Chalkhills Digest, Volume 4, Number 61 Thursday, 12 March 1998 Today's Topics: No comparison. Mommyheads RIP (0.1% XTC content) Domain names Depeche Andy? Exeter University and Chalkhills Digest And then..... Whence Dukes? Grammies, Youngsters, T-shirt and Tapes October?! Apologies o'plenty First Post (SORRY FOR THE LENGTH!) Special request from a fellow XTC fan... Re: 15 Glass Pervy xTc hearing The Big Express rifff prizes at last Yazbek CD's!!!! X Tree C ? Whinyl quick news while I remember it . . . Hope for the Future New Wave Administrivia: To UNSUBSCRIBE from the Chalkhills mailing list, send a message to <chalkhills-request@chalkhills.org> with the following command: unsubscribe For all other administrative issues, send a message to: <chalkhills-request@chalkhills.org> Please remember to send your Chalkhills postings to: <chalkhills@chalkhills.org> World Wide Web: <http://chalkhills.org/> or: <http://come.to/chalkhills/> The views expressed herein are those of the individual authors. Chalkhills is compiled using Digest 3.6 (John Relph <relph@sgi.com>). Angel of death with black woolen mask.
---------------------------------------------------------------------- Message-ID: <31790FAD9CB8D011BD6A0000F877207D38C59A@tu-server2.micromass.co.uk> From: Wood Robert MMUk <robert.wood@micromass.co.uk> Subject: No comparison. Date: Fri, 6 Mar 1998 08:31:45 -0000 I don't want to drag up the analogue vs. digital argument again, but I'm going to... <g> >> Vinyl LPs have a far more limited bandwidth and dynamic range than CDs. If you "cut" a vinyl album using the same production master for the manufacture of CDs (without additional filtering of the "low end"), a turntable needle would fly right out of the groove altogether, or the groove would have to be so wide that the 16 songs might not even fit on TWO LPs. << Er, hello; that's why all vinyl is mastered differently with bass end rolled off and why you need an RIAA preamp for phono inputs. That's entirely irrelevant as to whether Firework's on vinyl. If that had any relevance why would at least 50% of new releases be on sale on vinyl as well as CD in HMV?! >> By the sounds of it, XTC certainly do not have the money to get "Firework" mastered twice, once for CD and once for vinyl. << Bollocks, the cost of mastering is a tiny fraction of recording. >> Because so much additional filtering is necessary to master for vinyl, a CD production master is a far better approximation of the final mix of an album. << An even bigger pile of bollocks! Once you've listened to a decent vinyl system vs. a CD, you'll be amazed. Don't go off what so called experts tell you, listen with *your* ears, not somebody else's! To say a CD production master is far better than album is truly outrageous! I've been involved with it myself and I've *heard* the difference between the two! >> This info courtesy of a well-known industry professional (not me obviously). Sorry. << Well known does not mean he/she know what he/she is on about. Elton John's well known a singer, but he's crap at it! <g>
------------------------------ Message-Id: <3.0.3.32.19980306073908.007ca760@frognet.net> Date: Fri, 06 Mar 1998 07:39:08 -0500 From: Keith Hanlon <khanlon@frognet.net> Subject: Mommyheads RIP (0.1% XTC content) I don't think this has been mentioned yet - if so, forgive me. The Mommyheads have broken up. This list has always been split on the band... but I know a lot of you out there really dig them. Adam Cohen is working on a solo project with members of Cake, and Michael Holt has a new band. For more information: http://www.iwaynet.net/~cubby/MOMYHED.HTM For those of you who never dug their major label debut... check out my site dedicated to their very first album, Acorn - which owes more to early XTC than the McCartney-esque pop music of their last record: http://www.geocities.com/SunsetStrip/Underground/6068/ That is all, Keith "It's no good to say 'without pickles,' because you're going to get pickles." - Johnny Cash
------------------------------ Message-Id: <3.0.1.32.19980306082353.0069faf4@130.127.28.14> Date: Fri, 06 Mar 1998 08:23:53 -0500 From: Adam Tyner <ctyner@CLEMSON.EDU> Subject: Domain names <<*nobody* has registered www.xtc.com as a domain on the Net.>> I ran a whois on XTC.COM and found out that it is indeed registered. :-( I'm not sure if you have access to a UNIX box, and since posting the whois results would take up a bit too much space in the digest, I'll post a link to a WWW one: http://www.clever.net/cgi-bin/whois.cgi?xtc.com XTC.NET and XTC.ORG have also been registered as well. -Adam /----=========================================================----\ http://www.awod.com/gallery/rwav/ctyner/ The home of He-Man, "Weird Al", Yoo-hoo, Killer Tomatoes, and more! Demented music list admin O- MiSTie #67,326
------------------------------ Date: Fri, 6 Mar 1998 10:50:56 -0500 (EST) From: Karen Piotrowski <karenann@shore.net> Subject: Depeche Andy? Message-ID: <Pine.GSO.3.96.980306104532.10658G-100000@nsa.ecosoft.com> another question from the lurker front.... I've been wondering about this for AGES!!! On the Depeche Mode - Violator album between Enjoy the Silence and Policy of Truth there is a wierd interlude where somebody growls something unitelligible to me. I would *swear* it's Andy. Any input on this? Please email privately as time prohibits me from keeping up on this list as much as i'd like to. karenann I won't repeat myself again, I will not repeat myself again - Toad the Wet Sprocket
------------------------------ Message-Id: <TFSKOCPG@ubk.net>> From: Jonathan Monnickendam <monnickj@ubk.net> Date: Fri, 6 Mar 1998 13:21:33 +0000 Subject: Exeter University and Chalkhills Digest Harrison A big thank you on this one. I can rest easy........(skip to avoid trivia) October 5, 1979 - Exeter University, Exeter, UK I finished at Exeter in June 79 and so when XTC were hitting the stage in the Great Hall I was working back in london saving up for a 3 month trip around latin america which took 2 years. I even got to ring Borges doorbell in BA only to find he was in Mexico collecting a literary prize. Had the gig been earlier in 79 I would have been there for fun (and as photographer for the University newspaper). I'd forgotten about showaddywaddy. April 18, 1979 - Routes Club, Exeter, UK A superb venue ; where else could you see the Police playing to 100 people whilst topping the US charts. Good job the support band was Alberto y los trios paranaios. hoping a good weekend was had by you all jon in the tape deck ; Magnesium Proverbs - Syd Barrett * --------------------------------------------------------------- The views expressed are of the individual, and do not necessarily reflect the views of The United Bank of Kuwait PLC. * ---------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------ From: LadyCPlum <LadyCPlum@aol.com> Message-ID: <d6b7c88b.35002bad@aol.com> Date: Fri, 6 Mar 1998 12:00:27 EST Subject: And then..... Hey Jeff Smith! We've got the frugal gourmet on our list!!!!! (JJ!) Anyhoo, on the subject of an XTC mascot...howzabout a Partridge in a Pear Tree???? I finally managed to catch "Hey go fuck yourself with your atom bomb" on the end of 25 O'Clock. I didn't realise you had to let the album run right to the end to hear it, I thought it would be pegged on right at the end of Mole. Molly-As far as I know the only acting XTC has done is in their videos. (Taking at look at them would lead one to realise just why we will never see XTC actually acting professionally.) ;) On Dave's rejection of the album title-Somebody's sense of humour is flying out the door in his old age. :() But when you think about it, A History of the Middle Ages sounds more like a title for a retrospective, not a new album. Still in all, I quite like it. It's whimsical. Tis all for now..... LCP XTC song of the day-Paper and Iron non XTC song-High and Dry-Radiohead Python quote of the day-"Oh intercourse, the penguin!"
------------------------------ Message-ID: <19980306171530.9036.qmail@hotmail.com> From: "Steve Stearns" <xteve@hotmail.com> Date: Fri, 06 Mar 1998 09:15:26 PST Subject: Whence Dukes? Hello Chalkhill-dwellers, Forgive me if this is in the FAQ somewhere but does anyone happen to know where XTC came up with their pseudonyms for the Dukes? (I know that "The Red Curtain" comes from Colin's nickname when he had super long hair, but the others?) And Molly, I could see Andy as a sort of psychedelic Doctor Who . . . maybe a 1967 adventure where he saves The Isle of Man Rock Festival from the Daleks: "Stop, everyone, wait til I reverse the polarity of the neutron flow BEFORE you eat the brown acid!" Scuffing at the dirt I wait, Steve
------------------------------ Message-Id: <72EDB966944AD1118DC90080D82074882BC4DE@ex-campus2.corp.octel.com> From: "Pedretti-Allen, Richard" <Richard.PedrettiAllen@octel.com> Subject: Grammies, Youngsters, T-shirt and Tapes Date: Fri, 6 Mar 1998 11:06:08 -0800 Amanda, I think there are some who haven't gotten used to you yet. Soooo... how many necklaces did you get on Bourbon St? You know... people can't see the Chalkhills T-shirt image when it's bunched around your neck! I think the latest Radiohead is fantastic and rightfully deserved to win a Grammy but you need not shun the Grammies themselves. While I'm a non-voting member of the National Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences, the voting members are peers in the industry, so it's not just more press for those who already went double-platinum. It's not like some of the other awards shows that are just circle-jerk exposure games. A voting member can vote for ANYONE, as long as the material is commercially released and has sold a minimum number of copies. The minimum is to keep from getting 32, 746 votes for different acts (if a situation like that happened, it becomes much easier for a group to rally their associates to vote for their act and win the award), so they narrow the field a bit. The problem is, for example, if you voted for Laurie Anderson's LP Big Science in 1982, it wasn't going to win because it simply didn't have the exposure. One could then construe that you have to sell a lot to be nominated but it is more rational to look at it as a function of "exposure" and "market penetration" (Honest! I'm talking about business!). The record is simply in more people's hands. In the end, though the show may still be too H-wood and they don't show presentations of the lesser categories, it is above board. So, the question is... how do we get Firework in the hand's of ALL the voting members. Ben made comments about young Chalkhillbillies... I am seldom disappointed when I talk with people who explore music outside of their demographics. My nephew (16) likes XTC, The Spent Poets and Yazbek. He has said things like, "Nirvana seemed kinda lame." (PLEASE! No need to post, "Well I like XTC _AND_ Nirvana!") Harrison, Harrison, Harrison... tsk, tsk. There are no damn hops in Newcastle Brown! It's because the northerners don't have the technology! Only fogblind geezers in Northumberland, Durham and Tyne drink Newcastle! Everyone else is quickly progressing toward the status of "Official Lager Lout." "Oy, loyk to get reeelly peessed on Four-X and then, whenever Arsenal wins a football match, I smosh somebodies fice in." I bet Swindonians quaff a bit more Bank's Bitter or Marston's Pedigree. Phil, Only one left? Consider yourself a very lucky merchandiser! By the way, Chalkhills Children tape sales have slowed down so now would be a good time to order. Order before March 16 or you'll have to wait a month. I'm off to Denver (work), Singapore (work), Bombay (work) and London (hidden agenda). Cheers, Richard
------------------------------ Message-ID: <3500638D.47673FA3@gate.net> Date: Fri, 06 Mar 1998 15:58:54 -0500 From: "M. D. Irvin" <mdirvin@gate.net> Subject: October?! I just learned today that the long awaited XTC release has been pushed back to October (I'm sure this is not new news, but I've been out of the loop for a bit). And May was getting so close......boo hoo. Rats!! Oh well, now I wait for October to come around. Is the release to be called "Fireworks"? Anyone have a list of the tracks?? Any Florida people here other than myself and Bradenton Brian??
------------------------------ Message-ID: <19980306225731.16980.rocketmail@send1b.yahoomail.com> Date: Fri, 6 Mar 1998 14:57:31 -0800 (PST) From: Bill Gibron <bgibron@yahoo.com> Subject: Apologies o'plenty First and foremost, if I insulted anyone, I deeply apologize. I tend to rant and rave (just ask my students) and they too wonder what end I am coming to. I will not defend myself, just my position. And then I had some additional thoughts. First, I have been a fan since 1978. This is a fact. I have everything that was legitimately placed on the market for sale in vinyl, 45, CD, CD single and cassette form. (Here I go again. I've pissed off the booters. Sorry. Didn't know you existed 'til now.) All I was trying to say is that, as a long standing fan, I was with XTC when they played "Senses Working Overtime" on empty-v until it became rote, and I have been there when I have had to search high and low in a huge warehouse music factory to find a copy of "The Big Express" each release is met with excitement. I cannot say, ever, that I have been disappointed with an XTC album (song, yes, album, no). Yet, when I joined Chalkhills, I found post after post listing the flaws with this record and the concern for this song and the desire to tear apart the only group who, in my opinion, compares favorably with the Beatles as master song craftsmen. To complain, in my opinion, is to miss the point. XTC are geniuses, no doubt about it. Their music transcends 99.999% of the crap that passes for music today. Opinions are fine on the issue of a song's merit, but to desecrate a whole album, or period of musical expression just because it "Don't sound like Black Sea" seems pointless. Rubber Soul did not sound like Abbey Road did not sound like Let It Be. What they do sound like is the Beatles. And what XTC sound like are XTC. I said it before and I'll say it again. XTC are XTC. That's all they can or ever will be. They will not conform to your desire to mold them. Second, about www.gbv.com. I was a very late comer to Guided by Voices. I bought their 12th album. I knew nothing about them. I only knew what I read and what I heard. Then I found www.gbv.com. Now, I said it before and I said it again, Chalkhills, the Little Lighthouse and the miriad of other XTC related sites that you will now throw in my face are WONDERFUL. SPECTACULAR. I POST TO ONE SO I MUST LIKE IT AND I WROTE TO THE CREATOR OF ANOTHER. THEY ARE JUST FINE. All I was trying to say was, that www.gbv.com was a good idea, as is all the other web sites. True, I held it out as an example of "what could be done with some effort". Perhaps that was meant as a more PERSONAL attack than a group thing. MORE OF US SHOULD HAVE XTC SITES. At last count, a favorite show of mine (it consists of three letters and 3000 at the end) has over 400 web sites. 400!!!!!! And not everyone has access to it. My friends in England and Europe may be scratching their heads on this one. Yet everyone and anyone can walk into Toadbuster Music and buy XTC. We need more promotion. WE NEED TO MARKET THEM, IF A LABEL WONT! As to inside info, I have no qualm with those in the know. True, I do not get to hang around with Mr. Partridge and the gang. I am not part of the inner circle who is privy to the comings and goings of the band. Something tells me if I was, I would not mention it, since I have two very good and very famous friends in the movie business, and I value the non-famous friendship we have had more than the minimal thrill it may cause you to know that I know them. I also know a famous writer, but again there is no reason for me to mention it other than to get some reaction out of you. Will he publish your work? NO, won't even look at mine. Will my other friend place me in a film he wrote? NO. Will he mention that a character he created was based on me so that I get a silent thrill when I see the film among an audience of the unknowing. Yes. So, I will always bow to the information of someone in the know. Bully to those who can befriend those who we wish we could. I have nothing bad to say about you. You're postings are always thrilling to read. Now that I have made my mea culpas, I plunge into the fray again... Does it bother anyone but me that Oasis and Blur are so ABSOLUTELY HUGE in the world market, but XTC are not. I can say that I have an Oasis album and a Blur album in my collection (450 discs, 350 LPs, 320 45's and growing) and they are fine, but they are not XTC. And yet, they're on MTV and they're hyped out the ying-yang and they sell a gig or two of albums, and we argue that Andy and the gang need our money. Someone once said their is no God. Then someone said he was out to lunch and left his dog in charge. I just don't get it. Dog lovers, Noel lovers, Blur lovers, please do not attack me. This is not all together serious. I have been known to place my tongue firmly inside my cheek). A final word. Remember why we listen to music. It transports us to a magic place of peace and good feelings. I promise to keep those good feelings as I write to Chalkhills, please keep them as you read what I write. We all have but one goal: total world XTC domination. Lets achieve it, not just banter it about. Bill Love to hear from you one on one. I love to read and write. E-mail me. bgibron@yahoo.com Don't let them sell you a world wrapped in gray...
------------------------------ Date: Sat, 7 Mar 1998 10:25:32 -0500 Subject: First Post (SORRY FOR THE LENGTH!) Message-ID: <19980307.102532.3278.7.smileypants426@juno.com> From: smileypants426@juno.com (Smiley Pants) Hello Chalkers This is my first post to Chalkhills. Allow me to introduce myself and to tell my story of how I was turned on to XTC. My name's Ken. I'm from Pennsylvania and 17 years old. A lot of my other favorite bands include KMFDM, China Drum, Therapy?, GWAR, Extra Fancy, The Smiths, and tons more. My tastes in music are quite diverse so I'll give anything a chance. The stort of how I was turned to XTc is kinda bizzare, so bear with me :) I remember that when I was about 12, I saw the video for "The Ballad of Peter Pumpkinhead" and my brother and I thought it was a pretty cool song. We never really got to buying Nonuch and so we kinda forgot about them. But about 2 years later, for some reason I started thinking about "that Pumkinhead guy song" but I just couldn't remember who it was. It bothered me for a while but then again, I started to forget about it. But years later, in the winter of '96, I saw the video for "Dear God" on MTV's little M2 Preview, which I would set the timer for on the VCR because it came on before I got back home from school. Lucky for me that I taped it. You'll find out why I was lucky in just a sec. In the summer of '97, I was in Sam Goody, when they were playing the "Upsy Daisy Assortment." I was really kicked in the ass by "Life begins at the Hop" and "making Plans for Nigel". I just had to find out who this band was! I stuck around, pretending to be browsing for something ( I had already made my purchase and was about to leave before they started playing it) just so I could listen to this CD. Then what do I hear? "Dear God", the song whose video I have on tape!! So when I got home, I searched all my tapes for the video, and there it was!! After I found out it was XTC, i quickly wrote that name down on my "Cd's to buy" list!!!!!! Then I went and bought Skylarking and Upsy daisy Assortment and I had me a new favorite band. I have yet to purchase ES, Big Express, Mummer, O&L, Nonsuch, and BS because I haven't been able to get myself to the stores. :( Sorry to make this post even LONGER (!!!) but I would just like to conclude it by listing my fave songs from the albums I have of XTC. White Music "Radios in Motion" "Crosswires" "This is Pop" Go2 "Meccanic Dancing" (When my girlfriend and I listened to this song together for the first time, she said "Is he saying 'Pic-a-nic basket??') "Crowded Room" "The Rhythm" "Super Tuff" "I Am the Audience" Drums and Wires "Making Plans for Nigel" "Helicopter" "When You're near me I have Difficulty" "Ten Feet Tall" "Roads Girdle the Globe" "Real by Reel" "Complicated Game" Skylarking "Summer's Couldron" "Grass" "Earn Enough for Us" "Dear God" Well, that's all. I'm sorry I wasted so much bandwith on my stupid opinions and my stupid story. Hopefully, my next post(s) won't be as long. Buh bye Take care, chalkers :)Smiley
------------------------------ Message-ID: <3501796D.7C59@schoollink.net> Date: Sat, 07 Mar 1998 08:44:29 -0800 From: Dan Phipps <phipps@schoollink.net> Subject: Special request from a fellow XTC fan... Hello all, I don't post to this mailing list very often, but do enjoy reading the comments from other fans of XTC. (They're so GREAT, aren' they? An understatement!) I'd like to ask a possible dubbing request of any XTC fan out there who'd be willing to do this for me. A long time ago, I received a dubbed cassette from an XTC fan (who will re- main nameless, but I'm sure you know who you are!!). The B-side to this tape featured the now infamous "Black Sea Session / A Drunken Jam" recording, but to fill up the gap remain- ing on this side, the dubber put something on there which I've decided to call "Interview With A Radical." It's the interview which takes place between three people at a radio station (I think) and this hippie-type is talking about how America is just a state of mind and he sings the "Hey, go fuck yourself with your atom bomb" thing. Sound familiar? Well, the thing about all this is I only have a part of this interview. Does anybody out there have the complete thing? My tape runs out right in the middle of this radical's sentence and I'm dying to know how it ends, as it were. Believe it or not, I've had this tape ever since Andy's first demo cassette "Jules Verne's Sketchbook" came out. And I've NEVER inquired about the full uninterrupted in- terview until now. Go figure...But if anyone out there can help me with this, I'd surely appreciate it, as I've always wondered how this recording ends. I'm also very interested in getting a complete dub of Andy's "Playground" demo, too. I've got a snippet of this that features AP giving comment- ary on a "Rock Over London" radio show, but would KILL to have the entire demo recording. Does any- one out there have it to possibly share with a fellow fan? Please e-mail me privately if you can help me either of these requests. Thanks! Looking forward along with everyone else for the new album. Although I subscribe to Chalkhills, I don't get much of a chance to read each digest as fully as I'd like (work schedule and all, you know!). I guess I should go back through each one and see if something's there pertaining to this latest news or whatever. Hmmm... Keep up the good work with the monitoring, John! So far, job WELL DONE!! :-) X T C R U L E S ! ! ! ! ! ! ! /Dan Phipps <phipps@schoollink.net> * --------------------------------------- "Imagination like a muscle will increase with exercise." (Peter Blegvad) * --------------------------------------- Latest favorite XTC track: "Cockpit Dance Mixture" Latest favorite XTC lyric: "I would have made this instrumental, but the words got in the way." (A. Partridge) Latest favorite non-XTC track: "The Mummer's Dance" (Loreena McKennitt) Latest favorite non-XTC lyric: "We all have deeply hidden chords that someone else must strike to hear the very ringing of the psyche." (Stephen Duffy)
------------------------------ Message-Id: <199803070659.WAA09189@mail.eskimo.com> From: "Ben Allen" <hiway@eskimo.com> Organization: The Dead Cat Revolutionary Army Date: Fri, 6 Mar 1998 22:54:56 +0000 Subject: Re: 15 Glass > 15 Glass LOL...I think I'm turning Japanese etc...well, that was a lame de-lurk. Is this typo absolutely-for-real?...if it is I might have to blow some money on this... <skulks back off, singing tunelessly about the things we did on glass> Ben Allen - hiway@eskimo.com Duty now for the future yeah.
------------------------------ Message-Id: <199803072125.IAA04593@warchivegw.riv.csu.edu.au.> From: "Simon Knight" <sknight@warchivegw.riv.csu.edu.au> Date: Sun, 8 Mar 1998 08:22:45 +0000 Subject: Pervy xTc hearing Oh don't tempt me Harrison, i'll pawn my guitar and send you the plane ticket myself, if you don't mind being trapped in first class with Oasis for 22 hours. (All the aussie guitarists seem to be too busy stuffing jumbucks in their tuckerbags or somesuch). Had a really weird xTc experience last night - kiddies you'd better head for the door to the next post or cover your eyes - the dreaded f word will be used. SBS is Australia's World television station, and as such it normally plays a lot of foreign art films with lots of what dear old Kenny Everett used to call "naughty bits". It also plays South Park Uncensored, which is why we were watching it. (You believe me, don't you? Those tissues were only there because i've got a cold). Well, south park had finished and everyone was laughing at some dopey 1996 french short film that had started. I was busy trying to locate my vinyl copy of Pinky Blue by Altered Images so i could frighten my sister with the strains of "Happy birthday", so i obviously wasn't paying close attention. As far as i could tell, this is what happened. A man was driving his car along a road with a playboy centrefold stuck on his dashboard. Well, he get's a little TOO excited from the visual stimulation so decides to start playing the bone-a-phone as he's driving, almost running over a hitch-hiker in the process. He pulls over to go for the gold in safety but keeps getting interupted by other people who keep asking him if he's run out of petrol etc when all he wants to do is finish his date with Mrs Palmer and get on his way. In one scene the hitch-hiker has caught up with him and switches on his radio to start go-go dancing next to his car. It didn't register at first but i thought it sounded familiar. I was so startled i dropped the Duran Duran's first no-hits album and screamed "xTc!" My sister screamed "Duran Duran!" and i screamed "xTc!" again. Then suddenly the man switched off the radio just before the chorus and i started wondering if i'd just imagined it. He stalked around the car screaming "How can you listen to that rubbish? It's just noise! It sound like bulldozers fucking!" (Makes me wonder what else he listens too - it's xTc! Hardly Einsturzende Pretension). It's probably the best mini-review of xTc i've ever heard! If the band need one of those little stickers lauding praise on the band for the front of the Firework CD, they couldn't do much better than: "'Sounds like bulldozers fucking!' - Some french wanker" Wondering what song was used in this little masturbatory epic? The very apt "Science Friction". I can just tell no-one believes me.
------------------------------ From: MFa2707621 <MFa2707621@aol.com> Message-ID: <3192f70d.3503315c@aol.com> Date: Sun, 8 Mar 1998 19:01:30 EST Subject: The Big Express Chalkers, I just got The Big Express a couple of days ago, and I love it. I love the song, All of the Pretty Girls. I sent an e-mail to 120 Minutes asking them to play either Grass or Ballad of Peterpumpkinhead. I hope they play either one. I would like to get my hands on either or both of those videos, especially Grass. I still want comments about what your opinions on if Andy Partridge got to play Dr. Who. I've gotten a couple responses. As I said it before it would be great to see him as the Time Lord. If there are any Chalkers out there that are from or live in Buffalo I would love to hear from you. Just e-mail me. Molly Buffalo, NY
------------------------------ Message-ID: <B9B4268C8F87D11195DC0000F840FABEC7F173@DUB-MSG-02> From: Peter Fitzpatrick <peterfit@MICROSOFT.com> Subject: rifff prizes at last Date: Mon, 9 Mar 1998 05:58:15 -0800 Hi, just a quick note to those of you waiting on the prizes from the Microsoft Network "Rifff" show. (history : the show no longer exists, the team no longer work at Microsoft, the prizes didn't ever get to the team in the first place, yada yada yada) Paul Bailey (XTC Manager) very kindly sent the autographed CDs to me here in Dublin. I have the list of winners and hope to have these discs sent in the mail by the end of next week (but please don't e-mail me on this - I promise to mail them, just be prepared for the inevitable delays : I'm uptomyeyesinitatthemoment). Somewhere along the line we hvae lost one or two CDs so there are not enough discs. One or two winners will have to wait a couple more weeks while the band sign some more discs. Peter
------------------------------ Message-ID: <211D4A0926D2D011859E0060972D8848314F01@azmail.rjconsult.com> From: "Miller, Ed" <emiller@rjconsult.com> Subject: Yazbek CD's!!!! Date: Mon, 9 Mar 1998 10:36:35 -0700 Greetings, all... Okay, okay. I know there's probably too much Yazbek discussion on this list, but I'm so into this new stuff I just have to comment. I received The Laughing Man and Tock last week (a heck of a deal from What Are Records here in beautiful Boulder, Colorado and at http:\www.war.com) and I'm completely nuts over them. These albums are filled with a wonderful collection of songs that are at once complex and accessible. The craftsmanship is exquisite, the performances are snappy and the recordings jump from the speakers. Andy's talent in songwriting, guitaring, and producing is a real plus, too. Ed sez buy 'em. I'd also like to start a rumor about WAR and IDEA, but I'm far above that kind of thing.... Living Goo Inside My Tuba, Ed
------------------------------ Message-Id: <199803092012.VAA01235@mail.knoware.nl> From: "Mark Strijbos" <mmello@knoware.nl> Organization: The Little Lighthouse Date: Mon, 9 Mar 1998 21:12:36 +0000 Subject: X Tree C ? Dear Chalkers, If you like a bit of history with your ecstasy be sure to check out the new XTC Rock Family Tree page at my Little Lighthouse @ http://come.to/xtc While we are on the subject: due to new size restrictions imposed by my Internet Service Provider I'm forced to remove large sections of my site. I'm not thrilled about this (hah!) but am working on a new more dynamic format. One that fits in 5 Mb instead of 50! yours in xtc, Mark Strijbos at The Little Lighthouse the XTC website @ http://come.to/xtc and http://www.knoware.nl/users/mmello
------------------------------ Message-Id: <199803092314.KAA02062@warchivegw.riv.csu.edu.au.> From: "Simon Knight" <sknight@warchivegw.riv.csu.edu.au> Date: Tue, 10 Mar 1998 10:13:04 +0000 Subject: Whinyl Michael Roden was speaking about our vinyless prospects for Firework which made me wonder about the whole CD / Vinyl thing. It's not something i can put a finger on but some of my favourite albums lose all their character on CD. It's not an obvious "that sound is too quiet on CD" thing, more an uneasy feeling that a record you know you love is boring you and leaving you tired and restless. The life and energy has been removed from the music and it becomes a chore to sit through. I'm not speaking of CD's in a grand sweep - there's plenty i love and which the format suits, but occassionally you'll get a real dog in your collection. For example: Devo - Freedom of Choice The Cure - Japanese Whispers David Bowie - Scary Monsters (and super creeps) Koo de Tah Split Enz - Enz of an era Pulp - His 'n' Hers Psychedelic Furs - Forever now The Velvet Underground and Nico Now there's nothing theoretically wrong with any of those CD's. Higher frequencies can be reproduced, a couple of them have been digitally remastered, all polished up and presented for our enjoyment. So why do they sound so flat? Why did i consider burning the Devo one? Why do i always end up reaching for the vinyl versions, which is REALLY inconvenient in my house? But the one record where the CD version does absolutely NO justice to the material: xTc - English Settlement I cannot recommend the vinyl version of ES highly enough. It was always an album that left me cold on CD and i've barely played it all the way through. I picked up the double vinyl for a trade a while back and thought i'd better test it out to see if it was scratched. It blared out of my speakers with an enthusiasm and energy that is only hinted at on the CD. I listened to it all the way through, and then started at side one again. Needless to say, i didn't get rid of it.
------------------------------ Date: Mon, 9 Mar 1998 23:46:43 -0500 (EST) Message-Id: <v03007804b12a2ed8865b@[209.86.60.66]> From: Mitch Friedman <mitchf@mindspring.com> Subject: quick news while I remember it . . . since I just this evening got home from a most extraordinary week in Ray Davies' songwriting course in Devon and am jet-lagged and apemanned at the same time. I spoke to Andy yesterday (Dave was in the background making chicken curry for dinner which I suggested he send me the leftovers by "currier" and heard him hiss near the stove). When Andy was in NYC he met with a bit of friction in response to the double album idea so at the moment (at least up until yesterday) the new plan is to make two separate albums to be released 3 or 4 months apart but sharing both halves of a title/concept. Someone approached the band with the idea of making a feature film about XTC's career but with actors playing the band members. Andy suggested that the guy who played the nazi who gets his face melted in the first Indiana Jones movie could play him. Mitch
------------------------------ Message-Id: <3505D71F.2C621BFD@usa.net> Date: Tue, 10 Mar 1998 19:13:40 -0500 From: Ben Gott <loquacious@usa.net> Organization: Loquacious Music - http://www.wp.com/58596 Subject: Hope for the Future I love Chalkhills! So, I'm standing in line, paging through vinyl (we have this guy come up from Boston every month with about 400 records). I've picked out three albums and am deciding on a fourth when the kid in front of me picks up his HUGE pile and makes his way to the merchant-dude. He had some good stuff -- including an original "Look Sharp," complete with button -- but he also had a copy of "Waxworks," on vinyl! We chatted XTC -- he's a fan -- and I left with a smile on my face. I also left with Mike Oldfield's "Hergest Ridge" (my second vinyl copy), Elvis Costello's "Imperial Bedroom" (!), and Robyn Hitchcock's "Gotta Let This Hen Out" (which is worth it if only for "My Wife and My Dead Wife"). -Ben * ---------------------------------------------- * B e n G o t t :: Bowdoin College (207) 721-5142 :: Brunswick, ME 04011 I just might die with a smile on my face after all. * ---------------------------------------------- *
------------------------------ Message-Id: <3507760D.F50C1B9@usa.net> Date: Thu, 12 Mar 1998 00:43:46 -0500 From: Ben Gott <loquacious@usa.net> Organization: Loquacious Music - http://www.wp.com/58596 Subject: New Wave Chalkhillians! EXCITING NEWS! Go to this site... http://www.thegrid.net/mpaulsen/newwave.html You'll find a celebration of New Wave music, and a certain "English Settlement" cover on the main page! (Ira - you'll love this!) Vote for your fave New Wave song (two votes for Mike Oldfield's "Moonlight Shadow"!) Check MPEG files! Take up company Internet time! You can thank me later... Love, Ben They won the Totally 80's "Site of the Day" award the day after Chalkhills did...Coincidence? And, how do I know? Because Chalkhills won on July 20th -- my birthday! * ---------------------------------------------- * B e n G o t t :: Bowdoin College (207) 721-5142 :: Brunswick, ME 04011 I just might die with a smile on my face after all. * ---------------------------------------------- *
------------------------------ End of Chalkhills Digest #4-61 ******************************
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