a boot, so if interested email me off-list (jamiecfc1@aol.com).
Lastly has anyone heard of the 2 instrumental versions of Apple Venus and
Wasp Star which apparently are Japan-only releases (but available from CDnow
for a mere 35 dollars each)?  Is it just me or do I feel a milking stool
being brought out?

Jamie

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

Date: Tue, 12 Nov 2002 08:41:18 -0500 (EST)
From: "barry@together.net" <barry@together.net>
Subject: It can't get no worse...
Message-ID: <8250609.1037108479209.JavaMail.nobody@wamui06.slb.atl.earthlink.net>

Ben Gott <bgott@rectoryschool.org> wrote:

>> You know the song used in the Philips commercials?
>> "You've got to admit it's getting better / Getting better
>> all the time"?  Is that an actual song?

What?!  God help us...

Barry

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

Date: 12 Nov 2002 07:43:54 -0800
From: "da9ve stovall" <da9ve@geek.com>
Subject: Ten Man Mop
Message-ID: <121102316.27836@webbox.com>

"Sughosh Varadarajan" <aqualung@hotpop.com> wrote:

>Oh yeah, that's for sure! Don't forget Sticky fingers and
>the Velvets' debut disc either. Oh, and if anyone on this
>list happens to own a vinyl copy of Steeleye Span's "Ten
>man mop, or Mr. Reservoir Butler rides again", I'd sure
>like to know what the cover's like...recently got the CD
>and it says that was probably one of the most expensive
>record sleeves ever made!

I have that - and it's definitely a pretty elaborate affair.
 (Also, a pretty weird coincidence - I was just thinking of that
album title a few days ago in a totally unrelated context - probably
the first time in five or six years I've even thought of the
album.)  A booklet, and heavy cardboard, and fancy lettering
and all that.  I don't know that it'd be more costly than, say,
the first run of  Jethro Tull's _Living in the Past_ compilation
or the original newspaper version of _Thick as a Brick_, but
it's definitely in the same ballpark.  I'll try to work it into
the "scan" queue - but that's pending getting some other serious
hardware issues fixed first, . . .

da9ve

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

Date: Tue, 12 Nov 2002 18:39:34 +0000 (GMT)
From: drol@btinternet.com
Subject: Me used to be angry young man...
Message-ID: <2979886.1037126374896.JavaMail.root@127.0.0.1>

In the last digest..

From: Ben Gott <bgott@rectoryschool.org>
Subject: You've got to admit...

You know the song used in the Philips commercials? "You've got to admit it's
getting better / Getting better all the time"? Is that an actual song?
It's catchier than Harrison Sherwood with a big net.

Ben, you must be a wee slip of a lad not to know that the song in question
is from Sergeant Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band by The Beatles! Written y
Paul McCartney, and based (I believe) on a phrase that Jimmy Nicol, the
drummer who sat in or Ringo whilst he was in hospital, used.

Go out and buy the album then play it back-to-back with Psonic Psunspot!

Love (as in All You Need Is...)

Darryl

Darryl W. Bullock
drol@btinternet.com

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

Date: Tue, 12 Nov 2002 18:02:24 -0600
From: "eriC draveS" <zoom98@mindspring.com>
Subject: Kindless Matastrophe
Message-ID: <002401c28aa7$f3197aa0$803af843@XLZOOM>

Ben Gott asks:
  You know the song used in the Philips commercials?  "You've got to admit
it's getting better / Getting better all the time"?  Is that an actual song?

eriC draveS replies:
No. The fact that there are notes and sung vocals does not necessarily mean
there is a song, nor were any Sergeants involved in its creation.

Ben Gott also says:
 Law and Order rocks.

eriC answers:
I only liked it when it crossed over with Homicide.

Joe Funk says:
 This is a big No-No...  The sale of boots is not only illegal, it's
UNETHICAL and IMMORAL....

eriC replies:
Absolutely. But wasn't this in reference to the English Settlement Live
Tour1982 thing on xtc4u.org? You may wish to notice he is not making money
from these downloadable gems, and in fact hates as much as anyone how people
make money with bootlegs. Plus he says he'll stop if the band say to.
Of course, there's always the dilemma about free downloads being unethical
and immoral as well...

Now to the next topic: MPOGs and XTC

MPOGs stand for Multi-Player Online Games, and it is one of these games I
play with admittedly extra gusto. Most MPOGs are also RPGs (Role Playing
Games), and the one I am about to mention has a medieval theme: The
Prophet's Song. (Yeah, I know that's a Queen song title...)
Why bring this up like yesterday's rotten imported beer? Because this
involves XTC.
I have two groups in the game that are XTC-related: XTC (whose town is
Castle Nonsuch) and the Dukes of Stratosphear (whose town is called Beatown
because the only alternative was a little lighthouse).
But, sadly, the two aforementioned groups are dying out for lack of members.
It's a cruel gameworld. So I thought I'd let you in on this. Anyone wanting
to start playing is entitled to, it's a free browser game, and its main page
can be found at http://www.trollscantsing.com. Once inside the game, you can
specify to join one group or the other to show your appreciation, if any,
for my attempts at promoting the group.
Or, for those with a life, or no free time, or no interest in this, please
disregard.

Continue trucking,

eriC draveS

"It's not the aliens at the foot of my bed, my bed doesn't have feet!"

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

End of Chalkhills Digest #8-60
******************************

Go back to Volume 8.

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