King of America

>>has elvis made a good record without the Attractions?<<

Yes, absolutely.

My Aim is True has no attractions on it, although they later kicked ass live on some of these same tunes.

King of America, is a killer early non-Attractions album.

When I was Cruel is an Elvis costello and the Imposters album. Same band basically but with a different bass player (Davey Farragher of Cracker) and they still rock. Also the Imposters are killer live.

I love Bruce Thomas don't get me wrong but from what I've read he seems to be a bit difficult to get along with for Elvis.

Personally I'll always be more of an Elvis/Attractions fan over an Elvis/whoever fan. What would My Aim have sounded like with The Attractions?! I think they would've made it even greater than it is. And I'm happy to see someone single out Bruce Thomas as one of the greatest bass players ever! When I hear him, Pete Thomas and Steve Nieve backing Elvis, whether live ( I have several early bootlegs) or especially on record I marvel at their ability to make the simplest albeit great song a masterpiece.

HA!

The new bass player kicks ass fine And sings backups. So as a bass player myself, I hate him. If he actually sucked in anyway I'd be the 1st to point it out. Faragers riff's and tone seem to be almost note for note w/Bruce Thomas'. In my experience i am also sad to report that Bruce didn't seem to really have the chops towards the end of his tenure for instance the solo on Lipstick Vogue wasn't quite there.

As far as the topic at hand am I the only one who Loves forever "Painted From Memory.?" w/Burt Bacharach? Or does it not count. I don't think Bruce is on it anywhere but the rest of the Attractions are.

The ONE Lp i still never quite got into is the one w/ Bill Frisel (Who is a monster in his own right usually). Like really mellow doped up 20's or '30's jazz/vocal #'s.... but I won't sell it back still...


My big question is what was this I heard about him playing with CLOVER this month here in SF at GAMH!!!!!!?????!?!?!?!?!!?!?!?!??!

wtf! I need to know!

And what about the one w/the Metropole Orchestra. I really really like that version of Detectives... (Seen it twice ;-) I saw them at Davies Symphony Hall and he did the same arrangement with Allen Toussaint later that same spring at the Paramount in Oaktown... :-)

I've seen much worse but I am pretty sick w/it. :-) I think I missed one tour when I was in euro in 1997 but since 1980 when accesible that's not bad.

1st ever for me was at the Grand 'Ole Opry in Nashville for Almost Blue and some awesome previews from iMperial Bedroom! i.e. Beyond Belief, Shabby Doll.... I recall there, Atlanta and NYC being his only stops on that tour. Awesome.

I guess I can't name one cuz there are a few ;-)

I personally really Like the Juliette Letters as well and had the priveledge of squeeking into the last row nosebleeders for that show also at Davies.

I've probably only bought him a nice cheap car by now ;-) I dunno , I might have bought him that Lexus. ? ;-)

Last time I saw him at the Warfield was only the 2nd time ever for a Beatles song. He did a nice rockin' Hey Bulldog. Couldn't believe it. The only other time I seen him do the Beatles was at the Guiness Fleagh fest when he went from New Amsterdam into Hide Your Love Away. I don't know if I'd seen New Amsterdam B4 or since then either... :-)

Still, Can't miss 'em if he's w/Clover. I imagine mostly if not all of My Aim Is True.....

Thanks for reading folks. Painted From Memory rules! :-)

Heart, ~ Robley;D