Chalkhills Digest Volume 2, Issue 156
Date: Saturday, 14 September 1996
Chalkhills Digest, Volume 2, Number 156
Saturday, 14 September 1996
Today's Topics:
If you like XTC...
Three Wise Men
3 Wise Men part two
Clown Control to Mao Tse-Tung
A few things (Some REM content)
Enough of this Colin dissing already
Richard and Danny and Jason
Yet more from Mr. Prolific...
One not-so-wise man
First kill all the WHAT?
Easter Theatre lyrics
Blasphemy
Video interpretation / Attention: bootleg dub people
Author Unknown
Legends, lies and levity.
autographs and curry
sugarplastic in store performance in Connecticut!
"review" of O&L
Re:Tattoo & Holly chords
Misheard lyrics; Censorship
Sugarplastic
The Return of Mr. Prolific
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---------------------------------------------------------------------- From: Keith Hanlon <ad180@seorf.ohiou.edu> Message-Id: <199609130048.UAA07048@big.seorf.ohiou.edu> Subject: If you like XTC... Date: Thu, 12 Sep 1996 20:48:02 -0400 (EDT) I have learned so much since I subscribed to this list in February. In addition to tons of XTC information (and Andy's demos!), I have been turned on to great artists like the Sugarplastic, the Loud Family, Eric Matthews, and Yazbek. Now it's my turn to turn all of you onto a great band: the Mommyheads. Originally from New York City, they moved to San Francisco a few years ago. They play delightful, creative pop music - think XTC, the Beatles, and the Residents. Go over to the Ultimate Band List and check them out - you can download songs from their latest CD, "Bingham's Hole." Other great titles include "Flying Suit," "Coming into Beauty," and the out-of-print debut record, "Acorn." The Heads tor every fall (except this year!), and they recently opened up for Lisa Loeb's tour. Keep in mind that all their records are on indie labels, so they may be tough to find. Let's hope that their talks with the major labels will bring great music to the masses! Keith Hanlon -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Check out Norton's Orchestraville, a twisted, all-original Ohio band. Jason Huck was kind enough to put a song in his homepage: http://users1.ee.net/Huck Contact Norton's Orchestraville at ad180@seorf.ohiou.edu Merchandise available.
------------------------------ Date: 13 SEP 96 11:05:42 AST From: PCulnane@dca.gov.au Subject: Three Wise Men Message-ID: <0000lrxtlrfd.0000jjrvtxdv@dca.gov.au> Mr Prendiville asks "who is the Good Lord?" (producer of 3 Wise Men Christmas single). Why, it would have to be David Lord, producer of Big Express, wouldn't it? Same production style. As for the songwriting credit, I'd hazard that the A-side is Andy's composition and the B-side Colin's (I don't know for sure). The clever credit of Kaspar/Melchior/Balthazar further extends the very amusing wordplay and seasonal theme of the whole thing though. Funny thing, when I first spied the 7" single, I thought it might be by (the 3-piece) Genesis (!), 'cos it looked like then on the cover. But something about the composer credit, and "The Good Lord", told me that I was holding yet another example of Swindonian wit in my hands. It remains a favourite of mine to this day......I often regret that our guys didn't push ahead with that bubblegum album they were toying with at one time. Back to temporary lurk mode (there's some cold piss in the fridge waiting to be sucked)..... P@ul p.s. I for one am absolutely HANGING OUT for Fossil Fuels - ripoff be damned; I want that bit of ammonite (and remastered singles of course)
------------------------------ Date: 13 SEP 96 11:27:41 AST From: PCulnane@dca.gov.au Subject: 3 Wise Men part two Message-ID: <0000lrxtlrzb.0000jjrvtxxt@dca.gov.au> Daniel, forgot to mention: Kaspar & pals were the three wise men who delivered gold, frankincense & myrrh to baby Jesus in Nazareth. They wren't musketeers, that was Dudley Moore & pals wasn't it??? P@ul
------------------------------ Message-Id: <v01540b00ae5e21e20737@[169.132.99.87]> Date: Thu, 12 Sep 1996 21:41:01 +0100 From: pjmuck@mail.idt.net (Peter McCulloch) Subject: Clown Control to Mao Tse-Tung From Amanda Owens: >This book is worth checking out: SCUSE ME WHILE I KISS THIS GUY AND OTHER >MISHEARD LYRICS by Gavin something-or-other. There is a misheard line from >Dear God that had m,e in tears I was laughing so hard, and here it is... >"And all the people that you made in your image still believe in that chunky >stew." I went back and listened to the track and it really did sound like >that! The book you've mentioned is written by Gavin Edwards and published by Fireside, a division of Simon and Schuster (ISBN #: 0-671-50128-3). It retails for $8.95 US. I only mention this because I happen to work for Simon and Schuster. This book has been very successful for us, and a sequel will be hitting the stores next month. I've read the manuscript for the sequel, and it's equally as hysterical. For those of you not familiar with the book, it is a collectino of often misheard lyrics to popular songs. I admit, I was guilty of some of the mistakes listed in the book (i.e.: 'Til Tuesday's Voices Carry: Hush, hush, deeper downtown, it's so scary). Not surprisingly, there are many misheard REM quotes in the book. I thought about sending Gavin my own personal misheard lyric: Billy Idol/Eyes Without A Face = How's About A Date! FYI (I'm showing my corporate backround here): We're publishing a book in November written by Paul Blashill, designed by David Carson (Raygun Mag.), with photography by Michael lavine (who's photographed everyone under the sun), entitled, "Noise From the Underground" - a visual history of alternative rock. I personally worked on this book as the production manager, and I have to say that it is visually stunning for a rock book. No mention of XTC anywhere, however, but lot's of other great artists to stimulate the senses. Look for it. Regards, Peter
------------------------------ Message-Id: <199609130217.MAA14023@warchives.riv.csu.edu.au.> From: "Simon Knight" <sknight@warchivegw.riv.csu.edu.au> Date: Fri, 13 Sep 1996 11:25:35 +0000 Subject: A few things (Some REM content) A few things from the last chalkhills: >I know that REM were big XTC fans when they started and played XTC >covers in concert (and opened for XTC on part of one tour), but are >the above similarities just a coincidence? >REM are/were XTC fans? They *opened* for XTC? I *did not know that*. Wow, >I'll have to see if I can track down some of those covers... These REM / XTC stories have been going around for quite a while, probably based on a small statement in "Chalkhills and Children" which claims XTC played Athens. I've spent ages trying to find out if there's any truth in the rumour. Most official REM sources make no mention of it (they supported the Police early in their career. Was someone confused?) Even the unofficial sources (like the REM "It Crawled From The South", which goes into minute detail about REM's recording history and contains a list of every known cover version the band has performed, as do various fan websites) make no mention of this. Frustrated, i posted a few times to the r.e.m. newsgroup (home of the incredibly knowledgable bootleg collectors - even Peter says they know more about what the band's played than they do) and asked if anyone had a recording of concerts with REM doing early XTC songs. Not a sausage. I got flamed a lot too, most people claiming it was just a "Dumb story". Still, i'm secretly hoping that a stipe-led version of "Battery brides" might turn up. If anyone knows ANYTHING..... RE: The good things >I was really surprised when I read in the Little Express that this song was >recorded in a very cheap studio above a motorcycle shop in Swindon. Why go >to the expense of a top recording studio and hiring difficult producers >charging exhorbitant fees, when you can have this? Apparently most of the >budget was spent on hiring the drummer! I can't believe this! I was really impressed with the production too! The song has a wonderful warmth to it, and the work on Colin's vocals give his voice a glowing timbre. It just makes me long for a new album. Maybe cheaper is better. >Know what your Top 5 Desert Island XTC songs are?? Mine change everyday. I would never be able to choose. I guess i wouldn't take any and just sing the whole catalogue in my head. Re: books are burning picture >the other is a book with a heart on it (no fire). Can anyone give >me a decent explanation? Probably more to do with Andy's love for literature. Maybe the book is burning with knowledge and love. From: richard.pedrettiallen@octel.com > re: post in #151 from "XTC's manager" > You can smell that one through the wire! No-one believed when Michael Stipe started posting to the REM newsgroup either. Don't be so quick to judge. After all, he knew about the "Andy Partridge Gameshow". Someone would have to be really anal to dredge something that obscure up just for a stir. "Help me get through these cynical days...." Re: River Phoneix In a few interviews that spoke about his band (something like Aleka's attic) the reviewers normally brought up XTC as a comparison, and River would frequently speak of his love for the band. RE: Easter Theatre as "icky". I find this a tasteful song. I'd rather listen to Andy sing about sex than Aerosmith. It harks back to that whole Lady Chatterly / Skylarking period. English literary tradition. The imagery is caught in glimpses - spring as the renewal of life, passion, sex and youth as part of the cycle. It's a wonderful song - the jagged brass-led verses equal the frantic naive fumblings of youth that slide into the euphoria of sexual bliss that is the string-led chorus. The nervous embarrassment of youth changing into natural instinct of desire. Great stuff... Anyone else out there think it's a perfect companion piece to "The Sensual World" by Kate Bush? "Easter theatre" also seems to tie in with "The green man"'s cycle of celebration for renewal. Is there a possible theme developing for the new album? Seasonal? Of the songs i've heard some really seem to fit the bracket. "The green man" and "Easter theater" = spring "Bumper cars", "You and the clouds will still be beautiful" = summer "Wonder annual", "Knights in shining karma" - autumnal "The last balloon" and "Your dictionary" really strike me as Winter songs. The end of the relationship is the end of natures cycle, but rebirth is possible. Listen to the end of "dictionary", how it resolves itself with the bitterness of the preceeding verses fading into the realisation of "let our marriage be undone". He's accepted the fact and realises that life goes on... It's a great cycle. Or maybe it's just the fact my tape opens with "Green man" and ends with "Dictionary"...
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 12 Sep 1996 12:02 +0930
From: "VanAbbe, Dominic" <dominic.vanabbe@faulding.com.au>
Subject: Enough of this Colin dissing already
Message-id: <01I9FGPIUDWI00UJ5X@faulding.com.au>
Greetings all,
I've been quite content to sit on the sidelines and digest what has
recently been fascinating reading, but I really have to disagree with
Karthik Swaminathan's condemnation of CM's work post-ES.
>from Mummer on the Partridge and Moulding songs seem to not fit well
together<
Disagree (IMO, of course). CM's songs have always been the more
accessible. Like Karthik I was initiated into XTC via singles like
"...Nigel" and "Generals..." which were medium-sized hits here. In fact,
during their chart peak (around 1979-1982) it was generally CM's songs that
were chosen as starting points to an LP (occasionally to AP's chagrin if
Chris Twomey's biog. is to be believed). First-up singles are generally not
representative of an LP per se, more to act as sales catalysts for the
long-player. Naturally the more friendly tracks are chosen, CM's generally
fitting the bill. Two songwriters will always have contrasting styles (I
hate to use the comparison but L**non and McC**tney come to mind) but I
don't believe AP and CM's songs don't fit together.
>Colin's songs sound more and more lifeless<
In fact, if you read the epilogue in Chris Twomey's biography, Colin
agrees that his "songwriting libido" has gone down since the band stopped
touring. Apparently he and DG were toying with the idea of touring without
AP (not necessarily as XTC) just to get back into playing and "live
songwriting" (if you like). Evidently it was only laziness that stopped
him. With surely enough material I've wondered why this idea was never
followed through.
To suggest however that Colin is not giving 100% is a mite unfair
though. With some exceptions CM's songs have actually become less
radio-friendly. Sure, "My Bird Performs" (one of my personal faves), "King
for a Day", "Wonderland" are truly singalongable, but try on "Deliver us
from the Elements", "I Remember the Sun", "Grass" (surely NOT an obvious
single), "Dying", "One of the millions" (killer bassline) and "Bungalow" for
examples of stretching himself.
I agree that "Cynical days", "The Smartest Monkeys" and "WarDance" are
not among his stronger compositions, but they're NOT terrible, and anyway
surely anyone's entitled to an off-day. These are easily offset by killers
such as "The Meeting Place", "Sacrificial Bonfire", "Wake up", "Bungalow"
and "My Bird Performs" (alongside any of his pre-Mummer stuff). Anyway, not
all AP's stuff is equally strong IMO- read "Human Alchemy", "Melt the guns",
"That wave", "Miniature Sun", "Here comes President Kill...", "Somnabulist"
etc.
>...seems to be less experimentation, exploration and development...<
Again, compare "One of the millions" and "Bungalow" to say "King for a
day" and I would have to say that although not necessarily always successful
Colin is stretching himself. Recently a lot of his material has had jazzy
inflections with moody lyrics. This has tended to shift some of his stuff
away from being radio-friendly as such. Still IMO "Bungalow" is one of the
strongest tracks he's written. It captures the somewhat sad, yearning mood
of retirement coastal villages beautifully- hey maybe I should be sending
this to JHB ;-)
Personally if CM is dissatisfied with not touring, and the
self-perceved negative effect it has had on his songwritng, I'd prefer him
to get out there with Gregsy reacquiant himself with his older material, and
get back into the swing of live musicians and jam sessions. Maybe then
something as dynamic as "...Nigel" is not out of the question!
And one last comment on a different note. Ira Lieman noted in #154
that:
> Colin, who rarely, if ever, has any lyrical changes in his songs (between
demo and recorded stage)<
If my memory serves me correctly, didn't "My Bird Performs" have an
entire verse altered between the demo stage (as released on the flip of
"...Peter Pumpkinhead") and the "NONSVCH" version?
Sorry about the length. Until next time, ciao DOM
P.S.Would anyone be willing to get together a copy of the demos for the
upcoming LP? I'd be willing a part with a feasible amount of muller for
them- email me privately if you're willing... :-)
------------------------------ Date: Thu, 12 Sep 1996 22:35:15 -0400 (EDT) From: Patricia Haley <acidtongue@smart.net> Subject: Richard and Danny and Jason Message-ID: <Pine.LNX.3.95.960912222158.25007C-100000@smarty.smart.net> Hi y'all: Bob (didn't catch the last name, sorry) mentions that Danny Thompson is Richard's brother. No, they are not related in any way, shape, or form. However, they are both swell musicians with the same last name, and I still count the new Richard Thompson CD as my favorite of this year. I am seeing the good man twice next month, and frothed up over the fact. Martin Monkman asks about the new Jason Falkner LP. It is swell. I *loved* The Grays, and I adored Jellyfish, and Jason's solo effort is quite good. If those Jellyfish/Grays fans on this list are thinking about buying Jason's LP, wait no longer. I only find a couple of songs on the solo record which are as good as what he contributed to The Grays' _Ro Sham Bo_, but there are no clunkers. The Sugarplastic CD, on the other hand, is the exact same song performed twelve times, or how ever many different titles there are on the album. (Thanks again, Joe Silva!) I can barely tell when one song ends and one begins, except that there are gaps of silence between titles. I will give this CD yet another try, but I think there is much ado about nothing here. And am I the only person on this list who refuses to buy _Fossil Fuel_ because I am pissed off at the record company? Not to take bread out of the mouths of our band, but I moaned last digest about how this should be new stuff, not old, and I mean it. Nice to see the band getting some publicity, to be sure, but still... -Patty
------------------------------ Date: Thu, 12 Sep 1996 22:56:45 -0400 (EDT) Message-Id: <199609130256.WAA08958@cyber1.servtech.com> From: Joshua Hall-Bachner <particle@servtech.com> Subject: Yet more from Mr. Prolific... Hideho! I'm back with even more useless crap to flood Chalkhills and make everyone get down on their knees and beg for mercy. Something possessed varga@ferndown.ate.slb.com (Stephen Varga) to write: >However, I felt the TD version was nothing short of magnificent. Mr Yazbeck >and the band did a terrific production job. Not only does Colin sing >perfectly in tune, but the much higher fidelity sound along with the rich, >textured arrangements which were varied and highly refined, even surpassed >Nonsuch! Yeah, I've wondered why the song didn't make it to an album. The Testimonial version is nothing short of f*cking great. The acoustic guitars merging with the electrics, the Colin and Andy harmonies...wow. But, like you said, even the demo is really good, although somewhat pale in comparison to the final version. BTW, I've just figured out the answer to my own question (that is, Why do so many unreleased demos sound less demo-like than ones that were released on an album?) Of course, the officially released ones were remixed and everything to make them sound best, and by Nonsvch *all* of the demos sound good enough for release. But what about earlier demos from the Demos CDs? My only answer: they're not demos, per se. I'm sure some of the out-takes are actually studio outtakes that just got put on because they sound better than the demo versions. BTW, speaking of studio/demo, can someone who has both versions of Young Cleopatra, the demo (from JVS) and the full-band (from Demos 7) share your opinion? I really like the original demo, and the studio version seems pretty good...except it's too fast. It loses some of it's charm when played at such high speed. dgershmn <dgershmn@ametsoc.org>, my "evil nemesis" :) wrote: >Coincidence...particularly since "Murmur" came out a few months prior to >"Mummer." And really, they're not all that similar aside from title. >Mummer's cover is indeed an obscure mix, etc., but is much brighter than the >Murmur cover, which is a photo of kudzu, that swampy mossy stuff that's >swallowing large parts of the South. Note another similarity between the two: they both have a lot of acoustic stuff, and are both really laid-back compared to the other albums by their respective artists. (Although, I think Murmur is a *much* better album than Mummer, flame away...) AMANDA OWENS <ACOEA@jazz.ucc.uno.edu> didst pen: >PS-I am not one to put down Crash Test Dummies, as they are my favorite >group and I worship the Winnieg soil they trod on as much as I worship the >Swindon air that Dave Gregory breathes, but Ellen Reid cannot sing and was a >suck choice to sing Peter Punpkinhead. I dunno about that one, but I think on the All You Pretty Girls cover, the mix of the female voice (on the chorus) and the regular lead singer guy on the verses works really, really well; it's a really good cover. From: Ted Harms <tmharms@library.uwaterloo.ca> >I was listening to my tape of Jules Verne/Golden Guts (thanks again, >Steve L.) and realized that I've got two songs on it that aren't listed >on the J-card. Could somebody (maybe Steve?) help me identify the songs... Hmmm...what's their location on the tape (between which identified songs)? I checked the JVS/TBWTGG lyrics files and the lyrics you quoted don't show up. Hmmmmm.... >PS - Joshua, slow down - we can't keep up! If anybody wants to see the list I'm now keeping of every time someone comments on my "prolificacy," you can find it from my webpage (check the .sig) No lyrics this time. (I'm too busy listening to the *new* R.E.M. CD...it is freakin' awesome!) Oh, yeah...I "fixed" my .sig (although I still think the other way sounds better, *pout*.) /---------------------------Joshua Hall-Bachner---------------------------\ | particle@servtech.com http://www.servtech.com/public/particle/ | | "And I see nations playfully hurl snowballs packed with stone and clay."| \--------------XTC, "You And The Clouds Will Still Be Beautiful"----------/
------------------------------ Date: 13 SEP 96 13:21:35 AST From: PCulnane@dca.gov.au Subject: One not-so-wise man Message-ID: <0000ftfznvxz.0000eccaeywi@dca.gov.au> TRIVIAL BUT NECESSARY: This smartypants has to recant, before he gets flamed mercilessly. In my previous message about Three Wise Men, replace "Nazareth" with "Bethlehem". And for our younger viewers, you may feel free to replace "Dudley Moore" with "Kiefer Sutherland", or, at a stretch, even "Annette Funicello" for it to make any sense at all. I'll just crawl back under the Cone Of Silence now..... P@ul p.s. Cone of Silence happens to be a good Canadian band which I recommend p.p.s. Any fans of Pursuit of Happiness who wanna hear about their recent Aussie tour, e-mail me at PCulnane@dca.gov.au
------------------------------ Message-Id: <199609130350.WAA19855@mailgate.execpc.com> Subject: First kill all the WHAT? Date: Thu, 12 Sep 96 22:52:28 -0500 From: Constantine Pappas <pappas@execpc.com> >As for the aforementioned lawyer, *that* could be practically anybody -- >those damn lawyers will always screw you! Now, now, be careful what you say...there may be lawyers lurking about on Chalkhills who might not be such bad people once you get to know them. As for screwing you, I seriously doubt you're my type. See you in court. ;) Constantine Pappas, Esq. P.S. Oh yeah, this group is about XTC. What is all this about River Phoenix buying beer for the group as the reason for being thanked on O&L? My understanding was that he actually played keyboards on a few tracks. Anyone care to help me out on this one? I'm still looking for lyrics to 'The Green Man' and a CD copy of Blegvad's 'King Strut & Other Stories'. Thanks again. :)
------------------------------ From: Keith Hanlon <ad180@seorf.ohiou.edu> Message-Id: <199609130306.XAA14213@big.seorf.ohiou.edu> Subject: Easter Theatre lyrics Date: Thu, 12 Sep 1996 23:06:38 -0400 (EDT) Ok... I've sat down with my billionth generation copy of the latest XTC demos to tackle the lyrics for "Easter Theatre." I didn't see anything in the archives about this, and don't recall the lyrics being discussed on this list. Forgive me if this has already been posted.... I'll need help from all of you on this one. THE BEST WAY TO DO THIS IS FOR YOU TO EMAIL ME PRIVATELY, AND I'LL POST THE RESULTS TO CHALKHILLS. EASTER THEATRE <Can't make out the first line - the word "dress" is there though> Chocolate nipple brown Tumble from your arms Like the ground your <breasts/breath?> smell Land awake from sleep <Hares/hairs> will kick and leap Flowers climb erect Smiling from the moist kiss of her rainbow mouth CHORUS Stage left Enter <can't make out the rest of this line> Stage right Now the <sun/son> has died the father can be born Stand up If we'd all breathe in, we'd blow away the smoke New life <something something> new life <Huh?> mounts? the tree<?> Pleads? for you and me Scratching on the lamb<?> Gambling with spring step <?> <Birds/bugs> will laugh and burst Racing to be first Turning all the soil As the <???> fingers through her spinning scream <?> REPEAT CHROUS Easter... in her bonnet Easter... in her head<?> Easter... are there ribbons? <????>... everywhere I know, I know... pretty sketchy. If anybody can expand on this, let me know. I'll report our findings back to the list. Thanks! Keith
------------------------------ Date: Thu, 12 Sep 1996 22:43 -0600 (MDT) From: Miles or Gigi Coleman <coleman@cougarnet.byu.edu> Message-id: <0DXNMFYN300GH0@ACS2.BYU.EDU> Subject: Blasphemy > I encountered a posting in an XTC board from >someone who said he felt that Christians had no right to "listen to Dear >God. It pisses me off when some Christian tells me they like it." As a VERY >Catholic person who likes that song a lot, I was more than a little >offended. I just want to know what anyone thinks. As a Mormon (The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints), I completely understand and have been in those same shoes. Not too many people can listen to DG and hear something other than blasphemy. My (brief) personal interpretation is that it is a song about a subject that many people analyze in their lives at one point or another. Is there a god? How can there be a god with x, y and z happening in the world? I personally don't share his ideas and sentiments but that has no bearing on my appreciating the music and thoughtfulness of the lyrics. Many people tell me I am justifying it because I like XTC so much, but it was actually one of the first songs I ever heard. IMO, it certainly is much more tasteful than Trent Reznor's God or Christ remarks in NIN. That sort of reference makes me very uncomfortable. Anyway, Amanda, you asked for our opinions. There's mine. Miles Miles and Gigi Coleman Provo, Utah http://www.byu.edu/~coleman Family Home Page http://www.byu.edu/~coleman/guatenor Guatemala City North Mission Alumni Page http://www.mission.net Index for Alumni of LDS Missions
------------------------------
Message-Id: <199609130445.AAA15644@mail-e2b-service.gnn.com>
Date: Fri, 13 Sep 1996 00:42:30
From: jumpthecup@gnn.com (David O'Connell)
Subject: Video interpretation / Attention: bootleg dub people
I was going back through my old back issues of Chalkhills and for a
little while there people were sending in ideas for video
treatments of XTC songs. I got to thinking and I came up with an
idea for "Travels in Nihilon". Here it is:
("Travels in Nihilon" music starts. All images are in slow motion.)
The video opens with an overhead establishing shot of Andy's house.
Cut to interior of house: David Yazbek is in the kitchen, cooking
potatoes. All of sudden, he is devoured by a swarm of man-eating
locusts. Andy hears the commotion and runs into the kitchen. He
sees David Yazbek's disembodied leg on the floor and immediately
comprehends what has just happened. He begins shouting something
and a subtitle appears on the screen: "I will avenge your death,
brother Yazbek!" He then picks up Yazbek's leg, holds it above his
head like a weapon and charges out of the room. Across the street,
Ian Reid is trying to lock Terry Chambers in a combination
safe. Meanwhile back in the kitchen, David Yazbek's potatoes are
boiling over, symbolic of the high temperatures needed to cook
basic dinner foods. Over in the dining room, Colin and Dave are
having a Christmas party (oh, did I mention it was Christmas?).Dave
opens Colin's present. It is a slavery collar. Dave is horrified.
Colin starts to laugh evilly. The camera zooms in on Dave's
horrified expression and the image freezes. A prohibit slash
appears over Dave's face and a caption appears on the screen: XTC
SAYS NO TO SLAVERY. The rest of the video is a series of shots of
toothless farmers eating corn.
Also:
I have a different e-mail address now: <jumpthecup@gnn.com>. If
you've recieved your tapes in the mail, e-mail me, so I know not
to worry.
Dave O'Connell
York PA
<jumpthecup@gnn.com>
------------------------------
From: "Michael Wilson" <tomservo@ou.edu>
Subject: Author Unknown
Date: Fri, 13 Sep 1996 00:59:12 -0500
Message-Id: <3238f74a0acf002@cliff.ou.edu>
After a few listens Jason Falkner's CD is quite brilliant, barring one
song. Hectified to name that one (to hear the same song one need only
listen to Back Water by the Meat Puppets) other than that I love this CD.
If I have to be critical (and I do) Hectified would be the only track I
would drop. So if you can find this CD (it was quite hard for me) buy it!
" I'd give my right arm to be ambidextrous "
-Crow T. Robot
------------------------------ Date: Fri, 13 Sep 1996 12:12:30 +0100 Message-Id: <199609131112.AA21228@felix.dircon.co.uk> From: nonsuch@dircon.co.uk (Simon Sleightholm) Subject: Legends, lies and levity. Apologies in advance for the length of this post, but I am just FULL of it. Firstly, is there anyone in the US who would be willing to dupe some XTC videos for another US resident? If anyone is willing could they please e-mail me privately and I'll put you in touch with the person concerned. Thanks. We have a sales rep, George, who drops into our place each Friday, and who is what we Brits call a gobshite - "a picaroon, a rascal, a teller of tall tales". What ever you have done, he did it first, better and to rapturous applause. This week he came in while "Chips From The Chocolate Fireball" was parping out of my PC speakers. "What's that?" "The Dukes Of Stratosphear" "That's good that, if I bring you a tape will you copy if for me?" "Sure." "Who are they again?" I told him it was the Dukes, otherwise known as XTC. "Oh, XTC?," says George, unaware of my allegiances. "I used to play pool with one of the guys in XTC. He runs an engineering company in Edinburgh now." I sit, mouth agape in stunned silence. Have I just been subject to a catatonic fit and missed several lines of dialogue? "In Edinburgh?" I ask. "Oh yeah, this is going back a few years, just after they split up (!). I used to work for a different company then and we used to play pool, my company against his in Edinburgh." "An engineering firm? Are you sure?" "Um, well. He might have been an accountant. Are any of them accountants now?" "I really don't think that's likely." "What are their names?" "Andy Partridge..." "That's him!" "An accountant running an engineering firm in Edinburgh? No way." "Oh, who else is there?" "Colin Mou.." "It'll have been him then!" I shake my head, "Doubtful." "There's Dave Gregory...", I suggest, leading him on to the tiger-pit. "Hmmmm", says George sagely, stroking him goatee and not wishing to commit himself. "And Terry, the drummer, he left the band in '83." "It was him then, definitely. Looked like a drummer." He then changed the subject and left. So, Terry Chambers, the accountant owner of an Edinburgh engineering firm? It must be true, George said so. Anybody have anything to add? It brought to mind an old school friend who told me in about 1985 that Andy Partridge had been thrown off her cousin's farm for shooting pheasants without permission. A smidgen unlikely, I am urged to posit. Constantine Pappas wrote: > >re: The Good Things -- Does anyone else like the demo version better >than the TD one? The drums and bass seem too heavy on the later >version and Colin's voice just doesn't have the same punch, imho. I thought the same, but I can't decide if it's just because I've grown to love the demo that I find the upstart TD version uneasy listening. I thought the demo was just beautiful, so plaintive, and the TD version was just a little too polished, but I suppose that could just be "nostalgia" for the charm of the demo. What I miss most is the sound and rhythm of the drum machine. I have the same feelings for "Find A Fox"; that sounds just fine as it is, any "improved" recording could never live up to the warmth of the demo. I can understand the band's frustration at having a favourite track condemned to exist purely in demo form (I remember reading that Andy wasn't really happy with the demos being issued as extra tracks, because that meant they were dead material as far as future records went), but I still prefer the original, probably from familiarity if nothing else. I shall have to snip Good Things from TD (something I hardly ever listen to) and drop it into an XTC mix tape or something, see if I get used to it. From: Steve Schiavo <schiavo@airmail.net> >Then I side with the "saints". (Although snakes would make for an >interesting meaning, perhaps maybe). I would have to say that I hear "snakes" too, which I read as the temptation serpent (lust=love). From: dgershmn <dgershmn@ametsoc.org> >No, really...STOP RIGHT THERE!!! I GOTTA KNOW RIGHT NOW!!! BEFORE WE GO ANY >FURTHER, DO YOU... >Know what your Top 5 Desert Island XTC songs are?? I've tried, Dave, honest I have. But it's like trying to tie knots in hot sand, as soon as I pin down my five favourite "if I had never heard these, my life would be lacking" songs, another ten jostle at my shoulder and enquire, in frank tones, why they aren't included. My top five changes constantly, depending on my wood, the weather, etc. From: DeWitt Henderson <dewitth@lanl.gov> >Simon, I read some of the excerpts from your "deservedly unfinished novel", >and hey, keep at it, man. I hope you take this as a compliment - parts >were sort of Pratchett-esque, eh? Yeah. The bastard ripped me off, man. Thanks for kind words, you make me all blushes. >And so what happens to this man who >has a problem with wood???? I'm interested in writing myself - maybe I'll >send you one of my deservedly-unpublished-short-stories. He was part of a nature-cult who maintained close links with the plant world, and could communicate directly with the trees for direct information or as message conduits - passing information around the world through their roots. He has fled the cult, and in order that he cannot be pinpointed by other cult members he has "tuned" out of the network, as it were. The trees, however, even the dead ones, recognise his affinity and are trying to get his attention. To stop them pestering him he need only reopen that part of his mind which he closed when he left the cult. This will allow him full access to the knowledge of the world (he can ask a cherry tree in his yard to ask the rose bushes in a castle garden half a world away about what is going on there), but this will relay his location to those he has escaped, and anyway dead wood has very limited conversation; "You wouldn't believe it. I was just stood there, minding my roots, and this bloke, without so much as a 'may I?' swings this bloody great axe and wallop! Occasional table." I know, but it seemed like a good idea at the time - I was a mere child when I did it, and the faults in the logic didn't seem as great then as they do now. Ummm. XTC content? There are a few oblique and not so oblique references throughout the original text. By all means send me your story, DeWitt, I'd love to read it. From: Ted Harms <tmharms@library.uwaterloo.ca> Can't help with song 1, I'm afraid. >Song #2 First line: sounds like 'Tracy Jacks' > Chorus: As the day got closer in his heart he was over. I'd love > to stay here and be normal... That's "Tracy Jacks" by Blur. Off, I think, Parklife. From: Natalie Jane Jacobs <gnat@umich.edu> >So I *finally* listened to my brand-spanking new copy of "Through the >Hill," which has been lurking under the blankets at the foot of my bed in >the hopes that someday I might actually be in the mood for it. Contrary >to Simon Sleightholm's recommendation, I have neither a couch, a wife, nor >wine, but I found that an armchair, a kitten, and chocolate ice cream >served just as well. I'm not so sure about the kitten, but I'll trade you my wife for that chocolate ice cream... It is a pretty marvellous work isn't it? I tried playing it at work, but found that I wasn't getting anything done, just mooning (as in "listless observance", not "pants off bending") out of my office window. There definitely seems to be a thread from TTH to tracks like River Of Orchids. From: "Daniel Prendiville" <modjp@indigo.ie> >And who was the Good Lord? Hallooooo Dan, me old mate! The Good Lord, was I believe, David Lord who also worked on The Big Express. Yabber, yabber, yabber Simon * --------------------------------------------------- http://www.users.dircon.co.uk/~nonsuch/bungalow.htm * --------------------------------------------------- An English Settlement...
------------------------------
From: pogacsa@visi.com
Date: Fri, 13 Sep 1996 10:41:15 -0500 (CDT)
Message-Id: <199609131541.KAA21905@mixer.visi.com>
Subject: autographs and curry
This post is in response to Greg Langmead's recent trip to the Sri Lanka
Curry House in Minneapolis, MN. I can't believe that I've lived in
Minneapolis for so long, and specifically within walking distance of the
Curry House for the past three years, and never knew that there was a Shrine
To Greatness within easy reach. I plan on making my sacred pilgrimmage,
avec camera, tomorrow. Wow. I feel like a true groupie.
Young Ones quote:
Mike: A vampire!
Vivian: In a parcel!
Rik: In the kitchen!
Neal: Hate mail.
Yeah, okay, so it isn't particularly relavant to, well, anything on this
mailing list/digest/whatever we are, but I can't get it out of my brain just
the same.
Bye fellow Chalkies!
Priscilla
P.S. Greg, if you're ever planning on being back this way, post me - maybe
we could get together and do First Ave. or something (BTW, I'm twenty six
and married with a one year old daughter, this isn't a pickup).
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 13 Sep 1996 10:03:01 -0400
Message-ID: <2396AA30.@metagroup.com>
From: RobertD@metagroup.com (RobertD)
Subject: sugarplastic in store performance in Connecticut!
Just thought you'd like to know...
SugarPlastic will be performing live in store at Brass City Records in
Waterbury, Connecticut on Sunday Sept. 22nd at 4 p.m.
along with SugarPlastic, Loud Family is expected to play. LF is
opening for SP on their current tour.
If you'd like more info from Walter or Fred at Brass City:
either e-mail -- wvsq@ix.netcom.com
or phone -- 203-574-7805
hope to see some Chalkhills subscribers there!
If anyone has other SugarPlastic dates, please pass along
Bob D.
------------------------------
Message-Id: <2.2.16.19960913181619.3f672528@soapbox.lanl.gov>
Date: Fri, 13 Sep 1996 12:16:19 -0600
From: DeWitt Henderson <dewitth@lanl.gov>
Subject: "review" of O&L
I was just listening to O&L here at work, and I remembered a few things
that I saw in Rolling Stone around the time it came out. I think you
fellow Chalkhillers will find this funny:
First, Rolling Stone's reviewer (don't remember who that was) gave O&L
four stars, which is "excellent", and not that many cd's get that great
of a review. So then a few weeks later this guy from somewhere in
California sent a letter to the editor which almost literally read as
follows: "Man, you guys said that 'Oranges & Lemons' by XTC was a
great album, but I bought it, and it sucks". Evidently this guy was
too young or too self-absorbed to realize that there are actuallly
DIFFERENT TASTES (or opinions) out there.
* -------------------------------
DeWitt Henderson
*Serious* rock quotes of the day:
"Do a poo-poo" (the Rutles)
"Many years ago, before the dawn of history..." (Spinal Tap)
"I'd rather have a bottle in front of me than a frontal lobotomy"
(actually in some country song?!?!)
------------------------------
Message-Id: <199609132030.NAA20175@sgi.sgi.com>
Date: Fri, 13 Sep 1996 13:29:44 -0700
From: hbmus047@email.csun.edu (Ian Dahlberg)
Subject: Re:Tattoo & Holly chords
A couple of replies:
For Jon Eva,
>I was reminded of the near-mythical XTC superfan Peter Kitchen, who
>apparently has an XTC tattoo, though whether this consists of a huge
>Uffington white horse on his chest or the letters X.T.C embedded on his
>knuckles, I don't know.
There's a photo of Peter in an old "Little Express" sporting
his tattoo on his left shoulder. It says "XTC" in the Black Sea
lettering. I don't have access to a scanner but even so, it might not
come out that great.
For JH3,
>If you have an acoustic guitar handy, pick it up RIGHT NOW! and play these
>chords in roughly this order:
>XX0232 -> XX0350 (repeat several times)
Try XX0232 -> XX0330
Same difference, better voicing, easier to play, IMHO.
Ian
------------------------------ Message-Id: <199609132357.QAA23082@dfw-ix11.ix.netcom.com> From: "Mark G. Cuevas" <litserv@ix.netcom.com> Subject: Misheard lyrics; Censorship Date: Fri, 13 Sep 1996 16:52:14 -0700 Hello Chalkpoopers. [Ueww, gross] From: Amanda Owens <ACOEA@jazz.ucc.uno.edu> > "And all the people that you made in your image still believe in that chunky stew." Oh, God that's funny. I'm still chunkling (er, chuckling). Does anyone else have any misheard XTC lyrics? From: Amanda Owens <ACOEA@jazz.ucc.uno.edu> > I was once on America Online when I encountered a posting in an XTC board >from someone who said > he felt that Christians had no right to "listen to Dear God. It pisses me off when some Christian tells me > they like it." My first reaction is What a moronic, myopic point of view to think that people have no right to listen to what they please "religion" or "no religion." My second reaction is perhaps best stated by St. Andrew (or is it St. Colin): "I believe the printed word should be forgiven. No matter what it says . . ." My third reaction is not a reaction at all, but a reasoned argument: IMNSHO everyone has the right to listen to whatever pleases them (this is the U.S. after all). We also have the right to write what we please, so long as we do not espouse violent overthrow of the government [fair enough considering we might not have these rights absent government intervention]. In short, we should never place limits on imagination or ideas. But, the sword cuts both ways. Although I think this particular "Christian" is a moron, he/she also has a right to write/think/believe that "people have no right to listen to Dear God . . ." He/she just doesn't get to *act* on it. As a (recovering) Catholic myself, I couldn't love the song Dear God more. It speaks of turmoil and a struggle to understand what seems to be gross unfairness in this world. The paradox of writing a letter to a God which may or may not exist is beautiful. I don't want to start a flame war so I'll end there. xoxoxo from Sunny So. Cal
------------------------------ From: richard.pedrettiallen@octel.com Date: Fri, 13 Sep 1996 16:29:39 -0700 Message-Id: <239EFD01.1240@corp.octel.com> Subject: Sugarplastic Since Sugarplastic has come up again I'll throw in my ONLY post about them. I really like the disc. I recommended it to a buddy who I thought would like. He isn't a big XTC. He said, "XTC is just OK." So I killed him. Just kidding... I didn't kill him. He bought the Sugarplastic CD and REALLY likes it. He said, "Sounds like a cross between King Crimson and Talking Heads." No accusations of "XTC ripoffs" whatsoever. Cheers, Richard
------------------------------ Date: Fri, 13 Sep 1996 20:37:56 -0400 (EDT) Message-Id: <199609140037.UAA09584@cyber1.servtech.com> From: Joshua Hall-Bachner <particle@servtech.com> Subject: The Return of Mr. Prolific Hideho! I just couldn't stand not contributing any lyrics for this Digest. :) >"Pupil Haze" >from the Drunken Jam Sessions >[Sodding de Minor] has a fly up his eye "Slide into Minor, has a fly up in his eye." ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ As in, Minor key, or whatever. and, for "The Last Balloon": (BTW, I realize how many errors and missing bits there are in this song...that's why I'm posting it here. There's no better way to get lyrics corrected than to post them to Chalkhills...) (Oh, yeah, the ? in all three verses is the same syllable, and it describes the menfolk, women, and children in turn. I can't for the life of me make it out.) The Last Balloon is leaving The last balloon from fear The last balloon is leaving From that line I'd (? ?) Climb aboard, climb aboard (?) menfolk You won't need any bombs or guns Climb aboard, climb aboard (?) menfolk Leave 'em there, to your former lives Drop it all The last balloon is leaving The last balloon, all full The last balloon is leaving Undress, discard, let fall Climb aboard, climb aboard (?) women You won't need any gems or furs Climb aboard, climb aboard (?) women Leave the land to the bad (of years) Drop it all The last balloon is leaving The last balloon they'll fly The last balloon is leaving And we won't qualify Climb aboard, climb aboard (?) children Move aloft, while your feet (?) fast Climb aboard, climb aboard (?) children World right down, by our revoked pass Drop us all, you should drop us all drop us all, free your head drop us all, drop us all, drop us all, so much, so much sad /---------------------------Joshua Hall-Bachner---------------------------\ | particle@servtech.com http://www.servtech.com/public/particle/ | | "And I see nations playfully hurl snowballs packed with stone and clay."| \--------------XTC, "You And The Clouds Will Still Be Beautiful"----------/
------------------------------
Message-Id: <199609140639.PAA27311@mita2.cc.mita.keio.ac.jp>
Subject: SUGGESTION
Date: Sat, 14 Sep 1996 15:39:36 +0900
From: NAOYUKI ISOGAI <b9400863@mita2.cc.mita.keio.ac.jp>
Hello Chalkies!!!
I'm both HAPPY and SAD to hear that CHALKHILLS' CHILDREN tribute tape
is coming soon. Why? You will get it when you listen to my "GOOSEY
GOOSEY." I hope you won't fall ill from its awfulness... :-)
BTW, I have a suggestion regarding the "Lyrics to XTC Demos" file in
the Chalkhills archive. Isn't there anyone out there who knows the
correct order of recording date? If there is, I suggest those demo
songs be put in order of recording date. The current song *order*
in that file is really in *disorder*.
I do know that songs for the following album and "James and the Giant
Peach" are newer, and such songs as "HOLDING A BABY" and so on are
older (at the latest, "HaB" must have been recorded much earlier than
"MELT THE GUNS"). But I don't know any more about the *middle*. For
example, I have no idea which of "NICELY NICELY JANE" and "NOW WE ALL
DEAD" was recorded earlier. According to the bootleg CD _DEMOS 8_,
"NNJ" was earlier because it is written to be an outtake for _THE BIG
EXPRESS_ while "NWAD" is written to be one for _MUMMER_. However,
WE DO KNOW that "NNJ" was actually written for _25 O'CLOCK_, so we
can't trust this information by EXTATIC.
Again, isn't there anyone who knows the correct recording order???
Cheers!!!
P.S.: T.B. in Vienna, if you read this post, please email me at once.
The new email address you gave me is incorrect and I can't email
you at all!!!
---- NaoyuKing, the department "Did you make disease
of Economics in KEIO Univ. and the diamond blue...
Did you make mankind
E-mail:b9400863@cc.mita.keio.ac.jp after we made you..."
http://www.mita.keio.ac.jp/~b9400863/
------------------------------ End of Chalkhills Digest #2-156 *******************************
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