Costello won’t wait until his debut album My Aim Is True‘s 50th birthday,
next year, 22 July 2027, to launch an anniversary deluxe edition. It’ll drop
on October 2nd. More info here.
Every day of this summer we go back to the same summer day somewhere in history
9 July 2026
On 9 July 1977, this day 49 years ago, Declan Patrick MacManus (now aged 71 years)
quit his day job as a computer programmer, aged 23, to become a full-time musician under the moniker ELVIS COSTELLO. The rest is history.
Thank you, Elvis, for the career switch.
You really pumped it up afterwards.
As so many other artists from the 60s/70s (Neil Young, Bob Dylan, Bruce Springsteen,
Patti Smith, Paul McCartney, Willie Nelson, and many others) 71-year-old ELVIS COSTELLO will never retire from music.
After more than 5 decades and 32 LPs, he’ll hit the road again this summer (UK and Europe) to play old tunes, withThe Imposters, one of his past backing bands, and also
accompanied by American guitarist/songwriter Charlie Sexton, who toured for years
with Bob Dylan.
First-class songsmith ELVIS COSTELLO (born Declan Patrick MacManus 71 years ago
in London) had his 10th album (out of a total of 32, so far), named KING OF AMERICA released on 21 February 1986, today 40 years ago.
Co-produced by Costello and his musical pal T Bone Burnett, the album originated following a series of tours the two made under the name The Coward Brothers.
The longplayer reached number 11 in the UK and number 39 in the US.
Hailed as a return to form for Costello and his best record in years, the album was
praised for its production, depth and vocal performances. Mixed reviews found the
LP too complex and lacking accessibility to attract new fans.
Later reviewers call King of America one of Costello‘s best works, praising its
personal tone and the songwriter’s growing maturity, and arguing the album
anticipated Costello‘s various musical excursions and collaborations in the
following decades.
Melody Maker said at the time: “He’s still this blighted isle’s
finest songwriter, a force, who at his best, is simply beyond peer.”
Artist: DREW FIVE Who: A versatile musician from London who creates/records electronica, ambient minimalism, neo-classical and post-rock. He’s also half of electro pop duo Feral Five
and Dice Machine. Five also works on his own. Two weeks ago he released the atmospheric-ambient single The Runner
And now he comes up with his take on 1982 pearl Shipbuilding (linked to
the Falkland Wars), with lyrics by Elvis Costello, music by Clive Langer and sung
by the great Robert Wyatt.
A risky effort to cover this particular song, but Five does it
gracefully and stylishly, bringing soft Moby moments to mind.
This is the cover of an upcoming album by long-time collaborators and
songsmith experts ELVIS COSTELLO (70) and T BONE BURNETT (76).
It’s a 20-song concept LP about imaginary brothers Henry and Howard
Coward, a trans-Atlantic pair of con men who may or may not be blood
relatives. The album drops on 22 November. More infohere.
Hear smooth story-telling taster named Always here.