The Bestacle Of Spectacle

 

Elvis Costello's "Spectacle" lasted for only two seasons. In a perfect world, we would still be watching today. Big name artists and music obsessives sat together on the stage, discussing their influences, telling stories and singing together. Levon Helm, Allen Toussaint, Bono, Richard Thompson, James Taylor, Rosanne Cash, Lou Reed, Bruce Springsteen and co-producer Elton John, were just some of the legends that shared their time with Elvis.

I hadn't thought about the show in years, but sharing the Norah Jones song last week reminded me that I had some audio. 

So here is something I put together for your listening pleasure. If memory serves, all of the guests were backed by The Imposters.

TRACKLIST:

Ballad Of A Well Known Gun- Elvis Costello & The Imposters
Seven Year Ache- Rosanne Cash & Norah Jones
Tennessee Jed- Allen Toussaint, Nick Lowe, Richard Thompson, Levon Helm, Larry Campbell & E.C.
Everyday I Write The Book- Ron Sexsmith, Jesse Winchester, Sheryl Crow & E.C.
Crying In The Rain- James Taylor & E.C.
Show Biz Kids- E.C.
Straight To Hell- Jakob Dylan & E.C.
Sham-A-Ling- Dong-Ding- Jesse Winchester
The Longest Days- John Mellencamp
Don't Forget Me- Neko Case
How Many Times Have You Broken My Heart- Norah Jones & E.C.
Shoot Out The Lights- Richard Thompson & E.C.
Border Song- Allen Toussaint & E.C.
April 5th- E.C. , Rosanne Cash, & Kris Kristofferson
Ring Them Bells- Ron Sexsmith, Sheryl Crow & E.C.
Perfect Day- Lou Reed- & E.C.
Sunday Morning Coming Down- Kris Kristofferson
Down River- Elton John & E.C.

zip 

 

ICYMI- Pete

 

Songs Of The Week, 2026: 2/28-3/6

 

Rasta Army- Wingless Angels
Who Was That- Deee-Lite
Twisted Track- Nucleus
I Ain't Coming Back- The Orlons
How Many Times Have You Broken My Heart- Norah Jones
Sit Down Servant- Staple Singers
Blast Off- The Hi-Risers 

zip 

Rasta Army- Wingless Angels
(Legendary reggae artist Justin Hinds and some of the best nyabinghi musicians in Jamaica gathered together in Keith Richards living room in Ocho Rios and played beautiful, spiritual music together, with Keef on acoustic guitar and backing vocals. Gorgeous.)

Who Was That- Deee-Lite
("World Clique" has really held up. Hard to believe it's 35 years old.)

Twisted Track- Nucleus
(From the 1970 Vertigo release "Elastic Rock," here's a Chris Spedding tune that stood out from that great record.)

I Ain't Coming Back- The Orlons
(An amazing b-side and a Northern soul cult classic.)

How Many Times Have You Broken My Heart- Norah Jones
(First time I heard this was when Norah Jones performed it live on Elvis Costello's "Spectacle." It knocked me out hearing Jones, Rosanne Cash, Kris Kristofferson and EC harmonize on this unreleased Hank Williams tune. Studio version felt like a disappointment when it was released, but I'm over it. This is a killer track.)

Sit Down Servant- Staple Singers
(Bob Dylan's favorite.)

Blast Off- The Hi-Risers 
(Thanks to our friend Jeff K, I got to hear The Hi-Risers for the first time. This is more fun than a barrel of Fruit Loops.)

Records For Sale

 

Hi,

I know many of you find it offputting when I hawk my wares or ask for donations, but the bottom line is, I could use the business. I am practically giving records away and sadly, too many remain unsold. So, I dropped prices again, a March Madness Sale, if you will.

Please take a look at my modest but potent inventory at this link. There's something for everyone. And if vinyl isn't your thing, please consider dropping a bit in the bucket. As I mentioned earlier, in order to keep the mixes coming here and over at Now Playing, I have to shell out monthly. If the record business was better, I wouldn't care. But a few people close to me, long time readers and supporters of this blog, encouraged me to ask. So I am asking.

Thanks for your indulgence, and apologies if I offended anyone. 

Rock 4 Syd

 

About 25 years ago, NYCD had put together a modest but potent power pop and psych section in the shop. We were ordering from Not Lame, a label you might have heard of, on a regular basis, and we had a decent amount of customers who would take chances on relatively obscure CDs by bands like Wanderlust, Tubetop, and Rockfour, an Israeli rock and psych band, among many others.

I had not thought about Rockfour since their 2000 release "Supermarket," but thanks to my Todd Rundgren group, I was sent a copy of their new record, "Rockfour Playing Syd Barrett."  

It's only March, but this record will be at the top of my list of year's best.

Two things:

It's not just a covers record. These are not note for note replicas.

And... 

I don't believe you need to be a Syd Barrett fan to dig what's going on here. As a matter of fact, I believe if you're not a Syd Barrett fan, you will become one after one pass of this very exciting collection of tunes.

P Is For Partridge

 

Here is a new single from Holly P, who happens to be the daughter of Andy Partridge.

I think this track is great fun. Holly wrote some great lyrics, which you should read as the song plays. She has a great delivery and many things about it remind me of something her dad's band might have recorded for "Drums & Wires." 

It's The Legal Matters, Baby

 

Midwest powerpoppers The Legal Matters are back with album number four. It's called "Lost At Sea," and I'd be lying if I said I was looking forward to this, as albums one through three had sadly eluded me. But while taking my morning scroll of the internet's good and bad, I noticed a quick blurb about the just released new record that intrigued me and so I went in. I am not disappointed.

There's more here than your usual power pop, a label that often gets under my skin. Actually, I don't mind the term "power pop" as much as I mind "the cult of power pop" and the relentless comparisons to Big Star, the Raspberries and Jellyfish in every press release. "Lost At Sea" sounds like none of that holy trinity. As a matter of fact, I wouldn't call this record "power pop" any more than I would call Crowded House or The Beach Boys or Cheap Trick or Andrew Gold power pop. Instead, "Lost At Sea" evokes the great lost days of brilliant record making. There are more hooks and goosebump inducing melodies to be found on "Lost At Sea" than in most bands' entire oeuvre.

From the ingenious chord changes of the opener "Everybody Knows" and the dreamy, Laurel Canyon harmonies on "Shake This Feeling," to the irresistible melody of "Stuck With Me" and the pure Brian Wilson bliss of "The Exit Signs," "Lost At Sea" continues to reward right into the deadwax of Side Two.

I don't want to deny the band their druthers if they want to be called power pop. Maybe the first three records owe more to Big Star and the Raspberries than the new one. I will find out soon, as I make my way backward. But I can now say, I am absolutely looking forward to hearing "Lost At Sea" again and again and again.