Errors-To: ecto-owner@ns1.rutgers.edu Reply-To: ecto@ns1.rutgers.edu Sender: ecto@ns1.rutgers.edu From: ecto@ns1.rutgers.edu To: ecto-request@ns1.rutgers.edu Bcc: ecto-digest-outbound@ns1.rutgers.edu Subject: ecto #684 ecto, Number 684 Wednesday, 4 August 1993 Today's Topics: *-----------------* Re: Rhodes Songs Re: Janes new album Re: Jane Siberry received prominant billing in Globe & Mail Re: vickie? oh yeah... :-) Re: Lookie what I found! GaffaEcTori Fest Re: Rhodes Songs ======================================================================== Date: Tue, 3 Aug 93 22:06:52 EDT From: WretchAwry Subject: Re: Rhodes Songs Hi Ilka! > Thanks to Vickie for the list of tracks on Rhodes Songs. I'm sooooooo dis- > appointed that not ONE single Warpaint song got on there... It's by far my > favourite Happy album (and the one that got me hooked)! "Feed the Fire" is on there, twice! :-) And "In Hiding" (a new acoustic version, to boot!) so WP hasn't been totally ignored. > Oh, and Meredith, I'm sulking cause you didn't like "A Man Called E"! I under- > stand that 4 Non-Blondes isn't too exciting at all (only exception for me > "What's Up"), but I thought E is really good! Never mind - you can't argue > about taste, right??? = ) I don't have the E album, but I have to say that I didn't like them in concert. Maybe I was put off by the guy's attitude. They opened for Tori, and the E guy told the audience that he wasn't supposed to touch Tori's piano. He kept touching it and it was supposed to be funny, but it wasn't. It just came off like he thought Tori was a persnikity bitch and he'd touch her piano if he damned well wanted to! It wasn't too long before I just got sick of him and wanted him to get the hell off the stage so that Tori could start. I'd listen to his album if someone gave it to me :-) but I've never been willing to put money in his pocket. (I hold grudges, don't I? :-)) Vickie ======================================================================== Date: Tue, 3 Aug 93 23:24:46 EDT From: WretchAwry Subject: Re: Janes new album Albert typity-types: > AT THE BEGINNING OF TIME > > at the beginning of time > before there were waves > we'd sit in our boats > we'd float there all day I just talked to my friend Charley and he's very interested in this song because he thinks it *might* be based on a book called "Cosmicomics" by Italo Calvino. It's a group of short stories about a group of people sitting around waiting for time to begin. (!). That was his short description. He said he'd lend it to me. Does anyone else know about this book? This album is amazing! It's more like _The Walking_ than any of her other albums. Most of the songs are over 5 minutes long, with 2 over 7 minutes. This song is 7:20. The album is (for the most part) complex, complicated, obscure (lyrically, and very often, musically) and... well....how do you say?....brilliant! Typical Jane, in other words :-) Charley's a *lot* further along with the album than I am. He called and wanted to talk about the religious imagery and the hints that perhaps Jane's mother has died and the various characters in songs and that "All the Candles In the World" is about a candlelight vigil and did I think that it was a vigil for AIDS patients or "Take Back The Night" or what and I had to say "Waaaaaaaiiiiiiiittttttt!!!! I haven't even read the lyrics yet!" An album like this is a keeper, a grower, and I approach it in a very specific way. I have to listen to it over and over and over in the background, to get to know the music and vocals. To really get to *know* it, get it in my soul. Once it's ingraned, *then* I start worrying about lyrics and only then do I start thinking about the songs themselves, what they're about. I'll get there just about the time the _The Red Shoes_ comes out :-). 1993, the year of the Goddess. (Now, if only Tori would get her album out by the end of the year.) Vickie ----- and every day you gaze upon the sunset with such love and intensity it's almost...it's almost as if you could only crack the code then you'd finally understand what this all means but if you could...do you think you would trade in all the pain and suffering? ah, but then you'd miss the beauty of the light upon this earth and the sweetness of the leaving Jane Siberry "Calling All Angels" ----- ======================================================================== Date: Tue, 3 Aug 93 23:44:39 EDT From: WretchAwry Subject: Re: Jane Siberry received prominant billing in Globe & Mail SteveF wrote: > On Tue, 3 Aug 1993 at 14:59:20 -0400 myhui@bigbunny.isis.org (Michael M.Y. Hui) wrote: > > latest album is. I guess I'll have to catch it on the radio a few times > > before I decide whether to buy it or not. > > Surely Vickie has already given us the definitive review of this > album. After what she wrote about it it just has to be a *MUST BUY* > for all Ectophiles everyehere, no? :-) Vickie ======================================================================== Date: Tue, 3 Aug 93 23:43:22 EDT From: WretchAwry Subject: Re: vickie? oh yeah... :-) mjm writes: > That one digest with mostly Vickie's posts was excellent. I love > reading those long "what happened on the way to the cut-out bin" > stories that Vickie tells because they're entertaining and I always > learn something. It's those kinda posts that have addicted me to > this group. Serendipity, right? (inside joke that probably no one will > get) I didn't get it, but thanks for the compliment...flattery will get you everywhere :-) > Vickie wrote: > >them though. (And if you think I'm not having a personal problem with > >this, then you don't know my non-net Happy-fan friend Charley :-)). > > Well, y'know, this is clearly something completely out of Vickie's > hands. But, I would *have* to believe that Kevin and Happy would be > ok with selling HR5's to non-computer-nerd fans. I mean, why not? > Especially now that the first wave of ecto-purchasers has passed. > The only difficulty is the logistics. I would say if someone finds > their way to Vickie or is able to get the address from some other ecto- > phile, then they should be allowed to buy one. I mean, I know I've seen > a copy of this in a used CD store already selling for way less than > I paid for it, so it can't be that hard to get, at least not yet. > If I ever spoke to Happy, I bet I could convince her of this. I mean, > if Charley is a big fan without a stupid email account, what the hey? > Elitism indeed, albeit unintentional and corrigible. Oh well. Well, at some point I'll talk to Kevin about this, but for now, he said Ectophiles only. When they offer a gift like this, I'm not going to push past touchy boundaries. Perhaps by September, when all the home-gone Ectophiles are back from summer vacation, and have their chance, they can take stock and see how many are left and offer them to non-Ectophiles. Btw, what store did you see a copy at??? That would mean that WXRT or WCBR or 101 sent it directly to the used record store :-( :-( > The Story live at Tower next Wed? Wow!!!!! Thanks for that info vick. > I'm not sure if I'll make it to Katemas before 9pm, if at all.... > I will try to call you guys before I come. Is there any plan to go > out at some point? But I would like to see Aspel and hear the new > songs. Anyways, I'll see you all at Tower and wherever else the > Story is playing that night. If you have any chance of seeing them > live, you should, even with the band (which I've yet to see). We have no plans to go anywhere. The Psychowelders aren't in town that night (like last year!) (wasn't it?) > HR5 always pines me for Bowie. And Kate. It would be cool to hear > a full RUTH (or any other) cover. I agree! See you (hopefully) on Saturday. Vickie ======================================================================== Date: Wed, 4 Aug 93 0:20:04 EDT From: WretchAwry Subject: Re: Lookie what I found! David Dixon writes: > So I'm scanning the titles, not expecting to find anything interesting, > when all of the sudden: > > Victoria Williams, _Swing the Statue!_ > > I've listened to it a few times, and I generally like it, but it's > going to take me a while to get used to her voice (sometimes it's > a bit too cutesy, like on "Wobbling") . I know what you mean. I'm glad you like it, but yes, her voice *does* take getting used to. I don't think I passed this along...I had an exchange with a fellow at Mammoth records: ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Subject: Answers to your questions... To: vickie@pilot.njin.net (Vickie Mapes) > I have two questions for you, if you know. 1) I know that blackgirls have > broken up, but do you know what the individual members are up to and if > they have any other music out, or coming out? 2) I heard a rumour that > Mammoth was going to be re-releasing Victoria Williams' 2 albums on CD. > Is it true? If so, when will they be available? If you don't know the > answers, perhaps you could ask around....? > > Thanks! > > Vickie Mapes > 1) Well, since they have broken up Lee and Dara have gone on to start up some new bands/projects. Lee started a new band, but it broke up right away. Dara on the other hand has a new band out of Raliegh, NC called "Dish". They are currently looking for some label support and you should be seeing a 7" out from them sometime this summer. 2) Mammoth does have the rights to re-release them, but as of now they are still keeping it in the rumor stage. sorry... Hope that helped... Bye From: WretchAwry Subject: Re: Answers to your questions... > 2) Mammoth does have the rights to re-release them, but as of now they > are still keeping it in the rumor stage. sorry... At the risk of risking my newly promising promo source, I have to say that Mammoth is *crazy* to do this! *Now* is when _Sweet Relief_ is out, *NOW* is when _Sweet Relief_ is getting *all* kinds of publicity!! *NOW* is when people are actually reading about Victoria Williams and wondering who she is and curious about her and maybe, even possibly, maybe even *probably*, wanting to hear what she sounds like!! I belong to a mailing list that is full, *FULL* of Victoria Williams fans, or are curious about her, and would snatch up anything out there, *ESPECIALLY* her first album, because it's been out of print for a long time, and is extremely hard to find. plus, it was never released on CD. Excuse me, but as a DJ, as a net.goddess :-) (really, in certain circles, people pay attention to my taste in music), and as a music lover, not to mention a fan of Victoria's, I would *strongly* urge Mammoth to get moving on this. Not just for me, but just that now is the right time. Victoria's getting all kinds of free publicity, Mammoth couldn't buy that kind of publicity! They'd sell! Really! Please, pass this along to someone, anyone at Mammoth who might really want to know what someone "out there" thinks of Victoria. Do they think that no one's ever heard of Victoria? I've been a fan since 1988! Sorry for the rant, but that was really shocking news, sorry :-(. Vickie +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ What can I say, it amazed me! He did write back and say that he'd pass my note along to possible powers-that-be. (I'm a bit embarrassed about that net.goddess crack :-/ and I wish I hadn't added that, in case anyone thinks I'm a raging egomaniac.) Well, at least someone at Mammoth knows how I feel. Vickie ======================================================================== Date: Wed, 4 Aug 93 0:22:09 EDT From: WretchAwry Subject: Re: Lookie what I found! > P.S. Does anyone else besides me think that H&K should come up with > a better title for the best-of than "Rhodes Songs"? "Rhodes Soft" ? Dunno. I think it's a great title myself. Vickie ======================================================================== Date: Wed, 4 Aug 93 1:09:58 EDT From: WretchAwry Subject: GaffaEcTori Fest Reminder...(and a map!) A *very* informal get-together...wanta come? Saturday August 7, 1993. Anytime after 1:00pm, lasting until whenever. Christo Boek from Australia will be in Chicago that day, so we're going to have a bit of a party. It will combine Katemas (bday July 30) Happyness (bday August 9) and ToriFest (bday August 18). That means, of course, that all 3 artists will get attention throughout the day, just so you know in advance. (Just in case: Kate Bush, Happy Rhodes & Tori Amos :-)) We have video and audio wrt Kate and Tori, lots of rare stuff. No Happy video, but audio galore, including live stuff & interviews. We also have tons of other artists in our audio and video collection, and requests are fine. BYOD&M (Bring Your Own Drinks & Munchies) Our house is topsy-turvey, but I promise to sweep :-) (Unfortunately, Chris will be out-of-town. He'll be in Los Angeles for SIGGRAPH.) We do have 2 cats, just so you know. Kitchen's reserved for smokers. I should also warn that it might get hot. Our teeny-tiny air conditioner might go "ack!" when it sees people. It's very shy :-). Our address: Gaffa Central (Vickie Mapes & Chris Williams) 1627 W. Farwell, #2N Chicago, IL (60626) (312) 508-5283 (aka 508-KATE) RSVP is requested, but not necessary. To Evanston || /\ || || || to Jarvis Here is a map to our place for the Katemas party. || & Howard | || ---||---------------------------+---------------+-------------||--------- M || | | Lunt | || e || | | | || Sheridan t || | | | *||* --> ---||---------|-----------------+---------------+------------*||*-----------> r || | Morse | Morse | *||*Morse a || | | | || station || | | | || ---||-----------|---------------+---------------+-------------||--- || | 1627 |Kt| | Farwell | || || | | | | || Splash-> || | | | | || ---||-------------|-------------+---------------+-------------||---- || | Pratt |A | || || C| |S | ||<---- || L| |H | || The "L" || A | |L | || || R | |A | || to Loyala || K | |N | || || || |D || \/ Close-up view | | | | | | -----|---|--------------------------------------------------------------|--| | | Farwell | | -----|---|--------------------------------------------------------------|--| | | __ __ | | |A | | C | | | | | | | |S | | L | | | | | | |<- Alley |H | | A | | *| | | | |(Don't |L | | R | | |_| | | | park |A | | K | |_______| | | here!) |N | | | | | |D | | | 1627 W. | | | | | | Farwell | | | | | | #2N | | | | 1627 is a tan colored brick court-yard style building. It is on the NW corner of Farwell and the alley. The gate has a speaker-phone to open. It's broken at the moment. I'm trying to get them to fix it by Saturday. Second door on the right, up to the second floor. Vickie ======================================================================== Date: Wed, 4 Aug 93 00:39:05 CDT From: hoyme@src.honeywell.com (Ken Hoyme) Subject: Re: Rhodes Songs Vickie writes all sorts of neat tidbits from Kevin and Happy: :-) > released officially August 18. Anyone who wants to, can order it now, Great news! > This is an unusual compilation, and isn't quite what I expected. The ... > but will be a very "quiet" album. Still, there's a slight edge to it, > simply because the lyrics to some of the songs are not what one would > expect from a "softer side" album. I like the sound of this compilation. Undoubtedly, any Happy compliation would have a dark side to it, and if it didn't, it wouldn't be Happy! (pun definitely intended :-) I think the depth in her music is enhanced by the juxtaposition of the dark themes with complex rhythms and (sometimes more upbeat) melodies. (Badly phrased, but hopefully folks understand.) It doesn't hit you all at one level, but there are layers of complexity. A few weeks back when I was starting my Rhodes I obsession, my wife wondered if I was depressed. I wasn't at all, but she sensed the mood in the music I had chosen and wondered if it reflected my mood. BTW: The Rhodes I obsession was broken by the Kate Bush Aspel video tape which has fired up an interest in TKI. Got to get a post going to gaffa on that.... Not enough time, too much work :-( > I finally got around to asking Kevin if he preferred people to buy from > stores or directly from them, and he encouraged store buying whenever > possible, simply to encourage the distributors and stores to continue > to carry Happy. Mail order will always be available for those who live > in Happy challenged areas. An aside: if you buy Happy's music in a > store, yet you'd like Happy's autograph, you can always mail her the > CD booklet plus postage back, and Happy will sign it and send it via > return mail. Oh well. I was one of those that was interested in this. I had 'infected' a co-worker with Happy's music and he just sent in an order to AG for the entire catalouge! (The single life!) He chose that route for the autograph possibility, but the solution you posed here is a nice one. I have a couple more to get myself, and I will exercise that option. Thanks!! Of course, I was able to go into his office with some glee and tell him that he wouldn't be getting the entire catalouge, now that Rhodes Songs is on its way. :-) > About the HR5 songs: Ectophiles were warned that these songs might appear > on an official release, so I hope that no one who bought an HR5 is too > upset to see them appear so soon. No problem here! You were very up-front on this, and as you say, it is a collectors item (not that I would want to part with it). > Since there are quite a few left, there's time for newer Ectophiles to > be included. So if anyone knows someone who wants the HR5 but isn't an > Ectophile, tell them to get on the list, and e-mail me. Will pass that on to my friend... > Ok, enough of trying to act like an adult... *whew* ;-) > A couple of last things...I did ask Kevin how many Equipoises have sold > and he said around 6000. They're disappointed that the album seems to > have fizzled when they had high hopes that it would be the one to break > Happy. It got very little airplay and was pretty much ignored even by > stations that were crazy about Warpaint. WXPN in Philly is the best > example of this. Helen Leicht is the only programmer who really paid > attention to it. Mike Morrison referred to it as "a sophmore slump" album! > Ah well, what can you do? Happy *will* get discovered and she'll > keep on making music no matter what. How many has Warpaint sold? I wonder how much cover art has to do with this? While I find her paintings fascinating (especially coupled to the dark lyrics mentioned earlier), I have received lots of negative comments from people. (I have the large .jpeg as a frequent background screen on my Sun at work. The emacs buffer covers the monster, so people think I have a beautiful woman's picture on my screen. When I reveal the other half, the frequent reaction is 'yuk!'.) I think it is a problem is stores where 'curb appeal' may have a significant factor in a marginal sale opportunity. Maybe she could put the paintings on the inside of the CD intermingled with the lyrics? That said, the random impulse buyer who buys without hearing the music or getting a recommend is probably pretty rare. Happy has to get some air time to generate some talk to get the CDs moving. (And thus was born HR5...) > Speaking of....Happy had told me that she was working on writing new songs > and Kevin said that she's looking to release her 7th album by early next > summer! Happy, Happy!! Joy, Joy!! > Bad news though: the tour thing is stalled for now. I have no more > details but if it gets back on track you'll be the first to know. Arrghh!! Maybe we could get the Ecto-hostle up to speed and get frequent-flier coupon donations to get the costs down? I would be happy to volunteer! > That's all she wrote...bye! Thanks for the update. One of the things I have been attracted to by her music and this group is the feeling of connection to the artist. She seems like an accessible person, and your posts after these conversations go a long way to building that feeling. (Plus I finally read the FAQ and interviews, etc. from the archives after a couple of kind souls pointed me to them after my 'newbie' post a couple of weeks back. I only thought ecto-digests were stored there, silly me!) Thanks for the time you spend passing this on... Also from Vickie: > This has actually not been such a good week for me. Chris is my anchor, > and I miss him terribly when he's away. I really needed something to help > me snap out of a pretty deep depression and I did it by spending money :-). I think this is a clinically proven anti-depressant. My CD collection grew drastically during the 1.5 years I spent on a 10 day gone/11 day home schedule with my job. After about 5 days away, I would hit a *great* CD store (with cheap used CDs) and drown my depression with music. (That is the time I 'discovered' Kate Bush.) (For those that get to Phoenix, Arizona, check out Zia records -- four locations. Used CDs at $6.99 and $7.99 -- occasionally more for recent hot releases.) Hope you hold out!! Or Chris returns before the cash runs out... ;-) Ken Ken Hoyme Honeywell Systems and Research Center (612)951-7354 3660 Technology Dr., Minneapolis, MN 55418 Internet: hoyme@src.honeywell.com <*Insert clever quote here*> ======================================================================== The ecto archives are on hardees.rutgers.edu in ~ftp/pub/hr. There is an INDEX file explaining what is where. Feel free to send me things you'd like to have added. -- jessica (jessica@ns1.rutgers.edu)