I had a chance to witness the Elvis Costello tour in which he employed the song wheel, outfitted with an array of his songs, which he and his band play immediately when the spun arrow falls upon the selection. Then the audience member who is chosen ,after having a hand held spotlight shone upon them, then gets to dance with the go-go girl. A cheesy, entertaining and highly successful concert motif. You might not guess it from his records but Elvis is one hell of a guitar player and an expert at poking fun at himself. When “My Aim is True” came out in 1977 I never thought it would be followed by 25 studio records of enormous scope and ambition. Some favs follow.
“One big vice in a man is apt to keep out a great many smaller ones.”
A live take from “The River in Reverse” sessions with the late Allen Toussaint. The name of the quiet piano undermount to the bruisingly landed vocals of Elvis, is Professor Longhair’s “Tipitina.”
“Music can name the unnameable and communicate the unknowable.”