Elvis Costello released Armed Forces

Armed Forces Elvis Costello

Released: January 5, 1979 Peak: 10 US, 2 UK, 9 CN, 8 AU Click for codes to charts. Sales (in millions): 0.50 US, 0.30 UK, 0.80 world (includes US + UK) Genre: new wave

Tracks: Click on a song title for more details. Accidents Will Happen Senior Service Oliver’s Army Big Boys Green Shirt Party Girl Goon Squad Busy Bodies Sunday’s Best * Moods for Moderns Chemistry Class Two Little Hitlers What’s So Funny ‘Bout Peace, Love and Understanding ** * only on UK version ** only on US version Other Songs from This Era: My Funny Valentine Talking in the Dark Wednesday Week Crawling to the U.S.A. So Young The Players: Elvis Costello (vocals, guitar) Steve Nieve (keyboards) Bruce Thomas (bass) Pete Thomas (drums)

Rating: 4.356 out of 5.00 (average of 23 ratings) Quotable: Armed Forces is “the bridge between Costello the ‘punk singer-songwriter’ and Costello the unabashed romantic of rock’s New Wave.” – Tom Moon, 1,000 Recordings to Hear Before You Die Awards: (Click on award to learn more).

The Bridge to New Wave On his debut album, My Aim Is True, Costello established himself as an iconic Buddy Holly-like pub rocker with a punk sensibility. The follow-up, This Year’s Model, showed his “considerable dexterity as a songwriter, and knack for pumping up innocent hooks into expressions of anger, if not outrage.” TM His third outing, Armed Forces, is “where Costello realizes that the doors are wide open and he can make any kind of snarly (or idealistic) noise he wants.” TM “Tricked out in sumptuous pop arrangements, these tales of bedroom and boardroom resentment cut sharper and deeper than the flailings of the punks. Costello was originally lumped in with.” VB Armed Forces is “the bridge between Costello the ‘punk singer-songwriter’ and Costello the unabashed romantic of rock’s New Wave.” TM “Vocals by male new-wave performers often had a hiccup-y Buddy Holly feel, but the music and songs were ruthlessly nervous, like rockabilly with a chip on its shoulder. Songwriting also became more personal and cryptic. Instead of using universal themes, songs often focused on artists’ pitfalls and flaws, archly cloaked in coded phrases and pop hooks that were far from formulaic.” MM Costello was “one of the most prolific singer-songwriters of the new-wave era.” MM He “had a clever complexity that was reminiscent of Tin Pan Alley greats from the 1930s and ‘40s who favored arch phrases and cosmopolitan wit.” MM The Recording The album was recorded at Eden Studios in London in “a frantic six weeks.” RD It was “a distinct step back from the confrontational music of its predecessor, This Year’s Model.” RD The album “lashes Costello’s acerbic wit to slightly more elaborate production,” TM again provided by “secret power-pop weapon” BL Nick Lowe, who’d produced This Year’s Model. More Pop-Oriented The album certainly “boasted a detailed and textured pop production” AM compared “to the stripped-down pop and rock of his first two albums… but it was hardly lavish.” AM “Some of the songs, like the light reggae of Two Little Hitlers and the impassioned Party Girl, build on his strengths, while others like the layered Oliver’s Army take Costello into new territories. It’s a dense but accessible pop record and ranks as his third masterpiece in a row.” AM However, the more spacious arrangements – complete with ringing pianos, echoing reverb, layered guitars, and harmonies – accent Costello’s melodies, making the record more accessible than his first two albums.” AM In fact, the album went all the way to #2 on the UK charts. He’d repeat that feat two more times but never top the chart. The album was also the highest charting of his career in the U.S., peaking at #10. The Impact of the Attractions “The Attractions, vacuum-tight after a solid year on the road, frame Costello’s show-offishly catchy melodies and acerbic wordplay in grand, tricky arrangements.” BL The album’s “pop arrangements betrayed the hand of classically trained keyboardist” RD Steve Nieve, who “was exerting an increasing influence on proceedings.” RD Costello also acknowledged the music that had influenced them in crafting the album. He and the Attractions had been listening to Abba, Cheap Trick, Loretta Lynn, and Conway Twitty. TM The Album’s Themes “Perversely, while the sound of Costello’s music was becoming more open and welcoming, his songs became more insular and paranoid, even though he cloaked his emotions well. Many of the songs on Armed Forces use politics as a metaphor for personal relationships, particularly fascism, which explains its working title, Emotional Fascism.” AM The album is “a songwriting landmark about nasty collisions of the personal and the political.” BL “Oliver’s Army and Goon Squad are tales of burgeoning fascism among militaristic buffers, old and young, but with Senior Service or Chemistry Class, Costello examines Fuehrer-and-follower tendencies in work, sex, life generally.” MJ “Armed Forces is no period piece thanks to Costello’s strenuously subtle way with a theme.” MJ “Few records in rock nail the details, musical and emotional, the way Armed Forces does.” TM The Music “Occasionally, the lyrics are forced, but the music never is – the album demonstrates the depth of Costello’s compositional talents and how he can move from the hook-laden pop of Accidents Will Happen to the paranoid Goon Squad with ease.” AM Notes “The Rykodisc/Demon 1993 CD reissue…restored the album to its original British running order, adding the B-side cover of Nick Lowe’s ‘What’s So Funny ‘Bout Peace, Love and Understanding?’ – which had been substituted for ‘Sunday’s Best’ on the American version of Armed Forces – as one of the disc's bonus tracks. The CD also includes the B-sides ‘My Funny Valentine,’ ‘Tiny Steps,’ ‘Clean Money,’ the free single ‘Talking in the Dark’/‘Wednesday Week,’ which was included with the initial Radar pressings of Armed Forces, and the Live at Hollywood High EP, which was also included on the first Radar edition.” AM The Rhino double-disc released in 2002 added another 9 songs, for a whopping total of 30. Most of the tracks came from an expanded version of the Live at Hollywood High sessions. The Songs Here’s a breakdown of each of the individual songs.

Accidents Will Happen Elvis Costello

Writer(s): Elvis Costello Released: 5/4/1979 (single), Armed Forces (1979), Best of (compilation, 1985), Girls Girls Girls (compilation, 1989), Very Best (compilation, 1994), Best of the First 10 Years (compilation, 2007) Peak: 28 UK, 10 CL, 8 CO, 12 DF Click for codes to charts. Sales (in millions): -- Airplay/Streaming (in millions): -- radio, -- video, 7.17 streaming

Awards: (Click on award to learn more).

About the Song: “Accidents Will Happen” is “a song that glibly attempted to explain [Costello’s] early infidelities.” MM He said, “I’ve had to make peace with my own failings during that time as a husband and a father. All of those years ended in a painful divorce.” MM “Back in ’78, I was young and newly famous, and I didn’t have any sense of responsibility.” MM “I had gone from being an outsider and not very social to…girls taking an interest because I was somebody they’d heard of.” MM “Temptation came along, and I gave in to it more than I should have.” MM “That’s what this song is really about.” MM Costello also explained that he shifted perspective throughout the song from first to third person. He said, “If I had used the first person – ‘I’ – throughout, it would have sounded too confessional. The third person distracts from the confidence the singer is sharing with the listener and makes the dram more universal and less personal. That was probably self-defense on my part.” MM Costello also said the song was influenced by the “bell-tolling sensation” in Burt Bacharach and Hal David’s “Anyone Who Had a Heart.” He said it was a sound that Attractions’ band member Steve Nieve “articulated well on keyboards.” MM “We could have used ringing guitars, but we had Steve play these cascading arpeggios instead.” MM In addition, Costello was lyrically inspired by the line “I don’t want to hear it” from Randy Newman’s “I Don’t Want to Hear It Anymore.” MM Melodically, he said, “I think somewhere in my mind was the song ‘Walk Away Renee.’” MM “I remember thinking, ‘I wish I could write a melody that was that airborne.” MM

Senior Service Elvis Costello

Writer(s): Elvis Costello Released: Armed Forces (1979) Peak: -- Click for codes to charts. Sales (in millions): -- Airplay/Streaming (in millions): -- radio, -- video, 1.17 streaming

Oliver’s Army Elvis Costello

Writer(s): Elvis Costello Released: 2/2/1979 (single), Armed Forces (1979), Best of (compilation, 1985), Girls Girls Girls (compilation, 1989), Very Best (compilation, 1994), Best of the First 10 Years (compilation, 2007) Peak: 2 UK, 3 CL, 5 CO, 12 DF Click for codes to charts. Sales (in millions): 0.40 UK Airplay/Streaming (in millions): -- radio, -- video, 50.93 streaming

Awards: (Click on award to learn more).

About the Song: “Before critics or his own pretensions persuaded him that he was a literateur, Elvis Costello wrote concise pop songs with a detailed density of sophisticated political and verbal expression the equal of anyone since Bob Dylan.” DM This was his “last grasp at the brass ring.” DM “Written following Costello’s first visit to Northern Ireland, at the height of the so-called Irish Troubles. The image of British soldiers on the streets contrasted sharply with the military’s then apparently carefree recruitment advertisements.” DT “Oliver’s Army” “works as a grand melodic pop song…as a quirky political comment on imperialism and as a series of not-quite-opaque puns.” DM Steve Nieve’s “piano insists on staying in your brain from the last time you’ve heard it ‘til you rise the next day.” DM

Big Boys Elvis Costello

Writer(s): Elvis Costello Released: Armed Forces (1979) Peak: -- Click for codes to charts. Sales (in millions): -- Airplay/Streaming (in millions): -- radio, -- video, 0.87 streaming

Green Shirt Elvis Costello

Writer(s): Elvis Costello Released: April 1985 (single), Armed Forces (1979), Girls Girls Girls (compilation, 1989) Peak: 68 UK, 42 CL, 18 CO Click for codes to charts. Sales (in millions): -- Airplay/Streaming (in millions): -- radio, -- video, 2.21 streaming About the Song: This song was “addressed to BBC TV newsreader Angela Rippon” RD and allowed Steve Nieve “full rein to plunder his keyboard armory.” RD

Party Girl Elvis Costello

Writer(s): Elvis Costello Released: Armed Forces (1979), Girls Girls Girls (compilation, 1989) Peak: -- Click for codes to charts. Sales (in millions): -- Airplay/Streaming (in millions): -- radio, -- video, 0.97 streaming

Goon Squad Elvis Costello

Writer(s): Elvis Costello Released: Armed Forces (1979) Peak: -- Click for codes to charts. Sales (in millions): -- Airplay/Streaming (in millions): -- radio, -- video, 0.87 streaming

Busy Bodies Elvis Costello

Writer(s): Elvis Costello Released: Armed Forces (1979) Peak: -- Click for codes to charts. Sales (in millions): -- Airplay/Streaming (in millions): -- radio, -- video, 0.66 streaming

Sunday’s Best Elvis Costello

Writer(s): Elvis Costello Released: Armed Forces (UK version, 1979), Taking Liberties (archives, 1980), Girls Girls Girls (compilation, 1989) Peak: -- Click for codes to charts. Sales (in millions): -- Airplay/Streaming (in millions): -- radio, -- video, 0.65 streaming About the Song: This song was originally written for Ian Dury, but he rejected it. It was also rejected in the U.S. where it was omitted from the Armed Forces album and replaced with “What’s So Funny ‘Bout Peace, Love and Understanding?,” which was penned by Nick Lowe. It “might have suggested that Costello’s songwriting wellspring was drying up.” RD

Moods for Moderns Elvis Costello

Writer(s): Elvis Costello Released: Armed Forces (1979) Peak: -- Click for codes to charts. Sales (in millions): -- Airplay/Streaming (in millions): -- radio, -- video, 0.69 streaming

Chemistry Class Elvis Costello

Writer(s): Elvis Costello Released: Armed Forces (1979) Peak: -- Click for codes to charts. Sales (in millions): -- Airplay/Streaming (in millions): -- radio, -- video, 0.60 streaming

Two Little Hitlers Elvis Costello

Writer(s): Elvis Costello Released: Armed Forces (1979) Peak: 32 DF Click for codes to charts. Sales (in millions): -- Airplay/Streaming (in millions): -- radio, -- video, 0.96 streaming

What’s So Funny ‘Bout Peace, Love and Understanding Elvis Costello

Writer(s): Nick Lowe (see lyrics here) Released: Nov. 1978 (single), Armed Forces (US version, 1979), Ten Bloody Marys & Ten How’s Your Fathers? (archives, 1980), Best of (compilation, 1985), Very Best (compilation, 1994), Best of the First 10 Years (compilation, 2007) Peak: 5 CL, 1 CO, 2 DF Click for codes to charts. Sales (in millions): -- Airplay/Streaming (in millions): -- radio, 4.3 video, 17.66 streaming

Awards: (Click on award to learn more).

About the Song: Singer/songwriter, musician, and producer Nick Lowe was born in 1949 in England. He started his career in 1967 with the band Kippington Lodge, which later became the pub-rock group Brinsley Schwarz. He wrote the song “What’s So Funny ‘Bout Peace, Love, and Understanding” in 1974 for the group. “Like all pub-rockers, Brinsley Schwarz were lapsed hippies, playing folky-funky in flannel shirts and jeans. Unlike most, Nick Lowe combined his hippie roots with an absolute faith in the corruptibility of mankind.” DM Lowe left in 1975 to form Rockpile with Dave Edmunds before launching a solo career. He also wore the producer’s hat for Elvis Costello, helping him launch his career with his first solo album, 1977’s My Aim Is True. Lowe was back for the 1978 This Year’s Model release and 1979’s Armed Forces. The latter album included Elvis Costello’s cover of “Understanding” on the American release. Costello originally recorded it as the B-side for Lowe’s 1978 single “American Squirm.” WK It was Costello’s idea to record the song. He’d been a fan of Brinsley Schwarz, going to see them play. WK Costello said the original “seemed almost tongue-in-cheek, a take on that brief period after flower power when Tin Pan Alley staff songwriters seemed to say, ‘Hey, let’s get in on some of this crazy peace and love stuff that the kids are digging today.’” WK Critic Dave Marsh said, “Costello eradicated Lowe’s cynicism and replaced it with joyous acceptance and thinly veiled remorse.” DM The song oozes with “Springsteen-like idealism.” TM Lowe said, “it was he who really popularized that song. It’s been covered by loads of people, and it would’ve disappeared if it wasn’t for him.” WK Marsh called it “the hottest rock and roll [Costello’s] band, the Attractions, ever made.” DM Music historian Steve Sullivan says the song “became the most unforgettable of Costello’s early recordings which established him at the vanguard of British rock’s new wave.” SS

My Funny Valentine Elvis Costello

Writer(s): Richard Rodgers, Lorenz Hart Released: 2/2/1979 (B-side of “Oliver’s Army”), Taking Liberties (archives, 1980), Ten Bloody Marys & Ten How’s Your Fathers? (archives, 1980) Peak: 39 CO, 14 DF Click for codes to charts. Sales (in millions): -- Airplay/Streaming (in millions): -- radio, -- video, 1.50 streaming About the Song: This song was written by Rodgers & Hart in 1937 for the musical Babes in Arms. Read more about the song here.

Talking in the Dark Elvis Costello

Writer(s): Elvis Costello Released: 5/4/1979 (B-side of “Accidents Will Happen”), Taking Liberties (archives, 1980), Ten Bloody Marys & Ten How’s Your Fathers? (archives, 1980) Peak: -- Click for codes to charts. Sales (in millions): -- Airplay/Streaming (in millions): -- radio, -- video, 0.05 streaming

Wednesday Week Elvis Costello

Writer(s): Elvis Costello Released: 5/4/1979 (B-side of “Accidents Will Happen”), Taking Liberties (archives, 1980), Ten Bloody Marys & Ten How’s Your Fathers? (archives, 1980) Peak: -- Click for codes to charts. Sales (in millions): -- Airplay/Streaming (in millions): -- radio, -- video, 0.14 streaming

Crawling to the U.S.A. Elvis Costello

Writer(s): Elvis Costello Released: Americathon soundtrack (1979), Taking Liberties (archives, 1980), Ten Bloody Marys & Ten How’s Your Fathers? (archives, 1980) Peak: -- Click for codes to charts. Sales (in millions): -- Airplay/Streaming (in millions): -- radio, -- video, 0.50 streaming About the Song: This was recorded for the Americathon soundtrack, released August 10, 1979.

So Young Elvis Costello

Writer(s): Joe Camilleri, Jeff Burstin, Tony Faehse Recorded: 1979 Released: Out of Our Idiot (archives, 1987) Peak: -- Click for codes to charts. Sales (in millions): -- Airplay/Streaming (in millions): -- radio, -- video, 0.05 streaming About the Song: This song was first recorded by Jo Jo Zep & the Falcons and released in September 1978. It reached #48 in Australia. Elvis Costello & the Attractions started performing the song live and made a studio recording of the song in 1979.

Resources/References: AM AllMusic.com review by Stephen Thomas Erlewine BL Blender magazine (March 2005). By Douglas Wolk. Pages 156-8. RD Robert Dimery (2006). 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die. Quintet Publishing Limited: New York, NY. Page 438. DM Dave Marsh (1989). The Heart of Rock & Soul: The 1001 Greatest Singles Ever Made. New American Library: New York, NY. Pages 385-6, 479. MJ Mojo. (January 2006). By Phil Sutcliffe. Pages 170-1. TM Tom Moon (2008). 1,000 Recordings to Hear Before You Die. Workman Publishing Company, Inc.: New York, NY. Pages 190-1. MM Marc Myers (12/6/2022). Anatomy of 55 More Songs. Grove Press: New York, NY. Pages 265-9. SS Steve Sullivan (2013). Encyclopedia of Great Popular Song Recordings (Volumes I & II). Scarecrow Press: Lanham, Maryland. Pages 868-9. DT Dave Thompson (2011). 1000 Songs That Rock Your World. Krause Publications: Iola, WI. Page 267. VB Vibe (Dec. 1999). “100 Essential Albums of the 20th Century,” pages 154-164. WK Wikipedia page for “What’s So Funny ‘Bout Peace, Love and Understanding?” Related DMDB Pages: First posted 3/28/2008; last updated 4/25/2026.