Dangerous Amusements: the Elvis Costello playlist Stu Arrowsmith
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- Music
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Dangerous Amusements is a podcast where we chat about the music of Elvis Costello.
On each episode, a guest talks all things EC with Stu Arrowsmith and helps to compile the ultimate Elvis Costello playlist.
Check out the Dangerous Amusements website - dangerousamusements.co.uk - and find us on Twitter and Instagram.
Credits:
Presented and produced by Stu Arrowsmith.
Theme music performed by Gary Mulcahy.
Artwork by Gary McGillivray.
Voiceover by Jude Vause-Walsh.
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Jeff Slate
Singer/songwriter and musician Jeff Slate joins me ahead of the release of his new album, The Last Day of Summer.
We chat about his love of Elvis Costello's music and its influence on his own songwriting. Jeff recalls the many and varied Costello gigs he's attended over the years and picks out some of his favourite EC songs.
Jeff tells me about recording Imposters and Attractions, his album of music inspired by Elvis, which also featured a couple of Costello covers.
Also an acclaimed music writer and broadcaster, Jeff looks back on his different Costello interviews and features for Rolling Stone and Esquire, among others.
Check out Jeff's new single (Broken) Without You and look out for his new album in May 2024. -
Courtney E Smith
My guest is writer, editor and podcaster, Courtney E Smith.
The host of Songs My Ex Ruined discusses her love of Elvis Costello’s music and selects some of her favourite EC tracks for the playlist.
Courtney recalls meeting Elvis during her time at MTV and shares
her memories of some incredible Costello gigs, including VH1’s Decades Rock Live and his performance with the Roots at the Brooklyn Bowl. -
BONUS - Elvis, Elton and Down River
Something a bit different to kick off 2024.
This is a mini episode reflecting on how a stunning duet by Elvis Costello and Elton John introduced me to the wonderful music of David Ackles.
They performed a beautiful version of Ackles' Down River on Spectacle, backed by James Burton, Allen Toussaint, Pete Thomas and Davey Faragher.
In this episode, I look back at that performance and the career of David Ackles, who released four fine albums between 1968 and 1973. -
Kenton Hall
Kenton Hall is a man of many talents: songwriter, musician,
actor and director. He’s also a huge Elvis Costello fan.
In this episode, Kenton tells me how he discovered Costello’s music, what it means to him and how it has influenced his own songwriting.
We chat about some of his favourite Elvis records, memorable gigs and how Steve Nieve came to record a track for Kenton’s recent album Omniopath.
Make sure you check out Kenton’s brilliant audio drama,
London After Midnight, which he has adapted from the Tod Browning movie and in which he stars alongside Art Malik and others. -
Tim Riley
Music writer Tim Riley is the author of acclaimed books
about the Beatles, John Lennon and Bob Dylan, among others.
He’s also closely followed the career of Elvis Costello and
tells me about the impact the early Elvis records had on him.
We discuss memorable Costello gigs, Elvis’s talent for interpretation, his collaboration with Paul McCartney and the EC song that should have appeared in the Barbie
movie.
Tim also picks out six of his favourite Costello songs for
the Powder and Perfume playlist.
Check out Tim’s website to find out more about his music
writing. -
Jorge Farah
Writer and editor Jorge Farah describes Elvis Costello’s music as “the soundtrack to my life”.
In this episode, we discuss how he came to be a Costello fan, chat about some of his favourite records and how he came to be one of the author’s of the popular Trunkworthy feature, The Elvis Costello Song of the
Week.
In addition, Jorge recommends some of his favourite artists
from his adopted homeland of Argentina whose music he thinks will appeal to Costello fans. You can check out the featured tracks below:
Barbi Recanati – Que No
Emily And – Flasheando Amor
Maria Pien – Una Pelicula
Mariana Michi – Admiracion
Nahuel Briones – Bases y Condiciones
Customer Reviews
It’s aim is most definitely true
A podcast beyond belief, separating the monkey from the man and the matador from his pork sword. A favourite hour of listening, whether you’re standing on a platform at a Lancashire station or lying with a minister of state, this fine series will veritably put your passion out under the pressure pin. Enjoy.
Brilliant (Without Mistakes)
If you love the genius of Elvis Costello, this is the podcast for you. Excellent, sympathetic host and a great format. Love it!
Thorough, infectious and amiable
An incredible podcast by Stu and a clear labour of love and considerable craft. The impressive and diverse array of guests are all engaged in a warm and smooth style and provide brilliant insight into this amazing musician and human being. One to add to, and place, in the burgeoning pantheon of great podcasts dedicating themselves to artists. A definite for serious muso lovers everywhere.