POX: Elvis Costello

and actually I'm already getting very fond of the early rocksteady versions of "New Lace Sleeves" and "Watch Your Step" on the new Get Happy!! reissue, but we'll see how those age w/ me.

..."Tokyo Storm Warning" is two minutes too long. I'm also perversely fascinated with the "Wave A White Flag" demo on the original Ryko CD reissue of My Aim Is True, because it chills me to the bone every time I hear it.

"the other side of summer"
"13 steps lead down"
"little atoms"
"jacksons, monk, & rowe"
"veronica"
"kinder murder"
"tear off your own head (it's a doll revolution)"
"complicated shadows"
"deep, dark truthful summer"
"my brave face"

1. Shipbuilding
2. London's Brilliant Parade
3. Veronica
4. The Long Honeymoon
5. Any King's Shilling
6. So Like Candy
7. Almost Blue
8. Oliver's Army
9. Sulky Girl
10.Alison

2 Little Hitlers
Brilliant Mistake
Shabby Doll
The Beat
Less Than Zero
Moods for Moderns
Man Out of Time
Tokyo Storm Warning
... This Town
Indoor Fireworks

OTM.. When I saw him he closed with this, segued into Almost Blue and it was HAUNTING

If I would've remembered "Deep Dark Truthful Mirror" it probably would've been on my list

Well you can laugh at this sentimental story
But in time you'll have to make amends
The sudden chill where lovers doubt their immortality
As the clouds cover the sky the evening ends
Describing a picture of eyes finally closing
As you sometimes glimpse terrible faces in the fire
We'll I'm the lucky goon
Who composed this tune
from birds arranged on the high wire

Who on earth is tapping at the window?
Does that face still linger at the pane?
I saw you shiver though the room was like a furnace
A shadow of regret across a young mother's face
So toll the bell or rock the cradle
Please don't let me fear anything I cannot explain
I can't believe, I'll never believe in anything again

Beyond Belief
Oliver's Army
Watching The Detectives
Night Rally
Shipbuilding sung by Wyatt, if that's allowed
Couldn't Call It Unexpected (there you go Chuck)
Accidents Will Happen
Riot Act
Suit Of Lights
...Man Out Of Time

There were a couple I really liked on Brutal Youth but I can't remember any of the names now.

(I Don't Want To Go) To Chelsea
Lip Service
Pump It Up
Watch Your Step
Big Boys (demo version)
What's So Funny 'Bout Peace, Love & Understanding
Radio, Radio
I Want You
Kinder Murder
Beyond Belief

He also sang backup on "Tempted" by Squeeze. Does that count too?

"Beyond Belief"
"Clubland"
"(I Don't Want to Go to) Chelsea"
"I Hope You're Happy Now"
"Man Out of Time"
"New Lace Sleeves"
"Tear Off Your Own Head (It's a Doll Revolution)"
"Temptation"
"Watch Your Step"
"When I Was Cruel no. 2"

I Want You has been absent from some of these lists: many of you are mentalists.
Lipstick Vogue has been absent from all of these lists: you are all complete mentalists.

(What's so funny 'bout) Love Peace and Understanding
King Horse
New Amsterdam
Good Year For The Roses
Little Palaces
Blue Chair
Tramp The Dirt Down
45

Bonus track: Suede's cover of Shipbuilding

(another vote for couldn't call it unexpected - fantastic melody, impassioned vocal performance)

Geir, that's like saying there's nothing wrong with a song being shitty.

Accidents Will Happen
Beyond Belief
Black and White World
Girls Talk
God's Comic
Harpies Bizarre
Love Field
No Action
Shipbuilding
Veronica

11 years later, I can't think of anything he's done recently to...

top 10:
Beyond Belief
New Lace Sleeves
Man Out of Time
Accidents Will Happen
This Year’s Girl
Clubland
Brilliant Mistake
Oliver’s Army
Shipbuilding
Possession

etc.:
Almost Blue
You Little Fool
Our Little Angel
Alison
New Amsterdam
I Want You
Everyday I Write the Book
Motel Matches
Opportunity
Uncomplicated
Little Triggers
Party Girl
Peace in Our Time
I Hope You’re Hapy Now
(What’s So Funny 'Bout) Peace, Love and Understanding
Radio Radio
The Only Flame in Town

I have to admit: although I admire parts of Costello’s post-Blood and Chocolate discogaphy, I can’t say that anything in it tops any of the songs listed above. There’s a decorous quality to most of the "later" work—even, or especially, the "rockers." And besides, it’s just not as catchy or dense with musical ideas. Brutal Youth and the Bacharach collaboration are probably the best things I’ve heard from the last minus-30 years. But they are marred by aforementioned decorousness. In BY's case, the production is chock full of "clever" instrumental touches that nearly ruin some wonderful songs; in the case of the Bacharach collab, Costello is writing songs outside of his vocal range.

inspired by watching this, esp. the miraculous version of "man out of time":

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hMspWrht0BE

imperial bedroom and trust probably his best albums overall, with armed forces and the sprawling get happy on their heels.