Chalkhills Digest Volume 1, Issue 228
Date: Wednesday, 24 June 1992
Chalkhills, Number 228
Wednesday, 24 June 1992
Today's Topics:
questions answered
Pressing the Flesh in SF
Mod Lang values
XTC party
Re: Chalkhills #226
Twomey's _Chalkhills and Children_
we're just so many unrelated anchovies on the pizza of life
[][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][] Date: 18 Jun 92 22:06:34 EDT From: Steve Levenstein <70750.1117@compuserve.com> Subject: questions answered To Galen Komatsu, who asked about XTC's connection with Saeko Suzuki and why they (AP and DG, actually) appeared on her record... Well, Suzuki asked Andy if he would help her, and he said "Yes". She and her production people flew to England's Crescent Studios in 1986 or 87, and cut some tracks which would later appear on her (best) album, "Studio Romantic". Since 1987, Suzuki hosted and was fired from her own radio show in Tokyo, made a movie soundtrack, and lately has been making music for Japanese TV commercials. A Japanese sax player named Hiroyasu Yaguchi played on her album, and Andy played guitar on a half dozen songs of his album "Gastronomic". To "Dougie", who wonders "Why do our friends in the land of the rising sun get all the interesting releases?"... Because XTC is very popular in Japan, and people eagerly buy most anything by or connected with XTC. S'truth, my Japanese wife sez so! ---> Steve
[][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][] Date: Thu, 18 Jun 92 23:15:56 -0700 From: will kreth <kreth@well.sf.ca.us> Subject: Pressing the Flesh in SF Congratulations Chief Chalkster Relph and friends in being granted an audience with his Partridge-ness. Even though I live in SF, I couldn't make time to go to Tower to see Andy in person. Before Oranges and Lemons came out, I did meet Colin and Andy here in SF at the Gavin convention. I, too, was thrilled and remember the first thing coming out of my mouth being "Rah Rah for Red Rocking Horse!" (I've started an XTC topic on The Well under this same name). Three weeks later, I did a telephone interview with Andy, while he was in New York. That interview was never published in the magazine I wrote/write for (Ward Music Monthly) - but I will be posting a few excerpts from it here in the future. Among the things he talked about were: his first introduction to the "Smiley Smile" album of the Beach Boys; his work with Peter Blegvad; and the book/author that changed his life as a teenager. Moments of blasphemy- I've been hesitating in posting this opinion - but I feel so compelled at present that I can't wait any longer. I was on a trip to the beach several weeks ago, listening to Nonesvch in the car with three friends - and "Books Are Burning" came on. A friend in the back seat said it sounded like Queen! I listened again - yes, she's right I said. There's Andy doing his best Freddy Mercury imitation....."I beeeeeeelive the written word is more than SACRED......" There's Dave Gregory doing his best Brian May "no-space-between-the-notes/squealing-clean-and- compressed" guitar solo at the outro. Really, they shoulda been there at Wembly - smoking Guns 'n' Roses, Metallica, and the rest of the Mercury tributeers. Sorry if I ruined the song for you. I happen to like Queen. %^) STILL NO TAKERS ON MY CHALLENGES- 1) Who believes that Dave Gregory writes a major part of the instrumental melodies of XTC's songs, and hence - should be given writing credit? I know I do. His kids will thank him down the road to claim his fair share, because royalties almost always go to the songwriters (look at Lennon/McCartney - they took the major portion of the cash). 2) I want to know the guitar chords to "Broomstick Rhythm" and "Shaking Skin House" off Jules Vern's Sketchbook. Any good guesses out there? See ya- Will
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Date: 19 Jun 92 12:30:58 EDT
From: Joseph Holmes <72241.731@compuserve.com>
Subject: Mod Lang values
Okay XTC collectors, I've transcribed most of the Mod Lang ad (all but the
newly
released stuff) that was described in the last Chalkhills. Now you can get an
idea of what your collection might be worth. All these are in Mint to Mint
Minus
condition. For you unfamiliar with collecting, mint minus means nearly perfect;
your well-loved/used Black Sea isn't worth anywhere near $15.
7"s:
All You Pretty Girls.............. UK PS............................ 8
All You Pretty Girls.............. Japan PS..........................40
Are You Receiving Me?..............UK PS............................ 10
Chain of Command.................. UK Bonus 7"...................... 10
Dear God.......................... US Double A-side promo............6
Generals and Majors................UK Double 7" in gatefold PS...... 15
Grass..............................UK PS............................ 8
Great Fire........................ UK PS in limited edition
plastic printed outer PS..........12
King for a Day.................... UK PS............................ 6
Life Begins at the Hop............ UK limited edition clear
vinyl PS in special printed
outer plastic PS..................5
Looking for Footprints............ UK 1-sided red flexidisk was
flexipop 016......................10
Love on a Farmboy's Wages..........UK limited edition double 7"
gatefold wallet PS................15
The Mayor of Simpleton............ US double A side promo PS........ 6
The Mayor of Simpleton............ UK PS............................ 6
No Thugs in Our House..............UK limited gatefold playhouse
PS w/ character pieces............20
Respectable Street................ UK PS............................ 10
Sgt Rock (Is Going to Help Me).... UK PS............................ 10
Sgt Rock (Is Going to Help Me......UK limited edition poster
comic sleeve......................20
Statue of Liberty..................UK PS............................ 20
Take This Town.................... UK PS from "Times Square"
movie, has Ruts on B side........ 14
This Is Pop?...................... UK PS............................ 25
This World Over....................Germany PS........................7
This World Over....................UK PS with set of post cards......15
This World Over....................Australia Promo PS................12
Towers of London.................. UK double 7" in 2 X PS with
extra printed outer plastic PS....18
Wait till Your Boat Goes Down......UK PS............................ 10
The Disappointed.................. UK PS............................ 6
Dukes of Stratosphear:
You're a Good Man Albert Brown.... UK limited edition colored
vinyl PS..........................15
Dukes of Stratosphear:
The Mole from the Ministry........ UK................................10
Johnny Japes and his Jesticles:
Bags of Fun with Buster............UK Viz Comic 7" PS................50
The Three Wise Men:
Thanks for Christmas.............. UK PS............................ 40
Barry Andrews: Town and Country....UK PS............................ 15
10"s, 12"s, LPs:
Mayor of Simpleton.................UK 3-track PS.....................8
Grass..............................UK 3-track PS.....................12
Black Sea..........................US limited LP, PS in green
printed paper outer bag...........15
All You Pretty Girls...............US Promo 3-track in promo-
only PS...........................20
King for a Day.....................US promo 5-track has 3 versions
of King for a Day + 2
other tracks......................10
Skylarking Interview...............Warner Bros. Radio Show, US
hour-long interview with music
& cue sheet.......................25
Mayor of Simpleton.................UK white label 12" promo in
title sticker sleeve..............15
King for a Day (12" mix)...........UK white label promo in title
sticker sleeve....................15
Senses Working Overtime............UK 4-track PS.....................12
Ball and Chain.....................UK 4-track PS.....................12
Wake Up............................UK 6-track PS.....................12
The Loving.........................UK 3-track PS.....................10
King for a Day.....................UK 3-track PS.....................8
the Meeting Place..................UK 6-track PS.....................12
The Dukes of Stratosphear:
You're a Good Man Albert Brown.....UK 4-track PS.....................15
The Dukes of Stratosphear:
Vanishing Girl.....................US double A-side promo in title
sleeve sticker....................10
Miscellaneous
Black Sea US tour program..........20 page color tour book for
1980 US tour......................50
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From: just a guy made of dots and lines <stewarte@sco.com>
Subject: XTC party
Date: Fri, 19 Jun 1992 16:17:51 -0700 (PDT)
I think the idea of an XTC fans' party here in the, shall we say,
greater Bay Area is a great one. We'll have to wait until John Relph
gets back from vacation, of course.
To avoid boring and/or making envious those readers geographically
disinclined to attend such a party, let's talk off-line. Send me
email if you're interested, I'll keep a list.
-- Stewart
********************************************************************************
"Growth for the sake of growth
is the ideology of the cancer cell."
-- Edward Abbey
DNS: stewarte@sco.COM UUCP: ...!uunet!sco!stewarte
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Subject: Re: Chalkhills #226
Date: Fri, 19 Jun 92 19:51:51 -0700
From: bmacdona@bonnie.ics.uci.edu
>
> Hi! First question: What is _XTC_Explode_Together_(The_Dub_Experiments_
> 1978-1980)_? I saw it at a local CD shop, and need to know is it worth
> getting? Is it not redundant (relative to the rest of the catalogue)? Is
> it rare at all? Thanks for any answers!
It's not particularly rare. Any store which carries CD imports in the US
would carry it.
It is anything BUT redundant. Many of the tracks are strange bare-bone
experimental "demos" of real XTC songs, mostly pre-_Black_Sea_ stuff.
My personal fave is the pounding manic "The Rotary", a pre-"Helicopter"
I suspect. The others are just weird experiments of SOMETHING.
Either way, it's an interesting trip for an XTCologist. If you're a
casual listener of XTC (which I suspect you are not) only caring for
their most popular songs, then _Explode_Together_ might hit you as
just plain demented!
>
> Now a little background before my other two questions: I'm not an "old time"
> XTC fan; my first XTCDs were Skylarking and O&L, and I have since been on
> a reverse-order tour of purchases. I like *all* of their stuff, however :-).
> I'm down to the point now where all I have left are the first two albums,
> Go2 and White Music. I'll buy them no matter what, but want to know: Was
> this keyboard player a songwriter for the group? A *major* songwriter? A
> vocalist? What can I expect from him (and from the lack of Dave G.)? How
> about Andy and Colin's writing on those albums?
It was still Andy and Colin writing songs. Instead of hearing more layered
guitars, you'd hear this synthesized organ along with a guitar and bass.
I wouldn't expect much else from Barry Andrews. As you may already know,
he went on to become the lead bald guy in Shriekback. I read an
old interview here in Chalkhills where Andy and Colin stated that
the absence of Barry was akin to "loosening a bone lodged in their
throats" (Is this the accurate quote? probably not.). So I suspect
the split wasn't entirely amicable. Although the old lineup seem to
have a lot of fun in their early videos : "Statue of Liberty",
"Are You Receiving Me?" among others.
> Now question three: (opinions) As I stated, I didn't know the band's
> earlier albums until the CD re-issues. These re-issues have done
> something that seems unusual, in my experience; they've stuck the bonus
> previously-unreleased tracks right smack dab in the middle of the
> original LP running order. Does anyone think this damaged the albums? I
> have to say, if this was done to some of my other favorites albums (say
> The Beatles' Revolver), I think it might not be a good thing. On the
> other hand, Robyn Hitchcock's _I_Often_Dream_Of_ Trains_ did this, and I
> don't think it damaged the album at all. Any thoughts? Should I try to
> get to know the albums in their original order (by programming my CD
> player accordingly)? Or does it make any difference?
I thought it was the best move. Technically, they stuck the bonus tracks
where there would normally be an interruption of the two sides anyhow.
Therefore......
you could listen to the album with the right songs starting and, more
importantly, the right songs ending the album.
I don't think I miss anything with the bonus tracks lodged in the middle.
Although some of you may differ.
> p.s. For those of you who have been to Disneyland, do any of you think
> Andy's _Travels_In_Nihilon_ is sort of like the Tiki Room on acid?
> Just curious! :-)
That's probably the best description I've heard of this song.
Good job. Please allow me to use it on the air!
K!z!K
> [][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][]
>
> Date: Mon, 15 Jun 92 15:37:49 +0100
> From: DLF <D.L.Foulger@bnr.co.uk>
> Subject: The Bungalow Effect
>
> Prof. Noggy Newark writes:
>
> >My colleagues and I at the Centre for Research into Abnormal Phenomena have
> >recently been investigating a new phenomena known as _The Bungalow Effect_
>
> >The poor victims then develop strange urges to walk into quiet rooms
> >with many people in (such as libraries), or phone up random numbers and
> >shout 'BUUUUNNNNNNNG - A - LOOOOWWWWWWWW !!!!!'.
> >Has anybody else noticed this?
>
Well, OBVIOUSLY some of you are a bit discriminatory of those who
are suffering "Crocodile Delusion". It's a similar syndrome except
people are prone to yell in an annoying manner,
"CROC - A - DIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIILE!!"
Please do not overlook us in the minority. K!z!K
[][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][] From: jtl@sbcoc.com (Joe Lynn) Subject: Twomey's _Chalkhills and Children_ Date: Tue, 23 Jun 92 16:48:26 CDT I just picked up a copy of Chris Twomey's _Chalkhills and Children: The Definitive Biography_. Contrary to what previous contributors have said (or quoted other sources as saying), this book is not "dull dull dull." Maybe it lacks boatloads of Andy's humor, but it does give a comprehensive history of the band. I'm about halfway through it now (Barry has just been replaced by Dave) and I've already learned as much about the band in those few chapters as I have in over six years' worth of fandom. This is a "must-read" for any Chalkhillian-- the photos alone are worth it, especially the promo shot of The Helium Kidz featuring Colin and Terry with below-shoulder-length hair... jtl@sbcoc.com
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Subject: we're just so many unrelated anchovies on the pizza of life
From: Desi The Three-Armed Wonder Comic <jondr@sco.com>
Date: Wed, 24 Jun 92 15:50:29 PDT
phaedrus asks:
>Now its my turn for a stupid question: Just what ARE the bonus tracks on
>Drums and Wires?
Life Begins at The Hop, Limelight, Chain Of Command.
steve levenstein:
> Thank you to John Relph, Karen Schipper, and Jon Drukman for
>your stories of meeting Andy. Well met and well told of!!
>Thanx for sharing your "brush with greatness" with the rest of
>us poor souls (g). Will you be telling of that "party" you're
>gonna have, too? (gg).
only if it's suitable for family entertainment.
In the 120 Minutes appearance, Andy explains why he hates touring:
>AP: Oh, come on! You're up on stage masturbating, the audience is down there
>masturbating. There's no LOVE to be had; it's just a circus.
^^^^^^
I knew there was a reason I thought "Dear Madam Barnum" had to do with
the record industry.
Andy further enthuses:
>But books are obviously still getting up people's noses because the
>Christian Right in America are saying, "Uh! We must be, we should be
>destroying C.S. Lewis' 'Chronicles Of Narnia'", the kids' book.
>That's, come on! Do you know the reason? (adopts judgemental tone)
>"It promotes devil worship." Oh, come on!
Are there really people trying to ban this? I was under the
impression that CS Lewis was a *heavily* christian author. All sorts
of pro-Christian symbolism in The Narnia Chronicles, if I remember
rightly. Maybe someone can straighten me out on this one.
Jon Drukman (finely honed machine) uunet!sco!jondr jondr@sco.com
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Eye to eye, sad winners and loser, hurt by envy, caught by greed...
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