Your Underdog of the Day

LessThanZero · Post by **LessThanZero** » Tue Oct 28, 2003 4:23 pm

There are many songs that don't get too much hype or mention around here, so stick up for your underdogs!

Today for me, it is Charm School.

There are just so many great little sounds weaving in and out throughout this whole song!

The part that's blessing me right now is the sound Elvis' voice makes right as he's completing the line "They say it's hell to finance too, and I just want to romance you."

do-do-do-do-do-do

He doesn't say much about the song in the liner notes at all!

oh, I also like how right after the beautiful instumental break, all of the sounds being made sound like they warp back down for the vocal to start again. Is anyone else feeling this?

Stick up for your song!

Post by **spooky girlfriend** » Tue Oct 28, 2003 4:58 pm

I'll Wear It Proudly

In an already underpromoted album, one of the songs that often goes unmentioned. Been listening to this one a lot lately. Didn't realize until recently that Radiohead had done this one also. But just a great song.

"I hate the buttons on your shirt when all I wanna do is tear"
What a feeling!

And I love the lead into this part:

"I'll wear it proudly through the dives and the dancehalls
If you'll wear it proudly through the snakepits and catcalls"

"We are arms and legs wrapped round more than my memory tonight"
Mmmmm, good lyrics.

bobster · Post by **bobster** » Tue Oct 28, 2003 6:13 pm

"Sneaky Feelings"

laughingcrow · Post by **laughingcrow** » Tue Oct 28, 2003 7:01 pm

Everyday I write the book....

why people dismiss this song quoting old chestnuts like 'pop confectionary' is beyond me, it's a great song. Catchy tune, good lyrics, nice beat.

I think people dismissing it is someimes a case of the emperor's new clothes myself.

migdd · Post by **migdd** » Tue Oct 28, 2003 7:19 pm

Go, Spooky, go!!!

I've got to mention another one from KOA - POISONED ROSE!
This track features great playing from jazz greats Earl Palmer and Ray Brown (not to mention Tom Canning on piano!) and some particularly fine lyrical imagery. It's also sung with incredible feeeling (and an early sample of a developing technique later mastered on NORTH).

Also proves that, once upon a time, Elvis was in love with someone before Diane Krall. Obviously, Elvis has been fortunate enough to have more than one great muse in his life.

girl out of time · Post by **girl out of time** » Tue Oct 28, 2003 7:26 pm

i can mention a few .....

LTZ: yes! absolutely....i love charm school! .....one of my faves on PTC
.....also been listening to broken (the alt. take)...a song that melts me in these days.....(i used to dismiss this one before).......
...what else.....oh, yeah.....the world of broken hearts......undoubtely!!!!!

lapinsjolis · Post by **lapinsjolis** » Tue Oct 28, 2003 7:38 pm

'Worthless Thing' of course the acoustic version is amazing but I even like the record rendition. "If you were ten feet taller and almost handsome, I might pay this king's ransom." Sigh! Great lyrics on the much maligned 'Goodbye Cruel world'. Even if some of the production is down right laughable.

I love 'Everyday I Write the Book' and 'Charm School'. 'I'll Wear It Proudly' is classic.

migdd · Post by **migdd** » Tue Oct 28, 2003 7:42 pm

Goodbye Cruel World has much better songs that Punch the Clock but the production does not fit the songs at all. Should have been a solo album or a folsky album like KOA.

noiseradio · Post by **noiseradio** » Tue Oct 28, 2003 8:21 pm

'Fish 'N' Chip Paper'

oily slick · Post by **oily slick** » Tue Oct 28, 2003 11:23 pm

may not qualify as an underdog, but we don't seem to talk about it much--"opportunity", a song almost as cool as "the beat".

noiseradio · Post by **noiseradio** » Wed Oct 29, 2003 1:04 am

That's such a good choice!

cbartal · Post by **cbartal** » Wed Oct 29, 2003 1:09 am

You Left....Me..In....The..Dark

bambooneedle · Post by **bambooneedle** » Wed Oct 29, 2003 1:31 am

Poor Napoleon. It's kind of mind altering.

Copenhagen Fan · Post by **Copenhagen Fan** » Wed Oct 29, 2003 3:21 am

Inch By Inch......I hope he plays it in concert this weekend! No one ever talks about Inch By Inch....(it's in my top 10 Elvis songs)....another suggestion would be Black Sails in The Sunset........or maybe Heathen Town...."But the only stake you cannot raise, is the one driven through you heart, it's just a heathen town...." jesus that's good stuff.

so lacklustre · Post by **so lacklustre** » Wed Oct 29, 2003 5:12 am

I've probably mentioned this before but I love JUST ANOTHER MYSTERY, especially the way EC sings metronoooooome.

noiseradio · Post by **noiseradio** » Wed Oct 29, 2003 2:21 pm

Radio Sweetheart

Watching_Detectives · Post by **Watching_Detectives** » Wed Oct 29, 2003 4:56 pm

I love Radio Sweetheart.

Cheep Reward. It scared me at first, but I've grown to love it.

And Imperial Bedroom. A great song on a great album...

So, um, yeah...

Elfslut · Post by **Elfslut** » Wed Oct 29, 2003 10:21 pm

Copenhagen Fan wrote:Inch By Inch......I hope he plays it in concert this weekend! No one ever talks about Inch By Inch.

Definitely Inch By Inch...

I'll also add...Pills and Soap...

Next Time Round and Blue Chair...

pip_52 · Post by **pip_52** » Wed Oct 29, 2003 10:29 pm

Battered Old Bird

Copenhagen Fan · Post by **Copenhagen Fan** » Thu Oct 30, 2003 3:15 am

HOME TRUTH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! love it...especially the bridge....

Who Shot Sam? · Post by **Who Shot Sam?** » Thu Oct 30, 2003 8:30 am

"Love Field"

Amazing that even on EC's worst album there are a number of great tunes. Hearing him sing "I Wanna Be Loved" last fall in New Jersey was a real treat. That is one tune that was mangled by the eighties production of GCW but sounds much better live.

Copenhagen Fan · Post by **Copenhagen Fan** » Thu Oct 30, 2003 10:26 am

Must admit that I love that album....another dark horse is THe Great Unknown..! cool guitar...

Gillibeanz · Post by **Gillibeanz** » Thu Oct 30, 2003 12:32 pm

Pidgin English. It so underrated. Its got everything - great lyrics great tune and is so well sung, and the 'PS I love you' at the end is sheer genius!

migdd · Post by **migdd** » Thu Oct 30, 2003 1:23 pm

I've always felt GCW was mostly considered a failure because of it's execution, not it's content. Inch by Inch, Love Field, Worthless Thing, The Comedians, Home Truth and a couple of others have much more musical and lyrical bite than most of the songs on PTC and other more highly-regarded Elvis albums. This album could've been realy great with the right producer and a little bit more commitment from Elvis and the band. The wrong producers, the bad blood amongst the Attractions and Elvis' impending divorce all seemed to have contributed to a lack of focus in making the album. If only. . .

bobster · Post by **bobster** » Thu Oct 30, 2003 2:51 pm

I've always loved "Radio Sweetheart"

And I've gone on record here about loving "You'll Never Be a Man," -- that piano playing and those wonderfully almost indeciferable lyrics. (Big fun with pronouns!) I guess that qualifies as an underdog.

But another song that Elvis has given short shrift to himself is his very early "Imagination is a Powerful Deceiver" -- what a great classic soul tune, with really evocative lyrics. Kind of intimidating that EC was (I think) 19 when he wrote it.

And, I hate to say it -- okay, I'm ashamed to say it -- but I have a sneaking affection for an EC song that might be the ultimate Costello underdog. Yes, I love "Party, Party, Party"! I guess I'm just a sucker for a decent horn section....