Hit Parade: Angry Young Men Edition, Part 2

Host: Chris Molanphy | Podcast: Hit Parade (Slate Podcasts)
Date: December 3, 2022

Overview

In this detailed and engaging episode, chart analyst and pop critic Chris Molanphy concludes his two-part exploration of the so-called "Angry Young Men" of British pop: Elvis Costello, Joe Jackson, and Graham Parker. Picking up in the early ‘80s, Molanphy traces how these artists evolved past their punk and pub rock roots, navigated the rapidly shifting musical landscapes of MTV, new wave, and synth-pop, and ultimately found lasting significance—and unexpected commercial successes—by following their artistic instincts. Through rich storytelling, music trivia, and lively song snippets, Molanphy offers a chart-historian’s perspective on artistry, reinvention, and pop's changing tides.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Reinvention and Departure from Punk (00:14–09:22)

• Early '80s: Costello, Jackson, and Parker each began to stretch musically, moving away from their new wave/punk origins.
• Elvis Costello:
  • Collaborated with Nick Lowe on eclectic albums; Trust (1981) incorporated jazz, rockabilly, and country (00:14).
  • Produced Squeeze’s East Side Story; reciprocated vocals with Glenn Tilbrook (02:11).
  • Made a shift with Almost Blue (1981) by recording country covers in Nashville (03:14).
  • Realized he needed, "[...] to try a different production arrangement [...] his interests were veering far beyond new wave." (03:14)
• Joe Jackson:
  • Explored dub/reggae on Beat Crazy (1980) and dissolved his band to pursue big band jazz/blues on Jumpin’ Jive (1981) (05:49–06:19).
• Graham Parker:
  • Sought mainstream success with The Up Escalator (1980), produced by Jimmy Iovine, featuring Bruce Springsteen guest vocals (06:47–08:29).
  • Chart victories remained hard-fought; finally charted with "Temporary Beauty" (09:22).

2. The Rise of MTV & New Wave's Changing Sound (09:22–14:39)

• MTV Launch (1981):

  • Visuals grow in importance—"Any act from the '70s that could translate their sound into the video medium suddenly found themselves in heavier rotation." (09:35)
  • Costello’s videos were among MTV’s first but "were mostly relatively low-tech affairs." (10:28)
  • The sonic landscape shifts—Human League’s slick synth-pop replaced the old guard (10:33–11:07).

• Imperial Bedroom (1982):

  • Costello’s ambitious, Beatles-inspired record, produced by Jeff Emerick, was critically hailed ("ranging from psychedelia to baroque art pop") (11:44–12:39).
  • Record company pushed the more accessible "You Little Fool" as a single and video, which failed to connect (13:12).
  • Imperial Bedroom topped critics’ polls but didn’t yield hits (13:12).

3. Artistic Risk-Taking Yields Unexpected Commercial Returns (14:53–21:09)

• Joe Jackson’s Night and Day (1982):

  • Moved to NYC; absorbed jazz, salsa, and the avant-garde, influenced by Kraftwerk's synth sounds (15:12–18:41).
  • Crafted "Steppin’ Out," projecting '40s sophistication into the electronic age. The song "was the true Joe Jackson, a so-called punk who’d really been a sophisticate all along." (18:41)
  • "Steppin' Out" peaked at #6 on the Billboard Hot 100 and was Jackson’s biggest pop single (21:09).

• Memorable Quote:

  • Joe Jackson (on recording in NYC):

    "SoHo then was a gritty neighborhood of warehouses and loft rentals. […] I recorded late at night. Those hours suited me." (16:35)

4. Making Peace with MTV and the Birth of Synth-pop Stardom (21:09–26:55)

• Costello:

  • Re-teamed with hitmakers Clive Langer & Alan Winstanley (Punch the Clock).
  • Adapted Nick Lowe’s song into "Every Day I Write the Book," finally breaking the US pop Top 40 thanks to savvy video and MTV embrace (23:50–25:39).

• Joe Jackson:

  • With Body and Soul (1984), he blended jazz, Latin pop, and sophisti-pop ("You Can’t Get What You Want")—scored another major pop hit (26:47).

• Graham Parker:

  • "Life Gets Better" (1983) and "Wake Up Next to You" (1985) marked Parker’s delayed arrivals on the US pop charts (28:45–30:29).

• Notable Quote:

  • Casey Kasem (on Costello’s first US hit):

    "This man who has pleased so many critics dared to name himself after the king of rock and roll, Elvis Presley. And now, he’s got his very first hit single in the USA." (24:48)

5. Aging into Alternative Rock Godfather Status (31:25–41:41)

• Late '80s:
  • The “angry young men” found themselves as elder statesmen, often ahead of trends in the burgeoning alternative scene.
• Costello:
  • Released two acclaimed albums in 1986: Americana-tinged King of America (produced by T-Bone Burnett) and the raw Blood and Chocolate, foreshadowing the grunge era (31:31–33:44).
  • "I Want You" became a cult favorite and was frequently covered (33:44).
• Joe Jackson & Graham Parker:
  • Jackson issued Big World (all-new material, recorded live with hushed audience) and composed his first classical LP, Willpower; Parker insisted on the DIY-crafted Mona Lisa’s Sister (35:35–38:14).
  • Both found new life on Billboard’s Modern Rock charts with alternative radio hits like "Get Started, Start a Fire," "Big Man on Paper," and Jackson’s "19 Forever" (38:14–39:17).

6. Collaborations, Late Career Hits, and Financial Windfalls (39:17–46:11)

• Costello & McCartney Collaboration:
  • Co-wrote and released "Veronica"—Costello’s only US Top 20 hit, and McCartney’s "My Brave Face" (39:17–40:12).
• Nick Lowe’s Songwriting Payoff:
  • Despite being a one-hit wonder, Lowe became a millionaire due to Curtis Stigers’ cover of "What’s So Funny ’Bout Peace, Love and Understanding" on the multi-platinum Bodyguard soundtrack (41:41–45:22).
• Memorable Quote:
  • Chris Molanphy (on Lowe’s windfall):

    "Nick Lowe was now, thanks to the royalties from the Bodyguard soundtrack, a millionaire. As of his mid-40s, Nick Lowe was set for life." (45:22)

7. Legacies and Lasting Impact (46:11–end)

• Elvis Costello:
  • Released numerous genre-defying albums, collaborated with Burt Bacharach and Fiona Apple (46:11–46:43).
• Joe Jackson:
  • Cited by Ben Folds as a foundational influence; continues releasing new music (47:15–48:04).
• Graham Parker:
  • Remained a cult figure, with a sense of humor about his near-misses at chart dominance. Played himself in the 2012 Judd Apatow film This Is 40 (48:24).
• Collective Legacy:
  • The formerly "angry" men grew into wise, respected figures with deep songbooks and continued relevance.
  • "What these formerly angry young men, now in their 60s and 70s, all have in common is a catalog of great songs and a sense of perspective." (49:19)

Notable Quotes

• On Musical Evolution:
  • Chris Molanphy: “His interests were veering far beyond new wave.” (03:14)
• On NYC’s Creative Inspiration:
  • Joe Jackson (via interview):

    "SoHo then was a gritty neighborhood of warehouses and loft rentals. […] I recorded late at night. Those hours suited me." (16:35)

• On Reconciling with Pop Stardom:
  • Casey Kasem (on Costello):

    "This man who has pleased so many critics dared to name himself after the king of rock and roll, Elvis Presley." (24:48)

• On Nick Lowe's Unexpected Riches:
  • Chris Molanphy:

    "Nick Lowe was now, thanks to the royalties from the Bodyguard soundtrack, a millionaire." (45:22)

• On Lasting Impact:
  • Chris Molanphy:

    "What these formerly angry young men, now in their 60s and 70s, all have in common is a catalog of great songs and a sense of perspective." (49:19)

Key Timestamps

• 00:14–03:14: Costello, Jackson, and Parker’s post-punk reinventions
• 09:22–11:07: MTV’s impact and the rise of synth-pop
• 13:12–14:39: Imperial Bedroom’s artistry vs. commercial returns
• 18:41–21:09: Joe Jackson’s "Steppin’ Out" breakthrough
• 23:42–25:39: Costello’s "Every Day I Write the Book" cracks US Top 40
• 26:47–30:26: Joe Jackson’s jazz-pop success; Graham Parker’s pop near-misses
• 31:31–33:44: Costello’s proto-grunge and lasting cultural influence
• 39:17–40:12: Costello & McCartney’s "Veronica" and "My Brave Face"
• 41:41–45:22: Nick Lowe’s songwriting royalty windfall
• 46:11–49:19: The “angry young men” as elder statesmen
• 49:19–End: Their joint performances and legacy as legends with perspective

Tone

Chris Molanphy’s narration is lively, enthusiastic, and deeply informed, blending pop trivia, chart analysis, and sharp, sometimes wry, historical perspective. His storytelling style balances reverence for the musicians with clear-eyed assessments of their commercial ups and downs, maintaining a celebratory, music-nerd spirit throughout.

This episode vividly tracks the fascinating, sometimes ironic arc of three genre-bending icons—from punk agitators to chart survivors, alternative godfathers, and, ultimately, contented musical elders. Even if you never heard these records as they debuted, you’ll come away with a keen appreciation for how these artists navigated—and reshaped—the chart history of the last half-century.