Broken Promise Land – Elvis Costello

Costello’s standing in the U.S. was bruised for a time when in March 1979, during a drunken argument with Stephen Stills and Bonnie Bramlett in a Columbus, Ohio Holiday Inn bar, the singer referred to James Brown as a “jive-ass nigger”, then upped the ante by pronouncing Ray Charles a “blind, ignorant, nigger”. Costello apologised at a New York City press conference a few days later, claiming that he had been drunk and had been attempting to be obnoxious in order to bring the conversation to a swift conclusion, not anticipating that Bramlett would bring his comments to the press. According to Costello, “it became necessary for me to outrage these people with about the most obnoxious and offensive remarks that I could muster.” In his liner notes for the expanded version of Get Happy!!, Costello writes that some time after the incident he had declined an offer to meet Charles out of guilt and embarrassment, though Charles himself had forgiven Costello saying “Drunken talk isn’t meant to be printed in the paper.” Costello worked extensively in Britain’s Rock Against Racism campaign both before and after the incident. The incident inspired his Get Happy!! song “Riot Act.”

How to Learn The Piano Part

Numero Uno for starting-out musicians is the understanding of chords. Print out a list of chords to keep as reference next to your keyboard or invest in a study course specifically made to teach your harmonies and nothing else. Learning harmonies and chord patterns will instantly make your life easier when faced with the live concert of any common song on the piano.