It is a truism (and, therefore, of course true as Mr Cole reminds us), that many a great song has been hidden on a B-Side. Whether this is poor judgement or eccentricity on behalf of The Artist is often a moot point. Either way history makes its own verdict. In this case, the record has a significant backstory. In 1980, post 'Armed Forces', Elvis Costello was in dispute with his record company having decided he wanted nothing more to do with Radar Records and found himself with no official outlet for his new 45, a turbo-charged, Staxed-up, version of Sam and Dave's otherwise lacrymose '(I Can't Stand Up For) Falling Down'. He had recently produced the Specials' first LP and, as a result, was offered the chance to put out his record under the radar (as it were) on 2-Tone Records. Copies were pressed, but never released. The record was eventually released on F-Beat Records and reached no. 5 in the UK charts.
On September 29th the same year, Costello and Attractions played a one-off concert at the Rainbow Theatre in Finsbury Park, North London, to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the venue's opening. Delighted concert goers were given a free copy of the 2-Tone labelled single as they entered. Your author was one of them and has the record to this day. This is a rare alternate take from the wild and drunken 'Get Happy!' sessions in the Netherlands:
Girl's Talk (Alternate Version) (1980).
