THE MAGICAL ARMCHAIR
The Ben Folds Five Digest
Issue #183 - February 14, 1997
THE MAGICAL ARMCHAIR, Issue #183
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[Once again, lots o'posts, so this issue is split. -fjm]
Topics for Today:
Re: CMJ -New BFF song
BFF and Simon Mayo on Radio 1
Taping Policy
BFF Tour hitting the East Coast??
Fun in UK
Sparklehorse
UK/Dutch TV BF5 Appearances
BF5 in Paris
Ben Folds Five on CMJ...
Just a quick question
BFF: Majosha/Pots and Pans
America, the Neglected
import/export business
Re: Pots and Pans
ALICE CHILDRESS
Sparklehorse
new album
The Ben Folds Five Web Page
Re: Ben on Bus Stop Recording
Re: Cleveland Fans Unite!
disillusioned
BF5 and Bus Stop
==============================================================================
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.
==============================================================================
Date: Tue, 11 Feb 1997 13:54:11 +0000
From: Paul Mawdsley <pmm26@cam.ac.uk>
Subject: BFF and Simon Mayo on Radio 1
Hi All,
Mark Piper asked about a reference to BFF by Simon Mayo on the Radio One
breakfast show last week that he heard. I was unfortunate to hear the whole
sorry extent of what was said on that show said.
Mayo has a feature on his show called 'The Missonary Position' in which
listeners can write in and suggest a song which they think is really good
and worthy of commercial success, but which never made it to become a hit;
it then gets played to an audience of literally millions.
I think it was on Friday last week that someone wrote in about BFF. The
letter, from someone called Mark Whitaker, explained that after the success
of 'Underground' BFF seemed to have sunk without trace and none of their
other singles had been heard much at all in the radio. It then went on to
say how good the album was, and asked Mayo to play Mark's favourite track,
Boxing.
I was personally hoping that he would have asked for Philosophy, or one of
the other more up-beat tracks from the album, as these would have suited
the musical tone of the show far better than Boxing did. Anyway, Mayo told
how Radio 1 had had to contact BFF's record company to get a copy of the
album, and that when they got in touch with them they did not have a copy,
so had to go out to HMV and buy one! He then played the Boxing, and
generally slated it, starting to talk over the music about halfway through
the track. The basis of his comments were that it was too slow and
depressing, and he made jokes about people commiting suicide after hearing
it. After it had finished he continued to go on in a sarcastic manner about
how good BFF must be if their record company didn't even have a copy of
their album. He also mentioned that they had now signed to a new company,
and had a new single out 'next month'.
Luckily Simon Mayo is only hosting the Breakfast Show for one more week,
before he hands over to Mark Radcliffe, who has been known to make
favourable comments on BFF before.
Hope that helps then, Mark, and any others who were curious.
Paul.
--------------------------------------------------------------
Paul Mawdsley Peterhouse
Cambridge
pmm26@cam.ac.uk CB2 1RD
--------------------------------------------------------------
==============================================================================
Date: Tue, 11 Feb 1997 09:03:18 -0500
From: Jon Lax <jon_lax@grey.net>
Subject: Taping Policy
I see a lot of grovels for tapes of BFF shows. I have been taping (only
with band permission) live shows for 5 years. I would love to tape BFF
and seed a tree for this mailing list but what is the band policy for
non-commercial taping of their shows? Does anyone know?
Jon
==============================================================================
Date: Tue, 11 Feb 1997 10:12:03 -0500
From: Nick Weil <weil@husc.harvard.edu>
Subject: BFF Tour hitting the East Coast??
Do us folks in Boston get to see Ben when he comes back to the States?
----------------------------------------
"I have nothing new to teach the world.
Truth and non-violence are as old as the
hills." --Mahatma Gandhi
----------------------------------------
==============================================================================
Date: Tue, 11 Feb 1997 15:53:58 GMT
From: "A GARBI REG:00263121" <GARBIA-U@m4-arts.bham.ac.uk>
Subject: Fun in UK
What! Wolves Cancelled!
I'd better get some Sheffield tickets.
Single delayed? What on earth is going on?
BUT, there is some good. The O-Zone appearance is perhaps sinking a
bit low, but the video for 'Battle...' was on TOTP2 last Saturday, I
hope all you Brits saw it. It's a black and white affair, with the
band variously standing a mics singing along or with instruments
singing along. Don't know how many people ever watch TOTP2, but this
was a top treat anyway.
I think the R1 Mayo advert was taken a bit out of context. Yes, he
did laugh at Sony's expense, but not at BF5's expense. On the actual
show, it was more like he wanted to support BF5 as much as possible.
Marky boy, if you must be angry at someone, be angry at those
hopeless tossers at Sony. Simon Mayo is a nob though, obviously, roll
on next Monday...
Andy.
==============================================================================
Date: Tue, 11 Feb 1997 15:54:57 +0100 (MET)
From: Daniel Rodrigues Parreira <parreira@aquawolf.xs4all.nl>
Subject: Sparklehorse
On 9-Feb-97 Nate Mathews <nmathews@mork.uni.uiuc.edu> wrote:
> 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
On the same TV show that airs this Thursday where BF5 will play some
songs, Sparklehorse will also be performing. Coincidence? :+)
-- Daniel
==============================================================================
Date: Tue, 11 Feb 1997 15:50:12 +0100 (MET)
From: Daniel Rodrigues Parreira <parreira@aquawolf.xs4all.nl>
Subject: UK/Dutch TV BF5 Appearances
On 9-Feb-97 nancy <ndoodle@ou.edu> wrote:
> 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!
Both shows that have been mentioned on this list ("2 meter sessies" and
"The O-Zone" are being broadcasted in countries (the UK and the
Netherlands) that use the PAL video system. It is not possible for
Americans to just get a copy of it. It has to be converted in some way.
I also have an old BF5 appearance on BBC2 ("Later with Jools Holland") on
tape where they play My Philosophy.
-- Daniel
==============================================================================
Date: 11 Feb 1997 17:03:58 GMT
From: William Gillis <William_Gillis@aup.fdn.fr>
Subject: BF5 in Paris
My name is Bill and I am living in Paris but originally
from Montclair, NJ. My friend Bill Spagnardi (from Verona,
NJ)has a brother in the band Mr. Henry and he used to play
with Ben. Anyways I saw BF5 two nights in the fall at
Chesterfield's in Paris. I caught them Halloween night which
was a great show and a lot of fun; they dressed up as
members of Kiss. I don't remember which member of Kiss
got left out (Probably Peter Criss). Apparently they are back
here at Divan Du Monde on (I believe) Mar 21. If anyone has
any info regarding that show please pass along. And, if anyone
is in Paris and might be going, feel free to email me. That
is all. Thanks
==============================================================================
Date: Tue, 11 Feb 1997 13:07:34 -0500
From: "Brian R. Kessler" <bkessler@btv.ibm.com>
Subject: Ben Folds Five on CMJ...
Someone asked a few issues ago if BF5 would have a cut on CMJ before the new
album is released...
Well, I just got the recent CMJ in the mail yesterday, and Track #2 is....
"THE BATTLE OF WHO COULD CARE LESS"
Some extra bonuses on this month's sampler include a new (old) song by Ani
DiFranco (with a cover story article), and new stuff from Veruca Salt.
YAHOOOOOO!!!!
Peace, skiing, & music,
Brian
--
"Never seem to get far enough / Staying in between the lines..." - Son Volt
--------
Brian R. Kessler
Phone: 802-769-4617
e-mail: IBM Internal - BKESSLER at BTV Internet - bkessler@vnet.ibm.com
==============================================================================
Date: Tue, 11 Feb 1997 13:42:13 -0500 (EST)
From: berlinme@student.lansing.cc.mi.us
Subject: Just a quick question
OKay, so the new single comes out today in the UK, but what about the US?
Why is it that all the good singles always come out in Euroupe first?
Funk dat! This always happens with REM stuff too! Argh!
Melanie A. Berlin-Willis
P.S. To Andy Hewitt--I wanna be your Easter Bunny...
My quote of the day?
"What the devil is wrong with rock and roll? PLENTY!"
----Jacob Aranza, from the landmark bestseller "Backward Masking Unmasked"
==============================================================================
Date: Tue, 11 Feb 1997 14:13:58 -0500
From: "Gillmer J. Derge" <derge@crd.GE.COM>
Subject: BFF: Majosha/Pots and Pans
There seems to be a lot of confusion and interest on the
Majosha/Pots and Pans history. I wasn't going to do this, because I'm
not sure I have all the details right, but at this point I guess some
information is better than none. Maybe Chuck Folds can fill in with
some
corrections. Here's how I remember it.
Around early 1988 Majosha formed and played their first gig at
Duke University's Battle of the Bands. They won. At that time,
Majosha was Ben on bass, Millard Powers on guitar, some guy named Dave
on drums and a fourth guy (Rob?) who was never heard from again.
For the purposes of historical completeness, it should be
mentioned that at that time, Majosha was spelled with an accent over
the o. At some point that was dropped, mostly because people were too
stupid to realize that the accent didn't mean it was Muh-joe'-sha
(it's Muh-jah'-sha).
They played bars and frat parties for a while and eventually
put out a self-produced EP sold at a few local stores called "Party
Night: Five Songs About Jesus." There were 4 songs, and none were
about Jesus. I think the 4 songs were: Get That Bug (Outta Your
System), Kalamazoo, Where's Bohemia and Cool Whip. I'm not so sure
about Where's Bohemia.
Gradually their popularity grew and they played larger and
farther flung gigs. Some time in 1989, they recorded "Shut Up and
Listen to Majosha." That's about the time Dave got the boot and was
replaced with Chris (Hound). They also borrowed Evan Olsen from Chuck
Folds' band, the DT's at about the same time. Various tracks on Shut
Up feature Dave, Chris or Ben on drums and/or Evan, Ben or Millard
doing vocals. Shut Up contains, among others, the 4 songs from Party
Night (remixed and/or rerecorded), Emaline and Video.
At about the same time they did some sort of dance mix of Get
That Bug that was released somehow in Japan. As a promotional CD?
At some point, Hound got sacked as well, and was replaced by
Eddie Walker, who I think was also in the DT's with Chuck and Evan
(all 3 of whom eventually became Bus Stop with Snuzz).
In early 1990 Majosha broke up, and Ben formed Pots and Pans
with Snuzz and some other guy. Ben played drums. They disappeared
soon after.
Something like that. That should at least clear up a bit of
the lineage. I'd be surprised if Party Night or Shut Up are available
anywhere on any sort of large scale basis.
BTW, as far as I know, "Talk About Love", on Miracle Time, is
at least one of the Bus Stop songs Ben plays on. There may be others.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Gillmer J. Derge <derge@crd.ge.com>
P.O. Box 8
Schenectady, NY 12301 (518) 387-6382
==============================================================================
Date: Tue, 11 Feb 1997 14:56:32 -0500 (EST)
From: Jerry Springer <mjt7742@is2.nyu.edu>
Subject: America, the Neglected
I'm beginning to think Ben Folds Five are giving lots of attention to
England, Australia, and Japan much more so than us, the little country
between two oceans. What's wrong with our TV programs? What's wrong with
our magazines? Doesn't anybody like America anymore? New York City?
Anyone?
That is all.
==============================================================================
Date: Tue, 11 Feb 1997 12:28:03 -0800 (PST)
From: Adam Gimbel <dumyhead@millennianet.com>
Subject: import/export business
To any overseas fans (as in not US):
I'm looking to get a copy of any of BF5's appearances on TV in lands
faraway. I work next door to a company which does overseas transfers, so I
can trade videos without either of us having to pay to transfer the format.
I have a ton of stuff to trade, just check my page. Don't have much as
far as Ben goes, just the Uncle Walter vid & the Minneapolis show on audio
(w/Vijo Kilt da Radyo *) neither of which are listed on my page (I think).
PS. I wouldn't expect anyone who liked BFF to like the Stone Roses (who I
love but also love to laugh at).
==============================================================================
Date: Tue, 11 Feb 1997 15:52:22 -0500
From: Tom Spagnardi <toms@worldrg.com>
Subject: Re: Pots and Pans
To Melanie:
>there are orange stickers on the sleeve of the album that say
>"Shut Up and Listen to Majosha," the debut album by the band Pots >and Pans.
When the band Pots and Pans rose from the ashes of the band Majosha (as
Chuck Folds explained in MA #181), they had a bunch of copies of the
recently released record "Shut Up and Listen to Majosha" laying around.
Pots and Pans had just formed, and did not have a demo recording. So, since
both bands featured Ben and Evan, and material written largely by Ben, they
stuck a sticker on the Majosha record that read "The Debut Album From Pots
and Pans". Hence, the anomaly.
==============================================================================
Date: Tue, 11 Feb 1997 15:46:38 -0500
From: rawlings@datastream.net
Subject: ALICE CHILDRESS
DOES ANY ONE KNOW WHERE I CAN GET PIANO MUSIC FOR ALICE CHILDRESS. I RELLY
NEED TO GET MY HANDS ON IT. THIS IS IMPORTANT!!!!! SO IF YOU CAN HELP ME
OUT WRITE ME AT: RAWLINGS@DATASTREAM.NET THANKS ALOT.
-------------BRAD
==============================================================================
Date: Tue, 11 Feb 1997 16:08:16 -0500 (EST)
From: SharynN@aol.com
Subject: Sparklehorse
In a message dated 97-02-11 07:49:56 EST, Nate Mathews writes:
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
>>
I thought Sparklehorse (aside from having a great name) were kinda dull, but
will try again. Mark Linkous's first band, Dancing Hoods, were really great
and I'd recommend them if you like straight ahead pop/rock (they cover the
Left Banke's "She May Call You Up Tonight").
I can't wait for the new album.
Sharyn
Sharyn November
SharynN@AOL.com
<http://www.geocities.com/Athens/4135>
==============================================================================
Date: Tue, 11 Feb 1997 15:11:39 -0600
From: John Urban <johnnyu@mailbag.com>
Subject: new album
You know the bad thing about being a morning drive dj
in the midwest, is getting up at 4am and driving to work
in -5 temps., with windchills of 30 below.
The GOOD thing is having your boss hand you a little
cardboard sleeve with the new BFF album in it. It
surprised me being as mellow as it is, but it makes
getting up so frickin' early much easier.
I can't take it out of the darn machine.
John
==============================================================================
Date: Tue, 11 Feb 1997 16:29:04 -0500
From: Ted Beck <tedbeck@mindspring.com>
Subject: The Ben Folds Five Web Page
As most already know, the Ben Folds Five have yet again made it to
CMJ's New Music Monthly magazine in the March issue. The album appears in
the Best New Music column -- as did the last album -- with praising reviews,
and there is a full page ad -- as there was with the last album -- on the
back cover of the magazine. Of course, with the first album, the full page
ad was printed somewhere inside the magazine. The guys are moving up!
Anyhow, in the advertisement, the web page is listed again, and as of
February the 7th, http://www.bffweb.com is up and running.
Unfortunately, when one accesses the URL, the Sony Music Home Page
comes up, and you must wade through several excess pages of Sony Music
glorification. Likewise, the Sony page server is unbelievably slow, and I
could only manage to get through about two pages (The Index and Bio) before
I grew too frustrated to wait; to be more precise, I had spent around
fifteen minutes just to retrieve those two pages.
For those of you who are still waiting, "The Battle of Who Could
Care Less" sounds great! I felt lucky as a CMJ subscriber to receive the
March issue twenty days early. To anyone who has the magazine/disc as well,
what did you think of the "Scottish Temple Rite Stomp" song? Anyhow, just a
while longer, right guys?!
Ted Beck
tedbeck@mindspring.com
==============================================================================
Date: Wed, 12 Feb 1997 08:40:53 +0000
From: Damian Child <dchild@lochard.com.au>
Subject: Re: Ben on Bus Stop Recording
> 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...
>
I thought the bass player for Bus Stop was Chuck Folds - Ben's
brother...???? *shrug* Please confirm!.
==============================================================================
Date: Tue, 11 Feb 1997 17:04:15 -0500 (EST)
From: Bobolifoo@aol.com
Subject: Re: Cleveland Fans Unite!
Yeah, Christian! I'm from Cleveland too, and I usually don't reply
to the Armchair, but I felt I had to after hearing from another local. I
would also like to grovel for a Cleveland date, as I wasn't able to go to the
last one because of scholastic reasons... (I'm in high school, and the
concert was on a Wednesday) If anybody gets word on a Cleveland date, please
E-Mail me at Bobolifoo@aol.com if you can remember, 'cause of joint reasons
(the radio probably won't talk about it, 'cause, I'm sorry to admit, BF5
isn't too popular here, and even if somebody did, I don't listen to the radio
anymore except in the mornings, due to the recent extreme crappyness of
Cleveland Rock Radio) I'm also looking very forward to the new album, but
since I'm not really into the underground scene, and I'm not what most would
call a die-hard fan of BF5, I wouldn't know if it were released, or where it
were released if anywhere I'd know of! I dunno, I just need information, and
this is my only source! Thanks.
~Jon Malangoni
"I hate that it's come to this, but baby I was doin' fine, how do you think
that I survived the other twenty-five before you?" ~Ben Folds (notice I used
the "S")
==============================================================================
Date: Wed, 12 Feb 1997 09:34:54 +1100
From: Alex <belawan@parramatta.starway.net.au>
Subject: disillusioned
We here on the great Island that is Australia have become more than
a little disillusioned with BF5...we get no tours, no press coverage, and i
have to read my MAGICAL ARMCHAIR every week or so where
American/Canadian/British fans babble excitedly about TV apperance's of the
band, radio guest spots, live shows, BF5 rarities...ect...do we get a turn
to show our enjoyment of the band?...i buy the records, i join the mailing
list, i would most definatly buy a ticket to see a gig...
call it whinging, but im getting a little sick of reading this
mailing list because i have no idea what anyone on here is talking
about...you guys think its hard getting rare recordings of the band up
there?...it was hard just getting "Ben Folds Five" the album down here...i
love the music, i love the band, and id love to see them live.
~~Alex~~
** If you wait, I'll give all my eggs to
you...and my cold hand, is there for you
to take, I'm your Berlin Chair, you can
lean on me till I break.**
Tim Rogers, You Am I
==============================================================================
Date: Tue, 11 Feb 1997 18:52:24 -0500 (EST)
From: NBoski@aol.com
Subject: BF5 and Bus Stop
First, let's get things straight. Snuzz is one of Bus Stop's guitar players
and singers. He does not play bass for the band, Chuck Folds does, and a
fine job at that. You have to give this great band the respect that they
deserve.
By the way, Ben did play piano on Bus Stop's latest, self-titled CD. I
highly recommend this CD to music lovers everywhere.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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