{"id":22589,"date":"1988-02-07T11:00:00","date_gmt":"1988-02-07T19:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/estreetshuffle.com\/?p=22589"},"modified":"2026-02-07T16:12:24","modified_gmt":"2026-02-08T00:12:24","slug":"matr-elvis-costello-and-bruce-springsteen-alison","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/estreetshuffle.com\/index.php\/1988\/02\/07\/matr-elvis-costello-and-bruce-springsteen-alison\/","title":{"rendered":"Alison"},"content":{"rendered":"<blockquote><p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">&#8220;I&#8217;ve always told people that I wrote the song &#8216;Alison&#8217; after seeing a beautiful checkout girl at the local supermarket. She had a face for which a ship might have once been named. Scoundrels might once have fought mist-swathed duels to defend her honour. Now she was punching in the prices on cans of beans at a cash register and looking as if all the hopes and dreams of her youth were draining away.&#8221; &#8212; Elvis Costello, <em>Unfaithful Music &amp; Disappearing Ink<\/em><\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>With apologies to Bruce: the true Queen of the Supermarket belongs to Elvis.<\/p>\n<p>Elvis Costello released &#8220;Alison&#8221; as the second single from his very first album in 1977. The tender ballad never made the charts, but it became a signature song for Elvis and one of his most beloved.<\/p>\n<div class=\"jetpack-video-wrapper\"><span class=\"embed-youtube\" style=\"text-align:center; display: block;\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" class=\"youtube-player\" width=\"758\" height=\"427\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/C9GlC9GyF4Y?version=3&#038;rel=1&#038;showsearch=0&#038;showinfo=1&#038;iv_load_policy=1&#038;fs=1&#038;hl=en-US&#038;autohide=2&#038;wmode=transparent\" allowfullscreen=\"true\" style=\"border:0;\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts allow-same-origin allow-popups allow-presentation allow-popups-to-escape-sandbox\"><\/iframe><\/span><\/div>\n<p>In the winter of 2001, Bruce reprised his successful Asbury Park benefit holiday shows from the previous year, expanding them from a pair to a string of five shows over the course of a week. Every show featured a set list full of holiday classics, Springsteen chestnuts, and eclectic surprises.<\/p>\n<p>The run culminated in a star-studded final show that featured appearances by Bruce Hornsby and Elvis Costello in addition to the &#8220;regular&#8221; cast over the course of the week.<\/p>\n<p>Elvis only joined Bruce for two brief numbers, one of which was a cover. The other one, however, was &#8220;Alison,&#8221; and Costello&#8217;s lovely acoustic rendition&#8211;with Bruce on backing vocals&#8211;was one of the highlights of the night.<\/p>\n<div id=\"v-yWeJgOPo-1\" class=\"video-player\"><iframe title='VideoPress Video Player' aria-label='VideoPress Video Player' width='758' height='568' src='https:\/\/videopress.com\/embed\/yWeJgOPo?hd=1&amp;cover=1&amp;loop=0&amp;autoPlay=0&amp;permalink=1&amp;muted=0&amp;controls=1&amp;playsinline=0&amp;useAverageColor=0&amp;preloadContent=metadata' frameborder='0' allowfullscreen data-resize-to-parent=\"true\" allow='clipboard-write'><\/iframe><script data-jetpack-boost=\"ignore\" src='https:\/\/s0.wp.com\/wp-content\/plugins\/video\/assets\/js\/next\/videopress-iframe.js'><\/script><\/div>\n<p>(Apologies for the abrupt ending; Elvis segued into &#8220;The Tracks of My Tears&#8221; from there.)<\/p>\n<p>Despite a few additional appearances together (most notably on Elvis&#8217; late, lamented\u00a0<em>Spectacle<\/em> series), this was the only time Bruce has ever performed &#8220;Alison&#8221; live.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Alison<br \/>\nFirst performed:<\/strong> December 8, 2001 (Asbury Park, NJ)<br \/>\n<strong>Last performed:<\/strong> December 8, 2001 (Asbury Park, NJ)<\/p>\n<p>\u00a9 November 8, 2020<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>One time only: Bruce joins Elvis Costello on his timeless &#8220;Alison&#8221; during Elvis&#8217; surprise appearance at Bruce&#8217;s 2001 holiday shows,<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":22781,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[4,3609,5],"tags":[2957,796],"class_list":["post-22589","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-cover-me","category-little-help","category-meeting-across-the-river","tag-alison","tag-elvis-costello"],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/estreetshuffle.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/alison.jpg?fit=1999%2C1996&ssl=1","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p9w3Lk-5Sl","jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":7080,"url":"https:\/\/estreetshuffle.com\/index.php\/2019\/02\/16\/cover-me-elvis-costello-point-blank\/","url_meta":{"origin":22589,"position":0},"title":"Cover Me, Elvis Costello: Point Blank","author":"Ken","date":"February 16, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"One of the best performances from Elvis Costello's Springsteen episode of Spectacle was never aired--but you can listen to that intense performance of \"Point Blank\" inside.","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Cover Me&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Cover Me","link":"https:\/\/estreetshuffle.com\/index.php\/category\/cover-me\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/estreetshuffle.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/spectacle.jpg?fit=1200%2C799&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/estreetshuffle.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/spectacle.jpg?fit=1200%2C799&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/estreetshuffle.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/spectacle.jpg?fit=1200%2C799&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/estreetshuffle.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/spectacle.jpg?fit=1200%2C799&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/estreetshuffle.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/spectacle.jpg?fit=1200%2C799&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":29632,"url":"https:\/\/estreetshuffle.com\/index.php\/2021\/09\/28\/matr-elvis-costello-and-bruce-springsteen-i-cant-stand-up-for-falling-down\/","url_meta":{"origin":22589,"position":1},"title":"MatR: Elvis Costello and Bruce Springsteen: I Can&#8217;t Stand Up For Falling Down","author":"Ken","date":"September 28, 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"One time only: Bruce Springsteen and Elvis Costello team up on a Sam and Dave classic made famous by Elvis in 1980.","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Cover Me&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Cover Me","link":"https:\/\/estreetshuffle.com\/index.php\/category\/cover-me\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/estreetshuffle.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/cantstand.jpg?fit=1181%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/estreetshuffle.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/cantstand.jpg?fit=1181%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/estreetshuffle.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/cantstand.jpg?fit=1181%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/estreetshuffle.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/cantstand.jpg?fit=1181%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/estreetshuffle.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/cantstand.jpg?fit=1181%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":22422,"url":"https:\/\/estreetshuffle.com\/index.php\/2020\/11\/16\/matr-elvis-costello-bruce-springsteen-and-nils-lofgren-black-ladder\/","url_meta":{"origin":22589,"position":2},"title":"MatR: Elvis Costello, Bruce Springsteen, and Nils Lofgren: Black Ladder","author":"Ken","date":"November 16, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"One time only: Bruce and Nils accompany Elvis Costello in a tender reading of Patti Scialfa's gorgeous \"Black Ladder.\"","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Cover Me&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Cover Me","link":"https:\/\/estreetshuffle.com\/index.php\/category\/cover-me\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/estreetshuffle.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/spectacle.png?fit=1200%2C640&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/estreetshuffle.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/spectacle.png?fit=1200%2C640&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/estreetshuffle.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/spectacle.png?fit=1200%2C640&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/estreetshuffle.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/spectacle.png?fit=1200%2C640&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/estreetshuffle.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/spectacle.png?fit=1200%2C640&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":6814,"url":"https:\/\/estreetshuffle.com\/index.php\/2019\/01\/11\/cover-me-elvis-costello-and-mumford-sons-the-ghost-of-tom-joad\/","url_meta":{"origin":22589,"position":3},"title":"Cover Me, Elvis Costello and Mumford &#038; Sons: The Ghost of Tom Joad","author":"Ken","date":"January 11, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"One of my all-time favorite covers of a Springsteen song: Elvis Costello and Mumford & Sons play a lovely, spontaneous \"The Ghost of Tom Joad\" at Sasquatch in 2013.","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Cover Me&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Cover Me","link":"https:\/\/estreetshuffle.com\/index.php\/category\/cover-me\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/estreetshuffle.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/tomjoad.jpg?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/estreetshuffle.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/tomjoad.jpg?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/estreetshuffle.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/tomjoad.jpg?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/estreetshuffle.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/tomjoad.jpg?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/estreetshuffle.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/tomjoad.jpg?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":13791,"url":"https:\/\/estreetshuffle.com\/index.php\/2019\/10\/16\/matr-soul-asylum-and-bruce-springsteen-the-tracks-of-my-tears\/","url_meta":{"origin":22589,"position":4},"title":"MatR: Soul Asylum and Bruce Springsteen, The Tracks of My Tears","author":"Ken","date":"October 16, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"One time only: Bruce Springsteen makes a surprise appearance with Soul Asylum in 1995, joining the band for Smokey Robinson's classic, \"The Tracks of My Tears.\"","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Cover Me&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Cover Me","link":"https:\/\/estreetshuffle.com\/index.php\/category\/cover-me\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/estreetshuffle.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/tracks-of-my-tears.jpg?fit=599%2C600&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/estreetshuffle.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/tracks-of-my-tears.jpg?fit=599%2C600&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/estreetshuffle.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/tracks-of-my-tears.jpg?fit=599%2C600&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":1467,"url":"https:\/\/estreetshuffle.com\/index.php\/2018\/04\/09\/matr-bruce-springsteen-elvis-costello-steve-van-zandt-dave-grohl-london-calling\/","url_meta":{"origin":22589,"position":5},"title":"MatR: Bruce Springsteen, Elvis Costello, Steve Van Zandt &#038; Dave Grohl: London Calling","author":"Ken","date":"April 9, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"Bruce led an all-star line-up at the 2003 Grammy Awards to pay tribute to the late, great Joe Strummer.","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Meeting Across the River&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Meeting Across the River","link":"https:\/\/estreetshuffle.com\/index.php\/category\/meeting-across-the-river\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/estreetshuffle.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/the-clash-london-calling-1979-5.jpg?fit=697%2C699&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/estreetshuffle.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/the-clash-london-calling-1979-5.jpg?fit=697%2C699&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/estreetshuffle.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/the-clash-london-calling-1979-5.jpg?fit=697%2C699&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/estreetshuffle.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/22589","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/estreetshuffle.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/estreetshuffle.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/estreetshuffle.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/estreetshuffle.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=22589"}],"version-history":[{"count":8,"href":"https:\/\/estreetshuffle.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/22589\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":66252,"href":"https:\/\/estreetshuffle.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/22589\/revisions\/66252"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/estreetshuffle.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/22781"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/estreetshuffle.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=22589"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/estreetshuffle.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=22589"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/estreetshuffle.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=22589"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}