The Sensational Elvis Costello

Coming on to the New Wave scene in the late 1970s was singer and songwriter Elvis Costello who seemed to resemble the late Buddy Holly. Of course, his name right away reminded most of the King of Rock and Roll, Elvis Presley. With such a name it was guaranteed that Costello would be a success in the music business.

Inborn Talent

Costello came into the world on August 25, 1954, as Declan Patrick Macmanus in London, England. You could say he had an inborn talent since his father was a trumpet player and a successful big-band singer. During his school years, Costello tried out a variety of instruments including the violin. When he turned 15 he became interested in songwriting and started learning to play the guitar.

He settled down in London with his wife and son in the early 1970s. At this time he performed as D.C. Costello writing songs and recording demos as well as working as a computer operator to support his family. Then in 1975 Costello gave up his job and became a roadie for the English pub rock band Brinsley Schwartz. He was signed on to a record contract the following year and his manager gave him the name Elvis Costello since Costello was his mom's maiden name.

First Single

In April 1977 Costello came out with his first single "Less Than Zero" and the song was on his first album My Aim Is True. The song and album got him on the charts and he became a major British cult star.

The album became a classic and also included one of Costello's most popular songs "Alison". Other songs on the album are “Watching the Detectives” and “(The Angels Wanna Wear My) Red Shoes”.

By the time Costello released his second album This Year’s Model in 1978, it ranked number 11 on a list of the best albums in the period 1967 – 1987 by Rolling Stone magazine. Costello did a lot of touring along with his band The Attractions however most of the work he had done is attributed to a solo performer. Costello had won various awards including a Grammy Award. He and his band The Attractions were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2003. Costello ranks at number 80 on the list of the 100 Greatest Artists of All Time by Rolling Stone.

Forming a Band

He formed a band called The Attractions with Steve “Nieve” Nason as keyboardist, Pete Thomas as drummer and Bruce Thomas as bassist. While touring in the US Costello was introduced to an American audience on Saturday Night Live in December of 1977.

An Angry-Young Man Image

Costello appeared to be an angry young man in the world of New Wave music singing in a clipped voice. His next album was Armed Forces with such songs as "Oliver's Army" and he toured the US to promote the album.

In 1980 he came out with the album Get Happy! which included songs like "Opportunity" and “I Can’t Stand Up For Falling Down”.

Turning Point

Costello turned to country and western cover songs in 1981 and released the album Almost Blue. Recorded in Nashville, Tennessee among the songs on the album were “Sweet Dreams” and “A Good Year For the Roses”.

In 1982 he came out with some lovely ballads on his next album Imperial Bedroom with songs like “Beyond Belief” and “Tears Before Bedtime”.

Costello got a Top 40 hit in the US with the song “Every Day I Write the Book” in 1983.

Changing Trends

Not only did he experience changes in his personal life but he also switched to another band called The Confederation which also had musicians once used by Elvis Presley. With this band, he recorded the album King of America in 1986 recording songs like “Don’t Let me Be Misunderstood”.

This was followed by the album Blood and Chocolate and on the tour, The Attractions and The Confederates were featured with songs from the album like “Uncomplicated” and “I Want You”.

The Spinning Songbook was designed by Costello allowing the audience to “choose” by luck of the draw, songs from his very vast repertoire.

Costello and Paul McCartney co-wrote a group of songs in 1987 and released on the album Spike two years later. The album included a Top 20 hit the McCartney-Costello collaboration “Veronica”.

Other Changes

The album Mighty Like a Rose was released in 1991 without The Attractions and included songs like “The Other Side of Summer”.

A new project was started by Costello giving him a new sense of direction with The Juliet Letters. This was a song cycle that he wrote and performed with the string players in England’s Brodsky Quartet. These songs were inspired by an article about a letter sent to the character Juliet Capulet created by author William Shakespeare. These songs were received with mixed emotions.

Movies and TV Shows

Elvis Costello took his talent even further and has had songs used in movies and on TV shows:

"Frasier" starring actor Kelsey Grammar became a runaway hit and gained many fans. The main focus of the show was on two neurotic men Frasier and Niles who were the most successful men in their chosen careers. The song Elvis sang on this show was "Tie Me Kangaroo Down Sport".

For the popular sitcom "Malcolm In The Middle" the song was "Pump It Up".

People seemed to be glued to their TV screens watching episodes of "The Sopranos". For this show, the song was "Complicated Shadows".

One of my all-time favorites was the song that was included in the movie “Notting Hill” starring Julia Roberts and Hugh Grant “She”.

From the movie "The Big Lebowski" the song was "My Mood Swings".

Touring Again

In 1994 he reunited with The Attractions and went on tour for the album Brutal Youth. He recorded another cover album with songs by Bob Dyland and Screamin’ Jay Hawkins among others. Songs on the album Kojak Variety included the Bob Dylan song “I Threw It All Away”.

His touring band with a rotating cast of musicians has been The Imposters since 2002.

Latest Albums

One of his latest albums Look Now came out in 2018 released by singer-songwriter Elvis Costello and his band The Imposters. On this album three songs were co-written with Burt Bacharach "Don't Look Now", "Photographs Can Lie", "He's Given Me Things" and one with Carole King "Burnt Sugar Is So Bitter." The album won the Grammy Award for Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album.