Here are some tracks from the most-influential bootleg/radio concert of my youth: Elvis Costello & The Attractions with Martin Belmont (Graham Parker and The Rumour) subbing on guitar for injured keyboardist Steve Nieve. This is half of a King Biscuit Flour Hour concert that I taped off the radio when I was however old I was the year my favorite album of all time, Get Happy!!, was released.
I love the way the band steamrolls through these songs. I love the way the recording actually sounds like someone stuck a mic up in the middle of the club (ie, rather than a dreadful “board mix”). I love the material. I especially love the way the band takes command of the material and makes it work be sheer force of will (and the strength of rock’s finest rhythm section ever). No slight to Steve Nieve, because the full-strength Attractions back then could also pull this off, but as a youngster in the process of forming a 2-guitar band – without organ – getting to hear one of our favorite artist’s music performed in this configuration was a godsend. I can’t tell you how many times we sat around the bong and played the cassette of this concert, detailing all that was right about this approach. We might as well have been studying Ted Williams‘ swing.
So without further ado, here are some tracks to study over the weekend!
“Temptation”
Excellent Tracks, Mr Mod. Is this from the actual casette? I know the CD Bootleg from this show does not include “Don’t Look Back”. You should put that one up!
These are actually from the CD you burned me years ago. I’ve got “Don’t Look Back” as well. The middle section of the CD was having trouble saving this morning. I’ll get the other tracks up there over the weekend if there’s interest.
I still have that cassette somewhere, I’m pretty sure, as well as the smokin’ 1978 show that was also broadcast on WMMR!
This stuff is GREAT. I love the weird stuff going on in the high – end.
thanks for posting this!!
art
thanks for the ted williams youtube…
i don’t care if the sound of bat hitting ball is overdubbed, it still gets me stoked for baseball.
got a “six pack” this year. my first game: april 4.
Last day or two to download the Terry Riley/John Cale and Swamp Pop stuff before I take them off the server. Get to it!
Finally got to listen to this Riley/Cale album. Amazing stuff! Elvis C. is up next.
Glad to hear that Townspeople are digging this. Feel free to pass this link along to your friends. Your friends are our friends – in most cases. I can think of a few exceptions:)
I thought I’d mention that Belmont was also in a later edition of the Attractions. When I saw them on the Punch the Clock tour at the World’s Fair Amphitheater, Nieve was back on keyboards, Belmont was on guitar, and the Rumour Horns were there too. Possibly chick singers as well? It was a long time ago….
I’ve got a bootleg from that tour that’s got chick singers and the horns. I wonder if Belmont’s on that and I didn’t notice him among the high-end sheen those Madness producers sent him on the road with. Nieve gets a really cheesy keyboard sound on the tape I have from this tour. Nieve’s keyboard sound could vary widely, often being the key factor in whether a Costello show was great or not.
Man, oh man. I found this via a search for this Hope & Anchor show. Like you, I taped this show off the radio a million years ago, but lost the tape. Is there any way I can get the rest of the show? Maybe you can post it? Anything you can do, I’d appreciate it immensely because this is my favorite live show of all time, for any artist.