Another thing I love about this listening project is thinking of people who don’t belong together, er, together.  So this stack of LPs is Larry Coryell and Elvis Costello. Larry Coryell

• Lady Coryell – I was so excited to get this LP, I remember.  At the time, I was studying with Bob Moses, and going through a deep Coltrane dive (one of many).  This record has both Moses, and on a couple of other tracks, Elvin Jones (and Jimmy Garrison is even on one).  So, it sort of covers a bunch of different worlds I love.  Many magnificent things about this record, including the fact that it was 1968, a jazz/rock/fusion record, and had tons of multi-tracking/overdubbing on it.  The whole thing seems to have been from Larry Coryell’s great vision and imagination, and that beauty, inspiration, and sometimes roughness, really shines.  Very interesting album.  Very.

Ok, and for The Elvis Costello Show…well, first of all, you really have to admire how prolific his has been.  In addition to a huge number of releases, each record is jam packed full of songs.

• My Aim is True – The debut album, and what is most surprising about this (to me) is the band.  The San Francisco-based band Clover had moved to England for a little while, and got hooked up with Elvis for this record.  They sound great, man.  Members of Clover would go on to become The News (as in Huey Lewis and), and write the classic hit “867-5309/Jenny.”
• Get Happy – Even though there aren’t any real hits on this album, it’s a nice, classic Elvis record.  Great writing, great playing, interesting arranging…
• Taking Liberties – Ok, Elvis is incredible.  This is not my favorite record, but man, his writing approaches are so vast, and each tune is so different, yet totally realized.  He’s incredible.  This album is a collection of B-sides and things that, at the time, had only been released in the UK.  Amazing writing.  “Stranger in the House” has a melody that he reuses on King of America.  Wait a minute, I just said “B-sides” – does that even exist anymore?
• Trust – Now that is an interesting album.  This makes it to the  listen-to-again list.
• Goodbye Cruel World – Remember what I just said about Trust?  Well, this record, not so much.
• King of America – This actually my favorite Costello album.  I love the more stripped down sound, acoustic instruments, and Ray Brown.  Some great writing, great playing, and excellent music on this album.  My favorite Costello lyric of all time is on this, too.  It’s from “Our Little Angel” – Friends speak of her fondly, enemies just think out loud. I totally got stuck on this album just now.  Couldn’t make it past side one.  I love it when that happens.  Ok, on to the next one…
• Blood and Chocolate – A more Elvis-like Costello record than King, but not really my fave.  I mean, it’s nice and all, but…sort of a let down for me, after the simplicity and roots and Ray Brown(!) of King.  Ok, I do really like “I Want You.”
• Best of – This was the first Elvis record I ever owned, and it’s fun to hear again.  “Clubland” and “Watch Your Step” are especially great.  And, hey, Chet Baker on “Shipbuilding” is – of course – incredible, even with the silly delay effect.

So that does it.  Inching closer to letter D in this listening project…

Best, R.