Gary Numan Digest Thu, 9 Jul 98 Volume 1 : Issue 449 Today's Topics: (2 msgs) Absolution AM I GETTING TOO OLD ?????? Asylum Vs. New Releases Awesome Crash Feedback Evans yet Again and Lakesiders Gary Numan Digest V1 #448 Gary Numan Theme Night Vol. 2 how bout that Numan? Introducing....... lost fellow numandigesters e-mail addres (sorry everyone) M.E. Miscellany Part 2 Mobile Phone Numan Tunes MY PRINCIPLE PRESENT....... nothing personal, but i just dont see it....... Odd songs tacked on PERSONAL INTRO & ON NUMAN-LEM RELATIONSHIP Posters Praying to the Aliens BOOK Q & A The hideous squawk on Crash The Numa Years Box Set There Is A Reason To Go To Record Stores, Again.... Ziggy's review Ziggy Blum, Absolution, Clive Barker ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Date: Mon, 6 Jul 1998 09:49:59 +0000 From: Stephen Beer Subject: To: Hi Folks An expensive, but ultimately fruitful, weekend on the Numan front. Purchases of Replicas and Telekon at 10 Quid each was a bit of a risk considering I have the material in a number of formats already. Ho= wever, there are a few gold nuggets in that lot, for example I Die:You Die, Th= e Joy Circuit (the strings sound really punchy and clean), Remember I.W.V. so= unds cool to. Telekon in general is suited to this kind of cleaning up, it's= my favourite album anyway. Replicas always sounds good but hasn't any surp= rises except for We Have a Technical, the slightly rougher vocal is better an= d reminds me of why I got into Numan in the first place. Some of the litt= le inflections in his voice throw you right back to 1979. I think over the= years you miss them just because your so used to them. The Sleeve notes are c= ool though. The Numa Box Set is well worth the money (34 Quid). The Fury is especially good. I'd forgotten how hard it sounds. Good packaging too, = and the bonus tracks really seal the deal. Well done Eagle. = ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 6 Jul 1998 18:44:12 -0400 From: pnathan@entelchile.net (PATRICIO ARIEL NATHAN ALTMANN) Subject: To: from : patricio nathan fax : ( 5 6 2 ) 7 7 7 3 6 7 4 santiago - chile dear gary numan fans , does anyone out there has for sale the dramatis lp album : " for future reference " , let me know price including postage by register air - mail and packing also if itīs in good shape or state . in advance thankīs again for all and i hope to hear good news as soon as possible , sincerely . patricio nathan ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 5 Jul 1998 21:05:04 +0100 From: Stephen Catton Subject: Absolution To: "'Gary Numan'" I agree with Mair K.. Absolution for me is by far the best track on Exile. I really like all other tracks but Absolution hits me just right. I hope that the extended version of Exile has made Absolution much longer. I have been listening to the Living Ornaments CDs and I am really impressed at how good they sound. The version of FRIENDS with the Exile treatment is fantastic!!! I have enjoyed listening to it a lot. Was there ever a recording of the Warriors tour? regards Stephen ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 7 Jul 1998 13:57:35 -0000 From: "SHELIA S CARTER" Subject: AM I GETTING TOO OLD ?????? To: HOWDY !!!!! KING RICHARD HERE.....AGAIN.Well this morning I went a chat room on music. I am surounded by kids. One is telling me how the SPICE GIRLS are DA BOMB....I dont know what that means...Anyway, I see someone who's name is DOWN_IN_THE_P.....I asked is that DOWN IN THE PARK as in GARY NUMAN? he said "no, as in MARALYN MANSON"(no no no no no no noooooooo..)"are the lyrics ?" "so you have heard it..." (OH GOD NO, PLEASE TELL ME HE DIDNT...) I told him it was a GARY NUMAN song, he says "MARILYN MANSION did it back in 94..." sigh.......am i getting too old ??? I have nothing against someone redoing a song.....heaven forbid, there are some good remakes out there. But I am not impressed with the lack of talent that M. MANSON has. I cringe when i think of how he butchered SWEET DREAMS ARE MADE OF THIS !!!!!! hope not to offend any fans of MR. MANSION, but if you are going to remake a classic, try not to destroy it..... or perhaps I am getting very old indeed...If you want to reply to me try this email instead. kingofeightiesmusic@angelfire.com it will get to me faster...see ya king richard ga ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 06 Jul 1998 16:14:37 -0400 From: Erik Morrison Subject: Asylum Vs. New Releases To: numan@cs.uwp.edu To the person interested in the Asylum sets: Interesting dilemma. I assume you read the Beggars Banquet guy giving the history of their Numan reissues including asylum since it was posted with your question in the newsletter. That seemed to give some good info. I didnt know that asylum had been remastered too albeit older technology. If you're interested in the Asylum sets, check out Beggars Banquet on line. I forget their net address, but if you do a search for "Beggars Banquet" you'll find it, then check out their Numan catalogue. Aylum was out of print, but apparently Beggars uncovered a few more (of #s 1,2) for sale via post/internet. They do stress limited quantities though so they may be gone already as I write this. I had Asylum 2 and ordered Aylum 1 from them (#3 is not available) it was rather expensive ($70.00 US) but I really liked the set. Japanese pressings are very high quality. It is a very nice set and includes many bonus tracks and a little booklet with pictures and lyrics in Japanese and English. When I bought Asylum 2 it only cost $40.00 from Tower, but I foolishly didnt purchase the other 2, I just knew they'd always be available. If they are still available, they are great sets, but, like I said, they've gotten a bit expensive. Don't worry about ordering it on line, I had no problem ordering with BB. My CD arrived on the exact day they said it would. I guess I probably will also buy the re issues from BB since some of them include stuff not available on Asylum, and some places carry the CDs for as little as $10.50. (check out CD Universe) But having just plunked down $70 for Ayslum 1, I am feeling a little bit worn from all these re issues. You may consider buying Asylum 2 the later albums (in case BB doesnt remaster them)and buying the 1st 4 reissues out now. This might be the pragmatic approach. If money is an issue, I'd just go with the reissues and wait for BB to release the next group (I think they will). Good luck. Either way you wind up with some great music. Let me know which way you go. ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 07 Jul 1998 09:31:28 +0000 From: "Michael J. Damrath" Subject: Awesome Crash Feedback To: Gary Numan Just a quick reply to Hopey77's comment about the feedback squawk in Crash... Thank God that when they remastered this song they left in all of those little human touches. I have always loved that little peice of white noise in 'Crash'. I always looked forward to hearing it. Much like the guitar feedback at the end of 'I Die:You Die', or Connie Filapello's "Is that okay?" followed by laughing and clapping at the end of 'Boys Like Me'. Gary has always tended to let us get a glimpse at the man behind the curtain and allowed 'happy accidents' to remain a part of many of his songs. What would 'War Games' or 'My Centurion' be like without the laughing and general dicking around that Gary let be a part of the introductory seconds of those songs? I don't know about the rest of you, but to me those human touches are what add an extra edge to Gary Numan's songs as well as always putting a smile on my face. Mike Damrath http://home.earthlink.net/~damrat ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 7 Jul 1998 20:50:00 +0100 From: "downstat" Subject: Evans yet Again and Lakesiders To: "Gary Numan" > How did any one ever get the impression that Chris Evans likes Numan ?? > I've never heard Evans ever say anything good about Numan so how did > the rumour start ??? Apart from being interviewed on the telephone back during the 1996 Premier Tour on his Radio 1 Breakfast show, there is no other evidence that I know of to suggest he is a fan. True, Evans is a bit of a geek but this in itself is not sufficient proof. > Just saw a preview of a programme called "Lakesiders" on BBC1 > Gary and Gemma are on it talking about getting married... > Monday 8.30 PM BBC 1 Having watched the programme, it wasn't the taking the piss out of Essex folk programme that I expected. GN and Gemma did not feature, and in fact they're involvement would seem out of place. Judging by the first programme, this series seems to be a "day in the life of a large shopping centre" type of thing. Unless Gemma has now opened a shop, serves behind Burger King or is a cleaner at Lakeside, I can't see the connection. Austin ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 5 Jul 1998 11:04:07 EDT From: Mgpop@aol.com Subject: Gary Numan Digest V1 #448 To: numan@cs.uwp.edu I saw GN at Irving Plaza in NYC and he was GREAT!!!! So, I'd like to put out to the numanites an address of a show I'm doing downtown (New York City). It's really fuckin' cool. Called ALL SPOKEN BY A SHINING CREATURE: A HYPERTEXT PUNK TRAGEDY by KEVIN OAKES. Every Thurs.-Sat. at 8:00 pm July 9th -July 25th. At THE PIANO STORE, 158 LUDLOW STREET, NYC. $12.00. Reservations 212-420-1466. It's a Clive Barker-ish type of play. An hour and a half. Come on down.If you're in town GN stop on by, your tickets for you and the Mrs. are on me. Waiting in anticipation for this "BLACK HEART" CD?!?!? ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 8 Jul 1998 16:48:42 -0500 (CDT) From: real-one@ix.netcom.com (John Marques Carramao) Subject: Gary Numan Theme Night Vol. 2 To: numan@cs.uwp.edu To; Numan News Members What; Gary Numan Theme Night (Vol. 2) When; Saturday July 18th, 1998 7:00 PM Where; Joy Circuit Wire Station (Home of Losira The Last Kolandon) Walnut Creek, California, USA North America, Earth, Milky Way Galaxy Announcing the second Gary Numan Theme Night, it is on! If you're anywhere near San Francisco or the Pacific Tectonic Plate, just north of the San Andreas fault, and you know who Gary Numan is (even by proxy) you're invited. Music provided by GNFM the station that plays Gary Numan 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Bring your favorite rare Numan videos and CD's to swap or to play to the assembled Numan gathering and remember the theme is Numan. Hors D'oeuvres served by Commander Loskene, Numan Absorbtion Chamber provided by Landru, beverages from around the galaxy served by Korob and Marplan The Arkon. If you'd like to attend RSVP for directions to: SomaCrow@aol.com or real-one@ix.netcom.com For more info go to; http://www.geocities.com/Paris/2463/gntheme.html See you there. Regards, John ---------------------------------- GN Theme Night Volume Two Coordinators: http://members.aol.com/somacrow/numan.htm http://www.geocities.com/Paris/2463/numan.html ----------------------------------- ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 7 Jul 1998 23:42:38 -0500 From: paddygav@kcnet.com (Paddy) Subject: how bout that Numan? To: numan@cs.uwp.edu Just got the PP reissue. I had never heard that Bombers live version. . . what a trip. It was great to hear it all again, as I hadn't taken out the big plastic disk version of that album for years! I am still looking for an avenue to the Mean Streat MP3s that were discussed some months ago. I think our Belgian pal had put them on his site some time ago, but all of that info is lost since I now have a new computer. helpee helpee! My boss tells me we need to find someone to rake the garden of good and evil. http://www.kcnet.com/~paddygav/images.html ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 6 Jul 1998 17:27:07 +0100 From: "Squidly" Subject: Introducing....... To: Hey! I'm new here so I thought I'd just say Hi......I was a Gary Numan fan from the word go - and still have my lovely shiny "Blue Album" - but kind of lost touch as Numa Records dissolved.......nice to see him getting some recognition at last and becoming seemingly "hip", too! Now all I have to do is find a discography and see what I've missed :-0 Does this list have a FAQ ? Love Will.....xx "A Noble Spirit Embiggens The Smallest Man" ICQ# - 11217271 ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 6 Jul 1998 22:41:40 +0100 From: Mark Subject: lost fellow numandigesters e-mail addres (sorry everyone) To: numan@cs.uwp.edu Ziggy ?? Paul Gardiner / Bass playing ? If youu're reading this Ziggy, could ya drop me a quick e-mail please ? i got your last mail - but lost it a day later, computer problems here, its mark... (jdr@jdrs.demon.co.uk) changed to mark@jdrs.demon.co.uk hope you get this .... sorry everyone, this is the only way i know i can get in touch... 'There's No Sense' - Paul Gardiner e-mail: mark@jdrs.demon.co.uk Ham Paket (AX25) : g0ynm@gb7hvu.#16.gbr.eu ' Bass Players do it with No string's ' ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 7 Jul 1998 18:06:47 +0100 From: Stephen Cunningham Subject: M.E. To: "'numan@cs.uwp.edu'" Hi. Thanks for adding me, here's a little about myself... Name: Steve Cunningham Age: 27 From: England Listening for: 19 years. Plays: No instruments. Other bands: Most things, including Radiohead, Foo Fighters, Chemical Brothers, Prodigy, Manic Street Preachers, Motorhead, Green Day. Regards, Steve. ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 5 Jul 1998 18:39:47 EDT From: PeterPanda@aol.com Subject: Miscellany Part 2 To: numan@cs.uwp.edu Greetings once again Digesters! I'm turning off my lurker mode once again to comment on a few items from the past couple of Digests. BEGGAR'S BANQUET RE-ISSUES: In my original e-mail to the Digest, I lamented over rumours that Beggar's Banquet was going to stop the re-issues after _Telekon_. Steve Webbon, however, was nice enough to e-mail me directly to let me know that, if the sales figures for the first four are good enough, we can expect to see the remaining three LPs released here (i.e., _Dance_, _I. Assassin_ and _Warriors_). So, my fellow US fans, the challenge has been made (my words, not Steve's, mind you). Let's prove to BB that we're serious fans and that the US is a vaible market for Numan product (well done product that is, not another Receiver Records compilation or remix of "Cars'). If you haven't bought copies of these re-issues and you've been sitting on the fence about it, please put those fears aside and buy them. If you're struggling to find a gift for a friend, introduce them to Numan through one of these CDs. They're relatively inexpensive and come chock-full of great information and period photos. Incidentially, if we're successful, Steve did mention that the remaining CDs won't be out until sometime in 1999. NEW MEMBERS, DAWN, AND GOTH CLUBS IN DENVER, CO: Just an observation but, I've noticed a number of new Numan fans signing onto the Digest in recent weeks. Typically, these fans are young, female, and came to Numan via the _Dawn_ comic book and CD. This is simply wonderful and I welcome you all on board. Numan is not going to succeed in his revivial efforts without the support of the younger members of society. I would also like to thank Rob Horan for all that he's done for Numan in this regard. He's obviously reaching his target audience. In fact, two weeks ago, while hanging out in some Goth clubs in Denver, CO (not my scene, but I had some guests in from Boston, MA who are really into it) I was approached by a young female who loved my Exile Tour T-Shirt, knew about the recent tour but couldn't go, and got into Numan through the _Dawn_ CD. It was a very nice encounter. One last item on this. Both clubs (one on its own (Snakepit) and the other after some strong armed persuasion (Rock Island) played "Dominion Day." That was nice to experience. VINTAGE VINYL: Just to support the bloke who spoke glowingly of the NJ based record store Vintage Vinyl, when I was in college, I used to make frequent trips there and often found some nice Numan items. Another great NJ store is Sound Exchange. A bit expensive, but very thorough at getting all releases in all variations and formats. CLEOPATRA RELEASE OF WHITE NOISE: On the positive side, Rod Reynolds did a great job with the packaging on this and I can't wait to play my copy to hear how good it sounds. On the negative side, I'm getting tired of alleged Numan fans writing crap liner notes to Numan CDs. Why can't the record labels take the time to check with the fans before they release something? This problem seems to have plagued Numan throughout his career and, while I'm not too concered about it when it happens in a lame Receiver Records Compilation CD, it does bother me a bit more when someone like Cleopatra, Eagle, or Beggar's Banquet can't get it right. I'm not complaining about subjective interpretations of Numan, his music, personality, or impact on the overall music scene, but rather blatant factual errors. In my copy of Cleopatra's _White Noise_ it is mentioned that in 1984 the album did better than any other Gary Numan live album. While it is true that _White Noise_ did well for the Numa label, only a brief amount of research will reveal that the _Living Ornaments `79&`80_ set peaked at number 2 on the UK charts. The write-up also mentioned that Numa Records signed Gary's brother John Webb and his band Hohokam. John Webb was a solo act and had nothing to do with Hohokam. BLACK HEART CD: To the chap asking the question about the listing for this, I don't have the CD in front of me, but, just so you're aware, this is the most recent of many Receiver Records Compilations (under their subsidiary Rialto Records). It contains nothing new to CD, has crap liner notes (see above for my gripe), and often repeats material that appeared on earlier compilations by Receiver. My suggestion is: don't buy it. TELEKON FOR $5: To answer the question about the _Telekon_ purchased for $5.00; that would be a good price if it was in very good to excellent condition. I used to be able to find this album for around $1.00 in cut-out bins. It's a little harder to find now that vinyl has disappeared from most mainstream record stores, but a good to average copy should only cost 99 cents to $3.00. A few years back, I was able to find a sealed copy for only $1.00 and I still haven't opned it yet. US VERSION OF I DIE : YOU DIE: I too cannot tell the difference between the "US Version" (or, as it's also called "Alternate Version") of "I Die : You Die." I've listened many times and have pretty good hearing and a decent stereo. If anyone can definitively describe to me where the difference is, please e-mail me. Well, that's about all. Thanks for reading. Me! I Disconnect From You P.S. - Still desperately seeking Numan 8-tracks. Will swap or buy. ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 8 Jul 1998 13:46:18 +0000 From: "Julian Ashcroft" Subject: Mobile Phone Numan Tunes To: numan@cs.uwp.edu Having just got myself a new Mobile Phone (Ericsson GF768). I have found that it has the facility to put your own ringing tune in, rather than having to listen to the set tunes already included. Not being musically talented, has anyone else got this type of phone and has put in a Numan Tune of one kind or another. Instructions on which buttons to press would be gratefully received. Julian Ashcroft Isle of Man ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 5 Jul 1998 18:30:00 -0000 From: "SHELIA S CARTER" Subject: MY PRINCIPLE PRESENT....... To: HOWDY !!!!! KING RICHARD HERE.......I got to tell you guys this....My birthday is on July 7th and I have a friend that I got hired at my job, so he got me a present for my birthday. He comes up to me and says " I hear you talking about this guy all the time, so I desided to buy you a CD for your Birthday.I didnt know what you have of him, so if you have it you can take it back and exchange it..." He hands me a copy of the re-release of PLEASURE PRINCIPLE. I went nuts. This thing sounds great....I had heard the song RANDOM but had not heard the other 3, not to mention I had a copy of ON BROADWAY on a compilation CD, so this was almost like a new album for me....BOMBERS (live) is playing right now, for the tenth time today. But I have to be stupid at this point. I saw in a store in Athens a copy of the re-release of TUBWAY ARMY'S FIRST , and for the bonus "songs" (it has an "s" at the end) it lists LIVING ORNAMENTS......is this just a song or is it the live recording LIVING ORNAMENTS '79?? this would explain why it says "songs" but if it were, it would list the songs....I know this sounds stupid to most of you, but I just want to know what it is before I buy it....HEY, if anyone wants to write me, try this email address, It will get to me quicker. kingofeightiesmusic@angelfire.com please believe me Im not an idiot, its just that if there is a song called LIVING ORNAMENTS, i havent heard it......let me know KING RICHARD GA ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 8 Jul 1998 19:53:52 -0000 From: "SHELIA S CARTER" Subject: nothing personal, but i just dont see it....... To: HOWDY!!!!!!!!!! KING RICHARD HERE......yet, again.....I have to get on my soapbox one more time. This is in regard to Benjemin's editorial on homoerotica in GARY's stuff. First off, this is not a personal attack on him or anyone who is gay or bi-sexual..I am a straight male but have no bad feelings toward anyones sexual preferences, this is just an opinion, and yes, I emailed Benjamin with this first... O.K, I just do not see it in the lyrics, doesnt mean that you are wrong, i just dont see it....GARY wrote lyrics of a charactors point of view, mostly at that time was of a robot that wanted to be a human. pointing out our faults and what was wrong with the world, be it now or the future & still wanted to be a human.GARY has always been able to tell a good story, still can..EXILE is proof of that...but its a story....nothing more. Yes, he wore eye makeup, most in new wave did...HUMAN LEAGUE, DURAN DURAN, A FLOCK OF SEAGULLS, MISSING PERSONS.... A fasion statement, nothing more.....at least the way i see it. But I want to write something that GARY said on the liner notes of THE OTHER SIDE OF GARY NUMAN..."Most of my songs are personal. In some ways I use songwriting as other people use diaries,friends and enemies, anything and everything that touches and disturbs me. I have had an extraordinary life, with the most amazing highs and quite crushing lows, though I must confess that it is the darker side of it that I find most interesting and exciting. It is the side I have written about the most. Sometimes its disguised, sometimes its more obvious, and sometimes its a secret meant only for one person to unravel." GARY NUMAN 1992.....Basically, each person should see it his or her own way, and in my own way I have never seen any homoerotica, story telling....nothing more. hey if you want to send me email, TRY THIS ONE INSTEAD !!!!!!!!! kingofeightiesmusic@angelfire.com thanx for putting up with my ramblings king richard ga ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 5 Jul 1998 10:54:59 -0500 (EST) From: jazztrancer@iquest.net Subject: Odd songs tacked on To: numan@cs.uwp.edu Hello Fellow Numanoids, It has been noted a couple times how Numan's US release of Exile has the "bonus" song tacked on, but that it is quite out of place. Well, I feel that this had been happening for years. Even on the Like A Refugee CD single, there is the Machine and Soul live, which sounds very good for a live piece, but simply does not fit well within the context of that particular CD. Also, in about 1988 or 89, there was an issue of Keyboard(I think it was, I will be looking my copy up) where Numan was inside with a very nice article. Talked a lot about his flying etc.. Also, he was pictured in just blue jeans and a t-shirt, and the overall article was very well done. I will try to look my copy up, and post it to my website so all can enjoy it, and read it. Also, thanks for the posting of info regarding how the re-issues of the BB stuff came into being. Very much enlightning. Take care all, Mark A Hubbard ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 06 Jul 1998 02:16:19 -0600 From: =?iso-8859-1?Q?=22Acci=F3n_Humana_por_la_Comunidad=2C_A=2EC=2E=22?= Subject: PERSONAL INTRO & ON NUMAN-LEM RELATIONSHIP To: Gary Numan Hi Numanoid Crew! I've been a Gary Numan's fan since 1984. Now, thanks to e-mail I can get in touch with others sharing this passion. I would love to exchange views on Numan's ideas and sounds... I am 32 years old. My name is Francisco Javier Lagunes Gaitan, I live in Mexico City and work on education and support for sexually oppresed minorities. You can call me Electric Friend Violet. I agree with Benjamin Iglar Mobley on the crucial help that some of us received from Gary's music, sensitivity and philosophy. Gary's work was instrumental to me to achieve personal strength to accept my gayness. I wil allways be grateful to him for this. I don't usually become so attached to a writer or musician. It has happened to me only twice: With Numan's ideas & songs, and with the books of the Pole science fiction writer Stanislaw Lem. His phrase in the song Telekon "You end on reel one", and the song My Love is a Liquid in Tubeway Army seem to me two moments very close to some of Lem's ideas. So, what do you think? Is there a real link?, What about a Spanish language network of Numan's fans? Love and sound of metal to all! Electric Friend Violet ============================================================ ACCION HUMANA POR LA COMUNIDAD, A.C., (Amac) Accion sobre sida, vida guei y derechos humanos ============================================================ COMPARTIR PARA VIVIR ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Delivery address: Republica de Bolivia No.5, Centro Historico, Delegacion Cuauhtemoc, 06020 Mexico, D.F. MEXICO. Post address: Apartado postal 27-131, 06761 Mexico, D.F. MEXICO Tel/Fax: +(52 5) 772.0778 E-mail: amac@laneta.apc.org +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Contact Person: Francisco Javier Lagunes Gaitan Private mail: laviole@yahoo.com +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 5 Jul 1998 01:54:34 -0500 From: "willfred" Subject: Posters To: "Gary Numan" Hi All, Does anyone know where one can get Gary Numan posters ( preferably Replicas, Telekon, or Live Ornaments )? Same goes for Ultravox or John Foxx ( Metamatic or The Garden would be nice). Your help is greatly appreciated. thanks, b2 ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 5 Jul 1998 22:33:55 EDT From: NickYak@aol.com Subject: Praying to the Aliens BOOK To: numan@cs.uwp.edu I ordered the book (PTTA) from one of the numan web sites that had a link to an English site--the total bill was a little over 30 bucks in US funds. The other day i was in Vintage Vinyl in Fords, NJ and saw it on their shelf for 13 bucks! YYYYYYYYaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!!! How can they sell it so cheap??? Man, was I pissed. -NickYak@aol.com ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 7 Jul 1998 18:03:11 -0400 From: Matthew Roberts Subject: Q & A To: Gary Numan QUESTIONS For some reason they've included the extended version of Call Out The Dog= s in "The Numa Years" box set. After 13 years, I still can't figure out all= the extra words. Does anyone know??? "I'm burned out They won't leave me alone (Tough/Type of)? face You've left a taste in my mouth... =2E..I told you (It just goes to show)??? you know (Type of/tough)? face That'd win you a prize" Does anyone else care enough to have thought about it? Cor... I remember listening to the 12" single in my bedroom, when I was t= he only Numan fan in the world........ Is the version of Dark on the Dark City soundtrack at all different? Mary Ann Kienapple, I haven't read 'Memnoch The Devil' yet. Is it as good as 'The Vampire Lestat' or as bad as 'The Queen Of The Damned'? Anyone, Do gravitons exist, or are they just a convenient semiotic in lieu of General Relativity? ANSWERS Jenny, 1. Chris Evans is a TV presenter who has also become a media mogul in the= UK. Kind of like a young David Letterman but, er, 'trendy'. Also famous f= or being a 'lad', i.e. likes beer and women. "So what?", you ask. Exactly. = Has "Don't Forget Your Toothbrush" reached the States yet? Well Chris Eva= ns invented the show. 2. SD 32-103 is the original US release of Telekon. Not worth a great dea= l. Most notable for having I Die:You Die on it rather than Sleep By Windows.= You see, it's not only IRS and Cleopatra who have fucked with Gary's records. 3. David Frost is an old guy who is supposed to be a very respectable TV presenter & Political commentator (I think he's got the title Sir David Frost!!). = In fact, he's an old guy who sucks up to lots of famous UK politicians & presents trashy TV shows convincing the gullible and educationally disadvantaged that UFO's and fairies really exist. He even presents Uri Geller as a genuine psychic, when everyone knows (see Penn & Teller) that= he's just a conjurer who has the audacity to pretend that his magic trick= s are real. Darren H., 'Black Heart' is just another shabby compilation from Receiver/Rialto/whatever. I thought about spending nine pounds for the photo, but..... Austin, "Essex is a county in the UK where the inhabitants are supposedly culturally barren, conservative in both life and politics, and lacking in= both taste and morals." Ho ho ho! But of course, YOU don't think that :-) Nigel Lunn, I think the "10 seconds or so" of Don't Be A Dummy are all there are, sin= ce that's all they needed for an advert. There is a 3 minute version by John= Du Cann, but it's crap. Thomas Holt, The Numa Years may have been remastered, but I think only in the sense th= at Steve Webbon mentioned in the last Digest. Have you noticed the different= sound/noise levels on the extra tracks. What a bummer. And where's Tribal= & I Still Remember (the RSPCA version)? And how about the lyrics? Yep, it's= good, but not as good as the Beggars Banquet remasters. Is it a sign of Eagle/Cleoptra's true values??????? and finally, I gave Steve Webbon the correct song titles for 'Live At The Roxy' (which= he mentions in the CD) but do I get the credit? No! What was it about great men being happy to remain anonymous? Bollocks to that! Matthew Roberts ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 5 Jul 1998 05:00:02 EDT From: NewcombG3@aol.com Subject: The hideous squawk on Crash To: numan@cs.uwp.edu I don't know what the "hideous squawk" on Crash is, but then much of Gary's best work is unintelligible. I have always assumed it to be non-accidental and an integral part of the song, and I would be annoyed if it was removed on a re-master. I always look up to see who opened the door whenever I hear it, to this day! ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 7 Jul 1998 10:44:44 +0100 From: "downstat" Subject: The Numa Years Box Set To: "Gary Numan" I bought the Numa Years Box Set on the 6th for 33.99 at the HMV Trocadero. Since I already have all the Numa CDs, I was only going to buy the set if I had confirmation from other digesters that the sound quality problems of M&S and Sacrifice had been resolved. On a whim I decided to risk it anyway. 1. Packaging is very good. Although I don't particularly like the design of the actual CDs themselves. The asylum CDs are beautiful. These aren't - they look too sci-fi ish. The sleevenotes by Steve Malins are honest and well written and in places quite funny. Must say though that it is a bit odd that they have the track listing of the previous album opposite the front page of the next album. V peculiar. Also, perhaps I am not very clever but I admit to spending around 30 seconds cursing and swearing at Eagle thinking that they had forgotten to put the Sacrifice CD in. I eventually found it in a little sleeve towards the back. Phew! 2. The only song that I had not heard was Metal Beat. I presume this was recorded post M&S, pre-Sacrifice. I like it alot. It's got a great melody and hook line, and is missing the relentless drum loops. Very refreshing. GN needs to do something like this for his next single. I note that the melody of the synth line in the chorus is the same as that of A Question of Faith. Also similar melody to Love and Napalm. This song joins "In A Glasshouse"and "I Don't Believe" in the "why wasn't it on the album" stakes. 3. The Digital Remastering of M&S and Sacrifice has helped but alas they still sound muddy and tinny compared to everything pre-Outland. (Exile, as I stated at the time, is back to sonic perfection due to GN remastering it outside of his home studio). Why Sacrifice and M&S should still remain muddy and tinny after being remastered is a mystery. Unless he *really* did intended for them to sound this way. All in all not bad. But I think I would of preferred the albums to of been released in their original form (as per the recent Beggars releases). My fear is that Eagle will release these Numa CDs again in a few years time, as single CDs with the original artwork and lyrics. They've got alot more milking yet to do.... Austin ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 7 Jul 1998 02:11:57 -0700 From: dagonet@netwide.net (Don McCrum) Subject: There Is A Reason To Go To Record Stores, Again.... To: "Gary Numan List" I've managed to find the following CDs, with just a little effort, a little luck, and a few phone calls -- in order of purchase: Magic (from show in Orlando) Dawn (from show in Orlando) Exile Outland Tubeway Army Tubeway Army Greatest Hits Tubeway Army -- Replicas (I love "do you need the service?") The Pleasure Principle Random Telekon Archive (just bought the last four -- currently listening to Pleasure Princple, "On Broadway") Only "Outland" was used -- rest were new/ re-releases.... God/dess Bless Beggar's Banquet, stupid Irish-American luck, and Waxtree (this little CD store kind off the beaten path that collected about $50 from me today...). (I won't be able to buy a Stabbing Westward shirt at the show this week, but that's more than okay.... Numanoid's gotta make their "sacrifices". :) (Normally not this goofy/ happy.) Anyway, I wrote this to just let the other recent converts know that Numan CD's can be found: if I can find them this side of Mickey's Pucker, er, Orlando, FL, then anything is possible.... (Before I ferget ah-gen, someone asked for a copy of the story I posted awhile ago, and I accidentally deleted the email addy -- will be more than happy to re-send it.... Hate that damn delete key....) Peace D * * * My sense of humor comes from a deep understanding of the universe. dagonet@netwide.net ICQ #12788034 God's a woman. ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 5 Jul 1998 17:45:49 +0400 From: "Peter Enright" Subject: Ziggy's review To: "Digest Numan" Date: Sun, 28 Jun 1998 01:31:45 -0800 From: Pythoness Subject: Exile re-reviewed (at some length) Ziggy, I am moved to respond to the above from Digest #447: BRAVO! What an eloquent and sublime deconstruction of Exile. Anyone in any doubt about the deeper morphic resonance of the album should carefully study Ziggy's comments. I have also experienced strange consciousness-altering episodes while wandering around Moscow with Exile plugged into my ears, but I thought I was the only one! An Alien Cure is definitely the track that stands out as nothing short of sheer brilliance, a milestone in synth music. In fact so hypnotic is the power of Exile, that my Russian girlfriend who only ever liked classical and ambient music until she started going out with me, requested her own cassette of Exile and other Numan tracks for herself - with no prompting from me. She likes to improve her English by analysing his lyrics so I had to print them all out for her. Last Digest I incorrectly reported that Gaz was to be interviewed on NBC's VIP program, but I was given wrong information; he was not interviewed, but in fact only performed "Absolution" I assume in their studio under crap television studio lighting and hackneyed camera direction. Far too much light, no smoke machine, special digital effects or funky camera angles. In short you didn't miss anything, in fact it was sacrilegious. Will these so-called no-talent "professionals" never learn? This is Numan, a living cultural icon, he's not a spot on the Eurovision Song Contest! Think I'll call the Menendez boys ... TikTokMan, Moscow ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 05 Jul 1998 23:58:29 +0100 From: "M.Tressler" Subject: Ziggy Blum, Absolution, Clive Barker To: numan@cs.uwp.edu I have to agree with Ziggy Blum on many of his points concerning Exile (Digest 447). After one or two spins through the 'ol CD player (which is wired through my 1983 turntable/radio/dual cassette all-in-one stereo), I felt Exile was good; just not great. But after a few more listens, I too began to experience Numan euphoria the likes of which I hadn't felt since Telekon. This album rocks! Give me Numan with guitars over Numan with saxaphones and horns any day. Concerning "Absoulution," I hadn't known the song at all before Exile, except for the cover version from Random, which I disliked tremendously. So i expected to dislike Gary's own Absolution. Was I wrong! It's haunting and somewhat disturbing, yet somehow manages to come off as just a bit romantic. How many of us know someone to whom we could sing, "I would be your disciple, and I'll worship you"? IMO it's a beautifully crafted piece that fits in well with the rest of the album. Funny Ziggy should make mention of Hellraiser in his letter. Upon reading the lyrics of all the songs on "Exile" I said to myself, "This stuff is brilliant... good enough to be a Clive Barker novel." I'm a huge fan of Barker, and have wondered if Gary has read any of his work. I remember I was reading "WeaveWorld" for the first time back in '89 or '90 and I had just bought "New Anger" (on vinyl!). Alot of those songs fit the mood and personality of the book (if books can actually have personalities, i don't know. WeaveWorld seemed to). It just felt like New Anger was written for that book (ala "Dawn"). Finally, the wife and I took vacation to see Gary in West Palm Beach back in May. Oh, and we visited my brother who lives like five minutes from West Palm. So I feel very fortunate that we made it to two shows (West Palm and Pittsburgh) and that my wife was willing to see Gary for a second time. I think she's liking him more and more. Mike T. -- "It's good to be a seeker, but sooner or later you have to be a finder. And then it is well to give what you have found, a gift into the world, for whoever will accept it." Jonathan Livingston Seagull ------------------------------ End of Gary Numan Digest ******************************