Elvis Is King: Costello's My Aim Is True by Richard Crouse is the story of the making of a star and a record. Crouse is the regular film critic for CTV’s Canada AM, CTV’s 24-hour News Channel and CP24. His syndicated Saturday afternoon radio show, "Entertainment Extra," originates on NewsTalk 1010. He is also the author of six books on pop culture history.I found several interesting things in this book. Being the same age as the author and raised just on the other side of the border we would [...]

I bought Elvis Costello’s “My Aim is True” when I was in high school. As I lived in a small, Midwestern town in a rural area of Illinois, this made me an outlier in music appreciation. At the time, hard rock was de rigeuer, especially the type made in America. Nevertheless, I was attracted to the wonky look of Elvis, the attitude, the sound, and the songs of being inept at love. This book describes Elvis’ start, early Stiff Records history, and ends with a description of the making of th [...]

A fine book on the start of Costello's remarkable career.

Elvis is King – and I don’t mean Presley. Those of you who were born in the in the ‘70s or before and were into “alternative” music (not pop, metal, or just plain rock) will know what I’m talking about. For the rest of you, you are definitely missing a great artist and album.Richard Crouse’s Elvis is king. Costello’s My Aim is True was written for ECW Press’s Pop Classics series. Crouse tells us of Declan MacManus, his transformation to Elvis Costello and the making of his firs [...]

'Elvis is King: Costello's My Aim Is True' by Richard Crouse is a true fan account of the early days of Elvis Costello. When I say early, I mean just until a little after the release of his first record My Aim Is True.We get the early days of Declan P. McManus, including his early work in pub bands, and the influence his parents played. We find the lucky confluence of an angry young office drone and a spunky recording label called Stiff Records. Declan transforms to Elvis and finds fame even tho [...]

In compliance with FTC guidelines, I received this book for free through First Reads. As a teenager in the late 1970's, my initial musical interest centered around progressive rock bands such as YES, Genesis, Renaissance, David Bowie, etc,Progressive rock bands struggled with losing connection with their audiences, as concerts became grander with more special effects. At this time, disco music gained in popularity. I totaling rejected disco, but enthusiastically jumped head first in to the emer [...]

Fun read, even though anyone could have done it: It's a collection of secondary sources run together in a sensible outline. Loved the story of Stiff Records, a kind of sound-factory-meets-third-place that helped launch the New Wave.

Check out my review here newstalk1010/blog/just

Interesting look at an influential chapter in music history. As a Costello fan, I was intrigued to read about how he came to the music scene, and what influenced him.