My 27 Favorite Elvis Costello Songs
Submitted by lbangs on Fri, 01/16/2004 - 05:47
Tags:
- 1) Lipstick Vogue
- 2) Shipbuilding
- 3) Tokyo Storm Warning
- 4) Big Boys [demo version]
- 5) Pills and Soap
- 6) New Lace Sleeves
- 7) King Horse
- 8) Hurry Down Doomsday (The Bugs Are Taking Over)
- 9) Watching the Detectives
- 10) Human Hands
- 11) I Want You
- 12) You'll Never Be a Man
- 13) Beyond Belief
- 14) Goon Squad
- 15) Love for Tender
- 16) Riot Act
- 17) (The Angels Wanna Wear My) Red Shoes
- 18) White Knuckles
- 19) New Amsterdam
- 20) Bedlam
- 21) No Action
- 22) So Like Candy
- 23) Tiny Steps
- 24) Two Little Hitlers
- 25) Party Girl
- 26) Radio, Radio
- 27) Motel Matches
Author Comments:
Next to Bob Dylan, I don't think any popular music artist has a stronger collection of tunes. This list will probably change, but hey, it's a start!
I think it's kinda funny that even though you like Elvis Costello far more than I do, we still seem to have similar tastes in his best work.
Really, from This Year's Model, you have "Lipstick Vogue", "No Action", and "Radio Radio." Add "Lip Service" and "Living in Paradise" to that, and you have my picks for the highlights of the album. As for My Aim Is True, you have "Watching the Detectives" and "(The Angels Wanna Wear My) Red Shoes." Add "Alison" and "I'm Not Angry", and you have my picks for the highlights as well.
I thought it was interesting...
Note: I didn't mention the acoustic "Big Boys" because I haven't listened to the bonus tracks disc nearly as much as the original album, so I don't remember it very well.
That is really quite strange, especially since the other \two you picked off of Aim would, with Welcome to the Working Week, probably be the next ones I would pick off the album!
You'll have to test drive a few of the songs you haven't heard yet and see what ya think!
Shalom, y'all!
L. Bangs
I would have to add:
Miracle Man - top 5
Accidents Will Happen (live version from the EP) - top 5
Girls Talk - top 10
Great tunes. Girls Talk almost made it on here. I also really dig Dave Edmunds' version of that tune, tiny, clangy guitar and all!
Shalom, y'all!
L. Bangs
I agree - I prefer the Dave Edmonds version. His version is on my
list of all-time favourites.
That's a great list, and I'm glad to see two songs that a lot of fans seem to hate (Tokyo, Doomsday) in your top 10.
I was at several Elvis shows a couple of years ago and every time they did Lipstick Vogue, it was so very FIERCE. Wicked cool.
Thanks! I know many people who hate Doomsday. I think the cluttered music works with the song, and hearing lines like, "In time you can turn these obsessions into careers," and the entire verse about the sensitives types getting picked off first, "Look out! There goes Gordon..." I have to dig it.
Come to think of it, I think this was the first Costello song I fell in love with...
I'd love to see Costello drive Lipstick home live. You bum...
Shalom, y'all!
L. Bangs
great list - a little light on King of America and Imperial Bedroom, funny to hear "doomsday" as first Costello song you fell in love with - great to hear a younger fan who went back to the early classics for a lot of choices. I've been a fan from the beginning - although the first album I bought was this years model and first fell in love with "the beat."
Thanks!
Although Imperial Bedroom is easily one of my favorite albums by Costello, not too many individual songs really stand out for me. It is just an album I love as an album, I guess.
I've learned the hard way always to go back and listen to an artist's classic albums early on. I have several friends who got burned on Dylan around the same time period via Under the Red Sky. Too many people think the best way to audition a classic artist is to buy the newest CD. Big mistake...
This Year's Model is still my favorite Costello album!
Shalom, y'all!
L. Bangs
Any verse that starts with "any day now a giant insect mutation" is a great verse.
Look out! There goes Gordon... :)
Shalom, y'all!
L. Bangs
Strict Time
Ah, I love that song.
This was a 25-item list. At some point, it grew. I could easily make it up to a hundred, I reckon.
And then, that song would certainly be there... :)
Although, to be honest, why is it not already? Some great lines there - Muscles flex and fingers curl and a cold sweat breaks out on a sweater girl and smoking a cigarette of chastity (I love to imitate the way his voice encircles and nearly swallows that last word) and - oh, how is it not here? But what to chop?
You see my problem. ;)
Shalom, y'all!
L. Bangs
Okay, I'm not nearly the Costello fan you are, and I haven't even heard a few of his albums, but despite these caveats, no "Allison"? That song struck me from the first moment I heard it, and it's still my favorite.
"(The Angels Don't Wanna Wear My) Red Shoes" is also pretty bad-ass too, so I was glad to see it.
Johnny Waco
How is that not here?
Am I going to have to expand this? And does that mean I will never finish my Dylan list?
Ah...
Shalom, y'all!
L. Bangs
Aww, no love for "Oliver's Army"? C'mon! :-)