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Date: Sun, 07 Sep 1997 17:33:40 GMT
From: email address (Michael J. Cross)
Subject: MV40: A man like me
Hi All,
I'm another 40-something male. Single, living in Hull, working as a
developer of computer application systems for a large american outsourcing
company.
"Through screens of memory ..."
I remember first seeing CJ on BBC2's late Sunday night "Up Sunday". I
liked what he did then, and subsequently the ITV cinema review show.
Over the years I've watched him on TV with increasing dismay. I've enjoyed
many of his books, and of course the lyrics are wonderful.
I remember hearing PA on Radio 1 in 70/71 - "Girl on the Train" made a
big impression on me then, and still does. Bought the albums almost as
they were released - DTMA came first, then BOTBS, then the others in
order. DTMA is still my favourite, with LL a long way behind the others.
Other musical interests: King Crimson, Man, Caravan, Tom Verlaine, John
Cipollina (esp Quicksilver, Terry & the Pirates, Zero), Luna, Low, Madder
Rose, Bo Hansson, Durutti Column, REM, Dave Stewart (the keyboards one),
Erik Satie, Erroll Garner, John Klemmer, Moondog, West Coast Pop Art
Experimental Band.
all the best,
--
Michael J. Cross BSFA Magazine Index at http://www.mjckeh.demon.co.uk
"We hope this music is helpful to modern people who tend to keep their
energy in their heads and dissipate it through excessive thinking,
talking and general restlessness" - Zero, "Chance in a Million"
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Date: Sun, 7 Sep 1997 13:10:56 -0400 (EDT)
From: Ian Chippett <email address>
Subject: MV41: Subject for discussion?
I always thought that Clive James wrote the words of the songs first and then
gave them to PA to set to music unlike the great lyricists of the past like
Lorenz Hart and Johnny Mercer who prided themselves on doing the contrary
which is probably more difficult. Now I learn from the website that sometimes
he did one, sometimes the other and sometimes worked directly on the songs
with PA. No doubt only they can tell us for sure but I thought it might be
interesting to speculate (albeit idly) on which songs fall into which
category. This is the kind of fanatical attention to trivia of which only
true fans are capable. What do you think?
To be utterly pedantic, "Verlaine" if pronounced correctly doesn't really
rhyme with "train" but rather with "men". I wouldn't bother pointing this out
to any other songwriter (who would never have heard of Verlaine anyway) but
as PA and CJ set themselves such incredibly high standards they must expect
this sort of tiresome nitpicking!
Keep up the good work
Ian Chippett
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Date: Sun, 7 Sep 1997 15:05:18 -0400 (EDT)
From: Rob King <email address>
Subject: MV42: Re: A man like me
Dear all,
I think this channel should carry a health warning. Three times this weekend
an e-mail has sent me scurrying under the stairs and up into the attic in
search of vinyl long ago stored safely away and forgotten.
The latest culprit is Michael, whose list of favourites included John
Cippolina of Quicksilver; you are the first man on the web-site I have met to
like them! My interest grew from Nicky Hopkins' involvement; Edward is a
masterpiece of mad magicianship on the keyboard.
But that was no problem, I keep all that close to hand. No, it was the
mention of Bo Hansson which was a real blast from the past. Many a night
ended with the lights turned low and 'Lord of the Rings' or 'Magician's Hat'
on the turntable when I was a student.
On a slightly different track, I think discussion groups and web-sites on
individuals like PA are invaluable and will lead to a proper perspective and
appreciation of their work.
I speak from the standpoint of someone who saw three of his great heroes -
Hopkins, Harry Nilsson and Viv Stanshall - all die within mourning distance
of each other recently, and with their music largely forgotten.
Cheers
Rob
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From: Cary <email address>
Date: Sun, 7 Sep 1997 23:13:10 +0000
Subject: MV43: Three sided knife
Re:-The Three Sided Knife.Any one else tried a net search on this
one? It brought up only 2 results. Some strange site entitled "Smash
Flops" ... wonder what that's all about? and a site at
http://web.syr.edu/~speccoll/nick.htm Street and Smith radio
scripts - Nick Carter. On May 8th 1955 there was an episode entitled
"The Case of the Three Sided Knife" . Could that be where the
inspiration came from? Now, all we need is the script and the case
could be solved.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
_/\ /\_
Cary a a
Like Mary @
With a 'C' for cat
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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Date: Sun, 07 Sep 1997 22:33:27 +0100
From: gerald smith <email address>
Subject: MV44: PA transcriptions
Hi Steve
Here is the first of my transcriptions, The Faded Mansion On The
Hill. I believe you said you might add them to the web site. A couple of
people have mentioned wanting guitar chords for this one, so I'll post this
to the rest of the group.
For any musos there, where I've written two chords separated by a slash, it
means the first chord over a root of the second one. Hope this helps.
Gerald Smith (email address) & (email address)
The Faded Mansion On The Hill
INTRO : Dm///A(7)///Bb///Eb///A(7)///Dm///A7...
Dm
When you see what can't be helped
A7 Bb
Go by with bloody murder in its eye
Eb F
And the mouth of a man put on the rack
A7 Dm A7
The voice of a man about to crack
Dm A7
When you see the litter of their lives
Bb
The stupid children, bitter wives
Eb
Your self esteem in disarray
F
You do your best to climb away
A A7 D Am7/D
From the streaming traffic of decay.
Gm F
Believing, if you will, that all these sick hate days
C7
Are just a kind of trick fate plays
Dm
But still behind your shaded eyes
A A7
That mind-constricting thick weight stays
Dm
When on the outskirts of the town
A(7) Bb Eb
comes bumping cavernously down out of the brick gateways
F A
From the faded mansion on the hill
Dm
The out of date black cadillac
A7)
With the old man crumpled in the back
Dm A7 D Am7/D
That time has not yet found the time to kill.
G Bm/F# Em B7 Em
G7///C
Between the headlands to the sea, the fleeing yachts of summer go
C B7 Em E7sus4 - A
White as a sheet and faster than the driven snow
C B7 E C/D - D
Like dolphins riding high and giant seabirds flying low.
G Bm/F# Em B7 Em G7///C
And square beneath the wind the cats and wingsails pull ahead
B7 Em Em7Sus4 - A
Living their day as if it almost could be said
C B7 E E7
The cemetery of home could could somehow soon be left for dead.
A C#m/G# F#m
But the graveyard of tall ships is really here,
C#m/E DMaj D/E
where the grass breaks up the driveway more each year
F#m C#m/E Bm E
And here is all these people have and everything they can't believe
Bm E E7 A Am7/D
The beach the poor men never reach, the shore the rich men never leave.
G Bm/F# Em B7 Em G7
Between the headlands from the sea, the homing yachts of summer fill
C B7 Em Em7sus4 - A
The night with shouts and falling sails, and then are still
C B7 Em///A
The avenues wind up into the darkness of the hill
Cmaj7 B7 Em C Bm7sus4 E.
Where time tonight might find the time to kill.
Pete Atkin/Clive James
Arr. Gerald Smith
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Digest note from Steve re above: see corrected version on Web site.
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Date: Sun, 7 Sep 1997 18:59:59 -0400
From: John Ramsey <email address>
Subject: MV45: Words first, then music.
I may be completely wrong about this, but there are a few CJ&PA songs about
which I've always thought the lyrics preceded the music - and that Pete
wasn't particularly enthusiastic. "Touch has a memory" and "Perfect
Moments" spring to mind - lyrics are OK but the arrangement is muddy
sounding. Songs don't always have to be catchy or immediate, but these just
don't have enough melody to be interesting.
There -I've probably insulted someone's two favourites!
John Ramsey.
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Date: Mon, 08 Sep 1997 00:51:23 +0100
From: Paul C Reid <email address>
Subject: MV46: Atkin Anonymous
To All Members of A.A. (Atkin Anonymous)
This is the first time I've been to an A.A. meeting so please
forgive me if I'm a bit nervous. I'll keep it brief(ish) but I'd better
start at the beginning. I first became addicted to Atkin (does anyone
mind if I call him Pete?) at Cambridge. You know how it is--someone at a
party says go on, try him, and, before you know it, you're hooked. I
thought at the time that this was just a passing student craving and it
would pass. But if it had I wouldn't be at the meeting now.
I used to go to smoke filled rooms just to catch a song or two. It
all seems a bit of a blur now--can't think why. I bought the records,
the First Folio of songs, I even tried to scratch along with them, but
it wasn't the same as the real thing.
Then I kicked the habit. Other things replaced Pete. But you know
what they say--you're never cured, you're only in remission. I believe
in fate even though I am a barrister. Whilst on a case in Liverpool
about 6 years ago I got hooked again. A colleague (no names, but let's
call him Dave Turner Q.C.) and I discovered our mutual addiction. Dave
had performed with Pete and Clive in Footlights (I had been just a
voyeur). We did all the usual things: cut each others wrists and swore
loyalty to the memory of Pete etc. Time moved on--a chance reading of
Mojo small ads and a reference to the Pete Atkin web site, so I had to
get another syringe--sorry, modem.
The attendance at this meeting has stunned me. I thought I was just
one of a few old farts living on memories, still scratching away at
"Little Sammy Speedball" et al even if the Martin acquired in middle age
makes them sound better.
Well, thanks for listening. I'll just go and collect the anorak
which Clive autographed for me last year.
Any addicts in the North of England (no wheel kickers or
timewasters, please) can bare their souls to Paul C. Reid
<email address>.
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Date: Mon, 8 Sep 1997 00:53:45 -0400
From: Chris Harris <email address>
Subject: MV47: Clocking In
Hi,
My name is Betty, I'm 19 and have been a fan of Pete's since Mum
played me his music in the womb. I've got his picture above my bed and I
think he's nearly as cute as the gormless one out of Boys R Us.
OK OK so I'm not being completely honest - in truth I'm yet another 4th
decader who got to know Pete's music at university in the 70's. I saw him
a couple of times at the University of Kent and have
been playing BOTBS ever since. I've that LP plus Live Libel on Vinyl and 4
others on appalling quality tapes - I always thought that it was my
brother in laws poor taping that was the cause of the high hiss and flat
sound but I'm getting the impression now that some of the pressings were
not of the highest quality.
I've been doing my bit to spread the word according to PA by "performing"
(and I use the word in it's broadest sense) a few of his songs at the local
folk clubs - mostly the humourous songs where voice quality is perhaps not
so critical - and usually get a suprised reaction when I exlain C.J's
involvement.
"what the guy on the telly " etc.
Other musical likes included the long defunct Bonzo Dog band, Fairport ,
Richard Thomson , Loudon Wainwright.
That's all for now, It's 5.30 a.m and I'm just about to drive to Amsterdam
for 10 days at an exhibition - I work in the technical side of TV Broadcast
equipment manufacture and there's a big exhibition there just now - Oh
joy!. I look forward to a long E-mail list upon my return.
Cheers ,
Chris Harris
PS I've always understood that a three sided knife was so designed because
the wound it inflicted (because of it's triangular cross section ) was
less likely to close up and so heal itself. I can't remember where this
particular gruesome piece of information came my way - no doubt someone got
a pay rise for dreaming this device up .
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Date: Sun, 7 Sep 1997 23:09:04 -0600 (MDT)
From: Jeff Moss <email address>
Subject: MV48: Another 40's guy
Greetings from another 40's male recruit. My name's Jeff, I'm a family Dr.,
and I live in Canada with my two teenage kids. My brother, Leslie ("27 year
man"), has described the introduction to PA that applies to me as well. I
specifically remember hearing "30 year man" for the first time on John
Peel's show late one evening, and being speechless in awe at the song. It
has remained my favourite PA song since, although there are several dozen
contenders for the title. (Anyone else want to vote for their all-time
favourite?). I saw PA live about 3 times in the 70's, and then again at
Monyash. Seeing him recently confirmed my feeling that he was, musically,
one of the major influences of my youth. I find it hard to think of anyone
to compare with the originality of his music and the brilliance of CJ's
lyrics. I suppose that the appeal of this type of "intellectual" music is
limited, hence his inability to make it big. (I know that sounds elitist,
but does anyone have a better explanation?).
Jeff Moss
PS To Mary, who wants to join the Brent Mason fan club as well, here's a
coincidence. Brent's first song at Monyash was "Stony Plain", a song about
how Atlantic Canadians are having to move West to places like Stony Plain
(in Alberta) to find jobs, as there's no work on the East coast. I happen to
work in Stony Plain, alberta!
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From: John Harris <email address>
Subject: MV49: Re: Clocking In
Date: Mon, 8 Sep 1997 10:59:03 +0100 ()
> > My name is Betty, I'm 19 and have been a fan of Pete's since Mum
> >played me his music in the womb. I've got his picture above my bed and I
> >think he's nearly as cute as the gormless one out of Boys R Us.
Betty!!! Hi ! Sorry we missed each other at the East 15 concert.
Enough banter - hi list, allow me to introduce myself, I'm a man of
wealth and taste, I've been around for long, long years... Accurate so far,
if you ignore the wealth bit. Mid-forties, specs, I can imitate a computer
nerd to perfection but inside I smoulder. My brood of four hit Cropredy
with me most years, though they tend to pin up Perky Spice (the boys)
or Craig Charles (honest!) (the girls) in preference to Dave Pegg.
I remember the evening, me and Kenneth and Alfred sat drinking coffee
in Konrad's room at Churchill, K putting BotBS onto his Garrard SP25 Mk II,
and us hearing this album for the first time, absolutely knocked over by it. Not
many albums ever did that to me - maybe Ziggy Stardust, and the Tom Lehrer
album which starts with Poisoning Pigeons in the Park (but I was younger then
so I might be excused), and Highway 61 Revisited, and Deep Purple in Concert.
> >Other musical likes included the long defunct Bonzo Dog band, Fairport ,
> >Richard Thomson , Loudon Wainwright.
There must be something to the idea of lists gathering people with similar
tastes, Chris, those will do for me too. Except you forgot Screaming Jay Hawkins.
Keep at it, guys, there must be *some* teenagers out there wanting to own up
to joining?
John.
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From: Neil Lovelock <email address>
Subject: MV50: Another young one!
Date: Mon, 8 Sep 1997 09:40:00 -0400
Hello all,
Just wanted to let you know that there is another twentysomething in the
crowd. (24 actually) I have listened to Pete Atkin for many years
mainly because my dad used to force me too. But now as I have matured
and come to appreciate music I know that he actually IS good! My
favourite song has to be "Ballad of an Upstairs Window" I always get a
good chuckle when I listen to it. I was at the festival in Monyash
(actually my Stepfather and Mother are Steve and Carole so I have
connections!!)
I live in Ontario, Canada so I had to make quite the journey to the
festival, I work at a cable company as a product QC technician and enjoy
doing it. Unlike the fortysomethings in the group I do not yet consider
myself successful but I plan to be in the future.
Take care,
Neil Lovelock.
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From: Benjamin Peterson <email address>
Date: Mon, 8 Sep 97 15:25:05 +0100
Subject: MV51: Re: Three Sided Knife
*Youngest member of group puts his hand up*
Surely the three sided knife he refers to is one of those
Italian-style Renaissance poniards designed for assassination? The
triangular cross section of the blade allows it to be narrow yet
strong, decreasing the chance of it hitting a rib on the way in.
Ideal for stabbing a sensitive train passenger straight through the
heart. Ouch :)
Robert Browning liked them, as I recall, weirdo that he was.
Faint chance, but is anyone from FurryMUCK on this list?
----------------------------------------------------------------------
email address
----------------------------------------------------------------------
My opinions have nothing to do with those of my employer, or indeed
with reality itself.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
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Date: Mon, 08 Sep 1997 17:31:02 +0100
From: Leslie Moss <email address>
Subject: MV52: Re: Words first, then music.
>>I may be completely wrong about this, but there are a few CJ&PA songs about
>>which I've always thought the lyrics preceded the music - and that Pete
>>wasn't particularly enthusiastic. "Touch has a memory" and "Perfect
>>Moments" spring to mind - lyrics are OK but the arrangement is muddy
>>sounding. Songs don't always have to be catchy or immediate, but these just
>>don't have enough melody to be interesting.
>> There -I've probably insulted someone's two favourites!
>>
>>John Ramsey.
>>
Yep, you've just insulted one of mine! Perfect Moments is to my mind a minor
masterpiece, small but perfectly-formed as they say. Touch has a Memory - I
agree, the music sounds like an afterthought.
Leslie
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Date: Mon, 8 Sep 1997 17:46:34 -0400
From: Tony Currie <email address>
Subject: MV53: life begins @
Hi there,
Well I suppose it's OK to admit to being 43, male, professionally qualified
and a PA/CJ fan. The new bit is I'm Welsh and an avid rugby fan. The only
other forum I post to is the CServe Rugby one. And I've never been a member
of a fan club. Being of a certain age, I suppose it's not surprising that I
found the details of the web site in the Telegraph; but I am surprised (and
impressed) that this *was* in the Telegraph. I've read the posts so far
with an increasing feeling of despair for a lost youth, remembering events
through second hand memories. I obviously need a new fix of live PA. My
technical ability doesn't yet reach to working out how to download the
audio stuff, even tho I've just indulged in a PC that should be able to do
it easily. I'll get there (in the meantime, all hints welcome).
I too first saw PA on TSIMO in the early 70's, was haunted by GOAT and
BOTBS and then heard one on R1 whilst on hols. I immediately phoned and
ordered a copy of the album and followed him through various "folk" clubs
in SW and NE London (Anyone remember the Hanging Lamp at Richmond? Also
played host to the late, lamented Magna Carta, showcasing Davey Johnstone,
who went on to find fame backing Elton John). Last time I saw him was at
the Shaw Theatre, but I had heard that he did still play, so I was maybe
hoping to catch him again sometime. I've got no excuse now.
Last time I found myself talking about PA/CJ, fortunately I was talking to
a guy who read Q and he mentioned that a compilation CD (THAM) was coming
out. So I swaggered into my local specialist store (Threshold Records in
Cobham, run by the Moodie Blues guy) only to be dismayed to find that he'd
never heard of PA. Two months later, courtesy of WHSmith's reading room, I
was able to quote the release no and label, and three weeks later I had it.
After initially playing it incessantly, I found myself wishing that it had
some well remembered hisses and pops, and I took it off. Having moved house
since, I have temporarily mislaid it, so the upcoming rerelease will be
welcomed.
Other musical tastes are eclectic, everything from Sinatra to King Crimson,
via most singer/songwriters (Bonnie Raitt's a fave), a lot of Jazz (I think
Stephane Grappelli's the only person I saw more times than PA) and a
penchant for anything with a sax in it. Another of my faves who merits some
rerelease attention is Andy Fairweather Low, who's albums surely would
still sell. Perhaps not surprisingly, I'd be happy to listen to most other
artists already mentioned on this forum. I'd almost forgotten there was
so much choice.
Someone suggested voting for fave PA songs. I've always had a love for
Flowers and the Wine, which seemed to capture so well such a familiar
scene. I can't say I really appreciated the tracks from ROS onwards as much
as the earlier ones, maybe cos I'd stopped going to live gigs at around
that time, so they didn't have the same ability to tug at the memories.
Another thing in common with some others, is that I too introduced a number
of friends to PA during my student days, but I've yet to meet a woman who
didn't think PA's singing was dreary and depressing. Glad to know there's
some difference between the sexes <g>.
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Date: Mon, 08 Sep 1997 21:57:41 -0400
From: Frances Kemmish <email address>
Subject: MV54: Re: life begins @
> >
> >Another thing in common with some others, is that I too introduced a number
> >of friends to PA during my student days, but I've yet to meet a woman who
> >didn't think PA's singing was dreary and depressing. Glad to know there's
> >some difference between the sexes <g>.
> >
Well, I guess that means we've never met :-> I always liked Pete Atkin's
voice.
"Perfect Moments" is my favourite song, too.
Fran
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From: "Neil Norman" <email address>
Subject: MV55: It reminds you of Memphis or maybe Majorca....
Date: Tue, 9 Sep 1997 12:28:32 +0100
Greetings PA Pickers,
Yes, this is another of those intro messages, so get your check list ready!
Forty-Something
Male
Works in computers (Business Analyst)
Bought all the albums (except Live Libel) when they came out
Unfortunately never saw PA live, managed to find the PA site just a few
days before the Monyash Festival and couldn't make it.
I first heard PA on a John Peel radio programme in 1972 singing Girl on a
Train. I think it was a BBC session, rather than the album track. (If it
was a session, will the Beeb release it as they have with other sessions of
the time like Stackridge and Family). I was living in rural Wiltshire at
the time so getting hold of the album was not easy (although probably
easier than now, since as we all know record shops aren't what they were).
To put things in context for younger members (all two of them!) in 1972
John Peel was playing Bowie, Roxy Music, Led Zeppelin, Bolan and even Rod
Stewart.
The last time that I spoke to anyone who had heard of PA was in 1975! OK,
perhaps I don't get out much.
Finally, I agree that "lyrics first" probably caused some contrived
melodies, but Perfect Moments certainly isn't one of them. When I first
heard it I was convinced that it was the best thing they'd done.
Tastes change with time, but its still one of my favourites now.
Neil
PS Was Graeme Aldous on Radio Stoke some years ago?
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Date: Tue, 09 Sep 1997 14:30:06 +0100
From: S J Birkill <email address>
Subject: MV56: Winchester
Dear All,
Colin Boag has sent details of Pete's upcoming appearance at the Winchester
Folk -- whoops, the 'f' word -- Winchester Contemporary and Traditional
Music Club:
The Railway Hotel
St. Paul's Hill
Winchester
29th October at 20:30
Tickets 4 pounds from the Club any Wednesday evening or by 'phone from
Colin on <phone number> or Brian Morgan on <phone number>.
It's a small venue, only about 50 tickets available, so act fast if you
want to go!
-- S
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From: Carole Birkill <email address>
Date: Tue, 9 Sep 1997 15:40:17 +0000
Subject: MV57: Monyash....next year ?
Hi everyone
I am Carole, sometime ( onetime actually ) concert promoter and, I
might add as an aside, a PA fan. To all you men who think it is
incompatible to be a PA fan and female, all I can say is you do
not meet the right women!
We are going to have to decide very soon whether or not to do Monyash
Festival again and, if so, what form it should take. This is where I
would like some input from you. I can't guarantee that we will take
on board your suggestions but it would be helpful to know how you
feel.
1 Should we do Monyash at all again? I think I know what your
answer will be to this one but I guess I should check.
2 Should we do it on the same format as '97 ie all day event
combined with the Monyash Folk Festival?
3 Should we just do it as a PA and friends gig, evening only, not
combined with anything else? If we did it this way we would
want to do it with as little infrastructure as possible. It
would be a sort of "Glyndebourne" bring your own picnic and
drink and we would supply the marquee stage etc and loos.
4 Is there another way that you could see might work that I
have not thought of?
I would be grateful for your thoughts.
Carole
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Date: Tue, 09 Sep 97 19:10:25 GMT
From: Mike Hodges <email address>
Subject: MV58: Re: MV57: Monyash....next year ?
Dear Carole,
I would prefer the Glyndbourne format (without the hooray henrys), since I am
more a PA fan than a folkie.
Mike Hodges
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
From: Cary <email address>
Date: Tue, 9 Sep 1997 19:32:59 +0000
Subject: MV59: Re: MV57: Monyash....next year ?
Carole,(concert promoter extraordinaire)
My answer to your questions. Yes, Yes, Yes (but not just) and No!!
This years Monyash will surely have attracted enough attention to be
worth doing again. And if the re-releases do come off Pete's profile
should be lifted again. An evening event would also be great, let the
Midnight Voices be heard - we can cope with all those 40 something
males?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
_/\ /\_
Cary a a
Like Mary @
With a 'C' for cat
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
From: Cary <email address>
Date: Tue, 9 Sep 1997 19:32:59 +0000
Subject: MV60: Re: life begins @
> >I've yet to meet a woman who didn't think PA's singing was dreary
> >and depressing.
OK - I'll bite!!!! Grrrrrrrrrrrr ;-)
Any chance of Pete getting a little further north so this 'woman' can
hear his silken (OK, maybe denim - 501's have a lot of cachet) tones
again?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
_/\ /\_
Cary a a
Like Mary @
With a 'C' for cat
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Date: Tue, 09 Sep 1997 21:54:05 +0100
From: S J Birkill <email address>
Subject: MV61: Various
Hi again.
Chords -- I've now put Gerald Smith's interpretation of "Faded Mansion",
incorporating some suggestions from Pete, on the Web site, at /b9c.htm.
---------
You'll notice I've begun adding message serial numbers ("MV55:" etc.) to
the beginning of each subject line. Don't put these in yourself, I'll add
them as they're forwarded from the MV mailer. Since we don't have any
formal "threading" mechanism this should make it easier to check references
to earlier posts.
---------
Youngest members: Come on, Ed T and Alexis B, -- shout up!
---------
Re: MV50: life begins @ (Tony Currie)
Hello Tony. Sorry you've got a problem with the audios. RealAudio is
intended for real time, on-line listening, though you can also download and
listen off line. You need their player (follow the link on our audio page)
which installs stand-alone or (you choose during the "setup" installation
procedure) can be linked into a Web browser so that it kicks in whenever
you select a .ram link. It then plays out through your sound card. To
listen off line you don't download the .ram file, which is itself only a
link; rather you change the filename extension (in your browser's Location
box) to ".ra" -- you'll then be prompted to save to disk, which you do,
with the .ra extension. You can then navigate to it from the RealPlayer's
File / Open File dialogue, or "drag and drop" the .ra file's icon onto the
RealPlayer icon or window. Only RealAudio's player will play this file format.
Please let me know which step of this doesn't work for you -- I'll try and
help.
---------
Re: MV41: Subject for discussion? (Ian Chippett)
Pete's excuse (on Clive's behalf) for "Verlaine" is that the name has an
accepted English pronunciation: "in English, it does rhyme with train -
just as in English Paris rhymes with Harris, and Rheims rhymes with creams
- but I wouldn't want to seem to protest too much, so maybe best to see if
that one elicits any other other responses from the unassembled throng."
Well, I'm not so sure, Pete. If it were as familiar as Paris then yes, for
you could argue that "Paris" is an English name for Paris, pronounced in an
English manner -- it just happens to be spelled the same as in French,
unlike their "Londres" or "Douvres". Compare how Venezia, Munchen or Geneve
(excuse the absence of diacritical marks -- I don't know how well ASCII
e-mailers will handle accented characters -- have their own versions in
other than their home languages. But Rheims? Or Seine? I'm not so generous
as Pete, and I'd put their Anglicisation down to familiarity combined with
ignorance or awkwardness. Even Lyon, which we tend to spell differently, we
pronounce the same as the French. Would a student of Verlaine Anglicise the
pronunciation of his name? What sets it aside from such other familiar
names as Ronsard, Rimbaud, Hugo, de Maupassant, Baudelaire, Proust,
Voltaire, Rousseau, Stendhal, Zola (well...), Simenon, de Saint-Exupery
(scans shelf for more French-named writers, gives up), Rodin, Gauguin,
Bizet, Chopin, Truffaut (dodgy pronunciation there sometimes), Lavoisier,
Cousteau, Peugeot, Citroen, Renault, Chirac, Bordeaux, Beaujolais, Cabernet
Sauvignon, Chateauneuf du Pape (that's enough, Steve, out of there!)?
In the end it might come down to one old pedant against another. Discuss.
---------
Re: MV40: A man like me (Michael J. Cross)
Your PA awareness history and album preferences (para 2) are very much in
line with mine (except I discovered WAYDATS just in time). I could take
this as a cue for boring y'all with _my_ musical tastes over the years.
Should I? What! Oh go on then ...
The Beatles were my awakening from the complacency of late 50s/early 60s
pop, and despite the rhythm & blues revival of my student years the Stones
(of all people) were the first to introduce me to anything remotely bluesy.
There, that poppy enough for you? There was American contemporary folk:
Dylan, Baez, then Buffy, Joni and others, linking through to the mainstream
pop of Carole King, James Taylor and the like, the NY effect from Drifters
and Four Seasons to Billy Joel, Paul Williams and the Carpenters, Neils
Diamond and Sedaka even, a phase of West Coastery (Beach Boys, Mamas &
Papas, Association), leading later into Buffalo Springfield, Dead, CSNY,
Eagles and surviving in (at the folky end) Jackson Browne and (at the jazzy
end) Steely Dan. There was white jazzy rock with BST, Chicago and British
with If, Colosseum, Soft Machine, Quiet Sun, Caravan, Gentle Giant.
Electric folk: Fairport, Steeleye, ISB, Sandy Denny, Richard Thompson and
the rest, and songwriters like Al Stewart. And there was British bluesy
rock with Korner, Cream, Yardbirds, Traffic, Van Morrison, Hendrix (well I
think of his music as English) and Led Zepp, sweet harmony Beatles homage
Kenny Everett music as exemplified by the Idle Race, ELO, Pete Dello, early
Bread and many more. The Moodies and the dark, dense English rock that
followed (Van der Graaf perhaps) I admit to enjoying. I also went heavily
with the post-Gabriel Genesis for an album or three. Yes hit me quite as
hard as PA (but in a different way) in 1970-72 -- their on-stage use of
dynamics, moments of silence even, and white light, and their later symphonic
structures, were novel to me, though it all went bad later. Stackridge, I
do remember them too, fans -- their Three-Legged Table reminded me of early
Yes with vocal harmonies.
So generally a comparatively lightweight musical background, with none of
your musicians' instrumentalists, and no jazz. I still listen a lot to
Jackson Browne and Steely Dan, and I've recently been introduced by Pete
(after a rather jaded few years) to people like (if there is anyone quite
like both) Shawn Colvin and the Barenaked Ladies.
PA albums: I suppose DTMA was my first love (although it was the songs of
BOTBS which first tuned me in to Pete), Julie second, then AKAN, TROS and
SD, not necessarily in that order. But hearing songs like Canoe, Commercial
Traveller or The Eye of the Universe for the first time this year has
brought back much of the old magic. Favourite song ... for appeal from
cold, Girl on the Train, for catharsis No Dice, for brilliance Wristwatch,
Screen-Freak, Rain Wheels, Joker, Hypertension Kid, Shadow and the Widower,
for personal resonance Faded Mansion, Road of Silk, Between Us There Is
Nothing, Last Hill, Double Agent, My Egoist, Payday Evening, Tenderfoot,
Secret Drinker, Tongue-Tied.
---------
Digests: I've been asked a couple of times whether I can prepare a weekly
digest to ease the load on subscribers' e-mails. This surely reflects the
remarkable and unexpected success of the group. Or perhaps just the first
flush of enthusiasm spreading across its members. It's not been such a load
here simply to forward each incoming message to the group, but as the group
fragments into different sets of requirements the workload increases. If
I'm to keep it going at all I can't allow myself to become overloaded,
however much I believe in it. Yet I realise that while ever new members
subscribe, I will need to compile a weekly digest to keep them up to date
without having to send them hundreds of individual messages (we're already
at 65 members and 58 messages, after only 10 days). And to avoid
accusations of spam, non-MV subscribers already don't even cop for gig
updates or news of next year's (if it happens) Monyash event, other than
via the Web. So here I go, the girl who can't say no, inviting those for
whom 6 messages per day are 5 (or 6) too many, and who don't wish to
participate in the daily banter, to request removal to the weekly list.
<email address>, please.
Please be aware, those requesting this, that my energies are not unlimited.
The next (and indeed the first) digest you receive will be generated this
coming weekend and will include a week's worth of messages, nominally
Sunday thru Saturday. Expect duplicate messages from MV40 onwards -- I
can't produce individually formatted digests.
---------
Any more suggestions for cover versions? Margaretha Pracatan does "Laughing
Boy"? Or seriously, how do we bring Pete's royalty earnings up to CJ level?
---------
Your sad, publicly anorakked MC, Steve
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Date: Tue, 09 Sep 1997 23:40:49 -0400
From: Frances Kemmish <email address>
Subject: MV62: Re: MV61: Various
Midnight Voices wrote:
> >
> >Re: MV41: Subject for discussion? (Ian Chippett)
> >
> >Pete's excuse (on Clive's behalf) for "Verlaine" is that the name has an
> >accepted English pronunciation: "in English, it does rhyme with train -
> >just as in English Paris rhymes with Harris, and Rheims rhymes with creams
> >- but I wouldn't want to seem to protest too much, so maybe best to see if
> >that one elicits any other other responses from the unassembled throng."
> >
Well, how about poetic licence? It rhymes that way; it doesn't rhyme
the other way. How about inconsistency as a national trait?
To change the subject - am I the only Pete Atkin fan in the USA? (Well,
my husband likes him, too) but any one else out there? My travel budget
has had a few severe knocks recently, so I am going to have to wait for
the world tour before I can hear PA in person.
Fran
Breaking the stereotype - female, not too clever with computers, and the
wrong side of the pond.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
From: Mark Roberts <email address>
Subject: MV63: RE: MV57: Monyash....next year ?
Date: Wed, 10 Sep 1997 09:16:53 +0100
>From: Carole Birkill <email address>
>To: Midnight Voices <email address>
>Date: Tue, 9 Sep 1997 15:40:17 +0000
>Subject: MV57: Monyash....next year ?
>
>Hi everyone
>
>We are going to have to decide very soon whether or not to do Monyash
>Festival again and, if so, what form it should take. This is where I
>would like some input from you. I can't guarantee that we will take
>on board your suggestions but it would be helpful to know how you
>feel.
I heard a rumour that Stackridge will be playing Monyash 97 as well *-).
Regards,
Mark
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
From: Stephen Payne <email address>
Date: Wed, 10 Sep 1997 12:12:53 +0000
Subject: MV64: verlaine and the three-sided knife
Thanks for the three-sided knife answers: I think the image of a dressy
italian dagger collected by Browning is perfect. And if Browning were
alive today he could buy "a museum quality reproduction of the knife
featured prominenty in the film The Shadow starring Alec Baldwin. Its
14 1/4 inches long and has a stainless steel three-sided blade" - see
http://www.tncmagic.com/knives.htm. Yeah, I also followed up the WWW
suggestion and Alta Vista gave me that, together with an ad more in line
with Pete's suggestions: De Hart Carbide Inserts offer Three Sided
(19x22) Turnover Knives (?) as well as Four Sided STRAIGHT Turnover
Knives (so perhaps three sided knives are straight by default?!).
Now onto the Verlaine rhyme: Let me try my hand at another "excuse".
If you look at the context of the verse, you'll see the second couplet
being ironic about the singer's poetic talents by mis-rhyming "mouth"
with "earth" - so couldn't the mis-pronounced but perfect rhyming of
"Verlaine" with "brain" be a subtle mirror for the second couplet?
S
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Date: Wed, 10 Sep 1997 07:57:48 -0400
From: Alan Terrill <email address>
Subject: MV65: Intro/CDs
I suspect that's its strictly against the rules to take a copy for personal
use, but have you ever heard of anyone being fined for taping thier own LP?
I certainly haven't. You may be aware of Sony mini-discs which are
mini-sized cds which can be rerecorded as many times as you like - however,
rerecordable 5" CD players are now available for fitting to PC's (they look
just like a CD-rom but can record audio, video or data onto a blank CD.
These are currently around £350. I think it is only a matter of time before
the first Hi-fi version arrives. Maybe it already has, I don't read hi-fi
mags. But more to the point, has anyone tried hassling RCA or someone like
See for Miles to get proper re-issues of all the originals?
Alan Terrill
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Date: Wed, 10 Sep 1997 13:03:30 +0100
From: S J Birkill <email address>
Subject: MV66: Re: MV64: verlaine and the three-sided knife
Stephen Payne writes:
>Let me try my hand at another "excuse".
>If you look at the context of the verse, you'll see the second couplet
>being ironic about the singer's poetic talents by mis-rhyming "mouth"
>with "earth" - so couldn't the mis-pronounced but perfect rhyming of
>"Verlaine" with "brain" be a subtle mirror for the second couplet?
>
Ooh yes, I do like that!
And I realise I was wrong about "Rheims", the English version which, as
distinct from "Reims" _should_ rhyme with "creams". Sorry Pete.
S
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Date: Wed, 10 Sep 1997 13:24:18 +0100
From: S J Birkill <email address>
Subject: MV67: Re: MV65: Intro/CDs
Alan Terrill writes
>
>has anyone tried hassling RCA or someone like
>See for Miles to get proper re-issues of all the originals?
>
Alan,
I think the story re RCA/BMG is that they're not interested. Their
disastrous marketing of the "Touch Has A Memory" CD in 1990 led them to
believe there was no market for PA. See For Miles was approached (among
others) by Pete and by myself (and perhaps by some of our "Smash Flops"
visitors) early in the year, and they (SFM) decided they would do
something. After some initial difficulties tracing the present owner of the
rights to the recordings, they advised Pete, shortly before the Festival,
that they would re-issue BotBS and DTMA on a single CD this month, and
follow with the remainder of the catalogue if sales warranted it. That's
why we've got their logo on the Web site. There's been no word for a week
or two, but Pete is hoping to hear something definite shortly.
SJB
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
From: Benjamin Peterson <email address>
Date: Wed, 10 Sep 97 14:49:29 +0100
Subject: MV68: Re: MV62: Re: MV61: Various
>>To change the subject - am I the only Pete Atkin fan in the USA?
>(Well, >my husband likes him, too) but any one else out there? My
>travel budget >has had a few severe knocks recently, so I am going to
>have to wait for >the world tour before I can hear PA in person.
>>
>>Fran
Well, I've been in the USA a whole month now, and according to my calculations
my supply of sanity is *not* going to hold out until my year is up.
So saying, he cast a lone vote in favour of the next Monyash being held in
Chicago, before wandering out into the rain.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
email address
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
My opinions have nothing to do with those of my employer, or indeed with reality
itself.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
From: Mark Roberts <email address>
Subject: MV69: RE: MV65: Intro/CDs
Date: Wed, 10 Sep 1997 17:05:09 +0100
----------
>These are currently around £350. I think it is only a matter of time before
>the first Hi-fi version arrives.
They already have, Marantz make one for about 700 quid I think.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
From: Cary <email address>
Date: Wed, 10 Sep 1997 10:08:18 +0000
Subject: MV70: Clive James - romantic egomaniac
Thought this brief piece from Ephraim Hardcastle's column in today's
Daily Mail might be of interest. Someone did mention him being at
Princess Diana's funeral. More than one person has mentioned that
it's hard to believe that the cynical (but I think funny) man seen on
TV could be the same one that wrote so many beautiful and sensitive
lyrics. Here again is the other side of his personality.
"CLIVE James's memories as a friend of Diana tell us more about his
private life than the princess's. He says he was `enslaved' but `there
was no romance'. His wife, Prudence, `well aware that she is married to
a romantic egomaniac, found that aspect particularly amusing' Mr James,
57, confessed to Diana that he was `a bad husband and a neglectful
father, and that my guilt had begin to erode my peace of mind... '
Diana said he should take comfort that `her own marriage, she said,
was coming apart'. Mr James, pictured, - who, unusually, provides no
details of his marriage in Who's Who - is honest, touching,
revealing, self deprecatory and sweetly funny He describes lunching
with Diana while his boss, BBC Director General John Birt, was at
another table `looking at me as if I were a combination of Errol
Flynn and Neil Armstrong'."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
_/\ /\_
Cary a a
Like Mary @
With a 'C' for cat
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Date: Wed, 10 Sep 1997 23:59:24 +0100
From: Mary <email address>
Subject: MV71: Re: MV57: Monyash....next year ?
> >We are going to have to decide very soon whether or not to do Monyash
> >Festival again and, if so, what form it should take. This is where I
> >2 Should we do it on the same format as '97 ie all day event
> > combined with the Monyash Folk Festival?
Please, please do it again - I had a wonderful time, and heard all sorts
of things I'd never heard before. It was such a pleasant relaxed day,
and it seemed a privilege to be able to be there without a crush. I
wonder how long it will be before it turns into a crowded frenetic
event, once everyone knows about it...
I would much prefer an all-day event - it makes it seem more worth
travelling - and the village Folk Festival was wonderful and got us in
the mood for the big event.
Extras I would like to see would be somewhere to camp nearby, and a
greater choice of food to buy on site, but we managed very well without
this year.
So can I add my thanks for all the work you must have put into it to
make it all happen so smoothly this year, and beg and plead for you to
do it all again?
mary
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Date: Thu, 11 Sep 1997 00:13:32 +0100
From: Mary <email address>
Subject: MV72: Re: Another 40's guy
Hi Jeff
> >to compare with the originality of his music and the brilliance of CJ's
> >lyrics. I suppose that the appeal of this type of "intellectual" music is
> >limited, hence his inability to make it big. (I know that sounds elitist,
> >but does anyone have a better explanation?).
I think you have it right. I think too that "intellectual" music appeals
more to men than women, who tend to want music to make them feel rather
than think (Dreadful generalisations here I know, but then, why not?!)
I'm not sure if it heresy to say it here, but it is primarily the lyrics
that make me love the PA songs. The beauty of the music is that it
complements the lyrics so well, and enhances them rather than swamps
them.
> >PS To Mary, who wants to join the Brent Mason fan club as well, here's a
> >coincidence. Brent's first song at Monyash was "Stony Plain", a song about
I remember! :-)
> >how Atlantic Canadians are having to move West to places like Stony Plain
> >(in Alberta) to find jobs, as there's no work on the East coast. I happen to
> >work in Stony Plain, alberta!
So it really does exist! <g> What is it like?
Another coincidence. When first reading this, playing on the computer
CD-player was.... Stony Plain!
mary
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
From: "Maurice J. Lovelock" <email address>
Date: Wed, 10 Sep 1997 22:13:08 -5
Subject: MV73: Re: Another 40's guy
Having heard from the west of Canada (Jeff Moss), I thought it was
only fitting that I should let the group know that there's another PA
fan here in the east of Canada (Cambridge, ON) who still plays Pete
on vinyl and a couple o' CD's that Steve (our host) has graciously
provided.
I didn't make it to Monyash, but my son did and took some
8mm video for me so I could get a sense of the occasion. I fit the
standard "Fan" profile but he sure doesn't - He's 24 and into some
kind of weird stuff that they call music. He certainly enjoyed the
Monyash show though so I guess there's hope for him yet. Maybe I'll
get over to the UK next year if there's another festival.
Does anyone remember Clive's 1975 book "The Fate of Felicity Fark in
the land of the Media"? It refers to celebs. of the day, many of
whom have since gone on to obscurity but some are still around. How
about Harry Seaslug and Patrick Loon for starters?
Help to keep us folks in Canada updated on what's happening. Maybe
Pete would like to play here (Cambridge, ON) one year. We have an
annual folk festival called the Mill Race festival that is held on
the shores of the Grand River which is a beautiful location. Cheers
to all. Maurice L.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
From: Neil Lovelock <email address>
Subject: MV74: I admit it!
Date: Thu, 11 Sep 1997 09:01:00 -0400
Yes that was my father tearing apart my music! I admit that I listen to
todays "computer" music but I also listen to some older more classic
stuff too. I like the old tunes but I would much rather dance (actually
just throwing arms and legs in every direction) to todays music, and
besides most of the young available women have never heard of Mr. Atkin.
(Ignorant Sods!)
Neil.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Date: Thu, 11 Sep 1997 14:30:43 GMT
From: Dr Jeremy Walton <email address>
Subject: MV75: A man who's been around
Hi fans,
Just got added to the list, and have spent way too long reading the back
posts. As a fan, my credentials are impeccable: I've had TROS for about
15 years, and acquired the rest of the back catalogue from a dealer five
years ago. Picked up THAM on cassette for three quid from a deleted bin
and have all but worn it smooth. Thanks to impeccable distribution by
RCA/BMG, I never found it on CD (in spite of writing to PA and CJ and
receiving two very pleasant letters in return), so I (like everyone else
in here) was delighted to hear about SFM's efforts on this front.
The discovery of the website last year came as a revelation - suddenly,
I began to suspect that there may be some use to the Internet after all
(a moment comparable with my asking in rec.guitar.tab if anyone had
the chords to Jake Thackray's "Sister Josephine", and receiving them
almost immediately from some bloke in Texas).
Since then, I've encouraged (or rather badgered) Steve in his addition
of the chords for the songs, and have used them in my fitful
performances in the local folk club (which, by a staggering coincidence,
is in the process of closing down). So - kudos to Gerald Smith for his
latest additions to the songbook; I'm looking forward to the rest of his
contributions. Current most-requested numbers: "Tougue-Tied", "Flowers
and the wine" (both of which I worked out all by myself), "Touch has a
memory" and "Laughing boy". The last is a big favorite of mine, mainly
because it mystifies my daughter: "*Why* can't he forget the way a girl
lights a cigarette?"
But it's really the way in which the words and music get into your
everyday life that I find intriguing: I've sung "Payday evening" to
myself while walking round the palace at Versailles, and I find myself
humming "The Prince of Acquitaine" *every time* I fly back into
Heathrow.
I've never been lucky enough to see PA however, but that will change
next Saturday at Charlbury; my family are reluctantly sharing in this
experience with me (memories of a disappointing performance by John
Martyn last year are giving them pause). Needless to say, I'm looking
forward to it - hopefully I'll be able to post some of my impressions
in here.
Cheers,
Jeremy
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Date: Thu, 11 Sep 1997 16:00:08 -0600 (MDT)
From: Jeff Moss <email address>
Subject: MV76: Personals
A few thoughts/comments:
Steve - does Pete (and/or Clive) subscribe to this list? If not, WHY NOT?
Their input would add another dimension to an already interesting discussion
group.
Carol - Monyash '98 already sounds a great idea. As there were many who
travelled far to get to Monyash '97, I think that you owe them a day's event
again, rather than an evening only affair. (I'll be in the UK late August,
so please make it then!). Perhaps PA/CJ could be "commisioned" to write new
songs for it, thus triggering a renewal of the only songwriting team to
rival Lennon & McCarthy.....
Maurice - I'm glad I'm not the only Canadian in the group. I gather that
there are some of the enemy (south of the 49th) in our midst. PA performimg
in Cambridge, ON sounds great - I'd only have to fly 4 hours to see him,
rather than 8 hours to the UK.
Mary - thanks for the "intellectual" support. I was also captivated by the
lyrics, although I think the music very clever as well. I'm not sure if I
agree that men prefer "intellectual" music to women, but you do seem to be
in a small minority here. (Men definitely prefer to surf the net).
What is Stony Plain like? It's actually quite a quaint town, by Canadian
standards. It's the old established town in the area, and it's main claim to
fame are the large murals on the walls of the downtown buildings, depicting
Stony Plain in yesteryear. (The welcome sign calls Stony Plain "the town
with the painted past"). The population is about 7,000, and the town is 30
mins west of Edmonton (I live in a town 10 mins away on the Edmonton side).
They have a web site who's URL I don't remember, but it does have lots of
pics, including the murals (I'm sure a search for Stony Plain Alberta would
find it).
Jeff Moss
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Date: Thu, 11 Sep 1997 14:06:03 PDT
From: "Jones,David L" <email address>
Subject: MV77: RE: MV43: Three sided knife
Try "Slaughterhouse 5" by Kurt Vonnegut. We all read it in the 60s and 70s,
didn't we? The hero Billy Pilgrim falls in with some other soldiers shortly
before being captured, and one is a weapons buff who brandishes a three-sided
knife and explains exactly why it is the way it is. He's the one who gets foot
gangrene and dies. So it goes.
Dave Jones
Rochester NY
----------
>From: Cary <email address>
>Date: Sun, 7 Sep 1997 23:13:10 +0000
>Subject: MV43: Three sided knife
>
>Re:-The Three Sided Knife.Any one else tried a net search on this
>one? It brought up only 2 results. Some strange site entitled "Smash
>Flops" ... wonder what that's all about? and a site at
>http://web.syr.edu/~speccoll/nick.htm Street and Smith radio
>scripts - Nick Carter. On May 8th 1955 there was an episode entitled
>"The Case of the Three Sided Knife" . Could that be where the
>inspiration came from? Now, all we need is the script and the case
>could be solved.
>
> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
> _/\ /\_
> Cary a a
> Like Mary @
> With a 'C' for cat
> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
>
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
From: Colin Boag <email address>
Date: Fri, 12 Sep 97 08:11:10 +0000
Subject: MV78: 'Folk Music' and PA
I've just received the first batch of correspondence to 'Midnight
Voices' and found it fascinating. My earliest recollection of
Atkin/James was seeing some sort of animation on the Old Grey Whistle
Test to accompany Driving Through Mythical America. After that I
became a devotee and saw Pete perform several times- mainly in
Nottingham at the University and then at the Playhouse.
Thanks to Steve's efforts I've fulfilled an ambition and booked Pete
for 29 October at what was formerly called Winchester Folk Club.
I was also prompted to write in response to Mark Roberts' comment
that he could never understand why Pete's music got classified as
'Folk'. I guess that's explained by the lack of an accepted
definition of 'Folk'. We've changed the name of the Club to
Winchester Contemporary and Traditional Music Club (it doesn't
exactly roll of the tongue but it seems to better describe the music
that is played there). The 'Folk' scene is still paying the price for
allowing the Aran sweaters to take over in the 60's and 70's. The
fact is that 'Folk' is a broad church (rather like the Labour Party
used to be!) - so much so that we finished our first season with John
Otway - are there any Otway fans out there - I promise you that's a
seriously strange sub-culture?
Anyway, I hope to see some of you at the Pete gig on 29 October (I
know that Rob King plans to be there) and if you can stand it you'll
be welcome any Wednesday at the WCATMC! We start our new season with
the excellent Les Barker on 17 September - he's not exactly 'Folk'
either
Best wishes
Colin
Boag------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
From: Richard Gibson <email address>
Date: Fri, 12 Sep 1997 00:29:46 -0400 (EDT)
Subject: MV79: The impact his music has
My current job requires a 2 hour commute. I've recently been lent a tape of
the CD compilation and it's so wonderful to hear the music again - thoughtful
words and superb arrangements - it made the time speed by. I only saw Pete
perform once, Boston's some distance away, but New England has a strong folk
tradition, perhaps Pete can be persuaded to tour here.
I have been trying to find a copy of the CD for 3 years, almost had one
this summer but it was sold before my checque arrived. Can anyone help?
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Date: Fri, 12 Sep 1997 09:43:56 +0100
From: S J Birkill <email address>
Subject: MV80: Midnight Voices?
Someone suggested we rename the group "Senior Citizens"! -- S
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Date: Fri, 12 Sep 1997 08:22:41 -0400
From: Frances Kemmish <email address>
Subject: MV81: Re: MV79: The impact his music has
Midnight Voices wrote:
>
>>From: Richard Gibson <email address>
>>Date: Fri, 12 Sep 1997 00:29:46 -0400 (EDT)
>>To: Midnight Voices <email address>
>>Subject: MV79: The impact his music has
>>
>>My current job requires a 2 hour commute. I've recently been lent a tape of
>>the CD compilation and it's so wonderful to hear the music again -
>>thoughtful words and superb arrangements - it made the time speed by. I
>>only saw Pete perform once, Boston's some distance away, but New England has
>>a strong folk tradition, perhaps Pete can be persuaded to tour here.
Well, that's two of us in New England - we can at least manage a coffee
house gig:-> I'm in Connecticut; what about you, Richard?
Fran
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Date: Fri, 12 Sep 1997 20:33:48 +0100
From: Leslie Moss <email address>
Subject: MV82: Words then music
John, you started a discussion about which came first, the words or the
music. My understanding from what PA was saying at Dale House the night
before Monyash was that generally Clive came up with the words first. I'm
interested though in how brilliantly matched the two are. There are sevaral
songs which come to mind where the words and music are totally complementary
- Thief in the Night, Thirty-Year Man, Session-Man Blues. If those were not
written together, then I'm staggered at Pete's ability to write music to fit
the feel of the song so well.
BTW Who's going to Islington Folk Club on the 16th October? Perhaps we
should arrange a 'meet'?
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Date: Fri, 12 Sep 1997 20:33:50 +0100
From: Leslie Moss <email address>
Subject: MV83: Lady of a Day
Steve, did you know that you've got the lyrics for Lady of a Day wrong on
the website?
I was listening to DTMA this evening with the Philips album cover in front
of me, and suddenly realised that the lyrics as printed on the sleeve, and
reproduced on the site, are wrong. Two phrases, in the first and third
verses, have been transposed.
The printed lyrics are:
And so goodbye, my lady of a day
Now let your head be clear and now your laugh be gay
........
And so goodbye, my lady of a night
Now let your step be long and now your smile bright
........
The sung lyrics are:
And so goodbye, my lady of a day
Now let your step be long and now your laugh be gay
........
And so goodbye, my lady of a night
Now let your head be clear and now your smile bright
........
Just a thought that this song would have made a good epitaph for Diana in
place of Candles in the Wind.
Leslie
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Date: Fri, 12 Sep 1997 22:54:13 +0100
From: S J Birkill <email address>
Subject: MV84: Re: MV83: Lady of a Day
Leslie Moss wrote:
>>
>>Steve, did you know that you've got the lyrics for Lady of a Day wrong on
>>the website?
>>
>>I was listening to DTMA this evening with the Philips album cover in front
>>of me, and suddenly realised that the lyrics as printed on the sleeve, and
>>reproduced on the site, are wrong. Two phrases, in the first and third
>>verses, have been transposed.
>>
Good God Leslie, you're right! I found myself merrily transposing the
offending phrases from Gerry Smith's transcription, never realising he'd
got it right and the album cover was wrong. I'll remedy this at once
- thanks! -- Steve
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
From: Maurice J. Lovelock <email address>
Date: Fri, 12 Sep 1997 21:31:37 -5
Subject: MV85: First we take Manhatten
I have a spare copy of the CD "Touch has a Memory". Who (on this
side of the pond) is interested in bidding for this fine compilation
including such masterpieces as Perfect moments, King at nightfall,
Girl on the train, Master of the revels etc., etc. Seriously though,
whoever presents the strongest argument will receive this fine CD
completely free of charge. (Commercial Time) Lets here (hear) from
Y'all. Maurice L.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
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