A thread for general ELVIS COSTELLO appreciation

[Josh]

Well, we had a Costello thread before, but it became a bit cluttered with tour news and general rants, so here's a fresh topic for discussing the genius that is Elvis Costello.

Bloop, I'm glad you're finally getting into EC's music... hopefully we'll be seeing some of his albums enter into your Top 100 list!

So, any other fans here who might care to rank their favorite Costello albums? I'll start with my Top 5:

1. All This Useless Beauty
2. Imperial Bedroom
3. King of America
4. This Year's Model
5. The Delivery Man

Haven't heard enough to rank: My Aim is True

Haven't heard at all: Armed Forced, Get Happy!!, Trust, Blood and Chocolate, Brutal Youth.

[Tom]

you know, i really want to be a fan of Costello's. he's worked with Sam Phillips, he's written some great tunes that i've heard infrequently on the radio: "Radio, Radio" "What's So Funny 'Bout Peace Love & Understanding" "Allison" etc.

but the albums i have heard have been difficult for me to get into.

i order music cd's for the library and i got us: My Aim Is True, Get Happy and Armed Forces. the choices were made largely because of AMG's picks.

killer tunes are on these discs, but as a whole, they left me wanting more from somebody with such a good rep in the music field.

where should i start IYO Josh?

[Josh]

Tom, based on my own preferences and what I know of your taste in music, I'd suggest heading toward All This Useless Beauty and Imperial Bedroom.  

[Tom]

tip duly noted. thanks Josh.

[bloop]

So far, I've only heard When I Was Cruel, which is fairly recent, and This Year's Model and My Aim is True which are both very early albums in his career.  I think This Year's Model, at least, could end up being listed when I more fully digest it.  It's the kind of thing I would listen to just for the sheer joy of listening to it.  His early work sounds anachronistic and timeless simultaneously, which is a formula that ranks high with me.

[Josh]

So far, I've only heard When I Was Cruel, which is fairly recent, and This Year's Model and My Aim is True which are both very early albums in his career.  I think This Year's Model, at least, could end up being listed when I more fully digest it.  It's the kind of thing I would listen to just for the sheer joy of listening to it.  His early work sounds anachronistic and timeless simultaneously, which is a formula that ranks high with me.

I've always liked TYM more than MAiT, if nothing else for the ragged, careening performances from The Attractions. Then again, I've not heard MAiT enough to really digest it fully, so that's subject to change.

[-TheWanderer-]

I love the fact that "Radio, Radio" was banned from TV performance for a long time.  I don't remember why, but it's a great song

[PaulDA]

I like ELVIS Presley and Lou COSTELLO, but I must confess I am not familiar with ELIVIS COSTELLO or his songs.  
The only thing I know about him is that famous quote years ago where he called James Brown and Ray Charles niggers.....and that didn't exactly endear him to me.  [_[

[phaith]

dispite my recent NIN purchase, I do also like this guy...but I haven't listen to EC in a very long time! At least 10 years!

[Josh]

I love the fact that "Radio, Radio" was banned from TV performance for a long time.  I don't remember why, but it's a great song

And, of course, Costello and the Attractions picked that song to play when they appeared on SNL! They were expressly told not to, so they began by playing a different song, then abruptly stopped it and launched into "Radio, Radio" instead!

[Brenden]

Why was the song banned? Surely it can't be because it had "radio" in the title.

[Josh]

Why was the song banned? Surely it can't be because it had "radio" in the title.

Well, the song is a biting tirade against mass media-- mostly radio, but TV as well-- so I assume that's the reason.

[Brenden]

Well, the song is a biting tirade against mass media-- mostly radio, but TV as well-- so I assume that's the reason.

Ah, that would explain it, thanks.

[DvChWi]

After hours of careful thought and consideration, I have finally compiled an exhaustive ranked list of Elvis Costello albums I have heard:

1.  This Year's Model
2.  My Aim is True

Sorry to make you guys read through all that.

[bloop]

The only thing I know about him is that famous quote years ago where he called James Brown and Ray Charles niggers.....and that didn't exactly endear him to me.  <_<

WHOA!  Rewind.  Seriously?  What was the context here?

[Josh]

WHOA!  Rewind.  Seriously?  What was the context here?

See if this article explains, bloop.

[DvChWi]

WHOA!  Rewind.  Seriously?  What was the context here?

From Wikipedia:

His success in the US was severely dented, however, when Costello called Ray Charles a "blind, ignorant nigger" during an argument with Bonnie Bramlett in a Columbus, Ohio Holiday Inn hotel bar (the comment being particularly odd, since Elvis worked extensively in Britain's "Rock Against Racism" campaign both before and after). A contrite Costello apologised at a New York City press conference, claiming that he had been drunk and had said it only to annoy Bramlett (he succeeded; she punched him). In his liner notes for the expanded version of Get Happy!!, Costello writes he declined an offer to meet Charles some time after the infamous incident: "any apology after all these years would do little more than embarrass everyone present, all I could do was turn my head away with shame and frustration knowing that this was a hand I will probably never shake ... I have also found that guilt is a burden without any statute of limitations."

[PaulDA]

[Josh]

An updated rundown of my Top 5 EC discs:

1. All This Useless Beauty
2. Imperial Bedroom
3. Armed Forces
4. King of America
5. Get Happy!!

So... Tom? Bloop? Anyone else started/continued your Costello education?

[Brenden]

I have his When I Was Cruel album from the library that I'm gonna listen to.

[bloop]

I've become familiar with Imperial Bedroom, Armed Forces, My Aim is True, and This Year's Model, so kind of.