Chalkhills Digest Volume 3, Issue 137
Date: Wednesday, 2 July 1997
Chalkhills Digest, Volume 3, Number 137
Wednesday, 2 July 1997
Today's Topics:
Winter wonderland
tony maimone
waxworks + upsy daisy
Tony Maimone
Re: Upsy Daisy Assortment issues
Sorry folks...
Nicky Holland shtuff
Skinny Andy?
sheet music
Pet Sounds, etc.
Explode, Lehrer, Singles, &c.
The World is Full of Angry Young Colins
crazy clown opera
More from the Wisconsin contingent...
Adrian Belew it (so far)/CC96
Re: Shriekback
Beech Avenue Boys
Jill sobule has a meeting place moment
The Secret Brian Wilson/Mingus Connection
letting out just what we think
UDA Part107568
Another Lurker !
It's in the Hole!
Madam Barnum
wheres that confounded bridge/Atlanta
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Well, we're all dying so we better have a ton of fun along the way!
---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Mon, 30 Jun 1997 02:46:07 -0700 Message-Id: <v01510101afdd23a10285@[194.128.83.69]> From: fisher@easynet.co.uk (Mark Fisher) Subject: Winter wonderland An Australian XTC fan dropped by over the weekend (not yet a Chalkie, but I think I persuaded him he should be), and it was a good opportunity to get my collection of 7" singles off the shelf. He pointed out that *Always Winter Never Christmas* is a chapter heading in *The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe* by C.S. Lewis. [Cue long and protracted flame war about whether refering to Lewis's well-known religious allegory is conclusive proof that Andy is a closet Christian after all.] - Mark http://easyweb.easynet.co.uk/~fisher/
------------------------------ From: stewart@bigmon.boulder.co.us (Stewart Evans) Subject: tony maimone Date: Mon, 30 Jun 1997 4:16:36 -0600 (MDT) Message-ID: <9706300416.aa27442@bigmon.boulder.co.us> ->From: monnickj@ubk.co.uk ->a while ago this guy was mentioned the lawyer or whatever for some band. -> ->Could this be the same guy who held done the position as Mr bass in Pere UBU ->in the mid 70's ? I think the reference to Maimone as lawyer for They Might Be Giants was tongue-in-cheek. He played bass on their "John Henry" album and on the subsequent tour. And he wasn't only in Pere Ubu during the 70's....he played on several of David Thomans' solo albums in the 80's and then in the reunited, and mostly disappointing, Pere Ubu from '88 on, at least until I stopped paying attention altogether. He had a nifty little project with Gary Lucas (ex-Beefheart's magic band; obXTC: howzabout that XTC version of "Ella Guru", huh?) and Jon (Mekons) Langford under the name of the Killer Shrews. One album that I know of, in 1993 on Enemy. -- Stewart * ---------------------------------------------------------- "My mind's a hand grenade. Catch." -- Ice-T Stewart Evans - stewart@bigmon.boulder.co.us - Boulder, CO * ----------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 30 Jun 1997 08:18:58 -0400 (EDT)
From: FA ken clinger <clinger@duq2.cc.duq.edu>
Subject: waxworks + upsy daisy
Message-Id: <Pine.OSF.3.95q.970630081508.18295A-100000@duq2.cc.duq.edu>
I just noticed on CD Connection that Geffin has WAXWORKS available as a
domestic release. Would this explain why Upsy Daisy Assortment begins in
1982? Are there any tracks common to both comps?
-+- -+- -+- -+- -+- -+- -+- -+- -+- -+- -+- -+-
You have just read e-mail by Ken Clinger.
<clinger@duq2.cc.duq.edu>
You may now resume your previously-scheduled life
-+- -+- -+- -+- -+- -+- -+- -+- -+- -+- -+- -+-
------------------------------ Message-ID: <33B7C518.75DC@myself.com> Date: Mon, 30 Jun 1997 10:39:20 -0400 From: Ira Lieman <ira@myself.com> Subject: Tony Maimone Yep, he's a lawyer. So I hear. I think he saved TMBG from a couple of potential "oops"es while on tour with them. And yes, he played for Pere Ubu. -ira
------------------------------ Message-ID: <33B7C82E.372D@stewmac.com> Date: Mon, 30 Jun 1997 10:52:30 -0400 From: Keith Hanlon <hanlon@stewmac.com> Organization: Stewart-MacDonald's Guitar Shop Supply Subject: Re: Upsy Daisy Assortment issues dcm80229@pegasus.cc.ucf.edu (Derek Miner)wrote: > I, too, was willingly lulled into buying an almost redundant CD, Upsy > Daisy Assortment. On the plus side, the packaging idea is clever. And they > packed the disc to the limit (in fact, "Peter Pumpkinhead" is barely > over before the disc forces itself to "off"). The best thing, I thought, > was that the sound of the mid-period stuff was much better than I've come > to expect. I agree with your assesment of the Big Express and Mummer tracks, but I have a problem with English Settlement tracks. For example, I've included "Senses Working Over Time" on various mix tapes... recently I put on the Upsy Daisey version. I ALWAYS check my levels with the loudest track on the CD. This time I even fast forwarded into "Senses" to check louder passages. And damn it, no matter what my meters show, it's always too quiet!! The opening verse it inaudible in my car stereo, and the chorus ain't too grand either (true, my car stereo sucks, but everything else on my tape sounds much better). Now I'm not a huge fan of compression, but perhaps the mastering needed a tad more of control. I've never mastered, only engineered, so I'm not an "expert" in that area.... All I know is that Mobile Fidelity needed to remaster English Settlement long ago. SUBJECT CHANGE: I was wearing a "Mommyheads" T-Shirt the other day, and I went to the convenient store (the Mommyheads are a great San Fransisco-based pop band. Originally from New York's avante-pop scene, they've developed into a great pop band. Check out their Geffen debut, due out later this month (July). It's a great mixture of Beatles, XTC, Kinks, and more). ANYWAYS... the guy behind the counter asked me about my Mommyheads shirt, and I tried my best to explain their sound... I didn't even mention XTC... and then he suddenly asks, "Have you ever heard of the Dukes of the Stratosphere?" And I said, "sure - I love XTC." And he didn't understand what I meant by that. So I said,"the Dukes and XTC... they're the same band... they used pseudonyms... you know XTC, right?" He replied, "Yeah! I know XTC! I had no idea..." And then the customers waiting in line behind me caought his attention, and our conversation ended... Next time I stock up on Life Saver mints, I'll have to continue our conversation Keith Hanlon Stewart-MacDonald's Guitar Shop Supply http://www.stewmac.com (800)-848-2273
------------------------------ Message-Id: <2.2.32.19970630165606.00689f98@popmail.dircon.co.uk> Date: Mon, 30 Jun 1997 17:56:06 +0100 From: Simon Sleightholm <nonsuch@dircon.co.uk> Subject: Sorry folks... ...this is off topic, but I just wanted to report that I had a massive system crash (alright, I admit it, it was MY fault - at least I know now what the "F" in "FDISK" stands for...) and lost all my mail, so could all those who were discussing tape trades and the like with me please get back in touch. Thanks, Simon -+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+- http://www.users.dircon.co.uk/~nonsuch/bungalow.htm +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ Food for the thinkers...
------------------------------ Date: Mon, 30 Jun 1997 13:01:27 -0700 (PDT) From: ian dahlberg <hbmus047@email.csun.edu> Subject: Nicky Holland shtuff Message-Id: <Pine.HPP.3.91.970630123228.12121A-100000@csun1.csun.edu> Hello, Desparate for new Andy material, I went and purchased Nicky Holland's new release and wasn't dissapointed. Well, I wasn't dissapointed in the two songs Andy contributed, the rest of the album is kind of a yawn. I have to agree with the fact (mentioned some time back) that Andy was frustrated that he was doing all of the work and Nicky wasn't helping. "Paperchase" sounds like an Andy song from start to finish, especially the lyrics (This goes for "New York..." as well). ItUs brilliant writing, of course. Again, songs of Andy's that get tossed by the way-side are the envy of many a songwriter. The CD came with a multimedia showcase thingy that was kind of cool. It features a psuedo-video for "Paperchase" among other things. There's a section where Nicky explains each song. She didn't mention Andy in her explaination of "New York Inside..." but here's the "Paperchase" bit: "I co-wrote 'Paperchase' with Andy Partridge of XTC in his garden shed in Swindon, England. Originally titled "Look Back On a Taste of an L-Shaped Sunday Bloody Sunday, Alfie" we created a heroine that might have starred in one of those rather bleak. black and white, British "social realism" films of the '60's. She's probably pregnant and looking for commitment or she has sixteen children and is looking for a divorce. Whatever the scenario, heUs sending her on a wild goose-chase across a damp, depressed landscape, avoiding the issue at any cost." I would take "co-wrote" very loosely on that one. Careful with your material, Andy! Ian Dahlberg
------------------------------ Message-Id: <199706302325.TAA02547@brickbat8.mindspring.com> From: "Mark Rushton" <mail.mindspring.com@mindspring.com> Date: Mon, 30 Jun 1997 18:26:03 +0000 Subject: Skinny Andy? In Sunday's Houston Chronicle was a review of the Upsy Daisy Assortment along with a picture of the band. I'm assuming that this picture is post-Nonsuch. I don't know if any other papers ran it, but (I'm recalling it from memory since my wife threw the paper away already) two of them had guitars, one guitar was that odd-shaped type that was popular in the mid 60's and with band like The (English) Beat. The interesting thing is that Andy looked like he was in very good shape! He looked in the last decade like he was beginning to pack it on, lose the hair, etc etc. But in the photo he looked trim and fit, so did everybody else in the band. Bald, still, that doesn't change. Is this picture from a recent session....anyone? anyone?
------------------------------ Message-ID: <33B843B5.7D0F@mail.uscom.com> Date: Mon, 30 Jun 1997 19:39:33 -0400 From: bigragu@uscom.com (Jason Embert) Subject: sheet music Recently I attempted to find XTC sheet music. My attempts were fruitless. In fact I was told that XTc sheet music is out of print. Does anyone know where to find any. Please help me!
------------------------------ Message-Id: <199707010110.KAA28910@inetnif.niftyserve.or.jp> Date: Tue, 01 Jul 1997 10:07:00 +0900 From: <PXD07057@niftyserve.or.jp> Subject: Pet Sounds, etc. >Brian's only great lyrics were on Pet Sounds; not poetic >masterpieces but perfect for the songs and genuinely heartfelt. Most of the >rest of his great stuff, including the bulk of the aborted Smile, was in >collaboration with others, most often with either Van Dyke Parks(on Smile)or >Mike Love(occasionally throughout). umm... Tony Asher wrote the lyrics for Pet Sounds. On Smile, supposedly the Van Dyke Parks lyrics were too weird for the rest of the band, putting them off even further, which only lead to Brian trying to complete the album with even less help from them. Some time ago, somebody posted about Pale and Precious being a tribute to the Beach Boys, and I could not agree more fully. Has anybody else felt that there early tracks on Psonic Psunspot more or less add up to a Traffic tribute (or a tribute to Traffic's Hole in my Shoe) ? It's hard to explain exactly how, but listen to the two and you'll see what I mean. Daisuke Nakai <PXD07057@niftyserve.or.jp>
------------------------------
Message-Id: <199707010151.SAA01490@mail.eskimo.com>
From: "Matt Keeley" <mrme@eskimo.com>
Date: Mon, 30 Jun 1997 18:51:25 +0000
Subject: Explode, Lehrer, Singles, &c.
Hello... and for once I've done a subject line that actually reflects
the subject... I must be ill....
> From: Chaos Harlequin <harlequin@tmbg.org>
> Now, what we need is a split 7" where NIN cover "Dear God" and XTC cover
> "Heresy." :) Who'd pay good money for that?
I would! It's one of my favourite songs (Dear God) and one of my
favourite bands (XTC)... can't say I care too much for NIN, but their
version of Dear God would be humourous.... who knows, maybe they'd
throw in a few expletives to go for the whole "Let's see how badly we
can shock the audience" effect they seem so fond of...
> I thought so -- didn't Andy say a few months ago that V2 had given them the
> worst offer of anyone they'd talked to?
Doesn't surprise me... do you think they'd be all that into getting
back the band that put them into a lawsuit?
> >one of the reasons I bought Explode Together
> As an aside, how much did you pay for it? Personally, I never picked it up
> as an import ($25 for that? Nuh-uh) until one day, on a hunch, I made my
> way into the record store near my house and located a copy for $8. Not bad,
> eh?
I paid $15 for my copy, and $24 for my copy of Fossil Fuel (the
normal packaging, not the spiffy one) at my local Tower Records...
y'know, they actually DO sell records still. I was surprised.... of
course, the only thing they had worth listening to was the Beatles'
back catalouge, but it's a start... and they did put XTC in the
display in front once during a sale! I was happy to see that!
> From: Scott Taylor <staylor@sky.net>
> There's been a lot of talk on the list lately about this _Take Away_ disc.
> Coincidentally, I saw it a couple of weeks ago in one of the used vinyl
> shops for $16.98. As I recall it was in VG condition, and the cover
> artwork and captions alone might be worth that much to anybody who already
> has _Explode Together_.
I'd ask about it, but I'm broke, so I hope that if anyone on
Chalkhills gets it, they scan the cover... but I'm just repeating
myself from my last 85 posts...
> | Scott M. Taylor -- staylor@sky.net -- http://www.sky.net/~staylor |
> | "There are still taboos, of course, but their nature has changed. |
> | For example, when I was in college, there were certain words you |
> | couldn't say in front of a girl. Now you can say them, but you |
> | can't say 'girl.'" -- Tom Lehrer |
Sorry about being off topic, but I'm glad to see some fellow
Lehrer-philes on Chalkhills!
> From: pjmuck@idt.net (Peter McCulloch)
> Fuel. (Love the bell ride boat simulation). A thought occured to me: Is
> this the only XTC single to date that never appeared on an album, or at
> least doesn't appear on a currently available CD with the exception of the
> singles collections CDs? I believe Science Friction was only released on
> the 3D EP, but it has since found it's way onto the White Music CD. It
I think Boat is the only track that has never been on an album even
as a bonus track... BTW, Science was a single, but it was withdrawn
when the 3DEP came out.. although it wasn't withdrawn in other non-UK
countries, I don't think...
> David McGuinness wrote:
> >OK, so I've never seen him live, but I can't understand the fuss about
> >Graham Maby - his playing for TMBG has made no impression on me whatsoever.
> it's his stage presence... be it with TMBG or Joe Jackson, Graham seems to
> present an essence of simultaneous calm & experience. One wouldn't dare take
> their eyes off him, since he always has a coy look on his face that seems to
> say "keep watching, i'm gonna switch to rock-out mode any second now!"
Sorry about off-topicing again... Anyway, I really liked Graham's
bass... It sounded a lot clearer than Tony's... Tony's always seemed
so fuzzy, especially on songs like Snail Shell... maybe that's the
desired effect, but I prefer the clearer sound, like on Factory
Showroom's "Till My Head Falls Off"... As for the stage presence, he
does fit in with the rest of the band a lot better...
Ah well... that's this world over...
Matt
-=>Matt Keeley mrme@eskimo.com<=-
Living Through | Visit my home page
Another | http://www.eskimo.com/~mrme
Cuba -- XTC | I used to be temporarily insane!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Now I'm just stupid! -- Brak
(ICQ UIN: 1455267, Name: MrMe)
Yeah.
------------------------------ Message-Id: <l03102800afde257a7197@[146.6.72.33]> Date: Mon, 30 Jun 1997 22:22:04 -0500 From: jason garcia <h.h.name@mail.utexas.edu> Subject: The World is Full of Angry Young Colins Good evening. > However, Colin's ability as a musician should not be understated. He has >>taste, time, and tone. He adds his own bits to Andy's initial ideas. Yeah, the guy's not a total yes man. There was a bit in the book _Chalkhills and Children_ where Andy described their initial meeting in the music store: "He was always underpinning what I was playing". Of course, there was also the infamous "quit the band" incident over "Earn Enough For Us", which seemed to be about Colin's part that Andy was criticizing. And we all know that Dave's skill as a musician far surpasses Andy's, so _his_ importance can't be overstated. I remember in the live KROQ performance transcript (courtesy Natalie Jacobs, I think) Andy said of Dave, after I think "Scarecrow People": "He always gets the twiddly bits. I wish I could play those twiddly bits" (or something like that). They're all important. Kind of like R.E.M. Would YOU buy a Michael Stipe solo album? Is this new Falkner LP the one with really bold colors on the front and maybe some grass? If so, I think I heard it in Tower and thought it was kind of mediocre. I might go searching for it right now for a re-listen. Chalk to ya later, Jason
------------------------------ Message-ID: <33B86A52.B86@geocities.com> Date: Mon, 30 Jun 1997 22:24:18 -0400 From: Troy Peters <troypeters@geocities.com> Subject: crazy clown opera Recently, JHB JHBed: > What's the opera about a crazy clown? Ruggero Leoncavallo's "Pagliacci" (1892). Okay, back to UpsyDaisyAssortment... Troy Peters troypeters@geocities.com
------------------------------ Message-Id: <199707010259.TAA24101@mailgate22> Subject: More from the Wisconsin contingent... Date: Mon, 30 Jun 97 21:59:53 -0600 From: "Adam J. Ostermann" <aostermann@sprintmail.com> ...so Dean, John H., Dave and I (along with non-Chalkhillian Bob) did indeed go to the Blur show last Tuesday at the Rave in the Milwaukee, and had a fun time. One little incident should be noted: towards the front of the set, when about to play a ton of their faster songs (or as Damon put it, "our fun songs") he remarked, setting up "Coping" off their 2nd album ^Modern Life is Rubbish^ he remarked "This is a song we did with Andy Partridge of XTC." There was certainly no reason to bring that up, but the WI contigent is guessing Damon caught our Chalkhills vibe (or caught good ol Dean in his omnipresent Chalkhills t-shirt!) Seeya soon, Adam (the only one in the party - hell, probably the whole building - who liked that dog, the opening act. They sound nothing like XTC, but I liked them anyway, so nyahhh *raspberry noise*) currently listening to the Hangs Ups' ^So We Go^ (Clean/Restless), again not really XTC but anybody who appreciates fresh, airy harmony drenched pop - a good comparison is Smiths crossed with the Beach Boys - will like it a lot. ObXTC: John H. gets major props for dubbing me the Andy Partridge demos. Have heard about 4 songs and am digging it. Will bore anyone senseless with my views upon request....;-) *************************************** Adam J. Ostermann and don't you forget it
------------------------------ Date: Mon, 30 Jun 1997 20:13:04 -0700 (PDT) Message-Id: <v01510100afddbec7e924@[206.169.224.29]> From: mf@well.com (Mitch Friedman) Subject: Adrian Belew it (so far)/CC96 Yello, To answer someone's question about any further developments in the Partridge/ Belew partnership, as of last week when I spoke to Partridge, Belew had not called him yet. Adrian is hella busy (I've never used hella before in my life but the kids o'er here in San Francisco say it all the time so what the hella) and he knows that Andy is about to embark on a new album soon so I hope he's just waiting for a more appropriate time and didn't chicken out or something. Now to the rest of you Hillbillies, I'm going to be away for two weeks starting tomorrow and I have a request (albeit maybe a vain and silly one). I know we are all being nice by not saying anything negative about individual contribu- tions to Chalkhills' Children '96 and that's the way it should be. But I bet I'm not the only person who contributed who waited a really long time for it to be "released" and now that it has, I for one have received absolutely zero reviews, negative or positive. Could we all loosen up a bit and tell each other what tracks we like and why and if someone has something negative to say, then do it privately or not at all. We could all use a little slap on the back from our friends every now and then. Thanks (I think?) Mitch
------------------------------
Message-Id: <v01540b00afde6e2c6ceb@[139.80.100.151]>
Date: Tue, 1 Jul 1997 15:25:40 +0700
From: james.dignan@stonebow.otago.ac.nz (James Dignan)
Subject: Re: Shriekback
>>By the way, is anyone else on this list as keen as me to see Shriekback's
>>"Tench" made available on CD?
>
>Yes! Though I'd say <<Jam Science>> was more important...
>
>Some of the tracks off 'Tench', 'Care' and 'Jam Science' are available
>on various compilation CDs though.
Huh? Care *is* available on CD - I have a copy! I must say, though,m that
on my list of CDs that should exist but don't, Jam Science is right at the
top of the list (alongside Joe Jackson's "Mike's Murder" soundtrack and
Edgar Froese's "Ages"). Since there are two distinct mixes of the Jam
Science album, it could come with its very own set of bonus tracks, too!
Perhaps it is this fact, though (that it was released by two different
companies) that keeps it from the shiny silvery plastic.
BTW, talking of Shriekback, I was amazed last night to see a NZ TV
commercial (for some insurance company, IIRC), that used the lullaby off
Big Night Music ("Cradle song"? My memory's going...)! I was so gobsmacked
I didn't notice who the ad was for...has Shriekback music ever been used
for an ad before???
James
James Dignan___________________________________ You talk to me
Deptmt of Psychology, Otago University As if from a distance
ya zhivu v' 50 Norfolk Street And I reply. . . . . . . . . .
Dunedin, New Zealand with impressions chosen from another time
steam megaphone (03) 455-7807 (Brian Eno - "By this River")
------------------------------ Date: Tue, 1 Jul 1997 00:03:47 -0400 (EDT) Message-Id: <1.5.4.16.19970630235326.11475e4c@en.com> From: Michael Kearns <mikearns@en.com> Subject: Beech Avenue Boys I'm sure my last Beach Boys post -- where I heartily agreed to the call for a truce, then went about telling nay-sayers to shut up, and then rambled on fawningly about Brian W. and Co. -- will not be taken as "irony". Clumsy me! Sorry, no disrespect intended.. I had a smiley on my face the whole time, honest! :) There! Just one more thing though: Brian didn't write a lot of the BB's lyrics. Tony Asher wrote almost everything on Pet Sounds. My next post will be about XTC, I promise!! MIKE "Could be heaven could be hell in a self or two"
------------------------------ Date: Tue, 1 Jul 1997 00:17:34 -0700 (PDT) From: bmilner <bmilner@netcom.com> Subject: Jill sobule has a meeting place moment Message-ID: <Pine.SUN.3.95.970701001555.9791D-100000@netcom23> Has anybody noticed that on that otherwise silly Jill Sobule single "ship comes in" <-- ? Jill pulls a major XTC moment on the bridge. She steals a musical line right out of "a meeting place". The notes, harmonies and rhythms are exactly the same for about 2 bars. I don't know, it just jumped out at me. Anybody notice? Brandon
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 1 Jul 1997 14:25:08 +0700
Message-Id: <199707010725.OAA00262@server.indo.net.id>
From: Steed <todzilla@indo.net.id>
Subject: The Secret Brian Wilson/Mingus Connection
Greetings from Asia.
Ok, now onto business. Consider these "similarities"...
A: Both Brian and Charles played bass
B: Both were better known as composers and bandleaders
C: Both Peaked in the 60's (open for debate for Mingus, but fairly true.)
D: Both were a little nuts
E: Both wrote auto-biographies that mentioned their shrinks in the intro
F: Both had mental break downs during tours
G: Mingus hit his musicians, Brian was hit by his dad, also a musician
H: Both were born in California and went to church as kids
I: Both LOVED phil spector (Except for Mingus)
J: Both had a gift for melody that exceeded their gift for lyrics
K: Some of their best work was outsold by some of their most average
(Pet Sounds outsold by Party, Black Saint and the Sinner lady by 3
or 4 shades)
L: Both also played piano, and occasionally played keys on their own
recordings
OK, I'll stop there. I dare anybody to try to connect XTC to this, thereby
making this an official post.
As for Colin's bass playing, it sounds fine to me, great even. Who cares if
he can jam with Weather Report?
Todzilla
Bogor, Indonesia--a sunny afternoon
------------------------------ Date: Tue, 1 Jul 1997 01:35:39 -0700 Message-Id: <v01510103afde6e1c6f06@[194.128.83.69]> From: fisher@easynet.co.uk (Mark Fisher) Subject: letting out just what we think >>After 15 years or so of listening to "No language in our lungs" I >>suddenly realise that "I would have made this instrumental but the words >>got in the way" can be read as "I would have made this effective but...". >>I'd always thought this was one of the clumsiest lines in XTC's repertoire, >>but I've suddenly gained a lot more respect for it! >Huh? That line is the most important part of the song! Without it, what is >the song other than a hypocritical attack? Andy is telling us that you >can't communicate using words, and yet here he is using words to tell us >that. That line admits that even the song in question can't get its meaning >across to everyone, and really solidifies its argument. Of course, the pun >helps, but it's not neccesary to appreciate the line... I don't even see that the supposed pun does help (and I'd bet Andy didn't intend a pun). If the meaning were "I would have made this *effective* but the words got in the way," it would be a million times more clumsy than the more obvious meaning, one that is central to the impact of the song. I really can't see how this line is clumsy at all. - Mark http://easyweb.easynet.co.uk/~fisher/
------------------------------ Message-Id: <2.2.32.19970701083723.00697f64@popmail.dircon.co.uk> Date: Tue, 01 Jul 1997 09:37:23 +0100 From: Simon Sleightholm <nonsuch@dircon.co.uk> Subject: UDA Part107568 I just got a copy of Upsy Daisy today (thanks Steve!) and I have to say that I *love* the packaging - it's certainly a lot more celebratory than the rather dour and downbeat Fossil Fuel theme. I don't know it that reflects the mood of the band at the time of the respective releases, but UDA is way less funereal and, with the bouncy lamb and its links to spring and all the themes of rebirth that are tangled up with that particular image, it certainly projects a certain positivity. The booklet photo is great too, and it proves that, a) Dave certainly looks the part for that Sixties TV show he's lined up for, and, b) Andy's face has been a great inspiration to both Thom Yorke or Radiohead and Martin Carr of the Boo Radleys. Soundwise I haven't given it the attention it deserves yet, but the percussion does seem a lot more upfront - that could just, however, be my player (new CD drive in computer) or, indeed, the neighbours hammering for me to turn it down. Isn't this music just fantastic? Just what I needed in an otherwise horrendous day. Simon (he of the fifty-foot grin) -+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+- http://www.users.dircon.co.uk/~nonsuch/bungalow.htm +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ Food for the thinkers...
------------------------------
From: R.Crawford@mgn.co.uk
Message-ID: <3006B93381452301@mailgate.mgn_cw.co.uk>
Date: Mon, 30 Jun 97 22:27:07 -0500
Organization: Mirror Group
Subject: Another Lurker !
Well for once I have the desire to add my tuppence worth (hope this phrase
makes sence to those outside the UK).
Iv'e been lurking around these posts since 93 (during those poriods I have
had Inet access) and never felt the need to speak, however since I have been
'into' XTC since 79 I suppose I should join in.
It surprises me that the subject of Dr Martens boots is what has caused me to
decloak.
>Subject: Dr. Martens , Andy, and Aging Punksters
> Warning: Ramblings from an Aging Punkster Follow!
I was too young (well not really I suppose) :)
>I don't associate Doc Martens with Andy or with XTC. Maybe their first few
>albums. In America, DMs are associated with the punk/art student thing. I
>was never a "punk," but I was an art student for a while ("Do what you want
>'cause this is the new art school"). There are still some punks around in
>the cities although I suspect London and New York have the most. Is the
>wearing of DMs more prevalent in the UK, in general? Or are they reserved
>for soccer hooligans? :-)
I was surprised on my 1st (and only to be truthful), visit to the US at the
price of Dr Martens, they where soooo expensive, (though US visitors to the
UK can't belive the price of Timberland & CAT boots).
The whole Doc Marten thing in the US surprised me greatly as Dr Martens are
such everyday items in the UK.
Though I do wear Dr Martens shoes regularly especially when working as an PC
Engineer in London, (where walking between sites was much quicker than
driving), and where regularly working inside switched on monitors resulted
in a desire for much insulation as possible)
A couple of reasons their popularity are below
Theyre affordable.
If the sole gets punctured then simply heat up a poker and heat seal the
puncture.
With the sole being almost everything proof and a great insulator (both of
heat and electricity), they are popular amongst the ordinary working person.
Unfortunitly they are not a dainty piece of footwear and most people cannot
get away with wearing them in work, (my assistants can/do but I can't due to
having to meet allegidly important people).
>younger people keep asking me if those are DMs I'm wearing? Yeah, SO WHAT?
> I also have a pair of Clarks for work at Smithers-Jones.
Know the feeling <SULK>
Also
From: "Mark Strijbos" <mmello@knoware.nl>
Organization: The Little Lighthouse
Subject: Box Be Long Look Look
In issue 3-132 our friend Cheryl ( hi!) said:
>> a live performance of "Books Are Burning".
>> They closed out whatever the show was with XTC
>> performing this one and it was honest-to-god live. Mr. P and Dave
>> Gregory went to town on the guitar solos. I was blown away.
>Me too!
Me too!
>I just happened to see that show ( The Late Show on BBC2) and more or
>less freaked out. it was absolutely fantastic but i did not own a VCR
>at the time so I did not have a chance to tape it.
Me too!
>But didn't they also start the show with XTC???
>I don't know for sure but i think they did... anyone know more?
>Mark? Simon?
As I remember there where 2 songs and thw 1st one (as I remember with my
very poor memory) was The Dissapointed.
>Also, I also happened to see the _other_ bit ( Andy on that awful
>breakfast show) when it was broadcast.
I missed that one and was particularly annoyed because I wanted that guitar.
>The Virgin press office really had a funny way of promoting our
>Heroes... XTC also did a LOT of children's shows.
Well that show wasn't the worst offence against their credibility, there was
a photo story published in a real teen music magazine called 'Smash Hits'
which featured the band dressed in 1930's style British army tropical
uniforms complete with (pith helmets), I have a copy of the magazine
somewhere, and if I can find a way of posting them at a reasonable
resolution, so the terrible dialogue can be read in it's full glory, I will
post it.
>BTW: I would be very happy with both these shows on a PAL VHS
>tape... Anyone? I have loads of (audio) "interesting" stuff to swap.
Ermm,
Wanted almost anything (especially video), and most especially the interview
Andy did for BBC Radio 1 when the Mole from the Ministry was released (I
didn't recognise his voice as it was passe through a harmonizer and it wasnt
until the mention of Wiltshire that I realised who it was).
I have a couple of radio sessions (which everybody probally has), a quite
long interview for the release of Oranges & Lemons (about 20 mins as I
remember), also for Radio 1.
I will attempt to get time to transcribe
1: a few interviews (from around 1980/1), from some guitar mags.
2: Dave Gregorys 25 years of the strat.
3: The text from 11 different animals (the songbook).
Anyway to round this off a quite strange set of connections about music that
I like
(if anybody is interested a little conspircy theory)
I liked all these bands separately and only noticed the connections a few
weeks ago.
XTC (of couse)
The Church (who ?)
All About Eve (who ?)
Pink Floyd
The Byrds
Otway & Barrett (who & why ?)
Fairport Convention
Anyway
_____
John Otway (Otway and Barrett) worked together with AP on Bags of Fun With
Buster
--------
The Marty Wilson Piper (lead gutiarest) of The Church produced and played for
All about Eve
Dave Gilmour played on the last all About Eve album
The violinist from Fairport Convention played on the 1st 2 All about Eve albums
Tim Bocchio (pardon spelling) from All abour Eve joined The Mission who AP
produced
_____
Jullienne Reagen (pardon spelling) sang Fairport Convention
Dave Mattacks as we all know played for XTC
_____
Roger (Jim) McGuinn (the Byrds as you should know) Produced the 1st Amee Mann
album
Dave Gregory played for (with ?) Amee
Taquin Gotch (spelling ?) was/is Roger McGuinn's manager and I have been told
is/was also XTC's manager.
_____
Dave Gregory, Roger McGuinn & Marty Wilson Piper (The Church) are all 12
string Rickenbacker nuts.
_____
I know some of the links are pretty pretty remote but all the best
conspiricy theorys are vague at best.
Regards
Rob...
------------------------------
From: jason.phelan@mcmail.vanderbilt.edu
Date: Tue, 01 Jul 97 08:28:18 CST
Message-Id: <9706018677.AA867770937@in2.mcmail.vanderbilt.edu>
Subject: It's in the Hole!
Howdy Chalk-pardners,
I don't intend to be mean, ( uh....yeah) but has any one noticed
that in recent interviews with Brian Wilson that he sounds uncannily
like Bill Murray's character in "Caddyshack" ?
And I hope this kills the tired BW/BB's thread. We've already knitted
too big a sweater.
luv,
phee
------------------------------ Date: Tue, 1 Jul 1997 23:54:44 +0900 Message-Id: <199707011454.XAA39266@skyhawk.asahi-net.or.jp> From: Tetsuya Shimizu <uk9t-smz@asahi-net.or.jp> Subject: Madam Barnum Hi, Thanks everyone who gave me the kind comment regarding "(Madam) Barnum". I could find the article about Mr. Barnum in the "Bungalow" page. But what I wanted to say is the metaphor of the lyric. ( Ah, I wish I could write English better! ) "You said I was the master of all I surveyed But now I'm sweeping up the last in line in your circus parade" Do you feel this phrase hints their standing in Virgin record? Tetsuya Shimizu / uk9t-smz@asahi-net.or.jp
------------------------------ Message-Id: <1.5.4.32.19970701053252.0067f674@pop.mindspring.com> Date: Tue, 01 Jul 1997 01:32:52 -0400 From: Pete <pete_srd@mindspring.com> Subject: wheres that confounded bridge/Atlanta >Last thing, song bridges: oddly, I had always assumed the usual rule was >that Andy wrote poor bridges. While there are certainly exceptions >(Miniature Sun.... ohhhhhh...) there are a lot of examples of it. "I Can't >Own Her," for example, completely falls down at the bridge. And I know >there are others, although I can't think of them at the moment, sadly... How about "Into the Atom Age", "This is Pop", "When You're Near Me...", "Roads Girdle the Globe"...I guess I could go on. But, hardly a problem with me...it's still great music. Pete BTW, the Atlanta Chalkhills gathering was great! Have one in your neighborhood soon! Thanks to Orange Hat - I especially liked the rendition of "Peter Pumpkinhead". Well done guys!!
------------------------------ End of Chalkhills Digest #3-137 *******************************
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