Date: Sun, 6 Nov 94 04:00:05 CST From: numan@cs.uwp.edu Reply-To: numan@cs.uwp.edu (Gary Numan) Subject: Gary Numan Digest V1 #104 Gary Numan Digest Sun, 6 Nov 94 Volume 1 : Issue 104 Today's Topics: Jo's Gender SACRIFICE - Derek's reservations disappear Sacrifice and other things subsribe twenty six dollars UK Fan Club miscellaneous info UK Fan Club Newsletter 42/43 (June) UK Fan Club Newsletter 44 (September) ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Tue, 1 Nov 1994 22:59:44 -0500 From: ZigiF@aol.com Subject: Jo's Gender To: numan@cs.uwp.edu Remember that Jo the Waiter also appears in Basic J ("Jo the Waiter spilling wine/ Over some ex-friends of mine") in which the character is referred to as "him." I always thought that the spelling "Jo" was used (rather than Joe) to give the impression of androgeny, but on the other hand it may be a play on the term j.o. (jerk off), especially given the last verse of Basic J (which is also a Burroughs title): "Jo the waiter's company/ I keep him in a book on my fireside/ A drama is my perfect bride." It may be, therefore, that that girl named Jo is a first cousin to Rosie :-). Ziggy Blum ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 4 Nov 1994 11:08:21 -0800 From: dlangs@sunstroke.sdsu.edu (Derek Langsford) Subject: SACRIFICE - Derek's reservations disappear To: numan@cs.uwp.edu I wanted to let you know that my reservations with the sound quality and mix of _Sacrifice_ have mostly dissipated. Now that I have been able to get past the percussion, something that happens as one gains familiarity with the songs, I can pick out the supporting intrumentation much better. I think the mix was done so as to accentuate the dark nature of the songs. As the week has progressed, I have become completely engrossed by the album. I am in shock that Gary has come back so strongly just as many of us older, longterm fans were about to right him off. Some of you may have noticed the review I posted to the rec.music newsgroups was far more upbeat than my review here last week. I truely believe this album is Gary's best in a very long time and ranks up there with his best material. I will be intrigued to hear of any reviews in the print media to see if they are really listening to the music or just writing knee-jerk disparaging articles. Info from the UK Fan Club newsletters states this album was a conscious effort to do what he wanted rather than trying to make music that might get radio play. As long as he maintains this attitude we may be in for a long lived rennaissance in Gary's music. If response to the album amongst the Digest readership is as enthusiastic as mine, I hope to send a letter to Beryl to pass on to Gary, congratulating him for _Sacrifice_ and stating our support for his newfound direction and approach. I'll wait to see how others receive the album before going any further. Cheers, Derek ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Derek H. Langsford Dept. of Biology dlangs@sunstroke.sdsu.edu San Diego State University ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 2 Nov 1994 11:34:41 -0700 From: "BRIAN D. HAMMOND" Subject: Sacrifice and other things To: numan@cs.uwp.edu It was mentioned in last week's digest that _The Dream Corrosion Tour_ album contained many songs from Telekon. Included in the list of examples, was the song "I Don't Believe" which while a great song indeed, was actually written 8 years after Telekon and first appeared as one of the B-sides to the "New Anger" single. For what it matters, I feel _Telekon_ is Numan's best album ever too, but this is all subjective and I happen to like _Dance_ and _I, Assassin_ quite a bit as well. _Machine And Soul extended mixes CD_ was indeed reissued. Unfortunately, in my opinion, at least here in Denver, the error copies are far easier to find than the corrected reissued ones. My suspicion is that many importers didn't bother to reorder the corrected copies. You'll just have to keep looking or check with Paul Bosanko and see if he can get copies from the UK Fan Club. I echo everything Derek said about the _Here I Am_ CD. Like him, I have often seen it as having two parts and overall it is worth being purchased. In fact, that was an excellent review Derek. As for the new album and single, I can't agree more with the comments made here last week so I'll spare everyone another review. This is a GOOD album and may become a GREAT album after more listenings. The only fault I have is the same one mentioned here before, the repetitve druming. Other than that, this is a dark album with some great songs on it. I think it's his best release since _The Fury_ which was the last Numan album I liked pretty much from beginning to end. There are some songs I like better than others but overall the whole thing works for me. In particular, I like "Deadliner" and "Bleed" the best. The single, "A Question Of Faith" isn't bad either. If Gary decides to mine this vein of sound for 3 or 4 albums like he usually does the possibilities are truly exciting. The thought I have is that Numan in future releases can go even darker still. I have long felt his strengths were in moody, dark, atmospheric stuff and thus was baffled over his Janet Jackson meets Prince diversion he took starting in 1988. I pray that is now over. For those with the same compulsions that I have will be interested to know that the LP of the album will be released with a limited edition 7" single. No word yet on what will be on the 7" but if it's something that will end up being rare and good, like "Shame" you might want to order this one. Anyway, the only thought that went through my mind while listening to sacrifice was.... GARY IS BACK!!!!! Me! I Disconnect From You ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 04 Nov 1994 19:00:37 -0500 (EST) From: LPHAMILTON@delphi.com Subject: subsribe To: numan@cs.uwp.edu subscribe me to the Gary Numan list at: LPHAMILTON@delphi.com Thanks!!! real address: 1327 W. 84th Ave. #1627 Denver CO 80221 ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 3 Nov 1994 18:14:40 -0500 (EST) From: bubble sorter Subject: twenty six dollars To: numan@cs.uwp.edu .... is really a lot of money even for an import CD. i am unhappy, but i bought it anyway. so anyway, this really is a BRIEF review (i don't know how much you guys thought you left out, but it scares me): pray was really good after the cheeseball introduction; i don't know what the man was thinking. also i was mostly disappointed in the lyrics, and very disappointed in the fast songs, which sounded pretty machine'n'soul-ish to this camper. and, powerful guitar? surely you jest. a lot of sacrifice was just terribly predictable, the sentiment, the tempo, the next bass note. but such great drums. and the old backup vocals. when pray finally got into full swing i almost cried. i think it is more industrial sounding, which makes me happy. and all the synthesizers screaming away! enough of sacrifice is dark and and shiny and exciting to make it worth buying, so i'm mostly very happy i did. so, is he coming to america? ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 4 Nov 1994 10:48:33 -0800 From: dlangs@sunstroke.sdsu.edu (Derek Langsford) Subject: UK Fan Club miscellaneous info To: numan@cs.uwp.edu This comes in the form of pieces of paper included in the newsletters. BTW, the newsletters are glossy pamphlets rather than letters. Gary is allowing selected applicants to witness his sound check at each concert with passes being offered on a first come first serve basis for #5 each (application by mail only) (A nice gesture to the fans but charging for it is not so hot) Radial Pair CD is now available. It's a mini album approx 27 mins long. Release dates stop press: AQoF Oct 17th, Sacrifice Oct 24th. There is notice of the calender and DC T-shirts Tour Schedule Nov 2 Guildford 3 Manchester 4 Southampton 5 Hammersmith, London (Apollo) 6 Birmingham 8 Folkestone 9 Bristol 10 Milton Keynes 11 Colchester 12 London (Astoria) DC EP released on Aug 8, DC double album (triple vinyl) on Aug 22. I assume Paul Bosanko will have all the merchandise available. Derek ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Derek H. Langsford Dept. of Biology dlangs@sunstroke.sdsu.edu San Diego State University ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 4 Nov 1994 10:39:27 -0800 From: dlangs@sunstroke.sdsu.edu (Derek Langsford) Subject: UK Fan Club Newsletter 42/43 (June) To: numan@cs.uwp.edu This newsletter must be where Paul Bosanko got the info he passed on to Brian to post to the group but I'll add some of the other info here. I'll paraphrase and summarize rather than type it word for word. The newsletter was written in June 94. FROM GARY --------- He has a new computer and will be doing the newsletter on it. The computer should also improve the efficiency of delivery times of merchandise. He lists 6 songs that had been completed for _Sacrifice_ (but there is one that we hafve not seen released to date, that being "Badland". Not sure if this was renamed or is being held up for later use - Derek). Deadliner was his choice for the first single at the time of printing. It's about some bad nightmares he had while on tour last year. He said "it is quite dark and menacing as is a lot of the new record. It has no chance of being played on the radio but they wouldn't play me if I wrote 'Babe', God forbid, so I've given up on them at last and will now put out whatever I like." Gary tells about the Dream Corrosion EP and album. They have many plans for future releases including the old live album, ballad album, images etc. He still is flying but now s getting more interested in motor racing. He performed "Scar" on the TV show "In Bed With Me Dinner" He talks about starting up an artwork company. He did some promo work for Like A Refugee but the new album was taking most of his time. He feels like he has remembered how he used to think, how to do what he does best. He shut himself away and did virtually all the new album by himself. It'll be his most Numan Numan album in many many years. He said it sounds raw, angry, powerful and darkly brooding. "Even the two ballads have the most enormous backbeats". FROM BERYL ---------- In future Yearbooks will arrive in March with newsletters in June, Sept and Dec. Their new computer set-up should smooth out the production process. In future they will not advertise items for sale until the order is with the manufacturer. (this has been a major beef with the FC - they take your money and then sit on it for months as delays in production occur - Derek) The new album tracks were previewed on the Nu Music phone line and were received well (at least UK fans were correct this time but I remember them thinking Outland was good - Derek :-) Beryl lists Gary's air display schedule and gives details of the Numan Convention in London. RELEASE NEWS ------------ Steve at Beggars Banquet includes a message about Living Ornaments. Release of the 79/81 set will hopefully be out this year but he is making no promises. They had not sound the tapes for the 80 concert. The DC EP and album was delayed due to the "Like A Refugee" single. "Here I Am" is announced. KARTING ------- Gary has taken up Karting to train in racing skills. He is happy with his progress. He thinks the training will stand him in good stead for his tours too. OTHER INFO ---------- There's a report on his flying and a review of his concert from a fan. There are plenty of pictures, including one of Beryl's new puppy Tarna. Qs & As ------- Yen's version of DitP will probably not be released and the band has pretty much split up. The idea of doing studio remixes of old songs or having them remixed by others has faded. Gary was not impressed by the fan response to the Cars remix and he rarely likes what other people do to his songs. Newer renditions of old songs will be done in his live shows. Two or three songs on the ballad album will be re-recorded versions of old songs. He had forgotten about the idea of releasing the Numa singles but having been reminded of it will get on it. He hopes to put 2 singles on a CD with the relevant b-sides and if there is space put the short versions on as well as the extended versions. He had hoped at one point to release a boxed set of CD singles. (putting 2 singles on each disc will be a better value and could push each disc up well over 30 mins each. - Derek) Gary has pulled out his Corvette from storage but it needs some work. He is happy with his black leather image and has no inclination to change it. It is what he feels most comfortable in. It is how he perceives himself. He intends to steal music from the radial pair project for the new album. His last holiday was in Reno, Nevada in 1989. The last CD he purchased was Depeche Mode's latest. His faves are still DM, Sisters of Mercy and Jesus Jones' "Perverse" album. He plans to do a calender for 1995. That's it, Derek ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Derek H. Langsford Dept. of Biology dlangs@sunstroke.sdsu.edu San Diego State University ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 4 Nov 1994 10:44:41 -0800 From: dlangs@sunstroke.sdsu.edu (Derek Langsford) Subject: UK Fan Club Newsletter 44 (September) To: numan@cs.uwp.edu This is a summary of the UK Fan Club's Newletter 44 (September 1994) FROM GARY --------- Gary regrets the 94 tour is short and restriced to mostly southern England. He will try to make sure next year's is more extensive. NUMIND, the NUman INformation Databank, as referred to in the _Sacrifice_ booklet is up and running. It's for fans who want info but don't want to join the fan club. (it's not on-line as the name might suggest - Derek). He has started a new artwork company NUFederation and also a new record company, Salvation Records, to deal with special releases from the Fan Club, leaving NUMA for the more conventional material. "Like A Refugee" has been rereleased with all proceeds going to Oxfam Rwanda. Gary has been disheartened by the lack of media response. FROM BERYL ---------- Beryl says the Radial Pair CD should be ready by the time these newsletters arrive. She implores Fan Club members not to join NUMIND as that will cause duplicated mailings to be mailed out. Gary was not able to attend the latest Numan convention due to a late change of date for the convention by the organizers and Gary's previous committment to an air display. Gary will be without a female backing vocalist on tour this year due to there being only two or 3 songs the require them. RELEASES -------- single - A Question of Faith NUM 26 (12") A Question of Faith (extended) Play Like God Whisper of Truth NUMCD 26 (CD single) adds a shorter version of A Question of Faith album - Sacrifice on CD, vinyl and cassette vinyl will contain a free single NUF 1011 with two different edits of The Seed of Lie which is not on the vinyl album. CD cat no. is NUMACD 1011 casette cat no. is NUMAC 1011 There'll be a Fan Club only 7" vinyl featuring a shorter edit of AQoF b/w Whisper of Truth. Qs and As ---------- Gary will be playing a great deal of older material on future tours. He hopes a majority will be songs never performed live before. He doesn't keep in contact with his old band members, but it is not out of choice. He just never gets around to it. He feels it's a shame. He hopes to play in Scotland again soon, and Edinburgh if he can fill the Playhouse but he'll need more success to do that (I saw him twice there for the Warriors and Berserker Tour - shame he can't fill that venue in a city of 600,000+ people - Derek). He doesn't hold any strong political views unless they are about things that affect him personally. (He was a Thatcher supporter back in the 80s which did nothing for his image - Derek) He doubts if there will be any more work from Sharpe and Numan. He intends to work on his own material for the forseeable future and has no plans to work with anyone else. He feels like he is back to doing what he does best and a clearer idea of what he should and should not be doing. The ballad album should be ready in early 95. No later than March. Before that he hopes to have another live album out (the Isolate Tour??) and an extended form of Sacrifice out (I am really looking forward to this - what an odd feeling :-) - Derek) AN APOLOGY ---------- They got some photos mixed up and the b&w photos in the Dream Corrosion booklet are credited to Junior Moore when they were in fact taken by Julie King. TIDBITS ------- Gary will be supported on this tour by Toyah's backing band - Friday Forever. He has a new cat names "Nogbad the Bad" or "Nog" for short (from a UK children's show - can't remember the name of it but it was a cartoon about Vikings if I remember - help me here - Derek) Gary is photographed with a woman named Gemma - no indication of who she is but one would suspect she's his girlfriend. That's it again, Derek ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Derek H. Langsford Dept. of Biology dlangs@sunstroke.sdsu.edu San Diego State University ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------ End of Gary Numan Digest ******************************