Flip City
(Elvis Costello's early pre-fame band)
Demos & Unreleased Recordings 1974-1975
Studio soundboard recordings, very good quality
mp3 @ 192 kbps
OK, I had to include this one last Pub Rock entry, to follow-up on the Flip City post from last week. As already explained, Flip City was Elvis' early pre-Costello band that played on the pub rock circuit. Although they never had any records officially released, they did make it into a recording studio on three separate occasions, which are documented here. So, here we have their only recorded output, which includes several MacManus originals (both early versions of songs that would later be recorded by Elvis and songs that would never be released in any form) and fascinating covers (such as 'Knockin On Heaven's Door', 'Third Rate Romance', 'You Win Again'). Thus, this is a unique treasure trove for all Elvis fans, with a compelling look at his early works and songwriting, all in very good audio quality (unlike the previous live recording with only so-so audio quality). Incidentally, this recording of 'Third Rate Romance' was planned to be released as Flip City's first single, but unfortunately, it never happened, and by the end of 1975, Flip City called it quits. Of course, thankfully, that also allowed Declan to later be re-discovered and re-born as Elvis Costello.
Tracklist: (All songs written by Declan P. MacManus, except where indicated)
BBC's Maida Vale Studios, 1974
1. Exile's Road
2. Baseball Heroes (later became, via about three re-writes, 'Miracle Man')
3. Radio Soul (later became 'Radio Radio')
Hope and Anchor Pub, Attic Studio, Islington, early 1975
4. Imagination (is a powerful deceiver) (early version of what would later become 'Alison')
5. Pay it Back
6. Radio Soul (version 2)
Hope and Anchor Pub, Attic Studio, Islington, 1975
7. Third Rate Romance (Russell Smith)
8. Knockin' on Heaven's' Door (Bob Dylan)
9. Packin' Up (Chris Kenner)
10. Please Mister, Don't Stop the Band
11. Exile's Road
12. Wreck on the Slide
13. On the Road (Steve Hazlehurst)
14. You Win Again (Hank Williams)
15. Sweet Revival
Flip City:
Declan P. MacManus - guitar, lead vocals
Mich Kent - bass, vocals
Steve Hazelhurst - guitar, vocals, keyboards, sax
Malcolm Dennis - drums (early session only)
Ian Powling - drums (last sessions)
Dickie Faulkner - percussion, vocals (last sessions)
Link updated 6/8/23
Elvis Costello_Flip City demos 1974-75.rar
7 comments:
Thank you for this after seeing the previous Flip city post I really wanted to hear it so did a www search and only found dead links and dead ends I was gone for a week came back and ka-blam here it was thanks again.
tonyb
Thanks for Flip City and the other Pub Rockers. In the event that you have anything new, would you consider revisiting Gene Clark, Chris Hillman, Firefall. I really enjoyed that trip and would like to take another :)
Many thanks for the two Flip City posts. I really enjoy leaning about the way artists got their start. I'm going to see Elvis solo Monday with a friend who's a huge fan. I'll make sure to pass him a copy of these demos. Nice to have this in such great sound quality. Thanks again - love your site!
THANKS ALOT FOR SHARING
Mich Kent the bass player lived in South Wimbledon, London, UK. at the same residence as I sharing a flat. I went to most of their gigs and went together often with Flip City to their mates in other groups such as Bees Make Honey, Brinsley Schwartz and Kilbourn and the High Roads.
The link doesn't work. :(
Paul,
Try again, is working now. Solidfiles has been having issues, sometimes it works, sometimes not. need to try over multiple days and times. Sorry.
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