Elvis Costello's Record Collection: agosto 2009

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

miércoles, 26 de agosto de 2009

VOLUME 2 The Great Unknown

1. (I'm a) Hog for you, Baby - The Coasters
2. On the Road Again - Bob Dylan
3. It Takes a Lot to Laugh, it Takes a Train to Cry - Bob Dylan
4. Hard to Handle - Otis Redding
5. (I don't wanna) Hang up my Rock 'n' roll Shoes - Chuck Willis
6. Willie and the Hand Jive - Johnny Otis
7. Promised Land - Chuck Berry
8. Don't Lie to Me - Fats Domino
9. Gone Dead Train - Randy Newman
10. Big Boss Man - Jimmy Reed
11. Live the Life I Love (and Love the Life I Live) - Mose Allison
12. Pontiac Blues - The Youngbloods
13. Baby Just One Kiss - Van Morrison
14. Lookin' at the World Through a Windshield - Commander Cody
15. (Down to) The Seeds and Stems Again Blues - Commander Cody
16. Willin' - Little Feat
17. Cold, Cold, Cold - Little Feat
18. Can I Have My Money Back? - Gerry Rafferty
19. Sing Me Back Home - Merle Haggard
20. Cry One More Time - Gram Parsons
21. One More Heartache - Marvin Gaye
22. Money - Barrett Strong
23. Bring It On Home to Me - Sam Cooke
24. Another Saturday Night - Sam Cooke
25. This Ol' Heart of Mine - The Isley Brothers
26. Save the Last Dance for Me - The Drifters
27. After Midnight - J.J. Cale
28. A Change Is Gonna Come - Sam Cooke

RUNNING TIME 79:16

Continuing with EC’s pre-professional years, we get an indication of the listening tastes of the young Declan. The influence of Van Morrison on the early vocal style of Elvis Costello (still known as Declan MacManus, and later D.P. Costello is clearly evident on early Flip City recordings, such as at The Brown Cow, London Nov 1975, where Flip City performed ‘Grow Too Old’ from volume 1 and also tracks 3,9,11, & 21-23 from this selection.

http://www.elviscostello.info/wiki/index.php/Don%27t_You_Lie_To_Me
http://www.elviscostello.info/wiki/index.php/One_More_Heartache

The R n B classic ‘Money’ was the last song ever performed live, by Flip City http://www.elviscostello.info/wiki/index.php/Money_%28That%27s_What_I_Want%29
and the mildly prophetic ‘A Change Is Gonna Come’ was performed solo in early 1976 at a gig with his father, Ross.

lunes, 24 de agosto de 2009

VOLUME 1 Liverpool & Rotherithe

Thinking ‘bout the old days....

The collection kicks off with...

1. Siamese Cat Song - Peggy Lee
2. I've Got You Under My Skin - Frank Sinatra
3. Little White Bull - Tommy Steele
4. Man Of The World - Fleetwood Mac
5. Dance Dance Dance - Neil Young
6. I’ve Been Working - Van Morrison
7. Wooden Ships - Crosby,Stills & Nash
8. Come On Back Home - Sonny Boy Williamson
9. Mighty Quinn (Quinn, The Eskimo) - Bob Dylan
10. Happy Together - Turtles
11. Grow Too Old - Bobby Charles
12. Sound Of Thunder - Clover
13. I’m Your Loverman - Redwing
14. Dry Land - Brinsley Schwarz
15. Merry Go Round - Brinsley Schwarz
16. One More Day - Brinsley Schwarz
17. Nightingale - Brinsley Schwarz
18. Silver Pistol - Brinsley Schwarz
19. Last Time I was Fooled - Brinsley Schwarz
20. Unknown Number - Brinsley Schwarz
21. Range War - Brinsley Schwarz
22. Niki Hoeke Speedway - Brinsley Schwarz
23. Ju Ju Man - Brinsley Schwarz
24. Rockin' Chair - Brinsley Schwarz

RUNNING TIME 80:02

TRACK NOTES

1.Reportedly the first song EC recalls HEARING and REQUESTING as a toddler!
2.Quite possibly ‘Skin’ was the first word he ever spoke!
3.Early solo performance at school. There are no doubt many more not included...
4.First song EC learned to play on guitar. ‘Quite a complex song', as he remarked.
5-13. Little is known about EC’s first band experiences with Rusty, in Liverpool and with Flip City in London. They are known however, to have played these songs...
14-24 A big fan of Nick Lowe’s band ‘Brinsley Schwarz’, EC is said to have played the entire Silver Pistol album at one time or another. Here it is minus’ Egypt’ which is on a later volume.

ELVIS COSTELLO’S RECORD COLLECTION - Overview

ELVIS COSTELLO’S RECORD COLLECTION

Overview

This collection attempts to draw together all of the original versions of the hundred’s of covers performed & recorded by Elvis Costello over a career that now spans more than 30 years.

Naturally, with such an ambitious project there is more than a little speculation and uncertainty about some of the selections, particularly in the first couple of discs that represent the pre/professional period of his career. Nevertheless this has been researched and cross referenced extensively with a number of sources for more than two years. If not comprehensive at worst it is an essential insight on the musical influences on EC over the last 30 years and an incredibly diverse selection of popular music that spans almost a century that would never be found together on any commercial collection

There is also sometimes a little contention as to which original version to include, usually I have gone for the original version, but sometimes a more famous or influential version (on Elvis) exists. Usually songs are only included once but a 2nd version has been included on some songs that Elvis has returned to more than once throughout his career. E.g. I Don’t know what to do With Myself and You Win Again.

Incidentally I should also point out that while most of these selections have been performed by Elvis, the collection also attempts to include cameos, crowd teasers and singalongs. What’s more, now that Elvis is a music show host....you will also hear some of the songs performed by other guests on his shows. See individual track notes for details.

Finally just to mention the obvious that while you will not hear a single Elvis Composition nor indeed his voice on this collection, the entire collection is marked with his impeccable taste.

Acknowledgements

Thanks go to the amazing Elvis Costello Information Services, the best source of EC information on the whole web, Greame Thompson and his well researched biography ‘Complicated Shadows” and especially to Dave Edney for providing many of the selections and Nunki, who’s original collection was the inspiration for this project. Also a big thanks to everyone else who provided comments & suggestions on compiling this collection.

So to celebrate the 55th bithday of the man, here is volume one of an extensive collection. I'll be updating this blog with further volumes in the coming days.

Enjoy!

Drumhead

Elvis Costello's Record Collection