Relatively Insignificant EC Stuff. . .

[johnfoyle]

http://www.flickr.com/photos/51106326@N ... 541036030/

This on-going archive of Smash Hits has this ad. from 30 years ago for You Little Fool

[johnfoyle]

The earliert posted Smash Hits ad. is a variation/companion image to the back of the You Little Fool Sleeve.

[johnfoyle]

Writer, music promoter Paul Charles writes -

http://paulcharlesbooks.blogspot.ie/201 ... rt-me.html

Monday, June 18, 2012

The Beatles, Elvis, Albert & Me

“Tell me this, Paul, did you ever meet the Beatles?” is a question I’m infrequently asked.

And, given that I’m such a Beatle fanatic, (I once had a business card which proudly proclaimed: Author, Agent & Beatle Fan) and the fact that I work in the music business, I have to accept that it’s a fair question and a simple one.
The answer however is not quite so simple. Here, let me explain.
Sadly (for me) I’ve never ever met the Beatles as the Beatles; even sadder to say that I never ever saw them perform live.
I did manage to witness all of them performing in concert as solo artists and I also managed to meet three of them post Beatles.

Monaco of all places was where I met Ringo Starr. I was at one of those award ceremonies where you win an award for turning up; equally, and in other words, you don’t get the award if you don’t show up. I was there with Tanita Tikaram, an artist I was managing at the time, and we were hanging around at the run-thought waiting for her turn when Mr Starr approached us, introduced himself, and said he was going to be in big trouble with one of his daughters if he didn’t manage to get a photograph of himself and Tanita together. He handed me his camera and very politely asked me if I’d take the photograph. Tanita, like myself, is a major Beatles fan and was tickled pink by the request.

I also met Ringo at another concert, this time at The Royal Albert Hall when he went out of his way to re-organise the seats around him to accommodate the daughter of a friend of mine who was wheel chair bound. He was incredibly charming, thoughtful and discreet.

Talking about amazing drummers, Jim Keltner introduced me to George Harrison backstage at an Elvis Costello concert at the Royal Albert Hall. At that point Jim was recording with George during the day, and performing with Elvis, at his six night stint at the RAH, in the evenings. You’re so in awe when you meet a person you greatly admire, that’s it’s all over in a flash. But I do remember that night very clearly because George was extremely gracious to a few of us and Jake Riveria, Elvis’s manager, asked him if the reason there was a verse on the Awaiting On You All recording on his All Things Must Pass album that wasn’t on the accompanying lyric sheet was because of the content, he hadn’t been allowed to include it. The lyric in question was: “And while the Pope owns 51% of General Motors and the stock exchange is the only thing he’s qualified to quote us.” George’s diplomatic replied was: “I couldn’t possibly comment.”

John Lennon I never met, but I did see him perform live at the Twickenham studios; he was there to sing and play guitar with some of the Rolling Stones for their famous Rock ‘n’ Roll Circus TV special. I don’t remember much of the performances apart from the audience (including myself) being dressing in these funny cloaks and hats.


Richard Odgen was a publicist for Fruupp - my second management client, but first in a professional, full-time capacity. Years later, many years later, Richard became the manager for Paul McCartney. He rang me up saying that he was keen to put Paul together with some great young writers and inquired who were the great new writers around at that stage.
“Elvis Costello,” I replied without a moment’s hesitation, “Paul McCartney has just got to write with Elvis Costello. It’ll be perfect.”

It took a few telephone conversations of persuasion but Richard took my recommendation and we set up for Mr McCartney and Mr Costello to meet up in 1987 and the resultant co-writes were: the very Beatlish My Brave Face; You Want Her Too, Don’t Be Carless Love and That Day is Done, all of which made it onto Paul’s Flowers In The Dirt album and Veronica, Pads, Paws and Claws on Elvis’ Spike album plus So Like Candy & Playboy to A Man on Elvis’ Mighty Like A Rose album.
A couple of years later I received another call from Richard Odgen. This time he was looking somewhere cool for Paul to play in London, a small club where the former Beatle could do a secret, no pressure, fun gig. I recommended The Mean Fiddler in Harlesden and several weeks later on May 10th 1991 Mr McCartney gave a legendary performance to an ecstatic audience, which included myself.

When it came time for the MPL Christmas lunches that year I was invited by Richard and being the gent he is, he sat me beside Neil Aspinal who proved to be an excellent story teller and extremely generous with his Beatle tales.
Somewhere in the middle of all of this I got to meet my final Beatle. Again it was backstage at the Royal Albert Hall and again at an Elvis Costello concert. Once again Mr Richard Odgen was the link and on this occasion he introduced me to Paul McCartney.
The former Beatle was very friendly and charming.
“And what is it you do?” he asked.
“I’m an agent,” I replied proudly.
“Now that is a good thing to be,” he replied before being distracted by Richard introducing him to someone else.
And the ex-Beatle wasn’t wrong, was he? I mean, just think of all the great people you get to meet backstage at the Royal Albert Hall.

[johnfoyle]

http://www.iandudley.net/2012/06/oxford ... iting.html


27 June 2012
Oxford Today Creative Writing Competition

Ian Dudley

I won second prize in the Oxford Today Creative Writing Competition for my story Dr Luther's Assistant. I can't say the story and the song have anything in common other than the title: I'm an Elvis Costello fan.

The prize was a bottle of whisky, which hasn't turned up yet, but I am still hopeful.

You can download a PDF containing all of the shortlisted stories, including mine, here.

http://d3gjvvs65ernan.cloudfront.net/OT ... tition.pdf

[johnfoyle]

http://www.spoilertv.com/2012/07/white- ... rview.html

July 9 '12

( extract)

Today I had a conference call opportunity with Willie Garson (Mozzie) to talk about the upcoming season of White Collar.

Of all of the question asked, one of the most interesting question was "Do you think you could convince Elvis Costello to guest star on the show sometime?" He responded by saying he was not allowed to answer. Something tells me this is already in the works.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_Coll ... _series%29

[And No Coffee Table]

There was a White Collar episode in which Garson's character exclaimed "Sweet Elvis Costello!" in the way someone might say "Sweet Jesus!"

The show's producer tweeted at the time:

Willie said Elvis Costello texted him right after the line last night in the show. He was very excited

[sheeptotheslaughter]

http://www.flickr.com/photos/51106326@N ... 541036030/

This on-going archive of Smash Hits has this ad. from 30 years ago for You Little Fool

I wonder when Elvis, The Stones, The Beatles, Stevie Wonder, Bowwowwow etc will ever release sinlges in the same week.

I remember buying You Little Fool and the assistant telling me they had sold loads of copies of this today, of course it didnt bother the top 40

[johnfoyle]

http://smallscreenscoop.com/willie-gars ... -4/326647/

July 11, 2012

Willie Garson Interview for White Collar Season 4

(extract)


The possibility of a guest appearance by good friend Elvis Costello: “I am not allowed to answer that specific question about that specific person.” Hmm.

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

I hadn't heard of this series. I watched episode one of the new series - slight premise, obvious charcaterisation etc. I'll give it a few more episodes.

[johnfoyle]

More 30 year old Smash Hits' get scanned -

http://likepunkneverhappened.blogspot.i ... -1982.html

including this -

http://www.flickr.com/photos/51106326@N ... 135590496/



Does anyone know of anyone who may have won? Given the magazines readership, I've a vision of someone with a box of tat like Bananarama in a attic with a signed copy stuck in the middle!

[Natasha]

There was a White Collar episode in which Garson's character exclaimed "Sweet Elvis Costello!" in the way someone might say "Sweet Jesus!"

The show's producer tweeted at the time:

Willie said Elvis Costello texted him right after the line last night in the show. He was very excited

I'm going to add this one to my vocabulary from now on.

[johnfoyle]

Some great photos of Elvis 'n co. in the studio.

http://tapeop.com/articles/90/roger-bechirian-bonus/


Pete, Bruce and EC at Ampro studios.

[verbal gymnastics]

This is as insignificant as it gets but why is it that when people are saying that the Olympics is the greatest show on Earth, I keep thinking "Have you never seen the Spectacular Spinning Songbook?".

[johnfoyle]

http://capricornlink.blogspot.ie/2012/0 ... f-new.html





Title: Encyclopedia of New Wave

Author/s: Daniel Bukszpan

RRP: $29.99

ISBN: 9781402784729

Format: Paperback, 224 pages
Dimensions: 229mm x 152mm

Publisher: Sterling Publishing

Aust. Release Date:August 2012



http://www.amazon.com/The-Encyclopedia- ... f+New+Wave

[johnfoyle]

http://likepunkneverhappened.blogspot.i ... -1982.html

From the latest scans of 30 year old Smash Hits...

[sheeptotheslaughter]

In todays Shortlist magazine, A mag that is given out free to commuters in London. Elvis is voted in the top 6 'Glasses' in rock. It is attached to a Graham Coxon from Blur interview.

[sweetest punch]

http://www.deseretnews.com/article/8655 ... rdens.html

Jazz pianist/volcalist Daina Krall thrills crowd at Red Butte Gardens

Krall croons to a sold-out house

It must be nice — leave your mark on the world a la the Gershwins, Irving Berlin or The Beatles.

And jazz pianist/singer Diana Krall toasted them all in her Red Butte Gardens concert on Wednesday night.

As rain clouds threatened, crowds were undeterred, lining up before 3:30 p.m. to make sure they had a decent view of both the singer and her hands.

Vocalist/pianist Denzal Sinclaire opened the evening on keyboards and another man on bass who, together, performed fantastic renditions of "Amazing Grace" and Willie Nelson's "You Were Always on my Mind," among others.

After a brief break, Krall could be seen walking to the stage through Red Butte's lovely gardens, arriving in a red, patterned dress and sunglasses she wore throughout the evening.

Opening with "I Just Found Out About Love," Krall segued into "Deed I Do," followed by "So Nice," before speaking to the sold-out crowd gathered in Red Butte's lovely amphitheatre.

"How is everybody?" she asked, answered by shouts, whistles and claps — but, apparently not enough. She then razzed the crowd asking if she was performing for just four people in the audience; they argued otherwise.

Krall noted the last time she was here was with her husband, composer/musician Elvis Costello. "He's home cooking dinner this time." Costello and Krall are parents to two young boys. "He's a really good cook," she said. Joking that on her next trip to Utah she'd try to bring him and she'd "sing back-up for him."

With her small ensemble — guitar, bass, drums and Krall on keyboards, naturally — they danced through a repertoire of everything from Berlin to Tom Waits.

The evening was packed with songs. Krall hardly paused to chat but did give plenty of time to showcase the talents of her band.

Krall thanked the crowd and left. After a minute or two of cheers, she returned with some Beatles arrangements, including "Come Together," that had the crowd on its feet.

Nestled into the hillside, the Wasatch mountains looming overhead, the valley below, crickets chirping and Krall crooning, it's enough to make you wonder why you're not sitting on that hill every night. What an extraordinary treat on a perfectly still summer night.

Thankfully, the clouds only LOOKED ominous.

[johnfoyle]

Priorities all wrong !

http://unpetitfauve.wordpress.com/2012/08/10/skylight/

August 10, 2012

(extract)



One of my favorite things about our new place is that it has a loft with a big skylight. We’re using the loft as our office/studio area, where we keep our instruments and art/writing-related stuff. The signed and framed Elvis Costello poster in the background of these photos still needs to be hung, just like the rest of our wall art. It’s all just sitting around, waiting to go up. I’ll be putting up my framed poetry broadsides in prominent places for sure.

[blureu]

Not sure if this has been previously posted:

http://www.elviscostellodog.com/

[johnfoyle]

Two Guys Named Elvis

http://likethedew.com/2011/08/23/two-guys-named-elvis/

[johnfoyle]

http://www.rttnews.com/1950347/elvis-pr ... gn=sitemap

Elvis Presley Songwriters Fondly Remember The King


8/18/2012

(RTTNews) - Four former songwriters — Dallas Frazier, Jerry Chesnut, Mac Davis and Billy Swan — for Elvis Presley gathered at the Ford Theater at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum in Nashville on August 11 to share some of their stories of the King and some of his most memorable tracks.

200 fans assembled to hear stories like those of Frazier, whose song "He Is My Everything" was recorded by Elvis in 1970:

"Elvis was a spiritual man. He always leaned toward gospel. He loved gospel quartets and had half of them working for him."

Chesnut spoke on how, at the time, Elvis' rock influence seemed jarring to many country traditionalists:

"Elvis was just out of reach and another ball game. For a long time, I didn't know who Ray Charles was. When Elvis Costello cut some of my songs, I thought he was an Elvis imitator."

Elvis week, which celebrates the 35th anniversary of the King's death, is expected to draw 75,000.

[johnfoyle]

I wonder will a certain Vancouver resident find time for this local production ?

http://www.timescolonist.com/entertainm ... story.html

Times Colonist reviewers Amy Smart, Cory Ruf and Adrian Chamberlain are covering the Victoria Fringe Theatre Festival, running to Sept. 2. All critiques use a five-star grading system.

What: My Aim is True

Where: Victoria Event Centre, 1415 Broad St.

When: Aug. 25, 27, 31; Sept. 1 and 2

Rating: ***

What constitutes good medicine? It’s a question My Aim is True, a play written by University of Victoria grad Meghan Bell, addresses, but never fully resolves.

Eighteen-year-old Alison, named after the title character of Elvis Costello’s 1977 broody slow jam, tries to cajole her mother, Olivia, who’s dying of throat cancer, into taking desperate measures to fight the disease.

Olivia, for her part, is content to lie on the couch in the company of her cherished smokes and booze, having accepted her fate. And Alison’s wet-behind-the-ears boyfriend, Jack, occupies the middle ground between the two women’s opposing approaches.

It’s a moody work — there are a lot of arguments. The play’s angst, unlike Costello’s song, sometimes borders on melodramatic.

But there are welcome moments of levity, including a dream sequence in which Olivia muses in song about slow dancing with her celebrity crush, Harrison Ford. Ironically, she, unlike her storm cloud of a daughter, is able to derive at least some pleasure out of life.

It makes one wonder who’s really the sick one, who’s the caregiver and whose approach to wellness is actually best.

My Aim is True leaves it up to you to decide.

— Cory Ruf

MAIT was used for a radio play in November 1984 , as noted in a fanzine at the time -

[Mikeh]

This looks like a bargain!
Amazon UK are selling 5 EC albums in a box for £9.79 - Called the original album series the albums are Spike, Mighty Like a Rose, Kojak, Brutal Y and All this Useless Beauty!

Also, I saw someone on BBC3's Reading/Leeds coverage last night who sang a couple of lines from Just a Memory. Female singer, said to be one of Dave Grohl's fave's but missed the name of the band!

[johnfoyle]

http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/liverpoo ... -31737679/

Paddy Shennan, Liverpool Echo
Sep 1 2012

A GOOD, meaty start for Good Cop (BBC1, Thursday) – and I liked the Costello double whammy (Mark Womack plays DCI Costello, while the opener closed with Pump It Up by Elvis Costello).

[Man out of Time]

Another author inspired by an Elvis Costello lyric (see also Brett Easton Ellis):

http://www.teacherninjas.com/2009/09/in ... sions.html

"In time you can turn these obsessions into careers"

The quote is from philosopher Elvis Costello. Children's book author Karen Romano Young used it in her post about her science fair books over at the I.N.K. blog.

MOOT

[johnfoyle]

Elvis was at a preview screening of Boardwalk Empire, season 3 - the lucky devil!

http://www.examiner.com/slideshow/board ... e=52523771

Boardwalk Empire Season 3

The stars of “Boardwalk Empire” and many other celebrities turned out for the New York premiere of the third season on Wednesday, September 5. The premiere took place at the Ziegfeld Theatre in New York City.




http://www.rexfeatures.com/search/?kw=e ... ello&ord=N


Jo Andres, Steve Buscemi, Diana Krall and Elvis Costello 5 Sep 2012