I Know One of Elvis Costello's Influences!

[Tuckerfan]

No, really. I do. In this interview, Elvis talks about one of his big influences, Dan Penn.

I already knew Dan Penn’s Do Right Woman from Aretha Franklin’s version. Then when I heard the Flying Burrito Brothers do it, I thought, ‘This is a shape-shifting song. One minute it’s R&B, then it’s country.’

‘‘I became fascinated by the place in the road where those things meet: the Dan Penn place,’’ he continued. ‘‘Penn is the epitome of that as a songwriter. I’ve always been attracted to that soulful edge of country.’’

Dan Penn’s a good friend of my machine shop instructor, and often comes by the school to have work done for him. I’ve made a few things for him over the years, and Dan’s a really down to Earth kind of guy. You’d never know he was the man responsible for so many hits, nor an influence on Elvis Costello to look at him.