Chalkhills Digest Volume 2, Issue 131
Date: Wednesday, 3 July 1996
Chalkhills Digest, Volume 2, Number 131
Wednesday, 3 July 1996
Today's Topics:
Bringing Home The Bacon
Album Titles
Explode Together
Monkeys, Easrly Albums, Explode Together
Re: Paul on Taxman/XTC Demo
Indigo Girls = Beatles? NOT.
5 things
Monkey music
it all comes 'round again...
ProducerZ/DrummerZ
producers/albums
re: drummers
Composer poll
No Tours?
re: Songwriters
More Monkey Music
"The Difenchanted" (sic)
Smartest Monkeys
Re: Chalkhills Digest #2-129
Pet Sounds?
More Monkeys=Humans...
pedantry
A dream
additional from lbedd1sc
All the usual threads
...a quick language note...
Chill Out!
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Everything is Beep Beep.
---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: 1 JUL 96 13:51:29 EST From: PCulnane@dca.gov.au Subject: Bringing Home The Bacon Message-ID: <0000lrxrjbjt.0000kausaeic@dca.gov.au> Howdy-doody Chalksters, Well, our Natalie is, IMO, so far winning the race in the spurious linx game, by noting its similarity to the current "Baconizing" fad on the net, and then providing us with a Kevin Bacon link that's right under our noses! Other Chalkies are gonna have to go to significant lengths to top that one! Now, a couple of recent comparisons-to-XTC I've noted in recent magazine record reviews that I thought I'd share with you (it's interesting, isn't it, that record reviewers continue to use XTC as a reference point/benchmark, when describing the music of some of the new upstarts) 1) UK Mojo magazine, May issue, reviews the new Richard Davies album, "There's Never Been A Crowd Like This". (He's from the band Cardinal, which also featured Eric Matthews, who's been lauded by some Chalkies lately). The reviewer opines: "Davies' work here, with its sparse arrangements, resembles nothing so much as Hunky Dory-era Bowie with an Aussie accent. Glimmers of the Beatles and XTC are also discernible." ...that sounds tantalising.... 2) Australian Rolling Stone magazine, in reviewing the new You Am I album, "Hourly, Daily", notes the striking similarity of the melody of their song "Mr Milk" to "Senses Working Overtime", by saying "so who cares if it sounds like XTC?" Hmmm, a bit of a back-handed compliment, that one! Actually, this album is an absolute, thorough, unadulterated gas!!! You Am I have got to be the best Aussie band around at the moment. This album and its predecessor, "Hi Fi Way" are thoroughly recommended to XTC fans, 'cos it's bloody good music. To sample the single that sounds so much like the middle 8 of "Senses", go to http://www.rooart.com.au/artists/youami/mrmilk.html I'm in no way associated with this band, but I reckon the whole world should hear their music. I'd like to tell you about another great Oz band, Regurgitator, but that's a whole 'nother story, and this IS an XTC forum, after all! Thanx for your time. Paul-of-Oz.
------------------------------ Date: Mon, 1 Jul 1996 18:30:46 +1000 Message-Id: <199607010830.SAA18205@warp.ipacific.net.au> From: Paul Haines <hainesp@jde.com.au> Subject: Album Titles Maybe I'm missing something fairly significant here, but why would XTC name their album with a lyric from a previous song. I know 'Oranges & Lemons' is such a case from "Ballet For A Rainy Day' but it's also a nursery rhyme line too. Why not an eponymous title? Or why not something new? Also, the idea of Rick Rubin as a producer really scares me. His name conjures up 'american' and 'mainstream'. I'd like to see Todd Rundgren back because "Skylarking" still shines brightly (and I know all the ego conflicts that went on, but...) Or get Andy to do it.
------------------------------ From: jde@abingdon.geoquest.slb.com (Jon Eva) Message-Id: <9607011044.ZM28556@rs560.abingdon.geoquest.slb.com> Date: Mon, 1 Jul 1996 10:44:47 +0000 Subject: Explode Together Dear All, From: "Charles Lee Lovingood, Jr.": > Question.... I posed this one to you before, but no response. "Explode > Together." Is it worth it? To be quite honest, and I speak as someone who would buy a recording of Andy Partrdige farting if I found a bootleg of it for thirty pounds at a record fair, I think "Explode Together" is just about entirely worthless. I have very bad memories of this album. When I was young and poor I went into a record shop intending to buy English Settlement, and got distracted instead by the weird cover of an album called "Mr. Partridge's Take Away" (which is 2/3 of Exlode Together), and bought this instead. It got played all the way through exactly once before being consigned to the box containing The Wombles albums, Dougal and the Blue Cat and my parents' sparse collection, never to be heard of again. It was another two months before I got English Settlement. Now I am old and rich I can buy albums that I know I won't like, and about a year ago I bought Explode Together on cd. I still think that it's largely crap, but find the last song, New Broom, strangely hypnotic, and once in a while I'll turn all the lights out, program the cd player to repeat this song continuously and let it send me slowly to sleep.
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 1 Jul 1996 13:23:30 +0100
Message-Id: <199607011223.AA26874@felix.dircon.co.uk>
From: nonsuch@dircon.co.uk (Simon Sleightholm)
Subject: Monkeys, Easrly Albums, Explode Together
I am afraid I have rather more time on my hands than is good for any of us,
so this posting is a long 'un.
From: "Sean Robison"
>1. The Smartest Monkeys - apparently, this is not a "grey area"
>song. either you love it or hate it. I like the lyrics because they
>approached a tired song theme - "society's screwed" - from a different
>angle. Instead of the usual blatant straightforward "oh, woe is man," it
>approached it with a great sense of sarcasm and cynicism...
No problem there; the theme is a good one and Colin's angle is nice too -
the fault I find with the song is that the lyrics are too awkward. I don't
disagree with the sentiments of the song, or the ironic approach to the
subject, I just find lyrics like "The rubbish tip makes a valid form of
nutrition", "Our brains are bigger this we found", "How they packed so many
in, quick, call the Guinness Book Of Records" really drag the song down. The
music is fine - the solo is great, and the use of strings is nice. But when
I listen to it I find myself cringing as I wait for those lines to arrive.
If ever a subject called for deft use of words I would say this did, but I
don't think the subject has been served as well as Colin could have managed.
When you compare these lyrics to the skillfully woven "My Bird Performs" I
just feel he has under-achieved. I find "Wardance" a little below par too.
In a marvellous piece of synchronicity I was driving through the residential
sea-side town of Whitley Bay this weekend, listening to Nonsuch, when
"Bunaglow" came on. Listening to the track in its own setting just
consolidated what a superb bit of work that is. Colin has great songs in
him, no doubt, but I think he fell a bit short of his own standards with
"Smartest Monkeys"
dewitth@lanl.gov (DeWitt Henderson) wrote
>Speaking of that, I must admit that even though I own most XTC CD's and
>have heard the few I don't have, I've never heard Go!2 or White Music.
>Can some Chalkhillians give me a few pros & cons on these 2???
>Please, no flamers for being so profoundly uncultured & ignorant...
As long as you're not expecting "Nonsuch II" these are both fine albums. I
know they have a few detractors - even the band themselves - because as Andy
has said, he wasn't writing songs then, just throwing words together for
their rhythmic quality, but these records contain some great pop music. If
you have the Compact XTC and enjoy "This Is Pop?", "Are You Receiving Me?",
"Statue Of Liberty", then there's a good chance you'll enjoy these albums.
Now that XTC have fallen into the wise-old-songwriters niche it's easy to
forget that they were orginally a really great power-pop act, up there with
the Buzzcocks and the Undertones for sheer manic pop thrill. I still listen
to both these albums regularly, and for what they are, late 70's new wave,
they certainly haven't aged as much as the Vapors or many other
contemporaries. If you don't get a ludicrous urge to not only tap your foot,
but tap your whole body when you hear "Red" (From Go2) then I suspect your
pop gland may have been removed without your knowledge.
Go2 might be the best one to start with, it is a phase of evolution over
White Music and includes some really great tracks (although parts of "Life
Is Good In The Greenhouse" are SO silly). This album is less a pop shot than
White Music, but it does bear the signs of the impending experimental side
to Drums And Wires; the utterly graceful intro to "Battery Brides", the
mutant ska tint to many of the songs ("Meccanik Dancing", "Crowded Room", "I
Am The Audience"). White Music is a real heads down rocker, though. Littered
with pure power pop gems like "New Town Animal In A Furnished Cage", "Radios
In Motion", "Atom Age", and the sublimely pop-alicious "Neon Shuffle". Again
many tracks here have a mutant reggae lilt to them, but Colin takes them
into pseudo-Beefheart territory with stuff like "X-Wires", which features
all four band members apparently playing different tunes while Colin reads
the first school essay he ever did in joined-up writing. There are cons to
both albums; these are probably the only albums that contain tracks that all
fans would acknowledge as "fillers", but it's worth it just to solve the
mystery if you're wondering why people used to give Andy a hard time about
his vocal style. Throw him a fish, someone.
When you need a rest from the "traditional craftsmen" beard-stroking, put
White Music on, crank it up way past 11 and throw yourself with abandon
around the room as the irresistible pulse of "Radios In Motion" begins to
throb. You may have to re-decorate a tad more often, but examples of the
"new-wave" style don't come much more vibrant than this.
From: "Charles Lee Lovingood, Jr."
>Question.... I posed this one to you before, but no response. "Explode
>?Together." Is it worth it?
I would say so, yes. It may not be to everyone's taste, but there are some
great tracks on it - "Commerciality", "Forgotten Language Of Light", "The
Rotary", "The Cairo", "I Sit In The Snow", "Work Away, Tokyo Day" and the
utterly wonderful "Shore Leave Ornithology". The first half dozen tracks,
taken from GO+, are not particularly vital - they are the original tracks
bent but not broken - but a good number of the tracks from Take Away/The
Lure Of Salvage are musically very interesting and entertaining. It's not an
immediate work - perhaps "The Cairo" will raise a smile first time around,
but repeated plays pay off. Borrow a copy, or find one cheap and give it a
whirl. I'm trying to think of a released track that might be a good
indication of the style but I can't think of one. Perhaps "The
Somnambulist". You could try playing "Summer's Cauldron" at 45rpm and
shouting, that might be pretty close.
I think that's quite enough,
Simon
* ---------------------------------------------------
http://www.users.dircon.co.uk/~nonsuch/bungalow.htm
* ---------------------------------------------------
No Thugs In Our House, only XTC.
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 1 Jul 1996 09:36:51 -0400
Message-ID: <1d7e02b0@cinsycfs.rcc.org>
From: David.Criddle@cinsycfs.rcc.org (David Criddle)
Subject: Re: Paul on Taxman/XTC Demo
Klaus states about Paul Mc's bass playing:
<<BTW, when I listened to Anthology 2 (especially Taxman - "if you
drive a car..."), I realized, how truly great he is.>>
Ummm..... I think that was John, unfortunately. Paul played the
screamin' lead solo. As far as I always heard, they decided to switch
instruments for that song. It is some great playing, however. :)
XTC Demo's:
Is it just me, or does something magical happen to these demo's before
they become album cuts? Some of their demo's are very good, but not
near the songwriting quality that appears on the albums. I am not
talking about recording quality here, I am talking about the actual
lyrics and tunes.
I was having a discussion with a fellow chalkhillian, and we were
thinking that Andy must write a bunch of songs, pick the best ones, go
out and read some fine literature for inspiration, then rewrite the
whole darn thing. The lyric content of the album material just seems
to be much deeper, more clever, more sophisticated.
Maybe I am not getting the good batches of demo's, but I do have The
Bull and Jules Verne's.
What does everyone think?
Dave
------------------------------ Message-ID: <75F0D62F01291300@ametsoc.org> Date: Mon, 1 Jul 96 11:19:00 -0500 From: dgershmn <dgershmn@ametsoc.org> Organization: AMS Subject: Indigo Girls = Beatles? NOT. In Chalkhills #129, Andrew Bissaro explained: >>The Indigo Girls the new Lennon/McCartney? >Yes. Since I brought it up, allow me to explain: >* First, they're a duo of songwriters. --So were the Captain and Tenille. Your point? >* One (E. Saliers) has a high, sweet voice, and writes songs with charming >melodies and uplifting lyrics. The other (A. Ray) is more intense, has a >deeper, grittier voice, and writes songs that are darker, more mysterious. >They temper each others' songs in exactly the same way John and Paul did. --"Exactly the same way"? I think not. The sunny/mysterious dichotomy does not an equivalent make. If Judy Collins and Stevie Nicks joined forces, would you automatically say we had another Lennon and McCartney on our hands? >* Their harmonies are just as irresistable and inventive; the arrangements >on their latest album are as lush and adventurous as anything the beatles >or xTc have done. --Oh, now I get it...you're just kidding, right? If I'm not mistaken, irresistable/inventive harmonies are also the trademark of the Manhatten Transfer, aren't they? As for the IGs being as adventurous as either XTC or the Beatles, well, I don't know what to say. Put the Indigo Girls in the mid-'60s, and maybe I'd give them a little more credit for being adventurous, but the Beatles would still be blowing their bandannas off. They haven't done anything Joni Mitchell couldn't take credit for 20 years ago. There are very few current acts that even come close to being as adventurous as XTC, and I would have trouble counting the Indigo Girls among them. >* Fans--and they're as fanatically devoted as the Beatles' fans, trust me-- >discuss which of them are their favorite (mine is Emily), analyze the tunes >in much the same way we do Beatles and xTc songs... --I'm sure the fans of New Kids on the Block did much the same thing. (Okay, the Indigo Girls are much preferable to NKOTB, but I'm just trying to make a point.) >* Furthermore now they have a rhythm section (Sara Lee, Jerry Marotta) >that, IMHO, is the best pop music rhythm section out there...it ain't jus' >for folkies, no sir... Check out the live "1200 Curfews" to see what I >mean... --Okay, are we comparing songwriting teams, or entire groups here? Both musicians you mention ARE excellent, and they may be the best rhythm section "IYHO," but the guys in Rush are great musicians too. This really doesn't strengthen your argument. >* Finally, their best music brings tears to my eyes, much like John and >Paul. Sorry to get sappy on you, but it's true. --I'm pretty sure Whitney Houston brings tears to some people's eyes too. Sorry, I don't mean to totally tear the Girls apart...as a matter of fact, I do enjoy some of their music. I just think your arguments comparing them to Lennon/McCartney are full of gaping holes. Even taken as a whole, your points don't add up to much more than the Mamas and Papas or maybe Simon and Garfunkel (which is still pretty complimentary), and both of those groups did it with a single main songwriter. Partridge/Moulding is really the only "duo" that I think can stake a claim for being the near-equals of Lennon/McCartney. Calling them a duo is somewhat spurious, of course, but no more so than Lennon/McCartney. Dave Gershman "Wish wish wish wish wish wish wish wish wish wish for you"
------------------------------
From: richard.pedrettiallen@octel.com
Date: Mon, 1 Jul 1996 13:20:26 -0700
Message-Id: <1D833F90.1240@corp.octel.com>
Subject: 5 things
To Todd B.
> I think playing on the same bill with someone does not a connection make.
Since the advent of multi-track recording (early 60's?) there are thousands
of stories about so-and-so recording his bits but never seeing or meeting
the other musicians. Maybe not just sharing a bill but touring with
someone would be a guaranteed connection whether the result was poison or
not.
> I think the rules of the game should be that the two should actually be
> in the same band or on the same album together.
Rules?! What a crack-up!
=====
GREEN ACRES
I saw the last gig of "Jerry Vile and The Boners" in Detroit around 1980.
They came onstage and did a seriously snotty punk version of the Green
Acres theme while Jerry hosed the audience down with champagne and then
ripped open some down-filled pillows to cover the now-sticky audience. For
awhile the placed looked like a blizzard... then everyone looked like
mange-riddled birds from a bad stage play (no theatrical costume designers
people in that crowd)! I still crack up when I think of the band "singing"
the Zsa Zsa vocals in falsetto!! DAHLING, I LOVE BUT GIVE ME PARK AVENUE!
=====
To Shirley,
You're welcome! and Thanks! I'd do more but it could get out of hand! All
of this music/musician trivia ("trivia" being derived from the word
"trivial") that I have amassed over the years finally had an outlet!
Man... I would kill on Rock-n-Roll Jeopardy!
Richard "Alter Egos for $1000"
Alex "The Lemon Pipers only follow up charting to their 1968 hit, 'Green
Tambourine' was the song 'Black Betty' in 1977."
Richard "Who was The Ram Jam Band?"
Alex "Correct."
Richard "XTC for $1000"
=====
Colin should produce Andy's tunes and Andy should produce Colin's. ...or the
omni-talented Dave Gregory do it all!
=====
The Bears were cool. Saw 'em live at One Step Beyond. Big fun! I have
two CDs, one just called "The Bears" (with cover art by Mad Magazine's Mort
Drucker) and "Rise and Shine"
I REALLY LOVE "The Bears" but "Rise and Shine" doesn't really grab me (at
least in the right places).
Cheers, Richard
------------------------------
From: richard.pedrettiallen@octel.com
Date: Mon, 1 Jul 1996 13:52:02 -0700
Message-Id: <1D83B960.1240@corp.octel.com>
Subject: Monkey music
Ape Man-Kinks
Gorilla-James Taylor
Me and My Gibbon-The Beatles
What Would You Say?-Dave Matthews ("I'm like a monkey on a string")
Money for Nuthin'-Dire Straits("Bangin' on the bongos like a chimpanzee")
I Want To Be Like You-from Jungle Book [occasionally covered by Phish]
("I'm the king of the monkeys, I'm the jungle VIP")
Eeeee-yuk... covered by fish!
------------------------------ Message-Id: <v0213057badfde30a26f3@[128.89.11.23]> Date: Mon, 1 Jul 1996 15:32:18 -0500 From: abissaro@bbn.com (Andrew Bissaro) Subject: it all comes 'round again... Hi, y'all, an enquiring mind wrote: ># * Furthermore now they have a rhythm section (Sara Lee, Jerry Marotta) ># that, IMHO, is the best pop music rhythm section out there...it ain't jus' ># for folkies, no sir... Check out the live "1200 Curfews" to see what I ># mean... > >Is this the same Sara Lee that used to play bass in Gang Of Four, replacing >Dave Allen who went off to form Shriekback with Barry Andrews? > >Seriously - I want to know this. Seriously, yes--one and the same. Ms. Lee has also played in the League of Gentlemen with R. Fripp and the self-same Barry Andrews...that 6 degrees thing pops up again! Then, kqs7816@is4.NYU.EDU wrote: >Subject: Smartest Monkeys > >Andrew Bissaro wrote: >>Could you all please enlighten me on the surfeit of monkey-men songs that >>have been plaguing pop music all these years (Aside from "Monkeys in >>Humanskin Suits" of course)? > >Ok, Ok, How 'bout: > >Monkey Man -Rolling Stones >Hey Hey We're the Monkeys -The Monkees >Banana Splits Theme -The Banana Split (keen monkey reference) >Planet of the Apes incidental music -Rota?Marconi?John Williams? >Blue Monkey --Thelonius Monkey >Schock the Monkey -Peter Gabriel >Monkey on my Back - blues standard >We are the Chimpanzees --the Chimpanzees(japanese Monkey band) >Monkeyberry Moon Delight --Paul McCartney (a reoccuring XTC item) >Velvet Underground & Nico --(sly monkey-in-you marketing ploy cover) > >...any more monkey referrences smart guy?.... Smart? You must have me confused with someone else--I was looking to be enlightened: thank you! Enlightenment can be found in the strangest places: like in a rubbish tip or cardboard box, for example... Love, AB P.S.: I agree that Andy Metcalfe is a most underrated bassist: his work on Robyn's "Perspex Island" (produced by Paul Fox) is consistently solid, melodic, and imaginative. He also uses fretless and acoustic basses to great effect; one of his main gifts is his expressive sense--he can really bring out the character of the bass.
------------------------------ Message-Id: <MAPI.Id.0016.00696c76612020203142363230303032@MAPI.to.RFC822> From: JoE Silva <silva@mond1.ccrc.uga.edu> Subject: ProducerZ/DrummerZ Date: Mon, 01 Jul 96 14:50:35 EDT Hmmm...isn't it safe to say that since Sir Andrew's gone on record so many times about producer woes, that when xTc engineer this new deal that they'll try and get a touch more flexibility out of whatever label they marry themselves off to and perhaps NOT have to have a producer as such? Andy said so often that they'd much rather work with a stunning engineer than a bona-fide producer, it would be hard to see them not taking care of that issue from the start with a new company. Andy co-produces the record with someone seems far more likely than the band getting involved with any new egos (ToDD), mis-matches (Eno), or bits of wood (Gus Dudgeon). As for drummers, I'm not sure I'd want to witness of difference of opinion between Stewart Copeland and Andy Partridge. Then again...perhaps they've mellowed with age. NaH.... JoE -------------------------- JoE Silva Senior Contributor Consumable Online silva@mond1.ccrc.uga.edu "BanG BanG" - Maxwell
------------------------------ Message-Id: <9607011831.AA05625@atc.boeing.com> Date: Mon, 1 Jul 1996 11:31:52 -0700 From: enter_your_e-mail_address_here@splinter.boeing.com (enter_your_name_here) Subject: producers/albums Hey everybody, As a first time poster-boy, (but lurker) I'd like to thank everyone for the info on our favorite band. Keep it up! Now as for producers/albums: Have the lads take the twenty or so songs they want to make into "the next album", and put them on the shelf. Take all the rest, grab a drummer, and, say, John Leckie, head out to the local cathedral (with great acoustics) and record them straight through for ten days and release. Blow out the emotional steam, the anticipation, the nerves, and fade back into being a band. This can be accomplished with superlative results: check out Canadian band Blue Rodeo and their 5 Days in July. Recorded in a barn in 5 Days (natch), the emotional connection and sonics of these songs shine. Warning: may be a bit country-twanged for some chalkhillians, but highly recommended. This would start some cash flow, be almost live but not unplugged, and give those of us starved for new material something to write about. I quite like the idea of calling it the "Big Box of Paints" As for the real album, I vote for Ian Broudie (aka Lightning Seeds) as producer. He even has a song called Punch and Judy, but I don't know of any other connection. (Plus his albums are sweet-sounding!) And now: How are the precious demos obtained? Help would be appreciated! Most of the XTC fans I know have connections in music, none in theatre. jmr0244@bems.boeing.com
------------------------------ From: Keith Hanlon <ad180@seorf.ohiou.edu> Message-Id: <199607012235.SAA17534@ra.cs.ohiou.edu> Subject: re: drummers Date: Mon, 1 Jul 1996 18:35:46 -0400 (EDT) Once I had dinner with Dave Matticks. The restraunt was playing Kenny G - whom he hates (I'm sure many of you do also). I think I mentioned how I felt the same way about Dave Weckl - I hate the music (although I'll admit that he's a talented drummer. On the other hand, Kenny G has no talent. Did you know that he studied accounting in college? Figures) I'm sorry, but if Weckl played with XTC, I'd have to have some sort of respect for him - I don't want to do that! I have to agree with Big Earl - Pete Thomas would be an excellent choice, and maybe Mitchell Froom as producer, although I haven't thought that through yet. I love his production, but is he right for XTC? Perhaps they should just produce themselves. The more I listen to Andy's demos, the more I think they can do it just fine, thank you. "Easter Theme" is my favorite song of the year. -- Keith -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Check out Norton's Orchestraville, a twisted, all-original Ohio band. Jason Huck was kind enough to put a song in his homepage: http://users1.ee.net/Huck Site courtesy of Jason Huck
------------------------------ Message-Id: <199607012319.BAA22312@leonardo.lls.se> Date: Tue, 02 Jul 1996 01:23:13 -0500 From: johanb <johanb@lls.se> Subject: Composer poll Thanks for organizing the composer poll Mitch! It was great fun to read. /JOHAN * ------------------------------------------------------------------------- "TENT OF MIRACLES "Life has just begun" -the unofficial SPIRIT homepage" -Randy California. http://www.lls.se/~johanb/intro.htm * -------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------ Message-Id: <199607012319.BAA22315@leonardo.lls.se> Date: Tue, 02 Jul 1996 01:23:36 -0500 From: johanb <johanb@lls.se> Subject: No Tours? Simon wrote: >>I'm sorry Mick & Simon, but I think your opinions in this quest- >>ion are complete bullshit.:) >Who's this Mick character? good question....it should have been *Mark* of course, sorry Mark! >>They didn't CHOOSE to stop touring, I never said they did. If you actually *read* what I wrote, I said that these punk bands have to keep belting out their old hits to hang onto an audience that wishes it was still the summer of 76, while XTC refused to be constricted by such a shortsighted fanbase. They progressed and - as can been seen by the divisions that crop up in here - this created a split in their fanbase; some hate the new stuff, others hate the old. But they are not still belting out variations of Science Friction to please a bunch of 30-40 year old new-wave casualties. They grew up, and a lot of their fans did. >>they were forced to because of Partridge's stagefright! >Which Andy has said grew out of the lack of visible cash AND the feeling >that they were't doing the songs justice - "Feeling like we're just the >jukebox with a conscience in the corner". With the crew setup XTC had at the >time - where there was no money to spend on the main band members, let alone >on string and horn sections - the band would have to work on each track in >the studio with the permanent thought of, "how are we going to do this on >stage?". >Yes, I would love to see them play live. I'm happy to hear this! >But, perhaps if they hadn't had the >break we wouldn't be getting the multi-layered, finely textured music we've >been getting. I think that maybe their music could have been even more interesting if they had continued as a live act. * ------------------------------------------------------------------------- "TENT OF MIRACLES "Life has just begun" -the unofficial SPIRIT homepage" -Randy California. http://www.lls.se/~johanb/intro.htm * -------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------
Date: 2 JUL 96 10:19:35 EST
From: PCulnane@dca.gov.au
Subject: re: Songwriters
Message-ID: <0000rppltbtj.0000qymmkess@dca.gov.au>
I hope that the very patient Mr Relph allows this:
Whoever voted for the following songwriters in Mitch Freidman's fascinating
poll, would you like to e-mail me privately for a chat?....
Mark Hollis, Don McGlashan, Chris Knox, Dave Davies, Vanda & Young,
Stringfellow/Auer (Posies). Thanx.
Paul Culnane. Canberra. Australia.
{PCulnane@dca.gov.au}
------------------------------ Date: Mon, 1 Jul 1996 20:35:18 -0400 (EDT) From: Karthik Swaminathan <kqs7816@is4.NYU.EDU> Subject: More Monkey Music Message-Id: <Pine.OSF.3.93.960701201216.6197A-100000@is4.NYU.EDU> Ok, Ok lets not forget: Everybody's Got Something to Hide Xept for Me and My Monkey --The Beatles Shlock the Monkey -- Peter Gabriel Space Monkey --Patti Smith Group I'm an Ape Man -- The Kinks Wot Gorilla? -- Genisis Is she really going out with him --Joe Jackson (sharp Gorilla plug) I go Ape over you -- i know this is a song, somebody tell me its a song Bannana Amour -- Keven Ayers (Bannana=Monkey, Ok?) You never give me your Monkey --Another Beatles Classic Farting Monkeys --Jeffrey Langr Monkey Dory -- David Bowie (don't be mislead by the album typo) You bring out the Monkey in Me --I just wrote this one.... ....just monkeying around K.
------------------------------ Date: 2 JUL 96 10:28:06 EST From: PCulnane@dca.gov.au Subject: "The Difenchanted" (sic) Message-ID: <0000bdtbfxtd.0000amqcwasm@dca.gov.au> Hey Rob Warmowski, You're entitled to your opinions. But from your post in Chalkhills #130, it puzzles me as to why you're on this list. It sounds to me as if you've developed a real chip on your shoulder about a number of things, XTC included. XTC DID perform songs from English Settlement, quite adeptly too. Makes a mockery of your assertion that "no humans could dependably pull (ES) off live". McCartney: "when was the last time he did this or that"... Why, on his most recent solo album and accompanying singles for a start. I saw the "New World Tour" concerts. He looked and sounded pretty animated to me. I don't think you really understand music very much, pal. Or if you do, why is it causing you so much pain? "Silly Love Songs - what's wrong with that? I'd like to know" (P. McC)
------------------------------ From: candl@lewiston.com Message-Id: <v01530500adfe313311de@[204.227.174.141]> Date: Mon, 1 Jul 1996 18:04:57 -0800 Subject: Smartest Monkeys Karthik Swaminathan wrote: >Andrew Bissaro wrote: >>Could you all please enlighten me on the surfeit of monkey-men >>songs that have been plaguing pop music all these years (Aside >>from "Monkeys in Humanskin Suits" of course)? >Ok, Ok, How 'bout: >Monkey Man -Rolling Stones >Hey Hey We're the Monkeys -The Monkees >Banana Splits Theme -The Banana Split (keen monkey reference) >Planet of the Apes incidental music -Rota?Marconi?John Williams? >Blue Monkey --Thelonius Monkey >Schock the Monkey -Peter Gabriel >Monkey on my Back - blues standard >We are the Chimpanzees --the Chimpanzees(japanese Monkey band) >Monkeyberry Moon Delight --Paul McCartney (a reoccuring XTC item) >Velvet Underground & Nico --(sly monkey-in-you marketing ploy cover) >...any more monkey referrences smart guy?.... Yes! How could you forget: Monkey Gone to Heaven - Pixies Everybody's got Something to Hide - BeaTles Straighten Up and Fly Right - King Cole Trio (I'm an) Ape Man - Kinks Lancelot Link - the Evolution Revolution ...any more out there?..... :) 'Isaac Newton' the big Fig
------------------------------ Date: Mon, 1 Jul 1996 21:17:44 -0400 (EDT) Message-Id: <1.5.4.16.19960701212159.2eff8080@mustang.uwo.ca> From: "Mikey P. Moffatt" <mmoffatt@mustang.uwo.ca> Subject: Re: Chalkhills Digest #2-129 >exception: I have yet to hear anyone >claim that "Go2" is their favorite XTC >album. I'd have to say it's my favourite, for one reason only: It's the only xTc album (as far as I know) that you can hear XTC perform a song written by Barry Andrews. What are Barry and his Shriekback mates upto these days anyhow? Mikey
------------------------------
Message-Id: <2.2.32.19960702015300.00699eb0@mail.sonyinteractive.com>
Date: Mon, 01 Jul 1996 18:53:00 -0700
From: Bob Estus <bestus@sonyinteractive.com>
Subject: Pet Sounds?
John Wedemeyer in simian defense:
Say whatever you will about "The Smartest Monkeys".....but you must
admit; Dave Mattacks grooves like a MOFO on that tune!! (Colin, too for
that matter). And I LOVE the synth solo!! Definitely one of XTC's funkier
tunes....
I've always liked the synth solo too! I've always thought it was meant
to imitate monkey chattering. At least that's what I'm hearing. On the
same album we've got crocodile whining, credits to Dave Mattacks for
amphibious samples. Any other animal noises, real or infered, in the
catalog?
swinging about in the trees,
-Bob
------------------------------ From: BRJohnson1@aol.com Date: Tue, 2 Jul 1996 01:33:13 -0400 Message-ID: <960702013312_568292413@emout14.mail.aol.com> Subject: More Monkeys=Humans... Just popped into my head that there was YET ANOTHER stoopid monkey=human thing to consider (phew!). On the patently absurd "Cockpit Dance Mixture" at about 4:45 into it, there's a bit of stock audio inserted which says something like "and here we see Guy, a male African Lowland Gorilla, lounging in the London Zoo." If that is not a fabricated audio track, then Damn!!! Andy was lucky to find a 5 second phrase to encapsulate the song... Frankly, that 6:02 min waste-of-vinyl could use lots more encapsulating... One last thing, Does the 'Cockpit' in the song refer to: 1) the seat of an airplane (indicating mans desire to fly around and blow things up) 2.) an enclosure to fight male chickens (indicating mans desire to watch animals kill (and remember man=monkey=animal) or 3.) uhh, well, you can come up with your own third defintion (indicating mans desire to, uh, sleep with women) All 3 seem to fit, but maybe someone knows for sure. Just a thought, Brad
------------------------------ Date: Tue, 2 Jul 1996 10:58:14 +0100 Message-Id: <v01510102adfeaaeb6c01@[194.128.83.69]> From: fisher@easynet.co.uk (Mark Fisher) Subject: pedantry Yazbek still can't spell Pinocchio. Mark Fisher (fisher@easynet.co,uk)
------------------------------ Message-ID: <BBF1D62F01291300@ametsoc.org> Date: Tue, 2 Jul 96 08:37:00 -0500 From: dgershmn <dgershmn@ametsoc.org> Organization: AMS Subject: A dream Kind Chalkhillbillies, It's not much, and it doesn't appear to be too symbolic (though if you have an interpretation, please let me know), but I had a dream involving XTC last night, that went as follows: I was at a house that I believe was my grandmother's, and I realized that I was missing my CD of Andy Partridge's new demos, having lent it to someone (of course, to my knowledge, they only exist on tape...but it was a dream). A search was taken up around the house and yard by the people at the house, one of whom was Andy Partridge himself (in the dream, he looked more like he did in the mid-1980s than the way he does now). Andy suggested to my younger brother that he look under the tree in the front yard, where he was known to keep some of his belongings. Now for some reason, this large fir tree, which actually does exist in my grandmother's yard, had a large, conical metal skirt all the way around it, covering the lower third of the tree all the way to the ground. So my brother lifted something like a garage door in this metal skirt and sure enough, there was the CD, which had apparently slid under the door somehow. My brother crawled under the lower branches to retrieve it, brought it over to Andy, who smiled, looked skyward, brought the CD to his lips and kissed it in a gesture of thanks to some higher power for its finding, and then brought it over and handed it to me. I woke up at that point, with the song "Church of Women" going through my head. Pretty weird, huh?
------------------------------ Message-ID: <31D985AF.25EB@stokecoll.ac.uk> Date: Tue, 02 Jul 1996 13:25:19 -0700 From: "lbedd1sc@stokecoll.ac.uk" <lbedd1sc@stokecoll.ac.uk> Organization: stokecoll.ac.uk Subject: additional from lbedd1sc Sorry - forgot to tell you who I (lbedd1sc) was . I'm Lee Beddow from Stafford, England. Just in case anyone was wondering, as my message was the first I've ever sent to Chalkhills.
------------------------------ Message-Id: <199607021633.NAA24103@Fox.nstn.ca> Date: Tue, 2 Jul 1996 12:38:45 +0100 From: enrico@fox.nstn.ca (Erich W.) Subject: All the usual threads First, a big thanks to Pricilla for coming through with 'The Laughing Man' and thanks to Yazbek for making it! Well worth the wait. My poor signinficant others will have to listen to it about ten times today. The composer listing was a treat. I'm happy to say that (I think) all my responses had more than one vote; I guess I'll have to work on being even more obscure. Stompin' Tom Connors got a vote? I think there must be a Canadian conspiracy. Monkey songs - "Apeman" by the Kinks "Gorilla" by Bonzo Dog Band "King Kong" by Zappa I happen to like Smartest Monkeys. Nice guitar separation, bitching drums. Ok, so maybe it's not the most insightful lyric CM's ever written but they can't all be English Roundabout. And yes, I too am guilty of shouting 'Bungalow" at the most inopportunbe times. The Bears: glad to see such a big response to my question. I didn't know about the Psychodots but will be looking into it. Yes, Bob Fetters more than kept up with Adrian and, yes, Fear is Never Boring is one of my alltime fave 'anthem' songs. I had the pleasure of seeing them live twice in a small venue. I took an album (remember those?) cover with me and explained that my daughter thought they were cool but couldn't get into a bar so could you please sign this. Mr. Fetters took the cover around and I got nifty autographs from all including a neat drawing by Adrian. I've pulled this before and trust me it works. It's also better than standing around and feeling like a total dink asking for autographs etc. for yourself. Also, when you bring up kids you'd be surprised how many artists open right up: missing families on the road etc. Problem is, it's now my daughters album. I'll have to work out a trade. Finally, another vote for producer: how 'bout Yazbek? Enrico in a loud computer shack in Ottawa
------------------------------ From: jrsnipp@interserv.com Date: Tue, 2 Jul 1996 13:34:03 -0700 Message-Id: <199607022034.AA13945@relay.interserv.com> Subject: ...a quick language note... To whom it may concern, > New album.... Here's a title, "A Different Kind Of Tinsel". Huh? Eh? Kind > of like the Buzzcocks "Different Kind Of Tension." Ironic? You be the > judge Ironic? No, because that is not what "irony" means. Joe PS I'm sorry if I sound like the language police, but as a teacher I have been buried under that word incorrectly used ever since Alanis M's stupid song. (Demonstrating that she does not know what the word means.)
------------------------------ Date: 3 JUL 96 14:01:14 EST From: PCulnane@dca.gov.au Subject: Chill Out! Message-ID: <0000hblvphjj.0000gkiwgkis@dca.gov.au> I've just found out that Kiwi band Martyn Phillips and the Chills (as they are now known) have released a new single called "Come Home" (NZ FLying Nun label), which includes "a couple of members of XTC in the backing lineup" (it says here). Of course, I've just placed an order, but can anybody enlighten us as to which members of XTC participate, and what their roles are? Paul-of-Oz
------------------------------ End of Chalkhills Digest #2-131 *******************************
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