Melody Maker, December 31, 1977: Difference between revisions
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He means business. He never smiles. It is this severity of demeanor that provides a cutting edge for his romantic vision, and saves it from sentimentality. His tough (but fair) outlook makes a song like "Alison" work; it might very well become an American AM hit. | He means business. He never smiles. It is this severity of demeanor that provides a cutting edge for his romantic vision, and saves it from sentimentality. His tough (but fair) outlook makes a song like "Alison" work; it might very well become an American AM hit. | ||
Still, while the audience at the Bottom Line came to hear his more recognisable, tuneful compositions ("Red Shoes," "Alison,"), the numbers that cut the deepest were "Less Than Zero," performed with knife-point sharpness by the band, and a new composition, no doubt inspired by the American radio stranglehold on the music scene, (but certainly applicable to the UK), simply titled "Radio Radio." This too is a guaranteed "underground" hit. | Still, while the audience at the Bottom Line came to hear his more recognisable, tuneful compositions ("Red Shoes," "Alison,"), the numbers that cut the deepest were "Less Than Zero," performed with knife-point sharpness by the band, and a new composition, no doubt inspired by the American radio stranglehold on the music scene, (but certainly applicable to the UK), simply titled "Radio, Radio." This too is a guaranteed "underground" hit. | ||
For the [[Concert 1977-12-15 New York|third night]] of his New York stand, Elvis and band were feted by Columbia Records at the Ukrainian National Home, an unusual location, but a practical one nonetheless; this is a ballroom with tables on the sides, but plenty of room in front of the bandstand for people to stand, dance, jump, or what-have-you, and the electricity of all those bodies must have had some effect on Costello. | For the [[Concert 1977-12-15 New York|third night]] of his New York stand, Elvis and band were feted by Columbia Records at the Ukrainian National Home, an unusual location, but a practical one nonetheless; this is a ballroom with tables on the sides, but plenty of room in front of the bandstand for people to stand, dance, jump, or what-have-you, and the electricity of all those bodies must have had some effect on Costello. | ||
He played an all-rock-out set, chock full of double-time boogie numbers, most of which sounded new and unrecognisable to these ears, but welcome in any case. He opened strongly with "Radio Radio" and proceeded to burn his way through an hour's worth of short, punchy, dynamic numbers. | He played an all-rock-out set, chock full of double-time boogie numbers, most of which sounded new and unrecognisable to these ears, but welcome in any case. He opened strongly with "Radio, Radio" and proceeded to burn his way through an hour's worth of short, punchy, dynamic numbers. | ||
With the exception of "I'm Angry" and "Miracle Man," the set was largely new, and, I'm told, is material from his next album. | With the exception of "I'm Angry" and "Miracle Man," the set was largely new, and, I'm told, is material from his next album. | ||
But perhaps the most impactful performance given by Costello in New York was his brief (two numbers) stint on the popular ''[[TV 1977-12-17 Saturday Night Live|Saturday Night Live]]'' programme, wherein he began his spot with the first stanza of "Less Than Zero" and then suddenly waved the band to a complete halt, and spat out: "This is all wrong" and proceeded to rip into "Radio Radio" (a much wiser and more germaine-to-the-USA number) and the | But perhaps the most impactful performance given by Costello in New York was his brief (two numbers) stint on the popular ''[[TV 1977-12-17 Saturday Night Live|Saturday Night Live]]'' programme, wherein he began his spot with the first stanza of "Less Than Zero" and then suddenly waved the band to a complete halt, and spat out: "This is all wrong" and proceeded to rip into "Radio, Radio" (a much wiser and more germaine-to-the-USA number) and the reggae-bounce of "Watching The Detectives." | ||
Elvis Costello is going to be very very popular in New York — whether he likes it or not. | Elvis Costello is going to be very very popular in New York — whether he likes it or not. | ||
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{{Bibliography notes}} | {{Bibliography notes}} | ||
{{Bibliography next | {{Bibliography next | ||
|prev = Melody Maker, December | |prev = Melody Maker, December 24, 1977 | ||
|next = Melody Maker, February 18, 1978 | |next = Melody Maker, February 18, 1978 | ||
}} | }} | ||
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[[Stanley Mieses]] reports on Elvis Costello & [[The Attractions]] in New York, [[Concert 1977-12-13 New York (early)|December 13]] and [[Concert 1977-12-14 New York (early)|14]] at the Bottom Line, [[Concert 1977-12-15 New York|December 15]] at the Ukrainian National Home, and [[TV 1977-12-17 Saturday Night Live|December 17]] on ''[[Saturday Night Live]]''. | [[Stanley Mieses]] reports on Elvis Costello & [[The Attractions]] in New York, [[Concert 1977-12-13 New York (early)|December 13]] and [[Concert 1977-12-14 New York (early)|14]] at the Bottom Line, [[Concert 1977-12-15 New York|December 15]] at the Ukrainian National Home, and [[TV 1977-12-17 Saturday Night Live|December 17]] on ''[[Saturday Night Live]]''. | ||
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[[Ian Birch]] includes | [[Ian Birch]] includes "[[Single: Less Than Zero|Less Than Zero]]," "[[Single: Alison|Alison]]," and "[[Single: Watching The Detectives|Watching The Detectives]]" in his recap of the year's best singles. | ||
{{Bibliography images}} | {{Bibliography images}} | ||
[[image:1977-12-31 Melody Maker clipping 01.jpg| | [[image:1977-12-31 Melody Maker clipping 01.jpg|380px]] | ||
<br><small>Clipping.</small> | <br><small>Clipping.</small> | ||
<br> | |||
{{Bibliography box | <small>Page scan.</small><br> | ||
[[image:1977-12-31 Melody Maker page 17.jpg|380px]] | |||
<br><br> | |||
{{Bibliography box}} | |||
<center><h3> 77's greatest hit </h3></center> | <center><h3> 77's greatest hit </h3></center> | ||
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<small>Cover.</small><br> | |||
[[image:1977-12-31 Melody Maker cover.jpg|x120px]] | [[image:1977-12-31 Melody Maker cover.jpg|x120px]] | ||
{{Bibliography notes footer}} | {{Bibliography notes footer}} | ||
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==External links== | ==External links== | ||
*[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melody_Maker Wikipedia: Melody Maker] | *[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melody_Maker Wikipedia: Melody Maker] | ||
*[https://www.flickr.com/photos/littletriggers/50561412502/ Flickr:] [[Stephen McCathie]] | |||
{{DEFAULTSORT:Melody Maker 1977-12-31}} | {{DEFAULTSORT:Melody Maker 1977-12-31}} |
Latest revision as of 21:16, 31 May 2021
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