Wow! I don't often read music criticism, but this is so precisely and well rendered. Sidebar: Jack Endino--who'd go on to record and produce Nirvana's "Bleach" LP, among many others, saw EC and The Attractions' first Seattle show in 1978 and told me, as to their savagery as a live band: "They ripped people's faces off."
I also saw that show - one of KISW FM 100's "Catch A Rising Star" shows - tickets only cost a buck! I remember looking at their incredibly spare stage setup before they came on - a few small combo amps, small drum set and Steve's Vox organ - and thinking, 'what a wimpy setup, how can they rock?' - it was the era of Marshall stacks of course. Needless to say, THEY ROCKED and yeah, ripped my face off. That show still ranks in my top 10. Before playing "Radio Radio" Elvis spat out something about, "I bet there are a lot of Fleetwood MAC fans out there tonight. . . "
Also, if you can find the 1977 Agora bootleg, you will hear some of those face-ripping sounds. Big Tears is awesome and the combo of Lipstick Vogue and Watching The Detectives is unreal.
The man beside EC is almost certainly Pete Thomas, who wore those type of shirts quite often. And I think this is the same shirt as in this Rockpalast recording
I’ve always assumed the photo was taken by Elvis or one of the band members while on tour, but it’s hard to imagine EC lugging that guitar around at that point in his career.
In any case, it can be read as a sly riff on the cover of the TYM album, with the gentler implication being an invitation to look through the singer’s eyes rather than to be the helpless target of his dangerous camera.
Fantastic. I'd gladly take "Big Tears" over “Living In Paradise” on TYM, but "Hand In Hand" and "You Belong to Me" are essential.
My thoughts, exactly.
Wow! I don't often read music criticism, but this is so precisely and well rendered. Sidebar: Jack Endino--who'd go on to record and produce Nirvana's "Bleach" LP, among many others, saw EC and The Attractions' first Seattle show in 1978 and told me, as to their savagery as a live band: "They ripped people's faces off."
Love it. Thanks as always, Seth!
I also saw that show - one of KISW FM 100's "Catch A Rising Star" shows - tickets only cost a buck! I remember looking at their incredibly spare stage setup before they came on - a few small combo amps, small drum set and Steve's Vox organ - and thinking, 'what a wimpy setup, how can they rock?' - it was the era of Marshall stacks of course. Needless to say, THEY ROCKED and yeah, ripped my face off. That show still ranks in my top 10. Before playing "Radio Radio" Elvis spat out something about, "I bet there are a lot of Fleetwood MAC fans out there tonight. . . "
Love it
Ha! Thank you Hugh, this is pure gold!
My absolute favorite Costello track. Another brilliant analysis, Joe. Thank you.
Thanks, Tim!
Also, if you can find the 1977 Agora bootleg, you will hear some of those face-ripping sounds. Big Tears is awesome and the combo of Lipstick Vogue and Watching The Detectives is unreal.
I've got the fantastic El Mocambo boot from 1978.
"These guys got the right idea. They're standing UP!"
Great stuff, love that song. Makes a great pair with Tiny Steps!
Great observations!
>>Pity I can’t credit the photographers<<
I'd be willing to bet it was the great Pennie Smith.
Thanks for the tip, Hugh! She took plenty of EC photos, but I didn't find that one.
“It’s a physics problem”. So precisely true. I love that.
Interesting article. I shall recheck the song
The man beside EC is almost certainly Pete Thomas, who wore those type of shirts quite often. And I think this is the same shirt as in this Rockpalast recording
https://youtu.be/bDVDNwS9DrM?si=gNx9QmKcVc6dj47P
BTW, you can find an excellent Rockpalast full concert filming of Amyl and The Sniffers from this year. Got my tickets for their Paris concert!
https://youtu.be/VXJ1BLHPGNw?si=z1x8trWdCfYN5K_K
PS Is there any chance you write about Barney Bubbles, the designer of tha sleeve and sooooo many more?
Aw man, thanks for those links! I should def look more into Bubbles!
I’ve always assumed the photo was taken by Elvis or one of the band members while on tour, but it’s hard to imagine EC lugging that guitar around at that point in his career.
In any case, it can be read as a sly riff on the cover of the TYM album, with the gentler implication being an invitation to look through the singer’s eyes rather than to be the helpless target of his dangerous camera.
It's deffo a b-side. The arrangement doesn't click and Elvis is pushing too hard for a chorus that isn't up to par.