Bulldog's Armchair Guide To Elvis Costello

Bulldog · 08-20-2009, 11:08 AM

Just letting anyone particularly concerned know, I'm in the process of going through each review, replacing and deleting necessary video, picture and download links, correcting typos and so forth. Hell, I might even do some re-reviews if I feel like it's worth it. All this'll probably be finished soon enough.

But for now...

The Bootleg Corner
#6

Bootleg number 6 (and probably the last one I'll post here) comes from a very interesting corner of Costello's discography, this being his 1998 collaboration with a certain Burt Bacharach (you'll find my review of it here). This next bootleg saw the same band Costello and Bacharach had recorded Painted From Memory with (which included good old Steve Nieve among its ranks) supporting Bacharach's compositions and Costello's lyrics and vocal parts on tour. This particular one is the audio recording of the Sessions At West 54th gig - officially released on VHS in that same year of 1998 (it's still unavailable on DVD to this day, so it's quite a collectible item these days).

As far as I know, the videos I included in my sneakily-hotlinked review in the above paragraph are all from this bootleg. As such, the entire gig is available for your viewing pleasure on youtube. For those who never read my review, you can probably guess from the name Bacharach what kind of music is on this file I'm about to link you to - slow-burning, gentle and friendly torch songs. Easy listening when all's said and done and, given the top-drawer sound quality, a very good listen if you can stand some soppy music for grown-ups.

Here it is then. Same old story - click the picture for the download link and enjoy! Worth it if only for the fantastic, newer arrangement of Accidents Will Happen if you ask me.

Elvis Costello & Burt Bacharach
Sessions At West 54th - 18/10/98

1. Intro
2. Baby It's You
3. What the World Needs Now
4. Toledo
5. This House Is Empty Now
6. Tears At the Birthday Party
7. I Just Don't Know What To Do With Myself
8. Painted From Memory
9. Accidents Will Happen
10. My Thief
11. I Still Have That Other Girl
12. God Give Me Strength

Schizotypic · 08-20-2009, 07:00 PM

Wow, I forget about this for a second and your four or five albums into it. Wow! Keep it up, man. Haven't read a single review in here yet, but I'll have a nice couple of reading sessions as soon as I'm bothered to get myself checking out Costello. It'll definitely be a helpful thread for me one day, considering all your blabbing on about this guy has put him on my to-do list.

Great effort so far and keep it up! Cheers.

Bulldog · 08-21-2009, 04:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Schizotypic

Wow, I forget about this for a second and your four or five albums into it. Wow! Keep it up, man. Haven't read a single review in here yet, but I'll have a nice couple of reading sessions as soon as I'm bothered to get myself checking out Costello. It'll definitely be a helpful thread for me one day, considering all your blabbing on about this guy has put him on my to-do list.

Great effort so far and keep it up! Cheers.

Thanks buddy. Good to hear my ceaseless rambling has worked

Unfortunately (for me, at least) my work with this thread is basically done, which is a shame as I really enjoyed making all the posts I did towards it. I'm starting to run out of good bootlegs to upload as well, and those are only of any real interest to members who have enough time for Costello's work to want to collect them (and to my knowledge there aren't very many of those on these boards).

Anyways, if you need help finding stuff, let me know.

loveissucide · 10-19-2009, 11:29 AM

This is fantastic stuff,been getting right back into Elvis of late.

Bulldog · 10-19-2009, 01:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by loveissucide

This is fantastic stuff,been getting right back into Elvis of late.

Cheers pal.

You've also just reminded me that I need to move the album index posts where anyone can see them and out of the bowels of the thread, so kudos for that too

I'll get on that in a minute or two...

Bulldog · 10-19-2009, 01:06 PM

Index

1977 - My Aim Is True

Rating: 8/10
Sampler link

1978 - This Year's Model

Rating: 8.5/10
Sampler link

1979 - Armed Forces

Rating: 6/10
Sampler link

1980 - Get Happy!!

Rating: 9.5/10
Sampler link

*Glossary of ratings*
1-3/10 = Not worth the jewel case it comes in.
4-5/10 = Strictly for completists only.
6-7/10 = Solid, but not truly brilliant.
8/10 = Very good.
9/10 = Fantastic.
10/10 = Essential.

Bulldog · 10-19-2009, 01:07 PM

1981 - Trust

Rating: 10/10
Sampler link

1981 - Almost Blue

Rating: 6/10
Sampler link

1982 - Imperial Bedroom

Rating: 10/10
Sampler link

1983 - Punch the Clock

Rating: 4/10
Sampler link

*Glossary of ratings*
1-3/10 = Not worth the jewel case it comes in.
4-5/10 = Strictly for completists only.
6-7/10 = Solid, but not truly brilliant.
8/10 = Very good.
9/10 = Fantastic.
10/10 = Essential.

Bulldog · 10-19-2009, 01:08 PM

1984 - Goodbye Cruel World

Rating: 2/10
Sampler link

1986 - King Of America

Rating: 9/10
Sampler link

1986 - Blood and Chocolate

Rating: 9/10
Sampler link

1989 - Spike

Rating: 10/10
Sampler link

*Glossary of ratings*
1-3/10 = Not worth the jewel case it comes in.
4-5/10 = Strictly for completists only.
6-7/10 = Solid, but not truly brilliant.
8/10 = Very good.
9/10 = Fantastic.
10/10 = Essential.

Bulldog · 10-19-2009, 01:09 PM

1991 - Mighty Like a Rose

Rating: 9/10
Sampler link

1993 - The Juliet Letters

Rating: 7/10
Sampler link

1994 - Brutal Youth

Rating: 7/10
Sampler link

1995 - Kojak Variety

Rating: 5/10
Sampler link

*Glossary of ratings*
1-3/10 = Not worth the jewel case it comes in.
4-5/10 = Strictly for completists only.
6-7/10 = Solid, but not truly brilliant.
8/10 = Very good.
9/10 = Fantastic.
10/10 = Essential.

Bulldog · 10-19-2009, 01:09 PM

1996 - All This Useless Beauty

Rating: 8.5/10
Sampler link

1998 - Painted From Memory

Rating: 7/10
Sampler link

2002 - When I Was Cruel

Rating: 8/10
Sampler link

2003 - North

Rating: 4/10
Sampler link

*Glossary of ratings*
1-3/10 = Not worth the jewel case it comes in.
4-5/10 = Strictly for completists only.
6-7/10 = Solid, but not truly brilliant.
8/10 = Very good.
9/10 = Fantastic.
10/10 = Essential.

10-19-2009, 11:29 AM	#114 (permalink)
loveissucide Himself Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Leuven ,Belgium, via Ireland Posts: 1,325	This is fantastic stuff,been getting right back into Elvis of late. __________________ www.last.fm/user/p-mccusker http://www.mixcloud.com/pmccusker www.valjester.wordpress.com

08-20-2009, 11:08 AM	#111 (permalink)
Bulldog why bother? Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: UK Posts: 4,840	Just letting anyone particularly concerned know, I'm in the process of going through each review, replacing and deleting necessary video, picture and download links, correcting typos and so forth. Hell, I might even do some re-reviews if I feel like it's worth it. All this'll probably be finished soon enough. But for now... The Bootleg Corner #6 Bootleg number 6 (and probably the last one I'll post here) comes from a very interesting corner of Costello's discography, this being his 1998 collaboration with a certain Burt Bacharach (you'll find my review of it here). This next bootleg saw the same band Costello and Bacharach had recorded Painted From Memory with (which included good old Steve Nieve among its ranks) supporting Bacharach's compositions and Costello's lyrics and vocal parts on tour. This particular one is the audio recording of the Sessions At West 54th gig - officially released on VHS in that same year of 1998 (it's still unavailable on DVD to this day, so it's quite a collectible item these days). As far as I know, the videos I included in my sneakily-hotlinked review in the above paragraph are all from this bootleg. As such, the entire gig is available for your viewing pleasure on youtube. For those who never read my review, you can probably guess from the name Bacharach what kind of music is on this file I'm about to link you to - slow-burning, gentle and friendly torch songs. Easy listening when all's said and done and, given the top-drawer sound quality, a very good listen if you can stand some soppy music for grown-ups. Here it is then. Same old story - click the picture for the download link and enjoy! Worth it if only for the fantastic, newer arrangement of Accidents Will Happen if you ask me. Elvis Costello & Burt Bacharach Sessions At West 54th - 18/10/98 1. Intro 2. Baby It's You 3. What the World Needs Now 4. Toledo 5. This House Is Empty Now 6. Tears At the Birthday Party 7. I Just Don't Know What To Do With Myself 8. Painted From Memory 9. Accidents Will Happen 10. My Thief 11. I Still Have That Other Girl 12. God Give Me Strength

08-20-2009, 07:00 PM	#112 (permalink)
Schizotypic Souls of Sound Sailors Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Mojave Posts: 759	Wow, I forget about this for a second and your four or five albums into it. Wow! Keep it up, man. Haven't read a single review in here yet, but I'll have a nice couple of reading sessions as soon as I'm bothered to get myself checking out Costello. It'll definitely be a helpful thread for me one day, considering all your blabbing on about this guy has put him on my to-do list. Great effort so far and keep it up! Cheers.

10-19-2009, 01:06 PM	#116 (permalink)
Bulldog why bother? Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: UK Posts: 4,840	Index 1977 - My Aim Is True Rating: 8/10 Sampler link 1978 - This Year's Model Rating: 8.5/10 Sampler link 1979 - Armed Forces Rating: 6/10 Sampler link 1980 - Get Happy!! Rating: 9.5/10 Sampler link Glossary of ratings 1-3/10 = Not worth the jewel case it comes in. 4-5/10 = Strictly for completists only. 6-7/10 = Solid, but not truly brilliant. 8/10 = Very good. 9/10 = Fantastic. 10/10 = Essential.

10-19-2009, 01:07 PM	#117 (permalink)
Bulldog why bother? Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: UK Posts: 4,840	1981 - Trust Rating: 10/10 Sampler link 1981 - Almost Blue Rating: 6/10 Sampler link 1982 - Imperial Bedroom Rating: 10/10 Sampler link 1983 - Punch the Clock Rating: 4/10 Sampler link Glossary of ratings 1-3/10 = Not worth the jewel case it comes in. 4-5/10 = Strictly for completists only. 6-7/10 = Solid, but not truly brilliant. 8/10 = Very good. 9/10 = Fantastic. 10/10 = Essential.

10-19-2009, 01:08 PM	#118 (permalink)
Bulldog why bother? Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: UK Posts: 4,840	1984 - Goodbye Cruel World Rating: 2/10 Sampler link 1986 - King Of America Rating: 9/10 Sampler link 1986 - Blood and Chocolate Rating: 9/10 Sampler link 1989 - Spike Rating: 10/10 Sampler link Glossary of ratings 1-3/10 = Not worth the jewel case it comes in. 4-5/10 = Strictly for completists only. 6-7/10 = Solid, but not truly brilliant. 8/10 = Very good. 9/10 = Fantastic. 10/10 = Essential.

10-19-2009, 01:09 PM	#119 (permalink)
Bulldog why bother? Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: UK Posts: 4,840	1991 - Mighty Like a Rose Rating: 9/10 Sampler link 1993 - The Juliet Letters Rating: 7/10 Sampler link 1994 - Brutal Youth Rating: 7/10 Sampler link 1995 - Kojak Variety Rating: 5/10 Sampler link Glossary of ratings 1-3/10 = Not worth the jewel case it comes in. 4-5/10 = Strictly for completists only. 6-7/10 = Solid, but not truly brilliant. 8/10 = Very good. 9/10 = Fantastic. 10/10 = Essential.

10-19-2009, 01:09 PM	#120 (permalink)
Bulldog why bother? Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: UK Posts: 4,840	1996 - All This Useless Beauty Rating: 8.5/10 Sampler link 1998 - Painted From Memory Rating: 7/10 Sampler link 2002 - When I Was Cruel Rating: 8/10 Sampler link 2003 - North Rating: 4/10 Sampler link Glossary of ratings 1-3/10 = Not worth the jewel case it comes in. 4-5/10 = Strictly for completists only. 6-7/10 = Solid, but not truly brilliant. 8/10 = Very good. 9/10 = Fantastic. 10/10 = Essential.