Elvis Costello - Everything You Ever Wanted To Know About Spike

BBC documentary shown on 28 March 1989. Tracey MacLeod interviews Elvis about his new album Spike.

[@genea.p8578]

One of the most unrated song writers of our time. Been a fan for 40+ years. Amazing genius.

[@garyhosty9874]

let him dangle and tramp the dirt down are both blistering performances...pure Elvis rage - love it.

[@Blinkerson55]

The man does what he wants when he wants...Pure Elvis.

[@jeebsgold]

The interviewer tried to corner him on Tramp the Dirt Down as being uncharacteristically violent of EC- so he doubled-down on his disgust with Thatcher. Delicious😁

[@desert.mantis]

Thanks for this upload. I'm an early Elvis fan. I saw him play in New York's Forest Hills Tennis Stadium during the Trust tour (1981). Squeeze opened for Elvis and the Attraction and Chris Difford later joined him for some of the duets. I enjoyed hearing Elvis' thoughts in this BBC documentary.

[@ingagirard9656]

His voice makes me shiver♥

[@user-bf3pc2qd9s]

🎶 She walks the shining streets...I walk the worn-out floor 🎶... Every song is superb. Decades on I've still got the vinyl... I know every word of every song.

[@GrantTarredus]

Extraordinary! What a show! I’ve loved Costello since his first album was released and I’ve loved Spike since it hit the streets, but somehow I missed this marvelous program until now. Thanks so much for sharing it!

[@jamesgray9950]

His rendition of Tramp the Dirt Down has me feeling every emotion it evoked in the late 80s as today in 2024

[@thepuppethead1188]

oh god,the way he dips into the chorus of God's comic (instead of going up to it) is so beautiful

[@GrantTarredus]

Always my favorite song from Spike, and I’m thrilled to hear this gorgeous live solo acoustic performance which I’d been unaware of.

[@soundlemonade]

I'm not much for the whole "unplugged" thing in general, but WOW, he really delivers the goods and, as much as I like Spike, I think I like these versions of these songs better. They really sound fantastic stripped down to the bare essentials. Would be cool to hear him play the whole album with just his voice and that George Formby guitar. Thanks for posting!

[@cjfreeman8885]

Agreed, but have you seen Elvis unplugged with The Rude 5? He's one of those exceptionally rare artists who are actually better live. Check it out: kzbin.info/www/bejne/e3WqoYF9qbukppY

[@justme_66]

Great interview. 4:36 God's Comic 15:42 song for Absolute Beginners, not used in movie 21:20 Let Him Dangle 27:25 riff to Pad, Paws, and Claws 32:00 Veronica 35:27 Baby Plays Around 39:57

[@GrantTarredus]

The song for Absolute Beginners is titled “Having It All,” and emerged on the bonus CD of the Rhino reissue of King of America.

[@irenedavo3768]

Hello

[@irenedavo3768]

Hello from Liverpool

[@eddieondo4047]

Elvis Costello something like PERFECT!

[@gemes64]

Tramp the Dirt Down really is something else. Want to be more pacific today. Agreed with every word at the time. Couldn't wait to vote.

[@mmcdermott3975]

Holy buckets, what I wouldn't give to be sitting there when he rips into "Deep Dark Truthful Mirror." I bet that lady fell right off her chair.

[@petermourant4978]

She was used to it. It’s Tracy Macleod who was Nick Lowes’s partner back in the day

[@garyhosty9874]

loved this..very cool to see it again...and hell he was just getting started !

[@devindevon]

Well, that was quite terrific.

[@gemes64]

Not sure how much Spike holds up today. I've been gripped again by this documentary and will re-evaluate. This was my introduction to Costello properly (I knew 'Oliver's Army', everyone did in Britain, still do). Preferred 'Mighty Like a Rose', but find it so hard to be objective as I think he's up with McCartney, Dylan, Young, Motown etc.

[@derOssiGuitar]

This made me remember how and WHY I love SPIKE sooo much! From the cover to the last song it´s just an Incredible Album. thx a lot for Posting!

[@JakobusVdL]

I don't recall hearing 'Tramp the dirt down' before. I didn't know Costello was as strongly opposed to Thatcher. My respect for him (already high) is now off the scale.

[@user-bf3pc2qd9s]

Tramp the Dirt Down is sung as a ballad....he is consciously singing as an Irish man with the righteous anger of the times. Shipbuilding is as raw. If you weren't there you can't comment is my view. Saying that, the display of venom from the lumpen copycats when Thatcher did pass away was truly disgusting.

[@JakobusVdL]

@@user-bf3pc2qd9s "if you weren't there, you can't comment" where, and what about???

[@user-bf3pc2qd9s]

@@JakobusVdL oh it wasn't directed at you personally... I was trying to express the feeling of the times and that's hard to express in prose... which is why Costello wrote a song about it... I was adding to your comment, not disagreeing! X

[@andrewsprod]

Great to see this again. A terrific album and always good to hear EC talk in his so eloquent way.

[@johncarson7678]

Brilliant to catch up with this again, remember watching it on Tele.

[@rohansask9638]

Hell yeah

[@theselector4733]

GENIUS!!!!!!

[@rooruffneck]

This is what started it all for me, one late night after flipping to a random channel...

[@ThomasPicone]

Veronica; all time great , and fav of mine

[@simonmeikle2673]

The man.

[@karlmerzena8467]

Can he please do one of these for each album? : P

[@DG-ez4bo]

He has another ??

[@GrantTarredus]

I would LOVE it if he would.

[@karlmerzena8467]

Thank you for posting!

[@GabrielLago1]

Gracias!!!Buenísimo!!!

[@royphillips7435]

He's alright we ain't gotta worry about what this fella does musically 👌

[@petermgruhn]

Despite some standout tracks, "Spike" was always a chore for me to get through in one listen.

[@irenedavo3768]

Hello

[@danneumann3274]

I always hate every new album he comes out with. Each album is such a change in direction. I often put it away for a bit then listen again and start to appreciate. Best example was Il sogno . I hated it. found it in a drawer about ten years later and heard Episode of blonde ( the orchestra version) I think now its his grteatest live performance ever. by the way I saw him live last week 2nd row seats

[@Gelsyviolet]

Che peccato non capere quello che dice.

[@brokenacoustic]

Cant believe he thinks he clumsy on guitar lol

[@MrBluoct]

Minnesota Acoustic says the wizard minus 1

[@brokenacoustic]

@@MrBluoct ...what? lol