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Cotton
 Post subject: The whole Elvis Costello/Ray Charles thing
PostPosted: Mon May 23, 2005 2:02 pm 
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..you think EC had a major relapse of a guilt trip last year what with the movie and death and all? I was sorta surprised not to see this story resurface anywhere, though it's probably better for everyone that it didn't.

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Senator LooGAR
 Post subject: Re: The whole Elvis Costello/Ray Charles thing
PostPosted: Mon May 23, 2005 2:04 pm 
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Cotton Wrote:
..you think EC had a major relapse of a guilt trip last year what with the movie and death and all? I was sorta surprised not to see this story resurface anywhere, though it's probably better for everyone that it didn't.


I read about this recently in that Rolling Stone interview.

One of the fucking craziest stories EVER.

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Throughout his life, from childhood until death, he was beset by severe swings of mood. His depressions frequently encouraged, and were exacerbated by, his various vices. His character mixed a superficial Enlightenment sensibility for reason and taste with a genuine and somewhat Romantic love of the sublime and a propensity for occasionally puerile whimsy.
harry Wrote:
I understand that you, of all people, know this crisis and, in your own way, are working to address it. You, the madras-pantsed julip-sipping Southern cracker and me, the oldman hippie California fruit cake are brothers in the struggle to save our country.

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LooGAR (the straw that stirs the drink)

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no guru
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PostPosted: Mon May 23, 2005 2:04 pm 
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frostingspoon
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Costello addressed it a couple of times in interviews I read last year. Called it the biggest media mistake he ever made and said Charles deserved much better.
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e-stone
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PostPosted: Mon May 23, 2005 2:12 pm 
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what's the story?

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Pagoda
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PostPosted: Mon May 23, 2005 2:22 pm 
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elephantstone Wrote:
what's the story?

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Cotton
 Post subject:
PostPosted: Mon May 23, 2005 2:23 pm 
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well, in so many words, Costello got really drunk on tour and said some really bad things about Mr. Charles (i believe the term "blind, ignorant nigger" was included in this) in front of Delaney & Bonnie, who not surprisingly took great offense to this and proceeded to tell a lot of people. This is considered by many the reason why he never became the superstar over here that people were expecting him to. Either way, it's a pretty shitty career move.

i haven't actually heard this story in years so if I could be wrong on one or two of the details here, like how close D&B were to the Charles camp.

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Last edited by Cotton on Mon May 23, 2005 2:29 pm, edited 1 time in total.

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HaqDiesel
 Post subject:
PostPosted: Mon May 23, 2005 2:28 pm 
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Quote:
1979 would see the peak of Costello's commercial success with the release of
the album Armed Forces (suitably subtitled "Emotional Fascism"). Inspired by
the constant touring, the band were in fine form and Elvis had further honed
his lyrical wit, tackling subjects both personal and political. Both the
album and the single "Oliver's Army", with a piano hook borrowed from Abba's
"Dancing Queen", went to #2 in the UK. His success in the US was severely
dented, however when Costello called Ray Charles a "blind, ignorant nigger"
during an argument with Bonnie Bramlett in an Ohio bar (the comment being
particularly odd, since Elvis worked extensively in Britain's "Rock Against
Racism" campaign both before and after). A contrite Costello apologised at a
press conference, claiming that he had been drunk, and had said it only to
annoy Bramlett (at which he was successful, since Bramlett punched him in
the face).
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Billzebub
 Post subject:
PostPosted: Mon May 23, 2005 3:49 pm 
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"Media mistake" doesn't sound like a helluva lot of remorse.
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no guru
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PostPosted: Mon May 23, 2005 3:58 pm 
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Billzebub Wrote:
"Media mistake" doesn't sound like a helluva lot of remorse.


My guess is Costello was so drunk at the time he doesn't remember saying it.
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Kingfish
 Post subject:
PostPosted: Mon May 23, 2005 4:01 pm 
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This is news to me.

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Senator LooGAR
 Post subject:
PostPosted: Mon May 23, 2005 4:07 pm 
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I wish there was video of this incedent, cos I'd love to see Bonnie "Billy" Bramlett get nutz on somebody. I mean, yeah what he said was pretty dick, but overall, on the hilarity scale, this rates pretty high.

_________________
Throughout his life, from childhood until death, he was beset by severe swings of mood. His depressions frequently encouraged, and were exacerbated by, his various vices. His character mixed a superficial Enlightenment sensibility for reason and taste with a genuine and somewhat Romantic love of the sublime and a propensity for occasionally puerile whimsy.
harry Wrote:
I understand that you, of all people, know this crisis and, in your own way, are working to address it. You, the madras-pantsed julip-sipping Southern cracker and me, the oldman hippie California fruit cake are brothers in the struggle to save our country.

FT Wrote:
LooGAR (the straw that stirs the drink)

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no guru
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PostPosted: Mon May 23, 2005 4:09 pm 
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frostingspoon
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Costello was very angry with nearly everything about the U.S. in the late 70's plus he drank a hell of a lot. He probably said a lot of things he now regrets, if he remembers them.
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bluejayway
 Post subject:
PostPosted: Mon May 23, 2005 4:15 pm 
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Billzebub Wrote:
"Media mistake" doesn't sound like a helluva lot of remorse.


Agreed. That said, I'm sure I've seen/read a considerably more contrite EC response to this fuckup somewhere. FWIW.
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Diggity Dawg
 Post subject:
PostPosted: Mon May 23, 2005 8:30 pm 
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bluejayway Wrote:
Billzebub Wrote:
"Media mistake" doesn't sound like a helluva lot of remorse.


Agreed. That said, I'm sure I've seen/read a considerably more contrite EC response to this fuckup somewhere. FWIW.


Haq's post addresses this...he was trying to be "punk", & he got dope slapped for it ( as well he should ) . He didn't mean it, & has apologized profusely.

I don't think it had THAT much baring on his success ( or lack thereof ) stateside, as much as "people" preferred Styx then & Nickelback now.
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legonads
 Post subject:
PostPosted: Mon May 23, 2005 9:19 pm 
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Speaking of EC calling someone a nigger, what is a "white nigger" (in the song "Oliver's Army")?
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Balls Mahoney
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PostPosted: Tue May 24, 2005 3:52 am 
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g Wrote:
Speaking of EC calling someone a nigger, what is a "white nigger" (in the song "Oliver's Army")?


Second class treatment of people in Northern Ireland.

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jewels santana
 Post subject:
PostPosted: Tue May 24, 2005 10:54 am 
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Jimmy Stripe Wrote:
g Wrote:
Speaking of EC calling someone a nigger, what is a "white nigger" (in the song "Oliver's Army")?


Second class treatment of people in Northern Ireland.


i've always wondered that too.
that makes sense.

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Senator LooGAR
 Post subject:
PostPosted: Tue May 24, 2005 11:32 am 
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g Wrote:
Speaking of EC calling someone a nigger, what is a "white nigger" (in the song "Oliver's Army")?


Lester Bangs?

Stanley Booth?

The Stones' horn section?

(Bloor will get this, the rest of you, not so sure)

_________________
Throughout his life, from childhood until death, he was beset by severe swings of mood. His depressions frequently encouraged, and were exacerbated by, his various vices. His character mixed a superficial Enlightenment sensibility for reason and taste with a genuine and somewhat Romantic love of the sublime and a propensity for occasionally puerile whimsy.
harry Wrote:
I understand that you, of all people, know this crisis and, in your own way, are working to address it. You, the madras-pantsed julip-sipping Southern cracker and me, the oldman hippie California fruit cake are brothers in the struggle to save our country.

FT Wrote:
LooGAR (the straw that stirs the drink)

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Dunwoody Dude
 Post subject:
PostPosted: Tue May 24, 2005 12:51 pm 
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Senator Dis Soff LooGAR Wrote:
g Wrote:
Speaking of EC calling someone a nigger, what is a "white nigger" (in the song "Oliver's Army")?


Lester Bangs?

Stanley Booth?

The Stones' horn section?

(Bloor will get this, the rest of you, not so sure)

I won't pretend to "get" all this, but, of course, Lester was famous for sporting his "white nigger" t.

Steve
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