The Elvis Costello Hour

[A rope leash]

No, it's not a new TV show. You wish.

My brother picked this up at a flea market for about 50 cents.



It's a promotional tape for the "Spike" album. It has songs from the album and a lot of commentary by Elvis. It was obviously meant as a radio promotional. The format goes like this: A song is played from the album, and then Elvis talks about it. He talks a lot about it. He talks about Paul, Roger, and Chrissie, and about the stories behind the individual songs. I didn't know that "Satellite" was a science-fiction song about interactive pornography! There's a lot more to an Elvis song than what meets the ear.

If you can read it, it says "Includes the previously unreleased 'This Town...(The Bastard Mix)'". This is hilarious. It's the same track from the album, but when he says "bastard" from "thinks you're a bastard", a harsh Elvis "sweetheart" is inserted over the word "bastard". I guess this was done for purposes of not offending folks with fragile sensitivities. I don't suppose it's on the "Spike" re-issue...

Maybe this will conjure Norman Brain. Hey HungStrung, was this thing worth 50 cents? Or what?

[HungupStrungup]

Hey HungStrung, was this thing worth 50 cents? Or what?

If that's the choice, my answer would be "or what."

Just kidding! Your brother got quite the bargain. There's also a version of this disc on vinyl.

[laughingcrow]

Hey that's cool Rope....maybe in a few years (if you can bare to part with it) you'll have a really expensive 'collectors item'...

plus your ears never have to be troubled by those naughty offensive words in This Town anymore.

[noiseradio]

I have a cd like that for Brutal Youth. Same format--conversations with E and then songs. I remember being surprised by the sound of his speaking voice.

Of topic, but...

The first time I heard Prince speak (in Purple Rain), i couldn't believe that was his speaking voice. It just sounded completely different than what I expected. Anyone else have that experience with anyone else?

[A rope leash]

I'm always surprised by Elvis' speaking voice. I'd like to hear some earlier interviews. He speaks with a soft joy about his work, sounding more like doctor than a head-knocker.

It's soothing. He could do voice over for children's animated movies. What would he be? A bunny rabbit, perhaps?

But, it's a sexy voice, too, isn't it? Krall wouldn't be the first to fall for a smooth accent...

[bobster]

I'm not sure if I can think of anyone who fits this description (I wasn't too surprised by EC's voice when I first heard it -- once you know he's English and smart, that sort of BBC'ish/quasi-professorial accent seemed on the money to me.)

However, I've got a good name for the phenomen --- "The reverse Jim Naybors Effect" named for the bizarrely huge basso-profundo (or whatever the word is for that singing voice) of the one time star of "Gomer Pyle."

[martinfoyle]

Elvis's accent has changed slightly over the years. Since he spent his early years in Liverpool, his natural accent is, god help him, scouse. Since he isn’t tone deaf, its changed slightly depending on where he lived. So in the 70's and early 80's, when he lived in London, its got elements of cockney, its obvious on the '82 Letterman interview and the kzel-fm interview on the '78 Civic Duty boot.
The Dublin years flattened things out a bit. He certainly didn’t get a Dublin accent, though he developed a bit of what's known around here as a cultured Dublin accent. Now he's in Nanoose, BC, eh, we can expect most of his verbals to be in the question form, eh?

[oily slick]

It just sounded completely different than what I expected. Anyone else have that experience with anyone else?

Rick Astley?

[spooky girlfriend]

I love his speaking voice. I've downloaded interviews from BBC and listened to them and I enjoy hearing his voice even without seeing his face. I think he has a lovely voice.

And his accent may have very well moved around as much as he has, but I find myself doing that when I travel. Even just being somewhere a few days and I seem to adapt to the local sound.

Tell your brother "nice find" Rope. Is he keeping it or (obviously) giving it to you?

[PlaythingOrPet]

Do you mind, Mr Foyle! No, but yah, I absolutely agree. A simply awful sound, dahling.

It just sounded completely different than what I expected. Anyone else have that experience with anyone else?

Yeah, Ali and Robin Campbell were being interviewed a while ago and I was so irritated by their accents the tv had to go off. Sorry to Altruistic bum, wherever you may be in Brum-land.

I'm still laughing at "a cultured Dublin accent".