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WetWetWet
Here are the top three musical influences for Graeme Clark. Select one of the links below to fnd out a little more about them:
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Elvis Costello was born Declan MacManus in London on 25th August 1955 and shortly afterwards moved to Liverpool where he was raised. The first serious band that Costello played with was called Flip City and who were very much a country band.
Costello was first signed by the co-owner of Stiff Records - Jake Riviera, who heard Costello playing some demos on the Charlie Gillett Radio London show Honky Tonk. His first album My Aim Is True was released in 1977 and included to hit singles, "Less Than Zero" and "Watching The Detectives". These two songs can be viewed as classic examples of Costello’s genius for lyrics based on sharp observations and his ability to combine a rasping punk sound with what were at the time, unfashionable musical tastes (such as reggae on "Watching The Detectives").
Costello followed up My Aim Is True with This Year’s Model in 1978 and Armed Forces in 1979. At this point he now had his backing band The Attractions on board and the line up of Steve Nieve (keyboards), Bruce Thomas (bass) and Pete Thomas (drums) took the States by storm in 1978, lifting Costello’s debut album into the US top 40. The organ and retro guitar sounds of the backing band complemented Costello’s caustic song-writing style and gave added impetus to such tracks as his 400,000 selling hit "Oliver’s Army".
Costello turned to Motown and the Atlantic sounds for his next album Get Happy which featured a staggering twenty tracks and proved to be a great star turn for Jake Riviera’s new label F-Beat.
The next album was to see Costello experimenting with yet more American based sounds when he released Almost Blue (1981), a collection of Country And Western oriented tracks. Almost Blue managed to sell twice as many copies as his next release Trust which seemed to have no particular style in mind and meandered from Jazz to Funk via German cabaret.
Getting back to his pop roots Imperial Bedroom (1982) was produced by former Beatles engineer Geoff Emerick, and whilst the song-writing showed that Costello was at his peak, and the critics acclaimed it, the record buying public showed a distinct lack of interest. The search for commercial success resulted in a commercial pop sound on his next two albums Punch The Clock (1983) and Goodbye Cruel World (1984) with the single "Everyday I Write The Book" taken from Punch The Clock becoming his biggest hit in the US to date.
Taking a break from The Attractions Costello turned his hand to acting and record production for the likes of The Pogues and The Specials. His next album King Of America (1986) showed his love of American roots music and only featured The Attractions on one track. King Of America was seen by everyone as Costello returning to his old form, a view that was reinforced when he released Blood And Chocolate (1986).
Following his signing with Warner Brothers the albums Spike (1989), Mighty Like A Rose (1991) and The Juliet Letters (1993) were badly received by public and critics alike. Once again Costello turned things around with his next album Brutal Youth (1994) which saw him reunited with The Attractions who then did the "Greatest Hits" tour with him. Costello then went off a did his own things including releasing Kojak Variety (1995), an album of covers of some Costello recordings from 1991, and Deep Dead Blue (1995) which saw him once again covering some of his own songs.
Costello’s most recent project saw him back with The Attractions for All This Useless Beauty (1996) which has him once again covering many of his old songs, but this time ones he had written for other performers.
Formed London 1976
Disbanded 1986
The Clash started life as The London SS formed in 1975 by guitarist Mick Jones. After many changes to the line up Nicky "Topper" Headon sat on drums, Keith Levene (later of PIL) played guitar, Paul Simonon played bass and Joe Strummer took up guitar and vocals. Together with their manager Bernie Rhodes they stepped out to pull of the remarkable time and time again.
The first time The Clash came to the publics attention was when they supported The Sex Pistols on the infamous "Anarchy In The UK" tour, however Levene had to pull out due to drug problems and took Headon with him for a short spell. Terry Chimes stepped into Headon’s shoes in order to get The Clash through their first album The Clash (1977). The album took just three weekends to complete and was angry, fast and furious all the way.
Signing with CBS the band were keen to dispel any rumours that they had sold out to the big boys by telling their fans that they were going "to corrupt them from within". The Clash then went on to further prove to their fans that they really cared by released inexpensive albums and ensuring that tickets for their concerts were within the fans price range. There was however no hiding the fact that The Clash wanted to get into America and to this end they let Sandy Perlman (Blue Oyster Cult) produce their second album Give ‘Em Enough Rope (1978). In the same year as the album was released they decided to fir Rhodes and installed Caroline Coon a Melody Maker journalist as manager before setting off on two very successful American tours during 1979. At this point their debut album was finally released in the States by CBS. In order to keep their British fans happy The Clash released a four track EP Cost Of Living.
In December 1979 the double LP London Calling was released and to the fans delight the cost was for that of a single LP. The title track from the album was to become their biggest single hit ever in Britain and "Train In Vain (Stand By Me)" made it big in the States. London Calling saw the band diversify into new styles such as reggae and R&B, this move won over many of their earlier critics and ensured that the album was very well received.
1988 saw the release of a triple LP Sandinista!, which was sold for the price of a double LP. The album featured reggae, brass bands, child choirs and Country And Western but their attempts to broaden their horizons resulted in the album being panned by critics and many fans for being to "overweight".
Bernie Rhodes returned as The Clash’s manager in early 1981 before they set off on a tour of the Far East and Australia. Returning to the UK in March 1982 they completed recording Combat Rock (1982) which was to be their final album with the original line-up. The album was considered to be below par for the band, but did extremely well in the commercially especially in the States where "Should I Stay Or Should I Go?" and "Rock The Casbah" got into the US top ten.
Things now began to go a bit pear shaped as Headon was sacked and replaced with Terry Chimes and despite a massively successful US tour in late 1982 Chimes was replaced with Pete Howard in 1983 and Mick Jones was sacked three months later. With new guitarists Vince White and Nick Sheppard on board the band released Cut The Crap (1985) which proved to be of little interest to anybody.
A few months after the Cut The Crap album was released, The Clash were no more. Their back catalogue has continued to sell well but they have so far resisted the temptation to re-form, despite "Should I Stay Or Should I Go?" being re-issued and going to number 1 in the UK charts in 1991.
Formed Glasgow, Scotland 1981
With just three albums under their belts in fifteen years The Blue Nile could not be called prolific. It may be said by those not familiar with the bands work that this is pure under-achieving. For those who are aware of the bands work, the time spend producing and crafting the albums ensures that each one oozes quality song-writing and production.
The band are made up of Paul Buchanan (vocals), Robert Bell (bass) and Paul Joseph (keyboards), three Glasgow University post-graduates who decided to start playing around with self-financed recording sessions. During one of these sessions a studio engineer picked his jaw off the floor and passed their demo to RSO Records who gave them a deal there and then which resulted in the single "I Love This Life" released in 1981. When Linn the hi-fi manufacturer got hold of their demos to use to demonstrate their product line they were so impressed they signed the band to their new Linn Records label.
In 1984 The Blue Nile released their new single "Stay" and followed it up with their debut album "A Walk Across The Rooftops". The album was filled with mouth watering ballads and beautifully arranged pieces that won them critical acclaim and a short tour of the States proved to be reasonably successful.
The band decided early on that they wanted to control every aspect of their careers which held up their return to the studio. So to did It’s Immaterial whose eight week session at Castlesound studios turned into nine months thereby preventing the band from recording. When they did eventually get into the studio it was rumoured that dozens of tracks had been thrown out and the band were having trouble getting into the project. In October 1989 Hats was released and it was more than evident that the band had won through. The critics loved it and the album reached number 12 in the UK album charts. The following year the band embarked on a press tour of the States and came back to play a sell out tour of Britain with a full backing band and all fears of appearing live banished. The they disappeared.
Suddenly in June 1996 Warner released their third album Peace At Last which once again proved to be an outstanding success. Its themes of sex, religion and family had been meticulously arranged and the delivery was polished to perfection. The time spent working on the album was regarded as no waste at all by everyone who heard the album.
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