Chalkhills Digest Volume 3, Issue 152
Date: Tuesday, 12 August 1997
Chalkhills Digest, Volume 3, Number 152
Tuesday, 12 August 1997
Today's Topics:
Public XTC
Random random and more random
DG's Good Natured Ghost Effects?
RE: Jelly
Gifted actors / Gotham scene
Black Sea-First US LP's
Mark here
Kinx-t.c.
thread salad
Re: Chalkhills Digest #3-151
Subject goes here
You are jaded...
Re: Mmm vinyl
MOMMYHEADS
vinyl runts (no XTC)
CD backmasking
Re: Pink Warmth
Pink Warmth/Stiff Beach
Essential Kinks
randomania
Sorry this isn't about Todd Rundgren or Prophet V's
RD & AP
Interps, Back-Masking
todd/completely off
Administrivia:
Enough Todd Rundgren already!
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---------------------------------------------------------------------- From: BraincsDtr@aol.com Date: Mon, 11 Aug 1997 12:32:57 -0400 (EDT) Message-ID: <970811123044_-1304476266@emout17.mail.aol.com> Subject: Public XTC This past week I went to a taping of the show Politically Incorrect with a friend. As we sat and waited for the show to began an eclectic collection of songs wafted through the speakers in the studio to keep us entertained. Then it happened. I grabbed the armrests on my seats tightly and sat very still...listening...is that? No, wait....Senses Working Overtime? That's right. One of the more intelligent shows on TV has excellent taste in music as well. Now let's just hope they take my suggestion and have Andy as a guest panelist on the show. One more thing - are there more XTC demos floating around out there? Ones made after River of Orchards, Easter Theatre, etc. Laurie BraincsDtr@aol.com
------------------------------ From: Cheryl <McGREGOC@regents.ac.uk> Date: Mon, 11 Aug 1997 17:48:01 GMT Subject: Random random and more random Message-ID: <9042E16B6D@regents.ac.uk> Hi there! Okay, I'm going to be jumping around here a bit and I might just baffle some of you folks but here goes. I was wondering if anyone would know if the Nicky Holland that worked with Mr. P is the same one that co-wrote the song "Margaret" with Jill Sobule? AND just a random fact to toss at you. Jill Sobule's first(?) album was produced by the ranted about Todd Rungren. I did not know this until my little record store lurk this past weekend. And while on this trek through the alley ways of Soho I came upon Reckless records. And while in there, I found a mint vinyl copy of "Take Away the Lure Of Salvage" Did I get that right? Wasn't some one looking for this? Well I found it. It was rather reasonable for a mint copy. I think five pounds was the price. There were several mint copies of various albums for the taking. I did not partake that day, though. If I can be of assistance, let me know. Left turn. And Justin Radford(?) mention his mate Matt and his wife Julia.... Oh! Hey! Yeah! I met them! (Okay so it took me awhile for it to register in my brain) They were very nice. I enjoyed talking to them. Could you tell them the clumsy American that used" silverware" instead of cutlery AND gave them a chocolate kiss says hello? : ) Right turn at Al-BU-querque... I just saw Men In Black this past weekend and again I have to say that I think Mr.P and Danny Elfman( did the soundtrack for said movie) would make an interesting pairing in the studio. Eons ago when I was just starting off in the list, I brought this up and was countered with a challenge that Colin would make a better pairing with the Boingo man. Months and months later she gathers the courage to...... disagree heartily! The warped sense of creativity that Mr. P and DE exude would produce a mind boggling array of musical selections to tantalize the soul. Okay, I'm being chucked out of the computer lab so I must bid my farewell. And thus ends a meandering for this day, Cheryl
------------------------------ Date: Mon, 11 Aug 1997 15:36:09 -0400 (EDT) From: vanvalnc@is2.nyu.edu (Chris Van Valen) Subject: DG's Good Natured Ghost Effects? Message-id: <v01510100b014e175ff9f@[128.122.161.36]> Hi all Does anyone know what the "Good Natured Ghost Effects" are that Dave is credited with on "Cherry in Your Tree"? Just wonderin'... 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 Mon-Thurs at 9PM and 1AM EDT. -- Lucien LaCroix
------------------------------ Message-ID: <211D4A0926D2D011859E0060972D8848041AE5@CORJCMAIL> From: Ed Miller <EMiller@rjconsult.com> Subject: RE: Jelly Date: Mon, 11 Aug 1997 13:35:46 -0600 Mark Strijbos mentioned the lubricant "XTC Jelly" in his last post.... First, this would imply that our pal Mark is hanging around the lubricant aisle in his spare time. This would be in an auto parts store correct? ;:-) Second, where can I get some? Lastly, will it work on the lower control arm bushings of my 1972 BMW? That squeaking is driving me nuts!!!! Tongue-in-cheekedly yours, Ed
------------------------------ Message-ID: <c=US%a=_%p=AETNA%l=HFD-EXCH003-970811200436Z-287425@aetna.aetna.com> From: "Witter, Karl F" <WitterKF@aetna.com> Subject: Gifted actors / Gotham scene Date: Mon, 11 Aug 1997 16:04:36 -0400 >[NAOYUKI ISOGAI] I do think...Nick Park who directed the >"WALLACE & GROMIT" claymation series (is a great animator). Yes, but Wallace and Gromit are so funny, all you have to do is put them in front of the camera and you've got a hit. Just back from a week in New York City, where The Big Express seemed to fit in, except for "Smalltown". I wasn't able to meet Chalkhiller Ira, but I did get autographs from Betty Comden and Adolph Green. (And the post-Garth-Brooks- concert sight of cowboy hats in the subway was pretty amusing. No, I didn't go to that.) We did see the Virgin Megastore, without Upsy Daisy on the listening station. No XTC on the PA, either, and their assortment of the boys was pretty limited. I comforted myself with some time at listening stations with "Titanic" and "Jekyll & Hyde", so I could hear the originals which "Forbidden Broadway" satirizes. Leading my other musical life, Karl
------------------------------ Message-Id: <v01510100b0154e63e6c2@[169.132.98.188]> Date: Mon, 11 Aug 1997 20:16:44 -0400 From: mnaran@idt.net (Matt Naranjo) Subject: Black Sea-First US LP's American Chalkers, I'm enlisting your knowledge, Many years ago I came across and bought a mint copy of the original US RSO/Virgin edition of the Black Sea LP. I picked it up knowing that this version was relatively short lived, being replaced by the CBS/Epic edition less than two years later. What I discovered, though, was that there seemed to be last minute alterations to the packaging of the RSO version. Drums & Wires, as well as some other Virgin titles, were issued in the US by Atlantic Records in 1979. On closer inspection of the RSO Black Sea, there was the obvious sticker on the back of the green outer bag. I discovered that the green RSO/Virgin sticker covered a printed Virgin logo and Atlantic catalog number, with the old Warner "bug". On the record itself, it appears that the disk was mastered with Atlantic catalog numbers for the sides. In the inner groove margins, and small print on the label, the prefix STA-xxx appears, which was Atlantic's ID at the time. This all leads to the appearance that the album was intended to be released by Atlantic Records, but changed hands at the last minute. Question: were any of these LP's produced and sold as Virgin/Atlantic in the US before it was switched to RSO/Polygram?? ok, pull out your vinyl! Matt
------------------------------ Date: Mon, 11 Aug 1997 22:25:24 -0500 (CDT) From: The Gottschalks <gotts@tenet.edu> Subject: Mark here Message-ID: <Pine.OSF.3.91.970811222157.16262A-100000@beall.tenet.edu> Hey everyone, I'm back from and adventurous summer. If anyone noticed I was here in the first place, hi there. I'll just be sitting back for a while catching up on the various topics. One thing though before I go. I fairly recently attainted Skylarking, and I noticed its spelling. Some of you in the past have mistakenly called it "Skylacking." I'm not much of a retentive about spelling, but consistently screwing up the spelling of one of the greatest albums of all time gets kind of irritating to some of us. Well, later everyone. Mark
------------------------------ From: gravity@loop.com Message-Id: <3.0.32.19970812011919.00697e84@pop.loop.com> Date: Tue, 12 Aug 1997 01:19:21 -0700 Subject: Kinx-t.c. Chalkers and Chalketts Lovely that we're discussing Kinks on the XTC net. It so happens I have a magazine called Musician.A term used loosely buy said magazine. There was an article in the May 1997 issue titled, "The Greatest Songs of All Time". One Andy Partridge of XTC prattles on about a song titled "Autumn Almanac". Mind you it's very nice prattling. It's a tune written by Ray Davies and performed by said Kinky people. Here is the end of Andy's quote-"Damn,I wish I'd written this song. I'll probably spend all my life trying to. It's such a huge ghost;my entire song writing career has been trying to exorcise it." Ray is more of a working class"hero" than good old John I'll be bound. If not a hero than certainly more of a working class kind of guy. (I was going to say more of a working class stiff,but ah, well....) I worship the Beatles and only recently discovered the Kinks. The Kinks have a wonderful world to open up to you that will knock you socks off to coin a phrase. Face to Face,Something Else,The Village Green Preservation Society, Arthur,Preservation Act One,are just a few you should check out if you already haven't. On the subject of Beatles vs Kinks or Todd this and Utopia that etc. etc. Comparing one group with Another, trying to see which one is BETTER, is a most mundane and ridiculous IDEA. This isn't sports kiddies! Someone is going to love what you hate. Maybe just to spite you.Or maybe they really don't care what you think. All music is good to someone.Expression and interpretation.No one loses. To the Zappa fan who doesn't think Zappa music could make him or her cry. Try his "instrumental music".There is something in there that may bring a tear or two and not from laughing.The Yellow Shark disc has some good stuff.Any instrumental stuff from the sixties or seventies.Uncle Meat Waka Jawaka..blah blah blah etc.etc.Oh yeah Civilization Phase III. "A bed is creaking as the new messiah comes!"...jm
------------------------------ Message-Id: <1.5.4.32.19970812084211.006bb4ec@pop.mindspring.com> Date: Tue, 12 Aug 1997 04:42:11 -0400 From: "Jason 'Buffy' NeSmith" <jnesmith@mindspring.com> Subject: thread salad Blah blah, I am Count Chalk-u-lah! John Murphy stated correctly that ES double vinyl is a thing to behold. Anyone who wants to re-discover the glory of liquorice pizza should pick up this bee-yootiful-sounding meisterwerk. (Also agree about Sgt. Pepper mono pressing) However, the Mr. Partridge stuff is worth the money, IMHO. I occasionally find myself in need of a dub-fix, (King Tubby, Scientist, Lee 'Scratch' Perry, ...) and these records satisfy the cravings of both the pop gland and the dub gland. Kind of early PiL meets the Beatles. Re: Todd. Hate to be a party pooper, but, YAWN. Old thread. YAWN. Every time it comes up it seems like we all say something to the effect of 'I don't understand why he gets put down so much. He's got some wonderful music,' when in actuality, VERY few people ever say anything negative about him. So now I will. Speaking as someone who has owned about 12 Todd albums at one time or another, at best, I like 30% of his material. His very best stuff is really great, but from his masterpieces down to his pointless drivel, it all has a consistency that I just don't go for that often. There are a few exceptions... 'Couldn't I just Tell You' is probably my favorite. That having been said, that 30% is better than most people's 100%. It's just that other 70% that puts me to sleep. And somebody brought up Zappa. Oh, baby, don't even start me on Zappa! I'll get thrown off the list! Love him. My favorite albums are We're Only In It For the Money, Uncle Meat, Yellow Shark, You Can't Do That On Stage vol.2, Just Another Band From L.A. ...he's so professional. Billy was a mountain! Ethyl was a tree growing off of his shoulder! HA HA HEheheheheheeeeee !! Woo hoo! woo hoo! Wait! Where are you taking me? Put me down! Help I'm a rock! AAAAAAaaaaa...... (sfx: slamming door, big key turns in lock, muffled strains of 'It Can't Happen Here' barely heard through padded walls) So remember, kids, if you get into Zappa, you have no one to blame but yourself. To Perry who wants to get into the Kinks. As a Kinks novice myself, I greatly enjoy Village Green Preservation Society, Kinks Kronikles, and Face to Face. Kronikles is a double, chalk-full (heh) of unbefuckingleavable songs. And finally, is anyone else here into Negativland? (chirp chirp) love and big-xmas-lawn-ornament-candles-that-I-got-for-seven-bucks-this-weekend-at-th e-flea-market, Buffy 'There's a voice inside my head. I need a Pepsi today' Currently playing: Negativland 'ISPISPES' (or something like that) visit the Orange Hat Cyberhose Page, or I KEEL YOU! http://www.mindspring.com/~jnesmith See the latest review of the new Orange Hat 7": http://www.flagpole.com/Issues/08.06.97/SnackPack.html
------------------------------ Message-ID: <33F04E7C.1FFA@ari.net> Date: Tue, 12 Aug 1997 07:52:28 -0400 From: Julian Cook <siogo@ari.net> Organization: TravelFinder.com Subject: Re: Chalkhills Digest #3-151 According to the Chris Twomey book, Pink Warmth refers to the name of Colin Moulding's first band. Correct me if I'm wrong. Julian Cook >annyone else noticed the words etched between the fade-out grooves on the >Psonic Psunspot LP? They're REALLY hard to see... i only first saw them by >accident when the light coming through the window hit the album at a certain >angle. Side A (the "In Side") says "LOOSELY FROM THE STIFF BEACH...", while >Side B (the "Out Side") says "WITH PINK WARMTH". Any meaning, or just pure >Dukeish nonsense?
------------------------------ Date: Tue, 12 Aug 1997 07:38:38 -0500 (CDT) From: The Gottschalks <gotts@tenet.edu> Subject: Subject goes here Message-ID: <Pine.OSF.3.91.970812073531.10588A-100000@abernathy.tenet.edu> This will be another quick little message. Mermaid Smiled I would probably rank among my five favorite XTC songs (considering I've only heard Nonsvch, O&L, Rag And Bone, and Skylarking), so if it was on Skylarking in place of Another Satellite, all the orgasmic the album would be. Hey, is Gerardo Tellez still on this list? If so he's in seclusion. Mark
------------------------------ Message-Id: <l03110703b0161e7899e2@[205.231.217.104]> Date: Tue, 12 Aug 1997 09:16:47 -0500 From: Ben Gott <gott@li.com> Subject: You are jaded... I, for one, loved "Greatest Living Englishman," even though it had that drum-machine wackiness that permiated some of the tracks that, frankly, could've used a kit. However, if Martin Newell fans (especially in the US) haven't heard "The Off-White Album," I would strongly recommend it...'Tis available from Not Lame (www.notlame.com) for about $1000. No, seriously, it's only about $24 (which is usual for an import), but worth every penny. When Martin gets that pop sensibility workin' in songs like "The Girls in the Flat Upstairs," "Call Me Michael Moonlight," and "Ursula...," there's no stopping him. <Pause to down a Claritin> His acoustic version of The Smiths' "Some Girls Are Bigger than Others" is great, too. So...a few weeks ago, I was in Salisbury (local town) at the ATM machine at about 7 PM. It was a warm New England summer night (no! Not an "Endless Summer Night," you Richard Marx fans!) and so the sunroof and all available windows were open, and "Off-White" was blasting. I pulled up to the bank, and got out of the car, noticing some 13 year old boys riding around on bikes and rollerblades in the drive-in window area. When I finished my transaction, I stepped outside, and one of those boys was stopped, on his bike, by the driver's side window, listening intently. "What's up, man?" I yelled, while Martin explained the perils of sellling one's conscience generally for the price of bread and tea. "Yo!" he responded. "This is some cool shit!" I was taken aback, because these are kids who listen to Smashing Pumpkins et al. 24-7, and, therefore, I didn't expect this particular young man to enjoy power pop. I showed him the case, explained that Mr. Newell is, in fact, the lost Beatle, and went on my way. It was cool, though. Ben - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - B e n G o t t :: Bowdoin College :: Brunswick, Maine Genius is the ability to reduce the complicated to the simple.
------------------------------ Message-ID: <33F06383.5801@prodigy.com> Date: Tue, 12 Aug 1997 09:22:11 -0400 From: Jim Samuelian <jsamuelian@prodigy.com> Subject: Re: Mmm vinyl > From: gravity@loop.com > Subject: Mmm vinyl > > Hello fellow Chalkmarks! > Reading the latest. > The bit about cd's and vinyl caught my eye. > Recently and for no apparent reason I have purchased > the entire XTC catalog on vinyl.Dukes included.Mostly UK versions. > Ah yes the very excellent English Settlement 2 lp's! > > These "vinyl versions" are far superior to the cd versions I have been > listening too for a few years now. > > Corporate scam or not digital technology is here to stay. > Have a guilty pleasure and sneek some VINYL into your audio diet! During the vinyl-to-CD years (mid/late 80's, 1990-91??) I was buying all CDs and, just for obsessive collector purposes, vinyl incarnations of my favorite artistes, like xtc of course. But I just listened to the CDs. On a whim, about 2 years ago I started listening to all these vinyl versions I had bought. IT WAS LIKE I WAS HEARING THESE ALBUMS FOR THE FIRST TIME! I don't know if my stereo system just plays analog better (it's kind of old), my age (mid 30's), or if I just like that !THUMP! when the needle hits the record, but for the first time I felt like we've all been a little cheated by this digital revolution. My Geffen CD version of English Settlement does not even come close to my 2LP UK Virgin version. I still buy mostly CDs (how can you not?), and still listen mostly to CDs (there's certainly something, or lots actually, to be said for not having to hear surface noise and for programming tracks to, say, play 'Syncronicity' without having to hear 'Mother'), but lately I don't feel I really HAVE an album unless I have the vinyl version.
------------------------------ Message-ID: <33F066D1.A68E97D2@ix.netcom.com> Date: Tue, 12 Aug 1997 07:36:19 -0600 From: Jonathan Christensen <jon9091@ix.netcom.com> Subject: MOMMYHEADS Hey! Thanks for the tip on The Mommyheads. I really liked it!! Now, here's one for you: Elliott Smith - Either/Or. Very stripped down, haunting and beautiful. Anybody else have recommendations while we wait?? I've found some great music thanks to the people on this list! Seeya, JONNY
------------------------------ Message-ID: <33F06786.6FC55D93@stewmac.com> Date: Tue, 12 Aug 1997 09:39:19 -0400 From: Keith Hanlon <hanlon@stewmac.com> Organization: Stewart-MacDonald's Guitar Shop Supply Subject: vinyl runts (no XTC) > However, try a vinyl version of your favorite record from a time when vinyl > was the technology.See how good it still is! So while we're discussing Zappa... my vinyl copy of "Hot Rats" is the best damn vinyl I've ever heard. Smoooottthhh..... > I know I already responded to this post before but must say that 'A > Wizard a True Star's over production is quite annoying to me. Instead, I > recommend 1978's 'Hermit of Mink Hollow' very, very highly. It does not > suffer from too much over-production and is chock full o' catchy-clever > pop-rock tunes and simply beautiful ballads. Those who don't care for > TR should try a bit of 'Hermit..' and of course, the masterpiece > 'Something/Anything?' Can we all agree that we don't agree? Serisously... I haven't been into Todd for a longtime, but at one point, he was my idol. There's something for everyone out there... maybe we should form a Todd-counseling website. You can input all your favorite music, and the engine will pop out a Todd recommendation. Ok... I give in. "The Ballad of Todd Rundgren." Later, Keith, off topic and proud of it
------------------------------ From: "Bryan Gillespie" <gillespie@netmcr.com> Subject: CD backmasking Date: Tue, 12 Aug 1997 09:53:13 -0400 Message-ID: <1340742652-5439560@netmcr.com> From: Gary Minns <Gary.Minns@benfield.co.uk> >The bit that got me was the back-masking on 25 O'clock. .... >It got me thinking whether it was standard form for CDs and cassettes to >contain back-masking even though it's pretty much impossible to make any >sense of it on these formats. Once again, can anyone shed some light? If your computer has a CD-ROM unit (most do now), you can play the CD and record the selected backmask and then reverse it in your favorite sound editing program. I think the cassette (and realistically all formats) exists with the backmask just for the simple point that it would be more expensive to have to record two different versions on different formats. Granted, not extravagantly more expensive, but is it worth the effort to exclude it from 2 formats? * ----------------------------------- gillespie@netmcr.com http://ns.netmcr.com/~gillespie
------------------------------ Date: Tue, 12 Aug 1997 08:10:39 -0700 From: relph (John Relph) Message-Id: <9708120810.ZM8156@mando.engr.sgi.com> Subject: Re: Pink Warmth Eric Muller <EMULLER@UWYO.EDU> opines: > >Peter wrote that after listening to "The Greatest Living Englishman," he >now know what all the fuss was about. >Well, I've said it before, and I'll say it again: I think TGLE was an >embarrassment. When I first heard it, I thought it sounded like a dumb >Beatles tribute album. On a second listening, though, I decided that that >was too kind an assessment. It's actually a dumb Rutles tribute album. Well, I hope we all know what they say about opinions. And no need to say it again. Repeating your opinion doesn't make it fact. Personally, I find Martin Newell's _The Off White Album_ to be a much better record than _The Greatest Living Englishman_. Maybe it's Andy's drum programs, I don't know. So if you like _TGLE_, check out _TOWA_. In Chalkhills #3-150 Mike Wood wrote: > >annyone else noticed the words etched between the fade-out grooves on the >Psonic Psunspot LP? They're REALLY hard to see... i only first saw them by >accident when the light coming through the window hit the album at a certain >angle. Side A (the "In Side") says "LOOSELY FROM THE STIFF BEACH...", while >Side B (the "Out Side") says "WITH PINK WARMTH". Any meaning, or just pure >Dukeish nonsense? Yes, both Stiff Beach and Pink Warmth were pre-XTC bands. Pink Warmth was Dave Gregory's band, and Stiff Beach was an early Andy Partridge formation. By the way, is Pink Warmth the UK equivalent of Sterno, the semi-solid burnable fuel in a tin? I mean a can. (And five bonus points goes to the first person who can tell me the street name for Sterno.) Ralph DeMarco <r.demarco@elsevier.com> asks: > >I just picked up (used) the Virgin (Atlantic) USA October 1979 'Drums and >Wires' and noticed that it does included 'Making Plans for Nigel' which the >Virgin (Epic) July 1982 US re-issue does not - though all the other tracks >are the same. What's the deal? Did the boys decide they didn't like the >song anymore? And how come some of the CDs contain 'Life Begins at >the Hop?' and others don't - which I feel is a great song and a perfect >opener for a great album. Silly, silly silly... I don't know the answer. But a similar question is asked (and theoretically answered) in the FAQ (Answers to Frequently Asked Questions), check it out at the Chalkhills website. -- John
------------------------------ Message-Id: <v03007803b0163004c460@[134.32.48.166]> Date: Tue, 12 Aug 1997 16:29:28 +0100 From: Stephen Varga <varga@ferndown.ate.slb.com> Subject: Pink Warmth/Stiff Beach In Chalkhills #3-150 Mike Wood wrote: >>annyone else noticed the words etched between the fade-out grooves on the >>Psonic Psunspot LP? They're REALLY hard to see... i only first saw them by >>accident when the light coming through the window hit the album at a certain >>angle. Side A (the "In Side") says "LOOSELY FROM THE STIFF BEACH...", while >>Side B (the "Out Side") says "WITH PINK WARMTH". Any meaning, or just pure >>Dukeish nonsense? >>I'm not sure about the Stiff Beach comment, but I believe Pink Warmth was a >>name either considered for XTC (as was Dukes of Stratosphear) or the >>Dukes... You're both wrong! Check either the Chalkills and Children Biography or Limelight's Dave Gregory Special. Both names originate from bands Dave Gregory belonged to in the late 60's and early 70's. Pink Warmth was named after the paraffin used as fuel in heaters. (In contrast with Esso blue). I think the phrase was used in advertising the product. Stephen Varga
------------------------------ Message-Id: <3.0.32.19970812093301.00690d1c@pop.cancom.net> Date: Tue, 12 Aug 1997 09:33:43 -0700 From: The Village Green <green@vis.bc.ca> Subject: Essential Kinks Ta Ta, Perry Do I have some Kinks albums for you. The general consensus amongst Kinks fans is quite linear. Ray hit a brilliant streak in the late 60s early 70s. In order they are: Face To Face Something Else Village Green Preservation Society Arthur.. or the Decline of the British Empire Lola vs Powerman and the Moneygoround Muswell Hillbillies There was a soundtrack for the movie Percy after Lola but forget it unless you really want everything. My personal favourites are the last four on the list. Go for all four at once, they are exceptional. The hits the Kinks had in the UK were on the albums up to and including Face To Face. On the whole the early albums had some great songs and some weak ones. The albums above are more complete and the songs are better, not hits mind you. If you are interested in the late 70s 'come back', Sleepwalker, Misfits, Low Budget, and Give The People What They Want are decent rock albums. The collection 'Come Dancing With The Kinks' is a great overview of the Kinks Arista years. The albums from the mid 80s on are hit and miss, I wouldn't recommend them to start with. If you want to make one purchase and cover as much territory as possible then buy the 2 cd set 'To The Bone'(1996, Guardian Records), it's much more comprehensive than the single cd version released in England. It has some acoustic in the studio recordings of older songs and some live stuff as well. Ray has been touring his 'Storyteller' show around the world. If you get a chance to see it do so. You need to be somewhat familiar with the Kinks to really appreciate it but it's great nonetheless. Oh yeah, Ralphie. I hope you didn't misunderstand my comments on XTC's songs. I was trying to state that the critics were always on about the nonsense and noise. I could not be a fan if I didn't enjoy the whole package. The band set their own course and have produced some brilliant music. And yes, I probably could have started my list with 'Mummer'. Bill All life we work but work is a bore If life's for living then what's living for
------------------------------ Date: Tue, 12 Aug 1997 10:57:16 -0700 From: "pawnee q " <ribber@mailcity.com> Message-ID: <NOABDPLONGANCAAA@mailcity.com> Subject: randomania Organization: MailCity E-Mail Service Re: Todd. If you want to hear an example of his production completely overwhelming the band he's producing, the Tube's "Remote Control" LP is a glaring example. Somehow, TR managed to make the 70's rock goliaths sound like him both vocally and even song structurally! XTC vs Zappa: Well, XTC love pop music. Zappa went out of his way to make it "ugly". (his debut, Freak Out, is a subtle but still powerful indictment of early 60's US pop and doo wop!). Zappa was a classical composer reduced to working in "rock" because it was easier to do this than try to find an orchestra. If 1997 techy existed in '66, he NEVER would have recorded with other musicians~! Re: "Anklung" when ES came out, I was asst PD at an adult contemporary station in upstate NY. I struggled to get "Yacht Dance" onto the playlist, but that darn percussion track, I was told by higher ups was "too hot". Klang Klang! Todd LP I like best- these days-"Acapella" tho the first Nazz LP is a treat of the Dukes of S variety! --- Pawny Q!! Juxtaposition is Everything.
------------------------------ Message-ID: <19970812182420.16864.qmail@hotmail.com> From: "Rob Crawford" <robcrawford@hotmail.com> Subject: Sorry this isn't about Todd Rundgren or Prophet V's Date: Tue, 12 Aug 1997 11:24:19 PDT >From: Gary Minns <Gary.Minns@benfield.co.uk> >Subject: bmob mota ruoy htiw flesruoy kcuf oG >Date: Mon, 11 Aug 1997 12:00:10 +0100 Sorry these comments are probablly off topic in the Todd Rundgren mailing list. >>"LOOSELY FROM THE STIFF BEACH..." >>"WITH PINK WARMTH" >>Any meaning, or just pure Dukeish nonsense? Possibly a job for the junior numeroloigests club <grin>, (thanks to Bill Drummond (and therefore Robert Anton Williams) for the phrase) Getting things bass ackwards ! >The bit that got me was the back-masking on 25 O'clock. It's fine on >the vinyl coz you can twizzle your turntable backwards and make out >what is being said but I upgraded to the Chips CD a while back and it >made me chuckle that Virgin had transcribed the back-masking to the >CD as well. >It got me thinking whether it was standard form for CDs and cassettes >to contain back-masking even though it's pretty much impossible to >make any sense of it on these formats. Once again, can anyone shed >some light? My old method was no problem, simply put a half twist in the tape then play it (really low playback volume though). But then modern technology took over simply sample the section of CD or tape (though I cant get a decent sample from any cassette dech I have ever used)to disk and reverse that section of the sample (so simple it may even work on that disfunctional piece of hardware known as the Apple Mac). As for other backwards bits 'N bobs try The 1st 2 Church albums The Church (Of Skins & Heart in Australia) & The Blurred Crusade, (their album Starfish contains a backwards Bagpipe solo on Under the Milky Way). The Byrds album Younger than Yesterday contains a track called CTA-102 with backwards (plus some other stuff done to them) vocals. The T Rex track Debora (I think it's spelt with extra a's & d's sorry about the spelling but it's from my very poor memory plus I'm in work so I can't check the proper name), where the 2nd half of the track is a mirror of the 1st half. Not worth buying for but if you have it sitting around it's worth playing with Paul Simons You can call me Al has a the 2nd half of the Bass solo a mirror image of the 1st half of the solo. Also As I remember theres quite a bit of backwards masking on The Notorious Byrd Brothers album (I will leave you all to guess who made that album). For Class discussion in the absence of anything new since 91 1: Anyway as regarding backwards masking has anybody noticed the amount of reverse echo in Black Sea (where the echo appears before the source of the echo) ? 2:Thoughts about producers for XTC a: The Future Sound of London Their stuff shows traces of The Lure of Salvage (listen to ISDN or Dead Cities) b: Terry Melcher If he is still alive & working as he produced the best stuff the Byrds ever did. c: Waddy Watchell Did a good job on a couple of Church albums in the late 80's d: Youth Killing Joke, Blue Pearl & Crowded House e: Joe Boyd Arnold Layne for Floyd and Leige & Lief for Fairport Convention f: Bill Drummond or/and Jimmy Cautry Ex the KLF, JAMMS etc, they know how to have hits and XTC know how NOT to have hits so although blood would be sweatted (and probally spilt) the results could be pretty interesting for the fans, and possibly it would make some cash for them too. g: Steve Lillywhite, Hugh Padgham or John Leckie Obvious reasons 3: Has anybody have any idea why Black Sea was chosen as a Album title as a lot of the titles are fairly consistant with the track content of the albums. Yeah I know that this is way too long for the amount of interesting content, but I havn't deviated too far from XTC and I need somthing to do on night shift.
------------------------------ Message-ID: <19970812184400.7208.qmail@hotmail.com> From: "Rob Crawford" <robcrawford@hotmail.com> Subject: RD & AP Date: Tue, 12 Aug 1997 11:44:00 PDT From: The Village Green Subject: New Guy >Ray Davies is ... well ... an living legend. Watch out for Dave's >solo tour and new solo album which should be out soon. While this is a bit off subject (to some extent) please bear with me. In January I went to see Ray Davies on his solo tour (readings from his book and some songs). The career parallels between Dave Davies and Andy Partrige are remarkalble. These include being ripped off by managers, lawyers and record companys. Living in horrible little places while appearing on TV shows and large venues. Not realising relationships where over, untill the wives actually buggered off. Basically you could almost exchange the band names with the litany of disasters they suffered, yet they don't give up. It took the Kinks 15 years to make money I guess it will take AP & Co a just a bit longer. With bands like REM et al (sic) professing their admiration for XTC and appearing on tribure CD's, why don't they put their credibility rating up a few levels and force Sony or another major to offer XTC a decent contract. Eddie Van Halen did that for Allen Holdsworth (both of them are admired by Dave Gregory). Regards Rob...
------------------------------ Message-Id: <3.0.1.16.19970812084517.302fdb2e@cyber1.servtech.com> Date: Tue, 12 Aug 1997 08:45:17 From: Chaos Harlequin <harlequin@tmbg.org> Subject: Interps, Back-Masking >Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't it "the kind of look that says they're >perfect"? Oh, right. *pout* >I have a work in progress hoping to be along the lines >of a collection of people's interpretations of XTC songs. *laughs heartily, then sighs* I'm sorry, Kevin, but the reason I doubt this'll work out well is rather amusing: I attempted to do exactly the same thing about nine months ago; I set up the page, announced it, and everything. Two months later, I officially closed down due to lack of input -- I had exactly one interp sent to me, and that taken from the list, not actually sent to me. >but I upgraded to the Chips CD a while back and it made me >chuckle that Virgin had transcribed the back-masking to the CD as well. >It got me thinking whether it was standard form for CDs and cassettes to >contain back-masking even though it's pretty much impossible to make any >sense of it on these formats. Well, first, it seems rather obvious that the labels would leave on the back-masking -- not only would removing it harm the artistic integrity of the piece, but it would also be a huge friggin' hassle to do it! But I have a second point. While, admittedly, CDs are rather difficult to play backwards, the digital age hath not stolen without giving back: just plug your CD player into your computer's audio jack, record the relevant passage, and use the "reverse" option. /---------------------------Joshua Hall-Bachner---------------------------\ | harlequin@tmbg.org http://www.servtech.com/public/particle/ | | "We all have our idiosyncracies -- maybe thinning hair, or gum disease."| \---- Kowanko, "Will You Come To?" ------ Thank You, And Goodnight. ------/
------------------------------ Message-Id: <v01510102b0167e19ad06@[205.189.48.195]> Date: Tue, 12 Aug 1997 15:56:00 -0500 From: bartok@adan.kingston.net (steady eddy) Subject: todd/completely off i know this is completely off topic and i'm sorry. i couldn't resist sharing this with everyone, though....since there has been some talk of todd bashing. John Lennon's letter to Todd AN OPENED LETTUCE TO SODD RUNTLESTUNTLE. (from dr. winston o'boogie) Couldn't resist adding a few "islands of truth" of my own, in answer to Turd Runtgreen's howl of hate (pain.) Dear Todd, I like you, and some of your work, including "I Saw The Light", which is not unlike "There's A Place" (Beatles), melody wise. 1) I have never claimed to be a revolutionary. But I am allowed to sing about anything I want! Right? 2) I never hit a waitress in the Troubador, I did act like an ass, I was too drunk. So shoot me! 3) I guess we're all looking for attention Rodd, do you really think I don't know how to get it, without "revolution?" I could dye my hair green and pink for a start! 4) I don't represent anyone but my SELF. It sounds like I represented something to you, or you wouldn't be so violent towards me. (Your dad perhaps?) 5) Yes Dodd, violence comes in mysterious ways it's wonders to perform, including verbal. But you'd know that kind of mind game, wouldn't you? Of course you would. 6) So the Nazz use to do "like heavy rock" then SUDDENLY a "light pretty ballad". How original! 7) Which gets me to the Beatles, "who had no other style than being the Beatles"!! That covers a lot of style man, including your own, TO DATE..... Yes Godd, the one thing those Beatles did was to affect PEOPLES' MINDS. Maybe you need another fix? Somebody played me your rock and roll pussy song, but I never noticed anything. i think that the real reason you're mad at me is cause I didn't know who you were at the Rainbow (L.A.) Remember that time you came in with Wolfman Jack? When I found out later, I was cursing cause I wanted to tell you how good you were. (I'd heard you on the radio.) Anyway, However much you hurt me darling; I'll always love you, J. L. <signature> 30th Sept. 1974 ******************************************** Sunward I've climbed and joined the tumbling mirth of sun-split clouds...and done a hundred things you have not dreamed of...wheeled and soared and swung high in the sunlit silence. ********************************************
------------------------------ End of Chalkhills Digest #3-152 *******************************
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