Chalkhills Digest Volume 6, Issue 34
Date: Friday, 3 March 2000
Chalkhills Digest, Volume 6, Number 34
Friday, 3 March 2000
Today's Topics:
pooh sticks,flaming lips, and pet sounds
The Macca tribute
Orgroan A-cum-u-later
XTC and Paul McCartney
mccartney tribute
Re XTC/ Blur
RE: Me, Myself & Irene soundtrack . . .
Complete XTC concert in MP3 format
AV2 (or something else) News
Improve your sexual vigour in minutes!
cassette auctions
"Church Of Women" guitar solo
Up In Arms
Hey, does anyone know if there will...
happy anniversary!
Hi fans
Re: Little Express
Stupidly Happy? Yup that's Me!
Just got off the 'phone with Andy. Lots of News.
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---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Sun, 27 Feb 2000 18:10:48 -0600 From: Ian McCausland <talk@ian.mb.ca> Subject: pooh sticks,flaming lips, and pet sounds Message-ID: <B4DF1928.9E%talk@ian.mb.ca> Another hidden gem: Optimistic Fool by The Pooh Sticks. I already had Million Seller, and I stumbled upon a used copy of this one. I mean I know this stuff is kinda toungue in cheek but dman, its so good! anyone know if these guys are still at it? This album came out in 1995. The Flaming Lips album that was on every top ten has finally infected my head. I can't get a few songs outa my head. Its very pet sounds-esque whihc reminds me,.... The third disc of the Pet Sounds disc with just the vocals, is on now. Amazing stuff! If you love Pet Sounds get the box set. XTC content? hmm ok,... Um, Andy likes pet sounds, don't he? paiently waiting for AV2.... Ian -- A man's work is nothing but this slow trek to rediscover through the detours of art, those two or three great and simple images in whose presence his heart first opened -Albert Camus
------------------------------ Date: Sun, 27 Feb 2000 21:27:11 -0600 From: "Jim S." <jims@inlink.com> Subject: The Macca tribute Message-ID: <38B9EB0F.4A6A46B8@inlink.com> > From: "Diamond" <arnos@nantucket.net> > It just occured to me, some might be intereted in the entire list of the > McCartney tribute album: That sure is an awful lots of songs. Either it is gonna be a double CD or some of these songs are not going to make the final cut. Any word on that? I can't wait for this to come together ;-) -- Jim S. <jims@inlink.com>
------------------------------ Date: Sun, 27 Feb 2000 19:14:43 PST From: "Duncan Kimball" <dunks58@hotmail.com> Subject: Orgroan A-cum-u-later Message-ID: <20000228031443.30164.qmail@hotmail.com> I've read some spaced-out shit in my time, but Orgone Energy is right up there with crystal healing, Feng Shui and alien abductions. What f***ing crock. What form does this energy take, exactly? If it can be accumulated, how is that no-one ever seems to have been able to measure or detect it before or since? No wonder they locked the old goat up. Dunks
------------------------------ Date: Sun, 27 Feb 2000 20:14:09 -0800 (PST) From: Molly Fanton <mfanton99@yahoo.com> Subject: XTC and Paul McCartney Message-ID: <20000228041409.3321.qmail@web1305.mail.yahoo.com> Oh I can't wait until this tribute album comes out. XTC, Squeeze and World Party on the same doing Paul McCartney songs. Whoo hooo!!!!! Molly, long time Paul McCartney Fan Molly's Pages http://www.angelfire.com/mn/mollyfa99/index.html
------------------------------ Date: Sun, 27 Feb 2000 20:48:06 -0800 (PST) From: Tyler Hewitt <tahewitt@yahoo.com> Subject: mccartney tribute Message-ID: <20000228044806.17513.qmail@web2104.mail.yahoo.com> Wow! Mr. Flaccid gets a tribute cd! I know it's true 'cause I read it 273 times in the last Chalkhills! I think I'd rather hear the Dukes of Stratosphear cover Uncle Albert/Admiral Halsey.
------------------------------ Date: Mon, 28 Feb 2000 09:13:58 -0000 From: "Pledge" <PLEDGE7@btinternet.com> Subject: Re XTC/ Blur Message-ID: <002101bf81cc$25981aa0$6a9501d5@computer> Rory was talking about Blur and comparing their albums to XTC, and I can't let his comments pass without adding that (to my ears anyway) the Blur's eponymous album surely sounds like any early XTC album. It is not without coincidence that Blur is the only Blur album I own and the only one I like. In my first posting I explained my XTC back ground. What I didn't mention was that the first real thing I liked about XTC was that they were the band that most reminded me of my all time favourite band Madness. Like Madness and Blur and The Beatles etc. etc. XTC always wrote about English life, dealing in the minutiae of life, whilst sometimes talking about a much wider picture. Songs like Ball And Chain and Love On A Farmboys wages being two that spring to mind. XTC also, as you well know, often narrated their songs using characters, which is a tool Madness have used throughout their career. Add to that fine melodies and brilliant choruses and you'll see why I made the connection. I'm also a massive fan of Terry Hall, so it was pleasing to hear that someone on here has bought and enjoyed 'Home', which is one of my favourite albums. Regarding the AV2 debate, I am yet another who falls into the haven't heard any demos camp, so I can't wait to get my hands on a copy. Looks like I'll be duped into picking up a promo copy a few days before the official release. Mind you I was lucky enough to be bought a CDR of Homespun a few days before it was released for only about #8. Enough for now. Pledge
------------------------------ Date: Mon, 28 Feb 2000 09:57:29 -0000 From: "Smith, David" <David.Smith@tfeurope.com> Subject: RE: Me, Myself & Irene soundtrack . . . Message-ID: <802EE5D7277AD21188D10008C728D44801821E7C@TFSECMSG02> Travis Schulz said: >"is XTC still slated to be on the soundtrack to the Jim Carrey movie >Me Myself and Irene? It was brought up recently that this album would >feature Ben Folds Five, Smashmouth and others doing covers of Steely >Dan songs." Ben Folds Five and XTC doing Steely Dan - could life ever be so perfect?? Now, if only someone could persuade Paddy McAloon (Prefab Sprout) and Bob Mould (Husker Du and Sugar) to get involved, I would indeed have died and gone to heaven. Yours with a dreamy wistful sigh . . . PS - For the want of somwething better to do I downloaded an MP3 file of "My Sharona" by the Knack the other day. What a great song! (or have I lost it completely?) Smudgeboy
------------------------------ Date: Mon, 28 Feb 2000 16:44:31 GMT From: "Riccardo Bachman" <richbachman@hotmail.com> Subject: Complete XTC concert in MP3 format Message-ID: <20000228164431.3479.qmail@hotmail.com> Hi everybody! A quick introduction: I've always been a huge fan of XTC. I discovered their music back in late 1979. A local TV station here in Italy kept playing music videos as some sort of intermission signal between broadcasts. One of them was XTC's Science Friction. I hated it: those harsh vocals, that annoying one-key piano intro... yet I couldn't get it out of my mind. After a while I began to like it, sort of. It grew on me, like a fungus. I never knew the title of the song (it was aired without any title or copyright info) but after several months, while browsing in a record shop, I recognized the face of the lead singer from the video on the cover of a weird-looking album. The album was Black Sea, and I was instantly hooked. I've been an avid XTC fan ever since, buying every record, magazine article, promotional item I could find. I have all the albums and most singles and E.P.'s; I even have the "Looking for Footprints" flexidisc from UK Magazine Flexipop (I can't believe I used to read that :-) In 1982, right after the release of English Settlement, XTC embarked on an european tour, their last. They played only one date in Italy: March 16, 1982, in Genova. I couldn't miss it. A few days after the concert, a friend of mine (and fellow XTC-lover) bought a bootleg cassette recording of the performance and made me a copy. The sound quality was horrible, but who cared? It was a great souvenir of the first (and, though at the time I didn't know, last) XTC concert I ever saw. I listened to the tape a few times, then I stored in a drawer and forgot about it for about eighteen years. Cut to present day. A few months ago I found the tape while cleaning up some old stuff. The tape was still working, though in bad shape. To preserve the recording, I sampled it, cleaned it up as much as I could and transferred it to CD. I was planning to offer it to fellow Chalkhills readers, but then realized that I'd never have the time to make copies and ship them to people. Besides, I didn't care to trade bootlegs or make a profit out of it. I just thought that someone else might be interested in what I consider to be an almost historical recording: the only date played in Italy and the second-to-last concert performance ever played by XTC. Just two days later in Paris Andy would have his now-famous nervous breakdown and abandon the stage, refusing to tour ever again. So what I've done is convert the tracks to the MP3 format and I'd like to put them online, for everyone to download and enjoy. I've tried uploading them to several servers but all free web space providers I've tried have a policy aganst Mp3 files and they've been removed after a very short time. If there's anyone who is willing to host the files on his server, please contact me. Total size is 56MB. Please don't email me asking to send you the tracks by email, as this is too time consuming. That's the reason why I'd like to put these on a web or ftp server. If you listen to these tracks, please keep in mind that the source is a lo-fi recording made with a Walkman-type cassette recorder. The MP3 files are in 96-bitrate mono format. The entire performance is there, including spoken-word intros from Andy. I've just removed some pauses and audience noise between some of the songs (there was a pause/intermission between Senses Working Overtime and All Along the Watchtower, if I remember correctly, while the group took a break). The track listing is as follows: Respectable Street Burning With Optimism's Flames Runaways Jason and The Argonauts Melt the Guns Snowman Ball and Chain No Thugs in Our House Senses Working Overtime All Along the Watchtower No Language in Our Lungs Towers of London Making Plans for Nigel Living Through Another Cuba Generals and Majors Real by Reel Sgt. Rock (Is Going to Help) Total time is approx. 81 minutes. Note that this is not a pirated recording (i.e. it's not a copy of a legitimate album) and I'm not selling anything or making a profit out of this. This performance has never been legitimately recorded and released commercially before, though I think it's been available as a bootleg tape for a while. But, as I said, this is not a for-profit thing. I'd simply like to share these files up for the sole enjoyment of fellow XTC fans. If you have web space to offer, please contact me directly. Thank you.
------------------------------ Date: Mon, 28 Feb 2000 14:53:26 -0500 From: mitch friedman <mitchf@mindspring.com> Subject: AV2 (or something else) News Message-ID: <v03007802b4e08103a601@[165.247.44.182]> Hello, Just spoke with Andy. Here's the deal . . . Mastering (for the third and final time) is being done this week. Bob Ludwig (the man who is mastering it) loves the album. Since there is usually a two month window to send out long form promo discs to magazines for review, etc. the release date might be in May. Also, TVT has requested that the album not be called "Apple Venus Volume 2" (at least not as the main title). XTC is not opting for the 'name it after a lyric from the last one' scenario this time though. So far a possible title is "Our Shiny Heart" which refers to the 'x ray of a cross section of a solarized apple' look to the cover art. Don't count on the band doing a song for the McCartney tribute. Very little time, discomfort about appearing on tributes (especially Beatles' related ones) and the question of how they would do the song to begin with may doom the whole thing. Martin Newell has sent Andy some recent demos. Now you know as much as me! Mitch
------------------------------ Date: Mon, 28 Feb 2000 16:03:38 PST From: "Duncan Kimball" <dunks58@hotmail.com> Subject: Improve your sexual vigour in minutes! Message-ID: <20000229000338.8488.qmail@hotmail.com> Hi - I'm actor Troy McClure. You might remember me from such educational films as "Lead Paint: Tasty But Deadly". But today I'm here to introduce a man who is not only a internationally famous writer, but also the heir to a business-machine fortune AND a world-renowned recreational consultant. It's my very good friend - William Burrows!" "Thanks Troy. I'm author William Burroughs. You might remember me from my books "The Soft Machine" and "Nova Express". No? Well maybe you remember some of the great lifestyle products I've endorsed over the years, such as: * HEROIN - the wonder brain tonic! (When you're on a good thing - stick to it!). It'll change your life - but don't just take my word for it. Ask that guy who's climbing out your bathroom window with your laptop computer under his arm! And how about: * The SMITH & WESSON automatic pistol. No other handgun kills cleaner OR quicker - and I should know! [chuckle]. It's the gun I used when I accidentally killed my first wife, while trying to shoot an apple off her head. Sure it was tragic, but believe me - she never felt a thing! But today I want to introduce you to great new product from the laboratories of Dr Wilhelm Reich. It's a fantastic new development called The Orgone Accumulator - and believe me it REALLY works. I wouldn't recommend it if it didn't ....
------------------------------ Date: Mon, 28 Feb 2000 21:52:39 -0500 From: "Bill Duhigg" <duhigg1@worldnet.att.net> Subject: cassette auctions Message-ID: <000f01bf8261$71c2e5a0$244a4c0c@micron> There's only a little time left to bid on these.... "Jules Verne's Sketchbook": http://cgi.ebay.com/aw-cgi/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=267821494 "The Bull with the Golden Guts": http://cgi.ebay.com/aw-cgi/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=267826496 Thanks, Bill
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 28 Feb 2000 23:08:37 -0700
From: sunhouse@best.com
Subject: "Church Of Women" guitar solo
Message-ID: <l03130300b4e1080d5fff@[206.86.6.87]>
Imanol Ugarte wrote;
>I decided not to listen to the Apple Venus 2 demos till the final
>product comes out, but I'm very intrigued about the guitar solo on
>Church of Women, I 'm totally in love with that demo's part,
>mmmhhhh.....
That's funny, Dave Gregory once told me that he loved Andy's demo for
"Church Of Women" EXCEPT for the guitar solo! I was telling Dave how great
I thought that demo was and that it sounded so good that it could almost be
released as-is to which he replied "but we'd have to do something about
Andy's guitar solo". I heard an audible cringe when I told him that I
actually really liked it. Sure would have been interesting to hear what
Dave would have done with it...
By the way, is the artwork that appears on the Chalkhills website the
actual cover art for AV2? Anyone know?? (Sorry if this has already been
addressed).
Regards;
sunhouse@best.com
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 29 Feb 2000 20:33:08 +0100
From: "Mark Strijbos" <mmello@knoware.nl>
Subject: Up In Arms
Message-ID: <20000229192957.16A5AA6CF0@mail.knoware.nl>
Dear Chalkers,
> XTC: Uncle Albert/Admiral Halsey
how fitting!
What goes around, comes around i guess :)
But IMHO they should let the Dukes have a go at this song
BTW: It is my trainspotter duty to point out that this adds yet another
military / naval rank to their songbook vocabulary and that it will be
XTC's third cover after "All Along The Watchtower" (Dylan) and "Ella
Guru" (Beefheart). I have a feeling this will be a great one too!
yours in xtc,
Mark Strijbos at The Little Lighthouse
http://www.knoware.nl/users/mmello/
or http://come.to/xtc
------------------------------ Date: Tue, 29 Feb 2000 16:42:23 -0800 From: "Digitalmaster" <digitalmaster@earthlink.net> Subject: Hey, does anyone know if there will... Message-ID: <008f01bf8317$0287bd80$0200a8c0@digitalpc> Does anyone know if there will ever be a tribute to Paul McCartney? It would be real cool if one was done and it had artists like: Neil Finn, XTC, Squeeze, Brian Wilson (Anyone see the movie?) TMBG, Robyn and World Party. That would be a classic! :) Please read into the sarcasm. Can't wait to hear it. To be honest, my mom was a big Paul/Beatles (well, who's mom is not?). I never really got into him though. Not that I did not like his music, I just never bought anything. I guess I just needed to know where to start. "Take one step, two steps..." M. Wilson. (God that song stuck in my head the most!)
------------------------------ Date: Wed, 01 Mar 2000 00:09:11 -0500 From: David Oh <davidoh@passport.ca> Subject: happy anniversary! Message-ID: <3.0.2.32.20000301000911.00852120@pop3.passport.ca> just a little acknowledgement to all those 'hillers who i met at the toronto av1 signing with andy partridge at tower records on 99-02-27. to andy partridge - thank you so very much for allowing us that rare opportunity to meet you, to ask our questions and for your patience in signing everything we asked you to sign, including my 7 items and not forgetting the guitar and snowboard (?) you were asked to, and did, sign. (practically every single item he signed was personalized in some unique way, either with a little doodle or some witty remark. it was a very special day.) to jennifer ralston, big ed dalkowski, ted harms, joe jarrett, peter dix, and so many others whose names i have, regrettably, forgotten. be sure that the time i spent with all of you is a memory i will cherish forever - or at least until alzheimers kicks in (perhaps it has started to already?). ;-) happy anniversary! i hope that we can a), meet again and 2), do so at another record signing with andy and, hopefully, with colin, too. perhaps for apple venus volume 2??? let's hope so! (btw; this was written in advance of the day, but i forgot to post it _on_ the day, so it is, unfortunately, a belated anniversary greeting... sorry. sometimes, i'm such a duh! or is that d'oh?) peace & xtc, davidoh
------------------------------ Date: Wed, 1 Mar 2000 16:35:33 -0500 (EST) From: galore@writemail.com Subject: Hi fans Message-ID: <0003011635336J.28297@weba6.iname.net> Hi People! I have't posted since I have first joined the list,and I decided it had been to long since the last time I posted! Unfortunly I have never have any good Xtc revelent news! The list does a great job of keeping me posted on XTC news.And I apperate hearing about what going on in the band,Dave Gregory,Weird dreams and Paul Mcartney Tributes! THanks again Gwen
------------------------------ Date: Wed, 1 Mar 2000 17:53:09 -0800 (PST) From: travis schulz <xtcisadarngoodband@yahoo.com> Subject: Re: Little Express Message-ID: <20000302015309.17368.qmail@web1101.mail.yahoo.com> I'm still having trouble accepting the demise of LE- I've been having childish tantrums, holding my breath til I'm blue, etc. Ok, I'm over it now, but I have to ask is everybody getting their last issue? How much longer can I expect to wait? Travis.
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 02 Mar 2000 19:29:57 EST
From: "Seth Frisby" <vagueyear@hotmail.com>
Subject: Stupidly Happy? Yup that's Me!
Message-ID: <20000303002957.64122.qmail@hotmail.com>
Halloo Fellow Chalkhillbillies,
This is only my second time stepping out of the deep chalkhills closet
so it is good to be back. Lately it seems that i've been listening to some
of the boys more psychedelic works particularly the Dukes and O&L. Is it me
or does O&L contian one of the greatest starts and finishes to an Xtc album?
I think Garden of Earthly Delights and Chalkhills make mighty tasty bread
for a sumptuous musical sandwich (don't mind the silly extended metaphor). I
really cannot stop smiling during Garden of Earthly Delights; it's just one
of the most potent happiness inducing songs I know of. and Chalkhills could
end anything beautifully...
Enough gushing for now. I have one question for those who might have
Dukes demos.. do some of the songs such as Collidascope sound much more akin
to a true Xtc song without the treatments on Andy's voice and the other
production fiddle Faddle..? I was just thinking how great most of these
songs would be without some of the novelty additions(though I love the way
they are)and its only the Psionic Sunspot songs that I think would sound
good this way, 25 O'clock couldn't sound any other way. All of this
psychedelic music feeding frenzy has really made me want to listen to more
music in this vein...if any of you have any very good but not obvious
recommendations of great somewhat obscure psychedelia or psychedelia
influenced bands from any decade please respond to me off list..I've really
hit a brick wall and I go crazy if new music doesn't flood my brain at
regular intervals. Well Thank you kindly for Listening To my winding
post....Much Love to All....
This post has been brought to you by:
Seth "Looks but doesn't act like God" Frisby
p.s. While I write this it is March Second which makes it my Mother's and
Robyn Hitchcock's birthday. Two people I love very much...So Happy Birthday
Mom and Mr.Robyn Hitchcock!
------------------------------ Date: Fri, 3 Mar 2000 04:06:21 -0800 From: Peter Fitzpatrick <peterfit@microsoft.com> Subject: Just got off the 'phone with Andy. Lots of News. Message-ID: <B9B4268C8F87D11195DC0000F840FABE12AF70B6@DUB-MSG-02> Hi All, Having heard in a record store yesterday more stuff about the upcoming McCartney tribute album I thought I'd give Andy a call to get the lowdown on it. XTC were approached (they received a letter), but haven't replied and won't be doing so. " I wouldn't touch a tribute album with yours " he said. He really admires Macca and said he was very influenced by him but really wants to drive as far away from more Beatles comparisons thank you very much. Perhaps of more interest to the list is this : The New Album : was mastered and approved yesterday. It is titled "WASP STAR" and subtitled "Apple Venus Volume Two". Why ? Well, the radio stations didn't play the last album "because it had strings on it". So they wanted to ensure that the idiots in radio didn't immediately figure that "Volume II" meant "more strings". It will be out in the 3rd week of May. Promo copies are due in a week or two (and he promised to send me one ! Yippee "!!) What else is new ? Well, no promo activity lined up (yet). He got another guitar from Dennis Fano and was very delighted with it - apparently Dennis made it for him on a whim. So Andy wrote and recorded a jingle for him to put onto his website !!!! He played it to me and it's very cool ! Kinda "My Brown Guitar" - like. I said to him " it sounds like something but I can't quite put my finger on it " to which he replied " that's my whole career ! ". I don't know when it'll be on the Fano website but I'm sure we'll be hearing about it when it gets there. Conversation turned to the book+CD that appeared recently "a school guide to XTC". Andy had not heard of it and wasn't exactly pleased because they (XTC) weren't asked about it. I read him the list of songs and he audibly cringed on the 'phone. He reckoned the tapes are from a PYE or DECCA audition session. I promised to send him a copy in return for the promo copy of WASP STAR. We talked a little about the sources of these pre-XTC tapes though I'd better not mention where Andy thinks the tapes got to the bootleggers. All in all he was in good form - about to go out to the shops to get some food in (the kids were coming around today) Oh - he HAS visited the Chalkhills site. While they were in the studio he paid a visit and saw an interview with himself from an airport sometime in 1979. So ends my first post on Chalkhills for a lonnnnnnnnnnggg time. (if anyone cares....come visit me online http://www.shabbyroad.com) Peter Fitzpatrick Media Program Manager Microsoft EPDC
------------------------------ End of Chalkhills Digest #6-34 ******************************
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