Costello couldn't "get happy" in 1984. He was in the midst of a divorce and going through the motions of life. Although there had been some commercial success with 'Punch the Clock' the year before, it was fairly obvious he had gone to the Clive Langer/Alan Winstanley well once too often. In his defense, I will say some of Costello's rearrangements in future years have placed some of these songs in a better light.
As a 13 year old and fairly new fan to Costello ('Punch the Clock' was the first of his albums I bought as a new release), even I knew this wasn't a great album, but I did kind of like "I Wanna Be Loved," and I liked flip side "Turning the Town Red" more than anything else from the 'Goodbye Cruel World' era. The song was the theme from the Granada television show "Scully" and not produced by Langer and Winstanley, but that piece of trivia didn't mean anything to this American. I bought the 12" for the extended version of "I Wanna Be Loved," and I'm glad I did because Costello didn't include the 12 inchers on any of those subsequent album reissues. I suspect he loathes them. So, here is the Extended Smooch 'n' Runny Version taken from my gently used 30-year-old vinyl. That will give you an extra minute of Green's fantastic harmonies. Yes, this was all about Costello, not Green, but I'm sure you didn't mind.
"I Wanna Be Loved (Extended Smooch 'n' Runny Version)"
10 comments:
Loved Scully at the time and Turning The Town Red.
I've listened to loads of things I haven't heard in ages today but I have also listened to Ryan Adams version of 1989 twice! At the moment got this on the turntable https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FFPRwX6q3fI. I think a bit of Dexys This Is What She's Like live from the Duke of York's next then bed!
Green and EC seem to have a well worn history with each other. I seem to remember he's appeared onstage with EC a few times and that is contribution to I Wanna Be Loved is one of the things that EC feels saves the song. As for Goodbye Cruel World, I think The Deportees Club is the song that I like best.
Drew, You're ending your day on a nice note. Perhaps I'll pull out that concert tonight as well. I went hog wild with that Dexys release when it came out. I bought the quadruple vinyl set and the video with the documentary and show. I always kind of hoped one of us might do a Dexys imaginary comp at JC's place at some point. I would have loved Scully in 1984 too.
Echorich, The writing on Deportees Club is certainly a cut above. That's one of those he performed live and acoustic not long after this album as Deportee. I believe he's pulled that one out quite a few times over the years when he's been on his own.
Pretty sure Christy Moore and KT Tunstall have both recorded the Deportee version as well.
I listened to Deportees Club in the car tonight... been many years. So much of Goodbye Cruel World feels like a straight line, not much of a pulse, but not that one. The needle is really moving. Quite out of place on the album. I see why you hold it in high regard.
I know Christy Moore's version but not Tunstall's. That's where I'm going next. Thanks for mentioning it.
I got the quadruple vinyl as well Brian, how is the final side on yours? I was sent three different copies and all have considerable surface noise for most of This Is What She's Like.
Ah.... Scilly. Great series even for a Manc in the 80s.
Swiss Adam
Scully.
Swiss Adam
I was a bit surprised when, after buying the first CD reissue of 'Goodbye Cruel World', I read Costello's sleeve note that said, words to the effect of, 'congratulations, you've just bought our worst album'. Having said that, I'm not really sure what I would nominate as his 'worst' album. I'd say that 'Punch the Clock' has aged marginally less well, but both LP's contain some pretty good songs hampered by period production. The thing is, that these two slight pop records are surrounded by, what I consider, his three most towering achievements, 'Imperial Bedroom', 'King of America' and 'Blood & Chocolate'. How does anyone compete with those?
Drew, Yep, I had that problem too, but maybe not quite to the extent you describe. Too bad, too, because that last side is my favorite moment of the show.
Swede, You are so right about those three albums, but I like Punch the Clock quite a bit better than Goodbye Cruel World. I agree that both can be described as "slight."
Adam, Seems like I missed out on a show that's remembered fondly.
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