Chalkhills, Number 334 Sunday, 20 March 1994 Today's Topics: smartest monkeys solo Dukes influences Random questions... Paris Promotions RE: Chalkhills #333 Re: Chalkhills #333 My first hello. collection of disorderly thoughts Elvis Costello The Foo in You XTC Songbook Chalkhills #333 a post Great Gregory Guitar Cherry In Your Tree! O&L and stuff Little Express Mag Madison Chalkhills #333 Re: Chalkhills #333 Re: Chalkhills #333
[][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][] Date: Wed, 16 Mar 94 14:01:41 PST From: Jon Drukman <jdrukman@us.oracle.com> Subject: smartest monkeys solo Andreas Spreen <andi@pippin.cadlab.de> asks: >I like the weird sound of the solo in "The smartest monkeys". Still >wonder if this is played on guitar or keyboard, or maybe on guitar >with a keyboard-sound via Midi-connection? (Well by now, you'll know >that I don't know much about these things). it's a hammond organ through a fuzzbox. a popular trick from the 60's and 70's that you don't hear much of these days. Jon Drukman jdrukman%dlsun87@oracle.com ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- This calls for a very special blend of psychology and extreme violence.
[][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][] Date: Wed, 16 Mar 94 17:30 EST From: "NEIL D. BERNSTEIN" <0004361918@mcimail.com> Subject: Dukes influences Mike Mooney (mikem%uk.ac.brad.admin@bradford.ac.uk) presents a challenge: > Let's see some attempts at identifying the original band/record > inspiring *each track* on the Dukes albums (some are much easier to > spot than others...) Let's start with some easy ones. I have it on pretty good authority that Colin's "Shiny Cage" was a stab at the Beatles "I'm only Sleeping". And, of course, "Pale and Precious" echos a million Beach Boys tunes, most obviously "Good Vibrations". Now: back to the Psunspot to find some more. -Neil (0004361918@mcimail.com)
[][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][] From: blackman@alkali.otago.ac.nz (Allan Blackman) Subject: Random questions... Date: Thu, 17 Mar 1994 00:04:47 GMT Gidday all, This is probably a FAQ; if so please forgive me for wasting bandwidth. What's the story with _Life Begins at the Hop_ from Drums and Wires? I've had this CD for a few years and have always been disappointed that the abovementioned song wasn't on it, despite the track listing on the cover. I felt sure that the version of D&W in the 3CD picture disc boxed set (Go2, D&W, Black Sea) would have the song on it, but to my chagrin I discovered yesterday that it wasn't, just when I jad made up my mind to buy the set. So what gives? Is there any CD version of D&W that contains LBatH? I thinm I'm correct in saying that it doesn't appear on any other XTC disc. Answers would be welcome - it's just such a tremendous song, I've got to have it (and silly me sold his vinyl version of D&W years ago!). Ditto with _Dear God_ - am I right in saying that this is on the US version of Skylarking, in place of _Mermaid Smiled_? Again, another song I've got to have. I finally got my hands on Mummer the other day and (not having heard it before *gasp*!) I think it's got some truly GREAT songs on it - notably _Ladybird_, and _Wonderland_. And how could they leave a song like _Toys_ off the original album?? Am now waiting for a copy of The Big Express, which I also haven't yet heard. Fave XTC songs Radios in Motion, Life Begins at the Hop, Man who Sailed around his Soul, Dying, Across this Antheap, Miniature Sun, Blame the Weather, War Dance, etc etc etc.... Cheers Allan ***************************************************************************** Allan Blackman, Department of Chemistry, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand. e-mail: blackman@alkali.otago.ac.nz *****************************************************************************
[][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][] Date: Wed, 16 Mar 1994 14:47:46 -1000 From: John Pescador FYI <johnp@hcc.hawaii.edu> Subject: Paris Promotions Does Paris Promotion still exist? I have an old flier from them as "The Official XTC Merchandise Brochure" they only accepted Pounds Sterling so I never mailed them. The address is 49 Stafford Street, Old Town, Swindon, Wiltshire, England SN1 3PQ. Telephone 0793.527798 FAX 0793.533335 Please let me know if anyone has heard of them. john ..... johnp@hcc.Hawaii.Edu
[][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][] From: "Bill Moxim" <BMOXIM@epi.soph.uab.edu> Organization: Univ. of Alabama at Birmingham Date: Wed, 16 Mar 1994 19:04:33 CST6CDT Subject: RE: Chalkhills #333 In response to: ah115@yfn.ysu.edu (Robert James Foley) RE: XTC Interview LP Query > Please forgive me, if this has been addressed previously. >Recently, I purchased a limited edition picture disc containing >an interview with Andy Partridge. It was released on Cross Talk >Records in 1986. I'm wondering if anyone has information on this >record? Any comments would greatly be appreciated. I can't help you much other than say I have the same picture disc. I got mine at a record show back in 4/89. It's on Cross Talk Records, as you said, catalog # CT.02 (PD12), and mine has a limited edition number 553. The best I can tell is that it's a british college interview from 1986 by some goofy female who laughs an awful lot. The sound quality is in general horrid and very hard to hear. It sounds like she was doing an interview for a paper and brought her portable cassette recorder and placed it on the table between them... I have another picture disc very similar to that one by Pink Floyd, no label or catalog number given, but equally bad in quality. The picture on the disc is a photo circa 1967, but the content is a Nick Mason interview circa 1982. Bill
[][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][] Date: Wed, 16 Mar 1994 21:00:20 -0600 (CST) From: Ian McCausland <Ian_McCausland@mbnet.mb.ca> Subject: Re: Chalkhills #333 They are a Canadian group out of Winnipeg, Manitoba. The lead singer ("Brad" something) It takes mention of my city to get me to stop lurking. Th singer is Brad Roberts I am 27 and a photographer here in Winnipeg. The town is a buzz with the Dummies on Letterman and on tour with elvis costello. BTW Skylarking is my fave XTC CD with sring around the corner here Its time to listen to it over and over and over and.......... Ok see yah eh? ian@mbnet.ma.ca
[][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][] From: Jonathan Avrum Schubert <jschuber@sfu.ca> Subject: My first hello. Date: Wed, 16 Mar 1994 23:27:44 -0800 (PST) My name's Jon, I'm 21, I live in Vancouver, and by now you know that this is my first entry. I was first turned on to the band by my uncle, who has followed them from the start. He has a voluminous collection of oddities including picture discs, fan club demos, live boots, etc., so whenever I visit I have the opportunity to take in more XTC than I have time for. Personally, my favourite stuff is the Dukes, especially 25 O'Clock. I'm really into early Pink Floyd, the Action, Satanic Majesties Stones, Mystery Tour Beatles, the Zombies (anyone else on that count?), Love, Donovan, etc., and I'd class the Dukes stuff as as good or better. 25 O'Clock has been a near-weekly listen for about six years. I am particuliarly enamoured of "contained insanity" in pop music, and this material cannot be topped in that regard (writing, production, playing, everything!). I'm a fan of a lot of their other stuff, too. I have two questions regarding the Dukes: 1. Is there any unreleased stuff, i.e. not on 25/PS? 2. Does anyone know (and this is not supposed to implicate me!) about Dave, Colin and Andy's intake of narcotic substances over the years? I'm just curious as to whether it is possible for all of that weird, wonderful music to appear in the heads of three nonchemicallyaltered lads. 3. Look, I know that I only said two questions, but I would ALSO like to know when the 25 songs were actually written (I can tell that they were written years and years before PS, anyways). (There, that's not a question. It's a demand) I also have a word of advice: if you truly love XTC, then you'll really like Grand Theft Canoe (don't be put off by their name or their city of origin, which is Winnipeg, Canada. Ain't nothin' wrong with Winnipeg, anyways!). They have two Kinks/Who/Beatles/Jam/XTC-inspired albums out, which contain some very clever original material. If anyone is interested and can't find their stuff (which is probable), you can write me for whatever info that I can drum up. jschuber@sfu.ca
[][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][] Date: Thu, 17 Mar 1994 03:47:16 -0500 (EST) From: Brookes McKenzie <RMCKENZI@smith.smith.edu> Subject: collection of disorderly thoughts re: _the bull w/ the golden guts_ - weren't people saying it wasn't as good as _jules verne_? if so, everyone must be smoking some bad crack because i think it is unbelievable and it blows _jules verne_ right out of the water - "goodbye humanasaurus" alone is more than worth the price of admission, but with "rocket" and "this is the end" and the georgeous "everything" it rocks my world so hard i can't even stand it! (^ - ha!) plus _jules verne_ in my mind is seriously diminished by having the somewhat inferior demos of songs we already have - i.e. "little lighthouse" (without the howling end that's my favorite part of the studio version) and especially "happy families" - and the barfy ridiculousness of "disque bleu". although _jules verne_ does have "ra ra for red rockinghorse" which is practically the best song in the world. i think _the bull_ is a better assortment of songs as a whole, without things that detract from the good songs. _golden cleaners_ - could someone who has it kindly tell the rest of us what the number of the album is (you know, that long number one needs to order things through one's local record store) so that we can attempt to get it ourselves? i keep asking my record store people and they think i have just invented this band. does anyone know how to obtain the "dear madam barnum" demo? i think it was on some cd single, but i've never seen it anywhere. sorry, more _bull_ - doesn't "blue beret" sound like the offspring of a mating between paul mcartney and the Band? when exactly is the new _carmen sandiego_ supposed to come out? (all i can think of for now) - brookes everything, everything, everything you say you felt for me is it all dust and denial as lifeless as some lunar sea
[][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][] From: Dames The Wonder Dog <SPXDLF@cardiff.ac.uk> Date: Thu, 17 Mar 1994 09:50:13 GMT Subject: Elvis Costello I went out and bought an early(ish) Costello album t'other day (in actual fact it is Ten Bloody Mary's and Ten Hows Your Fathers ) and I was shocked to note how similar the sound and feel of a lot the songs are to early XTC. Does anyone else agree with this, or had I just drunk too much tea at the time? The music was produced at around the same time so I wonder who influenced who, or perhaps the music is just the result of similar older influences (Beatles, Kinks, etc). Well, that's about my lot for _this_ year, Dames (someone who lives within 100 miles of Swindon - yea!)
[][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][] Date: Thu, 17 Mar 94 07:11:41 EST From: u7b52@sunws78.bgm.link.com (Todd Elwardt) Subject: The Foo in You My Humble Comrades, Andreas Spreen writes: > On one of my cassettes I got a good song which maybe called > "Cry to me" (at least that's the main-line). Anybody knows > if that is done by the Tubes and on which album? I don't > remember how I got to think, that this might be the Tubes, but I think > they might be. O, curse my silly knowledge of all but the MOST IMPORTANT trivia; that song was done by none other than Todd Rundgren's Utopia. Dean Zemel noted: > WXRT is a pretty good alternative station in Chicago AMEN BROTHER! I first heard XTC as a wee lad growing up in the Chicago burbs on 'XRT. I think it was Johnny Mars spinning "Senses Working Overtime" on a late night show. But in any case, I think XRT is probably one of the best stations overall in the entire COUNTRY (IMHO). They played what is now called "alternative" music long before it got that monicker among college hipster-doofuses. So much for my drivel. Todd (NOT Rundgren) "With a Magical Stovepipe Hat, O Yes, Yes..."
[][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][] Date: 17 Mar 1994 08:57:34 -0500 (CDT) From: "Wile E. Coyote" <BBHULSEY@life.uams.edu> Subject: XTC Songbook Greetings, all! Well, my earlier mention of an XTC songbook has stirred up a little fuss, so I thought I'd better post this. The songbook in question belongs to one of my old college roommates. He spent a semester at Oxford and picked the songbook up somewhere in London. This was the winter of '85, if I recall correctly...I will call him soon (hopefully tonight, if I can remember to do it) and get all the pertinent information such as the name, publishing company and address, etc. I'll post it as soon as I get it, honest I will! I do want to express my thanks to Chalkhills and Chalkhillians for making Chalkhills what is...I always look forward to getting the digest in the mail. 'Til next time... ....... : o/ : Bruce Hulsey : <| : Univ. of Arkansas for Medical Sciences : / > : internet: bbhulsey@life.uams.edu :.....: bitnet: bbhulsey@uams
[][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][] Date: 17 Mar 94 11:56:32 EST From: Steve Cohen <71334.1516@compuserve.com> Subject: Chalkhills #333 Greetings fellow Chalkhillians! This is my second posting and now that I have actually received via e-mail #332 & #333 my first response is...NOW I get it!! All dorkiness aside I must say that this internet thing is nifty. Now to the heart of the matter. I am curious as to other members musical tastes. 10 or so years ago XTC changed the way I listened to music and seldom since have I found such revelatory (?) music produced. I am a big fan of Elvis Costello,T-Bone, Nick Lowe and that whole power pop thing, Luna, Echo and the Bunnymen, The Cure (pre 1988),and others too numerous to list. I suppose what gets me juiced about XTC most is the combination of intelligent lyrical content along with a real quirky and poppy sound. Favorite discs run the gamut but I would say that English Settlement and The Dukes' 25 O'clock and Psonic Psunspot are my faves. I really love Skylarking and beyond but sometimes I feel that they became almost over-produced. Sorry Todd! Also Nonesuch is great-Then She Appeared is such a great song that I have it programmed in my disc player to automatically repeat itself-but some songs like Rook and Bungalow are dare I say - boring (note my e-mail address for flaming opposition). Has anybody here heard either of producer Daniel Lanois' discs? I first heard him in the film soundtrack to Wim Wenders "Until the End of The World". I have been listening to his discs for about a year now and you can really hear his influence on so many of the records he has produced for U2, Peter Gabriel, Robbie Robertson and others. I highly recommend getting "The Beauty of Wynona". I wonder what an XTC record would be like with Lanois at the helm? I've rambled far too much. I look forward to more Chalkhills. Thanks... Steve
[][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][] Subject: a post Date: Thu, 17 Mar 1994 11:27:37 -0700 From: Marshall V Pierce <piercem@cs.itc.hp.com> Hello again First off, a few questions: Wendy James was mentioned as an artist with whom Andy/Colin has worked. Anyone know which release? I have found one of title 'Now Ain't the Time for Your Tears' for $10... Kinks have been mentioned as an influence on XTC. I've never been a fan, but have only their biggest radio hits to go by. Any suggestions on a first album to try? Some comments... My vote for best DG solo: Well, one of my most favorite is from Skylarking in Ballet... (as I recall) the last phrase of the solo, when the guitar sounds like a saxophone! It really is difficult, though, to pick one above the others! RE: Sam Phillips B&M album: I picked it up (found it in the generic 'p' section at Musicland) but have only listened to it once but then I'm also trying to evaluate the new Elvis (a matter of precedence) To Wes re Joe J's lyrics - they're *all* excellent - lyrics being a key condition for my favorite bands...have you listened to all his stuff? BTW Do I recall correctly that Big World was not/will not be release on CD? To Wile E - definitely let us know more about The Book... To all: Crash Test Dummies are excellent - great lyrics and melodies - I'm looking forward to their gig in Vail on 3/25 (Denver sold out!) I'll inquire as to any XTC influence, if I can... Til next time... =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Marshall V Pierce E-Mail Team, WWSMS Team piercem@cs.itc.hp.com Hewlett-Packard (719) 590-3461 Colorado Springs, CO =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
[][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][] From: OLIVER@slais.ubc.ca Organization: SLAIS, UBC Date: 17 Mar 94 11:34:18 GM+5 Subject: Great Gregory Guitar Some Great Gregory Guitar: solo on "Supergirl" (really fluid) solo on "That Wave" (sounds like Pat Metheny) solo on "Pink Thing" (nice jazz feel) 12-string stuff on "Melt the Guns," "Jason and the Argonauts" and "Senses Working Overtime" wacked out Indian sounding stuff in "Garden of Earthly Delights" enormous guitar break in live version of "No Language In Our Lungs" guitar duel with Andy in "Books Are Burning" (though Andy's solos in some respects are better than Dave's; more original) I would have said the little chattering solo on "Life Begins at the Hop" but the live album makes it clear that Andy does that. The live album's a good place to compare Dave and Andy's playing (I think Dave's on the left and Andy's on the right). You can usually tell on the studio records anyway, though; Andy usually plays the rhythm stuff and his guitar always sounds really cheap and a bit out of tune, while Dave's stuff is more complicated and is much more slick (though not usually in a bad way). I still haven't gotten around to subscribing to the Little Express. Can someone tell me in more detail what's in the new issue? Is there anything more about a new album? New fan club tapes? Rumours of breakup? Letter from Dave?
[][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][] Date: 17 Mar 94 21:46:39 EST From: Steve Levenstein <70750.1117@compuserve.com> Subject: Cherry In Your Tree! There are few things in life (to an XTC fan) more thrilling than hearing a brand new XTC song for the very first time... and it happened today! CFNY-fm has a daily show called the "New Music Preview", and today they played XTC's contribution to the "Carmen San Diego - Out Of This World" CD. The song is called "Cherry In Your Tree", and it comes from Andy's bubble-gum compositions. Great tune!, bouncy in the "Mayor Of Simpleton" mode, with strong Andy-ish vocals and lotsa harmonies. More about this song can be read in the latest issue of "The Little Express", which arrived yesterday. Yep, our guys are still at it, & doing it well! ---> Steve
[][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][] From: Derf <spmt147@csc.liv.ac.uk> Subject: O&L and stuff Date: Fri, 18 Mar 1994 18:10:40 +0000 (GMT) Why has Andy Partridge got no mouth on the Cover of Oranges & Lemons? Was the last message/final quote thing in the last issue just a coincidence? If so, that was a pretty big coincidence. These and more questions may or may not (as the case may or may not) be answered. Hey, you lot: Vote in my chart! (see below) Jon spmt147@csc.liv.ac.uk Vote In The R.M.M. TOP 20! This week's top 3: No.1: Counting -Mr.Jones (temporary address: LUND@che.und.ac.za) No.2: Beck -Loser Jon's No.1: Black - Wonderful life (3 weeks) No.3: Ace Of Base -Sign
[][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][] Date: Fri, 18 Mar 94 13:57:22 PST From: Becki MacDougal <ST425329@sjsuvm1.bitnet> Subject: Little Express Mag Hey there, XTC fans. This is my very first attempt to contact actual folks via computer, and let me say it is extremely strange, so very futuristic. Anyway, I've heard it thru the grapevine that not only is the new L.E. out and being sent to fans world-wide, but there is a picture of mine that has graced the cover, of Dave playing a few months back in San Francisco. However, I have not yet received my own copy. June and Pete, if you can hear this plea, can I please get a copy sometime soon? As I am quite unfamiliar with this computer stuff, I guess I just wait for a reply from someone who would like to talk, or share some insights of the band, or just to have a friend at the other end of a computer terminal (reminds me of that Kate Bush song...) Anyway, if there are folks out there who would like to "type" back, I'd love to hear from you. You can send it to my real name, or how 'bout a computer pseudonym: BODHI. Thanx a lot...
[][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][] From: m.mccormick2@genie.geis.com Date: Sat, 19 Mar 94 07:03:00 BST Subject: Madison > What is the best Dave Gregory guitar solo? Well, it is not technically brilliant like the other examples folks have mentioned, but for sheer brashness and energy I have to nominate the intense guitar solo in LOVE AT FIRST SIGHT. You know, the one where the riff just speeds up faster and faster until smoke starts coming out of your headphones? > Is Madison Wisconsin the cultural mecca of the Midwest and XTC capitol of > the world [outside Swindown] as Dean suggests? Of course, the answer is yes on both counts! I grew up in Madtown and that is where I discovered XTC. I live in Minneapolis now, but I still have better luck finding XTC stuff in Madison. XTC has been a big thing there ever since Black Sea took over the airwaves, and then XTC were booked to play at the student union for the ill fated English Settlement tour. I had great tickets -- too bad Andy had his little Episode and canceled the U.S. leg. Hopefully my co-worker Tim can shed some light on where all the XTC fans are concentrated geographically with his survey. Mike McCormick
[][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][] From: Mike.Gervasi@f1.n3658.z1.fidonet.org (Mike Gervasi) Date: 18 Mar 94 15:58:38 -0500 Subject: Chalkhills #333 Organization: FidoNet: ciOn one of my cassettes I got a good song which maybe called ci"Cry to me" (at least that's the main-line). Anybody knows ciif that is done by the Tubes and on which album? I think you may be talking about Utopia. The song is called Crybaby. Mike Mike * Wave Rider 1.01 [NR] * ... UNREGISTERED EVALUATION COPY --- Blue Wave/Maximus
[][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][] Date: Sat, 19 Mar 1994 12:59:15 -0500 From: Michael Conner (EC) <conner@sunburn.eng.usf.edu> Subject: Re: Chalkhills #333 The song refered to as "Cry To Me" by the Tubes is actually "Crybaby" by Utopia.
[][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][] Date: Sun, 20 Mar 1994 16:10:13 -0500 (EST) From: Derek Miner <ind00163@pegasus.cc.ucf.edu> Subject: Re: Chalkhills #333 On Wed, 16 Mar 1994 <chalkhills-request@chalkhills.org> wrote: > Greetings. I'm Wes Kilgore and I'm new to Chalkhills as well as Internet. > I haven't pulled the FAQs file yet, So forgive me if you've heard > these questions before. > (1) Did XTC do any other covers beside the Hendrix one on White Noise > (2) What was the extent of the XTC-River Phoenix relationship, > other than River mentioning the band in every interview. > I think the best lyricists in pop music today, arguably, are > Partridge/Moulding, Costello, and Beat Crazy era Joe Jackson. > Gotta run, > Wes Cool choices in lyricists. I am constantly amazed by Mr. Partridge's writing. As for your questions: (1) Yes, XTC has done covers, but not on their albums. As a group, they covered Captain Beefheart's "Ella Guru" on a tribute album and the track was subsequently released on a B-side. Dave Gregory, on his own, recorded Hendrix's "Third Stone From The Sun" under the name David Dreams on a tribute album. Finally, Andy and Dave, appropriately named "Colin's Hermits," recorded "Strawberry Fields Forever" on a compilation of 1967 covers. (2) River Phoenix was a big XTC fan. An associate of John Hughes, Tarquin Gotch, was attempting to get a management deal with XTC while they were in L.A. recording Oranges and Lemons. At that point, Gotch brought Phoenix to the studio, which I suppose completely cemented his feelings about XTC as his favorite band. Derek Miner ind00163@pegasus.cc.ucf.edu
[][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][] For all administrative issues, such as change of address, withdrawal from the list, fan club addresses, discography requests (last update 3 March), back issues, FAQ list, etc., send a message to the following address: <chalkhills-request@chalkhills.org> The Chalkhills archives are available at "http://chalkhills.org/". The views expressed herein are those of the individual authors. And all the world's babies are crying still.
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