Chalkhills Digest Volume 3, Issue 111
Date: Monday, 12 May 1997

         Chalkhills Digest, Volume 3, Number 111

                   Monday, 12 May 1997

Today's Topics:

                       harmo-knees
                      Charlie Parker
            We all scream / Colin's germanity
   You've all seen too many Austin Powers commercials!
           Last post to this one, I swear.....
                  The Verve Poop--5/8/97
              Sickness is as sickeness does.
Sweet morphine, MIDI, pharmaceuticals, woodwinds & cheap fruit
                      RE: XTC demos
                    no new demos....!
             Paul & XTC: what a cooincidence
                   Daisys and Children
                       Stop The Fun
           Harmonies? I'd suggest the POSIES...
                  I Bought Myself A Bird
              re: English Roundabout live...
    XTC owe us nothing , but we deserve some thought.
                    Crash Test Dummies
               distinct and good harmonies
                  Giving Amanda the Bird
                    RE: demos (again)
                       Cool Riffs!
                 Paula Cole Kudos to XTC
                      MERELY AMANDA
                  falkner & xtc & thanks
                           Tuva

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The kind of bud who could spend your dough.

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

Date: Fri, 9 May 1997 16:17:53 +1200 (NZST)
Message-Id: <v01540b01af98fed0b2d2@[139.80.100.147]>
From: james.dignan@stonebow.otago.ac.nz (James Dignan)
Subject: harmo-knees

>HARMONIES - any recommendations for bands with great harmony singers ?
>This is, I hope, my final beatles related topic. Listening to Anthology 3
>i realised that whatever was happening outside Jon & paul continued to
>sing together right to the end, continuing the tradition of don & phil.
>Thereafter that style of singing became redundant until. . . . any ideas?
>at least outside the dukes, the roches (see already covered) and bluegrass
>(such as Jim & Jesse).<

depends what you mean By "great harmony singers". Do you mean those whose
harmonising is crisp and sweet like the Everly brothers, Simon and
Garfunkel, the Byrds, on through the Hollies and Crosby, Stills and Nash,
down to the likes of Miranda Sex Garden (man - can they sing!), all of whom
were great harmonisers because of their voices, or do you mean like The
Housemartins, Cale & Eno, and (dare I say it) the Finn brothers, who
harmonise well despite their voices?

James

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

Date: Fri, 9 May 1997 07:44:40 -0400 (EDT)
From: "Christopher R. Coolidge" <ccoolidg@zoo.uvm.edu>
Subject: Charlie Parker
Message-ID: <Pine.A32.3.91.970509073914.267004A-100000@elk.uvm.edu>

>I ask this because I know Andy's dog is (was?) named Charlie Parker, and b/c
>on my soap (yes, I watch the bastard son of fantasy, the soap opera), a guy
>just named this parrot that flew into this window Charlie Parker. So who IS
>this Charlie Parker?????

  Ask your father if he's a jazz fan. Otherwise, Charlie Parker is a
legendary jazz saxophonist who died of a heroin overdose back in the
'40's. Yeah, the stuff existed back then. Parker is practically a god in
parts of Europe; In Andy's case he's a dog. :-)
  Clint Eastwood, of all people, directed a film biography of Parker a
while back. It's supposed to be very good, as far from Dirty Harry as you
can get.

Christopher R. Coolidge
Eleventh Hour Cauldron Publications

I heal with magnets. Ask me how!

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

Message-ID: <c=US%a=_%p=AETNA%l=HFD-EXCH003-970509124720Z-106902@aetna.aetna.com>
From: "Witter, Karl F" <WitterKF@aetna.com>
Subject: We all scream / Colin's germanity
Date: Fri, 9 May 1997 08:47:20 -0400

(Obligatory cheapshot warning.)

The XTC ice cream flavor we'd get if Virgin were marketing it:

Mayo of Simpleton.

>Colin's songs seem more "hit and miss" than Andy's...where
>Colin has 3 songs, he is more likely to have better material.

True. I won't be the first to hold up "Skylarking" as Exhibit A
in "What Colin contributes to an Album". For me, his cuts
on Black Sea (only 2) & English Settlement are also pretty
darn important. And I don't think there was enough of him on
TBE or O&L. However, on the other hand I can't imagine
reversing the songwriting numbers: Four Andys and nine
Colins on an album...

It's good to know that Mark has made Chalkhills a place where
Aggies can escape the humiliation heaped on them elsewhere.
(For those who don't know, an Aggie is the Texan equivalent
of a Newfie in Canada. Oh, no! Should I have said that? :-o)

Watching and waiting by the sea,

Karl

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

Date: Fri, 09 May 1997 08:28:46 -0500 (CDT)
From: amanda caryl owens <ACOEA@jazz.ucc.uno.edu>
Subject: You've all seen too many Austin Powers commercials!
Message-id: <01IINQR16S5U8Y3P6I@jazz.ucc.uno.edu>

Becuse in response to my "Sex" part of the survey, I'm getting a lot of
"Yes, please!" answers. But I digress.  Keep 'em coming, the last day to
vote is Tuesday in the morning. (For those of you in the US, try to make it
before 9:00 Central time) After that, I'm outta here.  I'm not sure if I'm
gonna be able to finish this before I leave for the summer.  I sure as hell
hope I can.

Anyways, I now know who Charlie Parker is. Thanks for all the answers
everyone.

Anyone ever hear Johnny Rotten's little morning radio spot, "Rotten Day"?
It's a little time trip through music history. Well today, The Dukes were a
spotlight. 12 years ago they came out with "25 O' Clock".........

Ciao for now,
Amanda

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

Date: Fri, 09 May 1997 08:48:17 -0500 (CDT)
From: amanda caryl owens <ACOEA@jazz.ucc.uno.edu>
Subject: Last post to this one, I swear.....
Message-id: <01IINR2KFK0Y8Y3P6I@jazz.ucc.uno.edu>

I don't have time to personally write to everyone who's answered my survey
questions, so I'll give a great big sticky
TTTTTHHHHHHAAAAAANNNNNNKKKKKK YYYYYYOOOOOOUUUUU
to all of you right now.

And to my friend in Puerto Rico...for God's sake I'm losing it, I can't
remember your name. (Benadryl will do that to you.....) Anyways, everytime I
try tio email you, I get the mail sent back to me. This happened last time
we had emailed each other about the videotapes awhile back. Anyways, I'll
answer you queries right here....
The thought that Dave Gregory was gay has crossed my mind many a time, in
all actuality. Maybe it's his voice, the fact that it's real horse and he's
got that British emphasis of letters. Then again, I thought Brad Roberts was
gay too for awhile. He flicked his wrists a lot, and my mother said to me
"He looks so gay when he does that." (To which I responded "Tell me, how
does one 'look' gay?") After that, I couldn't really get the thought out of
my mind.  The thing is, nobody really knows all that much about Dave, which
sort of pisses me off. It's weird, whenever I get into a band big time, it
seems that the member I admire the most is the one that's written
about/talked about the least. I've got interviews on tape where all three of
them are supposed to be interviewed, and Sir Partridge of Penhill does 4/5
of the talking! We know Andy's views on almost every thing known to man. We
know Colin's views on a few of them, what about Dave's views? I'd like to
know how he feels about God and religion and politics and stuff like
that. We already know how Sir Partridge of Penhill feels. (I'm reading over
this and I see I spelled "hoarse" wrong. I hate cold medicine. Does a
computer count as heavy machinery when you're doped up on cold medication?)

And one other thing that REALLY bugged the shit out of me...........
my friend Mike in Japan sent me a videotape of interviews/performances, etc.
Dave and Colin were being interviewed on German TV (without Andy!!!!!!).
Everytime Colin talked, he just talked straight out, no one talked over him or
anything, but everytime Dave talked WHOEVER WAS TRANSLATING THE INTERVIEW
TALKED RIGHT OVER HIM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  AAARRGGHH!!!!!!

Well I'd better get home and nap. Finals exams can really stress you out!
Ciao (again)
Amanda
Je taime Dave Gregory.......oh so high schoolish......

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

Date: Fri, 9 May 1997 10:16:22 -0400
Message-Id: <v01510102af98a2a8a42c@[128.122.161.36]>
From: vanvalnc@is2.nyu.edu (Chris Van Valen)
Subject: The Verve Poop--5/8/97

Hi Hillies

I had an opportunity to see Verve Pipe last night at Irving Plaza NYC. In
the lobby they were selling various paraphenalia including CDs. I bought
the CD single for their first hit "Photograph" which has a B-side of "Blue
Beret" (Yeah!). Also, incredibly enough, they were selling "Testimonial
Dinner"(had it). So I had hopes that they might do one or the other of the
two XTC songs that they covered. After two opening acts(Thin Lizard Dawn:
Average; Tonic: Pretty Good), Verve Pipe hit the stage at 11:15. They were
overly loud and the sound was horribly distorted. The set list was not very
inspired, trotting out the overly-cute "The Freshmen" midway through their
set which caused various degrees of swooning and singalong in the crowd,
which didn't move to the music except for one really fat guy who thought it
was a mosh pit. They didn't do "Wake Up" or "Blue Beret", and encored with
a half-baked rendition of "Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds" during which
singer Brian Vander Ark couldn't remember the words and repeated the same
verse several times. Lead guitarist A.J. Dunning stole the show, IMO. And
then they were off. A total of 75 minutes. I felt highly ripped off.

CV

If you have an unpleasant nature and dislike people
this is no obstacle to work. -- J.G. Bennett

Catch "Forever Knight" on the Sci-Fi Channel every Monday-Thursday at 9PM
and 1AM, EDT. -- Lucien LaCroix

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

Date: Fri, 09 May 1997 10:50:59 -0500 (CDT)
From: amanda caryl owens <ACOEA@jazz.ucc.uno.edu>
Subject: Sickness is as sickeness does.
Message-id: <01IINUYYKZ8O8WYUXO@jazz.ucc.uno.edu>

Where's a hot water bottle when you need one????

ANYWAYS, onto the usual myriad of responses to various and sundry fellow
Chalkhillians (did I say that my last post was the last one? I lied.).....

>From Erich Walter:
>My dear AMANDA, once again you show your tender years.
I tend to do that a lot. And please, it's amanda now, not AMANDA. :)

>From Mike Wicks:
>May I be the first to dub thee the new ALL CAPS spokesperson of the list, now
>that AMANDA is _amanda_.
Replaced so fast? I'm crushed! :'(

>From Todd Bernhardt:
>And as for the survey, it's been done, with virtually the same questions--
>check out past issues on that.
I know this already, because I joined just as the last survey was being
finished up. Besides, you have to realise that Chalkhills has changed quite a
bit since then. Some people have jumped ship, some have climbed aboard before
the last balloon left them behind.

>Check the FAQ on this one, Kim. They don't do drugs.
Unless you count Dave's insulin, of course......

>From Ben Gott:

>I believe a survey was already conducted over Chalkhills late last summer
Okay....then it's been a year. Things have changed. If you don't want to
participate, that's fine with me, but judging from the number of responses I
have gotten so far, nobody seems to mind that I'm taking another one. Time?
School's over. I've got plenty of time on my hands now!

>From Dave Blackburn:
>I am into Mahavishnu Orchestra
Ahh...The Inner Mounting Flame was the album that brought Dave out of his
depression during his late teen years.

>From Richard. PedrettiAllen:
>She saw life, a corkscrew twisted fantasy
One person's mundane and boring existence is another person's technicolour. If
this song was meant as a playful rib, I'm not laughing.

>Please don't gore us
Stop giving me reason to.

>...And no more bore us.
Judging from the many anonymous Chalkhillians who have told me "Fuck 'em if
they bash you", I'm not boring many people, now am I?

>It appears, it's much too late to seek therapy.
Didn't I tell you I did that already after my aunt committed suicide?

>But by chance are you a Taurus?
Sorry....Aquarius.

>There's the door
Don't let it smack your ass on the way to the flaming station.

You have too much time on your hands, my friend.

And on that note, before I go off on someone else, I'll say that I'm here to
stay, so you may as well get used to me if you're not already!

And in closing, I'll end it like this......

"Who was it that said 'Hell is other people'? That was spot on."-Andy P.

Ciao,
Amanda
XTC song of the day-Mopti Fake
non XTC song of the day-Freedom-Rage Against the Machine

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

Message-ID: <33736013.3C6A@ns1.mindmagic.com>
Date: Fri, 09 May 1997 12:34:16 -0500
From: Brian Matthews <btm@ns1.mindmagic.com>
Organization: Ringling Multimedia Corporation
Subject: Sweet morphine, MIDI, pharmaceuticals, woodwinds & cheap fruit

Chalkies!
Item #1 - This is in response to Todd at
tbernha@columbiaenergy.e-mail.com...
I don't know about Matthew Sweet's release, but he played producer on NO
DOUBT's 'Tragic Kingdom' which is a fine record. And a friend of mine
told me that the MORPHINE release was great (haven't heard it, though).
Item #2 - I haven't got much feedback at all about my recent (1st)
posting about the dangers or delights of creating MIDI files of XTC
music. If any of you out there are interested, and can dig up some real
bonafide info about whether I should bother doing this or not, please
get to me! I would really like to take on this project, but if I'm gonna
start hearing from suits or someone trying to bust me, I'm gonna keep
'em all to myself.
Item #3 - XTC on XTC? (pardon that)... I don't believe any bunch of
musicians who can pull off music like XTC does is doing drugs. Hell, all
I ever wanted to do was LISTEN to music, not make it!
Item #4 - Charlie Parker tip: SPARKS' recent album 'Gratuitous Sax And
Senseless Violins' has a tip of the hat to this fine saxophone (notice
the proper spelling, those of you out there who have been misspelling
it) player, a tune called "(When I Kiss You) I Hear Charlie Parker
Playing". This is a fine album all around. Recommended.
Item #5 - Alas, I find cassettes of 'Oranges And Lemons' in cutout bins
for $3.99... what in the hell is the world coming to?
Brian

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

Message-ID: <3373573E.70F0@gate.net>
Date: Fri, 09 May 1997 12:56:30 -0400
From: Mark Irvin <mdirvin@gate.net>
Subject: RE: XTC demos

Greetings from Florida!
Thank you Scott for making those wonderful XTC demos available for my
ears.  It's been too long.  As much as I enjoyed them...listening to
them was like having the sunshine with no warmth - like sex without an
orgasm - like (I could go on and on).  ~sigh~

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

Message-Id: <v03102800af992295be64@[209.50.99.16]>
Date: Fri, 9 May 1997 13:55:01 -0500
From: arthur james virgin <audio@one.net>
Subject: no new demos....!

<Scott wrote>
>want to hear the new demos?
>a lot of people have been requesting that someone put up sound files for the
>new demos.  So I decided to encode my favorites (plus a couple songs that
>others have mentioned as being their favorites) using real audio.  The sound
>files are available on my webpage.

For some reason I was under the impression that these demos were "new".
The songs you have up have been available for more than a year now (at
least I've had them for about a year now).  Was there a mistake, or am I
confused (probably the latter).

AJ

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

Date: Fri, 9 May 1997 20:30:21 +0200 (METDST)
From: James Isaacs <jisaacs1@aixterm1.urz.uni-heidelberg.de>
Subject: Paul & XTC: what a cooincidence
Message-Id: <Pine.A32.3.91.970509202719.12662A-100000@aixub1.urz.uni-heidelberg.de>

Anyway, being in Europe, I have Paul's new CD and I like it more
and more every time I hear it.  Buy it.  Funnily enough, "Young Boy" and
"The World Tonight" are the 2 weaker songs-too Wilburyish.  The rest is
sublime, tho.
The "Cut it Out" is from the 12" single to "Love on a Farmboy's Wages".  I
think it is Hammersmith Odean, September 1981.  But, that is my faulty
memory working.
Peace, Love, and Onions on the side,
James

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

Message-Id: <199705091905.MAA29538@f19.hotmail.com>
From: "Ben Gott" <xtcfan@hotmail.com>
Subject: Daisys and Children
Date: Fri, 09 May 1997 12:05:31 PDT

Guess I'll jump on the ol' interpretive bandwagon...

(this one's for the man himself...)

Humble Richard, form a tape
To hold us Chalkhill folk 'til June
Humble Richard, don't get mad
Your DAT requests are always doomed

We'll rewind together
Browsing through some old tapes
Originals are better
Putting songs down on our old Tascam four-track machines

I'll send you money if nobody else will

Humble Richard, we feel bad
You're losing all your friends for us
Humble Richard, I'm so sad
That no one covered "Omnibus"

We'll submit together,
Randy, Chris and Philip
Chalkhills and the weather
Just two subjects that are covered on our tribute tape

I'll buy two copies if nobody else will

Humble Richard
(Now I've got no problem)
Humble Richard
(Wait 'til the next album)...

guitar solo

-Ben

(P.S. Misheard: "Chalkhills and children enter my feet...")

XTC SONG OF THE DAY: (I've Pawned) My Brown Guitar
I've got to buy...Jamiroquai, "Traveling without Moving"
* -----------------------------------------------------------
Ben Gott
http://www.wp.com/58596
I'm a tumbler. I'm a government man.

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

Message-ID: <33739F39.709C@sprintmail.com>
Date: Fri, 09 May 1997 15:03:37 -0700
From: Stormy Monday <stormymonday@sprintmail.com>
Subject: Stop The Fun

(my apologies to Mr. Partridge for bastardizing his wonderful song)

Bashing Amanda
As entertainment
Brings the disease to my PC

Close-minded people
Berating  "off topics"
Leaving the rest of us queasy

(Chorus)

You don't have to read all the posts
Your flaming can't turn us to toast
You won't be happy 'less you can boast
thaaaaaaat you've

Stopped the fun
Stopped the fun
Stopped the fun
and forced us all to un-subscribe

Stop the fun
Stop the fun
Stop the fun
and have us read your diatribe

Stop the fun
You wanna stop the fun
You wanna stop the fun
and force us all to un-subscribe

Stop the fun
Stop the fun
Stop the fun
and have us read your diatribe

Fans of this trio
Have many interests
And nary a new song to review

Different opinions
About other artists
Are not designed to offend you

(Chorus)

I'm speaking to the ignorant - you know who
The narrow-minded sycophants, yes you yes you in particular
We've finally got a forum where we can write anything that we desire
And you want to impose a rigid format and make us all retire
I for one like to exchange ideas now
I found some intelligent people with something to say now
If you don't like it you can hit the page down now
And when it comes time to post my essays
I'll write what I please and ignore your nay says
You want to stop the fun , but you can't
No, you can't

(Chorus)

You wanna
Stop the fun
You wanna
Stop the fun NOW!
You wanna stop the fun
You wanna stop the fun NOW!

stop it stop it stop it stop it

Stormy Monday

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

Date: Fri, 9 May 1997 13:01:29 -0700 (PDT)
From: Steve Schermerhorn <SCHERS20@STOCKTON.LIB.CA.US>
Message-Id: <970509130129.1922d@STOCKTON.LIB.CA.US>
Subject: Harmonies? I'd suggest the POSIES...

The band that I think carries on the tradition of great harmony singing
in a rock context is The Posies.

Particularly, check out the seminal "Dear 23."

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

Message-Id: <199705092309.BAA02602@utrecht.knoware.nl>
From: "Mark Strijbos" <mmello@knoware.nl>
Organization: The Little Lighthouse
Date: Sat, 10 May 1997 00:15:57 +0000
Subject: I Bought Myself A Bird

Chalkers,

> Now, what I'd really like to know, is what prompted Andy to name
> his dog after "Bird?"
Because the music of Charlie Parker made a big impression on Andy.
Here's a short piece from an A.P. interview in Dutch magazine "OOR"
from September 1980:

"I have dedicated three poems to him (Charlie Parker - ms). His music
fascinates me enormously. I don't know much about him, except that he
doesn't live anymore [...] I tried to emulate his style on the
guitar, but not on record."

True in 1980 but I think that some of Andy's guitar parts on the Big
Express in particular owe a great deal to Charlie Parker's bebop
style. Any takers?

BTW: I wonder how Dave Marsh feels about this... ;)

Then Scott announced:
>  So I decided to encode my favorites using real audio.
> The sound files are available on my webpage.
> I hope that Andy is ok with this.
I hope so too but Andy makes his money to feed his kids by selling
these songs....
We all know that Andy does not object to some tapes being
traded between individuals (he said so) but if you are putting songs
on a website you are in fact distributing them to the whole world and
their uncle.

> Someone that talks to him should
> ask...I will remove them if he doesn't like it.  From what I have
> read, I don't think he would mind.
IMHO maybe you should try to get permission _before_ you do something
like this... - don't you agree?

bye,

Mark Strijbos at The Little Lighthouse
   http://utopia.knoware.nl/~mmello

===> Mark's Random XTC Quote <===
They never read that tattoo on his arm

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

Message-ID: <337375A6.63E6@prodigy.net>
Date: Fri, 09 May 1997 19:06:14 +0000
From: dke <dke@prodigy.net>
Organization: Prodigy Internet
Subject: re: English Roundabout live...

Hi there!, In reply to Ben Gott's question re: English Roundabout/Cut It
Out (live).
    I have it on the b-side to the UK vinyl 12" 'Love on a Farmboy's
Wages' single. It consists of 1)Burning With Optimism's Flame 2)English
Roundabout 3)Cut It Out. All were recorded live at Hammersmith Odeon in
May 1981.
    (and Kimberly, all three are on one of the tapes I'm making for you)

Amanda, I for one, will miss you while you're gone. Being very new to
'Chalkhills', I don't know what hideous thing you must have done in the
past. (From the very pointed posts flung your way, it must have been
something along the lines of beating someone's great grandmother to
death with a baseball bat.) Enjoy your summer!

Hhhmm.., I wonder what XTC album would be the perfect 'Summer' album?...
(sorry everybody, I couldn't resist...)

    Doug Ellison

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

Message-ID: <3373B1C1.5E73@virgin.net>
Date: Sat, 10 May 1997 00:22:41 +0100
From: peter.wright2@virgin.net (peter.wright2@virgin.net)
Subject: XTC owe us nothing , but we deserve some thought.

Chalkers,
I promise this will be my last post on the subject of the new album /
lack of band involvement.
Once again, the expected flames never arrived so I guess I was right
that the majority of you share my views. Here is how I stand :
Yes, I DO believe a new album will eventually be forthcoming but I'm not
holding my breath !
Todd Bernhardt : I agree with you, though I never said XTC owed us
anything. They make music we like and so we buy it - simple. However, I
think these circumstances are unique and if I were in XTC I would feel
that the band followers who have been hanging in there for 5 long years
deserved to be kept in the picture every now and then. Lets face it, WE
all find some spare time to sit and post to 'Chalkhills' and XTC seem to
have more spare time than most these days !! Hey Andy, Dave and Colin -
it would take maybe 30 mins to tell us what the hell is happening ,
thats all. Also, Todd , I'm not asking for a question/answer session
a la Fripp , just a short post to shed some much needed light.
So thats it ! I've said my piece and unburdened myself to you all on
this subject. Thanks for listening. I hope something will inspire me to
post again at some stage - the new album with luck - but I really can't
get excited about ice cream flavours, Wierd Al covers , loving/loathing
BFF etc.
Bye for now, Pete.

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

Message-Id: <01BC5CAF.5A36BC20@default>
From: Dummyhead Girl <tatbenav@mail.aim-net.mx>
Subject: Crash Test Dummies
Date: Fri, 9 May 1997 19:23:16 -0500

Hi! I'm new to this mailing list!  I love Crash Test Dummies, they've taken
over me.  Does someone has the lyrics to All You Pretty Girls?
Hi Amanda! What you said means you won't be in the CTD Mailing List either?
Should I see bye?  You'll be back this fall, right?  Hope so.  I'm depressed
for David Duchovny's marriage with Tea Leoni, but I still have a chance to
marry Brad Roberts, don't I?
Hey, Matt!  happy-happy, joy-joy!
Lan C Stewart, I dislike (can't hate anyone) Sp*** G****, I think they suck.
And no, their music is not what selling right now.  They've abandoned the
top 20 chart long ago.  I also dislike the Cardigans, especially their Love
Fool song and video. See you real soon in the real world!
TAKE CARE, ALWAYS SMILE, and GOOD LUCK!!!
Crash Test Dummies rule the world, the universe, the infinitive, and beyond!
C.T.D. are the rulers of the rulers forever and ever!  Brad Roberts rulz!
Deal with it, there's no way out!

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

Date: Fri, 9 May 1997 22:31:33 -0400 (EDT)
From: "Christopher R. Coolidge" <ccoolidg@zoo.uvm.edu>
Subject: distinct and good harmonies
Message-ID: <Pine.A32.3.91.970509220626.856612C-100000@elk.uvm.edu>

More bands with distinct and good harmonies:
Utopia- Four guys who sing(Todd, Kasim, Roger, Willie), both lead and
backup. Some of the best vocal interplay I've heard in a rock band, outside
The Beach Boys(who could be downright nasal at times- check out their
Christmas album). Broke up around the time Todd started work on Skylarking.

The Kinks- Not known as a vocal band, but with crazed-banshee choirboy
Dave around, Ray didn't need any other backups; helps that current
bassist Jim Rodford has a good backup voice, though.

Jars Of Clay- Forgot about them. If King Crimson were a poetic semi-acoustic
gospel band with five singers(only one lead, though), they'd be something
like this.

The Roches- See previous posts. 'Nuff said.

The Malarians- 80's retro pop group including listmember Harrsion
Sherwood. Couldn't resist. Harmonies are a little off key sometimes, but
hey, it's tough work balancing five distinct voices that could each front
a band themselves.

The Wackers- Transplanted Californians doing CSNish folk-rock at home,
then Badfingerish pop-rock in Montreal. Great harmonies in both.(Early '70's)

Shoes- Two brothers and a childhood friend making great garage-pop and
close vocal harmonies in a home studio in Zion, Illinois in the late
'70's and 80's.

I could go on and on with a more than cursory look at my record
collection, but I could also mention in passing The Dwight Twilley Band,
Squeeze, The Records, The Turtles...

Christopher R. Coolidge
Eleventh Hour Cauldron Publications

I heal with magnets. Ask me how!

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

Date: Fri, 9 May 1997 22:24:42 -0500
Message-Id: <v01530500af99507be263@[204.153.64.147]>
From: musicvil@idir.net (John Yuelkenbeck)
Subject: Giving Amanda the Bird

I would like to thank those of you who patiently and without condescension
answered Amanda's question about Charlie Parker. Sure, most of us already
know who he is, but information is what these lists are all about.

I remember interviewing the late Alan Ginsberg when I was fresh out of
college and far too wholesome looking for the crowd that had gathered for
his reading (I had a bit of the Jimmy Olsen, Cub Reporter, flair). He was
extremely pedantic, and name-dropped lots of jazz greats at me whom I was
not familiar with, being a rock and roller and not particularly liking
jazz. He didn't seem to be doing it to enlighten me as much as to put me in
my place. At least it seemed that way. I interviewed him several years
later and he a little better. But then I knew a lot more by then, too.

As much as a music snob as I can be (and I can), I think if someone is
sincerely trying to learn about a musician, no matter how well known to
most of us, we should give them more than a "if you don't know, I'm not
telling" response.

Go ahead, tell me to lighten up. I'm normally far more goofier than this,
but you've caught me in one of those moods.

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

Message-ID: <3373EFC8.4B76@gate.net>
Date: Fri, 09 May 1997 23:47:20 -0400
From: Mark Irvin <mdirvin@gate.net>
Subject: RE: demos (again)

I forgot to post this with my earlier message......how many of you read
the table of contents to the previous digest, saw the demo post, and
then raced on down to the last post to check out the demos?  Cool, eh?

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

Message-Id: <3.0.1.32.19970509223018.0077da0c@mail1.electric.net>
Date: Fri, 09 May 1997 22:30:18 -0700
From: David Hathaway <davidh@electric.net>
Subject: Cool Riffs!

Wow...never thought -I- say this, but, it might even be worth getting a one
month (and only one) month MSN account just to catch Keith Emerson on May
16th and Andy Partridge on June 6th...(hey, they are both british...)

Damn those microsofties!

* -------------------------------------------------------------------
   We've all heard that a million monkeys banging on a million
  typewriters will eventually reproduce the works of Shakespeare.
      Now, thanks to the Internet, we know this is not true.
      w  w  w  .  m  o  n  k  e  y  -  b  o  y  .  c  o  m
David Hathaway, CEO Of monkey-boy industries, davidh@monkey-boy.com
* -------------------------------------------------------------------

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

Message-ID: <33748523.2518@concentric.net>
Date: Sat, 10 May 1997 09:24:35 -0500
From: Dave White <margnate@concentric.net>
Subject: Paula Cole Kudos to XTC

Just heard on the Rick Dees Weekly Top 40 radio show, as an introduction
to the song "Where Have All The Cowboys Gone?" (by Paula Cole -- #6 and
rising) that she enjoys listening to the British group XTC because "they
are the cleverest songwriters I have ever heard".

Dave

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

Date: Sat, 10 May 1997 11:48:26 -0500 (CDT)
From: amanda caryl owens <ACOEA@jazz.ucc.uno.edu>
Subject: MERELY AMANDA
Message-id: <01IIPBU845O28Y1VD1@jazz.ucc.uno.edu>

These are the fruits of a Bendryl-d mind....

HIGHER!
I'm a queen, yes I'm a head of state.
But I'm the bitchy girl who'll post on any date.
I send my message and the message is
I'm just an average chick I is what I is!
I'm merely Amanda, I've got nothing but posts for you.
I'm merely Amanda, you don't have to like what I do.
And you know it's true
I'm sarcastic and loud and the number of digests is
HIGHER!
I'm all the Tory figures rolled into one
One half is Thatcher and the rest is Gary Filmon.
Don't always promise that I'll stay on topic.
If you don't like it, then that's your problem, DEAL WITH IT!
I'm merely Amanda, I've got nothing but posts for you.
I'm merely Amanda, you don't have to like what I do.
And you know it's true
I'm sarcastic and loud and godammit I'm proud
of my views and my mouth and my shout is just gonna get
HIGHER!
I'm merely Amanda I've got nothing but posts for you.
I'm merely Amanda, you don't have to like what I do.
And you know it's true
You could chase me away, sorry, I'm here to stay
and I'm gonna survive and take all your insanity
HIGHER!
I'm merely Amanda I've got nothing but posts for you...etc.

BTW-Gary Filmon, for those of you who don't know, is the Tory premier of
Manitoba.

And here are some more Ben and Jerry flavors (sorry if some of these have
been said already.)

Bing For a Day (as in bing cherry)
Pink Bubble Gum Thing
Black Cherry Sea
Respectable Sweets
Love At First Bite
Sgt. Rocky Road
White Chocolate Music
Are You Refreezing Me?
This Is Slop
This Swirled Over

and now I'm off to flunk my math final. Ciao!
Amanda

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

Date: Sat, 10 May 1997 11:34:01 -0700
From: becki digregorio <ziglain@cruzio.com>
Subject: falkner & xtc & thanks
Message-ID: <9705101125.aa08909@mail.cruzio.com>

greetings folks,

first, if anyone is a fan of jason falkner (jellyfish, the grays) you might
get a kick outta' this:

went and saw him play this past tuesday at a small venue in san jose.  was
also blessed w/ the company of dean martucci and eric day (fellow
'hillians), as well as my guitarist john.  during one of the opening bands'
sets i saw jason hanging out by himself, so i approached him to talk and
say hi.  i'd brought the cd booklet of his recent solo album "author
unknown" in case i got the chance to have him sign it (i know, i know).  i
asked him about his album, which songs he felt came off the best, how he
was doing w/ his label, etc.  he said that he might get a slot opening up
for the foo fighters on their upcoming tour, which would be cool.  i told
him that i originally heard of him through xtc's mailing list, and many
folks on it raved about his cd.  jason's reply was, "ah, xtc, they're my
_gurus_. i just played some of the 'dukes' for my bass player."  so we
chatted about albums, how great they are, and all that.  i gave him one of
my cd's and explained that dave contributed some tracks to it, and how andy
engineered it in his infamous shed.  he said he'd give it a listen.  i
beamed.

his set was *great.*  four in the band, the drummer from the uma jets the
only name i recognized.  jason never hit a bad note, either vocally or w/
his guitar (an old fender jaguar??).  played most all the songs from
"author unknown," plus some new tunes that were amazing, pure pop at its
finest!!  oh, what chord changes, always surprising me and keeping me
entertained.

if jason ever shows up in your town, make sure to go see him.  you won't be
disappointed.  and wear an xtc shirt, he'd get a kick outta' that for sure.

from the last 'hills post, amanda wrote:

>Becki, I am sitting in insane jealousy of anyone who has heard your cd. My
>parents supply all my funds, seeing as that my sorry ass has no job, and
>they won't let me get a copy!

i'll keep a cd here w/ your name on it, so whenever you're ready...

and "stormy monday": your new flavor of ben & jerry's, "Sacrificial Bon
Bons," had me rolling in laughter.  that's a good one.

i'd like to take a moment and thank everyone who's written in w/ their
reviews of my cd.  it's great to know that folks are enjoying it.  i've
heard personally from many of you w/ your kind words, they are all
appreciated.  so far they've been mailed to japan and the united kingdom
and all over our own 'states.  it's kinda' weird to know that people so far
away are listening to *my* music.  makes me smile, it does...

in case any of you are going to the xtc convention this month
(basingstoke??), i've sent some cd's to simon sleightholm who said he'll
take them w/ him to the event.  if any of you are interested, you can check
it out there, give it a listen, etc.  thanks to simon for offering to do
this for the u.k. folks!!

and thanks to toby at silver moon music, who is now carrying the cd on
their web site.  btw, toby: i didn't know my answer to why i chose to cover
"open my eyes" would be quoted!!  egads, i sound like a nut...   :)

peace to all,

--becki, one of the seven (who counted up 31 albums she owns that were
listed in rolling stone's "top 200 albums of all time" list)

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

Date: Sat, 10 May 1997 14:54:50 -0400
From: J_ARTECONA@rcmad.upr.clu.edu
Message-Id: <970510145451.21428f23@rcmad.upr.clu.edu>
Subject: Tuva

ABout XTC's use of drugs, again I tell you that at the end of
Skylarking the band thanks this guy STU "for the CACTII" that is very
likely a reference to peyote buttons, the flower of a cactus that
grows in the southwest. The lyrics for 1000 umbrellas are pretty
trippy with stuff crawling wallpaper and stuff.  The there is hookah
with my senses bubbled from then she appeared (hookah is a huge
contraption used to smoke hashish) as well as other references that
don't come to mind. I would bet that the lads use pot every once in a
while with the occasional foray into hallucinogens.  About the Tuvan
throat singers, pretty amazing stuff indeed. I got turned on to them
watching this PBS biography on a famous physicist called "Surely you
are joking Dr. Feinman" about this nobel laureate who became obsessed
with reaching Tanu Tuva in the latter part of his life....I won't give
the ending up but suffice it to say that there was a lot of throat
singing as background music for the documentary. Be well and I am glad
to have read the last few chalkhills where there was no petty
fighting, keep it up.  And about Charlie Parker, enough has been said,
and I just heard AP in an old interview say that if he had another dog
it would be called Dizz. Amanda, this refers to Dizzy Gillespie, a
world famous trumpeteer also involved in be-bop whom you may recognize
having seen because his cheeks really blow up when he plays, I guess
that's his visual trademark but just means he taught himself how to
blow hard and that's how he did it. Adios from sunny Puerto Rico where
no XTC is to be found on cd bins.

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

End of Chalkhills Digest #3-111
*******************************

Go back to Volume 3.

12 May 1997 / Feedback