Gary Numan Digest Thu, 27 Jan 2000 Volume 2 : Issue 7 Today's Topics: A-ha ??? Caveat Emptor Down in the Toilet faces at random Free NuVersion CD GN mention in Rolling Stone #833 Marti Caine/Dramatris/NAGNFC complaints numan covers... Practice what you preach Snarlfest ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Date: Mon, 24 Jan 2000 09:50:59 -0000 From: thoutby@fusiongroup.co.uk (Tim Houtby) Subject: A-ha ??? To: "'Numan Digest'" Jim Benson - A-ha..A-ha..?...WHAT??....WHAAAT !!!??? When on earth did Gary Numan "try to be A-ha" ???? Either you are having some kind of in-joke, or you need to seek help. And just for the record......Take a look at the similarities between the Complex video & the A-ha animated video(s?). Then check the year of release of each. And do you really think Numan is able to, or would even wish to, sing as high as Morten "nuts in a vice" Harket ??? Get out more. Tim. ________________________________________________________________________________ This message has been checked for all known viruses by the Star Screening System http://www.star.net.uk/stats.asp ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 25 Jan 2000 22:35:21 -0800 From: Derek Langsford Subject: Caveat Emptor To: digest@garynumanfan.nu As Matthew Roberts and Gary Perkins have stated, it really does pay to be sure of what you are getting before plonking down the dosh. And the proliferation of second rate rehash compilations of Gary's Numa catalogue has been a proverbial minefield for the less informed. I hope that some subscribers have been able to save some money by finding out the truth in the Digest before departing with hard earned cash. I think the most egregious example was the "Blackheart" compilation which had a track named "Blackheart." This was a couple minute instrumental piece from "Human" CD and certainly not worth giving Receiver/Rialto/Trojan some of your hard earned money. We should wait for the release of NUMAN XVII (that's not the title, but signifying his 17th regular studio album release). There is not much left to come out that has only seen vinyl before. Then again, the extended and live albums could stand remastering, there's the Isolate and Exile tour concerts sitting on shelves somewhere, and all his live shows could be released on DVD. Still plenty of releases to drain our pockets. Does anyone really think that the new album will be here this spring? Derek San Diego, California ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 26 Jan 2000 20:14:29 +0000 (GMT) From: =?iso-8859-1?q?Gary=20Perkins?= Subject: Down in the Toilet To: Gary Numan Digest Numan is well known for being accessible to fans.=20 What with his fan club days out, appearances at conventions and endless signing sessions after shows.=20 Having said that, I have never made any attempt to meet the man. Partly because I think that a bit of distance between fan and star helps to keep the interest alive, but mainly because even though I am in my mid 30s, pop/rock stars still freak me out. One small example is that I walked into the toilet at the Birmingham Alex while attending a show on the Metal Rhythm tour only to find Rrussell Bell in there. I know it isn=92t an ideal place to meet, but even so, merely mumbling =91oops=92 and walking straight back out was a bit feeble. I should add, he was not up to any rock star high jinx at the time to cause this response. Merely drying his hands under a hot air dryer. It set me wondering if anyone else has any embarrassing or amusing tales to tell about meeting with Numan, or one of his entourage over the years. I remember reading a fantastic example in the digest a while back where a poor guy approached Numan for an autograph with the words =91Sorry to disturb you=92. To which Numan replied tersely =91No you=92re not=92. I would have shrivelled like a salted snail at such a response. Surely I can=92t be the only sad loser on the digest.=20 Can I? Gary P Proud member of Hermits Like Us ____________________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Get your free @yahoo.co.uk address at http://mail.yahoo.co.uk or your free @yahoo.ie address at http://mail.yahoo.ie ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 24 Jan 2000 05:34:47 -0600 From: Valerie Iglar-Mobley Subject: faces at random To: The Gary Digest Dear numanoids, Someone tipped me to an online music ordering web site which specializes in obscure imports from across the globe. It's at: http://www.cdeurope.com Does anyone know what this item by Gary is? It can't be 'New Dreams For Old' since that one was just released last year. Does anyone have this, or know what the track listing is? Hey, maybe this is that definitive singles collection from this period that I've been yapping about. (Too bad it was only released in "Nl"-- Netherlands?) > The Best Of 1984-1992 (Catalog # H350879 $10.95 Label: emporio Release Date: 10/13/96 Import From: Nl Genre: rock Rec Number: EMPRCD666) Or, hey, what about this? It's listed as a "2 item" which I'm guessing means two discs. Did BB give up on trying to find the LO '80 masters and put out a two-disc set of the vinyl release? Steve Webbon, could you fill us in on this one? > Living Ornaments 1979/80 (Catalog #B348269 $25.95 Label: beggars banquet Release Date: 1/20/00 Import From: Eec Genre: rock Rec Number: 032 215523) [By the way, if anyone wants to check this site out, be sure to do what they call a 'power search' for any items CONTAINING "numan" in the artist line (since artist names sometimes get flipped last/first)... I kid you not, 235 entries. Enjoy a good, long browse.] with love, Ben Iglar-Mobley http://home.earthlink.net/~iglarmobley ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 26 Jan 2000 16:41:08 -0000 From: "artemis" Subject: Free NuVersion CD To: "Gary Numan" I plan to compile a CDR of 'NuVersion' material. This would include TV appearances etc. where Gary has played live or mimed to different versions, where the recording is as close to the original source to ensure the best possible quality. An example would be the Leo Sayer tracks that Andy B recently made available and the VH1 tracks from Reps room. I'm looking for suggestions for tracks and donations from your collections. Those who contribute the best quality tracks that are used will receive a copy of the CD. BTW Numan says that he doesn't have copyright of this stuff so it is of minority interest. Tracks I've found are - AFE/DITP - OGWT On Broadway/TINL - Leo Sayer Noise Noise/Dark/Friends - VH1 Friends - Tom Binns Munchies Tracks to find are - Cars/PTTA - USA Saturday Night Live AFE/Cars/Scar - In Bed with MeDinner Noise Noise/Dark/Friends - VH1 Interested? Any suggestions? email me! ARTEMIS ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 23 Jan 2000 12:28:19 -0600 From: "Craig Stenseth" Subject: GN mention in Rolling Stone #833 To: Hi all, I hadn't seen anyone else post this, Gary got a brief mention in Rolling Stone magazine, issue 833, pg. 19 in Random Notes (Melissa Etheridge on the cover). "It was a cross-generational artists' conference after David Bowie's club gig at London's Astoria. Norman 'Fatboy Slim' Cook chatted with Bowie as Bob Geldof and Pete Townshend made the rounds, Mick Jagger and Jerry Hall sat with friends, members of the Cure and Placebo lurked, and Gary Numan sipped alongside actor Joesph Fiennes. back to lurking! Craig in Naperville, Illinois ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 23 Jan 2000 11:49:27 -0000 From: "Phil Marsh" Subject: Marti Caine/Dramatris/NAGNFC complaints To: digest@garynumanfan.nu Playing catch up from last Thursday.. Gary P asked about Gary writing a song for Marti Caine... As best I remember, he DID indeed mention the fact that "I've even tried writing a song for Marti Caine" - I THINK he actually sent it to her and didn't hear anything back, so decided to record it himself, but I can't swear to that. I never read what track that might have been, but I always assumed it was "1930s Rust" which appeared on his next album, and had that "MOR show tune" vibe. > From: SteelHanky@aol.com > Subject: Dramatis > 1. Does the LP have two different tracklists? I seem to remember Jeff Tolva telling me once that the North American issue didn't have Human Sacrifice on it; I know the UK issue did, because I recorded it to my new portable Minidisc just last week (every home should have one). > 2. If so, is one variation significantly harder to find than the other? That, I don't know... Someone wrote criticising Jim Napier a couple of issues back. I've been on the Digest a long time, and read all the issues available from before I joined also. The people concerned may no longer be subscribing here, but I remember in the early issues reading a few comments in passing about the NAGNFC - and they were of the "presumably its now defunct, I sent money and got nothing in return and eventually gave up" variety. Jim wasn't around apparently to answer those comments at the time, and only emerged on the Digest relatively recently. Although he has answered a recent criticism this time around:- > I really did > send two videos to you. Who knows what happened? All I can do is offer > apology in either cash, or the video (to another address this time please!). I can't help but wonder why this wasn't offered at the time...instead of "well, sorry I guess some guy at the post office wanted it more". I guess its the same principle behind consumer affairs TV shows - complain in person, get nowhere; complain in front of the general public and the guilty party is effusive in their apology. Maybe this is just an unfortunate one-off. If Jim's service really was that bad, I guess he'd have been hounded and ridiculed by now. Let's hope that doesn't happen. One last plea to those in the UK using Outlook Express pre installed with their free ISP - for goodness' sake, follow the Digest guidelines and stop sending mail as rich text! Doing it once as a one off mistake is excusable; repeatedly doing it is just bad bloody manners. Phil (phil.marsh@ndirect.co.uk) http://www.ndirect.co.uk/~phil.marsh ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 25 Jan 2000 20:51:57 -0000 From: "brendan colton" Subject: numan covers... To: Imagine the scenario.... Gary has decided to do a covers album. Now readers, what weird and wacky combinations can you devise? I like the concept of Gary doing Britney Spears' "Baby One More Time" to the rhythm of Dominion Day! (not sure about Gary replicating the video, though...a role for Gemma, perhaps?? ;)) Love Asylum5 ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 24 Jan 2000 11:34:17 -0600 From: David Carlson Subject: Practice what you preach To: First Jim Benson, AICP writes: >I frequently find myself giving Rock History 101 to people and informing >them that the Bee Gees, Gary Numan, Thomas Dolby, Neil Diamond et al not >only had vast repertoires of varied and interesting music, but that they >were also very much responsible for the music that those people claim to >like or listen to today. I truly believe that major hits can often be a >horrible curse for an artist. Then, he argues against himself with: >I am glad that Gary seems to be finding a voice and a path that feels more >natural to him. I never felt that those years when he was trying to be A-Ha >served him very well. I mean, look at where A-Ha is now. I never find >myself defending their musical integrity. :) Jim, I believe that you are falling victim to the same crime that you spoke out against. You are judging a group based solely on their one big hit and failing to consider that they may have had a wonderful and interesting career afterwards, it's just that they were no longer in the mainstream and a bit more out of the public eye -- exactly what we are so constantly irritated by when it comes to Numan, everybody thinks "Oh, the 'Cars' guy". Since I am a Numan fan and know firsthand how frustrating it is to have someone base their entire evaluation of an artist or group on one hit song, I make a conscious effort to try not to do it to others (however tempting it may be). A-ha have produced several BRILLIANT albums (Scoundrel Days, Stay On These Roads, East Of The Sun, West Of The Moon, and Memorial Beach...the last two are quite dark and nothing like you would expect from the "Take On Me" guys). In fact, only their first album, Hunting High and Low, was a bit spotty and it still produced several fantastic tracks (the title song, not to mention the ubiquitous "Take On Me"). The lead singer, Morten Harket, produced three excellent albums as a solo artist (two of which were in Norwegian), but his English speaking Wild Seed album is absolutely amazing. Paul Waaktaar-Savoy, the main songwriter for a-ha (he's the skinny one), has produced three albums with his own group Savoy. The thirs member, Mags, has become a respected artist (painting that is) and soundtrack composer. And although I never equate poularity with quality, they have managed to sell 26 million albums. Also, a-ha has "reformed" (although they never technically broke up) and signed a three album deal with Warner. The new album, Minor Earth, Major Sky, is due out in April. Of course, the possibility exists that you are aware of a-ha's entire history and just don't like them -- if that is the case, then my apologies and ignore everything that I am saying. :-) Dave ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 24 Jan 2000 07:46:40 -0700 From: "Joey Lindstrom" Subject: Snarlfest To: "Gary Numan" On Sun, 23 Jan 2000 01:00:06 MST, Ben Mobley wrote: >> Anyway, wouldn't it be nice >> ...if we tried to avoid the rows and flame wars that became >> common place last year... > >Sorry, Phil, it sounds like the moderators themselves disagree. One of >them, anyway. Let the snarling commence. Actually, I'm not a moderator - I just run the machine that produces this thing. Derek and Dave handle the moderation (mostly Derek). As for snarling... I appreciate the fact that you did take this to email, and that we were having a nice little chat via email... discovering that we agree on more issues than we disagree on and possibly coming to some sort of agreement on this. What I then fail to understand is your finding it necessary to come back here to the public forum to get one more slam in on me. Just who's doin' the snarling here? Hey, I've been guilty of getting into the nastiness from time to time, but it sure seems like you're the one that's picking this fight. Oh, but I forgot... since I'm both conservative and Christian, that makes me evil and thus it's ok to do things like that to me... Jim Benson said: "I frequently find myself giving Rock History 101 to people and informing them that the Bee Gees, Gary Numan, Thomas Dolby, Neil Diamond et al not only had vast repertoires of varied and interesting music, but that they were also very much responsible for the music that those people claim to like or listen to today. I truly believe that major hits can often be a horrible curse for an artist." Gary is on record as agreeing with you. Cars has been both a blessing and a curse for him, and in one interview he cited several other bands in similar situations... "oh yeah, they're the guys that recorded that song (insert song name here)" and nobody remembers anything else they did. I'm not sure I entirely agree, but there's much to be said for this argument. Rick in DC said: 'Proud Member of B.L.U. and the "I'm home today cuz it's snowing like MAD" club' Geez, and I thought we had it rough here in Calgary with temperatures down around -20C lately... but I look on the news and see what you're goin' through, and it seems positively balmy here... :-) Don't ask Martin Purvis for his opinion, he's been bitching about the heat wave in Australia... :-) / From the messy desktop of Joey Lindstrom / Visit The NuServer! http://www.GaryNumanFan.NU / Visit The Webb! http://webb.GaryNumanFan.NU / / I had to stop driving my car for a while... the tires got dizzy. / --Steven Wright ------------------------------ End of Gary Numan Digest ****************************** ------------------------------------------------------------------- T H E G A R Y N U M A N D I G E S T is produced and distributed by Derek Langsford, Dave Datta, and Joey Lindstrom dlangs@sunstroke.sdsu.edu, datta@cs.uwp.edu, Joey@GaryNumanFan.NU ------------------------------------------------------------------- To reply to the messages in this list, email: digest@GaryNumanFan.NU If you want to be removed, or someone wants to be added, email: digest-request@GaryNumanFan.NU ------------------------------------------------------------------ The Gary Numan Digest is brought to you via Joey Lindstrom and the GaryNUmanFan server Joey@GaryNumanFan.NU All of the opinions in this digest belong to the respective authors and do not necessarily agree with those of the Digest Producers. -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Produced and distributed by Derek Langsford dlangs@sunstroke.sdsu.edu -------------------------------------------------------------------------- To reply to the messages in this list, mail to: digest@garynumanfan.nu If you want to be removed, or someone wants to be added, you can mail to digest-request@garynumanfan.nu --------------------------------------------------------------------------