Great story, Steve. I, too, still have my old girlfriend on the iPhone contacts (in fact, texted her when I ran into a mutual friend a couple weeks ago and she happily responded, but as for relationship, that ship sailed years ago) ... an aside, later I had another woman friend who wrote for "Downbeat" and as a thanks for my editing her submissions she'd get us backstage passes and free show tix. Sooooo...got to hang backstage with Elvis Costello and the Attractions probably late 1990s. They'd played for over 2 hrs and EC loved talking with my journo friend, and I had a happy chat with Steve Nieve about theremins. Lovely memory. Cheers, Mike
Another great post, Steve. I can relate to this one on so many levels. I had recently put together my own list of great album closers with the intent of sharing it with my friends. Alas, it needs to be edited down a bit and I've had some trouble coming up with a good name for it. Run Out Grooves is a good one. Wish I'd thought of it. I first heard Imperial Bedroom shortly after its release when one of my middle school friends surprisingly bought it. I was not an Elvis Costello fan at the time and didn't really know what to make of it. I finally dove into Costello's back catalog after falling head over heels for King of America, and have been richly rewarded by his amazing variety of work ever since. Imperial Bedroom sits at or near the top of my favorites by him, and I was thrilled when he did that 'Imperial Bedroom and Other Stories' tour with the Imposters a while back. It was my kind of retro album tour where most of the songs are scattered throughout an amazing set instead of playing every track from the album in order, and at the Greek Theatre in Berkeley. It doesn't get any better than that.
Damn it, Rand! Why didn’t you invite me to that show!? It doesn’t matter if it was before you knew me...:) I did see at least 6 or 8 EC shows over the decades. All of them good if not great. I loved the “spin the wheel” show, where audience members got to have a drink at a makeshift bar on stage for one song. Elvis was slyly (or not-so slyly) controlling the wheel to pick songs he wanted to perform, but that was part of the charm.
Aug 28, 2023·edited Aug 28, 2023Liked by Steve Goldberg
Great piece, Mitchell. I'm a semi-reformed Elvis fan, having found his 21st Century output to be good, sincere, and yet still not becoming part of my life. But from This Year's Model through Imperial Bedroom he was as good as anyone has ever been. Taking Liberties (compilation) Punch The Clock, King Of America, Blood and Chocolate, All This Useless Beauty, and Brutal Youth are all terrific as well. As for Town Cryer, it's one of those songs that just seemed to surprise me every time. It probably deserved more attention the first 10 or 20 times I listened to the album so by the time I finally clued into it (those strings, especially) I was like, WHOA. Such a great song and album.
Thanks! Yes, it's a standout that stands out among standouts. While not as strong as his very best, I've found Elvis' last few albums to be much better than I expected, with The Boy Named If especially good.
Aug 22, 2023·edited Aug 22, 2023Liked by Steve Goldberg
I'm glad you neatly wrapped up your heartthrob's relationship at the end, Steve! I had thought of that mid-way thru ("gee, I wonder what happened to those two?")...I envy your dive into lyrics. In what has to be common knowledge, by now, after 2 years, I care little about lyrics, so rarely, if ever, do I dive or delve into them.
"Give me sonic dynamism for $200, please, Alex!" is my general M.O. So, like songwriting, itself (something else I can't do), because I don't/can't/don't care to decipher lyrics, I admire and envy those who can and do....and wanna! "Gee, I wonder what Dylan meant there?" I happily leave that to others!
As I once told Matt Springer, my Elvis canon history is spotty, at best! Certainly on him from minute one, and '77's "My Aim is True" (fave album? His next...."This Year's Model"). Ooh, just thought of this, so before it leaves me: If Andy of "The Vinyl Room" (https://vinylroom.substack.com/) is listening, we used to call "Watching the Detectives" "Washing the Defectives" at my Houston record store!
So, I lost track of Elvis's output around the time of "Imperial Bedroom" (coincidentally enough) less a commentary on content, but just where I was in my life....leaving the record biz, and transitioning to a return to college for a career change. I only caught back up with him after I discovered his '98 Bacharach collab on "Toledo," about which I've written: https://bradkyle.substack.com/p/wholly-toledo-my-long-drive-to-find, and my wanting to learn the song for karaoke!
Anyway, 'nother great job, Steve! Thanks again for letting me bloviate!
Blowviate away, Brad! Certainly EC’s output post-Imperial Bedroom is inconsistent, but it still offers more highlights than a dozen seasons of Astros baseball!;)
There is something in the many IB songs - exemplified by Town Cryer and You Little Fool (which proceeds it) that sets them apart from everything in EC’s vast catalog as well as everyone else’s. They haven’t aged a day - Man Out Of Time indeed.
To many of us who got in early, Imperial Bedroom marks the end of Costello’s near-perfect first phase. It’s his Blonde on Blonde - in that it plays at a whole new level to which he’d been building, and from there the only option was to start again somewhere new.
There were other milestones, but those first 5 years and this capper are something to behold. Thanks for putting the spotlight on it.
Yeah- hard to top that streak of early career brilliance. For me, XTC matches up, almost -- Go 2 being the weakest link in a string of excellence all the way through Apple Venus Vol. 1. That’s 9 albums in a row!
Nice commentary, The FM Club....Your accurately-described "near-perfect first phase" ended up being, really, my only personally-experienced chunk of EC catalog I entertained (see my note to Steve elsewhere, here). Not unlike, say, Springsteen or Dylan (not coincidentally all on Columbia Records....CBS loves publishing!!!), Elvis has been monumentally prolific in his songwriting and, of course, recording!
Plus, his forays into vastly far-reaching genres is a wonder to behold, as well....classical, country, Great American Songbook pop....beyond the occasional dropped jaw of appreciation here and there, has he really ever been appropriately heralded for that reach? Anyway, fun stuff! All hail, the king of America!
One of favourites Costello records. I remember his talk show that ran due a short time. He had Mary Louise Parker on, and is there anyone more crush worthy? It happens that Imperial Bedroom is her favourite. Such great songs. The intricate lyrics, the memorable melodies, all of them ear worms. I will have to listen to it today!
Great story, Steve. I, too, still have my old girlfriend on the iPhone contacts (in fact, texted her when I ran into a mutual friend a couple weeks ago and she happily responded, but as for relationship, that ship sailed years ago) ... an aside, later I had another woman friend who wrote for "Downbeat" and as a thanks for my editing her submissions she'd get us backstage passes and free show tix. Sooooo...got to hang backstage with Elvis Costello and the Attractions probably late 1990s. They'd played for over 2 hrs and EC loved talking with my journo friend, and I had a happy chat with Steve Nieve about theremins. Lovely memory. Cheers, Mike
Another great post, Steve. I can relate to this one on so many levels. I had recently put together my own list of great album closers with the intent of sharing it with my friends. Alas, it needs to be edited down a bit and I've had some trouble coming up with a good name for it. Run Out Grooves is a good one. Wish I'd thought of it. I first heard Imperial Bedroom shortly after its release when one of my middle school friends surprisingly bought it. I was not an Elvis Costello fan at the time and didn't really know what to make of it. I finally dove into Costello's back catalog after falling head over heels for King of America, and have been richly rewarded by his amazing variety of work ever since. Imperial Bedroom sits at or near the top of my favorites by him, and I was thrilled when he did that 'Imperial Bedroom and Other Stories' tour with the Imposters a while back. It was my kind of retro album tour where most of the songs are scattered throughout an amazing set instead of playing every track from the album in order, and at the Greek Theatre in Berkeley. It doesn't get any better than that.
Damn it, Rand! Why didn’t you invite me to that show!? It doesn’t matter if it was before you knew me...:) I did see at least 6 or 8 EC shows over the decades. All of them good if not great. I loved the “spin the wheel” show, where audience members got to have a drink at a makeshift bar on stage for one song. Elvis was slyly (or not-so slyly) controlling the wheel to pick songs he wanted to perform, but that was part of the charm.
Great piece, Mitchell. I'm a semi-reformed Elvis fan, having found his 21st Century output to be good, sincere, and yet still not becoming part of my life. But from This Year's Model through Imperial Bedroom he was as good as anyone has ever been. Taking Liberties (compilation) Punch The Clock, King Of America, Blood and Chocolate, All This Useless Beauty, and Brutal Youth are all terrific as well. As for Town Cryer, it's one of those songs that just seemed to surprise me every time. It probably deserved more attention the first 10 or 20 times I listened to the album so by the time I finally clued into it (those strings, especially) I was like, WHOA. Such a great song and album.
Thanks! Yes, it's a standout that stands out among standouts. While not as strong as his very best, I've found Elvis' last few albums to be much better than I expected, with The Boy Named If especially good.
Thanks for the nod Steve!
You bet! Thanks for giving me "Town Cryer." I heard it was on your possible TROG list.
« Beyond Belief » (Bebe?) leaves me weak at the knees Every! Time! Mixtape Heart throb material? Troggs. Paul Collins Beat. Undertones. Wire. Funkadelic. Fairuz. The Verve. Gainsbourg. Talk Talk.
That's a friggin' solid mix! You must have had some cool heartthrobs.
Sigh
I'm glad you neatly wrapped up your heartthrob's relationship at the end, Steve! I had thought of that mid-way thru ("gee, I wonder what happened to those two?")...I envy your dive into lyrics. In what has to be common knowledge, by now, after 2 years, I care little about lyrics, so rarely, if ever, do I dive or delve into them.
"Give me sonic dynamism for $200, please, Alex!" is my general M.O. So, like songwriting, itself (something else I can't do), because I don't/can't/don't care to decipher lyrics, I admire and envy those who can and do....and wanna! "Gee, I wonder what Dylan meant there?" I happily leave that to others!
As I once told Matt Springer, my Elvis canon history is spotty, at best! Certainly on him from minute one, and '77's "My Aim is True" (fave album? His next...."This Year's Model"). Ooh, just thought of this, so before it leaves me: If Andy of "The Vinyl Room" (https://vinylroom.substack.com/) is listening, we used to call "Watching the Detectives" "Washing the Defectives" at my Houston record store!
So, I lost track of Elvis's output around the time of "Imperial Bedroom" (coincidentally enough) less a commentary on content, but just where I was in my life....leaving the record biz, and transitioning to a return to college for a career change. I only caught back up with him after I discovered his '98 Bacharach collab on "Toledo," about which I've written: https://bradkyle.substack.com/p/wholly-toledo-my-long-drive-to-find, and my wanting to learn the song for karaoke!
Anyway, 'nother great job, Steve! Thanks again for letting me bloviate!
Blowviate away, Brad! Certainly EC’s output post-Imperial Bedroom is inconsistent, but it still offers more highlights than a dozen seasons of Astros baseball!;)
Ouch! You went there⚾! As someone with two replica World Series Championship rings, though, I have to say, "It depends on which dozen seasons"!😉
There is something in the many IB songs - exemplified by Town Cryer and You Little Fool (which proceeds it) that sets them apart from everything in EC’s vast catalog as well as everyone else’s. They haven’t aged a day - Man Out Of Time indeed.
To many of us who got in early, Imperial Bedroom marks the end of Costello’s near-perfect first phase. It’s his Blonde on Blonde - in that it plays at a whole new level to which he’d been building, and from there the only option was to start again somewhere new.
There were other milestones, but those first 5 years and this capper are something to behold. Thanks for putting the spotlight on it.
I heard an interview with Aimee Mann where she said Imperial Bedroom was her favorite album, and it was an inspiration for Bachelor No.2.
Yeah- hard to top that streak of early career brilliance. For me, XTC matches up, almost -- Go 2 being the weakest link in a string of excellence all the way through Apple Venus Vol. 1. That’s 9 albums in a row!
Nice commentary, The FM Club....Your accurately-described "near-perfect first phase" ended up being, really, my only personally-experienced chunk of EC catalog I entertained (see my note to Steve elsewhere, here). Not unlike, say, Springsteen or Dylan (not coincidentally all on Columbia Records....CBS loves publishing!!!), Elvis has been monumentally prolific in his songwriting and, of course, recording!
Plus, his forays into vastly far-reaching genres is a wonder to behold, as well....classical, country, Great American Songbook pop....beyond the occasional dropped jaw of appreciation here and there, has he really ever been appropriately heralded for that reach? Anyway, fun stuff! All hail, the king of America!
One of favourites Costello records. I remember his talk show that ran due a short time. He had Mary Louise Parker on, and is there anyone more crush worthy? It happens that Imperial Bedroom is her favourite. Such great songs. The intricate lyrics, the memorable melodies, all of them ear worms. I will have to listen to it today!