RTE radio show "Under the Influence"

Review by John Foyle, July 2002

Elvis turned in an interesting, sometimes provocative appearance on this usually lightweight show ( next week`s guest is Lulu!). Presented by Joe Jackson it was probably recorded in Febuary this year. This can be worked out because it features some quotes that appeared in a article Jackson wrote for (Irish) The Sunday Independent, published March 3 `02. Echoey sound also indicates it wasn`t recorded in a studio,which probably means it was done in the Killiney Court Hotel, like a lot of interviews for the Irish media were done around that time. It also means the comments were edited in with the tracks at a later date.

After an introductory comment about how Elvis had told Jackson in an interview in the mid-1990`s that he was going to release a Kojak Variety II in 2001, Elvis explained it`s absence by saying he`d been too busy recording his own songs. He would certainly return to that kind of project again, most likely concentrating on songs from the last 25 years. After some other talk on the same subject they came to the first selected song. Jackson reminded Elvis that he had once said how he had liked a particular song because of a -seeming - faulty vocal line in it`s ending. Elvis seemed momentarily puzzled but, with a laugh, remembered and agreed to the first song being I Saw Her Again Last Night by The Mamas And Papas . The errant vocal is by Denny Doherty in the song`s fade out and Elvis had always found it endearing. After that track was played Elvis pointedly got the show back on track by reminding Joe that this show was about songs that had influenced him. He then chose, as he had on Desert Island Discs ( BBC) in 1992, The Beatle`s version on Smokey Robinson`s You Really Got A Hold On Me. He spoke about his - Elvis`- vocal manner had been so influenced by Lennons`.

Jackson came out of that track with a comment about Elvis being born in Liverpool in 1955 ( that error again, should be 1954) which was greeted by Elvis saying Joe sounded just like Eamon Andrews, long time presenter of This Is Your Life. Joe laughingly said he didn`t have a red book and continued to prompt Elvis to talk about his childhood, Mother in record shop, Dad a singer, Dad `the first Bebop player in Birkenhead` and all the usual well known ( to Costello fans) stories. This then lead to his next selection, Tin Soldiers by The Small Faces. Jackson inadvertently - more in shorthand really - refered to it being by The Faces which drew a promt correction by Elvis. Considering Elvis` comments elsewhere about Rod Stewart he clearly believes in emphasising the difference between the two groups. They both agreed this song was a `love song` and a great example of Steve Marriott`s vocal ability. They show then went on to concentrate on Elvis` songs. Interspersed with the songs were some provocative comments. Elvis agreed with Joe about the `stoicism` Bing Crosby brought to The Very Thought Of You . Elvis also spoke about `confessional ` singer/songwriters. Many of them, he thought, hadn`t really done much to confess about! Only singers like Joni Mitchell would really warrant such a title.

Almost Blue was played as an example of one of his earlier songs . Elvis believes he has sung it better since but is fond of the recording all the same.

Spooky Girlfriend and 45 were played, along with comments that he has made in innumerable other, recent interviews. After them Joe obviously decided to push Elvis a bit, maybe thinking that if he really annoyed him it didn`t matter as the interview was nearly over and he had got enough material already. He asked Elvis why he lived in Ireland. The following dialogue ensued:

Elvis: Neutral country ...Republic...that`s good enough, y`know ...little by little getting them out of the occupied territory, and, ahh, and, ahh...
Joe:(laughs)- Ok, so you plan to stay here-
Elvis:- Give me back my country!!
Joe: (laughs)
Elvis: I can`t go home where we come from!(laughs)
Joe: So you plan to stay here for some timem -
Elvis: I do, no, I`m being facetious, I don`t mean to make light of some serious things but, I mean ...
Joe: But sometimes things need to be made light off..
Elvis:( at the same time) ...need to be made light off, yeah, `Give My Head Peace` ( A BBCTV Northern Ireland weekly satirical show) proves that every week.

The discussion then moved on to say that he -Elvis - was dealing in pop music, not brain surgery. Heading towards the show`s final selection,Episode of Blonde, they discussed the perception dating back to This Years Model, that Elvis had dodgy opinions on women. Elvis denied negative intent and, after some other verbal batting between the two, the following was said

Joe: Did you have to go along the same process in life-
Elvis: (talking over the last few words) We all have to re-educate ourselves everyday to make ourselves better people-
Joe: No, but, in relation to women through the years?
Elvis: I would certainly answer, but that`s not a question for me, y`know
Joe: ..it`s a question more for the women?
Elvis: I would say so.
Joe: Ok, so this song ...

After a few words about the song the show concluded with these words:

Elvis: (Episode of blonde) is about the cult of celebrity and, ahh, cheap fame.
Joe: Ok -
Elvis:...and it has some great horn playing on it...
Joe: Ok, of which you are, of course, part...
Elvis: Absolutely, part, as I said, include yourself in if you are going to be critical.
Joe: Elvis Costello, thank you very much.
Elvis: Thank you.

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