Chalkhills Digest Volume 1, Issue 370
Date: Monday, 22 August 1994
Chalkhills, Number 370
Monday, 22 August 1994
Today's Topics:
Re: Vinyl Question
Budd/Partridge Japanese CD
hello
Blur Slur
Jellyfish
Patridge/Budd and Wire
Hello
What Joe Believes I Believe Andy Believes
real Dukes influences (Vanishing Girl +)
Not XTC, the Posies
Glad to be here..
Re: Blur/XTC
Re: Implosion of Andy
THrough the Hill BOnus Tracks on Japanese Import
New XTC track...
Another Introduction ?!?!?!
yet another new chalkhiller
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Date: Thu, 18 Aug 94 10:14:00 PDT
From: John Relph <relph@presto.ig.com>
Subject: Re: Vinyl Question
pjl2@lehigh.edu (PATRICK J LARKIN) writes:
>
>I have a copy of Drums and Wires with a bonus 7". Is this common or
>something to hold on to. Also, the version of Skylarking without Dear God
>and the 12" Grass single with Dear God, are these common too? Just curious.
All of these items are uncommon though not extremely rare. However,
they do command a good price in certain circles. Check out the inner
groove messages (if any).
-- John
[][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][] Date: Thu, 18 Aug 1994 19:51:07 +0200 From: marin@ccr.jussieu.fr (Emmanuel MARIN) Subject: Budd/Partridge Japanese CD Yes, there is a Japanese CD release, with "two bonus track" written on it. Yes, the CD is different. I mean at least the cover : it's the same drawing, but not gold on purple : cyan on green. But the back cover *is* identical : there are the same number of songs. To be frank, I couldn't see the titles beneath the large sheet of plastified paper with all the Japanese writing (that all the Japanese CDs seem to have), but the titles on the back cover are written in diagonal, and there are not much room left for two tracks... Oh, and btw, the Budd/Partridge CD has been selected by a rock magazine (there is a sticker stating so on it) here in France ! Arrrgg ! Can't believe they selected this one and never selected the XTC stuff :( Emmanuel Marin marin@ccr.jussieu.fr ps : John, I've seen again the Peter Pumpkinhead CD single. It seems to be one you already have : a man in coloured clothes on the front, and four colour versions of the b&w drawings on the back of "Nonsuch" for the four songs of the CD (except of course "Always Winter,.." which was not on the "Nonsuch" album).
[][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][] From: Geoff Shandler <gls@pipeline.com> Date: Thu, 18 Aug 1994 14:42:16 -0400 Subject: hello Just wanted to say thanks for letting me jump in here. I have been out of it with regard to the band for quite a while now (I have strayed from the path...); can someone give me a quick update on when a new record might be happening? Sorry to seem so clueless, but...
[][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][] Date: Thu, 18 Aug 1994 13:49:20 -0700 From: John.Wilkens@Colorado.EDU Subject: Blur Slur A Chalkhillian posted: >After reading the raves about the "XTC-ish" sound of Blur, I picked up the >cd. The first song [is] this awful disco... "boys who love girls that do >sheep that eat fish". Ugh! I understand the flippant reaction to a song you don't like, but your statement has a subtle homophobia to it. Blur's song is a love quadrangle with boys loving girls loving girls loving boys loving boys. Every coupling is given equal weight as long as it is with "someone you really love." The insertion of beastiality is erroneous, inappropriate and, because you aim to denigrate the associations, possibly an indicator that the acceptance of homosexuality and not the disco beat hit a greater nerve. THE XTC CONNECTION: Have XTC ever tackled the issue of gay rights in any of their songs?
[][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][] Date: Thu, 18 Aug 1994 18:42:35 +0100 From: David Bales <dbales@FileShop.com> Subject: Jellyfish To Terry, who paid $1 for the Jellyfish Comes Alive CD. Consider yourself fortunate, I paid $25 for the same thing! :( Yes, it was way too much, but I didn't want to risk not seeing it again. Unfortunately, Jellyfish has since disbanded. Andy Sturmer, however, is reported to make a drum/vocal appearance on the new Black Crows (?) LP coming out next month. (CD... whatever... :) Dave in KCMO dbales@fileshop.com
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Date: Fri, 19 Aug 94 07:08:54 MDT
From: pmartz@dsd.es.com (Paul Martz)
Subject: Patridge/Budd and Wire
I got my "Through the Hill" a couple days ago. Having read a couple
reviews by dissappointed listeners, I wasn't expecting much. However
after just one listening I must say I haven't heard anything really
objectionable at all, alot of it was quite pleasant. They paint
themselves into some fascinating and horrific musical corners but
always manage to pull it off and get out intact.
And in the recent Chalkhills someone asked about Wire; this is one of
my favorite bands. Apparently though I'm one of the few Wire fans who
enjoys both their old and "new" stuff, can't decide whether "Chairs
Missing" or "The Drill" is my favorite album. I attended a wonderful
show by them in Detroit about 10 years back. I've also taken a liking
to the Gilbert/Lewis duet work they did on the side of Wire, but
haven't came across very much in the way of recordings, so if anyone
knows of any, let me know (I have "3R4" and the "Ends With The Sea"
single).
-paul "Eno is the one, Eno's the one to take
pmartz@dsd.es.com One hundred percent for your stomach's sake...
Evans & Sutherland Bubbly bubbly Eno!"
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From: CorrinaB@aol.com
Date: Fri, 19 Aug 94 16:24:57 EDT
Subject: Hello
I have been off AOL for awhile so I haven't been able to respond. Thank you
for making me part of your mailing list.
I came to learn about XTC in a very conventional way. I haven't been a
fan my whole life. I saw the "Peter Pumpkinhead" video on MTV. A while
later, I bought Nonsuch.
I work at a music store, so I now own almost all of their albums.
I do subscribe to Big Express. I have read Chalkhills and Children by
Twomey. They are quite an obession my life.
My other interests include poetry,
painting, drawing, writing, piano playing and every kind of music. I collect
anything related to apes, bubbles, candles, and postcards.
[][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][] Date: Fri, 19 Aug 1994 17:58:24 -0400 (EDT) From: "Stupid is as stupid does, sir" <MELINDA@delphi.com> Subject: What Joe Believes I Believe Andy Believes Joe asked: > Don't you just find him a little bit pedantic sometimes? I mean, Books Are > Burning has got to be one of the most pointless songs to write. Why make the > obvious so grandiose and overstated? Think about XTC's audience -- generally > at least 20-something college graduates based mostly in America. Are we > supposed to be enlightened? Moved? I find that song unlisteneable. Well, sure, *sometimes*. I never said that I take every word that Andy Partridge has ever sung to be brilliant and gospel -- and I have said for a long time that hearing stuff that overstated affects me like fingernails on a chalkboard. I admit Andy goes a little overboard sometimes, and "Books Are Burning" makes me roll my eyes, too. I think there is a very fine line between simple honesty and grandiose overstatement, and where that line is probably has more to do with personal preference than most people will admit. I think "Burning Of Hearts" is charming, but I think "Dear God" is embarrassing. Ashley: I don't want to start a flame war or anything, but I think *you've* rather missed the point. I agree that I skim Chalkhills for what interests me (and I assume that what interests me may not interest someone else), and I don't read avidly every single word. This is still an Internet mailing list, though, with the character of an Internet mailing list. It's in digest form, so it may seem more cumbersome (though someone else might argue that they don't want "meaningless twaddle" in their e-mailbox all day...can't please everyone, right?), but the main thing to remember is that an Internet mailing list is INTERACTIVE. It's not TV, it's not an XTC journal, or The XTC Area (tm) on America Online (no, everyone, I'm making that up) -- it's an interactive forum in which everyone participates. John administers, but he's not the author, or even the executive producer. Perhaps _The_Little_Express_ is closer to what you're looking for? -- Melinda P.S. I hate that Blur song, too, but admit I've not heard the album P.P.S. I'm 25 and started my XTC habit when I was 11
[][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][] Date: 19 Aug 94 21:40:03 EDT From: Steve Levenstein <70750.1117@compuserve.com> Subject: real Dukes influences (Vanishing Girl +) Hi Chalkhillians, before I continue with "real Dukes influences", just a couple of comments on items from the previous Chalkhills... To Damon (who's half my age... YIKES!), Stewart & Gaskin do a nicely done cover of "Roads Girdle the Globe". Primus does a not so great (IMHO) take on "Nigel". Japan's Saeko Suzuki covers "Happy Families" in 80% Japanese, with Andy playing guitar and singing backing vocals. Both Shonen Knife and Big Dipper do semi-covers of "Nigel". And to Mike Gervasi who was wondering whatever happened to The Little Express, I received a letter from June Dix of the L.E. a couple of weeks ago. She said that the Summer 1994 issue is almost finished and should be coming out soon... Anyways, speaking of The Little Express, I'll transcribe from another old issue and continue with those "real Dukes influences"... ...beginning with "Vanishing Girl" on Psonic Psunspot: COLIN: Well, it was just a track that I had hanging around, no lyrics written,made up virtually on the spot right in the studio. ANDY: You had a few ideas, didn't you? COLIN: Yeah, musical ones, but as far as lyrics, only a possible first verse. L.E.: It sounds "Hollies" influenced. ANDY: I don't think we intended to do it like the Hollies, it's just that we started kicking it around... COLIN: I don't know, I started strumming the chords around at home and I thought this sounds a bit like them, but then we elaborated on it in the studio. ANDY: Take the components and listen to all those Hollies' records and take their sound and reproduce our song but using their tricks, the set harmonies they sing, the mixture, the little Rickenbacker type electric, a couple of big acoustics... cha cha chum! COLIN: We added a few vocal frills at the end. ANDY: Yeah, you have to sing it like you're holding your nose, you have to get the right nasal...neneneneneeehh! COLIN: Well, a lot of that went down. ANDY: It was really tricky to do actually. You realize that those bands have... I mean vocals aren't really our strong point especially harmonies... and those bands that we've chosen to tip the hat at, like the Beach Boys or the Hollies, the vocal heavy bands, it's really tricky 'cause they obviously have a natural thing for it, it doesn't sound like they're straining to get it, but it took us a lot of trouble. COLIN: Once you've got the main voice down, you do the harmony to sound like a harmony they would have done and not just a harmony you thought of. ANDY: We just got all the components and just "Hollied" them up, and it was good fun doing it, actually that was the first mix that we did in the session. It sounds different from the others, you have to sort of get into mixing; it sounds good, but it was the first real one we did at the studio. L.E.: Can you tell us about the word-linking that accompanies the songs, the little girl that comes in, background noises etc.? COLIN: That was an afterthought. ANDY: I don't think we could afford Derek Guyler. The original idea was to get Derek Guyler who's like a great sort of 60's-like voice to narrate nonsense, because all those psychedelic records just had nonsense on them or bits of studio throw-out or stuff at the end of tapes or they just say things that don't particularly mean anything. L.E.: BBC out-takes? ANDY: Yeah, sort of a mushroomy ambiance, so we thought we must have some of that mushroomy feeling and we finished it and had literally half a day to put the finishing touches on it. It was on a Sunday and there were three little girls that lived with the family above the studio, so we got two of them in there, sat them down and I wrote out all this gibberish, a sort of Alice In Wonderland nonsensical... L.E.: Like turning into a bun... ANDY: Yeah, you got to have references to turning into things. COLIN: Climbing on the back of a giant albatross, that sort of thing. ANDY: Climbing on the back of a giant something or other, fill in your own creature; I just sort of did things like turning into a giant cream bun. Oh yeah, actually we had all these bits of tape of Colin laughing, and bits of speech and stuff, and we just spun them in the background accidentally, you know, we just put all this stuff on 24 track not knowing what was on the other 23 tracks at any given time and push the faders up in any combination and it was what accidentally came through. If it was good, we kept it. L.E.: Seems a crazy thing to say, but there's some good laughing! ANDY: Yeah, it ws genuine laughing as well; we couldn't think of anything to laugh about and the situation got funnier because when you've got to laugh on cue, you can't do it, and because we couldn't do it, we started laughing. ...to be continued... ---> Steve
[][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][] Date: Sat, 20 Aug 1994 11:02:55 -0700 (PDT) From: Wendi Dunlap <litlnemo@seanet.com> Subject: Not XTC, the Posies I know many of you on this list will be interested, so here's the news: There is a Posies WWW home page up now. The address is below in my sig. Visit and enjoy! :) Wendi Dunlap || Sysop of Slumberland BBS, 206-547-2629 Seattle, WA, USA || Write me for info re: The Posies mailing list litlnemo@seanet.com || or visit http://www.seanet.com/litlnemo/dear23.html Currently on my stereo: "Cynical Girl" -- Marshall Crenshaw
[][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][] From: Karena7@aol.com Date: Sat, 20 Aug 94 18:08:27 EDT Subject: Glad to be here.. Well, this is my first posting here, and I'm really glad to hear from so many XTC people. I was beginnning to feel like a weirdo, because I can't find many other XTC fans, and my friends and family basically don't see the charm.... I became hooked about 2 years ago, with Rag and Bone Buffet. XTC really speaks to my soul (sorry for the triteness, but it's true), and I like to know there are others out there who also appreciate intelligent, beautiful, fun, and basically brilliant music. I'm not much into debating the finer points of the music, but I would like to hear from others who feel connected to the lyrics of Andy Partridge and the beauty of the music, not just as a stunning musical achievement, but on a personal level. So, if you feel so inclined, I love to get E-mail, especially from kindred spirits! Thanks! Karena
[][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][] From: MarcusBris@aol.com Date: Sat, 20 Aug 94 20:53:37 EDT Subject: Re: Blur/XTC vince@mpd.tandem.com writes: >>After reading the raves about the "XTC-ish" sound of Blur, I >>picked up the cd. I got home and popped it into the player. >>The first song starts up and...it's this awful disco song >>I've been hearing on the local "alternative" radio station. >>You've probably heard it too. "boys who love girls that do sheep >>that eat fish". Ugh! >> >>I just thought I should warn people that don't like disco that >>this song could cause cancer in laboratory animals. This is my >>opinion so don't kill me if you don't agree..............Yes, some of the other >>songs do remind me of XTC. Well Vince, I'm not here to kill you, but I felt that it was important to let others know that your review of the record was a little misleading. I picked up the record myself, after reading the raves on chalkhills about its "xtc like sound" and found that they very well do sound like xtc on a number of tunes, and their reproduction of that sound impressed me. But more importantly, the title track is NOT disco. I know what you meant by what you said, but if you really think about it, "boys who do whatever" sounds very much like Bowie circa '80. (lodger/scary monsters) I mean, just listen to that baseline! It's ripped right off of "DJ" or something. Also very well executed. On other songs, they steal from early ultravox (self titled/Ha Ha Ha) and the lead singer does a perfect rip on John Foxx. Another song could be mistaken for the Jam, and the list goes on. I think what these young men have done, is take every cool sound from early 80's britpop and recycled it into a new album. I mean, even Godley and Creme (10cc) directed the video! Some of the songs are forgettable, but not a bad first effort, and definitely a good listen for anybody into any of the bands mentioned above. (and if you don't know any of the bands listed above, go out and pick them up now!!.....(including 10cc)..... trust me ) **I'm interested in Getting email from my European Net Neighbors!! **MarcusBriscoe USA
[][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][] From: MarcusBris@aol.com Date: Sat, 20 Aug 94 20:53:30 EDT Subject: Re: Implosion of Andy KyleSk@aol.com writes >>The implosion of Andy Partridge >> >>To wit: are we all witnessing the painfully slow unraveling of Andy >>Partridge? >>Consider: >>* Since English Settlement, there hasn't been one producer who has had an >> effective and cooperative relationship with Andy. The consequences haven't >> been favorable. >>* Andy's absolute refusal to tour. His arguement that the Beatles didn't >> tour is lame. Apples to oranges. (Yea, yea, orangles to lemons...) Their >> refusal to tour creates an Elvis-like situation, where us fans are reduced >> to discussing Andy sightings. Please don't get me wrong, I love reading >> about people's personal meetings, but why must we be left scrounging for >> such rare tidbits? >>* My most subjective point--Andy isn't challenging himself as much as he >> used to, creatively speaking. While I enjoy their later works, the tension >> of XTC's earlier works--one of making artful pop, is lost, now that Andy >> has resigned himself to that of an artrock icon. Understanding fully that you just have your own opinion, which I respect........Where do I start? The fact that Andy has or hasn't gotten allong well with certain producers is immaterial. I *heard* that he got along hellishly with Todd Rundgren, and look at Skylarking. I think the boys can put out good material no matter what. How is it lame to say the beatles didn't tour, and therefore I don't have to? I would imagine this to be a VERY good argument. It sets a prescedent for the behavior of english pop bands. Not to mention the fact that XTC has been compared to the beatles innumerous times. The fact remains that Andy is the person solely responcible for his own happiness, and if touring is that destructive for him, then he musn't do it. No matter how much you or I would LOVE it. In your third point, about how Andy isn't challenging himself enough, you were correct in calling it "subjective". If you look at the history of popular music, you will find it positively littered with artists who were "aggressive" and "angry" and full of tention early on.......that's the way we are when we're young. (at least, those of us with enough tenacity to become pop stars, and many others I'm sure) But as we get older, its natural to go through a process called "Maturation", where we begin to look at the world through different eyes, or at least different colored shades. As an artist, you must necessarily be affected by this, and its shows up in your work. I don't think Andy has resigned himself to the status of "Artrock Icon" because frankly, he hasn't become famous enough for that. Although MANY people are hip enough to know who he is, I can tell you that most people are not. I think Andy is handling himself just fine. He is not imploding, regressing, unraveling, or resigning. He is living his life, and it happens to be his to live. Also I do not feel like he is antagonising or ignoring his fans by running his own affairs as he sees fit. Although I would wait in line for days to buy tickets to an XTC show, I don't begrudge him for staying home.......he has, after all, something called a "Family" which tend to demand alot of attention if you want them to function properly. >>They don't tour, they're too easy on themselves, and they take their fans >>for granted. Net effect: Good bye, XTC. Oh well, It was fun while it lasted. Good bye??? Dude, it's still lasting! I think Andy has some tricks up his sleeve for us. Dont dismiss him this easily........ he deserves better. **I'm interested in Getting email from my European Net Neighbors!! **MarcusBriscoe, USA
[][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][] From: Hae007@aol.com Date: Sat, 20 Aug 94 23:21:16 EDT Subject: THrough the Hill BOnus Tracks on Japanese Import >According to a catalog I've seen, there is a Japanese release of >_Through the Hill_ that has two bonus tracks. Has anybody seen or >bought this version? Yeah, the titles are called Bosch and Bruegel . They are part of the "+" section following the Postlude. More of the same IMHO (Shawn Colvin also covers them on her new album :)) There's an insert with some interesting details about AP and HB too (in Japanese) . Will (first post, XTC fan since '80, waiting for Urgh II 25th reunion)
[][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][] From: "Allan Blackman" <BLACKMAN@alkali.otago.ac.nz> Date: 21 Aug 94 15:50:15 GMT+1200 Subject: New XTC track... Gidday all - thanks to a forgetful Virgin NZ rep and an obliging CD shop proprieter I've got hold of a new ( well, it's new to me anyway) XTC track. Its called "River of Orchids" and it's on a Virgin sampler tape of demo tracks that are to be released sometime soon. Could this mean there's a new album on the way, or is this a song >from the (apparently) soon-to-be-released Greatest Hits and Rarities album...I guess we'll find out sometime... Cheers Allan ********************************************************************** Allan Blackman, Department of Chemistry, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand. e-mail blackman@alkali.otago.ac.nz Marge on innocence/guilt "..as my uncle used to say, shoot them all and let God decide...." **********************************************************************
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From: AlmostXtc@aol.com
Date: Sun, 21 Aug 94 13:08:48 EDT
Subject: Another Introduction ?!?!?!
Hello all,
I've been lurking a couple of months & figured I'd finally introduce myself.
(Damn, ANOTHER introduction ! )
I discover XTC in '82 when a local college radio station started playing "The
new single off the soon-to-be-released E.S. album".....Senses Working
Overtime.
I've grabbed every thing XTC's released from the day I heard it.
Like many of you, some of the albums took a little eartime before it found
its way into
my heart.(the one exception to this was Black Sea...WOW, what a blast)
But,(at the time) I found I was alone in my love-affair with XTC. I don't
have to tell you guys the frustrations of trying to turn-on someone to the
boys. Besides, I live in this middle-of-nowhere town (ever hear of
Creedmoor,NC.....no, didn't think so), & 99% of the music listened to here is
either Country or Heavy Metal.
But finally, about 9 months ago, a woman heard me playing some XTC, and
really liked them.
I soon had her turned on to the variety of XTC. And of coarse, I took the
next logical step......... I asked her to marry me! One small problem though,
she's already married, and (oh yea, I forgot) I'm married too.
Anyway, enough of the intro, I could go on forever.
A couple of observations:
There's been a lot of discussion lately on Barry Andrews, and Andys struggle
for leadership of the band. In hindsight, the result seems clearer. In Drums
& Wires, Andy seems to revel in that sole leadership. As a result, the music
in the album was very much lead by Andys guitars.
Fortunately, (although I do love D&W) this over-compensation didn't last. As
for Barry Vs. Dave....I'll take Dave any day. He has a much wider range of
talents. Anyway, I miss Terry Chambers more than I do Barry.
And on touring:
Sure, It's a shame they don't tour. But, how many bands could have gone
through what they did, and stayed together? Although, the amount of
angry-energy dropped after stopping tours, the band never fails (at least in
my eyes) to explore their musical limits.
I've got more, But I've taken up enough space for now.
Michael Westbrook
"don't let the loveless ones sell you a world wrapped in grey"
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Date: Mon, 22 Aug 1994 15:20:02 +1200
From: james.dignan@stonebow.otago.ac.nz (James Dignan)
Subject: yet another new chalkhiller
Dear all,
My name is James Dignan, a 31 year old XTC fan from Dunedin, New
Zealand. I've been a fan since seeing a video clip many long years ago for
"Are You Receiving Me?". As a DJ on Otago University's student radio
station, I play a fair amount of XTC, plus (among other things) the
XTC-connected Shriekback, and the occasional Dukes of Stratosfear song.
Favourite XTC tracks are an eclectic mix, including Generals and Majors,
All of a Sudden (off my favourite XTC album), Another Satellite, Statue of
Liberty, Deliver Us from the Elements and Then She Appeared.
Looking forward to receiving the next Chalkhills,
James.
James Dignan, Department of Psychology, University of Otago.
pixelphone * You talk to me
james.dignan@stonebow.otago.ac.nz * as if from a distance -
J'habite 50 Norfolk St., * and I reply
St. Clair, * with impressions chosen from another
Dunedin, * time, time, time,
New Zealand * from another time.
steam megaphone NZ (03) 455-7807 * (Brian Eno)
[][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][] If you use a signature (from your ".signature" file), please try to keep it to four lines of text or fewer. Your e-mail address already appears in the header of your posting, so no need to repeat it in your signature. To unsubscribe from the list, send a message to: <chalkhills-request@chalkhills.org> For all other administrative issues, send a message to: <chalkhills-request@chalkhills.org> The Chalkhills archives were once available using FTP from "net.bio.net". The Chalkhills home page is available at "http://chalkhills.org/". The views expressed herein are those of the individual authors. The impotency of speech came up and hit me that day and...
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