Customer Reviews

The Costello Show: Live at the El Mocambo

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Longtime Costello fans may already have this disc from when it first appeared--legally--in the 2-1/2 Years box set. This incendiary performance documents Elvis and the Attractions quite early in their career (the Deluxe Edition My Aim Is True contains an even earlier, rougher live performance). The pace is frantic, the energy palpable. The band blazes through Elvis's already concise songs, and the set is relatively short. But this is all about quality, not quantity. Not to mention a little rock and roll history.

Given its origin as a concert broadcast on the radio, it's only natural that there are audience sounds. Sure, they can be a little annoying but, hearing this now, all these years later, it's as if you are there and you happen to be standing next to the idiot making all the noise. The important part is You Are There.

I would've liked to have seen some additional material with this reissue but the lack of this is offset by the great price point. The hardcore fans may not need this; but if you are new to Elvis, or weren't around when all this happened, you can't afford not to have it.

Every Elvis fan should have this one, to know what those early shows were like. My only complaint: why is this listed under "The Costello Show"--a moniker that didn't appear for a decade or more after this recording?

Honestly, this one of the best shows, which really hasn't been available before commercially, and now sounds better than ever. Can you really go wrong with Elvis & The Attractions performing in 1978 and doing a set of MY AIM IS TRUE and THIS YEARS MODEL material?? I forgotten gem in the live canon of Declan! And sounds like we have more to look forward to in the coming months? I can't wait for Hollywood High!

This would be a awesome recording, it even has alternate words to "Less Than Zero" I've never heard anywhere else! However, there is one jackass in the audience who is whooping and yahooing through almost every song, and he's close enough to the mike that he's about as loud as the band. Someone really needs to remaster this and get rid of those sounds, but until they do I can't recommend this for anybody. Sorry Elvis, I love you, but this is a defective product.

If you are more than a casual Elvis Costello fan you will not be dissappointed with Live at the El Mocambo. Oh.....but it has been released before. It was included in a Rykodisk early nineties CD boxset along with EC's first three albums. I do not, however, recall being particularly annoyed by any hecklers in the audience. I haven't listened to this one in a while, though, since the latest deluxe re-re-re-reissues of My Aim Is True and This Year's Model each have bonus discs of wonderful live recordings from the same period. Ridiculously, I'm certain to purchase this version as well simply for what should be obvious sound improvements from the early 90's issue. Current new music, of similar genres, recently released cannot touch anything Elvis Costello (and EC & the Attractions) released through 1980's Get Happy! ......or Trust.....or Imperial Bedroom....or Blood and Chocolate.....or King of America.....etc. etc. Just buy them all as I have.....though maybe just once.

If you have heard any early Elvis live shows on bootleg, you know that the studio albums don't hold a candle to the intensity of hearing them in concert. It's easy to see why he was lumped in with the punk scene, even though he's anything but. Here's hoping that more live shows from the 1977-78 tours are released.

Hello E.C. Fans,
Just want to let fans know that this is NOT the full set. It's still missing the encores played that evening with Nick Lowe! If they are going to re-release this yet again,it would have been nice to finally have the whole gig. Just wanted to let people know,for an "archive " release that is a pretty shabby thing to do.
Besides the fact, that the encores are really fun and feature some rare tunes. Hey maybe for the super deluxe release next time . :)

The small stage real accomodates what Elvis Costello was all about as you can see with his television series. This was the attractions who had just as much influence on the Costello sound as he did. Having been at the concert this certainly captures the sound but it certainly has a hard time completely capturing the ambience and seeing the live performance. Some things its all about time and place.

I've been a fan of the imposter since 1982 and had never heard anything live from this period. This record gives me an inkling as to why.You can't do justice to Elvis's song writing skills with a yell and strum recording which this is. I can't believe how good the sound quality is however at this point in his career Elvis can't really sing so the sound quality just enhances his poor vocal timbre. Having said all this as a big fan I enjoy the record because it is raw and powerful and as a fan a must have.

I actually owned this disc as a promo LP and cherished it. I thought i would have never had the chance to own it again as a CD. At one time, long ago, Elvis rightfully ruled the airwaves with his explosive entry onto the punk scene with his cutting lyrics and jagged guitars. From Mystery Dance to Lip Service to Pump It Up this is classic Elvis. This is a snap-shot of what once was and if you were lucky enough to have seen the Attractions at this time of their career, then you already know that this is must own.