Chalkhills Digest Volume 2, Issue 12
Date: Monday, 16 October 1995
Chalkhills Digest, Volume 2, Number 12
Monday, 16 October 1995
Today's Topics:
New Broom
11 Different Animals from Norway
Blue Beret
Old Rembrandts
Re: Chalkhills Digest #2-11
Geffen Deletions
Shriekback discography
Sound-alike bands
Martin Newell
Town and Country
XTC-Carmen Sandiego connection.
Re: Chalkhills Digest #2-11
She's Having a Baby Soundtrack
(none)
Re: Chalkhills Digest #2-10
An extremely satisfying "Dinner"(urp!)
Rembrandts ReBuFF...
Re: Chalkhills Digest #2-10
11 Different Animals: D. Gregory's note
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See a squirrel In homage making rhythms.
---------------------------------------------------------------------- From: Algae99@aol.com Date: Mon, 2 Oct 1995 18:12:37 -0400 Subject: New Broom I always thought that "New Broom" was "Making Plans for Nigel". Not sure, of course. Someone mentioned if there was any available sheet music for XTC. On the Web, AOL has a site for guitar transcriptions and chords for a few songs. The address is: ftp://mirrors.aol.com/pub/guitar/x/xtc/ If that does not work, drop the x/xtc/ and maybe you will get the whole list, which is quite expansive. In closing, does anyone have any Robyn Hitchcock or Soft Boys of a rare nature I am trying to trade to upgrade, and Robyn is the most eccentric human in the world. All buy Robyn! James [ All transcriptions in that directory are available from the Chalkhills Archives. -- John ]
------------------------------
Date: Sat, 14 Oct 1995 02:09:08 -0400
From: flat5 <flat5@nervm.nerdc.ufl.edu>
Subject: 11 Different Animals from Norway
Many months ago, via Chalkhills, I ordered a photocopy of 11DA from
some Chalkhillian in Norway--even sent him eight dollars worth
of international stamps to cover the mailing costs, and never heard
a word from him. The comedy of course is my hard drive crashed
soon thereafter and Iost his name and address, but it was something
like 'foa95@nor.' or something.
Anyway, if Mr. Norway is still
subscribed, I'm still here, and watching the mailbox every day...
if not, I'd love for dahaa@primenet.com to find some way to place
11 DA at our disposal--hell, I'd throw in some international stamps
if that would help.
And TAFKAP is a god!
Thanks.
flat5@nervm.nerdc.ufl.edu
------------------------------ From: BugRoom@aol.com Date: Sat, 14 Oct 1995 02:46:58 -0400 Subject: Blue Beret The lovely David Yazbek mentioned another song submitted by The Verve Pipe for _Testimonial Dinner_, "The Blue Beret". I'm listening to their rendition right now!! When my band "Bacchus Jihad" went to a local radio station for a radio interview, we requested some other local music to be played... including "The Verve Pipe". They had some sort of compilation CD of different recordings, and VP's rendition of "The Blue Beret" was one of them! At the time (and announced by the DJ himself) I thought it was a 'sneak preview' from their upcoming RCA CD. Perhaps it is gonna be on it, actually... I don't know. Also, the DJ announced it as "Blue Bert" (...!!). I, being completely BLOWN AWAY from the song, immediately e-mailed Verve Pipe (address gotten from earlier Chalkhills) praising them on their songwriting. I had no idea it was an AP/XTC song. (Praise still going out to The Verve Pipe... THIS SOUNDS SO GREAT!!). Anyway, after our interview, which was taped onto a cassette, I later put the entire thing from cassette onto DAT... and shortly fell in love with what I presumed was "Blue Bert". I'm wondering... (question:)... where did "The Blue Beret" come from Is it an Andy demo Is it a B-side I would love to hear the original rendition... and believe me... ALL OF YOU would love to hear Verve Pipe's rendition. BIG TIME. By the way... I'm from Grand Rapids, Michigan... and The Verve Pipe are from Michigan. I haven't had the chance to see them live, but I will do whatever I can to... the next time they're round here. Lovin' Chalkhills, John Neil ps - Still need more music for SKYLACKING!! C'mon, folks with guitars................
------------------------------ From: GusMach@aol.com Date: Sat, 14 Oct 1995 09:40:08 -0400 Subject: Old Rembrandts In a message dated 95-10-13 21:18:14 EDT, someone wrote: >The Rembrandts Recommended Well, very good, but their previous album, "Untitled" (available in many discount bins across this land) is much, much better than the sluggish and complacent "L.P." Many of the "good" musical influences can be spotted, and overall it's innocuous and harmless pop that stays in your mind for, let's say, 20 minutes. Not bad if you find a copy for $5. --Gustavo
------------------------------ From: StrawB@bitstream.mpls.mn.us Subject: Re: Chalkhills Digest #2-11 Date: 14 Oct 1995 18:57:20 GMT Organization: Bitstream Underground Okay, I know what you're thinking. Yes, these are the guys that play the Monkees-inspired theme song to NBC's FRIENDS, but the album is really pretty good. The XTC connection is that they are joined on drums by Pat Mastelotto, who played on Oranges and Lemons. Also, they perform "Making Plans For Nigel" on Testimonial Dinner. Besides, The Monkees were one of Andy's biggest influences!!! Check it out! hi, my name is john strawberry fields and i was the recording engineer/musician for the rembrandts new album, LP. the current single is called "this house is not a home" and sits at #16 with a bullet on the hot 100 chart. mastelotto only plays on half of the album, the other drummer is jon neifeld from minneapolis. the rembrandts are huge xtc fans (as am I). -StrawB
------------------------------ Date: Sat, 14 Oct 1995 15:12:24 -0400 (EDT) From: Ken Norton <aa105645@dasher.csd.sc.edu> Subject: Geffen Deletions In reference to the deletion of XTC CDs by Geffen, it's, I'm afraid, at least partially true. I am senior buyer for a chain of hip record stores in S. Carolina (yes, that's possible). In Uni Distributions most recent deletion list (Uni distributes Geffen here in the U.S.), these titles are listed as no longer available: Nonesuch Oranges and Lemons Rag & Bone Buffet The Big Express My guess is, that, because Geffen will not have the next XTC CD, they have discontinued the slowest selling pieces in the catalog. Many times artists who leave a label have their marginal titles dropped. It is also quite possible that Geffen no longer has rights to press additional copies (i.e. some other label may have bought those rights) and these are the titles that they have run out of first. This was the case when Ryko reissued the Costello catalog and Sony/Columbia still had a few of the old versions that they were allowed to sell off. I tend to agree with those who feel that, regardless, these CDs will resurface, but God knows when. Hopefully, this info will be helpful. P.S. I'd recommend the new P.Hux CD, "Deluxe" on Black Olive Records. Somewhere between Martin Newell and Matthew Sweet, with nice crisp production, no sweetener. Your buddy, Ken Norton
------------------------------ From: 7IHd <ee92pmh@brunel.ac.uk> Subject: Shriekback discography Date: Sat, 14 Oct 1995 20:20:59 +0100 (BST) Well, at long last I've finished hacking about with the Shriekback discography, it's now readable (!) and has a snazzy background too, check out http://http2.brunel.ac.uk:8080/~ee92pmh/shrkindx.html I'll add in the lyric pages in due course, but I thought it wasn't worth hanging about getting the discography pages launched properly. As well as Shriekback there are pages for just about every other band that Barry Andrews, Dave Allen and Carl Marsh have been in (XTC excepted, for obvious reasons). There are a few gaps (particularly under Gang Of Four) and probably the occasional mistake, so if you can clear anything up or add any info, even if it's just an alternate catalogue number for something, please send me an email and I'll sort it out. Also if you just feel the need to email me and ask me something or comment on something, go right ahead. Enjoy! _ |_)|_ *| | | )|| http://http2.brunel.ac.uk:8080/~ee92pmh/ ========
------------------------------ From: steve@expersoft.com (Steve-O Lutz) Subject: Sound-alike bands Date: Sat, 14 Oct 1995 13:55:20 -0700 (PDT) While the thread seems to be gravitating around XTC sound-alikes, I thought I'd pop in (with my first message, no less... hi ev'ybody) and mention the recent first album release by a band called Fossil. (The album's called "Fossil" -- imagine that...) These guys are trying to emulate every aspect of those swots from Swindon, right down to the liner pictures of the band, standing about all grubby next to heavy machinery. Derivative (some would say plagiaristic) as it is, I think it's a great album and should definitely be checked out. While it doesn't have the depth of a full-blown XTC album, there are some truly lovely tracks included, and (BONUS!) I think I was the only person in the county to buy it. See, they ARE just like XTC. -- Steve-O "Signature quotes are dumb."
------------------------------ From: ZITTEL@aol.com Date: Sat, 14 Oct 1995 20:42:25 -0400 Subject: Martin Newell I just heard a monitor mix (it has not been mastered yet) of the new Martin Newell album called The Off-White Album. Dave Gregory plays guitar on the album, but I do not have details as to what tracks he's on. The track listing is: Martin Newell The Off-White Album Michael Moonlight Dandy Leigh Arcadian Boys Blue Beret (not the XTC song!) Ursula in the Waiting Room When the Damsons are Down Lions Drunk on Sunlight Miss Van Houten's Coffee Shoppe She Was Never Drowning Some Girls Are Bigger Than Others (The Smiths) Queen Phyllis of Colcester Goodnight Country Girl The Girl in the Flat Upstairs When I hear of a release date I will post the details. There seems to be very little drumming on the album and he seems to be going for a more simple sound.
------------------------------ Date: Sun, 15 Oct 1995 11:09:23 -0400 (EDT) From: terry kroetsch f <tkroetsc@mach1.wlu.ca> Subject: Town and Country Just uncovered my vinyl 45 of Town & Country: Me and My Mate Can Sing - Bring on the Alligators b/w Mousetrap -Sargasso Bar by Barry Andrews. This 45 is from 1979 (Virgin VS 260) with special to Colin M for his mighty (short scale) mustage and for keeping me 'ead straight. What could this mean Was there an entire album
------------------------------ Date: Sun, 15 Oct 1995 11:19:54 -0700 (PDT) From: Laura Parent <laura@geosun1.sjsu.edu> Subject: XTC-Carmen Sandiego connection. I'm sorry if this has been asked before. I'm a new subscriber, and this has been bugging me for a while. What is XTC doing on the Carmen Sandiego CD What is the connection Laura Parent laura@geosun1.sjsu.edu
------------------------------ From: HShea@aol.com Date: Sun, 15 Oct 1995 15:29:26 -0400 Subject: Re: Chalkhills Digest #2-11 LaShawn, i did the same thing.. I rented that stupid movie hoping to hear that song, but i heard "happy families" NO WHERE.. i am positive it isn't in there. I hate that. So...... when does Testimonial Dinner come out Holly
------------------------------ Date: 15 Oct 95 15:32:45 EDT From: Tim Pacheco <74512.3073@compuserve.com> Subject: She's Having a Baby Soundtrack La Shawn Taylor wrote: >While I'm writing this, I've got a question to ask: the Swindon boys got a >song in the soundtrack "She's Having a Baby." SO WHERE DOES IT SHOW UP >I've only seen the edited version of the movie on both ABC and Comedy >Central. I watched the movie all the way through, and "Happy Families" >never shows up until it gets credited at the end. In what scene does the >song get played Someone please tell me. I don't want to rent the full >version of this movie and force myself to sit through it again. I don't >think I can take another scene with Kevin Bacon lugging some confused baby >from one hallway to another. I just rented the video. The song appears during the kitchen scene soon after the couple in the story are married. It's playing on the radio. It seems an edited version was used without any lyrics. You have to listen very, very closely.From what I understand Andy was pretty miffed at this and pretty much gave up on soundtrack work. Don't blame him! "Happy Families" is a great song and could have been better used in the movie. Bye, Tim Pacheco, Calif.
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 16 Oct 1995 07:58:16 -0500 (CDT)
From: kimw@rice.edu (Kim E. Williams)
>While I'm writing this, I've got a question to ask: the Swindon boys got a
>song in the soundtrack "She's Having a Baby." SO WHERE DOES IT SHOW UP
>I've only seen the edited version of the movie on both ABC and Comedy
>Central. I watched the movie all the way through, and "Happy Families"
>never shows up until it gets credited at the end. In what scene does the
>song get played Someone please tell me. I don't want to rent the full
>version of this movie and force myself to sit through it again. I don't
>think I can take another scene with Kevin Bacon lugging some confused baby
>from one hallway to another.
>
>LaShawn Taylor
According to Chalkhills and Children by Chris Twomey, Tarquin Gotch
asked XTC to contribute a song for "She's Having a Baby", so Andy dusted off
a song originally submitted for the Mummer album called Happy Families.
Less than 30 seconds of it is featured in the final edit. Hope that helps.
Kim
LEWIS CARROLL - ALICE IN WONDERLAND - Never imagine yourself not to be
otherwise than what it might appear to others that what you were or might
have been was not otherwise than what you had been would have appeared to
them to be otherwise.
------------------------------ From: David Yazbek <yazbek@pipeline.com> Date: Mon, 16 Oct 1995 12:16:47 -0400 Subject: Re: Chalkhills Digest #2-10 Hello, David Yazbek here. I'm going to start gigging in New York and environs in the near future in support of "The Laughing Man". If anyone's interested in being on my mailing list, please e-mail me. I'll need all the support I can get. Also-- "Testimonial Dinner" was the #3 most added record last week in the AAA (Adult Alternative AOR) radio format last week. I think that's good. The record should be on sale today (Oct. 17).
------------------------------ Date: Mon, 16 Oct 1995 10:20:32 -0600 From: vanvalnc@is2.nyu.edu (Chris Van Valen) Subject: An extremely satisfying "Dinner"(urp!) Hi, Chalksticks!! With the withered fruits of my toil(payday) grasped firmly in hand, I spent my lunch hour on Friday the 13th in the East Village searching from shop to shop looking for a copy of "Drums and Wireless"(fruitlessly). However, at my second to last stop, I walked in on the opening phrases of Freedy Johnston's "Earn Enough For Us". After an aural mini-orgasm, I figured on going to my final destination and doubling back to this shop to buy "Testimonial Dinner". At my last stop, they had no copies of "Wireless", but were unloading at that minute a handful of promo copies of "TD" (only ten bucks!!). Snapping one up before it could even touch the counter, I went back to work happy, yet eager to "dine", as it were. I listened over two sitting (I had to squeeze in "The X-Files" in between) so I listened to tracks 1-6 and then 7-11 after the show. I was impressed that this album has not one weak track, which is a true oddity these days. My favorites at this point are Verve Pipe's "Wake Up", P.Hux's "Satellite", and Ruben Blades' "The Man...". But all of the artists (as well as David) should be applauded. Now on to the issue of "Terry". C'mon already, let's get real. It's THEM isn't it I mean, I've listened to the track about a dozen times this weekend searching for some microscopic flaw, and came up empty. I'm sure some science-type guy could do a voice pattern analysis, (but is it really worth it) I'll always believe it's them, anyway. But enough ranting from me. Back to you, John. Cheers, Chris Van Valen
------------------------------ From: silva@pc110.ccrc.uga.edu Date: Mon, 16 Oct 95 10:39:08 Subject: Rembrandts ReBuFF... I beg to differ w/ Mr. Hocking's opinion. :-> No doubt that these guys have their PoP hearts in the right place, but I think overall their efforts (at least on the new LP) are pretty limp. They don't really approximate a tenth of the brilliance of xTc.... --------------------- JoE Silva Senior Contributor Consumable Online
------------------------------ From: HShea@aol.com Date: Tue, 10 Oct 1995 18:46:25 -0400 Subject: Re: Chalkhills Digest #2-10 HEY BEN GOTT!! I am currently a high school senior.. i have been obsessed with XTC since I was a freshman... i'm living proof that XTC attracts high school students... granted, i have yet to meet a fellow high school student that is as into XTC as i am, but ya never know. =) Holly
------------------------------ Date: Mon, 16 Oct 1995 17:37:50 -0700 From: dahaa@primenet.com (David Haakenson) Subject: 11 Different Animals: D. Gregory's note Not sure if this has been covered here before, but the XTC book "Eleven Different Animals" really isn't that cool of item! But I agree, ANY item >from XTC is cool. At any rate, thought someone might be interested in the text of the book's first page, titled "By Way of Explanation" and written by Dave Gregory: ------- "When Andy and I were first learning to play guitar, it was often frustrating, when buying song-books and sheet music, to find the guitar chords within occasionally differed from the way we heard them on the original recordings - presumably to make them more comprehensible to the average student. This is not the case with your Eleven Different Animals collection. In it, we have tried to ensure, as closely as possible, that each guitar chord is exactly as it was laid down in the studio, and have provided chord diagrams (with suggested fingering yet!) at the head of each song, in the order in which they occur. We do this chiefly to help those who care about such things as playing the guitar, learning the proper chords, even singing the right words, and also to quell the curiosity of the fan in the dressing room who won't leave until he's been shown the correct way to play the middle eight to 'Sgt. Rock'. As dedicated followers are only too aware, much of the style of our music relies upon the sound of two or more instruments disagreeing with each other - for example, two or more guitars playing different chords simultaneously. However, rather than write out two separate guitar charts for each song, we have compromised slightly, where the need arises, and written a single chord combining the characteristics of the two or more it has replaced. The opening chord to 'This Is Pop', for instance, is a mutant hybrid of D minor 7 and D7SUS4. In this respect, it is perhaps fortunate that 'Roads Girdled The Globe' is not included here! In addition, we have endeavoured to reproduce the same inversion of each chord as was intended for each specific song. This is why the G chord shape in "Making Plans For Nigel' looks (and sounds) different to a G in "Are You Receiving Me'; the D6 in "Towers of London' differs from its namesake in "Life Begins at the Hop'. Hence the separate sets of chord diagrams at the start of each song. Those of you with absolutely no interest in playing guitar, bass or piano can read the words or hum the tunes. Tone-deaf readers can look at the photographs. Whatever, we hope you have fun with this book. Enjoy! Dave Gregory" ------ Sorry for the length of that. At any rate, it's basically just as the title of the book indicates: "11 Different Animals: Words and Music to The Singles". The book also includes photos, a biography, a discography, and various quotes from the band made to various music publications over the those early years, and covers the singles from Science Friction through Respectable Street. A final odd note: the lyrics for Respectable Street are from the sanitized single's release. ... This book apparently targeted for all ages... Cheers, hope this was of interest, David Haakenson dahaa@primenet.com
------------------------------ End of Chalkhills Digest #2-12 ******************************
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