The Words and Music of Elvis Costello

by James E. Perone

Overview

This book provides in-depth analysis of the words, music, and recordings of Elvis Costello, one of the most enigmatic, eclectic, and critically acclaimed singer-songwriters of the rock era.

Elvis Costello is one of the greatest pop songwriters of his generation as well as one of the most significant songwriters of the 20th century. His career's length now approaching four decades, Costello continues to be vital part of pop culture through live performances, recordings, and the iconic nature of his work. The Words and Music of Elvis Costello provides in-depth analysis of this important artist's words, music, and recordings.

Arranged chronologically, the book places Costello in the cultural context of his time and place; addresses the overlaps between rock, classical, torch song, and jazz in Costello's highly eclectic range of songs from 1975 to the present; provides a look at the uniquely British aspects of his work; and uniquely spotlights his compositional techniques and approaches to musical form.

The book covers everything from Costello's first album My Aim Is True as well as his other albums in the 1970s to his body of work in the '80s and '90s to his continuing eclecticism in the 21st century as he successfully integrates what would appear to be mutually exclusive genres. The concluding chapter provides analysis of the critical commentary about Elvis Costello's work as a performer and songwriter over his long career.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781440832154
Publisher:	Bloomsbury Academic
Publication date:	05/26/2015
Series:	The Praeger Singer-Songwriter Collection
Pages:	216
Product dimensions:	6.20(w) x 9.30(h) x 0.80(d)

About the Author

James E. Perone, PhD, is associate dean of the faculty and Margaret Morgan Ramsey Professor in music at the University of Mount Union, Alliance, OH.

Table of Contents

Series Foreword James E. Perone vii

Acknowledgments ix

Introduction 1

Organization of This Book 3

1 Early Life, Early Career 5

2 My Aim Is True 9

My Aim Is True (1977) 9

This Hears Model (1978) 16

Armed Forces (1979) 25

Get Happy!! (1980) 34

3 Never Quite Part of the Mainstream 43

Trust (1981) 43

Imperial Bedroom (1982) 52

Punch the Clock (1983) 60

Goodbye Cruel World (1984) 64

King of America (1986) 69

Blood & Chocolate (1986) 75

Spike (1989) 80

4 Moves into Jazz and Classical Music 89

Mighty Like a Rose (1991) 89

The Juliet Letters (1992) 94

Brutal Youth (1994) 100

All This Useless Beauty (1996) 105

Painted from Memory (1998) 113

5 New Century, Sam e Eclecticism 119

When I Was Cruel (2002) 120

North (2003) 126

The Delivery Man 2004) 131

The River in Reverse (2006) 136

Momofuku (2008) 140

Secret, Profane & Sugar Cane (2009) 145

National Ransom (2010) 150

Wise Up Ghost and Other Songs 2013 (2013) 155

Conclusions: The Importance of Being Elvis 161

Discography 163

Notes 171

Annotated Bibliography 177

Index 197

Editorial Reviews

11/01/2015
Perone's (The Words and Music of Carole King) book, part of Praeger's "Singer-Songwriter Collection" series, is a comprehensive critical study of the music of Elvis Costello, one of the most influential musicians of the last 40 years, with a career that began at the outset of the punk and New Wave movements and whose evolving and dynamic muse and influences have encompassed rock, baroque pop, country, jazz, classical, and art songs. Perone assesses all of Costello's studio releases chronologically, from his debut to his most recent album, examining his songs, their texts, production, orchestration, and construction, and sometimes applying detailed musical terms and analysis. The author also devotes commentary and examination to Costello's lyrics and meanings as well as contextual remarks about the creation of the albums, with widely regarded classics and lesser-known works given fairly equal space. VERDICT In under 200 pages it is difficult to craft an extensive study of a prolific musician who has released over two dozen albums of his own material; however, the book makes up for that in its scope with an astute overview of Costello's oeuvre.—James Collins, Morristown-Morris Twp. P.L., NJ

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