Fegmaniax Digest <==----------==> (Send posts to the list to fegmaniax@nsmx.rutgers.edu) (Send adminstrative commands to majordomo@nsmx.rutgers.edu) (Send comments, etc to the listowner at owner-fegmaniax@nsmx.rutgers.edu) <==----------==> Volume 3 Number 196 Today's Topics: ------- ------- Re: sxsw 95 Assorted Chocolates Greetings... Re: feglaxitivity (feggy cartoonists) CRD - Aether (pretty rough, but...) Re: feglaxitivity (feggy cartoonists) Re: Assorted Chocolates Help Identifying sources Re: Assorted Chocolates Re: Assorted Chocolates Backwards-masked Fegcartoonists? Re: RH Top 10 results Re: Assorted Chocolates Re: Assorted Chocolates Robyns faves Re: Assorted Chocolates Flesh cartoonists and other things... Airscape, stars, writers Re: Airscape, stars, writers Re: Airscape, stars, writers Re: RH Top 10 results web updates ------------------------------ To: fegmaniax@ns2.rutgers.edu Date: Wed, 6 Dec 95 19:58 CST From: bret Subject: Re: sxsw 95 >I found the show to be a bit dissapointing...the SXSW crowd seemed kinda >disinterested and the party attitude seemed to throw him off... to make >matters worse, RH had some problems with his amp, causing him to cut his >set short...he played to a much smaller audience a couple of nights before >in Dallas >and the show was warmer, longer and more intimate...a much better >experience any way you look at it--stacy heh.....funny you should say that............The Dallas show (which was the last time he was here) was probably the most lacking Robyn show I have ever seen.....although I did manage to pass on the radishes I have given Robyn for every show since 89.......but I was overshadowed by a pear (at least I think it was a pear) ....blah, blah, blah........ Bret Bolton ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 6 Dec 95 20:20:41 CST From: Bram Tchaikovsky To: fegmaniax@ns2.rutgers.edu Subject: Assorted Chocolates So gratified to see activity once more! Praise is due DIRECTLY TO ME :) Seriously, however- I think the writers' discussion is turning out to be mighty interestin', pardners. I'll save my pretentious showing off for the poll, but I did have one comment to make. P.G. Wodehouse should not be considered a lightweight because he writes in a humorous vein. For one thing, his style is so hyper-verbal and allusive that it can't be easy to create, and for another, I suspect he intended his works as satires of certain silly members of the British aristocracy. Wasn't there a guy named Robyn Hitchcock who once expressed annoyance at those who refused to take him seriously as a songwriter because he used humor as one of his devices? Anyway, I have a question for anyone in the general L.A. area. It seems that I will be there with my significant other half visiting his parents from the 12th-20th of December. As neither one of us knows the area that well (his parents just moved there) I think we'd both appreciate hints on where to go at night. Also, if any of you wish to get together, that could possibly be swung if you let me know early enough in advance (I won't have email access after Tuesday). I know his well-meaning parents have acquired tickets for both George Thorogood and Boy George shows (what an unholy combination :)) but we should be free the other 5 nights. Susan P.S. Who are Robyn Hitchcock's favorite writers, do you think? Aside from the infamous Mr. Greg Bear...... ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 6 Dec 1995 16:46:31 -0900 (AKST) From: Brett Cooper To: fegmaniax@ns2.rutgers.edu Subject: Greetings... Fellow Egyptians, My name is Brett Cooper. I have just signed up for the mail service of Fegmaniax. I am eighteen years of age and I live in Wasilla, Alaska. I am a senior at Colony High School in Palmer. I have been listening to Robyn Hitchcock since I was in the fifth grade, or eleven years old. Suprisingly, however, I only own two of Robyn's albums, "Globe Of Frogs" and "Queen Elvis". I used to belong to Fegmaniax, the postal fan club that was run by "Sandra and Trudy". I guess that's defunct now. Anyhow, I'm glad to be part of the Hitchcock mania. I'm sure that you'll be hearing from me in the future. Be seeing you- Brett (Cooper) cooperb@chs.mat-su.k12.ak.us ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 6 Dec 1995 22:47:26 -0500 (EST) From: NotQuiteDullJack To: Engulfed in Living Slime Subject: Re: feglaxitivity (feggy cartoonists) Mike spoke thusly: > Authors... hmm, that's a toughie, but I will agree with Douglas Adams. I > think that the most Robynesque _cartoonist_ would have be a toss up between > Bill "Calvin and Hobbes yeah, I'm retireing, wanna make something outta it" > Watterson and Gary "The Far Side ha, I'm already retired, you copycat" > Larson. Well, the *most* Robynesque cartoonist would have to be the man himself! And after that, it would really have to be Winsor McCay. "Little Nemo" is just as brill as everyone says it is, but the *really* feggy stuff has got to be _The Dream of the Rarebit Fiend_ Check it out. That's um, just my opnion, of course. Watterson's okay, though. Larson seems to have a nasty snide side that seems very un-feggy to me. Griffith (Zippy) might be in the running, but his surrealism has always struck me as too self-conscious. doug ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 7 Dec 1995 17:02:21 +1300 (NZDT) To: Eve From: james.dignan@stonebow.otago.ac.nz (James Dignan) Subject: CRD - Aether (pretty rough, but...) Cc: The Glass Hotel >By the way, I've got a new-found favorite RHitchcock song, "Aether." Can >you work up the chrods fo rthat if you have the time? It's off of "You and >Oblviion..." Ooaky, Ii'll; seee waht I can od :) Aether A I'm going back into my body A Em7 While it's in my control A Back into this person A D Playing a role A That I call me A I'm going back into my body A Em7 Back out of my dream A Dressed up as a human A D With a routine E Calling it me E D E E+2 I've been on the aetheric plane E D A Above all pleasure and all pain F#m E And it feels so bizarre D E Looking down on where you are D E I think I'm going back again I'm going back into my body Back into my heart Back into my lifeline And I'm playing a part What can I be? I've been on the aetheric plane Where there's no dog and there's no chain And it feels so bizarre Looking down on where you are I think I'm going back again 1) This is only very approximate. I'm pretty sure that RH isn't using a standard tuning (I can't work out any way of doing the high run after the chorus in a standard tuning). 2) During the verses, only play the E, A, D and G strings. 3) Those nasty chords: play E+2 as 022102, and Em7 as 020000. The A chords of the verse are hammered on - strum with no fingers on the frets and form the A chord while that's ringing. James Dignan, Department of Psychology, University of Otago. Ya zhivu v' 50 Norfolk St., St. Clair, Dunedin, New Zealand pixelphone james.dignan@stonebow.otago.ac.nz / steam megaphone NZ 03-455-7807 * You talk to me as if from a distance * and I reply with impressions chosen from another time, time, time, * from another time (Brian Eno) ------------------------------ From: bing@student.umass.edu Date: Wed, 06 Dec 1995 23:30:01 -0500 Subject: Re: feglaxitivity (feggy cartoonists) To: fegmaniax@ns2.rutgers.edu For cleverness, wackiness, absurdity, and profundity the absolute master was Walt Kelly and _Pogo_-- he was the master, and Pogo the greatest comic strip ever! Another brilliant comic strip, tragically overlooked, is Chip Dunham's Overboard-- is this thing still in syndication? It's one of my favorites. not too Robyn in execution, but the concept is, perhaps. I would second the Windsor Mackay vote-- I love nemo. In a more comic book oriented format I would put down the work of a guy named Moebius-- it's science fiction, but full of the same kind of imagination and spontaneity as Robyn's more extensive ramblings. I'm trying to think of a guy who did early comics that pre-figured Dr. Seuss (similar concepts)-- he's in a fantastic collection called the Smithsonian Collection of Comic Book Art (or something.) Anyone have this book? The guy i'm thinking of is SO Robyn-esque-- Hitchcock fans would get a kick out of it. I'll try to dig up his name-- i can't believe i forgot... better put the cap back on that rum there... sober, Bradley ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 6 Dec 1995 23:39:02 -0500 (EST) From: Terry Marks Subject: Re: Assorted Chocolates To: Bram Tchaikovsky cc: fegmaniax@ns2.rutgers.edu > after Tuesday). I know his well-meaning parents have acquired tickets for > both George Thorogood and Boy George shows (what an unholy combination :)) > but we should be free the other 5 nights. Sorry to hear. Bring a walkman maybe? > > P.S. Who are Robyn Hitchcock's favorite writers, do you think? Aside from the > infamous Mr. Greg Bear...... > Probably....what's that guy's name? Guy who wrote "SOFT cell" and "wild BOYS". I think that he also likes Shakespeare (some interview said something about him discovering Shakespeare and Captain Beefheart at the same time) and William Burroughs...that's his name. and Hmmm..someone that I'm leaving out, I think. and I think he comes from Leatherhead if all my facts are right... PS. What does the backwards message at the beginning of "How Do You Work This Thing?" say, anyways? Terry ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 6 Dec 1995 23:52:26 -0500 (EST) From: Terry Marks Subject: Help Identifying sources To: The Devil You Know I recently got this Soft Boys tape (unreleased, natch) of versions of songs that are not on: Any Ryko release, Soft Boys 2-CD Set, Raw Cuts, Two Halves for the Price of One, or Portland Arms.. Well, one or two of the songs may appear on the 2-CD set, but not all of them. Any info on this would be appreciated. The tracklist is [Give it to the Soft Boys, Yodelling Hoover, Pigworker Blues, Hear My Brane, Face of Death, Ugly Nora, Wey Wey Hep Uh Hole, Which of us is me?, Look Into Your Mirror, Return of the Sacred Crab, Salamander, Only the Stones Remain] Give It: Echo on vocal. "Machines can't swin" Yodelling Hoover: Completely different lyrics. "Everything you like/Put Upon a spike/ When the spike is green/ it isn't very clean" Pigworker Blues: Different bassline. Squealy intro Hear my Brane: "You dress like the one I love and make a slithering noise" Wey Wey Hep uh Hole: "Put it to me normally, boys" Return of the Sacred Crab: Sounds like congo drums in the intro riff?? PS: Caroline (of the Transparancies) I got the tape. Would e-mail private, but I don't know your address. Are you sure that the stars won't fall off? Terry "The Human Mellotron" Marks a013645t@bcfreenet.seflin.lib.fl.us ------------------------------ From: Ross Overbury To: fegmaniax@ns2.rutgers.edu (The list that invented itself) Date: Thu, 7 Dec 95 0:47:56 EST Subject: Re: Assorted Chocolates Terry was asking about the backwards message at the beginning of "How Do You Work This Thing. I think he means In Agony of Pleasure. If nobody has a manual turntable and a vinyl copy of this song, I'll dig out my portastudio -- just flip the tape over after recording and you get to hear it backwards! Greatest backwards musical accomplishment of all time: Ellen McIlwaine from "The Real Ellen McIlwaine". I think the song is called Up in Heaven Shouting (I am so Glad). She sings the lyrics backwards in one part, then they play THAT backwards so the words come out (almost) normal. I'm pretty sure Ellen also did the theme for one year (it changed yearly) to that Cosby show spin-off. She plays slide guitar and sings rather like Phoebe Snow. -- ROSS OVERBURY email: rosso@cn.ca ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 7 Dec 1995 01:08:16 -0500 From: "32 flavors...and then some" To: fegmaniax@ns2.rutgers.edu Subject: Re: Assorted Chocolates Ross Overbury sez: >Terry was asking about the backwards message at the beginning of "How >Do You Work This Thing. I think he means In Agony of Pleasure. nope, he meant "how do you work this thing". in that skronky guitar riff at the beginning of the song, there are some backwards-sounding vocals. the backwards intro to "agony of pleasure" is just "one two three four" reversified through studio special defects. woj ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 7 Dec 1995 01:35:16 -0600 To: fegmaniax@ns2.rutgers.edu From: jh3@ns.cencom.net (JH3) Subject: Backwards-masked Fegcartoonists? What I'm hearing at the beginning of "How Do You Work This Thing" is: First (louder) thing: "And how the golden" Second (softer) thing: "Where he last feeded" I'm not saying that's right, you understand, although the first bit is actually quite clear. Good thing I kept all those vinyl copies around... Earlier: >> I think that the most Robynesque _cartoonist_ would have be a toss up between >> Bill "Calvin and Hobbes yeah, I'm retireing, wanna make something outta it" >> Watterson and Gary "The Far Side ha, I'm already retired, you copycat" >> Larson. >Well, the *most* Robynesque cartoonist would have to be the man himself! >And after that, it would really have to be Winsor McCay. I'm afraid I must disagree with you both (except for the Robyn-being-most-Robynesque part). The most Robynesque cartoonist, hands down, is Glen Baxter. They even draw similarly, and their common use of Caslon/Caslon Antique on their book/record covers might not be a coincidence, if you know what I mean. If you don't know his work, my heart goes out to you. This guy is a laff riot, not to mention a genius. Truly! --John H. ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 7 Dec 1995 03:07:46 -0800 (PST) From: Livia To: your mom Subject: Re: RH Top 10 results On Mon, 4 Dec 1995, JAY LYALL wrote: > > [rest of list deleted] > > 1. Airscape (118) i'm somewhere between surprised and bewildered airscape was the one song on the list that i couldn't remember at all, that i wasn't even sure which album it was on. could it be some nifty rarity a la dark green energy, i wondered? today i tracked it down and listened to it again. and my reaction was something like: oh, yeah, this song. it's a perfectly okay song, but (in my mind) nothing special, just a kind of middle-of-the-road piece of album filler. the music is pleasant but not exciting, and the lyrics don't seem to say anything he hasn't said elsewhere and better so, what am i missing here? why is this song so special to so many of you? ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 7 Dec 1995 07:24:07 -0500 (EST) From: Terry Marks Subject: Re: Assorted Chocolates To: Ross Overbury cc: The list that invented itself No. I mean "How Do You WOrk This Thing?" "Agony of Pleasure" is a German countdown. Thought that there was something strange at the beginning of HDYWTT Terry "The Human Mellotron" Marks a013645t@bcfreenet.seflin.lib.fl.us On Thu, 7 Dec 1995, Ross Overbury wrote: > > Terry was asking about the backwards message at the beginning of "How > Do You Work This Thing. I think he means In Agony of Pleasure. If nobody > has a manual turntable and a vinyl copy of this song, I'll dig out my > portastudio -- just flip the tape over after recording and you get to > hear it backwards! ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 07 Dec 1995 09:01:44 -0400 (EDT) From: Ken Frankel Subject: Re: Assorted Chocolates To: fegmaniax@ns2.rutgers.edu I seem to remember reading an interview where Robyn said he was a big fan of J.G. Ballard, especially the graphic car crash stuff... Ken ------------------------------ From: LORDK@FLP.LIB.PA.US Date: Thu, 7 Dec 1995 9:13:38 -0500 (EST) To: fegmaniax@ns2.rutgers.edu Subject: Robyns faves Ah Susan--another wonderfull thread... Aeons ago in the feg newsletter Mr. Hitchcock named his favorite novels--some of which seemed quite plausable (The Long Goodbye, The Gormaghast tril.) and one of which I found intiguing, in that I had never heard of its author, thou my job is to be a know it all on just such matters. Barbara Comyns was the author and The Skin Chairs the book, and I remain gratefull to Robyn for exposing me to such a fun author, such a fun, melencholy author--sligh humor and just dripping pathos, almost thick enough to take a bath in. The Vets Daughter has been reprinted by Virago and is actually fairly easy to locate--its also perhaps her strongest work. I highly recommend her to anyonewho "wants to escape their own misfortunes in the miseries of others" as the TLS once put it. She goes great with a rainy day, tea with brandy in it, and old love letters. ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 07 Dec 1995 09:39:59 -0600 (CST) From: JAY LYALL Subject: Re: Assorted Chocolates To: sdodge@midway.uchicago.edu Cc: fegmaniax@ns2.rutgers.edu >after Tuesday). I know his well-meaning parents have acquired tickets for >both George Thorogood and Boy George shows (what an unholy combination :)) ...on the same stage?...together?....eeeeuuuuugggghhh.......why do I have this really awfull duet medley of Bad to the Bone-Kharma Chameleon- Who Do you Love running through my head?....SOMEONE MAKE IT STOP!!!! chairs jay %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Jay Lyall "All my friends do the model girl thing hist1a@jetson.uh.edu So I found me one University of Houston Now she wears my nose ring" --Lloyd Cole "Yip Yip Yip Yip Yip Yip" "There's liquor on my breath --Robyn Hitchcock And you on my mind" --Replacements %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 07 Dec 1995 12:22:01 -0400 (EDT) From: daramsey@vaxsar.vassar.edu (david spenser for hire ramsey the first) Subject: Flesh cartoonists and other things... To: Fegmaniax@ns2.rutgers.edu Well, my vote for Robyn-esque cartoonist/authors goes to Edward Gorey. I know he's not exactly a cartoonist, but in terms of subject matter and atmosphere I think he is pretty darn similar to some of Robyn's more "Victorian-esque" ramblings, such as 'the Glass Hotel', 'the Ghost Ship', the story in the Queen Elvis liner notes, etc. If you don't know Edward Gorey, check 'im out! Also, kudos to whoever mentioned Mobius! A great artist/author/illustrator indeed! daveR. ---there's only one way of life, and that's your own--- Levellers. ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 7 Dec 1995 22:13:38 +0000 To: fegmaniax@ns2.rutgers.edu From: Jim Subject: Airscape, stars, writers Livia enquired: > >so, what am i missing here? why is this song so special to so many of you? I like Airscape because it reminds me of standing on clifftops at Filey Bay in the summer, I like Airscape because it's easy to play on guitar, I like Airscape because of the poetry of it, especially the line "your perfect lover's never there and if she was she wouldn't be," I like Airscape bacause it's got an infectious melody, I like Airscape because of it's flowingly mellow yet sparkly overall vibe. I didn't vote for it, though. By the way, nice to be posting again after a quiet spell...to whoever I know who I haven't mailed lately, hello, I'm still alive (in the loosest sense), I've just been v.busy. Erm..have skipped through the post and missed a lot...er...aries.....ummm..... Douglas Adams, Mervyn Peake, Dr. Seuss, Virginia Woolf, Frank Herbert's 'Dune,' a horror writer called Mark Morris 'cos I went to university with him, oh and Dean Koontz. Erm..comic novels, "Watchmen" was great if anyone knows what I'm talking about. Loads of sci fi, not much of late. I also like "do your head in" books about physics (Hawking and all that), and read biographies (latest being Johns Lennon & Lydon). Charmingly dangerous and only possibly clickot, ************ Jim Bower ** ******** ** * * * """" """" * ** (@) (@) * oh yez oh yez oh yez hear ye hear ye hear ye { ' ` } FREUD SQUAD CD 'IN A PREVIOUS LIFE' NOW OUT *l (oo) l* I AWAIT YOUR EMAIL REQUESTING A COPY l ' WITH UNFOUNDED OPTIMISM l )======( l Current count of feglist Freuds CD owners: 3 l` ' It's the ideal xmas gift!!!! l `________' A bargain at only $20 or equivalent l l ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 7 Dec 1995 18:19:56 -0500 (EST) From: Terry Marks Subject: Re: Airscape, stars, writers To: Jim cc: fegmaniax@ns2.rutgers.edu > I like Airscape because it reminds me of standing on clifftops at Filey Bay > in the summer, I like Airscape because it's easy to play on guitar, I like > Airscape because of the poetry of it, especially the line "your perfect > lover's never there and if she was she wouldn't be," I like Airscape > bacause it's got an infectious melody, I like Airscape because of it's > flowingly mellow yet sparkly overall vibe. I still don't see why people prefer it to The Devil's Coachman, Globe of Frogs, 52 Stations or Lysander.. > 'cos I went to university with him, oh and Dean Koontz. Erm..comic novels, > "Watchmen" was great if anyone knows what I'm talking about. Loads of sci > fi, not much of late. I also like "do your head in" books about physics > (Hawking and all that), and read biographies (latest being Johns Lennon & > Lydon). Comic Novels (grin)? Reminds me... If I remember correctly, the DC "Who's Who" thing that they released recently (the looseleaf one)...the front picture for the entry for the Doom Patrol included a picture of a man with a lightbulb head. Terry "The Human mellotron" Marks ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 7 Dec 1995 18:26:49 -0500 (EST) From: Eve To: Jim Cc: fegmaniax@ns2.rutgers.edu Subject: Re: Airscape, stars, writers On Thu, 7 Dec 1995, Jim wrote: > 'cos I went to university with him, oh and Dean Koontz. Erm..comic novels, > "Watchmen" was great if anyone knows what I'm talking about. Yes indeed! I recommend the Watchmen to Hitchcock fans (on a slightly off-center bent), also V for Vendetta, and Sandman. Many others I won't elaborate on, as I know not everyone here is into Graphic Novels/comics. Felt those were worth mentioning, however. Eve eemsho77@ursa.Calvin.EDU ------------------------------------------------------------------------- * _Just and Unjust_, Lord Bowen * * * * "The rain it raineth on the just * * And also on the unjust fella; * * But chiefly on the just because * * The unjust steals the just's umbrella." * ------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 7 Dec 1995 18:38:34 -0500 From: "32 flavors...and then some" To: fegmaniax@ns2.rutgers.edu Subject: Re: RH Top 10 results Livia sez: >so, what am i missing here? why is this song so special to so many of you? i didn't vote but airscape is one of my faves as well. something about that song just...*resonates* in my entire being. the first time i heard the song was like seeing an old friend after a long separation, like snuggling up in a quilt with hot chocolate on a grey autumn afternoon, like that old threadbare flannel shirt that is comfy as hell. i dunno, airscape just *fits*. whatever its frequency, i'm its wavelength. woj ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 7 Dec 1995 18:45:45 -0500 From: "32 flavors...and then some" To: fegmaniax@ns2.rutgers.edu Subject: web updates Ken Frankel sez: > I seem to remember reading an interview where > Robyn said he was a big fan of J.G. Ballard, which reminds me, last night i added to the positive vibrations web page (http://remus.rutgers.edu/~woj/fegmaniax/pv.html) a transcription of the egyptians on modern rock live from a few years back (kudos to aidan for the painstaking job of pecking at the keyboard). this thingie will be published in issue six of the zine, but webfolks get it here first. wheee. i also updated the feg page (http://remus.rutgers.edu/~woj/fegmaniax/) with the latest tour dates and news. which leads me to this question: can anyone reconcile the news from aidan (surfer ghost to be released on julian cope's label in february) with the news from robyn (shadowcat to be released in may)? are there two albums? or just crossed wires? woj [][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][] The End of this Fegmaniax Digest. Archives can *not* be found at ftp://fegmania.wustl.edu/fegmaniax/archives/ The Archives are temporarily unavailable. For administrative questions, send mail to owner-fegmaniax@nsmx.rutgers.edu For subscription requests, send mail to majordomo@nsmx.rutgers.edu. Slipping you the midnight fish...