Elvis Costello: How He Created His Eclectic Hits | Essentials

In this episode of Apple Music Essentials, Elvis Costello chats with Zane Lowe to share some stories throughout his career and biggest hits, from “Alison,” “Watching The Detectives,” to “Pump It Up” and “Accidents Will Happen.” Elvis also shares stories of artistic growth when creating records ‘This Year’s Model,’ Armed Forces,’ and ‘Hey Clockface.’ Listen to Elvis Costello Essentials on Apple Music: apple.co/CostelloEssentials_YT
Listen to the full conversation on apple.co/_EssentialsRadio
Every major artist has those standout blockbuster hits that come to define their careers. On Essentials Radio, Zane Lowe and a rotating cast of Apple Music hosts explore the legendary hits that turned some of their favorite artists into superstars and household names. These are music’s most influential artists and the stories behind their songs.
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#ElvisCostello Essentials #AppleMusic

[@chrisbr1969]

Elvis Costello is one of the greatest songwriters of all-time! He’s the greatest lyricist, surpassing even Bob Dylan.

[@sona.kludjian5175]

À Ok

[@StratsRUs]

Nah

[@chrisbr1969]

@@StratsRUs yah

[@macguffinman1]

That's what I've thought since I first heard him. Plus he writes actual tunes. To me, he's THE greatest singer-songwriter ever.

[@Goatchild90]

Legend. One of the greatest songwriters of all time and one of my favourite artists ever

[@stephenpayne9120]

This is the most intelligent, most knowledgeable interviewer I've ever seen Elvis be interviewed by. His knowledge of the first few years of Costello's career is, for a guy his age, who didn't live it the first time around, stellar.

[@user61920]

I mean, he did, he said he was 7 when he heard pump it up. But, the concept of research also exists.

[@ed.z.]

Attention! PBS, BBC! Do a documentary with him today. Nobody is as important as Elvis C. for so many decades.

[@irenedavo3768]

Hello

[@amberwamber309]

100 %

[@suzannefarrington4143]

One of the more insightful interviewers I’ve heard. Knowing enough to ask the right questions, but not too much, and trying to rush Elvis to get the anecdote out. I wrote a college paper, analyzing Everyday I Write the Book as a poem. It succeeds on so many levels. I still crank it up when I hear it on the (local alternative) radio!

[@NSCBOYSSOCCER]

A living legend!

[@kenmeyerjr57]

huuuuuge fave of mine....met him twice, luckily...

[@fionamckelvie1101]

No one listens to the words? I have always loved his words!

[@FC-cz6zd]

His lyrics are 2nd to none, well maybe Lennon & McCartney, but very very close.

[@suzannefarrington4143]

Yeah, we did and we do, but I’m convinced a lot of people who liked his music when it hit the charts just enjoyed the sound. How else to explain the paltry numbers on KZbin content where he appears?

[@gash7278]

Wish he talked more about imperial bedroom...

[@jasongray4517]

A compositional colossus whose extraordinary oeuvre has enriched my life for nearly four decades.

[@DH-ve5bl]

A good time to listen to EC is when you are in an angry mood.

[@suzannefarrington4143]

Yeah, even his “sweet” songs have an edge.

[@midge2112]

Elvis is a legend! And what a fantastic job by Zane Lowe on the interview. Great stuff!!

[@patricksmith4424]

Talking of package tours, in the 60s Jimi Hendrix supported Englebert Humperdinck! Apparently they became hugely respectful of each other.

[@alangreenway6695]

There are certain artist’s catalogues you can boil down into an essential playlist or a single CD ‘greatest hits’, but Elvis Costello isn’t one of them. To see him as just the catchy hits from the late 70’s/early 80’s does his work an injustice.

[@prodbydriss1607]

🔥🔥

[@becauseofyoufahri4510]

[@colecoleman5694]

Put on angel hill by Dolly Parton on Apple Music

[@irenedavo3768]

Hello from Liverpool

[@tonykehoe123]

I saw elvis at mountford hall in Liverpool in the 70s and I’m sure he done Name of the game by abba

[@jasongray4517]

Knowing Me, Knowing You, which he once described as 'the greatest song about divorce ever written'.

[@irenedavo3768]

I remember him before he was EC with Rusty with Allan Mayes?

[@irenedavo3768]

Declan

[@chrisfriedrich6830]

He played a brief reunion gig with Allan Mayes when EC played in Austin, TX in early 2023.

[@irenedavo3768]

What's his necklace?

[@thenovared]

God has a plan for me to be a successful artist one day 🙏🏽💯💫

[@XXLaffinGravyXX]

No...YOU have !!! and when it doesn't happen you will say that an imaginary entity didn't want it for you ...Make your OWN fkn destiny, be the best you can be at what YOU want to be ffs !!!

[@irenedavo3768]

Hello

[@irenedavo3768]

He was young first Married?

[@vonchaney9216]

Elvis is a God but these dorky rock journalist types who are always on these interviews are insufferable.

[@stephenpayne9120]

But this guy is NOT a dorky rock journalist type. He's knowledgeable, perceptive and, clearly, Declan digs him.

[@Gmackematix]

Funnily enough, Van Halen claimed Elvis Costello was so popular with rock journalists because he looks like them!

[@StratsRUs]

I agree, this guy licked a lot of butts, including, mostly, his own.

[@irenedavo3768]

@@stephenpayne9120 hello

[@stephenpayne9120]

@@irenedavo3768 Hello. Is that a rope leash or a diamond collar you're wearing?