Chalkhills, Number 289

               Wednesday, 15 September 1993
Today's Topics:
                   Re: Chalkhills #288
                   Re: Chalkhills #288
                           XTC
                          Hello
                      New Subscriber
                 Live English Settlement
           XTC: My personal pop music saviors.

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Date: 08 Sep 93 10:59:20 EDT
From: Kyle Skrinak <70702.3054@compuserve.com>
Subject: Re: Chalkhills #288

I imagine this will stir some controversy...

Contrary to the sentiment that I've been reading here, I agree with Andy
Partridge's assessment that XTC isn't that good live. I haven't attended any of
their performances, but I have listened and watch many recordings of their
shows. Andy is always straining is voice, and the band is playing much faster
than they do on the recordings. Since this is a fan club, I understand that
people will be quick to defend XTC. I am a big fan, too, but let's call a spade
a spade.

Their performance on their acoustic tour improved considerably, but it was just
OK, nothing exceptional, unless you're a big fan with sentimental bias. I
imagine that Andy hated the pumped-up pomposity of the big-arena type shows,
which I hate, too.

All this being said, I also feel that their music has suffered from years of
being off-road. I'd rather they try to find a suitable performance style,
rather than pack it up for studio work. Here's to hoping they give it another
shot...

KYLE SKRINAK
70702.3054@COMPUSERVE.COM

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Date: 08 Sep 93 11:35:11 EDT
From: Michael Gervasi <75210.2336@compuserve.com>
Subject: Re: Chalkhills #288

I have the Palais "show" on video as well as other interviews, Concerts
and such. I also have audio of all sorts of demos, concerts,interviews,
and radio shows. Quite a bit is actually from the English Settlement
time period. I'm interested in trading copies of rare video and audio.
E-mail me if interested.
    Mike Gervasi

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Subject: XTC
From: jim.mcneill@almac.co.uk (Jim Mcneill)
Date: Wed, 8 Sep 93 09:22:00
Organization: Almac BBS Ltd. +44 (0)324 665371

Let me see, how did I first get to hear about XTC?  On some crappy pop
show playing 'Statue of Liberty' and 'All along the
Watchtower' oh, yonks back.  Didn't like them much then.  Didn't like
their first two albums either.  It was only when I was an
impressionable young stude and a good pal played me 'English
Settlement' while we were getting psili that I finally appreciated
Swindon's finest.  Since then they haven't played a bum note in my
estimation.
        Funny to hear about Partridge's agrophobia (?!), always liked
the 'new man' stance, saw a funny wee film they did for channel 4
which I liked (they take their guitars seriously, don't they?).
Anyway, I'm no researcher so I probably won't contribute much to this
list, but it will certainly cheer up my working day to receive it.

Cheers
        Jim
---
 . 1st 1.02b #324 . No matter where you go, there you are.

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Date:         Fri, 10 Sep 93 09:01:18 CDT
From: Cyndi Robinson <U24803%UICVM@uic.edu>
Subject:      Hello

Hello,
I'm a very new 'Net user, but a very old XTC fan - well, ok, not
*that* old...I became a fan at a young age - I think I was in 7th or 8th
grade when "Generals and Majors" came out, so its been a while!
XTC stopped in Chicago on the Acoustic Tour and played at WXRT 93.1 FM
in late May (I don't remember the date offhand).  I do have the show on
tape and would be happy to make it available for the cost of a tape and
postage.
-Cyndi Robinson

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Date: Tue, 14 Sep 1993 12:45:52 -0400 (EDT)
From: "a.p. lawrence" <alaw@julian.uwo.ca>
Subject: New Subscriber

Hi,

        I'm new to this list, so I'll introduce myself. I've been into XTC
ever since I saw the videos for "Dear God" and "Grass". My favorite XTC
album has to be The Big Express (I love "All You Pretty Girls"), but Drums
and Wires and Skylarking are close seconds. I found out about this list
when I was looking through a file of all the lists on the system. It seems
like a great list so far.

        I haven't heard much of the new XTC (a.k.a. Nonesuch), but I'm
trying to get it. I love the Dukes of the Stratosphere (i think that's the
right name), although I can't find any of their albums.

        That's all for now. I just wanted to say hi,and I hope to get into
some discussions with everybody pretty soon.

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Date: Tue, 14 Sep 93 14:09:14 MDT
From: jrcampbe@mines.utah.edu (James Robert Campbell)
Subject: Live English Settlement

        Although I don't have the record in front of me,
the 12" of 'Love on a Farmboy's Wages' has live versions
of 'English Roundabout' and a track called 'Cut It Out'
(which sounds like the boys playing around with 'Scissor Man'
sans vocals).  I believe they were from the Hamburg show that
John noted on #288.

        Two other quick things:

        -For those keeping score, the bootleg "K-Rocking in
Pasadena" has a live version of 'King For A Day' done at KISS-FM
Los Angeles.  I believe its the only song they did so I don't
know if that counts as an actual stop.

        -Also, if anybody has the tablature on any songs that
they can send me (I have 'Towers of London' and 'Another Satellite'
>from previous postings) I really appreciate it.

        Thanks,

        --James
        (Another proud member of the 'I have too many "Drums And
         Wires"' club)

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From: lsprague@crater.ma02.bull.com (Lindley Sprague)
Subject: XTC: My personal pop music saviors.
Date: Wed, 15 Sep 93 17:49:18 EDT

Hello, Chalkhills! I'm very happy to find a group of XTC fans. There
aren't enough of us around. Now, a little bit about me:

I was first introduced to XTC several years ago when I bought a used
copy of Mummer after a friend was raving about the band. I loved it at
first earful, and in short order bought Black Sea, English Settlement,
and Drums&Wires (in that order.) They are now one of only two or three
artists who's newest album I'll buy immediately, no questions asked.
I have never been disappointed.

My favorite albums (for today, at least) are probably Black Sea,
Nonesuch, Big Express and English Settlement. I'm always amazed,
no matter how many times I hear them, at how perfectly the words and
music of their songs fit together; the heartbreaking melody of
"All Of A Sudden", the icy, jingly "Snowman", the punky "No Thugs In
Our House", the mad dissonance of "Travels in Nihilon", the jolly
"Mayor of Simpleton"... Their guitar and bass tones are beautiful and
varied. As a musician, I appreciate the expert and perfectly appropriate
playing by the band; no over-indulgent, thoughtless solos here.

XTC are a big inspiration to me. I just wish they'd tour...

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