Song(s) of the Week: “Radio Medley” by Elvis Costello and Bruce Springsteen

Two of my favorites doing one kick butt medley of “Radio Silence,” “Radio Nowhere,” and “Radio Radio” on Spectacle: Elvis Costello with…

Springsteen part 2 on “Spectacle: Elvis Costello with..” set for Wednesday on Sundance

Bruce Springsteen and Elvis Costello sat down for a little four hour chat and played a few tunes last September. Last week’s first episode was a little laid back, however, it did feature an excellent acoustic version of “American Skin (41 Shots) and a lot of insite into The Boss’ early days and songwriting technique.

Part 2 features Bruce and Elvis rocking the Apollo Theater.  The first five minutes of Part 2 are amazing – and people from Houston will especially like one of the numbers. He talks about his kids, Elvis does a Patti song and if you’re a fan of the song “Seeds,” you are in for a treat.  The Spectacle season finale airs this Wednesday at at 9 p.m. CST on The Sundance Channel with repeats throughout the week.

We want to thank all of you who took part in our “Spectacle: Elvis Costello with…” contest last week.

The question was…what Bruce Springsteen song did Elvis Costello record and release?

The answer: Brilliant Disguise

The winner: David VanDyke, Louisville, KY.

Keep coming back because we will have more contests in the future.

“Spectacle: Elvis Costello with…” Official Website

30 Days Out Contest! “Spectacle: Elvis Costello with…” prize pack

Spectacle: Elvis Costello with…is clearly the best music program on television. Costello is a great interviewer and we get to see him play not only his songs every week, but his own versions of songs by artists like U2, Bruce Springsteen, etc. So when we received an e-mail to do a “give away” promotion for the show, we jumped at the chance. Here’s what is in the prize package:

* Season 1 of “Spectacle: Elvis Costello with..” on DVD.

* John Prine’s (this week’s guest) new CD.

* Various Sundance Channel parephenalia including a hat and pen…

How can you win? We will give you a question, if you get it right, we’ll put your name in a hat. The drawing will take place on Monday, Jan. 25. The contest is open to U.S. residents only. Please send your answer to the “leave a reply” box at the bottom. Here is the question:

Next week’s guest on Spectacle is Bruce Springsteen, what Springsteen song did Elvis Costello record and release?

Spectacle: Elvis Costello with… Official Website

Lyle Lovett talks to Elvis Costello

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Jesse Winchester on a recent episode

30 Days Out Exclusive Interview: Jesse Winchester

My first recollection of Jesse Winchester was seeing his picture on the back of a Billboard magazine in the 1970s.  I had not thought about him since until seeing him last month on Spectacle: Elvis Costello with … on Sundance Channel.  My loss.  He brought the house down (and tears to eyes of Neko Case) with “Sham-A-Ling-Dong-Ding,” a track from his latest release, Love Filling Station.

Winchester was born in Louisiana in 1944 and 22 years later, upon his graduation from college, he received his draft notice.   He decided the Vietnam War was not for him and he split to Canada.  As he explained it to Costello, “he hung around hippies and played coffee houses where you had to write your own songs to fit in.”  In 1970, his music caught the ear of The Band’s Robbie Robertson and he produced Winchester’s critically acclaimed first record.  He went on to release a number of records in the early 70s, and is best known for the tunes “Yankee Lady” and “Brand New Tennessee Waltz.”    When Bob Dylan was asked who he thought, other than himself, was the greatest living songwriter, he said Jesse Winchester.

Songs by Jesse Winchester covered by other artists would fill a good-sized songbook.  “Rhumba Man” was covered by Jimmy Buffett on his new album, and Winchester’s tunes have also been covered by Patti Page, Elvis Costello, Joan Baez, Anne Murray and Reba McEntire.  On Love Filling Station, Jesse reclaims “Oh What A Thrill,” which was a hit for the Mavericks.

Winchester was nice enough to answer a few questions for us about his past, his present and his future:

30DaysOut: Tell us how you got your start in music?  Were you influenced by the Memphis scene and its musicians?

JW: I seem to have been a musician from birth. I was very much influenced by Memphis music – gospel, blues, country. I loved the great radio station, WDIA, and also Dewey Phillips, the best disc jockey ever.