Elvis Costello has had a mention in some of my previous posts.
He was on stage with Roy Orbison and a host of others for Roy's 'Black and White Night' (reviewed July 15 2020) and not only did he produce The Pogues 'Rum Sodomy and the Lash' (reviewed June 7 2020) but he married their bassist and vocalist Cait O'Riordan.
Now he gets a review of his own.
Before I get into the music let's look at the album itself. This is the US version, complete with a sticker showing Tracy bought it at Korvettes. Just in time too, this was bought in 1979, Korvettes went bankrupt in 1980. There's also a B&W promo sticker on the cover - unusual as I've seen coloured versions but not B&W. The US front cover is paint splatter by Bubbles and Bazooka. The rear cover, stampeding elephants by Tom Pogson was used as the front of the UK release.
The US track listing differs from the UK in that 'Sunday's Best' was left off and replaced with '(What's So Funny 'Bout) Peace, Love, and Understanding' in the US.
Inside, along with the 12' LP is a 7" 33 r.p.m. EP containing 3 live tracks from 'Live at Hollywood High' 4 June 1978. The EP gives a live version of 'Accidents Will Happen' which has a studio version on the main LP, and live recordings of the bonus tracks 'Alison' and 'Watching the Detectives'.
Chronogically this was Elvis' 3rd studio album, it was his 2nd with The Attractions but it was the first time The Attractions were credited on the album cover.
OK, now the music. 'Senior Service' may have gone over the heads of those outside England as it makes political points about the older generation on the welfare system, but also makes puns about the British cigarette brand 'Senior Service', bouncing along to a Bowie type influence ..
"It's a breath you took too late
It's a death that's worse than fate"
'Oliver's Army' is the most well-known and popular track off "Armed Forces", dealing as it does with British soldiers in Belfast. To get his point across more effectively Elvis put very catchy pop arrangements to his cutting words. Although not questioned back in 1979, the use of the 'N' word could be controversial today, even used in the way it is ..
"Only takes one itchy trigger
One more widow, one less white n*****"
All the songs on this album were written by Elvis except for the US addition of '(What's So Funny 'Bout) Peace, Love, and Understanding' which was penned by Nick Lowe (remember 'I Love the Sound of Breaking Glass').
Although this is a good album I think the best value is to go with a 'Very Best of' in order to appreciate a larger catalogue of Elvis' work. You need to have 'Alison' in the collection, along with, obviously, 'Watching the Detectives' and 'Every Day I Write the Book'.
'Veronica' is a good song, co-written with Paul McCartney, whose influence is pretty obvious.
There are also some odd choices that you wouldn't necessarily associate with an ex-new wave, pub rock punk rocker.
For the soundtrack of the movie "Notting Hill" he did a cover of Charles Aznavour's 'She'. He recorded the Rodgers and Hart classic 'My Funny Valentine' and did a warm gentle rendition of Jerry Chesnut's C&W ballad 'Good Year For the Roses'.
Now for the obligatory Bob Dylan connection, because, well, it's me.
In 2014 Elvis was a major part of a music project that culminated in the release of a double album titled 'Lost on the River: The New Basement Tapes'. Dylan and The Band famously did recordings titled 'The Basement Tapes' in a house called Big Pink near Woodstock back in 1967.
Some Dylan handwritten lyrics were found from that same time period. The songs were never put to music or recorded.
Elvis, along with Marcus Mumford, Rhiannon Giddens, Taylor Goldsmith and Jim James were brought together by T Bone Burnett. He sent them all the lyrics then they came to the studio with their (sometimes multiple) versions of finished songs. Altogether 40 tracks were reduced to 20 on the album. Elvis does vocals on 11 and plays instruments on pretty much everything else. The only one he didn't make it for was 'Kansas City' when Johnny Depp filled in for him on guitar.
Declan Patrick MacManus - the 'other' Elvis. Well worth a listen.
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