just getting into him. does anything match the great release he had his first 5-6 years?

Elvis knows his stuff.
When the perennial PBS Roy Orbison gig airs again, Elvis is all over the place.

He's had a few very good ones in the last decade: When I Was Cruel, The Delivery Man, Momofuku, and National Ransom. Whatever the format, he always puts on an excellent show, and the Imposters (i.e., the Attractions with a different bassist) is a cracking backing band.

Nothing matches his original work with The Attractions. Check out the Spinning Songbook Tour this year. He and The Imposters are playing better than ever. I saw them in NY in May and in the course of three nights he covered most of his first six albums, plus covered The Beatles, Stones, Who and Prince.

Big fan here...'North' is on my Top25-list of all-times albums...


I was driving home early Sunday morning through Bakersfield...

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71Tele
Nothing matches his original work with The Attractions. Check out the Spinning Songbook Tour this year. He and The Imposters are playing better than ever. I saw them in NY in May and in the course of three nights he covered most of his first six albums, plus covered The Beatles, Stones, Who and Prince.

hopefully he comes around here. no dates within 3 hours of where i live in virginia so far this year

I don't want to go to Chelsea and Pump it Up.

Absolute 100% classics in anyone's book (The bass... the bass...)

Saw him at the Hyde Park gig 2010 when he did a country set. It was OK, I was hoping for the full Monty though.

a big one over here

What do you recommend me to start with this man??? I have'nt heard nothing at all. I'd like to start hearing something, but i do not kbnow where begin to

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KeithNacho
What do you recommend me to start with this man??? I have'nt heard nothing at all. I'd like to start hearing something, but i do not kbnow where begin to

i just got into him. i purchased a compilation that coverd his first 10 years and noticed i loved every song on the compilation until after the album ARMED FORCES. after that the songs were still good but i didn't dig them as much as the stuff he did his first 3 albums. so imo MY AIM IS TRUE, THIS YEARS MODEL and ARMED FORCES seem to be where to start or buy a compilation like i did

THANKS A LOT..............

Elvis is one of those that has released very few bad albums.

OK, so it's a matter of opinion, but I don't like North too much; maybe it's me, but I feel Lee Konitz and Peter Erskine are better utilised on other albums unrelated to Elvis Costello, but there's also a feeling that he was trying to do far to much in releasing ballads that wouldn't sound out of place on the ECM label.

I happen to like all his albums, from My Aim Is True onwards. Some are not as good as others, but Elvis has done some very good albums. The Delivery Man is my favourite, recorded at Sweet Tea studios, just like my favourite Buddy Guy album.

Elvis is a chameleon, and his colors change often, which is sometimes frustrating or great...depending on your perspective.

He started with an amazing 3 album run. Then poppy, then lush....a little country/americana, a little anger, a little jazz...return to his roots....then maybe some Nawlins influence with a couple of classical influenced records...then off to country again.

I almost think he does it intentionally...almost to spite the record company. But he is really just a guy who loves music, loves collaborating and can't sit still. I really respect that, especially since the quality of his work is generally excellent (even oddities like The Juliet Letters, which he recorded with The Brodsky Quartet and the songs he did with Burt Bacharach of all people).

He never really want all the way back to his 'punkier' beginnings, but if you like that side of him, Momofuku and Blood & Chocolate are good to explore.

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KeithNacho
THANKS A LOT..............

Also, Blood & Chocolate is fantastic - quite underrated. Imperial Bedroom is brilliant too. I love Trust as well. King Of America has a lot of fans. You can't go wrong with any of these releases.

his first decade worth of records (1977-1986) remains as impressive a body of work as anyone's first decade.

[www.elviscostello.com]

Check under "Dance Card" for live dates in April. The Spinning Songbook is not to be missed. There are a lot of clips on YouTube from last year's shows. I am going to see all three Northwest US shows this spring, then go to the Manchester, UK show in May. Because of the format of the show you get different songs every night.

Elvis, for me, has never released a bad album. Closest thing to it would be 'Goodbye Cruel World'. It actually was kind of bad, now that I think about it. But as others have stated, his first decade of albums is arguably flawless, and I think his last decade has been incredibly strong as well. His live shows w/the Imposters have been excellent too.

For the record I think he's an underrated guitar player. Not your classic guitar hero per se, but he has a idiosyncratic approach to solos in addition to being a fantastic rhythm player.

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theimposter
Elvis, for me, has never released a bad album. Closest thing to it would be 'Goodbye Cruel World'. It actually was kind of bad, now that I think about it. But as others have stated, his first decade of albums is arguably flawless, and I think his last decade has been incredibly strong as well. His live shows w/the Imposters have been excellent too.

For the record I think he's an underrated guitar player. Not your classic guitar hero per se, but he has a idiosyncratic approach to solos in addition to being a fantastic rhythm player.

He downright bashes the thing, and it's great! Elvis knows he is not a great technical guitarist and has called himself L.H.C. (little hands of concrete).

yes when he was with his Attractions, I love the 3 first albums...what has been released after well...





And oops I'd forgot , a guy who has played at the Mocambo couldn't be bad

HMN
StonesCave

Get Happy!! has to be mentioned. Soul music on speed. My favorite EC & The Attractions album.

Live at The El Mocambo 1978

[youtu.be]

Here's a clip from the show in Nashville. They open with a 1-2 punch from get Happy!

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Rollin' Stoner
Live at The El Mocambo 1978

Live at Hollywood High '79!

I like that cover of "out of time". Elvis is good, no doubt, he wears his first name well!
Rock and Roll,
Mops

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71Tele

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Rollin' Stoner
Live at The El Mocambo 1978

Live at Hollywood High '79!

yep...i remember a bonus 45 from the Hollywood High gig included in one the early lps...had Allison..forgot the flipside

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Rollin' Stoner

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71Tele

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Rollin' Stoner
Live at The El Mocambo 1978

Live at Hollywood High '79!

yep...i remember a bonus 45 from the Hollywood High gig included in one the early lps...had Allison..forgot the flipside

they released the whole show on CD a couple of years ago. It's amazing. better than Mocambo as it has some Armed Forces material.

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71Tele

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Rollin' Stoner
Live at The El Mocambo 1978

Live at Hollywood High '79!

which is better lol?

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Honestman
yes when he was with his Attractions, I love the 3 first albums...what has been released after well...





And oops I'd forgot , a guy who has played at the Mocambo couldn't be bad

I'm back... I'm there.. I'm p1ssed... I'm in clubs.. I'm in pubs.. I'm young... I'm loving this...

"I don't want to go to Chelsea.. dum dum dum durrm dum, del a lell del lell.."

There are some Costello songs that are totally evocative.

Goodbye Cruel World's songs were, alas, recorded incorrectly. The producers have a lot to answer for as a result. I like Peace In Our Time though, and was overjoyed to hear Elvis decided to do it live when Dubya was president.

Yet, Clive Langer and Alan Winstanley also produced Punch the Clock, which is a fairly good album, containing Shipbuilding, Pills & Soap, Let Them All Talk, and Everyday I Write the Book.

Elvis' best albums are as follows, and in no order:

1. King of America
2. River In Reverse
3. This Years' Model
4. The Delivery Man
5. Imperial Bedroom
6. Painted from Memory
7. My Aim Is True
8. Trust
9. Spike
10. Blood & Chocolate

Ive recently been listening to Elvis Costello live from Hollywood High in '78 (What a great year for live music). Goon Squad Rocks! Beautiful versions of Party Girl and Allison.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2012-02-28 22:13 by ryanpow.