Category: All Work And No Play Makes Jack A Dull Boy

A little … context, courtesy of you-know-who.

The Elvis Costello & the Attractions version was first issued as the B-side of Lowe’s 1978 single “American Squirm”, credited to “Nick Lowe and His Sound”. At the time, Lowe was Costello’s producer, and he produced this track as well. When the song became a hit, it was quickly appended as the last track to the US edition of Costello’s album Armed Forces. It has appeared on most of Costello’s “Best of…” compilations over the years, as well as on the soundtrack to the film 200 Cigarettes. Live versions appeared on Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Volume 7: 2002–2003, and 2012’s The Return of the Spectacular Spinning Songbook, both by Elvis Costello and the Attractions. In 2004 Rolling Stone magazine ranked this version of the song as the 284th best song of all time.

Modern Drummer said of drummer Pete Thomas’ performance, “A beautiful thing happens on this song, common to many early Attractions songs. It’s that feeling that the track could derail, when in reality Thomas has everything locked down. He does a lot of playing here without overplaying. Like most Attractions songs from that era, this was cut live, full-band and lead vocal. That’s probably why so many years later, it still sounds so energized and inspired.”

The video for the song was directed by Chuck Statler.

GLaDOS, a supercomputer who becomes increasingly malevolent as the game progresses, sings to you at the end of Portal. Funny and catchy, courtesy of Jonathan Coulton.

The cake is a lie!

Such a talent.

Martin Short breaks down his most iconic roles, including his characters in ‘Saturday Night Live,’ ‘Three Amigos,’ ‘Mulaney,’ ‘Second City,’ ‘Mars Attacks!,’ ‘Jiminy Glick,’ ‘The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause,’ ‘Innerspace,’ ‘Three Fugitives,’ ‘Father of the Bride,’ and ‘The Willoughbys.’

Spot the Ripoff is a fun game songwriters play with other people’s songs. It took me most of the day, but goddammit, I figured it out.