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I have this nagging fear that Elvis Costello could easily go the way of the Undertones. The Tones strove to scale new musical heights but the fickle public didn't want the bother of a climb.
Because they weren't clocking up the No. 1's and appearing every fortnight on Top of the Pops, the fans melted and with them went the boys' own interest and enthusiasm.
Now Mr. Costello, of course, has secured a much loftier position in the scheme of things. But the comparison is not all that extreme.
Recall, if you will, that his last opus, Imperial Bedroom, was critically acclaimed but failed to shift the necessary amount of units in the shops.
Punch the Clock is certainly no sloucher, it features Costello's sparse but functional sound with a new embellishment. The TKO Horns make a difference but there's a lot more as well.
It is Costello moving ahead, though overall the foundations remain the same: a marvellous musical sense and some of the finest, cleverest lyrics around.
Listen to the sharp lines of "Pills and Soap" and you'll see how Costello is head and shoulders above the others. He is simply the best, let's hope the fans realise that.
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