Chalkhills Digest Volume 2, Issue 157
Date: Tuesday, 17 September 1996
Chalkhills Digest, Volume 2, Number 157
Tuesday, 17 September 1996
Today's Topics:
River of Orchids lyrics + Q mention
Church of women lyrics -- suggested correction
Fossil Fuel
XTC & REM
drowning in the pools...
(i'm an) idiot!
WANTED: demos
If at first you fail, fail and fail again
Fossil Fuel
Fossil Fuel
The better things
I am searching for certain items......
RE:Colin dissing & the Good Things
I still don't believe it
Waits for the Loud Family
This is my A-plus XTC epitaph...
fossil fool/gbh/"it's the bishop..."/crunchies/gobshite
One last time
He's Ain't My Brother, But He's Heavy
Close Encounters
XTC: They're Not Half Bad
a little of this, a little of that....
Sugarplastic, The Bears, & "more."
mommyheads up!
Fossil Fuel: First Impressions
Oranges & Lemons GOLD Ultradisc
Fuels rush in
Darnit, I forgot something!!!
Fossil Fuel
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---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Sat, 14 Sep 96 21:09:59 BST Message-Id: <9609142009.AA07809@rdf002.cs.man.ac.uk> From: Toby Howard <toby@cs.man.ac.uk> Subject: River of Orchids lyrics + Q mention > "Want to walk into London smelling like a *pagan* rose" I hear "beggar rose". This month's Q reviews a new album by Cathy Dennis, "Am I the kind of Girl": "...Dennish as co-written and co-produced the entire record (with the likes of Andy Partridge and Guy Chambers)". Anyone shed any light? Toby * -------------------------------------------------------------- Toby Howard, Lecturer Co-editor *The Skeptic* magazine toby@cs.man.ac.uk http://www.cs.man.ac.uk/aig/staff/toby Tel: +44(0)161-275-6274 Fax: +44(0)161-275-6236 Advanced Interfaces Group, Department of Computer Science University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester, M13 9PL, UK * --------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------ Date: Sat, 14 Sep 96 21:13:18 BST Message-Id: <9609142013.AA07824@rdf002.cs.man.ac.uk> From: Toby Howard <toby@cs.man.ac.uk> Subject: Church of women lyrics -- suggested correction > Stop trying to diet 'em on wafers and wine and admit we're in control I hear "and the myth we're in control". I think that makes more sense too. Especially as I just got engaged. :-) Toby
------------------------------ Date: Sat, 14 Sep 1996 16:39:17 -0400 (EDT) From: "Jennifer L. Geese" <jlg@tardis.svsu.edu> Subject: Fossil Fuel Message-Id: <Pine.OSF.3.91.960914162842.17833A-100000@tardis.svsu.edu> HELP!!! Did we ever figure out if _Fossil Fuel_ is actually going to be released in the US? I was in MediaPlay today and asked the nice man behind the counter about it (he remembered me asking about it before I found out the date had been moved back yet again, but that's another story) and anyway - he has no record of it on his little sheet! This is worse than terrible. So if anyone knows more about this than I do, please let me know. Jen "Dear God..." oops - not gonna go there! "She claims she's found a way to make her own light." - XTC, Black Sea
------------------------------ From: rimshot3@ix.netcom.com Message-ID: <323B5523.3A9A@ix.netcom.com> Date: Sat, 14 Sep 1996 18:00:19 -0700 Subject: XTC & REM Simon, fret not. The legendary concert billing did take place sometime in '80-'81. I know only because I attended the '89 XTC Friends & Music Convention in Manchester, UK. At this event was an individual (whose name escapes me at the moment) who came with a collection of photographs on loan from Dave Gregory that document (no REM pun intended) XTC's touring days. One of the photos showed a sign on which XTC were billed as the headliners and REM as the opening act. As far as I know, there are no known REM covers of XTC. In those days, REM used to have the occasional instrumental break that used a ska rhythm or other such offbeat drumming which might remind one of XTC, English Beat, etc. Ah, some of us long for the days when alternative music really was modern...
------------------------------ Date: Sun, 15 Sep 1996 04:55:48 -0500 (EST) From: Brookes McKenzie <RMCKENZI@smith.smith.edu> Subject: drowning in the pools... Message-id: <01I9HSZ78WAABRQSD6@SMITH> Dame Fortune (AP) Dame Fortune smile, ring my bell, lift your skirt Pour [some?] fortune on me Dame Fortune smile, knock my door, doff your cap Deliver milk for my tea I've been throwing low numbers on the dice of life All the cards I turn scowl at me like my ex-wife When night-time falls I'll need your net To catch those brick-bats in Dame Fortune smile at my lottery [lass?] Please won't you empty my bin? C'mon! (muttered: "Play the guitar") Dame Fortune smile, tear a square from your dress Give my front windows a clean Dame Fortune let me borrow your bike Bring home the bacon and beans I've been drawing low numbers from the hat of dreams Drowning in the pools by simply picking rotten teams When night-time falls we'll fix it up I'll loan your safety pin Dame Fortune smile when they're spitting at me Please bring all my washing in * ----------------------------------- one of those cheerfully self-deprecating songs, along the lines of "Ra Ra for Red Rockinghorse", with similar digs at people who have screwed (!) Andy over - Marianne (ouch! that's a harsh line - not entirely undeserved, but still), and Virgin records/Ian Reid, etc. (or at least that's how i read "Drowning in the pools by simply picking rotten teams") combined with sunny assurance that someday, somehow, he'll win out against all the bastards. but it's almost as if he doesn't even hate them, that's just the way they are - he's unflappable. _so_ cute. and the tune gallops along wonderfully. a couple of lyric corrections (as i hear them of course, YMMV): Easter Theatre: (ironically, before you posted this the only line i could get was the second line in the chorus (which amused me tremendously for a while as i thought it was "Enter Easter and she's _twisting_ your yolk" !!), but now i think i have most of it even though some of it makes little to no sense, but anyway here goes:) EASTER THEATRE Gold sun rolls around Chocolate nipple brown Tumble from your arms Like the ground your breasts swell Land awake from sleep Hares will kick and leap Flowers climb erect Smiling from the moist kiss of her rainbow mouth CHORUS Stage left Enter Easter and she's dressed in your yolk Stage right Now the son has died the father can be born Stand up If we'd all breathe in and blow away the smoke New life We'd [uphold?] her new life Golden mounts the tree Pleads for you and me Splashing on the lamb Gambling with spring step Buds will laugh and burst Racing to be first Turning all the soil As the [prompters?] fingers through her spinning [screech?] REPEAT CHORUS Easter... in her bonnet Easter... in her head Easter... are there ribbons? [Free ties?!]... everywhere * ------------------------- originally transcribed, of course, by Keith Hanlon <ad180@seorf.ohiou.edu>. it'd be pretty funny if it did say, "like the ground your breasts _smell_"!! The Last Balloon: >>From that line I'd (? ?) Form that line right here >>Climb aboard, climb aboard (?) menfolk Climb aboard, climb aboard you menfolk (in fact, i think the mystery word in each chorus is "you". he slurs the 'd' of "aboard" into the 'y' which makes it sound weird.) >>You won't need any bombs or guns ...bombs or knives >>The last balloon, all full The last balloon of all (like the previous one, it also rhymes better - bonus!) >>Leave the land to the bad (of years) Leave all that to the [ban] of years >>drop us all, drop us all, drop us all, so much, so much sad drop us all, drop us all, drop us all like so much sand * ------------------------ God that's a sad song. I'd Like That: >>Toasting for[?], can't be done Toasting fork, I'll be done >>And you could fix it with your kissing [blue] ...kissing glue >>With you laying on one arm ...laid on one arm * ---------------------- the harmonies in that song make my head spin. sorry, joshua - not trying to pick on you or anything - oh & by the way i _am_ going to do "Community Worker Breakdown" etc. Any Day Now - it's just next to impossible to tear myself away from this tape. i'm sure you can understand. :) The Man Who Murdered Love: >>There'll be no more painful broken hearts ... more pain from broken hearts * ------------------------ does anyone else think that the harmony on the chorus of that one is the best thing they've ever heard? the verses remind me a lot of "Peter Pumpkinhead", but i like the words even better. except that i actually thought "I do a service for humanity" was "I'll do a service for you, manatee"!!! the funniest thing about that is that i didn't even question my
------------------------------
Date: Sun, 15 Sep 1996 05:13:41 -0500 (EST)
From: Brookes McKenzie <RMCKENZI@angel.smith.edu>
Subject: (i'm an) idiot!
Message-id: <01I9HUNS233CBRQSD6@SMITH>
um, oops? not only am i pulling a Joshua Hall-Bachner by taking up the
entire digest, but i (perhaps unconsciously trying to spare the group
>from the rest of my deranged rambling, but my conscious mind struck
back with a vengeance - ha, ha!) sent my impossibly long msg in mid-
sentence. anyway, the end of that sentence was _supposed_ to be: "question
my mishearing but merely thought, 'why is he talking about manatees?'
and i guess considering "Goodbye Humanasaurus" it isn't as far-fetched
as it _could_ be!"
ANYway, the only other things i have to say are: a) what in the world? is that
instrument in "Dame Fortune"? it sounds like a recorder. or what i'd imagine
a pennywhistle to sound like; and b) in the first line of "Your Dictionary"
AP says "love" with an almost Liverpudlian accent, sounding like the young
George Harrison ("Is that how you spell luv"); OH, and c) doesn't "I Can't
Own Her" sound like "Bungalow"?! it gives new credence to the reports that
AP says he _loved_ "Bungalow". however, unfortunately i still hate Bungalow,
and now i don't much care for I Don't Own Her, either. sappy *and* orchestral
is always a bad combo in my book - that goes for "The Long and Winding Road",
too, even though that's Phil Spector's fault.
the LAST thing i have to say is - doesn't "Knights in Shining Karma" sound
like Pink Floyd circa "Meddle"?
- sorry for babbling on and on about the new demos - just
skip right on over me if you can't bear it - i used to do the same -
- brookes
------------------------------ Date: Sun, 15 Sep 1996 16:43:39 -0400 Message-Id: <v01510104ae61dd56b972@[168.121.135.190]> From: ebubier@MindSpring.COM (Bruce Bubier) Subject: WANTED: demos Hello, My first post to Chalkhills. Been a fan since 1980. Prefer the early to mid 80s stuff but their recent releases have been pretty darned good. Never saw them live but have a few live and demo tapes. I'm just getting back into collecting XTC demos and would like to get some of the recent (past 5-6 years) demos that are circulating. If you have any and would like to trade PLEASE email me privately and I'll send you my list. Please say if you want just the XTC list of my entire list of live stuff for trade. Cheers Many thanks, Bruce Bubier
------------------------------
From: Fidgetor@aol.com
Date: Sun, 15 Sep 1996 22:15:23 -0400
Message-ID: <960915221523_102726671@emout07.mail.aol.com>
Subject: If at first you fail, fail and fail again
Howzitgoin, Chalksters?
Apparently I had my first "fender bender on the information highway" when I
first tried to post this! What a hoot! I'm just so pleased that Mr. Relph
had the good grace and time to delete my first attempt at mailing this. If
he hadn't... boy! would there be egg on my e-mail address!
By way of a brief introduction- I'm Jude P. Hayden (another American with a
middle initial), and although I'm new to this internet thing (is it that
obvious?), I'm certainly not new to Chalkhills. I've been reading it over my
more computer-literate friend's shoulder now for over 6 years, but this is my
first solo-flight. Nice to meet you all- keep up the great work!
Here's just a couple of lyric ideas/tab corrections that probably everyone
else will jump on:
How about this stab at it- "Want to walk into London smelling like a FECUND
rose" (although that does sound a little Robynesque to me- guess you can
tell who's had more new music out lately, I'm only slightly sorry to say)
And... "I heard the dandelions/dandy lions roar in (the something) CIRCUS"?
And the inestimable John H. Hedges was soooo very close on the "Holly" tab-
I have only but a few brief suggestions (which may be horribly wrong, I've
never written tab before either!):
Main verse- XX0232 -> XX0330 (that higher D is in there, and it's easier!)
John's deciphering of stumping part was close, and certainly works well as
counter-point, but I think it's more akin to very simple "7" chords:
XX6766 (basically B flat7- let the bass handle the low A flat- this
replaces John's 4X333X). Then for the- "Courage to look..." part, do a
regular barred G7 (353433), then slide it down a fret to F sharp7, and then
one more to F, but this time keep the 4th (131311) and then at the last
second slide up to the 5th fret for a barred Dm7. So basically, it should
look like this:
XX0232 -> XX0330 (several times) -> then all of John's Em/A tab
then XX6766 (twice) 353433 -> 242322 -> 131311 -> XX7565
XX6766 (twice), 353433, 242322, 131311, X02221, X02222, X02223
The rest of John's tab seems right. Yes, I know, I know, this seems
deceptively simple, maybe TOO simple to be the REAL Andy guitar line, but I
swear it sounds right on a standard-tuned guitar if you accent the right
strings. (Good grief, people, I won't go into that, I promise!)
And one last attempt at tab- forgive me if somebody did this earlier and more
accurately, but here's my guess at the intro to "Meccanic Dancing":
XXX50X -> XXXX05 -> XXX00X -> XXXX00 (very quickly)
You just have to play (forgive me if this gets too technical) "really choppy
and squeaky."
Sorry this is so horrendously long. Thanks again for sparing me from
cyber-emasculation, John Relph. Until next time, I remain.
Jude
------------------------------ Date: Sun, 15 Sep 1996 21:33 -0600 (MDT) From: Miles or Gigi Coleman <coleman@cougarnet.byu.edu> Subject: Fossil Fuel Message-id: <0DXT36Z7200MIP@ACS2.BYU.EDU> Chalkies, A funny thing happened on the way to the record store... Actually, it was at the record store. I was out running my errands and thought I would stop by and see if I could find out anything about Fossil Fuel. Forgetting the release date I couldn't tell the clerk if it was to be released this week or already had (horror of horrors!). Anyway, it happened thusly: Me: Excuse me, I was wondering if you could tell me if you will be getting the new XTC compilation in. It was to be released this week or last. 17 year old Nineties hip chick: Ecstasy? (turns and looks at her equally puzzled friend) Me: Yeah, XTC (pronouncing it as it appears) 17 year old Nineties hip chick: Well, uh, we don't get any compilation albums anyway. Me: Thanks. A second place I check wasn't getting it in but at least the guy there knew who I was talking about. The third place couldn't tell me anything because their computers were down. Oh, well. It's always a shame to go to the used CD places and find the XTC albums. Especially when it's 4 or 5 Nonsuch CDs. Saw a Yazbek there too. Forgive them for they know not what they do. 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
------------------------------
From: jde@abingdon.geoquest.slb.com (Jon Eva)
Message-Id: <9609161106.ZM21718@rs560.abingdon.geoquest.slb.com>
Date: Mon, 16 Sep 1996 11:06:21 +0000
Subject: Fossil Fuel
Hi All,
I've just got my ammonite copy of Fossil Fuel from those lovely people at
Badlands. I had it sent to work and when the receptionist saw what it was
she said "Oh, XTC, I saw them play at the Oxford Apollo about 12 years ago".
"Wow", I said "you're lucky", "I didn't feel it at the time" she replied.
Consequently I am now looking for a new receptionist. Please email me if you
want the job.
There is a rather obscure picture of a match inside the cd case, I've never
really understood XTC's minor obsession with matches ('England's Glory ... A
Striking Beauty!' and the cover to 'Wait 'Till Your Boat Goes Down' spring to
mind). Can anyone explain this to me?
Jon Eva
------------------------------ From: "James Isaacs" <JISAACS@urz-mail.urz.uni-heidelberg.de> Date: Mon, 16 Sep 1996 13:52:48 CET-1CST Subject: The better things Message-ID: <91171C29B8@urz-mail.urz.uni-heidelberg.de> I myself like "The Good Things" better in its TD version. There are two reasons: First, the TD version sounds very Sgt. Peppery. It has an arrangement that behooves its lyrics. Second, the MoS version follows "Living in a Haunted Heart", which is indeed the greatest song never to be recorded. In fact, it should not be. It is perfection, bliss, an aural kiss. Just my opinion, James
------------------------------ Date: Mon, 16 Sep 1996 08:46:48 -0600 (CST) From: AMANDA OWENS <ACOEA@jazz.ucc.uno.edu> Subject: I am searching for certain items...... Message-id: <01I9JGXU37SY8ZV58B@jazz.ucc.uno.edu> For instance, does anyone out there have a copy of Go Plus? If you do, email me. PS-I am also looking for Through the Hill. I tried to special order it but apparently you can't anymore. Amanda Owens "Success is being a quote"-Andy Partridge
------------------------------ Date: Mon, 16 Sep 1996 09:29:53 -0600 (CST) From: AMANDA OWENS <ACOEA@jazz.ucc.uno.edu> Subject: RE:Colin dissing & the Good Things Message-id: <01I9JIFXY8PU8ZV58B@jazz.ucc.uno.edu> I agree about the Colin dissing. Just because he's not an Andy Partridge Junior doesn't mean he sucks. I think a lot of Colin's songs are better thanm some of Andy's songs, and IMNSHO, he is a better singer than Andy. On The Good Things, are you sure it's just Colin and Andy singing? I do hear Andy in some parts, but the line "There's nothig out there for you my dear" doesn't really sound like either of them. Sure it's not Dave? Just wondering. Amanda Owens "Success is being a quote"-Andy Partridge
------------------------------ From: Martin_Monkman@fincc04.fin.gov.bc.ca Date: Mon, 16 Sep 1996 08:10:18 -0700 (PDT) Subject: I still don't believe it Message-id: <9608168428.AA842886364@FINSMTP1.FIN.GOV.BC.CA> Simon Knight writes, first on his search for the R.E.M./XTC connection: >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 then later, on the "I'm XTC's manager" post: >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. Could it be that a "totally anal" XTC fan posted this? Remember those R.E.M. fans!!! I don't buy the manager post - it's too much of what we all want to hear. Martin
------------------------------ Subject: Waits for the Loud Family Message-ID: <19960916.110000.3638.5.Wiggum@juno.com> From: wiggum@juno.com (Kerry P Hinton) Date: Mon, 16 Sep 1996 11:19:07 EDT Hello. In Chalkhills 2-156, DeWitt Henderson mentions the quote: > "I'd rather have a bottle in front of me than a frontal lobotomy" (actually in some country song?!?!) I have a videotape of Tom Waits on Fernwood Tonight (Martin Mull/Fred Willard talk show parody circa 1977) in which Waits pulls a bottle of beer out of his jacket pocket and says the aforementioned quote when questioned about his drinking habits. Country song lyric? I'm not sure. Just an interesting little tidbit, I'm sure. Also -- Bob D. asked for more Loud Family/Sugarplastic dates. I know they play NYC the day after the CT show -- Brownies, 9/23. Only 7 dollars! They can blur your ID, Kerry
------------------------------ Date: Mon, 16 Sep 1996 11:16:46 -0600 (CST) From: AMANDA OWENS <ACOEA@jazz.ucc.uno.edu> Subject: This is my A-plus XTC epitaph... Message-id: <01I9JLSNW2LQ8ZLV0F@jazz.ucc.uno.edu> Confused? Here's the deal...my senior year I took Creative Writing and our teacher told us to write an epitaph for our favorite band. I wrote mine on XTC and got an A-plus. (I didn't realise my teacher was such a fan of their's. Well here it goes...... Here lie the bodies of three chaps from Britain with whom over the years I've come equally smitten. One wears round glasses, two have long hair, two have dos ninos, one has no heir. Twas years ago nineteen in the small town of Swindon did a rock band emerge: Andy, Terry, Barry, Colin. Two of the foursome soon floated away to be replaced by Gregsy, the eldest to this day. They built up success round the world of the globe playing saunas in the desert and igloos in the snow. But stage fright would claim the soul of young Partridge who wretched and wept till home they did charter. Tossed into the bin of has-beens and no-shows, the thre lads from England fell into the death throes. For five years they spoiled till Andy the sod penned a lesser of his efforts, an elegy "Dear God" While believers cried "Heresy!" and threatened to protest, the happy young atheist sat and smiled, no less. Again they flourished til they could do no more and retreated to Chalkhills and Children in scores. Andrew John Partridge, maestro and throat was nothing short of a complicated bloke. Tried to suffocate his mother at such a young age, known to freak out and run off the stage. After 15 years divorced rom Marianne, fathered Holly and Harry, his two precious children. Was 2 and 40, hefty in frame, Andy neer came comfy to longitudinal frame. The basso profundo, the baby we now bring, the heavens pay welcome to Colin Ivor Moulding. Played second string to the genius of Andrew, but over the years his intellect regrew. Talks with a whine, sings through his nasals, eyes of cerulean, not brown green or hazel. Lee was his son, Joanne be his daughter, Carol the mother of the children he fathered. Barely 4 and 0 when his time here ended, all he could depart with was "Well, it's been splendid." At age 10X's 4, add only 3, was the oldest of the fold, David Gregory. Entered the lineup when Barry flew the coop, known as the quietest one in the group. Tinkled the ivories and played the guitar, sang a few backups and thought he'd go far. Joined to tell his children, much like Partridge and Mouldingm but alas was the only one to produce no offspring. I hope you have guessed who these fellows may be, Swindon class of 1977, X-T-C Ta-da! Amanda Owens "Success is being a quote"-Andy Partridge
------------------------------
Message-Id: <199609161635.RAA13672@aoife.indigo.ie>
From: "Daniel Prendiville" <modjp@indigo.ie>
Date: Sun, 15 Sep 1996 23:20:44 +0000
Subject: fossil fool/gbh/"it's the bishop..."/crunchies/gobshite
Good moaning...
Patricia Haley <acidtongue@smart.net> said...
> 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...
You're not the only one who isn't interested in buying it; I won't be
buying it either, not because Virgin get on my tits (so they screwed
around with my favourite group and rejected truck loads of my own demoes,
but hey...) but because there's nothing on the album that I haven't got
already in one format or another. A lot of my XTC collection is on
vinyl/tape (urgh!) and I intend in the fullness of time to replace these
with CDs and that will sort me out. I won't buy FF just to get CD versions
of individual vinyl/tape tracks when I'd be better off (not financially,
though...) by buying the albums themselves. If Virgin and XTC want to make
a pot of money from me in the short term, let's have that rumoured video
compilation ("I thought you hated videos, Dan...)
Mr. GBH himself (er, sorry, Joshua Hall-Bachner) doth spake
> No lyrics this time. (I'm too busy listening to the *new* R.E.M. CD...it
is> freakin' awesome!)
If "freakin' awesome" means in American what "fuckin' appalling" means in
Ireland, then I'll agree with you :-) Moan, whine and more moan; what a
tiresome group REM are. They seem to have two music styles; "back to the
acoustic style of the previous album" or "back to the hard-driven guitar
sound of the album before that...". Repeat ad nauseum. Although XTC can
irritate the bejasus out of me from time to time, at the very least they
keep one's ear interested by their diversity of musical styles. "Prepare the
asbestos Y-fronts, Conrad..."
In re. PUPIL HAZE, although I have never heard the song in question, the
reference to Minor relates to a situation where two siblings are in the
same school or class (esp. in the UK), one sibling being older than the
other, as in Hall-Bachner Major and Hall-Bachner Minor. So clearly, xxxx
Minor, being afflicted with an optical discomfiture is an actual
person. Now if only Chris Twomey could track this person down; a minor
detail I'd've (dig those apostrophes, man) thought. If you want to do
further research into the quaint customs of the UK educational system, I
can recommend "At a Remove - A Study of Customs and Rituals in British
Schools" by Bill Bunter, published by the Quelch Press.
And another thing, are people meant to pay royalties for using the lyrics
of songs in .sigs? Just asking...
BTW, thanks to Paul and Simon (and Della and Steve) for the reponses re.
The Three Wise Men. I'm still waiting to hear from Art and Garfunkel. Good
Lord, how could I have missed that one? Paul might be interested to note
that a granduncle of mine was RC Archbishop in Perth sometime in the 50's
or 60's (vague, I know, but we lost contact with him after he died) while
Simon might like to "get them feckin' Crunchies out of the car".
Furthermore, in Ireland, a "gobshite" is someone who talks through his
arse. You lookin' at me, pal?
Yours (for a 14 day trial offer),
Daniel (the only person in Ireland with a BACCHUS JIHAD T-shirt)
Prendiville
------------------------------ Message-ID: <6449D72F01291300@ametsoc.org> Date: Mon, 16 Sep 96 14:19:00 -0500 From: dgershmn <dgershmn@ametsoc.org> Organization: AMS Subject: One last time In #155, Mark Cuevas said: >"She has escaped from the world where they bake beautiful girls . . ." When >Holly is riding Poppy she is in her own world, oblivious to the nastyness >of the cold cruel world we live in. "Bake" beautiful girls? Unless that was a typo, I believe the line is "MAKE beautiful girls" and Andy's just imagining there is a world somewhere where beautiful girls come from and she has escaped from that one to ours. In #156, Dave O'Connell fantasized: >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: Wow. Damn brilliant, I must say. I'm having a little trouble picturing it fitting with the music, but the imagery is creative, to say the least. Sounds like maybe you had been, uh, "listening" to "Grass" right beforehand...but don't take that personally. :) Simon Sleightholm rationalized: >>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,... I can see what you mean. I mean, cold sand is one thing, but HOT sand? No way. :) But on that note, I would like to request, for the final time before I post the results next week, that all of you who aren't too busy trying to tie knots in hot sand please e-mail me your Top 5 Desert Island XTC songs. I won't reduce myself to near begging, as I did in the last reminder (but I'll be damned if it didn't work better than any previous request! "Ain't too proud to beg..."), but I will simply ask for your time in trying to choose your "DI5," as several of you have dubbed it. And speaking of dubbing, don't forget that I'm going to be making a tape of the top songs for one lucky respondent (would that make those of you who don't get one "despondent respondents"?). In any case, please e-mail me at "dgershmn@ametsoc.org" with your list. Humbly daisily yours, Dave Gershman P.S. I haven't heard from anyone about whether "Troy-ward" (as in "in the direction of Troy") sounds right in "You and the Clouds Will Still Be Beautiful"...any thoughts?
------------------------------ From: Bob Thomas <BobT@cait.wustl.edu> Subject: He's Ain't My Brother, But He's Heavy Date: Mon, 16 Sep 96 13:51:00 CDT Message-ID: <323DA23D@msgw.cait.wustl.edu> Patty Healy wrote: >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 hate when that happens. The kind Mr. Martin Monkman also points out that they don't share a common last name -- R. Thompson v D. Thomson. So, there you go. They are swell musicians, indeed. Enjoy the show, Patty. Everybody buy the CD! BTW, I am pretty sure that Peter Sellers is Colin Moulding's Dad. Regards, Bob Didn't Catch The Last Name, Sorry "and I quote"
------------------------------ From: richard.pedrettiallen@octel.com Date: Mon, 16 Sep 1996 12:44:36 -0700 Message-Id: <23DAFCB0.1240@corp.octel.com> Subject: Close Encounters Yeah, I didn't believe the manager was logging in. Maybe it's true. Maybe not. >No-one believed when Michael Stipe started posting to the REM newsgroup >either. And there were some Chalkhillbillies that wanted to finance Andy's internet connection! How do you think he would feel if we responded to his post with such disdain?! Whew! Here endith the lesson. I will attempt to hold my skepticism in check, so c'mon baby, lie to me! Cheers, Richard
------------------------------ Message-ID: <323DD087.412@sirus.com> Date: Mon, 16 Sep 1996 18:11:19 -0400 From: Peter Dresslar <pdresslar@sirus.com> Subject: XTC: They're Not Half Bad > From: PiriyaV3@aol.com > The Verve Pipe did a cover of "Wake Up" on > the XTC tribute album. This solitary fact forced me to attend the concert > that The Verve Pipe was giving at my school (Lake Forest College). <huge story snipped> I'm from the same neck of the woods as The Verve Pipe; in fact, as I sit typing I'm about 50 feet from US31, which they mention in their song "veneer" on _Villains_. I've seen them a couple of times in free concerts here this summer, and they were very entertaining. I know they have covered some XTC tunes, but the funny thing is they sound almost nothing like XTC. I don't think their lyrics are quite in the same league either, although that might be like asking for the Dallas Cowboys to take on a division of marines and stay even (actually, now that I think about it, the 'Pokes are 1-2 anyway). I like their music, though, and I hope that they continue to develop. > That's it! I think that I am STILL on a high from last night. Not one drop > of alcohol, no drugs. Just the pure and simple happiness that all started > with XTC; they're my drug. ;-) XTC: they're not half bad. :-) ----------------- -Peter Dresslar, Holland, MI, USA
------------------------------ Message-ID: <323DEF4D.4BA@aone.com> Date: Mon, 16 Sep 1996 17:22:37 -0700 From: William Ham <bham@aone.com> Subject: a little of this, a little of that.... first off, i would like to say how lovely it is to find a place where XTC-fiends like myself can go to get satiated with new thoughts and minutae about the band. makes me feel like i'm in reality again (that and putting on about 6 XTC albums in a row). now here's why i'm really posting: 1. how in the world can i get some copies of XTC demos? i'm going absolutely stir-crazy trying to get a hold of some of those. 2. how can one obtain a "chalkhills" t-shirt? i thought there was something about it on the home page, but i couldn't find it at last entry. 3. is there going to be (or is there already) a comprehensive list of XTC covers (beyond all the tribute tapes being circulated in these page)? you can e-mail me privately about all those matters. my other silly ol' question is that i was watching a terribly put together "alternative" video show on public television back in my old stomping grounds of massachusetts and they played a brand new version of the "king for a day" video which consisted of the old KFAD vid with the image manipulated to give everyone in it a rainbowy/acid trippy appearance. has anyone else come across this blatant excuse to get people to pay attention to our favorite underrated band? yours in nihilon-- bob ham bham@aone.com
------------------------------ From: chocko@icanect.net Date: Mon, 16 Sep 1996 23:50:50 -0400 (EDT) Message-Id: <v02140707ae63967844bb@[206.142.172.58]> Subject: Sugarplastic, The Bears, & "more." Hello fellow Chalkadoodles! Just curious.... I see all these postings about the band "Sugarplastic" and I say to myself "Gee Whiz! If all these other people like it... it must be pretty good!" So I set out to go find this band in my local records store, and guess what... I just cant find it! Now its not like I live in some po-dunk town like Minot, North Dakota (no offense to the friendly Chalkabillies up in ND)... I live in Miami for cryin out looud and I just cant find it! Does anyone know what label they are on? Or where I could mail order it? Any suggestions are welcomed! Also... I have been hearing alot about this band called "more." out of Nashville... has anyone heard anything good or bad about this band? I hear that their CD is available on line from their own website or from a place called "Not Lame" records. Im thinking about buying the CD, but I would like to hear any opinions about them first! Does anyone have the scoop on these guys? Finally... Does ANYONE know where I can find a CD of "The Bears" w/ Adrian Belew. I dont know if any of you remember this band... but I sure would like to find this CD too! I hope to hear from you all soon! ---- Cory Smith Senior Graphic Artist / Designer Icanect - Internet Communications of America, Inc. Making Dollars and Sense on the Internet 305-373-5635 E-mail: chocko@icanect.net World Wide Web: http://www.icanect.net/people/cory
------------------------------ Date: Mon, 16 Sep 1996 22:08:26 -0700 (PDT) Message-Id: <v01510101ae6376d0a5f4@[206.15.68.40]> From: mf@well.com (Mitch Friedman) Subject: mommyheads up! I've gotta agree enthusiastically and wholeheartedly and just plain resoundingly completely with Keith Hanlon's post recommending The Mommyheads. Although I now live in San Francisco, I originally hail from NYC and became friends with the band about 2 months before they headed out west. I had heard them perform live on the mother of all XTC radio stations -- WFMU and thought they were truly excellent. I went to see them live and they blew me away. Afterwards I asked them if they were XTC fans and it turned out that Adam, the singer/guitarist was a huge fan. I dubbed him all the demos that Andy had sent me up to that point, as well as the 8 hours of XTC video I had and then they were off in a van to Chico, CA. Years later, actually about 4, I moved out here and I have seen them live just about another 10 times since. They are excellent musicians and since they've had the same guitarist/drummer/keyboard player for about 7 years, they are incredibly tight. The (sorry everyone) quirky rhythms and grooves they lock into with strange time signatures, fluid melodies and slithery guitar lines always remind me of XTC. But The Mommyheads have their own sound and really do impress people who have never heard them before. Check 'em out! Mitch
------------------------------ Message-Id: <v02110100ae6410b1005b@[134.32.48.166]> Date: Tue, 17 Sep 1996 10:53:47 +0100 From: varga@ferndown.ate.slb.com (Stephen Varga) Subject: Fossil Fuel: First Impressions ARTWORK: _______ Looking at the CD case for the very first time it certainly was not Love at First Sight. I got the impression that now XTC have lost their Virginity, they're not going to spend time and money with beautiful, colourful artwork. Look at the track listing design on the back of the case. Boring white text on a plain black background. Can you get more unimaginative than this? The black amonite fossil on a black case did nothing for me apart >from the fact that it was embossed. Inside, things get slightly better. I was very surprised to find lyrics for all the songs, as this seems all too rare when it comes to 'greatest hits' compilations. I also like the idea of having all the singles covers displayed in the centrefold. However, as this will be XTC's most definitive singles collection for many years to come, there was definite room for improvement such as: 1. A short history to pay tribute the band (say 4 or 5 pages of the CD booklet) 2. Original release date for each single (Dare I say highest chart position and number of weeks in the chart as well for each one?) 3. A complete discography (now that this is Virgin's last record) 4. Poorly punctuated lyrics, lack of capitals and too scared to print 'Coca-Cola on tap' for Life Begins at the Hop. Why was the 'Coca' bit left out? 5. A few photos of the band wouldn't have gone amiss. THE MUSIC _________ This CD has certainly benefitted from digital mastering even though there's no mention of it on the CD case or the booklet. The early tracks have a much punchier sound with improved bass and slightly more clarity. We got the full length versions of Statue of Liberty, Making Plans for Nigel and No Thugs In Our House but unfortunately only the inferior 7 inch edits for Generals and Majors, Towers of London, Sgt Rock, Senses Working Overtime, This World Over and Wake Up. AT LAST, THE ORIGINAL MIX OF WAIT TILL YOUR BOAT GOES DOWN ON CD! ABOUT BLOODY TIME TOO! WHEN ARE WE GOING TO GET THE 12 INCH B-SIDE VERSION OF HEAVEN IS PAVED WITH BROKEN GLASS ON CD? AND NOT FORGETTING GOODNIGHT SUCKER !!! So there you have it. One of the millions of opinions on Fossils we expect to see in the coming weeks. One more point about the price. As you know I paid 15 pounds and 99 pence. According to the outlet I purchased this from, the normal selling price for the Ltd Ed was 17 pounds and 99 pence. Does this mean that the Virgin Megastore price of 19 pounds and 99 pence is a rip off?
------------------------------ Message-Id: <199609171006.GAA13212@mime4.prodigy.com> From: Moonsilver@prodigy.com (MR NOBLE K THOMAS) Date: Tue, 17 Sep 1996 06:06:28, -0500 Subject: Oranges & Lemons GOLD Ultradisc Just a short note to inform: the Oranges & Lemons GOLD Ultradisc release by Mobile Fidelity has been pushed back to January.
------------------------------ Date: Tue, 17 Sep 1996 13:46:10 +0100 Message-Id: <v01510101ae6456798732@[194.128.83.69]> From: fisher@easynet.co.uk (Mark Fisher) Subject: Fuels rush in Just splashed out silly amounts of money on the high-texture limited edition Fossil Fuel collection. The difference between it and the regular release is like the difference between the textured white horse and lettering on the original English Settlement LP and the flat versions produced later. Only more so. The booklet includes words for all the songs and has a colourful centre spread of the single covers (including the Canadian Love At First Sight which didn't even have a picture sleeve - but thankfully they haven't been so authentic as to use the speeded up Canadian version of the song itself). Unlike The Compact XTC, it includes tracks that were singles outside as well as inside the UK - ie Ten Feet Tall and Love at First Sight. Listening to it last night, it struck me that the stand-out tracks as *singles* are the first four - Science Friction, Statue of Liberty, This is Pop and Are You Receiving Me? - which have an energy and a direction that gets dissipated as the writing gets more ambitious over the subsequent songs. And while you're all in the record shop, be sure and buy *A Happy Pocket*, the new one from The Trash Can Sinatras (Go! Discs 828 696-2), as seductive a piece of pop beauty as you could wish. Believe me. Mark Fisher (fisher@easynet.co,uk)
------------------------------ Date: Tue, 17 Sep 1996 08:36:46 -0600 (CST) From: AMANDA OWENS <ACOEA@jazz.ucc.uno.edu> Subject: Darnit, I forgot something!!! Message-id: <01I9KUX27FOY8ZSW1G@jazz.ucc.uno.edu> I forgot to ask...who's got Take Away (The Lure of Salvage)? EMAIL ME PLEASE!!!!! Amanda Owens "Success is being a quote"-Andy Partridge
------------------------------ From: Damian Foulger <Foulger@cardiff.ac.uk> Organization: UWCC Date: Tue, 17 Sep 1996 14:45:49 GMT Subject: Fossil Fuel Message-ID: <2BEF4D13773@nrd2s.cf.ac.uk> I saw it. I saw the first XTC release in many years! Even the limited edition embossed bit! stlg14 and stlg17 respectively. I'm not a rich fan so I haven't bought it. There you go. Is this the first reported sighting? Probably not. --Dames tWd
------------------------------ End of Chalkhills Digest #2-157 *******************************
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