One of the most influential popular artists of our time will join one of the most important songwriter-performers of the 1970s for a brief concert tour of the U.S. east coast this fall, as Bob Dylan and Elvis Costello get together for thirteen performances.
More info is available at the official Bob Dylan website, here.
The Dylan image is from Time magazine, I believe. See http://img2.timeinc.net/ew/dynamic/imgs/060825/10370__bob_dylan_l.jpg. You might find it by searching there or contacting them.
Hi there. I am hoping to obtain a high resolution copy of the image above of dylan – 300 pixels/inch or more. Can you help me out? Or can you tell me where you got the original image?
Joe, I definitely appreciate the corrections. You’re absolutely right about Lowe’s EP title–although “Lowi” would have been a good title too.
Stiff Records originated as a nice response to the increasing pompousness of rock, on the one hand (exemplified by much prog, art rock, and hard rock), and the increasing cheesiness (exemplified by disco) on the other. Of course, Stiff ultimately became a boringly commercial enterprise and lost much of its appeal, as is the inevitable arc of rock music.
Ian Dury was indeed a clever wordsmith, and his snarky Cockney vocals and combination of punk music and music hall traditions was original and appealing. He didn’t last long–more a result of personal problems than of insufficient talent, I imagine–but his first album, New Boots and Panties, was very good. (At least I think it was his first….) About half of it was very good indeed. “Sex and Drugs and Rock and Roll” is a classic track, of course, and “Billericay Dickie” and “Sweet Gene Vincent” are also very good. Quite a fun recording.
S.T., I hate to correct you again, but the name of that Nick Lowe EP was called Bowi. Nick Lowe was part of Stiff Records (as was Elvis C) back then, which had a great sense of humor (“If It’s A Hit, You Know It’s a Stiff”)as well as great performers such as the late Ian Drury (a great wordsmith in the Cockney tradition) & Wreckless Eric (the Nick Lowe produced “(I’d Go)The Whole Wide World”. I also think that there so be more fun ‘n wit in what passes for rock ‘n roll today.
By the way, one of my favorite songs by the Basher is “I Love the Sound of Breaking Glass,” which is a hilarious and preternaturally catchy parody of David Bowie’s arty side, specifically his song “Breaking Glass” on Low. In fact, I recall hearing somewhere that Lowe originally released it in the UK on an EP named “Lowi.” That’s the Basher for you. His sense of humor is a definite breath of fresh air in the overly self-important world of contemporary rock and pop music.
Gosh, remember when music was fun? I’m so sick of all the screaming and whining and posturing. As Sideshow Bob might say, they oughta do Les Winan and more rockin’!
Another album I have to buy! I’d heard of it but hadn’t grabbed copy yet. Yes, Lowe seems a really cool guy.
So you’re a Basher fan too,S.T. I just obtained his latest album, At My Age & it’s a good one. It reminds me of Charlie Rich. Besides being a great producer, the Basher’s also a great interview subject. I remember one story when he went down to Texas to check out the Confederate Air Force (his dad was a RAF man).
Gah, of course you’re right about the Jebus of Cool writing “What’s So Funny?” Actually, I think Nick has probably had more real influence on the culture than Elvis Costello has done. It’s a debatable point, at least. Everybody’s heard of “I Knew the Bride (When She Used to Rock ‘n’ Roll),” for example, and it’s a song that actually connects with people’s lives. Same with “Cruel to Be Kind” and “Heart.” Plus, The Basher’s work as a producer has been highly influential, as a force trying to keep a sense of fun in rock music (the very opposite of EC’s agenda). Certainly EC is more talented, and I enjoy his more straightforward albums, but Lowe, for all his frequent quirkiness, connects with people in a way Costello cannot.
S.T., “What’s So Funny (About Peace, Love and Understanding) was actually written by Nick Lowe, who produced many of Elvis’ early albums.
Also, you’re right about Elvis C considering himself an “artist” w/those string quartet albums.
Joe, You’re quite right about Dylan being much more influential than Elvis Costello. The only EC songs that I think really have had a lot of reach are “Watching the Detectives,” “Girls Talk,” and “What’s So Funny (About Peace, Love, and Understanding), and their influence is not even in the same universe as Dylan’s biggest songs.
I think the true difference between the two men’s careers is that Dylan really tried to speak to a mass audience, whereas EC appears to have seen himself as more of an artist (consider, for example, his albums with string quartets, etc.). It’s ironic, of course, that Dylan achieved much greater artistic success. And I agree with Right Wing Bob that Dylan is best thought of as a man of the right, politically and culturally.
Jeez, S.T.,when I first saw this, I thought I was on RightWingBob (a website that I recommend).
I’ve been a fan of both artists, especially Elvis Costello, during the years 1978 until the late 90s, when my interest began to cool. Although both Dylan & Costello are talented songwriters, I feel that Elvis has never written a song that has been truly memorable by the general public the way many Dylan songs have become. Maybe one reason is that Dylan came of age in the 1960s, when the listening public was more uniform, while Elvis came up during the 70s, when the audience was more fragmented. Dylan had many top 40 hits, both under his name & covers of his songs by other artists, while Elvis had only two minor top 40 hits (Everyday I Write the Book #36 1983 & Veronica #16 1989).