Spectacle: Elvis Costello with...
Encyclopedia
Spectacle: Elvis Costello with... was a UK
/Canadian television series, shown on Channel 4
in the UK, CTV
in Canada and the Sundance Channel in the United States. The show features intimate interviews between the host, Elvis Costello
, and various musical guests intertwined with performances by Costello, the guests, and duets between the two. Spectacle aired on Sundance network Wednesday nights at 9 p.m. EST. Its first season consisted of 13 parts and was screened in 2008/09. The second season consisted of 7 parts and was screened in 2009/10.
as the guest. (He is also credited as one of many executive producer
s.) The show opened with Elvis Costello performing John's "Border Song
". The show then had interview segments with John, in which he talked about musical influences such as Laura Nyro
, David Ackles
, Allen Toussaint
, Leon Russell
(with whom he toured twice), and other singer-songwriter
s of the 1960s
. John also paid tribute to lyricist
Bernie Taupin
, saying that the two have never had a harsh word between them. The show was intertwined with performances, including "Ballad of Well-Known Gun" performed by Elvis Costello and the house band, "Burn Down the Mission" performed by Elton John, and "Working in the Coal Mine
" and Ackles' "Down River" - both duets by Elton and Elvis with the band.
, the musician, songwriter, and former lead singer of The Velvet Underground
, was featured in the second episode. The show opened with Costello and the house band performing the Velvet's "Femme Fatale
", from their debut album, The Velvet Underground & Nico. The Velvets' "I'm Waiting for the Man
" was played by the house band while Costello introduced Reed. The interview featured Reed talking about his influences, music, and songwriting. Costello and Reed then dueted on Reed's "Perfect Day". Reed's friend the artist
and filmmaker
Julian Schnabel
was featured with Reed during the second portion of the show. Schnabel talked mostly about Reed and recited Reed's song "Rock Minuet" word for word. The show ended in a duet as Reed and Costello sang Reed's "Set the Twilight Reeling
".
talked frankly about his youth, being the son of Loudon Wainwright III
and Kate McGarrigle
; and, brother of Martha Wainwright
and half-brother of Lucy Wainwright Roche
. After a long discussion with Costello, and a solo, they were joined by his mother on banjo
for a lyric song.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
/Canadian television series, shown on Channel 4
Channel 4
Channel 4 is a British public-service television broadcaster which began working on 2 November 1982. Although largely commercially self-funded, it is ultimately publicly owned; originally a subsidiary of the Independent Broadcasting Authority , the station is now owned and operated by the Channel...
in the UK, CTV
CTV television network
CTV Television Network is a Canadian English language television network and is owned by Bell Media. It is Canada's largest privately-owned network, and has consistently placed as Canada's top-rated network in total viewers and in key demographics since 2002, after several years trailing the rival...
in Canada and the Sundance Channel in the United States. The show features intimate interviews between the host, Elvis Costello
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...
, and various musical guests intertwined with performances by Costello, the guests, and duets between the two. Spectacle aired on Sundance network Wednesday nights at 9 p.m. EST. Its first season consisted of 13 parts and was screened in 2008/09. The second season consisted of 7 parts and was screened in 2009/10.
Elton John
The first episode featured Elton JohnElton John
Sir Elton Hercules John, CBE, Hon DMus is an English rock singer-songwriter, composer, pianist and occasional actor...
as the guest. (He is also credited as one of many executive producer
Executive producer
An executive producer is a producer who is not involved in any technical aspects of the film making or music process, but who is still responsible for the overall production...
s.) The show opened with Elvis Costello performing John's "Border Song
Border Song
"Border Song" is a gospel ballad originally performed by British musician Elton John. Lyrics are credited to Bernie Taupin . The music was composed by John....
". The show then had interview segments with John, in which he talked about musical influences such as Laura Nyro
Laura Nyro
Laura Nyro was an American songwriter, singer, and pianist. She achieved considerable critical acclaim with her own recordings, particularly the albums Eli and the Thirteenth Confession and New York Tendaberry, and had commercial success with artists such as Barbra Streisand and The 5th...
, David Ackles
David Ackles
David Thomas Ackles was an American singer-songwriter. He recorded four albums between 1968 and 1973.Describing Ackles's style in 2003, critic Colin McElligatt wrote, "An unlikely clash of anachronistic show business and modern-day lyricism...deeply informs his recorded output...
, Allen Toussaint
Allen Toussaint
Allen Toussaint is an American musician, composer, record producer, and influential figure in New Orleans R&B.Many of Toussaint's songs have become familiar through numerous cover versions, including "Working in the Coalmine", "Ride Your Pony", "Fortune Teller", "Play Something Sweet ", "Southern...
, Leon Russell
Leon Russell
Claude Russell Bridges , known professionally as Leon Russell, is an American musician and songwriter, who has recorded as a session musician, sideman, and maintained a solo career in music....
(with whom he toured twice), and other singer-songwriter
Singer-songwriter
Singer-songwriters are musicians who write, compose and sing their own musical material including lyrics and melodies. As opposed to contemporary popular music singers who write their own songs, the term singer-songwriter describes a distinct form of artistry, closely associated with the...
s of the 1960s
1960s
The 1960s was the decade that started on January 1, 1960, and ended on December 31, 1969. It was the seventh decade of the 20th century.The 1960s term also refers to an era more often called The Sixties, denoting the complex of inter-related cultural and political trends across the globe...
. John also paid tribute to lyricist
Lyricist
A lyricist is a songwriter who specializes in lyrics. A singer who writes the lyrics to songs is a singer-lyricist. This differentiates from a singer-composer, who composes the song's melody.-Collaboration:...
Bernie Taupin
Bernie Taupin
Bernard John "Bernie" Taupin is an English lyricist, poet, and singer, best known for his long-term collaboration with Elton John, writing the lyrics for the majority of the star's songs, making his lyrics some of the best known in pop-rock's history.In 1967, Taupin answered an advertisement in...
, saying that the two have never had a harsh word between them. The show was intertwined with performances, including "Ballad of Well-Known Gun" performed by Elvis Costello and the house band, "Burn Down the Mission" performed by Elton John, and "Working in the Coal Mine
Working in the Coal Mine
"Working in the Coal Mine" is a song with music and lyrics by Allen Toussaint.After Toussaint returned to New Orleans from the Army , he formed a production company, Sansu, with partner Marshall Sehorn. A number of singles, performed by Lee Dorsey, followed in 1965-66, including "Working in the...
" and Ackles' "Down River" - both duets by Elton and Elvis with the band.
Lou Reed and Julian Schnabel
Lou ReedLou Reed
Lewis Allan "Lou" Reed is an American rock musician, songwriter, and photographer. He is best known as guitarist, vocalist, and principal songwriter of The Velvet Underground, and for his successful solo career, which has spanned several decades...
, the musician, songwriter, and former lead singer of The Velvet Underground
The Velvet Underground
The Velvet Underground was an American rock band formed in New York City. First active from 1964 to 1973, their best-known members were Lou Reed and John Cale, who both went on to find success as solo artists. Although experiencing little commercial success while together, the band is often cited...
, was featured in the second episode. The show opened with Costello and the house band performing the Velvet's "Femme Fatale
Femme Fatale (song)
"Femme Fatale" is a song by The Velvet Underground from their 1967 debut album The Velvet Underground & Nico. At producer Andy Warhol's request, band frontman Lou Reed wrote the song about Warhol superstar Edie Sedgwick...
", from their debut album, The Velvet Underground & Nico. The Velvets' "I'm Waiting for the Man
I'm Waiting for the Man
"I'm Waiting for the Man" is a song by the American rock band The Velvet Underground, written by Lou Reed. It was first released on their 1967 debut album, The Velvet Underground & Nico....
" was played by the house band while Costello introduced Reed. The interview featured Reed talking about his influences, music, and songwriting. Costello and Reed then dueted on Reed's "Perfect Day". Reed's friend the artist
Artist
An artist is a person engaged in one or more of any of a broad spectrum of activities related to creating art, practicing the arts and/or demonstrating an art. The common usage in both everyday speech and academic discourse is a practitioner in the visual arts only...
and filmmaker
Film director
A film director is a person who directs the actors and film crew in filmmaking. They control a film's artistic and dramatic nathan roach, while guiding the technical crew and actors.-Responsibilities:...
Julian Schnabel
Julian Schnabel
Julian Schnabel is an American artist and filmmaker. In the 1980s, Schnabel received international media attention for his "plate paintings"—large-scale paintings set on broken ceramic plates....
was featured with Reed during the second portion of the show. Schnabel talked mostly about Reed and recited Reed's song "Rock Minuet" word for word. The show ended in a duet as Reed and Costello sang Reed's "Set the Twilight Reeling
Set the Twilight Reeling
Set the Twilight Reeling is the seventeenth solo album by rock and roll singer Lou Reed.The cover art is by Stefan Sagmeister. The CD case sold with the album was a dark purple/blue hue, making the cover look like a dark blue picture of Reed's face; the bright yellow aspect and the "rays" of the...
".
Rufus Wainwright and Kate McGarrigle
Rufus WainwrightRufus Wainwright
Rufus McGarrigle Wainwright is an American-Canadian singer-songwriter. He has recorded six albums of original music, EPs, and tracks on compilations and film soundtracks.-Early years:...
talked frankly about his youth, being the son of Loudon Wainwright III
Loudon Wainwright III
Loudon Snowden Wainwright III is a Grammy Award-winning American songwriter, folk singer, humorist, and actor. He is the father of musicians Rufus Wainwright, Martha Wainwright and Lucy Wainwright Roche, brother of Sloan Wainwright, and the former husband of the late folk singer Kate McGarrigle.To...
and Kate McGarrigle
Kate McGarrigle
Kate McGarrigle, CM was a Canadian folk music singer-songwriter, who wrote and performed as a duo with her sister Anna McGarrigle....
; and, brother of Martha Wainwright
Martha Wainwright
Martha Wainwright is a Canadian-American folk-rock singer-songwriter. She is the daughter of American folk singer and actor Loudon Wainwright III and Canadian folk singer-songwriter Kate McGarrigle...
and half-brother of Lucy Wainwright Roche
Lucy Wainwright Roche
Lucy Wainwright Roche is an American singer-songwriter, and the daughter of musicians, Loudon Wainwright III and Suzzy Roche. Preceded by two EPs, 8 Songs and 8 More, Roche released her debut album, Lucy in October 2010....
. After a long discussion with Costello, and a solo, they were joined by his mother on banjo
Banjo
In the 1830s Sweeney became the first white man to play the banjo on stage. His version of the instrument replaced the gourd with a drum-like sound box and included four full-length strings alongside a short fifth-string. There is no proof, however, that Sweeney invented either innovation. This new...
for a lyric song.