Gary Numan Digest Sun, 15 Dec 96 Volume 1 : Issue 288 Today's Topics: Favorite musicians...played with Gary? Fury CD rerelease sound problem Gary's emotional message Gary's Old Stuff gary's pets Gary Numan Digest V1 #287 Hello (2 msgs) Japanese ASYLUM 2 New Numan Compilation "Whisper Of Truth" Numan Tribute Album Radio Heart/London Times Survival Records? (and other drivel) Telekon Rules! V96 - another view ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Date: Thu, 12 Dec 1996 09:35:26 +0000 From: Phil Marsh Subject: Favorite musicians...played with Gary? To: numan@cs.uwp.edu "Who are your favorite musicians who have played with Gary?" Well, seeing as this didn't seem to attract much interest, I'll give it a kick and stick my tuppence worth in...and include support acts as well. Take liberties, me? :-) Of his own band, Ced was always a fave, as was Chris Payne and later Andy Coughlan (who always looked as though he at least enjoyed himself). On the last couple of tours he did, RRussell always looked bored to me (maybe he was just ...ahem...stoned). Support Acts, then:- "Hmmm, how obscure can I be...?" Larry Loeber! No, no, no - just kidding! :-) ("touch me baby, touch me baby, 24 hoURS a day...") In terms of the number of records I subsequently went out and bought by the musician, it would have to be the one, the only.....Nash The Slash! What a sense of humour! Him coming on at Wembley for the end of "The Joy Circuit" is one of the most absurd "rock" moments for me - brilliant! And anybody who tells Smash Hits magazine his full name is "Nashville Thebodiah Slasher...but you can call me The" is ok in my book! :-) When I bought his Deadman's Curve single over here, I played it over and over and over and...for more than an hour - but then I was only 16 at the time I suppose. Pity not more people enjoyed his unique noise over here....guess I'm in a minority with liking Nash then...! Talking of Numan support acts and musicians - does anyone have any info or any idea what happened to people like Larry Loeber, Roger Mason, James Freud, Andy Coughlan, any of the others? Well, don't want to upset anyone with the number of paragraphs in my letter... ;-)...so I'll sign off for now. And if its not TOO naff...as Bugs Bunny once said..."Merry Christmas to each and everyone of us..." Phil (pmarsh@tpmde.ac.uk) ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 13 Dec 1996 09:49:02 -0800 From: dlangs@sunstroke.sdsu.edu (Derek Langsford) Subject: Fury CD rerelease sound problem To: numan@cs.uwp.edu Hi there, Sadly, I have to confirm Aaron Hannum's (Scorbie) observation of sound problems on the new "The Fury" CD. I wouldn't call it crackle, rather an intermittent fizz that occurs on the right channel at various places. It's present in the intro to 'Call out the Dogs' and other places but mostly the outro of 'God Only Knows' :-( and through 'I Still Remember'. I suspect it is barely noticable if you play the album at reasonable volumes through speakers but it is clear on headphones and perhaps at high volumes. Needless to say this is mightily frustrating and I am wondering how I can bring it to Gary's attention without pissing him off. Was it the original master tapes? Was it the mastering? If it was not Gary's source tapes, which he had to bake and transfer making me suspcicious, then he should get the mastering company to redo it and replace CDs free of charge. It's a shame because I love the new artwork - compare it to the previous release if you have it - much cleaner, colours are better. And a subtle difference in the photos in Gary's expression. Again the paper used is rather flimsy for a full-priced import CD. Derek -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Derek H. Langsford Ph.D. dlangs@sunstroke.sdsu.edu Dept. of Biology Tel. (619) 594 2885 San Diego State University Fax (619) 594 7831 -------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 14 Dec 1996 11:33:02 -0800 From: "Rudolph Ronay" Subject: Gary's emotional message To: Hi All Its been a long long time: I just read Troy Walters contribution to the digest and I agree, A while back I asked Gary (through the Digest) about "God only Knows" a powerful song that evokes strong emtional images (at least for me) about life. When I asked Gary about the song he said "Nothing clever or deep I'm afraid" it was about a pilot when everything goes wrong. Gary under rates himself and I agree that he should never try to write "pop" songs with a formula. His talent for capturing emotion, is phenonmenal. Cry The Clock Said is one of my favorites, it builds and builds while threading through your being. The pure Numaness always comes through no matter what if it is truly a Nuiman song. His mark is unmistakable and difficult to put into words. Although that web page in Spain tried to give a formula, I laughed when I read that bit about writning lyrics. The backup vocals to me have always been an element and I it was good to here Gary say he likes others to sing "bits of his songs." Just a few thoughts. Rudy ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 12 Dec 1996 18:56:44 -0500 From: Michael Lawhorn Subject: Gary's Old Stuff To: Gary Numan There's a real cool CD website http://www.cdnow.com that has a lot of Gary Numan stuff. While visting one day, I discovered that I'm missing a few of his CD's. The ones I'm missing are "Isolate" and "Ghost". Since there is a lot of reissued stuff in Gary's catalog, I was wondering if anyone could tell me if these particular discs are original stuff or just reissues? Peace Michael ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 13 Dec 1996 07:59:42 -0500 From: Ingo Weinard <106074.1471@compuserve.com> Subject: gary's pets To: Gary Numan hi i'm ingo when i saw a newsletter in 1986 and read that gary got a german sheppard i was very happy, because i love animals (specialy cats ). Now he has 2 dogs and 2 cats that's brilliant. That make's him still more sympathic yours ingo ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 12 Dec 1996 10:25:06 -0500 From: NIN1969@aol.com Subject: Gary Numan Digest V1 #287 To: numan@cs.uwp.edu Derek: thanks for the positive feedback. I just wanted to take the time and wish everyone a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year--especially Gary. Hopefully 1997 will be a better year for him with some happy times. Ruthi p.s. Rob, the idea of Gary Numan and Depeche Mode is really exciting--maybe we could drop a few hints!?!?!?!?! GREAT IDEA!!!! ;-) ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 12 Dec 1996 14:16:57 -0800 From: DS Subject: Hello To: numan@cs.uwp.edu Just a quick question, will Garys cd's ever be re-issued in the U.S.? I always hear rumors here and there but nothing ever happens! Any info would be great. I have most of his cd's on import but I think it's a shame they are not available over here. Thanks, Dan S. Bananza@ix.netcom.com ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 13 Dec 1996 19:19:48 -0500 From: None75@aol.com Subject: Hello To: numan@cs.uwp.edu My name is Charles...I have enjoyed Gary Numan's music for a while.In fact I still have some old 8 track tapes of Gary Numan somewhere. I like a wide range of music from Burl Ives to Nine Inch Nails. This week, I have been listening to Jethro Tull, Kraftwerk, Triumvirat. Last week, it was Clutch, ELO. I play bass in The Big Daddy Band. We are a local party band. I look forward to seeing some info on Gary Numan. Thanks Charles Laseter ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 13 Dec 1996 10:34:55 -0800 From: dlangs@sunstroke.sdsu.edu (Derek Langsford) Subject: Japanese ASYLUM 2 To: numan@cs.uwp.edu In # 285 Date: Manno Toshikazu asked: >I'm Manno, from Japan. >My second appearance. Welcome Manno. And at least our second subscriber from Japan. >I have all ASYLUM CDs 1 to 3 on Japanese edition. >These are exactly what you say. >Are these different from others ? >I want to know the difference. Asylum was only released in Japan. When they came out in 1990, Numan fans worldwide were desperate to get them as they were the first comprehensive CD release of Gary's Beggars Banquet albums anywhere. Thankfully most places could get them and at reasonable prices. At the time they were the best back catalogue reissue set I had ever seen. I still don't think anything reaches that standard. Beggars Banquet UK were compelled to issue the fuilll albums in 1993 but they still did not match Asylum for their beauty and chronological order. They are prized possession in my Numan collection. And don't worry, you have the only edition that has ever existed. There's CD Discography in the FAQ which I need to update sometime. Derek -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Derek H. Langsford Ph.D. dlangs@sunstroke.sdsu.edu Dept. of Biology Tel. (619) 594 2885 San Diego State University Fax (619) 594 7831 -------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 13 Dec 1996 11:15:00 -0800 From: dlangs@sunstroke.sdsu.edu (Derek Langsford) Subject: New Numan Compilation "Whisper Of Truth" To: numan@cs.uwp.edu In # 286 Patxi Villegas wrote: >New Numan Compilation Album, look for it at NUMAN MANIA from Spain. > >"Whisper Of Truth, Songs To Die For" Drama Records CM004. I buy it by >mail at Power Records (Madrid - Spain) > >It have songs like "Whisper Of Truth", "God Only Knows", Exhibition", >Time To Die".... etc... > >I=A5ll put the artwork on Sunday 8 or Monday 9, the sound is very good and >it have photos of the "Sacrifice" era. > > >More Info.... NumanMania http://www.kender.es/numan Pardon mr Ptxi, but I couldn't find the info. Can you post a track listing? Curious to see a compilation of BB and Numa material. Is it a bootleg? Derek -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Derek H. Langsford Ph.D. dlangs@sunstroke.sdsu.edu Dept. of Biology Tel. (619) 594 2885 San Diego State University Fax (619) 594 7831 -------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 12 Dec 1996 13:08:43 +0000 (GMT) From: "P.G. Whalley" Subject: Numan Tribute Album To: numan@cs.uwp.edu I noticed someone asking about the tribute album - I was listening to Mark Ratcliffe on Radio One (UK) last night (13/12/96) and he had Emma from KENICKIE on the show, and he asked her whether they it was true they had done a track for the Gary Numan tribute album. She replied that they had. He asked which track - it was "I'm An Agent", to which Radcliffe replied that he didn't know that one! He also asked her if she was a "Numanoid", a daft question given that they are a teenage female band - so the obvious reply (which she gave) was that she was only three when Numan was at the height of his powers. Nonetheless, I think that the tribute album is a vehicle of real potential, despite the fact that virtually all of the songs are early Numan. KENICKIE are real up and coming stars, and the fact that many well-known UK bands are contributing should generate a lot of interest. Mark Ratcliffe himself is an interesting character - when the whole Numan-revival thing started gathering pace early this year he did one of his ranting monologues (for which he is rightly famous) on the subject. Unfortunately he concluded that "if we wanted a bald chubby bloke in a boiler suit, we'd ask Phil from Eastenders!" His tone last night, however, seemed to be more friendly. So despite the instant backlash that was witnessed against the idea of a Numan revival (see Q Magazine's picture of Numan in "Fury" lounge lizard attire with the line "Gary Numan revival ahoy! Only kidding!!") it could be (here's hoping) that once the corporate machinery is cranked up behind "Random", many DJ's will have no option but to take notice of it - this is the big advantage of having a decent-sized record company behind a product, as well as having the names to back it up. As far as I know, rumours of the involvement of really big stars like Tori Amos (sigh!) have not as yet come to fruition, but the likes of Kenickie, Damon Albarn, The Orb and Dubstar should ensure a great deal of interest, certainly in the UK. Incidentally, Dubstar's version of "Everyday I Die" has already been performed live on Radio One as part of a set they did for the annual Sound City festival. Prior to the gig, they were interviewed and one of the band members said that he needed to warm up before a gig, to enable him to get into his Gary Numan poses. Dubstar use backing tapes and a drum machine, so presumably there is little difference between their live and studio sound. If this is so then don't hold your breath, their live version of "Everyday I Die" was distinctly ordinary, apart from an excellent atmospheric introduction and the conflation of the "AFE" riff at the end - the main problem in my eyes was the vocalist, who sounded embarrassed to be doing the song, even changing the "obscene dreams" line to "sleepless nights"!! That's about it for now, will keep my eyes and ears open for any more Numan titbits in the media over here. Happy Christmas and a prosperous New Year to all Numan fans worldwide! Phil. ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 13 Dec 1996 16:30:06 -0800 From: dlangs@sunstroke.sdsu.edu (Derek Langsford) Subject: Radio Heart/London Times To: numan@cs.uwp.edu I now have this much sought after CD in my collection. Thanks Uffe. Seems that Sweden was the only place where the CD got out before withdrawal. Did it make it to stores elsewhere too? I can see why Gary objected to this album's release. The CD spine says SLPCD-3132 GARY NUMAN "RADIO HEART" The cover says "Radio Heart featuring Gary Numan". Nowhere in the whole package does it say does that Gary only does vocals and only on 3 songs. Very misleading. 'Radio Heart' and 'All Across the Nation' are not bad songs really, just nothing like what Gary was doing at the time. They are very light weight compared to "Strange Charm" and "Metal Rhythm". The rest of the album is almost completely dispensible. Glad to finally acquire this rare CD for my collection though. I don't think it has been mentioned but the version of 'London Times' (5+ mins) on "Here I Am' must be the extended version as the album CD version is under 4 mins. Unfortunately, Receiver did not put 'Radio Heart' or 'All Across the Nation' on any of their compilations, let alone the extended versions. I'll asked Gary how Receiver got their hands on a Radio Heart song as he doesn't have control over that material to my knowledge. Derek -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Derek H. Langsford Ph.D. dlangs@sunstroke.sdsu.edu Dept. of Biology Tel. (619) 594 2885 San Diego State University Fax (619) 594 7831 -------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 13 Dec 1996 18:41:44 GMT From: austinbaggett@ex-or.co.uk (Austin) Subject: Survival Records? (and other drivel) To: numan@cs.uwp.edu (Gary Numan) Digesters, A very very trivial smart arse point......... On my Radial Pair CD, the record company is printed as Survival Records as well as Salvation Records. What's all this about? Could it be that Gary momentarily forgot the name of his newly-created record company whilst frenziedly tapping away on his Mac? Surely not! Anyone know? Talking of Radial Pair, Mission has to be the cleverest piece of music he's ever written. I first heard it at the Marque gig on the Dream Corrosion tour - it was so good it left me grinning inanely for hours. One final piece of trivia: I read in the Evening Standard that Howard Jones is playing the Bloomsbury Theatre in London on Monday, accompanied by will go? No, don't tell me - if ONLY you could afford the air-fare.......... BTW did anyone see Marilyn Manson at the Astoria last night?. I was doing my Xmas shopping and walked past all these people who were obviously going (they stick out even more than GN fans). It would of been interesting to know if they did any GN covers. Regards, Austin, London ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 13 Dec 96 17:23:00 CST From: DougR@ssec.wisc.edu Subject: Telekon Rules! To: numan@cs.uwp.edu Hello All I'd like to thank the person who posted the web address of CDnow (www2.cdnow.com) as it helped me to complete my early Numan collection. I think Begars Banquet did an excellent job in repackaging the '79-'83 material on duo cd's and i love having all the b-sides though i could do without another remix of Cars. I ordered the Telekon/I, Assassan and Tubeway Army/Dance to complete my nostogia and Berserker because so many people had nice things to say about it at the AFE site. The biggest surprise for me was at how well Telekon held up. I had remembered most of the songs from TPP and Replicas before i found them again and thought that both of those were my favorites but i have come away with a new apprecieation for Telekon. It could possibly be that my taste has matured or that i'm caught up in a bit of reverie but i don't remember Telekon, Dance, or I, Assassin sounding as rich and full when i was a teen as they do today. Berserker hasn't quite captured me yet. I like the title track and all the music sounds good but it hasn't hooked me the way Sacrifice did on first listen. Still, everything after I, Assassin is new to me so i may just put Berserker aside for a bit and come back to it when i need some "new" Numan. So, how about the Fury and Strange Charm? I saw some comments on the reissues but would like to hear from some other people 'fore i lay down my $25ea. for these at the moment. Thanks Douglas ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 14 Dec 1996 08:26:43 GMT From: austinbaggett@ex-or.co.uk (Austin) Subject: V96 - another view To: numan@cs.uwp.edu Digesters, There have been a few references of late along the lines of "did Gary's performance at the V96 festivals suck"? I can't recall seeing any bad reviews of his performance on the digest. Infact, except for Jane Yorke's in the last but one edition, I can't remember reading any - either good or bad - much at all. I think he put in a good performance. OK - audience reaction was pretty muted - but it was for all bands until Cast (the band after Gary) came on. Performing only recent material was the only way for him to go. I Die You Die, We are Glass et al would of sounded very dated. However, I would agree with the two Numan fans who gave their reaction to the NME as it all being "a bit samey". It did sound very samey. "Bleed", "Question of Faith" and "Scar" should of been left out. These songs are hardly the pinnacle of his abilities. The latter of the two songs do have very dergey verses which don't sound very tuneful first time round at a gig. Infact they don't sound very tuneful at anytime anywhere. These songs could of been replaced with Metal or Down in the Park and a ballard (either new or old) to give a bit of contrast. Overall though, I think he did well. I wonder how the festivals came about - was it due to Pulp's influence? I wonder whether he'll be asked to do anymore? Shame there weren't any behind-the-scenes photos with Javis, Justine, and Gaz Supergrass in the recent fanclub newsletter. Its also a shame that Gary never got round to writing about the experience on NuWorld as he originally promised. Maybe it will be the subject of a write-up in next years GNFC Yearbook. Regards to all Austin, London ------------------------------ End of Gary Numan Digest ******************************