![Stiffs Live, 1978 (From L to R: Larry Wallis, Nick Lowe, Elvis Costello, Wreckless Eric, Ian Dury)
This is a killer—if short—album capturing highlights from the live shows that Stiff Records sponsored, sending their most popular acts out on the road for twenty-four dates in the UK.
The lineup was to rotate every evening, a premise that was quickly abandoned after imbalances in the talent levels—and the depths of the performers’ catalogs—became increasingly evident. According to author Will Birch:
The revolving bill concept had been a gimmick to help promote the tour and give all of the artists an equal opportunity but after a few nights it was obviously not working. Wreckless Eric’s group lacked the power to close the show successfully and Nick Lowe preferred an early slot to allow plenty of time for a post-set drink.
Conversely, Costello and Dury were both delivering riveting performances. [Costello’s manager Jake] Riviera and [Dave] Robinson devised a fresh approach: Wreckless Eric and Nick Lowe would alternate in the first half of the show and Dury and Costello would alternate in the second half.
And this concludes tonight’s episode of Why I Sleep Alone Theatre.](http://www.tumblr.com/photo/1280/gordonshumway/175805266/1/tumblr_kp7r1jPLrd1qzvota)
Stiffs Live, 1978
(From L to R: Larry Wallis, Nick Lowe, Elvis Costello, Wreckless Eric, Ian Dury)
This is a killer—if short—album capturing highlights from the live shows that Stiff Records sponsored, sending their most popular acts out on the road for twenty-four dates in the UK.
The lineup was to rotate every evening, a premise that was quickly abandoned after imbalances in the talent levels—and the depths of the performers’ catalogs—became increasingly evident. According to author Will Birch:
The revolving bill concept had been a gimmick to help promote the tour and give all of the artists an equal opportunity but after a few nights it was obviously not working. Wreckless Eric’s group lacked the power to close the show successfully and Nick Lowe preferred an early slot to allow plenty of time for a post-set drink.
Conversely, Costello and Dury were both delivering riveting performances. [Costello’s manager Jake] Riviera and [Dave] Robinson devised a fresh approach: Wreckless Eric and Nick Lowe would alternate in the first half of the show and Dury and Costello would alternate in the second half.
And this concludes tonight’s episode of Why I Sleep Alone Theatre.
