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I mostly agree with you, but he is still worth seeing live with The Imposters, and still performing his most vital music, though the musical side roads he has taken sometimes try the patience of even a total fan like me.
that could be--I've only seen him once, on the Spike tour, which was a good show--at least the new songs anyway. The "old" ones were a bit flat. Though I spotted him in the audience at a Dylan show at the United Palace in New York last year, chatting with friends or fans.
tried to watch his show on cable but found it very dull, even the one with Lou Reed. He would come out roaring with an overheated, soul-revue style opener, heaping hyperbole on the guest. Then the chat portion would be hushed, mumbled, and awkward.
when I was a kid, I swallowed all the rock-critical lines about the profound "pain" of his early records, his "revenge and guilt" "obsession" etc. Now that I'm an adult and have some clue of what he was writing about, I think he was probably just a jerk, or maybe was making sh!t up. I like the music and as you say the band, but the "suffering assh0le" routine is one I have no interest in anymore.
Spike is my least-favorite period for him...He has matured quite profoundly as a person since the "angry young man" days. I have met him a few times and he was always quite gracious. I spotted him in the crowd at the Beacon for the first Shine A Light show.
Which is odd, considering he preceded EC. If anything, it's the opposite!
Some of those My Aim Is True songs like "Pay It Back" have a lot of Parker influence.
prolly everyone else figured this out from the get-go - but i had always figured it was a love song...turns out he's aiming with a gun to put out her lights.
Not necessarily true at all...Like many EC lyris, there are double meanings. This line is from "Allison". It is a song of compassion. If you take it in the context of the album's title though, yes, he was expressing a certain hostility (though playfully, I think) toward the music establishment at the time...His next album "This Year's Model" is also a double meaning, referring at the same time to a woman ("model) and his new status as flavor-of-the-moment.
reading the lyrics of the song again, it's pretty evident what he's talking about about, tele...in fact, i haven't seen alison in a long time...i suppose that's just a coincidence, eh?
Not sure I understand your point about "Alison". He has played this song continuously throughout his career. I have probably seem him 30 times and he has never failed to perform it. The lyrics are rather ambiguous and bittersweet. I don't think anyone has figured out exactly what the song means, which is one of its strengths. The listener can project his or her own interpretations of the story into it.
i didn't say "alison" - i said alison. sigh. nevermind.
Yeah, I saw it years ago on a VCR that someone owned (not me) but it would be nice to see it again. Thanks for the names of that work...[/quote]
The DVD's brilliant. Terrific remaster, which does ample justice to those incredible images. Great supplementary material on it too.
I've got the original CBS promo on vinyl. The CD was mastered from a mint vinyl copy, don't you know?
Highly recommended is the Live at the Hollywood High CD from the Armed Funk tour of 1979, recently reissued with extra material, so you get the complete show.
Apparently there will be more archive releases soon - one or two from every year he toured with the Attractions, plus a complete Confederates show, and one of the Coward Brothers gigs he played with T Bone Burnett. The thing I'm really looking forward to are two multi-cd sets from the Costello Sings Again residency at the Royalty Theatre in 1986. All the shows have been mastered and are ready to roll. Depends on the record company pushing the button.
definitely, and even "Angels Wanna Wear My Red Shoes" (though that's not my favorite on the album). The whole idea of "EC and the Attractions" seems based on "GP and the Rumour," in terms of the personalities of the frontmen and the sounds of the bands.
yes, and no surprise, probably my favorite songs on the album.
Stick to Me is probably not GP's most "adult" album, but maybe his punkiest.
Taking nothing away from Parker, the fact is Costello turned out to be the bigger talent. Period. He "stole" nothing.
right--he can even host a talk show. His agent must be thrilled.
up thru the mid-80's the amount of quality material he produced is almost mind-blowing. easily the most productive, prolific song-writer in the biz during the first ten-years on the scene. the lyrics, ideas, hooks were just flying out of him. reminds me of dylan in the sixties....
Indeed. How many brilliant albums did he out out between 1977-1986?
SEVEN.
The first four are indisputable masterpieces. Trust And Almost Blue are very good. Imperial Bedroom is another masterpiece. Punch The Clock and Goodbye Cruel World sound dated, but they have some outstanding songs on them. King of America and Blood & Chocolate are masterpieces.
I can't really put my finger on why I don't like the post-Blood & Chocolate material, but I never got into it.
i didn't either - at least not to the extent of his first decade. i think it's the whole concept of that muse. his post-1986 output strikes me as more contrived in general, rather that songs that seem to have written themselves. the same thing happened to the glimmers after their 1977 songwriting explosion.
Contrived. Exactly. The first problem was Spike. he ditched The Attractions and also put on a bit of an Irish folksinger persona which didn't suit him. Lots of false moves after that. I did like the Bacharach collaboration but many of the other pairings have produced uninspired music. He is in a place now where does exactly what he wants, which is fine. It's just that the songs aren't nearly as compelling as 1977-1986.
Nothing to do with the talk show. He is simply a better songwriter and performer. Saying he "stole" Graham Parker's audience is like saying the Beatles stole The Dave Clark Five's audience.
I thought the Bacharach album was good too, as were parts of Brutal Youth. The rest leaves me fairly cold. The last one I bought was The Delivery Man. A return to form, so the critics said. I couldn't get into it at all.
i agree on all the above. to the untrained ear, it sure sounds like the old days...but it's forced/fake/contrived. again - the similarities to the last 3 decades of the glimmers' tunes are striking.
Don't read too much into my observation. I was merely pointing out that there was a Parker influence on My Aim Is True.
Since the Beatles preceded the DC 5, I don't think that is the best analogy.
Parker was around for about a year and a half before Elvis, and had great reviews for his first two albums. But the audience just didn't develop for him as it did for EC, who had a much better sense of publicity and promotion, and how to work the press.
While Parker just ran out of gas early, Elvis just kept growing and stayed interesting. And I think in terms of audience, there was only room for one specs-wearing angry young British songwriter. Plus Parker seemed more aligned with pub-rock--which quickly became old hat as it was replaced by punk/new wave, which Costello embraced.
I've said this before and I'll say it again: It was brilliant how he avoided the inevitable (and usually fatal ) "He's the New Dylan" tag by calling himself "Elvis" and looking like Buddy Holly.
The press had great fun with that. I can recall a huge Melody Maker headline in June of '77: "ELVIS TO TOUR!" (In England?? It was a WTF moment, since Presley was still alive and had never played there... ) And then Costello got another boost when The King died shortly thereafter. Although some in the US perceived, having never heard of him before Elvis passing, thought him as an opportunist with a sick sense of humor. If you look on the cover of the George Jones duets album, there's a bunch of directors chairs with the names of everyone he sings with. All have first names, except "Costello"
I agree his early output is probably one of the great creative runs in rock n roll. I don't think the streak lasted until '86 though. I'd say it ended at Imperial Bedroom. And I know King of America is highly regarded, but it just seemed a little too...mild mannered to me. The Attractions/Nick Lowe reunion on Blood and Chocolate was a real comeback though, and a high water mark.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2010-07-29 20:26 by loog droog.
Blood & Chocolate is an amazing album. Dark, threatening, heartbroken and genuinely angry. The band were literally at war in the studio - especially Costello and Bruce Thomas. Punches and cups of coffee were thrown. And they were only in there together for about a week. AWESOME album.
In many ways you can equate it to Bowie's Scary Monsters. Both albums sounded like they were made by people on the edge and knowing they were at the end of their creative ropes. It took Bowie 13 years to release anything remotely comparable. I'm still waiting on Costello's comeback.
Talk about your favorite band.
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Re: OT: Help me about Elvis Costello
Posted by:
71Tele
()
Date: July 28, 2010 16:50
Quote
cc
Quote
71Tele
He is comfortable. Married to Diana Krall, twin sons, great career. he can play any kind of music he wants whenever he wants with whomever he wants. He wouldn't be comfortable? Those early records came at the price of such pain, mostly his guilt over his marriage and on again-off again intense affair with Bebe Buelle. (Plus some righteous young man anger). Take "I Want You" from Blood & Chocolate, for example. It is almost too painful to listen to the song, yet you can't turn away either. There is nothing like that on the last dozen records or so. I am sure he doesn't want to go to that place again emotionally in order to come up with those kinds of songs.
yeah, I know all that. I was just saying, per the thread, why I see no reason to listen to his music beyond the mid-80s. I'm happy for him, but other performers have better maintained their emotional sensibility--Graham Parker, who still gets compared to Elvis even now that the comparison is unflattering.
I mostly agree with you, but he is still worth seeing live with The Imposters, and still performing his most vital music, though the musical side roads he has taken sometimes try the patience of even a total fan like me.
Re: OT: Help me about Elvis Costello
Posted by:
cc
()
Date: July 28, 2010 17:25
Quote
71Tele
I mostly agree with you, but he is still worth seeing live with The Imposters, and still performing his most vital music, though the musical side roads he has taken sometimes try the patience of even a total fan like me.
that could be--I've only seen him once, on the Spike tour, which was a good show--at least the new songs anyway. The "old" ones were a bit flat. Though I spotted him in the audience at a Dylan show at the United Palace in New York last year, chatting with friends or fans.
tried to watch his show on cable but found it very dull, even the one with Lou Reed. He would come out roaring with an overheated, soul-revue style opener, heaping hyperbole on the guest. Then the chat portion would be hushed, mumbled, and awkward.
when I was a kid, I swallowed all the rock-critical lines about the profound "pain" of his early records, his "revenge and guilt" "obsession" etc. Now that I'm an adult and have some clue of what he was writing about, I think he was probably just a jerk, or maybe was making sh!t up. I like the music and as you say the band, but the "suffering assh0le" routine is one I have no interest in anymore.
Re: OT: Help me about Elvis Costello
Posted by:
71Tele
()
Date: July 28, 2010 17:38
Quote
cc
Quote
71Tele
I mostly agree with you, but he is still worth seeing live with The Imposters, and still performing his most vital music, though the musical side roads he has taken sometimes try the patience of even a total fan like me.
that could be--I've only seen him once, on the Spike tour, which was a good show--at least the new songs anyway. The "old" ones were a bit flat. Though I spotted him in the audience at a Dylan show at the United Palace in New York last year, chatting with friends or fans.
tried to watch his show on cable but found it very dull, even the one with Lou Reed. He would come out roaring with an overheated, soul-revue style opener, heaping hyperbole on the guest. Then the chat portion would be hushed, mumbled, and awkward.
when I was a kid, I swallowed all the rock-critical lines about the profound "pain" of his early records, his "revenge and guilt" "obsession" etc. Now that I'm an adult and have some clue of what he was writing about, I think he was probably just a jerk, or maybe was making sh!t up. I like the music and as you say the band, but the "suffering assh0le" routine is one I have no interest in anymore.
Spike is my least-favorite period for him...He has matured quite profoundly as a person since the "angry young man" days. I have met him a few times and he was always quite gracious. I spotted him in the crowd at the Beacon for the first Shine A Light show.
Re: OT: Help me about Elvis Costello
Posted by:
loog droog
()
Date: July 28, 2010 17:59
Quote
cc
Graham Parker, who still gets compared to Elvis
Which is odd, considering he preceded EC. If anything, it's the opposite!
Some of those My Aim Is True songs like "Pay It Back" have a lot of Parker influence.
Re: OT: Help me about Elvis Costello
Posted by:
StonesTod
()
Date: July 28, 2010 18:41
Quote
sweetcharmedlife
And that is?Quote
StonesTod
it was brought to my attention just a couple of years ago what the meaning "my aim is true" was....
Just curious since it does happen to be my favorite Elvis album.
prolly everyone else figured this out from the get-go - but i had always figured it was a love song...turns out he's aiming with a gun to put out her lights.
Re: OT: Help me about Elvis Costello
Posted by:
71Tele
()
Date: July 28, 2010 18:46
Quote
StonesTod
Quote
sweetcharmedlife
And that is?Quote
StonesTod
it was brought to my attention just a couple of years ago what the meaning "my aim is true" was....
Just curious since it does happen to be my favorite Elvis album.
prolly everyone else figured this out from the get-go - but i had always figured it was a love song...turns out he's aiming with a gun to put out her lights.
Not necessarily true at all...Like many EC lyris, there are double meanings. This line is from "Allison". It is a song of compassion. If you take it in the context of the album's title though, yes, he was expressing a certain hostility (though playfully, I think) toward the music establishment at the time...His next album "This Year's Model" is also a double meaning, referring at the same time to a woman ("model) and his new status as flavor-of-the-moment.
Re: OT: Help me about Elvis Costello
Posted by:
StonesTod
()
Date: July 28, 2010 18:59
Quote
71Tele
Quote
StonesTod
Quote
sweetcharmedlife
And that is?Quote
StonesTod
it was brought to my attention just a couple of years ago what the meaning "my aim is true" was....
Just curious since it does happen to be my favorite Elvis album.
prolly everyone else figured this out from the get-go - but i had always figured it was a love song...turns out he's aiming with a gun to put out her lights.
Not necessarily true at all...Like many EC lyris, there are double meanings. This line is from "Allison". It is a song of compassion. If you take it in the context of the album's title though, yes, he was expressing a certain hostility (though playfully, I think) toward the music establishment at the time...His next album "This Year's Model" is also a double meaning, referring at the same time to a woman ("model) and his new status as flavor-of-the-moment.
reading the lyrics of the song again, it's pretty evident what he's talking about about, tele...in fact, i haven't seen alison in a long time...i suppose that's just a coincidence, eh?
Re: OT: Help me about Elvis Costello
Posted by:
Koen
()
Date: July 28, 2010 19:37
He has a 'Live at El Mocambo' album - can't go wrong with that title on this forum 
Re: OT: Help me about Elvis Costello
Posted by:
71Tele
()
Date: July 28, 2010 19:41
Quote
StonesTod
Quote
71Tele
Quote
StonesTod
Quote
sweetcharmedlife
And that is?Quote
StonesTod
it was brought to my attention just a couple of years ago what the meaning "my aim is true" was....
Just curious since it does happen to be my favorite Elvis album.
prolly everyone else figured this out from the get-go - but i had always figured it was a love song...turns out he's aiming with a gun to put out her lights.
Not necessarily true at all...Like many EC lyris, there are double meanings. This line is from "Allison". It is a song of compassion. If you take it in the context of the album's title though, yes, he was expressing a certain hostility (though playfully, I think) toward the music establishment at the time...His next album "This Year's Model" is also a double meaning, referring at the same time to a woman ("model) and his new status as flavor-of-the-moment.
reading the lyrics of the song again, it's pretty evident what he's talking about about, tele...in fact, i haven't seen alison in a long time...i suppose that's just a coincidence, eh?
Not sure I understand your point about "Alison". He has played this song continuously throughout his career. I have probably seem him 30 times and he has never failed to perform it. The lyrics are rather ambiguous and bittersweet. I don't think anyone has figured out exactly what the song means, which is one of its strengths. The listener can project his or her own interpretations of the story into it.
Re: OT: Help me about Elvis Costello
Posted by:
StonesTod
()
Date: July 28, 2010 19:44
Quote
71Tele
Quote
StonesTod
Quote
71Tele
Quote
StonesTod
Quote
sweetcharmedlife
And that is?Quote
StonesTod
it was brought to my attention just a couple of years ago what the meaning "my aim is true" was....
Just curious since it does happen to be my favorite Elvis album.
prolly everyone else figured this out from the get-go - but i had always figured it was a love song...turns out he's aiming with a gun to put out her lights.
Not necessarily true at all...Like many EC lyris, there are double meanings. This line is from "Allison". It is a song of compassion. If you take it in the context of the album's title though, yes, he was expressing a certain hostility (though playfully, I think) toward the music establishment at the time...His next album "This Year's Model" is also a double meaning, referring at the same time to a woman ("model) and his new status as flavor-of-the-moment.
reading the lyrics of the song again, it's pretty evident what he's talking about about, tele...in fact, i haven't seen alison in a long time...i suppose that's just a coincidence, eh?
Not sure I understand your point about "Alison". He has played this song continuously throughout his career. I have probably seem him 30 times and he has never failed to perform it. The lyrics are rather ambiguous and bittersweet. I don't think anyone has figured out exactly what the song means, which is one of its strengths. The listener can project his or her own interpretations of the story into it.
i didn't say "alison" - i said alison. sigh. nevermind.
Re: OT: Help me about Elvis Costello
Posted by:
Nikolai
()
Date: July 28, 2010 20:23
Quote
Come On
If you're into Chet Baker and haven't seen it, you might want to see the film Bruce Weber made about him, Let's Get Lost. There's a bit towards the end where he's singing Almost Blue in Cannes, trying to make himself heard above the dinner party chatter. Amazing moment.
Yeah, I saw it years ago on a VCR that someone owned (not me) but it would be nice to see it again. Thanks for the names of that work...[/quote]
The DVD's brilliant. Terrific remaster, which does ample justice to those incredible images. Great supplementary material on it too.
Re: OT: Help me about Elvis Costello
Posted by:
Nikolai
()
Date: July 28, 2010 20:29
Quote
Koen
He has a 'Live at El Mocambo' album - can't go wrong with that title on this forum
I've got the original CBS promo on vinyl. The CD was mastered from a mint vinyl copy, don't you know?
Highly recommended is the Live at the Hollywood High CD from the Armed Funk tour of 1979, recently reissued with extra material, so you get the complete show.
Apparently there will be more archive releases soon - one or two from every year he toured with the Attractions, plus a complete Confederates show, and one of the Coward Brothers gigs he played with T Bone Burnett. The thing I'm really looking forward to are two multi-cd sets from the Costello Sings Again residency at the Royalty Theatre in 1986. All the shows have been mastered and are ready to roll. Depends on the record company pushing the button.
Re: OT: Help me about Elvis Costello
Posted by:
loog droog
()
Date: July 28, 2010 20:34
Quote
Nikolai
Quote
Koen
Hpromo on vinyl. The CD was mastered from a mint vinyl copy, don't you know?
Highly recommended is the Live at the Hollywood High CD from the Armed Funk tour of 1979, recently reissued with extra material, so you get the complete show.
I was at that show. It was in 1978.
Re: OT: Help me about Elvis Costello
Posted by:
cc
()
Date: July 29, 2010 00:24
Quote
loog droog
Quote
cc
Graham Parker, who still gets compared to Elvis
Which is odd, considering he preceded EC. If anything, it's the opposite!
Some of those My Aim Is True songs like "Pay It Back" have a lot of Parker influence.
definitely, and even "Angels Wanna Wear My Red Shoes" (though that's not my favorite on the album). The whole idea of "EC and the Attractions" seems based on "GP and the Rumour," in terms of the personalities of the frontmen and the sounds of the bands.
Re: OT: Help me about Elvis Costello
Posted by:
loog droog
()
Date: July 29, 2010 00:59
Also: "Blame It on Cain" "Sneaky Feelings" and to a certain degree "Miracle Man" and "Waiting Til The End of the World" sound very Parker influenced.
You really can't beat the first two Parker albums. Shame they didn't catch on, because it's timeless music that any Stones fan should appreciate. Then Elvis happened and stole his spotlight and his audience.
There must be at least one Parker fan who resented Elvis' success. In late '78 or early '79 I got a catalog from Rather Ripped Records in Berkeley. In parenthesis next to a listing of Parker's Stick To Me album, it was described as "Elvis Costello for adults"
(!)
You really can't beat the first two Parker albums. Shame they didn't catch on, because it's timeless music that any Stones fan should appreciate. Then Elvis happened and stole his spotlight and his audience.
There must be at least one Parker fan who resented Elvis' success. In late '78 or early '79 I got a catalog from Rather Ripped Records in Berkeley. In parenthesis next to a listing of Parker's Stick To Me album, it was described as "Elvis Costello for adults"
(!)
Re: OT: Help me about Elvis Costello
Posted by:
cc
()
Date: July 29, 2010 05:04
Quote
loog droog
Also: "Blame It on Cain" "Sneaky Feelings" and to a certain degree "Miracle Man" and "Waiting Til The End of the World" sound very Parker influenced.
yes, and no surprise, probably my favorite songs on the album.
Stick to Me is probably not GP's most "adult" album, but maybe his punkiest.
Re: OT: Help me about Elvis Costello
Posted by:
sweetcharmedlife
()
Date: July 29, 2010 06:36
The first Elvis akbum is an absolute classic. So many great tunes.Quote
loog droog
Also: "Blame It on Cain" "Sneaky Feelings" and to a certain degree "Miracle Man" and "Waiting Til The End of the World" sound very Parker influenced.
You really can't beat the first two Parker albums. Shame they didn't catch on, because it's timeless music that any Stones fan should appreciate. Then Elvis happened and stole his spotlight and his audience.
There must be at least one Parker fan who resented Elvis' success. In late '78 or early '79 I got a catalog from Rather Ripped Records in Berkeley. In parenthesis next to a listing of Parker's Stick To Me album, it was described as "Elvis Costello for adults"
(!)
Re: OT: Help me about Elvis Costello
Posted by:
71Tele
()
Date: July 29, 2010 06:55
Quote
loog droog
Also: "Blame It on Cain" "Sneaky Feelings" and to a certain degree "Miracle Man" and "Waiting Til The End of the World" sound very Parker influenced.
You really can't beat the first two Parker albums. Shame they didn't catch on, because it's timeless music that any Stones fan should appreciate. Then Elvis happened and stole his spotlight and his audience.
There must be at least one Parker fan who resented Elvis' success. In late '78 or early '79 I got a catalog from Rather Ripped Records in Berkeley. In parenthesis next to a listing of Parker's Stick To Me album, it was described as "Elvis Costello for adults"
(!)
Taking nothing away from Parker, the fact is Costello turned out to be the bigger talent. Period. He "stole" nothing.
Re: OT: Help me about Elvis Costello
Posted by:
cc
()
Date: July 29, 2010 16:10
Quote
71Tele
Taking nothing away from Parker, the fact is Costello turned out to be the bigger talent.
right--he can even host a talk show. His agent must be thrilled.
Re: OT: Help me about Elvis Costello
Posted by:
StonesTod
()
Date: July 29, 2010 18:17
Quote
71Tele
Quote
loog droog
Also: "Blame It on Cain" "Sneaky Feelings" and to a certain degree "Miracle Man" and "Waiting Til The End of the World" sound very Parker influenced.
You really can't beat the first two Parker albums. Shame they didn't catch on, because it's timeless music that any Stones fan should appreciate. Then Elvis happened and stole his spotlight and his audience.
There must be at least one Parker fan who resented Elvis' success. In late '78 or early '79 I got a catalog from Rather Ripped Records in Berkeley. In parenthesis next to a listing of Parker's Stick To Me album, it was described as "Elvis Costello for adults"
(!)
Taking nothing away from Parker, the fact is Costello turned out to be the bigger talent. Period. He "stole" nothing.
up thru the mid-80's the amount of quality material he produced is almost mind-blowing. easily the most productive, prolific song-writer in the biz during the first ten-years on the scene. the lyrics, ideas, hooks were just flying out of him. reminds me of dylan in the sixties....
Re: OT: Help me about Elvis Costello
Posted by:
Nikolai
()
Date: July 29, 2010 18:31
Quote
StonesTod
Quote
71Tele
Quote
loog droog
Also: "Blame It on Cain" "Sneaky Feelings" and to a certain degree "Miracle Man" and "Waiting Til The End of the World" sound very Parker influenced.
You really can't beat the first two Parker albums. Shame they didn't catch on, because it's timeless music that any Stones fan should appreciate. Then Elvis happened and stole his spotlight and his audience.
There must be at least one Parker fan who resented Elvis' success. In late '78 or early '79 I got a catalog from Rather Ripped Records in Berkeley. In parenthesis next to a listing of Parker's Stick To Me album, it was described as "Elvis Costello for adults"
(!)
Taking nothing away from Parker, the fact is Costello turned out to be the bigger talent. Period. He "stole" nothing.
up thru the mid-80's the amount of quality material he produced is almost mind-blowing. easily the most productive, prolific song-writer in the biz during the first ten-years on the scene. the lyrics, ideas, hooks were just flying out of him. reminds me of dylan in the sixties....
Indeed. How many brilliant albums did he out out between 1977-1986?
SEVEN.
The first four are indisputable masterpieces. Trust And Almost Blue are very good. Imperial Bedroom is another masterpiece. Punch The Clock and Goodbye Cruel World sound dated, but they have some outstanding songs on them. King of America and Blood & Chocolate are masterpieces.
I can't really put my finger on why I don't like the post-Blood & Chocolate material, but I never got into it.
Re: OT: Help me about Elvis Costello
Posted by:
StonesTod
()
Date: July 29, 2010 18:35
Quote
Nikolai
Quote
StonesTod
Quote
71Tele
Quote
loog droog
Also: "Blame It on Cain" "Sneaky Feelings" and to a certain degree "Miracle Man" and "Waiting Til The End of the World" sound very Parker influenced.
You really can't beat the first two Parker albums. Shame they didn't catch on, because it's timeless music that any Stones fan should appreciate. Then Elvis happened and stole his spotlight and his audience.
There must be at least one Parker fan who resented Elvis' success. In late '78 or early '79 I got a catalog from Rather Ripped Records in Berkeley. In parenthesis next to a listing of Parker's Stick To Me album, it was described as "Elvis Costello for adults"
(!)
Taking nothing away from Parker, the fact is Costello turned out to be the bigger talent. Period. He "stole" nothing.
up thru the mid-80's the amount of quality material he produced is almost mind-blowing. easily the most productive, prolific song-writer in the biz during the first ten-years on the scene. the lyrics, ideas, hooks were just flying out of him. reminds me of dylan in the sixties....
Indeed. How many brilliant albums did he out out between 1977-1986?
SEVEN.
The first four are indisputable masterpieces. Trust And Almost Blue are very good. Imperial Bedroom is another masterpiece. Punch The Clock and Goodbye Cruel World sound dated, but they have some outstanding songs on them. King of America and Blood & Chocolate are masterpieces.
I can't really put my finger on why I don't like the post-Blood & Chocolate material, but I never got into it.
i didn't either - at least not to the extent of his first decade. i think it's the whole concept of that muse. his post-1986 output strikes me as more contrived in general, rather that songs that seem to have written themselves. the same thing happened to the glimmers after their 1977 songwriting explosion.
Re: OT: Help me about Elvis Costello
Posted by:
71Tele
()
Date: July 29, 2010 19:13
Quote
StonesTod
Quote
Nikolai
Quote
StonesTod
Quote
71Tele
Quote
loog droog
Also: "Blame It on Cain" "Sneaky Feelings" and to a certain degree "Miracle Man" and "Waiting Til The End of the World" sound very Parker influenced.
You really can't beat the first two Parker albums. Shame they didn't catch on, because it's timeless music that any Stones fan should appreciate. Then Elvis happened and stole his spotlight and his audience.
There must be at least one Parker fan who resented Elvis' success. In late '78 or early '79 I got a catalog from Rather Ripped Records in Berkeley. In parenthesis next to a listing of Parker's Stick To Me album, it was described as "Elvis Costello for adults"
(!)
Taking nothing away from Parker, the fact is Costello turned out to be the bigger talent. Period. He "stole" nothing.
up thru the mid-80's the amount of quality material he produced is almost mind-blowing. easily the most productive, prolific song-writer in the biz during the first ten-years on the scene. the lyrics, ideas, hooks were just flying out of him. reminds me of dylan in the sixties....
Indeed. How many brilliant albums did he out out between 1977-1986?
SEVEN.
The first four are indisputable masterpieces. Trust And Almost Blue are very good. Imperial Bedroom is another masterpiece. Punch The Clock and Goodbye Cruel World sound dated, but they have some outstanding songs on them. King of America and Blood & Chocolate are masterpieces.
I can't really put my finger on why I don't like the post-Blood & Chocolate material, but I never got into it.
i didn't either - at least not to the extent of his first decade. i think it's the whole concept of that muse. his post-1986 output strikes me as more contrived in general, rather that songs that seem to have written themselves. the same thing happened to the glimmers after their 1977 songwriting explosion.
Contrived. Exactly. The first problem was Spike. he ditched The Attractions and also put on a bit of an Irish folksinger persona which didn't suit him. Lots of false moves after that. I did like the Bacharach collaboration but many of the other pairings have produced uninspired music. He is in a place now where does exactly what he wants, which is fine. It's just that the songs aren't nearly as compelling as 1977-1986.
Re: OT: Help me about Elvis Costello
Posted by:
71Tele
()
Date: July 29, 2010 19:15
Quote
cc
Quote
71Tele
Taking nothing away from Parker, the fact is Costello turned out to be the bigger talent.
right--he can even host a talk show. His agent must be thrilled.
Nothing to do with the talk show. He is simply a better songwriter and performer. Saying he "stole" Graham Parker's audience is like saying the Beatles stole The Dave Clark Five's audience.
Re: OT: Help me about Elvis Costello
Posted by:
Nikolai
()
Date: July 29, 2010 19:44
Quote
71Tele
Quote
StonesTod
Quote
Nikolai
Quote
StonesTod
Quote
71Tele
Quote
loog droog
Also: "Blame It on Cain" "Sneaky Feelings" and to a certain degree "Miracle Man" and "Waiting Til The End of the World" sound very Parker influenced.
You really can't beat the first two Parker albums. Shame they didn't catch on, because it's timeless music that any Stones fan should appreciate. Then Elvis happened and stole his spotlight and his audience.
There must be at least one Parker fan who resented Elvis' success. In late '78 or early '79 I got a catalog from Rather Ripped Records in Berkeley. In parenthesis next to a listing of Parker's Stick To Me album, it was described as "Elvis Costello for adults"
(!)
Taking nothing away from Parker, the fact is Costello turned out to be the bigger talent. Period. He "stole" nothing.
up thru the mid-80's the amount of quality material he produced is almost mind-blowing. easily the most productive, prolific song-writer in the biz during the first ten-years on the scene. the lyrics, ideas, hooks were just flying out of him. reminds me of dylan in the sixties....
Indeed. How many brilliant albums did he out out between 1977-1986?
SEVEN.
The first four are indisputable masterpieces. Trust And Almost Blue are very good. Imperial Bedroom is another masterpiece. Punch The Clock and Goodbye Cruel World sound dated, but they have some outstanding songs on them. King of America and Blood & Chocolate are masterpieces.
I can't really put my finger on why I don't like the post-Blood & Chocolate material, but I never got into it.
i didn't either - at least not to the extent of his first decade. i think it's the whole concept of that muse. his post-1986 output strikes me as more contrived in general, rather that songs that seem to have written themselves. the same thing happened to the glimmers after their 1977 songwriting explosion.
Contrived. Exactly. The first problem was Spike. he ditched The Attractions and also put on a bit of an Irish folksinger persona which didn't suit him. Lots of false moves after that. I did like the Bacharach collaboration but many of the other pairings have produced uninspired music. He is in a place now where does exactly what he wants, which is fine. It's just that the songs aren't nearly as compelling as 1977-1986.
I thought the Bacharach album was good too, as were parts of Brutal Youth. The rest leaves me fairly cold. The last one I bought was The Delivery Man. A return to form, so the critics said. I couldn't get into it at all.
Re: OT: Help me about Elvis Costello
Posted by:
StonesTod
()
Date: July 29, 2010 19:57
Quote
Nikolai
Quote
71Tele
Quote
StonesTod
Quote
Nikolai
Quote
StonesTod
Quote
71Tele
Quote
loog droog
Also: "Blame It on Cain" "Sneaky Feelings" and to a certain degree "Miracle Man" and "Waiting Til The End of the World" sound very Parker influenced.
You really can't beat the first two Parker albums. Shame they didn't catch on, because it's timeless music that any Stones fan should appreciate. Then Elvis happened and stole his spotlight and his audience.
There must be at least one Parker fan who resented Elvis' success. In late '78 or early '79 I got a catalog from Rather Ripped Records in Berkeley. In parenthesis next to a listing of Parker's Stick To Me album, it was described as "Elvis Costello for adults"
(!)
Taking nothing away from Parker, the fact is Costello turned out to be the bigger talent. Period. He "stole" nothing.
up thru the mid-80's the amount of quality material he produced is almost mind-blowing. easily the most productive, prolific song-writer in the biz during the first ten-years on the scene. the lyrics, ideas, hooks were just flying out of him. reminds me of dylan in the sixties....
Indeed. How many brilliant albums did he out out between 1977-1986?
SEVEN.
The first four are indisputable masterpieces. Trust And Almost Blue are very good. Imperial Bedroom is another masterpiece. Punch The Clock and Goodbye Cruel World sound dated, but they have some outstanding songs on them. King of America and Blood & Chocolate are masterpieces.
I can't really put my finger on why I don't like the post-Blood & Chocolate material, but I never got into it.
i didn't either - at least not to the extent of his first decade. i think it's the whole concept of that muse. his post-1986 output strikes me as more contrived in general, rather that songs that seem to have written themselves. the same thing happened to the glimmers after their 1977 songwriting explosion.
Contrived. Exactly. The first problem was Spike. he ditched The Attractions and also put on a bit of an Irish folksinger persona which didn't suit him. Lots of false moves after that. I did like the Bacharach collaboration but many of the other pairings have produced uninspired music. He is in a place now where does exactly what he wants, which is fine. It's just that the songs aren't nearly as compelling as 1977-1986.
I thought the Bacharach album was good too, as were parts of Brutal Youth. The rest leaves me fairly cold. The last one I bought was The Delivery Man. A return to form, so the critics said. I couldn't get into it at all.
i agree on all the above. to the untrained ear, it sure sounds like the old days...but it's forced/fake/contrived. again - the similarities to the last 3 decades of the glimmers' tunes are striking.
Re: OT: Help me about Elvis Costello
Posted by:
loog droog
()
Date: July 29, 2010 20:23
Quote
71Tele
[Saying he "stole" Graham Parker's audience is like saying the Beatles stole The Dave Clark Five's audience.
Don't read too much into my observation. I was merely pointing out that there was a Parker influence on My Aim Is True.
Since the Beatles preceded the DC 5, I don't think that is the best analogy.
Parker was around for about a year and a half before Elvis, and had great reviews for his first two albums. But the audience just didn't develop for him as it did for EC, who had a much better sense of publicity and promotion, and how to work the press.
While Parker just ran out of gas early, Elvis just kept growing and stayed interesting. And I think in terms of audience, there was only room for one specs-wearing angry young British songwriter. Plus Parker seemed more aligned with pub-rock--which quickly became old hat as it was replaced by punk/new wave, which Costello embraced.
I've said this before and I'll say it again: It was brilliant how he avoided the inevitable (and usually fatal ) "He's the New Dylan" tag by calling himself "Elvis" and looking like Buddy Holly.
The press had great fun with that. I can recall a huge Melody Maker headline in June of '77: "ELVIS TO TOUR!" (In England?? It was a WTF moment, since Presley was still alive and had never played there... ) And then Costello got another boost when The King died shortly thereafter. Although some in the US perceived, having never heard of him before Elvis passing, thought him as an opportunist with a sick sense of humor. If you look on the cover of the George Jones duets album, there's a bunch of directors chairs with the names of everyone he sings with. All have first names, except "Costello"
I agree his early output is probably one of the great creative runs in rock n roll. I don't think the streak lasted until '86 though. I'd say it ended at Imperial Bedroom. And I know King of America is highly regarded, but it just seemed a little too...mild mannered to me. The Attractions/Nick Lowe reunion on Blood and Chocolate was a real comeback though, and a high water mark.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2010-07-29 20:26 by loog droog.
Re: OT: Help me about Elvis Costello
Posted by:
Nikolai
()
Date: July 29, 2010 20:30
Quote
loog droog
Quote
71Tele
[Saying he "stole" Graham Parker's audience is like saying the Beatles stole The Dave Clark Five's audience.
Don't read too much into my observation. I was merely pointing out that there was a Parker influence on My Aim Is True.
Since the Beatles preceded the DC 5, I don't think that is the best analogy.
Parker was around for about a year and a half before Elvis, and had great reviews for his first two albums. But the audience just didn't develop for him as it did for EC, who had a much better sense of publicity and promotion, and how to work the press.
While Parker just ran out of gas early, Elvis just kept growing and stayed interesting. And I think in terms of audience, there was only room for one specs-wearing angry young British songwriter. Plus Parker seemed more aligned with pub-rock--which quickly became old hat as it was replaced by punk/new wave, which Costello embraced.
I've said this before and I'll say it again: It was brilliant how he avoided the inevitable (and usually fatal ) "He's the New Dylan" tag by calling himself "Elvis" and looking like Buddy Holly.
The press had great fun with that. I can recall a huge Melody Maker headline in June of '77: "ELVIS TO TOUR!" (In England?? It was a WTF moment, since Presley was still alive and had never played there... ) And then Costello got another boost when The King died shortly thereafter. Although some in the US perceived, having never heard of him before Elvis passing, thought him as an opportunist with a sick sense of humor. If you look on the cover of the George Jones duets album, there's a bunch of directors chairs with the names of everyone he sings with. All have first names, except "Costello"
I agree his early output is probably one of the great creative runs in rock n roll. I don't think the streak lasted until '86 though. I'd say it ended at Imperial Bedroom. And I know King of America is highly regarded, but it just seemed a little too...mild mannered to me. The Attractions/Nick Lowe reunion on Blood and Chocolate was a real comeback though, and a high water mark.
Blood & Chocolate is an amazing album. Dark, threatening, heartbroken and genuinely angry. The band were literally at war in the studio - especially Costello and Bruce Thomas. Punches and cups of coffee were thrown. And they were only in there together for about a week. AWESOME album.
In many ways you can equate it to Bowie's Scary Monsters. Both albums sounded like they were made by people on the edge and knowing they were at the end of their creative ropes. It took Bowie 13 years to release anything remotely comparable. I'm still waiting on Costello's comeback.
Re: OT: Help me about Elvis Costello
Posted by:
Nikolai
()
Date: July 29, 2010 20:32
Double post ... sorry!
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2010-07-29 21:53 by Nikolai.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2010-07-29 21:53 by Nikolai.
Re: OT: Help me about Elvis Costello
Posted by:
StonesTod
()
Date: July 29, 2010 20:34
and i'll still argue that KOA was the better of his '86 records. better songwriting, amazing musicianship (elvis meets elvis' guitarist....cool)....
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