My Flame Burns Blue - vinyl debut on BLUE VINYL , June 2016

Pretty self-explanatory
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johnfoyle
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Post by johnfoyle »

A listserver in Australia writes -

My Flame Burns Blue - First Thoughts


"DON'T IT MAKE MY BROWN FLAMES BLUE"

Having more or less listened to the whole thing about
once I'll venture that I've heard it once more than
most of you so this is my view:

Firstly, it sounds gorgeous; the mix is luscious, nay,
voluptuous. It's one of those live recordings where
you only hear the crowd at the end of the songs, but
that works really well for this material. There are
liner notes penned by EC, but I'm not going to
reproduce them.

The CD starts with the standout track, "Hora
Decubitus". Beginning with a kind of mutant Gershwin
riff before swinging into a jaunty jittery jazz canter
this is one song that builds and builds and just gets
better and better, climaxing with Elvis' assertion
that "Life is a beautiful thing".

Second up is a version of "Favourite Hour" with a new
arrangment by Steve Nieve. To an extent this is
surprisingly similar in mood to the "Brutal Youth'
original despite lots of additional instrumentation,
but then this is a song that (rather like "Couldn't
Call it Unexpcted #4) could probably survive all sorts
of arrangements.

"That's How You Got Killed Before" is fun but
essentially just a bluesy romp. "Upon A Veil of
Midnight Blue" is one of Costello's lesser ballads and
it is not elevated despite Bill Frisell and Earl
McIntyre's intricate arrangement.

"Clubland": you've heard the song - now hear it in
more musical styles than you can throw a bass player
at! Described in one review as a "samba" the song
moves from samba to comical waltz to cool swing moods
and back again. This is a lot of fun, and worth the
price of admission just to hear EC carefully pick his
way through the reimagined chorus.

Next up is Costello's orchestral arrangement of
"Almost Blue" (plus a new extended instrumental coda
feature Professor Nieve on melodica). EC notes that
the orchestration is adapted from a never used
arrangement he did for the Brodskies. The version
presented here is good, but probably not that exciting
for hardcore fans, who have probably already heard
this song a few too many times.

"Speak Darkly, My Angel" is one of the "Three
Distracted Women" songs, but I'm afraid I can't make a
judgement on one listening.

EC struggles with the chorus of "Almost Ideal Eyes",
messing up the gorgeous time signature changes, which
unfortunately turns it into a bit of a let down, I'm
afraid. Yes I know it's very hard to sing, but then
*he* wrote it!

"Can You Be True?" is a North song revisited. No
surprises really, except that EC reckons (in the liner
notes) "I had spent much of the previous nine months
performing the song with just Steve Nieve's piano
accompaniment and felt that I now really understood
how to sing the song." Good to know that. Well
better get back to the studio and redo "North" then
old chap. Or on second thoughts, no...

Next there is a brace of songs that (again) are hard
to assess at one hearing.

As for the rest, well "Watching the Detectives" sounds
like a logical extension of the Bernard Hermann
atmosphere EC says he has always tried to evoke. Now
that EC knows how to orchestrate stuff, well, what do
you know, this one sounds like Bernard Hermann. It's
a lot of fun, and EC sounds like he had fun singing
it, but what's next? Re-recordings of the Armed
Forces songs in authentic Abba, Kraftwerk and Bowie
sylings?

Lastly "God Give Me Strength". This song gets the
biggest reception from the audience and Costello gives
them a tasty vocal rendition to end the disc. This
is essentially exactly the same orchestration as on
"Painted From Memory" but then I guess you don't mess
with Burt (unless you wan't to get hurt)!

So my immediate reaction to "My Flame is Blue" is:
Yes, I want to hear it again. How good is it? Well,
I need more time to digest some of the material. But
it's safe to say that if you don't like jazz then
steer clear of this album; definitely EC's jazziest
effort for far. For the rest of you, "Hora
Decubitus" and "Clubland" alone are worth the price of
admission.

PoP

"All my might between velvet and dynamite"
selfmademug

Post by selfmademug »

johnfoyle wrote:"Can You Be True?" is a North song revisited. No
surprises really, except that EC reckons (in the liner
notes) "I had spent much of the previous nine months
performing the song with just Steve Nieve's piano
accompaniment and felt that I now really understood
how to sing the song."
This alone would be worth the price of admission-- one of my tippy-top favorites. But the other stuff sounds great, and right up my alley; consider me chomping at the bit!
scielle
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Post by scielle »

The DG site has 4 tracks available for streaming:

http://www.deutschegrammophon.com/speci ... eburnsblue
johnfoyle
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Post by johnfoyle »

From listserv -


Image

From the Entertainment Section of the Sunday Edition
of the Sydney Morning Herald 15 January 2006 (not
available online):

"The Week's Most Talked About Release"

My Flame is Blue Elvis Costello (Universal) Rating:
8/10

Elvis Costello can't be contained. Having hit the
age of 50, a time when the creativity of many
musicians calcifies and they have to rely on nostalgic
regard, this bitter, brilliant escapee from the punk
era continues to expand his range. In his imminent
Sydney Festival appearances Costello will feature in
three separate perfomances - with pianist Steve Nieve,
classical string ensemble The Brodsky Quartet and the
Sydney Symphony Orchestra - which higlight his
eclectic eye and extensive body of work. Should you
somehow want more, there's "My Flame Burns Blue". A
live recording from the 2004 North Sea Jazz Festival,
it finds Costello working with jazz orchestra
Metropole Orkest, an expansive group whose playing
rises to meet Costello's snarling asides and
complements his tender declarations. Unlike other
artists, Costello isn't just adding strings to his
hits. "Clubland" and "Watching the Detectivs" have a
jazzy insouciance but "Hora Decubitus" features new
lyrics over a Charles Mingus tune and "That's How You
Got Killed Before" is a big band tune unearthed from
the 1950s. The result is an engrossing and revelatory
set, culminating on a perfect note: "God Give Me
Strength", Costello's signature collaboration with
Burt Bacharach. - (Craig Matheson).
johnfoyle
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Post by johnfoyle »

The Japanese edition , with the exclusive extra track '...Dust' , came out last Fri. Jan. 13th.....and my copy , posted that day in Tokyo , arrived here in Dublin today - yippeee!

A rather hectic day has meant I've only had a backround listen . What leaps out is , of course , the fuller sound , as compared with the recording from the Dutch radio broadcast of the same material. I look forward to a proper listen.

I have scanned some elements of the packaging -

Illustration by Edwin Fotheringham

http://www.users.qwest.net/~efotheringham/

Design by Coco Shinpmiya


Image
Jim Heimann with Coco Shinomiya and George Barris

Image

The back of the disc

ImageImage

Some pages from the booklet

Image
Back of the booklet

Image
The tray inlay

ImageImage

The discs
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wardo68
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Post by wardo68 »

Thanks for the great scans, Mr. Foyle -- whets my appetite, but I'll be waiting for the US release.
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And No Coffee Table
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Post by And No Coffee Table »

My copy has arrived from Japan as well, and I'm impressed by the initial listens. The standouts are "Hora Decubitus," "Almost Blue," "Almost Ideal Eyes," "Can You Be True," and "Episode of Blonde."

I was amused that the back cover photograph was taken by Paul McCartney's daughter Mary. When you combine this with Jesse Dylan taking the photos for The Delivery Man, I must assume that EC plans to rely on the spawn of rock legends for all future cover photographs.
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Post by Who Shot Sam? »

Thanks for the scans john. Nice graphic design.
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Post by verbal gymnastics »

I wonder if Moon Unit Zappa is a fan!

Is the Japanese version much more expensive? It may be worth the investment. Which site did you buy it from?
Who’s this kid with his mumbo jumbo?
johnfoyle
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Post by johnfoyle »

C.34 euro , incl ( very quick!) postage.

http://www.cdjapan.co.jp/detailview.html?KEY=UCCH-1015


My Flame Burns Blue

Catalog No.: UCCH-1015
Format: CD
Number of discs (or other units): 2
Release Date: 2006/01/13
Price: 2667yen (US$ 23.26/ 2800yen Tax incl.)
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Otis Westinghouse
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Post by Otis Westinghouse »

£8.75 on CD-WOW, despatch date given as Jan 23. Doesn't include Dust. Too bad, have ordered. £14.99 off Amazon UK, release end Feb.
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Post by verbal gymnastics »

Thanks John.

It was reported on Channel 4's teletext on Wednesday that the UK release date is Monday 6th March.
Who’s this kid with his mumbo jumbo?
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Post by midwesterngrl »

I was shuffling through the 'new to the store' CD's in the used product section of my favorite independent store last weekend and there was a bright and shiny promo copy. I've given it a few listens and have enjoyed it all right. (Okay, I haven't listened to the Il Sogno stuff yet.)

In an Australian review posted in a previous page they referred to "Watching The Detectives" possessing a 'jazzy insousiance' and I would say it just sounds like a bad bosanova record. I miss the menace in his voice and the drum and bass interplay on the original version.

But I do like this version of 'That's How You Got Killed Before.' It gives it a bit of power to add the impressive horn sweeps to it.

I'll have to give it more listens before I can give a more detailed opinion of the work as a whole.

Thanks,
Nicole
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Post by sweetest punch »

The iTunes store in Japan has My Flame Burns Blue for sale. You can hear 30 second audioclips of all the tracks.
The bonustrack here is not "Dust", but "Still"!!
Since you put me down, it seems i've been very gloomy. You may laugh but pretty girls look right through me.
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Post by ReadyToHearTheWorst »

sweetest punch wrote:The iTunes store in Japan has My Flame Burns Blue for sale. You can hear 30 second audioclips of all the tracks.
The bonustrack here is not "Dust", but "Still"!!
I can only buy from the UK store :( . Anyone know how you go about buying from 'foreign' iTunes stores?
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Post by scielle »

Reviews are popping up:

Elvis has left the comfort zone
GARRY WILLIAMS
22 January 2006
Sunday Herald Sun

My Flame Turns Blue
Elvis Costello with the Metropole Orkest

In short: His aim is true, despite a few detours.

IN the mid-'70s, Miles Davis was playing a brand of electric funk that alienated many of his fans. When asked why he didn't play ballads any more, he replied: "Because I love them." You get the feeling Elvis Costello shares this philosophy. He would rather push himself into unfamiliar territory, at risk of failure or rejection, than stay in his comfort zone.

He was an angry young man when he burst on to the scene in 1977. Despite the brilliance of his first three albums -- My Aim Is True, This Year's Model and Armed Forces -- you had the feeling he would "burn out rather than fade way", like most of his new wave/punk contemporaries.

But he showed he was no one-trick pony, broadening his musical palette to include R'n'B (Get Happy), country (Almost Blue) and classical (The Juliette Letters).

His changes in directions were not always successful, but they were never redundant or boring and this willingness to push musical boundaries has, no doubt, helped him forge a rich and varied 25-album career.

So it should come as no surprise that his latest album features a live performance with a jazz orchestra with a string section. The bonus disc has excerpts from a ballet score based on Shakespeare's Midsummer Night's Dream.

It is music you sometimes find yourself admiring rather than enjoying, although, like all good albums, it slowly reveals its charms.

The most accessible material is the most familiar. Clubland, from 1980's Trust album, is given a fine Latin swing and waltz makeover, and his first single, Watching the Detectives, is given new life with backing that appropriately sounds like a score to a '50s film noir flick.

Almost Blue, from 1981's Imperial Bedroom, has been covered by jazz great Chet Baker and Costello's wife, Diana Krall, but this is the definitive version.

The uptempo tracks, such as crowd-pleasing That's How I Got Killed The Night Before, make the most initial impact. The ballads, while lush and beautifully scored, slow the concert's momentum on occasions.

But, like Davis, whose trumpet never lost its unique tone, no matter how bizarre or discordant the setting, Costello's distinctive voice remains the focal point.

The bonus disc, the classical, instrumental "Il Sogno" Suite, with the London Symphony Orchestra, is harder to access.

It is heavy going for the uninitiated -- like myself -- but again improves with repeated playing. Obviously, it would benefit from the ballet's visuals, as themes are connected to characters and plot, but stands alone.

Not an easy listen, but never dull -- in other words, a typical Costello CD.

----------------------

22 January 2006
Sunday Mail
PAUL NASSARI

My Flame Burns Blue
Elvis Costello Live With The Metropole Orkest

* * * 1/2

In short: Costello swings live.

Elvis Costello has teamed up with the sensational Metropole Orkest in a live set of torch songs and swinging jazz.

He's taken the lessons learned alongside Burt Bacharach and French singing giant Charles Aznavour (remember She? ) and coupled them with something resembling a big-band approach - with staggering results.

Old fans will be glad to know he can't resist spitting and snarling the occasional delivery (the new version of Watching The Detectives, remodelled after vintage cop show themes, is great fun) but in general, the overall feel is one of an expert vocalist stretching himself to the limits.

The plaintive Favourite Hour opens with almost James Bond-ish flair, That's How You Got Killed Before sets the musicians' fingers alight, while clubland benefits from an injection of Latin grooves.

Quite simply, Costello has done it again.
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Post by wardo68 »

It just struck me that the title of the album ("My Flame Burns Blue") is a pretty close rhyme to EC's debut album.

Either I'm reading too much into it, or I should have picked up on this months ago.
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Post by wardo68 »

Video clips and plenty of promotional info here:
http://www.deutschegrammophon.com/speci ... eburnsblue
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Post by wardo68 »

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Otis Westinghouse
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Post by Otis Westinghouse »

Lots of good stuff on the DG site. So do those video clips indicate a DVD to follow? Or perhaps a bonus ed + DVD, a couple of months down the line?

VG: forget March 6 and order now from CD-WOW. They mailed to say mine is being despatched today.
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Post by verbal gymnastics »

Otis - I'm contemplating whether or not to buy the Japanese version.
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Otis Westinghouse
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Post by Otis Westinghouse »

It's a test of the extent of your fanhood, or at least the financial baacking you're prepared to give it. Sodding CD-WOW mailed today to say it isn't in stock yet and they expect to posst it on Mon. Oh well, at least I have Noise's CD to look forward to, and about 200 dimeadozen items to check out!
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Post by Who Shot Sam? »

Otis Westinghouse wrote:about 200 dimeadozen items to check out!
:!: Your poor Mac must be creaking under the weight of all of those bootlegs.
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Otis Westinghouse
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Post by Otis Westinghouse »

Indeed. I've only recently discovered where to look for how much capacity I have (About this Mac->More info->ATA). It says capacity is 74 gigs, and last night I had under 1gb left! I was trying to copy a DVD and it wouldn't let me due to lack of room to cache it. So I deleted a bunch of stuff from iTunes and some photos and I'm up to 3gb space!!! My innate sense of chaos has led me to build up a rather complex range of folders of downloads in different states, but I'm trying to get as much as poss of stuff that's worth keeping on CD, but it all takes time. And none of my photos/vid clips are backed up on CD, which is a little foolhardy, to say the least! I like being able to see what capacity I have left, it ought to be more evident, really, though of course it is in individual window frames.
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Post by johnfoyle »

Elvis ' enlarges his impressive quiver' ---- sounds painfull!

http://www.calendarlive.com/music/pop/c ... lurb-right
LA Times

January 29, 2006

SOUNDS '06: A CD PREVIEW
Hitting play without pause
* We offer a selective preview of music due out from now through June. Quality's hard to guarantee, but someone's bound to be playing your song.

(extract)


Elvis Costello
"My Flame Burns Blue" (Deutsche Grammophon)

The musical polymath enlarges his impressive quiver with a live performance in the Netherlands with a 52-piece jazz orchestra. A bonus disc features a full-length orchestral work. (C.D.)
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