Chalkhills Digest Volume 7, Issue 40
Date: Tuesday, 3 July 2001

          Chalkhills Digest, Volume 7, Number 40

                   Tuesday, 3 July 2001

Topics:

                a misnomer by any name...
      a plea(se) from a bonafide peter blegvad fan!
                XTC interview in The Onion
                        XTC Books
                        The Onion
                        Hodgepodge
                     Whistling Horse
                        BB & Chat
                       Extatic Boot
           Re: (Chalkhills) Shriekback Reunion
              Re: Big Express vs. The World.
Music is my first love ... or is it mastering? Production?
                    Re: Reign of Blows
                 Re: Dukes: UK or Japan?
                      Re: How Much?
                     happy, happy....
     The Big Express vs. The World/Public XTC Stories
                        tiny hello
         That's as maybe, but it's still a frog!
                 TBE, website, beat jazz
                      re: Oh, I See!
                     Me and Shuggie O
     Funny funny funny...unless you're from Wisconsin
                     Helen Alexander
              Oranges and Lemons UK Remaster
          Rag And Bone Buffet / Dukes remasters?
                     Shirts and Hats

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Well you can wear your brand new nurse's outfit.

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

Date: Thu, 28 Jun 2001 17:08:42 +0100
From: The Worrier Queen <myrone@tesco.net>
Subject: a misnomer by any name...
Message-ID: <3B3B568A.BDA247B9@tesco.net>

My lords, ladies and gentlemen, invisible friends and other
small furry creatures take a look at this:

http://s1.amazon.co.uk/exec/varzea/ts/exchange-glance/Y03Y2931943Y6800485

Her Improper Majesty Jayne The Worrier Queen
Knocked off her axis mundi to Friday - weekends by
arrangement

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

Date: Thu, 28 Jun 2001 12:25:08 -0400
From: "Danny Phipps" <phipps@schoollink.net>
Subject: a plea(se) from a bonafide peter blegvad fan!
Message-ID: <web-9131886@schoollink.net>

can someone please please help me here??

i'm a big fan of peter blegvad. i'd love more than anything
to have a cd-burn or copy of blegvad's album "knights like
this." i already have all of his other releases on cd and
would KILL to have this one among them to make my blegvad
collection complete.

i'd truly appreciate ANY help on this request if anyone's
got a clue with it. thanks so much!!

xtc content --
hey relph!! what's the status on "fuzzy warbles," my man?

still waiting..........

/danny
--
"Be the sound of higher love today!"
                         -- Jon Anderson

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

Date: Thu, 28 Jun 2001 13:41:13 -0700 (PDT)
From: Ira Lieman <ilieman@yahoo.com>
Subject: XTC interview in The Onion
Message-ID: <20010628204113.17971.qmail@web11201.mail.yahoo.com>

Chalkfolk,

The Onion just reprinted a 1997 interview with Mr. Andy Partridge...
http://www.theonionavclub.com/avclub3700/xtc_feature.html

Now back to your regularly scheduled life.

-ira

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

Date: Thu, 28 Jun 2001 22:12:18 +0100
From: "David Valentine" <david@valentined.freeserve.co.uk>
Subject: XTC Books
Message-ID: <00b401c10017$051b2f40$1895893e@ddd>

Hi All,

Just recently converted a friend to the (earthly) delights of  XTC.

He's interested in getting old of the two books. Any ideas? He can't have
mine and they seem to be out of print.

Don.

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

Date: Thu, 28 Jun 2001 14:20:42 -0700 (PDT)
From: Jeff Eby <jeffaeb@yahoo.com>
Subject: The Onion
Message-ID: <20010628212042.32587.qmail@web11607.mail.yahoo.com>

I picked up my weekly copy of The Onion which declares
in the corner that it is a "best of" issue.  And lo
and behold in the best of interviews section is a
truly wonderful Andy Partidge interview in full from
1997!  Great bits and pieces in the article.  It made
me very happy.  You can probably find it in the AV
club section of their website, www.theonion.com

That and if you've never read The Onion, prepare to
laugh yourself silly.

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

Date: Thu, 28 Jun 2001 18:28:22 -0500
From: Andrew Boyle <uscolor@uscolor.com>
Subject: Hodgepodge
Message-ID: <v04210104b761651eb50b@[192.168.0.3]>

Hello, all.

Sylvan wrote (in regards to TBE):

>Who is with me? I know you're out there!

Here, sir!  It has also puzzled me as well that this album seems to
get merely a lukewarm reception. As I described a while ago (could
have been a year by now. Time-ha!) this was my second XTC possession.
It was about all that I listened to for almost a year! I had most of
it on every mix tape I made. I love it! But then I also am digging
this new Static-X CD lately.

Who is with ME! (Shaddup.) It is fun.  Really.

* _______________________________________
Our upside down friend, Paul, wrote:

>Colloquially here in Oz though, air conditioning tends to be
>referred to as "air-con".  Another strange one I first heard when I was a
>car salesman ("would you buy a... off this man?", etc etc) was "fast glass"
>- referring to power-operated windows.  Cars are strange, eh?

No. Aussie speak is strange. :-) I love it, though. Then again, I
better not be overheard shouting "Quick! Get me a rubber! I think I
made a mistake!", eh gents? In the States that would mean I was
waaaaaaay outta luck. O.K. in London.

How about "The nipper's in the dunny?" Yes, I have kids.

>Not to mention the imbibement (?) of one or two (or several) "cold
>ones" with the great man himself!

Hope you mention how well he is thought of around these parts.
* _______________________________________

Lore (sans Data) wrote:

>I bought a copy of "The Schoolguide to Chalkhills" at a local record store,
>knowing that someone here would want it!

Sigh.

* _______________________________________

Harrison "Sherlock F'n Holmes" Sherwood wrote:

>PS: For the life of me, I'll never understand people who rate records based
>on their sonic quality to the exclusion of the actual content. ("Don't like
>Skylarking, it's too compressed....") It's like panning a novel because you
>don't like the paper it's printed on--a legitimate concern, to be sure, but
>fairly far down *my* list of aesthetic criteria. When I put on a record, I
>hear notes and words and rhythms and ebb and flow and tension and release and
>dynamics and tonal coloration... Isn't that what *you* hear?

Exactly! Hell, I even enjoy listening to vinyl I rip to CD, scratches
and all, or those horrid mp3 thingies that aren't as good as CD
quality. Gasp! But I am getting TBE on the new remaster simply
because I have worn out the vinyl in the last couple of years.

Music is emotion. Enjoy it. Dammit.

* _______________________________________
Richard Hall:

>Google Search brought up http://www.jackiefly.com/chadlist.htm where
>some random being named Chad called Wasp Star the 7th best album of 2000.

Chad lives in West Palm. I will inform him that you found his list.

* _______________________________________

Did I ever mention that there is a local band here called "Brainiac's
Daughter"? The connection didn't even dawn on me when I first heard
an advert a few years back. Their music is NOT like XTC that I can
hear.
* _______________________________________

Friend Smudge re: Travis:

A seconded emotion. Blah. To me. And he mentioned:

>But (certainly here in England) they were touted as
>"the saviours of the pop song" and overplayed to death on the radio. In
>1999 you could hop 10 channels and hear Travis on every single one.

Gee, I seem to remember this when some other band came out of
Liverpool. No! Oasis. Blah. I would pay to see them fight and not
play.

ELO? Next to my Static-X
* _______________________________________

I'll go home already. Happy drumming!

Take care,

Andrew Boyle
Orlando, FL

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

Date: Thu, 28 Jun 2001 16:24:57 -0700
From: ed.kedzierski@chromaticsoftware.com
Subject: Whistling Horse
Message-ID: <7FEEB5919953D511B52A00508B2CAA270D7586@mail.altvs.com>

Finally got hold of a copy of Homegrown...

So, is it safe to say now that the thing I missed the most from the demo
versions of the Wasp songs when I heard the final album was that forlorn
"lonesome cowpoke" whistle at the beginning of "Wounded Horse?"

Hey, look, an actual short post from
...

Ed K.

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

Date: Thu, 28 Jun 2001 17:31:53 -0700
From: "Wesley Hanks" <whanks1@earthlink.net>
Subject: BB & Chat
Message-ID: <001801c10032$e7189fc0$010000c0@default>

Newsgroup Jonsers,

http://clubs.yahoo.com/xtcenglandsglory

is your readymade rec alt andy colin dave barry terry gosh xtc is a great
band bulletin board and live chat hooha.

Standard disclaimer, I'm the owner,

Wes "They Turn To Stone" Hanks

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

Date: Fri, 29 Jun 2001 02:41:48 +0100
From: "David Valentine" <david@valentined.freeserve.co.uk>
Subject: Extatic Boot
Message-ID: <014701c1003c$aa8894c0$1895893e@ddd>

Hi all,

I'm looking for some good soul whose willing to trade for the 6 CDs that
form this bootleg.

Only got 8 or 9 XTC Boots, but have a massive collection of other stuff and
I'm more than happy to list if you send me wants.

Please help!!!

Don.

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

Date: Thu, 28 Jun 2001 19:18:06 -0700 (PDT)
From: Angelina Evans <susperia5@yahoo.com>
Subject: Re: (Chalkhills) Shriekback Reunion
Message-ID: <20010629021806.59194.qmail@web12304.mail.yahoo.com>

Thomas Hoheisel
<Thomas.Hoheisel@fachkommunikation.fh-magdeburg.de>
said:

<<Hey, did you catch this? ~~ snip ~~
"The band's official Web site is
exhorting fans to send cash donations to help fund the
recording of a new album featuring the original
Shriekback lineup (Barry Andrews, Dave Allen, Carl
Marsh)."

Just wanted to let you know should you wish to chip
in.>>

Yes!  They got a few things wrong, namely that our
site is the official site.  Phil's would be the
closest thing to official, no doubt.  Ours is the fan
site, but we are actively participating in making the
new album a reality.  Martyn Barker will also be
involved in this, the reunion album being recorded by
the 'Oil & Gold' lineup.

It's promising to be a glorious recording, so please
check out the details at the site (link below) and
become a part of the new project!

Also, if any of you have snail mail or email addresses
of editors for you local entertainment magazines, if
you'd pass them on to me, I'd appreciate it.  I'm
trying to get the news of this out to as many
publications as possible.

In Service to the Dream,
Angelina

=====

A theologian is like a blind man in a dark room searching for a black
cat which isn't there - and finding it! ~Unknown
Between two evils, I always pick the one I haven't tried before. ~Mae West

Shriekback Digital Conspiracy
http://www.shriekback.com
Enigma
http://www.geocities.com/tinhuviel/onepoem.html

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

Date: Thu, 28 Jun 2001 20:18:24 -0700
From: "Drude" <the-drude@home.com>
Subject: Re: Big Express vs. The World.
Message-ID: <000701c1004a$286d0da0$6ec94518@gv.shawcable.net>

Ok, well B.E. isn't my FAVOURITE... it's way up there.  I actually love
Reign Of Blows, and Everyday...Smalltown is in my top 5 favourite XTC
tracks, easily.  Also, this is the only album where the extra tracks FIT IN,
right in the middle (my opinion, of course!).  That's the way I first heard
the album (on cassette...it had the extra tracks in the same place and order
as the CD), so it always worked for me...

If I HAD to choose my favourite XTC albums, in order....this is what they
would be...

1.BLACK SEA
2.SKYLARKING
3.BIG EXPRESS
4.ENGLISH SETTLEMENT
5.MUMMER
6.ORANGES AND LEMONS
7.NONSUCH
8.APPLE VENUS 1
9.DRUMS AND WIRES
10.GO 2
11.WHITE MUSIC
12.WASP STAR

This doesn't include comps and such, or The Dukes, which would probably fall
somewhere between SKYLARKING and BE, maybe...

Drude

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

Date: Fri, 29 Jun 2001 09:34:13 +0200
From: jeffrey.thomas.jt@bayer-ag.de
Subject: Music is my first love ... or is it mastering? Production?
Message-ID: <OF30B115EE.94C3FD48-ONC1256A7A.002680C0@bayer-ag.com>

Hi "Kreideberger":

In #7-39, Harrison wrote:

>For the life of me, I'll never understand people who rate records
>based on their sonic quality to the exclusion of the actual content.
   <snip>
>When I put on a record, I hear notes and words and rhythms and ebb
>and flow and tension and release and dynamics and tonal coloration...
>Isn't that what *you* hear?

I kinda agree with you and I kinda don't.  Haven't you ever bought a record
and thought "Oh GOD, this is an awful pressing"?  If not, you are one lucky
guy.  Yes, of course, it's the music that most important, but bad
mastering/pressing or production will kill my enjoyment of it, if it's bad
enough.  And then we get into the "my subjective cutoff criteria vs. your
subjective cutoff criteria" thing, and I guess I know what people are
talking about.

It took me 5 years to get past Todd Rundgren's production and into the songs
of "Skylarking".  Admitting this has, of course, brought me plenty of
mockery from other-minded fans, particularly the worded ones (eg. Dom).  But
it is what it is, Mr. Fried.  Of course I love the songs, but I had to choke
down the other stuff to get to them.  It wasn't to the total "exclusion" of
the songs, but I guess it may have come pretty close.

And to this day, the solo Beatles' production values ruin a lot of their
stuff for me.  Was "Rock & Roll Music" poorly produced?  Was "Mind Games"?
Was half of Paul's stuff?  Did George forget how to get his voice right on
recordings (listen to bootlegs, he still could sing all along).  I mean,
even critically acclaimed records like "Band on the Run" grate on me,
because I just don't like the *sound* of them.  And don't get me started on
"Free As a Bird".

Or listen to the Moody Blues (if you can).  Try "Nights in White Satin", on
the original LP, the original CD, the remastered CD, and on "This is the
Moody Blues".  Maybe you liked the music first.  But if you're like me, some
aspects always bugged you.  And if you hear all the S P A C E in the (also
remastered [not digitally] and apparently remixed) "This is the Moody Blues"
version, you won't likely ever want to hear the original again -- it sounds
like it was made in a shoebox, like so many 60s recordings.  (Despite the
fact that when it came out, it was supposed to sound "so great" because it
was on Decca.)

Perhaps the example that will hit home hardest here on the 'Hills is that of
the Kinks.  Great music, almost everyone agrees.  Awful production values,
almost everyone agrees.  (Ray Davies certainly does.)  And it's that tinny,
grating 60s sound that turns a lot of people off, I think.  If they would
just hear the *music*, they'd just have to love the Kinks.  But the average
listener can't hear the music clearly, it's sloppily produced.

It's probably something analogous to loving Meryl Streep, and then having
her appear in some horrible Hollywood crap film you'd never watch otherwise.
Like if she did "Blues Brothers 2000" -- would you want to watch it because
of her great acting talent, which I'm sure she'd exhibit?  You might,
rabbit, you might.  But I sure wouldn't.

- Jeff

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

Date: Fri, 29 Jun 2001 01:20:31 -0700
From: Chris Muir <cbm@well.com>
Subject: Re: Reign of Blows
Message-ID: <p05100304b761e5dbbb7c@[192.168.1.100]>

At 02:33 AM -0700 6/26/01, Sylvan Migdal wrote:
>And the only thing
>that weakens the second side a bit is Reign of Blows.

I was completely with you up until this sentence. The Big Express is
still my fave XTC; when the erstwhile Mr. Partridge did a CD signing
at a local record store, circa O&L, I took TBE for him to sign.

I have trouble seeing how someone could love TBE, yet consider Reign
of Blows the low point. It's one of the very high points of the album
for me. The lyrics are _very_ clever but with much heartfelt
sentiment for balance. The distorted, urgent vocals really put the
lyrics across. The sound/production of the song, the message, and the
performance all really come together in a way that speaks to me.

Chris

--
   Christopher Bryan Muir     | "I had another dream the other day
  "Hurt Symphonic Barrier"    |  about music critics. They were
    http://www.xfade.com/     |  small and rodent-like with
        cbm@well.com          |  padlocked ears." - Igor Stravinsky

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

Date: Fri, 29 Jun 2001 08:40:14 -0400
From: Douglas Bailey <trystero@ne.mediaone.net>
Subject: Re: Dukes: UK or Japan?
Message-ID: <5.1.0.14.2.20010629083750.08e7e4f0@pop3.norton.antivirus>

Keith Hanlon writes:

>Anybody know if this is a UK or Japanese version?
>
>http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B00005AV1R

Well, it's got the same stock number (B00005AV1R) as the UK release on
Amazon's British site:

         http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/B00005AV1R

...so I'm guessing it's the British disc, complete with good sound and
disappointing packaging.

For that matter, has *anyone* seen a Japanese remaster of CHIPS? I can't
find one to save my life...

doug

--
this week dragged past me so slowly; the days fell on their knees...
                                                   --david bowie

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

Date: Fri, 29 Jun 2001 08:57:29 -0400
From: Douglas Bailey <trystero@ne.mediaone.net>
Subject: Re: How Much?
Message-ID: <5.1.0.14.2.20010629084408.0201afe8@pop3.norton.antivirus>

Molly writes:

>How much are the Japanese imports?  Will I have to shell out more than
>$100, and why should I get them anyway if I already have the albums already?

The best prices I've seen so far for the Japanese discs are at
Amazon.co.uk, who sell them for #10.99 apiece (about $15.44 each at today's
exchange rate). For all twelve records, that's $185 or so...

If you just care about the improved sound and don't want the mini-LP
cardboard packaging, you might think about picking up the UK discs, which
are the same re-masters. Amazon has those for #7.99 apiece (or $11.23 a
pop), which will run you $134.76 for the entire collection.

>I'm not convinced yet in paying mega bucks for something I already have.
>Will I be a bad XTC fan if I don't buy them?

No, of course not. *I* think they're worth having for the improved sound
quality, but then I'm a sucker for re-masters in general. In any event,
being a fan and being a completist are different things...

>Will they ever get released here in the US?

It looks doubtful right now. OTOH, the laws of narrative causality and
cheap irony suggest that if you buy all the imports, the re-masters will be
announced for a US release on the very next day.  :-)

hth,

doug

--
a bed is creaking as the new messiah comes...
                                                   --xtc

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

Date: Fri, 29 Jun 2001 09:48:11 -0400
From: "Danny Phipps" <phipps@schoollink.net>
Subject: happy, happy....
Message-ID: <web-9154265@schoollink.net>

happy 4th of july holiday, everyone!!!  (...that it applies
to)  eat, drink and be merry... but most of all, be careful!

/danny

 -------------------------------------------
"Be the sound of higher love today!"
                         -- Jon Anderson
 -------------------------------------------

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

Date: Fri, 29 Jun 2001 15:52:18 +0100
From: Jason Witcher <JasonW@teletext.co.uk>
Subject: The Big Express vs. The World/Public XTC Stories
Message-ID: <32D4AD886C11D511955C00508BAD1C1001983C86@EXCHBACK>

> From: Sylvan Migdal <psiogen@mindspring.com>
>
	>I'm very intrigued by the wondrous stories of TBE's remastering, as
	>this has always been my favorite album...
	<snip>
	>It was the first XTC album
	>I picked up, and it still has something that no other album has quite
	>equaled, as good as they all are.
	>Who is with me? I know you're out there!

	Not quite, although my favourite XTC album - Skylarking - is also
the first one *I* picked up. I wonder if there's something in that can be
read in to that... (probably that I'm bored at work on a Friday
afternoon...)

> From: "DuBray, Dan" <Dan.DuBray@mail.house.gov>
>
	>I rather enjoyed the memories of others who have heard XTC in the
	>supermarket, the dentist's chair and the like.

	>This past holiday season I actually heard XTC's "Thanks For
	>Christmas" in a Taco Bell in Virginia.  I was there with my
	>children, who can attest to the fact that I was rendered
	>utterly speechless.

	I know I've posted this before, but it was some time ago - I heard
'King For A Day' in a toilet in a casino in Las Vegas. Pretty appropriate if
you think about it...

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

Date: Fri, 29 Jun 2001 12:28:07 -0400 (EDT)
From: "April" <april@thezaps.com>
Subject: tiny hello
Message-ID: <48733.207.8.197.162.993832087.squirrel@12.27.88.122>

Hi everyone,

This is my first day at Chalkhills so I just wanted to say hello. Thanks in
advance for reading.

I have been an XTC fan since '89, I know I am probably newer than many. I
bought Oranges and Lemons at 15 after seeing the Mayor video on MTV
(!?fate?) I took bass lessons (briefly) after hearing Colin on that album.
When I went to Paris for three months and took but 5 CDs with me, Nonesuch
was one of them. Such is my involvement thus far.

I am currently listening to Apple Venus at least once a week. I've been
stuck on it ever since it was released. I think it stunned me so much that I
haven't been able to give Wasp Star a proper chance. Apple Venus is possibly
the most beautiful album of my lifetime.

I know this is lamey but lately I have been thinking about some subtle
symbolism; in particular, the songs and their relation to the seasons;
'Easter Age' -> track 3 -> March; 'Green Man' -> track 6 -> June. 'Harvest
Festival' seems like it should be #9 but it is #10. I was wondering if this
has already been discussed here or if I am just kooky :-P

I am also wondering if the reissues are available in the usa. Are there two
versions, from Canada and Japan? Are they different?
thank you,
april

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

Date: Fri, 29 Jun 2001 14:26:42 -0400
From: "Kulak, Matt (HT-EX)" <MKulak@GI.com>
Subject: That's as maybe, but it's still a frog!
Message-ID: <89ADE0C79170D2119F3100805F19D19A04DCCC46@xchsrv3.gic.gi.com>

Hello All . . .

I am coming out of lurker mode now to make my annual contribution
to the list (only posted twice in the 14 months I've been subscribing).

In Chalkhills Digest #7-39, Sylvan Migdal comments thusly
about The Big Express:

>And the only thing that weakens the second
>side a bit is Reign of Blows.

OUCH!  Seems to me that Reign of Blows gets a lot of
slagging around here!  Now before anyone jumps down
my throat, I'm not saying anyone is wrong and I am right.
I just want to jump to that song's defense and say I
think it's great.  First, the kick-in-the-chest sound
of the song gives me goosebumps.  I do admit it requires
a certain kind of listener to appreciate, since my wife,
who I have permanently hooked on most XTC stuff, usually
runs for the "Skip Track" button by about half way through.
But since I can listen to an entire album of Nine Inch Nails,
this really doesn't test my limits at all.  Second, the
imagery in Andy's lyrics are brilliant.  Lambs being
slaughtered.  Uncle Sam looking like Joe Stalin - who
else would have made THAT connection?  I can't wait to
get the remaster of this disc to hear this track in all of
it's improved, digital glory!  But as for Sylvan's
follow-up question on the overall merits of Big Express:

>Who is with me? I know you're out there!

I'm with you all the way.  I think the entire disc has a
in-your-face quality to it - something that I look forward
to after a rough day, when I just want to drive down the
street with my windows open, and annoy the neighbors with
pulsing guitars, thumping basslines, and screeching harmonicas.
On the days where I'm laid back, and I just want a "quiet walk
through the park", there's Skylarking and Mummer.  Personally, I
think every XTC disc is great in its own fashion, all
depending on my listening mood at that time.

In the same mailing, Michael Versaci remarks on Mike Meyers'
use of jazz and poetry in "So I Married an Axe Murderer".
Although I don't have any answer to his search for similar
music, it did remind me of a two-hour interview with Mike
Meyers that was shown on Bravo.  In it, Mike made reference
to a low point in his life, saying something along the lines
of "I was like a train running low on soul coal".  Hmmmmm,
coincidence?  Is this really a more common phrase than I
realized, or is Mike a big XTC fan?  I think he would have
to be more than just a casual XTC fan to pull THAT song from
the XTC catalog!  Anyone else know of Mike's affinity for XTC?

Lastly, I don't want to gloat, err, well, actually I do!  I'm going to
Swindon!  I'm going to Swindon!  OK, I feel better.  I just made
the arrangements for a business trip to our lads' hometown in July.
If anyone has been there before, and has any tips on XTC sightings,
or apropos places to visit, or regular hangouts of Andy and Colin, please
let me know.  A chance meeting with either of the boys in a pub would
probably rank up there in the Top 5 Best Things to ever happen to me!
I'm just Geddy Lee.  Umm, sorry, I mean, giddy with glee!

P.S.  Can I really touch "the Shed"??????

TTFN,

Matt Kulak

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

Date: Fri, 29 Jun 2001 18:09:25 EDT
From: Carrieroks@aol.com
Subject: TBE, website, beat jazz
Message-ID: <114.1018c13.286e5696@aol.com>

i am joining Sylvan's bandwagon! yes, the hampster IS dead!!!!
no wait, i mean, i also think TBE is an amazing album, and i haven't
even heard the remasters, so there! i especially love pretty girls
(the song!) particularly the second time he does the "do something for
me... HEY write a little note... say ay aying..." with all the choral
bits behind him... i always think "epic" when i hear it. and
personally i love i remember the sun. so there again! and shake you
donkey... in fact the only song of which i've grown disenchanted with
(blame repeated listenings) is seagulls. it's that "waaah waah wah"
sound... you know what i mean... drives me up the wall! :)

also, the website, xtcidearecords, is beautiful! as if i should be
surprised... just saying i love it.

Michael- there's a band in southern california called zen dadio who
puts out beat poetry set to jazz. they may have a website. i only saw
them once and snagged a cd. they're pretty good. definitely on par
with mike myers!

take care all!
:)
-carrie

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

Date: Fri, 29 Jun 2001 16:50:50 -0700
From: Randy Hiatt <rhiatt@gte.net>
Subject: re: Oh, I See!
Message-ID: <3B3D145B.3068581F@gte.net>

From: "Culnane, Paul" <Paul.Culnane@dcita.gov.au>

Firstly, thanks to all of you who emailed me or posted in 'Hills to
explain the meaning of the term "AC".  Of course!  It really *does*
stand for anal cleansing!
* ____________________

And now here in the US they plan on banning it while driving!  I've seen
people eat messy burgers while driving, which is not that different.

XtC moment:  Seems summer gives the boys that extra something.  I was
burnt after AV 1-2, took a prog rock vacation... but now back in
bloom.   aaaah

Randy

--
you can hear our stuff at
www.mp3.com/RandyHiatt
www.ampcast.com/MBA
www.members.tripod.com/RandyHiatt

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

Date: Sat, 30 Jun 2001 22:32:30 -0700
From: "Long's" <wlong2@carolina.rr.com>
Subject: Me and Shuggie O
Message-ID: <001201c101ef$38ef4160$8f961a42@carolina.rr.com>

Hello kidz....

Hope all is well with all of you.

My weslong@usa.net address is about to die!  That's right, you guessed it...
the site that promised FREE EMAIL FOR EVER has decided to charge for the
service.  bastards.

You can now reach me at this email address or at optimismsflames@yahoo.com

I've got an old pal at EMI who sends me stacks of cd's each month to check
out.... sadly, as you can imagine knowing full well the state of music, the
majority of them suck in fine fashion.  Yesterday I got a new batch and one
of the discs is by a chap named Shuggie Otis.  I'm sure there are some folks
here who know all 'bout Shuggie... but I'd never heard of him. (at this
point I hope that no one else has just mentioned him to the list that I'm
months behind reading issues of)

Shuggie plays and sings every sound on the album (Inspiration Information)
and the instrumentals are fantastic.  The album was recorded in 1974 and got
pretty much no attention, except from other musicians. (He was once asked to
join the Rolling Stones).  David Byrne has had it remastered and it is now
available on his Luaka Bop label.

I'm sure most of you are familiar with the song Strawberry Letter 23.
Shuggie wrote this one.... the Brothers Johnson made a hit of it.  Shug's
music is 70's cool funk with a twist that keeps it fresh even today.  This
album "floored Sly Stone and predated the stylistic synthesist Prince by
half a decade."

"This is an album that I play for people and it always gets an extraordinary
reaction.  There really aren't many records like that." ----Sean O'Hagen
(High Llamas)

You may wanna check it out.

(Not that I give a tiny little rat's ass about the dramatically overrated
Stones or Sean O'Hagen's Brian Wilson butt sniffin' extravaganza)

http://www.luakabop.com/shuggie_otis/cmp/main.html

wesLONG

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

Date: Mon, 2 Jul 2001 05:18:13 -0700 (PDT)
From: Ira Lieman <ilieman@yahoo.com>
Subject: Funny funny funny...unless you're from Wisconsin
Message-ID: <20010702121813.38649.qmail@web11207.mail.yahoo.com>

Hey there all...

Do you love The Smoking Gun? (www.thesmokinggun.com) -- I do. I had
occasion to go there this morning, and (through the US Freedom of
Information Act) posted letters to the Wisconsin license plate bureau
for supposed "offensive" license plates that people put on their
vehicles. (although "IH8GOP" is not very offensive to *ME*...)

The best one out there (and a reason why I would post it to this list) is
situated at: http://www.thesmokinggun.com/doc_o_day/wiscplates12.shtml

Dean...tell us truthfully...was this YOU?

-ira

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

Date: Mon, 02 Jul 2001 21:41:35 -0500
From: "vee tube" <veetube@hotmail.com>
Subject: Helen Alexander
Message-ID: <F4w8Zw5V6QcqnWwAeRa000096f8@hotmail.com>

              Helen asked Andy,
       "Have you got any pet animals?"

      Andy said, " We were just talking with
   various "Strawberry Switchblades" about this".

     V wonders, is this one of those 'bubble-gum'
     bands we never heard of?

              Mitch? Any info?

       I have some Karen Carpenter 'Bathroom'
    tapes I can trade! (remastered, of course)

                   }---:)

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

Date: Mon, 2 Jul 2001 22:48:58 -0400
From: "Shawn Harrison" <hrsnzeli@fyi.net>
Subject: Oranges and Lemons UK Remaster
Message-ID: <003d01c1036a$b6e40ca0$129e50ce@pitt.edu>

I'm amazed at how great this sounds, but I am greatly disappointed with the
artwork, particularly the cover.  The oranges and lemons on my booklet cover
aren't colored at all, they are blank white spaces which bleed into the
other white space around the cover.  Anyone out there have the same problem
with theirs, or does anyone have the oranges and lemons actually colored?  I
think if they were all printed this way, it is a MAJOR defect and,
hopefully, Virgin will reprint the booklet.  Does anybody have an email
address for Virgin UK customer service?  Thanks!!

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

Date: Tue, 3 Jul 2001 23:32:25 +0100
From: "Pledge" <Pledge7@btinternet.com>
Subject: Rag And Bone Buffet / Dukes remasters?
Message-ID: <000901c10410$0966bb80$e5107ad5@oemcomputer>

Hello all

After my recent outburst decrying the lack of value in the UK remaster of
The Dukes, can I just say it is still in my in car CD player? Sadly I've
been on no long journeys, but it is getting me through the 22 mile daily
commute to work.

Have heard a few bits that sound different, but haven't had time to compare
with the original CD. Still for me on this CD it's the songs that really
matter and I've always considered it one of the most listenable CDs in my
little XTC collection. I'll pause and wait for the stones to land. Thank
you. By that I mean it doesn't really challenge me, the listener, as it
comes across as being like the intended joke/ spoof. It's just a damned good
listen. Glad i wasn't the only one disappointed by the use of an XTC logo
and the words Partridge and Moulding in the packaging. Most deserving use of
the word heretic I've seen in ages!

If i wanted to get someone into XTC, I'd try Skylarking or Apple Venus 1
(this is my latest If You Want To Know Me You Have To Hear This record).
When I just want a stupid singalong in the car, it has to be the Dukes.

Onto Rag And Bone Buffet: Have I missed something? Has it beein reissued?
Remastered? Check out www.Hmv.co.uk/
Has it just been mid-priced by Geffen? Anyone know? Help!! Some of them B
sidey things are what made me the XTC fan I am today. I know a lot of them
are on the CD albums as bonus tracks, but it was a very old worn out copy of
the tape of Beeswax (no cover, no track listing only 1 pound in 1987) that
made me realise there was more to this band than what I'd heard up to then,
i.e. The hits and Love On A Farm Boy's Wages and All You Pretty Girls.

Knowing my luck I'll order it and it'll just be a cheapo non-remastered CD.
Anyway for what it's worth, hmv state released 22/06/2001 Cat GESP244172

Any help, either with this CD or psychiatirc will be greatly appreciated.

Thank you.

Paul 'Pledge' Rodgers

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

Date: Tue, 03 Jul 2001 20:50:50 -0600
From: Phil Corless <pkmeco@yahoo.com>
Subject: Shirts and Hats
Message-ID: <3.0.5.32.20010703205050.00af2e80@pop.mindspring.com>

I have more hats, plus quite a few extra shirts.

See the hats at:
http://philco1.home.mindspring.com/xtc/chalkhat.htm

And the shirts at:
http://philco1.home.mindspring.com/xtc/chalkt.htm

- Phil

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

End of Chalkhills Digest #7-40
******************************

Go back to Volume 7.

4 July 2001 / Feedback