Dangerous Amusements: the Elvis Costello playlist

Broadcaster and author Jeremy Vine is our first guest on the second season of Dangerous Amusements. Jeremy describes Elvis Costello as “the number one artist in my life” and talks us through four decades of being a major fan. We discuss some of Jeremy’s favourite EC songs and he picks five tracks for our Dragging the Lake playlist . Jeremy tells us about his experiences of interviewing Costello an...

Leading music writer Tom Doyle drops by to chat about Elvis Costello. Tom’s been an Elvis fan since buying the Oliver’s Army single and has gone on to cover Costello’s career for MOJO and Q over the last couple of decades. He tells us about his experiences of interviewing and reviewing the man he describes as “the professor of pop”. As Tom’s also extensively covered Paul McCartney over the years –...

Writer and publisher Andy Spinoza is our special guest on this episode. Andy picks five Elvis Costello tracks for our playlist and discusses the vitriol, humour and sense of identity in the songs. He recalls becoming a Costello fan as a teenager and tells us what it was like to then interview and hang out with his hero for a magazine feature he was commissioned to write. You can find Andy on Twitt...

Our guest is politician and author, Dame Angela Eagle MP . Angela tells us about her love of Elvis Costello’s music, from listening to the copy of Armed Forces she bought as a present for her sister through to joining him on stage to spin the wheel. She discusses the political aspect of Costello’s songs and reveals how Elvis’s father played a role in her parents getting together. Angela also talks...

Our guest is author, music journalist and screenwriter David Quantick. We discuss some of David's favourite Elvis Costello songs as he adds five tracks to the Dangerous Amusements playlist . David recalls being unable to stand up for falling down at an Attractions gig, considers EC's acting roles and speculates about the existence of a graphic Costello novel. Visit David's website to find out abou...

We’re joined by award-winning director, broadcaster and podcaster, Theo Delaney . Theo chats about his love of Elvis Costello’s music, from first hearing John Peel play (The Angels Wanna Wear My) Red Shoes and receiving This Year’s Model as a childhood Christmas present through to attending countless EC gigs. Theo also tells us how he came to work on the promotion of Costello’s book Unfaithful Mus...

We’re joined by Lou Dalgleish and Michael Weston King of My Darling Clementine . They chat about their new album, Country Darkness, featuring their interpretations of a dozen Elvis Costello songs, recorded with Steve Nieve. We discuss their Costello-inspired stage show ‘They Call Her Natasha’, collaborating with the Brodsky Quartet and much more besides. Lou and Michael also talk us through the fi...

Musician and singer/songwriter Ian Prowse drops by to talk about the music of Elvis Costello. The Pele and Amsterdam frontman recalls hearing EC for the first time and being captivated by the conviction of his music. Ian shares tales of recording and touring with Costello and picks five songs for the Dangerous Amusements playlist . Visit Ian's website .

Best-selling author Mark Billingham joins us to chat all things Elvis.  Mark tells us about hosting EC's book launch event in 2015, spinning the wheel in the '80s and how being an Elvis superfan helped him win the BBC's Celebrity Mastermind. He recalls the first time he heard a Costello song on the radio, reveals the EC album that changed his life and ponders which Elvis songs he wants played...

Introducing Dangerous Amusements, a place where we talk about the music of Elvis Costello. On each episode, a guest joins Stu Arrowsmith to chat all things EC and helps to compile the ultimate Elvis Costello playlist . This is a quick preview of what's on its way.