Chalkhills Digest, Volume 2, Number 14 Friday, 20 October 1995 Today's Topics: P.Hux Ready for Testimonial Dessert Re: Chalkhills Digest #2-13 Testimonial Dinner Chris Savage's message BuDD/anDy... Good news Verve Pipe Homepage Terry & The Lovemen Re: Chalkhills Digest #2-13 TVP's Blue Beret t. dinner: s.reule@genie.geis.com Testimonial Dinner My gramma and plaque XTC, River Of Orchids, on CBC Radio Testimonial Dinner and stuff Prefab Sprout Rare Andy and Colin video out there? Administrivia: 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> World Wide Web: "http://reality.sgi.com/employees/relph/chalkhills/" The views expressed herein are those of the individual authors. So take yourself a hike from the kitchen sink.
---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Thu, 19 Oct 1995 13:01:33 -0400 From: mp2@waterw.com (Marlton Pharmacy) Subject: P.Hux For Those of you still wondering where you may have heard of P. Hux, after listening to A Testimonial Dinner & reading the linear notes I've figured out where _I've_ heard of him. Parthenon Huxley worked with E. He co produced E's first CD (A Man Called (E)) while also co-writting many songs. Including the 2 that I've heard on the radio (Hello Cruel World & The Only Thing I Care About, the latter from E's 2nd CD, Broken Toy Shop). It only took a momen tto remember where I'd heard the name before. Parthenon is not a name you soon forget. The version of Another Satellite is great. Who else thinks that 26 0'Clock is the best thing TMBG has put out in too long of a while? Later, Jim (Kee)
------------------------------ Date: Thu, 19 Oct 95 14:19:32 EST From: "John Christensen" <christej@vrinet.com> Subject: Ready for Testimonial Dessert I'm lying on the ground -- bloated and smiling -- after consuming "Dinner". Couldn't help but go back for seconds . . . but now I'm ready for dessert! Mr. Yazbeck: You thanked "all the folks who submitted covers that couldn't fit on this album". Hmmm . . . does that mean "Testimonial Dessert" is on the way? Or were you politely saying "thanks to all those whose submissions were truly awful and gave us all a good laugh"? Certainly, almost 30 more minutes of musical tribute COULD have fit on the CD. My personal highlights: Having been a XTC/Joe fan for many years, hearing Joe Jackson (a transplanted Englishman in New York) doing Statue of Liberty was particularly exciting. Graham Maby (Joe Jackson's longtime bass player and NOT a They Might be Giants Loanee as someone suggested) is a bass God! No, he didn't create Largemouth in his own image . . . Sarah McLachlan, Ruben Blades and P. Hux were outstanding, IMHO. Disappointments: Crash Test Dummies, The Verve Pipe, They Might Be Giants and Terry & the Lovemen. It sounded like The Verve Pipe had taken a powersander to "Wake Up" and removed any edges. Very flat indeed. As for Terry & The Lovemen: Get a life! I mean, it's one thing to worship another band, god knows I've done it, but when you start mimicking them -- from your fake Swindonian accents, to that copied and unique XTC sound, to recording at Drive Studio in Swindon, England -- you need counseling . . . and soon. And, of all the wonderful demos out there, I wish you would have tried "Rocket", "Everything", or "Terrorism", or maybe "Blue Beret" instead. But maybe if you three Terry's can get signed to a friendly record label, we will hear more of you in the future. Please! And I'm sure everyone noticed that "Earn Enough For Us" now appears on Black Sea! Ooops . . . My last disappointment was that the rumor about Elvis Costello singing with Ruben Blades on TMWSAHS was a cruel hoax. Had Mr. Yazbeck pulled that off, I would have flopped to my knees and screamed: "There is a God, and David Yazbeck is one of his Santa-like elves!" Thank you Mr. Yazbeck. And thanks to the rest of you for reading this far. Jasper
------------------------------ From: David Yazbek <yazbek@pipeline.com> Date: Thu, 19 Oct 1995 17:50:54 -0400 Subject: Re: Chalkhills Digest #2-13 Thanks for all the nice words concerning Testimonial Dinner. I need to apologize for the miscrediting of "Earn Enough For Us" to Black Sea. Someone screwed that one up after I had proofread it. Heads will roll. Well, maybe not. I must share one of the funniest things I've ever heard A.P. say-- "Why didn't any of the newspapers have the obvious headline when Jerry Garcia died? 'HEAD DEAD HEAD DEAD'". Incidentally, I think I'll be playing in a rough trio format on Nov. 17th at a N.Y. club called "Brownies". I want to make it early so I don't miss my bedtime. Yazbek
------------------------------ Date: Thu, 19 Oct 95 17:06 EST From: Jeffrey Langr <0005392548@mcimail.com> Subject: Testimonial Dinner I agreed with most of Steve Reule's comments re: Testimonial Dinner, which I picked up Tuesday. Not much that's very interesting here except Sarah McLachlan's treatment of Dear God; I *do* like 25 O'Clock as done by TMBG. The biggest problem with the whole CD is the lack of vocal quality on most of the covers -- most of the vocals have a nasal annoying quality to them. Once again fairly palatable rehashed stuff, a la Drums & Wireless, whilst waiting for the real thing. Jeff L.
------------------------------ Date: Thu, 19 Oct 1995 18:14:19 -0700 (PDT) From: Laura Parent <laura@geosun1.sjsu.edu> Subject: Chris Savage's message Wow, tough luck! I didn't know that was the tour that did them in. Does anyone know the last date they played? I saw them in Providence, Rhode Island sometime around 1980, I can't remember the date, but it must have been near then since they played "Generals and Majors". They had a very cool video tape loop thing going on, and their equipment said 'ecstacy' on it. I had to beg someone from my college to go with me, since none of my admittedly not very cool friends knew who they were. I didn't realize at the time how lucky I was to see them live. -laura parent
------------------------------ From: silva@pc110.ccrc.uga.edu Date: Thu, 19 Oct 95 18:24:41 Subject: BuDD/anDy... BARBER@emuvax asked about what he could expect from this disc. Basically, it seems to be a deeper reflection of the ambient/instrumental side of Andy that was the Homo Safari series way back when. Some of the pieces here share something of a relationship to let's say..oh, maybe "Frost Circus (I can't remember which b-side that's on at the moment....)." Very ethereal, interesting from the Andy as the multi-fauceted musician perspective :-> --------------------- JoE Silva Carbohydrate Center, Univ of GA 220 Riverbend Rd Athens, GA (706) 542 - 4452 4412 (FAX)
------------------------------ From: ZITTEL@aol.com Date: Thu, 19 Oct 1995 21:29:53 -0400 Subject: Good news Just heard that Andy is in New York right now working on his contribution to the Talking Heads new album. And some real good news: Andy says they are "inches" away from getting out of their Virgin contract and that he is hoping that their next album will be a double album!
------------------------------ From: Mildenberg <mildenbe@pilot.msu.edu> Subject: Verve Pipe Homepage Date: Thu, 19 Oct 1995 21:50:18 -0400 I am new to this group, so forgive me if this information is past news, but I found a homepage for The Verve Pipe. Since they have been featured in the new XTC tribute album, I thought this may be of interest to everybody. the address is: http://www.iuma.com/The_Verve_Pipe/ The page contains lots of information as well as some sample music. This is a local band from my (college) home town. and its great to see them on the new XTC tribute album, as well as preparing for their first major label release. check it out! Chris
------------------------------ Subject: Terry & The Lovemen From: jd.mack@neteast.com (JD MACK) Date: Thu, 19 Oct 95 21:56:00 -0400 Organization: Online Technologies, Inc. - Modem: 301-738-0000 Terry & The Lovemen: XTC or not? I'd like to propose a third alternative that I don't believe anyone has brought up yet. First of all, note that Terry et al appear courtesy of EMI records, under license to Geffin in the U.S. I find it rather strange that a local Swinden band happens to be signed to XTC's label. So it has to be XTC, right? O.K., now check the vocals. It's definitely Colin. In fact, all the vocal parts are Colin! Now listen to the music. Something's lacking in the guitar department. The playing is very competent, but it doesn't seem to have the polish we expect from Andy and Dave. Now check the credits. All instruments and vocals except drums are credited to Terry. I propose that there are not three Terry's, but ONE! My theory is that this is a Colin Moulding solo project. This theory allows that David Yazbek and Andy were not lying when they said that this was NOT an XTC track, yet accounts for the other facts mentioned previously. Any comments? Dave?
------------------------------ From: PEnera@aol.com Date: Thu, 19 Oct 1995 22:06:04 -0400 Subject: Re: Chalkhills Digest #2-13 I have XTC video comp. "LOOK LOOK" I would like to make video copies available to Chalkhills subscibers. Please make inquiries to my e-mail PEnera@aol.com
------------------------------ From: BugRoom@aol.com Date: Thu, 19 Oct 1995 23:24:06 -0400 Subject: TVP's Blue Beret Greetings to the Chalkboard...! Just sitting here enjoying a Watneys (Curse You Red Barrel!!)... hmm... I wonder if that might be Andy's favorite beer... anyone know? Anyway, I just got some news about The Verve Pipe's rendition of "Blue Beret". It has just been released on a compilation CD by Yikes! Records (out of Lansing, MI). THIS is the CD I heard it from at the radio station. The CD is called: Volume V - So This Is A Compilation I believe it contains local music from around Michigan. Perhaps other places too. The CD release party (in Grand Rapids) was tonight... and I didn't go!! Shame. TVP's in New York mixing right now anyway.... I'm not sure about the distribution. It may or may not be in a record store near you. If you want more info on the CD, you can contact Yikes! directly at (517) 484-4916; you can also order the CD directly from The Verve Pipe by calling 800 951 PIPE. It's times like this I WISH I HAD SOME MONEY!!!!!!!!!! uhh... sorry, lost it for a second. Take care all!! Cheereos, John (Bug) Neil (aka "John Nil")
------------------------------ Date: Thu, 19 Oct 1995 23:48:31 -0500 From: duke@charm.net (kirkwood duke) Subject: t. dinner: s.reule@genie.geis.com i couldn't agree more, especially your comments on earn enough for us. freedy turns it into a totally (ok, partially) new song, but it is still quite good 'cause there's so much there to start with! i highly recommend the album to all xtc fans. if nothing else, it forces you to re-think a lot of previous songs, simply cause they are different. --kirk, the mayor of beatown
------------------------------ Date: Thu, 19 Oct 1995 22:09:26 -0700 (PDT) From: Mike Wheeler <mwheeler@gladstone.uoregon.edu> Subject: Testimonial Dinner Damn!!!! On the morning of Tuesday October 17 I head to my local music store to pick up Testimonial Dinner (actually I went there Monday to tell them to order it for me for Tuesday). I go there and he hasn't been able to find it anywhere. So I head downtown to a store that has decent XTC selection and they tell me that the release has been delayed until the 24th of the month? SO what's up? Every other part of the country has it, but I can't get it. Damn, I hate Oregon. Mike Wheeler mwheeler@gladstone.uoregon.edu
------------------------------ From: s.reule@genie.geis.com Date: Fri, 20 Oct 95 05:31:00 UTC Subject: My gramma and plaque Fellow fanatics: Please belatedly excuse my typos on my last post, my review of Testimonial Dinner. I just read it and even I want to flame me. Sorry, I have a brain impediment. The home computer has me on the run... As for the plaques the boys are holding, after viewing them with a magnifying glass, I am fairly certain they are the plaques that came from the 1993 XTC convention in Illinois (which I attended and consider a high point of my existence). Anybody else who was there remember? That would be the same convention that had Andy's old work boots auctioined off for $280 or thereabouts. Yow! Steven Reule S.REULE@GENIE.GEIS.COM aka Obsessed With Music I'm the mole from the ministry...
------------------------------ Date: Thu, 19 Oct 1995 23:44:49 -0700 From: Riches@cyberstore.ca (Michael Riches) Subject: XTC, River Of Orchids, on CBC Radio For all the Canadian readers here, I will once again be presenting some rare XTC on CBC radio this Saturday night (October 21). Last week I played a set of three rare demos, and I have one more. River Of Orchids is an AP demo for the "new" album that hasn't been produced yet. I'll also be presenting some Smiths, Beatles, and Brian & Dennis Wilson. Anyone in Canada or border cities who want to hear this little number can tune in to their local CBC Stereo affiliate on Saturday night (techincally Sunday morning) around 12:30... I'll be on sometime between then and 1am, hopefully no later. Folks in New Brunswick/Nova Scotia/PEI add an hour. NFLD 1 1/2 hours.
------------------------------ Date: Fri, 20 Oct 1995 12:21:49 +0100 From: dshaw@tiac.net (David G. Shaw) Subject: Testimonial Dinner and stuff Another lurker appears: Tastes will differ. The Reuben Blades cover killed me, I play it all the time. He and McLachlan really made the tunes their own. I wish TMBG had played to their strengths, a ska or polka version of "25 O'Clock" would have been a scream. I was fortunate enough to see XTC in the summer of 1980 at Madison Square Garden, opening for the Cars. I barely knew who they were (I had heard "Making Plans" and "Life Begins.." before), but I thought they blew Ocasek & company off the stage. Throughout the Cars' set (which was supporting the "Panorama" record) Elliot Easton kept quoting XTC riffs during his guitar solos. I also remember that XTC walked on to a short piece from Philip Glass' "North SDtar." I assume this was the tour from which numerous XTC bootlegs have appeared.
------------------------------ From: MRFrench3d@aol.com Date: Fri, 20 Oct 1995 09:59:23 -0400 Subject: Prefab Sprout Big Prefab Sprout fan here. Have searched, but found no online source for Prefab info. Still waiting for their new record, if it ever comes. Anyone else have any knowledge of Prefab online or dates on new music. Bill H
------------------------------ Date: Fri, 20 Oct 1995 14:09:55 -0600 From: vanvalnc@is2.nyu.edu (Chris Van Valen) Subject: Rare Andy and Colin video out there? Hi Chalkies I posted this to Erik Anderson who's running the video tape tree (is there ANYBODY who doesn't want this?). Maybe some of you have seen this or possibly have this on tape. Moogy Klingman(of Todd Rundgren's earlier Utopia band, among others) had a public access show on Manhattan Cable in NYC in the late 70s to early 80s and it was kind of a low production value, el cheapo production a la "Playboy After Dark"(in fact it might have been called "Manhattan After Dark", but I couldn't swear to that). Anyhow, I'll cut to the chase... In the spring of '81, his two guests were our beloved Andy and Colin, and it featured interviews, some videos (Nigel" and "Life Begins...") and then some comedy featuring Andy and Colin in bed together talking to "Uncle Moogy". I believe this was done at the time XTC was in NYC on the Black Sea tour (I saw them at the Ritz(now Webster Hall) and later that same year at a place on the Upper East Side called Privates(that building isn't there anymore)). If anyone has this, they should probably contact Erik at aa393@saskatoon.sk.ca I'll get another job at night, but honest, Chris Van Valen
------------------------------ End of Chalkhills Digest #2-14 ******************************
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