Elvis Costello, stage name, is the son of Ross MacManus (1927-2011), a jazz trumpeter who sang with the British, Joe Loss Orchestra and who later performed as a solo cabaret act. MacManus senior had a hit in Australia (as Day Costello) with his cover version of The Beatles' "The Long and Winding Road" in 1970.
Elvis Costello is going to be a song rabbit hole. So many great songs. I personally think you would like "Everyday I Write the Book" clever wordplay and catchy. It is a song I have heard a zillion times and still turn it up. But he has soo many songs that are just top notch (Veronica, Allison, Accidents Will Happen, Oliver's Army, I don't want to go to Chelsea, Pump it Up, Red Shoes, Peace, Love..., on an on and on...and all of these are his hits I am not even mentioning the deep dive songs)
Elvis Costello was the best lyricist of the new wave artists. His snarky word play is breathtaking, yet he could write songs that pull at the heartstrings (Allison, Veronica, I Want You). The only other singer songwriter that was even close during this period was Joe Jackson.
YES, sidecar... so smart, and I agree about Joe Jackson- but also Nick Lowe.. who wrote "What's so funny 'bout Peace, love & understanding" -- Elvis' version was more "rocked" than Nick.. who had so many great songs...
As one who was working in a record store when "My Aim is True" was released, we had fun calling this song, "Washing the Defectives." A little vinyl humor.
Elvis Costello is amazing! His first two albums are my favorites. Other songs to check out; Less Than Zero, (The Angels Wanna Wear My) Red Shoes, Allison, Pump it Up, Radio Radio, No Action.
Very cool number. Elvis could let it fly vocally, especially in "Pump It Up" and "(What's So Funny 'Bout) Peace, Love, and Understanding?". Both of those numbers are ass-kickin' rockers. His lyrics were always cool as well.
Elvis Costello was one of the Angry Young Men of 1970s music. His lyrics were intelligent, so he was criticized by music critics as pretentious. A/k/a Declan McManus, Costello outgrew his punk/new wave beginnings and branches into several musical genres.
Every music critic I've ever read *loves* Elvis Costello (and I love him too)! There are surely exceptions though. David Lee Roth once opined that music critics love Elvis Costello so much because they tend to look more like him than like Roth! :-) (He may have a partial point there.)
Yay, Elvis Costello is one of favourite artists ever. Can suggest so many songs, but I'll narrow it down to maybe 'Oliver's Army', 'Pump It Up' and 'Veronica' (one of my all time favourite songs), for a mixture of styles.
EC is a killer lyricist and combines it with musical innovation. One of my all-time favorite songs where he does both amazingly is "Beyond Belief" off Imperial Bedroom, incidentally one of my favorite albums.
In 1977 while cleaning the floors at K-Mart we switched on Indy radio station Q95 to hear them playing this song. I was immediately transfixed and the very next day I bought My Aim Is True. Decades later my "career" at K-Mart is a distant memory but I remain a steadfast Elvis Costello fan. In my opinion is he is the greatest lyricist of his generation and one of the greatest of all time.
There is a song called "Motel Matches" where Elvis sings about finding out that his lover is being unfaithful by seeing a pack of matches fall out of her purse. The chorus has the lyrics "giving you away, like Motel Matches" just that one short line has, like, 3 different meanings...or he takes a simple idea and makes it soar with wit, like on "The Imposter" when he says "He's got double vision, when you want him double-jointed"....he is a master!
Elvis Costello has such a great deep catalog. I suggest the next track be "Radio Radio". "Costello and the Attractions famously performed the song live on the American television show Saturday Night Live in 1977; originally scheduled to perform Costello's debut single "Less Than Zero", Costello abruptly switched songs live against the wishes of his record company and SNL, resulting in a temporary ban from the show." (wikipedia)
Oh, heavens! What a rabbit hole you’ve opened up this time, Daniel! One of pop’s greatest songwriters and YOU’VE NEVER HEARD OF HIM!? This should be fun! More, please!
EC is an amazing songwriter, lyricist and musician that has bent genres for nearly 50 years. He's dabbled in New Wave, Punk, Pop, Jazz, Rock, Classical, Hip-Hop -- and the one constant with him is quality. I like some of it more than others, but none of it is throw-away. It all demands close attention to music and text. Amazing career. This album ("My Aim is True") is great, but for other sounds of EC, try "Veronica" (duet with Paul McCartney), "At the Other End of the Telescope" (co-written with Aimee Mann), "I Want You" (very dark), "Shipbuilding," or the very strange and brilliant "Beyond Belief."
@@amykidd6811 Yeah, among the many other things he's done over his career, his ability to collaborate with just about anyone, from Burt Bacharach to Questlove to Brodsky Quartet, is a testament to his musicianship.
Great choice of song and Band.For my 17th birthday in 1987.I got gifted a ticket to a Elvis Costello concert ..The best birthday gift ever ..He was my first crush at 8 years old ..love the glasses. (and the pure Awesomeness!)Have never stopped listening to him..he's a part of my week.
He’s a brilliant musician with a long career.He’s also the son of a musician who brought home records and that started a love with music.Enjoy the rabbit hole.😎😎😎
Elvis Costello is one of the most prolific, complex and extraordinary singer songwriters of the past 40+ years. He was thrown into the punk/new wave genre when he first came out, but has played rock, R&B, pop, etc. over the past 45 years. His concerts are intense and incredible!
I liked Elvis Costello enough that I bought "The Very Best of Elvis Costello and The Attractions 1977-86" first on cassette, then on CD. Have to admit I had not listened to him in several years!
Elvis Costello has had a long career since the 70's exploring different genres of music such as country and jazz. He is a gifted songwriter with intelligent lyrics, great turn of phrase and some damn good music. IMO I think he's often overlooked in that area especially in the catchier melodies as we've seen here in Watching The Detectives. Have a listen to Brilliant Mistake and Deep Dark Truthful Mirror and God Give Me Strength (Live The Spectacular Spinning Songbook 2011).
Might be worth checking out The Specials if you like the rhythm of this. They are a more dedicated ska/reggae/2 tone band also out of the UK that have been around since the 70’s. ‘Do Nothing’ prob my fav song of theirs.
I've also always loved the line "she's filing her nails as they're dragging the lake" for some odd reason, guess it conjures images of a crime scene and a woman who doesn't give a damn....(dragging the lake means looking for a body in the water, if that helps).
Elvis!!!! He was my absolute favorite for years!!!!!! I have seen him live 4 times. Hands down, the most brilliant lyricist in rock. This song is so clever. It's like an episode of the Twilight Zone. The story she is watching with such disinterest is the story of her own murder. There are many levels, like Elvis always puts in his songs. So he juxtaposes sexual frustration with a violent TV show; his love interest is more attracted to the lead character than she is him, so he enters the show as the villain ("you think you're alone until you realize you're in it"). Every album from My Aim is True to Imperial Bedroom is pure genius. Get Happy is a 2 album set of brilliant original music, just because he can. You have hit upon an amazing artist, Dan.
It took me a while to get into Elvis C., I thought him strange and jerky on shows like SNL. Much later, decades in fact, I bought, used, one of his first albums, and I was hooked. One of a kind. Love his voice, strangely it works for rock, reggae, country and crooning love songs. One of my absolute favorite covers, is a live version of The Rolling Stones’s Wild Horses from the country show Crossroads. You should watch it, he woos that country audience.
He is famously a huge fan of George Jones. They had a hit with their duet on "Stranger in the House," and Elvis performed with him and has sung his famous hit "Good Year for the Roses." Elvis writes about his love of older country music in general and Jones in particular in his autobiography, "Unfaithful Music and Disappearing Ink."
The backing group is not The Attractions. However, the keyboardist is future attractions keyboardist Steve Nieve (pronounce like naive). The "jumping sign" references the kind of neon sign on cheap dives that alternates between two positions, making the character look like he's jerking from one position to another. This song was used as the theme song for PBS's History Detectives. Always seemed like an odd choice to me.
This song, Watching the Detectives, is the only song on the first album with The Attractions. I don’t believe it was on the UK album release. Stiff released the song as a single in the UK.
There are so many styles-Almost Blue, Everyday I Write the Book, Only Flame in Town, Clubland, I Wanna Be Loved, Shipbuilding- holy cow- every album is so different. His lyrics are clever - poignant- he’s a prolific writer.
His albums “This years Model”, “Get Happy” and “Armed forces” are the best for his early period and have the Attractions in full force. “My aim is True” is his first and is also great but doesn’t have attractions on all the tracks. He became a great vocalist and wrote incredible songs throughout his career. “Accident will Happen” is a good reaction song as if you needed anymore suggestions.
The Attractions weren't formed until AFTER he recorded My Aim Is True. The band on My Aim Is True is Clover minus the lead singer (later to become Huey Lewis and the News - yep that's right).
@@windnchgo wow that’s amazing info. They put watching the detectives on the American pressing of my aim is true which was the attractions on that song, that’s how I got this notion.
So happy to see you're finally getting around to Elvis Costello. Bought this album as a Sophomore in College, so I was maybe a year or so older than you are now. What a revelation! The entire album was (and is) brilliant, and wasn't like anything I had listened to before. I think the official designation was that it was "new wave" but definitely influenced by "punk", as both genres were emerging at the time. His lyrics went well beyond any kind of punk ethos (he was "angry", but clever, literate, and loved to employ double meanings) and that's been a constant in a career that continues to the present. Musically, he's been a shape-shifter - about 5 albums in, he came out with a country album (!), which I thought at the time was a weird joke, but it was sincere, and has since recorded with a classical quartet, and written with Burt Bacharach (a seminal songwriter of the '60's and '70's), Paul McCartney, and even The Roots. A few songs that you should put at the top of your list to check out: Alison (from this album), the only real ballad on the album, will provide another dimension; Radio Radio (a brilliant upbeat angry rocker - second album); Accidents Will Happen (third album). Those are the first few that I thought of, but there are dozens and dozens of others. I'll throw in a "bonus" track. Elvis wrote and performed a song called "I Want You", but the single greatest version of it I've ever heard is by Fiona Apple. Her performance of it is spellbinding. If you wanted to do both (as you sometimes do), I'd be pretty stoked!
Congratulations on a great introduction to a great, and very multi-faceted, artist, Daniel! Elvis Costello is a deep musical well, and his music ranges from "angry young man" punk and new wave, to classic pop and soul sounds, to even classical, orchestral compositions! Elvis Costello is a genius, indeed. Every word of this comment could also describe Joe Jackson too, who is, in my opinion, just as gifted and versatile as E.C.!
The album this off of from 1977, My Aim Is True, was truly groundbreaking. A precursor of the new wave, every song from this was utterly brilliant. Would love to see you do a whole album reaction, it will blow you away.
Great reaction as always. Two tracks out of many that I could recommend by the him for you to react to would be: '(I Don't Want To Go To) Chelsea', and 'Less Than Zero' both come from around the same time, he's very clever lyrically.
The sign "We never close" is possibly a reference to The Windmill Theatre in Great Windmill Street, London, it was a variety and revue theatre best known for its nude tableaux vivants, which began in 1932 and lasted until its reversion to a cinema in 1964. Many prominent British comedians of the post-war years started their careers at the theatre. The theatre's famous motto "We Never Closed" (often humorously modified to "We Never Clothed") was a reference to the fact that the theatre remained open, apart from the compulsory closure that affected all theatres for 13 days (4 to 16 September) in 1939. Performances continued throughout the Second World War even at the height of the Blitz. The showgirls, cast members, and crew moved into the safety of the theatre's two underground floors during some of the worst air attacks, from 7 September 1940 to 11 May 1941.
Elvis Costello is always musically interesting as are his lyrics. This song just reminds me of watching old Bogart movies, ie Maltese Falcon, Casablanca. His early albums were great but my favorite was always King of America, perhaps less musical pop but deeper lyrics, IMO. Still would love for you to check out Little Palaces. Glad you liked it, he really is a fun and original artist to listen to, a true songwriter. Oh, and I think you'll love the Clash. Thanks Daniel 🎶
certainly has his place in music history. some great gems here for sure. enjoy your journey. never owned anything from him but certainly enjoyed the hits.
I saw him with his original band back in 2009. They played all his hits and it was amazing. Then he called the Lovell Sisters out to do the songs off his new album and the show got better. One of the best shows I have seen. Two of the Lovell Sisters later formed Larkin Poe (blues/roots).
Got to listen to Pump It Up. Costello is an absolute rabbit hole of an artist, his music matures and varies so much over the years. Still writing great songs now.
Thanks heaps for playing this request, Daniel .. I was pretty confident you would find it both musically and lyrically interesting .. Elvis Costello has a long career, which is still going today, but it was his early material where he was really at his edgy, passionate and innovative best .. I'd recommend hitting Oliver's Army, Radio Radio or Accidents Will Happen next .. Cheers, Wayne
My aunt loved watching the detectives: Joe Friday, Angie Dickinson, Colombo, Barney Fife, Cannon, Matlock, Magnum PI, Cagney and Lacey, Simon and Simon, Starsky and Hutch...didn't matter to her, she loved them all
Elvis' lyrics range from being on the nose to being extremely cryptic. I've heard him say that sometime, especially on his early records, he wrote lyrics that were so dark and mean that he pulled back and changed them - sometimes leaving something that just doesn't make sense. So you always have to keep that in mind. Some songs, like this, I've never dug into what the lyrics mean, I've just taken them as some really interesting images painting a picture that is mostly mood and atmosphere - like a film noir that you watch for the style and don't really care about the plot.
Reggae had made its real breakthrough and was up and coming along the punk and new wave back then. Especially the so called roots reggae often with socially biting lyrics hit home.
In the Angels Wanna Wear My Red Shoes, he wrote "I said I'm so happy, baby, I could die. She said drop dead then left with another guy". Best couplet ever; a life story in two lines. Bonnie Raitt once punched him in the face for being a jerk.
He's a great songwriter with a VERY long career and a lot of songs. My suggestions would be Oliver's Army or Pump It Up... but he has a wide range of styles and is a pretty reliable artist.
🕵♂ This was also the first Costello song I ever heard, coincidentally when I was around your age (when the record was new). There isn't another artist on the planet who's body of work during the 20 year period from 1977-1997 is as varied and consistent as this guy's. By the 3rd album, his melodies begin to get as complex as his lyrics, which are always enigmatic. Wait until you hear the likes of "Beyond Belief" (1982) and "God's Comic" (1989).
Great stuff. Next on the list should be Costello's two greatest songs (IMO), "BEYOND BELIEF" and "RIOT ACT"... so many other great ones to tackle: "Green Shirt," "New Amsterdam," "Accidents Will Happen," "Brilliant Mistake," "High Fidelity," "Pump It Up," "Radio Radio," "Oliver's Army," "Temptation," "Lover's Walk," "Strict Time," "Lipstick Vogue," "Tiny Steps," "Veronica" and so much more!! Enjoy this great journey!! ...and by the way: My daughter is WAY into "Undertale".... lol.. so I get that!
Hi Dan, Elvis' wordplay will leave you speechless. His first 5 albums are rated 5 stars by All Music. His coming out album was his second(first with Attractions)This Years model. First 3 songs should be judged playing straight through. You are in for fun, great listening. Cheers, Chicago Ray
"(What's So Funny 'Bout) Peace, Love, and Understanding?" is right up your alley, and to be different I suggest "The Other End of the Telescope" because it features his soaring vocals, and was co-written by the glorious Aimee Mann, who also has a version of the song with her band Til Tuesday.
Nick Lowe wrote "Peace, Love, and Understanding." Mann's version of "The Other End of the Telescope" is on the last 'Til Tuesday album "Everything's Different Now," which is honestly an incredible album. Every track except the last one is at least good, and some are great. The record company essentially buried that album (no doubt contributing to Mann's decision to pursue he career independently), but it's one of the great underrated albums of the '80s, and miles ahead of their hit "Voices Carry." Another great Costello collaboration is "From a Whisper to a Scream" with Glenn Tilbrook of Squeeze. Of course, Elvis produced the "Sweets from a Stranger" album and sang back-up on "Black Coffee in Bed."
This song makes me think of a film noir from the forties. Those first four Attractions albums are packed with great songs, And maybe his best songs came after those albums. Maybe checkout “Green Shirt” or his single “Radio Radio” or “ I don’t want to go to Chelsea”. Many of his song deal with paranoia, disgust and desire but he write a love song too check out “Allison”. Thanks for doing EC reaction it was great.
And if you want REALLY dark, check out Elvis Costello's I Want You on the album Blood and Chocolate. Unrequited, obsessive love-so creepily sung, that you feel you may need a restraining order.
Great reaction for Watching the Detectives. One of my many favorites from Elvis Costello. Daniel, React to "Alison", " Accidents Will Happen," "Pump It Up," also catchy beat, (What's So Funny Bout) Peace, Love, and Understanding. Can you squeeze these request before April ends? If no add these Reaction request to your list for MAY.
One of the very best lyricists ever. Listen to Shipbuilding, a protest song of the Falkands War. Been covered by many renowned artistes, testament to its brilliance. What happened to protest songs?
The best way to describe Elvis Costello is that he is a combination of Bob Dylan and Buddy Holly, a true wordsmith but he has the punk rock mentality with the intelligence to carry it out. Little known fact, Elvis Costello is a big fan of the Grateful Dead. He did a song on a tribute album, with an accompanying photo showing him up front in the crowd at a GD show in the rain in England.
Elvis Costello songs you should check out. Veronica Love Peace and Understanding Accidents Will Happen and my all time favorite Deep Dark Truthful Mirror
The late 70's and early 80's was a boom for English bands, particularly ska music. So many great bands for you to check out, like Jo Jackson, Madness, the British beat/the beat (Aimie Winehouse used to sing as a guest with the latter two), the Specials and Graham Parker. Their just my favourite ones, there's so much more to explore however. Other favourite Elvis Costello songs are What's so funny'bout peace love and understanding, Goon squad, Oliver's army, pump it up and Alison (my aim is true).
He's a genius, I've seen him live a couple of times, you should check out Tramp the Dirt Down, his song about Maggie Thatcher, I was in the audience at the Royal Albert Hall in London when he played it for the first time, it's an awesome song.
Be enlightened by the covers sung by Linda Ronstadt of several Elvis Costello songs notably Alison and Party Girl (yes Linda did a 'New Wave' album entitled Mad Love which New Wave purists turn their nose up at but it helped introduce some unaware listeners {& markets} to the wonders of New Wave) .Yes Alison by Elvis is also one of his seminal tracks & one he is more widely known for (thanks Linda).
"Dogs" were equated with shoes long before Tad Dorgan's day. Dogskin leather was thinner and more supple than cowhide leather, and so was used for luxury items like dancing shoes for the wealthy.
Only one member of the Attractions here -> Steve Nieve on Keyboards. The Drummer and Bass player were from the Rumour, as in Graham Parker and the Rumour. And of course EC on guitars. The Attractions are featured on EC's second album This Years Model which was few month after this WTD single release. WTD was not on the UK version of EC's first album My Aim Is True (backed American / Bay Area Band Clover who had moved to England a couple years earlier) on indie Stiff Records. WTD was tacked on the end of the American release of MAIT (EC signed with Columbia Records in America, famous story on how that happened). The rest is history. You should definitely should check out more.
I would humbly suggest this tune is best approached as if its a film workup, with some dialogue, stage/camera directions, mood, design, etc. all adding up to cinematic feel.
Have you ever covered one of my favorites Bonnie Raitt Plays a mean slide guitar would love if you played the video, in the Nick of Time featuring Dennis Quaid
A very underrated man from the outsiders ,so many good songs ,Alison my favourite
You can he hear the punk and reggae in this song 1977 Great piece of music. See him play at Glastonbury in 94'.
Elvis had that punk root with new wave sensibility. This song adds the white boy Rasta Influence. A lot of texture
The James Bond guitar is epic in this track. EC had real attitude in those early albums
Elvis Costello, stage name, is the son of Ross MacManus (1927-2011), a jazz trumpeter who sang with the British, Joe Loss Orchestra and who later performed as a solo cabaret act. MacManus senior had a hit in Australia (as Day Costello) with his cover version of The Beatles' "The Long and Winding Road" in 1970.
Thanks, Daniel - Elvis Costello is genius.. beautiful melodies, clever lyrics (sometimes political)... an incredible voice.. hope you do more..
Next: I Don’t Want to Go to Chelsea;
and
Pump it Up; Radio, Radio
Elvis Costello is going to be a song rabbit hole. So many great songs. I personally think you would like "Everyday I Write the Book" clever wordplay and catchy. It is a song I have heard a zillion times and still turn it up. But he has soo many songs that are just top notch (Veronica, Allison, Accidents Will Happen, Oliver's Army, I don't want to go to Chelsea, Pump it Up, Red Shoes, Peace, Love..., on an on and on...and all of these are his hits I am not even mentioning the deep dive songs)
Elvis Costello was the best lyricist of the new wave artists. His snarky word play is breathtaking, yet he could write songs that pull at the heartstrings (Allison, Veronica, I Want You). The only other singer songwriter that was even close during this period was Joe Jackson.
Exactly!
The first time I heard Joe Jackson, I thought it WAS Elvis Costello. Very similar voices.
YES, sidecar... so smart, and I agree about Joe Jackson- but also Nick Lowe.. who wrote "What's so funny 'bout Peace, love & understanding" -- Elvis' version was more "rocked" than Nick.. who had so many great songs...
As one who was working in a record store when "My Aim is True" was released, we had fun calling this song, "Washing the Defectives." A little vinyl humor.
Elvis Costello is amazing! His first two albums are my favorites. Other songs to check out; Less Than Zero, (The Angels Wanna Wear My) Red Shoes, Allison, Pump it Up, Radio Radio, No Action.
Very cool number. Elvis could let it fly vocally, especially in "Pump It Up" and "(What's So Funny 'Bout) Peace, Love, and Understanding?". Both of those numbers are ass-kickin' rockers. His lyrics were always cool as well.
Peace, Love, and Understanding is an absolute must to be reacted to. A Nick Lowe song rather than by Costello.
@@sinenominecc Quite true!
@@Yosef1952 ❤️🤓
Huge EC fan. He has a way with words that are beyond most lyricists. His discography is huge, but the journey is well worth it!
There's a live version of this at the Hollywood Bowl which is really amazing.
I love Elvis's early albums, but my favorite is Imperial Bedroom. It would make a fine whole album reaction.
Elvis Costello was one of the Angry Young Men of 1970s music. His lyrics were intelligent, so he was criticized by music critics as pretentious. A/k/a Declan McManus, Costello outgrew his punk/new wave beginnings and branches into several musical genres.
Every music critic I've ever read *loves* Elvis Costello (and I love him too)! There are surely exceptions though. David Lee Roth once opined that music critics love Elvis Costello so much because they tend to look more like him than like Roth! :-) (He may have a partial point there.)
Hence the song, "I'm Not Angry!"
@@MilosDaddy Yep, it's a pretty angry song, notwithstanding the title! :-)
'I Don't Want To Go To Chelsea' is another great example of early Costello! Some great organ and guitar moodiness.
"Everyday I Write The Book"'
Pure Quality. Can't Go Wrong With Elvis Costello.
Yay, Elvis Costello is one of favourite artists ever. Can suggest so many songs, but I'll narrow it down to maybe 'Oliver's Army', 'Pump It Up' and 'Veronica' (one of my all time favourite songs), for a mixture of styles.
I so LOVE "Veronica" - and also "Every Day I Write the Book"
Co writing with Paul McCartney
EC is a killer lyricist and combines it with musical innovation. One of my all-time favorite songs where he does both amazingly is "Beyond Belief" off Imperial Bedroom, incidentally one of my favorite albums.
In 1977 while cleaning the floors at K-Mart we switched on Indy radio station Q95 to hear them playing this song. I was immediately transfixed and the very next day I bought My Aim Is True. Decades later my "career" at K-Mart is a distant memory but I remain a steadfast Elvis Costello fan. In my opinion is he is the greatest lyricist of his generation and one of the greatest of all time.
The Elvis with great talent
I like this Elvis more than the other Elvis 🤣
There is a song called "Motel Matches" where Elvis sings about finding out that his lover is being unfaithful by seeing a pack of matches fall out of her purse. The chorus has the lyrics "giving you away, like Motel Matches" just that one short line has, like, 3 different meanings...or he takes a simple idea and makes it soar with wit, like on "The Imposter" when he says "He's got double vision, when you want him double-jointed"....he is a master!
Always loved Elvis Costello! He's always been a great quirky artist, which is one of the things I love about him and his music. Thanks Daniel!
Elvis Costello has such a great deep catalog. I suggest the next track be "Radio Radio".
"Costello and the Attractions famously performed the song live on the American television show Saturday Night Live in 1977; originally scheduled to perform Costello's debut single "Less Than Zero", Costello abruptly switched songs live against the wishes of his record company and SNL, resulting in a temporary ban from the show." (wikipedia)
Oh, heavens! What a rabbit hole you’ve opened up this time, Daniel! One of pop’s greatest songwriters and YOU’VE NEVER HEARD OF HIM!? This should be fun! More, please!
EC is an amazing songwriter, lyricist and musician that has bent genres for nearly 50 years. He's dabbled in New Wave, Punk, Pop, Jazz, Rock, Classical, Hip-Hop -- and the one constant with him is quality. I like some of it more than others, but none of it is throw-away. It all demands close attention to music and text. Amazing career. This album ("My Aim is True") is great, but for other sounds of EC, try "Veronica" (duet with Paul McCartney), "At the Other End of the Telescope" (co-written with Aimee Mann), "I Want You" (very dark), "Shipbuilding," or the very strange and brilliant "Beyond Belief."
The live version of "I Want You" with Fiona Apple doing the vocals is terrific.
@@amykidd6811 Yeah, among the many other things he's done over his career, his ability to collaborate with just about anyone, from Burt Bacharach to Questlove to Brodsky Quartet, is a testament to his musicianship.
Great choice of song and Band.For my 17th birthday in 1987.I got gifted a ticket to a Elvis Costello concert ..The best birthday gift ever ..He was my first crush at 8 years old ..love the glasses. (and the pure Awesomeness!)Have never stopped listening to him..he's a part of my week.
ELVIS is awesome
Elvis Costello Is An Absolutely Legendary Music Icon With A HUGE Catalog Of Great Music.
He’s a brilliant musician with a long career.He’s also the son of a musician who brought home records and that started a love with music.Enjoy the rabbit hole.😎😎😎
A brilliant song writer with one of them great backing bands...like Ian Dury & his.
I'd like to see him do 'What A Waste', although there's so much more.
Elvis Costello "Pump It Up" (Official Music Video) A Must See/Hear..I'm Pretty Sure Ankles Aren't Supposed To Be Able To Do That..Lol.
Elvis Costello is one of the most prolific, complex and extraordinary singer songwriters of the past 40+ years. He was thrown into the punk/new wave genre when he first came out, but has played rock, R&B, pop, etc. over the past 45 years. His concerts are intense and incredible!
I liked Elvis Costello enough that I bought "The Very Best of Elvis Costello and The Attractions 1977-86" first on cassette, then on CD. Have to admit I had not listened to him in several years!
My aim is true is so iconic deep dive elvis costello 💚
Elvis Costello has had a long career since the 70's exploring different genres of music such as country and jazz. He is a gifted songwriter with intelligent lyrics, great turn of phrase and some damn good music. IMO I think he's often overlooked in that area especially in the catchier melodies as we've seen here in Watching The Detectives. Have a listen to Brilliant Mistake and Deep Dark Truthful Mirror and God Give Me Strength (Live The Spectacular Spinning Songbook 2011).
Yes those are both great.
I told Elvis…… would you please stop getting old….. I mean it .🗽😱🫵🫣😳😉🙌👋👋
This was the theme song to one of my favorite TV shows.
Might be worth checking out The Specials if you like the rhythm of this. They are a more dedicated ska/reggae/2 tone band also out of the UK that have been around since the 70’s. ‘Do Nothing’ prob my fav song of theirs.
I've also always loved the line "she's filing her nails as they're dragging the lake" for some odd reason, guess it conjures images of a crime scene and a woman who doesn't give a damn....(dragging the lake means looking for a body in the water, if that helps).
...yep..I've always loved that line oddly....
He's a brilliant artist
Finally some Elvis love you
Elvis was like 22 years old when he wrote entire first album and wrote 2 more albums in 1 1/2 years
I love this song, and listening to it reminds me of how much I love Oliver's Army. Strongly recommend.
Elvis!!!! He was my absolute favorite for years!!!!!! I have seen him live 4 times. Hands down, the most brilliant lyricist in rock. This song is so clever. It's like an episode of the Twilight Zone. The story she is watching with such disinterest is the story of her own murder. There are many levels, like Elvis always puts in his songs. So he juxtaposes sexual frustration with a violent TV show; his love interest is more attracted to the lead character than she is him, so he enters the show as the villain ("you think you're alone until you realize you're in it"). Every album from My Aim is True to Imperial Bedroom is pure genius. Get Happy is a 2 album set of brilliant original music, just because he can. You have hit upon an amazing artist, Dan.
It took me a while to get into Elvis C., I thought him strange and jerky on shows like SNL. Much later, decades in fact, I bought, used, one of his first albums, and I was hooked. One of a kind. Love his voice, strangely it works for rock, reggae, country and crooning love songs.
One of my absolute favorite covers, is a live version of The Rolling Stones’s Wild Horses from the country show Crossroads. You should watch it, he woos that country audience.
ua-cam.com/video/H3hw-6pOPhQ/v-deo.html
He is famously a huge fan of George Jones. They had a hit with their duet on "Stranger in the House," and Elvis performed with him and has sung his famous hit "Good Year for the Roses." Elvis writes about his love of older country music in general and Jones in particular in his autobiography, "Unfaithful Music and Disappearing Ink."
The backing group is not The Attractions. However, the keyboardist is future attractions keyboardist Steve Nieve (pronounce like naive). The "jumping sign" references the kind of neon sign on cheap dives that alternates between two positions, making the character look like he's jerking from one position to another. This song was used as the theme song for PBS's History Detectives. Always seemed like an odd choice to me.
This song, Watching the Detectives, is the only song on the first album with The Attractions. I don’t believe it was on the UK album release. Stiff released the song as a single in the UK.
There are so many styles-Almost Blue, Everyday I Write the Book, Only Flame in Town, Clubland, I Wanna Be Loved, Shipbuilding- holy cow- every album is so different. His lyrics are clever - poignant- he’s a prolific writer.
Elvis Costello aka: Declan McManus is one of the most famous of the alumni of my old school.
His albums “This years Model”, “Get Happy” and “Armed forces” are the best for his early period and have the Attractions in full force. “My aim is True” is his first and is also great but doesn’t have attractions on all the tracks. He became a great vocalist and wrote incredible songs throughout his career. “Accident will Happen” is a good reaction song as if you needed anymore suggestions.
The Attractions weren't formed until AFTER he recorded My Aim Is True. The band on My Aim Is True is Clover minus the lead singer (later to become Huey Lewis and the News - yep that's right).
@@windnchgo wow that’s amazing info. They put watching the detectives on the American pressing of my aim is true which was the attractions on that song, that’s how I got this notion.
So happy to see you're finally getting around to Elvis Costello. Bought this album as a Sophomore in College, so I was maybe a year or so older than you are now. What a revelation! The entire album was (and is) brilliant, and wasn't like anything I had listened to before. I think the official designation was that it was "new wave" but definitely influenced by "punk", as both genres were emerging at the time.
His lyrics went well beyond any kind of punk ethos (he was "angry", but clever, literate, and loved to employ double meanings) and that's been a constant in a career that continues to the present. Musically, he's been a shape-shifter - about 5 albums in, he came out with a country album (!), which I thought at the time was a weird joke, but it was sincere, and has since recorded with a classical quartet, and written with Burt Bacharach (a seminal songwriter of the '60's and '70's), Paul McCartney, and even The Roots.
A few songs that you should put at the top of your list to check out: Alison (from this album), the only real ballad on the album, will provide another dimension; Radio Radio (a brilliant upbeat angry rocker - second album); Accidents Will Happen (third album). Those are the first few that I thought of, but there are dozens and dozens of others.
I'll throw in a "bonus" track. Elvis wrote and performed a song called "I Want You", but the single greatest version of it I've ever heard is by Fiona Apple. Her performance of it is spellbinding. If you wanted to do both (as you sometimes do), I'd be pretty stoked!
That performance with Fiona is superb
Congratulations on a great introduction to a great, and very multi-faceted, artist, Daniel! Elvis Costello is a deep musical well, and his music ranges from "angry young man" punk and new wave, to classic pop and soul sounds, to even classical, orchestral compositions! Elvis Costello is a genius, indeed. Every word of this comment could also describe Joe Jackson too, who is, in my opinion, just as gifted and versatile as E.C.!
Elvis Costello has a very deep well, enjoy! Also check out his wife, Canadian jazz singer, Diana Kroll.
The album this off of from 1977, My Aim Is True, was truly groundbreaking. A precursor of the new wave, every song from this was utterly brilliant. Would love to see you do a whole album reaction, it will blow you away.
I Want You has a particularly creepy feel to it. It's Great!
Elvis Costello is a great lyricist.
Great reaction as always.
Two tracks out of many that I could recommend by the him for you to react to would be: '(I Don't Want To Go To) Chelsea', and 'Less Than Zero' both come from around the same time, he's very clever lyrically.
The sign "We never close" is possibly a reference to The Windmill Theatre in Great Windmill Street, London, it was a variety and revue theatre best known for its nude tableaux vivants, which began in 1932 and lasted until its reversion to a cinema in 1964. Many prominent British comedians of the post-war years started their careers at the theatre. The theatre's famous motto "We Never Closed" (often humorously modified to "We Never Clothed") was a reference to the fact that the theatre remained open, apart from the compulsory closure that affected all theatres for 13 days (4 to 16 September) in 1939. Performances continued throughout the Second World War even at the height of the Blitz. The showgirls, cast members, and crew moved into the safety of the theatre's two underground floors during some of the worst air attacks, from 7 September 1940 to 11 May 1941.
Elvis Costello is always musically interesting as are his lyrics. This song just reminds me of watching old Bogart movies, ie Maltese Falcon, Casablanca. His early albums were great but my favorite was always King of America, perhaps less musical pop but deeper lyrics, IMO. Still would love for you to check out Little Palaces. Glad you liked it, he really is a fun and original artist to listen to, a true songwriter. Oh, and I think you'll love the Clash. Thanks Daniel 🎶
That's a good song and it is telling a story. I never heard him before. Thank you .I have heard so much form you with music I never knew.
certainly has his place in music history. some great gems here for sure. enjoy your journey. never owned anything from him but certainly enjoyed the hits.
I saw him with his original band back in 2009. They played all his hits and it was amazing. Then he called the Lovell Sisters out to do the songs off his new album and the show got better. One of the best shows I have seen. Two of the Lovell Sisters later formed Larkin Poe (blues/roots).
Got to listen to Pump It Up. Costello is an absolute rabbit hole of an artist, his music matures and varies so much over the years. Still writing great songs now.
She's filing her nails
While they're draggin' the lake
Might be the best writing of the last 200 years....
Thanks heaps for playing this request, Daniel .. I was pretty confident you would find it both musically and lyrically interesting .. Elvis Costello has a long career, which is still going today, but it was his early material where he was really at his edgy, passionate and innovative best .. I'd recommend hitting Oliver's Army, Radio Radio or Accidents Will Happen next .. Cheers, Wayne
Your bound to have heard at some point on sports programmes etc of Pump it up !! Now that’s my fav along with Alison .. total classic
My aunt loved watching the detectives: Joe Friday, Angie Dickinson, Colombo, Barney Fife, Cannon, Matlock, Magnum PI, Cagney and Lacey, Simon and Simon, Starsky and Hutch...didn't matter to her, she loved them all
Elvis' lyrics range from being on the nose to being extremely cryptic. I've heard him say that sometime, especially on his early records, he wrote lyrics that were so dark and mean that he pulled back and changed them - sometimes leaving something that just doesn't make sense. So you always have to keep that in mind.
Some songs, like this, I've never dug into what the lyrics mean, I've just taken them as some really interesting images painting a picture that is mostly mood and atmosphere - like a film noir that you watch for the style and don't really care about the plot.
...excellent summation...
Reggae had made its real breakthrough and was up and coming along the punk and new wave back then. Especially the so called roots reggae often with socially biting lyrics hit home.
In the Angels Wanna Wear My Red Shoes, he wrote "I said I'm so happy, baby, I could die. She said drop dead then left with another guy". Best couplet ever; a life story in two lines. Bonnie Raitt once punched him in the face for being a jerk.
Bonnie Bramlett not Bonnie Raitt
@@kevtruth thanks. Had that wrong for years...
The detectives was a popular tv show at the time
If you mean the Jasper Carrot/ Robert Powell series, that didn’t come out until 16 years after this song
@@Macilmoyle not that show another, i think that was a spoof of the original. Maybe
He's a great songwriter with a VERY long career and a lot of songs. My suggestions would be Oliver's Army or Pump It Up... but he has a wide range of styles and is a pretty reliable artist.
Aww you're a good brother 🙂
🕵♂ This was also the first Costello song I ever heard, coincidentally when I was around your age (when the record was new). There isn't another artist on the planet who's body of work during the 20 year period from 1977-1997 is as varied and consistent as this guy's. By the 3rd album, his melodies begin to get as complex as his lyrics, which are always enigmatic. Wait until you hear the likes of "Beyond Belief" (1982) and "God's Comic" (1989).
You sure? Bowie, Neil Young...Sting...
Great stuff. Next on the list should be Costello's two greatest songs (IMO), "BEYOND BELIEF" and "RIOT ACT"... so many other great ones to tackle: "Green Shirt," "New Amsterdam," "Accidents Will Happen," "Brilliant Mistake," "High Fidelity," "Pump It Up," "Radio Radio," "Oliver's Army," "Temptation," "Lover's Walk," "Strict Time," "Lipstick Vogue," "Tiny Steps," "Veronica" and so much more!! Enjoy this great journey!!
...and by the way: My daughter is WAY into "Undertale".... lol.. so I get that!
Hi Dan, Elvis' wordplay will leave you speechless. His first 5 albums are rated 5 stars by All Music. His coming out album was his second(first with Attractions)This Years model. First 3 songs should be judged playing straight through. You are in for fun, great listening. Cheers, Chicago Ray
"(What's So Funny 'Bout) Peace, Love, and Understanding?" is right up your alley, and to be different I suggest "The Other End of the Telescope" because it features his soaring vocals, and was co-written by the glorious Aimee Mann, who also has a version of the song with her band Til Tuesday.
Nick Lowe wrote "Peace, Love, and Understanding." Mann's version of "The Other End of the Telescope" is on the last 'Til Tuesday album "Everything's Different Now," which is honestly an incredible album. Every track except the last one is at least good, and some are great. The record company essentially buried that album (no doubt contributing to Mann's decision to pursue he career independently), but it's one of the great underrated albums of the '80s, and miles ahead of their hit "Voices Carry."
Another great Costello collaboration is "From a Whisper to a Scream" with Glenn Tilbrook of Squeeze. Of course, Elvis produced the "Sweets from a Stranger" album and sang back-up on "Black Coffee in Bed."
That whole album is fantastic!
This song makes me think of a film noir from the forties. Those first four Attractions albums are packed with great songs, And maybe his best songs came after those albums. Maybe checkout “Green Shirt” or his single “Radio Radio” or “ I don’t want to go to Chelsea”. Many of his song deal with paranoia, disgust and desire but he write a love song too check out “Allison”. Thanks for doing EC reaction it was great.
I had that happen to me and that person grabbed my Handbag and they ran away because my sister was yelling out the window.
And if you want REALLY dark, check out Elvis Costello's I Want You on the album Blood and Chocolate. Unrequited, obsessive love-so creepily sung, that you feel you may need a restraining order.
Now That You've Listened To It,, Watching The Video Will Fill In The Blanks & Possibly Give You A Chuckle Or Two.
This was a great one to start with, don’t stop. Lotta good songs mentioned in the comments.
Good one. Elvis Costello is a truly great songwriter. Check out his tune “I Want You,” it’s incomparably bitter.
Great reaction for Watching the Detectives. One of my many favorites from Elvis Costello. Daniel, React to "Alison", " Accidents Will Happen," "Pump It Up," also catchy beat, (What's So Funny Bout) Peace, Love, and Understanding.
Can you squeeze these request before April ends? If no add these Reaction request to your list for MAY.
One of the very best lyricists ever. Listen to Shipbuilding, a protest song of the Falkands War. Been covered by many renowned artistes, testament to its brilliance. What happened to protest songs?
A good deep cut is "The Beat" from This Year's Model. Another is "Strict Time" from Trust.
The best way to describe Elvis Costello is that he is a combination of Bob Dylan and Buddy Holly, a true wordsmith but he has the punk rock mentality with the intelligence to carry it out. Little known fact, Elvis Costello is a big fan of the Grateful Dead. He did a song on a tribute album, with an accompanying photo showing him up front in the crowd at a GD show in the rain in England.
Elvis Costello songs you should check out.
Veronica
Love Peace and Understanding
Accidents Will Happen
and my all time favorite
Deep Dark Truthful Mirror
The late 70's and early 80's was a boom for English bands, particularly ska music. So many great bands for you to check out, like Jo Jackson, Madness, the British beat/the beat (Aimie Winehouse used to sing as a guest with the latter two), the Specials and Graham Parker. Their just my favourite ones, there's so much more to explore however.
Other favourite Elvis Costello songs are What's so funny'bout peace love and understanding, Goon squad, Oliver's army, pump it up and Alison (my aim is true).
He's a genius, I've seen him live a couple of times, you should check out Tramp the Dirt Down, his song about Maggie Thatcher, I was in the audience at the Royal Albert Hall in London when he played it for the first time, it's an awesome song.
Be enlightened by the covers sung by Linda Ronstadt of several Elvis Costello songs notably Alison and Party Girl (yes Linda did a 'New Wave' album entitled Mad Love which New Wave purists turn their nose up at but it helped introduce some unaware listeners {& markets} to the wonders of New Wave) .Yes Alison by Elvis is also one of his seminal tracks & one he is more widely known for (thanks Linda).
You're close Daniel. The live version is the one to listen to. Came out as a bonus 45 with the original album.
"Dogs" were equated with shoes long before Tad Dorgan's day. Dogskin leather was thinner and more supple than cowhide leather, and so was used for luxury items like dancing shoes for the wealthy.
Only one member of the Attractions here -> Steve Nieve on Keyboards. The Drummer and Bass player were from the Rumour, as in Graham Parker and the Rumour. And of course EC on guitars. The Attractions are featured on EC's second album This Years Model which was few month after this WTD single release. WTD was not on the UK version of EC's first album My Aim Is True (backed American / Bay Area Band Clover who had moved to England a couple years earlier) on indie Stiff Records. WTD was tacked on the end of the American release of MAIT (EC signed with Columbia Records in America, famous story on how that happened). The rest is history. You should definitely should check out more.
I would humbly suggest this tune is best approached as if its a film workup, with some dialogue, stage/camera directions, mood, design, etc. all adding up to cinematic feel.
Id recommend, pump it up , olivers army , shipbuilding, i want you .
Have you ever covered one of my favorites Bonnie Raitt
Plays a mean slide guitar would love if you played the video, in the Nick of Time featuring Dennis Quaid