Chalkhills Digest Volume 5, Issue 49
Date: Tuesday, 29 December 1998
Chalkhills Digest, Volume 5, Number 49
Tuesday, 29 December 1998
Today's Topics:
re: Richard's XTC and Jazz and Rush...
XTC in latest issue of RayGun
new to list, listening to TB now!!
loved your "Thriving in the Market" post!
Favorite unknowns
Getting the hang of this now.
Ecstacy and More
XTC, jazz, ok, it's long. Four 'Page Downs' at least
Re: Mind Games
Re XTC n Jazz
Request
Dreams
Post-Christmas wish...
Andy & Terry Interviews Tape Tree
98 picks
TB cases / 98 / singles
Self Produced XTC?
box a blast!
Just a thought...
Re: XTC and Jazz and Rush
Transistor Blast
Another Top Ten 1998 Favs List
Some TB stuff
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---------------------------------------------------------------------- Message-ID: <3684369F.1D09@schoollink.net> Date: Fri, 25 Dec 1998 17:06:40 -0800 From: Dan Phipps <phipps@schoollink.net> Organization: CIC Subject: re: Richard's XTC and Jazz and Rush... Hey all! -- re: Sir Richard's opinion on XTC and Jazz and Rush, he wrote: XTC and Jazz and Rush > With the exception of "The World Is Full Of > Angry Young Men", I don't tend to find any > real jazzy sounding stuff from XTC. Not > that it's not in there but it is so well > integrated that it doesn't sound like jazz. > In any event, there is tons of jazz that I > like. Older classic stuff like Miles Davis > early stuff (I tend to fade when he got too > modern), Charlie Parker. Modern progressive > like Dotsero, Charlie Hunter, John Abercrombie > and Codona. Jazz rock like Brand X (Phenominal > stuff with Phil Collins on drums!! neener, > neener, neener), Alan Holdsworth and Weather > Report. Pop jazz like Tom Grant, Shadowfax > and Tuck and Patti. Wow!! Someone else on the list here actually digs Brand X, too???!!!??? Aren't they great? I, too, like their stuff esp. w/ Collins on drums. This is the only band that he was in where he could REALLY show his chops with the sticks, IMHO!! Not a bad track in the bunch...and BX put out a hell of a lot of albums!!! Way to go, Rich!! I'm with ya', bud! Brand X were way cool back then, and when I listen to their stuff off and on today, some of it STILL kicks ass for me, esp. PC's fills and alternate time signatures, etc. The man CAN indeed drum when he WANTS to, eh? Trouble is, half the time now, it simply seems as if he DOESN'T want to! Hmmm... Alan Holdsworth is pretty worthy of holding a guitar, as well. His work with the first "edition" of the supergroup UK (Eddie Jobson, Bill Bruford, and John Wetton) was awesome, too!! Good show!! BTW, for anyone interested, you simply CANNOT go wrong with Miles! (Think about it...) Thanks again, Richard, for mentioning Brand X though. Cool band with some cool tunes!! :-) Damn there are some cool people on this list!!! Peace to all -- ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ /Dan Phipps <phipps@schoollink.net> "Imagination like a muscle will increase with exercise." (Peter Blegvad)
------------------------------ From: joeo@dial.pipex.com Subject: XTC in latest issue of RayGun Date: Fri, 25 Dec 1998 21:22 +0000 Message-Id: <98Dec25.131037-0800pdt.227634-18110+5452@mm1.sprynet.com> I'm sure you all know this already but in the latest issue of Raygun there is an article on XTC entitled "The rise and fall and rise of XTC". Haven't read it yet (saving it for a cup of tea and some Hob Nobs) but it looks interesting (and at least its some new coverage...) Seasons greetings... Joe
------------------------------ Message-ID: <36844A93.6299@escape.ca> Date: Fri, 25 Dec 1998 18:31:47 -0800 From: Shaleem Hosein <Shaleem@escape.ca> Subject: new to list, listening to TB now!! Hello, everyone! I've been a fan of the band for several years now, but I haven't accumulated the entire catalogue since I'm into a wide variety of music and have limited funds! In the past month, I've picked up Mummer, Explode Together, Rag and Bone Buffet, The Dukes of Stratosphear's Chips >From The Chocolate Fireball and Transister Blast. Right now, I'm listening to disc one of TB. So far, so good. but I wonder why they didn't put everything in chronological order? 'Garden of Earthly Delights' as track # 6 was a bit of a surprise. I intend to get all their studio albums on CD. Some of my vinyl copies are a bit battered! The "Song Stories" reviews that I've read from Amazon.com are strong, so I'll add this to my must-get list. Cheers and Happy Holidays, -- Shaleem Hosein, MCSE Network Technologist Department of National Defense http://www.escape.ca/~itp2_sh home page http://www.cjum.com UMFM 101.5 FM, the new radio station at the U of Manitoba.
------------------------------ Message-ID: <36844D80.439A@escape.ca> Date: Fri, 25 Dec 1998 18:44:16 -0800 From: Shaleem Hosein <Shaleem@escape.ca> Subject: loved your "Thriving in the Market" post! Yeah, they likely don't have much chance of becomming mainstream faves that's also just fine with me! Puff Daddy stay away!
------------------------------ Message-ID: <36836891.AA96F8DF@xpress.es> Date: Fri, 25 Dec 1998 11:27:29 +0100 From: Imanol Ugarte <ix8494@xpress.es> Subject: Favorite unknowns Hi all, Since this has been a year plenty of unknown XTC surprises, (from April to December I've came across with the incredible amount of about 110 XTC unknown songs) I've decided to list alphabetically my favorites from these (barring last demos): All I Dream of Is A Friend Difficult Age Down A Peg Everything Find The Fox Gangway Electric Guitars Living In A Haunted Heart My Paint Heroes Raising A Family in a House Full of Mice Rocket Terrorism Was A Yes Young Cleopatra Other big -mostly taped by gentle friends-surprises : Sugarplastic (rhythmically superb) Martin Newell (fresh air) The Lilac Time (sorry) The Green Pajamas (old & new ) Sandy Denny's 3 CD Box The Boatman's Call by Nick Cave & Bad Seeds Eric Matthews (bits) and at last I managed to get a CD with Brian Eno's rare -terrific-ambient stuff Just curious: ANDY in Basque Language means BIG : ) Cheers Imanol Ugarte
------------------------------ Message-ID: <3684FDE6.3702FE80@which.net> Date: Sat, 26 Dec 1998 15:16:54 +0000 From: B Blanchard <b.blanchard@which.net> Subject: Getting the hang of this now. But I piggin' HATE JAZZ.
------------------------------
Message-ID: <19981226035746.19253.rocketmail@send304.yahoomail.com>
Date: Fri, 25 Dec 1998 19:57:46 -0800 (PST)
From: Brent Palmer <brent_palmer@yahoo.com.au>
Subject: Ecstacy and More
Dear Chalkhillians,
A few things to say upon my return to the 'Hills (under a new address
- one with the ".au" domain code, finally!)...
In response to Chris Vreeland's query re. similarities between
Midnight Oil and XTC: the most noticeable parallel is their refusal to
play the pop game; both have spent their careers thumbing their nose
at every rock-star cliche conceivable! As an inhabitant of the
Island-Continent, I don't know what sort of "market" (if that word
could in any way apply) Midnight Oil have Stateside, but here they're
popularly regarded as one of the staples of Australian rock,
constantly enjoying airplay on commercial radio despite their maverick
stance.
When it comes to jazz, my favourite album is (all-too-predictably
- but too bad!) _Kind of Blue_ by Miles. Other much-appreciated
jazzmeisters include Joshua Redman, the 'Trane, and guitarist John
Schofield. I guess it has to do with the fact that my tastes
gravitate toward quality, intelligent music that sounds human
(something common to most XTC devotees, as we all know!).
_Transistor Blast_ has been near-impossible to find around my
neck of the woods, but one store had a Cooking Vinyl copy - albeit
costing a premium.
The last time I enquired about an album by X-ray Tango Charlie, the
store assistant pronounced it...you guessed it..."ecstacy".
Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaargh!
Here's to a happy new year (and at long last, the unveiling of
_Apple Venus I_)...
Brent Palmer
Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
New email address: brent_palmer@yahoo.com.au
------------------------------ Message-Id: <l03010d02b2aaa158d257@[207.41.148.8]> Date: Sat, 26 Dec 1998 11:01:54 -0500 From: Duncan Watt <kanuba@nh.ultranet.com> Subject: XTC, jazz, ok, it's long. Four 'Page Downs' at least >Bob Says: > >>I've been >>dabbling in John Coltrane, Dave Brubek and Joshua Redman, but need >>more guidance from people I can trust. > ...'jazz'. Or "Jazz". or... Welcome to the definition nightmare.... You're new to jazz? Wonderful! You have an open mind, you ACTUALLY LISTEN TO MUSIC THAT DOESN'T HAVE A SINGER, and from your choices, I'm guessing you're getting 'advice' already. Let me introduce you to the wolves... The problem is, it's a shitty term, 'jazz'. It's way too general, and many very well-known people use it to mean very different things, then rail against people who don't agree with said definition. Example: let's say 'jazz' means improvisatory music. Brubek plays jazz. 5/4 times, strange harmonies. Example: let's say 'jazz' means traditional American music handed down over the years from slave blues to jukejoints and Jelly Roll Morton to classically-influenced Joplin to Ellington and Parker and Armstrong, and kept 'alive' by Wynton Marsalis... so Brubek is the opposite of jazz.... is jazz Art Farmer trad? or Geri Allen piano-smooth? or zap-pow Milt Jackson, old man? Is it Shirley Horn otherworldly? or Sun Ra otherworldly? Tito Puente Latin? or Pat Metheny Latin? Who can sing it? Betty Carter? Lambert, Hendricks and Ross? or Harry Connick, Jr.? Who's a better drummer? Roy Haynes? or Paul Motian? Who can write it? Billy Strayhorn? or Thelonious Monk? or Don Cherry? And I don't even want to get into the 'jazz music is black music' argument. Period. Christ. So 'jazz' is a terrible term, and it ironically, turns most people off to the one thing every one of these artists, and countless others, including Our Very Own AP, have in common: beautiful, tasty, interesting, chewable, soul-filling, where-the-hell-has-this-been-all-my-life music. You can find whatever you want in the music you're asking about, from acid-kill(try, say, John Zorn) to lay-down-my-life sadness(Stan Getz and Kenny Barron, 'People Time'), to brain-bending complexity(hmm... how about,(remember, he's a newbie) Mahavishnu Orchestra, 'Birds of Fire'), to a tremendously deep tradition(Marcus Roberts, 'Alone With Three Giants'), to the roots of funky, as spoken by someone who, truly, honestly knows 'what-it-is'(anything with Milt Hinton playing on it, bow your head, newbie)... Any list of artists like these is going to be sorely lacking at best, so I'm sure everyone you ask will have their 'I can't believe he didn't mention blahblahblah', as they should. Since the word 'jazz' is used to define so many different types of music, I'd say you have to listen, then go with what you love. One problem: when you listen to pop music, you usually know something about the artist, and why they made the record. With instrumental music, esp. obscure instrumental music, it's tougher, until you learn to listen to the players' 'voices'. So I really like asking someone to play me something that they like, and asking them what they like about it(You like jazz? Play me something.). That way, you can hear some of the backstory, and you can begin to hear how the musicians communicate back and forth. I don't mean that to sound patronizing, I've been studying music for almost thirty years now, and I'm still amazed at how much I can learn from listening with other people. So let me tell you what I love. I love Miles Davis playing live in Paris, because it's practically a stageplay. I love Osacr Peterson, because I'm a piano player, and because he used to be Fred Astaire's pianist. Any 'jazz' lover will steer you to the Big Three: Miles Davis, "Kind Of Blue", in which MD defines the concept of band improvisation, check out the liners, too, zen, man... John Coltrane, "A Love Supreme", you can literally hear the heat coming off the streets of America divided... and Bill Evans, "Sunday Morning At The Village Vanguard", in which Mr. Evans delivers a mental mimosa to the entire music world... but I also love Metheny, and Monk, and Mingus, and that's just the M's... Are you seeing the connections? Music that expands upon itself rather than repeating itself? Music that attempts humor and brains and sadness and sex and love and history all at the same time? Sometimes on the same album? Music that at the same time breaks new ground and still pays homage to the old? Do you see the idiocy of trying to categorize this wonderful music under a name? Do you see why... we listen to XTC? Even on the still-made-it-back-to-the-fort,-albeit-with-arrows-sticking-out-of-it's-back "Or anges and Lemons", you can hear all of this and more! Middle Eastern devices, Sgt. Pepper-y homage, funny lines everywhere(Stand clear!) African polyrhythm, country twang, heart-stopping honesty, real beauty, swing, overuse of the descending bassline... Okay, for listening to me rant this year, I'll give you a little slice of me. Hold out your hand, here it comes... The big one, the top of the list, for me, is the aforementioned Stan Getz and Kenny Barron, 'People Time'. Backstory: Getz, tenor sax, who's gigged with virtually every living jazz great, is dying of cancer. His record company ponies up for recording a four-night duo gig in Copenhagen. Each night is amazing, but his old friend Barron, piano, notices Getz is tiring more after each piece. This, of course, will be his last recording. The end of the last piece, "Soul Eyes", when Getz leaves the stage, after playing a gorgeous solo, and Barron plays him off stage, finishing the piece by himself, is probably the most moving moment I've ever experienced listening to any kind of music. An absolute must-buy for anyone with the open mind and heart to listen to XTC. Especially the ones who actually like "Chalkhills And Children", a jazz composition if I've ever heard one... Duncan Watt ps On the back of "Rag And Bone Buffet", Colin does look a tad like Susan Faludi, no?
------------------------------ From: "Robert Triptow" <rtriptow@skyhouse.org> Subject: Re: Mind Games Date: Sat, 26 Dec 1998 09:29:28 -0800 Message-ID: <000001be30f5$4dbff8a0$0ceeb5cf@daedalus> >From: CCooli9575@aol.com > >Myself, I was listening to the Plastic Ono Band album the day Lennon was >shot; as he was going through his list of don't -believe-ins in "God,"(a >much better questioning-God song than "Dear God," BTW; Andy would probably >agree) just as he gets to "I don't believe in Beatles," there's a knock on >my door and my neighbor down the hall Fred MacKay says in a panicked and >stricken voice "John Lennon's been shot!" I looked back at what was playing >on my stereo and thought "holy shit, synchronicity..." Not only that, he >was shot on my mother's birthday.(And MLK was shot on mine. Weird, huh? I love synchronicity stories like this! Especially with music... And I know this has nothing to do with XTC, but I have to tell it: In October 1989 I was sitting at my computer in my Haight/Ashbury apartment and listening to the Doors' first album. The last song was playing and Jim Morrison had just barely sung "This is the END," when the quake of '89 slammed into the wall. I didn't even think of the synchronicity of it until two days later, when the electricity was restored in the middle of the night and I was awoken by the album starting all over again, "Break on Through to the Other Side."
------------------------------ Message-Id: <v04003a00b2aaf6e65d4b@[10.0.2.15]> Date: Sat, 26 Dec 1998 15:31:24 -0500 From: John McGann/Original Custom Transcription Service Subject: Re XTC n Jazz From: "John Irvine": >I don't know much about Jazz, Yes, you do! > but Stan Getz is just the smoothest. He >played sax like some disembodied angel. Just pure sound. I can't get >'nuff. Yeah! I suggest the bargain CD "Stan Getz w/ Oscar Peterson Trio", drummerless perfection. > Mingus invented punk rock - check out Hatian Fight Song and think >Sonic Youth. HAHAHA! Also Antibes '60 w/ Eric Dolphy-vicious! Other great jazz players I'd suggest: Wes Montgomery (the non-commercial stuff like "Full House" on Riverside), Cannonball Adderley, all the Miles Davis groups '58-'68, Bill Evans, I mean there are 100s. One thing leads to another and before you know it you are covered in recordings. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ John McGann (jmcgann @ world.std.com) PO Box 688 Jamaica Plain, Ma. 02130-0006 USA http://world.std.com/~jmcgann Custom Transcription Service /Technique Tips Plus... Private Lessons, D.I.Y. Transcription, Tips for Improvisers, Online Sheet Music and Tab, Eric Dolphy solo excerpt, Info for Dobro, Lap Steel, Mandolin, Acoustic and Electric Guitars, Guitar Contests, Recordings and gigs, and more...
------------------------------
Message-ID: <000a01be38fa$2db0e620$8312883e@o.e.e>
From: "John Bartlett" <john@bartlett132.freeserve.co.uk>
Subject: Request
Date: Tue, 5 Jan 1999 16:02:16 -0000
Sorry to use Chalkhills, but if Simon Knight of Wagga Wagga is still out
there, give me a shout. I'd like to know what groups are on the tape.
Cheers,
John
------------------------------
From: "Benjamin A. Gott" <bgott@Bowdoin.EDU>
Message-Id: <199812270247.AA09463@polar.bowdoin.edu>
Subject: Dreams
Date: Sat, 26 Dec 1998 21:47:22 -0500 (EST)
Friends in Chalk,
I had the *strangest* XTC-related dream last night (stranger than Ira's,
I must say!)
I dreamt that I was visiting Mitch Friedman in his midtown apartment
(which is funny, as Mitch lives in Brooklyn, and I've never been to his
place). Anyway, Mitch was on the phone talking to Dave Gregory, and I
was sitting on the couch reading a Dave Barry book ('cos I just got one
for Christmas). Plese note that -- in my dream -- Mitch didn't even
consider letting me talk to Dave.
Anyway, Mitch and Dave said goodbye (as I sat there, watching them talk
on the phone), and Mitch covered the mouthpiece and said "Andy's going
to talk next." He then proceeded to give the phone to me and go into the
kitchen -- except I didn't get to talk to Andy, I just got to listen to
the dead phone silence that accompanies a change in conversants. Mitch
returned, and I reluctantly handed the phone to him.
He began talking to Andy, and I pointed at myself and then at the phone.
Mitch said something like "Ben Gott is here, and he wants to talk to
you." There was an awkward silence. Then, Mitch put his hand over the
mouthpiece, and said "Andy doesn't want to talk to you. He's actually
kind of pissed at you. He says to 'bugger off'." (Don't ask me how I
remember this...but I remember feeling stunned in the dream.)
"Why doesn't Andy want to talk to me?" I asked.
Mitch relayed my question to Andy, and then he said: "He's upset that
you traded copies of the new demos, and he doesn't like your song on the
tribute."
I swear I'm not making this up, kids. But then I woke up...still not
exactly sure why Andy Partridge was really upset at me.
Next week: Amanda Owens talks to Colin on a cellphone in the middle of
Mardi Gras? It's possible. I just have to be sure *not* to eat those
damned Tostitos and salsa before turning out the light.
Happy 1999,
-Ben
------------------------------ Message-ID: <3685EC79.7EF3@schoollink.net> Date: Sun, 27 Dec 1998 00:14:49 -0800 From: Dan Phipps <phipps@schoollink.net> Organization: CIC Subject: Post-Christmas wish... Hey all!! -- Hope everyone's Xmas was X-static!!! Did you get what you wanted?? Hmmm?? Make a list then...tell us all what you received from Jolly Olde St. Nick in '98!! Mine was a Lennon-based Christmas this year, which pleased me no end!! :-) The Lennon "Anthology" boxed set along with a book of his complete artwork and films and other performances (been longing for this one for YEARS!!). "Icing on the cake," though was a 3-CD boxed set retrospective / anthology of the brilliance of Mr. Richard Thompson: "Watching The Dar -- A History of..." Although not Lennon-based as previously stated, this is a WONDERFUL gift for any fan of Fairport Convention or RT's solo stuff!! Do yourself a big favor in '98 and GET THIS THING!!! Here's to success (and the new XTC stuff coming out!!) in '99!!!!!!!! 'Bout time, eh? Happy post-Christmas, everyone... Later then -- ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ /Dan Phipps <phipps@schoollink.net> "People will always be tempted to wipe their feet on anything with WELCOME written on it." (Andy Partridge)
------------------------------ Message-Id: <199812270554.VAA08167@sgi.sgi.com> Subject: Andy & Terry Interviews Tape Tree Date: Sat, 26 Dec 98 23:54:26 -0600 From: steve <schiavo@home.com> Paul Culnane has given me the go ahead to set up a Chalkhills tape tree for the recent telephone interviews he did with Andy and Terry, so here's the deal. If there is enough interest, I will organize a tree. A tape tree consists of a trunk, some branches, and a number of leaves. As you may suspect, the trunk makes tapes for the branches and a branch makes tapes for some number of leaves. The interviews are on two 90 minute cassettes. It is customary for some form of compensation to take place between the levels of a tree. I can't dictate what people work out, but I consider tape trees to be a matter of courtesy between members of the list. From the branches, I will require no more than blanks and postage. If you wish to be on the tree, email me and use XTC TAPE TREE as the subject line. I will need to know if you want to be a leaf or a branch, and how many tapes you are willing to do if you sign on as the latter. Also include your city, state/province, and country and I will try to regionalize as much as possible. Being a branch requires some work, but you get an earlier generation tape. These being interviews, it's not that big a deal, but without branches there will be no tree. I'm more than happy to send a set or two overseas. Perhaps I can set up a contact person for the U.K. and Europe. Those of you in Australia should contact Paul directly when he returns from his holiday time. I can give you the contact information if needed. Other regions I'll deal with on an ad hoc basis. I'll give people a couple of weeks to sign on before I do the first status report. - Steve
------------------------------ Message-ID: <3685689F.15B9F356@fastlink.com.au> Date: Sun, 27 Dec 1998 09:52:20 +1100 From: "Joseph J. Ierano" <chierano@fastlink.com.au> Organization: chiropractic ierano Subject: 98 picks Some of my favourites from the past year... 1 The Church, Hologram of Baal. Wonderfully atmospheric return of the Church to fine form. Some haunting sounds, and some great pop treats. Nice use of guitar synth, too. (Recently saw them live in an almost empty club on the south coast of NSW, Australia. Their last hit here was so long ago that few know they are still alive.) 2 John Barry, The Beyondnes of Things Beautiful orchestral peices by the author of a multitude of soundtracks from James Bond to The Persuaders to Chaplin. 3 Neil Finn, Try Whistling This This album has some superb songs on it. Nice production and sounds also. 4 Gregariously Groucho Doesn't have to be music does it? There have been quite a few CD releases of the the comical genius' radio work and also studio songs lately. This one is the most recent, I beleive, produced in Australia. Some funny stuff, but mostly for fans, and those who like radio recordings as old as my mother. 5 Echo & the Bunnymen , Evergreen (was it '97 or '98?) Great album. The last song is worth the whole price just for the "crying" guitar riff. All I can think of for now... joe -- Joseph J Ierano BSc DC chiropractic ierano PO Box 108 Camden NSW Australia 2570 Ph: +61 2 4655 4010 email: chierano@fastlink.com.au
------------------------------
Message-ID: <7cHPqCAR0mh2EwON@emdac.demon.co.uk>
Date: Sun, 27 Dec 1998 17:23:29 +0000
From: Phil Hetherington <phil@emdac.demon.co.uk>
Subject: TB cases / 98 / singles
As the person who started this whole thing about the TB cases getting
broken, I just wanted to add that, yes, I thought they were lovely.
Just not very practical. (Incidently, I'm dreading the day I drop my
copy of 'Nonsuch' on the floor as Virgin don't seem to be making the
printed jewel cases for that any more).
And as for the liner notes, I _liked_ them.
As for the best of 1998 - well, give us a chance, there's 3 days to
go yet! Who knows what might happen! I'll probably submit it in mid-
January. You have been warned.
Until then you could do a lot worse than pick up Pat Gallagher's
"Tor" (Cooking Vinyl alert!) and Johnson's "Hard Mouth To Feed",
plus mail-ordering a copy of The Refugees "Lovejunk" (featuring
Barry Andrews - see my Shriekback web page for the address to write
to). There are others.
And now that I've got Cooking Vinyl's attention:
(1) When oh when oh when is Pat Gallagher going to play in London?
(Or better still, reform Goats Don't Shave?)
(2) Assuming there will be singles (and there must!)... I'm not
sure about the first single, but perhaps 'Your Dictionary'
(with a suitable radio edit) would grab the attention of the
masses. Follow that up with 'Easter Theatre' (to be realeased
around... Easter), and then absolutely definitely 'Harvest
Festival' for a killer final single. (Though it really should
wait until harvest time, in which case maybe we need another
single to plug the gap - no real preference, maybe one of
Colin's?). That little lot should take us nicely up to Vol.2.
Of course, I haven't actually heard any of these songs. Ahem.
Oh yes, and 'The Last Balloon' would make a great single, but save
it until Mr. Branson's next attempt.
Phil
--
_
|_) |_ * | Me: http://www.emdac.demon.co.uk/phil/
| | ) | | Then for Shriekback add: shrkindx.html
=========== Or for Gang Of Four: gof/gof_indx.html
------------------------------ Date: Sun, 27 Dec 1998 14:08:20 -0800 (PST) From: "J. Brown" <ringostr@u.washington.edu> Subject: Self Produced XTC? Message-ID: <Pine.A41.4.05.9812271404320.18212-100000@dante01.u.washington.edu> Mr. Lukoff wrote: >> If they're pretty close to starting on Volume 2, I wonder if it will be >> the first self produced XTC album. > Speaking of which, why haven't XTC released a self-produced album yet? > Most other bands with which I am familiar had started producing > themselves by this point in their careers. I chalk it up to the rest of the band not wanting to give andy complete control of the prodcution. It seems that Dave was most wary of this whereas Colin as usual doesn't seem to give a shit. Jason Wilson Brown - History & Canadian Studies - Seattle, WA USA "The demon of brevity never took hold over the politicians of Canada" -Ged Martin
------------------------------ Message-Id: <199812280638.WAA00495@mail.rapidnet.net> From: "J & J Greaves" <jgreaves@rapidnet.net> Subject: box a blast! Date: Sun, 27 Dec 1998 22:27:54 -0800 Happily my copy of Transistor Blast was intact and with booklet. I have a new appreciation for the "Barry years" after hearing the live stuff of that time. Good stuff. The BBC version of Life Begins At The Hop is, IMHO, worth the price of this set! Put it on those compilations to play to those you want to convert! John
------------------------------ Message-ID: <C4D3F9980FD4D111892B00805FBBF5D1012A232A@mailsvr1.lernerny.com> From: "Lieman, Ira" <ilieman@lernerny.com> Subject: Just a thought... Date: Mon, 28 Dec 1998 09:03:50 -0500 I was watching VH-1's "Where Are they now" last night. There was a shot of Alice Cooper (hair dyed brown) looking relatively decent for a man of 50... He looks like Colin might in about 15 years (Colin is a little more well-preserved than Alice). No flames please, this is just my opinion. Happy Gnu Year, folks. -ira
------------------------------ Message-ID: <0143041F00B7D011B7C500A0C9005151206F55@IMA_NT1> From: "BOB O'BANNON" <BOBANNON@IMAweb.com> Subject: Re: XTC and Jazz and Rush Date: Mon, 28 Dec 1998 09:22:29 -0500 Richard wrote: >>>With the exception of "The World Is Full Of Angry Young Men", I don't tend to find any real jazzy sounding stuff from XTC. Not that it's not in there but it is so well integrated that it doesn't sound like jazz.<<< I didn't mean to suggest that XTC is influenced by jazz, because generally they are not. Although I would add "Ladybird" and "I Remember the Sun" to this list of jazzy XTC songs. >>>p.s. Why don't Christians sing "Happy Birthday" on Christmas?<<< My family does every year. This year we even made Him a cake. Bob
------------------------------ Message-ID: <19981228194452.14840.rocketmail@send102.yahoomail.com> Date: Mon, 28 Dec 1998 11:44:52 -0800 (PST) From: Veronica Kyle Robertson <veronicakr@yahoo.com> Subject: Transistor Blast I finally found a price for Transistor Blast that some of us can afford. http://www.cdnow.com has it for 30% off the suggested retail price, making it $34.95 ($37.97 including shipping & handling). That's a pretty good deal for 4 CDs. It is currently back ordered, but if I could wait this long, surely I can wait a little longer. Oh, and I recently ordered White Music on CD. It's on it's way. I've had the cassette for many years, and then I found the vinyl version in the past year. I don't think I've seen the CD in a store in a while, so I finally ordered it online from Music Blvd. I got it for $9! And the cool thing is that it has all those additional tracks *I've* never heard. I remember reading about them in Song Stories and wondering about them. I can't believe I went so long without hearing them! Veronica
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Message-ID: <900822C71730D2118D8C00805F65765C260630@einstein.moneystar.com>
From: Jill Oleson <oleson@moneystar.com>
Subject: Another Top Ten 1998 Favs List
Date: Mon, 28 Dec 1998 15:38:45 -0600
Jill's Top Ten Favs for 1998
* ------------------------------------
In particular order:
1. "Tramcar to Tomorrow," Be Bop Deluxe
-- I wore a smile on my face for two weeks after listening this
incredible live album. Power punches like "Blazing Apostles"
entered my dreams and on occasion woke me up from a deep
slumber. Thanks to Bill Nelson, Hux Records, and John Peel
for making this album possible. Twenty years was not too
long to wait to hear "God Drives a Dreamless Highway in a
Black Sedan" as a whipping-good massage from my favorite
guitar hero. Wish it had been included in my second-favorite
movie of the year, "Velvet Goldmine" (an unfortunate
oversight, eh?).
2. "Try Whistling This," Neil Finn
-- A near perfect album if you ask me. Simple/complex
melding of beautiful melody and insightful lyrics.
3. "El Oso," Soul Coughing
-- You simply must see these guys perform live! Soul
Coughing is one of the most inventive bands of the decade.
I love how they combine samples of music from varying
time periods and genres with their own unique rhythm
and vocals.
4. "Car Wheels on a Gravel Road," Lucinda Williams
-- Gotta love this Texas home-girl. Another album worth
waiting for. Is it country? Sorta. Well, no. Not really.
5. "Hammock Style," Ganger
-- If you like London Suede or Porno for Pyros, don't be
a dweeb and miss Ganger. Mesmerizing. See:
http://mars.plato.nl/plato/bekijk.cfm/80964
6. "Sing to God," Cardiacs
-- I'll be the first to acknowledge that the Cardiacs are
not for everyone. But read doG, they're amazing!
What a strange fusion of styles! I lie prostrate in awe.
Sorta like consuming dill pickles, chocolate, and beer
while a stranger performs CPR on your heaving chest.
Do your best to continue breathing, Dear Child.
7. "Storefront Hitchcock," Robyn Hitchcock
-- Someone committed a sin by waiting soooooo long to
distribute the soundtrack to this incredible movie.
What were they thinking? The movie made its world
premier here in Austin, Texas almost a year ago. Why
the delay in its release? Groove on, Disciples, after a
wait and a yawn.
8. "Tomorrow Will Be Too Long," The Monochrome Set
-- Okay, I don't know when this compilation album came out,
but I just bought it the other day. The Monochrome Set
is another British band that has often been compared to
XTC. Such comparisons are not fair to either band.
9. "Eloquence," Stan Getz (with Lionel Hampton and others)
-- I found this 1966 album in perfect shape at a little antique
store in Gruene, Texas. Smooth really is the best term
to describe Getz's music. And anything with Lionel Hampton
is just fine with me. A-plinka-plink, plink.
10. "Multiplex: Our Secret Studios," Bill Nelson fan-tribute CD
-- I only participate in two online music discussion groups:
XTC and Bill Nelson. After receiving scores of email notices
about the making of "Multiplex," I was thrilled to hear it for the
first time when Chuck Bird, the project coordinator, visited with
a group of us Bill Nelson fans in Austin. I was also glad to
help out with the layout of the "Multiplex" CD brochure.
Devotion carries its own absorption apparatus. See:
http://billnelson.com/
********* A 1998 Special Note**************
Happy 50th Birthday to:
Bill Nelson
Ted Nugent
Ozzy Osbourne
Steven Tyler
(*** These are listed in ALPHABETICAL order, Dom!
-- And, sorry, Iron Monkey made my Top 100, but not my Top 10.
Screeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeech!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!)
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
FWIW...
yer pal and Happy New Year,
Jill Oleson
Austin, Texas
------------------------------ From: joel@custer.kenlaw.com (Joel Flaxman) Message-Id: <9812281736.ZM831@custer.kenlaw.com> Date: Mon, 28 Dec 1998 17:36:09 -0600 Subject: Some TB stuff I just picked up TB from my local CD store and I am thoroughly enjoying it. I surfed over to cdnow.com to see how much money I could have saved (no more than about a buck with postage), and much to my surprise it is being featured on CDnow's main page with the following text: "Given its cult status, XTC might seem an unlikely choice for a 4-CD box set, but TVT has brought the English band back in both force and style with this behemoth collection of tracks culled from the group's performances for the BBC. For XTC-ites who've sat patiently by while the band worked out its legal troubles with its former label, Transistor Blast is a holiday bonus. For those fans who've yet to be turned on to Andy Partridge and mates' cerebral humor and superb pop tunefulness, it's a great introduction to XTC." Kind of a slight to Colin, but good publicity nonetheless. Also did anyone notice that the notes for TB list Terry Cambers (no h) as Drums up to late 82? Joel "yeah I don't post much" Flaxman
------------------------------ End of Chalkhills Digest #5-49 ******************************
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