New Musical Express, August 21, 1982: Difference between revisions
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Thus the current two month US tour of East and West Coasts, with detours into the Midwest and South, concentrating on ''Imperial Bedroom'' material, some new unreleased songs, a clutch of old chestnuts plus the odd ''Almost Blue'' selection. Two days after the Attractions' return, EC and company embark on the lengthy British tour terminating in London this Christmas. | Thus the current two month US tour of East and West Coasts, with detours into the Midwest and South, concentrating on ''Imperial Bedroom'' material, some new unreleased songs, a clutch of old chestnuts plus the odd ''Almost Blue'' selection. Two days after the Attractions' return, EC and company embark on the lengthy British tour terminating in London this Christmas. | ||
Meanwhile, whilst heatedly promoting ''IB', through live gigs, Costello has apparently been considering the odd interview for the American market. ''Rolling Stone'', for example, have been negotiating with Riviera for a possible [[Rolling Stone, September 2, 1982|cover story]], although beyond simply backing up these rumours, F-Beat spokespersons became vague regarding concrete results. | Meanwhile, whilst heatedly promoting ''IB'', through live gigs, Costello has apparently been considering the odd interview for the American market. ''Rolling Stone'', for example, have been negotiating with Riviera for a possible [[Rolling Stone, September 2, 1982|cover story]], although beyond simply backing up these rumours, F-Beat spokespersons became vague regarding concrete results. | ||
There is however ''A Conversation With Elvis Costello''; a two album set that diligently pairs IB's 14 tracks with lengthy explanations and details of everything from myriad techniques through to the exact meaning and inspiration of the song from the Master's Voice itself. With 300 copies pressed primarily for radio promotional purposes, Costello's good natured banter takes up a good hour of listening time, and affords anyone even vaguely intrigued by our pre-eminent pop composer's quirky genius a solid and agreeable insight into its workings. | There is however ''A Conversation With Elvis Costello''; a two album set that diligently pairs IB's 14 tracks with lengthy explanations and details of everything from myriad techniques through to the exact meaning and inspiration of the song from the Master's Voice itself. With 300 copies pressed primarily for radio promotional purposes, Costello's good natured banter takes up a good hour of listening time, and affords anyone even vaguely intrigued by our pre-eminent pop composer's quirky genius a solid and agreeable insight into its workings. | ||
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"On 'Beyond Belief' the first track, I noticed that the backing track had this great ''conviction'' whilst my initial melody was weak and needed drastically rearranging. The original lyric was garbled because it was at more than twice the speed. So I halved the lyrics and halved the speed of my vocal delivery which make for a nicely ''disconcerting'' effect of calm vocals over this rattling back up, instead of yet another ''frantic'' track which we've done too often before. | "On 'Beyond Belief' the first track, I noticed that the backing track had this great ''conviction'' whilst my initial melody was weak and needed drastically rearranging. The original lyric was garbled because it was at more than twice the speed. So I halved the lyrics and halved the speed of my vocal delivery which make for a nicely ''disconcerting'' effect of calm vocals over this rattling back up, instead of yet another ''frantic'' track which we've done too often before. | ||
"Similarly 'Tears Before Bedtime' — there were something like four versions of that. A county version was recorded during the ''Almost | "Similarly 'Tears Before Bedtime' — there were something like four versions of that. A county version was recorded during the ''Almost Blue'' sessions, plus a rock 'n' roll arrangement. Then we did a sort of Fats Domino arrangement which ended up sounding too dated .. in fact, it sounded like John Lennon's 'Starting Over' ''(laughs)''. Then there was a rhythm shift, like on 'Strict Time' off ''Trust'' which we nicked off The Meters. A much sleazier approach which I carried on by doing a fairly humorous vocal set-up which ended up sounding like The Coasters ''(laughs)''. It needed a more buoyant feel because the subject definitely isn't lightweight but tended to sound a bit too angst-ridden to begin with. People have had enough pain and misery anyway. Particularly on our records! ''(laughs)''." | ||
The dialogue continues track-by-track the length and breadth of <i>IB</i>'s devious architecture. A number of Costello's remarks are particularly illuminating. 'Shabby Doll', a musical equivalent of David Lynch's brilliantly disorientating ''Eraserhead'', came about due to "seeing this ancient music hall poster in which one artiste was referred to as "she's just a shabby doll," while "Long Honeymoon" turns out to have originated as a piano instrument that Costello's publishers had sent to legendary New York lyricist Sammy Cahn ("All The Way," "The Tender Trap," "Three Coins In The Fountain"). Cahn sent the tape back after two months prompting Costello, his ego mildly grazed, to reshape the melody line and compose the lyrics himself. | |||
'Almost Blue' "was an attempt to write in the classic mode. Its lyric style is more akin to the '40s era although "nostalgia's the last thing I wanted to suggest. That's why there's not more of an arrangement." Inspired by Chet Baker — Costello's favourite singer alongside Frank Sinatra — 'Almost Blue' itself is "my most sincerely sung ballad." | |||
'And In Every Home' meanwhile started life as a rocker, believe it or not; "another 'Pump It Up' but too many chords and the story was too delicate to be sledgehammered to oblivion." The story "suggested a performance | |||
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'''New Musical Express, August 21, 1982 | '''New Musical Express, August 21, 1982 | ||
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[[Nick Kent]] writes about Elvis Costello and ''[[Imperial Bedroom]]'', quoting heavily from the ''[[A Conversation With Elvis Costello| | [[Nick Kent]] writes about Elvis Costello and ''[[Imperial Bedroom]]'', quoting heavily from the ''[[A Conversation With Elvis Costello|Conversation With Elvis Costello]]'' promo. | ||
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Paul Tickell reviews ''Gram Parsons'', | Paul Tickell reviews the ''Gram Parsons'' compilation, featuring [[Gram Parsons (1982) liner notes|liner notes]] by Elvis Costello. | ||
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Also includes an ad for the [[:Category:Bedrooms Of Britain Tour|Bedrooms Of Britain Tour]]. | Also includes an ad for the [[:Category:Bedrooms Of Britain Tour|Bedrooms Of Britain Tour]]. |
Revision as of 18:00, 14 May 2014
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