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Miracle Man.
Today we celebrate the birthday of one Declan MacManus, better known to the world as Elvis Costello, among other aliases over the years. Bursting onto the scene with what is arguably the best ever 1-2-3 punch of albums (My Aim Is True, This Year's Model and Armed Forces), Elvis quickly grabbed your attention with short catchy songs, a rapier wit and his secret weapon, The Attractions.
For as good as this sneering, scrawny Buddy Holly caricature was — and he was great — Steve Nieve on keys, Bruce Thomas on bass and Pete Thomas (no relation) on drums were as formidable a rock band as you could hope for. They weren't as spacial as The Police would become, nor were they thunderous like the then-still powerful Who, but they were so tight you couldn't slip an ant's ass hair through them.
But before Elvis Costello and The Attractions became one, it all started with an iconic debut; tracks laid down with session musicians who weren't initially credited, total recording time adding up to less than one day.
People listen to records differently these days, especially if they are digital downloads. No tactile sensation of an album cover, liner notes, lyric sheets. Earbuds instead of walls of speakers. Sigh.
I remember the day my friend Phil showed up at my house with My Aim Is True; import version, of course. My roommate Larry and another friend were already hanging in the living room, music on as always. We had heard about the album coming out that day and planned to go grab it in a couple of hours. Phil was no procrastinator; he snagged it and came over where he knew there would be other willing participants to share the magic with. (Yet another earbud problem — isolation instead of the communal experience).
It was astonishing.
Two of the songs didn't even hit the two-minute mark. The opening rocker "Welcome To The Working Week" somehow jammed a boatload of hooks, wry lyrics and choruses into a minute in a half; "Mystery Dance" sputtered and tumbled much like the clumsy lover the narrative depicted. There was fury and sarcasm, and there was great wit and wordplay, and the band (pre–Attractions musicians from Clover and The Rumour, among others) snapped everything to attention.
And maybe it was because it stood out with its winsome melody and broken heart, but "Alison" was an instant classic. The chink in the armor was there for all to see; this snarling wise-ass had feelings after all. When not long after I heard him nail this live it sent chills up my spine.
We were gobsmacked; I can't tell you how many times we played this album over and over and over that day. It was all we would talk about with friends for days after, and whenever someone came over that album would come out and they would get indoctrinated. Not long afterwards some friends in a band worked up three of his songs so that I could duck out from tending bar and play lead singer for ten minutes. (We were the first Syracuse band to play Elvis Costello songs, and yes, I'm proud of that!)
Of course, Costello continued to floor us with one great album after another, and thanks to him and Rockpile and Graham Parker and Joe Jackson there was a new, fresh volley of literate songwriters serving up an alchemic stew of influences and flushing the distaste of disco and flaccid pop out of our ears.
The trend wouldn't last of course — none do — but the music proved timeless. On Friday I'll celebrate Costello's career with an Elvis-themed TGIF.
And yes, I know that today is also the birthday of Gene Simmons, Ruby Keeler, Tim Burton, Rob Halford, Wayne Shorter, Walt Kelly (Pogo), Regis Philbin and several others…as well as the tenth anniversary of Jack Nitzsche's death and the first for Ted Kennedy. But today, I must honor the Elvis who has been a part of my musical life for over three decades.
No offense, Mr. Presley.
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