Vox, November 1993: Difference between revisions
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{{Bibliography header}} | {{Bibliography header}} | ||
{{Bibliography index}} | {{:Bibliography index}} | ||
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{{ | {{:UK & Ireland magazines index}} | ||
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<center><h3> Blood and | <center><h3> Blood and vinyl </h3></center> | ||
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<center> Nick Hamlyn </center> | <center> Nick Hamlyn </center> | ||
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'''Elvis Costello has poured his heart into a host of albums, but which ones should touch your wallet? | |||
{{Bibliography text}} | {{Bibliography text}} | ||
A warning that Elvis Costello had no intention of keeping his discography simple appeared as early as '78 with the release of the ''Stiffs Live'' album. A souvenir of a tour by artists signed to Stiff, it included two exclusive live songs by Costello, one of which was an impassioned cover of Dusty Springfield's hit, "I Just Don't Know What To Do With Myself." The album is not exactly a rarity and was reissued at a bargain price, but it illustrates how Costello collectors have to keep on their toes. | A warning that Elvis Costello had no intention of keeping his discography simple appeared as early as '78 with the release of the ''Stiffs Live'' album. A souvenir of a tour by artists signed to Stiff, it included two exclusive live songs by Costello, one of which was an impassioned cover of Dusty Springfield's hit, "I Just Don't Know What To Do With Myself." The album is not exactly a rarity and was reissued at a bargain price, but it illustrates how Costello collectors have to keep on their toes. | ||
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Costello often donated stray tracks to suitable causes: a live version of "The Imposter" appeared on the ''Concerts For The People Of Kampuchea'' ('81); an obscure cover, "Psycho," was included on the BBC's ''Fundamental Frolics'' ('81); another cover, of the Merseybeats' "Really Mystified," was donated to ''Sometimes A Great Notion'' ('84); and a version of Jimmy Cliff's "Many Rivers To Cross" appeared on ''Live For Ireland'' ('87). | Costello often donated stray tracks to suitable causes: a live version of "The Imposter" appeared on the ''Concerts For The People Of Kampuchea'' ('81); an obscure cover, "Psycho," was included on the BBC's ''Fundamental Frolics'' ('81); another cover, of the Merseybeats' "Really Mystified," was donated to ''Sometimes A Great Notion'' ('84); and a version of Jimmy Cliff's "Many Rivers To Cross" appeared on ''Live For Ireland'' ('87). | ||
Costello has also worked with other artists, most notably his recent collaborations with Paul McCartney and Wendy James, and has produced albums for The Specials, Squeeze, and the Pogues. Collectors, however, should seek out his cameo appearances on records by artists as varied as Clive Langer, Nick Lowe, Madness, George Jones, Robert Wyatt, the Big Heat, Eurythmics, the Bluebells, Mental As Anything, Ricky Skaggs, John Hiatt, Roy Orbison, Chet Baker, and Twist's obscure ''This Is Your Life''. Meanwhile, singles credited to The Imposter and The Coward Brothers are, of course, by Costello himself, as are the pieces by The MacManus Gang and Declan MacManus on the '87 | Costello has also worked with other artists, most notably his recent collaborations with Paul McCartney and Wendy James, and has produced albums for The Specials, Squeeze, and the Pogues. Collectors, however, should seek out his cameo appearances on records by artists as varied as Clive Langer, Nick Lowe, Madness, George Jones, Robert Wyatt, the Big Heat, Eurythmics, the Bluebells, Mental As Anything, Ricky Skaggs, John Hiatt, Roy Orbison, Chet Baker, and Twist's obscure ''This Is Your Life''. Meanwhile, singles credited to The Imposter and The Coward Brothers are, of course, by Costello himself, as are the pieces by The MacManus Gang and Declan MacManus on the '87 soundtracks ''Straight To Hell'' and ''The Courier''. | ||
A glimpse of Costello's musical roots is on ''The Honky Tonk Demos'', a bootleg EP containing six tracks that the solo DP Costello submitted to Charlie Gillett's Capital Radio show in '76. Costello's earliest singles sold so well that even now secondhand copies are not scarce. However, one rarity is the US pressing of "Alison," which has an additional synthesized string part, and an otherwise unobtainable live version of "Miracle Man" on the B-side. ''This Year's Model'' was first issued with a bonus single, coupling a reminder of Costello's love for country music, "Stranger In The House," with a contrasting cover of The Damned's "Neat Neat Neat." ''Armed Forces'' took the limited-edition one stage further by including a live EP, a set of postcards, and an elaborate fold-out sleeve. Complete copies of either album are about £10; £15 pounds will buy you the Canadian version of ''Armed Forces'', which was pressed on yellow vinyl. | A glimpse of Costello's musical roots is on ''The Honky Tonk Demos'', a bootleg EP containing six tracks that the solo DP Costello submitted to Charlie Gillett's Capital Radio show in '76. Costello's earliest singles sold so well that even now secondhand copies are not scarce. However, one rarity is the US pressing of "Alison," which has an additional synthesized string part, and an otherwise unobtainable live version of "Miracle Man" on the B-side. ''This Year's Model'' was first issued with a bonus single, coupling a reminder of Costello's love for country music, "Stranger In The House," with a contrasting cover of The Damned's "Neat Neat Neat." ''Armed Forces'' took the limited-edition one stage further by including a live EP, a set of postcards, and an elaborate fold-out sleeve. Complete copies of either album are about £10; £15 pounds will buy you the Canadian version of ''Armed Forces'', which was pressed on yellow vinyl. | ||
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{{Bibliography notes}} | {{Bibliography notes}} | ||
{{Bibliography next | |||
|prev = Vox, May 1993 | |||
|next = Vox, March 1994 | |||
}} | |||
'''Vox, No. 38, November 1993 | '''Vox, No. 38, November 1993 | ||
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[[Nick Hamlyn]] | [[Nick Hamlyn]] summarizes rare releases. | ||
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[[Patrick Humphries]] reviews [[2½ Years]]. | [[Patrick Humphries]] reviews the ''[[2½ Years]]'' box set. | ||
{{Bibliography images}} | {{Bibliography images}} | ||
[[image:1993-11-00 Vox | [[image:1993-11-00 Vox clipping 02.jpg|360px|border]] | ||
<br><small>Page scan.</small> | |||
<br><small> | |||
{{Bibliography box}} | {{Bibliography box 360}} | ||
<center><h3> 2½ Years </h3></center> | |||
<center>''' Elvis Costello </center> | <center>''' Elvis Costello </center> | ||
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<center> Patrick Humphries </center> | <center> Patrick Humphries </center> | ||
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{{Bibliography text}} | {{Bibliography text}} | ||
[[image:1993-11-00 Vox clipping 01.jpg|130px|right]] | |||
Prolific and unpredictable, Elvis Costello had an unremittingly dazzling beginning. Along with Van Morrison, Costello is the only act of merit not already boxed up, and this four-CD set launches the most ambitious career reappraisal since Bowie's EMI CD reissues. Included here are his first three albums, along with chronological bonus tracks, a 16-page booklet and Elvis Costello's first official live album. | Prolific and unpredictable, Elvis Costello had an unremittingly dazzling beginning. Along with Van Morrison, Costello is the only act of merit not already boxed up, and this four-CD set launches the most ambitious career reappraisal since Bowie's EMI CD reissues. Included here are his first three albums, along with chronological bonus tracks, a 16-page booklet and Elvis Costello's first official live album. | ||
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El Mocambo is a storming souvenir of Costello & The Attractions at their live best: "Imagination (Is A Powerful Deceiver)," the earliest extant Costello, recorded with Flip City In 1975; the six bedroom demos were recorded before Costello signed to Stiff. Solo and acoustic, The Bedroom Tapes include an extra verse of "Mystery Dance," and the revealing "Cheap Reward" (chorus of "Lip Service" to the melody of "Stranger In The House"). ''This Year's Model'' outtakes are demos of "Big Boys" and "Green Shirt," which misses Pete Thomas's thunderous drums, but gains an extra verse. There is also "Running Out Of Angels," recorded on the run, an interesting tormented fragment. | El Mocambo is a storming souvenir of Costello & The Attractions at their live best: "Imagination (Is A Powerful Deceiver)," the earliest extant Costello, recorded with Flip City In 1975; the six bedroom demos were recorded before Costello signed to Stiff. Solo and acoustic, The Bedroom Tapes include an extra verse of "Mystery Dance," and the revealing "Cheap Reward" (chorus of "Lip Service" to the melody of "Stranger In The House"). ''This Year's Model'' outtakes are demos of "Big Boys" and "Green Shirt," which misses Pete Thomas's thunderous drums, but gains an extra verse. There is also "Running Out Of Angels," recorded on the run, an interesting tormented fragment. | ||
All in all, while one would have hoped for more, there is no denying the individuality of these fingerprints on his imagination. | All in all, while one would have hoped for more, there is no denying the individuality of these fingerprints on his imagination. | ||
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[[image:1993-11-00 Vox photo 01.jpg|x320px|border]] | [[image:1993-11-00 Vox photo 01.jpg|x320px|border]] | ||
<br><small> | [[image:1993-11-00 Vox photo 02 cg.jpg|x320px|border]] | ||
<br><small>Photo 2 by [[Chris Gabrin]].</small> | |||
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[[image:1993-11-00 Vox contents page.jpg|x140px|border]] | |||
<br><small>Cover and contents page.</small> | |||
{{Bibliography notes footer}} | {{Bibliography notes footer}} | ||
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*[http://www.elviscostello.info/articles/t-z/vox.931101b.html elviscostello.info] | *[http://www.elviscostello.info/articles/t-z/vox.931101b.html elviscostello.info] | ||
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[[Category:Bibliography 1993 | [[Category:Bibliography]] | ||
[[Category:Bibliography 1993]] | |||
[[Category:Vox| Vox 1993-11-00]] | [[Category:Vox| Vox 1993-11-00]] | ||
[[Category:Magazine articles | [[Category:Magazine articles]] | ||
[[Category:Album reviews | [[Category:Album reviews]] | ||
[[Category:2½ Years reviews | [[Category:2½ Years reviews]] |
Latest revision as of 21:16, 7 September 2020
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