I’d like to take a short break from the astoundingly exciting music news stories of the day to wish a very happy 57th birthday to one of my favorite musicians and songwriters of all time, Mr. Elvis Costello. The son of a jazz bandleader, Costello was born Declan McManus in 1954; raised with a healthy musical education at home, he moved to London after finishing school, forming the pub rock group Flip City while working a number of odd jobs (including short stints as a computer programmer and data entry clerk). Costello’s early demos landed him a contract with indie label Stiff Records in 1977. With a little help from American band Clover, Elvis released his debut album My Aim Is True to great acclaim later that year.
Record Rewind: Imperial Bedroom by Elvis Costello & The Attractions
With backing group The Attractions, Costello released a series of classic albums during the late ‘70s and early ‘80s, including This Year’s Model (1978), Armed Forces (1979), Get Happy!! (1980), Trust (1981), and Imperial Bedroom (1982). One of the most versatile performers in modern pop history, Costello has expertly dabbled in classical music, opera, folk and country music, jazz, blues, punk, rock, and seemingly everything else, collaborating with the likes of Burt Bacharach, Paul McCartney, Allen Toussaint, The Brodsky Quartet, No Doubt, and his wife Diana Krall. His most recent album, the T-Bone Burnett-produced National Ransom, was released late last year.
Take a look at a few essential Elvis Costello classics from the past 35 years. (We can't be friends anymore if you don't know at least a few of these...)
“(What’s So Funny ‘Bout) Peace, Love And Understanding”
Happy B-Day, Elvis! Cheers!
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