Chalkhills Digest Volume 9, Issue 9
Date: Thursday, 13 February 2003
Chalkhills Digest, Volume 9, Number 9
Thursday, 13 February 2003
Topics:
Re: Dave....Dave and Dave (also Bryan)
more noise about music and feud
circle of fifths
denzil/negro
random remarks, as usual
Dear God (a second invitation)
bits & pieces
Martin Newell and Extra Partridge Texture?
Dave's Rickies
cure for sanity
Polyphonic Spree- Tim Brook's review of 2002
sloth
Best of album of 2002, belated
Uffington Horse Hats
Fuzzy Warbled Twice Over...
New shirts too
The Smartest Monkeys
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Looks as if your nine lives have left town.
---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Sat, 8 Feb 2003 01:42:13 +0000 From: Ashley Powell <ashley@apowell.demon.co.uk> Subject: Re: Dave....Dave and Dave (also Bryan) Message-ID: <OvtJFLA1BGR+EwKB@apowell.demon.co.uk> In message <200302072007.h17K7uXe024886@mtv-vpn-hw-relph.corp.sgi.com>, WTDK@aol.com writes: > >I'd love to see a tribute album to Martin (particularly if they could get >members of a certain band to participate). He's a talented guy who >definitely deserves some airplay in the US There was a tribute album to Martin which was available for a limited time, called ReNewell. All the proceeds went to the charity Shelter. There were a number of tracks by professional artists and some by fans. Dave Gregory was one of the contributors with When My Ship Comes In. I'm not sure if there are any copies still available - contact Paul Wilkinson at mailto:paul@martinnewell.co.uk, who runs the excellent (if currently hard on the eyes with white on black text) official Martin Newell web site, http://www.martinnewell.co.uk. While you're about it, go and buy Martin's back catalogue from http://www.jarmusic.com, a fantastically put together site if I do say so myself... -- Ashley Powell
------------------------------ Date: Fri, 7 Feb 2003 20:26:19 -0800 (PST) From: Jackson <jydson@yahoo.com> Subject: more noise about music and feud Message-ID: <20030208042619.26048.qmail@web10802.mail.yahoo.com> Just got my Fuzzy Warbles courtesy of Amazona.I swear next time I'll go through ideaxtc.com just to do my part for our heroe's retirement fund. Seriously folks, all of this swarmy pissing and moaning about monetary strife from within and outside seems so , O I don't know, un-cricket? Most interesting to me was the liner notes about Andy's falling out w/ Mickey Mouse folks over Jason and Peach soundtrack...shit , my one chance to prove to my wife and children of the brilliance. Don't get me wrong, Randy Newman's one of my top 100 songwriters , he even gotta story on 60 minutes w/ Ed Bradley, but he's never made me want to stand up naked and scream like the man from Swindon. Although brief, the short takes on each song were worth the price of admission for me. I do not understand the book reference to Julian Lennon, anyone care to clear that up?, meanwhile, imagine if ole Andy could collaborate with some of the folks he name drops ( Costello, McCartney, Roxy, Peter Gabriel, Kinks ) or tried a wee bit to be just a little less independent, maybe , just maybe he'd get the plum assignments of mere other men. O Well, what the f do I know?...I know what I like, and pray there's more of it. Whether you believe or not, God Bless you Andy Partridge. Weird, this is the first time I ever liked anything w/ Andy P the first listen, tho I have heard most of it on my ( duck!, here comes a dagger from the West Coast) A-Z bootlegs. PEACE
------------------------------
Date: Sat, 08 Feb 2003 00:22:30 -0500
From: mstone <nedrise@sympatico.ca>
Subject: circle of fifths
Message-ID: <3E449416.F0A0E5D6@sympatico.ca>
folks
Janis said:
In a message dated 2/5/2003 1:17:35 PM Eastern Standard Time, Andy Boyle
writes:
> Still waiting for help as to what song from the 70s
> the chorus intro to "I Don't Want to Be Here" triggers
> in me.
>
> Listen to the line "And I don't want to find myself
> this way again" and see if it connects with you. The
> change in tune always tickles the back of my brain
> like I was always hearing it on early 70s (American)
> radio.
Is it "Never Gonna Fall In Love Again" by Eric Carmen? I kind of
think they sound eerily alike.
The line you mentioned ("I don't wanna find myself this way again")
corresponds with the line "Close the curtain and see it end".
----
Yeah I think you're right. Though I think "I don't wanna find myself
this way again" corresponds to the line "Never going to fall in love
again", since they are both at the beginning of the chorus of each
song, and both follow a downward melodic sequence that more or less
follows the circle of fifths
(I-IV-VII-iii-vi-ii-V-I), though Andy's is more of a variation on the
form. This is a very common chord progression that has been used in
music for hundreds of years, and I think this is part of the reasonwhy
the two songs sound similar.
BUT, unlike Andy, there's no doubt that Eric Carmen lifted his melody,
virtually note for note, from another piece of music. It's by
Rachmaninoff, the slow movement from one of his symphonies or piano
concertos, I can't recall which.
Yes, 'I Don't Want To Be Here' is a good tune, and even better is
'Ship Trapped in the Ice'. And (though it hasn't been officially
released yet) how about 'Bumper Cars'....amazing tune. It's got
everything on Wasp Star beat, imho
Mike.
------------------------------
Date: Sat, 08 Feb 2003 11:20:24 -0600
From: "Bob O'Bannon" <batchain@earthlink.net>
Subject: denzil/negro
Message-ID: <BA6A9878.6042%batchain@earthlink.net>
I might have posed this question to this list before, but I want to try
again because I am absolutely mystified as to whatever happened to a guy
named Denzil who made a terrific album called "Pub" back in 1994. After the
album was released, he completely disappeared and I have heard nothing about
him since. Anyone have any ideas?
Also, I heard about the Negro Problem on this list many years ago, but have
seen little to no discussion about them since. In my opinion, they do the
best XTC songs that XTC never did. They just released a new album ("Welcome
Black"), and Stew, the lead singer/songwriter, had his solo album voted best
of 2002 by Entertainment Weekly. Stew is a black version of Andy Partridge,
if you can imagine that. Welcome Black is a good album, but not as good as
Joys and Concerns, which is the Problem's best album, and the most
XTC-esque. It's always good to see the virtue of bouncy melody and clever
wordplay still alive and well somewhere in this world....
Bob
------------------------------ Date: Sun, 9 Feb 2003 10:51:09 +0100 (CET) From: rappard@dds.nl Subject: random remarks, as usual Message-ID: <Pine.LNX.4.43L0.0302091035300.29841-100000@shell.dds.nl> Chalkers! Computer crash and mail server problems, so I suspect I'm lagging one or more digests behind - apologies if some of this has been addressed before. ==== I wrote: > Apart from Harrison's usual overly pompous verbose self-important > ramblings the last digest contained many interesting snippets: ---- Oops, forgot the :) emoticon. Sarcasm and irony don't travel too well across the internet, and Todd rightly called me to task for this. ==== BRJohnson1@aol.com: On an unrelated note, what ever became of Andy's appearance on 'Space Ghost Coast to Coast?" ---- I thought Colin and Andy appeared - do a search on the digests on chalkhills.org, and I'm sure you'll find an old post describing said show. ==== WTDK@aol.com: Speaking of which, how does Martin get away with releasing his radio stuff? ---- Didn't he simply buy the licensing rights? I thought this was covered in a Record Collector article some years ago. ==== Ian C Stewart <iancstewart@columbus.rr.com>: > Congratulations! And you're forgetting the Swans - or were they next > on your list?:) Oh my, singing Swans songs to a baby, that's the most demented (and hilarious) thing I've heard in a long time. "The Golden Boy Swallowed By The Sea" might be a good one. ---- Actually, if you looked at Dom's original post, it was a logical consequence of his first choices. I actually thought he was going to start very lightly (say, some Kyuss :-)), then move on to some mellow stuff (Obituary, Isis, that sort of thing :)) and then get out the grind- and noisecore. Hey, my parents played it to me and it never did me any harm! Martin "I'm ready for my medication now, Dr. Tarr and Professor Fether" van Rappard
------------------------------ Date: Sun, 9 Feb 2003 11:04:15 -0500 From: "Patrick Adamek" <padamek@neo.rr.com> Subject: Dear God (a second invitation) Message-ID: <000e01c2d054$e4fe5a60$c7ef5d18@neo.rr.com> Anyone care to add to what may be the world's most elaborate discussion and interpretation of a single XTC song, in this case, "Dear God"? See what happens when a born-again Christian rolls up her sleeves at the sight of Andy's irony and a few other voices respond by trying to convert said born-again to reason! The fun begins at http://www.acsu.buffalo.edu/~adamek/. Click on Andy's photo and, to contribute, scroll down to the very bottom of the Dear God page.
------------------------------ Date: Sun, 9 Feb 2003 19:56:29 -0800 From: "Thomas Long" <tlong1@telus.net> Subject: bits & pieces Message-ID: <000501c2d0b8$64acc7c0$f604ad8e@bc.hsia.telus.net> Got them Warbles at my local *ahem* Virgin megastore the other day. I was resisting for a time, knowing full well that if I got the first two, I'd be in for the long haul. I also agreed with what I understand Colin's point of view to be: let's just put out a couple of volumes of the best and move on, shall we? But... it's fricken' Andy Partridge, innit? As I listened, I couldn't help admiring his cheek in going ahead with the project.... kinda like, "This is what I want to do, and if I fail, at least it's MY failure." And what a beautiful couple of volumes worth of failures it is. The man simply wants to cheer you up, and spread a little joy (and if a little Partridge wisdom sinks in, so much the better). I came away - or my ears did - both in awe of his talent, and in fits of laughter. The bit that almost got me in a road accident for laughing so hard was the Mr. Jiggs (sic!!!!???) impersonation. I don't know if I'm misplacing this, but I recall that voice as Sylvester's nemesis in the battle to eat Tweety bird - if I've got this wrong, I'm sure 10 people will advise me of it in the next post. Other highlights were Young Marrieds, Ship Trapped in the Ice, Born Out of Your Mouth, and Wonder Annual. The quality of these "demos" brought home to me why I prefer Homespun/grown to their Apple Venus counterparts. No longer do these demos merely capture a certain charm that the official releases don't... they are full realised recording that clearly stand on their own... without the studio middlemen (who wants a caesarian when you can have the natural childbirth?). I also feel as if the XTC of Apple Venus and beyond isn't really XTC anymore. Sure Andy & Colin are there, but at least with Dave there was the pretense of a band... the possibility that Andy could be drugged and propped up on stage in a ballroom near you still existed (at least, in my feeble mind). Now, I much prefer this Warble project. The Warbles are like postcards from Andy saying, "Hey, I'm still out here... I'm not in the game anymore, but I've still got a few magnets I'd like to stick on your fridge." Well, I'm sure Andy would say something more ingenious, but I hope you get my point. Speaking of ingenious, I'd like to throw more laurels (or is it kudos?) Harrison's way. I love the insights you provide. No... I demand the insights you provide. You've brought a richer understanding of the art of XTC my way, and I thank you for it. 'nough said, thomas
------------------------------ Date: Mon, 10 Feb 2003 15:16:52 -0500 From: KEVIN.WOLLENWEBER@jpmorgan.com Subject: Martin Newell and Extra Partridge Texture? Message-ID: <OF9D45A627.DDCE92ED-ON85256CC9.006DC9CF@chase.com> Hello, folks: Haven't really much to add to everyone's passages, but I did want to let all know that I have been eagerly reading each new batch of posts. I still don't know why there is so much complaining about the WARBLES. Isn't this the kind of obsessive stuff we've been pining for all those silent years when the flowers of creation weren't allowed to grow? Like the more positive listers, I cannot wait for the next two editions, and I sincerely hope that "Always Winter, Never Christmas" shows up among them, along with other missing completed tracks for that NONSUCH album--it was rumored that there were 15 tracks still remaining from those sessions, and the album would have been a double-disk set, but Virgin decided it was to expensive a project! Fooey on them, because Andy has the tracks now and can expand if he (and, especially, we) desires! I do have one curious question-- ICE Magazine published a blurb that said that, if XTC fans bought both FUZZY WARBLES disks here in the States, the disks contained one extra bonus track? Please tell me this isn't so, because I really wanted it all--the gold-plated signature on an album with all complete tracks intact! I'm more than happy to give my bucks to Andy and APE, but please don't delete the bonuses! Here's hoping ICE has misrepresented the collections once again. Please, CHALKsters, fill in the blanks! How many tracks to you listers who bought your disks domestically have on each album? Lastly, I am delighted that some of Martin Newell's material is being reissued. How many titles are currently back out there and are they basically imports? Here's to more XTC until we've all got one full long shelf of all the missing extras--strange instrumentals, poems, recordings under almost all those great pseudonyms that Andy listed on TRANSISTOR BLASTER, farts, giggles--yes, I want it all!!! There are so many groups out there that are paying their homage to the 1960's type sound similar to XTC's own noodling, so if the album Andy is trying to get out there with the musician from Apples in Stereo doesn't pan out, there's always the High Lamas, St. Etienne (in their softer moods), and, yes, even our own Becki DiGreggorio full time as she is slowly piecing together a Dukes-like project all her own--okay, Becki, I won't give any more information away than that!!! Until next time... Kevin
------------------------------ Date: Tue, 11 Feb 2003 14:09:01 +1100 From: "Andrew Gowans" <ratwhacker@hotmail.com> Subject: Dave's Rickies Message-ID: <BAY2-F150ck5jVTha4y00020563@hotmail.com> Good Afternoon Folks, Just browsing some Rickenbacker enthusiast sites and I found a link to photos of Dave's collection of Rickies. Those of you who browse his site and look at his monthly picks would know his guitars, but it is good to see his pics on someone else's site. I'm presuming he submitted the pics himself, the page says they are courtesy of DG. http://www.rickbeat.com/gallery/davegregory/davegregory.htm Some other good stuff there, a Ricki 325 submitted by Roger McGuinn's son Henry and Peter Bucks 360. Put on your anoraks and enjoy! Andrew Gowans
------------------------------ Date: Tue, 11 Feb 2003 16:04:31 +1100 From: "SEBASTIEN MAURY (02) 8333 5869" <maury.sebastien@abc.net.au> Subject: cure for sanity Message-ID: <200302110521.QAA0000025143@inmail01.abc.net.au> Hi there lovelyheads, Having just plonked down $40 (Oz version: worth about half a euro or similar...) for volume 1 of fuzzy warbles - hot off the holland press, no less - i want it on the record that it was money exceedingly well spent, if only for andy's delicious take off in "that wag" of young robbie smith and the moz. not to mention a (not far from the mark) tilt at the zimmerman himself. particularly fond of the attention taken in guitar work in each cameo also. i ask myself what exactly people were expecting anyway? still, la difference is what makes the world so fascinating. sure explains the top 40 at any given moment. the next few months promise gooey aural pleasures though: February brings me the 3 Bens (a bit like the 3 tenors, only...better and with more snot): Ben Folds, Ben Lee and Ben Kweller on the same bill, combined age of about 45. March is Massive Attack. April brings the band that released my favourite album of 2002: Silverchair (the album was Diorama, yours free with every bottle of fragrance). Yay. Keep truckin' Seb
------------------------------ Date: Tue, 11 Feb 2003 20:54:08 -0000 From: "Pledge" <Pledge7@btinternet.com> Subject: Polyphonic Spree- Tim Brook's review of 2002 Message-ID: <001e01c2d20f$b98a34a0$6dd47ad5@oemcomputer> Way back in January, Tim Brooks listed his top tens from 2002 and said he wanted to hear The Polyphonic Spree's album. I'm amazed it isn't being discussed on here at great length as it is a thing of rare beauty. Picture this: if you love Apple Venus volume 1 and you love Pet Sounds, you should adore this record and band. I saw them live in London last night at the Kentish Town Forum. Usually this is the type of venue you'd expect to see bands who have had proper hits, not one week at about number 28 on the UK singles chart. I'd read that their gigs were a cause for mass celebration, and last night's show proved this categorically. I've never seen so many people grinning at a concert, and no, they are not a comedy band. Let me create the scene: imagine one of Brian Wilson's legendary sessions, so you have the usual bits: lead vocalist, guitarist, bassist, drummer, keyboard player. Add trombone, trumpet, French horn, harp, theremin, violin, upright bass, synthesiser, percussion, flute. A bunch of samples you're thinking, no! These are individual players. Add nine piece mixed choir and you can begin to imagine these 25 make quite some sound... If you say I can't count, take a look at their record sleeves. The number of members varies, and is quoted at anything between 23 and 27! And what a sound it is. Imagine the best bits of Pet Sounds, imagine a whole range of rhythms, imagine the orchestral interludes, imagine the sort of band Andy would need to assemble to bring River Of Orchids and Easter Theatre to life on stage and you're getting there. Hear their album and then try to imagine them trying Apple Venus. I think I know you'll think they could do it. And do it brilliantly. The band entered the stage and exchanged love with the audience for what seemed an eternity before a single note was played! I've never seen anything like it at a concert by a band who hasn't yet made it. Band leader, Tim De Laughter, once of Tripping Daisy, seemed overwhelmed by the reception, but it was nothing compared to when they started playing. Normally we should not believe the hype, but Polyphonic Spree deserve every column inch they get. i'd struggle to find the words to describe their music, as I'm no musician. The only thing i know about music is what i like and what moves me emotionally. When I first heard their album, The Beginning Stages Of... I was tempted to burn my existing record collection. Of course i didn't. History shows that the world was not ready for Pet Sounds in the 60s. Judging by the reception the Polyphonic Spree are receiving in England, the time is now right for music of that beauty to hit home and hit home big. XTC have flirted with the orchestral side, as have the Divine Comedy and the High Llamas. The Polyphonic Spree are set to take on the stale, sterile boy bands and make music their own. Try them out, I'm certain you won't be disappointed. Pledge
------------------------------ Date: Wed, 12 Feb 2003 12:05:59 +1100 From: "SEBASTIEN MAURY (02) 8333 5869" <maury.sebastien@abc.net.au> Subject: sloth Message-ID: <200302120210.NAA0000021215@inmail01.abc.net.au> hi to you all on this fine (war free as yet) wednesday morning. 28 degrees in sydney by the way (that's warmish for you fahrenheit junkies) in the interests of full disclosure, i need to open up my 2002 purchases to closer scrutiny and divulge what tickled my ear's fancy this past year. i know, it's already february. in alphabetical ordure: * Bjork: Family Tree. really the most extraordinary collection of packaging, artwork, and astounding music. * Elvis Costello: When I Was Cruel. seeing him live in sydney didn't hurt the songs. voice just gets better and no end in sight to the stream of invective and melody. * Doves: Last Broadcast. from sub sub and manchester dance to swirling, chiming gorgeousness. classic. * Electric Soft Parade: Holes In The Wall. video of the year (song not far behind, album a little further) * George: Polyserena. jon lord's band of choice to take on his concerto in australia. they're much, much better than that though. intricate, raging, delicate and driving. sometimes in the one song. * Andy Partridge: Fuzzy Warbles. well why not? new songs, some madness and andy liner notes. who could quibble? * Prince: Rainbow Children. curious. great jazzy album, just don't listen to the words (he's a FREEEEK, you know!). jumping jehovah... * Remy Shand: The Way I Feel. who does this skinny white twentysomething signed to motown think he is? bit of a genius i reckon if this sterling bunch of tunes is anything to go by. channel the 70s but avoid lenny. * Silverchair: Diorama. my album of the year. unimaginable leap from the previous (pretty fine) neon ballroom. van dyke parks orchestral arrangements only enhance the beauty of the songs. flawless. * Supergrass: Life On Other Planets. worth the wait, its simplicity almost fools you until you realise it has burrowed its way into your subconscious and will *not* be removed! Honourable mentions: * Icecream Hands: Broken UFO * Toshi Kubota: United Flow * Sinead O'Connor: Sean-Nos Nua * Pet Shop Boys: Release ciao, seb
------------------------------ Date: Wed, 12 Feb 2003 12:39:20 -0500 From: "James Michael Isaacs" <jmisaa00@uky.edu> Subject: Best of album of 2002, belated Message-ID: <1045071560.7377f920jmisaa00@uky.edu> All- I recently stumbled onto the best album of 2002, supplanting my earlier choices of Wilco or Flaming Lips. It is "Behind the Music" by Soundtrack of our Lives. If you do not have this album, run, hitchhike, take a bus, stumble, whatever, to your local musical outlet and purchase a copy. SooL is a Swedish band whose humble beginnings was in a group that was "punk meets Captain Beefheart", but they went poppier. Sound familiar? Anyway, it is just a great album of great songs, in an XTC vein. I am not affiliated with them, but I want to spread the word. I picked it up about a month ago, and it has bravely staved off any attempt to be taken out of my CD player. XTC content- I picked up FW 1 a couple of weeks ago at my local musical outlet, and I paid 23 dollars for it. Considering it is not a widely released major label effort, and a goodly chunk of money is going to Andy, not a multimedia concern, I feel I got my money's worth. Nighty night, James
------------------------------ Date: Wed, 12 Feb 2003 16:08:53 -0700 From: Phil Corless <phil@pkmeco.com> Subject: Uffington Horse Hats Message-ID: <5.1.0.14.0.20030212160810.021c1c70@pop.mindspring.com> I've got more Uffington Horse Hats! http://www.pkmeco.com/xtc/hats.htm More shirts on their way soon.... - Phil
------------------------------ Date: Thu, 13 Feb 2003 11:01:39 -0500 From: Gary Glauber <gary@freelanceadvancers.com> Subject: Fuzzy Warbled Twice Over... Message-ID: <5.1.0.14.0.20030213105747.01beac90@pop.bizmailsrvcs.net> Chalkgerz: Pleased to report that my review of the first two volumes of warbled fuzzies is in PopMatters.com and Fufkin.com (where it also is reviewed by Mike Bennett). Here are the links to those with interest: http://www.popmatters.com/music/reviews/p/partridgeandy-fuzzy.shtml and www.fufkin.com Wishing you all a happy Valentine's Day, reminding you that love is not something you can pack a suitcase with. Fuzzily, Gary G.
------------------------------ Date: Thu, 13 Feb 2003 11:23:48 -0700 From: Phil Corless <phil@pkmeco.com> Subject: New shirts too Message-ID: <5.1.0.14.0.20030213112304.021bf360@pop.mindspring.com> I have more shirts! White and Ash, in XL. For details, visit: http://www.pkmeco.com/xtc/shirts.htm If you are looking for different colors and sizes, please let me know and I'll start to plan another batch. Thanks! - Phil
------------------------------ Date: Thu, 13 Feb 2003 15:03:35 -0700 From: "paul Rogers" <progers@rightsmgmt.com> Subject: The Smartest Monkeys Message-ID: <004f01c2d3ab$c16c6510$0200a8c0@Desktop> Dear Chalkhillians Would anyone be able to please ask Colin or Andy (or both) to take peek and listen to www.thesmartestmonkeys.com They are a fantastic young band out of Nashville who adore XTC from White Music to Apple Venus Vol 2 . They have finished their first record and are getting ready to tour the US and Australia soon. They would just love it if their idols snuck a look at what they are up to. Of course, feedback from everyone on the site the songs and the band is encouraged and greatly appreciated. Come on down to Nashville to check them out. They are ably managed by yours truly. Paul Rogers Entertainment Rights Mgmt. progers@rightsmgmt.com
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