Chalkhills Digest Volume 8, Issue 24
Date: Tuesday, 16 April 2002
Chalkhills Digest, Volume 8, Number 24
Tuesday, 16 April 2002
Topics:
The Nines/Jason Falkner/Todd Rundgren
Re: *NEW* album?
more on that coat
Re: Too Short
Look Look Laserdisc
RE: Thugs in Lungs
Less Than Zero + WiMPering
Hidden Trax, My Fabulous Coat, and Who the Hell am I
He's aliiiive!
Happy Families / Dukes / Mockers
the cupboard is bare, bare, bare!!!
There's a White Horse in My Cupboard!
Martin Newell to make rare London appearance.
Come out of the cupboards, ya boys and girls
A coat with a couple of comments
This Coat Fit Nicely
Fuzzy Warbles - More or Less?
Not really XtC, For the Aussies...
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---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Fri, 12 Apr 2002 15:52:33 -0500 (CDT) From: chriskeen@popmail.com Subject: The Nines/Jason Falkner/Todd Rundgren Message-ID: <m16w825-002nT0C@popmail.com> I am a big XTC fan and particularly love the Skylarking and Oranges and Lemons years for the band.(although I like almost everything Partridge touches) I have also been a long time fan of The Nines and own almost every single thing they've released. Anyone who hasn't heard of these guys, REALLY should really soon. Their Wonderworld of Colourful and Properties of Sound album are brilliant. I saw them most recently at the International Pop Overthrow show in LA opening for the great Jason Falkner(who also put on a quiet but amazing solo performance). There seems to be another XTC connection as I read on another list that Todd Rundgren is going to be producing them. Eagerly awaiting more from Partridge and company. Also would love to hear more new Falkner material. Chris Keen
------------------------------ Date: Fri, 12 Apr 2002 17:11:17 -0400 From: Michael Kearns <mikearns@voyager.net> Subject: Re: *NEW* album? Message-ID: <5.1.0.14.0.20020412170122.00a7d6c8@pop.voyager.net> Kevin writes: >"And I hear that they're finishing a brand *NEW* album?" Can anyone confirm this? Autographed box sets, remastered back catalogs, previously unreleased demos & live tracks, etc. - this is all well and good. I have no problem with it. But what I really want to hear about is XTC recording new *songs*, not just releasing "product". Mike Kearns
------------------------------ Date: Fri, 12 Apr 2002 17:36:34 -0400 From: hiner1@uakron.edu Subject: more on that coat Message-ID: <3CB75361.4FD4F146@uakron.edu> De-lurking for only the 5th time in as many years - Play the unreleased US version of "Life Begins at the Hop" on "Coat," then immediately spin Roxy Music's "Love Is the Drug." Creepy, huh? Add a sax to Colin's masterpiece, and you can see that the producer was going for a definate British "new-wave, new-romatic" feel. I too love this verion "Hop," - not because it is better than the original, but because it so different from the original. Also for fun, I recorded Barry's songs along with the stuff that made "Go2" and his "Town and Country" single material to make a "hybrid" XTC mini-album. A great vision of the direction XTC could have gone...And I agree completely with Andy; Barry was becoming a decent songwriter, and if he had stayed in the band (which, of course, was bloody unlikely no matter how you sliced it) a little of Andy's abilities may have eventually rubbed off on Barry. Any reference there to "My Weapon" is coincidental... -- - Matt Hiner, History Faculty University of Akron Cleveland State University Lakeland Community College . . "No one will vote for a flattened out rabbit carcass, I always say."
------------------------------ Date: Fri, 12 Apr 2002 18:36:44 EDT From: MaadMatt@aol.com Subject: Re: Too Short Message-ID: <126.f0d1d05.29e8bb7c@aol.com> "eriC draveS" <zoom98@mindspring.com> wrote: > 28:53. > > That's IT???? Not enough to make a single album! (What is the shortest That's about the same length as the last Weezer album (which was very good, but still ridiculously short for a full list price album). I don't know the ALL TIME answer (I'm sure there were plenty that were even shorter), but as an Elvis collector (both of em, actually, but I'm referring to Mr. Presley in this case), I can tell you that the soundtracks to King Creole and It Happened at the World's Fair are both just slightly over 20 minutes both sides. -Matt
------------------------------ Date: Fri, 12 Apr 2002 22:26:32 -0700 (PDT) From: Jon Rosenberger <wile1coyote@yahoo.com> Subject: Look Look Laserdisc Message-ID: <20020413052632.36762.qmail@web13408.mail.yahoo.com> Was the "Look Look" video compilation ever released on laser disc? I've searched the web to the extent that I could, and found no mention of such a thing. J. D. ******************************** Hey JD, Yes, It was released in Japan only and is pretty rare, It has been auctioned off a few times on ebay in the last few years. Usually sells for about $50-$60. Good Luck with your search Mole
------------------------------ Date: Sat, 13 Apr 2002 14:07:03 +0100 From: "Peter Fitzpatrick" <peter.fitzpatrick@oceanfree.net> Subject: RE: Thugs in Lungs Message-ID: <NGBBKKOLCDJDMIEGCEEIIEHLCCAA.peter.fitzpatrick@oceanfree.net> Marston Moor ? Mr. Milligan ? >>Date: Fri, 12 Apr 2002 12:06:40 -0400 (EDT) >>From: RSMko@webtv.net (Marston Moor) >>>>Subject: Thugs in Lungs >>Message-ID: <10640-3CB70610-1264@storefull-2235.public.lawson.webtv.net> >> >>F Y I =
------------------------------ Date: Sun, 14 Apr 2002 17:11:36 -0500 From: "eriC draveS" <zoom98@mindspring.com> Subject: Less Than Zero + WiMPering Message-ID: <002901c1e401$589b2f70$843cf843@XLZOOM> When I last posted, I thought the whole "track zero" thing was a hoax. Check the original posting about it, it happens to be dated April 1th. (Yes, "1th". You know, rhymes with "month".) This was "confirmed" by my plugging the CD into my WiMP (Windows Media Player), and finding track 1 of discs 2 and 3 at original length, and no, repeat, NO (no don't repeat that loudly, they heard you the first time) no track zero. But there was the listing under "Lyrics" in Chalkhills... which ought I to believe? Finally I found a trusty old CD player (which has a hand crank and wood cabinet), and held the rewind button for all it was worth. Then I plugged in the fershlugginer CD, activated it and rewound... Oops, went too far, it stopped again. But I noticed there was NO, repeat, (on the other hand don't bother repeating this time), track zero! But it said "Track 1: -1:04" and the likes of negative numbering before stopping and going back to the "start" of the track. So, try again, remembering to stop as soon as the noisiness of musical time travel halts. Disc 2 wasn't much, but on Disc 3... oh, WOW!!!!!!! So the whole point of the first part of this post is to apologize for saying there wasn't enough "new" material for a full album. Add the 12+ minutes of "Shaving Brush Boogie" and you've got plenty. The second part of this post, which begins now, and ends right after that, is a complaint. Since these hidden tracks, found on a goodly number of CDs, are not showing up on my WiMP, and I cannot play them or copy them to my computer files, I can only enjoy this music if: .I stand there like a hunchbacked melonhead and hold Rewind on my hand-cranked CD, listening to the gibberish of backwards-seeking, .I copy it onto a cassette (and then never get to play anywhere since I have mostly CD players), or .I scream at Microsoft to develop a better version of WiMP. It is very hard to find the right page in Microsoft's vast interstellar-networked domain to complain about something not working, perhaps I should just try the online help. But this is a lesson for all of you, if you're trying to listen to COMC and be the BMOC, WiMP is NFG. OK? Now I know there are those of you who think, "Eh, so what? Missing out on 'Shaving Brush Boogie' is like not being able to eat the pages of 'War and Peace' due to a stomach ailment." And you'd be right, except this is one crazy infectious piece of music! And it gives me a new exit tag line, replacing the one about things falling to bits... -- eriC draveS "Terry Chambers on Bloody Boil." Next Week: I Gave Fits at the Orifice
------------------------------ Date: Sun, 14 Apr 2002 16:30:55 -0700 (PDT) From: Dianne <laminaid@yahoo.com> Subject: Hidden Trax, My Fabulous Coat, and Who the Hell am I Message-ID: <20020414233055.28658.qmail@web20008.mail.yahoo.com> Hello to all, finally. "Finally" 'cause I've been reading all your words for about 3 years but for some odd reason, have never added any of my own. So here you go. First off, I have more hidden tracks for Jay: the Super Furry Animals have hidden tracks at the beginning of the disc on the albums entitled Guerilla and Out Spaced. I feel compelled to add that I really like this band a LOT. Every disc they've done is good (and I feel that way about very few bands). They are beginning a US tour later this month, so I beseech you all to go see them and buy CDs. They don't come to the US very often, so now's your chance. Second, I am digging the beejeezus out of this Coat Thing. The early live stuff sounds great, and the liner notes are extremely entertaining. I don't mind the inclusion of the album tracks at all, I've never been disappointed to hear an XTC album track before. Why start now? In the notes for Traffic Light Rock, Andy suggests that for the full effect, one should "have 6 cans of Breaker, take your shirt off, turn the stereo up to antisocial, and yell 'bromide'". Have any of you tried this yet :-)? Assuming that Breaker is some type of beery/aley type of beverage, and that it would be ok to substitute Shiner Bock, maybe I'll give it a whirl on my next day off. It'd be the closest I'll ever come to seeing the Boyz live, which leads me to... Who the hell am I? WELL, I grew up in Dallas (now in Austin). A friend of mine got Black Sea when it came out. I loved it, and bought a copy immediately (in fact, I was a little rough on the vinyl in my careless teenage years, so I went through 3 copies over the next year or so). Around that time XTC opened for the Police in Dallas, and I HAD A TICKET. At the last minute, I did some forgotten "bad" thing or another, which resulted in my Mother banning me from attending. In other such situations of that era, I was not above the old climbing out the bedroom window trick, but for SOME STUPID UNFATHOMABLE REASON........I didn't. OH THE GRIMACING PAIN!!! At the time, I figured I'd catch them next time around, and the next day I was even (shudder)GLAD I didn't go cause after the show there was some type of mishap with my friend's Dad's Cadillac and everyone who DID go got in trouble. But of course there never was/will be a next time around and now I have to live with the sorry result of my obedient mistake...SIGH. Anyway, boohoo and all that. After the Black Sea album, I got distracted by the general blur of the early 80's and didn't really pursue the XTC thing...UNTIL 1986--I became romantically involved with an audiophile-type fellow who had some sort of promotional pre-release (I think) single with Earn Enough for Us on it. I seem to recall it was on a CD--maybe a mini-disc(?). Whatever format, I LOVED it. He also caught me up on all the other XTC I'd missed (as well as turning me on to all kinds of other good music I still enjoy immensely, come to think of it). This real life relationship didn't work out, but my love affair with XTC was thoroughly re-ignited. I haven't stopped listening to them since. I ended up marrying a man who had only heard Dear God on the radio, but I had him completely brainwashed within a year and now he's as obsessed as I am :-). As far as fave albums or songs goes, my favorite is whichever I'm listening to right NOW. I'm not being lazy, I sincerely love it ALL! Anyway, that's my XTC story. In closing I'd like to thank you guys and gals for all the good reading over the years. If it's ok with y'all, I just might try to chip in a little more often in the future. I'll at least try to let you know how my bromide experiment goes :-). Until then......GO SEE THE SUPER FURRIES!
------------------------------ Date: Sun, 14 Apr 2002 23:27:59 EDT From: KINGSTUNES@aol.com Subject: He's aliiiive! Message-ID: <8d.16dc5460.29eba2bf@aol.com> Good people of Chalkistan; >p.s. ---Ton Kingston. O' brother ,where Art thou? :::::peers out from winter den::::: Oh! Look! flowers and birds and sun and ........zzzzzzzzzz No fear, Roger, I'm around. I've been remiss, I know, but I've been off stalking other realms and otherwise busy. But with Coat Of Many Cupboards now out (which I've not gotten yet! tsk!) I will be sure to be around soon and join in the fray of praises to our boys! Until then........ TK %-) (Sharon to Arafat in Schwartzenegger voice; "You one ugly M****** F*****!")
------------------------------ Date: Mon, 15 Apr 2002 05:49:54 From: "* Hobbes *" <hazchem25@hotmail.com> Subject: Happy Families / Dukes / Mockers Message-ID: <F200nfXDV1amvu46i14000040af@hotmail.com> My endless hunt was over. 14 years after hearing xTc sing "Happy Families" on the "she's having a baby" soundtrack and being disappointed with what i perceived as being a 'bare, inferior' version on Rag & Bone Buffet did I manage to locate the superior version of the track. Finally, i would be able to enjoy it without hearing all the gaps from the missing instruments to distract me from the song. ... and what do i find? It's smothered in horrible 80's style reverb with simplistic synth overdubs that date it firmly in the late 80's, unlike the R&BB version. The boys were right. As the clattering drum machine's echoed off into the distance i tried to simultaneously lay my head on the desk and kick myself up the arse. Does anyone know of a supposed Dukes song called 'Corvair Baby'? Demo quality, possibly Colin singing though i can't quite tell. (Then again i could never figure out if Andy or Colin sang 'Vanishing Girl'). When was this recorded, or has it simply been mislabelled? Lastly thanks to whoever recommended the Mockers on this list a few issues back. "Comes as no surprise" sounds like the great lost British Invasion classic most Beatle-obsessed bands wish they could write. Later, Hobbes -- "Some have said that I cannot sing, but no-one will say that i didn't sing" - Florence Foster Jenkins (1868-1944) http://profiles.yahoo.com/hazchem25a
------------------------------ Date: Mon, 15 Apr 2002 11:20:16 From: "don device" <ddevice@hotmail.com> Subject: the cupboard is bare, bare, bare!!! Message-ID: <LAW2-F118tqXovjCUA5000054d0@hotmail.com> Dear all: From the guilty pleasure of pre-ordering a too-expensive-but-just-too-irresistable box set, to the delicious anticipation knowing it was coming, to the sweet torture of its being late, to the sickly feeling in my stomach knowing my credit card was debited 5 weeks ago, to the agony of scrolling thru Chalkhills and not being able to resist reading your comments... to just basically fed up... I know i must resign myself to the fact that my copy must have been amongst those damaged in shipping mentioned in the Chalkhills before last... At least three times i've been to the dreaded Virgin (my ass!) Megastore to at least fondle said box-set and imagine the liner notes, pix, music, etc... At what price an autograph? Even two? x don 'coat of many frustrations' device
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 15 Apr 2002 09:28:09 -0400
From: "Kulak, Matt (HT-EX)" <MKulak@GI.com>
Subject: There's a White Horse in My Cupboard!
Message-ID: <B0552F533A3BA54BAA9BE6244A1E6A5D026715C5@pa06xchm2.gic.gi.com>
In Chalkhills#8-22, Derek from Canada mentioned,
> I was perusing my local paper (Spectator in Canada)
> and found an extensive article on The White Horse
> in Uffington England.
Damn! Beaten to the punch again! I was going to note
that in my local Philadelphia Inquirer travel section,
I also saw a full page article on the Uffington Horse,
with a large, aerial-view photograph splashed across
the top of the article! The shock of seeing such an
XTC-esque emblem jump out at you from a local paper (in
the U.S.)is rather exhilarating. (Especially since I had
the amazing opportunity to visit it last July, and actually
stood in the eye to view the surrounding landscapes!)
And to add my accolades to the list, I also recently
received my autographed copy of Coat of Many Cupboards
from the Idea Records site. The packaging, as already
mentioned, is excellent. (Due to the gold autographs on
front, I found myself fanatically protecting the box
wherever I went. Plastic bag wrapped around it, making
sure not to rest it on that microscopic drop of moisture
on the kitchen table, etc.)
Harrison's essay eloquently puts in writing what all
of us XTC fans have probably tried to do a million
times: explain to someone what "it" is that
makes XTC music so amazing. My hat goes off to Mr. Sherwood!
The liner notes accompanying each track, written by
the band members, are great! Many include unbelievably
funny witticisms from Andy, while most provide interesting
historical notes about this particular version of the track.
But did anyone else notice that while Andy seems to comment on
almost all tracks (including those by Colin), Colin does not
comment on Andy's tracks? Hmmmmmmmmm.
As for the music. Well, just go get it, OK?
Regards,
Matt Kulak
NP: Now that's a silly question, isn't it????
------------------------------ Date: Mon, 15 Apr 2002 20:02:14 +0100 From: "paul.wilkinson@btinternet.com" <cleanersvenus@yahoo.com> Subject: Martin Newell to make rare London appearance. Message-ID: <000a01c1e4b0$0effb2a0$dc50073e@mesh> Hi Janglies, Martin Newell is doing an appearance at a poetry club in Clerkenwell on 13th of May. Fans of his should go as Martin thinks he's unloved in that city. He is however considering doing a music gig to promote his latest album so turn up at this one and encourage him. Details at www.martinnewell.co.uk By the way Martin and Andy are still best of friends and are trying to work out a way to work together again soon. PauL Wilkinson
------------------------------ Date: Mon, 15 Apr 2002 14:58:16 -1000 From: Jim Smart <smart@punahou.edu> Subject: Come out of the cupboards, ya boys and girls Message-ID: <a04330105b8e0c6b5965a@[10.23.4.7]> I think I may be the only person in Hawaii with the Coat of Many Cupboards. The chap or chapette who moaned about the minutes of new material seems to be rather missing the point. I love the way the cupboards are mixed with demos, albums tracks, and live stuff. It's meant to be a hodgepodge, not a showcase for new songs. Most of it is new to most of us, even those lucky blokes who are friends with the band members. Speaking of the live stuff, holy guacamole! Is this great, or what? I love playing that medley from White Music with headphones because it's so easy to tell which guitar is Andy's and which is Dave's, on account of the charming and energetic way Dave switches between his guitar and keyboard. I'm thinking that the way the set ends with a stunningly powerful live version of Books are Burning is bound to have the masses lining the roads waving signs that demand that XTC begin to tour OR ELSE. Petitions will circulate. Colin Powell will be called in, all to little effect, I'm afraid. And these hidden tracks - the very clever way they are hidden goes with the title perfectly. It's like wearing an old coat and finding a long lost ticket stub to a favorite show in a hidden pocket. I agree with Dom about Wonderland. Compared to Colin's fab stuff on Black Sea and Skylarking, Wonderland is pretty dull. Such things come to light more readily in a collection like this than usual. How can I write "A collection like this"? There are no collections like this, are there? Mayor of Simpleton is very charming in the form presented here. There are a few songs that I'd like to see made into a whole album, and Mayor of Simpleton is one. Songs like Strawberry Fields Forever and Autumn Almanac. It would be great to have a disc with every working version of the song, from the first scratch idea to the finished recording. Oh, and gorgeous packaging, which is suddenly a bit more important to me. As many have already noted, the packaging of this album is fab. I like it better than any packaging of any album or movie or book I own. I am absurdly proud of the golden autographs which grace the cover as it rests on my coffee table. I had a near heart attack when I spilled a bit of red wine on a corner the first night I opened it. I am not usually like that. It seems to me that XTC has always taken more care and effort with its packaging and album covers than most bands. I think I will take better care of this CD set than the rest of my collection. And finally, there the essay by our very own. Hapless Goober, I put myself and my future generations at your service. I bow in your general direction. I take off my coconut hat to you. Jim
------------------------------ Date: Mon, 15 Apr 2002 22:18:23 EDT From: WTDK@aol.com Subject: A coat with a couple of comments Message-ID: <18e.682991b.29ece3ef@aol.com> A couple of thoughts about Coat... I see Virgin has sole copyright. Pretty greedy given the dynamic duo's involvement in the project. I was happy to see Barry Andrews solicited for his opinion on a couple of tracks. I'll have to reread the booklet but I don't recall any comments from Dave. I still think it should have been a 3 disc set. For the money, though, it's a very good deal. I noticed that Ian Cooper did the mastering. If I'm not mistaken he also remastered the reissued CDs. I'm just curious what was so different on the studio albums vs. the tracks included here. I don't really hear anything. Then again, I've been listening to it in my car which is probably not the ideal place to do so. Harrison's essay is entertaining and interesting. He provides a unique perspective about what makes the fans and the band different. Then again, I think we're all just "different" or maybe "special" . I'm hoping that XTC and their fans will be included on a very special episode of The Gilmore Girls someday soon. The design of the book is very nice and high quality, too. I hate hidden tracks that you can't access on everything. It's annoying. Why not just put them on uncredited at the end? Why must I look for a CD player that doesn't conform to Red Book specs to play it? It's a nice surprise to have the hidden tracks but I would have taken John Hiatt's tack and just put 10 minutes of sound effects between the last track and the uncredited track. Better yet, why not put them between two songs and not mentioned they're there. Other comments from music in other cupboards.... All You Pretty Girls has been voted as best song by my 3 year old twin boys. They believe it's called Bless You. They also believe that the whistling bit is the funniest thing they've heard. They can't whistle but they do clap their hands. Who would have thought AYPG would supersede Yellow Submarine in my boys hearts. Green Man is still my daughter's favorite track. Altogether Virgin and XTC did a very good job on this set. It's about time they treated the band with some respect. Let's hope it doesn't go to their heads. Wayne
------------------------------ Date: Tue, 16 Apr 2002 15:07:36 -0700 From: "Thomas Long" <tlong1@telus.net> Subject: This Coat Fit Nicely Message-ID: <000701c1e593$1e37a140$f604ad8e@bc.hsia.telus.net> Just a note to concur with all those who enjoyed COMC. Harrison's notes are terrific... well done lad! And it's such a brilliantly designed package. Almost makes you want to forgive Virgin (*almost*). I thought the inclusion of previously released tracks was ok too. They would not only add to the enjoyment of a newbie, but have allowed some killer tunes, such as Season's Cycle, their moment in the sun. They certainly didn't interrupt the flow for me. In other news... is there anyone else out there dying to get their mits on Wilco's Yankee Hotel Foxtrot? To me they've picked up where Westerberg & the Replacements left off. I've heard snippets on CDNow and can't wait. The record has had a difficult birth to say the least - rejected by the record company, 2 band members lost. There's also been a documentary made on the band and the making of the record (they'll always be *records* to me), which is supposed to have a theatrical release. If you're at all interested, check out http://www.wilcofilm.com/. If you're not... don't. Cheers, Thomas
------------------------------ Date: Tue, 16 Apr 2002 23:50:01 +0000 From: "Neil Oliver" <squealyneily@hotmail.com> Subject: Fuzzy Warbles - More or Less? Message-ID: <F72FFsAitVGeSJIEoPX0000643b@hotmail.com> I'm wondering how many people would be satisfied if Fuzzy Warbles was a collection of unreleased songs (i.e. songs XTC never recorded as a group), rather than a complete collection of demos. After listening with a certain degree of boredom to Coat of Many Cupboards, I've pretty much concluded that I've heard the songs from the albums, in whatever version, more than enough times. Hearing demos isn't really that interesting to me unless they are really different from the finished product, which often isn't the case with XTC (especially in later years). I'd rather have a 2-3 CD collection of the best songs that are otherwise unavailable, than an 8 CD collection of every demo Andy and Colin have ever recorded. Does anyone agree with me, or do you feel that you have to hear every last thing?
------------------------------ Date: Wed, 17 Apr 2002 14:39:33 +1000 From: "L Holstein" <superspanger@hotmail.com> Subject: Not really XtC, For the Aussies... Message-ID: <OE29sQwY6YHkidcDjoY00002347@hotmail.com> Hi, I'm just letting people know that "They Might Be Giant's" are guest programing Rage on the 20th April. Considering that "TMBG" are such big fans of XtC it wouldnt be surprising to see some xtC videos in the playlist. Play list is up on Friday afternoons and the bio is up now. http://www.abc.net.au/rage/rage.htm Cheers, Lyndy
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