Newsgroups: bit.listserv.allmusic
Date:         Fri, 20 Nov 1992 13:59:38 EST
From:         "Michael H. Bloom" <MHB@MITVMA.BITNET>
Subject:      Civility is a thing of the past

From:         Leonard Watkins <ISTS024@UABDPO.BITNET>
Subject:      Malcom x question

> This is not music related, but i know some of you may have an answer.
> I was looking at a picture of mr x and he was wearing a ring that had
> a qtr moon with a star inside the curve of the moon. What is this a symbol
> for anyone know.   (*  (sorta like that)........L.W.

I would have thought it was something Islamic. Most of the Moslem countries
have that image somewhere in their flag.

From:         crispen <crispen@EFFTOO.BOEING.COM>
Subject:      Re: Malcom x question

> There are two organizations that use this ring.  One is the Knights of
> Columbus (reserved for Past Master Inquisitors) and the other is
> Phi Gamma Delta fraternity (souvenir of Fiji Week Toga Party).

> I suspect, based on Malcolm's profound religious convictions, that he
> was a Gaminal.

I know K of C is pretty strictly Christian, which would leave Malcolm X well
out of it. (They're pretty conservative too, and probably wouldn't cotton to
a black man as outspoken as Malcolm.) But the notion of Malcolm as frat dude
is a little hard to swallow too :-)

From:         Leonard Watkins <ISTS024@UABDPO.BITNET>
Subject:      Re: Malcom x question

> After reading the article about him i can't believe that people actually
> think highly of him. I hate to see the youth wearing the malcom stuff, i hope
> they don't have the same beliefs, but that belongs on another group
> Thanks for the info......................L.W.

Leonard, I invite you to amplify this comment. There were a number of things
Malcolm said, several of which were mutually contradictory. He ameliorated
his views about racial relations after he went on the Hajj, the mandatory
Moslem pilgrimage to Mecca, where he discovered that there were white people
who believed in Allah just as strongly as he and his Black Muslim brothers,
observed the same rites, and were willing to treat him like a fellow human
being. Of course, these more tolerant white men weren't Americans :-/

So if you're bothered by some of Malcolm's anti-honky rhetoric, be aware
that he later took back much of it. (And his erstwhile colleagues killed
him for that.) And if you're bothered by his social or economic analysis,
refute it.

From:         Little Inquisitor <U33963@UICVM.BITNET>
Subject:      Riot Grrrls

> For all you Riot Grrrls fans I submit 2 items for your attention: article in
> NYT (Pop Music Section), Nov. 15 "Punk's Girl Groups Are Putting the Self Back
> into Self-Esteem."  (Thank goodness it's not by Jon Pareles).

What's wrong with Jon Pareles-- beyond wordiness, a trait I'm proud to share?
I think he's one of the most open-minded and perceptive critics around today.

From: 5_DCOREY@FAIR1.FAIRFIELD.EDU
Subject: PRINCE & NPG

> Hello - I'm a new subscriber, so bear with me. I just wanted to know why
> there aren't any messages concerning Prince's fantastic new album. If you
> don't have it already, go out and buy it. It's a great album. Maybe after
> listening to it you'll become a collector like me & collect all of his albums
> since 1978. If anyone would like to send a message directly to me it's

The real reason is, of course, that we don't have that silly character he
titled it with on our keyboards. Similarly, we never talk about Zeppelin's
fourth album.

From:         Jeff Schoby <S113236@UMRVMA.BITNET>
Subject:      Re: PRINCE & NPG

> Adam, If you don't like Prince that is fine, but you do not have to insult the
> people like me and Darice like him.

If you cared to re-read Adam's top ten list, you might observe that there
were no insults directed at you or Darice.

> How many POPULAR artists write, produce, and perform all of their own stuff.
> At least he's not 'Milli Vanilli' which was an embarrasment to us all...

Come now, don't use straw man arguments. Nobody on the list gives a shit
about Milli Vanilli. Many of the local faves exercise extreme control over
their music-- Peter Gabriel comes to mind.

> ... But anyway, he IS a very talented musician and should be given the
> respect he deserves, I'm sure you couldn't do any better!  Save your top ten
> lists for the David Letterman show, this is no place for that kind of
> ignorance and only makes U look bad

Nobody has the right to dictate the response his work is gonna get. I think
that if Prince is after respect, he does not strengthen his case by cutting
the cheeks out of his trousers. As for "you couldn't do any better" type
arguments, I just heard a good one: apparently George Bush's aides kept
trying to tell him that there was a recession going on, and he didn't want
to hear it, and he would regularly answer his aides, "If you're so smart,
how come I'm President and you're not?" And now he isn't :-)

> O-+> "Everybody's looking 4 Graffiti Bridge, everybody's lookin' 4 love!" <+-O

I'm looking for someone else's love, thank you.

And would someone please explain to me what is so cool about bad spelling,
including not only Prince with his "2 U" stuff but the conventions of rap...

From:         Jeff Schoby <S113236@UMRVMA.BITNET>
Subject:      Re: PRINCE & NPG

> Len, I believe someone once said that opinions were welcome on this list?
> I was just voicing mine....you don't have to insult me, Adam's list wasn't
> even funny.

Well, there you go. I thought Adam's list was hilarious. Perhaps you need
the chill pill.

From:         crispen <crispen@EFFTOO.BOEING.COM>
Subject:      Re: Genesis Live: Good disc/Bad disc

> Was that ever released on CD?  Is that _Seconds Out_ or one of the
> other ones you mentioned?

The other albums mentioned: _Seconds Out_ was their farewell to Steve Hackett,
who left after _Wind and Wuthering_, reputedly because the rest of the band
didn't want to play his music. (Subsequently both his composing and theirs
declined, but theirs did so much faster.) It documents mostly the first tour
with Chester Thompson-- there are only two tunes with Bill Bruford on them,
which was my first indication that Genesis was going to hell in a handbasket.

_Three Sides Live_ wasn't that much later; it's the three "real" Genesis guys
plus Thompson and Daryl Stuermer (sp?). I think it came out before _Abacab_,
an album I kinda perversely like.

From:         Derek Pickett <C588208@MIZZOU1.BITNET>
Subject:      Todd and Utopia

>      A few years back I remember seeing a greatest hits album by
> Todd Rundgren & Utopia. Either the cover or the back or both had
> a Trivia Pursuit theme to it. Since then I have not been able to
> find it. Does anybody remember or know anything about this album.
> I really would like to get a copy of it. Thanks.

Was that greatest hits? I thought it was just another late Utopia record.
I got burned out on their later stuff-- they got into making records as
fast as they possibly could, and IMHO just cut way too many corners in
composition and production. I can't even remember the title of the last
one I sat down and listened to, but I got rid of it almost immediately--
it sucked. (The one with the all black cover... _Obsession_?)

The other problem with getting their later music wasn't their fault: they
created a custom label and affiliated it with the JEM Records pyramid, and
when it crumbled, their label went with it. But I really don't consider any
of those records much of a loss. I'd be pleased to be proved wrong.
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