Tag Archives: Elvis Costello

Nick Lowe: And His Cowboy Outfit

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In May 1984, “F-Beat” label released “Nick Lowe and His Cowboy Outfit”, the fifth Nick Lowe studio album. It was recorded in January 1984, at “Ampro Studios” in Shepherds Bush, “Riverside Studios” in Chiswick, “Eden Studios”, “Acton Boathouse Studios” in Twickenham, and was produced by Nick Lowe, Colin Fairley, Paul Bass and Elvis Costello.

Personnel:

  • Nick Lowe- vocals, bass guitar, guitar
  • Martin Belmont- guitar
  • Billy Bremner- guitar
  • Paul Carrack- keyboards, backing vocals
  • Bobby Irwin – drums, backing vocals
  • Bobby Valentino- fiddle

TKO Horns:

  • Jeff Blythe – saxophone
  • Paul Speare – saxophone
  • Jimmy Paterson – trombone
  • Dave Plews – trumpet
  • Robert Kirby– string arrangements
  • Elvis Costello– horn arrangements
  • Colin Phillips, Tony Phillips, Chris Ludwinski – engineer assistant

Track listing:

All tracks by Nick Lowe except where noted.

  1. Half a Boy and Half a Man
  2. Breakaway – Tom Springfield
  3. You’ll Never Get Me Up in One of Those – Mickey Jupp
  4. Love Like a Glove – Carlene Carter, James Eller
  5. The Gee and The Rick and The Three Card Trick
  6. (Hey Big Mouth) Stand Up and Say That
  7. Awesome – Nick Lowe, Profile
  8. God’s Gift to Women
  9. Maureen
  10. A.F.S.
  11. Live Fast, Love Hard, Die Young – Joe Allison

Squeeze: Sweets From A Stranger

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In May 1982, “A&M” label released “Sweets from a Stranger”, the fifth Squeeze studio album. It was recorded in 1981, at “Ramport Studios” in London, and was produced by Phil McDonald, Chris Difford, Glen Tilbrook, John Bentley, Don Snow and Gilson Lavis.

Personnel:

  • Glenn Tilbrook– lead and backing vocals, lead guitar, keyboards
  • Chris Difford– rhythm guitar, backing vocals
  • Don Snow– keyboards, backing vocals
  • John Bentley– bass, backing vocals
  • Gilson Lavis– drums
  • Elvis Costello- backing vocals
  • Paul Young- backing vocals
  • Del Newman- string arrangements

Track listing:

All tracks by Chris Difford and Glenn Tilbrook.

  1. Out of Touch
  2. I Can’t Hold On
  3. Points of View
  4. Stranger Than the Stranger on the Shore
  5. Onto the Dance Floor
  6. When the Hangover Strikes
  7. Black Coffee in Bed
  8. I’ve Returned
  9. Tongue Like a Knife
  10. His House Her Home
  11. The Very First Dance
  12. The Elephant Ride

Elvis Costello: When I Was Cruel

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On April 23, 2002, “Island” label released “When I Was Cruel”, the 19th Elvis Costello album. It was recorded 2001-2002, and was produced by Elvis Costello, Ciaran Cahill, Leo Pearson and Kieran Lynch. “When I Was Cruel” was the first album to feature Costello’s new band, The Imposters.

Personnel:

  • Elvis Costello– vocals, guitars, horn arrangements, melodica,  cymbal,  bass, piano, harmonica
  • Steve Nieve– organ, pianet, piano, vibraphone, melodica, filters
  • Davey Faragher– bass, handclaps
  • Pete Thomas– drums, handclaps, percussion, shaker, tambourine
  • Leo Pearson – electric tabla, rhythm processor, tambourine, mixing
  • Bill Ware– vibraphone
  • Jay Rodriguez– tenor saxophone
  • Roy Nathanson– alto saxophone
  • Ku-umba Frank Lacy– trumpet, flugelhorn
  • Curtis Fowlkes– trombone
  • Steven Kennedy –backing vocals

Track listing:

All tracks by Elvis Costello.

  1. 45
  2. Spooky Girlfriend
  3. Tear Off Your Own Head (It’s a Doll Revolution)
  4. When I Was Cruel No. 2
  5. Soul for Hire
  6. 15 Petals
  7. Tart
  8. Dust 2…
  9. Dissolve
  10. Alibi
  11. …Dust
  12. Daddy Can I Turn This?
  13. My Little Blue Window
  14. Episode of Blonde
  15. Radio Silence

 

Anne Sofie von Otter: For the Stars

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On April 10, 2001, “Deutsche Grammophon” label released “For the Stars”, album by Anne Sofie von Otter. It was recorded September 2000-January 2001, and was produced by Elvis Costello.

Personnel:

  • Elvis Costello – vocals, baritone guitar, Lowrey organ, bass
  • Anne Sofie Von Otter – vocals
  • Bengt Forsberg – piano, Hammond B-3 organ
  • Michael Blair – vibraphone, bass drum, percussion
  • Bebe Risenfors – clarinet, tenor saxophone, accordion
  • Svante Henryson – celtar, cello, upright bass
  • Mats Schubert – piano, harmonium, Moog bass
  • Steve Nieve- piano, celeste, organ

Track listing:

  1. No Wonder – Elvis Costello
  2. Baby Plays Around – Cait O’Riordan, Declan MacManus
  3. Go Leave – Kate McGarrigle
  4. Rope – Elvis Costello, Fleshquartet
  5. Don’t Talk (Put Your Head on My Shoulder) – Brian Wilson, Tony Asher
  6. Broken Bicycles/Junk – Tom Waits, Paul McCartney
  7. The Other Woman – Jessie Mae Robinson
  8. Like an Angel Passing Through My Room – Benny Andersson, Björn Ulvaeus
  9. Green Song – Elvis Costello, Svante Henryson
  10. April After All – Ron Sexsmith
  11. You Still Believe in Me – Brian Wilson, Tony Asher
  12. I Want to Vanish – Elvis Costello
  13. For No One – John Lennon, Paul McCartney
  14. Shamed Into Love – Declan MacManus, Rubén Blades
  15. Just a Curio – Elvis Costello, Flesh Quartet
  16. This House Is Empty Now – Burt Bacharach, Elvis Costello
  17. Take It With Me – Kathleen Brennan, Tom Waits
  18. For the Stars – Elvis Costello

Elvis Costello: Almost Blue

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almost_blue

On October 23, 1981, “F-Beat” label released “Almost Blue”, the sixth Elvis Costello album. It was recorded in May 1981, in Nashville, and was produced by Billy Sherrill.  Album cover was an homage to the 1963 “Blue Note” album “Midnight Blue” by Kenny Burrell.

Personnel:

  • Elvis Costello– vocals, guitar
  • John McFee– lead and pedal steel guitar
  • Steve Nieve– piano, organ
  • Bruce Thomas– bass
  • Pete Thomas– drums
  • Barney Bubbles – design

Track listing:

  1. Sweet Dreams – Don Gibson
  2. Success – Johnny Mullins
  3. I’m Your Toy – Gram Parsons, Chris Ethridge
  4. Tonight the Bottle Let Me Down – Merle Haggard
  5. Brown to Blue – George Jones, Virginia Franks, Country Johnny Mathis
  6. Good Year for the Roses – Jerry Chesnut
  7. Sittin’ and Thinkin – Charlie Rich
  8. Colour of the Blues – Lawton Williams, George Jones
  9. Too Far Gone – Billy Sherrill
  10. Honey Hush – Lou Willie Turner
  11. How Much I’ve Lied – Gram Parsons, Pam Rifkin

Elvis Costello And Bill Frisell: The Sweetest Punch

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the-sweetest-punch

On September 21, 1999, “Decca” label released “The Sweetest Punch”, album by Elvis Costello and Bill Frisell. The album was produced by Lee Townsend.

Personnel:

  • Bill Frisell — acoustic and electric guitar, arrangements
  • Elvis Costello = vocals
  • Cassandra Wilson – vocal
  • Viktor Krauss— bass
  • Brian Blade— drums, percussion
  • Don Byron— clarinet, bass clarinet
  • Billy Drewes — alto saxophone
  • Curtis Fowlkes— trombone
  • Ron Miles — trumpet
  • Judy Clapp – engineer, mixing
  • Scott Young – engineer assistant
  • Greg Gasperino – engineer assistant
  • Adam Munoz – engineer assistant
  • Joe Feria – recording, mixing
  • Ted Jensen – mastering
  • Penny Bennett – creative director
  • Carla Leighton – art direction, design
  • Sandi Hanowitz – package coordinator
  • Jimmy Katz – photography
  • Jenny Langsam – photography assistant
  • Christine Williams – cover photography
  • Chris Roberts – executive producer
  • Chuck Mitchell – executive producer
  • Noel Grey – executive producer

Track listing:

All tracks by Elvis Costello and Burt Bacharach, except where noted.

  1. The Sweetest Punch
  2. Toledo
  3. Such Unlikely Lovers
  4. This House Is Empty Now
  5. Painted from Memory
  6. What’s Her Name Today?
  7. In the Darkest Place
  8. Vamp Dolce – Bill Frisell
  9. My Thief
  10. I Still Have That Other Girl
  11. Painted from Memory (Reprise)
  12. Long Division
  13. Tears at the Birthday Party
  14. I Still Have That Other Girl (Reprise)
  15. God Give Me Strength

Elvis Costello: Blood & Chocolate

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blood-and-cho

On September 15, 1986, “Demon” label released “Blood & Chocolate”, the eleventh Elvis Costello studio album. It was recorded March – May 1986, and was produced by Nick Lowe and Colin Fairley.

Personnel:

  • Elvis Costello– vocals, acoustic and electric guitar, harmonium,  tambourine, bellows, canes, knives, bass, Vox Continental electric organ
  • Cait O’Riordan– vocals
  • Jimmy Cliff– vocals
  • Tom “T-Bone” Wolk– electric guitar, bass
  • Nick Lowe– acoustic guitar
  • Steve Nieve– piano, organ, harmonium
  • Mitchell Froom– organ
  • Bruce Thomas– bass, electric guitar, saxophone
  • Pete Thomas– drums, alto saxophone
  • Mickey Curry– drums

Track listing:

All tracks by Declan MacManus (Elvis Costello), except where noted.

  1. Uncomplicated
  2. I Hope You’re Happy Now
  3. Tokyo Storm Warning – Declan MacManus, Cait O’Riordan
  4. Home Is Anywhere You Hang Your Head
  5. I Want You
  6. Honey, Are You Straight or Are You Blind?
  7. Blue Chair
  8. Battered Old Bird
  9. Crimes of Paris
  10. Poor Napoleon
  11. Next Time Round

 

Elvis Costello: Punch The Clock

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Punch the Clock

On August 5, 1983, “F-Beat” label released “Punch the Clock”, eighth Elvis Costello album, his seventh with the Attractions. It was recorded January – April 1983, and was produced by Clive Langer and Alan Winstanley, assisted by Gavin Greenaway and Colin Fairley. In 2013, “NME” magazine ranked the album at number 345 in its list of “The 100 Greatest Albums of All Time”.

Personnel:

  • Elvis Costello – vocals, guitars, synclavier and casiotone
  • Steve Nieve– piano, emulator, Fairlight CMI, Vox organ, Hammond organ, synclavier
  • Bruce Thomas– electric wal bass guitar
  • Pete Thomas– drums, cymbals
  • Morris Pert– percussion
  • Jim Paterson – trombone
  • Jeff Blythe – alto saxophone, baritone saxophone, clarinet
  • Paul Speare– tenor saxophone, flute
  • Dave Plews – trumpet
  • Stewart Robson– trumpet, flugelhorn
  • Chet Baker– trumpet
  • Afrodiziak (Caron Wheeler, Claudia Fontaine) – backing vocals
  • David Bedford– string arrangements

Track listing:

All tracks by Elvis Costello, except where noted.

  1. Let Them All Talk
  2. Everyday I Write the Book
  3. The Greatest Thing
  4. The Element Within Her
  5. Love Went Mad
  6. Shipbuilding – Clive Langer, Elvis Costello
  7. K.O. (Boxing Day)
  8. Charm School
  9. The Invisible Man
  10. Mouth Almighty
  11. King of Thieves
  12. Pills and Soap
  13. The World and His Wife

Elvis Costello: My Aim Is True

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My Aim_is True

On July 22, 1977, “Stiff” label released “My Aim Is True”, the debut Elvis Costello  album. It was recorded 1976 – 1977, at “Pathway Studios” in London, and was produced by Nick Lowe. In 2003, “Rolling Stone” magazine ranked “My Aim Is True” at number 168 on its list of the “500 Greatest Albums of All Time”; the same year, the TV network “VH1” named “My Aim Is True” the 80th greatest album of all time. In 2007, the album was inducted into the “Grammy Hall of Fame”.

Personnel:

  • Elvis Costello– vocals, guitar, piano, drumsticks
  • Nick Lowe– piano, bass, drumsticks, backing vocals,
  • John McFee– lead guitar, pedal steel guitar, backing vocals
  • Sean Hopper– piano, organ, backing vocals
  • Stan Shaw – organ
  • Steve Nieve– organ and piano overdubs
  • Johnny Ciambotti – bass, backing vocals
  • Andrew Bodnar– bass
  • Mickey Shine – drums
  • Steve Goulding– drums
  • Barney Bubbles – design

Track listing:

All tracks by Elvis Costello.

  1. Welcome to the Working Week
  2. Miracle Man
  3. No Dancing
  4. Blame It on Cain
  5. Alison
  6. Sneaky Feelings
  7. (The Angels Wanna Wear My) Red Shoes
  8. Less Than Zero
  9. Mystery Dance
  10. Pay It Back
  11. I’m Not Angry
  12. Waiting for the End of the World

 

 

Elvis Costello: Imperial Bedroom

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Elvis_Costello_&_the_Attractions-Imperial_Bedroom

On July 2, 1982, “F-Beat” label released “Imperial Bedroom”, the seventh Elvis Costello album. It was his second album with his backing band The Attractions. It was recorded in 1982, at “AIR Recording Studios” in London, and was produced by Geoff Emerick. In 1998, “Q” magazine ranked the album at number 96 on its list of the “Greatest Albums Ever”. In 2003, “Rolling Stone” magazine ranked “Imperial Bedroom” at number 166 on its list of the “500 Greatest Albums of All Time”.

Personnel:

  • Elvis Costello– vocals, guitar, piano
  • Steve Nieve– piano, organ, harpsichord, accordion, guitar, orchestrations
  • Bruce Thomas– bass
  • Pete Thomas– drums

All tracks by Elvis Costello, except where noted.

  1. Beyond Belief
  2. Tears Before Bedtime
  3. Shabby Doll
  4. The Long Honeymoon
  5. Man Out of Time
  6. Almost Blue…
  7. And in Every Home
  8. The Loved Ones
  9. Human Hands
  10. Kid About It
  11. Little Savage
  12. Boy with a Problem – music by Elvis Costello, lyrics by Chris Difford, and Elvis Costello:
  13. Pidgin English
  14. You Little Fool
  15. Town Cryer