Archive for the ‘Elvis is King: Costello’s My Aim is True’ Category

Listen to Richard’s “In the Studio” interview on “Elvis is King.”

Screen Shot 2015-05-24 at 2.52.01 PMRichard spoke about his new book “Elvis is King: Costello’s My Aim is True” on NewsTalk 1010’s “In the Studio” on Saturday May 23, 2015 with hosts Bob redid and Blair Packham.

In The Studio airs every Saturday night at 8pm and Sunday night from 10pm with Bob Reid and Blair Packham (acclaimed singer-songwriter, producer, music educator and former leader of The Jitters), bringing you a wide variety of guests from all aspects of the world of music.

 

 

“Elvis is King” on CP24’s “Live at Noon” with Stephen LeDrew #elviscostello

Screen Shot 2015-05-21 at 2.21.41 PMRichard sits in with CP24’s Stephen LeDrew to talk about his new book “Elvis is King: Costello’s My Aim is True.”

Watch the whole thing HERE!

 

 

 

Metro Canada: New book an ode to the reign of Elvis Costello

Screen Shot 2015-05-14 at 12.20.54 PMBy Liz Brown – Metro Books

The 1970s in Britain was a decade of unemployment, labour unrest and massive inflation. In short, a breeding ground for pissed off youth with no money, no hope and a hell of a lot of time on their hands.

The decade of discontent spilled into the music world as big, bombastic rock bands grew physically distant from their fans as they played larger and larger arena shows. People began for searching something that spoke to their anger and frustration.

Enter snarly, stripped down sounds played by guys named Rat Scabies and Johnny Rotten and women like Poly Styrene… READ THE WHOLE THING HERE!

 

Thanks to John Foyle for a review of “Elvis is King: Costello’s My Aim is True.”

Screen Shot 2015-04-29 at 9.39.23 AMThanks to John Foyle for his kind words on Richard’s book Elvis is King: Costello’s My Aim is True!

“It is indeed a pretty flawless account of all things MAIT, before , during and after it’s release. Richard has a clear, succinct style. Part of the acknowledgments goes ‘ to those who declined to talk to me , Jake Riviera, Tony Parsons, and Nick Lowe, among others, for making me rethink the approach to the book.’ There is a lengthy analysis of the songs – making all kinds of comparisons, including one to Whitney Houston – but otherwise it is a straight narrative of events. I’m , of course, too close to the subject matter to tell if it will cause a new wave (ha!) of interest in the album but it is certainly recommended as a introduction to it. The writer doesn’t bang on to much about his reaction to the album as a teenager but what he does is touching and evocative. There’s a especially vivid description of watching the SNL appearance in Dec. ’77 in his father’s tv store , with rows of tvs showing it at top volume.”

Elvis is King: Costello’s My Aim is True, has 4 out of 5 star rating on Goodreads!

Screen Shot 2015-04-29 at 9.39.23 AMRichard’s new book, Elvis is King: Costello’s My Aim is True, has a four out of five star rating on Goodreads!

“Richard Crouse analyzes and explains the meaning of the songs on the album, as well as detailing the events leading up to the release of the album. The highlight of the book is the description of the songs’ meaning within the context of the time they were written. Some 40 decades later, I finally understand a lyric I have listened to hundreds of times – “Now that your picture’s in the paper being rhythmically admired…” Think about it!”

“Richard Crouse’s book is an easy-to-read and well-written and researched story of how My Aim is True came to be. It is very easy to tell that he loves the album as much as I do, and I learned quite a bit about one of my favorite musicians. My Aim is True is probably still one of my favorite albums, and I never get tired of listening to these songs. If you have not heard this album, download and listen as soon as you can, then go and read this book because you will want to know more.”

Find out more HERE!

Intrigued? Buy it HERE!

 

Richard talks about his new book “Elvis is King” on “Canada AM”

Screen Shot 2015-04-29 at 9.43.24 AMRichard talks about the origin of prog, pub and punk rock and how they fed the creation of the classic Elvis Costello album “My Aim is True” on “Canada AM” with Beverly Thomson.

Watch the whole thing HERE!

 

 

 

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Richard will talk Elvis Costello and “Elvis is King” on “Canada AM”

Screen Shot 2015-04-27 at 2.22.38 PMTune into CTV’s “Canada AM” on Wednesday April 29, 2015 at 8:05 to see Richard chat up his new book “Elvis is King: Costello’s My Aim is True.”

 

 

 

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“Elvis is King: Costello’s My Aim is true” review from “Publisher’s Weekly”!

Screen Shot 2015-04-26 at 2.03.13 PM“The author keeps his adoration for the album—”Elvis’s raw energy and anger… spoke to me in a way nothing had before”—confined to the introduction, though there is little doubt the entire project is a labor of love that many readers will find [as] contagious as listen[ing] to My Aim Is True again or for the first time.” – Publisher’s Weekly

Read the whole thing HERE!

More reviews for Richard’s new book “Elvis is King: Costello’s My Aim is True”

Screen Shot 2015-04-25 at 2.30.26 PMFrom Paul Myers, author of A Wizard A True Star: Todd Rundgren In The Studio:

“Everybody knows that My Aim Is True is a classic album, but now Richard Crouse makes the definitive case for Elvis Costello’s landmark debut, with a narrative that’s as fast-paced and literate as the album he celebrates. With all the toe-tapping passion of a true music fan, Crouse demystifies the man behind the mystery dance, while simultaneously allowing himself to play the enlightened fan boy. Going in, I thought I knew a lot about Elvis Costello, Nick Lowe and the audaciously brilliant world of Stiff Records, but Richard’s book proved to me that I clearly knew less than zero!”

From Barry Avrich, director of The Last Mogul and Filthy Gorgeous: The Bob Guccione Story:

“As a film director who has chronicled the famous and infamous, Richard had me at hello with this book. Elvis pioneered a sound and style that was the alchemy of hip, attitude and talent. This book is an extraordinarily entertaining autopsy of a great career. This book is the new king of music biographies.”

From Justine Lewkowicz’s NewsTalk 1010 Bookends review:

SYNOPSIS: This is the story of how Elvis Costello got his start, and the story of the making of his critically-acclaimed debut album My Aim is True.

His real name was Declan MacManus. His mom worked at the Selfridges department store. His dad was a trumpeter and singer.

Declan worked as a computer operator.

It sounds like any bland life of a typical 9-to-5er. Except that this was a man with a talent.

Richard Crouse details how Declan MacManus convinced an indie record company to believe in him, how they created Elvis Costello, and how a hit album was recorded in just 24 hours.

MY THOUGHTS: Crouse says he loves Costello’s story. Well, he makes you, the reader, love Costello’s story.

Here was a guy with a boring day job who had dreams of something bigger. But what would have happened if he had not decided, while riding the tube one day, to call in sick and keep going an extra couple of stops to drop off a tape at this newly-opened Stiff Records? What if he knocked on the company’s door six months later?

Crouse puts it all into context and asks the “what ifs.” He not only tells Declan MacManus’ story, but also explains the 1970s environment that helped push him forward.

There’s also a personal aspect to the book. It’s a topic that Crouse is passionate about because he grew up listening to My Aim is True… in a tiny room with a shag carpet. It’s something you can relate to no matter who your musical inspiration was in your teenage years (memories of boy bands and 90s punk rock flooding back…).

MY RATING: 4 out of 5