Elvis costello autobiography whsmith opening
Why i wrote down every single record I bought for 14 years in 3 tatty diaries.
In 2011 I wrote this piece for Word Magazine about my decade long obsession with documenting every single time i bought an LP or single in a diary purchased from W.H Smith.
I was really nervous but my Dad had already agreed to take me over to
Portslade in his car that evening. “Do I have to wear the uniform Dad
?” . “Yes. Of course. Otherwise it won’t be official”. My mum had
ironed my scarf so I couldn’t get out of it. I packed them all up in a
new plastic box that we’d got from Boots the week before and I sat in
the back just not sure I knew enough to get through this.
The door opened, young kids ran about, the house looked simply chaotic
and I was offered an orange squash.
17th Hove.
“So how long have you been doing this then ?” said a tall kindly old
chap. They always seemed to be tall kindly old chaps.
I then muttered something inaudible, fished out a couple of singles;
by BA Robertson (Bang Bang) and the Boomtown Rats (I Don’t Like
Mondays), offered up a few thoughts about alphabetical order, started
unfolding Elvis Costello and the Attractions’ Armed Forces all over
the floor and it was quickly over. He and my Dad started chatting
about their gardens, I carefully placed them all back and was silently
annoyed. Why didn’t he want to know why I’d bought Gary Numan’s Cars
in a record shop on the Isle of Wight whilst on holiday ? Hadn’t he
heard of 2-Tone ? Did the stamp collectors get this treatment. I doubt
it. I really know this stuff. I wanted to really prove it.
And thats how it started. I was 13, I had a woggle on, and I’d just
earned my Scout Collectors badge for collecting records.
25 years later, in possession of a new scanner, nominally to gather upa large collection of baby pictures of my young sons, my thoughtsinstead turned to the loft. In a
MOOT posts elsewhere -
http://events.whsmith.co.uk/event/unfai ... aring-ink/
" ‘Elvis Costello’ Signing Unfaithful Music & Disappearing Ink
Elvis Costello will be signing copies of his new book, Unfaithful Music & Disappearing Ink
Signing Schedule
WHSmith Arndale Centre, Manchester Tuesday 27th October from 12:30pm Telephone 0161 834 8300
Terms And Conditions
This will be a wristbanded event. Wristbands and books are available from the WHSmith stores hosting the event from Tuesday 13th October. To queue for this event you must purchase a copy of Unfaithful Music & Disappearing Ink from a WHSmith store and collect your wristband from the store hosting the event. Queuing for this event opens an hour before the event. Anyone arriving earlier will be asked to return at the correct time. Proof of purchase from WHSmith WILL be required. Please keep this in a safe place. Wristbands will be given out on a first come, first served basis. Please be prepared to wait in the queue. To avoid disappointment, we cannot guarantee entry after the signing start time. Anyone under the age of 14 years must be accompanied by an adult. Any accompanying adults will not need a wristband. Due to time and space limitations only one child can only be accompanied by one parent. Those without a book and wristband will not be permitted to join the queue unless they are a parent or guardian of anyone under 14 years of age. Your wristband entitles you to one place in the queue to get your book signed by Elvis Costello. Only copies bought from WHSmith will be accepted. Only the book will be signed. No other merchandise will be signed. No posed photos. You are free to take pictures whilst Elvis is signing. Unfortunately no dedications will be possible due to the anticipated turn out for the event. The time at which the event ends will be determined by the promoters on the
Another year, another blog post starting with my favourite SONG OF THE YEAR – a full run down of all my favourite songs can be heard on the first of our two end of the year podcasts, but this year’s winner is this:
A song I saw Scott perform live in Liverpool, where he encouraged the audience to singalogacustard. Reader – they did.
Top 25 Albums
1 Andrew Wasylyk & Tommy Perman – Ash Grey And The Gull Glides On
The album I have played the most this year. The first time in these blogs that an instrumental album has come out on top (OK, the final song features him out of off of Arab Strap, but still). A wonderful wonderful record.
2 The Lovely Eggs – Eggsistentialism
A brilliant album that made me fall back in love with The Eggs.It was near impossible to choose a favourite track for the podcast – so many hits!
3 The The – Ensoulment
A quarter of a century waiting for this, and it did not disappoint. At all. Let’s hope the next will follow a bit quicker. Favourite line: the William Blake twisting “this greedy unpleasant land…”
4 The Cure – Songs Of A Lost World
5 Scott Lavene – Disneyland In Dagenham
6 Biz Turkey – Biz Turkey
7 The Revolutionary Army of The Infant Jesus – The Dream We Carry
8 William Doyle – Springs Eternal
9 The Eggmen Whoooooo! – Fuzzy Eggs, Please
10 Guided By Voices – Strut Of Kings
11 Gruff Rhys – Sadness Sets Me Free
12 Brother Of Monday – Humdinger
13 Mount Eerie – Night Palace
14 epic45 – You’ll Only See Us When The Light Has Gone
15 Spencer Segelov & Great Paintings – You’re A Lighthouse, I’m At Sea
16 Godspeed You! Black Emperor – No Title As Of 13 February 2024 28,340 Dead
17 Wussy – Cincinnati Ohio
18 Neutrals – New Town Dream
19 Cleaners From Venus – Lilli Bolero
20 .