Elvis Costello Fan Forum

I have a CD of Ross MacManus songs, called Elvis' Dad Sings Elvis and it is Ross MacManus singing Elvis Presley. It was recorded in 1970ish and released on CD on the Hallmark label. The slow songs, like Love Me Tender, sound like EC! I tried finding more by Ross by scouring Joe Loss LPs at car boot ...

It looks like a photofit picture.

I just saw a new release CD by a Glasgow band called The Fratellis. It caught my eye because it is entitled Costello Music. No connection to our man as far as I can find out, but hotly tipped as the next big thing.

John, I have often noticed that you are the first to post the most obscure references to EC. How do you do it? Do you trawl the internet for mentions of the man, or do you have a team of researchers?

I really hate supermarket shopping, but to pass the time I choose the next item I see and try to link it to an Elvis song. It's good fun. So, for example, you see the wine "and they gave me rose wine" from Uncomplicated. The fruit aisle, oranges, "tart and the flavour is tart." T...

There are some well known deliberate lyrical quotes - You keep me hanging on, from Accidents will Happen. Some things you never get used to, from Hi Fidelity.

Episode of Blonde sounds like a Tom Waits song - not sure which one - but it is spoken word (does Tom Waits actually "sing?") and has those Latin horns in the background! I think its on Beautiful Maladies.

He was born Steve Nason....



At the end of the Live Stiffs album, Ian Dury is introducing all the people on stage and you can hear him, off microphone, saying "What's Steve's second name?" before announcing "Steve Nason"

Water Wonderful World - Louis Armstrong....I mean Water by The Who.

At the Royalty in London, he played a different show each night, one with The Attrations, one with the Spinning Songbook, solo etc, but did not publicise what show was happening. I went on a solo night when he showed his "holiday snaps" on a projector! Some guy asked for his money back as ...

I stole a glance at my reflection
Though these days I tend to hurry by
How pale the rose of my complexion
How strange the knowing look that's in my eye.

From EC's best unrecorded song (unrecorded by him). I leave you head scratching...

That 20 Beat Classics by Georgie Fame is a classic. Recommended! I seem to recall that the Point of No Return ep was one of the first records that EC bought with his own money.

Yes, Spike era. Hate to be a trainspotter, but that is the shirt he wore on the Everything You Wanted to Know about Spike, BBC interview.

I would go for Imperial Bedroom for the arrangements and the range of styles. I always thought Steve should have got a co-writing credit for Anid in Every Home for the orchestration.

My kind offer has been snapped up!

That pic looks like she's inflatable and EC has blown a bit too hard.

Free to a good home - The Big Wheel by Bruce Thomas. I will give my copy to the first person who contacts me on mikehalliday@tiscali.co.uk But be quick, this generous mood may not last! If you have an EC trade list and you are feeling like a trade, feel free to send your list and I will choose a liv...

I'd only get it after alll other studio LPs, with the exception of For The Stars, which I still can't be bothered to get, and maybe never will. I really like For the Stars! I think No Wonder is one of EC's best songs that he hasn't recorded. He did it live with the Imposters in Manchester and it was...

For Sale: The Big Wheel and On the Road Again - both books by Brice Thomas, both with numerous referebes to life on the road with EC & the Attractions, but the second book has very little about the "reunion years." Contact mikehalliday@tiscali.co.uk and we can trde or arrange a sale. O...

The "former property"? Maybe Bruce has been burgled. Incidentally, just reading The Big Wheel again and it appears to be that The Keyboard Player and The Drummer have more of the scandalous stories told about them that The Singer!

Ronan has got a new band together called Biblecodesundays. He is the only MacManus in the band and they play music on traditional Irish instruments! Check out their website and the new stuff sounds great!

Elvis and Allen are on Later with Jools Holland on BBC2 in the UK on Friday 26th May, according to the BBC website!

Back to the Juliet Letters...I have been playing it recently and I think its a fantastic album. I even like Swine! One point, on the sleeve notes it refers to a touring band of EC called The Conquered Dogs. I have not heard of this band, did it exist or was it a joke??!

Also, no Strange Case of Frank Cash & the Morning Paper! I saw T Bone supporting EC in Harrogate in 1984. He was unknown at that time and started his set with an acapella King of the Road. Brave or what????

Shame the best of misses one of T Bone's best songs - Having a Wonderful Time, Wish You Were Her.