Chalkhills Digest Volume 9, Issue 47
Date: Sunday, 21 September 2003
Chalkhills Digest, Volume 9, Number 47
Sunday, 21 September 2003
Topics:
GET A LIFE!!!
Re: 25th Anniversary?
Mandy Moore's In No Sense!
Stupidly Happy
Production Values
Local Fans?
Star Wasp
XTC Mashups
The Old Grey Whistle Test
Sagwa, the Chinese Siamese Cat
Copy Controlled
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Courage to look her in the eyes / The eyes of storms.
---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Fri, 12 Sep 2003 17:29:55 -0700 From: "Rick Barrett" <richardbarrett7@comcast.net> Subject: GET A LIFE!!! Message-ID: <01c101c3798e$27be84a0$28507e18@YOURFN86QV5DXZ> UMMM, KEVIN, PLEASE GET A LIFE...
------------------------------ Date: Fri, 12 Sep 2003 23:03:42 -0400 (EDT) From: RSMko@webtv.net (Marston Moor) Subject: Re: 25th Anniversary? Message-ID: <13686-3F62890E-1366@storefull-2233.public.lawson.webtv.net> James Michael Isaacs james.isaacs@uky.edu surmised: < < There has been a lot of cheering and shouting about for the 20th anniversary of the release of Mummer. Should we also not be celebrating (much in the way we brought in Y2K) the 1978 release of Go 2, XTC's greatest work? Now, I don't remember the actual date, as I was yet a wee tot, but doggone it, think of this: if they never did Go 2, they never would have done Drums and Wires. > > Good call, sir! Set your calendars for this: "Are You Receiving Me" single, issued 22 September 1978. "Go2" on 6 October. I take a smidgen of pride in boasting that I actually premiered "Meccanik Dancing" on WFMU, East Orange NJ the following week. Isaacs, I join your secret club, in publicly acknowledging the *black* album as remaining far too underrated. Abbey Road! It fucking blew us away. There was nothing like it then, nor now. I put it in a letter. Poor ole Barry the Car. See ya! (he drives away in December.) Goodbyee, Supertuff. Hello David Dreams. Quarter centennarianism, RSTV's gone insaaane http://www.rsteviemoore.com/news.html http://www.angelfire.com/tn2/bobloyce/cash.html
------------------------------ Date: Sat, 13 Sep 2003 08:06:53 -0700 (PDT) From: Happy Puppy Records <happypuppyrecords@yahoo.com> Subject: Mandy Moore's In No Sense! Message-ID: <20030913150653.82486.qmail@web13505.mail.yahoo.com> Actually, I applaude Mandy for her "Coverage" CD and I am interested in checking it out. In fact, I can already give thanks to her for making finally pick up Joan Armatrading's music. I had always seen it, knew was critically acclaimed, but never actually took the time to check it out. So after hearing a snippet of Mandy's take on "Drop the Pilot" and her speaking so glowingly of the song made me want to finally check out the original. Fantastic. Echoing the sentiment of another poster, if Mandy's fans will do that for XTC, Todd Rundgren, The Waterboys, Joni Mitchell, etc then more power to her. Despite what I actually think of the versions themselves, it also provides some much overdue royalties to our fave raves, so there's nothing wrong with that. And I love the Fuzzy Warbles and can't wait for more. Yeah, they're a little pricey, but I'd gladly pay $30 for a bootleg of demos that sounded that good. ~~LR
------------------------------ Date: Sun 14 Sep 2003 17:15:03 +0000 From: "dunks58" <dunks58@milesago.com> Subject: Stupidly Happy Message-ID: <200309141716.h8EHGPQd5006274@els.sgi.com> Hi all - Dunks here. comin' at ya from Washington DC. This is a brief post that has nothing directly to do with XTC but one I feel is absolutely necessary. As most of you will know, we're on our big world trip and today is our last day in DC. We have been staying with the magnificent John Relph, his wife Jennie and their amazing son Paul. I cannot say enough about what wonderful people they are, how kind they have been and how welcome they have made us feel -- I am eternally grateful to them for making this part of our holiday so memorable and so much fun. I also want to say how really, really thrilled I am that I've had the chance to meet, talk and jam with Harrison, Todd, Jeff Ogata, JD and Bob Crane. I also had the enormous luck of seeing the legendary Scooby Don't --- they RULE. One is granted few moments of pure unalloyed euphoria in one's life, but I've been fortunate enough to have had more than my share over these past few days. On behalf of the family and for myself, all I can say is "thank you" fro the bottom of my heart to John and his family and to all the DC Chalkers. This is a memory I will treasure forever and it's been one of the highlights of my life to meet all you folks in person at last and cement friendships that have been forged by this amazing list. Thank you, thank you, thank you! LOVE from Dunks
------------------------------
Date: Sun, 14 Sep 2003 20:39:21 -0400
From: Benjamin Gott <bgott@rectoryschool.org>
Subject: Production Values
Message-ID: <0C16F380-E715-11D7-9E2C-0003931489DA@rectoryschool.org>
Chalkids,
First to Duncan: I'm not going to listen to the Mandy Moore tracks
because I think that she'll do an exceptional job covering songs I
like. I'm going to listen to them because John "Strawberry" Fields, a
sometime member of this list, produced the album, and his fingerprints
seem to be all over not only the song choices but also the sound.
Production is important to me.
I didn't buy the new John Mayer album because I'm obsessed with John
Mayer. I bought it, at least in part, because it was produced by Jack
Joseph Puig whose ears I have trusted from Jellyfish's "Bellybutton"
on. Does this mean that I'll buy any album produced by Jerry Harrison?
Maybe. That I'll cringe to hear Langer and Winstanley's early-90's
butchering of the mediocre (Morrissey's "Kill Uncle") and the
should've-been-great (that Hothouse Flowers album with their big
American hit)? You're damn right. I have a picture of Jon Brion
hanging up on my WALL, for God's sake! And if I found out that
Backstreet Boys and 98 Degrees and Shania Twain were teaming up to form
a band ("BaDeShat"?) to be produced by Mitchell Froom and engineered by
Tchad Blake, I'd be the first in line. Really good production -- like
Jarry Harrison's on Big Head Todd & the Monsters' "Beautiful World" --
gets me through bad or mediocre albums. Really bad production -- like
Scott Litt's on R.E.M.'s "Monster" or like Langer/Winstanley (see
above) -- is hard to wade through. There are songs in there, for sure,
but I'm not sure I want to get to know them.
Does this make me shallow? Probably. But you've got to admit that
"Skylarking" turned out well partly because of Todd and that "Oranges
and Lemons" can get messy at times (although Paul Fox did an
exceptional job combining what I imagine was a mass of "suggestions"
from Andy, Colin, and Dave). And if that's evil, well, then, I'm evil.
And so is George W. Bush.
Snooches!
-B
------------------------------ Date: Mon, 15 Sep 2003 16:55:02 -0400 From: "Brad Dietz" <sometimeseptember@hotmail.com> Subject: Local Fans? Message-ID: <BAY7-F17580FZj6xyCk000202c5@hotmail.com> Any Virginia/Maryland/DC. XTC fans here? Are any of that subset musicians? Just curious... Brad www.sometimeseptember.com www.blameitonjane.com
------------------------------ Date: Mon, 15 Sep 2003 19:23:32 -0700 (PDT) From: Wes Long <optimismsflames@yahoo.com> Subject: Star Wasp Message-ID: <20030916022332.23626.qmail@web14914.mail.yahoo.com> Some brain droppings: Thanks for the kind word on my attractive site, Jackson. Although Wasp Star is grand, it's not in my top five. (order be damned - AV1, Skylarking, Black Sea, Nonsuch, English Settlement) Still, it has some amazing songs. In addition to "The Maypole & The Wheel" there's the ever-brilliant "I'm the Love Who Murdered Man", and Colin's harrowing bare-boned "Up Boarded". The whole album leaves me "Happily Stupid". Ahhh, but what the hell does this seldom brilliant coffee-nosed wanker know? Oh yeah, now I remember. Mandy Moore sucks poop from a badger's arse, and will inevitably continue to do so. We all can't "just get along" because we all think differently. And you can thank the omnipotent potentate of your choice for that one! wesLONGfella
------------------------------ Date: Tue, 16 Sep 2003 10:42:51 +0200 From: martin.clinton@dnb.no Subject: XTC Mashups Message-ID: <B8095E27DCB0564D96AB02F4F35B45AC671270@lonap003.london.dnb.no> Hi everyone, found a couple of interesting XTC mashups (a term used for mixing two popular songs together to give a bizarre new one, or adding new music to existing tunes). One here at http://www.gohomeproductions.co.uk/ , "making plans for vinyl", and by the same person at http://www.audiojunkies.net/ , a version of "Generals and Majors" passed through a blender with Sylvester's "You make me feel (mighty real)". I can't say they work 100% all the time, but I just think its interesting that somebody should choose to use XTC in them. Other Non-XTC mashups of this ilk (and a lot more tongue in cheek) can be found at http://www.diffusiononline.net/ Its something I've only come across recently....and its interesting that two of Colin's tracks that have been chosen for this. Maybe the Sylvester track wouldn't work with Travels in Nihilon? All the best Martin
------------------------------ Date: Tue, 16 Sep 2003 22:15:41 -0400 (EDT) From: John Relph <relph@tmbg.org> Subject: The Old Grey Whistle Test Message-ID: <200309170215.h8H2FfSC007397@bethesda.idiot-dog.com> Folks, BBC Video USA has released "The Old Grey Whistle Test: The UK's Legendary Live Music Show", a DVD containing the "best" of the UK's "The Best of The Old Grey Whistle Test" compilation DVD set, including XTC's "Statue of Liberty". See http://www.warnervideo.com/ogwt/ for more information. Here's the full list of performances (in alphabetical order): Alice Cooper - "Under My Wheels" Blondie - "(I'm Always Touched By Your) Presence Dear" Captain Beefheart - "Upon the My O My" The Damned - "Smash It Up/I Just Can't Be Happy Today" The Edgar Winter Group - "Frankenstein" Rory Gallagher - "Hands Off" Emmylou Harris - "Amarillo" Elton John - "Tiny Dancer" John Lennon - "Stand By Me" Little Feat - "Rock 'n' Roll Doctor" Lynyrd Skynyrd - "Freebird" Curtis Mayfield - "We Gotta Have Peace" Randy Newman - "Political Science" Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers - "American Girl" The Police - "Can't Stand Losing You" Iggy Pop - "I'm Bored" R.E.M. - "Moon River" / "Pretty Persuasion" Bonnie Raitt - "Too Long At The Fair" The Ramones - "Rock 'n' Roll High School" Roxy Music - "Do The Strand" The Specials - "Message to You Rudi" Talking Heads - "Psycho Killer" U2 - "I Will Follow" Bill Withers - "Ain't No Sunshine" The Wailers - "Stir It Up" Tom Waits - "Tom Traubert's Blues" XTC - "Statue of Liberty" Plus one additional surprise performance they say they're forbidden to talk about. There are also some interviews with people I don't care about... Write me if you want a copy of the full press release. -- John -- NP: Dev-O Live
------------------------------ Date: Wed, 17 Sep 2003 17:19:09 -0700 (PDT) From: Jim Smart <jimsmart1@yahoo.com> Subject: Sagwa, the Chinese Siamese Cat Message-ID: <20030918001909.56005.qmail@web13509.mail.yahoo.com> An odd and tenuous XTC connections at best, still I couldn't resist sharing the following program description for an upcoming show on PBS. Fans of Pink Floyd will also note connections to my favorite Floyd tune "Fearless". Sagwa, the Chinese Siamese Cat Harvest Festival Race/The Foolish Magistrate's New Robes During the special harvest celebration, the Reader of Rules is ashamed that he keeps failing at the games. But the Foolish Magistrate informs him that it's most important that he has fun. Meanwhile, Dongwa cheats when he races Sagwa because he is so determined to win. However, after a heart to heart talk with Nai Nai, he feels badly about not playing fairly and he gives to the prize to Sagwa, the true winner. Two tailors visit the Foolish Magistrate and claim to make special robes, only invisible to foolish people. Several members of the court look into the sewing room and are surprised to see empty looms. However, for fear of being named foolish, each one falsely reports that he saw beautiful robes. When Sagwa paints an honest portrait of the Foolish Magistrate 'dressed in his new robes,' the truth comes out and the Foolish Magistrate punishes the tailors for their trick.
------------------------------ Date: Sun, 21 Sep 2003 13:37:47 +0000 From: "Paul Culnane" <paulculnane@hotmail.com> Subject: Copy Controlled (1) Message-ID: <BAY7-F91LAztxc1o8yf00007554@hotmail.com> Hello Folks, please indulge me for a moment or two, I regard this issue as important... Recently the record company EMI introduced a new technology on its Compact Discs, called "Copy Controlled". Before I begin, perhaps it's true that I always harboured a kind of romance with EMI, being the home of The Beatles, and Abbey Road studios and all that. I've been reluctantly forced to modify that view, because lately they have become enemies to the humble consumer. This company, along with others, are attacking the very people who keep them afloat. Forget this nonsense about downloading from the Internet, or copying discs in bulk. That is a foolish notion - I don't have statistics, but I would imagine it's but a fraction of real usage of "the product". My problem is this: because of this outrageous "copy-protect" encoding, I am unable to play and enjoy the music I paid for. It's all very well for the ACCC (Australian Consumer & Competition Commission) to advise me to seek a refund on my purchase, but I don't want to do that, I want this product, and to enjoy it properly. I have spent an average of close to AUS$30.00 per CD, and IT IS A PRODUCT THAT DOES NOT DELIVER ACCORDING TO WHAT IT REPRESENTS IT SHOULD. This is a clear breach of the Trade Practices Act, and is therefore, in my opinion, a breach of the law, and this practice should be challenged. To whit: examples of EMI products that I am unable to play to their fullest potential: Blur: "Think Tank" (can't access "hidden track" or CD-ROM component) David Bowie: "Aladdin Sane" 30th anniversary edition (simply won't play track one) David Bowie: "Black Tie White Noise" (same again) Radiohead: their new album won't play for me at all, so there's a beer-coaster for you- And as an aside, it's an insult to have the boast about "Copy-Protect" emblazoned loudly all over the cover of CDs, it's ugly and rather vulgar. Need I go on? Well, I will. Look here, I've got five different CD-playing facilities. They are all peachy-keen to play legitimate CDs, and they are all in perfect working order. I do NOT copy CDs en-masse, I am not a threat to record companies, nor to the artist making the music (surely the more important factor in the equation). I have purchased a product, I expect it to deliver. The practice of "copy-protect", which prevents the consumer from even enjoying the music, regardless of whether you're trying to copy or not, is an outright breach of the law, and it should be stopped RIGHT NOW! I mean, if you bought yourself a coffee percolater, say, and it won't percolate yer coffee, you'd kick up a stink, wouldn't you? So, after that long-winded explanation, I would like to invite you to submit to a petition I am trying to gather. It's certainly not anti-artist, but is definitely directed towards destroying the perishing practices of these corporations who just don't seem to have a clue about their own clientele. They need to be stopped, quick smart, because all we simple folk wanna do is enjoy the music, and no more bullshit, eh? The results of the petition will be forwarded to all relevant bodies (ACCC and their equivalents overseas) as well as to the recalcitrant companies concerned (EMI uppermost). INSTRUCTIONS: If you wish to protest, reply to this email (keeping the body of the text if you please) to: paulculnane@hotmail.com or paul.culnane@ozemail.com.au . Change the number in the SUBJECT HEADING (like, if it's 104 when you get it, change it to 105). Then just add your name and your e-mail address to the list. If you agree to the sentiments I've expressed, I'd appreciate your support. Please feel free to circulate this among your circle of friends. MUSIC SHOULD BE HASSLE-FREE, AND MAKE YOU FEEL FREE!!! Love Paul Culnane Canberra Australia
------------------------------ End of Chalkhills Digest #9-47 ******************************
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