The Comedians: Difference between revisions

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__notoc__
{{song header}}
{{TOC for Song Page|}}
{| width="100%" cellspacing="3"
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==Lyrics==
{{The Comedians}}


==Alternate Lyrics==
{{song lyrics
'''From the demo version on [[All This Useless Beauty (Deluxe Edition)]] (2001)'''<br><br>
|lyrics = {{The Comedians}}
{{The Comedians (demo)}}


<br><br>


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===Alternate lyrics===
==Credits==
From the demo version on [[All This Useless Beauty (Rhino reissue)|''All This Useless Beauty'' (Rhino reissue)]]
* Written by: '''[[Elvis Costello]]'''
<br>
* Produced by: '''[[Clive Langer]]''' and '''[[Alan Winstanley]]'''
{{The Comedians (demo)}}
* Musicians:
}}
:'''[[Elvis Costello]]''' - [[Singers|vocals]] and [[Guitarists|guitar]]
:'''[[Steve Nieve]]''' - [[Keyboardists|keyboards]]
:'''[[Bruce Thomas]]''' - [[Bassists|bass]]
:'''[[Pete Thomas]]''' - [[Drummers|drums]]
:'''[[Gary Barnacle]]''' - [[Saxophonists|saxophone]]
:'''[[Jim Paterson]]''' - [[Trombonists|trombone]]
:'''[[Luis Jardim]]''' - [[Percussionists|percussion]]
:''This section may need edits''
 
==Discography==
'''Albums:'''
*'''[[Goodbye Cruel World]]''', [[1984]]
*[[Goodbye Cruel World (reissue)]], [[Rykodisc]]/[[Demon]], [[1995]]
*[[Goodbye Cruel World (Deluxe Edition)]], [[Rhino]], [[2004]]
* ''This section may be incomplete.''
 
'''Singles:'''
* ''This section may be incomplete.''


'''Collections:'''
{{song credits header}}
*[[Discography|Album Name]], [[Discography|Year]]
* ''This section may be incomplete.''


'''Alternate Versions:'''
{{song credits
* '''The Comedians (demo)'''
|title = The Comedians
: [[All This Useless Beauty (Deluxe Edition)]], [[Rhino]], [[2001]]
|writer = [[Elvis Costello]]
|performer = [[Elvis Costello]] & [[The Attractions]]
|producer = [[Clive Langer]] & [[Alan Winstanley]]
|musicians = [[Elvis Costello]] - vocals, guitar<br>[[Steve Nieve|Maurice Worm (''a.k.a.'' Steve Nieve)]] - keyboards<br>[[Bruce Thomas]] - bass<br>[[Pete Thomas]] - drums<br>''see [[Goodbye Cruel World#Credits|Goodbye Cruel World credits]] for possible additional musicians''
|record_info = February 1984, SARM West Studios, London
|release_info = June 18, 1984
|albums = [[Goodbye Cruel World]], 1984
|singles = [[Single: The Only Flame In Town|The Only Flame In Town]], 1984
|collections = [[Singles, Volume 3]], 2003
|soundtracks =
|various_artists =
|promos = [[Single: Peace In Our Time|Peace In Our Time]], 1984 (France)
|videos =
|length = 2:32
}}<br>


'''Soundtracks:'''
{{song notes
* none
|first = [[Concert 1982-12-27 London|December 27, 1982, London, England]]
|last = {{2024}}
}}{{song quote
| quote =
| source =
}}


'''Various Artists collections:'''
==Alternate versions==
* none
{{song credits
|title = The Comedians (Demo) (#1)
|performer = [[Elvis Costello]]
|musicians = [[Elvis Costello]] - vocal, all instruments
|record_info = ca. 1982-1983, Elvis' home
|release_info = July 26, 2004
|albums = [[Goodbye Cruel World (Rhino/Edsel reissue)]], 2004
|length = 2:24
}}<br>


==Covers==
{{song credits
'''Recorded by:'''
|title = The Comedians (Demo) (#2)
* none
|performer = [[Elvis Costello]]
* ''This section may be incomplete.''
|musicians = [[Elvis Costello]] - vocal, all instruments
 
|record_info = ca. 1987, unknown location
'''Performed by:'''
|release_info = August 21, 2001
* none
|albums = [[All This Useless Beauty (Rhino reissue)]], 2001
* ''This section may be incomplete.''
|length = 3:05
 
}}
==Bootlegs==
* ''This section is incomplete.''


{{thumbs header}}
{{thumb: Goodbye Cruel World}}
----
{{thumb: Single: The Only Flame In Town}}
----
{{thumb: All This Useless Beauty}}
----
{{thumb: Singles, Volume 3}}
|}
|}


==Chords==
{{song covers
* ''This section is incomplete.''
|covers = {{:The Comedians covers}}
. 
}}
.


==Internal links==  
==Internal links==
*[http://www.elviscostello.info/disc/official/gcw/gcw.htm Elvis Costello Home Page: Goodbye Cruel World] | [http://www.elviscostello.info/lyrics/gcw.html lyrics] | [http://www.elviscostello.info/guitar/gcw.html chords] | [http://www.elviscostello.info/disc/official/gcw/gcw_info_a01.htm GCW info page 1]
*[http://www.elviscostello.info/disc/official/gcw/gcw.htm Elvis Costello Home Page: Goodbye Cruel World] {{-}} [http://www.elviscostello.info/lyrics/gcw.html lyrics] {{-}} [http://www.elviscostello.info/guitar/gcw.html chords] {{-}} [http://www.elviscostello.info/disc/official/gcw/gcw_info_a01.htm GCW info page 1]
*[[Template:The Comedians]]
*[[Template: The Comedians|Lyrics]] {{-}} [[Template: The Comedians (demo)|Alternate lyrics]] {{-}} [[The Comedians covers|Covers]]
*[[Template:The Comedians (demo)]]


==External links==
==External links==
*[http://www.geocities.com/ned3705/rhino.html Elvis Costello on Rhino] [http://www.geocities.com/ned3705/gcw.html Goodbye Cruel World reissue page]
*[http://www.inanotherroom.com/gcw.html Elvis Costello Reissues: Goodbye Cruel World]
 


[[Category:1984]]
[[Category:1984]]
[[Category:Goodbye Cruel World]]
[[Category:All This Useless Beauty]]
[[Category:Songs]]
[[Category:Songs]]
[[Category:Lyrics]]
[[Category:Lyrics]]
[[Category:Chords]]
[[Category:Alternate lyrics]]
[[Category:Goodbye Cruel World]]
[[Category:Alternate versions]]
[[Category:All This Useless Beauty]]

Latest revision as of 04:09, 30 January 2024

I fell under such gentle persuasion
You can't refuse it's like a home from home
Meanwhile in the motorcar kingdom
They're finding that all that glitters is not chrome
The social circle have these cardiac complaints
Their hearts are empty when their hands are full
All these new found fond acquaintances
Turn out to be the red rag to my bull

Chorus:
And I'm up while the dawn is breaking
Even though my heart is aching
I should be drinking a toast to absent friends
Instead of these comedians

I've looked into these eyes upon reflection
They've seen the face of love, they've seen a few
What kind of love is this upon inspection
You'll be the last to know who's fooling who

(Chorus)



Alternate lyrics

From the demo version on All This Useless Beauty (Rhino reissue)

I sat there alone upon the Ferris wheel
A pastel coloured carriage in the air
I thought you'd leave me dangling for a minute or two
A silly twist upon a childish dare
Below I saw you whispering to another man
Who held the lever that could bring me down
He'd stop the world from turning at your command
It's always something cruel that laughter drowns

Chorus:
And I'm up while the dawn is breaking
Even though my heart is aching
I should be drinking a toast to absent friends
Instead of these comedians

I can hardly hear the music from the carousel
As the wind picks up the carriage starts to sway
As one by one the lights go out, it's closing time
I see you take his hand and walk away
Walk away

They say that you will always be the last to know
They say that all that glitters is not gold
It's not just that you're never coming back to me
It's the bitter way that I was told

(Repeat Chorus)
The Comedians
Written byElvis Costello
Performed byElvis Costello & The Attractions
Produced byClive Langer & Alan Winstanley
MusiciansElvis Costello - vocals, guitar
Maurice Worm (a.k.a. Steve Nieve) - keyboards
Bruce Thomas - bass
Pete Thomas - drums
see Goodbye Cruel World credits for possible additional musicians
RecordedFebruary 1984, SARM West Studios, London
ReleasedJune 18, 1984
AlbumsGoodbye Cruel World, 1984
SinglesThe Only Flame In Town, 1984
CollectionsSingles, Volume 3, 2003
PromosPeace In Our Time, 1984 (France)
Length2:32

First known performance:
 December 27, 1982, London, England
Last known performance:
 2024
     (77 known performances, 1 as a snippet)


Alternate versions

The Comedians (Demo) (#1)
Performed byElvis Costello
MusiciansElvis Costello - vocal, all instruments
Recordedca. 1982-1983, Elvis' home
ReleasedJuly 26, 2004
AlbumsGoodbye Cruel World (Rhino/Edsel reissue), 2004
Length2:24

The Comedians (Demo) (#2)
Performed byElvis Costello
MusiciansElvis Costello - vocal, all instruments
Recordedca. 1987, unknown location
ReleasedAugust 21, 2001
AlbumsAll This Useless Beauty (Rhino reissue), 2001
Length3:05
Goodbye Cruel WorldGCW album cover large.jpg
The Only Flame In Town singleThe Only Flame In Town UK 7" single front sleeve.jpg
All This Useless BeautyATUB album cover large.jpg
Singles, Volume 3Singles Volume 3 album cover.jpg

Covers

Kristofer Holz performed live, 2013-10-20, Cranky Cabaret, Black Box at Joria Studios, New York 2013 YouTube
Steve Nieve & Kessada performed live, 2021-12-26, The Immobile Tour Backstage 2, Trouville, France 2021 Facebook (paywall)
Roy Orbison Mystery Girl 1989 AllMusic  •  Amazon
Roy Orbison Black & White Night Live 1989 AllMusic  •  Discogs  •  Amazon
Roy Orbison Bespoke Songs, Lost Dogs, Detours & Rendezvous   Various artists 1998 Allmusic  •  Amazon  •  Amazon.uk
Roy Orbison UK Elvis Costello (2002)  (promo) 2002
Roy Orbison UK Elvis Costello (2006)  (promo) 2006
Roy Orbison T Bone Burnett: The Producer 2011 AllMusic  •  Discogs
Stijn Schellart home recording 2012 YouTube
Erich Sellheim home studio production, sung in German 2019 YouTube  •  YouTube
Hal Sherfey Band Angel & Devil 2004 AllMusic  •  cdbaby

Internal links

External links

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