"Girls Talk" is a new wave song written by Elvis Costello and first recorded by Dave Edmunds in 1978. Costello gave an early version of the song to Edmunds, who reworked the song and released it on his album Repeat When Necessary. Edmunds' version peaked at number four on the UK Singles Chart and number 12 in Ireland, becoming one of Edmunds' most successful career singles.
Costello later released his version of the song as a B-side to his version of "I Can't Stand Up for Falling Down", a rendition featuring a soul-inflected arrangement with a prominent bass line performed by Attractions bassist Bruce Thomas. Both Edmunds and Costello's versions have attracted critical acclaim.
As with many of Costello's previous songs, it is tricky to ascertain a particular meaning, as his lyrics are replete with such double meanings as "though you may not be an old-fashioned girl, you're still going to get dated".[2] In the liner notes for the 2002 Rhino reissue of Get Happy!!, Costello stated that the record was about women's gossip.[3]
The most successful version of the song was by Dave Edmunds, to whom Costello says he donated the song "in a moment of drunken bravado."[3][4] Edmunds said, "Elvis came to the studio one day, and he said, 'I've got a song for you.' And he gave me a cassette. Now, it wasn't very good - it was just him on a guitar, and he was rushing through it at a furious pace. At first I couldn't see it. I really liked the complete new arrangement and feel that I put to it. I'm not sure Elvis liked it, mind you. He's quite an intense person and he's quick to point out things that he doesn't like."[5]
Released in June 1979, Edmunds' version charted at number 4 on the UK Singles Chart,[4] spending 11 weeks on the chart. It was his final top ten hit in that country.[6] The single additionally reached number 65 on the US Hot 100, a rare commercial success for Edmunds there. The success of Edmunds' version also boosted Costello's reputation as an coverable songwriter; Edmunds later joked while introducing the song at a concert, "Here's a song by Elvis Costello, and he thanks you from the bottom of his wallet."[7]
Costello recorded a version which was released as the B-side of his single "I Can't Stand Up for Falling Down",[8] and was a fixture of the set lists for his tours for some time after it was recorded.[9] Bassist Bruce Thomas commented that it started out as a "country song" before the band rearranged it around Thomas' bass line,[10] which Costello compared to the bass part from "A Love Supreme".[11]
Music videoedit
A music video was produced for the song. It features Edmunds and Rockpile playing on the roof of the Warner Brothers Records building in Midtown Manhattan as well as assorted shots of people walking through Manhattan.[12]
Critical receptionedit
"Girls Talk" has seen critical acclaim since its release. In a 1979 article, The New York Times wrote of Edmunds' version, "Mr. Edmunds tackles the sort of airy pop lyricism that is Mr. Lowe's specialty with consummate taste and skill."[13] The Miami Herald opined in 1980, "When Edmunds did 'Girls Talk,' he stole the song away from Costello and made it his own."[14]AllMusic referred to the Edmunds take as a "classic" in a retrospective review.[15]
Costello's version has also attracted acclaim. Stewart Mason of AllMusic gave the song a positive review retrospectively, complimenting the tone of "suppressed menace", and saying that "it features some of his sharpest lyrics of the era".[9] In addition, Debra Rae Cohen of Rolling Stone said that although Edmunds' version was "cocky [and] rowdy", "Costello restores the tune's paranoiac underpinnings with the nervous quaver of his voice and soft keyboard parts that echo like footfalls".[16] Musician Aimee Mann included Costello's version on her list of "songs that made her," commenting, "I used to cover 'Girls Talk' live for a while. I was so crazy about that song."[17]
Other versionsedit
Linda Ronstadt also recorded a version of "Girls Talk", fashioned after the Dave Edmunds version, for her 1980 album Mad Love, which contained three songs composed by Costello. Ronstadt had previously released a version of Costello's song "Alison" in 1979. Pop duo Tegan and Sara recorded a version of the song for the series finale of The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel in 2023. Edmunds' version was also featured as the end credits song in the pilot.
^Molanphy, Chris (November 19, 2022). "Angry Young Men Edition". Hit Parade | Music History and Music Trivia (Podcast). Slate. Retrieved February 18, 2023.
^Robert Palmer, Anthony DeCurtis, Blues & Chaos: The Music Writing of Robert Palmer. 2009. p.291. "'Alison' was a hit for Linda Ronstadt, and Dave Edmunds also scored a hit with a Costello song, 'Girls Talk' ('Though you may not be an old-fashioned girl, you're still going to get dated')."
^"DAVE EDMUNDS | Official Charts Company". Officialcharts.com. Retrieved 2015-04-15.
^Birch, Will (2019-08-20). Cruel to Be Kind: The Life and Music of Nick Lowe. Hachette Books. ISBN978-0-306-92197-1.
^Franklin Bruno Elvis Costello's Armed Forces 2005 p.132 "This was another Stax cover, Sam and Dave's "I Can't Stand Up for Falling Down," backed with "Girls Talk," a song EC had given away to Dave Edmunds (whose version hit #2 earlier in the year)."
^ abSong Review by Stewart Mason. "Girls Talk - Elvis Costello,Elvis Costello & the Attractions | Listen, Appearances, Song Review". AllMusic. Retrieved 2015-04-15.
^Forte, Dan (March 1987). "Bruce Thomas Pumps It Up". Guitar Player.
^"Kent Music Report No 288 – 31 December 1979 > National Top 100 Singles for 1979". Kent Music Report. Retrieved 10 January 2023 – via Imgur.com.
January 01, 1970
girls, talk, elvis, costello, song, girls, talk, wave, song, written, elvis, costello, first, recorded, dave, edmunds, 1978, costello, gave, early, version, song, edmunds, reworked, song, released, album, repeat, when, necessary, edmunds, version, peaked, numb. Girls Talk is a new wave song written by Elvis Costello and first recorded by Dave Edmunds in 1978 Costello gave an early version of the song to Edmunds who reworked the song and released it on his album Repeat When Necessary Edmunds version peaked at number four on the UK Singles Chart and number 12 in Ireland becoming one of Edmunds most successful career singles Girls Talk Single by Dave Edmundsfrom the album Repeat When NecessaryB side Bad is Bad Released25 May 1979Recorded1978GenrePower popnew wave 1 Length3 25LabelSwan SongSongwriter s Elvis CostelloProducer s Dave EdmundsDave Edmunds singles chronology A1 On The Jukebox 1979 Girls Talk 1979 Queen of Hearts 1979 Girls Talk Single by Elvis Costello and the AttractionsA side I Can t Stand Up for Falling Down ReleasedMarch 1980Recorded1979Length1 56LabelF Beat UK Columbia USA Songwriter s Elvis CostelloProducer s Nick LoweElvis Costello and the Attractions singles chronology Accidents Will Happen 1979 Girls Talk 1980 High Fidelity 1980 Costello later released his version of the song as a B side to his version of I Can t Stand Up for Falling Down a rendition featuring a soul inflected arrangement with a prominent bass line performed by Attractions bassist Bruce Thomas Both Edmunds and Costello s versions have attracted critical acclaim Contents 1 Background 2 Music video 3 Critical reception 4 Other versions 5 Chart history 5 1 Weekly charts 5 2 Year end charts 6 ReferencesBackground editAs with many of Costello s previous songs it is tricky to ascertain a particular meaning as his lyrics are replete with such double meanings as though you may not be an old fashioned girl you re still going to get dated 2 In the liner notes for the 2002 Rhino reissue of Get Happy Costello stated that the record was about women s gossip 3 The most successful version of the song was by Dave Edmunds to whom Costello says he donated the song in a moment of drunken bravado 3 4 Edmunds said Elvis came to the studio one day and he said I ve got a song for you And he gave me a cassette Now it wasn t very good it was just him on a guitar and he was rushing through it at a furious pace At first I couldn t see it I really liked the complete new arrangement and feel that I put to it I m not sure Elvis liked it mind you He s quite an intense person and he s quick to point out things that he doesn t like 5 Released in June 1979 Edmunds version charted at number 4 on the UK Singles Chart 4 spending 11 weeks on the chart It was his final top ten hit in that country 6 The single additionally reached number 65 on the US Hot 100 a rare commercial success for Edmunds there The success of Edmunds version also boosted Costello s reputation as an coverable songwriter Edmunds later joked while introducing the song at a concert Here s a song by Elvis Costello and he thanks you from the bottom of his wallet 7 Costello recorded a version which was released as the B side of his single I Can t Stand Up for Falling Down 8 and was a fixture of the set lists for his tours for some time after it was recorded 9 Bassist Bruce Thomas commented that it started out as a country song before the band rearranged it around Thomas bass line 10 which Costello compared to the bass part from A Love Supreme 11 Music video editA music video was produced for the song It features Edmunds and Rockpile playing on the roof of the Warner Brothers Records building in Midtown Manhattan as well as assorted shots of people walking through Manhattan 12 Critical reception edit Girls Talk has seen critical acclaim since its release In a 1979 article The New York Times wrote of Edmunds version Mr Edmunds tackles the sort of airy pop lyricism that is Mr Lowe s specialty with consummate taste and skill 13 The Miami Herald opined in 1980 When Edmunds did Girls Talk he stole the song away from Costello and made it his own 14 AllMusic referred to the Edmunds take as a classic in a retrospective review 15 Costello s version has also attracted acclaim Stewart Mason of AllMusic gave the song a positive review retrospectively complimenting the tone of suppressed menace and saying that it features some of his sharpest lyrics of the era 9 In addition Debra Rae Cohen of Rolling Stone said that although Edmunds version was cocky and rowdy Costello restores the tune s paranoiac underpinnings with the nervous quaver of his voice and soft keyboard parts that echo like footfalls 16 Musician Aimee Mann included Costello s version on her list of songs that made her commenting I used to cover Girls Talk live for a while I was so crazy about that song 17 Other versions editLinda Ronstadt also recorded a version of Girls Talk fashioned after the Dave Edmunds version for her 1980 album Mad Love which contained three songs composed by Costello Ronstadt had previously released a version of Costello s song Alison in 1979 Pop duo Tegan and Sara recorded a version of the song for the series finale of The Marvelous Mrs Maisel in 2023 Edmunds version was also featured as the end credits song in the pilot Chart history editWeekly charts edit Chart 1979 80 Peakposition Australia Kent Music Report 18 9 Canada RPM Top Singles 19 18 Ireland IRMA 20 11 UK Singles Chart 4 US Billboard Hot 100 21 65 US Cash Box Top 100 22 65 Year end charts edit Chart 1979 Rank Australia Kent Music Report 23 59References edit Molanphy Chris November 19 2022 Angry Young Men Edition Hit Parade Music History and Music Trivia Podcast Slate Retrieved February 18 2023 Robert Palmer Anthony DeCurtis Blues amp Chaos The Music Writing of Robert Palmer 2009 p 291 Alison was a hit for Linda Ronstadt and Dave Edmunds also scored a hit with a Costello song Girls Talk Though you may not be an old fashioned girl you re still going to get dated a b Get Happy Inset Elvis Costello and the Attractions US Rhino Entertainment 2003 R2 73908 a href Template Cite AV media notes html title Template Cite AV media notes cite AV media notes a CS1 maint others in cite AV media notes link a b Costello Reissues Explode With Bonus Tracks Billboard July 22 2003 Retrieved November 17 2016 Carl Wiser Dave Edmunds Song Facts DAVE EDMUNDS Official Charts Company Officialcharts com Retrieved 2015 04 15 Birch Will 2019 08 20 Cruel to Be Kind The Life and Music of Nick Lowe Hachette Books ISBN 978 0 306 92197 1 Franklin Bruno Elvis Costello s Armed Forces 2005 p 132 This was another Stax cover Sam and Dave s I Can t Stand Up for Falling Down backed with Girls Talk a song EC had given away to Dave Edmunds whose version hit 2 earlier in the year a b Song Review by Stewart Mason Girls Talk Elvis Costello Elvis Costello amp the Attractions Listen Appearances Song Review AllMusic Retrieved 2015 04 15 Forte Dan March 1987 Bruce Thomas Pumps It Up Guitar Player Get Happy Liner notes Elvis Costello 1994 a href Template Cite AV media notes html title Template Cite AV media notes cite AV media notes a CS1 maint others in cite AV media notes link Tune In To 1979 8 May 2015 Vintage TV Palmer Robert July 22 1979 A trend setting English musician The New York Times Palmer Robert October 5 1980 Costello takes too many liberties with white elephant album Miami Herald Erlewine Stephen Thomas Repeat When Necessary Dave Edmunds AllMusic Retrieved 16 June 2017 Rae Debra 1980 12 11 Elvis Costello Taking Liberties Album Review Rolling Stone Retrieved 2015 04 15 Aimee Mann on the Music That Made Her Pitchfork 2020 11 24 Retrieved 2023 09 29 Kent David 1993 Australian Chart Book 1970 1992 St Ives N S W Australian Chart Book ISBN 0 646 11917 6 Item Display RPM Library and Archives Canada Collectionscanada gc ca 1979 12 08 Retrieved 2019 02 13 The Irish Charts Search Results Girls Talk Irish Singles Chart Retrieved February 7 2019 Joel Whitburn s Top Pop Singles 1955 1990 ISBN 0 89820 089 X Cash Box Top 100 Singles September 29 1979 Kent Music Report No 288 31 December 1979 gt National Top 100 Singles for 1979 Kent Music Report Retrieved 10 January 2023 via Imgur com Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Girls Talk Elvis Costello song amp oldid 1182571738, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
