Chalkhills Digest Volume 8, Issue 61
Date: Saturday, 16 November 2002
Chalkhills Digest, Volume 8, Number 61
Saturday, 16 November 2002
Topics:
Anyone in Swindon care to help a Yank?
dom-dom-dom-dom... dom-dom-dom-dom-DOM!
Ben is now as cool as you are
You Gave Me the Word, I Finally Heard,
InstruVenus
Our obligation to the next generation
Becki/Todd
XTC on Howard Stern???
re: Selling Boots
Thug back in the house
Ah, Now I Get It
Driver 8
Bargain Coat
The Milking Stool
Surfacing, off-topic but Apple-happy!
True fan?
Getting Better (but not for the second time)
And Another Thing.....
Wonderland's Wonderful
Talking Heads?
I'm writing Eric Draves into my will
Martin Newell-Station Hotel Masterpiece
Administrivia:
To UNSUBSCRIBE from the Chalkhills mailing list, send a message to
<chalkhills-request@chalkhills.org> with the following command:
unsubscribe
For all other administrative issues, send a message to:
<chalkhills-request@chalkhills.org>
Please remember to send your Chalkhills postings to:
<chalkhills@chalkhills.org>
World Wide Web: <http://chalkhills.org/>
The views expressed herein are those of the individual authors.
Chalkhills is compiled with Digest 3.7d (John Relph <relph@tmbg.org>).
Found a house that won't repair itself.
---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Tue, 12 Nov 2002 18:09:42 -0800 (PST) From: John Andrews <mahangttiam@yahoo.com> Subject: Anyone in Swindon care to help a Yank? Message-ID: <20021113020942.53599.qmail@web14612.mail.yahoo.com> Seeking an XTC-loving resident of Swindon willing to do a little local research for a project concerning our lads. I can't afford to travel to England at the moment and my attempts at e-mail and phone contact has yielded little, so I need an inquisitive local to do the footwork for me. Nothing intrusive or illegal. Will share results, of course. Interested? E-mail me at "mahangttiam@yahoo.com" for more info. - john
------------------------------ Date: Tue, 12 Nov 2002 19:47:02 -0800 (PST) From: Wes Long <optimismsflames@yahoo.com> Subject: dom-dom-dom-dom... dom-dom-dom-dom-DOM! Message-ID: <20021113034702.11294.qmail@web14910.mail.yahoo.com> How dare you Dom? It's one thing to spat out evil things like, dare I even type it?... the word (deep breath, shudder) cum. Wait, no - Todd did that.. well, that's expected of Todd. Hell, he *is* a drummer. But how dare you speak of my own personal Lord in that manner? I just happen to *love* Jesus! C'mon man, the dude died for my sins. Feel free to chat smack about the other religions at will - they're all bearing false witness and will forever flame-on (for all you Human Torch fans) in the ever-hungry heat of eternal damnation. Like them, because of *you* Dom, this list has gone to hell. Oh - on a serious note... what's wrong with Wonderland? Uh... hey, where's everybody going? Hello? Hello?!?! wes http://www.optimismsflames.com
------------------------------ Date: Tue, 12 Nov 2002 22:50:30 -0500 From: Ben Gott <bgott@rectoryschool.org> Subject: Ben is now as cool as you are Message-ID: <B9F73635.6CC5%bgott@rectoryschool.org> Hillers, Well, I'm pleased that I survived that one! At least you didn't run me off the list as some folk have been run off in the past. For those of you who care, I'm already three Beatles albums in the hole (thanks, Annamarie, for providing a brand-new copy of "Sgt. Pepper's"). For those of you who were sarcastic biznatches, I hope you get trapped in a room with the song "Put It In My Mouth" (which is *not* by the Beatles) playing on "Repeat" forever and ever until your head explodes. Speaking of things exploding, isn't "My Love Explodes" a fantastic song? Lovingly, -Ben P.S. So what's up with no new Beatles remasters? Or should I even open up that particular Pandora's box?
------------------------------ Date: Tue, 12 Nov 2002 20:30:50 -0800 From: Kyla <kyla17@earthlink.net> Subject: You Gave Me the Word, I Finally Heard, Message-ID: <3DD1D579.371F69CB@earthlink.net> I'm doing the best that I can. Me and Ben, that is. Let's don't dance on the young man's head too hard. Thinking about this astonishing lack of info has reminded me how surprised I was when I realized that all the songs my Dad sung to me growing up weren't things he'd made up, but actual rock-n-roll songs. As I recall, it was the soundtrack of 'American Grafitti' that finally set me straight. But I still feel like 'Itty-Bitty Pretty One' and 'Chantilly Lace' were written just for me... Wot a surprise for me that the first day I post in *ages* is Mr. P's birfday! Happy Birthday, Young Master Andy! (Thank Goddess you're at least a bit older than me...) Kyla
------------------------------ Date: Wed, 13 Nov 2002 07:35:38 +0100 From: Holger Loschner <xtcollector@web.de> Subject: InstruVenus Message-ID: <200211130635.gAD6ZcX23602@mailgate5.cinetic.de> Organization: http://freemail.web.de/ Hi there November 11th - everyone here beneath the world famous Loreley only think of the beginning of the carnival - the so called 5th season! Must be something strange to all those who know that this date means something else. Congrats to the Man. Got my Japanese InstruVenus one week ago in a well sorted shop and I'm not sure yet what to think about it! Is it worth the money? Is it a must? Well - it's for Karaoke! Okay! But I think it's not a must - even for the hardcore-owner-of-everything. I.m.p.o. it shows one thing very clearly: there are only two tracks that can stay for themselves as a musical piece without words - the two Batt-arranged tracks Greenman and I can't own her. But the rest? There's always something missing without the words. Holger
------------------------------ Date: Wed, 13 Nov 2002 06:20:13 EST From: Jxnsmom@aol.com Subject: Our obligation to the next generation Message-ID: <da.20aa5119.2b038f6d@aol.com> I've been shaken to the core by poor Ben, deprived by his parents of any exposure to the Beatles. His story has caused me to take a good look at myself and what I'm playing for my own three sons, and it's not pretty. Outside of some kiddie-friendly B52s, I've ventured as far as Skylarking with them, and last week we sampled David Bowie's Heathen (the four-year-old hated it..."Mom, can't we just watch TV?"...and the 5-month-old twins were oblivious) and some Elvis Costello. But now I'm kicking it into high gear. My new plan of attack is to start with the basics (Beatles, Who, Led Zepplin) that are now found on advertisements and work out from there. My initial concern is to ensure they know enough of those to avoid embarassment in later years. Once we're done there, we can branch out into more Bowie, XTC, and my '70s/'80s alternative collection. Good Lord, they have yet to even hear Talking Heads or the Clash. I feel so inadequate! I encourage all you parents to do the same for your kids. Save the next generation! And I congratulate those of you already endeavoring to raise your kids right. You've done a great service, Ben. I thank you. My offspring thank you. Amy
------------------------------ Date: Wed, 13 Nov 2002 06:39:42 -0500 From: "Christopher R. Coolidge" <cauldron@together.net> Subject: Becki/Todd Message-ID: <B9F7A42E.61F7%cauldron@together.net> >> I know that one of the female vocalists who have inspired her over >> the years has been Grace Slick in her prime, and I hear shades of >> Grace, Wendy Waldman and Sandy Denny in her vocal phrasing, and it >> works with the arrangements. > > Yeah I caught that myself, only I thought Linda Thompson rather than > Sandy...ahh but they're both so divine, aren't they? I just ordered both albums from CDBaby and listened to each once, I hear Linda Thompson more than anybody else. The resemblance is a bit spooky sometimes. >> And, oh, I must congratulate her for her brilliant cover of the >> Nazz classic "Open My Eyes"! Becky, I'll have to give you a >> sampling of Todd Rundgren's best solo work since you were not as >> conscious of what he'd done since leaving Nazz. > > Oohhhh...really?? I 've been hearing that song on the Nuggets disc > for ages without realising it was Todd! I must admit I haven't heard > anything of his except "Something/anything" but I just can't get > enough of that! Except Todd doesn't sing the lead vocal on that one; though he wrote most of the material for The Nazz, Stewky, the keyboardist, sings lead on just about everything. Rather odd considering Todd has a much stronger and more expressive voice. (though he may have lacked the confidence in his voice at that young age to do anything more than sing backup) > Well, Cheers all > Sughosh -- Satan: "Saddam, you're dead. I killed you." Saddam: "Yeah, well, where was I gonna go- Detroit?" Chris Coolidge visit my church at http://www.vermontspiritualistassociation.org/
------------------------------ Date: Wed, 13 Nov 2002 08:52:54 -0500 From: "Kehoe, Brendan" <BKehoe@craneco.com> Subject: XTC on Howard Stern??? Message-ID: <99512104A954D311A167009027860D7404566C54@mail2.craneco.com> A little teaser in the subject... Sorry. Just wanted to pass on that I was listening to the Howard Stern show on the drive into work (please don't take it to be an indicator of my intelligence) and they were playing a game called "Stump the Booee" where they play a song and the contestant and Bob-a-booee have to guess the name of the song and the band. Song #2? Making Plans for Nigel! The contestant got it right away. Bob-a-booee had to wait until the first lyrics (which is the name of the song, of course). So - XTC has finally made the big time! Brendan
------------------------------ Date: Wed, 13 Nov 2002 06:56:18 -0800 (PST) From: Todd Bernhardt <beat_town@yahoo.com> Subject: re: Selling Boots Message-ID: <20021113145618.10372.qmail@web41107.mail.yahoo.com> Hi: Re: bootlegging for fun and profit, Chuck Bisson said: > 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. Believe it or not, you're wrong. I've *never* sold any music (save my own) to anyone ... trades only, and I believe plenty of people on Chalkhills can attest to that fact. Besides, having bought Take Away/The Lure of Salvage and Go+ on LP/EP when they came out, it wasn't until only recently -- well after the release of Explode Together in the U.S. -- that I picked up the compilation CD. > "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? What I remember from my many years as a LE subscriber was people mostly offering music for trade. There was some selling of merchandise going on, and certainly of music as well, but what's your point? The fact that they did it, or that Pete and June allowed such classifieds to appear, doesn't make the practice of selling bootlegs ethical. > 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. I don't know about anyone else, but I got my copy from John as the result of a trade. > Tape or CD, the ramifications are equal. Your point being...? > 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 [sic] late to be effective prior to a > reprimand towards me of this fact, which has been fixed. Why do you respect Dave's wishes re:his CD, and not Andy's? > 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. I'm sure Richard will be happy to respond on this point, but given that each CC was a money-loser, with tapes/CDs priced only to recoup the cost of manufacturing and mailing them, this is a moot point. It's also a red herring, given that we're talking about two separate things -- fan tributes being sold at cost are not the same thing as bootlegged performances by the original artists being sold for profit by someone unaffiliated with the artists. Besides, I know for a fact -- as do you, I'd wager! -- that the "rightful copyright holders" have no problem with the CC series. > Regardless, as I have always, always stated: Collecting XTC is a hobby, > not a business, of mine. You're an avid collector, Chuck, but never once, in all your posts to Chalkhills, have you "always, always stated" that it's a hobby rather than a business. Back in May 2001, however, you did offer a bunch of CD-R's that you'd made for someone else (whom you'd lost contact with) to whomever was willing to pay "a small fee for myself plus shipping." > 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. I have no problem with the quality of your packaging (and don't really see what that has to do with the issue at hand), or with you recouping the costs of shipping or materials, for that matter. It's the "what it cost me to make/small fee for myself" part that bothers me. That's what turns this into commerce and, for me, turns the ethical corner into shaky territory. > Not much different than what we all did in > the age of cassettes. Not if you sold bootleg cassettes, I suppose! Again, what difference does the media make? That's not the issue here... > 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. I'll ignore the various red herrings in the sentence above, and only point out -- again -- that making copies of others' materials for someone else (for whatever reason ... for me, it's usually to promote the artist to the person with whom I'm sharing their material, hoping that the person will buy more material from the artist) is one thing; *selling* copies of others' materials is another thing altogether. Say, that "Getting Better" song is a catchy tune, eh? Wonder who wrote it... -Todd
------------------------------ Date: Wed, 13 Nov 2002 07:30:01 -0800 (PST) From: Kzincat <kzincat98@yahoo.com> Subject: Thug back in the house Message-ID: <20021113153001.91323.qmail@web10411.mail.yahoo.com> Hi folks, I just returned to this digest after being gone...oh, like 5 years. I was on this list back in the day when Nonsuch was a new album and The Little Express was still available. When people first decided to list what songs influenced EACH AND EVERY Duke's tune. When cassettes of the albums where still available and Oranges and Lemons was at my record store as a RECORD. Old am I? Yeah, crawling towards 40, but I still rawk, my friends... LOL I also want to make an offer to those most interested: I have a cassette of Bull with the Golden Guts available. Open and played a few times, original artwork too. I was going to put it up on Ebay, but will entertain offers for it on this list first. I am a fan too, you know. Price? hmmmmm... I don't want to be considered a bootlegger or something. I think if I get no interest here I would put a reserve of US$50 on ebay just to dip my toe in the water. I saw it go for over $100 a few years ago, go figure. I am thick-skinned, this is up for discussion, since thats what the list is for, is it not? Fire away. Email me privately, of course, if you have a nice offer. Cheers, Dave
------------------------------ Date: Wed, 13 Nov 2002 11:00:32 -0500 From: KEVIN.WOLLENWEBER@jpmorgan.com Subject: Ah, Now I Get It Message-ID: <OF6BEA5BF3.100D233D-ON85256C70.00523620@chase.com> to "Ben Gott" <bgott@rectoryschool.org> Naw, you're not a dork. If you were never introduced to the Beatles' music, how would you know that the cover of a well-known Beatles tune by a newer band, Gomez, was not a new song? By the way, your parents' taste in music was quite broad and interesting. Sure wish *MY* house was that full of musical taste at all! I had to discover great music on my own! And, I'll tell ya, radio was a big help in leading me in the proper directions. Once top 40 radio on the AM dial stopped providing me with the diversity I craved, I discovered FM and progressive playlists that were produced each morning when the DJ hit the mikes. Now, the only place that a mainstream audience could even hear a rather interesting piece of music is at the closing credits of a blockbuster movie...if they sit there through the credits! I grew up on the Beatles' music, hearing it on Top 40 radio and later on progressive radio, right around the time SGT. PEPPER'S LONELY HEARTS CLUB BAND was released and in the young mainstream, both for what it was and for what we imagined the music was saying to our generation. Of course I would be familiar with the group because they were such a *HUGE* part of my listening habits. In the age of CD's, the Fab Four's musical output was reissued once and only once on that format, and nothing more was done with their catalogue as the format's digitization of older music has improved. There were those three double-disk ANTHOLOGY collections, but if you know the state of radio today, it isn't as if the stuff was being played constantly or as widely as it would have been premiered at, say, the time that the SGT. PEPPER'S LONELY HEARTS CLUB BAND album was released. Of course you could find stations still playing their music, but, again, if you were never really introduced enthusiastically to the music, you wouldn't be inclined to seek it out. The three rareties and outtakes collections sold via word of mouth and mostly to those who recalled the impact of the Beatles at the time they were a household word to be reckoned with. If you were *NOT* in that line of conversation, you probably would not even care, especially when musicians like Michael Stipe of REM was declaring the Beatles' music is as uninteresting as elevator music! With comments like that and your lack of awareness of the full output of this band from the beginning, how could anyone expect you to know or care whether or not the Gomez song was actualy penned by Paul McCartney and his former, now long since dead bandmate, John Lennon? This is partially the fault of the industry, once again. Look at the state of the Rolling Stones' catalogue. I'll bet you know who the Rolling Stones are, right? That is because (1) they are still active and touring each year and (2) there have been reissues and upgrades of their catalogue, even with mini-LP sleeve editions here in the U.S. If Capitol even cared one bit about what the Fab Four have done, their entire catalogue would have been given royal treatment beyond what the Stones are now seeing. Of course, I'm not denying that there were expensive bits of Beatles audio and visual memorabelia out there, like two large sets devoted to Beatles singles and U.K. e.p.'s, but the fans were waiting for the full and complete albums, with original cover art and the whole nine yards of attention that we've seen given much lesser (but still as interesting)bands! Hey, the '70's group, Chicago Transit Authority (CTA or Chicago) are treated better than the Beatles! Could you imagine how wonderful the stuff would be if it was reissued from the absolute *ORIGINAL* master tapes? It almost seems as if a member of this band has to *DIE* before any upgrades on their catalogue becomes more than a blip on the industry's radar! George Harrison recently passed away, so *NOW* we just *MIGHT* get his entire back catalogue reissued properly! Thanks, guys. If material from those ANTHOLOGY albums was ever played on goofy morning radio, it was usually fodder to attack the remaining members for waiting so long to release all those golden moments that were being swopped by collectors for years! The Beatles have almost become nothing more than a closet industry, and this is sad! I have a copy of a 10-CD set of some of the better rareties and outtakes that never even made it to the ANTHOLOGY collection, including a rather worn recording of "It's All Too Much" with that missing lyric. It is said that this expensive bootleg set actually shamed Capitol into piecing together the ANTHOLOGY sets. What the hell is taking Capitol so goddamn long? Do they expect the gold on that group name to last? With modern musicians thumbing their noses at the importance of this band, perhaps it is time for those failed shoe salesmen (as Frank Zappa once dubbed record company execs in general) who are in the top office at Capitol to take charge and treat the Beatles' albums like the gold they really are!!! Kevin
------------------------------ Date: Wed, 13 Nov 2002 10:03:18 -0800 (PST) From: Jon Rosenberger <wile1coyote@yahoo.com> Subject: Driver 8 Message-ID: <20021113180318.71305.qmail@web13409.mail.yahoo.com> A few thoughts from the Ministry.... 1) I am swamped with finishing my basement before Christmas so I apologize to all of you to whom I should have been writing emails, you all know whom you are, but particularly you my good Culnane. I hope you are well and I will try to get a missive off to you soon. 2) Becki RAWKS! I love the new LP, but then again I loved the old LP. Buy em both NOW! How this stuff isn't blasting from every Radio in the Northern Semisphere is a total mystery to me. Not really given the corruption of the radio industry but still, this stuff is so good. Every time I listen to one I normally wake up the next day, humming it and not even realizing it. And my whites are whiter too! 3) Yeah I still call em Lps, I'm old, I'm Pre-8 Track actually. So Sue Me! 4) RPA, say oh say what the hey with King For A Day? Are you a taking pre-orders for Christmas? 5)Bisson, your message in no way conveyed that you were offering not-for-profit copies of XTC material. Sounded to me like you were selling CDs and profiting from it. ANYONE that sells REMOULDS in ANY form is a total scumbag and had better not ever get within 50" of me cause I will beat the #$%^ out of em. I don't have issues with boots per se , I buy em, quite a few actually. But I personally refuse to profit from the sale of others material and I'd like to think that other Chalkers are as honorable\ethical. Chalk Children releases never made a profit I'd reckon, they were done for fun and the fact that you used them as an example proves that you don't know the difference. Shame on you. 6)The only XTC release that has ever been issued on 8-Track is Drums and Wires. Go-2 is listed in the Chalkhills Discog but I know of no- one thas has it or has seen it and that includes most of the serious XTC collectors in the world, of which I might be the biggest but only by girth (Quality self-deprecating fat joke there, I'm working on it really cause I miss my shoes badump bump - 2 shoes nightly, remember to tip the waitresses) 7) DOM! I missed ya, god did I miss ya- welcome home! 8) Wonderland you say "Hell Yeah" (Little Ani refernce for ya Deb)I can justify that. Do you have any idea how many self-anguished, alterna-poetress, english majoring, introspective chics Colin pulled with that song? Talk about tapping into a gold-mine! They were lined up backstage with tomes of Browning and Keats in hand planning on just begging to touch the hem of his robe and then... Oh Colin YOU da MAN! Oh wait, they had stopped touring by then...Hmmmmm, Yeah OK beats me then. I still like it better than Gold though. It ain't their worst song, least not on my list. 9)Ben Ben Ben Ben Ben, Man I wish I could have been a virus in your 'puter to watch the avalanche of response that must have hit ya. I refrained myself. Least you know why it sounded familar now. 10) And I will quote from young Ben here as well. "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." This brings to mind something that troubles me from time to time both here on Chalk and with my friends and family as well. And I am not trying to pick on you here Ben this is just a perfect point to start a thread that has been on my mind for a long time. Why do people listen to bands "Like" XTC. Or "Like" Gorelord for that matter. ( Is this really even a Band or is my chain on perma-yank? I am SOOOO out of touch with metal) To me anyway XTC is pretty much the epitome of what intelligent brilliant POP music can be. Do you really need anyone else? For me the answer most times is No. Eels, Wallflowers, Lilac Time, Blur, and a host of others that I have heard reccomended here as being in the XTC family, or XTCesque if you will. I have heard em, the stuff is good I agree, but it isn't AS good as XTC, so why bother. Why spend your hard earned on something so similar yet inferior to XTC. And here is my point. Go listen to something else. Listen to Acid-Jazz, Metal, Prog, Opera, Country (And Western), Hip Hop, Rock, Reggae, Blues, Punk, Hardcore, Classical, R&B and any other thing you can possibly find, personally I enjoy both Australian Aborijine music via Dijerodoo (SP I know) as well as bagpipe music by Royal Scottish Marching Bands. Get out there and try new stuff. Stopping eating from the Apples, Oranges and Lemons and go try some guava and mango try kiwi, hell try dirt. But try new stuff cause some of it is great. Some of it sucks of course, at least to you, but some of it will curl your toes and ALL of it will expand your mind musically and will make you appreciate XTC more. Or Gorelord or whatever your personal fave is, deviate from the course, stray from the flock and take the disc less traveled. When you look back your travels will be richer and your reward will be greater. Sorry for my diatribe, I will now get off the soap box. I hope this made some of you think about your purchases, Oh and a great way to find new music is via the turntable, they made those big vinyl things for a lot longer than any other medium and you can get them SOOOOO cheap used. Garage sales, the net, your local INDEPENDANT record store. Go buy something you know nothing about and see what happens. If anone who in my vernacular "Eats incessantly from the same tree" would like to resond I would love to read your thoughts cause I really don't get it and I'd like to at least understand that mindset. 11) The three front guys from the original XTC, you know Barry, Colin and Andy? I am skipping Terry cause it screws up my theory. So did you ever notice their initials? Yep A. B. C. so they took a CAB and B. left and then came D. And they beat up a CAD And then D left and it was just C and A which doesn't even spell nuthin' How sad is that? Or how sad is it that I actually spent time thinking bout it? Still I think it is weird that of the 5 members four of their names start with the first four letters of the Alphabet. Now that is Quirky! 12) Bert, WHATEVER! I hope that this renewed surge in Chalks will continue as it does really provide a nice break from my normal life. Best Wishes all, Cheers Mole PS: Sushiman where are ya?
------------------------------ Date: Wed, 13 Nov 2002 13:24:25 -0500 (EST) From: Ken Clinger <clinger@duq.edu> Subject: Bargain Coat Message-ID: <Pine.BSI.4.05L.10211131309260.22851-100000@mail.cr.duq.edu> For those who for some unbelievable reason don't have Coat of Many Cupboards yet, or want to give it as a nifty Xmas gift, www.barnesandnoble.com has it for $35.98. They have free shipping if you buy two items (any two items), tho this probably only applies to the US.
------------------------------ Date: Wed, 13 Nov 2002 13:49:14 -0800 (PST) From: Wes Long <optimismsflames@yahoo.com> Subject: The Milking Stool Message-ID: <20021113214914.56184.qmail@web14904.mail.yahoo.com> Jamie spake thusly: "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?" Here's the dealio - Andy and I talked at length about this one. He knows that there will be *very* limited interest in these discs. When Andy was a younger man he often dissected the music of his idols... twiddling the knobs, trying to hear what was going on behind the vocals of his favorite songs. He always wished that bands would release the backing tracks, sans vocals of course, so he could hear what was happenin'. This is far from milking us fans... he will most likely *not* make money on these discs. And it's understandable that Colin doesn't want to participate in ventures gaurenteedlmost gaurenteed to lose money. Whether or not you are interested in these discs... I applaud Andy for putting them out and am very excited about his new label... which will allow him to release a wide variety of things that would have been left on the shelf otherwise. If you are interested... wait and buy them through the Idea site. Talked with Andy this morning and he was in the mid of his second full day of autographing copies of Fuzzy Warbles - did 800 on the first day and only had 1200 to go. These, of course, will be sold through the Idea site. FIN wesLONG http://www.optimismsflames.com
------------------------------ Date: Thu, 14 Nov 2002 12:21:16 +0100 From: Johan Ekdahl <johan.ekdahl@programbyran.se> Subject: Surfacing, off-topic but Apple-happy! Message-ID: <A155C972F805D611895E0050DA747D1118367F@sofia.programbyran.se> Just a few words to share a happy moment: Yesterday The Apples In Stereo played in that remote part of the world that i call home (Lund in southern Sweden, Europe). Having semi-discovered The AIS through this list and the 'hills-site, and downloaded a few tracks off their site but not gotten around to buying any of their CDs, I went to the concert just around the block from me. Dirt cheap (about 10 USD) it was more than worth it though the set was only about 40 minutes including _one_ extra. Should anyone from the band be on this list I hereby apologize for the 90-or-so percent of the audience that looked either bored or just baffeled. I myself and some ten or twenty others had a great smiling time along with the band though. I also got to buy the three CDs: "Sound Effects 92-00", "The Discovery Of A World Inside The Moone" and "Velocity Of Sound". After having listened to the fist two of these I can do nothing else but highly recommend them! Alas "Her Wallpaper Reverie" was missing from the merchandise-table... Fellow swedish, norwegian and dutch 'hillers: Keep Your eyes open for a Apples In Stereo appearence in Your vincinity! Check their website: www.applesinstereo.com . As always greetings to You all, but especially to Mr Relph for the site and the list and Mr Boudreau, Mr Strijbos, Mr Bartlett and Mr Corless for past transactions. Dive-dive-dive! (Submerging to periscope depth) --Johan Ekdahl, Sweden
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 14 Nov 2002 07:36:07 -0800
From: "Richard" <rjpa1@attbi.com>
Subject: True fan?
Message-ID: <00e101c28bf3$8cc798c0$05081fac@verisity.com>
Andy called me today (13nov02) and I thought it perfect timing to ask a few
questions about his music, his performances and his recordings and his
rights therein.
Bisson states:
> 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.
While I'm not quite sure what it is you mean by "earning credit" I can
answer for everyone involved. No. There were no performance rights secured
for those releases. Having said that, Andy and Colin love the fact that
"amateurs" are doing "tributes" songs and putting them together. Andy says
that (I'm paraphrasing but I'm very close to his exact words), though some
are not very accomplished or refined in their presentation, he is very
touched by the passion that people have for his music.
Of the CC series, there were 800 units produced over the three year run and
they were done on a break-even scheme so I didn't make my money back until
all units were sold.
Legally, it would fall under the classification of a "fan club" release and
EMI would waste a lawyer's phone call on trying to collect the royalties.
My tributes were mentioned in Song Stories so it's not like there was no way
for EMI to find out.
Now... as for the recordings you are offering, Andy has this to say (and the
tone he used on this was not very friendly and was prefaced with ,"I waited
20 years to get a paycheck." When someone else is copying and distributing
his music, he gets very unhappy.):
> English Settlement Live Tour 1982
This is an illegal bootleg. Plain and simple.
> Set 2) Acoustical O&L Radio Tour 1989
These "recordings" are actually controlled by the individual radio stations
and if they are produced and sold, royalties are due. Plain and simple.
> Set 3) Some miscellaneous stuff that more than likely won't be on upcoming
official releases:
Jules Verne Sketchbook
The Bull With The Golden Guts
Star Park (copy of the Italian bootleg disc)
DG- Remoulds
"More than likely"? You are misinformed. Portions of "The Jules Verne
Sketchbook" and "The Bull With The Golden Guts" will be included on Fuzzy
Warbles (which Andy says will be available via the XTC website but Japan
will have it's own release because few Japanese patronize the website and
Japan is their second biggest market).
While Andy didn't say the name "Star Park," he says that there is some VERY
old material on there. He was going to read off the song list to see if
there were any that I hadn't heard before but I was in a hurry so I saidI'd
wait for the surprise.
As far as Remoulds goes, Dave made these for his friends (without securing
permission to cover the songs! - Ah, the irony!). Did you receive the copy
first hand? If so, you are not a good friend and Dave's sending you a copy
was an oversight. If not, this falls into the category of "selfish
completist." A psychological category that has had insufficient research
but numerous examples of collectors who have to have absolutely EVERYTHING
associated with the subject of their collection. regardless of legality or
ethics.
> 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.
So, hey can I get a copy of the remastered Black Sea or the Mobile Fidelity
copy of Skylarking at "your cost"? No? But what's the difference? You're
taking money AWAY from the people you love to support (and remember; If you
don't support them, they will not be able to continue to do what you want
them to do). Conversely, I realize that there is no mechanism in place to
pay royalties to XTC for dubbing bootlegs.
In any event, I understand your dillema. You would like to share what you
have with others who may not have these recordings. Doing so with local
friends would go unnoticed and nobody gets their knickers in a knot. You
offer them up on Chalkhills at cost and a fire fight ensues. A bunch of
ingrates, perhaps? Nah, that's not it. You have probably received a bunch
of orders. I simply think you could have been clearer in your initial email
and that has been rectified.
I'm not trying to judge you or imply that I live by a higher standard than
you. I'm passing along the opinion and perspective of the person who
rightfully SHOULD be making money from these recordings and isn't.
Cheers,
Richard
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 15 Nov 2002 10:13:16 -0000
From: "Crawford" <crawford@angellsound.co.uk>
Subject: Getting Better (but not for the second time)
Message-ID: <000501c28c8f$9dcd88e0$1100000a@studio1>
Just a quick *delurk* to say that are we sure
that the 'Getting Better' tune on the Phillips
commercial isn't that vastly inferior Gomez cover
version?
Hello to Dom,
Regards everyone,
Crawford.......
p.s. Wonderland is a load of poncey shite, always
has been always will be, now Ladybird on the
other hand, *that's* a song!
------------------------------ Date: Fri, 15 Nov 2002 10:39:02 -0800 (PST) From: Jon Rosenberger <wile1coyote@yahoo.com> Subject: And Another Thing..... Message-ID: <20021115183902.82137.qmail@web13404.mail.yahoo.com> Just picked up the latest release from the finest band in Canada "The Tragically Hip". Their New Lp is called "In Violet Light" All of which is moot and irrelevant here. What I thought I'd relate is that the producer\engineer and mixer for this Hip project is none other than our old friend Hugh Padgham and The Big DRUM sound is still alive and well and apparently KICKING in Canada. Way to use the force Hugh! Mole
------------------------------ Date: Fri, 15 Nov 2002 19:06:21 +0000 From: "Ralph Simpson DeMarco" <sawpit@hotmail.com> Subject: Wonderland's Wonderful Message-ID: <F135kieqXItMcx4vvsG00000409@hotmail.com> Dear Affiliated Members, Been a long time since I posted. The Wonderland challenge was the last straw. OK. I love that song. Hell, I love the album it's on. I used to defend Mummer back in 1997 when I first discovered Chalkhills, but I don't want to waste my time anymore. Mummer used to be my favorite XTC album and it's still in the top three. Why is Wonderland so bad? The melody? The words? Ahhh, must be the musical arrangements! You folks crack me up. And another thing... Ya ever heard of sarcasm? Well, you should assume that when someone who obviously knows a famous song (by the Beatles) and pretends they don't - assume they do and take it for what it is. A joke. Sheesh. PS: I just Loooovvvveeeee COMC. That live stuff has really impressed my non-XTC fan friends. Perhaps it will finally dawn on them what they have been missing all these years. Bring on the fuzzy warbles! Ciao! Ralph (Want more live XTC) DeMarco
------------------------------ Date: Fri, 15 Nov 2002 20:43:33 -0800 (PST) From: Ryan Anthony <hamsterranch@yahoo.com> Subject: Talking Heads? Message-ID: <20021116044333.88689.qmail@web10106.mail.yahoo.com> >From a fellow critter-mourner, my condolences to Kyla on the death of her bird, Cordwainer. Is that a reference to the science fiction writer, or is she a student of the art and science of shoemaking? (Do I have anything longer than a short story by Cordwainer Smith in my Entire Wall of Speculative Fiction? Curiously, no; all the Smiths I've got are George O. and Edward E.) Kyla wrote in Digest #8-60: "[A]fter 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." Omigod! "Getting Better All the Time" is by the TALKING HEADS? Ryan Anthony An independent Internet content provider
------------------------------ Date: Fri, 15 Nov 2002 21:07:06 -0800 (PST) From: Ryan Anthony <hamsterranch@yahoo.com> Subject: I'm writing Eric Draves into my will Message-ID: <20021116050706.21200.qmail@web10108.mail.yahoo.com> Painfully off-topic, I know, but short, at least ... Ben Gott writes: "*Law & Order* rocks." Eric Draves replies, in Digest #8-60: "I only liked it when it crossed over with *Homicide*." Bravo, Eric! I'm writing you into my will. I've got these three items I found at yard sales, and you can have your pick. Would you prefer this funny old postage stamp with an upside-down biplane, or Micky Mantle's rookie card, or *Action* Comics No. 1? Ryan Anthony An independent Internet content provider P.S.: The accused "Beltway Snipers" visited Tucson this past spring, and now a previously-unsolved murder of a golfer, picked off from long range while out by himself on a local course, is being linked to them. Talk about taking your act on the road before you open in the big city!
------------------------------ Date: 16 Nov 2002 10:13:40 EST From: John.J.Pinto@Hitchcock.ORG (John J. Pinto) Subject: Martin Newell-Station Hotel Masterpiece Message-ID: <38557849@mailbox2.Hitchcock.ORG> One of the things that I have loved most about XTC are the "side trips" that I have been exposed to along the way. The first would be Peter Blegvad. The other is someone I first read about in The Little Express; a gardener who was coming out of musical retirement to gig about England with his trusty side kick. The trick was that they were travelling on bicycles and carrying all their own equipment. It's been many years and many albums later but Martin Newell continues to amaze me. His latest effort, "SONGS FROM THE STATION HOTEL" arrives with very little fanfare from Joachim Reinbold's JARMUSIC lable (LC 02914 JAR-048) and it is without question one of the best things that Martin has done since the better songs on "The Off White Album". This EP is a brilliant five song meditation as Martin says ".... inspired in some way by thoughts I've had while drinking in The Station Hotel, Wivenhoe, which is a great pub". The first two songs return to musical ground that will be familar to those who have heard "The Greatest Living Englishman". Newell uses certain chords and progressions when he writes about society and habitat. I consider him a peer of Ray Davies as a social observer although Martin paints from a more provincial palette. The disc in many ways is constructed like a Pop Tune ( Two in, Middle Eight, Two Out). It's the next three songs that have completely captured my ears. "Return To Tuscany Row" is the middle bridge section, echoing the previous song and is a Beach Boys Homage that must be heard to believe how great it is. THEN two of the FINEST songs that Martin has ever written. They are reflective, mature songs that have a musical self awareness similar to "Rubber Soul" era Beatles and the lyrics ! of a great Poet. If you can't immediately hear yourself in these songs then perhaps you have never Loved and Lost. BUY THIS DISC! Chalkhills Webpage will get you there.....
------------------------------ End of Chalkhills Digest #8-61 ******************************
Go back to Volume 8.
16 November 2002 / Feedback