Elvis Costello Fan Forum

Lost Highway's "news" section on their site doesn't even seem to know the title! Maybe someone should send them an e-mail to tell them what it is. Maybe they figure that Elvis sells the same number of albums whether they pour a ton of money into promotiing it or not. It's the same bunch of...

For heaven's sake, why doesn't EC play any of the great PTC pop songs in concert anymore? Back in 1999, in Italy, Costello pulled out a bunch of tunes like "Mouth Almighty" "King of Thieves" and "Invisible Man" in fantastic live versions with Steve Nieve. They sound fre...

Yeah, where's all the hype? No articles, no interviews, nothing. The web site is still promoting NORTH-- good luck with that, I'm sure there are a lot of people who are going to be turned on to buying that album after visiting the site. It looks like he's finally getting the promotional strategy he ...

BlueChair wrote:You only have a few weeks to go. Patience, my son.

I know, I know. I have been spoiled by the last two albums, which leaked months in advance. It's so close to the release date now, the illicit thrill of hearing it early diminishes with each passing day.

yes, yes: it's a corker, a cracker, and a belter.

MP3s, anyone?? i'm about to burst with anticipation.

loving "Country Darkness" off the jonathan ross show broadcast, but i long to hear more.

I don't think john's answer was intended to make you look like an idiot-- I don't detect any sarcasm, and he's doesn't strike me as the type who would be like that.

(I didn't know what "corker" meant either)

New Lace Sleeves You'll Never Be A Man Clubland Big Sister's Clothes White Knuckles Watch Your Step Pretty Words Different Finger Fish 'N' Chip Papers Lover's Walk Luxembourg Strict Time Shot With His Own Gun From A Whisper To A Scream It is hard, but doing this makes me realize, somewhat reluctantl...

Hats! Boxes and boxes of hats!

I had previously wondered aloud as to whether the "original" demo was any more poppy, or whether it was more ballad-like, since he has never released that first demo version. Referring to the new liners notes of the new reissues, Costello specifies that it was written in the ballad style. ...

noiseradio wrote:Disc 2, track 1.

That's not really a demo, is it? It's a band version from the studio sessions. I don't believe EC has ever released the original demo, only the later demo with the lyrics he re-wrote for Aaron Neville.

I'm confused-- is the "demo" version from the GCW reissue the alternate take with the band?

....or perhaps you had a change of heart! a moment of truth!

Okay, just for fun: here's ANOTHER poll about the suddenly controversial song "The Only Flame In Town"! If one version of this song had to be erased from history, never to be heard again, which would you choose to delete? I suppose I could have included ALL the various "ballad version...

I will admit that, a few years back, when I first heard the "ballad" version of TOFIT, I thought "Oh, good, he has rescued the song from the GCW production." It's still an entirely valid way to feel about the song, I just don't feel that way anymore. For me, it just hasn't held u...

The truth is that the phrasing of the poll question is slightly tricky. If TOFIT was the only EC song the world would ever hear, it would be a pretty unimpressive legacy for the beloved entertainer. The choice would be between a fairly throwaway pop song and a turgid, overwrought ballad. Neither ver...

I used to dislike the album version of TOFIT, but I have come to love it. The lyric is very clever, but I think the slow, ballad version just kills it by making it too turgid and self-important. EC obviously prefers it this way, and we now have three slowed-down versions available-- 2 on the GCW bon...

I think that since corporate radio has virtually ignored him (at least in the US) since Veronica, he probably figures that by not making videos he's cutting his losses. As a marketing tool, his earliest clips were to be used in place of a live appearance, and I think he'd rather perform live. Radio...

Did he make any videos to support ATUB or PFM? I've also seen the one for 13 Steps Lead Down, once, and it was nothing special. I'd only be interested in a DVD of them if he'd cared about having quality videos all along. No ATUB videos, which is a shame. (None for KV either.) The God Give Me Streng...

I think Elvis WOULD be interested in recording an audio commentary. He's a talker, and had plenty to say when he used to show up on shows like MTV's 120 Minutes in the early 90s. I think doing a commentary would be an easy job for him, much easier than the work it takes to write liner notes. Just si...

This sucks! If they are going to put out all the Costello videos, they should put out ALL the Costello videos!! It will drive me nuts if they leave off a handful, especially if it includes ...This Town... which I have never even seen. I would venture that most fans haven't seen that one, and it woul...

The great thing about the AB bonus disc is that it kind of functions as a sequel to AB, or a volume two. I don't think it usurps the original, but it is great to hear more from the same sessions. I think that this is the first real re-evaluation that this album is getting. The Rykodisc reissue sort ...

And No Coffee Table wrote:

normabuel wrote:I haven't purchased KV. I have the original release. Unless the board convinces me that the bonus disc is worth it, I won't buy it.

Get it! The bonus disc is one of the very best.

I second this! KV's bonus disc is actually better than KV itself. It's worth every penny.

"Impatience" is a GREAT song! After Still, it may be my favorite song on North. It is, IMHO, the best EC track in years. Better than anything on WIWC, FTS, yes, even PFM. I love the song, the production, the arrangement, the singing, the band, the strings, the horns. It is FUN. It is amaz...

(And this is coming from someone who hates hates hates most saxophone music) I generally I hate horn sections too. Horn sections are another matter with me. I generally like the horns on PTC, and WIWC, and on the bonus track "Impatience" on the UK version of North. I still think that EC h...

The Only Flame In Town kicks ass. If it were one of the songs on Painted From Memory, it would have been praised as everybody's favorite because of how catchy it is. I would fall with joy if Elvis ever made another pop album that had a single as great as TOFIT. I don't know why everybody hates it so...