Elvis Repents.... , Rolling Stone September 1982 - Greil responds, July 2016
Elvis Repents.... , Rolling Stone September 1982 - Greil responds, July 2016
Does anyone have or know where I could find a transcript of the Rolling Stone interview from the 80's "Elvis Costello Repents"...?
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Re: Elvis Repents....?
July 18th 1982 was when this interview took place , so its nearly time for its 30th anniversary.
Elvis' comment in the 2003 Get Happy!! re-issue notes -
The most widely read account of my explanation of the events that utterly changed the course of my career and probably led to the recording of this album was published in a Rolling Stone interview and cover story. Greil Marcus’ questioning was thoughtful enough and suitably uncompromising, but someone at the paper decided to over-dramatize the contents of the interview by accompanying the Annie Leibowitz cover shot with the byline “Elvis Costello Repents”. As far as I am aware, none of the editors of Rolling Stone were at the time priests or those with a direct connection to the Holy Ghost or anyone else involved with the forgiveness of sins.
Like anyone with a long career, I have had my share of regrets about commercially motivated misjudgments. However, this rag has, over the years, undergone a remarkable transformation from an organ of the supposed counterculture to a shallow pop-culture shop window for starlets and acrobats while funding their efforts with generous amounts of Big Tobacco advertising revenue and offers of penis enlargement to easily deluded teenage boys. I can only hope that those responsible continue to sleep untroubled by the illusion of moral superiority that laid me so low in a dark Holliday Inn bar in 1979, the consequence of which I suppose I will carry all of my days. For now, I have done explaining.
http://www.elviscostellofans.com/phpBB3 ... nts#p51686
Elvis' comment in the 2003 Get Happy!! re-issue notes -
The most widely read account of my explanation of the events that utterly changed the course of my career and probably led to the recording of this album was published in a Rolling Stone interview and cover story. Greil Marcus’ questioning was thoughtful enough and suitably uncompromising, but someone at the paper decided to over-dramatize the contents of the interview by accompanying the Annie Leibowitz cover shot with the byline “Elvis Costello Repents”. As far as I am aware, none of the editors of Rolling Stone were at the time priests or those with a direct connection to the Holy Ghost or anyone else involved with the forgiveness of sins.
Like anyone with a long career, I have had my share of regrets about commercially motivated misjudgments. However, this rag has, over the years, undergone a remarkable transformation from an organ of the supposed counterculture to a shallow pop-culture shop window for starlets and acrobats while funding their efforts with generous amounts of Big Tobacco advertising revenue and offers of penis enlargement to easily deluded teenage boys. I can only hope that those responsible continue to sleep untroubled by the illusion of moral superiority that laid me so low in a dark Holliday Inn bar in 1979, the consequence of which I suppose I will carry all of my days. For now, I have done explaining.
http://www.elviscostellofans.com/phpBB3 ... nts#p51686
Re: Elvis Repents....?
http://www.elviscostello.info/wiki/inde ... er_2,_1982
https://greilmarcus.net/ask-greil/
In which readers ask Greil Marcus questions and he sometimes answers them. To submit your own question, email admin@greilmarcus.net, and use the subject line, “Ask Greil.” (Alternatively, you can use the submission form at the bottom of this page.)
07/04/16
Can we ever expect you to comment on the relatively recent Elvis Costello autobio? If not, why not? Not particularly looking to stir shit up here, just wondering what you made of his “Rolling Stone sent over some professor to interview me” comment(s)?
– John Sot
I read that part, haven’t read the book yet. EC says that was a joke between us, given that (a) I’m not a professor and (b) no one was “sent over” by Rolling Stone—he came to my house and we talked and played records for six hours.
https://greilmarcus.net/ask-greil/
In which readers ask Greil Marcus questions and he sometimes answers them. To submit your own question, email admin@greilmarcus.net, and use the subject line, “Ask Greil.” (Alternatively, you can use the submission form at the bottom of this page.)
07/04/16
Can we ever expect you to comment on the relatively recent Elvis Costello autobio? If not, why not? Not particularly looking to stir shit up here, just wondering what you made of his “Rolling Stone sent over some professor to interview me” comment(s)?
– John Sot
I read that part, haven’t read the book yet. EC says that was a joke between us, given that (a) I’m not a professor and (b) no one was “sent over” by Rolling Stone—he came to my house and we talked and played records for six hours.
Re: Elvis Repents.... , Rolling Stone September 1982 - Greil responds, July 2016
At one stage , it seems, the Rhino reissues were to feature notes by various commentators , before Elvis decided to write them. Greil , it is said, was supposed to do one for MAIT and this essay from 2001 was that note or a version of it.
http://www.elviscostello.info/wiki/inde ... e_30,_2001
http://www.elviscostello.info/wiki/inde ... e_30,_2001