Elvis Costello - Watching the Detectives live 1979

[legbider]

Great tune.

[ericmackenzie123]

Punk new wave at its best check the energy level!!

[Dahveed721]

Manny's on 48th -- I'm sitting here on 47th and 10th right now, 3 blocks away. Now that's cool. Good going, drummer dude.

[TheNicholas0202]

I love his suit, all the new wave artists dressed good :)

[Mrmurphy1962]

Meet elvis through my girlfriend, candy, he is a cool guy real name is declan macmanus. rock for ever elvis, hardest worker in music practically 365 shows a yr!

show show at beacon theatre he is a great performer and fellow irishman.

[Mrmurphy1962]

Meet elvis through my girlfriend, candy, he is a cool guy real name is declan macmanus. rock for ever elvis, hardest worker in music practically 365 shows a yr!

[superdonyoungy]

He played in my uncle pub, I must been about 1'2", dad sat me on the bar and I thought it was going to be Elvis Presley but it was Elvis Costello, anyway, I still like him !

[nevetsnolog]

Drummer has a tee from Manny's on 48th St NYC.......very cool.

the music stores on that block were hip then and they still are now.

[phildenbelg]

bass easy at the studio live?

[legbider]

He was really talented when he was young.

[pontypoolkopite1978]

in wales our pint glasses are filling up with rain faster than we can drink them at events like this...i love elvis, cracking song, great talent..under valued over here though :-(

[rovvy]

One of the best bands ever!!!

[miss2tone]

Utter genius

[CAMAYRABANO]

the lyrics are about a couple of detectives thats being watched....

[geridg]

why don't the musicans ever get electrocuted in all that rain? I'm afraid to drink a beer when I play for fear of spilling it!

[Damphear]

there grounded

[goodgrr]

They were under cover; if you want scary rain search for "Sam Brown in the rain" a great performance by a great singer. Her brother played on the track recorded for TV on a railway station in torrential rain, he feared for his life but they played on and it was a great performance. Watch as the drummer hits the skins to see how wet!

[yoooozer]

How did this footage get past Des Brown?

[macc5050]

As an FYI, when Elvis did the audition for The Attractions, he had the Rumour musicians come in too so they could jam as a band with whoever turned up. In between musicians, while they were waiting around, he suggested they learn a new song he'd written called 'Watching the detectives'. It was released as an EC & the Attractions single, but (I think) recorded with the Rumour band.

[goodgrr]

Spot on; Elvis' first album was recorded with Huey Lewis' band doing the backing. Graham Parker's Rumour were indeed doing the backing during the auditions and were the band on the studio recording.

[mitchelcollins]

i saw elvis on thursday night, he backed up the police, great show all around

[blanchemay]

i've always loved this but does anyone know exactly what the lyrcs are about ??

[bitey2]

I believe the song's narrator is on a movie date that isn't going well. His potential girlfriend is more interested in the movie, and her nails. Also, the movie sucks.

[drunkensausage]

I heard it was about his girlfriend that cheated on him with someone that lived accroos from him.....he could see what they were up to and the tv was on etc.......apparently...

[eunicefinger]

that drummer is the legendary pete thomas with bruce thomas one of the greatest rhythm sections of all time!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[floozies]

damn straight!!!!! Those guys are so bad-ass.

[rourke69]

...but he wouldn't be playing the same song anymore...lol...but I know what you mean buddy!

[rourke69]

that drummer looks & plays like Stewart Copeland...no offense!

[maxwakeling]

haha accept stewart would be playing twice as fast and twice as hard with twice as much symbol crashes

[TheDDG]

I think you're selling Pete Thomas dreadfully short. Sure, Copeland is one of the best ever, but "twice as fast and twice as hard?" No way. They are very similar players, as rourke said.

[CAMAYRABANO]

i CANT DISCRIBE THIS TIMELESS MUSIC MELODIES TIME SIGNATURES EVRYWHERE..I thought this was a late 80's song?????

[MrGosh13]

No mate, this is from EC's first album :)

which is from '77 IIRC.

Great song eitherway :)

[Tycho114]

Not quite. It was added to the US release of My Aim is True, but it wasn't on the original UK release, which was recorded before he formed the Attractions.

I think this was the first song he recorded with the Attractions. It was certainly the first thing he released with them (on 45, in late '77 or early '78). It sounds much more like the material on This Year's Model than the material on My Aim is True.

[thumdar]

Damn.., this drummer..., where can I find him?!?! The whole band rulez but crap.., I be needin' me this kinda drummer.

[Giltribe]

I was 15 when I've attended this live concert! Yes, I am somewhere in the crowd! It turned out to be my favorite concert and from that day on I admire Mr. Elvis Costello!

[BuddyHollysEdselGirl]

Oh he's sooooo cute!

[llizotte]

I think the thunder at the begining of the song was perfect for the tune

[Lien7]

it started to rain when Elvis came on stage.

I remember he was in very bad mood, real pissed of.

His energy was one of te facts that made him great

[goldenToothpick]

heerlijk nummer

[vhsorbeta34]

Amazing how full this band sounds when you consider that this song and lipstick vogue from the same show only really have periodic guitar parts. The rythym section is left to fill the space. These are both great videos.

[napyfro]

Love the keyboard. Kicks a..

[MathieuDeflem]

Curious, I was there but don't remember it raining. It was very hot the rest of the day. And Elvis Costello was very loud!

[mmespell]

Nice!