New Musical Express, January 31, 1987: Difference between revisions
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<center><h3> Elvis Costello and The Attractions </h3></center> | <center><h3> Elvis Costello and The Attractions </h3></center> | ||
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<center> Len Brown </center> | <center> Len Brown </center> | ||
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'''Royal Albert Hall | |||
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Steven the computer programmer is in his element. In black and white stripes with red kipper tie, he's sweating, shaking and singing all the words to all the songs (even the brand new ones). When he finally gets his "I Spun The Spectacular Spinning Songbook" T-shirt there's no stopping him. It matters not that he's a goon for onstage, at first glance, there appears to be four prime specimens of the species. And the great thing for Steven and his ilk is that the Attractions — crushed red velvet flares, dodgy glasses, Cope mops, epaulettes — have eternally put goons on the map, endowing even computer programmers with the semblance of humanity. | Steven the computer programmer is in his element. In black and white stripes with red kipper tie, he's sweating, shaking and singing all the words to all the songs (even the brand new ones). When he finally gets his "I Spun The Spectacular Spinning Songbook" T-shirt there's no stopping him. It matters not that he's a goon for onstage, at first glance, there appears to be four prime specimens of the species. And the great thing for Steven and his ilk is that the Attractions — crushed red velvet flares, dodgy glasses, Cope mops, epaulettes — have eternally put goons on the map, endowing even computer programmers with the semblance of humanity. | ||
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Then it's the Spinning Songbook and Steve the computer programmer's big chance. He can't believe it, he's bowled over by it. He shakes the hand of the great man, then — guided by the 'tache and toupee' of Mr Saviour Valentine — he climbs the golden staircase of song and gives the big wheel a twirl. Meanwhile Dynamite, with Terry Lawless towel draped over one shoulder, MCs the proceedings like a wrestling ref. It's all so beautifully tacky and self-deprecating and yet the chosen songs — "Alison," "Lip Service," "The Beat," "Everyday I Write The Book"... — are as crisp and fresh as ever. | Then it's the Spinning Songbook and Steve the computer programmer's big chance. He can't believe it, he's bowled over by it. He shakes the hand of the great man, then — guided by the 'tache and toupee' of Mr Saviour Valentine — he climbs the golden staircase of song and gives the big wheel a twirl. Meanwhile Dynamite, with Terry Lawless towel draped over one shoulder, MCs the proceedings like a wrestling ref. It's all so beautifully tacky and self-deprecating and yet the chosen songs — "Alison," "Lip Service," "The Beat," "Everyday I Write The Book"... — are as crisp and fresh as ever. | ||
It's hard to fathom out exactly how he manages it, how he unites pop, with music hall with ITV game show, and gets away with it. His continued strength depends on other projects, on the ability to explore new areas of music, to make old songs his own, to inspire new material. It'll never be enough for him (or us) to churn out the oldies or simply to go through the motions; but tonight | It's hard to fathom out exactly how he manages it, how he unites pop, with music hall with ITV game show, and gets away with it. His continued strength depends on other projects, on the ability to explore new areas of music, to make old songs his own, to inspire new material. It'll never be enough for him (or us) to churn out the oldies or simply to go through the motions; but tonight the spirit of the past and the poetic power of Costello's present made this one of the great goon shows. | ||
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[[Len Brown]] reviews Elvis Costello & [[The Attractions]], Thursday, [[Concert 1987-01-22 London|January 22, 1987]], Royal Albert Hall, London, England. | [[Len Brown]] reviews Elvis Costello & [[The Attractions]], Thursday, [[Concert 1987-01-22 London|January 22, 1987]], Royal Albert Hall, London, England. | ||
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[[Michele Kirsch]] reviews the | [[Michele Kirsch]] reviews the [[Blue Chair (single)|single]] for "[[Blue Chair]]"; a full page ad for the single runs on page [[:image:1987-01-31 New Musical Express page 31 advertisement.jpg|31]]. | ||
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<center><h3> Blue Chair </h3></center> | <center><h3> Blue Chair </h3></center> | ||
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<center> Michele Kirsch </center> | <center> Michele Kirsch </center> | ||
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{{Bibliography text}} | {{Bibliography text}} | ||
[[image:1987-01-31 New Musical Express page 16.jpg| | [[image:1987-01-31 New Musical Express page 16.jpg|110px|right]] | ||
[[image:1987-01-31 New Musical Express page 31 advertisement.jpg|110px|right]] | |||
Another better B-side. The "twilight" version of "American Without Tears" — a gently swaggering, poignant portrait of, er, true Venezuelan love? Elvis always draws tears with his C&W material. "Blue Chair" is a stripped down version of one of the less memorable tunes from ''Blood & Chocolate''. Mostly bass and keyboards, with a much too long fade out that does the song a great disservice. | Another better B-side. The "twilight" version of "American Without Tears" — a gently swaggering, poignant portrait of, er, true Venezuelan love? Elvis always draws tears with his C&W material. "Blue Chair" is a stripped down version of one of the less memorable tunes from ''Blood & Chocolate''. Mostly bass and keyboards, with a much too long fade out that does the song a great disservice. | ||
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<small>Photo by [[Keith Morris]].</small><br> | <small>Photo by [[Keith Morris]].</small><br> | ||
[[image:1987-01-31 New Musical Express photo 01 km.jpg|380px]] | [[image:1987-01-31 New Musical Express photo 01 km.jpg|380px|Photo by Keith Morris]] | ||
<small>Cover and page scan.</small><br> | <small>Cover and page scan.</small><br> | ||
[[image:1987-01-31 New Musical Express cover.jpg|x120px | [[image:1987-01-31 New Musical Express cover.jpg|x120px]] | ||
[[image:1987-01-31 New Musical Express page 41.jpg|x120px | [[image:1987-01-31 New Musical Express page 41.jpg|x120px|concert reviews]] | ||
{{Bibliography notes footer}} | {{Bibliography notes footer}} |
Latest revision as of 21:13, 1 June 2023
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