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It's true. Elvis Costello has cleaned up his act. The angry young man has ceased raging and is now trying to make peace with everyone, including himself. In concert at Forest Hills last Friday night, Elvis played thirty-five songs in a set that lasted nearly two hours. The focus of the show was, naturally enough, on his latest album, Imperial Bedroom. He played eight numbers from this album emphasizing the mellow. For instance, Mr. Costello chose not to play the most commercially successful cut off the new album, "The Loved Ones." He also omitted our personal favorites, "Human Hands" and the tuneful "You Little Fool." Instead, Costello opted for the quieter compositions; "Tears Before Bedtime," "Man Out of Time," and "The Long Honeymoon." Much to our delight, he also performed the song "The Imperial Bedroom," a charming piece not included on the album but recently released as the flip side of the twelve-inch single of "Man Out of Time."
Although Mr. Costello concentrated on the less bombastic songs from Imperial Bedroom, their execution was highpowered (possibly because of a lukewarm reception these songs received earlier in the tour?). In any case, the new material, particularly "Beyond Belief," "Pidgeon English," and "Shabby Doll" met with unadulterated approval from the crowd.
In the same mellow vein, Elvis gave us a perfunctory rendition of "Allison," perhaps his biggest hit; perhaps a bit too perfunctory. However, this uninspired "Allison" was not indicative of his delivery of his other earlier work. Hardcore Elvis fans were not disappointed. Excellent performances of his hard-driving classics were found in abundance. "Angels Wanna Wear My Red Shoes," "Mystery Dance," "What's So Funny About Peace, Love and Understanding," "Watching the Detectives" and "Pump it Up" were some of the highlights of the show.
Fans were also not deprived of a glimpse of the old Elvis, the arrogant young man so full of hate that you had to love him. At one point in the concert, Costello took time out from the vocals in Watching the Detectives to fling his twitching finger and the 'F-word' at a hostile audience member who had hit him with a beer bottle. Elvis regained his composure and finished the song. The irate fan was violently removed from the stadium.
And what about that "blind, ignorant nigger," Ray Charles? Well, Elvis is still trying to live that one down. Even after publicly apologizing for the remark, it is evident that Elvis still feels the need to make amends. Humorous amends: he treated us to enthusiastic renditions of "The Back Stabbers" and an old Smokey Robinson tune.
The Attractions form a tight backup for Costello, providing his music with its characteristic lilt. At times they seem more like a rhythm section or orchestra than a pop-rock band. One wishes that they could reproduce some of the superb vocal backing that Elvis himself overdubs on his records. But why should they? (Maybe they can't)? Obviously there is a division of labor in this group. He sings, they play. They play, he doesn't. It works. Elvis holds his guitar like a shield, rarely putting finger to string. There were two moments in Friday night's concert when he removed his shield, both literally and figuratively. During "Town Crier," the soulful windup of Imperial Bedroom, Elvis put down his guitar and sang from the heart:
"Maybe you don't believe my heart is in the right place, why don't you take a good look at my face."
For an encore Elvis followed a sensational "Radio, Radio" with a powerfully honest "Clown Time is Over," again sans guitar. Elvis is through with clowning around.
Incidentally the opening act was Talk, Talk. Not worth talking about — All talk. No Action.
Dave and Jane are weekly columnists and two really neat people.
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