Chalkhills Digest Volume 6, Issue 249
Date: Tuesday, 22 August 2000
Chalkhills Digest, Volume 6, Number 249
Tuesday, 22 August 2000
Topics:
Brahms and Lists
Re: The Last Balloon & The Top 10 XTC Songs
Re: Shave and a Haircut
Re: Do Not Accept Any Checks From The Following People
Concerts!
Where is the new single????
Til Tuesday/Welcome Home
Re: Change Starts at Home
One Of Those Days In England
Guitar, guitars and more guitars...
Do Not Accept Any Checks From The Following People
Original Soundtrack...
Nice playin' there, Kev
Concerto in D minus
Concerts R Us
Correction, reply, one last concert
Concerts & gone aliens
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---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: 21 Aug 00 14:05:21 AES From: Paul.Culnane@dcita.gov.au Subject: Brahms and Lists Message-ID: <0006yeucusge.0006uoigkeck@dcita.gov.au> Hi there my fellow cuddly Uffingtons! The notion of compiling lists has long been a favourite type of sustaining thread that has provided a chassis for the Chalkhills mailing list. Great debate and speculation, and crow-calls of "why?', and brutally unfair admonitions like "he's a contemptible prat!" may ensue, and at the risk of introducing possible dissension, but at the same time relishing the prospect of any tasty riposte any of you Chalkies might wanna fire back. I wanna send that XtC snake slithering right along. Anyway, the deal is this.Five lists, shown below. Current at this time; might change at the drop of one of Andy's many hats. List 1: Paul's fave studio albums. List 2: Fave Andy songs (in whatever context, be it composition, performance, as a song in itself, etc) List 3: Fave Colin songs (with same parameters as mentioned for AP) List 4: Fave compilations - recommended for newcomers to the collecting feast that XtC music offers! List 5: Concert memories. Enjoy, discuss, compare, spit chips, ignore, go "pah!", whatever. FAVE XtC ALBUMS 1. Black Sea 2. Skylarking 3. Apple Venus Volume 1 4. Drums & Wires 5. Wasp Star: Apple Venus Volume 2 6. Chips From The Chocolate Fireball 7. Nonsuch 8. Oranges & Lemons 9. English Settlement 10. Go2 11. The Big Express 12. White Music 13. Mummer FAVE ANDY SONGS 1. Another Satellite 2. No Language In Our Lungs 3. Senses Working Overtime 4. Easter Theatre 5. Complicated Game 6. Funk Pop A Roll FAVE COLIN SONGS 1. My Bird Performs 2. Ten Feet Tall 3. In Another Life 4. Wake Up 5. Frivolous Tonight 6. Life Begins At The Hop FAVE COMPILATIONS 1. Fossil Fuel 2. Transistor Blast 3. Rag & Bone Buffet 4. Explode Together - The Dub Experiments 5. all sorts of bootlegs if you wanna be resourceful and, perhaps, slightly naughty! CONCERT MEMORIES First rock/pop concert: The Easybeats at the Canberra Theatre, 1965 Favourite concert experiences: XtC- Canberra ANU 1979 and Sydney Capitol Theatre 1980; Supertramp - Melbourne Festival Hall ca. 1975; Paul McCartney & Wings Melbourne Myer Bowl ca. 1975; David Bowie - Sydney Showgrounds 1983; Teenage Fanclub at th '94 Sydney BDO; Prince - Sydney Ent Cent (was it '94?); and countless others Disappointments (I looked forward to these): Elvis Costello & the Attractions - Canberra Theatre '79 (crap sound, EC's contempt for audience); The Kinks - same venue, '72 (Dave got electrocuted and refused to play on); Living Colour - Sydney ca '90 (I paid my big bucks to see and hear *the band*, not some sweaty mosher's fat arse!); Psychedelic Furs - Canberra ANU ca. '85 (they were very ramshackle and the drummer was clearly wasted - used to play with Nick Cave - coincidence, no?); T.Rex - Sydney Hordern Pavilion '73 (overlong jams and widdly guitar wankery. My gig-going partner, Steve Kilbey quite liked it though) Absolute crap (I was roped into these): Jackson Browne, Buffy St Marie, Focus, The Ramones, Soundgarden. Wish I'd been there but was too young: The Beatles (doh!) That's all. Thanks for your indulgence. It was really just an excuse to do some shameless name-dropping. Oh, and I've kept a big bagful of as many ticket stubs as I could, including my treasured XtC one from 1980, which is framed. Luv onya ~~p@ul PS: Speaking of lists, has anybody seen "High Fidelity" yet? It's been getting some good write-ups.
------------------------------ Date: Mon, 21 Aug 2000 00:30:39 -0400 From: Sylvan <psiogen@mindspring.com> Subject: Re: The Last Balloon & The Top 10 XTC Songs Message-ID: <39A0B06E.35B5FC91@mindspring.com> Organization: psiogen@mindspring.com > Helicopter is probably one of my top 5 favorite XTC songs. How bout a top 5 > favorite XTC list. I will start. This will be in no particular order > though. These tracks have always stuck out as my favorites. <snip top ten list> My picks, keeping in mind that I don't have White Music or Go 2: 01. Easter Theatre 02. Seagulls Screaming 03. Wrapped in Grey 04. Jason and the Argonauts 05. King for a Day 06. The Wheel and the Maypole 07. Travels in Nihilon 08. Sacrificial Bonfire 09. Great Fire 10. Ugly Underneath Honorable Mentions: This World Over Complicated Game Paper and Iron Miniature Sun In Another Life Incidentally, does anyone else find it slightly ironic that the loveless ones at the record company recalled and destroyed the single for Wrapped in Grey? -- Praise for Sylvan: "Compulsively readable... [A] thrilling ride through a lovely landscape." -Los Angeles Times
------------------------------ Date: Mon, 21 Aug 2000 06:17:13 -0500 From: "Christopher R. Coolidge" <cauldron@together.net> Subject: Re: Shave and a Haircut Message-ID: <l03130300b5c6bf46c3e3@[208.13.202.118]> >Oh, and I've come to really love that Wrapped in Grey coda. There's a late >Beatles/early solo ex-Beatles (or as Song Stories says "Badfinger-ish") >quality to it that nicely offsets the (as Dan W. put it) "Beach Boy-ish" >vocals and vaguely Philly-ish strings and piano sound of the rest of the >song. To me, it's no blot - it turns expectations on their heads, it's the >flaw that perfects... It adds a certain balance. Then again, I actually >don't mind the "shave and a haircut at the end of the sonata" idea, so that >probably says something about me... (and that's not a flame, I'm just >disagreeing; it's quite possible to disagree without anger, and it gets >pretty tiresome when people keep referring to mild, non-hostile >disagreements as "flames".) > >Ed K. I could see Spike Jones doing the "shave and a haircut at the end of a sonata" thing, if he'd been hip to rock and roll, that is. Perhaps Andy had something in mind along those lines, something incongruous that he can do because they're a studio band that doesn't have to replicate what they're doing live anyway. Christopher R. Coolidge Homepage at http://homepages.together.net/~cauldron/homepage.html
------------------------------ Date: Mon, 21 Aug 2000 06:55:39 -0500 From: "Christopher R. Coolidge" <cauldron@together.net> Subject: Re: Do Not Accept Any Checks From The Following People Message-ID: <l03130302b5c6c7249cfa@[208.13.202.118]> >From: "Michael Versaci" <stormymonday@sprintmail.com> > >(snip) > > This can be done at the "post" level, or at the "poster" level.Example >I. "Post" Level:Chris Coolidge >>When it comes to gun control, you have two realistic choices, disarm >everybody or allow everybody concealed weapons.< > >>While some of his observations are worthy of a response, this one clearly >isn't. > >Why not? I have no idea what this is all about, but I'm open-minded, and >everybody is a worth a listen. You have obviously thrown out a red herring >by attacking the original poster by attempting to censor him by advocating >that others ignore him. Speak up- what's your explanation for your >non-position, please? Is the free exchange of ideas, even about XTC and its >relationship to the politics that Andy P. injects himself into with his >music (although he steadfastly refuses to vote...) something that makes you >uncomfortable? It sure doesn't bother Andy to talk about issues..... I'm rather grateful that nobody responded directly to that post, and I'm the one who wrote it. It might have been better to keep my cybermouth shut, but I can't resist making a point. That post didn't come out the way I intended, and I wanted to greatly edit it or delete it entirely as soon as I sent it. Some subjects are difficult to be articulate on no matter what your stand on them. Thanks for the defense, though. Hey, I'll talk about anything, I don't offend easily, but I don't like to offend if I can help it. When will I learn though, I just sounded off about abortion. What next... Christopher R. Coolidge Homepage at http://homepages.together.net/~cauldron/homepage.html
------------------------------ Date: 21 Aug 2000 05:51:54 -0700 From: unna@worldmailer.com Subject: Concerts! Message-ID: <20000821125154.13466.cpmta@c008.sfo.cp.net> I am loving these concert lists. So, First Concert: Adam Ant - 1983?. It was a general admission show at, I think, George Washington University. Best Concert: I'm having a really tough time picking which was the best. There are so many different ways to be the best. Hmm. Most Fun Concert: Any and all of the Phish shows, plus the few Dead shows I caught. Most Rockin' Concert: I think the Reverend Horton Heat puts on a highly rocking show. I'll see him any time I get the chance. What Was I Thinking?: Maybe the Jimmy Page tour where he was playing a solo inside of a green laser pentagram. But it was still good. How about Billy Idol headlining with The Cult opening. Poor The Cult. How about Skid Row opening for Motley Crue, I think that's the one. Best Banjo Concert: Bela Fleck every time. Most Scary Concert: Slayer at this little club in D.C. The only way to exit was going piece by piece. Most Glad I Saw Before...: Stevie Ray Vaughn, 3 times. Wish I Saw: You know who! What fun! Laurbumbla Hamnovans
------------------------------ Date: Mon, 21 Aug 2000 09:32:14 GMT From: "James Campbell" <jquatz@hotmail.com> Subject: Where is the new single???? Message-ID: <F276uLCTaogxLDp7mvj00004f63@hotmail.com> Hello TVT?????? Where is Stupidly Happy?????? It is absolutely, 100%, no question-about-it a single!!! Where is it???? You came damn close with ITMWML......... If Hot-AC stations wont play it....I'll eat all of the XTC 45's I own.....<gulp> --The Baltimore (once Salt Lake) James (sorry kate)
------------------------------ Date: Sun, 20 Aug 2000 10:24:30 -0500 From: "Christopher R. Coolidge" <cauldron@together.net> Subject: Til Tuesday/Welcome Home Message-ID: <l03130303b5c5a7f4be89@[208.13.202.251]> >That's NAUGHTY!! > >Go and buy her album again!! She needs the money! And go and buy 'Til >Tuesday's Welcome Home if you don't have it too! It's Aimee's best album >(IMHO of course!) I found my copy in the snow at the local Cumberland Farms a couple of winters ago. Someone else didn't want it, I guess. It was undamaged and I still play it occasionally. If my old band Welcome Home gets back together and records an album, I want to call it Til Tuesday. Christopher R. Coolidge "A Great law protects me from the government. The Bill of rights has 10 GREAT laws. A Good law protects me from you. Laws against murder, theft, assault and the like are good laws. A Poor law attempts to protect me from myself." - Unknown
------------------------------ Date: Sun, 20 Aug 2000 09:33:29 -0500 From: "Christopher R. Coolidge" <cauldron@together.net> Subject: Re: Change Starts at Home Message-ID: <l03130301b5c599a962cf@[208.13.202.251]> >So. Am I the only hopeless bastard in the world who honestly, truly >believes that the only thing keeping us from this goal is, well, us? >"That's the way the world is. . . " has always struck me as a lame excuse >rather than a dose of reality. The reality, to me, is that, if we want the >world (or society, or whatever) to be more equitable (or fair, or whatever) >then we simply need to make the decision to do that. **The only thing >limiting human behavior is human behavior.** This is, of course, somewhat >oversimplified, I know, but I don't want to prattle on forever. Suffice it >to say that, I believe if you want the world to change you simply change >yourself and encourage the rest of the world to follow you. Unrealistic? >In a world where X million households can be encouraged to watch the same >television program, or buy the same CD, or visit the same website, or follow >the same news story with very little obvious effort on the part of the >creators of those media (think Survivor), I don't think its too far >off-base. At least my hope springs eternal that one day many others will >come to this same conclusion, as well, and the world *will* change for the >better. But all I can do is keep moving myself toward the goal, and I will, >I will. . . . > >XTC content: isn't this the Slim Pickens list? > >Keith "We now return to our originally scheduled programming" Walker That's it exactly. Whether the evil we choose to name is guns, abortion, or cutting people off in traffic, we have to start by not doing it ourselves. Set an example of how you think people should live. Don't expect your government at any level to take care of you. They may do it, but they'll likely do it very badly. If you want something done right, at least try to do it yourself. If all people refrained from behaving in a bad-tempered and quarrelsome manner, we wouldn't need weapons of any kind. However, I can only change myself and hopefully influence others around me by example. Christopher R. Coolidge "A Great law protects me from the government. The Bill of rights has 10 GREAT laws. A Good law protects me from you. Laws against murder, theft, assault and the like are good laws. A Poor law attempts to protect me from myself." - Unknown
------------------------------ Date: Fri, 18 Aug 2000 23:29:46 +0100 From: SPitts@thesaurus-computers.co.uk Subject: One Of Those Days In England Message-ID: <OF8A9A1671.6FF66B7F-ON8025693C.0055DF46@thesaurus-computers.co.uk> Chalkfolks, In #6-235 Jeff Eason asked: > * What is a good Roy Harper collection? < Hmmm, the only one I have is 'Harper 70-75', on vinyl, and I don't believe that you can buy that now. In fact, I think the only pure compilation still available on CD is 'An Introduction to ...'. My recommendation?? Go buy 'Stormcock', which has more of a folk feel, and either 'HQ' or 'Bullinamingvase' (or both if you're feeling extravagant), which have more of a rock feel. They are his finest moments In #6-242 Kevin Diamond wondered: > what are some of the saddest songs you've ever heard. Songs that are so powerful, they can actually make you cry? < Not all that long ago I'd've answered 'none at all' to the above, but since my Dad died both 'Tank Park Salute' by Billy Bragg and 'When An Old Cricketer Leaves The Crease' by Roy Harper have brought me to tears on more than one occasion and MJC wondered: > Wish I knew what was on the UK edition. I would assume "MS" was deleted, since it's on the UK Rag&Bone < Nope. The only XTC version of 'Dear God' that I have is on Fossil Fuel (and it was the prime reason that I bought the compilation at all, normally I don't bother), it doesn't appear anywhere on my original UK issue tape or CD, and Mermaid Smiled appears in its designated place, right where Andy intended it to be :) In #6-243 Megan Heller recounted her experience in: > a tiny, horrible little bar in Newport News, Virginia < Newport News, with an N?? Ah well, there's another one for the misheard lyrics file then and Kate Burda claimed: > The metal-on-metal clinking noise in Towers has got to be my favorite "added bonus" < If memory serves (and it often doesn't) the band tried a variety of different sounds to achieve that effect, including hitting an anvil with a hammer (doh), and they ended up tapping a support wire for a pylon of some sort with a bottle. Bear in mind that this is based on a TV program about the making of Black Sea that I watched roughly twenty years ago, so it could be utter hogwash, or at the very least distorted from reality On recent topics, the rhyme of all time?? How about Rejuvenate an old pudenda With a bunch of twigs and a young offender (John Cooper Clarke, 'The Isle Of Man') JCC is also responsible for one of my favourite couplets of all time, from the marvellous Beasley Street: The hipster and his hired hat, drive a borrowed car Yellow socks and a pink cravat, nothing la-di-dah First concert: Genesis, Earl's Court, 1977 Best concert: Peter Gabriel, Hammersmith Odeon, 1980 (ish) Most disappointing concert: Wire, Manchester, some time in the late 80s. Completely ignored all requests for the older stuff and plodded their way through a set of newer stuff, played to an increasingly disinterested (and frustrated, in some cases) audience "What the hell was I thinking?" concert: Hawklords, Fairfield Halls Croydon, 1978?? Major consolation with this one was that Patrik Fitzgerald was the support act. He didn't go down well with the Hawkwind crowd, but I loved him Most inexplicable concert: Not sure I've got one. I don't ever remember attending a gig and thinking 'what the ...'. "Wish I'd been there" concert: Never did get to see Penetration because their concert at the Croydon Greyhound was cancelled due to problems with the building. Oh, and I'd like to have been at early concerts by Pink Floyd and Genesis, but since I was born in 1960 there wasn't much chance of that. Cheers, Steve NP: Penetration - Moving Targets
------------------------------ Date: Mon, 21 Aug 2000 03:47:34 EDT From: WTDK@aol.com Subject: Guitar, guitars and more guitars... Message-ID: <20.a69f8bc.26d23896@aol.com> > Don't tell me you read this somewhere. Good Lord! Your first point is > erroneous, for starters. A lot of George's early stuff was NOT simple. > Listen to 'Till There Was You. I still haven't figured out that > dominant. Very sophisticated. Also, George was a *rock* guitarist, > steeped in the older rockabilly traditions of the fifties. You can hear > Chuck, Carl, Scotty Moore, Gene Vincent and so on in his early solos. > George Martin did NOT bang THAT stuff out on a piano and tell George to > play like that! He knew better to stay out of the way there, my friend. No, actually I had a conversation with my brother (who has taught guitar in a variety of styles and been playing for the last 30 years in one band or another). Although my first point about the guitar solos being dictated by George Martin could have used a bit of context. Martin made the comment himself about a number of early Beatle solos. Again, he would play a melodic phrase and suggest that George play it. I believe that Martin (at least in the interview I heard) was referring to the first three albums. He commented about how "horrid" he had been to George. I've always heard more of a kinship between Carl Perkins and George vs. Chuck Berry although it's clear the influence is there as well. I quite agree with you, though about McCartney. Paul wouldn't be able to play spanish guitar as well as someone who has been doing it his or her whole life. I suppose my point was that George's guitar playing skills (which I frequently hear being slagged) was quite an accomplished player within his own style. Your point is well taken, though as each guitar player (or bass player or drummer...) has their moments. No doubt I probably over reacted ( I have a good friend who has never listened to the Beatles because their music is too "simplistic" so I'm always willing to defend them--along with the Kinks, Xtc and a couple of other talented folks). I suppose it depends on what you're trying to achieve as a player more than anything else. I happen to agree with your analysis of the bit at the beginning of Bungalow Bill. I was never under the impression that anyone in the band played it as I had read Lewishon's book on the recording sessions. By the way, any news on Dave's album? I had a friend (after listening to Remoulds) comment on the vocal similar to Morrisey(!) which was rather interesting. I'm a Smiths fan but haven't listened to much of his solo work (beyond the Ronson produced album). Wayne
------------------------------ Date: 21 Aug 2000 11:38:00 +0100 From: "Robert Wood" <Robert.Wood@mutech.co.uk> Subject: Do Not Accept Any Checks From The Following People Message-ID: <000038F2@mutech.co.uk> Organization: Mutech Ltd Michael suggested no replies to certain types of postings or posters, but Michael you forgot two other catagories. 1. Posts that start off with silly modes of addressing the list, eg: Folxtc, 2. Posts that sign off with "clever" names. eg: John "I'm so clever I can write when I'm dead" Doe Rob. PS <G>, please note it - <G>
------------------------------ Date: Mon, 21 Aug 2000 03:46:41 -0700 (PDT) From: andrew sneddon <andrew_sneddon@yahoo.com> Subject: Original Soundtrack... Message-ID: <20000821104641.7347.qmail@web615.mail.yahoo.com> Stop me if you've heard this one before... Who would you get to play the lads in the film of the great XTC story- and what would it be called?? The great Mummer debate. Yep, I love this too. Fave track would be "Great Fire". ps Newell is playing in Cambridge (my home town- although I currently live in London) in September, anyone going? Please mail off line pps I saw a "green man" playing the bagpipes on the South Bank at the weekend, leaves an' all. Very odd. Cheers
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 21 Aug 2000 12:49:06 -0400
From: "Todd Bernhardt" <todd.bernhardt@enterworks.com>
Subject: Nice playin' there, Kev
Message-ID: <39A15D82.162B7DA9@enterworks.com>
Organization: Enterworks, Inc.
Hi:
Got to work this Monday morning and saw that I received my weekly
e-newsletter from Musician's Friend ("The World's Largest Direct-Mail
Music Gear Company" ... and maybe they are -- who am I to argue with
such squishy marketingspeak?) on Saturday.
After perusing the "Scratch-N-Dent Products" specials, I noted the
following:
BIRTHDAYS THIS WEEK
AUGUST 17: Box Top's Gary Talley (1947), Boston's Sib Hashian
(1949), XTC's Kevin Moulding (1955), Go-Go's Belinda Carlisle
(1958), Black Crowes' Steve Gorman (1965)
*Kevin*! Bwahahahaha...
I wonder if that's the English-to-American translation of "Colin," much
like French/English Pierre --> Peter, English/Asshole Richard --> Dick,
etc.
No comment on the musicians he shares that day with. In any case, Happy
Belated Birthday, Kev!
-Todd
P.S. My apologies to all the Dicks reading this. Didn't mean to offend
-- I may not be a Dick myself, but I'll defend to the death your right
to be a Dick.
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 21 Aug 2000 12:16:11 -0500
From: "Joe Funk" <twosheds@mindspring.com>
Subject: Concerto in D minus
Message-ID: <003701c00b93$82af52c0$7721fea9@user>
Greetings! Chalklings!!
Well, I guess it would be prudent at this juncture to do my concert
list... I will try to be ruthless! Here goes:
First: Jethro Tull - Passion Play 1973/74? El Paso Convention
Center (Those were the daze... We had a bag of 20 joints!)
Favorites: Peter Gabriel - Security 1982 Austin Coliseum
Amazing! Pete & crew enter through the crowd with drums
pounding to "The Rhythm of the Heat"!
Gentle Giant - Civilian 1980 Armadillo World
Headquarters - Austin.. There's nothing like a 5-man drum
solo, except a multiple recorder ensemble!
Pat Metheny Group - Letter From Home 1987
Bass Concert Hall - Austin PM pulls no punches.. Opens with
"Forward March"! Incredible!!
Runner-ups: Stevie Ray Vaughn Blues Fest Starplex - Dallas
1990 Although I had seen SRV hundreds of times at various clubs in
Austin, I had 2nd row seats with the wife & 2 year old son (who
amazingly slept through Stevie's extremely LOUD set...I had my
hands over his ears..) SRV was more intense the usual, and he had
B.B. King step in for a couple of tunes... SRV was killed later that
month...
Yes Masterworks Tour Starplex - Dallas 2000
Set list was all pre-1977.. Progger Heaven!!
What was I thinkin"!?: Van Halen UTEP Arena El Paso 1989
Why wasn't I thinkin'!!?: Police/ XTC Austin 1980...
I will be haunted to the grave for missing this one!!
Absolute worst: Billy Idol Club Foot Austin 1982.. 'Nuff said!
I have been to SO many shows, that I am sure I am overlooking some
of the best & worst..
Joe "I wonder where Ruth is?" Funk
------------------------------ Date: Mon, 21 Aug 2000 20:08:05 GMT From: "Daniel DuBray" <ddubray@hotmail.com> Subject: Concerts R Us Message-ID: <F12724SSZV7QbTwYvBr00005833@hotmail.com> The problem with a thread like this is that I quickly forget who began it. But to whomever that is...congratulations! First concert: John Denver, 1972 Best concert: Steely Dan, 1996 -- a tie with Weather Report (Joe Zawinul/Wayne Shorter/Jaco Pastorius/Peter Erskine), 1977. Best concert Runner-up: Rush, 1978 (I know, I know...but it really was sonically incredible) Best concert 2nd Runner-up: Anderson, Bruford, Wakeman & Howe, 1989 Most disappointing concert: Bad Company, 1978 "What the hell was I thinking?" concert: Barry Manilow, 1995 (my wife got the tickets...but I also sat through Celine Dion with my pre-teen daughters during that annoying 'Titanic' song craze...don't I deserve a medal or something?) Most inexplicable concert: Fishbone & Guadalcanal Diary, 1989...also tied with Joni Mitchell's 'Both Sides Now' orchestral tour of 2000. "Most fun I've ever had with my clothes on" concerts: Grateful Dead, The Who, ZZ Top, Oingo Boingo. "Wish I'd been there" concerts: XTC (of course), Beatles (Rubber Soul period), Sinatra/Basie at the Sands and the premiere of Mahler's First Symphony, when a riot broke out. Dan DuBray Washington, DC
------------------------------ Date: Mon, 21 Aug 2000 13:34:32 -0700 From: Ed Kedzierski <ed.kedzierski@blvdmedia.com> Subject: Correction, reply, one last concert Message-ID: <08B5DDC2BABCD311BFC6005004A884B013B7D6@mgcservices.com> Not to whine, but Wayne misquoted me in 6-245 when he said: "Ed asked: >If this is >your favorite album (ES), then what do you find compelling in the current >work? Etc.", then went on to explain to me something I'd already agreed with, as the post he quoted from was actually me quoting Joseph Easter (look again, and I do say "Mr.Easter said:" right before the line you (re) quoted). That whole first paragraph of the post you quoted from was in fact quoting from Joseph Easter, and was not me. The rest of my post went on to explain that I wasn't a hardline "early" or "late" fan, and why I considered ES the first "mature" album and not Skylarking, so I wonder if you just glanced and saw that one line without reading anything else, but I'm not bitching at you, just clarifying. Also it's not that I find Mr. Easter's position so heinous that I'm embarassed to be saddled with it (lest he think I'm insulting him by denying ownership), it's just that it's not mine. I didn't say that. I was quoting someone else. Er, that's all. And in 6-246, Richard Hamilton found a few more yo-ho-ish vocal bits in ES, but I honestly don't think that the rest of your argument serves as far as establishing Skylarking as the "line between the eras" (or whatever you want to call it). The points about pedantic/literal lyrics are interesting, but I don't think that they line right up with Skylarking - it's a steady process. Mummer and BE are latter period albums; ES is kind of a cusp between the two periods. You can argue that Mummer and BE are less than successful (many have; I personally don't feel that way, but that's a separate argument), or that you personally don't care for them, but I still don't feel that that makes them "early" or "immature". As a general trend, I think that the process you describe of "the narrative aspect of the songs becoming more and more important" (paraphrasing you here) is well in progress by Skylarking, rather than beginning with it, if you see what I'm saying. I see the argument you gave as coming closer to proving that many of the signature qualities of the later period first came into full flower with that album, rather than proving that they started there. I'm just saying that the tentative steps (or what some might consider missteps) of the previous two albums (at least) should be included as a part of the later period, as I just see more of a "flow" from Mummer-BE-Skylarking than say, ES-Mummer-BE, BS-ES-Mummer, or something like that. Am I making any sense? No malice, and I'm also enjoying the feedback/give and take, looking forward to further discussion... Oh, and I forgot this entry for my "Concerts" list... "All-Time Most Glad to Have Seen": Monty Python, 1973 Canadian Tour, Queen Elizabeth Theatre, Vancouver. I was 9 years old, my grandmother took me, and it's what I turn to for solace when I'm bummed about bands that I never saw live (Fabs, XTC, etc.). This show stuck in my mind for years, including stuff that wasn't in the shows, like the Bartender sketch and the princess with wooden teeth (which I finally saw again when some cable station showed the German shows a couple of years ago), and my memory of it is still very clear. I'm as glad that I saw them in their prime as I am about having seen any band, any concert that I've ever been to, and I don't think that I could even use up the fingers of one hand counting the bands that I'd consider as big a deal to have on my "seen them" list. Ed K.
------------------------------ Date: Mon, 21 Aug 2000 20:43:10 -0300 From: "=?iso-8859-1?B?U2ViYXN0aeFuIEFk+nJpeg==?=" <sebasaduriz@movi.com.ar> Subject: Concerts & gone aliens Message-ID: <000c01c00bc9$91d41020$3a0333c8@sebasaduriz> Hi, A lot of threads have taken place in the last months in Chalkhills. Here's my updating attempt: Concert' s list: First one: Seru Giran (local band), 1980, Martinez, Buenos Aires. Best one: Peter Gabriel, Amnesty Tour, 1989, River Plate Stadium, Buenos Aires Runner ups: David Byrne, Teatro Gran Rex, Buenos Aires, 1994 & Rubin Blades, Estadio Obras, 1982, I think. Worst: Bryan Adams, opening for David Bowie (??)River Plate Stadium, 199? Most disappointing: U2, Pop Mart Tour, River Plate, Buenos Aires. Wish I was there: The Police, 1981, Buenos Aires ( memorable for Andy Summers kicking a policeman in the middle of the show) ; Paul Mc Cartney, Off The Ground tour ( only time he was down here... don't know what was I thinking off at that time) ; and obviously, any XTC concert. I know that the alien starship left the earth a thousand years ago (strongly resisted by brave defendant John Relph, if I remember well) but as no abduction took place here in Buenos Aires, this would be the albums I'll take with me if they show up. -Innervisions - Stevie Wonder -Flowers In The Dirt - Paul Mc Cartney -Skylarking- XTC -Revolver - Beatles -All This Useless Beauty- Elvis Costello I would insist in taking some more by artists singing in Spanish: -Buscando Amirica - Rubin Blades -Mediocampo - Jaime Roos ( Uruguayan candombe master) -Parte de la religion - Charly Garcoa ( local pop hero who, pitifully, lost his voice and his mind in the last years) -Ultramar - Man Ray ( the best record of a tiny but fondly local pop-rock band ) -Carlos Gardel - as they are all more or less the same, any compilation will do. A band who never surpassed it's first album: Lloyd Cole & The Commotions (they were mentioned, weren't they?) Most different artist that I like as much as XTC: Jaime Roos Last thing: If there is any John Mc Laughlin fan out there, I would sincerely appreciate some recommendations. I keep a tape of Electric Dreams which I usually listen while I'm working at home. I would like to know if there is something similar. Thanks, Sebastian Aduriz
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