no more griping about Elvi (plural of Elvis)

[pyuxjj!rlr]

Elvis Presley recorded some of the most fantastic records of his time, many
of them among the most fantastic of ALL time. The production values of cuts
like "Jailhouse Rock" (listen to those off-beat drums), Hound Dog, et al,
still shine today. I rarely hear records that are so stark and simple yet so
striking. Of course he was an "entertainer/show business personality" and not
a "musician", but one has to admit he was a powerful entertainer with a voice
that really took hold of a song (why else would so many imitate his style?).
Since he was ensnared into being more a part of "show business" than a part
of "music", he fell prey to the standard show-business business of self-
indulgence and delusions of self-importance. Today you can't even tell the
difference between music (?) and show business in many cases (Rod Stewart,
Rick Springfield). But Elvis's music still stands. Long live the King.

Declan McManus (E.C.) was a part of a movement in music that revolted against
the status quo of decadence and corporate control of a "music industry"; a
movement that got lumped together with something called "punk", though very
few of its practitioners even resembled "punk". The advent of punk was
literally a "new wave" on which these artists rode in. In an effort by Stiff
Records to make McManus better known, the pseudonym "Elvis Costello" was
coined. Later in 1977, the death of Elvis Presley made the choice seem more
like a cruel joke that would put an end to his career. Thankfully, that did
not happen, and Costello has gone on to write and record some of the best
music of the last five years. The use of the name "Elvis" couldn't have
been more appropriate. On the cover of "My Aim is True", Costello appears
as the diametric opposite of the show-biz, macho, teen idol image that the
"industry" strove for since it swallowed Elvis Presley whole. The irony
there makes the impact of his music even stronger.

There is room in this world for more than one Elvis. But let's not deify
anybody. We're just talking about two guys who made/make great music.