You know, I don't think I've ever given this album a fair shot. Going to do that now!
Picking up Punch the Clock as one of those "why not?" vinyl purchases actually got me way more into EC- the beginning of side B - Charm School and Invisible Man- insanely great songs IMO.
Would have to say Armed Forces and This Year's Model are my favs, but what an amazing artist. Subscribed to Matt!
As much as I love Elvis Costello, the only album I ever purchased was Spike, on cassette. The whole album is solid and was in my heavy rotation for a long time!
I remember and love The Only Flame in Town, and that is the only song I recognize off this album. Will definitely check out the whole album today. I had no clue that was Daryl Hall! I recently was made aware (another newsletter and can’t remember which one) that he also did backing vocals for INXS on Original Sin - which I have been listening to for 40 years! Hahahaha!
Oh, my. Seeing the cover gives me a bit of a flashback. This was the first Elvis Costello album I bought. I had a greatest hits compilation, which was fantastic, and saw Goodbye Cruel World at a good price and was excited to dig into a full album. . . Not a good choice.
I haven't re-listened to it, but by far my favorite track was the demo version of, "The Deportees Club."
"All my troubles I confess to another faceless, backless dress"
Other than “Almost Blue” (which I discovered courtesy of Everything but the Girl), I haven’t really listened to a lot of Elvis Costello’s music. He’s one of those brilliant musicians I should study in more depth. Thanks for this!
I too bought those EC reissues, but never got around to buying this one or Punch the Clock. So, I'd only heard it once or twice before this listen. I agree that some songs are solid, but this is my least favorite of his 80s albums,. Luckily, he would rebound in 1986 with King of America and Blood & Chocolate.
You know, I don't think I've ever given this album a fair shot. Going to do that now!
Picking up Punch the Clock as one of those "why not?" vinyl purchases actually got me way more into EC- the beginning of side B - Charm School and Invisible Man- insanely great songs IMO.
Would have to say Armed Forces and This Year's Model are my favs, but what an amazing artist. Subscribed to Matt!
Right on! He's a fantastic writer.
As much as I love Elvis Costello, the only album I ever purchased was Spike, on cassette. The whole album is solid and was in my heavy rotation for a long time!
I remember and love The Only Flame in Town, and that is the only song I recognize off this album. Will definitely check out the whole album today. I had no clue that was Daryl Hall! I recently was made aware (another newsletter and can’t remember which one) that he also did backing vocals for INXS on Original Sin - which I have been listening to for 40 years! Hahahaha!
I think Spike was an on-ramp for a lot of us--or at least the first record we bought, even if we'd heard others before it?
contractual obligation wasn't it?
Trust, King of America and Blood & Chocolate rank up there for me
Although his first 3 weren't to shabby
Not too shabby indeed!
Oh, my. Seeing the cover gives me a bit of a flashback. This was the first Elvis Costello album I bought. I had a greatest hits compilation, which was fantastic, and saw Goodbye Cruel World at a good price and was excited to dig into a full album. . . Not a good choice.
I haven't re-listened to it, but by far my favorite track was the demo version of, "The Deportees Club."
"All my troubles I confess to another faceless, backless dress"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5k4us1ls0rc
Ha! We've all been there, Nick.
Other than “Almost Blue” (which I discovered courtesy of Everything but the Girl), I haven’t really listened to a lot of Elvis Costello’s music. He’s one of those brilliant musicians I should study in more depth. Thanks for this!
If you dive in, here's tons of material to root through. Have fun!
I too bought those EC reissues, but never got around to buying this one or Punch the Clock. So, I'd only heard it once or twice before this listen. I agree that some songs are solid, but this is my least favorite of his 80s albums,. Luckily, he would rebound in 1986 with King of America and Blood & Chocolate.
King of America is great!