Mar 25, 1977 — Stiff Records release Elvis Costello's first single, the Nick Lowe-produced "Less Than Zero," and then hit full promotional stride. As well as posters,eye-catching sleeves and announcing pre-planned deletions, they have Elvis Is King scratched in the run-off grooves as a gimmick. But NME's Charles Shaar Murray, while praising the record, is adamant: "It doesn't stand a snowball's chance." The song was penned by Costello after seeing unrepentant British pre-war fascist leader Oswald Mosley appear on TV.
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