Chalkhills Digest Volume 3, Issue 105
Date: Sunday, 27 April 1997

         Chalkhills Digest, Volume 3, Number 105

                  Sunday, 27 April 1997

Today's Topics:

                       Random Notes
     snapping, snapping, snapping goes the camera man
                        Disco trot
       Pulling a Weird Al (or Life's Like a . . .)
                 Wrong group, wrong song
Penn / Monster Chiller Horror Theater / The Big...Chainring?
                 Info from XTC BBS Japan
                      Kinky Mistake
              Re: Close But No Cigar Pt. 384
                          (none)
                   Clash Without Moving
          hello cd's (Some Lovely Andy content)
                        Rediculous
        Hello, how are you, I know you I knew you
                           BF5
                   Drink You Donkey Up!
             Re: Dave Marsh = R 'n' R Marxist
                     High moFidelity
                      XTC demo CD's
                        7 worthies
                      Label / Loving
                   Rag and Bone Buffet
       WAV files / Pond / finding Andy's influences

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The wisdom of the ancients in a box.

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

From: artsy@sprynet.com
Date: Thu, 24 Apr 1997 21:58:42 -0700
Message-Id: <199704250458.VAA15763@m7.sprynet.com>
Subject: Random Notes

Hiya folx, from the land of perpetual winter (hey, we had 13-14" of snow today
in Colorado Springs):

Lots of good bashes to the face of Dave Marsh.  What a joke!  Andy Partridge,
Elvis Costello, Ray Davies and Robert Fripp each have more talent in their
big toes than a critic - ANY critic!

Age - what's this big age thing?  Who cares?  The fact that we all have good
taste in music is enough for me.  Curiosity about our age range I can under-
stand, but the occasional snipes against the youngest and oldest - no.

Ben Folds Five - OK, I borrowed a CD by them, and it was boring.  No git-tar
(this is an *official* review, much like one by Dave Marsh).

Simon - man, your descriptions of cycling 'round little villages were tough
to read for a major Anglophile who hasn't been to the UK for 4 years.  Maybe
I'll get back this year or next...

Kewl story about meeting Ray Davies in the bar.  I just hope he wasn't
READING or anything... :^)  Point 'im towards the TV bar, you know?

Painting XTC over Greek letters!!! Now give that man a cigar!!!

The last 2 Chalkhills have set the record, or at least contested it, for
being "MOST OFF TOPIC".  The 'how to unsubscribe' instructions were hilarious,
but... between that, another joke, and lots o' other things I can't remember
(it's that age thing :^)), I feel like 'what's next?'.  Recipes?  Car tests?
I'm not angry - I think it's hilarious.  I think we just need A NEW CD,
preferably TWO, and SOON, from the BFS band (Boys From Swindon).

OK, to beat you to the punch, I realize that THIS posting is a bit off-topic.
Goodnight, amigos.  Oh, one more thing, and it's ON the topic:  check out
the latest issue of Utne Reader, which BTW is one of the coolest magazines on
the planet, where you can learn about & keep up with just about anything.
There's a very short article about religion appearing in rock/pop music, and
one Andy Partridge is mentioned, with of course lyrics from "Dear God", etc.

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

From: nihilon@crisscross.com
Message-Id: <v03007801af8685a635fe@[202.217.215.252]>
Subject: snapping, snapping, snapping goes the camera man
Date: Fri, 25 Apr 1997 15:59:48 +0800

Hi everyone,

Three photos from the Tokyo Chalkhills Party are now available at the
following URL

http://www02.so-net.or.jp/~n2_n/xtc/p1.html

Courtesy of Nisei Nishimatsu, situated in Hokkaido, the North of Japan.
Unfortunately she was unable to travel to Tokyo for the party, but she has
been very supportive and shown an interest, and I would like to thank her
very much for that.  Thanks to James too, for your kind comments - and
especially to every one who came to the party.

The photos were taken by Tetsuya Shimizu (who wrote to the last Chalkhills
- thanks for your kind comments and the photos) on a digital camera, and so
we were able to get these on quickly.  Unfortunately, they don't show the
entire group - those photos are still in my camera.

The first photo is one of the group from Tetsuya's point of view in the
restaurant.

The second one is (from left) the Beautiful Naomi, My japanese teacher
(Naoko) and myself - Unfortunately Tetsuya caught us just as we thought
he'd finished.  The third one is of us - this time we were ready.

Hope you enjoy them - and I'll let you all know if and when the others
appear on a homepage.

With love from Tokyo,

Steve (MGV)

* ----------------------------------------------------------------------------

                 I know I said I loved you, but I lied.
                                (Go-Bangs)
* ----------------------------------------------------------------------------

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

Date: Fri, 25 Apr 1997 01:36:35 -0700
Message-Id: <v01510100af861c7cbc81@[194.128.83.69]>
From: fisher@easynet.co.uk (Mark Fisher)
Subject: Disco trot

Just got the Robbie Williams CD single (Old Before I Die) with his cover of
Making Plans for Nigel on the b-side (remember b-sides?). Thanks to the
Chalkie who drew my attention to it.

It's a fairly faithful rendition, except the drummer makes no attempt at
doing a Terry Chambers, giving it a fairly straight rhythm instead. I
notice, though, that Nigel now has a future in "a fist of steel," like some
early Soviet propoganda, or else a bad heavy metal lyric.

Oh we go!

- Mark
http://easyweb.easynet.co.uk/~fisher/

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

From: Melsta@aol.com
Date: Fri, 25 Apr 1997 07:34:01 -0400 (EDT)
Message-ID: <970425073400_1220743413@emout07.mail.aol.com>
Subject: Pulling a Weird Al (or Life's Like a . . .)

Hello Season Cyclers!

The AMANDA herself said that my little re-work of All of a Sudden was
FUCKING BRILLIANT.

I wouldn't go quite that far myself (maybe just necking brilliant).

Anyways (I can say that), I have some thoughts on the subject.

One of my little hobbies is to make up new words for favorite songs (Weird
Al style) but I usually find XTC just too complex to do a good job with (All
of a Sudden being the exception).  I've only ever seen one other attempt,
that being ex-Chalkhillian Brent Daniel's blast against ex-Chalkhillian
Daniel Prendiville to the tune of Seagulls Screaming (Fuck you fuck you fuck
you fuck you fuck you).

Anyone else have some full-blown rewrites?  I'd love to read them.  Umm,
send them to me and I'll send them to the man upstairs for posting to the
website?  Or something.  (personally I'd just as soon have them go directly
to the list but I don't want to clog up the works, and I want even less to
get into the bad graces of our beloved moderator.)

On a tangential note (from our shameless plug department), if you are
wondering what it would be like to hear me sing my version of All of a
Sudden, you can't.  But you can purchase a copy of the Chalkhills' Children
tribute tape and hear me do the original with the able and quite fun backing
of Chris Burgess whose idea it was in the first place and who probably
receives sole credit on the label.  Do me a favor.  Print out this digest
and cut out my name " Melissa Reaves " and paste it onto your label
somewhere where you'll know what it means.  Thanks.  And if my name did
somehow make it onto the label, forget I spoke.

I would also like to solicit new "life's like a..." verses.  I was playing
around with it at the time of the recording and I came up with:

Life's like a window. You can look through it. But getting through it is
another story.

I had some much better ones, but I forgot them.  Actually that one's pretty
damn lame.  Send your verses to me as well and I'll compile 'em & post 'em
to the list.

Life's like a party.  You get invited.  But when you get there you don't
know nobody.

Later,

--Melissa

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

Message-ID: <3360C774.4D2@seark.net>
Date: Fri, 25 Apr 1997 08:02:12 -0700
From: Douglas Hardin <douglas@seark.net>
Organization: Fairfield Trucking, Inc.
Subject: Wrong group, wrong song

Dear Chalkies,

Ok, flame away. My bad. It was not Grinding Halt off of the Times Square
soundtrack. It was Take This Town. Ok, I'm old and that was a long time
ago. Plus I didn't have Rag & Bone Buffet with me.

Also, my first XTC was not English Settlement but the cassette of White
Music. Bought it after I saw the movie Times Square and heard Take This
Town. Remembered that in a dream last night.

Just when I thought that my skies were a June July blue,

Doug

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

Message-ID: <c=US%a=_%p=AETNA%l=HFD-EXCH003-970425145033Z-54057@aetna.aetna.com>
From: "Witter, Karl F" <WitterKF@aetna.com>
Subject: Penn / Monster Chiller Horror Theater / The Big...Chainring?
Date: Fri, 25 Apr 1997 10:50:33 -0400

>>[Artsy]Does anyone know whatever happened to the new Michael Penn CD? It
>>was supposed to come out a month or two ago, right?

>[AJ] The date has been pushed back several times now and the new target
>is June 3rd (according to Epic).  The name of the new album is "Resigned".

Now I can properly wait and stop "projecting" him onto some new songs that
sound somewhat that way on the radio. ("The Freshmen" from The Verve Pipe,
anyone?)

>[Todd Bernhardt] The really frightening thing is...REO Speedwagon *is*
>still around today. I think they're doing washed-up-'70s/80s-bands revival
>shows along with (shudder) Styx and other such wankers.  As Count Floyd
>would say, "Ooooh, kids! Scary!"

"And don't forget, kids, to send thirty dollars cash to Count Floyd, care of
SCTV, for your special 3-D glasses! Don't watch without them!" Ahh...  I can
only watch SCTV at the Museum of Television and Radio in NYC nowadays, but
have to cover my head to avoid duff band reunions. Something's just not
right here!

>[Many Chalkies] Skylarking is a summer day, ES is a foggy moor, Mummer
>is spring or fall, etc, but "what" is The Big Express?

Thanks to Simon's "cycling with XTC" stories, I think I've made the
connection: To me, TBE resembles a bicycle commute to work through
a city. (Note: Individual results vary.) The 3 linchpins are "Wake Up",
"Smalltown" and "Train Running Low" in my case, going from a typical
American auto-fixated speedway suburb leading to a gridlocked downtown
packed in a few dense acres of madness. Certainly nothing serene such
as "I'd Like That", riding down some country lane.

>[Ralph DeMarco] Remember, Marsh has been writing for Rolling Stone for
>ages and that magazine went from a newsprint format (with occasional
>hard-hitting political journalism) to a slick, corporate music industry
>teenie-bopper rag. >[Other people slagging Marsh too.]

The big test may be if Marsh can't tell the difference between Andy
playing inarticulate ("Really high, really high, like a really big
thing, say...a sunflower!", not rhyming or with conventional meter)
and the scores of rock "lyricists" who actually are.

On said magazine, I don't think pol. writer William Greider should
be lumped in with the rest. I see RS only a few times a year but he
still has it, IMHO. Now 'scuse me while I buy one of those "mid-range"
$1200 home audio systems shown in that advertorial.

Reporting from frontline on the battle of who could care less,

Karl

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

Message-Id: <199704251541.AAA11282@mail.ca2.so-net.or.jp>
Date: Sat, 26 Apr 1997 00:47:57 +0900
From: n2_n@ca2.so-net.or.jp (Nishimatu)
Subject: Info from XTC BBS Japan

Info from XTC BBS Japan.
(http://www02.so-net.or.jp/~n2_n/xtc/board.cgi)

In Japan, Geffen's new compilation will be released on May 24.

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

I want to know if the foreign people could read English parts of my BBS
with non-Japanese OS.

(Ms.)Nishimatu Nisei / Japan
n2_n@ca2.so-net.or.jp,CQA03750@niftyserve.or.jp
http://www02.so-net.or.jp/~n2_n/xtc/

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

Date: Fri, 25 Apr 1997 11:59:06 -0400 (EDT)
From: "Christopher R. Coolidge" <ccoolidg@zoo.uvm.edu>
Subject: Kinky Mistake
Message-ID: <Pine.A32.3.91.970425114427.132770B-100000@elk.uvm.edu>

  Speaking of Ray Davies, I may have made a big mistake, folks. I'm also
on the Kinks list, and of course there was a mention of Andy's piece on
"Autumn Almanac" in the recent issue of Musician. I posted the
observation that IMHO I considered Andy a better songwriter than Ray in
he leaves his mistakes and experiments in the demo box where they belong
for the most part. Ray, for me, especially with much of his 80's stuff,
will settle for something that sounds like he didn't put much thought
into the song, or at the least needs some rethinking. That was about the
gist of it, and I didn't get flamed for it, so I thought nothing more
about it.
  Then I was on the phone with a friend who's one of the most obsessive
Kinks fans I know, and occassionally gets printouts from the Kinks list
from an online friend, and he warned me there are some people on the list
who are very angry at me for that remark. Apparently there's a few people
on the Kinks list who are very insecure and can't handle Ray & Dave being
less than gods, and there's one in particular, Lee Arthur Wilkerson, who
reported killed his ex-girlfriend for not being a Kinks fan(and the guy
isn't in jail-don't ask me why). Anyway, if any of you run into a serious
Kinks fan, be careful what you say. And as for me, if I don't post to
this list for more than a week, call the FBI. I'm not scared yet, but I
am a little perturbed.
  I'm glad  people here are level-headed, albeit very opinionated. I like
that. :-)

Christopher R. Coolidge
Eleventh Hour Cauldron Publications

I heal with magnets. Ask me how!

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

Message-Id: <199704251325.NAA31563@ids2.idsonline.com>
Subject: Re: Close But No Cigar Pt. 384
Date: Fri, 25 Apr 97 13:27:43 +0100
From: Scott Tury <stury@ids2.idsonline.com>

Mark asked:
>How can these companies (there are more examples) get away with this?
>Isn't the name "XTC" somehow protected by copyright?
>After all, the name of a band is part of their "work of art", isn't
>it?

Yes, XTC is protected under Copyright law, but it's still "fair-use"
outside of the music industry.  As long as two companies own the
same/similar name in different areas of bussiness it's perfectly legal.

A great case in point would be Apple Computer and Apple Corps, Ltd.  They
both share the "Apple" name, but one is a computer manufacturer, whereas
the other is a record label.  (Actually Apple Computer did get Apple
Corps permission to user the "Apple" name, as long as they did not enter
the music industry.)

Can't wait for a new XTC CD in the near future!

Scott Tury

* --------------------------------
J. Scott Tury
Macintosh Software Designer
DigitalNow, Inc.
* --------------------------------
scott@digitalnow.com
* --------------------------------

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

Message-Id: <s360c01d.085@elsevier.com>
Date: Fri, 25 Apr 1997 14:30:34 -0400
From: Ralph DeMarco <r.demarco@elsevier.com>
Subject: (none)

Dear One Armed Bandits and Affiliated Members:

Re:

>2) XTC Grammy nomination
>I searched all through NARAS and came up empty-handed on info about
>this alleged 1993 nomination.  If anyone has any more information on
>this I'd greatly appreciate it.

Yes! It is true.  XTC's "Nonsuch" was nominated for a Grammy in the
Best Alternative Album category.  Obviously, they did not win.  I don't
know who did win 'cause I have not watched the Grammies since 1980
when Christopher Cross beat Pink Floyd's "The Wall" for best Rock
Album of 1979.  I was an outraged 14 year old at the time.

Also Re:

I wrote: > Remember, Marsh has been writing for Rolling Stone for ages
and that magazine went from a newsprint format (with occasional
hard-hitting political journalism)  to a slick, corporate music industry
teenie-bopper rag.

>When's the last time you read Rolling Stone?  They may be slick and
>corporate, but the thing that keeps me reading is that they do frequently
>run good political and social journalism.

Do they?  I was not aware.  I have not flipped through an issue in a
couple of years.  I don't know, however, what your definition of good
"hard-hitting" political journalism is.  Mine would be, say, "The Nation" or
"Extra" (the magazine of F.A.I.R.).  Of course, these are all left-leaning
magazines.  I don't consider "Newsweek", or "Time" to be good
journalism.

Chow,
RSD

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

Message-Id: <3.0.1.32.19970425131548.0073a96c@mail1.electric.net>
Date: Fri, 25 Apr 1997 13:15:48 -0700
From: David Hathaway <davidh@electric.net>
Subject: Clash Without Moving

>From: "james dupuy" <James=Dupuy%SPD=Mainstream%Sys=Hou@bangate.compaq.com>

>By the way, what do Chalkhillians think of the Clash/Big Audio Dynamite? I
>agree they are not the caliber of XTC and others listed here but ...?

While I dearly love the Clash, and consider them to be excellent
songwriters, I'd be hesitant to put them in the same league as XTC, more in
terms of radically different styles. Very talented at their peak tho, Londo
Calling is a brilliant album from start to finish. Never really developed a
taste for Big Audio Dynamite though...

>on the Heads' project...Andy likes "Virtual Insanity",
>the Jamiroquai single...Matt Mahaffey of Tennessee

I always suspected Andy had great taste...Jamiroquai's "Travelling Without
Moving" is an excellent CD, if your tastes run towards 70's funk, ala Earth
Wind and Fire or Stevie Wonder.  Staggeringly great bass playing.

w  w  w  .  m  o  n  k  e  y  -  b  o  y  .  c  o  m
David Hathaway, CEO Of monkey-boy.com, davidh@monkey-boy.com

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

From: Fidgetor@aol.com
Date: Fri, 25 Apr 1997 17:53:38 -0400 (EDT)
Message-ID: <970425175320_-1568543262@emout12.mail.aol.com>
Subject: hello cd's (Some Lovely Andy content)

Hey chalkalots-

Last night in the mail I got my final Hello CD club discs- sadly, they are
going out of business after four years of interesting music.  So anybody
who's been holding out on joining to get Andy's demo disc ought to get
moving- he's in the 1994 subscription, which you'd have to buy in its
entirety at $43.00- not too bad when you consider that many of us would
probably pay almost that much for something like it at a collectors
convention (or wherever).  Unfortunately, 1994 was also the weakest year for
the club (or so I think), despite Andy's spectacular offering.  For those
not in the know, it includes some of his home demos from the aborted
"Bubblegum" album- Prince of Orange, Candymine, It's Snowing Angels, and
Some Lovely (My Brown Guitar).

Hello's address is PO Box 551, Palisades, NY 10964.  They used to have a
toll-free number at 1-800-HELLO_CD, but I don't know if it is still in
operation.  They claim to have limited stock of all past years.

Usual disclaimer:  I don't work for Hello or anything, but if anyone needs
more details feel free to e-mail me privately.

One last Hello comment- any other members out there feel cheated by the last
two discs (the throwaway Mono Puff recordings)?  What happened to Gordon
Gano disc- or the Back to School Special???  Grrrrr.....

See ya,
Jude

P.S.  I'm surely not the first to post this, but on "The Loving" it's
"Straight to ya"-  this was confirmed by Andy P. via Mitch F. last year.
 Let's not repeat that discussion, please!!!  :-)

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

From: Heccubus@aol.com
Date: Fri, 25 Apr 1997 19:05:42 -0400 (EDT)
Message-ID: <970425190540_-467791505@emout04.mail.aol.com>
Subject: Rediculous

Chalk-freaks,
I'm gonna get on everyone's case here, But I subscribed to find out about
XTC and their doings and past. I, like all of the rest of you, am patiently
waiting for NEW XTC. Plus I don't even mind the OCCASIONAL straying from the
subject on other bands as I've found a few gems in the many recommendations.
But what I have no time for is entire posts dedicated to ranting about how
lame a group is (like Ben Folds Five, whom I enjoy tremendously and
Jellyfish, another band that is in my all-time favorites list, may they
R.I.P.) whether I like the band or not. This should be constructive, not
wasteful. I do love XTC, I been the HUGEST fan spreading their wares to all
I come into contact with since I was 14 and I'm only 32 now, but I must
protest. I know even the great Andy Partridge is guilty of flaming groups
(like Blur, another of my all-time favorites), but postings should stick to
the topic as closely as possible and if that means there are fewer postings,
then so be it. It is becoming too painful to read my at least weekly receipt
of Chalkhills. And I want to hang around reading the nuggets of information
that are passed on to me. I was in hopes that I would be able to come into
contact with some of the reportedly wonderful demos floating around out
there, to trade music with others in an effort to maybe introduce someone to
a new favorite of there own, but the tone of this newsgroup really isn't
always one of discovery with like minded individuals. I know there has to be
some like-minded individuals out there, so let's start posting.

Thanks,
Lincoln

P.S. Let's give the new and young fans a break, I would like them to have
positive associations with the music of XTC.

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

Date: Fri, 25 Apr 1997 19:48:21 -0500 (CDT)
From: The Gottschalks <gotts@tenet.edu>
Subject: Hello, how are you, I know you I knew you
Message-ID: <Pine.OSF.3.91.970425193217.27104B-100000@gaston.tenet.edu>

Darrell, you must have missed one of the greatest concerts in history
(REM and XTC), which I would have killed to attend. I hope for your sake
that you've seen them since then.

I'd like to think the members of this list are smart enough to tell what
an ethnic joke is. An ethnic joke deals with something characteristic to
the group that's the butt of the joke. The joke I told didn't deal with
any specific trait of the Polish people. It's just that in America the
Polish person is commonly made the butt of a joke that for its sake has
to choose a group. I wanted to say "Aggie", but only Texans and a few
others would know what the hell I was talking about. I would personally
be delighted to see an American, or even a Texan, to be the butt of such
a joke. And about how it dealed with spousal hatred, give me a huge
break. Anyone who is so overly sensative that even THAT offends them
shouldn't really be talking to anyone, I'm sad to say.

Now that I know that "Dear God" was supposed to be a letter from a little
kid, it makes a lot more sense. I didn't realize that it was a girl
singing at the beginning and at the end of the song. She sounds to me
like she's in her late teens or early twenties. Oh well, go figure 8.

Love to all and pity to those I might have offended,
a big "Tommy" lover,
Mark

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

Date: Sat, 26 Apr 1997 10:43:44 +0800 (SST)
Message-Id: <199704260243.KAA21426@eastgate.cyberway.com.sg>
From: Kevin M Mathews <mathews@cyberway.com.sg>
Subject: BF5

I thought that this list was primarily dedicated to XTC discussion items. So
how did it degenerate into a BF5 bashing session?
I think that BF5 are fabulous - providing a brilliant counterpoint to all
the stuff that's happening in the modern rock scene - does anyone out there
sound like them now?
And anyone that can write an absolute classic like MISSING THE WAR is OK in
my book.
So please lay off BF5 and lets hear somethings about XTC like when the next
album is coming - it's been 5 bloody years already!!!!!

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

From: whanks@ix.netcom.com
Date: Fri, 25 Apr 1997 21:55:53 -0500 (CDT)
Message-Id: <1997425195950641@ix.netcom.com>
Subject: Drink You Donkey Up!

Hi,
The Las Vegas Sun (evening paper) this week had a interesting tidbit in the
Food section. A brief paragraph and product photo of a high energy drink
called XTC. Apparently Las Vegas is a test market for the drink. Price is
approx $1.75 a can. From the makers of the infamous JOLT Cola. Something
about it containing guarva (sp?) and caffine. Talk about your senses working
overtime...the coolest thing is the way the can looks. It is black with XTC
lettered vertically along the side of the can in orange blocky type. Looks
like it was designed in 1978. My hunt commences...starting, NOW!

Peace
Wes

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

Date: Fri, 25 Apr 1997 22:07:17 -0500 (CDT)
From: Marshall Joseph Armintor <mojo@owlnet.rice.edu>
Subject: Re: Dave Marsh = R 'n' R Marxist
Message-ID: <Pine.SOL.3.91.970425215233.2258B-100000@long-eared.owlnet.rice.edu>

   On this Dave Marsh thread:

    ...the only book of his I've read is _Fortunate Son_, an anthology of
his columns, articles etc. from the beginning of his career covering the
local Detroit scene in 1968-1969 (Stooges, MC5, Bob Seger, Mitch Ryder, etc.)
to around 1984.  Marsh's critical outlook is grounded in the idea of rock
as a genre suited for the lower class exclusively, in order to express
outrage, depict life as it's lived, and to produce a feeling of class
solidarity.  So for him, Springsteen is the greatest music force ever
unleashed, ditto Woody Guthrie, the Who, Creedence Clearwater Revival,
the Band minus that pretentious Robbie Robertson, Bob Seger before he
started doing Chevy commercials, and also, by extension, the Beatles (as
opposed to the plasticky rip-off artists the Stones...who were firmly members
of the middle class), because of their working-class Liverpudlian origins.
...Bob Dylan is also rank middle-class faker, and the same goes for the
Beach Boys.  His article on them in the book is brilliant cultural
commentary, but he dismisses them out of hand for 1) coming from suburbia,
2) writing about hedonism, 3) ripping off Chuck Berry and 4) being from
California.  Well, fair enough, but it's a pretty narrow-minded way to
look at things.
   It's no wonder he holds Andy in little regard...Marsh ignores any
definition of music as art, 'cos that's a bourgeois idea.   In other
words, it's advisable to ignore this guy.

marshall

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

Date: Fri, 25 Apr 97 11:39:00 EST
From: "John Christensen" <christej@vrinet.com>
Message-Id: <9703258619.AA861993942@PO2.VRINET.COM>
Subject: High moFidelity

     Just bought the Mobile Fidelity Skylarking and Oranges and Lemons
     Ultradiscs... Yes, I agree, both sound better.  Now, I am no
     audiophile but IMO, Oranges and Lemons benefited more from the MoFi
     remastering.

     Skylarking seems to have gained some "punch," especially in the kick
     drum sound.  And overall, it just sounds a bit warmer.  Better, but
     not hit-yourself-in-the-head-with-a-ballpeen-hammer better.

     Oranges and Lemons, on the other hand, sounded like a new and fresh
     album!  I heard sounds, instruments, and musical nuances that I had
     never heard on the Geffen pressing.  I heard Andy vocally hold out
     subtle notes that I had never noticed before.  I heard Colin's
     basslines in all their brilliance.  The songs, many of which (to me)
     sounded flat before, now sounded rich and open.  Damn, there's never a
     ballpeen hammer around when you need one...

     And for the record: I will be happily and willingly attending the Ben
     Folds Five concert tonight in Detroit.  Cloy me, please!

     Jasper
     Ann Arbor, Michigan

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

Message-ID: <335FDE01.41C6@kerner.com>
Date: Thu, 24 Apr 1997 15:26:09 -0700
From: "HALSTED :: apathetic pantless circus performer" <halsted@kerner.com>
Organization: Industrial Light + Magic
Subject: XTC demo CD's

I'd like to get my hands the XTC demo cd's.  Any leads where
I can chase them down?

Thanks

==================
Michael J. Halsted
halsted@kerner.com
ILM : 415.258.2298
==================

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

Date: Sat, 26 Apr 1997 11:02:06 -0700
Message-Id: <199704261802.LAA04029@barley.adnc.com>
From: studio seventeen productions <ambient@adnc.com>
Subject: 7 worthies

the ever level headed Simon said:

>I just got home tonight to find a shiny copy of Becki diGregorio's CD "Seven
>Worthies...Of The Bamboo Grove" waiting for me.
>
>What can I tell you about it?  I won't muddy the water by trying to compare
>it to other artists, but I will say that it _is_ a wonderful disc, and those
>who have ordered it will not be disappointed (oo-oo-oo-oo-oooo).
>
>I'd place it up there with Bob Mould's "Workbook" and Vic Chesnutt's "Is The
>Actor Happy?", and anyone who has ever shared a car with me can testify to
>my encompassing love of those albums.  People in my immediate aquaintance
>are going to have this album played to them in seriously heavy rotation.
>
>Dave Gregory's contributions are of the best sort - they don't shout "here's
>the Dave Gregory bit!", they add to the already excellent work by becoming
>_part_ of it.  He truly does _contribute_, and it sounds as if he's had a
>lot of fun with some of it.
>
>Becki, you wonder, I am in awe,

I must second this.  I had no expectations of what this disc would be like,
and ended up listening to it nearly ever day on the discman at work.  an
excellent disc, and the version of OPEN MY EYES kind of blows the original
away in some respects.  and the songs WITHOUT dave are just as good as those
WITH dave.

if you are hesitating, don't.  a happy surprise in the mailbox.

thanks becki!

you are more than lucky.  I know if I sent *MY* tracks off to the UK and
they came back with *THOSE* guitar solos on...I would be sort of staring in
disbelief.  must have been a hell of a shock!  did you just send them and
say "play whatever you like?"

highly recommended.

dave at studio seventeen

It takes eleven minutes to empty and six minutes to fill...
Mr.  Blint (Consequences/Godley & Creme)

visit: http://www.adnc.com/web/ambient/index.html
seventeen: the ambient music page

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

Message-ID: <L5OtWsAa3kYzEwWY@emdac.demon.co.uk>
Date: Sat, 26 Apr 1997 19:47:54 +0100
From: Phil Hetherington <phil@emdac.demon.co.uk>
Subject: Label / Loving

>We spoke to Colin in February and
>he felt the band were very close to signing a
>deal with Setanta / Go Discs! in the UK.

Old and dead news, I fear, since Go! has folded (due to their
paymasters at a big corporation who shall remain nameless (because
I've forgotten who) wanting more control, and the guy who ran
it falling out with them over this, or something).

>>Okay, not actually a mishearing, but a question.....in the ending part of
>>"The Loving", when there are about six different thigs being sung, what the
>>heck is (Colin, I think) saying? Sounds like "strange trip"
>I always heard it as "straight to ya"

We've done this one, as someone kindly pointed out a couple of issues
back without actually answering it. As the first person to proclaim
"straight t'ya" (i.e. straight to you), I feel some justification in
repeating it, but to be honest the whole thing bores me; isn't it in
the FAQ? (If not, it should be). Anyway, at the time someone asked
Andy P himself, and "straight t'ya" it indeed is. Amen.

But of course, since music is subjective, if you want to hear it as
something else that's quite up to you.

The preceeding sentence is bollocks, by the way. Certain religious
groups use certain religious texts in the same way, thus offending
lots of people, some of whom then write songs like 'Dear God', thus
offending more people back again. Some people then interpret all
this offending and find it offensive.

Sorry, don't know what came over me. Ho hum.

Since humour is subjective, I don't get it.
--
Phil Hetherington

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

Message-Id: <v01540b00af8716ac0a55@[169.132.97.171]>
Date: Sat, 26 Apr 1997 20:12:22 +0100
From: pjmuck@idt.net (Peter McCulloch)
Subject: Rag and Bone Buffet

Hi, gang. it's been a while since i've posted, but there's been lot's of
interesting discussion of late, so don't mind if I chime in.

Mark writes:
>
>After this I was not really surprised to find a British Hifi magazine
>with a review of a new range of top-class (pre)amps, tuners et al
>This stuff is marketed with the name XTC.
>Very nice gear, but hideously expensive, I'm afraid...
>The power amp alone costs a mere 2000 Pounds :(
>How can these companies (there are more examples) get away with this?
>Isn't the name "XTC" somehow protected by copyright?
>After all, the name of a band is part of their "work of art", isn't
>it?
>Any lawyers or music biz bobo's who can explain this out there ?

Well, I'm no lawyer, Mark, but I have learned a bit about copyrights and
trademarks (albeit, the hard,painful,costly way) to answer your question.

Ownership of a name is secured in the form of a trademark or service mark.
If Andy and the gang had applied for a SERVICE MARK,then the band XTC would
own the rights to their name as a service a musical group (I believe it's
international class 41). But, in addition to being a musical service, most
smart artists will also apply for a TRADEMARK under one or more specific
classes of goods, depending on what goods or merchandise they want
ownership over. Usually, artists own trademarks for clothing/apparel (since
they want to sell T-shirts, etc.) and possibly printed matter (concert
programs, posters, etc). (Usually, they will not own a trademark for
CDs/cassettes, since they've signed the rights of usage over to their
record label). The point being this: unless you own a trademark under the
specific class of goods you are marketing your product under, your name is
usually not be protected under a DIFFERENT class of goods, unless you can
prove that the other party's use of the name was a deliberate attempt to
capitalize on yours or an attempt to cause deliberate confusion to the
consumer.

>1) The "I hate Ben Folds Five too!" thread (or Natalie's first step):
>Its starting to sound like an AA meeting around here when it comes to these
>guys.  "Hi, my name is ___, and I hate Ben Folds Five as well".  Though I
>cant quite understand anyone NOT liking this band, I must say I appreciate
>the comments of those who dont.

I'm glad to see other Chalkhillians trumpeting the cause of this great
band, though I can't understand anyone not liking them on this list either.
(then again, I haven't forgiven you all for convincing me to go out and get
the Sugarplastic's last release). Seems to me they are a refreshing link to
a musical qualtity long overdue, considering the solemn tone of angst and
despair that's hung over new music for far too long now. And Ben's got
chops up the wazoo! But, I can see how they manage to touch the very same
"annoyance" nerve that XTC does in those who are not attuned. When my
girlfriend heard the new Ben Folds, she innocently barked, "Is that that
jerk, Weird Al Yankovich?". I never heard the similiarities before, but
damned if she hasn't forced me to hear them now. Anyway, I'll be at the
Irving Plaza NY show Monday night, so if any fellow chalkhillians are
planning on going, please stop by and introduce yourselves. I'll be at the
LIFEBEAT table.

Regards,
Peter

In the CD changer: XTC: Explode Together, Ultra Lounge: Organs in Orbit,
Spearhead, Skeleton Key, The Klezmatics

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

Date: Sun, 27 Apr 1997 14:48:54 -0800
From: M <jsmdt@acad1.alaska.edu>
Subject: WAV files / Pond / finding Andy's influences
Message-id: <0554480627041997/A21265/ACAD1A/11B4D9B02C00*@MHS>

Ian C Stewart <stewart@netwalk.com> wrote:

> There are still four insultingly terrible sounding WAV files of 1995
> Andy Partridge demos available for your imminent (sort of..same day
> anyway) downloading.  Sorry Mac people, maybe next time (next time?  who
> said there'd be a next time?) they'll be in Real Audio or something...

Actually, the LiveAudio plug-in that comes with Netscape will play WAVs,
and with QuickTime 2.5 (a free download for those who don't already have it)
installed, WAV files on disk will be translated when you open them.

Between QuickTime, the MacLinkPlus translators, and translators built-in to
programs I have (Photoshop, PageMaker, Word, etc.), I haven't run across any
files I can't open.

--------

To bring this posting back to XTC content in a roundabout fashion, let me
recommend the new Pond disc, _Rock Collection_, just released this month.

Briefly: third album, first on Sony's WORK label (SubPop for first two),
good production (finally!). They've relaxed a bit and recorded with more
acoustic and undistorted guitars (Charlie even plays cello on one track),
making the album stronger and more musically diverse.

The song chosen for the first single & video, Spokes, is boring, so don't
judge a book by it's cover. The logic of marketing decisions by major record
labels escapes me. Luckily, it's the first track on the disc, so it serves as
an okay opener and doesn't damage the flow of the album.

However, the bulk of the album is well written musically and lyrically.
Like a good XTC album, it's intelligent enough to grow on me more each
time I listen to it. But, like other bands often mentioned on this list,
I'm sure it's not everyone's cup of tea.

ObXTC tie-in:

Chris (of Pond) told me several years ago that _Black Sea_ is his
favorite XTC album.

And, back in the "good old days" of my post high school group of friends
(ten years ago), at parties at my house Chris was the only one who would
choose to play my XTC discs (besides me, of course).

Before anyone comments or complains, I should mention that I'm really not too
biased -- you won't find me plugging other bands from my hometown (Juneau
["Smalltown! snoring under blankets..."]).

In the seemingly eternal wait for new XTC material, this is one of the few
new releases that I've really liked. Most of the good CDs I've bought in the
last couple of years have been to replace worn-out vinyl or to mine the past
for quality music.

I've had the Kink's _Village Green..._ for a while now. Now, because of all
of this talk about the song "Autumn Almanac" and Andy, I must now rush out
and find that tune. So far everything I've bought because it influenced Andy
hasn't disappointed. That even includes _Pet Sounds_ and _Smile_ era Brian
Wilson. (Even bought the BB boxed set just for that previously unreleased
_Smile_ material on disc 2.)

Well, I've certainly rambled on enough tonight. . .

- Michael

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

End of Chalkhills Digest #3-105
*******************************

Go back to Volume 3.

28 April 1997 / Feedback