Elvis Costello Fan Forum

Didn't realise there was an Archies quote in the new album. Which song? Is it from Sugar Sugar?

Where did you find that info? I can't find it on the Billboard website. Hope it's true, though! Good on him - I think it's because Sulphur To Sugarcane has a very immediate impact, and lots of humour, and that's what he's been flogging it with on telly. Difficult to gauge what Joe Public will think ...

Wow, Emotional - I love How Deep Is The Red - love the mood, the lyrics, whole mantra thing. Love the old-fashioned phrasing: Is this not a pretty tale? Is this not a riddle? A bow shoots arrows through the air - a bow drags notes from a fiddle...' Just love the way it builds, then quietens down aga...

Okay, after a good few listens - The Crooked Line and How Deep Is The Red are now officially, in my book at least, among the best things Elvis has ever done! Would happily put them in a best-of compilation. I don't think Elvis has ever done a more joyful love song than The Crooked Line.

Yes, I can imagine him doing that - think of the aching-with-lust singing on 'Home Is Anywhere You Hang Your Head' (one of my favourite Elvis songs).

Gave it another spin last night. Again, the Secret Songs ones stood out for me. She's No Good and Red Cotton are like a novel in themselves, quite amazing: this man is so talented. Makes me wish he's done the who Secret Songs thing as an album in itself. And the Crooked Line 'got' me the second time...

Got the album yesterday and listened to it once last night on headphones. Songs that stood out for me as most compelling were the ones from the Secret Songs opera! How Deep Is The Red really hit me, as did Red Cotton. Some breathtaking lyrics that made you think "yeah, he's still got it". ...

She's not a moron - she's entitled to her opinion! She's obviously a fan who cares about the great man, so good on 'er! It's meant to generate discussion, like all best-of/worst-of lists. I feel the same way about Imperial Bedroom - people only call it a masterpiece cos it's his first album with an ...

That's great! I haven't heard anything on British radio - but then, I hardly ever listen. I hope it's a smash in America - the T-Bone Burnett connection may give it that extra push. Fingers crossed.

Anyone know if there is any sort of buzz about this? Has anyone heard any airplay on significant radio stations, etc?

Don't worry, it's not out on CD anywhere yet - it's released next week. Meanwhile, you can hear tracks on the official Elvis website - just click the link at the top of the page that says 'Secret, Profane and Sugarcane'.

Good luck with it, Kit! I'd be there if I could, but I cannae!

Thanks John - a pretty low-key response. Any standout tracks? Any classic ballad to stand with his greats?

I think the Rhino ones sound fine! And surely the Hip-O ones aren't a worse quality?

By the way, Buzz posted this review in an earlier thread, but I'm placing it here in the 'spoiler' thread to kick things off! "Thanks Neil for your prompting but like good wine these things take time to listen and digest. So here's my offering of a review of the new album, don't forget I have ...

Hi all, I'm not one who minds 'spoilers' of a new album - I don't think music is the same as movies, where there's not the same concept of plot points being given away before you've seen the film. However, some people don't want to know anything before hearing an album themselves, which is fair enou...

Thanks for that review! Looking forward to it. You mentioned orchestrations for the Hans Christian Anderson songs - ah, that's interesting - thought it was all bluegrass kinda stuff. I don't really understand all this fuss about so-called 'old' songs - they're only old if you make bootlegs/download ...

Sounds great! So John, what was the attendance like in all the gigs? London was full - did the provinces turn out in force, generally? Were the venues full?

Erm - so you've heard all 13 tracks.... so what did you think of them?!!! We need more detail!

Another celeb spot - Rick Stein, TV seafood chef, was on the end of the first row near me and my mate. Good concert - best tracks for me were Rockinghorse Road, Romeo's Seance (always love that one), Either Side of Same Town, Sulfur to Sugarcane, Jackson's Monk & Rowe, the one about the war that...

See you in the bar at some point, Verbal - I owe you that beer, remember, for getting me that free Tower ticket!

Have to admit, though I like the new version, I'm a bit surprised it's the lead track from the album - the one they're going to publicise it with. It's not Elvis's most immediate kind of song... though not having heard the rest of the album, I can't judge what would be best. That said, Hidden Shame,...

Love the sound of that. T-Bone has produced Elvis's voice really well. I am soooo banking on this album to be the one that does it big-time for Elvis again after all these years. I know, I say that with every album....

Ooh, controversial, there, Oily. Just remembered Maureen and Stan in Ghost Train , and the comical priest from God's Comic - 'with a hand up your fleece'. The woman who shags Charlie Sedarka in This Town , too - 'they made love while she was changing her dress; she wiped him off, she wiped him out a...

Every so often he comes up with a song about someone really sleazy. Mr Feathers , on his last album, continues the tradition. "Mr Feathers is here..!" but what's he going to do to you now that he is? Also, the record biz promoter on Spooky Girlfriend , with the pony tail. And of course, th...