Conference mr1pst::music

    Well, I'm the first one here and I just wanna say that it's a crime
    that the El Mocambo CD is only available as part of the box set "2-1/2
    Years" because the thing *smokes*. I've had a counterfeit vinyl copy
    as well as the King Biscuit broadcast of the same show (which also has
    a guest shot from Nick Lowe) and it's one of the greatest live rock
    recordings I've ever heard.
    
    							Brian

    Reprinted without permission
    Philadelphia Daily News (1/3/94)
    
    COSTELLO COULDN'T IGNORE THE ATTRACTIONS
    
    He said it would never happen again, but Elvis Costello has reformed
    his original band, the Attractions, and recorded a new album.
    
    "The name of the album is 'Brutal Youth", so I thought what was needed
    was a group of youthful brutes, and the Attractions were the natural
    choice", Costello said recently. "Apart from that, I beleive they are
    the greatest group in the world".
    
    The Album, co-produced by Mitchell Froom, marks the first time Costello
    and the ATtractions - keyboardist Steve Nieve, bassist Bruce Thomas and
    drummer Pete Thomas- have recorded since 1986's "Blood and Chocolate".
    The trio also played on Costello's most aclaimed early discs, "This
    Year's Model" (1978) and "Armed Forces" (1979).
    
    "Brutal Youth" (Warner Bros.) is due in a few months.
    
    Costello and the Attractions, who initially split with no love lost,
    are due to hit the road next spring. Costello's last album, "The Juliet
    Letters" was a somewhat arcane experiment featuring a string quartet.
    
    

    Well, I'm not *too* heartbroken that "Live at El Mocambo" is only
    available in the box set.  (I've had the promo/bootleg for many years).
    The set isn't very expensive - you can get the four CD set for under
    $40.  I like the "Dealey Plaza" version of "Less Than Zero" - an
    interesting twist on the name "Oswald" in the lyrics.
    
    The box set is great.  Rykodisk did a fine job with the recordings.
    It's nice to get the extra material collected, although I already had 
    all but a couple tracks on miscellaneous 45s.  The packaging was okay.
    They could have done a better job on some of the printing - you
    couldn't read the press material on the back of "El Macambo" and some
    of the pictures were not well-produced.  The "big book" was somewhat 
    disposable - I only wish the lyrics were included with it.  Costello
    didn't include lyric sheets until "Imperial Bedroom" on his albums.
    
    Also, I'm somewhat disappointed that the live b-side to the "Stranger
    in the House" single (The Damned's "Neat Neat Neat") didn't make it on 
    to any of the disks.
    
    Did anyone else notice that "Mystery Dance" from "My Aim is True"
    has a different ending from the original album release (both US and
    UK)? Or is it just my imagination?
    
    I'm curious what will get released with "Get Happy!!" since the album
    itself has 20 tracks and there were a slew of non-LP b-sides released
    during the same period.  Looking forward to it.
    
    - Dave

    
     I never was much of a Costello fan...but I think 'What's So Funny 
    About Peace Love and Understanding' is one of my all-time favorite
    tunes. 
    
    Peter

    Another thumbs up on the box set. I got it for X-mas and haven't stopped
    listening to the "Live at El Mocambo" CD yet. It SMOKES.
    
    I've always been a big Elvis fan but hadn't seen him live until
    about 6 years ago when he did an outdoors show in Manchester NH.
    I still rate that show as one of my all time favorites. He did an
    acoustic set that had more energy than 90% of any live show I've
    ever seen. And it wasn't a pseudo MTV acoustic set either, it was
    just Elvis and an acoustic guitar.  
    
    -dave-
    

    Re.: .4
    
    Actually, "What's So Funny...." is a song written and recorded by
    Dave Edmunds, back when he led the Brinsley Schwarz band. That version,
    recorded circa 1972, is so incredibly different, you wouldn't know it's
    the same song!
    
    Bill Message

    Re: .6
    
    Bill, deep in my heart I know you meant to say Nick Lowe and not Dave
    Edmunds, therefore I can forgive you.
    
    							Brian

    
    re -.1
    
    Glad to see I'm not the only person who habitually confuses Nick Lowe
    and Dave Edmunds ( and Graham parker, for that matter ) - I like them
    all, but . . .well, with this premature senility and all . . .
    
    	Re: Elvis and the Attractions reunited . . .
    
    	I was wondering why John Wesley Harding replaced his backup band 
    ( which included a couple Attractions - not sure who ) . . .
    
    							Jim :-)

    RE: box set
    
    A couple of other discoveries in dredging out my old Costello singles:
    
    The two live songs by Elvis Costello and the Attractions released on
    the b-side of the "Watching the Detectives" single ("Blame It On
    Caine"[sic]/"Mystery Dance") were also left off the re-release of 
    "My Aim Is True".   Probably only important from a completist's
    perspective.
    
    The ending of "Mystery Dance" is indeed different from any of the album
    or single releases I have.  The original ending is a fade-out over the 
    phrase "I can't do it anymore and I'm not satisfied" rather than the
    sudden stop on the CD.  The time listed on the original 45 is 1:35, but
    it is listed on the LP and other versions of the single as 2:00 (which
    seems to be purely an optimistic estimate - it seems to be the same as 
    the 1:35 version).  The 45 that lists "Mystery Dance" as 2:00 also
    lists "Pay It Back" as 2:00, which is also pretty inaccurate.
    
    FWIW,
    
    - Dave

    
    I was gonna say, what the hell, when was Dave Edmunds in Brinsley 
    Schwarz ? I never heard their version of the tune, but the energy and
    feeling behind Costello's cover make me crank it up whenever it comes
    over the airwaves. 
    
    Now, Love Sculpture---THAT was a group ! ;-)
    
    Peter

    Re.: .6 & .10 -
    
    Of course, of course, I meant Nick Lowe, my brain was temporarily
    taken over by an alien horde............ 8^)
    
    The EC version of "What's So Funny..." is too terrific. The instant
    I hear the drums, I recognize it, and I begin sportin' a woodrow. 8^)
    
    Bill Message

    Does anyone have a track list of the extra songs on the boxed set
    "2 1/2"? I already have the first three albums, but I'll shell out the
    $$ if it has something one it I don't already have in the other EC
    compilations I've purchased.
    
    Dennis Faust
    

    I'll try to enter a track list, but they all have stuff that was not on
    any 'legit' compilation to date.  I guarantee it.
    
    Another bit of news.  If you buy the three CDs individually, they each
    have a coupon toward a (free?) copy of "El Macombo".  You need all
    three and it needs to be post-marked before March 31, 1994.
    
    - Dave

    Has anybody bought the new album yet, Brutal Youth?
    
    The reviews say that the real Elvis is back.
    
    Lorna
    

    This is the new album recorded with the Attractions?
    
    Please post tour information when you hear it... anybody.  

    Yes, Brutal Youth is with the Attractions.
    

    Picked it up last night.  Heard about 2/3 of it on the tape player on
    the way in this morning.
    
    Truly an attractions album in terms of harmonies, arrangements, that
    organ sound, etc.  Of course, the album consists of a whole slew of 
    relatively short songs.  There were a couple of obviously brilliant 
    moments upon first listen... a good sign.
    

    I bought it yesterday, also, and I *love* it.  
    
    I agree it's definitely an Attractions album.  I've listened to it
    through both sides once and think it's the best stuff he's done in
    years.  
    
    Lorna
    

    I bought it yesterday and I love it too. Unfortunately, my spouse hates
    it.  This presents a serious problem.  Either I get rid of the CD, or I
    get rid of my spouse.  After long and serious consideration, I have
    reached a decision:
    
    Willing to trade for a spouse that likes Elvis Costello.  

    Does the CD have the lyrics?  I bought the cassette and it doesn't
    which is annoying because he writes such interesting ones.
    
    Lorna
    

    No, it doesn't.

    Yeah, but at least you can UNDERSTAND the lyrics on Costello tunes.  I
    seem to be having a difficult time explaining to my teenage daughter
    that music is supposed to have a melody and lyrics.

    >I seem to be having a difficult time explaining to my teenage daughter
    >that music is supposed to have a melody and lyrics.
    
    Hmm, seems I heard this from MY Dad about thirty years ago whilst
    listening to the Beatles and Stones.
    
    							Brian

    
    	Oh, goody!!  Another "I hate heavy metal" note!!
    
    
    							GTI

    I especially love the song "This Is Hell" and I really like the lyrics
    from it that I can understand, such as "This is hell, I'm sorry to tell
    you, it never gets better or worse..."  
    
    But, towards the end where he says "...but it's Julie Andrews, instead
    of John Coltraine", *what* is by Julie Andrews?  I assume it's a song
    but I can't make out what he says?
    
    It really annoys me that people who write good lyrics don't include
    them.  The same thing happened last year with REM.  
    
    Lorna
    

    My favorite (I believe the title is) is Brilliant Parade.  What I like
    about the songs in general is the unusual chord structures, melodies,
    lyrics, and "clean" recording style reminiscent of the British Invasion
    of the mid sixties.  My kids, who don't realize that the "C" is missing
    in rap music, think its horrible.

    re .23
    
    Somehow, I don't see the parallel between my parents objections to the
    Beatles (and yes they did object, at first) and my objections to
    "songs" like Rump Shaker and Donkey Butt.  Long Live Elvis and real
    music!

    >But, towards the end where he says "...but it's Julie Andrews, instead
    >of John Coltraine", *what* is by Julie Andrews?  I assume it's a song
    >but I can't make out what he says?
    
    "My Favorite Things" I would suppose....
    
    							Brian

RE Lyrics

In an interview in Q magazine, Elvis says he deliberately
did not include the lyrics. He likes people to guess.

I love the CD and I think the production is great.
Mitchell Froom produced three of the best 90's albums so far
in my view. The other two being 'Mirror Blue' by Richard
Thompson and 'Kiko' by Los Lobos.

Also I like the drumming very much.

- Minne

    
    	I'm really enjoying it too - only heard it 3 times.  I can't
    	understand the words very well either...
    
    	And, like .29, I think the drummer's great!!  He's not just
    	keeping the beat, he's playing the song!
    
    	Btw, thanks Rick - it was your review that made me pick it
    	up.  Our similar tastes in music is scarey sometimes!!
    
    	Tom
    

    This is hell this is hell
    I am sorry to tell you
    It never gets better or worse
    But you'll get used to it after a spell
    For heaven is hell in reverse
    
    The bruisers spun a hula hoop while all the bar men preen and pout
    The neon eye of nightclub flickers on and off and finally blew out
    The irritating jingle of the belly dancing phony Turkish girls
    The eerie glare of ultra-violet perfect dental work
    
    -CHORUS-
    
    The failed Don Juan in the big bow tie is very sorry that he spoke
    He's mislaid his punch line more than halfway through a very tasteless
    joke
    The frueline caught him peeking down her gown he's yelling in her ear
    and all at once the music stopped, as he was intimately bellowing "My
    Dear"
    
    -CHORUS-
    
    The shirt you wore with courage and the violet nylon suit
    reappear upon your back and undermine the polished line
    you try to shoot. It's not the torment of the flames that finally seize
    you
    Flesh corrupted, it's the small humiliations that your memory piles up
    
    This is hell
    
    My favorite things are playing again and again
    But it's by Julie Andrews and not by John Coltrane
    Endless balmy breezes and Perfect sunsets framed
    Vintage wine for breakfast and naked starlets floating in champagne
    All the passions of your youth are tranquilized and tamed
    You may think it looks familiar though you may know it by another name
    
    -CHORUS-
    

    Well, I'm up to four or five listens now, and this is really an
    enjoyable album.  In addition to "This Is Hell," which is really a
    great song, I also am quite fond of the song which begins "Take your
    tiny feet out of your mother's shoes," or something quite like that.
    
    When I think about what makes me like a particular type of music, humor
    and surprise are high on my list.  Elvis has always satisfied me on
    both counts.  This album doesn't seem quite as funny at first listen
    (how can he top "I wish you luck with a capital F?") but it has a very
    high surprise score in terms of unusual chord changes, arrangements,
    rhythm changes and quirks, etc.
    
    The only thing I wonder is if Elvis' guitar amp is broken with the
    tremolo stuck on.
    
    							M

    Elvis (with the Attractions) are scheduled to be on Letterman on Friday
    night.
    
    Dennis Faust
    

    I read the interview in Q magazine, too, and I think Elvis is a brat
    for not including the lyrics.  But, I love the album.  In fact, I like
    every single song on it, which is unusual for me.  Usually, even my
    favorite albums will have at least one song that I don't like.
    
    My favorite song is "This Is Hell" and my second favorite is "Almost
    Glad."  ("i'm the greatest lover that you never had...is that a tear in
    your eye?" etc.)
    
    
    Lorna
    

Has anyone heard anything about a tour this summer, in particular, stopping 
somewhere in the Boston area?  Thanks.

Walker

    re: .35
    
    He's definitely got some tour dates -- heard it from the horse's mouth
    on Letterman last Friday.  He did "13 Steps Lead Down", by the way. 
    Letterman made us wait until the last 5 minutes of the show to see him,
    but it was well worth staying up.  I haven't heard about dates in the
    Boston area, but he rattled off 3 or 4 NYC-area dates that had already
    been arranged.  If anyone has any info on tour dates, please post!
    
    	Steve

    	Well, purchased and listened to the "Brutal Youth" CD this weekend.
    I find it to be excellent! It's just as though the Attractions never
    left! Too incredibly cool! This is a great album, folks. Buy it now,
    turn it platinum, and then E.C. can be nominated for a Grammy! (8^)
    
    Bill Message

    
    	re: - my note thanking Rick.  Don't know why but I thought Rick
    	Calcagni bought it.  But it was Mark!  Anyway... Mark, have your
    	"John" do "20 percent Amnesia"!!  Sounds like John to me...
    
    	My favorite is "Clown Strike" so far.  Anyone know if a songbook
    	is out??  I want one!
    
    	Tom
    

    
    	Best tunes on the album :
    
    	tough choice - they're all good, but my fave has to be _Clown
    Strike_ ( ...even a clown knows when to strike... ) along with _20%
    Amnesia_
    
    	I gotta thank all the folks who replied here - I was going to buy
    this 'eventually', but due to the good reviews here, I bumped it up to
    'immediately', and am extremely pleased I did so.  Thanks, kids! :-)
    
    	'tis a bummer about the lack of printed lyrics, but I find there
    are only a few spots where you can't quite make out the words - the
    quality of the album much more than makes up for the lack, i think :-)
    
    					- Jim

    Elvis will be at Great Woods June 12th. Tickets on sale Friday.
    Crash test Dummies opening!
    

        Brutal Youth is (in my opinion) the best EC recording in
        years. That being said, I think  that calling it an
        Attractions record is misleading considering that
        Bruce Thomas only plays on 1/3 of the tracks. 
        
        Granted, the other Attractions are present on (all?) 
        most of the other tracks, Bruce Thomas (arguably) 
        defined the sound of the Attractions with his "over the
        top" style of bass playing. This style isn't very much
        represented on Brutal Youth.
        
        I have to admit that Bruce Thomas is one of my all time
        favorite players, perhaps even my most favorite and his
        conspicuous absence on most of the tracks of this record
        makes Brutal Youth somewhat disappointing to me. 
        
        Still, as I mentioned before, this is the best record from
        Elvis in a long time.
        


Tom
---
Dictated using Dragon Dictate (Voice Recognition)

    Saw Elvis last night at Great Woods.  Good show - did almost
    exclusively Attrations numbers, with heavy emphasis on the first two
    albums and the latest.  Played for about 2 hours, but loads of songs
    since the early ones are pretty short.
    
    Partial play list, from memory, in no particular order (can anyone fill
    in anything missing?  Also, I don't remember a lot of titles from
    "Brutal Youth"):
    
    No Action
    You Belong to Me
    The Beat
    (I Don't Want to Go to) Chelsea
    Pump it Up
    Alison
    Watching the Detectives
    Waiting for the End of the World
    Radio Radio
    Accidents Will Happen
    New Lace Sleeves
    Peace Love and Understanding
    Everyday I Write the Book
    Deep Dark Truthful Mirror 
    Party Girl
    Beyond Belief
    13 Steps Lead Down
    Science Fiction Twin
    London's Brilliant Parade
    Rocking Horse Road(?)
    Clown Strike
    
    an encore of a cover that I didn't recognize...
    
    
    With snippets of:
    On Broadway
    Tracks of My Tears
    Tears of a Clown
    (another "tears" song)
    
    I never hear him do anything from "Get Happy", one of my favs.  I've
    seen his last 3 or 4 tours, and I don't remember him doing anything
    from this album.
    
    All in all, a good show, but the "Spike" show is still my favorite.
    
    Todd 
    
    

    re. 589.42:  Todd, I was also at last night's Great Woods show.  I was
    glad to finally see EC with the Attractions.  I didn't write down the 
    set list, but I was able to get the set list from someone on the EC
    Internet mailing list.  Here it is (in order): 
    
No Action
The Beat
Waiting For the End of the World
Beyond Belief
Sulky Girl
London's Brilliant Parade
Deep Dark Truthful Mirror
Pony St.
New Lace Sleeves
Clown Strike
Kinder Murder
Clubland w/On Broadway (but to tune of Clubland!  Nifty!!)
Rocking Horse Road
Still Too Soon to Know
Everyday I Write the Book
My Science Fiction Twin
Watching the Detectives (then right into)
You Belong to Me
Thirteen Steps Lead Down (1-2-3-4 into)
Radio Radio
--------------------
Lipstick Vogue w/Chelsea in the middle
Party Girl 
--------------------
Puppet Girl (this was one of the songs that EC wrote for Wendy James' album) 
Alison/Tracks of My Tears/Tears of a Clown/some other tears song
Accidents Will Happen 
--------------------
All the Rage (w/ "special goodbye")
Peace, Love, and Understanding
Pump It Up

    
    - Ron.
    

re .-1,.-2    Todd/Ron

I saw Elvis at Riverbend in Cincinnati, and there were a few differences.
Best of all, he played a few of my personal fav's : Hi Fidelity (sorry you
missed out Todd), and Man Out of Time!

I don't think I'll go to another concert for a few years, because they will
pale in comparison!

Kevin

    re -.2
    
    Can you tell us how to get onto the EC internet mailing list?
    

    What is "All the Rage"?  I remember not recognizing that encore either. 
    I don't remember it on any of his albums...
    
    I'd also like to hear him do almost anything from "Out of Our Idiot". 
    (An import compilation of odds and ends - release in '87 I think -
    great stuff.)
    
    Todd

    So did anyone ever come up with the lyrics to all the songs in Brutal
    Youth?  Apparently, there is no sheet music book available.

    re: .46
    
    "All The Rage" is on Brutal Youth.  He did more than half the new album
    in concert.  Excellent show at Great Woods -- unlike most of the crowd,
    I liked the new stuff the best.  Amazing he still does Pump It Up --
    I'd be tired of performing that one by now I think.  BTW, did anyone
    who saw the show get tired of hearing the keyboard player do his little
    fills in every single song whenever EC wasn't singing?
    
    	Steve

re: .-1

Steve,

I admit, the keyboard fills caused me some lower intestine pain.

re: .-2

I have a fairly complete lyric sheet for "Brutal Youth" that I'll mail to 
you if you like. In return, if you can fill in any of the blanks, I'd 
appreciate it!

Kevin

    I would appreciate the lyric sheet as well, and an address to subscribe
    to the internet mailing list would be appreciated.
    
    Dennis Faust
    

    
    The address for the Elvis Costello internet mailing list is:
    
    		[email protected]
    
    Make sure you have the word "subscribe" in the subject line and the
    body of the mail message.
    
    - Ron.

    
    	re - .49 (Kevin)
    
    	I would also like your lyrics for Brutal Youth!!  Was really
    	hoping sheet music would come out...
    
    	Thanks - Tom
    	Uspmlo::Desrochers
    

    re: Steve...
    
    I liked the keyboard playing... really inventive.  He's more rhythmic
    than your average keyboardist, too.  Didn't have the negative effect 
    on me at all.
    
    Took the crowd a while to get into the show... somewhere towards the
    end after a particularly hot number, Elvis sort of signalled to the
    crowd to get on their feet and we got a little rowdier after that.  Of
    course, the place was on fire by the time the show ended.  Nice pacing.
    
    ... and since nobody mentioned it so far, I have to point out that in
    addition to all the other tidbits of cover songs in the show, there was
    a snippet of Beatles.  Elvis has a song (don't recall the title)
    which ends with repeating C-G-A chords.  On Sunday night, the (how
    shall I describe it?) "1-2-3-4-5-6-7 all good children go to heaven"
    riff made an appearance at that point.
    

    
    
    the beatles song sounds like "altogether now" from the yellow 
    submarine film/album/book/right to print money
    
    giles
    
    

    Definitely not "All Together Now" or anything quite like it.
    
    As it happens, I heard the song in question yesterday on the car tape
    player.  Still don't know the title, but Elvis keeps singing "I can
    give you anything but time."  Or so it sounds to me.  Musta been on "My
    Aim is True" or "Armed Forces," seeing as how that's the tape I was
    playing.
    
    							Marc
    

>    Still don't know the title, but Elvis keeps singing "I can
>    give you anything but time."  Or so it sounds to me.  Musta been on "My
>    Aim is True" or "Armed Forces," seeing as how that's the tape I was
>    playing.

  That's "Party Girl" from (you're right) Armed Forces.  That album had
  several Beatle-esque touches I thought, including the
  all-good-children-go-to-heaven riff.
  
  Seemed kind of curious at the time, since the implied model of his
  tips-of-the-hat was "Abbey Road", which -- well, it seemed antithetical at
  the time.  You'd expect him to admire Beatles-the-unschooled-DiY-songwriters-
  arrangers, not Beatles-the-springboard-for-so-called-progressive-rock.
  But, who's to tell anyone what to admire...  - Jay

    re. 53
    
    > "1-2-3-4-5-6-7 all good children go to heaven"
    
    Sounds like Bad Religion. Could it be that he covered them?
    -Henri
    

    Re: .57
    
    Huh?  I must be getting old.  It's just a quote off side 2 of "Abbey
    Road"...

    maybe b.r. "quoted" beatles...
    i'm too young for beatles.
    h

>    maybe b.r. "quoted" beatles...

  Actually, Beatles and Bad Religion both quoted a very old nursery rhyme (I
  believe).  "1-2-3-4-5-6-7, all good children go to heaven"  predates all of
  us by quite a bit, I'm pretty sure.    - Jay

    The sheet music book to Brutal Youth is now available.  I picked it up
    yesterday at my local sheet music store.

    Elvis and the Attractions are scheduled to perform on Late Night with
    David Letterman a week from today, on Tuesday, May 16th.
    
    Does this mean there's a new album and/or tour?

    VH1 said to expect an album of covers from the king soon if I remember
    correctly, but usually I don't

    
    	That album was mentioned in Rolling Stone this month.
    
    	Not sure when it's due.
    

    the new release is the "Kojack Variety"
    

    ...and it was released today (May 9th).

    According to an article in the Sunday Boston Globe, Elvis is working on
    a new album of originals.  The only performances he plans this summer
    are two shows at the Beacon Theatre in NYC.

    According to a post on an Elvis Costello WWW page, Elvis and the 
    Attractions are booked for six nights at Manhattan's Beacon Theatre, 
    from 2 August to 7 August.

    Tickets for Elvis at the Beacon Theatre went on sale last week (through
    Ticketmaster).  Haven't heard if the shows sold out or not.
    
    Fredda

    Ticketmaster has on sale August 2, 3, and 4 shows... their computer is
    showing nothing for any other dates as of now.  The shows are almost
    sold out.

>>    According to a post on an Elvis Costello WWW page

What's the URL for that Web page?  Thanks.

Walker

    http://east.isx.com/~schnitzi/elvis.html

    According to the Beacon Theatre, Elvis has an option to do shows on
    August 6th and 7th, but has not picked up the option so far.  They did
    not know when that might happen.
    
    Tickets for the 8/2, 8/3, and 8/4 shows are still available.