Song 3 of the you know what

Elvis Costello and The Attractions – (What’s So Funny ‘Bout) Peace, Love and Understanding (1979)

I think it’s the drums that initially got me. Pete Thomas seems to be having a manic episode. I’m not very good with picking production techniques but surely there are a couple of drum tracks in there. Can one man hit that many things that quickly? They start driving from the opening bar and I always feel as if my heart has taken on the same rhythm. My spirits rise and I want to man the humanist barricades and fight the good fight. I can never stop myself playing air drums like a loon. Nor can I stop myself theatrically, and untunefully, singing along to “And where is that harmony? Sweet harmony?” Generally at an embarrassingly loud volume.

I credit Hank Five for the introduction. It was in a car somewhere, sometime, on a compilation tape. He understood the genius of Mr MacManus well before myself. Of course the irony is that it’s a cover. I only got around to hearing the beautiful original version by Nick Lowe earlier this year. I love it almost as much but for different reasons. I now understand that Bill Murray was channelling Lowe and not Costello in Lost In Translation.

Check out this clip from Elvis’ TV show. Zooey, M Ward, Jenny Lewis, the master Pete Thomas dueling on the skins with his daughter Tennessee (and how cute is she with that fringe?), Elvis, even Dylan Jr wasn’t too bad. I would have totally lost my shit if I had been there.