The two best songs by The Band, according to Elvis Costello
Despite hitting the charts and sparking his career during punk’s late 1970s explosion, Elvis Costello‘s heart was always in the songbook of yesteryear. Initially penning spiky new wave hits such as ‘Pump It Up’ and ‘Oliver’s Army’ with his The Attractions, Costello’s true musical callings would see him later pen songs with Paul McCartney and Burt Bacharach, explore 20th century’s rich musical tapestry across R&B, country and even collaborations with the Brodsky Quartet classical ensemble.
Costello was born into a rich musical environment. Through his mother’s work at Selfridge’s music department, a wealth of records was at the young Costello’s disposal, from early blues recordings to the pop hits of the day. His father was bebop trumpeter Ross MacManus, having played in a plethora of jazz groups and joined Joe Loss Orchestra’s big band. Costello’s paternal grandfather was even a professional musician. Music ran in the blood.
Such a deep love for music’s rich and varied tapestry places Costello as the perfect resource for curatorial features and recommendations. In a 2013 piece for Vanity Fair, Costello compiled the “500 albums essential to a happy life” in his estimation, granting an insight into the cherished songs that have scored his life: “There are probably songs being composed right now that will eclipse every entry on this list in somebody’s heart or mind. It is my experience that music is more like water than a rhinoceros. It doesn’t charge madly down one path. It runs away in every direction.”
Long before finding success during the new wave era, Costello had been slogging the London and Liverpool music circuit since still in his teens, playing in early bands Rusty and Flip City straddling folk and pub rock while he was called Declan as opposed to the slicker Elvis.
Naturally, an affinity for folk features prominently in Costello’s ‘500’: Leonard Cohen, David Crosby, and plenty of Bob Dylan smatter his compendium. Alongside such heavyweights are two LPs from the mythic The Band, 1968’s Music from Big Pink and their eponymous sophomore the following year.
While The Band are most associated with their Dylan collaborations and the subject of Martin Scorsese’s acclaimed The Last Waltz documentary concert film, The Band are often overshadowed by the era’s bigger names.
Dropping their first two albums as psychedelia was waning, The Band were at the fore of the return to rock’s rootsier foundations along with Creedence Clearwater Revival, rubbing off on The Rolling Stones and The Beatles in adopting a ‘back to basics’ approach as they entered the 1970s. The Band would also play memorable sets at Woodstock and the second Isle of Wight festival.
Accompanying each of Costello’s albums is a selected song that serves as a highlight for the respective LPs. ‘Tears of Rage’ and ‘The Unfaithful Servant’ are chosen as his favourites from The Band, both much-loved pieces among their fans, and the latter of such personal significance Costello named it his favourite song in his 2016 Unfaithful Music & Disappearing Ink autobiography.
