Elvis Costello Thread
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AbbeyRoadCrosser:
FrankieJ:
Awesome! What time did he start? How long was the show? I'm going to see him soon... Also as a newbie. The wheel spin thing sounds great fun. I wish Paul adopted that kind of method. Every setlist would be completely different.
He usually plays around 2 and half hours. At the show I went to he played just under 2 and a half hours and 30 songs. But unlike Paul, Elvis doesn't feel the need to perform a certain number of songs every night. If he's feeling good and the audience is into it, don't be surprised if he goes over three hours and closer to 40 songs.
Ya, he started at 8pm (I was late...as per usual) & missed the first 20 minutes of it...& he played til almost 11pm. He was fabulous...FrankieJ, you will not be disappointed xxx
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clayer_jackson:
AbbeyRoadCrosser:
FrankieJ:
Awesome! What time did he start? How long was the show? I'm going to see him soon... Also as a newbie. The wheel spin thing sounds great fun. I wish Paul adopted that kind of method. Every setlist would be completely different.
He usually plays around 2 and half hours. At the show I went to he played just under 2 and a half hours and 30 songs. But unlike Paul, Elvis doesn't feel the need to perform a certain number of songs every night. If he's feeling good and the audience is into it, don't be surprised if he goes over three hours and closer to 40 songs.
Ya, he started at 8pm (I was late...as per usual) & missed the first 20 minutes of it...& he played til almost 11pm. He was fabulous...FrankieJ, you will not be disappointed xxx
Brilliant! Thanks. I'm getting quite excited about it now. I'm starting to get familiar with some of his hits to the point of singing them casually when I'm around the house. Good to know he starts at 8, unlike Paul who can keep you waiting much longer. How does the wheel thing work?
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Also, with the way the wheel works, is it possible he won't sing any hits? I hope I can recognise at least some.
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FrankieJ:
Also, with the way the wheel works, is it possible he won't sing any hits? I hope I can recognise at least some.
The wheel selections don't make up the whole show, only about 15 songs are chosen by the Wheel and Elvis will play impromptu songs that might go well with the song that was spun by the wheel. Make sure to get there early though because he sometimes plays a few of the hits (Pump It Up, Watching the Detectives, and Radio Radio) in the first run of songs. But yes he does play a good 10 or so greatest hit songs, but the wheel will usually cue a lesser known song. If you want to be surprised by the wheel, don't watch the video. But this is a video from the show in 2011.
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Ah, awesome! Thanks for the link. I LOVE Everyday I Write The Book. Hope it comes up next week! Kind of glad he doesn't do the fan wheel spinning thing for all the show. It's kind of annoying having to see some crazy fans dancing on stage for every song when I'm there to see Elvis. Not long now! Wednesday 23rd. Going to look great at the Royal Albert Hall.
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Since there seems to be an up in this thread and two new fans, I'll continue my album review series with Armed Forces! Armed Forces 1979, Radar Records, Eden Studios Elvis' third album and his second with the Attractions, Elvis is coming off a well received record in This Year's Model. They have been touring around a bit and have built a reputation for high energy shows, usually with a pretty pissed Elvis leading it all. So now trying to break into America, what better to do than to make a polished new-wave record! This is just that, perfectly performed pop music, well, some of it. **Accidents Will Happen:**This is one of the 'perfectly performed pop songs', not that it's a favorite of mine, but it all works. I prefer the piano only take on the Hollywood High disc. Good indication of what lies ahead. 8/10
**Senior Service:**This song in my opinion is one of the most perfect songs Elvis ever composed. Many different changes throughout the song that make it impossible not move around and smile. 10/10 **Oliver's Army:**Here's another great song. Hard to imagine that this was once originally planned as a b-side because of the lack of keyboards. The song thrives on the melody alone, although the lyrics are interesting. 10/10 **Big Boys:**Sounds somewhat dated, though is a cool listen. The way Attractions come in after the keyboards is pretty cool. 7/10 **Green Shirt:**Defiantly a highlight of the album for me. The way it is played and sung gives it this really eerie kind of paranoid tone. It also has one of my favorite lyrics, 'Cause somewhere in the "Quizling Clinic" There's a shorthand typist taking seconds over minutes',". In the liner notes of the fantastic Rhino 2-CD remasters, Elvis comments on this saying that the 'Quisling Clinic' was a real place in Wisconsin that he saw, and said, with a name like that you know something weird is going on in there. 10/10 Party Girl: Here you go Beatle fans! This ones for you! A slow guitar ballad telling the story of all the Party Girls out there. You know who you are! The ending is pretty much a ripoff of parts of the Abbey Road medley. Sadly I can relate to this song from the narrator's point of view. I do prefer this song live also. 9/10 Goon Squad: GOON SQUAD!!Says the voice off to the side of the speakers during the chorus, making it sound like the opening song to a 70's TV show. Some people loathe this song, but I personally love it. I can see why people don't like it though. 8/10 **Busy Bodies:**Weak patch on the album that continues for the next few songs. This here is really just your average rocker. Nothing horrendous here, but nothing exciting going on, but flows fairly well when listening to the album as a whole. 6/10 Sunday's Best: Absolutely hated this song when I first heard it. Sounds like and is a bad Ian Durry song (whom Elvis was touring with at this time so...). I seem to recall a story where there was a competition to see who could incorporate a certain line into a song. And that explained so much about the song. But I have grown to like it's quirkiness. 7/10 Moods For Moderns: Another rough spot. Push the keyboards into the front and add some goofy singing and you have this song! 6/10 Chemistry Class: This song doesn't sit well with me at all. Gives me the chills, and not in a good way. 4/10 Two Little Hitlers At last the light at the end of the tunnel! This song I just recently grew to love and appreciate. If I posted my favorite lines from this song, I think I'd end up posting the entire song. 10/10 (What's So Funny 'Bout) Peace, Love, and Understanding?: This Nick Lowe penned tune is great fun as the closing song and really great in concert. 10/10 The Outtakes **Tiny Steps:**Why this song did not make the cut in the spot of Busy Bodies is beyond me. But it does allow you to brag that Elvis has great b-sides Possibly in my top 10 Elvis songs. **Clean Money:**Originally the opening song for the album, was left off and reworked to Love For Tender on the next album. Above average rocker. Talking In The Dark: Sounds like one of the lesser songs that was on the album. But when I saw him live he did the most amazing piano re-working of this song. Wednesday Week: Fast paced rocker that abruptly stops and goes into an acoustic part which Elvis described as an ode to those Wings 45's that we loved. Favorite of mine. My Funny Valentine: A touching rendition with just Elvis on electric guitar. And in the end... Might be my favorite now of first three albums. I might have scoffed at me if I heard someone say that about this album. But it has aged well with me. I think This Year's Model is his best overall album, but I think his best bunch of songs are here but with some obvious duds. 9/10 -
For some reason it posted my review twice
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Hope I didn't scare anyone off with my rating of some of these songs.
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Haha. No. Every artist has the not-so-good parts to an album. Thanks for that. What album would you recommend to a newbie fan to start with? (Obviously moving on from the greatest hits sort of album)
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As a beginner I would start with his first three albums, My Aim Is True, This Year's Model, and Armed Forces. Those are the three that I started with. Listening to all three of them together give a nice listening, and pretty much covers Elvis' 'angry young man' period. They may not be my favorite, but they are immediately likable. If I recommend you my favorites it might take you months to finally get into them. Also if you can, check out the Rhino 2-CD remasters. They're out of print now but you can find the first three fairly cheap. I believe them to be the definitive versions of his albums. All the b-sides and outtakes are great companions to the album themselves.
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Saw him last night.... It was absolutely fantastic! If I lived in London I would have gone and see him play there tonight too! The show had so many components. I'm sorry, Paul, but you need to take a leaf out of Mr. Costello's book! He did a fair few songs I recognised. Even the ones that haven't grown on me that much yet (e.g. I Want You) was mesmerising! The set is genius, the band are enthusiastic, Elvis's voice hasn't changed in all these years. The man's a genius! I think I have a new hero. Everything was dazzling. Even the tsunami of sweat that travelled further and further down his grey suit. It was 90% soaked in sweat by the end! There's me thinking the show was over and he came on and did an acoustic set. At one point he walked away from the mic and sang without it for part of a song. It was surreal and made everyone listen so attentively. Sounded great! So guess what happened? Russell Crowe came on to sing/play guitar on some Elvis Presley and Johnny Cash songs. So random! At the end, when playing (What's So Funny 'Bout) Peace, Love and Understanding, one of the Macmanus brothers went up to the Royal Albert Hall's iconic organ and joined in with it! It was mind-blowing! Never predictable! Wow wow wow!
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Sounds like you had great time. The show's defiantly addictive. A few fans warned me on how addictive it is. Some have already gone to 10 shows! The chance of getting different songs and surprises at the next show is a great thought. I took a look at the setlist, and must say it was very nice set. Catering to the new fans and hardcore fans. From A Whisper to A Scream, American Without Tears, Shot With His Own Gun, New Lace Sleeves, Little Palaces, Stations of the Cross, and Jimmie Standing In The Rain are all songs I would have loved to hear. From A Whisper To A Scream is a complete surprise that made me go "WHAAAT". Great song and very rarely played. Here's a video I found of the concert, American Without Tears
Just send me a message if you want the setlist or any other videos. -
I was watching a program about Top of the pops and it had The Smiths playing 'William, it was really nothing'. Johnny Marr's guitar had 'Elvis Costello' crafted into the frets/neck of the guitar. I read Elvis had loaned it to him. Link -
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FrankieJ:
Saw him last night.... It was absolutely fantastic! If I lived in London I would have gone and see him play there tonight too! The show had so many components. I'm sorry, Paul, but you need to take a leaf out of Mr. Costello's book! He did a fair few songs I recognised. Even the ones that haven't grown on me that much yet (e.g. I Want You) was mesmerising! The set is genius, the band are enthusiastic, Elvis's voice hasn't changed in all these years. The man's a genius! I think I have a new hero. Everything was dazzling. Even the tsunami of sweat that travelled further and further down his grey suit. It was 90% soaked in sweat by the end! There's me thinking the show was over and he came on and did an acoustic set. At one point he walked away from the mic and sang without it for part of a song. It was surreal and made everyone listen so attentively. Sounded great! So guess what happened? Russell Crowe came on to sing/play guitar on some Elvis Presley and Johnny Cash songs. So random! At the end, when playing (What's So Funny 'Bout) Peace, Love and Understanding, one of the Macmanus brothers went up to the Royal Albert Hall's iconic organ and joined in with it! It was mind-blowing! Never predictable! Wow wow wow!
Love2travel, who's visiting me in Suffolk, and i went to see the show in Cambridge on Saturday and it was quite brilliant, it was 2 hours 50 minutes of pure unpredictable brilliance. The unique thing is not just the spinning wheel songbook, but Elvis's Vaudevillian MC-ing of the show which was hilarious. Luckily we got to hear some unsung gems like Two Little Hitlers and Shabby Doll plus Oliver's Army, Accidents Will Happen, Hi Fidelity, Shipbuilding, Pump It Up and a surprise outing of the anti Margeret Thatcher song Tramp The Dirt Down it was a triumph of originality.
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BOYCIE:
FrankieJ:
Saw him last night.... It was absolutely fantastic! If I lived in London I would have gone and see him play there tonight too! The show had so many components. I'm sorry, Paul, but you need to take a leaf out of Mr. Costello's book! He did a fair few songs I recognised. Even the ones that haven't grown on me that much yet (e.g. I Want You) was mesmerising! The set is genius, the band are enthusiastic, Elvis's voice hasn't changed in all these years. The man's a genius! I think I have a new hero. Everything was dazzling. Even the tsunami of sweat that travelled further and further down his grey suit. It was 90% soaked in sweat by the end! There's me thinking the show was over and he came on and did an acoustic set. At one point he walked away from the mic and sang without it for part of a song. It was surreal and made everyone listen so attentively. Sounded great! So guess what happened? Russell Crowe came on to sing/play guitar on some Elvis Presley and Johnny Cash songs. So random! At the end, when playing (What's So Funny 'Bout) Peace, Love and Understanding, one of the Macmanus brothers went up to the Royal Albert Hall's iconic organ and joined in with it! It was mind-blowing! Never predictable! Wow wow wow!
Love2travel, who's visiting me in Suffolk, and i went to see the show in Cambridge on Saturday and it was quite brilliant, it was 2 hours 50 minutes of pure unpredictable brilliance. The unique thing is not just the spinning wheel songbook, but Elvis's Vaudevillian MC-ing of the show which was hilarious. Luckily we got to hear some unsung gems like Two Little Hitlers and Shabby Doll plus Oliver's Army, Accidents Will Happen, Hi Fidelity, Shipbuilding, Pump It Up and a surprise outing of the anti Margeret Thatcher song Tramp The Dirt Down it was a triumph of originality.
As usual Boycie, one of your great reviews... it was quite brilliant... wish Paul could do something like Elvis in terms of having a list of songs fans would like to hear. For those who are not aware, this tour Elvis has a huge spinning wheel with so many songs on it. He calls on members of the audience to come up and spin the wheel, which lands on a song, and then the band plays the song. He then sits them down for a cocktail and then they have a chance to go up and dance in a Go Go cage at the left of the stage. This set up, gives you a different set list every night and is a real crowd pleaser. Elvis has his two beautiful Go Go dancers go out in the audience and pick people to come up and dance in the cage. At one point, he went out into the audience himself and wound around through the crowd, under a spotlight. The woman he picked was quite an excellent dancer! It's so much fun!! I would highly recommend this show, I had actually seen it in the states as well in October, and he had a very different set list at that show. I actually want to go again!!
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Me toooo ... I really want to go again xxx
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Maybe Paul really *should* take a lesson from his buddy Elvis. But knowing Paul, he'd have all the same 30 Beatles songs on his spinning wheel & you'd hear all the same songs as now. : Wonder if Paul has ever been at one of these shows. If not...someone get him a ticket...quick! Glad so many enjoyed themselves at the show!
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The only thing that would have be more perfect...was that I was hoping I got picked to dance in the cage!!! I was going to make Boycie go up too and we could have embarrassed ourselves together ops: ops: Boycie had his PM membership t-shirt on, so it would have been easy to find a photo from the crowd shots!!! Too bad it was the last show in the UK!! Hope Elvis keeps this idea going and really really wish Paul could come up with a version of it... Oh... I could think of some great songs to put on that spinning wheel And the lucky fans to dance in the cage would be utterly outrageous!!! Or something equally similar would make so many of the fans thinking they had a chance to hear a certain song, or get up on stage without having to get a tattoo!! So Much Fun!!!
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love2travel:
Hope Elvis keeps this idea going and really really wish Paul could come up with a version of it...
When Elvis cancelled his show for the second night in Cambridge, he announced that there were going to be more "Revolver" dates to be announced soon. Though I don't know where they would be. I think Paul should do a roulette wheel type thing that a person could drop the ball into. Jackpot titles like "Homemade" where he could play songs from McCartney and Ram, or "Fireman II" with songs from Electric Arguments and McCartney II. I do wonder though if Paul has that type of charm Elvis has to keep a show like that going. Would love to see him try though!
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See... he's doing totally different numbers from just a few days ago!! Wish I had written the setlist for the show I saw... Elvis at the O2 on fire! http://www.elviscostello.com/news/elvis-costello-and-the-imposters-live-at-the-o2--this-wheel-was-certainly-on-fire/339