Superpop, March 3, 1979

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Superpop

UK & Ireland magazines

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READY-MADE D-I-Y SUPERSTAR KIT


Ben Cain

Elvis Costello is the leading example of the you too-can-make-it syndrome. Yes, whether you happen to be an anaemic bank clerk from Podsmead or a weedy insurance agent from Dorking or a shaky salesgirl in the throes of anorexia from Uttoxeter . . . DONT WORRY.

There's always a silver lining inside every cloud. And there's always an EC in every neighbourhood. Go and check on one now . . . what with this cold weather and everything, you never know what problems they might be encountering. Young Elvis is the star of the current trend for unlikely looking Pop singers. There's rolypoly Poly Styrene for one. And limping Ian Dury coming up behind her. And what about Sid V ... oh no, he's dead. Yet this archetypal nine-stone weakling has been kicking sand in the face of the ol' brandy balloon biz since he first wandered lonely as a cloud onto the stage of London's Nashville pub just under two years ago in his first washing machine ditty churn out. Even in one of his rare last interviews the emaciated tie freak with the Paul McCartney grimaces snarled, "The music biz as a whole . . , the crassness of it all, still actively disgusts me. People in this game just don't understand that I don't want to join their little club! "Even if I got to be as big as Fleetwood Mac, I still wouldn't feel any different." Whether or not these are but saggy kneed and hollow postulations is hard to determine, for Elvis doesn't allow himself to be scrutinised in public. They are only special occasions when he emerges from the steel confines of oblivion resplendent in gold lame jacket and Buddy Holly comb-back-like for Top Of The Pops, or being seen with Bebe Buell at Speakers' Corner, in London's Hyde Park. Dunno "bout you but I've always found it fascinating to cogitate upon the subject 'What popsters do in the secret of their own homes' and Elvis is no exception. Maybe backgammon is his forte, or brass rubbing, or maybe he practices putting contact lenses in and out in the private confines of his bathroom. Anyway whatever he does it makes him the most unwilling and awkward guy on the scene after John Lennon. Fellow journalists who have crossed his path tell me he's one of the most articulate, swift thinking people they've met. (Funny how the scrawny ones have big brains, while yer average Adonis is usually a prize jerk.)

This all-consuming pursuit of solitude can be linked with the aid of Freud and a record company handout to those fruitless days Elvis spent hawking his tapes around record company offices in the vain hope of trying to get somebody interested in his unique observations. Of course, A&R men, the deaf mutes that most of them are, couldn't care less. Still you can't really blame them after years of blue eyes, bleach blonde, primal teen scream conditioning. I mean, who is dis guy with the thick black bins and semi widows' peak? Hey, don't laugh, but he tells me he's a computer operator from Hounslow. Can you beat that? What can a poor boy do? Why, pop along to Stiff of course. What else? And into the maternal arms of one Jake Rivieira, all round entrepreneur and prowling proton. Elvis happened to wander into the record company offices within days of its inception and was duly signed. Now they knew a successful eccentricity when they saw one. Over the next six months three singles were released — 'Less Than Zero', 'Alison' and the eventual debut chart chugger '(The Angels Want To Wear My) Red Shoes'. The album My Aim Is True followed and reached 14 in the wake of press "I have seen the future of Rock 'n' Roll" howlings. Wonder how many A&R guys were kicking themselves in the pants during that heady period. Enter the Attractions. In retrospect this trick-a-treat trio could hardly have been called anything else.

After all, it was such an attractive proposition enlisting the services of ex-Chilli Willi and the Red Hot Peppers drummer Pete Thomas.. (Surprise, surprise. Wasn't Mr Riviera that particular combo's manager?). Bassist Bruce Thomas, formerly of Sutherland Brothers and Quiver fame, was next to join. Incidentally, there is no substance to the rumour that John Thomas will also be added at some future date. Finally the appropriately named (according to his disparate remarks in some journals) Steve Naive tiptoed in on keyboards. The set up ripped it up all over the country before joining the bawdy booze up travelling under the guise 'Stiffs Live Stiffs' tour. From then on in it was up, up and away. 'Watching The Detectives' consolidated his chart success and within a month he was wowing the US cloth ears with a tour that culminated in one of the most unforeseen events of the year — Elvis Costello in the US hot 100 album chart. Naturally the first quarter of '78 was spent cashing in on this unprecedented success with a further tour of epic proportions. That Costello’s acerbic lyrics wrapped up in tight cocoons should catch the imagination of the Yanks isn’t really that amazing. His appeal lies in an ability to embrace each song with a kinda disposable passion – a three minute burn up along the Pop highway – and that approach Americans love.

1978 was the EC year. More US tours, a successful second album, This Year's Model (straight in at number four for a four month residence), a headline appearance in front of 60,000 at Brixton for a Rock Against Racism show and concerts in Hawaii, Japan and Australia. And then there was Bebe Buell. Elvis was spotted arm in arm with Rod Stewart's ex, coasting around a John Cooper Clarke sing-in at Speaker's Corner. There were the usual denials . . . then the two moved in together after Elv parted from his wife Mary — they have a three-year-old son Matthew. Ironic that this Pop star antithesis should suddenly get lumped in the gossip columns with all the poseurs. Like he once said, "When I'm as big as Fleetwood Mac it will require a lot of tight control and discipline on my part mentally." Although his third album Armed Forces has been well received and 'Oliver's Army' is his biggest hit single to date the slag offs have started. The recent Hammersmith Odeon concert didn't exactly set the critics alight. "Too showbizzy" was one reaction. Looks like it's time for the tight control and discipline. . .


Tags: Ian DuryNashville RoomsPaul McCartneyBuddy HollyTop Of The PopsBebe BuellJohn LennonStiff RecordsLess Than ZeroAlison(The Angels Wanna Wear My) Red ShoesMy Aim Is TrueThe AttractionsChilli Willi & the Red Hot PeppersPete ThomasJake RivieraBruce ThomasSutherland Brothers And QuiverSteve NieveStiffs Live StiffsWatching The DetectivesThis Year's ModelRock Against RacismRod StewartJohn Cooper ClarkeFleetwood MacArmed ForcesOliver's ArmyHammersmith Palais

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Superpop, March 3, 1979


Ben Cain profiles Elvis Costello.

Images

1979-03-03 Superpop cover.jpg
Cover.

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