Back to index of Beatles pages by Donald Sauter.

 
Here's another installment of "The Beatles In..." I dug these Beatles references out of an amazing thing called Factsheet Five magazine. If there's any point, it's nothing more than a glimpse of how the Beatles pop up in the consciousness of the '80s and '90s.

Factsheet Five was the master work of Mike Gunderloy. You'd have to see it to believe it. It was as if Mike were a one-man Google back in the 1980s. The difference being, the list of hits on any search term in 2010 is almost as exciting as the U.S. Mail backing its truck up to your house and dumping 500 pounds of junk mail on your doorstep. (Hey, Google, how about a "nothing that smacks of commercialism" filter? What about us who want to know what people are thinking about?)

Hundreds and hundreds of reviews of zines of all sorts made up the bulk of Factsheet Five. Virtually all of the zines reviewed would be classified as "small press". Other words that come to mind are "fringe", "underground", and "alternative". Of course, the Beatles were about as mainstream a phenomenon as there ever was, so you wouldn't expect many Beatle mentions in Factsheet Five. In fact, a regular vein of Beatle references came from reviews of Beatle fanzines.

At the back was a Music Reviews section with all manner of independently produced tapes and records. That was good for occasional comparisons to Beatle music, and mentions of Beatle songs covered by artists of the time.

I included mentions of the Monkees as well because no one can deny what a major influence they were on the Beatles. For the benefit of anyone finding this web page a thousand years down the line, that's a joke. I think it came from a movie called "Dumb and Dumber".

I included reviews of the work of tENTATIVELY a cONVENIENCE to provide a certain balance, if you know what I mean.

Abbreviations and terms used in Factsheet Five:

FF = Factsheet Five
MG = Mike Gunderloy, the Aeditor
SW = Shane Williams
CS = Carol Schutzbank
AG = Adam Gray
KJ = Ken Johnson
PMZ = Phil Zampino
CG = Cari Goldberg
CGJ = Cari Goldberg Janice
KL = Kurt Lemming
JR = Jacob Rabinowitz
WM = William Meckley
DW1 = Dina Williams
AM = Anne Moeller
RJL = Bob Lukomski
EH = Eric Hausmann
T = cassette tape
LP = 12-inch, 33 1/3 rpm, long-playing record
EP = extended play 7-inch, 45 rpm record
pfanzine = a fanzine devoted to music which can be of any sort, even though the silent "p" stands for "punk".
BVI = ?

All reviews are by Mike Gunderloy unless otherwise noted. I date each issue by the month it was wrapped up and put in the mail.

Factsheet Five #19, August 1986, page 40.
Section: Music

HEAVY MENTAL, "Economic Growth" (Persistent Productions Ltd., Evanston, IL)
The sixties are back and alive and well in the eighties. In this new release [...] the fuzz guitar and slow rock beat threaten to engulf the incautious reviewer in nostalgia [...] Influenced by the Monkees, the Grateful Dead and who knows who else, the HM boys play good solid rock that's worth playing many times over. [...] (EP/MG)

Factsheet Five #19, August 1986, page 41.
Section: Music
Comment: Let's see, was Ringo a Mod or a Rocker?

THE LOST SOULS, self-titled (from Greenlight Record & Tapes, Cleveland, OH)
People involved with the current Mod revival should check out this one, a previously-unreleased compilation of tunes from one of the original Mod groups. [...] The mop-topped group with matching ties lays down some good old-fashioned rock, clearly influenced by the British invasion but with American touches [...] (tape/MG)

Factsheet Five #19, August 1986, page 42.
Section: Music

OBLIVION NOW, "Resurrect" (from Demented Mind Mill, Provo, UT)
[...] Yes, "Gone With the Worms" is top of the pops in Provo. Imagine Monkees meets Christian Death meets sound effects from the scariest horror movie of all times. This is a really cool little half hour's worth of bone chilling babies. [...] (tape/MG)

Factsheet Five #19, August 1986, page 43.
Section: Music
Comment: I think the reviewer is referring to two different TOT tracks here.

Various Artists, "Them Boners Be Poppin'" (from Boner Records, Berkeley, CA)
This is one Bay Area compilation not overloaded with political correctness, Fang and Tales of Terror being renowned as two of the rudest groups around. TOT sacrifices intensity for novelty, covering "Let It Be" and sing about killing an errant girlfriend -- pretty yawnable. [...] (LP/SW)

Factsheet Five #20, November 1986.
Section: Zines

BEEF #19 (from San Francisco, CA)
This issue of the SF tabloid art & culture mag leads off with a Yoko Ono interview, but really, it's not all bad. A few pages later there is a much more interesting interview with Starhawk [...]

Factsheet Five #21, February 1987, page 18.
Section: Zines

FUZBRAINS #12 (from Worcester, MA)
A sixties-inspired pfanzine that sees plenty of evidence that rock is still alive and well even if the mainstream media is ignoring most of it. This may be the only zine I received this quarter with a serious and positive review of the Monkees tour. [...] The layout reverberates with psychedelia.

Factsheet Five #21, February 1987, page 31.
Section: Zines
Comment: It was reported in the previous issue that music reviewer Shane Williams (SW) was in Leavenworth. Mike promised, "Someday we'll Explain All about this," but I'm not sure he ever did.

OUTER SHELL #16 (from St. Petersburg, FL)
It's sort of amazing how much Roy Harper can get on two pages. [...] This issue sports a batch of Beatles trivia and nostalgia, "Swamp Notes", and Shane Williams' column on Beatles cover versions.

Factsheet Five #21, February 1987, page 33.
Section: Zines

THE PIG PAPER #28 (from Mississauga, ONT, CANADA)
Every once in a while Gary "Pig" Gold cuts loose with this one-sheeter zine. This is the "Special Brian Epstein Memorial Issue", devoted of course to the late John Lennon. My favorite headline: "John Lennon Has Come Back as a Crow!". More debris from the coffers of popular culture.

Factsheet Five #21, February 1987, page 70
Section: Music

DEATH OF SAMANTHA, "Laughing in the Face of a Dead Man" (Homestead Records, Rockville Centre, NY)
[...] This is my pick disk of the issue. [...] The [cut] that has to be grokked is "Yellow Fever", with a chorus that sounds to me like, "I'm so sick, sick, sick and satisfied". [...] And the final cut, "American Horoscope and the Bad Prescription", is as off-the-wall as anything the BEATLES ever came up with in their Magical Mystery mindset, and has a great declamatory speech mid-song that reminds me a little of Albini's on the BULLDOZER EP where he starts ranting about everything that is really wrong with America today. (LP/SW)

Factsheet Five #22, May 1987, page 21.
Section: Zines

THE LETTER EXCHANGE, (from Albany, CA)
[...] The Letter Exchange is basically a forum for getting letter-writers together (as opposed to pen-pals, which is something else again). Anonymous listings invite one to write about Bach, or the Beatles, or business, or the baby boom, by taking advantage of LEX's free mail-forwarding service to establish communication. [...] Believe me, LEX works [...]

Factsheet Five #22, May 1987, page 29
Section: Zines
Comment: Included here for the Maharishi mention.

THE PIG PAPER (from Mississauga, ONT, CANADA)
Gary "Pig" Gold has been publishing this single-sheet pfanzine for a few years. Since he's also in a Beach Boys cover band, it's sort of fitting that this issue is dedicated to memorializing Brian Wilson. This is not some sappy fan-club remembrance but rather a collage of all sorts of reduced-print goodies: arrest reports, concert reports, plugs for the maharishi, beach movie stuff, and an overlay of surfing terms defined.

Factsheet Five #22, May 1987, page 29
Section: Zines

POPULAR REALITY #17 (from Ann Arbor, MI)
David Crowbar is still stirring the pot that feeds him, leading off this issue with an antisemitic Revisionist editorial by Michael Hoffman II. But there's a lot of good stuff further on, notably Bob Black's psychic predictions for 1987 [...] and letters from any number of psychotic readers. Blaster Al Ackerman gets his 22 cents in, and the SURREAL ESTATES interview with tENTATIVELY a cONVENIENCE is reprinted. PR is a great place to go to find the marginals, although you may well recoil in horror when you do.

Factsheet Five #22, May 1987, page 45.
Section: Fanzines, reviewed by Shane Williams

NOISE, NOISE, NOISE (from Tim Stegall, Alice, TX)
A definite PHUDD [fanzine] influence here -- Tim being a 21-year-old who doesn't like thrash, metal or peace punk, the emphasis being on classic punk. In this issue that means D.O.A., Dead Boys, and the Monkees...A Dooley cover and lots of super miniaturized reviews round this out. I for one won't be missing any issues but I find it ironic that a guy who worships Johnny Thunders, Dickies, et al. is looking for band members but doesn't want any druggies!

Factsheet Five #22, May 1987, page 53.
Section: Music

EUGENE CHADBOURNE, "Psychedelic" (from Greensboro, NC)
[...] Eugene was of course one of the driving forces behind SHOCKABILLY, and this is an entire tape of him doing covers accompanied by guitar and rake. [...] Hot versions of "Psychotic Reaction", "Day Tripper" and "96 Tears" stand out among the 15 or 20 tracks here, intercut with horror movies and other sound effects. (T/MG)

Factsheet Five #22, May 1987, page 56
Section: Music
Comment: I'll bet "Strum & Drum" is a play on "Sturm und Drang", used in English to mean turmoil. "Valerie" was a Monkees song.

SEX CLARK FIVE, "Strum & Drum!" (Records to Russia, Huntsville, AL)
You have to go way back if you want comparisons to this band, with their notable absence of synthesizers, harmonic vocals, and prominent acoustic guitars. The (early) Beatles are a good place to start, and while some might say that meant these guys were behind the times, it ain't so. Good rock is eternal. 20 tracks on this album include a sardonic commemoration of the last flight of the Challenger in "51-L", a swipe at their roots in "Get Back Yoko", and the harmonious and upbeat "Valerie", with intriguing tempo changes. (LP/MG)

Factsheet Five #22, May 1987, page 56.
Section: Music

NUDGE SQUIDFISH, "2000 A.D." (Westerville, OH)
[...] On the whole, this was an entertaining release. Relying primarily on synthesizer and guitar, Nudge presents a variety of songs, politically and intellectually oriented, in a subtle pop manner. One of my favorites (and one of the best examples of that ) is "Terrorism as a Political Act" with lyrics you should pay attention to and music that reminds one of the Beatles' lilting "Your Mother Should Know". [...] (T/CS)

Factsheet Five #22, May 1987, page 58.
Section: Music
Comment: I'll hazard a guess that the Beatles are represented in the "The Love Song".

Various Artists, "A Tale of Two Andys" (K.O. City Studio, Dracut, MA)
"Various" in this case means "Two". The A side is from Andy Dowden, and is a mixed experimental bag -- tape intercutting, TV excerpts, acoustic guitar, synthesized arrangements -- that is good precisely because it is so mixed. "The Love Song", consisting of dozens of excerpts of the word "love" from popular recordings, is particularly entrancing; I recognized about a third of the sources. [...] (T/MG)

Factsheet Five #22, May 1987, page 59.
Section: Music
Semi-spotlight: St. Valentine Records
Comment: From a review of three singles on this label.

NEW SALEM WITCH HUNTERS, "Falling"
[...] The guys who run St. Valentine have been involved in Cleveland's music scene for quite some time. Kudos to them for [...] releasing some great records and furthering the careers of some great troupers. [...] The Witch Hunters have a pretty poppy approach to their punk [...] I find it hard to say something original or incisive about these singles, but this is the most...just "there". The B-side is a Beatle-esque cop lyrically. [...] (reviewed by SW)

Factsheet Five #23, August 1987, page 12.
Section: Zines
Comment: Does anybody get the joke?

BVI-WIFE Vol. 1 #1 (from Ann LeRoy, Lincoln, NE)
A BVI composed of large collages, 11" by 17" in size. No original writing , although some of the drawings are new. Most of them are fairly comprehensible and funny, visual jokes the likes of "Beatles on CD".

Factsheet Five #24, November 1987, page 45.
Column: Penned In, by Shane Williams

[...] Let's hear it for the punk rock revival -- and let's all write Sonic Youth and tell them not to bother recording their version of the Beatle's White Album, as they've often threatened to do, but go right ahead and put out their own take on some seminal punk LP. I heard their encore at a recent gig was all Ramones songs anyway. [...]

Factsheet Five #25, February 1988, page 42.
Section: Zines

YOKO ONLY, #19 (from Toms River, NJ)
A fanzine for people who want to read all that they can about Yoko Ono. I find this to be pretty unfathomable, but I'm sure the market is there. Most of #19 is a report on a 1974 tour of hers in Japan, backed with many previously-unpublished photos. Unfortunately the photocopying doesn't do justice to them.

Factsheet Five #25, February 1988, page 57.
Section: Audio
Comment: In Beatledom, the Epstein Brothers would be Brian and Clive.

COL. TOM & THE EPSTEIN BROS., "The Acid Disco Beer Keg Test" (from Bill Weita, Kent, OH)
Yow! I'm beginning to think it's time someone tested the drinking water in Kent; this isn't the first batch of strangeness to come from that locale. Col. Tom and his crew play a brand of psychedelic hoo-hah mixed with audio cutups -- old movies, commercials , clanks and squawks -- that will get your brain cells gibbering. Eclectic underground experimentation with SubGenioid-ethos overtones and a killer Hawaii 5-0 cover. (T/MG)

Factsheet Five #26, May 1988, page 12.
Section: Zines

ASSEMBLY REQUIRED, #5-6 (from Rich, Bermuda Dunes, CA)
Y'know, I'll bet Bermuda Dunes doesn't look a bit like a resort island. Anyhow, this is Rich's answer to getting zines in the mail: put one together himself, with assorted oddball contents. #5 carries a cover pic of the Beatles, a story about Twinkie the Kid, and reports from the local police blotter of middle-class worries. [...]

Factsheet Five #26, May 1988, page 23.
Section: Zines

HAWAIIAN PUNCH, #6-7 (from New York, NY)
A pfanzine located at and funded by NYU. As you might expect they feature mostly what I think of as college radio music: That Petrol Emotion, Pet Shop Boys, Aztec Camera, and so on, though they branch out as far as W.A.S.P. and Paul McCartney. Mainly HP consists of longish reviews from a bunch of folks, though there are killer trivia contests and a bit of silliness as well.

Factsheet Five #26, May 1988, page 59.
Section: Audio

RAY CARMEN, "Pop!" (from GCE Records, Kent, OH)
The title could almost serve as the review, but I'll amplify. Ray may well not have listened to anything since the Beatles and the Monkees broke up; if he did, it doesn't show in his work. This solo multi-tracked effort has that classic feel to it, from an era of simpler music and lyrics about love, that a few of us remember. Pleasant music proving that musical evolution does not wipe out its own ancestors. (T/MG)

Factsheet Five #26, May 1988, page 59.
Section: Audio

CHRIST ON A CRUTCH, "Spread Your Filth" (from Over the Top Records, Guilford, CT)
Straightforward punk rock with all the correct social stances, boiled down in this line from "Mud": "In a society ruled by swine, All pigs are upwardly mobile". [...] The music is fast and powerful, and things are broken up by wildly original covers of "I'm a Believer" (Monkees) and "We've Got the Beat" (Go-Gos). Something to get your feet and your brain moving. (LP/MG)

Factsheet Five #26, May 1988, page 60.
Section: Audio

THE DISPOSSESSED, "Being for the Benefit of Mr. Kite" b/w "Circus Nights" (East Hartford, CT)
These guys are an eerie, gloomy band who come across well on this bit of vinyl. The A side is of course familiar, but they do a good job of dredging the sheer terror up from the Beatles classic and laying it on thick. The flip continues the mood, leaving the listener prepared to bite something when the record ends. (45/MG)

Factsheet Five #26, May 1988, page 60.
Section: Audio

GLASS PENGUINS, "Raspberry" (from Green Monkey Records, Seattle, WA)
The PR says this is "Prince-meets-the-Monkees pop", and what reviewer could turn down that description? Michael Cox and a collection of musicians from other bands produce some of the most adorable music I've heard in a long time, with lyrics as nutty as any you're likely to hear. [...] (T/MG)

Factsheet Five #26, May 1988, page 60.
Section: Audio

THE GRUESOMES, "Gruesomania" (Og Music, Montreal, Quebec)
Shades of the Cavern Club, it's that early dingy underground-basement-dark twangy guitar rock so reminiscent of early Stones and even Beatles. The music here is almost 100% derivative of that whole British-gone-American rock movement in the early 60's, only the band plays it so wholeheartedly that the listener winds up believing in it too. Light-hearted without being light-minded, it's vivacious and well-assembled. (LP/CS)

Factsheet Five #26, May 1988, page 64.
Section: Audio

tENTATIVELY, a cONVENIENCE & JOHN BERNDT, "Ultimatum II" (from Widemouth Tapes, Baltimore, MD)
Another multi-media spectacle from some of the oddest people in Baltimore. The package includes a tape, photos, and written documentation of some performance art/music pieces done in Montreal. Berndt's was called "Dialectical Immaterialism"; tent presented "Generic As-Beenism". Both are devoted to deconstructing the very fabric or reality, and leaving the listener/reader in a state of confusion. Challenging and obscure. (T/MG)

Factsheet Five #26, May 1988, page 65.
Section: Audio

Various Artists, "It's Only Love" b/w "Paperback Writer" (Camaraderie Music, Boston MA)
Actually, "various" means two. This "Cassingle" is a preview of the forthcoming BOSTON DOES THE BEATLES album, featuring new interpretations of old faves. The A side is from Mr. Curt's own Camaraderie group; the B side is by Ken Scales. Both artists stick fairly close to the originals, resisting the temptation to impose their own hangups on the Fab Four. A nice teaser for an interesting sounding project. (T/MG)

Factsheet Five #27, August 1988, page 23.
Section: Zines

GESTALT #2 (from Bowling Green, OH)
The keynote here is apparently creativity, in whatever form, from Jay Smith's rambling humorous essay to the Sex Beatles interview to Pru Huston's sharply ambiguous back cover art. [...]

Factsheet Five #27, August 1988, page 23
Section: Zines

GOLDMINE #205-207 (from Krause Publications, Iola, WI)
A newspaper for record collectors. The first thing to draw one's eye is the large selection of ads offering records and memorabilia for sale; it's incredible how some toys featuring the Beatles have appreciated in value. They also cover industry news and publish history/discography articles on major performers. #206 and #207 includes reminiscences on Phil Spector; the latter issue starts a series on the Byrds and promises a complete discography and price guide.

Factsheet Five #27, August 1988, page 29
Section: Zines
Comment: Here's the Sex Clark Five again. Aren't they the guys who toppled the Sex Beatles (page 23 above) from the top of the charts back in '64?

LIVELY ARTS #11 (from San Diego, CA)
A combination of new wave music, comics, and interviews with musical personalities. The interviews have been getting longer and deeper lately [...] Mojo Nixon [...] Splatcats, Sex Clark Five, Leather Nun, and Gaye Bikers on Acid.

Factsheet Five #27, August 1988, page 58.
Section: Audio

COL. TOM & THE EPSTEIN BROTHERS, "Bad Hippie Love Art" (from Col. Tom Productions, Kent, OH)
Meandering psychedelic pop/rock with pretentions to rock opera. These guys play around with synths and keyboards and low-budget noisemakers to cut across all the most pretentious genres of the sixties, producing a concentrated dose of schlock rock. This may or may not be intentional. (T/MG)

Factsheet Five #27, August 1988, page 60.
Section: Audio

THE HUNGRY DUTCHMEN, self-titled (Astoria, NY)
Monkees-ish rock that isn't too far out of the ordinary, which may explain their MTV Basement Tapes success. [...] Part of the pop resurgence. (T/MG)

Factsheet Five #27, August 1988, page 63.
Section: Audio
Comment: In the printed matter that accompanies this tape, "buoyancy" is spelled correctly, and the artist name is given consistently as the Tape-beatles. It seems that this tape actually consists of two albums: "The Big Broadcast" and PLAGIARISM(R). "PLAGIARISM(R) is a registered trademark of the Tape-beatles. After all, it's our idea."

THE TAPE BEATLES, "A Subtle Bouyancy of Pulse" (Iowa City, IA)
This is amazing stuff. Armed only with archives of recorded material and tape recorders, the TB crew puts together rhythmic, "Plagiarized" cuts that use cultural images - evangelists, interviews with rock stars, advertisements - to bore into your subconsciousness. With few cuts over 2 minutes long, this is a barrage of sometimes-funny, sometimes-curious material that showcases the ability of the dedicated to find music anywhere. (T/MG)

Factsheet Five #28, November 1988, page 26.
Section: Zines

HEY BULLDOG #4-11 (from Rodney E. Griffith, Columbia Station, OH)
Short bursts from somewhere between Rodney's ears. The topics range widely, from music to school to literature and back, and the format goes from rants to fiction, pausing somewhere around collage. Broadsides seem to be increasingly popular, which is nice because they're easy to get through.

Factsheet Five #28, November 1988, page 31.
Section: Zines

LOAFING THE DONKEY #17-19 (from Memphis, TN)
Alternative film and a whole lot more. #17 includes thoughts on "Head" (the only Monkees film) and a rundown on really obscure 45s. [...]

Factsheet Five #28, November 1988, page 37.
Section: Zines

PHOTOSTATIC/RETROFUTURISM #32 (from Iowa City, IA)
Two experimental art magazines in one, though it's getting hard to tell where the boundaries are. Co-editors Lloyd Dunn and the Tape-Beatles have conspired to have bits of this zine written, drawn, collaged or otherwise produced by many of the leading lights in the experimental art scenes. Of especial interest to us rudely logical types are the critical essays and reviews, which do their best to explain otherwise-inexplicable works.

Factsheet Five #28, November 1988, page 39.
Section: Zines

SALMYN HUT #4 1/2 SALMEN HUT #4 1/2 (from Barbra Fisch, Toronto, ONT, CANADA)
A men's/womyn's issue of this collage and weirdness zine. The two halves are backed with each other and add up to full issue #5. Inside, the two halves were done by the two halves of this art collective, with each side looking largely at relationships and sex from the perspective of a single anatomical gender. Very oddball stuff, some thought-provoking, some just silly, like the fish with Beatles' heads. On the serious side, issues like commodification, exploitation and discrimination are also treated.

Factsheet Five #28, November 1988, page 55.
Column: Stars On One, by Anni Ackner
Comment: This column talks about movies. Albert Goldman's biography, "The Lives of John Lennon", was published earlier in 1988.

[...] Who Framed Roger Rabbit was the most cynical, contrived exercise in gross commercialism this side of an Albert Goldman biography [...]

Factsheet Five #28, November 1988, page 68.
Section: Audio
Comment: This is an ad for the Tape-beatles' cassette.

A subtle buoyancy of pulse;

Featuring the best of over a year's work combined into one 45-minute cassette; concrete music in a popular context; voices from the electronic landscape around us; issues dealt with in a succinct style; proclaiming the death of the avant-garde through its marriage to popular culture; an attempt to empower the alienated through the unarguable power of aesthetic effects, mediated via a technological process; but that's just what we think.

Try it yourself; by mail order $5.50 postage paid, cash, unused US stamps, check, money order, to:

The Tape-beatles
Iowa City USA

All proceeds go to fund the Tape-beatles' projects. This is a not-for-profit collective of results.

Factsheet Five #28, November 1988, page 69.
Section: Audio
Comment: The described cover is a take-off on the Beatle's "butcher" cover for the "Yesterday and Today" album.

B.A.L.L., "Bird" (from Shimmy-Disc, New York, NY)
Right from the album cover, strewn with torn-up dolls and raw meat, you know this is going back to the rebellious roots of rock. And indeed, this noise assault features guitar feedback, unnatural acts with all instruments, covers of tunes from the Bangladesh album, and more tributes. Dark and foreboding stuff. (LP/MG)

Factsheet Five #28, November 1988, page 69.
Section: Audio

CLAWHAMMER demo tape (Long Beach, CA)
Soon to be an Australian single. Clawhammer has a version of "Everybody's Got Something To Hide ('Cept for me and my Monkey)" and they'll back it with either "Poor Robert" or "Car Down Again", but if you write for the tape instead of waiting you can get both. (T/SW)

Factsheet Five #28, November 1988, page 69.
Section: Audio

COL. TOM AND THE EPSTEIN BROTHERS, "Death Rock Scene/Rock Death Seen" (from Kent, OH)
Noisy, clangy, industrial, dirge rock propelled by an incessantly droney hum of a guitar rhythm. A sort of psycho-industrial Cramps babelogue. It started out ok, but by the end it was driving me crazy as it never seemed to let up for a minute. (T/CS)

Factsheet Five #28, November 1988, page 69.
Section: Audio

COL. TOM AND THE EPSTEIN BROTHERS, "Mable and Trixie" (from Kent, OH)
A tape from the Love Grotto commune in Kent. I like the long guitar space jams, especially when they get raga-esque. The vocals are an intrusion for me but they only appear on one side. All in all some interesting, noisy music by a bunch who label themselves as "misogynist [...]" -- so feminists beware. (T/SW)

Factsheet Five #28, November 1988, page 70.
Section: Audio

NYLE FRANK, "Riding With Pachelbel" (from Centipede Prooductions, Nashville, TN)
Solo piano pieces played but for the most part not composed by Nyle. [...] There are also familiar things ranging from "Michelle" and "Time in a Bottle" on back through Gershwin to Debussy. Competent and relaxing. (T/MG)

Factsheet Five #28, November 1988, page 70.
Section: Audio

GREEN PAJAMAS, "Number" (from Seattle, WA)
This band has already been putting out real vinyl LPs and has been plugging away as part of the Northwest paisley underground since 1983. Definitely a Beatlesome bunch of guys. (T/SW)

Factsheet Five #28, November 1988, page 74.
Section: Audio

tentatively, a convenience, "dadadadadadadadadadadadadadadadadadadadadadadadadadadadadadadadadadadada" (from Widemouth Tapes, Baltimore, MD)
A somewhat tedious bit of experimental music, with the title also functioning as the score. The bulk of the tape consists of various vocalizations of "da" and related sounds, together with some electronic F/X, much tape hiss, and a few arty noises. Interesting mainly as an early shot from the career of a notable avant-gardist. (T/MG)

Factsheet Five #28, November 1988, page 75.
Section: Audio

Various Artists, "OK Complications" (Ecto Tapes, Oklahoma [City?], OK)
Off the wall morbid experimentalism and other interesting ectoplasm indeed on some okely complicated stuff. Fully as crazed as Roky Erickson, peaking when Mark and Robert do their rendition of "Day Tripper". (T/SW)

Factsheet Five #29, February 1989, page 27.
Section: Zines
Comment: It's hard to imagine the zine title didn't come from "I Am The Walrus".

GAJOOB #1 (from Bryan Baker, Salt Lake City, UT)
This one seems to emanate from the cassette culture -- at least it leads off with an interview with cassette music person Tom Furgas. There are also some bands interviewed -- Da Neighbors and Arbitrator -- and various bits of review flotsam. Letters and ads the [that?] just strike the editor's fancy are also included.

Factsheet Five #29, February 1989, page 28.
Section: Zines

GOOD DAY SUNSHINE #45 (from Liverpool Productions, New Haven, CT)
A fanzine for Beatles fans -- and yes, there are still lots of them out there. There's plenty of Beatles gossip and news here, but I was most fascinated by the reviews of bootleg disks. Apparently (1) new ones are still coming out and (2) there are lots of fake bootleg outtakes -- released versions of songs doctored to sound like unreleased ones. It's amazing what people will do for money.

Factsheet Five #29, February 1989, page 29.
Section: Zines

HEY BULLDOG #8 (from Rodney Griffith, Columbia Station, OH)
A single page of whatever Rodney feels like saying. In #8 it's the Envie Awards, which he just created for minicomic excellence.

Factsheet Five #29, February 1989, page 36.
Section: Zines
Comment: I was taken aback by Mike's unfamiliarity with Boyce and Hart here, and much gratified by the letter catching him up in the next issue (FF30 page 105).

THE MONKEES BOYCE & HART PHOTO FAN CLUB #79-80 (from Watertown, SD)
One of the few genuine fan-zines I've seen, that is, zines for fans of a particular group. In this case, it's the Monkees (I have no idea who Tommy Boyce and Bobby Hart, who get second billing, are). Features include ads for those buying and selling memorabilia, news on where the guys are now, photo sales lists, and convention reports.

Factsheet Five #29, February 1989, page 72.
Section: Audio
Comment: Finally, a second reason for listing these guys...

COL. TOM AND THE EPSTEIN BROTHERS, "Kent Guitar Massacre" (from Colonel Tom Productins, Kent, OH)
The genesis of a garage band, featuring the very earliest recordings of this group. You'll find a lot here: dorm room productions, long pointless jams, self-indulgent covers of things like "Helter Skelter", new words to "Wild Thing", and all the other stuff that strikes one as fun when first learning to play the guitar.

Factsheet Five #29, February 1989, page 82.
Section: Audio

Various Artists, "Phonostatic #9" (Iowa City, IA)
This is the audio magazine companion of PHOTOSTATIC, exploring the boundaries of sound as art. The theme for this issue is "Concurrencies", with many of the contributions featuring rich layerings of sound. Notably deranged pieces come from the Tape-Beatles, X.Y. Zedd, and Chris Winkler. It's all wrapped in extensive liner notes that can make things comprehensible to the dullest reviewer.

Factsheet Five #29, February 1989, page 82
Section: Audio

Various Artists, "The View From Below" (from Orphanage Records, Phoenix, AZ)
Talk about keeping in theme! From the title of the release to the names of the bands (Orphans & Widows, The Funeral Party, Burial Benefits, Theatre of Ice, to name a few) to the music itself -- a style comprised of early P-Furs, Sisters of Mercy and Sergeant Pepper's Beatles, everything convinces you that below is where it's at. While not all the songs were knockouts, there were quite a few that were of interest. A solid release.

Factsheet Five #30, May 1989, page 4.
Section: Games & Novelties
Comment: (Psst, Mike, you can find the answer to your stumper right there in the question!)

BEATLE SIGNIFICA (from White Album Editions, Lanham, MD)
A trivia game featuring 832 questions about the Beatles, plus rules for playing it in groups without a board handy -- making it very portable as the questions come on a small deck of cards. We playtested this a bit at the recent FACTSHEET FIVE party, and rapidly concluded that it was challenging enough for experts -- with half a dozen music-oriented folks having at it, only one of us could consistently get more than 10% of the answers. Oh, sure, even I can get the answer to "Identify the Beatle song: 'We're gonna have a good time.'" But there are a lot more questions like "Paul chomps vegetables on which Beach Boy song?" Despite its toughness, the game is fun and face-paced, and should either elate or deflate Beatle fanatics.

Factsheet Five #30, May 1989, page 21.
Section: Zines
Comment: Arthur Janov developed primal scream therapy, which John and Yoko tried briefly.

CATHEDRAL OF INSANITY #5 (from Julie Luce, Lancaster, NY)
This issue is composed of excerpts from writings of relatively well-known people: Edgar Allen Poe, John Lennon, Kurt Vonegut and Arthur Janov are among those represented. The zine explores in a literary way issues of insanity, humanity and the reasons for living. Thought-provoking stuff. Hand-bound with yarn.

Factsheet Five #30, May 1989, page 31.
Section: Zines
Comment: In case the question should even cross your mind, yes, John Lennon sang "goo goo gajoob" into a four-track machine.

GAJOOB #2 (from Bryan Baker, Salt Lake City, UT)
Mostly a music zine [...] There's a distinctive graphic design about it that's quite nice, and serves well for stories on bands like Theatre of Ice and Ipso Facto. Other features include letters, a paean to four-track recording, and selected zine reviews. Very well done, and only a second issue.

Factsheet Five #30, May 1989, page 32.
Section: Zines

GOOD DAY SUNSHINE #48 (from Liverpool Productions, New Haven CT)
A magazine for Beatles fans and fanatics. #48 is a special convention program issue, for their 25th Anniversary of the first US tour convention. Interviews with folks associated with the Fab Four, news of current projects by once-Beatles, lots of collectors' ads, and much enthusiasm fill this zine.

Factsheet Five #30, May 1989, page 34.
Section: Zines

HEY BULLDOG #12-16 (from High Improbability International, Columbia Station, OH)
A zine of the increasingly bizarre as Rodney Griffith bares his past and mind to us. #14 and #16 print excerpts from his play, "West River Story", a romp through a modern high school focusing on the tension between two characters hip in different ways.

Factsheet Five #30, May 1989, page 77.
Section: Audio

ADRIAN BELEW, "Mr. Music Head" (Atlantic, New York, NY)
I know that if I give this a bad review hordes of Belewphiles will descend upon my house and wreak havoc. Fortunately for me, I rather liked this. Belew has been around long enough to ignore conventions, and if an innovative guitarist wants to produce something that ranges from big band to Beatles in its sound range, I say good for him. This is a tape I can play without the neighbors pouring gasoline around the foundation, and as technically proficient as it is pleasant. (T/MG)

Factsheet Five #30, May 1989, page 78.
Section: Audio
Comment: "The Porpoise Song" was popularized, of course, by the Monkees.

BONGWATER, "You Don't Love Me Yet" b/w "The Porpoise Song" (Shimmy-Disc, New York, NY)
Bongwater continues their destruction of music by other artists on this release [...] This time around it's Roky Erickson up for a beating on the A side and Carol King on the reverse, complete with porpoise noises and a weird James Bond vocal vignette to top things off. (45/MG)

Factsheet Five #30, May 1989, page 78.
Section: Audio
Comment: Correct me if I'm wrong, but I think this album had nothing to do with the Beatles' "White Album" besides the name. For an example of the confusion caused by reports of this album, see FF24, page 45, above.

CICCONE YOUTH, "The Whitey Album" (Blast First, New York, NY)
This is what happens when you get big and important -- you go into the studio and record a joke album. This group is mostly the members of Sonic Youth, with a bit of help from Mike Watt (live) and Madonna (recorded). [...] Rather self-indulgent, and probably most enjoyable to people who follow indie music closely. (LP/MG)

Factsheet Five #30, May 1989, page 79.
Section: Audio

COL. TOM AND THE EPSTEIN BROS., "Play Guitar With the Epstein Bros." (from Bill Weita, Kent, OH)
These guys continue to crank out garage rock at a near alarming pace. As the title suggests, this particular tape is mostly guitar noodling, from quick blasts of sound to extended riffs boring into your skull. Interesting background music, though recorded at an over-high level (unless you happen to be a distortion fan, of course). (T/MG)

Factsheet Five #30, May 1989, page 79.
Section: Audio

DEAD OSWALDS, "Not Sgt. Pepper" (from Radio Zero, Providence, RI)
A techno-pop follow-on to the famous Beatles album. Tracks here have familiar titles but different concepts; "When I'm Sixty-Four" is a song of beery regrets, while "Being For the Benefit of Mr. Kite" is about a lover leaving for someone else. The leadoff track, "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Heart's Club Band", is a homage of sorts to growing up with the Beatles music. Sound degenerates from programmed to cheesy at points, but the lyrics are intriguing and things get no worse than annoying anywhere on the tape. (T/MG)

Factsheet Five #30, May 1989, page 80.
Section: Audio

EPSTEIN BROTHERS, "Flower Hammer" (from Kent, OH)
Semi-hypnotic acid-rock guitar, flower-power sort-of psychedelic industrial meanderings [...] (T/CS)

Factsheet Five #30, May 1989, page 80.
Section: Audio

EPSTEIN BROTHERS, "It's a Gas" (from Kent, OH)
Mostly guitar riffs, a combination of gently plucked and harshly distorted. Blase vocals are annoying [...] (T/AG)

Factsheet Five #30, May 1989, page 88.
Section: Audio

SHOCKABILLY, "Earth Vs. Shockabilly" (Shimmy-Disc, New York, NY)
An archival recording of these musical deconstructionists, dating way back from Halloween '82. Chadbourne, Kramer, and Licht attack and defeat such musical superstars as Hendrix, Cash, the Stones and Lennon, playing distorted, demented cover versions of once-loved songs. [...] Excellent for anyone who's feeling a bit blah about music that all sounds the same lately. (LP/MG)

Factsheet Five #30, May 1989, page 88.
Section: Audio

SWEET BABY, "It's a Girl" (Ruby Records, Los Angeles, CA)
Not since the Ramones has a band sounded like this...in fact, these days sometimes even the Ramones don't sound like this any more. Brash, gung-ho, not-afraid-to-get-its-feet-wet-hell-dive-on-in rock music that sprinkles little Beatle influences and Replacements-like abandonment throughout their songs. (LP/CS)

Factsheet Five #30, May 1989, page 92.
Section: Audio

VERTIGO, self-titled (from Jason Aos, Skidmark Records, Memphis, TN)
Debut slab from a three-piece that puts out a startling amount of noise, skating around the edge of feedback and other disasters. "Front End Loader" puts me in the mind of "Helter Skelter", similarly degenerating at the end. Keep an ear cocked. (EP/MG)

Factsheet Five #31, August 1989, page 12.
Section: Publisher's Choice (that is, one of Mike Gunderloy's seven favorite zines this issue.)

Factsheet Five #30, May 1989, page 105.
Section: Letters
Comment: There was no reference made back to Mike's review in the previous issue (FF29 page 36) which inspired this letter.

In the Monkees heyday, Boyce & Hart wrote a bunch of their songs, including "Last Train to Clarksville" and "(I'm Not Your) Steppin' Stone". They also had hits as a duo during this time, i.e. "I Wonder What She's Doing Tonight" and "Alice Long (You're Still My Favorite Girlfriend)", the latter being a personal fave of mine when I was in the 6th grade.

In the mid-70's, in lieu of a Monkees reunion (which at the time didn't seem too likely or necessary) Mickey Dolenz and Davy Jones teamed up with Boyce & Hart for an album and tour under the name Dolenz, Jones, Boyce & Hart. I'm not sure whether Boyce & Hart had any involvement in the 1986 Monkees reunion. I'm sure Boyce & Hart live very comfortably nowadays.

Larry Boyd

PHOTOSTATIC, #36 (from Lloyd Dunn, Iowa City, IA)
A bimonthly "periodical of xerographic art and by extension, machine-based art generally". I was confused by and hostile to the first few issues of this zine I saw. Nowadays [...] I may still be confused but I'm a lot more sympathetic. Images of xerographic art intermingle with essays on their significance and classification to make up the main body here. Luke McGuff adds slogans to the bottom of the page, and the mysterious Tape Beatles chime in with a music supplement at the end. [...] One of the best places to start digging into the vast network of artists who don't usually make it into the galleries.

Factsheet Five #31, August 1989, page 18.
Section: Zines

BEATLEFAN Vol. 11 #4 (from Decatur, GA)
A fan magazine for folks who are still in love with the Beatles. It's mostly current news rather than nostalgia, though there is a page for collectors and an interview with Alistair Taylor, who was heavily involved with Apple Corps among other projects. Oddly, most all of the news is about Ringo and Paul; I know John is dead but what happened to George?

Factsheet Five #31, August 1989, page 20.
Section: Zines

CATHEDRAL OF INSANITY #6-7 (from Julie Luce, Lancaster, NY)
A yarn-bound collection of short stories and short poetry. Some of these are by folks from the underground scene, some penned by John Lennon (presumably reprinted). There's a slight tendency towards morbid silliness, but no real strong unifying theme.

Factsheet Five #31, August 1989, page 41.
Section: Zines

THE MONKEES CONNECTION Apr. 1989 (from Terra Haute, IN)
No points for guessing that this is for fans of the fabled Monkees. Besides news on the music they feature a lot of gossip about what the original members and their cronies are up to now, as well as notes on Monkees publicity and simple fan stories. Lots of enthusiasm here.

Factsheet Five #31, August 1989, page 60.
Section: Zines

UNCLE JAM QUARTERLY #93 (from Long Beach, CA)
A cultural publication that tries to focus on the positive things in life. They're big on improving literacy and on a social change project called "Cartoonists Across America". There's also articles on a trip to China and the art of John Lennon. An eclectic mix.

Factsheet Five #31, August 1989, page 63.
Section: Zines

YOKO ONLY #24 (from New York, NY)
Just in case the title doesn't tip you off, this one is "A celebration of the life and works of Yoko Ono". It includes news of her current activities, notes on past collectibles, and lots of media coverage. The editor, Brian Hendel, apparently knows Yoko well enough to get lots of inside stuff, making it a very personal fan-zine.

Factsheet Five #31, August 1989, page 91.
Section: Music Reviews
Comment: For your sake, I sort of wish these guys weren't so prolific.

EPSTEIN BROS., "I Wanna Kill the Owner of this Bar!" (from Bill Weita, Kent, OH)
More from one of the most prolific garage bands in the country. This one has a very operatic feel to it, an ambitious acid-rock overlay with plenty of layers to it. Final cut is called "Drummer goes out of control while the rest of the band is swept along by the unbelievable momentum", and that pretty much sums it up. (T/MG)

Factsheet Five #31, August 1989, page 92.
Section: Music Reviews

ANDREW FRANCK and CHARLIE MENDOZA, "One Breath Bardo" (Paralux Productions, New York, NY)
Mostly haunting ethereal music heavy on the synthesizer and sampler, though they do get around. "Ladder to Topos -- How to Paint a Missing Alphabet", for example, includes a mixed-up alphabet recitation by a young girl, coming close to some experimental sound poetry. There's also a rearrangement of "A Hard Day's Night" for synths, as well as many more New Age-ish numbers. (T/MG)

Factsheet Five #31, August 1989, page 98.
Section: Music Reviews
Comment: Did Mike slip up and review the same thing twice? See FF29 page 82.

PHONOSTATIC #9 (from Iowa City, IA)
An "audio collage" of works which have limited outlets: chiefly verbals experimentation, electronic wizardry, and tapes produced by rapid-fire editing of diverse sources. Contributors include Jake Berry, Post-Void Radio theater, The Tape-Beatles, and Chris Winkler. A baffling experience full of rapid-fire cuts from one piece to the next. [...] (T/MG)

Factsheet Five #31, August 1989, page 99.
Section: Music Reviews

SHOCKABILLY, "In Search of Shockabilly" (Watergate Tapes, c/o M. Reams, Greensboro, NC)
Shockabilly (and Eugene Chadbourne for that matter) were (is) incredible live, seemingly lampooning hits from the past while treating them with enough good humored affection that you wouldn't consider it a personal affront if they butchered your favorite song. Recorded live at various locations in Europe and the United States, this tape captures vintage Shockabilly in 1984. Who else could play music by Prince, Neil Young and the Beatles with rakes, plungers, a very cheap organ, similar percussion and Chadbournes's manic vocals and still make it worth listening to? Nobody but these guys. (T/KJ)

Factsheet Five #31, August 1989, page 101.
Section: Music Reviews

MATTHEW SWEET, "Earth" (A&M, New York, NY)
Warm friendly pop with a contemporary touch and a light alternative edge. A little Steve Winwood, a little Paul McCartney, a little Don Dixon...the vocals thin out sometimes to where they don't really carry their weight, but the earnest accessibility of the music more than compensates for that. (LP/CS)

Factsheet Five #31, August 1989, page 11.
Section: Book Reviews

tentatively, a convenience, HOW TO WRITE A RESUME VOLUME II: MAKING A GOOD FIRST IMPRESSION (from Baltimore, MD)
Put out by Apathy Press, but available directly from the author/artist/madman, this is the most accessible accounting of some major projects from tent's life yet. The incidents, actions, shows and general craziness told here covers most of the 1980s, and includes snippets of legitimate news coverage, documentary photos, and previous writings -- some of them in the verbal code which made tent's work so hard to penetrate for a while.

It's an interesting life on display, from drug trips to the art world. The section I found most enlightening is "Three Year Emergency of Fire & Grim" -- about living in South Baltimore in a progressively deteriorating neighborhood and coming to various accommodations with the drunks who squatted and trashed the building next door. Another strong piece explains a guerilla art action at Luskin's, an upscale department store that was one day confronted with one of tent's videos showing on all the screens in the television department.

A cultural document not to be missed.

Factsheet Five #32, October 1989.
Comment: This issue is not in my collection. I figure it was lost in the mail, when I was returning home after a summer working at Glacier National Park.

Factsheet Five #33, December 1989, page 15.
Section: Publisher's Choice
We've met Gajoob a couple of times before. Since the Beatle connection is pretty tenuous, allow me to simply list later mentions here: FF39 page 62; FF39 page 136 (review of "Gajoob magazine" tape with various artists; FF44 page 48 (in review of "Speculation").

GAJOOB #4 (from Bryan Baker, Salt Lake City, UT)
I'd been hoping for some time that someone would come along and try to at least keep tabs on the cassette culture. Well, GAJOOB seems to have grown to fit the bill. [...] Bryan has what I think is the right attitude towards reviews -- he reviews everything and he tries to be informative [...] Meanwhile the corners of the zine are bulging with extras like indie radio coverage and "Stoopid World News". I hope he can keep up the good work.

Factsheet Five #33, December 1989, page 21.
Section: Zines

BEATLEFAN Vol. 11 $5 (from Decatur, GA)
There are still plenty of folks out there who are die-hard Beatles fans, and this is for them. In addition to historic articles ("A Hard Day's Night" gets saluted in this issue), they track the current careers of the remaining Beatles, with Paul and Ringo's concert tours headlining this issue. They also review bootlegs, including the latest round of bootleg CDs.

Factsheet Five #33, December 1989, page 62.
Section: Zines

YOKO ONLY #26 (from New York, NY)
This one is, as you may have guessed, for fans of Yoko Ono. Most of this issue is taken up with notes on an exhibition of her art recently shown in Michigan. There's an amusing audience-involvement aspect to many pieces, and she apparently did some performance pieces as well. Also contests, book reviews, and lots of photos.

Factsheet Five #33, December 1989, page 89.
Section: Audio Reviews

NYLE FRANK, "Theme From Hickory Hollow" (from Centipede Productions, Nashville, TN)
A tape of unaccompanied solo piano by Nyle, moving from the Pachelbel Canon in D Major on up to Bob Dylan and John Lennon, as well as a few of his original tunes. I like his choice of music, I like his arrangements, I like to settle down in the late evening with a tape like this and try to relax for at least a few minutes. (T/MG)

Factsheet Five #33, December 1989, page 92.
Section: Audio Reviews

M'LUMBO, "Relaxin' With M'Lumbo" (Maitre'D Records, New York, NY)
Hiding behind a veil of pseudonymity, this seven-piece puts together music with definite African beats and wild horns and tribal percussion -- based on modern music. It's not highbrow stuff, either: the theme from Magnificent Seven , "The Flintstones", and "Norwegian Wood" form the basis of three tracks here. It all comes together much better than you could imagine, being both familiar and alien at once, and leading to wild musical dreams. (T/MG)

Factsheet Five #33, December 1989, page 98.
Section: Audio Reviews

tentatively, a convenience, "November 21 '87EV to April 16 '89EV" (Widemouth Tapes, Baltimore, MD)
This will be more accessible than most of tent's stuff to many of you, consisting of mainly noise/jazz/industrial/whatever improvisational music. Recorded in a wide variety of settings and with a galaxy of participants, nevertheless the sheer primal chaotic energy that characterizes many of tent's works comes through quite clearly. At times almost soothing in its manic approach to killing music. (T/MG)

Factsheet Five #33, December 1989, page 100.
Section: Audio Reviews

WAYNE'S MOONWAX, self-titled (from Stan Smith, Bug Scratch Tapes, Abilene, TX)
Live Texas pop-rock stuff with a change of pace attitude. The sound quality isn't the best, and some of the tracks (like the Beatles cover) are pretty disposable. But they pour out the energy on their own stuff, creating a dancing good time spirit, and occasionally have a bit of fun, as on the reggae Pink Floyd they do. (T/MG)

Factsheet Five #34, February 1990, page 56.
Section: Music Zines

GOOD DAY SUNSHINE #52-53 (from Charles F. Rosenay, New Haven, CT)
Beatles, Beatles and more Beatles -- it seems that the group may have more fans than ever. This zine tracks their activities and fan club stuff, as well as the collectors' market. #53 is a special Paul McCartney tour edition, with press conference transcripts, band newsletters, and other goodies.

Factsheet Five #34, February 1990, page 61.
Section: Music Zines

SWELLSVILLE #9 (from Seattle, WA)
A big lump of music and its associated culture from Jack Thompson [...] Later on Richie Unterberger slams punk as being dead (what, again?) and provides Beatles trivia, Red Alert answers some questions, and the Walkabouts get a few pages. Reviews dart through this [...] and little bits of thought actually appear from time to time. [...]

Factsheet Five #35, April 1990, page 27.
Section: Zine Reviews

DEAD PEOPLE (from G. Wood, Palmyra, NJ)
A retelling, in words and pictures, of the shooting of John Lennon [...] It's all in very poor taste, making Lennon out to be the villain of the piece. Sure to enrage Beatlemaniacs.

Factsheet Five #35, April 1990, page 61.
Section: Music Zine Reviews

THE CALL MAGAZINE Vol. 5 #2-3 (from Indianapolis, IN)
A giveaway music tabloid focusing on the Indianapolis area. They do get outside of the hometown [...] Mimi Mapes and Henry Lee Summer feature in #3, along with Paul McCartney and a series on local music managers.

Factsheet Five #35, April 1990, page 61.
Section: Music Zine Reviews

CATHARSIS MONTHLY #7-8 (from Suffolk, VA)
Music plus a few other odds and ends. The best story in #7 covers the seizure of Jeff Clites' personal tape collection, which the Feds had the gall to value at 43 million bucks. [...] #8 runs from Jesus and Mary Chain to Paul McCartney.

Factsheet Five #35, April 1990, page 65.
Section: Music Zine Reviews

RETROFUTURISM #12 (from the Tape-Beatles, Iowa City, IA)
Previously a part of PHOTOSTATIC, this dissection of experimental audio is now out on its own. Besides discussing the doings of the Tape-Beatles, it contains reviews of experimental works in various media (not all music) and feature articles [...]

Factsheet Five #35, April 1990, page 67.
Section: Music Zine Reviews

THE STONES #17 (from Robert Furrer, Suisun City, CA)
A fanzine for fans of the Rolling Stones. They print news clippings new and old, photos of record labels, discographies, and reviews of current shows. There's also the odd feature article like the rundown of collaborations between the Stones and the Beatles in this issue.

Factsheet Five #35, April 1990, page 69.
Section: Music Zine Reviews

YOKO ONLY #27 (from New York, NY)
A fanzine for Yoko Ono fans. This issue mostly looks at the 80s, with quotes and clippings, tracing Yoko's travels from "sorrow to sanity". There are also reports on a current art opening and a movie she recently starred in, and a batch of photos.

Factsheet Five #35, April 1990, page 112
Section: Audio Reviews

THE SWINGING ERUDITES, "Unchained Parodies" (1 Dimensional Records, Northampton, MA)
A musically varied collection of, yes, parodies. Some of these are as funny as hell -- "Yuppie Man", "Frankie and Annette meet Jimmy and Tammy" and "The Paul McCartney Massacre" are in this category. But sensitive listeners shouldn't; the group is not above a remake of "Springtime for Germany" or much humor that depends on the shock value of homosexuality. Still, I like this record, even if some of their shots were socially unacceptable enough to be disturbing. (LP/MG)

Factsheet Five #36, June 1990, page 58.
Section: Music Zines

GOOD DAY SUNSHINE #54 (from New Haven, CT)
Yes, Beatle fans are still alive and well, and you'll find a lot of them right here. Much of this issue is devoted to the recent McCartney tour, including reviews both good and bad. There's stuff on which unreleased tracks people would like to see come out, a longish letters column, and notes on Beatles events for last year.

Factsheet Five #36, June 1990, page 74.
Section: Poetry Reviews
Comment: Certainly a take-off on the Beatle song title.

PAPER BAG WRITER (from Terry A. Garey, Minneapolis, MN)
The presentation threatens to overwhelm the poetry here: the poems in this collection are printed on paper bags which are then enclosed in a larger bag. [...] Terry Garey gives us "Oatbran of the Galaxy", a cholesterol-ripping space opera [...] (16 bags)(MG)

Factsheet Five #36, June 1990, page 108.
Section: Audio Reviews

THE LOLLYPOP! GUILD, self-titled (from Monotonous Records, Bastrop, LA)
A two-man band (they add a bass to play live) with a great lowdown power rock grunge sound. Their cover of "Ticket to Ride" is something fine, with a punch not packed in the original. Occasionally [...] they go off into more experimental realms, but mostly this is gut-rumbling foot-stomping music. (T/MG)

Factsheet Five #36, June 1990, page 111.
Section: Audio Reviews

PLUSH ANGUS, "Plush Angus Gets Up!" (from Andy Valeri, Big Beef Productions, Dayton, OH)
A tape of raucous rock and slop from a band that seems to be pretty tongue in cheek. They seem to be having a darned good time jamming and ripping up cover versions ("Evolution Revolution" might offend some die-hard Beatles fans.) [...] (T/MG)

Factsheet Five #36, June 1990, page 117.
Section: Audio Reviews

TELESCOPE BOWMEN, "Acquire the Earth" (Orange, CA)
"Post-modern psychedelic pure pop". That self-description is as close as anything for this very textured music, with lots of guitars and fine vocals from Amie Bovee. Some of the songs here fall over the cliff into pretentiousness (the closing "Hoffy's Dream" is too Beatlesesque for my taste) but for the most part this is solid, entertaining stuff. [...] (CD/MG)

Factsheet Five #37, August 1990, page
Section: Zines
Comment: In a paid ad on the same page, the name is hand-drawn very prominently as Pilliard Dickle.

THE PILLARD DICKLE REPORT #1-3 (from Pillard Dickle, Newnan, GA)
[...] I'm going to say good things about this strange humorous newsletter, starting with "I like it". [...] This one hops around without getting stale. There's an interview with PD himself in #2 and news of the new Beatles reunion in #3.

Factsheet Five #37, August 1990, page 57.
Section: Music Zines
Comment: If Beatlefan is "the authoritative publication of record for fans of the Beatles", how come they're withholding information on the "new Beatles reunion" reported above? Huh? How come?

BEATLEFAN [Vol. 12] #3 (from The Goody Press, Decatur, GA)
A fanzine in the truest "fan" sense, all for lovers of the Beatles. This issue concentrates on the recent McCartney studio tour, with city-by-city reports covering everything from gate grosses to the state of Paul's voice. There's a look back on the 20th anniversary of the band's breakup and an attempt to select the best solo work the four ever did as well.

Factsheet Five #37, August 1990, page 59.
Section: Music Zines
Comment: And here's another one stonewalling that Beatles reunion.

GOOD DAY SUNSHINE #55 (from Charles Rosenay, New Haven, CT)
Yes, there are still Beatles fanzines, and this is one of the best. GDS reports all the latest news on the surviving members of the band as well as their associates (the Beatles chauffeur gets profiled in this issue). The McCartney tour is still big news, with a whole pile of concert reviews here.

Factsheet Five #37, August 1990, page 62.
Section: Music Zines
Comment: DAT = digital audio tape, some prehistoric recording medium.

SONGTALK Spring 1990 (from National Academy of Songwriters, Hollywood, CA)
The National Academy of Songwriters includes all the big names, and mostly this tabloid is features on them and what they're up to: folks like Paul McCartney, Paul Simon, Mark Knopfler and Charlie Daniels. This issue also includes 50th-anniversary congratulations for BMI and the most hysterical anti-DAT editorial I've seen anywhere.

Factsheet Five #37, August 1990, page 88.
Section: One-Shot Reviews
Comment: Title is a line from John Lennon's "Working Class Hero".

AS SOON AS YOU'RE BORN THEY MAKE YOU FEEL SMALL (from Syndicate des Eleves, Montreal, Que., CANADA)
A basic look at the oppression of children. The compiler, Wendy Ayotte, looks at some of the factors that make the childhood experience what it is, from what toys teach us to the demand for "respect". She also lists places and cultures where the child/adult dichotomy was not so strong, and where younger people are treated better. [...]

Factsheet Five #37, August 1990, page 90.
Section: One-Shot Reviews
Comment: Hmmm, speaking of John Lennon . . .

JOHN LENNON: THE UNRELEASED MUSIC (from Greg Stomberg, Oregon, IL)
Based on a program from Westwood One radio, this mini looks at the songs the John Lennon was working on at the time of his death. Each is summarized in a couple of lines. The author promises to look at other unreleased Lennon tapes in the future.

Factsheet Five #37, August 1990, page 108.
Section: Audio Reviews

ASAP, "Silver and Gold" (Enigma Records, Culver City, CA)
ASAP (as in "turn this tape off as soon as possible)" is largely distinguished by an Eddie Money clone for a lead singer, lyrical sentences shorter than those found in most children's books, and Ringo Starr's kid on drums! Zak Starkey seemed to inherit his father's talent for exotic drumming patterns [...] Did Foreigner change their name and add a few new faces? (T/KJ)

Factsheet Five #37, August 1990, page 118.
Section: Audio Reviews

JESUS JONES, "Liquidizer" (SBK Records, New York, NY)
You don't ease into this release...it simply envelopes you with an explosion of music. Imagine the Beatles at their cynical hardest, crossed with Cheap Trick at their early cleverest, doused with a current sprinkle of Tears For Fears' sunny pop psychedelics. Toss in a solid dose of urban grittiness [...] (T/CS)

Factsheet Five #37, August 1990, page 120.
Section: Audio Reviews

MEAT BEAT MANIFESTO, "Helter Skelter" b/w "Radio Babylon" (Play It Again Sam Records, Chicago, IL)
A 12" dance music single with an ominous sound to it. As with most dance music, it is repetitive to the max; unlike the bubbly stuff being released these days, though, it's a mix of drones, heavy beats, and vocals that really sound like they ought to mean something seriously deranged. For the black clothing crowd, I guess. (T/MG)

Factsheet Five #38, October 1990, page 18.
Section: Zines

ANGLOPHILE Vol. 3 #1/2 (from Decatur, GA)
Media news for people interested in British performers and shows. Tracey Ullman, Paul McCartney and of course Mrs. Peel all show up in this issue. [...]

Factsheet Five #38, October 1990, page 56
Section: Music Zines

GOOD DAY SUNSHINE #56 (from Charles F. Rosenay, New Haven, CT)
A fanzine for those who are still fanatics about the Beatles. This is a special issue for Beatle-Con 1990, with plenty of news about guests and events. There are a lot of Paul McCartney pics, notes on collectibles and a set of John Lennon's fingerprints inside.

Factsheet Five #38, October 1990, page 56
Section: Music Zines

THE INSIDER #14 & 15 (from Teo Graca, Arlington, VA)
A small zine that's handed out free locally and concentrates on the live music scene in Arlington and environs. Flowers of Evil make the cover of #14, and there are a whole batch of show reviews inside, from indie bands right up to Paul McCartney.

Factsheet Five #38, October 1990, page 61.
Section: Music Zines

YOKO ONLY #28 (from New York, NY)
A newsletter devoted entirely to Yoko Ono, concentrating more on her current activities than the past. It reprints coverage from the mainstream press, and also manages to get some unique items, such as the essay on her childhood in this issue. Full of photos, exhibition notes, and more.

Factsheet Five #38, October 1990, page 76.
Section: One-Shot Reviews

DREAM (from Graham Trievel, Lionville, PA)
This is a single page recounting a recurring dream Graham has had. It features the Beatles and Yellow Submarine as major characters. He asks for help in interpretation if anyone is interested.

Factsheet Five #38, October 1990, page 109.
Section: Music Reviews

MICROCHIP FUTURES, "Proud to Be" (c/o MM, Washington, DC)
Mantra like guitar jamming, this is drone music with an eastern or even jungle quality, using barely audible and indecipherable singing, and occasionally with active percussion. Odd moments include a choppy stop for an excerpt of "Help," a very strange song, nerdish bizarre voice, and stops for misplaced monologues. [...] There's good potential here that could provide an interesting backdrop to psychedelic experience, but quality control needs to be tightened. (T/PMZ)

Factsheet Five #38, October 1990, page 109.
Section: Music Reviews
Comment: Does "Can You Dig It" have anything to do with the Beatles' repetitious "Dig It"? Is "The Willow Song" the ancient song with words by Shakespeare starting, "A poor soul sat sighing..."?

THE MOCK TURTLES, "Turtle Soup" (Imaginary Records, Hopwood, Heywood, Lancashire, England)
British pop with a seamless, clean sound of guitar jangle, synth strains and a nod to psychedelia. The Beatles or The Smiths best describe the sound these craftsmen develop, skirting the edge of commercial sheen without falling in. [...] "The Willow Song" is a unique tune of a traditional flavor played sensitively and with emotion. Only "Can You Dig It?" fails to appeal as it glibly casts off its title repeatedly. A quality record of sophisticated and intelligent pop. (LP/PMZ)

Factsheet Five #38, October 1990, page 114.
Section: Audio Reviews

SENATOR FLUX, "The Criminal Special" (Emergo Records, New York, NY)
A heavily produced, though not really overly so, pop effort which forms itself by the strong reference to the Beatles, the Clash and even XTC. The main areas of diversity seem to be due to the variances in rhythms, e.g., choppy, backbeat. The lyrics are characterized by a seeming affinity for light sarcasm and trodden psychedelia. (T/CM)

Factsheet Five #38, October 1990, page 116.
Section: Audio Reviews

Various Artists, "China Beach, Music and Memories" (SBK Records c/o Warner Bros. Records, Burbank, CA)
We live in a nostalgic era -- er, I guess we always do. This compilation of various Vietnam era songs is tribute to that emotional period in our history, formerly known as "these trying times." There might be some angry curmudgeons out there crying at the blatant commercialism displayed on these tracks. And they have a point. Then again, this is good music. [...] John Lennon's "Stand By Me" appears by the gracious consent of Yoko, a fact which was a little emphasized on the PR sheet. It's not the music here I have a problem with. It's the application of pick to heartstrings that I find contriving. And the appearance of "actual Vietnam heroes" reminiscing alongside "actual war sounds" (Bombs! Helicopters! Boots in the Mud!) in between tracks. And evidence that while we are busy trying to undo years of ambivalence and neglect over that time, the Big Guys are cashing in on our guilt. (CD/CG)

Factsheet Five #39, December 1990, page 53.
Section: Zines

T.F.Y.S Vol. 9 (from TFYS, Memphis, TN)
"Think For Yourself, Schmuck" is an archetypal and high-grade marginals zine: Sam Haines explains why John Lennon deserved it, [...] Bob Black does unto the Mike Hammer Thriller, and many other oddments of wit and dissatisfaction. [...] Outstanding. (JR)

Factsheet Five #39, December 1990, page 60.
Section: Music Zines
Comment: Will this McCartney tour never end?

BEATLEFAN Vol. 12 #4 (The Goody Press, Decatur, GA)
A zine for those who are still hopelessly in love with the Beatles. This issue has plenty of McCartney touring (with more promised for next time), plus the usual batch of trivia, bootleg reviews, current news related to the Fab Four, and so on.

Factsheet Five #39, December 1990, page 62.
Section: Music Zines

FONOPRESS #3 (from Krakow, POLAND)
The first record collectors' zine for those in Eastern Europe, mainly in Polish though with a few English summaries (and an astounding 10,000 circulation!). This issue has discographies for the Beatles, Kate Bush, and Bon Jovi, among others.

Factsheet Five #39, December 1990, page 63.
Section: Music Zines
Comment: I think "hallucinatory" and "fab" in close quarters counts as a Beatle reference.

KITTEN FRENZY #0 (from Graham Kemp, Kelvinbridge, Glasgow, UK)
A zine of music that seems to have been chosen mainly because the editors think it's fun stuff. [...] There's also a few pages of really strange hallucinatory comics -- when the word "fab" popped up, I knew something strange was going on.

Factsheet Five #39, December 1990, page 85.
Section: One-Shot Reviews

DRUG YOKO (from Chris Butler, Chicago, IL)
A few curious short stories sandwiched by a modern retelling of THE THREE BEARS. [...] Much of this is difficult to get into, perhaps the title indicates where my head is supposed to be at. Only 100 printed. (CG)

Factsheet Five #39, December 1990, page 86.
Section: One-Shot Reviews

Ginseng Fuchsia Lefleur, BOOMERANG OF HATE (Malice Aforethought Press, London, ENGLAND)
Poetry and prose which relentlessly crap on the carpets of the last few centuries of literature in the English language. There's a modern updating of Poe's "Cask of Amontillado", a pointlessly drug-sodden adventure On The Road, and swipes at everybody from Charles Dickens to Yoko Ono. Fabulously catty stuff.

Factsheet Five #39, December 1990, page 104.
Section: Audio Reviews

ALVARO, "The Chilean With the Singing Nose" (Tape plus Alvaro Awareness Package from Steven DeFoe, Collinsville, CT)
If John Lennon had been born in Chile, he might have been influenced by Alvaro, whose experiments with music include short little rants about the sweets of England ruining a good set of teeth and solo piano ditties fantasizing about being born Pinocchio. [...] Takes just a little getting used to, but it's well worth it. (T/CG/KL)

Factsheet Five #39, December 1990, page 116.
Section: Audio Reviews

THE LUCK OF EDEN HALL, "Hook, Line and Sinker" b/w "Looking Glass" (Limited Potential Records, Chicago, IL)
This trio plays an intertwined mildly jangly guitar pop with a crafted psychedelic edge that flows well; former band name Revolver gives an indication of their roots. The vocals are throaty, on "Hook, Line and Sinker" producing a stream of images that are slightly over sweet yet inventive, the tune ending with a layed back yet nicely building solo. "Looking Glass" opens with backward guitar and ends with a little girl exclaiming "Mr. Rabbit!", and from such a gravely voice contains the unlikely line, "I'm a little girl with a bow in my hair." Interesting, relaxed songs. (45/PMZ)

Factsheet Five #39, December 1990, page 118.
Section: Audio Reviews

MORE FIENDS, "Toad Lickin'" (from Rave Records, Philadelphia, PA)
Scrawling snarling buzzsaw no-wave punk with an attitude and a sense of humor (In one track of this release they beat up on the "Yellow Submarine"). Lots of guitars here, yowling-cat vocals, almost an audio dare to their audience to walk out or shut up. Awe-inspiring irrational originality here [...] (LP/MG)

Factsheet Five #39, December 1990, page 121
Section: Audio Reviews

SENATOR FLUX, "The Criminal Special" (Emergo, New York, NY)
From the booklet with the CD (a comic about lucid dreaming rather than lyrics) to the cocky cover of "It's All Too Much", this is a weird and wonderful pop band. There's a fascination with altered states of consciousness that runs through the dreamy music here [...] (CD/MG)

Factsheet Five #40, February 1991, page 63.
Section: Music Zines

BEATLEFAN McCartney World Tour Special Issue (from Decatur, GA)
Yup, a fanzine for Beatles fans, after all these years. This issue is entirely devoted to the McCartney 1989-1990 world tour. It's got plenty of photos, an interview with Paul, technical notes, and much more.

Factsheet Five #40, February 1991, page 66.
Section: Music Zines

GOOD DAY SUNSHINE #57 (from new Haven, CT)
A big batch of Beatles news, bootleg reviews, trivia and more. Paul McCartney tour stuff is finally tailing off here, though plenty is present. They have contests and lots of letters and photos and news clippings and lots more for the true Beatlemaniac.

Factsheet Five #40, February 1991, page
Section: Music Zines

YOKO ONLY #29 (from New York, NY)
"A celebration of the life and works of Yoko Ono," this issue covers Yoko's message delivered at the UN on John's 50th birthday, along with interviews and articles on her art shows. Includes a rather revealing excerpt from her autobiographic writings, translated from the Japanese. (JR)

Factsheet Five #40, February 1991, page 100.
Section: Audio Reviews

THE BONZO DOG BAND, "The Best of the Bonzo Dog Band" (Rhino Records, Santa Monica, CA)
How to begin to describe the legacy of this band? From the borrowed song titles ("Trouser Press") to the members' talents (Neal Innis did musical time with Monty Python and then wrote the musical repertoire and played Ron Nasty in Eric Idle's sendup of the Beatles, "The Rutles"), everyone owes a little something to the Bonzo Dog Band. [...] (CD/CS)

Factsheet Five #40, February 1991, page 113.
Section: Audio Reviews

RED LETTER DAY, "The Demo Sessions" (Steve Tinsky, Tampa, FL)
Happy well-turned pop songs with a sixties sensibility (and a surprise Beatles cover tucked in at the end of a bunch of originals). They sing about Tipper Gore and love and loneliness with the same cheerful intensity, songs that seem like you've known them forever. Easy to like music. (T/MG)

Factsheet Five #40, February 1991, page 117.
Section: Audio Reviews

Various Artists, "Death of Vinyl" (from DOVentertainment, Toronto, ONt, CANADA)
An excellent compilation of dangerous noise and sampling with political overtones [...] There's also work from the Tape-Beatles, John Oswald, Producers for Bob, Digital Poodle and other electro-noise-plagiarism artists. For $3 you can get an unfolded copy of the poster/liner notes. (CD/MG)

Factsheet Five #40, February 1991, page 118.
Section: Audio Reviews

Various Artists, "Hypertonia Sampler Vol. II" (from Hypertonia World Enterprises, Jan R. Bruun, Bergen, Norway)
This compilation is an "audio-catalogue" of 1990/91 releases from Hypertonia, a cassette label from Norway that seems to delight equally in moth-eaten new wave, cheeseball rock and roll, and contorted experimental music. The common denominator seems to be the seven minutes of Charles Manson material that conclude side two, including interview excerpts and that old jukebox favorite, "Sick City". He's the dark side of the Beach Boys and the Beatles, and he's also pretty funny -- a queasy brew to the stomach, which describes this tape quite accurately, too. There are some good ingredients, though, including [...] two marvelously distorted covers of obnoxious pop tunes (En Halvkokt I Folie's "Dancing on the Ceiling" and Juryen's "Here Comes the Sun"). I don't know. Most of it's easy going down [...] but for some reason I end up with indigestion. (T/KS)

Factsheet Five #41, March 1991, page 40.
Section: Zines

RETROFUTURISM #14 (from Iowa City, IA)
The Art Strike and other issues on the political/artistic boundary (if it is a boundary) remain active issues here. But along with this the Tape-Beatles publish original photocopy art, altered comics, things to make stickers from, and other bits of underground cultural activity. [...]

Factsheet Five #41, March 1991, page 58.
Section: Comics Reviews

THE BEATLES EXPERIENCE #1 (from Revolutionary Comics, San Diego, CA)
First of an 8-part unauthorized comics biography of the Beatles. It's amazing how much this stuff is ingrained in my memory; turning pages I can hear the songs. This issue takes the story up through 1963.

Factsheet Five #41, March 1991, page 74-75.
Column: Net Work
Comment: Mark's column covers a page and a half.

Skud in my heart by Mark Bloch
So, as I sit here typing on this last day of February, 1991, the Kuwaiti flag is once again flying over Kuwait City and George Bush declares victory over the new symbol of evil incarnate, Saddam Hussein. [...] I really have no idea how the rest of you feel about this war, but what bothers me is that there wasn't a lot any of us were able to do about it. We in the self-publishing community each have our spheres of influence, yet it seems that none of them extended far enough to make a damn bit of difference in affecting the outcome of this war. Not that we necessarily would have wanted the outcome to be any different. [...] But that is not the subject of this screed. I'm talking about those of us who believed that whether or not Saddam Hussein was a madman, war is never a justifiable solution. [...]

So what could I have done? [...] I feel bad that I didn't even bother writing a letter to a single soldier in the field. That might have brightened up someone's day. [...] But if I would've written a letter to a soldier what would it have said? [...] I'm sure my true feelings would have emerged between the lines. The letter would have been censored and never delivered. I heard they wouldn't even let "Give Peace a Chance" or "Imagine" be played on the radio so as not to lower morale. So what's the use of sending a letter to the soldiers? If I was sure they would have received it, unopened, I would have. [...]

What new zines emerged that were against the war? What projects? What tapes? What songs? [...] Are there things we could have done? [...] Did peace ever really get a chance? If not why not?

On the other hand, were the peace movements of the last 30 years responsible for the fact that Iraqi civilians were not a target? Maybe it was the peacenics that caused the military leaders of the allied forces to even consider NOT bombing the hell out of anything that moved. Who knows, maybe they did. [...] The significant thing may be that - true or not - the military leaders tried to get us to believe that no one died needlessly. They knew we'd be concerned about that. Are the peacenics the ones to thank for that? If so, should I have marched for peace? Did my rubber stamp make a difference I'm not aware of? [...]

The big [question] seems to be: if we in the self-publishing community couldn't even make a ripple in the tide that made this war possible, who the hell will? What are we doing? Sorry to be so negative, gang, but I need to wonder about these things in case it happens again. And it will.

Factsheet Five #41, March 1991, page 82.
Section: Audio Reviews

DANIEL ASH, "Coming Down" (Beggars Banquet c/o RCA, New York, NY)
A dark and shadowy record from a veteran of Bauhaus and Love and Rockets. Ash puts together a moody album, with some shivery moments [...] Downgrade it a bit for an abysmal cover of "Day Tripper", but overall, a good one for the black clothes and pale faces crowd, sort of pop Goth. (CD/MG)

Factsheet Five #41, March 1991, page 83.
Section: Audio Reviews

BEATNIK TERMITES, self-titled (St. Valentine's Records, Cleveland, OH)
High speed mega pop trio with a sixties cross punk approach to playing five concise songs. Not a profound or deeply emotional release, the topics of these songs are mostly about girls and love from a happy-go-lucky perspective. The sound is almost that of the very early Beatles, though with a raspier vocal approach and a harder drive. [...] (T/PMZ)

Factsheet Five #41, March 1991, page 88.
Section: Audio Reviews

GOOD DAY SUNSHINE #58/59 (from New Haven, CT)
A tenth anniversary audio issue, this one is quite fun for anyone who is even a moderate Beatles fanatic. Besides greetings and messages from Paul McCartney, Geraldo Rivera and others, it's got a previously unreleased 1964 Beatles interview, the acoustic demo of "Back in the USSR", new live McCartney, and much more. It closes with a recording of "Imagine: a Tribute to John" by Glass Onion - deeply affecting in this time of war. (T/MG)

Factsheet Five #41, March 1991, page 90.
Section: Audio Reviews

MAGGIE'S DREAM, self-titled (Capitol Records, Hollywood, CA)
Funky rock music that proves that beauty is still present in some bands today. With a sound that inevitably recalls Sly Stone and the lusher arrangements of the Beatles' psychedelia plus lyrics that resound with love and hope and spirituality, Maggie's Dream represent an alternative to nasty downbeat music. [...] (CD/MG)

Factsheet Five #41, March 1991, page
Section: Audio Reviews
Comment: "Come Together" butting against "Primal Scream" certainly adds up to a Beatle reference, whether or not the tape actually has a song called "Come Together", and whether or not it's the Beatle one.

PRIMAL SCREAM, "Come Together" (Sire Records, New York, NY)
Pretty slick dance music in a variety of mixes on this "cassette maxi-single" [...] Though they have a tendency towards some of the worst excesses of disco -- horns, chanting female chorus -- in the longer mixes, the tighter ones are nice if vapid. (T/MG)

Factsheet Five #41, March 1991, page 93.
Section: Audio Reviews

SACRED MIRACLE CAVE, "Liquid In Me" (Bomp! Records, Burbank, CA)
Three tracks from a Los Angeles psychedelic band that seems to have spent a long time layering their music, before going back to add a few more layers. The title track recalls the Beatles, from a time when they were mired in sitars and LSD. [...] (EP/MG)

Factsheet Five #41, March 1991, page 98.
Section: Audio Reviews

Various Artists, "Rutles Highway Revisited" (Shimmy-Disc, New York, NY)
For those who don't know, the Rutles are a classic Beatles parody, and it says much about the genius of songwriter Neil Innes, as well as that of the Beatles that this collection of covers is so listenable. Highlights include Bongwater's rendition of "Love Life", Tuli Kupferberg's "Living in Hope" and Das Damen doing "Piggy In The Middle". Other tracks come from Galaxie 500, Shonen Knife, King Missile, Daniel Johnson and more -- 20 tracks in all. Includes a new Ron Nasty interview as liner notes.

Factsheet Five #42, May 1991, page 52.
Section: Zines
Comment: "Joan was quizzical..."

COMMON SENSE Vol. 1 #1-2 (from Portland, OR)
An exceptional newsletter of satire and parody, primarily poking fun at the powers that be, they claim to be centered at the Portland Pataphysical Outpatient Clinic, Lounge and Laundromat. They cleverly imitate press news and analysis covering the Gulf War ("Desert Swarm"), the rhetorical impeachment of the president ("All We Are Saying Is Give Quayle A Chance"), and their chief goal is to "encourage revolution through laughter and derision" while "opposing idiocy whenever possible." Good stuff. (CG)

Factsheet Five #42, May 1991, page 58.
Section: Music Zines

BEATLEFAN Vol. 12 #6/Vol. 13 #1 (from the Goody Press, Decatur, GA)
A double issue of this fanzine devoted entirely to the Beatles, with coverage of both their past careers and current activities. This is a double issue, with coverage of the tail end of the McCartney tour plus some critical evaluations of John Lennon's work in music and film. Also includes plenty of reviews, and their reviewers don't hesitate to dismiss bad bootlegs.

Factsheet Five #42, May 1991, page 66.
Section: Comics Reviews

THE BEATLES EXPERIENCE #2 (from Revolutionary Comics, San Diego, CA)
An unauthorized comic retelling of the Beatles story. Being unauthorized doesn't make it inaccurate, though. This installment covers the years 1964-1966 (including the year's headlines and top ten singles!) for the Fab Four like a pictorial biography, mostly told from John's point of view, and the story feels like new again. They do a great job at this. (CG)

Factsheet Five #42, May 1991, page 100.
Section: Audio Reviews
Comment: Was there a typing slip here? What was "Give Peace a Chance" turned into?

CHICKEN CATCHATORY "Chicken Lickin' Good" (from SOM Communications, Colonial Heights, VA)
"Scruff Metal" that takes some old standards ("Foxy Lady", "Give Peace a Chance") and writes new lyrics for them (respectively "Spiderman" and "Give Peace a Chance"). They do a few originals as well. Basically, it sounds like tinny metal recorded in a basement; they had fun, but I'm not sure listeners will. (T/MG)

Factsheet Five #42, May 1991, page 105.
Section: Audio Reviews

GREEN, "White Soul & Bittersweet" (Widely Distributed Records, Chicago, IL)
18 tracks of pure pop [...] The band seems influenced by everyone from the Beatles to Alice Cooper, and it is hard to pick out any consistency or direction from this welter of ear candy. There are high points, though, including the lovely "Monique, Monique" [...] (CD/MG)

Factsheet Five #42, May 1991, page 106.
Section: Audio Reviews

HOPE ORGAN, "Young Girl" b/w "Harmony" (Ingreat Records, Pittsburgh, PA)
Charles Manson was inspired by the Beatles, and so it seems was his 'family.' The two member Hope Organ covers, in their original style, two songs by family members Brooks Poston and Paul Watkins. "Young Girl" is in a Beatles "Prudence" style of clean harmonized voice over gentle acoustic guitar figures with a haunting ambient tone behind and floating flute lines interleaved. "Harmony" is a similarly lilting song in male voice only. The prettiness of these pieces is only disturbed when considering the actions of their writers. (45/PMZ)

Factsheet Five #42, May 1991, page 111.
Section: Audio Reviews
Comment: What's this doing here, you ask. Because Billy Joel was foremost among the "sons of McCartney"? Or because it tickled my funny bone? Who knows?

No Artists, "A Tribute to Billy Joel" (Skyclad Records, Middlesex, NJ)
A very conceptual record. This one is pressed on clear vinyl, with blank labels, and ten tracks -- all silent. I guess they don't think much of Billy Joel. The cover lists artists who are not on the record, and the back cover is rather grody. (LP/MG)

Factsheet Five #42, May 1991, page 114.
Section: Audio Reviews

SILVIO RODRIGUEZ, "Cuba Classics 1: Silvio Rodriguez Greatest Hits" (Warner Bros. Records, New York, NY)
Virtually unknown in the U.S., Cuban singer/songwriter Silvio Rodriguez has attained stadium-filling superstar status in Latin America. Citing influences from The Beatles to Leadbelly, his music is slick, socially-conscious pop that combines Cuban and non-Latin hooks. [...] (T/WM)

Factsheet Five #42, May 1991, page 114.
Section: Audio Reviews
Comment: Oops. After I sped by this one I had to back up for the influential Monkees song. It reminds me that I may have let one or two previous Monkees references slip. Their appearances fell off since the earliest issues, and I guess I fell off my guard. Please forgive me.

RUSSIAN MEAT SQUATS, "Kdv-The One Who Drives" (from Easy Records, Philadelphia, PA)
Basic PA punk band documenting their history in chronological order from high school to present. This includes [...] a miserable instrumental of "Windy", [...] stage banter of stupid jokes with visible props you can't see, a "Stepping Stone" cover, and otherwise average punk. [...] (T/PMZ)

Factsheet Five #43, June 1991, page 31.
Section: Zines

THE LOST PERUKE #XXIX (from PM Kellermann, Highland Park, NJ)
Politically-oriented humor that plays to the yuppie generation. This is the White Issue, with various bits of Beatles tucked in between the silliness. There are revelations about Nancy Reagan, more Gorby jokes, and just plain wordplay here.

Factsheet Five #43, June 1991, page 50.
Section: Music Zines

GOOD DAY SUNSHINE #60 (from Charles F. Rosenay, New Haven, CT)
Continuing coverage of the Beatles, still a band with a lot of followers even this long after they broke up. They track tours and gossip relating to the surviving Beatles and those connected with them, review bootlegs, and generally have a good time around this classic band.

Factsheet Five #43, June 1991, page 53.
Section: Music Zines

SOLUS #2 (from Steve Mowrey, Pomeroy, OH)
Music seems to be the central core here, from Sun Ra to the blues to Phil Ochs. But beyond that they get around. There is [...] some poetry, an essay on the structure of John Lennon's songs, zine reviews and plenty else in these well-packed pages.

Factsheet Five #43, June 1991, page 54.
Section: Music Zines

YOKO ONLY #30 (from New York, NY)
A zine devoted to the work and life of Yoko Ono, from her first appearance on the music scene right on up to today's art exhibitions. They publish a mix of old clippings and new reviews and articles, and continue to be enthusiastic without being sycophantic.

Factsheet Five #43, June 1991, page 91.
Section: Audio Reviews
Comment: Second sentence was carefully copied.

LOCUST PUDDING, "Supermarket Sasquatch" (from Spilling Audio, Albany, NY)
A re-release of a 1987 recording from Joe Sokolinsky (aka Joey Lupin) and Eric Hausmann. Novelty songs, like the cool toys you used to be able to get for a quarter from the machines in the supermarket, novelty songs. The sound and feel seems stuck on "Abbey Road", except for the neat "Big Mixers are Intense", the equivalent of a "Keep on Truckin'" iron-on. All right! [...] (T/KF)

Factsheet Five #43, June 1991, page 93.
Section: Audio Reviews

NIGHT OF TURNIPS, "self-titled" (The Watershed, Missoula, MT)
A mixed bag of weirdness from the Montana outback. From a slow motion cover of "We Can Work It Out" to a beat box interpretation of the Dept. of Defense questioning about Communism, this is a collection of songs preoccupied with the great American malaise, whatever it is. [...] (T/RJL)

Factsheet Five #43, June 1991, page 96.
Section: Audio Reviews

MASSIMO SEMPRINI & GIORGIO FABBRI CASADEI, self-titled (Rimini(Fo), ITALY)
A blast of musical shrapnel -- bits of killer jazz (Monk, Ellington), easy listening (Mancini, Rodgers), rock and roll (Lennon/McCartney, Presley, Zappa), and contorted originals strung together with audio chicken wire and hurled gleefully off a cliff. [...] Dense and noisy and aggressive and wonderful to experience [...] John Zorn beware. Stupefying. (T/KS)

Factsheet Five #44, August 1991, page 16.
Section: Zines

AGE OF AQUARIUS #1 (from Gerina Dunwich, West Hills, CA)
A trip back in time to the blessed and ever-fondly remembered 60s. Inside there are hippies, hallucinatory poems, psychedelic reprints, Jimi Hendrix, Yellow Submarine, an aging hippy golfer, a fond look back at Haight-Ashbury and a feeling that we're not in Kansas anymore... (CGJ)

Factsheet Five #44, August 1991, page 57.
Section: Music Zines

BEATLEFAN Vol. 13 #2 (from The Goody Press, Decatur, GA)
A zine for folks who still follow the Beatles closely. Paul McCartney still seems to be getting most of the press these days, although there is a big photo centerfold of Ringo Starr in this issue too. Reviews, letters, and more fill out the issue.

Factsheet Five #44, August 1991, page 65.
Section: Comics Reviews

THE BEATLES EXPERIENCE #3 (from Revolutionary Comics, San Diego, CA)
The story of the Beatles continues in words and pictures, drawing on historical fact and reconstruction of what must have happened in between. This issue runs from 1966 through '68, certainly some of the peak years of the band.

Factsheet Five #44, August 1991, page 101.
Section: Audio Reviews

BRIEF WEEDS, "A Very Generous Portrait" (K, Olympia, WA)
What would have happened if the Monkees tried to play their own instruments? They would have sounded like this 4-song EP. With similar vocals, love rock themes and cheesey organ, this could be the great lost monkees EP. But this single [EP?] has a denser sound, is less polished and has one non-Monkees exception with "The River Song," an instrumental with weird sounds. Camp and creative. (EP/DW1)

Factsheet Five #44, August 1991, page 101.
Section: Audio Reviews

THE CANDY SKINS, "Space I'm In" (Geffen, Los Angeles, CA)
Wah-wah pedals seem to be making a strong comeback lately, and this English quintet is certainly no stranger to their use. Reminiscent of the Monkees on one song and Peter, Paul & Mary on acid on the next, the group takes a cynical attitude towards the usual drugs-and-peace lyrics associated with the genre. It's a great disk, the energy of the old days combined with the smarminess of punk. (CD/MG)

Factsheet Five #44, August 1991, page 102.
Section: Audio Reviews

CROWDED HOUSE, "Woodface" (Capitol Records, Hollywood, CA)
Thoroughly melodic New Zealand rock with plenty of vocals blending together. They seem to be having fun just playing good music, with a laid-back style that might be early Beatles or some such dinosaurian reference. Clever enough, but without the bite that I've come to associate with the NZ imports on indie labels. (CD/MG)

Factsheet Five #44, August 1991, page 106.
Section: Audio Reviews

RICHARD X HEYMAN, "Hey Man" (Sire Records, New York, NY)
Richard Heyman is an inspiring young artist with mega-talents. He has produced good old fashion rock and roll style music with touches of Civil War history. His beat stems from Beatles style to his own awesome style. Richard is a very accomplished musician in both voice and instrument. You get the feeling in this track of songs that he is a lover of history, especially the time frame of the Civil War. [...] (T/AM)

Factsheet Five #44, August 1991, page 108.
Section: Audio Reviews

DANIEL JOHNSTON, "Continued Story" (Homestead Records, Rockville Centre, NY)
[...] While his early songs, recorded at home on cheap cassettes, showed joyousness while baring his soul, the deal went sour when manic depression took over, mixing in satan and bizarre behavior. Fortunately, before all that, someone got Johnston into a studio and recorded these tunes. The tone is lighter, with perennials like "Casper", a Beatles tune, some blues pieces, and a number of spoken shorts. It's fine folky stuff of occasional insight [...] (T/PMZ)

Factsheet Five #44, August 1991, page 110.
Section: Audio Reviews

PAUL McCARTNEY, "Unplugged: The Offical Bootleg" (Capitol Records, Hollywood, CA)
MTV finally got the bright idea of taping their MTV Unplugged live shows, giving us some classic rock figures with their hair and image let down. This is an informal and fun affair with McCartney and pals singing whatever the hell they feel like, from "Be-Bop-A-Lula" to "Blue Moon of Kentucky" to "Blackbird", all the while making small talk, sharing anecdotes, and even humanly forgetting the lyrics to "We Can Work It Out", while he is very clearly having a good time. I was never a big McCartney fan before, and I can't believe I'm saying this, but thanks to MTV, I am one now. (CD/CGJ)

Factsheet Five #44, August 1991, page 114.
Section: Audio Reviews

SHONEN KNIFE, "Lazy Bone" b/w "Blue Oyster Cult" (Rockville, Rockville Centre, NY)
Fun is the key with this Japanese girl trio. Their playing may not be strictly on, but a sense of pleasure and joy comes through, explaining the cult status they've been enjoying in the US. "Lazy Bone" is in english, singing about avoiding the subways, crowds, and work. The song surprisingly uses images from the Beatles' "I Am the Walrus", turning around the intensity of that song. [...] (T/PMZ)

Factsheet Five #44, August 1991, page 115.
Section: Audio Reviews
Comment: One wonders if the reviewer ever had second thoughts about this one.

SKINYARD, "The Bulldog Single" (Cruz Records, Long Beach, CA)
[...] The rendition of the Lennon/McWhatshisface tune "Hey Bulldog" is one of those rare cover versions that manages to retain the integrity of the original without compromising the covering band's sound. That, my friends, is a real treat. (EP/RJL)

Factsheet Five #44, August 1991, page 116.
Section: Audio Reviews

THE TAPE BEATLES, "Music With Sound" (Plagiarism, Iowa City, IA)
You've heard this all before. Literally. Tape Beatles are musical plunderers, or as they say, cultural embezzlers, recyclers employing Plagiarist (R) principles in the manner that John Oswald made infamous with his Plunderphonics release. Nothing they use is not lifted from someone else's work. If that immediately offends you, one can only point out that the deft assemblages, amazing sense of timing, and the wit and wonder of the work justifies their methods and makes a tape that one can only marvel at. [...] (T/PMZ)

Factsheet Five #44, August 1991, page 120.
Section: Audio Reviews

WALLMEN, "Last of the Broken Mexicans" (Dead Judy Records, Jethro Deluxe, Syracure, NY)
This started off as relatively harmless pop rock but it got progressively stranger with wah-wah guitar, pitch-shifted sounds and some subtly weird vocals. "International House of Ju Ju" is one of the better pieces here with its "Secret Agent Man" groove. Also great are the backwards sounds in "Deep Yenta" and the upbeat "Cowboy Beatles". Surreal and strange but not overboard strange. (T/EH)

I stop our study at this point since this was the last issue of Factsheet Five put out by Mike Gunderloy. There was not the slightest hint of this in the final issue, and it so shocked the small press world that others stepped in to keep Factsheet Five going for a few more years.

Likewise, if anyone is hungering for more Beatle references in Factsheet Five, someone else will have to step in. :-)

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