Best Costello Album EVER; Imperial Bedroom.

Difficult to believe four guys make a sound this full and lush. This is big boy pop. Thanks Elvis.

Bruce is one of the best Bass Players that lots of people don't know about.

"love is always scarpering, or cowering, or fawning... you drink yourself insensitive and hate yourself in the morning" saw him on his Imperial Bedroom tour summer of 81. Awesome, beyond belief!!

That pumping, throbbing bass line in the last thirty seconds is the icing on the cake, and oh-WHAT a cake, indeed…

this is the most fucking unbelievable thing on youtube. staggering.

Gad ... guy gets more done musically and lyrically in 5 minutes than most do in a lifetime of albums. hard to think about it!

I'm cryin' here this song is so good. Yeah, it crescendos in the final minute beyond belief.

This could be his best song!

Out of a career of untold brilliant work, Imperial Bedroom stands on its own pedestal.

Days of Dutch courage, just three French letters and a German sense of humour He's got a mind like a sewer and a heart like a fridge He stands to be insulted and he pays for the privilege just brilliant.

The best musical artist of the past 35 years and his best song.

Stunning, as is Imperial Bedroom. Pet Sounds, Sgt Pepper's and.... Imperial Bedroom. Why not? This guy is a stone cold songwriting genius.

Elvis C....Elvis C.... Elvis C... He was ahead of his time then; he still is in 2010. When will he be acknowledged as one of the true musical geniuses of his generation?

I've watched this a hundred times . What a genius

hows this not a hit

I love wallowing in the melancholy of this song! What a performance! Long live Elvis…

let's face it you'd have to admit it that chorus elvis came up with is probably one of most clever melodic musical hooks of 1980's pop music. i remember hearing it the very first time on my cassette tape and the second time the chorus came around again i couldn't help myself i just had to do my elvis costello impression and sing along with much feeling! this guy is pretty clever and let's face it his voice is the real hook!!!!!

Classy and classic. He's just such class and the Attractions are too.

It's hard to choose a favorite EC song. Talent like this doesn't come along everyday He should be as revered as the Elvis the 1st.

I keep coming back to this one. An amazing performance. His wordplay is hard to beat. The band is seasoned, relaxed. Each verse gets a different feel. One weird thing about this segment is the way it sounds like the bass amp blows out at the end. And I can't tell if Bruce and Elvis can hear that or not.

"love is always scarpering or cowering or fawning you drink yourself insensitive and hate yourself in the morning."

I swear I can smell London through this song.

..and the Attractions are musical perfection, they know how to treat EC's songs

One of the greatest songs ever

“Because the high heel he used to be has been ground down / and he listens for the footsteps that will follow him around.”

Thanks Elvis !!

Bought this album and as well as predicessors when it came out in 1982. All his work was fantastic and very under appreciated. Bought tickets to his concert at PSU and Elvis was snowed in and couldn't make it. Tour bus got stuck on Rt 80. I never got over it! I will see him someday. Imperial Bedroom was my favorite album.

I was a little late in hearing this song. I was only aware of his first few albums but once I did, it instantly became my favourite. The lyrics and the way he delivers them are spot on brilliant and the Attractions are fantastic here. Just an incredible song.

...from the intricate and layered arrangement...to the devastating lyrics..to the inspired performance...the song is heartbreakingly gorgeous.

One of the best songs from one of the greatest ever, and I still don't know what the song "means."

imperial bedroom = masterpiece

I was never a beatles fan-this man Elvis has the talent that all the FAB 4 combined had -he is inventive and a master performer !!! this is one of his best

Everyone has their favorite Costello song. This one is mine. Amazine video.

right! I always feel like I'm not totally getting it but I'm loving it .There is so much there therefore I can keep coming back to it ,His stuff never gets old. It's quality, craft , work . gold.I am a musician and whenever I want to figure out an EC song I know it's not going to be easy but it will be rewarding.

Sorrow, regret, guilt, all condensed into a song.

agreed one of the great lyricist of his generation and of course how could you not be moved by the power of this performance!!

I guess I had to grow up and become more mature to appreciate this guy.

Outstanding group with one of the greatest performers of all time. Class!

Once an influential politician, now the guy is old, no longer powerful, near death, and looking at a life of nerves, drink, and alienation from his family. What a song. Reminds me of his take on politics in Shipbuilding. But has he met someone who can still love him even though hes out of time ?

it is amazing how much lyricism he has what a great voice i believe someone said about Elvis he writes 3 minute novels to further add to that he manages to put so much meaning into a few bars one of EC'S greats proud to be a Brit!!

Wow. What a great band playing songs with great lyrics and melodies and hooks. Imperial Bedroom, Incredible album. Wore it out. Declan McManus, quite a talent.

Good for you. I was so much where you are now, at your age. 30 years later, I feel like Elvis and I grew up (okay, old) together. Oh, and I'm seeing him in concert in November, for the first time. Just one thing, EC's lyrics are very much laced with sex as well, but also with real emotions. The music is real, the voice is real, the talent is real. There are other real musicians out there, just don't look for them on the radio or TV. So proud of you. Good kid.

Yup. He's got a pretty bright future, this one.

Dave Letterman aired Elvis more than any other talk show host--by a huge margin. He even had him fill in as guest host. Dave has impeccable taste in music and people.

Absolutely stunning performance of a brilliant song! Thank you for posting.

学生時代に聞いた名曲。永久に残って欲しい映像です。

Great performance!

I remember seeing this on David Letterman, and running out and buying the album the next day.

Just had a big fight with the wife. Crying to this song puts everything into perspective. And yet the sorrow I feel for my wife and I is somehow transformed to happiness thru understanding with this song. Thank you Elvis I have rediscovered you once again.

Saw this on TV back in the day.. Thanks for posting it.. I still have it on an old VHS tape.. "For the high heel he use to be, has been ground down". Probably my most favorite line by EC. I didn't see him until '96, and he opened up with this song.. That was just awesome.

the King Kong of modern music. The only one who comes close to Bob Dylan for lyrics.

I ONLY HAVE ONE WORD WOW

Loved his music since the release of the album "This Years Model." Followed him ever since. Saw him in 1979/1980 at the Michigan Palace. It was Dah Bomb.

His music & lyrics would catch in my head for a short while speeding up the tempo of my brain.

The last minute is.... incredible.

Can't believe so few have seen this gem vid , vocals are amazing a one off performer, sheer joy one of my fav's of EC

love the music. great singer.

Thank you Defiance for introducing me to this amazing song and to the genius of Elvis Costello.

This is why Elvis Is King~!

I am the other six thousand. Omg, the talent is so overwhelmingly incomprehensible to us mere mortals. Turn of phrase...ahhh. Complex metaphors.....perfect musical composition.......and...and... and...voice that touches my very soul in raw, yet rich and deep, honest emotion. Who is better? Please, who? I thought not.

Beautiful song, yes!

MAGNIFICENT !

Just amazingly brilliant!

always best with the attractions.

This guy is the business - what a freakin hero, loving his work!

My favourite song of all time

A sublime songwriter, and greatly underappreciated.

As well knows as he is , I still don't think people get what an incredible talent he is. He is up there with Dylan , the Beatles , Randy Newman, Tom Waits and Leonard Cohen

Songs/music like this is what keeps me still a musician..

Immense song.

たまらん！最高にカッコいい演奏

Maybe my favorite Elvis tune, and this is a great performance.

Love Elvis... and this is one of my favorites... especially live...

I think I count for at least 40 thousand of these views.

Holy crap.

this is my favorite elvis costello song and from my all-time favorite album by elvis costello. it's also the first "adult" album that i've bought since i feel it's about adulthood and such.

I can't believe i did not know about this genius songwriter/singer

His best song? Maybe. His most majestic, for sure.

This performance is amazing (and so is Steve's fringed jacket).

Fucking brilliant

Thank you for the uploader, my day, week ou month will be happier. So much to like about this, but I was impressed how the big "imperial" sound was not a studio trick. The piano, the guitar, etc sound really strong and present.

You drink yourself insenstive and hate yourself in the morning! ...mind like a sewer and a heart like a fridge..... who's up late polishing the blade......... gem after gem after gem after gem........ What a talent. Almost frightening!

Sooooo good.

And at David Letterman's first studio!! Love it.

One of the best songs ever!

what they said. And this is one of his best, or at least one of my all time favorites.

Steve Nieve pulling out all the stops on this cut both live and in the studio. One of EC's best ballads!!

I just saw him (again) in Portland Maine...Must be at least 11 or 12 x over the years....a musical, and lyrical genious.....To me, "A Man Out Of Time".... is a paradox... Still love someone from the past....but we are getting older....?is it too late?...

Dat Band!

just stunning, so great to see it again after all these years. Please also post You Little Fool from this broadcast! thnx, Thnx, THANK YOU.

Magnificent.

Excellent! Love this song and just did my own acoustic version! Thanks for posting!

Sounds like Big Star meets "Blonde and Blonde", fantastic!!

I wish I was in the audience for that!!!!

Sounds like an orchestra!

Sublime

There is only one Elvis - enough said!

@dca9385 I agree. He has made many incredible songs but this has become my favorite.

"He's got a mind like a sewer and a heart like a fridge, stands to be insulted and he pays for the privilege" Genius thy name is Declan McManus