THE MAGICAL ARMCHAIR

The Ben Folds Five Digest

Issue #182 - February 11, 1997



                     THE MAGICAL ARMCHAIR, Issue #182
 
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Topics for Today:
 
      Japanese import of song for the dumped
      THE MAGICAL ARMCHAIR Bootlegs
      sorry, Alex!
      2 meter sessions
      Re: THE MAGICAL ARMCHAIR
      Cleveland Fans Unite!
      Re: THE MAGICAL ARMCHAIR, Issue #181
      BFF in Radio 1 Playlist
      BFF ON UK TV!
      BF 5 and Sparklehorse
      Japanese Import
      Pink on white walls? Sorry not Ben.
      *fume fume*
      BFF in latest issue of CMJ
      What's going on ????????
      BFF UK single release back one week
      re: ben on a bus stop recording?
      from Japan
      ben on tv (again!)
      Tape Trees
      Re: CMJ -New BFF song
 
 ==============================================================================

 Date: Fri, 7 Feb 1997 22:05:33 -0500 (EST)
 From: Lesley Long <lesleyl@bgnet.bgsu.edu>
 Subject: Japanese import of song for the dumped

 	how can i get my grubby little hands on the japanese import single
 of song for the dumped?  i MUST have video killed the radio star!!!
 please reply soon!			Lesley Long :]

 ==============================================================================

 Date: Fri, 1 Feb 1991 02:58:29 PST
 From: Malkav Appolonius <otik@juno.com>
 Subject: THE MAGICAL ARMCHAIR Bootlegs

 Dose anyone have any bootleg, B sides, or copies of what ever and ever
 amen? Ill do anything for these, I can trade bootlegs or work something
 out. thanx(hi Josh & Pam)
 Also, music like BF5- I couldnt recomment They Might Be Giants enough,
 The Flood Album song Dead especially. thanx
 --------------------------
 KPANTS

 ==============================================================================

 Date: 08 Feb 97 02:05:36 EST
 From: JOE SHANAFELT <102767.1635@CompuServe.COM>
 Subject: sorry, Alex!

 Alex and sundry:  Just wanted to apologize if I was misunderstood:  It's
 not that I'm down on idiot pop fans.  I happen to like a lot of crap.  I
 admit it's crap.  (Here's a big admittance:  Sometimes . . . I listen to
 the Screeching Weasels!  >Aaah!< : ) ) I also like a lot of stuff that
 everyone on the planet enjoys (Sometimes I listen to the Beastie Boys!
 >Aaah!<) --I'm just saying I think it's nice that bff fans just tend to be
 intelligent, good-humored people.  I like spending time with intelligent,
 good-humored people.  I'm not saying asshole punks with no respect
 shouldn't be into bff, I'm just saying that oftentimes, they aren't.
 Again, I apologize if anyone took offense. Carrie

 "Special favors come in 31 flavors, we're out of mints, pass the Life-Savers
 I'm dropping hints: candy for candy-coated tongue."--The Violent Femmes

 ==============================================================================

 Date: Sat, 08 Feb 1997 10:45:51 +0100 (MET)
 From: Daniel Rodrigues Parreira <parreira@aquawolf.xs4all.nl>
 Subject: 2 meter sessions

 Joris Gillet wrote:

 > attention all dutch bf5 fans. set your vcr's 'cause the session bf5 did
 > last time they were here will be broadcasted on tv (at least a couple of
 > songs) thursday february the 13nd at 19:55 at NPS TV3. I don't know yet
 > when the radio-version of the session (with more songs!) will be broad-
 > casted.

 They will play 3 songs: Jackson Cannery, Song for the dumped and Alice
 Childress. At least, that's what they say on "teletext".

 --Daniel

 ==============================================================================

 Date: Sat, 8 Feb 1997 12:22:46 -0500
 From: Jennifer Delamar <47km67nb@coastalnet.com>
 Subject: Re: THE MAGICAL ARMCHAIR

 >                  Hey guys!  I love BF5, but I am new to it.  Can you tell
 me what earlier tracks came out before the latest album?  I want to get a
 hold of it.  Thanks.

 Jennifer Delamar

 ==============================================================================

 Date: Sat, 8 Feb 1997 15:47:25 -0500 (EST)
 From: "Christian L. Gindlesperger" <clg6@po.CWRU.Edu>
 Subject: Cleveland Fans Unite!

 	Hey Ben Folds Fanatics!

 	I've been reading the list ever since frank put me on the
 list (good job frank!), but this is the first time I've evr contrib-
 uted--I guess I was just so pumped to hear in the last edition of
 the amrchair that someone else in Cleveland has heard of BFF, that
 I had to come out of hiding. I'd also like to take this opportunity
 to publicly beg and grovel for a Cleveland tour date--what better
 chance to visit the one and only Rock & Roll Hall of Fame? Personally,
 I'd be willing to sneak a glass etcher past the security and get the
 band's names scratched into the walls of the Shrine. Alright, that aside
 , a couple things...]
 	I've noticed a few people calling our favorite piano jam-
 master "Ben Fold"...No! It's Ben Fold*S*, and that means Ben FOLDS' Five
 and not Ben FOLD'S Five. Gahh, that drives me crazy. Alright, you guessed
 it, I'm an English major.
 	On that same English-major track, can we get an OED definition
 of "faffing"? It's a fun word to say, and I'd like to include it in my
 vocabulary, but I really don't know what it means.
 	Finally, What's the word on Majosha? I'd really like to pick
 up the album while in pre-release purgatory. It it something I'm
 gonna have to order? Will I find it lurking in the lost corners of a
 local music store? What this whole Majosha/Pots and Pans connection?
 Any attempt to clarify my misinformation would be greatly appreciated.
 Alrighty, gang that's all...nack to the grind I guess...
 			
 				Abstaining from typo correction
 						As Always,
 							Christian

 ==============================================================================

 Date: Sun, 09 Feb 1997 19:56:39 -0800
 From: nancy <ndoodle@ou.edu>
 Subject: Re: THE MAGICAL ARMCHAIR, Issue #181

 If anyone happens to tape that show in Europe on tv!!! Please post to
 the list. I'd like to try to get a copy from you if possible!

 nancy ndoodle@ou.edu

 ==============================================================================

 Date: Sun, 9 Feb 1997 17:25:56 +0000 (GMT)
 From: Stephen Levin <slevin@spuddy.mew.co.uk>
 Subject: BFF in Radio 1 Playlist

 Hi,

  UK fans will be interested to know / already know that despite the
 drug references and use of the 'F' word!! Battle of Who Could Care Less
 has made it into Radio One's (UK's biggest radio station) 'C' list..
 meaning it MAY be played between 6:30 am and 7:00 pm.
  For our fair foreign friends: this is usually regarded as making the
 difference between whether a band charts or not.

                              _
                             (.
                    	   ._) t e v e

 ... That tops it off, we think you'd better cool it!

 ==============================================================================

 Date: Sun, 9 Feb 1997 17:33:43 +0000 (GMT)
 From: Stephen Levin <slevin@spuddy.mew.co.uk>
 Subject: BFF ON UK TV!

 Hi All,

  I'm not sure if this is true BUT I have just been informed that BFF will
 be appearing on the shite UK 'pop' programme 'The O-Zone'. If this is the
 case, it will air first Sunday 16th on BBC 2, early in the morning then on
 Wednesday 27th on BBC 2, sometime after 6pm.
  Even though the program is crap, aimed at a target audience below the age
 of 16, other brilliant bands such as Placebo and Mansun have appeared on
 the programme in the past without fear of ruining their image. The show is
 admittedly VERY good publicity, airing to an audience of millions.

                              _
                             (.
                    	   ._) t e v e

 ... Ben, we both know you're a saint

 ==============================================================================

 Date: Sun, 9 Feb 1997 21:47:30 -0600 (CST)
 From: Nate Mathews <nmathews@mork.uni.uiuc.edu>
 Subject: BF 5 and Sparklehorse

 I love BF 5 and I also love Sparklehorse. I was wondering if their's any
 Sparklehorse fans on the list. Both of these bands are planning on touring
 with Counting Crows. That's gonna be awesome

 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------

  Cross Country: Finally a practical use for golf courses

 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 ==============================================================================

 Date: Sun, 09 Feb 1997 23:15:11 EST
 From: john_oc@juno.com
 Subject: Japanese Import

 To all interested...and in response to the last post on this issue...

 I have ordered the Japanese, import version of the first album through a
 local record store.  I ordered it last Thursday night...and it should be
 in this week.  If you can find a store that has the obvious connections
 that my store has...go for it.  Price for me will be around 30
 dollars...well worth it to get it a month early.  Can't wait for my Ben
 Folds Five...

 John Boyer
 Otterbein College
 Westerville, Ohio
 (614) 823 - 2969

 "Light our darkest hour!" - Rodimus Prime, Transformer Movie

 ==============================================================================

 Date: Mon, 10 Feb 1997 03:02:04 -0800 (PST)
 From: Robert Mcgovern <mcrobert@hotmail.com>
 Subject: Pink on white walls? Sorry not Ben.

 >Heh folks, Canadian crazed fan here >with a question.  I've heard of a
 >               song BY Ben Folds Five called >"Pink on White Walls!!"
 >               Where is this darn >song...nobody seems to know about it?!
 >              help!! I've never heard >it...just heard OF it  hmmmmmmmm.

 The song you heard of ,"Pink on white walls", is by Paul Weller. A famous
 British artist who has been around for years. He was an orginal member of
 "THE JAM" and later the front man for "The Style Council" but now he's
 gone solo. (also the drummer in his new band is the brother of Oasis's
 drummer) The song does have a Ben Fold sound to it, but as far as I know
 the Band haven't covered it. Incidentally, Paul has another song on the
 sound track to "The Truth about cats and Dogs" called "You do something to
 me".

 Rob

 ==============================================================================

 Date: Mon, 10 Feb 1997 14:03:50 GMT
 From: Mark Piper <pipermf@ugs1.ph.bham.ac.uk>
 Subject: *fume fume*


 It's not often I have something bad to say....

 	RIGHT! That's it! I am thoroughly annoyed and frustrated!. I take
 a small trip into the city today, to purchase the new single and also a
 ticket for the gig in Wolverhampton on the 23rd March. As I pass the Odeon
 box office, I notice "23 Ben Folds Five, Wolverhampton Wulfrun -
 Cancelled". WHAT???!! (Insert swear words liberally to get some idea of
 what I *really* want to say....). AAAAARRRGGGGGHHHHH! That ruins all my
 plans to see Ben Folds Five on this tour. I assume that the Bristol date
 the previous d ay has also been cancelled. The plan was that I would
 either see them in Wolverhampton (near here), or Bristol (near my home). I
 was also going to go to the Astoria on the 7th, but I decided to attend
 another engagement instead, on the grounds that I woul d get to see them
 anyway!! So now I must quickly make plans to see them elsewhere, which
 will involve even more time and money..... What annoyed me most is that it
 was not even mentioned in the ads that the gigs had been cancelled. In the
 ad in Q, the gig s were simply not listed. Surely a small notice that they
 had actually been cancelled and not just omitted would have been nice.

 	So, there I am, sloping along the street already feeling pretty
 damn angry. I get to HMV, and look for the single. I find it isn't there.
 I assume they would have it in the larger branch up the road, so I try
 there. No luck. I ask the assistant if they h ave the single, only to be
 told that it isn't going to be released until next week!!!

 	Add on top of this the frustrating staggered album release, and
 I'm sure many Australian fans were annoyed at the whole Big Day Out fiasco
 (although I appreciate that to be mostly on the part of the promoter).

 	Now, Ben Folds Five are fast becoming a major act on a major
 label. I know, they're not R.E.M. or U2 or anything, but I think they and
 their fans deserve some respect! If we are told the single will be
 released on the 10th, we expect it to be released on
  the 10th!. I could sort of understand it when Caroline delayed the
 release of Where's Summer B.?, being a small, relatively new label. But if
 Sony/Epic are prepared to reap rewards from the success of BFF, they
 should be prepared to put some effort into making everything run smoothly
 too!

 	I don't know if anybody can fill me in on the full details, but I
 heard an advert for Simon Mayo's Breakfast Show on Radio 1 the other day.
 It featured Mayo saying "The final nail in the Ben Folds Five coffin is
 that we phoned up the record company for t he album, and they didn't have
 a copy either!". Maybe I'm over-reacting, but I don't like Ben Folds Five
 being made a laughing stock.

 	Finally, I'm quite prepared to accept Alan Wolmark's comments on
 the staggered release. But what about fans like us who don't *need*
 promotion to make us buy the album? Is there no way we can get hold of the
 album before it goes on general sale? It would
  be very much appreciated.

 We will now resume normal service...

 A nameless person (NBoski@aol.com) wrote:

 > You want to hear about a ghost track.  I was fortunate to have heard many
 > times the first album that BF5 did for Caroline - the one that got shelved.
 >  There was some hilarious, sick and twisted dialogue on that tape between
 > Darren and Robert.  Did anyone ever get the chance to hear it?  If I posted
 > it I could get in a lot of trouble because it's pretty vulgar, but so funny.

 Really? Details, man, details!

 Tom made the rash assumption that....

 >One more thing (to non-Brits)...
 > In the UK, most people who like BF5 and Radiohead (who are mentioned quite
 > a bit on this) also like:

 Radiohead - Huge yes!

 > Kula Shaker

 Ugh....Is this a troll?

 > Manic Street Preachers (esp. ' Everything Must Go' album - very Radiohead)

 Well, yeah, I guess...

 > Stone Roses (best band ever - ignore the NME)

 Most overrated band ever. Even ignoring the NME.

 > The Charlatans (who've come from good-but-second rate Roses imitation to
 > groovy genius-types)

 Who've come from second rate Roses imitation to third-rate Roses
 imitation. Someone burn all the copies of f**king "One To Another" will
 you?

 > The Bluetones

 Great singles, slightly dodgy, but still very good, album.

 Would seem to me to be a list of bands liked by Joe Bloggs, regular indie
 kid, who happens to like Ben Folds Five too.....

 Apologies for the slightly long post...

 Mark
 http://www.geocities.com/SunsetStrip/5430/bff.html

 ==============================================================================

 Date: Mon, 10 Feb 1997 09:29:53 -0500
 From: Bill Headley <headley@procredit.com>
 Subject: BFF in latest issue of CMJ

 Just thought I would let everyone know that "Battle Of Who Could Care
 Less" is on the latest CD that comes with CMJ magazine (March 1997).
 There is also an album review where it is listed among "the five best
 new releases this month". (Along with  Bjork - "Telegram", Evergreen -
 "Evergreen", Oval - "94diskont.", and Royal Trux - "Sweet Sixteen")
 Anyway, it seems to be a pretty favorable review and the BFF track is
 really great.  I would recommend getting the magazine to everyone...

 ==============================================================================

 Date: Mon, 10 Feb 1997 15:05:45 GMT
 From: Andy Hewitt <mbcx6adh@mh2.mcc.ac.uk>
 Subject: What's going on ????????

 I'm gutted .
 Oh so gutted .
 Couldn't be more gutted if you removed my intestines with a heavy
 spade .

 Reason ?
 The single is nowhere to be seen !
 "Battle of who could care less" would appear to NOT be released on Feb
 10th which is very , very annoying . What is the reason for this
 outrage ?
 None of the shops in Manchester have it (Our Price , Virgin , HMV)
 and so it is either not released or just not released in Manchester
 (so unlikely that it rates at zero on the likely scale) .

 Boo hoo , sob and lots of sniffling noises .

 Yours guttedly
 Andy Hewitt

 P.S. Tom from the UK >> I don't like the Stone Roses at all and
 neither do any of my friends that like Ben Folds Five so another
 theory bites the dust .
 P.P.S. Sorry if this starts to sound like I'm just slagging bands but
 I have to disagree with the person who wrote in to say that Bis wee
 good . This is blatent libel on the word "good" and any other
 associated words . Bis are clearly "pants" or "Not good" and I'd like
 to say that my lawyers will be in touch soon .
 P.P.P.S. Thanks very much to all the people who wrote back to me in
 various ways to recommend music to me . Muchos gracias . I would
 write back individually but the computer destroyed all but one of the
 twenty or so people who responded . Thanks anyway .

 'Nuff moaning

 Andy (I wrote lots after the last signature so thought I should do it
 again)

 "I want to be your Christmas tree" - Michael Stipe

 ==============================================================================

 Date: Mon, 10 Feb 1997 15:46:09 +0000
 From: Paul Mawdsley <pmm26@cam.ac.uk>
 Subject: BFF UK single release back one week

 Hi All,

 I have just returned from my local record store where I went to get a copy
 of 'Battle Of Who Could Care Less', which was due out today, 10th Feb. I
 couldn't spot in on the shelf and when I asked if they had a copy they
 looked they single up on their computer and said that the release date had
 been put back a week to next Monday, 17th February. Anyone know what is
 going on?

 Paul.

 --------------------------------------------------------------
 Paul Mawdsley                           Peterhouse
                                         Cambridge
 pmm26@cam.ac.uk                         CB2 1RD

 ==============================================================================

 Date: Mon, 10 Feb 1997 11:47:10 -0500 (EST)
 From: MERSSM@rascal.guilford.edu
 Subject: re: ben on a bus stop recording?

 No, that's not Ben on the Bus Stop song "Facin' Out," but Bus
 Stop bass player and sometimes vocalist Britt Uzzell (known as
 Snuzz). They do have similar voices...I think the only time Ben
 appeared on Bus Stop's stuff was on piano. And I can't remember
 exactly which tracks...

 ==============================================================================

 Date: Tue, 11 Feb 1997 03:36:22 +0900
 From: Yutaka Harita <Yutaka.Harita@ma1.seikyou.or.jp>
 Subject: from Japan

 Do you know that in Japan you can sing Ben Folds Five songs in Karaoke?

 ==============================================================================

 Date: Tue, 11 Feb 1997 00:39:45 -0800
 From: gillet <gillet@pi.net>
 Subject: ben on tv (again!)

 next week on the o-zone (bbc televsion kids(?)-musicshow) not only
 the worlds cutest presentor (jayne middlemiss) but also an interview
 with the Bf5. I know it's on somewhere sundayafternoon on bbc2 and
 it's repeated somewhere during the week as well.

 jg

 --------------------------------------------------------------------
 met vriendelijke groet		listen every mondaynight 9-10 to
 joris gillet			SUBBACULCTHA my weekly 'alternative'
 uitgeest, the netherlands	radioshow on the local radiostation
 gillet@pi.net 			here in uitgeest, the netherlands !!
 ---------------------------------------------------------------------

 ==============================================================================

 Date: Mon, 10 Feb 1997 23:13:29 -0500
 From: zerocool@magg.net
 Subject: Tape Trees

 Can anyone tell me if a tape tree exists for BFF? I only have the first cd
 and I am having a lot of trouble finding any of the singles (import or
 otherwise)or if anyone has taped any of their live shows they too would be
 nice to have . I am willing to provide tapes, S.A.S.E, additional postage
 ect ect... whatever one would require in exchange for copies of some of
 these cd singles/ live shows. If no tape tree exists as of now would
 someone be willing to help me out with some copies of singles? Then I in
 turn would be more than happy to spin copies for anyone else who would like
 them. I am not a trader for I have nothing to trade, I am merely interested
 in "planting a BFF tape tree" if one hasn't been started yet. I just need
 some help getting a foot in the door and hopefully someone out there is
 willing to lend a hand.


 P.s.    In order to not clog up the armchair and out of respect for other
 readers, if you have a response for me could you please email me privately
 at zerocool@magg.net

 Thanks,
 Gina

 ==============================================================================

 Date: Tue, 11 Feb 1997 01:45:14 -0500 (EST)
 From: JoanneQ@aol.com
 Subject: Re: CMJ -New BFF song

 Just got my copy of the March CMJ and the new disc is again listed under the
 best new music of the month.  The CD also has The Battle of Who Could Care
 Less and it sounds great.  The only problem is I don't know if we can wait
 another month to hear the rest of the disc.  By the way, for anyone who
 doesn't know, BFF stuff can be ordered by calling (888)BENFOLDS5.
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