Less Than Zero (song)
Encyclopedia
"Less Than Zero" is the eighth track on Elvis Costello
's debut album My Aim Is True
, and the first Costello single that Stiff Records
released.
In the liner notes to the Rhino
edition of the album, Costello writes:
The song therefore fits in with a number of anti-fascist protest songs on early Costello albums, which also include "Night Rally" from This Year's Model
and "Goon Squad" from Armed Forces. In this case, a racist and totalitarian movement is seen in terms of sub rosa teenage sex: "Turn up the TV... Even your mother won't detect it/So your father won't know."
On his first visit to the United States
, Costello substantially rewrote the lyrics to refer to Lee Harvey Oswald
. This was a reference to the common misconception among American fans that this was the "Mr Oswald" referred to in the original lyrics. This version is usually referred to as the "Dallas version" and is available as a bonus track on the My Aim is True reissue, and a live version can be found on Live at the El Mocambo
.
The song later provided US
author
, Bret Easton Ellis
, with the title of his debut novel.
The song was also involved in Costello's infamous performance on Saturday Night Live
on December 17, 1977. Following pressure from his record company to play the song on the show, Costello began to play the song, but stopped after only a few bars, saying that "there's no reason to do that song here." He then launched into an unannounced performance of "Radio Radio
", a song he had promised not to play. As a result, he was banned from the show until 1989.
"Less Than Zero" appears on the first Stiff Records compilation; A Bunch of Stiff Records
, whilst the B-side
, "Radio Sweetheart", appears on their second; Hits Greatest Stiffs
Elvis Costello
Elvis Costello , born Declan Patrick MacManus, is an English singer-songwriter. He came to prominence as an early participant in London's pub rock scene in the mid-1970s and later became associated with the punk/New Wave genre. Steeped in word play, the vocabulary of Costello's lyrics is broader...
's debut album My Aim Is True
My Aim Is True
My Aim Is True is the debut album by Elvis Costello.The album was recorded at Pathway Studios in Holloway, London Borough of Islington, over the course of 1976 during late-night studio sessions, in a total of twenty-four hours...
, and the first Costello single that Stiff Records
Stiff Records
Stiff Records is a record label created in London in 1976, by entrepreneurs Dave Robinson and Andrew Jakeman , and active until 1985. It was reactivated in 2007....
released.
In the liner notes to the Rhino
Rhino Entertainment
Rhino Entertainment Company is an American specialty record label and production company. It is owned by Warner Music Group.-History:Rhino was originally a novelty song and reissue company during the 1970s and 1980s, releasing compilation albums of pop, rock & roll, and rhythm & blues successes...
edition of the album, Costello writes:
- "Less Than Zero" was a song I had written after seeing the despicable Oswald MosleyOswald MosleySir Oswald Ernald Mosley, 6th Baronet, of Ancoats, was an English politician, known principally as the founder of the British Union of Fascists...
being interviewed on BBCBBCThe British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
television. The former leader of the British Union of FascistsBritish Union of FascistsThe British Union was a political party in the United Kingdom formed in 1932 by Sir Oswald Mosley as the British Union of Fascists, in 1936 it changed its name to the British Union of Fascists and National Socialists and then in 1937 to simply the British Union...
seemed unrepentant about his poisonous actions of the 1930s. The song was more of a slandering fantasy than a reasoned argument.
The song therefore fits in with a number of anti-fascist protest songs on early Costello albums, which also include "Night Rally" from This Year's Model
This Year's Model
This Year's Model is Elvis Costello's second album and his first with The Attractions, released in 1978 . It was recorded mainly at Eden Studios in West London....
and "Goon Squad" from Armed Forces. In this case, a racist and totalitarian movement is seen in terms of sub rosa teenage sex: "Turn up the TV... Even your mother won't detect it/So your father won't know."
On his first visit to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, Costello substantially rewrote the lyrics to refer to Lee Harvey Oswald
Lee Harvey Oswald
Lee Harvey Oswald was, according to four government investigations,These were investigations by: the Federal Bureau of Investigation , the Warren Commission , the House Select Committee on Assassinations , and the Dallas Police Department. the sniper who assassinated John F...
. This was a reference to the common misconception among American fans that this was the "Mr Oswald" referred to in the original lyrics. This version is usually referred to as the "Dallas version" and is available as a bonus track on the My Aim is True reissue, and a live version can be found on Live at the El Mocambo
Live at the El Mocambo (Elvis Costello album)
Live at the El Mocambo is a 1993 live album by Elvis Costello and The Attractions. Recorded in March 1978 and released only as a Canadian promotional album in the same year, it was heavily bootlegged...
.
The song later provided US
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
author
Author
An author is broadly defined as "the person who originates or gives existence to anything" and that authorship determines responsibility for what is created. Narrowly defined, an author is the originator of any written work.-Legal significance:...
, Bret Easton Ellis
Bret Easton Ellis
Bret Easton Ellis is an American novelist and short story writer. His works have been translated into 27 different languages. He was regarded as one of the so-called literary Brat Pack, which also included Tama Janowitz and Jay McInerney...
, with the title of his debut novel.
The song was also involved in Costello's infamous performance on Saturday Night Live
Saturday Night Live
Saturday Night Live is a live American late-night television sketch comedy and variety show developed by Lorne Michaels and Dick Ebersol. The show premiered on NBC on October 11, 1975, under the original title of NBC's Saturday Night.The show's sketches often parody contemporary American culture...
on December 17, 1977. Following pressure from his record company to play the song on the show, Costello began to play the song, but stopped after only a few bars, saying that "there's no reason to do that song here." He then launched into an unannounced performance of "Radio Radio
Radio Radio
"Radio Radio" was a single by Elvis Costello and The Attractions released in the UK in October 1978. The song had already appeared on the US version of their second album, This Year's Model, released earlier that year...
", a song he had promised not to play. As a result, he was banned from the show until 1989.
"Less Than Zero" appears on the first Stiff Records compilation; A Bunch of Stiff Records
A Bunch of Stiff Records
A Bunch of Stiff Records, also known as A Bunch of Stiffs, is a various artists album to promote some of the first acts to be signed by Stiff Records....
, whilst the B-side
A-side and B-side
A-side and B-side originally referred to the two sides of gramophone records on which singles were released beginning in the 1950s. The terms have come to refer to the types of song conventionally placed on each side of the record, with the A-side being the featured song , while the B-side, or...
, "Radio Sweetheart", appears on their second; Hits Greatest Stiffs
Hits Greatest Stiffs
Hits Greatest Stiffs is a various artists compilation album, drawn from ten of the first eleven Stiff Records singles, BUY 1 – BUY 11.The tracks follow the numerical order of the singles, but feature mostly the b sides, although several singles were originally issued as double a-sides...