Wendy James / Costello

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whither Wendy James?

Not that I'm a fan, but I was listening to her solo LP written by Costello & was wondering...

As a supplementary, anyone know how much was she 'aware' of Costello's lyrics? I heard a story that she actually provided him with her diary for the subject matter. So, Costello knocks out 10 tracks (!) in a weekend for her just to prove that he could write to order, Tin Pan Alley style, but it all sounds like a cruel joke at her expense (not that that's necessarily undeserved) & makes me wince. Hearing her struggle through 'Puppet Girl' etc makes for very, erm, interesting listening. It's not a good album, but that dynamic makes it almost compelling.

Any comments?

― Bill E, Tuesday, 19 June 2001 00:00 (twenty-two years ago) link

she's no tracy tracy.

― keith, Tuesday, 19 June 2001 00:00 (twenty-two years ago) link

Indeed, but if I ever hear 'Crash' again, I think I'll scream.
Maybe we need another thread:
Whatever happened to 80's indie/alternative/powerpop blonde females??? ;>

― Bill E, Tuesday, 19 June 2001 00:00 (twenty-two years ago) link

Whatever happened to 80's indie/alternative/powerpop blonde females??? ;>

Courtney Love?

― maryann, Wednesday, 20 June 2001 00:00 (twenty-two years ago) link

I used to think that when EC said he'd written them all on a park bench one weekend, it was just bravado and unbelievable. But now I think that a songwriter *ought* to be able to do that. Especially if they're Elvis Costello. In practice it means - what? - having a list of titles and ideas - then knocking out, say, 6 one day, 4 the next; maybe tidying them up on the Monday (is that allowed?). I don't think EC's songs are that great, on that LP. That's - surprisingly - where the trouble starts. But is it really such a bad LP? I'm not sure that it is.

― the pinefox, Wednesday, 20 June 2001 00:00 (twenty-two years ago) link

Monday not allowed, pinefox. Obviously. Sheesh.

― mark s, Wednesday, 20 June 2001 00:00 (twenty-two years ago) link

it could be a "long weekend". it's a term that seems to have comfortably entered the vernacular. no, not a lost weekend, mr pinefox sir. elvis c has always liked little tricks like this, like his spinning song wheel at the, oo was it the king of america tour in 1522? it's the same in a way isn't it? the performer sets up hoops to jump through. occasionally it actually produces something worthwhile. g*org*s p*r*c?

― honey, Wednesday, 20 June 2001 00:00 (twenty-two years ago) link

Yes, it does.

― the pinefox, Wednesday, 20 June 2001 00:00 (twenty-two years ago) link

Actually, I guess it's not such a bad album, I just have a hard time getting over the possible 'cruel joke' aspect of it. Apparently EC has released a few of his own versions as b-sides (around Brutal Youth time), but I've never heard them.

And yes, I'd agree that someone of his talent should be able to knock an album out in a weekend. How many other 'great songwriters' of the age could do it? Maybe someone should organise a competition??

― Bill E, Wednesday, 20 June 2001 00:00 (twenty-two years ago) link

Maybe they should.

What's the prize?

― the pinefox, Thursday, 21 June 2001 00:00 (twenty-two years ago) link

one month passes...

Elton Johns mate could probably do it...anyone have a clue where James is now?

― Be D. V'Ant, Monday, 20 August 2001 00:00 (twenty-two years ago) link

sixteen years pass...

https://youtu.be/PCNtWX6ceh4

This one sounds like Shampoo. I note that EC’s wife Cait gets half the credit on about half the songs. Weird considering the ‘Elvis wrote it all over a weekend’ story, that no-one factored his missus into it too.

― piscesx, Thursday, 14 June 2018 09:52 (five years ago) link

the story was always that Elvis & Cait wrote it in a weekend

― kelp, clam and carrion (sic), Thursday, 14 June 2018 16:39 (five years ago) link

another album I have buried in the attic but yet to add to my digital archive.
not sure I spend an hour digging around for it though ?

― mark e, Thursday, 14 June 2018 17:12 (five years ago) link

nah, it's a curiosity for $2 on CD but not worth the effort of revisiting

― kelp, clam and carrion (sic), Friday, 15 June 2018 04:26 (five years ago) link

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