When The World Of Music Loses A Giant
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Now I’m sorry. Elvis who? Yes, I know, millions still love and adore Elvis Costello – oops – sorry Presley. Well Costello still looms large in the musical Consciousness and at least he’s still alive eh?
So many musical legends leave us without actually dying. This, from their perspective, is undoubtedly a good thing but, for their fans it leaves us in limbo.
You’re alive but you won’t sing anymore? Excuse me! I’ve spent a fortune over the years on your records and now you’re just stopping??
God, better known as David Bowie, suddenly stopped for 10 years. For 10 years he stopped being David Bowie because he stopped releasing any songs. Bowie fans wept for a while then thought, ‘oh what the hell he’s getting old, let’s just enjoy and remember the good times’.
Suddenly, without any pronouncement, a new Bowie album and single emerged from the ether and we, the Bowie fans rejoiced and, continue to rejoice as there is a second single and the album is supurb. We accept David is now in his 70’s and, perhaps, hasn’t the energy he had in his 20’s, 30’s, 40’s and so forth but we, the Bowie fans are so relieved and excited that GOD has returned for a while.
Now ‘The Undertones’ may not have excited the USA but, on the release of their debut single ‘Teenage Kicks’ the late great John Peel, on whose every word many of us music fans attended, stated that ‘Teenage Kicks’ was the greatest ‘pop’ record in British history.
So, before I pontificate further please enjoy –
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wAtUw6lxcis
The Undertone’s lead singer Feargal Sharkey will never sing again. Well not with The Undertones or even by himself other than for family or friends according to him :
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xyzeo3-Nktc
Now I’m sorry Feargal. An awful lot of people – mainly kids – spent an awful lot of their money on you because they liked what you did with The Undertones and they liked what you did solo.
You really shouldn’t forget that mate. Seriously. You really shouldn’t forget that. Without ‘us kids’ you wouldn’t be where you are now – which is a highly paid ‘Music minister’ or something like that in the Irish government.
Feargal old bean?
Remember me? The kid who bought your records? Remember them? The kids who bought your records?
So you’ll never sing again eh?
Can I have my money back?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YS4ALgm6Rsc
Bloody pop stars eh? 😉
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I know I’ll probably get a lot of grief over this, but to me the definitive cover of Heartbreak Hotel is by the Welsh multi-instrumentalist John Cale*. Specifically, it is the live performance from the album June 1, 1974**. Presley’s version doesn’t sound sad enough. Cale’s is bullet-through-the-brain depressing and should never be played within hearing of anyone who has ever contemplated suicide.
I’m also rather fond of Annette Peacock’s jazzy rendition of Don’t Be Cruel (on her 1978 album X-Dreams.
*Not to be confused with JJ Cale.
**The album also features luminaries such as Brian Eno, Nico, Mike Oldfield, Ollie Halsall, Kevin Ayers and the Chanter Sisters.
…On a cold and grey Chicago morning another little baby child is born…in the ghetto….and his mama cried…..
mmmmmmmm…..love it
E.A. I feel for that you missed the Elvis years. He came along at a time when young people needed an idol. He was a great focal point. Not only that but during a time of musical simplicity he had one of the greatest singing voices of his time or since. If he emerged today he would be every bit as big a hit today. I will admit that most of his movies were shams and used more to promote his music but that was back when his manager Tom Parker controlled about everything in his life. Elvis wanted to be a serious actor but the roles he was allowed to take never gave him that chance. The one opportunity he had for a serious role was in “True Grit” with John Wayne he had to turned down because there was no singing in that role. Glenn Campbell ended up with that role.
He also had an opportunity to play opposite Barbra Streisand, although I can’t remember the name of the movie, and Parker nixed that as well. Elvis was the best single rock star in history. Even when he got fat he never lost that golden voice.
Correctomundo old bean. Whether you were a rocker or not, the voice was unsurpassable.
The name of that movie Mike is “A Star is Born.” Streisand wanted Presley but got Kristofferson instead. Parker kept demanding more money. The Movie was released one year before Elvis died; 1976.
I’ve heard that before Bill and believe it. Elvis in the ‘True Grit’ Glenn Campbell role would have moved him into movies in a big way I reckon. Colonel Tom screwed up there methinks.
I wonder whether ‘Elvis’ the movie star would have survived longer than he did? We’ll never know eh?
Great vocalist though – and that’s from a punk.
I often play ‘In The Ghetto’ between driving lessons – no idea why other than I do like it.
Sorry, folks, but I was a bit late for Presley. To me he was a guy who made a lot of dorky movies, not a music figure. The first album I personally owned (i.e., not part of the family stash) was King Crimson’s In the Court of the Crimson King. Oddly, my mother liked that album, too. My first live concert was Curved Air and Jethro Tull (before Aqualung).
Jethro Tull??? Amazing – if slightly weird – band
I’m with Rowdy and E.A. I miss Calvin and Elvis will always be the King of Rock & Roll!
Costello? Oh alright then. I bow to a lady 😉
I have more respect for someone who bows out while they’re still in good form than hanging on after they’ve jumped the shark. This is why I was able to accept the demise of Calvin And Hobbes with equanimity.
I miss Calvin and Hobbes, and Elvis, Presley, not Costello. David Bowie can’t hold a candle to him.
‘David Bowie can’t hold a candle to him’
WHAT????? SPLUTTER!!! ARRRGH!!! HEART ATTACK!!!
If I die from reading that it is entirely your fault 😉
Love it! 😉
I loved them too – actually they’re still published in tabloids over here in Blighty. marvellous stuff!!