Chalkhills Digest Volume 2, Issue 147
Date: Wednesday, 14 August 1996
Chalkhills Digest, Volume 2, Number 147
Wednesday, 14 August 1996
Today's Topics:
oh happy day
Who's A Drunken Sod?
Re: longboxes
Discovery
Interp Archive etc.
Carmen Sandiego - Johnny and the Nexdor Neighbors
Re: big express vs. D & W
Chocolate Chips
Re: Various things (Commerciality lyrics)
A bedtime story
Need posting help
Chambers, a "whino"???
Fossil Fuels help
A testimonial dinner...
Dim the light
Bruce Woolley and the Camera Club
Umpteen Different Animals
Cameras, Bells, Birds, Masts, & Quarter Moons
Longboxes in the attic
...synchronicity....
VIDEO Tree Update
Fossil Fuel Press Release - ERRATA
bruce woolley
Trib Tape Deadline Extension
XTC VIDEO PETITION - Progress Report
Camera Club
Album Titles
Religion and music
Fossil Fool
Homo Safari/Tracks Appeal
the last episode of [insert title of soap opera here]
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The views expressed herein are those of the individual authors.
This is the part where all the curtains come down.
---------------------------------------------------------------------- Message-Id: <199608122312.AAA11961@aoife.indigo.ie> From: "Peter Fitzpatrick" <beatle@indigo.ie> Subject: oh happy day Date: Tue, 13 Aug 1996 00:15:13 +0100 Shopping on a rainy Saturday. Two babies and better half in tow. Oldest baby has a sore throat....oh dear. Go into HMV (music store type place). once the child has gotten over the joy of watching daddy crumble and purchase *another* B@rney video (sorry I just can't bring myself to type the name of that purple creature that allows me to stay in bed an extra 43 minutes on Sunday) I stroll through the "2 CDs for #15" (that's about US$24) I find WHITE MUSIC BLACK SEA (and a couple of E.Costello, The LAs ...) oh happy day !!!!!!! (only have Mummer and Big Express to go..........then it's onto the bootlegs) .......oh.....there was no point to this posting except perhaps that I'll always be reminded of my kids whenever I take out those 2 CDs. now listening to : XTC "Nonsvch" http://aoife.indigo.ie/~beatle
------------------------------ Date: 13 AUG 96 09:50:18 EST From: PCulnane@dca.gov.au Subject: Who's A Drunken Sod? Message-ID: <0000bdtrzjlp.0000amqsqmku@dca.gov.au> (1) Yay and triple-yay to Simon Knight who quite rightly suggested to certain Chalk-Nazis that they "bitch to the trees" rather than boring us all here in Chalkhills. However, I suspect that the very ones you seek to admonish will continue to spew their bile all over this otherwise wonderful digest. (As I'm about to do, but in defence of the truth....) (2) Thanx Simon Sleightholm - yes, enough is enough! You and Daniel should confine your vitriol to personal e-mail exchanges and leave the rest of us in peace. Bring back the posts you do so well, Simon. The angry, bitter stuff is getting tedious, to say the least. (3) And Bob (BObannon@aol.com) - Terry was NOT a "drunken sod", nor in any way "self-indulgent" when I met him. He was a very witty, friendly guy who, when actually face with a "drunken sod" (me!), dealt with it by offering hospitality in what I thought was a very humourous way. And he does remember the incident because I spoke to him about it many years later when I again encountered him (this time playing for Oz-NZ band Dragon). Sorry, Bob, I think you got the wrong slant on my story. Never mind. (4) I'm not by any means without guilt in posting useless and even bitchy stuff to this list. But I do TRY to make my posts interesting. Maybe I should try to find God or something. No, "fuck, that for a lark, mate, I'm just gonna suck piss and listen to XTC". PAUL
------------------------------ Date: Mon, 12 Aug 96 19:58 EDT Message-Id: <v01540b00ae353e14a47f@[132.170.24.45]> From: dcm80229@pegasus.cc.ucf.edu (Derek Miner) Subject: Re: longboxes Joe Snipp writes: > These could be some of the more obscure and useless XTC >memorabilia out there. Anyone with something more obscure and USELESS? How 'bout a longbox for Rag & Bone Buffet? = Derek =
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 12 Aug 1996 23:30:37 -0400 (EDT)
Message-Id: <199608130330.XAA20151@cyber1.servtech.com>
From: Joshua Hall-Bachner <particle@servtech.com>
Subject: Discovery
>Anyone else out there have the same experiences of discovery? Any
>particular songs you especially hated and now love? I'd like to hear
>about it. Maybe someone can point me to their own personal
>highlights of ES.
I think "Humble Daisy". At first I just thought it was, well, crappy. Doh!
<smack!> It's a great song!
Highlight of ES? Well, Yacht Dance, for one. ("In a yacht dance...do do do
do do DO do do...") Listen to the guitar part...ohhh. Argonauts takes a
*lot* of listening, but you'll be rewarded with a surprisingly beautiful song.
> Erich Walther Travels In Nihilon
Dang! I was going to try to throw together a cheap, quick version of that to
try to help with the lack of submissions. I think that's the only song I
could actually sing. :) Of course, I can't play a single instrument, so it
looks like no to this one. :(
/---------------------------Joshua Hall-Bachner---------------------------\
| particle@servtech.com http://www.servtech.com/public/particle/ |
| "Life is like a jigsaw. You get the straight bits, but there's something|
\-----missing in the middle."--XTC, "All Of A Sudden (It's Too Late)"-----/
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 12 Aug 1996 23:30:49 -0400 (EDT)
Message-Id: <199608130330.XAA20184@cyber1.servtech.com>
From: Joshua Hall-Bachner <particle@servtech.com>
Subject: Interp Archive etc.
Hideho!
It seems to me that the XTC Web resources (remarkable and thorough
as they are) are missing two things. The first is a place to store up
people's interpretations of XTC songs. This way, people can see if others
are on the same "wavelength" as they are, or read a few ideas to
"jump-start" your own understanding of the song. I have volunteered to set
this up if you, the Denizens of Chalkhills, will send me even a few interps.
I'll also try to archive whatever interps are posted to Chalkhills, but as
you can see we've been pretty "interp light" recently. :)
The second thing we don't have is a tape trading resource. Again, I
volunteer to put together an "XTC Tape Traders" page, which will contain
links to the tape lists of those who have their lists on the WWW, and
actually contain the lists of those who don't (i.e. I will post their lists
using my server.)
So, I know that, personally, these resources would be very valuble
to me, personally, and that is why I've volunteered to create them. However,
they're meaningless without your contributions. That's why you've got to
send me stuff! Send me interps or tape lists, and I'll post them up on the
page.
BTW: I have a CD that will constantly skip every time it gets to a
certain part (i.e. it will get to that part and then begin to repeat a
half-second snippet of song ad infinitum.) I haven't listened to it in a
while, and it's been sitting in a CD wallet for a while now; I just took the
CD out to listen to now and it's started to do this. What can I do? I really
don't want to go buy another copy of the album just to fix one song, but I'm
afraid that's what I'll have to do if I can't fix it somehow. (There appears
to be one tiny "pit" in the surface of the disc, near the edge of the
"recorded" portion (the track in question is the second-last) although I
have no idea how it got there.) Anyway, I'm sure there is someone out there
who can tell me what to do about this dilemma. (Hopefully that something
isn't "Go buy another CD." :)
/---------------------------Joshua Hall-Bachner---------------------------\
| particle@servtech.com http://www.servtech.com/public/particle/ |
| "Life is like a jigsaw. You get the straight bits, but there's something|
\-----missing in the middle."--XTC, "All Of A Sudden (It's Too Late)"-----/
------------------------------ Message-ID: <320FFB5A.502D@ix.netcom.com> Date: Mon, 12 Aug 1996 20:49:46 -0700 From: John Jones <Damocles@ix.netcom.com> Subject: Carmen Sandiego - Johnny and the Nexdor Neighbors I was looking through some past issues and I noticed that I couldn't find any mention (i really did look) of Johnny and the Nexdor Neighbors off of the Carmen Sandiego soundtrack. I was listening to it with a friend and instead of listening to only the XTC song (which is my custom) I let that sucker keep on playing. I was shocked to hear yet a second song with the unmistakeable voice of Andy Partridge or at least a damn good sound alike. I looked at the jewel box and saw that it wasn't listed as XTC but Johnny. Is this another clever ruse (tee-hee) from Andy? Am I going insane? By the way XTC lovers should buy The High Llamas - Gideon Gaye, it is certainly in the XTC vein and a great album to boot.
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 12 Aug 1996 23:54:49 -0400 (EDT)
Message-Id: <199608130354.XAA00503@postbox.acs.ohio-state.edu>
From: luce.13@postbox.acs.ohio-state.edu (Katherine Luce)
Subject: Re: big express vs. D & W
Fellow CHers,
I'm new to the list, but I've been on it long enough to know that
what I'm about to say constitutes blasphemy; I just got Drums and Wires and
I don't like it. I _know_, I _know_, I need to let it grow on me. But I'm
used to much richer and more complex XTC music, and this stuff sounds spare
and simple to me, and not in a good way. On the other hand, I adore Big
Express and apparently this is unusual as well. So I don't mean this
snottily, but could you more experienced CH types explain what it is I'm
supposed to like about D & W? And on another subject, am I alone in
thinking that Smartest Monkeys is an absolute kick-ass song?
------------------------------ Message-Id: <v01540b00ae3558071f02@[169.132.99.79]> Date: Tue, 13 Aug 1996 00:24:59 +0100 From: pjmuck@mail.idt.net (Peter McCulloch) Subject: Chocolate Chips Alizarine wrote: >Hey, I *like* "Frost Circus"... =) Me too. It's always had this eerie disturbing quality to it, like those demented spooky carnival scenes of dancing, pasty-faced ghouls in, "Carnival of Souls". (Rent this flick if you haven't seen it). It also worked well in that Coney Island documentary, especially the scene when they fried the elephant. (Anyone know if Andy ever got royslties for the use of this song in the documentary?). Simon Knight wrote: >Five XTC songs i hated and now love: > >Blue overall >Human alchemy >Wait till your boat goes down >Reign of blows >Here comes president kill again >Anyone else out there have the same experiences of discovery? I must admit, it took me along time to get into most of Mummer, and I would still consider it a tough listen for non-affectionados and the weak at heart. Hated Skylarking at first also, but guess what, that's the beauty of XTC's music. Sooner or later these songs will creep up on ya! Highlights of ES? My favorite song continues to be Yacht Dance, though my original US pressing didn't contain it. I was amazed this song was left off the US release until the CD pressing. Other highlights: Senses Working Overtime (of course), Jason and the Argonauts, English Roundabout, hell it's all great! By the way, just to tie this all neatly in with another post by Dave Gershman concerning desert island discs, I once read a list of favorite desert island discs by Joe Elliot of Def Leppard, whereby he cited ES as his 3rd favorite desert island disc right behind Bach and Led Zeppelin. The Lord works in mysterious ways! Regarding longboxes, Joe Snipp wrote: > These could be some of the more obscure and useless XTC >memorabilia out there. Anyone with something more obscure and USELESS? I still have my Chips from the Chocolate Fireball longbox. Why I held on to it, I'll never know. By the way, anyone have any thoughts on those new annoying adhesive strips that run across the top of the CD, seemingly, to deter it from bursting open all by itself. I dare and defy anyone out there to peel one of these off in one piece!
------------------------------ Message-Id: <v01540b0aae360f346072@[139.80.100.160]> Date: Tue, 13 Aug 1996 16:55:53 +0600 From: james.dignan@stonebow.otago.ac.nz (James Dignan) Subject: Re: Various things (Commerciality lyrics) >Firesign indicates luminous monography. High Pitched Noise. Signal Ad. >Commerciality. (That's all I know from memory, and I'm at work where dub >is frowned upon (but not typing out messages to Chalkhills, go figure).) well, it's not that easy, especially towards the end of the song. Your putting "Monography" when it sounds to me like "Phonography" shows that! This is as much as I can make out of it - anyone else care to correct it? Firesign indicate luminous phonography. Heliograph and Morse photography Signal ad - Signal ad - Signal ad - commerciality! Coherent match and basic uniform wide open Sales pitch, high pitch noise Race too soft to burn (?) - envisage this! Signal ad - Signal ad - Signal ad - commerciality! Package-cut-sell-package-cut-sell-revitalise-revitalise - this is-a (oh-oh) commerciality! Sell and revitalise and salvage some home pride (?) From tackies (?) to tobaccy we do it down in the back alley commercialitycommercialitycommerciality Signal ad - Signal ad - Signal ad - commerciality! James
------------------------------ Message-Id: <199608130620.QAA02013@warchives.riv.csu.edu.au.> From: "Simon Knight" <sknight@warchivegw.riv.csu.edu.au> Date: Tue, 13 Aug 1996 15:25:22 +0000 Subject: A bedtime story Here's another pointless little tale to skip over: I was recently driving back home to Wagga Wagga from Melbourne at 5:00 in the morning, with another five hours in the car ahead of me. Desperately bored, i put "The big express" in the stereo and was preparing to belt out the songs for the next hour, (as i am wont to do with XTC). Suddenly, as the opening chords came jerking out of the speakers, my headlights flashed on one of the new Victorian Road Safety reflective signs. It said (in letters 3 feet high) two simple words: WAKE UP It was quite chuffed. Talk about synchronicity! (and i don't even like Sting!) p.s. Since everyone seemed to enjoy Paul of Oz's recent story, you should also know that this isn't his only XTC-related meeting. Come on Paul, tell everyone your drummer story!
------------------------------ From: MiKearns@aol.com Date: Tue, 13 Aug 1996 01:47:43 -0400 Message-ID: <960813014742_598279043@emout16.mail.aol.com> Subject: Need posting help Can someone cybersavvy teach a never navvie? Assuming someway I soon find time to actually post responses to posts... but armed only with AOL (which I use to compose and send mail) and Windows Notepad (to read) how can I quote other posters in my posts and respond to them sequentially like I see others do and sometimes wish I could? I thought of tiling my Notepad and AOL and pasting from former to latter, but that doesn't sound too savvy (tho it jest mite werk, he he he). Perhaps I'm using the wrong tools, or grokking them wrongly? Please e-mail me if you can help, or post if you think others could use the advice. I understand computers pretty well (it's my job for one thing) but somehow I just don't get this. Thank yew. "The home computer has me on the run"
------------------------------ From: MiKearns@aol.com Date: Tue, 13 Aug 1996 01:43:31 -0400 Message-ID: <960813014331_598279080@emout18.mail.aol.com> Subject: Chambers, a "whino"??? BoBannon... What is a "whino" for heaven's sake? I've been getting good mileage quoting that "self-indulgent whino" Terry - getting nasty looks and everything too. Perhaps I'm capable of being one too? Please define. Or was it just a typho and you meant to say "wino"? Warmly and goldenly. "You only rent beer"
------------------------------ From: MiKearns@aol.com Date: Tue, 13 Aug 1996 01:46:50 -0400 Message-ID: <960813014650_598279099@emout08.mail.aol.com> Subject: Fossil Fuels help I tried searching on text string "Virgin" over last 3 or 4 posts but could not find the info on how to advance order the Fossil Fuels compilation. I could (should) try more different text things, but wondered if I would not be imposing to ask that someone to reprise the info (via email - or post again just for giggles). It would save me some time. Also, last digest someone wanted to know how much $$$ (or somesuch currency) for Fossil Fuels... me too. Also, what is an ammonite? "Lazybones, looking through the Sun..."
------------------------------ From: MiKearns@aol.com Date: Tue, 13 Aug 1996 01:43:50 -0400 Message-ID: <960813014348_598279214@emout18.mail.aol.com> Subject: A testimonial dinner... I went to dinner party last Friday at a friend's house, and met some new people. The food was vegetarian and great, and there was alcohol. I requested XTC, and my friend the host was prepared. During dinner, Skylarking was on in the background. After dinner, we danced in the living room to disco hits and ABBA. Then, almost exhausted, we dug up one of those single-LP English Settlements I have heard tell of... first, some of us danced and sang in the dark to Its Nearly Africa and English Roundabout. Then we sat around and listened to Runaways, Ball and Chain, Senses Working Overtime, and the beginning of Jason and the Argonauts. "Senses" was familiar to the two women, one British, one Indian... we sang along with that. Luis, a classical pianist said of "Senses", particularly the verse - "...scary" and "... nice bass line". There was religious solemnity _and_ anarchy pervading. Any other Unitarian Universalists out there? One of my guitar students once related his observation that UU's tend to be drawn to XTC. E-mail me private if so, or if curious... no need to start a thread probably.
------------------------------ Message-Id: <2.2.32.19960813065941.0069ccb8@mail.sonyinteractive.com> Date: Mon, 12 Aug 1996 23:59:41 -0700 From: Bob Estus <bestus@sonyinteractive.com> Subject: Dim the light hill, Gary Minns 101377.2113@compuserve.com recalled: >The conspiracy theorists amongst you may like to recall that as well as Van >Halen doing a track called Jump in 1983 there was, at about the same time, >a Scottish band called Big Country having a UK hit with a song called >Wonderland. Which brings us to "Limelight" that big R*sh /XTC hit. Which came first? We need only look at these songs to define all differences between that camp and our MEN. While we're discussing "Limelight", it was labeled "Life Begins at the Hop" on my D&W virgin cdv2129, thrice on the inserts and once silk screened on the actual CD. I didn't know the real Hop until I got "BBC Live". Does anybody know why I was made to endure this trauma? WES HANKS <W_HANKS@wow.com> recommends: >Try this one...several images from the Chalkhills archive make attractive >wallpaper. "Wait till Your Boat Goes Down" works nicely for the pc at work, >"25 O'Clock" and the Uffington horse photo are most attractive in the home. I had been using 25 o'clock for a desktop image, but at work. Admittedly, the design was so busy I had a hard time finding my icons. My lack of productivity went unnoticed. Then the company CEO walked by one day and noticed my swell wallpaper. It turns out he's a huge xtc fan! Now I've got a rung up. Thank you XTC!(big Mentos commercial smiles) It's a true story. pjmuck@mail.idt.net (Peter McCulloch) wonders: >Does anyone actually listen to their copy of, "Through the Hill" with >any degree of regularity? (I'm very regular, thank you.) I've only listened to it once. But got no end of enjoyment watching my girlfriend writhe in pain to something that wasn't immediately gratifying. Forced to listen to the CD in it's entirety, she passed through several layers of groans and laughter until she broke into an amazing interpretive dance. Ahh... the suburbs at night. pulling shade, -Bob
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 13 Aug 1996 02:15:56 -0700
Message-Id: <199608130915.CAA03590@scn.org>
From: bc263@scn.org (Byron Keathe Wright)
Subject: Bruce Woolley and the Camera Club
Simon Sleightholm posted in #2-146:
>"it seems that Video Killed the Radio Star was first released by "Bruce
>Wooley and the Camera Club", a band that featured Wooley, Downes and Horn,
>and a then unknown keyboard player by the name of Thomas Dolby."
>"Camera Club was primarily Bruce Wooley's group...Thomas Dolby did some
>synth work for them...and i read somewhere that vocalist/ guitarist Andy
>Partridge of XTC was somehow involved."
>
>Anybody know anything about this?
Yeah, actually. Since I own one of perhaps ten copies ever sold of this
1979 album (and I say that with no snobbery whatsoever, but rather with
disgust, because it's a damn fine intelligent "Rock 'n' Roll" album that
should have seen more light of day), I thought I'd chime in.
The band featured David Birch on guitar, Rod Johnson on drums, Matthew
Seligman on bass, Tom Dolby on keyboards (yes, that's how he's listed),
and of course Woolley's voice. Woolley also wrote or cowrote every song on
the album, including the Dolby solo instrumental track "W.W.9". That's
just fine with me, having bought the album despite Dolby's presence on it.
Horn and Downes appear only as coauthors of "Video Killed the Radio Star"
and "Clean/Clean" (along with "W.W.9" the weakest tracks on the album;
coincidence? I have my doubts!). A great guitar album with solid and
powerful riffing, "Bruce Woolley and the Camera Club" (album and band title)
is nonetheless delicate at times and slightly quirky, very much a product of
its time, sounding nothing like XTC and yet fitting well alongside their
wonderful first two or three or, say, Bill Nelson's Red Noise release
"Sound On Sound" (signaling clever Nelson's "Revolt Into Style"). Although
Woolley, Horn, and Downes cowrote "Video" for this album, it was the inferior
Woolley-free version produced by Horn and Downes as the Buggles which would
initiate Empty Vee into our addled collective consciousness.
I love the album and highly recommend it. But one caveat: if you're not like
me and you actually enjoy the work of Tom Dolby, you may not like its bite
(no one will ever confuse it with the Stooges "Raw Power" or whatnot, but it
does "rock" nicely at times, and it must certainly be the least wimpy release
the science-blinded Dolby was ever involved with). However, any of you
inclined to track it down may encounter difficulty; I snagged my used-but-mint
copy as a pup back in '83 or '84, and it was already a rare find by that time.
And this was all pretty much pre-CD; I seriously doubt BWatCC was ever
released on CD. Unfortunately for all of you, I don't have dubbing
capabilities for vinyl at this time.
As for Andy Partridge, my copy of the album, with original liner notes and
such, says absolutely nothing about him anywhere on it. Of course, that
doesn't mean Partridge had no hand in it, but if he did he wasn't credited.
A final note: I know how some of you producerphilic folk gush over Mitchell
Froom, so I pass this last bit or two along not knowing whether it will mean
anything to you or make you pee your pants with excitement, but the
Assistant Engineer on the album was Nick T. Froom. It's such an odd last
name that I figured they must be related somehow, if not alternate versions
of the same person. Also, John Leckie coproduced the Red Noise album
mentioned above. - OOOOHHHHHHH, was that good for you all?!
For what it's worth.
- Keathe
{ bkwright@garnet.acns.fsu.edu }
------------------------------ Date: Tue, 13 Aug 1996 10:54:23 +0100 Message-Id: <199608130954.AA21974@felix.dircon.co.uk> From: nonsuch@dircon.co.uk (Simon Sleightholm) Subject: Umpteen Different Animals Firstly a brief, but sincere, apology for the gouging and pinching between myself and Mr Prendiville that has tainted the last few lists. It should never have been carried out in a public forum like this and must have been tedious, annoying and possibly even insulting for all other Chalkies. It won't happen again, I assure you. From: Aeoconn@aol.com >Another thing: In a recent Chalkhills post, someone Me. >bashed Todd Rundgren for the predictable flourish of bells that follow Colin's lyric about bells >in "Big Day". My question is this: how do you know that Todd Rundgren was >responsible for the addition of bells to that particular song? Do you have >an interview in which Rundgren talks about the touches he added to that >particular song? Were you there at the Skylarking sessions when they >recorded that section of the album? Or do you just plain not like Todd and >just use any old excuse to bash him? It could have just as easily been >Colin's idea. On Todd: I love "Skylarking". I bought a Todd Rundgren compilation and hated it. I hated his production on The Pursuit Of Hapiness' "Love Junk" album, but I have no real feelings for him either way. True, it could have been Colin's idea, and actually I'd be interested to know - has anyone got or heard an early demo of the song? What made me suspect Rundgren over Colin was that in similar circumstances Colin has avoided that kind of blindingly obvious underlining. On "King For A Day" for example, just after the "jump to a finger click" I, when I first heard it, gritted my teeth for the finger-click sound and there was none. Of course when the remixers got hold of it for the extra single tracks they all threw one in, being all producerly and clever. It certainly wasn't a fully fledged bash, it was just a minor gripe about a production feature that makes me cringe when I hear it. The comment was a throwaway, much like the awful compilation I bought. While - if he is to blame - I would cheerfully poke him in the eye for the bell-run, I would equally valet his car with my tongue for the terrific work on Season Cycle and Man Who Sailed, both of which just sound naturally _right_ From: pjmuck@mail.idt.net (Peter McCulloch) >6. Does anyone actually listen to their copy of, "Through the Hill" with >any degree of regularity? Certainly, it's a vital element to a perfect evening round our house. Take one sofa, one bottle of wine, one wife (usually one's own will suffice), and one copy of "Through The Hill" on repeat play and just bliss out. I also find it very soothing in the CDROM drive if I'm bashing keys into the early hours. From: WES HANKS <W_HANKS@wow.com> >For XTC's next albums theme, I vote for "All you can eat!" Love it! Although with Andy's penchant for the smutty double-entendre, I dread to think what the cover art would be... From: "Simon Knight" <sknight@warchivegw.riv.csu.edu.au> >(I can't believe i once thought that WTYBGD had a bizarre melody - >it sounds perfectly natural to me now. And it is "Very >singalongable", as Andy says). Yeah, this was one of the first XTC singles I ever owned (shipped to me second hand and unheard) and I thought it was such a _dirge_. I loathed it. Forced to listen to it on my old vinyl copy of Waxworks it began to work it's magic and now I think it's wonderful, it's really quite jaunty and is liable to get me "skanking" at the mere suggestion of a dropping hat. It took a while to sink in though. From: 101377.2113@compuserve.com >Am I too laid back or am I the only one who doesn't really give a stuff who >produces the next album? No, Gary, I'm with you. But I think I've already had quite enough trouble with this particular thread so I'd better leave it at that. >Has anybody got any good quotes that seem to apply to XTC? "You've got yourself to face, and you have to live with yourself. You don't - or at least, only in highly exceptional circumstances - have to live with your producer." Dorothy Parker Tattie-bye, Simon * --------------------------------------------------- http://www.users.dircon.co.uk/~nonsuch/bungalow.htm * --------------------------------------------------- No Thugs In Our House, only XTC.
------------------------------ Date: Tue, 13 Aug 1996 04:59:42 -0500 Message-Id: <199608130959.EAA09494@dialup1.galesburg.net> From: JH3 <jh3@galesburg.net> Subject: Cameras, Bells, Birds, Masts, & Quarter Moons Yes, I'm back with yet another e-mail address, in case anyone wants to contact me about trades or whatever. I'm still looking for a dub of that Canadian "Love at First Sight" 7" single... Anyway... Simon Sez (OK, sorry, you must get that a lot): >"it seems that Video Killed the Radio Star was first released by "Bruce >Wooley and the Camera Club", a band that featured Wooley, Downes and Horn, >and a then unknown keyboard player by the name of Thomas Dolby." >"Camera Club was primarily Bruce Wooley's group...Thomas Dolby did some >synth work for them...and i read somewhere that vocalist/ guitarist Andy >Partridge of XTC was somehow involved." Anybody know anything about this? Hmmm... Woolley, Geoff Downes, and Trevor Horn wrote the song but neither Downes nor Horn were in the Camera Club, though Dolby was. The lineup for the BW&CC album was David Birch (gtr), Rod Johnson (drums), Matthew Seligman (bass, later played with R. Hitchcock and others), Woolley on vocals, and Dolby. No mention of Andy (maybe he just dropped by the studio for a pint while some NME writer was there), but it's a fine record nonetheless, better than the Buggles (Downes' & Horn's band) if you ask me. Uninteresting note: someone named "Nick Froom" is credited as the Assistant Engineer. Mitchell's alter ego, maybe? Dave Who Thinks Todd Is a Musical Genius wrote: >In a recent Chalkhills post, someone bashed Todd Rundgren >for the predictable flourish of bells that follow Colin's lyric about bells >in "Big Day". My question is this: how do you know that Todd Rundgren was >responsible for the addition of bells to that particular song? ...It could >have just as easily been Colin's idea. I'm hardly a big fan of Todd Rundgren myself, but reading this inspired me to dig out my demo copy of "Big Day," which presumably was recorded long before Todd appeared on the scene, and guess what? That's right -- *bells*. (Cheesy synth-bells maybe, but the intent is clearly there.) So, now... who was criticizing those really cool bells? (tee hee.) >From BOBannon@aol.com: >Speaking of XTC album cover art, has anyone noticed the clever way in which >"XTC" is spelled on the cover of Black Sea? Look just above the heads of the >members of the band and you'll see a flying bird (left) whose body is >contorted in a position that resembles the letter X; the mast of the ship >(center) sticking up to resemble the letter T; and a quarter moon (right) >which resembles the letter C. I actually have, or should I say *had*, a set of three individual badges of these images. I say "had" because I can't find the "C" badge now; I know I had it at one time. Even when I wore the three badges right next to each other in the right order, NOBODY ever figured out that they were trying to spell something. Anyway, if anyone else out there has just the "C" badge and wants to complete their set, drop me a line, maybe we can work something out. I never wear badges anymore -- I guess I'm too old now (snicker, snicker). --John Hedges
------------------------------ Date: Tue, 13 Aug 1996 05:05:12 -0500 Message-Id: <v01530501ae35bad1fa76@[204.153.64.122]> From: musicvil@idir.net (John Yuelkenbeck) Subject: Longboxes in the attic It's true confessions time: I saved all the longboxes I bought. They're stashed in the attic. God, but was I relieved when they discontinued manufacturing them! By now I would have to be renting off-site storage for them. I also keep all the shrink wrap stickers pertinent to the record (I don't go so far as to keep "Nice Price" stickers or anything like that--I mean, you have to draw the line somewhere!). Obviously, I'm in therapy regarding my compulsive obsessive behavior. I know I have several XTC longboxes, although I purchased many of their CDs when I was in Great Britain since they had yet to be released here in the states. I can't recall whether or not they came with longboxes over there, but I don't think they did. Can we get back to talking about Sam Phillips now? :-) Actually, she does have a new album about to be released called "Omnipop." No word yet if Colin makes a return appearance.
------------------------------ From: jrsnipp@interserv.com Date: Tue, 13 Aug 1996 05:54:58 -0700 Message-Id: <199608131254.FAA09871@m1.interserv.com> Subject: ...synchronicity.... > XTC song quote of the day: > "...the..." I was just listening to that song! Freaky huh?
------------------------------ Date: Tue, 13 Aug 1996 09:44:52 -0600 Message-Id: <199608131544.JAA23066@river.city.saskatoon.sk.ca> From: Erik Anderson <Erik.Anderson@city.saskatoon.sk.ca> Subject: VIDEO Tree Update I have now officially blown up my second VCR and this might account for the reason some of you have returned tapes b/c they are scrambled. I'm currently looking into having someone else finish off the last batch of tapes so hang in there -- I haven't abandoned the project! And to those who sent back scrambled tapes -- yours will be the first in the mail. Hopefully, this will all be resolved this week and I can resume dubbing or send the master tape off to a friend who will finish it up. Sorry -- once again -- for the delay. Hang in there. EA
------------------------------ From: Darren A Peace <dpeace@flat7.demon.co.uk> Subject: Fossil Fuel Press Release - ERRATA Date: Tue, 13 Aug 1996 16:33:58 GMT Organization: Grey Velvet Consulting Message-ID: <3210ad35.14744784@post.demon.co.uk> Aargh - further to my last contribution to Chalkhills, I'd like to apologise for quoting the incorrect URL! The scans of the Fossil Fuel press release and the Wrapped In Grey CD single can be found at: http://www.flat7.demon.co.uk/xtc (honest - I just checked!) Profound apologies again for my daftness. Darren dpeace@flat7.demon.co.uk
------------------------------ From: scotth@henry.wells.edu Message-Id: <199608140124.VAA16481@henry.wells.edu> Organization: Wells College Date: Tue, 13 Aug 1996 18:38:26 +0500 Subject: bruce woolley Just a note about bruce woolley (to simon) The album is in my hands (US release 1979 on columbia), artist and title is "Bruce Woolley & the Camera Club". The band comprised David Birch (g), Rod Johnson (d), Matthew Seligman (b), Bruce Woolley (voc) and Tom [sic] Dolby (k). Horn and Downes helped write several tunes inc. Video Killed the Radio Star (in a pleasant although less perky version) and Clean/Clean (wasn't that recorded by Horn/Downes too?). Yes, I do listen to "Through the Hill" often and am quite enchanted by it. but then, I think The Somnambulist is one of my top 5 XTC tunes. Maybe the Bottomfeeders will cover it someday. See ya. Scott H.
------------------------------ From: richard.pedrettiallen@octel.com Date: Tue, 13 Aug 1996 16:47:04 -0700 Message-Id: <21115880.1240@corp.octel.com> Subject: Trib Tape Deadline Extension I will not have enough time to compile Chalkhills Children before my vacation, so it seems that I might as well extend the deadline to September 6. Snap to it! I will post ordering information to Chalkhills in late September. Please wait until then to order. Richard
------------------------------
Date: 12 AUG 96 13:22:49 EST
From: PCulnane@dca.gov.au
Subject: XTC VIDEO PETITION - Progress Report
Message-ID: <0000uoyykmag.0000txvzbpzl@dca.gov.au>
Hi Chalkmaniax,
Following is the text of the letter I sent to Virgin UK to petition them to
release a video companion to the forthcoming "Fossil Fuels". I attached all
the submissions sent to me by Chalkies, together with the list of videos found
in the Chalkhills archives at:
http://chalkhills.org/video.txt
Hope this letter does some good......
______________________________________________________________
Mr Simon Hopkins
Marketing Department
Virgin Records
Kensall House
553-579 Harrow Road
London, W10 4RU
United Kingdom
Dear Simon,
Subject: "FOSSIL FUEL" - a compilation of `the best of' XTC
Purpose
To present a petition to Virgin Records, requesting the release of a
compilation video counterpart to the forthcoming XTC double-cd, "Fossil
Fuel".
Background
Subscribers to "Chalkhills", XTC's world wide web mailing list, were
recently treated to the exciting news that Virgin Records plan to release a
double-cd compilation of XTC's singles, around late August this year
(Virgin CD VD2811).
In recent months in "Chalkhills", there has been much speculation about,
and many expressions of desire for, a compilation of the video promos that
the band has made throughout its career.
Upon news of the release of "Fossil Fuel", I thought it timely that a video
version would be appropriate, and would be welcomed by a great many XTC
enthusiasts. I instigated a petition through "Chalkhills" and was
staggered to receive 56 immediate responses. Remember, this is only the
response of participants in one WWW mailing list. It stands to reason that
there must also be considerable demand among the many fans of the band who
don't have access to the WWW.
At time of writing, there are 1167 subscribers to "Chalkhills". This site
{chalkhills - request@mando.engri.sgi.com} and its accompanying archives
are extremely well-patronised, and was recently declared the "Totally
Awesome" site of the day: {http://www.80s.com/Entertainment/Awesome}.
Despite the four year wait for new material since XTC's last album,
"Nonsuch", there is still a strong groundswell of interest in the band.
Copies of each e-mail submission to my petition are attached.
Issues
The only officially-released compilation of XTC promo videos was "Look
Look" (Virgin Video VIRV 013D), released in 1982. This contained 11 songs,
up to and including "Senses Working Overtime".
A similar package was released in Japan, but to my knowledge, no XTC video
has ever been released in North America, arguably the centre of the band's
most avid following. Assuming any proposed video compilation will be
released in UK, Europe and Australasia through Virgin, it should also be
released in the USA, Canada and Japan, through an appropriate distributor
for those countries
My copy of "Look Look" has a hi-fi soundtrack, and all of the
clips have been re-dubbed into stereo. It is essential that either:
- the stereo master for "Look Look" be located for use
with the new compilation; or
- a completely new master be prepared with all the clips
presented in stereo sound - hopefully with digital remastering.
If space allows, it would be a great bonus to see the two official Dukes Of
Stratosphear clips, as well as the full `puppet show' of "The Road To
Oranges & Lemons" included.
Attachment "A" lists songs for which there is a known promo clip; these are
clips which should appear on any compilation. It also lists other material
that may be harder to locate, but would provide a more well-rounded
compilation if available.
Request / recommendation
That Virgin Video releases a comprehensive video compilation of XTC's promo
clips to complement the forthcoming double-cd "Fossil Fuel"; based on the
attached submissions.
We XTC enthusiasts are looking forward to the forthcoming cd release in
late August. There will be a vast number of very happy fans if a companion
video was also to be offered.
On behalf of the petitioners, I thank you for your time and look forward to
your favourable response.
Yours sincerely,
Paul Culnane
29 July 1996
------------------------------ Date: 14 AUG 96 10:20:35 EST From: PCulnane@dca.gov.au Subject: Camera Club Message-ID: <0000lrxhtrhh.0000jjrjbxfz@dca.gov.au> Simon Sleightholm (thanx for the biscuit!) was asking about a band called Bruce Wooley and the Camera Club. I dug out my copy and came up with this info: Album: "English Garden" (UK Epic 83893 released 1979). Bruce Wooley (vocals), Tom (sic) Dolby (keyboards), David Birch (guitars), Matthew Seligman (bass), Rod Johnson (drums). Trevor Horn and Geoff Downes co-wrote three songs, two of which, "Video Killed The Radio Star" and "Clean/Clean" showed up on The Buggles album "The Age of Plastic". The Camera Club's versions of those songs are rockier (in a "skinny-tie new wave" sorta way). Seligman and Dolby later appeared in David Bowie's backing band at Live Aid in '85. There is no mention on the sleeve or insert of Andy Partidge's involvement. But, as, er, Simon says, I seem to recall that at the time he was rumoured to have contributed in some way. Can anybody else verify AP's involvement? Paul-ofOz
------------------------------ Date: Tue, 13 Aug 96 10:34:55 PST From: "Sean Robison" <sean_robison@studio.disney.com> Message-Id: <9607138399.AA839986947@ccmsmtp2.wds.disney.com> Subject: Album Titles Hi, all. I'm gonna dredge up a dead thread briefly: "The band uses a word from a lyric from a prior album to name the next album." I'm sitting at my desk this very moment, listening to "Chalkhills and Children", when the word "Nonesuch" leapt out of the speakers. AHA! The title of the next album. I also remember reading that "O&L" came from a lyric in "Ballet for a Rainy Day". So.... Does anyone have a complete list of the "sources" for the rest of the albums? And on a side note - I second (or third or fourth or whereever I fall in) the idea that the band sign with Rykodisk. They're treatments of the Elvis Costello, David Bowie and Frank Zappa catalogue's have been exemplary. See ya's Sean
------------------------------ Message-Id: <v01540b05ae374cacc123@[139.80.100.151]> Date: Wed, 14 Aug 1996 16:31:35 +0700 From: james.dignan@stonebow.otago.ac.nz (James Dignan) Subject: Religion and music >I don't want to make a huge deal about this, but there are A LOT of religious >artists who write "interesting music," Peter Case, Peter Murphy, Peter Garrett >and the Call come immediately to mind. Please don't succumb to stereotyping. Can I add the music of Mr Bruce Cockburn to this list? And, extending it to other religions and "world music", the awe-inspiring sound of Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan? James
------------------------------ Date: 14 AUG 96 15:25:10 EST From: PCulnane@dca.gov.au Subject: Fossil Fool Message-ID: <0000wwewoiug.0000vfbxfltp@dca.gov.au> Nobody else has asked this. In my naivete, I'm gonna ask: What's "ammonite"? Any experts in geology care to give us a brief rundown? I skipped science at school, you see. There's a big gap in my education. F'rinstance, I always thought T.Rex was just a way-cool band. Paul (he of the sheltered life) of Oz
------------------------------ From: 101377.2113@compuserve.com Date: Wed, 14 Aug 1996 05:31:11 -0400 (EDT) Message-Id: <199608140931.FAA12271@Arl-Mail-Svc-1.compuserve.com> Subject: Homo Safari/Tracks Appeal Dear All Homo Safari... I have to throw my hat in the ring with regard to Frost Circus and all the other Homo Safari tunes. I quite like them. They kind of remind me of those baby in the womb tapes or those other weird ones of dolphins and whales talking to each other underwater. They all seem strangely calming and relaxing, like an aural massage! Tracks Appeal... I can't be completely blindly biased and love all XTC material. Most songs I adore, a couple of tracks I think are complete toilet, however, I would agree with Simon Knight that some tracks take longer to get to grips with than others. In my early XTC days I had trouble with some of the more melodic tunes, Ten Feet Tall and Yacht Dance being prime examples. My musical roots were firmly bedded down in much punkier things and, therefore, I instantly went for No Thugs and Red and stuff like that. Nowadays I would probably put Ten Feet Tall in my top 5 XTC tunes (whoops, just disclosed one of my entries to Dave Gershman's survey) but it took a while for me to get my head round it. The flip side to this is I also find some tracks instantly great, such as Supergirl and Disappointed, but feel they lose a touch of gloss after a few plays. I guess these more easily accessible tracks should be the singles, as proved by Disappointed which was the highest charting UK release for many a long year. There is also a point to be made that certain tracks or albums (or even bands) appeal more when you're in certain moods. Sometimes you feel like a kid who had too many e numbers in his rusk and you want to pogo round the house to White Music, other days you come in from work and you just want to put your feet up with a cold beer and gently unwind to Skylarking. I could never really say which album was my fave because it would change from day to day and from week to week. Until next time Gary Minns 101377.2113@compuserve.com
------------------------------ Message-Id: <199608141543.QAA06304@aoife.indigo.ie> From: "Daniel Prendiville" <modjp@indigo.ie> Date: Tue, 13 Aug 1996 17:24:41 +0000 Subject: the last episode of (insert title of soap opera here] "Jadies and lentilmen, The producers of the ongoing Chalkhills Digest saga hereby announce that due to nervous exhaustion all round, there will be no further episodes for the present. The rights to produce the series have been sold to an evil right-wing dictator who, we understand, has placed them in a lead-lined safe for the good of mankind (or until he can find someone to pawn them off onto). Those of you who may feel aggrieved that the saga ended in mid-run, without a satisfactory conclusion, are reminded that, in the words of the ancient philosopher, Anonyme, "Shit happens, now shut up and eat your fish fingers!". With a general sense of relief all round, Messrs. Sleightholm and Prendiville are considering various script offers at present, and we are assured that they will, no doubt, be appearing at a cinema near you in a major Hollywood blockbuster before long (or not, as the case may be)." Hiram N. Firam Head of Production Travels in Nylons, indeed djp
------------------------------ End of Chalkhills Digest #2-147 *******************************
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