Chalkhills Digest Volume 2, Issue 97
Date: Monday, 8 April 1996

          Chalkhills Digest, Volume 2, Number 97

                   Monday, 8 April 1996

Today's Topics:

            Vintage Sounds in a Digital World
               What's David Byrne's hangup?
                          Crass
               Re: Chalkhills Digest #2-96
                     Re: Andy & David
                       Virgin deal
                      the love thang
                A Partridge in a Chalkhill
                    Urgh!  A Music War
             Racing to David Byrne's defense
                 Converting more folks...
                All I Dream Of Is A Friend
                Making Plans for Plushie?
               ...a few bits and pieces...
               Through the Hill worth to go
                      Record Reviews
                   Andy in the Beehive
                         Andy.com
                   Quiet peacocks - NOT
                    (Fwd) The XTC FAQ

Administrivia:

To UNSUBSCRIBE from the Chalkhills mailing list, send a message to
<chalkhills-request@chalkhills.org> with the following command:

        unsubscribe chalkhills

For all other administrative issues, send a message to:

        <chalkhills-request@chalkhills.org>

Please remember to send your Chalkhills postings to:

	<chalkhills@chalkhills.org>

World Wide Web: "http://chalkhills.org/"

The views expressed herein are those of the individual authors.

Soldiers of the Queen, all the hard men that we've seen, need the loving.

----------------------------------------------------------------------

Date: Fri, 5 Apr 1996 10:52:19 -0800
From: relph (John Relph)
Message-Id: <199604051852.KAA24699@mando.engr.sgi.com>
Subject: Vintage Sounds in a Digital World

becki diGregorio <ziglain@cruzio.com> writes:
>
>hey, stewart, i do believe i have a copy of this tape.  kfjc, the same
>radio station here in the bay area, cupertino, california??  i have three
>tapes of an xtc radio special from november 10th, 1987.  are you the cat
>who did this??

That's the right KFJC, but that might be one of the XTC specials
conducted by John Mavroudis (AKA John Mav AKA Holden Caulfield).  I
have tapes of one or two of those XTC specials.  Holden used to also
play a "Fit of XTC" on his Friday morning show, which I often heard on
my drive to work.  Always brightened my Friday mornings.

David.Criddle@cinsycfs.rcc.org (David Criddle) writes:
>
>     Jon Brion
>
>     I have just finished listening to Amiee Mann's  I'm With Stupid!
>     Another Chalkhills find. . . .  Jon Brion does some nice production work.
>     What about him for XTC?  He gets some nice vintage sounds that I think
>     would really mesh well with XTC.

I second that emotion!  I really like his production on the Aimee Mann
album, on his own "Sorry Suzanne" from the _Sing Hollies in Reverse_
tribute, and on The Grays' _Ro Sham Bo_.  Good stuff!

Brookes McKenzie <RMCKENZI@smith.smith.edu>
>
>speaking of the hollies, i can't find _sing hollies in reverse_ anywhere.
>just thought i'd share.

I found it in my local Tower Records.

PCulnane@dca.gov.au writes:
>
>(1) Many, many thanx to John Relph (Chalkhills coordinator) for having the
>patience to allow this trading type business in the Digest.  I hope it hasn't
>transgressed the spirit of Chalkhills.
>(2) Thanx to those who've responded privately to me about proposed trades.

And as long as it stays (mostly) off the list, I don't mind.  It's
only when messages that are only of interest to the traders go to the
entire list that I really have a problem.

	-- John

--
GCS/MU d(-) s a C++(---) UIS+ P+++ !L E++ W++ N+ !o K- w--- !O M+ V--
PS++ PE Y PGP- t+(--) 5 !X R- tv-(--) b++ DI- D G+ e++ h--- r+++ y+++*

------------------------------

Message-Id: <199604051904.OAA16860@rohan.btg.com>
Date: 5 Apr 1996 13:58:50 U
From: "Sherwood, Harrison" <hsherwood@btg.com>
Subject: What's David Byrne's hangup?

Quoth patty@gdb.org (Patty Haley):

>> Mark Fisher mentioned in his post about Andy saying some things about
>> the Talking Heads and David Byrne, and how some of those things might
>> be libelous if he repeated them to the list.

Funny coincidence (or maybe not!): I was grazing at Hotwired when this
Chalkhills came in, with Andy not wanting to repeat a story about David
Byrne 'cos it might be libelous.

Well, what I was looking at in Hotwired at that exact moment was a piece in
"Renaissance," publicizing a new book, for which various arty and political
types were asked to submit their favorite photographs and a small amount of
explanatory text. David's "favorite pic" can be seen at

http://vip.hotwired.com/renfeatures/96/13/byrne.html

Snag a look at it, and I think the "What's Andy _not_ saying about David?"
mystery will be cleared up. Dave says it all pretty clearly for himself.

Tee hee!

Oh, crud. I just checked: you need a password to get in to this part of
Hotwired. Those of you who have one already, cool. Check it out. Those of
you who don't and can't be bothered to get one (http://www.hotwired.com/ --
fill out a short form and you're in), I'll summarize the picture:

SPOILER ALERT:

1960's-vintage bondage porn.

Harrison "Not that there's anything WRONG with that...!" Sherwood

------------------------------

From: Gene_Yoon@brown.edu
Message-Id: <v02130500ad8b1bf33ad0@[128.148.184.54]>
Date: Fri, 5 Apr 1996 14:14:09 -0500
Subject: Crass

Yes, yes, I too have really screwed up the lyrics for Grass, since my
original Skylarking was my brother's cassette without the printed lyrics.

        ....
        But when the *folks* have gone
        ....
        I will *pounce* on you
        Just us, and *look who's who*
        ....
        *Show me to* the things we used to do on grass
        It would *choke* you too the things we used to do on grass

I do think my interpretations are much more appropos.  :)

Gene

------------------------------

Date: Fri, 5 Apr 1996 12:13:50 -0800 (PST)
From: alizarine <jemiah@teleport.com>
Subject: Re: Chalkhills Digest #2-96
Message-ID: <Pine.SUN.3.92.960405120619.24873E-100000@zoe.teleport.com>

Hey all, good to be back amongst you.  I've been on XTC hiatus for a few
years while becoming obsessed with other bands (Nick Cave being the most
consuming example), but I had a fire at my new home in Portland and all my
precious tapes went "whoosh!(melt)" Out of the seven tapes that survived,
one was my ancient dubbing of "oranges and lemons" with some of the
semi-rare demos at the end ("the good things", "living in a haunted heart"
etc.)
I went out the other day shopping for early Bowie and ran across "Big
Express" which ws my first XTC tape way back when... bought it... listened
to it... wondered HOW THE HELL I made it something like five years since
I've devoted a lot of my listening time to XTC.  It's nice though because
I've expanded my musical horizons and I can appreciate the richness even
more than before.
Anyway, if anyone wants to flood me with tapes to replace my lost
collection, I would really appreciate some Small Faces, Who, or any crappy
old gothic nonsense you're embarrased to still own.

	Alizarine, Anointed Sister of the Unchristian Order of
	St. Brian Peter George St. John le Baptiste de la Salle Eno

jemiah@teleport.com			http://www.teleport.com/~jemiah
Oblique Strategy of the day:
"simple subtraction"

------------------------------

Message-Id: <v01530502ad8b59fa7f09@[199.171.191.56]>
Date: Fri, 5 Apr 1996 15:29:28 -0800
From: gondola@deltanet.com (E.B.)
Subject: Re: Andy & David

>Mark Fisher mentioned in his post about Andy saying some things about
>the Talking Heads and David Byrne, and how some of those things might
>be libelous if he repeated them to the list.  I wonder if they could
>be any more so than a quote I read about Andy's saying that when XTC
>were on tour with the Talking Heads that he remembers seeing David
>stick his [missing word!] into a "mountain of cocaine" (or something like
>that).

I love Talking Heads (more than XTC, to be honest), but I'm not going to
bother defending them. What I want to know is, when did XTC and Talking
Heads tour together? Damn, now THERE was a show! And who headlined?

GB

PS  Please don't tell me that Wire was also on the bill, or my head will
explode....

------------------------------

From: 7IHd <ee92pmh@brunel.ac.uk>
Message-Id: <19927.9604060123@molnir.brunel.ac.uk>
Subject: Virgin deal
Date: Sat, 6 Apr 1996 02:23:25 +0100 (BST)

I've been thinking about what Andy said about owing Virgin 4 more albums.

I think that given Virgin's persistent refusal to refuse XTC's albums over
the last 5 years, a good lawyer should have little difficulty in getting
them out of the contract. Quite apart from the bubblegum album, I believe
they were forced to redo Nonsuch a couple of times before they managed to
get that released.

If they can't get out of the contract then Virgin has them over a barrel
basically; it can spend as long as it likes claiming that XTC owes them 4
albums but refusing to release more than 3, then wait until they all die
(in hopefully a long time) and release all of the lost masterpieces that
they've been collecting inbetween, which we being gullible and addicted
and by then XTC-starved would buy, but with nothing going to the band or
their families.

Now, I personally believe that even if the above paragraph is in the
contract and has been signed by the band in blood, it is so unreasonable
that it would never stand up in court. But of the courts then say that
they must work out their contact, then what? Well there are a number of
suggestions:

  (1) Absolute top priority is to release the bubblegum album. The rate
      this is going it's going to end up like that Prince album that got
      delayed for years - and they could do a similar thing, release it
      as a strictly limited edition and if they wanted at an exorbitant
      price. Hell, we'd buy it.
  (2) Rag & Bone Buffet II. The live B-sides, the odd Peel session B-side,
      license the odd track from long out of print compilations and tag
      on the O&L B-sides. All the stuff is rare enough that even someone
      like me who has most of it would buy it, just for the odd track and
      to keep all the stuff in the same place. And on CD.
  (3) How about a licensing agreement to release A Testimonial Dinner in
      the UK? Ok it's not a strict XTC album but it sits on their shelf
      and would make money. Why not?
  (4) There must be other concert recordings they could release, again
      licensed, this time from the BBC.

I don't think Virgin would struggle to put together 4 contract-fulfilling
albums from the material they've got, to be honest. Sure, XTC may not like
it, but it gets them out of a hole, they don't have to hand over their new
material, we get to feed our addictions and Virgin rake in the cash. Winners
all round.

So since the above has not happened, I can only assume that Virgin do not
actually _want_ to release any more XTC albums; in which case, why the
problem?

All seems very strange to me. Anyway, sorry for waffling on but I thought
I'd share my thoughts, the main one being that if they need to finish the
contract to get out of it, it shouldn't have to be that difficult to do.

As for 10 songs per album, I hope this is a less than serious suggestion,
because the last time an XTC album was that short was, um, 1987? I really
can't see XTC, who by now are going to read their contract *very* carefully,
agreeing to anything that didn't give them almost total artistic freedom.

And I don't think they should rule out small indie labels either. The
music press would get behind them just for signing to one, and they might
even get noticed by the kidz and have some big hitz again that way...

-Phil

PS: The silent (5) was the inevitable dance remix of Skylarking. :-)
  _
 |_)|_ *|
 |  | )||   http://http2.brunel.ac.uk:8080/~ee92pmh/
 ========

------------------------------

Date: Fri, 5 Apr 1996 21:18:20 -0500
Message-Id: <v01510101ad8af6435e8e@[128.230.1.96]>
From: pebrantl@mailbox.syr.edu (Paul Brantley)
Subject: the love thang

Before the whole "The Loving" issue is dropped, has anyone else been under
the impression that Andy repeatedly sings "the love THANG" at the end of
each line -- despite the title, despite what the printed lyrics indicate?
It wouldn't be the first time there has existed such a discrepancy. And
then there's: "Soldiers of the Queen, all the barber-shops they've seen..."

Paul

------------------------------

Message-Id: <v01510100ad8b826fd182@[206.15.64.111]>
Date: Fri, 5 Apr 1996 18:26:57 -0800
From: mf@well.com (Mitch Friedman)
Subject: A Partridge in a Chalkhill

               So, let's briefly summarize what I know, shall I?

I've known Andy for a while and in recent months have presented him with
the idea of being online and/or working on a CD-ROM project. It seems that
the only thing he likes using a computer for is music. When I mentioned
something to him about Chalkhills he audibly cringed on the phone. I asked
him about his reaction and this is my version of what he told me:

A friend of Dave Gregory's who is also a Chalkhillian sent Dave what
amounts to a phonebook sized printout of Chalkhills digests about 2 years
ago. Both Dave and Andy were very excited and interested to read it. But
when Andy started to work his way through discussions, he said he became
very depressed and a little angry too. It seems that he didn't appreciate
the fact that people who were his fans (all of whom he loves, just for that
reason) suddenly thought they were authorities on him as a person,
even though practically none of the people he was reading from had ever met
him or knew him at all. Comments like "this is clearly the end of a once
great talent" or "the guy is obviously too big of a baby to have the guts
to tour again" and other similar attacks really upset him.  He basically
said that he has no interest in reading what we have to say because
although some of it is most obviously positive and flattering,
occassionally there is an odd posting that really makes him question his
own abilities and tied in with the fact that his personal life was in a bit
of an upheaval and the fight with Virgin was becoming almost unwinable,
this was the last thing he needed.

My opinion is that now that things are a bit more settled at home and the
record company woes will soon be settled, it may be a good time for Andy to
reconsider.  But don't count on it. Can you only imagine what he would
think if there is considerable negative or even mediocre reaction to a new
album? He's already a bit freaked out about the fact that so many people
have copies of half of the new demos because he's been incredibly careful
and stingy about sending out copies to anyone. (Ben Gott -- naughty
naughty!!)

As far as getting on the internet; he says that the only people he knows
who have email are David Yazbeck, me and a few others, but practically no
one in England. Ah well.

I hope this sheds some light on the topic.

Mitch

------------------------------

Date: Fri, 5 Apr 1996 21:13:30 -0800 (PST)
From: Randy Posynick <posynick@netcom.com>
Subject: Urgh!  A Music War
Message-ID: <Pine.3.89.9604052149.A16352-0100000@netcom21>

Does anyone know if the soundtrack from "Urgh!  A Music War" (featuring
our boys on their respectable street) was ever released on CD?

Randy Posynick      | Everybody wants prosthetic
posynick@netcom.com | foreheads on their real heads.

------------------------------

Date: Sat, 6 Apr 1996 01:51:09 -0500 (EST)
From: "Tom X. Chao" <tqc8542@is.nyu.edu>
Subject: Racing to David Byrne's defense
Message-Id: <Pine.OSF.3.91.960406014707.20750B-100000@is.nyu.edu>

Even in anticipation of what new light may be shed on his weird antics:

David Byrne called a jerk!?  In the XTC mailing list!?  I DON'T THINK SO.

YOU co-write "77," "More Songs," "Fear of Music," "Remain In
Light," "Speaking In Tongues," and "True Stories," THEN you rip on David
Byrne.
TXC

------------------------------

From: Ben Gott <BENG@hotchkiss.pvt.k12.ct.us>
Subject: Converting more folks...
Date: Sat, 06 Apr 96 11:20:00 est
Message-ID: <316697F6@pentium3.hotchkiss.pvt.k12.ct.us>

Hey, Chalkies:

Remember the English teacher I told you about, the one who hate(s) XTC?
Well, I just sent him an Andy interview (from Simon's page, "Bungalow"),
and here was his response:

"...Anyway, Master Partridge strikes me and has always struck me as a witty
guy...I like that Ghengis Khan of Nothing Particularly Happening thing...He
reminds me of Lucky Jim from Kingsley Amis's novel of the same name--kooky
Brits...Slide me some XTC; I don't revile them as deeply as I may have led
you to think...I just like those bands that grind it out...I'll get you
some Uncle Tupelo and Son Volt...some Bob Mould...stuff that has always
passed as 'new'."

Another convert, perhaps? I need suggestions of albums to lend him (seeing
as I've never heard Uncle Tupelo, Son Volt and Bob Mould!) Additionally,
check out his Amis reference - that's too interesting to be a coincidence!

Have a fun day,
Ben

XTC SONG OF THE DAY: Millions

------------------------------

From: ZITTEL@aol.com
Date: Sun, 7 Apr 1996 19:30:24 -0400
Message-ID: <960407193023_464446843@emout09.mail.aol.com>
Subject: All I Dream Of Is A Friend

Here is an attempt to decipher the lyrics to one of the songs written by
Andy and rejected for James And The Giant Peach.

All I Dream Of Is A Friend

Darkness wraps her gloves
Around my room and lonely bed
A loom of stars will weave a rug
Of thoughts inside my head

I don't dream of cakes and candies
Or to know where fairyland is
There is only one thing you can send
All I dream of is a friend

Clouds like purple boats
Will drift across the heaven's bay
Fast asleep I'll float each night
To find my hidden wish

I don't dream of buried treasure
Or of riches beyond measure
There is only one thing you can send
All I dream of is a friend

Friends are there for you to trust
Friends are there to joke and laugh with
Light a smile when things get tough
To illuminate your path with

I don't dream of magic carpets
Or of piles of christmas parcels
There is only one thing you can send
All I dream of is a friend

I don't dream of ice cream canyons
All my thoughts are of companions
There is only one coin you can spend
All I dream of is a friend

------------------------------

Date: Mon, 8 Apr 1996 03:12:36 -0500
Message-Id: <9604080812.AA00753@ns.cencom.net>
From: JH3 <jh3@cencom.net>
Subject: Making Plans for Plushie?

T. Lewis <tlewis@televar.com> sez:

>...check out my strip "Over the Hedge" appearing in a newspaper
>near you. I've been wondering about ways to include some
>obscure XTC references.

I hope I wasn't the only one who noticed this -- a Chalkhills subscriber
with a nationally (U.S.) syndicated comic strip! Interested in inserting XTC
references to be read by millions of impressionable young... record buyers!

In case any of you haven't seen it, "Over the Hedge" (forgive me if I get
this wrong) basically is about a group of lovable-yet-acerbic forest animals
who spend most of their time making an elaborate mockery of human popular
culture. The main characters are R.J. (a raccoon?), Verne (a turtle), and
Verne's nephew Plushie. (Does Verne have his own sketchbook, then?)

Other than having the characters all agree that partridges sing the best
songs of all the bird species, or that "leaves sound best when they're
moulding," how about these:

-- Verne tells R.J. to "wake up" and when he doesn't, Plushie
   says "he might be dead" and another character says "somebody
   better go and get a blanket"

-- R.J. tells Verne, "Don't go laying on the grass, you'll
   flatten the clover"

-- Have one of the characters express how happy he/she is by
   saying "I feel like I'm walking around ten feet tall," or
   describe the moon as "soulless," "sequined" and "showbiz,"
   in that order

Admittedly, none of these are funny in and of themselves, but if I was any
good at coming up with punch-lines I might have my *own* comic strip. (Or at
least my own web site.) Meanwhile, T. also says:

>I thought I was an XTC enthusiast...but I simply cannot compete.

Hey, we're a non-competitive, completely cooperative community with a common
cause! (Alliteration being just a small part of that cause.) It's true that
we sometimes get into ludicrously obscure and ephemeral subjects (I've been
guilty of it myself) but nobody should feel that they're less of a fan than
anyone else just because they aren't as obsessive about it as those of us
who otherwise have no life. Right?

Besides, even if we *were* being competitive, putting XTC references into a
major syndicated comic strip would one-up the hell outta me.

--John H.

------------------------------

From: jrsnipp@interserv.com
Date: Mon, 8 Apr 1996 07:13:44 -0700
Message-Id: <199604081413.AA19481@relay.interserv.com>
Subject: ...a few bits and pieces...

A couple comments on items in recent postings...

1) SPIN's little review book is indeed worthless.  A book that I like (and
own) is "The Penguin Encyclopedia of Popular Music" edited by Donald
Clarke.  While not completely comprehensive, is quite good, esp. for late
seventies/early eighties.  The index includes not just entrants, but also
people name-checked in other entries.  Biggest problem, it was published in
1989 and despite my pleadings, was not due for update last I checked.
Generally, I have found "encyclopedias" and "history of's" to be better
than "record guides" because they have more incentive to provide accurate
information without trying to prove how much cred they have or how big
their indy music dick is.

2) I apologize beforehand if I step on any toes, but I pray that the person
who suggested passing the hat to get Andy and Co. on-line was just kidding.
Let him pay to play like the rest of us non-students.  I desire to say
more, but fear sounding a bit off-center.

Peace and Love,

Joe

PS As far as JWH's When the Beatles Hit America, I just love that song.
His ironic stuff is much better than his serious stuff.  However, I believe
the line was (slightly) misquoted.  I believe the line is,

"Sounded quite a lot like ELO or ELP or FYC or REM or XTC"

That's FYC (Fine Young Cannibals) not FYZ.....

------------------------------

Message-Id: <v02130503ad8e8ebaca32@[202.238.117.131]>
Date: Mon, 8 Apr 1996 23:41:38 +0900
From: n2_n@ca2.so-net.or.jp (Nagaya Takako)
Subject: Through the Hill worth to go

Kon-nichiwa, Ben.

> Is it worth it for me to buy "Through the Hill" for $13.47? Someone, please
> advise.

 I'm grad that I could figure out what you wrote. Ooops, English is difficult.
 About "Through the Hill", for me it costed over $20.00, it was very worthy
to buy!
 It's so mysterious shivering work.
 For you, I don't know whether it worth to buy or not. But I dare to recomme
nd you to buy this work.

 Ah, hon-yakukiga hosi-i....(;_;)

         $B@>>>Fs@$(J/ Nishimatu Nisei/Japan
         CQA03750@niftyserve.or.jp

------------------------------

From: Benjamin Woll <bwoll@abacus.bates.edu>
Message-Id: <9604081706.AA06602@abacus.bates.edu>
Subject: Record Reviews
Date: Mon, 8 Apr 1996 13:06:51 -0400 (EDT)

Interest in reviewing an LP for each Chalkhills newsletter was a bit flat,
(only one response), so I have decided to scrap the idea.  I still think
that one of the strengths of Chalkhills is that it has the potential to
open up a lot of different people to a lot of different kinds of music.

As far as those internet music preference services, they are
uhhhh...alright.  Firefly predicted I would be into Syd Barrett's The
Madcap Laughs (OK - I think it requires repeated listenings and / or a lot
of drugs - sounds like a lo-fi Julian Cope) and Brian Eno's Another Green
World (Pretty good, definitley not my usual taste - but that is good, some
great bass lines).

So, keep up putting out the notice on good stuff.  BTW, if anyone has a
copy of Andy's demos, PLEASE GET IN TOUCH WITH ME.  I lost my tape and I
would love to get a replacement copy of them.  Thanks, I will worship the
person who sees fit to send me another tape for a few bucks.  Cheers, Ben

------------------------------

From: Gene_Yoon@brown.edu
Message-Id: <v02130500ad8f37fca72e@[128.148.184.54]>
Date: Mon, 8 Apr 1996 17:08:28 -0500
Subject: Andy in the Beehive

I got the new Voice of the Beehive CD, "Sex & Misery", which has a song
co-written by Andy Partridge called 'Blue in Paradise'.  The whole song,
but especially the chorus, is a distinctly Andy-esque lost-love song (but
in the voice of a woman), the melody somewhere between 1000 Umbrellas and
Holly Up On Poppy.  It's just south of Disque Bleu on the sappy scale.

        Silver lining changed to grey skies
        When a red-eyed angel waved goodbye
        In my lifetime, I may find him once again to my surprise
        I'll wait here, patiently and you may just return to find me

        Chorus:
        Blue in Paradise, the paint runs down
        Just like my teardrops
        Blue in Paradise, I'll paint the town
        Until the hurt stops

        Make a wish on every rainbow for the colours to reappear
        Green with envy, wishing you home, red faced mad I wait alone
        I'll stay here, one day dear you may just return to find me

        Chorus

        And if you return, nothing will be different
        And if you return, nothing really will have changed
        The red of my heart is black and blue now
        Broken up and dragged around

        I'll lay my dreams all down to sleep here
        I'll close my eyes to hear no sound
        I'm cryin', I'm dyin'
        But I will hold my breath
        'Til you find me

The co-writer is Tracey Bryn (guitarist), very talented for coming out with
consistently catchy power-pop tunes, that is if you consider writing
irresistable hooks a talent.  Among the liner notes: "Andy Partridge, I
won't gush but the pleasure and privilege was all mine."

Unfortunately songwriting credit is the only Partridge reference, as he
doesn't appear to have played or produced any song.

Listening to the CD it's like track after track of your favorite glossy
80's tunes.  Floats my boat, though I have a feeling I'll be relegating it
to the back of my CD rack after I get sick of it.

Does anyone know more about the Voice of the Beehive?  I'm assuming (by
accent) that they're American, although the lyrics have British spellings.
They recorded their first album, "Let it Bee" (that one's a gem, a bit
B-52-like) in California as a five piece (two women and three men), but on
this one it appears the group is just Tracey and Melissa Belland, the lead
singer.  Their old label was London Records, but now they're on Warner
Music UK.  What's the story?

Gene

------------------------------

From: richard.pedrettiallen@octel.com
Date: Mon, 8 Apr 1996 17:49:52 -0700
Message-Id: <169b9960@corp.octel.com>
Subject: Andy.com

     >buy Andy an internet connection

     If I was somebody with a following, I might lurk or use a psuedonym
     but I would never expose myself to such scrutiny.  I think all the
     mystique felt by the fans would be lost and the "star" would never get
     time to sleep if they attempted to answer everything.

     I've read on Chalkhills where people have stated this song or that is
     "weak" or "boring."  If you were the artist, would you like reading
     that?  I think that the artist's opinion is typically  "It is what it
     is and what it was meant to be.  I won't apologize if it doesn't meet
     your approval or expectations."

     Stars and figureheads only expose themselves to questions in
     calculated timeslots and often (like on talk shows) provide a breifing
     on acceptable questions.

     Fireside chats with Andy may be possible in the way that various
     Internet providers have "So-n-so" live-on-line for an hour.

     All of the speculation traffic that has centered around
     interpretations would quickly fade if there was easy access to an
     answer.  That's kind of like painters explaining their paintings...
     it would detract too much from your personal experience of the work
     and, quite likely, spoil it for you.

     And what if Andy told you that the "God" in Dear God was a metaphor for
     Maggie Thatcher?  Or "Hold Me, My Daddy" is about a leather jacket?  Or
     what if your favorite XTC album is the one he is most embarassed by?  Or
     his disdain for most Americans is so deep that we shouldn't be allowed
     to breed?

     There are many people (probably not on this newsgroup) who thought
     Jackson Brown was a cool, sensitive guy until he beat up Darryl Hannah.

     It's much easier to stay quite than risk saying something that may
     offend.  (I may have just proved that theory.)

     He might just be a lurker ...and just to make you wonder about anyone
     with a UK address... he might be interacting with us, playfully
     yanking a few chains, using a pseudonym... or using a bounce service
     to make his address appear to be from somewhere else   hee, hee,
     hee...

     Cheers, Richard

------------------------------

Message-Id: <v0153050dad8f948473ad@[139.80.100.146]>
Date: Tue, 9 Apr 1996 16:15:10 +1200
From: james.dignan@stonebow.otago.ac.nz (James Dignan)
Subject: Quiet peacocks - NOT

JH3 <jh3@cencom.net> mused:

>>There are no secrets in Star Park
>>We'll rendezvous to a peacock's call

>Yes! Peacock! I must have dismissed the idea at first because peacocks
>generally aren't very noisy creatures... or maybe I'm thinking of
>pheasants...

some neighbours of mine have a peacock (luckily not directly next door). It
makes a huge racket - loud piercing single squawks that can be heard from
nearly quarter of a mile away!

James

------------------------------

From: relph (John Relph)
Message-Id: <9604082154.ZM29443@mando.engr.sgi.com>
Date: Mon, 8 Apr 1996 21:54:58 -0700
Subject: (Fwd) The XTC FAQ

I received this message from Dave and I thought it was worth sharing.
He has since joined the list.  Welcome Dave!

	-- John

--- Forwarded mail from Dave Huntoon <dah12@cornell.edu>

Date: Sun, 7 Apr 1996 13:53:43 -0400
To: owner-chalkhills
From: Dave Huntoon <dah12@cornell.edu>
Subject: The XTC FAQ

Hello.

My name is Dave Huntoon, and I live in Ithaca, New York, USA.  I am a 33
year old law student at Cornell University.  I have been listening to XTC
since I first heard "Making Plans for Nigel" when I was a teenager.  In the
late 70's and early 80's I was a sort of punk rocker, and XTC was one of the
best things going, along with The Dolls, The Jam, The Clash,  etc.  Those
were great and fun times.  I remember thinking back then that "English
Settlement" was dull by comparison to "Drums and Wires" and "Black Sea" -
but the album really grew on me each time I listened to it.

I have most of their music on tape (I never made it to CD's), but I have
never been the type to memorize trivia - I just enjoy listening.  The thing
I have always liked about XTC is that their music is complex and evocative,
yet usually manages to be melodic and catchy.  Sometimes they are so clever
(or funny) I get chills from listening.  Their songs sort of suck you in,
and you get more from them each time you listen - sort of like peeling back
the layers of a very good film.  They are one of the few bands that never
grow stale, in my opinion.

It was great fun to learn so many little tid-bits about the band from your
FAQ.  I have been carrying around so many myths regarding what I believed
their lyrics to say and mean that it was strange to have those myths
replaced with the reality of the FAQ.  I just wanted to say thanks for the
obvious effort that has been expended in assembling this information - it
was very interesting.  I have put a link to your FAQ on one of my web pages,
so my friends can find you too.  Keep up the good work!

Best Wishes,
Dave Huntoon

*************************************************************
David A. Huntoon - dah12@cornell.edu or huntdava@law.mail.cornell.edu
Also, visit our Web Page at:           http://beastie.law.cornell.edu/~huntoon/
*************************************************************

---End of forwarded mail from Dave Huntoon <dah12@cornell.edu>

------------------------------

End of Chalkhills Digest #2-97
******************************

Go back to Volume 2.

9 April 1996 / Feedback