Gary Numan Digest Sun, 31 Jan 93 Volume 1 : Issue 18 Today's Topics: ADMINISTRIVIA "Automatic", a request Conversation with Beryl Webb 25th Jan 1992 Telekon - comments from last week UK GNFC Newsletter 39 summary WHITE NOISE, BERSERKER ORDERING INFO WHY DO WE BOTHER? - a discussion ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Sat, 30 Jan 93 19:06:50 PST From: dlangs%sunstroke@sdsu.edu (Derek Langsford) Subject: ADMINISTRIVIA To: numanews@cs.uwp.edu ADMINISTRIVIA from your humble moderator, Derek Langsford ------------- It's been a busy week. I've spent a lot of time at the keyboard. After calling both Pete and Beryl I can give the go ahead on White Noise orders and anyone who still wants a Berserker CD. Instructions are in the digest. I have included more info from the newsletter and from my conversation with Beryl for your interest. Previous week's digests are available via ftp at cs.uwp.edu in the pub/music/lists/numan/digest directory. Each digest is listed as a number indicating the volume and issue. Stored there are 1.2 through 1.17. I apologise for not adding the previous 'Numanews' newsletters yet but I have been kept busy with the digest let alone doing that extra work. I will let you know when I upload them. Have a good week! Derek ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Derek H. Langsford Dept. of Biology dlangs@sunstroke.sdsu.edu San Diego State University ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 30 Jan 93 19:11:18 PST From: dlangs%sunstroke@sdsu.edu (Derek Langsford) Subject: "Automatic", a request To: numanews@cs.uwp.edu Hello all, My request for a CD copy of Automatic came up blank despite two inital leads. So, I am asking this time for you all to keep an eye open for a copy. If you do spot one I'd appreciate you letting me know, or, better still buying it and emailing me ASAP so I can tell everyone else and send you money for it to be sent to me. I know there's one out there with my name on it! Thanks, Derek ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Derek H. Langsford Dept. of Biology dlangs@sunstroke.sdsu.edu San Diego State University ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 30 Jan 93 18:54:09 PST From: dlangs%sunstroke@sdsu.edu (Derek Langsford) Subject: Conversation with Beryl Webb 25th Jan 1992 To: numanews@cs.uwp.edu Conversation with Beryl Webb 25th Jan 1992 __________________________________________ For those new to the list, or not in the know, I periodically call Beryl Webb, Gary's mother, who runs the UK Fan Club. This is usually when I get notice of a new Fan Club-only CD release. Not only does it give me a chance to firm up the details of the transaction that is about to take place, but it gives me first hand access to find out what is happening with Gary. After exchanging greetings the following transpired. On White Noise -------------- I told her of my excitement about the White Noise CDs and said that I'd probably get orders for 30 or more copies from fans outside the UK. She said it would be fine to do what we did with the Ghost release to get the CDs to you. She was expecting the CDs to be delivered in the next two weeks and did not think there would be any delay like there was with Ghost because they had all the master tapes. I was amazed to hear that IRS have STILL not given back the Ghost side 4 mastertape. I asked if there were any plans for WN to be released generally like Ghost. She did not know but said that the deal is; Pinnacle have the option to pick up the NUMA CDs for general release. She wouldn't be surprised if they did pick it up later this year but she could not be certain. I expressed my concern about doing the deal with her if the stores were going to be able to sell it as well. She was extremely frustrated with the Ghost CDs as fans got them at about the same time or even later then the stores did. She said that would not happen with White Noise. On The Remaining NUMA albums to be put out on CD ------------------------------------------------ Plans are for The Fury and Strange Charm to be available this year. She thinks the extended mixes will be used on The Fury CD. I asked about a Numa b-sides collection. She said that she gets a lot of requests for that but Gary is uncommited at the moment. On the Shadow Man video ----------------------- She says it will not be worth it to make US NTSC copies because the cost per video would be prohibitive as would be the amount of work. I asked if we could buy a copy and make transfers here for the those in the group who want a copy. She said she'd have to ask Tony if that was possible. He deals with the Business side of Numan Music Ltd. After an experience a few years ago where someone started to make and distribute copies for profit in Belgium Beryl thought Tony may be reluctant. There are ways we could get around this that I will suggest next time I call: 1. Buying a UK copy for each of those who want the tape, then making copies of a transfer and sending those out with the UK tape. That way we have one NTSC copy per UK copy purchased and gives each one of us the artwork. This would be quite expensive though ( > $30 altogether) 2. We could offer to pay the royalties for the copies we would make to make the process semi-kosher. 3. We could buy one copy and make copies without worrying about it as long everyone promised not to make copies for financial gain. On what Gary is up to now ------------------------- He is working on the Isolate Tour live album and hopes to have it in the stores by March. He's finishing off the ballad compilation, fine-tuning the new compositions. Beryl mentioned one she thought was great but Gary was not happy with the lyrics. She was lobbying him not to change it. On Asylum 4 ----------- Unfortunately she knew nothing so I am beginning to think it was all a rumour. I told her that my newsletter was now a weekly digest with around 50 subscribers. She said she appreciated all the work I was doing and thought it great that information was getting out to people despite the lack of direct contact with the UK Fan Club. So, that was about it. My little one was getting rather unhappy in his high chair and needed attention. I would like to talk with Tony sometime about the business side of things - strategies for releases and even Gary's musical direction. That will wait for a while though. Derek ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Derek H. Langsford Dept. of Biology dlangs@sunstroke.sdsu.edu San Diego State University ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 30 Jan 93 19:22:30 PST From: dlangs%sunstroke@sdsu.edu (Derek Langsford) Subject: Telekon - comments from last week To: numanews@cs.uwp.edu The mention of Telekon last week by Brian Hammond and myself (Derek) produced two responses taking opposite sides. >From tinytina@wam.umd.edu Mon Jan 25 16:09:48 1993 Date: Mon, 25 Jan 1993 19:08:26 -0500 From: Tina Marie LeMarier Subject: Telekon I have to disagree with those who say that this is Numans's weakest album. I think that it is one of his best! It has both that sci-fi feel and extremely emotional aspect that draws most of us to him. TW undoubtably was the wrong song to release as a single, But i'm glad to have it. Even if it does have a silly cover(Gary in a clear "body bag" looking thing with the face open, if I remember correctly.) But I think that the previous explanation of the song is accurate. I'm new to the newsletter and would really love it is someone cared to mail me the previous postings, especially the ones dealing with how to get some of the cd's from the UK. Oh ya, one more thing, I love the song Telekon. Did you all know that it was supposed to be a concept album? That song and I Dream of Wires are the only songs that remained true to the idea. [Derek here, digests from last Sept are available via ftp - see before in ADMINISTRIVIA - and also in this digest are the details on ordering Berserker and White Noise CDs. I'll agree to disagree with you on the title track which would be high on my list as the nominee for Gary's worst ever song.] >From TEELK@elmer1.bobst.nyu.edu Tue Jan 26 08:19:55 1993 Date: 26 Jan 1993 11:16:50 -0500 (EST) From: Kay Teel Subject: Re: Telekon Interesting to read the various comments about Telekon. I have to agree that I have never considered it one of Numan's strongest albums. In fact there are some songs on it I haven't listened to in years (i.e., the title track). I think Derek's assessment of This Wreckage is right on target. Actually, most of the album seems to be either about the pressures of fame or the idea to quit touring. I have always liked I'm An Agent, but I'm not sure if it would have done very well as a single, either. In fact, outside of We Are Glass, I think the Telekon material is oddly unsuited for single releases. I like I Die:You Die, but have never thought of it as a "single." But the disclaimer to all this is that I'd prefer Telekon over Machine + Soul any day. --Kay Teel teelk@elmer1.bobst.nyu.edu P.S. (Frivolous question for Derek here: am I the only female on this list???) [I think you are Kay. I am curious as to why - probably a combo of sex ratio of computer users and interest in synth music, Derek] ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 30 Jan 93 19:05:13 PST From: dlangs%sunstroke@sdsu.edu (Derek Langsford) Subject: UK GNFC Newsletter 39 summary To: numanews@cs.uwp.edu More Info from UK GNFC Newsletter 39 ____________________________________ My post to the digest last week was brief because I wanted to bring you the major news before the digest went out Sunday morning and it was Saturday when I received the mailing. So here I will flesh out the remainder of what the newsletter contained. Editorial comments in parentheses are mine. Letter from Gary ---------------- He intends to tour with the new album in Sept/Oct meaning an early Sept release at the latest. He's well into the writing and recording of 'Vicious'. It's a big return to guitars and heavy synth. When songs are near completion he'll put them on the Nu-Music phone line, 0891 600 545. (I wonder if this is accessible from the USA or is it one of those toll charge calls like the 1-900 calls in the USA - any UK resident like to confrim this?). Some songs may be ready by February. He thanks everyone for supporting the M&S album. He's thinking of doing a longer set live to include more of the newer songs without ditching the old. This might require having no support band or starting earlier. The competition line is going well. Although most of the outings have been in the south-east UK he admits he doesn't live in that area adn also has to travel for these events. (anyone have an idea where he does live?) 1992 was a successful airshow season for him and The Radial Pair. He was thinking of selling his plane to concentrate on music but the value of his Harvard has sunk due to the recession and he does not want to sell it. He will try to restrain his flying time. The plane is kept at Duxford (I'll go look it up in my UK Raod Atlas :). He has been working on a remix of AFE with Kipper but it is Kipper's brainchild. He just did the talking vocals and it won't be ot on NUMA. It's on the Nu-Music phone line though. He's been getting out a bit to clubs and concerts rather than being Mr. Recluse and has enjoyed it. He expects the next tour to be anything but tame and timid. He's renting out his Outland Studio to any fan who would like to use it for $200 per day. He'll let you use his equipment and engineer the sessions himself free of charge. (Is this a very nice gesture or are NUMA really hard up for cash? Seems like a unique offer anyway.) He wishes us all a good Christmas. Fan Club News from Beryl ------------------------ She mentions the fun days with the competition winners. The M&S video was produced anddirected by Gary's girlfriend Tracey Adam at the Vari Lite demonstration room in Greenford, London. This video is on the Shadow Man compilation. Gary tried to promote the M&S album as much as possible touring radio stations in Scotland, the Midlands and interviews with local BBC stations. He actually took some Radio One people flying in August addiscuused some problems with them (anyone in the UK heard Gary played on Radio 1 since then?). He also had a busy flying schedule doing displays, taking aerial photographers up and evaluating air dislplay pilots for the UK Civil Avaiation Authority. Gary started on the new album in September. The ballad album is a definite release in the new year. Beryl, in addition to the AFE cover with Kipper, mentions Gary's work on a Down in the Park cover with Yen. In September he also went wing walking and flew aerobatics in a Phantom jet. There's a possibility Gary might sign to another label which makes release planning difficult but the live album should appear early in 93 followed by the ballad album with the new studio album later in the year. She apologises for having to stop running the overseas section of the fan club and knows many are receiving newsletters through UK fans. She also mentions those of us who are keeping contact with fans outside the UK. I guess that's the likes of me. Gary's Questions ---------------- Q: Was the Lee Copper advert which you did early in your career ever released as a single? A: Yes, but not by me. I didn't write it. I only sang on the ad (for L40). Q: Are 'The Fury', 'Strange Charm', and 'White Noise' albums going to made available on CD again? A: Yes, throughout 1993. Q: Will you ever release songs that you have recorded over the years and that have never been released? A: Difficult to say. If they weren't released it was probably because I thought they weren't good enough.There aren't many anyway. I tend not to finish anything I don't intend to release. Q: Would you ever release 'I Wonder' as a single? A: Possibly. Maybe to promote the ballad album but I'd rather use a new song. Q: Why have you stopped working with your old live band? A: The honest and full answer is very private but among the reasons were the fact that Paul was gone, Chris lives in France, Rrussell has vanished and I'm not sure who you could consider as being 'the old live band'. (what about Ced Sharpley!!!!!!!). New people add new ideas and life. Nothing lasts forever and sometimes changes are for the better. The 93 band will be different to the last one. I'm restless I suppose, always looking for something new and something better. (almost funny considering the lack of new ideas lately!!!) Q: Can we expect to hear more cover versions? A: I have no plans to record any in the near future. (Whew!!) Q: Would you consider doing a 90s version of DitP or AFE? A: The live version of AFE is now very different from the original. The new Mike Allen/Kipper cover is also quite different. I am not that interested in giving the kiss of life to old songs though I am very happy for others to do it such as Yen with DitP. I'd rather get on with new stuff. When I first made it Iwas considered innovative and inventive (is he recognising that he is not considered as such anymore). What a shame it would be if I were to become one of those old sad acts rehashing old glory days. It's not the way I want to go although it is tempting, particularly now there is an entire generation that have probably never heard those songs. Then it's perhaps best they don't. Q: Will M&S be released on picture disc or picture CD? A: Not in the same version already out. I do have a long version of it that has extended mixes of nearly all the songs and I may release that in the furture as a picture CD. Releases -------- Notes the Document Series and Other Side of Compilations. Other than that there was the usual penpals section and Numan Disco adverts followed on the back cover by a final holiday greeting and thanks for still being there. Inserted pieces of paper included the order form for WN CDs, a survey of interest in a video of Gary's flying with original music from Gary and an interview. It would be about L11. I might send Beryl details of the digest so any UK fans can join in our discussion group if they have access. That's it for now, Derek ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Derek H. Langsford Dept. of Biology dlangs@sunstroke.sdsu.edu San Diego State University ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 30 Jan 93 19:32:15 PST From: dlangs%sunstroke@sdsu.edu (Derek Langsford) Subject: WHITE NOISE, BERSERKER ORDERING INFO To: numanews@cs.uwp.edu DETAILS FOR ORDERING WHITE NOISE AND BERSERKER CDS -------------------------------------------------- For those new to the list, UK FAN CLUB-only CD releases can be obtained through me, from the UK FAN CLUB, via my brother in London. I take the orders, collect the money, change it to UK pounds, send it to my brother, he orders the CDs from Beryl and then mails them directly to you. As you can see it is a less than convenient system but it is the only way we can get them. Here is the breakdown of the charges for NUMA CDs. Please assess what your order might be and add up what it would come to. Note, I am not taking orders for Ghost CDs as your nearest seller of imports should be able to get it for you. White Noise, despite being 2 CDs is considered as 1 because of the slim line CD jewel case it comes in. Thomas Cook quoted me an exchange rate of L1 = $1.60 for a UK bank draft with a $5 fee per draft that I'll pay myself out of my "cost defrayment fee". UK USA L $ White Noise CD incl p&p to Pete 13.00 20.80 Berserker CD incl p&p to Pete 10.80 17.28 packing for 1 CD 0.35 0.56 for 2 to 4 CDs 0.45 0.72 postage for 1 CD 1.35 2.16 for 2 CDs 2.31 3.70 for 3 CDs 3.11 4.98 for 4 CDs 4.07 6.51 payment to Pete (per disc) 1.25 2.00 my costs defrayment (per disc) 1.25 2.00 Note, orders for more than 4 CDs will be split into two packages due to limitations in padded envelope size and also it avoids duty charges by the US Post Office. A couple of examples: to order 1 White Noise CD your total would be: 20.80 + 0.56 + 2.16 + 2.00 + 2.00 = $27.52 to order 2 White Noise and 1 Berserker your total would be: 20.80 + 20.80 + 17.28 + 0.72 + 4.98 + 6.00 + 6.00 = $76.58 Pay for Pete is because he is doing us a big favour, has to order from Beryl by phone (a long distance call), send the cheque, parcel up and address all the envelopes and take them to the Post Office to mail. Also, I would not be able to get the CDs without him. My costs defrayment is a $2 fee I have charged to help me get back some of the cash I have spent on phone calls and my 1993 UK GN FC membership. I hope you find the cost per set reasonable considering the circuitous route it is being put through. The final price per disc is not too different from what you would pay for a regular European import when the sales tax is included. For those outside the USA please contact me individually and we'll work out something like we did for Berserker and Ghost. Any orders from UK readers will obviously cost less as no exchange of currency will be necessary and postage will be less. At the moment all I would like you to do is email me your order and what you calculate you would owe. Please send email to me at : dlangs@sunstroke.sdsu.edu and use "order info" as the subject line. Please postings to the digest to the usual address - numan@cs.uwp.edu The call for cheques will go out at a later date. Derek ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Derek H. Langsford Dept. of Biology dlangs@sunstroke.sdsu.edu San Diego State University ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 30 Jan 93 19:55:52 PST From: dlangs%sunstroke@sdsu.edu (Derek Langsford) Subject: WHY DO WE BOTHER? - a discussion To: numanews@cs.uwp.edu John Skrentny sent me this thought provoking thesis. I am sure it should generate some keen discussion amongst us. After his initial email are a few exchanges we made. >From jds@isr.harvard.edu Mon Jan 25 14:01:08 1993 Date: Mon, 25 Jan 93 16:59:59 -0500 From: jds@isr.harvard.edu (John David Skrentny) Derek, After being on this list for over a year now, I am compelled to write about something that has been bothering me for a long time. Has anyone else noticed the absurdity of the following: 1. All evidence suggests that only Numan's old fans are buying his latest releases. 2. All evidence (that I have seen from this list) suggests that none of these fans like this stuff. Isn't there obviously something wrong here? This means, of course, that NO ONE likes what Numan is doing. It seems pretty clear to me that everyone buys this stuff with the fading hope that maybe THIS (latest) release will bring back whatever was so appealing about "Are 'Friends' Electric?", _Telekon_, and/or _Berserker_. And yet we are all continually disappointed. The situation reminds me of baseball's Chicago Cubs, who have been terrible for decades. But the fans keep coming back. "Maybe this year," they think to themselves. They are always disappointed. Of course, the owners don't care. If it works, don't fix it! It seems to me that Numan's primary interest is in expanding his fan base. He seems to be confronted with two different paradigms. In one, he accepts his marginal status, and plays a sort of progressive Eno-type character, making interesting records with limited mass market appeal, but which solidify his current fan base. He experiments, he hits, he misses, but tries to break new ground. Like he used to. Am I correct in assuming that this is what most people on this list want? The other paradigm is to go for the big time. To try to see what is selling, to try to copy that, to try to sell millions of records by tapping that mainstream musical zeitgeist. This, of course, is what he is doing, and which, of course, is failing utterly. Numan's fans are (apparently) so few that they can deal DIRECTLY with Numan's mum (!). They are so few that they can treat the situation like ordering a pizza, with Derek saying to Beryl, "We would like more of this..." (Or did that conversation occur between Derek and Gary's aunt? I can't remember.) But apparently, Numan is so stupid and greedy and that he cannot see what his real market is. He takes these poor fans for granted. He milks what he has in endless re-releases and re-mixes, singles with "rarity" B-sides (which are usually pretty good), while he tries again and again at being the new Robert Palmer, or, incredibly, the new Prince. An entertainer who is entertaining no one seems pretty silly to me. I am not criticizing any of you who have been buying the latest stuff. I have not purchased anything since _The Fury_ except _New Anger_, which I hoped would be something new, as I was shocked to see Numan picked up by an American label in what I thought was the twilight of Numan's career. I was disappointed. I never heard a single track from _Outland_, which was panned so severely in this newsletter that I figured it wasn't worth my time. Anyway, so now we hear a new collection in on the way, tentatively titled _Vicious_--not too promising, in my opinion. Since WE are Numan's market, perhaps, Derek, we could send some sort of statement or petition to Numan's mum, telling him what we think? Has that been done before? I don't really treat this as seriously as this letter probably sounds. But it seems to me that it is silly and OBSCENE for Numan's fans to be so continually disappointed. Derek, I am not asking you to put this whole thing in the newsletter, but I would hope you would mention it, and perhaps get some discussion going about what seems to me to be an absurd state of affairs. John Skrentny >From dlangs Mon Jan 25 14:48:23 1993 From: dlangs (Derek Langsford) Subject: your analysis John, You raise some very valid issues. I must say though that my interest in keeping this newsletter/digest going is to keep an avenue open for the group to get ahold of the FC-only CD releases that people have been craving for years. The new material is worth considering but I have often thought that after the whole NUMA back catalogue appears on CD I might throw in the towel and let someone else take over. The continuous hope for a return to the sounds of old is a phenomenon in most fans of long lived artists : Queen, Pink Floyd, Genesis, Rush. I personally do not understand or like Gary's direction since Berserker. I think this view is held by most on the list. If I had the chance to speak to him personally I would probably mention it. I haven't done so in very strong terms to Beryl because I want to preserve our contact without ill feeling. I feel she is doing us a big favour allowing us to procure the CDs. And afterall, she is just his mum, not artistic director. I'll post all your letter to the digest as a point for serious discussion. One thing I found out with the Noise Noise cassette fanzine was that UK fans at his concerts go crazy over anything he does. I detected a lack of musical discrimination. Post-concert interviews with fans produced quotes such as "brilliant", "best ever tour" even when most of the material was from New Anger/Metal Rhythm and Outland. BTW the UK MR is IMO better than the US New Anger. The album gels much better. I understand your problem and will be curious to read what others think. Derek ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Derek H. Langsford Dept. of Biology dlangs@sunstroke.sdsu.edu San Diego State University ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- >From jds@isr.harvard.edu Tue Jan 26 10:40:46 1993 From: jds@isr.harvard.edu (John David Skrentny) Subject: Re: your analysis Date: Tue, 26 Jan 93 13:40:42 EST I hope I did not give the impression that I thought the newsletter is a waste or a silly thing. Finding out about the back catalog stuff on CD was great, and it IS interesting to read about what Numan is up to. My apologies if such an impression came through. > The continuous hope for a return to the sounds of old is a phenomenon in > most fans of long lived artists : Queen, Pink Floyd, Genesis, Rush. THIS IS an extremely interesting phenomenon. The transformation of interesting musicians into bland dance-pop outfits seems to be quite prevalent (New Order and OMD are obvious examples). What makes the Numan situation unique is that this move has not resulted in stardom, NOR has it resulted in ruin (which seems to be the OMD situation). It has resulted in nearly a decade (since Berserker) of malaise. John >From dlangs Tue Jan 26 14:56:29 1993 Date: Tue, 26 Jan 93 14:56:27 PST From: dlangs (Derek Langsford) Subject: Re: your analysis > I hope I did not give the impression that I thought the newsletter is a waste > silly thing. Finding out about the back catalog stuff on CD was great, and > it IS interesting to read about what Numan is up to. My apologies if such > an impression came through. No, I did not think that. The impression I got was you were wondering why we bother hoping he'll produce another AFE/Dance/Berserker. Re: New Order and OMD Technique is not an album I really like, thought I do like the previous three studio albums they did. I was a keen OMD fan from the beginning and most appreciate their earlier albums. Things started to mellow out with Junk Culture but I must admit I quite like Sugar Tax. It is more dancy but there is still some vintage old OMD elements that make it more listenable than the latest from EMF or TLC or whomever. Were you implying that OMD were ruined or NOT ruined? Sugar Tax has been their most successful album in ages. Gary still can produce the odd gem. They just seem to be getting fewer and further between. M & S was an improvement over Outland, not a great improvement but enough to suggest that he's veering in a better direction. Now I did not say 'good' direction, just better. In terms of sales I think Berserker was the first flop. I don't think it made the UK top 75 albums. To me this seems criminal. Since then, I have never been happy with any of his albums. Metal Rhythm comes closest. Derek ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Derek H. Langsford Dept. of Biology dlangs@sunstroke.sdsu.edu San Diego State University ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- >From jds@isr.harvard.edu Wed Jan 27 11:44:17 1993 From: jds@isr.harvard.edu (John David Skrentny) Subject: whoops ...and why he DOESN'T produce such. But I think you may have answered that... I thought that Sugar Tax was a flop. All the OMD fans that I know who bothered to buy it didn't like it, and it showed up in the bargain/cutout bins here in Boston. I read negative reviews also. If it WAS a success, my mistake. With Humphrey's leaving the band, and what I considered a flopo in Sugar Tax, I assumed OMD was ruined. > In terms of sales I think Berserker was the first flop. I don't think it made > the UK top 75 albums. To me this seems criminal. THIS is perhaps the simple answer to my problem. I thought Berserker was just an equal flop with Warriors and everything else that followed. Has the wailing female backing vocals stuff done better sales than Berserker? My whole thing assumed that Berserker was no worse commercially than the other stuff. If it IS the biggest flop, then I guess I can't fault Numan too much. Last comment from Derek: Sugar Tax was a big success in the UK yielding several top 10 singles and a good album performance in the chart. I wonder if this was because of fans new to OMD rather than the older fans being faithful. I'd like to see sales figures for all of Gary's albums so we could see the trends. That should be public info or obtainable from NUMA unless the recent figures are acutely embarrassing. OK, everyone. Are we just being stupid buying Gary's output, whatever it sounds like? ------------------------------ End of Gary Numan Digest ******************************