One of the smallest parishes in Britain,St.Elvis is located on the lower slopes of the Presili Hills,Pembrokeshire..
9 October 2014
Mr Larrington
I used to envy Elvis, but then he got fat and died. I used to envy Marlon Brando, but then he got fat and his kid died. I used to envy Jim Morrison, but then I got out of the tub. Now I don’t envy anyone, because it causes bloating, and far too many funerals.
Envy ~ Mick Farren
10 October 2014
liquid len
Elvis was a hero to most, but he didn’t mean 5h1t to me…
13 October 2014
Phyllis triggs
I have to admit that I concur with the Wonder Stuff on this one.
13 October 2014
BrumbiscUit
Yebbut you’re probably thinking of the bloated, right-wing parody of himself that he became. Spangly suits, et al. And rightly so, but the 1950s Elvis really did break the mould and blazed a trail for other artists. I think his demise, specifically its location, summed up well what he had become.
13 October 2014
BrumbiscUit
And Elvis Costello live is the most self-indulgent twat possible.
13 October 2014
paul f
@brumbiscuit – Depends on how the mood takes him – I saw him in Perth in 2004 and beyond a few tracks from the new album it was practically a greatest hits set.
13 October 2014
EXXO
I like it when he does ‘Spin the Wheel’ to pick the songs – saw him do that a couple of times in the 80s.
13 October 2014
Bobby SVARC
Hovis Presley
13 October 2014
EXXO
Birkenhead’s second-greatest lyricist pretty much beyond argument I would have thought.
13 October 2014
paul f
Not sure he ever lived in Birkenhead. He certainly had lots of family there but on moving up North he lived in Liverpool.
13 October 2014
EXXO
Christened in Birkenhead though. That counts.
Merseyside’s second greatest.
13 October 2014
PaUl f
Christened in Birkenhead will do for me. But Merseyside’s second greatest is a big call. Don’t you know Pete Burns wrote You Spin Me Round himself?
13 October 2014
Bobby SVARC
I’d say Jegsy Dodd to be honest.
13 October 2014
Dr Desperate
EC’s dad Ross McManus was born in Conway St, 1.5 miles from Prenton Park, and Declan was christened at Holy Cross & St Paul, off Hoylake Rd. The Echo described him in an article in June as ‘Birkenhead singer Elvis Costello…’
13 October 2014
Dr Desperate
Paul Heaton would also feature fairly high in my list of greatest Birkenhead-born lyricists.
13 October 2014
EXXO
Would be very very low indeed on mine after crimes against music with The Beautiful Wallpaper.
13 October 2014
This leaden paul
Easily the second-best fireman in Pontypandy.
28 October 2014
Peter Mcornithologist
The Costello lad made a brief pathetic cameo in the final episode of 3rd rock from the sun .Oh the joy of afternoon TV
21 February 2018
EXXO
Which other musical hero, like Elvis Costello with his roots on Merseyside, and like Costello now resident in North America, appeared in the season finale of a US TV series?
Alas Disney have blocked the only youtube I can find of that episode. He was in the very last scene, as the drummer.
22 February 2018
dr desperate
No Merseyside roots, but could I nominate Dr John, who appeared in the series finale of ‘Treme’? He’s one of my musical heroes, for various reasons.
22 February 2018
Paul F
As I may have posted before, Geoff gets a very nice mention in Costello’s autobiography.
23 February 2018
Paul F
“In 1971, Probe Records opened a small shop where the posh doctors’ offices of Rodney Street became the newsagents and sweet shops of Clarence Street. The shop carried records that were impossible to find elsewhere. The owner, Geoff Davies, was the kind of music fan who would direct you away from a terrible purchase with a disapproving look.” – Unfaithful Music & Disappearing Ink, by Elvis Costello.
23 February 2018
Peter Mcornithologist
Perhaps he guided you toward shite ?
23 February 2018
dr desperate
I remember an interview with EC in which he said, “I write a song every day. I did it before I was famous, and I’ll do it after I’m famous”. I first saw him at Rafters in Manc in July 1977, arguably in the former status, and I’ll be seeing him again at Castlefield Bowl 41 years later, arguably heading towards the latter (as he’ll be supporting Paul Heaton, see above).
23 February 2018
EXXO
HTF does Elvis Costello ever end up below Paul Heaton on a bill? that has to be just through Britannia Music Club sales of ‘Carry On Up Your Arse’.
“Mister Davies sold him songs when he was just sixteen, Now he shits on most other songwriters in a way that is obscene.”
23 February 2018
Paul f
I assumed that was a joke. What’s happening to the world?
23 February 2018
EXXO
Because this week I’ve been in the British library trying to find dates etc of early HMHB gigs, I’ve been catapulted back to 1985-1986 in a spectacularly detailed way: events, people, relationships, flatmates, telly, prices, tastes, football results, things John Peel said, things Margaret Thatcher said, demos, arguments, bruises. And so, so many gigs, brought back to life by the listings in the music press, although for some strange reason the memories get much fuzzier once I’m down in front of the stage. One of my favourite NME ads from the period just had real results from the ’86 world cup, ending with London 0 Hull 4. Everybody liked the Housemartins … until … as they went for the Xmas number one spot ‘Caravan of Boredom’ just became so utterly painful once you’d heard it a zillion billion gazillion flipping times. I remember being up at the top of a ladder, painting a stairwell, and jumping down to get the radio off as quick as possible when it came on.
Must be ten years ago on an earlier solo tour he was playing Limerick the same weekend as an earlier version of HAHB and he contacted the venue to check if it was for real. He’d the night we were playing off and was set to come along. I brought my 7″ of Flag Day along for him to sign. Alas he didn’t make it.
24 February 2018
EXXO
Nail on head there about the bland female vocalists and sickly sweet BV harmonies. He just went straight into Radio 2 territory, even before Radio 2 knew they’d soon be playing old Radio 1 records. More about the wallet than the palette I’d always assumed. Ok, he didn’t write ‘Caravan of Love’ (which was fine the way the Isleys did it), but it seemed to give him a taste for cash for easy barbershop harmonies. But that’s a fine piece of writing Niall, not quite sticking the palette knife in too far 🙂
In other news I said hello to Gary McCallister yesterday near the library in Boston Spa, looking like a very happy dad of two little uns.
24 February 2018
EXXO
TBF the lyrics of ‘Flag Day’ are up in Costello’s league.
24 February 2018
dr desperate
Famines will be famines, banquets will be banquets Some spend winter in a palace, some spend it in blankets Don’t wag your fingers at them and turn to walk away Don’t shoot someone tomorrow that you can shoot today, can shoot today Time to end the praying Listen what they’re saying Get up off our knees.
24 February 2018
Peter Mcornithologist
There is a lad playing for Dunfermline Athletic named Declan McManus .
3 March 2018
parsfan
Yeah, during the last transfer window we had to turn down a huge bid from Chelsea.
3 March 2018
EXXO
Apparently the Chelsea manager said “I want you,” repeatedly in fact, but Declan said it meant less than zero. The young striker’s aim certainly seems to be true, apart from the odd penalty at Hearts, but accidents will happen.
And Arsenal he didn’t want to play for the Goon( ers) Squad….
3 March 2018
EXXO
Again thanks DD, that was bravissimo from James Richardson with all the Costello titles there and I don’t remember seeing that one when it originally went out. Just worked out that since ‘Football Italia’ finished in 2002, I’ve only had one year of televisual access to anything Sr. Richardson had worked on, and that is certainly a regret.
4 March 2018
dr desperate
Those who were scandalised by the idea of EC supporting Heaton in Manc this Friday may be pleased to learn that he has now sent in a sickie and will be replaced on the bill by Buzzcocks. Nothing to do with the Belgium Brazil match, oh no.
5 July 2018
Paul f
Well I don’t suppose he can do what he did in Norwich the night of the 2005 European Cup Final if he’s not the headline act.
dirk hofman
One of the smallest parishes in Britain,St.Elvis is located on the lower slopes of the Presili Hills,Pembrokeshire..
9 October 2014
Mr Larrington
I used to envy Elvis, but then he got fat and died.
I used to envy Marlon Brando, but then he got fat and his kid died.
I used to envy Jim Morrison, but then I got out of the tub.
Now I don’t envy anyone, because it causes bloating, and far too many funerals.
Envy ~ Mick Farren
10 October 2014
liquid len
Elvis was a hero to most, but he didn’t mean 5h1t to me…
13 October 2014
Phyllis triggs
I have to admit that I concur with the Wonder Stuff on this one.
13 October 2014
BrumbiscUit
Yebbut you’re probably thinking of the bloated, right-wing parody of himself that he became. Spangly suits, et al. And rightly so, but the 1950s Elvis really did break the mould and blazed a trail for other artists. I think his demise, specifically its location, summed up well what he had become.
13 October 2014
BrumbiscUit
And Elvis Costello live is the most self-indulgent twat possible.
13 October 2014
paul f
@brumbiscuit – Depends on how the mood takes him – I saw him in Perth in 2004 and beyond a few tracks from the new album it was practically a greatest hits set.
13 October 2014
EXXO
I like it when he does ‘Spin the Wheel’ to pick the songs – saw him do that a couple of times in the 80s.
13 October 2014
Bobby SVARC
Hovis Presley
13 October 2014
EXXO
Birkenhead’s second-greatest lyricist pretty much beyond argument I would have thought.
13 October 2014
paul f
Not sure he ever lived in Birkenhead. He certainly had lots of family there but on moving up North he lived in Liverpool.
13 October 2014
EXXO
Christened in Birkenhead though. That counts.
Merseyside’s second greatest.
13 October 2014
PaUl f
Christened in Birkenhead will do for me. But Merseyside’s second greatest is a big call. Don’t you know Pete Burns wrote You Spin Me Round himself?
13 October 2014
Bobby SVARC
I’d say Jegsy Dodd to be honest.
13 October 2014
Dr Desperate
EC’s dad Ross McManus was born in Conway St, 1.5 miles from Prenton Park, and Declan was christened at Holy Cross & St Paul, off Hoylake Rd. The Echo described him in an article in June as ‘Birkenhead singer Elvis Costello…’
13 October 2014
Dr Desperate
Paul Heaton would also feature fairly high in my list of greatest Birkenhead-born lyricists.
13 October 2014
EXXO
Would be very very low indeed on mine after crimes against music with The Beautiful Wallpaper.
13 October 2014
This leaden paul
Easily the second-best fireman in Pontypandy.
28 October 2014
Peter Mcornithologist
The Costello lad made a brief pathetic cameo in the final episode of 3rd rock from the sun .Oh the joy of afternoon TV
21 February 2018
EXXO
Which other musical hero, like Elvis Costello with his roots on Merseyside, and like Costello now resident in North America, appeared in the season finale of a US TV series?
Scroll down the cast list for “band member #3”
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1614729/fullcredits?ref_=tt_cl_sm#cast
Alas Disney have blocked the only youtube I can find of that episode. He was in the very last scene, as the drummer.
22 February 2018
dr desperate
No Merseyside roots, but could I nominate Dr John, who appeared in the series finale of ‘Treme’? He’s one of my musical heroes, for various reasons.
22 February 2018
Paul F
As I may have posted before, Geoff gets a very nice mention in Costello’s autobiography.
23 February 2018
Paul F
“In 1971, Probe Records opened a small shop where the posh doctors’ offices of Rodney Street became the newsagents and sweet shops of Clarence Street. The shop carried records that were impossible to find elsewhere. The owner, Geoff Davies, was the kind of music fan who would direct you away from a terrible purchase with a disapproving look.” – Unfaithful Music & Disappearing Ink, by Elvis Costello.
23 February 2018
Peter Mcornithologist
Perhaps he guided you toward shite ?
23 February 2018
dr desperate
I remember an interview with EC in which he said, “I write a song every day. I did it before I was famous, and I’ll do it after I’m famous”. I first saw him at Rafters in Manc in July 1977, arguably in the former status, and I’ll be seeing him again at Castlefield Bowl 41 years later, arguably heading towards the latter (as he’ll be supporting Paul Heaton, see above).
23 February 2018
EXXO
HTF does Elvis Costello ever end up below Paul Heaton on a bill? that has to be just through Britannia Music Club sales of ‘Carry On Up Your Arse’.
“Mister Davies sold him songs when he was just sixteen,
Now he shits on most other songwriters in a way that is obscene.”
23 February 2018
Paul f
I assumed that was a joke. What’s happening to the world?
23 February 2018
EXXO
Because this week I’ve been in the British library trying to find dates etc of early HMHB gigs, I’ve been catapulted back to 1985-1986 in a spectacularly detailed way: events, people, relationships, flatmates, telly, prices, tastes, football results, things John Peel said, things Margaret Thatcher said, demos, arguments, bruises. And so, so many gigs, brought back to life by the listings in the music press, although for some strange reason the memories get much fuzzier once I’m down in front of the stage. One of my favourite NME ads from the period just had real results from the ’86 world cup, ending with London 0 Hull 4. Everybody liked the Housemartins … until … as they went for the Xmas number one spot ‘Caravan of Boredom’ just became so utterly painful once you’d heard it a zillion billion gazillion flipping times. I remember being up at the top of a ladder, painting a stairwell, and jumping down to get the radio off as quick as possible when it came on.
24 February 2018
Irish Niall
I was a massive Housemartins fan. Got into them and Half Man Half Biscuit at about the same time. I was less taken with The Beautiful South but they’d some fine moments too. I found this review I wrote of one of Heatons shows a while back. https://www.limerickpost.ie/2014/11/05/review-paul-heaton-jacqui-abbott-live-at-the-big-top-limerick-milk-market/
Must be ten years ago on an earlier solo tour he was playing Limerick the same weekend as an earlier version of HAHB and he contacted the venue to check if it was for real. He’d the night we were playing off and was set to come along. I brought my 7″ of Flag Day along for him to sign. Alas he didn’t make it.
24 February 2018
EXXO
Nail on head there about the bland female vocalists and sickly sweet BV harmonies. He just went straight into Radio 2 territory, even before Radio 2 knew they’d soon be playing old Radio 1 records. More about the wallet than the palette I’d always assumed. Ok, he didn’t write ‘Caravan of Love’ (which was fine the way the Isleys did it), but it seemed to give him a taste for cash for easy barbershop harmonies. But that’s a fine piece of writing Niall, not quite sticking the palette knife in too far 🙂
In other news I said hello to Gary McCallister yesterday near the library in Boston Spa, looking like a very happy dad of two little uns.
24 February 2018
EXXO
TBF the lyrics of ‘Flag Day’ are up in Costello’s league.
24 February 2018
dr desperate
Famines will be famines, banquets will be banquets
Some spend winter in a palace, some spend it in blankets
Don’t wag your fingers at them and turn to walk away
Don’t shoot someone tomorrow that you can shoot today, can shoot today
Time to end the praying
Listen what they’re saying
Get up off our knees.
24 February 2018
Peter Mcornithologist
There is a lad playing for Dunfermline Athletic named Declan McManus .
3 March 2018
parsfan
Yeah, during the last transfer window we had to turn down a huge bid from Chelsea.
3 March 2018
EXXO
Apparently the Chelsea manager said “I want you,” repeatedly in fact, but Declan said it meant less than zero. The young striker’s aim certainly seems to be true, apart from the odd penalty at Hearts, but accidents will happen.
3 March 2018
Paul f
Crimes of Pars perhaps?
3 March 2018
dr desperate
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3HQZnLqmqjM
3 March 2018
hendrix-tattoo
And Arsenal he didn’t want to play for the Goon( ers) Squad….
3 March 2018
EXXO
Again thanks DD, that was bravissimo from James Richardson with all the Costello titles there and I don’t remember seeing that one when it originally went out. Just worked out that since ‘Football Italia’ finished in 2002, I’ve only had one year of televisual access to anything Sr. Richardson had worked on, and that is certainly a regret.
4 March 2018
dr desperate
Those who were scandalised by the idea of EC supporting Heaton in Manc this Friday may be pleased to learn that he has now sent in a sickie and will be replaced on the bill by Buzzcocks.
Nothing to do with the Belgium Brazil match, oh no.
5 July 2018
Paul f
Well I don’t suppose he can do what he did in Norwich the night of the 2005 European Cup Final if he’s not the headline act.
5 July 2018
dr desperate
Quite so.
http://www.elviscostello.info/wiki/index.php/London_Times,_May_30,_2005
5 July 2018
paul f
Thanks for the link Dr D – I always enjoy a re-read of that. It’s not just in his song lyrics that he shows a nice turn of phrase.
5 July 2018
Nigel
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-44736992
Seems like a good excuse
6 July 2018
dr desperate
Sounds like prostate cancer – I withdraw my unworthy suggestion of malingering.
God give him strength.
6 July 2018