Chalkhills, Number 354 Monday, 6 June 1994 Today's Topics: Re: erm, jesticles and stuff Andy P./Residents National Exposure Re: Chalkhills #353 RE: Chalkhills #353 sweet, jellies Re: Andy & The Residents/XTC Cover Songs The Scouring of the White Horse Re: Chalkhills #353 Looking for Jules Verne and the Bull Partridge/Budd beatlemania -- or, tab heaven Unsubscribe How I met Andy Patridge in 1990 (part 2) Beatles in lyrics bootlegs Re: Dear God
[][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][] Date: Thu, 2 Jun 94 12:08:30 PDT From: John Relph <relph@presto.ig.com> Subject: Re: erm, jesticles and stuff patty@gdb.org (Patty Haley) writes: > >The Relph sez: > >> In fact, the version of "Wait Till Your Boat Goes Down" (longest song >> title comprised of all four-letter words) > >I just wonder if you actually went LOOKING for this or if it just came >to you one night in a dream. The cookie's an Oreo, by the way. I just made it up. stacy@trc.com (Robert Stacy) writes: > > Anybody else catch Ms. P. on Conan's little soiree last night (early >Thursday morning, 26 May)? > Surprised me a little, though, >when she pulled out a harp in the closing bars. Seemed almost in >danger of loosening up. I just watched the tape last night and I liked it. She did seem like she was actually enjoying herself when she whipped out her harp, but she doesn't seem to want anybody to actually HEAR her playing. I also saw her concert on Tuesday night in San Francisco (any other Chalkhillians in attendance?) and her performance style was much the same. I think her stiff posture is a reaction to the standard audience expectations of a "rock show". She doesn't give the audience something to look at, instead she gives them something to listen to. My wife commented that the cameraman didn't know what to do, what with Ms Phillips standing stock still and the guitarists seated behind her. The only people rocking out were Jerry Scheff (bassist) and the drummer (crazy wildman geek nerd). In any case, the concert was highly enjoyable, especially since Mr Scheff looked kinda funny rocking out in his white hair, the drummer with arms and legs akimbo, and a guitarist newly flown in from Los Angeles (Ethan Jones?) to replace the soloist who appeared on Conan. It looked like the band didn't know quite what to expect and it lent a kind of drunken spontaneity to the concert. But since all the musicians were very competent it all turned out wonderful. (Despite the sound problems that plagued the show.) > And, to those who would >know, was that T-Bone on the Telecaster with the worn-looking >fretboard? I am not sure who the Telecaster player was. T-Bone was the big gawky older fella on the strange electro-acoustic job. I was thinking that the Telecaster player looked a lot like Richard Lloyd (ex-Television and recently with Matthew Sweet) but I really have no clue as to his identity. T-Bone and Ethan both played big hollow-body electrics on Tuesday night (Gibsons or Epiphones). Pete (Felix Culpa) <mccluske@comp.uark.edu> writes: >to my knowledge, the band's only recorded cover version, a reverent >dismantling of Dylan's "All Along the Watchtower" Erm, no. Quoting from the FAQ: XTC also cover Captain Beefheart's "Ella Guru" on the _Fast & Bulbous: A Tribute to Captain Beefheart_ compilation album, originally released in the UK in June 1988. "Ella Guru" was later released on some versions of the _Mayor of Simpleton_ single. David Dreams covers "Third Stone from the Sun" on the _``If 6 Was 9'': A Tribute to Jimi Hendrix_ compilation album, originally released in April 1990. David Dreams is Dave Gregory on all instruments. Colin's Hermits cover The Beatles' "Strawberry Fields" on the _1967: Through the Looking Glass_ compilation album, originally released in 1990. The `band' consists of Dave Gregory on all instruments with Andy Partridge on vocals. XTC were known to play some covers in concert, notably the theme song from the UK TV show _Fireball XL-5_. Peace, -- John
[][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][] Date: Thu, 2 Jun 1994 10:53:18 -0500 From: rgh3@cornell.edu (Ron Henry) Subject: Andy P./Residents >I've heard that Andy Partridge sings on a Residents album, but I don't know >which one or the name of the song ... is there anyone who has it and, if so, >can you post about the song (and the rest of the album, too, perhaps)? XTC >is nowhere near as compulsively, steadfastly weird as the Residents, of >course, but they do seem to be kindred spirits, on some level. My understanding has always been that Andy contributed vocals to a couple songs on "The Commercial Album" though, since it is the Residents, there are no credits to verify this speculation. I've never seen him mention the Residents in any interview, though I wasn't yet an XTC listener back in the days when the Commercial Album came out. Listening to it hardly give more of a clue: there are many places I suspect are Andy, but then if he was in the Residents spirit it's not like he would've been singing straightfowardly, I guess. Personally I'd love to know how he connected with them; perhaps this was discussed before I subscribed. If so, can someone re-post? Thanks, in advance. Hmmm, starting to have a flashbackc just *thimkindg* abueout thye Residdemndts... ;-> Ron H --- Ron Henry, Serials Searcher 111 Olin Library, Cornell Univ., Ithaca NY 14850 607-255-5761 rgh3@cornell.edu --- Calvin: "Maybe can I find a radioactive meteorite that mutates me into a living liquid." Calvin's Dad: "Try to find one that mutates you into someone with a work ethic."
[][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][] Date: Thu, 2 Jun 94 15:34 EST From: "Neil D. Bernstein" <0004361918@mcimail.com> Subject: National Exposure Last night at 6:01 MDT, I heard "Cherry..." on DMX's Alternative station. For those of you not familiar with it, DMX is a 30-channel digital cable radio service originating in L.A. It's nice to see the song getting national exposure, even if it is to a fairly select group of listeners. Now if only MTV wanted to pick it up.... -Neil
[][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][] Date: Thu, 2 Jun 94 18:21:58 EDT From: dabl2@nlm.nih.gov (Don A.B. Lindbergh) Subject: Re: Chalkhills #353 > Thanks to a friend in the States I've finally got my US copy of > Skylarking, solely to get a version of "Dear God" - great song, but > my only gripe is the fact that it runs in to the start of "Dying" - > on the NZ release, "The man who sailed around his soul" comes prior > to "Dying" and there's dead silence while the clock ticks - this is > ruined (IMHO) on the US release - I guess it must have been Todd's > idea.....BTW, does anyone know who "Dying" was written about? Not to start up the great Rundgren rage again, but can't let this one go by. The story I know goes that it was Todd who wanted the song on the album (with proper segue) in the first place, he told them this was their hit. Either the band, record company or both didn't listen, and 'Grass' was released as the first single with "Dear God" as the B-side. Well, guess which song everyone wanted to hear and buy. In the US, the song was eventually put back in (with "Mermaid" inexplicably being removed, this is what makes ME really mad, there was plenty of room left on the CD for it). Rundgren's reply? "I rest my case". --Don
[][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][] Date: Thu, 02 Jun 1994 21:07:42 EST From: Come on the Amazing Journey and learn all you should know! Subject: RE: Chalkhills #353 I finally managed to get the Carmen Sandiego album! (for who asked before...sorry I don't have your name, but I have a bad editor: It's called 'Carmen Sandiego, Out of This World' and it's found in the children's section of places that sell records/tapes/CDs) Cherry in Your Tree is as wonderful as I expected (I've been singing it _all_ day). I'm also really fond of 'Cake for Breakfast' and of course 'Change My World'. This is Andy, no doubt. I adore Why Does the Sun Shine, but I've known that one since about October when I saw They Might Be Giants for the 4th time. I adore them as well. :) The whole album gets my thumbs up. Just wanted to share my output. Meredith "And every soul brings good, to slice a bigger piece of mind" --Johnny Nexdor
[][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][] Date: Fri, 03 Jun 1994 00:44:26 -0500 (EST) From: Brookes McKenzie <RMCKENZI@smith.smith.edu> Subject: sweet, jellies jellyfish's _spilt milk_ (the only one i have so far) = equal parts xtc/ dukes and Queen, with a dash of billy joel ("bye bye bye") and steely dan (the bridge of "too much, too little, too late"). it's bubble-rock, with occasionally clever lyrics ("she's a 'lovetarian' especially in the form of puppies" is my favorite) - i like it mostly as an xtc substitute, like canned milk or something, to pad out the time of no new xtc. if there's a lloyd cole mailing list, why isn't there a matthew sweet one? anyone feel like starting one with me? - brookes
[][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][] Date: Fri, 3 Jun 1994 03:46:35 -0700 (PDT) From: Steve Johnson <steve-j@teleport.com> Subject: Re: Andy & The Residents/XTC Cover Songs Andy sings on THE RESIDENT'S COMMERCIAL ALBUM on the song "Margaret Freeman" under the pseudonym "Sandy Sandwich." XTC (or XTC-related) cover songs include: Bob Dylan's "All Along the Watchtower" on WHITE MUSIC Captain Beefheart's "Ella Guru" on a Capt. Beefheart tribute album and on some of the "Mayor of Simpleton" 12" and CD singles The Beatles's "Strawberry Fields Forever" on THROUGH THE LOOKING GLASS: 1967 from Imaginary Records (Dave & Andy under the pseudonym "Colin's Hermits") Jimi Hendrix's "Third Stone from the Sun" on the IF 6 WAS 9 tribute album also on Imaginary Records (Dave (& Andy???) under the pseudonym "David Dreams") They also used to cover the theme song to the British TV show FIREBALL-XL5 during live gigs.
[][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][] From: Tim Szeliga <tim@snow.nohrsc.nws.gov> Subject: The Scouring of the White Horse Date: Fri, 3 Jun 94 9:18:32 CDT Curious about the white horse on the cover of "English Settlement"? It depicts The White Horse of Uffington, cut through the grass to expose the underlying chalk on a hillside in Berkshire. Was the great horse cut in celebration of King Alfred's victory over the Danish at Ashdown? The earliest recorded mention dates back to 1171 and it was considered old then. The villagers still scour the chalk with a mild acid each year as part of a summer festival. The history and ritual surrounding the White Horse can be found in Thomas Hughes' "The Scouring of the White Horse", published in 1859. I have a reprint of the book with L6.95 on the cover and would be willing to sell it for $15 US (no bloody Canadian money, took four weeks for the check to clear). This is not indispensible XTC fan material, but is probably on Andy's bookshelf at home. The book is 160 pp., perfect bound and contains the original illustrations. Tim Szeliga tim@snow.nohrsc.nws.gov +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Andy Partridge [of XTC] is quoted in the latest issue of Reflex Magazine as saying, "I mean, things haven't changed for some people. I still get letters from this little fellow up in the north of England that say, 'Oh, _White Music_ were your best album and I still remember seeing you at sooch-and-sooch cloob.' So, you've become the scenery for this bloke's personal time machine.
[][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][] Date: Fri, 3 Jun 1994 10:44:52 -0400 (EDT) From: Derek Miner <ind00163@pegasus.cc.ucf.edu> Subject: Re: Chalkhills #353 On Thu, 2 Jun 1994 we heard: > Wes Wilson and I were just the other day talking about XTC > dreams, and how we were both clearly TOO OBSESSED. I had had a dream > in which I found a whole stack of XTC 45's with b-sides I'd never heard > of before, and I was so disappointed when I woke up and realized I did > not have these (Derek, if I come up with them, I'll submit them for > your tape ;-> ). Believe this or not, I had a very similar dream. I dreamed I saw some CD singles with XTC demos or somesuch things, and I had no cash and my credit card was maxed out. For some reason, I couldn't put them back and get them later, like it was a one time only offer! Derek
[][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][] Date: Fri, 03 Jun 1994 11:05:33 -0400 (EDT) From: WWWGPYA@grove.iup.edu Subject: Looking for Jules Verne and the Bull Organization: Indiana University of Pennsylvania Hey folks, All this talk about the Jules Verne and Bull with The Golden Guts collections has finally put me over the edge. Is anyone out there willing to dub copies for me for which I will reimburse in full for material and postage costs. Also, I don't have too much by way of rare stuff for trade or dubbing, but I did stumble across a very fine recording of XTC live at Harrah's in NYC from 1-16-80. The recording is 45 minutes, one side of a 90 minute cassette, and very clear. Good quality overall. The other side of the cassette has R.E.M. recorded live accoustic at McCabe's Guitar Shop from 5-24-87. The sound is not as good as the XTC side but there are some cool covers (Leaving on a Jet Plane, Spooky, etc.) as well as some classic standards. I'd be happy to trade this copy for the aforementioned collections. Anyway, if anyone is willing to hook me up with these XTC collections, let me know. Getting desparate and jealous but still essentially a well-balanced person. For the most part, anyway. -Edward Whitelock wwwgpya@oak.grove.iup.edu
[][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][] Date: Sat, 4 Jun 1994 21:29:11 +0200 From: marin@ccr.jussieu.fr (Emmanuel MARIN) Subject: Partridge/Budd Right now I'm listening to the Partridge/Budd CD "Through the hill" and I wonder if I will listen it entirely... Yes, I'm very Difappointed. It's just repetitive music (the only "poem" is six or seven sentences long only..). For instance, "Missing pieces to the game of salt and onyx" is only one sequence of about 10 notes played by a guitar, repeated during 6 minutes, only the faint background changes fro mtime to time, as well as the length of the silence between each sequence of notes... To sum, it's nothing like the Homo Safari. It's rather like "Over Rusty Water", but longer... Btw, while looking for this CD, I came across a "CD-single" I had never seen before. The songs are exactly the same as those on the "Ballad of PP" single, but the artwork is different : it's still some medieval little images, but this time they are very coloured like on the nicest old manuscripts. [In case this CD is the most common in the US, I describe the other "Ballad of PP" CD : its cover is just the same image as from Nonsuch back, but bigger and in red ink on a yellow background] Has anyone already seen it ? Is it in the discography, John ? Emmanuel Marin marin@ccr.jussieu.fr ps : while I typed my sig, I heard another poem. So there're two (but only two) poems on this CD.
[][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][] Date: Sat, 04 Jun 1994 16:50:32 -0500 (cdt) From: "my world is spinning..." <LEACH@ac.grin.edu> (Arlo B Leach) Subject: beatlemania -- or, tab heaven hey all-- maybe this isn't quite related to XTC, but since everyone loves the beatles i thought i'd tell you about this: i just got a book called "the beatles: complete scores" and i've been in guitar player heaven since then. i've bought several "complete" type books before, but this is the first that has really impressed me. it's a 1136 page hardcover volume with ALL the parts for each song. guitars, bass, all vocal parts, even drums, and even other weird instruments like sitars and clarinets and bird chirps. the guitar and bass parts are in both tablature and standard notation. and the best part is that this book actually has every song the beatles ever recorded, even covers, even songs that were released only as singles. at least, that's the claim, and i haven't been able to prove them wrong. it even has both versions of "sgt. pepper's..." and all three versions of "revolution." i've played through a few dozen of the songs and can attest to the book's accuracy, too. solos are transcribed with every little beatlemaniacal detail... no, i'm not getting paid to advertise for this thing. i was just really amazed when i bought it, and i thought that any beatles fan who is also a musician would probably be interested. it's a lot of fun to play the various parts, of course, but it's also interesting just to read through it and study the beatles' composing. it definitely increased my appreciation for a lot of songs that i've just been taking for granted all these years. just for fun, i plan to record all the parts of a few songs on a 4-track recorder, like dave gregory does as a hobby.... now if they'd only publish one of these for XTC!!!
[][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][] From: M2CPF@aol.com Date: Sun, 05 Jun 94 12:16:30 EDT Subject: Unsubscribe Dear Friends - Your comments are fascinating, your devotion to a great band undeniable, but I find I am unable to keep up with you. I am awash in a sea of e-mail, and can't quite handle the overload. Senses Working Overtime, indeed. And so, until such time as I can learn to budget my time, I ask that you unsubscribe me to Chalkhills. I hope to resume this association at a later date. Thanks!
[][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][] From: Fshbwlhead@aol.com Date: Mon, 06 Jun 94 00:05:11 EDT Subject: How I met Andy Patridge in 1990 (part 2) Hello again. Here is the second installment of my story, entitled "Beehives and Blankets" RECAP: I took a train from London to Swindon and began asking questions about the whereabouts of Mr. Partridge. The hill that led up into Old Town Swindon was a paved street, occupied by various small businesses, homes, bed & breakfasts and the like. Very quaint and small town feel. The next person I ran into was an American, in town for work. He was on his way to a pub called, The Beehive that he said was full of people. I followed him there. The pub was busy. I stored my bag with the barman, pinned an XTC button to my shirt and shuffled off to quiz everyone in the bar about XTC members' whereabouts. Oddly, nobody had even heard of XTC. I must have spent an hour and a half talking to different groups of people and got nowhere. Finally, the pub was getting ready to close up for the night. I talked to two women who had indeed heard of Andy Partridge, and one even knew where his favorite pub was!!!!! Since I had nowhere to stay, I asked if one of them had some floor space I could camp out on. One did, and we were off. I slept soundly with a provided blanket and pillow. In the morning, the woman, Jan, provided me with a Swindon town map and circled where Andy's favorite pub was. I took off at about 10 in the morning. An hour or so later, I stood outside a pub that had "The Wheatsheifs" lettered on a sign above a door. Being so early in the morning, no one was there. I overcame my momentary discouragement and stopped next door at a small convenience store. I took a moment to quiz the clerk. "Do you know, by chance, where Andy Partridge lives?" "I do," she said. "My kids go to school with his kids." -BINGO- I explained my desire to meet with Andy and that I would appreciate any help she might give. She said that she didn't feel comfortable giving out his address because of his children being so small and vulnerable. "I know where he walks his dog," she said. "Let me see your map." A half hour later I came across a park called The Lawns. It was a big unstructured place, nothing at all like a Victorian garden or anything. The gate looked old and was obviously in some disrepair. A paved walkway, about 75 yards long flanked by tall trees led to a clearing and several side paths. I walked around for roughly an hour, meeting 10 or so people walking their dogs, all claiming ignorance to the existence of Mr. Partridge. Finally, I was going to give up. I made it halfway down the walkway when a familar face appeared at the gate coming toward me. First came a very happy Golden Retreiver, drool hanging out of his cheeks. Then just a few footsteps away came the unmistakable form of Andy Partridge. I was in awe. "Excuse me, " I said. "I've come from America to meet you." Andy reached out and shook my hand and asked me for my name. "Would like to go on a dog walk, Joe?" he asked. We walked back to the clearing and sat down on a slope that overlooked Swindon. Andy appeared nervous at first and complained of a rash on his face that he hoped no one would notice. I certainly didn't notice. I was very conscious of myself not wanting to go into "hero worship" mode. We just talked about politics (Saddam Husein had just invaded Kuwait), movies, books, and of course, XTC trivia. It was so difficult to remember anything specific that I'd wanted to ask Andy. It was like hanging out with an old friend. Charley, the dog, romped all around, free. After a half hour or so, Andy offered to show me some of town. We stopped by a drugstore so he could get some floss. I looked at a rack of sunglasses. Andy came over with his floss and we both looked at sunglasses, criticizing different frames. At that moment, things started seeming very surreal to me. There I was, in Swindon, England, looking at sunglasses with one of my favorite musicians! Back outside, Andy explained that he would have to be going, as he was taking his family to Bath for the day. I thanked him, we shook hands, and I turned my back and walked the opposite way, in full respect of his privacy. At that point I didn't want to know where he lived. The evening found me at The Wheatsheifs, enjoying a great beer called "6X". --- That's the end of part 2. Stay tuned for part 3, "Holly And Her Pappy."--- -- Joe
[][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][] From: Mikewheel@aol.com Date: Mon, 06 Jun 94 03:45:17 EDT Subject: Beatles in lyrics I don't know if this topic has been brought up before (Hey I'm new here) but I noticed while listening to "Nonsuch," "The Dissappointed" to be more precise an allusion to the Beatles, "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band" to be more precise. I'm speaking of the lines "Where a sombre marching band/Play a tune for broken hearts." This, to me, is an obvious tip of the hat to "Sgt. Pepper's." Are there other instances in XTC's lyrics with similar salutes to their roots or contemporaries? Mike Wheeler mikewheel@aol.com
[][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][] From: Willy Evans <willy@lightnin.brevard.edu> Subject: bootlegs Date: Mon, 6 Jun 1994 09:33:25 -0400 (EDT) Hey there, On the subject of bootlegs: A lot of bootlegs do not cause the artist any harm. But speaking as a musician, it can be very uncomfortable for the artist to have material available that represents his work , that he/she has not control over. I work with blues bands mostly, and blues artists are ripped-off a great deal.A lot of production companies will release material of theirs that is less than their best. Even recording session out-takes. I feel that the artist should have some control over what is released in their name. Any release that earns money, but does not compensate the artist is somewhat of a theft. The person that sells that recording is earning money for little else than being present when a performance is taking place. This is a hard business in which to make a living. Anyone who professes to enjoy an artist should have consideration for them and respect their creative property. thanks, willy evans -- || Willy Evans | willy@lightnin.brevard.edu || || Brevard College | Voice (704) 884-8227 || || 400 N. Broad St | Fax (704) 884-3790 || || Brevard, NC 28712 | ||
[][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][] Date: Mon, 6 Jun 94 14:59:34 PDT From: John Relph <relph@presto.ig.com> Subject: Re: Dear God Allan Blackman <BLACKMAN@alkali.otago.ac.nz> writes: > >Thanks to a friend in the States I've finally got my US copy of >Skylarking, solely to get a version of "Dear God" - great song, but >my only gripe is the fact that it runs in to the start of "Dying" - Well, you should just sell that version of _Skylarking_, keep your original pressing with "Mermaid Smiled", and buy the _Dear God_ CD single with the Homo Safari series. A much better way to go. -- John TODDGROVE@delphi.com writes: >"Big Express" is the weakest album, song-wise. Oddly enough, _The Big Express_ is many Chalkhillians' favorite XTC album. Just goes to show. -- John
[][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][] For all administrative issues, such as change of address, withdrawal from the list, etc., send a message to: <chalkhills-request@chalkhills.org> The Chalkhills archives are available using FTP on "net.bio.net". The Chalkhills home page is available at "http://chalkhills.org/". The views expressed herein are those of the individual authors. And all the media will fiddle while Rome burns...
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