Sounds, August 13, 1977

Bibliography   72 76 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 00 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 UK & Ireland weeklies UK & Ireland magazines UK & Ireland newspapers US newspapers US rock magazines US music magazines US magazines US alternative weeklies European magazines European newspapers Canada  •  Mexico  •  Asia Australia  •  New Zealand South America  •  Africa Blogs  •  Fanzines  •  Books Online publications Sounds   1974 March 30 1976 August 14 1976 November 20 1977 March 26 1977 April 9 1977 April 30 1977 May 28 1977 June 11 1977 June 25 1977 July 23 1977 July 30 1977 August 6 1977 August 13 1977 August 20 1977 September 3 1977 September 17 1977 October 15 1977 October 22 1977 November 5 1977 December 3 1977 December 10 1977 December 17 1977 December 24 1978 January 28 1978 February 18 1978 February 25 1978 March 4 1978 March 11 1978 March 18 1978 April 1 1978 April 8  1978 April 15 1978 April 22 1978 April 29 1978 June 17 1978 September 2 1978 September 9 1978 September 16 1978 September 23 1978 September 30 1978 October 21 1978 November 18 1978 November 25 1978 December 30 1979‎ January 6 1979‎ February 3 1979‎ February 10 1979‎ February 24   1979‎ April 14  1979‎ May 12 1979‎ June 2 1979‎ July 21 1979‎ December 29 1980 January 5 1980 January 19 1980 February 2 1980 February 23 1980 March 15 1980 March 22 1980 April 5 1980 April 12   1980 May 24 1980 June 7 1980 August 30 1980 September 6 1980 October 4 1980 October 11 1980 October 18 1980 December 27 1981 January 3 1981 January 17 1981 January 24 1981 February 7 1981 February 28 1981 April 4 1981 November 21 1982 January 16 1982 June 12 1982 June 26 1982 July 10 1982 July 31 1982 September 18 1982 September 25 1982 November 27 1983 January 8 1983 June 25 1983 July 2 1983 July 16 1983 July 30 1983 September 17 1983 October 29 1983 November 5  1983 December 10 1984 January 7 1984 March 31 1984 April 28 1984 June 9 1984 June 30 1984 July 14 1984 October 20 1984 December 15 1985 March 23 1985 April 20 1985 May 11 1986 February 22 1986 March 1 1986 September 13 1986 November 29 1986 December 20 1987 January 31 1987 February 7 1987 June 27 1987 December 5 1989 February 11 1989 February 18 1989 March 4 1989 May 6 1989 May 13 1989 June 24 1989 July 15 1989 October 21 1989 December 23 — Costello: candid / Lowe: curtailed / Edmunds: crippled? Ralph Whaley Elvis Costello, Nick Lowe, Dave Edmunds' Rockpile Eric's, Liverpool Y'know, for a buncha stiffs, these guys sure put on one helluva LIVE show. Judging by the exceptionally high standards of musicianship displayed by all three bands, I can safely say that Stiff Records have well and truly cracked it. First on was Elvis Costello, and let me say that if this guy ain't the Next Big Thing then there's an awful lot to be desired as far as brains go with regard to the general record buying public. This man is highly talented and a genius, a fact which his My Aim Is True LP bears out admirably. The hype goes: "there are only two Elvis: one is fat and famous, the other is small and languishes in obscurity." Well, I dunno about him being small, but Elvis Costello can certainly no longer "languish in obscurity" with talent as rare as his. His backing band are no mean animal either, and comprise Pete Thomas on drums, Bruce Thomas (no relation) on bass, and Steven Young on keyboards. Now, I don't know what kind of love-life our Elvis has been leading, but if his lyrics are anything to go by, he sure has had a hard time. He's got this complex which dwells upon his various inadequacies as a person, and this comes out in songs such as "Miracle Man" and "Mystery Dance." He's nothing if not candid about it, either. There's a sinister side to his songwriting, too, as may be found in "Watching The Detectives," for example, with love quickly turning to murder for the characters in his song. He's not so much cynical towards love, rather he's just sorrowful that it never seems to go right for him. Still, better to have loved and lost... Those of us who were sorry to see Elvis finish his set were doubtless overjoyed to see him return as part of Nick Lowe's Band, straight afterwards, a line-up which also boasted arch-hippie Larry Wallis, on guitar, but he was pretty low down in the mix to make any real impression. For some reason, the Lowe Band were on stage for a mere ten minutes, which can't have made them many friends but then again, their music can't have made them any enemies either. The three songs we were treated to were all first-class, namely the oddly titled "Shake And Pop," the autobiographical "Music For Money" and the dreamy "Endless Sleep." But I think we deserve a bit more next time eh boys? Now, whatever unrest may exist in the respective camps of Lowe and Edmunds, everything seemed just fine tonight, with Nick Lowe jamming along with his former colleagues Edmunds, Billy Bremner and Terry Williams as if the regrettable Swan Song affair has never taken place. Eric's roof was well and truly brought down by some real bona fide rock (pile) 'n' roll, and I am now convinced that Dave Edmunds is one of THE R&R guitarists of all time (and he's doing it NOW instead of THEN), and Rockpile are one of the best, yet sorely under-rated, rock bands this boring country has got. Songs such as Lowe's "I Knew The Bride" and "Heart Of The City," Graham Parker's "Back To School Days," "I Hear You Knockin," "Mess Of Blues" and "Ju Ju Man" were all performed with relentless energy and amphetamine overdrive, and it all seemed so natural and easy, y'know? Like, Nick Lowe belongs in this band, he really does. He's part of it. His leaving is like someone getting an arm or leg cut off. It's gonna cripple Rockpile if they're not careful, which'd be a real shame. I can only hope Nick Lowe thinks better of his decision — I haven't enjoyed a concert as much in AGES. Tags: Eric's  •  Liverpool  •  Nick Lowe  •  Dave Edmunds  •  Rockpile  •  Stiff Records  •  My Aim Is True  •  Pete Thomas  •  Bruce Thomas  •  Steven Young  •  Miracle Man  •  Mystery Dance  •  Watching The Detectives  •  Larry Wallis  •  I Knew The Bride  •  Heart Of The City  •  Graham Parker  •  Tony Wilson  •  So It Goes << >> Sounds, August 13, 1977 Ralph Whaley reviews Elvis Costello & The Attractions, Nick Lowe's Ghosts and Dave Edmunds' Rockpile, Tuesday, August 2, 1977, Eric's, Liverpool, England. Jaws reports on the return of Granada TV's So It Goes. Images Clipping. So It Goes Jaws Prepare to seethe: Granada TV's rock insult So It Goes returns in October and the story is that the man you love to hate Tony Wilson has been practicing some of his frontman horror lines to get us all mad. But, at least they will have some acts on to look forward to. Last Tuesday Granada filmed a gig at Eric's, Liverpool last week with Nick Lowe making his last appearance with Dave Edmunds' Rockpile and his first with his own band hopefully to be on tour with a Stiff package tour later this year, plus Mr Big Elvis Costello, who even had time to go to see his mum for tea. The gig was free for punters who frequent the Merseyside cellar club, and offered a concert many would have paid many pence to see (see review on page 54). Among the voyeurs were most if not all of Alberto Y Lost Trios Paranoias, recovering from their poor London performance the previous night, and Ozzie ... (Gus Stewart photo from July 27, Hope And Anchor). Cover and page scans.

External links

• Wikipedia: Sounds
• Flickr:  Stephen McCathie