Daily Jam - (I Don't Want to Go to) Chelsea

The first day back to work after a long weekend is always busy as hell.  I'm only now getting a chance to post some music online.  Here's a cut from Elvis Costello.  Listen to "(I Don't Want to Go to) Chelsea" below, our Daily Jam.

Daily Jam - Shipbuilding

“Is it worth it?”

For a song that’s about a community that thrives during wartime, an economy built on manufacturing the warships that they will then in turn send their own sons to die on, Elvis Costello and The Attractions’ “Shipbuilding” sure does sound sexy. Gracing 1983’s Punch the Clock, the song sets its potentially gloomy subject matter with a melancholy jazz melody and sheer poetry to craft a veritable work of audio art.

Originally penned by Costello and Clive Langer for English singer-songwriter Robert Wyatt (whose version is also pretty great by the way), “Shipbuilding” drew its inspiration from the Falklands War of 1982, musing on a kind of dichotomy of war. As the traditional shipbuilding areas of England saw prosperity from their wares, they also experienced the increasing likelihood of losing their young men to the same conflict they were benefiting from, like some sort of sacrificial lambs for harvest. War is hell sure, but it’s also a moneymaker.

“Within weeks they’ll be re-opening the shipyards and notifying the next of kin.”

On Costello’s version, the song’s jazzy lounge vibe almost undersells the urgency of the lyrical themes somewhat, but adds just the right amount of wistfulness to create a kind of tragic romanticism to the whole affair, brought most to life by Chet Baker’s beautiful and haunting trumpet solo. It’s like witnessing the inevitable, knowing that there is nothing you can do to change course, but deeply hoping or wishing that someday there will be…and maybe even actually believing that.

“With all the will in the world, diving for dear life, when we could be diving for pearls.”

Check it out below, our Daily Jam.

Daily Jam - New Amsterdam

You know what we need today?  Some Elvis Costello.  Here's the man with The Attractions and "New Amsterdam," our Daily Jam.

Daily Jam - Pump It Up

A long week of work is starting tomorrow, so trying to put myself in an appropriately energetic mindset with Elvis Costello & The Attractions' "Pump It Up."  Listen below, our Daily Jam.

Daily Jam - Riot Act

It's appearing more and more likely that Trump is outta there, which is certainly a good thing, but i fear that there is a veritable tsunami of bullshit on its way in the near future.  I think i'm going to try and get more involved.  Here's "Riot Act" from Elvis Costello and The Attractions, our Daily Jam.

Daily Jam - Watching the Detectives

Like Prince and Zeppelin, Elvis Costello is one of those artists i got crazy into for brief period of time when i was in college, just devouring as much of his catalog as possible.  It was a good time.  Here's "Watching the Detectives," my original entry point and our Daily Jam.