Chalkhills Digest Volume 6, Issue 6
Date: Tuesday, 11 January 2000

          Chalkhills Digest, Volume 6, Number 6

                 Tuesday, 11 January 2000

Today's Topics:

                  Re: Afraid of Zooropa
                   Re: Boomtown Crimson
                       Flaming Lips
                      Wedding Songs
             XTC in the City Towers of London
                  new xtc book and cd!!
                      morphine drip
               A group by any other name...
                          hello!
                    Married, With XTC
                     Re: School Guide
                  Re: Homespun vs. AVv1
                 Why do I know this stuff
       Documentation of XTC concert in Madison, WI
                     XTCynchronicity
                      Re: melt them!
                     Truman and Jack
                   Audio Cassette Cycle
                 Re: School Guide to XTC
                       Re: Nonsvch

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----------------------------------------------------------------------

Message-Id: <v04210101b49d18adab8f@[208.13.202.35]>
Date: Sat, 8 Jan 2000 11:42:39 -0500
From: "Christopher R. Coolidge" <cauldron@together.net>
Subject: Re: Afraid of Zooropa

At 11:24 PM -0800 1/7/00, <owner-chalkhills@chalkhills.org> wrote:
>Chris Coolidge wrote:
> >>I'd lost track of them after 1994's Afraid Of Sunlight, which I
>heard one song from and it sounded like they were trying to make a
>sequel to U2's Zooropa. <<
>
>Wow, I'm a huge Marillion fan and I never saw the connection.  Thankfully,
>since I hate Zooropa and I love Afraid of Sunlight.

   The one I heard was "Cannibal Surf Babe," but I suspected that the
rest of the album was more like business as usual for them.
Nonetheless, it did put me off enough to not work too hard at
searching for it. I was hoping to see it used somewhere, but no such
luck so far.

Christopher R. Coolidge

Homepage at
http://homepages.together.net/~cauldron/homepage.html

"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

------------------------------

Message-Id: <v04210102b49d19c8ee1e@[208.13.202.35]>
Date: Sat, 8 Jan 2000 11:59:27 -0500
From: "Christopher R. Coolidge" <cauldron@together.net>
Subject: Re: Boomtown Crimson

At 11:24 PM -0800 1/7/00, <owner-chalkhills@chalkhills.org> wrote:
>Uh, not really.  There's nothing remotely close to King Crimson in
>Marillion's work.  Fripp would probably agree with me.  Still, I'll give you
>the Boomtown Rats (the "kind of" stressed strongly).   Brave is indeed
>Marillion's finest work with Hogarth on lead vocals.

   I was actually thinking of the more pop end of Crimson's style,
with keyboards, and...OK, it is a but farfetched, but how else do you
describe a band that's hard to describe? It's like trying to describe
a strange but tasty tropical fruit that's quite memorable when you
taste it, but you're reduced to clumsy comparisons when trying to
describe it. OK, let me start over, Marillion's good, they sound like
no one else. OK?
   I picked up their 1998 album Raiation, and it's quite good, but
sounds like they're making music to please themselves and their
serious fans, lots of long songs and instrumental stretching out,
dense poetry(as in difficult to penetrate, not stupid), and zero
attempts at being commercial. Good for them, seems they've found
their niche. If you've never heard them before, though, start with
Brave, or maybe their first with Hogarth, Season's End. Get their
second, Holidays In Eden last, unless you liked Genesis' Invisible
Touch; they were attempting to write hits, and forgot to tell their
record company. There's two or three songs on that album that could
have been huge on the Billboard charts in '91-92, but thank God IRS
Records screweed up, otherwiise they would have continued writing
four minute hit singles like Genesis did for a while, and Brave
wouldn't have been written, let alone released. Come to think of it,
I forgot to put Brave on my '90's top 20. Damn.

Christopher R. Coolidge

Homepage at
http://homepages.together.net/~cauldron/homepage.html

------------------------------

From: David_Goody@mandg.co.uk
Message-ID: <00256862.0046D731.00@mailgate.mandg.co.uk>
Date: Mon, 10 Jan 2000 12:57:51 +0000
Subject: Flaming Lips

I have had many good suggestions from the pages of Chalkhills of other
artists that may appeal to me, Jason Faulkner, Barenaked Ladies and Becki
DiGregorio to name but a few. However, I have tried The Flaming Lips but
they really do not appeal to my musical taste at all. This has left me with
a CD version of their latest offering which I have no need for. Would
anybody be interested in an exchange? Perhaps there is a group that has
been suggested to you as likely to appeal to an XTC fan, that didn't come
up to your expectaions. If so, e-mail me privately and we can set a simple
exchange deal up.

Thanks,

Dave.

------------------------------

From: SLEDZNH@aol.com
Message-ID: <74.74a537e7.25ab6124@aol.com>
Date: Mon, 10 Jan 2000 11:21:56 EST
Subject: Wedding Songs

Rob wrote:

"I'm getting married on the 22nd.... any ideas on XTC "marriage songs"? I've
got a few clues, but would like some input. And yes, I exposed my fiancee to
XTC and she really digs 'em."

First of all, good for you for marrying someone who is into XTC!   That
should make less time fighting over who gets control of the stereo...

I had our DJ play "Love On A Farmboys Wages" at our reception and though not
many in the crowd recognized it, it was a great moment for me.

The other (obvious) XTC / Wedding choice is "Harvest Festival".  Enjoy!
~~Jim

------------------------------

Message-ID: <20000110174933.73033.qmail@hotmail.com>
From: "jonathan monnickendam" <monnickj@hotmail.com>
Subject: XTC in the City Towers of London
Date: Mon, 10 Jan 2000 09:49:33 PST

Myself and David Cammish will be meeting for a drink one evening late in
January, a regular session where we discuss things musical, often XTC. If
anyone wants to join in the rant please drop me a line. We sometimes get as
far as early soft machine and can.

jon

------------------------------

Message-ID: <387A604B.1BD2@schoollink.net>
Date: Mon, 10 Jan 2000 14:42:19 -0800
From: dan phipps <phipps@schoollink.net>
Organization: cic
Subject: new xtc book and cd!!

just got my new issue of goldmine magazine
in the mail today and saw the following that
might interest a few fans of the swindon 2!!

cd -- xtc:  due 1/20 from italy...brand new
"school guide to xtc" is a book tracing the
band from their early days until recent time
+ an *exclusive 20-minute cd* featuring the
band from their early days when they were
known as 'the star park'!  very neat!!!!...
$21.00"

this item is supposedly available from a
place called music machine...address and
other info --

11459 Cronhill Dr., Suite O
Owings Mill, MD
21117  USA
phone -- (410) 356.4567

e-mail:  musicmac@aol.com
website:  http://www.musicmachine.com

postage and handling:  $5 per order --
   ANY SIZE!

good luck, all!  :-)

waiting for av2 and warbles that are fuzzy!

--
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
//dan & ginger phipps <phipps@schoollink.net>

"when you're stoned on spirit, you have no
 other needs...working with the purest light
 within you."  (steve hillage)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

------------------------------

Message-ID: <20000110210720.6858.qmail@hotmail.com>
From: "Megan Heller" <hellerm@hotmail.com>
Subject: morphine drip
Date: Mon, 10 Jan 2000 15:07:20 CST

Ben Gott shared--
>I've got an advance copy of Morphine's new album, "The Night."  It's
>pretty good, if you like Morphine...

That just kind of makes me sad.  What a shame.

m.

------------------------------

Message-Id: <F34536084B78D311AF53009027B0D7EA14493E@fsbex01-2.web.boeing.com>
From: "Hiatt, Randy" <Randy.Hiatt@fsbti.com>
Subject: A group by any other name...
Date: Mon, 10 Jan 2000 13:43:48 -0800

Todd said after Garret asked and I replied:> I was listening to O+L last
night and I was wondering is the drums on the> album were done by a drum
machine or a person.  Anyone know?A person -- Pat Mastellotto, to be
exact. That's not to say that theydidn't use a lot of technology, but
that's Pat doing thebanging/triggering/etc. He's now part of the new King
Crimson "double duo."(In Fripp logic, is XTC a "double single"? Or a
"single double"?)I think you mean "double trio".. as in one group with 2
trio's inside it...or 6 players divided into 2 dividings of: drummer,
sticker, guitarer.
The hopeful (yet unrealized) result being 2 songs are played independantly
at the same time.  Is that perfectly clear (as mud)?  Those Crimson boys are
really fun!

Alec said:

Now, I consider XTC to be among the best song writers and recordingartists
in the (Western) World.From what I've heard they give the Eastern world a
run for it's money as well.  But I could be completely wrong.

Randy (who feels the best of 99 happened way before) Hiatt

http://members.tripod.com/RandyHiatt/

------------------------------

Message-ID: <000b01bf5be8$ecac0520$48fe04d1@default>
From: "Colleen Hyland" <hylandc@dreamscape.com>
Subject: hello!
Date: Mon, 10 Jan 2000 20:04:12 -0800

Hello Chalkhillers. Having recently joined the list I wanted to say
hello to you all and let you know that I am enjoying the posts very
much. Until recently I had assumed XTC had joined the ranks of other
bands that dissolved into oblivion after the stadium crowds
disappeared. AV1 has been a great shot in the arm for me, reminding me
of how much I have missed their music and those lyrics, especially. It
has been great to find out that their fan base exists in cyberspace.

colleen
--  Colleen Hyland  --  hylandc@dreamscape.com  --

------------------------------

From: "Mark Strijbos" <mmello@knoware.nl>
Date: Tue, 11 Jan 2000 02:24:12 +0100
Subject: Married, With XTC
Message-Id: <20000111012139.134FEA6CE2@mail.knoware.nl>

Dear Chalkers,

Someone was about to tie the knot

>  any ideas on XTC "marriage songs"?

Obviously Greenman
IMHO it's got everything you need: romance, paganism, sex, wood...
And it's quite danceable to boot.

Two totally unrelated but equally exiting happened this weekend.

First of all I managed to acquire a "mint" copy of the illustrious
illustated Eleven Different Animals XTC songbook on eBay.
This book contains the piano & guitar sheet music to 11 early XTC
"hits", up until the Black Sea era. It's been Out Of Print since 1982
and is nearly impossible to find, in any condition at any price

Never mind the price, i'm happy that i did not resort to crime to fill
this gap in my collection* and that my patience and good behaviour
has finally paid off.

* = a local library also has a copy...

Now you may wonder: what's it to me?
Well, as soon as i get my grubby little hands on it, the book will be
scanned from top to bottom and you can expect to see a HTML
version on a Website near you "real soon".

Talking about Websites: surf over to the News page at
http://www.guitargonauts.com and read an interview with Dave G.
from last Saturday's "Swindon Advertiser".

WARNING: GLOAT MODE

Cor blimey! i never thought i'd see myself mentioned in the same
newspaper article as Andy Partridge and Peter GabrieL, let alone
Paul McCartney!
And not just any old rag, no,no... THE Swindon Advertiser so it's
bound to end up on a few familiar doorsteps. Dear oh dear!

GLOAT MODE OFF

OK, you can relax again now... i don't really want to gloat of course;
it's just that you guys & gals are the only audience i have that can
truly appreciate this kind of trivial pleasure. Please let me indulge

yours in xtc,

Mark Strijbos at The Little Lighthouse
 http://www.knoware.nl/users/mmello/
     or http://come.to/xtc

------------------------------

From: "Mark Strijbos" <mmello@knoware.nl>
Date: Tue, 11 Jan 2000 02:24:12 +0100
Subject: Re: School Guide
Message-Id: <20000111012141.3572BA6CE2@mail.knoware.nl>

Dear Chalkers,

> I don't have many details, but it is listed as a "sonic book", which I
> think means it's a book which is actually a CD-ROM.  Text in English
> and Italian, so maybe it's an Italian "official bootleg".
That's my guess too...
the Italians are just about the only source left for "unusual" releases
Somehow they manage to get those official stamps that says it is a
legit release and that copyrights have been paid and i suppose that
helps.

I found my copy of the Italian version of the Making Plans For Andy
bootleg in a local shop that never ever touches boots. They were not
aware it wasn't a regular release. And i did not tell 'm until after i
bought it of course !

yours in xtc,

Mark Strijbos at The Little Lighthouse
 http://www.knoware.nl/users/mmello/
     or http://come.to/xtc

------------------------------

From: WTDK@aol.com
Message-ID: <91.91dd024b.25ac00bd@aol.com>
Date: Mon, 10 Jan 2000 22:42:53 EST
Subject: Re: Homespun vs. AVv1

And please, don't even try to compare this to the Beatles' Anthology: those
songs were long expected, and time put a fascination on them by the time of
their publication. Imagine if the Beatles had published the sessions of "Sgt
Pepper's" in 1967. Sounds absurd, huh ?
Eveybody could have said that they had turned into shit 5 years before their
time. :(

You could argue that Homespun is an "alternate" version of Apple Venus Volume
One. While the Anthology analogy isn't exact, the way they compare to the
finished product is similar to how Homespun compares with AV1. I'm surprised
that you were disappointed since Andy's demos rarely vary from the finished
product (in terms of the arrangements, etc.) While the Beatles Anthology
series only recently appeared, the bootlegs have been floating around since
1970 or so -- they have been available just not officially.

Maybe a better analogy (for those who have been around long enough to
remember this) is mono and stereo versions of albums from the 60's. We'll use
the Beatles since they are a convenient example. The mono mixes for Rubber
Soul, Revolver, Pepper, MMT and the White Album had both minor differences
when compared to the stereo mixes. That's because the Beatles and Martin
spend extra time mixing the mono mixes. They considered them the definitive
version of the album (at the time a lot of folks still considered stereo a
fad). Very little extra time was spent mixing the stereo editions of these
albums (and usually the Beatles weren't involved in mixing the stereo
versions). So I tend to look at Homespun as an "alternate" version of
AV1--just as the Anthology tracks are alternate versions of the Beatles
stuff.

I suppose it all comes down to expectations. I didn't expect huge differences
between the demos and the final versions. I wanted to hear the rough drafts.
It's almost like listening to a band rehearse prior to a show (or a
soundcheck prior to a show). There is always stuff that comes out that is
interesting for the fan.

By the way, the year half the Beatles turned to shit was 1972--Lennon
released his awful Sometime in New York City and McCartney released Wild
Life. Both are horrible albums with absolutely nothing to recommend them.
Then again, the hard-core Beatles fan might appreciate them. I personally
like one track on Wild Life--McCartney answers How Do You Sleep? with the
song Dear Friend.

Wayne

------------------------------

From: JStrole@aol.com
Message-ID: <cb.cbce0ddc.25ac0669@aol.com>
Date: Mon, 10 Jan 2000 23:07:05 EST
Subject: Why do I know this stuff

Fish will be playing in NYC sometime soon.  Or so I saw in the Village Voice,
so I guess he's playing at least one show (I think at Irving Plaza).  Didn't
Dave Gregory play guitar with him or was that someone else from Marillion?

Harry

------------------------------

Date: Mon, 10 Jan 2000 22:59:17 -0600
Message-Id: <v02110101b4a01110244e@[144.92.182.48]>
From: jhackney@facstaff.wisc.edu (John M. Hackney)
Subject: Documentation of XTC concert in Madison, WI

I thought others might find this interesting:  Last week's local arts
magazine, Isthmus, mentioned a list of "Before They Were Stars" shows in
Madison.  Among them:  The Police, XTC, and Spooner at the Oscar Meyer
Theater (Madison Civic Center), on November 20, 1980.  Spooner had Butch
Vig (the producer, drummer for Garbage) as a member then, also that "Duke"
guy from Garbage I think.

When he was interviewed by the Onion a few years ago, Andy said that he
recalled XTC playing two different shows in Madison in the past.  I had
always thought that this second show was opening again for The Police at
Headliners.  They mention that show elsewhere in the article, but don't say
who opened for the Police.  That show was on March 12, 1979, and admission
was 92 cents!

------------------------------

Message-ID: <000701bf5c00$2e78fe60$645791d2@johnboud>
From: "John Boudreau" <aso1@mocha.ocn.ne.jp>
Subject: XTCynchronicity
Date: Tue, 11 Jan 2000 15:42:00 +0900

New Happy Year All ,

Just yesterday I received an e-mail reply from our man in the lighthouse
Mark Strijbos . I had asked him if he had on file an interview  with Andy in
which the master talks about his fave five tracks . Apparently , his " fave
list " changed from time to time ( day to day ? ) because the list Mark sent
me was different from the one I had had on file before accidentally deleting
it . Anyway , the first track Andy mentioned was Philip Glass' " River Run "
. I had thought about picking up some Glass for years but for some reason
never did . Well , I was so intrigued after reading AP's mini-review of the
song I decided then and there that I was definitely going to buy something
soon ... Fast forward to this morning
and the first day of the third semester at school . There are never any
classes on the first day which means I have little or nothing to do ( I am
an ALT - assistant language teacher - not a student ! )
so I took a book along with me this morning ,  " Song Stories " ... After
the morning meeting Yamasaki-sensei ( guitar player and all-round good egg )
came strolling over and presented me with a CD entitled XTC : LIVE , which
he had found in a shop in Kumamoto City the day before . It is a new
 versus used ) 18 track  bootleg of a Jan. 30 , 1980 gig in Boston , MA .
Allow me to interject here that I had the privilege of attending XTC's gig
at My Father's Place on Long Island only weeks earlier so having this disc
really brings back the great memories . So , Song Stories + Bootleg a
coincidence , right ? Well , minutes later I walked on over to the newspaper
rack and grabbed The Asahi News . There on page 23 was a full page article
about ( and photo of ) ... no , not Andy ... Phillip Glass ! The Tokyo
Philharmonic Orchestra will be performing Mr. Glass' " The Peace Symphony "
in Tokyo at the end of this month and he is coming to Japan to perform with
them . Is the Glass article yet another coincidence ? Hell no - that is
called XTCynchronicity baby !  And that is where it's at !

Sushiman Johnny

------------------------------

Date: Mon, 10 Jan 2000 23:37:06 -0800
From: Patricia <gypsypg@pacbell.net>
Subject: Re: melt them!
Message-id: <387ADDA1.D2A86BE3@postoffice.pacbell.net>

> From: "Jim Smart" <jismart@ksbe.edu>
>
> I just want to quote this here, because it's exactly what I was
> thinking!
>
> >Thank heavens George is alright.  One thought that I had was that if it had
> >been in America, the nutter would have had a gun and George would not be
> >with us anymore.
> >In this country at least nut-cases can't get hold of a gun so easily!!
>
> Right on, David! Why can't I get people to see that point in my own
> country?
>
> Jim

If a person has the malicious intentions of hurting another person, it
doesn't matter if they have access to a gun or not.  They will find a
way to accomplish their goals, however twisted other people think
those goals and/or people are.  Point in fact, I believe that he was
stabbed.  I understand that the point was that it could have been much
worse had the assailant been armed with a gun.  But, without a gun, he
still managed to get past security and into his room!

It is not a gun that kills a person, it is the person holding the gun
that kills a person (or animal, et cetera).  Shall we melt the "sick"
individuals too?  What about knives and sharp objects such as forks?
And, who will be deemed a just determiner of whom and what shall be
melted?

Let's play this out further...when the law abiding public has been
stripped of all means to defend itself, who will protect them from the
non law abiding public?

Patricia

------------------------------

Message-ID: <20000111151251.9890.qmail@hotmail.com>
From: "another from kristi" <beatlebird@hotmail.com>
Subject: Truman and Jack
Date: Tue, 11 Jan 2000 15:12:51 GMT

Martin writty:

>>>As Truman Capote said of Jack Kerouac:
>>>"That's not writing, that's typing."

Truman Capote was everything I as a writer wanted to be, minus the panama
hat and the lisp...

Kristi

***************
"Remember when you were with the Beatles and you were supposed to
be dead? That was a hoax, right?" ~ Chris Farley to Paul McCartney
***************
"Look what I got for $1.85!"
http://thriftgoddess.webjump.com  "Never Pay Full Price!"
A Diary of Secondhand Shopping in the Modern Age"

------------------------------

Message-ID: <20000111181219.45258.qmail@hotmail.com>
From: "jonathan monnickendam" <monnickj@hotmail.com>
Subject: Audio Cassette Cycle
Date: Tue, 11 Jan 2000 10:12:19 PST

I am happy to give away the following cassettes. Simply e-mail me which ones
you want as well as your address and I shall dispense the wisdom of Solomon.
That said, the decision of Terry F*ckwhitt remains final.

My motive is simply to keep the music in circulation rather than unheard and
in a cupboard. The quality of the recordings is generally high unless there
is a *

For you delection there are 18 audiocassettes

Beatles ; Commonwealth Tape/Watching rainbows/All things must pass
Leonard Cohen ; 68 TV Show/Live 93
Pink Floyd ; Live in 66&7*
Syd Barrett ; BBC Sessions etc*
Little Feat ; Electrif Lycanthrope
Who : Texas'70/Young Vic 4/71/Quado demos/WHo the fuck & Jai Baba
XTC ; Nonsuch demos/Agony Andy/Rock over London/Loveline
Alison Krauss ; Live in 92
Man ; Live in 70 (the band was an influence on the dukes per Song Stories)

There is also 3 hours of UK/PAL video of the beatles and early floyd

enjoy

jon
(monnickj@hotmail.com)

------------------------------

Message-Id: <s879dd12.037@tcwgroup.com>
Date: Mon, 10 Jan 2000 13:22:07 -0800
From: "Dane Pereslete" <peresd@tcwgroup.com>
Subject: Re: School Guide to XTC

According to local area record shop (Poo-bah) www.poobah.com
here is what comprises "A School Guide to XTC".  This info was
found on the upcoming import releases page, scheduled for release
the week of 17 January.

"XTC - A School Guide To XTC (+BOOK) - CD - $17.99
96 page guide to XTC, Dukes Of Stratosphear, solo works,
compilations and tributes. Includes photos, discography,
story & interviews. CD tracks: 1.Star Park 2.Yabber Yabber
Yabber 3.Saturn Boy 4.Walking 'Cross The Ceiling 5.Neon
Shuffle 6.Do You Really."

So, this makes it appear that it really is more like an actual book,
rather than a CD-ROM as postulated by our esteemed Mr. Relph.

All the news that's pit to frint,

Dane

"I once heard that no one really drinks much in LA because they
have to be careful and remember all the lies they've told..."
                   - A. Partridge

------------------------------

Message-ID: <20000111203937.61990.qmail@hotmail.com>
From: "Paul Stratford" <pstratford@hotmail.com>
Subject: Re: Nonsvch
Date: Mon, 10 Jan 2000 00:04:51 -0000

In #6-2, someone asked about "Nonsuch" pronounciation...

I think it's interchangeable - as previously mentioned by me ad nauseum (but
not that recently) I live near the palace as pictured on the
album\cassette\CD - locals proununce it "non-such" but Andy does say
"none-such" in Chalkhills & C.    I vaguley recall (may be from our
favourite book) that Andy said that it was just coincidence that there was a
place of the same name, but that might be my own internal 2K bug.

I really should go down to the local library\museum and ask the curators why
Henry or whoever called the place Nonsuch Palace, just to add to our growing
web of XTC related trivia.

I've not been reading the list for a while (I've even been deleting them
unread for about 2 months - I was busy - yes, *that* busy) what's the latest
on AV v2 and FW?

TTFN

------------------------------

End of Chalkhills Digest #6-6
*****************************

Go back to Volume 6.

12 January 2000 / Feedback