30 years later, his aim is still true - that’s right, we’re talking about the very talented and generous of spirit Mr. Elvis Costello. It’s hard for some of us to believe, but it was 30 years ago that Elvis made his debut album, My Aim Is True, and was propelled into superstar status in the music scene by this classic recording. One of the better kept secrets of rock and roll is that among the musicians backing Elvis up on this album, designated “Album of the Year” by Rolling Stone magazine, was none other than the Doobie Brothers’ own John McFee.

Yes, that’s John’s lead guitar and pedal steel work on such classics as Alison, The Angels Wanna Wear My Red Shoes, Miracle Man, Waiting For The End Of The World, and the entire original album. For the first time ever, the musicians who played on the My Aim Is True sessions performed the entire album publicly with Elvis - and then the music continued with a number of solo acoustic numbers by Mr. Costello, and the band came back to join Elvis for what would normally pass for another show’s worth of material (including out-takes from the My Aim Is True sessions and two of Elvis’ favorite Clover songs). Former Marin County group Clover members Sean Hopper (keyboardist from Huey Lewis and the News), John Ciambotti (bass player on Grammy award winning albums by John Prine and Lucinda Williams), and John McFee were joined by drummer Pete Thomas (of Elvis’ Attractions and Imposters fame). This alone would be enough to make it a special occasion, but the fact that the shows were benefit performances for a very worthy cause made it even more memorable.

The sold out shows took place at the Great American Music Hall in San Francisco, and the proceeds are going towards the Richard de Lone Special Housing Project, an organization founded by Elvis’ long time friend and sometimes keyboard player, Austin de Lone. The organization is named for Austin’s son Richard, and is a resource for those who, like young Richard, suffer from Prader-Willi syndrome. For more information please visit their web site. Austin, along with “Dieselbilly” guitarist Bill Kirchen (Commander Cody And His Lost Planet Airmen) performed an opening set for the evening, and also joined Elvis and Clover for several numbers - including the evening’s finale song, My Aim Is True producer Nick Lowe’s What’s So Funny ’bout Peace, Love and Understanding.

The event was a great success, and was recorded as well, so those of you who were unable to attend may be able to listen to the music soon. This is what San Francisco’s premier music critic Joel Selvin had to say about it all after attending the show: “Every so often, once every 10 or 15 years maybe, there’s a nightclub show as special as the Elvis Costello performance Thursday at the Great American Music Hall. Maybe not even that often.” Enough said…