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Elvis Costello — Everyday I Write the Book
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bb_matt
(Hampshire, England)
Posted: Apr 30, 2013 - 02:42
 
As always, great lyrics from Costello. Not sure about the backing music in this, but I guess it was the era where this kinda sound was popular - sounds very cheesy now.

slr242
(San Francisco)
Posted: Mar 30, 2013 - 00:09
 
Some of the best lyrics ever written (in my opinion) by this master songwriter. A long-time favorite.

:+:_DL
(RVA)
Posted: Feb 26, 2013 - 13:21
 
 horstman wrote:
If this song and Veronica caught your ear for this musician, then you missed his genius . . . his Buddy Holly meets the Ramones rock and roll quick shuffle side step. I've said this before and I'll say it again. Elvis died after Armed Forces. He is an artist that is constantly reinventing himself. And that's great if the end result is evolution. But in this case, and in Elvis's career in general, it is more a de-evolution in sound as he matures. Give me New Years Model anyday over this pop tripe! 6.6 is pretty fair if not generous. Hey Bill, let's round off to the nearest 100. That way we might get the blessed 6.66 rating for such a devilish song.
 
Truth-  This song could have been anybody's throw away.

Bargamon
(Carolina)
Posted: Feb 26, 2013 - 13:18
 
Elvis gets better with age. 

His catalog is huge.  His pop was smart and catchy!

Holds up as such.

Segue
(Almost Paradise)
Posted: Dec 25, 2012 - 21:42
 
ten

lemmoth
(NYC)
Posted: Jun 20, 2012 - 06:51
 
 horstman wrote:


If this song and Veronica caught your ear for this musician, then you missed his genius . . . his Buddy Holly meets the Ramones rock and roll quick shuffle side step.

I've said this before and I'll say it again. Elvis died after Armed Forces. He is an artist that is constantly reinventing himself. And that's great if the end result is evolution.

But in this case, and in Elvis's career in general, it is more a de-evolution in sound as he matures.

Give me New Years Model anyday over this pop tripe!

6.6 is pretty fair if not generous.

Hey Bill, let's round off to the nearest 100. That way we might get the blessed 6.66 rating for such a devilish song.
 

Couldn't disagree more vociferously.  And I have been a huge fan of this absoulute and total fucking musical genius since before THIS Years Model. 

He is constantly reinventing himself and that is what makes any artist continually interesting rather than some one note wonder who keeps going out on tour with other oldies acts to play their 3 or 4 songs we all remember from way back when.



aspicer
(Chicago, IL)
Posted: Apr 17, 2012 - 18:13
 
A lot of wisdom in this song - a great one by EC!

gypsyman
(just passing through....)
Posted: Apr 17, 2012 - 18:13
 
 hencini wrote:
Great song.  This was one of two that really turned me towards EC, the other being "Deep Dark Truthful Mirror".  Both very hard to beat.  
 
gotta admit, was never a fan, but this song and "Alison" (sp?) stuck with me, and now, I grudgingly admit that Elvis has done some really good stuff....

hencini
Posted: Dec 12, 2011 - 18:51
 
Great song.  This was one of two that really turned me towards EC, the other being "Deep Dark Truthful Mirror".  Both very hard to beat.  

obstetricus
Posted: Oct 10, 2011 - 12:18
 
sweet vid...remember when it came out on MTV when they actually played music.  Lady Di and Charles theme if I remember correctly.

horstman
(Syracuse, New York)
Posted: Mar 26, 2008 - 17:51
 
sugarbaby wrote:
first song that made me really pay attention to this guy. if not this song, then veronica would caught my fancy later...


If this song and Veronica caught your ear for this musician, then you missed his genius . . . his Buddy Holly meets the Ramones rock and roll quick shuffle side step.

I've said this before and I'll say it again. Elvis died after Armed Forces. He is an artist that is constantly reinventing himself. And that's great if the end result is evolution.

But in this case, and in Elvis's career in general, it is more a de-evolution in sound as he matures.

Give me New Years Model anyday over this pop tripe!

6.6 is pretty fair if not generous.

Hey Bill, let's round off to the nearest 100. That way we might get the blessed 6.66 rating for such a devilish song.
(former member)
(Land of the Long White Cloud)
Posted: Nov 21, 2007 - 22:39
 
oh elvis, sweet! this was my first elvis tune, and i can still remember the mtv vid. great memories and a lovely tune
justlistening
(So. California)
Posted: Oct 21, 2007 - 13:09
 
RobK wrote:
just amazed at the (low) rating for this song, ........ people are strange.


People are Strange - that's a Door's song ;).

I think maybe the reason for the low rating is that compared to other Elvis Costello songs this is not his best work - closer to generic pop and less like Elvis Costello's usual. Not what people expect from him.

That said a 6+ rating ain't bad.
RobK
(Leucadia, CA)
Posted: Sep 18, 2007 - 20:37
 
just amazed at the (low) rating for this song, and the amount of negative comments. it's such a good tune, so well-crafted...i never ever ever would have thought there'd be any significant number of people out there who truly disliked it. it's a solid 9 for me. people are strange.
sugarbaby
(portland/hollywood)
Posted: Sep 04, 2007 - 13:37
 
first song that made me really pay attention to this guy. if not this song, then veronica would caught my fancy later...
meydele
(Par la mer)
Posted: Jul 19, 2007 - 06:08
 
Probably my favorite EC song (closely followed by Veronica).

It's clever, it's self-deprecating, it's tuneful, and I love the bass line. Stellar.
honeygirl
(~ USA)
Posted: Jul 03, 2007 - 15:12
 
Ohhhhhhhhh, I do like Elvis C. :)
js5280
(Denver, CO)
Posted: Jun 17, 2007 - 20:35
 
bmeador wrote:
Oh dear lord this is painful. Make it stop.


Actually this song is listenable, but only on mute.

Sorry, only Presley is my Elvis.
bmeador
(spinnin' round and round)
Posted: May 17, 2007 - 12:30
 
Oh dear lord this is painful. Make it stop.
suddenchad
Posted: Mar 15, 2007 - 18:10
 
Kind of a strange period for Elvis. One last attempt at mainstream success, winning no new fans and alienating old ones. (At least for a while.)
bobrk
(Beautiful Downtown San Jose)
Posted: Mar 15, 2007 - 18:09
 
ThePoose wrote:
This is one of the tunes I take with me to test speakers/headphones at the audio shop. I love the strings in the background, and only a good piece of equipment can bring them out.
I LOVE the bass line on this...

Saw him do this at the Greek years ago right after this album. Sounded great.

Did anybody catch his Elvis and Friends special recently on VH1? Super cheezy interviews, but he played with Alanis Morrisette, Billy bob what's his name from Green Day and those Death Cab for Cutie guys. The music wasn't too bad...
ThePoose
Posted: Feb 12, 2007 - 11:27
 
This is one of the tunes I take with me to test speakers/headphones at the audio shop. I love the strings in the background, and only a good piece of equipment can bring them out.
RobK
(Leucadia, CA)
Posted: Dec 09, 2006 - 18:43
 
oufason wrote:


That may have been when the CD was re-released or re-issued. I think the LP came out in 83
I was, uh, you know, kidding....?? :~
MCKY
(PEI, Great White North)
Posted: Dec 01, 2006 - 13:43
 
This song always reminds me of my favorite poem by Wallace Stevens, The Planet on the Table. The song refers more to Stevens than the book of love.

One of my fave costello tunes. And I'venot been a fan in years.
rtkmusic
(SoCal)
Posted: Dec 01, 2006 - 13:33
 
SigmaBetaTooth wrote:

his original backup band was Clover better know as Huey Lewis and The News


Actually, they were never his back-up band...just the studio players on the first album. The Attractions were formed before the album was released, which is why Watching The Detectives sounds so different than everything else on the American version of the debut.

Clover did some tasty stuff, I might add, and was a killer, tight live band. Saw them about a month before Elvis rolled through St Louis in '78...all the elvis crew asked about when they heard they missed them was if they left any pot!!!

And only Huey Lewis and the bass player went on to the news. John McFee joined the Doobie Brothers...
(former member)
(Shadow Valley Condos)
Posted: Dec 01, 2006 - 13:32
 
Book of love? What an overused metaphor.

Oh I wonder wonder wonder wonder who (bump) who wrote the book of love?...

Even Nick Lowe did "When I Write The Book."

And then, Steve Naive/Maurice Worm playing that asinine dotty keyboard background - because he couldn't think of anything else useful. Listening to that Punch The Clock period of Elvis, you can tell that the ideas had dried up. He wasn't writing as good as he did on the Trust album, but fortunately hadn't veered off into irrelevancy like he would later for a few decades.

Only good part is the fade out where he plays with the rhythm of "Every day I-I write the book."
newfor
Posted: Dec 01, 2006 - 13:32
 
I'm a big EC fan. There are so many good songs, why pick this one? It's dippy and trivial, plus it already gets radio play on commercial stations.
oufason
(Dallas, TX)
Posted: Dec 01, 2006 - 13:31
 
RobK wrote:

I clicked on the link under the album, says September of '03. I agree, I thought this song was a lot older than that...;)


That may have been when the CD was re-released or re-issued. I think the LP came out in 83
On_The_Beach
(Vancouver, Canada)
Posted: Nov 02, 2006 - 12:38
 
I'm not much of an Elvis C fan, but I like this.
RobK
(Leucadia, CA)
Posted: Nov 02, 2006 - 07:48
 
SigmaBetaTooth wrote:
WOW this is an oldy. Quick! RELEASE DATE?

I clicked on the link under the album, says September of '03. I agree, I thought this song was a lot older than that...;)
SigmaBetaTooth
(Cubicle Farm in San Antonio, TX)
Posted: Nov 02, 2006 - 07:48
 
SigmaBetaTooth wrote:
WOW this is an oldy. Quick! RELEASE DATE?


Fine i'll answer it myself.

1983

Sidnote: didn't know he had been around since 1977 and his original backup band was Clover better know as Huey Lewis and The News
MtnGoat
(On the Last Train to Lhasa)
Posted: Nov 02, 2006 - 07:38
 
A musician I have tremendous respect for. But just don't care for his music.

This is one the few I enjoy.
SigmaBetaTooth
(Cubicle Farm in San Antonio, TX)
Posted: Nov 02, 2006 - 07:37
 
WOW this is an oldy. Quick! RELEASE DATE?
coccyx
Posted: Oct 18, 2006 - 16:43
 
Chi_Guy wrote:
The ONLY Elvis that counts!


Oh, is THAT what he was doing?
bobrk
(Beautiful Downtown San Jose)
Posted: Oct 18, 2006 - 16:42
 
Saw him do this at the Greek in Berkeley 20 or so years ago. Great tune.
kevin36
Posted: Oct 18, 2006 - 16:41
 
xkolibuul wrote:
Gotta love this album, if only because I used to wear glasses like that too. Back in the day.


That's why I love it too, xkolibuul. Because of your eyewear fashion at the time.
ThePoose
Posted: Sep 19, 2006 - 09:20
 
This is the song I take to the stereo shop to test out the equipment. This is a fine arrangement, including a background string section that is subtle, but discernable with the right system.
Rickmerr
Posted: Sep 19, 2006 - 08:56
 
Just a cool song with a catchy hook - what's the big deal?
Lensles
(Baton Rouge, LA)
Posted: Sep 19, 2006 - 08:55
 
I am a huge EC fan but this has got to be one of my least favorites.
xkolibuul
(Green Mountain state of mind)
Posted: Sep 19, 2006 - 08:53
 
Gotta love this album, if only because I used to wear glasses like that too. Back in the day.
pianocomposer
(Springfield)
Posted: Jul 08, 2006 - 04:39
 
Govi wrote:

I am another. Nothing at all about his performances on RP appeal to me. His voice gets to me the way fingernails scraping on a black board do.
There's no accounting for tastes, I guess, not ours, nor the ones who like him.


There are maybe three songs by E.C. that I like: Alison, Veronica, and this one. He can sing, but most of his songs suck. What I could never understand was the critics: they loved this guy.
raven121x
(NorthWest)
Posted: Jun 23, 2006 - 12:14
 
Govi wrote:

I am another. Nothing at all about his performances on RP appeal to me. His voice gets to me the way fingernails scraping on a black board do.
There's no accounting for tastes, I guess, not ours, nor the ones who like him.


I am yet another one (maybe more of us out there than we thought??). I just don't understand this guy's appeal. RP is still the best, though.
Farquwaar
(The City of Brotherly Love)
Posted: Jun 23, 2006 - 12:08
 
highwindows wrote:


Exactly - The man just can't sing.

I Hope this is sarcastic....I can't even come up with words to disagree with you.....
highwindows
(The trailing edge)
Posted: May 25, 2006 - 11:45
 
Govi wrote:

I am another. Nothing at all about his performances on RP appeal to me. His voice gets to me the way fingernails scraping on a black board do.
There's no accounting for tastes, I guess, not ours, nor the ones who like him.


Exactly - The man just can't sing.
Govi
(Left Coast)
Posted: May 25, 2006 - 07:56
 
ChicagoEmily wrote:
I think I may be one of the few people on earth that hates Elvis Costello. But I do. I hate him. I have absolutely no idea why, either. Sorry.

I am another. Nothing at all about his performances on RP appeal to me. His voice gets to me the way fingernails scraping on a black board do.
There's no accounting for tastes, I guess, not ours, nor the ones who like him.
Platypus
(here, now)
Posted: May 25, 2006 - 07:54
 
i've learned to tolerate (if not necessarily appreciate) a few elvis songs over the past few years, but this one is simply dreadful.
Gribnif
Posted: May 25, 2006 - 07:52
 
catbirdman wrote:
It was with this song, way back when, that Elvis jumped shark. I still love the guy, but please -- "I'm giving you a longing look"?

Agreed. In recent years he's managed to produce some fine music, though. This particular song is a definite low.
quesarah
Posted: May 25, 2006 - 07:52
 
"I'd rewrite the book of love. I'd make it funny."
--Laurie A
veegez
(Minnesoter)
Posted: Apr 26, 2006 - 08:22
 
Boosiewolf wrote:
Aside from this song having personal sentimental value for me, I just think it's one of the most classic and fun Elvis songs to listen to.


I'm wit ya Boosie! Fun and enjoyable doesn't necessarily = unlistenable. I still like it. A lot.
ChicagoEmily
(ummm........Des Moines, Iowa)
Posted: Apr 11, 2006 - 14:20
 
I think I may be one of the few people on earth that hates Elvis Costello. But I do. I hate him. I have absolutely no idea why, either. Sorry.