Chalkhills Digest Volume 2, Issue 43
Date: Thursday, 30 November 1995
Chalkhills Digest, Volume 2, Number 43
Thursday, 30 November 1995
Today's Topics:
NEW TO THE PICTURE
Re: Richard Thompson list
When?
Peppers in the Produce Section
re: Chalkhills Digest #2-25 through #2-41!
Re: Chalkhills Digest #2-41 : Randy's musings
a brief (?) introduction
Jeff Lynne ? Ian Broudie ? Hmmmmm.....
Ya can't stereotype this XTC fan!
Rocket
Colin fans!
Women and ex-Beatles
Everything you did (or didnt) want to know about Froom!
The Grays
Translator
Revival, Sexism, and a Video review!
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Never trust those staring humans.
---------------------------------------------------------------------- From: gimhoff@bmgmusic.com Date: Wed, 29 Nov 95 12:20:00 Subject: NEW TO THE PICTURE Thanks for the invite to the party. Hope its not too rude to make my first communciation a request. Looking for any and all XTC demos. Have one or two things of interest to trade - for example the Partridge demo tape that was offered through Little Express (containing the great but infinished "Answer Was A Yes" + the great and finished "My Train Is Coming"). Let me know. Thanks, Gary
------------------------------
From: Adrian <DOVERAL@lib.bham.ac.uk>
Organization: The University of Birmingham
Date: 29 Nov 95 16:21:54 GMT
Subject: Re: Richard Thompson list
In Chalkhills Digest #2-41, Al Curtis wrote:
> From: acurtis@capecod.net (Al Curtis)
> ... The most notable
> being Richard Thompson and Tom Verlaine neither of whom, amazingly, have a
> newsgroup or mailing list online. [rest deleted]
There is a RT list however. Currently about 20 messages a day but it has
been up to 50-60 from time to time. To subscribe in bounce mode send email
to r-thompson-request@listserver.njit.edu
with subscribe in the body of the message.
I append info from the Richard Thompson mailing list welcome:
------------------
If you wish to get the list comments in digest form (sent out once
a day), send email to r-thompson-digest-request@listserver.njit.edu
with:
subscribe r-thompson-digest
in the body.
-------------------
regards, Adrian.
------------------------------ Date: Wed, 29 Nov 95 11:25 EST From: Jeffrey Langr <0005392548@mcimail.com> Subject: When? Back in February, I predicted that the next XTC album would be available in August 1995; sadly I was wrong (not the first time, either...). What's the scoop on the album, is it being produced, when's it due out, does anyone know anything? Is XTC trying to find some old John Lennon tracks to record around? Is Andy alive? I haven't heard anything on the topic in a couple months. Maybe someone can summarize the knowledge to this point. Jeff L.
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 29 Nov 95 11:59:01 EST
From: "John Christensen" <christej@vrinet.com>
Subject: Peppers in the Produce Section
I must admit I don't know too much about the man, but how about Geoff
Emerick to produce the next XTC album? I have always loved his
production of Elvis Costello's Imperial Bedroom, and he was, of course,
the recording engineer for Sgt. Pepper, Revolver, and some other
releases by that obscure quartet from Liverpool (The BEasterisks).
Also, I want to thank members of this list for introducing me to Blur:
Parklife. Good stuff. I am still searching the album for similarities to
XTC (the reason I bought the album), but I hear a lot of Paul Weller/Jam
and Squeeze influence, and there's even a wonderful Madness soundalike
tune ("The Debt Collector"). I did, however, have a painfully-scary
Depeche Mode flashback on the opening track ("Boys and Girls"?). Ouch.
Recent postings suggest I should try Robyn Hitchcock next. Any
recommendations on where to start? (Please e-mail me off-line.)
Andy sexist? I believe his lyrics point in quite the opposite direction.
But . . . I do have a couple Andy Partridge radio interviews --
conducted by female interviewers -- where Andy seems to have nothing but
sex on the brain (and doesn't try to hide it) and seems quite playfully
chauvinistic. Perhaps I could transcribe an example in a future issue --
if anyone cares!
Jasper
_________________________________________________________
I want to be the Pop-Tart Pimp and get my Tarts for free.
=========================================================
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 29 Nov 95 12:26:08 CST
From: "Bernhardt, Todd" <tbernhardt@aga.com>
Subject: re: Chalkhills Digest #2-25 through #2-41!
Wow. Just got back from vacation and I've been reading A LOT of
Chalkhills. We certainly are an active bunch.
Overall, it's been a pleasure (esp. compared with reading thru
past issues of Elephant Talk -- I love King Crimson as much or
more than the next person, but it's a little disheartening to
slog through a 100k digest that largely consists of discussions
of whether or not Robert Fripp is an asshole and whether or not
he should be held accountable for it).
I'll try to keep this short. It's been great to read all of the
introductions from newbies. Tony Craine said XTC's music made him
feel "alive, virile" and asked if he was getting too graphic ...
don't be embarrassed! Early on in my love affair with the group,
I used to ride my bike all over town in tempo with my tape of
Black Sea b/w White Music. (Great stuff, until you get in an
accident and learn NOT to wear a Walkman in traffic.) Plus, XTC
is still my favorite music to work out to (and, as far as the
virile part goes, to do other stuff to, as well -- though be
careful with the early albums, you might hurt your back! ;-) . If
you really want to get in shape, play drums with the early
albums. If playing along with "Neon Shuffle," "Science Friction,"
"Red," or "Outside World" doesn't give you Popeye forearms and
make you aerobically fit, nothing will!
And Sylvia Jordan gets the prize for most-inspiring newbie post.
Congrats on your new life -- you GO, girl! -- and I'm sure the
band would be proud to know they provided the musical backdrop to
your transition to sanity.
To one newbie in particular: I take extreme exception to Jim
Colby's post about his former band's "pretty bad live version" of
"Burning with Optimism's Flame." I thought you and I played that
song pretty damn well, Mr. C -- Al, our keyboardist, was the one
who comes in early on the bridge on that recording (and even
that's excusable, since we were making him play both Dave and
Andy's guitar parts ... we were this new-wave power trio-type
thang known as "Famous Babies"). Now, if you're talking about the
quality of the recording, you're right -- that's pretty bad. (By
the way, Chalkholios, Mr. Jim Colby is the badass bass player who
is also author of such classics as "Gangstertown," "Devilfish,"
"Down in the Jungle" and several songs that he and I wrote
together that will live in obscurity, with the rest of the oeuvre
of that Devo-meets-B'52s-meets-XTC band that we formed during the
mid-'80s. I have a real soft spot in my heart for that band ...
we coulda been a contender, I tell ya. Glad to see you come out -
- er, make yourself known -- on the list, my friend.)
Thanks to John Hedges and Dave Franson for posting, respectively,
the chords to "Roads Girdle..." and the Andy P. interview. THIS
is the kind of stuff I love about these digests (not that I don't
like the discussions ... it's just that I receive these digests
so I can LEARN something, and sometimes the discussions tend to
degenerate into nothing more than verbal volleys).
Troy Rutter wrote about "the Andy Partridge poem collection CD
thingie." What is it? Where is it? How can I get one? Did I miss
something?
Chris Coolidge mentioned a "very hip and/or twisted programmer
who's been turning some very cool stuff into muzak" for Grand
Union grocery stores. Is muzak (tm, blah, blah) something you can
program? Most of what I've heard in elevators and dentists'
offices seems to be played by musicians ... please elaborate.
Yes, Andy and Colin DO always sing the songs they've written, but
I must admit that I initially thought Collideascope was a Colin
song until I looked at the credits. After a close listen the
other day, I have to agree with David Haakenson -- I think Colin
and Andy are doubling the vocal track on the verse, giving it
that "Colinesque" (THERE's a word for you) quality.
As for the thread concerning songs I don't like: I must admit
that I think Psonic Psunspot is a pale imitation of its
predecessor, done only because Virgin wanted a "Son of 25
O'Clock," and lacking the inspiration and cheerful insanity of
that EP. The difference between the two is even more obvious when
you listen to the "Chips" CD, which I did the other day. Trippy
segues do not a psychedelic album make, and the songs on Psonic
Psunspot are just too GOOD. If you cranked up the production
value a bit, "Vanishing Girl," "You're My Drug" or "Little
Lighthouse" could be on any XTC album. Also, I much prefer the
Steve Lillywhite version of "Ten Feet Tall" to the single
version; it's much subtler and has been one of the songs I've
successfully used to introduce people to the band.
As for the Fegmaniax contest, wasn't there someone here not too
long ago who offered to compile a list of Chalkhills subscribers'
favorite artists/groups? I believe I sent in my top three. It
would be interesting to see what we would come up with.
I recently got Testimonial Dinner. The high points for me are
Colin, um, I mean Terry and the Lovemen -- it's great to hear how
they produced that song from the demo -- and the Verve Pipe, who
really took "Wake Up" and made it their own. The other thing it
made me realize is just how GOOD a singer Andy really is -- for
the most part, I prefer his vocals on all the songs.
As for cover songs and Testimonial dessert, hats off to Tom
Brislin, who suggested XTC do "The Night Watch," off "Starless
and Bible Black" by the '73 to '74-era King Crimson. Perfect, and
Colin would sound great singing it. A lot of people have
suggested XTC songs that KC could cover, but for me the only XTC
song rhythmically complex enough for KC to do justice to is
"Millions" (unless they want to cover "Red" :-) . And, to work
in the Beatles (There! I've said it!), I thought the documentary
was great and think the new "album" is a pathetic sham largely
driven by McCartney's desperate need for attention. HOWEVER, I'd
love XTC to cover "Rubber Soul" from start to finish. Think of
it: Colin could sing the Paul songs, Andy could do John and DAVE
could sing "Taxman"! I know I'm breaking the rules of the cover
thread, but dear God, THAT would be a killer album. The only
problem is, Sony would get most of the proceeds.
Speaking of DG, I've only this to say: F. Scott Fitzgerald (I
think) said something along the lines of "The mark of a great
mind is its ability to conceive and consider opposing concepts at
the same time." Andy has a great mind. Andy asks questions. It is
well within his capacity to question organized religion ("DG" and
a host of others) and remain a spiritual person ("Rook" and a
host of others), just as it is to -- paradoxically enough --
write lyrics about the inadequacy of language ("No Language in
Our Lungs") and about its enduring importance ("Books Are
Burning"), or to write songs against sexism ("Down in the
Cockpit," "Sgt. Rock") and songs celebrating the joys of sex and
the physical body ("Omnibus," "Pink Thing"). As Slackman
<tgs@telerama.lm.com>, put it:
>In songs like Mayor of Simpleton and My Bird Peforms, they seem
>to want to make a point of disdaining intellectual pursuits.
>Yet XTC consistently produces some of the most intelligent and
>thought provoking lyrics in popular music. I mean, I'm fairly
>well educated, yet I often find myself pulling out the
>dictionary to look up a word from an XTC song (e.g. "frydgian").
>So why the anti-intellectual stance?
>Perhaps it's more of a general disdain for institutions and the
>trappings of those who claim to represent their ideals. In a
>similar fashion, Andy shows digust at some of the atrocities
>performed under the guise of organized religion,* while at the
>same time exhibiting an obvious spiritual yearning by even
>discussing the subject. Maybe he's just met too many
>intellectual blowhards who flaunt their education without
>displaying any real capability for delving into the important
>subjects.
(* or any institution, I might add.) Here, hear. This is what I
love about this group. The songs have depth, intelligence and,
like all great art, communicate with the listener and make him or
her work a little bit to figure things out. The reason Andy hates
videos is that they allow listeners to become lazier; they take
away much of the subjective, interpretive involvement that is the
essential element in experiencing art. As Trent Turner said in a
recent post, "No one is right, but no one is wrong." There's
nothing wrong with coming to different conclusions about the same
work of art -- it's been happening for years and it's the
principal reason why great works of art endure!
Then again, the entire song MIGHT be about Todd Rundgren, not Rod
Stewart or General Zod, as others have suggested. Everyone knows
how they got along during the sessions -- can't you imagine Andy
sitting in the studio singing the song while glaring at God, I
mean, Todd in the control booth? And Todd was so pissed-off that
he left it off the original album and made it a B-side! How's
THAT for conspiracy theories?
I'm sorry this is so long (next time I won't reply to 15 digests
at once). One final thought: how about people relating XTC lyrics
that they've misheard over the years? For instance, when I first
heard "Nigel," I thought he had his future in a British still.
("How depressing!" I thought. "He's doomed to a future of
alcoholism!") Given the fact that our lads don't exactly
enunciate 100% of the time, we should get some good ones out of
this ....
------------------------------
From: motero@digital.net
Date: Wed, 29 Nov 1995 13:51:53 -0500
Subject: Re: Chalkhills Digest #2-41 : Randy's musings
Hello, all. Haven't been able to keep up w/ electronic deluge as
I'd like , but "Randy Xpher's" post got me to thinking (odd sensation,
that)...
Re: Andy & women, & "Omnibus" glorifying women as sex objects, I
don't know... I think he's reveling in the glory of women, the "Garden Of
Earthly Delights." Not objects; but beings different from us men-types, and
infinitely delightful on account of the differences. Reminds me somewhat of
Heinlein's diatribes on the beauty of having humans come in two genders
(Stranger In A Strange Land; I Will Fear No Evil; Time Enough For Love,
etc...). Or maybe John Lennon, in the opening of "Woman" ("The other half
of the sky"). In the light of AP's divorce, etc; maybe he'd now think in
terms of some alien dude on the original Star Trek series, in the episode
where the primative men lived on the cold surface and the technologically
advanced women lived underground... said alien dude referred to them as
"the givers of pain and delight." Personally, I'm down with the "delight"
crowd...
MORE CHORD POSTINGS!!! If I'm gonna be damned, at least let me try
my hand at some of my favorite music. I've tried to find published sheet
music for ANY XTC stuff, & no luck at all. If anyone knows of any, please
let me know. I'm willing to pay the lads for their work, really!
As for a producer, and at the risk of setting off the anti-Beatles
contingent again, I still think George Martin would do a hell of a great
job... (and while I like Jeff Lynne, his production on Three Fabs and a
Tape Machine sounded alot like his work on Harrison's "Cloud Nine"
album. Close, but not quite...)
For the demographics fans, other favorite artists of mine: the
Beatles, Dire Straits, Pretenders, Rickie Lee Jones, the Clash, Santana,
Tom Petty, Dada, World Party... lots more. First hearing of XTC: Making
Plans For Nigel on KLBJ outta Austin, Texas (summer '79?)...I liked it
alot...then nada for years 'til a friend played me The English
Settlement. It was all over for me then... Too many XTC faves to mention,
but Grass, Mayor of Simpleton, My Bird Performs, & Ballad Of Peter
Pumpkinhead are up there. (By the way, you can sing the Rascals' song
"Groovin'" slowly along with Grass... similar chord changes...kinda the
same sweet summer mood, too.)
And on the God thread debate: Yes, it's the 'Net; be free, speak
your mind (& heart). But personally, I scroll on past to read about the
greatest band recording today. I'll try http://jehovah.com if I get in the
mood for theology.
Take care, and peace.
Mike Otero
Melbourne, Florida, USA
"...Countdown to Christmas party time"
------------------------------ Date: Wed, 29 Nov 1995 11:59:24 -0700 From: loughman@cyclone.atmo.arizona.edu (Rob Loughman) Subject: a brief (?) introduction In response to the recent call for new members, I hereby stop lurking & start posting with a brief self-introduction. I grew up in rural Ohio, sadly out of the reach of any radio station adventurous enough to bring me XTC. I first heard OF them as targets of angry tirades during the initial D*** G** controversy, but I first HEARD them when my brother dragged me to the TV to see a quality tune that somehow sneaked onto MTV's playlist (for a moment, anyways): The Mayor of Simpleton. I was captivated by the seamless combination of catchiness, musical sophistication and wit & picked up Oranges & Lemons. Since then I've worked my way backwards through their catalog as budget allows (I'm a grad student); I recently reached Drums & Wires. Each time, I wonder if I'll enjoy the next album, then laugh at how silly this concern was. I've been mildly successful in convincing college friends that XTC deserves a listen, but I've certainly never met another fan on the level of this list. Sadly, the brother who delivered XTC to me now thinks that they're "10% genius & 90% shit". Hmm, I'd reverse those percentages, but he brings up a good point: We can't very well revel in the inventiveness of XTC without making an allowance for the occasional roaring failure. I actually find the "XTC songs I could live without" thread interesting, from a "one's trash is another's treasure" kind of of angle, but I suppose it's been beaten to death over the years (I'm getting through the Chalkhills archives as fast as I can!). To add a bit more beating, I usually skip Shake You Donkey Up, Crocodile, Bungalow, Here Comes President Kill Again, ... But I positively couldn't live without Wake Up, Life Begins At The Hop, Senses Working Overtime, Millions, Hold Me My Daddy, Another Satellite, That Wave, You're The Wish You Are I Had (this list is much longer, but I'll cut it off here!) ... My favorite album (right now anyway) is The Big Express; least favorite (consistently) is Skylarking. I traded it to a friend for English Settlement & hardly miss it. As a late-comer to the XTC scene, I often reflect on my luck, because I didn't have to replace all of those LP's or cassettes with CD's, AND I get so many extra tunes stuck in the middles of The Big Express, Mummer, etc., instead of scattered on various, hard-to-find (at least here in the US) singles. I can't imagine Drums & Wires without Life Begins At The Hop, Chain of Command & Limelight, for example. It must have been a bit frustrating to be a fan from way back who collected singles at great expense to get every last bit ... just before Rag & Bone Buffet emerged! One discussion question before I go: Does anybody else miss Terry Chambers? The possibility of a return is nil, but I really enjoy the way he played. I hear rumblings that he "wasn't one of life's musicians", but he had a distinctive sound that makes me think he wasn't just following orders all the time. "Beating of Hearts" practically screams with Terry's energy in a way that the rest of Mummer decidedly doesn't, to its detriment IMHO. Their later albums definitely have excellent drummers (I particularly like Oranges & Lemons), but the vibe is noticeably different; less like a band & more like a studio musician sitting in, doing what he's told. Maybe this feeling just reflects a bias of mine, as a drummer, that a band with a revolving door percussion policy is losing out on something. Take care, Rob Loughman loughman@air.atmo.arizona.edu
------------------------------ From: "R.L.Crane" <R.L.Crane@sheffield.ac.uk> Date: Wed, 29 Nov 1995 19:01:05 +0000 Subject: Jeff Lynne ? Ian Broudie ? Hmmmmm..... Hi Folks Just though I'd add my ha'porth on the producers thang.......not for the first time,either..... <Scott Taylor says......> > >>---> "Anyone but Jeff Lynne! I was very disappointed to hear > >>he produced the new B****es' material!" <--- I totally agree, here ! Turning a fairly decent song, ie "Free As A Bird", into a reject ELO b-side is a heinous, heinous crime......toucheth not our Swindon Lads, foul beast of the mixing desk! Depart ! And take your silly beard with you! > How about Ian Broudie? Well......much as I love Ian Broudies stuff.......he does tend to make everything he touches sound like......Ian Broudie, really...the last Terry Hall album was for all intents and purposes, a new Lightning Seeds album with a different singer.....he'd did some Alison Moyet stuff ......that sound like Ian Broudie, too..... He even managed to turn Pink Industry - nay, the trully WONDROUS Pink Industry - into a Lightning Seeds soundalike........no mean feat ! I would heartily recommend ANY of the Lightning Seeds albums to the world.......but I don't want XTC sounding like them.....I'd rather have them sounding like XTC, to be honest...... Later Will.........x "More Marmite !"
------------------------------ Date: Wed, 29 Nov 1995 15:07:03 -0600 From: weisrot@cscoe.ac.com (Todd Weisrock - CIS) Subject: Ya can't stereotype this XTC fan! >Crimso's recent THRAK CD contains a tune in which Belew does an exquisite >romantic/mellow Lennon. "Walking On Air" is a beautiful tune that I think >list members would appreciate. I don't know how much of the rest of this >disk you'd dig... Hey, come on, give us some credit! I guess that I have been guilty of this myself at times, but it's dangerous to try to judge people's musical tastes based upon one band that you know they like. While I am a huge XTC fan, I also love King Crimson (Thrak is among their best, in my opinion!), along with bands as diverse as Alice in Chains, Rush, Primus, Old Genesis (in the Peter Gabriel Days), Phillip Glass, Marillion, Metallica, etc. Hell, I'll give anything a try!
------------------------------ From: Ben Gott <BENG@hotchkiss.pvt.k12.ct.us> Subject: Rocket Date: Wed, 29 Nov 95 16:08:00 est Yikes! I was informed by John Relph that the song that starts out "Cape Canaveral, Florida" is called "Rocket." John was also kind enough to give me the name of the album on which the song appears, so anyone interested - e-mail me. I heard the "new" Beatles song the other day, and I think that those wings at the beginning sound like pigeons. Yuck. That's all. Ben New, improved home page: http://www.lookup.com/Homepages/58596/home.html XTC SONG OF THE DAY: "The Man Who Murdered Love"
------------------------------ From: nevrmore@mpython.com Subject: Colin fans! Organization: Monty's Python Date: Wed, 29 Nov 95 17:01:39 EST Stuart (smcdow@arlut.utexas.edu) shared: >Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes!!!!!!!! I must have listened to this song >about 300 times over the T'anksgiving weekend. I can't get it out of >my head...... that one and "Officer Blue". Anyone for a CM fan club? Yeah! Best idea I've heard on Chalk yet. I for one am tired of people trashing Colin's work. Hey, I *like* "War Dance"! But before I get flamed by all those Andyites, let me explain. AP's a genius, let's not argue. His vocab and music-making skills are beyond question. But, speaking for myself, when I'm in sync with an Andy song, the feeling I get is that I agree with the song, but with Colin it's more that I agree with the *author*. I get the feeling he puts more of himself into his work, giving a more honest feel. Anyway, would anyone out there really want only one voice in the band. Where would we be w/o the alternative viewpoint to Andy's songs. ( Would "Earn Enough for Us" be half as memorable if not followed by the sinister "Big Day"?) So if anyone really does wanna start something honoring our favorite cynic, lemme know! David C. nevrmore@mpython.com "Your mate has gone She didn't want to be alone"
------------------------------ From: RandyXpher@aol.com Date: Wed, 29 Nov 1995 17:46:31 -0500 Subject: Women and ex-Beatles >I have always been sure (my own opinion, of course) that Omnibus is about >loving women of *all* races, sizes and colours..."there's nothing in the >world like a green-skinned girl/But that don't mean to say you can't look..." >Although this is a song about women, I think it's a wonderful one. It's about loving women of all races, sizes and colours for their races, sizes and colours, if you will. And about the Shakespeare-hardening, oyster-pearling responses they elicit from those of us of the male persuasion. All mostly involuntary responses, surely, nothing wrong with that. As long as he appreciates *more* than that, of course. And the evidence suggests that he does. I just hope the one he has fun with is the one he takes home to mother... ;-) >>>XTC should be exporting their production talents.... >>>teach Paul McC to write songs again... >>Elvis Costello tried, and it didn't work. But I'd love to see them produce >>more often, esp. Mr. Gregory, who I suspect would do a fine job... >Boulderdash!!! Veronica is one of the best all time pop songs ever written. > I do agree that the rest of the collaborations are pretty poor (on PM's >Flowers in the Dirt). >As I recall, EC and PM bent over backwards not to hype their >collaboration for fear of creating unrealistic expectations. It seems >to me they could have used some more hype because they actually wrote >some fine tunes together. Couldn't agree more. My point being that Macca didn't really seem to "learn" from writing with EC. "Off The Ground" was, from a songwriting perspective, a disappointment to me, a step or two backwards from "Flowers". But seriously, Dave Gregory producing McCartney's next album... hmm... I love it! RC
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 29 Nov 1995 18:00:35 -0500
From: produce@magicnet.net (Arthur James Virgin)
Subject: Everything you did (or didnt) want to know about Froom!
> From: BEAULAC MARIO <m246274@er.uqam.ca>
> Froom's credentials for the job are impeccable; his production
>work for Richard Thompson, Elvis Costello, Suzanne Vega and American
>Music Club (please feel free to complete this list, if you're in the
>know) amply shows affinities with XTC's sound, that quirky mix of melody,
>texture and sheer musical agility.
Well, I started this whole Froom bro-ha-ha so I guess I could fill
in the gaps here. The above artists have indeed worked with Froom/Blake..
Froom and Blake however, came to the forefront producing/engineering
Crowded House (there are 4 pop songwriting God's ... Andy Partridge, Colin
Moulding, Paddy McAloon from Prefab Sprout, and Neil Finn from Crowded
House). The "feeling" or "style" of Froom/Blake became realized on the CH
album "Temple of Low Men". I just want to eat "Temple of Low Men" so it is
inside of my body..(but hey, I'm an audio engineering freak)!
It is important, however, to understand that Mitchell does not do
it alone!!! His partner/engineer is ALWAYS Tchad Blake..All those
WONDERFUL sounds on Elvis Costello's brilliant parade entitled "Brutal
Youth" ..BLAKE. All those WONDERFUL sounds on ANY Froom production..BLAKE.
For those of you interested in getting REALLY into Froom/Blake I
have some recent suggestions for you from my Froom/Blake Shrine (my
entertainment center!).
1) Dave Dobbyn "Twist"...produced by Froom & Neil Finn..Engineered by Blake
2) Finn "Finn"..Neil and Tim Finn's recent product....Actually it was
PRODUCED/ENGINEERED/MIXED by Tchad Blake..GREAT ALBUM!!!
Also, if you are a mouthwatering, drooling Froom/Blake freak like me..Find
THEIR album venture entitled "Vroom".
An unconfirmed story from the Crowded House camp is that Mitchell got his
start doing "arrangements" and "music" for XXX movies...I'm still trying to
get confirmation.
Enough already!
AJ
"Skylarking was like a summers day
baked into one cake" - Andy Partridge
Visit my Quality Music Page! http://www.magicnet.net/~produce/
------------------------------ Date: Wed, 29 Nov 1995 19:21:13 -0500 Subject: The Grays From: Rogier van Bakel <rogier@li.com> XTC-like bands? The Grays. Check our their "Ro Sham Bo." Great melodies, innovative chord structures, soaring vocal harmonies, and (especially the guitars) suitably LOUD and raunchy. Sounds like a good mix between King's X and XTC around "The Big Express. Rogier
------------------------------ Date: Wed, 29 Nov 95 20:05:08 EST From: melissa reaves <MREAVES@KENTVM.KENT.EDU> Subject: Translator Hi all! I've been away but now I'm back. I think I've missed like the last 20 digests or something and y'all are writing too much for me to be able to catch up via the web. So I'm jumping right in the middle. I was amazed to see someone talking about Translator in the last digest. I never owned one of their albums, but always wanted to. The one song "I Love You" always blew me away. I love you in a way that scares me and scars me I love you in a way that won't let me sleep at night. Anyone know where I can get my hands on this song? It's not on the one and only Translator album that I've seen in the stores. I'm a translator by profession and that song was out when I was first dating my husband, so I have double the reason to love the group. Sorry for the lack of XTC content. Except to say that I was listening to Drums & Wires today and it's really a recharging album. Just gets you going, know what I mean? When you're near me I have difficulty When you're near me I have difficulty When you're near me I have difficulty When you're near me I have difficulty ad infinitum... --Melissa
------------------------------ From: Christie Byun <cbyun@ocf.Berkeley.EDU> Subject: Revival, Sexism, and a Video review! Date: Wed, 29 Nov 1995 17:20:13 -0800 (PST) Geez, I wonder how many people become afflicted with the same disease that I came down with about a week prior to Thanksgiving. I have this little habit in that when I find a group that I like, I buy all their albums and listen to them constantly, until I just can't listen to them no more. And for the past 2 years or so, my CD changer/discman has been constantly filled with XTC. But about a week ago, I just stopped listening to them. Maybe I was putting too much bleach in the cornflakes, but it seemed like I was actually burned out on them. Oh no, anguish and despair! If I didn't have XTC to listen to, who the heck would I listen to? Talk about looking into the bottomless abyss of musical emptiness. Fortunately, the timely arrival of some audio tapes (Hi Ian!) revived me. The first XTC related thing I listened to was an interview with Andy, circa Oranges and Lemons. Maybe something about how smart and funny and witty he is jarred me out of my present crap and back into liking XTC again. I'm once again burning with optimism's flames. Thank you, thank you everyone out there, you're like a support group. On to current events...regarding all these postings about Andy's supposed sexist lyrics/attitudes: I never once thought Andy (or Colin) ever wrote anything that remotely resembled sexism in any way. I think the Down in the Cockpit debate is sufficiently settled at this point. Regarding Omnibus--I think it's just a kind of tongue in cheek tune that's more having to do with emotional exploration. One of those there's lots of fish in the sea, give your heart up and try to find the one that's suited to you. Plus, it seems to be that Andy's songs are always pro-women, he's always singing about how much smarter they are than men. Either that or about how women are being pointlessly/senselessly victimized or blamed for things that aren't their fault (like Down in the Cockpit or Punch and Judy). Also, I've heard his new song Church of Women--it's a paean to women, not a condemnation. I think this sums it up: Andy loves women. He respects, worships, even gets turned on by them. This doesn't make him sexist in my book. And to wrap it up--I was going through my videotapes last night during my XTC revival. I know there are probably people out there who have not been able to view XTC, in video form or any other (of course this may not be so with the advent of the video tree). But I figured I might put on a semi-regular item, Christie's Fave Rave Video Reviews! Featured artist is (you guessed it) XTC, Featured Song is King for a Day! This is one of my favorite XTC videos. I didn't even like the song half as much until I saw it (okay, so I'm a cheesy visuals person). All the boys (including a drummer who is unknown to me) are dressed alike in dark (I've only seen the b&w version) jackets, trousers, immaculate white shirts, and hats. The video is simply them performing on a plain stage, with old fashioned microphones. They don't do much except for play their instruments and sing, but it's visually very simple and appealing. Interesting close-ups include a collar button, a couple of unidentified knees (Dave?), some very well polished shoes, and a really nice smile from Colin. My grade is A-. Thanks for reading this far. Christie
------------------------------ End of Chalkhills Digest #2-43 ******************************
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30 November 1995 / Feedback