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Britain's Declan Patrick MacManus (aka Elvis Costello) started his music career
on the London pub scene in the early
1970's. Costello's father (Ross MacManus), a jazz musician and
bandleader, was a major influence on Costello's interests. Ross
MacManus played under the stage name Day Costello, which is why Declan
adopted the name D.P. Costello at first, later changing it to Elivs.
Early on, Elvis Costello played in bands with names like Rusty and Flip
City.
After working odd jobs and writing music on the side,
Elvis landed his first record contract with an independent label.
His debut album, My Aim Is True (1977), featured the hits "Less
Than Zero" and "Watching the Detectives". Other 70's UK Costello
hits you may remember: "(I Don't Want to Go to) Chelsea", "Pump It
Up", "Radio Radio", "Oliver's Army", and "Accidents Will Happen".
Some of you may also remember that Costello, a huge country music fan,
had some collaboration with George Jones in the late 1970's.
In the 1980's, Costello had a new studio album for every
year. Those of you in the US will remember songs like "Everyday I
Write the Book" from Punch the Clock (1983), "Don't Let Me Be
Misunderstood" from King of America (1986), and "Veronica" from
Spike
(1989). However, UK fans will remember many more hits than this,
like "I Can't Stand Up for Falling Down", "High Fidelity", "New
Amsterdam", "A Good Year for Roses", "Pills and Soap", and "I Wanna Be
Loved/Turning the Town Red".
As the years rolled on, Costello continued releasing new
material, with some chart success in the 1990's. It is worth
mentioning that his band is sometimes referred to as Elvis Costello and
the Attractions. At the time of this writing in 2013, he was still
very active, even continuing his acting career from time to time.
The Elvis Costello Discography is as follows:1977: My Aim Is True
1978: This Year's Model
1978: Live at the El Mocambo
1979: Armed Forces
1980: Get Happy!!
1980: Taking Liberties
1980: Ten Bloody Marys & Ten How's Your Fathers
1981: Trust
1982: Imperial Bedroom
1983: Punch the Clock
1984: Goodbye Cruel World
1985: The Man - The Best Of Elvis Costello
1985: The Best of Elvis Costello & The Attractions
1986: King of America
1986: Blood & Chocolate
1987: Out of Our Idiot
1989: Spike
1989: Girls Girls Girls
1990: The Best of Elvis Costello and the Attractions
1991: Mighty Like a Rose
1991: G.B.H.
1993: The Juliet Letters
1993: 2½ Years
1994: Brutal Youth
1994: The Very Best of Elvis Costello and The Attractions
1995: Kojak Variety
1995: Jake's Progress
1995: Deep Dead Blue Live
1996: Costello & Nieve Live
1996: All This Useless Beauty
1997: Terror & Magnificence
1997: Extreme Honey
1998: Painted from Memory
1998: The Sweetest Punch
1999: The Very Best of Elvis Costello
2001: For the Stars
2002: When I Was Cruel
2002: Cruel Smile
2003: North
2003: Singles, Volume 1
2003: Singles, Volume 2
2003: Singles, Volume 3
2004: The Delivery Man
2004: Il Sogno
2005: Piano Jazz
2006: My Flame Burns Blue Live
2006: The River in Reverse
2007: The Best of Elvis Costello: The First 10 Years
2007: Rock and Roll Music
2008: Momofuku
2009: Secret, Profane & Sugarcane
2010: National Ransom
2010: Live at Hollywood High
2012: The Return of the Spectacular Spinning Songbook |
