Elvis Costello and the Attractions: Watching the Detectives, Live 1978

If you’ve ever played “Watching the Detectives,” you know it’s one of those songs that’s just fun to groove on. Originally heard on Elvis Costello’s My Aim is True, the reggae-rock tune features a mellow bass line that lays nicely on the instrument.

Here’s a clip of Costello and the Attractions featuring bassist Bruce Thomas performing it live on the German television show Rockpalast in 1978. The group gets more aggressive in their version, laying it all out for the audience.