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Roger Béchirian
Roger Béchirian is an English engineer and record producer. Béchirian was a key player in the British new wave scene of the late 1970s and early 1980s, best known for his work with Nick Lowe, Paul Carrack, Elvis Costello, The Undertones, Dave Edmunds, The Monkees, the Flamin' Groovies, and Squeeze. He was also a member of the pseudonymous new wave group Blanket of Secrecy, which issued one album in 1982. More recently, Béchirian has worked with the Trashcan Sinatras and Bell X1. Life and career He became renowned for his mixing work for Stiff Records, which paved the way for his first co-produced hit, Lene Lovich’s “Lucky Number”. He is widely credited for moulding the sound of some of that period’s finest hitmakers including Elvis Costello, The Undertones, and Squeeze. Building on his early successes Béchirian spent his time working between the UK and the USA developing and producing new and established artists for major and independent label releases. By the ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Rock Music
Rock music is a broad genre of popular music that originated as " rock and roll" in the United States in the late 1940s and early 1950s, developing into a range of different styles in the mid-1960s and later, particularly in the United States and United Kingdom.W. E. Studwell and D. F. Lonergan, ''The Classic Rock and Roll Reader: Rock Music from its Beginnings to the mid-1970s'' (Abingdon: Routledge, 1999), p.xi It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, a style that drew directly from the blues and rhythm and blues genres of African-American music and from country music. Rock also drew strongly from a number of other genres such as electric blues and folk, and incorporated influences from jazz, classical, and other musical styles. For instrumentation, rock has centered on the electric guitar, usually as part of a rock group with electric bass guitar, drums, and one or more singers. Usually, rock is song-based music with a time signature using a verse–chorus form, ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Armed Forces (album)
''Armed Forces'' is the third studio album by English singer-songwriter Elvis Costello, released on 5January 1979 in the United Kingdom through Radar Records. It was his second album with the Attractions—keyboardist Steve Nieve, bassist Bruce Thomas and drummer Pete Thomas (no relation)—and the first to officially credit them on the cover. The album was recorded in six weeks from August to September 1978 at Eden Studios in London under the working title ''Emotional Fascism''. Produced by Nick Lowe and engineered by Roger Béchirian, the sessions saw Costello exert more control over production compared to ''This Year's Model'' (1978), while Nieve contributed more to song arrangements. Most of the material for ''Armed Forces'' was written on the road throughout 1978. For the album, Costello sought a more commercial sound than the punk rock style employed on his two previous records, resulting in a more pop-oriented production reflecting the new wave era. Musical influen ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
New Amsterdam (song)
"New Amsterdam" is a song written and performed by new wave musician Elvis Costello on his 1980 album, '' Get Happy!!'' Written about the New World and New York, the recording of the song that appears on ''Get Happy!!'' was a demo that Costello had recorded in Pimlico. The song was released as an EP single, reaching number 36 in the United Kingdom. The song has since been lauded by critics and included on compilation albums. Background "New Amsterdam" began as one of many demos produced by Costello after '' Armed Forces''. During this period, Costello recorded demos alone and played all the instruments himself; in this case, he recorded "New Amsterdam" at a "fifteen quid-an-hour demo studio" in Pimlico. Costello recalled, "As you might guess I didn't use a metronome but I did employ the owner's exotic equipment; vibes! a fretless bass! a very nasty synth! even God forbid, DRUMS!!!" This demo version would ultimately be the performance that appeared on the final release of ''Ge ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
High Fidelity (song)
"High Fidelity" is a song written and performed by new wave musician Elvis Costello on his 1980 album, '' Get Happy!!'' Written about an adulterous couple where one member still hopes for reconciliation, "High Fidelity" reflected the personal struggles that Costello had been suffering at the time as a result of increased fame and controversy. Musically, the song was influenced by Motown and was initially performed in a slower style inspired by David Bowie's ''Station to Station''. "High Fidelity" was released as the second single from ''Get Happy!!'' in April 1980. The single reached number 30 in the United Kingdom. The song has since been lauded by critics and has been included on several Costello compilation albums. Background In his autobiography, Costello described "High Fidelity" as, "an incredibly sad, delusion of a song, in which a couple find themselves in different rooms with different lovers, one of them still irrationally believing their pledge will endure both the in ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Green Shirt
"Green Shirt" is a song written by new wave musician Elvis Costello and recorded by Costello with his backing band the Attractions. The song appeared on Costello's 1979 third album, ''Armed Forces''. Lyrically inspired by the influence of the National Front and the Quisling Clinic in Wisconsin, "Green Shirt" features a vocal recorded by Costello after a "night of carousing". "Green Shirt" was not released as a single at the time of its 1979 release, but in 1985 it saw single release to promote '' The Man: The Best of Elvis Costello''. The single reached number 68 in Britain. Since its release, the song has been lauded by critics as one of Costello's best album tracks and has made several appearances in Costello's live setlist. Background "Green Shirt" was described by Elvis Costello as "a paranoid song that I wrote ... about the simplification of seductive signals, the bedroom eyes that lead to tyranny". The song was lyrically inspired by the Quisling Clinic, a building in Madis ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Radio Radio
"Radio Radio" is a song written by Elvis Costello and performed by Elvis Costello and the Attractions. The song originated as a Bruce Springsteen-inspired song called "Radio Soul" that Costello had written in 1974. In 1977, Costello reworked the song to feature a more aggressive arrangement and more direct, sarcastic lyrics that criticized the commercialism of English radio. Costello and the Attractions recorded the song around the time of his second album, ''This Year's Model''. "Radio Radio" was released as a standalone single in the United Kingdom in October 1978, reaching number 29. The track was appended onto the US version of their second album, ''This Year's Model,'' released earlier that year. The song has since seen critical acclaim, being marked as one of Costello's best by many writers and appearing on several compilation albums. Costello and the Attractions famously performed the song live on the American television show ''Saturday Night Live'' in 1977; originall ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
I Can't Stand Up For Falling Down
"I Can't Stand Up for Falling Down" is a song written by Homer Banks and Allen Jones (record producer), Allen Jones. Originally recorded by soul duo Sam & Dave in 1967, the song was famously covered by New wave music, new wave musician Elvis Costello with his backing band the Attractions in 1980 for their album ''Get Happy!! (Elvis Costello album), Get Happy!!''. Original version "I Can't Stand Up for Falling Down" was originally recorded by Sam & Dave in 1967. The Sam & Dave version was issued as the B-side to their live cover of Sam Cooke's "Soothe Me". Elvis Costello and the Attractions version Elvis Costello and the Attractions covered the song in 1980 for the album ''Get Happy!! (Elvis Costello album), Get Happy!!''. Costello's version was drastically rearranged from the original, turning it from a slow soul ballad into an uptempo Northern soul-style dance track. It was one of three singles taken from the album in the UK. It was supposed to be released on the 2 Tone Record ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Pump It Up (Elvis Costello Song)
"Pump It Up" is a 1978 song by Elvis Costello and the Attractions. It originally appeared on Costello's second album ''This Year's Model'', which was the first he recorded with the backing group the Attractions. Written as a sarcastic response to his time during the Stiffs Live Tour and inspired by "Subterranean Homesick Blues" by Bob Dylan, "Pump It Up" features a stomping rhythm and sarcastic lyrics. Released as a single, the track reached number 24 in the UK. It has since become one of Costello's most well-known songs, appearing on several compilation albums and being listed by critics as one of Costello's greatest songs. The song was also accompanied by an iconic video featuring Costello dancing on the sides of his feet. Background The song was intended as a commentary on the Stiffs Live Tour, which Costello had participated in. The tour had been notable for its debauchery; Ian Dury's "Sex & Drugs & Rock & Roll" served as the setlist's official closing song. Costello later ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Accidents Will Happen
"Accidents Will Happen" is a song written by Elvis Costello and performed by Elvis Costello and the Attractions. It first appeared on the 1979 album ''Armed Forces''. Costello wrote the song about his many infidelities during this period of his life, including an encounter Costello had with a taxi driver in Tucson, Arizona. The song originally featured a piano-centered arrangement and was inspired by songs such as " Anyone Who Had a Heart" and "Walk Away Renée". The song was a moderate hit in the UK when released as the second single from ''Armed Forces'', reaching the Top 30 in the UK. It was accompanied by an animated music video that has since received acclaim and is widely considered to be the first fully animated music video. The song has been praised by critics and has appeared on numerous compilation and live albums. Background The origins of "Accidents Will Happen" dates back to 1978, when Elvis Costello wrote the song in Phoenix, Arizona during a tour. Costello initia ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
(I Don't Want To Go To) Chelsea
"(I Don't Want to Go to) Chelsea" is a song written by new wave musician Elvis Costello and recorded by Costello with his backing band the Attractions. The song appeared on Costello's 1978 second album, ''This Year's Model''. Written by Costello while working as a computer programmer, the song was lyrically inspired by films Costello had been watching as well as childhood trips to Chelsea. Musically the song featured influence from bands such as the Who and the Kinks and is notable for Bruce Thomas's prominent bassline. "Chelsea" was released as the debut single from ''This Year's Model'', reaching number 16 in the UK and charting in other countries. The release was accompanied by a music video. The song has since received positive reception from critics and remains a staple of Costello's live set. Background and lyrics "(I Don't Want to Go to) Chelsea" was written by Costello in the mid-1970s while working as a computer programmer. Costello recalled the night he wrote the son ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Alison (song)
"Alison" is a song written by and first recorded by Elvis Costello in 1977 for his debut album ''My Aim Is True'' on Stiff Records. Costello claimed the song was written as an ode to a woman he saw working at a supermarket, though he has remained vague on the meaning. Though Costello's single never charted, it has become one of his most famous songs. Linda Ronstadt, who covered the song and released her version in 1979, had a moderate hit with it. There have also been several other cover versions of this song. Background The song "Alison" was included on Elvis Costello's debut studio album ''My Aim Is True'' as the fifth track, and was released in 1977. As "Alison" was recorded before the Attractions formed, his backing band on the track was Clover. Costello has divulged little on the meaning of the song other than to say that it is about "disappointing somebody" and to deny suggestions that the lines "''somebody better put out the big light''" and "''my aim is true''" refer t ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Oliver's Army
"Oliver's Army" is a song written by Elvis Costello and performed by Costello and the Attractions, from the former's third studio album ''Armed Forces'' (1979). The song is a new wave track that was lyrically inspired by the Troubles in Northern Ireland and includes lyrics critical of the socio-economic components of war. Costello had travelled to Northern Ireland and was influenced by sights of British soldiers patrolling Belfast. Musically, the song features a glossy production and a keyboard performance inspired by ABBA, creating a juxtaposition between the lyrics and music that both critics and Costello have pointed out. Released as the first single from ''Armed Forces'', "Oliver's Army" was Costello's most successful single in the United Kingdom, spending three weeks at number two on the UK Singles Chart and remaining on the chart for 12 weeks. The song also charted in New Zealand, the Netherlands, Ireland and Australia, and it spawned the successful follow-up single "Acc ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
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