Unfaithful Music & Disappearing Ink

By: Elvis Costello

Narrated by: Elvis Costello

Length: 18 hrs and 41 mins

Publisher's summary

The perfect gift for music lovers and Elvis Costello fans, telling the story behind Elvis Costello’s legendary career and his iconic, beloved songs.

Unfaithful Music & Disappearing Ink provides readers with a master’s catalogue of a lifetime of great music. Costello reveals the process behind writing and recording legendary albums like My Aim Is True, This Year’s Model, Armed Forces, Almost Blue, Imperial Bedroom, and King of America. He tells the detailed stories, experiences, and emotions behind such beloved songs as “Alison”, “Accidents Will Happen”, “Watching the Detectives”, “Oliver’s Army”, “Welcome to the Working Week”, “Radio Radio”, “Shipbuilding”, and “Veronica”, the last of which is one of a number of songs revealed to connect to the lives of the previous generations of his family.

Costello chronicles his musical apprenticeship, a child's view of his father Ross MacManus' career on radio and in the dance hall; his own initial, almost comical steps in folk clubs and cellar dive before his first sessions for Stiff Records, the formation of the Attractions, and his frenetic and ultimately notorious third US tour. He takes listeners behind the scenes of Top of the Pops and Saturday Night Live, and his own show, Spectacle, on which he hosted artists such as Lou Reed, Elton John, Levon Helm, Jesse Winchester, Bruce Springsteen, and President Bill Clinton.

The idiosyncratic memoir of a singular man, Unfaithful Music & Disappearing Ink is destined to be a classic.

©2015 Elvis Costello (P)2015 Penguin Audio

Critic reviews

"Some of the best writing - funny, strange, spiteful, anguished - we’ve ever had from an important musician.” (Dwight Garner, The New York Times)

“The book is fantastic - maybe the best about music by a musician that I've read.... The stuff about the collaborations alone - McCartney, Burt Bacharach, Allen Toussaint, the Roots, the Brodsky Quartet - is riveting.” (Nick Hornby)

“Revelatory, evocatively crafted, [and] highly entertaining.” (David Fricke, Rolling Stone)

Wow. Filled with fascinating tales and beautiful lyrics

Can't say enough about how enjoyable this was to hear. I'll listen again. I knew he was talented, but this was ridiculously entertaining

Excellent book, missing a chapter

Elvis Costello’s performance of his own book is wonderful, but the recording is missing chapter 15. I hope it can be restored.

Entertaining, and insightful

I didn't know anything about Elvis Costello. I purchased this book after seeing him on Colbert Report during the promotional tour; thinking it was a name I knew nothing about, and being generally interested during the interview I decided to take a chance.

It is an interesting tale of a "pop star" journey during an interesting time period. A momentary escape to a life lived by another. The story is wonderfully told thought the authors eyes and voice; though he proves to not be much a voice actor IMO as the character imitations are well intentioned but cringey still. But absolutely not reason to dissuade a listener!

Musically I came from listening to Metal, Punk, and Grunge. As I grow older; I find myself searching through their influences rooted in Blues, Country, Jazz and Gospel. Hearing Elvis a self described "pop" singer going deep into influences, lyrical meaning and personal journey further allows my appreciating while on my own historical exploration.

Gave me insight and grounding to the men and women who have always been legends or influential gods discussed among my peers and elders.

Top marks; and cheers.

Elvis is the King

Excellent memoir. Brilliantly narrated by Elvis Costello. Required listening/reading for every fan of the man!!

As it should be

What a wonderful wander through the life of Declan McManus. Charming and touching and in his own words.

Wonderfully candid, tender, comic

I’m a fan already, and this memoir only increases my respect for this man. He’s a very accomplished writer; introspective, self deprecating, illuminating, loving,hilarious (chapter about playing/touring with Dylan left me laughing to tears)

I wish I had the words

There is no way I can adequately articulate the way I am feeling about this audible version of Elvis Costello. I am only on Chapter 25 and look forward to listening on each leg of my commute to work. I have to first say that I he was never on my radar until recently and I wanted to learn about him first before jumping in to listen (and hopefully understand) his music. I hang on his every word and I am able to easily visualize everything he describes. I fear I will be sad when the book ends..

Excellent!

I loved everything about this audiobook. Elvis' speaking voice is very easy to listen to - I will often listen again, volume low, if I cant sleep at night. Very soothing. There was a lot I didn't know about Elvis Costello. A very intelligent, prolific, yet humble man.

Awesome, interesting, beautifully read.

the narrator is Elvis Costello. such a beautiful reading voice, no surprise there. Very interesting. I love the history behind his family, and the details of the people...and the music that has been around his life.

Great for music lovers and lovers of music history

Great for music lovers and lovers of music history. He knew everyone and was influenced by each in a different way. Too say nothing of his influence on others. Honest story