Chalkhills Digest Volume 1, Issue 400
Date: Saturday, 31 December 1994
Chalkhills Digest, Number 400
The Happy New Year Issue
Saturday, 31 December 1994
Today's Topics:
Froom & XTC
gaskin
Re: Chalkhills Digest #399
Random babblings...
RE: Please, No Froom
Re: Cuba etc. etc. etc.
Re: Chalkhills Digest #399
family connection
XTC no more?
Sky-larking with Lowland Gorillas
"Aware" Questions
Re: XTC on Vhs
Re: Odd mixes
Held back long enough...
Virgins No More: XTC
A.P. in Q 100
best of iuma?
Re: Chalkhills Digest #399
Phone # for XTC CDs
Comments on nearly everything...(Drums & Drummers/Producers/High LLama
TMBG COVERS XTC
The Perfect Couplet
I'm a new member!
introduction
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---------------------------------------------------------------------- From: "Gary J. Hanley" <ghanley@iii.net> Subject: Froom & XTC Date: Tue, 20 Dec 1994 18:41:50 -0500 (EST) Chris Zinn wrote: > Someone also wrote wondering whether the band wouldn't be more successful > if Andy would allow himself, and the band, to actually _be_ produced. My > own choice would be for Mitchell Froom to produce the band. Like Andy he > makes songs into aural artifacts, he's sensitive to and imaginative about > complex mixes, and has a strong artistic vision which would be a match > for Andy's own. His work for Richard Thompson, Los Lobos and others is > without peer and has helped those artists define their work. > Maybe Colin could get T-Bone to do it--that would be interesting too. I > hope some good match can be found. My feelings exactly! I think Mitchell is probably at a creative peak right now, which could only benefit our boys. Richard Thompson's latest _Mirror Blue_ (which Froom produced) IS the best album of '94, IMNSHO! :) But I think we can only dream. I really couldn't imagine Andy letting Mitchell work his magic without getting in the way. -- Gary
------------------------------ From: Kevin Carhart <ukevc@mcl.mcl.ucsb.edu> Subject: gaskin Date: Tue, 20 Dec 1994 16:10:13 -0800 (PST) Wow, 400 issues. Whooppee! How do you celebrate a hundredth issue of an electronic email digest? Maybe some backspacing ascii graphics: |\-/|\-/|\-/|\-/|\........ heh.. anyway.. The relevant part of this post is, has anyone heard the cover of Roads Girdle the Globe by Stewart & Gaskin? I did a tape trade recently and got a song by Spiro Gyra.. apparently there are two Spiro Gyras, one being mellow instrumental jazz, and the other featuring Barbara Gaskin. The song is really great, which leads me to believe that the XTC cover might be too. happy holidays Kevin
------------------------------ Date: Wed, 21 Dec 1994 17:03:35 +1200 From: james.dignan@stonebow.otago.ac.nz (James Dignan) Subject: Re: Chalkhills Digest #399 I've just noticed (OK, I'm slow, I know) that Dave Gregory apparently played on Peter Gabriel's third solo album, one of four guitarists (along with David Rhodes, Paul Weller and Robert Fripp!!!) How did this come about, and what tracks did he play on? In the last ish, I wrote: >As to the essential Englishness of XTC, Robyn Hicthcock etc, I would >describe the sound as quaint... (ie, ramshackle, rustic and old-fashioned, but >in a GOOD way). Which makes me think... are there any XTC/Jethro Tull fans out there?> Steve Levenstein <70750.1117@compuserve.com> wrote: > New album title: How about "Steam Megaphone"? I noticed the phrase > from James Dignan's sig., but I think it's an album title just >waiting to happen. > ...thanx for Xmas and XTC, ---> Steve Why thank you, Steve! I'm not sure if it's original, I have a lurking suspicion it may be from an old Goon show "coming to you via BBC steam megaphone", but I could be wrong. It just sounded right, that's all. Greets Seasonings from James Musical recommendation for the day: Acadie (Daniel Lanois) James Dignan, Department of Psychology, University of Otago. J'habite 50 Norfolk St., St. Clair, Dunedin, New Zealand pixelphone james.dignan@stonebow.otago.ac.nz =AB=BB steam megaphone NZ 03-45= 5-7807 * You talk to me as if from a distance * and I reply with impressions chosen from another time, time, time, * from another time (Brian Eno)
------------------------------ Date: Tue, 20 Dec 1994 22:42:19 -0600 From: aosterma@students.wisc.edu (Adam J. Ostermann) Subject: Random babblings... Hello, all, again. A few points to bring out in the open: 1) Re their hypothetical producer: As I said, I think Stephen Street would do a good job. Mitchell Froom? Could do. He was good w/Costello and Pretenders, very good with Crowded House, and so-so with American Music Club. He's good, I find, at adding odd nuances to song structures, etc. something an album like NONSUCH would not have worked well on. If XTC's next album is truly "drummerless" then Froom is NOT the man. (I think we'd have to eliminate Street, too.) Eno? Didn't they want Eno to produce GO 2 and he said the band didn't need a producer? Or is that just an XTC legend? (BTW, Go 2 IS my fave XTC album hands down. Don't ask why...that's a 10 page essay in itself, trust me!) Lanois? Sorry, only know his U2 stuff. 2) Re the equivalent of "XTC Ultra Rare Trax" OK, my curiosity's piqued! They're all demos? Are they in order? Any non-album stuff? The (XTC) world wants to know... 3) Summer '95 XTC convention? In Madison? To the person who brought this to my attention: E-MAIL ME WITH INFO. I will help out in any possible! My e-mail is aosterma@students.wisc.edu. (BTW, feel free to e-mail me even if you're not in charge of this convention! I enjoy talking to intelligent people, and XTC fans certainly qualify! 4) Misc. Has anyone heard the Crash Test Dummies version of "Peter Pumpkinhead" on the ^Dumb and Dumber^ soundtrack? It's awful. I heard Andy Partridge was a big influence on the lead singer, so that's one thing we can be mad at Andy for. My apologies to all the CTD fans in XTC-land, but they annoy me to no end. 5) A general question How does everyone feel about the "additions" made to all the early XTC CDs in '91, '92 by Geffen in the U.S.? I'm glad that these tracks are available, but I think smacking all the extra tracks right in the middle of the disc defalte some discs' power, esp. ^Mummer^ with the two instrumentals: good as they are, they don't fit the flow of the disc. Opinions? This is probably been discussed in detail; sorry, but I'm a newborn babe in this electronic highway truck stop. Sorry about the rambling and cheers to all, Adam Ostermann
------------------------------ From: "Jim Slade" <JIMS@phl.cursci.com> Organization: The Current Science Group Date: Wed, 21 Dec 1994 09:16:21 EST5EDT Subject: RE: Please, No Froom Hello all, Right on to the person who called BS on Mitchell Froom. No one else can make so many vintage instruments sound tame. The best Crowded House album is there last one, which is produced by some guy with a silly name who plays bass in Killing Joke. I think he works with Eno on occasion. Richard Thompson has gone WAY down hill since Froom began adding his polish, and don't let me get started on Elvis Costello's SPIKE album. There's no fire in Froom's productions. Eno's not a bad choice, but maybe he should have produced them about 10 years ago. My vote, if they ever want to rock again, is for Nick Lowe at the boards with Pete Thomas sitting in on drums. And here's a longshot, and even more of a change of pace for the band: Fred Maher, also an excellent drummer, who's work on Matthew Sweet's GIRLFRIEND brought more acclaim to Sweet than that musically talented but lyrically fluff songwriter ever will capture again. In general, and any way that they choose to do so, it's time that XTC strip down. A drummerless (and drum machine-free) album wouldn't be a bad idea either. Does Lenny Kravitz produce himself? There's another guy who can sell CDs solely based on his *sound*. Talk about bad lyrics! Sorry I've rambled. Let me know if you want me to relate my wife's brilliant answers to my bi-yearly whine: Why aren't XTC as big as The Police/Sting? (HINT: It's in the mix.)
------------------------------ Date: Thu, 22 Dec 1994 13:02:58 -0800 From: james.dignan@stonebow.otago.ac.nz (James Dignan) Subject: Re: Cuba etc. etc. etc. Melissa Reaves <MREAVES@KENTVM.KENT.EDU> sez >Hey there all you historians! I've been trying to figure something out for >a long while. What was going on in '79 or '80 with world politics that >prople were comparing (at the time) to the Cuban missile crisis? All I >remember is my social studies teacher In 1979, the USSR was "invited" into Afghanistan. The world went tsk tsk, especially the US (which was at that time surreptitiously starting to infiltrate Nicaragua). Then in Afghanistan's neighbour, Iran, the Shah is ousted by an anti-American revolutionary Ayatollah. Combine that with the first rumblings of dissent in the shipyards of Poland, and you've got the world ticking away towards doom. They were fun times... PS - this is not aimed at being a comment on the rights or wrongs of international policy of any country, so no political flames, please!!! James Dignan, Department of Psychology, University of Otago. J'habite 50 Norfolk St., St. Clair, Dunedin, New Zealand pixelphone james.dignan@stonebow.otago.ac.nz =AB=BB steam megaphone NZ 03-45= 5-7807 * You talk to me as if from a distance * and I reply with impressions chosen from another time, time, time, * from another time (Brian Eno)
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 21 Dec 94 16:56:10 -0800
From: Jemiah Jefferson <jeferson@is1.infostore.com>
Organization: TIS
Subject: Re: Chalkhills Digest #399
first time I've read and replied to Chakhills in about two years (gulp!)
I'm reading over the vibes again mainly on the force of the
Partridge/Harold Budd collaboration, which I seem to be listening to
every single day. I'm sure you lot have thrashed it out months ago, but
I wasn't around.
Ditto on Eno being a God of some kind.
Oh here's a funny thing I came up with the other night after a few pints
--
THE ART-SCHOOL WHITE-BOY ROCK-GOD FUNK CONTINUUM
from least to greatest.
Phillip Glass.(disputably rock, more like crossover demigod)
Robert Fripp.
Eno.
Partridge.
Bowie.
Adrian Belew.
Peter Gabriel.
David Byrne.
any contributions to the continuum will be rewarded with slavish e-mail.
I know there are some that i forgot... I was pickled after all...
later
jemiah
(jeferson@is1.infostore.com)
------------------------------ Date: Thu, 22 Dec 1994 12:34:00 +0100 From: d.flach@topos.ruu.nl (Dirk Paul Flach) Subject: family connection Hi all, some weeks ago I announced a research whether genetics were involved about liking XTC. I've been very busy lately (lame excuse), but at last here is the report for Chalkhills. I had two hypotheses: that quite some people were introduced to XTC by older brothers/sisters and that these younger ones had become bigger fans. Although I don't think my study is representative, the reactions on my request support these hypotheses. Five people responded, all of them were introduced to XTC by an older brother/sister or introduced a younger one to XTC (four brothers, one sisters), and most had become bigger fans. Two people noted that there were also people in their family who were neutral about XTC, they doubted that genetics were involved. Just one other remark before I go. I noticed some discussions on Chalkhills about other music. I read a lot of remarks like: if you like XTC, you will like this or this... I never seen names of bands or artists on the list that produce totally different music. My favorite bands and artists can be in any category, just as long as they are good in what they try to do. So, just to get in balance again and taking the risk of shocking people ;-), I'd like to name some other artists I like very much: Tragically Hip, Afghan Whigs, Steve Winwood and Traffic, Joe Jackson, World Party, Rachmaninov, Smashing Pumpkins... Can't help it, I'm just an omnivore... Dirk Paul
------------------------------ Date: Thu, 22 Dec 94 16:10 EST From: Jeffrey Langr <0005392548@mcimail.com> Subject: XTC no more? forwarded from: ChipofNJ@aol.com chip>> This person(who will remain nameless) also feels that this could be chip>> the last XTC album for good. There had been talk amongst the chip>> Geffen people in early 1994 that there would be no more output from chip>> the band, but now it looks like they'll give it a go one more time. How f*cking depressing. Now I feel really old. This must be how that baby boomer generation felt when the Beatles called it quits. To be honest, though, if XTC's albums are going to continue in the vein of O&L and Nonsuch, it probably is time to call it quits, or maybe time to redefine themselves. Maybe they should give Colin the axe, hire a permanent drummer (or even a permanent drum machine), and get Steve Albini (whose suggestion was that?) or the like to produce them. Or they could convince Trent Reznor to join up. :-) I also hope they call it quits on the layered vocals; it's getting old.
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 22 Dec 94 13:36:58 PST
From: John Relph <relph@presto.ig.com>
Subject: Sky-larking with Lowland Gorillas
Dames The Wonder Dog <SPXDLF@CARDIFF.AC.UK> barks:
>Subject: Sky-larking and Shonen Knife
>
> 'Sometimes, darting among the trees, bare-legged boys went sky-
> larking in and out of the shadows, in and out of the quiet
> people.'
>
>I wonder whether this is the first use of the term 'SKY-LARKING'.
The term "skylarking" was used in the late 1700's (and possibly
earlier) to refer to the practise of gamboling about in the rigging of
sailing ships. It was a favourite recreation of young sailors (but
weren't they all young?).
GilLamont@aol.com writes:
>FWIW, the correct last line of "Cockpit Dance Mixture" is
>
> (And this is Guy, an adult lowland gorilla, chuckling in the London
>Zoo.)
Thanks muchly for the correction! Fixed in the lyrics.
>Finally (will he *ever* shut up?), when I'm at the computer at home, I always
>listen with in-the-ear phones. XTC is awesome, and _The_Big_Express is
>exceptional, especially "Wake Up" with its 2-against-3 L/R opening.
Definitely! (Or is that "deafinitely"?)
PHELAN <m_c_0015@frank.mtsu.edu> writes:
>
>One more note, if anyone could trade me a copy of the disc Andy Partridge
>did for the Hello recording club(TMBG) or at least tell me what it was, I
>would apprec. it.
I still have not received this disc. So I have no idea what's on it.
-- John
------------------------------ Date: 22 Dec 1994 16:31:23 U From: "Wesley Wilson" <Wesley_Wilson@iegate.mitre.org> Subject: "Aware" Questions In answer to JD Mack's questions concerning alternate mixes: 1. Regarding the "wah" organ sound of an earlier version of "Are You Receiving Me?" Well, this is the first I've ever heard of this version. I thought only the Rushent-produced version was the only one in existence; on the other hand, I have not heard all of the vinyl recordings where these rarities often reside. It's weird how these alternate versions turn up, though. There's a British CD from a few years back (still available, I believe) called "The History of Punk," and it has an alternative mix of "Life Begins at the Hop." Colin's voice has a lot of reverb (echo), and the lyrics are ever so slightly different. I don't know whether this is a *1990s' mix* or something from '79. I'm highly intrigued about why Virgin released this version of the hit single for that compilation. There was a 3-inch single released in 1990 by Virgin, a sort of mini-sampler, that featured a version of "Sgt. Rock" with a different fade. 2. The single version of "Wait 'Til Your Boat Goes Down" is available only on vinyl (I found one recently on sale for only $2.50!) and it is different from the version found on "Waxworks." The single version has a short synth solo in the middle that was for some reason truncated for the "Waxworks" version. 3. There are indeed two versions of "Heaven Is Paved with Broken Glass." "Rag & Bone Buffet" has the remixed version, without the weird slowed-down tape "growling" effect at the beginning. Find the single version on the "Ball and Chain" 12-inch single, which also features "Punch and Judy" and "Cockpit Dance Mixture." Now, I have a question: what about this series of bootlegs coming out? What is on them, how much are they, and where have they been spotted in the Boston area? Wes
------------------------------ From: SURFSONGS@aol.com Date: Fri, 23 Dec 1994 02:40:04 -0500 Subject: Re: XTC on Vhs Are there any of their video out on the legal market? If so what company?
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 23 Dec 94 13:40:27 PST
From: John Relph <relph@presto.ig.com>
Subject: Re: Odd mixes
jd.mack@neteast.com (JD MACK) writes:
>
>2. The single of "Wait Till Your Boat Goes Down" is supposed to be a
>different mix than the one found on "Waxworks." Which mix is found on
>the "Compact XTC - The Singles" CD? Has the other version ever been
>released on CD?
It's true, the single version *is* different than the one on
_Waxworks_. The versions of songs on _The Compact XTC_ are the same
versions as found on _Waxworks_. I believe the single version of
"Wait..." is the version used on the Canadian _5 Senses_ EP, but that
version has *not* made it to CD as of yet.
>3. The mix of "Heaven Is Paved With Broken Glass" is supposed to be
>different between the single version, and the "Beeswax" version. Which
>version appears on the "Rag & Bone Buffet" CD? Has the other version
>ever appeared on CD?
Here's a bit from the FAQ file:
The original version of "Heaven Is Paved With Broken Glass" does
not appear on CD at all. It is only available on the original
_Ball and Chain_ singles.
The version of "Heaven" which appears on _Rag & Bone Buffet_ is the
remixed version with the synth solo, which also appeared on _Beeswax_.
Check question 23 in the FAQ for more details.
-- John
------------------------------ From: akrause@unlinfo.unl.edu (allyn krause) Subject: Held back long enough... Date: Fri, 23 Dec 1994 16:40:58 -0600 (CST) Howdy from America's Outback! I'm an approaching-middle-age TV worker who has lived in Omaha, NE, Lincoln, NE, Albuquerque, NM, and back to Lincoln, NE (it's as liberal as Nebraska gets). I am very much relieved to see that there are more fans of XTC in this world than the few odd ones I have run across in my 34 years upon the planet. I have been reading this Digest for several months, and feel it's time to enter the fray. My first experience of XTC was Drums and Wires back in the early 80's. I was experiencing a "wish I had lived through the 60's period," and liked the band, but wanted to collect more Hendrix. A few years later, a good friend and hard-core Anglophile turned me on to GO2, and then Black Sea, and the rest is history. Music has always held an emotional charge for me, having been a trumpet player in my youth, then a guitar/bass/mandolin player and home 4-track dabbler. Never has a band exerted such an influence as XTC. I love to crank up the ol' victrola and sing along with 1000 Umbrellas and Ballet for a Rainy Day. These two tracks, along with virtually all of the XTC catalog, really yank at the heart strings. Obviously, Skylarking, is my most adored XTC album of all time. I view this band in a sort of continuum, and cannot with a clear conscience consider a dividing line anywhere in their history. Since I live and breathe for all of their music, I consider each and every song as a part of the entire package. I like to think of their music history as one would consider their own development, from the childhood of White Music, through the energetic and adolescent English Settlement, to the mature and polished O&L and Nonsuch. I think that those who cannot understand the first 2 albums must consider the time in which they were recorded. Punk music was a most revolutionary and influential musical style. Most on the British scene either ignored it and continued with what they were doing, or tried to adapt and bend it into their own musical tastes. This is what I believe that XTC was attempting with White Music. Thankfully, they grew out of that angry stage and moved on, rather than becoming trapped in the style like the Sex Pistols, etc, and living a short-lived, petulant life. I suggest incorporating a night of listening including various angry punk bands from that same era, and THEN put on White Music. It might prove enlightening. As for favorite producers, it seemed that the animosity between Todd Rundgren (Todd is God) and Andy only made for a better, more cohesive end result. I vote for another fisticuff session between the two, and hopefully as fun an album as Skylarking. It is a beautifully mixed and written album, and one that I shall treasure forever. Living through Another Cuba came out about the same time as Reagan's election into office, I believe, or at least the campaigning was going on. Thatcher must have been in office about the same time, or was nearly there. It was a scary time in the history of the Cold War. Ronnie was all in favor of building up armaments so that we could blow up the world ten times over, instead of the six or so that we were currently set to do. Britain was "piggy in the middle (the British equivalent of keep-away)," and most likely did not want any part of more nukes on American bases in their country, or to be any part of a nuclear war (who does?). I think that The Boys From Swindon were just reminding people of just how scary the nuclear-threatening game can be, and were expressing their fears of "Cuba" happening all over again, or worse. Sorry to have blathered on so long, now I'll sit back and listen for a good long time again. Thanks for Christmas, and thanks for speaking up about XTC (and thanks to Mr. Relph for organizing this). Peace. Al Krause "Don't let the loveless ones sell you out...Awaken you dreamers!"
------------------------------
From: eye@interlog.com (eye WEEKLY)
Subject: Virgins No More: XTC
Date: 14 Dec 1994 11:14:07 -0500
Organization: eye -- Toronto's Arts Newspaper
Summary: Music News
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
eye WEEKLY December 15 1994
Toronto's arts newspaper .....free every Thursday
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
HI & OUTSIDE HI & OUTSIDE
VIRGINS NO MORE
by
DAVE BOOKMAN
After a 17-year association, pop perfectionists XTC have ended their
relationship with Virgin Records. Despite critical acclaim and
adulation from the most loyal fan base in rock, the group has had a
long-standing problem getting the respect it deserves from the label.
At least New York City musician David Yazbeck appreciates them.
Yazbeck, an acclaimed musician/producer in his own right, is putting
together an XTC tribute album. Slated to contribute tracks are They
Might Be Giants, Joe Jackson, Sarah McLachlan, Freedy Johnston, Rub=82n
Blades and the band themselves.
Meanwhile, fans can check out the recently released BBC Live Recordings
and explore Andy Partridge's ambient side on his collaboration with
composer Harold Budd. As far as a new record goes, the band have been
demoing new songs with Colin Moulding's tunes, which are said to be
more upbeat than his contributions to the band's last album, Nonsuch.
Anyone wanna start a record label?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Retransmit freely in cyberspace Author holds standard copyright
Issues of eye in archive gopher://interlog.com
Coupla Mailing lists available http://www.interlog.com/eye
eye@interlog.com "Break the Gutenberg Lock..." 416-971-8421
------------------------------ From: Andisheh Nouraee <scotsman@wam.umd.edu> Date: Fri, 23 Dec 1994 20:34:50 -0500 Subject: A.P. in Q 100 Dear Chalkhillians, Andy Partridge contributes to an article in -Q- Magazine, Jan 1995. The article is titled -It Changed My Life- and features descriptions of *important* books by certain musicians. Here goes . . . The Women-s Encyclopedia of Myths And Secrets Edited by Barbara G. Walker --I was staying with my girlfriend in New York and I asked her for something to read in the toilet and I just grabbed this off the shelf and I was in there for hours. This is a concrete block-sized book. Apparently, it took Barbara Walker 20 years to gather this information, and I was shocked at how male- dominated religion and society has stolen or milked from women: firstly, their power in society but also their myths, secrets and rights. It-s a great Christian-bashing book which is wonderful for me. It-s also a great soup of etymology which pleases me to no end. For instance, from the some root as -cunt- came country, kin and kind, and also the words cunning, kenning and ken, meaning insight. and it tells you that the word -twat- was once ignorantly used by poet Robert Browning. But finally, like anything that-s good, it really is impossible to describe.-- *----------------------------------------------------------------------------- In the same issue, there is an interesting little blurb on Martin Newell and the Cleaners From Venus. ISSUE 2: I have an unopened promotional 12 inch single of -The Mayor of Simpleton- for trade. It features -One of the Millions-, -Ella Guru-, and two demos with titles that slip my mind at the moment. If you want to trade for it, e-mail your offer. Scotsman@wam.umd.edu
------------------------------ From: Kevin Carhart <ukevc@mcl.mcl.ucsb.edu> Subject: best of iuma? Date: Sat, 24 Dec 1994 02:11:27 -0800 (PST) Hi, a fast question: does anyone have a recommendation from among the songs at IUMA? If I were to download an MPEG, which would most appeal to an XTC fan? --Kevin ukevc@mcl.ucsb.edu
------------------------------
From: GenChum@aol.com
Date: Mon, 26 Dec 1994 19:38:41 -0500
Subject: Re: Chalkhills Digest #399
Hello, everyone, my name is Allan, and I live in the LA area. I've been told
to post one of these "gettaknowya" type of things , so here goes:
I heard XTC for the first time back in '82 on WXRT radio in Chicago
("Generals and Majors"), and was immediately impressed that the band had not
only brains and a sense of melody, but could rock very convinvingly (I really
wish they would do more of the latter these days). As the band has continued
to delight me, I've continued to obsessively collect every note I could find.
Here's my two cents on a few of the seemingly recurring topics:
Choice for outside producer: Tough call. I agree with several voices that
think that a good outside producer would help Andy get an outside perspective
that sometimes is sorely needed, but I can think of several instances in
which the producer has harmed the situation (certainly for me this would
include "The Big Express", which I literally cannot listen to because of the
overly bombastic production, and "Nonsuch", which is quite a bit too slick
for me.) Eno has been mentioned several times, which seems to me to be a
plausible, safe choice, but I'm worried his natural tendencies towards
ambinet (static?) music would push the group farther away from rock and into
"music box music" territory. Perhaps the opposite end of the spectrum, such
asxRick Rubin? (Just kidding. Sort of.)
My choices for:
Most underrated XTC album: Go2
(Any album with "Meccanic Dancing", "Are You Receiving Me?" and "Life Is
Good In the Greenhouse" is OK in my book, folks.)
Best B-Side: Heatwave/Don't Lose Your Temper/Extrovert (tie)
I'd Love to Hear Tony Bennett cover: "The Man Who Sailed Around His Soul"
Fave Andy Partridge Vocal Moment: The octave jump in the last verse of
"Meccanic Dancing" on the word "KeEEEEEEEEEEY!"
Thanks for having me; sorry I used up all this space. It's great to see some
intelligent discussion about one of the greatest bands around, XTC.
------------------------------ Date: 27 Dec 1994 10:40:35 U From: "Wesley Wilson" <Wesley_Wilson@iegate.mitre.org> Subject: Phone # for XTC CDs Hi Gang, I've talked about Silver Moon Digital, so here's their address/phone/FAX numbers in case you would like to order from them. Keep in mind that I have no affiliation with them whatsoever; I'm just a satisfied customer. They really care about your order; not only do they put it in a mail packet, they also wrap it in newspaper so it arrives in perfect condition. I ordered the MF Skylarking on Thursday by credit card; it arrived on Monday! That's just an example - your mileage may vary. When you order, they send a list of CDs currently in stock. Definitely some cool selections. Silver Moon Digital P.O. Box 57565 Oklahoma City, OK 73157 (405) 840-3472 (best time to call is 9 am to noon CST, M through F) FAX (405) 840-3639 They accept VISA/MC/Money Orders; personal checks must clear before delivery. Postage and handling: $2.50 first disc; .50 each additional. Canada add $1.50 to total. All others add $6.00. Insurance $1.50 extra. $2.50 over $50. Here's what they have by XTC that's "hot": Skylarking GOLD ULTRADISC (MF), on sale at $22.95 through Dec. 31st (NOTE: I have this; it sounds incredible. Note how clear the tremelo effect sounds on Colin's voice in the song "Big Day". No "Mermaid Smiled," though, which is really unfortunate.) Partridge/Budd - Through the Hill, $12.95 Partridge/Newell - Greatest Living Englishman, $12.95 XTC Drums and Wireless: BBC Radio Sessions, 17 songs, (UK), $15.95 XTC Demo Tracks (Japan), $15.95 (NOTE: You can get these same tracks if you buy the UK/US CD-singles of "Pumpkinhead" and "The Disappointed") XTC The Dub Experiments (UK), $17.95 XTC Black Sea (Japanese), $19.95 XTC Compact XTC (UK), $17.95 On another subject, I saw the movie "Dumb and Dumber" this weekend. Pretty funny, but did anyone notice the diner scene featured "Peter Pumpkinhead" rather prominently on the radio? But...NOT by XTC?! Does anyone know who did the cover of Pumpkinhead for this movie? I stayed for the credits; didn't see any musicians mentioned. A side note is that Todd Rundgren also has a song on the soundtrack! Andy and Todd...reunited! :-) Can anyone out there tell me where I can find the new Terry Hall disc, "Home"? Wes
------------------------------ Date: Wed, 28 Dec 94 14:50 GMT From: joeo@cix.compulink.co.uk (Psion plc Joe Odukoya) Subject: Comments on nearly everything...(Drums & Drummers/Producers/High LLama Just read the latest issue of Chalkhils and here are some comments on various bits... XTC must have a drummer on their next album (if only because the drums have always been a major ingrediant to the XTC sound) - imagine songs like Respectable Street, Nigel, Funk pop..., Yacht Dance (one of the best rhytmic subtleties ever - as good as "Walking on the Moon" in its use of understated percussion) the list is endless... I would nominate Stewart Copeland too as a potential drummer for the next XTC album. XTC to part in '95 shock - somebody say it ain't so!!! I would second the person who recommended the High LLamas - a fine band with a very English sound. I particularly recommend their first two albums:The High Llamas Apricots. Ask me if you would like more info. As much as I love Brian Eno's work (and I have 90% of his stuff) I don't think he would actually suit XTC very much - I would like to see him work on an Electronic Andy Partridge Solo album (but that's a story for another day) - I think someone who can bring out their natural sound is what is required IMHO. Also IMHO the best sounding XTC album has to be English Settlement (also my fave XTC album - just) so I would have to nominate Hugh Padgham (though the story in Chalkhills and Children tends to sugggest that it would be unlikely). Ultimately though: as long as the music doesn't suffer - who cares? 'NUFF SAID - Joeo -
------------------------------ Date: Thu, 29 Dec 1994 00:53:47 -0500 From: szechuan bean curd <shelley@physics.utoronto.ca> Subject: TMBG COVERS XTC i saw a press release at the local radio station last week which talked about a new album of XTC covers by such artists as joe jackson and TMBG...no word on its release date nor the songs covered by any of the artists! bluebird 'i just go nuts at christmastime' :)
------------------------------
From: rwatson@unlinfo.unl.edu (randall watson)
Subject: The Perfect Couplet
Date: Thu, 29 Dec 1994 13:49:16 -0600 (CST)
To add to the nominees for "best couplet" may I offer the following:
No round of drinks can extinguish this
Feeling of love and engulfing bliss
Exquisite! This seems to say it all. Perhaps this could be a "motto"
applicable to Chalkhillians? The effect the lads have on their
listeners?
Cheers!
Randy Watson
------------------------------ From: Jennifer Heather Zinn <jzinn@hsc.usc.edu> Subject: I'm a new member! Date: Fri, 30 Dec 1994 09:31:05 -0800 (PST) I REALLY like XTC, but I'm not a nut. I got interested while looking for a band to fill my Beatle Hunger (I'm a Beatle nut). Favorite Album: Black Sea Don't like Colin much- Does anybody else think that Jellyfish is (or was) great? Very cool harmony and production. If you like this band, try a band calledt The Grays, formed from Jellyfish original members and others. Dream producer? Well, George Martin has lost it (Beatle CD's?), but how about Jack Joseph Puig to round out that "englishness" with some good American classic rock? THEN we may have Beatle. (This must piss someone off A LOT)!
------------------------------ Date: Fri, 30 Dec 1994 23:08:18 EST From: DFHH52C@prodigy.com (MRS LYNN C BLACK) Subject: introduction And here's... Steve! 1. I heard about XTC at Painters Mill, MD during their only US tour in the early '80s. 2. Discovered Chalkhills while spending TIME on my friend's system. 3. Any single, white females - please post to me at this address. Good looking and music oriented, please apply! :) Steve Lahr
------------------------------ End of Chalkhills Digest #400 *****************************
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