Elvis Costello: A Retrospective (1977-1987)

Elvis Costello A Retrospective: 1977-1987

Overview: Singer/songwriter Elvis Costello was born Declan McManus in Paddington, London, England, on August 25, 1954. He changed his name to Elvis Costello in 1976. He came out of the British punk/new wave scene in 1977 and became one of the most celebrated musicians of all time with his diverse abilities for dipping his toe into multiple musical genres including R&B, country, and classical. Links DMDB encyclopedia entry for Elvis Costello ElvisCostello.com (official site) Facebook Wikipedia Elvis Costello: Top 50 Songs Elvis Costello: Top 25 Albums

Awards

Studio Albums

Compilations B Best of (covers 1977-84, released 1985) G Girls Girls Girls (covers 1977-86, released 1989) 94 Very Best of (covers 1977-86, released 1994) 10 Best of the First Ten Years (covers 1977-86, released 2007) Spotify Playlist Here’s my Best of Elvis Costello (1977-1987) playlist at Spotify which gathers all the songs from Best of, Very Best of, and Best of the First Ten Years alongside other singles from the era. Archives TL Taking Liberties (covers 1977-80, released 1980) BM Ten Bloody Marys & Ten Here’s Your Fathers (covers 1977-80, released 1980) OI Out of Our Idiot (covers 1979-87, released 1987) Under each album snapshot, songs featured on the anthologies are noted. If the song charted, the date of the song’s release or first chart appearance and its chart peaks are noted in parentheses. Click for codes to charts.

My Aim Is True Elvis Costello

Released: July 22, 1977 Peak: 32 US, 14 UK, 24 CN, 25 AU Click for codes to charts. Sales (in millions): 1.0 US, 0.06 UK, 1.06 world (includes US + UK) Genre: new wave Rating: 4.460 out of 5.00 (average of 29 ratings)

Awards: (Click on award to learn more).

Tracks: Welcome to the Working Week Miracle Man No Dancing Blame It on Cain Alison B, G, 94, 10 Sneaky Feelings The Angels Wanna Wear My Red Shoes B, 10 Less Than Zero G Mystery Dance G Pay It Back I’m Not Angry Waiting for the End of the World Watching the Detectives * BM, B, G, 94, 10 * only on U.S. version Also from This Era: Radio Sweetheart TL, BM About the Album: Elvis Costello’s debut album was a brilliant, genre-bending piece of music that combined his pub-band playing sensibilities with cynical and bitter lyrics that betrayed a punk rocker at heart. Read more about this album on its dedicated DMDB page.

This Year’s Model Elvis Costello & the Attractions

Released: March 17, 1978 Peak: 30 US, 4 UK, 26 CN, 21 AU Click for codes to charts. Sales (in millions): 0.5 US, 0.1 UK, 0.6 world (includes US + UK) Genre: new wave Rating: 4.428 out of 5.00 (average of 27 ratings)

Awards: (Click on award to learn more).

Tracks: No Action This Year’s Girl G The Beat Pump It Up B, G, 94, 10 Little Triggers You Belong to Me Hand in Hand I Don’t Want to Go to Chelsea * TL, G, 94, 10 Lip Service Living in Paradise Lipstick Vogue G Night Rally * Radio Radio ** BM, B, 94, 10 * U.K. version only ** U.S. version only Also from This Era: Big Tears TL, BM, G Stranger in the House (with George Jones) TL, BM Tiny Steps TL, BM, G About the Album: For his second album, Costello assembled a new backing band, the Attractions. They gave him an edgier sound – especially via Steve Nieve’s keyboards – that served as the perfect companion to a set of songs that seethed with viciousness and gave the album a more punk sound while also making for a major breakthrough in new wave music. Read more on this album’s dedicated DMDB page.

Armed Forces Elvis Costello & the Attractions

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 Rating: 4.356 out of 5.00 (average of 23 ratings)

Awards: (Click on award to learn more).

Tracks: Accidents Will Happen B, G, 94, 10 Senior Service Oliver’s Army B, G, 94, 10 Big Boys Green Shirt G Party Girl G Goon Squad Busy Bodies Sunday’s Best * TL, G Moods for Moderns Chemistry Class Two Little Hitlers What’s So Funny ‘Bout Peace, Love and Understanding? ** BM, B, 94, 10 * only on UK version ** only on US version Also from This Era: My Funny Valentine TL, BM Talking in the Dark TL, BM Wednesday Week TL, BM Crawling to the U.S.A. TL, BM So Young OI About the Album: Costello’s third album had more of a pop sensibility; indeed, it became his highest-charting album in the U.S. and one of three albums in his career to peak at #2 in the UK. The move put him more at the forefront of the burgeoning New Wave scene than the pub rocker-meets-punk ethos he’d previously established. Read more on the DMDB page devoted to this album.

Get Happy!! Elvis Costello & the Attractions

Released: February 15, 1980 Peak: 11 US, 2 UK, 25 CN, 24 AU Click for codes to charts. Sales (in millions): -- US, 0.10 UK Genre: new wave Rating: 3.880 out of 5.00 (average of 22 ratings)

Awards: (Click on award to learn more).

Tracks: Love for Tender Opportunity The Imposter Secondary Modern King Horse G Possession G Men Called Uncle G Clowntime Is Over TL, BM New Amsterdam (single, 6/13/1980, #36 UK) G, 94 High Fidelity (single, 4/4/1980, #30 UK) G, 94, 10 I Can't Stand Up for Falling Down (single, 2/8/1980, #4 UK) B, 94, 10 Black and White World TL, BM, G 5ive Gears in Reverse B Movie Motel Matches G Human Touch Beaten to the Punch Temptation G I Stand Accused Riot Act G Also from This Era: Girls Talk (B-side of “I Can’t Stand Up for Falling Down,” 2/8/1980) TL, BM Getting Mighty Crowded (B-side of “High Fidelity,” 4/4/1980) TL, BM Dr. Luther’s Assistant (B-side of “New Amsterdam,” 6/13/1980) TL, BM Ghost Train (B-side of “New Amsterdam,” 6/13/1980) TL, BM Just a Memory (B-side of “New Amsterdam,” 6/13/1980) TL, BM About the Album: “Exhausted with New Wave and reeling from a disastrous, drunken brawl in Ohio that left him charged with racism and convicted of assholedom, Costello bought a big stack of old singles for inspiration and reinvented the Attractions as a high-speed Stax- and Motown-inspired ‘60s R&B act. The unexpected but brilliant result plays like anybody else’s greatest-hits album: an enormous pile of compact, witty melody-grenades.” BL “Fed up with himself and the bristling, sneery sound of his first three albums, Costello bought 50 quid’s worth of soul singles and recalibrated. Every track grew from ‘failed’ attempts to imitate Booker T., Al Green and other immortals. But no soulster ever cranked it up to frantic like him – as on hits I Can’t Stand Up for Falling Down and High Fidelity – nor poured such wild energy into bitter, cryptic wordplay. His harangues re money, love, and their corruptive interaction can be a bit like having a street corner crackpot grasp your lapels, but it’s compulsive listening.” MJ

Trust Elvis Costello & the Attractions

Released: January 23, 1981 Peak: 28 US, 9 UK, 13 CN, 71 AU Click for codes to charts. Sales (in millions): -- Genre: new wave Rating: 3.833 out of 5.00 (average of 20 ratings)

Tracks: Clubland (single, 12/12/1980) B, G, 94, 10 Lover’s Walk G You’ll Never Be a Man Pretty Words Strict Time G Luxembourg (B-side of “From a Whisper to a Scream,” 2/27/1981) Watch Your Step (single, April 1981) B, G, 94 New Lace Sleeves G, 10 From a Whisper to a Scream (single, 2/27/1981) Different Finger White Knuckles Shot with His Own Gun Fish ‘n’ Chip Paper Big Sister’s Clothes G Also from This Era: Clean Money (B-side of “Clubland,” 12/12/1980) TL, BM Hoover Factory (B-side of “Clubland,” 12/12/1980) TL, BM About the Album: “Costello calls this ‘the most drug-influenced record of my career,’ and it’s also his most fragmented and jittery. The fifth album he’d made in less than four years, it drew heavily on songs written before his debut, with cryptic, nervous lyrics, and the Attractions twitching in rhythm.” BL

Taking Liberties (archives) Elvis Costello

Recorded: 1977-1980 Released: October 11, 1980 Peak: 28 US, -- UK, 61 CN, -- AU Click for codes to charts. Sales (in millions): -- Genre: new wave Rating: 2.953 out of 5.00 (average of 13 ratings)

Tracks: (1) Clean Money (2) Girls Talk (3) Talking in the Dark (4) Radio Sweetheart (5) Black and White World (demo) (6) Big Tears (7) Just a Memory (8) Night Rally (9) Stranger in the House (10) Clowntime Is Over (Version 2) (11) Getting Mighty Crowded (12) Hoover Factory (13) Tiny Steps (14) I Don’t Want to Go to Chelsea (15) Dr. Luther’s Assistant (16) Sunday’s Best (17) Crawling to the U.S.A. (18) Wednesday Week (19) My Funny Valentine (20) Ghost Train Total Running Time: 50:45 About the Album: This archival collection gathered up B-sides from singles released by Costello from 1977 to 1980 in support of his first five studio albums. This North American-only release is very similar to the UK release Ten Bloody Marys & Ten How’s Your Fathers.

Ten Bloody Marys & Ten How’s Your Fathers (archives) Elvis Costello

Recorded: 1977-1980 Released: November 7, 1980 Peak: -- Click for codes to charts. Sales (in millions): -- Genre: new wave Rating: 1.797 out of 5.00 (average of 7 ratings)

Tracks: (1) Clean Money (2) Girls Talk (3) Talking in the Dark (4) Radio Sweetheart (5) Big Tears (6) Crawling to the U.S.A. (7) Just a Memory (8) Watching the Detectives (9) Stranger in the House (10) Clowntime Is Over (Version 2) (11) Getting Mighty Crowded (12) Hoover Factory (13) Tiny Steps (14) What’s So Funny ‘Bout Peace, Love and Understanding? (15) Dr. Luther’s Assistant (16) Radio Radio (17) Black and White World (No. 2) (18) Wednesday Week (19) My Funny Valentine (20) Ghost Train Total Running Time: 52:37 About the Album: This is the UK version of the North American release Taking Liberties.

Almost Blue Elvis Costello & the Attractions

Released: October 23, 1981 Peak: 50 US, 7 UK, -- CN, 50 AU Click for codes to charts. Sales (in millions): -- US, 0.10 UK Genre: new wave/country Rating: 3.347 out of 5.00 (average of 15 ratings)

Tracks: Why Don’t You Love Me (Like You Used to Do)? Sweet Dreams (single, 12/4/1981) Success I’m Your Toy (single, 4/2/1982) Tonight the Bottle Let Me Down Brown to Blue A Good Year for the Roses (single, Sept. 1981) B, 94, 10 Sittin’ and Thinkin’ Colour of the Blues Too Far Gone Honey Hush How Much I Lied Also from This Era: Your Angel Steps Out of Heaven (B-side of “A Good Year for the Roses,” Sept. 1981) Psycho (B-side of “Sweet Dreams,” 12/4/1981) Cry Cry Cry (B-side of “I’m Your Toy,” 4/2/1982) Wondering (B-side of “I’m Your Toy,” 4/2/1982) About the Album: “The first of many genre experiments to come, recorded under the influence of a marriage (and plenty of booze) on the rocks. Costello took the Attractions to Nashville to drown his sorrows in other people’s country standards, produced by schmaltzmeister Billy Sherrill. But the overwrought results are mostly interesting as a gesture of defiance.” BL

Imperial Bedroom Elvis Costello

Released: July 2, 1982 Peak: 30 US, 6 UK, 27 CN, 49 AU Click for codes to charts. Sales (in millions): -- Genre: new wave Rating: 4.121 out of 5.00 (average of 23 ratings)

Awards: (Click on award to learn more).

Tracks: Beyond Belief (B-side of “Green Shirt,” April 1985) B, G, 94, 10 Tears Before Bedtime Shabby Doll G The Long Honeymoon Man Out of Time (single, 7/23/1982, #58 UK) B, G, 94, 10 Almost Blue B, G, 10 ...And in Every Home The Loved Ones G Human Hands Kid About It Little Savage Boy with a Problem Pidgin English You Little Fool (single, 6/19/1982, #52 UK) Town Cryer (B-side of “Man Out of Time,” 7/23/1982) Also from This Era: Big Sister (B-side of “You Little Fool,” 6/19/1982) OI The Stamping Ground (B-side of “You Little Fool,” 6/19/1982) OI From Head to Toe (non-album single, 9/10/1982) OI The World of Broken Hearts (B-side of “From Head to Toe,” 9/10/1982) Party Party (single from Party Party soundtrack, 12/3/1982) Imperial Bedroom (B-side of “Party Party,” 12/3/1982) OI About the Album: “Rather tought to understand thanks to adventurous orchestrations and hyperdense songwriting (aside from the dark, lucid ballad Almost Blue). Keep digging, though, and there are some gorgeous songs here; the Attractions get to show off their range and subtlety too.” BL “Costello’s new habit of writing mostly on piano must have been crucial – take his after-midnight Sinatra re-creation ‘Almost Blue’ or how a more typical piece, Boy with a Problem, ignores standard structure to follow where the melody leads. His sleevenote recalls he was struggling out of a ‘defeated and exhausted frame of mind to something more glorious’. So he hired an orchestra for some tracks, specifically seeking a touch of The Beatles’ range. Fresh and fluet compositions – Beyond Belief, Shabby Doll, The Long Honeymoon – hauled him out of the mire.” MJ

Punch the Clock Elvis Costello & the Attractions

Released: August 5, 1983 Peak: 24 US, 3 UK, 26 CN, 22 AU Click for codes to charts. Sales (in millions): -- US, 0.10 UK Genre: new wave Rating: 3.472 out of 5.00 (average of 20 ratings)

Awards: (Click on award to learn more).

Tracks: Let Them All Talk (single, 9/2/1983) Everyday I Write the Book (single, 7/1/1983) B, 94, 10 The Greatest Thing The Element Within Her Love Went Mad Shipbuilding (single, 1983) B, G, 94, 10 T.K.O. (Boxing Day) Charm School The Invisible Man Mouth Almighty King of Thieves Pills and Soap (single, May 1983) G The World and His Wife (B-side of “Shipbuilding,” 1983) Also from This Era: Heathen Town (B-side of “Everyday I Write the Book,” 7/1/1983) OI The Flirting Kind (B-side of “Let Them All Talk,” 9/2/1983) OI About the Album: “In a not-entirely-successful attempt to score pop hits, Costello slicked up his production and augmented the Attractions with a horn section. ‘There’s probably four real songs on that album,’ he later snorted, but it’s got a whimsy and effervescence that’s rare in his work, offset by two devastating songs about Margaret Thatcher-era British politics.” BL

Goodbye Cruel World Elvis Costello

Released: June 18, 1984 Peak: 35 US, 10 UK, 55 CN, 53 AU Click for codes to charts. Sales (in millions): -- US, 0.06 UK Genre: new wave Rating: 3.108 out of 5.00 (average of 14 ratings)

Tracks: The Only Flame in Town (single, July 1984) B Home Truth Room with No Number Inch by Inch Worthless Thing Love Field G, 94 I Wanna Be Loved (single, 6/1/1984) B The Comedians Joe Porterhouse Sour Milk-Cow Blues The Great Unknown The Deportees Club Peace in Our Time (single, 1984) Also from This Era: Little Goody Two Shoes (early version of “Inch by Inch”) OI Withered and Die (B-side of “Peace in Our Time,” 1984) OI Turning the Town Red (B-side of “I Wanna Be Loved,” 6/1/1984) OI Baby It’s You (B-side of “The Only Flame in Town,” July 1984) OI Walking on Thin Ice (1984) OI About the Album: “Costello has called this ‘our worst record,’ although it’s not that bad – ‘most dated’ is probably more accurate, thanks to its awful, synth-heavy production. His misery-wallowing is swaddled in reams of verbiage, although a handful of the songs are terrific, as the stripped-down versions on the reissue reveal.” BL

The Best of Elvis Costello & the Attractions (compilation) Elvis Costello & the Attractions

Recorded: 1977-1984 Released: 1985 Charted: November 30, 1985 Peak: 116 US, -- UK, -- CN, -- AU Click for codes to charts. Sales (in millions): 1.0 US, -- UK Genre: new wave Rating: 4.382 out of 5.00 (average of 13 ratings)

Awards: (Click on award to learn more).

Tracks: (1) Alison (2) Watching the Detectives (3) What’s So Funny ‘Bout Peace, Love and Understanding? (4) Oliver’s Army (5) The Angels Wanna Wear My Red Shoes (6) Pump It Up (7) Accidents Will Happen (8) Radio Radio (9) I Can’t Stand Up for Falling Down (10) A Good Year for the Roses (11) Almost Blue (12) Beyond Belief (13) Man Out of Time (14) Clubland (15) Watch Your Step (16) Shipbuilding (17) I Wanna Be Loved (18) Everyday I Write the Book (19) The Only Flame in Town Total Running Time: 64:25 (CD version) About the Album: The first Elvis Costello compilation is a fabulous overview of his first nine albums, covering 1977 to 1984.

King of America Elvis Costello

Released: February 21, 1986 Peak: 39 US, 11 UK, 49 CN, 67 AU Click for codes to charts. Sales (in millions): -- US, 0.06 UK Genre: new wave Rating: 3.740 out of 5.00 (average of 21 ratings)

Awards: (Click on award to learn more).

Tracks: Brilliant Mistake G, 94, 10 Lovable (single, 1986) G Our Little Angel Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood (single, Jan. 1986) Glitter Gulch Indoor Fireworks G, 94, 10 Little Palaces I'll Wear It Proudly American Without Tears Eisenhower Blues Poisoned Rose The Big Light Jack of All Parades Suit of Lights Sleep of the Just Also from This Era: The People’s Limousine (single, 7/20/1985) OI They’ll Never Take Her Love from Me (B-side of “The People’s Limousine, 7/20/1985) Baby’s Got a Brand New Hairdo (B-side of “Don’t Let Me Be Misunderstood,” Jan. 1986) OI Get Yourself Another Fool (B-side of “Lovable,” 1986) OI Seven-Day Weekend (with Jimmy Cliff) (single, 1986) OI About the Album: “Released under the name ‘The Costello Show’ and recorded mostly with American rockabilly and R&B musicians – including some who had backed up that other Elvis – this is an actual mature album: thoughtful, calm and introspective, with songs that are more deep than clever. The ragged-voiced Costello is not just playing tribute to the country (and Gram Parsons) records he loves; he’s absorbed them, and he’s building and English palace on their terrain.” BL “What Elvis means to Costello remains oddly unexplored, but here he took the allusion o teasing lengths by playing several tracks with Presley band members including guitarist James Burton. This turned out fine, viz blistering rock’n’roll satire Glitter Gulch and Lovable’s slapalong jive. But that year’s feud with The Attractions also seems to have freed his singing – given more time and space he finds new shades of mercy and kindness – and his writing – Brilliant Mistake, Indoor Fireworks and, above all, ‘40s-style torch song Poisoned Rose combine emotional insight and beauty as never before. He just couldn’t stop moving on.” MJ

Blood and Chocolate Elvis Costello

Released: September 15, 1986 Peak: 67 US, 16 UK, 79 CN, -- AU Click for codes to charts. Sales (in millions): -- US, 0.10 UK Genre: new wave Rating: 3.779 out of 5.00 (average of 19 ratings)

Awards: (Click on award to learn more).

Tracks: Uncomplicated G I Hope You’re Happy Now (B-side of “I Want You,” 11/11/1986) G Tokyo Storm Warning (single, 8/1/1986) G Home Is Anywhere You Hang Your Head I Want You (single, 11/11/1986) G, 94, 10 Honey, Are You Straight or Are You Blind? Blue Chair (single, Jan. 1987) OI Battered Old Bird Crimes of Paris Poor Napoleon Next Time Round Also from This Era: Black Sails in the Sunset (B-side of “Tokyo Storm Warning,” 8/1/1986) OI American Without Tears No. 2 (Twilight Version) (B-side of “Blue Chair,” Jan. 1987) OI Shoes Without Heels (12-inch of “Blue Chair,” 1987) OI About the Album: “Freshly married to Pogues bassist Cait O’Riordan, Costello (crediting himself as ‘Napoleon Dynamite’!) made his fuck-you-and-goodbye album: blistering songs about sexual despair and disgust, played live to tape, with the Attractions almost blowing out their amps and Elvis spitting himself hoarse. Two tracks are over six minutes long, because the venom won’t stop spilling out.” BL

Out of Our Idiot (archives) Elvis Costello

Recorded: 1979-1987 Released: December 4, 1987 Peak: -- Click for codes to charts. Sales (in millions): -- US, 0.06 UK Genre: new wave Rating: 2.075 out of 5.00 (average of 13 ratings)

Tracks: (1) Seven-Day Weekend (with Jimmy Cliff) (2) Turning the Town Red (3) Heathen Town (4) The People’s Limousine (5) So Young (6) Little Goody Two Shoes (7) American Without Tears No. 2 (8) Get Yourself Another Fool (9) Walking on Thin Ice (10) Withered and Died (11) Blue Chair (12) Baby It’s You (13) From Head to Toe (14) Shoes Without Heels (15) Baby’s Got a Brand New Hairdo (16) The Flirting Kind (17) Black Sails in the Sunset (18) A Town Called Big Nothing (Really Big Nothing) (19) Big Sister (20) Imperial Bedroom (21) The Stamping Ground Total Running Time: 70:47 About the Album: This was a companion to the 1980 UK release Taking Liberties. That collection gathered B-sides from 1977 to 1980. This one focuses on 1979 to 1987. Tracks Not on Previously Noted Albums: A Town Called Big Nothing (Really Big Nothing) (12-inch single, 1987) OI

Girls Girls Girls (compilation) Elvis Costello

Recorded: 1977-1986 Released: October 1989 Peak: -- US, 67 UK, -- CN, -- AU Click for codes to charts. Sales (in millions): -- Genre: new wave Rating: 4.162 out of 5.00 (average of 14 ratings)

Awards: (Click on award to learn more).

Tracks, Disc 1: (1) Watching the Detectives (2) I Hope You’re Happy Now (3) This Year’s Girl (4) Lover’s Walk (5) Pump It Up (6) Strict Time (7) Temptation (8) I Don’t Want to Go to Chelsea (9) High Fidelity (10) Lovable (11) Mystery Dance (12) Big Tears (13) Uncomplicated (14) Lipstick Vogue (15) Man Out of Time (16) Brilliant Mistake (17) New Lace Sleeves (18) Accidents Will Happen (19) Beyond Belief (20) Black and White World (21) Green Shirt (22) The Loved Ones (23) New Amsterdam (24) The Angels Wanna Wear My Red Shoes (25) King Horse (26) Big Sister’s Clothes Tracks, Disc 2: (1) Alison (2) Men Called Uncle (3) Party Girl (4) Shabby Doll (5) Motel Matches (6) Tiny Steps (7) Almost Blue (8) Riot Act (9) Love Field (10) Possession (11) Poisoned Blue (12) Indoor Fireworks (13) I Want You (14) Oliver’s Army (15) Pills and Soap (16) Sunday’s Best (17) Watch Your Step (18) Less Than Zero (19) Clubland (20) Tokyo Storm Warning (21) Shipbuilding About the Album: “He may now be immersed in string quartets and wordy diatribes, but at one time Costello spun out one concise, nervous nugget after another. Here are 47 of them-sequenced in no particular order by the man himself-on two CDs that never fail to remind you of his gift for a melody and a clever turn of phrase.” EW’93 It comes up short because of the omissions of some of his most familiar songs such as “Everyday I Write the Book” and “Radio Radio.” Similarly, because the focus is on only material written by Costello, he doesn’t include such classics as “What’s So Funny ‘Bout Peace, Love and Understanding?” and “A Good Year for the Roses.” Ultimately it’s hard to understand who this collection is for. 47 tracks is too overwhelming for the casual fan and there aren’t archival or special recordings to attract Costello devotees.

Very Best of (compilation) Elvis Costello & the Attractions

Recorded: 1977-1986 Released: October 25, 1994 Peak: 116 US, 57 UK, -- CN, 124 AU Click for codes to charts. Sales (in millions): -- US, 0.10 UK Genre: new wave Rating: 4.241 out of 5.00 (average of 15 ratings)

Tracks: (1) Alison (2) Watching the Detectives (3) I Don’t Want to Go to Chelsea (4) Pump It Up (5) Radio Radio (6) What’s So Funny ‘Bout Peace, Love and Understanding? (7) Oliver’s Army (8) Accidents Will Happen (9) I Can’t Stand Up for Falling Down (10) New Amsterdam (11) High Fidelity (12) Clubland (13) Watch Your Step (14) A Good Year for the Roses (15) Beyond Belief (16) Man Out of Time (17) Everyday I Write the Book (18) Shipbuilding (19) Love Field (20) Brilliant Mistake (21) Indoor Fireworks (22) I Want You Total Running Time: 77:07 About the Album: This is practically a reissue of the 1985 Best of collection. This one gets the slight edge as it has nearly all the same songs but extends the track listing from 19 songs to 22 and represents two more albums than the previous collection.

Best of the First 10 Years (compilation) Elvis Costello

Recorded: 1977-1986 Released: May 1, 2007 Peak: 110 US, -- UK, -- CN, -- AU Click for codes to charts. Sales (in millions): -- Genre: new wave Rating: 4.347 out of 5.00 (average of 13 ratings)

Tracks: (1) The Angels Wanna Wear My Red Shoes (2) Alison (3) Watching the Detectives (4) I Don’t Want to Go to Chelsea (5) Pump It Up (6) Radio Radio (7) Accidents Will Happen (8) Oliver’s Army (9) What’s So Funny ‘Bout Peace, Love and Understanding? (10) I Can’t Stand Up for Falling Down (11) High Fidelity (12) Clubland (13) New Lace Sleeves (14) A Good Year for the Roses (15) Beyond Belief (16) Man Out of Time (17) Almost Blue (18) Everyday I Write the Book (19) Shipbuilding (20) Brilliant Mistake (21) Indoor Fireworks (22) I Want You Total Running Time: 1:18:36 About the Album: It’s hard to understand the need for this collection as it practically replicates the 1994 Very Best of compilation.

Resources/References: BL Blender magazine (March 2005). By Douglas Wolk. Pages 156-8. EW’93 Entertainment Weekly (10/29/1993). “100 Greatest CDs: A Love-It-Or-Loathe It Guide to the Essential Disc Library” MJ Mojo. (January 2006). By Phil Sutcliffe. Pages 170-1. Related DMDB Links: First posted 5/9/2011; last updated 4/25/2026.