Record Mirror, November 26, 1977: Difference between revisions
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Diverse weirdnesses have surfaced in rock 'n' roll, usually connected with the whole new wave bit, that just aren't going to lie down and go away. By now that much is obvious. | Diverse weirdnesses have surfaced in rock 'n' roll, usually connected with the whole new wave bit, that just aren't going to lie down and go away. By now that much is obvious. | ||
No, the only way they're going to become unweird is by being acknowledged and assimilated and thus they'll have done their bit to transform the face of things, generally for the better. And who's to say that something won't have the strength, cunning and resilience to go that bit further to change things on a wider scale? | No, the only way they're going to become unweird is by being acknowledged and assimilated — and thus they'll have done their bit to transform the face of things, generally for the better. And who's to say that something won't have the strength, cunning and resilience to go that bit further — to change things on a wider scale? | ||
The proliferation of independent labels, most of 'em into one form of weirdness or another, has been integral and essential to the flowering of new wave kulchur. Such development automatically poses a challenge to the existing majors, throwing them back on fundamental resources in an attempt not to lose their foothold. Labels like Island and Virgin, who themselves grew up on the tide of cultural wave which was similarly building to a crescendo a decade or so ago above all must feel the wind of change as a potential danger flashpoint. | The proliferation of independent labels, most of 'em into one form of weirdness or another, has been integral and essential to the flowering of new wave kulchur. Such development automatically poses a challenge to the existing majors, throwing them back on fundamental resources in an attempt not to lose their foothold. Labels like Island and Virgin, who themselves grew up on the tide of cultural wave which was similarly building to a crescendo a decade or so ago above all must feel the wind of change as a potential danger flashpoint. | ||
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On the whole subject E. C. himself feels strongly ... 'cos he did suffer at the hands of A & R departments who didn't want to know. And let's set it down straight away that he's both intelligent and articulate — and a formidable critic for lethargic sods everywhere. | On the whole subject E. C. himself feels strongly ... 'cos he did suffer at the hands of A & R departments who didn't want to know. And let's set it down straight away that he's both intelligent and articulate — and a formidable critic for lethargic sods everywhere. | ||
Elvis: "That's their loss. They couldn't work it out first time round. But the point is, without getting too heavily into territory I've covered in other interviews — and I've tended to come over as a bit paranoid about the music business — is that the music business | Elvis: "That's their loss. They couldn't work it out first time round. But the point is, without getting too heavily into territory I've covered in other interviews — and I've tended to come over as a bit paranoid about the music business — is that the music business is very, very lazy. They can't be bothered to find out about things and their attitudes are very cloistered... | ||
"They're not at all open minded unless you've got a track record. The only time in the last 10 years that the music business has actually come out to take a look at what's going on in clubs has been the — I don't know what you want to call them — punk bands, new wave bands or whatever label they care to stick on them in order to sell them. | "They're not at all open minded unless you've got a track record. The only time in the last 10 years that the music business has actually come out to take a look at what's going on in clubs has been the — I don't know what you want to call them — punk bands, new wave bands or whatever label they care to stick on them in order to sell them. | ||
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"With most journalists, it's been a case of the same old questions being trotted out repeatedly. People have come along not actually knowing anything about me ... people come along that haven't even heard the record, they're just sent along on the assignment. I'm not interested in talking to them ... there's just no point." | "With most journalists, it's been a case of the same old questions being trotted out repeatedly. People have come along not actually knowing anything about me ... people come along that haven't even heard the record, they're just sent along on the assignment. I'm not interested in talking to them ... there's just no point." | ||
So we're not going to do the weed number here — it's a load of rubbish, based on a bunch of stupid assumptions anyway. No when I say that Elvis Costello is a weird man I mean that he's highly individual, idiosyncratic and independent, both as a writer and a person. I mean weird in the positive sense that implies someone who's found a niche that's entirely his own, which is likely to arouse the nosey, uncomprehending disapproval of your average (meaning paranoid) person. | So we're not going to do the weed number here — it's a load of rubbish, based on a bunch of stupid assumptions anyway. No — when I say that Elvis Costello is a weird man I mean that he's highly individual, idiosyncratic and independent, both as a writer and a person. I mean weird in the positive sense that implies someone who's found a niche that's entirely his own, which is likely to arouse the nosey, uncomprehending disapproval of your average (meaning paranoid) person. | ||
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Like recall the [[New Musical Express, August 27, 1977|interview]] Costello did with Nick Kent in ''NME''. In it, the fact that E.C. is into revenge was stated. Rampant Paranoia! Get that weirdo off the screen! Snuff 'im! Revenge ... I mean, you just don't say things like that, Elvis. | Like recall the [[New Musical Express, August 27, 1977|interview]] Costello did with Nick Kent in ''NME''. In it, the fact that E.C. is into revenge was stated. Rampant Paranoia! Get that weirdo off the screen! Snuff 'im! Revenge ... I mean, you just don't say things like that, Elvis. | ||
"That's being played up in a very one dimensional way — like, who am I going to get next? It's not really like that. | "That's being played up in a very one-dimensional way — like, who am I going to get next? It's not really like that. | ||
"It just happens to be something that came out on a lot of the songs on the album, so it's something that I felt needed to be explained. But you're somewhat at the mercy of the journalist, when you say things, to understand the full implications of what you're saying. (Incidentally Costello selected Nick Kent as the one journalist he'd met whom he respected.) | "It just happens to be something that came out on a lot of the songs on the album, so it's something that I felt needed to be explained. But you're somewhat at the mercy of the journalist, when you say things, to understand the full implications of what you're saying. (Incidentally Costello selected Nick Kent as the one journalist he'd met whom he respected.) | ||
"I don't want to sound one dimensional in any way. I tended to make a point of it to draw a contrast with the majority of singers who are interviewed and talk about various other aspects of their personality like how good looking they are or whatever. Or what strings the bass player uses or various other boring things. | "I don't want to sound one-dimensional in any way. I tended to make a point of it to draw a contrast with the majority of singers who are interviewed and talk about various other aspects of their personality — like how good looking they are or whatever. Or what strings the bass player uses or various other boring things. | ||
"It was something that was definitely important, but it's not something that I necessarily want to glorify. I'm very anti this glorification of more — or — less anything, that's rampant now. The whole point of the album is that it's aside from the usual things that are glorified in rock 'n' roll songs. | "It was something that was definitely important, but it's not something that I necessarily want to glorify. I'm very anti this glorification of more — or — less anything, that's rampant now. The whole point of the album is that it's aside from the usual things that are glorified in rock 'n' roll songs. |
Revision as of 23:14, 12 December 2016
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