Chalkhills Digest Volume 5, Issue 78
Date: Wednesday, 3 February 1999
Chalkhills Digest, Volume 5, Number 78
Wednesday, 3 February 1999
Today's Topics:
Re: Beset by the Best
tb in ca, av1 release date
I'm back
Andy on the tele
Brassed off about Barry
SSKHKH in NYC
What the.....???
XTC Survey and Kinks
catch the Red Eye special
Papersnow is not Andy's fault
Buzzing about XTC
it woz me!
Clock watching
Sean Cassidy... remember me?
Nebraska
Re Huggy Bear
Re: Forward into the Past
Cd's-too expensive?
The final solution?
Publicity Possibility: PRI's "World Cafe"
I liked that
Bits And Pieces
Apple Venus Artwork Revealed!
Administrivia:
Sorry, folks, I'm getting tired of Chalkhills being behind the times.
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---------------------------------------------------------------------- Message-ID: <36B5D6F7.2A45@realtime.com> Date: Mon, 01 Feb 1999 16:31:51 +0000 From: chris vreeland <vreecave@realtime.com> Organization: Vreeland Graphics Subject: Re: Beset by the Best ChalkBeings, A longtime sideline-lurker picks today to unleash. Actually, I work for a living, and if I stopped to answer Chalkhills as often as I'd like, I'd go broke pretty quick. I knew there were devoted fans out there, but was amazed at the amount (and quality) of dialogue Y'all have pumped out over the last six months. So, in no particular order.... 1. Top ten albums I obtained in 1998. (only one was actually released in'98 - I'm an old fogey who has concentrated on replacing an aging and scratchy vinyl collection for the last year.) 1.Los Lobos Kiko.(1992) Saw these guys a few years back. It was like watching a train leave the station. They slowly built steam until they reached cruising speed, and just cooked for the last half of the set. See them Live. Buy this album. IMHO, Mitchell Froom reached his pinnacle with this album (and maybe Richard Thompson's Mirror Blue). Would he not be the perfect producer for XTC? (to raise a thread from the dead) I haven't seen his name on this list, though I know there are a few Crowded House fans who subscribe. Anybody agree? 2. Bruce Cockburn- The Charity of Night. (1996) It received airplay in Austin approx. twice, but it stuck in my head for two years. Phenomenal lyrics, pretty damn good musicianship and production. The songs were written all over the world, and the album is a sort of travelogue. Rob Wasserman's fretless bass playing steals the show. 3. The Beatles. Rubber Soul.(1965) How did I survive without it for 10 years? 4. Miles Davis. Kind of Blue.(no date given on the CD re-release. '56? `57?) I'm thinking about naming my unborn (currently gestating) son Miles. Jazz would not be jazz without this man. 5. XTC The Big Express.(1984) No wonder I wore my vinyl copy clean through back then. Although it's not my favorite XTC disk, it's still an XTC disk, which means, of course, it's damn good. The beginning of Wake Up is probably the best beginning to an XTC album, and if not for the linn drum on This World Over, it would be one of my top five favorite songs. I do wish the CD re-releases had the bonus tracks at the end, though, instead of between sides. It screws up my expectations after so many years with the vinyl, and I think labels ought not to mess with track order after the fact, in any scenario, as song ordering can be an integral part of a work of art, as much as the songs themselves. What if the CD release of The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway had been reordered, with bonus tracks mid-CD? it would render the album unintelligible. (Don't get me started on the three versions of Drums and Wires that I own!) 6. Midnight Oil. Redneck Wonderland. (1998) A friend gave me a promo copy of this in October, and it must have been released into the vacuum of outer space. I don't know if anyone else in the world has a clue that this album even exists. . American radio has certainly turned their back on a great band. Warne Livesey is also the God producer. About 30 seconds under the headphones with The The's Mind Bomb will bear this statement out. although he probably would not be right for XTC. Anyone care to contradict? 7. Little Feat. Waiting for Columbus. Bonnie Raitt said once she missed Lowell George like she missed being seven years old. Drugs cut down so many great songwriters that I've totally lost count, but after listening to this fine live performance for the first time in 15 years, I'm inclined to think that his death was perhaps the most tragic of them all. Lowell George and Duane Allman are the only two people to ever contradict the stereotype of that much-hated sub-genre "Southern Rock." On top of his genius, Little Feat was a truly great BAND who worked together live better than most. The energy on this album is just fantastic. 8. Electromagnets. (1975 finally released on CD in 1998) I saw these guys a few times in the late seventies, and in the early eighties, became a pretty good friend of Kyle Brock, probably the best bass player left in Austin since Keith Furgeson died. It's nice to hear your friends on CD, and he and the other obscure `Magnets were a pretty good foil to Eric Johnson's ego. Not Weather Report or Brand X, but really pretty close. (except for the one song with vocals; sung by Christopher Cross. Truly onerous) 9. David Bowie. Aladdin Sane. (1973) All in all not even one of Bowie's better albums, but it still contains some gems, namely the title track, with the Mussorgsky-inspired lunatic piano solo, and Lady Grinning Soul, a haunting piece of romantic tragedy. Mick Ronson also tears it up. 10. The Heads. No Talking Just Head.(1996) Namely notable for the Andy Partridge contribution Papersnow, but it also contains some other interesting songs. Didn't know this one existed till I found it browsing through the used bin a few months ago. On to other topics. Rush Limbaugh? Do we really have to waste precious brain cells on this sad parody of neo-conservatism? He would be hilarious if he wasn't so very disturbing. Move on to something worth discussing. You only lend credence to this idiot by even recognizing his existence. Vinyl Versus CD. Here's what vinyl lovers should do to assuage their fear about having to convert to CD. 1. Buy a 31 band graphic equaliser then turn down all the bands below 100hz and above 12khz. 2. make a cassette tape of hiss and scratching and popping noises from a convenient blank spot on any album over two years old, and play this tape along with your CD's. You should feel right at home. I cry when I look at the thousands of dollars worth of unplayable albums I own and the thousands I've had to spend replacing them with CD's. Digit- challenged guitar players. Go ahead, slag Jimmy Page. I assume that it's just sour grapes. How many of you could even play Ten Years Gone, much less write it? But yeah, his hands did just fall off the neck during a few sessions. You have to wonder what the producer was thinking. Oh, yeah. He also produced Led Zeppelin. Slag John Bonham at your peril, however. There's only one other Brit I can think of who could whack `em like Bonzo- Terry Chambers. AND FINALLY, less than a month until AV1 hits the stores. I can't decide if I should order and advance copy, or if I just want to go down to Waterloo on the day it comes out and hope to get one. The anticipation is building steadily, and I've found myself thinking back on past XTC releases and my reaction to them. I believe XTC is unique in my mind in that I can still remember where I was the moment I first heard any of their albums from D&W on.. I can remember the time of day, the weather, everything. These were defining moments of my life and I suspect the new one will be no different. I haven't sought out any demos or promo copies, because frankly, after 6 years, I'm finally enjoying this last bit of anticipation. Some of us want to stand over Van Goughs shoulder while he paints, but this time I want to just walk into the museum on opening day and see the finished piece hanging there. They danced and laughed, spelling all I fell into was love. XTC song of the day- New Broom. Who is Mr.. Ditko, anyway? non- XTC song of the day-Lucinda Williams- Car wheels......... Whew, catharsis at last. Humblest apologies from Austin, TX. Chris Vreeland
------------------------------ Message-ID: <19990201225923.20599.rocketmail@web4.rocketmail.com> Date: Mon, 1 Feb 1999 14:59:23 -0800 (PST) From: Brian Danks <bdanks@rocketmail.com> Subject: tb in ca, av1 release date Hi all - I posted a couple of issues ago concerning the availability of Transistor Blast in SoCal. Thanks to Elizabeth (ElizaS33@aol.com) and Alex (arctic_moose@yahoo.com) for responding. Interestingly, I also received a response from Todd McIntosh of TVT Records. I had an good conversation with him concerning the availability of TB in SoCal, XTC in general, and most importantly, the release date for AV1. According to Todd, February 23rd is still the date. I thought it was cool he took the time to reply (Thanks Todd), and he's a fan of the band - the best hands for the guys to be in -IMHO! Brian D.
------------------------------ Date: Mon, 1 Feb 1999 18:24:35 -0500 (EST) From: Ted Harms <tmharms@library.uwaterloo.ca> Subject: I'm back Message-ID: <Pine.OSF.3.96.990201182204.11349A-100000@library.uwaterloo.ca> I'm back after a year off the list. Looking forward to AV blahblahblah... In the three issues over the weekend but didn't see anything posted by Joshua Hall-Bachner, which is quite a drop from his pace last year - does anybody know if he's still kicking around? Ted Harms Library, Univ. of Waterloo tmharms@library.uwaterloo.ca 519.888.4567 x3761 "But all things excellent are as difficult as they are rare." B. Spinoza
------------------------------ Date: Mon, 1 Feb 1999 16:50:53 -0800 (PST) Message-Id: <199902020050.QAA25680@mail2.deltanet.com> From: DCB-MBB <mb2@deltanet.com> Subject: Andy on the tele I received this message today (Feb. 1, 1999)-- 'Andy Partridge from XTC will be featured on tomorrow night's premiere of Where Are They Now on the British Invasion. The show will air at 10:00 PM (ET/PT) and Midnight.'...Set your VCR's, people... Debora Brown
------------------------------ Message-ID: <19990202012723.15118.rocketmail@web4.rocketmail.com> Date: Mon, 1 Feb 1999 17:27:23 -0800 (PST) From: Cheryl <cxtc@rocketmail.com> Subject: Brassed off about Barry Hello to all, The other night I was watching the film, "Brassed Off". During one of the scenes the girl confesses to another character that she had actually known what his name was but trying to look cool and sauve she acted as if she didn't know his name and called him by another. Yes, I know this is a round about way to get to the point but the point IS that the name she chose to use was Barry Andrews. My silly question is, could this possibly have been an XTC reference or is this one of those common names like Graham? MR. Raven scolded: >On that subject, before anyone gets any ideas, let me >point out that I am MALE. I forgot to mention on my >last posting (about why Americans don't >like President Kill) that this is my mother's old >computer, so I retain her e-mail address. People >like Roger McDonald who wrote back to her (me) >brandishing unwelcome innuendo should hang their >heads in shame. >I realise now that all men really are scum. Wow! It's too bad more men aren't dished out what they give. I'm sure you have given many men on this list something to think about. You never know who really is lurking behind an e-mail address. I don't think I would go so far as to say all men are scum because I have exchanged many e-mails with lots of very honourable men on and off this list. I think many people lack respect for other humans in general and in my opinion, what happened to you stems from this. This maybe terrible of me but I got a little kick out of reading your post about this incident. Sorry to say that but it did give me a satisfied sort of chuckle. Deborah Brown swooned: >on a more personal note...in the song, 'Grass', when >Andy sings..."the way you slap my face just fills me >with desire"... I hate to burst your little bubble here but it's not Andy singing. It's dear old Colin himself. Once again the date of Feb. 16th is mentioned as the release date. What gives? Has it been pushed up? WHAT?! What?! This suspense is killing me! I can't wait any longer! I want it now!!! *sigh* Sorry about that little outburst. I'm learning well from my three year olds. : ) Twitching in anticipation, Cheryl
------------------------------
Message-ID: <01BE4E09.DAF64F40.martucci@verio.com>
From: Dean Martucci <martucci@verio.com>
Subject: SSKHKH in NYC
Date: Mon, 1 Feb 1999 17:39:23 -0800
> From: Gary Glauber:
> Subject: Could it be Terry and the Lovemen Redux?
>
> Someone informed me yesterday that on Feb. 27th, the Mercury Lounge in NYC
> is slated to host a performance by Seagulls Screaming Kiss Her Kiss Her.
Asimasen, they are a Japanese trio. Alternative, minimalist and good. Kind
of like Buffalo Daughter on a budget. Their manager named them and they
didn't know much about AP's music, the last time I talked to them. I'm sure
they've been studying up though, since every time they play in the US
hordes of XTC fans converge on their shows. Go see them - it'll do ya no
harm.
Announcement: Pendretti-Allen has got tight abs! A stud. Just one of the
things I learned by going to that SFBA xtc louvah fest at Scotties. Thank
you, Ricardo, for the invite - wish I could have stayed long enough to meet
more of you all. And it's nice to reconnect with the Chalkhill, finally.
It's been ages.
AeyVeeWon!
Deano
::---------------------------<::>---------------------------------::
Dean Martucci dean@unicyclerecords.com
><(({"> http://www.unicyclerecords.com <"}))><
(nothing to see there *yet*, but check it out end of Feb!)
------------------------------ Message-ID: <32C1DEF30B54D211A3DE00A0C9D3458457B72C@PIBCRMEXH001> From: "McDonald, Roger" <McDonaRF@prose.dpi.qld.gov.au> Subject: What the.....??? Date: Tue, 2 Feb 1999 14:04:19 +1000 People like Roger McDonald who wrote back to her (me) brandishing unwelcome innuendo should hang their heads in shame. I realise now that all men really are scum. Huh????
------------------------------
From: Adamette1@aol.com
Message-ID: <2344048b.36b68043@aol.com>
Date: Mon, 1 Feb 1999 23:34:11 EST
Subject: XTC Survey and Kinks
Chalk,
A special thanks to Alan for the survey. I appreciated the results as
they fairly well represent my opinions about the "best and the worst." I
did have trouble assigning anything about XTC as "worst" but I simply said
to myself that their worst is better than the majority's best. I
particularly was pleased with the "winners" in the best and worst song
categories. Although I did not myself vote "Senses" as best it might be the
most easily listenable and most pleasing in the final analysis (I always
thought of it as a sort of Sesame Street tune). I did vote "Smartest
Monkeys" as worst, as I will never forget listening to Nonsvch for the first
time and cringing with the apparent lack of imagination that prevailed in
the composition and recording of that song. It is an embarrassment. I look
forward to what may happen to the survey after Apple Venus gets fully
circulated.
I took the advice of several Chalkhills contributors, trusted friends
and trade magazines and splurged (Molly Fanton be warned, evidence of CD
purchasing will follow) on the Kinks' first 17 albums in their remastered
form. Having only acquired "Something Else" before this purchase, it was
truly a treat to explore the treasure trove that is the Kink's catalogue.
(or is that Katalogue?). I can readily see why the fans that the Kinks have
are so maniacal. The excellence with which these CDs were reissued is
comparable to the Elvis Costello back catalogue effort, and even surpasses
that effort at various times. Original cover art, full color illustrations,
liner notes and at times lyrics are included. Unbelievably, in some cases
both the mono and stereo versions of albums are included and each CD has (on
average) about 6 bonus tracks!!! With all of this discussion of CD quality
vs. LP, the argument should be made that some material sounds better on CD
simply because it cannot be found on LP!
3 weeks or so until Apple Venus falls from the proverbial tree!!!
Patrick
------------------------------ Date: Tue, 02 Feb 1999 15:57:17 +1100 From: Sebastien Maury <MAURY.SEBASTIEN@a2.abc.net.au> Subject: catch the Red Eye special Message-Id: <E1043ITR3H086*/R=A1/R=ABCNET/U=MAURYS6G/@MHS> Good news for Aussie punters: "rip-off" merchants (my words, nobody else's) Red Eye records in Sydney have heard of AV 1 god bless their little be-ringed eyebrows (other stores such as HMV look at me blankly as if I'm ever so slightly deranged), and seem to think that, at the very least, the Japanese import should be out here in a few weeks...Heaven above only knows when we might expect something local. And as for biniiru (as the Japanese would call it-although that word is commonly used for plastic bags-try playing one of them on yer turn-table), we can always hope, although I believe the last local vinyl plant closed here a few years ago? Still, TB was available here soon after release in the grand ole US of eh, so here's hoping. I received a CD from a Canadian site the other day which, had I heard it before I posted my 98 Top 10 late last year, would have gone right to the top of the small yet significant heap...Pernice Brothers disc Overcome by Happiness. This mellow, summer tinged piece of aching loss and deception has some of the most gorgeous songs I've ever heard on it, and even the flirtation with slightly up-tempo country-style numbers (2 songs) work to my tastes (which tend not to respond well to twang with hats). Understated orchestrations, and an almost early Teenage Fanclub feel in its mid-tempo loll of guitar and strings make for a superlative 38 mins. For anyone who's interested, they used to be the Scud Mountain Boys, and put out I think 3 albums under that name. Slightly more folk/country infused than this new one. Smashing. Right. Carry on. Seb.
------------------------------ Message-ID: <19990202045731.10893.qmail@www0d.netaddress.usa.net> Date: 1 Feb 99 20:57:31 PST From: Brian Wysolmierski <BWYSOL@netscape.net> Subject: Papersnow is not Andy's fault I have to get this off my chest. Its been bugging me for weeks. I think that Papersnow is the worst piece of crap I've ever listened to (even worse than President Kill and Washaway). It eats away at my soul and I'm less of a human being for have listened to it. The first time I heard it, i wanted to punch Andy's glasses and turn them into contact lenses. I've cooled off a little since, and I know its not Andy's fault. I can't believe the Heads gave him such a lame disco song to sing over. There is no way he could've made that song good (not even with his terrific lyrics). Washaway, on the other hand, is unforgivable. Shame on you, Colin! That was a bad one! -Brian Wysol http://www.angelfire.com/by/wysol/index.html
------------------------------ From: "James Lowe" <jamielowe@email.msn.com> Subject: Buzzing about XTC Date: Mon, 1 Feb 1999 22:26:35 -0600 Message-ID: <0a3785528040229CPIMSSMTPU08@email.msn.com> Hello Chalkies, Here is what is buzzing about XTC from Chicagoland. Last Thursday on WXRT 93.1 FM, new releases Thursday they were promoting AV(first new music since 92) and were playing a soundbite. Which I recognized as Andy, but little more. However, I haven't heard anything more yet. I also heard them mention that TB did not make their best of 98, but how could it being released so late in the year. I myself did not find it till January 99 at CDNOW. This radio station (XRT) is one of two places here that actually plays XTC, Q101 being the other. Additionally, the Chicago Tribune gave TB a good review except for All along the watchtower which they felt was unlistenable, I have to agree. And dear readers in the Feb. issue of GQ magazine this review of AV appeared. Worts and all: "Are you ready for girls with Kaleidoscope eyes? XTC is back with its first album in seven years. Rockfield (TVT) finds the group picking up where it left off-right in the middle of the Beatles Magical Mystery Tour. The bands Beatlemanic tendencies have begun to grate, not because the Fab Four weren't fab, but because XTC and leader Andy Partridge are so fixated on the mar baroque side: Can we not move on from our collective love of " Being for the benefit of Mr.. Kite"? Despite this, Partridge et al. remain enormously talented and generally expert-texpert. Hence the fine symphonic drip of "River of Orchids" and the verbal taunts of "Your Dictionary." (F-u-c-k. Is that how you spell "friend" in your dictionary?... S-h-I-t. Is that how you spell me?) The latter is pure fun, a nursery rhyme dipped in arsenic-and a reminder of what the band can do when it is not mimicking about" END QUOTE. Well sounds as if it is just another great XTC album to me and only a short 22 days more to wait. Cheers! Jamie
------------------------------ Date: Tue, 02 Feb 1999 09:05:04 -0000 From: "James " <terbaxter@eudoramail.com> Message-ID: <EAAJLILOKLGAAAAA@shared1-mail.whowhere.com> Subject: it woz me! Organization: QUALCOMM Eudora Web-Mail (http://www.eudoramail.com:80) Hi All, Just when I thought I thought I had my XTC head tuned 100% into anticipation of Apple Venus volume 1, David Oh prompted me to dash off this short pedantic message. >From: David Oh <davidoh@interlog.com> Subject: add naw-see-um Dave's list of names which people had called him included:- >an "r-sol" [arsehole. geddit?] (dom) That wozn't Dom that called u an r-sol, that woz me that called u an r-sol, u r-sol. James XTC song of the day: X-wires
------------------------------ Message-ID: <36B704F9.FA2AE9A0@ci.conover.nc.us> Date: Tue, 02 Feb 1999 09:00:25 -0500 From: erik schlichting <eriks@ci.conover.nc.us> Subject: Clock watching Chalkhillites, It has become dreadfully apparent that February 23rd will not arrive soon enough. I have spent the last week on a fruitless quest to find a promo of "Apple Venus," or a promo disc with one of the new tracks on it, leaving no music store or music magazine unturned. I don't care if you're only 20, how can you work in a music store and not know who (what) XTC is (are)? It should be illegal. There should be a "music store clerk test." I tried to wheedle a promo from a good friend who OWNS a music store, and he didn't even know there was a new album coming out. If it weren't for the fact that he's a flaming Madonna/Bette Midler fan, this could've been a lifelong-grudge offence. I took his blue chalk and wrote "XTC" in big letters on the upcoming release board. So, the alternative is to contact the only two local stations who might know who XTC is. My e-mail campaign has so far garnered no responses. I spent the last few days switching back and forth in the car and at home (I never listen to the radio at home), finally breaking down and calling the one station last night. I was rather tersely told that they did not have the disc, though it was obvious that the DJ was totally unfamiliar with XTC and didn't take the time to look. Won't call while he's there again. I can't take it anymore; today will consist of "Black Sea," "English Settlement," and maybe some NPR, but absolutely no commercial radio. If I have to listen to Aerosmith, Matchbox20 or (ugh!) Hootie and the Blowjobs one more time, I will go postal. Thanks for letting me vent my frustrations to an understanding audience. My friends and co-workers are beginning to think that I'm going mad and "XTC" is some sort of brainwashing, satanic cult. "I only wanna be with YOOOuuuuOOOOuuuuu...." Erik
------------------------------
Message-ID: <19990202142020.18187.rocketmail@web4.rocketmail.com>
Date: Tue, 2 Feb 1999 06:20:20 -0800 (PST)
From: nross <phoenixyellowrose@rocketmail.com>
Subject: Sean Cassidy... remember me?
In the depths of winter I finally learned there was in
me an invincible summer.
-- Albert Camus
Ah... cool quote.
Neal Buck!: Hey! Yes I listen (sometimes) to HFS.
Yes I was there, Oct, at the Keneally event.
Were you the one I was talking to about Sean Cassidy
And how you heard this really rocking song by him,
which is unusual... or was it David Cassidy, I
think it was Sean, cause it shocked me more...?
I was there with my friend Mary from Pittsburgh...
I think you were sitting next to Kate ...
I have a weird memory for things.
Anyway... HI!!!! and... does Lou Brutus plan on playing the music
and interviewing them again?????? -Nicole
------------------------------ Message-ID: <36B72EB1.F14D660C@which.net> Date: Tue, 02 Feb 1999 16:58:25 +0000 From: B Blanchard <b.blanchard@which.net> Subject: Nebraska No XTC content I'm sorry. I'm writing something about a guy and need some geographical help with the state of Nebraska.I live in London and am English so what do I know. Can anyone email me privately who lives there or has lived there or knows it well? Oh alright then - XTC content - for those of you who remember me going on about how to introduce my 18 year old cousin to XTC when he had never heard of them - I taped a 2 hour compilation tape of my own for him on Sunday. Mailed it today (Tuesda) I'll let you know what he thinks - I KNOW you'll be dying to know. I certainly am. It was fun to do and of course in the end I wanted to keep the tape to myself. There - XTC content over! Nebraska info please email me privately and I'll reply with questions and stuff. Thanks very much. Belinda
------------------------------ Message-ID: <005701be4edb$4476e700$0c1017d4@default> From: "Steve Jackson" <smj@zen.co.uk> Subject: Re Huggy Bear Date: Tue, 2 Feb 1999 18:30:53 -0000 Don't know about the others, but Huggy Bear actually does exist, they are(or were)a sexually integrated(i.e. both girls and boys in the band)punk band from L.A., or somewhere on the west coast. Never heard them myself, but I remember them mentioned in an article on the Riot Grrrl movement of a few years ago. Not quite....Riot Grrrls yes....Californians no. Huggy Bear (who, thankfully, are no more) were British.
------------------------------ Message-ID: <36B749DF.494A@bellatlantic.net> Date: Tue, 02 Feb 1999 13:54:23 -0500 From: John Irvine <jirvine@bellatlantic.net> Subject: Re: Forward into the Past Chalkers- These two posts next to each other: "It also never ceases to amaze me how little control the record industry allows the artist over their own work. It really is about time that the whole edifice came crashing down and was replaced by something that better connects those with the talent to their audience." Followed By: "THIS WEEKS DAVE GREGORY REAL AUDIO FILE" ...got me a thinkin' that we are on the edge of something new here with this MP3/RA/CDR internet smorasbord o' sound. I don't honestly think the record companies know what they are up against, or can possibly control it. Or maybe they can and will, and we'll all be strung up by our testicles for our illegal downloads, on evidence provided by our Pentium Threes. The Future Was A Few Days Ago. And I was sleepin'. Would XTC (Idea) make more money from AV if they had no contracts, and sold say 10,000 copies from their very own web site? This is basically what Stereolab started doing with their mail-order singles on their own label, and they have never had to answer to anyone for their music. It seems that the whole Record Industry is designed to make the middleman rich. Power to the artists - technology may yet set you free. How many are on this list anyway? Just how big a fish are we? John Irvine
------------------------------ Message-ID: <19990202194906.28149.rocketmail@send104.yahoomail.com> Date: Tue, 2 Feb 1999 11:49:06 -0800 (PST) From: Tyler Hewitt <tahewitt@yahoo.com> Subject: Cd's-too expensive? After reading a few opinions in these postings about the price of comoact discs, let me throw in my opinion: Yes, they cost too damn much! A cd costs less to manufacture than a cassette tape, but sells for much more. Why? Because the record industry knows it can get away with it. Yes, it's true that the expence of running a record store is high, but I don't really blame the retailers for a cd's price. When I worked at a record store a few years ago, I was amazed at how the major distributors kept raising prices. Warner/Electra/Asylum was the worst at this, their prices were always going up. I know that the artists saw none of this money. It's just the corporate mindset at work-get as much profit as you can, and screw everything else. okay, I'm through ranting now.
------------------------------ Message-Id: <s6b716b1.015@chemonics.com> Date: Tue, 02 Feb 1999 14:59:34 -0500 From: Todd Bernhardt <tbernhardt@chemonics.com> Subject: The final solution? Hi: Reflections on the last couple of issues... Thanks to Mr. Relph for placing the VH-1 reminder at the top of #76. Thanks, too, to Mark Rushton for answering my charting/ordering question. What I wonder now is, do pre-orders count toward that "first week of sales" figure? They should, but perhaps they're a category unto themselves? I dunno... In any case, I'll be one of the thousands (wish it was millions) buying gifts of AV1 for loved ones, trying to up that entry figure. C'mon Chalkers, let's make our presence (presents?) known! More thanks to Stormy for his Steely Dan primer. Elliot Randall played that lead in one take? Fuck. Guess I'll stick to my day job. "Molly" replied: >The wounderful Todd Bernhardt said:< "_Wound_erful"! My god, Andy, you are fucking brilliant. I never in a million years would have thought of a visual pun like that. Just can't help yourself, can you? Steve Pitts replied to Duncan Kimball about Harrison Sherwood (who's secretly in love with Richard Pedretti-Allen -- rumor has it that he calls him when he's naked, making me jealous, of course, because when he calls me he refuses to take off the garters, spike heels and those stockings with the line up the back that he says he's wearing), saying: >Don't be daft - I'd bet it was all done with a computer program, there are certainly plenty of them about. Of course, they still had to be woven into the text, and that was well done, but I doubt that he sat down and dreamt up all those anagrams from scratch < He wasn't talking about the _anagrams._ Sheesh. He was admiring his large ... wait for it ... vocabulary. Finally (I hope it's for the last time, anyway), I believe that David Oh's "list of citations" in #75 has, ironically, provided the key to stopping this thread: It's obvious that all the attention Dave has been getting over his "style" is giving him a big woodie. I can just see him, sitting alone by his computer, surrounded by all the printouts of all the posts about his activities (much like another David ... Berkowitz, that is), saying, "Look at this validation of my style! All these people, writing about _me_! I _am_ somebody!!" Better to just ignore him and hope he fades away, eh? One way of approaching this, anyway... Todd
------------------------------ Date: Tue, 2 Feb 1999 14:21:21 -0600 From: LAG2471@ACS.TAMU.EDU Message-Id: <990202142121.204c3449@ACS.TAMU.EDU> Subject: Publicity Possibility: PRI's "World Cafe" Hi Gang, With all the talk of the new album, and trying to get some publicity for The Boys, I've got a suggestion. The PRI radio network's show "World Cafe" often plays cuts from XTC albums. They also interview artists and bring them into the studio to play live. I've sent them an email suggesting that they program a show in connection with the new album's release. You may also want to do the same. Their email address is worldcafe@email.pri.org If The Boys *do* make it on the air I'd be glad to try to tape the show for those of you who don't get PRI in your area. Lore
------------------------------ Message-Id: <v03020903b2dd148fa46c@[129.105.37.240]> Date: Tue, 2 Feb 1999 14:55:34 -0600 From: Olof Hellman <hellman@ksan.ms.nwu.edu> Subject: I liked that Just want to send my thanks out to Richard for doing the Bay Area get together. It was fun to meet all of you, although my voice was thoroughly destroyed the next day. And, I've got to say that the bluegrass version of "Crocodile" from Modern Time Neros is a gem (not to disparage the other Children...), ranking well above most of Testimonial Dinner. kudos to Harrison Sherwood (it was Harrison, right?) and his band. - Olof
------------------------------
Message-Id: <199902022056.VAA04351@mail.knoware.nl>
From: "Mark Strijbos" <mmello@knoware.nl>
Date: Tue, 2 Feb 1999 22:05:37 +0000
Subject: Bits And Pieces
Dear Chalkers,
Couple of minor points:
> BTW I agree with the recent comment about 'Inevitable Groin',
> since I hear it as - the inevitable 'Groin' - too, and that
> would strike me as part of the Peel pastiche
Yes, i agree. This is how I hear it too. And it's very "in character"
with the Peel personality
> ITS CALLED TIN SOLDIER AND I DONT KNOW WHO WROTE IT BUT ITS A
> COVER. AND ITS ON REMOULDS.
Shame on you! Tin Soldier is _the_ Small Faces classic of course
What a song and what a terrific version our Dave recorded. I'm not
100% sure but i think he's the only one who ever dared to cover it.
Please correct me if i'm wrong
> Subject: Re: Stipe
Well, that kinda says it all in a nutshell...
Why do we keep talking about REM when there is much XTC happening
right now for the first time in seven bloody long years!
Honestly, sometimes you Chalkfolk really make me wonder.
REM once played a support gig for XTC and played a couple of XTC
tunes on that occasion and that is all i need to know about them.
Please take it elsewhere, i'm sure there's a REM mailing list
Before i go: heaps of thanks to David F. for the picture and Jon R.
for the promo and a big hug & pat on the back to my mate Paul "down
under". The cd is in the mail, buddy!
yours in xtc,
Mark Strijbos at The Little Lighthouse
http://www.knoware.nl/users/mmello/
or http://come.to/xtc
------------------------------ Message-Id: <199902022057.VAA04357@mail.knoware.nl> From: "Mark Strijbos" <mmello@knoware.nl> Date: Tue, 2 Feb 1999 22:05:37 +0000 Subject: Apple Venus Artwork Revealed! Dear Chalkers, I'm sure some of you are just as curious as i was so i've put a picture of the new album artwork on my Little Lighthouse site. I'm also sure that many of you may have wondered about how a peacock's feather could be used to visualize Apple Venus. Well, now that i've seen it, i understand. It's almost obscenely obvious... Looks like Andy has revamped the original Skylarking sleeve design idea ! Just point your browsers to http://www.knoware.nl/users/mmello/index.html and all will be revealed... ta, Mark Strijbos
------------------------------ End of Chalkhills Digest #5-78 ******************************
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