by Robert Wilkinson
August 25 was the birthday of one of the great musical talents of our times, Mister Elvis Costello. Today and tonight we get to dance to the music of this extraordinary talent!
Elvis Costello (born Declan Patrick MacManus 25 August 1954) and his music and songwriting took the world by storm in the late 70s, and since then he’s collaborated with too many great talents to list here. Rather than do a long bio, instead let's just jump into his music, which speaks for itself. I found a bunch of great performances from throughout the decades, so enjoy!!
From 1977, a live performance of one of his earliest big ones! “Alison (My Aim is True)” Here's another version from Woodstock 99 of Elvis in a live performance of “Alison”
From 1978 in Germany, Elvis Costello and the Attractions doing their major hit “Watching the Detectives” (Our closer is this entire concert!)
One of my favorites! From 1977 in the UK on Top of the Pops,, “(The Angels Want to Wear My) Red Shoes”
The live 1978 performance in Detroit is gone, but I found this awesome 1977 live performance on SNL by Elvis and the Attractions doing a powerful version of the rave up "Radio Radio." (This got them kicked off the show for years because Lorne got mad.) Here's the music video from 1979 of Elvis and the Attractions doing “Radio Radio”
From Rockpalast in June 1978, Elvis and the Attractions doing the driving “Pump It Up” From the same show, a great performance of "Two Little Hitlers," The Beat," and "Night Rally." (The entire 5 part show is one of our encores!)
From 1979 on Countdown, Elvis and the Attractions live performing “Oliver’s Army,” “(I Don’t Want to Go to) Chelsea,” “Accidents Will Happen,” “Watching the Dectectives,” and “You Belong To Me”
Here’s one of the greatest songs ever written! Elvis doing a driving version in 2003 on Letterman of the Nick Lowe classic, “What’s So Funny About Peace Love and Understanding” Last year I had a slightly more subdued acoustic version by Elvis and Nick of the tune, but it’s disappeared, so instead, here’s the music video of the amazing “What’s So Funny About Peace Love and Understanding”
From Dutch TV, a gem! Here’s Nick Lowe doing a solo acoustic version of his classic “What’s So Funny About Peace Love and Understanding”
Elvis and Paul McCartney in a music video doing a song they wrote together, “Veronica” From the early 90s, Elvis live unplugged doing “Veronica”
Speaking of Sir Paul, here’s Elvis at the White House in 2010 doing a live version of Paul’s “Penny Lane”
Here’s the original promotional video for the Don Gibson country classic as done in Elvis’ unique style! “Sweet Dreams”
In a related vein, here’s Emmylou Harris and Elvis on Letterman doing Boudleaux Bryant’s classic originally made a huge hit by the Everly Brothers and again by Roy Orbison, “Love Hurts”
Here’s the promotional video for Elvis’ version of the 60s Animals’ smash hit ”Don’t Let Me Be Misunderstood”
From his 1982 appearance on Letterman, here's a performance of "Kid About It" and "Man About Town."
In a great addition, this year I found an awesome live performance at McCabe’s in 1884 with a fantastic group of musicians cranking out “So You Want To Be A Rock and Roll Star.”
In 1982, he co-wrote this about the Falklands War, and in 1983 he teamed up with the legendary trumpeter Chet Baker to create this masterpiece “Shipbuilding.”
From 1983, a music video of “Every Day I Write the Book”
Live at Ronnie Scott’s in 1986, Elvis and Chet Baker doing “You Don’t Know What Love Is” and “The Very Thought of You”
In 1987, Chet covered this song Elvis wrote. Great mood music by one of the great trumpters of all time. “Almost Blue.”
Also from 1987, a 44 minute show of Elvis Costello and the Confederates with Nick Lowe, live in Japan! Elvis Costello and the Confederates with Nick Lowe live in Japan
In 1994, he did this great acoustic live performance on the Kirsty Show! ”Rockinghorse Road” and “Shipbuilding”
The music video of “A Good Year for the Roses”
His 1999 appearance on Letterman is gone, so instead, I found this 1999 performance on Top of the Pops doing “She”
From the 1999 SNL 25th anniversary show, Elvis and the Beastie Boys in a high octane performance of “Radio Radio”
From 2001, Elvis and Lucinda Williams in a multi-part show!
Lucinda Williams and Elvis Costello - Part 1 (Introduction and Change the Locks)
Lucinda Williams and Elvis Costello - Part 2 (Drunken Angel and Indoor Fireworks)
Lucinda Williams and Elvis Costello - Part 3 (Interview and Crescent City)
Lucinda Williams and Elvis Costello - Part 4 (Wild Horses and Blue)
Lucinda Williams and Elvis Costello - Part 5 (Poisoned Rose)
From the 2003 Grammys, Elvis Costello and Bruce Springsteen cranking out the Clash hit, “London Calling”
I found them again! Here are some great duets of Elvis with Billie Joe Armstrong of Green Day in live 2006 performances of:
“Wake Me Up When September Ends.”
“Good Riddance (Time of Your Life).”
From Spectacle in 2008, here’s Elvis and Lou Reed performing “Perfect Day” (“Set the Twilight Reeling” has disappeared.)
It’s disappeared again. Last year I had 34 minutes of the 2008 performance by Elvis and the Police on Spectacle but it’s gone, as is his 2009 interview on Spectacle, live at the Apollo, where Elvis and Sting discuss how they wrote “Alison” and “Roxanne.” Maybe next year.
From the 2008 Spectacle appearance, Elvis and the Police doing a medley of three great ones! "Watching the Detectives," "Walking on the Moon," and "Sunshine of Your Love." And for a real treat, here’s Elvis and the Police doing a song which isn’t often covered. " “Purple Haze”
It seems that first season of Spectacle was in fact spectacular. Here are 47 videos from that show with Elvis doing his thing with all kinds of greats, including the ones you just heard. Spectacle with Elvis Costello – Season 1
From 2009, Elvis with Levon Helm, Richard Thompson, Nick Lowe, and a host of other talents performing “The Weight”
From 2009, Elvis and Bruce live on Spectacle performing a dynamic medley of “Radio Silence,” “Radio Nowhere,” and “Radio Radio” (this is the first part of 2a below, and is a great clip!)
The individual clips have mostly disappeared this year of that epic show on Spectacle via the Sundance channel with Elvis and Bruce! That said, I did find this 30 minute clip titled part 1, so at least we get that much! It was recorded Sept 25, 2009, just two days after Bruce's birthday.
Elvis Costello and Bruce Springsteen on Spectacle – pt. 1
We’ll close this Spectacle set with Elvis and the great Richard Thompson in a screaming duet of “Shoot Out the Lights”
Here’s more live performances by Elvis and the Boss!
Elvis Costello and Bruce Springsteen – “Radio Nowhere” and “Radio Radio.”
Elvis Costello and Bruce Springsteen – “(Your Love Keeps Lifting Me) Higher and Higher”
Speaking of the Boss, Elvis teamed up with Mumford and Sons to give us this medley, featuring one song by Bruce, the other by Woody! "The Ballad of Tom Joad" and "Do Re Me."
Last year I had a great 2 hour collection of every performance by Elvis on The Late Show between 1982 and 2015, but this year it’s nowhere to be found.
For our closer, our birthday boy June 1978 live on Rockpalast TV in a full set. Last year it was all on one video, but this year it’s in several parts. This is a great show from early in his career, and it's pretty intense!
Elvis Costello and the Attractions live at WDR Studio-L in Cologne Pt. 1. (9+ min)
Elvis Costello and the Attractions live at WDR Studio-L in Cologne Pt. 2. (10 min)
Elvis Costello and the Attractions live at WDR Studio-L in Cologne Pt. 3. (9+ min)
Elvis Costello and the Attractions live at WDR Studio-L in Cologne Pt. 4. (11 min)
Elvis Costello and the Attractions live at WDR Studio-L in Cologne Pt. 5. (6+ min)
For the encore, also in 1978, this time shot in the US, here’s 53 minutes of Elvis Costello and the Attractions Live in Detroit and Boston 1978
For the second encore, here’s an hour of Elvis Costello Live at Woodstock 1999
Our third and last encore is Elvis cranking up one of the greatest statements ever made when guest hosting Letterman in 2003. This is one awesome performance you won't want to miss! For your excitement and encouragement, "What's So Funny 'Bout Peace Love and Understanding." Wow.
An interview!
From The Tomorrow Show in 1981, Tom Snyder interviewing Elvis.
Elvis Costello On Tom Snyder Part 1
Elvis Costello On Tom Snyder Part 2
If you want more, here's Elvis Costello.com
Copyright © 2024 Robert Wilkinson
Comments