Chalkhills Digest Volume 2, Issue 13
Date: Thursday, 19 October 1995
Chalkhills Digest, Volume 2, Number 13
Thursday, 19 October 1995
Today's Topics:
Re: Happy Families
Robert Wilson and Andy Partridge?
A feast? Let's EAT!!!
Two Random Questions
A lurker speaks
Re: Town and Country
sheet music for xtc
"Go2" Song Order
A View to a Dinner
Re: Carmen Sandiego connection
Re: fossil/sound-alike bands
Testimonial Dinner, what else?
Re: Graham Maby, TMBG, and Joe Jackson
Testimonial Dinner!
Andy Partridge/harold Budd CD
Additional tracks
It's a Small World After All
Typographical Dinner
Ken Norton????
What's The Connection?
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---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Mon, 16 Oct 1995 18:22:07 -0700 From: relph (John Relph) Subject: Re: Happy Families LaShawn M. Taylor <shonniet@interaccess.com> asks: > >song in the soundtrack "She's Having a Baby." SO WHERE DOES IT SHOW UP? The song turns up very quietly, in the background, coming from an AM radio (or clock radio or something), and that for only a few seconds. The version of "Happy Families" on the soundtrack album was remixed and strings added without the involvement of the band. The version of "HF" on _Rag & Bone Buffet_ is the mix originally submitted to John Hughes. -- John -- Deliver the nursery and curse the teachers. Speed nourishes a criminal in this age.
------------------------------ From: Hae007@aol.com Date: Mon, 16 Oct 1995 23:38:39 -0400 Subject: Robert Wilson and Andy Partridge? I know Dave Gregory has already dismissed any sort of theatrical work as a pipe (hookah?) dream, but does anyone know if AP has ever been approached to work with the "theatre-artist" Robert Wilson? I recently saw WIlson's production of Alice (based off of the Alice in Wonderland story) and the music/lyrics were written by Tom Waits. While quite interesting and unique in its grammar (similiar to Waits' Black Rider from 1993) I kept wondering how AP would have used this opportunity. It's tough to see an 80 foot caterpillar smoking a pipe and not think of Andy. Sorry that the above doesn't lead much of anywhere. I was gonna start the "Dear God as sung from a female perspective" jihad but decided against it. The artwork for TD sucks. The medieval trope is tired.
------------------------------ From: s.reule@genie.geis.com Date: Tue, 17 Oct 95 06:35:00 UTC Subject: A feast? Let's EAT!!! Fellow XTC fanatics... My rambling review of Testimonial Dinner after four listens: Freedy Johnston "Earn Enough For Us" - It's not as good as the XTC version because he's not as good of a singer but it's still pretty catchy. It turns out to be a nice pop tune. Spacehog "Senses Working Overtime" - It's a bit different than the original with a slightly more edgy feel. The vocals are a little weird after hearing Andy do it a million times. I think this one works pretty well, though. It's sounding better with each listen. I think they've made in their own while still not straying to far from the original masterpiece. Crash Test Dummies "All You Pretty Girls" - I've never been a big fan of them but since Brad mentions his worship of Andy in nearly every interview he does I have to give them some credit. Andy's vocals on the original are outstanding and these aren't. It detracts from the message of the song to have a female vocal on parts but it's still a cool song, luckily. Brad isn't much of a singer either, actually. This may be a lesser effort on the CD but it's still very listenable. Verve Pipe "Wake Up" - The original is always in my top ten XTC songs so it's risky to cover this one. On the other hand, with such a fantastic song to start with, how bad could it be, eh? Well, my opinion is that is damn good. This is one of the high points of the CD even though it can't come close to XTC's version. Is got it's own sound but still doesn't stray TOO far. It has a rawer feel and a slightly punkish attitude. Rembrandts "Making Plans For Nigel" - a pretty straightforward cover of an excellent song. This song and a couple others from Drums And Wires (Ten Feet Tall, Life Begins At The Hop, Real by Reel) were what got me into XTC in the first place. This version doesn't really add much but it's a good song and the cover is decent. Weird ending, though. Sarah McLachlan "Dear God" - I really like Fumbling Toward Ecstacy, Sarah's great album, and some of her other stuff as well but the strength of her vocal on this cover is a revelation. The second part of the song show an powerful, angry, intense side to her vocals that I didn't know existed. Amazing! This is one of her best vocals, in my opinion. As for the song, it's still a brilliant jab at God and religion and how people have invented God to compensate for their weaknesses and fears. Ruben Blades "Man Who Sailed Around His Soul" - I love Andy's vocal on the original and the arrangement but this salsa version is somewhat of a letdown for me. I've never really had much like for this salsa stuff and this doesn't even strike me as that well done. The vocals seem adequate at best and the arrangement bordering on hokey. I sure miss the James Bond feel on the original. I know Costello worked a little with Blades but this is first I know of him. It doesn't make me want to hear more. The worst track on the album, easily. P.Hux "Another Satelite" - I like the distorted wah-wah guitar, thick vocal sound, and the overall heavy-pop feel of it. I think this version could stand on it's own. It comes off quite well. They Might Be Giants "25 O'Clock" - Their vocals have never been exactly smooth and they border on grating here (on the chorus). This was a parody to begin with when the Dukes did it and this sounds like a parody of a parody. That said, it kind of rocks in a retro way, and is appropriately trippy. it almost takes me back to the sixties. Oh, wow, man, look at the COLOURS...!!! Terry And The Lovemen "The Good Things" - Obviously XTC doing one of their lesser efforts but polishing it up quite nicely. I only with they'd take the other b-side off Mayor (Living In A Haunted Heart) instead. Still, a great band and a good song and they really did upgrade it to a fine finished product. Joe Jackson "Statue Of Liberty" - Always a clever song, Joe gives it a decent treatment. He doesn't quite have the bite he had in the Look Sharp days but he still turns in a fine performance on this cover. his original bassist (Graham Maby) contributes some memorable bass lines. This is a good cover, though the original is deservedly a classic. Andy's vocal there is masterful while Joe's is just good. Barry's cheesy organ outdoes this one too. Overall it's a very likable CD. I only hope a few people here pieces of it and go on to discover the original versions, which are of course superior in all cases. In XTC we trust, Steve aka S.REULE@GENIE.GEIS.COM
------------------------------ Date: Tue, 17 Oct 1995 08:48:20 GMT From: Nick.BROWN@DCT.coe.fr (Nick BROWN) (Tel (+33)88.41.26.74) Subject: Two Random Questions Two random questions: 1) For EuroChalkHeads like myself: is Testimonial Dinner to be released in Europe ? Has anyone seen a copy yet ? 2) Is there anyone else out there who also likes Prefab Sprout ? If so, is there _any_ information about this band online ? *------------------------------------------------------------------------ |\ | o _ |/ | \| | |_ |\ Nick Brown, Strasbourg, France You're never alone with a clone Internet: Nick.Brown@dct.coe.fr X400: c=fr a=atlas p=coe s=brown g=nick
------------------------------ From: "Chris Savage" <csavage@sojourn.com> Date: Tue, 17 Oct 1995 09:05:39 +0000 Subject: A lurker speaks Hiya, all! I have been lurking a bit for the past several weeks and thought I'd break my silence. Perhaps one of my biggest music-related disappointments of all time came when I was in high school (circa 1980). I heard the first few lines of _Love at First Site_ and was intoxicated and hooked on XTC for life. _Black Sea_ remains one of my favorite albums. A couple of years later, I heard the remarkable news that XTC was going to be appearing in the Detroit area. I bought my tickets, good ones, and waited patiently for the blessed event. Looking back, it's hard to believe that I actually owned a ticket to an XTC concert. Then came the disappointment: the tour was cancelled. Supposedly, Andy Partridge had had a "nervous breakdown" on tour and was told by his doctors that he should not tour again! I was forced to redeem my ticket for the $$$. Aauggghh!!! Anyone else share this horrible experience? So, the closest I have been to actually seeing them live was their appearance in Stewart Copeland's _Urggh, A Music War_ concert film. A tasty morsel, indeed, but too much of a tease to be really satisfying. BTW, the Verve Pipe is from my current hometown, Lansing, Michigan where they play the local bars festivals on a regular basis. Guess I better go check 'em out, eh? ;) Anyway, that's my story. [resume lurker mode] Chris Savage csavage@sojourn.com
------------------------------ From: 7IHd <ee92pmh@brunel.ac.uk> Subject: Re: Town and Country Date: Tue, 17 Oct 1995 11:38:14 +0100 (BST) # From: terry kroetsch f <tkroetsc@mach1.wlu.ca> # # 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 Ho hum, this is an easy one. http://http2.brunel.ac.uk:8080/~ee92pmh/shrkindx.html No there was never a full album. There was another single 'Rossmore Road' released in 1980 and rereleased (with different B-side) in 1981, you really should find yourself a copy, preferably the 1980 version (though it's rarer). During that time Barry was also in Robert Fripp's League Of Gentlemen and his own band, Restaurant For Dogs, but by 1982 Dave Allen had asked him to help him form Shriekback and that was that. ttfn, Phil _ |_)|_ *| | | )|| http://http2.brunel.ac.uk:8080/~ee92pmh/ ========
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 17 Oct 1995 08:06:57 -0400 (EDT)
From: James Poulakos <engjcp@gsusgi2.gsu.edu>
Subject: sheet music for xtc
During the last year I posted my guitar arrangement of "Then She
Appeared" to ftp.nevada, the guitar tab site. It's in tablature w/lyrics.
At the time, there was nothing of xtc's there, and I was hoping to
stimulate some more talented guitarists to contribute something. Perhaps
there's more there now?
*-------------------------------------------------------------------
My home page is now at http://www.gsu.edu/~engjcp/zero.html
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
James Poulakos
------------------------------ From: Ben Gott <BENG@hotchkiss.pvt.k12.ct.us> Subject: "Go2" Song Order Date: Tue, 17 Oct 95 10:09:00 edt Could someone please explain to me why the first song my brother's "Go2" record is "Beattown"? The label on the record is the same as on my CD (and on John Relph's XTC discography; e.g. "Meccanik Dancing (Oh We Go!); Battery Brides; etc...) Is this some *record* thing? I'm thoroughly confused... Also would anyone like to buy/trade anything for my UK CD "XTC Explode Together--The Dub Experiments"? I don't listen to it much, and I'd rather have other cool XTC stuff in my possession. If you have answers to one/both of the above, please e-mail me privately. Thanks. Ben Gott The Hotchkiss School Lakeville, CT beng@hotchkiss.pvt.k12.ct.us
------------------------------ Date: 17 Oct 1995 10:16:27 -0500 From: "Wesley Wilson" <Wesley_Wilson@iegate.mitre.org> Subject: A View to a Dinner Check out http://www.newbury.com under New Arrivals to view the "Testimonial Dinner" cover! P.S. to Ride fans...I am considering putting together a discography. If one already exists somewhere, please let me know. Also, I heard that a live album is due out in the U.S. (and maybe elsewhere, too) in a few weeks. Wes
------------------------------ Date: Tue, 17 Oct 1995 10:56:38 -0600 (MDT) From: Eric Muller <EMULLER@UWYO.EDU> Subject: Re: Carmen Sandiego connection To Laura Parent: Here's my educated guess as to the XTC-Carmen Sandiego connection. It is: Brown University (coincidentally my dear alma mater.) Yazbeck is from Brown; 2 of the four Rockapella guys are from Brown. Rockapella is the "house band." for "Carmen Sandiego." Q.E.D. Eric Muller emuller@uwyo.edu
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 17 Oct 1995 16:17:14 -0400
From: mp2@waterw.com (Marlton Pharmacy)
Subject: Re: fossil/sound-alike bands
> 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...)
I have to second Steve's message about Fossil. The album is
terrific, and the booklet is very Big Express-ish. Still, it's cool &
they're music is great. I first heard them when they opened up for Kirsty
MacColl during the summer. I'd never heard of them & they put on such a
great show that I bought the CD. It's worth the ivestment, especially since
you could probably find them inthe cut-out bins if you searched.
I don't think they're _that_ derivative. In fact I didn't really
connect them with XTC (except for thinking, 'this is a little Big
Express-ish') until Steve mentioned it.
Later,
Jim (Kee)
------------------------------ Date: Tue, 17 Oct 1995 16:21:36 -0400 (EDT) From: Drew! <apn@UDel.Edu> Subject: Testimonial Dinner, what else? So what are those plaques Andy, Colin and Dave are holding up in the picture on the album liner? I can make out the Virgin logo on the lower left... Virgin giving XTC an award? Probably not...
------------------------------ Date: Tue, 17 Oct 1995 17:51:18 -0400 From: Ted Harms <tmharms@library.uwaterloo.ca> Subject: Re: Graham Maby, TMBG, and Joe Jackson > Graham Maby,former concert and studio bassist for They Might Be Giants, > plays bass for Joe Jackson. Just a small note. If memory serves me correctly, Graham Maby was Joe Jackson's original bassist and played with him until the early '80's (some time around 'Night and Day'). He also played on a few albums (or CD's as they're now called) with Marshall Crenshaw. Still one of the greatest bassists alive (and he plays with a pick, too!) Ted Harms tmharms@library.uwaterloo.ca
------------------------------ From: AngryYngMn@aol.com Date: Tue, 17 Oct 1995 22:29:28 -0400 Subject: Testimonial Dinner! Yes! I ran out of my grad school class at precisely 9:30 and made great time to the local Tower records to buy Testimonial Dinner...I'm about halfway thru and this disc is GREAT! Kudos to David Yazbek for getting this together...even tho nobody can compare to XTC, I love other bands' interpretations of the well-established standards we all love... A few questions and points to ponder: 1) The liner notes credit "Earn Enough For Us" to Black Sea...we all know it's Skylarking, so let's not make an issue of this. Just hope they fix it for the next printing, after this goes gold. Especially because Freedy does a great job on the song. 2) Don't we all love the credits for "Terry And The Lovemen?" Terry: guitar, Terry: bass, Terry: vocals. XTC in the flesh. Those of you who don't realize this is XTC should re-read your copy of "Chalkhills and Children" by Chris Twomey...mine is so ratty I couldn't sell it at a garage sale. 3) Where's Jellyfish? Where's Elvis Costello? I thought, well, they would have shared in this moment too. 4) IS THERE ANY WAY THERE WILL BE SHEET MUSIC PUBLISHED FROM THESE SONGS? I have a copy of "Eleven Different Animals," but I'd love to see arrangements for anything else that exists... 5) Pat Mastelotto does a great "Nigel" drum line...bring him back for the next XTC album!!! :) 6) Lastly, and not leastly, I wanna hear how these different bands were to work with! I've met TMBG (ever so briefly) when they played my college, and They seemed cool...and what did our Lovemen think about this project? Enquiring minds wanna know! But thanx for the music. It'll satisfy us at least until the next XTC album comes out, and I think I speak for most everyone. Good job! -Ira :)
------------------------------ From: BARBER@emuvax.emich.edu Date: Wed, 18 Oct 1995 11:41:40 -0400 (EDT) Subject: Andy Partridge/harold Budd CD Hello everyone! I was recently at the record store and the Andy Partidge/Harold Budd CD was recommended to me. However, I thought I would ask you people for your advice on that. What XTC songs would compare to this CD? Recommendations/Warnings?
------------------------------ From: BARBER@emuvax.emich.edu Date: Wed, 18 Oct 1995 11:45:53 -0400 (EDT) Subject: Additional tracks Hi, it's me again. I just recently purchased White Music and was pleasently surprised by the 7 additional tracks on my copy(a reissue of course). Does eveyone know about these? Just wanted to fill in the uninformed. There are additional tracks on several other XTC CDs as well.
------------------------------ From: Ben Gott <BENG@hotchkiss.pvt.k12.ct.us> Date: Wed, 18 Oct 95 13:38:00 edt Subject: It's a Small World After All My very good friend Ilona has a sister named Jenny, who is going out with the guitarist from Spacehog (Antony Langdon.) Small world, eh? Ben Gott The Hotchkiss School beng@hotchkiss.pvt.k12.ct.us "Help me get through these cynical days..."
------------------------------ Date: Wed, 18 Oct 1995 21:16:42 -0700 From: alanzman@deltanet.com (Mr Z) Subject: Typographical Dinner So, since when is "Earn Enough For Us" on Black Sea?
------------------------------ From: GusMach@aol.com Date: Thu, 19 Oct 1995 00:30:29 -0400 Subject: Ken Norton???? In a message dated 95-10-16 21:53:29 EDT, the man himself wrote: >Your buddy, > Ken Norton Man! The great boxer now buys stuff for a chain of hip record stores in S. Carolina! So boxing is not so bad for your brain, after all. ;-) BTW: Is it me or is "Testimonial Dinner" somewhat of a letdown? Makes you want to listen to the originals again, and that's pretty much it... --Gustavo
------------------------------ Date: Thu, 19 Oct 1995 09:02:33 -0700 From: relph (John Relph) Subject: What's The Connection? James <Algae99@aol.com> writes: > >I always thought that "New Broom" was "Making Plans for Nigel". Not sure, >of course. See the FAQ, question 24. Laura Parent <laura@geosun1.sjsu.edu> asks: > >What is XTC doing on the Carmen Sandiego CD? What is the connection? But really, the answer is that both David Yazbek (producer) and Sean Altman (leader of Rockapella) are big XTC fans. David Yazbek had worked with Andy Partridge in the past; they had written some songs together and Andy had produced a couple of tracks for a never-released album. So David asked XTC to contribute something. They said yes, went to New York, recorded it, and there ya go! (Actually, Andy may have been living in NYC during that time.) Andy Partridge also appears on two tracks on David Yazbek's excellent album _The Laughing Man_. -- John P.S. To those of you looking for charts. Check in the Chalkhills Archives on the World Wide Web! -- Sunset flaring from every orifice. Dead at his desk. Feeding television to the little mothers until they bear interest -- that's my automatic crank.
------------------------------ End of Chalkhills Digest #2-13 ******************************
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