Elvis (Costello) is Everywhere (redux)

A reader named John Scheiner has submitted a bunch more Elvis Costello shows! haven't heard them yet,
but I certainly don't want to leave them buried in the comments section, they deserve their own post......as I said I haven't heard them so I cannot really comment, but here they are.....links are in the comment section! Thanks John S!

C.W. Post College, Brookville, NY 3/3/78

01 Mystery Dance/02 (The Angels Wanna Wear My) Red Shoes/03 The Beat/04 Radio Radio/05 Less Than Zero (Dallas version)/07 No Action/08 (I Don't Want To Go To) Chelsea/08 Waiting For The End Of The World/09 Pump It Up/10 You Belong To Me/11 Lipstick Vogue/12 Watching The Detectives/13 I'm Not Angry/14 Miracle Man

Tower Theatre, Upper Darby PA

01 Applause/02 Just A Memory/03 Accidents Will Happen/04 Hand In Hand/05 Black Sails In The Sunset/06 The Imposter/07 Watch Your Step/08 This Year's Girl/09 Clowntime Is Over/10 Clubland/11 Big Tears/12 New Lace Sleeves/13 King Horse/14 Big Sister's Clothes/15 Temptation/16 Luxembourg/17 Secondary Modern/18 High Fidelity/19 He's Got You/20 (What's So Funny 'Bout) Peace, Love And Understanding/21 Radio Radio/22 You Belong To Me/23 Encore Break/24 Oliver's Army/25 Watching The Detectives/26 Encore Break/27 From A Whisper To A Scream/28 Pump It Up

 The University Of Texas 9/7/83             

01 Let Them All Talk/02 Possession/02 Watching The Detectives/03 The Greatest Thing/04 Man Out Of Time/04 Secondary Modern/05 Kid About It/06 Mystery Dance/07 Shabby Doll/08 Temptation/09 New Lace Sleeves/10 (What's So Funny 'Bout) Peace, Love And Understanding/11 Shipbuilding/12 Big Sister's Clothes/13 Stand Down Margaret/14 Beyond Belief/14 Watch Your Step/15 Backstabbers - King Horse/15 Clubland/16 The World And His Wife/17 Clowntime Is Over/18 TKO (Boxing Day)/19 Everyday I Write The Book/20 Alison/21 I Can't Stand Up For Falling Down/22 Pump It Up

Brooklyn Bowl, Brooklyn, NY 9/16/13 (With The Roots):

01 Intro/02 Wake Me Up/03 Refuse To Be Saved/04 Stick Out Your Tongue/05 Watching The Detectives/06 Shabby Doll/07 Sugar Won't Work/08 Tripwire/09 Spooky Girlfriend/10 Cinqo Minutos Con Vos/11 Ghost Town/12 (I Don't Wanna Go To) Chelsea/13 Walk Us Uptown/14 I Want You/15 Wise Up Ghost/16 Pump It Up/17 I Found Out

Elvis (Costello) Is Everywhere (Part 7 and OUT)

The final installment of the Elvis-extravaganza, focusing again on another stack o' concert boots, all of them
worth a listen......I think this series has been a pretty fair one, thanks to John N for providing the deluxe editions of the albums I didn't have.

We resume a few days after where we left off yesterday, again from the Dominion Theater, 12/23/78, with Martin Belmont...."Armed Forces" material comprises a good bit of the set, the notable inclusion this time is "I Stand Accused", which I think is the only version that I have.

Next is the (1978, unsure of the date) "Live at the El Mocambo"....a good performance, nothing out of the ordinary to note, but, as always, worthwhile and worth hearing. (A pretty common find, really)

Leading off 1979 is a King Biscuit Flower Hour broadcast, from Glasgow Scotland. "Don't Look Back" and "Little Sister" are not frequently performed, and the set ends with a good version of "Girls Talk"...also from 1979 is "Live at Hollywood High", a well known effort that also contains nothing unusual....an EP of a few of these tracks was given away with (at least with MY) vinyl copy of "Armed Forces", nice to have the whole show.

From 6/4/79 is the Pinkpop Festival from Geleen Holland....I think "So Young" is a fairly rare addition, as are "We Can Talk" and "High Fidelity".....I guess a bit of "Get Happy" material had begun to enter the setlist, which is where I get off board.

And lastly, this is interesting, someone took the time to create a "live version" of "Armed Forces", taking live
recordings from various locales/dates (1978-83) and sequencing them in the same order as those on the original album. Quite an effort, I've had this forever and don't remember where I got it from, so I'm unable to credit the creator.

Anyway, hope this is enough Costello for ya.....if ya have anything else ya wish me to post, please by all means send it to me.

DOMINION THEATER 12/23/78-01 Hand In Hand/02 Big Tears/03 Goon Squad/04 (The Angels Wanna Wear My) Red Shoes/05 I Stand Accused/06 Moods For Moderns/07 The Beat/08 Accidents Will Happen/09 (I Don't Want To Go To) Chelsea/10 Lipstick Vogue/11 Watching the Detectives/12 Big Boys/13 This Year's Girl/14 (talk)/15 Radio, Radio/16 You belong to Me/17 (encore break)/18 Pump it Up

LIVE AT THE EL MOCAMBO-01 Mystery Dance/02 Waiting For the End of the World/03 Welcome to the Working Week/04 Less Than Zero/05 The Beat/06 Lip Service/07 (I Don't Want To Go To) Chelsea/08 Little Triggers/09 Radio Radio/10 Lipstick Vogue/11 Watching the Detectives/12 Miracle Man/13 You Belong to me/14 Pump It Up

KING BISCUIT FLOWER HOUR GLASGOW SCOTLAND-01 Little Sister/02 Watching the Detectives/03 You Belong To Me/04 Oliver's Army/05 Don't Look Back/06 Girls Talk

LIVE AT HOLLYWOOD HIGH-01 Accidents Will happen/02 Mystery Dance/03 Lip Service/04 Living in Paradise/05 Goon Squad/06 (The Angels Wanna Wear My) Red Shoes/07 Party Girl/08 (I Don't Want to Go to) Chelsea/09 This Year's Girl/10 No Action/11 Stranger in the House/12 The Beat/13 Allison/14 Lipstick Vogue/15 Watching the Detectives/16 You Belong to Me/17 Radio, Radio/18 Pump It Up/19 Waiting For the End of the World/20 Miracle Man

PINKPOP FESTIVAL GELEEN HOLLAND 6/4/79-01 The Beat/02 B Movie/03 Green Shirt/04 I Don't
Want To Go To Chelsea/05 Oliver's Army/06 So Young/07 Party Girl/08 Girls talk/09 Accidents Will Happen/10 High Fidelity/11 Lipstick Vogue/12 We Can talk/13 Pump It Up/14 You belong to Me/15 What's So Funny bout Peace Love and Understanding

LIVE ARMED FORCES-01 Accidents Will Happen (8/23/80 Toronto)/02 Senior Service (12/28/78 Portsmouth England)/03 Olivers Army (5/14/80 London)/04 Big Boys (4/12/79 Bethlehem PA)/05 Green Shirt (Nashville 1/3/82)/ 05 Party Girl (6/7/78 San Francisco)/07 Goon Squad (4/12/79 Bethlehm Pennsylvania)/08 Busy Bodies (2/14/79 Long Beach CA)/09 Moods For Moderns (2/14/79 Long Beach CA)/10 Chemistry Class  (4/15/78 Roundhouse London England)/11 Two Little Hitlers 6/21/78 Rockpalast Cologne Germany/12 (What's So Funny 'Bout) Peace Love and Understanding (9/7/83 Ausitn Texas)

Elvis (Costello) is Everywhere Part 6

Another scorching slab of live performances from Elvis Costello & the amazing Attractions, these from 1978.
Again, all of these are worth your while, it's all great stuff.

First off, we have a set from St. Louis, January 31 1978....nothing out of the usual here, but still a solid set, the version of "Welcome to the Working Week" is, unfortunately incomplete.

The next day, 2/1/78 they appeared at Pogo's in Kansas City...on this one the versions of "Red Shoes" as well as "Less Than Zero" are faded in/faded out, but the rarely performed "Night Rally" is here, as is the always welcome "(I Don't Want to Go To) Chelsea"

Next, we have a set from Milwaukee, 2/15/78....The version of "Less Than Zero" here is listed as the "Dallas Version", as it contains an alternate set of lyrics......quite good too. The "Radio, Radio"/"Pump it Up" encore is stellar as well.

The next one I have is from 2/28/78, Washington DC, and is entitled for whatever reason "Elvis Goes to Washington and Dave Edmunds and Rockpile Don't"....."Chemistry Class" is here as a rarely performed live closer, and, again, always good to hear "Chelsea", otherwise a quite solid set on which they perform a good bit of "This Year's Model".

On 6/7/78 they did a good set at Winterland in San Francisco.....more "Armed Forces" material creeps its way into the setlist, as we get versions of "Goon Squad" and "Party Girl". Also used as a closer is "I'm not Angry", kind of out of the normal.

Last one for today finds the band back in the UK, with a December 19 set at Dominion Theater. By now, nearly half the set is "Armed Forces" stuff, and "Girls Talk" is a welcome addition. Next time we will lead off with another show from this same venue, 4 days later, with a very different set list.

I have just ONE more set of these boots, I'll get them up in the next day or two.....don't miss these, as I said before, these are really spectacular, Elvis Costello is one performer we can never accuse of not puttting out onstage.

ST LOUIS 1//31/78-01 Welcome to the Working Week/02 Red Shoes/03 Waiting For the End of the World/04 No Action/05 The Beat/06 Less Than Zero/07 Lip Service/08 Stranger in the House/09 Radio, Radio/10 You Belong To Me/11 Miracle Man/12 Lipstick Vogue/13 Watching the Detectives/14 Pump It Up

MILWAUKEE 2/15/78-01 Mystery Dance/02 Waiting For the End of the World/03 Less Than Zero
(Dallas Version)/04 The Beat/05 Big Tears/06 No Action/07 (I Don't Want to Go To) Chelsea/08 (The Angels Want To Wear My) Red Shoes/09 Little Triggers/10 Lipstick Vogue/11 Watching the Detectives/12 Radio Radio/13 Pump it Up

KANSAS CITY 2/1/78-01 (The Angels Want To Wear My) red Shoes/02 Waiting For the End of the World/03 No Action/04 Night Rally/05 The Beat/06 Roadette Song/07 Lips Service/08 (I Don't Want To Go To) Chelsea/09 Radio, Radio/10 Less Than Zero (Fades Out)

WASHINGTON DC 2/28/78-01 Pump It Up/02 Waiting For the End of the World/03 No Action/04 Less Than Zero/05 The Beat/06 (The Angels Want To Wear My) Red Shoes/07 (I Don't Want To Go To) Chelsea/08 Hand In Hand/09 Little Triggers/10 Radio Radio/11 You Belong To Me/12 Lipstick Vogue/13 Watching the Detectives/14 Mystery Dance/15 Miracle Man/16 Blame it On Cain

SAN FRANCISCO 6/7/78-01 Mystery Dance/02 Lip Service/03 (The Angels Want To Wear My) Red Shoes/04 Goon Squad/05 Less Than Zero/06 Blame It On Cain/07 The Beat/08 This Year's Girl/09 I Don't Want To Go To Chelsea/10 Pump It Up/11 Radio Radio/12 Lipstick Vogue/13 Watching the Detectives/14 Party Girl/15 You Belong To Me/16 I'm Not angry

DOMINION THEATER 01 (The Angels Wanna Wear My) Red Shoes/02 Girls Talk/03 Goon Squad/04 Stranger In the House/05 Accidents Will Happen/06 The Beat/07 Oliver's Army/08 (What's So Funny 'bout) Peace Love and Understanding?/09 Moods For Moderns/10 Watching the Detectives/11 Hand In Hand/12 Tiny Steps/13 Party Girl/14 (I Don't Want To Got To) Chelsea/15 Lipstick Vogue/16 This Year's Girl/17 Big Boys/18 You Belong to me/19 Pump it Up

Other than maybe Nirvana, of the bands that I never got to see, I'd rank Elvis & the Attractions, right around this period, at the top of my "Wish I Could Have" list......these are the next best thing to being there, and once again, HIGHLY, VERY HIGHLY recommended by myself.

Elvis (Costello) is Everywhere (Part 5)

OK, now we get to the good stuff imo... I have a BUNCH of Costello boots here, and most every one of them rocks the house HARD. Looking through them, they are all from the years 1977-79, or the period when I actually LOVED the music of Elvis Costello.....anyway, today I have a handful of them, one a grab bag of live tracks, the rest recorded in 1977. Next time I'll hit 1978, then 1979... this stack of boots is really as good as any stack of boots I have from nearly anyone, how I wish I could have seen him & The Attractions at their high point.

First  up is a grab-bag of live tracks, the undated "Elvis Costello: Amazing Live", which I am guessing as a 1977 release as well, as there are no post-"My Aim Is True" tracks here. His infamous Saturday Night Live performance of "Less Than Zero" and "Radio Radio" (well, there's ONE post-"My Aim Is True" number", also versions of "Allisone" and "Watching the Detectives", as well as less frequently performed numbers as "Couldn't Call it Unexpected" and "Basement Kiss".....sorry no dates or venues listed, the rest of these will give that complete data.

"Get Emotional" (Leicester England 10/22/77) is a fine one, leading off with Richard Hell's "Love Comes in Spurts", followed by a killer set with "Red Shoes", "The Beat", lots more including the always fab "(I Don't Want to Go to) Chelsea".

Recorded just a week or so later is "Guilford England 10/31/77". To his/their credit, a fairly different set, opening with "No Action" and blasting through a good portion of "This Year's Model", including "lipstick Vogue", "Radio Radio", "Lip Service" and more, winding up with a frantic "Mystery Dance".

Two weeks later, we have a 2 Disc appearance at "The Old Waldorf San Francisco 11/15/77"....he did two
sets on this evening, each captured on a seperate disc. Again, very different sets,  "Living In Paradise" pops up, and a raved-up "Pump It Up" closes the second set.

Yet another week passes, and another show, this one from "Jed's, New Orleans, 11/23/77"....I doubt this is the complete show, only nine tracks, and I doubt he would have closed a show with "Less Than Zero", so MAYBE there is another disc out there somewhere, or maybe the tape broke in the middle, who knows, still worth a listen.

Delving into the month of December, EC played the famed Agora Theater in Cleveland Ohio, the set i8s getting a bit less varied, nothing really out of the ordinary here, but still a fine performance.

And finally for 1977, An FM-simulcast of his show at "The Riviera, Chicago, 12/77"....again, almost an identical set to the Cleveland show, I assume they were getting tired from all the touring, but again, don't be sold short....EVERY one of these albums is worthwhile, every one. Don't say I didn't warn ya, and don't show up in 2021 saying the links are down! Next time, 1978!

AMAZING LIVE-01 Less Than Zero-Radio Radio (SNL)/02 Miracle Man/03 Blame it on Cain/04 Mystery Dance/05 Neat Neat Neat/06 Watching the Detectives/07 I Just Don't Know What to Do With Myself-Miracle Man/08 Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood-The Psycho Song/09 The Imposter/10 Leave My Kitten Alone/11 Many Rivers to Cross/12 Allison/13 Couldn't Call it Unexpected/15 Hurry Down Doomsday/16 Deep Dark Truthful Mirror/17 Basement Kiss-All This Useless Beauty/18 God Give Me Strength

LEICESTER ENGLAND 10/22/77-01 Love Comes in Spurts/02 No Action/03 (The Angles Wanna Wear My) Red Shoes/04 Blame it On Cain/05 The Beat/06 Dr. Luther's Assistant/07 This Year's Girl/08 (I Don't Want to Go to) Chelsea/09 Less Than Zero/10 Whole Wide World/11 Roadette Song/12 Neat Neat Neat/13 Little Triggers/14 Radio Radio/15  You Belong to Me/16 Miracle Man

GUILFORD ENGLAND 10/31/77-01 No Action/02 (The Angels Wanna Wear My) Red Shoes/03 No
Dancing/04 Lip Service/05 Sneaky Feelings/06 Less Than Zero/07 Big Tears/08 Sunday's Best/09 Stranger in the House/10 Little Triggers/11 Radio Radio/12 You Belong to Me/13 Miracle Man/14 Lipstick Vogue/15 Watching the Detectives/16 Mystery Dance

SAN FRANCISCO 11/15/77 DISC 1-01 (EARLY SHOW)-01 Pump It Up/02 Welcome to the Working Week/03 The Angels Want to Wear My Red Shoes/04 Blame it On Cain/05 End of the World/06 The Beat/07 Less Than Zero/08 Allison/09 Miracle Man/10 You Belong to Me/11 Lipstick Vogue/12 Watching the Detectives/13 Mystery Dance/14 Bonnie Simmons Outro (No Encore)

SAN FRANCISCO 11/15/77 DISC 2-01 (LATE SHOW)-01 Bonnie Simmons Intro/02 No Action/03 The Angels Want to Wear My Red Shoes/04 No Dancing/05 I'm Not Angry/06 Chelsea (I Don't Want To Go To)/07 Radio Radio/08 Less Than Zero/09 Living In Paradise/10 Allison/11 Miracle Man/12 You Belong To Me/13 Lipstick Vogue/14 Watching the Detectives/15 Pump It Up

NEW ORLEANS 11/23/77-01 No Dancing/02 Waiting For the End of the World/03 No Action/04 Stranger In the House/05 Roadette Song/06 Allison/07 Blame It On Cain/08 The Beat/09 Less Than Zero

CLEVELAND 12/05/77-01 Welcome to the Working Week/02 (The Angels Wanna Wear My) Red Shoes/03 Hand in Hand/04 Waiting For the End of the World/05 No Action/06 Less Than Zero/07 The Beat/08 No Dancing/09 Big Tears/10 Blame It On Cain/11 Little Triggers/12 Radio Radio/13 You belong To Me/14 Pump it Up/15 Lipstick Vogue/16 Watching the Detectives/17 Miracle Man/18 Mystery Dance

CHICAGO 12/77-01 Introduction By Bob Skafish (WXRT-FM)/02 Welcome to the Working Week/03
(The Angels Wanna Wear My Red Shoes)/04 Waiting For the End of the World/05 No Action/06 The Beat/07 Less Than Zero/08 Radio Radio/09 You Belong to me/10 Lipstick Vogue/11 Watching the Detectives/12 Pump It Up/13 Miracle Man/14 Encore Break


These are all worth your while, classic recordings, some I assume are fairly hard to locate, I've had them since forever........can't understate the brilliance of these.

Elvis (Costello) Is Everywhere Part 4

These will be the last of the Costello deluxe edition releases, unless someone opts to send me more of
them....these are the last of the batch sent to me by the "link machine", John N, which, in wrapping these up, will allow me to get to my fab stack of Costello bootlegs, all from, say, 1978-81 or so, and great great great, so when you see "Part 5" of this go up (NO IDEA when that will be), make sure and check those out.

As for these albums, as I've stated before, I don't care for them, or much of anything he did post-"Armed Forces", but no question some people do, and it is for them that these are here. Enjoy them, or disregard them, or whatever, just don't miss the next part, because those boots are SMOKING.

KING OF AMERICA DISC 1-01 Brilliant Mistake/02 Lovable/03 Our Little Angel/04 Don't let Me Be Misunderstood/05 Glitter Gulch/06 Indoor Fireworks/07 Little Palaces/08 I'll Wear It Proudly/09 American Without Tears/10 Eisenhower Blues/11 Poisoned Rose/12 The Big Light/13 Jack of All Parades/14 Suit of Lights/15 Sleep of the Just/16 The People's Limousine/17 They'll Never Take Her Love From me/18 Suffering Face/19 Shoes Without Heels/20 King of Confidence

KING OF AMERICA DISC 2-01 That's How You Got Killed Before (Live 1986)/ 02 The Big Light (Live 1986)/03 It Tears Me Up (Live 1986)/04 The Only Daddy That'll Walk the Line (Live 1986)/05 Your Mind Is on Vacation-Your Funeral and My Trial (Live 1986)/06 That's How You Got Killed Before (Live 1986)

SPIKE DISC 1-01 "...This Town..."/02 Let Him Dangle/03 Deep Dark Truthful Mirror/04 Veronica/05 God's Comic/06 Chewing Gum/07 Tramp the Dirt Down/08 Stalin Malone/09 Satellite/10 Pads, Paws and Claws/11 Baby Plays Around/12 Miss Macbeth/13 Any King's Shilling/14 Coal-Train Robberies/15 last Boat Leaving

SPIKE DISC 2-01 Miss Macbeth (demo)/02 "...This Town..." (demo)/03 Deep Dark Truthful Mirror (demo)/04 Coal Train Robberies (demo)/05 Satellite (demo)/06 Pads, Paws, and Claws (demo)/07 Let Him Dangle (demo)/08 Veronica (demo)/09 Tramp the Dirt Down (demo)/10 Baby Plays Around (demo)/11 Put Your Big Toe in the Milk of Human Kindness (demo)/12 Last Boat Leaving (demo)/13 The Ugly Things (B-Side)/14 You're No Good (B-Side)/15 Point of No Return (B-Side)/16 The Room Nobody Lives In (B-Side)/17 Stalin Malone (version with recitation)

Elvis (Costello) Is Everywhere Part 3

Another batch of deluxe edition Costello release, provided by that "link guy" John N.....as I said before, I

don't really care much for ANY of his post-"Armed Forces" efforts, but he certainly has his fans, and to them, these deluxe releases offer a treasure trove of stuff.....so that's why I'm sharing them, as I work my way toward the REAL shit, my large stash of vintage Costello bootlegs, which I'll get to as soon as I'm through with these. So, no commentary from me, as I said, these are albums I really don't like that much, but those boots, when I get to them, are incredible, I SO wish I could have seen him and the Attractions live ca. 1980 or so.....oh well, but you'll see, once I get to those boots, THAT is some incredible listening.

As for now.....

PUNCH THE CLOCK-01 Let Them All talk/02 Everyday I Write the Book/03 The Greatest Thing/04 The Element Within Her/05 Love Went Mad/06 Shipbuilding/07 TKO (Boxing Day)/08 Charm School/09 The Invisible Man/10 Mouth Almighty/11 King Of Thieves/12 Pills and Soap/13 The World and His Wife/14 Heathen Town/15 The Flirting Kind/16 Walking on Thin Ice/17 Town Where Time Stood Still/18 Shatterproof/19 The World and His Wife (live)/20 Everyday I Write the Book (live)

GOODBYE CRUEL WORLD-01 The Only Flame In Town/02 Home Truth/03 Room With No Number/04 Inch By Inch/05 Worthless Thing/06 Love Field/08 The Comedians/09 Joe Porterhouse/10 Sour Milk-Cow Blues/11 The Great Unknown/12 The Deportees Club/13 Peace In Our Time/14 Turning the Town Red/15 Baby It's You (with Nick Lowe)/16 Get Yourself Another Fool/17 I Hope You're Happy Now/18 The Only Flame In Town (Live)/19 Worthless Thing (Live)/20 Motel Matches (Live)/21 Sleepless Nights (Live)/22 Deportee/23 Withered and Died

BLOOD AND CHOCOLATE DISC 1-01 Uncomplicated/02 I Hope You're Happy Now/03 Tokyo Storm Warning/04 Home Is Where You Hang Your Head/05 I Want You/06 Honey Are You Straight Or Are You Blind/07 Blue Chair/08 Battered Old Bird/09 Crimes of Paris/10 Poor Napoleon/11 Next Time Round/12 Seven Day Weekend/13 Forgive Her Anything/14 Blue Chair/15 Baby's Got a Brand New hairdo/16 American Without Tears No. 2 (Twilight Version)/17 A Town Called Big Nothing (Really Big Nothing)/18 Return To Big Nothing

BLOOD & CHOCOLATE DISC 2-Interview

And just a note......I already said I don't like these albums. Think this through, though.....at least they are HERE.....I can REALLY live without, at this time in particular, the segment (a small one) out there who enjoys calling names and ranting and raving if I happen to dislike something they like, or vice versa. My point is NOT to always post stuff that I personally like.....My point is to post what I think will generate interest, for whatever reason. I had been thinking of putting up all of my spectacular Costello boots for a while, and this seemed like a good lead in for it....the fact that I don't care for them, especially, should really have no bearing on you. Live and let live, like I said AT LEAST I put them up, right? And, notice, i DID NOT make fun of them, as I do with many albums I post and don't especially like. 

Elvis (Costello) is Everywhere! Part 2

OK, first of all, thanks to everyone for the support and outpouring of love. I am amazed, really, to find that
my shit has touched so many of your lives in whatever large/small dose. I am trying to dry out, I'm going to be fucking honest here, it's going to be a living nightmare for a while I think, if anyone out there has any advice (ie someone who has been sober for sometime), please contact me via email and I will give you my phone number. Anyway, I do appreciate all the kind words.

I'm not going to comment on these albums too much, because, as I said before, I really don't like them too much. I'm going to take the easy way out and post them, and, if someone (and there will be some) who DO like them wants to offer up any commentary on them, the stage is yours. I just gotta get some fucking sleep, I feel like fuck right now, honest to God, I've been abusing substances for pretty much about 44 of my 54 years, give or take, so this shit is new to me........anyway, here are the  next three Costello & the Attractions albums, "Get Happy!", "Almost Blue", and "Trust".......I think there are bonus tracks on them, I'll check and see. Someone, and I know many do, who enjoys these discs please offer up what it is you like about them ("Get Happy!" is listed in the book "The 50 Worst Rock Albums of All Time" and I agree).....anyway, here they be, try to get some more Dream Theater up tomorrow, perhaps.

GET HAPPY! DISC 1-01 Love For Tender/02 Opportunity/03 The Imposter/04 Secondary Modern/05 King Horse/06 Possession/07 Men Called Uncle/08 Clowntime Is Over/09 New Amsterdam/10 High Fidelity/11 I Can't Stand Up For Falling Down/12 Black and White World/13 5ive Gears In reverse/14 B Movie/15 Motel Matches/16 Human Touch/17 Beaten to the Punch/18 Temptation/19 I Stand Accused/20 Riot Act

GET HAPPY! DISC 2-01 I Stand Accused (alternate version)/02 So Young/03 Girls Talk/04 Human Touch (Alternate version)/05 Temptation (alternate version)/06 Motel matches (alternate take)/07 Clowntime Is Over No. 2/08 B Movie (alternate version)/09 Girls Talk (alternate version)/10 Getting Mighty Crowded/11 From a Whisper to a Scream/12 Watch Your Step (alternate version)/13 Dr Luther's Assistant/14 Ghost Train/15 New Lace Sleeves/16 Hoover Factory/17 Just a Memory/18 I Can't Stand Up For Falling Down (alternate version)/19 New Amsterdam (alternate version)/20 Black and White World (demo)/21 Riot Act (demo)/22 5ive Gears in Reverse (demo)/23 Love For Tender (demo)/24 Men Called Uncle (demo)/25 King Horse (demo)/26 Seven O'Clock (demo)/27 High Fidelity (live)/28 Opportunity (live)/29 The Imposter (live)/30 Don't Look Back (live)

ALMOST BLUE-01 Why Don't You Love Me (Like You Used To Do?)/02 Sweet Dreams/03 Success/04
I'm Your Toy/05 Tonight the Bottle Let Me Down/06 Brown to Blue/07 Good Year for the Roses/08 Sittin' and Thinkin'/09 Colour of the Blues/10 Too Far Gone/11 Honey Hush/12 How Much I lied/13 He's Got You (Live)/14 Cry Cry Cry (Live)/15 There Won't Be Anyone (Live)/16 Sittin' and Thinkin' (live)/17 Honey Hush (Live)/18 Psycho/19 Your Angel Steps Out of Heaven/20 Darling, You Know I Wouldn't Lie/21 My Shoes Keep Walking Back To You/22 Tears Before Bedtime/23 I'm Your Toy

TRUST-01 Clubland/02 Lovers Walk/03 You'll Never Be A Man/04 Pretty Words/05 Strict Time/06 Luxembourg/07 Watch Your Step/08 New Lace Sleeves/09 From a Whisper to a Scream/10 Different Finger/11 White Knuckles/12 Shot With His Own Gun/13 Fish N Chip Papaer/14 Big Sister's Clothes/15 Black Sails in the Sunset/16 Big Sister/17 Sad  About Girls/18 Twenty Five to Twelve/19 Love For Sale/20 Weeper's Dream/21 Gloomy Sunday/22 Boy With a Problem/23 Seconds of Pleasure

Elvis (Costello) is Everywhere!

Let me give you my personal take on Elvis Costello......I think his first three albums were epic, all 5 star
classics period. Now, here is where myself and A LOT of people will part ways on this, I really never liked a damn thing he did after "Armed Forces"....I don't know why, it, to me, is similar to how I felt about several other early 1980's acts.....The Pretenders, Joe Jackson, The Boomtown Rats.....who just took a direction that, for whatever reason, did not get it done for me......Elvis has released a mountain of stuff since, and I know a lot of people out there LOVE it......just not for me.

However, thanks to a sort-of collaboration between myself and John N, I THINK that I have most of his stuff here, many in deluxe editions with bonus tracks......that, and the fact that I personally have at least 20 boots from (what I consider) his golden era (ie first three albums) means that I can put up a fairly comprehensive Costello series......

Read this carefully.....I AM going to post all of them, NOT IN CONSECUTIVE POSTS, however....so, for example, if you are a big fan of say, the album "King of America", I will get to it in time, it's just that I have the attention span of a five year old and will get awfully bored if I try to do them consecutively....this will likely take 5-6 posts, and they will likely come weekly, OK? And I'm not going to diss the guy's post "Armed Forces" stuff....also won't have a lot of commentary on them, but I DO want to put the material out there. And just wait until I get to the bootlegs, they are great-to-spectacular.

For today, allow me to present the first three classic albums, all in deluxe editions with fantastic extra material......first was "My Aim Is True", which was done with the backing band Clover and not the incredible Attractions, but still when it was first released, it was like a wakeup call......the musical world was to now be the playground of Elvis, and of the Pistols, the Clash......as I said before I LOVE all of the first three albums, of them I'd call this the "weakest", however, I would still bestow the coveted five star rating on it. Simply remarkable songs-"Welcome To the Working Week" ("I know it don't thrill ya, I hope it don't kill ya"), the beautiful single "Allison", "Red Shoes" ("I said 'I'm so happy I could die', she said 'drop dead' then left with another guy"), the tour de force "Watching The Detectives". No home should be without one, and with a ful disc of bonus material? Run don't walk......what could be better?

Easy answer: "This Years' Model" (always wondered if The Cars were furious that he swiped such an
obvious title for their album, out about the same time)......simply stated, this is one of mt 20 favorite albums of all. Brilliant from the whispered intro of "No Action" to the final rave up of "Radio Radio" ("I want to bite the hand that feeds me") it's all 100% perfect. The new band, the absolutely amazing Attractions, crank out a unique and glorious piece of work, this would rate at least FOUR stars if there were no lyrics or vocals at all....it's that good. Running down the whole thing would be tantamount to a track listing, DAMN...."The Beat", "This Years Girl" ("Those disco synthesizers, those daily tranquilizers"), "Lip Service". Incredible album, also with a discs worth of bonus tracks.

"Armed Forces" is nearly as good. A conceptual affair with lots of Nazi imagery, ("But you'll never get to make a lampshade out of me" from "Goon Squad", "Two Little Hitlers", "Are you ready for the final solution" from "Chemistry Class") it works brilliantly and sounds every bit as good today as it did at the time of release...."Oliver's Army" may be my favorite Costello tune, unless you ask me again in an hour, and I may give you a different answer. And, yep, this is a deluxe bonus edition as well.

These three albums are as good a trio as anyone ever has released in such a short time span.....now don't jump on me for this, but after "Armed Forces" he lost me.....don't know why, it just didn't work for me anymore....we'll discuss the subsequent albums at the time of posting, but please don't expect anywhere near the level of enthusiasm from me......and it's NOT that I think they are (necessarily) bad albums, it's just that it would be impossible to live up to this level of quality forever.

Thanks to John N for providing this portion of this multi-part post, and, remember, we'll maybe do one of these a week until we are all-Costello'd out.....and again, just WAIT until you hear the fab bootlegs that I will save for last. Cruel huh?

NOTE: The version of "My Aim Is True" presented here is a 2 disc set, however both discs are contained in one link

MY AIM IS TRUE DISC 1-01 Welcome to the Working Week/02 Miracle Man/03 No Dancing/04 Blame it on Cain/05 Allison/06 Sneaky Feelings/07 (The Angels Wanna Wear My) Red Shoes/08 Less Than Zero/09 Mystery Dance/10 Pay It Back/11 I'm Not Angry/12 Waiting For the End of the World/13 Watching the Detectives

MY AIM IS TRUE DISC 2-01 No Action (Early Version)/02 Living In paradise (Early Version)/03 Radio
Sweetheart/04 Stranger in the House/05 I Just Don't Know What To Do With Myself (live)/06 Less Than Zero (Live at the El Mocambo)/07 Imagination (Is a Powerful Deceiver)/08 Mystery Dance (demo)/09 Cheap Reward (demo)/10 Jump Up (demo)/11 Wave a White Flag (demo)/12 Blame It on Cain (demo)/13 Poison Moon (demo)

THIS YEARS MODEL- 01 No Action/02 This Year's Girl/03 The Beat/04 Pump It Up/05 Little Triggers/06 You Belong to Me/07 Hand In Hand/08 (I Don't Want to Go to) Chelsea/09 Lip Service/10 Living In Paradise/11 Lipstick Vogue/12 Night Rally/13 Radio, Radio/14 Big Tears/15 Crawling to the USA/16 Running Out of Angels (demo)/17 Green Shirt (demo)/18 Big Boys (demo)

ARMED FORCES-01 Accidents Will Happen/02 Senior Service/03 Oliver's Army/04 Big Boys/05 Green Shirt/06 Party Girl/07 Goon Squad/08 Busy Bodies/09 Sunday's Best/10 Moods For Moderns/11 Chemistry Class/12 Two Little Hitlers/13 (What's So Funny 'Bout) Peace, Love and Understanding/14 My Funny Valentine/15 Tiny Steps/16 Clean Money/17 Talking in the Dark/18 Wednesday Week/19 Accidents Will Happen (Live at Hollywood High)/20 Alison (Live at Hollywood High)/21 Watching the Detectives (Live at Hollywood High)

We'll resume with "Get Happy", also a deluxe edition sometime next week......meantime, if' you've heard only the originals, the bonus material is nearly as good, in particular the live "I Don't Want to Go to Chelsea" from "This Year's Model".