The 'Other' Elvis

This week for #MusicMovesMe, we have ‘Your Choice’ - meaning there is no assigned topic or theme for the week. I have gone back and forth about what I was going to post today.  Part of me wanted to start a new series, and part of me wanted to hold off on that for a minute. Then, I caught a piece of trending news in the music world and my brain said ‘A-HA! This is it’.  Well, okay, then. It’s hotter than Satan’s Kitchen at Thanksgiving, and I don’t want to give this post much more thought.


Most of you are familiar with Elvis Presley, but do you know the OTHER Elvis?

Okay, I know that’s a fairly easy answer for some of you, as you have expressed a distaste for him - but let’s be honest here - those of you who dislike this guy are most likely jealous of his equally talented wife. How do I know this? Well... I’ve seen some of your comments regarding the both of them. That’s my story and I’m stickin' to it!

So who is this “Other” Elvis and why is he on the forefront of my mind?

No, I haven’t been chatting with our dear friend Jeffrey, lover of all things Diana Krall (where is Jeffrey these days anyway? Which one of you guys ran him off? I miss his rants!)  Oh dear, this heat really is getting to me as I’ve drifted from subject. 

Ahem. Back to business.

Elvis Costello is who I’m talking about. That’s his stage name. His real name is Declan Patrick MacManus, and yes, he is married to the beautiful Diana Krall.

He began his career as part of London's pub rock scene in the early 1970s and later became associated with the first wave of the British punk and new wave movement of the mid-to-late 1970s. His critically acclaimed debut album, My Aim Is True, was recorded in 1977. Shortly after recording his first album he formed the Attractions as his backing band. His second album, This Year's Model, was released in 1978, and was ranked number 11 by Rolling Stone on its list of the best albums from 1967–1987. His third album, Armed Forces, was released in 1979, and features his most successful single "Oliver's Army". His first three albums all appeared on Rolling Stone's list of the 500 Greatest Albums of All Time.

Costello and the Attractions toured and recorded together for the better part of a decade, though differences between them caused a split by 1986. Much of Costello's work since has been as a solo artist, though reunions with members of the Attractions have been credited to the group over the years. Steeped in wordplay, the vocabulary of Costello's lyrics is broader than that of most popular songs. His music has drawn on many diverse genres; one critic described him as a "pop encyclopaedia", able to "reinvent the past in his own image".

Costello has won multiple awards in his career, including a Grammy Award, and has twice been nominated for the Brit Award for Best British Male. In 2003, Costello and the Attractions were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.In 2004, Rolling Stone ranked Costello number 80 on their list of the 100 Greatest Artists of All Time.

Recently, Elvis Costello was treated for a small but very aggressive tumor. His surgery was successful. As a cancer survivor, we love to hear those four little words - No Evidence of Disease.  Post surgical advice told him to rest for 3 to 4 weeks, which he did. At the end of the 4 weeks, he embarked on a European tour.  After the first performance, he realized he was not yet ready to continue the tour and needed to spend more recovery, canceling the rest of his tour.

The good news is that he has a new album coming out in October, and he is slated to begin touring the US in November.

I’ve put together a short playlist of his tunes.  I find his music to be soothing and it’s something that I like to have playing in the background on a quiet day.





What are your thoughts on his music? Had you heard of him before? Are you one of those that are ‘jealous’? Tell me about it in the comments below.



Before you leave, I should probably tell you the results of the most recent battle of the bands here.  We battled to determine the ‘REAL’ Side A of Sir Paul McCartney’s 2 newest songs. After watching the votes come in, I can see how he ended up a Double Side A record. It was like watching a tennis match. I've included my vote in the final results.

The final results:

“I Don’t Know”  with 8 votes

“Come On To Me”  with 8 votes

Most of the comments stated that they could go either way, depending on their mood at the time of listening. Thank you everyone that took the time to vote! Be sure to stop back on July 15 for the next battle of the bands!

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