Conference marvin::uk_music

    
    The latest piece of Costelloism I've heard of involves his
    contributions to a new album called "Roy Orbison and Friends",
    "Friends" being the likes of Costello, Springsteen, K.D. Lang, 
    and others.  The promotional photo for the album is rather amusing,
    with Springsteen and Costello crouching at Mr. Orbison's feet, and
    Elvis *still* manages to look extremely resentful at having his
    photo taken.  Is that a real sneer, or does he tape his lip to his
    cheek? 8^)
    							Ian!
                                                            

    
    Never mind about Notes, boy, what about closing some calls!!!!
    
    Agree that Elvis is the tops!!!!  No news on the tour front yet,
    but I'll try and post something if I see.  He is playing at the
    CND Edinburgh gig, but that's it for the time being.
    
    Fave track - Shipbuilding
    
    David.
    

    I noticed you used the plural there Dave, I don't suppose you're
    used to using anything but the singular in the applications group
    eh.
    
    What's all this 'boy' shit, that's just a short distance from using
    'Hey nonny nonny' or 'Tush'.
    
    Ric hard
    

    Is this all there is? I can't believe that arguably the best lyricist
    and songwriter of our time has only 3 replies in a nine month old
    hard to find note!!
    
    Did anybody else see The Late Show on Elvis last night - it featured
    EC singing songs from SpIke : the Beloved Entertainer, accompanied
    by just his own acoustic guitar playing. Between the songs were
    sections of an interview.
    
    I was amazed - his lyrics, while simpler than they used to be, are
    just *so* good. Particularly good is the almost unbearably intense
    "Let Him Dangle", but that's not to belittle any of the other songs.
    He just stands head and shoulders above everybody in terms of his
    songwriting ability. I was left stunned by the combination of
    bitterness, anger and sadness in the last song ("Tread the Dirt
    Down"?), it was just so moving.
    
    Bob, rushing out at lunchtime to buy the lp.

    
    
    	AAAAAAAArrrggggggghhhh!!!!!
    
    	I just *knew* I'd forgot something real important !!! 
    	Oh sh*& now I remember what it is - I forgot to watch this :-(
    
    	Anybody know if 'The Late Show' is repeated ? 
    
    	Stuart

    No, but I've got it taped 8^)  8^)
    
    You can have a lend if no-one there's got one....
    
    Bob

    
    	Thanks Bob ... I should be able find someone up here with a
    	copy if not I'll be in-touch .
    
    	Stuart .
    

    
    Watched the Late Show and just thought the guy incredible. Over
    the years he has come across as bit of a grumpy individual when
    it comes to interviews. In this program he appeared fresh and seemed
    to enjoy the experience. Recorded most of the musical passages so
    Stuart just give the call if you still need a loan. These were
    wonderful and showed fully that he doesn't need the power of a backing
    band to hide the vocal deficiencies he had in earlier years. Certainly
    this was one of the most powerful performances I have seen in a
    while and only makes the more peeved that I will not be able to
    see him in Glasgow in May.
    
    	Ian.
    

    Well, the day after his amazing performances on the Late Show, I
    puchased the new lp, SpIke, the Beloved entertainer. Well worth
    the money it is, too - there are seven songs on each side, and none
    of them are particularly short, so the album runs out at about an
    hour of music, and it's all good stuff! He uses about 40 different
    musicians on the various songs, which gives a wide variety of sounds,
    but still remains as a coherent whole.
    
    Songs range from the rockier ...This Town..., featuring Roger McGuinn
    and his legendary electric 12-string, and (co-written with Macca),
    Pads, Paws and Claws, through New Orleans-style sounds, on Deep
    Dark Truthful Mirror, which features the piano of Allen Toussaint,
    through to the Irish sound of Tramp the Dirt Down.
    
    Special mention also goes to the Dirty Dozen Brass Band, featured
    on a number of cuts, including the instrumental Stalin Malone (another
    EC pseudonym?). Tracks on which they appear replace the bass guitar
    with a sousaphone (even playing funky on one song!) which gives
    the bass parts a wonderful warm rounded sound.
    
    Maybe not Elvis at his absolute best - to me, King of America is
    unsurpassable - but still head and shoulders, especially lyrically,
    above anything else around at the moment.
    
    My own favourites are Tramp the Dirt Down, and Let Him Dangle, but
    there isn't a duff track on the lp. Recommended.
    
    Bob
    
    (Do I get the job with NME now?)