Had you been around at the time you would have found how fresh My Aim is True sounded at the time. It's one of the best debuts of all time.

@dickhead9214

3 жыл бұрын

Ikr like wtf, they’re a weakness? Sure they don’t have the same attack as the Attractions, but they still hold their own. They made songs like Alison sound amateurish? What the fuck? And the album is “rough around the edges” yeah no shit, that’s the point, it’s supposed to sound raw

@oppothumbs1

3 жыл бұрын

It was an out of this world record of the decade.

@MrGoodgorilla

2 жыл бұрын

It’s absurd to rate an album full of gems, a great and influential album like “My Aim Is True” at no.10.

@shaheedmusic

2 жыл бұрын

I have no problem with the opinions in the video, since they’re simply opinions. But I’m 36 and just listened to My Aim is True for the first time with no previous knowledge of it and I was floored. Blown away. In as great a way as possible! Made me an instant Costello fan.

@MrGoodgorilla

2 жыл бұрын

@@shaheedmusic I’m 70. MAIT was an important album. I was about 26. As to his catalogue, opinions may vary and he has had a G.O.A.T. career, but everything thru “Trust” plus “Live At The El Mocambo” and “Taking Liberties” is great; maybe it’s personal memories. Some mention should be made of Stiff Records patching together pub rockers, punks, and an assortment of hard-to-classify freaks and weirdos.

Get Happy! the 1994 reissue with the 11 extra songs from the same recording session. Not only is it my favorite album by Costello, it is my favorite album of all time.

@dice1296

4 жыл бұрын

20 tracks, all of which are excellent? has that been done before or since?

@Bushranger28

4 жыл бұрын

Great album with lots of highlights. Riot Act is one of my favourite Elvis Songs

@varsityfan2000

4 жыл бұрын

Juan Emiliano ... "Get Happy!!" Is a stunning record and the best Elvis Costello album. The title deserves more than just the 2 exclamation points that it has. Makes me want to go listen to it again.

@oppothumbs1

3 жыл бұрын

Good choice. . King Horse, Man Called Uncle, Possession, High Fidelity, Secondary Modern and Beaten to the Punch, 5 Gears in Reverse. I just can't listen to Riot Act

@afroceltduck

3 жыл бұрын

All of the songs on this are great, but he saved the best one for a bonus track on later releases - Girls Talk

I don't know how a definitive list can be made from Costello's work. It's so varied that he hits the mark for just about anyone.

My number one favourite is Trust. It took me a long time to get into and truly appreciate that one. I think it stands out as a genuine and great piece of art. There's no other album like it. Nice to see you rank it so high.

@marklafave496

Жыл бұрын

Yes. A masterpiece. But then came Imperial Bedroom.

@rogerhoward7498

Ай бұрын

I agree with you. I was listening to the album again recently. I had not heard the album in over a decade. The thing about Elvis Costello is that he always has ‘Soul’ in his voice( and I mean the kind of Soul, that you find in a Black-American voice. When Elvis Costello reaches the highest register of his voice, you are always moved by his voice, as you are when the Black, classic soul singer is singing vocals. The Thing about what makes Trust album so special in his discography, is that NOT only does Elvis Costello have a very moving soul presence on this album, the instrumentation, song lyrics and even recording process is driven by a deep Soul presence as well on this album. This is the thing that makes the album one of the best studio albums, he has EVER recorded. You cannot as a listener, be TOTALLY MOVED BY THIS STUDIO ALBUM, as you would be by some of the greatest soul or rock singers albums you have EVER heard in your lifetime.

@amyruth1965

3 күн бұрын

My first rock concert ever at 15 years old was Elvis Costello on the Trust tour. Tower Theater, Philadelphia, spring of 1981.

King of America is astonishing. A masterpiece.

@oppothumbs1

3 жыл бұрын

This Years Model (top 10 record of all time) My Aim is True (top 50 record) Get Happy (Top 70 record) Trust (good) Taking Liberties (has Getting Mightly crowded, Hoover Factory, Radio sweetheart) Armed Forces (overrated but there is a song i love called Chemistry Class, as well as Accidents and Whats so funny about..) When i was Cruel Imperial Bedroom OTHER THAN THAT ELVIS SUCKS.

@barryduff3047

3 жыл бұрын

@@oppothumbs1 so long as you're happy i guess

@vernpascal1531

3 жыл бұрын

King Of America is one of his weakest albums. Several songs would have made it much better Shoes Without Heels,King Of Confidence,Baby's Got A Brand New Hairdoo and People's Limosine beat the hell out of I'll Wear It proudly,Eisenhower's Blues and Glitter Gulch and Lovable.

@barryduff3047

3 жыл бұрын

@@vernpascal1531 Crap

@tomshea8382

2 жыл бұрын

@@vernpascal1531 No.

Great breakdown of EC records, many of which may not be too well known. One of the many charms of "Get Happy" is the rapid fire burst of almost 2 dozen songs, each punching and etching its way thru 3 minutes or less, leaving the listener less than a pause to regrip/recover between tracks. Its overall "advanced pub sound" lands it as one of my favorite, most influential records from 40+ years ago.

Why does nobody rate Spike? Quality album...

@JCStorm76

3 жыл бұрын

I’m only getting to this video now. Might be the only one on this whole channel I’d missed, I agree. I would have had it a lot higher too

@francispoivre8903

3 жыл бұрын

Agreed !

@paultown6572

3 жыл бұрын

Totally Agree. Id have it easily in top 10

@garamirezm

5 ай бұрын

Well, Spike is one of my top 5 EC albums.

@MrKellyHiggins

Ай бұрын

Got it spinning on vinyl right this minute. Elvis' best lyrics to me. If you don't believe that I'm going for good you can count the days that I'm gone and chop up the chairs for firewood. I mean fuck. What the shit? Dylan only gets there once in a great while. Spike is Elvis' best record and I love them all.

Imperial Bedroom is my absolute go to album whenever I’m feeling down.

@rogerhoward7498

2 ай бұрын

That’s one of my favourite albums of his as well. I love the experimentation of that album. The song: ( I think it’s called) And in Every Home is a work of Pure Music Art. I know of NO SONG that is really the equal of that track in British Pop Music. The Way the group get to make the song sound like it is coming from an English Stately Home with all the grandeur that is placed technically for the recording studio…is a bloody miracle this track got made at all. There is much technicality in this track as there is in The Beatle’s : A Day in a Life and Strawberry Fields Forever.

30. Out of our Idiot 29. Secret, profane and sugarcane 28. Il Sogno 27. Almost Blue 26. Kojack Variety 25. Taking Liberties 24. The Juliet Letters 23. National Ransom 22. Goodbye Cruel World 21. King of America 20. Rivers in Reverse 19. The Delivery Man 18. Armed Forces 17. North 16. Momofuku 15. Punch the Clock 14. Painted from Memory 13. When I was Cruel 12. My Aim is True 11. Look Now 10. This Year's Model 9. Wise Up Ghost 8. Imperial Bedroom 7. Get Happy!! 6. Spike 5. Mighty Like a Rose 4. Brutal Youth 3. Blood & Chocolate 2. All this Useless Beauty 1. Trust I'm a massive Elvis Costello fan, so underrated

@jonathansiders9779

2 жыл бұрын

I SO agree. He is way more than Pump it Up or Veronica. We could all hum 100 gems of his that no one would recognize!

@tomasandrew9354

8 ай бұрын

Trust is an amazing album. What a spectacularly prolific artist, a great composer, melodist, lyricist, singer, and conceptualist.

@matrobnew

8 ай бұрын

lol -- I would largely average together his list and this one. I like that MLAR and Blood & Choc get respect from you both, but I'd put Spike even higher than you have it. His reasons for dismissing it are insane to me (esp bc they're all counted as relative strengths on much higher-ranked albums of his list). I do find the relatively lower ranking of the whole first five records in this list a bit odd (with Trust as the one exception?!), but this might be generational or just how much one values new-wave danceability and general early-Attractions vibe vs other things EC does really well. Also, I'd love to hear the rationality for pushing King of America so far down, esp if you've ranked Spike and Brutal Youth so high. But to each their own Elvis.

@danculbert6349

8 ай бұрын

@matrobnew Yeah this was my list 4 years ago, I was being a bit of a contrarion putting the first 4 albums so low. I do think Spike is excellent, don't know if it'd crack my top 5 though, all the songs are good but they're so all over the place, you get such musical whiplash going from track to track 😂 As for King of America, I'm just not crazy about country music, also it goes on way too long, when you get to tracks like glitter gulch I'm just like "okay wrap this up". My list would be very different now. Whats your top 10?

@matrobnew

8 ай бұрын

@@danculbert6349 I'm actually quite impressed that you responded within 2 hours to my comment on your 4-year old list 🙂. Also, as I did more commenting further down this thread, I started emphasizing what I should have here, which is that I respect anyone's effort to actually rank all 30 pr whatever albums, whatever the ranking. And not only will everyone have a different ranking, but clearly for most long-time fans that ranking will change with the year or even just the mood. Right now I'm (re) watching "Everything you ever wanted to know about Spike" (youtube) and thinking, yeah, it's going to stay near the top for me. But if I went back right now and listened to everything up through Imperial Bedroom, I'd probably go with IB first, then Armed Forces, This Year's Model, MAIT and maybe Trust. Then Spike, then prob Blood and Chocolate, then maybe King of America or Good Bye Cruel World depending on how feisty I was feeling. So that's nine. That would leave a real fight for 10, but I guess either Brutal Youth or When I Was Cruel. I want to put Punch the Clock in there but I just can't do it. Also, we're just talking original studio albums here. Otherwise I think Out of Our Idiot would crack my top 10. Certainly a true dislike of country music would be a bit of a barrier to King of America, though honestly I think "Brilliant Mistake", "American without Tears", "Suit of Lights" and "I'll Wear it Proudly" are like 90% E.C. and 10% Country. Also, on the whole collaboration with T-Bone Burnett thing, please listen to "People's Limousine" (Out of Our Idiot) and see if you don't like it just a little.

Thanks for reviewing one of my fav. artists - not an easy one to compile. You having Almost Blue so high up in the order did surprise me though

I really like Brutal Youth, find it under-rated. I feel its Costello's last great album, with the possible exception of the follow up All This Useless Beauty. It's hard to argue with the time-honoured first 4 albums, but I feel Costello really hit his stride with Imperial Bedroom (that voice!). Blood and Chocolate and King of America are fantastic. The outlier in this era is Mighty Like a Rose, which sounds abrasive and bizarre. I also love When I Was Cruel, because it's quite a return to form, and a solid rock album. Perhaps weirdly, my favourite Costello song is You Bowed Down, which I find to be catchy as hell. I've seen him live a few times, and he's always put on a good show. I was delighted that he played The Element Within Her at one of those shows. I could on... Any chance you guys will do a Bob Mould list?

@TastesLikeMusic

2 жыл бұрын

It might be a while for Bob. - Joe

@dennelclayton5188

Жыл бұрын

I have to absolutely agree with you 100% on that, when "Brutal Youth" was released I listened to that album endlessly for the better part of a year. I also agree with you that it was most likely EC's last great album next to "Spike" (in my opinion) and was very under-rated. How "Sulky Girl" wasn't a instant rock/pop classic is was way beyond me. "13 Steps Lead Down," "My Science Fiction Twin," "Pony St," 'You Tripped At Every Step," "London's Brilliant Parade," "Rocking Horse Road," "Kinder Murder" and "Favourite Hour" were all my favorite tracks from that album. Since I hadn't had the opportunity to see EC back in his heyday, I was however lucky to catch him and the attractions during the Brutal Youth tour when they played at Irvine Meadows. I was not disappointed they gave a helluva show. Since I'm a bass player and Bruce Thomas is one of my favorite rock bassist, that was worth the ticket alone but I digress. We also agree on the "Imperial Bedroom" album which yielded the tracks "Beyond Belief," "Almost Blue" and "Man Out of Time." However the sleeper track off that album was "The Loved Ones" which got considerable airplay on Los Angeles radio station KROQ at the time. Naturally the first three EC albums are on my all-time favorites list, but his later albums as motioned before "Spike" and "Brutal Youth" are my favs. After Brutal Youth EC released a lesser known / less popular album called "Kojak Variety:" which was essentially a covers album of obscure r&b and rock songs. But I gotta tell you... EC really did his thing on that release, his cover of a Diana Ross & The Supremes song that up until then I had never heard before, "Remove This Doubt" blew me away. The Supremes original was beautifully done but for the life of me I can't unhear EC's version, it was just that good. His cover of Bob Dylan's "I Threw It All Away" had the same effect on me, just a great album. Like you said "it's his voice," besides being a prolific songwriter Elvis is one of the few artist that can easily move between various musical genres and pull it off successfully.

Costello is one of those rare artists whose body of work is just so generous and rewarding. He seems to have a song for every mood. It’s hard to pick a favorite album. It feels to much like a betrayal to his others

Thanks for ranking Trust #2 That is my #1 EC album.❤

I've been a massive fan since the release of My Aim Is True, seeing hm multiple times in Montreal from his first shows including the Stiff Records tour, and following hs career on and off since. I'm just as crazy about The Attractions, one of the greatest rock bands ever, made up of great individual talents. I dig your list, I just have to disagree with My Aim Is True's ranking, the songs are so insanely good and his performances so excellent that it should be ranked one of his best. This Year's Model deserves far better, too, it has at least 5 of his best songs and the whole album is a tour de force. It defines the best of The Attractions to me, as well.

@anfrankogezamartincic1161

3 жыл бұрын

MY AIM IS TRUE is his Best, he was Young, angry and (probably) hungry, that's recipe for great art. The following 5 albums are his Best. I love almost every thing he made, few of his later albums are really good, the worst are North, Julliette and most of the collaborations. Anyway, i love Elvis (both of them)

@lynnefromthelake

2 жыл бұрын

Did you get a chance to see the spinning songbook tour? I have seen him so many times. The best show, I think, was at the John Anson Ford Theatre in LA. It was an industry show for a record release. How I got in, I will never know. And better yet, we were in the front row. I could see the steam coming from his head as it was an outdoor venue. He and Steve kicked it hard!

I loved Get Happy!!!! The title said it all! This was a very useful video!

You're very hard working, loving every minute.

I’m going through all his albums during covid19 lockdown. So many gr8 albums and still putting them out well into his sixties. Incredible!

Not an easy task, but that was a sterling effort! Great to see ‘Blood and Chocolate’ where you had it and the video has inspired me to give some of those older albums another spin 👍🏻

New Lace Sleeves is my favourite EC song I’ve heard so far, but this video has reminded me I still have a number of albums to check out!

Thank you for doing this list. With ec, I understand that there are likely not 2 people on the planet who would create this list in the same order,and that's OK. Thanks again, I enjoyed your comments!

Fascinating video thank you

I first started listening to Elvis Costello in 1978 when a friend of mine loaned me his vinyl copy of This Years' Model. I liked it from the first few seconds. It is an extraordinarily great album with brilliant melodies, lyrics and attitude. It is also one of the the defining records of the of the "New Wave" era. I also loved Armed Forces and could never decide which album was better. I do like some of his other records, but have found a lot of his work since those 2 landmark albums quite bland to be honest. I appreciate that he has delved into other genres and has matured as a singer/songwriter with a wide taste in music, but nothing in my mind will capture the excitement, lyricism, melody and attitude of those 2 albums! Maybe it is the rebellious spirit in me, but if I feel he became a bit too middle-of-the-road in order to stay relevant. Does anyone agree? Great review by the way!

@paulanthony5274

3 жыл бұрын

Yes I agree completely were soul mates dude Busy bodies busy bizzin getting know where know where know where KNOW WHERE ERE WEE OOOH OOOH OOH WEEE OOH OOOH OOOH WEEEE OOHHH OOOH WEEEE WOOOOO And as for Oliver's Army,ohhhh lordddd what a tune and then there's off this years model pump it up I don't want to go to Chelsea but Armed Forces pips it for me. Were you really disappointed with get happy? I was it really pissed me off as I was only a kid and expected his usual new wave and I thought it was well,wank to be honest. Just lurrrve those two albums though I mentioned Accidents will happen Two little Hitler's goon squad and well lots more just awesome my favourite single is Oliver's Army though. Sorry I got a bit carried away there but still great those two albums!

@rogerhoward7498

Ай бұрын

For you in 1978 listening to that album, it must have felt like what is was like listening to someone like Kate Bush for the first time…that you were listening to an Artist that was going to be here for a very long time, that you knew from your very soul that the rules of of popular music had changed. You know that feeling, because when you listen to the album, the molecules in the listening room change. For the listener…it is an environment of total awe and amazement for the music artist you are listening to.

King of america is my favourite and I was surprised at the high placing of the mighty trust and often-underrated blood and chocolate. Shout outs for new lace sleeves and man out of time most welcome.possibly my own favourites. I'd place spike miles higher and Kojak variety and punch the clock much lower. Interesting and individual selection.cool

I want to commend you on the ambition and thoughtfulness that you put into ranking the albums of the greatest singer/songwriter of all time. Other commenters have mentioned that it would be impossible for any two people to come up with the same rankings, this is of course, quite true. I admire the fact that you clearly put so much time and effort into thoroughly listening to and evaluating Costello's music. Keep up the good work, I look forward to watching your other videos.

@SteveBorockYouTube

7 күн бұрын

"the greatest singer/songwriter of all time." I disagree. Love Costello, but while I think that EC is the second-best singer/songwriter in R&R as I believe that it is Dylan!!! EC learned how to write amazing lyrics, for the NEXT generation, and he will say that BD was an incredible influence on him. That said....I LOVE EC!!!!!!

Thanks for a great list - massive undertaking in this case. I do think you're missing out on Juliet Letters. I get that the style might not be appealing to everyone and a few of the tracks are jarring but there are some devastatingly emotional songs on there. It requires close listening but it's really rewarding if you take time to reflect on the storylines and narrators' emotions - The Letter Home, First to Leave, I Almost Had a Weakness... Some of his finest stories. Otherwise, I really enjoyed your commentary.

Great analysis.... really like blood and chocolate bonus disc....great acoustic versions , and an old James carr song

Saw Elvis November 2019. It was fantastic and he picked songs from many albums. Everyone had a great time and I believe he did as well.

I think one of the reasons "Spike" seems unfocused is because he said he had ideas for about 5 different kinds of albums at the time and he tried to cram them all in there. It's not in my top 5 or so, but at least half of the album is classic-Costello. I think with a lot of artists, each album has its gems and the songs that are somewhat diminished because there are a hundred others that are better than them. This is what happens when artists like Elvis (or McCartney, or Neil Young) release so many albums worth of material. In that sense, albums like Brutal Youth and Spike might have come better off if pruned of a few tracks. I quite agree with your general placement of about 20 or so of his albums. I don't disagree that Almost Blue is one of, if not THE greatest covers album. Still, I wouldn't put it in front of Get Happy or This Year's Model. I especially love his version of "How Much I Lied."

Just got around to watching this. Well done. It is not an easy discography to get a handle on. I would have a different ranking but appreciated that you defended your choices. I hope you re-visit Elvis with the three-man Listography.

Glad to see trust at number to my comment earlier was when you just got started and I had no idea

Hopefully you'll have another go at this with the fellas! Elvis is such an important artist, I'm interested in the take of all of you

I agree with the author’s assessment of the abysmal “Wise Up Ghost”, unlistenable dreck, even worse in concert. ..but “Spike” and “Brutal Youth” are brilliant. “Painted From Memory” is a modern masterpiece of songwriting and recording. “The Juliette Letters” was a fabulous experiment with some great recordings and some big misses.

@lewisc215

Жыл бұрын

Opinions are subjective. Worthless to others.

@vernpascal1531

Жыл бұрын

@@lewisc215 I thought Wise Up Ghost was terrific. Elvis can do anything Rap,Country,Soul, Pop, R&R and be as great as anyone in the genre and usually better,

Thank you for your intelligence and not being miserly about it! Great, insightful remarks about the albums. A few differences I have: "Painted from Memory" gets better with each listen and maybe you haven't visited it enough. (It had little impression on me for the first ten listens but I stuck with it.) It's my most-played Elvis album. "Imperial Bedroom," if I were to do a video such as this, would earn the no. 1 slot. Oddly, I don't play it much. "King of America," which I absolutely adored when it came out, hasn't aged well in my opinion. But you made me want to pull it out of the stacks, along with "Goodbye Cruel World." Thanks again!

After Imperial Bedroom it becomes a matter of what time of year or my mood as to which albums I would choose to follow in a Top Five. Get Happy used to be there but it's been replaced by All This Useless Beauty. King Of America will always be there as will This Year's Model (not only my first Costello LP but my first punk/New Wave) leaving us with one. And that one is....how ever will feel any given day. Today it is......spin the wheel and I'll choose what ever it lands on.

Totally agree, king of America is a classic, every track is a gem .

@vernpascal1531

Жыл бұрын

Every album he has put out is great to near great, except North and Goodbye Cruel World. Listen to what are considered his average albums MLAR and ATUB and who the hell under 50 as a group can come even close to that level of songwriting?

All my favourites are in the top 10. I did go off him round about Spike & when he grew a beard! The first 5 album are his best, IMO.

This year's model. Hands down.

@jakeg.7562

4 жыл бұрын

THANK YOU!!! How it could be anything else is beyond me...

@leejay2418

3 жыл бұрын

Agreed ! I love Punch The Clock as a close second.

@oppothumbs1

3 жыл бұрын

THAT'S RIGHT. NOTHING IS CLOSE BUT GET HAPPY AND MY AIM IS TRUE IMO. IT'S BRILLIANT AND SO BLINDING THESE GUYS DON'T SEE IT.

@peterjarvis3894

3 жыл бұрын

Yes, no question his best ... imperial bedroom comes a distant second

@markricci937

Ай бұрын

You took the words out of mouth - Hands down, TYM is his best work.

Couldn't agree more, king of America is a stand alone classic. Very surprised that you chose it as I never hear it anywhere, bar when I'm playing it . Nice one

@deropol05

4 жыл бұрын

Definitely one of my favorite albums...always kinda thought I was the only one lol.

Ya kno, giving the times and turmoil of the releases of these albums from 1977 to recent, Elvis Costello's anger and energy from non album releases before the recording of My Aim Is True, has shown his maturity of mellowness and more tamed temperament in his writings and musical creativity. Elvis has his roots in rock n roll and the foundation of it's fruition. Giving that other musical influences such as big band, blues, country and r&b, shows his direction of breaking away from post punk and new wave, giving way to his " middle of the road albums". Don't get me wrong but all of his album output are masterpieces. We all have our favorite(s).

@matrobnew

8 ай бұрын

really well said. Some people are just going to like the New Wave/post-Punk/early Attractions stuff best, and I totally appreciate that. But absolutely: Elvis was a ballad-writer long before he was a punkie New Waver (and by his own account that whole move was almost as much about seeing an avenue for commercial success as anything else). Other elements and influences were bound to re-emerge once he'd rode that horse for a handful of albums. Which I dearly love, too. But certainly no more than King of America or Spike.

I really enjoyed this video. It's certainly one of the very best album rankings I've seen. Your commentary on each album was excellent--so literate and concise. I'm just wondering where you would rank The Boy Named If. Thanks again for a great video.

My top 5 Trust Mighty Like a Rose Imperial Bedroom When I Was Cruel Momofuku Brutal Youth And it changes sometimes♥

Punch The Clock has to be up there because it includes one of his greatest songs, Shipbuilding.

I just rewached this video. I cant wait to see the 3 of you tackle it in the future. Taking Liberties was addressed in the beginning of the video. But those songs landed on the reissue CDs. IMO it bolsters My Aim Is True, This Year's Model, Armed Forces and Get Happy!!. As predictable as it sounds, I think those first 4 are his best, based on adding Taking Liberties tracks

I love it, "North" is one of my favorites! So how can I lose!!!!! I wish he made South, East and West!!!!

My favorite is Get Happy. Simply Said is Simply Best..... Masterpiece. 👌

Edited: I'm now through 24 albums chronologically, including a few you didn't cover. I'll spare you the ranked list (if you even bother reading through comments made 3 years later) and focus on some of the differences in our taste, in your order. - I found Juliet Letters to be something of a miss, but definitely a record I could listen to again. - I'm among those who care more for North than you do. I agree with the "monochromatic" comment but that makes for a rather pleasant experience and "Still" is in my Best Of songlist. - Spike was was the biggest positive surprise when going through the whole catalog again. I didn't like it so much at the time of release but now with hindsight, the ecclectic nature of it puts it into my favorites. - Painted from memory was one of the bigger disappointments, as I'm a fan of both but the sum of these geniuses didn't produce a whole. - Kojak Variety is at my very bottom (with For the Stars, which you didn't cover). I didn't see the point of doing these covers and thought he didn't do any of them any honor. - All this useless Beauty was very forgettable for me. Perhaps I should give it another try. - I really need to give Get Happy! another listen because it irritated me to the point where I wanted to turn it off. - I can see how pedal steel love puts Almost Blue so high, but yeah, I'm not with you. Not bad, not great, that's where I am. - Like you I like the mature 80s albums better than his punkrock 70s ones, which are great in their own right. My top 5 is King of America (an all time, all artist favorite), Imperial Bedroom, Blood & Chocolate, Spike and Trust. Happy to agree on #1 ! Of those you didn't cover, I recommend Out of our Idiot and Deep Dead Blue. The first one has a palpable pleasure to it, and more likeable than Get Happy for my taste. The second is one of his best collaborations, the echoed guitar of Bill Frisell blending well with his voice. I got 10 to go, Delivery Man being next up, so I may adapt this comment later on. Thanks for your hospitality. Incidentally, King of AMerica was his first album produced by T-Bone Burnett.

@matrobnew

8 ай бұрын

Of course, Out of Our Idiot is a compilation of singles B sides, album rejects and a few alternate takes. But for all that, it's still a top....hmmm, maybe top 6 album for me. It's criminal that "Peoples Limousine" and "So Young" weren't included on their albums.

Yep……king of America and almost blue. You nailed it!!

@rogerhoward7498

2 ай бұрын

His Suit of Lights song on the King of America album is one of the most uplifting songs I have EVER heard from Elvis Costello. The song has some of the very best Hammond Organ playing I have also EVER heard on a music track.

Love your lists and commentary! (Even if I do disagree with the order sometimes). Would love to see more....How about Van Morrison? Peter Gabriel? Neil Finn/Crowded House/Split Enz?

@TastesLikeMusic

4 жыл бұрын

Thanks! Glad you like the vids. We’ll get to all of those eventually. Peter Gabriel may be sooner than the others, but we’ll see! Also going to start having polls to let people vote on what they want to see so we’ll keep all of those in mind for when we start that.

It's interesting to see how Costello tunneled his way out of his new wave character into so many different things. Joe Jackson was much the same in his tunneling out of the genre - except that he went the jazz route.

Again, interesting stuff, totally agree that Bruce Thomas was a key component to the "sound" of Elvis' best work. Also agree about "New Lace Sleeves". Opportunity is also strong.

@jonathansiders9779

2 жыл бұрын

Let us not forget the masterful Steve Nieve, whose keyboard work is integral to so much of EC’s sound with the Attractions.

King of America one of the greatest records ever made. I had it on repeat when I first bought it in 1986 and even more recently. At various times different songs have been my favourite track off the album and probably the weakest track is the cover of Eisenhower Blues. Thoroughly deserves to be ranked the no 1 Elvis Costello album. Spike had some of Elvis's greatest tracks, like Deep Dark Truthful Mirror. It is a bit patchy but would put in the top half of the list. This Years Model, is very pub rock but that gives it appeal. One greatest live songs he does is Lipstick Vogue. For me it is top 5 along with My Aim is True.

@vernpascal1531

4 жыл бұрын

Interesting. I always thought if KOA had People's Limousine, Shoes Without Heels. King Of Confidence, maybe Baby's Got A Brand New Hairdo,and Leave My Kitten Alone then it would have been in the top 5. I don't think it makes top 10 for me,but I respect yer opinion.though Hairdo as a song is probably not any better than Lovable though the way it rocks with Steve's organ and Elvis's impassioned singing makes it far more lively.I know a lot of people like them, and they are good,but to me Sleep Of The Just,I'll Wear It Proudly and Indoor Fireworks are just a little overwrought. I think King Of Confidence, and Shoes Without Heels, are direct better songs.

3) When I Was Cruel 2) The Juliet Letters (at the height of the "grunge" movement no less) 1) Spike

8-28-22 wen did Elvis Costello first appeared in what month& year did he first did the my aim is true came about? Whas it before or after Elvis Presley died?

Wasn't King of America the first of his albums produced by T-Bone Burnett? As I jumped on his bandwagon when his first album came out, I have a soft spot for the earlier ones (with Get Happy my fav), but KOA is probably up there at number 6.

@raisedbyhumans

3 жыл бұрын

You are correct, sir!

Good analysis. I'd put "This Years Model" at #1. While I do think "King of America" and "Trust" are excellent and underrated I wouldn't rank them at the top but still in the top 10. I've been a Costello fan since the beginning and have almost all his stuff through the 80s. Most of his 90s stuff and a couple of records from the early 2000s. Haven't really listened to anything he's put out in the last 20 years. When I do listen to Costello nowadays it's almost always his first 5 records ("My Aim is True" - "Trust") and occasionally "King of America" and "Blood & Chocolate". I sure miss the angry Elvis.

I don’t hate this list… but not having My Aim is True in the top 2 or 3 is unforgivable… his best set of songs, and the only album that really ties him into the punk aesthetic that characterized his early career. It’s #1 for me and I’ve heard all of these albums multiple times (up to Profane and Sugarcane anyway). Can’t believe you have it 10… wow. Behind Punch the Clock? Behind the county covers record? Mind blown.

My favorite EC album is Trust. Glad to see it place at #2 here.

Good list, need to try delivery man and momufuku

Well thought out list! I've got Trust at #1 though...

Thanks for your hard work on this and for sharing the reasonings for your opinions. Your opinions frequently differ from mine but I appreciate them. I have huge respect for KoA, and while I wouldn't put it number one, I'm glad you did. The one thing I would criticize is your comment on the supposed obsolescence of CDs. In favor of Spotify and other streaming services? LOL. Obviously the best way to listen to most music is vinyl, but I don't have $60k in my back pocket to replace all of my CDs (and not have bonus material, etc.). The low byte-rates of most streaming services means that you're actually hearing the Cliff Notes version of a given track, most certainly not the track itself. To actually be listening to a piece of recorded music, you have to be listening at the minimal least to a lossless file, if not a CD, if not vinyl. I have about half of Costello's albums, and he's certainly a top 50 artist for me, but I only bother to go top six in ranking, because that's as deep as his classics go, IMHO: 6. Punch the Clock (your comments here are on point) 5. Imperial Bedroom 4. Get Happy!! 3. The King of America 2. Armed Forces 1. This Year's Model I have been listening to Trust for nearly 35 years and still don't get why so many rank it so high. I find the songwriting, production, arrangement, and performance to be very diffuse and wanting. I always hear it as a very unsuccessful dry run at Imperial Bedroom.

This Years Model and Get Happy are two of Costello's best. Blue Chair is my favorite on Jason's favorite Costello.

My first EC album was King of America at 16. How lucky was that?! I knew of “ Every Day I Write the Book”, and that one song probably propelled my quest to discover more of his brilliant lyrics and unexpectedly beautiful melodies. Then Blood and Chocolate. So these two are nostalgic favorites for me, and I know more of the lyrics from these than others. I actually didn’t get hold of the earlier records until after Mighty Like a Rose. I really like it too! I feel like I’m in a vacuum as NONE of these songs get any airplay. I like most every song on Spike-except’Veronica’ And IT is the only song of his I ever hear! Ugh. They only play it because of the collaboration with McCartney, in my opinion. I cannot keep up with his output, so I don’t have many of the more recent albums. Basically up to ‘Painted From Memory’ is where I left off so I really appreciate your appraisals on the later stuff. On the albums you mention that I’m familiar with, I think you are absolutely spot-on as far as notable tunes. I would rank “Juliet Letters higher because so many of these compositions provide an incredible showcase for his vocals., even though he collaborated with the Brodsky Quartet on the music. Still, these are very poignant and playful. I am not a pedal steel aficionado, so I would not have put “ Almost Blue” up there. I will be avoiding North, National Ransom and Wise up Ghost based upon your salient comments, which you deliver with great eloquence. EC is one of my heroes, not just musically, so it was a great pleasure to hear his oeuvre discussed so intelligently. Btw, on a final note, you might’ve mentioned “Tramp the Dirt Down” as one of his great protest songs. Love ‘Deep Dark Truthful Mirror “, also with Toussaint.

Dude new lease leaves is like my third favorite Elvis song so glad we agree on so much

@jdolew

3 жыл бұрын

New Lace Sleeves

His worst is my favorite, I grew up with Goodbye Cruel World so I can't help it. I like Mighty Like A Rose a lot, one of his best for me. I love his version of What A Good Year For The Roses, I think the Almost Blue album is great. Trust is like Pauls Band On The Run, can't be anything but great. I have 10 of his original albums on CD in my collection. I used to have a few more but don't remember what happened to them.

@TastesLikeMusic

3 жыл бұрын

For what it’s worth, I like Goodbye Cruel World. I can’t wait to redo his discography. - Joe

@kopptue9622

3 жыл бұрын

@@TastesLikeMusic I would also love to see artists like Chris De Burgh, Toto, Level 42, Prince, Moody Blues, Chicago, 10cc. I can also recommend digging into music from Japan from 70's/80's, lots of great city pop for example. Italy has a lot of interesting progressive rock bands. Also Indochine which is France answer to Depeche Mode. But yes opinions also change after a while so it's always fun to redo a discography too. I think you are doing a great work, all three of you :)

Thanks for the list. I can agree with the broad take-away message (that the 21st Century has not resulted in Elvis’ best music), but not the high placement of "My Aim is True" or "Almost Blue", but then for me adding a pedal steel guitar is almost suicidal for a record... Loved the analysis and highlighting of good songs within albums, especially those we may have overlooked.

@TastesLikeMusic

4 жыл бұрын

Thanks for watching and commenting. It's very interesting to see the wildly varying opinions of his catalog. People have skewered me for even putting My Aim is True as low as #10. And like I say in the video, pedal steel almost guarantees that I'll like a song. Even if its a bad song I can just get lost in that sound. Thanks again

I would love for you guys to do a ranking of Joe Jackson albums. Any chance ?

@TastesLikeMusic

2 жыл бұрын

Yeah someday we def will. But I don’t know when.

Interesting, a lot of work to put this together. So much to choose from, impossible to make a list that even most, not to mention all, agree upon.

King of America tour was the first gig my daughter went to-aged 8. She loved the album and has been a fan and a musician ever since. Great selection and very difficult to rank. Would certainly rank Brutal Youth and Get happy higher, but what the hell.

Would love to see a Kris Kristofferson ranking. By far my favourite classic country artist. Speaking of pedal steel, I would like to suggest the song "Fast Enough For You" by Phish.

My Top 12 would probably be: 1. King of America 2. Get Happy! 3. This Year's Model 4. Trust 5. Armed Forces (though I would say these top 5 are mostly interchangeable) 6. Blood And Chocolate 7. Almost Blue 8. Imperial Bedroom 9. All This Useless Beauty 10. Brutal Youth 11. Spike 12. When I Was Cruel After that, it's a little sketchy. Like most of my lists, it's pretty conventional. I suppose albums #6 thru #12 are pretty interchangeable as well. Each has incredible classic songs while none of them are perfect. If I had a top song ranking, that'd probably read something like this - chronologically - as I'm not sure how I could pare it down any further: 1. No Action 2. Pump It Up 3. Running Out of Angels (demo) 4. Big Boys (demo) 5. Busy Bodies 6. Love For Tender 7. Man Called Uncle 8. Riot Act 9. Girls Talk (EVERY version) 10. You'll Never Be A Man 11. Strict Time 12. How Much I Lied 13. Beyond Belief 14. Man Out of Time 15. Brilliant Mistake (might be my #1) 16. I Hope You're Happy Now 17. Crimes of Paris 18. Baby Plays Around 19. Hurry Down Doomsday (The Bugs Are Taking Over) 20. London's Brilliant Parade 21. The Other End of the Telescope 22. Tear Off Your Own Head (It's A Doll Revolution)

Interesting list. Would love to see this ‘remastered’. Unfortunately I’ve never been able to get into King Of America that much. Nothing really jumps out for me on it. Hard to rate this impeccable catalogue, but I think my Top 3 would go along the lines of this: 3. Armed Forces 2 & 1: My Aim Is True and Get Happy! battling it out. Also of note: 10 Bloody Marrys and 10 How’s Your Fathers (Taking Liberties for the US) sits right up there with his very best material. Probably the best outtakes collection ever. Out Of Our Idiot! is the great sequel to that.

@jonathansiders9779

2 жыл бұрын

Where to find a copy of these though? I’ve got Taking Liberties…

Imperial Bedroom, Get Happy, Armed Forces, This Year's Model, Trust, all have to be in top six or seven. To put an album of covers before any of those is...bananas.

@user-tr3lq3dc8z

Ай бұрын

Decades ago I found out that Beyond belief is about the moors murderers. Years later I worked out that Chelsea is about the Boston strangler. Reply app.

Armed forces always felt like it was the overlooked album. The red-headed stepchild of Elvis Costello's discography.

@lewisc215

Жыл бұрын

hardly overlooked.

@matrobnew

8 ай бұрын

I know, lol. It's a canonical top-5 album for most EC fans. Personally I'd say the red-headed stepchild from the period up to '87 is Goodbye Cruel World, although I get why it was disappointing at the time. But Jesus, it came out after Punch the Clock, and as a follower from '78 on I was absolutely horrified by Punch the Clock. I can still barely listen to it, whereas I was merely ambivalent about GBCW and now I think there's some awesome stuff on it. Deportees Club? Come on.

@fatovamingus

8 ай бұрын

@@matrobnew If you try to put the perfect 12 song album of his together it's going to be a little piece of everything. I couldn't live without Let Him Dangle, Lipstick Vogue , Ship building, Beyond Belief and Moods for Moderns. Then the rest could be anything and I'd be happy

why isn’t When i was cruel available now?? not on itunes, only vinyl copies over £100! love that album

1 Imperial Bedroom 2 King of America 3 This Years Model 4 All this useless Beauty 5 the Delivery Man 6 Look Now 7 Spike 8 Blood & Chocolate 9 Brutal Youth 10 Painted from Memory 11 Almost Blue

Time to revisit this one was Jason & kramzer

Really surprised by the order of some of this list. I'd probably put Spike in my top three. I'd recommend watching the promotional special "Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About Spike", for some background on a lot of the songs and some incredible solo performances. Let Him Dangle, Tramp the Dirt Down and Deep Dark Truthful Mirror rank as some of my favourite Elvis Costello songs, and having seen him play some of these songs in concert, they stand up as some of his most powerful and passionate.

@BazStrickland

4 жыл бұрын

Have to agree....saw him perform this solo at the Royal Albert Hall on release

@matrobnew

8 ай бұрын

same. Very strange blind spot in an otherwise fairly insightful ranking (which doesn't mean I 100% agree with it, just that for the most part his explanations were reasonable.

FOR ALL HIS ECLECTIC MUSICAL TRAVELS,FROM BASIC ROCK TO SOUL TO CLASSICAL TO SHOWTUNES,IT NEVER GOT BETTER THAN THE FIRST 3. MY AIM IS TRUE,THIS YEARS MODEL,ANDARMED FORCES. A ONE TWO THREE PUNCH. IF HE NEVER RECORDED AGAIN HIS LEGACY WAS SECURED. WHILE HE VENTURED OFF INTO MANY MUDSICAL STYLES AND COLLABORATIONS AFTER THIS,IT NEVER GOT BETTER.

@pjeffries301

9 ай бұрын

I agree completely.

Hey long time fan here. Y’all should do Warren Zevon next. 🙏

For me Trust is #1 followed by This Years Model.

Thanks for the love for the much underrated punch the clock

I disagree with most this, but that's O.K.

@oppothumbs1

3 жыл бұрын

Don't be shy .. I am Almost very blue about the List. Though i am not longer a fan of Costello, the crooner. I am sure this guys favorite song is Shipbuilding. Costello's top five for me are This Years Model (top 10 record of all time) My Aim is True Get Happy (chock full of great songs and his putting Getting Happy at 9 is stupid. He mentions good songs but stops at 3 songs .. it's all good but a couple songs) Trust (This guy likes New Lace Sleeves? I love the record but not that song) Taking Liberties (has Getting Mightly crowded, Hoover Factory, Radio sweetheart) Armed Forces (overrated but there is a song i loved called Chemistry Class, as well as Accidents and Whats so funny about.. When i was Cruel. the first three songs are strong. I can't think of any album I liked after his rock records and disliked Imperial Bedroom. Great songs after his great decline imo: And he should try to recapture something from his past!!!!!!!!! Radio Radio is so much better than Oliver Army .. anyway.... His cover of I just Don't know what to do with myself on Stiff is great. The few songs i like after his new wave and less ambitious records. Blue Chair So Like Candy Monkey to Man 45 Tear Doll House down Every day I wrote the book Spooky Girlfriend

@oppothumbs1

3 жыл бұрын

I do agree with his criticism of Get Happy but I guess I still love it.

@vernpascal1531

3 жыл бұрын

@@oppothumbs1 it's one of the greatest albums ever. At least half is Classic and the rest is very good. not a mediocre song on there.Possession,Temptation,Riot Act,New Amsterdam,Men Called Uncle,King Horse,High Fidelity,Love For Tender,Clowntime Is Over,Black And White World...the greatest combination ever of Motown and New Wave.

I hate hate hate King of America- however love love love one song on it- Big Light. Also am one of those who would never rate his Almost Blue country cover album that high. Kudos for putting Punch the Clock toward the top and for putting Trust up there at number 2.....and yeah New Lace Sleeves I agree is possibly his best or one of them anyway... Very good job on the list! Thanks!

Thanks for this but can’t agree with the critique of Get Happy. Sorry

This was a very difficult list to put together and one that no one will agree on compleatly. Haha. For me I simply like the angry skinny punk Elvis the best. My top 5 are 1)My Aim is True 2)Armed Forces 3)This Years Model 4)Punch the Clock 5)Trust 6)Blood and Chocolate 7)Imperial Bedroom 8)Get Happy 9)Taking Liberties 10) King of America It is beyond me how someone doesn't think My Aim Is True isn't his best. I'm glad you ranked Punch the Clock high. It is fantastic. I'm going to check out King of America again because of your list. I wasn't overly impressed when I bought it in 86 but my music tastes have mellowed some so I'm going to give it a try again. Also Blood and Chocolate is a hidden gim of his. I remember my friends and I being excited about his return to rock when it came out in 86 I think after King of America. Thanks again for your insight.

So glad you resisted the impulse to end every sentence with “in my opinion.”

You guys should redo this discography as a group

@TastesLikeMusic

Жыл бұрын

Agreed

I couldn't agree more with most of your rankings. Absolutely, King of America is his best album by far.

I would put some of Elvis' later LPs at the top of my list- "North" and his collaboration with Anne Sofie von Otter, "For the Stars".

great analysis, i have no complaints...other than two artists should be a separate category

Brutal Youth at 22? I think your ears may be broken.

My Aim is True, This Years Model, Armed Forces...and some others.

re: Brutal Youth - you've got to give "London's Brilliant Parade" and "Sulky Girl" another listen. Don't know if I would have ranked the album that low, but looking at the track listing, it probably could have been trimmed by a few songs. Spike and Mighty Like A Rose are somewhat companion albums - I thought it a bit odd that you should rank them a distance from one another. My favorite off of Mighty Like A Rose is "Hurry Down Doomsday (The Bugs Are Taking Over)." Get Happy! at number 9, eh? Oof. I mean, it's top 10, but his best five records (This Year's Model, Armed Forces, Get Happy!, Trust and King of America) are just so much better than everything else. This Year's Model at number 7, eh? Oof. Can't argue with King of America, though. That's a stone cold classic.

Haven’t yet watched this; will in a bit. But the top 3 are his first three, specifically: 1) This Year’s Model, 2) Armed Forces, and 3) My Aim Is True. Imperial Bedroom is up there, as is King of America and Get Happy! These are facts;) Now let’s see if this young whippersnapper has a clue …

@user-tr3lq3dc8z

Ай бұрын

Decades ago I found out that Beyond belief is about the moors murderers. I also worked out Chelsea. Reply App.

What would be the least amount of albums an artist has for you to do a list?

@TastesLikeMusic

5 жыл бұрын

That's a good question...I did The Cars with only 7 albums and that felt like it maybe wasn't the most interesting video. Not sure that I could get away with doing less than that, although I have thought about ranking every song by bands with a smaller discographies. The tricky part of that would be making sure that I actually get all the tracks and don't miss any b-sides or things like that.

@anthonybernard3689

5 жыл бұрын

@@TastesLikeMusic that would be tough!

@anthonybernard3689

5 жыл бұрын

Some suggestions-steely dan,kansas,Jethro tull,genesis,squeeze,king crimson,elp

@TastesLikeMusic

5 жыл бұрын

I plan on getting to most, if not all, of these at some point. Thanks for the input.

@peterkau

2 жыл бұрын

@@TastesLikeMusic Sex Pistols? SIgh, sorry...

This was brilliant! I more or less stopped paying attention to Elvis Costello after Brutal Youth. I did buy Kojak Variety, The Delivery Man and When I was Cruel when they came out but I don't think I managed to get through any of them, so it was really interesting to see some of his later albums quite high on your list. I must revisit those albums. My top 10 (no real surprises) would be, 1 Armed Forces 2 This Years Model 3 Get Happy! 4 Imperial Bedroom 5 Trust 6 King Of America 7 My Aim Is True 8 Blood and Chocolate 9 Goodbye Cruel World 10 Mighty Like A Rose Again, a brilliant video and I look forward to your Rolling Stones ranking. I have ranked Queen, David Bowie and T.Rex on my channel if you are interested in watching. I don't do the research and revisiting of the albums so it's all off the top of my head (mistakes and all).

@TastesLikeMusic

5 жыл бұрын

Thanks! I really appreciate you watching. I'll definitely check out those videos. T. Rex is one I still need to get to, but one of my favorite bands.

i completely agree with this list

A friend turned me on to Elvis in 1977, I eagerly awaited and loved every album until Good bye cruel world, I tried so hard to like it but it just didn't work for me. It would be interesting to see if my opinion has changed after all this time.

Trust is my #1 EC album.

Interesting list. I am also a fan of Almost Blue...Trust also is very high on my list. I would disagree on King of America - my picks in the top 5 rotate between Trust/My Aim is True/Get Happy/Armed Forces and This Years Model. (at any given moment one rises above the others, but then I change). Almost Blue would come in 6th and then Imperial Bedroom in 7th then Painted From Memory 8th. I just did not see anything on King of America that in total would push it past any of the 8 I have mentioned.