Chalkhills Digest Volume 5, Issue 289
Date: Tuesday, 19 October 1999
Chalkhills Digest, Volume 5, Number 289
Tuesday, 19 October 1999
Today's Topics:
Grinch Part 2
Wank Wank Wank Beefheart Wank Wank
Domapollooza.....you cheeky f*ckers!
Re: Wankers
A new listener is born...
Paul McCartney tribute album
Earn Enough For Us: the Andy Partridge Coloring Book
RE: Paul McCartney covers album
Re: Oingo Boingo and XTC
cyber partridge + spinster pill
covers thingy
Housmartins & Boingo
Mine's Biggger than yours, Todd!
instruments
Another XTC fan tribute?????
Re: Logical "arguments"...
Re: Boingo
Homespun "extras"
Re: Elton at Christmas
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----------------------------------------------------------------------
From: Iain.Murray.70428176@army.defence.gov.au
Message-Id: <4A25680D.007F28D3.00@stagemaster.army.defence.gov.au>
Date: Mon, 18 Oct 1999 09:10:44 +1000
Subject: Grinch Part 2
I've just remembered another Xmas track (with thanks to John Bartlett) :
"All I Want For Christmas Is A Dukla Prague Away Kit" - Half Man Half
Biscuit
Iain
------------------------------
From: Iain.Murray.70428176@army.defence.gov.au
Message-Id: <4A25680D.0080B486.00@stagemaster.army.defence.gov.au>
Date: Mon, 18 Oct 1999 09:35:32 +1000
Subject: Wank Wank Wank Beefheart Wank Wank
Gee, I've been busy today! I figure I might as well jump in with my
instrument collection as well. Bear in mind, though, that I'm crap at
all of these instruments (I don't know the years of manufacture,
either) :
* Ibanez six-string electric guitar (mmm.....black.......) ;
* Ibanez twelve-string acoustic guitar ;
* Hondo six-string semi-acoustic guitar (looks like a Gibson, sounds like a
Gibson, and it cost me about 1/10 as much as a Gibson) ;
* Tin whistle ;
* French tromb......no, wait a minute.....
* Harmonica (I forget which key) ;
*.....and a clapped-out Peavey practice amp that I haven't used in about
three years (I love my semi-acoustic too much, even though it's only
got five strings at the moment).
By the way, am I the only non-musician on this list? All of a sudden, I'm
feeling a tad out of my depth........
While I'm here, I found a copy of the "Mayor Of Simpleton" single in the
second-hand vinyl section of my local record store on Saturday, and
one of the B-sides was "Ella Guru" (the other was "One Of The
Millions"). I had a look through "Song Stories" and found that this
track was submitted for a Captain Beefheart tribute album. Was this
album ever released? If so, does anyone have a copy?
Iain
------------------------------ Message-ID: <4782AD6ADDBDD2119B570008C75DD5C12DB8B2@mgmtm02.parliament.uk> From: Lawson Dominic <LawsonD@parliament.uk> Subject: Domapollooza.....you cheeky f*ckers! Date: Mon, 18 Oct 1999 11:58:42 +0100 Hello again, pop goblins, have you missed me? No, thought not. Anyway, the rumours are (largely) all true. A good time was most definitely had by all at the recent DC/Maryland/Virginia (or wherever the fuck we were) Chalkfest, and I shall take mental pictures of Harrison's facial contortions and beswkiddlywee guitar odyssey to my grave. Personal highlights? The who's-going-to-have-a-heart-attack-first version of "Science Friction"? My appalling singing on "Mayor Of Simpleton"? Todd being a big, fat show-off and playing drums AND singing "Burning With Optimism's Flames"? Jeff's fridge full of beer (seriously, I could have wept with joy!)? Rob's friend Anthony blowing away my entire bass repertoire with a few gentle thwacks and pops (matron!)? Those delicious kebobs (it's KEBAB!!!!!)? The sudden realisation that I was going to have to make music with people to whom I have been incalculably rude on numerous occasions? Take your pick, you shameless whores, because this was a great evening and one which I shall always remember. Special thanks to Tadd and Horace for not punching me. No, but seriously folks, Debs and I had a wonderful time across the big blue wobbly pond, and we will definitely do it all again some time - can't be soon enough for me! - I must admit it was a bit weird to begin with (what are they expecting?? Should I steam in and start swearing and spitting??) but Todd & Jennifer are two of the soundest pounds I've ever met, and Harrison (who is, in fact, a small pony) is actually most pleasant if you can get past his vast entourage of performing dwarves and eunuchs. He spaketh in a tongue foreign to my one good ear, but his words danced a merry jig upon my beer-flecked consciousness.......Jesus, this sellotape stuff kicks like a mule! Full marks to Jefferson & Pia for letting us invade their space and additional cheers to my esteemed better half for sitting there and having the audacity to actually enjoy the whole thing! Yes, we have another potential XTC fan in the making.....possibly because she realized that if we couldn't ruin such top-quality tunes, who could? That's my girl! Ooh, and haven't I missed a lot of larks whilst having it medium-sized in Chicago and DC? That Charlie Buck debacle looked like such fun (and regardless of whether it was a wind-up, miscommunication or whatever, some of the reactions were pretty unforgivable....didn't your mother tell you that it's rude to point???), and I can't leave Harrison for five minutes without him starting some enervating snotfest with the Dunkster. Honestly children, haven't I taught you anything? By the way, I think Lord Of The Rings sucks the long one too, but I wouldn't mention it on Chalkhills because it's just not relevant! Tee, and to a lesser extent, hee. OK then, you can get back to it now.....where was I? Ah yes..... >>I love music, all kinds of music. I listen to anything that I find appealing. I cant stand heavy metal (does it still exist?) Yes, it still exists. Sigh. There'll be people on this list who won't thank you for starting me on that one again...... >>Like Charlie, I am an audio engineer, but I also am a web developer, a musician and a really good guy. In fact, you could call me god-like. Unlikely, but nice try! Are you the same guy who claims never to have lost a logical argument? If so, listen very carefully.....you can probably hear my sides split from where you are...... >>can we try to grow up a little? please? Yeah, OK...sounds good. Let's start by not patronizing Ms Heller, who has never been anything other than articulate and positive as far as I can see. Formidable, my ass. Some people only ever pretend to change, don't they? Since my holiday I've completely changed my mind about Americans.......Blame Canada! Blame Canada! Peace brothers! DOM. P.S. I'm not really a nice guy, just a damn fine actor!
------------------------------ Message-Id: <4.2.1.10.19991017222855.00c33970@worden.electric.net> Date: Sun, 17 Oct 1999 22:33:35 -0700 From: David Hathaway <davidh@electric.net> Subject: Re: Wankers Ok, ok, if we are going to list chalkhills-owned instrumentation, the monkey mansion current has the following : (1999X) Fender Strat, a rare sort of bluish sort of purple. 1998 Collectors edition Ovation 6 string ( yeah, its lovely ) 1987 custom Larivee electric (basically a strat) 2, count the, two Galien Krueger amps, one combo, one head with stereo cabinet Roland chorus Korg G3 guitar processor kawai midi keyboard Cakewalk 4 boatloads of computer gear 1 jim dunlop blue pick of unknown thickness. guiness coffee grass to roll in. |We've all heard that a million monkeys banging on a million |typewriters will eventually reproduce the works of Shakespeare. |Now, thanks to the Internet, we know this is not true. | http://www.monkey-boy.com |David Hathaway, CEO Of monkey-boy industries, dh@monkey-boy.com
------------------------------
From: " " <macthedad@excite.com>
Subject: A new listener is born...
Message-Id: <940265362.20787.205@excite.com>
Date: Mon, 18 Oct 1999 09:49:22 PDT
Good day to one and all from Irving, Texas. Yes, The US of A..
I have been reading the chalkhills pages for a few days now so I thought it
was time I added my two cents worth. Please forgive me as I am not an
english proffessor nor a master of the written word...
I first heard XTC in 1979(or there abouts). I had received a radio promo
copy of Drums and Wires from a friend. I was hooked! They have been my
favorite band ever sense. I don't know where to begin, with all the years of
pleasure these fellows of wit, wisdom, and word have given to me. Just
recently I began playing some of their tunes for my two year old. We now
start our day with a dance around the living room to one of the many
danceable tunes XTC has graced us with.
In reference to the subject line...My wife gave birth to Jacob Henry (a new
listener) on the 8th of October.
I am at the J O B so I must run.
until then,
mac
------------------------------ Date: Mon, 18 Oct 1999 12:28:48 -0700 (PDT) From: Benjamin Lukoff <blukoff@alvord.com> Subject: Paul McCartney tribute album Message-ID: <Pine.LNX.3.96.991018122349.12872B-100000@locutus.alvord.com> On Sat, 16 Oct 1999 Misty Shock (mccrtny@scn.org) wrote: > Andy just told us how much he admires Paul in the liner notes of Homespun. > There is apparently going to be an album of covers of Paul's solo work, > which will include artists like Squeeze, Echo and the Bunnymen, Brian > Wilson, Elvis Costello, and Ron Sexsmith. Now, why isn't our Andy > involved in this? Would he be interested? It would be a dream of a > lifetime to see all these people on one album (save Echo and the Bunnymen > -- not a fan) *and* on an album that salutes one of my favorite guys. I second that emotion! And not only would it be good for us XTC fans, it would be good for Andy as well...the album is sure to be big and it would raise Andy's profile a bit (and Colin's, should he choose to participate). > Now, I have no idea what in the world Andy could cover from Paul's > sometimes dubious solo years... I always thought that "My Brown Guitar" sounded a lot like "Maybe I'm Amazed". How about that one?
------------------------------ Message-Id: <199910181845.LAA25207@get.topica.com> From: "Salim M. Virji" <salim@get.topica.com> Subject: Earn Enough For Us: the Andy Partridge Coloring Book Date: Mon, 18 Oct 1999 11:45:39 -0700 Brian Brooks, a Bay Area artist, produces a series of offbeat coloring books featuring rock'n'roll icons in unlikely scenarios -- Yoko Ono as a truck driver, Paul McCartney as a tough-guy sportsman -- and a recent write-up on Brooks in the SFWeekly mentioned his coloring book of Andy Partridge. The premise is that, during the years that XTC didn't produce any albums, Andy was off working odd jobs (veterinarian, house painter). The juxtaposition of clip-art cliches and Andy is hilarious: there's a single illustration on-line at Brook's homepage, http://www.angelfire.com/bc/pillowgoat/things.html as well as the full SFWeekly article http://www.sfweekly.com/issues/current/riffraff.html chuckling, from Salim San Francisco CA =alla pan tolmaton.--Sappho= [ also see http://chalkhills.org/product/xtc-cb.html ]
------------------------------ Message-ID: <19991018201140.81478.qmail@hotmail.com> From: "Perfect Sound Forever" <perfectsound@hotmail.com> Subject: RE: Paul McCartney covers album Date: Mon, 18 Oct 1999 13:11:40 PDT Misty Shock <mccrtny@scn.org> wrote: >Andy just told us how much he admires Paul in the liner notes of Homespun. >There is apparently going to be an album of covers of >Paul's solo work, which will include artists like Squeeze, Echo and >the Bunnymen, Brian Wilson, Elvis Costello, and Ron Sexsmith. Now, >why isn't our Andy involved in this? Would he be interested? It >would be a dream of a lifetime to see all these people on one album >(save Echo and the Bunnymen -- not a fan) *and* on an album that >salutes one of my favorite guys. >Now, I have no idea what in the world Andy could cover from Paul's >sometimes dubious solo years... This seems like a no-brainer to me, but "Uncle Albert" done Dukes-style. Maybe it's because there are such blatant similarities to "You're A Good Man Albert Brown." ///////WB will@perfectsoundforever.com perfectsound@hotmail.com
------------------------------ Message-ID: <19991018201809.27069.rocketmail@web215.mail.yahoo.com> Date: Mon, 18 Oct 1999 13:18:09 -0700 (PDT) From: "Lisa G." <devilgirlchocolate@yahoo.com> Subject: Re: Oingo Boingo and XTC Hey Santas Diablo! I happen to be a big Oingo Boingo fan. In fact I was hollering along to them this morning, "Just Another Day." A Halloween ritual of mine since they broke up has been to play their concert video on Halloween and dance about in the living room. But enough of my strangeness... Anyone a fan of Boingo? Just getting your perspective on the group, who I feel is the best group of thisera. Yes, in my oppinion, Danny and the boys rip XTC. Not saying they are better, but they are really good in what they do. I am asking because very early Boingo had a very similar sound to XTC. Anyway, let me know what your thoughts are on this. Yes, early Boingo does sound a lot like XTC. I think back to the first album "Only A Lad" and I hear similarities to "Respectable Street" and "Roads Girdle The Globe," loud punky rhythmic stuff like that. I notice that in the Boingo Yahoo! Club I'm in, XTC does come up once in a while, which must mean that there are fans of both, though the groups have diverged paths musically. Keep the Dead Man's Party going! The Devil Girl ===== "I am the girl who wanted to be God."-- Manic Street Preachers
------------------------------ From: dan@gge.com Message-ID: <380B8206.757C3E47@gge.com> Date: Mon, 18 Oct 1999 13:24:53 -0700 Subject: cyber partridge + spinster pill richard wrote: >3) Andy is buying a new computer and has no intentions >of getting on line. Ever. yeah, right. as soon as he plugs that baby in he will be careening thru cyberspace crying for more bandwidth just like the rest of us. i hope andy gets a mac. * ------------------------------------------ my interest is definately peaked in this minster hill i've been hearing about lately. but, as usual, when i inquire at the record store no one knows what the hell i'm talking about. anybody wanna make me a sampler? i'm not exactly up to my neck in rare xtc recordings, but i have lots of good music to trade with. * ------------------------------------------- my list of musical gear: (scroll down if it gets too boring) banjo pitchpipe -dan "wanted to add to the xmas song thread but all my ideas were already taken" duncan
------------------------------ Message-ID: <003401bf19a9$3cb18ea0$5d86883e@pbncomputer> From: "chris browning" <chris@boodle.fsnet.co.uk> Subject: covers thingy Date: Mon, 18 Oct 1999 21:41:14 +0100 hello folks its a bit late and off thread and all, but i've taken a couple of days over it and been in teleconferencing with my mate dave to think of songs xtc should cover (i wish this could be like john peel's birthday present where he chose his favourite bands to cover his favourite songs - and they obliged. because he is john peel obviously. and he is a god). anyway here we go. i've tried to go for fairly obscure or more interesting stuff because otherwise you get into the celebrity karaoke cover territory lived in by kevin rowlands at the minute (my idea of a good weekend is not seeing one of my all time heroes in a dress singing "you'll never walk alone" at reading. tragic. rather like xtc recording "xtc salutes the godlike genius of menswe@r" for pities sake...anyway. rambling again.) ANYWAY 1. The Clean - Tally Ho! - my favourite band covers my favourite pop song. if you don't know its a white musicesque slash of guitar and keyboard pop from new zealand. fanblibkintastic. 2. Split Enz - I See Red - anyone aware of the enzso album whereby the keyboard player reorchesrated and rearranged split enz classics? its jolly good and i SERIOUSLY think a similar xtc project would be fantastic too. 3. Zuno Men - Everybody Was Right - bought the album because it was likened to xtc, beefheart and orange juice. and by 'eck it is that good. lovely song. very influenced by xtc but i think xtc could really do stuff with it. 4. Blur - Coffee and TV - well i can imagine Colin singing it rather wonderfully. 5. The Beatles - Martha My Dear - first time i heard the white album i thought hang on, thsi is where andy partridge gets his ideas. i saw the whole song as a kind of blueprint.may be wrong but it works for me... 6. Pink Floyd - Apples and Oranges - problem with xtc singing psyche is that they basically rewrote all the best of it. you listen to vintage obscure british psych and you marvel at how right the dukes got it. still the mad vocal bit befor ethe drop into "apples and oranges" is born for some andy tonsil ripping imho. 7. Super Furry Animals - International Language of Screaming - again, mad slashing guitars and keyboards and potential vocal histrionics. i just think xtc could do great things with it. 8. The High Lamas - Checking In, Checking Out - just kind of a nice rolling pop song in generals and majors stylee i think 9. The Bonzo Dog Band - You Done My Brain In - "for gods sake give me break let me crawl away and die!" and then the "hallelujah!" bit. perfect. i mean neil innes sung by andy partridge. wonderful thought. 10. The Soft Boys - I Want To Destroy You - just the harmonies and stuff. again i just think it woudl work. 11. Ballroom Blitz/Blockbuster - my friends idea as he thinks it would fit in Helium Kidz stylee. 12. Roxy Music - Virginia Plain - okay a little obvious but still a wonderful idea 13. The Kinks - Till the End of the Day - no idea why this one, but it just seemed most right for the proceedings. BONUS TRACK - SWEDEN HEAVEN AND HALL (or mnah mnah from the muppets) sorry i waffled. i tried to justify it all but it seems to just have turned out to be "brilliant!" so i may as well not have bothere. so sorry if i went on a bit. cheers chris
------------------------------ Message-ID: <388945085.940280161392.JavaMail.root@web02.pub01> Date: Mon, 18 Oct 1999 16:56:01 -0400 (EDT) From: Satanas Diablo <thedevil@minister.com> Subject: Housmartins & Boingo Thanks for the info on Housemartins. Funny, I have all of Beats International and I never knew the connection. Nothing will probably compare with their stuff as Housemartins though. That's like the Specials trying to come back 20 years later without the original front man! (hmmmm). Mr. Gerbil. Thanks for your comments. Its good to see another Boingo fan. Everyone with negative comments. Remember, I only responded to stuff. I want only to talk about XTC, it was many of you who decided to call me Troll and my friend racist slurs. As far as it goes, I sent John pictures of myself and listed the people who were sending the racist or other harassing emails, so I have already laid out the proof. I sent a message with those peoples names, but John felt it best to erase it and forget about it, however, you don't seem to feel that way. I tried getting on with things and talking about music, but only some of you are attempting to do that. Just let the message sink in and drop it! You don't need to get the last word in. I got Homespun today! I am going to put it in now... Cant wait to hear it! was cheap at CD now with $10 off! Musical Instruments: This is a tough one. In the past I have done mostly sample driven music using an ASR 10. I am thinking about getting a Roland XP60 as a synth, though I'm not sure. I own 3 Guitars. 1 Acoustic Yamaha A 74 Fender Telecaster Deluxe and some bass that I don't feel like checking what it is. The stuff was given to me by my wife's brother because I am learning the guitar/bass. I am no way a great musician yet! I cant even change cords quickly! I'm learning though. I have been a singer in many bands. That is my specialty. Though I love the artists and hate the comparison, I have been compared as a mixture of The lead singer of Drama Rama, John Linnell of TMBG and David Lowery of Camper/Cracker. I have a Audio Technica 4060 Mic which is the best mic under $2000 in my opinion. That is it..
------------------------------ Message-Id: <s80b4af5.058@OAG.STATE.TX.US> Date: Mon, 18 Oct 1999 16:29:09 -0600 From: "Steve Oleson" <Steve.Oleson@OAG.STATE.TX.US> Subject: Mine's Biggger than yours, Todd! OK, a while back, I modestly listed a few of my stiring-ed instruments. I didnt want any of you less well endowed to feel inadequate. Well. Todd's pathetic list of porn mags... I mean gidlets and gadgets was the gauntlet that ripped the camel's knickers! Here's my more complete list- Doppleganger phase shifter Venetian Blind Lemon ratchet snapper Dalian Grasshopper Time sequencer Mannikin head tuners Strumpet trumpet Beat Rotating Heads Ponty Bone Squeezetone Oleson's Tuned Teeth Flat wound banana surprise 1936 (pre corporate rip-off) perc-o-later 1965 Strumbalina balalaika Fuzz Butt spankatron A mint-condition Fireball XL-5 Pre-Sonic dog whistle DiMarzio Dichroic Flagellator Ibanez DV8ER Vox Continental capacitor cooker Strat-o-various Random Tone Generator Dimentia 13 Axe Owlsley Feather-Touch drum synth Wakeman Sequinser 2- Big Bottom Bass cabinets ROAR-Satch Stereo EQ Naysell Napalm De-fibrulator 10-itis Headphones 1 gross Finger-Eeze Carrumba marimba 2- Collins Bald-Pate Gated toms de Vilbis/Zildjian Geshundheit Hohner Kazoo Onan Splatter guard TO BE CONTINUED!!!!!!!!!!! Steve "Up to 11" Oleson
------------------------------ Message-ID: <19991018213124.69710.qmail@hotmail.com> From: "garret harkawik" <funktaisia@hotmail.com> Subject: instruments Date: Mon, 18 Oct 1999 17:31:24 EDT >here's a list of musical instruments I own. I play them all and I play >them often. I don't don't own many instruments, so instead of listing all the instruments I own, I will make an equally interesting list of things I can see from where I am sitting: a computer a keyboard a tv a printer my hands a telephone my moms law school diplomas a light a door a clock(I'm not sure if this one counts because I had to turn my head to see it) a bunch of cds strewn across the floor a chair my leg my other leg a wall etc... * ---------------------------------------------------------------------- About this whole football thing, where I live (Buffalo) football players are like gods. People who don't like football are looked upon as ignorant. I for one don't like football that much and think people considering them heroes is downright stupid. In my opinion, a hero is someone who takes on something bigger then himself. I also think that football players' salaries are outrageous. If someone wants to be a fan of football or any other sport, thats fine, but you shouldn't become obsessed with it, like most people I know(Half of my math class each monday is about the football game that was on the sunday before) * ---------------------------------------------------------------------- I think all posts should have SOME xtc content, so here is mine:I think that xtc is good. Garret "Garret" Harkawik "I'm sorry Lisa, but as a semi-illegal immigrant, you putting stuff like that on the window of my store could land me in a predicament as red-hot as the candies which bare that name!"- Apu Nahasapeemapetilon
------------------------------ Date: Mon, 18 Oct 1999 18:31:21 -0400 Message-Id: <199910181831.AA1649803596@mail.accesshub.net> From: "Julia B. Brown" <juliab@mail.accesshub.net> Subject: Another XTC fan tribute????? Hello all! Since there are so many of us musicians out there, has anyone brought up the idea of putting together another fan tribute? I heard there was one done, but I think that was a few years back (please correct me if I'm wrong). I know I'd happily submit a couple of things... What d'ya think? Julia (listening to Testimonial Dinner)
------------------------------ Date: Mon, 18 Oct 1999 19:06:25 -0400 From: Dorothy Spirito <spiritod@techmail.gdc.com> Subject: Re: Logical "arguments"... Message-ID: <Pine.SOL.4.00.9910181249190.5557-100000@esun2028> ::drawing a deep breath, holding it, exhaling loudly:: I'll see if I can use an analogy to make this clear for the new member, as well as for others: A hate-filled ignoramus is a hate-filled ignoramus. Some of them call themselves XTC fans; some of them call themselves Christians; ... But bigotry is *not* representative of XTC, and violence is *not* representative of Jesus Christ. Just as it would be misleading to say that *XTC fans* slurred Charlie, it is misleading to say that *Christians* threatened to bomb that radio station. In both cases, it was ignoramuses. People *claiming* to be Christians may have threatened that radio station, but people who have dedicated themselves to living the example Jesus Christ gave, which is, in a nutshell, love God and love others -- would *not* have. I'm only up to mid-1996 in the archives, but I've noticed these "Dear God" debates pop up periodically, with one or more people each time equating being a Christian with the mockery which *calls* itself "Christian" but which actually practices hate. I appreciate people who can make the distinction. Thank you, --Dorothy.
------------------------------
Message-ID: <380BA33A.524F@ix.netcom.com>
Date: Mon, 18 Oct 1999 15:46:18 -0700
From: Rich Bunnell <cbunnell@ix.netcom.com>
Subject: Re: Boingo
>There are still some ignorent people on this list who wont quit, but I
>will try and put that behind me. Anyone a fan of Boingo? Just getting
>your perspective on the group, who I feel is the best group of this era.
>Yes, in my oppinion, Danny and the boys rip XTC. Not saying they are
>better, but they are really good in what they do. I am asking because
>very early Boingo had a very similar sound to XTC. Anyway, let me know
>what your thoughts are on this.
I can't say that Boingo showed as much longevity as XTC have ("Dark At
The End Of The Tunnel" is pretty boring and their 1993 eponymous album
has several ugly spots) but their early albums showed a load of great
jerky pop songwriting-- DEFINITELY influenced by XTC. Elfman himself
even said so in an online chat which I read a transcript of, and even
so, one listen to the original EP version of "Only A Lad" makes it clear
enough anyway.
Personally, I think "Nothing To Fear" is a very, very under-rated
album....how could the All Music Guide give it two stars, with "Dead
Man's Party" 4.5?!?
Rich Bunnell
------------------------------ From: Cathryn Myers <cmyers2@law.upenn.edu> Message-Id: <199910182316.TAA06259@law.upenn.edu> Subject: Homespun "extras" Date: Mon, 18 Oct 1999 19:16:25 -0400 (EDT) Chalkers, Long time no post, but I have been reading faithfully. I wanted to pass on some information about Homespun that I have yet to see written about (and frankly I am shocked). I too debated whether to buy homespun as I finally managed to get my hands on the Demos (thank you Pancho. Are you enjoying the Negro Problem). I thought yes a CD might be nice but how often would I listen to it over AV1. But wouldn't you know, the first time in a record store I spotted it immediately. So I poped it in and was delighted to find two extra goodies that were not on my cassette version. Besides the Colin demos which I did not have, Andy includes about a minute or so of two very crude beginings of Harvest Festival and I'd like that. According to the liner notes he recorded these on your run of the mill mono tape recorder. He introduces both of the songs and kind of hums along to the guitar. It was amazing to listen to. It was like a window into the songwriting process. After the one minute demos, the full version of the demo (just like the one on my cassette tape) is played. I think these two little one minute snipets alone are reason enough to pick up Homespun. Re Sarah McLaughlin being an XTC fan. I know that she gives us her version of Dear God on ATD, but up until that time she had not been a fan. I have a recording of a live radio show she did in NYC back in 1994 (can't remember which station. I think it was 100.3 before they went pop). Anyway she mentions her involvement in the project and commented that before she was approached about participating she knew very little about the band. Someone suggested that she sing Dear God and she did. End of story. She went on to babble about Andy liking her version better. Whatever. So she wasn't a fan. I don't know if her participation caused her to see what she had been missing. I kind of doubt it for some reason. Re Owlsley, Jason Faulker, Fountains of Wayne. As someone desparate for good music, I follow just about every suggestion I hear on this list and bought the three aforementioned CDs. I was disappointed. Owlsley was OK, but in the end I could only describe it as competent run of the mill rock and roll. I judge all old fashioned guitar based rock n roll against the db's Sound of Music album (find it anyway you can). I don't think it measures up at all. I was equally unimpressed with Fountains of Wayne. Jason Falkner was the best of the three, but still nothing to write home about. I have not been able to find Minster Hill in the stores, so I will have to order it online. I know that XTC sets a very high standard, but I still get a little depressed when I buy a new CD in anticipation of finding the next XTC and end up being disappointed. Any bands out there with a big sound like XTC on Nonsuch or AV1. Can anyone out there write a song like ROO or omnibus besides Andy? Please let me know. Re XTC on VH1. This might have already been discussed, but the other day I caught a segment of Where Are They Now that featured XTC. It was before the release of AV1 so it concentrated on the fight with Virgin and the few XTC radio hits. Considering VH1 has some stock footage out there I think we really could get an XTC Behind the Music. Send those lettes folks. That is all I can think of now. Cathy-- P.S. (guess not) I am looking for some new friends in the Philly area. Any Chalkers live in my neck of the woods?
------------------------------ Message-ID: <380BB28A.9F2F3B99@zoo.co.uk> Date: Tue, 19 Oct 1999 00:51:49 +0100 From: John Peacock <johndrewp@zoo.co.uk> Organization: The Nice Organization Subject: Re: Elton at Christmas > Iain Murray wrote (on the subject of Xmas songs): > "Ho Ho Ho (Who'd Be A Turkey At Christmas?)" - Elton John Is it just the result of many years of dedicated caffeine abuse, or do I remember a John Peel session Elton did in the (early?) seventies, where Peelie, John Walters (his producer) and Dame Reg got very very drunk indeed and he played Xmas carols and his own songs pub-piano-stylee. Including, I think, a Knees-Up-Mother-Brown version of Candle in the Wind. Very funny indeed. As for Xmas songs, how about, Xmas Wrapping by the Waitresses, and (my own favourite), the Cocteau Twins' version of Frosty the Snowman. jp
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