He definitely didn’t get airplay. But I was a huge fan. You can think of him more in the Bob Dylan mold. He could write lyrics and songs with the best of them.
His voice is definitely a take it or leave it thing. I totally despised his voice initially. Ironically it all changed the first time I saw him in concert.
His first 5-6 albums are quite good. And yes, the Attractions (his backing band from his second album on) are a very tight combo!
And lastly, yes, he is a lefty. Like 98% of artists/musicians.
“You could think of him more in the Bob Dylan mold.”
Actually, no I couldn’t. I’ve been a Dylan fan for 50+ years & they’re not even in the same league, IMO.
Pick any song from Costello’s catalog! —and compare with anything in Dylan’s.
There is no comparison. Dylan = not just song lyrics, but poetry. Passion, depth, irony, Biblical references, woven into musical tapestries that lend to 1000s of interpretations by multitudes of cover artists.
Costello’s lyrical product is trite, 1-dimensional teenage pop schlock— catchy, yes; inspired by the holy muse, no— his musical licks studio-manufactured by engineers that he manages to reproduce onstage & make money. Yay! He can strum & even shred! Therefore: rock star! Big whoop, IMO.
FWIW, my Dylan collection includes the Chimes of Freedom tribute album of numerous artists covering Dylan. One of only 2 selections on the 4 CD set that I absolutely hate is Costello’s take on License to Kill. OTOH, his wife Diana Krall offers a sublime rendition of Simple Twist of Fate.
But if Costello floats *your* boat, that’s fine with me.
Rant off/ we can still be FRiends, though, right? :-)