Chalkhills Digest Volume 4, Issue 93
Date: Friday, 12 June 1998
Chalkhills Digest, Volume 4, Number 93
Friday, 12 June 1998
Today's Topics:
There She Goes - Here I Come!
Fossil Fuel 64th Best Album Ever Made - Official!
Chords and More Chords
Survey
Have you heard about the Boston (whump! daa...dum)
My imput
Re: Boston Get Together - Count Me In
chalkhills statistics
Another "XTC" Sighting
Harrison's soapbox
Jumping on the Statistics Bandwagon
Yet Another Chalkhills Virgin...
Fanny's Your Aunt
Wait! I changed my political party....
Korporate Kulture
The Affiliations
Todd's interview (wow)
Hard Days Gregory
Personality survey
Time to Try and Contribute
radioxtc
Procastrination & the fuzzy warbles
Howdy
Who the hell am I?
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---------------------------------------------------------------------- Message-Id: <s57faaa3.008@BTA.ORG.UK> Date: Thu, 11 Jun 1998 09:58:59 +0100 From: DAVID FATSCHER <dfatscher@BTA.ORG.UK> Subject: There She Goes - Here I Come! Fellow Travellers, Ain't it funny what forces you to de-lurk... The creative force behind The La's (their spelling - deriving from the Scouse word for 'Lads') was one Lee Mavers. By all accounts, he was a 60s' obsessive who would labour tirelessly over how his songs were recorded (sound familiar?) even down to demanding the studio install an authentic period mixing-desk (taxi for Sir John Johns!!). This, not surprisingly, lead first-choice producer Pete Townshend to bail out of the project and the poor mite had to do with Steve Lillywhite instead! Naturally, such a labour of love was a long-time coming - the stand-out track 'There She Goes' had been kicking around as a single for some 18 months - and the situation was not aided by Mavers' growing reliance on heroin (listen again to 'There She Goes' and ask yourself what really is 'flowing through (his) veins'. So, tired of waiting for a follow-up set of songs, bassist Jon Power left around 92/93 and formed 'Cast' (who - as Robert Wood said - are a sort of La's Lite). Meanwhile Mavers, I read somewhere, is now back writing and probably - to use that time-honoured industry euphanism - 'looking for a deal'. Oh - and as to the XTC content - play 'Way Down' and tell me it's not influenced by 'Yacht Dance'. Toodle-Pip! David Fatscher (Hi to Mark S, BuD ...and may I prostrate myself at the Church of Cheryl and beg humble forgiveness. Hope all's well in NM).
------------------------------ Message-Id: <s57ffba8.020@4thestate.co.uk> Date: Thu, 11 Jun 1998 15:41:27 +0100 From: Andy Miller <ANDYMILLER@4thestate.co.uk> Subject: Fossil Fuel 64th Best Album Ever Made - Official! Hullo all From the July/August issue of Deluxe magazine (published today! - 11th June) "THE REAL 100 BEST ALBUMS EVER Ah, lists. Nick Hornby wrote a book about them. And it wasn't as good as the one about football. Funny, isn't it, how the same old names come up in every one of those absolute, final, definitive accounts of The Best Album Ever Made Bar None? The Beatles. The Stones. And Pet Sounds by the Beach Boys, a record most people have never heard and most would detest if they did. The truth is, most of us are terrified of feeling uncool and so we vote for the record we think we ought to - which usually means some big celeb-endorsed rock achievement. The ones we really like, the daft or truly joyful pop albums, get left by the wayside. Not here. The Deluxe 100 is compiled by excluding the acts that get on all the other lists. It doesn't matter how good Radiohead or Neil Young orZep or the Floyd are. They're not getting in. Instead, here are the records whose contribution to human happiness and the life of the booty goes unrecorded. It is heavy on that most despised but useful medium for recorded music, the compilation album, and it has one useful bonus - you can pick up most of these CDs second-hand for about four quid, and they'll still rock your world." And at number 64 - Fossil Fuel - The XTC singles 1977-1982 (sic) - XTC "They were Blur before Blur were Blur, and XTC songs are so whistleable that most of them have whistling on them in the first place. Includes: Making Plans for Nigel" Notes for non-UK subscribers: 1. Deluxe is a kind of Men's magazine for softies, of which this is its third issue, sort of GQ or Esquire but with more deoderant. 2. The UK has seen about half a dozen Best 100 album polls in the last year or so - one on TV - some of which have been voted for by the public, and one of which featured OK Computer at number one (that's the best album ever made by anyone ever, oh yes...) 3. FYI, the top ten is as follows 1. Saturday Night Fever - Various 2. The Specials - The Specials 3. The best of Blondie - Blondie 4. The Final - Wham! 5. Journeys by DJ - Coldcut 6. Scott 4 - Scott Walker 7. Scott 3 - Scott Walker 8. Scott 2 - Scott Walker 9. Scott 1 - Scott Walker 10. Nevermind - Nirvana Fossil Fuel comes between In the Wee Small Hours by Frank Sinatra at 65 and 80's Soul Weekender 2 at number 63. 4. Your correspondent, exactly the kind of sad thirtysomething at whom this mag is aimed, thinks this whole idea is great and very funny and righteous, and in future, when asked what XTC sound like, will quote the above. Best Andy
------------------------------ Message-ID: <35801659.7066@bellatlantic.net> Date: Thu, 11 Jun 1998 13:39:38 -0400 From: John Irvine <jirvine@bellatlantic.net> Subject: Chords and More Chords Dave Blackburn is right.. When I sat down and tried to figure out guitar parts for those early, simple, straight-ahead xtc tunes I was flabbergasted by all those bizzarro chord voicings Andy used. Guess he learned something from the prog-rock '70's. Speaking of amazing chords, does anyone know where I can find tabs for Mommyheads songs? I'm in awe of Adam's songwriting, especially on the "Flying Suit" CD and the "Swiss Army Knife" tape and his guitar playing blows my mind. Song for the Day: the dB's "In Spain" John Irvine
------------------------------
Message-Id: <TFSJVRTT@paraengr.com>
From: David J Arnold <darnold@paraengr.com>
Date: Thu, 11 Jun 1998 12:24:06 -0600
Subject: Survey
My first Chalkhills post. Forgive me if this looks strange. My
computer network at work formats text weird, and there's nothing I can
do about it.
Name: David Arnold
XTC fan since: 1980
Age: 30
Religion: Jewish, non-observant (formerly a militant atheist)
Political party: old-school major left-wing democrat
Drugs: none of the fun stuff
Job: proposal coordinator at father's engineering company
Dream: to be reincarnated as a beautiful, thought-provoking piece of
music.
------------------------------ Message-Id: <3.0.5.32.19980611142521.0096a400@smtpgw.ametsoc.org> Date: Thu, 11 Jun 1998 14:25:21 -0400 From: David Gershman <dgershmn@ametsoc.org> Subject: Have you heard about the Boston (whump! daa...dum) Hey, hello all...long time no post! Don Parker said: >I'm psyched that James W. has volunteered to host an XTC gathering in >Boston! I'm only 15 miles south in Randolph. And I remember that Karl >Witter recently mentioned the Boston Globe, and Kirt can't be too far in >VT. So, who else lives nearby and might be interested in, oh I don't >know, sharing some tales over a beer for half an hour? Followed by some >increasingly awkward pregnant pauses? Then maybe we could look for a >scapegoat on who to blame the whole stupid mess, which would probably >end up leaving James W. a pariah for life? Sounds good to me! I live a bit north of Boston, but work right downtown. A get-together sounds good to me, as I've always been a bit jealous of all these intra-Chalkhill gatherings. I'm especially looking forward to those pregnant pauses, which I'm sure will be followed just a few decades later by a nice long meno-pause. Meanwhile, here's my take on this whole topic of "hip": We've each got two of 'em and they all work the same way, so by default it seems that we're all equally hip. No one in this joint has a leg up on anyone else. Let this be the last word on the subject. And don't argue with me or I'll write out a "hip check" in your name and make you cash it. (No, I don't know what that means either, but the makings of a good pun are in there somewhere!) And I wasn't going to, but I guess I am: Religion: Formerly atheist; current beliefs align most closely with Taoism, but the southern baptists sure can sing Political party: An oxymoron if I ever heard one Drugs: I'm clean, I tell you! I had a poppy seed bagel this morning! Job: Some guy in the Bible, right? Dreams: Frequently Exit stage left, Dave Gershman
------------------------------ From: MFa2707621@aol.com Message-ID: <6322192c.35802e9d@aol.com> Date: Thu, 11 Jun 1998 15:23:07 EDT Subject: My imput Chalkers, Well, here's my input to the survey. Religion - None Political Party - Don't talk to me about politics Drugs - None Job - I have no job, because I recuperating from an accident Dreams - To meet and talk to Andy :) I wish I could go to that XTC gathering in Boston. I have family there I could stay with. There must be some XTC fans in the Niagara Frontier (Buffalo, Fort Erie, Ont., Niagara Falls, USA and Ont., even Toronto) area. I would like to help start an XTC gathering in this area. The problem is I haven't gotten the cash to reserve a convention center. If you live in this area please contact me, and we can discuss something. I revamped my webpage, so it looks better than before. So go check it out. Bye for now. Molly Webpage: http://members.tripod.com/~MollyFa/index.html XTC Song of the Day: Deliver Us From the Elements XTC Album of the Day: Mummer
------------------------------ From: wwilson@star.zko.dec.com Date: Thu, 11 Jun 1998 16:33:58 -0400 Message-Id: <98061116335804@star.zko.dec.com> Subject: Re: Boston Get Together - Count Me In Please contact me about the Boston XTC get-together. I live about 35 minutes from Cambridge (which might actually be a better location?). But I won't quibble about such things. Please let me know at wwilson@star.zko.dec.com With Summer's Cauldron upon us, I can wear my Chalkhills t-shirt. We'll be a regular gang of droogs, we will, sitting in a milk bar, feeling lost, and drinking co-co-co-cola on tap. (Surprised you!) Wes (Wilson)
------------------------------ Message-Id: <3.0.32.19980611161338.0069568c@acton.com> Date: Thu, 11 Jun 1998 16:13:40 -0500 From: Dave Ledbetter <dbetter@acton.com> Subject: chalkhills statistics Stats: Age 26, Recently singled (hey, now that I re-read this it looks like a dating ad!) Religion: Atheist / Existentialist / naturist (or something like those) but can still see the beauty in a flower, the sky, or a smile - and live for these. Politics: Dislike Republicans, dislike politics, where's the "public SERVICE"? Drugs: I've used up my lifetime ration. Job: Professional researcher /advisor /assistant & also Student (University senior - 7th year ha/ha) Go Huskers! Dream: All I dream of is a friend. Dave
------------------------------ Message-ID: <19980611210410.1587.qmail@hotmail.com> From: "k. siegel" <beatlebird@hotmail.com> Subject: Another "XTC" Sighting Date: Thu, 11 Jun 1998 14:04:10 PDT This is of entirely no importance except for a teensy laugh. In my rinky-dink, swampy suburbia here in Florida, there is an "adult superstore" (read: smut shop) dubiously called "XTC". As you cruise into town off the Interstate, the store's humongous tri-letters peep over the railing and smack you in the face. I've driven by the place several times; but each time I see that blazing "XTC" sign, I get an inexplicable urge to listen to "Respectable Street." Ok, I'll bite: Religion: None; but I'm like Madonna tho, I have a "thing" for religious icons and imagery. I just can't break the habit (snicker!) Political Party: Newly switched to Reform Party of Florida Drugs: Of late, just NyQuil Job: Schizophrenic dreamer, writer, actor, and hausfrau Dream: To work in the Tampa Bay Devil Rays organization >From the Bungalow, Kristi PS: Come back Harrison S., all is forgiven.
------------------------------ Message-ID: <35805848.26D4194E@yha.att.ne.jp> Date: Fri, 12 Jun 1998 07:20:56 +0900 From: Colin Seditas <cseditas@yha.att.ne.jp> Subject: Harrison's soapbox Simon Deane wrote about Harrison's mumblings and grumblings and wonderfully 'clever' ramblings (tyranny of the hip): "I'm probably the only person on this list who doesn't agree with you." Simon, you took the words out of my mouth. Maybe we're the only two on the list who don't agree with Harrison? Colin (S)
------------------------------ From: "STEVE PERLEY" <steveandlauren@grolen.com> Subject: Jumping on the Statistics Bandwagon Date: Thu, 11 Jun 1998 18:13:13 -0400 Message-ID: <01bd9586$1ffef200$91cbf7cd@steveandlauren.grolen.com> Hi Chalkers! I'm de-lurking after a long silence with absolutely no XTC content because I wanted to skew the results of the "Here's my statistics" thread a bit. Well, ok...I'm bummed about the Dave thing. Religion: None. Period. But you can believe whatever you want and I won't give you a bunch of crap about it. Political Party: Republican. But without the stereotypical hangups about sexuality, race, abortion, etc. that people like to pin on us. Probably has something to do with the previous answer. Besides, the Libertarians will probably never be a viable political force in this country. Drugs: Beer, and plenty of it. Then I'll want a cigarette. Lather, rinse, repeat. Job: CADD technician. Dreams: I dream that even though I'm 34, my new old-school punk rock band will actually accomplish something. (That's right, folks...RAT FINK appearing at Artspace in beautiful Gloucester, MA, USA, on June 26. Then it's on to Elm Street Station, Manchester, NH on July 11. Everyone's entitled to an occasional shameless plug!) As for Simon and his new Guild: Congratulations! I own 3 Guilds (an acoustic and 2 electrics) and they're terrific guitars. You'll love it forever. Steve
------------------------------ From: Iain_Murray@hr-m.b-m.defence.gov.au Message-Id: <4A256620.0082372B.00@ncc-notes.hr-m.b-m.defence.gov.au> Date: Fri, 12 Jun 1998 09:51:28 +1000 Subject: Yet Another Chalkhills Virgin... Salutations from sunny sub-tropical Canberra!! Religion : I was raised Catholic, but rebelled at seventeen. Haven't found my "one true faith" yet. Political Sympathies : Pinko leftist subversive (can you say that when you work for a right-wing government?) Job : Well, I've already mentioned that.... Dreams : To own a radio station, so that I can inflict my musical tastes on as many people as possible. I've only been on the Chalkhills list for about two days, so this is my first mailing - please, be gentle with me. I've noticed one other person from Canberra has posted messages (so he might not agree with what I'm about to say), but I've always had difficulty finding XTC albums in Canberra. The main "alternative" record store here is Impact Records, which purports to sell albums that are hard to find anywhere else, but I've lost count of the number of times I've gone in there and only found one copy of "English Settlement" for $35 (the usual cost of a brand-new CD over here is $30). Is there a mail-order place (either through Chalkhills or somewhere else) that can extend my collection without sending me bankrupt?
------------------------------ From: "Wesley Hanks" <whanks@earthlink.net> Subject: Fanny's Your Aunt Date: Thu, 11 Jun 1998 17:37:09 -0700 Message-ID: <000001bd959a$3bbd3600$a84b2599@default> Friends, religion: Christian political party: registered Republican drug: hockey job: white collar insurance company stiff Wes "He doesn't quite bend so much as he audibly cracks" Hanks Las Vegas PS - Heard "The Disappointed" last Saturday on the P.A. at the "Wet N Wild" water park. cool
------------------------------ From: LadyCPlum@aol.com Message-ID: <90a27234.35808886@aol.com> Date: Thu, 11 Jun 1998 21:46:45 EDT Subject: Wait! I changed my political party.... I am now a fully-fledged member of the Silly Party. The next election I shall vote for Tarquin fim-tim-lim-bin-bin-bin-whim-bim-busstop-ftang-ftang- ole'biscuitbarrel. I think he's going to beat Alan Jones meself. :) Amanda XTC song of the day-I'll Set Myself On Fire non-XTC song-Shout It Out Loud-KISS
------------------------------ Message-ID: <3580C7ED.1298@sirius.com> Date: Thu, 11 Jun 1998 23:17:17 -0700 From: Eric Rosen <elr@sirius.com> Subject: Korporate Kulture Harrison. I loved your rant/post about Korporate Kulture. Sure there are those who say, we're free to choose whatever mask we want and no one is twisting our arms. That's true in a limited sense. But in a larger context, you are right. Afterall, it's only in this century that culture is more often than not, copyrighted. So what, you all say? Other societies had cultures that were shared by the people and passed on from generation to generation and nobody "owned" it, per se. With copyright, culture is privatized. It can only be enjoyed if you're willing to pay money for it. We're so used to it, that we think it's normal but maybe it's not. Can you imagine how outraged SONY and the like would be if our culture had the never ending half lives of traditional societies' cultures? "Yes, music fans, 'Mary Had a Little Lamb' was the number one song again for the 800th straight week!" Now maybe this Korporate Kulture wouldn't be so bad if it weren't so few companies controlling so much. People easily forget (or never discover) that about 7 companies control just about everything we get to see or hear. That's not a conspiracy. That's the way capitalism works. You start out with an atomistic market of many players and the war of stamina is won by the craftiest few who then slug it out amongst themselves and so on. I'm not saying that's right but every market seems to behave this way. I think it's fairly pernicious that 7 companies can have that much control. How can we expect any culture that dares us to think? Or that causes us to ask questions about the existing order? There's no incentive for these few behemoths to shake up what's good for them! Don't ever expect our highly sanitized culture to reveal the mysteries of life or the truth about our sordid national history. Ain't gonna happen. For that stuff you gotta do your own digging. Finally, much of what you say I can relate to because of the proximity of our ages. I'm 34 and I look at how much time and energy I expended in the area of so-called culture and I come to understand the meaning of mispent youth! It's just pure consumption. There's no sense that something is being built for the betterment of one's own future. No sense of investment. Perhaps, this is what they meant back in the '60's about never trusting anyone over 30? ;) I look at the rock stars and the sex symbols and think "this hype is great for their bank accounts but what about mine?" Am I cynical or realistic?
------------------------------ Message-ID: <3580C805.5C11@sirius.com> Date: Thu, 11 Jun 1998 23:17:41 -0700 From: Eric Rosen <elr@sirius.com> Subject: The Affiliations Hey everyone! I've been reading all these descriptions of everyone's religion and politics, and so on and I come away asking myself certain questions about other people's politics... This is not to put anyone down but I'm seriously befuddled and need to "get my clue already." This applies to the Americans but the Brits could easily make the appropriate substitutions and perform the currency conversion, if you will. With all that said... ****Why would anyone making less than $200,000 per year ever align themselves with the Republican party?**** If people vote "their pocketbooks" then there's a sizable lot out there making less than 200G's who somehow believe that their interests and the interests served by the Republicans are the same. If so, please explain this to me. Or, let's re-phrase the question. "When did the Republicans ever do anything that benefited people making less than 200Gs and what was it?" And about this surge of Libertarianism. What is it really? Lots of us, myself included, like to think of ourselves as "free thinkers" and associate the word "Libertarian" with "free thinker" hence, grabbing the bait. Whenever I look closely at Libertarians however, I see folks who are nothing but Darwinists. For example. Libertarians appear to be liberal on social issues. They're the first to say "let people do as they will" and stop trying to but in, big government. That sounds good on the surface but let's think it through, shall we? A Libertarian would say, "it's unnecessary to have laws that require motorists to wear their seat belts or cyclists to wear crash helmets" and give the rationale that "people are rational and can decide for themselves what level of risk they should take" and "government needn't clog up the courts and the lawbooks with excess rules." But, are people always rational? Is every individual mature enough to make the wisest decision? Their attitude flies in the face of studies that have shown these safety precautions to save lives and minimize injury, pain and suffering. Should we be ashamed if government passes a law requiring us to buckle up? Should government back out of the social contract of acting in the public good and use cost benefit analysis in its place? Cost benefit analysis is the paradigm of business. Should every aspect of our lives be run like a business? Have any of you ever felt stifled by a lack of democracy at someplace you've worked? I hold no brief for government bloat but just because something is done by government does that make it wrong or inefficient? Have any of you worked at a corporation that was inefficient? There's no magic to the labels "public" and "private" (contrary to what Libertarians and Republicans would have us believe). Lately, I take a train that is run by government (CALTRAIN a division of AMTRACK which the Republicans would gleefully cut in heartbeat) that is on time, comfortable, reliable and reasonably priced. As for my politics, I say we need to take Ralph Nader's advice. Have a choice in every ballot that says "none of the above." If none of the above wins, then we have a runoff in 30 days time with a clean slate of candidates. The cool thing about this is it would help take a lot of the big money out of our elections and would remove the need to vote for the least of the evils.
------------------------------ Message-ID: <3580D298.7FE0@gte.net> Date: Fri, 12 Jun 1998 00:03:04 -0700 From: Randy Hiatt <rhiatt@gte.net> Subject: Todd's interview (wow) Hi all, I just read Todd Bernhardt's interview with AP. As a drummer and a passionate fan I still am reeling. Excellent job, good length, I need more! How soon will that book be out?! I've always considered XTC a listeners band, there is always so much to discover and it was exciting to hear AP describe just how fine he likes to split the hairs (or is that polish the turds). Their stuff is my required vitamin. Reminds me of the Frippism "What you hear is the quality of your listening". I actually wanted to write about The Man Who Sailed Around His Soul, a drumming masterpiece. If you break the song into measures (4 beats) each measure / drum riff is different from the others, all the way through the tune. That's alot of fills to come up with and stitch seamlessly together. PP's parts are like lyrics, he tells a story with each note, pause, hesitation and hole (like to see that in MIDI). I'm glad he's doing the new stuff. I agree with Gineen about the cycling of XTC projects through our stereos, it never ends, after awhile it's all one huge project to me, lots of flavors, something for every moment. So if anyone wonders what XTC to buy next, you buy what's available (and then go look elsewhere for others). Jes, your right on about the Dregs, an additional comment as to why I really like them too is their ability to have tunes side by side each with a completely different genre or feel,... rock, classical, country, jazz, each done as if it's their mainstay. I guess I should do this... Religion: loosely raised Lutheran (is this how to spell it?) as a child. Always wanted a connection to all things, dabble with Kirlian photography and things to test this notion. Politics: don't vote, can't change the direction of government, you either help it, give it money which increases its speed to it's target, or you get in it's way which only slows it on it's way to it's target. (it sounded so good in my head) Drugs: Your My Drug..... seriously, I'm a musician, roughly 45, what do you think ;-> Work: "do I have too?" I'm an Advanced Computing Technologist (I like that advanced part), focusing on 3D, VR, CAD, visualization things. Any XTCers going to SIGGRAPH? email me, we'll have to meet. Dream: happiness, keep my kids healthy, passion Least Fave: still working on that Most Fave: still working on that (but much closer) bye all! Randy
------------------------------ Date: Fri, 12 Jun 1998 01:34:57 -0700 (PDT) Message-Id: <v01510101b1a6a425c0c1@[194.128.83.69]> From: fisher@easynet.co.uk (Mark Fisher) Subject: Hard Days Gregory There's video footage (amateur or professional, I can't remember) of Dave Gregory picking up a 12-string guitar at home and playing the opening chord of A Hard Day's Night. It was so distinctive (being the same kind of Beatles guitar) that that was all he needed to play. You named that tune in one. I have a half-memory that all the strings were open (ie it was EADGBE), but that surely tells you more about my memory than the Beatles' chord. Does anyone else recall the film clip?
------------------------------ Message-ID: <65706847FC74D1119E000000F801D38C18F338@NTFS03> From: "Deane, Simon" <simon.deane@dgj.com.hk> Subject: Personality survey Date: Fri, 12 Jun 1998 19:10:06 +0800 I didn't have time to provide personal details to the previous listing, but it seems like a bit of a laugh so: Religion: Raised Church of England, now Mammonist (but that's what living in Hong Kong does for you). Politics: Any Hong Kong party which supports universal suffrage, rule of law, freedom of the press, freedom. Drugs: Alcohol and training. Job: Solicitor (Attorney, to you septics). Dreams: (1) XTC to win global recognition on a Michael Jackson/Celine Dion scale with accompanying money, on their own terms and not to get completely screwed up as a result (hell, why should a limited few have a monopoly on their genius other than to satisfy hip (or anti-hip) credentials). (2) England to win back-to-back World Cups in football and rugby, this year and next (and if any Aussies are tempted to scoff after the lads' pitiful performance last weekend, remember: the wheel always come full circle). (3) To lose about 10 kg around my gut to return my otherwise Adonis-like body to its previous youthful, athletic glory. (4) Not to fuck up the baby currently growing in my wife's tummy, after it's born (or before, for that matter). (5) Actually to write that book I've been thinking about since finishing school 20 years ago. Oh, and ... (6) World peace, an end to starvation, democracy and rule of law entrenched globally, destruction of environment reversed and everyone to live happily ever after. All the best Simon Deane
------------------------------ From: sfrankli@ECHG.ORG.UK Message-ID: <80256621.004CE295.00@Inet.echg.org.uk> Date: Fri, 12 Jun 1998 15:01:24 +0100 Subject: Time to Try and Contribute I have been following chalkhills for a month or so and thought it was time for me to try and contribute. (First introduced to the band by Noel Ponting then of Dursley now of Tetbury in early 80's It's a long story but went on to meet Jules and Juliet, who fly the flag for XTC in Bloomfontaign (sp?) on the outskirts of Paris.) The lack of more success for the band is a major frustration and I cant help thinking that in 50 or 100 years time their music will be re discovered and they will get (albeit phostumously) the credit they deserve. I am particularly interested in the jazz influences in the music which comes to the fore in Andy Partridges Through the Hill project. Also the more sombre tracks form Colin Moulding (Bungalow / dying etc) I have always thought of the band as portraying English 'POP' music at its best and could be perhaps likened to the cousins of Squeeze who appear to be the more streetwise jack the lads form the Capital rather than the more naive younger relations from the country ! Both bands have the ability to entertain through every day experiences but XTC 's work takes a little more work to become accessible- if that doesn't sound pompous. Enough self indulgent drivel. Some where in my old Betamax Video collection I have a copy of a recording of a documentary about the band from about 1983/4. I haven't seen it for years but as I recall it shows footage of the band being interviewed in an old cafe in Old Town (Swindon) and videos of tracks like Human Alchemy. I also have a clip showing the band performing This World over on Mike Reed's Swap Shop from a couple of years later. I could be persuaded to dig them out and copy them if someone can find me a copy of Rory Gallagher live in Cork Video. Can't wait for the new album, 6-7 years is too long (yes Jules, Nonsuch was 1992) Favourite thought .................. XTC performing live again.
------------------------------ Message-ID: <358141A2.B27996D6@mbox.argosid.it> Date: Fri, 12 Jun 1998 16:56:34 +0200 From: Antonino Masturzo <antmas@sorrento.argosid.it> Subject: radioxtc hi everybody a few days ago i was listening to an italian radio (me too i'm italian) while i was working (better i was reading' Chalkhills on my 286 computer that i use in office) and i was caught by surprise hearing' the gentle whistle that goes through General & Majors!!! I was so happy that i grabbed the phone and call this radio station (that was a national channel) and i asked who was so keen on Xtc and a nice girl (guessed by the voice) told that it was the director of the program. Good - i said - keep on this way! Well here it's not so easy to hear xtc on the radio (especially when there's no recent release). Now the poll: Religion: Raised Catholic, now another atheist. Political Party: Always on the left side Drugs: Only Nutella (who knows it?) Job: clerk Dream: play football like Ronaldo does (or at least Baggio) btw Italy for World cup 98 bye for now -- Tonino Masturzo My web page is www.geocities.com/sunsetstrip/palladium/6851 My Icq is:220156 "Awaken you dreamers"
------------------------------ Message-Id: <TFSLUXKD@ubk.net>> From: Jonathan Monnickendam <monnickj@ubk.net> Date: Fri, 12 Jun 1998 14:54:46 +0000 Subject: Procastrination & the fuzzy warbles So what wild stuff did not make it onto Drums and Wireless ? Perhaps those in the know can shed some light here. Is it ethical to sell a 4 cd set to fans who already have half of it? I thought that was what big corporations did. Is there anything else left in the bin ? I wish AP and CM would just get a move on on release Firework. I fail to see the benefit of this diversion other than it allows them to put off the release for even longer. Would anyone care to tot up the amount of XTC cds since Nonsuch. Filler is not quite the word and i love R&BB but honestly . enough for now jon Currently listening to Bluegrass Special by Jim and Jesse & the Virginia Boys * --------------------------------------------------------------- The views expressed are of the individual, and do not necessarily reflect the views of The United Bank of Kuwait PLC. * ---------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------ Message-ID: <35816A67.6F87@erols.com> Date: Fri, 12 Jun 1998 13:50:31 -0400 From: Nezdispenser <nezdispenser@erols.com> Subject: Howdy I've been lurking here the last month, thought I would send my greetings. First heard XTC, that I noticed anyway, after repeated airings of The Mayor of Simpleton on that dreaded music television. Don't know why but I bought Black Sea first, still my favorite album. Just found used copy of the CD in Princeton Wednesday to replace the tape my friend stole, whooo hoo! Religion: The church of me, donations always accepted Political Party: The apathetic American youth party Drugs: Aspirin on occasion Job: Being 26 and male, and seller of fine Hohner musical instruments. Neither pays well. Dream: To get out of bed before 12 noon tomorrow, set low goals and you will always reach them Wayne aka Nezdispenser in the land of Monkeedom
------------------------------ From: fstolzenbach@hns.com Message-ID: <85256621.004C7B45.00@ngw2.hns.com> Date: Fri, 12 Jun 1998 13:47:36 -0400 Subject: Who the hell am I? My profile: Religion: Dunno -- sometimes I wish I could turn off the logic machine and become a good, honest Christian. But who was that Jesus guy, anyway? Political Party: A plague on all their houses. Sympathies for the Libertarians, but they ultimately scare the hell out of me Drugs: Wine I can't really afford Job: Advertising/P.R. Director for Hughes Network Systems -- launching their satellite Internet/TV dish as we speak Favorite Song Title: "The Roar Of the Masses Could Be Farts," The Minutemen
------------------------------ End of Chalkhills Digest #4-93 ******************************
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