Elvis Costello: Rock n Roll Hall of Fame Class of 2003

Rock Hall Bio: http://rockhall.com/inductees/elvis-costello-the-attractions/bio/

Official Site: http://www.elviscostello.com/

Costello emerged from the London pub scene to help pioneer the New Wave movement of the late 70s/early 80s. He has one of the most diverse catalogues in music.

Less Than Zero (1977): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ydpablsm7f0

Alison (1977): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C9GlC9GyF4Y

Watching the Detectives (1977): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gj-CPouUAWo

He got banned from Saturday Night Live for playing Radio Radio instead of Less Than Zero.

Pump It Up (1978): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=opIL3Yt0Un8

Radio Radio (1978): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oOWwN3T2xkc

Oliver’s Army (1979): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uVwrrkt22Ag

I Can’t Stand up For Falling Down (1980): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SEZrBw6mcSM

High Fidelity (1980): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vRT8nA665Gs

A Good Year for the Roses (1981): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ySQlU3hussQ

Sweet Dreams (1981): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nXEn2G6K1gU

Everyday I Write a Book (1983): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jfFunjzyIsE

Peace in Our Time (1984): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AY_Lw53udq8

Live Aid (1985): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZB7-iOg516w

The Attractions split in 1986. They would reunite at times through the years.

Veronica (1989): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F6Uqf0IKsz4

The Other Side of Summer (1991): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZXlnyRIhp4M

Sulky Girl (1994): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ARfiZTNEO1s

She (1999): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O040xuq2FR0

Tribute to Joe Strummer w/Bruce Springsteen, Steve Van Zandt, and Dave Grohl (2003): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d1QldW82xzQ 

National Ransom (2010): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xkN_qwBHKx4

Sesame Street (2011): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KxardpBReQc

Paul McCartney: Rock n Roll HOF part 2

By 1980, McCartney dispatched Wings and went solo again.

Coming Up (1980):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cDBkySeyiDo

Ebony and Ivory w/Stevie Wonder (1982):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CmALA8miQY8

The Girl is Mine w/Michael Jackson (1982):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rHp0s2wKajw

Say Say Say w/Michael Jackson (1983):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b9jGSdGVNFI

In 1983, he paid homage to the 1914 Christmas Truce along the Western Front.

Pipes of Peace (1983):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NVK_mJrLbmY

Paul starred in the film Give My Regards to Broad Street in 1984.

No More Lonely Nights w/David Gilmour (1984):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BxYpsB_jdH8

Live Aid (1985):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZsZUvmZUYTU

Spies Like Us (1986):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=27ATt3FXAUY

He worked with Elvis Costello for his Flowers in the Dirt album.

My Brave Face (1989):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h85OGkCaKIg

This One (1989):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9pb-8bdhogs

Figure of Eight (1989):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dlwLo8txw1k

Paul McCartney: My Brave Face (1989)

Elvis Costello cowrote "My Brave Face" with McCartney. The song went on to be Paul's last Top 40 hit in America. It is also the last song by a former Beatle to crack the Top 40. The Spanish loved it and sent it to #1. "My Brave Face" is on the underrated Flowers in the Dirt album and is worth checking out if you are a Beatles fan.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h85OGkCaKIg

Elvis Costello: (What's So Funny 'bout) Peace, Love, and Understanding (1979)

Nick Lowe wrote and recorded "Peace, Love, and Understanding" in 1974. However, the Elvis Costello version is the one people remember. In fact, Rolling Stone named the Costello version from 1979 as one of the greatest songs of all time. Lowe produced the Costello track, which the pair released as a b-side. The surprise hit became a last minute addition to Elvis' album Armed Forces.

Elvis:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6RVDQgVxprE

Nick Lowe:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P7txCdLCP9U

955. Alison by Elvis Costello (1977)

"Alison" is a mystery. Elvis won't say who the song is about, but denies it is about murder. He does not wish to spoil the song for people. Elvis himself came out of the punk and new wave scene of the late seventies and is an amazing lyricist known for his word play as well as divergent influences.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vs6HbYit5-A

Rolling Stone Mag's Top 500 Songs #276-300

276. Sloop John B: The Beach Boys- I think of Forrest Gump in the rain when I hear this.

277. Sweet Little Sixteen: Chuck Berry- The Beach Boys ripped this off and now Chuck Berry has a writing credit on “Surfin’ USA.”

278. Something: The Beatles- Pattie Boyd influenced this, and Layla and Wonderful Tonight by Eric Clapton.

279. Somebody to Love: Jefferson Airplane- Grace Slick accidentally got invited to the Nixon White House. She wanted to plant LSD in his drink, but got caught.

280. Born in the USA: Bruce Springsteen- The song’s message got lost in the flag.

281. I’ll Take You There: The Staples Singers- Still appears in commercials…It will never die!

282. Ziggy Stardust: David Bowie- Bowie makes a plastic rock star and becomes a real rock star.

283. Pictures of You: The Cure- Robert Smith does a love song…and of course it is about a broken dream.

284. Chapel of Love: Dixie Cups- Phil Spector was behind this (of course). It appears in wedding movies and will never die.

285. Ain’t No Sunshine: Bill Withers- Not sure why this is so high up.

286. Seven Nation Army: White Stripes- One of the last of the classic rock bands…even though they are newer.

287. You Are the Sunshine of My Life: Stevie Wonder- I vaguely remember this from childhood. I’m surprised it is not used in commercials nowadays.

288. Help Me: Joni Mitchell- Jazz meets the singer/songwriter genre.

289. Call Me: Blondie- More hookers.

290. What’s So Funny (About Peace, Love, and Understanding): Elvis Costello- Great song/long title.

291. Smokestack Lightin’: Howlin’ Wolf- Now we’re talking!

292. Summer Babe: Pavement- Pavement does a Lou Reed imitation.

293. Walk this Way: Run DMC and Aerosmith- They created a monster. Now we can’t get rid of rap rock.

294. Money (That’s What I Want): Barrett Strong- Motown’s First Hit

295. Can’t Buy Me Love: The Beatles- More hookers

296. Stan: Eminem and Dido: Not very often a song becomes a hit twice during the same period of time. This happened for Dido.

297. She’s Not There: The Zombies- The British Invasion meets jazz.

298. Train in Vain: The Clash- An uplifting end to an album about the post modern apocalypse

299. Tired of Being Alone: Al Green- Al Green was huge many moons ago.

300. Black Dog: Led Zeppelin- Robert Plant’s ode to a dog’s upfrontness. No courting rituals here!