Elvis' less appreciated gems: a new series
- Fishfinger king
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[quote="pophead2k")I'd nominate Starting to Come to Me for this list as well.[/quote]
Good call. Starting to come to me always makes me grin. So many think EC is too serious and to me it's the grin-worthy tracks that do it.
Others in this bracket: Sweetest Punch, Really mystified (Peel version, not leaden IP out-take), Five gears in reverse, Big tears, Tears before bedtime and most conclusively My mood swings.
Good call. Starting to come to me always makes me grin. So many think EC is too serious and to me it's the grin-worthy tracks that do it.
Others in this bracket: Sweetest Punch, Really mystified (Peel version, not leaden IP out-take), Five gears in reverse, Big tears, Tears before bedtime and most conclusively My mood swings.
Can't you see I'm trying to change this water to wine
- noiseradio
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Opportunity
Fish and Chip Papers
From a Whisper to a Scream
Two Little Hitlers
Little Triggers
Every one of those songs is amazing, and I never see them on greatest hits collections. The chorus to Fish & Chip Papers is so infectious. And "Born in the middle of the second big baby boom" is one of my favorite opening lines in a Costello tune. I adore the way EC's voice blends with the dude from Squeeze on Whisper to a Scream. I dig the way EC nicked the guitar part from Rebel Rebel for Two Little Hitlers. And Little Triggers is the most unexpected thing to find its way onto This Year's Model. In the middle of all that bombast, it's positively disconserting. And beautiful.
Fish and Chip Papers
From a Whisper to a Scream
Two Little Hitlers
Little Triggers
Every one of those songs is amazing, and I never see them on greatest hits collections. The chorus to Fish & Chip Papers is so infectious. And "Born in the middle of the second big baby boom" is one of my favorite opening lines in a Costello tune. I adore the way EC's voice blends with the dude from Squeeze on Whisper to a Scream. I dig the way EC nicked the guitar part from Rebel Rebel for Two Little Hitlers. And Little Triggers is the most unexpected thing to find its way onto This Year's Model. In the middle of all that bombast, it's positively disconserting. And beautiful.
"There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio, than are dreamt of in your philosophy."
--William Shakespeare
--William Shakespeare
The Tricky remix of "Distorted Angel" still stands as my fave EC song. WIWC2 is another one that I think is absolutely brilliant. Let's see...."The Bridge I Burned" was called Elvis' "least essential song" by The Onion's A.V. Club (who, other than that, are responsible for some incredibly intelligent pop criticism) but I love it and I think "That's How You Got Killed Before" is on the short list for his best ever cover.
- verbal gymnastics
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Great choice as well. This is a beautiful version. I saw Elvis play this live and solo once in 1984. I used to love it whn Elvis would be playing band shows and then play a few acoustic songs.Neil. wrote:And Withered is unbearably sad, with that beautiful melancholy vocal. Amazing stuff.
El Vez - "The Tricky remix of "Distorted Angel" still stands as my fave EC song." STILL stands? Are you pulling my leg?
Who’s this kid with his mumbo jumbo?
Oh, IP, I just love this song too and that same quote.....Once I was the jewel of your heart, now I'm only semi-precious.invisible Pole wrote:I have always loved Suffering Face. It's one of Elvis' best vocal performances (didn't he say he was drunk when recording it ? ) and I've never quite understood why it was left off King Of America. The combination of gorgeous melody and unashamedly sentimental lyrics ("Once I was the jewel of your heart, now I'm only semi-precious" always makes me smile) knocks me off my feet every time I hear it.
Kid About It has always been one of my top five of all time. I've never heard anything like that vocal. I could listen to it a thousand times in a row.
Inch by Inch is another gem you never hear. It's a great tune, very catchy. It stays with you. I love it.
I'm not angry anymore....
- verbal gymnastics
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When I hear my favourite line "You gave me the kiss of my life" I always think of Mrs VG. And you've just reminded me of itSweetPear wrote:Kid About It has always been one of my top five of all time. I've never heard anything like that vocal. I could listen to it a thousand times in a row.
Who’s this kid with his mumbo jumbo?
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There's so much on 'Get Happy!!' that's comparitively overlooked because there's such a lot on there. I definitely agree on 'Secondary Modern' and 'Opportunity' (especially the 'compliment collector/funeral director' couplet), and I've also been playing 'Motel Matches' and the cover of Joe Cammileri's 'So Young' on the bonus disc to death recently.
"You Stole My Bell" from the Family Man soundtrack. One of my favourite EC songs. Great lyrics, great tune, and great vocal.
You can download it from Itunes.
You can download it from Itunes.
echos myron like a siren
with endurance like the liberty bell
and he tells you of the dreamers
but he's cracked up like the road
and he'd like to lift us up, but we're a very heavy load
with endurance like the liberty bell
and he tells you of the dreamers
but he's cracked up like the road
and he'd like to lift us up, but we're a very heavy load
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20 fantastic songs never to appear (at least on a Costello release)
1. Unwanted Number
2. Passionate fight
3. No Wonder
4. Suspect my tears
5. Burnt Sugar is so bitter
6. You Stole My Bell
7. I'll watch out for you
8. Real Emotional Girl
9. When That I Was and a Little Tiny Boy.
10. Warm & Beautiful
11. Long Journey Home
12. Let's Misbehave.
13. You'll Never Walk Alone.
14. Egypt
15. Windows of the world (the version with Ron Sexsmith)
16. Crying Time
17. Love Hurts
18. Meet me on the corner
19. omie wise
20. Butcher's boy
These are just off the top of my head There's certainly more. Would make a more than decent album. Haven't heard crazy or Los Lobos number. Unwanted No. & Long Journey home are particular Favourites. An opportunity was recently lost with the juliet letters for some of this great Brodsky material.
1. Unwanted Number
2. Passionate fight
3. No Wonder
4. Suspect my tears
5. Burnt Sugar is so bitter
6. You Stole My Bell
7. I'll watch out for you
8. Real Emotional Girl
9. When That I Was and a Little Tiny Boy.
10. Warm & Beautiful
11. Long Journey Home
12. Let's Misbehave.
13. You'll Never Walk Alone.
14. Egypt
15. Windows of the world (the version with Ron Sexsmith)
16. Crying Time
17. Love Hurts
18. Meet me on the corner
19. omie wise
20. Butcher's boy
These are just off the top of my head There's certainly more. Would make a more than decent album. Haven't heard crazy or Los Lobos number. Unwanted No. & Long Journey home are particular Favourites. An opportunity was recently lost with the juliet letters for some of this great Brodsky material.
- bambooneedle
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Not that it's fantastic but it's a hassle that North is not on North as I only had it on my old hard disc (RIP). And a lot of people didn't get Impatience or She's Pulling Out The Pin. Many of these are obviously crying out for box set treatment.The imposter wrote:20 fantastic songs never to appear (at least on a Costello release)
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- verbal gymnastics
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- Location: Magic lantern land
Not sure I'd put this one in the "fantastic " category.The imposter wrote:20 fantastic songs never to appear (at least on a Costello release)
2. Passionate fight
I'd love to see the original version of Baby Pictures which starts "You find an unfamiliar portrait in a jumble of possessions", Elvis' version of I Throw My Toys Around (which must exist) and a "proper" version of Dark End of the Street released.
But I digress...
Who’s this kid with his mumbo jumbo?
- bambooneedle
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Battered Old Bird seems to have been given fairly short shrift in the overviews of Elvis' work I've read (and I'm reasonably new to his stuff, got into him last year through his performance of 'Delivery Man' tracks on 'Later with Jools Holland', so I'm at that exciting stage when you start to become obsessed by someone's work, you've made your way through the key stuff but you know there's still tons more to discover) but I love that song. That line '..and it is always Christmas in a cupboard at the top of the stairs' conjures up all kinds of jarring images. He explains it in the 'Blood and Chocolate' liner notes but the first time I heard that it made my brain dance.
- bambooneedle
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- Location: a few thousand miles south east of Zanzibar
My Science Fiction Twin has been rated quite low in polls it seems to me. I'm guessing because it may be perceived by some as too sexist because they don't get enough of the humour. Mutually exclusive to that, perhaps it also manages to speak much more to the male sex generally, I dunno. It is a finely crafted comical gem treating the subject of the ego with great insight and humour.
Consider the vocal and lyrical delivery of:
My science fiction twin
Escorted by his lovely nieces
Filled up his purse dictating verse
While painting masterpieces
His almost universal excellence
Is starting to disturb me
They asked how in the world he does all these things
And he answered "Superbly"
He's trapped in his own parallel dimension
That's why I'm so forgiving
But how could I possibly forget to mention those fifty-foot women
Who put the fascination back into my science fiction twin
What, but a brilliant and twisted mind, could come up with that. Love the spooky key effects and the dumb bass and the perfect sense of absurdity. I like the way EC delivers "he's trapped in his own parallel dimension" and "and they were gently gathered by reporters" in particular.
Consider the vocal and lyrical delivery of:
My science fiction twin
Escorted by his lovely nieces
Filled up his purse dictating verse
While painting masterpieces
His almost universal excellence
Is starting to disturb me
They asked how in the world he does all these things
And he answered "Superbly"
He's trapped in his own parallel dimension
That's why I'm so forgiving
But how could I possibly forget to mention those fifty-foot women
Who put the fascination back into my science fiction twin
What, but a brilliant and twisted mind, could come up with that. Love the spooky key effects and the dumb bass and the perfect sense of absurdity. I like the way EC delivers "he's trapped in his own parallel dimension" and "and they were gently gathered by reporters" in particular.
Has anyone mentioned "You Little Fool"? I think its always overlooked when talking about Imperial Bedroom. I love the phased part especially.
echos myron like a siren
with endurance like the liberty bell
and he tells you of the dreamers
but he's cracked up like the road
and he'd like to lift us up, but we're a very heavy load
with endurance like the liberty bell
and he tells you of the dreamers
but he's cracked up like the road
and he'd like to lift us up, but we're a very heavy load
As far as Battered Old Bird goes, I love the bit where it goes all weird around "peices of him are already scattered in the attic". A great spot of Nick Lowe production magic.
echos myron like a siren
with endurance like the liberty bell
and he tells you of the dreamers
but he's cracked up like the road
and he'd like to lift us up, but we're a very heavy load
with endurance like the liberty bell
and he tells you of the dreamers
but he's cracked up like the road
and he'd like to lift us up, but we're a very heavy load
- bambooneedle
- Posts: 4533
- Joined: Tue Jun 03, 2003 4:02 pm
- Location: a few thousand miles south east of Zanzibar
Devised to mask the fact that it was two takes joined together! So he is suddenly energized and spouts out the words like he is recalling a vivid dream... brilliant. Never been one to underappreciate Battered Old Bird, always been a steadfast favourite from B&C. Can't really stomach the fast version though, no comparison.Mike Boom wrote:As far as Battered Old Bird goes, I love the bit where it goes all weird around "peices of him are already scattered in the attic". A great spot of Nick Lowe production magic.
I'm beginning to like Battered Old Bird, now that I'm a little older, more patient, and realise that some good songs last longer than three minutes.
I think it was verbal gymnastics who mentioned "Baby Pictures". I'm not familiar with the other version you were talking about, but I LOVE the version on the Punch the Clock reissue. I like the tempo of the band, the vocal delivery (it sounds like EC's laughing as he sings) everything.
I too love Science Fiction twin. The bit, "and the pain is so sweet/as he stamps his little feet" is one of the best bits of Brutal Youth. Uplifting, and always makes me smile. You Little Fool is another great pop song.
Does anyone else think that "So Young" is one of Elvis' best covers?
I think it was verbal gymnastics who mentioned "Baby Pictures". I'm not familiar with the other version you were talking about, but I LOVE the version on the Punch the Clock reissue. I like the tempo of the band, the vocal delivery (it sounds like EC's laughing as he sings) everything.
I too love Science Fiction twin. The bit, "and the pain is so sweet/as he stamps his little feet" is one of the best bits of Brutal Youth. Uplifting, and always makes me smile. You Little Fool is another great pop song.
Does anyone else think that "So Young" is one of Elvis' best covers?
If there were a king of fools than I would wear that crown/And you can all die laughing/Because I'll wear it proudly.