Chalkhills Digest Volume 12, Issue 22
Date: Wednesday, 17 May 2006
Chalkhills Digest, Volume 12, Number 22
Wednesday, 17 May 2006
Topics:
Re: futebol songs
Frustrated?
Another Arsenal Fan
Sad Bastards
comic strip author an XTC fan?
Rock and Roll Retirees
Senses working overtime
A Partridge, some Yardbirds, and squawking
Dukes of Simpleton in June
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---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Sat, 13 May 2006 02:32:18 -0400 From: Pia Calderon <pia@piacalderon.com> Subject: Re: futebol songs Message-ID: <cfe09ee94118740a5ab140c5d6633884@piacalderon.com> Jamie Lowe wrote: > > I've been put to task by some of my soccer teammates to do a > compilation of songs about or reference soccer/football in someway. > I have a couple, like XTC's Senses Working Overtime, Robbie > Williams, Del Amitri and The Referees alphabet by Half man Half > Biscuit. > > Your suggestions are appreciated! And may result in a kick ass (pun > intended) compilation. some Brazilian songs: Chico Buarque- "O Futebol" Toquinho- "Corinthians do meu Coracao" Jorge Ben- "Ponta de Lanca Africano", "Fio Maravilha" "PlayUp-Football is Music"- various international (Arto Lindsay plays Buarque's song) "Musica de Futebol"-various brasilians & one portuguesa
------------------------------
Date: Sat, 13 May 2006 00:37:27 -0700
From: Steve <ste7phen@yahoo.com>
Subject: Frustrated?
Message-ID: <44658CB7.70909@yahoo.com>
Chalkhills wrote:
> Having a Phipp over new XTC music
> Some musicians should be forced to retire
Geez you guys, I can think of some things to be more frustrated about
than whether or not xtc will produce, like, say...
sex
I get frustrated about that. Though not like I did 10 years ago ...ahhh
for the aging. But I have to say I still enjoy listening to English
Settlement immensely, and loud. I bought a new-to-me vinyl copy at the
used bin. Now that's a dream to me: how about English Settlement and
Black Sea re-released on vinyl! Imagine a gleaming new shiny LP of your
fave. Putting it on the turntable. Yes.
Another (just dreaming) Steve
"...there may be no golden fleece..."
------------------------------ Date: Sat, 13 May 2006 09:29:26 EDT From: MVOMALLEY57@aol.com Subject: Another Arsenal Fan Message-ID: <423.dd8a83.31973936@aol.com> Ray Davies is an Arsenal Fan too. Here is a nice piece he wrote about his memories of the team. http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,6-2167183,00.html I waited over 10 years for the release of Ray's new solo album "Other Peoples Lives", it was well worth it! I can wait as long as it takes for Colin and Andy to release some thing new. You can't rush an artist.
------------------------------ Date: Sat, 13 May 2006 15:49:34 +0200 (CEST) From: N TURNER <member@turner2.wanadoo.co.uk> Subject: Sad Bastards Message-ID: <13596210.1147528174196.JavaMail.www@wwinf3001> I just read the latest digest and am now sitting in front of my computer shaking my head at the sadness of some folk. A couple of people have already replied well to Mr Freeq. I have to say I'm getting bored with people using this discussion forum for slagging off the very people that have brought us all together at Chalkhills - Andy Partridge and Colin Moulding have been with me through my youth and into my adult years and every album has a good memory attached. Listen to what's already there!!! any new stuff is a bonus. QUALITY not quantity is the key to XTC have you not got that yet? can someone set up an interesting subject and avoid the ' I want an album now' brigade. My advice to you my friend, go and find a Green Day forum and you can debate their latest offering and talk about how different it sounds from last years dirge.....NOT. Nigel T.
------------------------------ Date: Sat, 13 May 2006 20:28:48 -0400 From: <stroo@cox.net> Subject: comic strip author an XTC fan? Message-ID: <32855699.1147566528756.JavaMail.root@eastrmwml04.mgt.cox.net> I'd like to think the author of the comic strip "Jump Start" is an XTC fan, but I'm afraid he is referring to something else at http://www.unitedmedia.com/comics/jumpstart/archive/jumpstart-20060513.html Bob
------------------------------ Date: Sun, 14 May 2006 08:25:41 -0400 From: "Christopher R. Coolidge" <cauldron@together.net> Subject: Rock and Roll Retirees Message-ID: <a0611041cc08ccdd8c643@[4.157.5.195]> At 10:37 PM, Ryan Anthony wrote: >Unless ... does any Chalker feel strongly that the >Yardbirds are important enough that a casual fan >should avoid all Greatests, Best Ofs, and Essentials, >and instead begin collecting the group's real albums? >I'm coming, grudgingly, to the conclusion that Elton >John belongs in this super-elite group, although I >don't yet own anything but *Yellow Brick Road*. (What >should be acquired next: *Madman*? *Honky Chateau*?) Since I'm no spring chicken myself, I can relate to songs about husbands hairy backs and the ambivalent joys of middle age and domesticity. That's my life right now. As long as Colin sees fit to contribute his two or three songs per album(when there is one) I'll still be listening. As for Elton, he's been dependable lately, he'll always be able to make a living doing dodgy soundtrack work so that he can still afford to release recent albums like Songs From The West Coast and Peachtree Road that are very good, not quite the quality of Goodbye Yellow Brick Road, but quality songwriting from a comfortable guy in his late 50's. It's way better than his uneven coke-ravaged 80's stuff(which had some good material, but you're best picking those albums out in a bargain bin for a couple of dollars like I did), and better even than his 90's stuff, which was quite listenable and pleasant, but might as well have been Phil Collins trying a little harder. Elton's best songs lately have been his one song on Randy Newman's Faust and his contribution to the South Park Chef Aid album, take your pick. -- Chris Coolidge President, Vermont Spiritualist Association
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 15 May 2006 04:03:16 +0100 (BST)
From: Paul Culnane <paulculnane@yahoo.co.uk>
Subject: Senses working overtime
Message-ID: <20060515030317.54471.qmail@web86915.mail.ukl.yahoo.com>
Some rubbish from me, responding to latest CHALKHILLS DIGEST but
selectively. Here goes-
"Wayne Klein" <wtdk123@msn.com> wrote:
Subject: Having a Phipp over new XTC music
>From Danny Phipps (which who I've been meaning to ask...any relation
to the former Patricia Phipps?) you can reply off list if you'd like
i think i can safely speak for the rest of your (former?) band's
fandom when i say that the bottom line here, mr. partridge, is I'M
TIRED OF WAITING!!<
Couldn't agree more!
>>>Me too<<<
Ryan Anthony <hamsterranch@yahoo.com> wrote:
Subject: Some musicians should be forced to retire
>There comes the time when those musicians who do not
die young must be allowed to retire. Then there are
some who should be forced to. I borrowed *Clapton
Chronicles: The Best of Eric Clapton* from a friend in
order to add its contents to my iTunes library, and
while listening I came to the depressing conclusion
that if this erstwhile guitar god had clocked out
after *Slowhand*, around the time we lost John Lennon,
we wouldn't have missed much.
My next visit to Amazon.com (I'm not a shill, just a
satisfied customer) will be to buy, not Andy
Partridge's latest offering of songs he likes to play
on kazoo for his own amusement, but a good Yardbirds
compilation: part Eric, part Jeff, part Jimmy.
Unless ... does any Chalker feel strongly that the
Yardbirds are important enough that a casual fan
should avoid all Greatests, Best Ofs, and Essentials,
and instead begin collecting the group's real albums?
>>>Talk to me off-list. I, with the assistance of a friend, will be
able to furnish you Ryan with everything you need. For a start,
I think I just might be able to reinstate your regard for
Clappers. And how about a fantabulous album from "the new
Yardbirds"? That is, the nascent Led Zeppelin.
I'm coming, grudgingly, to the conclusion that Elton
John belongs in this super-elite group, although I
don't yet own anything but *Yellow Brick Road*. (What
should be acquired next: *Madman*? *Honky Chateau*?)
>>>Try "Captain Thingumyjig and the Brown Dirt Cowboy". Actually,
this is really cosmic, Elton's on my TV right now, at this very
instant. This freaks me out. He's talking with Ellen De
Generes, go figure. He's talking about his demons, and has
brought Rufus Wainright into the equation. Check the song he
wrote with Bernie Taupin: "Someone Saved My Life Tonight
(sugar-bear)". It will melt your tummy and nether regions.
LIVING COLOUR did a song on my TV this morning. Things don't get
any more psychedelic than this.<<<
I know I need help bringing my music library up to
date. I wish someone in this Hill would write *The
Music of the 21st Century for Dummies*.
>>>Ryan, be my dummy<<<
Jamie Lowe wrote:
>>>whatever Jamie writes, I love it, and the man who provides it<<<
>>>Get off Danny Phipps' case. He's entitled, as all of us, to
express his opinion, okay? Or I'll leap out of my 'puter screen
and penetrate your eyeballs with a big acid spangle, with
coloured kaliedoscopes.
Anyone else noted how great "Senses Working Overtime" sounds? I
mean, how GOOD is that song? The dynamics? Nirvana, soft & loud,
yeah but forget it. Here's the real deal.
Butterflies inside, kicking a footy in space
Sorry about bad spelling
Love from PAUL
"Honesty is the best policy, but while there is truth in humour there
is no humour in truth" - Chinese fortune cookie
Paul Culnane
ICE Productions Australia
------------------------------ Date: Mon, 15 May 2006 16:14:47 -0400 From: "Myers, Michael D" <mmyers@telcordia.com> Subject: A Partridge, some Yardbirds, and squawking Message-ID: <9C8CA610679BA74FBAEF300B18B9F3980704FD5F@rrc-dte-exs03.dte.telcordia.com> Chalksters and Chalkettes; I haven't contributed in ages. Glad others have found some things to discuss being that a new album from our heroes doesn't even seem to be a remote glimmer at this point. Remember our expectations in the late 90's when the boys escaped Virgin's grip? I for one thought that the creative juices would flow, but alas; the albums that resulted were based on material written years before. I wish there was new material to anticipate and salivate over, but maybe it's not to be. So I agreee with others, Danny Phipps, that they don't "owe" us anything. They have been in the music industry for almost 30 years; don't you think they know precisely what is going on with their fan base? They're not going to put out an album even if you beg them until they're ready, willing and able to produce something meaningful. It's their choice, so why get all worked up about it? Anyway....... Ryan asked about the Yardbirds. I was a fan of that band back in the day (yeah, I'm that old), and it's a tricky legacy. In some ways, the reality of the recordings is not what you might expect. They had a few hits, and there obviously was a whole lot of great guitar playing going on. The band did not feature strong writers, so many of their recordings were cover versions of blues standards. Their managers made them record some horrendous stuff for the foreign market. I have a couple fo bottlegs that contain stuff that only Keith Relf, their singer, participated on. Clapton's playing was a bit early in his evolution cycle, and while he played some great leads in the short time he was with them (I think it was about 18 months, having replaced original lead player Top Topham), you could find even better playing if you listened to what a lot of the Chicago blues players like Buddy Guy were putting down back then. Of course, regular radio never gave those guys any airtime until their white disciples brought the art form to the masses. For my money, Jeff Beck was the revolutionary player. His playing was very physical, nasty, growly and wild. He incorporated effects, feedback and volume about the same time that Hendrix made his presence known. He also had (and still does) quite an outsized ego, and his success drove the band to greater heights. Their style came to be known as "rave-up" because many of their songs would dramatically change tempo and they'd play furiously for a few bars and then get back to the original tempo. This was exciting stuff back in that more polite, pop world. Beck's need to be the top dog weakened his affinity with the band, but the addition of Jimmy Page made him behave for the 6 exciting months they were in the band together. After Beck left, they fulfilled contractual responsibilities and recorded some more and then Page jumped ship and founded that hard-rock monster - what's their name again? 8--) There has been some sporadic reunion work done with various members of the band, but it's been pretty low-key and more of the same. No strong group songwriting, and not terrific results. So to answer your question, what should you buy? If you look on eBay or half.com, I'm sure you'll find someone selling a box set called the Yardbirds Story for a modest sum. You can buy this for the same amount of money you'd have to pay for any 2 of their regular CD's, so it's a bit of a bargain in my view. Want to have a bit of fun with something I realized 30 years ago? Take a listen to the first Jeff Beck solo album and then play the first Led Zeppelin album immediately thereafter. Zep stole a huge page (pun intended) from Beck because they matched his first release insofar as where the hard rockers were, where the quieter songs were, where the heavy blues songs were located virtually step-by-step (I'm talking about the song sequence on the albums). OK, last point (but since I only write once a year, who's counting?). I heard that Andy is writing with Robyn Hitchcock, and there seems to be quite a degree of excitement around these 'Hills. I'm not sure it holds all the promise that some of you are hoping for. Have you gone back and listened to many of Hitchcock's albums? He is really all over the place. I like his stuff but I think he's going to drive Andy crazy. Remember, Andy is a song stylist who likes to write these absolutely polished gems. The melodies are concise but revolutionary. His words are honed as if his very life depended on their meaning; their very positioning in a sentence is crucial, and the theme of the song is developed so that if there are any double meanings, it is purposeful. Hitchcock is almost at the other end of the spectrum. He eccentricity seems to be a force that he cannot control. He plays chords only because he has to; his melodies wander all over the place, and he pays very little attention to meter. I have a hard time listening to anything he's ever done for more than 7-8 songs in a row because I find it to be an unsettling experience. I think I have everything he has released, going back to his days with the Soft Boys. I know that they both are "quirky" (to use a hated word in these parts), so I am anxious to see what they'll come up with, but they sure do have different writing styles. I think that Andy and Elvis Costello would be a more interesting pairing, but let's just wait and see. 'til next year, Mike
------------------------------ Date: Tue, 16 May 2006 21:12:41 -0500 From: Chris Vreeland <CVREELAND@austin.rr.com> Subject: Dukes of Simpleton in June Message-ID: <A050F696-0FE1-4375-8D86-5DBD627B3453@austin.rr.com> Hello "people," A couple of notes from Dukes of Simpleton-land-town-shire-berg-ville- um... city. We've gone and got us yet another gig. Please come see us at Threadgill's World Headquarters, in the lovely (and talented) Beer Garden on Saturday, June 17th at 8 pm. (Austin, Texas, USA) We'll be doing two sets this time, and have added quite a few new songs since our last gig. We've managed to play two shows without a single Chalkhillian in attendance so far -- let's change that. So you can see what you're missing, I've uploaded three songs from our first gig to the website at: http://dukesofsimpleton.com/Audio.html You can even hear me talk a bit at the beginning of Books... Recorded in stereo, direct to hard disk on my lovely MOTU traveller, Powerbook combo. Let me just take a moment to say how wonderful portable computing in general, and Logic Pro in particular, is. Think of all the tape hiss I could have avoided in my youth... Currently in heavy rotation in the Vreeland vehicle-- all things Jellyfish and related. The Man I Used To Be continues to rip my head off. Dennis the drummer turned me on to Jason Faulkner Presents Auther Unknown, and I've subsequently bought Can You Still Feel, and am delving heavily into that. A Liverpuldian friend has recently turned me on to Roger Joseph Manning's band Imperial Drag. What fun stuff that is! And yes, while not Jellyfish or XTC-related, if you think that The Devine Comedy's Fin De Siecle is one of the best albums of the last decade, you'd be right. Ahem. Back on yr. heads, Chris
------------------------------ End of Chalkhills Digest #12-22 *******************************
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