Almost Blue [Import] [Limited Edition]

Editorial Reviews
Album Description
Japanese reissue of 1981 album, packaged in a miniature LP sleeve. JVC. 2003.

Tracks:

Why Don't You Love Me (Like You Used To)?
Sweet Dreams
Success
I'm Your Toy
Tonight The Bottle Let Me Down
Brown To Blue
Good Year For The Roses
Sittin' And Thinkin'
Colour Of The Blues
Too Far Gone
Honey Hush
How Much I Lied

Tracks:

Stranger In The House
We Oughta Be Ashamed
Radio Sweetheart (Live)
Stranger In The House (Live)
Psycho (Live)
If I Could Put Them All Together (I'd Have You) (Live)
Motel Matches (Live)
He'll Have To Go (Live)
Girls Talk (Live)
Too Far Gone ('Lost Session' Version)
He's Got You ('Lost Session' Version)
Honky Tonk Girl
That's Why I'm Walking
Wondering
Darling, You Know I Wouldn't Lie
My Shoes Keep Walking Back To You
Blues Keep Calling
Tears Before Bedtime
Psycho
Cry, Cry, Cry
I'll Take Care Of You
Your Angel Steps Out Of Heaven
Brand New Heartache (Live)
There Won't Be Anymore (Live)
Sittin' And Thinkin' (Live)
Honey Hush (Live)
I'm Your Toy (Live)

Album Description

Throughout his phenomenal, almost 30-year career, Elvis Costello has proved himself one of the most versatile and inventive stars in the pop music firmament. He first rose to fame as one of punk rock's breakthrough talents then went on to release innovative albums interpreting a truly diverse range of genres. Costello-originally Liverpool's own Declan McManus-has made an indelible mark on the pop music songbook, bringing unfettered passion and profound lyrical weight to his richly creative stylistic adventures. These three titles continue Rhino's Deluxe Edition restoration of his extraordinary catalogue.

Customer Reviews:

A Classic.......2007-01-16

This CD is for anyone who loves a good country style ballad performed by one of the greastest songwriters.

The best Elvis Costello.......2006-11-10

A listening pleasure, smooth, relaxing, mix of country duo with George Jones......2 CDs that I play every week. 2 versions of "psycho", fabulous.

Elvis Crapello.......2006-03-10

I don't know. I loved EC and I loved country...I even went to see him on the tour afterwards...what a waste of my precious time back then...and of my money. This is self-indulgent and badls played...I do not understand the point really. Buy some real country instead...George Jones, Johnny Cash, anything instead...

a crushing disappointment.......2005-12-05

Prior to this release, Elvis Costello made a series of rock records of such brilliance as to inspire the pursuit of a musical career in many of those who heard them. This album is a slap in the face to all those people, as well as to all the authentic country music performers who come from places like London, Kentucky instead of London, England. It is a narcissistic, self-indulgent musical vanity project of the worst kind - an idea as stupid as Loretta Lynn rapping or Sean Combs attempting to sing Ella Fitzgerald or Roberta Flack songs. The more you like his first albums, the more you will hate this one - don't waste your money.

Astounding! 20 Years before its time!MUCH overlooked.......2005-11-10

Simply astounding album. Elvis Costello was at his height of popularity and had the courage to eplore his personal favorites and bring them to his "New Wave" audience. Unfortunately his audience was so influenced by the Stalinistic"Year Zero"/scorched earth attitudes of the Class of '77 punk that they pretty much rejected this amazing sampler of heartfelt Country soul. ( Although I do recall Los Angeles' KROQ Rodney on Roq giving the aggro version of Hank Williams "Why Dont You Love Me -Like You Used to Do?" quite a few spins at the time).In their defense one must recall that "Country' at that time was as UNcool as you could get with the charts dominated by the likes of 'supergroups' like Alabama ad nauseum...Costello however TRIED to redirect the spotlight on the good stuff, the hearty, celtic rooted mournful stuff.It is worth noting that that ONLY Country lyrics share Costello's 'boy loses girl' themes( as opposed to the inane posturing of late 70's 'Prog rock' fantasy and 80's'hair bands' and todays hip hop)Country had the REALITY of a life that touches all people at all times NOT 'bling'- Fast forward 20+ years with fellow Celts The Thrills covering a similiar genre, the Late Great Johnny Cash having an ENORMOUS amount of 'Street Cred' post Rick Rubin's AMERICAN series and a general lovefest of all things Gram Parson's ( including this seasons biggest concert draw- Parson's bastard offspring band -The Eagles) Country/Roots/Alt.Country/Americana is Cool. Costello covered not one but TWO Parsons tunes ( 'How Much I Lied ' and 'I'm Your Toy'/'Hot Burrito #2') as well as taking us on a trip through George Jones, Merle Haggard , Hank Williams' greats ( all the stuff that Soccer Mom 'Country' radio ie Shania/Chesney/Garth and NO TWANG- REFUSES to play. Costello did a brave thing recording and releasing this and radio/critics of the day were caught flat footed expecting another "New Lace Sleeves' or 'Alison' they got "Tonight the Bottle Let Me Down' and 'Sittin and a Thinkin' - Surprisingly the much pilloried disc gave Costello one of his biggest UK hits and a concert staple to this day in 'Good Year for the Roses'- So much of todays new /'alternative' music owes a DIRECT debt to this album. The SF Bay Area's great Dave Gleason and Wasted Days, Los Angeles Beachwood Sparks, the Irish Thrills ALL flow from this river of rootsy goodness. Superb!

Average customer rating:

One of my all-time favorites
An inspiration
Context and Content and Holding On Quite Well
Genius
Elvis goes country the right way

Almost Blue
Elvis Costello
Manufacturer: Rykodisc
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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King of America

ASIN: B0000009UW
Release Date: 1994-08-30

Tracks:

Why Don't You Love Me (Like You Used To Do)?
Sweet Dreams
Success
I'm Your Toy
Tonight The Bottle Let Me Down
Brown To Blue
Good Year For The Roses
Sittin' And Thinkin'
Colour Of The Blues
Too Far Gone
Honey Hush
How Much I Lied
He's Got You (Live In Aberdeen)
Cry, Cry, Cry (Live In Aberdeen)
There Won't Be Anymore (Live In Aberdeen)
Sittin' And Thinkin' (Live Iin Aberdeen)
Honey Hush (Live In Aberdeen)
Psycho
Your Angel Steps Out Of Heaven
Darling, You Know I Wouldn't Lie
My Shoes Keep Walking Back To You
Tears Before Bedtime
I'm Your Toy

Amazon.com

Costello's flirtation with "real" country music, this album of covers produced in Nashville by veteran Billy Sherrill was prompted by some genuinely bad feelings as his personal life fell apart. It hasn't held up well over the years since its 1981 release, but there is one brilliant moment--Costello's cracked-voice reading of hero Gram Parsons's "How Much I Lied." The Rykodisc edition adds an array of bonus tracks, including Leon Payne's apropos "Psycho," cut during the tour for the Baroque-pop Armed Forces. --Rickey Wright

Customer Reviews:

One of my all-time favorites.......2003-10-27

(This review is based on the shorter, original CD)

I don't know much about country music, but I know when I want to hear "poor me" music, I turn to this CD. I've always been a big Elvis fan and was looking for another in the ilk of his first three. This one disappointed me at first, but it got under my skin and now it's one of my favorites.

The only times I don't like Elvis is when his music seems uninspired and he's just cranking it out, especially in the writing. I think every album/CD since (and including) Trust has had some of that. Since Almost Blue is all covers, I think it allowed Elvis to concentrate on singing songs he obviously loves.

I'd rather have this off-beat "weird" CD than one of his later inconsistent ones. I like every song on it.

An inspiration.......2003-05-18

I love this release by Elvis. I take it as a tribute to the singer/songwriters that inspired him. The selections and arrangements make this a solid country venture for Mr. Costello!

Context and Content and Holding On Quite Well.......2003-02-24

when i first heard "almost blue" i was floored. whereas the "stax"/"wall of sound" surprise of "get happy!" seemed consistent with elvis' musical sensibility (and fit neatly into a still burgeoning "new wave" eclecticism), "almost blue" was COUNTRY.

i love this album. elvis used a fantastic producer (billy sherrill) and covers some pretty awesome material. my only regret is that elvis' live rendition of the gram parson's song "i'm your toy" isn't part of the original album (it is on the re-issues) elvis, backed by the royal philharmonic, never sounded better.

country music is part of rock's roots -- nowadays that seems neither incongruous nor foolish. but it seemed so out-of-synch back then, as if country music was another language altogether from rock'n'roll. i highly recommmend this album to everyone who believes (as i do) that "king of america" is one of the finest albums ever recorded. in just seventeen months, elvis took us from london to nashville and into the budoir.

for anyone who still thinks this album weak or a throwaway, i think you should remember the context and the singer... his cover of "sweet dreams" along with "success" (later recorded by sinead) and "good year for the roses" make the album worth the purchase...

Genius.......2002-11-08

A wonderful journey with Elvis; it opened my mind to good country music. Fun to listen to, fun to sing along with, and has held up beautifully over time.

Elvis goes country the right way.......2001-07-27

Leave it to a bloke from England to make one of the best real country albums of the past thirty years!

I've been a fan of Costello from his first album on, and even though my favorite is the punk-ish "This Year's Model", "Almost Blue" really makes this Texas boy smile...

Awesome players. Fabulous songs. And one of the great singers. How could anyone not love this album?

I for one wish Elvis would do another one of these...

Almost 10
Average customer rating:

Blue House ROCKS

More than just two girls with guitars

A great CD

Awesome CD!!!

I'd give it 10 STARS if I could!!!

Almost 10
Blue House
Manufacturer: The Orchard
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B00000JT6B
Release Date: 2000-04-01