Elvis Costello At The BBC

From his early days writing songs, getting arrested for busking outside a record company conference, signing to the very cool Stiff Records, to his acclaimed collaborations with Sir Paul McCartney, The Brodsky Quartet and Burt Bacharach, through cutting edge hits and acclaimed albums, this is the story of Declan MacManus, the son of a ballad singer with the Joe Loss Band, one of whose first words as a baby, “Skin!”, requested a Frank Sinatra song. He went on to conquer the world with a New Wave of extraordinary British music and his personal take on classic genres. As Elvis Costello, he learned his craft from the early acetates of famous chart artists that his father brought home to learn for his dance band concerts.

As we prepare to celebrate his 70th birthday, we'll hear how Elvis, who never wanted to be a pop star, completed what he regards as his first real record - Watching The Detectives - while auditioning band members for the Attractions, how the Detroit Spinners inspired his ballad Alison, and his reasons for recording an album of country ballads. We also discover that Radio Radio really isn't a tribute to the airwaves, and hear, first-hand, about his determination to get Jazz legend Chet Baker to play trumpet on the beautiful modern protest anthem Shipbuilding. All told through BBC interviews with Andy Peebles, Peter Curran, John Tobler, Annie Nightingale, Mariella Frostrup, Janice Long, Matt Everitt, Roger Scott and Tom Robinson.

To celebrate his 70th birthday, the story of the great band leader and singer-songwriter.

From classic hits to inspired collaborations, this is the story of the singer-songwriter and producer, born Declan MacManus, through his BBC interviews as he became Elvis Costello.