Chalkhills, Number 242

                Tuesday, 15 September 1992
Today's Topics:
                   Urban Blight and XTC
                        Producers
                  XTC on vodka CD (hic)
                    XTC Items for Sale
                          Stump
                     Home Demo Album
                  Some Rare Stuff On CD
              Re: "Gorilla in the Zoo" Voice

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From: schrey@prc.unisys.com
Subject: Urban Blight and XTC
Date: Thu, 10 Sep 92 15:17:36 EDT

  Hello Chalkhillians.

  I recently went to see one of my favorite small club bands, Urban
  Blight, at one of Lancaster, PA's two (!) night clubs.  Listening
  to a tape of the band before going, we discovered this XTC-ism in
  one of their songs titled something like "Give Me Silver":

  I put it in a letter,
  I thought it'd make me feel better.
  I put it in a note,
  the one I wrote.

  I stuck around after and annoyed the band as I'm apt to do and
  asked the lead singer about these lyrics.  His reply was something
  like, "Oh yeah, those are from... let me think... (tick, tick)
  Are You Receiving Me? right?"  I was impressed that he had dug this
  Go 2 memory out of his head.  We went on to talk about how he
  really liked XTC in the old days, but kind of stopped listened
  when "the drummer" left.  It was neat.

  Urban Blight is a peppy, SKA-ish kind of dance/party band that
  tours the East Coast.  They're from Manhattan (the singer suggests
  they may be the only New York band that's really FROM New York)
  and a lot of fun.  They do a great version of "Pick Up the Pieces"
  by the Average White Band if anyone remembers that.

         TIM

  P.S.  Talking with the guitarist of the Flaming Caucasians, another
        Philly/East Coast night club tradition, I discovered that,
        yes, he too was an XTC fan of the Black Sea days.  Amazing.
--
 Timothy M. Schreyer                         schrey@prc.unisys.com
 Center for Advanced Information Technology  (215) 648-2475
 Paramax Systems Corporation                 FAX: (215) 648-2288
 PO Box 517, Paoli, PA 19301
 "Slow! Slow! Quick, Quick, Slow! -- Slow! Slow! Quick, Quick!"

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Date: 10 Sep 1992 13:56:59 -0800
From: "Steve Krause" <steve_krause@qm.sri.com>
Subject: Producers

Mail*Link(r) SMTP               Producers
Considering Andy's problem with actually *being produced* (rather than gently
engineered), I second suggestions of George Martin being a future XTC producer.
Considering his Beatle experience, Martin is probably one of the few people in
the world Andy might defer to over substantive issues. Yeah, Martin is
apparently somewhat retired and I don't see Virgin forking over whatever he
costs, but you never know.

Also, from Chalkhills #241, Tom Meyer's quoting of Wire's "Go Ahead"--always a
relevant ditty when pondering The Business They Call Show--had a letter (as
opposed to a chair) missing.

>Advertise and communicate
>Radio players hesitate

>Critcal acclaim cannot explain
>The extent of the sales

>Why this one pales - in comparison
>In comparison with what?

>You may well as go ahead    <------ This should be >You may well ask
                                                    >Go ahead

Just a little detail, but for those who haven't heard the song, it probably
reads quite differently.

Steve Krause

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Date: 10 Sep 92 18:20:25 EDT
From: Steve Levenstein <70750.1117@compuserve.com>
Subject: XTC on vodka CD (hic)

Hi again Chalkhills chaps & chap-ettes! I don't mean to monopolize
this medium, but I do try to pass on any scrap of XTC-info I see.
   So today I saw something that surprised, then quickly disappointed
me. I'm reading the Tower Records "Pulse" mag, the one with an
article on XTC, when I sees this vodka ad offering a free CD.
   According to the Stolichnaya folks, it's a CD featuring:
"67 minutes of cutting edge rock by XTC, Arrested Development,
Peter Murphy, Lush, Jesus and Mary Chain, Charlatans UK, EMF,
Matthew Sweet, Lightning Seeds, Beautiful South, Uncle Tupelo,
Screaming Trees, and more."
   Sadly, that "900" number doesn't work from the Great White North.
And by the time we become the 51st state, the offer will probably
be over. So for any interested Yanks, vodka drinkers or not, here's
how to get your CD. Ya gotta be over 21 and sober enough to dial
1-900-STOLI-CD. They charge $2.95 for the call. I guess it aint all
bad, as I can drown my sorrows about not getting the CD by downing
a "Stoli" or three... Anyways, nice that they listed XTC first,
and not alphabetically!

"...burning with optimism's flames...", ---> Steve

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Date: Fri, 11 Sep 92 06:12:21 PDT
From: Wes Wilson <wilson@pharos.enet.dec.com>
Subject: XTC Items for Sale

If anyone is interested, I have the following XTC items for sale:

Oranges and Lemons - three CDs, small box	$15

Australian 5-track CD				$ 8
 The Disappointed
 Making Plans for Nigel
 Generals and Majors
 Senses Working Overtime
 Smartest Monkeys

1967 - Through the Looking Glass		$10
 (features "Colin's Hermits" (Andy
 and Dave doing "Strawberry Fields";
 home recording))

Dukes of Stratosphear - Chips from		$10
 the Chocolate Fireball compact disc
 (U.S. version)

All are in mint/near mint cond. I'm only selling because I have
doubles of all these (except 1967, which is a compilation CD
by various artists).

I'm in the U.S. and will ship 1st class. Add $1.25 per item
for postage.

--Wes

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Subject: Stump
From: Desi The Three-Armed Wonder Comic <jondr@sco.com>
Date: Fri, 11 Sep 92 10:07:22 PDT

Steve Levenstein <70750.1117@compuserve.com> writes:

>   While browsing the delete bin at New World Records, I came across
>a CD by the band "Stump" called "A Fierce Pancake".
>   Previously, while reading the "mutual interview" of/by Andy in
>Alternative Press, I noticed that "Stump" was mentioned. Andy had
>asked the AP guy to name a few bands that XTC sounded like.
>The AP guy said that XTC were "progenitors", and said that many
>other bands had tried to sound like XTC. Among them was "Stump",
>said to be "XTC nickers". Andy remembered them, too.
>   Well, based on that, and also the $4 price, I bought the CD.
>Sure enough, it does indeed resemble XTC circa 1980-82.
>   The song "Charlton Heston", in particular, could have come off
>"Black Sea" or "Eng. Sett." easily. "A Fierce Pancake" is from 1988.

I dunno, I think the similarity is based on the fact that both Stump
and XTC are madly in love with Captain Beefheart.  Stump's songs are a
good deal less melodic and accessible than XTC's.  Not to say they're
bad - in fact, once you've invested the effort required to become
familiar with a Stump song, the rewards are fantastic.  However, XTC
are quite clearly "easier" to listen to.

You should track down some of the other Stump items - there's an EP
with some truly great tracks on it.  "Tupperware Stripper" and "Our
Fathers" spring to mind.  As does "Orgasm Way" and "The Song's
Remains."  And don't miss "Everything In Its Place" - that's a very
XTC like track...

Jon Drukman (God's personal DJ)                 uunet!sco!jondr   jondr@sco.com
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
No matter how hard I scrub, I still exist.                              - Binky

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Subject: Home Demo Album
From: phaedrus@unkaphaed.uucp (James Hartman, Sysop)
Date: Sun, 13 Sep 92 04:30:03 GMT
Organization: Unka Phaed's UUCP Thingy

Greetings, fellow fans.  I've found the home demo album here in Houston,
but was (ahem) disappointed to find it only had five tracks on it.  If you've
already found the US and UK "Ballad of Peter Pumpkinhead" CD singles and the
UK "Disappointed" single, then it would seem you have all five tracks!

The tracks are: The Smartest Monkeys (found on "Disappointed" UK single);
My Bird Performs and Always Winter Never Christmas (found on the US "Peter
Pumpkinhead" single); and Down a Peg and The Ballad of Peter Pumpkinhead
(found on the UK "Peter Pumpkinhead" single).

Since the demo album had these tracks and was 17 bucks, I passed.  If someone
else happens to buy it and thinks the tracks are different, I'd be interested
in hearing about it - but for now, my money is better used finding the
biography...  :-)
--
phaedrus@unkaphaed.UUCP (da sysop)
"They say travel broadens the mind/so I went over the falls in a barrel
I found the north pole/in a field of ice/and in a land of dreams/I found you."
--T. Dolby (I Live in a Suitcase)

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Date: 14 Sep 1992 20:39:32 -0400 (EDT)
From: BHOCKING@delphi.com
Subject: Some Rare Stuff On CD

Hi Folks!

Just attended a local record convention and saw many XTC things on CD,
thought I'd share what I found!

The Disappointed - 5"CD EP from Australia with "Making Plans For Nigel",
"Generals & Majors", "Senses Working Overtime" & "The Smartest Monkeys"

King For A Day - 3"CD in crown sleeve with remix and demos of "Skeletons",
& "My Paint Heroes".  Only $12.00!!!!

Senses Working Overtime - 3"CD with bonus tracks, $10.00.

Nonsuch Demos - Japanese 5"CD with demos featured on UK 5"CD singles for
"Peter Pumpkinhead" & "The Disappointed".  $15.00.

Kings For A Day - Bootleg of Acoustic Radio Tour Stops in Boston, $21.00.

Dear Madam Barnum - 5"CD, US Radio Promo, plain sleeve $4.00.

King For A Day - 5"CD, US Radio Promo, no sleeve, $6.00.

Rag & Bone Buffet - Radio promo with "Extrovert", "Heaven Is Paved With
Broken Glass", "Blame The Weather" & "Respectble Street", $8.00.

This Is Not The New Album - Radio promo from Geffen with gatefold sleeve,
color photos of the band, special picture disc and three cuts from
_Nonsuch_.

Also saw many UK copies of "Peter Pumpkinhead" & "The Disappointed" 5"CD's.

Saw many vinal singles as well, including copies of _Nonsuch_.

Lots of cool items to be had.  The same place will be holding another
in October, so let me know if you are looking for any of the above items,
I'd be glad to scout it down for you.

Brooks Hocking

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Date: Tue, 15 Sep 92 11:40:11 PDT
From: "John M. Relph" <relph@presto.ig.com>
Subject: Re: "Gorilla in the Zoo" Voice

Wes Wilson <wilson@pharos.enet.dec.com> writes:

>In Chalkhills #238, John Relph picks up his electronic quill
>pen and asks incredulously whether the voice at the end of
>the 12" "Ball and Chain" version of "Cockpit Dance Mixture" is
>indeed omitted from "Cockpit Dance Version" on RAG N' BONE BUFFET.

Yes, so I finally decided to check this out for myself.  I got my
turntable out of its box, hooked it up, plugged it in, found the
original "Ball and Chain" 12-inch, and listened.  The voice says "And
this is Guy, an adult [loden] gorilla, chuckling in the London Zoo."
It's definitely on the 12-inch, and it's definitely on "Rag & Bone
Buffet".  The timings are identical.  No difference.  I soothed the
savage beast within and my mind is at ease.

	-- John

P.S. There is a new XTC interview/article in CREEM magazine.

P.P.S. XTC party Friday night 18 September in Milpitas, CA.  Ring me
       at 415/949.5677 for details.

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