Chalkhills Digest Volume 9, Issue 43
Date: Wednesday, 27 August 2003
Chalkhills Digest, Volume 9, Number 43
Wednesday, 27 August 2003
Topics:
Re: Fuzzy whinings etc
re Harrison S
Mum's NOT the word for Mummer!
"The Mayor Of Simpleton"
Re: What Andy Partridge Thinks of You
Bitching a Bit
England's Glory est mort
more mummer musings
Deflation and the Power of 2 Cents
Yes I do have that warm and fuzzy feeling
Le Samedi Culturel du 23 aout 2003
White Muzak/Chalkhills and Weirdos
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---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Wed, 20 Aug 2003 16:57:46 +0530 From: "Sughosh Varadarajan" <aqualung@hotpop.com> Subject: Re: Fuzzy whinings etc Message-ID: <000c01c3670e$269c81e0$1a00a8c0@internal.directi.com> >Fan though I am, I am no completist of any band and >don't intend to start now. I totally agree with this. Somehow I just don't see myself buying anything and everything with someone's stamp on it (not that that means I love Andy & XTC any less or believe him to be even a minute degree short of sheer genius). But it's true that after a point these unreleased demos etc start losing appeal..for me at least. Can't recall the last time I play my Beatles Anthology Cds, even tho I went and bought all three sets as soon as they released. I'm now much wiser...chose not to spring for similar "unreleased" packages of Lennon & The Who. It's not just a matter of paying for stuff you're not really likely to play very often, either. There's just toooooooo much music in this world, and I see no sense in saving up all my money to buy a non-essential XTC/Andy album when I could just as easily pick up so much other stuff that I really really need (got my eye on the Costello Rhino reissues eg..now those ARE essential..especially since I have most of em only on tape or vinyl) Having said that, when I refer to the Warbles as "non-essential", I realise that they may mean a lot to others, and could even actually be of astounding merit, but they do wind up low on my priority simply because of the plethora of other artistes that I also need to catch up on. As they say, "Man does not live by XTC alone" (;-) Re: The ripoff factor, well one thing that disturbs me about Idea is the pricing of the Apple Venus albums. GBP 10.20 is the price they quote, when Amazon UK offers them for merely GBP 7 (6 in fact, if you knock off the VAT). For me, that's too substantial a difference to say "Ah well, let poor Andy have a little but extra". My income being only the equivalent of around 200 GBP per month, every little pound here and there counts. Sorry Andy, but your signature simply isn't worth THAT much to me.. For those who do have the money, and feel that they owe it to Andy (or indeed, themselves) to purchase evcery single thing he puts out, well, good for you. Can't argue with that. Obviously Andy needs a good bunch of your kind around. I'm not likely to ever get there, though. My most outstanding recent purchase: The Cowboy Junkies' "Pale sun crescent moon"..terriffic stuff...if this is "alternative country", bring it on! Oh, and add Margo Timmins to my "all time musical Goddesses" list (:-) ..what a voice! Anyways, Cheerio! Sughosh
------------------------------ Date: Wed, 20 Aug 2003 13:26:54 +0100 From: "Darryl W. Bullock" <drol@btinternet.com> Subject: re Harrison S Message-ID: <000c01c36716$5a60a350$d4087ad5@ElBosco> Sorry - I forgot that Harrison was the only person that's allowed to have an opinion around these parts. Incidentally, have you ever visited Gloucester? It's a shit-hole (I was born there, worked there and still have family there before you ask what right I have to comment) and if Andy ever wanted to open a grocer's he would be better off staying in Swindon. BTW FW's are currently available in FNAC, France for the equivalent of #8 each...... Drol (cowering in the shadows) Got to be obscene to be ob-heard....
------------------------------ Date: Wed, 20 Aug 2003 08:49:26 -0400 From: RMuRocks@aol.com Subject: Mum's NOT the word for Mummer! Message-ID: <7DED50BD.16989863.007ABAF2@aol.com> Marston wrote: > Happy Anniversary, Mummer! Released 30 August 1983. Bummer > drummer > summer? Hey Marston, thanks for this announcement and happy 20th birthday to Mummer, one of the highlights of 1983 for me. I remember it came out about the same time as Tom Waits' "Swordfishtrombones" and I put them both on a 90-minute tape which I then proceeded to wear out. Both were new works from my favorite artists, and both had some tastes of the familiar with lots of interesting challenges thrown in. Like you said, "Funk Pop A Roll" is up there with their best, although I must admit that I was a wee bit scared that Andy was sincere with his "bye bye" at the end and that I'd never hear from him/them again. Glad when that proved to be a false alarm. My other favorites from Mummer...Wonderland, Love On A Farmboy's Wages (which rang especially true for me as I was engaged and got married in January '84), the oddly-melodic but addictive jangly Great Fire & Me & The Wind, the lovely Ladybird & In Loving Memory Of A Name...never did care much for Deliver Us From The Elements, especially the whirling ending which I still can't bear, and I was late in appreciation of Human Alchemy. It wasn't until I used the song in a presentation to a group of High School students during Black History month that I realized just how strong that song is. Plus, all the non-LP goodies that came shortly thereafter...splendid! It was like getting new XTC every month. Unfortunately, like practically EVERY great record that came out that year, it got lost in the MTV shuffle, or at least that's how it seemed to me. Bob NP: Tom Waits, "Pasties & A G-String" Bremen Germany 4/26/77
------------------------------ Date: Wed, 20 Aug 2003 07:10:01 -0700 (PDT) From: Tom Monahan <monah54@yahoo.com> Subject: "The Mayor Of Simpleton" Message-ID: <20030820141001.15810.qmail@web41404.mail.yahoo.com> Hello Chalkers, Delurking here.... If anyone is interested, I'm selling my copy of "The Mayor Of Simpleton" on 12" vinyl in near-mint condition (played once). Side 1 "The Mayor Of Simpleton" "One Of The Millions" Side 2 "Ella Guru" "Living In A Haunted Heart" "The Good Things" Please email me for more info.... Thanks, Tom Monahan Albuquerque, NM USA
------------------------------ Date: Wed, 20 Aug 2003 08:16:13 -0700 (PDT) From: Nicole Ross <drmomross@yahoo.com> Subject: Re: What Andy Partridge Thinks of You Message-ID: <20030820151613.75135.qmail@web14901.mail.yahoo.com> Shees, Harrision, by now I'd think the skin on Partridge to be quite thick. In business (as in life) you get sh*t from the inside-out. You can never please everyone. So some of his fans are testy, big deal - the ones complaining have, at least, bought the stuff. On that note, Todd B.: I don't agree that Partridge's choice for marketing is the smartest... I think he has flooded his fans with stuff they (perhaps illegally) already have. I have not bought any of the fuzzies, nor do I own a Partridge Cupboard. I doubt I am the only fan who is still hoping for some new material. This is not to say, however, that an artist should feel it necessary to bow to the desires of the public. Nor do I think a wish to make money off of your own hard work is (gasp) wrong. I'm merely pointing out that fans will have their own take on what an artist does or does not provide, and I am sure the artist expects this. Back to Harrison: What Mr. Partridge may or may not think about his fans has no real effect upon me - what it could do is damage or inflate (depending...) his own public persona. As a mere fan, I can never claim to "know" what Andy Partridge thinks, shees - I just like his music. I don't think you can claim to "know" what he thinks, as well... therefore, I think it more accurate to state in your heading "What *I* think Andy Partridge should think of you", unless you have something from which to quote Andy Partridge...
------------------------------ Date: Wed, 20 Aug 2003 20:43:07 -0700 From: "WAYNE KLEIN" <wtdk12@msn.com> Subject: Bitching a Bit Message-ID: <BAY3-DAV154at4b6Eyh00001fcc@hotmail.com> Harrison bitched a bit about all the bitching related to Fuzzy Warbles... >Honest to God, if I were Andy Partridge I'd just quit right now, send you >all your money back -- in pennies, postage due -- and go open a grocery >in Gloucester. There's just no point on going on. >How thick does a guy's skin have to be? How much of this second-guessing >does this poor man have to swallow from you self-appointed Internet >Christgaus? How much more does he have to scrape like Gollum before you >in gratitude because you've been kind enough not to download the >goddamned songs for free off Ka zaa? Sorry I forgot to genuflect. I could be wrong but I was under the impression that informed opinions were welcome within this forum. Andy should do this, should do that and when he's done with the shoulds, he needs to start cranking out some new music. Who gives a crap? It's music. It's not going to change the degree of hunger in the world nor is it going to change the idiots that dominate politics (or their political beliefs). Everyone on this list should be allowed to offer an informed opinion even if you believe those opinions are crap. I don't think Andy loses any sleep over any of this nonsense (as well he shouldn't) and, folks, neither should we. I'm sure he's heard worse. Anyone can choose to buy or not to buy. End of discussion. Oh, and I personally can't stand Christgaus. But he usually doesn't complain about the length of the CD or the tracks selected. He makes it much more personal. By the way, I did complain about DaVinci's notebook to Leonardo. I told him it was too damn long and the writing, well, if you have to hold it up to a mirror to read then it's too complicated. He's always been a stubborn cow. If you think this is bad Harrison you should check out Elephant Talk the King Crimson version of Chalkhills. Now that I've probably pissed a few people off, let's move on. Responding to Todd's response to my comment-- Wayne Klein said: > My only criticism of the FW series is the way the > tracks have been sequenced. I would put all the previously > unreleased/unheard/unfinished demos together on a set of CDs like wise > for the instrumentals and the demos of songs XTC have released. >C'mon, Wayne ... if you were selling a product like FW, would you really >do that? Andy is sprinkling the unreleased/unheard stuff in amongst the >bootlegged stuff to make the latter more saleable. It's simple marketing, >and has the added benefit of cutting the legs out from under the >bootleggers. Oh I understand the marketing aspect of it quite well having worked in the shallow end of the movie biz (that is, of course, implying that there is a deep end...something I have yet to really discover) That's just how I would have done it. But I didn't and I'm not Andy so beggar's can't be choosers at least not without the help of a CDR). As I mentioned, I'll probably rearrange the stuff myself. No big deal. Say...wasn't that blackout something.... From David >I'd recommend the 10cc, by the way. Great remasters. Anyone here like >them? Since they're an enigmatic, off the wall and eccentric English >band I would have thought there'd be plenty. Listening to them again, I >am reminded of just how clever some of their stuff is...full of twists, >clever chords and cadences, good singing, key changes and funny bits - >not at all boring verse/chorus stuff! I'm really enjoying it. Probably >some of the best singles of the 70s. They were great until Godley & Creme left. After that it became a mix of hit singles and filler. Although I have to say I still love the tone of Eric Stewart's voice. It suckered me into buying stuff that should gone into the recycling bin. Eagerly anticipating my latest flame... Wayne
------------------------------ Date: Thu, 21 Aug 2003 06:29:58 -0700 From: "Wes Hanks" <whanks1@earthlink.net> Subject: England's Glory est mort Message-ID: <000801c367e8$51798d60$6402a8c0@vaio> Oh me Cousins, The yahoo club - xtcenglandsglory is no more. It was founded in the deep distant past - 1998. It was a lot of fun administering the club and participating in many discussions. Sadly a combination of many factors made the continuation of the club no longer possible. Deep thanks to all over the years who made the club a nice place to meet and chat. Wes Hanks
------------------------------ Date: Thu, 21 Aug 2003 17:27:04 -0400 (EDT) From: RSMko@webtv.net (Marston Moor) Subject: more mummer musings Message-ID: <1974-3F453928-3718@storefull-2238.public.lawson.webtv.net> 1) try playing the entire mummer cd on random shuffle. fascinating! reminded me of a fuzzy warble experience. 2) pete phipps' drumming, never paid that close attention as i did now... tasty superb! 3) much great gregsy rhythm piano stands out on relistening. 4) not surprisingly, had a whole new enjoyment hearing the album with song stories book open. and also investigating more of steve nye's background. i repeat: it's a very unique xtc collection. end of transmission, rsteven
------------------------------ Date: Fri, 22 Aug 2003 02:32:38 +0000 From: apaul29@comcast.net Subject: Deflation and the Power of 2 Cents Message-ID: <200308220236.h7M2a8Qd4368852@els.sgi.com> Hey Harrison, RELAX!!!!!!! So some people aren't fond of the Warbles. Everyone's entitled to their opinion. I, personally am not fond of the demos for the songs I already know but I'm still going to buy all of them. I don't think you have to worry that Andy is going to read these posts and say, "Screw you guys, I'm never recording again". Andy and Colin have lots of fans who love all of their music and I'm sure they know that. Please try not to get so worked up over it. Thank you and goodnight
------------------------------ Date: Fri, 22 Aug 2003 17:57:24 EDT From: Huwptd@aol.com Subject: Yes I do have that warm and fuzzy feeling Message-ID: <172.1ed2ddc0.2c77ebc4@aol.com> Well, I finally purchased FW 3 and 4. Initially I wasn't going to bother buying any of the Fuzzy Warbles CD's as I had thought as much as I love XTC, do I love them that much? However, realising that FW4 had 'All I Dream of is a Friend' on it which is probably the best unreleased Andy Partridge song that I know of, I decided I might as well buy it, if only for that song. Visiting the Ape website, I decide that it's probably worth buying FW3 as well as it's got 'My Train is Coming' on it. And now, after listening to both FW 3 and 4 I've decided that I'm going to get FW 1 and 2 as well. Despite what some people here have said, they are worth the money. The price of them is probably what you'd reasonably expect to pay for a new CD in a record store here in the UK, so I don't think they're too expensive and they do demonstrate what a mad musical genius Andy Partridge really is. Also, anyone who has not yet bought the Super Furry Animals' latest album Phantom Power must go and do so now. Huw
------------------------------ Date: Tue, 26 Aug 2003 14:10:10 -0400 (EDT) From: John Relph <relph@tmbg.org> Subject: Le Samedi Culturel du 23 aout 2003 Message-ID: <200308261810.h7QIAAQ4013809@mtv-vpn-hw-relph-1.corp.sgi.com> Bien chers habitants de la colline de craie, In the August 23 edition of Le Temps, in the Samedi Culturel section, there's a review of Fuzzy Warbles: "<<Fuzzy Warbles>> le laboratoire pop de XTC". Unfortunately, I do not subscribe to Le Temps (I don't speak French, sorry, many thanks to Sebastien Maury for the greeting I stole and used above). I would very much appreciate if some Francophone might transcribe the article and send it to me. In French, please. Merci, -- John
------------------------------ Date: Wed, 27 Aug 2003 14:13:25 +0100 From: Jason Witcher <jason@etceterate.com> Subject: White Muzak/Chalkhills and Weirdos Message-ID: <3F4CAE75.10100@etceterate.com> "Krys Olsiewicz" <kolsiewicz@hotmail.com> wrote: > >Has anyone ever heard any XTC songs on piped in music? I heard "King >For A Day" this past weekend in the local CVS store. Twas such fun to >hear. I heard 'King for a Day' as well - in a toilet in a casino in Las Vegas. Kind of appropriate... Changing the subject completely... Those of us with personal websites who keep an eye on our stats will be used to weird search requests. Someone found my site recently with the phrase "pissing nude women photo gallary", although I only rated number 30. I only mention this because at number 16 is... www.chalkhills.org/oldnews.html ! Jason
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