As a member of the TKO Horns, Geoff Blythe toured with Elvis Costello and the Attractions and performed on several tracks on the 1983 album, Punch the Clock.

Geoff tells me about the sessions, going on the road with the Attractions and recording the promo video for Let Them All Talk.

Along the way, Geoff recalls recording with Nick Lowe and Allen Toussaint and an encounter with Yoko Ono’s bodyguard at an album party.

A founding member of Dexy’s Midnight Runners, Geoff has also performed with Geno Washington, The Bureau, The Neighborhood, Black 47 and GI Blythe. His latest release is I Need a Sunny Day, his second album with the Samsonite Gypsies.

Visit the Dangerous Amusements website.

What a treat it was to catch up with award-winning author and former UK Home Secretary Alan Johnson to talk about his love of Elvis Costello’s music.

An EC fanatic since hearing (The Angels Wanna Wear My) Red Shoes, Alan tells me why he feels such an affinity with the man he credits with his personal lifetime achievement award.

We chat about some of Alan’s favourite Costello songs and the tape of his own compositions that he sent to Elvis in 1982. He still awaits a reply.

After releasing four critically-acclaimed volumes of his memoirs, Alan released his first novel in September 2021. Find out more on his website.

A former postman and trade unionist, Alan Johnson was a Labour MP for 20 years, serving in the cabinets of Tony Blair and Gordon Brown in roles including Home Secretary. A keen guitarist and songwriter, in his youth Alan performed in The Area and The In-Betweens.

Kitten Kuroi is a singer, songwriter and activist who has performed live with Elvis Costello and the Imposters on a number of tours.

She also recorded vocals for the 2018 album, Look Now, which won a Grammy for Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album at the 62nd Grammy Awards.

Kitten tells me about her earliest musical influences and how she came to Elvis’s attention for the Imperial Bedrooms and Other Chambers tour in 2016.

She gives us fascinating insights into recording and touring with Elvis and picks some of her favourite Costello songs for our playlist.

Our conversation also takes in Austin Powers, catsuits and the Spice Girls…

Visit my Dangerous Amusements website for previous episodes of the podcast, playlists compiled by my guests, plus some of my articles.

Legendary music PR Glen Colson worked on Elvis Costello’s record releases and tours in the late-1970s.

Glen tells me all about those early days – the stunts, the arrests, the tours and the music.

We chat about life at Stiff Records and the assorted cast of characters Glen’s encountered during his career, including Ian Dury, Nick Lowe and Syd Barrett.

Glen’s also added five songs to our Dragging the Lake playlist. 

Glen has published a fantastic memoir, called Nefarious. It’s a terrific read and you can buy a copy by emailing Glen directly. Find out more about the book on Glen Colson’s website.

Georg Purvis is the author of On Track: Elvis Costello and the Attractions.

Having previously published books on Pink Floyd and Queen, Georg explores every song and album recorded by Costello between 1977 and 1986.

In this episode, Georg tells me about writing the book and his own experiences as an Elvis Costello fan.

He picks five of his favourite EC tracks for our playlist, including the song that moved him to tears when he first heard it.

Artist and painter WS Cranmore is my first transatlantic guest on the podcast.

skOt recalls hearing Elvis Costello’s music for the first time and tells me how one of EC’s songs changed his life.

We discuss Costello’s album artwork and the key to creating a memorable LP or single sleeve.

skOt also tells me of his shock when Elvis got in touch to buy one of his paintings…

Check out the playlist of Costello songs put together by my guests in this second season of the podcast.

Music journalist Paul Stokes (NME, Q, MOJO, BBC Radio 6 Music) takes us on a trip down Rocking Horse Road as we talk about his love of Elvis Costello’s music.

We chat about the Costello record that changed his life and look back at some of the many Elvis gigs he’s been to over the years.

Paul tells us about his experiences of interviewing EC for different music magazines and producing an appearance on BBC Radio 6 Music.

And, of course, Paul picks out five gems from Costello’s catalogue for our Dragging the Lake playlist.

Check out Paul’s website to read some of his articles about Elvis.

Jason Carty is one half of the terrific Beatles podcast, Nothing Is Real.

A winner of the coveted Beatle Brain of Ireland competition with his co-host, Steven Cockroft, Jason is also a huge Elvis Costello fan.

We discuss some of Jason’s favourite Costello songs, the many and varied EC gigs he’s attended and he recalls meeting the man himself during his Dublin days.

And, of course, we can’t talk to ‘the Paul guy’ from the leading Beatles podcast without discussing the wonderful McCartney/MacManus songs.

Check out the Nothing Is Real website and subscribe to Jason and Steven’s excellent show wherever you listen to your podcasts.

Boyd Hilton is a top TV and film journalist, entertainment director for Heat magazine and contributing editor at Empire.

He’s also a huge Elvis Costello fan.

In this episode, Boyd picks five EC songs for our playlist, recalls his earliest Elvis experiences and tells us about transatlantic trips to watch Costello live.

We also discuss Costello’s stint as a TV host on Spectacle, a show Boyd was tipped off about by Sir Elton John.

I'm delighted to welcome comedian, actor, writer and TV presenter Jo Brand to the podcast.

We talk about her love of Elvis Costello's music and discuss the five songs she's added to our Dragging the Lake playlist.

Jo tells me about appearing alongside Elvis on the BBC's Fantasy Football League and demonstrating her Costello party piece on television.

We also discuss comedy, decorating and "toffee bollocks".