New Album Capsule Reviews - Early 2022 (Elvis Costello, Jethro Tull, Big Big Train, Jonas Lindberg)

New Album Capsule Reviews

OK, here’s a new feature for the site – capsule album reviews, where I will provide brief reviews of some recently released albums of interest. This is something I’ll try to do every few months or so as needed to cover relevant albums. So, first up are some notable albums from the first couple months of 2022. As always, these are just my own opinions, and since these are relatively new albums, are mostly based on relatively few listens (but at least 3 times per album).

Elvis Costello & The Imposters – The Boy Named If (2022)

Elvis is back with another new album, something like his 32^nd, and although I am an Elvis fan from his earliest days on, I have to admit that I haven’t really paid much attention to his last several albums. Sure, I listened to them when they first came out, but overall, his more recent output just hasn’t resonated enough to stick with me or go back for repeated listens. But that is not the case with this latest album, which is a real keeper. In fact, this is probably his best album in about the last 20 years. First off, it sounds great, and benefits greatly from a very dynamic Imposters band and wonderful arrangements (Pete Thomas’ drums are prominent here, backed by Davey Faragher’s bass, and Steve Nieve’s eclectic keyboards, and Elvis’ otherworldly guitar sounds) showing an energy, vitality, and presence not matched in decades. Elvis has generated a diverse collection of great songs here, from driving rockers to stirring ballads to quirky eccentricities. Elvis has pulled out the Wayback machine for this one, producing songs with the style and arrangements reminiscent of albums from the ‘70’s and ‘80’s, and throughout his illustrious career, such as Armed Forces, Trust, Imperial Bedroom, Spike, and Brutal Youth. Elvis’s voice even sounds younger and more fluid here than on other recent albums. If you have ever been an Elvis fan at all, you must check out this album, as it is great, and could possibly rank among his top ten very best (but needs more time to resonate).  

Best tracks: ‘Farewell OK’, ‘What if I Can’t Give You Anything But Love’, ‘Paint the Red Rose Blue’, ‘My Most Beautiful Mistake’, ‘The Man You Love to Hate’, ‘Mr. Crescent’. Weakest track: ‘Mistook Me for a Friend’.  Rating: 4 stars (for now, but could move up to 4.5 with repeated listens, it’s that good).

Jethro Tull – The Zealot Gene (2022)

Ian Anderson is back with a new incarnation of Jethro Tull, and the first new Tull album in nearly 20 years. And Ian harkens back to sounds and styles reminiscent of some of their earlier albums. Overall, it’s great to hear Ian’s flute as a major component as well as some of Tull’s characteristic styles and strong songwriting throughout.  Although it is clear that Ian’s voice is not what it used to be, his talk-singing style works well enough here. Where the album falls flat, unfortunately, is with the backing band, which is just completely generic and lackluster. The album does seem to really be an Ian Anderson solo album, as the backing band contribute virtually nothing here (and the backing arrangements are also frustratingly repetitive), and weaken what could have been several very strong tracks. It just doesn’t sound like a band at all, just Ian with some generic backing musicians. Certainly not like Jethro Tull of the glory days, where stellar guitar work from Martin Barre, bassist Jeffrey Hammond, John Evans keyboards, and the dynamic drumming of Barriemore Barlow provided scintillating contributions to the Tull sound. I can understand why they wanted to call this a Jethro Tull album, due to the stylistic aspects being very much in line with what we know as Jethro Tull, but realistically, this is still an Ian Anderson solo album. Here, the musicians other than Anderson just don’t provide any spark at all. For this reason, the more acoustic tracks work the best here, highlighting Ian’s acoustic guitar, flute, harmonica, mandolin, vocals, and lyrics. Still, there are some very good tracks here, and the album is definitely worth checking out, just be aware that it is not classic Tull. 

Best Tracks: ‘Mrs. Tibbets’, ‘Sad City Sisters’, ‘Where Did Saturday Go?’, ‘Three Love Three’. Weakest tracks: ‘Mine is the Mountain’, ‘The Zealot Gene’. Rating: 3 stars.

Big Big Train – Welcome to the Planet (2022)

Big Big Train’s follow-up to their stellar 2021 album, Common Ground, is Welcome to the Planet, which continues their run of wonderful albums, with another collection of great songs. Although it can’t quite match the heights of the previous album (which was my pick for best album of 2021), it is still a great album. The band continues growing and developing during a period of transition and changeover in personnel, exploring and moving in some new directions, and getting contributions from various band members. Both of the songs written by drummer Nick D’Virgiolio (‘Connection Plan’ and the dynamic instrumental ‘Bats in the Belfry’) are excellent and quite different from previous Big Big Train songs (including an extended drum solo). The first half of the album shines the brightest, with ‘Connection Plan’, the grand and sumptuous ‘Lanterna’, the sparse and beautiful ballad ‘Capitoline Venus’ (featuring perhaps the best vocal performance from David Longdon), and the atmospheric instrumental ‘A Room with No Ceiling’. The conclusion of the album is weakened a bit by the final two songs, as ‘Oak and Stone’ languishes some with an odd unsettled melody, and the final title track may be the strangest in the band’s history, starting with disturbing lyrics and then perhaps the least inviting ‘Welcome’ ever with beautiful harmonies but a dark and twisted melody. Then, towards the end of the song it transitions into a New Orleans-style Dixieland jam before ending with the opening disturbing mood and lyrics. Certainly an intriguing track from newcomer pianist Carly Bryant, but ends the album with more of a WTF? than the grandness of previous releases. Despite that questionable ending, still a great album overall. However, it is also bittersweet hearing the wonderful vocals of David Longdon on this album. Great that we get these new songs from him, after his tragic death late last year, but sad that we will not hear his voice or his other contributions on future albums.

Best Tracks: ‘Connection Plan’, ‘Lanterna’, ‘Capitoline Venus’, ‘A Room with No Ceiling’,’ Bats in the Belfry’. Weakest track: ‘Oak and Stone’. Rating: 4 stars.

Jonas Lindberg and the Other Side – Miles From Nowhere (2022)

Jonas Lindberg & The Other Side are a Swedish progressive rock band, and Miles From Nowhere is their 2^nd full-length album. I was not aware of this band until a couple months ago when a couple of pre-album singles were released promoting the band and new album, and they sounded really good. When I first heard the full album, I thought, yes, this is very good. They have a delightful mix of catchy pop melodies and vocal harmonies interspersed with extended progressive passages and intriguing instrumental sections. Jonas plays many of the instruments himself, from bass, guitar, keyboards, and vocals, but with able assistance from the rest of the band, especially the impeccable lead and backing vocals shared by Jonas Sundqvist and Jenny Storm. The expansive album provides over 75 minutes of music, with several extended length tracks, capped off with the epic multi-part album-closing title track (over 25 min. long). Upon repeated listenings of the album, I loved it more and more, and upgraded my ranking from very good to great! The band’s influences are clear and present throughout, emulating the style and structure of music provided by Neal Morse and his various bands (Spock’s Beard, Transatlantic, Neal Morse Band) and The Flower Kings, among others, and the only criticism I might have is that it may stay a bit too close to those influences, but with music this good it’s hard to complain, and it is done with such great style, finesse, and originality that the music itself it transcends those comparisons (Neal himself would be proud to have created such a great album). So, if you are at all a fan of the kind of music played by Neal Morse and his various projects, or just strong melodic progressive rock, you should really like this album. And this is certainly an up and coming band to keep an eye out for what they do next.

Best Tracks: 'Miles From Nowhere', 'Summer Queen', 'Astral Journey', 'Why I’m Here'. Weak tracks: None. Rating: 4 stars (upgraded from 3.5 after repeated listenings).   

So, overall, a great set of albums to start the year. Although it is early, most of these (Elvis Costello, Big Big Train, and Jonas Lindberg) will undoubtedly at least be in consideration for end of year honors and best of lists. And there are more big name releases that have already come out this month (such as the new albums from The Flower Kings and Marillion) that I need more time to get to know, as well as others known and unknown that are on the way that I will include in the next roundup soon. Until then, stay tuned for more music and commentary right here. So, what did you think about these albums, or perhaps some other recent albums of interest you may be listening to these days?

BB’s Rating scale:

1 star – Terrible, torturous to have to listen to

1.5 stars - Poor, not worth your time

2 stars – Fair, maybe a couple half-way decent songs, but sub-par overall

2.5 stars – Average, OK, meh, not bad but not that good either

3 stars – Good, solid album, several good songs, but not spectacular. Certainly worthy, but may not be something you come back to very often

3.5 stars – Very good album. Some stellar tracks, very enjoyable overall

4 stars – Great album, filled with great songs, one that you will want to come back to over and over again

4.5 stars – Excellent album, beyond great, superb in every way, just short of a masterpiece 

5 stars – A Masterpiece, among the greatest albums of its type, and has stood the test of time

 

Flip City (pre-Elvis Costello band) - Demos 1974-1975

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

Flip City - 1975-11-30 - The Red Cow, London, UK

Flip City
(Featuring Declan P. MacManus)
November 30, 1975
The Red Cow, London, UK 

Audience recording, fair quality
mp3 @ 192 kbps

To wrap up this look at '70's Pub rock bands, here's a band that played the London pub-rock circuit around 1974-75, but was not very well-known even within that scene and never quite made it. Formed in 1974 by Mich Kent, Malcolm Dennis, and Declan MacManus after meeting at Brinsley Schwarz shows and discovering their mutual admiration for all things Brinsley, they formed their own band to play similar styled music, but only achieved modest success in obtaining pub circuit gigs, and very little success in making any money at it, and thus disbanded by the end of 1975. However, they featured a young singer/songwriter/guitarist, Declan MacManus, who would soon go solo, change his name, sign a record deal, and make quite a splash as an emerging 'new wave' artist, and then continue to grow, develop, and mature into one of the great icons of rock over the next 40 years. That, of course was none other than Elvis Costello. This early band gave Declan (aka Elvis) a chance to try out some of his own compositions amidst the more standard pub rock fare, as well as begin to develop his own distinctive style. But by the end of 1975, Declan had recently gotten married, and soon had both a wife and baby to take care of, and the band was just not cutting it, so Declan had to pull the plug and try something else. He continued to do occasional solo shows (sometimes under the name D.P. Costello), but had to take a 'regular' job as a computer operator to pay the bills while he shopped his demo tape around. Of course, eventually (by late 1976), his tape made it to Stiff records where it was heard by Nick Lowe (of Brinsley Schwarz fame, now a producer at Stiff), and the rest, as they say, is history, as Nick produced the first several of Elvis' albums, and Elvis became a legend (sort of, eventually). The show we have here is one of the very last performances by Flip City before they called it quits (by most accounts this was the next to last performance, with the last performance coming the following week at Ewell Tech supporting the Climax Blues Band). This was the last show of a series of gigs at The Red Cow. By this time, they had become pretty accomplished as a band, and play a very fine set here. Declan already had early versions of several songs that would go on to be very successful in his solo career ('Miracle Man', 'Pay It Back', 'Radio Soul'- which would become 'Radio Radio', 'Imagination', etc.). Interestingly, in his recent live shows (most notably his 2013 solo acoustic shows), Elvis has gone back to performing this original 'Radio Soul' version rather than the more familiar 'Radio Radio'. Although this audience recording is certainly not very high quality, it really is not that bad either, very listenable, and certainly worth hearing.

Tracklist:
01. Don't Lie To Me
02. Sweet Revival
03. You Win Again
04. Before I Grow Too Old
05. Bring It On Home To Me
06. Another Saturday Night
07. It Takes a Lot to Laugh, It Takes a Train To Cry
08. Radio Soul
09. I Love The Life I Live
10. Third Rate Romance
11. Gone Dead Train
12. Pay It Back
13. One More Heartache
14. Imagination is a Powerful Deceiver
15. On The Road
16. Flatfoot Hotel
17. Miracle Man

Flip City was:
Declan P. MacManus - guitar/vocals,
Mich Kent - bass
Ian Powling - drums
Steve Hazelhurst - guitar
Dickie Faulkner - percussion
Guest: Malcolm Dennis - drums on Gone Dead Train (was original drummer for group)

Flip City_1975-11-30_Red Cow.rar
Link updated 06/8/23

Elvis Costello (solo) - 2013-11-27 - Morristown, NJ

Elvis Costello (solo)
November 27, 2013
Mayo Performing Arts Center
Morristown, NJ
Final night of 2013 Solo Tour
Master audience recording (larryrulz), very good quality
Available in both Lossless (FLAC) and mp3 (320 kbps) versions

Elvis Costello's recently completed 2013 Solo Tour was a spectacular event for all those fortunate enough to experience it. This limited run series of solo shows consisted of only 19 shows up and down the East Coast of the US during the month of November, but each and every show was totally unique and amazing, as Elvis thrilled all his true fans with the musical depth and breadth of his repertoire that he managed to cover during these shows. This was no 'greatest hits' exercise, as Elvis outdid himself with the range of music and songs he played (and played so very well) night after night. Each show had an almost totally different setlist from any other, with Elvis only repeating from show to show about a half dozen of the 28-30 songs played per night ('Alison', 'Tripwire', 'Peace Love and Understanding', 'Walkin' My Baby Back Home', 'A Slow Drag With Josephine', and 'Jimmie Standing in the Rain' were the only songs played at nearly all the shows). Instead, each show contained a heady assortment of songs selected from all throughout his career, from his earliest days before being discovered to his latest compositions, including many obscure or otherwise not well-known songs, but all that have some importance or meaning to him (as he often explained during the show).  Each show seemed to contain several songs that were not played at any other show of the tour, as well as many that were only played at a few other shows, giving fans a chance to experience songs that they never thought they would see Elvis perform live. Over the course of these 19 solo shows, Elvis performed an astonishing total of nearly 200 different songs (and that doesn't even count the many little snippets of other songs he often incudes within songs). How can he keep them all straight (and all those lyrics) in his head? Listed below is a link to the Elvis Wiki site that includes the complete show by show setlist and song matrix of the tour to check out this amazing tour. 

As mentioned previously, I was able to attend one of the shows (11/19, Orono, ME), at the University of Maine Campus, and what a treat it was. Although I have seen Elvis multiple times before, this was the first solo show I saw, and getting the chance to see him play up close and personally, in a smaller venue like this, with this diverse, eclectic setlist, not to mention him playing here so close to my home, was just a sensational, precious, priceless experience. And at the show I saw, he did play some of the songs that I most wanted to hear him do (such as 'Poison Moon', 'Beyond Belief', and 'Man Out of Time'), and many other favorites (multiple songs from My Aim is True and Imperial Bedroom among others), as well as several songs of his I had never heard before. As another fan described the tour, "spectacular, full of seemingly once-in-a-lifetime things every single evening".  Audience recordings for some (but not very many) of the shows have begun to emerge. Here, I have a very good recording (from larryrulz), available from the Elvis Wiki site, for the very last show of the tour, and Elvis pulls out all the stops here, doing an even longer set than any other show (even he did not want the tour to end), for a sensational closing show. Here it is. 

Setlist:
01 This Year's Girl
02 Cinco Minutos Con Vos
03 High Fidelity
04 The Judgement
05 Harry Worth
06 Sugar Won't Work
07 Imagination (Is A Powerful Deceiver)
08 Come The Meantimes
09 Worthless Thing
10 King Of Confidence
11 Poor Napoleon
12 Indoor Fireworks
13 Veronica
14 Walkin' My Baby Back Home
15 Ascension Day
16 Wave A White Flag
17 White Knuckles
18 Watching The Detectives
19 My New Haunt
20 applause
Encore
21 If I Could Believe
22 Oliver's Army
23 Alison
24 It Tears Me Up
25 A Slow Drag With Josephine
26 Harpies Bizarre
27 Radio Soul
28 The Name Of This Thing Is Not Love
29 Riot Act
30 (What's So Funny 'Bout) Peace, Love And Understanding?
31 Tripwire / (What's So Funny 'Bout) Peace, Love And Understanding?
32 The Puppet Has Cut His Strings
33 Almost Blue
34 Couldn't Call It Unexpected No. 4
35 Man Out Of Time
36 All These Strangers

 
mp3 - Elvis Costello_2013-11-27_Morristown_mp3
New Link (Updated 12/9/21)

FLAC - Elvis Costello_2013-11-27_Morristown_FLAC.part1
           Elvis Costello_2013-11-27_Morristown_FLAC.part2

The entire show was also captured on video and can be watched on YouTube here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oOWI0-NcpDw&list=PLx7OzIA-nsBtsEnRLNix7hyEk1SR3mmpg

The Elvis Costello Wiki site has a great song/show matrix with all the details regarding the 2013 Solo Tour:
http://www.elviscostello.info/wiki/index.php/2013_US_Solo_Tour

Elvis Costello & Burt Bacharach - 1998-10-29 - London

Elvis Costello & Burt Bacharach
1998-10-29
Royal Festival Hall, London, UK
FM Broadcast recording, very good quality
mp3 @ 320 kbps

After the 1996 tour, and the break-up with The Attractions, in early 1997 Elvis worked with songwriting legend Burt Bacharach on a song for a film soundtrack ('God Give Me Strength' for the Film Grace of My Heart). The collaboration was so enjoyable and successful that they agreed to continue working together to produce an entire album of music, which became Painted By Memory, released in 1998. (Elvis's only album release in 1997 was a greatest hits package,  Extreme Honey, which completed his record deal with Warner Brothers). In early 1998, Elvis played several dates with Steve Nieve again, and then did many TV and radio promotional appearances with Bacharach, as well as a limited number of concert shows throughout the year, with Bacharch, Nieve, and in many cases a full orchestra accompaniment. The album received much critical acclaim, features Elvis in full crooner mode, and fits in well with both Bacharach's and Costello's body of work. Here is a sampling from the live shows, this taken from a full-length concert at Royal Festival Hall in London, portions of which (12 songs) were broadcast by the BBC. This version alson contains a few additional songs that were included in the German (WDR) broadcast of the show. So, here you get an expanded edition (although still short of the full concert, which included about 26 songs). But check out Elvis here crooning his Bacharach collaborations with Nieve and full Orchestra.
Elvis closed out the millennium primarily by continuing his duo tours with Steve Nieve (Elvis and Steve alone) throughout 1999, with an extensive world tour.

Tracklist:
From BBC Broadcast
01. Toledo
02. Tears At The Birthday Party
03. Make It Easy On Yourself
04. Painted From Memory
05. What's Her Name Today?
06. Accidents Will Happen / Twenty Four Hours From Tulsa
07. Just A Memory
08. Alison
09. In The Darkest Place
10. The Sweetest Punch
11. My Little Red Book
12. Anyone Who Had A Heart
Additional tracks from WDR (German) Broadcast
13. Such Unlikely Covers
14. I Still Have the Other Girl
15. God Give Me Strength

Elvis & Burt_1998-10-29_London.rar
Link updated 10/12/21

This wraps up my brief look at 'Elvis in the Nineties', but next I will jump forward to feature an Elvis show from his utterly fantastic and just-completed 2013 East Coast Solo Tour, which I had the great fortune to be able to attend.

Elvis Costello & The Attractions - 1996-09-12/13 - Tokyo

Elvis Costello & The Attractions
1996-09-12
Kosei Nenkin Hall, Tokyo, Japan
Audience recording, good quality
Download NOT AVAILABLE
(Sorry)
Post retained for informational purposes only

Continuing with Elvis in 1996, as indicated previously, after Elvis did several dates backed only by Steve Nieve in the Spring, he was joined by the Full Attractions for a major tour (in support of All This Useless Beauty) of europe and the US, and then ending in Japan, which was the last time Elvis would play with the Attractions ever again. Of course, Elvis did continue to work with SOME of the Attractions again, as he continued solo dates and tours with Steve Nieve through 1998 and 1999, and eventually Nieve and drummer Pete Thomas were joined by new bassist Davey Faragher to form Elvis's new backing band for 2001 and beyond, now dubbed The Imposters. But this was the end of any interaction with The Attractions as a band, and bassist Bruce Thomas, in particular. So, presented here are a couple of the last shows ever with the attractions. I have here the full show from 9/12 and (unfortunately) just a part of the show from 9/13 (mainly the songs that were different from the 9/12 show, sorry, but I don't have the full show). There was only one more show after this (9/15/96), but I do not have that show (although there apparently is an audience recording around somewhere). Anyway, this is an audience recording, with pretty good, but not great sound. As you can see, most of the setlist was different between the 2 dates, as was typical for Elvis and his shows, resulting in about 45 different songs for the 2 shows. So, here was nearly the last of The Attractions time with Elvis. 

Tracklist:
01. Man Out Of Time
02. Shabby Doll
03. Get Yourself Another Fool / Why Can't A Man Stand Alone?
04. Mystery Dance
05. Alison - (including Living A Little, Laughing A Little, No More Tearstained Make-Up and Clowntime Is Over)
06. Deep Dark Truthful Mirror
07. I'll Wear It Proudly - Costello & Nieve
08. The Long Honeymoon - Costello & Nieve
09. Veronica - Costello & Nieve
10. I Just Don't Know What To Do With Myself - Costello & Nieve
11. The Other End Of The Telescope
12. 13 Steps Lead Down
13. Watching The Detectives
14. I'm Not Angry
15. Pump It Up - (including Leave My Kitten Alone and 96 Tears)
16. Beyond Belief
17. You Belong To Me
18. Lipstick Vogue
19. Less Than Zero
20. Oliver's Army
21. (What's So Funny 'Bout) Peace, Love And Understanding?
Encore 1
22. All This Useless Beauty
23. Little Atoms
Encore 2
24. Distorted Angel
25. (I Don't Want To Go To) Chelsea
26. Accidents Will Happen
Encore 3
27. I Want To Vanish - Costello & Nieve

Download no longer available (copyright infringement claim made)

Elvis Costello and The Attractions
1996-09-13
Kosei Nenkin Hall, Tokyo, Japan
 (Partial show only)

Setlist:
01. Temptation - Elvis & Steve
02. Opportunity
03. Possession
04. Clown Strike
05. All These Things
06. Why Can't A Man Stand Alone?
07. You Bowed Down
08. (The Angels Wanna Wear My) Red Shoes
09. Hand In Hand
10. Kid About It - Elvis & Steve
11. Passionate Fight - Elvis & Steve
12. Almost Blue - Elvis & Steve
13. God Give Me Strength - Elvis & Steve
14. Veronica - Elvis & Steve
15. Distorted Angel
16. (I Don't Want To Go To) Chelsea/Backstabbers
17. 13 Steps Lead Down
18. Green Shirt
19. Watching The Detectives
20. I'm Not Angry
21. Pump It Up 
22. Just About Glad
23. Riot Act
Encore 1
24. Alison
25. Rocking Horse Road
26. Little Atoms
27. All This Useless Beauty
28. Daddy Can I Turn This?

Download no longer available (copyright infringement claim made)

Elvis Costello and Steve Nieve - 1996-05-22 - New York, NY

Elvis Costello and Steve Nieve
1996-05-22 early show
Supper Club, New York NY
'Between Wisdom And Murder'
FM Broadcast recording (WNEW-FM), very good quaity
Available in both lossless (FLAC) and mp3 (320 kbps) versions

Continuing with Elvis in the nineties: After the triumphant Brutal Youth Tour (1994), 1995 was a relatively quiet year. Elvis did some shows with the Brodsky Quartet early in the year, as well as opening (solo) sets for Bob Dylan at some UK dates. And then with no new album to release, Elvis decided to finally release his covers collection, Kojak Variety (which was recorded in 1991) in May 1995. Elvis did some limited promotional TV, radio, and concert
appearances throughout the year with the Attractions, but released with minimal promotion (as well as that it was all covers, no original songs), the album sold poorly. By late 1995, Elvis had begun incorporating more new songs into the sets, and was ready to go back to the recording studio. The next album
was originally envisioned to feature songs that Elvis had written for other artists to record (or collaborate with), would feature various lineups of musicians, was to be called A Case for Song, and would possibly even be a double album, as Elvis had around 40 songs he was considering for inclusion. However, as the
sessions developed, it was decided to cut it down to a single album, and do most of the songs with the Attractions. Eventually, the released album was called All This Useless Beauty, released in May 1996, and turned out to include primarily ballads and slow songs. At this time Elvis began doing a series of shows only backed by Attractions keyboard wizard Steve Nieve. These shows had the feel of Elvis's more personal solo shows, but with the added depth of the accompanying keyboards from virtuoso Nieve. Later in the year, the full Attractions band would play with Elvis for tours through Europe, the US, and several dates in Japan, for what would be the last time ever. And even at the full Attractions shows, there were many songs that were done with just Elvis and Steve. The primary conflicts were between Elvis and bassist Bruce Thomas, which seemed to escalate through the tour, and ended in Japan (last show, 9-15-96) with Elvis announcing the dissolution of the group (I will try to post one of these last shows w/ the Attractions, if I can find my files of them). But right now, here is one of the duo shows with Elvis and Steve Nieve, a very good FM recording from one of the New York shows in May 1996. 
 
Tracklist:
Disc 1 [63:05]
01. Just About Glad (3:22) - EC solo
02. Starting To Come To Me (3:56) - EC solo
03. (The Angels Wanna Wear My) Red Shoes (2:42) - EC solo
04. Little Atoms (5:43) - EC solo
05. Temptation (new arr.) (4:42)
06. You Bowed Down (5:59)
07. Why Can't A Man Stand Alone? (3:55)
08. The Long Honeymoon (4:28)
09. Poor Fractured Atlas (5:07)
10. Just A Memory (4:18)
11. God Give Me Strength (5:32)
12. God's Comic (11:09)
13. Complicated Shadows (3:11)

Disc 2 [55:40]
14. The Other End (Of The Telescope) (5:18)
15. Oliver's Army / Kid / Unchained Melody / If You Could Read My Mind (4:16)
16. Black Sails In The Sunset (3:07)
17. All This Useless Beauty (4:50)
18. It's Time (5:19)
19. Passionate Fight (5:30)
20. My Funny Valentine (2:38)
21. Distorted Angel (5:54)
22. You'll Never Be A Man (3:17)
23. Alison / Living A Little, Laughing A Little / Tracks Of My Tears / Tears Of A Clown / No More Tearstained Make-Up / Clowntime Is Over (6:22)
24. Shallow Grave (2:02)
25. Watching The Detectives (5:35)
26. I Want To Vanish (3:41)

mp3 - Elvis & Steve_1996-05-22_NY_BWAM_mp3.rar

FLAC - Elvis & Steve_1996-05-22_NY_BWAM_FLAC.part1.rar
    Elvis & Steve_1996-05-22_NY_BWAM_FLAC.part2.rar

Elvis Costello & The Attractions
1994-06-19
Chastain Park, Atlanta, GA
Audience recording, very good quality
Available in both lossless (FLAC) and mp3 (320 kbps) versions

After the Mighty Like a Rose Tour, in late 1991, Elvis acted upon his increasing interest in classical music, meeting with one of his favorite classical groups, The Brodsky Quartet. Upon learming that they were also fans of his, they began plans to collaborate on a new musical project, which became The Juliet Letters, a song cycle about love, life, death, and correspondance, featuring vocals by Elvis accompanied by The Brodsky Quartet, and the songs and music written by Elvis and various collaborations with the 'The Brodskies', which was released in early 1993. Although the album was critically-acclaimed and well-received by the record-buying public, in general Elvis's more rock-oriented fans had little interest or use for this musical diversion. In 1993, Elvis toured exclusively with the Brodsky Quartet, but there are very few recordings available from these shows (as there seemed to be little interest from tapers as well). However, Elvis returned to rock, and even reunited with The Attractions (for the first time in 7 years), for his next album, which marked the triumphant return of Elvis Costello & The Attractions, and featured their best album in quite some time, with Brutal Youth (1994). The strong new album and subsequent tour seemed to be a re-birth for Elvis and the band, but underneath the surface there were still the same hostilities and discontent among the band, so the successful reunion was destined to be short-lived. The Brutal Youth tour, however, was a great one, and to the audiences there were no indications of problems, just great shows and music. There are many excellent recordings available from this tour, including several soundboards, but I am posting here a great lesser-known show, from Atlanta, primarily because it was the day after the show I was at (don't have a recording from my show, and this one has very good sound and a similar setlist). So, here, enjoy Elvis, back with the Attractions in 1994 for a great, but limited run.

Tracklist
01. No Action
02. The Beat
03. Waiting For The End Of The World
04. Beyond Belief
05. Sulky Girl
06. London's Brilliant Parade
07. Deep Dark Truthful Mirror
08. Pony St.
09. Less Than Zero
10. Clown Strike
11. Kinder Murder
12. Clubland
13. Rocking Horse Road
14. Man Out Of Time
15. Watching The Detectives
16. You Belong To Me
17. 13 Steps Lead Down
18. Radio, Radio
Encore 1
19. Lipstick Vogue / (I Don't Want To Go To) Chelsea
20. Party Girl
Encore 2
21. Favourite Hour
22. My Science Fiction Twin
23. Alison (including Tracks Of My Tears, Tears Of A Clown, No More Tearstained Make-Up and Clowntime Is Over)
24. Accidents Will Happen
Encore 3
25. All The Rage
26. (What's So Funny 'Bout) Peace, Love And Understanding?
27. Pump It Up

mp3 - Elvis_Costello_1994-06-19_Atlanta_mp3.rar

FLAC - Elvis_Costello_1994-06-19_Atlanta_FLAC.rar

Elvis Costello & The Rude 5 - 1991-05-29 - Los Angeles, CA

Elvis Costello & The Rude 5
1991-05-29
Wiltern Theatre, Los Angeles, CA
Audience recording, good quality
Available in both Lossless (FLAC) and mp3 (320 kbps) versions

In honor of his current Northeast US Solo Tour (which I have the great fortune to attend this week), I will be featuring Elvis Costello for the rest of this month and next. But we'll start back with where I left off last time (after featuring his '80's tours), and feature some of his '90's tours. First up, the Mighty Like A Rose tour, 1991. After extensive touring in 1989, both solo and with the Rude 5, Elvis took most of 1990 off, but returned in late 1990 to record Mighty Like A Rose with varying assemblages of musicians and producers from song to song, as well as another whole album of cover tunes (Kojak Variety), which would not be released until 1995. After release of Mighty Like a Rose in May 1991, Elvis began a major world tour with 'The Rude 5' hitting the US, Europe, Japan, and Australia throughout most of the rest of the year. Although this was not one of my favorite Elvis albums or periods, like all of his tours, it featured some very interesting and unique versions of some of his songs, and is worth checking out. This show is from very early in the tour (4th show), which began in California, and although this recording is not all that great, it is not bad for an audience recording.

Tracklist
01. How To Be Dumb
02. You Bowed Down
03. Hidden Shame
04. Home Is Anywhere You Hang Your Head
05. Deep Dark Truthful Mirror
06. Georgie And Her Rival
07. Suit Of Lights
08. Must You Throw Dirt In My Face
09. The Other Side Of Summer
10. So Like Candy
11. Veronica
12. All Grown Up
13. Strange
14. Couldn't Call It Unexpected No. 4
15. Hidden Charms
16. Everybody's Crying Mercy
17. Hurry Down Doomsday (The Bugs Are Taking Over)
Encore 1
18. Sweet Pear
19. Bama Lama Bama Loo
20. Playboy To A Man
Encore 2
21. Alison
22. Pump It Up

The Rude 5 (although only 4 on this tour):
Marc Ribot - lead guitar
Jerry Scheff - bass
Larry Knechtel - keyboards
Pete Thomas - drums

mp3 - Elvis_Costello_1991-05-29_-_LA_mp3.rar

FLAC -  Elvis_Costello_1991-05-29_-_LA_FLAC.rar

Elvis Costello - 1989-09-15 - Berkeley, CA (w/ The Rude 5)

Elvis Costello & The Rude 5

(also with Nick Lowe)

September 15, 1989

Greek Theatre, Berkeley, California

Decent audience recording

Lossless (FLAC) Files

After Elvis's spring-summer 1989 solo tour (through US, UK, Europe, and Japan!), and with virtually no break, he went back to the US in August-September, and this time took with him a crack back-up band dubbed The Rude 5 (though on this tour there were actually 6), composed of various parts of previous groups he'd worked with, including Pete Thomas (of the Attractions), Jerry Scheff (of the Confederates), Larry Knechtel (formerly of Bread), Steven Soles, and multi-instrumentalist and oddball guitarist Marc Ribot and percussionist extraordnaire Michael Blair (from the Spike recording sessions). Ribot and Blair both had worked previously with Tom Waits, and were partially responsible for that funky, clanky, subterranean sound that Waits was becoming known for at that time, and that also shaped much of the Spike album. This was an eclectic ambitious group that brought with it all kinds of horns (tuba, trombone, cornet) and percussion (marimba, timpani, anvils), and funky new song arrangements. So, this was a really cool sound, especially following the mainly sparse solo shows. And the album Spike was a real mix of styles and moods, too, from the spooky Waits-like sounds of 'Let Him Dangle' to the the pop stylings of the McCartney-MacManus collaboration 'Veronica'. But somehow, it all worked, as did these cool 1989 shows with the Rude 5. Unfortunately, this recording from the end of the tour (next to last date), is not that great, and most of the band stuff is very muddy and way in the background (voclas are OK, but the instruments can't be heard clearly), so you can't really hear much of what is going on back there, which is a real shame, because it is definitely cool stuff. However, as this is the only available recording I know of from these 1989 Rude 5 shows, it will have to do, as it represents another unique look at the ever-changing world of Elvis's music and concerts. So, here it is, Elvis and the Rude 5.

OK, But before I get to the show, just wanted to also let you all know about a cool and relatively new blog, The Rare Stuff (http://therarestuff.blogspot.com/), which has featured some more nifty Elvis Costello stuff recently, including a compilation of The McCartney-MacManus Collaboration stuff, containing all the demos, songs, and some performances from that collaboration, which was from about this same time period (1988-89). Also offered there is a compilation of rarities and miscellaneous recordings not available on other albums, as well as some interviews and an expanded version of a Costello/Bacharch show (another of his succesful collaborations). In addition to the Elvis stuff, there's also some great and rare Graham Parker and other stuff. So, check it out, brought to you by new friend 'ThePopCulturist'.

But first, get this Elvis & Rude 5 show now.

Tracklist:

Disc One - 70:32

01. Intro

02. Accidents Will Happen

03. Brilliant Mistake

04. Clubland

05. Honey, Are You Straight or Are You Blind?

06. Let Him Dangle

07. Lovable

08. God's Comic

09. Radio Sweetheart / Jackie Wilson Said (Elvis solo)

10. Tramp the Dirt Down (Elvis solo)

11. (The Angels Wanna Wear My) Red Shoes (Elvis solo)

12. Girls Talk (Elvis & Steven Soles)

13. American Without Tears

14. ...This Town...

15. Miss Macbeth

Disc Two - 53:00

16. I Want You

17. Uncomplicated/Hidden Charms

18. Hidden Charms Reprise/Mystery Dance

19. Man Out of Time

20. (What's So Funny 'Bout) Peace, Love and Understanding? (w/ Nick Lowe)

21. Alison

22. Veronica

23. Deep Dark Truthful Mirror / band intro

24. Watching the Detectives - end cut

25. Pump It Up - beginning cut

The Rude Five -

- Jerry Scheff - string bass, electric bass, tuba

- Larry Knechtel - hammond organ, grand piano

- Steven Soles - accoustic guitar, mandolin, trombone, vocals

- Michael Blair - accordion, marimba, timpani, percussion, vocals

- Marc Ribot - electric guitar, coronet, e flat horn

- Pete Thomas - drums

Lossless (FLAC) files:
New Updated Link! (02/19/23)

Elvis Costello_1989-09-15_Berkeley,CA.rar

Note: song#18 is misidentified as 'Chewing Gum' in file listing. Correct song title is provided in setlist above

Info, artwork, etc:

http://www.elviscostello.info/wiki/index.php/Concert_1989-09-15_Berkeley

Ok, So there it is, my look at Elvis in the Eighties. Hope you liked it, and found some new and interseting music in there. Of course, Elvis didn't stop there, and continued to grow and develop his music, style, and craft. But, the '80's were where the explorations started, with a wide variety of new music, sounds, styles, and shows. and actually, this late '80's period probably marked the beginning of Elvis's next phase, which was characterized by various collaborations (McCartney, Brodsky Quartet, Bacharach, Toussaint, etc), as Elvis continued to grow and develop through the 90's and beyond.

Elvis Costello - 1989-04-24 - Mill Valley, CA (w/ Jerry Garcia, Bob Weir, among others)

Elvis Costello (w/ guests Jerry Garcia, Bob Weir,and others) 

Solo set, then jam session with special guests & friends
Village Music (21st Birthday Party)
The Sweetwater, Mill Valley CA
April 24, 1989
Soundboard recording
New! Now upgraded to Lossless (FLAC) and mp3 (320 kbps0 versions (previously was offered at 192 kbps mp3-only). New links available!

1988 marked the first year since 1977 that Elvis did not release a new album and/or tour extensively. Thus, no concerts available from 1988. His next album, Spike, was released in early 1989, and he started touring again in Spring 1989, continuing with predominantly solo shows, most often with Nick Lowe opening and joining Elvis for 2-3 songs. The shows were structured much like the 'Spinning Songbook' shows of 1987, with a solo set from Elvis, culminating with the duos with Lowe, then coming back out as his 'Napoleon Dynamite' alter-ego and doing an encore set of talk, requests, and various audience participation bits. The main difference obviously being the inclusion of several songs from Spike. The show presented here, however, was truly a one-of-a-kind event, in which, Elvis is joined onstage by none other than Jerry Garcia, Bob Weir, and other West Coast rockers for a wild and spontaneous jam session. During his Spring US tour, he was asked to perform for the Village Music (a legendary music store) 21st Birthday celebration at The Sweetwater in Mill Valley, CA. So, after his initial solo set (culminating with the Lowe duo on 'Peace, Love and Understanding'), he then did a few songs with his back-up band, a modified version of the Confederates). After that, however, other rock luminaries in attendance were called up to the stage. First Charles Brown and Kim Wilson sang a few songs, then Jerry Garcia joins Elvis onstage for some country tunes (with Elvis on vocals). Then Elvis asks if anyone else wants sing, and up comes Commander Cody and Sammy Hagar(?). Bob Weir eventually also joins the group for couple more, finally ending with Elvis back on vocals for 'Let The Good Times Roll' and 'Lovable'. Strange assemblage of artists, but alot of fun. It is not clear if Elvis stayed onstage and played throughout during the Brown and Wilson songs (probably not), but he was definitely jamming with Garcia and Weir, and Garcia does play through til the end of the set. Elvis and Jerry talked about the spontaneity of this show in a later interview with Musician magazine (March 1991 Issue), as excerpted here:
"Elvis: Certainly a candidate for the world's greatest record store is Village Music, in Mill Valley. Every year John Goddard has a party for his friends and customers, and he always has a really good bill of people. So last year on the twenty-first anniversary, I did a show with Nick Lowe, and he invited James Burton and Jerry Scheff, who'd played with me on the road. I did my little set, Nick did his set and then it was a free-for-all; Charles Brown did a piece, and people were getting summoned to the stage. I was standing in the corridor when I suddenly heard, "Jerry Garcia to the stage!" And, emboldened by several margaritas, I decided to join him.
Jerry: Not only that, but it was one of those situations where I had the choice of playing either Elvis' guitar, which is low and it's stiff, and the strings are quite wide as well, and all this confusing script, or of playing Burton's guitar, which is strung with spider webs. I mean it's the absolutely lightest you can string a guitar and still get a sound out of it. I'd take Burton's and play a note on it and it goes "spack." So I opted to play Elvis' guitar as the lesser of two evils. [*laughter*] And I vowed I would never go to another one of those shows without my own.
Elvis: It was a whole Three Stooges routine -- "Here, you take my guitar," "No, I'll take your guitar." I think I had Burton's old Telecaster for half a song, and James had my old Martin acoustic which wasn't cranked up so he couldn't solo--and Jerry's struggling with my guitar. But once everybody got settled we managed to struggle through a couple of Hank Williams songs. Like any sort of jam thing it inevitably came to degenerate towards lots of blues. But we managed a few songs with changes.
Jerry: A pretty high level of jam-sessionry really, considering what it was. Really fun. And Elvis' solo set was phenomenal, I thought. That's one of those things that I can't do at all, just playing the guitar and singing. You're so solid with that, you don't miss a band. I always feel like I'm missing a band."

So, hope you enjoy this odd and unique show. I'll wrap up this 'Elvis in the Eighties' series with one more show from 1989 later this week.

Setlist
01. Accidents Will Happen (Elvis solo)
02. Brilliant Mistake (Elvis solo)
03. Deep Dark Truthful Mirror (Elvis solo)
04. Mystery Dance (Elvis solo)
05. Poisoned Rose (Elvis, Jerry Scheff & Austin de Lone)
06. God's Comic (Elvis solo)
07. (The Angels Wanna Wear My) Red Shoes (Elvis solo)
08. New Lace Sleeves (Elvis solo)
09. Pads, Paws And Claws (Elvis solo)
10. Radio Sweetheart / Jackie Wilson Said (Elvis solo)
11. (What's So Funny 'Bout) Peace, Love And Understanding? (Elvis & Nick Lowe)
- James Burton, Jerry Scheff, Austin de Lone & Scott Matthews join Elvis
12. The Big Light (Elvis vocal)
13. Pouring Water On A Drowning Man (Elvis vocal)
14. The Only Daddy That'll Walk The Line (Elvis vocal)
15. Leave My Kitten Alone (Elvis vocal)
- Kim Wilson, Charles Brown join group
16. I Stepped In Quicksand (Charles Brown vocal)
17. Drifting Blues (Charles Brown vocal)
18. All My Life (Charles Brown vocal)
19. One's Too Many (And A Hundred Ain't Enough) (Kim Wilson & Nick Lowe vocals)
20. Real Gone Lover (Kim Wilson vocal)
- Jerry Garcia & Pete Sears join group
21. You Win Again (Elvis vocal)
22. Tonight The Bottle Let Me Down (Elvis vocal)
23. Why Don't You Love Me (Like You Used To Do)? (Elvis vocal)
- Commander Cody, Sammy Hagar, Mitch Woods, and Annie Sampson join group
24. Riot In Cell Block #9 (Commander Cody vocal)
25. Going Down (Sammy Hagar vocal)
- Bob Weir joins group
26. C.C. Rider (Bob Weir vocal)
27. Turn On Your Lovelight (Bob Weir vocal)
28. Let The Good Times Roll (Elvis vocal)
29. Lovable (Elvis vocal)

Musicians:
Elvis Costello
James Burton
Jerry Scheff
Austin de Lone
Scott Matthews
Nick Lowe
Jerry Garcia
Pete Sears
Mitch Woods
Annie Sampson
Bob Weir
and with
Charles Brown, Kim Wilson, Commander Cody, and Sammy Hagar doing vocals on select songs

New Links! Upgraded files (Updated 06/01/21)
FLAC - ECfriends_1989-04-24_Mill_Valley_CA_FLAC.rar

 
mp3 (320kbps): ECfriends_1989-04-24_Mill_Valley_CA_mp3.rar

 

Note: In these new upgraded versions, the songs are separated from the in between talking (as separate tracks). Thus, in the new versions there are many more tracks (and track numbering does not correspond with numbers indicated in the post, which only represents the songs), but the content is the same and the complete show is presented (just broken up into more separate tracks).