She's Like a Narcotic

Elvis Costello : Pump It Up

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“All it took was some gin, some tonic, some blue pills, and a red pen to write “Pump It Up” during my first exposure to idiotic rock and roll decadence.” 
Elvis Costello.

On May 10, 1978 Elvis Costello had two tracks in the U.K. charts. "(I Don't Wanna Go To) Chelsea", at #69, was dropping quickly from its UK#16 peak. But "Pump It Up" was debuting at a respectable #46. With its aggressive riff and incomprehensible lyrics (List'ning to the Muzak, thinking 'bout this 'n' that /She said, "That's that, I don't want to chitter-chat"), "Pump It Up" is an all time fan favorite.

Costello tried to get The Clash's Mick Jones to play on the single, starting a "ridiculous" rumor that he was trying to poach Jones from The Clash. Jones did not wind up playing on "Pump It Up" but did play the part that sounds like sirens on the B side, "Big Tears".

Check out Elvis's floppy legs below: