Today’s Random Weekend selection is a demo version of one of my favorite Elvis Costello songs, ‘Riot Act.’
In his liner notes for two separate re-releases of Get Happy!!, the album on which ‘Riot Act’ appeared, Costello has high praise for this version.
This is his take:
I cut several blueprints for the Get Happy!! arrangements at this session, one of them, “Riot Act”, probably rivaling the final version in intensity.
And:
…this “Riot Act” is a blueprint for the final recording. I think it has something that is missing from the final version.
I said forever
But it doesn’t look like I’m gonna be around much anymore
When the heat gets sub-tropical
And the talk gets so topical
Riot act – you can read me the riot act
You can make me a matter of fact
Or a villain in a million
A slip of the tongue is gonna keep me civilian
Why do you talk such stupid nonsense
When my mind could rest much easier
Instead of all this dumb dumb insolence
I would be happier with amnesia
They say forget her
Now it looks like you’re either gonna be before me or against me
I got your letter
Now they say I don’t care for the colour that it paints me
Trying to be so bad is bad enough
Don’t make me laugh by talking tough
Don’t put your heart out on your sleeve
When your remarks are off the cuff
Riot act – you can read me the riot act
You can make me a matter of fact
Or a villain in a million
A slip of the tongue is gonna keep me civilian
Riot act – you can read me the riot act
You can make me
Meet Me In Montauk 
I think I favor the tempo of the final version, particularly in the chorus.
This song, by th way, features what I consider to be the quintessential Costello pre-chorus of his early work (” when the heat gets subtropical….”). Hooks me right in.