Page 55 in AJ Hartley's excellent novel " Cold Bath Street", it's 1978 and two teenage ghosts, Roarer and Preston, are discussing the relative merits of Elvis' Presley and Costello:
" Only one Elvis" he concluded, happily. "Elvis 'The Pelvis' Presley. Who's this Costello character?"
" " I Don't Want to Go to Chelsea?" " Preston tried." "Watching the Detectives?' 'Pump it up?" "
Roarer just shrugged.
"He's the best," said Preston, thinking back to an episode of Top of the Pops only weeks before he had died when he had gotten his mother to confess that there was something compelling about the singer in his odd, too small trousers and oversized glasses. Preston loved the whole thing: the look, the clever words, the edge to the music. It was like the songs were written for him. If he had the nerve that was who he wanted to be. But he could no more pull off an outfit like that than go to the moon. That was why he had fastened onto the black leather jacket worn by JJ Burnel, bassist for the Stranglers, who he had seen on the telly snarling out '5 Minutes', his bass slung low around his hips.....
I loved this book and would recommend to all, especially anyone who has any roots in Preston, the urban settlement in Lancashire, England, which is the setting for the tale.
Colin Top Balcony