Rusty

Allan Mayes and the future Elvis Costello performed together under the name Rusty in 1972 and 1973.

Repertoire

Originals

Title	Songwriter(s)	Times preformed	First performed	Last performed	Description/Notes
Are You Afraid Of Your Children?	Elvis Costello	0	-	-	Recorded as a home demo by Rusty in November 1972.
Christmas 1253	unknown (Allan Mayes, Elvis Costello, or both)	2	1972-10-26 Liverpool	1972-11-30 Liverpool	-
Daybreaks	Elvis Costello	1	1972-04-28 Liverpool	1972-04-28 Liverpool	-
Dull Echos	Elvis Costello	1	1972-04-28 Liverpool	1972-04-28 Liverpool	-
For Miles I See	Elvis Costello	2	1972-02-24 Liverpool	1972-04-28 Liverpool	-
Goodbye Florence	Elvis Costello	1	1972-04-28 Liverpool	1972-04-28 Liverpool	-
Hemlock Tree	Allan Mayes, Alan Brown	11	1972-01-21 Liverpool	1973-06-24 Coventry (late)	Recorded as a home demo by Rusty in November 1972.
I'm the Prophet	Allan Mayes	1	1973-06-24 Coventry (late)	1973-06-24 Coventry (late)	Likely written by Allan after EC moved back to London.
Innocence And Incense	unknown	1	1972-01-21 Liverpool	1972-01-21 Liverpool	Likely a Rusty song from before EC joined the band.
I've Been Here Before	unknown	1	1972-01-21 Liverpool	1972-01-21 Liverpool	Likely a Rusty song from before EC joined the band. Or it might be a cover with a Google-proof title.
The Lady Holds Out Her Hand	unknown	1	1972-01-21 Liverpool	1972-01-21 Liverpool	Likely a Rusty song from before EC joined the band.
Love Is Like Everything	Elvis Costello	1	1972-05-05 Liverpool	1972-05-05 Liverpool	Recorded as a home demo by Rusty in November 1972.
Maureen And Dan	Elvis Costello, Allan Mayes	1	1972-11-30 Liverpool	1972-11-30 Liverpool	Very early version of Ghost Train. Rusty also performed a version called "The Show Must Go On", which may be the earliest version. Allan Mayes recorded a version called Maureen And Sam on his album Stumbling In The Aisle in 1986.
Separate Ways	Allan Mayes	7	1972-01-21 Liverpool	1972-01-21 Liverpool	Recorded as a home demo by Rusty in November 1972.
She's Almost Human	unknown	1	1972-01-21 Liverpool	1972-01-21 Liverpool	Likely a Rusty song from before EC joined the band.
Silver Minute	Elvis Costello (unconfirmed)	2	1972-07-17 Liverpool	1972-07-18 Liverpool	Recorded as a home demo by Rusty in November 1972.
Sleeper At The Wheel	Elvis Costello	5	1972-11-30 Liverpool	1973-06-24 Coventry (early)	-
Stuntman	Allan Mayes (unconfirmed)	4	1972-07-18 Liverpool	1973-02-09 Widnes	-
Sweet Convincer	Elvis Costello	2	1972-04-28 Liverpool	1972-05-05 Liverpool	-
Two Day Rain	Elvis Costello	4	1972-10-02 Widnes	1973-02-09 Widnes	Also transcribed as "Two Days Rain".
Warm House	Elvis Costello	14	1972-01-21 Liverpool	2015-10-20 Austin	Recorded as a home demo by Rusty in November 1972. This was Rusty's most crowd-pleasing original song. EC and Allan played it when they reunited for EC's book tour event in Austin, TX, Allan's home.
Wisdom In The Basement	Alan Brown (unconfrimed)	6	1972-01-21 Liverpool	1972-05-05 Liverpool	Only known to have been played at shows where Alan Brown played.
Wouldn't You Agree	Allan Mayes	1	1973-06-24 Coventry (late)	1973-06-24 Coventry (late)	Likely written by Allan after EC moved back to London.

Covers

Title	Songwriter(s)	Times preformed	First performed	Last performed	Influential recording(s)/Notes
Bless The Weather	John Martyn	2	1972-03-03 Liverpool	1972-03-03 Liverpool	John Martyn, Bless the Weather (album), released November 1971.
Cecilia	Paul Simon	3	1972-10-02 Widnes	1973-02-09 Widnes	Simon & Garfunkel, Bridge Over Troubled Water album, released January 1970. Single, released April 1970, was an international hit but failed to chart in the UK.
Cotton Fields	Huddie Ledbetter (Lead Belly)	2	1973-02-09 Widnes	1973-06-24 Coventry (late)	Lead Belly, recorded 1940. Covered many times. Covers that may have influenced Rusty include: Creedence Clearwater Revival, Willy and the Poor Boys, released November 1969; and Beach Boys, 20/20, released February 1969.
Country Girl	Nick Lowe	2	1972-10-02 Widnes	1973-06-24 Coventry (early)	Brinsley Schwarz, Despite It All, released November 1970. Allan Mayes's notes confirm that this is the Brinsley Schwarz song, not the Neil Young song of the same name.
Dance, Dance, Dance	Neil Young	6	1972-01-21 Liverpool	1973-06-24 Coventry (late)	Crazy Horse, Crazy Horse, released February 1971.
Dead Skunk	Loudon Wainwright III	1	1973-06-24 Coventry (late)	1973-06-24 Coventry (late)	Loudon Wainwright III, Album III. Single released November 1972. Was a novelty hit in the US, Canada, and Australia, but appears to have made no commercial impact in the UK.
Domino	Van Morrison	1	2015-10-20 Austin	2015-10-20 Austin	Van Morrison, His Band and the Street Choir, released November 15, 1970. This songs does not appear in available 1972/73 set lists, but EC recalled it as one of Rusty's regular numbers in Unfaithful Music & Disappearing Ink. EC and Allan played it when they reunited for EC's book tour event in Austin, TX, Allan's home.
Don't Lose Your Grip On Love	Nick Lowe	1	1972-10-26 Liverpool	1972-10-26 Liverpool	Brinsley Schwarz, Nervous on the Road (album), released September 1972.
Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere	Neil Young	1	1973-02-09 Widnes	1973-02-09 Widnes	Neil Young and Crazy Horse, Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere (album), released May 1969.
Fog On The Tyne	Alan Hull	3	1972-01-21 Liverpool	1972-10-02 Widnes	Lindisfarne, Fog On The Tyne (album), released October 1971.
Gasoline Alley	Rod Stewart, Ronnie Wood	1	1973-06-24 Coventry (late)	1973-06-24 Coventry (late)	Rod Stewart, Gasoline Alley (album). June 1971.
Happy Together	Garry Bonner, Alan Gordon	2	1973-02-09 Widnes	1973-06-24 Coventry (early)	The Turtles, single released February 14, 1967. Reached #12 on the UK singles charts.
I'm Ahead If I Can Quit While I'm Behind	Jim Ford	2	1973-02-09 Widnes	1973-06-24 Coventry (early)	Brinsley Schwarz, Greasy Truckers Party (live compilation album), released April 28, 1972.
I've Been Working	Van Morrison	6	1972-01-21 Liverpool	1972-07-18 Liverpool	Van Morrison, His Band and the Street Choir, released November 15, 1970.
Johnny B. Goode	Chuck Berry	2	1972-07-18 Liverpool	1972-12-01 Widnes	Chuck Berry, single released March 1958. Many covers.
Ju Ju Man	Jim Ford, Lolly Vegas	3	1972-12-01 Widnes	1973-06-24 Coventry (early)	Brinsley Schwarz, Silver Pistol, released February 1972.
Just My Way Of Saying Thank You	Nick Lowe	2	1973-02-09 Widnes	1973-06-24 Coventry (early)	Brinsley Schwarz, Greasy Truckers Party (live compilation album), released April 28, 1972.
Lady Eleanor	Alan Hull	2	1972-07-18 Liverpool	1973-02-09 Widnes	Lindisfarne, Nicely Out of Tune, released November 1969.
Last Time I Was Fooled	Nick Lowe	1	1973-06-24 Coventry (late)	1973-06-24 Coventry (late)	Brinsley Schwarz, Silver Pistol, released February 1972.
Mighty Quinn	Bob Dylan	5	1972-01-21 Liverpool	1973-06-24 Coventry (late)	Manfred Mann, single released January 12, 1968.
Nervous On The Road	Nick Lowe	3	1972-12-01 Widnes	1973-06-24 Coventry (late)	Brinsley Schwarz, Nervous on the Road (album), released September 1972.
The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down	Robbie Robertson	1	1972-01-21 Liverpool	1972-01-21 Liverpool	The Band, single released September 1969, b-side of "Up On Cripple Creek". Joan Baez, single released August 1971; international hit, including top 10 in the UK.
Nightingale	Nick Lowe	1	1973-06-24 Coventry (late)	1973-06-24 Coventry (late)	Brinsley Schwarz, Silver Pistol, released February 1972.
Old Kentucky Home	Randy Newman	6	1972-05-05 Liverpool	1973-06-24 Coventry (late)	Randy Newman, 12 Songs, released April 1970. Allan Mayes's notes confirm this is the Randy Newman song, not the well-known Stephen Foster song with a similar name.
Old Man	Neil Young	1	1973-06-24 Coventry (late)	1973-06-24 Coventry (late)	Neil Young, single released April 1972. Also on Harvest, released February 1972.
Raider	Judy Henske & Jerry Yester	5	1972-10-26 Liverpool	1973-06-24 Coventry (early)	Judy Henske & Jerry Yester, Farewell Aldebaran, released 1969.
Rock and Roll	unknown, see notes.	1	1972-12-06 Liverpool	1972-12-06 Liverpool	This might be Gary Glitter's "Rock and Roll Parts 1 and 2", which spent most of the summer of 1972 in the top 10 of the UK singles chart. It might be the Brinsley Schwarz song "Rock and Roll Woman", from their Brinsley Schwarz album, released April 1970. Apparently, the song was not a regular part of Rusty's set, as Allan Mayes's notes for this gig read "Entire repertoire + Rock and Roll."
Stealin'	traditional	1	1973-06-24 Coventry (late)	1973-06-24 Coventry (late)	Clover, Clover album, released 1970. Grateful Dead, Historic Dead, released 1971.
Tell Me Why	Neil Young	4	1972-10-26 Liverpool	1973-06-24 Coventry (early)	Neil Young, After the Gold Rush, released September 1970.
Unknown Number	Nick Lowe	5	1972-10-02 Widnes	1973-06-24 Coventry (late)	Brinsley Schwarz, Silver Pistol, released February 1972.
Up On Cripple Creek	Robbie Robertson	2	1973-02-09 Widnes	1973-06-24 Coventry (early)	The Band, single released September 1969, a-side of The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down.
Willie And The Hand Jive	Johnny Otis	2	1972-12-01 Widnes	1973-06-24 Coventry (early)	Johnny Otis, single released 1958. Many covers.
Wooden Ships	David Crosby, Paul Kantner, Stephen Stills	7	1972-04-28 Liverpool	1973-06-24 Coventry (early)	Crosby, Stills & Nash, Crosby, Stills & Nash" album, released May 1969. One of Rusty's best-received covers, due to EC and Allan's ability to harmonize.
You Ain't Goin' Nowhere	Bob Dylan	4	1972-07-18 Liverpool	1973-06-24 Coventry (early)	The Byrds, single released April 2, 1968; was minor hit in the UK (reached #45 on the pop chart). Also on The Byrds Sweetheart of the Rodeo album, released August 30, 1968.
Your Eyes Are Looking Down	Malcolm Morley	2	1972-12-01 Widnes	1973-06-24 Coventry (early)	Help Yourself, Help Yourself, released 1971.

Performances with set lists or memorabilia

30 known appearances by Rusty with Elvis Costello. date city country venue event / tour with 1972-01-21 Liverpool England Lamplight Folk Club Rusty 1972-02-04 Liverpool England Alexandra Hall Rusty 1972-02-24 Liverpool England Why Not? Rusty 1972-03-03 Liverpool England Lamplight Folk Club Rusty 1972-04-28 Liverpool England Quarry Bank School Rusty 1972-05-05 Liverpool England St George's Hall Rusty 1972-07-07 Formby England The Studio Rusty 1972-07-11 Liverpool England Temple Bar Rusty 1972-07-13 London England New Bards Folk Club Rusty 1972-07-14 London England Half Moon Rusty 1972-07-15 London England The Troubadour (London) Rusty 1972-07-17 Liverpool England Woodchurch Community Centre Rusty 1972-07-18 Liverpool England Temple Bar Rusty 1972-09-30 Liverpool England Lynwood Hall Rusty 1972-10-02 Widnes England Grosvenor Hotel Rusty 1972-10-26 Liverpool England University of Liverpool Rusty 1972-10-28 Liverpool England Mary Help of Christians Girls School Rusty 1972-11-30 Liverpool England Why Not? Rusty 1972-12-01 Widnes England Crow's Nest Rusty 1972-12-04 Liverpool England Mansion House Rusty 1972-12-06 Liverpool England Octopus Club, RAF Club Rusty 1972-12-15 Widnes England College Hall, Riverside College Rusty 1973-02-09 Widnes England Crow's Nest Rusty 1973-06-24 (early) Coventry England University of Warwick Rusty 1973-06-24 (late) Coventry England University of Warwick Rusty 2015-10-20 Austin, TX US BookPeople 2015 Memoir Tour Solo, Rusty 2020-04-29 Vancouver, BC Canada Happier Musical Hour Allan Mayes 2020-05-18 Vancouver, BC Canada Musician Monday Allan Mayes 2022-08-10 New York, NY US NBC, Studio 6B The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon Rusty, The Imposters 2022-12-02 Austin, TX US Austin City Limits Live At The Moody Theater The Earls of Austin

Rusty play a poetry reading, circa 1972-73.: Declan MacManus (center, in striped shirt, with guitar) and Allan Mayes (to the right, in dark shirt, with guitar).

Declan MacManus (left) and Rusty bassist Alan Brown, 1972. Photo from Q magazine, October 1995. This photo is frequently misidentified as being Declan MacManus and Allan Mayes.

Internal links

• Beyond Belief, December 1996
• Q, October 1995
• Allan Mayes: Stumbling In The Aisle

External links

• AllanMayes.com
• Beyond Belief: MusicCityMike.net: Allan Mayes interview