Elvis Costello Archives - TURN UP THE VOLUME

ELVIS COSTELLO About Writing His Debut LP In 1977

20 April 2026

Costello’s debut LP ‘My Aim Is True’

And what about Elvis, The King?

ELVIS COSTELLO Goes Back To The Early Days This Summer

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, with The Imposters, one of his past backing bands, and also
accompanied by American guitarist/songwriter Charlie Sexton, who toured for years
with Bob Dylan.

View this post on Instagram

Just play these 42 songs, Elvis, and I’ll be a happy man.

Instagram – Linktree

ELVIS COSTELLO Was The ‘KING OF AMERICA’ 40 Years Ago Today

Posted on February 21 by JL

Significant longplayers from yesteryear

21 February 2026

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.”

SINGLE
Nina Simone cover

ALBUM

Instagram – Linktree – All Albums

ELVIS COSTELLO & THE ATTRACTIONS Released Their 5th Longplayer ‘TRUST’ 45 Years Ago

Posted on January 24 by JL

Significant longplayers from yesteryear

24 January 2026

ELVIS COSTELLO & THE ATTRACTIONS released their
5th LP, named TRUST, 45 years ago, on 23 January 1981.

Just as the 4 previous ones, the record was produced by big friend
Nick Lowe. It went to #9 in the UK and peaked at #28 in the US.

Rolling Stone said: “It marks Elvis’s summit as a singer,
songwriter, and miserable-Irish-bastard pin-up boy.”

Elvis Costello: “A record that falls between the cracks a little bit.
It has one of the greatest Attractions performances with ‘New Lace
Sleeves.”

SINGLE

ALBUM

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Instagram – Linktree – All Albums

DREW FIVE – British Versatile Electro Musician Covers 1982 Pearl ‘SHIPBUILDING’

Posted on July 8 by JL

8 July 2025

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.

DREW FIVE

.
ROBERT WYATT

Picture This – THE COWARD BROTHERS

Posted on October 9, 2024 by JL

9 October 2024

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 info here.

Hear smooth story-telling taster named Always here.