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Elvis Costello.

13 votes
? by Jonty_Monty

Watched this doc on Stiff records which featured Watching the Detectives by Elvis Costello. I've never really payed him much attention. I'm gonna buy two albums. Which do I get?

Jonty_Monty | 16 Feb '08, 15:30 | Send note | Report this | Reply

as an introduction

I would say "this years model" and "armed forces", they're both brilliant, and probably the easiest to get into.
(most of what you might have heard before will be on one of these, most likely)

visinertiae | 16 Feb '08, 15:37 | Send note | Report this | Reply

^this

They're the best introduction pair as they've got the hits on - as you may know Costello's career after that takes a lot of stylistic turns.

simon_t | 16 Feb '08, 15:39 | Send note | Report this | Reply

'Get Happy'

and 'Armed Forces'
are both excellent.
armed forces is probably better due to 'olivers army' and 'big boys', because they're excellent.

neecho | 16 Feb '08, 15:38 | Send note | Report this | Reply

also 'armed forces' is more concise than get happy

and the vinyl as an absolute joy to own due to the art-work/folding out packaging.

neecho | 16 Feb '08, 15:45 | Send note | Report this | Reply

Armed Forces

is probably the most accessible, but I'd probably plump for Imperial Bedroom as his best album. You can't go far wrong with any of his early ones either.

DaveTheEverliving | 16 Feb '08, 16:05 | Send note | Report this | Reply

This Year's Model

=D

st_nick_ | 16 Feb '08, 16:12 | Send note | Report this | Reply

My favourite is Imperial Bedroom

but that's not really typical of his work, certainly the not the Stiff era stuff. Try This Year's Model.

JohnM | 16 Feb '08, 16:17 | Send note | Report this | Reply

Sweet.

Thanks all.

Jonty_Monty | 16 Feb '08, 17:02 | Send note | Report this | Reply

This years model

Is his finest hour and still gets a regular airing on my Ipod.
I heard "Lipstick vogue" at Koko on Wednesday inbetween sets at the Black Francis show.

Lorne | 16 Feb '08, 17:30 | Send note | Report this | Reply

i have been rediscovering him lately

the frist 4 are all pretty much aces

Armed Forces nudges it
but you cant go wrong with

My Aim Is true
This years Model
Get Happy

then it goes a bit country

and after that is all kinds, classical, boring, self reneferential, jazz, whatever
and VERY pot luck

I would put a shout in for mid period
effort
Blood & Chocolate
It has the heart breaking I Want You and the surprisingly slamming Tokyo Storm Warning and all kinds of harsh magic

thebigmusic | 16 Feb '08, 19:58 | Send note | Report this | Reply

This Years Model

My Aim Is True
Imperial Bedroom
Armed Forces

or you could try his greatest hits package if you're unsure, but the above four are brilliant. Mid/late 80s he goes off in Starbuck's directions and stays there apparently. At least before going all-Sting on us he at least put out great records first!

oceanRain | 16 Feb '08, 20:02 | Send note | Report this | Reply

I'm probably

one of the only people on earth that thinks 'spike' is among his best releases.
I know it's terrable, over produced dros (late eighties, and parts co-writen woth Paul mcCartney!), I just cant help myself.
:)

visinertiae | 16 Feb '08, 20:14 | Send note | Report this | Reply

It does have

an amazing song about margaret Thatcher on it, though, with the chorus "when they finally put you in the ground
I'll stand on your grave and tramp the dirt down"
:D

visinertiae | 16 Feb '08, 20:19 | Send note | Report this | Reply

This Years Model

Not a bad song on it, great record. Get Happy!! Is also good, is very bass heavy which is good but the lines I find are very repitive so the songs sound similar.

I have never got past Get Happy!! though really should listen to some of his later ones.

signeduptowinpbj | 16 Feb '08, 20:31 | Send note | Report this | Reply

Anything Elvis has done ...

... is worth looking at or listening to more like it. From a choice of 27 albums (have I missed any ?) there is so much to discover in a wide range of styles throughout his brilliant career.
As suggested "this years model" "My Aim Is true" and "armed forces" are going to back up the stiff period you've been tantalized by but there is so much to offer across all albums released to date.
I just about own every one of EC's albums and Trust, Punch The Clock,The Delivery Man, Get Happy, Kojak Variety seem to get played by me often. EC has so much to offer and it's often the case that some of the more adventurous recordings become real favourites. Also as a real joy, track down the DVD "Club Date in Menphis" there's some of the tracks on Youtube - check it out.

AussieGaz | 17 Feb '08, 02:53 | Send note | Report this | Reply

I like 'Punch The Clock'

:S But don't get that cos everything thinks its shit including Elvis.

Get 'This Year's Model'.

hollywood_freak | 17 Feb '08, 04:12 | Send note | Report this | Reply

Following 30 years of Costello

is post-new wave's great imprecise science. Punch The Clock I think suffers from its very contemporary production and investigations into soul, but it contains Pills And Soap and his own version of Shipbuilding so can't be totally written off. I wrote a lengthy biography-cum-buyers guide about him last year: http://sweepingthenation.blogspot.com/2007/06/illustrated-guide-to-elvis-costello.html

simon_t | 17 Feb '08, 10:03 | Send note | Report this | Reply