Gary Numan Digest Thu, 11 Dec 97 Volume 1 : Issue 389 Today's Topics: A few points Asylum 1 and 2 Do You Have "Live At The Roxy?" Exile ...... :-( Exile conversions Gary Numan Digest V1 #388 Gary the Ubermensch insoc cover (2 msgs) It's A Small World After All Missing Gary Numan Digests No more Nu-Zone No more NuZone :-( Pain in My Nu-Ass Sacrifice/Exile Audio SONIC BLISS... Sound Quality of Exile Telekon Thanx for the welcome Why? ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Date: Mon, 8 Dec 1997 09:41:43 +0800 From: "Mark Winn" Subject: A few points To: "Numan Digest" I have Telekon on blue, yellow and green vinyl somewhere in my collection - I think they were German imports and quite common around the album release time but I ain't seen them for years ! Also about the Sacrifice CD quality on 'good' systems - I HAVE a very good system (including Pro-Logic surround sound) and it still sounds like it was recorded inside a cardboard box As anyone with a surround sound system should know, there is no point playing a non-surround source on a surround sound system because it will completely distort the balance and EQs Also I dont use EQ on my system because I use direct digital sources that bypass the EQ filters so I can hear the source 'as intended' - in Sacrifice's case this should read 'as mastered' as I'm sure Gary never meant it to sound like that PS - I have a friend who also has a reasonable system who said Sacrifice sounded incredible on my system compared to his but I stil think it sounds terrible Someone else was talking recently about converting friends to Numan, well I have managed to convert two of my oldest friends into owning most of his albums so it is possible Cheers, Mark Winn ------------------------------------------------------------ Position : Principal Systems Analyst Company : SWi Pte Ltd, Singapore WWW : http://www.SWi.com.sg/~mark/ ------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 9 Dec 1997 17:24:51 -0000 From: "Larry Brophy" Subject: Asylum 1 and 2 To: If anyone is still looking for these you could try BEGGARS BANQUET UK - MAIL ORDER CATALOGUE : http://www.beggars.com/mailorder/mocpt5.html They are listed at STG£40 each, which is good value assuming that they have any left. Larry Dublin ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 07 Dec 97 19:56:55 -0700 From: "Joey Lindstrom" Subject: Do You Have "Live At The Roxy?" To: "numan@cs.uwp.edu" If you've got a *GOOD QUALITY* copy of "Live At The Roxy", I'd like to talk to you. No, I'm not going to try to talk you into selling it, I just want to TALK TO YOU about it. Please drop me a line at: joey@lindstrom.com Thank you! / From: The Desk Of Joey Lindstrom +1 403 606-3853 +1 403 282-JOEY / EMAIL: joey@lindstrom.com numanoid@ab.imag.net lindstrj@cadvision.com / WEBB: http://www.ab.imag.net/worldwidewebb/ / / I was cleaning out my closet and I found a swim suit that I had made out / of sponges. I remember one time when I wore it. When I got out of the / swimming pool nobody could go swimming until I came back. / --Steven Wright ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 08 Dec 1997 10:32:08 +0000 (GMT) From: Philip Lindsay Subject: Exile ...... :-( To: numan@cs.uwp.edu Not a critisism, just an observation ... I listened Exile half to death during the tour, but ever since I have not the slightest interest in listening to it. This is worrying me somewhat. Sacrifice lasted at least six months, and I thought I liked Exile better. The CD is literally gathering dust (the case is somewhere in the car). What does this mean? I even spent yesterday listening to Random instead. Phil. P.S. I got sick after the Nottingham gig too - by the time I had driven home to Preston (2 1/2 hours) I was shaking. Flu-like symptoms. Maybe there was some virus or something going round during the tour. Possibly some sort of Typhoid Mary character going around infecting Numanoids. Stop me if I start to witter. ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 8 Dec 1997 21:37:47 -0600 (CST) From: Martin Subject: Exile conversions To: numan@cs.uwp.edu Recently went on a road trip with three friends, none of whom were Numanoids, and out of the dozen or so CDs we brought to listen to, the #1 hit of the bunch turned out to be Exile! One girl said Gary's voice was a "natural aphrodisiac" and announced she'd simply have to buy the CD as we wouldn't be able to listen to enough times on our trip to make her happy. You know, with the right promotion (a concept that seems lost on so many labels these days; let's hope Eagle doesn't screw the pooch here), Gary could really have a comeback hit on his hands. Fingers crossed, Martin ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- /\ /\ / \/ \ \ /\ / \/ \/ "Of course all art is artificial. It only symbolizes the truth. But the sort of artificiality that comes from lack of skill, of professional flair, cannot be passed off as style; ...it's a sign of provincialism, of the wish to be noticed as an artist. What the audience deserve is respect, a sense of their own dignity. Don't go blowing in their faces; that's something even cats and dogs dislike." --Andrei Tarkovsky ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 7 Dec 1997 01:31:11 -0700 (MST) From: Name withheld by request Subject: Gary Numan Digest V1 #388 To: numan@cs.uwp.edu Greetings Gary Numan Fans, A few years ago, when I was 15, I found a Gary Numan tape in my uncles tape collection.. and since then I've been hooked on Gary Numan's music. His music is original and unique. I think that he was one of the few musicians of the time that was very original and new. Currently, I'm trying to get my cd collection of his music going.. it's been difficult since his cd's are a little expensive since they are imports. But every time that I have enough to spend.. I buy one of his cd's.. hopefully one day it'll be complete. I was wondering if anyone knows if there are any posters of Gary Numan and if so where? My favorite songs by him would be: Down in the Park, Me I Disconnect from You, Observer, Music for Chameleons, My love is a Liquid, and Remember I was Vapor. I'm only 17, so I h hope that it shows that there are younger people who appreciate his music! anon5046@nyx.net ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 10 Dec 1997 17:36:22 -0000 From: "downstat" Subject: Gary the Ubermensch To: Digesters, Gary is featured 3 times in the January edition of the UK's Select magazine: 1. Pictured with the sexy Saffron after the Shepherds Bush gig. The caption refers to Gary's "triumphant show". 2. A two page feature entitled "In Residence" whereby Gary talks about 11 of his most prized or unusual possessions scattered around his house. Its similar to the Smash Hits article that appeared in 1986, although this time the walnut cheese is replaced with pasta sauce. That bloody Alaskan stuffed wolf makes another appearance. In the preface to the article Gary is called "the erstwhile Tory-voting , 500-woman shagging ubermensch". What's a ubermensch?? Perhaps Marcus in Nuremberg (or Matthew Roberts) can provide a translation? Incidentally, I couldn't find any mention of the 500 women feat in the autobiography Was it just mentioned by Gary in his interview with The Mirror, or was it made up? A good question for the next "Digest asks Gary". BTW, shagging 500 women on a total of around 15 tours (between 79 and 93, including US tours) is an average of 33 groupies per tour. Say there is an average of 15 dates per tour - that's 2 different groupies every day of the tour. Blimey. AND to think that Beryl was there every day, cutting his hair and sorting out his socks. 3. A very small review of Praying to the Aliens (favorable) which includes "Gary's memoirs are guileless and strange enough to make you look on him with new respect". That's it. Austin ------------------ ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 8 Dec 1997 12:52:00 EST From: Atlboy666 Subject: insoc cover To: numan@cs.uwp.edu hey there guys and girls, i have never sent in anything before, so this is real exciting for me. I am unable to download some of the digests, so this "information" may be old news. I recently bought the new INFORMATION SOCIETY cd, and to my surprise there is a cover of "are 'friends' electric?" on it. May i say with no offense to the great artists who covered it on Random, but this is by far in my opinion the best cover to date. the cd is called "dont be afraid" and is worthy of purchase for INSOC fans and NUMAN fans alike. Njoi ! yours in ATL ! J ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 8 Dec 1997 12:52:00 EST From: Atlboy666 Subject: insoc cover To: numan@cs.uwp.edu hey there guys and girls, i have never sent in anything before, so this is real exciting for me. I am unable to download some of the digests, so this "information" may be old news. I recently bought the new INFORMATION SOCIETY cd, and to my surprise there is a cover of "are 'friends' electric?" on it. May i say with no offense to the great artists who covered it on Random, but this is by far in my opinion the best cover to date. the cd is called "dont be afraid" and is worthy of purchase for INSOC fans and NUMAN fans alike. Njoi ! yours in ATL ! J ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 07 Dec 97 19:04:21 -0700 From: "Joey Lindstrom" Subject: It's A Small World After All To: "numan@cs.uwp.edu" Here's an unusual Numan "sighting" for ya: OK, so I'm driving my taxi on Friday night. I get a call to pick up a guy in the Richmond Hill district of Calgary. Turns out he's English and about 50 years old, and he wants to go to a downtown club. As the discussion continues, I learn that he's from a town (he told me the name but I forgot it) about 20 miles from London. He also considers England to be an expensive place to live and he's happy to now be living in Canada. So I mention to him my experiences during my trip last year to see the Premier Tour and how I didn't find things TOO outrageous. We chat more, and I mention how I really liked Milton Keynes, and he mentioned he has family there, and then he asked why I'd visited the place. I casually mentioned that I'd been to see Gary Numan perform there. He says "really? Whatever happened to him?" I say, "nothing, he's still recording and touring, you just never hear about it because the press and BBC1 hate him and do their best to ignore him." He says, "Ah." and then a smile crosses his face. "Y'know, about 20 years ago, I used to sleep with his drummer's wife." !!!!! "Excuse me?" I say. "Yeah, whenever he was out of the country. Jez.... Jez something..." "Jess Lidyard?" "Yeah, Jess Lidyard, that's the bloke." "Ah. Yeah. That's Gary's uncle." "Really? Well, it wasn't HIM I was interested in..." "I see... well, small world eh?" I then proceeded to play some of Exile for the guy, which he seemed to really enjoy ("Really? This is Gary Numan? Doesn't sound anything like what he used to do..."), and then dropped him off downtown. About an hour later, I'm on the phone with my friend Ross, who is also driving taxi, and mentioned this incident to him. And about 4 hours later, he phones me back and says... "Yeah, I picked up this fella at that same nightclub and he wanted to go to Richmond Hill. And he had an English accent. So I said, 'Are you from England?' and he said he was, and I said, 'Ah, that's where my parents are from.'" "Oh, really?" says the man. "Yep," says Ross. "What part?" "Oh, near London somewhere." "So are they living here too?" "Nope, they're still back there. My father used to be a drummer in a rock band." "Really? Which one?" "Well, first they called themselves Tubeway Army, then after that they just went by Gary Numan's name. My dad's name is Jess Lidyard." Apparently the guy got *REALLY* quiet for a second before Ross laughed and explained he was just putting him on and that he was best friends with the cab driver that took him down to the club earlier. The guy got a good laugh and even coughed up a $5 tip. :-) =-=-= In other news, I read with some dismay that Matthew Holbrook has elected to shut down the NuZone web site. I know many of us are going to miss Matthew's contribution to the Numan scene, and this puts a lot of pressure on those of us who continue to run Numan sites. I'd like to point out that Robert Eggleston's "Are 'Friends' Electric?" web site, if you haven't been reading it, has recently begun its own news service and will help reduce your NuZone withdrawal pangs. As for my own site, a large number of factors have resulted in its virtual abandonment for the past month or so, notably a major software failure on my system and a planned overhaul. It'll be back - just not sure when. If anyone was relying on it for back issues of the Digest, feel free to simply email me at joey@lindstrom.com and I can email you any back issues you may need. / From: The Desk Of Joey Lindstrom +1 403 606-3853 +1 403 282-JOEY / EMAIL: joey@lindstrom.com numanoid@ab.imag.net lindstrj@cadvision.com / WEBB: http://www.ab.imag.net/worldwidewebb/ / / I bought a portable cable TV. / --Steven Wright ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 7 Dec 97 22:51:14 UT From: "Andrew Earwaker" Subject: Missing Gary Numan Digests To: numan@cs.uwp.edu Many thanks to everbody who sent me copies of the GN Digests that I 'lost' I have most issues from #275-#388 if anybody needs copies.... Cheers Andrew ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 08 Jul 1997 11:38:44 +0100 From: Louise J McGregor Subject: No more Nu-Zone To: numan@cs.uwp.edu What can I say? The news that Nu-Zone is to end upset me very much. I would like to thank eveybody who was involved with that web publication and I hope that NuWorld will be as regularly updated. I only logged on to the site about 3 times a day. Does anybody think that the intro to BLEED is similar to SUBWAY CALLED YOU from Sacrifice and Dance respectively. When Telekon came out in 1980, it had a free single with it. I managed to get this single in blue, red, green and white vinyl. Consequently, I have a lot of copies of Telekon available. I would be interested if anyone else has these singles. When are Young Things Don't Scream going to get back together and do a tour?? Louise ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 09 Dec 1997 14:42:23 -0600 From: machman@interaccess.com (Jeff Tolva) Subject: No more NuZone :-( To: numan@cs.uwp.edu If you're still on this list, Matthew, I'd like to say a very appreciative "Thank You" for the two years of reading NuZone! Although we've only written on a few occasions, I'd like you to know that I was responsible for at least 5 hits on your site per week! I didn't always care for your subjective commentary, but I have always appreciated your news scoops on Gary, subjective or not. I don't want you to take that as a cutdown or anything because I've always looked at NuZone like a daily newspaper...the newspaper's aren't always objective, but that doesn't make them bad either. To present the news in a totally objective way would make it quite boring! I have to admit that I was always a bit envious of (at least) your early position with the Numan clan (visits to Gary's house, etc.), but as I saw it in the end... "more power to ya"; I would have also jumped on it in a second, if I were in your shoes. I live in Chicago, and the last time Gary was here was in 1982, and that also accounts for some of my envy of most Brits who at least have the chance to see Gary in concert each year. I've remained a devout Gary Numan fan since 1980 nonetheless, and for the past two years, much of my interest in Gary can be traced back to NuZone; and for that again...I say "Thank You". As Gary doesn't update his NuWorld site, but a few times each month on average, I always appreciated the NuZone insight in the world of Gary Numan on almost a daily basis! I don't know your reasons for shutting down NuZone after two long years, but I will miss the extras NuZone use to feature on Gary's music and everything else around THE man. Sincerely, Jeff Tolva (The Machman) ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 9 Dec 1997 22:48:48 EST From: Hopey77 Subject: Pain in My Nu-Ass To: numan@cs.uwp.edu This weekend, amidst the shopping hell of pre-Xma$$ crowds, I tried to locate the PTTA book and Exile. I got the usual funny looks (pause. "Gary Numan?"). One guy even insisted that the book had to be a CD and I was in the wrong place. Another salesman so tactfully pulled out Randy Newman and proceeded to inquire whether "I decided to dress this way or are you in a band?" - I proceeded to say "NEITHER" and walked out. The quest continues... In regards to someone's comment about Gary not believing in God and hoping he doesn't believe in the devil - well, in my experience, if you don't believe in one you don't believe in either!.. ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 8 Dec 1997 22:59:13 -0500 From: brezniakdavid@webtv.net (David Brezniak) Subject: Sacrifice/Exile Audio To: numan@cs.uwp.edu I have to agree with Troy.... Setting the EQ 'just right' on Sacrifice gives it a good punch and can really bring out the musical content of the album. (BTW I have to re-adjust for the badly recorded Dream Corrosion cd...) EXILE, on the other hand, put on the surround sound, crank up the bass, and MAN OH MAN.....without being rude, I can almost have an orgasm while listening to it. (quiet, Marlene).... It is definitely an improvement over Sacrifice. "Samey" (it could be a word, so is bestest) :-) I agree there are some similarities between the two albums, however, it's exactly what Gary promised us....a bigger, louder, more powerful Sacrifice. My roomie (who's not a numanoid) even likes Dominion Day, and says "that's gotta be the best album he's ever put out, even for Gary Numan." Well, see, I told you, he's not a numanoid. But, that is an accomplishment, as my roommate doesn't compliment anything or anyone except himself. :-) Be careful when playing with White Boys and Heroes....:-) Dave ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 9 Dec 1997 21:27:53 -0600 From: "Harper, David" Subject: SONIC BLISS... To: "'numan@cs.uwp.edu'" To my fellow Numanoids... As most of you have shared your individual experiences with "EXILE", I feel an obligation to do the same. So here goes... First of all, many thanks to Sara and Jason at BADLANDS for delivering the goods, and to Joey Lindstrom for doing us all a favour by giving us insight into their services. I'd like to say good things about the quality of the packaging and the artwork, design and total layout of "EXILE". The red borders on the inside of the sleeve are especially cool, how the dark cloudy images inter-weave. Even the disc itself looks impressive. Nicely done with a menacing touch. Now to the music. I cranked my Musical Fidelity A-1 up and was ready... Suddenly, the sweet sound of aliens being sucked into a slaughter blasted forth. A sonic mealstrom of authoritative power ensued. You guys were not joking when you said this CD had a much bigger sound than "Sacrifice". You cannot campare the two sonically. Musically, the entire disc was as satisfying as drinking silk...sure to satisfy a dedicated Numanoid. After playing "Sacrifice" a good two or three hundred times, "Exile" had a lot to live up to. I expected greatness and was not dissapointed. Actually I personally believe that this CD sends everybody else back to the drawing board. The power is astonishing, and to those meek humans out there who are frightened by Gary's stunning, yet savage lyrical vision on faith, humanity, and a dying heaven...among other interesting nicities...you all should stick to the "safe" stuff. Go listen to Hanson, or anybody else who plays that stupid music for the stupid masses. These people thrive on that commercially tinged bullshit and lack no individualism or imagination. I rest my laurels. Martin Harper "In his mercy, he will burn the oceans..." ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 10 Dec 1997 17:36:48 -0000 From: "downstat" Subject: Sound Quality of Exile To: Digesters, Around a year ago there was a big debate regarding the sound quality of GN records since Outland. Outland, M+S, and Sacrifice (ie all output recorded at Outland Studios) all sounded tinny, muffled, and dull. There was obviously something seriously wrong - consensus was that it was a fault with the mastering. After 6 years and much justified grumblings from fans, Gary has solved the problem. The sound quality of Exile is restored to high fidelity. It would appear from Gary's comments on the September telephone information line that the problem did indeed lie with the mastering. Gary described (for around 10 minutes - costing me over 4 quid!) how when he took his final mix of Exile (which sounded OK on his Outland System) into a mastering suite it sounded awful on their system. I think he described the sound "as if it had been recorded under 3 duvets"! The sound engineers at the mastering suite duly remastered it and GN left with the problem resolved. However, when he played the now remastered tape back at Outland Studios, the remastered version sounded awful on his system. He was therefore left feeling rather uneasy. For peace of mind he took the tape to another remastering suite and had it re-remastered. This is the version that eventually got made into a CD. It sounds to me as if Outland Studio is somehow incompatible with the rest of the world. Was this the fate of Outland, M+S and Sacrifice LPs? No mention is made in the credits on these albums regarding any remastering process that they went through outside of Outland Studios. In the case of these albums, the "recorded under 3 duvets" versions must of got made into CDs. What a shame it has taken 6 years to overcome this. The subject was raised with Gary in the "digest asks", and his response was very bloody minded and flippant. The subject was also mentioned in a derisory manner by Beryl in a recent fan club newsletter. Eagle are re-issuing all Numa material on CD. Will they get the offending LPs remastered? Otherwise there's no way I'm buying them again. Regards to all Austin London ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 08 Dec 1997 08:03:55 +0000 From: kevin Goodchild Subject: Telekon To: d.g.lennon@hw.ac.uk Hi, The Telekon blue vinyl you discribe is a Dutch import it was one of something like 7 or 8 colours released at the time ,as well as Telekon colours there are the same amount of I Die:You Die colours they both range from the common blue and green to the rare red and purple. I would expect to pay £ 10.00 to £14.00 for a copy in good condition. Regards Kevin ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 7 Dec 1997 16:54:33 -0600 (CST) From: Jerry Howard Subject: Thanx for the welcome To: numan@cs.uwp.edu Hello all- Don't have a whole lot to say this time out. I just wanted to thank Andy, Rick, Mark, and of course, Riana for their warm welcoming me to the digest. Thank you.:-) There's long been this discussion of the sound production of SACRIFICE. I have thoughts on this as well: My guess is that Gary had been doing work on the configuration of his Control room/mixing room. Possibly the new configuration set up odd phase cancellations and standing waves that interfered with the mixing. It probably sounded awesome in that room. Or perhaps the mastering engineer, whoever that was, didn't grasp how to tweak this type of music. I read the comment about equalizing the sound system for SACRIFICE. I agree, I do the same thing. With some tweaking (a lot of tweaking, I'm afraid) of an equalizer SACRIFICE sounds great. That is what led me to suspect anomolies in the mix room. Phase cancellation could account for the problem. Seems I saw mention somewhere, possibly here, of a RANDOM 3 project. I am interested in recording and submitting something for this with my music project (7.7 http://www.mtsu.edu/~rein02b4/MUSINFO.HTML). I'm trying to pick a song now. Would someone please send me all the relative details of this project along with details for submissions? And where the hell is RANDOM 2? I've not seen it, and have heard/read only little about it. ...He'll laugh and raise his dying eyes/And just tell me to go... -Jerry ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 8 Dec 1997 19:59:05 +0100 From: "joeri" Subject: Why? To: "Gary Numan" Matthew Holbrook, I think it's a big loss the FANTASTIC NUzone stops. Best wishes. p.s. I hope one day you'll be back. Joeri (prophecy: the numan site from belgium) ------------------------------ End of Gary Numan Digest ******************************