From: owner-avalon-digest@smoe.org (avalon-digest) To: avalon-digest@smoe.org Subject: avalon-digest V4 #318 Reply-To: avalon@smoe.org Sender: owner-avalon-digest@smoe.org Errors-To: owner-avalon-digest@smoe.org Precedence: bulk avalon-digest Wednesday, October 20 1999 Volume 04 : Number 318 Today's Subjects: ----------------- Re: [AVALON] Is It Just Me Or Does JFROXY Post About 1,000, 000TimesA Day? ["Han Snijders en Willy v/d Geest" ] Re: [AVALON] Is It Just Me Or Does This Thing Suck? ["Tim Kendrick" ] Re: [AVALON] Monkey Boy ....is he Vapor? [Heather Marie Propes ] Re: [AVALON] Is It Just Me Or Does This Thing Suck? ["alegna" ] RE: [AVALON] Is It Just Me ...? [Jocelyn Fiske ] Re: [AVALON] Is It Just Me Or Does JFROXY Post About 1,000, 000TimesA Day? ["Martin Stockman" ] [AVALON] I lift my Champagne Glass to you, Martino [dawndalion Subject: Re: [AVALON] Is It Just Me Or Does JFROXY Post About 1,000, 000TimesA Day? John wrote: >Didn't I already tell you to piss off, fuckwit? As Martin said previously >"jeans and trainers are not allowed in this club", so what is a fuckin' >dosser like you doing here? And by the way I am Scottish, arsehole > >JF If 'jeans and trainers are not allowed in this club' means we need some style here, then I fully agree. But it also means that we sent mail with some style. And if a mail could be compared to clothes the letters of you John and some others are very synthetic, shiny trainers. I would prefer a more gentle approach. With some creativity it's easy to make clear that you disagree with someone. If some of you don't have those skill please keep those mails private. Thanks Han - -------------------- To unsub, mail majordomo@smoe.org with: unsubscribe avalon ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 20 Oct 1999 10:32 +0100 (BST) From: bmaccormick@cix.compulink.co.uk (Bill Maccormick) Subject: Re: [AVALON] Manzanera.com Updated In-Reply-To: In article , markh@WOLFENET.com (markh) wrote: > Just noticed that Phil's site has been totally > redone, and he is autographing CD's bought there. > http://www.manzanera.com Most excellent! B PS in my garbled way I was saying that our average daily sales have tripled and more since we started the autographing business. I'll take a gander at your site later this AM. I'm going to be ruthless now :-) (can I steal any bits I like?) - -------------------- To unsub, mail majordomo@smoe.org with: unsubscribe avalon ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 20 Oct 1999 10:49:36 +0100 From: Jocelyn Fiske Subject: RE: [AVALON] anyone out there conceived at a Roxy gig? Sorry, but nothing beats Let's Get It On by Marvin, or if you've got a bit of stamina The Thrill of It All! > ---------- > From: eRacerX[SMTP:eracerx@mindspring.com] > Reply To: avalon@smoe.org > Sent: 20 October 1999 04:26 > To: avalon@smoe.org > Subject: Re: [AVALON] anyone out there conceived at a Roxy gig? > > Jocelyn: > > I don't know about THAT, but I will admit to keeping Avalon very close by > in > case my date decided to stay and have a pajama party. > A few years later, I read that Avalon was voted in the top ten of 'Make > Out' > records, and my wife and I had a good laugh. > > -H. > > > > > > > -------------------- > To unsub, mail majordomo@smoe.org with: > unsubscribe avalon > - -------------------- To unsub, mail majordomo@smoe.org with: unsubscribe avalon ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 20 Oct 1999 07:19:22 -0400 From: Heather James Subject: Re: [AVALON] Is It Just Me ...? I dunno - I started going to Roxy Shows around the time of "Siren" and caught 5 tours total ... They seemed to draw a pretty big crowd and we used to rush to be able to get tickets here in the DC area - tho we DID have to go to Baltimore for a couple of tours that skipped Washington (The Manifesto tour, for one ...) They weren't the Stones or anything, but frankly I liked being interested in a band that wasn't mainstream! The straightahead pop that was on the typical radio station didn't interest me at all. 'Course we went to see bands like Brand X and Crimson and XTC back then ... -= )-(eather =- Decophile wrote: > > -----Original Message----- > From: JFROXY@aol.com > To: avalon@smoe.org > Date: Tuesday, October 19, 1999 5:23 PM > Subject: Re: [AVALON] Is It Just Me Or Does This Thing Suck? > > >Isn't that why Roxy/Ferry never made it big in the USA in the first place, > >cos the music was too Euro/avant garde/arty for American ears? > > That`s the fault of the American media. Anal retentives....all of them! > > >Even the > >wonderful Frank Zappa was literally ignored by his fellow countrymen for > >being too left field. I must admit I was not too enamoured at the thought > of > >this album originally, but what I have heard so far is excellent. > > C'mon, John. Excellent? For Your Pleasure was excellent. Not this. > > >By the way, > >how come Americans took to hilarious British crap like Depeche Mode and A > >flock of seagulls l in such a big way, yet ignored Roxy??????? Disgraceful! > > Again, the American media. I`ve personally turned more people on to Roxy > than any other band and most of these people have since explored other Roxy > material on their own. > > Gene > > > >JF. - -------------------- To unsub, mail majordomo@smoe.org with: unsubscribe avalon ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 20 Oct 1999 07:41:09 -0400 From: "Tim Kendrick" Subject: Re: [AVALON] Is It Just Me Or Does This Thing Suck? Well, Take That weren't exactly musical treasures, but they were the first and only boy band ever to have real credibility with grown ups - even if it was primarily because everyone fancied them. Their videos were extremely sexy. And Robbie Williams is the first person ever to leave such a group and become genuinely ( to many people ) hip. Compared to your US boy bands, Take That were the Velvet Underground! Tim - -----Original Message----- From: Colleen Matan To: avalon@smoe.org Date: Tuesday, October 19, 1999 5:49 > > >Yes, that's right--Americans are Philistines. It's our cross in life to >bear that we never spawned such musical treasures as Take That. >-------------------- >To unsub, mail majordomo@smoe.org with: >unsubscribe avalon > - -------------------- To unsub, mail majordomo@smoe.org with: unsubscribe avalon ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 20 Oct 1999 12:43:40 +0100 From: "Jason Gibbs" Subject: Re: [AVALON] Is It Just Me Or Does This Thing Suck? >Compared to your US boy bands, Take That were the Velvet Underground! Hmmm, hardly. Take That were still total and utter crap IMHO. i've recently had the unenviable job of building a 3 minute sampler of Gary Barlow's newest album for a record company demo. It's absolutely useless worthless pathetic weak drivel. And that's just the artwork! Jason - -------------------- To unsub, mail majordomo@smoe.org with: unsubscribe avalon ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 20 Oct 1999 08:14:38 -0400 From: "Angel Colon" Subject: Re: [AVALON] Is It Just Me Or Does JFROXY Post About 1,000, 000TimesA Day? AMEN Han!! Angel - -----Original Message----- From: Han Snijders en Willy v/d Geest To: avalon@smoe.org Date: Wednesday, October 20, 1999 4:17 AM Subject: Re: [AVALON] Is It Just Me Or Does JFROXY Post About 1,000, 000TimesA Day? >John wrote: > >>Didn't I already tell you to piss off, fuckwit? As Martin said previously >>"jeans and trainers are not allowed in this club", so what is a fuckin' >>dosser like you doing here? And by the way I am Scottish, arsehole >> >>JF > > >If 'jeans and trainers are not allowed in this club' means we need some >style here, then I fully agree. But it also means that we sent mail with >some style. And if a mail could be compared to clothes the letters of you >John and some others are very synthetic, shiny trainers. >I would prefer a more gentle approach. With some creativity it's easy to >make clear that you disagree with someone. >If some of you don't have those skill please keep those mails private. > >Thanks >Han > > > > > >-------------------- >To unsub, mail majordomo@smoe.org with: >unsubscribe avalon > - -------------------- To unsub, mail majordomo@smoe.org with: unsubscribe avalon ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 20 Oct 1999 08:18:25 -0400 From: Jeff Kay Subject: Re: [AVALON] Is It Just Me Or Does This Thing Suck? Decophile wrote: > -----Original Message----- > From: Jeff Pavlock > To: avalon@smoe.org > Date: Tuesday, October 19, 1999 4:43 PM > Subject: Re: [AVALON] Is It Just Me Or Does This Thing Suck? > > I got the cd and threw it into the cd rom on my laptop at work. I thought it > was the most unlistenable pile of crap I have ever heard in my life. > However, I brought it home and threw it on, being a Ferry/Roxy fa > > -------------------- > To unsub, mail majordomo@smoe.org with: > unsubscribe avalon - -------------------- To unsub, mail majordomo@smoe.org with: unsubscribe avalon ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 20 Oct 1999 07:34:22 -0500 (CDT) From: Heather Marie Propes Subject: Re: [AVALON] Depression has set in..... I actually found a wonderful "what is a digipack" page here http://sdm.sony.com/pkg/digipack.html http://student-www.uchicago.edu/users/asbuch/index.htm#hometop Heather Marie Buch asbuch@midway.uchicago.edu On Tue, 19 Oct 1999, Alison Brown wrote: > I hate to sound ignorant, but what is a Digipak? > > Alison > > > > > > -------------------- > To unsub, mail majordomo@smoe.org with: > unsubscribe avalon > - -------------------- To unsub, mail majordomo@smoe.org with: unsubscribe avalon ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 20 Oct 1999 14:35:34 +0100 From: Kicki Gustafsson Subject: Re: [AVALON] daily telegraph >http://www.telegraph.co.uk/ > >I think they change the articles daily to reflect the newspaper. I took a >copy of the text when it was up, though, so I can let you have a copy if you >email me off list. Aren't you lucky?? > >If enough people want it, I'll post it to the list. I have a HTML-document ready with the article in my computer at work. If you want, I can upload it to my Avalon-site? Kicki G - --------------------------- Kicki Gustafsson http://www.torget.se/users/k/KickiG kicki.gustafsson@op.se - -------------------- To unsub, mail majordomo@smoe.org with: unsubscribe avalon ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 20 Oct 1999 07:37:24 -0500 (CDT) From: Heather Marie Propes Subject: Re: [AVALON] Monkey Boy ....is he Vapor? Remember the old days, sitting around by the Avalonian fire listening to stories rise up from the Vapor? Listening to the eternal yet harmless torment of Arnie Schulberg? To the shameless exploitation of the word "curmudgeon?" Stop me I'm getting all nostalgic. http://student-www.uchicago.edu/users/asbuch/index.htm#hometop Heather Marie Buch asbuch@midway.uchicago.edu On Tue, 19 Oct 1999, jspellman wrote: > dawndalion wrote: > > > Could Monkey Boy be the Vapor???? > > > > Where IS the Vapor???? > > > > I miss him! > > Wow Dawn! I was just thinking the same thing.I mean I can just smell him > lurking tonight.... > This "Monkey Boy"? and Red? Wow! And now > you Dawn, we go back to the old days when > Jimmy tormented often. It's all leading up > to something...... > > Best, > > Jim > > > > > > > > > -------------------- > To unsub, mail majordomo@smoe.org with: > unsubscribe avalon > - -------------------- To unsub, mail majordomo@smoe.org with: unsubscribe avalon ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 20 Oct 1999 07:41:11 -0500 (CDT) From: Heather Marie Propes Subject: Re: [AVALON] Bryan - pregnancy - Heather Yes, thanks for that cute story. I will teach my baby to say "Bryan Ferry" before it says "daddy." Ha ha. No, I called my doctor and she said I should go. Anyway, thanks again. http://student-www.uchicago.edu/users/asbuch/index.htm#hometop Heather Marie Buch asbuch@midway.uchicago.edu On Wed, 20 Oct 1999, [iso-8859-1] Frédéric Declercq wrote: > > Hi to all of you, > > I just wanted to tell Heather that a girl of my family when to the Limbo tour being pregnant. Not even three month later she gave birth to a very nice looking girly. When she started to speak, one of the first things she said was coca cola, daddy and Brrrriyaan Feeerrrryyyy Nah ! when he came on TV. The story doesn't tell if it was due to the gig or to the fact that the parents are fans ! > > Anyway, I think that there is no real danger, Heather ! It's not Metallica or something ! It's Bryan ! I wish you to take the best decision. It's may be the last tour... > > Ciao, > > Fred. > > > > > > > > -------------------- > To unsub, mail majordomo@smoe.org with: > unsubscribe avalon > - -------------------- To unsub, mail majordomo@smoe.org with: unsubscribe avalon ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 20 Oct 1999 09:00:52 -0400 (EDT) From: Colleen Matan Subject: Re: [AVALON] Is It Just Me Or Does This Thing Suck? First, I was being completely sincere about Take That. Second, the answer to Red's question is Ike & Tina Turner. Third, I have heard the new album. Twice. Uh,... Colleen - -------------------- To unsub, mail majordomo@smoe.org with: unsubscribe avalon ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 20 Oct 1999 14:57:26 +0100 From: Jocelyn Fiske Subject: RE: [AVALON] Is It Just Me ...? First saw Roxy as third on the bill at the Newcastle City Hall in November 1972, and have done the whole of every British tour since, plus loads of European dates ( going Continental as Bryan used to put it to me) and New York regularly - and have hundreds of ticket stubs to prove it. No show ever used to beat Newcastle other than maybe Glasgow, where everyone's mental (and fabulous). You must understand what an insult it was to JFRoxy to call him a Brit. I'm a Geordie and just about get away with being a Sassenach bastard. Even though I'm a big fan, being behind Warhol's no big deal - he used to turn up to the opening of an envelope! In 1974 I was seated in front of Mr and Mrs Ferry, Bryan's sister and nephew (I have pictures somewhere). Now that was an honour. Wor Bry is the spitting image of his Dad and his Mother was, even then, a very glamorous white haired lady. They were both charming, and his Mam so proud of him that she was in tears by the end of the concert. They did, however, draw the line at Doing The Strand. Jocelyn. > ---------- > From: Heather James[SMTP:hjames@thewebgal.com] > Reply To: avalon@smoe.org > Sent: 20 October 1999 12:19 > To: avalon@smoe.org > Subject: Re: [AVALON] Is It Just Me ...? > > I dunno - I started going to Roxy Shows around the time of "Siren" and > caught 5 tours total ... They seemed to draw a pretty big crowd and we > used to rush to be able to get tickets here in the DC area - tho we DID > have to go to Baltimore for a couple of tours that skipped Washington > (The Manifesto tour, for one ...) > They weren't the Stones or anything, but frankly I liked being > interested in a band that wasn't mainstream! The straightahead pop that > was on the typical radio station didn't interest me at all. 'Course we > went to see bands like Brand X and Crimson and XTC back then ... > > -= )-(eather =- > > > > Decophile wrote: > > > > -----Original Message----- > > From: JFROXY@aol.com > > To: avalon@smoe.org > > Date: Tuesday, October 19, 1999 5:23 PM > > Subject: Re: [AVALON] Is It Just Me Or Does This Thing Suck? > > > > >Isn't that why Roxy/Ferry never made it big in the USA in the first > place, > > >cos the music was too Euro/avant garde/arty for American ears? > > > > That`s the fault of the American media. Anal retentives....all of them! > > > > >Even the > > >wonderful Frank Zappa was literally ignored by his fellow countrymen > for > > >being too left field. I must admit I was not too enamoured at the > thought > > of > > >this album originally, but what I have heard so far is excellent. > > > > C'mon, John. Excellent? For Your Pleasure was excellent. Not this. > > > > >By the way, > > >how come Americans took to hilarious British crap like Depeche Mode and > A > > >flock of seagulls l in such a big way, yet ignored Roxy??????? > Disgraceful! > > > > Again, the American media. I`ve personally turned more people on to Roxy > > than any other band and most of these people have since explored other > Roxy > > material on their own. > > > > Gene > > > > > >JF. > > > > > -------------------- > To unsub, mail majordomo@smoe.org with: > unsubscribe avalon > - -------------------- To unsub, mail majordomo@smoe.org with: unsubscribe avalon ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 20 Oct 1999 07:39:41 -0700 From: "alegna" Subject: Re: [AVALON] Is It Just Me Or Does This Thing Suck? It sucks. I love BF/RM style, lyrics, music, but was once again disappointed in an album of covers (or any album that has covers). He did pick a great era musically, but the vocals are not emotional at all, they are flat, and dry. Further, IMHO, his best style is un-enunciated. That is, when he slurs the words or trails out at the end of a lyric. In this one, I hear clipped vocals, enunciated words, and it's just not what I like most about him. The only good thing for me about the album was finding the www.bryanferrydirect.com website. - ----- Original Message ----- From: Decophile To: Sent: Tuesday, October 19, 1999 1:32 PM Subject: [AVALON] Is It Just Me Or Does This Thing Suck? > With all due respect to those who actually find As Time Goes By enjoyable, I > have to say that I find this material totally lame, uninteresting and barely > worthy of one listen. In fact, I think it sucks! - -------------------- To unsub, mail majordomo@smoe.org with: unsubscribe avalon ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 20 Oct 1999 15:41:48 +0100 From: "Andy Cooper" Subject: [AVALON] Depression...lifting Yes - it's true - thanks to all you whizzkids out there I have spent an afternoon washing CDs in Fairy Liquid (for hands that do dishes and CDs apparently!!) and can now play the lost tracks. I can still see the remnants of the squirly-whirly patterns so I am thinking of compiling a couple of CD-Rs of the rare and non-album tracks. BTW I have other Digipak (a registered design of card fronted black plastic tray for CDs much cheaper than the slim jewelcases usually used for CD singles) singles and albums NOT made by EMI Swindon that have not suffered this disease - some are older and some are newer. I am still not impressed that it happened in the first place and judging from some of your messages it is not isolated. And, if I was in the States, I would probably sue them as somebody suggested, but it is just not cricket to do that here. Anyway thanks for cheering me up - a little - and Eno's remix helped to make my day.......are there more Eno versions (Bahi?) Andy - In Britain and still waiting for the new album, new single and concert tickets to go on sale!!!!!!! C'mon Bry don't neglect your British fans like this!!!!!!!!! - -------------------- To unsub, mail majordomo@smoe.org with: unsubscribe avalon ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 20 Oct 1999 15:41:58 +0100 From: S.J.Batie@open.ac.uk Subject: RE: [AVALON] Is It Just Me ...? my patchy memory suggests they did two nights at newcastle in '74 jocelyn, both nights were excellent. i see the city hall box office hasn't changed since those days though, they still refuses to answer the 'phone ! steve > -----Original Message----- > From: Jocelyn Fiske [SMTP:Jocelyn.Fiske@greyeu.com] > Sent: Wednesday, October 20, 1999 2:57 PM > To: 'avalon@smoe.org' > Subject: RE: [AVALON] Is It Just Me ...? > > First saw Roxy as third on the bill at the Newcastle City Hall in November > 1972, and have done the whole of every British tour since, plus loads of > European dates ( going Continental as Bryan used to put it to me) and New > York regularly - and have hundreds of ticket stubs to prove it. > No show ever used to beat Newcastle other than maybe Glasgow, where > everyone's mental (and fabulous). > You must understand what an insult it was to JFRoxy to call him a Brit. > I'm > a Geordie and just about get away with being a Sassenach bastard. > Even though I'm a big fan, being behind Warhol's no big deal - he used to > turn up to the opening of an envelope! > In 1974 I was seated in front of Mr and Mrs Ferry, Bryan's sister and > nephew > (I have pictures somewhere). > Now that was an honour. > Wor Bry is the spitting image of his Dad and his Mother was, even then, a > very glamorous white haired lady. They were both charming, and his Mam so > proud of him that she was in tears by the end of the concert. > > They did, however, draw the line at Doing The Strand. > > Jocelyn. > > > > > > > > ---------- > > From: Heather James[SMTP:hjames@thewebgal.com] > > Reply To: avalon@smoe.org > > Sent: 20 October 1999 12:19 > > To: avalon@smoe.org > > Subject: Re: [AVALON] Is It Just Me ...? > > > > I dunno - I started going to Roxy Shows around the time of "Siren" and > > caught 5 tours total ... They seemed to draw a pretty big crowd and we > > used to rush to be able to get tickets here in the DC area - tho we DID > > have to go to Baltimore for a couple of tours that skipped Washington > > (The Manifesto tour, for one ...) > > They weren't the Stones or anything, but frankly I liked being > > interested in a band that wasn't mainstream! The straightahead pop that > > was on the typical radio station didn't interest me at all. 'Course we > > went to see bands like Brand X and Crimson and XTC back then ... > > > > -= )-(eather =- > > > > > > > > Decophile wrote: > > > > > > -----Original Message----- > > > From: JFROXY@aol.com > > > To: avalon@smoe.org > > > Date: Tuesday, October 19, 1999 5:23 PM > > > Subject: Re: [AVALON] Is It Just Me Or Does This Thing Suck? > > > > > > >Isn't that why Roxy/Ferry never made it big in the USA in the first > > place, > > > >cos the music was too Euro/avant garde/arty for American ears? > > > > > > That`s the fault of the American media. Anal retentives....all of > them! > > > > > > >Even the > > > >wonderful Frank Zappa was literally ignored by his fellow countrymen > > for > > > >being too left field. I must admit I was not too enamoured at the > > thought > > > of > > > >this album originally, but what I have heard so far is excellent. > > > > > > C'mon, John. Excellent? For Your Pleasure was excellent. Not this. > > > > > > >By the way, > > > >how come Americans took to hilarious British crap like Depeche Mode > and > > A > > > >flock of seagulls l in such a big way, yet ignored Roxy??????? > > Disgraceful! > > > > > > Again, the American media. I`ve personally turned more people on to > Roxy > > > than any other band and most of these people have since explored other > > Roxy > > > material on their own. > > > > > > Gene > > > > > > > >JF. > > > > > > > > > > -------------------- > > To unsub, mail majordomo@smoe.org with: > > unsubscribe avalon > > > > > > > -------------------- > To unsub, mail majordomo@smoe.org with: > unsubscribe avalon - -------------------- To unsub, mail majordomo@smoe.org with: unsubscribe avalon ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 20 Oct 1999 10:50:15 EDT From: Helchat@aol.com Subject: [AVALON] Oakland Show Dawne wrote: Subject: [AVALON] time goes by I've been listening to _As Time Goes By_ as background music for other scribbling I've been doing today (and the fact I've been using it as background music is not really a good sign) and I realize what I don't like about it. Now my natural predilection in life to resist everything. For as long as possible. But at the same time I was really hoping I'd like this album, despite the dire warnings I have expressed about it in this forum in the preceding months. But the truth is I think I'd rather have seen the release of _Pastiche_ (I know you're still around, flangebracket) than this exercise in sound signifying nothing. At least there was a sense of humor at work in the hoax. Now the thing is, I expected ATGB to be much worse. Much more of a florid costume drama than what it turned out to be. But, as I've said to a few list members privately, if it had turned out so bad as to make us squirm it might have been better. It might have had something to it which was Real, as opposed to this sterile attempt at ersatz nostalgia. Maybe part of my own problem with the album is that familiarity breeds contempt. I already own versions of most of these songs. And I already own music from the 1930s. So I guess I'm wondering what the point was to create an album of overly familiar songs done in very conservative, even "authentic" settings. Then again, I guess I've already said that I suspected that this album was meant to serve as yuppie dinner party music, and it does fit that bill very well. I know lots of people are jumping on this retro and/or orchestral bandwagon, and I guess I should have seen it coming down the Ferry Pike on the Diana tribute. But the thing that really disappoints me about ATGB is that the songs are, for the most part, presented as museum pieces. This is a crying shame. Some of these songs--at least the least trite ones--are still alive and breathing. Yet here they have been locked up in an airless room, and performed in a vacuum. It's musical historicism of the worst kind. (The only song which seems to have escaped the vacuum is "I'm In The Mood For Love" which gets the _Taxi_ treatment. Which is also unfortunate in this particular context. [NB: I actually like some of _Taxi_ quite a bit.].) And don't tell me it's a homage of sorts. Because it's not. Why not? Because these songs have been stripped of their original irony and sophistication. (No, orchestral arrangements alone do not constitute [or denote] sophistication.) As much as I like irony, I will admit that a neverending diet of it will make you brittle and hollow. But added in just the right doses, it's a transforming ingredient. Viz. his cover of "It's My Party (And I'll Cry If I Want To." Pure bliss. The pathos and earnestness of that song wiped away with one vocal quaver. But these songs were written by some quite sophisticated, jaded, and ironic--and overwhelmingly American--songwriters. And here they are performed as earnestly as any teenage pop song about dead lovers on a railroad track. Is it some kind of overseas view about us uned-u-kated Americans? That all of our songwriters suffer from this suffocating earnestness which must be replicated in the studio? I just don't get the point of this album. It's not a bad album, but it is a bad Bryan Ferry album. You have to wonder about the people who insisted that he release this instead original material. If I weren't such a cheery person I'd suspect the release of this album was a cynical exercise. Colleen - -------------------- To unsub, mail majordomo@smoe.org with: unsubscribe avalon ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 20 Oct 1999 16:25:51 +0100 From: Jocelyn Fiske Subject: RE: [AVALON] Is It Just Me ...? Indeed they were. I finally got through to the box office this morning, and they're desperate for tickets to go on sale so that they don't have to keep ignoring the ringing phone all day. They have said sometime this week, they're just waiting for the promoters to dot the i's and cross the t's on the contract. Did you spot Malcolm MacDonald (ace N'cle United Centre Forward) at the early Roxy gigs when you were there? > ---------- > From: S.J.Batie@open.ac.uk[SMTP:S.J.Batie@open.ac.uk] > Reply To: avalon@smoe.org > Sent: 20 October 1999 15:41 > To: avalon@smoe.org > Subject: RE: [AVALON] Is It Just Me ...? > > my patchy memory suggests they did two nights at newcastle in '74 jocelyn, > both nights were excellent. > > i see the city hall box office hasn't changed since those days though, > they > still refuses to answer the 'phone ! > > > > steve > > > -----Original Message----- > > From: Jocelyn Fiske [SMTP:Jocelyn.Fiske@greyeu.com] > > Sent: Wednesday, October 20, 1999 2:57 PM > > To: 'avalon@smoe.org' > > Subject: RE: [AVALON] Is It Just Me ...? > > > > First saw Roxy as third on the bill at the Newcastle City Hall in > November > > 1972, and have done the whole of every British tour since, plus loads of > > European dates ( going Continental as Bryan used to put it to me) and > New > > York regularly - and have hundreds of ticket stubs to prove it. > > No show ever used to beat Newcastle other than maybe Glasgow, where > > everyone's mental (and fabulous). > > You must understand what an insult it was to JFRoxy to call him a Brit. > > I'm > > a Geordie and just about get away with being a Sassenach bastard. > > Even though I'm a big fan, being behind Warhol's no big deal - he used > to > > turn up to the opening of an envelope! > > In 1974 I was seated in front of Mr and Mrs Ferry, Bryan's sister and > > nephew > > (I have pictures somewhere). > > Now that was an honour. > > Wor Bry is the spitting image of his Dad and his Mother was, even then, > a > > very glamorous white haired lady. They were both charming, and his Mam > so > > proud of him that she was in tears by the end of the concert. > > > > They did, however, draw the line at Doing The Strand. > > > > Jocelyn. > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > ---------- > > > From: Heather James[SMTP:hjames@thewebgal.com] > > > Reply To: avalon@smoe.org > > > Sent: 20 October 1999 12:19 > > > To: avalon@smoe.org > > > Subject: Re: [AVALON] Is It Just Me ...? > > > > > > I dunno - I started going to Roxy Shows around the time of "Siren" and > > > caught 5 tours total ... They seemed to draw a pretty big crowd and we > > > used to rush to be able to get tickets here in the DC area - tho we > DID > > > have to go to Baltimore for a couple of tours that skipped Washington > > > (The Manifesto tour, for one ...) > > > They weren't the Stones or anything, but frankly I liked being > > > interested in a band that wasn't mainstream! The straightahead pop > that > > > was on the typical radio station didn't interest me at all. 'Course we > > > went to see bands like Brand X and Crimson and XTC back then ... > > > > > > -= )-(eather =- > > > > > > > > > > > > Decophile wrote: > > > > > > > > -----Original Message----- > > > > From: JFROXY@aol.com > > > > To: avalon@smoe.org > > > > Date: Tuesday, October 19, 1999 5:23 PM > > > > Subject: Re: [AVALON] Is It Just Me Or Does This Thing Suck? > > > > > > > > >Isn't that why Roxy/Ferry never made it big in the USA in the first > > > place, > > > > >cos the music was too Euro/avant garde/arty for American ears? > > > > > > > > That`s the fault of the American media. Anal retentives....all of > > them! > > > > > > > > >Even the > > > > >wonderful Frank Zappa was literally ignored by his fellow > countrymen > > > for > > > > >being too left field. I must admit I was not too enamoured at the > > > thought > > > > of > > > > >this album originally, but what I have heard so far is excellent. > > > > > > > > C'mon, John. Excellent? For Your Pleasure was excellent. Not this. > > > > > > > > >By the way, > > > > >how come Americans took to hilarious British crap like Depeche Mode > > and > > > A > > > > >flock of seagulls l in such a big way, yet ignored Roxy??????? > > > Disgraceful! > > > > > > > > Again, the American media. I`ve personally turned more people on to > > Roxy > > > > than any other band and most of these people have since explored > other > > > Roxy > > > > material on their own. > > > > > > > > Gene > > > > > > > > > >JF. > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > -------------------- > > > To unsub, mail majordomo@smoe.org with: > > > unsubscribe avalon > > > > > > > > > > > > > -------------------- > > To unsub, mail majordomo@smoe.org with: > > unsubscribe avalon > > > > > -------------------- > To unsub, mail majordomo@smoe.org with: > unsubscribe avalon > - -------------------- To unsub, mail majordomo@smoe.org with: unsubscribe avalon ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 20 Oct 1999 17:08:21 +0100 From: "Martin Stockman" Subject: Re: [AVALON] Is It Just Me Or Does JFROXY Post About 1,000, 000TimesA Day? Han writes > > If 'jeans and trainers are not allowed in this club' means we need some > style here, then I fully agree. But it also means that we sent mail with > some style. And if a mail could be compared to clothes the letters of you > John and some others are very synthetic, shiny trainers. > I would prefer a more gentle approach. With some creativity it's easy to > make clear that you disagree with someone. > If some of you don't have those skill please keep those mails private. Succinctly put as usual, dear lowlander. Stay cool is still the main rule. All taste is subjective, and what sounds delightful to one ear may sound bland to another. My comment about jeans and trainers has been taken slightly out of context by Angry John ; I was, at the time, frustrated by a bizarre Joan Armatrading thread that somehow weaved its way on to our post-modern, pre-campari pages, and made a flip aside about what is considered de trop around here. Earnest feminist folk singing seemed to me to be distinctly un-Roxy, and some "creative disagreeing" seemed in order. Now Gene and others have got hot under the collar about the latest pearl that Bryan has laid upon our pashmina pillows. Why ? Do you perceive that the wayward genius is selling us short ? These are beautifully crafted interpretations of some of the loveliest songs ever written. His velvet larynx emits perfumed sighs. The occasional nervous falsetto reflects the lovelorn nature of much of the material. As Gareth and I stared at the midnight blue Thames after the Nick Cave evening at the RFH we wondered if Bryan had suffered a terminal loss of confidence. Remember how the eight attending Avalonions had been cornered by successive A&R men with tales of a backstage maestro petrified with stage-fright, how record companies were loathe to touch his self-penned material, that the Dave Stewart collaboration was inlistenable. And as for the performance : a subdued Byron hunched over the piano, two strange country songs, a quite startling harmonica solo, an almost apologetic wave and he was gone. Contrast this with the SWAGGER of old. The audacious entrances, the crazy outfits, the glamour. Up to and including the Bete Noire tour his self-confidence shone across the footlights. I believe that the early nineties hiatus, however, marked a turning point. Commercial failure, artistic block, family life, the charts full of "raucous rap," all combined to make him wonder if he still had an audience. Taxi and Mamouna, full of fabulous jewels and the odd fake tiara, and the tour that followed saw a performer showing signs of doubt. Check all the interviews. The way he feels compelled to drop Eno's name all the time. That one where he'd just read a slating review of Mamouna and turned to the interviewer and said.."Am I really that bad." Oh my aching heart. We can be sure of two things, regardless of how ATGB fares. Bryan is rich (by most people's standards) and he will always have an audience. The question is how rich and how big an audience. Do we care ? I don't. I prefer Ferry as a cult figure. Stateside Avalonions enjoy, I guess, the fact that he has such a low profile. He is their secret. Over here, however, people will always know him as part of the nation's folklore in the 70s and 80s. That's why a friend accosted me at a drinks party last Saturday with "What the hell's your mate Ferry up to now ; I heard he's covering old movie hits now." Yeah, we Brits are good at building 'em up and knocking 'em down. The Germans call it "Schadenfreude", the malicious enjoyment of another's (perceived) misfortunes. These new songs stand up. I urge the likes of Gene to approach them with an open mind. And if you don't like them, then fine. As for his "soon-to-be-released" own stuff, (easy Colleen !), well, it would be quite mad to expect him to knock out stret-burning, rebel-rousing hits any more. I think "Kiss and Tell" will go down as his last heroic bid for that market. No. Expect more reflective lyrics, more layered soundscapes, more tremulous vocals. That is where he's at. And I for one love it. Regards all Martino - -------------------- To unsub, mail majordomo@smoe.org with: unsubscribe avalon ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 20 Oct 1999 09:35:07 -0700 From: dawndalion Subject: [AVALON] Chip in NYC Hi Gang, Just got an email from HipChip, and due to some email posting difficulties he is having, he wanted me to email the group and let you know he is planning on attending the NYC Beacon show, and wants to get together with other Avalonians for drinks....I think it would be great! He is also going to the Viva Las Vega$ show, and I am hoping to meet up with him and the Phoenix crowd as well. Email Chip at HipChip@hotmail.com Best, Dawne - -------------------- To unsub, mail majordomo@smoe.org with: unsubscribe avalon ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 20 Oct 1999 09:51:58 -0700 From: dawndalion Subject: [AVALON] I lift my Champagne Glass to you, Martino Martino, I have listened to all the ranting and raving of these latest emails, and I gotta say that the ideas and notions contained in your latest missive most closely allign with my own ideas. You put it well, you said it truthfully. And, as a Kraut myself, (well, only half), I do appreciate anyone who can use the term 'Schadenfreude'.....I guess I was saying it wrong all these years as 'schadenfreunde,' but who cares....I don't have my German dictionary handy... And, I gotta say, I really do love "I'm in the Mood For Love," it is beautifully done and so very 'lush.' Mmmmmm. can't wait to see the Maestro sing it live....I WANT to see the 54 year old man ....I am not going with the idea that I am gonna see the Young Bryan Ferry belt it out....those days are past. I am happy to follow him in all his endeavors and stages in his life and career. It matters not what he does....I have this 'unconditional love' for him, even after "Taxi" disappointed me.... Thanks Martino, Dawne - -------------------- To unsub, mail majordomo@smoe.org with: unsubscribe avalon ------------------------------ End of avalon-digest V4 #318 **************************** ======================================================================== For further info, mail majordomo@smoe.org with: info avalon-digest