The musician Elvis Costello, born Declan Patrick MacManus, was considered one of those “angry young men” in the pop scene that straddled the 1970s and 1980s. I first heard his music on WQBK-FM, Q 104 in the Albany area, a station I listened to constantly for about a decade.
I saw Elvis perform in Albany in 2008. Opening was Amos Lee, then Elvis, who was quite good, and Bob Dylan, more indecipherable than usual.
I bought a few of his earlier albums on vinyl and many of the latter on CD. Here are some of his songs.
Radio Sweetheart – Taking Liberties (1980). B-side of Less Than Zero single, 1977
Watch Your Step – Trust (1981)
20% Amnesia – Brutal Youth (1994)
Everyday I Write The Book – Punch The Clock (1983)
Miss Macbeth -Spike (1989). I love this album so much. Sometimes, you and a piece of music hit the same wavelength.
Remove This Doubt – Kojak Variety (1995). This is a cover of a song on The Supremes Sing-Holland-Dozier album. I love the original.
Accidents Will Happen – Armed Forces (1979)
Man Out Of Time – Imperial Bedroom (1982)
Last Boat Leaving –Spike (1989). The album is quite eclectic.
Ship Of Fools– Deadicated: A Tribute to the Grateful Dead (1991), a GREAT compilation album.
Love and romance
Let Me Tell You About Her – North (2003). The album was “partially inspired by the dissolution of his marriage to wife Cait O’Riordan and his burgeoning relationship with Diana Krall.” This song is about the latter. It is the only EC album my wife, a big DK fan, ever bought for me.
Wise Up Ghost– Wise Up Ghost (2013) is an album EC did with Questlove. The opening strings are lifted from Can You Be True? from EC’s North album.
A Slow Drag With Josephine – National Ransom (2010). I need to listen to this album more often.
Deep Dark Truthful Mirror – Spike (1989)
National Ransom – National Ransom (2010)
Veronica – Spike (1989). This represents not only Paul McCartney’s contribution to Spike but Elvis’ to Paul’s Flowers In the Dirt album the same year
Pump It Up – This Year’s Model (1978)
Chewing Gum – Spike (1989) – I know people who hate this song with the Dirty Dozen Brass Band.
All This Useless Beauty – All This Useless Beauty (1996)
Watching The Detectives – My Aim Is True (1977). The UK single was added to the US release.
(What’s So Funny ‘Bout) Peace, Love, and Understanding – Armed Forces (1979). The American release of the album omitted “Sunday’s Best” and added Costello’s cover of Nick Lowe’s classic.
Coverville 1500: The Elvis Costello Cover Story V
Elvis Costello turns 70 today.
