Sounds, August 6, 1977: Difference between revisions
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The word 'star' deserves emphasis. Here it is in italics to make you realise how important it is. Star. And here it is in capitals. STAR. | The word 'star' deserves emphasis. Here it is in italics to make you realise how important it is. Star. And here it is in capitals. STAR. | ||
He gets that status because of his gall, and because of his sass, and because of the gig he played at Dingwalls, the first London date with his new band, was the most incredible, inspired flash of genius of 1977. A now person for now people. | He gets that status because of his gall, and because of his sass, and because of the gig he played at [[Concert 1977-07-26 London|Dingwalls]], the first London date with his new band, was the most incredible, inspired flash of genius of 1977. A now person for now people. | ||
And although his first single disappeared without a trace, and despite the fact that his 'My Aim Is True' album is not moving commercial mountains, he takes that status for granted. | And although his first single disappeared without a trace, and despite the fact that his ''[[My Aim Is True]]'' album is not moving commercial mountains, he takes that status for granted. | ||
What other new, obscure artist could afford to spurn three-quarters of the music press for what some might call footling reasons? And I only got to talk to him at a fourth attempt. The temptation was to tell the man to ram it up his arse, but he knew that however insignificant he was, however few records he sold, he was simply too good to be ignored and could act any way he pleased. | What other new, obscure artist could afford to spurn three-quarters of the music press for what some might call footling reasons? And I only got to talk to him at a fourth attempt. The temptation was to tell the man to ram it up his arse, but he knew that however insignificant he was, however few records he sold, he was simply too good to be ignored and could act any way he pleased. | ||
Why go to the trouble? Listen, at Dingwalls ... | Why go to the trouble? Listen, at Dingwalls... | ||
That gig, says Elvis, is the worst he's played on the tour, and he seemed to believe it. Whatever, the audience were stunned, ecstatic, and after they mumbled words like "phenomenal" and "brilliant". These are maybe understatements. | That gig, says Elvis, is the worst he's played on the tour, and he seemed to believe it. Whatever, the audience were stunned, ecstatic, and after they mumbled words like "phenomenal" and "brilliant". These are maybe understatements. | ||
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Reggae was there, and rock 'n' roll, and pop music all struck through with the peculiar Costello genius. The Elvis vocals twisted through rough wire to romance and back again. He sounded like everyone who ever made a pop record only twice as good. | Reggae was there, and rock 'n' roll, and pop music all struck through with the peculiar Costello genius. The Elvis vocals twisted through rough wire to romance and back again. He sounded like everyone who ever made a pop record only twice as good. | ||
Lyric lines, simple and bizarre, drift through the force of the back up band - this man is not a singer/songwriter in the classic soporific sense - ". . . but I heard you let that little friend of mine/take off your party dress" . . . | Lyric lines, simple and bizarre, drift through the force of the back up band - this man is not a singer/songwriter in the classic soporific sense - "...but I heard you let that little friend of mine / take off your party dress"... "Everything means less than zero"... "I got this camera click-click-clicking in my head"... "There's no such thing as original sin"... "Everyone loves you so much I don't know how you stand the strain". | ||
It was a revelation. Elvis didn't enjoy it. He said he was never going to play Dingwalls again because people were eating while he was performing. He was in a bad mood. | It was a revelation. Elvis didn't enjoy it. He said he was never going to play Dingwalls again because people were eating while he was performing. He was in a bad mood. | ||
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"I suppose I ought to apologise to you", says Elvis, looking accusing rather than sorry. | "I suppose I ought to apologise to you", says Elvis, looking accusing rather than sorry. | ||
Dressed in the suit he got married in, this ... singing computer operator, as he's bound to get labelled sooner or later ... looks sullen. He doesn't like doing interviews. He'd get on with Steve Harley like a house on fire, so jaded is his view of the music press. | Dressed in the suit he got married in, this... singing computer operator, as he's bound to get labelled sooner or later... looks sullen. He doesn't like doing interviews. He'd get on with Steve Harley like a house on fire, so jaded is his view of the music press. | ||
He didn't particularly, enjoy his court appearance. The fine was £5 and the charge, apparently, was something ridiculous about unauthorised record selling. It seemed wise not to press for details. | He didn't particularly, enjoy his court appearance. The fine was £5 and the charge, apparently, was something ridiculous about unauthorised record selling. It seemed wise not to press for details. | ||
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Condolences. How about a drink Elvis? And a cheese roll? And an interview, even. | Condolences. How about a drink Elvis? And a cheese roll? And an interview, even. | ||
You're not keen ... | You're not keen... | ||
"Not really, no. You do shorthand, do you? Doesn't make any difference, it'll be just as inaccurate as any other way---." | "Not really, no. You do shorthand, do you? Doesn't make any difference, it'll be just as inaccurate as any other way---." | ||
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This gambit isn't entirely unpredictable. A couple of people had proffered the warning that the man was, well, intense, and that was as good a euphemism for hostile, as any. | This gambit isn't entirely unpredictable. A couple of people had proffered the warning that the man was, well, intense, and that was as good a euphemism for hostile, as any. | ||
Maybe hostile isn't the right word. Critical, is nearer the truth. Elvis doesn't like London. He doesn't like Dingwalls. He doesn't like being photographed. He doesn't like The Biz. And on top of that ... | Maybe hostile isn't the right word. Critical, is nearer the truth. Elvis doesn't like London. He doesn't like Dingwalls. He doesn't like being photographed. He doesn't like The Biz. And on top of that... | ||
"I don't care about a lot of things. Making records, writing songs, performing is about all." | "I don't care about a lot of things. Making records, writing songs, performing is about all." | ||
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His general demeanor is in fact, is of a man thrown in a pool full of sharks. | His general demeanor is in fact, is of a man thrown in a pool full of sharks. | ||
"I can't think of any better way to describe it. Some people ... they're not worth the trouble." | "I can't think of any better way to describe it. Some people... they're not worth the trouble." | ||
Elvis has a deep resentment of people who do things for the wrong reasons. He hates trendies, hates people wanting to listen to him for any other reason except that they like him. | Elvis has a deep resentment of people who do things for the wrong reasons. He hates trendies, hates people wanting to listen to him for any other reason except that they like him. | ||
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"The idea of having a cult status doesn't appeal to me in the slightest. We're interested in the charts, and cult heroes aren't interested in the charts. | "The idea of having a cult status doesn't appeal to me in the slightest. We're interested in the charts, and cult heroes aren't interested in the charts. | ||
"I want to be on Top Of The Pops, I have no hip ideals about that programme and singles. I want people to buy my stuff because they like it, I'm not affecting any attitudes. | "I want to be on ''Top Of The Pops'', I have no hip ideals about that programme and singles. I want people to buy my stuff because they like it, I'm not affecting any attitudes. | ||
"Here is my name, this is my record." | "Here is my name, this is my record." | ||
Despite his dislike of the cult label, it seems all too believable that he has been tailored for that slot - the coolest label, the so-basic-it's-bizarre image, Keepitasahobby productions productions ... | Despite his dislike of the cult label, it seems all too believable that he has been tailored for that slot - the coolest label, the so-basic-it's-bizarre image, Keepitasahobby productions productions... | ||
Methinks he doth protest too much. | Methinks he doth protest too much. | ||
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"People don't take Stiff Records seriously. If it's CBS or some big company, it's a great sales campaign, with Stiff they call it gimmicks. People just treat you like a joke. People don't think I exist, they think I'm Nick Lowe. | "People don't take Stiff Records seriously. If it's CBS or some big company, it's a great sales campaign, with Stiff they call it gimmicks. People just treat you like a joke. People don't think I exist, they think I'm Nick Lowe. | ||
"It's what happens when you try to do something that isn't like, a beautiful, sensitive singer /songwriter. | "It's what happens when you try to do something that isn't like, a beautiful, sensitive singer/songwriter. | ||
"I don't care whether people take me seriously or not now, because they must have something wrong with their cars. | "I don't care whether people take me seriously or not now, because they must have something wrong with their cars. | ||
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He's not telling. | He's not telling. | ||
"I haven't got anything to hide. I'm not going to bore people with things that I don't consider significant. As far as the public are concerned, the first thing I ever did was | "I haven't got anything to hide. I'm not going to bore people with things that I don't consider significant. As far as the public are concerned, the first thing I ever did was "[[Less Than Zero]]". | ||
"I'm not particularly proud of what happened before, it's not worth the trouble of going back to look at it. People who want to know that should be doing something more interesting. I couldn't care less. | "I'm not particularly proud of what happened before, it's not worth the trouble of going back to look at it. People who want to know that should be doing something more interesting. I couldn't care less. | ||
"There are certain things I don't want to discuss. Nobody likes to worry about the mundane things, you wouldn't get anything done. I don't worry whether I'm going to be a success . . ." | "There are certain things I don't want to discuss. Nobody likes to worry about the mundane things, you wouldn't get anything done. I don't worry whether I'm going to be a success..." | ||
"I don't want to make a lot of money. All I want to do is be able to pay the next bill. Wanting a lot of money is a sickness." | "I don't want to make a lot of money. All I want to do is be able to pay the next bill. Wanting a lot of money is a sickness." | ||
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His aim, it's said, is true. Believe it. | His aim, it's said, is true. Believe it. | ||
"People don't take Stiff Records seriously. If it's CBS or some big company, it's a great sales campaign, with Stiff they call it gimmicks. People just treat you like a joke. People don't think I exist, they think I'm [[Nick Lowe]]." | |||
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Revision as of 18:48, 14 February 2013
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