Chalkhills Digest Volume 4, Issue 119
Date: Friday, 24 July 1998

         Chalkhills Digest, Volume 4, Number 119

                   Friday, 24 July 1998

Today's Topics:

               Favorite song survey update
                       Cynical Daze
                The Dukes of Stratosphear
               upcoming "dreamers" tape...
                  Just don't hurt nobody
             Pop! goes the Rhythm in my Head
                     Pop Go the Andys
                     XTC in the News
                          Elvis
                 re: No sock in his mouth
                      Re: XTC Chats
                       Play At Home
                    Instrumental Words
                 Another satellite guitar
                       No #XTC Chat
                      Re: XTC Chats
       Boo Hoo, Richard is Picking on Ted...(grin)
                  Re: Music Appreciation
                     Box Set Payola!
         Atlanta Bash / Ugly Stuck In The Guliver
               Re: Chalkhills Digest #4-116

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Bungalow / By the sea.

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

Message-Id: <199807230027.RAA12776@sgi.sgi.com>
From: "Gerardo Tellez" <gtellez@access1.net>
Subject: Favorite song survey update
Date: Wed, 22 Jul 1998 17:26:31 -0700

   Hello. The last time I posted, I asked people for their favorite XTC
songs. I didn't expect many people to answer to that, but they did. I
wasn't very specific on how to vote though, so I've made a little set of
instructions....
*Vote for one song off of each album. You can also vote for Rag & Bone
Buffet and The Dukes of Stratosphere albums. Not many people have voted for
the other ones.
*You don't have to vote for every album, just in case you don't have them.
*Feel free to vote for songs that you don't even think will win. I have
gotten votes for songs that I never even think about often.
*You can vote for the extra tracks that are on the CD versions.
*Send your vote to me (gtellez@access1.net) not the list. John wouldn't be
very happy if everyone started posting their picks to the list.
*Turn in your vote before August 1, 1998.
*Please vote! The more of you that vote, the more accurate the results will
be.

Thanks,
Gerardo

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

From: keone@ix.netcom.com
Message-ID: <35B68E5B.394FEE92@ix.netcom.com>
Date: Wed, 22 Jul 1998 19:14:03 -0600
Subject: Cynical Daze

>  Robert Wood <wobbit@bigfoot.com> wrote:

>  I so hope that comment is tongue in cheek. Astrology is the biggest load
>  of crap I hear normally rational, intelligent people talk about. It's
>  genuinely scary that people believe that just because they were born at a
>  certain time of the year they're likely to act in a certain way.

Oh dear, must have touched a nerve...

My initial suggestion of comparing astrological charts of the band
members was offered as a bit of a parlor game, but the boorishness of
Robert's reaction caught me off balance.

The line of astrology I've relaxed my skepticism for is *descriptive*,
not predictive.  It holds that at the time of birth, an individual is
given positive and negative influences that he/she can work with or
ignore.  Life is more "in synch" when you work with them.  It's not the
kind of "don't go out today because Jupiter is gong to cause a box load
of bricks to fall on you" stuff you find next to the comic's page.

Astrology is as unproven as religion.  But unlike religion, astrology at
least relies on astronomy, geometry and calculus to make it's case.
And, as Albert Einstein wrote, "Those who do not believe in astrology
have never studied it."

Personal to XTC confidants:

Still looking for birth data on the band members.  Does anyone know
birth date, time, and place?

Personal to Robert:

If you'd like to learn more about descriptive astrology, e-mail me your
birth date, time, place, and mailing address and I will send you a
personal report (20+ pages).  Be honest with the data and keep an open
mind -- then you can attack it.

- John, aka The Gingerbread Man

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

From: MFa2707621@aol.com
Message-ID: <51cb13d3.35b6aef2@aol.com>
Date: Wed, 22 Jul 1998 23:33:05 EDT
Subject: The Dukes of Stratosphear

Chalkers,

I just got the album, Clips From a Chocolate Fireball today, and I love it.
Almost every song is great.  My favorite song off the album is So Pale and
Precious.  It has a Beach Boys feel to it.  I highly recommend it.

I've added a few things to my web page, and sorry that XTC mailing list got
accidentally deleted the XTC mailing list.  I have no clue how I did that.
I'll try to get it back.  I'll let you know when I get it working again.

Bye for now.

Molly
http://members.tripod.com/~MollyFa/index.html

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

Message-Id: <199807230740.AAA27771@mail.cruzio.com>
Date: Thu, 23 Jul 1998 00:41:53 -0700
From: ziglain@cruzio.com (becki digregorio)
Subject: upcoming "dreamers" tape...

greetings,

just a note to say i'm quite excited to be a part of mark cuevas' "awaken
you dreamers" compilation he's putting together of fellow chalkhillians'
original tunes.  i've seen the name-list of contributors, and it is an
honor to be among such an illustrious crowd of talented folks.  can't wait
to hear the final mix!!

and hats off to you, mark, for taking on this project.

also, please forgive me for taking room here for a non-xtc related request,
but i'm wondering if anyone out there might be able to help??  i'm looking
for a cd copy of the first album by the american band "ambrosia."  it was a
self-titled release from 1975, w/ songs that include "nice nice very nice,"
"world leave me alone" and "drink of water" among others.  produced by alan
parsons!  a friend told me that ambrosia is actually quite popular in
japan, and he remembers seeing a copy of this cd as a japanese import.  if
anyone can find me a copy of this album on cd (import, probably) i sure
would be much obliged, and can reimburse w/ money and/or xtc-related stuff.

thanks, kindly reply to me personally at the address above.

peace to all,

--becki, one of the seven

-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-
http://www.users.dircon.co.uk/~nonsuch/bdg.htm
-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-

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

Message-ID: <000d01bdb62e$ba5c3d80$2e995ed1@nate>
From: "Gineen" <natalia@javanet.com>
Subject: Just don't hurt nobody
Date: Thu, 23 Jul 1998 07:40:42 -0400

Subj:    "Just don't hurt nobody, and the big rewards here, in the garden of
earthly DDDeLliiiiiiiiiiiiigghhhts........

Hi Everyone!
I was wondering, with the pages such as Bungalow,how often is that page
updated?
I had not seen anything new in a while. Also, anyone discovered any new XTC
hide outs
My bookmarks consist of stuff such as
Beatown,Bungalow,Chalkhills,little light house,nonsuch,roundabout,
etc......the known pages.
Always looking on the net for new territory. These pages I have
listed,btw,are great. Add them to your bookmarks if you had not already.
Also I have all of these links plus more on my home page which I will be
sure to update soon *smile*
gineen
http://www.geocities.com/SunsetStrip/Arena/9501/

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

Message-Id: <s5b706da.054@chemonics.com>
Date: Thu, 23 Jul 1998 09:45:52 -0400
From: Todd Bernhardt <tbernhardt@chemonics.com>
Subject: Pop! goes the Rhythm in my Head

Hi:

Thanks to all who corrected me, publicly and privately, about English
Roundabout. I thought that tempo, not phrasing, determined the
notation of a single beat, but now I know better. One more reason I
love Chalkhills.

A plea to the folks coming down so hard on astrology: Of course it's
all bunk -- that's why it's on the comics page in the newspaper! But,
c'mon, cut the G-man a break. I think he's just trying to have some
fun, and I for one would like to see more of that here.

Dom said:
>Needless to say, there is ALWAYS lots of good music around.  Don't let
anyone tell you otherwise.<

Good point, and I should add that it's not just in your local
record/CD store. Go to clubs, see the bands and performers in your
area. They need your support, and you might see and hear something
really good in the process.

But then he said:
>I won't go into details because (a) Lord
Harrison will probably go into one about the "tyranny of 90s music" or
something, and (b) I've no idea whether my recommendations would be
appreciated. <

Well, I appreciate your comments, and the fact that I've learned about
so much new music through this digest, but I'm sure getting tired of
the constant Harrison baiting! You've got good stuff to say, Dom --
why not concentrate on that and get over the other shit?

Finally, Jill Oleson said:
>I'd like to suggest that we Chalkhillians develop a new
term to describe the music of XTC, so the misused term,
"pop," can be returned to its rightful place:
-- with Michael Jackson.<

Well, you'll probably get multiple answers on this, but it's mostly
because, in answer to the question, "What do you call that noise that
you put on?",  Andy has said that it's _all_ pop. Just because
strange, troubled MJ calls himself the "King of Pop" doesn't mean that
he is, and it doesn't confine that term to his style of music.

--Todd

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

Message-ID: <35B74CF0.9DDC15E3@intermetrics.com>
Date: Thu, 23 Jul 1998 10:48:04 -0400
From: Harrison Sherwood <sherwood@intermetrics.com>
Subject: Pop Go the Andys

> From: "Hank Wirtz" <hwirtz@omnicast.net>

> Did Andy coin the phrase, "Shoulda made
> it instrumental but the words got in the way"? Or is that a cliche I hadn't
> heard before?

I'm confident this is a Partridge-ism--I have no evidence to back this up,
but it's got his fingerprints all over it. I've certainly never heard it
outside the XTC context. Andy's bid for epigrammatic immortality--Stephen
Fry to play him in the movie....

Are you writing these questions down, Mitch?

> The reason I ask, is because the Urban Dance Squad...used the above phrase
> to close the song. At the time, wondered if UDS were XTC fans

You've hit on a gen-yoo-wine Dutch rap XTC allusion, bub. I buy you a
virtual beer.

> From: Jill Oleson <oleson@moneystar.com>
> Subject: POP? music

"Everything is beautiful. Pop is everything."--Andy Warhol [just after the
Seconal kicked in]

[Go on, admit it: While he was still alive, didn't you want to just haul off
and _shoot_ the little nudnik sometimes? I mean, any more than he'd already
been shot? Once, back in Them Eighties, I walked past Andy Warhol on 16th
street in Manhattan. That was entertaining enough, but sycophanting along
beside him, carrying his bags and probably his water too, was this
turtlenecked cipher who was a dead ringer for Mike Myers's Dieter from
"Sprockets," the old Saturday Night Live sketch. It was hilarious, the haughty
look on Dieter's face as he trotted along beside his keeper--"I am Dieter,
ennnnnvy me; I am Andy Warhol's _pissboy_ and you're _not_...."]

> Pardon the upcoming sermon, but the term "pop" was
> developed to describe the subject matter of 1960's artists,
> such as Andy Warhol, Roy Lichtenstein, Claes Oldenberg,

My Webster's Ninth (The Big Dictionary, we call him around the house) dates
"Pop" as applied to art to 1962, and to music to 1963. (And what
theater-seat-ruining, mohair-suited phenomenon happened in music in 1963
that might be relevant here? Why,
http://www.indy.net/~pepperlh/fab/baalp01a.jpg is all! And dig that
tagline!) I think it's perfectly fair to use "pop" to characterize a certain
flavor of British Invasion music from the mid-Sixties that is indelibly
linked with (indeed, some would argue _caused_) an aesthetic revolution in
pictorial art, graphic design, cinema, and so on--all coming under the
umbrella term "Pop art." But the Big D. also dates the term "popular music"
back to 1880, which gives us a way out of our dilemma--we're talking about
two different things: "Pop" originally had a different meaning from
"popular"; a much more time-specific meaning--"capital-P Pop" as opposed to
"small-p-pop." In the inevitable smudging of fine distinctions that happens
in the marketplace of ideas, capital-P-Pop's meaning deteriorated to "any
music that appeals to a broad audience." (Or, in the Beatles' case, an
audience of...broads. Jesus! Did I _say_ that, or did I just _think_ it?)

We refer to XTC as "pop" because we consider them the spiritual descendants
of the great British "Pop-art-as-manifested-in-music" of the
Sixties. Michael Jackson is "pop" because his music is popular. (Or was.)
Two different meanings.

(Enh. Call it a working hypothesis. I'm not married to it. Bang on it all
you want. Can somebody with an OED find a British cite of "pop music" from
earlier than 1963? I have a sneaking hunch it's there to be found--Big D. is
a Yank.  Also, we haven't addressed the relationship between "pop" and
"rock.")

I kneel and tremble in the presence of rec.music.beatles dominatrix saki!
Read her article at http://rmb.simplenet.com/public/files/faqs/britpop.html
for the bird's-eye lowdown on just what was and wasn't "British pop." THIS,
boysenberries, is Internet scholarship like Mama used to make.

(BTW, nobody's yet risen to the bait in re. my challenge of last week to
name a piece of Pop art--in the original, Hilton-Kramer-approved meaning of
the term--that features the images of both Marilyn Monroe and Diana
Dors. One more week and it'll be Officially Pronounced Dead.)

> I'd like to suggest that we Chalkhillians develop a new
> term to describe the music of XTC, so the misused term,
> "pop,"

I suggest we spell it _backwards_. A protest thing.

Harrison "Ringo, are you a mod or a rocker?" Sherwood

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

Message-ID: <35B773A6.E597D6AC@bonkworld.org>
Date: Thu, 23 Jul 1998 13:32:22 -0400
From: John Schoneboom <john@bonkworld.org>
Subject: XTC in the News

Hello everybody.  Just thought I'd drop a line to mention that, much to
my surprise, some news about XTC turned up in the Washington Post
yesterday (7-22-98) or was it the day before.  Small blurb in the
gossipy Style section that made note of the new record deal *and* Dave
Gregory's departure.  They got the year of Nonsuch's release correct but
they did use the "Q word" as well in describing their music, so points
off for that.  Still, it was a pleasant surprise to see them
acknowledged in a major newspaper...obviously they were short on Monica
Lewinsky stories that day...

your pal,
John

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

Message-ID: <6190AD736EFACF11BF2A00805F9AE82E01BA83F4@mpsexch.born.com>
From: Steve Bunda <Steve.Bunda@born.com>
Subject: Elvis
Date: Thu, 23 Jul 1998 12:51:15 -0500

Ever have to try to explain who Elvis COSTELLO is?
Anyway, all this talk about deities was bound to trigger something
in me and I have two thoughts:

1)  I thought I'd add a funny lyric that gives one pause to think:
Elvis Costello's "God's Comic"
from Spike where he laments in what is supposedly the voice of the "big
cheese" when he says,
   "I've been wading through all of this unbelievable junk
   and wondering if I should have given the world to the monkeys."

2)  There were some words of wisdom I picked up from a "Rockford Files"
episode where Jim says (after getting punched out, I think), "Never quarrel
with a man's religion."

A final question:  I haven't quite convinced myself to purchase "Go2" or
"White Music".
A factual synopsis/review would be appreciated.

-Steve

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

From: WillJ4comm@aol.com
Message-ID: <8c1789e8.35b779de@aol.com>
Date: Thu, 23 Jul 1998 13:58:52 EDT
Subject: re: No sock in his mouth

And no thugs in my house to the best of my knowledge!

Yeah, Patrick, I did continue for a while didn't I? The scary part is that
it was originally about twice as long! So see, I did use discretion!

To all chalkers, thanks for your patience, I will try (ooh, I feel my
fingers starting to rev up!) to keep it shorter in the future. Seeing as
that thread is now squelched, I don't think it'll be a problem.

Best, Will

The Internet Music Show
http://come.to/theblissroad

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

From: PiriyaV3@aol.com
Message-ID: <7605163b.35b788b5@aol.com>
Date: Thu, 23 Jul 1998 15:02:12 EDT
Subject: Re: XTC Chats

Woohoo!  An IRC Chat!  Although, I have a teency weency suggestion...

Perhaps the IRC channel should be named #chalkhills to ward off those
offensive ravers/druggies/cybersex perverts.  The three letters XTC can have
several connotations, as we all know. :)

Piriya

Minister of Propaganda - http://www.lfc.edu/~vongkpp

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

Message-Id: <199807231952.VAA03728@mail.knoware.nl>
From: "Mark Strijbos" <mmello@knoware.nl>
Date: Thu, 23 Jul 1998 21:54:15 +0000
Subject: Play At Home

Dear Chalkers,

Our mate Paul of Oz asked:

> Love At First Sight
>      Love At First Sight (edit); Beatown (live); b/w Roads Girdle
>      the Globe (live); This is Pop? (live).
>           7" EP (45/33), Virgin Canada (Polygram), VS 1124,
> 23 January 1981. no p/s.
> ************************************
> I would like to know:
> 1) From where and when are the live tracks drawn? (eg Canadian
> performances?

You will be surprised - they were all recorded during the same
concert at the Marconi Club in Sydney, Australia in 1979. This show
was taped and broadcast for the 2JJ radio station. BTW: this station
actually slowed down the last tracks during transmission just to
shorten the show by a couple of minutes. Barbarians!

This Is Pop? plus another track (Are You Receiving Me?) from that
same concert were used on the Japanese Nigel B-side and are also
included on the recent The Greatest compilation CD from Japan (see
also http://www.knoware.nl/users/mmello/latest.html )

Beatown and RGTG were never released again which makes this rare EP
even more desirable. The 2JJ recordings are not very good but our
Heroes were at their best. A glowing report of this very show
(their first in Oz if i'm not mistaken) can be found in the XTC Down
Under article somewhere on the excellent Bungalow site.

And there were lots of other 'foreign' shows recorded for radio and
TV - maybe someone who's in touch can suggest to Andy that some of
this material could or should be released by Idea.

yours in xtc,

Mark Strijbos at The Little Lighthouse
 http://www.knoware.nl/users/mmello/
     or http://come.to/xtc

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

Message-Id: <199807231952.VAA03735@mail.knoware.nl>
From: "Mark Strijbos" <mmello@knoware.nl>
Date: Thu, 23 Jul 1998 21:54:15 +0000
Subject: Instrumental Words

Dear Chalkers,

A curious question regarding the Language 'catch phrase' popped up

> The reason I ask, is because the Urban Dance Squad, (the best rap
> act to ever come out of Holland) put out a song in 1991 called
> "Through the Eyes of Jason" which used the above phrase to close the
> song. At the time, wondered if UDS were XTC fans, but I'd forgotten
> about it 'till now. It wouldn't surprise me if they were, but maybe
> somebody here can shed some light for me.

I'll try...

Years ago (1987?) I happened to meet & talk to UDS drummer
Michiel just when i had bought my very first CD player and two CD's;
one of them was actually Black Sea. He saw it and mentioned he knew
and loved that album. He also used to play in "De Div", a very 'new
wavey' kind of band, before joining the Urban Dance Squad and
they were most certainly influenced by XTC.

If you also consider the heavy use of samples, quotes and
references throughout the music of the UDS i think it's very likely
the "words got in the way" phrase was indeed borrowed from our
Heroes.

yours in xtc,

Mark Strijbos at The Little Lighthouse
 http://www.knoware.nl/users/mmello/
     or http://come.to/xtc

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

Message-ID: <35B7E245.CD989125@earthlink.net>
Date: Thu, 23 Jul 1998 18:24:21 -0700
From: Steven Graff <slapdash@earthlink.net>
Organization: SLAPDASH
Subject: Another satellite guitar

Knowing Andy and Dave (and Todd)'s penchant for quirk, I've always
thought the guitar sound was simply a guitar put through a phaser, put
through a distorted amp, with delay or reverb added through the board
(or as a pedal(rack effect?) before the phaser) to get the spaciousness.
    Sampled pianos would sound a bit different, considering the
unpredictable (for consistancy) attack of a piano, and the noise of the
hammers and pedals.  Far fetched to me. Ask Todd, I say, and while
you're at it, compare the LP version to the Rag and Bone Buffet version,
which was done live, and doesn't sound too different.

    Steven (much younger lost twin brother of Brian Eno) Graff

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

From: MFa2707621@aol.com
Message-ID: <2bce5615.35b7f144@aol.com>
Date: Thu, 23 Jul 1998 22:28:18 EDT
Subject: No #XTC Chat

Chalkers,

I just wanted to say that I didn't have the #XTC chat on IRC, because some
people stole my room from me.  They started talking about drugs and banned me
from the room.  My own room.

So next week I'm going to do another chat, but I'm going to rename is
#Skylarking.  I'm sorry for the inconvenience.  I'm new to this IRC thing.
For details check my web page at
http://members.tripod.com/~MollyFa/index.html.

Molly

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

From: PiriyaV3@aol.com
Message-ID: <558298cc.35b7ffaa@aol.com>
Date: Thu, 23 Jul 1998 23:29:45 EDT
Subject: Re: XTC Chats

Oh, and by the way...what server are you using?!

- Piriya
Minister of Propaganda - http://www.lfc.edu/~vongkpp

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

From: BobCrain@aol.com
Message-ID: <881ba452.35b80d28@aol.com>
Date: Fri, 24 Jul 1998 00:27:18 EDT
Subject: Boo Hoo, Richard is Picking on Ted...(grin)

Hear Ye, Hear Ye,

Despite Mr. Ted Lee's considered request to keep discussion of his
screwing Mr. Richard Pedretti-Allen out of a CC98 submission outside
the public forum, I must comment and appoint myself Judge and Jury of
the CC98 Kangaroo Court, being one of those who busted his ass getting
my contribution in on time (or thereabouts) and who is quite annoyed
that the tape will be one song short as a result of Mr. Lee's ridiculous
flake-out.

Your chronology seems a little off, Ted.  I didn't get notice of the
call for CC98 submissions until April 7, 1998, so how did you reserve
"Towers of London" in November of 1997?  There was no mention of CC98
in the Chalkhills digests in the time frame you suggest.  If you received
your invitation to reserve a song by some other means, I find it hard to
believe that Richard did not make his terms clear to you at that time.
I think he made it pretty clear in his Chalkhills call for submissions
that if one didn't intend to send it, to let him know.  I am very happy
that your band is having some success, but it's pretty "petty" of you to
claim full innocence on the technicality that you "only reserved" the
song, and "never said [you] would record it."

That's lame, man, very lame.

So, Mr. Lee, I have no sympathy with your assertions that
Mr. Pedretti-Allen has made you a "scapegoat," and that his allegations
are "ludicrous."  These terms of punishment were made clear in the public
call for CC98 submissions.  What IS "ludicrous" is your claim to be too
busy to send an email telling him you would not be sending the track,
although you were not too busy to send one inviting him to a gig.  Do you
also fail to show up for reservations at a restaurant without canceling if
you're not going to make it?  That's a hell of a way to treat you favorite
eatery, much less a list of dedicated XTC fans.  So, you are hereby GUILTY
AS CHARGED, Mr. Ted Lee, and sentenced to all the public ridicule you may
receive (not that it will do any good, but it makes the Court feel better).

Anyway, let me now take this opportunity to invite all Chalksters to get
an advance low-fi RealAudio taste of my contribution at
http://members.aol.com/CeilingCat (I didn't check this out with Richard
first, so I hope he doesn't mind...hey, the Beastie Boys did pretty well by
posting "Intergalactic" on their website and it doesn't seem to have hurt
sales of their new album...).  I basically put it there so my friends
scattered here and about can hear it, so feel free to be my new friends
and give it a listen.

The song is a loving early sixties Bossa Nova rendition of "Are You
Receiving Me?", inspired by the style of Antonio Carlos Jobim and
the classic Getz/Gilberto collaborations.

Bob Crain

P.S.   It seems to me that Andy's decision to sign with TVT in the States
says something about who he wants to reach with the new album...I would think
there are many other labels that could have offered him the "standard deal,"
so why TVT?  Because they've already had a few hits, maybe?

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

From: CCooli9575@aol.com
Message-ID: <decd4874.35b86847@aol.com>
Date: Fri, 24 Jul 1998 06:56:06 EDT
Subject: Re: Music Appreciation

Kudos to Marcus for his brilliant music appreciation essay in
#4-116. I've had thoughts on the subject myself; music appreciation is
such a subjective thing, yet we insist on analysing it anyway, because
after all we're the smartest monkeys. :-) There's certain individual
songs that have a direct physiological effect on me; shivers up and
down the spine, involuntary physical movements(air guitar, jumping
madly around the room, etc.), feeling like a child at the fairgrounds
with an unlimited supply of quarters, and the like. I hope someone
understands what I mean. An extreme example would be the sheer frenzy
of young Elvis and Beatles audiences. Individual songs that have this
effect on me:

XTC: "Humble Daisy," "Sgt Rock," "Yacht Dance," possibly a few others.
Others:
"I Wanna Be With You," "Go All The Way," The Raspberries
"The Bitch Is Back," "Bennie And The Jets," Elton John
"7 And 7 Is," Love
"Waterloo Sunset," The Kinks
"Walk Away Renee," The Left Banke
"Hello It's Me," Todd Rundgren
"I Want To Hold Your Hand," The Beatles

The list could go on and on if I let it, but the point is not "I think
this is a great song," more something involuntary and
visceral. There's probably certain chord changes that have this
magical effect. God(sorry, off-topic!  :-)), it's hard explaining the
unexplainable. It's not an intellectual process, it bypasses the mind
completely. On that level I can understand why my wife enjoys Air
Supply so much, they make her feel so good. Incidentally, many of my
favorite musicians have nothing in their catalogue that has this
effect on me, many others only one thing that might not otherwise be
representative of them. Captain Beefheart, for example, has just one,
"Too Much Time," which sounds like nothing else of his. It's more like
a great lost Otis Redding track. Otherwise I enjoy him on a purely
intellectual level, at which I can take the composition(I can't really
call them songs in his case)apart and point to something that explains
why I like it. In the case of the "pop rush,"(my best explanation for
it)I can just offer fumbling offering like the above. Maybe somebody
else will get the idea and explain it better than I have.

Chris

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

From: dapardue@statestreet.com
Date: Fri, 24 Jul 1998 12:47:30 -0400
Message-Id: <H00005310d89f004@MHS>
Subject: Box Set Payola!

     In regards to Peter Fitzpatrick's post a few issues back about trying
     to buy our copies of the BBC Box Set at Soundscan (or the UK version
     thereof) retailers in the UK -- I'm all for it.

     I think if there is enough interest from us over 'ere in the States,
     and from willing proxies in the UK, that this would be a greatly
     effective way of supporting the band.

     Someone from our list going to a major store like an Oxford Street HMV
     and buying 5-6 copies the first week could have an impact on the
     store's buyers' decisions in future weeks.  And if we did that to a
     number of stores ... some 25-50 copies could have the impact of 500,
     with some luck.

     Heh-heh -- throw off the sales curves!  Hack the computer systems!
     Let's put XTC at #1!  Or #117, at least.

     All I know is, I am DEFINITELY buying the Box.  If I can do so during
     the first week in the UK, and if that helps out the sales tracking in
     some small way, I'll most definitely do it.

     In fact, I will offer to fly over to purchase mine and others' copies,
     provided that someone will pick up the tab for my airfare.  Anyone?
     Anyone?  Bueh--oh, never mind.

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

Message-ID: <35B8E524.166A@sprintmail.com>
Date: Fri, 24 Jul 1998 15:48:53 -0400
From: Michael Versaci <stormymonday@sprintmail.com>
Organization: Stormy Monday Enterprises
Subject: Atlanta Bash / Ugly Stuck In The Guliver

Folxtc,

August the 8th is rapidly approaching.  If you would like to come and
party with the Atlanta GA. Chalkhills contigent, please e-mail me
(stormymonday@sprintmail.com) or Pete (pete_srd@mindspring.com) for
details.

Yesterday, for some reason I couldn't get "The Ugly Underneath" out of
my head! Early in the morning, I heard just a snippet of Bob Seger's
"Rock and Roll Never Forgets" on the radio.  I "punted" the song, but it
was too late!  I had it stuck in my head. ("NOW YOU'RE SWEET 16 INSTEAD
OF 31!") Somebody give that guy an enema!  I forced it out with "Ugly",
just by thinking about the song.  No such luck that any Atlanta station
would play that song, let alone one that would also play Seger!  I was
humming it all day.

Just for the record, I'd rather listen to 24 hours of McCartney than one
hour of either Bob Seger or Journey  (or Styx or Kansas)!

Michael Versaci

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

Message-ID: <35B91A3B.5531@prtc.net>
Date: Fri, 24 Jul 1998 18:35:27 -0500
From: pancho1@prtc.net (pancho1)
Subject: Re: Chalkhills Digest #4-116

Hey 'hillers,

I have decided two things: if I ever get a dog I am going to call him
god and if I ever have a son I am going to call him Andy.

While I am in complete agreement about the cessation of the discussions
on god I am sorry that the discussions by the syncopating Partridgian
sycophants will also cease; sort of the just paying for the sinners
(O'Bannon should burn at the stake?). Anyhow, I was enjoying reading
about all the odd time signatures....all that musicology stuff is just
music to this untrained ear. Oh well, life goes on.

Pancho PRXTCFAN

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

End of Chalkhills Digest #4-119
*******************************

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24 July 1998 / Feedback