Chalkhills Digest Volume 1, Issue 435
Date: Monday, 8 May 1995
Chalkhills Digest, Number 435
Monday, 8 May 1995
Today's Topics:
XTC Video Tree update
XTC Demo CDs
RE: The Misadventures of Bob Sherwood
what to call ourselves revisited
Partridge's solo work
xtc tribute song.
XTC Demo CD's
Re: Chalkhills Digest #434
Re: Call for video tapes (update)
PP/JFK/JC
be nice to LE
Guitar Riffs/Song Composition
Obscene Express
Re: Peter P. again
Rykodisc
Another Satellite Experiance
Crowded House list
Difappointed with "Skylarking" Gold Disc
La belle affaire!
Dutifully reporting: it's a pillbox
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Dreaming of a world where he could do just what he wanted to!
---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Wed, 3 May 1995 14:01:00 -0600 From: Erik Anderson <aa393@broadway.sfn.saskatoon.sk.ca> Subject: XTC Video Tree update The general concensus is that this is a good idea. However, I have only received one contribution thus far -- Andy on MTV c.1989. WE NEED MORE CONTRIBUTIONS IF THIS VIDEO EXCHANGE IS GOING TO HAPPEN! I'll give it another two weeks and if the donations don't come rolling in I may have to cancel the program. Unfortunate. I'll post an updated list of what is available when I get more time. The first list appears earlier in this digest (#434). Erik Anderson
------------------------------ Date: Wed, 3 May 95 17:32:06 EDT From: akrebs@sun3.varcom.com (Aaron Krebs) Subject: XTC Demo CDs For those of you in the Washington DC area, I was browsing at a used/ import CD store called CD Cellar in Falls Church, and they had at least two copies of Demo CDs #'s 1 and 4. I bought #4, with the Helium Boys (sorry I don't have it at work with me or I'd be more elaborate with my description). Anyway it's actually the Helium KIDS tracks (10 of them) and 3 covers afterwards (Purple Haze is one of them). Long enough story for you? Well, the point is they were $23. Anybody interested in a copy of either or both should email me PRIVATELY at this address (akrebs@varcom.com) with their request. I will go there this weekend and buy them for you. Obviously, if demand outstrips supply, I will go in order of message received. That's as fair as I can be. We can negotiate money IF/WHEN I purchase the CDs, but an initial guess would be about $25 to cover shipping/tax. I listened to both, and though they are quite obviously demos/early recordings, the quality isn't bad. There are two short (<half a second) glitches in one of the Helium Boys tracks. Sorry to waste anybody's time if I did, and please remember to send PRIVATELY to me, not the list!
------------------------------ Date: Wed, 03 May 1995 16:27:01 -0400 (EDT) From: "Delvin R. Neugebauer" <delvin-cos1@kaman.com> Subject: RE: The Misadventures of Bob Sherwood This is for Bob Sherwood, as well as anyone who was as disgusted as I was with the tale of his exploits at the Mayfest in San Diego. Okay, fine Bob, so you bumped into a couple of metal fanatics who dissed XTC. Couldn't you have just considered the source and let it go at that? The way you described these "doods," their narrow-minded comments should've been easy enough to dismiss. By taking your resentment out on their instruments & equipment, you only stooped to their level. By boasting about how you committed this sabotage behind their backs, you made it clear that you're too cowardly to do anything about it to their faces. And saying you did it to "protect our honor" besmirches XTC fans everywhere. We're fans of XTC, Bob; we're not their worshippers. Your actions were pathetic. You conceded as much when you said that "they'd do it to you if you dissed da Scorpions." Get a life. Best wishes, Delvin Neugebauer (delvin-cos1@kaman.com) Colorado Springs, Colorado (USA)
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 03 May 1995 21:48:13 -0500 (EST)
From: CANEVIT@UTKVX.UTCC.UTK.EDU
Subject: what to call ourselves revisited
Hey, gang!
After hearing some of the ideas on what to call
ourselves, I started to think of some names. I think
'the ecstatic' is worthy of consideration. It seems natural
to me that XTC fans shouldn't feel constrained to have a
name that sounds like other fans' apellations (a la Deadheads
and Dittoheads). Heck, we don't even need to be a plural noun!
Let's be an adjective used as a noun! 'The ecstatic' even alludes
to the name of the band while being appropriate to describing
our usual state of mind while listening to them. The only problems
I see with the name is that it seems too directly connected to
"The Disappointed," which links it a bit much with _Nonsvch_ (not
the most widely appreciated XTC album), and that it smacks of
Andy-ish wordplay, which sort of leaves Colin out. Of course,
there's always 'Skylarkers.' I'd rather be one of the ecstatic,
though; wouldn't you?
discuss amongst yourselves,
Craig E. Canevit
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 3 May 1995 19:13:34 -0700 (PDT)
From: Wesley David Shaw <shawwd@whitman.edu>
Subject: Partridge's solo work
I was stoked with the news that Andy's solo stuff was released on Hello?
records, and I called 'em up the next day, and a few weeks later a order
form arrived at my apartment. I was not so stoked to find that it seems
one has to order a whole package ($42?!?) to get the one Partridge CD. Is
this a misunderstanding? Is is possible to acquire the CD by some other
means? Anyone?
Hoping hard,
-Wez
ps- to all expressing joy at "Drums and Wireless", I can only agree that
it is well worth the outlay.
------------------------------ From: Heliumkidz@aol.com Date: Wed, 3 May 1995 22:17:19 -0400 Subject: xtc tribute song. So I came across a brand new album by an all-female trio called the Blue Up? called _Spool_Forka_Dish_, featuring a song called "Blasting XTC." So of course I figure it's some kind of paean to the drug ecstacy...sounds more likely than it being about the band, no? well, it in fact IS about the band: I will never ever leave, windy grass fom which they weave, tales of gardens I believe, drowning in their blackest sea, headphones blasting XTC, and a thousand umbrellas with with ladybirds all in flame, lit a runaway rocket that hissed as it hit the train, spilling mermaids and alchemists kissing inside my brain, I fly how far it flows, surround with sound the grows into a tiger kite that blows away, closest as I'll ever be to language spoken into me, wake me up with NRG, Sgt. Rock will set me free, headphones blasting XTC, my senses never stop when I hear "This Is Pop," I dance to my stereo blasting XTC, bop-bop-oom-ba-dop, this is pop! hmmm. As for the music: kind of Aimee Mann-y (sort of) vocals over a sort of jazzy-acoustic-Skylarking-y kind of thing. Not the greatest melody ever, but an interesting trivial tidbit. Haven't yet listened to the rest of the album... It's on Sony, so it shouldn't be too hard to find... brian
------------------------------ Date: Thu, 4 May 95 08:58 BST-1 From: joeo@cix.compulink.co.uk (Psion plc Joe Odukoya) Subject: XTC Demo CD's Hello fellow Chalkhillians I've just checked out the XTC Web site and it's great! Full of fascinating stuff - particularly Andy's comments on his Home Demoes. Well done John. The reason for this missive is - looking through the discography I noticed that there are a series of XTC demo CD's available "XTC Demoes 1 to 6". Does anyone have access to these? Does anyone know where I can pay extortionate amounts of money for my very own copies, just to satisfy my XTC habit? I anyone listening? Thanks All the best - Joeo - ||| [Ov0] -
------------------------------ Date: Thu, 4 May 1995 08:50:40 -0500 From: mheibel@lps.esu18.k12.ne.us (Micah Heibel) Subject: Re: Chalkhills Digest #434 FYI: Jackie Kennedy's hat was a pill-box hat. I would not agree, respectfully, that the video for PP means Partridge had Kennedy in mind when he wrote the song anymore than the Mayor of Simpleton video means he had Emma Peel in mind when he wrote that song. Micah Heibel "My father always said laughter was the best medicine. Maybe that's why several of us died of tuberculosis." --- Jack Handey
------------------------------ Date: Thu, 04 May 95 09:58:33 EDT From: dabl2@lhc.nlm.nih.gov (Don Lindbergh) Subject: Re: Call for video tapes (update) On Wed, 3 May 1995 09:45:51 -0700 you wrote: >From: Erik Anderson <aa393@broadway.sfn.saskatoon.sk.ca> >Subject: XTC - Call for video tapes (update) ..deletia... >* indicates the video is included in XTC's LOOK LOOK video. Because of >copywrite laws I would like to avoid including these vidoes in our tree, >especially because they are available by simply ordering your own copy of >LOOK LOOK. I agree that officially released videos should be purchased if possible. But you left out one little detail, *where* can they be purchased. As far as net resources go neither CD NOW or VIDEO EXPRESS offer *any* XTC videos. If there is a source (personally I'm interested in a U.S. source) you know of please post. --Don DABL dabl2@lhc.nlm.nih.gov
------------------------------ From: rwatson@unlinfo.unl.edu (randall watson) Subject: PP/JFK/JC Date: Thu, 4 May 1995 10:56:12 -0500 (CDT) WE'RE ALL JESUS, BUDDHA, AND THE WIZARD OF OZ! Let's all rethink this PP/JFK thing for a moment, please. Shouldn't we consider the whole matter from a couple of perspectives? First, as mentioned, AP has stated it's just composite bits of several personages. That does lend a great deal to the "it's not specifically about JFK" theory. Okay. Yet, we must not forget the obvious: the video comes AFTER the song! What am I getting at? Perhaps AP wrote the song with exactly the "type" of person JFK seems to symbolize in mind. The notion of a newcomer attempting to "change" and bring about something new HAS been associated with the JFK presidency (New Camelot, etc...). Same thing for Jesus, Buddha, Gandhi, Socrates: all were seen as anti-establishment "types." Here's a quote from a book on Miles Davis that seems to speak directly to the issue. It's a quote from JFK's inaugural address on 20 January 1961: "Let the word go forth from this time and place, to friend and foe alike," he declared, "that the torch has been passed to a new generation of Americans..." Kennedy's statement could almost stand as a clarion call to the political activists who would emerge not only in the United States but everywhere in the world by the middle years of the decade (the 60's). (Jack Chambers, _Milestones II_, p3). Remember, JFK was only 44 when elected to office. So, if we rearrange our perspective to "see" the situation from inside the 60's JFK was seen at the time as a harbinger of change. Now, how does that all fit in with the song? AP wrote a song about a "type." When the time came to do the video it was necessary to "individualize" the song, to make it particular, to present an image for visual consumption. This is very analogous to the creative process for many creative artists: they have a type in mind and must narrow it down for presentation in their work. What I find so interesting about the video is that it plays on a couple of different levels. I would agree with those who have pointed out the obvious Jackie O. references in the limosine, the waving man, etc... There are a couple of other not-too-subtle-JFK references: the blonde, Marilyn Monroe reference, the band itself is playing on the infamous "grassy knoll," the bullets and the gun.... The thing that fascinates me and seems to lend credence to BOTH sides of the Chalkhills debate concerning this song/video are the references to Christ, yes, JC. The video has several "fades": from the bullets the shot blends into the nails used to crucify JC, there is also the not-so-nice scene of the body wrapped in the purple robe with blood. Remember those Romans? So, to try to conclude: this issue is one that may be called a "skeptical debate." The viewer/listener is left to decide. There is enough ammunition in the video to clearly indicate JFK and Christ. So, if one were to see the video first, the impressions affect the final interpretation. If one were only to listen to the song, one's imagination would necessarily "fill-in" the missing points the video provides for us. Perhaps we could say that the video is merely the director's point of view? Or, a la Oliver Stone (since the movie JFK was released almost at the same time as the video) a "trendy" attempt to capitalize the mundane imagination of the average Joe/Josephine in the USA? We can have our cake and eat it, too! Not either/or, but Both! Randy
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 4 May 95 14:22:44 EDT
From: Jeff Rosedale <rosedale@columbia.edu>
Subject: be nice to LE
The Little Express is a great magazine, and hey, we don't trash the
band for coming out with an album once in a long while... it's worth
the wait, and if you need instant gratification fixes, that's why we're
on this list- right?!
Pumpkinhead/JFK comparisons are apt to produce a few connections
because that's a part of the meaning. Remember "we're all Jesus Buddha
and the Wizard of Oz"? That's a bit like the Pumpkinhead character- an
amalgamation of several people and stories. Andy is a sort of
"fictional" character himself- noone can really be that creative and
based entirely on fact :-)
--J//f
------------------------------ From: "Thomas G. Slack" <TSLACK@PGH.LEGENT.COM> Subject: Guitar Riffs/Song Composition Date: Fri, 05 May 95 10:22:00 PDT Chalkhillbillies, (Sorry, just goofing). So many of XTC's songs seem to be almost defined by a tasty guitar lick that I'm wondering - how many of these are written as part of the song as opposed to coming up with the riffs during arrangement? Take a song like "Scarecrow People". Did Andy come up with a rythm part and sit down with Dave to play it, and Dave came up with that magical part, or did Andy have it in mind to begin with? On a song like "Meeting Place", there really isn't a song without the riff. My guess is, they all come up with great guitar riffs, and which ones stand out to you as you replay the songs in your own mind is totally happenstance. TS
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 5 May 95 16:05:58 PDT
From: John Relph <relph@presto.ig.com>
Subject: Obscene Express
Cherie Gallinati <CGALLINA@coe.edu> writes:
>
>ian's new address is
>1496 1/2 michigan avenue
>columbus ohio
>43201
Thanks for posting Ian's new address. I encourage all to contribute
to the _Skylacking_ tribute tape. And check out Ian's other tapes as
well!
>all of his tributes (_obscene collection_, _beasts i've seen_ and
>the soon-to-be-released _skylacking_) are rad
Cybertwig@aol.com flames away:
>
>what's this with the "Official XTC Fan Club"? I sent them my hard earned
>money and have gotten nothing in return! The Little Express of Canada is a
>crock. Don't do it!
I have been subscribing to _The Little Express_ for years and, while I
have to admit they can be slow, they do good work. Please pay no mind
to Mr Cybertwig: _The Little Express_ is well worth the money and the
waiting. Check out their classified ads. The magazine is very nicely
produced and they have a good relationship with the band. Be patient!
marin@ccr.jussieu.fr (Emmanuel MARIN) writes:
>
>Colin Moulding, about his work on the last album of the fine French pop band
>'L'Affaire Louis Trio'.
Um, what's the name of the album? On how many songs does Colin play?
"Wesley Wilson" <Wesley_Wilson@iegate.mitre.org> writes:
>
>P.S. I saw a new CD by Peter Blegvad and John Greaves (sp?)
Yes, it's mostly stories by Mr Blegvad with ambient background by
Blegvad/Greaves. Interesting stuff. I'm looking for Blegvad's book
_Headcheese_. If anybody in England sees this, I want it!
-- John
------------------------------ From: nemaliand@halcyon.com Date: Fri, 5 May 1995 23:28:19 -0700 Subject: Re: Peter P. again I have to say again, that I agree with Eric and Micah about PP. I don't think that just because the video contained JFK imagery it means the song is specifically about him, he may be one "loosely based", as Eric said, example. I stick by my original interpretation of the song. Actually, I like the way I interpret that song, it makes me feel good to hear it that way. So even if Andy came out and said "It's about JFK", I probably wouldn't change the way I like to think of it. Stubborn aren't I? I'll put my vote in for " chalkhillians". Does anyone know anything about Andy's personal life, or are we not supposed to talk about that? I'd like to know if he still paints and if he shows his work anywhere. I'm an artist and I've used bits of his lyrics in painting titles. "Unconscious Grotesque" is one of my favorites. Wordsmiths impress me, I'm average in the verbal dept. Pictures are my most efficient way of communicating, but I like to combine the two with help. Andy is definitely an inspiration. Lynn nemaliand@halcyon.com
------------------------------ From: AngryYngMn@aol.com Date: Sat, 6 May 1995 15:22:02 -0400 Subject: Rykodisc I was sitting around at home on this *VERY* sleepy Saturday wondering whether anyone has heard about xtc signing with a new company! I'm kinda going on withdrawal, Nonsuch only gets you so far so fast, and I am so familiar with Skylarking that I try to sing backing vocals whenever I play it on the way to work. (Almost caused a 40-car pileup on the Tappan Zee Bridge last week listening to Oranges & Lemons...I have temporarily banned it from my car.) What's that address to Rykodisc? Maybe a new round of e-mail will bring some answers. Just a thought. -AYM
------------------------------ Date: Sun, 7 May 1995 20:29:17 -0400 (EDT) From: Christopher Thompson <topher@cml.com> Subject: Another Satellite Experiance I just returned from a trip to Western Canada, where during my first ever airplane flight I had a minor religous experience I thought I'd share... I was, of course, very nervous of flying and to occupy myself, I was listening to Rag and Bone Buffet on my CD DiscMan. After take-off we were just flying through dense cloud when suddenly we broke above them revealing a beautiful landscape of endless clouds. Just as this happened Andy began to sing the opening lines of Another Satellite and I was absolutely taken away with the beauty of the song and scenery. It was a peaceful feeling unlike any other I've experienced. Anyone else ever have a religous experience listening to XTC?
------------------------------ Date: Mon, 8 May 1995 16:45:32 +1300 From: james.dignan@stonebow.otago.ac.nz (James) Subject: Crowded House list From: tpeters@sas.upenn.edu (Troy C Peters) >Okay everybody, go out and buy them now. (I'll also once again echo the >Chalkhead support for just about anything by Crowded House. Does anybody >know of a CH list or anything else netwise?) Hi Troy (and anyone else interested)... I had this wee bit of information stored away just in case anyone wanted it :) CROWDED HOUSE listserv@listserv.acns.nwu.edu Discussion of Crowded House, Split Enz, and the splinter groups (Tim Finn, Schnell Fenster, The Makers, etc.). To subscribe, the body of the message should read: subscribe house <your name here> We also have a digest version; to subscribe to that, body of message should read: subscribe house-digest <your name here> Mngrs: Marck Bailey & Elizabeth Wasserman <ch-adm@nwu.edu> Enjoy! James James Dignan, Department of Psychology, University of Otago. Ya zhivu v' 50 Norfolk St., St. Clair, Dunedin, New Zealand pixelphone james.dignan@stonebow.otago.ac.nz / steam megaphone NZ 03-455-7807 * 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: Mon, 8 May 1995 01:00:19 -0400 From: bk985@cleveland.Freenet.Edu (Craig A. Marciniak) Subject: Difappointed with "Skylarking" Gold Disc I apologize for the bad subject line. Has anyone else out there bought the gold disc of _Skylarking_ and been disappointed with the sound? When I did a comparsion between the Geffen CD and the gold disc, there was no difference at all between the two. When I did the comparsion between the LP and gold disc, the gold disc was lacking in both the high end and low end. Needless to say, after shelling $30 for this disc, I was very upset. I've purchased other Mobile Fidelity discs and have never been disappointed until now. I did double check my settings to make sure I didn't have anything on cut on my equalizer. Surprisingly enough, when I used my enhanced settings for the Geffen version on the gold disc, they worked *excellent* on it. Usually, if I used my enhanced settings on disc that has been mastered well, I can tell if there's too much high or low end. Plus, being a recording engineering student, you tend to pull these things out a lot more. If anyone else is having the same problem or has heard complaints about the sound, please let me know through email. Craig
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 08 May 95 01:34:09 EDT
From: "Gene (Sp00n) Yoon" <ST004422@BROWNVM.BROWN.EDU>
Subject: La belle affaire!
>Colin Moulding, about his work on the last album of the fine French pop band '
>L'Affaire Louis Trio'.
>
>Emmanuel Marin
>marin@ccr.jussieu.fr
Is that all?....
This is interesting. I didn't know CM did any collaborative work other
than Sam Phillips. At least, the archives/web site don't mention any.
When was [the?] L'Affaire album released? What did Colin do? Emmanuel,
please post. Martinis and Bikinis is so good that I think Colin should
do a lot more musicianship outside of XTC (he should've toured with Pink
Floyd when he had the chance).
On personal matters, I'm toying with XTC mixes as a birthday gift for my
sister, who mildly enjoys XTC out of default because of her older
brothers but has no XTC stuff of her own. A good gift idea, me thinks,
plus it's easy on the wallet (copyright violations notwithstanding).
I'd like to hear what others think of the selection and order:
miXTCs
Side 1: Summer's Cauldron Side 2: That Wave
------------------------- -----------------
1/Summer's Cauldron 1/That Wave
2/Grass 2/Desert Island
3/Garden of Earthly Delights 3/Mermaid Smiled
4/Wonderland 4/The Somnambulist
5/Miniature Sun 5/All You Pretty Girls
6/Great Fire 6/Yacht Dance
7/Love on a Farmboy's Wages 7/One of the Millions
8/Ladybird 8/The Man Who Sailed Around...
9/I Remember the Sun 9/Wait Till Your Boat Goes Down
10/Me and the Wind 10/Jason and the Argonauts
11/Ballet for a Rainy Day 11/Little Lighthouse
12/1000 Umbrellas 12/Seagulls Screaming
13/Sacrificial Bonfire 13/Bungalow
14/Season Cycle 14/Pale and Precious
AND/OR
Side 3: Happy Families Side 4: Chain of Command
---------------------- ------------------------
1/Happy Families 1/Chain of Command
2/Battery Brides 2/Across This Antheap
3/Punch and Judy 3/Officer Blue
4/Big Day 4/Sgt. Rock (Is Going to Help Me)
5/Earn Enough for Us 5/Generals and Majors
6/Pink Thing 6/Here Comes President Kill Again
7/Toys 7/The Ballad of Peter Pumpkinhead
8/That is the Way 8/Living Through Another Cuba
9/Holly Up On Poppy 9/Melt the Guns
10/Making Plans for Nigel 10/Dear God
11/No Thugs in Our House 11/It's Nearly Africa
12/Runaways 12/This World Over
13/Hold Me My Daddy 13/Down in the Cockpit
14/Chalkhills and Children 14/Complicated Game
OR
Side 3: Limelight Side 4: Snowman
----------------- ---------------
1/Limelight 1/Snowman
2/Life Begins at the Hop 2/Wrapped in Grey
3/Instant Tunes 3/Train Running Low on Soul Coul
4/I Am the Audience 4/Blame the Weather
5/This is Pop (5/Always Winter Never Christmas)
6/Radios in Motion (6/It's Snowing Angels)
7/Ten Feet Tall 7/Thanks for Christmas
8/Dear Madam Barnum 8/Heaven Is Paved With Broken Glass
9/King for a Day 9/Life Is Good in the Greenhouse
10/Funk Pop A Roll 10/Dying
11/I Bought Myself a Liarbird 11/Frost Circus
12/Chalkhills and Children
I've never actually *heard* the demos, Always Winter Never Christmas
or the Dukes's It's Snowing Angels, but I'd *imagine* they would be
appropriate. If anyone has these tracks and would be sooo kind as to
dub them for me if I mail him/her the cassette cued up to the spot,
I'd be forever grateful and indebted. I'd offer to trade for something,
but if you have these demos I doubt I have anything you don't already.
Respond by email....thanks in advance.
Switching gears, are we getting any more of the Dave Gregory Net
Interview? No pressure, John Nicholls, but what we've gotten so far has
been fabulous. 'Dluv to see more. Should be archived eventually,
right Mr. Relph?
Being very demanding, Gene
------------------------------ Date: Mon, 8 May 1995 03:31:14 -0500 From: Gene_Yoon@brown.edu (Gene Yoon) Subject: Dutifully reporting: it's a pillbox Many fashionably correct or otherwise enlightened folk have considerately mailed me to let me know that Jacqueline Kennedy wore a "pillbox" hat. In case anyone else out there was similarly ignorant.
------------------------------ End of Chalkhills Digest #435 *****************************
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8 May 1995 / Feedback