Chalkhills Digest Volume 8, Issue 45
Date: Monday, 5 August 2002
Chalkhills Digest, Volume 8, Number 45
The "Gus is Dead" Issue
Monday, 5 August 2002
Topics:
Dear God...
gus dudgeon & wife killed in car crash
Concerts and stuff
numbers etc
Flaming Jellyfish!
GUS DUDGEON KILLED
11 Different Animals
Gone: Gus
Gus Dudgeon RIP
gus dudgeon, r.i.p.
Sad news from the wires ...
Former XTC producer dies
Re: Napster et al
Partridge sampled?
Jon Poole Zappa Album
RIP: Gus Dudgeon
Gus Dudgeon
St. Louis, St. Cloud & Minneapolis Chalkies Take Note
Musings about a lot of crap
New XTC Fans
XTC on eBay
Fred is in the building
Find your favourite
an amusing timewaster
Polar Fleece
Gus
Hot and Sticky
Oh So Frivolous
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Back to earth eternally and ever Ermine Street.
---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Mon, 22 Jul 2002 03:26:41 -0400 (EDT) From: "" <radiosinmotion@iwon.com> Subject: Dear God... Message-ID: <20020722072641.99A1027C7E@email.iwon.com> Has anyone noticed that the 'Dear God' video is playing on VHIC almost every day? Maybe XTC will attract a new audience with the recent 80's craze going on. By the way, a few weeks ago I asked about the differences between the US Jewel Case CD's and the Japaneese 'Record-like' CD's. Well, I ended up getting both, and there is absolutly no difference in quality. The sleves for the Japaneese version has more pictures, lyrics, etc. than the US jewel case edition. It was especially nice getting Black Sea in that format because that was always my favorite record in terms of looks. I love that green sleve and the cover art.
------------------------------ Date: Mon, 22 Jul 2002 13:03:34 +0900 From: "jazzbo" <aso1@mocha.ocn.ne.jp> Subject: gus dudgeon & wife killed in car crash Message-ID: <000b01c23134$bfd20df0$06ce7e3d@FM2B25C593258D> this just in from buddy DM : bad day for C & I - Gus Dudgeon & wife killed in car crash last night ( a.m. ) in uk ..... still in shock .... sushiman
------------------------------ Date: Mon, 22 Jul 2002 14:11:52 +0000 From: "Duncan Kimball" <dunks58@hotmail.com> Subject: Concerts and stuff Message-ID: <F1510dkrY28j4mEWH1r0001369f@hotmail.com> It's a relief to know that while the more mundane aspects of one's life can be almost overpoweringly annoying and distracting, there are still some things that can make you whoop with pure, unalloyed joy. This is one of them: BRIAN WILSON IS TOURING AUSTRALIA IN DECEMBER! Thank Ozzy I lived this long. As long as that Death guy doesn't come for me 'til after December, I'll go peaceably. And I'll be happy to go in the place of any well-known creative type he might be thinking of taking before me. If I had a choice, I'd perhaps nominate Todd, or Brian, or maybe that guy from The Semantics. (God I love that record). I saw Elvis Costello last week and it was friggin' magnificent. Steve Nieve is a bloody genius -- my admiration for him just grows and grows. Pete Thomas -- magnificent -- the drummer's drummer. Shamefully, I forget the new bass player's name but he was brilliant, and an excellent singer. Top light show too. One thing though -- it really makes me regret all over again that Andy doesn't like touring. I know he thinks records are THE thing, and in one sense he's quite right -- they are what will endure -- but it's so galling, as a fan, that someone who was clearly a real master of his craft never gets out in front of an audience any more. Doesn't he realise how great he is? Listen to 'Transistor Blast' - what more proof do you need? Speaking of great live bands, we saw Supergrass on Saturday night, first time for us. Great set, but a poor show, so to speak. They TOTALLY rocked, we were all pogoing about like teenagers ... but seriously folks, what is *up* with this 70-minute gig routine? Is this normal for them? We were stunned, not to mention leaving the show feeling rather ripped off. It was a real pity; everybody was really getting into it, Gaz looked really happy and clearly enjoyed the ecstatic crowd response, but then they went off, came back and did ONE encore (Elvis did four) and then just left. 70 minutes. Hmmmm (Elvis played 2 hrs +). We're off to see Gomez tomorrow night and I CANNOT wait. Hopefully they'll play a little longer (if they want to avoid being lynched haha). Anyone else on the list into "Six Feet Under"? We love it, and I was delighted to hear the other day that "Australia's own" Rachel Griffith has been nominated for an Emmy. A fine show. Frances O'Connor is really marvellous too. However, just prior to that (here in Oz) they're showing "Sex & The City", or as we have started calling it, "Sex and the Ciggies". We don't watch it, but we've caught a few scenes now and then, waiting for SFU, and I can't help wondering how much graft the producers (and Sarah Jessica Parker in particular) must be getting from the tobacco lobby? Some really outrageous "product placement" there. Fair dinkum, in the final scenes of tonight's show (it had Hugh Hefner as a guest star I think), that girl lit up two cigarettes within twenty seconds. Disgraceful. On a vaguely related tangent, I was also very interested to read a recent piece by Mike Moore, which revealed that while such potentially life-threatening objects as nail clippers are banned on US airlines, apparently the tobacco barons successfully lobbied Washington to ensure that cigarette lighters and matches were NOT banned. Hmmmm. Dunks
------------------------------ Date: Mon, 22 Jul 2002 10:58:04 -0400 From: "KEVIN BRUNKHORST" <kbrunkhorst@charter.net> Subject: numbers etc Message-ID: <web-2772964@dc-mxdb07.cluster1.charter.net> Todd Bernhardt wrote: AV1 apparently sold 80,000 units in the US, WS(AV2) sold 60,000. Andy was very surprised and disappointed by this. He's still under the illusion that if you make great records, they'll sell fantastically well. Nowadays if really seems to be the opposite. The worst albums sell the best. <snippage in which Todd points out the eight years that went by since Nonsuch, and the change in the industry since '92. 1. It's quite possible that Andy and Colin have made far more money moving 80K units of AV1 than they had with 300K of Nonsvch. 2. Your audience is usually somewhere around your own age. As Andy and Colin creep up on 50, their audiences have acquired children, mortgages, car payments, etc. The aging of the audience happens to everyone, I think. It has nothing to do with the quality of music produced. 3. Sorry, lads, but you can't expect to do so well if your not willing to get off your asses and play for someone once in awhile. (I know better than to think it will happen.) 4. Anyone can make a record. (I have mine right here beside me. Want one?) It's harder to get someone interested in listening to it and hopefully parting with some of their wages. Andy and Colin don't really DO that much, do they? Even if you don't want to play in fornt of people, you could still be visible. Even when the Beatles went beyond the primitive limits of performance of the time, they managed to find ways to stay in the public eye, whether it be on film, or TV, or whatever. I've often wondered why XTC couldn't just get in front of a camera once in while. The visibility they got during the O&L album, with the MTV performances, radio performances, etc., was definitely a contribution to that record's sales figures. <snip> ... that the RIAA and Big Music Business are doing all they can to save their corporate butts and stifle competition from independent sources, and XTC needs to come up with a fresh business plan. On the other hand, when I see the words 'business plan' mentioned in close proximity to XTC, I shudder. Kevin
------------------------------ Date: Mon, 22 Jul 2002 22:53:31 +0530 From: "Sughosh Varadarajan" <aqualung@hotpop.com> Subject: Flaming Jellyfish! Message-ID: <002b01c231ac$73ef6540$0100a8c0@sughosh> Hallo chalkers! First of all, I'd like to say a BIG thank you to all of you who've written in with advice on "Bellybutton"..I guess I was always gonna pick it up but this has kinda increased my resolve..just waiting for the Independence Day Sale that's due to happen next month and maybe I can get a 100 bucks or so off on it.. Secondly I am excited about the new Flaming Lips release (not to mention jealous of all those who've already got it!). Haven't heard much of them but a friend of mine insisted I sit down and listen to The Soft Bulletin..a minute into it I didn't need much persuading! A spectacular album, probably one of those from the 90s that affected me the most (apart from OK Computer probably). Can't wait to hear this one! But I'll have to, of course..(:-( Cheers all Sughosh.
------------------------------ Date: Mon, 22 Jul 2002 19:49:33 -0500 From: "jbkxtc" <jbkxtc@mail.ev1.net> Subject: GUS DUDGEON KILLED Message-ID: <200207221949.AA131203194@mail.ev1.net> I just saw at www.billboard.com that producer Gus Dudgeon died last night in a car accident in England. According to the story, his Jaguar veered off a motorway and down an embankment in Berkshire, England. A woman in the car, believed to be his wife, was also killed. The article mentions Gus producing "Nonsuch". If you want to read the full article, you can go to Billboard's website. Sad news, indeed. JK
------------------------------ Date: Mon, 22 Jul 2002 19:24:44 -0700 (PDT) From: Wes Long <optimismsflames@yahoo.com> Subject: 11 Different Animals Message-ID: <20020723022444.68963.qmail@web14905.mail.yahoo.com> If you wanna see a full copy of the songbook... it's on the www.optimismsflames.com site. But guess what, even on my digital connection the site is loading slower than, well... something really slow. I'm working on it... Until then... use this link to see the songbook. It will open in it's own page, not within my sluggish site. http://www.optimismsflames.com/animals-front.htm Once all is corrected, I've got some more one of a kind things to present to you all... including some more freebie audio... and video. wesLONG
------------------------------ Date: Mon, 22 Jul 2002 22:34:22 -0700 From: Steven Reule <steven@sac.sticare.com> Subject: Gone: Gus Message-ID: <4.1.20020722223222.00b26fa8@mail.obsessed-with-music.com> This just in: One-time XTC producer Gus Dudgeon and his wife were killed in an automobile accident. The couple died after Dudgeon's car "veered off the M4 between Reading and Maidenhead, and plunged down an embankment," according to the BBC. Steven steven@obsessed-with-music.com http://www.obsessed-with-music.com
------------------------------ Date: Tue, 23 Jul 2002 13:07:31 -0400 (EDT) From: RSMko@webtv.net (Marston Moor) Subject: Gus Dudgeon RIP Message-ID: <26575-3D3D8D53-839@storefull-2231.public.lawson.webtv.net> the ugly underneath: http://www.guardian.co.uk/Archive/Article/0,4273,4466749,00.html silence, r. s. m. http://www.rsteviemoore.com/news.html
------------------------------ Date: Tue, 23 Jul 2002 17:17:15 -0400 From: "Ted Harms" <tmharms@library.uwaterloo.ca> Subject: gus dudgeon, r.i.p. Message-ID: <NDBBKGMDOKBCFDLBMPGOMEPCDJAA.tmharms@library.uwaterloo.ca> Gus Dudgeon, producer of Nonsuch for xTc and numerous other artists (Elton John, Bonzo Dog Band, David Bowie) died on Sunday, July 21st when his car rolled over near Reading, west of London. More information: http://jam.canoe.ca/JamMusic/jul23_dudgeon-ap.html For his discography: http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=R72454#APPEAR Ted Harms | Library, Univ. of Waterloo | tmharms@uwaterloo.ca "I needed a drink, I needed a lot of life insurance, I needed a vacation, I needed a home in the country. What I had was a coat, a hat and a gun." Phillip Marlowe
------------------------------ Date: Tue, 23 Jul 2002 14:22:36 -0700 (PDT) From: Ira Lieman <ilieman@yahoo.com> Subject: Sad news from the wires ... Message-ID: <20020723212236.52342.qmail@web11206.mail.yahoo.com> Chalkfolk, this is going to get to you quite late, with John on vacation and all. Hmmm. Gus Dudgeon, the "garish" producer who worked on Nonsuch, has been killed in an auto accident. Here's the BBC news... http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/2144817.stm >From Launch.yahoo.com ... Longtime Elton John producer Gus Dudgeon, 59, and his wife Sheila were killed in a car accident in the U.K. on Sunday (July 21). The couple died after Dudgeon's car "veered off the M4 between Reading and Maidenhead, and plunged down an embankment," according to the BBC. Dudgeon's collaborations with John started with the singer's 1970 self-titled album, which spawned the hit "Your Song." ...snipping lots of Elton related stuff... Dudgeon had also worked with the Rolling Stones, Marianne Faithful, XTC, and David Bowie, among others. At the time of his death, Dungeon was reportedly in the middle of a multimillion dollar legal battle in which he claimed he was owed royalties on more than 14 of John's albums. A bad link to the full text above follows: http://music.yahoo.com/launch/news/launch/story.html?a=n/music/launch/news/launch/rock/20020723/24/p1 :( -ira
------------------------------ Date: Wed, 24 Jul 2002 07:09:14 -0300 From: Paulo X <paulox@onda.com.br> Subject: Former XTC producer dies Message-ID: <l03130301b9642d02a9f8@[200.195.177.31]> From Rolling Stone: >Producer GUS DUDGEON, who worked on recordings by ELTON JOHN, DAVID >BOWIE, XTC and others, died in a car accident on July 21st near >Reading, England; he was fifty-nine. Dudgeon's wife, Sheila, was also >killed. Dudgeon served as Decca Records house engineer in the >mid-Sixties, before producing Bowie's "Space Oddity" in 1969. The >next year, he produced "Elton John," the first of several classic >collaborations with the singer. "He was an incredibly talented >producer and a very dear friend for many years," John said. "I will >miss him terribly."
------------------------------ Date: Wed, 24 Jul 2002 14:29:25 +0100 (BST) From: Bert Millichip <juan_the_man2002@yahoo.co.uk> Subject: Re: Napster et al Message-ID: <20020724132925.77547.qmail@web14801.mail.yahoo.com> "Todd Bernhardt" deserves thanks for providing the one glimmer of XTC content in the otherwise irrelevant Digest #8-44:- >>>Some fascinating grist for this mill was recently provided to me by fellow Chalkie and playboy millionaire Bob Crain. Check out Janis Ian's compelling argument in favor of Napster et. al. (and condemnation of The Biz) at: http://www.janisian.com/article-internet_debacle.html<<< Ian's central argument - that the likes of Napster actually *increase* record sales - is certainly a lot more compelling than your half-baked and diametrically opposed theory that peer-to-peer music sharing contributed to the low sales of AV I and II!!! I'm surprised you didn't notice that. "Christopher R. Coolidge" wrote: >>>My wife made a couple of unintentionally hilarious comments that demonstrates her blissful uncoolness about pop culture/music when I was giving Bellybutton a spin the other day; she asked "Who's this, Queen?"<<< Hey, what's wrong with Queen??? Don't answer that. I think I must work with your wife. A very dizzy colleague of mine recently thought Badly Drawn Boy was Acker Bilk! Bert.
------------------------------ Date: Wed, 24 Jul 2002 09:49:33 -0400 From: "Ben Gott" <bgott@rectoryschool.org> Subject: Partridge sampled? Message-ID: <fc.00870b4a000e224400870b4a000e2244.e224e@rectoryschool.org> Gang, I've put some new Ben Gott songs on my MP3.com website (self promotion!), but I've also included a work-in-progress called "Melody." This tune, which is the first I wrote with my new MIDI setup, contains samples of Steve Reich's "Electric Counterpoint" and of an Andy Partridge interview. So check it out, won't you? [ http://www.mp3.com/BenGott ] You can listen to the other songs too, if you'd like -- but I'm not as good as Becki, so don't get your hopes up! -Ben
------------------------------ Date: Wed, 24 Jul 2002 10:18:14 -0500 From: Brown <i.sundog@verizon.net> Subject: Jon Poole Zappa Album Message-ID: <20020724151814.LVG16483.out016.verizon.net@cyclops> I thought that some of you chilens migh be interested to hear about the following: ---"Random Jon Poole (he of Cardiacs/Silver Ginger 5) will have his much talked of solo CD album of Frank Zappa covers release on ORG Records on September 23rd. The album will be retailing is shops for around 10.00. However advance copies can be ordered now for a price of 6 pounds including postage and packaging. Stock is expected in August, copies will be sent out to those who pre-order. The mail order price will increase to 10 pounds on September 23rd. Order your advance copies now - 6.00 inc P&P payable to 'Organart', Unit 212, 326 Kensal Road, London, W10 5BZ. The album has been re-mastered and comes in new artwork (well we'd have never got it in to the shops with the old artwork!) ORG305 "WHAT'S THE UGLIEST PART OF YOUR BODY? - THE WORKS OF FRANK ZAPPA CIRCA 65-69" Track listing - Uncle Meat/Flower Punk/Who Are The Brain Police?/Mother People/Concentration Moon/Harry, Your A Beast/What's The Ugliest Part Of Your Body?/Oh No/You're Probably Wondering Why I'm Here/The Legend Of The Golden Arches (Interlude)/Dog Breath/Cruising For Burgers/Let's Make The Water Turn Black/The Idiot Bastard Son/Brown Shoes Don't Make It/Peaches Lots more details available from www.organart.com"---
------------------------------ Date: Thu, 25 Jul 2002 08:20:58 -0700 From: Harry Strole<hjstrole@earthlink.net> Subject: RIP: Gus Dudgeon Message-ID: <Springmail.0994.1027610458.0.52438500@webmail.pas.earthlink.net> Apparently producer of "Nonsuch," Gus Dudgeon has passed away. Here is the obituary from RPM, an online music periodical: British Producer Legend Gus Dudgeon Killed In Car Accident Gus Dudgeon was killed in a car accident on July 21st near Reading in western England; he was fifty-nine. Dudgeon's wife, Sheila, was also killed. Best known for his collaborations with Elton John, Gus Dudgeon was one of the most successful British record producers ever. Gus began his career in the mid-60's working for Decca Records as in house engineer. Dudgeon worked on recordings by John Mayall's classic "Blues Breakers With Eric Clapton," the Zombies' hit "She's Not There," the Small Faces, Them and more. At the end of the decade, he turned to producing, recording David Bowie's classic "Space Oddity" in 1969. During that same year, Dudgeon was hired to work with an unknown singer/songwriter named Elton John. A year later, John's self-titled album was released, marking the beginning of a long and successful collaborative effort for the two. Dudgeon worked behind the boards for Elton John's classic 70's albums, including "Tumbleweed Connection," "Madman Across the Water," "Honky Chateau," "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road" and "Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy." After parting ways with John (the two would later reunite for a few albums in the mid-80's), Dudgeon worked with Joan Armatrading, Chris Rea and others in the late-70's and through the 80's. In the 90's, Dudgeon produced XTC's "Nonsuch" and oversaw the reissue of Elton John's classic 70's catalog. "I am devastated by the tragic news," John said. "He was an incredibly talented producer and a very dear friend for many years. I will miss him terribly."
------------------------------
Date: Sun, 28 Jul 2002 09:07:50 -0700 (PDT)
From: Tyler Hewitt <tahewitt@yahoo.com>
Subject: Gus Dudgeon
Message-ID: <20020728160750.16030.qmail@web14206.mail.yahoo.com>
This is an exerpt from a message posted to the JMDL
(the Joni Mitchell equivalent of Chalkhills):
From Netrhythms.co.uk, a great site focusing on
off-mainstream music,
especially Roots and Americana:
"It's tragic news that Gus Dudgeon and Sheila ("my old
lady") were both killed instantly when Gus' Jaguar
veered off the M4 and crashed in the
early hours of Sunday morning. Gus was best known for
his collaborations with Elton John, David Bowie and
many more and was one of the most successful British
record producers ever.
Sorry to be the bribger of bad news, but thought you'd
like to know.
Tyler
------------------------------ Date: Sun, 28 Jul 2002 15:19:26 -0500 From: "Richard" <rjpa1@attbi.com> Subject: St. Louis, St. Cloud & Minneapolis Chalkies Take Note Message-ID: <013f01c23674$2ea0edc0$04081fac@verisity.com> If you like XTC from the 'Drums & Wires' and 'Black Sea' era, I'd bet a weeks wages that you'd like Chomsky and they'll be on tour in the midwest on the following dates. You can hear tracks from their first CD on MP3.com. You can visit their website for other info (www.chomsky.com). You can page down if you aren't there, don't care or are already in the know. Wed July 31 10:00 pm The Rocket Bar St. Louis, MO with: The Paper Hearts, Childrens Audio Thu August 1 Prodigal Son Chicago, IL Fri August 2 Red Carpet St. Cloud, MN with: Iffy Sat August 3 400 Bar Minneapolis, MN with: Rhombus, Manplanet Disclaimer: I have no vested financial interest in Chomsky... they are just friends that are worthy of the attention. Get to know Chomsky! Cheers, Richard
------------------------------ Date: Sun, 28 Jul 2002 20:13:28 EDT From: WTDK@aol.com Subject: Musings about a lot of crap Message-ID: <1a5.5d43acc.2a75e2a8@aol.com> The latest and greatest experiment from the major labels....evidently Universal Music Group is going to make a number of rare and difficult titles available on line. The purpose is to pay as you burn I suppose. That's good news for those who enjoy music that isn't No. 1 on the charts at present (or anything by Mariah Carey, Whitney Houston or any of that ilk that practices histrionic songwriting and performances at the expense of intelligence, wit or taste). Why did AV1 outsell WS? I'd like to propose a third theory--the personal appearance. I know that it brought a lot of fans out of the woodwork. There were also fans that purchased AV1 fearing that the band might not be around for too much longer (as Dave had just left the band). Or maybe it was simply the fact that the band hadn't been around. Absence makes the heart grow fonder (or so I've heard -- I personally believe it makes the heart flounder but, hey, that's just me). The third possibility is that many fans may have heard that WS wasn't very good. It seemed to me that the album got slagged quite a bit on the list here and by critics more so than AV1 (although the SF Chronicle was an exception to that rule. Then again, their music staff demonstrate that Einstein's famous quip about both the universe and human stupidity being infinite -- and he wasn't so sure about the universe -- might not be too far off the mark). Maybe it was too music material in too short a span of time. I'd be interested to hear what the sales results are on the Caroline remitters recently released as well as the boxed set. It also helps that rap, boy bands and derivative R&B seem to be in vogue in the United States as well. Saying that I'm always reminded of something Judith Crist once said (a US television and film critic) someone else's trash is my treasure. I'm sure the next generation will be pining after the stuff that's popular in the US now in twenty years just as some of us think the same way about the 60's, 70's and 80's). Crap I was hoping to structure some sort of theory suggesting that the lack of sales for Waspstar suggested the universe was really shrinking after all. Back to the chalkboard. Back to your regularly scheduled ranters....
------------------------------ Date: Mon, 29 Jul 2002 09:48:56 -0600 From: Kirk.Gill@equifax.com Subject: New XTC Fans Message-ID: <OF822E560F.E8139032-ON87256C05.00566A43@fin.equifax.com> Forgive me for mentioning this, but my wife and I have just adopted four children, ages 5, 4, 3, and 2. The were taken from their original home because of neglect, but they'll never be neglected again. My wife was out of the house this weekend for a few hours, and for the first time I had them all just by myself. I decided that some music was called for, and so they heard English Settlement for the first time. The three boys ran around saying "1 2 3 4 5" every time they heard it, and the girl, four years old, danced with her daddy for the first time to "Melt the Guns." Wish us luck !!!!! k?
------------------------------ Date: Mon, 29 Jul 2002 21:02:29 +0100 From: "Peter Fitzpatrick" <peter.fitzpatrick@oceanfree.net> Subject: XTC on eBay Message-ID: <NGBBKKOLCDJDMIEGCEEICEIHCEAA.peter.fitzpatrick@oceanfree.net> Fossil Fuel CD Cover signed by Andy, Colin and Dave I have two, keeping one selling the other [ to subsidize my , uh, xtc habit ;-) ] Those of you that know me will know it's the real deal. http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=896224666&rd=1 -Peter
------------------------------ Date: Mon, 29 Jul 2002 19:58:28 -0700 (PDT) From: Jim Smart <jimsmart1@yahoo.com> Subject: Fred is in the building Message-ID: <20020730025828.58273.qmail@web13502.mail.yahoo.com> Chalkie Talkies: Just a quick note to plug fellow Chalker Mitch Friedman's new album "Fred". Relentlessly upbeat and funny, Mitch tests the limits of the three minute pop song in his own very very unique way. The fact that Andy Partridge agreed to set some of Mitch's lyrics to music says a lot. Would Andy do that with just any old lyrics? When you hear the middle bit for I Wish I Was A Kid Again, you'll know you're dealing with pure Partridge. Dave Gregory's score for "Brother Nature" is stunning. Worth the price of admission just for these two gems. Jim
------------------------------ Date: Tue, 30 Jul 2002 15:50:57 +0100 From: "Edward Collier" <edward.collier@techop.co.uk> Subject: Find your favourite Message-ID: <97D4513F808CA4439B1154BD307857DF058895@noddy.techop.local> http://www.jaguaro.org/feature/03-09-02_wesk2.shtml
------------------------------ Date: Tue, 30 Jul 2002 16:51:44 -0700 (PDT) From: Tyler Hewitt <tahewitt@yahoo.com> Subject: an amusing timewaster Message-ID: <20020730235144.95345.qmail@web14204.mail.yahoo.com> If you go to the altavista search engine, you can translate prases into different languages and back again. http://babelfish.altavista.com/ Things always get interesting when translated a couple of times. Here's the lyrics to Reel by Real translated to French then back to English: In this secret time, invading us on our intimacy Unknowing MIME, we play for the ministry which they can film you in the bed or when you take a bath they can attach adhesive tape to each cry they can attach adhesive tape to each laughter they can turn you around thus you do not know what is very recording Vrai by occupied bees of reel the small ones that you feel on truth by the reel documented downwards as of the rats they are contagious upwards on each acute cry on truth by the true reel by the reel by truth near In this hidden time, ignorance can you to face preparing for crimes, in the cinemascope of government they can film you with work or when they let to you play they can attach adhesive tape so that you them think can attach adhesive tape so that you say them can scramble your identification thus you will not know what is Maintenant I extend swallow to sleep knowing that your objectives piaulent now I eat my daily bread and into the reel of band I will be introduced Give it a try, it's good for a laugh, and makes you less productive if you do it at work!
------------------------------ Date: Wed, 31 Jul 2002 05:31:14 -0700 From: melody <strwbrry@tidepool.com> Subject: Polar Fleece Message-ID: <3D47D88C.5E9F8C99@tidepool.com> In just a few minutes of wearing my new english settlement polar fleece out about town I was met with an amusing reaction. Their were many people waiting in line behind me at the post office... the clerk called me next; as I stood before him he took one look at the emblem and said with great animation, "XTC! English Settlement! I've got all their albums," a wonderful soliloquy from the postman... "underrated... love to see them tour... every bit as good as the beatles." He proceeded to talk about them for atleast three minutes singing snipets of tunes before asking me what I needed here at the post office. There are matters more important than business! Its not everyday you get to hear the postal clerk belt out "love on a farmboy's wages." ...the polar fleece proves very warm. stephen strwbrry
------------------------------ Date: Thu, 1 Aug 2002 11:43:03 -0700 (PDT) From: travis schulz <xtcisadarngoodband@yahoo.com> Subject: Gus Message-ID: <20020801184303.92750.qmail@web12304.mail.yahoo.com> Very sad to hear Gus Dudgeon has passed on. Nonsuch is my alltime favorite album- one that has totally changed my life and I thank Gus for doing such a fine production job on it. I disagree with all the bashing of this album- being too long and over laboured, but it's the one that has that religious experience or feeling you always hear Sgt. Pepper has. So thank ya Gus...
------------------------------ Date: Thu, 1 Aug 2002 09:52:05 -0500 From: "Jamie Lowe" <jamielowe@msn.com> Subject: Hot and Sticky Message-ID: <002101c2396b$01bf66c0$40ce2a3f@unlpm> Dear Chalkholders, Thanks to all of you the wait is over! XTC bumper stickers are now available. There are two 4 X 6 styles: Style #1 is designed for the inside of a window and is white lettering on clear vinyl and can be removed easily and moved to another location. Which is a plus if you don't get it just right the first time. Very discreet....and a cool addition to a window near you... Style #2 is the traditional sticky back bumper sticker, suitable for sticking almost anywhere, but this one you better get right the first time! The link below provides a few more details on what they look like, or just take a look at your English Settlement LP or CD cover. http://dfbs.marhost.com/xtcbumpersticker/ They cost $4 each postage paid to all USA residents and 5 Euros to European residents. If you happen to be somewhere else in this big square world we'll find an economical solution for you too. If you are interested please contact me directly and I will email you ordering instructions. Thanks, Jamie Lowe NP: Becki Digregorio "god's empty chair" Own it, love it, highly recommend it.
------------------------------ Date: Fri, 2 Aug 2002 15:01:19 -0400 From: KEVIN.WOLLENWEBER@jpmorgan.com Subject: Oh So Frivolous Message-ID: <OFF77DE76F.892D2E8F-ON85256C09.006244C6@chase.com> As some of you have burned red with disdain toward the notion of XTC being inducted into the Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Fame, I thought about my newest skylarking purchase, that seven-disk set from Rhino records, titled after a now famous mock exclamation from that Moon Unit and Frank Zappa poke at the Valley Girl "phenomenon"(?), LIKE OH M'GOD--THE 80'S POP CULTURE BOX, TOTALLY! I bought the shag-carpeted '70's counterpart to this, with complete and utter knowledge that this was pure fluff from beginning to end, although I was a bit angry that David Bowie's "Fame", co-produced by John Lennon, was included. I get similar queezy feelings about the inclusion of Pete Townshend and Thomas Dolby on this current '80's retrospective of annoying "favorites", but I can safely announce that XTC is *NOT* included here! These sets are reserved for the most annoying musical portions of the year...or, as in the case of the Townshend, Dolby and Joe Jackson entries, the most overplayed songs. I still like Joe Jackson's "Steppin' Out" and the album on which the song can be found far too much to say that the overkill of this song even came close to ruining it for me. I found it a breath of fresh air every time I heard it when forced to listen to commercial radio. Thankfully, the '80's and '90's were times I learned that commercial radio was no longer the place to dwell. I grew up with "progressive" radio, where the DJ had full control over what was played (within reason--I think that raw lyrics were always either censored or played in reverse; and can you believe the line "Mother Superior jump the gun" from the Lennon/McCartney song, "Happiness is a Warm Gun" was such a lyric???). The joy of progressive or album-oriented radio, though, was that there was still much to play that would still be excepted by the FCC and we all learned that our favorite groups, considered one-hit wonders by the mass media, were in actuality far more diverse than they were given credit for. At any rate, there were few moments during the 1980's and 1990's when I was assaulted by all the dribble inherent on the radio--mostly at family gatherings or 4th of July parties that featured very unimpressive DJ's with no musical sense beyond that annoying "Barbie Girl" song (look for it, no doubt, on the '90'S POP CULTURE BOX, whatever its alarming subtitle); so the inclusion of such silly nonsense only serves to make me laugh at how fast I'd forgotten about it. I buy such expensive silliness the way some folks buy novelty albums on vinyl or CD as they appear, like those "golden throat" thingies butchering the Beatles, who were almost in grave danger of becoming, themselves, such a silly novelty, although no one can call the Fab Four a one-hit wonder! I brought the set up to gleefully make mention that XTC is *NOT* included in the mix. I was almost thinking that they would be after I'd heard Thomas Dolby in the mix. "How dare they!" I screamed, among other expletives; however, I don't expect Rhino Records, part of the mega-corporate music structure, Warner Brothers, to have any respect for good pop over bad, and Dolby's vanishing from the business tends to make his great music an easy target for such nonsense collections, just as Frank Zappa's death made him such a target. I'm sure that Moon Unit Zappa hardly wanted "Valley Girl" to somehow become an homage to such girls out West. Her inclusion thereon was Frank allowing her to spew venom at some of her classmates in high school! In a way, perhaps it was good that Andy and Colin were out of commission for a time. Certainly, their fans will always clamor over their work and they will not be forgotten, not with this COAT OF MANY CUPBOARDS set and the reissue, in mini-LP sleeves, of their amazing first 10 albums. In fact, my only hope is that the demand for these limited editions increases and more are printed. This month, I look forward to finding DRUMS AND WIRES, MUMMER, NONSUCH and the round-covered BIG EXPRESS! Drool drool! I have to agree with fellow Chalkhillions who have told me over and over again that the sound is indeed improved upon here, and y'all know how much of a fan of mini-LP sleeves I am. I'm sure we can all think of artists' back catalogues whose covers deserve to be featured in this way--cover art is as important as the albums still are in some cases! Having lost my sight long before buying XTC albums, I can't extoll the virtues of these sleeves, but I'm still glad they exist. It is a neat idea. I just wish that those baggies that the sleeves fit into and are their protective covering were stronger. My ENGLISH SETTLEMENT baggie split down the side; AAARUGH! But, rest assured, that is my only complaint! Again, though, some of you other collectors will have to tell me if the booklets coming with the new reissued jewel box editions actually do have extra liner notes from XTC members regarding the recording of each album or honorable mentions of favorite tracks. If not, I'm afraid that I will call the mini-LP's the *ONLY* editions of these albums I'll buy, depending on how many I'm able to get. The only one I'm missing from the previous batch is WHITE MUSIC. And, oh, forgive me if I've wrongly called the first album WHITE NOISE by mistake. I'm obviously confusing that title with something that was issued by someone else, and I can't recall the individual or group who actually did call their new release WHITE NOISE. Perhaps the lads of XTC would consider that as the name of a forthcoming project...just for a skylark? I'm still so back-logged on new and interesting releases. The terrific stuff flowing from Not Lame sounds amazing. I'll be interested to hear comments on the Jellyfish set when some of you receive your copies. I only recall two albums from this group; so I'm imagining that this is a completist's set, and nothing could be finer to my mind at this point. Also, Not Lame has promised a Jeff Lynn tribute called LYNN ME YOUR EARS, featuring Todd Rundgren and Matthew Sweet among the roster of folks paying homage to Lynn, the Move and Electric Light Orchestra--although, if you're going to honor the Move in any way, you'd have to honor Roy Wood, who was an equal part of that band's sound. In fact, there wre times when I enjoyed Roy's work over Jeff's. Another such group is the Zombies. Those of you who own the four-disk set comprising just about everything the band recorded as a unit, know that Colin Blunstone was as integral a part of that band as Rod Argent. Their combined contributions are what makes Disk Two of that set my favorite of the entire project. This is not to sneer at the rest of the set. Completist packages like this do not make me feel that an artist's creative spark is merely passe; it only shows me how diverse the artist or group actually is. When John and George were discounting Beatles as anything to do with themselves during those turbulant final days at Apple Records, I couldn't just follow suit and toss them aside. There is nothing sweeter than the four combining their talents during the RUBBER SOUL and REVOLVER periods. Judging by the influences clearly heard on some of our favorite acts discussed herein, I know I'm not alone in that assessment. And, finally, forgive me, Becky, for not ordering your disk as yet. I'm going to do so within the next few weeks. I'm very anxious to hear this set of songs, and I hope even that you can get yourself a gig at Manhattan's Bottom Line, if you're somehow doing live shows around these songs. Recommendations that I've read here are enough for me, and I can hardly wait to snag a copy. Kevin
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