Chalkhills Digest Volume 4, Issue 68
Date: Monday, 6 April 1998
Chalkhills Digest, Volume 4, Number 68
Monday, 6 April 1998
Today's Topics:
Mine's a Molson
Re: XTC Super Center Moments
Brief Top 11 and The Good Captain B-Heart
Upsy Daisy
Tock for sale
Just a brief?!? thought
Mea Culpa (and no XTContent)
Squeeze me
Woody/Green man/Who
Re: Planet Love
I once was lost but now am found!
Looking for Demos...
The greatest
What a gay day
Gay Gordon
Operatics
Re: Big Dig
RE: The Mayor of Simpleton
chips from chipping norton
Residence Resonance
You Won't Believe This
Dave thinks we're swell...
What's up with Christmas?
Other great moments
NewB, Rhythm, Stereolab, Thanks
Prarie/XTC update
Perfect song pairings
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---------------------------------------------------------------------- Message-ID: <c=US%a=_%p=SELECT_Software_%l=SELECT_OX_MAI-980401164541Z-5619@selectmail.selectst.com> From: Catherine Sweeney <CatherineS@selectst.com> Subject: Mine's a Molson Date: Wed, 1 Apr 1998 17:45:41 +0100 Dominic Chaumont says >Are there any other Canadian fans out there ? You bet, matey. I'm a BIG fan of the Canadian rugby captain Gareth Rees. I guess that counts as me being a Canadian fan of sorts. I suspect this may not be quite what you meant, though....
------------------------------ From: btm@ns1.mindmagic.com Message-ID: <352233D3.70DD@ns1.mindmagic.com> Date: Wed, 01 Apr 1998 12:32:23 +0000 Subject: Re: XTC Super Center Moments Tschalkgerz! >And from sunny Tampa, Florida we have this lovely vignette: "I pulled off Dale Mabry and drove behind Hillsborough Community College to Lois Avenue. Next to an upholstery shop and a clutch repair place was the ``Tight Ends Exotic Sports Bar.'' Gee, it's not often you find sports bars that specialize that much. A block or so down the street was the ``XTC Super Center,'' which was just up from the cleverly named ``Adult Center.''< Now, I mentioned this place sometime back, so lets get the record straight! :-) Fave XTC moments: "No Thugs In Our House" - the organ grinder-style music that accompanies "They never read those pamphlets in his bottom drawer..." "Yacht Dance" - the metallic tom hits all through the song... reminds me of rigging hitting masts on boats in a marina. "English Roundabout" - the fact that it's in 5/4 time! ]"War Dance" - the clarinet. There are others, but I know you're anxious to move along to the next post! -Bradenton Brian
------------------------------ Message-ID: <19980401192611.26418.qmail@hotmail.com> From: "Steve Stearns" <xteve@hotmail.com> Subject: Brief Top 11 and The Good Captain B-Heart Date: Wed, 01 Apr 1998 11:26:08 PST Hello all. My top 11 moments before this thread gets old: 11. The last chorus of "Smalltown" with Colin's backing vocal: "If it's all the same to youuuuuu." Bliss. 10. The last verse of 1000 Umbrellas with the cellos behind Andy's anguished vocals. . ."How can you smile and forecast . . ." 9. Andy showing off his operatic range in "Meccanik Dancing" on Drums and Wireless: "Alcohol is an easy keEEEEEEEEEy!!!" 8. Dave's guitar solo on "That Wave": what Jeff Beck sounds like on steroids. 7. Dave's keyboard solo on "Smartest Monkeys": I know lots of Chalkhillers don't like this song, but the solo is PHAT! 6. The fadeout of "Chalkhills and Children": "Even I never know where I go when my eyes are closed . . ." 5. Colin's bass line in "Scarecrow People": This still blows me away every time I hear it. 4. The keyboard paralleling the guitar lines in "English Roundabout": Gangway, Prophet V coming through! 3. The dual drumming of Terry Chambers and the cheesy drum machine on "Living Through Another Cuba": Also Andy's shout at the end "Ba!!" 2. Mo' phat drumming from T.C. on "Love at First Sight" 1. The general vibe of "I Remember the Sun": Maybe not my absolute #1 moment but I was just writing stuff down as I went . . . And in other news, Good to see Capt. Beefheart get mentioned in the list, I only have 2 albums of his, Trout Mask and Shiny Beast, but they, like the work of our favorite Swindonians, shows me something new with every listen. Making love to a vampire with a monkey on my knee, Steve
------------------------------ Date: Wed, 1 Apr 1998 12:45:11 -0800 (PST) From: Misty Shock <mccrtny@u.washington.edu> Subject: Upsy Daisy Message-ID: <Pine.OSF.3.96.980401122603.32481B-100000@saul2.u.washington.edu> I won't agree with the statement that Upsy Daisy Assortment is the worst album this year, but I also don't think that it is the best compilation that I have ever heard. I think that it had the potential to be much better than it was. For one thing, White Music and Go2 are not represented. "Statue of Liberty" and "Are You Receiving Me" would've surely fit at the beginning of the album. Their exclusion as well as the inclusion of some of the more boring singles like "The Disappointed" makes it clear that the album is a collection of XTC's crowd pleasers rather than their best. I like "The Disappointed" enough and all, but I would not call it one of XTC's gems. The status of Upsy Daisy as a single's collection is also supported by the fact that the single version "Respectable Street" was put on the album rather than the much superior album version... I would be interested to see what Andy himself would've picked a la Elvis Costello's best of albums. Misty Shock "No round of drinks can extinguish this feeling of love and engulfing bliss." --Andy Partridge
------------------------------ Message-ID: <3521EEDE.1A9168F3@fastlink.com.au> Date: Wed, 01 Apr 1998 17:38:09 +1000 From: Joseph J Ierano <chierano@fastlink.com.au> Organization: chiropractic ierano Subject: Tock for sale To All: anybody want to buy my copy of "TOCK" by Yazbek ? I'm afraid it didn't "tick" for me... Please email me at the address below. Thanks, Joe -- Joseph J Ierano BSc DC chiropractic ierano PO Box 108 Camden NSW Australia 2570 Ph: +61 2 4655 4010 email: chierano@fastlink.com.au
------------------------------ Message-ID: <19980401221837.3225.rocketmail@send1d.yahoomail.com> Date: Wed, 1 Apr 1998 14:18:37 -0800 (PST) From: Bill Gibron <bgibron@yahoo.com> Subject: Just a brief?!? thought I tend to be "schoolmastery" because I am a teacher and coach, and have been for several years. I also taught in college and grad school. I tend to patronize due to the apparent desire of many to tear down their idols in place of worship. I LOVE XTC. And will always. I will get the demos and treasure my collection. If they want to put out an entire album of drivel, I'll still buy it and call it genius because I AM A FANATIC. This makes me crazy and unreliable, I know that. And it makes me angry and sad when they are attacked. So, I vow, no more long diatribes, just good hearted posts about the music and gang that I love. Sorry if I have contributed to the anti-Captain Beefheart mode some posters are in. The Greatest Living Englishman is a great album, as if Through the Hill. MORE TOP MOMENTS. I for one am interested. Are you receiving me? Bill Gibron
------------------------------ Message-Id: <v03007800b1482ecc646a@[198.53.5.183]> From: Erich Walther <enrico@fox.nstn.ca> Subject: Mea Culpa (and no XTContent) Date: Wed, 1 Apr 1998 19:01:18 -0400 Alfred Masciocchi has correctly and politely corrected my post on the Magic Band: >With all the nicknames they used it's no surprise that there is >confusion but the Magic Band members listed below are actually named >Bill Harkelroad and John French (speaking of whom, seek out two albums >he did with Fred Frith, Henry Kaiser, and Richard Thompson - >collectively known as French, Frith, Kaiser, & Thompson). >Put me down as a fan of the Captain and the Magic Band as well. If >you're looking to get into him start with the excellent 2fer combining >Spotlight Kid and Clear Spot. My 2fer is Spotlight Kid and Lick My Decals Off, Baby Anyway, the URL is http://www.shiningsilence.com/hpr.misc for anyone interested.
------------------------------ Message-Id: <199804020043.RAA17733@access.tucson.org> From: "J. D. SMX" <jsmelser@access.tucson.org> Organization: Access Tucson Date: Wed, 1 Apr 1998 17:48:38 -0700 Subject: Squeeze me Hi Chalkhill Dwellers, > I think Squeeze are great, but I really can't stand the "Difford and > Tilbrook" album. Even the folks on the Squeeze mailing list rate > D&T as their next to worst effort, just ahead of "UK Squeeze". WOW, I'm really surprised to hear this. I admit, I haven't listened to this record for years, but while I was on a road trip I picked up the D&T cassette for the car in a cutout bin. My girlfriend, Lisa, (who had never heard it before) and I found it most enjoyable and not the least bit Disco. Of course, my opinion could be tainted by knowing how they write their songs. That has always amazed me. And, I'd give anything to have a singing voice like Glen Tilbrook. (and others but listing them would only get me grief) Ummm, XTC? They're grrrreat! JD SMX
------------------------------ Date: Thu, 2 Apr 1998 14:23:20 +1200 (NZST) Message-Id: <v01540b00b147d7aba4f0@[139.80.53.27]> From: james.dignan@stonebow.otago.ac.nz (James Dignan) Subject: Woody/Green man/Who The good lady did say: >James-ECCH!!!!! Do not desicrate the good name of Andy Partridge by having >Woody Harrelson of all people portray him. I simply repeat what was said by someone else many many mailings ago... ISTR it was a response to seeing the poster of Natural Born Killers. From: Erich Walther <enrico@fox.nstn.ca> >..."Parables, fables, allegories are best left unexplained. Something of this >is hinted at in the last piece, "The Green Man", knowingly subtitled 'an >eternity'. Seen from a speeding car on the highway, the Green Man is a shadow, >the stump of a tree, a scarecrow. Old people have known him in their youth and >can't believe he's still alive. In less than 50 pages, Gardam tells t immortal >creature's endless story - his dealings with nature, Christ, the Devil and >Death. In Gardam's telling, the Green Man becomes the missing god of our poor >contemporary mythology. Exactly which of our experiences the green Man is >supposed to reflect, we quite properly don't know, and yet we read the fable >with a shiver of recognition" oh, undeniably. Haven't Americans (and canadians for that matter) heard of the Green Man? I don't recall the exact details, but he's a popular figure in European folk mythologies as a personification of nature. Nowadays he's most often ncountered as the name of pubs in England, but certainly there are a lot of green man legends, and the name quite often appears as the title of stories in some way connected with 'the old ways'. hmmm... and after my riposte to the "I can see four moles" comment, I have had a good listen and yes, the deft hand of Rog (Meaty), Keith (Beaty), John (Big) and Pete (Bouncy) can indeed be heard. I don't know why I've never spotted the Who influence before - I guess I've been lulled into the Beatles/Kinks/Beach Boys troika theory... James
------------------------------ From: CCooli9575 <CCooli9575@aol.com> Message-ID: <5eba0ae6.35230d93@aol.com> Date: Wed, 1 Apr 1998 23:01:21 EST Subject: Re: Planet Love >"Greetings >From Planet Love". It's incredible!!!! Actually, it's all done by >Andrew Gold (of "Lonely Boy" & "Thank You For Being A Friend" fame) >and while most of the songs are definitely influenced by The Beatles >and The Beach Boys, there's a little bit of 60's magic in it for >everyone!!!! It is available from Andrew's website - "andrewgold.com" >& I can't recommend it highly enough... Not as much of a stretch as you might think; I had no use for his solo stuff, but he was with 10cc for a while in the 80's. Basically him and Graham Gouldman overdubbing themselves. On that basis, might be worth checking out. Chris
------------------------------ From: LadyCPlum <LadyCPlum@aol.com> Message-ID: <25da6bcb.35231af6@aol.com> Date: Wed, 1 Apr 1998 23:58:28 EST Subject: I once was lost but now am found! Been to hell and back in the past few weeks, but I'm back to my old annoying self. So here we go, without further ado...... Ben-Howabout IMNXTC for your license plate? As to the question of those of us who are in the younger age bracket liking the older stuff, may I say that I am one who does NOT. Maybe if I had gotten into XTC a few years earlier, when I was going through my pre-teen metal/punk phase I would've appreciated White Music and Go2 more, but those two remain at the bottom of my list of XTC albums. I rarely listen to them, in fact. (oooh, sacrilege.) And that's all for now! Ciao, Amanda XTC song of the day-Travels In Nihilon non XTC song-Stand Or Fall-The Fixx
------------------------------ From: lot49@ix.netcom.com Message-ID: <35233622.6811@ix.netcom.com> Date: Wed, 01 Apr 1998 22:54:27 -0800 Subject: Looking for Demos... I'm a long suffering XTC fan who still hasn't heard the new demos. I would very much like to get a copy. I have an un-opened copy of "The Greatest Living Englishman" for trade. Alternatively, I can make a high quality dub of my original "Jules Verne" cassette in return. Please e-mail me directly if you can help! (lot49@ix.netcom.com) -j
------------------------------
From: nihilon@crisscross.com
Message-Id: <v03007801b1497622811c@[203.137.9.177]>
Subject: The greatest
Date: Thu, 2 Apr 1998 17:04:31 +0900
All.
Just picked up the new XTC album on sale here today.
It's a red silky looking cover with a circular photo of the boys, and the
words 'The Greatest' and 'Limited Edition' printed in gold on the actual
jewel case. Haven't listened to it yet, but here's the listing.
Science Friction
Statue Of Liberty
This Is Pop? (live 20.7.79 Sydney)
Are You Receiving Me? (live 20.7.79 Sydney)
Life Begins At The Hop
Making Plans For Nigel
Towers Of London
Living Through Another Cuba (live 12.10.80 The Lyceum)
Generals And Majors (live 12.10.80 The Lyceum)
Respectable Street (single version)
Senses Working Overtime (extended version - runs 4:49)
Ball And Chain
Wonderland
All You Pretty Girls
Grass
Dear God
The Mayor Of Simpleton
The Disappointed
It's released by Toshiba-EMI, but has the Virgin logo on the cardboard
sash. (Along with details in Japanese and the following in English - 'This
Is Pop? - Yes, it is XTC!'
The booklet has a few pages of info in Japanese, and all the lyrics in
English and Japanese. I haven't had chance to look for mistakes in the
lyrics yet.
There are a series of these with the same covers in different color. I saw
5 today. Paul McCartney, John Lennon, Jelly Fish, The Red Hot Chili
Peppers and XTC. The booklet lists about 20 more in the series.
There is a URL listed on the sash, but I haven't checked it, and I don't
know if it mentions XTC, or is just the labels home. Anyway it is:
http://www.toshiba-emi.co.jp
For what it's worth,
Regards,
Steve (MGV)
* ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Life is what happens while you're busy making plans.
(John Lennon)
* ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------ Date: Thu, 2 Apr 1998 01:26:58 -0800 (PST) Message-Id: <v01510104b1491511573f@[194.128.83.69]> From: fisher@easynet.co.uk (Mark Fisher) Subject: What a gay day >In particular I am entranced with the new (to me) "Dance Band". Can >someone just tell me who Gay Gordon is?? The Gay Gordons is a traditional Scottish dance. So Colin's line is just a bit of a joke.
------------------------------ Message-Id: <199804021122.MAA06485@pip.maires.co.uk> From: "Stephen Clarke" <S.Clarke@nopres.co.uk> Organization: NOP Research Date: Thu, 2 Apr 1998 12:20:09 +0000 Subject: Gay Gordon > In particular I am entranced with the new (to me) "Dance Band". Can > someone just tell me who Gay Gordon is?? The husband tells me > it's a dance, but that's all I can come up with. I've checked the FAQ, > I've searched the back issues, but there's no mention. Am I the only > fool who loves this little ditty? Let me be the first to make my reservation > for the next Chalkhills' Children (if there is such an animal). I WILL be > doing Dance Band. So there. Hi Melissa The 'Gay Gordons' or the 'eightsome reel' is a sequence of elaborate Scottish dances performed to an equally elaborate medley of Scottish jig-like tunes. It generally starts with the well known 'aunty mary had a canary up the leg of her drawers' melody (you may or may not know what the hell I'm talking about here- and if you don't, then you don't want to know the next line - believe me). I was at a party once when an eightsome reel / gay gordons was played and all the scots folk present were merrily jigging away in an orderly fashion. Myself and a friend were attempting our own 'saasenach' interpretation of the dance (cavorting around like two 'brigadoon' film extras) when suddenly we were grabbed and handled very roughly by two powerful ladies in tartan frocks who, upon taking offence at our poor attempts at the dance, proceeded to show us how to do the steps properly and didn't release us from their vice-like grip until we shown proper respect to the steps (actually, I think mine was holding me with my feet off the ground). I hope that clears that one up. 'Dance Band' was the first XTC song I ever heard - that was back in 197?*? - I'm showing my age again. A good choice of song for CC'98! Regards -Steve
------------------------------ Message-Id: <2.2.32.19980402114103.006bdac0@popmail.dircon.co.uk> Date: Thu, 02 Apr 1998 12:41:03 +0100 From: Simon Sleightholm <nonsuch@dircon.co.uk> Subject: Operatics Well hello, Back from holiday and only just managed to trawl through the last few digests. You chaps have been busy. I got an email the other day from a guy who who's making a documentary about Gilbert and Sullivan and who wants XTC to contribute. He already has Warren Zevon and Sparks lined lined up and the idea is that the band would record a modern version of a G & S song for the film. It looks as if, with a lot of their album work still to do, the band aren't really interested/able, but it would have been a fun project, I think. I'm sure a band did a fairly punky version of "Soldiers Of The Queen" a few years back (I have it in mind that a Shane McGowan-type voice, with more gravel than a Japanese garden, sang it) - can anyone ratify this, or did I just dream it? Fave xtc moment:- The first strangled-cat wail of harmonica in Reign Of Blows. I had a spooky music moment on holiday (not exactly XTC related, but it _should_ have been). As a birthday gift my mother gave me a personal CD player as we were travelling to Spain. Very acceptable gift but, as it was a surprise, I didn't have any CDs with me. Trawled the small country townsmarkets for CDs but to no avail, lots of dubious pirate copies of stuff (there was one I now wish I'd bought; it was called "Paul Simon And Friends" and implied it was some big collaborative event but which turned out to be one obscure Paul Simon track and a whole bunch of other tracks from various European pop acts. "Paul Simon And Some People He's Never Heard Of" perhaps isn't as snappy, but would be considerably more accurate and may even intrigue a catholic taste). On the very last day I woke with the tune of "Jacket Hangs" by my No 2 fave band, the Blue Aeroplanes, running around my head. We sometimes think that XTC are of minority interest and ignored - just you try being a Blue Aeroplanes fan for a while. Their music has real power, the power to turn people into owls; "Who?". Driving to the airport we passed a huge supermarket and, being compelled to spend our last pesetas, we ducked in. I headed for the "oferta" CD bin and raked around. Loads of Chris Rea and The Doors CDs and then - f**k me! - "Huh! The Best Of The Blue Aeroplanes, 1987 - 1992"; first track "Jacket Hangs." Only a music fan - as we all are - will understand what that felt like. Underneath it in the pile were two Philip Glass CDs, so I bought them too. Happy as a cat in sunlight I spent the rest of the day in bliss looking for the angel on my shoulder. It's not a lovething, it's a higherthing Simon, -+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+- http://www.nonsuch.dircon.co.uk/bungalow.htm (http://come.to/bungalow) -+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+- An XTC resource - "Saving it all up for you..."
------------------------------
From: CCooli9575 <CCooli9575@aol.com>
Message-ID: <e6e4548d.35237fa0@aol.com>
Date: Thu, 2 Apr 1998 07:07:58 EST
Subject: Re: Big Dig
>And a bit on Captain Beefheart.....AP's song Candymine mentions a 'big
>dig' which is a reference to Beefheart's "Smithsonian Institute Blues"
>("come on down to the big dig") which I think is from Shiny Beast (I am
It's on Lick My Decals Off Baby.
------------------------------ Message-ID: <19980402124059.27491.qmail@hotmail.com> From: "k. siegel" <beatlebird@hotmail.com> Subject: RE: The Mayor of Simpleton Date: Thu, 02 Apr 1998 04:40:59 PST >The Mayor of Simpleton Why this (and many other XTC songs) was not a hit remains a mystery.< Bradenton Brian wrote: >>Because it's XTC!! That name gives about as much excitement to the >>rest of >>the world as, say, Oingo Boingo does. Of, course, we know better. Right, but did you ever consider the fact that maybe XTC are just TOO INTELLIGENT for mainstream radio (in most markets)? I mean, could you picture Hanson singing a line like "Never took a paper or a learned degree..." Can you just see Mariah Carey using the word "upstanding" in a song? Some people like their pablum, which is what they are fed, and they learn to get used to it. Thankfully most of us here enjoy the sweetest of treats -- musical, cerebral -- which category XTC falls into. Enjoy, Kristi * ----------------------------------------------------------- Travel, trouble, music, art A kiss, a frock, a rhyme, I never said they feed my heart But still they pass the time. --Dorothy Parker
------------------------------ Message-ID: <B9B4268C8F87D11195DC0000F840FABEC7F2B1@DUB-MSG-02> From: Peter Fitzpatrick <peterfit@MICROSOFT.com> Subject: chips from chipping norton Date: Thu, 2 Apr 1998 08:46:29 -0800 not of great significance and nothing we don't already know....but it's nice to see the band almost back in the limelight. browsing through "Pro Sound News Europe" today I noticed in the "studio bookings" section : Studio : Chipping Norton Artist : XTC Project : album Client : Idea Producer : Hayden Bendall Engineer : Barry Hammond Peter
------------------------------ From: Matt_Kaden/CAM/Lotus@lotus.com Message-ID: <852565DA.005BF60E.00@mta2.lotus.com> Date: Thu, 2 Apr 1998 11:52:58 -0500 Subject: Residence Resonance Well it's been a long time for me posting in here, I know, and you all want to read the book about me, so I assume the humble narrator persona with a 13th century quinge (the model without the maroon air pump and ivory pipes), merely peeping the scenery and perusing my infernal state and considering all things lucid - I wish you well, but I've been experiencing the most welcome deja-vu specifically pointing to one year ago regarding the weather and Andy's demos dancing in my head and having just moved into my solo apartment IN which I still reside (in). Thanks for the memories. Mathaniel Kadensky
------------------------------ From: MFa2707621 <MFa2707621@aol.com> Message-ID: <eee51362.3523f2bd@aol.com> Date: Thu, 2 Apr 1998 15:19:07 EST Subject: You Won't Believe This Chalkers, You won't believe what happened to me. I was hit by a truck. I'm okay, but I was in the hospital for three weeks. I broke my femur and injured my eye. What got me through all of the pain was XTC. My sister got me the gold plated CD of Skylarking, and I listened to it almost every day. Their music helped me concentrate on getting better. I wish there was a way to thank the guys for helping me. Bye for now. Molly Buffalo, NY
------------------------------ Message-ID: <35240DE8.7D2C@newmassmedia.com> Date: Thu, 02 Apr 1998 17:15:07 -0500 From: max <max@newmassmedia.com> Subject: Dave thinks we're swell... I've been enjoying all your posts & threads for a couple months now and getting more imersed in all things XTC. I would like to throw out a quick plug for my band, the Maggies. We have just released our first cd and I think it would fit nicely in the collections of folks who like the early XTC catalogue, as well as R.E.M., the Beattles & prickly power pop. If you care to take a chance on us, e-mail me privately. I'll dub a copy onto tape for any of you who are less inclined to throw money to the wind. XTC content: We've covered "This Is Pop" live and Dave G. has heard our cd. He thinks we show promise. Max Maggie max@newmassmedia.com
------------------------------ Message-Id: <3.0.2.32.19980403124139.0069a640@students.wisc.edu> Date: Fri, 03 Apr 1998 12:41:39 -0600 From: Robyn <reerler@students.wisc.edu> Subject: What's up with Christmas? Oh please help me. What's up with Thanks for Christmas and Countdown to Christmas Party Time on Rag and Bones Buffet?? It is so un-XTC they are almost painful to listen to! Were these performed for a benefit concert? Were they blackmailed into performing these songs? I have a feeling Thanks has a bit of irony to it, knowing the boys--but it's really hard to pick up on. And I don't get Countdown at all. Anyone have any background on these songs? Who is The Good Lord? Do you think these songs influenced Martin Newell's CD? (a lot of cynical references to Christmas, many of which I agree with) So this is my first time on the list . . . good things come to those who wait. I must say I am glad it exists! I wonder how many people are on this list? What's my funny XTC story? I lent Skylarking to a boyfriend a while back, but just couldn't let him have it for any longer than absolutely necessary. Couldn't stand having it away from me or risking him breaking it. I no longer have the boyfriend, but I do have my XTC! [And he has his own copy of Skylarking now. : ) ] R. P.S. I really dug reading about Xtc Copyright (fittingly, I was listening to I Need Protection at the same time) and the Pushing the Pedals story. Well said!
------------------------------ Message-ID: <003d01bd5f8e$0b234ee0$53a1d5d0@orac> From: "Hank Wirtz" <wirtz@gocougs.wsu.edu> Subject: Other great moments Date: Fri, 3 Apr 1998 21:53:50 -0800 One thing that always gets me is that bit in the last verse of Ladybird where, if I'm listening on headphones, it sounds like someone walked into the room and is shouting to get my attention, but I can just barely hear them. Same album- The guitar solo on Loving Memory. Blows me away. And a great XTC moment you may not all get to take part in: At least 3 days a week, during the morning drive, the radio station I listen to (KAEP-FM/105.7 The Peak) plays one of the singles from Nonsuch or Oranges & Lemons, and 9 times out of 10 will, at the end of the song, say how great the band is and how overlooked they are, and tells the audience to go buy some XTC records. Of course, that doesn't mean they'll play the new stuff when it comes out.... -Hank Wirtz "When money talks, I hate to listen, but lately it's been screaming in my ear." -Ben Folds
------------------------------ Message-ID: <3526E211.906@bellatlantic.net> Date: Sat, 04 Apr 1998 21:45:07 -0400 From: John Irvine <jirvine@bellatlantic.net> Subject: NewB, Rhythm, Stereolab, Thanks Greetins Cretins. Long time fan, new to list. Blah blah blah So I read some of the archived Andy interviews where he was dissin' Terry for being an automaton, and came to realize that Terry is one of the major reasons I dig the older XTC stuff so much. Not that Nonsuch is awful, but the band's recent stuff ain't got that kickintheass rhythm going like Roundabout, Helicopter, Nigel, Ball n Chain, Cuba, hell: I can't keep still to Yacht Dance. Anyway, one reporter's opinion. Anyone else here caught the Stereolab bug? Top quality, very well done stuff. I can't get enough of them. They're also a very satisfying band to get into as they've put out like eight great albums in the same time XTC has put out one. Needless to say I'm dying for Fireworks. BTW thanks to any of you who came down to the Ottobar in Baltimore for the XTC/Pink Floyd night. Had a great time. Swapped stories with fans whe saw 'em back in the 70's (no, not Floyd!), and I gained a further appreciation for Andy's genius by singing all the words to No Thugs in front of a huge crowd while PLAYING GUITAR AT THE SAME TIME! Yeeks. Any musically inclined fans in Baltimore who want to jam/yak/whatever, email me. Love, John Irvine
------------------------------ Message-Id: <199804061638.JAA10161@access.tucson.org> From: "J. D. SMX" <jsmelser@access.tucson.org> Organization: Access Tucson Date: Mon, 6 Apr 1998 09:45:22 -0700 Subject: Prarie/XTC update Hi Chalkhill Dwellers, I got another email from Bill Sputnik Spooner of Tubes fame. This is what he said about XTC and Prarie Prince: > Hey Jeff, > Just spoke to Prairie, he just got back from England and recording > the new XTC album, he said they recorded over 20 songs. Should be > interesting. What is the Chalkhills list, again? Spoon So I replied with this: Chalkhills is the XTC discussion/list/digest where the biggest-online fans swap stories and comments about our favourite Swindoners. And that's where all the contributers for the last 2 tribute tapes can be contacted. Just search, "Chalkhills," to find the XTC site for list subscription and tape aquisition info. Did I mention that I did XTC's, "Life Is Good In The Greenhouse," for the last compilation? Thanks for the update on Prarie and XTC. I needed that. Jeff Caio Chalkmonsters, JD SMX
------------------------------ Message-Id: <3.0.32.19980406141341.0073ea14@acs-mail.bu.edu> Date: Mon, 06 Apr 1998 14:13:42 -0400 From: Craig Sherman <csherman@bu.edu> Subject: Perfect song pairings This is my first posting to the Hill, but I was thinking about this, and it's fun: Somebody posted about how "Earn Enough for Us" is a good bookend for "Love on a Farmboy's Wages". Along those lines, I got to thinking, what other songs by XTC (and The Dukes, and 3 Wise Men, etc) have that kind of link? If theme, title, or sound, how many combinations are there? Here's what I've come up with: Dear Madam Barnum/Frost Circus That's Really Super, Supergirl/Brainiac's Daughter I Bought Myself a Liarbird/My Bird Performs Crocodile/Collideascope Then She Appeared/Pale and Precious (personal favorite) Mayor of Simpleton/The Everyday Story of Smalltown Hold Me, My Daddy/Happy Families This is Pop/History of Rock & Roll Mole from the Ministry/You're a Good Man, Albert Brown (there'a a real Beatles vibe there) Life Begins at the Hop/You're my Drug Extrovert/Merely a Man Dear God/The Ballad of Peter Pumpkinhead 1,000 Umbrellas/Blame the Weather Scarecrow People/The Ugly Underneath You're the Wish you are I had/The Loving Pink Thing/All You Pretty Girls Poor Skeleton Steps Out/Have you Seen Jackie? and, of course, Chalkhills and Children/Too Many Cooks in the Kitchen ;) Any others? I hope I didn't take too large logical leaps. Let me know. , , craig ___/ "And, finally, the eighties. (Weaaaaaow!) Thank you, and, good night." A.P.
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