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Unfaithful Music and Disappearing Ink

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Unfaithful Music and Disappearing Ink

By: Elvis Costello
Narrated by: Elvis Costello
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About this listen

Penguin presents the unabridged, downloadable, audiobook edition of Unfaithful Music and Disappearing Ink, written and read by Elvis Costello.

'I asked my dad if he needed "Please, Please Me" any more. He laughed and handed the record to me . . ."

In a career spanning four decades, Elvis Costello (born Declan MacManus) has made himself a huge reputation through his tunes, lyrics and occasional bad behaviour. Now, for the first time, he is telling his story.

From miming on Top of the Pops, to becoming one of the industry's elder statesmen, Costello's memoir - which he has written himself and will promote assiduously - is a one-man history of British music. A warm, deep and surprisingly funny insight into an amazing life, it is rich with anecdotes about family, musicians and the creation of his famous songs.

 Entertainment & Celebrities Music Celebrity Funny

Critic Reviews

The book is fantastic - maybe the best about music by a musician that I've read....The stuff about the collaborations alone - McCartney, Burt Bacharach, Allen Toussaint, the Roots, the Brodsky Quartet - is riveting
Better written than your average rock memoir ... Costello is one the greatest writers of the 20th Century. It's funny, observant and clear of purpose
By turns lachrymose, self-flagellating and impassioned. Unsurprisingly, it is beautifully written. It is also often extraordinarily moving. (Dan Cairns)
Streaked with some of the best writing - funny, strange, spiteful, anguished - we've ever had from an important musician ... dark gems twinkle here in abundance.
[Unfaithful Music] is truly remarkable in the way it presents a riveting, honest portrait of the author and the many A-listers he's tread the boards with, while ricocheting through the years at an almost breathless pace ... even the most ardent Costello fan will come away having learned more about the man than any of us ever dared hope to discover (Jeff Slate)
Long one of music's wittiest, smartest, and most perceptive lyricists, Costello has done his legacy proud with his new book, which, thankfully, goes far beyond his angry-young-man days, most movingly in its frequent reminiscences about the relationship between the singer and his musician father
In a world littered with uneven (and largely ghosted) celebrity memoirs, "Disappearing Ink" is a beautifully written revelation ... The book is not just for fans. "Unfaithful Music" is a lyrical tale that stretches across generations, geography and a century of popular song."
Costello ultimately emerges as a clever, compassionate, self-aware man, brave enough to acknowledge his faults and fortunate enough to have overcome the worst of them
Written elliptically, episodically beautiful ... this man's knowledge is breath-taking
Every page exudes his deep love and knowledge of modern music
All stars
Most relevant
I thoroughly enjoyed this book from the off, and whilst I am a fan of the man, I was far from an all encompassing one. One thing is for certain, I will be reviewing my Costello collection and amping it up substantially after this. It really is superb and a massive insight into a musical genius and a very big life.
You will not regret investing your time in this author-read brilliant autobiography. Extremely highly recommended.

Amazing read, truly great bio

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If you could sum up Unfaithful Music and Disappearing Ink in three words, what would they be?

immersible emotional enjoyable

What was one of the most memorable moments of Unfaithful Music and Disappearing Ink?

The poetic jousting with Bob Dylan was an eye-opener. Elvis is very positive throughout the book. I am always inspired by people who can see both sides of a story or situation. Elvis rarely dumps on anyone and if he does, it is veiled - you need to read between the lines to find it. People who are like that are always compelling to listen to - they bring out the best in others. .

What does Elvis Costello bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you had only read the book?

It was interesting to have Sean Penn read Dylan's Chronicles because he sounded like a younger Dylan. But Elvis takes it to a much higher level - the author, the musician, the poet doing his own 'readings' - very impressive and very moving at times. Often the demarcation between readings of his lyrics and the prose of the book were hard to spot, such was the power of his writing.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Who has the time? I listened to it in the car and I regret that because I wanted to bookmark so many bits that I'll now buy the book.

Any additional comments?

With a 'Rock&Roll' autobiography you expect a good yarn and little erudition. Dylan gave us a 'masterpiece' but was it really just a good yarn? Elvis gives us both with style and discusses lyrics openly, including acknowledgment of his lyrical and melodic inspirations. He kept notes, he immersed himself in his profession and worked hard and toured extensively. Is this the secret of success? Well, it also helps to have talent - a great voice - which is understated in the book. His rendition of Gloomy Sunday is a case in point. An entertainer, poet, lyricist, composer, writer.....not just a song and dance man.

Beautifully written, smoothly presented.

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