Elvis Costello

Elvis Costello - Early Life and Music

Born Declan Patrick MacManus in 1954, Costello was a product of a musical family. His father was a bandleader and his mother ran a record store when he was young. As early as 1976, he was playing clubs with a folk-rock group called Flip City. He had been performing under the stage name D.P. Costello, borrowing “Costello” from his mother’s maiden name. Eventually, he dropped the D.P. and took the name most synonymous with rock and roll, Elvis.

Elvis’ debut album, My Aim Is True, was released in 1977 to modest success. Although not immediately released in the US, My Aim Is True did make it into the British Top 20 and enjoyed many positive reviews. His first successful single was “Watching The Detectives”. It made it to number 15 on the British charts. Always slightly more visible in England, that hasn’t hurt Costello’s career- he really isn’t about hit music.

An infamous rock and roll moment involving Elvis Costello occurred in 1977 on Saturday Night Live. Costello and his band were asked to fill in last minute for The Sex Pistols. Asked not to play their song “Radio, Radio” due to offensive lyrics about the media, Costello did it anyway. Even worse, he allowed his band to begin another song and then abruptly changed it to “Radio, Radio”. This disrupted the live show, angering SNL producer, Lorne Michaels and earning Costello a 12-year ban from the show.

After My Aim Is True was released, Costello adopted a regular backup band named The Attractions and they released their first album, This Year’s Model in 1978. It was even more successful than the last record, both in Britain and America. Since that time, Elvis Costello has released over thirty albums, some solo and some with bands like The Attractions and The Imposters.

The Musical Rebel

There really isn’t any genre to pigeonhole Costello in. Over the years he has been considered a punk pioneer, producing albums for bands like The Pogues. He has also had influence on the ska scene, using reggae rhythms in songs and producing for The Specials. However, his country roots are evident in some of his most visible work as well.

Costello has released several non-rock albums, performing with orchestras and string quartets; his reinvention never ceases to amaze. Although he has never been a great commercial venture, Costello has had an amazing influence on the music world and continues to find success to this day.

Elvis Costello Albums

Photorazzi

My Aim Is True (1977)
This Year's Model (1978)
Armed Forces(1979)
Get Happy!!(1980)
Taking Liberties (1980)
Ten Bloody Marys and Ten How's Your Fathers (1980)
Trust (1981)
Almost Blue (1981)
Imperial Bedroom (1982)
Punch The Clock (1983)
Goodbye Cruel World (1984)
The Best of Elvis Costello & The Attractions (1985)
The Man (1985)
King of America (1986)
Blood And Chocolate (1986)
Out of Our Idiot (1987)
Spike (1989)
Girls+?/Girls=$+Girls (1989)
Mighty Like A Rose (1991)
The Juliet Letters (1993)
Brutal Youth (1994)
The Very Best of Elvis Costello & The Attractions 1977-1986 (1994)
Kojak Variety (1995)
Deep Dead Blue, Live 25 June 95 (1995)
All This Useless Beauty (1996)
Costello and Nieve (1996)
Extreme Honey: The Very Best of The Warner Bros. Years (1997)
Painted From Memory (1998)
The Very Best of Elvis Costello (1999)
When I Was Cruel (2002)
North (2003)
Il Sogno (2004)
The Delivery Man (2004)

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