Chalkhills Digest Volume 5, Issue 280
Date: Sunday, 10 October 1999

         Chalkhills Digest, Volume 5, Number 280

                 Sunday, 10 October 1999

Today's Topics:

            Forced To Buy Homespun at gunpoint
             RE: the Charlie Buck controversy
                  racism-Charlie's reply
          xtc live and direct rare+live online!
                    re: concept albums
                    Guitargonauts Ahoy
                   A couple of thisngs
                          }---:)
           A Heartfelt and Sincere "Thank You!"
                    Various and sundry
            Looking to trade for tapes/videos
                      yes and thanks
                  one of, I'm sure, many
                         }---:(((
         re: I'm leaving. Thanks for the welcome.
                more stuff...............
                      Minister Hell
                      Charlie Buck?
                  The Partridge Sisters
                   A letter of apology
                          Oh boy
            Chalkhills Digest #5-277 comments

Administrivia:

    To UNSUBSCRIBE from the Chalkhills mailing list, send a message to
    <chalkhills-request@chalkhills.org> with the following command:

	unsubscribe

    For all other administrative issues, send a message to:

	<chalkhills-request@chalkhills.org>

    Please remember to send your Chalkhills postings to:

	<chalkhills@chalkhills.org>

    World Wide Web: <http://chalkhills.org/>

    The views expressed herein are those of the individual authors.

    Chalkhills is compiled with Digest 3.7 (John Relph <relph@sgi.com>).

Poach your dreams to ash.

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

Message-ID: <000a01bf11c1$68dc6da0$12b1d8d0@govenet.com>
From: "Andisheh Nouraee" <mabrey@mindspring.com>
Subject: Forced To Buy Homespun at gunpoint
Date: Fri, 8 Oct 1999 15:14:56 -0400

Yesterday four armed men wearing dark blue windbreakers with the letters
"TVT" emblazoned on the back stormed into my house and forced me to buy a
copy of XTC's Homespun.  "But I already have some the demos on a CD-R," I
pleaded.  "You will buy Homespun and you will buy it NOW," said one of the
gunmen as he reached into his wallet to give me change and a receipt.

As the last one left, he turned around and said in a sinister voice, "Fuzzy
warbles.  Remember Fuzzy Warbles."  He walked away, his deep laugh echoing
into the night.

Fearfully,
Andisheh

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

Message-ID: <130CB597E04ED211B2A400104B93AAC47DF6AD@ESCORP1>
From: "Wiencek, Dan" <dwiencek@crateandbarrel.com>
Subject: RE: the Charlie Buck controversy
Date: Fri, 8 Oct 1999 14:42:25 -0500

For what it's worth:

Like Mark, I have a very difficult time believing that there are people
lurking on this list who are that virulently racist and cruel.  And how did
these people "find out" Charlie was black anyway?  I hadn't a clue and I
didn't see him mention it in any of his few posts.  It seems a little fishy.
Mind you, if evidence (in the way of saved e-mails) comes to light and the
accusations prove true, then I would certainly support the banishment from
the list of any and all people responsible (and would eat my words into the
bargain).  But as I say, I'd need assurance that this really happened the
way Charlie says it did.

John, what's the "official" take on this?

Dan W.

PS: Just wanted to publicly express condolences to my namesake Dan for his
recent loss. How difficult that must be.

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

Message-ID: <19991008211803.344.rocketmail@web2102.mail.yahoo.com>
Date: Fri, 8 Oct 1999 14:18:03 -0700 (PDT)
From: Tyler Hewitt <tahewitt@yahoo.com>
Subject: racism-Charlie's reply

I recieved this reply from Charle Buck when I e-mailed
my comments to him (the same message I posted to this
list. I got this reply from him, and am posting it
here for all to see.
Tyler

I agree and thank you for your opinion.  (put that on
the list).  I commend you for being open and honest
about yourself.  Hope you dont get emailed by  a bunch
of insucure assholes!  Anyway, I only made one
statement about the  list because I was the main topic
of discussion.  They keep bringing it up!  I only
posted like 3 times and my message has carried so far!
 I just wanna  drop it.  I am leaving the list, but I
will continue to be a fan.
Thanks.

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

Message-ID: <37FE59E0.563BA0E1@autoreverse.net>
Date: Fri, 08 Oct 1999 16:53:52 -0400
From: Ian C Stewart <ian@autoreverse.net>
Organization: http://www.AUTOreverse.net/
Subject: xtc live and direct rare+live online!

XTC LIVE AND DIRECT rare and live audio and video online!
http://www.geocities.com/xtcliveanddirect

new additions this week

MITCH FRIEDMAN "Simplification," featuring Dave Gregory on guitar

JAMES AND THE GIANT PEACH demos--all 4 of 'em!

and the first Real Video on the site!
SNOWMAN, from the OLD GREY WHISTLE TEST, 1982!!!!

fire up your Real Player and come on down... requests welcomed!
coming soon by request: Martin Newell!

Ian C Stewart
http://www.geocities.com/xtcliveanddirect

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

From: dan@gge.com
Message-ID: <37FE6EAA.5F1FBC2F@gge.com>
Date: Fri, 08 Oct 1999 15:23:02 -0700
Subject: re: concept albums

tyler wrote:
>(here's a fun question: what's your favorite concept album?
>Mine would be The Who Sell Out).

which brings us right back to bowie.
mine is a toss-up btwn "ziggy stardust" and "diamond dogs." if you think
about it, and especially if you look at it in the light shed by hobbiton
- i mean - harrison's recent posts, that if you pasted ziggy, d.dogs,
and alladinsane end-to-end (the life span of ziggy herself) that you
would have a concept album to end all concept albums.

would you consider 'skylarking' to be a concept album?

-dan

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

From: "Mark Strijbos" <mmello@knoware.nl>
Date: Sat, 9 Oct 1999 00:44:53 +0200
Subject: Guitargonauts Ahoy
Message-Id: <19991008224419.2EF78A6CE2@mail.knoware.nl>

Dear Chalkers,

Tyler Hewitt quite rightly remarked:

> It seems silly and pointless to me to spend all that time and energy
> to design a site that large numbers of people can't look at.
yes it would be

 >You can't assume that everyone has the latest and best.
So i didn't...

As a matter of fact i've thought long and hard about the use of new-
fangled tricks & technology when i designed the Guitargonauts site.
In the end i decided to build two sites: one 'high tech' version that
makes heavy use of HTML 4.0, Java, JavaScript and Common Style
Sheets, and a more generic, bog-standard version that runs on any
browser agent.

Building the high-tech version took a little longer than anticipated
(understatement of the year) so we decided to launch the site before
the low-tech version was available.

But i'm happy to announce that, finally, the generic version of the
site is now online. Surf to www.guitargonauts.com and you should
be redirected automatically according to browser version number.
If that doesn't work, use www.guitargonauts.com/lo

Sorry for the delay folks, but i do have a day job ;)

Mark Strijbos
webmaster@guitargonauts.com

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

Message-ID: <19991008234215.6368.rocketmail@web1304.mail.yahoo.com>
Date: Fri, 8 Oct 1999 16:42:15 -0700 (PDT)
From: Molly Fanton <mfanton99@yahoo.com>
Subject: A couple of thisngs

People, people, people, why are we being so cruel
here?  Why are we being so nickpicky with grammar and
then picking on the people who do it.  Do you really
think it's necessary?  And whoever called Charlie "an
ignorant N word" (I refuse to use that certain word),
should be ashamed of themselves.  Is this what we
really want to show the public what XTC fans are
really like?  Don't forget the archieves of these
digests are on the Chalkhills site for anybody to see.
 All I can say if this continues I'm off the list,
because I'm not going to be associated with this type
of thing.
Okay, now on to Homespun.  Let me just say this, whoa
man this is very weird.  I just got this album today
and I listened to it, and I'm glad I got it.  I have
the demos on tape, but I'm glad I got them on CD,
because I can hear them clearly.
I also got the remastered version of Yellow Submarine
and for some reason I now want to listen to The Dukes
of Stratosphear. :)

Molly

=====
http://www.angelfire.com/mn/mollyfa99/index.html

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

Message-ID: <19991009001029.7498.qmail@www0u.netaddress.usa.net>
Date: 8 Oct 99 17:10:29 PDT
From: vee tube <veetube@netscape.net>
Subject: }---:)

   Being an aquatic life form
from another dimension,I,refuse
to become entangled in your petty
human arguments!

   Call me a 'snooty' Cod if
you must, but,if you don't know
the difference between Racism,
Bowie (puke) Sting (regurgitated
puke) and hitting the P-Funk on
the 'one'...

  ...Then there is not much of
what we (Fish Heads from the waterless
planet) possess in the way of knowledge
that will be useful for your consumption.

    Go ahead! Keep sending those 'Probes'
to our sister planet Mars!And continue to
wonder why they keep turning up missing.

             Hmmmmmm...

        PEACE! OUT! }---:)

P.S. Mrs. Winky Fish is feeling better.
          THANX FOR ASKING!!!!

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

Message-ID: <37FEBA3B.5AEE@schoollink.net>
Date: Fri, 08 Oct 1999 20:44:59 -0700
From: Dan Phipps <phipps@schoollink.net>
Organization: CIC
Subject: A Heartfelt and Sincere "Thank You!"

Everyone,

Thank you so very much for all the beautiful
and touching condolescenses sent re: my late
father.

You have shown me beyond any shadow of doubt
that friendship does indeed help pull you
through a tough and very sad situation.

You have truly touched my heart with all your
kind words.

Thanks again most humbly from a fellow XTC
fan!!  :-)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
/Dan Phipps <phipps@schoollink.net>

"All we are saying is give peace a chance!"
(John ///o-o\\\ Lennon)

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

Date: Fri, 08 Oct 1999 21:25:25 +0000
From: Scott Barnard <gforsche@videotron.ca>
Subject: Various and sundry
Message-id: <000e01bf11d3$a2e2afc0$856ac818@oemcomputer.videotron.ca>

This is my first-ever post, so be gentle.

Re: Troll?  For all of our sakes I hope so.

Now on to a couple of recent subjects that have absolutely nothing to
to with Our Lads. Regarding the ubiquitous "dancing about architecture"
quote: close but no cigar, David (can I call you David?).
It was Martin Mull (long before all this Roseanne/Sabrina madness), not
Steve Martin.

Another oft-quoted MM gem: "Hollywood is just high school with money."

Re: Observations of a limey: What the USA thinks are stereotypical UK
tastes? Actually, as a Canadian (well, Quebecois really, but we don't want
to go there) I can't really speak for my gun-toting (I'll regret that)
southern neighbours, but it should be obvious to all that the tastes of
that Sceptred Isle seem invariably, somewhat miraculously, to be whatever
the NME has decided is this week's GREATEST BAND OF ALL TIME.

I didn't want to get involved in the entirely-off-subject but quite
entertaining Bowie debate, but I would suggest to the distinguished Mr.
Sequins that although I dearly love our National Elf, Bolan doesn't qualify
in this category, because unlike the other artists mentioned ad nauseum, he
didn't create a persona, as such, he became it and worst of all, BELIEVED
it.

Of possible interest to wanky-types: 1974 Fender Stratocaster,
196? Rickenbacker 3001 (I think), a bunch of noisy pedals (mostly analog),
and a 70's-vintage Korg synth that Air would kill to have.

Yours in run-on-sentences,

Scott

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

From: SM7609@aol.com
Message-ID: <0.5b2114d2.25300349@aol.com>
Date: Fri, 8 Oct 1999 22:32:41 EDT
Subject: Looking to trade for tapes/videos

Hi all,

I'm rather new at this collecting XTC tapes stuff...but I do have some
(less than 10 at this point, more on the way though) CDRs, as well as lots
of CDRs from the Beatles (loads!!), Led Zeppelin, velvet Underground,
Zappa, Steely Dan, Who and more.

E-mail me privately if you have ANY XTC to trade..I NEED anything I can
get!!  Thanks!!

SP.

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

Message-Id: <v03007803b4246601cd30@[165.247.18.58]>
Date: Fri, 8 Oct 1999 22:40:46 -0500
From: Mitch Friedman <mitchf@mindspring.com>
Subject: yes and thanks

Yo,

Yes XTC are still planning on releasing the series of demos compilation
called "Fuzzy Warbles". As recently as a month ago Andy was still busy
transferring his demos to ADAT (so much so that his machine needed to be
sent in for repairs for the 9th time since he's had it!) But AV2 comes
first so just be patient I'd say.

I think "Homespun" is a nice little gift for any XTC fan while we wait for
the next album. Sure many of us on Chalkhills have had all the demos for a
few years now but we're in the minority. What about the other few hundred
thousand XTC fans who might not be so well connected? I'm sure some of them
would be very interested in picking up a copy.

By the way, the little sketches that look like eyes on the handwritten
lyrics page for "Harvest Festival" were some of Andy's early ideas for the
cover art for AV1.

Mitch

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

Message-ID: <19991009024204.30512.qmail@hotmail.com>
From: "Megan Heller" <hellerm@hotmail.com>
Subject: one of, I'm sure, many
Date: Fri, 08 Oct 1999 19:42:03 PDT

I'm sure I'm FAR from the only one to respond to this, but as someone who
posts fairly regularly, I didn't feel as though I could just let it sit
there.

Charlie Buck writes--
>After mixing up the words "Seen" and Saw" and sharing a few emails >with a
>few people, 2 of whom called me an "ignorant nigger" after >finding out
>that I was black.  One made the comment that I should >stay out of the list
>because he did not want it becoming "Nearly >Africa."

well, obviously I would like this not to be true, since I'd prefer it if
there weren't any racist, abusive pricks on this list.  But I'll assume it
is.  Hell, I actually hope it's true, because lying about prejudicial attcks
(verbal or otherwise) belittles the experiences of people who are actually
attacked.

I'm sorry that this has clouded your view of XTC fans in general.  I'm sure
there will be more than one post reassuring you that racism is far from
being part of the general mindset on this list.  I hope you believe this.

I'd suggest using the "Block Sender" setting on your Hotmail account to stop
further harrassment.

I don't know what else to say.  I've been at the receiving end of
prejudicial verbal attacks and went through some fairly scary experiences
when I was younger.  I know it made me hateful for a while.  If you don't
return to the list, I hope you can keep this from affecting your opinion of
the band.

sometimes I really hate the faceless quality of the internet.

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

Message-ID: <19991009035020.11938.qmail@www0w.netaddress.usa.net>
Date: 8 Oct 99 20:50:20 PDT
From: vee tube <veetube@netscape.net>
Subject: }---:(((

             Yo! Bowie fans!

     I can fill up an entire digest
  of the 'Hill' But I could never waste
  as many electrons (Thank God they're not
       Dolphins) as you people can.

              Yo! Stangsters!
     This worthless piece of human debris
  Wouldn't even know where to put his lips
      if Elton Quan hadn't shown him!
    And E.T. wouldn't have know if IGGY!
  hadn't shoved his big AMERICAN! ******!

           But I think it's time
  to leave this fleshy dimesion behind!

    We all love XTC. We are here for a reason.

         Not only do we love XTC. We love
                  good music!

    I am personaly very bored with some of this
   'Elephant talk' The endless diatribes about why
   so & so changed the face of music! We all have our
   favorites.

     I would like to know what NEW MUSIC! some of us
    have been listening to lately. I have two CDs
    of the year.

   1-10 AV.1.

   2. Owsley
   3. Hal Ketchum: Awaiting Redemption

         Now, here are my mini reviews of
                 the summer.

   1. Filter: Lame (see boreing)
   2.  Stain: Better (see ok)

                       }---:)

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

Message-Id: <3.0.2.32.19991009000721.007034b4@mail.interlog.com>
Date: Sat, 09 Oct 1999 00:07:21 -0400
From: David Oh <davidoh@interlog.com>
Subject: re: I'm leaving. Thanks for the welcome.

hello charlie,

i just had to respond to your recent post in chalkhills #5-277, re: I'm
leaving. Thanks for the welcome.

i'm not sure if your email to chalkhills is a joke or not, as i've only
just returned to the list recently after a 6 month absence and not followed
the thread on your posts, but i found it to be very disturbing. if it is
true, then i must apologize to you for the behaviour of a very few, even
though i wasn't one of those few who treated you that way. unfortunately,
there are some people who love to act out, in the anonymity and comfort in
cyberspace, in a manner with which they would never dare do in public. it
is, alas, unfortunate.

i would like to apologize for the racist remarks and insults hurled at you.
i would also like to re-assure you that _most_ xtc fans are not like the
(very) few who acted so appallingly, and inappropriately, towards you.
there are many intelligent xtc fans around the world, but please, do not
confuse being intelligent with being clever. those idiots were trying to be
clever. sadly, intelligence eludes them.

i do understand your frustration towards the chalkhills digest, for i, too,
received a tremendous amount of abuse when i first started posting to it,
especially from one individual. it seemed that my style of posting (i was
substituting certain words and phrases with typographical shortcuts) was so
offensive to some, that i was called everything from an r-sol (read
arsehole) to a tw@ (read twat), to even being called prince in disguise, or
a pathetic prince wannabe!

i can assure you, too, that you did not miss the point of xtc's music. just
listen to "knuckle down" on english settlement for proof of andy's position
on racism. if andy partridge did monitor the digest (apparently he
doesn't), he would be appalled at the ignorance of those narrow-minded few
who call themselves xtc fans while spewing forth intolerance - both at race
and, apparently, one's level (or lack) of education and literacy. it amazes
me that they had the temerity to call you "an ignorant nigger" when it was
them all along who were ignorant.

the only thing i can say to you - to urge you to do - is this:

don't let the bastards get to you!

either give back to those who give unto you or just simply ignore the
simpletons.

it is the music of xtc that is important here, not the prejudicial opinions
of a few ignoramuses and bullies.

btw, although i try to maintain a certain standard when i'm writing,
sometimes i misspell words, sometimes i make typographical errors and
sometimes my grammar is incorrect.

so fucking what!

i haven't been in a classroom for over 20 years and the last time i
checked, chalkhills is supposed to be a forum for discussing the music of
xtc, not for any "my grammar's better than your grammar" pissings. besides,
my grammar's been dead for those same 20 years! i know, it's a bad pun, but
it was just dying to get out... oops, there it is again...

"if you celebrate mediocrity, you get mediocrity" - frank zappa

 \            \     _
  \  /\ \  /|  \   / \ |_|
/__\/ _\ \/ |/__\  \_/ | |

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

Message-ID: <19991009051645.15389.rocketmail@web2101.mail.yahoo.com>
Date: Fri, 8 Oct 1999 22:16:45 -0700 (PDT)
From: Tyler Hewitt <tahewitt@yahoo.com>
Subject: more stuff...............

RE:
Are there any other singers' voices that remind you of
instruments?

How about David Sylvian?
Sylvian is maybe a cello, or a viola.

How about Elvis Costello?

-------
The one act I would be interested to hear opinions
about in this little
digression is Alice Cooper. I'm not sure when he
kicked off with the
full "Alice" image, but from memory it was before the
Ziggy period. I know
his first LP was produced by Zappa (and he made a
lovely tribute to Frank
when he died), and I think he and Bowie were pretty
much contemporary. Any
opinions?

Don't know a lot about Alice Cooper. I was just a
little kid in the early 70's. I know that'alice
cooper' was the band name before it was adopted by
Vincent Furnier, the band's singer. I think the
persona just evolved. People believed Alice Cooper was
the guy on stage, however. There was no attempt to
pass the persona off as fake or plastic. The stage
act, yes, but not the person. He WAS Alice. People
were shocked when photos of Alice playing golf with
George Burns ran in rock magazines. Guess it was
expected that he would spend his days playing with his
snake and gilloutine!

RE: Velvet Goldmine:Lots of comments (Mostly negative)
about this film.I havent seen it, but would highly
recommend Director Todd Haynes two other feature
films, 'Poison' and 'Safe'.  Both are highly original,
very well done, and very different from each other.
And, Poison was awarded a NEA grant, one of the ones
that pissed Jesse Helms off (Is that a pee pee? Can't
show a man's pee pee in a film Uncle Sam paid for!).
Rent 'em both, theyre really good. Safe is tamer than
Poison, but quite disturbing in its own right. Oh,
don't rent Poison from Blockbuster (actually, avoid
renting ANYTHING from them). They refuse to stock
NC-17 films, and have an edited version of Poison.
Don't go for that censorship crap!
Tyler

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

From: WESnLES@aol.com
Message-ID: <0.98d8fd3a.25302af7@aol.com>
Date: Sat, 9 Oct 1999 01:21:59 EDT
Subject: Minister Hell

Bobbi and Joey Sallott wrote regarding Minister Hill:

"Wes, how could the song "Let's All Sing our Song" not keep you humming
estactically for the next 365 years??? Incredible!! Honestly, I don't
even think Andy has come up with a melody that drop-dead hummable in the
last 15 years...If so point me that way".

Granted....quite hummable. Hey, you know what...the Spice Girls sing some
damn hummable tunes.  Since when is "hummable" a synonym for "good"?

"Wes, Did you get a load of the
lyrics(which are, I think, the strong suit of the band...yes even more than
the melodies which are too fab) and post back"

The lyrics are the strong suit?  Hmmmm, well in the one song that you
mention "Let's All Sing our Song"....there are some very impressive lyrics,
especially the chorus:
Let's all sing our song.
Let's all sing our song.
la la la la di da di da
Let's all sing our song.
Let's all sing our song.
Let's all sing our song.
la la la la di da di da

If that's not genius I don't know what is.  I mean come on folks, the best
that Andy can come up with is some feeble crap like "gold word ribbons rope
and rodeo the dark clouds in bouquet above"....or " I heard the dandelions
roar in Piccadilly Circus".

Honestly, it's a good cd......I never said that it wasn't....and while I
like it, it does not deserve the hype that it's getting here on this list.
It's not a great cd.  It is a blatant rip of the XTC sound....and while
they sometimes do it well, they don't approach the creativity of XTC, and
frankly..I'm not looking for a decent XTC copy, I'm looking for another
great band.  If you want to hear an artist, other than XTC, worth talking
about in the '99 year...try these: Owsley, Fountains Of Wayne, Jason
Falkner.

As for this statement:
"Wes, you probably had just a couple of beers too many :-)"

That, my friend, is a given.

wesLONG

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

From: WESnLES@aol.com
Message-ID: <0.55336e3e.25303159@aol.com>
Date: Sat, 9 Oct 1999 01:49:13 EDT
Subject: Charlie Buck?

Charlie Buck wrote:
> After mixing up the words "Seen" and Saw" and sharing a few emails
> with a few people, 2 of whom called me an "ignorant nigger" after
> finding out that I was black. One made the comment that I should
> stay out of the list because he did not want it becoming "Nearly
> Africa."

Charlie...if I'm incorrect here, then I'm very sorry......but I have a hard
time believing this to be true.....come on......2 people, not one but 2
people, called you an ignorant nigger?  Uhhhhhh.....I doubt it.

I'm with Mark here in thinking this is low brow fakery......but I believe
it to be the work of fflynt, who is actually????

and....not to get off the point here, or to topple the cart of my good
friend Mark Strijbos.....but......Mark wrote:
"now i really object to being implicated by association!
even if there really are some racist fools on this list, that's no reason
to assume we all are - that's just bigotry in reverse"

...while I agree with him completely, I just want to point out that there
is no such thing as "bigotry in reverse"....bigotry is bigotry.

wesLONG

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

Message-ID: <002c01bf1263$f5f80e40$466c868b@GaryHooper>
From: "Gary Hooper" <hooperg@bigpond.com>
Subject: The Partridge Sisters
Date: Sun, 10 Oct 1999 00:36:53 +1000

Chalkhillians,
Way back in Digest #276 I posted a question about Wendy & Sarah Partridge -
I didn't get one reply!
Well, thanks for nothin'!
I'm leaving.
You bastards!
Gary Hooper.

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

Message-Id: <199910091920.PAA10505@nantucket.net>
Date: Sat, 09 Oct 1999 15:16:38 -0400
Subject: A letter of apology
From: "Diamond" <arnos@nantucket.net>

_________________________________
After mixing up the words "Seen" and Saw" and sharing a few emails with a
few people, 2 of whom called me an "ignorant nigger" after finding out that
I was black.  One made the comment that I should stay out of the list
because he did not want it becoming "Nearly Africa."

I see the kind of fans XTC has and its unfortunate.  I have been a fan for
over 15 years and never thought that I would receive this kind of treatment
from fans of this group.  Well, look for my albums on Ebay because I really
think I missed the point of their music.  I thought "White Music" or "Its
Nearly Africa" had a different meaning than what it seams to mean to the
fans.  Some of you have been ok, but most of you seem so damn preoccupied
with my message (which might I add, I wrote that complaint about the list
before some of you helped me figure out what the albums were!).
_______________________________________________________

I can't believe that someone on this list was so mean to you. I honestly
feel sorry about this. Some people are real assholes. Please, let me
appolagize for whoever these stupid, ignorant punks are, because that is not
what XTC means to me. And please don't sell your XTC stuff. I'm positive
that that's not what "I'ts Nearly Africa" and "White Music" meant. I'm also
sure that Andy, Colin, and Dave would feel the  same way as I do about these
total idiots, and I urge you not to take it out on them (So to speak). I
mean, to think that there are people that stupid in this world, and on this
list, just makes me sick. I would really like to know who these people are
who said that to you, because that is uneeded, uncalled for, and just plan
evil. I hope you except this appolagy on behalf of XTC, myself, and the
people on chalkhills who AREN'T complete idiots. And, since I am sending a
copy of this letter to chalkhills, let me just say, some people don't have
spellcheck on their e-mail servers, so lay off, all right? See what this
kind of stupidity can do?

Sincerly
Kevin Diamond

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

Message-ID: <19991009063930.8592.rocketmail@web1303.mail.yahoo.com>
Date: Fri, 8 Oct 1999 23:39:30 -0700 (PDT)
From: Molly Fanton <mfanton99@yahoo.com>
Subject: Oh boy

Mark said:
<<To be honest i have a very hard time believing
this. As a matter of fact i
have a hard time believing Charlie actually
exists IRL... is this perhaps
another prank by the unstoppable Harrison
"Tolkien 'Bout My
Generation" Sherwood?>>

Mark, Charlie isn't a troll.  I e-mailed him and he
doesn't sound like a troll.  He's like me, when he
gets upset he sometimes gets a bit emotional.  Charlie
was just upset for what he recieved, and I honestly
would be too.  I don't like it when people pick on me
for what I say or if people bitch at me for not using
proper grammar or spelling.  We can't all be perfect
you know (and I'm not saying you said that, I'm just
telling this whoever has picked on me for not doing
these things.)

Molly

=====
http://www.angelfire.com/mn/mollyfa99/index.html

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

Message-Id: <3.0.2.32.19991009024354.00704690@mail.interlog.com>
Date: Sat, 09 Oct 1999 02:43:54 -0400
From: David Oh <davidoh@interlog.com>
Subject: Chalkhills Digest #5-277 comments

hang on, here we go... wheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!

>Subject: Sting steals the sixth sick sheep... oh, forget it.
>Proving once and for all that everything Sting ever did that was good he
>ripped off from AP. And Bob Marley.

i couldn't agree with you more! i heard both xtc and the police around the
same time (1979). loved xtc (and still do), did not care much for the
police (and still don't). i _do_ recognize and appreciate their
musicianship, but that's about it...

>From: "Charlie Buck" <dontwantany@hotmail.com>
>Subject: I'm leaving. Thanks for the welcome.

please see my previous comments on this one. it is a sad situation, indeed!

>>I LOVE The Police.
>I love the Police

again?

>From: "Mark Strijbos" <mmello@knoware.nl>
>Just back from Swindon but i'll fill you all in later.

mark, you're a big tease, you are!

>From: Peter Wright <Peter.Wright2@Virgin.net>
>Subject: Homespun Sparring !

>>Some people like the demos...
>>Second, the packaging, with Andy and Colin's notes on each song, is a real
>>treat. Third, Andy and Colin get some more loot, and we get more XTC
>>bumpf for our collection.
>Yes the liner notes will be nice but do you really buy an album just for
>the sleeve ?!!  Andy and Colin will have more dosh . Good for them but is
>this a charity CD all of a sudden ?  I'm afraid Andy has been the cause of
>his own (and Col and Daves) lack of earnings over the years.

to buy or not to buy, that is the question... whether 'tis - ah,
fuggedaboudit!
actually, for me there ain't no question... as soon as it hits the stores
in canada (oct. 12), i'll be buying it, because a) i want it, and 2) andy
and colin need the money, even if the reason they need the money is because
andy was/is the root cause of their (perceived) poverty.

>From: Wuellig@aol.com
>Subject: French XTC interviews I could translate
>Hi to all, and thanks to those who wrote me about their own relationships
>with XTC !

firstly, welcome to chalkhills!

>I found 2 XTC interviews in a French magazine, "Rock'n'Folk"... If some of
>you are interested I could translate them and send them.

by all means, please do translate them. i, for one, would love to read them
as i am (ahem) a completist.

>From: "Christopher R. Coolidge" <cauldron@together.net>
>Subject: The Police
>>Subject: STING, BITE ME!
>>From: "Diamond" <arnos@nantucket.net>

again?!? funny, i thought we were here to discuss xtc and their music. too
much filler, not enough meat.

>From: Warren Butson <Warren.Butson@getty-images.com>
>Subject: Observations of a limey
>I've found it very interesting to see the divisions between older fans and
>newer ones. as expected the older fans prefer >black sea and english
>settlement period whilst the newer ones (particularly the usa) prefer
>skylarking and oranges
>and lemons... Having said all this I admire the Yanks for digging xtc at
>all... Is it weird to like xtc in usa? also what >does the USA think our
>stereotypical musical tastes are.

careful with that axe, eugene!
i've been a fan since drums & wires and although i still love that era of
the band's career, i'm more partial to the mid-to-late model xtc rather
than the earlier one. it has nothing to do with old vs. new, etc., but with
what i see as a maturation, or refinment, of their songwriting skills (and
maybe even my tastes, too... nah! never had any in the first place). my
favourite album is 'o&l', but there's stuff on the older albums that still
pumps my 'nads, just as av-1 does, too.

you see, i'm from canada; which is not quite america and not quite britain
(hell, not quite canada, either, come to think of it!). so, your
generalizations about age, nationality and tastes are, as you said,
stereotypical. that said, i do agree with you when you said you admired the
yanks for digging xtc at all. hell, i admire anyone who digs xtc.

>From: MinerWerks <dminer@gte.net>
>Subject: Homespinning
>I'm a packrat, and I tend to accumulate a lot of material on subjects I'm
>interested in - like XTC

me too, and me too! i'm searching for an article i have from details
magazine, circa 1992, on xtc. when i find it, i'll scan it (i just bought a
scanner.. woo-hoo!) and send out any copies to whomever wants it.

john, does the chalkhills site have this article? if not, would you like me
to send it in?

(btw, i've just scanned my signed copy of 'trans-blast' - you do these
kinds of things when you get a new toy, don't you? - with the "radio-man"
doodle andy did for me. anyone want me to send them a copy? it's a really
cool, and funny, little doodle that demonstrates andy's creativity.)

>From: Todd Bernhardt <TBernhardt@Chemonics.net>
>Subject: Bless his rounded little head
>Sir John... man, what you do here is great...

i concur wholeheartedly. in spite of the off-topic posts, racial slurs and
mean-spiritedness, spam, etc. etc., john, you do us all a great service by
providing us with this outlet for expressing our love of, as well as our
pet peeves about, xtc. i only wish there was a little more tolerance and
understanding amongst the participants.

waiting for tuesday and getting homespun,

"if you celebrate mediocrity, you get mediocrity" - frank zappa

 \            \     _
  \  /\ \  /|  \   / \ |_|
/__\/ _\ \/ |/__\  \_/ | |

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

End of Chalkhills Digest #5-280
*******************************

Go back to Volume 5.

10 October 1999 / Feedback