You Bowed Down

Don't you just hate it when a really good album is released by a long-missing name artist, and by all rationale, it should have been a huge success, but instead, it sinks like a stone shortly after release? In some cases, it can be justified if the album is an insincere, half-hearted effort and all it has going for it is the artists' name. But if it's really good, then it can be a rotten shame. Music reviewers can recommend all they want, but sometimes they need to reach out from the page, take their readers by the scruff and forcefully say "Do not overlook this!".

Such was the case with "Back From Rio" by Roger McGuinn, whom you will remember from his tenure with The Byrds. The album was released by Arista in January 1991, more than a decade after McGuinn's previous solo album for Columbia, "Thunderbyrd". The fact that it was issued soon following the 1990 release of the first Byrds box set by Columbia is no small coincidence, but in fact, McGuinn had been working on "Back From Rio" for some time. The album had everything going for it that you might think of. Stellar production, ample guest performers, excellent songwriting and some potential hit singles.

The alternate cover art for Europe.

So, what happened? My best guess is that by 1991, the sound of Seattle had tidal-waved many other Rock stylings, just as Punk and New Wave had done a decade and a half before. (Pop-Metal bands like Poison were among Grunge's first casualties.) McGuinn's album, despite all it had going for it, and being generally well received by music critics, drowned in a sea of flannel after it peaked at #44 on the Billboard 200 album chart.

Regarding the album title; it's sort of an inside joke. When Jim McGuinn formally changed his name to Roger back in '67 during a period of chaos surrounding The Byrds, there were those who thought it was an elaborate hoax. The idea was that Jim had taken off to Rio de Janiero and had been replaced by his lookalike brother; providing snackable fodder for the Paul-Is-Dead theorists. This is explored further in the song "Car Phone", which refers to 'Jim' McGuinn's return from Rio near the song's end, along with a brief, sly quote from "A Day In The Life", and the US cover art itself, which simply says "McGuinn", and specifies neither Roger nor Jim. So there's all that to consider.

Among the many guest musicians on the album, a few were songwriting contributors. Those include Jules Shear, Tom Petty, Mike Campbell, Dave Stewart, and Elvis Costello, whose song we are highlighting today. "You Bowed Down" has all the instrumental requirements for a Roger McGuinn recording; so much so that it very well could have been custom written for McGuinn. Was it? You be the judge. Here's "You Bowed Down" as released on "Back From Rio".

Contrary to the relatively smooth production process that McGuinn had with "Back From Rio", it appears that Elvis Costello had nearly the opposite experience. Costello's recording of "You Bowed Down" did not surface until the 1996 release of "All This Useless Beauty", which was originally conceived as a two-disc set of songs he'd written for other artists, to be entitled "A Case For Song", with backing by a diverse group of musicians. Instead, Costello tossed that idea, hired The Attractions for what would be the last time, and recorded the songs at Windmill Lane Studios in Dublin and Westside Studios in London with Beatles veteran Geoff Emerick producing. The title of "All This Useless Beauty" is a sarcastic reference to what Costello thought would be the fate of the album, which was the last group of new songs he would deliver under his contract with Warner Brothers.

Elvis Costello (r) with musical advisor.

On the 2001 reissue of "All This Useless Beauty" on the Rhino label, there is a 2nd disc included that contains a whopping 17 bonus tracks! Among them is a 1990 demo recording of "You Bowed Down", which clearly demonstrates the songs intent for Roger McGuinn by featuring a prominent 12 string lead line, but also a startlingly higher pitched vocal track; likely done by slowing the recording speed of the tape. On Costello's remake for the album, overseen by Geoff Emerick, that was corrected with a redone vocal, although the bridge section remains arrhythmic and clumsy. This second flaw had been smoothed over by McGuinn, and I find it interesting that Elvis didn't take Roger's lead on tweaking that section, and also some slightly rushed vocal phrasing. But when you're the songwriter, you can do as you please. Here's EC's final version of "You Bowed Down".

While you're listening, I think you'll find the lyric interesting to read. There appears to be some overt references to McGuinn's long absence from the music scene, as well as vague commentary on the demise of The Byrds, and a sharp poke in the third verse, possibly directed at sycophantic hangers-on and overly reverential Dylan fans; both of those being subjects of tiring annoyance for McGuinn. I can't confirm whether McGuinn and Costello met to discuss the song or not, but based on the story line, I would think they did. But my guesses may be completely off base. So again, you be the judge and make whatever you will of things. If nothing else, it reaffirms my humble opinion of Elvis Costello as one of most insightful and intelligent lyricists of the last few decades.

I expect you're entitled to know why I'm making contact

With acquaintances scattered all over the land
I'd promise you now and again that I'd honor the contract
If it hadn't crumbled away in my hand
So we broke that vow, independently now
But I don't know why, you absolutely deny
You bowed down (you bowed down, you bowed down)

When you first looked away I might say it was really a kindness
It must have hurt you to see how dreams sour
Now they say that justice and love are the next things to blindness
Well you're getting plenty of both of them now
And so you parade where appointments are made
And never meant to be kept, unless you accept
You bowed down (you bowed down, you bowed down)

You value the burnt amber of falling leaves
And you long to delay
As you feel their breath as they whisper
"It won't hurt you now to betray
If you just bow down"

And now every time that we meet on the edge of hysteria
You're helping them sell off some new party line
I remember a time when you would have seemed so superior
Now you say "Will you please meet this good friend of mine?"
So you're in demand as long as you kiss their hand
But all the applause, is for their name not yours

You bowed down (you bowed down, you bowed down)
You bowed down (you bowed down, you bowed down)

"You Bowed Down" as written by Elvis Costello. Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group

As you might suspect, you can find a wealth of music by Elvis Costello at Amazon, or your favorite local merchant of musical wonderment. "All This Useless Beauty" is best available as part of a 5 disc mini box set, which contains EC's 5 albums for Warners for under $13. They're all straight reissues with no bonus material though, so if you're craving those deluxe editions, be advised that above-mentioned Rhino 2-disc issues from the early 2000's are all out of print and have skyrocketed in resale value.

Also, there's lots of good stuff from Roger McGuinn that's available at The Big A. You can, and should, grab a copy of "Back From Rio" due to its inexcusably cheap price for a brand new one. That, and the irrefutable fact that it's one of the very best albums by any 60's Rock legend, ever.