Chalkhills Digest Volume 3, Issue 17
Date: Friday, 1 November 1996
Chalkhills Digest, Volume 3, Number 17
Friday, 1 November 1996
Today's Topics:
Big Day
Anan - a band like xtc & video
Re: Beatles 'n' Kinks
And the winner is...
Fossil Fuels Video - next year?
Pop politics
The Forgotten Language of Light
Italian Boy
The search is on! (Backwards Masking Anyone??)
Bummer Hummer Mummer
Bungalow is not Dung-a-Moul
Re: Turd Runtgreen and so on...
Whining Andy?
Re: Big whoop
XTC mentions in Bass Player
Re: Post Response #88
Work, Bungalow, Leisure, Earn Enough...
Re: Transcript Demolition
Art School Pop Stars
working for a vision
Stuff
No, I'm not receiving you!
The "Dave or Colin" game...
Kinks/XTC
Defending the bungalow
Another XTC sighting!!!!!
Sugarplastic line
Briefly
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---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Thu, 31 Oct 1996 17:40:10 +1300 (NZDT) Message-Id: <v01540b03ae9e945a5b0e@[139.80.152.178]> From: james.dignan@stonebow.otago.ac.nz (James Dignan) Subject: Big Day >>FOR MASOCHISTS ONLY: I was listening to Skylarking on my walkman the >>other day, and while the song "Big Day" was playing my right earphone >>died. I won't tell you what I heard, but I will say that if you have any >>rhythmic sense you might be shocked. Try this little experiment on your >>stereo if you dare: Cue up "Big Day" and either pan the music all the way >>to the left or turn off the right channel completely. WARNING: this >>experiment has been known to invoke spontaneous convulsions and other >>nervous conditions. > >That is pretty funny. Guess it's been there all along though eh? Another >little Todd trick sprinkled throughout the record. Which gets me to my >next point.... I usually listen to Skylarking through speakers rather than headphones, so not only had I not noticed this de-synched guitar delay, but the backing vocals came as a bit of a shock, too! One other thing though (and shuddering at the thought of the flames this might bring upon me) is that panning everything across to the *right* turned the song into an extremely Beatlesque wee number, circa Taxman or Paperback Writer, which was something I'd never noticed before, or not to the same extent. And is that an uncredited sitar buried deep in the mix way over on the right channel? James
------------------------------ Date: Thu, 31 Oct 1996 00:43:56 -0600 (CST) Message-Id: <199610310643.AAA15324@thymaster.interaccess.com> Subject: Anan - a band like xtc & video From: Eric Medalis <astolfo@interaccess.com> Hello all I am new to the list, fan for about 10 years now. I am wondering if anyone else has ever heard of the band Anan - brits from the psychadelic era (68) who sound alot like XTC or maybe it should be the other way around, all chronologies considered. The song I have on a complitaion is called 'I wonder where my sisters gone'. Has anyone else has heard them, know where i could get an album, etc... also, the question about video - you probably know this already, but they were in urgh, a music war. According to the 1993 video retriever you can get it from Music video distributors @ 1-800 - 888-0846. According to the book price was 29.95 - I saw the film years ago - many many years ago. I think they only do a tune or two - someone who has it or has seen it recently might want to chip in on this, if it is worth it. Of course, how often can you see XTC, Dead kennedys, Pere Ubu, Police and OMD in one place. Might be worth it for that. thats all i had to say. E
------------------------------
Message-Id: <v01540b03ae9df626bcdc@[204.254.68.15]>
Date: Wed, 30 Oct 1996 23:35:03 -0700
From: gondola@deltanet.com (E.B.)
Subject: Re: Beatles 'n' Kinks
>From: Keith Hanlon <ad180@seorf.ohiou.edu>
>
>Has anyone gotten the Beatles' Anthology 3 yet? "Cry Baby Cry" is brilliant!
Sure, I got it. Some of the most potentially exciting things I'd heard
before ("Not Guilty," "What's The New Mary Jane," "While My Guitar Gently
Weeps"...), but the two tracks that really set my hair on end were the
alternate version of "Ob La Di, Ob La Da" and the swell demo of
"Something." But most of it's great, except for the pointless
instrumentless "Because." It's my favorite of the three anthologies, and I
wouldn't have predicted that. (Volume 2 disappointed me a bit.)
>What Kinks album has "Fancy?" (The original album it appeared on please,
>not a collection.)
Face To Face...probably the Kinks' best album, which is miraculously out of
print in the States (along with The Kink Kontroversy). Incidentally, a
late-'80s group called Hugo Largo did an amazing cover of this song....
GB
------------------------------ From: Floopyglop@aol.com Date: Thu, 31 Oct 1996 03:32:11 -0500 Message-ID: <961031033211_1248056233@emout18.mail.aol.com> Subject: And the winner is... Hi! In Official XTC-approved Chalkhills 3-15, Simon Knight spake, thusly: >Has Andy ever been nominated for that English songwriters award, >what's it called, something like the Ivor Novello award? (I mean if >Damon and Noel can win it....) Actually, have the XTC guys ever won >*any* awards? Yes. They won the Billboard Best Video Award for "Dear God" in 1988. In addition, they recieved some plaques at the XTC Music and Friends Convention, (displayed on the Testimonial Dinner sleeve) which I suppose counts as well. And, let's not forget the various gold and platinum awards given to them by the various record industry associations. Matthew Jason NeSmith offers this criticism: >"Jump" Nice subject, but I really don't care for the song. I like the song, but my question is this: Is this song supposed to be sarcastic or is Narrator Andy suggesting that this Earth is no place for fragile, sensitive people? I can't seem to make up my mind on this one. From the Chris Twomey XTC bio: >"XTC were also worried by Rundgren's occasional slapdash approach." It's funny that XTC singles out Rundgren's keyboard skills as being weak, because Todd's albums have been historically dominated by pianos (early Todd) and keyboards (modern Todd) and the parts he plays are anything but amateurish sounding. (I don't feel like writing segues. So sue me.) Dave O'Connell York PA
------------------------------ Message-ID: <3278EA3E.7554@stokecoll.ac.uk> Date: Thu, 31 Oct 1996 10:04:46 -0800 From: "lbedd1sc@stokecoll.ac.uk" <lbedd1sc@stokecoll.ac.uk> Organization: stokecoll.ac.uk Subject: Fossil Fuels Video - next year? I've just spoken to Simon Hopkins, who is in charge of the XTC Fossil Fuels video collection project and he tells me that the video is more likely to be released next year rather than this. This is due to other projects taking longer than planned and the general slump in sell through music video. I'll keep in contact with him and let everyone know as soon as I have something more positive to report.
------------------------------ Date: Thu, 31 Oct 1996 10:48:34 GMT Message-Id: <v01510102ae9e3e0fd8e0@[194.128.83.69]> From: fisher@easynet.co.uk (Mark Fisher) Subject: Pop politics Herne <herne@earthlink.net>: >I always have a problem with British songwriters going on and on about >American Cold War politics or any other american politics for that >matter. The most annoying example being U2's "Bullet the Blue Sky". (I >wanted to slap Bono for that one.) I'm not against people criticizing >the USA but it just seems that so many British songwriters have this >attitude about America. Deep down they want us to worship them but at >the same time there's this level of disdain. (Not so much XTC but many >of their ilk) I mean nobody here looks at Britain with disdain. You >don't see many American songwriters going on about what Parliament's >doing now do ya? I'd suggest the reason for this is that the USA is a modern-day colonial power - sometimes politically, and nearly always culturally. If you're living in the States it'll be easy not to be aware of this - it's your culture after all. If you're outside, it is very obvious. US songwriters don't turn out lyrics about the UK parliament because it is not a significant force in their lives. But it's difficult for a British writer not to be aware of the USA's global impact (whatever opinion they might have of it). This doesn't of course mean you have to like the songs, but you should be aware that yours is not the only perspective on the world. - Mark P.S. Bungalow is a work of genius.
------------------------------ From: "Volker Dieling" <dieling@hrz1.uni-oldenburg.de> Organization: University Of Oldenburg Comp.Center Date: Thu, 31 Oct 1996 13:11:56 MEZ-1MESZ Subject: The Forgotten Language of Light Message-ID: <480368C6E48@hrz1.uni-oldenburg.de> Hello Chalkheads ! Does any of you know just what the heck the lyrics to "The Forgotten Language of Light " (from Explode Together) mean, if they mean anything at all ? Please mail, since I'm absolutely blasted by this song. It's brilliant. Lemoncurry dieling@hrz1.pcnet.uni-oldeburg.de Lemons shall rule the world !
------------------------------
Message-Id: <m0vIy9p-00000OC@ten.it>
Date: Thu, 31 Oct 96 15:31 GMT+0100
From: ENRICO <martinis@ten.it>
Subject: Italian Boy
Hi Chalkies !
I'm an italian boy that has discovered XTC only 5 years ago !
Well, now I'm 18 and I would like to know if there are other guys that have
my same age or if the chalkies are all "adults" !!!!!!
Then, I've found the "Fossil Fuel ltd edition" in my city (the smallest and
darkest city in Italy) and you can believe how surprised i was when i saw it
becouse normally it's something incredible to find a limited edition cd in
my city and finding an XTC's limited cd it's quite impossible !! But I've
found it!
Well ... just another question : what are the demos you talked about in the
past issues of the digest ?? Are the demos of the new songs that Andy & co.
will put on the new CD ?? If someone knows the answer and can even send me a
cassette with them this is my address << martinis@ten.it >>
Bye.
------------------------------ Message-Id: <199610311629.KAA13570@3rddoor.3rddoor.com> Date: Fri, 01 Nov 1996 10:25:07 -0800 From: Daniel Ray Phipps <"phipps@3rddoor.com"@3rddoor.com> Subject: The search is on! (Backwards Masking Anyone??) Although this is my very 1st posting to other Chalkhillians, I've got a question on my mind that's burning to be answered. Are there ANY XTC tracks (legitimate or otherwise) that contain any backwards masking?? No, I'm not a devil-worshiper looking for messages here! Simply an XTC fan who'd like to know if any such track(s) exist(s). What d'ya' think, gang? The search is on!! I also just purchased the "Fossil Fuel" singles collection here in North Carolina and although I already own all of these songs on previous albums, it's great to have them collected onto a 2-CD set! The "limited edition" textured cover is a hoot, too! I like these issues that arrive on my screen! Let's keep up the GOOD work here, okay? Long live the music of XTC!!!!!!!!!!
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 31 Oct 1996 11:54:24 -0500
Message-Id: <v01510102ae9e2a552e81@[128.122.161.36]>
From: vanvalnc@is2.nyu.edu (Chris Van Valen)
Subject: Bummer Hummer Mummer
Hi all.
1)Bummer
I was busy toiling away for my few bucks which masquerades as income and my
desk radio/cassette player was on at a relatively low volume and the
following announcement filtered into my ears:
"... and tickets for XTC at Radio City Music Hall go on sale tomorrow at 9
a.m. at the box office and at all Ticketmaster..."
My head shot up and my blood pressure raced. I called the radio station.
The conversation went as follows:
"Hello! K-Rock"
"Hi. Did you just say what I thought I heard you say?"
"What?"
"That tickets go on sale tomorrow."
"Yeah."
I got dizzy at this point.
"Cound you please play some XTC?"
"Who?"
"You know, XTC, whose tickets are GOING ON SALE TOMORROW!!!"
"You mean STP"
"Who?"
"You know, STP--Stone Temple Pilots."
"Oh."
>click<
I slipped a cassette into my player and "Wait Till your Boat Goes Down" was
cued up. I cried.
2)Hummer
I have to disagree with all the recent bashing of "Life Begins at the Hop".
One of my first and still among my all time faves. Sure, some of the lyrics
are a little clumsy and trite, but it has that certain youthful innocence
that 17 years later I'd love to re-capture. Plus, Andy's guitar solo is
pure genius, the way it starts out muted before the piercing coda. La la la
la la la la.
3)Mummer
A little anecdote about how I got my Mummer.
I was wandering around the canyons of Soho(I was living uptown at the time,
so this was kind of uncharted territory for me. Also, this was long before
it was heavily commercialised. It was still mostly factories and lofts
then). I looked up and saw that a small record shop(don't recall the name,
but it's not there anymore) had a copy of the (then) new Killing Joke
album, "Fire Dances" propped up against the window. I and my two partners
in crime climb a short staircase and enter. The place was really sunny and
well laid out, but rather small. And slightly dusty, as though not many
people had come in for quite a while. In fact, no one else was there except
the three of us and the owner. They had a cut-out bin which, in fact, had a
reviewer's copy of "Fire Dances", which I snapped up. I continued to look
around, not searching for anything in particular. When I got to the X
section, I thumbed through and didn't see anything that caught my eye, and
continued on. One of my friends said, "Hey, did you see this?", holding up
Mummer. I didn't grasp it, didn't even know they had a new album coming
out, was confused by the cover(why are there only three figures?). I bought
it more out of some sort of "brand loyalty" than any other reason. In fact,
I didn't listen to it for maybe a month. I already had the "Great Fire"
single, which did't thrill me at first(BTW, it's now in my heavy rotation).
On first listen, as you might imagine, I didn't get into it. I still find
it to be one of their most "difficult" albums, for lack of a better word.
In fact, I didn't get back to it until after The Big Express, which is
among my all time favorite works(love that mellotron!). But with time, I
have grown to appreciate the style and the nuances buried within the
grooves.
I'll be back next week with another ridiculous tie knot,
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 at 8PM and
midnight, EST.
--Lucien LaCroix
------------------------------ Date: 31 Oct 96 13:26:53 EST From: DaveKGold <70673.317@CompuServe.COM> Subject: Bungalow is not Dung-a-Moul Message-ID: <961031182653_70673.317_FHP56-2@CompuServe.COM> Hello again from wonderful Southern California. Well, we are once again discussing Bungalow. Frankly, I can't understand why people dis this song. The lyrics are wonderful and touching. It's sentimental and sweet. Haven't you ever saved for a romantic vacation with someone you love? Those kinda trips with my soon-to-be-ex wife are some of my fondest memories. If you haven't been with someone you love that way, well then, I guess it's easy to understand why you wouldn't like the song. On another topic, someone asked if XTC had won any awards. Well, I just pulled out Testimonial Dinner to listen to it. And on the back of the booklet, there's a relatively recent looking photo of the lads holding awards....I can't see what they are......anyone know? Andy's pose makes me think he's not too enthralled with the situation....check it out. Anyone in Southern Calif. interested in a get together, E-mail me and maybe we can get something going....perhaps an XTC party of sorts.... Dave Gold
------------------------------ Message-Id: <199610311927.OAA11482@nlm.nih.gov> Date: Thu, 31 Oct 96 14:33:55 EST From: dabl2@nlm.nih.gov (Don Lindbergh) Subject: Re: Turd Runtgreen and so on... Quoth Joshua Hall-Bachner <particle@servtech.com>: >You misunderstand. He wasn't saying anything about Todd's production. All >he was saying is that the view of the critics on the movie "Dear God" >seemed to mirror the view of the critics on Todd's production. That's all. >Really. Point taken, echoed earlier by the original author as well. Sorry, got a a burr up my butt defending the Runt, unnecessarily as it were. --Don DABL dabl2@nlm.nih.gov
------------------------------ Date: 31 Oct 96 15:14:16 EST From: DaveKGold <70673.317@CompuServe.COM> Subject: Whining Andy? Message-ID: <961031201415_70673.317_FHP61-2@CompuServe.COM> Chalk-hill-a-Rol fills up my disk....oozing from the Web with a daily thread... Peter McCulloch said: >>Speaking of the voice issue, this neatly ties in to the whole discussion we've been having about women and their perception of XTC. My girlfriend's harbored a dislike for them for a number of years, and she's finally determined that it's primarily due to Andy's voice. << One of my soon-to-be-ex's biggest complaints about XTC is Andy's voice. She thinks he sounds like he's whining. (I'm whining.....You're whining....) Well, I never agreed. Any one else, or their significant others, with similar sentiments? It's the words and music that always got to me.....some of the songs are really touching (see what I said about Bungalow !).... People were talking about their least favorite, most favorite, etc. I can't say I like White Music. I think it's a snooze. It took me a long time to get into TBE, but now I like it. Red Brick Dreams should definetly be on the desert island list, IMHO. What's homo safari about? I've heard that mentioned several times and don't know what it is. Something about instrumentals ala "Procession..."? Always thought that was an interesting one and wanted to hear more along that vein. Reminds me somewhat of Chicago 7. I did digest Explode Together. Hmmmmm....makes interesting working-at-the-PC music. What is the story behind the releases on that album? Thanks for any info.... e-mail me or answer here. Dave Gold
------------------------------ Message-Id: <v01540b01ae9eab4c99e0@[199.171.191.119]> Date: Thu, 31 Oct 1996 12:20:37 -0700 From: gondola@deltanet.com (E.B.) Subject: Re: Big whoop From: Joshua Hall-Bachner <particle@servtech.com> > >A little suggestion regarding the little tiff we had over the f-word a >little while ago: > >My school is currently embroiled in a free-speech discussion just like that >one, and a teacher offered the following suggestion: why not, when you feel >the need to say "fuck," instead say "making whoopee." It conveys the same >idea, but in a less "offensive" way. In response, I will henceforth use >"making whoopee" whenever I have the urge to cuss. You have been warned. Yikes. Shades of The Newlywed Game.... Personally, "making whoopee" makes me cringe a lot more than "fucking." :) Visions of Eubanks dancing in my head, GB
------------------------------
From: Martin_Monkman@fincc04.fin.gov.bc.ca
Date: Thu, 31 Oct 1996 12:32:53 -0800 (PST)
Subject: XTC mentions in Bass Player
Message-id: <9609318467.AA846797243@FINSMTP1.FIN.GOV.BC.CA>
In the November 1996 issue of Bass Player, XTC rates two mentions.
Mention 1:
In a brief feature on Brad Vander Ark of Verve Pipe (they of "Wake
Up" on Testimonial Dinner), he is quoted thus: "We're really
influenced by melodic bands -- the Beatles, and more recently, XTC."
Mention 2:
In the Reviews section, The Heads album gets a mention. In part, the
review reads:
Bass performance: B
Overall performance: C+
Best groove: "Indie Hair"
Talking Heads, minus the all-important David Byrne, join
forces with guest singers that include Johnette Napolitano
(with whom they'll tour), Andy Partridge, and Debbie Harry.
The few gems on this disc are vastly watered down by a slew
of uninspired tunes with bad lyrics. ... Don't expect this
one to "Byrne" up the charts.
Martin
------------------------------ Message-Id: <199610312126.OAA01692@access.tucson.org> From: "Jeff Smelser" <jsmelser@access.tucson.org> Organization: Access Tucson Date: Thu, 31 Oct 1996 14:44:54 -0700 Subject: Re: Post Response #88 > Particularly grating on her nerves are the earlier songs back when > Andy was employing a deliberate "hiccup" vocal approach, so, > not surprisingly, she seems to prefer the more accessible, newer > material. Oddly enough, she's crazy about Danny Elfman, who had > virtually the same voice as Andy in his earlier years. Women: Can't > live with 'em, pass the beer nuts. You are a very observant person. Great Post. >Anyone else think Blame the Weather is just a fabulously constructed song, > good lyrics and good melody melded together? His vocals could have been > so much better. I am of the camp that believes Colin is usually a superior > (and more articulate) vocalist to Andy. Strange that you'd bring this up because for the past few days I've been thinking posting in with this message: If the,"new label," had to decide if it was going to sign only Andy or Colin; which do you think they'd choose? I often explain to non-XTC literates that Andy is like the John Lennon and Colin is like the Paul McCartney of the group not only in their instrument playing but in their overall musical styles...Colin very pop and Andy more radical/on the edge. Even though I prefer the John Lennon/Andy type work, I think a label would look at marketability and sales thereby choosing Colin. Please, someone, take a count of singles written by Andy vs. those written by Colin. Without checking, my guess is that Colin had more singles than Andy. > Nonsuch a most excellent album though my personal favourite is > still English Settlement Recently we had friends come to visit from out of town and when they arrived I made sure I had Nonsuch on in the shuffle mode. This made for a really nice mood. Try it sometime. L8r, Jeff Jeff Smelser Video Engineer Access Tucson jsmelser@access.tucson.org
------------------------------ Message-ID: <c=US%a=_%p=AETNA%l=AETNA/AETNA/00179F9E@aetna.aetna.com> From: "Witter, Karl F" <witterkf@aetna.com> Subject: Work, Bungalow, Leisure, Earn Enough... Date: Thu, 31 Oct 1996 17:24:00 -0500 Kraig <kraigo@netcommcorp.com> said: >I never figured out what _anyone_ sees in "Bungalow", but >it's among some people's favorites. I always disliked "Leisure" >as well. IMHO, offered for your dining, dancing and page-downing pleasure: I'm piling onto others posts in #3-16. I put "Bungalow", "Leisure" and "Earn Enough..." together when it comes to *work*. Too many popular songwriters pen odes to making one's living. It ranks right up there with "being in a rock band on the road" as The Subject On Which Every Bad Song We Need (And More) Has Already Been Written. However...these songs are different. "Bungalow": *Joshua* and *Adam* said plenty on it, and I add. Any fool could write about "putting in sixty hours a week", but only from Colin's muse are we "working every hour that God made". That's what I call the scenic route, lyrically speaking. I see an elegant hyperbole which speaks volumes in a few words. "Leisure": "I hide behind a screen of agression nowadays" "What a waste of breath it is/Searching for the jobs that don't exist". Dissonant (especially that wonking solo) and sullen with brittle humor. Hey, is Andy writing about English skinheads or the label-du-generation known as a "slacker" in the US? That's years ahead of its time, and always makes me chuckle. On the flip side I see idleness festering into violence or at least something antisocial. Shows you don't have to do the grunge aesthetic to understand the attitude. (Some do it well, but there are countless bad imitations with deafening loud, screaming and almost tuneless material.) "Earn Enough for Us": Not just praying before bed, but continually: "at home, at work and on the bus". Not just working at a duff job, but taking humiliation, and getting a second job if need be. Putting the responsibility of impending fatherhood on somone who maybe wasn't solvent enough to get married in the first place? Strangely this WAS my *fizzy pleasure* at first, when the bass dancing around the drums, the melody, and fluid guitars caught me. Then I started piecing together the despair-fighting lyric. Climbing the wallpaper in your fortress of solitude, Karl (PS. When Mummer is added to my collection, I may have something to say about "Love on a Farmboy's Wages".)
------------------------------ From: "Michael Wilson" <tomservo@ou.edu> Subject: Re: Transcript Demolition Date: Thu, 31 Oct 1996 16:19:45 -0600 Message-Id: <327924ee21ac002@cliff.ou.edu> Has anyone taken the time to transcribe some of the Partridge demos? I'm dying for the chords to: In Your Dictionary, I Can't Own Her, oh any other songs not posted yet.... Also, sorry if I got the song titles wrong, my demo don't have a track listing. At this point I would like to beg for someone out there who has a copy of any post Look Look videos to please email me.....I may give my right arm to be ambidextrous, but I'd give the little piggy who had roast beef for a copy of these videos. " So any words of wisdom, Kev?" " Stay in school" (Kevin Murphy to me during a lengthy discussion at the Conventiocon ExpoFest-A-Rama 2 Electric Bugaloo)
------------------------------ Date: Thu, 31 Oct 1996 16:44:50 -0800 (PST) From: "J. Brown" <ringostr@u.washington.edu> Subject: Art School Pop Stars Message-ID: <Pine.A41.3.95b.961031164103.189044B-100000@homer33.u.washington.edu> Gene said: > It really shows in alot of their sleeve art that Andy was an art >student. So was David Byrne > Huh. Go figure. So were John Lennon and Ray Davies, who saw in concert last night. great Show go see him if he comes anywhere near you. %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% % Jason Wilson Brown %% "I'm the mole from the Ministry % % ringostr@u.washington.edu %% And you'll all bow down to me" % % Seattle, Washington, USA %% - Sir John Johns % %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
------------------------------ Message-Id: <2.2.32.19961101011354.006a30ec@mail.sonyinteractive.com> Date: Thu, 31 Oct 1996 17:13:54 -0800 From: Bob Estus <bestus@sonyinteractive.com> Subject: working for a vision Hi all, JHB's take on Bungalow: >a land of peace and understanding, where everything is peachy...it's a very >happy, laid back, peaceful song, and the lyrics just describe the Bungalow >in question so well...that's my take, anyway. Thanks for sharing your interpretation. It sounds like a lovely place. I'm getting warm fuzzies just thinking about it. Although listening to Bungalow I got a slightly different image in my mind, as people bring different experiences to an interpretation. And *that's* O.K. :) I saw the song as a dreamy placebo. Something to help someone rationalize their day-to-day life with the thought that somehow their life's struggles would be rewarded in the end with a peaceful life in a well respected position. A dream that should be ended with wailing and tears. Very very dark, very sad. But then again I'm a real downer. :) Seriously I think it's a song that should provoke thought on short term vs. long term goals. Purpose of life. Those little naggy things. I hypothesisized: I like the lyrics to Funk Pop A Roll for their possible religious overtones. JHB: >I'm sorry, you're reaching here. Am I? >I mean, any interpretation is fine, but there is a pretty obvious point to >the song, and the Catholic Church ain't it. You may be right, but I thought that the religious theme might be inferred. Not as the main theme but a subtle play. <snip> -- but it doesn't mean anything. The song is >about the music industry, not the Church. >Josh, invading on our privacy Apparently your taking offence. I *never* meant to offend. My sincere apologies. -Bob
------------------------------ From: box@nemesis.com.au Date: Fri, 1 Nov 1996 13:14:44 -0500 Message-ID: <TCPSMTP.16.11.1.13.14.44.2156250573.1768780677@nemesis.com.au> Subject: Stuff #> From: enrico@fox.nstn.ca (Erich W.) #> why didn't Red Brick Dream make the final cut on TBE? It's the only track on the album not produced by anyone else. Maybe that had something to do with it. It doesn't seem to fit anywhere on the album... #> how about we just track down Mr. Relph's ever-interesting #> lyric snippets following the Administrivia, find the appropriate #> song, snap it into the headphones, and groove through the post? This digest's [3-16] was a demo. That rules out about half of us. #> From: Joshua Hall-Bachner <particle@servtech.com> #> a teacher offered the following suggestion: why not, when you #> feel the need to say "fuck," instead say "making whoopee." It #> conveys the same idea, but in a less "offensive" way. Bollocks! The word 'fuck' is hardly ever used to refer to sex anymore, compared with the thousand other definitions the word now has. Maybe you should tell that teacher to 'making whoopee' off. :) Anyone in Aus/NZ seen the famous ammonite on local release yet? Adam
------------------------------ Message-ID: <32785EA2.2AE3@dpc.net> Date: Thu, 31 Oct 1996 00:09:06 -0800 From: Mark Hopper <mhopper@dpc.net> Subject: No, I'm not receiving you! Has anyone else paid for this XTC video and never received it? I've been waiting for almost a year now and nothing. Has Erik gone into hiding? I've e-mailed him, but to no avail. Please share your horror stories. MH
------------------------------ Date: Thu, 31 Oct 1996 23:16:56 -0500 (EST) Message-Id: <199611010416.XAA20505@cyber1.servtech.com> From: Joshua Hall-Bachner <particle@servtech.com> Subject: The "Dave or Colin" game... >But does >anyone else think Blame the Weather is just a fabulously constructed song, >good lyrics and good melody melded together? Unfortunately I could never >figure out what in hell Colin was singing until I saw the lyrics in the >archives On my original XTC mix tape, BTW (along with MBP) was one of my favorites. Imagine my surprise when it turned out to be only a B-Side. I really, really like the song. It's got some of Colin's better lyrics; that is, non-bludgeoning, and music is quite good too. The mood it evokes is just that dark, rainy, Thursday afternoon, where nothing's going right... >What, it's not obvious? :-) Roundheaded guy with surprised look is Dave. >I've always thought Dave is softer-looking, gentle. Guy with bike chain >for hair is Colin. I would have to disagree with this line of reasoning. IMHO, the bike-chain guy has a much more "Dave" look about him...he's more the kind of guy who'd be hanging out in the back and step forward for the guitar solo. The roundheaded guy has a more "Colin" look to him...I've always had a sort of "roundish" idea of Colin (and no, this has nothing to do with his weight. :) BTW, do the R&BB guys remind anyone else of the robots from MST3K? Hey, Mitch, can you ask Andy which is which? >The Mole From the Ministry-Marilyn Manson. You wouldn't even need distortion >to make Marilyn's voice sound odd. He can do it by himself. I refuse to even begin to think about the possibility of an XTC song being covered by a two-bit, no-talent, "I have all of white teenage America in the palm of my hand" hack like the Rev. Manson. In a word, no. >[India has five hundred million citizens, a lot more than the US and the UK combined] I thought it was about 940-something million. I know because today I was trying to figure out how much of the world you'd need for half the world's population -- it seems that India, China, and that little area between them manages pretty well. One last thing: I'm desperate here. If anyone out there could please help me get copies of the following XTC rarities: - "Respectable Street" (live) from /URGH! A Music War/ - "Blue Beret" (live acoustic) from /The Adventure Club Sessions/ - "Third Stone From The Sun" (by "David Dreams") from /"If 6 Was 9": A Tribute To Jimi Hendrix/ - "This Is Pop?" (single version) from /This Is Pop?/ single. (also available on /Fossil Fuel./) - "I Am The Walrus" (by "Colin's Hermits") from /Without the Beatles/ - "King For A Day" (remix) from /King for a Day/ single. - "King For A Day" (I Dub Thee Sir Mix) from /King for a Day/ single. I would really, really appreciate it. Please e-mail me if you would be willing to dub me copies of any of the above songs. Thanks! /---------------------------Joshua Hall-Bachner---------------------------\ | particle@servtech.com http://www.servtech.com/public/particle/ | | "The few surviving samurai survey the battlefield. They count the arms, | \--the legs, the heads, and then divide by five." - They Might Be Giants--/
------------------------------ Message-Id: <32797A5F.EF0@mci.com> Date: Thu, 31 Oct 1996 21:19:43 -0700 From: Jeff Langr <jeffrey.langr@mci.com> Organization: MCI Subject: Kinks/XTC J. Isaacs asked: > Is there a double CD version of "To the Bone"? The US release on Guardian Records is a double CD; it was released about two weeks ago. It has I think all the tracks on the original release plus a bunch more. Tim Harris wrote: >I recently posted the music (chords) for Everyday Story of A Smalltown >to the website. As XTC and The Kinks loom equally large as two extant >(even though you have to hold your breath sometimes) groups I have most >interest in, it occurs to me that this song could be considered as >XTC's (Andy's) Autumn Almanac? Smalltown would fit quite well on Village Green Preservation Society. I also remember Andy P. making a quote about how they felt they had to do a train song like the kinks (Train Running Low... of course). Smalltown, the theme at least, reminds me more of the song "Village Green". Keith queried: >What Kinks album has "Fancy?" (The original album it appeared on >please, not a collection.) It appears on Face to Face -- an album which was for the longest time deleted. You can get it now as a relatively inexpensive import on Castle Communications (try CDNow). Face to Face also has Sunny Afternoon plus a bunch of "set pieces" many of which feature some fun harpsichord playing. God save XTC & the Kinks. Jeff L.
------------------------------ From: JStoffs@aol.com Date: Thu, 31 Oct 1996 23:31:06 -0500 Message-ID: <961031233105_554063445@emout10.mail.aol.com> Subject: Defending the bungalow This song has really taken a beating lately. However, in the Summer 1992 edition of The Little Express, Andy Partridge was quoted as saying this about Bungalow: "This is one of my favourite things Colin's written". I own a very old house which is officially regarded as an "original Chicago-style bungalow", so I have some affinity for the song. That aside, I'd still take it over, say, Travels In Nihilon, which for me is just barely more enjoyable than a kick in the side with a steel-toed boot, or having my teeth filed down to the nub with a wood-rasp. Or, for instance, having my entire body slowly burned away. In the spirit of fun, Jeff
------------------------------ Date: Sat, 2 Nov 1996 00:55:10 +0700 (GMT-7) From: Tom Yates <> Subject: Another XTC sighting!!!!! Message-ID: <Pine.SUN.3.91.961102005210.1853E-100000@stjohn> I was gambling with my friends in Vegas last summer, the Mirage Hotel if I remember correctly, and on one of their tapes they play there was "King For A Day".....very appropriate for those people playing the games who need all the optimism they can get!!! I must've heard it about 5 or 6 times while I was there for a few days... :>) Take care, Tom TOMTOM@IBM.NET
------------------------------ Message-Id: <v01540b02ae9f3160badb@[204.254.68.15]> Date: Thu, 31 Oct 1996 21:48:59 -0700 From: gondola@deltanet.com (E.B.) Subject: Sugarplastic line Someone asked about this lyric, so I emailed Ben Eshbach about it. Here's his response.... >>>Me too. But did you happen to notice that on Radio Jejune, on a cut called >simply Arizona, the following line (I think): > >". . . Sit back and watch me crack what Mr. Moulding's done before. . ." > >Am I hearing this correctly?<< Good ear. Yes, that's exactly what I said. And the other verse says "smack" (as in kiss) in lieu of "crack" (as in learning how he does it). Of course I've yet to approach cracking any of his songs, those little sonic proofs for the existence of God. Ben
------------------------------ Message-Id: <199611010311.WAA07693@ngw2.hns.com> From: Fritz Stolzenbach/HNS <Fritz_Stolzenbach@notesgw.hns.com> Date: 31 Oct 96 17:27:31 EST Subject: Briefly Folks: Very briefly, as I am at work: 1. My vote for lousiest XTC song (and I'll stick to original album cuts, just to be fair) is probably "War Dance." I really like Colin's stuff as a general rule, but this one just blows -- banal lyrics, predictable tune, yuck. 2. Re: Wonderland, which seems to be getting a lot of e-time on this list lately: the first time this tune was played for me, my XTC pusher speculated the tune was a dig at George Harrison; you know, references to "dark horse," fast cars, being lost in a spritual wonderland, etc. I still kind of hear it that way, and would be curious to know whether folks think that theory is a pile of crap or not. 3. GOD SAVE THE KINKS!, indeed. I am so glad there are others that worship at the altar of Raymond Douglas Davies. My life experience scrapbook got a gold star pasted in it the other day when I met the man!! Yes, I went to see him perform solo on his "20th Century Man" tour (which was utterly amazing), and learned that evening that he would be appearing for an hour or two at a Tower records about an hour away from where I work. Needless to say, I planned around an extended lunch hour, headed down to said record emporium, and patiently waited in line to get my copy of his "unauthorized biography" "X-Ray" signed. As I approached the autograph table, my mind raced with things to say: "Your material from the sixties is so uniformly amazing; why does every thing you write now suck so bad?" or "So how come Chrissie Hynde dumped you after you fathered her love-child?" Instead, I blurted out something about him being my songwriting idol, and one of my biggest influences, gush, gush. Any way, Mr. Davies seemed genuinely touched, and graciously extended his hand, saying, "thanks a lot, I appreciate it. Keep it up." Which I suppose doesn't amount to much, but I sure floated out of there on a cloud. All for now -- except to say that all musicians should contact me with their submissions to the Chalkies originals tape ASAP -- and cheers to all of course. -- FS
------------------------------ End of Chalkhills Digest #3-17 ******************************
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