Chalkhills Digest Volume 4, Issue 64
Date: Monday, 23 March 1998
Chalkhills Digest, Volume 4, Number 64
Monday, 23 March 1998
Today's Topics:
Ella Guru
Don Van Vliet
New to Chalkhills
Then I Appeared
Greatest Japan/CD
My Head is My Only House
Al Of A Sudden
O No It Doens't !
Exceedingly short post today...
XtC vids
The Tubes do Captain Beefheart
Re: World's Nastiest Accent
DINSDALE! DINSDALE!!!
xtc movie
Dripping Mushroom Hearts
Re: Living Through Another Toulon
The white horse of Uffington
Re: Ella Guru & Captn Beefheart
London
Re: Don Van Vliet
Another XTC-1
Re: Don van Vliet
rifff prize
Chatting and such
Chalkhills FAQ - "Atom Bomb" quote
Old Fart at Play
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---------------------------------------------------------------------- Message-ID: <01BD54DA.0E68E100.monkman@coastnet.com> From: Martin & Jamie Monkman <monkman@coastnet.com> Subject: Ella Guru Date: Sat, 21 Mar 1998 14:59:31 -0800 Gerardo writes: >Hello! > I really like that Ella Guru song XTC plays on The Mayor of Simpleton >single. The thing is that it is not written by XTC. It says it is written >by some Don Van Vliet guy. Who is he? Does he have albums out? Any help >would be greatly appreciated. That "Don Van Vliet" guy is better known as Captain Beefheart. The original version can be found on the 1969 album Trout Mask Replica by Captain Beefheart and His Magic Band (it's on Reprise, a division of the Warner Brothers family of labels). The album was produced by Frank Zappa, but doesn't sound much like Zappa's own releases. Other Beefheart albums worth checking out include Safe As Milk and Lick My Decals Off, Baby. Not for the faint of heart, these are pioneering avant garde rock albums that combines Delta blues with the avant garde jazz of Sun Ra. Check out the Home Page Replica at http://www.shiningsilence.com/hpr/ for more in-depth Beefheart. XTC's rendition of "Ella Guru" first appeared on a Captain Beefheart tribute album in 1988, Fast and Bulbous. One more thing: Trout Mask Replica has been identified by people in the know (i.e. Dave Gregory) as being Andy Partridge's favourite album. Martin Our homepage: http://www.coastnet.com/~monkman
------------------------------ Message-Id: <l03102800b13a1f6def75@[207.104.109.110]> Date: Sat, 21 Mar 1998 18:23:16 -0800 From: dblack@access1.net (dblack) Subject: Don Van Vliet Evening All, <Hello! I really like that Ella Guru song XTC plays on The Mayor of Simpleton single. The thing is that it is not written by XTC. It says it is written by some Don Van Vliet guy. Who is he? Does he have albums out? Any help would be greatly appreciated. Gerardo> Well, well, funny you should ask. Don Van Vliet is aka Captain Beefheart, one of the most ignored and misunderstood visionaries in rock along with XtC. Andy P went through a Beefheart craze, according to an interview I read (I think it was in Bungalow), and saw fit to cover one of CB's more "normal" songs (from an oeuvre of very very oblique songs). The song is from Beefheart's 1969 piece de resistance "Trout Mask Replica", produced by his high school friend Frank Zappa. This album sparked a small but rabid international cult among fans of experimentalism. One of Captain Beefheart & the Magic Band's trademarks was to use two guitar parts that mesh together in wierd and dissonant ways (sound familiar?), and to use bizarre hominid vocal stylings (listen to "Roads Girdle the Globe" and compare to "Hobo Chang Ba" on Trout Mask) I'm sure I'm not the only one to observe big similarities between the CB & TMB and XtC. Beefheart retired from the music business after his last album in 1982, totally broke, and consigned to the "Oh yeah, I heard of him once" file. Please check out CB's music if you dig the more lunatic fringe elements of XtC, but be warned: you will probably hate and despise much of it until you've heard it a few times. At that point you may either still hate it, or love his fascinating and original twists on the whole notion of blues/rock music. You will not, I can guarantee you, like it or not like it just-a-bit. The easiest Beefheart album to get into is "Clear Spot" (as it is cleanly produced) . "Trout Mask Replica" is one of the hardest, but may be ultimately the most satisfying. 1978' "Shiny Beast" and 1980's "Doc at the Radar Station" are also gems. And thanks for asking... Dave Blackburn ^/v=<
------------------------------ Message-ID: <3514896B.E2B922F2@worldnet.att.net> Date: Sat, 21 Mar 1998 21:45:47 -0600 From: "Jeffrey W Wall M.D." <QUINCUNX@worldnet.att.net> Subject: New to Chalkhills Hi folks, I just wanted to introduce my self, I'm new to Chalkhills. I've been listening to XTC since 1981, but was beginning to think I was the last remaining fan here in the U.S. (or at least in Kansas City). You guys are like a breath of fresh air. I have listened to alot of bands in my time, but XTC is the ONLY band that I have consistenly enjoyed for the past 17 years. Their music sounds to me as fresh today as when I first heard it. I'm not sure who said it in the last digest, listeneng to XTC can be hard at first - but the music wins you over in the end. Jeffrey Wall
------------------------------ Message-ID: <3514D482.4B49@earthlink.net> Date: Sun, 22 Mar 1998 01:06:10 -0800 From: Herne <herne@earthlink.net> Subject: Then I Appeared Greetings Chalkfolk, Haven't posted since who knows when. Here's some comments on recent and not so recent threads: Demos---Besides being an collector of all things XTC, I also collect screenplays. Currently I have over 1500 and access to many more. BUT, strangely, I hardly read any of them. And the ones I do tend to look at are only AFTER I've seen the movie. the logic being that it's hard enough to enjoy a new movie these days as it is. It's worse if you know what's going to happen. So I've adopted the same philosophy for the new demos. I'll wait till after the album versions. I've waited six years, a few more months won't kill me...or will it? 6 Degrees---Back when people played this game I must say I was quite impressed with the musical knowlege displayed by listmembers. though I challenge you all to do it without being able to use Todd Rungren. Anyway I learned a lot before John squelched it. Speaking of which... Negativity on the list:John vehemently objects to 6 degrees posts and threatens to exterminate them. Old listmembers express fear of new members asking old questions that veterans know the answers to and god forbid, may ask about and post their favorite songs/albums. Other list members say to only talk nice about XTC or else. Being a free speech fanatic I tend to disapprove when people tell you what you can and cannot talk about. I think it can be safely assumed that if you are on this list you are a fan and more than likely a fanatic who dreams of meeting the band and in some cases wishes to marry certain members. Just because you don't like Nonsuch doesn't make you evil. I think it has more to do with the long stretch between albums. Once a few more albums (hopefully) come and go perhaps Nonsuch will be re-evaluated by many. I remember hating Mummer for many years before finally coming to like it. If I was on the list then I would have probably posted about how much I despised Wonderland but that wouldn't have made a traitor to the cause. Just because Andy and the lads may actually be seeing this list sometimes is no reason to censor one's self. I'm sure this point has already been made before and probably more eloquently, but I'm stating it again because in recent weeks I was quite distressed by people basically telling other people to shut up without actually saying so. To see it here on Chalkhills, one of my favorite places to be, it just bummed me out. Okay, now that I've asserted the right to bitch and complain... Upsy Daisy Assortment---I have to say that this is the worst album I bought in 1997. This is neither an adequate greatest hits or sampler for newcomers. Nor does it give any new nuggets for DIEHARDS like us. Who is this is for then? I guess it's just for desperate XTC fans like myself who think "Hey at least there's a new picture of the band." I would rather they just put out Fossil Fuels in the U.S.(Yes I bought the import, yes the plastic inside immediately disintegrated...sigh) Chris Difford---This whole studio debacle just makes my blood boil. As if our poor lads don't struggle enough. Especially since he hasn't come out with anything worth listening to since Argybargy...that's almost 20 years Chris. 20 years. Hand back those master tapes you bastard. (Yeah I know black coffee in bed, tempted, hourglass, but hey those later ones didn't do it for me) Welcome to the new people. I must be off to my girlfriend's. She's mad at me because I already read the new Chalkhills before her. Yes I have one of those Holy grails...a girlfriend who loves XTC, Elvis Costello, TMBG, the Sugarplastic, the Monkees (yeah that's right you heard me...the monkees) and pretty much all the music I like. Incidentally, she went to see the Sugarplastic and some other bands at a local club but the show was cancelled due to an El Nino inspired power failure. the only band which was at the club was the Candy Butchers who did a brief accoustic set by candelight which included an attempted cover of Earn Enough For US. Alas, halfway through thay had to stop as they forgot the bridge. Anyway... Till the next one... Herne XTC Song of The Moment---Jump Non XTC Song of the Moment---Psychotic Reaction by the Count Five (Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers do a pretty respectable cover of this on their box set and live video FYI)
------------------------------ Message-Id: <199803221020.CAA17013@sgi.sgi.com> From: "Tommy Nilsson" <tommy.nilsson@ebox.tninet.se> Subject: Greatest Japan/CD Date: Sun, 22 Mar 1998 11:20:06 +0100 Hi, Does anyone know which tracks there are on the japanese CD GREATEST - XTC ? I've heard that it will be realeased 14th of april. All the best Tommy Nilsson tommy.nilsson@ebox.tninet.se
------------------------------ From: J_ARTECONA@RCMACA.UPR.CLU.EDU Date: Sun, 22 Mar 1998 13:51:45 -0500 Message-Id: <980322135145.21002a62@RCMACA.UPR.CLU.EDU> Subject: My Head is My Only House Hey guy, I am sure there will be plenty of people answering your plea but here is the answer in the outside chance you don't get it elsewhere. Don Van Vliet is also known as Captain Beefheart, his musical self. He put out a lot of albums in the 60's and 70's and then just quit music in the eighties saying that everything out there was pap and worthless. I personally love his last 2 albums best (Doc at the Radar Station and Shiny Beast) but the album that has the song Ella Guru is a masterpiece called Trout Mask Replica. His music is definitely difficult at best but IMO pure genius. He used to hum all the parts to his musicians and his songs are quite complicated to play. I believe he lives in the middle of the desert in a huimidified trailer. He is also a pretty well known painter and seems to make his living that way, his paintings are under his real name Dan Van Vliet. Anyhow, if you want to know him at the peak of his musical career then Trout Mask Replica is probably your best place to start. Pancho PRXTCFAN
------------------------------ Message-Id: <199803221952.UAA16294@mail.knoware.nl> From: "Mark Strijbos" <mmello@knoware.nl> Organization: The Little Lighthouse Date: Sun, 22 Mar 1998 20:52:28 +0000 Subject: Al Of A Sudden Dear Chalkers, Misty Shock asked a very interesting question: > 2. Why is there a video for "All of a Sudden"? Was it supposed to > be a single? I think it must have been a single candidate at some stage or Virgin wouldn't have spent all that dosh on a fancy promo clip. But I have never seen any evidence of this; it's just an (educated?) guess... Somebody should ask Dave - he probably knows the score on this one. Misty also said that 'Q' did: > uphold "Travels in Nihilon" as one of XTC's best. And quite rightly too! A seminal song that is insightfull and to the point lyric-wise, backed by the weirdest soundscape XTC ever invented. BTW: the Travels In Nihilon we all know and love is in fact the edited mix - according to an old interview with Andy the original version had a 6 minute intro with just the drums and the droning sounds... (if you have this on tape, drop me a message!) yours suddenly, Mark Strijbos at The Little Lighthouse the XTC website @ http://come.to/xtc and http://www.knoware.nl/users/mmello
------------------------------ Message-Id: <199803221952.UAA16287@mail.knoware.nl> From: "Mark Strijbos" <mmello@knoware.nl> Organization: The Little Lighthouse Date: Sun, 22 Mar 1998 20:52:28 +0000 Subject: O No It Doens't ! Dear Chalkers, The lovely Lady Cornelius Plum said: > On the subject of ES sounding better on vinyl-It > does, but the running order kinda sux. Kinda sux ? I hope for your sake Dave didn't read this ! > (Then again, I bought the cd first and I'm used to hearing it in that order.) OK, but even considering that: listen to the songs and in particular to the brilliant way in which they segue (?) in to each other. Why on earth mess around with that? The running order is usually carefully selected to get the best out of the individual songs and is an integral and important part of the whole album experience. Imagine Black Sea opening with Travels In Nihilon; it's just impossible! 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: <199803222000.MAA25280@mail.eskimo.com> From: "Matt Keeley" <mrme@eskimo.com> Organization: The Dead Cat Revolutionary Army Date: Sun, 22 Mar 1998 11:59:57 +0000 Subject: Exceedingly short post today... Hello... just wanted to add that on the 25 O'Clock 12" (which I recently recieved from Dave Gershman, along with the Skylarking original US pressing - thanks a lot), there are a couple of messages engraved in the run out grooves also: Side 1: To Be Taken Twice Dali and Side 2: I Can See Four Moles Hmm.. this seems like I might just be regurgitating old information.. ah well... if so, sorry, if not, cool... BTW, if I ever become a fontagrapher or something similiar, only involving less talent, I'll have to make a font that is like the inscribed messages on records... it always seems to be the same hand.. probably because either it's a standard font (probably... almost certainly, in fact) or there's only so many ways to write various letters into vinyl (which is downright absurd...heh) Ah well, that's this world over.. Matt Living Through | (ICQ UIN: 1455267, Name: MrMe) Another | http://www.eskimo.com/~mrme Cuba -- XTC | I used to be temporarily insane! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Now I'm just stupid! -- Brak Yeah.
------------------------------
Date: 23 MAR 98 10:03:38 AES
From: PCulnane@dca.gov.au
Subject: XtC vids
Message-ID: <0000lrjfdljh.0000jjdhlrhz@dca.gov.au>
John,
The earliest batch of XtC videos ("This Is Pop", "Heatwave", "Statue of
Liberty") were, I believe, directed by a person known as Keef. I think
this is mentioned in Chris twomey's biography. Among other well-known
videos Keef was responsible for are quite a few for McCartney and Wings
around the same time ('Back To The Egg').
I don't know for sure, but would be prepared to guess that "Life Begins At
The Hop" and "Nigel" may have been directed by David Mallet, as they bear
quite a few features of his style, such as primitive chroma-key and white
saturation effects. Mallet's perhaps best-known video is Bowie's "Ashes To
Ashes".
Hope this helps
~p@ul
------------------------------ Message-ID: <Hbpn1JAeeZF1EwUI@demon.co.uk> Date: Sun, 22 Mar 1998 22:58:38 +0000 From: Jon Holden-Dye <jon@jhd-designs.demon.co.uk> Subject: The Tubes do Captain Beefheart In article <199803212157.NAA08949@mando.engr.sgi.com>, owner- <chalkhills@chalkhills.org> writes >Hello! > I really like that Ella Guru song XTC plays on The Mayor of Simpleton >single. The thing is that it is not written by XTC. It says it is written >by some Don Van Vliet guy. Who is he? Does he have albums out? Any help >would be greatly appreciated. >Gerardo Probably just one of the 763 replies you'll get, but . . . Don is Captain Beefheart. Favourite quote from said person "There are only fourteen people in the world, and seven of them are hamburgers". (WARNING: Anal retentives - PLEASE don't bother correcting the numerical innaccuracies.) And finally, thanks J D for the Tubes-related news. "Sputnik" Spooner, eh ? "Up from the Deep", to ask us "What do we want from life ?" Can't wait. I'm hanging-in there for a kidney-shaped swimming pool. -- Jon Holden-Dye "I like to keep an open mind - but not so open my brain falls out." (Anon.)
------------------------------ Message-ID: <Wr6jJFARMZF1EwV+@demon.co.uk> Date: Sun, 22 Mar 1998 22:39:13 +0000 From: Jon Holden-Dye <jon@jhd-designs.demon.co.uk> Subject: Re: World's Nastiest Accent In article <199803212157.NAA08949@mando.engr.sgi.com>, owner- <chalkhills@chalkhills.org> writes >Cait (from Southampton - worlds nastiest accent.) As a deeply-offended Soton'ian (come on you Saiyyyynts, etc.), Cait, I suggest your investigate the peerless Cockernee of "Lady In Red", as performed by Bill Bailey, inna Chas 'n' Dave stylee. NOW THAT'S WHAT I CALL THE WORLD'S NASTIEST ACCENT, cor blimey, leave it ahht, knock it on the 'ead me old china, blah, blah, blah. XTC S.O.D. "Cynical Days" Non-ditto "Discovery" Ultramarine -- Jon Holden-Dye "I like to keep an open mind - but not so open my brain falls out." (Anon.)
------------------------------ From: LadyCPlum <LadyCPlum@aol.com> Message-ID: <c22d18c7.3515c81d@aol.com> Date: Sun, 22 Mar 1998 21:25:31 EST Subject: DINSDALE! DINSDALE!!! I finally got my copy of the first season of Python, and am enjoying it IMMENSELY!!!! Mitch-Ah, that answers my question. Wonder if he hisses....never mind, I'm not going to go there. ;) Wasn't (or is it weren't????) XTC up for a Grammy many moons ago for Nonsuch????? Misty-I think Todd sings the high part in Grass....or maybe it's Dave. He tends to sing the more breathy parts, since he doesn't have a very deep voice. As far as the vid for All of a Sudden, maybe they'd meant to put it out, I'm not sure. In the earlier years of XTC, though, they had a lot more videos than they had singles, especially from White Music. (Correct me if I'm wrong on that one.) Ed P.-I agree with you about Chalkhills & Children. The book does tend to thin out a bit after we reach a certain point. We have (slight pause while AMANDA runs to her room to grab the book, now torn and tattered.) 125 pages devoted to their various exploits from birth-English Settlement. (And Terry Chambers and Barry and just inconsequential day players, apparently, since not much book time is devoted to either of them.) That's....1952-1982. Yet we have what has happened since then crammed into 56 pages. (And don't get me started about how they give an entire prologue to Andy's panic attacks and a couple of paragraphs to Dave's diabetes....and don't anyone think I'm donwplaying how bad Andy must've felt, if anyone can sympathise with someone who has panic attacks, it's me.) John-Wow, something about XTC you don't know!!!! ;) The tongue is firmly in cheek, my friend. Ahem...I'd think that whoever put together XTC At the Manor is also responsible for Generals and Majors, although I'm not sure of the name. And isn't the name of the producer of MOS in the vid towards the beginning? Tis all for now, must be off to bed. Cheers, Amanda XTC song of the day-Are You Receiving Me? non XTC song-Lust For Life-Iggy Pop Python quote of the day-"Nobody expects the Spanish Inquisition!"
------------------------------ Message-Id: <v01540b00b13b8ee52d42@[139.80.100.91]> Date: Mon, 23 Mar 1998 16:49:54 +0400 From: james.dignan@stonebow.otago.ac.nz (James Dignan) Subject: xtc movie >Mitch-Was the stove hissing or was Dave??? Anyhoo, that Nazi guy whose >face melted would be PERFECT to play Andy. I'm gonna have to go watch >Raiders of the Lost Ark now! I'm not sure who we could get to play Colin, >but Noah Wyle could be a shoo-in for Dave. I thought we all went through this thread a couple o'years back and decided that Woody Harrelson would be good as Andy... James James Dignan___________________________________ You talk to me Deptmt of Psychology, Otago University As if from a distance ya zhivu v' 50 Norfolk Street And I reply. . . . . . . . . . Dunedin, New Zealand with impressions chosen from another time steam megaphone (03) 455-7807 (Brian Eno - "By this River")
------------------------------ From: CCooli9575 <CCooli9575@aol.com> Message-ID: <d108d55.35164c30@aol.com> Date: Mon, 23 Mar 1998 06:49:01 EST Subject: Dripping Mushroom Hearts >Hello! > >I really like that Ella Guru song XTC plays on The Mayor of Simpleton >single. The thing is that it is not written by XTC. It says it is written >by some Don Van Vliet guy. Who is he? Does he have albums out? Any help >would be greatly appreciated. > >Gerardo Don Van Vliet, otherwise known as Captain Beefheart, has about ten albums out, ranging from fairly straight but wild electric blues(try to imagine a white Howlin' Wolf and you're partway there)to downright weirdness that's still vaguely blues-based. Very influential on the late-70's punk/new wave scene; bands like Pere Ubu, Devo and yes, even XTC, would have been unthinkable without him. His best album is Trout Mask Replica, a very strange and diverse two record set from 1969 "produced" by Frank Zappa(who supposedly fell asleep for most of the recording session, and the band just kept right on going with the good Captain calling the shots; Frank can be heard waking up at the end of "The Blimp" midway through side 4), and including the original version of "Ella Guru." Second best is the followup Lick My Decals Off Baby, which is similar but a bit more percussive; followed closely by Clear Spot, a Beefheart-style R&B album(including a great Otis Redding style soul number called "Too Much Time," which got some airplay on a few R&B stations), and the more accessible Shiny Beast from '78, and '80's Doc At The Radar Station, his response to renewed interest in him by the above bands and others. Anything else of his is flawed in one way or another(especially his two misguided attempts at commercial songwriting, Unconditionally Guaranteed and Bluejeans And Moonbeams, to be avoided unless you have to have everything), dodgy production on the pre-Trout Mask stuff, voice completely shot on his last '82 album, for example, but except for the two commercial albums, definitely worth picking up. Pick up the recommended albums first, though. Chris
------------------------------ Date: 23 Mar 98 03:50:16 +0000 Subject: Re: Living Through Another Toulon From: "David vanWert" <mcknife@xsite.net> Message-Id: <B13B8C80-BC2DF@206.126.236.39> On Sat, Mar 21, 1998 9:57 PM, Edward wrote: > It's alright the >Yanks to complain about small turn outs for UK conventions (I missed both), >but at least they happened. Oh my god I sound like a pompous Brit, and >there's obviously no parallel between the US's late (post Skylarking) >adoption of XTC and their late participation in World war 2. Jeez, we bail you out of TWO wars you should have been able to handle yourselves (though admittedly, you were saddled with the French and their post-Napolean combat tactics which consisted largely of running away) and you want to give us grief? My first XTC album was Black Sea, it was 1981, I was fourteen, and I lived in a small and fairly remote town in east Texas with one record store. Me and three or four friends would go in and ask for XTC records every now and then, and we'd call the store (disguising our voices like the clever little adolescents we were) asking what XTC albums they had in stock. That little store had English Settlement and Mummer copies galore when those albums were released. Guess that makes me (and numerous other Yank Chalkhillians who predate me in their fervor) the Lafayette Escadrille. ;?) David vanWert mcknife@xsite.net http://www.xsite.net/~mcknife "Oh, for God's sake, let them have it. What's the worst that could happen?" --Neville Chamberlain
------------------------------ From: "Dr. Foulger" <damian@ceolasers.com> Organization: Cutting Edge Optronics, Inc. Date: Mon, 23 Mar 1998 10:30:34 -0600 Subject: The white horse of Uffington Message-Id: <19980323103100.85b7094e.in@ceo.ceolasers.com> Tim K. wrote that he was going to vacation in the UK and see, amongst other things, the WH of U. This has prompted me to recount my tail of the beast. I moved from Britain a year ago and recently returned. Suddenly, I was filled with the desire to play tourist! So I went to the WH of U. I'd seen it several times from the Cardiff-London train but it's a little small. So, my fiancee and I parked the car in the relevant car park (it's all very well sign-posted once you get fairly close.) and set off over the sloping field in search of the equistrian monument. It only takes about 5 minutes to hunt the creature down (it doesn't move very fast), and once we got there I was not struck immediately with any sense of awe over it's size or construction. It's actually vaguely boring. It's a nice walk, and in the summer it's probably a nicer one. It' not until I realised that it is 3000 years old that I became impressed. I'm glad that I saw it up close, but you have to wonder something: 'Why did ancient man/woman bother?' Damian (ex-pat)
------------------------------ Message-Id: <TFSNZZWM@ubk.net>> From: Jonathan Monnickendam <monnickj@ubk.net> Date: Mon, 23 Mar 1998 17:44:54 +0000 Subject: Re: Ella Guru & Captn Beefheart >From: gtellez@access1.net (Gerardo Tellez) Where to start ? Trout Mask Replica, the source of ella guru, is always good for musical indigestion but I don't know how many times anybody can get through it. You might want to listen to it back to back with 'drums and wires' to spot the influence. I would recommend Safe as Milk as any early easy listening entrance to the man, a true gem and my long term favourite. Thereafter you could go for later material such 'bat chain puller' or 'ice cream for crow'. Be careful as there are many cheapo compilations which duplicate early material or the substandard Virgin era. If you know the right people there is also the excellent Life and Times of Captn B bootleg, referred to in Heyklin's great white wonders book on bootlegs, which covers the early material , including unadulterated takes from 'strictly personal'. abba zabba jon * --------------------------------------------------------------- The views expressed are of the individual, and do not necessarily reflect the views of The United Bank of Kuwait PLC. * ---------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------ Date: Mon, 23 Mar 1998 13:15:22 -0500 (EST) From: Thomas Slack <tgs@telerama.com> Subject: London Message-ID: <Pine.BSI.3.95.980323130428.17836A-100000@frogger.lm.com> Tim Kendrick (tim63@earthlink.net) writes: > ...it looks like I may be vacationing in the UK at the > end of May.[snip] Maybe we could have a small Chalkhills > gathering somewhere in London. As it happens, I'll be spending the night in London on Saturday, May 23rd. A get together with fellow Chalkies would be the best possible way to spend it. If any of you Londoners are interested, please let me (as well as Tim) know. Tom Slack tgs@lm.com
------------------------------ Message-ID: <001e01bd568e$0f26fcc0$bc4f08c3@default> From: "goldwing" <goldwing@clara.net> Subject: Re: Don Van Vliet Date: Mon, 23 Mar 1998 19:00:28 -0000 Gerardo Tellez wanted to know who (some Don Van Vliet guy.) was . He may have been ironic but just in case he genuinely wanted to know...He`s good old Cap`n Beefheart Dave Hall
------------------------------ Message-Id: <72EDB966944AD1118DC90080D820748847BEC9@ex-campus2> From: "Pedretti-Allen, Richard" <Richard.PedrettiAllen@octel.com> Subject: Another XTC-1 Date: Mon, 23 Mar 1998 11:35:36 -0800 With all this talk about Xtra Crispy Chicken, I went searching the web for other instances of "XTC" and will post a few of the more amusing ones. Here's one for snowmobiles. ===================================================== YAMAHA Introducing the lightweight, premium Vmax 700 XTC Deluxe, Vmax 600 XTC Deluxe and Vmax 500 XTC Deluxe. Three of the best trail luxury machines ever unleashed on the snow. Think about it. When your buddies are pulling on rope, you turn the key. While they're pulling their sleds off the trailer, you save your energy for the trail, slip your Deluxe into reverse and wave goodbye. Of course, "Deluxe" also means extra comfort out on the trail. All three XTC Deluxe models feature our ProAction Plus X rear suspension. It has 11.5" of travel, bearings and bushings at key pivot points, and rebuildable, aluminum-bodied Kayaba gas shocks. ================================== Andy, Colin and Dave are "three of the best trail luxury machines ever unleashed on the snow." Whoa, hey!
------------------------------ Message-ID: <3516C421.261BC97D@edenbio.com> Date: Mon, 23 Mar 1998 12:20:49 -0800 From: Peter Mullin <mullinp@edenbio.com> Subject: Re: Don van Vliet Gerardo, Think Captain Beefheart. Mr. van Vliet has released numerous recordings (such as 'Trout Maks Replica') as Capthain Beefheart, and has also recorded with Frank Zappa (e.g., 'Bongo Fury'). Some of his catalog is surely still available. Much Beefheart is not for the faint-of-heart, but lots of fun to listen to, nonetheless. Peter.
------------------------------ Message-ID: <3516D870.434FCC39@ix.netcom.com> Date: Mon, 23 Mar 1998 15:47:28 -0600 From: Scott Powers <nonsuch@ix.netcom.com> Subject: rifff prize holy sh*t!!! I went to get the mail today and found a package from microsoft, hmm I didn't order anything and I don't know anyone at microsoft, and I know it isn't junk mail cuz it's just in a normal package well I open it and an autographed cd falls out, wow! I just looked at it for a minute then I thought to look and see what else was in the package, ok its a letter from the good Peter Fitzpatrick saying I won a cd, wow! I was totally shocked I forgot all about it and nobody ever told me that I had won anything. huh go figure, I wonder if anything remotely this cool will be in the mail tomorrow -scott
------------------------------ Message-ID: <3516E5E8.68CE5256@ket.org> Date: Mon, 23 Mar 1998 17:44:56 -0500 From: james isaacs <jisaacs@ket.org> Subject: Chatting and such Last issue, StarlingV said "Hi." Anyway, I don't have AOL, and I plan on never returning there, no offense. But, if we non-AOL-ers wanted to do the same, there are a number of Java-based web pages where we could do the same. Yahoo comes to mind. If anyone is interested, perhaps we could set up a room sometime. Let me know, and maybe I can coordinate. James
------------------------------ Message-Id: <72EDB966944AD1118DC90080D820748847BECC@ex-campus2> From: "Pedretti-Allen, Richard" <Richard.PedrettiAllen@octel.com> Subject: Chalkhills FAQ - "Atom Bomb" quote Date: Mon, 23 Mar 1998 14:38:44 -0800 >From Chalkhills FAQ: John A Lane <jal@iastate.edu> adds: How many out there realized that the quote on the 25 o'clock record, which goes "go f--k yourself with your atom bomb", comes directly from Allen Ginseberg's [sic] book of poems, HOWL? >From Richard: To be a bit more specific it is from Allen Ginsberg's poem "America" published by City Lights Books 1956. ...not that anyone REALLY cares. Cheers, Richard
------------------------------
Message-ID: <c=US%a=_%p=BTG._Inc.%l=EXCH_HQ-980323234402Z-83468@exchserver.btg.com>
From: "Sherwood, Harrison" <hsherwood@btg.com>
Subject: Old Fart at Play
Date: Mon, 23 Mar 1998 18:44:02 -0500
>From: gtellez@access1.net (Gerardo Tellez)
>Subject: Ella Guru
> I really like that Ella Guru song XTC plays on The Mayor of Simpleton
>single. The thing is that it is not written by XTC. It says it is written
>by some Don Van Vliet guy. Who is he? Does he have albums out? Any help
>would be greatly appreciated.
(Assuming this isn't troll bait...)
Gerardo, old sock, the sooner you resign yourself to it, the sooner you
just *give in*, allow it to *wash* over you like a wave of warm goatmilk
laced with the tincture of merthiolate and a twist of vo-do-de-yo-do,
the sooner, in short, that you just...*surrender*...
...The sooner will you know, as you know the night followeth the day:
*I* am Don van Vliet. And *you* are Don van Vliet. And he, and she, and
they, and we, are all together Don van Vliet. And van Vliet is Beefheart
and Beefheart is the Warrior Name of the Captain and the Captain is
Pappy with the khaki sweatband/Bowed goat potbellied barnyard that only
he noticed/The old fart was smart....
Gerardo, ol' buddy, you've got a world of wonderful listening ahead of
you.
Start at http://www.shiningsilence.com/hpr/people/vanvliet.html (and the
rest of you might want to read along, 'cos his spontaneous Lettermanic
sense of humor might remind you of a certain pudgy bespectacled pop
genius). Carry on from there to Trout Mask Replica. See how fast you can
clear a roomful of dough-eating squids with "Doc at the Radar Station,"
his Eighties masterpiece.
He only paints now, but he is not dead.
"Captain Beefheart is in my opinion the greatest American poet, he had a
way of filtering, concentrating the Americana, old and modern, into some
little pieces of music, three minutes long; I admire him enormously for
that. His music is a never ending bomb, surprising one from the first
to the last noise. I do need elements of rigour in order to understand
music, but I like to lift the lid and find surprises. Some people do
not appreciate uncertainty, do not like to look under a stone to find
something marvellous. I like to put it in music."
-- Andy Partridge, interviewed in Les Inrockuptibles, March
1992, quoted in
Chalkhills 1-212.
>From: Misty Shock <mccrtny@u.washington.edu>
>Subject: Coupla questions
>
>I also was pleased to read some applause for "Great Fire" in an old issue
>of Q in their review of Fossil Fuels. They called it a cross between
>"Stawberry Fields" and "Penny Lane", which was strange to me, because I
>had never heard the Beatles influence in this song.
The descending march-time chords under the line, "Your glance a match on
the tinderwood/You never spoke but I understood" is quite McCartneyoid.
And the growling cellos in the chorus and outro conjure a 1967 George
Martin string arrangement, possibly "I Am the Walrus." But a "cross
between 'Strawberry Fields' and 'Penny Lane'"? Rock critics on a
deadline: What are you gonna do? It reminds me much more of the Kinks,
anyway.
Funny thing: The ending of "Great Fire" brings to mind the end of the
Rutles' "Another Day": parody of a parody.
(And speaking of, everyone very much needs to visit
http://www.primenet.com/~dhaber/rutles/rutles96.html, where the "Dirk is
Deaf" rumor is explored at great length, including the vital
intelligence that on the cover of the "Sgt. Rutter" LP, "Someone is
holding a hand, palm out, over Dirk's head, which is the symbol for
"hello" in the sign language used by the deaf, a language which Dirk
must have been learning at the time in order to communicate with
others.")
Say, remind me sometime to tell you guys about my recent three-week
orchestration retreat with Van Dyke Parks. The hands-on class in
Overblowing, Overbowing, and Overbearing was by itself worth the price
of the tramp steamer fare to Port Moresby, New Guinea. And Van is _such_
a down-to-earth guy! The food got a little old--boiled dog every blessed
lunchtime--but they supplied us with mosquito netting for our tents, and
the snake repellent worked perfectly. Our Dyak porters couldn't have
been politer--and those Pidgin lessons came in _so_ handy! Go ahead, ask
me how you say, "I am sorry, but I cannot eat this; human flesh is taboo
to my people, no matter how thoroughly cooked"!
Harrison "Van with the showing scalp flat top/Particular about the point
it made" Sherwood
------------------------------ End of Chalkhills Digest #4-64 ******************************
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