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Elvis Costello
Elvis Costello performing in June 2005
Elvis Costello performing in June 2005
Background information
Birth name Declan Patrick MacManus
Born August 25, 1954 (1954-08-25) (age 53)
London, England
Genre(s) Rock
Punk
Pub rock
New Wave
Occupation(s) Musician, Singer-songwriter
Instrument(s) Vocals, Guitar, Piano/Keyboards, Bass, Drums, Ukulele, Glockenspiel, Mandolin, Tambourine, Harmonica, Melodica, Celesta, Harmonium, Organ, Cymbal, Vox Continental electric organ, Synclavier, Casiotone, Maracas, Bells
Years active 1970–Present
Label(s) Stiff, Radar, F-Beat, Demon, Columbia, Warner Bros., Deutsche Grammophon, Lost Highway
Associated acts The Attractions, The Imposters, Nick Lowe, Burt Bacharach, Allen Toussaint, George Jones, Emmylou Harris, Anne Sofie von Otter, Diana Krall, The Brodsky Quartet, Michael Tilson Thomas, Paul McCartney, Bob Dylan, Tony Bennett, Rob Wasserman, The Jazz Passengers, Count Basie Big Band, T-Bone Burnett, Roy Orbison, Gillian Welch, Bill Frisell, Hal Willner, Dirty Dozen Brass Band, Metropole Orkest, Marian McPartland, The Specials, The Pogues
Website Elvis Costello.com
Notable instrument(s)
Fender Jazzmaster

Elvis Costello (born Declan Patrick MacManus 25 August 1954) is an English musician and singer-songwriter. Events 1248 - The Dutch city of Ommen receives city rights and fortification rights from Otto III the Year 1954 ( MCMLIV) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display full 1954 Gregorian calendar) London ( ˈlʌndən is the capital and largest urban area in the United Kingdom. England is a Country which is part of the United Kingdom. Its inhabitants account for more than 83% of the total UK population whilst its mainland A music genre is a categorical and typological construct that identifies musical sounds as belonging to a particular category and type of music that can be distinguished from other Rock music is a genre of Popular music often though not necessarily employing Electric guitar, Bass guitar, and Drums. Pub rock was a mid- to late-1970s musical movement largely centred around North London and South East Essex, particularly Canvey Island and Southend New Wave is a Rock music genre that existed during the late 1970s and the 1980s A musician is a person who plays or writes Music. Musicians can be classified by their roles in creating or performing music An instrumentalist plays a Singer-songwriter is a term that refers to Performers who write, compose and sing their own material including Lyrics A musical instrument is a device constructed or modified for the purpose of making Music. Singing is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, which is often contrasted with Speech. The guitar is a Musical instrument with ancient roots that is used in a wide variety of musical styles The piano is a Musical instrument played by means of a keyboard that produces sound by striking steel strings with Felt covered hammers A keyboard instrument is any musical instrument played using a Musical keyboard. The electric bass guitar (also called electric bass, or simply bass; ˈbeɪs as in "base" is a Stringed instrument played primarily with the A drum kit (also drum set or trap set) is a collection of Drums Cymbals and sometimes other Percussion instruments such as cowbells The ukulele (ˌjʉːkəˈlɛɪli from ʻukulele /ˌʔukuˈlele/ variantly spelled ukelele (particularly in the UK) or alternatively abbreviated uke The glockenspiel ( German, "set of bells quot or "play-bells" also known as orchestra bells and in its portable A mandolin is a musical instrument in the Lute family (plucked or strummed The tambourine or Marine is a Musical instrument of the percussion family consisting of a frame often of wood or plastic with pairs of small metal jingles A harmonica is a free reed Wind instrument which is played by blowing air into it or drawing air out by placing lips over individual holes (reed chambers or The melodica is a Free-reed instrument similar to the Accordion and Harmonica. The celesta (pronounced /səˈlɛstə/ or celeste (pronounced /səˈlɛst/ is a struck Idiophone operated by a keyboard. A harmonium is a free-standing musical keyboard instrument similar to a Reed Organ or Pipe Organ The organ (from Greek όργανον – organon "organ instrument tool" is a Keyboard instrument of one or more divisions each Cymbals are a modern percussion instrument Cymbals consist of thin normally round plates of various Cymbal alloys; see Cymbal making for a discussion of their Vox is a musical equipment manufacturer which is most famous for making the Vox AC30 guitar amplifier, the Vox Electric organ, and a series of innovative The Synclavier System was an early Synthesizer and sampler, manufactured by New England Digital. Casiotone refers to a series of home Electronic keyboards released by Casio Computer Co Maraca is also a genus of Tarantula. Maracas ( sometimes called rumba A bell is a simple Sound -making device The bell is a Percussion instrument and an Idiophone. In the Music industry, a record label can be a Brand and a Trademark associated with the Marketing of music recordings and Music Stiff Records is a Record label created in London in 1976 by entrepreneurs Dave Robinson and Andrew Jakeman (aka Jake Riviera Radar Records was the Record label formed by Jake Riviera in late 1977 after he had previously founded Stiff Records. F-Beat Records was one of the early Record labels set up by Jake Riviera in late 1979 /early 1980, at the same time he started Demon Records After Jake Rivera previously started Stiff Records, Radar Records and F-Beat Records, he founded Demon Records with Andrew Lauder Columbia Records is an American Record label founded in 1888 Columbia is the oldest surviving Brand name in pre-recorded sound being the first record company Warner Bros Records Inc is an American Record label that operates as a wholly owned Subsidiary of Warner Music Group. Deutsche Grammophon is a German classical Record label. The company has long been known for its high standards of audio fidelity. Lost Highway Records recording artists Lost Highway reissues recordings from the various Universal Music Group labels Elvis Costello (born Declan Patrick MacManus 25 August 1954 is an English Musician and Singer-songwriter, with Irish ancestry Nick Lowe (born Nicholas Drain Lowe, March 24 1949, Walton-on-Thames) is an English Singer-songwriter, Musician Burt Bacharach (ˈbækəræk born May 12, 1928) is an American Pianist and Composer. Allen Toussaint, ˈtuːseɪnt (born January 14 1938 is an American Musician, Songwriter and Record producer. George Glenn Jones (born September 12, 1931 in Saratoga Texas) is an award-winning American Country music singer known for his long list of Emmylou Harris (born April 2 1947) is an American country, folk, alternative rock, and Alternative country Anne Sofie von Otter (born 9 May 1955) is a Swedish mezzo-soprano Diana Jean Krall, OC, OBC (born November 16, 1964) is a Canadian Jazz Pianist and Singer. The Brodsky Quartet is a British String quartet, in existence since 1972, though only Ian Belton and Jacqueline Thomas are original Michael Tilson Thomas (b December 21, 1944) is an American conductor, pianist and Composer. Sir James Paul McCartney, MBE (born 18 June 1942 is an English rock Singer, Bass guitarist songwriter Composer, Bob Dylan (born Robert Zimmerman, May 24 1941 in Duluth, Minnesota) is an American singer-songwriter author poet and painter who has been a major Tony Bennett (born Anthony Dominick Benedetto; August 3 1926) is an American Singer of popular music, standards Rob Wasserman is an American Jewish Double bass player who has played with David Grisman, Dan Hicks Van Morrison, Oingo Boingo, The Jazz Passengers are an American Jazz group founded in 1987 by Saxophonist Roy Nathanson and Trombonist Curtis Fowlkes T-Bone Burnett is an American songwriter musician and producer Roy Kelton Orbison ( April 23 1936 &ndash December 6 1988) nicknamed "The Big O" was an influential Grammy Award -winning Gillian Welch (born October 2, 1967 in New York City) is a Singer-songwriter whose musical style combines elements of bluegrass, William Richard "Bill" Frisell (born March 18, 1951) is an American Guitarist and Composer. Hal Willner (born 1957, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) is an American Music producer working in recording films TV and live events The Dirty Dozen Brass Band is a New Orleans Louisiana, Brass band. Marian McPartland (b March 20, 1918) born Margaret Marian Turner in Slough England, is a Jazz Pianist, Composer The Specials (sometimes called The Special AKA) are an English 2 Tone Ska revival band formed in 1977 in Coventry. The Pogues are a band of mixed Irish and English background playing Traditional Irish music with influences from Punk rock, formed in 1982 and fronted by Shane The Fender Jazzmaster is an Electric guitar that was first introduced at the 1958 NAMM Show and was designed as a more upmarket instrument than the Events 1248 - The Dutch city of Ommen receives city rights and fortification rights from Otto III the Year 1954 ( MCMLIV) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display full 1954 Gregorian calendar) England is a Country which is part of the United Kingdom. Its inhabitants account for more than 83% of the total UK population whilst its mainland A musician is a person who plays or writes Music. Musicians can be classified by their roles in creating or performing music An instrumentalist plays a Singer-songwriter is a term that refers to Performers who write, compose and sing their own material including Lyrics Costello came to prominence as an early participant in London's pub rock scene in the mid-1970s, and later became associated with the punk rock and New Wave musical genres, before establishing his own unique voice in the 1980s. Pub rock was a mid- to late-1970s musical movement largely centred around North London and South East Essex, particularly Canvey Island and Southend New Wave is a Rock music genre that existed during the late 1970s and the 1980s Steeped in wordplay, the vocabulary of Costello's lyrics is broader than that of most popular songs, and his music has drawn on dozens of genres. Critic Stephen Thomas Erlewine wrote, "Costello, the pop encyclopedia, can reinvent the past in his own image". Stephen Thomas Erlewine (1973? is senior editor for Allmusic. Popular music is Music belonging to any of a number of musical styles that are accessible to the general public and are disseminated by one or more [1]

Costello and Canadian jazz singer and pianist Diana Krall were married on December 6, 2003 at Elton John's estate outside London. Diana Jean Krall, OC, OBC (born November 16, 1964) is a Canadian Jazz Pianist and Singer. Events 1060 - Béla I of Hungary is crowned king of Hungary 1240 - Mongol invasion of Rus: Kiev Year 2003 ( MMIII) was a Common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. Sir Elton Hercules John CBE (born Reginald Kenneth Dwight on 25 March 1947 is an English pop / rock Singer, Composer London ( ˈlʌndən is the capital and largest urban area in the United Kingdom. Their first children together, twin sons Dexter Henry Lorcan and Frank Harlan James, were born December 6, 2006 in New York City. Events 1060 - Béla I of Hungary is crowned king of Hungary 1240 - Mongol invasion of Rus: Kiev Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar.

Contents

Biography

Early life

Costello was born Declan Patrick MacManus[2] in St Mary's Hospital, Paddington in London, the son of Mary (née Costello) and Ross MacManus, a musician and bandleader. St Mary's Hospital is a Hospital located in Paddington, London, England. Paddington is an area of the City of Westminster, in Central London, England. London ( ˈlʌndən is the capital and largest urban area in the United Kingdom. Ross MacManus (born Ronald MacManus 20 October 1927, Birkenhead) is an English Musician and Trumpet player who performed [3] Costello lived in Twickenham, attending what is now St Mark's Catholic Secondary School in neighbouring Hounslow. Twickenham is a suburb in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames, in south west London. Hounslow is the principal town in the London Borough of Hounslow. [4] With a musically inclined father (his father sang with The Joe Loss Orchestra), Costello's first broadcast recording was alongside his dad in a television commercial for R. White's Lemonade ("I'm a Secret Lemonade Drinker"). Joshua Alexander Loss or Joe Loss OBE (born 22 June 1909 in Spitalfields, London - died 6 June 1990 R White's Lemonade is a brand of a Carbonated Soft drink, which is produced and sold in the UK by Britvic. His father wrote and sang the song; Costello provided backing vocals. The ad won a silver award at the 1974 International Advertising Festival.

Costello moved with his mother to Birkenhead in 1971. Birkenhead is a town within the Metropolitan Borough of Wirral in Merseyside, England. It was there that he formed his first band, a folk duo called Rusty. After completing secondary school at Saint Francis Xavier's College Liverpool, he moved back to London where he next formed a band called Flip City,[5] which had a style very much in the pub rock vein. St Francis Xavier's College is a Roman Catholic Secondary school and Sixth form college located in Woolton, Liverpool. They were active from 1974 through early 1976. Around this time, Costello adopted the stage name D. P. Costello.

To support himself, he worked a number of office jobs, most famously at the Elizabeth Arden cosmetics firm—immortalised in the lyrics of "I'm Not Angry" at the "vanity factory"—where he worked as a data entry clerk. He worked for a short period as a computer operator at the Midland Bank computer centre in Bootle Merseyside. He continued to write songs, and began actively looking for a solo recording contract. On the basis of a demo tape, he was signed to noted independent label Stiff Records. Stiff Records is a Record label created in London in 1976 by entrepreneurs Dave Robinson and Andrew Jakeman (aka Jake Riviera His manager at Stiff, Jake Riviera, suggested a name change, using Elvis Presley's first name and his great grandmother's name[6] to form Elvis Costello. Formerly an amateur boxer in east London, Jake Riviera (born Andrew Jakeman February 1948 in Edgware, Middlesex is best known as one of the founders of Stiff

1970s

The first Costello single for Stiff was "Less Than Zero" b/w "Radio Sweetheart (single mix)," released on March 25, 1977. Events 1199 - Richard I is wounded by a crossbow bolt while fighting France which leads to his death on April 6. Also 1977 (album by Ash. Year 1977 ( MCMLXXVII) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link displays Two months later, Costello's first album, My Aim Is True (1977), was a moderate commercial success (No. My Aim Is True is the debut album by Elvis Costello. The album was recorded at Pathway Studios in Islington, London, over 14 in the UK and Top 40 in the US) with Costello appearing on the cover in his trademark oversize glasses, bearing a striking resemblance to a menacing Buddy Holly. Charles Hardin "Buddy" Holley (September 7 1936 – February 3 1959 was an American Singer-songwriter and a pioneer of Rock and roll. A highlight of the album was the country-influenced ballad "Alison" with a typically biting Costello lyric. Costello's backing on this first album was provided by American West Coast band Clover, a roots/country outfit living in England (contrary to rumor, Clover did not exactly become Huey Lewis and The News - Huey Lewis did play with Clover shortly before the recording of My Aim Is True, but he and Sean Hopper, who appears on Costello's record, struck out on their own later). Clover was a US Country rock band formed in Mill Valley California in 1967 Costello was originally marketed as a punk artist. Later on, as the term New Wave was applied to the first post-punk bands, Costello was classified as new wave for a time. New Wave is a Rock music genre that existed during the late 1970s and the 1980s

The same year, Costello recruited via auditions his own permanent band, The Attractions, consisting of Steve Nieve (born Steve Nason; piano), Bruce Thomas (bass guitar), and Pete Thomas (drums; unrelated to Bruce Thomas). Elvis Costello (born Declan Patrick MacManus 25 August 1954 is an English Musician and Singer-songwriter, with Irish ancestry Steve Nieve (born Steven Nason 19 February 1958, in London, England) is a Keyboardist, best known for his work with Elvis Costello Bruce Thomas (born 14 August 1948, Stockton-on-Tees, England) is best known as Bassist for The Attractions; the band Pete Thomas (born 9 August 1954, Hillsborough, Sheffield, England) is best known as the longtime Drummer for Elvis He released his first major hit single, "Watching The Detectives," which was recorded with Nieve and the pair of Steve Goulding (drums) and Andrew Bodnar (bass), both members of Graham Parker & The Rumour (whom he had used to audition for The Attractions). Graham Parker (born 18 November 1950 in London, England is a British rock Singer and Songwriter.

Stiff's records were initially distributed only in the UK, which meant that Costello's first album and singles were initially available in the US as imports only. In an attempt to change this, Costello was arrested for busking outside of a London convention of CBS (Columbia Records) executives, "protesting" that no US record company had yet seen fit to release Elvis Costello records in the United States. Busking is the practice of performing in Public places for Tips and Gratuities. Costello signed to CBS in the US a few months later.

Elvis Costello, Cardiff, 1979
Elvis Costello, Cardiff, 1979

In December 1977, Costello and The Attractions appeared on Saturday Night Live as a last minute fill-in for the Sexy Pumpkins, but Costello ended up causing some controversy himself, and was banned from the program for over a decade. Saturday Night Live ( SNL) is a weekly late-night 90-minute American Sketch comedy / Variety show based in New York City " Radio Radio " was a single by Elvis Costello and The Attractions released in the UK in October 1978 Following a whirlwind tour with other Stiff artists (captured on the Live Stiffs album, notable for Costello's recording of the Burt Bacharach/Hal David standard "I Just Don't Know What to Do With Myself") the band recorded the frenetic, raucous This Year's Model (1978). Burt Bacharach (ˈbækəræk born May 12, 1928) is an American Pianist and Composer. Hal David (born May 25, 1921 in New York City, New York) is an American Lyricist and Songwriter. This Year's Model was Elvis Costello 's second album and his first with The Attractions, released in 1978 (see 1978 in music) Some of the more popular tracks include the British hit "(I Don't Want To Go To) Chelsea" and the subversively anthemic "Pump It Up". His U. S. record company saw Costello as such a priority that his last name replaced the word "Columbia" on the label of the disc's original pressing. A tour of the US and Canada also saw the release of the much bootlegged promo-only "Live at the El Mocambo," which finally saw an official release as part of the "2½ Years" box set in 1993. It was during the ensuing United States tour that Elvis met and developed a relationship with former Playboy model, Bebe Buell (mother of Liv Tyler). Bebe Buell (born Beverle Lorence Buell on July 14, 1953, in Portsmouth Virginia) is an American model and singer Liv Rundgren Tyler She is the first born daughter of Bebe Buell, a model singer and former Playboy Playmate (Miss November 1974 and Steven Tyler, the lead Their on-again-off-again courtship would last until 1984 and would allegedly become a deep well of inspiration for some of Costello's most lovelorn songs. 1979 would arguably see the peak of Costello's commercial success with the release of Armed Forces (originally to have been titled Emotional Fascism, a phrase that appeared on the LP's inner sleeve). For the military meaning see Armed forces. For the Soviet sports society see Armed Forces (sports society Armed Forces Both the album and the single Oliver's Army went to #2 in the UK. "Oliver's Army" is a song written by Elvis Costello, originally performed by Elvis Costello and the Attractions and appearing on the album Armed Forces Costello also found time in 1979 to produce the debut album for 2 Tone ska revival band, The Specials. 2 Tone (or Two Tone) is a Music genre created in England in the late 1970s by fusing elements of Ska, Punk rock, Rocksteady Ska ( pronounced /ska/ or in Jamaican Patois /skja/ is a Music genre that originated in Jamaica in the late 1950s and which was the precursor The Specials (sometimes called The Special AKA) are an English 2 Tone Ska revival band formed in 1977 in Coventry.

1980s

Live at Metropol-Theatre, Berlin, May 1980
Live at Metropol-Theatre, Berlin, May 1980

The soul-infused Get Happy!! would be the first, and—along with King of America—possibly most successful, of Costello's many experiments with genres beyond those he is normally associated with. The fourth album by Elvis Costello, his third with the Attractions Get Happy!! is notable for being a dramatic break in tone from Costello's previous "trilogy" King of America is the tenth album by the British rock singer and songwriter Elvis Costello, billed as "the Costello Show featuring The single, "I Can't Stand Up For Falling Down" was an old Sam and Dave song (though Costello increased the tempo considerably). " I Can't Stand Up For Falling Down " is a single by British musician Elvis Costello and was taken from his 1980 album Get Happy!!. Sam & Dave were an American Soul and Rhythm & Blues (R&B vocal duo who performed together from 1961 through 1981 2266-Tetramethylpiperidine-1-oxyl or TEMPO is the Chemical compound with the formula (CH23(CMe22NO The brevity of the songs (20 tracks in under 50 minutes) suited the band's new style (the Thomas' typically melodic rhythm section and Nieve's reasonable impersonation of Booker T. Jones) as well as the frantic and stressful conditions under which it was written and recorded, live at a rock concert and fuelled by excessive drinking. Booker T Jones (born November 12 1944) is a multi- Instrumentalist, Songwriter, Record producer and Arranger, best Lyrically, the songs are full of Costello's signature wordplay, to the point that he later felt he'd become something of a self-parody and toned it down on later releases. Word play is a Literary technique in which the nature of the words that are used become the main subject of the work He has mockingly described himself in interviews as "rock and roll's Scrabble champion. " The only 1980 appearance in North America was at the Heatwave festival in August near Toronto. Heatwave was a rock festival August 23, 1980, outside of Toronto Canada at Mosport Park, Bowmanville Ontario. Toronto (təˈrɒntoʊ colloquially pronounced or) is the largest city in Canada and is the provincial capital of Ontario

1981's Trust, despite its eclecticism ("Different Finger" had a distinct country feel) had a more pop sound than Get Happy!! Still, overall the album was clearly affected by the growing tensions within the band, particularly between Bruce and Pete Thomas. Trust (1981 is an Album by Elvis Costello and the Attractions. Country music is a blend of popular musical forms originally found in the Southern United States and the Appalachian Mountains. Pop music as a genre features a noticeable rhythmic element catchy melodies and hooks, a mainstream style and conventional structure In the US, the single "Watch Your Step" was released and played live on Tom Snyder's "Tomorrow" show, and received airplay on FM rock radio. In the UK, the single "Clubland" scaped the lower reaches of the charts; follow-up single "From A Whisper To A Scream" (a duet with Glenn Tilbrook of Squeeze) became the first Costello single in over 4 years to completely miss the charts. Glenn Tilbrook (born Glenn Martin Tilbrook on 31 August 1957, in Woolwich, southeast London) is the lead singer and Guitarist of Squeeze are an English band that came to prominence in the United Kingdom during the New Wave period of the late 1970s and continued recording successfully

Following Trust, Costello released Almost Blue, an album of country music cover songs written by the likes of Hank Williams ("Why Don't You Love Me (Like You Used To Do?)"), Merle Haggard ("Tonight The Bottle Let Me Down") and Gram Parsons ("How Much I Lied"). Almost Blue (1981 is an Album by Elvis Costello and the Attractions. Country music is a blend of popular musical forms originally found in the Southern United States and the Appalachian Mountains. In Popular music, a cover version, or simply cover, is a new rendition ( Performance or Recording) of a previously recorded commercially released Hank Williams ( September 17, 1923 – January 1, 1953) was an American Singer-songwriter and Musician who has Merle Ronald Haggard (born April 6, 1937) is an American Country music Singer, Guitarist and Songwriter. Gram Parsons ( November 5, 1946  – September 19, 1973) was an American Singer, Songwriter, Guitarist The album was a tribute to the country music he had grown up listening to, especially, George Jones. Some avid fans dismissed the album because it was inconsistent with earlier recordings. It was not a country-rock album (a la The Byrds or Eagles), which might have been more palatable to his established audience and to reviewers, but rather an undiluted country album. The Byrds were a popular American rock band formed in Los Angeles, California in 1964 It received mixed reviews, some of which accused Costello of growing soft. Perhaps in anticipation of the inevitable accusations of apostasy, the first pressings of the record in the UK bore a sticker with the message: "WARNING: This album contains country & western music and may cause offence to narrow minded listeners". Almost Blue did spawn a surprise UK hit single in a version of George Jones's "Good Year For The Roses" (written by Jerry Chesnut), which reached #6. George Glenn Jones (born September 12, 1931 in Saratoga Texas) is an award-winning American Country music singer known for his long list of Jerry Donald Chesnut (born May 7 1931 is an American Country music Songwriter.

Imperial Bedroom (1982) marked a much darker, almost baroque sound for Costello, due in part to the production of Geoff Emerick, famed for engineering several Beatles records. Imperial Bedroom is a 1982 album by Elvis Costello and the Attractions. Baroque art redirects here Please disambiguate such links to Baroque painting, Baroque sculpture, etc Geoffrey Emerick (born 1946 in London) is a recording studio Audio engineer, who is best known for his work with the Beatles ' albums Revolver The Beatles were a pop and rock band from Liverpool, England formed in 1960 Imperial Bedroom remains one of his most critically acclaimed records, but again failed to produce any hit singles. Costello has said he disliked the marketing pitch for the album, weak ads consisting only of the phrase "Masterpiece?". Imperial Bedroom also featured Costello's song "Almost Blue"; jazz singer and trumpeter Chet Baker would later perform and record a version of this song. Chesney Henry "Chet" Baker Jr ( Yale Oklahoma, 23 December 1929 - Amsterdam, 13 May 1988) was an American

1983 saw another sidetrack with the pop-soul of Punch the Clock, featuring female backing vocals (Afrodiziak) and a four piece horn section (The TKO Horns), alongside The Attractions. Punch the Clock is an album released in 1983 by Elvis Costello and the Attractions. Afrodiziak was the collective name used by the British Singers Caron Wheeler and Claudia Fontaine in the mid-to-late 1980s In a Symphony orchestra the horn section is the group of musicians who play the horn (sometimes referred to as the French horn a brass instrument descended The TKO Horns were Horn section formed in 1982 when Big Jim Paterson ( Trombone) Paul Speare (tenor saxophone and Brian Maurice (alto saxophone Clive Langer (who co-produced with Alan Winstanley), provided Costello with a melody which eventually became "Shipbuilding", an oblique look at the political contradictions of the Falklands War: the controversial military build-up provided jobs for Britain's struggling shipyards. " Shipbuilding " is a song written by singer/songwriter Elvis Costello and producer Clive Langer. The Falklands War (Guerra de las Malvinas/Guerra del Atlántico Sur also called the Falklands Conflict/Crisis, was fought in 1982 between Argentina and the The song featured a trumpet solo by Chet Baker. Chesney Henry "Chet" Baker Jr ( Yale Oklahoma, 23 December 1929 - Amsterdam, 13 May 1988) was an American Prior to the release of Costello's own version, a version of the song was a minor UK hit for former Soft Machine drummer and political activist Robert Wyatt. Soft Machine was an English rock band from Canterbury, named after the book The Soft Machine by William S Robert Wyatt (born Robert Wyatt-Ellidge, 28 January 1945 in Bristol) is an English Musician, and founding member of the influential

Equally political was "Pills And Soap"—a UK hit for Costello himself under the pseudonym of "The Imposter"—an attack on the changes in British society brought on by Thatcherism, released to coincide with the run-up to the 1983 UK general election. Margaret Hilda Thatcher Baroness Thatcher LG, OM, PC, FRS (born 13 October 1925 Results The Conservatives won with a majority of 144 seats|} Total votes cast 30661309 (The electorate was seemingly unswayed. ) Punch the Clock also generated an international hit in the single "Everyday I Write the Book", aided by a prophetic music video featuring lookalikes of the Prince and Princess of Wales undergoing domestic strife in a suburban home. The song became Costello's first top forty hit single in the US. Also in the same year, Elvis provided vocals on a version of the Madness song "Tomorrow's Just Another Day" released as a B-side on the single of the same name. Madness are an English pop / Ska band from Camden Town, London, that formed in 1976 Tensions within the band were beginning to tell, and Costello announced his retirement and the disbandment of the group shortly before they were to record Goodbye Cruel World (1984). Goodbye Cruel World, released in 1984 was Elvis Costello's ninth album overall and eighth with The Attractions. Costello would later say of this record that they had "got it as wrong as you can in terms of the execution". The record was poorly received upon its initial release, and even many ardent Costello fans see Goodbye as his weakest album (the liner notes to the 1995 Rykodisc re-release, penned by Costello, begin with the words "Congratulations!, you've just purchased our worst album"). Costello's retirement, although short-lived, was accompanied by two compilations, Elvis Costello: The Man in the UK, Europe and Australia, and The Very Best of Elvis Costello & the Attractions in the U. S.

In 1985, he appeared in the "Live Aid" benefit concert in England, singing The Beatles' "All You Need is Love" as a solo artist. Live Aid was a multi-venue rock music concert held on. The event was organized by Bob Geldof and Midge Ure to raise funds for famine relief in Ethiopia " All You Need Is Love " is a song written by John Lennon and credited to Lennon/McCartney. (The event was overrunning and Costello was asked to "ditch the band"). Costello introduced the song as an old northern folk song, and the audience was invited to sing the chorus, which they did.

In the same year Costello teamed up with good friend T-Bone Burnett for a single called "The People's Limousine" under the moniker of The Coward Brothers. T-Bone Burnett is an American songwriter musician and producer That year, Costello also produced Rum, Sodomy, and the Lash for the punk/folk band The Pogues. Rum Sodomy & the Lash is the second album by the Anglo-Irish musical group The Pogues, released in 1985 The Pogues are a band of mixed Irish and English background playing Traditional Irish music with influences from Punk rock, formed in 1982 and fronted by Shane It was then that he met his second wife, Pogues bassist Cait O'Riordan. Caitlín O'Riordan (born 4 January 1965 is a British musician

By 1986, Costello was preparing to make a comeback. Working in the US with Burnett, a band containing a number of Elvis Presley's sidemen (including James Burton and Jerry Scheff), and minor input from the Attractions, he produced King of America an acoustic-guitar-driven album with a country sound. James Burton (born August 21, 1939, in Minden Louisiana) is an American Guitarist. Jerry Obern Scheff is an American Bassist, perhaps best known for his work with Elvis Presley in the early 1970s as a member of his TCB Band and his work King of America is the tenth album by the British rock singer and songwriter Elvis Costello, billed as "the Costello Show featuring Around this time he legally changed his name back to Declan MacManus, adding Aloysius as an extra middle name. The Attractions felt understandably insecure about the ease with which they could be dropped considering their boss had cut a new album largely without them, and was planning to undertake a major tour showcasing the King of America material with his new musical partners. To allay their fears, Costello retooled his upcoming tour to allow for multiple nights in each city; playing one night with The Confederates (James Burton et al. ), one night with The Attractions, and one night solo acoustic.

In May of 1986, Costello performed at Self Aid, a benefit concert held in Dublin that focused on the problem of chronic unemployment which was widespread in Ireland at that time. Self Aid was a Benefit concert held in Dublin, Ireland on 17 May 1986. Later that year, he returned to the studio with the Attractions and recorded Blood and Chocolate, which was lauded for a post-punk fervour not heard since 1978's This Year's Model. Blood and Chocolate is an Album by Elvis Costello and the Attractions. This Year's Model was Elvis Costello 's second album and his first with The Attractions, released in 1978 (see 1978 in music) It also marked the return of producer Nick Lowe, who had produced Costello's first five albums. Nick Lowe (born Nicholas Drain Lowe, March 24 1949, Walton-on-Thames) is an English Singer-songwriter, Musician While Blood and Chocolate failed to chart a hit single of any significance, it did produce what has since become one of Costello's signature concert songs — "I Want You". Blood and Chocolate is an Album by Elvis Costello and the Attractions. It is on this album that Costello adopted the alias "Napoleon Dynamite", the name he later attributed to the character of the obnoxious emcee that he played during the vaudeville-style tour to support Blood and Chocolate. Vaudeville was a Genre of variety entertainment prevalent on the stage in the United States and Canada, from the early 1880s (The pseudonym had previously been used in 1982, when the B-side single "Imperial Bedroom" was credited to Napoleon Dynamite & The Royal Guard, and was later appropriated by the 2004 film Napoleon Dynamite, which does not have anything to do with Costello. Napoleon Dynamite is a 2004 independent Film co-written and directed by Jared Hess and Jerusha Hess and stars Jon Heder ) In 1989, Costello, with a new contract with Warner Bros., released Spike, which spawned his biggest single in America, the Top Twenty hit "Veronica", one of several songs Costello co-wrote with Paul McCartney in that timeframe (see "Collaborations" section below). Warner Bros Entertainment Inc (or Warner Bros, Warner Bros Pictures) is one of the world's largest producers of Film and Spike is an album by the Irish-English Musician Elvis Costello released in 1989 on Warner Brothers records his first album for the label " Veronica " is a single from Elvis Costello 's 1989 album Spike, co-written by Costello with Paul McCartney. Sir James Paul McCartney, MBE (born 18 June 1942 is an English rock Singer, Bass guitarist songwriter Composer,

1990s

In 1991, infamously having grown a long beard, Costello released Mighty Like a Rose, which featured the single "The Other Side of Summer". Mighty Like a Rose is an Album by Irish-English Musician Elvis Costello. He also found time to co-compose and co-produce, with Richard Harvey, the title and incidental music for the acclaimed mini-series G.B.H. by Alan Bleasdale. GBH is a 1991 Soundtrack album by Elvis Costello and Richard Harvey, the first of two collaborations Costello would do with Harvey GBH was a seven-part British Television Drama written by Alan Bleasdale, made by independent production company G Alan Bleasdale (born 23 March 1946 in Liverpool, Merseyside, England, brought up in Huyton This entirely instrumental, and largely orchestral soundtrack garnered a BAFTA, for "Best Music for a TV Series" for the pair. The British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA is a British charity that hosts annual awards shows for film television television craft video games and forms of animation

In 1993, Costello tested the classical music waters with a critically acclaimed collaboration with the Brodsky Quartet on The Juliet Letters. The Brodsky Quartet is a British String quartet, in existence since 1972, though only Ian Belton and Jacqueline Thomas are original The Juliet Letters is a 1993 Album by Elvis Costello and The Brodsky Quartet. Costello returned to rock and roll the following year with a project that reunited him with The Attractions, Brutal Youth. Brutal Youth is an Album by Elvis Costello. This is the first album Costello recorded with his band the Attractions after Blood and Chocolate In 1995, Costello released Kojak Variety, an album of cover songs recorded 5 years earlier, and followed in 1996 with an album of songs originally written for other artists, All This Useless Beauty. Kojak Variety is a 1995 covers Album by Elvis Costello. "Days" had previously appeared on the Until the End of the World, the All This Useless Beauty is a 1996 album by Elvis Costello and The Attractions. This was the final album of original material that he issued under his Warner Bros. contract. In the spring of 1996, Costello played a series of intimate club dates, backed only by Nieve on the piano, in support of All This Useless Beauty. An ensuing summer and fall tour with the Attractions proved to be the death knell for the band. With relations between Elvis and bassist Bruce Thomas at a breaking point, Costello announced that the current tour would be the Attractions' last. The quartet performed their final U. S. show in Seattle, Washington on September 1, 1996, before wrapping up their tour in Japan. Events 462 - Possible start of first Byzantine indiction cycle. Year 1996 ( MCMXCVI) was a Leap year starting on Monday (link will display full 1996 Gregorian calendar) To fulfill his contractual obligations to Warner Bros. , Costello released a greatest hits album titled Extreme Honey (1997). It contained an original track titled "The Bridge I Burned", featuring Elvis' son, Matt, on bass. In the intervening period, Costello also served as artistic chair for the 1995 Meltdown Festival, which gave him the opportunity to leverage his increasingly eclectic musical interests. Meltdown is an annual English festival held in London, featuring a mix of music art performance and film His involvement in the festival yielded a one-off live EP with jazz guitarist Bill Frisell, which featured both cover material and a few of his own songs. William Richard "Bill" Frisell (born March 18, 1951) is an American Guitarist and Composer. In 1998, Costello signed a unique multi-label contract with Polygram Records, sold by its parent company the same year to become part of the Universal Music Group. PolyGram was the name from 1972 of the Major label recording company started by Philips as a holding company for its music interests in 1945 Universal Music Group (UMG is the largest Business group and family of Record labels in the Recording industry. Costello released his new work on what he deemed the suitable imprimatur within the family of labels. His first new release as part of this contract involved a collaboration with famed sixties pop songwriter Burt Bacharach. Burt Bacharach (ˈbækəræk born May 12, 1928) is an American Pianist and Composer. Their work had commenced earlier, in 1996, on a song called "God Give Me Strength" for the movie Grace of My Heart. This led the pair to write and record Painted From Memory, released under his new contract in 1998, on the Mercury Records label. Painted from Memory is a collaboration between Elvis Costello and Burt Bacharach. Mercury Records is a Record label operating as a standalone company in the UK and as part of the Island Def Jam Music Group in the US and are both subsidiaries of They also recorded an updated version of Bacharach's song "I'll Never Fall in Love Again" for the soundtrack to Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me, with both appearing in the film to perform the song. " I'll Never Fall In Love Again " is a Popular song by Burt Bacharach and Hal David. Austin Powers The Spy Who Shagged Me is the second film in the Austin Powers series, released in 1999. He also wrote "I Throw My Toys Around" for The Rugrats Movie and performed it with No Doubt. The Rugrats Movie is a 1998 animated film produced by Paramount Pictures and Nickelodeon Movies. No Doubt is a rock band from Anaheim California, United States founded in 1986

In 1999, Costello contributed a cover version of the 1974 song "She", originally by Charles Aznavour and Herbert Kretzmer, for the soundtrack of the film Notting Hill, with Trevor Jones producing. " She " is the title of a song written recorded and released by Charles Aznavour and Herbert Kretzmer. Charles Aznavour OC ( Armenian: Շառլ Ազնավուր born Shahnour Varenagh Aznavourian (Շահնուր Վաղինակ Ազնավուրյան Herbert Kretzmer (born 5 October 1925, Kroonstad, Orange Free State, South Africa) is a South African born Newspaperman Notting Hill is a 1999 Romantic comedy film set in Notting Hill, London, released on 21 May 1999 Trevor Alfred Charles Jones (born March 23, 1949 in Cape Town, South Africa) is a South African Orchestral Film score For the 25th anniversary of Saturday Night Live, Costello was invited to the program, where he re-enacted his abrupt song-switch: This time, however, he interrupted the Beastie Boys' "Sabotage", and they acted as his backing group for "Radio Radio. Saturday Night Live ( SNL) is a weekly late-night 90-minute American Sketch comedy / Variety show based in New York City "

2000 to present

Costello performing with The Imposters in 2005.
Costello performing with The Imposters in 2005.

In 2000 Costello appeared at the Town Hall Theatre NYC, in Steve Nieve's opera Welcome to the Voice, alongside Ron Sexsmith and John Flansburgh of "They Might Be Giants". Welcome to the Voice is a bilingual Opera (French and English based on an original story and libretto by Muriel Teodori with music composed by Steve Nieve

In 2001, Costello was announced as the featured "artist in residence" at UCLA (although he ended up making fewer appearances than expected) and wrote the music for a new ballet. The University of California Los Angeles (generally known as UCLA) is a public research university located in Westwood Los Angeles, California, United He produced and appeared on an album of pop songs for opera singer Anne Sofie von Otter. Opera is an art form in which Singers and Musicians perform a Dramatic work (called an opera which combines a text (called a Libretto Anne Sofie von Otter (born 9 May 1955) is a Swedish mezzo-soprano

In 2002 he released a new album, When I Was Cruel, this time on Island Records, and toured with a new band, the Imposters (essentially the Attractions but with a different bass player, Davey Faragher, formerly of Cracker). When I Was Cruel is Elvis Costello 's 20th album recorded in 2001 and 2002 and released in the US by Island Records on 23 April 2002 Island Records is a Record label that was founded by British record producers in Jamaica. Davey Faragher is an American Bass guitarist from Redlands CA Cracker is an American Alternative rock band featuring Johnny Hickman and Camper Van Beethoven singer and guitarist David Lowery On February 23rd, 2003, Costello, along with Bruce Springsteen, Steve Van Zandt, and Dave Grohl performed a version of The Clash's "London Calling" at the 45th Grammy Awards ceremony, in honor of legendary Clash frontman Joe Strummer, who had died in December of the previous year. Steven Van Zandt (born November 22, 1950) is an American Musician, Songwriter, Arranger, Record producer David Eric Grohl (born January 14 1969 is an American rock musician Singer and Songwriter. For the debut album by The Clash see The Clash (album The Clash were " London Calling " is a song from the double album London Calling by the U John Graham Mellor (21 August 1952 – 22 December 2002 better known as Joe Strummer, was the co-founder lyricist Rhythm guitarist and lead singer of the In March 2003, Elvis Costello & The Attractions were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum is a Museum located on the shores of Lake Erie in downtown Cleveland Ohio, United States In May, his engagement to Canadian jazz singer and pianist Diana Krall was announced. Country to "Dominion of Canada" or "Canadian Federation" or anything else please read the Talk Page Jazz is an American Musical art form which originated in the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States A pianist (/'piənɪst/ is a Musician who plays the Piano. A professional pianist can perform solo pieces play with an ensemble or Orchestra Diana Jean Krall, OC, OBC (born November 16, 1964) is a Canadian Jazz Pianist and Singer. September saw the release of North, an album of piano-based ballads concerning the breakdown of his former marriage, and his falling in love with singer Diana Krall. North is a 2003 album by Elvis Costello. It reached 44 in the UK album charts 57 in the US charts and No Diana Jean Krall, OC, OBC (born November 16, 1964) is a Canadian Jazz Pianist and Singer.

In 2004, the song "Scarlet Tide" (co-written by Costello and T-Bone Burnett and used in the film Cold Mountain) was nominated for an Academy Award; he performed it at the awards ceremony with Alison Krauss, who also sang the song on the official soundtrack. Cold Mountain is a 2003 film written and directed by Anthony Minghella, and stars Jude Law, Nicole Kidman, Renée Zellweger, "The Oscar" redirects here for the film see The Oscar (film. Alison Krauss ( born July 23 1971 is an American bluegrass - country singer and Fiddle player Costello co-wrote many songs on wife Diana Krall's 2004 CD, The Girl in the Other Room, the first of hers to feature several original compositions. Diana Jean Krall, OC, OBC (born November 16, 1964) is a Canadian Jazz Pianist and Singer. The Girl in the Other Room is the eighth album by jazz singer and pianist Diana Krall. In July 2004 Costello's first full-scale orchestral work, Il Sogno, was performed in New York. The work, a ballet after Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream, was commissioned by Italian dance troupe Aterballeto, and received critical acclaim from the classical music critics, while being scorned by the popular music press. William Shakespeare ( baptised A Midsummer Night's Dream is a romantic comedy by William Shakespeare, suggested by " The Knight's Tale " from

Costello's hand prints on the European Walk of Fame, Rotterdam
Costello's hand prints on the European Walk of Fame, Rotterdam

While composing it, Costello deliberately avoided listening to the previous interpretations by Mendelssohn and Britten in order to ensure his own originality. Rotterdam (pronounced) is the 2nd-largest City by population in the Netherlands, located in the province of Jakob Ludwig Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy, born and generally known as Felix Mendelssohn (February 3 1809 &ndash November 4 1847 was a German Composer Edward Benjamin Britten Baron Britten, OM CH (22 November 1913 – 4 December 1976 was an English Composer, conductor, A range of musical moods and styles are used to represent the different elements of the cast—satirical pomp for the courtiers, jazz for the faeries, and for Bottom a deliberately intrusive "brass band" motif. Jazz is an American Musical art form which originated in the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States Nick Bottom is a character in Shakespeare 's A Midsummer Night's Dream who provides Comic relief throughout the play and is famously known Performed by the London Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Michael Tilson Thomas, the recording was released on CD in September by Deutsche Grammophon. The London Symphony Orchestra ( LSO) is one of the major orchestras of the United Kingdom. Michael Tilson Thomas (b December 21, 1944) is an American conductor, pianist and Composer. Deutsche Grammophon is a German classical Record label. The company has long been known for its high standards of audio fidelity. Costello released another album that same month: The Delivery Man, recorded in Oxford, Mississippi, and released on Lost Highway Records. The Delivery Man is the 21st studio Album by Elvis Costello, and was recorded with his band the Imposters Oxford is a city and the County seat of Lafayette County, Mississippi, United States. Lost Highway Records recording artists Lost Highway reissues recordings from the various Universal Music Group labels Mainly blues, country, and folk, The Delivery Man received early acclaim as one of Costello's best albums, and continues Costello's personal quest to release an album on each of Universal's record labels.

In July 2005, a CD recording of a collaboration with Marian McPartland on her show Piano Jazz was released. Marian McPartland (b March 20, 1918) born Margaret Marian Turner in Slough England, is a Jazz Pianist, Composer Piano Jazz is a weekly one hour radio show produced and distributed by National Public Radio. It featured Costello singing six jazz standards and two of his own songs, accompanied by Marian McPartland on piano. In November 2005 Costello started recording a new album with Allen Toussaint and producer Joe Henry. Allen Toussaint, ˈtuːseɪnt (born January 14 1938 is an American Musician, Songwriter and Record producer. Joe Henry is an American Singer, Songwriter, Guitarist and Record producer. The River in Reverse was released in the UK on the Verve label on 29 May 2006. Events 363 - Roman Emperor Julian defeats the Sassanid army in the Battle of Ctesiphon, under the walls of the Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar.

In 2006 the studio recording of Nieve's opera "Welcome to the Voice", for Deutsche Grammophon, Costello interpreted the character of Chief of Police, with Barbara Bonney, Robert Wyatt, Sting and Amanda Roocroft. Welcome to the Voice is a bilingual Opera (French and English based on an original story and libretto by Muriel Teodori with music composed by Steve Nieve Barbara Bonney (born April 14, 1956) is an American Soprano. Bonney was born in Montclair, New Jersey. Robert Wyatt (born Robert Wyatt-Ellidge, 28 January 1945 in Bristol) is an English Musician, and founding member of the influential STING ( S equence T o and with' IN' G raphics is a free Web-based suite of programs for a comprehensive analysis of the relationship between protein sequence

Also released in 2006 was a live recording of a concert with the Metropole Orkest at the North Sea Jazz Festival, entitled My Flame Burns Blue. The North Sea Jazz Festival is an annual jazz festival held each second weekend of July in The Netherlands.

In 2007 Nieve's opera "Welcome to the Voice was released on CD by Deutsche Grammophon, reaching #2 in the Billboard classical charts. Welcome to the Voice is a bilingual Opera (French and English based on an original story and libretto by Muriel Teodori with music composed by Steve Nieve See Billboard (Turkish magazine Billboard is a weekly American Magazine devoted to the Music industry

Costello has been commissioned to write a chamber opera by the Danish Royal Opera, Copenhagen, on the subject of Hans Christian Andersen's infatuation with Swedish soprano Jenny Lind, called The Secret Songs. Chamber opera is a designation for Operas written to be performed with a chamber ensemble rather than a full Orchestra. Copenhagen (ˌkəʊpənˈheɪgən ˌkəʊpənˈhɑːgən ˈkəʊpənˌheɪgən ˈkəʊpənˌhɑːgən kʰøb̥ənˈhɑʊ̯ˀn kʰøb̥m̩ˈhɑʊ̯ˀn is the capital and largest city Hans Christian Andersen (ˈhanˀs ˈkʰʁæʂd̥jan ˈɑnɐsn̩ in Danish or simply H Autograf Jenny Lind Goldschmidt Nordisk familjebokpng|thumb|left|Autograph of Jenny Lind after her February 5 1852 marriage to Otto Goldschmidt Some of the songs were previewed on the Opera's main stage in October 2005. However, since Costello has repeatedly missed deadlines, plans have been changed: extracts from the projected opera will be interspersed with songs from The Juliet Letters for performance in the Opera's studio theatre (Takelloftet) in March 2007. It will be directed by Kasper Bech Holten and will feature Danish soprano Sine Bundgaard as Lind.

On May 6th, 2008, Fender Musical Instruments releases the Elvis Costello Jazzmaster, an exact representation of his late-1960's heavily modified Fender Jazzmaster guitar he had used to record his first 1977 album, "My Aim Is True", honoring one of the most recognized Jazzmaster players in music history. Fender Musical Instruments Corporation of Quincy Illinois is a manufacturer of stringed instruments such as solid-body Electric guitars including the The Fender Jazzmaster is an Electric guitar that was first introduced at the 1958 NAMM Show and was designed as a more upmarket instrument than the Also 1977 (album by Ash. Year 1977 ( MCMLXXVII) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link displays My Aim Is True is the debut album by Elvis Costello. The album was recorded at Pathway Studios in Islington, London, over Uniquely Costello-inspired features include a post-'68 neck design, a walnut stain finish and a tremolo with easier and greater travel, essential for that "Watching the Detectives" tone, or what Costello calls that "spy movie" sound. This signature release comes during the 50th anniversary of Fender's introduction of the Jazzmaster guitar, which first appeared in 1958. The Fender Jazzmaster is an Electric guitar that was first introduced at the 1958 NAMM Show and was designed as a more upmarket instrument than the Year 1958 ( MCMLVIII) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar.

On April 22nd, a new Elvis Costello and the Imposters album, "Momofuku", will be released on Lost Highway Records, the same imprint that released his last major studio album, "The Delivery Man". Elvis Costello (born Declan Patrick MacManus 25 August 1954 is an English Musician and Singer-songwriter, with Irish ancestry Lost Highway Records recording artists Lost Highway reissues recordings from the various Universal Music Group labels The Delivery Man is the 21st studio Album by Elvis Costello, and was recorded with his band the Imposters The new album will, at least initially, be released exclusively on vinyl (with a code to download a digital copy of the album). This summer, in support of the album, Costello will tour with The Police on the final leg of their 2007/2008 Reunion Tour. The Police were a three-piece rock band consisting of Sting ( vocals, Bass guitar) Andy Summers ( Guitar, The Police Reunion Tour was a 2007-2008 worldwide Concert tour by The Police, marking the 30th anniversary of their beginnings

In November 2008, Costello will interpret the role of Chief of Police in "Welcome to the Voice" on the stage of the Théâtre du Châtelet in Paris, with Sting, Joe Sumner of Fiction Plane, and Sylvia Schwartz. Welcome to the Voice is a bilingual Opera (French and English based on an original story and libretto by Muriel Teodori with music composed by Steve Nieve The Théâtre du Châtelet is a Theatre and Opera house in Paris, France. Gordon Matthew Thomas Sumner, CBE (born October 2, 1951) better known by his Stage name Sting, is a three time Academy Award Joseph Sumner (born November 23 1976 is the son of actress Frances Tomelty and singer/actor/activist Gordon Sumner, known by the stage name Sting Fiction Plane is a rock band from England. The band is fronted by Joe Sumner, the son of musician Sting.

Controversies

Costello's success in the U. S. was bruised for a time in the late 1970s when, during a drunken argument with Stephen Stills and Bonnie Bramlett in a Columbus, Ohio, Holiday Inn hotel bar, Costello allegedly referred to James Brown as a "jive-ass nigger," then upped the ante by pronouncing Ray Charles a "blind, ignorant nigger. Stephen Arthur Stills (born January 3, 1945 is an American Guitarist and Singer/songwriter best known for his work with Buffalo Springfield and Columbus is the Capital and the largest city of the US state of Ohio. Holiday Inn is a Brand name applied to Hotels within the InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG James Joseph Brown Jr (May 3 1933 – December 25 2006 commonly referred to as "The Godfather of Soul" the "King of Funk" and "The Nigger is a Noun in the English language, most notable for its usage in a derogatory context to refer to Black people, and also as an informal Ray Charles Robinson ( September 23, 1930 – June 10, 2004) known by his Stage name Ray Charles, was an American "[7]

A contrite Costello apologised at a New York City press conference a few days later, claiming that he had been drunk and had been attempting to be obnoxious in order to bring the conversation to a swift conclusion, not anticipating that Bramlett would bring his comments to the press. The City of New York According to Costello, "it became necessary for me to outrage these people with about the most obnoxious and offensive remarks that I could muster. " In his liner notes for the expanded version of Get Happy!!, Costello writes that some time after the incident he had declined an offer to meet Charles out of guilt and embarrassment, though Charles himself had forgiven Costello ("Drunken talk isn't meant to be printed in the paper"). The fourth album by Elvis Costello, his third with the Attractions Get Happy!! is notable for being a dramatic break in tone from Costello's previous "trilogy" In a Rolling Stone interview with Greil Marcus, he recounts an incident when Bruce Thomas was introduced to Michael Jackson as Costello's bass player and Jackson said, "I don't dig that guy. Michael Joseph Jackson (born August 29 1958 is an American musician entertainer and businessman . . ". [7]

Costello worked extensively in Britain's Rock Against Racism campaign both before and after this and also produced the debut album of the Specials whose multi-racial line-up was a very public statement about integration. Rock Against Racism ( RAR) was a campaign set up in the United Kingdom by Red Saunders, Roger Huddle and others in winter 1976 This incident inspired his Get Happy!! song "Riot Act". [8]

Personal life

Costello has been married three times. In 1974, MacManus married Mary Burgoyne. The couple had a son, Matthew, and divorced in 1984. In 1986, Costello married Cait O'Riordan, then bassist for the band The Pogues. Caitlín O'Riordan (born 4 January 1965 is a British musician The Pogues are a band of mixed Irish and English background playing Traditional Irish music with influences from Punk rock, formed in 1982 and fronted by Shane The couple split at the end of 2002. Costello became engaged to singer Diana Krall in May 2003. Diana Jean Krall, OC, OBC (born November 16, 1964) is a Canadian Jazz Pianist and Singer. In December, Costello and Krall married at the London estate of Sir Elton John. Sir Elton Hercules John CBE (born Reginald Kenneth Dwight on 25 March 1947 is an English pop / rock Singer, Composer Their twin sons Dexter Henry Lorcan and Frank Harlan James were born December 6, 2006 in New York City. Events 1060 - Béla I of Hungary is crowned king of Hungary 1240 - Mongol invasion of Rus: Kiev Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar.

Collaborations

In addition to his major recorded collaborations with Bacharach, the Brodsky Quartet, and von Otter, Costello has frequently been involved in other collaborations.

In 1987, Costello began a long-running songwriting collaboration with Paul McCartney. Sir James Paul McCartney, MBE (born 18 June 1942 is an English rock Singer, Bass guitarist songwriter Composer, They wrote a number of songs together, including:

Costello talked about their collaboration:

When we sat down together he wouldn't have any sloppy bits in there (meaning the songs). That was interesting. The ironic part is, if it sounds like he wrote it, I probably did and vice versa. He wanted to do all the ones with lots of words and all on one note, and I'm the one trying to work in the "Please Please Me" harmony all over the place. Please Please Me is the first album recorded by The Beatles, rush-released on March 22, 1963 in the United Kingdom to capitalise

Artistic significance

Costello has worked with Tony Bennett, Lucinda Williams, Lee Konitz, Brian Eno, and Rubén Blades, just a few of the artists not mentioned above. Tony Bennett (born Anthony Dominick Benedetto; August 3 1926) is an American Singer of popular music, standards Lucinda Williams (born January 26, 1953) is an American rock, folk, and Country music singer and songwriter Lee Konitz (b October 13, 1927) is an American Jazz Composer and alto saxophonist born in Chicago Illinois Brian Peter George St John le Baptiste de la Salle Eno (born 15 May 1948 commonly known as Brian Eno (ˈiːnoʊ is an English Musician, producer Rubén Blades Bellido de Luna (born July 16, 1948) is a Panamanian salsa Singer, Songwriter, Lawyer, Costello has inadvertently made himself capable of challenging Kevin Bacon's role in a musical version of the Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon game, as his associations span the gamut in the music industry. Kevin Norwood Bacon (born July 8 1958 is a Golden Globe - and Screen Actors Guild Award -nominated American Film and Theater The Trivia Game Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon is based on the concept of the Small world phenomenon and rests on the assumption that any Actor can

Costello is also a big music fan, and often champions the works of others in print. He has written several pieces for the magazine Vanity Fair, including the summary of what a perfect weekend of music would be. Vanity Fair is an American magazine of Culture, Fashion, and Politics published by Condé Nast Publications. His collaboration with Bacharach honoured Bacharach's place in pop music history. Costello also appeared in a documentary about singer Dusty Springfield. Mary Isabel Catherine Bernadette O'Brien OBE ( 16 April, 1939 &ndash 2 March, 1999) professionally known as Dusty Springfield He has also interviewed one of his own influences, Joni Mitchell. Joni Mitchell, CC (born Roberta Joan Anderson on November 7 1943) is a Canadian Musician, Songwriter, and

In 2004, Rolling Stone Magazine ranked him #80 on their list of the 100 Greatest Artists of All Time. Rolling Stone is a United States -based Magazine devoted to Music, Politics, and Popular culture that is published [9]

Discography

Main article: Elvis Costello discography

Rykodisc/Demon reissues

From 1993 to 1995, Rykodisc Records (U. __FORCETOC__This page lists albums singles and compilations by the musician Elvis Costello, release date ( UK and U Rykodisc Records is an American Record label, owned by Warner Music Group. S. ) and Demon Records (UK) reissued Costello's pre-Warner Bros. catalogue with bonus tracks for each album as well as a greatest hits compilation and the live album Live at the El Mocambo. After Jake Rivera previously started Stiff Records, Radar Records and F-Beat Records, he founded Demon Records with Andrew Lauder Warner Bros Entertainment Inc (or Warner Bros, Warner Bros Pictures) is one of the world's largest producers of Film and In addition, Rykodisc were the U. S. distributor for The Juliet Letters. This licensing deal ended in 2000.

Rhino reissues

Starting in 2001, Rhino Records began an eighteen double-disc reissue program for Costello's back catalogue prior to his Polygram/Universal contract. Rhino Entertainment Company is an American specialty Record label and production company owned by Warner Music Group. Except for the compilation, each of the reissues presented the remastered original album on one disc, and a separate bonus disc of B-sides, outtakes, live tracks, alternate versions and/or demos of songs. Mastering, a form of audio Post-production, is the process of preparing and transferring recorded audio from a source containing the final mix to a Data storage device

The project featured the direct participation and guidance of Elvis Costello himself, who wrote new liner notes for each album consisting of his thoughts on the music as well as anecdotes and reminiscences from the time. They were released in batches of three, with the exception of King of America, The Juliet Letters, and The Very Best of Elvis Costello, the last being an unaltered re-release of the Polygram compilation of 1999, which arrived in the stores singularly. The Very Best of Elvis Costello is a Compilation album on two Compact discs by Elvis Costello, sampling his recorded work from the years 1977 The reissue dates are as follows:

  1. April 17, 2001: The Very Best of Elvis Costello
  2. August 11, 2001: My Aim Is True, Spike, All This Useless Beauty
  3. February 19, 2002: This Year's Model, Blood and Chocolate, Brutal Youth
  4. November 19, 2002: Armed Forces, Imperial Bedroom, Mighty Like a Rose
  5. September 9, 2003: Get Happy!!, Trust, Punch the Clock
  6. August 3, 2004: Almost Blue, Goodbye Cruel World, Kojak Variety
  7. April 26, 2005: King of America
  8. March 21, 2006: The Juliet Letters

The Almost Blue and Kojak Variety bonus discs were particularly notable as each contained, essentially, an entire new album's worth of material also performed but either not issued, or released as B-sides on singles originally. Events 69 - After the First Battle of Bedriacum, Vitellius becomes Roman Emperor. Year 2001 ( MMI) was a Common year starting on Monday according to the Gregorian calendar. The Very Best of Elvis Costello is a Compilation album on two Compact discs by Elvis Costello, sampling his recorded work from the years 1977 Events 2492 BC - Traditional date of the defeat of Bel by Hayk, progenitor and founder of the Armenian nation Year 2001 ( MMI) was a Common year starting on Monday according to the Gregorian calendar. My Aim Is True is the debut album by Elvis Costello. The album was recorded at Pathway Studios in Islington, London, over All This Useless Beauty is a 1996 album by Elvis Costello and The Attractions. Events 197 - Roman Emperor Septimius Severus defeats usurper Clodius Albinus in the Battle of Lugdunum See also 2002 (disambiguation Year 2002 ( MMII) was a Common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar. This Year's Model was Elvis Costello 's second album and his first with The Attractions, released in 1978 (see 1978 in music) Brutal Youth is an Album by Elvis Costello. This is the first album Costello recorded with his band the Attractions after Blood and Chocolate Events 1095 - The Council of Clermont, called by Pope Urban II to discuss sending the First Crusade to the Holy Land See also 2002 (disambiguation Year 2002 ( MMII) was a Common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar. For the military meaning see Armed forces. For the Soviet sports society see Armed Forces (sports society Armed Forces Imperial Bedroom is a 1982 album by Elvis Costello and the Attractions. Mighty Like a Rose is an Album by Irish-English Musician Elvis Costello. Events 1000 - Battle of Svolder, Viking Age. 1379 - Treaty of Neuberg, splitting the Austrian Year 2003 ( MMIII) was a Common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. The fourth album by Elvis Costello, his third with the Attractions Get Happy!! is notable for being a dramatic break in tone from Costello's previous "trilogy" Trust (1981 is an Album by Elvis Costello and the Attractions. Punch the Clock is an album released in 1983 by Elvis Costello and the Attractions. Events 8 - Roman Empire General Tiberius defeats Dalmatians on the river Bathinus. "MMIV" redirects here For the Modest Mouse album see " Baron von Bullshit Rides Again " Almost Blue (1981 is an Album by Elvis Costello and the Attractions. Kojak Variety is a 1995 covers Album by Elvis Costello. "Days" had previously appeared on the Until the End of the World, the Events 1467 - The miraculous image in Our Lady of Good Counsel appear in Genazzano, Italy. Year 2005 ( MMV) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. King of America is the tenth album by the British rock singer and songwriter Elvis Costello, billed as "the Costello Show featuring Events 630 - Byzantine emperor Heraclius restores the True Cross to Jerusalem. Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. The Juliet Letters is a 1993 Album by Elvis Costello and The Brodsky Quartet. A-side and B-side originally referred to the two sides of 7 inch Vinyl records on which singles were released beginning in the 1950s The Kojak bonus disc also included ten songs of the 'George Jones' tape, cover songs Costello intended to induce the famed country singer to perform on a subsequent album. George Glenn Jones (born September 12, 1931 in Saratoga Texas) is an award-winning American Country music singer known for his long list of The Get Happy bonus disc was also of note, with 30 additional tracks, bringing the total for the two disc set to 50 songs.

Costello's early single on Stiff can be found on the Ultimate Stiff Records Discography site: http://www.buythehour.se/stiff/

Universal reissues

In August 2006, three months after the conclusion of Rhino's reissue series (My Aim Is True through The Juliet Letters), Universal Music Enterprises announced their purchase of the early Elvis Costello catalogue. Universal Music Group (UMG is the largest Business group and family of Record labels in the Recording industry. This licensing acquisition covers from My Aim Is True through King of America, excluding the Warner Bros. albums (Spike through All This Useless Beauty). King of America is the tenth album by the British rock singer and songwriter Elvis Costello, billed as "the Costello Show featuring Warner Bros Entertainment Inc (or Warner Bros, Warner Bros Pictures) is one of the world's largest producers of Film and These albums had all been re-released on Rhino, a Warner Music Group subsidiary. Warner Music Group (WMG is the third-largest of the "big four" major record labels, the others being Sony BMG, EMI, and Universal The press release says, "[l]eading the industry in online marketing with a dedicated department that manages its digital and mobile business, UMe also expects to mine Costello's catalog for ringtones, digital box sets, and more. "[10] UMe announced that they would be reissuing the albums on their Hip-O Select label. Hip-O Records is a Record label, currently part of Universal Music Group, which specializes in reissues and compilations Costello is quoted in the press release as saying, "[I]t's great to be able to do this through a company that has not only enjoyed major success with reissues but has done them with a genuine emphasis on quality. "[11] This reissue series will mark the fourth release of his Stiff/Radar/Demon catalogue (released by Columbia Records in the US) on compact disc. Columbia Records is an American Record label founded in 1888 Columbia is the oldest surviving Brand name in pre-recorded sound being the first record company

Tribute albums

  1. 1998: Bespoke Songs, Lost Dogs, Detours & Rendezvous – (various artists)
  2. 2002: Almost You: The Songs of Elvis Costello – (various artists)
  3. 2003: The Elvis Costello Songbook – Bonnie Brett
  4. 2004: A Tribute to Elvis Costello – Patrik Tanner
  5. 2004: Davis Does Elvis – Stuart Davis

Filmography

Notes

  1. ^ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, Get Happy!! [Ryko Bonus Tracks], All Music Guide. Frasier is an American sitcom, a Spin-off of Cheers starring Kelsey Grammer as The Late Show with David Letterman is an Emmy Award -winning American late-night Talk show hosted by David Letterman on CBS I Love Your Work is an American Film completed in 2003 and released theatrically in 2005. Cole Albert Porter (June 9 1891 &ndash October 15 1964 was an American Composer and songwriter from Peru, Indiana. De-Lovely is a 2004 American / British musical Biographical film directed by Irwin Winkler. Two and a Half Men is an Emmy Award nominated American television sitcom, which premiered on CBS on Monday September 22 2003 at Two and a Half Men is an Emmy Award nominated American television sitcom, which premiered on CBS on Monday September 22 2003 at Putting the River in Reverse is a documentary film on the first major recording session in New Orleans, USA, since Hurricane Katrina. Talladega Nights The Ballad of Ricky Bobby is a 2006 Comedy film about NASCAR racing Delirious is a 2006 film released directed by Tom DiCillo. It stars Steve Buscemi, Michael Pitt, Elvis Costello, Greg D'Agostino Accessed September 17, 2007. Events 1176 - The Battle of Myriokephalon is fought 1462 - The Battle of Świecino (or Battle of Żarnowiec Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century.
  2. ^ His full given name is often listed as Declan Patrick Aloysius MacManus; however, Aloysius was not one of his names at birth, being added years later, around the time of the release of King of America (typically, it was a tongue-in-cheek gesture, Aloysius being one of the middle names of the character played by doomed English comic Tony Hancock in Hancock's Half Hour). Anthony John "Tony" Hancock (born 12 May 1924 &ndash 24 June 1968) was a popular British Actor and Hancock's Half Hour was a ground-breaking and influential BBC Radio comedy series of the 1950s starring Tony Hancock, with Sid James At that time he also toyed with the idea of dropping his stage name Elvis Costello, in favour of performing under his real name Declan MacManus.
  3. ^ Elvis Costello Biography (1954-)
  4. ^ Paul Inglis, "The Rise And Rise Of Elvis Costello", The Elvis Costello Home Page. Accessed September 17, 2007. Events 1176 - The Battle of Myriokephalon is fought 1462 - The Battle of Świecino (or Battle of Żarnowiec Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century.
  5. ^ Flip City -- the True Story , Flip City website. Accessed September 17, 2007. Events 1176 - The Battle of Myriokephalon is fought 1462 - The Battle of Świecino (or Battle of Żarnowiec Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century.
  6. ^ Elvis Costello, interview by Terry Gross, Fresh Air from WHYY, National Public Radio, WHYY-FM, Philadelphia, February 28, 1989 (rebroadcast September 14, 2007). Fresh Air is a Radio talk show hosted by Terry Gross, broadcast on National Public Radio stations across the United States WHYY-FM is a National Public Radio member on 909 MHz, and serves the Delaware Valley area which is the metro area of Philadelphia Events 202 BC - coronation ceremony of Liu Bang as Emperor Gaozu of Han takes place initiating four centuries of the Han Dynasty 's rule Year 1989 ( MCMLXXXIX) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link displays 1989 Gregorian calendar) Events 81 - Domitian becomes Emperor of the Roman Empire upon the death of his brother Titus. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Accessed September 16, 2007. Events 1400 - Owain Glyndŵr is declared Prince of Wales by his followers Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century.
  7. ^ a b Greil Marcus, "Elvis Costello Explains Himself", Rolling Stone, September 2, 1982. Events 44 BC - Pharaoh Cleopatra VII of Egypt declares her son co-ruler as Ptolemy XV Caesarion. Year 1982 ( MCMLXXXII) was a Common year starting on Friday (link displays the 1982 Gregorian calendar) Accessed September 17, 2007. Events 1176 - The Battle of Myriokephalon is fought 1462 - The Battle of Świecino (or Battle of Żarnowiec Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century.
  8. ^ ELVIS COSTELLO - RIOT ACT / DON'T LET ME BE MISUNDERSTOOD, More Things website. Accessed September 17, 2007. Events 1176 - The Battle of Myriokephalon is fought 1462 - The Battle of Świecino (or Battle of Żarnowiec Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century.
  9. ^ The Immortals: The First Fifty. Rolling Stone Issue 946. Rolling Stone.
  10. ^ Press release on Marketwire.
  11. ^ Press release on Marketwire.

References

External links

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