Chalkhills Digest Volume 5, Issue 337
Date: Sunday, 12 December 1999

         Chalkhills Digest, Volume 5, Number 337

                 Sunday, 12 December 1999

Today's Topics:

                    So long Rick Danko
Re: argh! XTC tragedy! (REMOVING GLUE!) and some Costello/Partridge
                         Various
                   Take a Chance On Me
                      Baker's Dozen
                   collaborations, etc.
             Aren't you Chance the gardener?
                   Re: more comments...
        the walrus, nonsuch, and musical equipment
                   religious discussion
                        DRUM SOLO!
                      Re: Jon Brion
              ...Three, count 'em, THREE...
          Something some might find interesting
                    bandwagonspotting
                 MOJO albums of the year
Guy Barker (you know, the bloke who plays trumpet on The Last Balloon and on
                Everything Around You Gold

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

Message-ID: <38520116.7583E9AB@mnsi.net>
Date: Sat, 11 Dec 1999 02:46:20 -0500
From: michael stone <nedrise@MNSi.Net>
Subject: So long Rick Danko

I just heard of the demise of Rick Danko. He was mainly known for
his work as bassist and singer for The Band, the best group ever to
come out of Canada.

I always loved his mournful crooning.  Listen to him sing "It Makes
No Difference".  It'll send chills down the backbone. I always loved
The Band for sometimes using 2, 3 or even 4 lead singers in one song.
And when they all sang together, you can hear each distinctive voice -
they always kept their idiosyncrasies in, it was never a homogenized
sound.

I saw Rick Danko here in Windsor on a frigid January night back in '90
or '91.  I insisted to my girlfriend that we walk(about a mile).  We
froze our asses off.  He showed up late(probably cause of inclement
weather) and he was drunk.  But he still rocked the house.  We took a
taxi home.

Mike

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

Message-ID: <E1FE4AE1AF2DD111885A00A02479F44214FE4E@sofia.programbyran.se>
From: Johan Ekdahl <johan.ekdahl@programbyran.se>
Subject: Re: argh! XTC tragedy! (REMOVING GLUE!) and some Costello/Partridge
Date: Sat, 11 Dec 1999 13:04:03 +0100

On removing glue:

Megan!

If the glue is similar to the one often used for price-tags that drive You
insane because they cant be removed my advice would be ordinary kitchen fat.
Yes FAT! Butter or cooking-oil. This should do no harm to an ordinary CD and
the remnants of it can easily be removed with some soap and water
afterwards.

The tricky part is avoiding mechanical damage while rubbing the glue off.
Use a very soft cloth, or very soft paper tissues. Try it out on a wothless
CD if in doubt.

This has worked wonders for for me on spots of sticky-price-tag-glue (which
b t w must have been invented by a veeeery sick person...)

Good luck!

   ---

XCT-content: I was thilled by the recent postings about the possibility of
Partridge collaborating with other people. I'm a big Costello-fan and I have
played with the Costello/Partridge-combination in my mind more than a few
times. It just seems to me that they are both strong personalities with
strong wills (some might say "big egoes", the other side of the coin). If it
would work it would probably REALLY WORK, producing magic. On the other hand
it might just clash and end in disaster... THAT would make me really
unhappy.

Even worse than when EC broke up with the Attractions for, supposedly, the
last time. From what I understand one big problem is in the personal
relations between EC and (bassist) Bruce Thomas, and thats sad indeed. Bruce
has done some amazing bass work IMHO, and EC agrees with me (-: The problem
seems to be they just can't sdtand each other. For an excellent specimen of
Bruce's ability, check out the bass on "Lip Service". ELVIS! CAN YOU HEAR
ME!? I MISS THE ATTRACTIONS!

   ---

Happy Holidays everyone! (Extra nod's to JohnInJapan (for AV1 and
Homespun!), JohnInEngland (for TB!) and MarkInTheLighthouse (for TBWTGG!).

   ---

Relurking...

/Johan Ekdahl, Sweden

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

Message-ID: <38524CC1.2281C9FE@erols.com>
Date: Sat, 11 Dec 1999 08:08:17 -0500
From: Todd and Jennifer Bernhardt <toddjenn@erols.com>
Subject: Various

Hi:

Pete Phipps' brother Dan asked:

> just *out of curiosity*...whatever happened
> to our ever-famous "little miss opinionated"
> and dave-crazy amanda?

Hmm, good question. Anyone seen Dave around lately? I wonder...

Speedy Watt  asked:

> Mann's a phenomenal songwriter, even if she's not a Chalkhills
> darling. Too bad she's been forced to release her own material
> herself; maybe that'll make for better music.

I'd call her darling if she'd let me. Ah well. As for the music,
something tells me it'll improve. Each album, from 'Til Tuesday on,
has gotten better, and she's bound to be happier out of the music
machine than in it, a la our Heroes.

But I gotta say, I like her work w/Brion.

Great Andy/Elvis/Joe stories, Jasper.

Jim Smart said:

> In all the interesting discussion of Terry's drumming and what might
> have been (or might be), it seems relevant that the band's touring ended
> at the same time as Terry's involvement (obvious, I know). From that
> point on the songs changed, not just because the members got older, or
> because Terry wasn't there, etc., but because of the lack of touring.
> All the songs on the first five albums were written with an audience in
> mind.

True, but I think there are some subtle distinctions that need to be
made. Terry left -- for among other reasons -- *because* the band
stopped touring. Cause and effect. And I don't know if the touring
songs were written with an audience in mind as much as with "can we
pull this off live?" in mind. XTC, like the Beatles, had many musical
options opened to them when they stopped touring and could use the
studio as an instrument.

> And as far as Ringo's drumming goes, I love it. But I beg to differ with
> the author of "The vast majority of Beatles tunes are spot on." This is
> simply not true. In reality most Beatle songs do not hold a consistent
> tempo. This is why they sound so alive.

Right you are, mate. This whole metronome thread is wrong in the
head. The great drummers know when to push the beat and when to pull
it back to fit the mood of the song. The song, after all is what it's
all about -- not about chops. I always judge the maturity of drummers
I meet by talking to them about Ringo or Charlie Watts (or, if they're
too young, about Dave Grohl). If they appreciate them (notice I didn't
say, "if they like them"), then I know they've moved beyond the "look
at this 32-note double-stroke roll!" technique-uber-alles attitude
that almost every drummer suffers from at one point or another. (I'm
not downplaying technique here. Chops are important. But knowing when
to use them is more important.)

Combine a willingness to serve the song with good technique and a
confident mastery of the tempo -- knowing when and where to push ahead
of or pull behind the tempo (set either by the drummer or a click,
which any drummer should know how to use simply as a reference point)
-- and you've got a good drummer. Like Terry Chambers. Or Pete
Phipps. Or Prairie Prince. Or Pat Mastellotto. Or Dave Mattacks. Or...

> I wonder at what point XTC started using a click to record to....anyone
> know?

After Terry's departure, certainly, though I can't say for sure which
subsequent drummers used one, and when. For more info, check out this
shameless self-plug, which I hope is accurate, albeit slightly long in
the tooth: http://chalkhills.org/articles/AndyWeb.html

Final drumming point, then I'll shut my gob: Remember folks, there is
live drumming on The Big Express, too. It ain't all Linn.

Thanks, Drew MacDonald, for an enlightening explanation of music
usage. It *is* still possible to learn something here.

--Todd

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

Message-Id: <l03130300b4780daefb70@[208.13.202.10]>
Date: Sat, 11 Dec 1999 09:29:13 -0500
From: "Christopher R. Coolidge" <cauldron@together.net>
Subject: Take a Chance On Me

>omeone* said, and I don't know who or I'd credit it, but it was quoted
>in Todd Bernhardt's post--
>>From "Chauncy" Gardner:
>brilliant reference!  I tip my invisible hat.>
>
>So Megan, Todd figured out exactly what?  Have you pieced this together yet?
>
>Any one care to take a stab at *who* Chauncy Gardner was/is?

  For those who haven't seen the movie Being There or read the book by
Jerzy Kozinski(which is even better), it concerns a gardener for an elderly
multi-millionaire named Chance who's of rather indeterminate origin; nobody
knows his last name, just that he was adopted as a boy by the old man and
worked as a gardener for him all his life. Chance is a rather simple-minded
middle aged man by now, and the garden, the house, and what he sees on TV
at night is all he knows. The old man dies and Chance for the first time is
free to roam around Washington D.C, where the story takes place. By a
series of events of mistaken identity, he's taken under the wing of
Washington high society and politics when they take his burblings about his
house and garden to be great poetry and symbolism. When they ask his name
he truthfully says "Chance the gardener," and they reply, "OK, Chauncey
Gardner." Thus Chauncey Gardner, Washington's new golden boy, is offered a
job in the federal government. That, folks, is how Ronald Reagan got into
politics. :-)

Christopher R. Coolidge

Homepage at
http://homepages.together.net/~cauldron/homepage.html

"A Great law protects me from the government. The Bill of rights has
10 GREAT laws.  A Good law protects me from you.  Laws against murder,
theft, assault and the like are good laws.  A Poor law attempts to
protect me from myself."  - Unknown

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

Message-ID: <001001bf43e6$8f31ae00$0326f7a5@grolen.com>
From: "Stig" <rat-fink@mindspring.com>
Subject: Baker's Dozen
Date: Sat, 11 Dec 1999 09:46:49 -0500

OK, 'Hillers - I need to do my every-other-month-or-so delurk here to clear
something up.

A baker's dozen is 13.  Thirteen.  One more than 12.  The doughnut guy would
throw in an extra if he liked ya.  Get it?

10 is a METRIC dozen!  ;-)

So here's the obligatory plug:  My band, Rat Fink (www.rat.fink.net) will be
performing as The Melnicks at the launch party for www.officialramones.com,
the Official Ramones website, at CBGB's in NYC on Friday, Dec. 17.  Any
Chalkers in the area who dig The Ramones should come on by and say "Hi."  Or
"Gabba Gabba Hi" in this case, I guess...

Steve

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

Message-ID: <19991211170208.8659.qmail@web2104.mail.yahoo.com>
Date: Sat, 11 Dec 1999 09:02:08 -0800 (PST)
From: Tyler Hewitt <tahewitt@yahoo.com>
Subject: collaborations, etc.

John Gardner asked:
Any one care to take a stab at *who* Chauncy Gardner
was/is?

A fictional charecter. You'll find him in Jerzy
Kosinski's novel "Being There", and in the film based
on that book (which I've never seen). The book is a
first rate read, by the way.

Then he asked:
I have a another question:  Which of the following
choices would you
prefer to hear/ see happen...along the XTC v. Elvis
Costello thread:

A) A song written by Elvis for XTC to
play/record...or,
B) A song written by Andy for Elvis Cos and the
Attractions to
play/record?

Well, I was all set, after much contemplation, to
answer B. Then I read the post from later in the same
digest (I forget who sent it) about the possibilities
of Joe Jackson/Elvis/Andy collaborations, and now I'm
not so sure.  So, lets open it up a little: Which
songwriters/musicians would you most like to see/hear
XTC collaborate with? (those of you who are musicians,
pick someone other than yourself).

My pick: an Andy/Robert Wyatt collaboration. Kate Bush
would also be interesting (Where the hell is she?)

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

From: JStrole@aol.com
Message-ID: <0.6be4bc59.2583f598@aol.com>
Date: Sat, 11 Dec 1999 13:44:40 EST
Subject: Aren't you Chance the gardener?

<<Any one care to take a stab at *who* Chauncy Gardner was/is?>>

A brilliant character from the short story "Being There."  Which was turned
into a film by the constant pestering of Peter Sellers.  That movie is still
one of my all-time favorites.  It should have won an Oscar for Sellers, it
was a wonderful acting job.  If you haven't seen this film rent it now.

Imagine the fun of a Costello, Jackson & Partridge album, perhaps they could
use Robyn Hitchcock as a fourth member on the road.  Deja Vu all over again.

Harry

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

From: Carrieroks@aol.com
Message-ID: <0.54a03f9e.2583f7c4@aol.com>
Date: Sat, 11 Dec 1999 13:53:56 EST
Subject: Re: more comments...

may say...
<< Are YOU tired of the Milleneum?  I'm curious to know what you Chalkies are
 going to be doing that night. >>

hiding, thanks. no fear of y2k here, just fear of... ohmigawd it's another
year already!!!! we are convinced that if we don't celebrate it, it won't
happen. my friend and i will be joining 2000 when we're good and ready...
probably around august, she estimates...

oh, david...
what you see is all real...
<<"i can't put on an act, it takes brains to do that anyway (and anyway)">>

i looove that line. that's one i rewind three times in the car so i can sing
it really loudly. i also love the part where he says "some of your friends
think it's really unsound that you're even seen talking to me." i just think
that's really funny. your friends think it's unsound. it kind of gives a
maybe he's nuts flavor to the song.

anyway, that's nuff.
carrie

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

From: bozmn@intercom.net
Message-Id: <1.5.4.32.19991211213411.006dbb14@shore.intercom.net>
Date: Sat, 11 Dec 1999 16:34:11 -0500
Subject: the walrus, nonsuch, and musical equipment

><oh, and the walrus wasn't paul, either, it was john.>
>
>How do we know John wasn't singing from Paul's point of view

>From "Glass Onion": and here's another clue for you all / the walrus was
>Paul.
I don't know if he (John) was being sarcastic or not, but...

re: Nonsuch ending with "Rook"

I think the guitar solo trailing off into the distance is a great album
closer (and, interestingly enough, is just like the flugelhorn solo ending
AVv1).

My musical equipment list (quick, hit page down!): Fender Jazz Bass, Peavey
Reactor guitar, Crate KX-15 amp. Pretty sad list, but I want a Carvin LB-20
bass for Christmas, and I'm going to buy a better amp sometime soon.

Cole

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

Message-ID: <001201bf4410$31447a00$9aa38ad1@computer>
From: "Scott & Karyn Creedon" <creedons@mindspring.com>
Subject: religious discussion
Date: Sat, 11 Dec 1999 13:44:51 -0600

 I think its time that some guidelines be established with respect to what
can or what cannot be said in this forum if people continue to attack what
some people believe . A positive religious discussion stemming from Andy's
lyrics is fine. However, I find it sickening when these discussions turn
negative, basically equating to Christian bashing. I believe we all dealt
with a similar issue a couple of months ago  with a race issue and someone
with poor grammar. Lets just stick to the music we all cherish.
Now for my XTC content. I went to a record store outside of Omaha a couple
of days ago to see if they had any XTC at all. I was approached by a sales
clerk or whatever you call them and he asked if he could help me. I asked
where the XTC could be found. His expression was classic. He looked like a
deer staring at headlights. His response, "are they a rap band or what". My
question is,  what genre would one place XTC. Is it  considered New Wave,
Post Punk, Pop, Adult Contemporary, or Urban Contemporary (like the sales
clerk thought)?
I'm spent
Scott

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

Message-ID: <19991211210936.72103.qmail@hotmail.com>
From: "Nathan Mulac DeHoff" <xornom@hotmail.com>
Subject: DRUM SOLO!
Date: Sat, 11 Dec 1999 21:09:36 GMT

Wayne:
>On the Beatles thread....I always imagined that Ringo played the solo on
>Abbey Road almost as a parody of drum solos. I took it to be a witty
>comment on them.

Quite possibly.  Of course, it would be easy for someone (not specifically
referring to Ringo here) just to do subpar work, and then later claim that
it's SUPPOSED to be that way, so you can't criticize them.

That last observation didn't make very much sense, did it?  Sorry, I'm not
feeling particulalry eloquent at the moment.

JStrode:
>Too bad some of you cannot appreciate this tasteful nod to a tradition
>that, even in 1969, was getting out of hand.  Though I feel it was well
>played, I also feel Ringo's tongue was pressed firmly in his cheek as he
>participated in what was fast becoming a monster in rock-and-roll: the
>drum solo.  By the seventies the drum solo became obligatory (for those
>who aren't old enough to remember or have thankfully forgotten) at rock
>shows.

I've mentioned before that I'm a Weird Al fan, and purposely bad "solos"
are often employed in his live shows.  The recently released concert video
includes one of these: Al shouts out "DRUM SOLO!" and the drummer (Jon
"Bermuda Schwartz) just hits a few drums.  There is also a fairly
unimpressive drum solo in his song "Polka Your Eyes Out," complete with
cheering.

--
Relaxing on my hands and knees, relaxing on my face,
Nathan
DinnerBell@tmbg.org
http://www.geocities.com/Area51/Corridor/5447/

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

From: ElizaS33@aol.com
Message-ID: <0.1d7e5bd4.25843bf9@aol.com>
Date: Sat, 11 Dec 1999 18:44:57 EST
Subject: Re: Jon Brion

In a message dated 12/10/99 7:42:28 PM, <owner-chalkhills@chalkhills.org>
writes:

<< Well, it kinda...didn't. According to Time Magazine, Lava/Atlantic
"decided the CD wasn't sufficiently marketable and never released
it". <<

The CD should be out next spring, although it won't be on Atlantic
(which I think is a good thing for everyone concerned).

>>Anyway, if you're really into the whole
stick-a-Mellotron-on-it-and-they'll-think-it-sounds-like-"Strawberry Fields"
thing, he just did the instrumental music for the movie "Magnolia"(okay,
that's not fair, I haven't heard it. Still, bet I'm right).  >>

The score is all orchestral. No Mellotrons or even Optigans, I swear.
The part I heard sounded nothing like Strawberry Fields, but I reserve
the right to be proven wrong when the whole thing comes out. ;-)

There's a much longer article on the subject in this week's
Entertainment Weekly...

Elizabeth
The Gallery of Indispensable Pop Music
http://homepages.go.com/~popgallery

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

Message-Id: <199912120030.TAA05299@nantucket.net>
Date: Sat, 11 Dec 1999 19:28:54 -0800
Subject: ...Three, count 'em, THREE...
From: "Diamond" <arnos@nantucket.net>

I go away for less then 28 hours, and when I come back there's three,
count 'em, THREE Chalkhills? Come on, give a guy a break!~

>oh, and the walrus wasn't paul, either, it was john.

What about in the song "Glass Onion"???

"Here's another clue for you all... the walrus was paul..."

>I have been searching high and low for the movie "Urgh : A Music War"
>
>Anyone who knows where I can get this movie or would make a copy for me would
>be greatly appreciated.
>
>I would gladly reimburse you for your time and effort

I always see it on E-Bay going for at least forty bucks, along with copies
of Look Look. Haven't the money to bid on either of them (After all, I
just got my driving permit, and I'm looking forward to buying a car, so I
gotta save up.)

>The rest of my baker's dozen (caress me if I'm wrong you crazy Diamond):

ALL RIGHT, I MADE A MISTAKE!!! But it wasn't my fault, I was misinformed.
I SWEAR I've heard someone refer to a Bakers Dozen as ten.

>(a platinum is 1 million, and the
>recently-instated "diamond" is 10 million)

Ah, I Like the sound of that. a Diamond record. Wouldn't it be great if my
band got one of those. (Wouldn't it be great if my band actually got a
record deal?)

Anywhat, Just came back from the "Mainland" after doing a little christmas
shopping... But some stuff for me, too, of course... Camper Van Beethoven
- Telephon Free Landslide Victory, and Ben Folds Five - Reinhold Messner.
Havn't listened to either, because I've been listing to my Prize from
winning the Turky Pluto contest - the Bull (Thank you, oh fin-ed one) It's
fabu, I must say. I think I'm gonna use that "no one here available" as my
answering machine message.

That's all for now, folks

Kevin "It's fun to put things in brackets between your first and last
names" Diamond

____________________________________________________________________________
"To emphasize the afterlife is to deny life. To concentrate on heaven is to
create hell."
          -Tom Robbins

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

Message-Id: <199912120356.WAA19243@nantucket.net>
Date: Sat, 11 Dec 1999 22:53:55 -0800
Subject: Something some might find interesting
From: "Diamond" <arnos@nantucket.net>

Scritti Politti Documentary In The Works
Dec 10, 1999, 2:30 pm PT

Green GartsideElvis Costello, Prefab Sprout's Paddy MacAloon, and Mos Def
are the initial artists confirmed to participate in a documentary film on
Scritti Politti, which may possibly air on the BBC next year.
Filming is set to begin in Los Angeles and New York in January on the
as-yet-untitled film, and will include previously unseen footage of Green
Gartside recording with Miles Davis during the sessions for Provision,
Scritti's 1988 album. The film will also include video culled from John Peel
sessions, television appearances, and music videos as well as extensive
interviews with Gartside himself, who was in seclusion for most of the '90s.
The singer will discuss his preoccupation with philosophy, his fascination
with hip-hop, and growing up in Wales, among other things, in the film.
Filmmaker Matthew Springford is behind the project.
Scritti Politti, who will return in February, 2000, with its first album in
11 years, Anomie and Bonhomie (Virgin), is best known in the States for its
1985 hit, "Perfect Way." Additionally, Gartside is currently considering the
possibility of putting together a live band and tour next year.

-- Kevin Raub

I know lots of you like Scrritti Politti, so I thought I'd show you guys
this.

Kevin "all the print that's new to fit" Diamond
____________________________________________________________________________
"To emphasize the afterlife is to deny life. To concentrate on heaven is to
create hell."
          -Tom Robbins

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

Message-ID: <19991212045530.4545.qmail@hotmail.com>
From: "Megan Heller" <hellerm@hotmail.com>
Subject: bandwagonspotting
Date: Sat, 11 Dec 1999 22:55:30 CST

okay, okay, so everyone and their brother is posting about hearing "Thanks
for Christmas" while shopping.  I didn't think much of it until I walked
into the Gap this afternoon in the midst of the *smoothest* Christmastime
mall shopping excursion ever, and sure enough, the song began just as I set
my foot in the door!  It was rather cheering, even in the midst of that
crowd (and it was followed by the piece used for the Peanuts cartoons-- I
can never remember the composer's name-- so that was doubly good).

ah, simple pleasures for simple people, I guess...

megan (who is saving her 'best of 1999' list until her "69 Love Songs" box
set arrives).

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

Message-ID: <003701bf44c6$d4301ec0$ab13883e@pbncomputer>
From: "chris browning" <chris@boodle.fsnet.co.uk>
Subject: MOJO albums of the year
Date: Sun, 12 Dec 1999 17:28:10 -0000

MOJO magazine have just published their rather fantastic christmas issue
(with very large nick drake article so i'm more than happy) with their
customary annual poll. Apple Venus Volume 1 comes in at number 7 with the
following comments "after a seven year hiatus, a magnificent orch-pop feast
from partridge and moulding whose mature writing continues to amaze with its
heart, wit and craft. the escellent, eccentrically personal work of valuable
english songwriters". fair enough. for the most part it's a fairly poor
chart (although i will not begrudge tom waits number one) - however much i
like them i would not personally say fountains of wayne's most recent album
is second best album this year. same goes for supergrass and wilco, albums i
think that are not quite up to their usual parr, but - hey - XTC at number
seven cannot be sniffed at. hopefully more people will pay attention and
purchase and be amazed

TTFN

chris

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

Message-ID: <003101bf44c2$78a533a0$c14e97d0@t17fw>
From: "Simon Deane/Gina Chong" <ginsim@netvigator.com>
Subject: Guy Barker (you know, the bloke who plays trumpet on The Last Balloon and on various Nonsuch tunes)
Date: Mon, 13 Dec 1999 01:01:00 +0800

I was lucky enough to see Guy Barker last night here in Hong Kong,
performing at The Jazz Club with his quartet. An excellent evening - he is a
genuine virtuoso and English to boot (whoever heard of an "English" jazz
trumpet hero). You'll remember he contributes that hauntingly beautiful
trumpet (or was it a flugelhorn?) solo at the end of The Last Balloon, and
some pretty nifty stuff on My Bird Performs, Rook and Omnibus on Nonsuch -
the playing on Omnibus is particularly good, if you ask me. The fact that he
has appeared on the last two XTC albums and contributed such memorable
"bits" almost makes him a member of the band. Anyway he and his band (not
XTC) are now in LA or somewhere in the States to help promote Gwyneth
Paltrow's new movie - something about a "Mrs Ripley" in which he and his
band also appear and do most of the music for. If any jazz loving Chalkhills
subscribers hear about it or a performance by the band I thoroughly
recommend him - he and his band are a bunch of very talented musicians.

One of the reasons I went to the "gig" was to ask him about the
collaboration with XTC after the performance. Needless to say like the
pathetic wimp I am, I bottled out when the opportunity presented itself. So
I've got nothing to report on that front.

I wouldn't normally contribute to "threads" about XTC "sightings" but have
to report that my wife heard "Easter Theatre" being played as incidental
music on an awful Cantonese TV soap here in Hong Kong in the early
summer. Two remarkable things here:  one obvious;  the other that my wife
should have recognised the music (mind you, Apple Venus was getting round
the clock airplay at the Deane household around about then) and reported the
event to me - she doesn't approve of my XTC obsession you see
...err... sorry that was three remarkable things.

All the best
Simon Deane

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

From: "Mark Strijbos" <mmello@knoware.nl>
Date: Mon, 13 Dec 1999 00:49:35 +0100
Subject: Everything Around You Gold
Message-Id: <19991212234742.90E6BA6CE2@mail.knoware.nl>

Dear Chalkers,

Is it me or are we indeed witnessing a revival of the XTC thread? ;)

Anyway, serious matters at hand:

> The only gold records I know XTC has earned were in New Zealand for
> Drums & Wires or Black Sea.
Drums And Wires went gold in New Zealand at about the same time they
finished a mini-tour over there and left the country for Australia

But Drums And Wires certainly went gold in Canada too.
They were presented with the discs backstage at the Massey Hall,
Toronto on the 10th March 1980. A picture of this occasion can be
found on the Dave Gregory site http://www.guitargonauts.com
Go to page 5 of DG's Brief Autobiography in the Archives section.

Care for an interesting side note?
Colin gave his Canadian D&W "gold" disc away as one of the prizes
in an XTC contest on BBC's Multi-Coloured Swap Shop - the same
show where Andy gave away his old acoustic guitar. Eventually it
ended up for auction at Christie's in 1997 where it was snatched up
before my nose by an XTC fan from Swindon who shall remain
anonymous here to avoid burglaries.

I didn't mind that much though... i was after the original artwork for
the UK Sgt Rock single and did manage to get it after some furious
bidding against a professional dealer. Just when i was forced to
admit that i had already overstretched my budget twice, he gave in!

yours in xtc,

Mark Strijbos at The Little Lighthouse
 http://www.knoware.nl/users/mmello/
     or http://come.to/xtc

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13 December 1999 / Feedback