Elvis Costello Countdown

[docinwestchester]

The next 10 are up:

http://www.elviscostello.com/news/5050-vision/394

“There’s a merry song that starts in “I” and ends in “You”, as many famous pop songs do”

81. This Year’s Girl

82. Harry Worth

83. You Little Fool

84. I’ll Wear It Proudly

85. Tart

86. Toledo

87. You Tripped At Every Step

88. This House Is Empty Now

89. Just A Memory

90. Favourite Hour

[Otis Westinghouse]

What fun! Presumably the list of the people who run the site? Nice selections so far with some good inclusions omitted by CK, e.g. Tart (which I'll be singing tomorrow as I listen to the silver trumpets trilling in the Arabic streets of Seville).

[cwr]

I assume this is Costello himself making the list, right?

[migdd]

I wonder if he's spinning a wheel or rolling some dice to make his selections. I'm sure "he" is having a bit of fun, whether "he" is EC or not.

[docinwestchester]

I wonder if he's spinning a wheel or rolling some dice to make his selections. I'm sure "he" is having a bit of fun, whether "he" is EC or not.

It does look very random, doesn't it?

Or is there some sort of secret pattern that we should try to figure out?

[Jack of All Parades]

What fun! Presumably the list of the people who run the site? Nice selections so far with some good inclusions omitted by CK, e.g. Tart (which I'll be singing tomorrow as I listen to the silver trumpets trilling in the Arabic streets of Seville).

What I am liking is the fact that a song like "Basement Kiss" is given some notice along with the likes of "I'll Wear it Proudly". Good fun whomever is compiling this alternative list and a seeminly worthy alternative to CK's choices.

[cwr]

I'm stunned that anyone thinks this could be someone other than EC making this alternative list.

A) he loves making lists of songs (see the two mammoth Vanity Fair pieces he penned)

B) most of the text that's ever been posted to his official site has been written by him (all that "Moon Conway" stuff, etc.)

C) can you imagine him allowing some webmaster to post something like this without explanation, including unreleased song titles, etc.?

[Jack of All Parades]

Well I am willing to entertain the notion that these selections are penned by EC, directly. The catholic character of the first twenty certainly hints at such a possibility.

[countdownkid]

Let me just say that, if it is EC compiling this alternative list, it's the best honor I could ever receive, so I'm going to pretend it's him even if it isn't.

[Otis Westinghouse]

I'm stunned that anyone thinks this could be someone other than EC making this alternative list.

As my son would say, over-reaction alert! It's not like he hasn't got quite a lot of other things to be doing with his time.

C) can you imagine him allowing some webmaster to post something like this without explanation, including unreleased song titles, etc.?

Well, not 'some webmaster', but someone who's responsible for web content on his site and knows all his work, of course, why not? Entirely plausible, and quite a bit more than it being him himself, I'd say, without wanting to take from your sense of being honoured, CK!

[And No Coffee Table]

Well, not 'some webmaster', but someone who's responsible for web content on his site and knows all his work, of course, why not?

Who, other than Elvis, had ever heard of "No Star" prior to the publication of this list?

I agree with cwr. There is no doubt in my mind that the list is EC's.

[cwr]

Based on the fact that Costello has never allowed anyone to write liner notes for a CD of his (and in fact I believe once rejected MAIT reissue liner notes written by Greil Marcus, unless I'm misremembering), and all the text on his website (with the exception of official press releases or news items) has always been written by Costello himself, I think it's almost entirely implausible that EC would let someone start writing a countdown of 'Best' songs by him that included joking references to unreleased songs.

He certainly wouldn't allow it to be tweeted and posted on Facebook. Unless he's suddenly changed completely after decades of sort of always insisting on being in control of things like this.

Also, how is this an overreaction?

[the_platypus]

Also, how is this an overreaction?

Calm down, cwr, you're out of control!

[And No Coffee Table]

The countdown continues...

http://www.elviscostello.com/news/5050-vision/394

“It's strange to finally find myself so tongue-tied”

71. Black And White World

72. Heart Shaped Bruise

73. Dr Watson, I Presume

74. Big Tears

75. Pump It Up

76. Black Sails In The Sunset

77. Someone Took The Words Away

78. Poisoned Rose

79. All These Strangers

80. Human Hands

[Jack of All Parades]

Hooray for "Human Hands" and the superb "Dr. Watson, I Presume" and the great photo from his KOA photo shoot.

[verbal gymnastics]

I agree with the thought that this is EC having some fun. There are no explanations, no logic to the selections (which appear to just be random) and no proof that No Star exists (and could be Elvis' mischievous humour) although I can wait to be proved wrong about this one!

[docinwestchester]

It would be great to get a little CK-style analysis of each song.

C'mon Elvis, give us a taste!

[The imposter]

I agree with the thought that this is EC having some fun. There are no explanations, no logic to the selections (which appear to just be random) and no proof that No Star exists (and could be Elvis' mischievous humour) although I can wait to be proved wrong about this one!

Neither can it be satisfactorily proven that "No Star" does not exist.

and anyway 2 negatives make a positive so it must be true.

[verbal gymnastics]

I hate double negatives - if you don't know what I don't mean

[sweetest punch]

The next ones are up: http://www.elviscostello.com/#/news/5050-vision/394

“Fill up that empty space in your heart, listen up when the herald says, “Hark”

61. I’m In The Mood Again

62. A Voice In The Dark

63. Veronica

64. What's Her Name Today?

65. For The Stars

66. She Handed Me A Mirror

67. Dirty Rotten Shame

68. Ghost Train

69. Episode Of Blonde

70. Party Girl

[Jack of All Parades]

Well 'I have to admit its getting better..........' as a fellow Liverpool songster wrote many years ago. Tickled by the inclusion of "For the Stars" and "I'm In the Mood Again" and yet further love for National Ransom in the form of its final song. Our mystery counter list compiler is a 'closet romantic' in his/her secret heart I suspect.

P.S.- a big hooray for that old chestnut- "Ghost Train"

[pophead2k]

When the EC list is done, I plan to make an iTunes playlist. Anyone else? It will be fun to hear the songs in juxtaposition to each other.

[Otis Westinghouse]

Yes, to complement my CK one. Fun stuff.

[And No Coffee Table]

http://www.elviscostello.com/news/5050-vision/394

“They're so tired of shooting protest singers that they hardly mention us”

51. All The Rage

52. Tokyo Storm Warning

53. That Day Is Done

54. Still

55. So Like Candy

56. Accidents Will Happen

57. Brilliant Mistake

58. Lipstick Vogue

59. New Amsterdam

60. American Without Tears

[migdd]

Looking forward to the top 10.