Chalkhills Digest, Volume 7, Number 30 Monday, 7 May 2001 Topics: Wooo-eeeee-oooo The Shadow of Your Cry Maybe I'm "insane in the membrane", dammit Theremin: An Electronic Odyssey In Spite of All the Misconceptions Re: They're all you can stand! Give 'em a hand! ten feet tall addition Know what? Theremin supplements Next! homegrown D&S (Dominants and Substitutions) Theremin Min/Max More on 'Look Look' GREAT new album that's NOT by XTC The Debbil made em' do it! Q magazine again Psonic Psunspot on CD? The Merchants of Cool RE: Little Joey and Big Daddy Homegrown on double vinyl??? An expensive year Xtc and fonts Stupidly Happy New Shirts white horse spotting The Great White Way... Music Videos i submit Colin Moulding Wants You! Administrivia: To UNSUBSCRIBE from the Chalkhills mailing list, send a message to <chalkhills-request@chalkhills.org> with the following command: unsubscribe For all other administrative issues, send a message to: <chalkhills-request@chalkhills.org> Please remember to send your Chalkhills postings to: <chalkhills@chalkhills.org> World Wide Web: <http://chalkhills.org/> The views expressed herein are those of the individual authors. Chalkhills is compiled with Digest 3.7c (John Relph <relph@tmbg.org>). Can't you see you're in your prime?
---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Wed, 02 May 2001 05:26:58 From: "Duncan Kimball" <dunks58@hotmail.com> Subject: Wooo-eeeee-oooo Message-ID: <F176bC8wSA1XvpFVjCR00013795@hotmail.com> Hi Chalketteers! Long time no see - how are we all? I've been having a ball. Tons of fantastic live music things hereabouts, with some of the real legends of Aussie music. The last two months have been a rare treat. (Michael - I LOVE the Owsley album - thanks!) >From: "Garret Harkawik" >Subject: Theramin >It definently is one of those random bits of trivia, because the >theramin >is named after it's creator, Dr. Theramin. His name is usually written as Leon Theremin, but that's an Anglicisation - actually it's Lev Termen, or Termin, depending on how pedantic you want to get about transliterating Russian. You can find out ALL you ever wanted to know and then some at: http://www.thereminworld.com/ This is a TOP site! There's also a great doco about him, made in 1993, which I'm sure has been mentioned before. It's called "Theremin: An Electronic Odyssey", and is highly recommended. Theremin had a most remarkable life; he went to America in the 20s to promote his invention, and stayed there for over a decade, but he was forced to leave New York in 1938 by Stalin's goons, sent to Siberia for a while, and then set to work developing audio espionage devices for the KGB. If I recall correctly, Theremin was thought to have died until he was located still living in Moscow(?) by the film-makers and brought back to NYC, where he was reuinted with his protege, Theremin exponenet extraoridnaire Clara Rockmore -- the first time they'd seen each other since '38. And of course Bob Moog started out in business as a teenager selling his own ready-made Theremin kits. One other bit of trivia -- according to theremin know-it-all David S. Miller <http://www.geocities.com/Vienna/4611/PTE-TPage.html>, it's actually NOT a theremin on "Good Vibrations". It was in fact a mechanically-controlled Theremin-like instrument called an "Electro-Theremin", invented in '58 by Bob Whitsell for Hollywood session trombonist Paul Tanner, who played it on many recordings, including the various BB's cuts that we know and love. It was widely used on recordings and soundstracks because it had a more 'ethereal' tone, and more was far more accurate to pitch than a "real" theremin, which is a very difficult instrument to master. Miller and Tom Polk have made a new version (dubbed the Tannerin, in deference to its chief exponent) which Brian Wilson has been using in his concerts. Dunks
------------------------------ Date: Wed, 2 May 2001 01:57:20 EDT From: KINGSTUNES@aol.com Subject: The Shadow of Your Cry Message-ID: <a9.14f3e1be.2820fbc0@aol.com> >Cobblers, dear boy. What about 'Cry For A Shadow' or 'In Spite Of All The >Danger?'. Don't forget that the very first original tune that they laid down >on shellac was co-written by George. Too cool! I forgot about that one! Was that first, or My Bonnie? I have the Cry For A Shadow single (co-written with John) and it's backed by Why, featuring Tony Sheridan. Shadow (an instrumental) is like the Beatles do surf guitar. Sounds like John came up with the progression and George the melody in a sit around jam, but it's very cool. You're right, I'm a bit off there. It would be interesting to discover unrecorded Geroge numbers from their pre-recording days. Anyone have info? ****************** >In fact, the comparison between George and Colin is much more balanced than >the idea that Andy is as good or bad as Sir Paul. I pointed out earlier that in terms of sheer output that Andy equates to both John and Paul, while Colin is like George. Stylistically is another ballgame. I like Harrison Sherwood's point that Andy writes more formally like Paul. But I see a lot of John in there as well, though. But in the long run these comparisons are limited to certain periods and songs that Andy has written. Trying to conceive of either John or Paul coming up with something like Travels In Nihilon or Melt The Guns does not compute. Andy in the early days was a new wave original and in many ways uncomparable. It wasn't until they had settled into the studio groove that their "Beatlesque" (oh, my God, have mercy! I said it!) yearnings started coming through with force. I think Skylarking is the first album where they seriously tried to knock off the quirky edges a bit and move in a more conservative pop oriented direction. (No doubt under orders from Herr Virgin unt Commandant Rundgren!) This is where the Beatle comparisons kick in. Although it should be no surprise given that they grew up exposed to the music of the late sixties (a point I tried to make way back when I got yelled at for yelling). No doubt a major influence, as is any pop music that pubescent teens relate to in their quest for identity. (The Beatles grew up influenced by the rock of the fifties, thus John's Rock and Roll album, for example). Even though XTC were at one point on the vanguard of the new wave and at the time of White Music were as stylistically as far as you could get from the Beatles and something like Easter Theater, look what's happened! The very act of conceiving and recording the Dukes (which is clearly an homage to their early influences) confirms this. With no expectations of major exposure any more and the cottage industry approach to the way they record and release, they are bound to indulge in their adolescent attatchments and do music with a more carefully crafted retro feel. But hey, nothin' wrong with that! They do it so well..... Later, TK %-) "If a person is innocent of a crime, then he is not a suspect." -Edwin Meese, former Attorney General
------------------------------ Date: Wed, 2 May 2001 06:54:07 -0700 (PDT) From: nross <PhoenixYellowRose@rocketmail.com> Subject: Maybe I'm "insane in the membrane", dammit Message-ID: <20010502135407.10318.qmail@web2905.mail.yahoo.com> God, I hate that song... I don't appreciate linking that line to anything XTC, I tell you. Anyways, I may be influenced by the Dixie Chicks album (expecting tomatoes to be thrown) I was just listening to, but I think a good lot of you are just a bit nuts. Ya'll need to get another hobby... take a break from researching all there is about XTC. Get a friggin life. There is a poem: When I heard the learned astronomer... ya'll should check it out. Leave behind the charts and numbers and just enjoy the sounds, alone, for a change. Shees. Someone asked if XTC fans like radiohead. This fan thinks they're dull. -Nicole ===== Nicole's internet music station: http://radio.sonicnet.com/mymusiclisten.asp?name=phoenixyellowrose
------------------------------ Date: Wed, 2 May 2001 07:00:20 -0700 From: "Wesley Hanks" <whanks1@earthlink.net> Subject: Theremin: An Electronic Odyssey Message-ID: <001801c0d310$3b778540$010000c0@default> Still available on video and sometimes on cable, the finest documentary on the theremin: "Theremin: An Electronic Odyssey" (1993) http://us.imdb.com/Title?0108323 Wes
------------------------------ Date: Wed, 2 May 2001 10:07:39 -0500 From: "Wiencek, Dan" <Dan_Wiencek@mcgraw-hill.com> Subject: In Spite of All the Misconceptions Message-ID: <200105021512.f42FCA4751061@els.sgi.com> Quoted from Darryl: > One last couple of thoughts... George didn't really start > writing until they > started to record. > > Cobblers, dear boy. What about 'Cry For A Shadow' or 'In > Spite Of All The > Danger?'. Don't forget that the very first original tune that > they laid down > on shellac was co-written by George. "In Spite of All the Danger" may be credited McCartney-Harrison, but it's all Paul. As Paulie later explained, he wrote the tune and the words, George came up with the guitar solo and Paul figured, with the generosity of youth, that George "wrote" the solo and so deserved co-credit. Paul acknowledged that it wouldn't have happened that way today; the guitarist doesn't get composition credit for the solo. (Though he gave Ringo co-writing credit for coming up with a drumbeat on Flaming Pie, so who knows?) And the AllMusic database is down, so I can't check the authorship of "Cry for a Shadow," but I thought it was credited jointly to all the Beatles. Can't be sure so I'll grant you that one. I've always loved George's playing on that ... that and the solo for "My Bonnie." That eighteen-year-old kid could COOK. Dan W.
------------------------------ Date: 02 May 2001 11:13:09 -0400 From: Dan Schmidt <dfan@harmonixmusic.com> Subject: Re: They're all you can stand! Give 'em a hand! Message-ID: <wklmofbx8a.fsf@turangalila.harmonixmusic.com> Organization: Harmonix Musick Systems KINGSTUNES@aol.com writes: | >This isn't as crazy as one might think; it's a perfect example of a | >standard jazz technique called tritone substitution. | | The b7th applied to the dominant creates, with the 3rd, the tritone, | which is the diminsihed 5th interval that creates the strongest | tension component of the dominant. So why not call it a dominant | subsitution, which is how I described it, basically? Explain the | basis and origin of your terminology, por favor. I've not heard | that one. It's called a tritone substitution because you're replacing one chord (V) by a chord a tritone away (IIb); also because the same tritone in the original V chord that you mention (say, B-F in the case of C major) is present in the IIb chord. A web search for 'tritone substitution' turns up a bunch of references, including, for example, http://hum.lss.wisc.edu/jazz/substitutions.html which notes, in part, Using the tritone substitution, the roots of the ii-V-I progression move down by half-steps, instead of ascending 4ths. For example, in the key of C the progression becomes Dm7, Db7, CM rather than Dm7, G7, CM. which is exactly what's happening in the intro of "If I Fell". -- http://www.dfan.org
------------------------------ Date: Wed, 2 May 2001 17:04:51 +0100 From: Warren.Butson@getty-images.com Subject: ten feet tall addition Message-ID: <917A9E311021D411ABDF00508B605A470255FA24@lonexchg01.tonystone.com> has anyone noticed on the reissue of drums and wires, that at the beginning of "ten feet tall" there is some mumbled words before the song actually starts, that wasn't on the original, what's all that about? has anyone else spotted any little addtions to the re-releases? or was my record player so crap that i never heard this before? a confused warren from surrey.
------------------------------ Date: Wed, 02 May 2001 12:02:03 -0400 From: "Benjamin A. Gott" <bgott@bowdoin.edu> Subject: Know what? Message-ID: <B715A7BB.41DB%bgott@bowdoin.edu> Gang, I just received the digitally remastered copy of "Drums and Wires," and I must agree: it's great. I hosted an "all XTC" show on WBOR, Bowdoin's radio station, last Thursday -- we had some really unusual requests! The XTC fans just come out of the woodwork when we're allowed to, don't we? Know what? Blur's "Modern Life is Rubbish" isn't really that bad. It's not their best, but it's not their worst, either. I just realized that after holding the album at arm's length for...um...five years? Anyway. For all Chalkhillians who care, I accepted a job last Tuesday teaching sixth, seventh, and eighth grade English in a school in eastern Connecticut. Go, my first job! And graduation is just 24 days away, and counting... -Ben +--------------------------------------------------------------------+ Benjamin Gott . Bowdoin College . Brunswick, ME 04011 AIM: Plan4Nigel . http://www.bowdoin.edu/~bgott All of my dreams just fall like rain / All upon a downtown train.
------------------------------ Date: Wed, 2 May 2001 13:00:22 -0500 From: Andrew Boyle <uscolor@uscolor.com> Subject: Theremin supplements Message-ID: <v0421010ab715f76ac0e4@[192.168.0.3]> Roberts, Peter wrote: >>Does anyone else hear the Cypress Hill song when they hear 'We're All >>Light?' (Because of the 'Theremin' - I wonder if that's really what it is). >>Cracked me up the first time!! Now I can't get it outta my head. >>Pete First time through the player! "Insane" and "Jump Around" by House of Pain which is now the main Pringles campaign song. Cypress Hill was first and sticks in my head every time. Still love the addition in "We're All Light". Andrew Boyle Orlando, FL
------------------------------ Date: Wed, 02 May 2001 13:33:56 -0400 From: "Todd Bernhardt" <todd.bernhardt@enterworks.com> Subject: Next! Message-ID: <3AF04504.ED43395A@enterworks.com> Organization: Enterworks, Inc. Hi: >From TVT's Kris Chen: > For further information and (soon!) sound clips, check the XTC page on our > site. http://www.tvtrecords.com/artists/?art_id=173 > > If you'd like, you can also sign up for our XTC mailing list and we'll keep > you updated with info about other releases, downloads, contests and various > othe promotions. Thanks for posting, Kris. Could you please follow up with a URL for your XTC mailing-list sign-up? I looked all over your site, and can't for the life of me find anything having to do w/an XTC mailing list (except for the link to Chalkhills -- and though I admire the circular logic involved in posting a message to Chalkhills that asks people to join Chalkhills via the TVT Web site, I hope that's not what you meant). BTW, do we get milk with all those cookies? To Chris Coolidge: Our time is about up, but I think we made some breakthroughs today. Please settle your account with my secretary as you leave, eh? -Todd
------------------------------ Date: Wed, 2 May 2001 15:46:43 -0400 From: "Patrick Adamek" <padamek@neo.rr.com> Subject: homegrown Message-ID: <001301c0d340$9da6dce0$79c55d18@neo.rr.com> I read the following in #7-29: >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> From: Kris Chen <kris@tvtrecords.com> Subject: HOMEGROWN DEMOS Hello Chalkhills, This is Kris at TVT Records. I've been a chalkhills subscriber for quite a while but never posted. Well, here's something to write about. On May 22nd, we'll be releasing "Homegrown", a 20 track collection of demos from the Apple Venus vol.2 sessions. The track listing is as follows: Playground Stupidly Happy In another life (excerpt of original demo) In another life (jug band version) some lovely boarded up i'm the man who murdered love (early) i'm the man who murdered love (tamla demo) we're all light standing in for joe (lounge version) standing in for joe wounded horse you and the clouds will still be beautiful lie for a lie church of women the pot won't hold our love everything decays the wheel and the maypole >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> it just so happened that I was listening to the Japanese version of this CD here on May 2nd, 2001 when I received this issue of Chalkhills. My track listing is the same except for the addition of two: Didn't Hurt a Bit Bumper Cars My question: does the Japanese version have more songs and comes out a whole month eariler? Re: homegrown: (DO NOT WORRY.....NO "SPOILER" INFO HERE!!!) I simply love the fact that my favorite band (or any band for that matter) makes available to its listeners such a treasure trove of recordings. If I was not interested enough in them to purshase the "demos" than I do not have to. Simply giving us fans the option is much appreciated. As it was, I did take the option to buy them and I love it. Excellent packaging (the attention to detail is simply amazing!) which inspired me to buy all of the japanese reissues from HMV.com (for $13.81 US each). Did I already own the others? Of course, but what a golden chance to acquire a professionally produced (musically and packaging) version of 10 of my favorite albums! On the subject of reissues...two of the most professional treatments have got to be the Elvis Costello series bested only by the Kinks catalogue. The latter is a study in how old albums can be re-born in the digital age with complete images, information and excellent sound. I've enjoyed the discussion of the Beatle's songs and John's writing even if I have not understood all of the points that were made. All for now Patrick
------------------------------ Date: Wed, 2 May 2001 16:39:48 -0400 From: "Roberts, Peter" <Peter.Roberts@novainfo.com> Subject: D&S (Dominants and Substitutions) Message-ID: <074CBB342C7BD311971B00508B6F7FD403B1BDB9@spc-mail.novainfo.com> >This isn't as crazy as one might think; it's a perfect example of a >standard jazz technique called tritone substitution. >The b7th applied to the dominant creates, with the 3rd, the tritone, which is >the diminsihed 5th interval that creates the strongest tension component of >the dominant. So why not call it a dominant subsitution, which is how I >described it, basically? Explain the basis and origin of your terminology, >por favor. I've not heard that one. It sounds as though you are trying to make it more complicated than it is. I'm still trying to figure out your explanation. Granted, I'm not a theory expert, but I have never heard of a 'dominant sub' (doesn't that sound like a wishy-washy S&M freak??) Tritone sub sounds right to me. The way it was explained to me: Take A7 and Eb7 (Eb is the tritone or b5 of A): The A7 chord is spelled: A C# E G The Eb7 chord is spelled: Eb G Bb Db (Db = C#) so the 3rd of A7 is the 7th of Eb7 (C#/Db), and the 7th of A7 is the 3rd of Eb (G). The sub sounds great to me now; if you have an A7 chord you can (in jazz, anyways) get away with playing an Eb in the bass. It took me a while to 'hear' this, but it works for me all the time now. On the subject (sort of) - a stupid joke: What did the musician say to the tightrope walker?? "You'd better C# or you'll Bb" (told ya it was stupid!!) XTC content: I wish I had seen them. Pete
------------------------------ Date: Wed, 02 May 2001 16:18:09 -0600 From: "Steve Johnson" <sjohnson@co.missoula.mt.us> Subject: Theremin Message-ID: <saf0334b.049@mail.co.missoula.mt.us> Everything you ever wanted to know about the theremin (and more) can be found at: http://www.geocities.com/Vienna/4611/ A thereminiac's delight!
------------------------------ Date: Wed, 2 May 2001 21:29:34 -0500 From: "Richard" <rjpa1@home.com> Subject: Min/Max Message-ID: <00a501c0d378$e479d5e0$02081fac@verisity.com> ...And all this time I was under the distinct impression that a "theramin" was B complex with double quanitities of Pantothenic Acid, Manganese, Boitin, a flatted 7th and a diminished 5th interval that helps build strong bodies 12 ways while fending off the heartbreak of psoriasis which pretty much explains this entire McCartney/Lennon thing. Andy was working down in London on Monday. Cheers, Richard
------------------------------ Date: Thu, 3 May 2001 00:37:10 -0400 From: minerr <minerr@bc.edu> Subject: More on 'Look Look' Message-ID: <3AFC55D1@netfin6.bc.edu> Just watching 'Look Look' again for the 10th or 11th time. No, these videos don't improve with repeated watching. But I can't stop myself from watching them anyway. I do wonder: who *are* those women in the 'Life Begins as the Hop' video? Where are they now? The boys appear to be having fun with them. Dave Gregory in particular looks positively giddy. "Wow, this is what it means to be in a band!" They really were a bit like the Jetson and the Monkees in those days, weren't they? A rare Spinal Tap-ish moment, I think, comes in AP's introduction to 'All of a Sudden It's Too Late.' He uncharacteristically stammers: "You have to stay on top of love, and loving things, and you have to be, er *more* loving because if you don't use it, uh, when you're around to use it..." Utterly uncharacteristic. Everything else I've seen or heard from him suggests that he's the most articulate musician on the planet. The only rock musician who comes close would be Neil Peart of Rush, who is also very articulate, but in a totally different way -- lots of vocabulary, delivered at a rate of about 200 words per minute, but none of the perverse wit. Sting tries, but he's not quite there, as far as I can tell. (No flames for this: I actually like Sting.) Thanks to Derek Miner (no relation) for turning me on to Siren Disc in a previous digest. (I tried to e-mail you, Derek, but my message was bounced back.) I've ordered the Japanese remasters from them, at a very reasonable $18 per disc. Highly recommended -- assuming, of course, they come in the next day or two. Does anyone know how I might easily obtain a copy of *Song Stories*? My XTC addiction has progressed to the point where I *have* to have a copy of this book. Chalkhillians might be interested to know that for the last day of class, I ended by playing 'Respectable Street.' The message was simple: whatever you do, don't make the goal of your life to live on Respectable St. Distinguish your true needs from your sham needs, as Nietzsche says. Aim for something higher. Of course, none of them had heard of XTC. Now
------------------------------ Date: Thu, 3 May 2001 00:07:56 -0500 From: "Jonny Pop" <jbkxtc@mail.ev1.net> Subject: GREAT new album that's NOT by XTC Message-ID: <200105030007.AA566493444@mail.ev1.net> Hi all, Okay, I just heard a new record that has blown me completely away, and I think XTC - and especially Dukes fans - would love it. It's called "The Orgone Box" and it's by this guy Rick Corcoran from the UK. He was in a band called Orange that released an EP in '94 and then they broke up. Then in '96 Rick recorded "The Orgone Box" and it was only released in Japan. Well, Bill Forsythe of Minus Zero records in London tracked Rick down and convinced him to let Minus Zero re-release it. Bill says he believes it is one of the finest albums to come out of England in the last 20 years! I've only heard it twice and it may already be one of my favorite albums of all time (and I in no way, shape or form work for Bill or Minus Zero). Go to www.minuszerorecords.com and check it out. XTC content: I've already pre-ordered all ten of the UK re-releases of our beloved XTC albums. Maybe by the time I get them, I'll be willing to stop listening to "The Orgone Box", or maybe I'll listen to it in between each XTC disc! What's the word on "Fuzzy Warbles"? Bye! John
------------------------------ Date: Thu, 3 May 2001 01:45:11 EDT From: KINGSTUNES@aol.com Subject: The Debbil made em' do it! Message-ID: <db.13dd4f9e.28224a67@aol.com> Chalkmites and Chalktites, >Has anyone heard what the track order will be for the Skylarking reissue? As >someone who actually liked the inclusion of bonus tracks in the middle of >the CDs, I am curious. It always seemed to me that Mermaid Smiled fits in >great where it is next to The Man Who Sailed Around His Soul, AND that Dear >God flowed perfectly into Dying rather than being "tossed in" at the end of >the disc (on the Canadian version for example). Thoughts? Well, as someone who bought the first pressing of Skylarking, I think Dear God should be "tossed off" altogether! Just in case you're not aware, Dear God was not originally included on the album, but was stuck on when it became a hit. (I don't really care what the intentions of Partridge or Rundgren were before the release, it was released as it was and that's the way we heard it and it was perfect as it was!) I don't knock Dear God as a song, it has it's charm. But it sticks out like a dull razor blade on Skyklarking! It just doesn't fit. And to know that it was slapped in where it was just to boost sales makes it worse for me, particularly at the expense of the exquisite Mermaid Smiles! (Which, BTW, is placed where you like it. It was dumped altogether when Dear God was grafted on, so The Man Who Sailed Around His Soul went right to Dear God. Yecch!) I admit it was clever how they overlapped Dear God with Dying, but within the overall feel of the album, it just sucks. It rightfully belongs as an add-on at the end of the re-release as: A) it was not on the original release and wasn't intended to be and B) there is no need to boost the sale of this perfect album any more by the Frankenstein surgery that it was subjected to in 1987. Have you heard it in it's original order? As for all bonus tracks, they belong at the END of ANY classic re-release. If you want to play with the running order, program your CD player or get a burner and do your own mix! IMHO, of course. ;-) Long live the Village Green! Crusty ol' TK %-)
------------------------------ Date: Thu, 3 May 2001 09:57:30 +0100 (BST) From: andrew sneddon <andrew_sneddon@yahoo.com> Subject: Q magazine again Message-ID: <20010503085730.12137.qmail@web615.mail.yahoo.com> Was looking in this months Q and apparently the staff there have been listening to Oranges and Lemons a lot (as mentioned in their heavy rotation column) and theres a little blurb about Andy and his toy soldiers.
------------------------------ Date: Thu, 3 May 2001 08:05:06 -0700 (PDT) From: John Relph <relph@engr.sgi.com> Subject: Psonic Psunspot on CD? Message-ID: <200105031505.IAA10891@mando.engr.sgi.com> Well, now, that's odd. I just surfed CDNOW and they have a listing for "Psonic Psunspot" on CD. No, not "Chips From The Chocolate Fireball". The track listing begins with "Vanishing Girl" and the cover picture is in fact "Psonic Psunspot". From Geffen. http://cdnow.com/pagename=/RP/CDN/FIND/album.html/from=sr-131222-1/itemid=298649 Does anybody own this item? -- John NP: Louis Philippe: Azure
------------------------------ Date: Thu, 03 May 2001 11:36:12 -0400 From: "Todd Bernhardt" <todd.bernhardt@enterworks.com> Subject: The Merchants of Cool Message-ID: <3AF17AEC.4A1D7DEE@enterworks.com> Organization: Enterworks, Inc. Hi: I saw a very interesting episode of "Frontline" (a documentary series on American public television stations) last night called "The Merchants of Cool." It brought up a lot of the issues we've talked about here before -- such as how alt culture is constantly co-opted by commercial interests -- but brought up some issues and some particularly insidious marketing techniques I'd not thought about before. If you're interested, check it out at: http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/cool/ You can find another interesting, related article at: http://www.gladwell.com/1997_03_17_a_cool.htm -Todd
------------------------------ Date: Fri, 4 May 2001 14:09:09 +0100 From: "Smith, David" <David.Smith@omgeo.com> Subject: RE: Little Joey and Big Daddy Message-ID: <4BBE67B71C1DD411A23600508B65F71E01C7AFDC@tfsecmsg04.tfseur.co.uk> Hi there, one and everyone . . . Couldn't resist this - Chris Coolidge wrote: > I actually met Joey once on St Marks Place in NYC in the > mid-80's; I was helping a friend sell his comic book on the > street, hawking signed copies to whoever walked by. Joey comes > walking up, head down, frowning like he's hung over. I yell to > him "Hey Joey, want to buy a comic?" Joey, head still down, > yell's back "NO!" Aaah, brushes with fame. In my younger days I once happened across the pro-wrestler "Big Daddy" at our local sports centre. Now this won't mean much to a) anyone not British, or b) anyone who thinks wrestling is the hugely muscled flyers intoday's WWF; but in the 70s and early 80s wrestling was staple Saturday after- noon TV fare in the UK . . . "Live, from the Trolleymen' Social Club in Goole, it's show time, grapple fans . . . . featuring Big Daddy, Giant Haystacks, Kendo Nagasaki and Ironfist Clive Myers" etc etc. After which, we were "treated" to a bunch of fat blokes in ladies swimming costumes . . . errrrr, falling over, basically. And Big Daddy was the Hulk Hogan of the British scene - the avenging hero that everybody loved, the ultimate "face". Anyhooo . . . there was I, aged about 13 (and therefore the standard "cocky little git" that all 13 year old boys are - more of that some other time). It's the middle of the summer holidays and me and my mates are hanging around the sports centre looking for mischief . . . as you do! Along waddles Big Daddy - 6 foot 3 and at least 20 stone (280lbs - c'mon you Yanks, keep up . . .) - fortunately he was in a tracksuit, not his wrestling "attire". Couldn't pass this one up: (now, you must bear in mind that Mr Daddy and Giant Haystacks - the ultimate "heel" - were NOT best of friends, in the ring OR out of it). "Alright Big Daddy, how's Giant Haystacks?" said I. "P*ss off, you little b*stard", he replied, without breaking stride. I've basked in the reflected glory for years . . . ****** Molly said: re Nelly Hooper: > He laughed & said "Whaaaat? Are you kidding? Andy > Partridge was my music teacher in school!" He was in school > in Bristol at the time. I never questioned him about it later, > unfortunately. So, does anyone know if this is true? Does > Andy teach music classes around Mid-North England . . . Hey Molly, obviously he didn't do geography . . . Bristol, mid-North? Hrrrrrrmmmppph! Brizzle (as the locals call it) is in the gateway to the South West - not too far from Swindon, actually. I know, I know, all the world hates a pedant. ****** Tom said: > Anyone wanna' join the HbMin/Dim9+13 club? > (we wear green tights) > > B is Bb and H is B in Der Fodderland. So Hb is B. But I dig > C & W & R & B & > me and the Chimpanzee agree! No Greenman tights for this celebrity. I thought Hb was a pencil . . . I'll get me coat . . . Smudge (the stuff just pours out) Boy "Character is what you know you are, not what others think you have" Marva Collins
------------------------------ Date: Fri, 4 May 2001 17:49:59 -0700 From: "Wesley Hanks" <whanks1@earthlink.net> Subject: Homegrown on double vinyl??? Message-ID: <000b01c0d4fd$5157d920$010000c0@default> I know this is a bit tenuous kids, but, according to a dealer ad in Goldmine (#542) they list the following: "LP XTC Due 5/21 New Limited pressing of their "Homegrown" album as a 2-lp Vinyl Pressing!...$25" www.musicmachine.com Not affiliated, blah, blah Wes Hanks
------------------------------ Date: Fri, 4 May 2001 19:34:31 -0700 From: "Thomas Long" <tlong1@telus.net> Subject: An expensive year Message-ID: <000701c0d50b$ea56fda0$3a8ae8d8@bc.hsia.telus.net> Between picking up the remasters, Homegrown, Fuzzy Warbles & whatever other detritus abounds on the Idea Records site (Andy takes a pee, in stereo... no wait, I've already got that), I may have to take out a second mortgage. In any event, the wife is sure to go. And I hear Rhino is rereleasing the Costello collection that Ryko did such a great job on... with bonus discs!! Shite. I'll add to the kudos that have been heaped upon the remastered Drums & Wires. What a brilliant record. I've heard it a gazillion times, and now it sounds even better (whoever said the voice tacked on to the beginning of Ten Feet Tall is Colin's is wrong... it's as Dave as Dave can be... miss that man *sniff*). As for English Settlement, to my ears it sounds slower or flatter or somethinger. Any takers? cheers, thomas
------------------------------ Date: Sat, 05 May 2001 14:28:55 +0100 From: The Worrier Queen <myrone@tesco.net> Subject: Xtc and fonts Message-ID: <3AF40016.4798C7E1@tesco.net> check out steelfish, husky stash & eye rhyme there maybe more... -- The Worrier Queen T shirt designs can be found at http://uk.geocities.com/wretchedpietrap/back1.gif & http://uk.geocities.com/wretchedpietrap/1st_pie.gif
------------------------------ Date: Sun, 6 May 2001 17:12:10 -0700 (PDT) From: John Relph <relph@engr.sgi.com> Subject: Stupidly Happy Message-ID: <200105070012.RAA67293@mando.engr.sgi.com> Hi dee ho, On Saturday morning, I took it fairly easy, asked my son Paul what he wanted to do, and he said, "Nothing. I want to stay home." So when I finally put some clothes on for the day, I dressed casual: I put on some jeans and my "Stupidly Happy" T-shirt (Thanks, Phil). Later in the afternoon, I decided to take care of an errand I had been putting off, and my son and I walked down to the local bike shop to get his new bike some training wheels. The bike was a hand-me-down from a friend whose sons had outgrown it, and the bike shop was Valencia Cyclery, a few blocks from the house. On the way, Paul and I were crossing Valencia Street, and a voice called out, "Hey, is that an XTC shirt?" A taxi driver waiting for the light to change was leaning towards us hopefully. So I told him, somewhat surprised, as you might imagine, that yes, it was an XTC shirt. He said he hadn't seen that particular shirt. I told him I got it through Chalkhills, you know, the XTC list. Then the light turned green and he had to go. Another nice XTC episode in San Francisco. By the way, I must say that the weather has been absolutely beautiful these last few days. Temperature hovering around 70 degrees (Fahrenheit, of course), light breezes, nice and sunny. Dolores Beach has been absolutely packed with sunbathers. Let's hope it stays this way for a while. Oh yeah, we went to the Crissy Field opening day ceremonies today. I wore my Chalkhills Horse hat. I got no comments on it. Oh well. -- John -- Funk pop a roll beats up my soul -- XTC
------------------------------ Date: Sun, 06 May 2001 23:31:12 -0600 From: Phil Corless <philco@micron.net> Subject: New Shirts Message-ID: <3.0.5.32.20010506233112.00acf100@pop3.micron.net> I'm making another batch of XTC/Uffington Horse shirts... This time around it's just a front design. Nothing on the back. Details to be found at: http://www.webpak.net/~philco/chalk2001.htm - Phil
------------------------------ Date: Sun, 06 May 2001 23:21:19 +0100 From: The Worrier Queen <myrone@tesco.net> Subject: white horse spotting Message-ID: <3AF5CE60.89A35A8@tesco.net> just a small piece on the Uffington Horse. http://www.britannia.com/wonder/whitehrs.html If anyone was confused by my lasting posting about Ray Larabie's fonts it wasn't the fonts I was on about but what he quoted to illustrate the fonts. http://www.larabiefonts.com/fonts/s2.html - look at Steeleye. He says he uses what ever cd he's listening to for the quotes. The Worrier Queen T shirt designs can be found at http://uk.geocities.com/wretchedpietrap/back1.gif & http://uk.geocities.com/wretchedpietrap/1st_pie.gif
------------------------------ Date: Mon, 7 May 2001 10:06:43 -0700 (PDT) From: Ira Lieman <ilieman@yahoo.com> Subject: The Great White Way... Message-ID: <20010507170643.15442.qmail@web11201.mail.yahoo.com> Chalkhillers, Please join me in wishing a hearty Mazel Tov to erstwhile Chalkhills subscriber, Friend Of Andy, and general mensch David Yazbek on his Tony award nomination for Best Original Music! Now I have to get my righteous ass out to see The Full Monty ... if it weren't so hard ALREADY to get tickets, this is going to make it that much harder! ObXTC: I'm writing this while already standing on virtual line for Homegrown. Can't wait! -ira "got a spare million or five?" lieman
------------------------------ Date: Mon, 7 May 2001 22:30:31 -0400 (EDT) From: Joe Lapolito <jlapolit@navipath.com> Subject: Music Videos Message-ID: <200105080230.f482UVu76758@drama.navipath.com> Hello, I am looking for some XTC music videos, any pointers as to where I could find such a thing would be appreciated. -Joe
------------------------------ Date: Mon, 7 May 2001 22:49:27 -0400 From: mitch friedman <mitchf@mindspring.com> Subject: i submit Message-ID: <v03007800b71d0eb519c2@[165.247.31.15]> Hi, So about those Japanese remastered paper sleeve dealies . . . they're amazing! One correction for those of you who aren't sure -- the extra never-before-heard-surprise beginning guitar strum and voice part of "Ten Feet Tall" is Dave's voice and not Colin's as previously mentioned. I don't know who is doing the strumming. Mitch
------------------------------ Date: Mon, 07 May 2001 23:40:07 -0400 From: "S. Fujimoto" <earlycolin@hotmail.com> Subject: Colin Moulding Wants You! Message-ID: <F110RMWuLn5U9T3TGJ2000007be@hotmail.com> Dear XTC fan, Colin Moulding is currently looking for better copies of some of his own recordings, ones for which he does not have masters. There are two sets of tapes that he is particularly looking for: (1) his session tape recorded at the Swindon Town Hall, which consists of "The Beautiful People," "Cheap Perfume," "I Feel Blue," "Someone's Been in My Room," and "If I Had My Way"; and (2) XTC's rehearsal tape recorded in Tudor Studios that includes "Blame the Weather." He would like to locate the earliest possible generation copies of these recordings. Now Colin has decided to try the Chalkhills message board to seek help from XTC fans. The specific purpose of this message is to ask if anyone has copies (or masters!) of the recordings and, if so, to please send a message to the following e-mail address stating when and where you got them. This will help narrow the search down to the earliest, cleanest possible copies. Any clues that could possibly help in locating original source tapes are very welcome as well. Please email me right away with details on the cassette(s) you have. Colin needs to have the actual tape(s) in hand by the end of August. Please send your information to the following e-mail address: earlycolin@hotmail.com The owners of the best possible versions of the tapes will be requested to lend them for a while. Colin will return them after he has finished determining whether they are useful or not. I hope this will help XTC release more of their rarities. Thanks for your time. Shigemasa Fujimoto P.S. Japanese people can write in Japanese.
------------------------------ End of Chalkhills Digest #7-30 ******************************
Go back to Volume 7.
8 May 2001 / Feedback