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Turn on your TV recently and there’s a fair chance you’ll catch the magnificent ELVIS COSTELLO on a variety of shows, everything from Royal Variety to Graham Norton and Saturday Kitchen. Of course, seeing him play live is always a good thing, but to hear him chat so openly about his life, recording, and family, is something we don’t often get to hear.
Yes, Elvis has a new album to promote (more of that shortly), but listening to his interviews, and the album itself (his 32nd incidentally), you get the feeling this is right up there as one of his most career, and life defining releases.
Those of us who remember grabbing a vinyl copy of his first album MY AIM IS TRUE will relate to the new album THE BOY NAMED IF and how it straddles that difficult time in our life when we shift from ‘youth’ into ‘adulthood’ and all the challenges that brings. I hate using the phrase ‘takes us on a journey’ but it really does, and a journey we can all relate to.
You may have seen Elvis performing ‘Paint The Red Rose Blue‘ on Graham Norton, but don’t expect and album filled ballads, which Elvis does so well. This is a trip back to the early days, with shades of Pump It Up and more of those early classics. This is angry young man, with 67 years of life experience behind him. For us here in the office, this is the best quarantine of to date.
Take a listen to the lead single from the album, which Elvis and The Imposters played for Radio Two – MAGNIFICENT HURT.
Incidentally, if you get in quick, you can get a really nice purple vinyl, double vinyl copy of the album.
Elvis is back with The Imposters on the album, and also on the upcoming tour. For those of us who saw him during ‘The Attractions’ days, will be thrilled to see original members – drummer Pete Thomas, and keyboard player Steve Nieve, they’re joined by bassist Davey Faragher and Charlie Sexton
Elvis Costello & The Imposters have announced a UK tour, The Boy Named If & Other Favourites, which kicks off in June. On this tour you won’t hear ‘Olivers Army‘ as one of the other favourites.
Elvis has said he will no longer perform the song, and has also asked radio stations to stop playing it. Written about the conflict in Northern Ireland, the lyrics contain a racial slur used to describe Irish Catholics.
“That’s what my grandfather was called in the British army – it’s historically a fact.
But people hear that word, and accuse me of something that I didn’t intend.”
We’re hoping we do get to hear a couple of favourites on the tour this time out. There’s the break-up classic ‘Good Year For The Roses‘ and of course ‘She‘ from the movie Notting Hill, which has had something 80 million plays on Spotify alone.
Elvis gets to the Swansea Arena on Monday 20th June, with tickets costing £53.90, you can get yours HERE.
Ian Prowse will be opening the show, performing songs from his upcoming album. ‘One Hand on the Starry Plough’ is out now
The new album, ‘The Boy Named If’ is out right now on EMI.
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