Radio Radio

Over the weekend, I belatedly caught up with the Elvis Costello edition of Radio 4's Mastertapes on the BBC iPlayer. The whistle stop journey through a glittering career found Elvis in fine form after his recent health scare. Steve Nieve was also on hand to provide musical accompaniment and remind the world of his own particular genius. The full programme is here and seven uninterrupted performances from it can be found if you scroll down this page. Highly recommended.

Elvis Costello & the Attractions - Man Out of Time

Version City #17 - Elvis Costello sings John Lennon

Here's some thrilling audience footage from a gig by Elvis Costello & the Roots in Brooklyn a couple of weeks ago. The one-off show was to launch the new LP, 'Wise Up Ghost', but, in addition to album tracks and old favourites, Elvis and the band found time for a couple of choice covers, The Specials' 'Ghost Town' (wittily re-titled 'Wise Up Ghost Town' for the evening) and this, John Lennon's 'I Found Out'.

'Wise Up Ghost', incidentally, is one of the surprises of the year for me. An inspired collaboration and a very fine LP indeed. Check it out here.