Just how great is Elvis Costello

Declan, Elvis Costello IS the king of rock ’n roll for me. My list of favorite albums from him would read more like a discography than a best of. Read Unfaithful Music & Disappearing Ink it is a hoot. That guy from Graceland doesn’t even come close to this cat!

Love "King of America" love the irony.

I realize someone would point a blaspheme finger on me for speaking of Declan’s namesake from Memphis with such seeming disregard. But it is like this, the subject of this thread has penned and performed more of his own songs (as I understand it) than the movie star sang in totality and tried to take credit for between him and the Colonel Tom and their games. Read your history, that’s what stinks like vomit. He was far from the beginning, he was just one of the first caucasian ones to get recognition for rock ’n roll. I’ll give Elvis Presley one credit, if not for him, we may well not have had Declan, or Lennon, or ... the same way. And that would be a true crime, perhaps even a sine.

"Well, I use’ta be disgusted, now I try to be amused..."

Happy Listening!

bondmanp, with all due respect, not sure how to separate your musical affections from your politics? If I might, what could you mean by "separating the artist from his politics"? As there has always been more politics in art than in our governing chambers. And I have never found EC to be incredibly outspoken about any particular political issue in the grand scheme of things. Although his storylines are particularly varied and generally more interpersonal than political in focus, I may recall, him having made some comment on governance in rare occasions. Is that where your contention lies? Or perhaps regardless of topic, it’s his demeanor, biting in clarity and somewhat less subdued in candor, especially when imposed upon, but I would expect and respect nothing less from someone so brilliant and lyrical. Just asking.

bondmanp, Good to understand a little better what you meant by your comment. I too look to start no flame-out about anyone for their thoughts, freely expressed here. We are actually more in agreement as it were about such things, then apart. I do though find it sad and more than a bit bewildering, perhaps like onhwy61 that there are so many who somehow believe that music/art should be devoid of political commentary entirely. As though we pay to just hear only that which we find agreeable and pleasing to our current state of mind. And I would find that notion to be completely preposterous for some of the same reasons most aptly expressed above. Often, with a little better understanding why, or how we may feel we differ, expresses actually, how far we are not apart...

Sorry tooblue, yet just like music lyrics, starting a thread is like putting a record on your TT, you get what you get. Hope I/we haven’t taken it too far off track.

Declan is one of my all time favorite songwriters and musicians and enjoying his work can be easily as complex as the work itself, or not. I love the mindless rockers as much as the ones that actually provoke some understanding or controversy...

Happy EC Listening!