Chalkhills Digest, Volume 2, Number 134 Tuesday, 9 July 1996 Today's Topics: Tracy Jacks Re: MN The Great!!! David Yazbek Credits XTC Tribute Band The Producers thanks, lee!!! Split Red X Wires Shirt Update Re: Monkey references New best of... More smart apeing XTC Beer Bears/Live or not/the group as a whole Sorry -- a B*****s question... Fossil Fuels Questions misc Red, Eno, Pixies, & ... Eno's ambience enos & videos xtc/eno Divine Comedy Update Sir George's Ears my evil twin and his caustic fingers (re Rick Rubin) who to produce, and what to call it? brief note re Devo Battery Brides and Monkey Suits Administrivia: Enough MONKEYS already!! To UNSUBSCRIBE from the Chalkhills mailing list, send a message to <chalkhills-request@chalkhills.org> with the following command: unsubscribe chalkhills For all other administrative issues, send a message to: <chalkhills-request@chalkhills.org> Please remember to send your Chalkhills postings to: <chalkhills@chalkhills.org> World Wide Web: <http://chalkhills.org/> The views expressed herein are those of the individual authors. Had his own tankard.
---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Fri, 5 Jul 1996 22:46:37 GMT Message-Id: <199607052246.WAA05211@mailhost.worldnet.att.net> From: Stephen Larson <MereBrian@worldnet.att.net> Subject: Tracy Jacks In Chalkhills #2-132, varga@ferndown.ate.slb.com (Stephen Varga) writes: > I think it does. For example, Boys will Boys (I hope that's the right song > title!) by Blur reminds me of XTC in the Barry Andrews era, and some of the > music from these bands have a sixties psychedelic sound, which of course is > a regular XTC feature. You mean, presumably, Girls & Boys. I suppose it has some XTC influence but I think the very next song on Parklife, Tracy Jacks, is a dead-ringer. From the Limelight-ish opening chord, through the Black Sea era rhythm line, to the ooo-ooo-eee-ooo's near the end. And, of course, the Blur-A.P. connection has been well documented in previous Chalkhills. Oh yeah, you mentioned Blow Monkeys - I don't know any of their song titles off-hand, but there's that classic by the Swollen Monkeys: On Vacation from Vacation. SJL
------------------------------ Message-Id: <199607060236.LAA07809@mita2.cc.mita.keio.ac.jp> Subject: Re: MN The Great!!! Date: Sat, 06 Jul 1996 11:36:43 +0900 From: NAOYUKI ISOGAI <b9400863@mita2.cc.mita.keio.ac.jp> Hi'ya Chalkies!!! > From: varga@ferndown.ate.slb.com (Stephen Varga) > > By the way Naoyuki, although I have an English copy, > the CD itself is manufactured in Tokyo. That's excatly what I wanted to ask. T4 (to thll the truth), I have an English copy too, and I was afraid that mine was a damn imitaion. It's because the disk itself is written to be manufactured in Tokyo but such a sentence isn't written on its case. Just written "1995 Humbug Records." However, two email messages and that post have convinced me that mine is not an imitaion. Many thanks to GT in the US, MF in the UK, and Stephen!!! P.S.: Luckily, I was able to get the CD for 1,800 Yen (etw $16 or #11). ---- NaoyuKing, the department "No need to look back of Economics in KEIO Univ. to pictures of lost, when all was rust..." E-mail : b9400863@cc.mita.keio.ac.jp
------------------------------ Date: Fri, 5 Jul 1996 20:06:58 -0700 (PDT) From: Steve Johnson <steve-j@teleport.com> Subject: David Yazbek Credits Message-ID: <Pine.SUN.3.92.960705195634.7561B-100000@linda.teleport.com> I don't know if this was ever mentioned around here, but I found a videotape of random stuff I'd recorded off TV a few days ago and watched it. Besides Simpsons and Seinfeld episodes, there was also the "Spy Hit List" 12/92 SPY Magazine special hosted by Julia Louis-Dreyfuss. At the end of the show in the credits, I suddenly saw "MUSIC - David Yazbek" on my TV screen. I had listened to some of the background music during the show and liked its playful cheeriness and also thought it had a familiar feel to it, but it wasn't until I saw the credit that I made the connection. Anyway, I just thought it was rather interesting and decided to share. Steve
------------------------------ Date: Sat, 6 Jul 1996 18:50:34 +0100 Message-Id: <199607061750.AA11262@felix.dircon.co.uk> From: Simon Sleightholm <nonsuch@dircon.co.uk> Subject: XTC Tribute Band There appears to be an XTC tribute band doing the rounds in the UK. They are playing in London on July 20th. Here're the details. THE STANDARD MUSIC VENUE, 1 BLACKHORSE LANE, LONDON E17 Whats on Message line 0181 527 1966 Bookings 0181 527 0055 20/7 ONE STEP BEHIND(MADNESS TRIB)/PARTRIDGE FAMILY(XTC TRIB) #5 If anyone goes, or has seen the band before I'd love to know what they're like. Simon * --------------------------------------------------- http://www.users.dircon.co.uk/~nonsuch/bungalow.htm * --------------------------------------------------- No Thugs In Our House, only XTC.
------------------------------ Date: Sat, 6 Jul 1996 16:23:48 -0700 (PDT) From: Stephen Mahoney <stephenm@nethost.multnomah.lib.or.us> Subject: The Producers Message-ID: <Pine.SUN.3.91.960706161205.16521A-100000@nethost.multnomah.lib.or.us> Hope this subject isn't entirely flogged to death , so here are two more suggestions.... First, on the fun dub side they should be produced by/collaborate with Lee "Scratch" Perry. I think whatever the result it would sound fun, even though it would not be entirely true to their current direction. Second, on the orchestral mentor side they should have George Martin ( remember him? ) and then of coarse Ringo on drums. Then Ringo could sing on one song and Colin on two. It would be intersting since I've always thought of Abbey Road when listening to Skylarking( and vise-versa) SteveM.( of Portland, Or.)
------------------------------ Date: Sat, 6 Jul 1996 21:40:11 -0700 From: becki digregorio <ziglain@cruzio.com> Subject: thanks, lee!!! Message-ID: <9607062138.aa24167@cruzio.com> in the last chalkhills post, Lee Beddow of Stafford, England writes: >I took the liberty of ringing up Virgin Records press office today to try >and find out any details of this new Best Of album from the boys and I >was told the following. >1. It's called "Fossil Fuels - XTC Singles from 1977 to 199 something" >(their words - obviously Virgin have forgotten how long its been since >we've last heard anything and are probably embaressed!) my hat off to you!! way to go after virgin for details, and a big thank you for doing so _and_ posting this info on our humble list. it's fans like you that make it a pleasure reading these missives. can't wait for the disc, tho i'm sure i have everything they could put on there (most readers probably do), but it'll be keen to pick up a few and give to friends -- especially those we want to turn on to xTc. and to the person who submitted a "monkey" song as follows: >Monkeyberry Moon Delight --Paul McCartney (a reoccuring XTC item) if you consider yourself a beatles' fan, you would know that paul mccartney's solo album "ram" has its song #8 titled "_monk_berry moon delight." oops!!! peace to all, becki "all values are relative to the mind that entertains them."
------------------------------ Date: Sun, 7 Jul 1996 15:53:42 -0400 (EDT) Message-Id: <v02130501ae0587461e6d@[128.148.109.121]> From: Gene_Yoon@brown.edu (Gene Yoon) Subject: Split Red X Wires >From: "Simon Knight" <sknight@warchivegw.riv.csu.edu.au> > >Does anyone else notice the slight similarity between Split Enz's "I >see red" to XTC's "Red"? Right down to the hiccup/shattered vocal >style. Funny, I was going to make this parallel, but didn't think it was worth typing into Chalkhills for. Thanks for beating me to it. Absolution! Both songs are from the early careers of the bands, when they were enamoured with glam rock and silly noises. Manic keyboards, shouting voices, out of control tempo, crescendoing into a madhouse din that suddenly cuts off. "What do I see walking down the street, I see red!" "Don't let them make you see red!" I don't particularly like either song, actually, when I think of all the other wonderful tunes from both groups. >Does anyone know which one came first? I'm curious. Split Enz's song was '77, XTC's '78. I can't help but suspect Andy had heard the Split Enz song first. On a side note, both bands eventually matured into a neo-Beatlesque melodic/orchestated route, Split Enz becoming Crowded House. And Hugh Padham produced their best albums (my opinion, of course)--"Time and Tide" and "English Settlement". Almost like mirror careers from opposite hemispheres. I love 'em both. Getting Youth to produce XTC's next album would be the icing on the cake. Gene
------------------------------ Message-Id: <m0udAJF-000XeXC@mis01.micron.net> Date: Mon, 8 Jul 96 01:00 MDT From: philco@micron.net (Phil Corless) Subject: Shirt Update As of Sunday, July 7, I have received shirt orders from: Kreyche, Naranjo, Glazer, Henderson, Pages, Reaves, Rybicki, Eva, diGregorio and Kendrick If you have actually MAILED a check to me, please let me know so that I can expect it.... If you haven't put the check in the mail yet, but you are really going to, please do it SOON. I have had several requests that the shirts be done before August. That would mean having all the orders in by July 20th or so..... Thanks! * -------------------------------- Phil Corless Boise, Idaho philco@micron.net * -------------------------------- http://netnow.micron.net/~philco/
------------------------------ Message-Id: <v02110117ae06cc77db8f@[134.32.48.176]> Date: Mon, 8 Jul 1996 15:34:50 +0100 From: varga@ferndown.ate.slb.com (Stephen Varga) Subject: Re: Monkey references How can you forget the Funky Gibbon by the Goodies? What a classic!
------------------------------ Date: Mon, 8 Jul 96 11:00 EST From: Jeffrey Langr <0005392548@mcimail.com> Subject: New best of... Message-Id: <22960708160022/0005392548ND4EM@MCIMAIL.COM> >From Lee B.: >1. It's called "Fossil Fuels - XTC Singles from 1977 to 199 something" Yuk. Sounds like it's going to be a big waste of money for those of us who have all the stuff that will be on this collection, especially if it's just an extension to The Compact XTC which was just an extension to Waxworks. To be honest I can't see this thing selling many copies, especially if it will be a double CD, and especially since it's been so long that XTC put out anything for people to hear. It would probably help to bring in some new fans but then only if it were to come out after whatever new album XTC ends up putting out (probably in 1997 at this rate). Sadly I'll probably plunk out the $20 or so anyway... Jeff L.
------------------------------ Message-Id: <2.2.32.19960708185938.0068bfec@mail.sonyinteractive.com> Date: Mon, 08 Jul 1996 11:59:38 -0700 From: Bob Estus <bestus@sonyinteractive.com> Subject: More smart apeing John Wedemeyer writ: >Anyway, my fave has to be the bullfrog (courtesy of AP) on "Knuckle Down". I just gave it a listen! Oooh, that's subtle. Good catch. Also rediscovered, what a fantastic song! I especially like "the world might end with a big (symbol crash) bang". The symbol being symbolic. I found the synthetic tweetering on "My Bird Performs" since my first post. And just heard some shimmering fish on "Jason and the Argonauts". -Bob Oot greet! -Don Martin
------------------------------ From: richard.pedrettiallen@octel.com Date: Mon, 8 Jul 1996 10:19:04 -0700 Message-Id: <1E144A50.1240@corp.octel.com> Subject: XTC Beer To Charles, ....TOOO EASY! Life Begins At The HOPS (India Pale Ale) "Dos XTC" (A Vienna/Marzen style lager) The Smartest Dunkles (A dark, malty, strong lager) Peter Pumpkin Ale (A holiday season beer spiced with nutmeg and cinnamon) Always Winter Never Christmas Barleywine (To warm you and yours on those brisk Santa Barbara winter evenings) This Is Pop! (American Lager!) "I resign as clown" Brown Ale (...or maybe "Albert Brown Ale") It's Nearly Africa (Pale, cloudy beer brewed with Millet seed) Rocket From A Bottle (if you add too much priming sugar!) Ten Feet Tall Russian Imperial Stout (just plain big!) Snowman EisBock Summer's Cauldron (brewed with hot peppers) Another Satellite (I can't decide... Would this be a strong ale that sends you "flying" or a nice sessions bitter with a "low starting gravity"??) Statue Of Liberty (liberal use of the new Liberty variety of hops) That's enough for now! Cheers, Richard
------------------------------ Message-Id: <199607082102.OAA00705@sgi.sgi.com> Date: Wed, 3 Jul 1996 18:46:00 -0500 From: Dik LeDoux <dik@ICON-INC.NET> Subject: Bears/Live or not/the group as a whole HideeHO Chalkholios... Many thanks to those who know who the Bears were and are. I actually hit upon the idea of searching for Psychodots and found they're page! Now that I've got a laptop with sound, maybe I can get the audio from it as well. Even though the Bears is not-so-XTC related, it's nice checking into a group with such simultaneously similar and different tastes. And to side with someone (I forgot who it was)...Just about ANYTHING can be pulled off live. Especially if you consider that "live" doesn't have to be a mere reproduction. I've seen some bands that have people jumpin' around and stuff and the songs sound BETTER than the record. So just calm down (whoever the unhappy guy was - had a bad day?). And... compliments to those of you who can remember people's names. It's a talent I wish I could cultivate, and an engaging habit. Adios Dik \:)
------------------------------ Date: Mon, 08 Jul 96 16:34:19 CDT From: "Bernhardt, Todd" <tbernhardt@aga.com> Message-Id: <9606088368.AA836866908@cc.perftech.com> Subject: Sorry -- a B*****s question... Howdee! Don't remember who said this, but did you say that McCARTNEY played the guitar solo on Taxman?!? I always considered that solo George Harrison's best! Why would Harrison hand the solo reins over to Paul for what is arguably his break-through hit and the first time he really distinguished himself from John and Paul as a songwriter? I loved the stuff Pauly did on bass back then, but if this is true I have new-found respect for him ... that and the solo on Sympathy for the Devil are two of the most caustic guitar leads in late-'60s pop songs that I've heard. Fripp would be so proud... :^) Ob. XTC content: To the demo-doubter: I think I remember correctly that you said you had heard only the Jules Verne/Bull demo -- if that's true, then you heard album cast-offs, which may account for their low quality, IYHO. I think they're fun, and it's interesting to see Andy and Colin's minds at work. Otherwise, the interesting thing for me is how close the album demos are to the songs that make it on the album (esp. Andy's), which makes me wonder if they do indeed need a producer foisted upon them by the record company... And to the new-song guy: How could you leave The Green Man off your list of prospective songs?!? It's gotta be on there! :^) ByeBye!
------------------------------ Message-Id: <v02110118ae07e02a701a@[134.32.48.176]> Date: Tue, 9 Jul 1996 11:34:00 +0100 From: varga@ferndown.ate.slb.com (Stephen Varga) Subject: Fossil Fuels Questions 1. Are all XTC singles featured in chronological order? 2. I assume that all the Waxworks/Compact XTC tracks are covered. If so will we get: a) Respectable Street and No Thugs included? b) The original version of Wait Till Your Boat Goes Down? (Still not available on CD) 3) Are the Colonel, The Three Wise Men and the two Dukes of Statosphear singles going to be included? 4) I assume the rest of the album title will be something like "The Singles 1977-1992." That being the case does Virgin have a new XTC single to release in order to help market the album? That way they can call it "The Singles 1977-1996" and the record buying public won't feel they are buying an album that should have been released four years ago! 5) Goes back to the question of the simultaneous video release. Well?
------------------------------ From: 7IHd <ee92pmh@brunel.ac.uk> Message-Id: <20725.9607091203@molnir.brunel.ac.uk> Subject: misc Date: Tue, 9 Jul 1996 13:03:09 +0100 (BST) # Subject: odds and sods, bits and pieces... Someone whose name I deleted by mistake, as ever, wrote: # <Offhand, my producer choice might be John Leckie -- luv Psonic Psunspot. # # Right again, Chuck. Leckie proves he's more than an obscure Duke on # Radiohead's "The Bends" - my vote for the best damn album by a British pop # band in years! Personally I think that 'The Bends', whilst it has moments of brilliance, is not as great as people make out. Don't get me wrong, I've been a Radiohead fan since *that* song, and 'Anyone Can Play Guitar' proved even then that there was more to them than *that* song, but I don't think 'The Bends' was as good as it could have been. I'm not necessarily blaming Leckie, but it does wear off. I hardly ever play it now. # I also think T Bone Burnett, Stephen Street, or even Flood would make good # choices. I'm going to go out on the limb here and say that my vote for # "most incongruous yet potentially inventive producer" would be Butch Vig. # At first glance, the god of grunge, but check out the production on his # vanity project/band, Garbage (his rhythmic concepts and drumming are # interesting too). There's more to this boy than meets the eye. Butch would be interesting, though he might be a bit too straight-rock for XTC. Stephen Street would be a complete disaster - Blur's 'The Great Escape' sounds like a major rush-job, littered with production mistakes (seriously - a fine album, but the production is sorely lacking). I suspect Andy would fire him before they'd done 2 tracks. As for Flood, the only thing of his I've heard is Crowded House's "Together Alone". Sounds like he'd be OK if XTC make 'Nonsuch II', but I somehow can't see them doing that at this stage... ;-) Someone else said: # I just thought that I would throw my two cents in on the # producers thread: What about George Martin? (Yes, the # Beatles producer) I don't know if he is still working or # not, but what the hell, while we're dreaming why not go # for the best? I was under the impression his hearing was shot. Who were the Beatles anyway? Some Oasis cover band weren't they? # On a final note, I would love to see a XTC/Robyn Hitchcock # collaboration. I wonder if that would be possible? (Any # Hitchcock fans out there?) I spot a Thomas Dolby link... Whee! I didn't delete this name: # From: myke <jerk@execpc.com> # # Another thing: I just got a 2-7" package of "Battery Brides" # in a clear "city at night"-style sleeve. Is this worth anything? # Also proving that Trouser Press Record Guide's statement that # "Go 2 yielded no singles whatsoever" is wrong... (And it's # not on WAXWORKS. Was this really scarce?) Are you sure this isn't the 'Towers Of London' 2-7" pack? That includes a live version of 'Battery Brides', hence the confusion I suspect. Another name I deleted offered this: # >Does anyone else notice the slight similarity between Split Enz's "I # >see red" to XTC's "Red"? Right down to the hiccup/shattered vocal # >style. # # How about adding to that list the song "Red" by Belly, on their disasterous # second CD ^King^. Espicially the chorus... Disasterous in what way? As soon as you mentioned it, I had to put it on - it's a brilliant album. Love it to death. I have to admit, I don't hear much likeness between 'Red' and 'Red' by the way... Re: Go2, I'd rank it below TBE and BS, but it's still a work of pure genius. I just love the tense, frenetic sound on that record - they lost a lot when Barry left, IMHO. OK, so the tension in the band at that time meant a parting of the ways was inevitable, but it was still a loss. # From: james.dignan@stonebow.otago.ac.nz (James Dignan) # # RED: # >Does anyone else notice the slight similarity between Split Enz's "I # >see red" to XTC's "Red"? Right down to the hiccup/shattered vocal # >style. # > # >Does anyone know which one came first? I'm curious. # # Split Enz's song is an oldie, around 1978. Wheras XTCs song came out in, er, 1978. # From: Brookes McKenzie <RMCKENZI@smith.smith.edu> # Subject: my go2 explodes! # # i'm not as fond of the first five songs # which were originally released as the _go+_ EP, mostly because they're not # all that different from the originals and the originals are so fun and # peppy that the remixes come across as boring, lifeless dirges. S'funny, because I've always thought that 'Go+' was by far the best bit of 'Explode Together'. I certainly wouldn't describe them as lifeless... # From: dgershmn <dgershmn@ametsoc.org> # Subject: re: beer Full list snipped, but this was hilarious. Well done! I especially love: # "Polly Up on Hoppy" And before I finish, whilst I'm not that keen on extending the 'monkey' thread, I'd still like to point out that nobody has mentioned Shriekback's "Pond Life". OK so it hasn't been recorded yet, but so what? :-) That's all. Phil _ |_)|_ *| | | )|| http://http2.brunel.ac.uk:8080/~ee92pmh/ ========
------------------------------ From: myke <jerk@execpc.com> Message-Id: <199607091237.HAA14151@earth.execpc.com> Subject: Red, Eno, Pixies, & ... Date: Tue, 9 Jul 1996 07:37:01 -0500 (CDT) > I do not feel that Mr Eno is right for XTC though. Putting a post-it note on my comment, I only now remembered Eno's comment that XTC didn't -need- a producer (or in the case of MUMMER, shouldn't have had one). I think that's probably more true now than it was before G0 2... > In complete agreement, esp. considering you didn't mention the pile of dung > that is ^Bossanova^. HEY!!! Some of the Pixies' best songs were on that album! It's my favorite on the basis of "Velouria" alone, not to mention "Is She Weird", "Dig For Fire," "Alison".... I bossanova witcha... > Does this mean there will be a corresponding "Fossil Fuel" video > collection too??? :-) We can only live in hope. > RED: > Split Enz's song is an oldie, around 1978. But so is XTC's... > Speaking of connecting XTC with horrible pop bands, Pat Marselotto did > play with Mr Mister. I wouldn't bless Mr. Mister with the title of 'pop band'. That, to me, indicates some sort of sugary reward. Mr. Mister are bloated AOR. > it's Eno doesn't mean it's ambient or anything close. Have you heard the > album he produced for James? or for the Talking Heads, perhaps? Well, you have to admit, REMAIN IN LIGHT is pretty ambient in tone. Listen to "Seen And Not Seen." It screams atmosphere. If you want an example of unobtrusive Eno production, listen to the virtually nonexistent Television demos, or Devo's first album. And what's this about Talking Heads being "lame"??? And as for the Sugarplastic, I was fortunate enough to have heard them in a used CD store before I spent the big bucks, and was sorely disappointed... XTC? Maybe after they had been robbed of any melodic edge and had all the quirk sucked out...
------------------------------ Message-Id: <v02140b00ae083dab5a7a@[128.102.107.72]> Date: Tue, 9 Jul 1996 08:52:29 -0800 From: tmunsat@pppl.gov (Tobin Munsat) Subject: Eno's ambience >I don't exactly take offense at this, but I'm confused -- just because >it's Eno doesn't mean it's ambient or anything close. Have you heard the >album he produced for James? or for the Talking Heads, perhaps? Or Devo's first(?) record? Not exactly ambient. In my local record store, the placecard for the Eno section says "See also: everything cool". I heartily agree. -Tobin _________________________________ Tobin Munsat Nasa-Ames Research Center MS 229-4 Moffett Field, CA 94035-1000 415-604-2544 (o) 415-554-0343 (h) _________________________________
------------------------------ Date: Tue, 9 Jul 1996 09:24:01 -0700 (PDT) From: Thomas Long <tlong@unixg.ubc.ca> Subject: enos & videos Message-ID: <Pine.SOL.3.91.960709090450.5524A-100000@interchg.ubc.ca> Eno as producer?? Can't you just see Andy pulling out the few remaining strands of his hair as the already quite hairless Mr. Eno gets out the Tarot cards to decide which mix is better. No, the next producer is/shall be/always was ADRIAN BELEW (are you listening Andy??). Fossil Fuels... I love it... as long as it doesn't have the word "Monkeys" on it... and can the video companion be far behind?????? I Buried Cranberry Sauce Thomas
------------------------------ From: Keith Hanlon <ad180@seorf.ohiou.edu> Message-Id: <199607091751.NAA09544@ra.cs.ohiou.edu> Subject: xtc/eno Date: Tue, 9 Jul 1996 13:51:28 -0400 (EDT) Continuing in the Eno production debate... I must agree with all of you who posted in my last digest. If you've only heard Eno's production with U2, then you are missing out... Eno and David Byrne's "My Life in the Bush of Ghosts" is downright amazing to this day, and often reminds me of XTC's African series, as well as "Go+." Although I love his "ambient" rock productions (even "Achtung Baby"), you must check out "Ghosts", James' "Laid," and Eno's "Here Come the Warm Jets." I am tending to side with Eno himself, when he told XTC, "You don't need a producer" (see FAQ) By the way, my band will be on the "Skylacking" tape performing "1000 Umbrellas." If you'd like to check us out online, we have a tune at Jason Huck's homepage: http://users1.ee.net/Huck We're called Norton's Orchestraville. We have no homepage, but if you like it and want more info, please contact me. Keith Hanlon "I still think Kenny G is boring and useless..."
------------------------------ From: myke <jerk@execpc.com> Message-Id: <199607092259.RAA22877@earth.execpc.com> Subject: Divine Comedy Update Date: Tue, 9 Jul 1996 17:59:52 -0500 (CDT) One more thing before I forget... We were discussing Divine Comedy a few digests back. I've just spoken with Tim at Setanta, his label, and the new album CASANOVA won't be released here till next year. Sorry!
------------------------------ From: pappas@execpc.com Message-Id: <199607100042.TAA22874@mail.execpc.com> Subject: Sir George's Ears Date: Tue, 9 Jul 96 19:45:32 -0500 Sir George Martin is my favorite producer of all time, and I think, to a certain extent, that all produces should have some classical training where the subject music will have elaborate orchestrations. He made the music he produced sound beautiful without making it sappy, which many have subsequently tried to do and failed. And, as much as I'd LOVE to see him produce XTC, it isn't going to happen. When the Fabs released 'Free as a Bird' and 'Real Love', didn't it seem odd that Jeff Lynne produced those songs instead of Mr. Martin himself? There is a reason that the recently knighted Martin was limited to only producing the other Anthology songs, and that reason is, regrettably, his failing hearing. In an interview with George Harrison around the time of the new releases in Q magazine, has Harrison stating that Sir George's hearing isn't what it was, and he wasn't up to producing a new song where the quality was so much more essential, especially where there were very rough base tracks to be cleaned up. It saddens me that the man who made the entire world's ears shine might someday be unable to enjoy the fruit of his remarkable works. :( Anyhow, now you know why he isn't interested in producing anymore. In other news, thanks for the tip of the Sugarplastic album. I like it and also recomment the Finn Brothers CD, finally released domestically in the U.S.A.. Oh yeah, I was also wondering what XTC songs and exactly which lyrics does Dave Gregory sing? I was shocked to hear mention of it in a recent post, as I'd never noticed before. Finally, I'd like to thank all of you that have written and helped me with my inquiries so far, and to encourage you lurkers to come out of the shadows. I am certainly glad I did, tho I wonder if the rest of you are. ;) Still thinking 'Deflowered' would make a great album title, Constantine Pappas, Esq.
------------------------------ Date: Tue, 9 Jul 1996 21:22:46 -0500 (CDT) From: "Jeffrey with 2 f's Jeffrey" <jenor@csd.uwm.edu> Subject: my evil twin and his caustic fingers (re Rick Rubin) Message-ID: <Pine.OSF.3.91.960709211642.17800D-100000@alpha1.csd.uwm.edu> On Mon, 8 Jul 1996 pjmuck@mail.idt.net (Peter McCulloch) wrote: > Any producer who could turn the Cult into another shabby metal band > (Electric) or deconstruct a classic Queen song (We Will Rock You) into a > lame hip-hop jam doesn't sit well with me either. Umm...the Cult was always a lame metal band as far as I can tell, and "We Will Rock You" fully deserves its status as fodder for beer-fuddled jocks' foot-stomping imbecility. Queen had its good moments when it played up the more pop elements of its music, but the "Rock You"/"Champions" single was their bid to win best song honors at the Nuremberg Rallies. Name of possible producer I don't believe anyone's metnioned yet (yeah so I'm an American): Mitch Easter. --Jeff Jeffrey J. Norman <jenor@csd.uwm.edu> <http://www.uwm.edu/~jenor/> Dept. of English & Comp. Lit. University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee ::[clever or pithy quote from someone]::::::::::::::::::[source of quote]::
------------------------------ Date: Tue, 9 Jul 1996 22:25:13 -0400 (EDT) From: "Craig E. Canevit" <canevit@utkux.utcc.utk.edu> Subject: who to produce, and what to call it? Message-ID: <Pine.SOL.3.91.960709221754.5892C-100000@utkux4.utcc.utk.edu> Of course, they could always call the new album "Omnibus" and have each track produced by someone different (that way, it could be the anti-Skyarking with no thematic unity, just a lot of songs). two birds with one stone, Craig
------------------------------ Date: Tue, 9 Jul 1996 21:36:42 -0500 (CDT) From: "Jeffrey with 2 f's Jeffrey" <jenor@csd.uwm.edu> Subject: brief note re Devo Message-ID: <Pine.OSF.3.91.960709213516.17800E-100000@alpha1.csd.uwm.edu> I forget who, but someone commented along the lines of "where would Devo be if not for _White Music_ and _Go 2_?": Devo's work precedes both those albums - demos (released on Ryko) for "Jocko Homo" and others being done in '76 or so. --Jeff Jeffrey J. Norman <jenor@csd.uwm.edu> <http://www.uwm.edu/~jenor/> Dept. of English & Comp. Lit. University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee ::it's beginning to and back again:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::Wire::
------------------------------ Message-Id: <1.5.4.32.19960710040358.00665ba4@mindspring.com> Date: Wed, 10 Jul 1996 00:03:58 -0400 From: jes <xtc@mindspring.com> Subject: Battery Brides and Monkey Suits Something that calls itself myke <jerk@execpc.com> wrote: Another thing: I just got a 2-7" package of "Battery Brides" in a clear "city at night"-style sleeve. Is this worth anything? Also proving that Trouser Press Record Guide's statement that "Go 2 yielded no singles whatsoever" is wrong... (And it's not on WAXWORKS. Was this really scarce?) The package which you hold in your hands was actually "Towers Of London" which had three B-sides, two of which were live recordings of older tunes ("Battery Brides" and "I Set Myself On Fire"), updated with Gregory's keys and guitar. It's rather rare, actually.... the only copy I have ever seen is the one I bought, way back in 1980 or so. Now, another peeve which I'd like to pet. Is this place getting so lame that the best topic that anyone can bounce around is trying to find links to monkeys and apes? I can enjoy the discussions about producers, and I can even get a kick out of naming beers, but when we get so obtuse as to finding the missing link, I begin to wonder why I glut my email with this bother. As my usual disclaimer, please remember that opinions are like the large intestine: everyone has one, but they're all full of crap.
------------------------------ End of Chalkhills Digest #2-134 *******************************
Go back to Volume 2.
10 July 1996 / Feedback