The Very Best of Elvis Costello and The Attractions 1977-86
Encyclopedia
The Very Best of Elvis Costello and The Attractions 1977–86 is a 1994 compilation album
by Elvis Costello and The Attractions
.
except as noted.
Compilation album
A compilation album is an album featuring tracks from one or more performers, often culled from a variety of sources The tracks are usually collected according to a common characteristic, such as popularity, genre, source or subject matter...
by Elvis Costello and The Attractions
Elvis Costello
Elvis Costello , born Declan Patrick MacManus, is an English singer-songwriter. He came to prominence as an early participant in London's pub rock scene in the mid-1970s and later became associated with the punk/New Wave genre. Steeped in word play, the vocabulary of Costello's lyrics is broader...
.
Track listing
All songs written by Elvis CostelloElvis Costello
Elvis Costello , born Declan Patrick MacManus, is an English singer-songwriter. He came to prominence as an early participant in London's pub rock scene in the mid-1970s and later became associated with the punk/New Wave genre. Steeped in word play, the vocabulary of Costello's lyrics is broader...
except as noted.
- "AlisonAlison (song)"Alison" is the fifth track on Elvis Costello's first album, My Aim Is True, released in 1977. Because "Alison" was recorded before Elvis Costello and the Attractions formed, his backing band was Clover...
" (from My Aim Is TrueMy Aim Is TrueMy Aim Is True is the debut album by Elvis Costello.The album was recorded at Pathway Studios in Holloway, London Borough of Islington, over the course of 1976 during late-night studio sessions, in a total of twenty-four hours...
, 1977) – 3:21 - "Watching the DetectivesWatching the Detectives (song)"Watching the Detectives" is a 1977 single by English singer-songwriter Elvis Costello. It was his first single that credited his backing band, the Attractions, and gave him his first UK hit single...
" (from single, 1978) – 3:45 - "(I Don't Want to Go to) Chelsea" (from This Year's ModelThis Year's ModelThis Year's Model is Elvis Costello's second album and his first with The Attractions, released in 1978 . It was recorded mainly at Eden Studios in West London....
, 1978) – 3:07 - "Pump It UpPump It Up (Elvis Costello song)"Pump It Up" is a song by Elvis Costello. It originally appeared on Costello's second album This Year's Model which was the first he recorded with The Attractions.- Lyrics :...
" (from This Year's Model, 1978) – 3:14 - "Radio RadioRadio Radio"Radio Radio" was a single by Elvis Costello and The Attractions released in the UK in October 1978. The song had already appeared on the US version of their second album, This Year's Model, released earlier that year...
" (from single, 1978) – 3:05 - "(What's So Funny 'Bout) Peace, Love and Understanding" (Nick LoweNick LoweNicholas Drain "Nick" Lowe , is an English singer-songwriter, musician and producer.A pivotal figure in UK pub rock, punk rock and new wave, Lowe has recorded a string of well-reviewed solo albums. Along with vocals, Lowe plays guitar, bass guitar, piano and harmonica...
) (from single, 1979) – 3:31 - "Oliver's ArmyOliver's Army"Oliver's Army" is a song written by Elvis Costello, originally performed by Elvis Costello and the Attractions and appearing on the album Armed Forces in 1979. It remains his most successful single, spending four weeks at Nº2 in the UK singles chart....
" (from Armed Forces, 1979) – 2:58 - "Accidents Will HappenAccidents Will Happen"Accidents Will Happen" is a song by Elvis Costello. It first appeared on the 1979 album Armed Forces, which he recorded with The Attractions. In reference to the song title, the cover of the single was printed inside-out...
" (from Armed Forces, 1979) – 3:00 - "I Can't Stand Up For Falling DownI Can't Stand Up For Falling Down"I Can't Stand Up for Falling Down" is a song by Sam & Dave released in 1967, written by Homer Banks and Allen Jones.British musician Elvis Costello covered the song in 1980 for his album Get Happy!!. It was one of 3 singles taken from the album in the UK and peaked at number four. It became one of...
" (Homer BanksHomer BanksHomer Banks was an African-American songwriter, singer and record producer, best known for his songs for Stax Records in the 1960s and 1970s...
, Allen JonesAllen Jones (record producer)Allen Jones was an American record producer.Jones produced several albums for Albert King, and became the producer and manager for The Bar-Kays. He produced all of their records including their last records for Mercury Records. He formed their production company, and produced other acts such as...
) (from Get Happy!!, 1980) – 2:05 - "New Amsterdam" (from Get Happy!!, 1980) – 2:11
- "High Fidelity" (from Get Happy!!, 1980) – 2:26
- "Clubland" (from Trust, 1981) – 3:42
- "Watch Your StepWatch Your StepWatch Your Step was a 1982 album by Ted Hawkins, a collection of previously-recorded songs.-Track listing:All songs were written by Theodore Hawkins, Jr.# Watch Your Step# Bring It Home Daddy# If You Love Me# Don't Lose Your Cool# The Lost Ones...
" (from Trust, 1981) – 2:57 - "Good Year for the Roses" (Jerry ChesnutJerry ChesnutJerry Donald Chesnut is an American country music songwriter. His hits include "A Good Year for the Roses" and "T-R-O-U-B-L-E" ....
) (from Almost BlueAlmost BlueAlmost Blue is an album by Elvis Costello and the Attractions. It was recorded May 1981 in Nashville, and released on 23 October 1981. The record's songs consist entirely of country covers, including works originally written by Hank Williams, Merle Haggard, George Jones and Gram Parsons...
, 1981) – 3:07 - "Beyond Belief" (from Imperial BedroomImperial BedroomImperial Bedroom is a 1982 album by Elvis Costello and the Attractions. It was the second Costello album, along with Almost Blue, not produced by Nick Lowe, the production duties handled by Beatles engineer Geoff Emerick...
, 1982) – 2:33 - "Man Out of Time" (from Imperial Bedroom, 1982) – 5:26
- "Everyday I Write the BookEveryday I Write the Book"Everyday I Write the Book" is a song written by Elvis Costello, from Punch the Clock, an album released in 1983 by Elvis Costello and the Attractions. The song peaked at 28 on the UK Singles Chart and was their first hit single in the United States, placing in the Billboard Top 40.-Lyrics:The...
" (from Punch the ClockPunch the ClockPunch the Clock is an album released in 1983 by Elvis Costello and the Attractions. It was Costello's eighth album, his seventh with the Attractions since 1978. The album featured Costello's first U.S...
, 1983) – 3:53 - "ShipbuildingShipbuilding (song)"Shipbuilding" is a song written by Elvis Costello and Clive Langer . Written during the Falklands War of 1982, Costello's lyrics discuss the contradiction of the war bringing back prosperity to traditional shipbuilding areas of Merseyside , North East England and Belfast to build new ships to...
" (from Punch the Clock, 1983) – 4:51 - "Love Field" (from Goodbye Cruel WorldGoodbye Cruel World (album)Goodbye Cruel World was Elvis Costello's ninth album overall and eighth with backing band The Attractions. It was released in 1984 by F-Beat Records in the UK and Columbia in the US....
, 1984) – 3:26 - "Brilliant Mistake" (from King of AmericaKing of AmericaKing of America is the tenth studio album by the British rock singer and songwriter Elvis Costello, released in 1986 in the United Kingdom as F-Beat ZL 70946, and in the United States as Columbia JC 40173. It was billed as by "The Costello Show featuring the Attractions and Confederates" in the UK...
, 1986) – 3:42 - "Indoor Fireworks" (from King of America, 1986) – 4:07
- "I Want You" (from Blood and ChocolateBlood and Chocolate (album)Blood & Chocolate is the eleventh studio album by the British rock singer and songwriter Elvis Costello, released in the United Kingdom as Demon Records XFIEND 80, and in the United States as Columbia 40518...
, 1986) – 6:40