Chalkhills Digest Volume 5, Issue 269
Date: Tuesday, 21 September 1999
Chalkhills Digest, Volume 5, Number 269
Tuesday, 21 September 1999
Today's Topics:
Nuts & Barrys (god forgive me for that pun)
Secrets of the Bible Revealed
quick OT: Yellow Sub (+ some XTC)
The Rhythm
Re: Phantom XTC albums, and more.
Bible
a bit of hyperbole?
Pull that trigger...
Nuts
Re: XTC LIVE AND DIRECT
This 'n' That...
XTC heard on the radio!
happy families
Four strings good
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---------------------------------------------------------------------- Message-ID: <19990920031847.30796.qmail@hotmail.com> From: "Megan Heller" <hellerm@hotmail.com> Subject: Nuts & Barrys (god forgive me for that pun) Date: Sun, 19 Sep 1999 20:18:46 PDT Jim Smart pondered-- >I don't think the singer of Fruit Nut is going to poison his wife, as >Wes >postulates. > >"I mix my poisons and the wife don't complain" refers to pesticides, >I >think. hm, last I checked pesticides could someone in very nicely... erm, I mean, not that I've *checked*... recently. on to other things!-- I was going through some old (ca. 1991) videotapes a few nights ago and found a couple things I found interesting (and that I'd forgotten about in 8 years)-- I recorded a version of the "King for a Day" video from a Denver PBS video show called "Teletunes" (just curious, anyone know if it's still on? it was KBDI) that was interesting (and hideous) because it was color-washed-- that sort of heat-produced very sixties looking color. I remember hearing about a color version of the video with a lion or something, but this wasn't it. Anyone know what I'm talking about? Is this interesting at all? The other thing is just something I have to comment about-- a Shriekback video of their cover of "Get Down Tonight", complete with disco dancing and a rap by Barry Andrews. I think I was scared. m. ______________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com
------------------------------ From: fheaney@erols.com Message-ID: <000c01bf034a$96f27ac0$84dd7ad1@default> Subject: Secrets of the Bible Revealed Date: Mon, 20 Sep 1999 05:26:08 -0400 > One had a song, I forget what it was called, but it had something > to do with the Bible. Anyway, if anyone knows, let me know. > > Not a very detailed description, is it Charlie? Oh, give the fellow a break. He probably saw the Dub Experiments CD (or one of the original albums), with the song "Beat the Bible" on it. -- Francis Heaney "It seems to me John Quincy Adams gives you everything John Adams gives you plus a little something extra in the way of Quincy." -- Jonathan Lethem
------------------------------ Message-Id: <4.2.0.58.19990920080146.0098d4e0@mailhost.cle.ameritech.net> Date: Mon, 20 Sep 1999 08:11:49 -0400 From: Chris Mezzolesta <mezzolesta@ameritech.net> Subject: quick OT: Yellow Sub (+ some XTC) Dan Wiencek hath writ: * On Yellow Submarine, John now sings "a life of ease!" in his funny admiral's voice Actually I've been waiting to hear it this way again for years...I grew up on my aunt's original mono Capitol pressing, which includes this, so hearing it as "< >...........one of US" all these years has been a bit disconcerting - I put on the CD last week when I brought it home, hit that track and went "YESSSSSSSS!!!" or "whoomp there it is", take your pick... XTC content: No Language In Our Lungs is f***ing brilliant. Paper and Iron is growing on me rapidly. Favorite Colin basslines (I'm a bassist as well, been for about 28 years): Mayor of Simpleton, My Bird Performs (last verse), Are You Receiving Me (intro), Runaways, etc......These also for the sound of his basses as well as the "sub"-melody of said lines. I also dig the "Bjorn Borg" line on Battery Brides... Heard "King for a Day" sitting with my kids in an Arby's! Nearly spit my roast beef across the room..... Also heard some of the Nonsvch Andy mic outtakes mentioned in previous Chalkdigest - like, uh, hyuk hyuk.......zing! Chris www.powersalad.com
------------------------------ From: a.de.koning@bpa.vnu.com Message-ID: <C12567F2.0043F2B6.00@bpa.vnu.com> Date: Mon, 20 Sep 1999 14:19:53 +0200 Subject: The Rhythm Hello 'Hillians, I have transferred the 'The Rhythm' bootleg from vinyl to CD (bootlegged the bootleggers so to speak). It still sounds like you're playing the album (scratches and ticks), but without the hassle of pausing to turn over the vinyl ;-) Anyone who is interested in swapping for this can contact me via email (off-list, of course). I prefer swapping for cd's but all offers will be considered. Cheers! Andre (a.de.koning@bpa.vnu.com)
------------------------------ Date: Mon, 20 Sep 1999 13:53:09 +0100 From: Jon Alsbury <j.alsbury@unl.ac.uk> Subject: Re: Phantom XTC albums, and more. Message-id: <37E62E35.9BF4992E@unl.ac.uk> Organization: Intranet Services, University of North London From: Giovanni Giusti <giovanni@delizia.com> > > >Worst Tracks: > > > > 'Countdown To Christmas Party Time' & 'Thanks For > > Christmas' both, unfortunately, are possibly the *worst* > > things ever recorded by XTC. absolutley execrable, IMO. > > Ah, sad. I love "Countdown" so much... > > But then, I'm the one who likes Yes and the Bee Gees... My point exactly. :-) Jon.
------------------------------ From: Tomgriffin100276@aol.com Message-ID: <45f587e5.2517926c@aol.com> Date: Mon, 20 Sep 1999 09:36:44 EDT Subject: Bible Someone wrote: >I was in a store somewhere in California and seen 3 albums that I have NEVER >seen before. One had songs, none of which I have ever heard. I have every >album availible in retail and all the original vinyl. What are these >albums?! One had a song, I forget what it was called, but it had something >to do with the Bible. Anyway, if anyone knows, let me know. Perhaps the song that you are referring to is "Beat the Bible"? I think this was one of the dub mixes that Andy made and put out on the Go+ EP. Or am I mixing my albums? You probably saw the album of dub mixes. In my opinion these are not very interesting, but they are worth getting if you like to collect. As for the XTC movie I see Kevin Spacey as a shoo-in to play Barry Andrews. Maybe we could get Daniel Day-Lewis to play The Red Curtain? Andy could probably play himself.
------------------------------ From: "Michael D. Myers" <mmyers@telcordia.com> Message-ID: <852567F2.00540EA0.00@notes831.cc.telcordia.com> Date: Mon, 20 Sep 1999 11:17:59 -0400 Subject: a bit of hyperbole? In a recent post, John fumed about KL: >KL wrote : >>Just finished working on one of the worst indie films known to man >>Before I head off to the UK I'm spending a few days in New York >Obviously not hurting for dough , right all ? >> I found a Green Man promo in San >>Francisco for $1.00. I bought it thinking I'd flip it on ebay but I'll >>probably just keep it myself. >Now , why would an XTC fan who is obviously NOT short of cash ( and >who was lucky enough to get their hands on a GREEN MAN promo for $ 1 ) >buy a rare XTC item to " flip it on ebay " - and then have the gall to >tell US about it ? This reminds me of the so-called " fans " who had >Andy and Colin sign bags full of stuff only to put all of it up for >auction on Ebay . Sick stuff . It takes all kinds as they say but this >sort of mega-capitalist braggadoccio horseshit goes against the spirit >of not only this list , but the band we all love XTC . Any voiced >support would help lower my blood pressure . >John in Japan Now John, to be fair, maybe you should be sure of your facts before you blast someone. I think you're making a big assumption about the "not hurting for dough" issue. I hope this doesn't alarm you, but I also travel all over the world (and I mean that literally) on a regular basis, but guess what: my company pays for it because they need me to be there to speak with prospective customers. I certainly couldn't afford to do this if I had to pay! Perhaps this is KL's situation, perhaps not. But please think before you blast. Also, do you really think that someone who bought a CD for ONE DOLLAR is caught up in "mega-capitalist braggadoccio horsesh*t"?? Aren't you taking this just a little too far? I mean, the wreck of the Exxon Valdez might qualify, but a $1 CD? And why are you trying to connect KL with those folks who kind of "tricked" Andy and Colin into signing stuff that would soon be auctioned off for extravagant sums? After all, KL did decide to keep it. So it all had a happy ending. So John, in order to preserve your health and keep your blood pressure down, think of these simple rules that I try to follow every day: Rule #1: Don't sweat the small stuff Rule #2: It's all small stuff Peace and music to all, Mike
------------------------------ From: Bob.Muller@fluor.com Message-ID: <852567F2.00533330.00@fdlnata10.fdnet.com> Date: Mon, 20 Sep 1999 11:25:24 -0400 Subject: Pull that trigger... Charlie said: <<now so the thing I like the most is how each album triggers the memory of the time when I got the album..>> There are a lot of memories I have of the first time(s) I heard some of the XTC records... Black Sea: My first XTC purchase, it didn't leave my turntable for weeks, matter of fact I rarely even picked it up to flip it! I would play the first side over & over (and to this day I ain't so crazy about "Travels in Nihilon"). English Settlement: I had just moved to my first apartment, and had NO furniture (well, a bed, a dresser, a chair) but I DID have a stereo, this one came out and was a fine companion to me for a long time. PLUS, every two weeks when I'd get paid, I'd go to the little underground music store and discover that they'd put out a new single with Non-LP B-side stuff on it! I'm convinced the record helped me keep my sanity when I would've perished from boredom otherwise! Mummer: Again, this buy made me SO happy because at the time in the 80's the radio was so awful and I was beginning to feel like I'd never buy music that I liked again! And I remember being really scared when "Funk Pop A Roll" was the last song on it, and Andy said "Bye Bye" as if this was the LAST record he was going to make! Anyway, a lot more memories, but no more time for now... Bob -------------------------------------------------------------- The information transmitted is intended only for the person or entity to which it is addressed and may contain confidential and/or privileged material. If you are not the intended recipient of this message you are hereby notified that any use, review, retransmission, dissemination, distribution, reproduction or any action taken in reliance upon this message is prohibited. If you received this in error, please contact the sender and delete the material from any computer. Any views expressed in this message are those of the individual sender and may not necessarily reflect the views of the company. --------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------ Message-Id: <199909201555.RAA04741@mail.coss.nl> From: "Mark R. Strijbos" <mast@coss.nl> Date: Mon, 20 Sep 1999 17:57:52 +0200 Subject: Nuts Dear Chalkers, Charlie Buck observed: > I have every album availible in retail and all the original vinyl. > What are these albums?! One had a song, I forget what it was > called, but it had something to do with the Bible. Easy! The song in question must have been "Beat The Bible", one of the dub tracks on Go +, the 12" remix companion to Go 2. My guess is that you also saw Mr. Partridge's "Take Away/The Lure Of Salvage", another OOP album. Both have been compiled on the wonderful Explode Together cd. BTW: _all_ the original vinyl? That's a bit of a bold statement, Charlie! I suggest you take a long, hard look at the online discography here on Chalkhills; i'll bet you a fiver that you don't own a copy their first single :) Re. "Fruit Nut": > I think it's pretty clear that it is about Andy at least partly. > Does he just not get it or is he in denial? Andy denied it, Colin denied it but you still know better? Like Colin has said before: it it not about Andy nor about himself but about British middle-aged men and their sheds (they all have 'm you know... it's a disease!) in general. IMHO we should always take heed not to confuse the protagonist and the author... the fact that Colin uses the first-person perspective to tell this story does not necessarily mean he's talking about himself and it certainly doesn't mean he's talking about Andy either. And while we're at it: i'm also pretty sure that Colin's new song "Standing In For Joe" is not about him having an affair with Andy's wife. And i'll bet you another fiver it's not about Joe's wife either! yours in xtc, Mark Strijbos @ The Little Lighthouse http://come.to/xtc
------------------------------ Message-Id: <v03102800b40c06ab1ffc@[165.227.110.102]> Date: Mon, 20 Sep 1999 09:02:36 -0700 From: Richard Pedretti-Allen <richard@tactics.com> Subject: Re: XTC LIVE AND DIRECT re: XTC LIVE AND DIRECT | rare+unreleased audio online Nice gesture on Ian's part but Geocities is a pain in the browser. It opens a NEW BROWSER WINDOW with almost every click. As much interest as I may have in what Ian offers, I stay the hell away from anything with "Geocities" in the URL. Sorry to be heavy-handed about this but anyone can get websites hosted for free without most of this junk and for $5 a month you can get a website with no junk. Old deadheads never die, they just start to smell like Phish. The sociological underpinnings of such fanatical behavior and completist obsessions is, in my opinion, more easily understood compared to the same type of attributes for Grateful Dead fans. The Grateful Dead were a mediocre band at best. The hero worship of Jerry Garcia is cryptic in light of the realities that he was an oppressive, abusive and unkind person. All of the members of Phish seem to be extrememly talented and they once covered "Melt The Guns." Richard Pedretti-Allen
------------------------------ Date: Mon, 20 Sep 1999 13:08:01 -0400 From: Dorothy Spirito <spiritod@techmail.gdc.com> Subject: This 'n' That... Message-ID: <Pine.SOL.4.00.9909171146570.361-100000@esun2028> Regarding all the Rag and Bone Buffet favorites: I like Extrovert, Ten Feet Tall, and Happy Families. I first heard Happy Families on Jules Verne's Sketchbook. My favorite part is the bass in the seque into the chorus. My other fave off JVS is Young Cleopatra, and I also like Broomstick Rhythm, Work, and Ra Ra for Red Rocking Horse. I even heard Shaking Skin House & Obscene Procession in a dream, once. I don't think I could narrow my list of favorite unreleased XTC songs to even a handful. There are simply too many. These guys are so talented that I must collect every burp and fart they ever set to music. (Speaking of which, what's up with Ian Stewart's xtcliveanddirect webpage? Those files are coming across as 50 *bytes* each. That can't be right...) I am not a completist, however. But for you completists, there's a copy of the bootleg album The Rhythm up on ebay, beginning at $14.99. Nobody's even bid on it yet. Regarding Phish: I, too, would enjoy attending a concert where they do nothing but XTC covers. -------- >From: OMBEAN1@aol.com (Roger) > David Oh is back and he calls himself fflynt!!! Just what I thought when I read that incoherent post. > I heard "King for a Day" playing over the sound system in a mini mart > the other day.Pretty cool. Dave & I heard it Labor Day weekend in one of those Salvage Warehouse places. My jaw dropped at the opening strains. I looked at Dave for confirmation that I wasn't hallucinating. After all, you guys have been sharing all the places you've heard it for so long, I didn't think I'd *ever* hear it anywhere like that. -------- From: Olof Hellman <hellman@ksan.ms.nwu.edu> > This is another of the great lines in Fruit Nut. The poisons are of > course the insecticides and such used for tending the fruit. You could > also take it to mean that he also mixes himself a drink or two... ...but not from the insecticides! Seriously, though, I agree with this take on it. -------- From: "Steven Paul" <spaul@armstronglaw.com> > For instance, the movie soundtrack for "She's Having a Baby." The CD > has XTC doing "Happy Families." I for one have never heard that -- I > don't think. Can anyone with some insight or better recall tell us what > that song is like and if its worth a CD for a song. Great song, IMHO. The title refers to a card game; the song lampoons dysfunctional families. The music is, of course, catchy. This *is* XTC, after all. I wouldn't buy the movie soundtrack unless I was a completist or liked other songs on it. Buy Rag And Bone Buffet, instead. -------- From: Jon Alsbury <j.alsbury@unl.ac.uk> >Worst Tracks: > 'Countdown To Christmas Party Time' & 'Thanks For Christmas' > both, unfortunately, are possibly the *worst* things ever > recorded by XTC. absolutley execrable, IMO. I agree with your assessment of Countdown To Christmas Party Time, but I like Thanks For Christmas. And, BTW, Andy is on record as really being into the Christmas season; he meant the sentiment in Thanks For Christmas. ________ From: paul bristol <mr_paul_1999@yahoo.com> > What you have here is: A guy who likes electric XTC Black Sea, Nonsuch > guitars. Has never heard AV1. Wants to hear what the hill has to say by > way of revue on AV1 and privately too. Paul, if nothing else, Greenman will blow you away. <g> ________ From: "Charlie Buck" <dontwantany@hotmail.com> > I was in a store somewhere in California and seen 3 albums that I have > NEVER seen before. One had songs, none of which I have ever heard. I > have every album availible in retail and all the original vinyl. What > are these albums?! One had a song, I forget what it was called, but it > had something to do with the Bible... Oh, Charlie; you're going to *have* to be more specific than this. XTC have done a *lot* of songs with Biblical references blatant & oblique. Eager for AV2, --Dorothy. (who possesses most but *still* not all the AV2 demos...::sigh!::)
------------------------------ Message-ID: <19990920173033.26326.qmail@hotmail.com> From: "Andrea Rossillon" <rossillon@hotmail.com> Subject: XTC heard on the radio! Date: Mon, 20 Sep 1999 12:30:29 CDT This weekend, I was listening to a rerun of "Car Talk" (a show about just it says--cars, car repair, and the occasional puzzler). Anyway, between sections of the show, they'll play some road- or car-themed song, and this weekend, they played "Roads Girdle the Globe". I couldn't believe it! Pretty cool, and I was there to hear it! Of course, they never credit the artists whose songs they play, so anyone hearing it and _not_ knowing what it is wouldn't be able to track them down. Still, it was cool to hear it. -Andrea ______________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com
------------------------------ Message-ID: <37E68F3E.5296DB37@bctel.com> Date: Mon, 20 Sep 1999 12:47:10 -0700 From: "Brent Dougans" <brent_dougans@bctel.com> Subject: happy families Steven Paul asked: For instance, the movie soundtrack for "She's Having a Baby." The CD has XTC doing "Happy Families." I for one have never heard that -- I don't think. Can anyone with some insight or better recall tell us what that song is like and if its worth a CD for a song. Todd replied: Don't worry about the "She's Having a Baby" soundtrack -- you can find "Happy Families" on Rag and Bone Buffet, along with the uplifting and totally fun "Take This Town," which means you don't have to buy the soundtrack for "Times Square," either. It should be noted that there are two different versions of the song 'Happy Families'. The one on the soundtrack is NOT the same version as on the "Rag & Bone Buffet" CD. That is why the soundtrack CD tends to get pricey on e-bay . Boog
------------------------------ Message-ID: <19990921012430.8309.qmail@hotmail.com> From: "Duncan Kimball" <dunks58@hotmail.com> Subject: Four strings good Date: Mon, 20 Sep 1999 18:24:29 PDT OK OK I know ... I bagged the whole "list" thing a few weeks ago ... but you've snared me on one of my favourite topics here, so stand back while I cram great big gobfuls of humble pie (apologies to Iain M.) and regale youse all with some of my fave Colin Moulding bass-lines (in no partcular order). PREFACE: This is NOT a "Top 5". I love *all* his playing ... 'tho I have to say that "Black Sea" and "English Settlement" are bass heaven for me. To give you an idea of where I'm coming from as a player - I basically learned to play bass off the XTC albums and Small Faces' records. I will admit (sorry Andy) that I know some of the XTC bass lines better than I know the lyrics. What really appeals to me about Colin's style are the same things that draw me to Ronnie Lane: - the sense that, as great as all the other parts are, it's often the bass that is the lead instrument - the fish-arse-tight (thanks P@ul) interlock with the drums - the distinctive tone (kind of a funky tuba, if such a thing were possible) - the melodic and rhythmic inventiveness, and - the perfect grasp of that oh-so-important skill for the bassist: what to leave out. 1. "Towers of London" - This is *really* where I live as a player. The tone ... *sigh*. Those booming opening notes send me every time. I adore this one so much it brings tears to my eyes. My ultimate bass dream would be to play this just once with Andy, Terry and Dave. 2. "Respectable Street": I love this for the way it jumps between those lovely leaping chordal lines in the chorus and the four-on-the-floor new-wave chugalong in the verses. 3. "Burning With Optimism's Flame": what can I say? One of those lines a humble bass player like me can only dream of thinking up. It's a bass line with a smile on its face, a great ska-influenced feel, and so upbeat and melodic McCartney would be proud of it. 4. "Rocket From A Bottle" - Colin's restless, cyclical line in the verses is totally cool, and so expressive of the urgency in that song. Damn tricky to play correctly. Love the way it locks together the piano and drums. 5. "Paper & Iron" - like "Rocket", only more so. *Really* tough to play, but so damn nifty it hurts. Anyone who questions Colin's ablility ought to try playing this. He is SMART. I could go on and on ... but I'll lave it to others from here Dunks ______________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com
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