From: owner-fegmaniax-digest@ecto.org To: fegmaniax-digest@ecto.org Reply-To: fegmaniax@ecto.org Errors-To: owner-fegmaniax-digest@ecto.org Subject: Feg Digest V5 #71 Fegmaniax Digest Volume 5 Number 71 Monday April 14 1997 To post, send mail to fegmaniax@ecto.org To unsubscribe, send mail to majordomo@ecto.org with the words "unsubscribe fegmaniax-digest" in the message body. Send comments, etc. to the listowner at owner-fegmaniax@ecto.org FegMANIAX! Web Page: http://remus.rutgers.edu/~woj/fegmaniax/index.html Archives are available at ftp://www.ecto.org/pub/lists/fegmaniax/ ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Today's Topics: ------- ------- Can't put my fingers on her Pop Culture Press CD... finally noticing the obvious Re: finally noticing the obvious Respect Re: the days of our lives Re: Recommendations (no RH content--except post-/moderist characterization) I Something New Re: gnomic verse Re: Respect Radio Ga Ga Providence '96 date? re-make it in your own 'impage A few unrelated RH topics ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 13 Apr 1997 14:53:53 -0700 From: Eb Subject: Can't put my fingers on her >From: Truman Peyote > >Now that I think of it, I'm not >sure who would.......maybe Ween or some other tasteless bunch like that. I'll forgive you liking Richard Davies more than Eric Matthews, but don't you be slaggin' on my Ween!! ;) Incidentally, is anyone else aware that there's an ABC sitcom called "Boy Meets World" in the States, and one of the main characters (a puppy-dog teen idol type) is named Eric Matthews??? Weird! >From: BCatron@hrsa.dhhs.gov (Bayard Catron) >Some songwriters always being composing with the chorus, while others >build their tunes over a bass line or beat. But Robyn Hitchcock says >he always starts with the song title-- an approach even he admits is >slightly odd. I've read that this is also Guided By Voices' approach. And given their song titles (which make even HITCHCOCK'S titles look normal), that's not surprising. Re Pavement: I really wasn't too impressed with the new album. The band's energy level is operating at about 20%, and they're just repeating themselves at this point -- no new ideas at all. Shrug. Saw Komeda again last night -- they have nothing to do with the RH sound whatsoever, but I just wanted to say that they're wonderful. ;P Eb, whose favorite 1997 album so far is Dinosaur Jr's Hand It Over ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 13 Apr 1997 19:22:01 -0400 From: Timothy Reed Subject: Pop Culture Press CD... I'm sure that by now most folks know that the RH cover of Caroline Says is included on the collection CD included with the most recent issue of Pop Culture Press. The song itself is live acoustic and pretty good. What you may not know is that the rest of the CD, while not necessarily appealing to Robyn-only fans, is excellent. A few bands - Loud Family, Yatsura, Million Sellers and the improbably named Gorky's Zygotic Mynci - stand out enough to make me look for their other recordings. The magazine costs US$8 or so and is worth it for the CD alone. Tim ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 14 Apr 1997 16:50:08 +1200 (NZST) From: james.dignan@stonebow.otago.ac.nz (James Dignan) Subject: finally noticing the obvious I was amazed to discover the other day that one M.Seligman played bass on the devastating first album by the gorgeous and tuneful Tori Amos. Yeah, I know... most of you probably knew that. Sorry. And yes, I'll be a bit quieter for a while... I think I overdid the posting last week! James ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 14 Apr 1997 00:57:09 -0400 From: mr bean jeans Subject: Re: finally noticing the obvious also sprach james.dignan@stonebow.otago.ac.nz (James Dignan): >I was amazed to discover the other day that one M.Seligman played bass on >the devastating first album by the gorgeous and tuneful Tori Amos. i asked her about that way back in 1992, after she played the iron horse in northampton. as i recall, she didn't know anything about his past -- he just happened to be an available sessionist. so, i guess that makes for three links between robyn and robert plant! (not to resurrect a dead thread or anything....) woj ------------------------------ Subject: Respect From: guambat@juno.com (What's a guambat?) Date: Mon, 14 Apr 1997 11:49:58 EDT Thanks to Jay Hedblade, that splendid bloke from KXRT, I finally heard the Egyptians tune, "Live-in Years" -- WOW! Hearing this song, as well as getting 2 other brilliant outtakes from the Respect sessions which appeared on the A&M Greatest Hits CD -- "Bright Fresh Flower" and "Alright Yeah", makes me scratch my head and ponder just how great that Respect COULD have been... Why, why, why weren't these three songs included? I remember the first thing that I said after listening to Respect back in '93 was... "that's all?" -- certainly they could have fit these other tunes on there... Here's what I would have liked to see as a Respect song listing: Yip Song Arms of Love Live In Years Alright, Yeah Railway Shoes When I Was Dead Wreck of the Arthur Lee Driving Aloud Serpent at the Gates of Wisdom Bright Fresh Flower Bonus Tracks: ========== The Moon Inside Then You're Dust Wafflehead Leaving the bonus tracks aside--imagine those first 10 songs! That would have been Robyn's best CD, I do believe. Any takers? Anybody disagree? The Guambat mourns Respect-fully ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 14 Apr 97 09:27:00 -0800 From: Russ Reynolds Subject: Re: the days of our lives Eddie Tews enilightened us when he posted: >so here they are, in descending order, the times into each album that we >first hear robyn's voice. i know it's trivial, but it's ROBYN trivia. This is just the kind of stuff I like to see on this list! If it weren't for this and Bayard's occasional offerings like "Words used most often in Hitchcock song titles" I'd probably feel as if I were the only nut who thinks this kind of stuff is somehow interesting (if only barely). Like baseball fans who enjoy Bill James, I'm sure I'm in the minority but it's good to know I'm not alone. >what i didn't include: the videos, because sitting down to watch a >video isn't quite the same as sitting down to listen to a record. the >rhino catalog sampler, because i seem to have lost it. the bootlegs, ^^^^^^^^ > :28 Invisible History (Astronomy Domine) Bootleg. Doesn't count. -Russ ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 14 Apr 1997 12:00:50 -0500 From: Gary Parker Subject: Re: Recommendations (no RH content--except post-/moderist characterization) I'll toss my two dingos worth in: Any other Ben Vaughn fans? I've just discovered "Dressed in Black" and that's all I've heard. His new project, "Rambler 65" is getting lots of press, most all good, and I love the concept (and the car), so I'll probaby pick it up soon. Anyway, he's not very much like Robyn except that he sings songs that he writes and plays guitar, but he is also much like Robyn. It came to me the other night as I was in the basement doing some plumbing that he is the American Pragmatist to Robyn's Euro-Post-/Modernist. Some of you may find him enjoyable. Whimsy with heart and mind, etc (soul, too.). As Robyn harkens to the 60's, though, Ben goes back to the 50's. Also, an oldie I pulled out the other day, "Sixteen Tambourines" by The Three O'clock. Of interest to Robyn fans if for nothing other than 'My Cantaloupe Girlfriend' (Someone was looking for songs for a wedding...?). Of interest to any fans of raving psychedelia. I loved this record when it came out and I think it holds up well. Anyone know where any of these guys are these days? They were very young when the started out, if I recall. Urm, to date myself, anyone know if it has ever been released on cd? okay, bye. Gary ------------------------------ From: "Glen Uber" Date: Mon, 14 Apr 1997 10:09:49 -0800 Subject: I Something New CC: Da Reverend Cliffy fegs, I am working on a web page that deals with Robyn's most frequently used themes, such as death, the Devil, trains, "Queen", "I/Me/My" and others which are used in many of his songs and to which he makes repeated references. I feel there are common links which tie a lot of his songs together, and by going back to familiar subjects and lyrical techniques, he creates a sort of "conceptual continuity" (apologies to FZ). Thus, his albums become a community of characters and subjects which recur regularly and, therefore, are "musical serials" and a continuous stream of consiousness rather than separate and wholly distinct volumes in a series. What I really want to know is: 1) Does this sound like a good idea for a web page? 2) Has it been done before? 3) Would anyone really care? 4) Am I becoming way too pedantic concerning Robyn? 5) Would any of you be willing to contribute your own ideas to this project? 6) Any ideas for a name for the page? If the response to the project is enthusiastic, I will send along frequent updates as to the progress of the page. If any of you have your own ideas about common threads running through Robyn's music/albums/artwork/stories/videos/etc., please send them along to me. I have created a new email account specifically for responses to this query. The address is . Please include your email address and whether you would like to be credited for your submissions or remain anonymous. Peace, love and toast, --g "In nature, there are neither rewards nor punishments - there are Consequences." --R. G. Ingersoll, 1833 - 1899 ************************* Glen E. Uber glen@metro.net http://metro.net/glen/ ************************* ------------------------------ From: "The Midnight Fish" Date: Mon, 14 Apr 1997 10:44:17 -0800 Subject: Re: gnomic verse So sayeth Eddie Tews : > (The President is one of the great > all time political songs, and the line, "When I hear the word > 'Democracy' I reach for my headphones," may just be the best line > he's ever written.) I don't know about that being one of the best lines he's ever written. I mean, in "The President" alone, there are 3 or 4 great lines: "When I hear the word security, I reach for my shotgun" "The President is talking to us through a microphone like he's trying to pack his mother off to an old people's home." "I can almost hear it raining" "He's the president of Europe and he's talking to the dead. They're the only ones who'll listen or believe a word he said." My turn on the soapbox (contains liberal viewpoints that may upset, offend or outrage some people): The 'mother' line is especially interesting. Consider this: Ronald Reagan was president at the time EOL came out. It's fairly common knowledge that Ronnie called Nancy "mother". Just a thought. And, as most of you know, Reagan was known as the Great Communicator. His oratorial skills are what helped to sustain his popularity for 8 years, during which time he gave the greatest acting performance of his illustrious career. ;) If he was able to fool so many people for such a long period of time with his speaking abilities, he certainly could have talked "mother" into checking herself into a "old people's home". Liberally, --g "In nature, there are neither rewards nor punishments - there are Consequences." --R. G. Ingersoll, 1833 - 1899 ************************* Glen E. Uber glen@metro.net http://metro.net/glen/ ************************* ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 14 Apr 1997 12:59:02 -0500 (CDT) From: Truman Peyote Subject: Re: Respect On Mon, 14 Apr 1997, What's a guambat? wrote: > Thanks to Jay Hedblade, that splendid bloke from > KXRT, Erm, up here in the northern parts we use a W. As in WXRT, 93.1 fm :). A very fine radio station, I should add. > "Bright Fresh Flower" and "Alright Yeah", makes > me scratch my head and ponder just how great > that Respect COULD have been... Why, why, why > weren't these three songs included? We could go on forever with the what-ifs and the whys. Like "why was 'watch your intelligence' a b-side?" and "how come 'tell me about your drugs' was never a single?", to name two things that I often wonder about. > I remember > the first thing that I said after listening to Respect > back in '93 was... "that's all?" -- certainly they > could have fit these other tunes on there... I also thought "Respect" was a tad short. I don't know about "Alright Yeah" (I really think it belongs with the Moss/Mossy sets), but I agree that "Bright Fresh Flower" should have made the cut. > Robyn's best CD, I do believe. Any takers? > Anybody disagree? Yes. Robyn's best CD already exists. It is called "Eye" :). Love on ya, Susan A Few Tips for Transylvanian Travelers (inspired by a Sunday viewing of Polanski's "Fearless Vampire Killers"): 1. A crucifix is no good against a Jewish vampire 2. If a vampire is about to attack you can stall for time by shoving a book in its mouth so that its fangs get caught 3. Coffins make good bobsleds ------------------------------ From: "ian greaves" Subject: Radio Ga Ga Date: Mon, 14 Apr 1997 11:24:20 PDT OUCH! Used a Queen song as a subject header. Bad move.... Is there anyone out there with the BBC radio sessions by RH for The Mark Radcliffe Show and the 05/01/97 Kershaw set? May be able to trade if you're an XTC or Fall nut, but very few Hitchcock boots to offer, I'm afraid. Get in touch. --------------------------------------------------------- Get Your *Web-Based* Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com --------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 14 Apr 1997 13:12:14 -0500 From: Hal Brandt Subject: Providence '96 date? Does anyone on the list know the exact date of the Providence, RI show back in December of '96? Any help would be appreciated. hal ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 14 Apr 1997 18:12:02 -0400 (EDT) From: Bayard Subject: re-make it in your own 'impage to the guambat-- yes, good or even great songs are always getting left off. the queen elvis outtakes are much more interesting than the ones that made it on, IMO. And Mr Rock 'n Roll and Lobsterman got left off PI, among others (Watch your intelligence always gets a mention.) Surgery and Happy the Golden Prince didn't make it to cd until recently. Only a few seconds of Ghost Ship made it onto GoF. Perhaps it's the mystique of these "attic tracks" that makes them seem more interesting... I know may were unimpressed when they blew the dust off the Y&O tracks on put them on a cd. But I genuinely think there's interesting stuff that even still has not come to light. RH is one of the most prolific writers around when he's not in a dry spell. He could probably write several songs a day, and perhaps does. As I remember, he usually does a couple dozen songs for an album. Glen-- don't forget sex as a frequent theme for your page. Sex, fish and death-- what else is there? yeah! Also, I recall an interview where RH explains the inspiration for 'the president'-- Reagan was doddering on, saying something like "dear old Europe, how could we forget you?" RH thought it sounded like he was wheedling Europe into an assisted living community. Has anyone heard from carl of spiFFing? I haven't been able to find him and i need a bit of information from _the golden prince rides again_. email me if you can help. =b ------------------------------ From: HAMISH_SIMPSON@HP-Sonoma-om1.om.hp.com Date: Mon, 14 Apr 97 11:09:30 -0700 Subject: A few unrelated RH topics Item Subject: cc:Mail Text fegs all, I got "Eye" at the weekend (Rhino reissue) and I notice that there is a reference to "Kung Fu Fighting" on the liner notes. What gives? Was it part of the session, or maybe scheduled for the reissue? I also didn't find the CD made as much impact on first listen as PI did. There is some good stuff there but I think it will take time. I'm not saying PI is better, but it is pretty cool though that we dig him on different levels, man. (I think I've been in CA too long. :) ) I also got the 3" CD of "Balloon Man". This CD has "GOF Electric" with, possibly, Andy's worst bassline (sorry Andy). It sounds like he jammed it on one take and never planned it at all. IT SUCKS. A worthwhile buy nevertheless. BTW, if anyone is up Haight-Ashbury in the near future, Recycled Records and the store along from it have quite a lot of RH stuff, e.g. "IODOT", "EOL", "Fegmania", "GLTHO", "UM" all original (?) vinyl. They also have some promo stuff and a few CDs. Tell them I sent you. (They don't know me but the reaction should be interesting.) (California man) Och aye! BTW, I'm convinced (my wife is not) that our half-yearling is starting to speak. I was playing "Bass" in the car and he started saying "baaaah" at all the right times (nearly). I say RH should be part of the National Curriculum! ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- The End of this Fegmaniax Digest. *sob* .