Chalkhills Digest Volume 7, Issue 22
Date: Tuesday, 27 March 2001
Chalkhills Digest, Volume 7, Number 22
Tuesday, 27 March 2001
Topics:
Alcohol-free?
Uffington Horse Gets A Makeover
Homegrown [+2]
XTC new releases in UK
Cornology
Ugly American
ROO again
Who are the brain police?
Frankly, my dear ...
Exciting news!
Colin, The Appealing Manufacturer
Three...
...little ...
...posts!
It is a lasting addiction !
Japanese re-issues
Unconscious Grotesques??
Die evil turd!
Early XTC gig and more
Jim Smart?.....Uh Yes he is.
And they say you can't learn anything here?!?
Italian book+"pre-xtc" CD post-warbles shock?
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---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Mon, 26 Mar 2001 12:08:14 +0100 From: Dave.Wilson@bhint.com Subject: Alcohol-free? Message-ID: <80256A1B.003E3549.00@noteshub1.bhint.com> I heard a rumour that Andy no longer drinks. Can Chalkhills confirm this? Did he have a problem with alcohol? If so when did he stop, and how did he overcome it? Curious from Nottingham
------------------------------ Date: Mon, 26 Mar 2001 14:27:39 -0600 From: Joseph Perez <joseph.perez@sabre.com> Subject: Uffington Horse Gets A Makeover Message-ID: <3ABFA63B.32AD33B9@sabre.com> Organization: Sabre Inc. Regarding the venerable Uffington Horse: http://www.wayland.demon.co.uk/whshow/whshow.htm
------------------------------ Date: Mon, 26 Mar 2001 13:52:43 -0800 From: "Steve Young" <sjyoung@hotmail.com> Subject: Homegrown [+2] Message-ID: <OE28Fsxf4yp8ARf3sll00000038@hotmail.com> This has probably been posted about a zillion times by now, but at www.amazon.com you can now see the cover art for Homegrown (it's at the very bottom of the list, on the second page). Pretty neat (love all the gardening tools). It looks to be the Japanese release, which is no doubt available for pre-order as well. I would recommend buying from cduniverse instead - they are having a sale which will nab it for about $8 cheaper. Although I found a strange plastic-cased version of the Man/Murdered single last month (in Tower Records, no less), it will be nice to have "didn't hurt" and especially "bumper cars" (if this particular prognostication is kosher) all on the same disc. As for the re-issues, I know too little about their release so far so decide which ones I want to purchase. And now the big question - if the re-releases top the current issues in both fidelity, packaging, and tracks, who in my circle is worthy to receive my entire back-catalog? Or do I keep them for posterity? Do I have enough shelf space? Questions of the ages. ~~Steve
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 26 Mar 2001 23:32:14 +0100
From: "Darryl W. Bullock" <drol@btinternet.com>
Subject: XTC new releases in UK
Message-ID: <001201c0b644$b0cf9780$19a2fea9@Bullock>
Dear Chalkers,
Thought that you might like to know that HOMEGROWN IS getting a limited
issue in the UK. Issued on May 7 on vinyl and CD, the catalogue number of
the latter is IDEACD004.
This, therefore, will be the first 'proper' issue on Idea Records, launched
around the same time as the Official XTC website. Methinks that they will be
importing Japanese copies, but do not know yet for sure. Cooking Vinyl have
denied all knowledge of this release to date (they are still denying knowing
anything about Fuzzy Warbles too).
Also, the CD reissues in reproduction LP sleeves are set for April 9 for
the first five albums ('White Music' through 'English Settlement') and May
14 (same day as the new REM album) for 'Mummer' through 'Nonsuch' . These
definitely will be imported Japanese Pressings and will only be available
for a limited time.
Darryl.
http://members.tripod.co.uk/thisispop
------------------------------ Date: Mon, 26 Mar 2001 17:41:19 -0500 From: Jeff Eason <eason@mountaintimes.com> Subject: Cornology Message-ID: <3.0.6.32.20010326174119.007c4de0@mountaintimes.com> Howdy friends and neighbors, Since several folks on the list have mentioned the Rutles and Neil Innes, let me ask you sumpin': I've heard that the Bonzo Dog Band anthology "Cornology" sounds so superior to the original mixes that it is definitely worth buying...even for someone who owns most of the material on vinyl. The original recordings are hit and miss (sound-wise), and the same song will sometimes sound very different on the original albums as opposed to the compilation "Beast of the Bonzos." So the question is: Is Cornology worth plunking down about $50 for the three-disc set? Keep in mind that I really like the band and the old vinyl is getting rather hissy. Speaking of which, I heard that Vivian Stanshall died a few years back but there was no word on his passing here in the United Snakes. Any info? I agree with recent posts defending McCartney's early solo work. I especially like McCartney, Ram, and Band on the Run. Lennon's Greatest Hits collection just about covers anything I'd want to hear from his post-Beatles ouvre. Best post-Beatles song: "Give Me Love" by George Harrison. XTC Content: Anybody know the value of the original extra vinyl disc that came with Go2, and how many were originally pressed? Cheers, Jeff "The Suburban Spaceman" Eason Jeff Eason The Mountain Times
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 26 Mar 2001 16:35:51 -0700
From: Kirk.Gill@equifax.com
Subject: Ugly American
Message-ID: <OFAF1236AB.C294E333-ON87256A1B.007A51ED@fin.equifax.com>
Some notes and thoughts -
On the Church of Women/River of Orchids debate, well, they're both
fantastic XTC songs. 'Nuf said. You say if you "were playing XTC
material to someone for the first time, I would not play River of Orchids."
So what WOULD you play? Dear God? Senses Working Overtime? Travels in
Nihilon? I'm Bugged?
Ok, if pinned down, with the ability to play only one XTC song to convince
an ignoramus of the need to convert, I'd probably choose She's Burning With
Optimism's Flames. Can't and don't wanna defend it, but there it is.
Re : " He even grabbed his acoustic guitar and performed "Jelly Baby" for
me over the
phone. Very funny and Lemon Pipers-y."
You bastard. I can't decide just how envious I am of you, Mitch. You're
somewhere between Benjamin Bratt and Mark Strijbos.
A good first album to introduce you to Zappa is the Mothers Live at the
Fillmore East, especially if you're 13 years old and want to learn some
tasty and creative obscenities, like I was when I first heard it..........
As an Ugly American, both underneath and on the surface, I've never
"gotten" the Kinks. To me the Kinks are "You Really Got Me" and "Lola," and
while I know I'm missing the boat, I'm unsure where the pier is located...
Apathetic revenge? Reminds me of one of my favorite legal concepts.
"Reckless Indifference."
Just received my SWINDON FC cap in the mail. I love the looks people give
me as they attempt to figure out what it means.
Saw a Python "Biography" on A&E recently, and most of the remaining lads
got together for a few faux skit moments, and it was lame and awful and
everything you'd think it would be.
k?
"See how they massacred my boy..."
-VC
------------------------------ Date: Tue, 27 Mar 2001 02:40:59 +0800 From: The Worrier Queen <myrone@tesco.net> Subject: ROO again Message-ID: <3ABF8D3B.E56D5E9E@tesco.net> what do you mean? Sonny Bono? oh dear - think I just made a big mistake. > About Fuzzy Warbles . . . I've recently heard a bunch (like hours) more of > the cleaned up and remixed demos stuff and we are all in for a great treat > in about a year. Amongst the never before heard stuff were demos for "The > Man Who Sailed Around His Soul", "Ladybird", "Jump", and an electric > version of "Red Brick Dream". Ignore everything about whether there is or isn't a god. A set of Warbles with "The Man Who Sailed around His Soul" & "Jump" proves that there is a god. IMO of course. Thanks Mitch. Looks like my credit card company are rubbing their hands with glee. The Divine Ms Brown asked <<Speaking of album openers, which XTC album starters really rawk yer werld?>> ROO or River of Orchids wins this one by a short head. Peter Pumpkinhead has the harmonica and Beating of Hearts has that amazing dulcimer sound on it, but at the end of the day it has to be ROO. I think that the drip and strings just make it almost perfect and the way it builds up from that drip - well it's almost as good as chocolate :-) And I like the repletion its like a wheel turning round and round. It might be the ghost of car tire or even a Season Cycle. It's lush with plant which are flowering. The cars are gone so you can walk down the motorway and not get knocked down - a plus in my book. Anyone fancy dressing up in Skylarking costumes based on those as worn by AP, CM & DG? You can still wear the tights. > Smudge "Do YOU know what noise awakes you?" Boy Yes - it's called an alarm clock. Currently playing Ani Difanco's Out of Range & Skylarking. Jayne the wonky Worrier Queen He Toi Whakairo He Mana Tangata: Where there is artistic excellence there is human dignity - Maori saying Salmagundie can be found at www.stas.net/myrone/shrine.html
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 26 Mar 2001 20:09:55 -0600
From: "Richard" <rjpa1@home.com>
Subject: Who are the brain police?
Message-ID: <001f01c0b663$04a4ca60$02081fac@verisity.com>
re: Intro to Zappa... I agree... Freak Out! is not a starting block for the
marathon through the Zappa catalog and to grasp his full output requires
years of training. If you like "Overnight Sensation" and "Apostrophe" (both
on the one CD! - Wow! The miracles of modern technology! Or the miracle of
how FZ got away with releasing SO MANY very short LPs), follow that with
"Zoot Allures", "Roxy and Elsewhere" and "Joe's Garage Act 1" (it's gets a
bit sketchy as it gets in to act 2 and 3). From there you can vector into
the free-form madness and semi-serious silly of "Just Another Band from
L.A." and "Fillmore East, June 1971" ("the white album with the pencil on
the front") - great fun but it takes several listens to feel in step with
the proceedings. If you want to explore earlier stuff start with "Weasels
Ripped My Flesh." If you are into avant-pop museum pieces, you can try
"Freak Out", "Absolutely Free" and "We're Only In It For The Money."
Lastly, if you're of a Beefheart mind, there is Bongo Fury. "...the music
was THUDlike" (NOT like Kevin Gilbert).
When you absolutely love that stuff and want to explore the more
experimental, less poppy recesses of the Zappa catalog, then you can try
"Uncle Meat", "Jazz From Hell" and "200 Motels." Once you digest all that,
remortgage your house and buy the rest of the catalog.
re: I love Pat Metheny but most other jazz leaves me cold.
For that cold feeling from someone familiar, try Methany's "Song X" with
Ornette Coleman - largely innaccessable. Smells more like Methane than
Methany.
Flipping through the Hyperion book "Listen To This!" (1999) wherein many
musicians (a balance of jazz, rock, folk, pop, cajun, gospel, blues and et
cetera artists) list their favorite music. Dave Matthews list XTC's
"English Settlement" calling it "one of my favorite albums of all time, "
and adds, "It's a little out. It's full of angst, and there's a lot of
direct accusations against governement, no attempt to edit themselves to
sound slick. There's music that crosses paths with them that I can't stand,
but everything they've done I've liked."
Adrian Belew listed XTC as artists who have influenced him (there were LOTS)
but he isn't documented as citing any specific releases.
Cheers,
Richard "What will you do when the label comes off?" Pedretti-Allen
------------------------------ Date: Tue, 27 Mar 2001 03:06:50 From: "Duncan Kimball" <dunks58@hotmail.com> Subject: Frankly, my dear ... Message-ID: <F266EG10Gai4omRXf2L0000c1ce@hotmail.com> Pogo: >How can anyone possibly recommend the first three albums to start >with ? See my previous post on the subject. >It's sheer madness I tell you! It would be like recommending "White > >Music" or "GO2" to an XTC newcomer? Excuse me? Some us were actually alive and buying records when they came out, kiddo. THIS IS POP was the first XTC song I ever heard. Not everyone has the luxury of stumbling on this treasure trove years after the fact. Some of us grew up/old with it. >David, if you are still listening here, PLEASE just go and >buy >"Overnight Sensation"....just trust me here, you can't go wrong (if you >like it, then get Apostrophe). I still reckon he should get YOU CANT DO THAT ON STAGE ANYMORE, but yeah they're both great. >The early era albums really need to be acclimatized to . I have been a >Zappa fan for eighteen years, and I still can't stomach the really >early >stuff, and believe me I AM working on it! Man, you're weird. >And anyway, is there really any prolific artist whose entire output of > >work appeals hands down across the board? Obviously no-one can make great music every time, but some come damn close: Charlie Parker ... Thelonious Monk ... Bob Dylan (well almost) ... Paul Simon ... Paul Kelly ... Joni Mitchell ... Sting ... Neil Young ... Kate Bush ... King Crimson ... Peter Gabriel ... Shall I go on? >I would love to hear the views of other people regarding how they > >persevered with some of their favorite bands. Persevered? You make it sound like a kindgarten concert! Hey I've stuck with all of them, really. A few duds here and there,but with people like Peter Gabriel or Kate Bush or XTC, every new record is a delight and a discovery. My only major disappointment was Yes, who started off great but hit a shocking dwahl around the time of Topographic Oceans. I was expecting a masterpiece and got four sides of rubbish. >Finally here is a scary thought. Sad, yes. Scary, no. >I recently heard a music industry statistic, that 85% of people stop > >experimenting with COMPLETELY NEW music genres, after the age of 35. >By experimenting with new music, we often feel that we are breaking new >musical ground. In reality these "new discoveries" are invariably > >connected to our earlier musical tastes.... How would this 85% ever hear "completely new genres of music"? On radio?? I doubt it. Most people listen to boring stupid commericial stations that have been playing teh same junk since 1975. Records are is a mass-produced industrial product. The mass-production economy is predicated on underlying product uniformity, disguised by creating large numbers of a limited range of products, all branded slightly differently to create the illusion of choice. Radio is no different to soap powder. If the box doesn't pass the marketing panel, it doesn't get onto the shelf. That's why we need outlets like community radio and public broadcasting -- which, not coincidentally, is where I have heard almost all of the "new" genres I've discovered. Otherwise we'd all be listening to Britney all day (actually, now that I think of it ...) But also, how can any genre be COMPLETELY new, especially these days? It's almost impossible not to have heard *some* examples of almost every genre simply by going to the movies or watching TV or videos. E.g. most people wouldn't dream of listening to avant-garde orchestral or electronic music at home, but layer it into a flashy sci-fi flick and *voila*. From my experience in retail, I found that many "novice" listeners were turned on to classical, opera and even some avant-garde stuff via movies, TV and even adverts (Carmina Burana, anyone?) >Now it maybe an obscure connection, it may even be a sub conscious >connection, but it is there anyhow. I am not saying that we listen to >the >same music as we did as teenagers, but the style we most enjoy NOW >is >somehow related to our early musical tastes. Yes and no. I used to LOVE Cat Stevens and Elton John. Elton I stil lke OK. Cat makes me puke for the msot part. Some remain with you (Zappa, Beatles, Lou Reed) some fall away. The question is really, do you keep exploring, or do you stop? Most people stop because they feel threatened by novelty and unfamiliarity, because radio programs them to listen to the same old shite day after day until that's ALL they want to hear. >We can all be passionate about an artists work from a new genre. For >example, I love Pat Metheny but most other jazz leaves me cold. Hey Pat is a great player, but why stop there? Why not find out what HE likes and listen to some of that? Some Louis Armstrong perhaps? After all, that's what helped to form his style. >So I end up looking for artists related to Pat's work and style and label. >For most of us it is all about connections and related links. As so often happens. No "genre" exists in a vacuum, especially not these days. And tracking the connections can lead to some great discoveries. But so can chance. I'll always remember the days that I first heard Ellen McIlwaine ... David Hykes & The Harmonic Choir ... Penguin Cafe Orchestra ... Eno ... Matching Mole ... XTC. That wonderful sunny Sunday arvo on my balcony, when I first heard "Mannenberg" by Abdullah Ibrahim -- unforgettable! You just with the flow and keep your ears open. AS I've said before, the older I get, the more open-minded I (hopefully) became about music. I used to LOATHE country-rock. Now I even own a couple of Gram Parsons CDs. And it all connects -- the Stones, Emmylou Harris, The Band, Dylan, The Byrds etc etc. It's about learning as much as about taste; you either keep learning, or you end up on the couch in front of Gerry Springer, with the National Enquirer, a case of Bud and bottle of 'ludes. >How many experiments with brand new genres, will have the same >longevity >and profound effect on our lives/musical tastes, as those >that we first >loved? Well, how many are there? And how can you get to hear them? Simple fact is, most people are programmed by what Frank called "ugly radio", which plays an extremely restricted range. But I was just as excited by more recent discoveries of artists old and new - Ben Folds Five, Spuergrass, Richard Thompson, Company Caine -- as I was by The Beatles, Reed or Roxy Music. >Well being thirty six now, I suppose that reduces my chance ever >owning a >huge collection of minimalist avant-garde compositions, or >indeed the >definitive Goa trance collection. I may want to buy one or >two examples >but will I still be listening to them in thirty years >time? Maybe not, but so what? If you dont like it you dont like it. "It's no captial crime". Most people are just very conservative. You have to accept it in the long run. It's an education thing. And you overlook one crucial factor here Pogo. By 35 a lot of people are heads-down buying houses and having kids. The major factor -- at least for me -- is financial. The kids and the mortgage kick in and your disposable income is gone with the wind. Had I the readies, I would buy records like there's no tomorrow. A rich buddy in a successful group does just that. WALLS of CDs. I weep. And I *HATE* reading this list sometimes because it reinforces how much new music I'm missing. Gone are the days of blowing my entire paypacket on records. I cant afford to buy more than one or two CDs ever month now. My main CD player just died. My portable is ten years old. I can't even trade stuff because I cant afford to buy a CD-R. I'm dying to get DVD, but as much as I crave one, the car rego and the gas bill come first. It's just simple economics for me. If I had a big income, I'd have the best collection on the block, but I don't, so I don't. Dunks
------------------------------ Date: Tue, 27 Mar 2001 13:22:07 +1000 From: "Culnane, Paul" <Paul.Culnane@DCITA.GOV.AU> Subject: Exciting news! Message-ID: <17E19E6D5085D41196240000E896881D015844A0@g5dccbr0ms01.dcita.gov.au> Hi folx I haven't got any exciting news for ya. No, I just wanted to thank Andy Miller and Mitch Friedman for sharing *their* exciting news with us. It's shaping up to be a very exciting year XtC-wise. And quite possibly very expensive, especially for we Aussies whose dollar is currently worth the cost of one sheet of mono-ply bog paper. ~~p@ul
------------------------------ Date: Mon, 26 Mar 2001 22:13:40 -0600 From: Chris Vreeland <CVREELAND@austin.rr.com> Subject: Colin, The Appealing Manufacturer Message-ID: <a05010401b6e5bdd69ff8@[66.68.94.134]> Friends, and fellow linguists, Just to be of assistance, I (ehrm) "translated" a certain verse from a song of Colin's. The verse at hand: English to Italian and back to English: The constructor cheeky that he calls with its virgoletta or perhaps a chippendale on the night of the girls outside renders mine the large bag. English to Spanish and back to English: The constructor cheeky that calls with his cotizaci or quiz chippendale the night of the girls towards outside makes the stock-market great . From English to French and back to English: The appealing manufacturer effront with his quotation mark or can a chippendale outside the night of girls make mine the largest pocket. From English to German and back again: cheeky the designer, designating with its hrungsstrich or resemble-proves chippendale on dchennacht out, forms my the ten propellant bag ", brought to you by the fine folks at: http://babelfish.altavista.com/tr Hope this clears things up, Chris "The Original Mr. Ten Propellant Bag" Vreeland . . . . . . makes the stock-market great?
------------------------------ Date: Mon, 26 Mar 2001 23:50:09 EST From: KINGSTUNES@aol.com Subject: Three... Message-ID: <6f.1314d2c2.27f17601@aol.com> >David, if you are still listening here, PLEASE just go and buy "Overnight >Sensation"....just trust me here, you can't go wrong (if you like it, then >get Apostrophe). Almost verbatim what I told Dave offline! Poor guy just needed an entry point, and everyone decided to brag about how many Zappa records they had! It's the perfect spot for any beginner. 'Nuff said. ************************** >I would love to hear the views of other people regarding how they persevered >with some of their favorite bands. There must be many (like myself) who >made the decision to "get into" a band or genre, simply on the basis of >reading or hearing so much positive feedback. Ooooh, this is a good one! I have perservered with many a musical artist. One thing I will say, XTC has given me consistently high satisfaction with every album from Drums and Wires on (now leave me alone about Helicopter!) I have no fear buying any thing they put out and always anxiously look forward to the next. What is interesting is that many who I have continued to perservere with have tested me at times. Paul Simon, for example, who was and is stll one of my favorite songwriters, left me quite worried with his Capeman misadventure. But he recovered very well in my esteem with You're The One. Not bad for a truly old fart! Zappa I followed avidly through the seventies, but lost track of him by the mid eighties. If anything it was just trying to keep up with his relentless output. I've heard quite a bit of the eighties stuff, but just never got around to buying it. I *love* The Dangerous Kitchen, whatever album that was on. The Man From Utopia, I think? Others I have kept up with: Joni Mitchell (have every one, although Wild Things Run Fast and Chalkmark In A Rainstorm were weak), Joe Jackson, Beck, Steely Dan. There are some who I might be if they were still at it, like Ben Folds Five. I haven't given up on Ben, though; I don't think we've heard the last of him and I would get his next release without hesitation. And there are some who, like Zappa, I just lost track of, although I would have and might still, like David Byrne and Peter Gabriel. Then there are others who I had high expectations for only to be disappointed with later, like Sting, Collins, etc.
------------------------------ Date: Mon, 26 Mar 2001 23:50:16 EST From: KINGSTUNES@aol.com Subject: ...little ... Message-ID: <14.119805ee.27f17608@aol.com> >Finally here is a scary thought. I recently heard a music industry >statistic, that 85% of people stop experimenting with COMPLETELY NEW music >genres, after the age of 35 . (Note: the words "completely new" are key to >this point). You know, you almost had me there. I thought I was getting like my old man whose musical developement was arrested in 1947. Being a musician I like to think of myself as being open to new trends. But, at the risk of sounding like a toothless fogie who is ten years past the statistical dateline, I think that maybe the reverse is true. Maybe? What I'm suggesting is that maybe nothing completely new has been done in many a year? A lot of twists, but on the same variants that have been around. What is completely new? Can you tell me? I'm not trying to be sarcastic, I'm genuinely curious. I don't even see where rap has made much progress in the last ten years, except to get away from Vanilla Ice / Hammer schlock. I saw a white teenager the other day with baggies split at the knees and a baseball cap, trying to walk like a homee in an upper middle class shopping mall. Wasn't that being done, like, *years* ago? I think pop music is way overdue for a creative growth surge. IF the damn industry will allow it! To really show my age, I was around as a kid coming of age during the changes of the sixties. More went down in terms of creative change in the four years from when the Beatles hit until 1968, the year I feel it started to even out. Play a record from 64, then one from 65, then 66, then 67, then 68. Rapid change, in a matter of months at times! Totally new! Constantly! Things so compressed, the new overlapping the old. Country Joe & The Fish and Iron Butterfly playing with fuzz boxes while the Beatles were burning hard rock on the White Album and Zeppelin was releasing their first! Blues, acid rock, Motown & funk, jazz & early fusion, folk, 4 part pop, country; all this stuff just mixing and brewing and surging foward with new, new, new! It's not that I'm stuck in the good old days. But nothing fully approximating the rate of change in that period has really happened since. I think this is a fairly objective point of view. Sure, there was prog, disco, punk, new wave, techno, metal, poodle rock (thanks, Dom!), grunge, fusion, rap and so forth. But most of these trends regurgitate the sixties in some form and still do. Methinks if there's gonna be new, the kids are gonna have to grab the bull by the horn and make it happen. It's been done before! Unless all their creative energy has been lost to video games........ %-)
------------------------------ Date: Mon, 26 Mar 2001 23:50:25 EST From: KINGSTUNES@aol.com Subject: ...posts! Message-ID: <cf.43211db.27f17611@aol.com> >Well, I like McCartney, McCartney II, Ram, and Band on the Run. Other than >that, just the odd song or two stands out. He got overly sweet and poppy >after those albums. NOTHING he did during the eighties was worth a second >listen, in my opinion... I beg to differ. Tug Of War (1982) was arguably his last great album. Lop off the horrendous Ebony and Ivory (which is just a case of the MOR hit single joined at the hip), and you have a damn near perfect Macca disc. George Martin obviously has as good an effect on Paul as did John. Too bad Paul didn't pay attention to that! >In relation to the macca solo debate, i have to say i'm definatley in >his camp. yes his albums are patchy and some songs are extremly cringe >worthy, but take 3 or 4 songs from all his post beatles stuff and you >have a truly awesome collection of material, I Have always said that about his records, with the possible exception of Band On The Run and, for the most part, McCartney I, McCartney II, Ram and Tug Of War. I just never been able to justify the expense for fear of the cringers. If anyone has a complete McCartney collection, I'd love to just copy the good ones to disc. >This i fear cannot be said for Lennon, in my opinion if you get >imagine and walls and bridges, and greatest hits you have the >essential lennon solo. Oh, ouch! Man, yer breakin' my heart here! You can't tell me that's how you feel about the Plastic Ono Band album, THE best post Beatle record EVER!!!!!! Ooowwwwwwwww! (Excuse the primal scream therapy.) ******************* As for XTC album openers, I may be the only one here who likes it, but I just adore Garden Of Earthly Delights! But then, I like the Electric Prunes......%-) *********************** Tom "I believe we are on an irreversable trend toward more freedom and democracy. But that could change." - Dan Quayle
------------------------------ Date: Mon, 26 Mar 2001 23:49:14 -0500 From: "Lisette Proulx" <lisette@quatuor.cc> Subject: It is a lasting addiction ! Message-ID: <KJBBLJNKHJKFOOEKNMFPMEKKCHAA.lisette@quatuor.cc> Dear Chalkaliens, Nobody gave me hope on my XTC addiction.... The question was: "Is there any way out of this addiction and if yes, how long does it takes to get rid of it ?" And here are the encouragements... --I do believe you're in for a lengthy ride.-- --There is no way out. The only way to satisfy the craving is with a new XTC album. The period from from "Nonsuch" to "Apple Venus, Vol. 1" was hell.-- -- You are an XTC-holic. Fortunately for you, --There is a twelve-step programme to help you to overcome this addiction: Step 1: White Music........ Step 12 :Wasp Star --There is no way out, the love only grows stronger. --You belong to Andy and Colin now... So pushed up HIGHER ! by fellow Chalkaliens, I was left with no other choice than Jump ! Jump ! Jump ! And so I dove deep down in the exploration of the XTC world or should I say underworld... I continued to buy them, one by one. Over a year I went through most of all. Finaly ordering today Go 2 and White Music from good old Sam the record Man. It feels... odly complete. What took 15 years for some of you swallowed me in 12 months. Going backwards from Greenman to Scissor Man. Get a new album... Debrief it. Befriend it. Listen to death... Then the next one, and going back to all the others. Discovering new things in them, new emotions, new humor, new elation. Stop working early because I can't wait listening. And very faithfull to the bible(s): Farmer's XTC Song stories, the back of the record sleeve(s), Chalkhills and the XTC web ring ... Ouf ! A wonderfull year, which will be remembered in this house as the XTC year. Even my two daughters of 7 and 8 who only speak french, are now fans. A few days ago, I was hearing the youngest sing a pitch of : " I I I I I I I I'm the man who murdered love...Yeah ! What do you think to that...". In many ways, it was a year of transformation, evolution and mind openess to music and else. XTC fitted right in. Deep thank to you Swind-onions. Great mammimals you are ! Lisette QUESTION: The attemps to translate "Make mine the biggest pouch"really got me going to think of Pink Thing obviously, then my Brown guitar, the plough, the rabbit, the pen, the seed, the big stick, the sunflower... Lot of words in there celebrating the yardstick ? Did you find others ?
------------------------------ Date: Mon, 26 Mar 2001 21:06:01 -0800 (PST) From: Jay Gillespie <marsilies@yahoo.com> Subject: Japanese re-issues Message-ID: <20010327050601.12989.qmail@web13305.mail.yahoo.com> Okay, I don't have these, but by running www.towerrecords.co.jp through babelfish, I've made a few discoveries: 1) The re-releases place the bonus tracks at the end of the CD, restoring the original play order of the album. 2) Skylarking has 'Mermaid Smiled' in it's original place on the album, with 'Dear God' as a bonus track at the end. 3) With the exception of Skylarking, there are no new bonus tracks. I suppose Virgin is saving up the rest for the Box Set. 4) Go2 has 'Are you Receiving me?' listed as a bonus track at the end of the album. Is that right? Also, I decided to order the UK releases from www.amazon.co.uk , although just to be cute I ordered the Japanese Black Sea because it's cheaper. I figure it's the music and the original art that's important, and not whether it comes in a cardboard sleeve or not. Plus, I'm cheap. Anyway, I noticed that when I got to checkout, the prices were over a pound less than on the list page: #6.80 instead of #7.99. I don't know whether this is some special discount because I'm in the US, or if it's for all customers, but it was a nice surprise. -Jay
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 27 Mar 2001 10:48:37 +0100
From: Steve.Pitts@i-tcs.com
Subject: Unconscious Grotesques??
Message-ID: <OF4F909DE3.52FDFD9E-ON80256A1C.002ECB86@i-tcs.com>
Chalkfolks,
In #7-21 Brian Matthews offered:
> I thought John told us to knock this thread off <
I wasn't responding to the thread itself, merely to your oft-repeated
assertion about what constitutes an atheist. Since you've chosen to duck
the issue I will agree to pass too.
> I somehow doubt that without the Beatles' influence there wouldn't be the
XTC we know today, if at all <
Quite possibly not, but then I'm sure that The Beatles wouldn't have
produced the music that they did without whatever significant influences
they had, and so on ad infinitum. Irrespective, it doesn't mean that I have
to like all those influences too, just because I like the band/music that
it inspired, and I think it is a bit of a reach to suggest (as was
originally stated, albeit not by you) that XTC lovers will likely have The
Beatles as their favourite band
Steve Oleson wondered how I knew
> how large Andy's canon is? <
I measured it, of course. Occupies a couple of feet :))
David Leonard Smith referred, in relation to the Chippendales, to a:
> crowd of alcohol-fulled "laydeez" <
which Freudian slip, not to mention a borderline oxymoron, caused a certain
amount of amusement here. I was surprised though Dave, that you managed to
describe the male stripper phenom without mentioning 'The Full Monty' -
such restraint
> we've established that The Members had three hits - the above two and
"Sound of the Suburbs". Do we know what chart positions they achieved? <
'Sound Of The Suburbs' made the top 20, 'Offshore Banking Business' just
crept into the top 40, and 'Working Girl' failed to feature on the UK
charts at all (sorry for the vagueness, but I'm at work and therefore don't
have access to my (by now rather antique copies of the) 'Guiness Book of
Hit Singles' for the definitive numbers). Can't supply the same info for
the US, but it is my understanding that 'Working Girl' and the album from
which it was taken ('Go West'?? I never found it at the time it was
released, possibly because they'd been dumped by Virgin by then, although I
do have a copy of 'Working Girl' on 7" vinyl) were far more popular over
that side of the pond than this.
> just wondering whether they could be termed as more - or less -
successful than XTC in terms of chart placings <
Definitely less in overall terms, but at the time The Members themselves
packed it in, probably about equal. XTC's longevity ensures a far higher
placing for posterity, by whatever measure you choose.
Richard Pedretti-Allen assisted our Italian translator and added:
> Peckham Rose is a brand of stick matches <
(PEDANT ALERT) was, rather than is
Pledge proffered:
> I saw Transistor Blast in a Virg*n Megastore only two weeks ago <
and FWIW (which is probably bugger all) I've been working in Uxbridge and
saw _two_ copies of it in the MVC there. In fact, MVC is one place that
I've seen copies of TB on a regular basis as the branch in Watford often
seems to have a copy too
Finally, what is it about 'Smartest Monkeys' that generates such
opprobrium?? Is it the lyrical content that gets folks' goats, or the
music??
Cheers, Steve
PS. Please accept my apologies for the following crappy disclaimer
(assuming that it has been reinstated)
------------------------------ Date: Tue, 27 Mar 2001 08:39:44 -0500 From: sjacobs <sjacobs@parkgrp.com> Subject: Die evil turd! Message-ID: <B6E6024F.5CF%sjacobs@parkgrp.com> on 3/26/01 2:34 PM, someone I'm too lazy to identify correctly wrote: > Furthermore, certain professions such as builders, window-cleaners, > milkmen etc are the subject of the assumption that a "perk" of > their job is the ability to visit the housewife while the husband > is away at work - and all the "benefits" that could bring. I have realized another universal "perk" of builders/plumbers and the like, is there ability to defile the smallest room in the house. When we moved from Merry old England to the Deep South (Virginia), we were forced to have air-conditioning installed in our new house. After the first day of work, I returned home to find no evidence of dust, damage or building materials, but in true building tradition, I went to the upstairs toilet and found a huge "floater". I am guessing that this "Franken-turd" was formed by Philly Cheese Steaks, as opposed to the traditional Chicken Pharl/Vindaloo combination. Nice to know that nothing really changes when plumbers are involved, no matter where you are in the world. Anybody remember a British TV programme, featuring the making of "Towers of London". It was a documentary shot at "The Manor" (I think). all I remember is someone hitting a huge anvil? Also: Any chance of re-releasing the video collection? I had the chance to pick a copy up many years ago, but didn't have the 9.99 on me at the time. Kicking myself now! Plus cest change, plus cest la meme chose. Have a happy Spring. Love Yak
------------------------------ Date: Tue, 27 Mar 2001 15:12:06 +0200 From: "Gary Nicholson" <garynicholson@snurge.fsnet.co.uk> Subject: Early XTC gig and more Message-ID: <000a01c0b6bf$a25ebb60$ab28893e@oemcomputer> Oliver Gray, a Winchester (UK) music critic, has recently published a book called 'Volume' (ISBN 1 897609 81 7) in which, amongst other things, he lists all the gigs he's seen from 1964 to end 1999. A pretty mixed bunch I must say. Among those he's listed are: 23rd July 1976: The Brunel Rooms, Swindon: The Heavy Metal Kidz/XTC He notes that he remembers where he was when he heard that Gary Holtom (Heavy Metal Kidz' loveable cockney rogue leader and co-star of ITV's 'Auf Wiedersehn Pet') had died and also observes that XTC played 'All along the Watchtower'. Later, he describes seeing XTC at Glen Eyre Hall, University of Southampton on May 11th 1979 in which he says: 'I could see that Andy Partridge had stage fright. No, really. It takes one phobic to know one'. Mind you, when I saw XTC at Canterbury Odeon in late 1979, Andy Partridge seemed to be thoroughly enjoying himself - they opened with Beatown, but that's all I really remember apart from the place going mad when they did 'Making Plans for Nigel' and Statue of Liberty' I would subscribe to Chalkhills but I keep getting error messages back. I don't think I understand what the body of the message is. Never mind. Perhaps some kind soul could subscribe me. Cheerio Gary
------------------------------ Date: Tue, 27 Mar 2001 08:32:19 -0600 From: Jason Phelan <jphelan@ICGCopyright.com> Subject: Jim Smart?.....Uh Yes he is. Message-ID: <CBE4754489E8D211816000500416EAE00E7183@FILESVR> Greetings Fellow Denizens of Chalky Secretious Mounds, Thanks to all those who replied about "Storefront Hitchcock", which I don't think I spelled correctly. It sounds like a winner. Jim Smart and his band 3Tripper are one of the best discoveries I have encountered off this list. They are from Hawaii, I believe and all that sun and beauty filters through their music. I personally love the song "I Wanna See You Fall" It is my favorite and I have turned many of my fellow music friends onto them as well. Sometimes at work, I go to their site on MP3 and just play all the songs on it in radio mode. All day, I have people coming up and asking what I am playing and saying it's cool and other well deserved adjectives. Well, my point is, if you happened to miss it, is that this guy and 3Tripper are well worth the time it takes to click on this: http://www.mp3.com/jimsmart or go to the 3Tripper site. Honest, fun music from people that really seem to love creating it. My favorite kind. Support him as he is one of us. One of us, One of us....enter the freaks. XTC CONTENT: Just listened to the "KINGS FOR A DAY" radio show cd after a long time of not listening. Man, I wish they'd at least due an acoustic radio tour again. Anyway, that's all I have....and the check better be in the mail, Smart. Low on funds and ready to impose a new tax for the hell of it, THE SKYLAR KING
------------------------------ Date: Tue, 27 Mar 2001 06:46:52 -0800 (PST) From: Jon Rosenberger <wile1coyote@yahoo.com> Subject: And they say you can't learn anything here?!? Message-ID: <20010327144652.49948.qmail@web13408.mail.yahoo.com> Hello chalkeratzi apparently we have a star in our midst and didn't know it. The Wonderful Mr. RPA let forth the tidal waters of his wonderful intellect recently and spake in reference to the Chippendales. "though they tend to ...er ...let's just say... "pump themselves up" and then tie off their "package" with a nylon stocking to keep it that way."" Errrr.. Lovely Richard but ahhhh.. how do I put this.....Well er.. ahhh.. er... ahhhh.... oooo ....ahhh...mmmmm Well frankly how is it that you know these things? Hmmmm? Had to put yourself through school then? 6 Hungry brothers and sisters to feed and no job skills? I understand, a man has to do what a man has to do.. So Introducing for the very first time... Mr Richard "BIG MAN ON CAMPUS" Pedretti-Allen, ladies and gentleman... Lets give him a warm welcome.... You there in the back in the green tights, quit that whistling, PLEASE this is a respectable establishment. Get those dollars out of your mouths, I AM Shocked at you people. Just ribbing ya, Richard. ;) Cheers Mole PS: "It looks just like a telefunken U-47" -Zappa
------------------------------ Date: Tue, 27 Mar 2001 14:53:14 -0000 From: "apparratus null" <apparratus_null@hotmail.com> Subject: Italian book+"pre-xtc" CD post-warbles shock? Message-ID: <F17JXsNQptgFrYILoyg0000c2c8@hotmail.com> Borders stock a CD+book called something like "xtc for kids" (don't quote me on that, i was very tired yesterday). its a book in Italian and English, and a CD procaliming to be pre-xtc entitled "star park" i am not a rabid collector and wouldn't buy something unless i know it holds new info in print, and mainly unreleased stuff. this package is fishy. anyone knows better?
------------------------------ End of Chalkhills Digest #7-22 ******************************
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