We already brought you part one of our list of 15 things you probably did not know about Elvis Costello, and now we’re back with part two! Check out eight more fascinating facts about the singer and musician that you definitely (probably) did not know below. You might be surprised by what you find out!
Number Eight: He Has an Amazing Memory. Costello’s memoir is evidence of his pristine memory. He details events from his early childhood, his family history, his career highs and lows and his creative process. Despite his detailed memoir, he admits that he never kept a journal or diary, so he had to draw from his brain when he wrote.
Number Seven: He Has a Great Sense of Humor. In Costello’s memoir, he makes several jokes that let the reader know he has a great sense of humor. One of the best is when he discusses the area of Paddington in London. He writes, “There are many places in London that offer a sense of belonging: Camden, Stepney, Hampstead, Brixton, and even Shepherd’s Bush. Paddington is not one of these, unless you are a fictional bear.”
Number Six: He Won’t Reveal Who Alison Is. The subject of Costello’s most popular song is a girl named Alison. However, he still won’t reveal who she is. He used to claim that Alison was a checkout girl; however, he later said she was fictional, but the inspiration for her is still unclear.
Number Five: He Did Not Think He Was Destined to Be Like His Father. Though Costello and his father, who was also a musician, bear several obvious similarities, Costello insists that he is not destined to become his father.
Number Four: His Gap Tooth Makes Him Angry. Costello has explained that the gap in his teeth makes him sound angry and threatening when he sings.
Number Three: He Almost Gave Up Recording. After Costello’s father died in 2011, he feared that he would never be able to release another album because of the emotions involved with recording. Costello used to take his records home and have his father listen to them, so releasing a new album would be incredibly emotional for him.
Number Two: He Has Three Albums in the List of the 500 Greatest Albums of All Time. Costello’s first three albums are all included on Rolling Stone‘s list of the 500 Greatest Albums of All Time. Impressive!
Number One: He Is a Pop Encyclopedia. Costello is well-known for his lyrics, which draw on many inspirations and include a very large vocabulary. He has been described as being able to “reinvent the past in his own image” by one critic.