Chalkhills Digest Volume 5, Issue 226
Date: Tuesday, 29 June 1999
Chalkhills Digest, Volume 5, Number 226
Tuesday, 29 June 1999
Today's Topics:
Hee hee
Nonsuch - Hot Dog! We Have A Wiener!
Zombies, etc.
the term "apple venus"
Dave Dixon, R.I.P.
"Can't stop grins from going wide today"
Venal dripping
Delay
Acid Zombies from Venus
Is That A Rocket In Your Pants?
scared now
Re: First time XTC (and brotherhood in XTC)
The Irresponsibles
Life as we know it
question
first time
drums and wires
madame barnum and another tribute list
Our favorite horse is a game company logo
NEW CARDIACS ALBUM
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Chalkhills is compiled with Digest 3.7 (John Relph <relph@sgi.com>).
And when I see 'em fiddling well I think you've guessed the rest!
---------------------------------------------------------------------- From: Jdmack01@aol.com Message-ID: <21367483.24985d7b@aol.com> Date: Tue, 15 Jun 1999 21:52:59 EDT Subject: Hee hee In a message dated 6/14/99 11:06:03 PM Eastern Daylight Time, <owner-chalkhills@chalkhills.org> writes: << John Relph will be on vacation during the week of June 20-26, so Chalkhills will be unavailable that week. Be warned. >> Oh come on! Just let it go unmoderated for that week. We'll behave. We always do (hee hee). J. D.
------------------------------ From: Iain.Murray.70428176@army.defence.gov.au Message-Id: <4A256792.00165C82.00@stagemaster.army.defence.gov.au> Date: Wed, 16 Jun 1999 14:21:18 +1000 Subject: Nonsuch - Hot Dog! We Have A Wiener! Many thanks to those of you who offered to put me out of my non-Nonsuch misery. To those of you who suggested I should try CD Now or Amazon, I probably should have mentioned that I don't have Internet access at the moment. It's an unfortunate side-effect of working in the Australian Public Service. Here's how it seems to work (at least, in my immediate vicinity) : 1. I work in the Public Service. 2. Most (if not all) PS Departments have Internet access. 3. Many public servants download material from porn sites while they're supposed to be working. 4. Some of these people work in the same Department as me. The conclusion that my supervisors (military) have drawn from this? 5. I am a porn freak who cannot be trusted. Therefore, I ain't got the Net at work no more, no more. Sad, but that's the way it is..... .....but I digress. I was unable to act on the advice given to me (the advice about CD Now and Amazon - remember that?), as my record shopping has been restricted to "in-person" visits to the record store for several months now. However, rather than going for an import order (which I have since cancelled), I've been in touch with a Chicago Chalkster by the name of Jamie Lowe (I've now had dealings with two list members from Chicago, and they've both been wonderful in the extreme), who has agreed to send a copy of Nonsuch in my general direction, in exchange for some juicy antipodean music bits. My thanks to all of you (and there were rather a lot of messages in my inbox when I came back to work this morning after a four-day weekend) who responded, advised and offered to help out ; if I had anything worth giving away, I'd write you all into my will. Iain
------------------------------ From: Jeff_Partyka@idg.com Message-ID: <88256792.006F4774.00@globalsmtp.idg.com> Date: Wed, 16 Jun 1999 16:23:48 -0400 Subject: Zombies, etc. << I was wondering, are there any Zombies aficionados out there? Someone recently suggested on Chalkhills that XTC cover "A Rose For Emily", which was an absolutely exquisite idea! "Odessey & Oracle" has been hot glue gunned to my overtaxed CD player! >> Yes! I love Odessey & Oracle!!! "A Rose for Emily" is indeed great, but my own favorite track is the sprightly opening cut, "Care of Cell 44" -- a love song to a partner who's about to emerge from prison! It opens the album beautifully, right from that gorgeously sung first line: "Good morning to you, I hope you're feeling better baby ..." Great stuff. Like many others, I'm sure, my first-ever exposure to XTC came care of "Senses Working Overtime." I saw the video on MTV back in '82, when I was 10 ... and fell for it completely. It fit right in with my Beatle-addled musical taste, and I knew they were a band I'd remember. I didn't actually buy an XTC record 'til Skylarking (after which I finally got ES), but "Senses" made me a fan. Still one of my favorites of their tracks. Anxiously awaiting my imported copy of the "I'd Like That" single, Jeff P. (U.S.A.)
------------------------------ From: dan@gge.com Message-ID: <37683AAC.2B482C72@gge.com> Date: Wed, 16 Jun 1999 17:01:26 -0700 Subject: the term "apple venus" >Apart from the fact that it's a line from Nonsuch, anyone care to venture >as to what "Apple Venus" actually MEANS? here are my thoughts: "Then She Appeared/ Apple Venus On A Half-open Shell..." see in your mind's eye the image of botaccelli's painting "venus on the half shell" (kill me if that's the wrong artist, but cut me slack for spelling, and i know that's not the actual name of the painting), it's the splash screen for adobe illustrator. so there she is, venus, woo-woo in all her nekkid yet modest (censored?) glory: a vision of beauty. i think calling her 'apple' venus is just poetry thrown in by our illustrious author. she is a sweet and crisp and delicious fruit for the eyes. perhaps there's some underlying reference to eve going on but i'm not gonna try to juice the line for too much meaning. i just think its a reference to the old master's painting and andy's using it as a metaphor for the girl who made him "a little frightened/ flying with my senses heightened". that's it. that's all. enjoy your vacation mr. relph! [fast cuts of 80s pop stars mugging: i want my- i want my- i want my CHALKHILLS... now!] i had a dream where the car is reduced to a fossil (mmm), dan
------------------------------ From: "Wesley Hanks" <whanks@earthlink.net> Subject: Dave Dixon, R.I.P. Date: Wed, 16 Jun 1999 16:03:28 -0700 Message-ID: <01beb84c$72312040$LocalHost@default> Chalks, Sad to hear about the passing of Dave Dixon, obit can be found at the Detroit Free Press' archive, www.freep.com. Dave Dixon made a tremendous impression on me growing up in Detroit. Dave was one of the original "Air Aces" on the greatest "underground" FM stations, WABX. Still have my WABX ball cap with the pig on the front. Later Dave was a "records host", as he insisted to be known as, eschewing the unflattering "disk jockey", for WDET, Detroit's NPR affiliate. Dave would play the most increadible mix of music; Django, Bela Fleck, XTC, MC5. He called himself a records host because Dave would take pains to speak about the music he was playing, it's history, impact/impression on him, etc. Dave's style was how I would want to conduct a radio show. Music was important to DAve. One of my best memories of Dave was him playing "Ballet For A Rainy Day" when Skylarking came out while I was driving in the hinterlands of MIchigan during a blinding afternoon snowstorm. I will miss Dave, he influenced my more than he will know. Peace, Wes Hanks
------------------------------
Date: 17 Jun 99 13:10:56 AES
From: Paul.Culnane@dcita.gov.au
Subject: "Can't stop grins from going wide today"
Message-ID: <0000ecakmayu.0000cuumugwm@dcita.gov.au>
Hello
As Todd Rundgren once recommended: "if you got a pair of headphones, you
better get 'em out and get 'em cranked up, 'cos they're really gonna help
you on this one..."
Harrison Sherwood, Todd Bernhardt and John Relph (among others) were
discussing delay and double-tracking recording techniques. In the case of
"River Of Orchids", I believe that a number of techniques were used to
enhance Andy's vocals. As Harrison explained, the bit about the lions
roaring in Picadilly Circus seems to employ the tape delay trick (original
vocal panned hard left; slightly delayed clone of that signal panned hard
right). Then, in the "push your car" bit, further vocal layers are added,
some in harmony, some with deliberate counterpoint (the word "push" is
doubled but out of synch). Sounds to me like at least three separate vocal
passes going on here. It makes for a very lush, almost choral effect on
Andy's voice.
John mentioned The Beatles' use of double-tracking and delay. As an
example of double-tracking, where a second take of vocals is superimposed
onto the original take to "thicken" the sound of the voice, try "And I Love
Her". Although the two vocals sound almost identical, you can hear where
it's just slightly different sometimes - adding a certain charm and texture
to McCartney's singing. But for an example of tape delay, where the vocal
signal is fed back on itself with miniscule delay, look no further than
"She's Leaving Home" - Lennon's vocal answer lines are panned left and
right in much the same way as Andy's voice in "Orchids". Of course, as
Harrison noted, it's not the only instance where XtC recordings have
featured either technique. Even Andy's shed demos use these tricks
extensively (cf "My Train Is Coming" - BullGuts version).
Now, just some random observations/questions...
1) Who blows that frantic sax (if it *is* sax) at the beginning of the song
"Red"?
2) Last year our favourite birthday boy Mark Strijbos sent me a copy of a
wonderful video of an interview with CM, AP & DG, done in Andy's attic by a
guy called Paul Wilde. It was for an XtC convention in Manchester about 10
years ago. It runs for around 90 minutes and is really interesting and ,
as you'd expect, very funny. I pulled it out to watch again the other day,
and was struck by the delicious wordplay and japery.
Some examples that appealed to me (they might make for groovy band names or
album titles):
"Baby Carrot Sex"
"Clockwork Revolving Bondage Kilts"
"The Abyss of Glitter Hell"
"Bloody Nora!"
At one point the interviewer asks who was their favourite producer they've
worked with:
Dave: "Todd Rundgren by a country mile"
Andy: "What, by a ___-try mile?"
Hilarious!
3) Last weekend (a long holiday w/end in Oz) I again had the pleasure of
the company of Duncan Kimball from Sydney and Iain Murray (of this parish)
in my home. Once they had each found somewhere to sit among the everest of
Chalkhills printouts, newspapers, magazines, cat faeces and god knows what
else; and had been provided with a chilled something; we got down to a
serious marathon of music, banter and much laughter. Thanks for coming
guys, I hope your ears and lungs have recovered!
I must echo Bob Estus' recommendation that if you get a chance to meet a
fellow Chalkie, then do. With one notably aberrant exception, my
experience in meeting fellow fans has proven what a splendid bunch of
people most XtC fans can be (g'day Dom). Must get that next Sydney
get-together organised, eh Dunks?
Anxiously awaiting the "I'd Like That" single. Yes Mark, the cover and
disc art is simply gorgeous - thanks for putting it up on The Little
Lighthouse.
Oh, and happy holidays Mr Relph!
~p@ul "this goes up to eleven" culnane
Canberra. Australia
------------------------------ Message-ID: <19990617032246.56553.qmail@hotmail.com> From: Andrew Gowans <ratwhacker@hotmail.com> Subject: Venal dripping Date: Thu, 17 Jun 1999 13:22:40 EST Greetings, Martin Van Rappard said in Vol 5 # 222Ha! >Two people already took offense at my 10 Reasons To Unsub's "Andy >probably thinks we're idiots", and while I'm pleased that I managed to >irritate two people, they should have checked the rest of the list, "Too >many listers irony impaired" being one of the other reasons. Get a life, >you geeks - not everything merits a reply, least of all your postings.:) I think that Martin's main (unstated) reason for threatening to unsub, but failing to do so my fellow Chalkers, is that he does not want to. Truhfully, I am of the opinion that he wants everyone else, apart from those that agree with him, to fuck off instead. Yes Martin, I noticed the "smiley faces", but I try not to be lulled into complacency by appearances. I have encountered "smiling assassins" before. Yes Martin, I have irony. I use it to press my shirts and my flat head. Tell me, do you also mock cripples and rip off little old ladies ? The Rat
------------------------------ Message-ID: <37692015.5B43F961@which.net> Date: Thu, 17 Jun 1999 17:19:34 +0100 From: B Blanchard <b.blanchard@which.net> Subject: Delay I'm not sure if I understand the true technical meaning of what you experts refer to as the delay effect, but if by delay you mean the words in one headphone are shadowed by the same lyrics sung on a different track (and maybe by another singer) in the other headphone a split second later, then I have an excellent example of this from about 1983 by Godley & Creme (ex-10cc quelle surprise) in their single Englishman in New York. Love it love it. Belinda Blanchard
------------------------------ From: Kimberly Martin <kimbriel@arches.uga.edu> Subject: Acid Zombies from Venus Message-ID: <SIMEON.9906171745.A@default.arches.uga.edu> Date: Thu, 17 Jun 1999 17:01:45 -0400 (Eastern Daylight Time) Hello Chalkland! Just had to post, seeing that the ol' LSD thread is back (:D) and someone mentioned the Zombies... Actually, I felt like attempting to answer Aaron Pastula's question, "What does Apple Venus mean?" first. I've been reading a bit about the theories of C.G. Jung lately, plus, I'm a big Robert Anton Wilson freak. The first time I even heard that XTC were coming out with an album called "Apple Venus" and it was being released on Feb. _23_ (Hail Eris! ha ha) I nearly flipped--all I could picture was the giant golden apple of Eris from the Illuminatus! trilogy. Eris, for those non-discordians out there, is the goddess of discord, one of whose related symbols is the golden apple. And, this brings me back to Jung (whom Wilson is extensively influenced by)and his concepts of cosmic consciousness and the archetypes that exist in the realm known as the collective unconsciousness. An example of an archetype would be the devil, or the snake, who gave Eve the apple in the Garden of Eden. These are all symbols that are embedded in each person's consciousness and are a part of who we are. See the connection here? Apples are related to the "fall of man," and therefore to SEX. There's something so symbolic about an apple, something ripe for the picking, something you can savor, something juicy in your hand...and, of course we all know that Venus is the goddess of love, one of the greatest archetypes of the great mother/lover/fertility goddess, which brings it all back to pagan symbolism and mysteries, which, by the way, are most obvious in the song "Greenman," which is about an archetype of an ancient fertility god. And, that little Wiccan rede on the back of the CD removed any doubt from my mind that these references were placed in the music by mere "synchronicity" or coincidence! I could go on and on about this, one because I'm really interested in this stuff, and two because I'm procrastinating. So, let me just change the subject... THE ZOMBIES ODESSEY AND ORACLE! Yes, they misspelled "Odyssey" by sheer accident on the cover, b/c the artist supposedly submitted the work too late for anyone to change it. Or, no one noticed. Or, no one noticed until it was too late. Regardless, this is DEFINITELY one of those albums I'd have to take with me if stranded on a desert island. I got it last summer, and it is definitely a "summer" album, all orange warmth and sunshine. (Would probably go along swimmingly WITH some orange sunshine too ;p.) Anyway, Yoshiko Yeto said that this CD was hot-glued to his CD player, and I know exactly what he's talking about. It is great beyond words, so dreamy, psychedelic, airy, shiny-happy but not sappy. Actually, psychedelic music has been about my main thing lately. I recently got a copy of "Their Satanic Majesties' Request" by the Rolling Stones, and that album is also freakin' amazing!!! I'm not really a big Stones fan, but this is sheer psychedelic genius. Just about every band in '67 came out with some version of Sgt. Pepper, it seems. Okay, that's an exagerration, but '67 was a great year for psychedelic "concept" albums. So was '87, with the Dukes. I'm getting ready for '07...but why wait? There's already... THE OLIVIA TREMOR CONTROL!! This is a band from Athens, GA, whom I would love even if I didn't live here. Their album "Black Foliage/ Animation Music" is a must-have for fans of psychedelic pop music. This one is currently hot-glued to my CD player (sorry, Zombies!). It's very summery as well, to me. OTC also remind me a bit of Mercury Rev, cos they oscillate between shimmery psychedelia and weird experimental noise. These guys, I hear, are huge in Japan, where their fans tried to mob them on their most recent tour. And, in closing, LSD...I remember a post a few digests back from a fellow called The Rat who said something to the effect that LSD has been around since pre-WWI. Nope. Wrong. LSD was discovered in 1947 by the Swiss (? Okay, I know the year, can't remember the lucky guys who found it first). Aldous Huxley's psychedelic experiment, as chronicled in "The Doors of Perception," was induced by mescaline. However, psychedelics have been around as long as man (or longer, but who would have taken them?), from such sources as cow-shit mushrooms, ergot, and belladonna. Fasting, yoga, and other ascetic practices are also said to bring about intense "psychedelic"/expanded consciousness experiences, and we all know that the founders of most of the world's major religions fasted for periods of 40 days or longer prior to receiving revelations. I don't mean that statement as a knock on religion, I'm just saying, that's how it is...These days, we have LSD, tho, so those of us who want to talk to God can do so for $5-$10 and don't have to hang upside down in wells, live inside a mountain,or eat grasshoppers in the desert. I'd better shut up now! Have a groovy day, Kimberlina
------------------------------
Message-Id: <199906172300.BAA18970@mail.knoware.nl>
From: "Mark Strijbos" <mmello@knoware.nl>
Date: Fri, 18 Jun 1999 01:13:46 +0200
Subject: Is That A Rocket In Your Pants?
Dear Chalkers,
I almost totally agree with Yoshiko Yeto...
> "Rocket", the XTC (or more specifically Andy Partridge)
> contribution to the Ernest Brookings CD, is absolutely mesmerizing. In
> fact, it is a personal favorite! I would urge all fans to search high and
> low, leaving no crevice untouched to obtain it.
except for the "no crevice untouched" bit, that is...
I can think of a few crevices i wouldn't touch with a seven foot pole!
The lyrics (by Brookings) are quite wonderful but what i find really
striking is how these lyrics could just have easily have been written
by the young Mr. Partridge himself. The sci-fi and planetary imagery
and euh... quirky zaniness of the song fit him like a pair of tartan
trousers on a sunny day.
Now i could go on and on about how stars, planets, rockets and
firework are often used (metaphorically speaking) in Andy's work but
i won't 'cos you already know that.
Then i would point out that this appears to be in sharp contrast with
the "fear of stars" he suffered from as a kid - just to prove i'm really
clever - and refer to the interview cd that accompanies the Punk
Diaries book that features a very short segment where he talks
about that rare condition. But don't worry, i won't.
PS: the I'd Like That cd single lyrics settles it once & for all: it is
"growing in your RAIN" and not BRAIN.
yours in xtc,
Mark Strijbos at The Little Lighthouse
http://www.knoware.nl/users/mmello/
or http://come.to/xtc
------------------------------ Date: Thu, 17 Jun 1999 16:52:31 +1000 From: Sebastien Maury <MAURY.SEBASTIEN@a2.abc.net.au> Subject: scared now Message-Id: <E1541IYX3LA6V*/R=A1/R=ABCNET/U=MAURYS6G/@MHS> Dear Mr JG, Chicago, I get quite SCARED when people start using CAPITALS all the way through their POSTS. Are you perhaps AFRAID that people will MISS your crushing IRONY or sparkling WIT? Rather than trying to defend the offensive nature of your post, accept that certain, perhaps even many, people took umbrage. And for heaven's sake, if you're going to use BIG words like SYLLOGISM (no need to bother e-mailing me back, thanks, I *do* know what it means), don't make the flimsy house of card come crashing down in a heap with sloppy syntax, grammar and spelling. It really makes you look as if you're trying a mite too hard. You'll notice the lack of smiley-face shit and other little net-geek icons scattered liberally throughout my text. This means you actually have to think about what I'm saying, not have the meaning handed to you on the platter of irony-signposting symbols. Am I serious? I guess only I'll know. Ultimately though, your self-congratulating little (well big actually) post and desperate follow-up were nasty, but mostly boring, and heavens above, irrelevant. Just like this one. I don't care if you're irrelevant. Just want to point out that this is another reason people may have attacked you. As they may me. Oh, and better refrain from the word "irony". It doesn't sit well with your style, which isn't (stylish or ironic). Seb.
------------------------------ Message-Id: <3.0.5.32.19990618003517.007aa9f0@popmail.iol.it> Date: Fri, 18 Jun 1999 00:35:17 +0200 From: Giovanni Giusti <giovanni@delizia.com> Subject: Re: First time XTC (and brotherhood in XTC) My first time with XTC: 1981. I was visiting the USA (I live in Italy) and the elder son of the family I was staying at was a "punk rocker". I was 15, he 16 I think, and his definition of "punk" went from Black Flag to... Black Sea. For me, it was instant love. I bought all their albums on vinyl till Skylarking, then when CDs became a must I bought them all again... in addition to their new ones. But my strongest recollection was when I tried to proselitize for the first time, that same summer, to my best friend back in Italy. He scoffed at Black Sea, saying it sounded "like the Beatles played by the Sex Pistols". That didn't last long however: soon he was as hooked as I am, although he's not the rabid collectionist I was (I have quite a number of XTC 45s). It's for this that he could easily part with his advance press-only copy of AV1 and give it to me as a present. It has no jewel box, just a green and red paper jacket saying: "a is for..." on the front, with a huge "a", and on the back: "... advance copy of XTC's Apple Venus Vol. 1" In exchange, I print out and fax to him all the issues of Chalkhills (he still has no email). A brotherhood in XTC. Giovanni
------------------------------ Date: Fri, 18 Jun 1999 11:17:04 -0400 (EDT) Message-Id: <l03130300b38fd79d55ca@[128.122.161.41]> From: Chris Van Valen <crv1@is2.nyu.edu> Subject: The Irresponsibles Hi Chalksticks Last weekend went to Adrian Belew's solo show at Maxwell's in Hoboken(quite a schlep from Manhattan, let me tell you!). His opening act was a Boston band that he produces called The Irresponsibles, who are really excellent and are heavily influenced by XTC. If you get a hance, see them on tour with Belew(tour dates can be found at http://www.murple.com/adrianbelew/tour.htm). Also available at their show(and at online CD shoppes) is their first full-length CD, "When Pigs Fly", Well worth checking out. CV P.S. Was getting my morning coffee fix at McDonalds today and "King For A Day" came on the sound system. Started my morning with a smile. If you have an unpleasant nature and dislike people this is no obstacle to work. - J.G. Bennett And it's potato, potato, potato. - Mike Keneally
------------------------------ Message-ID: <3AE4C7B8CC1BD31194140008C7B14DE8042652@hfd-exch008.aetna.com> From: "Witter, Karl F" <WitterKF@aetna.com> Subject: Life as we know it Date: Fri, 18 Jun 1999 14:17:33 -0400 >rather like saying "Get a life!" to a roomful of Trekkies. Rather >foolish and dangerous. I thought the humor from that line was that the targets were blissfully ignorant of everything being missed. Anyway, what are they going to do? Fire their phasers or apply that Vulcan neck pinnn....... *plonk* My parents didn't even have a basement, Karl
------------------------------ From: Wisemoon@aol.com Message-ID: <78a5ce13.249c3a2b@aol.com> Date: Fri, 18 Jun 1999 20:11:23 EDT Subject: question What religon are the members of xtc... i noticed that many of the new album themes seen EXTREMLY pagan... and with the Wiccan Rede on the back cover of Apple Venus i wonder...... can you help??? :) thanks moonie
------------------------------ From: jsteich@mindspring.com Message-ID: <003a01beba15$910ed320$5d908ad1@funtosplamisham> Subject: first time Date: Sat, 19 Jun 1999 01:35:35 -0400 my first experience with xtc was on the "rock over london" show that used to play on some crappy alternative station late at night in the early 90's. they played mayor and ballad of pp several times in my couple of months of listening. so i kind of knew who xtc were, although i thought they were closer to that "mexican radio" song and oingo-boingo than what they really were. so... i read some stuff about them... then one day at a friends house, i heard about half of the first side of skylarking and while my friend was visiting the toilet, dashed out to a record store. there you have it. *bliss* jesse
------------------------------ Message-Id: <199906191748.KAA03760@sgi.com> Subject: drums and wires Date: Sat, 19 Jun 1999 12:48:31 -0500 From: "K.D." <zos@SoftHome.net> I finally found myself a CD copy of drums and wires in a local record store today. Having heard/owning a few of the songs on the CD already, I knew it would be good. But damn is it good! And probably the best part of the whole album for me is the last track, Complicated Game. Where has THIS been? This is heaviest XTC song I've ever heard. What a great track! Is this song one of the "3 additional tracks not on the original LP" that the cover speaks of? I swear...just finding the few old XTC albums that I don't have has kept things new with XTC for me (besides the new album of course). I'm glad these guys were/are so prolific. Just some quick praise for something that most of you out there have had for years. -Kort
------------------------------ Message-ID: <19990621103158.41970.qmail@hotmail.com> From: hans stromberg <hojs65@hotmail.com> Subject: madame barnum and another tribute list Date: Mon, 21 Jun 1999 10:31:57 GMT Bonjour! I`m new on this list, but I`ve been reading the mail for a month or so. Twenty years ago I would never have imagined something like this could exist. Also, twenty years ago I was running around in Stockholm looking for the Swindon boys then awaited Drums & Wires album (with the free 7O inside: but that one didn`t reach the stores here). My favourite album is Nonsuch, but I like most of what they`ve recorded including the dub experiments and the homo safaries. About Barnum: Phineas Taylor Barnum, 1810-1891, was managing the musical sensation, swedish singer Jenny Lind, 'The Swedish Nightingale', when she toured in USA 1850. On September 11 in 1850, Lind opened The Castle Garden in New York City, where she performed 95 concerts. And in 1881 Barnum met James Anthony Bailey and formed 'The Barnum and Bailey Circus'. Anyway, somebody commented the lyrics for Dear Madame Barnum some weeks ago, and proposed something about Andy`s affair with somebody (or something like it). I always thought that the lyrics is actually about stage freight and leaving the music scene once and for all: 'I put on a fake smile And start the evening show The public is laughing I guess by now they know So climb from your high horse And pull this freak show down Dear Madam Barnum I resign as clown' So, the female Barnum is an allgory for the music industry with it`s demands on the artists to do whatever the company requires of them. The artist is a clown who performs for a public; a crowd who not always realize the darker sides of the entertainment business and the impact it has on some (!) of the performers: 'My heart torn and broken And they just scream for more' And now, the artist is no longer capable of performing on stage: 'You tread the high wire Between truth and lies Your safety net just walked out Much to your surprise' I don`t think this interpretation is too far-fetched; to have the clown for a symbol of a tragic performer is not really something new. So, the cover version of 'Don`t lose your temper' that Elvis did up there last night was absolutely fabulous. He did it alone with just his guitar (like in 1969, when he did the old country songs dressed in the leather suit); wild and dangerous! There were surprised comments abouty the choice of cover, but Elvis didn`t seem to bother about earthly reactions like that. Nirvana did a 'Bleach'-like version of 'Complicated game' and The Residents (yeah, what were they doing up there?) played 'Meccanic dancing' in their 'Satisfaction'-style. The live-version I loaded down from MPHEAVEN3 broke down right when Jimi Hendrix was doing 'Dear god'. Too bad, but that is how it is in the atom age. / Hans Hans Stromberg hojs65@hotmail.com
------------------------------ Message-ID: <001d01bebc19$294d7920$3f0623c6@pppl.gov> From: "Tobin Munsat" <tobin@Princeton.EDU> Subject: Our favorite horse is a game company logo Date: Mon, 21 Jun 1999 15:05:56 -0400 Hi folks, Maybe this is old news, but take a quick look at the Mythos Games logo... http://www.ndu-myth.demon.co.uk/index.htm Cheers, Tobin
------------------------------ Message-Id: <4782AD6ADDBDD2119B570008C75DD5C10A32D1@MGMTM02> From: Lawson Dominic <LawsonD@parliament.uk> Subject: NEW CARDIACS ALBUM Date: Tue, 22 Jun 1999 15:36:27 +0100 Yes it's relevant, you hysterical cock-end. Cardiacs have a new album out, called "Guns", and it's utterly fabulous. If you missed my previous outburst of Cardiacs evangelism then this might not mean a great deal, but take it from me that any XTC fan with an open mind should find plenty to get excited about. Imagine XTC, Zappa, Devo, Gentle Giant and a whole heap of pastoral English whimsy, mixed up and played by mad people. Everything they've ever done has been splendid, but they seem to be on particularly astounding form this time round. Check out http://www.cardiacs.com if you're interested - I'll gladly record this album for anyone who can't be arsed to risk buying it - just ask nicely. Cheers. DOM.
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