The Vinyl Countdown # 1931
Joe Jackson, Live 1980/86 (1988) I am not sure when or how I got in to Joe Jackson – but I’ve been a fan for a while. That said, I’ve owned this album for a long time and I only started listening to it...
View ArticleThe Vinyl Countdown # 1752
Elvis Costello And The Attractions, Ten Bloody Marys & Ten How’s Your Fathers (1980) The first Elvis Costello record I ever heard – still have it. Still play it a fair bit. Still marvel. Because,...
View ArticleThe Vinyl Countdown # 1579
Elvis Costello, This Year’s Model (1978) I’ve got the version with Watching The Detectives – and I still think that’s such a great example of how crucial the rhythm section was (kick-ass drummer and...
View ArticleThe Elvis Costello Interview
This interview first featured on Blog on the Tracks on Stuff here A chat with Elvis Costello could be about so many things. And there could be so many ways to start it. I decide to open with a...
View ArticleRed Jacket Mine: Someone Else’s Cake
Red Jacket Mine Someone Else’s Cake Fin Records Someone Else’s Cake is the third full-lengther from this Seattle power-pop quartet. It’s 2013-meets-1979 with obvious Elvis Costello, Nick Lowe, Squeeze,...
View ArticleElvis Costello: In Motion Pictures
Elvis Costello In Motion Pictures UMe People love putting the boot into Elvis these days, too much genre flitting/flirting, an unsteady hand, too pleased with himself as renaissance man. I still think...
View ArticleThe Vinyl Countdown # 1347
Elvis Costello, My Aim Is True (1977) Recently I wrote about albums I wish I could hear for the first time again – and this was one. You see I’ve recently bought a second-hand vinyl copy of this album;...
View ArticleBurt Bacharach: Anyone Who Had A Heart
Anyone Who Had A Heart: My Life And Music Burt Bacharach with Robert Greenfield HarperLuxe All those wonderful songs – and there are some great stories about them in here, about singers being...
View ArticleElvis Costello and The Roots: Wise Up Ghost
Elvis Costello & The Roots Wise Up Ghost Blue Note/Universal I’d urge you to put in the work with this album – spend a while soaking it up; there’s a lot to get. Probably all but the keenest of...
View ArticleWising Up: A chat with Elvis Costello about his new album with The Roots
Elvis Costello is on the phone from New York; instantly he remembers talking to me about three years ago. I trigger the memory with a line about the ill-fated Sweetwaters Festival and our discussion...
View ArticleThe Vinyl Countdown # 1255
Elvis Costello & The Roots, Wise Up Ghost (2013) I was sold on the idea of this straight away. Well, I hoped it would be good. It hasn’t let me down – one of the records of the year. Here’s my...
View ArticleDavid Woodcock: The Adventures of You and Me EP
David Woodcock The Adventures of You and Me EP Blow Up Records Southend-on-Sea songwriter David Woodcock comes off all Albarn-meets-Jarvis, a bit of Elvis Costello, a touch of Stiff Records here,...
View ArticleR.I.P. Allen Toussaint
Allen Toussaint has died. He was 77. His influence on the music we love and know and feel is incalculable – there’s every chance he put the wiggle in your stride. Maybe you didn’t even know it was him....
View ArticleThe Vinyl Countdown # 791
Elvis Costello & The Attractions, Blood & Chocolate (1986) Maybe it’s his last truly great album – I don’t know, but I do know that it is a phenomenal album; really – really – good. And a great...
View ArticleDarlene Love: Introducing Darlene Love
Darlene Love Introducing Darlene Love Columbia By now we all know the rather heart-breaking story of Darlene Love – as told through the prism of 20 Feet From Stardom; voice of a couple of huge hit...
View ArticleThe Vinyl Countdown # 728
Elvis Costello and The Attractions, Get Happy!! (1980) His fourth album in as many years, his third with the band, the very middle of a white-hot streak, I can’t come out and say this is Elvis...
View ArticleLoretta Lynn: Full Circle
Loretta Lynn Full Circle Sony Legacy Her first album in over a decade – since the decent-racket that was Van Lear Rose (about the best thing Jack White’s been involved with) – Full Circle has the now...
View ArticleThe Vinyl Countdown # 688
Elvis Costello, Spike (1989) I was pleased to have arrived at Elvis Costello without any baggage. I don’t even know how I found him – reading about him I guess. I couldn’t have spotted an Elvis...
View ArticleThe Vinyl Countdown # 683
The Imposter, Pills & Soap [Single] (1983) I love this song – always love the album it came from too. I don’t find a lot of fault with Elvis Costello. He’s a genius. One of the absolute best...
View ArticleFive Albums I’m Loving Right Now: Josh Hetherington
Josh Hetherington is a DJ (Josh On Decks), photographer, Super 8 filmmaker and musician. His current band, Show Me Where It Hurts will release their new EP this weekend, Friday, July 29 with a launch...
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