Chalkhills: Chalkhills Digest Volume 3, Issue 162
Chalkhills Digest Volume 3, Issue 162

Chalkhills Digest, Volume 3, Number 162 Sunday, 14 September 1997 Today's Topics: Re: Music We Hate two words: The early bird Prince of Orchids & more XTC vs adamant the lilac time and more Buzzcity Revisited Re: Producers: Good, Bad, and Awful Re: music we hate Sessions and Producers like producers sound different Funk Pop A Roll (again) Becki DiGregoriano? Music you might like. Oh, I want it!!!!! Back to the old routine Who Needs A Producer? Skylarking Etymology Bruvvers... I got the horse right here XTC At First Sight Peter Pumpkinhead and Gee-tar solos I must admit, I am shocked..... Administrivia: To UNSUBSCRIBE from the Chalkhills mailing list, send a message to <chalkhills-request@chalkhills.org> with the following command: unsubscribe chalkhills For all other administrative issues, send a message to: <chalkhills-request@chalkhills.org> Please remember to send your Chalkhills postings to: <chalkhills@chalkhills.org> World Wide Web: <http://chalkhills.org/> The views expressed herein are those of the individual authors. Chalkhills is digested with Digest 3.4 (John Relph <relph@sgi.com>). Abort your mission let's just say you tried.

---------------------------------------------------------------------- Message-Id: <3.0.3.32.19970905211726.0074d430@mail1.electric.net> Date: Fri, 05 Sep 1997 21:17:26 -0700 From: David Hathaway <davidh@electric.net> Subject: Re: Music We Hate >From: david.mcguinness@bbc.co.uk (David McGuinness) >Subject: music we hate > >Thanks to todzilla for coming up with the 'what music drives XTC fans up >the wall' idea. > >Personally, I've never heard a song by The Beautiful South whose lyrics >didn't make me want to throw up. Anyone else feel the same? Well, they don't make me throw up, but, they don't do much for me either, except 36D was kinda cute the first time I heard it... Lessee, what really drives me up the wall... Most country music. The Spice Girls, unless it's on TV with the mute on.. >8) New Order and Human League. Hell, most of the british synth pop movement besides Gary Numan and Thomas Dolby. But, what REALLY drives me off the deep end is detailed below... All day long at work, I had "no language in our lungs" running through my head. No idea why, but, being that I act as a binary mailman at work, maybe it was some obscure question about MIME attachments and foriegn codepages that had languages in my head. Anyways. So, I get home, and start looking for Black Sea. Nope, nowhere to be found in the hosue, not on any of the three floors, nor in the car, nor in the kite bag (been working on a stunt kite routine to various XTC songs lately). Not here, not there, nope, not even hiding over there. So, I settled for Go2, and in the process remembered what a fine album it is. I first heard Drums and Wires as a wee tyke, but, quickly liked Go2 better at that time and I haven't listened to it in ages. mmmmmmmmmm.... >From: "DADDY'S GIRL" <ACOEA@jazz.ucc.uno.edu> >Subject: Now now, let's not get too negative...... > >Hanson. (Everytime I hear it, I think "MMM STOP!!!!!!") >Marilyn Manson (The novelty has worn off) >Leann Rimes (How do I live without you? Easy....I change the station.) >Counting Crows (I used to like 'em, but I got sick of 'em) >REM (Once again, used to like 'em.....) oh yeah, and all of these too... Trent Reznor's usually "lovely" synth stuff is overshadowed by that manson twerp. I -like- Nine Inch Nails. |We've all heard that a million monkeys banging on a million |typewriters will eventually reproduce the works of Shakespeare. |Now, thanks to the Internet, we know this is not true. | http://www.monkey-boy.com |David Hathaway, CEO Of monkey-boy industries, davidh@monkey-boy.com

------------------------------ Message-Id: <l03020900b036ac0eaf1c@[206.252.158.119]> Date: Sat, 6 Sep 1997 03:33:45 -0400 From: "oh, _that_ milkmaid" <rmckenzi@dti.net> Subject: two words: the Seahorses. John Squire (Stone Roses) hatched this band - the album's called _Do it Yourself_ on Geffen (where else?), and he plays some of the best guitar i've heard in AGES, and all in a very poppy and british (but not particularly britpop, to my surprise - it's much more original musically) way - it reminds me a lot of Sloan's new cd, _One Chord To Another_, except that the Seahorses are a much better band. that said, the lyrics are a little silly, and one song was co-written by that complete idiot Liam Gallagher, but who cares, i think it's great. "The Boy in The Picture" is like a long-lost Kinks song, and a friend of mine compared parts of the album to Matthew Sweet and Michael Penn. Also fans of the Posies absolutely outstanding record _Amazing Disgrace_ will like this album - "Happiness is Eggshaped" sounds like it could have come off of the happier Posies album that they're probably going to make now that they've flirted with depression. anyway, Squire found this random guy named Chris Helme busking and made him join the band, and he has a great almost Scottish sounding accent except in one song where he sounds like Mike Myers in Ming Tea. [smiling politely, Brian Matthews wrote:] > Tschalkgerz! cut that out - you're giving me a headache. :) > me. I keep reading about some of you panning "Peter Pumpkinhead" or > "Books Are Burning" (pointless guitar solo? When did ANY guitar solo > make a point? It's music, for crying out loud - it both means something > AND nothing) or "Garden Of Earthly Delights" or "My Weapon" or "Human the reason i think "Books Are Burning"'s guitar solos are pointless is because they're not the slightest bit necessary to the song, and they don't add anything. they're supposed to be that way, of course, because the song is a nod to the grand old tradition of classic rock guitar masturbation, which i also find boring as hell. all the other songs you cited are various degrees of excellence musically, but lyrically slightly flawed. i don't think that's really the same thing as saying that they suck. i like about 95 percent of all XTC songs, and for me that's really saying something - the only band i have a higher percentage with would probably be the Beatles (taking into account the fact that the latter wrote more songs [right?]). there are definitely other people on this list, however, who feel the way that you do after having heard almost everything by Our Lads (tm Harrison Sherwood?), so don't worry - you're not alone. > I don't know, Brookes... what WERE you thinking when you bought a Kula > Shakur CD? obviously nothing too intelligent. i did also note that it was produced by John Leckie, but IMO he's definitely produced some rubbish before - see the second Posies album which i've forgotten the name of but which everyone thinks is *so* great but which i find intensely irritating and whiny. [Martin Monkman trilled birdlike, re: who plays what:] > I wonder if Andy is insulted by the fact the he only let himself play > tambourine and shaker on "Rook". And does anybody hear much bass guitar on > "1000 Umbrellas"? Just wondering. alright, i admit that i was extrapolating a little (much!). but it is true that the only "real" instrument on "Rook" is the piano, and Andy has said that he was so bad at playing the chords for "Rook" that when he was writing it, he had to make a hand out of cardboard and use it to play the notes properly. so of course he would let Gregsy play the key-boreds. - brookes ----------------------rmckenzi@dti.net------------------------------- R. Brookes McKenzie aka Louise B. Minetti "Uncuff me, Scully." - Deb Prewitt, _The Bermuda Triangle_ (X-Files fan fic) ------------------http://www.smith.edu/~rmckenzi--------------------- (as in 'what's that milkmaid/ doing there?' - i.e., don't ask.)

------------------------------ Message-ID: <34112239.4152@ns1.mindmagic.com> Date: Sat, 06 Sep 1997 09:28:26 +0000 From: Brian Matthews <btm@ns1.mindmagic.com> Organization: Ringling Multimedia Corporation Subject: The early bird Tschalkgerz! >Okay...who's actually tried the "Dark Side of the Moon"/Wizard of Oz thing? (For those of you who don't know, a radio dj found out that if you play DSOTM and watch TWOO at the same time, the lyrics and music on the cd correspond with the acxtion in the film. I've done it, it's hysterically accurate.) Anyhoo, I was wondering if any XTC albums would go with movies like that.... Just a thought.< Just remember everyone... it was I/me/moi who brought this idea up first, with all apologies to Amanda. :-) Ciao for now, -Brian

------------------------------ Message-ID: <3411A07A.15B5@cyber1.servtech.com> Date: Sat, 06 Sep 1997 11:27:06 -0700 From: Chaos Harlequin <particle@servtech.com> Organization: Nil Subject: Prince of Orchids & more Why, oh why, did they have to pick the *first day of school* for the Andy chat? Sigh... And I *still* haven't seen the damn transcript for the *first* chat... AMANDA: >River of Orchids-Honestly, it still hasn't caught on. Andy's veering off >into preachy territory here. Ahhh, but what an image! A road spontaneously being covered over with flowers... The music is great, too -- very interesting treatment. >but I heard "MmmmBop" on the radio before I ever saw the video - >you have to admit it was the catchiest thing on radio this >summer, and damn good sounding!) Hell no! Even if you're going on sheer catchiness, the Third Eye Blind song beats it out easily. I can barely stand to listen to MMMBop. AMANDA REDUX: >Marilyn Manson (The novelty has worn off) "Mr. Manson, I saw your show the *first* time. Back when it was called Ozzy Osbourne." >Okay...who's actually tried the "Dark Side of the Moon"/Wizard of Oz thing? It is, of course, all coincidence. Beyond the obvious difficulty of pulling something like this off on purpose, a few tries will show you that other movies work even better. The local Gannett paper did an article a few months ago where they tried four different movies with this album, with various degrees of success. Evidently, 2001 worked *far* better than Wizard, at least for the first twenty minutes. fstolzenbach: >Prince of Orange (I really hope this song maintains its quirky edge after >Mr. Producer is done with it. And don't lose that crying at the end!) I really hope they go with the demo version for this one. I can't see any way that a remake could possibly improve on the version we've already got.

------------------------------ Date: Sat, 6 Sep 1997 17:16:48 -0400 (EDT) From: Kevin Keeler <insanity@fixed.underworld.net> Subject: XTC vs adamant Message-ID: <Pine.LNX.3.96.970906170444.9423A-100000@fixed.underworld.net> Dont aska bout the subject...its a long, boring, pointless (and not even much of a) story. Hrm. Where are we off to today? first off: i of course missed the rifff session with AP cuz, well, I'm in school. first i thought it was on friday, then when i checked on thursday , i noticed it was on that day. I was all 'hooray,' then I realized it was 9 am EST instead of 9 pm. needless to say, i was at school at 9 am,. and thus, very pissed. so....did anyone who happened to attend (i know there are some out there) happen to get a log of the vent? or at least know wherei can get one? much thanx in advance secondly, on this age thing..i dont know how old the youngest or oldest subscriber is...but i know that im 16. so yay. nextly, to the man saying all XTC songs (at least in the right point in time) are excellent. (((side note: im really sorry i dont cite, but usually im in a hurry and read the whole list before adding in my odd pocket change (if any)and just sort of randonmly pulll things out f my arse))). i agree, but also think that some have a lot more staying power. after my initial 200 or so listens, there are usually a consistant song or 2 that will get skipped a majority of the time. and i could swear i had one more comment....but i cant remember peace, love, and edible underwear kevin keeler insanity@underworld.net now running off his own computer (all cheer)

------------------------------ From: FOPP1@aol.com Date: Sat, 6 Sep 1997 18:04:15 -0400 (EDT) Message-ID: <970906180413_1919880153@emout05.mail.aol.com> Subject: the lilac time and more not long ago someone out there wanted the andy partridge produced lilac time cd - " & love for all". good stuff! i recently found a second copy, ($12 + post takes it) so whoever wanted it, please e-mail me privately. i too love it when chalkhillers share their long time musical favorites or new discoveries. Here are 5 of my newer faves! The Nines Wonderlust - Prize Semisonic - Great Divide Fountains of Wayne Ginger - Suddenly I Came to My Senses please tell me it ain't so....some young whipper-snapper is stirrin' up the geritol an' trying to flush out the oldest chalkhillster? well, if my memory serves me....i'm 43...and tonights my 25th high school reunion. time flies....and next may gives us reason to live. martin fopp

------------------------------ Message-Id: <199709070124.DAA28992@utrecht.knoware.nl> From: "Mark Strijbos" <mmello@knoware.nl> Organization: The Little Lighthouse Date: Sun, 7 Sep 1997 03:30:17 +0000 Subject: Buzzcity Revisited Dear Chalkers, Due to my own stupidity I missed the IRC chat with Andy but thanks to Dave G. I did receive a transcript - now online at my site of course. > I think it was either Julian Cook or someone named Mark (Strijbos, > perhaps?) who suggested "Buzzcity Talking" as the name, but since you > can't have spaces in IRC channel names, I thought it would be best to > shorten it to avoid any confusion. Yep, it was me - Mark, possibly Strijbos ;) I'm glad you liked the suggestion and I'm thrilled by the idea of a dedicated XTC chat room. I'll check it out soon! BTW: thank you Dave in Glasgow for the fab interview tape Sorry I couldn't ask the Tubby The Tuba question - now I also want to know! BTW 2: Does anybody need an English Settlement double album (UK) on VINYL, with the printed inner sleeves ??? Email me if you need it yours chattering, Mark Strijbos at The Little Lighthouse; the XTC website @ http://utopia.knoware.nl/~mmello ===> The Random XTC Quote <=== There's no youth culture only masks they let you rent

------------------------------ Message-Id: <199709071109.EAA23251@churchill.gryphon.com> From: "William Wisner" <wisner@gryphon.com> Subject: Re: Producers: Good, Bad, and Awful Date: Sun, 7 Sep 1997 12:52:33 +0200 Mark Rushton said: > (attention you Hanson haters out there, > sure these kids look ridiculous, but I heard "MmmmBop" on the radio > before I ever saw the video - you have to admit it was the catchiest > thing on radio this summer, and damn good sounding!) I had been preparing to say something like this myself. The Hansons (and I will confess, I was uncertain as to whether they were brothers or sisters on first sight) suffer from the standard panoply of pre-adolescent teen band problems: voice-yet-to-change vocal delivery, awful lyrics and a regrettable tendency for teenage girls to think they're the best thing since the Beatles. When I hear "MmmmBop" I experience a momentary urge to cringe at the singing, but underneath that the truth is this: the song is well constructed, bouncy bubble-gum pop. And I like well constructed, bouncy bubble-gum pop. There is some small hope that in five years these boys may be able to write (and sing) lyrics as good as the music, and then they'll be a band to notice. Wisner.

------------------------------ Message-Id: <199709071109.EAA22024@churchill.gryphon.com> From: "William Wisner" <wisner@gryphon.com> Subject: Re: music we hate Date: Sun, 7 Sep 1997 12:54:58 +0200 Smashing Pumpkins. Musically, the band has merit -- some of the songs are great -- but (rather like Hanson, only multiplied a thousandfold) Billy Corgan's singing makes me want to eviscerate myself. Wisner.

------------------------------ From: martucci@surf.com Date: Sun, 7 Sep 1997 09:58:55 -0700 (PDT) Message-Id: <199709071658.JAA20085@surf.com> Subject: Sessions and Producers Apparently we are at the end of a very long rural mail route - we just received our #41 Little Express yesterday. But so many intriguing tid-bits, it's well worth the wait!! * "Shonen Knife contacting Andy to produce them." I wonder when that was and if the idea was to do an entire album or just a song remix. The reason I ask is because Shonen Knife released a 7 song EP in Japan in July entitled "It's A New Find." On it, there are two John X remixes and (wait for it) a Sterolab remix of Hot Chocolate! Actually when I think of what Andy and Shonen Knife would sound like, it screams "Stereolab" for some reason. I assume with the label decisions being finalized, this project is either dropped or very back burner? Off topic, but speaking about J-pop collaborations, Andy Sturmer and Paul Bevoir both contribute to a mini disc by Ami (1/2 of the mega big in Japan "Puffy"), called "Honey." Even further off topic, but sad news: Imperial Drag is history.... * Dave's Abbey Road studio 2 week Did they actually do the deed and re-record Sgt Pepper??? Mitch? * Producers Didn't Sean O'Hagan / Charlie Francis come up as a possible about a year ago? Or was I high llama that day? And frankly, "The Good Things" recording has a wonderful sound and presence to it - maybe just give the new job to Yazbek and Kilfor!! John R, enjoy that bungalow by the sea and heed the advice of seagulls. Dean ~*~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~*~ Dean Martucci martucci@surf.com San Mateo,CA USA "Lie down and be counted, what are we standing for?" - Neil Innes ~*~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~*~

------------------------------ Message-Id: <199709071843.OAA09059@ultra1.dreamscape.com> From: "Chris Ellerd" <cellerd@dreamscape.com> Subject: like producers sound different Date: Sun, 7 Sep 1997 14:42:11 -0400 Hey! I've played a solo acoustic act for 11-12 years.These days I've got a 3-piece original band. Back to the solo acoustic thing, I have performed such pearl ditties as "Dear God", "Earn enough for us", "The Mayor of Simpleton" (nothin simple about playing and singing that one), "King for a day", and "Dying" (I like that one alot). "Senses working Overtime", "Big Day", I guess I did alot of XTC now that I reflect on it. Just thought you should no. On the subject of different producers, REM can be also considered a band that works with different ones. This makes them unique, and you can hear the difference in the sounds, also how the music was sonically packaged. With Don Gehman (John Cougar Mellencamp) REM got JCM's sound, particularly the drum sounds. They used Gehman's studio for recording the album "Life's Rich Pageant". For the album "Fables of the Reconstruction of the Fables of the Reconstruction of the............." Sorry. Joe Boyd of the band Fairport Convention produced that. I like the sound, more keyboard oriented than anything else up to that time. On "Document" they used Scott Litt (produced "Walking on Sunshine"-Katrina and the Waves) and they found the hit single formula. Producers are important, for guidance as well as moral support. It's kinda nice to know you have a friend in the control booth. I imagine it's gotta reek bad when you feel that you are working at cross-purposes with a producer. Where am I going with all this? Diversity of producers=Diversity in a band's sound. I'm a fan of that. Cheerio Chalkheads! Chris cellerd@dreamscape.com

------------------------------ Message-Id: <v03007800b038cab8dc8c@[168.121.35.32]> Date: Sun, 7 Sep 1997 17:35:14 -0400 From: Curtiss Hammock <curtiss@macbeth.com> Subject: Funk Pop A Roll (again) Dear fellow Chalkophiles, Thanks to all who have visited the Funk Pop A Roll site and offered their opinions. If you haven't been there yet, please drop by if you get a chance. The purpose of the site is to connect XTC fans with other artists they might like, based on the opinions of other XTC fans. www.macbeth.com/funkpoparoll A couple of digest back, Natalie wrote: >I'd much rather have a site where people talk about their >favorite albums regardless of what they sound like While this is a valid point, I felt that for my site (and its intended purpose), some focus was needed. XTC fans tend to have pretty eclectic tastes, and to include *everything* that *every* XTC fan likes would result in a list of just about *every* artist that exists, rendering the whole thing useless. While I have not chosen to limit the scope of the site to bands that "sound like" XTC, I *have* limited it to artists with similar musical values. Deciding what is appropriate and what isn't will be tough, a lot of the time. Led Zeppelin, for instance (love them though I may) didn't make it. Brian Stevens and The Cavedogs, on the other hand, did. Curiously, on the same day that my initial announcement hit the list, a similar announcement appeared on the Jellyfish list. I checked out site site: http://icentral.com/gumby/jellyfish/otherbands.html Meaning no disrespect to Jellyfish fans or the author of the site (it's quite well done), it's interesting to see that it judges artists based on the degree to which they sound like Jellyfish. This isn't my intention at all. I am simply looking for a low common denominator among our various tastes. So there you have it. I would desperately like some other viewpoints on the site, so if anyone wants to submit something, please drop by, get a general idea as to what I'm looking for, and let me know. Regards, Curtiss Funk Pop A Roll: Music That You Might Enjoy If You're An XTC Fan www/macbeth.com/funkpoparoll

------------------------------ Message-Id: <v03007801b03969497db1@[168.121.38.54]> Date: Mon, 8 Sep 1997 04:36:55 -0400 From: Curtiss Hammock <curtiss@macbeth.com> Subject: Becki DiGregoriano? Hi all, I"ve heard about Becki DiGregoriano's CD (hope I got the spelling right on that), but I haven't been able to find it, even at my favorite indie store. Is it out yet? After hearing all of the glowing reviews on this list, I am quite keen to get it. Thanks! Curtiss --------------------- Curtiss R.Hammock II MacBeth Design Atlanta, GA, USA curtiss@macbeth.com www.macbeth.com

------------------------------ Message-ID: <3413D3DA.AD3D9A0A@gmap.leeds.ac.uk> Date: Mon, 08 Sep 1997 11:30:50 +0100 From: Graham Shore <"grahams<No spam>"@gmap.leeds.ac.uk> Organization: GMAP Ltd. Subject: Music you might like. Dear chalk-types, As a long time fan of XTC, here are two bands I like which you might want to check out:- Magazine - 'Play' - live album - magnificent! 'Secondhand Daylight' - brilliant songs and production. Howard DeVoto's lyrics are clever and quirky like AP's, and also deal with sex!! Comsat Angels - 'Sleep No More' - a very dark and brooding album, but with really excellent guitar playing in a very dense mix. -- Best Regards, Graham Shore. To reply, remove <No spam> from my address.

------------------------------ Date: Mon, 08 Sep 1997 09:29:55 -0600 (CST) From: "DADDY'S GIRL" <ACOEA@jazz.ucc.uno.edu> Subject: Oh, I want it!!!!! Message-id: <01INE80HT5PE8XNI4M@jazz.ucc.uno.edu> Of course, I'm talking abut Joe Jackson's newest album. (There go them damn spelling errors again!!!!) I've gone the whole summer without any CTD, with the grateful exception of being awoken by my best friend at 9:00 in the morning to be informed that Brad Roberts was on the Howard Stern show..... I'm asking you to all rack your brains for this one......I heard a song not that long ago on a music system I have called Digital Cable Radio. I never learned the title of the song or the artist, but the song haunts me. I managed to tape enough of it to listen to, but the sound isn't very good. At least ONE of you MUST know the artist/title, this is driving me insane. Here are some of the lyrics- Baby I see this world has made you sad some people can be bad, the things they do, the things they say. But baby, I'll wipe away those bitter tears, I'll chase away those restless fears that turn your blue skies into gray. Why worry? There should be laughter after pain. There should be sunshine after rain. These things have always been the same. So why worry now? You all have such eclectic music tastest, somebody's got to know who this is. It's such a beautiful song. And now onto the XTC on this XTC list. Alright, my new list of trading stuff should be up in a mo. There's more acoustic shows, a few more demos. I would have more, but one person I thought I was trading with took my stuff but gave me nothing in return. I've lost this man's email address, so hello Mr. Man. If I misunderstood something in our trading agreement, you let me know. But if you're one of the cabal of schemers and scammers, then you know where you can go. Everyone's talking about Andy's demos. What about the stuff Dave and Colin work on? Dave's version of Third Stone From the Sun is incredible. I had to play my tape on high speed dubbing to understand what he was saying. And I hope Where Did the Ordinary People Go? makes it onto tape. Well, at the rate they're going, I'm not sure Dave OR Colin's ever going to go bald. (Anyone who notices-er-nitpicks, will see that Dave's always had a high hairline.) Poor Andy got the shaft, he started losing it before he hit 30. But why am I babbling about boring topics? (Because I'm AMANDA, that's why!) And now I must be going, I will close on this note- I'm going to shoot my beloved Philip if he refers to "Oranges & Lemons" as "Lemons & Limes" one more time!!!!!! Ciao, Amanda MONDO CANE! XTC song of the day-Car Out of Control non XTC-Sunny Came Home-Shawn Colvin

------------------------------ Date: Mon, 08 Sep 1997 11:45:12 -0600 (CST) From: "DADDY'S GIRL" <ACOEA@jazz.ucc.uno.edu> Subject: Back to the old routine Message-id: <01INED65HGC28XNNBW@jazz.ucc.uno.edu> Back to the days of forgetting something I wanted to say...you get the pic. Whilst in line to pay my school fees, I noticed a guy who had a hat on that haid, in bright green neon letters, XTC emblazoned on it. I wanted to approach him and ask if it was about our lads, but chickened out. And one extra PS-I was not aware that MuchMusic had done a Spotlight on XTC some years back. Would anyone happen to have said Spotlight on tape? I would be most grateful for it! Ciao once again, Daddy's Girl ACO l's PNH

------------------------------ Message-Id: <199709081757.NAA19770@mime2.prodigy.com> From: Moonsilver@prodigy.com (MR NOBLE K THOMAS) Date: Mon, 8 Sep 1997 13:57:09, -0500 Subject: Who Needs A Producer? None of the producers listed as possibilities intrigues me that much. Why not just an engineer? All three band members are adequate producers themselves, why shrink profits by paying for an unneeded expense. Could it be the band simply needs an arbitrator when differences of opinion arise? If XTC signs a deal with PONY CANYON Records in Japan then either expect a BONUS track to be included in the Japanese release or perhaps an earlier release date. This is due to the fact that Japanese fans will often buy the American import as it is cheaper to acquire (or so I've been told). Todd Rundgren just ended a three CD deal with PONY CANYON and the first two were released at least four months before the American version (the last is still unreleased stateside). Speaking of TR, I hear Terry Hall is releasing a cover version of I Saw The Light. Some artists that are presented on a recent COOKING VINYL CD sampler: Ani Defranco / Billy Bragg / Pere Ubu / MIchelle Shocked / Immaculate Fools / Tom Robinson... There's a nice XTC article included in the Summer 97 POPSIDED magazine. No new revelations but nice to see them mentioned in very positive tones. POPSIDED can be reached at (714) 524-9825 or popsided@aol.com. If you like obscure and indie intellectual pop music, check them out.

------------------------------ Message-ID: <c=US%a=_%p=BTG._Inc.%l=EXCH_SERVER-970908202407Z-3703@exchserver.btg.com> From: "Sherwood, Harrison" <hsherwood@btg.com> Subject: Skylarking Etymology Date: Mon, 8 Sep 1997 16:24:07 -0400 With a wide-eyed enthusiam I haven't felt since that first glorious day I entered the wonderful world of Nancy Drew mysteries, I've recently been devouring the Aubrey-Maturin novels, written over the last 25 years or so by Patrick O'Brian. If you like historical sea-fiction, arr, mateys, it doesn't get any better than this: you got your swashbuckling naval adventures, you got your Grand Historickal Gestures, you got writing that doesn't make you want to take a shower, you got your authentic-sounding (early 19th-Cent.) dialogue, and above all your punctilious research into period detail. Not since Horatio Hornblower, etc., etc. It's the "painstaking research" part of the equation that engenders this post. I'm on a second read of _Desolation Island_--one of the best of the bunch--and I keep noticing references to midshipmen "skylarking" in the rigging of the _Leopard_ (Capt. Aubrey's fourth-rate, 55-gun ship). At first I simply thought it meant general goofing off, in the way that teenagers do, but as the narrative developed I began to notice that the term was being used in a much more specific way. I went to the dictionary to look up the origin of the word, and it turns out there _was_ more than met the eye: The word "skylark" used as an intransitive verb dates to 1809 (the book is set in 1810! See what I mean about "authentic"?), and means "to run up and down the rigging of a ship in sport." As O'Brian describes it, it's essentially playing an appallingly dangerous form of tag, using ropes and pulleys and spars as a playing field 150 feet above the deck of a pitching, yawing and rolling sailing ship. Not the kind of thing you'll catch _me_ doing, at any rate. Two observations: 1) It's time to revise the cover art on the XTC album. That graceful-lined bird in Adam's eye and repeated on the lyric sheet--presumably a skylark--has got to go; the word's related to the bird only peripherally 2) I guess this intelligence adds to the already suspiciously large body of evidence that Andy Partridge has a _serious_ sea fixation. Paying attention, Mitch? Can you work this into the "XTSea Medley" somehow? FWIW, the word "lark," meaning "something done solely for fun or adventure," is a back-formation from "skylark." "Skylark" as applied to the _bird_ dates from 1686. The skylark (Alauda arvensis) is, interestingly, "noted for its song, especially in vertical flight." No word as to whether that vertical flight is headed straight up or down. Harrison "Tweet, tweet, tweet, THUD" Sherwood

------------------------------ Message-ID: <7C86671FD726D11185E000805FEA5AC50102BF@BENEXCHG> From: Gary Minns <Gary.Minns@benfield.co.uk> Subject: Bruvvers... Date: Tue, 9 Sep 1997 16:07:44 +0100 >...we are the hard corps fans, we have stuck this whole damn strike out and we have remained faithful and adamant...< Yup. We are the real serious Pickets (US trans: Teamsters...I think?). Gary

------------------------------ Message-ID: <c=US%a=_%p=AETNA%l=HFD-EXCH003-970909195949Z-408098@aetna.aetna.com> From: "Witter, Karl F" <WitterKF@aetna.com> Subject: I got the horse right here Date: Tue, 9 Sep 1997 15:59:49 -0400 >[Linda Hall] The only song "Dame Fortune" really recaps is >"Dear Madam Barnum". To go outside of the XTC canon, it reminds me of "Luck Be a Lady Tonight", the "my ex-wife" bit aside. "Your Dictionary" sounds closer to "Dear Madam Barnum" in my dictionary, under the attitude and directly addressing the now-hated woman. "Dame Fortune" is just much more hopeful in the Ira Gershwin way. I'd like it released on something, even if only a B-side, cos I find it too breezy to ignore. The rustic production on the demo is enjoyed here and shouldn't be ruined with gloss. XTsCheme is a blast. Windows NT is finally useful for something! Anyone see "Brassed Off", with Pete Postlethwaite, Ewen McGregor & Tara Fitzgerald? There's a scene where Andy (McGregor) and Gloria (Fitzgerald) meet as adults, each recognizing the other and trying to hide some embarrassment about a bit of skylarking they did as teens. To this end, Gloria pretends to have forgotten his name, and first calls him...Barry Andrews! Three times, no less. A mere coincidence, or more? (PS Very good movie, too.) JHB: What's the whole Wonderland/Wonderland conspiracy? Big Country, around the time of Mummer, released an EP called Wonderland with the eponymous song as a single. I heard that "Wonderland" on the radio and saw on MTV a few times, and it pops up on flashback alternative once in a while. Compared to XTC's "Wonderland", Big Country's was a commercial smash in the US (going on my own experience, that is). Ergo, as with Mummer and Murmur, why has XTC been so close the chimera of success :-)? Hanson backlash backlash dept: It's never gonna be XTC, in ten years there won't be a cadre of writers championing them. That said, and knowing how little I've heard it cos I'm not a top-40 listener, it reminds me of Michael Jackson, before he lost any artistic bearing and spent 5 years* and $$ millions & millions to make overblown CDs lasting longer than some movies. (* That is "in the studio", not, say, "in dispute with a creatively bankrupt label".) Annnnd, a local music writer reviewed "The Lonesome Death of Buck McCoy", by The Minus 5, who include REM's Peter Buck. They are described as "pearl-diving into rock's history" to make a "winning pop pastiche". Before you say, Hey! That sounds familiar, he ends "as XTC did with psychedlic alter egos Dukes of Stratosphear". Only got one thing in mind, Karl

------------------------------ Message-Id: <199709092038.WAA08867@utrecht.knoware.nl> From: "Mark Strijbos" <mmello@knoware.nl> Organization: The Little Lighthouse Date: Tue, 9 Sep 1997 22:44:21 +0000 Subject: XTC At First Sight Dear Chalkers, Today I flicked on my TV and the first words i heard were "XTC, a new wave band from the early 80's" (in Dutch of course) It turned out our Heroes were one of the answers in a game show! The contestants had to guess which of the sixteen 3-letter combinations ( REM, DNA etc ) they were shown were actually names of bands that scored a hit in the Dutch Top 40... BTW: i don't think the guy knew _anything_about XTC's Dutch chart record - IMHO he just guessed PS: Later that night, Swindon and it's magic (english) roundabout was mentioned a couple of times on the BBC's Have I Got News For You? show. Coincidence? (cue Twilight Zone theme) yours in an anorak, Mark Strijbos at The Little Lighthouse; the XTC website @ http://utopia.knoware.nl/~mmello ===> The Random XTC Quote <=== Love's not a product you can hoard or pack a suitcase with

------------------------------ Date: Tue, 9 Sep 1997 19:48:12 -0400 (EDT) From: Ted Harms <tmharms@library.uwaterloo.ca> Subject: Peter Pumpkinhead and Gee-tar solos Message-ID: <Pine.OSF.3.95q.970909190616.22102A-100000@library.uwaterloo.ca> In v3, #161, Brian Matthews <btm@ns1.mindmagic.com> wrote: > Tschalkgerz! Gesundheit! > ...I keep reading about some of you panning "Peter Pumpkinhead"... Well, I'm one who recently panned PP - I still think is too blatant of an analogy. Some have mentioned that the song describes a JFK/Camelot/martyr situation, but to me it's a major critique of any Large Established Religion. Has anybody here read Dostoyevsky's 'The Grand Inquisitor'? It's a story that is told in the course of his novel "The Brothers Karametzov". The story is that Christ returns/arrives in Spain during the Spanish Inquisition. After a being arrested and having a lengthy discussion with the Grand Inquisitor (head of the Inquisition), Christ is condemmed to be burned at the stake. A point (there are many in the story and I read it a long time ago so my memory fails me) (BTW, I turned 30 this past summer.) of the story is that the Saviour's arrival would be threatening to the Large Established Church that supposedly is 'continuing' the work that the Saviour began - for the sake of his own job and life, the Grand Inqusitor could not let Christ get out his grasp. To me, this is the message of Peter Pumpkinhead. Another point that AP makes with the song is the value of innocence in the face of stodgy, set-in-their-ways opposition. As seen with 'Dear God', Andy has a good eye with pointing the faults of any group that becomes too large and too out of touch. Andy may not be religious, but from other songs I'd say he does have a strong 'spiritual' streak in him. But I still don't think PP is a very good song, lyrically or musically, so there! > ...or "Books Are Burning" (pointless guitar solo? When did ANY guitar > solo make a point? It's music, for crying out loud - it both means > something AND nothing) Well, call me silly but I'd rather hear an actual song than a bunch words that preceed and follow a pointless solo. There are plenty guitar solos that make a point, but too many don't. The notion of a solo has been corrupted so that it now stands as the demonstration of (supposed) technical skill instead of serving the song. If I want a pointless solo, I'll listen to some prog-rock/fusion done in 17/8 time from some '70's behemoth (I'd name names, but I know John Relph has/had a hand with some King Crimson web pages!); but Dave (and Andy) have come up with too many good ones that 'Books Are Burning' stands out as an example of a little over indulgence. (And that they wanted to include a 'Hey Jude'-style chorus is just tooo funny. At least then the song would've been a complete write off.) But, I'll agree with Brian's point - how many B-sides has xTc thrown out that (just about) any band would kill to have as an A-side? That there are few bummer songs written by the lads is inevitable given how many songs they've written. Ted Harms Library, Univ. of Waterloo tmharms@library.uwaterloo.ca 519.888.4567 x3761 "I am human and nothing human is foreign to me." Terence

------------------------------ Date: Wed, 10 Sep 1997 11:44:50 -0600 (CST) From: "DADDY'S GIRL" <ACOEA@jazz.ucc.uno.edu> Subject: I must admit, I am shocked..... Message-id: <01INH5M5B1WY8XO6N9@jazz.ucc.uno.edu> NOw, who was it who said that one must not be a prude if one ever searches on the net for XTC.....damn were they right! Be sure to always type in the word "music" or something, or you're in for an eyeful. I'm so happy....we've FINALLY got computers in the library with graphics, so now I can see the great pictures (of Dave) on all the XTC sites whenever the hell I want to!!!!!!!!!!!!! I also picked up a copy of Joe Jackson's new album....not bad. Actually, I'm not sure how I feel about the song Brad sings on. His voice doesn't sound as good as it normally does. (No cute remarks about "Well his voice doesn't sound good anyway", please.) The song Jane Siberry sings on is incredible. I've always loved her voice. And now I must be going to political science class, but before I do, might I just segue back to the days of Agony Andy...how do you think he'd deal with this problem...... Dear Agony Andy, I'm a 19 year old girl who's falling in love with her manager at work. He flirts with me and gives me special treatment, which anyone else would take as a sign that he likes me. One small problem-he's married and has a ten week old baby girl. What's a lovesick girl to do? BLECCH! Carpe diem, Amanda

------------------------------ End of Chalkhills Digest #3-162 *******************************

Go back to Volume 3.