Sarasota Herald-Tribune, September 22, 1983: Difference between revisions
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<center><h3> Elvis Costello learns to keep his | <center><h3> Elvis Costello learns to keep his alternatives{{nb}}open </h3></center> | ||
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<center> Robert Hilburn / Los Angeles Times </center> | <center> Robert Hilburn / Los Angeles Times </center> | ||
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HOLLYWOOD — Kathy, an assistant art director in nearby Santa Monica, has been a big Elvis Costello fan ever since he stormed offstage during his celebrated Santa Monica Civic concert in 1978. | HOLLYWOOD — Kathy, an assistant art director in nearby Santa Monica, has been a big Elvis Costello fan ever since he stormed offstage during his celebrated Santa Monica Civic concert in 1978. | ||
She likes the fact that Costello, the most acclaimed rock songwriter of recent years | She likes the fact that Costello, the most acclaimed rock songwriter of recent years, finally has his first U.S. hit single ever: the playful "Everyday I Write the Book." And, she'll probably be on hand for at least a couple of his upcoming local concerts. | ||
But Kathy admits she is not quite as enthralled with Costello as she once was. | But Kathy admits she is not quite as enthralled with Costello as she once was. | ||
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Well, Kathy can relax. | Well, Kathy can relax. | ||
Costello | Costello, now 29 and with eight albums behind him, can still be angry. And oh-so sarcastic. | ||
Just mention ''Rolling Stone'' magazine to him. | Just mention ''Rolling Stone'' magazine to him. | ||
"''Rolling Stone''," he repeated contemptuously. "How often even do you see musicians on the cover of that magazine any more? | "''Rolling Stone''," he repeated contemptuously. "How often even do you see musicians on the cover of that magazine any more? They've just had three in a row. How nice of them! That's a rarity. | ||
"All ''Rolling Stone'' is these days is ''Playboy'' magazine for the cocaine generation." | "All ''Rolling Stone'' is these days is ''Playboy'' magazine for the cocaine generation." | ||
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"The truth is most of those people didn't like me when I was 'angry.' They probably weren't even at the shows. They were off listening to their (boring) Boston records" | "The truth is most of those people didn't like me when I was 'angry.' They probably weren't even at the shows. They were off listening to their (boring) Boston records" | ||
Don't get the idea that Costello was always angry or sarcastic During a 90-minute interview, other aspects of his personality emerged as strongly the same humor, compassion, combativeness that are also woven into his songs | Don't get the idea that Costello was always angry or sarcastic. During a 90-minute interview, other aspects of his personality emerged as strongly the same humor, compassion, combativeness that are also woven into his songs. | ||
For someone whose image has almost overshadowed his music, Costello is unusually unaffected offstage He showed up for the interview, his face so wet that he looked as if he had just gotten out of the shower. He had just walked in blistering heat the two miles from Tower Records, where he stocked up on some cassettes. | For someone whose image has almost overshadowed his music, Costello is unusually unaffected offstage. He showed up for the interview, his face so wet that he looked as if he had just gotten out of the shower. He had just walked in blistering heat the two miles from Tower Records, where he stocked up on some cassettes. | ||
In the same vein, Costello was as eager to discuss his favorite record or musicians (the Neville Brothers, Style Council, Aztec Camera, Squeeze were among the ones cited) as his own work. He also spoke humorously about some of his own foibles and eloquently on the troubled socio-economic conditions back home in England. | In the same vein, Costello was as eager to discuss his favorite record or musicians (the Neville Brothers, Style Council, Aztec Camera, Squeeze were among the ones cited) as his own work. He also spoke humorously about some of his own foibles and eloquently on the troubled socio-economic conditions back home in England. | ||
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Costello is pleased that his new single is doing well and that the album is shaping up as his biggest seller since ''Armed Forces'', which went gold (more than 500,000 copies sold) in 1979. | Costello is pleased that his new single is doing well and that the album is shaping up as his biggest seller since ''Armed Forces'', which went gold (more than 500,000 copies sold) in 1979. | ||
The bespectacled singer said that he set out to make the production and material on ''Punch the Clock'' more accessible than last year's ''Imperial Bedroom'', a marvelously ambitious and complex album with sophisticated lyrics and classic melodies that resulted in some critics comparing him to Cole Porter. ( | The bespectacled singer said that he set out to make the production and material on ''Punch the Clock'' more accessible than last year's ''Imperial Bedroom'', a marvelously ambitious and complex album with sophisticated lyrics and classic melodies that resulted in some critics comparing him to Cole Porter. (Costello's reaction to the Porter comparison: "I'm not trying to be Cole Porter. I don't live in a penthouse and walk around in a dinner jacket, waving a cigarette holder.") | ||
But Costello dented the greater accessibility of ''Punch the Clock'' represented an artistic compromise He believes that two of the new songs are among the best he has ever written: the stark, painfully ironic "Shipbuilding" (a look at British involvement in the Falklands War) and "Pills and Soap" (a sobering look at Britain's tarnished ideals). | |||
In fact, Costello is apparently going to break his pattern of recording an album a year — partly as a move to guard against being tempted to parlay the success of ''Punch the Clock'' in counterproductive ways. | In fact, Costello is apparently going to break his pattern of recording an album a year — partly as a move to guard against being tempted to parlay the success of ''Punch the Clock'' in counterproductive ways. | ||
"I have no plans to go in the studio again." he said firmly. "I think it might be a mistake to race in and make another record to sort of capitalize on this slight (upward) bleep in my commercial standing in this country | "I have no plans to go in the studio again." he said firmly. "I think it might be a mistake to race in and make another record to sort of capitalize on this slight (upward) bleep in my commercial standing in this country. | ||
"I'd hate to be overeager to jump on a bandwagon that's painted the wrong color. Then I really would end up compromising myself I've no more intention making ''Punch the Clock | |||
"I'd hate to be overeager to jump on a bandwagon that's painted the wrong color. Then I really would end up compromising myself. I've no more intention making ''Punch the Clock — Part II'' than I had of making ''Imperial Bedroom — Part II'' The important thing is to avoid formulas so that you always keep your alternatives open." | |||
{{cx}} | {{cx}} | ||
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'''Sarasota Herald-Tribune, September 22, 1983 | '''Sarasota Herald-Tribune, September 22, 1983 | ||
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[[Robert Hilburn]] profiles Elvis Costello. | [[Robert Hilburn]] profiles Elvis Costello. | ||
{{Robert Hilburn 1983-09-16 Los Angeles Times}} | |||
{{Bibliography images}} | {{Bibliography images}} | ||
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<br><small>Clipping.</small> | <br><small>Clipping.</small> | ||
<small>Page scan.</small><br> | |||
[[image:1983-09-22 Sarasota Herald-Tribune page 9D.jpg|x120px|border]] | [[image:1983-09-22 Sarasota Herald-Tribune page 9D.jpg|x120px|border]] | ||
{{Bibliography notes footer}} | {{Bibliography notes footer}} |
Latest revision as of 19:26, 13 February 2021
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