Chalkhills Digest Volume 2, Issue 106
Date: Thursday, 25 April 1996
Chalkhills Digest, Volume 2, Number 106
Thursday, 25 April 1996
Today's Topics:
Original Music
Bits And Bobs
D&W liner notes
Re: Chalkhills Digest #2-105
Dreams and Chocolate Fingers
Re: Eric Matthews
Ben Folds Five
Mucho musical misc'
Marketing vs Content & Other Stuff
Video Tree
More whining about sloppy cues
the Residents
FS: Martin Newell "TGLE" CD
Eric Matthews
O&L + Erik
Tribute tape(s) questions
The Vernon Yard Male Choir & more
Eric Matthews, Chocolate Fingers & Flip Flops
Eric Matthews
Moonshine Willy
need All Saints address, please
Mummer's cauldron
D&W vinyl liner notes
Jamie Block
Re: Chalkhills Digest #2-105
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---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Wed, 24 Apr 1996 00:12:16 -0700 Message-Id: <199604240712.AAA16654@seanet.com> From: Scott Kennedy <scottk@axcelis.com> Subject: Original Music Fellow chalkhillians, As a huge XTC fan and a musician wannabe, I wanted to know if others here write/record original music and would be interested in some demo-swapping and constructive criticism. It would help motic\vate me if I knew that my songs were being heard by someone other than my bonehead friends... -Scott
------------------------------ Date: Wed, 24 Apr 1996 09:19:41 +0100 Message-Id: <199604240819.AA04968@felix.dircon.co.uk> From: nonsuch@dircon.co.uk (Simon Sleightholm) Subject: Bits And Bobs John H. wrote >questionnaire of some sort that Andy apparently filled out sometime in the >mid-80's. That was extracted from a Virgin book from 1980 called "Rock Secrets", where various pop stars were given the same questionnaire to fill out. It's a pretty stultifying read - most either answer with very straight and dull facts, or (worse) try to be agonisingly witty. Guess who bought the bloody thing. (It was only a pound and our bookshop had dozens of them). Michael Wicks wrote > 1) What are 'chocolate fingers' and 'Flip Flops'? Chocolate fingers are an instrument of the devil. They are a slender biscuit (cookie?) about the same thickness and half the length of a really good fountain pen and they are coated in chocolate - they taste like angels dancing on your tongue and must be eaten in multiples of six. Flip flops are a tragic variant of the sandal that contrive to use even LESS material. There is a spongy sole and a flimsy strap - made out of a thin, flexible yet bizarrely sharp plastic - that covers only the toes. Between the strap and the sole there is a small pillar, positioned so that it can be gripped between your toes. To keep the "shoe" on you have to curl your toes around this and squeeze hard. When you walk or, God forfend, run in flip-flops, the unsuppported last 7/8ths of the sole flaps against the bottom of your foot. If you get your tread uneven then the sole curls up under your toes and acts like a spring, launching you off balance. They are worn in England on sunny days; i.e. almost never. Most of my childhood memories of summer days in Whitley Bay involve sprawling, bloodsoaked and screaming, on the pavement with one of my ankles turned a nifty 180 degrees. > 2) What's the signifigance (or the pun/joke) in referring to 'the >Vernon Yard male choir'? Virgin Records used to be/still are based at a building in Vernon Yard Thomas Long wrote >why is xTc as neglected as they are? I've often wondered about this myself. I could launch into a frothing frenzy here but I shall restrain myself. My barometer for all things "regular" - my mate Barry - finds XTC wholly unacceptable. They just irritate him beyond all rational thought. He's always said he hated XTC because of Andy's voice. So last weekend I took Testimonial Dinner (thanks Martin!) and played that. He was ashamed to admit that he preferred the XTC originals that he knew. Another possible convert? I doubt it. It's almost a matter of "training". A bit like those "magic eye" pictures - once you get the knack, a whole mew picture appears. XTC music, for me, is a bit like that. When I first played the new demos at home my wife thought it was just so much honking, twanging and thuds - but to me it was finely textured wonderment; I have the knack, she hasn't (yet). There is also the fact that a lot of people don't *listen* to music. Many people out there would consider every Chalkhillian to be a deeply sad individual - "Why get so hung up on it, it's only music?" - ONLY music? For a lot of folks, music is just something to dance to, something slow and sugary to smooch to, or something to thump the steering wheel to while driving. XTC don't really cover that market. Here's a prime example of the sort of "understanding" that there is out there. A local tin-pot radio station used to run a sort of "love story" item where people would send in their true love story and request a song that meant a lot to them. A young girl wrote in and told her story - quite a moving one about a man who had helped her through a troubled previous relationship and who was now her partner - and dedicated the Beautiful South's "A Little Time" to him. Um. Now anyone who has heard this knows it's about a couple on the verge of breaking-up, but she had chosen it to celebrate the start of her new relationship. Why? Probably because it had a nice pretty tune. She obviously hadn't listened to the lyrics. And there is a lot of this about - it's not ignorance, it's just that some people don't care that much about music. Bye, Simon. * --------------------------------------------------- http://www.users.dircon.co.uk/~nonsuch/bungalow.htm * --------------------------------------------------- It's just a little place, but it's all XTC...
------------------------------ From: Johnpaul.Nicholls__Mr@att.com Date: Wed, 24 Apr 1996 09:34:35 +0100 Message-Id: <199604240834.JAA18334@mlsmc.mlm.att.com> Subject: D&W liner notes > 1) What are 'chocolate fingers' and 'Flip Flops'? Chocolate fingers are yummy little biscuit fingers covered in chocolate, made by Cadbury's. You can get them in milk, plain or white chocolate these days, but when D&W came out, only milk chocolate. That's progress. As loved by generations of English grannies. Flip-flops are those loose sandal things you wear to the beach, with a spongy base and little lurid rubber strap that sits between your big toe and first toe. They last for one summer then evaporate in your room so you can't find them next year. > 2) What's the signifigance (or the pun/joke) in referring to 'the > Vernon Yard male choir'? Vernon's Yard is (or was?) the headquarters of Virgin Records, near the Portobello Road in London. Maybe Richard Branson's tonsil quaverings are in there somewhere... JP
------------------------------ Message-Id: <9604240859.AA23388@hpl.lut.ac.uk> From: C Browning <C.Browning-95@student.lboro.ac.uk> Subject: Re: Chalkhills Digest #2-105 Date: Wed, 24 Apr 96 9:59:45 BST First time I've written to this so be gentle with me. Come back from my holidays from uni and find that all hell seems to break loose in all mailing lists i have joined. hey i guess people just like winding each other up. anyway a few answers - someone asked about Eric Matthews - th Mark Radcliffe show on Radio one (knon to play Generals and Majors at least once every two months and other occasional XTC jaunts but well worth a listen anyway) plays the single Fanfare and from that and MOJO magazine i learn he was in a band called Cardinal - in the Mojo magazine review for Matthews album iTS HEAVY IN HERE Matthews songs are likened to McCartney, nick Drake(enough said!), Depeche Mode and XTC - i will buy teh album when i can afford it. Also Chocolate fingers and Flip Flops? flip flops are cheap tacky sandal things you get conned with when you go too the beach. Made of plastic and smell and look revolting. And chocolate fingers? You don't know? well its a biscuit in the shape of a finger (well its long and straight) and its covered in chocolate. About all i can tell you. One question in twomeys book chalkhills (sorry this is messy i've got a lecture in five mins) he mentions that when touring the US REM opened for XTC and covered some XTC songs in their set. I don't suppose anyone knows which ones? I can't imagine Stipey doing Andy"s vocals somehow. anyway Language and text lecture beckons oh yeah which album would you play someone to introduce them to XTC ? i reckon the cOMPACT XTC as its a more diverse introduction but i'd love to know what others think. anyway thanks for teh mail and stuff. i understand about a third of it, but the third i understand seems worth it. bye bye Chris browning
------------------------------ From: DAMIAN FOULGER <SPXDLF@cardiff.ac.uk> Date: Wed, 24 Apr 1996 10:10:56 GMT Subject: Dreams and Chocolate Fingers Message-ID: <4B15DB3244C@nrd2s.cf.ac.uk> All this talk of Videos made me have an XTC dream last night. I thought that I would share it with you. Please bare with me... I was at home in my kitchen (all perfectly normal) and then my friend called me into the lounge where XTC were on TV. The song was 'Lighthouse' I think and it was one of those 'live' vidoes. Andy was playing guitar and singing and looked like Andy. Colin and Dave didn't look like themselves at all and guess who was playing drums... Barry Andrews! Very strange. To answer Micheal's question: > 1) What are 'chocolate fingers' and 'Flip Flops'? You are both unlucky and lucky to not have experienced these. Chocolate Fingers are 7.5cm long 0.75cm diameter cylinders of biscuit (perhaps you might call this cookie) covered in Cadbury's chocolate. They come in milk, plain and dark chocolate varieties. Yum. They also come in a really nice collectable 'tin' box. If anyone in America wants to try them then go to one of those shops that sells stuff from foreign countries. They always have them. As to Flip- Flops; these are footwear. They are foot shaped plastic soles with an 'M' shape piece that is attached either side of you foot and between you big toe and the next one. This device is suppose to keep the Flip-Flop on your foot but is barely adequate. They cost stlg1.99 at most seasides and (this is the best bit) they are onamatopoeic e.g. as you walk along the Flip-Flop goes 'flip-flop-flip-flop' as the rear of it slaps against your heel. Oh what delights you for'ners miss!!! ;-) I hope that this has lightened everyone's lives! ;-) Dames TWD (Life is good in the greenhouse:XTC) "There ain't no devil, there's just God when he's drunk." - Tom Waits
------------------------------ Message-Id: <v01530501ada39fed96b5@[199.171.191.102]> Date: Wed, 24 Apr 1996 02:36:16 -0700 From: gondola@deltanet.com (E.B.) Subject: Re: Eric Matthews >Does anyone tune in to the nationally syndicated radio program called "The >Edge"? I was listening last night and they had this dude named Eric >Matthews (sp?). His music would seem to appeal to someone with XTC >sensibilities. I really liked it, anyway. His music "sounds like it could >have been recorded any time between 1972 and 1996" in the words of the >host. Anyone know more about him? > >Gene Eric Matthews is brilliant! Previously he was in a duo called Cardinal, who released one album on Flydaddy (sort of a Sub Pop subsidiary). Unfortunately I haven't heard this record, but it's definitely on my shopping list. Then last year, Matthews released It's Heavy In Here on Sub Pop, which knocked me out INSTANTLY and was one of my favorite discs of last year. If you like moody, orchestrated stuff like Brian Wilson, Nick Drake and "Odessey & Oracle"-era Zombies, I would say run, don't walk, and buy this album. And surprisingly enough, Matthews is even getting some mainstream attention -- his single "Fanfare" is actually receiving some well-deserved commercial-alternative radio play. So check him out! It's Heavy In Here is one of Sub Pop's all-time best releases. E.B. (and I'm not just saying this because I'm an Eric too....) PS He's from Oregon, in case you're wondering.
------------------------------ Message-Id: <01BB31B4.EEA3B100@JGO.adp.unc.edu> From: "Greg O'Rear" <jgo@bullhead.adp.unc.edu> Subject: Ben Folds Five Date: Wed, 24 Apr 1996 08:06:23 -0400 JoE Silva <silva@mond1.ccrc.uga.edu> wrote: > Just saw Ben Folds 5 over the weekend and can't imagine > that the hardcore XTC fanatic wouldn't find them pretty > damn enchanting. On Caroline Records (US). Have a listen.... I concur. Even though they're a Chapel Hill, NC, band, I never went to see them until we were both down in Austin, TX, for the South by Southwest convention. I was knocked out! Their album is good, but if you can see them live, go! Line-up is piano (Ben), bass (Robert), and drums (Jesse). Lots of fun and energy and a surprisingly full sound. In my pathetic attempt to describe them, I've hit on the formula: "If Joe Jackson sang like a southern Adrian Belew and wrote songs like Andy Partridge." -- Greg O'Rear Computing Consultant IV, Novell CNE ADP, Univ. of North Carolina E-mail: jgo@bullhead.adp.unc.edu 440 West Franklin Street Phone: (919) 962-0821; FAX: (919) 962-0900 Chapel Hill, NC 27599-1150 WWW: http://www.adp.unc.edu/~jgo/ [Attachment omitted, unknown MIME type or encoding (application/ms-tnef)]
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 24 Apr 1996 10:40:39 -0400
From: "Brian T. Marchese" <btmarche@student.umass.edu>
Subject: Mucho musical misc'
Message-id: <01I3X0Q4L1WM9ASLLH@bronte.oit.umass.edu>
Before I go onto related topics...
1) The Partridge bio info in "Demos 8" can be found, along with Colin's and
LOTS of other neat stuff on the Bungalo page.
2)Flip Flops=thongs=rubber footwear worn in warm weather, purchased for
$1.99 at your local discount store (or for $30.00 at a
sporting goods place.)
Chocolate Fingers= yummy cookies
Vernon Yard= orig. location of Virgin Records. Probably another dig at
Richard Branson (has anyone seen his new "Virgin Airlines" commercial?
The same man in the Generals+Majors video; the same man who confused "million"
with "billion" in a 60 Minutes interview?; the same man who attempted to lure
Devo to Virgin Records by getting them high on (I assume) Virgin Weed?
Strange.
Also, the man who, in "At The Manor" is sitting on the roof of the Manor,
looking like a crazed hippie, and proceeds to dump gallons of water all over
the unsuspecting XTC? (and then chucks the bucket down, too) If you
listen carefully, you can hear (I think Andy) yell, "You F*cker!"
When he's interviewed in "At the Manor" he makes absolutely NO SENSE!
And during the closing credits, is that Johnny Lydon hanging out at the
outdoor party?
Finally: 3 bands I think you all may enjoy:
1)Apples In Stereo--have stuff out on SpinArt records. A 4-piece from
Colorado, who sound like if Brian Wilson and Syd Barret were transcended into
the '90's and started a band. Their record "Fun Trick Noisemaker" has the same
production value as "25 0'Clock" EP. And in fact, when my band played w/ them,
their leader, Robert, compared my drumming to Terry Chambers--so they know
their XTC.
2) Papas Fritas--3-piece from Boston. Equal parts Beatles/Beach Boys/current
Indie/"geek" rock. They rule, and have a record out on Minty Fresh. These two
bands both have female drummers who occasionally sing very sweetly.
3) Eggstone--from Sweden. Sound like equal parts XTC and Pixies.
All 3 have web pages which can be easily found.
------------------------------ Date: Wed, 24 Apr 1996 10:52:40 -0400 Message-Id: <199604241452.KAA02740@freenet3.carleton.ca> From: am352@freenet.carleton.ca (Erich Walther) Subject: Marketing vs Content & Other Stuff Thomas Long was musing on why the lads don't seem to be popular with the 'mainstream' IMHO I think it has everything to do with marketing (or rather the lack of it). Bands don't necessarily have to tour to be popular; look at the success of Steely Dan in the 80's. Bands DO however need to be sold I'm sure we can all think of some pretty horrible bands that have gone on to mega-fame thanks to a shrewd p.r. campaign (NKOTB spring to mind) just as we can rattle off the names of many great artists that never 'made it' (Camper Van Beethoven?). If you don't have your mugs on a poster over the cash register or can't get your video onto MTV you're doomed to the remainder bin of history. We in Canada (hi Tom!) are lucky in that MuchMusic isn't afraid to play videos by obscure and non-sellling artists. Last weekend was dedicated to British pop and although I didn't see any XTC (I couldn't get the telly for 24 hours) I'm pretty sure they were aired as they covered just about everything from Hermans Hermits through the Damned to Oasis. I'm hoping for a re-broadcast. As for lyrical/music content turning people off I say nonsense. I may be naive, but I think that people don't mind being challenged by lyrics that go beyond moon-June-croon and a 4/4 beat. I've been on an XTC crusade lately compiling tapes for the unwashed that I know and haven't heard any negative feedback on content, rather on 'where can I get more?'. Besides, doesn't it give you a warm feeling as a Chalkhillian knowing something that the masses don't? A little superiority is good for the ego! Non XTC stuff... Another fine Canadian band is the Special Friendz from halifax. They write complicated pop songs with jangly guitars and tight harmonies that I think any Chalky would take a shine to. Finally (sorry for the length), I caught Cracker here last week and rrecommend them to all. The set was superb, even if the crowd mumbled through the quiet numbers (there's the general public for you). Their new CD is well worth the $$$. Erich in snowy Ottawa.
------------------------------ Date: Wed, 24 Apr 1996 09:19:49 -0600 Message-Id: <199604241519.JAA20854@river.city.saskatoon.sk.ca> From: Erik Anderson <Erik.Anderson@city.saskatoon.sk.ca> Subject: Video Tree Some people are wondering about their video tree tapes. DON'T WORRY. YOU'LL GET YOUR COPY! I seriously don't think a lot of people realize how much work had to go into this tape. I had well over 150 requests. Aside from that, I also have a real life...imagine that! <G> Anyway, be patient: I expect to have the last two batches of tapes out in the next two-three weeks. If you haven't received a tape by June 15, then get in touch as I will be done by then. EA
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 24 Apr 1996 10:53:14 -0500 (CDT)
Message-Id: <199604241553.KAA29358@sky.net>
From: Scott Taylor <staylor@sky.net>
Subject: More whining about sloppy cues
RE: Sloppy Cueing and Eric Matthews
>
>>(OBLIGATORY DISCLAIMER -- For those of you who don't get it, I'M KIDDING!!!!)
>
>Thanks for looking out for us literalists.
So often, comments that I *THOUGHT* were obviously tongue-in-cheek sarcasm
have been picked up and countered, in all seriousness, by others who missed
the intent. I guess my smirk doesn't come through when I type. I refuse to
"close caption" everything I say for the humor-impaired by way of those
damned smileys though!
>>I'm referring to the sloppy cueing that makes the last 10 milliseconds of
>>"Poor Skeleton Steps Out" play when I try to cue to the beginning of "Merely
>>a Man" (and other places, as well, such as "Hold Me My Daddy/Pink Thing").
>
>Unless you're kidding here too, I think the overlap is intentional, as it
>is with No Thugs in our House into Yacht Dance, Runaways into Ball and
>Chain, Towers of London into Paper and Iron, countless others etc etc etc.
>XTC has always liked running one song into another, and Skylarking is a
>step beyond that in concept.
I understand the segues that they're using -- that's not my complaint.
And, in fact, these instances aren't really overlaps in the sense that
"Dear God/Dying" overlaps for a few seconds. These songs are definitely
separate, just butted up together so incredibly closely that it's difficult
to play one without hearing part of the other. In that post I was
referring to the fact that whoever put the cueing information on that disc
was not really picky about how close he got to finding that ideal starting
point for the second track. Put on _O&L_ and try to cue to the beginning
of "Merely a Man" ... you'll see what I mean. Right before Andy sings
"Higher" there's just the tiniest bit of the guitar outro from the
preceding track ("Scarecrow People" ... not "Skeleton" as I said last
time).
I always wrote off this deficiency before, figuring that either a) it was
my equipment's fault (discounted by "Phil" (ee92pmh@brunel.ac.uk) in the
last Chalkhills) or b) it was just not possible to be that precise when the
CDs were mastered, given the state of the art -- since proven wrong by the
Mobile Fidelity pressing of _Skylarking_. For Pete's sake, it's digital
technology! If my computer couldn't seek a particular byte of data on my
hard drive without picking up the preceding byte by mistake, I think I'd be
pretty upset. They ought to be able to tell the CD player where to start
playing a track down to the very millisecond where the track truly starts.
The _Skylarking_ disc was mentioned as a "step beyond" in the practice of
overlapping songs, yet the MoFi pressing has much tighter cueing than the
Geffen (at least U.S. pressing, it seems) and these segues are therefore no
problem. When I tried to put "Grass" on tape for a friend (to remind her
of things we did that way) from the Geffen disc, I had to settle for the
last quarter-second of "Summer's Cauldron" (Andy missing that high note on
the last syllable of "cauldron") plus "Grass". It really doesn't sound all
that professional, but you'd never notice it, of course, unless you try to
play just one track at a time. (Hey, do you think that maybe this is
something else we can blame on Todd Rundgren, along with the sloppy
keyboards, horrible compression, and poor stereo separation -- none of
which bothered me until I read about them from Twomey and the rest of you
guys -- on that album? Somebody go ask Andy.)
Unsolicited advice to all aspiring musicians: If you're going to put these
Yes/Jethro Tull/King Crimson-wannabe musical suites on your CDs, hire some
competent post-production people who can ensure that the rest of us can cue
to the stuff we actually want to hear.
No, I'm not kidding.
ST
staylor@sky.net
+-----------------------------+
| Scott M. Taylor |
| staylor@sky.net |
| http://www.sky.net/~staylor |
+-----------------------------+
------------------------------ From: Greg Kuchmek <greg@stim.com> Subject: the Residents Date: Wed, 24 Apr 1996 15:54:57 +0000 Message-Id: 15545798402839@nyc.prodigy.com Does anyone know to what extent Andy has worked with the Residents? He's on the Commercial Album, but is he on any others - or are they on any of his? thanks! greg
------------------------------ From: Ryan Patrick Bassler <bassler@students.uiuc.edu> Message-Id: <199604241616.LAA174088@ux7.cso.uiuc.edu> Subject: FS: Martin Newell "TGLE" CD Date: Wed, 24 Apr 1996 11:16:30 -0500 (CDT) Howdy. Wow, I've subscribed to this list for over 2 years, and my first posting. For shame on me. Anyway, I've purged my CD collection again, and thought I would find an interested party here for the following: Martin Newell - "The Greatest Living Englishman" $5 + $1 s/h Also, sort of off-topic, but I know there's a handful of Prefab Sprout fans on here. I run the Prefab Sprout e-mail newsletter....if you're interested, drop me an e-mail. Sorry to be fairly off-topic, but if you'd like, I could start yet another lame Colin thumbs up/thumbs down poll that always seems to crop up. Cheers. Ryan Bassler --------> bassler@students.uiuc.edu The LORENZO MUSIC HOME PAGE is RISEN!!!! Wake Grandpa!!!! ********** http://www.prairienet.org/~bassler **********
------------------------------ Message-Id: <199604241730.KAA03684@sgi.sgi.com> From: vancha@microcity.com Date: 24 Apr 1996 11:30:04 CST Subject: Eric Matthews Someone wrote into Chalkhills and was asking about Eric Matthews. I thought I'd tell what I knew. Eric Matthews is on the Sub Pop label, I believe and is doing almost scored art pop music. Some of the people at Sub Pop believe it is one of the best things the label ever released. I think he has Australian or New Zealand roots and he is influenced by Brian Wilson, Nick Drake, Colin Bundstone, Scott Walker among others. I believe in the past, Eric used to be in some well known bands down under but I can' t remember what they were. I hope this is of some help. If you want any more details, contact Sub Pop in Seattle , Washington: Sub Pop 1932 !st Ave. #1103 Seattle, Washington 98101 MV
------------------------------ From: Ben Gott <BENG@hotchkiss.pvt.k12.ct.us> Subject: O&L + Erik Date: Wed, 24 Apr 96 13:30:00 edt Message-ID: <317E6617@pentium3.hotchkiss.pvt.k12.ct.us> Comment about the cueing on O&L: I always thought that it was cool that "Hold Me My Daddy," "Pink Thing" and "Miniature Sun" are each one second longer than the song before (I can't remember the exact times, but it's something like 3:26, 3:27, 3:28...) Maybe that's why Thacker did it like that. Being a person who makes a lot of XTC mixes for friends, I notice that a lot of their songs run in to each other. This is kinda annoying, but one gets used to it, I guess. Erik Anderson e-mailed me and said that his VCR broke, but he should have my tape by the end of the month. I wouldn't worry too much. Ben XTC SONG OF THE DAY: Humble Daisy
------------------------------ Date: Wed, 24 Apr 1996 11:15:18 -0700 (PDT) From: Randy Posynick <posynick@netcom.com> Subject: Tribute tape(s) questions Message-ID: <Pine.3.89.9604241044.A27760-0100000@netcom21> OK - we've decided that the tribute tape is going to be called CHALKHILLS' CHILDREN and Richard Allen has been so kind as to volunteer to put the thing together. This I understand. So who is Bizarre Depiction? The Chalkhills archives has a little advert for "Skylacking", their soon-to-be-released tribute tape.... Are there two Chalkhills-endorsed tribute tape projects going on simultaneously? (I've been out of the loop for a bit - sorry if this is old news, i.e. something I should *know*....) BTW, Richard - how's it coming? Have you received any submissions yet? Some of us who are down for a song (but have yet to tape anything) are curious how the others are doing.... Randy Posynick | God gave men a penis and a brain, but posynick@netcom.com | only enough blood to run one at a time.
------------------------------ Message-ID: <317E7C13.72DE@knoware.nl> Date: Wed, 24 Apr 1996 12:08:03 -0700 From: Mark Mello <mmello@knoware.nl> Subject: The Vernon Yard Male Choir & more In Chalkhills Digest 2-105 Michael Wicks asked > What's the significance (or the pun/joke) in referring to 'the > Vernon Yard male choir'? Virgin Records' UK headquarters used to be at Vernon Yard, Portobello Road in London. Perhaps some company _big shots_ sang the backing vocals on Roads Girdle The Globe? And Thomas Long asked why XTC never made it big... My guess is that they are perceived(!) to be impossible to market by their record label(s). They have no real image and always seem to be slightly out of sync with what is considered _trendy_ So the records are released with a minimum of fuss, no promotional budget to speak of and hey surprise! another XTC album fails to chart... And of course they are way too clever! :) And finally, when Colin asked Ozzie Larry Danielson if he thought they would "make it" in Australia. Larry replied: "Jesus Christ was the son of God. And He was nailed to two bits of woods. So what chance have YOU got of being liked by everyone?" I think Larry has a point there... BTW: I received my free copy of Yazbek's The Laughing Man this week, courtesy of the Chalkhills/W.A.R trivia contest. It's an excellent album that would appeal to most XTC fans even if A.P. didn't play on two of the tracks. Check it out if you can. bye, Mark -- Hail mother motor, hail piston rotor, hail wheel! <XTC>
------------------------------ Message-ID: <317EF66B.4404@sparky.dnet.co.uk> Date: Wed, 24 Apr 1996 20:50:03 -0700 From: garyt@sparky.dnet.co.uk (Gary Thompson) Subject: Eric Matthews, Chocolate Fingers & Flip Flops Gene Yoon said: <I was listening last night and they had this dude named Eric Matthews (sp?). His music would seem to appeal to someone with XTC sensibilities. I really liked it, anyway. His music "sounds like it could have been recorded any time between 1972 and 1996" in the words of the host. Anyone know more about him?> Eric has an album called 'It's Heavy in Here' out on Sub Pop Records. For anyone who enjoys music with tunes, it's ideal. He also was in a band called Cardinal, whose album is also well worth a listen. Michael Wicks asked: <1) What are 'chocolate fingers' and 'Flip Flops'?> Chocolate Fingers are, as the name suggests, small fingers of biscuit covered in Cadbury's Chocolate, and are totally addictive. Flip Flops are the sort of footwear British people wear on the beach, at the pool etc. and consist of a rubber sole with a thong at the front through which your toes poke, so that as you walk, the heel slaps the bottom of your foot, hence the name. Hope this helps Gary Thompson, Belfast
------------------------------
Message-Id: <199604242332.QAA28813@dewey.csun.edu>
Date: Wed, 24 Apr 1996 16:33:38 -0700
From: hbmus047@dewey.csun.edu (Ian Dahlberg)
Subject: Eric Matthews
>Does anyone tune in to the nationally syndicated radio program called "The
>Edge"? I was listening last night and they had this dude named Eric
>Matthews (sp?). His music would seem to appeal to someone with XTC
>sensibilities. I really liked it, anyway. His music "sounds like it could
>have been recorded any time between 1972 and 1996" in the words of the
>host. Anyone know more about him?
I first saw Eric's video for "Fanfare" on MTV's 120 minutes and it
really caught my ear. That track has also gotten some airplay on KSCA down
here in LA. I went to listen to his CD at Blockbuster and found, just sort
of skimming through the tracks, that "Fanfare" may be the only strong
contender. It also may be one of those CDs that would take a while to grow
on someone. Eric apparently does his own trumpet playing as well as
guitars and vocals. There are some intimate strings and woodwinds on there
as well. The album is called "It's Heavy In Here."
By the by, I thought I'd mention a non-XTC pick that XTC fans might
like. It's in the jazz catagory, the CD is Jaco Pastorious's "Word Of
Mouth." If you are into luscious large dense textured ensemble harmonies,
then this I recommend. The personnel list is basically a who's-who in jazz
with Jaco (fretless bass) at the helm. It's worth picking up just for the
spine-tingling arrangement of McCartney's "Blackbird".
Ian
------------------------------ From: ZITTEL@aol.com Date: Wed, 24 Apr 1996 19:50:00 -0400 Message-ID: <960424195000_521306343@emout17.mail.aol.com> Subject: Moonshine Willy I just got my order for the Moonshine Willy 7" single that has a cover version of XTC's Complicated Game on it. I must say this is one of the most bizarre XTC cover versions I have heard. It sounds like something you would hear at a square dance! The record company calls it a "thundering bluegrass stampede", which I would say is an accurate description. It contains fiddle, mandolin, buckhouse bass, and some yodeling vocals. The single is available through Bloodshot Records (bludshot@mcs.com).
------------------------------ Date: Wed, 24 Apr 1996 17:17:03 -0700 (PDT) From: A Sattler <ahs@nevada.edu> Subject: need All Saints address, please Message-ID: <Pine.OSF.3.91.960424170425.15017B-100000@pioneer.nevada.edu> Hullo all, is there a kind soul in England (or elsewhere) who can look up and provide a telephone number / snailmail address please? I'd like to contact All Saints Records, the label that released Andy & Harold Budd's "Through the Hill." (While we're patting ourselves on our backs for being such a diverse lot --and we are-- anyone else who's got Captain Kangaroo sitting next to Captain Sensible, or XTC next to "Weird Al" Yankovic on their record shelves, drop me a line :) cheers, and thanks for your help! Annie S.
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 24 Apr 1996 17:35:23 -0700
Message-Id: <199604250035.RAA20920@InterGate.sonyinteractive.com>
From: Bob Estus <bestus@sonyinteractive.com>
Subject: Mummer's cauldron
Misc. Mummer:
Cast away on a desert island? I would pick "Mummer",for my album.
One of my favorite Colin tunes is "Wonderland".
Misheard Mummer lyric,"funk pop a roll, for bitchen souls"
I thought it was another snub at the disco going hipsters.
What are "fish in shoals"? This is a foreign phrase to me.
Listening to Andy's "Toys" I can't help this would have made a nice track in
the animated feature "Toy Story"(after all Andy's toys were the subject of
the movie, including little army men), but that was another Randy Newman
gig.
"Me and the Wind" contains at least two verses with ideas that would be
repurposed in other albums:
1. "All I could really think of was what a lovely way
for me for me to go. I never really realized that
just like the struggling summer flies that I was
drowning...",
As in Skylarking's "Summer's Cauldron"
2. "Have I been such a fool? Have I been sitting on your
stool while you cracked the whip?"
As in Nonesuch's "Madam Barnum"
Also "The strings of your instrument were strangling me"
An image from the hell panel of Bosches "Garden of Earthly Delights"
But this one is sort of reaching.
Can any body think of other phases or ideas that appear in early xtc
work that have been fleshed out in later albums?("oranges & lemons",from
Skylarking, for instance)
-Bob
------------------------------ Message-Id: <v01530507ada4d141d239@[139.80.100.142]> Date: Thu, 25 Apr 1996 13:51:20 +0700 From: james.dignan@stonebow.otago.ac.nz (James Dignan) Subject: D&W vinyl liner notes Paul <PCulnane@dca.gov.au> wrote: >Way back in issue #98, Michael Wicks [mwicks@gol.com] kindly provided us >with his impressions of "Drums And Wires"; and most entertaining it was >too. I noticed a tiny detail which started to set my heart >pulsing-pulsing... >Michael mentions the liner notes, including the Jethro Tull and George >Chambers references. Is the brass section on "That Is The Way" also >credited to something like "Herb Alpert & the Marijuana Brass"? >I think what we have here is that the Japan issue of D&W seems to include >some or all of the foldout insert that was included with original UK >Virgin D&W vinyl issues. This insert had a large colour photo of the band >in Townhouse studios - Andy lying on the floor, facing us, with the others >grouped standing behind him. It also had lyrics to every song XTC song >released to this point, including the D&W songs, even "Chain of Command" & >"Limelight" (freebie single of the time). Finally, of course, there were >the usual credits, production & recording details about D&W. as an aide memoire (or something like that) here's what that vinyl insert said: "The album was rehearsed against all odds (you know the sort of thing, no lavatory, complaining Chinese waiters from next door) in the cellar of our managers (sic) ex-club and in a collapsing barn just outside of town. "It was recorded at theTownhouse studios against all odds (blocked lavatories, complaining Ian Andersonss from next door). "The man who entered a competition on the back of a chocolate fingers packet and assumed he'd win a holiday in Greece was the victim of a very cruel joke. The actual prize being the job of producer for a fortnight. Yes Mister Steve (space invader) Lillywhite. "They said in the rules that the winner would be able to bring along a friend. The poor lad with flip flops and bronzing gel was non (sic) other than engineer in chief, Hugh (no ears, great holes though) Padgham. "Dressed very poorly as an airline stewardess, a hotel manager and deck chair attendant to complete the picture were tape operators and tea stirrers, Georgie Chambers and his dog "Lonely", Steve Prestage and Nick Cook. "Thanks to Dick Cuthell for being 'Herb Helpless and his Mariahuana Brass' and for the Vernon Yard Male Voice Choir on 'Roads Girdle the Globe'. Smacks of appreciation to Steve (anything you can do, I can do louder) Warren." 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: Thu, 25 Apr 1996 11:43:56 -0400 (EDT) Message-Id: <v02130500ada512c94bc0@[204.141.49.12]> From: gramercy@angel.net (Richard Luckett) Subject: Jamie Block "The fact that Jamie Block isn't signed to a major record deal is one of the Great Mysteries of the American Music Business' - Andy Partridge 1995 Who IS Jamie Block and why is Andy saying all these lovely things about him? Jamie is a singer-songwriter from the East Village of NYC. Andy's girlfriend gave him a tape last year, and all of a sudden Jamie was getting a lot of phone calls from Swindon.....! Chalkhills subscribers can point their browsers to: http://www.gramercy.net/block and find out what all the fuss is about. Jamie's site has RealAudio files of his first two singles from the forthcoming Enhanced CD, QT Virtual Reality files, and most importantly, a show schedule for those in the NYC area. Check out this extremely talented young man before everyone else does. Tell 'em Andy sent ya.
------------------------------ Message-Id: <9604251604.AA15849@hpl.lut.ac.uk> From: C Browning <C.Browning-95@student.lboro.ac.uk> Subject: Re: Chalkhills Digest #2-105 Date: Thu, 25 Apr 96 17:04:48 BST further to my last e.mail about teh mark radcliffe show and how they sometimes play xtc, well last night teh yplayed senses working overtime, radcliffe saying how fantastic a pop song it was, teh boy lard made his usual comedy farty noise and said how great a drummer terry chambers was - or was it radcliffe i was trying to find some blank tape space for the rets of teh high llamas session that night - and duglas stewart of teh bmx bandits gave some cryptic comment about how he wasn't a fan of their songs but he liked teh idea of andy partridge's board game. i for one have no idea what he was on about and maybe i misheard him or maybe cos scrawn and lard were taking teh mick out of him so much he got it wrong but i'd love to know if anyone has any idea about what this board game referred to. keep up teh controversy and stuff juicy reading chris
------------------------------ End of Chalkhills Digest #2-106 *******************************
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