Canberra Times, January 19, 1981: Difference between revisions

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Though this latest Costello album is primarily for the American market and not available as a local release, enthusiasts like myself would have snapped it up from the import shop to see what he was treating his fans from the land of Liberty to.
Though this latest Costello album is primarily for the American market and not available as a local release, enthusiasts like myself would have snapped it up from the import shop to see what he was treating his fans from the land of Liberty to.


And with again 20 cuts, we would not have been bothered by the inclusion of several British and Australian album tracks, diffcrcnt treatment of other previously released songs, or B-sides of other singles. There's still hunks of meat in this sandwich.
And with again 20 cuts, we would not have been bothered by the inclusion of several British and Australian album tracks, different treatment of other previously released songs, or B-sides of other singles. There's still hunks of meat in this sandwich.


''Taking Liberties'' was originally to be titled "Crawling to the USA," after one of the songs, which a ''Rolling Stone'' [[Rolling Stone, December 11, 1980|reviewer]] recently understood to mean Costello's "scathing equation of foreign aid and whoredom," but which I think has the usual Costello double edged invective, also relating to his and others' commercial motive toward the LP-oriented US market.
''Taking Liberties'' was originally to be titled ''Crawling To The USA'', after one of the songs, which a ''Rolling Stone'' [[Rolling Stone, December 11, 1980|reviewer]] recently understood to mean Costello's "scathing equation of foreign aid and whoredom," but which I think has the usual Costello double edged invective, also relating to his and others' commercial motive toward the LP-oriented US market.


But it's usually the music, not the politics, that counts. My faith in Costello was not lost: in fact it is strengthened by a number of tunes on this album.
But it's usually the music, not the politics, that counts. My faith in Costello was not lost: in fact it is strengthened by a number of tunes on this album.
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Costello has just about covered every style of music that shaped the popular rock-music culture, and where people at first thought he was new-wave (having arrived on it) and a power-pop maestro, he has shown he can craft a tune with sometimes more than a singular influence in it and indeed has a song for every occasion.
Costello has just about covered every style of music that shaped the popular rock-music culture, and where people at first thought he was new-wave (having arrived on it) and a power-pop maestro, he has shown he can craft a tune with sometimes more than a singular influence in it and indeed has a song for every occasion.


"Clean Money" opens the album, and it's only when you recognise the lyrics that you realise it's another draft of ''Get Happy'''s "Love for Tender," but an entirely new and attractive rocker. Van McCoy's "Getting Mighty Crowded" has that lively Stax feel about it and his singing of it does it justice. Richard Rodgers' and Lorenz Hart's "My Funny Valentine" doesn't do much for me: I prefer the job he did on Burt Baccarach's "I Just Don't Know What To Do With Myself." "Radio Sweetheart" is another attempt at a country-and-western style and is quite catchy.
"Clean Money" opens the album, and it's only when you recognise the lyrics that you realise it's another draft of ''Get Happy!!'''s "Love For Tender," but an entirely new and attractive rocker. Van McCoy's "Getting Mighty Crowded" has that lively Stax feel about it and his singing of it does it justice. Richard Rodgers' and Lorenz Hart's "My Funny Valentine" doesn't do much for me: I prefer the job he did on Burt Bacharach's "I Just Don't Know What To Do With Myself." "Radio Sweetheart" is another attempt at a country-and-western style and is quite catchy.


Yes, there's a lot of nourishment. Other tunes which give the album value is the emotional "Big Tears," "Hoover Factory," containing an immediately appealing chorus, "Tiny Steps," "Dr Luther's Assistant," "Wednesday Week," which rushes along, "Ghost Train" and "Talking In The Dark."
Yes, there's a lot of nourishment. Other tunes which give the album value is the emotional "Big Tears," "Hoover Factory," containing an immediately appealing chorus, "Tiny Steps," "Dr Luther's Assistant," "Wednesday Week," which rushes along, "Ghost Train" and "Talking In The Dark."


Together with "(I Don't Want To Go To) Chelsea," "Night Rally" and "Sunday's Best," which all appeared on previous albums, we have a good rummage record. We know Costello's B sides are just as good as the As.
Together with "(I Don't Want To Go To) Chelsea," "Night Rally" and "Sunday's Best," which all appeared on previous albums, we have a good rummage record. We know Costello's B{{nb}}sides are just as good as the As.


His next album for release here is due soon and you can expect it to contain the usual handful of gems.
His next album for release here is due soon and you can expect it to contain the usual handful of gems.


{{cx}}
{{tags}}[[Taking Liberties]] {{-}} [[Crawling To The USA]] {{-}} [[Clean Money]] {{-}} [[Get Happy!!]] {{-}} [[Love For Tender]] {{-}} [[Van McCoy]] {{-}} [[Getting Mighty Crowded]] {{-}} [[Stax]] {{-}} [[Richard Rodgers]] {{-}} [[Lorenz Hart]] {{-}} [[My Funny Valentine]] {{-}} [[Burt Bacharach]] {{-}} [[I Just Don't Know What To Do With Myself]] {{-}} [[Radio Sweetheart]] {{-}} [[Big Tears]] {{-}} [[Hoover Factory]] {{-}} [[Tiny Steps]] {{-}} [[Dr. Luther's Assistant]] {{-}} [[Wednesday Week]] {{-}} [[Ghost Train]] {{-}} [[Talking In The Dark]] {{-}} [[(I Don't Want To Go To) Chelsea]] {{-}} [[Night Rally]] {{-}} [[Sunday's Best]] {{-}} [[Rolling Stone, December 11, 1980|Rolling Stone]]
{{cx}}
{{cx}}


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{{Bibliography notes}}
{{Bibliography notes}}
{{Bibliography next
|prev = Canberra Times, April 11, 1980
|next = Canberra Times, January 11, 1982
}}
'''The Canberra Times, TV-Radio Guide, January 19, 1981
'''The Canberra Times, TV-Radio Guide, January 19, 1981
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{{Bibliography images}}
{{Bibliography images}}


[[image:1981-01-19 Canberra Times page 11 clipping 01.jpg|360px|border]]
[[image:1981-01-19 Canberra Times page 11 clipping 01.jpg|380px]]
<br><small>Clipping.</small>
<br><small>Clipping.</small>


<small>Page scan.</small><br>
[[image:1981-01-19 Canberra Times page 11.jpg|x120px|border]]
[[image:1981-01-19 Canberra Times page 11.jpg|x120px|border]]
<br><small>Page scan.</small>


{{Bibliography notes footer}}
{{Bibliography notes footer}}

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Taking Liberties

Elvis Costello

Luis Feliu

Though this latest Costello album is primarily for the American market and not available as a local release, enthusiasts like myself would have snapped it up from the import shop to see what he was treating his fans from the land of Liberty to.

And with again 20 cuts, we would not have been bothered by the inclusion of several British and Australian album tracks, different treatment of other previously released songs, or B-sides of other singles. There's still hunks of meat in this sandwich.

Taking Liberties was originally to be titled Crawling To The USA, after one of the songs, which a Rolling Stone reviewer recently understood to mean Costello's "scathing equation of foreign aid and whoredom," but which I think has the usual Costello double edged invective, also relating to his and others' commercial motive toward the LP-oriented US market.

But it's usually the music, not the politics, that counts. My faith in Costello was not lost: in fact it is strengthened by a number of tunes on this album.

Costello has just about covered every style of music that shaped the popular rock-music culture, and where people at first thought he was new-wave (having arrived on it) and a power-pop maestro, he has shown he can craft a tune with sometimes more than a singular influence in it and indeed has a song for every occasion.

"Clean Money" opens the album, and it's only when you recognise the lyrics that you realise it's another draft of Get Happy!!'s "Love For Tender," but an entirely new and attractive rocker. Van McCoy's "Getting Mighty Crowded" has that lively Stax feel about it and his singing of it does it justice. Richard Rodgers' and Lorenz Hart's "My Funny Valentine" doesn't do much for me: I prefer the job he did on Burt Bacharach's "I Just Don't Know What To Do With Myself." "Radio Sweetheart" is another attempt at a country-and-western style and is quite catchy.

Yes, there's a lot of nourishment. Other tunes which give the album value is the emotional "Big Tears," "Hoover Factory," containing an immediately appealing chorus, "Tiny Steps," "Dr Luther's Assistant," "Wednesday Week," which rushes along, "Ghost Train" and "Talking In The Dark."

Together with "(I Don't Want To Go To) Chelsea," "Night Rally" and "Sunday's Best," which all appeared on previous albums, we have a good rummage record. We know Costello's B sides are just as good as the As.

His next album for release here is due soon and you can expect it to contain the usual handful of gems.


Tags: Taking LibertiesCrawling To The USAClean MoneyGet Happy!!Love For TenderVan McCoyGetting Mighty CrowdedStaxRichard RodgersLorenz HartMy Funny ValentineBurt BacharachI Just Don't Know What To Do With MyselfRadio SweetheartBig TearsHoover FactoryTiny StepsDr. Luther's AssistantWednesday WeekGhost TrainTalking In The Dark(I Don't Want To Go To) ChelseaNight RallySunday's BestRolling Stone

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The Canberra Times, TV-Radio Guide, January 19, 1981


Luis Feliu reviews Taking Liberties.

Images

1981-01-19 Canberra Times page 11 clipping 01.jpg
Clipping.

Page scan.
1981-01-19 Canberra Times page 11.jpg

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