Dangerous Amusements: the Elvis Costello playlist

On Elvis Costello's 70th birthday, we reach the finale of the 70@70 series. Best-selling author, musician and actor Mark Billingham joins me to discuss the top 10 in my countdown of 70 essential Costello songs.

Author Libby Cudmore joins me for the penultimate episode of the Elvis Costello 70@70 series. We've reached the top 20 now in my rundown of 70 essential Elvis Costello songs to celebrate his 70th birthday. Libby offers her take on the tracks I've chosen from 20-11.

For the fifth part of the Elvis Costello 70@70 series, it's my great pleasure to be joined by producer, engineer and Costello collaborator Steve Mandel. We chat about songs 30-21 on my rundown of 70 essential Elvis songs to mark his upcoming 70th birthday.

It's a warm welcome back to the podcast to music journalist Paul Stokes for the fourth instalment of the Elvis Costello 70@70 series. We're at the midway point of my countdown of 70 essential Costello songs to celebrate his upcoming 70th birthday. Paul and I discuss numbers 40-31 on the playlist.

Music writer Allison Rapp is my guest for the third instalment of the Elvis Costello 70@70 series. I've put together a list of 70 essential Elvis Costello songs to celebrate his 70th birthday in August 2024. In this episode, Allison and I chat about tracks 50-41 in the countdown. Make sure you check out Allison's terrific show The Big Yellow Podcast, celebrating the life and music of Joni Mitchell.

Comedian, actor and writer Connor Ratliff joins me for the second episode in the Elvis Costello 70@70 countdown. To mark Costello's 70th birthday in August 2024, I've picked out 70 of his most essential songs. Connor and I discuss numbers 60-51 in the countdown.

This is the first of seven episodes counting down the Elvis Costello 70@70. To mark Costello's 70th birthday in August 2024, I've picked out 70 of his most essential songs. Joining me to discuss the first 10 songs in the countdown is music writer, author and musician Tom Doyle.

A new series coming your way for summer 2024.

Acclaimed author and journalist Simon Garfield says of his love of Elvis Costello's music, “no other artist has had such a deep or sustained impact on me or introduced me to such a wide range of music”. He has been a fan of Costello since hearing the Honky Tonk demos and attending early gigs at the Dominion as a teenager. Simon has gone on to interview Elvis on a number of occasions, including after every night of his 2023 residency at New York's Gramercy Theatre. We chat about those experiences, hear about Simon's favourite Costello songs and discuss Elvis's stage musical projects, Cold War and A Face in the Crowd.

Photographer Tony Sacchetti has been taking pictures of Elvis Costello onstage and off it for more than 40 years. His shots have appeared everywhere from Costello fanzines and his fantastic Instagram page to official Elvis album booklets. Tony tells me about the art of music photography, covering memorable Costello gigs and his interactions with Elvis over the years. And, of course, Tony adds six of his favourite EC songs to the playlist.

Jeremy Dylan is an acclaimed film maker, record producer, artist manager and journalist. He's also a huge fan of Elvis Costello. We chat about Jeremy's love of Elvis's music and his experience of interviewing the man himself for a documentary film. Along the way, Jeremy shares fascinating insights into working with a host of key Costello associates, including Pete Thomas, Davey Faragher, Nick Lowe, Jim Lauderdale and Jim Keltner. Jeremy also hosts the terrific My Favourite Album podcast.

BBC broadcaster Becky Want has interviewed a host of illustrious names during her career in radio and television, including her hero, Elvis Costello. In this episode, Becky recalls her experiences of interviewing Elvis and having the opportunity to ask him about her favourite album, Painted From Memory. She tells me about some of her favourite Costello gigs and picks six terrific EC tracks to add to my playlist.

Singer/songwriter and musician Jeff Slate joins me ahead of the release of his new album, The Last Day of Summer. We chat about his love of Elvis Costello's music and its influence on his own songwriting. Jeff recalls the many and varied Costello gigs he's attended over the years and picks out some of his favourite EC songs. Jeff tells me about recording Imposters and Attractions, his album of music inspired by Elvis, which also featured a couple of Costello covers. Also an acclaimed music writer and broadcaster, Jeff looks back on his different Costello interviews and features for Rolling Stone and Esquire, among others. Check out Jeff's new single (Broken) Without You and look out for his new album in May 2024.

My guest is writer, editor and podcaster, Courtney E Smith. The host of Songs My Ex Ruined discusses her love of Elvis Costello's music and selects some of her favourite EC tracks for the playlist. Courtney recalls meeting Elvis during her time at MTV and shares her memories of some incredible Costello gigs, including VH1's Decades Rock Live and his performance with the Roots at the Brooklyn Bowl.

Something a bit different to kick off 2024. This is a mini episode reflecting on how a stunning duet by Elvis Costello and Elton John introduced me to the wonderful music of David Ackles. They performed a beautiful version of Ackles' Down River on Spectacle, backed by James Burton, Allen Toussaint, Pete Thomas and Davey Faragher. In this episode, I look back at that performance and the career of David Ackles, who released four fine albums between 1968 and 1973.

Kenton Hall is a man of many talents: songwriter, musician, actor and director. He's also a huge Elvis Costello fan. In this episode, Kenton tells me how he discovered Costello's music, what it means to him and how it has influenced his own songwriting. We chat about some of his favourite Elvis records, memorable gigs and how Steve Nieve came to record a track for Kenton's recent album Omniopath. Make sure you check out Kenton's brilliant audio drama, London After Midnight, which he has adapted from the Tod Browning movie and in which he stars alongside Art Malik and others.

Music writer Tim Riley is the author of acclaimed books about the Beatles, John Lennon and Bob Dylan, among others. He's also closely followed the career of Elvis Costello and tells me about the impact the early Elvis records had on him. We discuss memorable Costello gigs, Elvis's talent for interpretation, his collaboration with Paul McCartney and the EC song that should have appeared in the Barbie movie. Tim also picks out six of his favourite Costello songs for the Powder and Perfume playlist. Check out Tim's website to find out more about his music writing.

Writer and editor Jorge Farah describes Elvis Costello's music as “the soundtrack to my life”. In this episode, we discuss how he came to be a Costello fan, chat about some of his favourite records and how he came to be one of the author's of the popular Trunkworthy feature, The Elvis Costello Song of the Week. In addition, Jorge recommends some of his favourite artists from his adopted homeland of Argentina whose music he thinks will appeal to Costello fans. You can check out the featured tracks below: Barbi Recanati – Que No Emily And – Flasheando Amor Maria Pien – Una Pelicula Mariana Michi – Admiracion Nahuel Briones – Bases y Condiciones

A L Kennedy is an award-winning author, playwright, comic and performer. Among her acclaimed works is a collection of short stories named after the Elvis Costello song, All The Rage. In this episode, she tells me about her love of Costello's music and his use of language. We also dig deep into Tramp The Dirt Down with a fascinating reflection on Britain in the 1980s and the anger towards Margaret Thatcher which inspired Costello's totemic song. You can visit A L Kennedy's website here. Her song choices are on the Bedroom Alibis playlist.

New York Times features editor Jim Windolf is the man behind the legendary Costello's 500 feature for Vanity Fair. In the landmark November 2000 essay, Elvis identified 500 albums “essential to a happy life”, from ABBA to Zamballarana. In this episode, Jim recalls his inspiration for the feature and the process of working on it with Costello. He also reflects on interviewing Elvis and an incredible range of live gigs he's watched over the years. Jim also picks six of his favourite Elvis Costello songs to add to the Bedroom Alibis playlist.

This is a quick plug for an appearance I've made on another show. It's an absolute thrill and honour to be a guest on one of my favourite podcasts, Life Goals with Theo Delaney. I chat to Theo about football and music, picking eight goals and songs that mean a lot to me. As you'd expect, Elvis Costello features among my choices… I loved doing this, so please check it out wherever you get your podcasts.

Connor Ratliff is an actor, comedian and host of the acclaimed Dead Eyes podcast. He is also an Elvis Costello fanatic. In this episode, Connor tells me how he came to Costello's music in the 1990s, his Elvis "parlour games" and we dig into some of his favourite EC songs. We also chat about watching Costello live and what is was like to be on the front row, in Elvis's eyeline, for the 10 nights of the Gramercy Theatre residency in 2023. Connor has added six songs to the Bedroom Alibis playlist which will be published at the end of the season.

Music journalist Allison Rapp has written extensively about Elvis Costello's music. She's reviewed a wide variety of EC gigs, including 2023's residency at the Gramercy Theatre in New York, and a memorable performance at the opening of the Bob Dylan Center. Allison also revisited My Aim Is True on the 45th anniversary of its release for Ultimate Classic Rock. In this episode, Allison tells me how she became a Costello fan, picks six of her favourite songs for the playlist and reveals the live show she'd love to see Elvis perform. You can read Allison's articles about Costello – plus interviews with the likes of Bill Frisell, Roger McGuinn and Billy Bragg – on her website.

Acclaimed author Bill Schweigart takes time out from releasing two books in a month to chat about Elvis Costello's music. Bill became a Costello fan with the release of Spike and tells me what the music means to him. He also picks six songs for the playlist, including the track he loved and had to give away. We also talk about standout gigs, how Elvis has inspired Bill's writing and get an insight into his own creative process. Find out moreabout Bill's books and other projects, including his collaboration with James Patterson.

A tribute to Burt Bacharach following his death a few days ago in February 2023. In this episode, I look back at his collaborations with Elvis Costello and celebrate the music they made together. I also revisit the thoughts of previous guests on the show about what different Bacharach/Costello songs mean to them.

Singer/songwriter Emma Swift counts Elvis Costello among her musical heroes and describes his songs as “a gateway into another kind of life”. Emma released Blonde on the Tracks, her acclaimed album of interpretations of Bob Dylan songs in 2020. In 2022, Costello picked out one of those recordings for inclusion on his jukebox for the opening of the Bob Dylan Archive. Emma tells me about receiving the Elvis seal of approval and discusses some of her favourite Costello songs and gigs. Our conversation also takes in the joys of “twangy guitar”, the magic of Nashville and truancy. Follow Emma on Twitterand Instagram and check out her website.

Top comedian and broadcaster Mark Lamarr joins me to open the fifth series of the podcast. Mark has starred in some of the defining UK television shows of the last three decades, including The Word, Never Mind the Buzzcocks and Shooting Stars. His acclaimed radio shows have showcased the depth of his love of music. Mark picks out some of his favourite Elvis Costello songs, standout gigs and recalls a memorable radio session with Elvis and Allen Toussaint. You can follow Mark on Twitter. His music choices will be on the Bedroom Alibis playlist which will be on my website at the end of the series.

In this second part of my conversation with producer and engineer, Steve Mandel, we chat about Wise Up Ghost, the album he created with Elvis Costello and The Roots. The record was released to critical acclaim in September 2013. It was produced by Costello, Questlove and Mandel, with Steve credited as a songwriter on all but one of the dozen tracks. In this episode, Steve talks us through Wise Up Ghost track-by-track. Check out the first part of our conversation to hear how Steve became a Costello fan, their first encounters and some of his favourite EC songs.

Steve Mandel is an audio engineer, producer and songwriter highly regarded for his work with The Roots. He first encountered his hero, Elvis Costello, while working on NBC's Late Night with Jimmy Fallon, on which The Roots were the house band. Steve suggested they perform an old arrangement of Costello's High Fidelity and took a stash of albums for Elvis to sign. They would go on to collaborate on a variety of projects, from further performances on Fallon to Mandel-produced recordings of Costello's interpretations of Squeeze's Someone Else's Heart and American Tune by Paul Simon. Most notably, Elvis, Steve and The Roots worked together on the acclaimed 2013 album, Wise Up Ghost. In this first part of our conversation, Steve tells me how he came to be a Costello fan, what it was like working together and how Elvis gave Steve his favourite day of his life.

Author and linguist Remedy Robinson hosts the brilliant Costello-themed podcast, Slow Drag With Remedy. Each episode is an “exploration and appreciation of the genius words, phrases and references found in each song credited solely to Mr Elvis Costello”. We chat about her love of Elvis's lyrics and how that led to her launching the show. Remedy tells me how she became an EC fan, her favourite records and recounts her memorable meeting with the man himself.

22 July 2022 is the 45th anniversary of Elvis Costello's acclaimed debut album, My Aim Is True. Married father-of-one, Declan MacManus, was a computer operator from London and a prolific aspiring songwriter. Signed to Stiff Records, MacManus cut his first professional album at Pathway Studios, backed by Clover and produced by Nick Lowe. He never looked back. In this special episode to mark 45 years of My Aim Is True, I'm joined by author, TV presenter and radio host, Richard Crouse. A lifelong Costello fan, Richard wrote the definitive book about EC's debut album, Elvis is King, Costello's My Aim Is True. We discuss the impact of the record, its place in the Costello canon and we go through the album track-by track.

Science fiction author, critic and academic, Professor Adam Roberts, has been an Elvis Costello fan since hearing Blood and Chocolate. Our conversation about his love of Elvis also takes in poetry, the philosophy of Hegel and sex dungeons. Adam has picked out six of his favourite Costello songs for this season's playlist and you can read his 2022 article on EC here.

In this second part of my conversation with producer Sebastian Krys, we chat about some of his favourite Elvis Costello songs. Sebastian picks out six Costello tracks for my playlist, including the recent song that stopped him dead in his tracks when Elvis sent him the demo. We also discuss some of the great EC gigs he's attended. Follow Dangerous Amusements on Twitter and Instagram. Visit my website for the playlists, previous episodes and some of my articles. If you're enjoying the show, please leave a five star rating and review.

Sebastian Krys is a multiple Grammy and Latin Grammy-winning producer and engineer. He's worked with an incredible array of great artists, including Gloria Estefan and Shakira, and has co-produced Elvis Costello's records since 2018's Look Now. In part one of this two-part conversation, Sebastian tells me about his career in music and his ongoing collaboration with Costello, which has yielded a series of acclaimed records. In the second part, Sebastian will pick out some of his favourite EC songs to add to my playlist.

As well as being a brilliant and prolific songwriter, Elvis Costello is a master of interpreting songs written by other people. In this bonus episode of the podcast, we put aside our playlists and the usual format to focus on some of the great Costello covers. To do that, I'm delighted to welcome back to the show a director, podcaster and radio host: Theo Delaney. Theo and I each pick five EC cover versions to chat about. Let me know what you think of the performances we discuss in this episode and get in touch on Twitter to share your favourite Costello covers.

Author and music writer Libby Cudmore has been an Elvis Costello fanatic since being given a mix-CD containing Crimes of Paris. In this episode, Libby tells me how her love of Costello's music has developed into an obsession and why you don't want to be next to her at an EC gig. We chat about how Elvis's music has inspired Libby's work as a crime writer and she picks out five Costello tracks to complete the Ashtrays of Emotion playlist. You can find out more about Libby's work on her website. Make sure you also check her out on the Shattered Shield and OST Party podcasts.

Music journalist and author Ian Winwood is a self-confessed Elvis Costello obsessive. We chat about how his love of EC's music began, the many and varied gigs he's been to and why a Costello song was the soundtrack to his wedding day. Ian also picks out five of his favourite Elvis songs to add to my Ashtrays of Emotion playlist. We also talk about Ian's terrific new book, Bodies: Life and Death in Music, in which he explores the impact of working in the music industry.

Pam Thurschwell is an academic, author and self-confessed “Costello trainspotter”. She tells me how early Costello songs like Green Shirt put their fingerprints on her teenage imagination, leading to a lifelong love of Elvis's music. We discuss the articles Pam has had published about EC's music and revisit some of the many Costello gigs she's been to, including a memorable performance alongside her other musical hero, Bob Dylan. Plus, Pam reveals why Elvis described her as “very observant”. The playlist for this season, including Pam's song choices, will be published at the end of the series.

I'm joined by Neal Davies for the final episode of 2021. Neal tells me about the book he's writing about Elvis Costello in the mid-‘80s: King of America, Blood and Chocolate, the pseudonyms and the questions of identity. We chat about his interview with Bruce Thomas and show some love to Goodbye Cruel World. Along the way, Neal recalls the dozens of EC gigs he's been to – including a backstage visit to see the Imposters in New York – and picks five of his favourite songs for this season's playlist. Follow Dangerous Amusements on Twitter and Instagram and check out my website.

Composer and musician Chris Mercer joins me to talk about the music of Elvis Costello. Chris recalls buying his first Costello album and how it completely changed his musical standards. We explore the “intricate, dense” lyrics of the EC songbook and why Chris considers Elvis to be one of the great melodists of our time. The host of the brilliant Take It Away: The Complete Paul McCartney Archive Podcast, Chris tells me about his favourite McCartney/MacManus compositions and we discuss the tracks that got away. Make sure you check out Chris's own music and the Take It Away back catalogue. Follow Dangerous Amusements on Twitter and Instagram and visit my website for my episodes, playlists and articles.

As a member of the TKO Horns, Geoff Blythe toured with Elvis Costello and the Attractions and performed on several tracks on the 1983 album, Punch the Clock. Geoff tells me about the sessions, going on the road with the Attractions and recording the promo video for Let Them All Talk. Along the way, Geoff recalls recording with Nick Lowe and Allen Toussaint and an encounter with Yoko Ono's bodyguard at an album party. A founding member of Dexy's Midnight Runners, Geoff has also performed with Geno Washington, The Bureau, The Neighborhood, Black 47 and GI Blythe. His latest release is I Need a Sunny Day, his second album with the Samsonite Gypsies. Visit the Dangerous Amusements website.

What a treat it was to catch up with award-winning author and former UK Home Secretary Alan Johnson to talk about his love of Elvis Costello's music. An EC fanatic since hearing (The Angels Wanna Wear My) Red Shoes, Alan tells me why he feels such an affinity with the man he credits with his personal lifetime achievement award. We chat about some of Alan's favourite Costello songs and the tape of his own compositions that he sent to Elvis in 1982. He still awaits a reply. After releasing four critically-acclaimed volumes of his memoirs, Alan released his first novel in September 2021. Find out more on his website. A former postman and trade unionist, Alan Johnson was a Labour MP for 20 years, serving in the cabinets of Tony Blair and Gordon Brown in roles including Home Secretary. A keen guitarist and songwriter, in his youth Alan performed in The Area and The In-Betweens.

Kitten Kuroi is a singer, songwriter and activist who has performed live with Elvis Costello and the Imposters on a number of tours. She also recorded vocals for the 2018 album, Look Now, which won a Grammy for Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album at the 62nd Grammy Awards. Kitten tells me about her earliest musical influences and how she came to Elvis's attention for the Imperial Bedrooms and Other Chambers tour in 2016. She gives us fascinating insights into recording and touring with Elvis and picks some of her favourite Costello songs for our playlist. Our conversation also takes in Austin Powers, catsuits and the Spice Girls… Visit my Dangerous Amusements website for previous episodes of the podcast, playlists compiled by my guests, plus some of my articles.

Legendary music PR Glen Colson worked on Elvis Costello's record releases and tours in the late-1970s. Glen tells me all about those early days – the stunts, the arrests, the tours and the music. We chat about life at Stiff Records and the assorted cast of characters Glen's encountered during his career, including Ian Dury, Nick Lowe and Syd Barrett. Glen's also added five songs to our Dragging the Lake playlist. Glen has published a fantastic memoir, called Nefarious. It's a terrific read and you can buy a copy by emailing Glen directly. Find out more about the book on Glen Colson's website.

Georg Purvis is the author of On Track: Elvis Costello and the Attractions. Having previously published books on Pink Floyd and Queen, Georg explores every song and album recorded by Costello between 1977 and 1986. In this episode, Georg tells me about writing the book and his own experiences as an Elvis Costello fan. He picks five of his favourite EC tracks for our playlist, including the song that moved him to tears when he first heard it.

Artist and painter WS Cranmore is my first transatlantic guest on the podcast. skOt recalls hearing Elvis Costello's music for the first time and tells me how one of EC's songs changed his life. We discuss Costello's album artwork and the key to creating a memorable LP or single sleeve. skOt also tells me of his shock when Elvis got in touch to buy one of his paintings… Check out the playlist of Costello songs put together by my guests in this second season of the podcast.

Music journalist Paul Stokes (NME, Q, MOJO, BBC Radio 6 Music) takes us on a trip down Rocking Horse Road as we talk about his love of Elvis Costello's music. We chat about the Costello record that changed his life and look back at some of the many Elvis gigs he's been to over the years. Paul tells us about his experiences of interviewing EC for different music magazines and producing an appearance on BBC Radio 6 Music. And, of course, Paul picks out five gems from Costello's catalogue for our Dragging the Lake playlist. Check out Paul's website to read some of his articles about Elvis.

Jason Carty is one half of the terrific Beatles podcast, Nothing Is Real. A winner of the coveted Beatle Brain of Ireland competition with his co-host, Steven Cockroft, Jason is also a huge Elvis Costello fan. We discuss some of Jason's favourite Costello songs, the many and varied EC gigs he's attended and he recalls meeting the man himself during his Dublin days. And, of course, we can't talk to ‘the Paul guy' from the leading Beatles podcast without discussing the wonderful McCartney/MacManus songs. Check out the Nothing Is Real website and subscribe to Jason and Steven's excellent show wherever you listen to your podcasts.

Boyd Hilton is a top TV and film journalist, entertainment director for Heat magazine and contributing editor at Empire. He's also a huge Elvis Costello fan. In this episode, Boyd picks five EC songs for our playlist, recalls his earliest Elvis experiences and tells us about transatlantic trips to watch Costello live. We also discuss Costello's stint as a TV host on Spectacle, a show Boyd was tipped off about by Sir Elton John.

I'm delighted to welcome comedian, actor, writer and TV presenter Jo Brand to the podcast. We talk about her love of Elvis Costello's music and discuss the five songs she's added to our Dragging the Lake playlist. Jo tells me about appearing alongside Elvis on the BBC's Fantasy Football League and demonstrating her Costello party piece on television. We also discuss comedy, decorating and "toffee bollocks".

Broadcaster and author Jeremy Vine is our first guest on the second season of Dangerous Amusements. Jeremy describes Elvis Costello as “the number one artist in my life” and talks us through four decades of being a major fan. We discuss some of Jeremy's favourite EC songs and he picks five tracks for our Dragging the Lake playlist. Jeremy tells us about his experiences of interviewing Costello and recalls the advice Elvis gave him.