Chalkhills Digest Volume 5, Issue 35
Date: Tuesday, 8 December 1998
Chalkhills Digest, Volume 5, Number 35
Tuesday, 8 December 1998
Today's Topics:
Kill Collins
Male dominated society... NOT.
bad, spellchecker, bad!
The Dukes
SF Bay Area XTC Gathering
Drummers
re: Albums and smells
Sweet Home Alabama
Spot This Train
O&L lyrics
circumferentially challenged artists...
Alison Moyet. And the Weather Girls!
Cardiacs Rule!
Leonard Knee Moy
B in the bonnet??
Re: The Artist
ES
Getting in bed with Big Bad Bill
T&TLM
The Real TB Is Cheaper To Get
Drums & Wireless
Re: Transistor Last
I ain't confused
The major issues of the day...
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/>
or: <http://come.to/chalkhills/>
The views expressed herein are those of the individual authors.
Chalkhills is compiled using Digest 3.6b (by John Relph <relph@sgi.com>).
Broadcasting from his killing den.
---------------------------------------------------------------------- Message-Id: <s66bb26b.034@parliament.uk> Date: Mon, 07 Dec 1998 10:47:26 +0000 From: Dominic Lawson <LAWSOND@parliament.uk> Subject: Kill Collins Molly says: >>I actually like him and Genesis with him. He's a talented drummer and producer. You might not like him, but that doesn't mean anybody else can. I'm always going to like his music, and nobody can stop me from liking him. Oh, but we'll try, we really will. "No More Phil Collins"? With great pleasure. Now, where's that shotgun....? Next week - "Why I can't stand Level 42". I thank you. >>Other bands you might love on this tip: Ruins, Melt Banana STOP THERE!! Yes, Melt Banana rule. Not terribly XTC-like, but much more in tune with them than bleedin' Genesis. "Rough Dogs Have Bumps", apparently. Oh, and BTW, I had a go at "chuffing" my "wanker" just now and it didn't make sense. Sorry. In case anyone's wondering, "chuffing" is a multi-purpose substitute for the dreaded f-word. Now chuff off, the lot of you. love Dom.
------------------------------ Message-ID: <19981207140544.3416.rocketmail@attach1.rocketmail.com> Date: Mon, 7 Dec 1998 06:05:44 -0800 (PST) From: nross <phoenixyellowrose@rocketmail.com> Subject: Male dominated society... NOT. I believe it was Cheryl that wrote in Digest #29 that this list seems to be male dominated... on the basis it seems of all the wanker talk. I am female and I feel somewhat responsible the the extension of these sexual diversions. Female. not male. Actually, I believe there are a lot of articulate women on this list that do offer up worthwile opinions without the need to be nasty or derogatory. We have our place on this list, no question. -Nicole
------------------------------ Message-ID: <900822C71730D2118D8C00805F65765C2605BB@einstein.moneystar.com> From: Jill Oleson <oleson@moneystar.com> Subject: bad, spellchecker, bad! Date: Mon, 7 Dec 1998 09:58:18 -0600 Okay, I thought it was funny that my spellchecker changed "Oh, Chalkers" to "Oh, Talkers" in my last post but switching "Lyle Lovett" to "Lyle Loft" was just plain mean. Bad, spellchecker, bad! Sorry for the confusion. Hope you could wade your way through my "Drums and Wires"-era flashback and enjoy the story. Jill Oleson
------------------------------ Date: Mon, 7 Dec 1998 09:12:33 -0800 (PST) Message-Id: <199812071712.JAA91924@mando.engr.sgi.com> From: John Relph <relph@engr.sgi.com> Subject: The Dukes Chalkfullonuts, In case you weren't paying attention, and also to make sure he gets the recognition he deserves, let me point out that Tim Harris has been slowly compiling chord charts for the songs of The Dukes of Stratosphear. To date he has contributed charts for "25 O'Clock", "You're a Good Man, Albert Brown (Curse You Red Barrel)", "Bike Ride to the Moon", "Mole from the Ministry", "My Love Explodes", "Shiny Cage", "What in the World..?", "Your Gold Dress", and most recently, "You're My Drug" and "The Affiliated". Check them out in the Chalkhills Archives. Tim has also transcribed charts for a number of other XTC songs, including "Church of Women", "Dame Fortune", "I'd Like That", "Knights in Shining Karma", "The Loving", "Merely a Man", "Season Cycle", "Smalltown" "The Ugly Underneath", "You and the Clouds", and "Your Dictionary". Good work, Tim! -- John
------------------------------ Message-Id: <v03102801b291b38e81c3@[165.227.110.102]> Date: Mon, 7 Dec 1998 09:38:29 -0700 From: Richard Pedretti-Allen <richard@tactics.com> Subject: SF Bay Area XTC Gathering What the hell was I thinking?! I have spoken with Becki dG and we agreed that the idea of having an XTC gathering right before Christmas was pretty damned loopy. The new concept is to have it in January. It will take place at Scotties Pub in Sunnyvale. I will post directions and contact info when we decide on a date. They will let me put a few CDs on the jukebox, so we can have some more XTC stuff warbling along. Richard
------------------------------ Message-ID: <006e01be2219$af157b60$261017d4@default> From: "Steve Jackson" <smj@zen.co.uk> Subject: Drummers Date: Mon, 7 Dec 1998 19:14:44 -0000 <Dons asbestos suit> Wise.... Robert Wood writes...< I *have* to agree with Mark Strijbos, Pat Mastelotto is far from the best drummer XTC ever had. Also agree with Mark that Terry was a really good drummer. He had a very distinctive way of playing. He may not have been the most technically gifted player that XTC ever had, but he fitted the music very well. > Speaking as a drummer of 15 years, I agree with you that TC was a very good, (albeit a non-technical drummer) People dont play drums like he did anymore....listen to Roads Girdle the Globe..piece of piss to play, but that isn't the point at all. He plays the drums like it matters. <The start of "Nigel" is really quite odd and not easy to play for example.> Odd yes....hard to play? No. It's a very easy thing to play, but to come up with it in the first place....(although AP likes to take credit for the drum pattern, I don't believe it for a minute) The beginning to Making Plans For Nigel is simply one of the most distinctive 'drum starts' ever (The only others I can think of are 'Sunday Bloody Sunday' by U2 and 'Trophy' by Siouxie and the Banshees, oh and Antmusic <decides to stop thinking along these lines at this point>) It's one of the reasons why I became a drummer in the first place. <Actually, I think most drummers that XTC have had over the years have been better than Pat Mastelotto, except for maybe Prarie Prince.> Bizarre. I think Prarie Prince is the best by a long shot. Listen to The Man Who Sailed Around His Soul (beautifully recorded cymbals too) or Summer's Cauldron. Fantastic drumming. Pat Mastelotto? Hmmmm...too busy..although I like One of the Milllions And those who raved about Dave Mattacks recently. So he's got 527 snare drums..it doesn't make him anything overly special....Jesus, even I could have drummed on Nonsuch, (although start of Omnibus' is a bit tricky) Anyway...I'm a cat....where are the pigeons?
------------------------------ Message-Id: <v03110702b291df19176b@[18.156.0.43]> Date: Mon, 7 Dec 1998 14:50:44 -0500 From: josh getman <jgetman@MIT.EDU> Subject: re: Albums and smells Leon wrote: >Collins is crap and will die crap. >Prince is crap and will also die crap. >Has Prince actually written ONE good song? As fans of XTC you (we) should be able to make the distinction between music you like and music you don't like-but can appreciate. I do not like listening to Prince's music. To call him crap, however, is ridiculous. The man obviously has more talent in his pinky (or pink thing, for that matter) than any of us - there aren't too many multi-instumental virtuosos out there anymore. There aren't too many people out there who enjoy listening to Zappa, but he is certainly, and rightfully, appreciated as a genius. On a side note....as a relatively new subscriber to this newsletter, can someone explain to me the mild anti-Skylarking tenor I've noticed? I think it's absolutely the best XTC album, and I'd argue that it's the greatest concept album I've ever heard. What's the problem? Thanks, Josh ---------- Josh Getman MIT Technology Review 201 Vassar Street MIT Bldg W59-230C Camridge, MA 02139 ph: (617) 253-3650 fax: (617) 258-5850
------------------------------ Message-ID: <19981207195431.29096.rocketmail@send101.yahoomail.com> Date: Mon, 7 Dec 1998 11:54:31 -0800 (PST) From: Veronica Kyle Robertson <veronicakr@yahoo.com> Subject: Sweet Home Alabama -- Lynn S. said: >"Hey Cory Berry, DJ from UA, I am dumbfounded to find an XTC fan from that state. Did you grow up there or just go to school there? I had the misfortune of spending quite a few of my growing up years in Birmingham. Beautiful land, ugly experiences. Of course it didn't help that I was moved there in the late sixties, as a small, naive child. Upon my arrival I ran around the neighborhood proclaiming my proud yankee heritage. It set the tone for all things to come. Well, things must be looking up by now, if the place has produced an XTC fan." --And I say: Hey, Alabama has it's share of XTC fans. Cory's not the only one. I also attended the University of Alabama for my master's degree. The college station there (V100) is great. I spent 21 years of my life in Alabama and I am obviously a fan of XTC. I also had friends who were into them. My brother introduced me to their music. I'm sorry you had a bad experience in Alabama, but you can't assume the whole state sucks just because you didn't have a good time. I think Disney World is highly over-rated (and probably evil), but millions of other people seem to like it. I never knew how much I'd miss the South until I moved to Kansas. Alabama is no worse than any other state (and it's probably better than some). Veronica
------------------------------
Message-Id: <199812072027.VAA28649@mail.knoware.nl>
From: "Mark Strijbos" <mmello@knoware.nl>
Date: Mon, 7 Dec 1998 21:33:58 +0000
Subject: Spot This Train
dear chalkers,
i'm having some trouble with my shift-key so no capitals today
anyway, some questions were asked:
> >Is it entirely conceivable that the American releases of O&L
> >came without the lyrical sleeve insert?
conceivable maybe, but not correct
i've got all the vinyl versions of this album - except the italian
and brazilian - and they all come with lyrics.
> The original CD release definitely included lyrics. However, it is
> possible that the cassette and that later "Goldline" editions did
> not include lyrics. But I doubt it.
the cassette released in the usa had lyrics on the insert and the
Goldline reissue too. and the mo-fi gold cd version...
> 30) Does Andy sing the word "Fuck" in the song "Great Fire"?
>
> And I don't know if original US LP and cassette releases
> included lyrics.
well, the us lp version of mummer did, but of course colin's
inadvertent expletive is not included in the printed lyrics of
any release or format.
yours in xtc,
Mark Strijbos at The Little Lighthouse
http://www.knoware.nl/users/mmello/
or http://come.to/xtc
------------------------------ Message-Id: <199812072035.PAA00649@lima.epix.net> From: "Michael Davies" <miser17@epix.net> Date: Sun, 6 Dec 1998 17:24:44 -0400 Subject: O&L lyrics > People that need to ask this question fall into one of two categories (or > both): > 1. People that GENUINELY bought O&L without sleeve inserts. > 2. People who have cheated themselves and the band by copying the album onto > cassette (or whatever new-fangled thing we have these days) without the > lyrics. maybe the person could have bought a commercial cassette of it, also. until recently the packaging on cassette copies of major label releases was basically a maybe 3" by 3" photo of the album cover on the front of the j-card with a list of the songs under it. no info at all. that's what the copy of "Thriller" i had (a long time ago) was like, anyway. maybe Geffen did that through 1989. or maybe even if there was nice packaging on the cassette, it still didn't include the words. my cassette of Nonsuch doesn't have lyrics, and it says who played on every song and has those olde-fashioned pictures of the guys in the band. when i was young and give and take and foolish said my fool awake Michael Davies miser17@epix.net
------------------------------ From: Thynk2much@aol.com Message-ID: <c51d82b2.366c52e9@aol.com> Date: Mon, 7 Dec 1998 17:12:57 EST Subject: circumferentially challenged artists... << *And* all others already mentioned, like Mama Cass etc. Just 'cos they're not recent, doesn't mean they don't count...>> I'd like to quibble here and say that they DON'T count because they are pre- MTV examples. MTV/video play is definitely the factor that changed this for artists (female and otherwise). Now one of the biggest ways that a label is going to promote any artist they get behind is with a zillion-dollar video.... which means the label is going to believe that the artists need to look "good". I know an amazing female singer/guitarist who was told by a major label A&R person "I won't be able to 'sell' you in an A&R meeting because you need to lose weight." I know a male artist who was given $30,000 by his major label to get his teeth fixed! (that's big money for teeth, folks) In the video age, I think you're hardpressed to find more than a few isolated examples of the Rubenesque type... I think Janis Joplin (chubby, acne- scarred) and women like her would have a harder time finding a record deal now... isn't that a shame... Leslie
------------------------------ Message-Id: <199812072234.RAA15110@lima.epix.net> From: "Michael Davies" <miser17@epix.net> Date: Mon, 7 Dec 1998 17:33:23 -0400 Subject: Alison Moyet. And the Weather Girls! > Come ON! Alison Moyet. > > And the Weather Girls! *And* all others already mentioned, like Mama Cass > etc. Just 'cos they're not recent, doesn't mean they don't count... I think it might, because they were only around at the very beginning of the video era, and all the other examples people have given are from before the video era.
------------------------------ Message-ID: <900822C71730D2118D8C00805F65765C2605C1@einstein.moneystar.com> From: Jill Oleson <oleson@moneystar.com> Subject: Cardiacs Rule! Date: Mon, 7 Dec 1998 16:36:17 -0600 Gotta agree with Dom, Cardiacs RULE! I'll forever be grateful to him for telling me about this incredible (and rather unique) band. I hear all kinds of influences in their music, but they definitely have their own sound. What did you think Todd/Jenn? Did it arrive in your mail yet? IMHO, the Cardiacs just as British as XTC. (Of course, I only said that so this message would have XTC content!) Jill Oleson Austin, Texas
------------------------------ Message-Id: <199812072240.RAA15956@lima.epix.net> From: "Michael Davies" <miser17@epix.net> Date: Mon, 7 Dec 1998 17:39:49 -0400 Subject: Leonard Knee Moy > While we're on the subject of Star > Trek-associated "musical" careers, does anyone else agree that Leonard > Nimoy's version of "Proud Mary" is one of the most hilarious tracks ever > recorded? Oh yes. I love how he abruptly switches in the middle of the song from saying "burning" to "buyning". smashing the antiu, Michael Davies miser17@epix.net
------------------------------ Date: Mon, 7 Dec 1998 17:44:05 -0500 From: Steve Pitts <Steve_Pitts@compuserve.com> Subject: B in the bonnet?? Message-ID: <199812071744_MC2-62CF-9E19@compuserve.com> Folks, Todd wrote, with reference to Mummer: > the B-sides in the middle of the CD still break its flow, IMO < Why anyone would do it that way escapes me. I much prefer the way that Demon did things with the Elvis Costello re-releases, put all the extra stuff at the end, and separate it from the original studio material using a longer gap. That way, if all you want to listen to is the record as originally released then it is easy to press Stop at that point, rather than trying to remember which tracks to skip over. Of the CD versions that I have 'Black Sea' and 'White Music' also suffer from this, with the latter winding me up more than a little as, in several cases, the extra tracks just aren't quite up to snuff IMO From my own post of yesterday (hang on, let me think about the chronology here. That'll be the day before yesterday by the time anyone sees this. Right??): > Transmission Blast < Weird Freudian slip, and I did it in the title too <sigh> Must be cause I listen to more music in the car than anywhere else ;) Cheers, Steve (Using OzWIN in Hemel Hempstead, England on 07-Dec-98 at 22:44:17)
------------------------------ Message-Id: <v04003a00b291f7ffdc87@[206.79.166.146]> Date: Mon, 7 Dec 1998 15:59:31 -0800 From: Mark French <mark@imprintink.com> Subject: Re: The Artist Leon X. Deggs said: "Prince is crap and will also die crap. Has Prince actually written ONE good song?" Prince, under various nom de plumes, has released hundreds of songs. Many of his best-selling hits are not very good. Most of his songs of the last 10 years are pitiful and tired. His lyrics are frequently boring and juvenile. But he has written many great songs; lyrically, musically and sonically, but it usually takes some effort to find them. "Another Lonely Christmas", B-side of "I Would Die For You", 1984 Just another ditty about his Xmas depression. Mid-tempo psychedelia, but expertly arranged-- even the sound is depressing. "Anotherloverholenyourhead", Parade, 1986 A failed single, yet an intelligently written funk tune. Smoldering on record, funkier on the 12''. (Another issue with Prince--until he started to hire remixers, his 12" singles were just longer recordings, and usually trumped the album version.) "Forever in My Life", Sign of the Times, 1987: A simple love song, stating one's desire to bond with another for eternity. Merely vocals and drum machines, it's not sappy, salacious, indulgent, OR overly long, which many bad Prince songs are. "Positivity", Lovesexy, 1988: I found "Lovesexy" to be such an awful pile that I refused to buy another Prince album without hearing it first. This song is the only reason I haven't sold it. Hypnotic, expansive and lush. "Slave", Emancipation, 1996: Stuck on Disc 3 is a unique tune about the joys of being screwed by your owners. Its use of percussion as an anti-melody device puts it in that rare experimental-yet-listenable category. "Crystal Ball", Crystall Ball, 1998: A four-disc set of Prince outtakes sounds like a day in purgatory, and it mostly is. And yet the title song is a lost gem. It's a13 minute epic, from bone-spare drums to full-out orchestra, without ever losing it's focus. Have you heard these songs? Even if you dislike them, I would think that these would rank far above "Cream" or "Batdance" or that godawful "Diamonds & Pearls." Conversely, "Dear God" may the best known XTC song (along with "Making Plans for Nigel") but is not representative of their BEST songs. Even Andy thinks so. Is Prince crap? Lately, yes. Has he written at least ONE good song? Absolutely. Mark French
------------------------------ Message-ID: <366C898A.33C@bhip.infi.net> Date: Mon, 07 Dec 1998 22:06:34 -0400 From: Brian <mattone@bhip.infi.net> Subject: ES Tschalkgerz! >But NOTHING prepared me for the brilliance of "English Settlement". The production of the album, the diversity of the material, the expansion of the group's expanded arsenal of musical instruments (notably Dave's Ric 12 string, Andy's acoustic guitar, and the Prophet synth)--the whole package--was so unexpected, and so much superior to what they'd done before. It all sounded so damn un-New Wave. Side One still blows me away--those songs are one of the most powerful LP sides ever waxed.< Agreed. ES was my intro to XTC, based on an excellent review in RoSto mag. Their glowing appreciation of ES prompted me to pick it up (+ a knowledgeable friend urged me on), and I have never been so UNdisappointed by an album in my entire. To coin a (new?) phrase, "'tis fuggin' brilliant, BRILLIANT piece of work." Nothing before or since is better. NOTHING. -- BRIAN THOMAS MATTHEWS * Digital & traditional illustration/animation * Caricaturist-for-hire * RENDERMAN ~ One-Man Band Ordinaire SAPRINGER CENTRAL ~ http://www.angelfire.com/fl/sapringer mailto:mattone@bhip.infi.net
------------------------------ From: CCooli9575@aol.com Message-ID: <1c9d031c.366c938e@aol.com> Date: Mon, 7 Dec 1998 21:48:46 EST Subject: Getting in bed with Big Bad Bill >While I'm not entirely surprised to see the words "trails of deer shit" and >"Phil Collins" jammed into the same post, I do find your argument to be a >bit...(dipping finger into the drink you mixed) odd. A strange aftertaste. >Tastes like chicken. Look, I'll put it simply: I'm tempted to compare Phil Collins(as a songwriter, anyway)to trails of deer shit myself. > I don't want the government to be arbiters of artistic taste either. >That said, nothing is wrong with the government funding art still. >Governments fund bombs, weapons, 500-hundred-dollar toilet seats, little >machines that go 'ping', and other useless junk. I find getting in bed with any government for any reason somewhat Faustian. While just thinking of the junk government spends money on that practically nobody wants or needs give me conniptions(like the above), I like most people am tempted to say ..."but not that" when it comes to funding something I like. I mean, hey, I'd love the government to front me some pocket change to start a chain of BinkyBonk's Cool Records stores and live the rest of my life as a professional rock and roll fan(nice work if you can get it!), and I could probably get Uncle Sam to do it too, after all he owes me bigtime. But I'm gonna resist the temptation, because I don't want to whore myself. I have this healthy distrust of government; it's like an abusive parent. Some people will bargain with it so they can get what they want some of the time and put up with a certain amount of abuse to get their stuff. Others will try to run away from home and join the circus. Still others will just try to get along, not make any trouble, and hope they're not noticed(what I used to do). And others, like myself, will say, "Look, I'll make my own rules according to what's right and wrong as I see it, and if you have a problem with that, you'll just have to give me that beating and get it over with." Government is not my friend, nor yours; it's at best a necessary evil. Somebody has to print money, repair roads, maintain the infrastructure, and other forms of administration. It is not the government's job to provide for us what we can provide for ourselves. >If that's not arbitrating >taste, than I don't know what is. Thus, I see no problem in the government >giving pocket change to artists (which is what it amounts to by comparison). >The idea of "cool" -- as you put it -- doesn't enter in to the picture. >I'm curious then...was the WPA artwork in the 30s then a massive waste? >(Waiting for Harrison to finish his Snoopy snowcone and jump into the fray.) >--John Having said the above, I have no problem with government funding the arts at the moment as long as millions and billions are being wasted on things we definitely don't need. I'd want to trash studies on cow flatulence, old people in space, and needlessly expensive appliances and hardware first. I also wouldn't mind seeing the department of defense having to have bake sales to buy another bomb. I'd want that to happen first. Once all this waste has been taken care of,(oh, and let's deep-six the IRS too, while we're at it) then we'll all have more money to spend on the arts ourselves, and can make our own decisions to support the arts as we choose, rather than have government take us by the hand and "benevolently" help us. I know, you may say, government spending on the arts doesn't mean tacit support, blah blah blah. Don't believe it. It's a slippery slope. Dr Faustus rears his head again. No need to pull the rug out from our favorite inexpensive and comparitively innocuous programs, though. Get rid of the evil stuff that government does, and the people will take care of the rest. I know, I'm a libertarian and an idealist, and total liberty and justice for all may not be possible in the USA any time soon, but hey, I can dream, can't I? Chris
------------------------------ Message-ID: <366C8AA8.4E7B@bhip.infi.net> Date: Mon, 07 Dec 1998 22:11:24 -0400 From: Brian <mattone@bhip.infi.net> Subject: T&TLM Tschalkgerz! >It would appear that you have missed something. A real appearance by Terry and The Lovemen performing "The Good Things" on *A Testimonial Dinner - The Songs of XTC*. The song was recorded, the cover was released. But the name comes from the *Black Sea* era -- it was a possible title for that album.< >And yes, Brian Thomas Matthews, you missed something. T&tLM is XTC (and vice versa).< And so forth... Well, there's egg on my face! I did not realize this... I think that wry, sly, dry Brit humor left me standing at the end of the runway! WHOOOOOSH!!! And, my, aren't we formal. -- BRIAN THOMAS MATTHEWS * Digital & traditional illustration/animation * Caricaturist-for-hire * RENDERMAN ~ One-Man Band Ordinaire SAPRINGER CENTRAL ~ http://www.angelfire.com/fl/sapringer mailto:mattone@bhip.infi.net
------------------------------ From: Iain.Murray@hr-m.b-m.defence.gov.au Message-Id: <4A2566D4.0017E993.00@mta.hr-m.b-m.defence.gov.au> Date: Tue, 8 Dec 1998 14:27:33 +1000 Subject: The Real TB Is Cheaper To Get Todd mentioned in #5-34 : >> it was the best price by far that I've found -- I paid #20.46, which in American currency works out to ... let's see, carry the three ... $337.59. Oops, wait, got to move that pesky decimal (I was an English major, give me a break) -- it's $33.76, _including shipping_. I had a look in the local music store at lunchtime today, and was surprised to actually find a copy of "Transistor Blast" in their usually empty XTC section....then I looked at the price tag and put it back. I think $75 (Australian) translates as about $45.75 (U.S) and 27.75 pounds sterling. It might be time to check out that website - I don't think it would be fair of me to expect Santa to fork out quite that much. (And yes, I *do* believe in Santa.....and wanking). Iain "Doesn't Rush Limbaugh remind you of one of those gay guys who likes other guys to pee on him?" - Bill Hicks.
------------------------------ From: MrsHugh@aol.com Message-ID: <659c4409.366cbed9@aol.com> Date: Tue, 8 Dec 1998 00:53:29 EST Subject: Drums & Wireless Chalkers, I'm kicking myself today, because a few days ago I spotted Drums & Wireless in a used CD place near me. It was $9.00, but stupid me only was buying Christmas presents for other people, and I didn't have the money for it. Now after the Christmas shopping thing I did I'm broke, so now I can't get it. I would love to get my hands on that album. Also, I'm upset with myself because I left all of my XTC CDs at my parents house, so I have no XTC stuff to listen to. :( It's so depressing. Oh well, I still have The Dukes to listen to. Oh well, that's all I have to say for now. I've got to stop rambling. :) Molly http://www.angelfire.com/mo/mollyfa/index.html
------------------------------ Date: Tue, 8 Dec 1998 04:47:32 -0500 From: Cooking Vinyl <Cooking_Vinyl@compuserve.com> Subject: Re: Transistor Last Message-ID: <199812080447_MC2-62DD-DDCA@compuserve.com> >No booklet or other information that I could see. Have I been ripped off or is that all there should be??< you've been ripped off! There's an excellent booklet
------------------------------ From: "Leon X. Deggs" <ldeggs@excite.com> Subject: I ain't confused Message-Id: <913110986.1081.718@excite.com> Date: Tue, 08 Dec 1998 01:56:26 PST In response to a comment of mine concerning O&L inlay sleeves in the US, I got this guff farted in my face: >From: relph (John Relph) >Subject: Re: I wrote your FAQing book >The original CD release definitely included >lyrics. However, it is possible that the >cassette and that later "Goldline" editions >did not include lyrics. But I doubt it. That is interesting information and goes some way to answering my question. Thanks John. >>Because one of the FAQs was: Does Partridge >>really swear on 'Skeleton ...'? >Actually, that's not a FAQ. Perhaps you were >thinking of: >30) Does Andy sing the word "Fuck" in the song >"Great Fire"? Where in the entire song could someone be confused into thinking that Parters swears? 'Great Fire' is a favorite song of mine and has been since the release of Mummer. And I have listened to the song several times and have NEVER got so confused as to think that Parters swears on it. However, I am CERTAIN (regardless of how often someone tells me otherwise) that I saw something on the FAQs concerning the 'write your book in dust' quote from O&L. As I said - for those who paid attention to the original post - it was over two years ago that I read this thing. I don't want to have a personal attack at you John, but I know what I saw and I can't see any misinterpretation in 'Great Fire', but I can in 'Poor Skeleton Steps Out'. Can we also close the Collins debate too? It's boring, un-XTC-related and getting increasingly vitriolic. Leon.
------------------------------ Message-Id: <v01540b00b29285e4b0bb@[158.152.74.66]> Date: Tue, 8 Dec 1998 10:40:34 +0000 From: yukio@orgone.demon.co.uk (yukio yung) Subject: The major issues of the day... Lengthy work-avoidance rant... deadlines looming... can't write... help... sorry if it's tedious... 1. It's beyond reasonable dispute that we should all be free to listen to what the hell we want. That said, I find it frankly scary that more than a few people should rush to the defence of Phil Collins' music. In my humble opinion he should be locked in a padded cell for a month and repeatedly made to listen to his own albums end-to-end... rather like rubbing a puppy's nose in the shit every time he defecates on the living room carpet. Following that, he should be force-fed Culturecide's "Some Tacky Souvenirs of American Culture" for a further week. Only this way can his artistic sensibilities ever hope to be saved. 2. Before Skylarking, my favourite XTC album was their much-maligned (in these pages, at least) debut. And I still I think Science Friction's XTC's best single (OK, I was a small kid - maybe it's sentimental). 3. I didn't like the drumming on O&L because it sounded like a very good drum machine to my ears - I'll concede that the production didn't help on that one, though. Otherwise I think it's a great album. And I like "President Kill". 4. I wasn't as bowled over by English Settlement as many of my friends were, but vaguely recall that when Mummer came out it was viewed as quite a big disappointment. I never really got into it - probably my least favourite. 5. For the record, I think the Manic Street Preachers are fine indeed. And I think the best album of all time is "Chairs Missing" by Wire. 6. I think Colin Moulding is the most consistenly EXCELLENT pop bass player of the past two decades. In fact, I think he's a highly underrated figure - his songs are nearly always among my favourites. Let's hear it for Colin... 7. Dave Gregory does a killer version of MacArthur Park. When I spoke to him a few months back he said he was thinking about doing a CD of progressive rock covers. I'm not kidding... 8. I saw XTC play live twice - Reading University in about 1980, which was one of my first ever gigs. And they were REALLY terrible. Then again at Essex University a few years later doing Black Sea stuff - and that still rates as one of the best gigs I've ever seen. Which brings us on to stage fright. In my reasonably limited experience of the matter (a couple of tours in the early 90s), i found that the stage fright thing tends to pull you to extremes, especially if you are an "unnatural" front man. I found that I had to make a conscious decision to REALLY try to "perform" or else I completely withdrew, which may seem odd if you are the lead vocalist, but it really does happen. This can also cause self-perception problems if you get into that whole "artist versus entertainer" thing - you know, resenting having to "put on a show" just to get through it. I know nothing really about AP's difficulty with stage work - maybe it is really something alot simpler and I'm talking crap... which I often do - nonetheless, I have wondered whether the two very different XTCs I saw resulted from something like this process. I wonder whether any of your other readers have had similar experiences... 9. I was a huge fan of the ONLY ONES - still rate them as one of the greatest ever English bands. I bought a Quadraverb off Alan Mair, their bass player, in about 1990. He told me all about their appalling heroin-soaked demise just as they were on the cusp of big success. A lesson to us all, boys and girls... 10. Regarding US/UK cross-cultural offensive terms and TV censorship (etc), I remember being in New York in the late 80s (I'm English and live in London, by the way) and seeing Mel Brooks's film Blazing Saddles broadcast on a national network with every reference to the word "nigger" blanked out. Furthermore, the famous baked beans farting scene had the farting noises blanked out. Can anyone in the US confirm that such a thing could be possible? I'm sure I didn't imagine it, and even though I was at the Chelsea Hotel, I can confirm that I hadn't been taking drugs. Sorry, that's completely irrelevant to anything... 11. Let's be frank, guys, are fat women really any good for ANYTHING, let alone music?! (Sorry, just kidding...) 12. Oh yeah, buy my new album - SOME SONGS ABOUT VEGETABLES by CHRYS&THEMUMS out in the US in January on the Flamingo label (call flamingo@rt66.com). Better do some work now...
------------------------------ End of Chalkhills Digest #5-35 ******************************
Go back to Volume 5.
9 December 1998 / Feedback