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Unfaithful Music and Disappearing Ink
- Narrated by: Elvis Costello
- Length: 17 hrs and 50 mins
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Summary
Penguin presents the unabridged, downloadable audiobook edition of Unfaithful Music and Disappearing Ink, written and read by Elvis Costello.
In a career spanning four decades, Elvis Costello (born Declan MacManus) has made himself a huge reputation through his tunes, lyrics and occasional bad behaviour. Now, for the first time, he is telling his story.
From miming on Top of the Pops to becoming one of the industry's elder statesmen, Costello's memoir - which he has written himself and will promote assiduously - is a one-man history of British music.
A warm, deep and surprisingly funny insight into an amazing life, it is rich with anecdotes about family, musicians and the creation of his famous songs.
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What listeners say about Unfaithful Music and Disappearing Ink
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- Angela Randall
- 29-03-21
Absolutely outstanding
Even if you have never heard a note of EC’s brilliant music, this book will fascinate you and touch your heart. A tribute to several lifetimes of music and a reflection on 20th century rock and roll like no other. Elvis Costello seems like the Forest Gump of music turning up at many of the most important moments and recounting his behind-the-scenes perspective like a fly on the wall who is also playing a tune in the second act. What a gent!
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- Simon Zohhadi
- 14-12-15
The Master Showman
I've got both the hardback and audible versions of Elvis Costello's autobiography. The man himself is the reader on the audiobook. This is a very fine account of Declan's life and his relationship with his father is touching. If you are looking for scandal and salacious stories then you won't find any here, except the well known Ray Charles incident. He talks about his collaborations with the likes of Sir Paul McCartney but keeps his personal relationships under wraps. I have had the privilege of seeing the great man six times and will be seeing him again next year at the London Palladium. He is fantastic live and he has written so many great songs. One could say Elvis is too self-critical and underplays his great talent for writing songs and performing live. In my opinion, he is the best songwriter and indoor live performer over the last 40 years.
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- mcfontaine
- 13-05-20
Perfection
This is quite simply the most honest and heartfelt musicians autobiography I have ever read.
The non-linear structure just adds to the joy of it.
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- GS
- 18-06-17
A superb biography for music lovers
A lovely biography passionately read by Elvis Costello himself. Wonderful stories and heartfelt memories.
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- Scott at the Junction
- 05-09-22
Pumped up in places
I don't mind the chopping around in time and he has some great stories, especially about other artists such as Bruce Springsteen or Joni Mitchell. It does, however drag with some overwrought sections
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- Robert H
- 02-11-15
Spectacle!
Fantastic book written and read perfectly by Mr. Costello.
I particularly enjoyed his vocal delivery and impressions.
When telling the story of his father's passing, hearing the emotion and hearing Elvis' voice slightly crack, brought a tear to my eye.
I do home Mr. Costello continues writing, as I'd love to hear him read another audio book.
A superb memoir.
Highly recommended!
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2 people found this helpful
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- Joe
- 17-09-21
What a story…Best yet
Compelling, intriguing and cracking good tales from Elvis Costello. Written brilliantly and narrated with class as Elvis has a calm, almost understated voice that feels like a soft lit room wrapping itself around you. The story as a whole is simply a joy with plenty of nostalgic memories of music from yesteryears. A hidden gem that I’ll be re visiting a few times there is so much materials to take in. Brilliant stuff.
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- David
- 25-01-19
Elvis Costello in his own words
I have loved hearing the music of Elvis Costello for many years enjoying the lyrics and many styles. This is Elvis Costello in is own words talking about his life and how the songs came to life. The narration is relaxed and casual telling his story in a non linear way. You get to know the man inside the legend. Both enjoyable and enlightening.
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- Colin
- 04-05-16
A Must for Music Lovers
The cover of this title shows a 20-something Costello relaxing on a hotel bed, guitar in hand, notebook lying close by, waiting his turn to hit the stage with his band The Attractions. And this turns out to be a very apt picture, as the tone of this excellent book is very much in the style of a casual conversation.
Rather than tell his story in chronological order as you might expect, Costello instead looks at the components and aspects of his long career in which the telling of one story triggers a memory of another one and so he digresses for a minute before returning to his original theme.
For instance, he talks of his father, a professional session singer and long-time member of the very popular Joe Loss Orchestra. As he tells the story of how he would spend some childhood Saturdays watching his dad work the afternoon crowds at the local Locarno Ballroom, he is reminded of a time years later when he and his band ran into his dad at 3am at the Blue Boar Services on the M1, a popular stopping place for working bands after a hard nights playing. Whilst recalling his initial recording experiences in the late 70s, he is reminded of how his dad was booked to sing the “R Whites Lemonade” theme tune for a TV ad (“I’m a secret lemonade drinker”) and how Costello himself, only a teen, was roped in to provide the now famous “R Whites” chant on backing vocals.
Train journeys similarly evoke memories for him, be he on the way to an important meeting with his record label, a court appearance following a publicity stunt that went wrong, or simply going home for Xmas. The overall effect is of listening to Costello tell tales whilst he sits on a hotel bed, strumming his guitar. It’s very engaging.
I was also surprised to find that Costello was not the snarling, punk wunderkind portrayed in his videos, but actually preferred listening to Crosby, Stills and Nash and Joni Mitchell, as he held down a series of day-jobs to support his wife and young son whilst all the time dreaming about, and working towards, a far different future.
Costello does a first-class job of the narration, and keeps the listener engaged throughout. At the time of writing this I’ve not yet finished the book, and am very much looking forward to my commute home for an opportunity to pull on my headphones, shut out the world and catch up on the next chapter.
Very highly recommended
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4 people found this helpful
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- Andrew Clayden
- 30-11-15
Mick McManus's Boy Wins By A Knock-Out!
This book starts by disproving the above connection and goes onto account many of the highlights of the man who dared to call himself Elvis's life.
Expertly written and narrated by Elvis himself, the listener gains an insight into many of the personal stories behind - not only some of his songs and performances - but also his own life (the personal softly spoken account of his dad's passing was particularly moving)
This will appeal to all lovers of popular music, especially those who appreciate Elvis for the talent that he is.
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