So Like Candy

One of my favorite Elvis Costello songs from the '90's—"So Like Candy"—performed here with Toshi Reagon.

Everyday I Write The Book

Elvis Costello and the Attractions performing "Everyday I Write The Book" in 1983.

Party Girl

Linda Ronstadt covering Elvis Costello's "Party Girl".

Almost Blue

Alison Moyet covering Elvis Costello's song "Almost Blue".

Everything It Takes

"Everything It Takes" with Elvis Costello, a track from Loretta Lynn's upcoming album.

Ascension Day

Elvis Costello and Allen Toussaint performing "Ascension Day".

Happy Birthday Elvis

A twofer to mark both Throwback Thursday and the fact that Monday was Elvis Costello's 60th birthday. These are not old clips, but a couple videos from a 2007 performance of songs from Costello's first album, My Aim Is True. Elvis performs here with Clover, the band that performed on the original album, released in 1977.

"Blame It On Cain"



"No Dancing"



"Alison"

Loretta

Some more good harmony. Norah Jones, Gillian Welch and David Rawlings perform the Townes Van Zandt song "Loretta".



Here is a second version of the same song that does not really have much harmony, but it does have some great singers—John Prine, Lyle Lovett, Ray LaMontagne and Elvis Costello.

Elvis & Lucinda

Two songs performed by Elvis Costello and Lucinda Williams.

"Wild Horses", written by Mick Jagger and Keith Richards, and "Blue", written by Lucinda

The Weight

An all star performance of "The Weight"—Elvis Cotello, Ray LaMontagne, Nick Lowe, Richard Thompson, Allen Toussaint and Levon Helm on drums.

Red Shoes

Somehow this just seems like the right song to mark B16's abdication—Elvis Costello's "Red Shoes"

Shipbuilding

While I am posting favorites, here is my favorite Elvis Costello song, "Shipbuilding". There are several live versions of this, but I am posting the album version, because that is they only version with Chet Baker on Trumpet, which is the icing on the cake.

Lucinda Williams Duets

A couple Lucinda Williams duets.

Willie Nelson and Lucinda perform "Overtime"



Elvis and Lucinda perform "Poison Rose"



John Prine and Lucinda cover two Hank Williams songs, "Wedding Bells" and "Turn Back the Years"

Red

This is Red, White and Blue week, starting with red today.

"Red, Red Wine" - UB40



"Red Rain" - Peter Gabriel, Natalie Merchant & R.E.M.



"The Scarlett Tide" - Elvis Costello, Emmylou Harris, Gillian Welch & David Rawlings

Another End of the World

Another post for end the world. How could I not have thought of this sooner?

Elvis Costello - "Waiting for the End of the World"

Elvis Costello

Elvis Costello made my top five for last year, but he also started out about the same time as Alison Moyet and the Buggles, so I am giving him a post today.

This clip of "Alison" is listed as his first television performance. If that is true it must be from about 1977.



"Shipbuilding" is my favorite Elvis Costello song. This is a good version of the song, but the version on the album is even better, because it includes a trumpet solo by Chet Baker.



Finally, a more recent performance. Here is Willie Nelson's song, "Crazy", with Willie and Diana Krall.

2009 Favorites

This last post of the year contains videos of my five favorite songs from 2009. Not all of the videos have the best sound so I am also including a link to the lyrics for each song.

"Funny the Way It Is" written by Carter Beauford, Stefan Lessard, Dave Matthews, Leroi Moore, Boyd Tinsley and Tim Reynolds.

The song is from the Dave Matthews Band album Big Whiskey and the GrooGrux King.

I posted an another version of this song previously in my Animation post.




"Nemesis" written by David Gray, Robbie Malone and Neill MacColl.

This is from David Gray's album Draw the Line. I had trouble getting a video of this with good audio quality. Here is an extended version of the song that ends with what I think are a couple lines from the Kate Bush song "Running Up That Hill".




"Chalk" by written by Julie Miller.

This song is from Buddy & Julie Miller's album Written In Chalk. On the album Buddy performs the song with Patty Griffin, but there is no good video of them performing it together, so here is a version with just Buddy performing.



"Remember Well" written by Luke Bulla.

This song is on the album WPA put out by the group Works Progress Administration. The band is fronted by Glen Phillips from Toad the Wet Sprocket, Sean and Sara Watkins from Nickel Creek, and Luke Bulla, who wrote this song and also sings lead on it.



"Sulphur to Sugarcane" written by Elvis Costello and T Bone Burnett.

None of the songs so far have been particularly upbeat, and the last song was about Alzheimer's. So I at least want to end with some levity. This song is off Elvis Costello's album "Secret, Profane & Sugarcane".

Billie Holiday Covers

To finish out the week, a couple covers of songs that Billie Holiday also did.

First, Elvis Costello's version of "Gloomy Sunday". I don't think I have yet posted any songs about suicide, so now we also have that covered.



From one of my favorite singers of the 80's, Alison Moyet performing "That Ole Devil Called Love".



And from one of my favorite voices of the current century, Madeleine Peyroux performing "Sunny Side of the Street".