Elvis Costello

[Jorge]

I didn't want to clutter up the Roots thread with Costello talk, so I thought I'd start a new thread for discussion of his work.

My all-time favorite musician, and for my money one of the most talented people making music today. I'm as much of a fan of his early stuff as I am of his post-1991 material. National Ransom is an amazing album.



And of course, Wise Up Ghost is great. If you can, I recommend seeking out the bonus track "The Puppet Has Cut His Strings". Absolutely beautiful. Questlove called it the best song in the album, which is weird 'cause it's not technically... in the album.

[harmless]

I'm really glad you introduced me to Elvis Costello, Jorge.

[evenslow]

One of my top 5 favorite artists of all time.

Get Happy!! is about as good as music gets. I can't think of many artists that could pull off the mix of influences on that record with such panache. And the 5-album run that it's a part of is one of the great runs of all time.

Also, Pete Thomas rules.

[mastaflatch]

Jorge, could you please post a song from the latest album where the collaboration really shines? thnks!

[Jorge]

Try this one

[doug rr]

one of my favorites as well. when it comes to covers, I love his rendition of Penny Lane

[Jorge]

Jorge, could you please post a song from the latest album where the collaboration really shines? thnks!

Here's another one I keep going back to:


A reworking of the lyrics from EC's 1991 song "Invasion Hit Parade", incorporating elements from "Broken Promise Land" from his collaboration with Allen Toussaint

[malice]

what in the world is wrong with pre-1991 EC?

[Jorge]

what in the world is wrong with pre-1991 EC?

Absolutely nothing... although I am kind of indifferent towards "Almost Blue" (the album, not the song; I fucking love the song).

It's just that the album Mighty Like a Rose is where a lot of people draw some sort of line in regards to his work. I happen to love that album-- "Couldn't Call it Unexpected no.4" is up there among my favorite songs of his. I also love Brutal Youth, The Juliet Letters, All This Useless Beauty, and everything that came after that. It's an unfairly-maligned period in his career, littered with many wonderful songs.

[malice]

I was never thrilled with his efforts on Almost Blue either... just not really my thing where his music is concerned. (and like you, I also think almost blue the song is priceless..)
I'm biased because I grew up with all his music pre-1991, but honestly, there really is a wealth of great, great music from his earlier albums.

whatever - any appreciation for Elvis is good as far as I'm concerned - he's been one of my favorite musicians forever.

[mastaflatch]

that Roots/EC stuff is

[evenslow]

Oddly enough Brutal Youth was the first album I fully dove into for EC. I'd obviously had heard the hits before, but that album came out as I was getting much more into music on my own. Love it to this day - Kinder Murder, This is Hell, You Tripped at Every Step - earworms all.

[Jorge]

Oddly enough Brutal Youth was the first album I fully dove into for EC. I'd obviously had heard the hits before, but that album came out as I was getting much more into music on my own. Love it to this day - Kinder Murder, This is Hell, You Tripped at Every Step - earworms all.

Brutal Youth and When I Was Cruel for me. Bought them both during the same trip to the record store.

But the first EC performance I ever saw was this one:



I remember watching the Live By Request performance on my sister's TV and being very moved by this song. I still listen to North when I need to calm down. It's like a steady heartbeat.

[Norris]

Try this one

That's my favorite from this record.

[evenslow]

Oddly enough Brutal Youth was the first album I fully dove into for EC. I'd obviously had heard the hits before, but that album came out as I was getting much more into music on my own. Love it to this day - Kinder Murder, This is Hell, You Tripped at Every Step - earworms all.

Brutal Youth and When I Was Cruel for me. Bought them both during the same trip to the record store.

But the first EC performance I ever saw was this one:



I remember watching the Live By Request performance on my sister's TV and being very moved by this song. I still listen to North when I need to calm down. It's like a steady heartbeat.

Most people's entire career's don't approach the underrated gems he has scattered throughout his catalogue.

[VinylGuy]

His best collaboration ever.

[Jorge]

True story: Tina Fey is fanatical about Elvis Costello

[Norris]

Makes sense, what with her glasses and all.

[Jorge]

Also Chris Rock, strangely enough.

[Norris]

That is strange, what with him being black and all.