Chalkhills Digest Volume 8, Issue 66
Date: Tuesday, 10 December 2002
Chalkhills Digest, Volume 8, Number 66
Tuesday, 10 December 2002
Topics:
The Groin, Yarbles, warbles and boots
MFSL vs Remastered
Band Name Taken
I drew a lemon
Frizzy Wartbles
She Was A Boy
Warbles, and more of Bert's bogus bootlegging banter
fuzzy math
Re: Modest John
Settle an arguement
fuzzy, expensive warbles???
Concert review ... er ... very little XTC content
First time for everything
Recos, prices etc.
XTC on UK NATIONAL radio shocker
Oh, the irony..
Country Warbles Help (Q's for Andy)
Marzipan Spawn
Announcing the offical XTC premiere in India!
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Stay at home, watch a video / Chocolate Fingers, stir the tea
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Date: Fri, 6 Dec 2002 13:00:15 -0800 (PST)
From: Jeff Eby <jeffaeb@yahoo.com>
Subject: The Groin, Yarbles, warbles and boots
Message-ID: <20021206210015.98565.qmail@web11604.mail.yahoo.com>
Don Parker:
>>>"Aches to See" has to be the best XTC tribute band name, right?
It's awkward, perfect poetry.<<<
I have to agree, that's a great name. But how about the names from
Andy's John Peel introduction? Frank & The Sandalmen; The Ear, The
Nose, The throat; Inevitible Groin. Or you could be 2003's answer to
XTC, the Baron Knights (barren nights).
-------
-B
>>>I found something interesting a white ago in one of my fav books, 1984.
Although, this fact may already be widely known. There's a poem in the book
that goes, " Oranges and Lemons go the bells of St. Clemens, you owe me three
farthings say the bells of St. Martins..." (or something, the book is not in
my physical presence, so I'm wingin' it here). Oranges and Lemons ... that's
an XTC album! Now, I don't know if its named after the poem or the poem in
the book. However, I found this just as nice as the "Things Fall to Bits" and
"The Second Coming" connection. I like that XTC reads... (Or Andy Partridge
specifically.) Hurrah for books!<<<
I've heard the O & L rhyme is pretty common in England and Australia,
but I wouldn't be surprised if Andy has read 1984 considering the
Clockwork Orange/ Fuzzy Warbles connection. Speaking of which I
decided to look up the direct FW quote from the book and found a
couple other interesting things.
The line itself : "What you got back home, little sisters, to play
your fuzzy warbles on?" is from the part where Alex picks up the two
girls in the music shop. Interesting to note is that, Melodia, the
shop where he picks up the girls, is tended by a real horrorshow type
of veck by the name of Andy.
In another converstion I had about Warbles, someone got it confused
with "Yarbles." Coincidentely yarbles are mentioned on the next page
of the book where he insults a pop-music duo, calling them "two
horrible yarbleless like eunuchs whose names I forgot."
I wonder how much of this is underlined in Andy's copy of the book.
-------
In response to the CD's being overpriced. As a fellow yank I think
they're fairly priced for imports, especially as many of these are AAA
grade recordings, and even the ones that suffer from being originally
recorded badly have been reworked and apparently improved.
Personally, I was so desparate to get them I spent even more $$$ to
get express shipping.
-------
finally, I've traded for boots (never bought and would never sell),
hell, I've even been so 'evil' as to take songs off of Napster and its
bastard offspring. Basically I don't see what I should be guilty for.
Didn't I just tell you I'm buying Warbles anyways?
If only I could stop using self-deprecating humor I know that I could
be a much better person.
------------------------------ Date: Fri, 6 Dec 2002 16:17:17 EST From: Jdmack01@aol.com Subject: MFSL vs Remastered Message-ID: <57.157f07ac.2b226ddd@aol.com> If this is an old topic, forgive me for bringing it up again. I have the MFSL CD's of "Skylarking" and "Oranges and Lemons." Is there any sound quality difference between the MFSL versions and the recent remastered versions of those two albums? J. D.
------------------------------ Date: Fri, 6 Dec 2002 13:30:50 -0800 (PST) From: Andrew Boyle <andybgator@yahoo.com> Subject: Band Name Taken Message-ID: <20021206213050.523.qmail@web21310.mail.yahoo.com> Hello, All. Long time, no post. Long story. But just in time for Christmas I can drop a little 411 wrapped in ribbon. Richard spoke: > As far as XTC cover band names... > Brainiac's Daughter! Too late. Been a band here in Central Florida for ages. They are pretty fun. Everyone have a great Holiday Season, K? Andy Orlando, FL
------------------------------ Date: Fri, 06 Dec 2002 21:33:13 +0000 From: Mark Fisher <mark-fisher@blueyonder.co.uk> Subject: I drew a lemon Message-ID: <BA16C819.8A55%mark-fisher@blueyonder.co.uk> > I found something interesting a white ago in one of my fav books, 1984. > Although, this fact may already be widely known. There's a poem in the book > that goes, " Oranges and Lemons go the bells of St. Clemens, you owe me three > farthings say the bells of St. Martins..." This is a very well known nursery rhyme in the UK. Any child could sing it to you. I wonder, though, if Reel by Real owes a debt (indirect or otherwise) to Orwell's book . .. -- Mark
------------------------------ Date: Fri, 06 Dec 2002 16:39:38 -0500 From: Ben Gott <bgott@rectoryschool.org> Subject: Frizzy Wartbles Message-ID: <BA16834A.6D7A%bgott@rectoryschool.org> Yo, My pal Darryl wrote the following about the availability of "Fuzzy Warbles": > But to pick up on Ted's point the discs are only aimed at completists - > they're never going to be seen by casual listeners as they will only be > available through the official Idea site, and surely most of the people that > regularly log on are pretty much dyed in the wool fans aren't they? I bought my copies for #9.99 each on amazon.co.uk. They shipped two days ago and should be arriving soon. (I'm buying copies as presents as well, and will probably get those from the Idea Records site -- I wanted them cheap and now, though, which is why I went to Amazon.) Last weekend, I bought a 100 CD changer. It's the best damn thing I've ever bought. Where else can you go from Marley to Guided by Voices to Shawn Colvin to R.E.M. to Michael Franti & Spearhead in one fell swoop? Lovin' it, -Ben
------------------------------ Date: Fri, 6 Dec 2002 14:44:51 -0800 From: "Kerry Chicoine" <KChicoine@whitehat.com> Subject: She Was A Boy Message-ID: <000901c29d79$16633800$501a75ce@mailorder.com> Ralph Simpson DeMarco <sawpit@hotmail.com> wrote: > First I must tip my uffington horse cap > to Kerry Chicoine for her fine defense > of Mummer and her interesting comparison > to Skylarking and O&L. Although I find the concept of feminity beguiling, and your kind words of agreement are most welcomed, I am, genitally-speaking, a man. Sorry if I led you to believe otherwise. What is a Manwich, anyway? [A bad idea? - ed] kErrY kOMpOsT http://www.mp3.com/kompost
------------------------------ Date: Fri, 6 Dec 2002 14:36:24 -0800 (PST) From: Todd Bernhardt <beat_town@yahoo.com> Subject: Warbles, and more of Bert's bogus bootlegging banter Message-ID: <20021206223624.81999.qmail@web41103.mail.yahoo.com> Hi: In 8-64 Ted Harms worried about the cost and quality of the Warbles, and in 8-65 several people reassured him about both. The only thing I can add is that Andy has worked very hard -- to the point of starting his own label, since Colin was unwilling to invest the time or money to do this right -- to make sure that the quality of these disks is very high indeed. He's even gotten writer's cramp autographing 2,000 of the disks over the course of several days, so I'd say they're a good value for the dedicated fan (their intended audience). I'm expecting *my* copies under the Ozzmas tree, along with the InstruThingies. Remember -- the Warbles don't just comprise a bunch of "Andy in the Shed" demos (though there'd be nothing wrong with that, IMO). Many of these songs feature the full band and have not made their way onto the "trading circuit," so in many ways, the Warbles are as close as we'll come for a while to a new XTC album. Speaking of trading (see, Ade, two can play the segue game) ... Bert Millichip (or juan_the_man2002, depending on which pseudonym he chooses to write behind), responded to Wes Long with the following: > Obviously, Andy's opinion is the only one that counts > regarding *his* music - though bootleggers are likely > to feel a tad confused given that Andy has made > comments in the past which seem to give a green light > to their activities. But Todd and I were talking in > more general terms. Andy has never spoken ambiguously about bootlegging, nor did Wes's comments infer that. I'll type slowly, Bert, so you can understand: Andy thinks trading is okay, and bootlegging is not. Trading is a way for people to share music. If people like the new music they hear, they may decide to support the artist and buy it. Alternatively, trading may be a way for people to hear music that's not available commercially. Similarly, if they like this music, they may buy other commercially available music by the artist. Trading -- like listening to the radio, or a friend's stereo, or to MP3s downloaded from the Internet -- is a way for a prospective customer to "kick the tires" before deciding whether or not to buy. People who sell an artist's music without that artist's permission are, in Andy's opinion (and mine), stealing from the artist. When I talk about bootleggers, I'm not talking about someone simply recouping the costs of materials and mailing; I'm talking about people like Chuck Bisson, who ask for a "small fee" to cover their time. This transforms the exchange from sharing into commerce, in which the seller profits from someone else's work without their permission. That's theft. That's unethical. > You chalkhillians are an odd bunch - you rant and rail > against a distribution model which you feel gives > insufficient rewards to artists, while at the same > time supporting an alternative model which gives *no* > rewards to artists!!! If the "alternative model" you're referring to is trading, then the claim that it gives no rewards to artists is bogus. Remember our file-sharing discussion? Janis Ian and others freely share their music on the Web because they know it'll lead to more sales. I share XTC tunes with people to encourage them to fall in love with the band, as I did, and snap up their back catalog, as I did. When music I've acquired through a trade because it was commercially unavailable becomes commercially available via the band's Web site or label, I buy it, and encourage others to do so. I can already see you jumping up and down in your seat, thinking of all the exceptions to these situations. Yes, of course they exist. There are selfish people out there who use trading to assemble artists' entire catalogs and never drop a dime on legitimate releases, just as there are probably bootleggers with hearts of gold who use the money they make for altruistic purposes, or who sell only products that will never be legitimately released. But these exceptions do not erase the ethical distinction between trading and bootlegging, nor do they negate the legitimate objections that artists -- including Andy -- have to bootlegging. And what's with the second-person reference to "you chalkhillians"? Maybe if you considered *yourself* a Chalkhillian rather than playing the part of pedantic outsider, and starting *contributing* to the digest rather than picking fights and acting like such a fucking troll, you wouldn't consider us such "an odd bunch." I rather like this forum, and resent the way you've conducted yourself during your short and ignominious tenure here. Finally, re: his list of fine recent albums, Mike Otero said: > 3- The Pretenders "Loose Screw." I'm working on > this one... several notches below, say, Last Of The Independents, but > I've got a big soft spot for Ms. Hynde. Really? When it comes to Ms. Hynde, I've got a big hard ... -Todd
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 6 Dec 2002 18:31:58 EST
From: Saints3Den@aol.com
Subject: fuzzy math
Message-ID: <10.295e73d9.2b228d6e@aol.com>
Hi!
> Anybody else surprised by the cost of the Fuzzy discs?
...says Ted.
I am
...says Ed.
Because , somewhere,early on, when we first heard about the possibility of
'fuzzy',maybe in one of those "I just got off the phone with Andy" posts,Andy
himselph,I do believe, stated they would be at a low price,them being
demoes,and all.
I do not remember any specific price mentioned... but when i checked the
Idear site,I was surprised at the cost.
I always had ,in the back of my mind a feeling,(based on my first paragraph)
of mebbe a $10 or $12 price,once they were for sale...if ever...
so,yes I was surprised.
Lots of good posts,folks,defending the pricing... but I think Ted is right to
be surprised.
eddie st.martin
------------------------------ Date: Fri, 6 Dec 2002 18:44:50 EST From: DinsdaleP@aol.com Subject: Re: Modest John Message-ID: <154.188409b0.2b229072@aol.com> In a message dated 12/6/02 3:24:26 PM, <owner-chalkhills@chalkhills.org> writes: << "Tomorrow Never Knows" and "She Said She Said" apart, John's contributions to Revolver were pretty modest. >> I'd sure like to live in a musical universe where "I'm Only Sleeping" and "And Your Bird Can Sing" are considered "pretty modest"! Great songs would flow like water in such a universe. - John
------------------------------
Date: Sat, 7 Dec 2002 00:35:52 -0000
From: "dappleford" <dappleford@blueyonder.co.uk>
Subject: Settle an arguement
Message-ID: <000001c29d88$992495e0$5e30c050@z6m5t9>
Can any one definitively settle a debate I have had with my brother for
some time now?
It regards one of my favourite XTC tracks from the wonderful Apple Venus
album, River of orchids.
Does any one know if the pizzicato strings and horns are sampled loops
or actually played live?
I would love to believe that they were played live by the London session
orchestra, but I have to admit after a very loud listen on headphones
recently I think my brother may be right and they are looped samples of
the same part repeated, shame if it is so, but it makes sense from a
producer's point of view.
Anyone know for sure?
Dave (yes I am in to the technicalities as I am a recording engineer
{among other things}) Appleford.
Lets reveal our child like nature....lets go to pot!
------------------------------ Date: Fri, 6 Dec 2002 17:19:44 -0800 (PST) From: Tyler Hewitt <tahewitt@yahoo.com> Subject: fuzzy, expensive warbles??? Message-ID: <20021207011944.81641.qmail@web14206.mail.yahoo.com> All these posts bout the high cost of Fuzzy warbles makes me want to throw in my opinion,slight as it may be... I too was a little shocked at the price of the discs (according to the universal currency converter http://www.xe.net/ucc/ they were coming in at about $20.00 each), but that didn't stop me from ordering! I think the shock comes from early reports saying thet the discs were going to be budget priced. In the US, that is usually around $12.00 each. I think we can blame generally high prices for cds in the UK, and a bad (and possibly wildly fluctuating) exchange rate for what we in the US see as a high price. I recently ordered a Peter Blegvad cd from a British site, and my credit card was charged about $18.00 for the disc and shipping. I ws expecting to pay about $23.00, so I guess the exchange rate was in my favor that day. Hopefully the same will happen with Fuzzy warbles. I'm really excited about the Fuzzy Warbles discs, and can't wait for them to arrive. And I'll keep ordering, even if they are kind of pricey. By the way, does anyone know if Peter Blegvad's The Naked Shakespeare is still in print, and if so, where I can get a copy?
------------------------------ Date: Sat, 7 Dec 2002 03:27:25 -0800 (PST) From: Ira Lieman <ilieman@yahoo.com> Subject: Concert review ... er ... very little XTC content Message-ID: <20021207112725.14725.qmail@web11201.mail.yahoo.com> G'morning Chalkfolk... Last night my wife and I headed into the rockin' island of Manhattan for some food and to hear the fantabulous Aimee Mann in concert at the Beacon Theatre (a great concert venue for those not of the New York persuasion). I could go on for hours (well actually for three hours) dissecting Aimee and her band's performance, which was marked by too much caffeine and way too many references to Freebird, but I digress. Throughout the show people would be yelling out songs for her to presumably play. (The suggestion of "Voices Carry" was responded to by "You have a better chance asking me to play Freebird, sir.") So anyway this was almost out of control the last half-hour and during her second encore she actually ASKED if anyone would like to make a request, they should do so by paper and pen and drop it off in front of the stage as they played something else. I was crushed that my inability to procure seats on the floor rendered me unable to suggest "Collideascope." I would have done it! Oh well. Aimee rocked big time anyway. And we just got home like 5 hours ago. <yawn> Buy her album "Lost in Space." It's quite good. :) -ira, mid-yawn
------------------------------ Date: Sun, 8 Dec 2002 00:51:06 +1100 (EST) From: bree cunningham <bcsoftwear@yahoo.com.au> Subject: First time for everything Message-ID: <20021207135106.21763.qmail@web12101.mail.yahoo.com> Well hidiho partners in crime. This is my very first posting so be gentle on me. I don't have that much to say that hasn't been said already but I would like to point out that I love Bert's incomprehensible rantings. You keep 'em coming boy. They're highly entertaining and they give my tube rides to work in the morning some sense of humour. Secondly don't ever, ever, and I mean EVER! Compare Silverchair to the greatest band of all time! Although they are growing up and their sound is evolving (like all other bands in the history of the universe, except for Coldplay and the sad saps of RHCP if you are forced to listento their lastest), they still SUCK!!! Next all I have to say about people who believe there is no good music around these days must listen to George from Brisbane. THEY ROCK!!! I suggest you sit back relax close your eyes put the disc on and you will remember those feelings of love for an album. Lastly, and I can already here the crys of, "Thank God", I am after some info. I have arrived in the UK and would love to do an XTC tour. Of where they recorded, played, etc etc. Just like you can get tour for the Beatles, I'd love one for the band. Oh and if there is any good local music playing in Swindow, London, Newcastle, or Manchester that anyone knows about, it would be greatly appreciated. Thanks for turning a blind eye Queen Bree PS Tribute band name Ex-Tc. Just a thought.
------------------------------ Date: Sat, 7 Dec 2002 19:14:32 +0530 From: "Sughosh Varadarajan" <aqualung@hotpop.com> Subject: Recos, prices etc. Message-ID: <000f01c29df9$6e1ff1c0$712b41db@SughoshVaradarajan> Halloa all! Since all you Chalkers seem to be in the mood for recommendations, here's a few of my finds for the year...some of them may be kinda old-hat, since I live in the exotic east(heh) and good music isn't easy to come by..but my recent experiences with Mr. Gott have taught me that pretty much everyone has something to learn from everyone, so here goes: The Auteurs - Now I'm a cowboy Albion Band - Battle of the field Badly Drawn Boy - About a boy OST Belle and Sebastian - Tigermilk (Yes, I know this isn't their best, but I love it anyway..should be getting "Arab strap" early next year...yippee!) David Bowie - Heathen Tim Buckley - Tim Buckley Cocteau Twins - Treasure Edwyn Collins - I'm not following you Roy Harper - HQ Kristin Hersh - Hips and makers The Incredible String Band - 5000 Spirits, or the layers of the onion The Jam - At the BBC (wonderfully energetic set...was lucky enough to get the version with the bonus disc!) Love - Four sail (Not a patch on Forever Changes, but still very very very good!) Kirsty MacColl - Kite (ahhh why did she have to die?) The Pernice Brothers - The world won't end Sam Phillips - Martinis and bikinis (Where the devil did she disappear too? This is wonderful stuff! She practically defines the term 'Beatlesque'!) Robyn Hitchcock & the Egyptians - Fegmania! Silly Sisters - No more to the dance The Soft Boys - Underwater moonlight Spirit - Spirit / The family that plays together / Clear (all classics!) Bruce Springsteen - The rising Steeleye Span - Ten man mop, or Mr. Reservoir Butler rides again / Comoner's crown Thermal and a quarter - Jupiter cafe (no one will know of them here, but they're one of India's best rock outfits and this album really deserves a mention..it's brilliant!) The White Stripes - White blood cells Phew! I just realised I've had a pretty good year! Don said: > another recommendation: Richard > Thompson "Shoot out the Lights" which I loved until sudddenly his wife, > *Linda McCartney*, started singing! WHAT!! You actually have issues with Linda Thompson's voice? I find her mesmerising, though perhaps not as much as Sandy Denny, Maddy Prior, Jacqui McShee or June Tabor, but definitely right up there! Richard said: > I have plenty of music in my mind and collection that many Chalkhillbillies > might scoff but this music has to do with a placement in time. Just as an > example, for good or for bad (and I don't seek your opinion), The Allman > Brothers' "Brothers And Sisters" recording takes me back to some wonderful > early high school memories. Hmmm...I wasn't aware that Brothers and Sisters isn't supposed to be a good album...well, a bit too country-tinged perhaps, but any album with "Jessica" on it gets my vote! Just listening to "Mountain jam" from the Allmans live at Ludlow Garage tho, and I realise B&S isn't quite in the same class...! Oh, and as for the Fuzzy Warbles pricing controversy, well I guess if everyone out here is used to paying upto 15 quid for a disc, it isn't so much of an issue, but to someone like me (and I think I said this before) who's used to picking up CDs for 5-7.5 quid, it's a lotta cash. Not that I'm suggesting Andy isn't worth it, but there's so much music and so little money! Unfortunately, there ARE a few of us 'hillers (or is it just me?) for whom online purchasing at international rates is still a rather distant dream....when your monthly earnings amount to about 100 GBP, you can't really be spending 10.21 (plus shipping blablabla) on a single disc, even if it does contain some more examples of the musical genius of Mr. Partridge...sorry Andy...maybe someday when I'm a millionaire ... Anyways, Cheers all Sughosh
------------------------------ Date: Sat, 7 Dec 2002 16:13:03 -0000 From: "David Smith" <ds003d1857@blueyonder.co.uk> Subject: XTC on UK NATIONAL radio shocker Message-ID: <!~!AAAAAMx/YpYIwb8RlPVKaHvjNErEzCcA@blueyonder.co.uk> Yes folks, it's finally happened. We all know the score - every other digest, someone here pops up with the story of how they happened to come across an XTC track being played where you wouldn't expect it (ie, in the public domain). Now normally it's on a soundtrack (The Gilmore Girls seems to be the current fave) or the recent reported "This is Pop" on the outro of Channel 4's "100 Best Selling British Singles" - in other words, it's very rare that an erstwhile radio DJ just sticks on an XTC track for the sake of it. So imagine my surprise when, driving along this morning, I ws listening to Jonathan Ross (or "Woss" as we Brits would know him as) on BBC Radio 2 - offically the most listened to radio station in the country. And what should he play, why only "I'm The Man Who Murderd Love". Right there - in living aural! He then proceeded to spend a good three minutes talking about what a great album it came off - I quote: "Wasp Star - great name. It came out with another one, Apple Venus - they're both fantastic records". Alright, so they didn't come out together, but hey, here's a national DJ and TV celebrity who, depsite his best efforts to come across as a preening popinjay, actually proves what good taste he has. Nice one Wossy! Smudgeboy
------------------------------ Date: Mon, 9 Dec 2002 20:53:39 -0000 From: "Darryl W. Bullock" <drol@btinternet.com> Subject: Oh, the irony.. Message-ID: <000701c29fc5$13937600$19a2fea9@Bullock> Am I being petty? Or am I justified in feeling a little pissed off with Idea/Weatherbox at the minute? Like a good fan I preorderd the (quite magnificent) Fuzzy Warbles discs and waited with my breath well and truly bated for them to arrive - only to find the self same discs for sale in every local record shop for up to #3 per disc less that I paid. Okay, so mine are autographed. That's nice, and I would always opt for that given the choice - but none of us were given any choice! It was autographed or nothing at over #13.75 each (after postage). True, maybe by purchasing them direct I am helping put money diectly into Andy's pocket rather than EMI/Virgin's and that's no bad thing, but I'd wager that I've less in my bank account than Mr Partridge and that extra #6 or so that I've shelled out would have fed the cat for almost a month! I've gone on Chalkhills and berated other fans for quibbling about the price, so I realise the irony here. What I want to know is, will future volumes also be available from my local MVC for #10.71? If so, I may well have to consider where I buy further instalments. And by the way, what the hell is happening with the UK release of the instrumental albums, or should I get the Japanese versions instead? Darryl.
------------------------------ Date: Mon, 9 Dec 2002 17:00:50 -0800 (PST) From: Wes Long <optimismsflames@yahoo.com> Subject: Country Warbles Help (Q's for Andy) Message-ID: <20021210010050.71416.qmail@web14909.mail.yahoo.com> Kidz - In order of the "Subject" I accidentally/luckily caught the tail-end of a video on the country music video chanel CMT tonight. It was by a band called Nickel Creek - and I'll be damned if the song wasn't nifty... you can check out a snippet of it here: http://www.nickelcreek.com/listen.htm the song is called "This Side" and it's quite XTC-ish. Clever pop with some nifty pickin'... haven't heard the entire song yet, but I'm going to look into it and the band. Interestingly - I usually hurl over country music, and this song was ranked #4 in the CMT top 20 video countdown. (yeah, I already know too much about this station) But it's odd to find that the country music fans are into something that *I'm* into... I must be at the nexus of the universe. Warbles - are very, very good. We were without power due to the winter blast... got my CD's Friday, didn't get to listen in full until this afternoon... Monday. Very nice stuff here - if you've not heard the James & The Giant Peach demos... or the demos for the last two albums, then you are in for double the treat. Still - if you've heard it all... well, there are a few things here you couldn't have heard before, it's still worth the price. Grab it up! Lastly - The next addition to http://www.optimismsflames.com will be in the Recording portion of the site... and I'd like some help here. I want to put together a list of - let's say 20 or less - questions to ask Andy about the recording of each XTC album. I've not gotten anything together yet.. but things like the following pop into me head: On a scale 1 - 10, how difficult was the birth of this album? Which song did you spend the most time on? Which song went the quickest? etc... I know there are a lot of folks on the list who've spent time in a studio... so I'm looking for some interesting specific questions from you folks. Many thanks - stay well my friends, wesLONG http://www.optimismsflames.com
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 9 Dec 2002 23:53:36 -0500
From: DMiner <werkshop@tampabay.rr.com>
Subject: Marzipan Spawn
Message-ID: <a05100301ba1b1187fc82@[192.168.1.101]>
Okay, I had to wade around in some conversation about my two pet
musical histories, the Beatles' and the Monkees'
In Digest 8-65, Christopher R. Coolidge sayeth:
>... Unfortunately The Monkees got some of their credibility as
>musicians and creative control, but sales suffered after that, and they were
>under the more direct control and creative whim of the show's producer,
>which basically killed them as a band.(Exhibit B- Head- a fascinating
>psychedelic mess with no commercial potential)
This quote was in reference to the Monkees and Don Kirshner as a
producer/salesman of their music. I just wanted to point out that the
Monkees downfall was a bit more complicated than this. The departure
of Don Kirshner did not kill the Monkees' record sales. In fact, in
the year of 1967, during which the band released two non-Kirshner
albums, they outsold the Beatles. The Monkees musical freedom was not
earned on talent, however. But I think they had enough idealism and
energy to make two spectacular albums before deciding that working as
a unit - as a "band" - was not satisfying enough. At the end of 1967,
the four individuals set about choosing and producing their own
material independently. This, IMHO, is what killed The Monkees.
Whereas the Beatles in the same model could still maintain a strong
level of creativity, the Monkees devolved, pandering to their basic
instincts (Davy seemed to keep recording the same weak show-tune
style numbers, Peter overdid everything and most of his tapes are
missing, Mike stuck almost exclusively to the country rock, and Micky
was all over the dadaist map).
And Bert Millichip contributed on the Beatles side:
>John was snoozing rather than cruising. Paul "took
>over" the band circa Pepper largely by default. John
>was incapable of doing much work since his brain was
>so frazzled by LSD at the time. Paul had no choice but
>to take on more of a leading role artistically - the
>only alternative was for the group to wither and die
>by '67/'68, and it's largely Paul we have to thank for
>that not happening. John became embittered over Paul's
>new prominence, but he was physically and mentally
>unable to compete with him at the time.
I certainly agree that McCartney came into control of the Beatles
circa Pepper. I also agree that Lennon began losing control to drugs
around this time. However, I do have to say that I don't equate these
aspects of Lennon's life to his creative output. I will confess to
prefer Lennon's more flowery and psychedelic songs to his more
introspective material. I consider "I'm Only Sleeping," "And Your
Bird Can Sing" and "She Said, She Said" to be among the best pop
songs ever. Perhaps Lennon was not as productive throughout 1967, but
I can't find much fault with even "I Am The Walrus," the most bizarre
of his songs at the time (unless you count something like "You Know
My Name (Look up the Number)" which was cast aside at the time as a
goof). While Lennon had moments of brilliance throughout the rest of
the Beatles existence, I find his tendencies to either go too far
("Happiness Is A Warm Gun," "What's the New Mary Jane") or rely too
much on pastiche ("Yer Blues") to be a bit annoying. And let's not
forget that McCartney fell prey to some of the same instincts, as
well (pastiches such as "Honey Pie" and unexplained oddities like
"Wild Honey Pie" or "Maxwell's Silver Hammer").
Fellow Beatles fans should feel free to address the flames to
derek@minerwerks.com :)
On other assorted topics:
>As far as XTC cover band names... Brainiac's Daughter!
Already taken by a non-cover band from here in Florida:
http://www.ink19.com/issues_F/99_09/ink_spots/007_brainiacs_daughter.shtml
But I dare say Mr. Sherwood has unwittingly suggested what I think
could be a smashingly good band name:
>cardboard Mephistopheles
= Derek =
www.minerwerks.com
------------------------------ Date: Tue, 10 Dec 2002 23:44:20 +0530 From: "Sughosh Varadarajan" <aqualung@hotpop.com> Subject: Announcing the offical XTC premiere in India! Message-ID: <008401c2a084$3cc70b80$702b41db@SughoshVaradarajan> Yes, folks! It's finally happened! Tonight, for the first time in the history of commercial Indian radio (which is only about 8-10 years old, but what the heck), we had XTC playing, courtesy moi! I practically thrust my copy of "Wasp Star" on a local DJ...didn't have to go as far as the student who wanted "Dear God" playing in college, fortunately ...she loved the album and played two tracks off it, "Stupidly happy" and "I'm the man who murdered love", as well as the Crash Test Dummies version of Peter Pumpkinhead...spoke a lot about the band too, and methinks this just might be the start of a fan following for our merry Swindoners in this land of mine! Too excited to say anymore now...maybe I'm being silly, but it really feels great, even more so to know that I was part of it in some way... Well, I'll pop off now, Cheers all! Sughosh.
------------------------------ End of Chalkhills Digest #8-66 ******************************
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