Chalkhills Digest Volume 2, Issue 76
Date: Monday, 26 February 1996
Chalkhills Digest, Volume 2, Number 76
Monday, 26 February 1996
Today's Topics:
Alternative Speaker Connections
The Little Express
Re: Chalkhills Digest #2-75
Sticking With and Slagging Off - XTC Debates
RE: Dance Music Must Die!
Is this Pop?
What if Andy Partridge was "One of Us"?
Re: Taxes and trumpets
Guernica
Grass
Unsung songs
Prairie/Tribute Tape
Venturing to the U.K.
Drums and Wireless--finally success!!!
Uffington horse image bookmarks
Looking for the BBC Radio 1 XTC Live CD!!!
"This Is Live" CD available [fwd]
right and left, right and wrong
Miscellaneous news
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The views expressed herein are those of the individual authors.
And your criticism doesn't worry me.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
From: richard.pedrettiallen@octel.com
Date: Fri, 23 Feb 1996 18:18:03 -0800
Subject: Alternative Speaker Connections
Re: Christopher Burgess & More stereo mumbo-jumbo
I'm not trying to scare anyone away from experimentation, but get 49
cents worth of insurance for your speakers. You don't have to be some
high-tech weenie, just get something like a 100 microfarad ceramic
capacitor at Radio Shack (BTW, I hate those guys) and connect one lead to
the "extension" speaker and the other to one lead of the speaker wire.
Connect the other lead of the speaker wire to the other speaker
connection. This will prevent DC from being coupled to the speaker coil
& crossover. Simple. Nuf said.
/|
_/ | d
+__________Q_| | d d
____________| | d d
- |_ | p p
\ |
\|
Cheers, Richard
------------------------------ From: ZITTEL@aol.com Date: Fri, 23 Feb 1996 22:49:56 -0500 Subject: The Little Express I just wanted to make sure everyone was aware that the new issue of The Little Express is out. I got mine in the mail yesterday. It is a great newsletter that has been covering XTC for about 15 years now. This is issue number 40. If you don't subscribe you are definitely missing out. In case anyone needs their address it is: The Little Express P.O. Box 1072 Barrie, Ontario L4M 5E1 Canada
------------------------------ Date: Fri, 23 Feb 1996 23:30:58 -0600 (CST) From: jims@inlink.com (Jim S) Subject: Re: Chalkhills Digest #2-75 > And speaking of stories (as in Morning Glory), I'll take >Oasis over Blur any day of the week... sure Noel's an arrogant bastard, >and wears his influences on his sleeve, but it all works... there's >nothing precious about them... you can tell alot about a band based on >it's audience... that said, anyone care to check out the juvenalia on Blur?? I have to agree here. I used to really dig Blur, and hated Oasis (without ever HEARING them, mind you. I saw a quote where Noel said Blur were a "bunch of wankers" and it pissed me off.) I thought Leisure was okay at best, Modern Life is Rubbish was excellent, and Parklife goofy but fun. Then came The Great Escape, and I have to tell you, my opinion is that it is rubbish. They seem to be trying so hard to be quirky that they come off as fakes. Again, just my opinion. So I bought Oasis's "(What's the Story) Morning Glory, and I find it quite a pleasing record. Groundbreaking? Certainly not, but quite enjoyable. The other album, Definitely Maybe is merely okay, but does have a few oustanding tracks. So now I am an Oasis fan more than a Blur fan. Who cares, right? BTW, anybody want to trade for The Great Escape? : ) >Jim S. is dead-on with his observations re great songs ie, 'Paper & Iron'. > The beauty of the music is that you can go back and hear things you missed >before, or forgot about. That's why we're all here. A lyric you took for >granted a few albums ago takes on a new meaning as your life evolves. A >musical structure that was at one time alien seems as comfy as an old sweater >(ragged 'round the edges but warm like a second skin). Thanks for the compliment. You hit the nail on the head. I am constantly "re-discovering" XTC songs. No other band/performer does this for me the way XTC does. Jim S. <jims@inlink.com> "Here's to swimmin' with bow-legged women."
------------------------------ From: Benjamin Woll <bwoll@abacus.bates.edu> Subject: Sticking With and Slagging Off - XTC Debates Date: Sat, 24 Feb 1996 02:41:49 -0500 (EST) I was really happy to read responses to some of the points I brought up in 2-74. So without further adieu, and because I do not want to take up too much space with my hot air, I respond... James Poulakas - It is nice to hear that someone agrees with my point about XTCs songs working on many levels lyrically. Songs like The Good Things and Summer's Cauldron work melodically in many different ways, and when their songs push through transendence and immanence both poetically and musically, XTC is at the top of their form. I think Dying is a great example of this, and I believe many of Colin's other songs - I Remember The Sun, Sacrificial Bonfire, The World Is Full Of Angry Young Men - take a simple message and make it deeply meaningful and reflective. All of us have had chips on our shoulders and ideals in our heads...Damn! Phil - I plead guilty to unjustly slagging off on OMD. I had them pegged as an A-ha type band (hopefully I have not riled up any A-haers out there). After listening to Enola Gay, I'll admit that it is a good tune, and while OMD will never be my favorite band, they did not deserve to be grouped with Duran Duran ripoffs. In your P.S. you mentioned that my letter was not well thought out, and I have to agree. But so what, this is pop music, not brain surgery. I pledge to you that I will continue to make vast generalizations, oversimplications, and dumb ass remarks because I feel like it, so there...sorry, I guess humurous sarcasm does not come across very well on email. Lucas - Fair enough, but I believe that XTC is grounbreaking within the medium in which they work...that of the pop song structure. Wordsworth was a classical music fan because it made the small parts of our lives grand beyound words. I believe Coleridge would have been more of an XTC fan because he made the unspeakably large - Kubla Khan - accessable. XTC's expertise is taking that which is large - love, death, religion - and making it more immediate. It goes back to the conversation James and I were having... XTC are groundbreakers in their chosen medium because they imbue complexity with simplicity (and sometimes vice-versa) artfully. Someone - I cannot remember if it was Lucas or Rimshot - stated that we would probably not listen to XTC if they were true revolutionaries, and I agree. I called them groundbreakers, and I believe the difference between the two is more than semantics. Rodin worked in sculpture, Picasso in painting. Sometimes they crossed boundaries, but they always stayed linked to where they knew they belonged. For XTC the pop song is home, and you don't have to tear down the walls to move in some new furniture and redecorate. Breaking down the borders between different kinds of art is only one way to be revelutionary...change, by its very nature, is multidimensional. Jeez, thanks for your comments. I enjoyed reading them and challenging myself to find good answers. I hope all of ya' will let me in on the next confab. Staying warm in New England, Have You Seen Bennie? Cheers, Ben
------------------------------ Date: 24 Feb 96 03:44:50 EST From: Simon Sleightholm <101477.1611@compuserve.com> Subject: RE: Dance Music Must Die! Ewalther@eworld.com wrote:- >own way. The computer may be a great tool for the composer, but without a >human touch it all becomes so much digitised pap: DANCE MUSIC MUST DIE!!! Hold on there, bald eagle. What about Tricky, Portishead, Electribe 101, Leftfield even Utah Saints? All as capable of stirring emotions and conveying as much depth of feeling as guys with guitars. I suppose we could kill off synthesised sounds; lose Seagulls Screaming, Through The Hill, almost all the Dukes stuff, White Music, Go2, Mummer, Big Express, Poor Skeleton, etc. On second thoughts, though, perhaps it's not such a good idea after all, eh? Rich_Pearson@rld.bofa.com wrote:- >Anyone else ever have dreams about XTC? Yup. Twice. I dreamt about seeing them perform at a club and they played wondrous new material that I'd never heard and that evaporated from my head before I could get to a guitar and work it out. <sigh> Stay well. Simon
------------------------------ From: Ben Gott <BENG@hotchkiss.pvt.k12.ct.us> Subject: Is this Pop? Date: Sat, 24 Feb 96 11:42:00 est >Well, I love these thongs - and yes, they are rather original songs as >well - but still I can not consider them to be a "radical departure" from >"Que sera, sera", "The long and winding road", "Soul man" or any other >pop song from the last 40 years. I'd have to disagree. Have you ever tried playing an XTC tune? I realize that choruses repeat, etc..., but the chords and notes Andy and Colin use are certainly not normal (check out that augmented F chord in "All of a Sudden" - "there's something missing in the middle...") Anyway, I bristle when people believe that XTC just uses the same old pop formula! I go to a school where Hootie and the Blowfish are idolized, and people think that Dr. Dre has a PhD. If you want boring pop formula, try playing "I Only Wanna [sic?] Be With You." Blech. Let us not forget that Andy, Colin, Dave (and Terry and Barry, to an extent) write rock/pop songs, and one of the features of these types of songs is repetition. Hey - even Mozart repeats himself! -ben XTC SONG OF THE DAY: Brainiac's Daughter
------------------------------ From: GROOVE25@SIUCVMB.SIU.EDU Date: Sat, 24 Feb 96 12:55:47 CST Subject: What if Andy Partridge was "One of Us"? Hey, will people please stop berating the Joan Osborne song, "One of Us". I happen to like it, and I think it's as effective as it needs to be, so nyah, nyah, nyah. If you think about it, "Dear God" could be the rock'n'roll equivalent of the Old Testament (i.e. Book of Job--Why have you thus afflicted me, Lord?) and "One of Us" the rockin' New Testament (The whole Christ as God in Man thing). Of course, this is all just food for thought. Please do not regurgitate it. --Doug Downing
------------------------------ Date: Sat, 24 Feb 1996 15:06:10 -0700 (MST) From: Big Earl Sellar <splitred@freenet.edmonton.ab.ca> Subject: Re: Taxes and trumpets Howdy! So it seems that we're back to having the long-winded arguments on this list. See what the lack of an album does to the fans? :) On the political spinoffs from the DEAR MADAME BARNUM as Thatcher thread, "Sean Robison" <sean_robison@studio.disney.com> (hmmm, does Michael Eisner know that the grunts have opinions? :) mentioned: > >On the current "Dear Madame Barnum" thread, I like the interpretation of > >the Madame being Thatcher, even though I don't think Andy had that in mind. > >Let us not forget that XTC has always leaned to the left of center, but has > >anyone else noticed that most of the political songs are oriented toward > >the U.S., and not the U.K. (i.e. "President Kill," "Living Through Another > >Cuba," "Toys")? Any explanation? > > I think the U.S. just has a better track record at political goofups than > England. As XTC has covered - we've got warmongerers, the cuban missile > crisis, various military snafus. While I stick to my Thatcher/"Madam > Barnum" interpretation (though just Andy's desire to get out of a bad > relationship is also very plausible), I don't think people in the U.K. have > many other "beefs" against their government like we do here in the > U.S. Then again, since the U.S. gov't tends to make the world press more > than the U.K., it's more likely artists will write songs bringing our gov't > into the light. After knowing a great many ex-pats, I'd say the above interpretation is wrong. The Brits *hate* their polititions, but in the same way that we Canucks, the Aussies and most of the former colonies hate *their* governments. You just hate every stupid fucking thing that they do. Although you can go on and on and on about the Poll tax, the Falklands war, the harrasment in N. Ireland, etc., it simply saves the Brits a lot of time to just call them a bunch of brain-dead morons and nod in agreement. (Any actual Brits beg to differ?) The reason why Andy has written so many "anti-US" songs is because of the strong arm nature of the US government in world politics. And whereas an American dissenter would call these actions "stupid" etc., a member of any other nation would call these actions "imperialist" etc. The basis of the argument in LTAC is a good example: every person I've ever met thinks that the US government's policies on Cuba are out-dated, moronic, and badly in need of revision. Cuba is about as much a threat to the security of the American populace as Grenada was. What Cuba needs is international aid, especially in terms of education and practical aid (as opposed to monetary aid), not a boycott because of their idealogical bent. The Cuban Missle Crisis almost caused a nuclear war, not because of the threat to US security, but because the very thought of "powerful Commies" (despite that at the time Havana didn't have the electrical resources to launch the missles) were so damn close. Maybe that argument held true in 1963: it did not in 1981 (? the year LIVING THROUGH ANOTHER CUBA was written) and it certainly doesn't here in 1996. And if you don't believe me, ask any non-american what they think of the yankee tourist. Ghia, you hear some *great* stories! :) BTW, I can see the MB/Thatcher connection. Later... EEEEEEE Big Earl Sellar - splitred@freenet.edmonton.ab.ca EE "If all that ash EEEE Used to be hash EE What the heck time EEEEEE Is it now?" Current Temperature: -10C - ASH HASH - Bob Snider
------------------------------ Date: Sat, 24 Feb 1996 15:24:37 -0800 (PST) From: Anthony Ciarochi <ciarochi@pe.net> Subject: Guernica Imagine a country in Europe (let's call it Spain). Imagine that the leader of this country (say, Franco) makes a deal with a tyrant (Hitler), giving the tyrant permission to experiment with a new weapon (air-borne bombs) by destroying an unsuspecting city populated only by peaceful, innocent civilians (Guernica), just to see if it could be done. The experiment is a success, meaning the entire city and its people are destroyed in a great flash of light. Now suppose you are an artist living abroad (er, Picasso). You are so outraged by this event that for days you do not sleep, feverishly painting in an attempt to relieve the agony that tears at your soul. After many days you have created something truly awesome. In a few sparse brushstrokes you have managed to condense all of the fear, pain, betrayal, torture, agony and horror of Guernica. Angels screaming, animals dying, people burning... it's all there in detailed, if abstract, precision. To complete your statement of protest, you put the work on display, with a big sign hanging over it that says "GUERNICA", just in case some of the spectators can't descipher the symbolism. On the opening day of the exhibit, you are standing behind a group of critical admirers, and overhear this: "Isn't it wonderful! He has really captured the cruelty of thoroughbred horse racing, don't you think?" "Nonsense. This piece is obviously a religious protest -- see the angel? the horse? the people falling from windows? He is making a statement about how knowledge of God has created in man an agony that is spared the beasts of the field..." "AAARGH!!", you scream. "NO, NO, NO!! It's about Guernica! Can't you see the BIG SIGN? It's right in front of your faces! GUERNICA, GUERNICA, GUERNICA!!" "Don't be silly, old man," they reply, haughtily. "The great thing about Picasso's paintings is that they work on so many levels. The fact that this painting could be about sexual admirers, or horses, or religion or... whatever.. is the whole point. The (painting) is beautiful because it deeply describes life as a whole and does not divide it up into little snippits." "AAAIIIEEE!!" you scream again, running off to createa new painting entitled "The idiocy of people trying to analyze Guernica, while refusing to accept the beauty of the obvious." Now back to reality... If Andy Partridge were to read the last few installments of the Chalkhills Digest, I suspect he would run off screaming, and write a song called "The idiocy of a bunch of twidgets trying to analyze 'I Resign As Clown...' etc., etc. Later, Anthony P.S. The above story is fiction. I apologize to the friends & family of Picasso.
------------------------------ Date: Sat, 24 Feb 1996 15:40:10 -0800 (PST) From: Anthony Ciarochi <ciarochi@pe.net> Subject: Grass JEFFAE@CEDAR.GOSHEN.EDU wrote : Recently someone mentioned how a Rolling Stone reviewer thought the song "grass" was simply about marijuana. And I agree that the reviewer was an idiot but I don't agree that the song is simply about grass either. -------------- I didn't mean to imply that "Grass" was only about the Bermuda variety (although that's probably exactly what I said :-\ ) My point was that songs metaphorically about drugs have been done to death, and to do another would not be unexpected and therefore not particularly clever (Oh, Jesus, there I go again... more flames coming...). The interpretation of "Grass" being about lawn clippings not only fits with the album's theme better, but also would be more unexpected (i.e.: clever). I always give the boys in XTC the benefit of the doubt where cleverness is concerned. Anthony
------------------------------ Date: Sun, 25 Feb 1996 00:56:39 -1000 From: motherwest@InfoHouse.com (Michael) Subject: Unsung songs Hello Chalksters, I've noticed a few postings recently about the unsung heros of the XTC catalog. You know, those songs that seem to get overlooked but which, like even the the lesser efforts of the master painters, are generally far superior to most of the dross out there. ------ A recent post From: jims@inlink.com (Jim S) Subject: Favorite Songs? Some of my favorite XTC songs seem to be ones that hardly anyone else mentions. I love Ladybird, it's one of my very faves. I also am quite fond of Paper and Iron (Notes and Coins), That's Really Super Supergirl. Of course I'd be hard pressed to name an XTC song that I truly DISLIKE. And the above songs aren't neccesarily my favorites, just songs no one else seems to like too much. ------ Jim, Thought I'd drop a posting to let you know how much I dig Ladybird, Paper and Iron, and Supergirl. I have a craving for harder styles of music but somehow, XTC seems to satisfy. I'm especially amazed at how I can really enjoy a song like Ladybird when, I know, in the hands of any other artist, it would come out sounding like some easy-listening, Muzak crapola. Paper and Iron comes from my fave XTC release: Black Sea. The guitar licks on this song have a definite blues-rock color to them and the production is punchy (some might say abrasive.) I enjoy the drum rolls and the kicks on the verses. For example, just before "I'll stay for one more farthing." And Supergirl, well now, this tune is such a sparkling pop number. The arrangement is a joy (example: the way the main guitar lick comes back in at the end underneath the vocals). I also like the internal rhymes: How you saved yourself in seconds flat And all your friends are going to say thats really super, Supergirl. Here's to a new XTC release soon. Michael motherwest@infohouse.com http://www.please.com
------------------------------ From: BugRoom@aol.com Date: Sun, 25 Feb 1996 11:46:00 -0500 Subject: Prairie/Tribute Tape Ben-Uptheold; <<<Here's a question: did Prairie Prince get along with Todd Rundgren? >>> Very much so. I believe Todd got caught up with him when he produced The Tubes. Prairie and Todd seem to have been pals for some time now (Prairie Prince did the artwork for Todd Rundgren's "Healing" album... and has toured with Todd's band). They must have built some sort of relationship up, as Todd brought him in for Skylarking. <<<What about Andy?>>> Andy hated Todd. You probably know this. Everybody knows this. He warmed up to the Skylarking production after the fact, but all the while, he was in hell. So he said, Todd spent a lot of the time smoking pot and reading computer manuals. They definitely had conflicting minds. As far as Andy to Prairie... going out to California for the drum tracks was a breath of fresh air for Andy. Those were the best times of the production for him. He loved Prairie. And now to a "something completely different" thing. Regarding the SKYLACKING project... I feel sorta 1/2 responsible for the lousy communication... even though I really have nothing to do with the project at all. I've been acting as the Chalkhills relay, if you will, to the project... which I don't mind doing at all, as Ian is a good friend of mine and I'd support anything he comes out with. Ian, the man-in-charge isn't online, and all of the sudden we find it hard to contact him. And I can't blame it all on him either... I'm busy as HELL right now recording. I find it hard to keep up with the project and answer all the questions involved. All I can say is that it STILL is a project... and I WILL CONTACT Ian on what the scoop is. I am SO INTO the new tribute tape idea. A fresh new project for us Chalkhillians. I'd like to officially cast my vote for richard.pedrettiallen@octel.com to head up the project. With him I know we'd get quality stuff. Somehow his asking for either DAT or 1/4" reel (7-1/2ips) makes it very trustworthy. I think the biggest bonus with this project is the fact that EVERY XTC song is open to re-create. Bugsy ps - contest: how many times did bug say "project"? Winner gets a BUG (probably a spider... so I wouldn't try too hard).
------------------------------ Date: Sun, 25 Feb 1996 19:20:43 PST From: "S.E. DAVIS" <a00542@academic.csubak.edu> Subject: Venturing to the U.K. Dearest Chalkhillians, This is my first post in a very long time so hope you'll tolerate me. For spring break here in CA., I will be venturing over to the U.K (London, specifically) and am thinking of taking a jaunt over to Swindon, home of our beloved. Was wondering if any other xTc-ers might be able to direct me towards any xTc points of interest. I have just recently re-subscribed to Chalkhills so I don't know if this has been discussed lately but has anyone been aware of the whereabouts of Andy lately? Last I heard he might have been hanging around in New York. Just Curious. Any replies can be e-mailed to me personally. Also- any other Chalkhills fans in Central or Southern California. Here in Bakersfield I have all been cut off >from any other xTc fans. In fact, upon mention, most people think I am referring to the drug. In other words, it just really sucks. Tis great to have other xTc-ers to chat with, even if through this rather impersonal medium. S.E.Davis
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 26 Feb 1996 10:26:01 -0500
From: vanvalnc@is2.nyu.edu (Chris Van Valen)
Subject: Drums and Wireless--finally success!!!
Hi all
On Saturday I went uptown to visit the old 'hood and was passing by the HMV
on 86th and Lexington Ave. I asked the wife if I could go and look for
something I've been looking for(in vain) for a while--the "Collective Soul"
album still in the yellow jewel case. When I didn't find that, she asked
the obligatory question,"Are you done now?" Just then, a spark flashed in
my head. I said, "One second". I ran over to the "X" section and leafed
through the bin. There among the usual suspects was one copy of "Drums and
Wireless"!! And only $14.99! I told her "I HAVE to have this". Then I had
to explain what it was; she'd never heard of it .
I threw it in the machine as soon as we got home. I was very happy
with the overall quality, especially the tracks from Big Express, which I
didn't think could stand up without overdubs. My one disappointment was
that there were no tracks from Black Sea, Mummer, or Skylarking. But
overall, I feel it's worth having.
But what about that inside illustration? Do Andy and Colin really
wear "high water pants"?? They made Andy look like an old blues man. But
that's just my 6.6 cents.
Cheers,
CV
If you have an unpleasant nature and dislike people
this is no obstacle to work.
--J.G. Bennett
Help us save "Forever Knight"!
http://members.aol.com/CuznJamiMR/SaveForeverKnight.html
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 26 Feb 1996 09:07:52 -0700
From: DeWitt Henderson <dewitth@lanl.gov>
Subject: Uffington horse image bookmarks
Follow-up to my previous email about the Uffington horse
bookmarks -
1) I've got 'em in any combination of 5 paper colors
(grey, cream, beige, brown, and a sort of golden-tan-brown),
and 2 ink colors - brown or black. The brown ink is darker
than the brown paper - it looks pretty good. The ink forms
the background of the image, i.e., the Uffington horse is
in the paper color, with black or brown ink in the background.
If all these combinations sound too confusing, I can just
send a variety. I'll sell 'em cheap - 2 for $1, 5 for $2,
or more for ??? (all including postage). Am I crazy or what?
2) I'm sending email from my PC at work, and I could get
into trouble here, so please don't email me unless you
have a question. Otherwise, you can order bookmarks
from me at PO Box 1106, Los Alamos, NM 87544
*-------------------------------
DeWitt Henderson
(505) 665-1434
MS P223
Los Alamos National Laboratory
*-------------------------------
------------------------------
From: Janice Cabaltica/Diamond Technology Partners Inc
Date: 26 Feb 96 8:41:20
Subject: Looking for the BBC Radio 1 XTC Live CD!!!
Hey to everyone subscribing to Chalkhills! I'm new to the list so
bare with me...
I am on the lookout for the XTC CD "Live in Concert", BBC Radio 1 Live
in Concert or a copy of the BBC Rock Hour #212. I'll admit that the
request for these CDs or copies isn't really for me. My boyfriend's
apartment was ROBBED in Chicago, and his absolute all-time favorite CD
("XTC Live in Concert") got stolen with his stereo. :-(
I realize that there were only a limited number of copies of this CD
released (2500?), but I'm willing to pay some good money for one. My
boyfriend's birthday is around the corner, and I thought it would
cheer him up. If anybody knows of a stray copy of the CD just laying
around, or if somebody's willing to dub cassette copies for me, that'd
be great. Please send all replies to:
cabaltica@diamtech.com
Thanks in advance! Talk to you...
------------------------------ Date: Mon, 26 Feb 1996 09:31:35 -0800 (PST) From: A Sattler <ahs@nevada.edu> Subject: "This Is Live" CD available [fwd] Forwarding this information from 'netless J.R. Reid at Earwax Records, in Bloomington, Indiana. He has a copy of the "This Is Live" CD (12 tracks, live at the Hammersmith Odeon, February 1981) for $25.99. Call J.R. at (812) 332-9612; store hours are 10-9 EST, M-F.
------------------------------ Date: Mon, 26 Feb 1996 17:52:13 +0000 From: fisher@easynet.co.uk (Mark Fisher) Subject: right and left, right and wrong Does the confession of a number of XTC fans to a liking for right-wing rockers Rush, plus the recent mailings by a couple of people with decidedly anti-social opinions about tax policy, imply that Chalkhills is a hotbed of closet reactionaries? I hope not. Further to the thread about understanding XTC songs, just because lyrics might be open to more than one interpretation (eg planetary movement and a love triangle in Another Satellite) doesn't mean that *any* interpretation is valid. Of course everyone should have the democratic right to put forward their personal theories, but that doesn't make those theories correct. Even in an English Literature exam you'll still be marked down for promoting a spurious interpretation. In fact, it strikes me that the more off-the-wall theories there are, the less good a songwriter must be because his/her message or meaning has failed to get across (except in the case of Blue Berret and some REM, Cocteau Twins and Peter Blegvad stuff that deliberately resists meaning). Some people seem to be offended by the idea that they might just be wrong. Mark Fisher (fisher@easynet.co,uk)
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 26 Feb 1996 16:04:14 +1005
From: comlit2@pppmail.nyser.net (Computer Center Lab)
Subject: Miscellaneous news
Hello again
I found some neat tidbits last week and though I might share them with you
all.
First, has anyone noticed that David Gregory does the news? Yes, I was
watching NBC here in NY, USA, and heard "This is Dave Gregory, reporting
>from Los Angeles" or something like that. Has anyone heard this too?
Second, Viscount Lascelles is twenty-fifth in line for the royal throne of
the U.K. Is this person releated to Jeremy Lascelles? Do I have my facts
confused?
Third, for all you NY readers, there is going to be a few record shows in
March, thought you might want to know. I have been to them before, they're
great for finding those rare XTC records and (ahem) hard to find CD's
(hint, hint, wink, wink) Here are those dates:
March 10: Ithaca- Holiday Inn
March 17: Binghamton- Ramada Inn
March 24: Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, PA- The Woodlands Inn
April 14: Utica NY- Radisson Convention Center
If anyone wants to know more, e-mail me.
That's all & take care
Chuck
------------------------------ End of Chalkhills Digest #2-76 ******************************
Go back to Volume 2.
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