Almost Blue

For the song from Imperial Bedroom, see Almost Blue (song). For the Italian film, see Almost Blue (film).
Almost Blue
Studio album by Elvis Costello and the Attractions
Released 23 October 1981 (1981-10-23)
Recorded May 1981, Nashville
Genre Rock, country, alternative country, new wave, cowpunk
Length 32:35
Label F-Beat (UK)
Columbia (US)
Demon/Rykodisc (30 August 1994 Reissue)
Rhino (3 August 2004 Reissue)
Hip-O (1 May 2007 Reissue)
Producer Billy Sherrill
Elvis Costello and the Attractions chronology
Trust
(1981)		 Almost Blue
(1981)		 Imperial Bedroom
(1982)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[1]
Chicago Tribune[2]
Encyclopedia of Popular Music[3]
Entertainment WeeklyB[4]
Mojo[5]
Q[6]
Rolling Stone[7]
The Rolling Stone Album Guide[8]
Uncut[9]
The Village VoiceB–[10]

Almost 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. It was Costello's first album not to be produced by Nick Lowe.

Contemporary critical reaction to Almost Blue was mixed, with Trouser Press labelling the album "surprisingly clumsy" and "a dud", while Robert Christgau gave it a grade of B- and Rolling Stone gave it an overall positive three-star review. In recent years, Allmusic rated it favourably, and Rhapsody praised the album, calling it one of their favourite cover version albums.[11]

Packaging and artwork

Album cover was designed by Barney Bubbles. The design is an homage to the 1963 Blue Note album Midnight Blue by Kenny Burrell. Many versions of the artwork were made, with slightly different base colours.

It originally appeared with a warning label that read "WARNING: This album contains country & western music and may cause offence to narrow minded listeners". An alternative label read "WARNING! This album contains country & western music and may produce radical reaction in narrow minded people".

Track listing

Side one

  1. "Why Don't You Love Me (Like You Used to Do)?" (Hank Williams) – 1:40
  2. "Sweet Dreams" (Don Gibson) – 3:00
  3. "Success" (Johnny Mullins) – 2:41
  4. "I'm Your Toy" (Gram Parsons, Chris Ethridge) – 3:23
  5. "Tonight the Bottle Let Me Down" (Merle Haggard) – 2:09
  6. "Brown to Blue" (George Jones, Virginia Franks, Country Johnny Mathis) – 2:40

Side two

  1. "Good Year for the Roses" (Jerry Chesnut) – 3:10
  2. "Sittin' and Thinkin'" (Charlie Rich) – 3:02
  3. "Colour of the Blues" (Lawton Williams, George Jones) – 2:21
  4. "Too Far Gone" (Billy Sherrill) – 3:28
  5. "Honey Hush" (Lou Willie Turner) – 2:15
  6. "How Much I've Lied" (Gram Parsons, Pam Rifkin) – 2:55

Note: The Rykodisc version has the original tracks and bonus tracks on one CD. The Rhino version has two CDs with the original tracks on the first CD.

Bonus tracks (1994 Rykodisc)

  1. "He's Got You" (Live) (Hank Cochran) – 4:07
  2. "Cry! Cry! Cry!" (Live) (Johnny Cash) – 2:45
  3. "There Won't Be Anymore" (Live) (Rich) – 2:23
  4. "Sittin' and Thinkin'" (Live) (Rich) – 2:55
  5. "Honey Hush" (Live) (Turner) – 2:31
  6. "Psycho" (Live) (Leon Payne) – 3:36
  7. "Your Angel Steps Out of Heaven" (Jack Ripley) – 1:58
  8. "Darling, You Know I Wouldn't Lie" (Wayne Kemp, Red Lane) – 2:37
  9. "My Shoes Keep Walking Back to You" (Lee Ross, Bob Wills) – 2:04
  10. "Tears Before Bedtime" (Early Version) (Costello) – 2:27
  11. "I'm Your Toy" (Live) (Parsons, Ethridge) – 3:49

Bonus disc (2004 Rhino)

All songs written by Costello unless noted.

  1. "Stranger in the House" (duet with George Jones) – 3:39
  2. "We Ought to Be Ashamed" (duet with Johnny Cash) (James, Montgomery) – 2:47
  3. "Radio Sweetheart" (Live) – 3:15
  4. "Stranger in the House" (Live) – 3:56
  5. "Psycho" (Live) (Payne) – 3:35
  6. "If I Could Put Them All Together (I'd Have You)" (Live) (Even Stevens) – 2:28
  7. "Motel Matches" (Live) – 2:21
  8. "He'll Have to Go" (Live) (Joe Allison/Audrey Allison) – 2:51
  9. "Girls Talk" (Live) – 1:46
  10. "Too Far Gone" (Lost Session version) (Sherrill) – 3:11
  11. "He's Got You" (Lost Session version) (Cochran) – 3:51
  12. "Honky Tonk Girl" (Loretta Lynn) – 2:26
  13. "That's Why I'm Walking" (Melvin Endsley & Stonewall Jackson) – 2:22
  14. "Wondering" (Joe Werner) – 2:21
  15. "Darling, You Know I Wouldn't Lie" (Kemp, Lane) – 2:37
  16. "My Shoes Keep Walking Back to You" (Ross, Wills) – 2:04
  17. "Blues Keep Calling" (Janis Martin) – 2.07
  18. "Tears Before Bedtime" (Early Version) – 2:27
  19. "Psycho" (Payne) – 3:32
  20. "Cry, Cry, Cry" (Cash) – 2:45
  21. "I'll Take Care of You" (Brook Benton) – 3:11
  22. "Your Angel Steps Out of Heaven" (Ripley) – 1:59
  23. "Brand New Heartache" (Live) (Felice Bryant/Boudleaux Bryant) – 2:29
  24. "There Won't Be Anymore" (Live) (Rich) – 2:32
  25. "Sittin' and Thinkin'" (Live) (Rich) – 2:51
  26. "Honey Hush" (Live) (Turner) – 2:30
  27. "I'm Your Toy" (Live) (Parsons, Ethridge) – 4:01

Personnel

Additional personnel

Charts

Album

Year Chart Position
1981 Billboard Pop Albums 50

References

  1. ↑ Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Almost Blue – Elvis Costello / Elvis Costello & the Attractions". AllMusic. Retrieved 19 December 2015.
  2. ↑ Kot, Greg (2 June 1991). "The Sounds Of Elvis, From San Francisco And Beyond". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 6 November 2015.
  3. ↑ Larkin, Colin (2007). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music (5th ed.). Omnibus Press. ISBN 978-1-84609-856-7.
  4. ↑ White, Armond (10 May 1991). "Elvis Costello's albums". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved 20 September 2015.
  5. ↑ "Almost Blue CD". CD Universe. Retrieved 19 December 2015.
  6. ↑ "Elvis Costello: Almost Blue". Q (98): 136. November 1994.
  7. ↑ Hume, Martha (10 December 1981). "Almost Blue". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 19 December 2015.
  8. ↑ Sheffield, Rob (2004). "Elvis Costello". In Brackett, Nathan; Hoard, Christian. The New Rolling Stone Album Guide. London: Fireside Books. pp. 193–95. ISBN 0-7432-0169-8. Retrieved 30 November 2011.
  9. ↑ Roberts, Chris (September 2004). "Fifth phase of two-disc reissue series". Uncut (88): 113.
  10. ↑ Christgau, Robert (30 November 1981). "Consumer Guide". The Village Voice. Retrieved 19 December 2015.
  11. ↑ Rhapsody’s Favorite Covers Albums Referenced 1 August 2010
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