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Post by Lord Emsworth on Sept 17, 2020 8:52:58 GMT
 Last night I watched the film If It Ain't Stiff It Ain't Worth a Fuck
It's the film of the 1977 tour put together by David Robinson and Jake Riviera for Ian Dury, Elvis Costello, Nick Lowe, Wreckless Eric and Larry Wallis It's bloody marvellous Lots of footage of the groups on a coach and some brilliant live clips It's about an hour long and every artist comes across really well Part of its charm is its ridiculously lofi vibe and the scenes of England in the 70s There is no narration, only conversation. There's a lot of interesting people on the coach, all the Attractions, all the Blockheads, Dave Edmunds and a host of Ladbroke Grove types who I dont know. They do all get namechecked but I didn't recognise the names Some of the live performances have two, or even three drummers in a Glitter Band / Ants stylee The whole thing culminates in a truly memorable mass performance of Sex, Drugs, and Rock & Roll including some striking dancing from Humphrey Ocean It's really enjoyable and highly recommended It also got me marvelling about how much great music Stiff Records gave us And slogans Lets talk Stiff! |
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Post by Deleted on Sept 17, 2020 11:53:38 GMT
Good and bad.
Nick Lowe might have been a good producer but his music was awful.
As for Costello?I preferred Abbot myself.
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Post by Lord Emsworth on Sept 17, 2020 12:11:44 GMT
 Harsh rogue Jesus of Cool is a wonderful album Got a feeling we've discussed Elvis Costello elsewhere Not everyone's cup of tea but he brought a fierce lyricism and new strain of punk to the era The specs and the sneering contempt were every bit as much a part of punk as The Clash and The Damned That's what makes watching the film so much fun You've got yer Larry Wallis types who, like Hawkwind, Pink Fairies etc, were punk before punk existed, despite the long hair, and then you've got Ian Dury, Wreckless Eric etc who couldn't have existed without punk smashing the doors down You could even say that about Stiff Records itself The wonderful Police Car by Larry Wallis....Live version of Police car from the film (terrible quality though)... |
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Post by Deleted on Sept 17, 2020 16:07:37 GMT
Elvis Costello was as punk as Walter the Softie from the Dandy.
Even looked like him in that twerpy sort of way.
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Post by Lord Emsworth on Sept 17, 2020 16:51:55 GMT
Elvis Costello was as punk as Walter the Softie from the Dandy. Even looked like him in that twerpy sort of way. Well maybe - but a lot of his songs chimed with the era And his ability to write a lyric and a hook was impressive I really loved his first five or so LPs Then he got a bit too up his own arse |
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Post by Lord Emsworth on Sept 17, 2020 16:54:20 GMT
This is still stunning...
Elvis Costello & The Attractions - Pump It Up
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Post by Deleted on Sept 17, 2020 18:07:14 GMT
Elvis Costello was as punk as Walter the Softie from the Dandy. Even looked like him in that twerpy sort of way. Well maybe - but a lot of his songs chimed with the era And his ability to write a lyric and a hook was impressive I really loved his first five or so LPs Then he got a bit too up his own arse Like Joey Ramone and latter day Lydon, he just can't sing. It's awful. |
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Post by Lord Emsworth on Sept 17, 2020 18:45:21 GMT
Like Joey Ramone and latter day Lydon, he just can't sing. It's awful. I couldn't disagree more All three of those singers are wonderful I don't know enough about the technical side to say how proficient they are but each of those sound great Then again I love Mark E Smith's voice too Talking of which here our thread for The Fall... talkpunk.freeforums.net/thread/405/fall |
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Post by zeopold on Sept 17, 2020 19:09:09 GMT
Stiff was our British New Wave label.
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Post by Deleted on Sept 17, 2020 22:08:13 GMT
I'm sure there was a whiff of scandal about Stiff during the RAR not signing black acts or people within their inner circle opposed to it.
Can't remember where I read it though...
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Post by jsm on Sept 17, 2020 22:41:51 GMT
Agree with Nigey, Jesus of Cool is a way cool LP. And I would rate This Year's Model as one of the best albums to have been released in 1978. It was his brightest moment for me
I like the live album from that tour and I'd like to see the film. Where'd you get it?
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Post by Lord Emsworth on Sept 18, 2020 7:12:16 GMT
Jesus of Cool is a way cool LP. And I would rate This Year's Model as one of the best albums to have been released in 1978. It was his brightest moment for me Yes. The joy of the era was that it allowed so many other unlikely talented acts to get exposure. Elvis and the Attractions were incredible live I'd like to see the film. Where'd you get it? I saw it streamed on Amazon UK Never heard of any allegations of racism at Stiff records Rogue - do you have any more information? |
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Post by Deleted on Sept 18, 2020 11:42:43 GMT
I"m sure it was made by Red Saunders, the head honcho of RAR in that book 'Walls Come Tumbling Down'but I would have to dig it out.
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Post by stu77 on May 12, 2023 0:13:38 GMT
I know most of these were on Led Zeppelin's Swan Song label by this time but well worth watching. Made by Granada TV.
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Post by stu77 on Aug 8, 2023 21:56:22 GMT
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