Chalkhills Digest Volume 3, Issue 68
Date: Friday, 17 January 1997
Chalkhills Digest, Volume 3, Number 68
Friday, 17 January 1997
Today's Topics:
Re: Sugarplastic
Educate The World To XTC
Oh! We Go!
XTC on Eastenders
Someone else's wheels on a rented road
Greatest Living Santa Claus
OK. I give up.
Andy and the Residents
acoustic / electric
Steve
More Lillywhite (does he have his own web site?)
re: swindon
The Return of Jason
demo song "Easter Theater"
SPA (songs per album)
They're Peachy!!!
Word Formation and Other Fascinating Topics
Re: Wrapped In Grey
Beatles & XTC covers
Residential Andy
Girl Bands and More!
Vapors & Girl Bands
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---------------------------------------------------------------------- Message-Id: <v01540b04af024dbece91@[199.171.191.53]> Date: Wed, 15 Jan 1997 02:10:30 -0700 From: gondola@deltanet.com (Eb) Subject: Re: Sugarplastic >From: David Pardue <dpardue@pipeline.com> > >What a great year -- music-wise, of course -- 1997 is going to turn out to >be! It seems every few days I hear about another album which is due out >this year. So far, I'm looking forward to: > >Sugarplastic's 2nd album, hopefully? THIRD album, you mean. And Ben is recording demos as we speak.... Eb
------------------------------ Message-Id: <9701151056.AA3168@mailgate.mandg.co.uk> From: David Goody/M&G <David_Goody@mandg.co.uk> Date: 15 Jan 97 10:55:28 Subject: Educate The World To XTC I present a show on Thameside Hospital Radio, which provides a service to 2000 beds in Southend General Hospital (thats in England!). This week, I used Dave Gershman's XTC Desert Island Top 15 to fill one hour solid with the best XTC tracks as voted for by your good selves. I don't know how many of the listeners enjoyed it, but I can assure you that I certainly did! If as many Chalkhillians as possible can play XTC to the uneducated, we could still convert the world to XTCism. As a matter of interest, I have a copy of the UK Post Office Postcode (that's Zip Codes to our American friends) CD-Rom in my PC at work, and I have noticed (sad though I may be), that there are the following entries:- Nonsuch Primary School, Birmingham Nonsuch Industrial Estate, Epsom, Surrey Nonsuch Park Hotel, Epsom, Surrey Nonsuch Primary School, Epsom, Surrey Nonsuch High School For Girls, Epsom, Surrey Walkers Nonsuch Ltd., Stoke-On-Trent and finally... Nonsuch, Partridge Green, Horsham, West Sussex. There is a whole area around Epsom which contains many roads named Nonsuch Way, Nonsuch Place etc., and there are at least 50 houses around the UK named Nonsuch. And the question remains.....was the person responsible for naming new roads in Horsham an XTC fan? "Nonsuch" and "Partridge Green"? Surely too much of a coincidence?!?! Happy New Year! Dave.
------------------------------ From: McGREGOC <McGREGOC@regents.ac.uk> Date: Wed, 15 Jan 1997 13:54:31 +00 Subject: Oh! We Go! Message-ID: <22B26B1670B@asdf011.regents.ac.uk> Hullooooo! I just want to start off by thanking those who enlightened me about Meccanic Dancing. It wasn't as exciting as I thought it might be. Damn. My little brain was working over time. I must say to that I also discovered I had the last part wrong too! Had no idea that it was "to a disco trot from Germany". I always thought it was "to a discotec in Germany". Thanks for clearing that up J.D. SMX. Josh says: >>I was theorizing that,perhaps, many people *assume* that as fact and use it to justify their dislike of later albums. Oh. I was one of those who read you wrong! BUT I still think the way I read it was still an interesting notion. Its not too much different form the original intent. Really, though, could there be an end to someone's creativity? Does each person posess a talent that can be exhausted? Is that a fear that lives in the back of the minds of musicians? Kinda like writing books and getting writers block that never ends. That is really depressing! I need to stop pondering on this I think. >>"She has sex once singing in her sauna" OOOOHHHH-EEEEEE,Josh! You sound like a red-blooded male thinking about sex! Whats wrong with you?! How dare you be human and think of sex! Some People, I tell ya. ( Please note the humor in this BUT then my humor isn't quite up to par says some folks! Humph!) Re: Exterrestrials in Swindon I was listening to the news a few days ago and appearantly twins were born in Swindon weeks apart, yes that was WEEKS apart. That must have been Hell giving birth! I have forgotten how many weeks but the name of the dad was......Andy. BusyMan! First frightening people as an alien, now fathering twins born weeks apart. It will amaze your enemies and confuse your friends! Not Mr.P ofcourse, but thought it fun just the same. To Christopher R. Coolidge and the Partidge/Lovich connection, Thats cool! How clever of you to have known that bit of trivia! Yikes! I wonder if there might be a possible hidden duet there?! Come Forth! Anyone who might have this mind blowing tidbit! My posts seem to be growing! >From Simon " Mr. Nonsuch.UK" >>Music you should not be without at the present.....*anything* by Kenickie-but especially "In Your Car" Really?! (she asks Baffled) Okay that little "yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah" part is catchy but I can't see myself rushing out to buy their stuff. That whole girlband thing. Refer to my post in the previous digest. And I was totally disillusioned by their TOTP performance. Barbies with gutairs. I kept worring that the glitter would get in the lead singer's eyes if she moved too much. Perhaps, she thought the same. She looked lifeless. That kinda ruined the song for me. The song I can't seem to get out of my head lately is "Helicopter". I'm running around like I'm on a serious dose of caffine! Too hyper! Enjoying Life in London yours truly, Cheryl "yeah,yeah yeah, yeah Yeah! Yeah! Yeah!" -Kenickie
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 15 Jan 1997 12:22:35 -0500 (EST)
From: Allan Hislop <Allan_Hislop_at_UKCDEE01@ccmail.bms.com>
Subject: XTC on Eastenders
Message-id: <9700158533.AA853347699@ccgate1.bms.com>
Simon Knight wrote:
>Whilst taking part in the last minute christmas shopping war my eye
>was drawn away from the flash and glitter of department store tinsel
>by a a silver case with those familiar letters splashed across the
>top. Closer inspection revealed a new brand of aftershave named
>after our Swindonians... with matching deodorant.
>(snip)
>Pretty sexy silver and black package design though.
Aaah, that would explain the sight of a leather (look?) black bomber
jacket as worn by bisexual Tony in BBC's Eastenders that had XTC in
silver lettering on the left chest.
I knew it couldn't be a band item and had to do with a product with
the same name - it must be the new aftershave. Perhaps a new
promotion gave away those jackets. Has anyone else seen one, or know
where to get one?
I want one.
Allan
------------------------------ Date: Wed, 15 Jan 1997 09:14:11 -0500 (EST) Message-Id: <199701151414.JAA12319@cyber1.servtech.com> From: Joshua Hall-Bachner <particle@servtech.com> Subject: Someone else's wheels on a rented road >I bought the CD single easily at the time and am now >confussed as to weather this is a rareity Very much so! I can't recall exactly, but I seem to recall the CD single for WiG going for $50 in some circles. There are only, what, 500 copies in existence? >what would it take to get Colin to agree to do the bootleg album????? Divine intervention? A cash prize of $10,000? Bewitchment? >If there is more than 40 songs floating around and Andrew wants to do 2 albums >with 10 songs each, what's going to happen to the other songs????? Unfortunately, probably fall into demo limbo like usual. And since Andy doesn't *give* those demos to anyone anymore, due to the unfortunate incident with the Demos discs, we'll never get to hear them. *pout* >10 songs an album seems a bit stingy in this CD age. Why not make >just the one album with 20 songs? Agreed. Or, better still, why not make *two* CDs with 20 songs each? >At least the bootleg album idea was an honest ripoff. I don't understand why you refer to it as a "ripoff." I assume that this comes from the same attitude that makes all the rock critics go "They're putting out material that isn't a normal album -- they're *forcing* their fans to buy it! It's a ripoff!" I think if the fans *want* something like that, I hardly think it's a ripoff. And the fans *do* want it -- why else did Mitch get well over one hundred people writing to him saying that the answer to his query was an emphatic "YES"? >What's Andy's excuse for the lackluster sales of Fossil Fuels? Would a couple of new tracks made the difference? A better booklet >put together by someone with a spellchecker? I don't think you can put the blame on Andy here. The band really had nothing to do with Fossil Fuel. Complain, instead, about "Upsy Daisy," which seems (to me) to be absolutely worthless unless it either includes re-recorded versions of the songs (yum) or new tracks. >Sugarplastic's 2nd album, hopefully? Third. _Radio Jejune_ was their debut, _Bang, The Earth Is Round_ their sophomore effort. Josh I see nations playfully hurl snowballs packed with stone and clay /---------------------------Joshua Hall-Bachner---------------------------\ | particle@servtech.com 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. ------/
------------------------------ Date: Wed, 15 Jan 1997 09:14:00 -0500 Message-Id: <97011509140039@mbcc.mass.edu> From: sharedon@mbcc.mass.edu (Don) Subject: Greatest Living Santa Claus I want to thank the Santa who kindly dubbed "Look Look" for me - after sending money to Canada like a fool, the generosity of a list member means that, at long last, I get to see and hear XTC! My own video capabilities are limited, but I'd like very much to be as generous to other folks. If you are as full of longing to see this video as I was, e-mail me privately - I'll see if I can borrow a 2d VCR to help you out. And thanks again, Santa, who knows who he is.... it truly was the noblest present I received this last Xmas! Don
------------------------------ Message-Id: <199701151649.KAA29225@mamba.arlut.utexas.edu> Subject: OK. I give up. Date: Wed, 15 Jan 1997 10:49:17 -0600 (CST) From: "Stuart McDow" <smcdow@arlut.utexas.edu> OK. I've been resisting requesting information about the demos. But it now looks like we'll have to wait several more months for the new album(s). I'm so starved for new material I could cry, and all this talk about the news songs is exacerbating my condition. I'm getting desperate. SO: Could someone _please_ send me information about getting a copy of any and all demos that are out there? And also the address of the band so I can send them some money in lieu of royalty payments. please please please please please please please please please please Thanks. -- Stuart McDow Applied Research Laboratories smcdow@arlut.utexas.edu The University of Texas at Austin
------------------------------ Date: Wed, 15 Jan 1997 15:59:00 +0100 (CET) From: James Isaacs <jisaacs1@aixterm1.urz.uni-heidelberg.de> Subject: Andy and the Residents Message-Id: <Pine.A32.3.91.970115155722.49510C-100000@aixterm1.urz.uni-heidelberg.de> In reply to the last issue, Andy sings on "Margaret Freeman". The Residents Commercial Album comes highly recommended from this fella. James
------------------------------ Message-ID: <c=US%a=_%p=KPS_Group._Inc.%l=KPSINF-NT040-970115171044Z-1249@kpsinf-nt040.KPSGROUP.COM> From: "Purnell, Vernon" <VePurne@kpsgroup.com> Subject: acoustic / electric Date: Wed, 15 Jan 1997 11:10:44 -0600 Simon Knight wrote: Does anyone else like this idea of dividing the songs between acoustic and electric? I'd rather the songs were mixed in together in a "grab bag" style where you didn't really know what you were going to get next. Since you asked, I for one think it's a grand idea, though not original: Richard Thompson divided his last release you? me? us? into 2 discs, acoustic & electric, and packaged them together for the price of a single disc, his reasoning being that a) the songs flowed together better that way and b) cds have become too long for a single listening experience for most people. I tend to agree with him. The "grab bag" approach doesn't interest me very much -- I prefer a more unified feel. Oh, and Heather: Drums and Wires is, contentiously, their best album (or one of them, at least). Discussion will hopefully ensue for your benefit. Vernon
------------------------------ Date: 15 Jan 1997 17:11:13 -0000 Message-ID: <19970115171113.20598.qmail@hotmail.com> From: "Ben Gott" <xtcfan@hotmail.com> Subject: Steve Chalkmonsters, We must remember that Steve Lillywhite has not lost any popularity as a producer: whatdya call Dave Matthews Band's "Under the Table and Dreaming" and Phish's "Billy Breathes"? Yargh! They were both produced by Steve (at least, I believe they were). O&L man Paul Fox once said in the Phish newsletter that his dream concert would be to see XTC perform... Last night, after a very emotional evening testifying on a friend's behalf in front of my school's disciplinary committee, I jumped in the car and put "English Settlement" (my lucky CD) on, full blast. I took the *really* long way home, and sang along to Yacht Dance, Melt ze Guns, Leisure, Snowman, It's Nearly Africa (twice), and Knuckle Down. It was cool. I love this album. Peter Gabriel rocks. I just got "Cv," a compilation of videos from the "So" album -- including my favorite song of all time, "Mercy Street." Does anyone else think that Genesis sucked after he left? I am submitting an interview with David Yazbek to my school newspaper today; my best friend Bob is reviewing the album. If anyone would like a hard copy of the interview, let me know in about two weeks (or send me an e-mail now, and I'll get back to you). It should also be up on my web-site soon. Hey Yazbek: could you e-mail me? Ben * ------------------------------------------- Ben Gott http://www.wp.com/58596 The Hotchkiss School "Been in the cold too long-along-along..."
------------------------------ Date: Wed, 15 Jan 1997 12:28:46 -0500 (EST) Message-Id: <1.5.4.16.19970115123137.268793e8@mindspring.com> From: jes <xtc@mindspring.com> Subject: More Lillywhite (does he have his own web site?) "J. D. SMX" <jsmelser@access.tucson.org> wrote: >Steve Lillywhite produced U2, Joan Armatrading, XTC, Urban Verbs, >and more, but why no one seems to use him anymore is a good question. >Maybe his "sound," just isn't hip and 90's. I wonder how the Dave Matthews Band's fans feel about that statement. JH3 <jh3@netins.net> wrote, with regard to my Lillywhite post: >Presumably you're referring to U2 (unless you also count the mixing on "The >Joshua Tree" in which case it's four), but don't forget the three albums he >produced for his wife, Kristy Macoll. I heard somewhere they're working on a >fourth now... I stand corrected. Yes, he does work with Kirsty MacColl lately, since he is (presumably) sleeping with her. And yes, the answer to my question (which was less a trivia question than just a plea for someone to prove me wrong) was U2. I recall having a sense of shock to discover that U2 had enlisted him to produce "War," especially in light of the slagging that "October" took in the press, where critics (and the buying public) didn't especially care for the hollow, cavernous feeling of the record. (Of course, that album had a LOT more problems than that. For one thing, I recall reading that Bono had lost his lyric book during the North American tour that preceded recording for "October," and if I'm not mistaken, in interviews he expressed a certain heartlessness about the album. It was almost like he was getting tired of U2 after only one album. amazing.) I said: >>And that begs an even more philosophical question. Lillywhite's productions >>have always been sterling and unique. I daresay that those who love XTC >>grew that love from his work on D&W and Black Sea. And he said: >Yow! Aren't you generalizing here... just a LITTLE BIT? Not really. I imagine that if you were to poll most users of this list, you would find that the demographics fall into two camps.... the early listeners (people like me, approaching 40, who discovered the band in the 70's when they were still touring), and the later listeners (younger, discovered the band after a disenchantment with so-called "alternative" radio, who turned to college radio, or began experimenting with new material that was not getting air play). The early listeners, like me, will probably list "Black Sea" as their favorite XTC album (except in my case, where I will list "D&W" and "Skylarking" as my two faves) because that's the one that grabbed them. And I will maintain that Lillywhite was CRITICAL to the essense of that (incredible) album. >>He shaped Great Albums by bands that sucked (like Penetration, The >>Brains, early Siouxie & Those Banshees, Ultravox!). I have both Penetration albums, as well as the album that Martin Hannett did with Pauline Murray. I don't know anything else about them except those two albums (the first of which was produced by Colin Thurston, I believe), and I cannot believe that they ever "kicked butt." They were pale, bland imitations of early Blondie. The Brains were a so-so band from Atlanta, and they issued one superb single of "Money Changes Everything," which netted them a contract with Mercury, and the attention of Lillywhite, who was doing a lot of recording in Atlanta at the time. The band suffered from two distinct problems; one was a lack of direction (guitar versus keyboard; punk versus PneuWave; pop versus rock), and the other was an inability to understand that buried beneath all that fuzz and distortion was one helluva songwriter in Tom Gray (whose material provided hits for Cyndi Lauper and Manfred Mann). Their live shows were genuine messes, which relegated them to the status of Perpetual Warm-Up Act, reaching their peak when they opened for Devo at the Fox Theatre. (Ok, that's a generalization, but I am on my soapbox.) But their two albums on Mercury (instant cut-outs) are really very good. Siouxie's "Scream" was produced by Lillywhite. It's unlistenable, but in an oddly attractive way. He tried to turn chicken shit into chicken salad. I, for one, have never understood the appeal for Siouxie Sioux, but that's just me. She obviously has her fans. Then again, so does Robert Smith and Marylin Manson, which proves that there is no end to the supply for suckers in this world. Ultravox! started out as a semi-interesting band, with John Foxx on lead vocals, but quickly became self-parody. You were right that Eno was credited as producer, but the lore indicates that Lillywhite was left to the majority of the production work because of Eno's lack of interest in the project. And, after Foxx left, a thin New Romantics has-been was created. My point is, simply, that with the exception of Siouxie, every one of these bands is now completely defunct with no real interest associated with them. Yet, Lillywhite was able to shape really good albums from them, all bearing his indelible stamp (large drum sound, cavernous effects, unusual tunings, and vocals up in the mix). I suggest that Lillywhite was able to work miracles with them because he is worth every pence they were paying. Of course, I could be wrong. *---------------------------------------------------------------------------- J.E.Sumrell http://www.lexxicon.com/tenbyjes.htm
------------------------------ Message-Id: <1.5.4.32.19970115174111.0068241c@pop.pipeline.com> Date: Wed, 15 Jan 1997 12:41:11 -0500 From: David Pardue <dpardue@pipeline.com> Subject: re: swindon JimSmart@hula.net wrote: <I checked my journal that I kept on my trip to England last March, and i <definitely drove through Swindon! If only I had been on chalkhills then, I <might have made a stop. BTW, if one is on chalkhills, wouldn't one sink <into the chalk? Where would be the most interesting XTC related stop? Without a doubt, the place to go is Whitehorse Hill, the Uber-Chalkhill itself, which is in a little bus-stop hamlet called Uffington, just seven miles east of Swindon. Beautiful views, wonderous history, and a perfect place for a picnic if the weather cooperates. And if you're like me, you'll take an XTC album or two along. I go to England yearly, and always try to make a stop there -- with a different XTC album each time (next trip is the beginning of March; albums: Mummer & Big Express, especially for the "over the roofs of Swindon town" line in "Red Brick Dream" that you mentioned). I also once navigated through Swindon Old Town using the "Moulding's Map of Swindon" included in Go2 -- never did locate those "places of self-abuse" though... There's a good bookshop in Swindon as well... can't remember the name of it. Someday we should hold a Chalkhills, The Official XTC Mailing List Convention on Whitehorse Hill. I'll bring the Twiglets.
------------------------------ Message-Id: <v01550100af02c8b6be88@[146.6.72.28]> Date: Wed, 15 Jan 1997 11:48:51 -0600 From: h.h.name@mail.utexas.edu (Guy in a Dress) Subject: The Return of Jason And now, the announcement you've all been waiting for... Hi. I'm back. Further comments as digests are digested. Jason Garcia
------------------------------ Date: Wed, 15 Jan 1997 11:33:37 -0700 (MST) From: J A White <J.A.White@m.cc.utah.edu> Subject: demo song "Easter Theater" Message-ID: <Pine.SOL.3.91.970115112050.23192B@cor> Greetings fellow fans (or fanatics, whatever you may) I recently heard on our excellent "alternative" station here in Salt Lake City one of the new XTC demo tapes which have yet to be released. This was about a month ago, I have been too busy to post. But I do recall the song, and my surprise and excitement at hearing the dj's words "here is some new XTC." Apparently one of the dj's is a huge XTC fan and got a hold of some demo tapes. Anyway, the song is called "Easter Theater." It immediately made me think of "Dear Madam Barnum" from the nonsuch album, however, there was much more extensive orchestration. A great song, definitely, and a positive nod if this is the direction the boys choose to pursue. Well, I noticed all the recent chalkhills postings concerning demo tapes and thought I should report that even here in remote Utah there is progress. Has anyone else heard "Easter Theater?" What do you think? I haven't heard it since then, but am anxious to hear anything new, seeing as how most of my favorite bands haven't put out anything new for years.. Hola, mis companeros!! jw "Deliver us from the Elements..."
------------------------------ Message-ID: <5CE7D72F01291300@ametsoc.org> Date: Wed, 15 Jan 97 14:54:00 -0500 From: dgershmn <dgershmn@ametsoc.org> Organization: AMS Subject: SPA (songs per album) Josh commented, in relation to the upcoming album(s): >...I'm curious about the "10 songs" bit. On Nonsvch we got 17. I think >if we're only going to get 10 songs on each album I'd rather have one >80 minute album. Or pump it up to about 15 songs per album; I mean, they >certainly have enough songs! Back before you were born, Josh, the average (vinyl) album had 10-12 songs, and folks were quite happy with that. Now, thanks to the CD, which can hold much more music, it seems that musicians (or, at least, record companies) feel like they have to fill all that space just because it's available. Or maybe it's pressure from the fans, who feel that if they're going to have to pay twice as much for a CD as they did for an album, they should at least get twice as much music. Well, frankly, although I do feel that the music industry unnecessarily charges WAY too much for CDs, I'd prefer 10 excellent songs on a CD with plenty of extra room left over than a full CD consisting of as much filler as quality songs. I think of it as the "Sandinista" effect (that's referring to the triple-record Clash album, for those of you who might not be familiar with it)... a concisely great album will have much longer-lasting impact than a lengthy, meandering album with a few great songs scattered throughout. I guess my point is that if Andy and Co. want to trim down the number of songs per album to those that they feel are the best of the bunch, I'd be perfectly happy with that. No sense filling it up just for the sake of it. Of course, having said that, how many "filler" songs have XTC put out? (Don't answer that...it's rhetorical.) Till our boat goes down, Dave
------------------------------ From: R-MACDONALD@TANDBCBC.bcbc.gov.bc.ca Date: 15 Jan 97 11:52:00 -0800 Message-Id: <199701151153.AA28473@TANDBCBC.bcbc.gov.bc.ca> Subject: They're Peachy!!! I have only caught glancing mention of the Demo's Mr Partridge (Andy, if I can be so familiar) wrote for James and the Giant Peach since I joined Chalkhills several months ago. Would someone be kind enough to send me in the right direction for archived digests that would fill me in on the whole story about these songs. Since I got copies of the demo's (a huge thanks to Keith!) I have been playing them for a bunch of people who love the Roal Dahl book (some who are XTC fans and some who had NEVER heard of them). The concensus has been that EVERYBODY loves these songs! and wishes they had been used in the movie. I've had people phone me up to tell me they had "The Stinking Rich Song" stuck in their heads a week after hearing it! It saddens me to think that another break (or at least some potention income) for Andy and the band fell through their grasp once again. For those of you who havn't heard the new demo's I can agree with many earlier postings that there are some very strong songs. "Hit songs".... well that's another thing. Here's a story that is sort of related to an earlier string. My sister in law has been staying with us for a month and while she is here she has been making use of our large CD collection to make mixed tapes for herself. Well it's just about driven me mad. She will make a decision on a song in about 20 seconds!!!! In her words, "I only want songs that I will really like". Which of course I exasperatingly reply, "But how can you know if you'll really like it in 20 seconds!!!! Some of my favourite songs took me three or four or ten listens before I fell in love with them." Well needless to say she wouldn't listen. I'd have to say most of her tapes are filled with songs that's main criteria is that they don't offend. Sting featured highly. I kept trying different bands for her to hear but it was amazing how harsh some of your favourite CD's can sound when you know the person listening is hating it. Anyways to round things out.....she did like the songs that Andy wrote for J&TGP, she got to hear them enough times that they seeped into her head like a top 40 song on commercial radio. Cheers, Rob.
------------------------------ Date: Wed, 15 Jan 1997 16:01:45 -0500 (EST) From: Philip M Adamek <adamek@ACSU.Buffalo.EDU> Subject: Word Formation and Other Fascinating Topics Message-ID: <Pine.GSO.3.95.970115142346.6862B-100000@lictor.acsu.buffalo.edu> "The French language is like the stiff French garden of Louis XIV, while the English is like an English park, which is laid out without any definite plan, and in which you are allowed to walk everywhere according to your fancy without having to fear a stern keeper enforcing rigorous regulations." -- Otto Jespersen So I believed. But now I must confess: a few weeks ago, on a dark December night, when wondering how I might express the 'state or quality of being metaphorical,' I chose not the Webster's sanctioned "metaphoricalness," but instead tacked on a Frenchy ending and came up with "metaphoricity." Now, with contrite heart, I tell you that at that moment the dictionary word seemed to me long-legged. No matter. Three separate contributors to Chalkhills swiftly discovered my infraction and have since pronounced their verdicts and sentences: public ridicule and an official call for intolerance to all that I might say in the future. And so be it. I renounce my privileges to the public use of the English language! Shame overwhelms me! I cover myself with ashes and will forever wear a hair shirt! And yet! if allowed a last word of self-defense, I would venture to remark, with all due respect to my weighty judges, that English speakers have been using Frenchy endings on native or borrowed words for over ten centuries. When, for instance, instead of using "verboseness," someone opted for the more even-paced "verbosity," which is more as the French had always had it. So, I am at a loss--a respectful loss, I assure you--as to why one would be restricted from making such a choice today. Indeed, when performing his penalty of sarcasm on me, Stormy Allgood (or, I'm sorry, is it Stormy "Toubon"?), seemed himself satisfied with the Frenchy choice. And so, in a final plea, I would just submit this request to Stormy: Perhaps you do not have to go as far as to melt the guns, but if you insist on doing so, you should at least begin by removing the gun barrel that's resting on your tongue. Of course, I would have preferred that you judges had done as other subscribers to Chalkhills (Natalie Jane Jacobs, Joshua Hall-Bachner) and responded to my thoughts on XTC. That is why I made explicit requests to that effect. Or, would my judges say, on the contrary, that my larger crime was to mistake this mailing list as a forum for an exchange of ideas and information on a great band? Whatever the case, I hate to play the denouncer, but these legislators of the language who currently sit atop Chalkhills could, I am sure, work through the lyrics of a certain Andy Partridge and there uncover offenses against the language worthy of confining this brash poet to the Gulag. It would make for an entertaining case. Perhaps even one to rival O.J. Simpon's. "Take him away!" "Let him be silenced!" _______________ Philip Adamek SUNY at Buffalo _______________
------------------------------ Message-Id: <199701160021.BAA23116@utrecht.knoware.nl> From: "Mark Strijbos" <mmello@knoware.nl> Date: Thu, 16 Jan 1997 01:24:20 +0000 Subject: Re: Wrapped In Grey Dear Chalkies, Last issue Stephen Hughes asked about the Wrapped In Grey (CD) single "that never was". I know of several CD singles in XTC collections around the globe but i know of only one 7"single. The latter could very well be even rarer than the, almost proverbial, mint UK Science Friction with picture sleeve (an estimated 50 copies pressed). Of course, it's difficult to value ultra-rare items like this. It's a seller's market... So you better hold on to your CD single - or sell it to me :) yours in ecstasy, Mark Strijbos at The Little Lighthouse http://utopia.knoware.nl/~mmello/ ===> Mark's Random XTC Quote <== Clear as children's chalk lines on the paving
------------------------------ Date: Thu, 16 Jan 1997 16:55:19 +1300 (NZDT) Message-Id: <v01540b00af040dadf9d9@[139.80.228.157]> From: james.dignan@stonebow.otago.ac.nz (James Dignan) Subject: Beatles & XTC covers >I have a cut-out vinyl copy of "All This And World War II" which I >purchased for .79 and don't believe I have ever even played. Being a >Beatles completist, however, I just couldn't pass it up for that price. I >probably bought it about six months to a year after its initial release in >1976. I too have a copy of this travesty. Syrupy strings through just about everything, drowning out even the sensible pairings of artist and song (Peter Gabriel could have done an excellent Strawberry Fields Forever - but you won't find it on here). This album has some of the worst Beatles covers ever purpetrated - reditions with the emphasis on the "rend" part, if you follow my drift - they make the BeeGees version of Sgt Pepper look tolerable. If ever you find yourself listening to say, the Carpenters' version of "Ticket to Ride" and thinking "this is a lousy cover of a classic song", have a listen to what Henry Gross does to "Michelle". Oh, and while on the subject of covers, and to slightly revive a long dead thread, I was playing some XTC to a friend of mine over the Christmas Break. When I played the track "Wonderland", he said "I'd like to hear Bjork playing that one". First I thought "eek!", then I thought "hmmm". It might just work. James
------------------------------ Date: Wed, 15 Jan 1997 23:27:08 -0600 (CST) From: "Jeffrey with 2 f's Jeffrey" <jenor@csd.uwm.edu> Subject: Residential Andy Message-ID: <Pine.OSF.3.91.970115232505.2613B-100000@alpha1.csd.uwm.edu> On Wed, 15 Jan 1997 "Christopher R. Coolidge" <ccoolidg@zoo.uvm.edu> writted: > Regarding Cheryl's speculation on an Andy/Lene Lovich duet: they came > damn close once. They both do guest vocals on The Residents' Commercial > Album back in '80; they may or may not have been in the studio at the > same time. If so, maybe there's a juicy outtake in someone's closet > somewhere. (For those familiar with the album, that's Lene on "Picnic Boy," > I'm not sure which song Andy's on.) "Margaret Freeman" - vocals & harmonica, from the sound of it. --Jeff J e f f r e y N o r m a n Department of English http://www.uwm.edu/~jenor/ University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee :: When the only tool you have is an interociter, you tend to treat :: :: everything as if it were a fourth-order nanodimensional sub-quantum :: :: temporo-spatial anomaly................................Crow T. Maslow ::
------------------------------ Message-Id: <199701161618.IAA17666@sgi.sgi.com> Date: Thu, 16 Jan 1997 10:49:23 EST From: "Todd Bernhardt" <tbernha@columbiaenergy.e-mail.com> Subject: Girl Bands and More! Hiya, Chalkies... Cheryl (McGregoc@regents.ac.uk) was talking about the "Barbie goes Rockin" feeling she gets watching "girl bands" and I wonder if it's because most bands like that are driven more by clever marketing than by a love of music (can you imagine guys forming a band and saying "Boys only"? I know it happens, either because of stoopid attitudes or because there seem to be more boys than girls trying to start rock bands -- a trend beginning to be reversed, thank God). Most *musicians* I know care more about a person's technique/creativity than their gender. That said, there are a LOT of individual women who are stunning musicians and play with the "umph!" you're looking for, Cheryl. For instance, I was blown away seeing Prince with Sheila E. on drums -- she hit 'em as hard and as well as any man I've seen ... while wearing stilleto heels! Oh, how my loins ached to bear her children... :^) Anyway, the list goes on and on. Concentrate on the individual and not the group (which can be said for a lot of things besides music, I suppose). To Heather Tinkler: You might have to give "Beating of Hearts" more than two listens, but it'll be worth it. Now you need to buy Black Sea, English Settlement and Big Express. You can find them at good prices, I'll bet at other record stores. And go ahead and Jump -- pick up D&W at your own store, save the 20% and enjoy one of Dave G's greatest solos ever on "Real by Reel." To Simon Knight: First off, what high-profile TV/radio/magazine advertising did Virgin do for FF? I never saw any. Secondly, I understand your frustration with Andy, but just try to imagine Andy's as he has, over the years, put up with the cheating managers, scheming record execs and other screaming assholes that populate the rock-music business (but please don't listen to me, I've already been poisoned by this industry). Plus the guy is going through a divorce, has kids, and obviously needs to think about making some money. I think we' all be a bit whiny by now. To David Pardue: Morphine's due to come out with an album soon. So is Liz Phair. That oughta be kewl. Unrelated note: Just bought and listened to a best-of Robyn Hitchcock and the Egyptians CD. Uh-oh. I've got some albums to buy. :^) ByeBye!
------------------------------ Message-Id: <2.2.32.19970116170225.0069b984@popmail.dircon.co.uk> Date: Thu, 16 Jan 1997 17:02:25 +0000 From: Simon <nonsuch@dircon.co.uk> Subject: Vapors & Girl Bands Jonas Lind <tilia@buzzsaw.mti.sgi.com> writes: >I'm really curious about this band [the Vapors] also; I want to find as >many XTC-soundalikes as possible from that period in time. So, if any of >you know anything about The Vapors, or The Planets, please let me know. The Vapors were always denigrated in the UK for being Jam wannabes, and this is quite apparent on their wonderful Magnets album. It wasn't until one of those days when you move house and find loads of stuff you'd forgotten about that I actually listened to some Jam and Vapors albums in one sitting (well, not so much sitting as some dancing on a ladder and rhythmic paint spillage) that I really caught the connection. It didn't help them that Bruce Foxton (big-haired bass played of The Jam) was their manager and dragged them along as a support act. They were bound to pale in comparison. For all they didn't make a lot of chart waves after that sparky ode to self-help, "Turning Japanese", they did make some cracking music, and "Magnets" just teems with the stuff - "Jimmy Jones", "Spiders". I am urged to call "Mangets" an attractive albumn, but I simply dare not. Dave Fenton, the vocalist of The Vapors, appears to have sold his voice on to Brett Anderson of Suede. Cheryl wrote :- >This isn't XTC related but I was watching Top of the Pops the other >night and this girl band Kenickie came on. They looked so bored and >pathetic! Right. You. Outside. Now! I'm sorry you don't like Kenickie, they're from my area and I assure you they are a genuine band, fully conversant with their instruments and I reckon (on the basis of "Punka", "Millionaire Sweeper" and the new "In Your Car") they write damn good pop songs. They weren't manufactured, and they're not a "girl band" - the drummer is male, not that that makes any difference. They're also very intelligent and witty people, and they give great interviews filled with the same wandering strands of surrealism and humour that Andy brings to these things. I admit, though, that I am a sucker for sub-three-minute power-rush pop songs delivered on guitars, bass and drums, and for me Kenickie punch those buttons particularly well. I don't see any "Go-Go's" or "Bangles" connections other than the fact that the band is predominantly female. Those two moved me not one jot, Kenickie wake up my usually somewhat dormant boogie tendon. Depending on what you class as "girl bands" there are some brilliant female artists/female led bands - Catatonia, Echobelly, Lush, Nut, Hole, Liz Phair, Tiger (male vocalist, but mainly female musicians), PJ Harvey, Skunk Anansie, etc. Sorry for the low, actually zero, XTC content but I've been working away at a rambling, opinionated and confused XTC diatribe thingy and it was either post that or this. Believe me, you got off lightly. D'ya reckon? Simon +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+-- http://www.users.dircon.co.uk/~nonsuch/bungalow.htm +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+-- XTC - This Is Pop?
------------------------------ End of Chalkhills Digest #3-68 ******************************
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17 January 1997 / Feedback