Chalkhills Digest Volume 5, Issue 11
Date: Monday, 26 October 1998

          Chalkhills Digest, Volume 5, Number 11

                 Monday, 26 October 1998

Today's Topics:

               Ass, Arse, Aussies and Fanny
                     The "Dumb Album"
                      XTC Book Tour?
                   SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT
                       The Minders
   We won't vote conservative, because we never have...
                        Greetings!
The problems of three little musicians don't amount to a hill of
                    Karmic Characters
                       Yeah, but...
                   xtc video correction
               Barry info / Shriekback info
                      Dear God Video
               THIS WEEKS GREGSY REAL AUDIO
        Dave features on new Louis Philippe album
                     A quick note...
                toy soldiers in New Jersey
       Re : Andy Partridge - Person Of The Century
                  Person of the century
                       Elvis & Burt
                      Soldier of Pop
                Please, please tell me now
                   the stork is comming

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But please don't listen to me.

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

Message-Id: <v03102802b25555423ab0@[165.227.110.102]>
Date: Thu, 22 Oct 1998 14:55:17 -0700
From: Richard Pedretti-Allen <richard@tactics.com>
Subject: Ass, Arse, Aussies and Fanny

Well... I don't think Andy WOULD say such an Americanism as "ass."  Though
he uses British terms and idioms in his lyrics, his pronunciation doesn't
sound all that "British."

Um... yeah... "fanny."  Some friends were visiting from Australia and
VIvian had to buy waist-packs for all of her girlfriends.  The particular
product she had found was clearly titled in big, bold font, proclaiming
"FANNY PACK."  This made her laugh wickedly every time she opened her
suitcase.

Her boyfriend explained that the term was "...180 degrees out of phase in
the U.S."

Cheers, Richard "Hire me!" Pedretti-Allen

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

Message-ID: <E936F9674805D111BCED0000F87889806B67CE@svr02.bclc.com>
From: Neil Oliver <NOLIVER@bclc.com>
Subject: The "Dumb Album"
Date: Thu, 22 Oct 1998 16:23:54 -0700

To anyone who has been talking to Andy and/or Colin:

How much of the 2nd album (referred to by Andy as the "dumb album" in
Simon Sleightholm's last post) has been recorded? My understanding was
that Prairie Prince and Dave G. recorded parts for both albums during
the recording sessions this year. If so, then what state are the tracks
in?

According to the Song Stories book, the remaining songs the band had
planned for the sessions were:

You and the Clouds Will Still Be Beautiful
Church of Women
My Brown Guitar
Boarded Up
In Another Life
Playground
Stupidly Happy
Wounded Horse
The Wheel & the Maypole
We're All Light

Now that there are going to be 2 albums is anything else going to be
added to this list? Or are we getting way ahead of ourselves here? :-)

(by the way, does anyone have demos of any of the latter 7 songs, or for
that matter of "Harvest Festival" or any of Colin's songs?)

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

From: MFa2707621@aol.com
Message-ID: <62c5c91c.362fc45e@aol.com>
Date: Thu, 22 Oct 1998 19:48:46 EDT
Subject: XTC Book Tour?

Chalkers,

I just read the latest digest of Chalkhills, and I read that Andy and Colin
are doing a US book tour in November.  Is there any way that we can get the
dates and the locations?  I hope they come to Buffalo, but I highly doubt it.
I mean who wants to come to Buffalo?  I know they'll hit places like NYC and
LA.  It just frustrates me because there are XTC fans in the Buffalo/Niagra
Falls area.  I wish there was a way to let them know that they should come to
the Buffalo area.  Oh well, I'll keep my fingers crossed.

Molly

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

Date: 23 Oct 98 09:54:18 AES
From: PCulnane@dca.gov.au
Subject: SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT
Message-ID: <0000txpdhdhb.0000sgmeyggk@dca.gov.au>

Hi Chalkpops!

Simon Sleightholm's message in Chalkhills #10, about his recent
conversation with Andy was, as usual, most interesting and revelatory.
Thanks heaps for sharing that information with us Simon!

Simon's posting has prompted me to jump the gun and release the following
information:

1)  On Wednesday, 11th November (Andy's birthday), there will be a
three-hour radio special devoted entirely to XTC, broadcast on Sydney
station 2RDJ-FM and its Australia-wide affiliates through the ComRadSat
network (check your local area station affiliates).  2RDJ-FM broadcasts on
88.1 MHz.  The show, CONTACT!, goes out every Wednesday evening from 9.00pm
till midnight, and is presented by Andrew Lambkin.  Check Andrew's website
for the show at http://homepages.tig.com.au
The website will carry a full tracklisting of the show a couple of days
after the broadcast, so other fans can check it out and seethe with
jealousy  ;^)

The XTC special will feature tracks from the imminent "Transistor Blast"
box set, as well as exclusive demo recordings for the forthcoming "Apple
Venus" album, plus many other rarities, album tracks and hits.  But the
main attraction will be an *exclusive*, extensive, informative, and very
entertaining interview with Andy Partridge himself, as well as excerpts
from the *only* interview conducted with Terry Chambers since he left the
band 16 years ago. There will be giveaways of the new book, "Song Stories"
and other surprises.

This will be the only Australian radio interview with Andy for the
foreseeable future, so, Aussie fans, get yer "radios in motion" for this
momentous event!

2) Non-Aussies need not despair unduly, however, because the full
transcript of the Andy chat, including much material not included in the
radio show, will shortly be available to view at The Little Lighthouse at
http://utopia.knoware.nl/~mmello/
...our venerable lighthouse-keeper, Mark Strijbos will announce when this
stuff is up on his site.  Meanwhile, make sure you check out the Terry
Chambers interview that is already there for savouring.

I've got a feeling that all XTC enthusiasts will thoroughly enjoy these
events, so make sure you put 'em in your diary.

As Todd Rundgren is wont to say, just throw money....

Cheers
~p@ul

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

From: Joel Reamer <reamerj@stu.beloit.edu>
Message-Id: <199810230245.VAA22058@stu.beloit.edu>
Subject: The Minders
Date: Thu, 22 Oct 1998 21:45:28 -0500 (CDT)

   Chalkfolk.

I know I mentioned this a few weeks ago, but it is IMPERATIVE for all Dukes
fans to pick up a copy of The Minders' new full-length, "Hooray for
Tuesday." It's out on SpinArt Records, and you can find it at
http://www.erols.com/spinart . And before anyone questions me like they did
Dom, no, I'm not a promo guy for SpinArt. The album is just amazingly
pristine 60's pop joy. (American pop, too...and we all know how Dom lovvvvesss
the Sugarplastic) Just a public service announcement.

                                               Joel.

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

From: "Wesley Hanks" <whanks@earthlink.net>
Subject: We won't vote conservative, because we never have...
Date: Thu, 22 Oct 1998 20:00:46 -0700
Message-ID: <000001bdfe31$5500a480$d81c1d26@default>

The Rush Limbaugh show on 10/20 used the intro from "Generals and Majors"
when they were coming back from a commercial break.

Frightened,
Wes

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

Message-ID: <19981023052830.23874.qmail@hotmail.com>
From: "Duncan Kimball" <dunks58@hotmail.com>
Subject: Greetings!
Date: Thu, 22 Oct 1998 22:28:29 PDT

Hi Chalkhillers

I've just joined the list and wanted to briefly introduce myself and
send greetings. My name is Duncan (I also answer to Dunks) and I live at
the Hub of the Universe, otherwise known as Newtown, an delightful inner
city suburb of Sydney, Australia - and I'd love to hear from any
Chalkhillers in the vicinity.

I first discovered XTC during an edition of "Countdown" (Australia's Top
of The Pops) ca. 1977, when Andy and the lads burst onto our screens
with the video for "This Is Pop". It proved to be one of those "Who the
@#$% is that??" moments. I set about finding out and was not
disappointed.

I was to be (bitterly) disappointed however by being too impoverished at
the time to be able to see them on either of their Aussie tours. The
tours were by all accounts brilliant, and the live tracks recorded
confirm it. (the author weeps silently for a moment)

Since then I've been (wallet permitting) an avid collector of all things
XTC, my proudest posession being my lovely 4-sheeter English Settlement
promo poster.

I was sad to hear that Dave has left the band, but I guess that's how
things go. Still it's great to know the new album is on the way.

Well, I'll leave it there for now but look forward to some stimulating
exchanges in the future.

Yours chalkily
Dunks

* ------------------------------------------------------------
EMAIL: dunks58@hotmail.com
ICQ:   12121374
WWW:   http://www.geocities.com/sunsetstrip/palladium/5812

"Look on my works, ye mighty ... and think to yourself - "Hasn't he got
anything better to do?"

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

Message-ID: <B82F8C4D16A0D1119FDC0001FA6A4BC901F7ABB8@hfd-exch003.hartford.aetna.com>
From: "Witter, Karl F" <WitterKF@aetna.com>
Subject: The problems of three little musicians don't amount to a hill of
Date: Fri, 23 Oct 1998 08:53:20 -0400

>>Dave Blackburn: Songs are cobbled together out of scraps and
>>numerous ostensibly powerful lyrics are apparently not about
>>anything much at all.

It's what I call the "Casablanca effect". They were making an A-movie
with some big stars. However, it was based on a failed play, had a small
budget and tight schedule, they didn't know how it was going to end,
and every day the players got a few scraps of dialogue to shoot from
screenwriters Howard Koch and the Epstein brothers. Nobody said "Hey,
we're making one of the most beloved movies of all time here."

The reason for this is that hardly anyone sits down with the *intent*
of creating "Here's looking at you, kid", "We'll always have Paris",
"Of all the gin joints in all the world...", "Round up the usual
suspects", and so many more famous lines, and succeeds at doing it.
Enjoy serendipity where it happens.

"I thought I told you never to play that song!",
Karl

PS The penultimate "English" question may be whether Song Stories feels
the need to explain that "football shaped" refers to the football
Michael Owens kicks, not the one Brett Favre throws.

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

Date: Fri, 23 Oct 1998 10:23:56 -0700 (PDT)
Message-Id: <199810231723.KAA03597@intergate.sonyinteractive.com>
From: Bob Estus <bestus@intergate.sonyinteractive.com>
Subject: Karmic Characters

Chalk cousins,

Let me chime in a thanks for the Terry Chambers interview at the Little
Lighthouse (http://www.knoware.nl/users/mmello/tc_intro.html) the lost
appendix to _Song Stories_ :^) Great Stuff! Way to make something happen Sir
P@ul of Oz and Sir Mark of the Nethers.

On the subject of "the book" I thoroughly enjoyed _(War) Stories_. I was
pleasantly surprised at the amount of Gregsy text included considering
previous reports of his non-involvement. As stated elsewhere the book is
simply the Greatest Listening Party you'll ever attend...

Amanda wrote:
>I am currently in the process of trading some stuff through my ad in LE.
Anyhoo, one person who answered my ad was Brian Steffan. He's got TONS of
video stuff I don't have, yet crave. HOWEVER, Mitch has just sent me two
postings from older Chalkhills saying how much of a ripoff dealing with him
is. Now I'm lost! He's got some things I really want, but I'm sure as hell
not paying 20 bucks for two hours worth of footage. I just started a new
job, I don't have that kind of money!<

I not writing to quarrel with you, my dear Amanda, only to partially clear
Brian Steffen's name and share some amusing background on him.

I agree, $20 is expensive. I think trades should occur whenever possible to
avoid the "for profit thing". But for a monetary trade $20 seems to be the
going rate for a video. The content of much of Mr. Steffen's tapes seem to
be identical to Ian Stewart's advertised tapes, also $20 per. I can vouch
for both individuals as far as trusting them to come through with a tape.

I searched the Chalkhills Archives and found only a single complaint against
Mr. Steffen and that was from one Eric Anderson! The very person who has had
*many* complaints logged against his own faltered video tree. Also E.A.
merely complained about the price to footage ratio in response to a lister's
praise of Brian's videos. From my personal knowledge Brian has never
misrepresented his material or ripped off anyone he had dealings with that I
know of. (Any testimonials?) BTW, any of you that enjoy my XTC video
captures have Brian Steffen to thank because he donated an entire set of XTC
videos for the capturing.

I found Brian through his ad in the Little Express and wrote to him because
his address was only 5 miles from mine. I thought it would be worthwhile to
meet up because as XTC fans we are part of such a small small community, you
know. We ended up chatting for hours even though XTC is the only thing we'll
probably *ever* have in common.

He told me a story about how a couple of years ago Partridge, in a fit of
rage, was calling around to try to find out where his new demos were leaking
from. He had seen Brian's ad in L.E. "New Demos for sale or trade", tracked
Brian's number down by phoning around to Brian's family. He got a hold of
Brian and using an assumed name, something much more mundane than J'onn
Jo'nzz the Martian Manhunter, attacked Brian with Colin giggling in the
background. Andy's primary interest was to find Brian's source and upon
doing so (also finding out the nominal volume and price that Brian asking)
he fessed up to his true identity (awful hard to mask that Whiltshire
anyhow). They had a normal fan to demi-god conversation. Things were left
amiable enough for Andy (at some future time) to give the nod to a fan in
Swindon to send Brian Andy's personal dub of odd XTC video spots.

Personally I've found Brian to be a big hearted and rabid fan but have never
been totally comfortable with him earning the odd beer money from XTC tapes.
Although how can I be totally clean if enjoy these same tapes? Brian lives a
very modest lifestyle. I drive him to old record shops on infrequent
occasions. I sift for treasures while he hawks worthless records he's been
given. I always pick up lunch. We'll usually finish one of these excursions
with a trip to Tower Records where Brian partakes in the strangest yet
endearing activities. He'll grab a fistful of XTC cd's and place them on the
high exposure eye-level racks reserved for new releases. This at a store
close enough to walk to on his lunch breaks so he can check up on the sales
results. He swears he's helping to move a lot of merchandize.

reel world,
-Bob

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

Message-Id: <s630a276.068@chemonics.com>
Date: Fri, 23 Oct 1998 15:34:25 -0400
From: Todd Bernhardt <tbernhardt@chemonics.com>
Subject: Yeah, but...

Greetings, Chalkfolke:

Responding to Dave B., Harrison said:
>For my part, I feel privileged to be given insight into the process
of the construction of a brilliant edifice; that behind the Nonsuch
Palace three panicky architects are frantically buttressing with
chewing gum and baling wire only emphasizes the thing's humane
beauty.<

True, but I wonder if their interpretation of lyrics as less than what
we may have considered them to be isn't also part of "the process of
self-mythologizing" that you mentioned. When they cite a simple
motivation for the lyrics of one of their songs, perhaps Andy or Colin
aren't aware of -- or are unwilling to admit -- the deeper, sometimes
subconscious motivations behind their lyrics. Certainly the "happy
accident" can play a part in a lyric's profundity, but if you believe
as I do that poetry can be an window into the soul, then perhaps we
shouldn't be so willing to take their explanations at face value.

Besides, because all great art accomplishes its goal by evoking a
subjective response in the heart and mind of the viewer, does the
artist's opinion really matter? I suppose it does to a certain degree,
for those interested in finding out about a work's genesis to provide
a context for their evaluation of it, but when push comes to shove
it's how you or I experience a piece of art that determines the
reality of that art for you or I.

In other words, I liked the book and am glad I read it.

Then Dave said:
> the band pretty much hated the making of almost all their
> albums, hated touring, hated not touring, hated most of their
producers and
> hated some of their own songs.

And Harrison replied:
>To varying degrees, I suspect, you've described just about any
commercial musical group that ever existed. See "Creative Griping"
above.<

I'd qualify that a bit by saying that this attitude of dissatisfaction
with past work is usually the mark of an artist with integrity -- that
is, one who constantly strives to improve and evolve, and who thus is
usually disappointed in work viewed with hindsight. But rather than
seeing this as a drawback, Dave, I see it as a _very_ positive sign
that we'll continue to hear great stuff out of Andy and Colin for
quite some time. It also means that they'll occasionally fall on their
faces as they try new stuff, but I'd rather hear a face-plant by XTC
than a slam-dunk by Bon Jovi any day.

Chalksters in NoVa tomorrow night! Whoo-hoo!
Todd

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

Message-ID: <3630F5B1.C120BAC8@earthlink.net>
Date: Fri, 23 Oct 1998 14:31:29 -0700
From: KenL <herne@earthlink.net>
Subject: xtc video correction

Got a message from a fellow listee saying he couldn't get through to the
video page I found.  I think I had a slight typo in my post.  I checked
back, and the page is there at this address:

http://www.netwalk.com/~stewart/xtcvideo.htm

That should work.

Ken

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

Message-ID: <ibZPbRAZxiM2EwFH@emdac.demon.co.uk>
Date: Sat, 24 Oct 1998 20:36:57 +0100
From: Phil Hetherington <phil@emdac.demon.co.uk>
Subject: Barry info / Shriekback info

Firstly, thanks to John for the quote from 'Over Rusty Water' in
the header of 5-9. Or was it 'Homo Safari'? Anyway...

FINALLY caught up with the post-holiday backlog, and to confuse
matters I won't be here for 3 weeks so I'll have a big backlog
again next time I'm here. So I'd better get a few things out of
the way now.

There is a NEW CD available, apparently only in Swindon (Virgin
Megastore and the Beehive, I'm told). It is by The Refugees and
called 'Lovejunk'. The Refugees are David Marx, Barry Andrews
and Kevin Wilkinson, and if memory serves me correctly they were
last seen on record together as part of Restaurant For Dogs
circa 1981. Haven't tracked down a copy myself yet but I'm
working on it, will let you know what I think.

Some other Shriekback people i.e. Martyn Barker, Lu Edmonds
and Simon Edwards are touring with Billy Bragg as part of the
'Mermaid Avenue' tour. Currently in the UK and soon off to the
US - dates on my web page in a day or so (trying to clarify
something first, if I can get hold of Martyn before I disappear
for 3 weeks). If you haven't heard the album 'Mermaid Avenue',
it features rediscovered Woodie Guithrie lyrics which Billy
Bragg and Wilco set to music. Shriekback weren't involved in
the album, but Martyn, Simon and Lu played with Billy at the
London Fleadh in the summer and were pretty awesome, and the
sound wasn't too far removed from the 1995 Shriekback sound.

Talking of which, Martyn tells me that they're still hopeful
that the follow-up to 'Sacred City' will actually get released,
and are very interested in one particular label following
contact via my web page, so these things can work... keem 'em
coming.

Re: Song Stories. I can forgive the blatant americanisation
of the text, ugly though it seems to me, but having reprinted
the cover for the UK edition you'd have thought they'd have
at least fixed the spelling of the blurb on the back. Up to
Mummer so far, and so far it's an excellent read, though I do
wonder whether Barry and Terry really uttered such similar
words when they left the band, and it would have been nice to
hear from them too, rather than just the others talking about
them. Mind you, the description of Barry demolishing his
piano at gigs is very funny.

And finally, congrats all round to Ira.

All for now,
Phil
--
 _
|_) |_  * |    Me: http://www.emdac.demon.co.uk/phil/
|   | ) | |    Then for Shriekback add: shrkindx.html
===========    Or for Gang Of Four: gof/gof_indx.html

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

From: "Nick Brickell" <nick@brickcom.freeserve.co.uk>
Subject: Dear God Video
Date: Sat, 24 Oct 1998 20:56:59 +0100
Message-ID: <000001bdff88$75fa1240$6f08883e@nick>

This is my first post anywhere!
Has anyone else tried to look at the Dear God Video at
http://spectrum.prysm.net/~bowie/imgs/deargod.mov

Whenever I try I get a render error from active movie , Am I missing a
plugin or something? , I'd be very grateful for any help

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

Message-ID: <36332164.8259908@geocities.com>
Date: Sun, 25 Oct 1998 08:02:28 -0500
From: xychq <xychq@geocities.com>
Organization: friends of faruq http://www.geocities.com/RainForest/Vines/9645/faruq.htm
Subject: THIS WEEKS GREGSY REAL AUDIO

It's up same url same deal:
http://listen.to/dg
if i don't say get a real player here free everyone will right me asking
how to play the file so
http://www.real.com/ get it free. there.
THIS WEEK|
THE CRUEL SEA another intrumettle.

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

Message-Id: <3.0.1.16.19981025161201.2bb77000@popd.netcom.net.uk>
Date: Sun, 25 Oct 1998 16:12:01 +0000
From: Danny Manners <dannym@netcomuk.co.uk>
Subject: Dave features on new Louis Philippe album

Louis Philippe's new album "Azure" will be released in Japan on 26th
November and includes some (as ever) immaculate guitar work from Dave
Gregory. We recorded it earlier in the year about two weeks after Dave's
departure, so it must be his first post-XTC recording.

I won't pretend that Dave is heavily featured: he's more the subtle icing
on the cake on three tracks - some 12-string acoustic backing, a touch of
screaming lead, and a tasty volume-pedal solo. You should get this album if
you're into lush and lyrical pop (there's a sixty-piece orchestra)... or if
you're a Gregory completist.

The other point of interest to Chalkhillians is that the album includes a
cover of "I Can't Own Her", a big orchestral job arranged by myself. Andy
gave his blessing at a point when it wasn't on the shortlist for the
upcoming XTC album; then they changed their minds but he told us to go
ahead anyway. So it's going to be very interesting (and a little
nerve-wracking) to see what they come up with themselves.

"Azure" will be released on the Trattoria label
(http://www2.eccosys.co.jp/~kawakazu/mainmenu.html) and will undoubtedly be
licensed outside Japan at some stage. You may have to mail order - the
Louis Philippe web site (htt:/www.netcomuk.co.uk/~louis) will have more
details.

Danny

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

From: LadyCPlum@aol.com
Message-ID: <40429969.36335b55@aol.com>
Date: Sun, 25 Oct 1998 12:09:41 EST
Subject: A quick note...

I have blocked all of my emails except for the Chalkhills domain and a few
Chalkhillians I talk to regularly, namely Mitch and Jim Zittel.

So if anyone wants to get in touch with me for anything, send all email to
Daveizgod@hotmail.com.

Tis all for now,
Amanda
XTC song of the day-Paper and Iron
non XTC song-THank U-Alanis Morissette

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

From: STakesh@aol.com
Message-ID: <c4ec584b.36339196@aol.com>
Date: Sun, 25 Oct 1998 16:01:10 EST
Subject: toy soldiers in New Jersey

Fellow pointy-eared Chalkies,

Today's Star-Ledger has an article on the annual East Coast Toy Soldier and
Miniature Show and Sale, to be held Nov. 1, 9-3, at the Rothman Center,
Farleigh Dickinson U., Hackensack, NJ.  Its promoters claim this show is
"'the largest of its kind in the world'" with over 300 vendor tables.

Supposedly, Andy is still dotting the "i"s and crossing the "t"s on the '99
stuff, but that could be wrapped up any minute now.  Besides, he's been
known to go AWOL (absent without leave) on the studio for quick (and
not-so-short) jaunts to NYC.  Could there be a Partridge sighting then?
Tune in next week!

Two thoughts: 1) are any metro-area Chalkies planning on attending?  and 2)
if Partsy is still collecting, or can still be tempted by this event, but
can't attend, perhaps he'd like to forward a duly specific shopping list to
someone (Mitch F.?  Ira?  lil' old me?) to shop the show for him.  (Talk
about your long shots...)  Clearly, speed is of the essence here.

BTW, Hackensack is located in the extreme NE corner of NJ, NW of Manhattan.

Toys are only human afterall,

Stephanie

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

From: Iain_Murray@hr-m.b-m.defence.gov.au
Message-Id: <4A2566A8.00751BF3.00@ncc-notes.hr-m.b-m.defence.gov.au>
Date: Mon, 26 Oct 1998 07:20:29 +1000
Subject: Re : Andy Partridge - Person Of The Century

Bugger....I've already voted for Eric Cartman. Can I vote twice?

Iain

"As long as we're making shit up, let's go hog wild" - Bill Hicks.

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

From: "Damian Foulger" <damian@imclaser.com>
Date: Fri, 23 Oct 1998 10:45:14 -0500
Subject: Person of the century
Message-Id: <19981023103741.621e86d4.in@ceo.ceolasers.com>

Some suggested getting Andy Partridge voted as person of the
century.  I voted for him and was treated to the results so far.  I
don't think that Andy has much chance.  Jesus Christ had 45% of
the votes with 1/2 million.  Not quite a person from the 20th
century, but there...

Anyhow, it seems that John Flansburgh from They Might Be Giants
comes in fourth with 4% of the votes with 45023 votes!  Some geek
automatically generating votes probably.  Very funny though.

Also, in Song Stories AP say that Chalkhills and Children is his
favourite some and wouldn't be unhappy if XTC were remember only
by it.  How apt that our mailing list is called Chalkhills!

Dames tWd

* ------------------------------------------------
'People will always be tempted to wipe their feet on
anything with welcome written on it.' - AP

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

Message-ID: <36340163.5CC55692@fan.com>
Date: Sun, 25 Oct 1998 23:58:11 -0500
From: Mark Irvin <cornhusker@fan.com>
Subject: Elvis & Burt

Greetings from Florida my fellow Chalkhillians!  I just picked up the
new EC and Burt Bacharach collaboration.  Such a wonderful sound, but
then again, I have always taken preference to EC's ballads.  I can hear
the distinct styles of both writers in each composition.  In keeping
this post short, I will not give you a wordy review, but instead I will
just say, "Buy It"!  Anyway, I highly recommend it.

In my feeble attempt to stay on topic, does anyone know the release date
of Apple Venus (if that is going to be the title)?  Damn, it seems like
forever since Nonsvch was released.  Soon.....real soon..........(I
hope).

XTC song of the day: "Shore Leave Ornithology (Another 1950)"
nonXTC song of the day: "You Can't Put Your Arms Around A Memory" Johnny
Thunders

Mark Douglas Irvin

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

Message-Id: <9810261512.AA06529@axtx0060.scent.mccaw.com>
From: steve mcallister <steve.mcallister-next@attws.com>
Date: Mon, 26 Oct 98 09:12:14 -0600
Subject: Soldier of Pop

hello

my apologies if I'm relaying info that has already been disseminated, but I
just came accross this and was a little bit shocked.  Some time ago (10
years, at least) I used to take most of my dollars down to the local record
shop, and buy random used LPs.  Fifty cents, ninety-nine, buck-ana-half per,
whatever.  I had been turned on to Go 2 (my XTC into) in about '82 this way,
so, needless to say. . . .
     Anyway, in my continual quest for musical (re)education, I began to
flip through some of those remaining sides to see if I missed something then
that I might dig now.  Into my hot little hands cam 'SOldier' by Iggy Pop.
Not only is the bass player one ex-orinal-Sex Pistol, Glenn Matlock, but
there's a certain Barry Andrews on keys - and co-writing credit.
     The record has a date of 1980.
     And I wish I could explain how it sounds, but I found by turntable in
such a state of disrepair, that actually LISTENING to these vinal trophies
was impossible.
     I'll get it fixed.  I'll let you know.  I'll juggle eggs in the
kitchen, too.

Oh how the world so loves a cage

sm

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

From: Melsta@aol.com
Message-ID: <58fa9deb.3634bcae@aol.com>
Date: Mon, 26 Oct 1998 13:17:18 EST
Subject: Please, please tell me now

Simon sez:

> Colin and Andy are heading out to the US on November 5th to do
> some instore and promo stuff for "Song Stories".

Two songs come to mind:

I need to know (I need to know) I need to know (I need to know)

and

Please  please tell me now

What is the schedule??? And how can I change it so they come within
a 100 mile radius of Cleveland, Ohio???

--Melissa "Frothing (Just a Bit) at the Mouth" Reaves

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

Message-ID: <36350BB4.6249@gte.net>
Date: Mon, 26 Oct 1998 15:54:33 -0800
From: Randy Hiatt <rhiatt@gte.net>
Subject: the stork is comming

With the recent  writings about SongStories being a "tell too much
book"  I must give you my angle on this... I thought it was 2000 pages
short.

Making music is like having children, ... in a moment of passion you
conceive, then there's the long tedious pregnancy (as you allow all the
vital components to connect and grow), the terrible labor pains and then
finally the birth (ouch!).  Then all you can do is wish your creation
well (and maybe help out in the promotions).  Anyone out there ever get
moody during their birthing experience?... (I still am)

As a plodding musician (who now only does it for himself and the
recorder) this is exactly how the entire music making process works.
The truth should set you free (in your mind if not your wallet).

Seems some fans would rather the process be all foreplay and conception
(I would rather stay in that mode too, at the very least it's
immediately gratifying), but that's only the half of it.  The truth is
the music industry is a complicated and ugly business when viewed with
the lights on.

In Neville's book we get bits and pieces of these processes, giving us a
peek at the real world, also giving us hope and understanding that
plowing ahead is the only option, under any circumstance if you want to
make something you can be proud of.

The books revelations  should be solace to those who try to forge their
own art out of thin air, in any medium.

anyway i'm die'n for the new stuff to fall down my chimmny.

Randy (don't talk to me about English) Hiatt

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

End of Chalkhills Digest #5-11
******************************

Go back to Volume 5.

27 October 1998 / Feedback