Showing posts with label Elvis Costello. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Elvis Costello. Show all posts

Tuesday 26 May 2020

Everyday I write the book - Elvis Costello and the Attractions

I recently re-discovered Elvis Costello's 'Everyday I write the book', a song that was regularly on TV back in 1983 and 1984, when MTV didn't yet exist in Europe and we still had the great Sky Channel and Music Box to provide us with daily doses of music videos. I was always waiting for my favourites to show up, so this video kindof got in the way of that.

I don't know, exactly, how this song suddenly crawled its way up from the dark corners of my memory, but I am glad it did. It's one of Elvis' finest pop songs. His career has taken many turns since then but the early pop stuff never loses its charm.

My collection: 7" single no. 6285
Found: Discogs.com, received May 23, 2020
Cost: 2 pounds
Tracks: 'Everyday I write the book' / 'Heathen town'

Sunday 28 June 2009

I wanna be loved - Elvis Costello

Elvis Costello announced the breakup of Elvis Costello and the Attractions shortly before the release of their eighth album together, 'Goodbye cruel world' (1984). He also announced his retirement, but that proved to be shortlived.

The album, meanwhile, yielded two hit singles, 'The only flame in town' and this one, 'I wanna be loved'. The track featured backing vocals by Green Gartside of Scritti Politti and was a cover of an obscure single by Teacher's Edition. The single reached number 25 in the UK singles chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 2888
Found: Beanos, East Croydon, London, October 29, 1997
Cost: 50p
Tracks: 'I wanna be loved' / 'Turning the town red'

Wednesday 28 January 2009

Oliver's Army - Elvis Costello

Elvis Costello wrote 'Oliver's Army' at a time when unemployment in the UK reached the three million mark. Former workers were made dependent on state support and charity to survive. It reminded Elvis of the main character in Charles Dickens' story 'Oliver Twist'. The cheery summertime sound of the song contrasts with a bitter, melancholy lyric on comtemporary life - the chorus line saying 'And I would rather be anywhere else than here today.' During the recording of the album 'Armed forces', 'Oliver's Army' was nearly dropped, but was eventually kept after keyboardist Steve Nieve created a piano part for the song that was reminiscent of 'Dancing Queen' by Abba.

It became Elvis Costello's biggest hit ever, reaching number 2 in the UK singles chart in the summer of 1979.

My collection: 7" single no. 2296
Found: Music Machine Mailorder, Hoorn, May 18, 1995
Cost: 4 guilders
Tracks: 'Oliver's Army' / 'My funny Valentine'
Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...

Advertising