When did you first hear Elvis Costello?
Well I'd surely heard him as a child in the seventies but my first adolescent exposure to Elvis was with via a TDK Cr02 90 min. cassette with his 1977 album My Aim is True on side A and his 1985 album, Goodbye Cruel World on side B. Tape makers can be cruel people, I should know. The juxtaposition of the sublime, like "Mystery Dance" and the sub-prime, like "Inch By Inch" made this tape the musical equivalent of trying to sit through a double feature of Raging Bull and Alvin and the Chipmunk: the Squeakquel.
Now music scribes like writing about Elvis Costello almost as much as they like writing about Dylan because they both represent the power of the words to stand almost equal with the music. After all, comments like Ira Robbins, "Elvis Costello is the King Kong of contemporary music looming so large over everything that admirers and detractors alike are compelled to take note of his most trivial actions" probably inspired David Lee Roth to quip something like, "Most music critics prefer Elvis Costello to Van Halen because most music critics look like Elvis Costello". But we've got good cause for our championing. Like Bringing it all Back Home every second of My Aim is True is crammed-to-claustrophobia with cleaver, jagged word-play carried by fiery melodies that make you forget that Clover(a.k.a. Huey Lewis' the News) is playing in the background.
So now it's time to offer some Elvis Costello you may not have heard. With his catalog being constantly re-issued (I've stuck with those ever-so-succinct Rykodisc versions) a few of these tracks might be available but certainly not in this configuration. This bootleg contains much of his work for the BBC between 1977-1983, from My Aim is True to Punch the Clock with nothing from Goodbye Cruel World at all. The set is notable for the first Peel session including four songs from that first album done with his greatest backing band, the Attractions as well as rarities, re-workings of classics and a cover of the English Beat's "Stand Down Margaret". It's time to listen to Elvis again.
MRML Readers: Leave us a comment with your take on the career of Elvis C. Radio, Radio (BBC Sessions) CD
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Been a favorite of mine since I first heard him in '77. Still can't beat his first three albums. They are so full of power and I just can't stop movin when I hear 'em Thanks!
ReplyDelete"Less Than Zero" was my first taste of the great man and it sounds as great today as it ever did. I already had the Peel sessions on this disc but not the later Kid Jensen sessions so this is a nice addition to my EC stuff...good work Jeff appreciated as always.
ReplyDeleteElvis was the greatest at that time. Each of his LP was a bomb, left you deaf and dumb
ReplyDeleteI saw Elvis at the Nashville in Kensington (I tihnk the entrance was 50p) and I thought he was crap. Then I heard his first single "Less than Zero" and realised that he was brilaint, but I hadn't noticed. I then saw him many more times and bought all of his early album and also his most recent album(which is a real classic). I wish I could of said I spotted him before anyone else, but I didn't.
ReplyDeletegreat and not so great always interesting
ReplyDeleteDavid Lee Roth is a genius.
ReplyDeleteFor real.
My first touch with him was a video of "Watching the detectives", from the Stiff-Tour 77. Later i bought "10 bloody marys and 10 hows your fathers", a compilation of some old 45s. He's 35 years in the business, and he is still awesome.
ReplyDeleteSaw Elvis many times. Every show was outstanding, his gigs use to go on and on and on. 2hrs, 3 hrs even. me and my mate john always positiopned ourselves at the front. Many times came out soaked to the skin with sweat and often losing items of clothing. Managed to get backstage at one gig at De Montfort Hall when he was supported by The Pogues, I thought I could drink in those days but Jeez I was ill for days after. Along with The Jam gigs I attended at the time I have never seen such power and intensity. Fucking brilliant!!!!
ReplyDeletea bud of mine saw him on an early UK tour,with Richard Hell.wish i could've seen that.in fact Richard Hell has released some live material on cd including Elvis Costello contribution. i think it's on disc 2 of the 'time' album...must look that up.
ReplyDeleteThanks for this!
ReplyDeleteI first saw EC in '77 w/Rockpile & Mink DeVille.
I last saw him this Summer @ Chautauqua... Odd to leave one of his shows without my ears ringing.
Curty
ReplyDeleteI do confess to loving the first three the most but there is so much on those latter albums can make you move to.
Marky
Great place to start - such vehemence. Glad to add to anyone's Elvis stash.
Anon
So many good albums it's hard to believe they just pored out of him in a row like that.
Gary
Such a succinct and witty take I had to quote it all. Thanks.
Anon
E.C.'s career has had some ups, some downs and some utterly sideways but like you say always interesting.
Nazz
Me and Roth got some issues. The sight of him singing those bluegrass version of Van Halen songs on late night TV was terrifying.
SirCharlie
Well-recollected anecdotes - gotta add those to a post.
Anon
Gotta find this Costello/Hell collaboration now...
ron
That be one hell of a show - Nick Lowe/Dave Edmunds then Elvis C.(not to neglect Mink but I'm guessing he'd take home a very honourable bronze in that event).
Schrottblogger
ReplyDeleteYeah that '77 Stiffs tour (via the Live Stiffs L.P.) was part of my earliest EC too. I never had 10 Hail Marys but "Taking Liberties" sure was great.
I have seen Elvis Costello numerous times over his long career.I still think the best gig was the show with with Squeeze around 1981.Jools had left Squeeze and had been replaced by Paul Carrack.The show was at the War Memorial Gym on the UBC campus in Vancouver.
ReplyDeletegreat blog, found some strummer stuff i'd never heard. about e c, he must be too old for the current crop of hipsters passing for music scribes these days, as his sugercane release seems to have been ignored by the best of list makers this year. their loss. keep up the good work,
ReplyDeleteneal
great blog, found some strummer stuff i'd never heard. about e c, he must be too old for the current crop of hipsters passing for music scribes these days, as his sugercane release seems to have been ignored by the best of list makers this year. their loss. keep up the good work,
ReplyDeleteneal
Doug
ReplyDeleteI'd love to have seen Squeeze in their prime, when I was a kid we had a casette copy of "Argy BArgy' and I've never stopped loving that record
Anon
Always glad to remind people about the glory of Strummer.
I'll have to give a listen to that new E.C. now!
Thanks for the early Elvis stuff! I first heard him in '77, of course, probably 'Less Than Zero' first, but it was when I heard 'Alison' that I realized that this was not just another 'angry young man' and someone to pay close attention to. I have followed every aspect of his career since. And unlike many here, I think it was in the '80's that he really grew and developed into one of the great artists of our generation. Yes, the early albums were great, but it was when he started reaching out into new areas that he really showed his talents. Starting with Get Happy! when he consciously changed his style to explore other musical directions, he went on to produced such musical masterpieces as Imperial Bedroom and King of America (two of his very best albums)in the '80's. As he continued to go in different directions with classical, pop, he may have left most of us behind, but Elvis is one of those artists, that you just have to go with, no matter what he decides to try.
ReplyDeleteBTW, I am currently featuring shows from Elvis in the Eighties at my own blog, the BB Chronicles (http://bbchron.blogspot.com). You might want to check it out.
BBKron
ReplyDeleteI do own almost all of EC's eighties albums, aside form "Goodbye Cruel World" and "Almost Blue" (I love country but EC is best doing originals) so I can't disagree with you about that era.
Speaking of which, it's great to see you featuring stuff with Confederates on your blog, I really love the King of America era.
Elvis Costello. Great name, great look, great songs, and he was angry back in the day. Thanks for the memories.
ReplyDelete