Los Angeles Times, December 31, 1981: Difference between revisions
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<center><h3> Tensing in the dark: an evening with{{nb}}Costello </h3></center> | <center><h3> Tensing in the dark: an evening with{{nb}}Costello </h3></center> | ||
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<center> Robert Hilburn </center> | <center> Robert Hilburn </center> | ||
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''' Costello keeps high intensity | |||
{{Bibliography text}} | {{Bibliography text}} | ||
Who does Elvis Costello think he is... Bruce Springsteen? | Who does Elvis Costello think he is... Bruce Springsteen? | ||
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Who does Elvis Costello think he is... Hank Williams? | Who does Elvis Costello think he is... Hank Williams? | ||
If Costello, whose real name is Declan | If Costello, whose real name is Declan MacManus, had more self-confidence when he was starting out, he might have chosen Hank or George (as in Jones) rather than Elvis as the first half of his stage moniker. | ||
Costello loves country music but figured he'd have little chance of being accepted in that U.S.-based field because he's English. | Costello loves country music but figured he'd have little chance of being accepted in that U.S.-based field because he's English. | ||
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On Tuesday, however, Costello exhibited none of that hesitancy as he infused the country material with so much of his own freewheeling vision that a few of the tunes from ''Almost Blue'' were barely recognizable in their new form. | On Tuesday, however, Costello exhibited none of that hesitancy as he infused the country material with so much of his own freewheeling vision that a few of the tunes from ''Almost Blue'' were barely recognizable in their new form. | ||
With the nicely tailored backing of his three-piece band the Attractions and guest steel guitarist John McFee (from the Doobie Brothers), Costello turned Charlie Rich's "Sittin' and Thinkin' " from the slow, bittersweet lament offered on the album into a vigorous, honky-tonk workout, giving the song an invigorating new slant. | With the nicely tailored backing of his three-piece band the Attractions and guest steel guitarist John McFee (from the Doobie Brothers), Costello turned Charlie Rich's "Sittin' and Thinkin'" from the slow, bittersweet lament offered on the album into a vigorous, honky-tonk workout, giving the song an invigorating new slant. | ||
Similarly, Costello changed the frisky but directionless album version of Hank Williams' "Why Don't You Love Me (Like You Used to Do)" into a jolting exercise with much of the fury and punch of his own "Lovers Walk." The only songs from the album that weren't improved were Haggard's "Tonight | Similarly, Costello changed the frisky but directionless album version of Hank Williams' "Why Don't You Love Me (Like You Used to Do)" into a jolting exercise with much of the fury and punch of his own "Lovers Walk." The only songs from the album that weren't improved were Haggard's "Tonight the Bottle Let Me Down," which was rushed, and Gibson's "Sweet Dreams," which simply lacked the haunting vocal qualities that both Gibson and Emmylou Harris have brought to the anguished ballad. | ||
Costello, however, did wisely step beyond the ''Almost Blue'' material for some surprises, including a fireball rendition of Johnny Cash's old "Cry, Cry, Cry" and the eerie madness of "Psycho," though the Sports Arena acoustics probably made the song difficult to follow for anyone hearing it the first time. If you want to really hear it, the song is the flipside of Costello's new British single. | Costello, however, did wisely step beyond the ''Almost Blue'' material for some surprises, including a fireball rendition of Johnny Cash's old "Cry, Cry, Cry" and the eerie madness of "Psycho," though the Sports Arena acoustics probably made the song difficult to follow for anyone hearing it the first time. If you want to really hear it, the song is the flipside of Costello's new British single. | ||
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You can still catch Alvin and the Blasters, rapidly becoming acclaimed by critics as one of America's finest new bands, tonight at the New Olympic Auditorium (with Black Flag) or next Thursday at the Roxy. Costello, meanwhile, continues his three-city tour with shows tonight in New York and Sunday at Nashville's Grand Ole Opry. | You can still catch Alvin and the Blasters, rapidly becoming acclaimed by critics as one of America's finest new bands, tonight at the New Olympic Auditorium (with Black Flag) or next Thursday at the Roxy. Costello, meanwhile, continues his three-city tour with shows tonight in New York and Sunday at Nashville's Grand Ole Opry. | ||
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{{tags}}[[Concert 1981-12-29 Los Angeles|Sports Arena]] {{-}} [[Los Angeles]] {{-}} [[The Attractions]] {{-}} [[John McFee]] {{-}} [[Phil Alvin]] {{-}} [[The Moonlighters]] {{-}} [[Almost Blue]] {{-}} [[Hank Williams]] {{-}} [[George Jones]] {{-}} [[Declan MacManus]] {{-}} [[Concert 1979-02-16 Los Angeles (early)|The Palomino]] {{-}} [[He'll Have To Go]] {{-}} [[Psycho]] {{-}} [[Stranger In The House]] {{-}} [[Motel Matches]] {{-}} [[Billy Sherrill]] {{-}} [[Merle Haggard]] {{-}} [[Don Gibson]] {{-}} [[Gram Parsons]] {{-}} [[John McFee]] {{-}} [[The Doobie Brothers]] {{-}} [[Charlie Rich]] {{-}} [[Sittin' And Thinkin']] {{-}} [[Why Don't You Love Me (Like You Used To Do)?]] {{-}} [[Tonight The Bottle Let Me Down]] {{-}} [[Lovers Walk]] {{-}} [[Sweet Dreams]] {{-}} [[Johnny Cash]] {{-}} [[Cry, Cry, Cry]] {{-}} [[The Flying Burrito Brothers]] {{-}} [[Willie Nelson]] {{-}} [[Waylon Jennings]] {{-}} [[Richard Rodgers|Rodgers &]] [[Lorenz Hart|Hart]] {{-}} [[My Funny Valentine]] {{-}} [[Alison]] {{-}} [[Bruce Springsteen]] | |||
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{{Bibliography images}} | {{Bibliography images}} | ||
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<br><small>Clippings.</small> | <br><small>Clippings.</small> | ||
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Revision as of 23:08, 29 December 2021
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