Chalkhills Digest Volume 4, Issue 69
Date: Sunday, 12 April 1998

          Chalkhills Digest, Volume 4, Number 69

                  Sunday, 12 April 1998

Today's Topics:

                    XTC for Mac users
                    Testimonial Dinner
                       Andy's Demos
                    In a cynical daze.
                    Re: song pairings
                  I resign as Klown....
                       High Llamas
                Re: No thugs in our house
                    Ye Olde Mailbagge
                     Drums and Sparks
                       I want video
           Side Effects of Small Dose of Demos
                   Soundgarden does XTC
                Chalkhills Shirt (sort of)
                        Re: Canada
                   XTC: The Greatest CD
                  Oranges & Lemons CD-3
                        CC98 Full
                Yazbec and Andy Partridge
                ben folds five in san jose
     The Disappointed Police Captain eats Beef Hearts
                    CC98 Contributors
                       I'm Psychic!
                    Poi Dog Pondering
                      news from Andy

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Enter Easter and she's dressed in yellow yolk.

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

Message-Id: <l03010d02b14efd639c1f@[200.250.246.110]>
Date: Mon, 6 Apr 1998 23:01:48 -0300
From: Paulo X <paulox@bastecnet.com.br>
Subject: XTC for Mac users

Hello.

I've created some snippets of sound for System 7. They're from Respectable
Street and This World Over.

Those of you who are Mac users and are interested, feel free to contact me
directly.

Cheers,

Paulo

Glendower: I can call spirits from the vasty deep.

Hotspur: Why, so can I, or so can any man;
              But will they come when you do call for them?

		Shakespeare, Henry IV  III.i.52ff

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

Message-ID: <3529B3D8.A7A1CB0D@sprintmail.com>
Date: Tue, 07 Apr 1998 00:04:25 -0500
From: "Jeffrey W Wall M.D." <quincunx@sprintmail.com>
Subject: Testimonial Dinner

Heya 'Hillers,

I finally got off my lzy ass and bought a copy of "Testimonial dinner",
I was getting into it and then up comes Sara Mclachlan's "Dear God" and
I was absolutley floored and blown away.  I would never have ever
imagined doing this as torchy as she did - but damn if it doesn't work -
she really brings out the angst, frustration and raw energy of this
song.  The cost of buying this CD is worth it just to have this version.
Wonderful.

On another note, people have been talking about Difford and Tilbrook and
while I agree that they are great songwriters, they are no Partridge and
Moulding, compare the lyrics of "Up the Junction" to "Earn Enough for
Us", just doesn't quite make it up to snuff does it? (in fact the only
other person I would put in XTC's class for lyrics nowadays is Elvis
Costello)

Jeff

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

Date: Tue, 07 Apr 1998 20:26:23 -0500
From: Rick Avard <avari@internetmci.com>
Subject: Andy's Demos
Message-id: <01BD6263.7452A6E0@usr15-dialup59.mix1.WillowSprings.mci.net>

I'm trying to find someone to work out a trade for a copy of Andy's demos
for Firework & a copy of The Bull With The Golden Guts on minidisc.  If
anyone is willing to try to work out a trade, please e-mail me privately.  I
appreciate any assistance.  Thanks.  By the way, CHALKHILLS IS GREAT!!!!!!
I never knew there were so many XTC fans out there.

And in response to the fact that Mayor of Simpleton was not a hit, it is my
firm belief that the general public doesn't have the musical sense to really
grasp what a gift Mr. Partridge has for songwriting.  The general public
can't seem to get past 3 chord songs (Hanson - and a multitude of others).
How is it possible that a hack like Kurt Cobain can sell boatloads of
records and our favorite band can't get a decent record deal???  Is there no
justice in the world (apparently not!!!)

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

Message-ID: <19980407134916.3854.qmail@hotmail.com>
From: "Sebastien Maury" <seb101@hotmail.com>
Subject: In a cynical daze.
Date: Tue, 07 Apr 1998 06:49:13 PDT

Hi all, Seb here with a first post. I've been avidly reading Chalkhills
for about a month - thanks for such an in depth exploration of wonderful
music. It sure is a tonic for that cynicism I try so hard to cultivate!
I played D&W for the first time in far too long (I have far too many
CDs), and realised how much more I like it now than I did about 5 years
ago.
What prompted me to write was my stumbling across a vinyl copy of the
single LP version of ES. For about $5 (Australian). Can't ask for much
more than that.
I vaguely remember hearing both Dear God and Nigel on the radio growing
up, but my defining XTC moment was lying sick in bed in early to mid
1989 and listening to local indie station JJJ and hearing Merely a Man.
I think the first thing I did when I got  better was rush out and buy
O&L. It remains my fave XTC album, with White Music coming in a close
second for sheer inventiveness and attitude. Fab moments abound on all
albums (I do like Nonsuch!)but bring on the new album, I say. I mean
I've been waiting 20% of my life for God's sake!
Thanks for reading.
Seb.

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

Date: Tue, 7 Apr 1998 08:27:02 -0700 (PDT)
From: "J. Brown" <ringostr@u.washington.edu>
Subject: Re: song pairings
Message-ID: <Pine.A41.3.96a.980407082449.14398A-100000@dante28.u.washington.edu>

Craig wrote:
> Mole from the Ministry/You're a Good Man, Albert Brown (there'a a real
> Beatles vibe there)

Ok Mole is obviously a Beatles pastiche but Albert Brown?  I always saw
that a sort of a Something Else/Village Green era Kinks Music Hall Thing.
Any one agree?

 Jason Wilson Brown
 History & Canadian Studies Major
 President- GEEK The Secret Society of the College Bowl
 ringostr@u.washington.edu  (206) 632-4905
 P.O. Box 45822
 Seattle, WA 98145-0822
"Thought I knew all the steps quite clearly, I don't have a clue"
                                -Elvis Costello

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

From: Xtckinks <Xtckinks@aol.com>
Message-ID: <808a2a84.352a5b97@aol.com>
Date: Tue, 7 Apr 1998 13:00:05 EDT
Subject: I resign as Klown....

 Hill-o All,

"Stephen Clarke" <S.Clarke@nopres.co.uk> said:
<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 >

Weren't these the initial lyrics for The Kinks' LOLA!?

Couldn't 'Passover' this opportunity to wish you all a happy 'Easter'.
Ex(tc)iting STAGE LEFT,
Paul

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

From: "Bob Dunn" <rjd55@mail2.nai.net>
Subject: High Llamas
Date: Tue, 7 Apr 1998 07:26:56 -0400
Message-ID: <000001bd6218$125772e0$40f4660a@p233mmx>

Has anyone one heard the High Llamas? I had the pleasure of seeing them on
Saturday. They are a cross between the Pet Sounds era beach Boys, XTC,
Badfinger, and Lounge Music with a little Kraftwerk thrown in. Very
interesting. They are playing Tramps in NYC on Thursday. I might just go.

           Bob

 .*'|'*.  | Bob Dunn
 * /|\ *  | rjd55@ct2.nai.net
 `*,|,*`  | http://nw3.nai.net/~rjd55

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

Message-ID: <002901bd6206$e84e18c0$105108c3@default>
From: "goldwing" <goldwing@clara.net>
Subject: Re: No thugs in our house
Date: Tue, 7 Apr 1998 18:21:03 +1000

It occurred to me that the line from `No Thugs In Our House` "They never
read those pamphlets in his bottom drawer."  seems very close to Frank
Zappa`s "nasty little pamphlets in your daddy`s bottom drawer" from `Dirty
Love` (Just another band from LA [maybe]).  And Frank Zappa did go to school
with Don Van Vliet (Cap`n Beefheart) in Bakersfield and Cap`n Beefheart is a
favourite of A. Partridge. Am I paranoid?, I dont see conspiracies
everywhere, just most places.

Regards Dave Hall

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

Date: Tue, 7 Apr 1998 11:40:19 -0700 (PDT)
From: relph (John Relph)
Message-Id: <9804071140.ZM33909@mando.engr.sgi.com>
Subject: Ye Olde Mailbagge

"Shawn D. Stone" <sdstone@webbnet.com> writes:
>
>  Also, I just got a Promo
>only 12" vinyl that says on the cardboard sleeve, Live! Warner Bros.
>Radio Show.  It's Skylarking, with some guy interviewing Andy between
>every couple songs, making comments on the meanings and recording of all
>the songs. It's in excellent to mint condition, and has the original
>packaging and letter from Geffen Records advertising Skylarking.  I
>looked through the discography on the Chalkhills site, and I couldn't
>find any mention of a Warner Bros. Records Show record, though I did
>find a reference to a record that is Skylarking with interview with
>Andy, but with so many versions of so many records or CDs that perhaps
>this isn't on the discography?  Anyone have an estimated value on
>this?

_The Skylarking Interview_
     Summer's Cauldron; Grass; The Meeting Place; That's Really Super,
     Supergirl; Ballet for a Rainy Day; 1000 Umbrellas; Season Cycle; Earn
     Enough for Us; Big Day; Another Satellite; Dear God; The Man Who Sailed
     Around His Soul; Dying; Sacrificial Bonfire. song excerpts and
     interview with Andy Partridge, includes one segment with Todd Rundgren.
	o LP, Virgin USA (Geffen), WBMS 146, 1986. promo, includes band
	  information sheet.

I see it for about $25 but I think the value has been dropping.

"Pedretti-Allen, Richard" <Richard.PedrettiAllen@octel.com> asks:
>
>what was "new
>and improved" about Andy in 1993?

Perhaps he got divorced.

	-- John

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

Date: Tue, 7 Apr 1998 12:22:14 -0700 (PDT)
From: relph (John Relph)
Message-Id: <9804071222.ZM34267@mando.engr.sgi.com>
Subject: Drums and Sparks

Buffy the Vampire Slayer NeSmith" <jnesmith@mindspring.com> writes:
>
>Any of you out there with both versions of 'Ella Guru':  Play the Captain's
>version first.  Maybe a couple of times.  REE-LEE loud.  Then play the XtC
>version.  Damn, that Andy shore can program a drum machine better than any
>eighties session drummer in danger of losing his career.

Sometimes Andy's a good drum programmer, but sometimes he's crap.  I don't
really care for the drums on _The Greatest Living Englishman_ (nor do I
care for their sound), but I like most of the stuff on _The Big Express_,
especially how it works with Pete Phipps and his real drums.

>currently digging: disk two of the Ultimate Sparks Collection

What do you think?  Any good tracks?

	-- John

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

Message-ID: <352A86BA.2FFF@ns.sympatico.ca>
Date: Tue, 07 Apr 1998 17:04:10 -0300
From: Sony Store #512 <SS512@ns.sympatico.ca>
Organization: the Sony Store #512
Subject: I want video

greetings
 have resigned to the fact I may never see XTC in my lifetime. I have
the Letterman performance but I wasn't even aware of an MTV acoustic
show. If this was broadcast, we wouldn't have seen it here in Canada.
Does anybody have a copy of this ??? Any performance video would be
appreciated.
Thank you for any help you might afford me,
Kevin
PS. Reply by e-mail is fine

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

From: MPadg <MPadg@aol.com>
Message-ID: <36c5de62.352a96ef@aol.com>
Date: Tue, 7 Apr 1998 17:13:17 EDT
Subject: Side Effects of Small Dose of Demos

After much soul-searching I have defected from the land of the
dontlistentothedemosbeforethealbum people. My compromise was that I would
only listen to the demos twice. It remains to be seen if an XTCaholic can
stop after two drinks. Anyway, I thought it would be interesting to see what
stuck in my mind after 2 listens one week apart. This is what I can hear in
my head a week after the 2nd listen:

******************************
River of Orchids - Verse and Chorus medodies. The verse melody is the least
conventional on the CD, yet one I remember best. I can't hear the
strange/syncopated/jerky orchestral rhythm line but it reminded me of
something off Chick Corea's Mad Hatter.

You and the Clouds - the title line

...bumper cars, da-da-da, bumper cars, da-da-da...

Prince of Orange - Chorus and the keyboard line that sounds like something
out of Return to Forever's "Romantic Warrior" (a 2nd Chick Corea reference -
how unusual).

Green Man - The chorus has been going through my head alot, but I keep
sequeing into "Beating of Hearts".

Easter Theater - Chorus

...like a sun-flower...

Wonder Annual - Chorus hook

Your Dictionary - verse. Even got the words on this one: F-U-C.....

*******************************************
The things I remember are not necessarily what I liked the best. For
example, I can't hum either "Knight in Shining Kharma" or "Last Balloon" but
I loved them both ala my favorite "Chalkhills and Children". Likewise,
Bumper Cars and Wonder Annual will probably not become my favorites.

......a 3rd listen couldn't really hurt, could it?

XTC song of the day - Great Fire
non-XTC song - Suzanne Vega - "Caramel"

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

From: MPadg <MPadg@aol.com>
Message-ID: <4dc3fdda.352a9916@aol.com>
Date: Tue, 7 Apr 1998 17:22:28 EDT
Subject: Soundgarden does XTC

Song I'd like to hear: Soundgarden does XTC - "...and what I'd really like
to know man (why oh why), is why she treats me like SPOONMA-AN!"

Also - "Tock" is great. Buy "Tock". I'm going to buy "Laughing Man". I
wantitiwantitiwantitiantitiwantitiwantitiwantitiwantitiwantitiwantit now.

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

Message-Id: <3.0.5.16.19980407225707.47ef9a04@pophost.micron.net>
Date: Tue, 07 Apr 1998 22:57:07
From: Phil Corless <philco@micron.net>
Subject: Chalkhills Shirt (sort of)

No, I'm not doing another batch of Chalkhills shirt, not yet..... What I am
going to do, because many people have asked me, is a batch of shirts with
JUST the Uffington Horse on it.  No "Chalkhills" underneath, no "XTC" on the
back.  Call this the Chalkhorse Shirt......

It's going to be $15 per shirt, plus $3 for US postage (if you are overseas,
please contact me about postage).

Colors are available in Sage Green, Forest Green, Navy Blue, Black, and Red
with the white ink.  If you want black ink, I'm sure there are many colors
of shirt that would look good with that.... Ash, Oatmeal, White, Light Blue,
etc.

If you are interested in ordering/reserving a shirt, email me and I will
send you my address so you can send me a check or money order.  Again, the
shirts are $15 plus $3 US postage.  Overseas postage is usually $5 for one
shirt.

- Phil.....   philco@micron.net

Phil Corless
philco@micron.net

"Don't try to lend me a smile,
I've got grins piled up to the sky"
    - Sean Altman

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

From: CCooli9575 <CCooli9575@aol.com>
Message-ID: <583d554c.352b5a38@aol.com>
Date: Wed, 8 Apr 1998 07:06:26 EDT
Subject: Re: Canada

.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....

  I grew up in Montreal and currently live in Vermont. That's close; I live
an hour's drive from the border and have CTV and the CBC networks on my
cable system. Including the French CBC; there's a lot of homesick Quebecois
in Vermont. Both my parents still live in Montreal, though they moved there
from The States soon after I was born, so technically I'm not Canadian,
though both my brothers are. It was in Montreal I first heard XTC back in
'79("Making Plans For Nigel," on CHOM-FM), though I didn't start getting
into them until a college friend in the States indoctrinated me with Black
Sea. On my last trip to Montreal the other weekend, my wife and I are
listening to CHOM on our way into the city, and what do they play but MPFN!

Chris

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

Message-Id: <199804081717.NAA35598@pimout1-int.prodigy.net>
From: "Noble K Thomas" <MOONSILVER@prodigy.net>
Subject: XTC: The Greatest CD
Date: Wed, 8 Apr 1998 12:14:39 -0500

Recently saw where a chalkhiller was in search of the MARTIN NEWELL CDs...
I've got a few as well as a copy of YAZBEK laughing man (still No Tock!)
and the new XTC The Greatest CD from Japan. It clearly states that it is a
limited edition so I don't expect to get it back in more than a couple more
times. Also expect to get the STEPHEN DUFFY CD soon.

As for marketing/merchandising ideas for the new XTC disc, why not offer an
advance collector's CD in deluxe packaging with BONUS material (the tracks
that will ultimately wind up on the Japanese CD)... price it at around $25
and offer it on a limited basis about a month before the release of the
regular CD. This provides a little bit of a windfall profit to the band
(hopefully) and I'm sure that most fans would consider it a bargain.

There are certain artists like XTC that, although the fan base may be
small, it is rabid and not too price sensitive. I, for one, would consider
it a helluva deal to pay $50 a year to get a couple of hours worth of new
XTC music. Yes, I'd like to be somewhat entertained but more importantly
I'd like the oppurtunity to experience their art and see where their
brainsand hearts have roamed lately.

Isn't it about time we broke out of this homogenized pricing format that
has evolved from corporate recording manufacturers who are cranking out
audible widgets? I realize it's always important for the artist to allow
the public access to the music via regular outlets at normal pricing...
that's how you attract new fans. Still, the market is there for
higher-priced collector's CDs for the already lined-up appreciators!

(Soap box finally kicked out from under me....)

love that new Robbie Robertson CD!

toby

http://www.silvermoonmusic.com

MUSIC THAT SHINES!

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

From: sean_robison@freya.CP.Disney.com
Message-Id: <9804088920.AA892059168@cpsmtp.cp.disney.com>
Date: Tue, 07 Apr 98 10:39:04 -0800
Subject: Oranges & Lemons CD-3

     I was perusing a music store chalk full of used discs this past week
     when I happened upon a copy of Oranges & Lemons in the old CD-3
     format. It came in a playing card sized pack with the songs
     distributed amongst three little CD's.

     I won't print the distribution of tracks since that info already
     exists in the Chalkhills website.

     Needless to say, I picked it up - it was only $6.00. Not gonna play it
     or fiddle with it too much (the outer packaging has some wear and tear
     on it), but I thought it was a pretty cool collectors item.

     And what was even nicer - the store owner is a big XTC fan too.

     Back to work I go.

     Sean

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

Message-Id: <72EDB966944AD1118DC90080D820748847BF54@ex-campus2>
From: "Pedretti-Allen, Richard" <Richard.PedrettiAllen@octel.com>
Subject: CC98 Full
Date: Wed, 8 Apr 1998 12:00:34 -0700

Wednesday, noon.

If anyone notice a reduction in transfer time on the internet on Tuesday
night, it is because of the overwhelming interest in participating in
Chalkhills' Children '98.

Whew!  24 responses before midnight!   ...and they're still coming in.

I get the impression I could produce one of these tributes every six
months and not keep up.

Thanks for all the interest.  Sorry to those who didn't get in.  I'll
publish the list once compiled.

I'm off to get a passport, seeing as I leave the country on Saturday, it
might come in handy!

Cheers, Richard

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

Message-ID: <352D5DAA.6C22@pulpmagazine.com>
Date: Thu, 09 Apr 1998 17:45:46 -0600
From: Bryon Bean <pulp@pulpmagazine.com>
Subject: Yazbec and Andy Partridge

Has anyone heard of this guy Yazbek?

I was at a friends house hearing what I thought was an XTC album that
had somehow passed me by. Not, it was this guy Yazbek, who sounds a
whole lot like XTC. So I think to myself this guy has to be ripping XTC!
But as it turns out he works closely with Andy Partridge, it's almost as
if XTC still exits in another life-form known as Yazbek.

Anyway, so I'm visiting another friend in Manhattan and he takes me to
this place, Arlene Grocery. And I'll be damned!!! this guy Yazbek is
playing there. But wait, it gets better--Andy Partridge is there with
him (who would have guessed that I'd get to see Andy Partridge, visit
the Tunnel and drop K & X all in one vacation).

I'd like to know if anyone has heard Yazbek and what your thoughts on
him are. Also if you're in New York you can check him out at the
Wetlands April 18th (he's pretty cool live too).

brYon

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

Message-Id: <352D72C2.B7246143@appsig.com>
Date: Thu, 09 Apr 1998 18:15:46 -0700
From: PeterNjeonG <peter_jeong@appsig.com>
Subject: ben folds five in san jose

no xtc content:

ben folds five is playing sunday, 10 may (mother's day) @ the san jose
state university arena.  any fellow bay area chalkers that are planning
on going, please let me know.

-pete

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

Date: Fri, 10 Apr 1998 14:12:00 -0700 (PDT)
From: relph (John Relph)
Message-Id: <9804101412.ZM50480@mando.engr.sgi.com>
Subject: The Disappointed Police Captain eats Beef Hearts

Adam Tyner <ctyner@CLEMSON.EDU> wrote, some time ago:
>
>I searched Gemm.com for XTC as I do periodically and came across a CD
>entitled "The Peel Sessions" or somesuch.  I didn't see this on the 'radio'
>section of the discography, and I was wondering if anyone knows anything
>about this.  I'd imagine it's a mislabeled D&Wireless, but I'm just curious

I'm sure it is in fact _Drums & Wireless_.  Perhaps they advertised it
as "The Peel Sessions" just to get more attention.

BobCrain <BobCrain@aol.com> writes:
>
>Hey now, "My Head Is My Only House When It Rains" is a FINE song. The Tubes
>did a lovely version of it on their "Now" album.

I must agree.  On both counts.

Other interesting Beefheart covers are on the Henry Kaiser _Those Who
Know History are Doomed to Repeat It_ CD, which also has wonderful
covers of the theme to Mayberry RFD ("The Fishing Hole") and "Ode to
Billy Joe".

Stormy Monday <stormymonday@sprintmail.com> wrote and wrote and wrote,
and out of all that I quote this tiny bit:
>
> This World Over
>
>Speaking of Sting, this one sounds like the best Police song ever.

I admit I hear Police-style harmonies in this song.

>The Disappointed
>
>Andy finds himself among the broken-hearted.   The first time I heard
>this within the context of my own divorce, I was wearing an ironic grin
>while listening to the line "Once, I had no sympathy / For those
>destroyed and thrown away by love."

And quite the opposite for me.  My wife and I had just got married and
were taking a three week tour of the American Northwest.  It rained a
lot, and though we had fun we were also "The Disappointed".  We sang
this song to each other as we saw no Orcas at the Orca Watching Park
in the San Juan Islands, as I got a cold in the rain of Glacier
National Park, and still sing it every so often today.  _Nonsuch_ was
a big part of that trip.

	-- John

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

Message-Id: <72EDB966944AD1118DC90080D820748847BF71@ex-campus2>
From: "Pedretti-Allen, Richard" <Richard.PedrettiAllen@octel.com>
Subject: CC98 Contributors
Date: Fri, 10 Apr 1998 15:23:17 -0700

Following is the list of planned and reserve contributors to Chalkhills'
Children '98.  Each time I do this, the response is greater!  To all who
missed out, I truly am sorry (but to produce an eight cassette release
is NOT the solution!).  Some people who made excellent contributions in
the past missed out.  I feel really bad for the people who wrote things
like, "I missed out the first two times but I'll try again." and didn't
get on.  I can think of no other way to do it that is equitable except
to provide an email announcement.  At least this time John Relph worked
with me to make it a special announcement.  I realize that people in
other parts of the world were fast asleep when the message went out
but... it's always nighttime somewhere, so... rats!

If any planned contributors realize that they are not going to meet the
deadline of June 30.  LET ME KNOW!  I will then contact people on the
reserve list in the order below.  If any planned contributors realize
that they are not going to meet the deadline of June 30.  LET ME KNOW!
If you wait too long, it makes it almost impossible to bring in a
reserve without invoking delays.  If any planned contributors realize
that they are not going to meet the deadline of June 30.  LET ME KNOW!
Got it now?

I will follow up with a CC98 email to the contributors in May with all
the ordering and media submission details.  (Sorry that I didn't send
this to all the people listed but I am simply out of time!  I've got a
plane to catch!)

For Ben Gott and Martin Bell, you both chose Beating Of Hearts but Ben
reserved it first.  Ben has first choice but if he has other possible
songs in mind, he can give it up.  Email between you and let me know the
outcome.  No pressure, no drama, no trauma... it's Ben's choice.  Email
addresses are listed below.

Blushift, Mark Strijbos and Rex Strong all chose Travels In Nilihon.
Blushift was first.  If Blushift would like to choose another song,
they(?) can let Mark do T.I.N.  Rex, having also listed an alternate
(Books Are Burning) is unlikely to get to cover T.I.N.  Blushift and
Mark email it over and decide (same conditions as above), if neither of
you decide to do it, contact Rex.

You can decide to do a different song as long as it is not already
listed below.  If it is listed as someones second choice email them and
figure it out.  Then let me know.  For those slugs who haven't chosen
ANY song yet, you are hereby limited to the remainder of the XTC
catalog!

PLANNED CONTRIBUTORS
Harrison Sherwood
Crocodile

Richard Pedretti-Allen (rpa@lucent.com)
Rocket From A Bottle or Funk Pop A Roll

Robin Myrick
(promised from CC97)

Peter Fitzpatrick
(promised for mastering and generating CDs)

John Relph
Pearl

Ben Gott (loquacious@usa.net)
Beating Of Hearts (duplicate)

Martin Bell (Martin_Bell@idg.co.nz)
Beating Of Hearts (duplicate)

Richard Leighton
Runaways

Mark French
Terrorism

John Irvine
Yacht Dance

Bob Crain
Are You Receiving Me?

Becki DiGregario (ziglain@hotmail.com)
Extrovert or My Paint Heroes or Find The Fox

Blushift (Blushift@aol.com)
Travels In Nihilon (duplicate)

Paul Carnine
(still picking a song)

Greg Davidson
(still picking a song)

Robert Cosentino
Mayor Of Simpleton

Jason Brownell
Little Lighthouse

Rex Strong (RDSTRONG@VM.OCC.CC.MI.US)
Travels In Nilihon (duplicate) or Books Are Burning

RESERVE LIST (In this order)
Steve Schermerhorn
Reign Of Blows

Brad Johnson
Liesure

Ted Lee
Towers Of London

Mellissa Reaves
Dance Band

Kevin Kelly
Real by Reel

Mark Strijbos (mmello@knoware.nl)
Travels In Nihilon (duplicate)

Steve (MGV)
Another Satellite

Jason Garcia
Dame Fortune

I an few short hours I will be humming "When We Get To England" and
MEANING IT!

Cheers, Richard

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

From: "Benjamin A. Gott" <bgott@Bowdoin.EDU>
Message-Id: <199804110351.AA25868@polar.bowdoin.edu>
Subject: I'm Psychic!
Date: Fri, 10 Apr 1998 23:51:49 -0400 (EDT)

Chalkers,

How's this for weird?

We've all been talking about the new XTC album, and I think that it'll be
the best ever. How do I know this, you ask? Well: I've heard the demos,
and Andy has told us himself -- 15 years ago...

Listen to "Living Through Another Cuba." To wit:

"If we get through this lot alright (i.e., the battle with Virgin)
We're due for replay 1998!" (Damn right!)

- Ben, college student with too much time, yes?

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

From: Rhoblidnen <Rhoblidnen@aol.com>
Message-ID: <4084d52f.352f5c26@aol.com>
Date: Sat, 11 Apr 1998 08:03:48 EDT
Subject: Poi Dog Pondering

Peter Ermey mentions that:

> ...My band Handshake, which could be described as XTC meets Poi Dog
> Pondering with a four piece horn section...

I have never heard of Poi Dog Pondering from anyone else, except that I was
given these two obscure little tapes, one entitled "Circle Around the Sun"
and the other starting with a song called "Living with a Dreaming Body."
They have this odd cover art and arty writing on.  The label they released
under is called Texas Hotel.  Can anyone tell me whether they were the
actual major releases, as they look like little demo tapes to me.  The
vocalist almost sounds like for Morrissey.

Just an interesting little curiosity there.

from Robin

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

Message-ID: <B9B4268C8F87D11195DC0000F840FABEC7F333@DUB-MSG-02>
From: Peter Fitzpatrick <peterfit@MICROSOFT.com>
Subject: news from Andy
Date: Sun, 12 Apr 1998 13:21:32 +0100

Just spoke with Andy yesterday evening - a very brief call.

He had just got back from Kent where they have been recording in the
producers studio.
He described the album as the hardest work of all their albums, really hard
work.
Despite this he sounds in good shape and happy.

Distribution deals (particularly in the US) are still pending. Publishing
still not sorted out yet also.

They're in Studio One Abbey Road next Thursday to record a 40 piece
orchestra for "River of Orchids" "Your Dictionary" "Frivolous Tonight"
"Easter Theatre" (& I think one other that I can't remember right now).
The orchestrations have been done by Mike Batt (I'm not even going to
comment at this point except to say that he's done more than the Wombles...)

He recalled the recording on the farm (being woken at dawn by bird scarers
 - big guns that shoot to frighten birds away from croplands)....

He's written a track with the guy from the VervePipe and it'll be in the
Avengers film (later this year ?).

Anyways I'll have some more news for the list next Friday.
Can't say more than that right now but it'll be worth the wait (I hope !)

Peter

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

End of Chalkhills Digest #4-69
******************************

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12 April 1998 / Feedback