Elvis Costello's Record Collection

lunes, 7 de septiembre de 2009

VOLUME 9 The Coward Brothers 3rd Reunion Tour

In November 1984, Howard Coward and his brother Henry embarked upon a reunion tour playing all of their smash hits to a captivated audience...

1. Twist And Shout - The Isley Brothers
2. His Latest Flame - Elvis Presley
3. She's A Woman - The Beatles
4. I Got Loaded - Los Lobos
5. Don't Get Above Your Raising - Lester Flatt & Earl Scruggs
6. Ragged But Right - George Jones
7. She Thinks I Still Care - George Jones
8. Somebody's Back In Town - The Wilburn Brothers
9. Tom Dooley - Doc Watson
10. The Wild Side Of Life - Hank Thompson
11. Image Of Me - Conway Twitty
12. Mental Revenge - Waylon Jennings
13. Baby's In Black - The Beatles
14. Tennessee Blues - Rita Coolidge & Kris Kristofferson
15. They'll Never Take Her Love from Me -Hank Williams
16. I'll Make It All Up To You - Jerry Lee Lewis
17. No Reason To Quit - Merle Haggard
18. The End Of The Rainbow - Richard & Linda Thompson
19. My Youngest Son - Eric Bogle
20. Georgia On My Mind - Ray Charles
21. I Forgot More Than You'll Ever Know - Johnny Cash
22. Shake Yourself Loose - T Bone Burnett
23. From a Jack To A King - Jim Reeves
24. Hit The Road Jack - Ray Charles
25. Midnight Oil - Barbara Mendrell
26. Living A Little, Laughing A Little - The (Detroit) Spinners
27. All You Need Is Love - The Beatles

RUNNING TIME 77:44

Track Notes

1,2, 6-10 & 13-15 The Coward Brothers 1984-86. It was a tough call which version of ‘Twist And Shout’ to include here, The 1961 original by The Top Notes ? The Beatles ?... in the end I went for The Isley Brothers version.

2-3 Performed live with The Attractions 1986.
4 Guest appearance with Los Lobos, London May 1985
5 Guest appearance with Ricky Skaggs, London May 1985 http://www.elviscostello.info/wiki/index.php/Don%27t_Get_Above_Your_Raising
11,12, 16, 22 & 25 From Costello’s 1984 solo tour.
15 b-side to the Coward’s 1985 single ‘The People’s Limousine’.
17 Played at a miner’s benefit with The Attractions, London 1985
18 A demo version of this with unauthorised overdubs was released on a charity album in 1986. http://www.elviscostello.info/wiki/index.php/End_Of_The_Rainbow
19 Another demo from this period that didn’t make the cut from The King of America sessions.
20 Played with his father Ross in a 1985 TV appearance
21 Tom Waits & Lou Reed joined Elvis for a live version of this in 1986
23-24 Audience singalongs and crowd banter from 1986
26 Duet appearance with John Hiatt on his 1985 single.
27 Performed for the first and last time solo, at Live Aid, London 1985.

sábado, 5 de septiembre de 2009

VOLUME 8 The Sick Bed of MacGowan

In Nov 1985 Elvis took over vocal duties for a sick Shane MacGowan at a concert in Malmo. Costello's Pogues connection of course runs a lot deeper, He produced the bands debut album and married bass player Cait O’Riordan in May 1986. Elvis spent much of 1985-1986 with the band on tour and in the studio, so there are likely to be other unknown EC / Pogues collaborations not included on this disc. Here are the songs performed on that Malmo date. For the record, Elvis sang lead on tracks 9-11, 14 & 15 and backing vocals on 7 & 16. To make up the numbers, I’ve tagged on the remaining Pogues tracks that were produced, but not performed by Elvis, at least not publicly. The final track "Danny Boy" was sang by the cast including Elvis, The Pogues and Joe Strummer in the 1986 film ‘Straight to Hell’.

All tracks performed by The Pogues unless stated.

1. The Sick Bed of Cuchulainn #
2. Repeal of the Licencing Laws (Instrumental)
3. Jesse James #
4. Whisky, You’re The Devil
5. I'm a Man You Don't Meet Everyday #
6. Wild Cats of Kilkenny (Instrumental) #
7. Billy's Bones #
8. Waxie’s Dargle
9. The Old Main Drag #
10. A Pair Of Brown Eyes #
11. Dirty Old Town #
12. Muirshin Dirkin
13. The Battle of Brisbane (Instrumental)
14. Boys From The County Hell
15. The Band Played Waltzing Matilda #
16. A Pistol for Paddy Garcia (Instrumental) #
17. The Wild Rover - The Dubliners
18. Sally Maclennane #
19. Navigator #
20. The Gentleman Soldier #
21. A Rainy Night in Soho
22. The Body of an American
23. Plantxy Noel Hill (Instrumental)
24. Danny Boy

RUNNING TIME 77:34

Track Notes

1-17 Performed Malmo 1985 (same running order as setlist)

Additional tracks produced by Elvis Costello

18-20 Remaining tracks from “Rum Sodomy & The Lash” LP (Produced by EC)
21-23 “Poguetry in Motion” EP, Jan 1986. Elvis was producing this until tensions grew and his involvement in the project ended.
24 From the film “Straight to Hell’.

# From the album “Rum Sodomy & The Lash”

miércoles, 2 de septiembre de 2009

VOLUME 7 Hello Cruel World

Covering the period 1983-1984, many selections were played on Elvis’ first solo tour in April 1984.

1. Tomorrow's Just Another Day - Madness
2. Stand Down Margaret - The (English) Beat
3. The Werewolves of London - David Lindley
4. My Ever Changing Moods - The Style Council
5. Tears, Tears And More Tears - Nicolette Larson
6. Walking on Thin Ice - Yoko Ono
7. I Wanna Be Loved - Teacher's Edition
8. She Loves The Jerk - John Hiatt
9. What I Like Most About You - The Specials
10. Cruel - Prefab Sprout
11. A Smiling Shore - June Tabor
12. Sleepless Nights - The Everly Brothers
13. Withered And Died - Linda Thompson
14. Get Yourself Another Fool - Sam Cooke
15. Baby It's You - The Beatles
16. Girl Don't Come - Sandy Shaw
17. Hopelessly Devoted To You - Olivia Newton John
18. I Love Her Too - Aaron Neville
19. The Love You Save (May Be Your Own) - Joe Tex
20. So You Wanna Be A Rock 'N' Roll Star - The Byrds
21. Stage Fright - The Band
22. A Drunk Can't Be A Man - George Jones
23. The Captains And The Kings - Ronnie Drew

RUNNING TIME 78:09

Track Notes

1. Elvis teamed up with Madness in 1983 for this single, providing the vocal for a slowed down arrangement on the B side and a couple of live appearances.

2. Worked into a medley with 'Big Sister’s Clothes', also recorded for a BBC Radio session in June 1983

3. Elvis Joined David Lindley on stage in June 1984 to guest on this number, made famous by Warren Zevon.

4. Another guest appearance here with Paul Weller in Dec 1983. Weller’s album version is preferred here to the single version.

5. This was regularly played in a 'Pump it Up' medley along with 'Ain’t That a Lotta Love', long before it was recorded with Allen Toussaint for 'The River in Reverse' album.

6. "A small eternity with Yoko". Notable for being the first collaboration with Allen Toussaint in Sep 1983 for a Yoko Ono tribute album. This 6 minute epic is the shortest mix available.

7. An exceptionally obscure track recorded by an equally obscure group. Elvis’ version was released as a single in 1984.

8. Elvis recorded a demo of this track in Dec 1983 which eventually appeared on the 'Goodbye Cruel World' re-issue. He also performed it live with John Hiatt in Mar 1985.

9-12 Elvis’ first solo tour in April 1984 was the perfect vehicle to showcase many new covers, some were only heard once as Elvis played some of his favourite songs. His own live versions of ‘What I Like Most About You’ & ‘Sleepless Nights’ appeared on the Goodbye Cruel World re-issue.

13-15. The recording of ‘Withered And Died’ was a gesture to Richard Thompson, who was on stand-by for the 'Goodbye Cruel World' sessions but not called upon. ‘Baby It's You’ was recorded as a duet with Nick Lowe and appeared as a 1984 B-side for both artists, while ‘Get Yourself Another Fool’ was the B-side of another cover released by Elvis in 1986, “Please, Don’t Let Me Be Misunderstood.” All the Elvis’ recordings can be found on the 'Goodbye Cruel World' re-issue.

16-18. More one– off covers from the 1984 solo tour. ‘Hopelessly Devoted To You’, played once in Melbourne, was a nod to Australian star Olivia Newton John.

19. Worked into a medley of 'Alison' in 1984.

20. Played in some Attractions concerts in 1984 and also later with Roger McGuinn.

21. Another cover from the 1984 solo tour.

22. Elvis played this in a medley with the Conway Twitty song ‘Image of Me” in 1985

23. Elvis performed this in Boston April 1984 as well as producing Phil Chevron’s recorded version.

lunes, 31 de agosto de 2009

VOLUME 6 Covers For Sale

More covers from the period 1980-83.

1. Move it on Over - Hank Williams
2. Mind your own Business - Hank Williams
3. Two steps from the Blues - Bobby Bland
4. Love for Sale - Ella Fitzgerald
5. Gloomy Sunday - Billie Holiday
6. It Don't Mean A Thing - Billie Holiday
7. Lil' Darlin' - Count Basie
8. Danger Zone - Ray Charles
9. World Of Broken Hearts - Amen Corner
10. Rip It Up - Little Richard
11. Leader of the Gang - Gary Glitter
12. I Don't Want To Be Nice - John Cooper Clarke
13. I Got You (I Feel Good) - James Brown
14. I Can't Turn You Loose - Otis Redding
15. Ain't That A Lot Of Love - Sam & Dave
16. 634-5789 (Soulsville, U.S.A.)- Wilson Pickett
17. One Way Out - Sonny Boy Williamson
18. From Head To Toe - Smokey Robinson & The Miracles
19. Wet Dream - Max Romeo
20. Night Time - The Escorts
21. Chadookie doo - The Neville Brothers
22. Backstabbers - The O’Jays
23. Keep On Pushing - Curtis Mayfield
24. One Day I'll Fly Away - Randy Crawford
25. The Bells - The Originals

RUNNING TIME 78:18

Track Notes

1-2 A pair of Hank Williams songs, apparently played in Nashville, Jan 1981.
3. Although unrecorded by Elvis,he has returned to this tune several times.
4-5 'Gloomy Sunday' was performed at the Fundamental Frolics concert in 1981. recorded 'Costello' versions of both tracks can be found on the Trust re-issue.
6-7 Performed at the ill-fated appearance with Tony Bennett and The Count Basie Orchestra in Aug 1983.
8. Recorded for a BBC session in June 1983.
9. Recorded with a bunch of other covers in Feb 1982, released as a B side it has never been performed live by Elvis.
10. Rock 'n roll classic, tagged onto some 1981 versions of 'Mystery Dance'. Also covered by some other guy named Elvis.
11. Included in a one-off version of 'Pump it Up' in Bristol, Oct 1983
12. A few bars of this song were played as an opening to 'King Horse' in some 1981 concerts. Years later the original version was used as a play-on track for The Imposters.
13. Featured in some Attractions shows around 1982.
14. Some lyrics from this and from '634-5789 (Soulsville, U.S.A.)'were often sung towards the end of 'I Can’t Stand Up For Falling Down'
15. Another 'medley only' song, sometimes heard with 'Tears,Tears & More Tears' on live versions of Pump it Up circa 1984 and as a backing vamp for band introductions.
16. See 12.
17. A rare performance of this was played in Arnhem, April 1982
18. This stand alone single from Elvis in 1982 charted higher than any single from 'Imperial Bedroom'.
19. This chart hit received its only performance in Leeds, June 1981 as part of a medley of 'Watching The Detectives'.
20. Recorded with other covers in Feb 1982, as intended B sides, they have never been performed live by Elvis.
21. Introduced as an “old New Orleans number” in 1982 concerts.
22. Yet another song used to segue into 'King Horse' around 1983.
23. This received its only Elvis’ performance in London Dec 1983.
24. Performed at The Attractions Mar 1981 London concerts.
25. A live version from Austin 1983 can be heard on the 'Punch the Clock' Re-issue, a few bars were sometimes played at the end of 'Peace in Our Time' in some 1984 solo performances.

domingo, 30 de agosto de 2009

VOLUME 5 Absolute Blue

viernes, 28 de agosto de 2009

VOLUME 4 I Stand Accused

After almost 2 years of non stop recording & touring, the wheels were about to come off...Big style.
After a drunken hotel argument, (well documented elsewhere) Elvis was later to be branded a “racist” and would not return to the US for almost another 2 years. The title track, covered on the "Get Happy!" album seems an appropriate place to start.

1. I Stand Accused - The Merseybeats
2. Rebecca - Big Joe Turner
3. Little Sister - Elvis Presley
4. All Day And All Of The Night - The Kinks
5. Without Love - Nick Lowe
6. Switchboard Susan - Nick Lowe
7. Damage - The Attractions
8. Arms Race - The Attractions
9. Sad About Girls - The Attractions
10. There At The Top - Squeeze
11. Six O’Clock - Lovin Spoonful
12. My Funny Valentine - Frank Sinatra
13. So Young - Jo Jo Zep & The Falcons
14. Message to Rudy - The Specials
15. Gangsters - The Specials
16. I Can’t Stand Up (For Falling Down) - Sam & Dave
17. Getting Mighty Crowded - Betty Everett
18. Don't Look Back - The Temptations
19. Help Me - Sonny Boy Williamson
20. Dance To The Music - Sly & The Family Stone
21. Get Off - Foxy
22. Slow Down - Larry Williams
23. I've Been Born Again - Johnnie Taylor
24. Private Number - William Bell
25. Master Blaster - Stevie Wonder
26. Slippin' And Slidin' - Little Richard

RUNNING TIME 79:39

Track Notes

1. Appears on the ‘Get Happy!’ album.
http://www.elviscostello.info/wiki/index.php/I_Stand_Accused

2. Played at a guest appearance with Delbert McClinton May 1978 in Dallas,TX

3. Regular part of The Attractions live set in 1980-81
http://www.elviscostello.info/wiki/index.php/Little_Sister

4. Played at a guest appearance with The Skunks on May 1978 in Austin,TX

5-6. Another nod to his mentor, Nick Lowe in 1979
http://www.elviscostello.info/wiki/index.php/Concert_1979-04-14_Providence

7-9 These Steve Nieve compositions were performed by The Attractions in 1978, long before they recorded them (without Elvis) for their album Mad About The Wrong Boy.
http://www.elviscostello.info/wiki/index.php/Damage
http://www.elviscostello.info/wiki/index.php/Arms_Race
http://www.elviscostello.info/wiki/index.php/Sad_About_Girls

10. A fruitful collaboration with Squeeze began around 1980 and Elvis would later produce the band’s "East Side Story" album. This song was performed at Jool’s Holland’s London farewell concerts in Aug 1980.
http://www.elviscostello.info/wiki/index.php/Concert_1980-08-12

11. Said to have been played during the "Live Stiffs" tour in 1977
http://www.elviscostello.info/wiki/index.php/Six_O%27Clock

12. Many versions to choose from, but Elvis is a big Sinatra fan and this version is sure to have been an influence on his own recording, first released in 1979.
http://www.elviscostello.info/wiki/index.php/My_Funny_Valentine

13. Elvis learned this version in Australia in Dec 1978. Originally Intended as a single in May 1979, it was eventually released along with the Get Happy outtakes.
http://www.elviscostello.info/wiki/index.php/So_Young

14-15. Elvis spent much of June 1979 producing The Specials debut album, from which these tracks are taken.
http://www.elviscostello.info/wiki/index.php/The_Specials
http://www.elviscostello.info/wiki/index.php/Gangsters

16-18 More Get Happy recordings. "I Can’t Stand Up (For Falling Down)" was originally recorded at a much quicker tempo by Elvis, but it’s a song much revisited in different styles. He’s also performed it live with Sam Moore. "Getting Mighty Crowded" was the B side & a live version of 'Don't Look Back" appears on the Get Happy re-issue.
http://www.elviscostello.info/wiki/index.php/I_Can%27t_Stand_Up_For_Falling_Down
http://www.elviscostello.info/wiki/index.php/Getting_Mighty_Crowded
http://www.elviscostello.info/wiki/index.php/Don%27t_Look_Back

19. Regular part of The Attractions live set in 1980 with Martin Belmont and also heard as part of a medley with "Watching The Detectives."
http://www.elviscostello.info/wiki/index.php/Help_Me

20. One of 3 songs on this collection played as a medley with "King Horse" in 1980/1.
http://www.elviscostello.info/wiki/index.php/Dance_To_The_Music#Dance_To_The_Music

21. Played at a guest appearance with The Skunks on May 1978 in Austin,TX.

22. Performed occasionally in 1981 and recorded during the "Trust" sessions.
http://www.elviscostello.info/wiki/index.php/Slow_Down

23. Frequently played as an intro to "King Horse" in 1980/1.
http://www.elviscostello.info/wiki/index.php/Category:Medley-only_covers

24. Performed with Chris Difford in 1980/1.
http://www.elviscostello.info/wiki/index.php/Private_Number

25. Played as part of a medley with "Watching The Detectives" in the early '80s.
http://www.elviscostello.info/wiki/index.php/Master_Blaster#Master_Blaster_.28Jammin.27.29

26. A regular with The Allen Toussaint Band in 2006, Elvis first performed the song in 1980.
http://www.elviscostello.info/wiki/index.php/Slippin%27_And_Slidin%27

jueves, 27 de agosto de 2009

VOLUME 3 Knocking On Nick Lowe’s Door

This volume charts Elvis’ transition from amateur to professional recording artist, from 1975 to 1978. The title comes from the Dylan track, (a Flip City demo) and the Nick Lowe association. Elvis reportedly followed Nick around as he seeked that elusive recording deal. Lowe would later produce Elvis’ first 5 albums.

1. Knocking On Heaven’s Door - Bob Dylan & The Band
2. Third Rate Romance - Amazing Rhythm Aces
3. Packin up - Chris Kenner
4. Just Don't Know What To Do With Myself - Tommy Hunt
5. Sex & Drugs & Rock & Roll - Ian Dury & The Blockheads
6. Roadette Song - Kilburn & The High Roads
7. Whole Wide World - Wreckless Eric
8. Love Comes In Spurts - Richard Hell
9. You Gotta Lose - Johnny Thunder's Heartbreakers
10. Shattered - The Rolling Stones
11. The Price Of Love - The Everly Brothers
12. Neat Neat Neat - The Damned
13. Heart Of The City - Nick Lowe
14. Nutted By Reality - Nick Lowe
15. Music For Money - Nick Lowe
16. Shake´n Pop - Nick Lowe
17. Sound Of Broken Glass - Nick Lowe
18. Peace, Love And Understanding? - Brinsley Schwarz
19. Really Mystified - The Merseybeats
20. Honky Tonk Blues - Hank Williams
21. Honky Tonkin' - Hank Williams
22. You Win Again - The Grateful Dead
23. I Saw Her Standing There - The Beatles
24. Mustang Sally - Wilson Pickett
25. Route 66 - Nat King Cole
26. Endless Sleep - Nick Lowe

RUNNING TIME 77:57

Track Notes

1-3 - These tracks were recorded by Flip City in 1975. This alternative Live version of ' Knocking On Heaven’s Door’ is included as it contains an extra verse, sung by EC on the Flip City demo.

http://www.elviscostello.info/wiki/index.php/Bootleg:_Aim_To_Please
http://www.elviscostello.info/wiki/index.php/Knockin%27_On_Heaven%27s_Door http://www.elviscostello.info/wiki/index.php/Packin%27_Up

4 - First played by The Attractions on The Live Stiffs tour '77. The Tommy Hunt original is included here, Dusty Springfield’s version can be found on the Bacharach collaboration (vol 21)
http://www.elviscostello.info/wiki/index.php/I_Just_Don%27t_Know_What_To_Do_With_Myself

5-7 The Live Stiffs tour of 1977 is now the stuff of legend. The Attractions covered songs of their labelmates to show solidarity(?) and joined The Blockheads on stage in an ensemble (Chaos) version of 'Sex & Drugs & Rock & Roll'.

http://www.elviscostello.info/wiki/index.php/Sex_%26_Drugs_%26_Rock_%26_Roll_%26_Chaos
http://www.elviscostello.info/wiki/index.php/Roadette_Song http://www.elviscostello.info/wiki/index.php/Whole_Wide_World

8-10 Elvis also had an eye on the New York punk scene and forged allegeances with Richard Hell. Joining him on stage at CBGB’s to jam on 'You Gotta Lose' & 'Shattered' in Oct 1978.

http://www.elviscostello.info/wiki/index.php/Love_Comes_In_Spurts
http://www.elviscostello.info/wiki/index.php/You_Gotta_Lose http://www.elviscostello.info/wiki/index.php/Concert_1978-10-18_New_York

11- The Attractions sound checked with this number in 1977. A decent live version exists, but has yet to be released.

http://www.elviscostello.info/wiki/index.php/The_Price_Of_Love

12-Released as a live B side in 1978 together with 'Roadette Song'.

http://www.elviscostello.info/wiki/index.php/Neat_Neat_Neat

13-17 The Attractions would regularly feature as Nick Lowe’s backing band in 1978, sometimes without Elvis’ involvement.

http://www.elviscostello.info/wiki/index.php/Heart_Of_The_City http://www.elviscostello.info/wiki/index.php/Concert_1978-03-04_Buffalo_%28early%29

18 -Nick Lowe classic that has become a regular part of Elvis’ live set.

http://www.elviscostello.info/wiki/index.php/%28What%27s_So_Funny_%27Bout%29_Peace%2C_Love_And_Understanding%3F

19 -Played live in 1977/78 and on a 1978 Peel Session, it was later re-recorded in 1982.

http://www.elviscostello.info/wiki/index.php/Really_Mystified

20-21 Hearing Tulsa was a 'country town', The Attractions debuted these songs to a bemused audience in May 1978.

http://www.elviscostello.info/wiki/index.php/Honky_Tonk_Blues http://www.elviscostello.info/wiki/index.php/Honky_Tonkin%27

22- This other Hank Williams classic has been performed regularly throughout Elvis’ career. However, earlier performances were more based on this Grateful Dead arrangement.

http://www.elviscostello.info/wiki/index.php/You_Win_Again

23-25 Played at a guest appearance with The Skunks on May 1978 in Austin,TX

26-This laid back ballad was performed by Elvis at Liverpool Aug 1977, one of his earliest professional performances.

http://www.elviscostello.info/wiki/index.php/Concert_1977-08-02_Liverpool