Elvis Costello Albums Ranked - The Columbia Years 1977-1986

[@stephenxian]

1. Imperial Bedroom 2. Armed Forces 3. My Aim is True 4. This Years Model 5. Trust 6. Get Happy 7. Punch the Clock 8. Blood & Chocolate 9. King of America 10. Goodbye Cruel World 11. Almost Blue

[@TheGuyMullins]

Everything you said about "Get Happy" was positive... Just like critics said about the Ramones... I could never rate his albums in any order... though... I think all artists are wonderful no matter how bad they are I can dig Captain Beefheart and Tom Waits... I would love to clear a room to the hours and hours of the extended version of "Nilsson's COCONUT" ... then again, OXYMORON: ROCK CRITIC.

[@54macdog]

I would include Taking Liberties from this era. A compilation but rare songs not on albums. A great showcase of Costello's versatility.

[@tomrobinson5776]

I agree. What an amazing track listing.

[@unrulysimian3897]

Bought it when it came out - assumed it was his 4th album and thought he’d dropped the greatest first four albums ever. One of the few vinyl albums I own.

[@unrulysimian3897]

King of America would be my N° 1. I suggest a revisit of Blood and Chocolate. ☮️

[@kevtruth]

This is exciting. Love your list, but I'm bringing the Get Happy!! heat. My favorite is the Rykodisc CD version. It sounds so much better than my vinyl copy. Plus bonus tracks like Hoover Factory, Ghost Train, Girls Talk are on it. Here's my EC Columbia ranking 11. Goodbye Cruel World 10. Punch The Clock 9. Almost Blue 8. King Of America 7. My Aim Is True 6. Blood & Chocolate 5. Imperial Bedroom 4. Trust 3. Armed Forces 2. Get Happy!! 1. This Year's Model

[@davidgreenberg5517]

perfecto listo

[@otisdylan9532]

1. This Year's Model (either version) 2. My Aim Is True (US version) 3. Armed Forces (US version) 4. Imperial Bedroom 5. Trust 6. King of America 7. Get Happy 8. Blood and Chocolate 9. Punch the Clock 10. Almost Blue 11. Goodbye Cruel World

[@Carl-x8y3c]

Hi 👋 Greetings from New Zealand. I like Elvis Costello. I had his album This Years Model in 1978. The song Pump it Up is a favorite song of mine by him. I bought Almost Blue which i liked. He still makes music today and performs. I like his wife Diana Krall and her vocals too. The song Watching The Detectives from 1977 is cool. The reggae style of it is neat. From Carl.

[@tomrobinson5776]

Greetings! Thanks for watching. 😉

[@CB-vg1wq]

Hello. I really enjoy your ranking and hearing your perspective. Elvis Costello is one of my all time favorite singer/song writers. When My Aim Is True came out, it was a game changer album for me. It sounded different than anything I had ever heard and his lyrics were fascinating and could have different meanings or double meanings. My top 2 favorite albums are; My Aim Is True and This Years Model. But, I am so glad you mentioned an album I just love, The Juliet Letters. I think that album is so funny and so thought provoking. I think the album is about different faucets of love, how love can degrade into hate but also how love can be the only thing holding us together. I have always loved quartet music with a singer. That album is one of a kind. Cheers!

[@tomrobinson5776]

@@CB-vg1wq Cheers 😉

[@carmaigdeforest7284]

GET HAPPY!! has no hooks?? No way! GET HAPPY!! is nothing but hooks -- hooks with lots of ear candy combined with grooves that draw heavily on '60s soul and contemporary (to the album's release) ska. The brevity and quantity of songs is part of the point, GET HAPPY!! is best appreciated as not a collection of individual tracks but rather an unrelenting barrage of song-after-song. This is hammered home by its original presentation on vinyl wherein the sequence of songs listed as side one on the jacket are listed as side two on the disc and vice versa -- making the sequence of the album a möbius strip rather than a linear journey from track one to track 20. I hate to think what state of mind made you not appreciate the power and brilliance of GET HAPPY!! Needless to say I love it.

[@tomrobinson5776]

As Sly once said, Different Strokes For Different Folks. 😉

[@davidgreenberg5517]

​@@tomrobinson5776true - in fact, it would be terrifying if everyone thought the same way!

[@alvillanueva2525]

The Attractions played on "Watching The Detectives".

[@tomrobinson5776]

Interesting, always thought it was Clover across the board for that entire first album.

[@carmaigdeforest7284]

@@tomrobinson5776 - as @russellcampbell3274 pointed out, "Watching..." wasn't originally on My Aim is True. Rather it was a subsequent single recorded after EC's team put together the Attractions. When CBS picked up My Aim is True for US release, someone had the good sense to suggest adding "...the Detectives" to the sequence -- which significantly raised the impact of that album. Similarly the original UK release of Armed Forces didn't have "What So Funny About...". That track was initially the B-side to Nick Lowe's "Cruel to Kind" single. Again Columbia and/or team Elvis had the good sense to have that track be the finale of the US version of Armed Forces - rather than "Two Little Hitlers". Get Happy!! then was the first EC LP to have the exact same sequence in the US as it did in the UK. The UK pressing of Get Happy!! however was far superior which may account for your being underwhelmed by it ;~)

[@kevtruth]

What I remember reading in the liner notes is Graham Parker & the Rumour's rhythm section, Steve Nieve and EC played on Watching The Detectives

[@alvillanueva2525]

@@kevtruth It seems that that is the case.

[@pauldaniels2019]

I bought Taking Liberties when it came out, and I never thought of it as a compilation, since I haven't heard most of the songs before. I always considered it his 5th album. The first time I saw EC live was the Imperial Bedroom tour - such a great concert. I remember that when it came out, he was compared to Cole Porter (!!). I enjoyed your list, and my list would be very similar to yours if I took the time to make one. I also enjoyed his long autobiography that he wrote a few years ago.

[@chrisboerger465]

PS, instead of choosing between the British and US versions of those early records, I'll opt for the CD versions that have all the tracks!

[@tomrobinson5776]

Ever heard the Ryko box 2 1/2 Years from 1992? The bonus tracks featured on the first three albums are stellar especially on My Aim Is True. Gems like Imagination Is A Powerful Deceiver, Poison Moon, Jump Up, Cheap Reward, Wave A White Flag are amazing.

[@chrisboerger465]

@@tomrobinson5776 Thanks. Not familiar with the set but I think I've heard maybe one or two of those songs. I'll have to check it out.

[@KneeAches]

This video inspired me to listen to some early Elvis C. Unfortunately I gave away most of my LPs 15 years ago so went to Spotify just to learn they don’t have his full discography…..several of the best are missing.

[@mattrobbins2268]

I'll happily chide you for not digging Get Happy, but l saw it coming: whenever you cite the majesty of the early Costello albums you stop at Armed Forces and then--stony silence. I dig why some people can't relate to Get Happy on first or even fifth listen. The songs gallop along at punk tempos which don't really do the '60s soul influence of the songwriting any favors. I found it hard to get into my own self, initially. But my cat Norm dug it the most. He'd hop up on the speakers and start nonchalantly grooming himself while the record was blaring and l thought, "Well, if Norm is hip to this, l better give it some more attention..." Get Happy became my favorite Elvis Costello album, and l still think it's great. But Armed Forces has better arrangements. It's hypnotic. Kooky side note: l always wondered why This Year's Model has such a strange, phased sound, and l read somewhere that Nick Lowe mixed the whole damn thing through an Electro Harmonix Memory Man echo with the chorus/vibrato maxed. That is sick. That is diseased. That is not right. I love it!

[@davidgreenberg5517]

Whether I like it or not, Costellos' catalogue was recommended to me to soundtrack my adolescence and beyond. At first I couldn't stand his voice - quit imitating Ronnie Spector, you're an English man! But some of those early hits, particularly " Radio Radio " , were great. It took a high school classmate telling me that the then - latest Costello album, " Get Happy "managed to fit twenty great songs onto one lp to convince me to give this Costello bloke a fraction of my allowance money. Four years later in my college dorm room, my roommate and his friend, their distant girlfriends in mind, had the tracks " Motel Matches " and " King Horse " in particular repeatedly played.

[@carmaigdeforest7284]

Good on your cat Norm, for getting you to appreciate the masterpiece that is Get Happy!! As I suggested in my own comment, one connects with GH!! as a whole listening experience rather than individual songs. Sadly, I don't think @tomrobinson5776 is ever going to hear it that way, but chacun son gout as the French say. And I love the story you heard about TYM - a very special album indeed.

[@lawrencebrissenden]

1. This Year’s Model (USA/Canada) 2. Armed Forces 3. Get Happy 4. My Aim Is True 5. Trust… end of the great album run.

[@davidgreenberg5517]

Like he said, the Sergeant Pepperesque production of " Imperial Bedroom " takes some getting used to.

[@PunkRockPete]

Great video. I’d rank my Top 10 this way: 1. This Year’s Model 2. Armed Forces 3. Get Happy 4. Trust 5. Debut 6. King Of America 7. Imperial Bedroom 8. Brutal Youth 9. Blood & Chocolate 10. Spike Just my opinion

[@kevtruth]

Great list

[@PunkRockPete]

@@kevtruth Thanks

[@christianewen3227]

Loving these ranking vids, Tom! Such a great series and I’m looking forward to seeing how you rank EC&TA, who I’m a big fan of 😊👍🏻

[@ledzeplover58]

Bought MAIT when it came out,lived inside the album for at least a year. I actually took the time to transcribe the lyrics,something I had never done and have not since. My import copy of This Year's Model came with a 45 of Stranger In The House.

[@tomrobinson5776]

Very cool. I remember Armed Forces came with a 45 of some live recordings from the Hollywood High School performance which was later released in its entirety years later on CD.

[@syater]

Definitely give Elvis with the Imposters a listen. Actually, I only have three of them: 'The Delivery Man' 'Look Now' and 'The Boy Named If.' You might be happy to discover there is a lot more energy and good songs than you might expect at this late stage of his career, dare I say, a little like the old days.

[@kevtruth]

I really like The Boy Named If - best set of songs he's released in decades

[@syater]

@@kevtruth Agreed. I really enjoy that album. It helps that the band sounds great, really well recorded and of course the songs.

[@tomrobinson5776]

I need to check out The Boy Named If. A lot of raves out there..

[@nathanlaney4577]

Hi Tom: Elvis Costello is one of my top five favorite artists of all time, and mainly because of the '77 - '86 time period! Like you, "Goodbye Cruel World" is my least listened to of these albums; I find the best songs on the album underwhelming compared to pretty much all of the music that preceded this. Next for me too is "Punch the Clock." "Shipbuilding" is indeed the best track on the album! I find "The Element Within Her" to be the next most appealing track here, followed by (in no particular order) "Charm School" and "Mouth Almighty." For me "King of America" would be next. I grew up listening to all kinds of music. Among my favorite is Country..."real" country! Elvis taps into that vein very, very well! I love "The Big Light," "Glitter Gulch" and "Lovable" for that very reason! The Rykodisc version of this album had a short live bonus disc with The Confederates where they did a really good version of Waylon Jennings' "Only Daddy That'll Walk the Line." The studio disc also included among the bonus tracks the Elvis and T-Bone Burnett (The Coward Brothers) single: "They'll Never Take Her Love From Me"/"The People's Limousine." Fine, fine single! I also love "Brilliant Mistake" and "American Without Tears." At this point I find it darn near impossible to go least to best! All I can go by is what out of this amazing body of work I listen to the least to the most! "Imperial Bedroom" gets played the least, but man,...I love this album!! Particularly "The Loved Ones," "Man Out of Time," "You Little Fool," "Beyond Belief," "Almost Blue" and "Tears Before Bedtime." I would say"Almost Blue" is next; I like it all, clear across the board. Same with the Rykodisc version! Next is "This Year's Model." Not a bum song in the lot! It simply gets played a little less than the others. Then would be "Armed Forces." Again, fabulous album, just doesn't get played quite as much as: "My Aim Is True," which is also top notch! Next is "Get Happy!!" Great running order, superb tracks, and, like you Tom, "King Horse" sits on the top of the heap here! Hot on its heels is: "Clowntime Is Over," "High Fidelity," "Black and White World," "5ive Beers and a Nurse," I MEAN 😮 5IVE GEARS IN REVERSE!" "Beaten to the Punch" and "Riot Act." Even though it's a comp, I include "Taking Liberties!" I love that album! The weakest tracks are: "Black and White World," "Just a Memory," "Clowntime Is Over," and "My Funny Valentine." The rest is awesome! Next is "Trust," and, for me, anytime I need a quick Costello fix, "Blood and Chocolate" gets it done!

[@kso808]

I’ve got the Armed Forces LP, purchased based upon a Rolling Stone magazine review. I love “Accidents Will Happen.”

[@davidsamuelson2678]

Ahem, ahem! "Taking Liberties."

[@davidgreenberg5517]

I think he didn't include it because technically it's a comp...go figure.

[@tomrobinson5776]

It’s a fantastic comp. Almost included it, but had no idea anyone would care. The comments say otherwise. 😉

[@painless465]

11.goodbye cruel world 10.almost blue 09.get happy( agree, sounds like a slog to get through) 08. King of America 07.Punch the Clock 06.Imperial Bedroom 05.Blood and Chocolate 04. This Years Model( a hot take, yes, I just prefer 3 more) 03.Trust 02.My Aim is True 01.Armed Forces( a “ serious” EC fan wouldn’t typically put this #1, I’m a more casual fan)

[@Gildedpalace]

With you on the Get Happy! I will put it right next to GBCW in the basement. Great list and pretty damn close to my own perspective. Also glad to see Armed at the top. I always see TYM there. Nice for a change.

[@tomrobinson5776]

Finally someone on my side regarding Get Happy. Never understood the hype. 😉

[@ediblehorse]

My top 3 was totally backwards from yours. Hard to rank those...

[@patbyrne6644]

Get Happy is my No 1 !

[@tomrobinson5776]

😉

[@brunoboulanger8442]

Mine too

[@sgauge4ever]

Nick Lowe, Graham Parker. Ian Dury. Elvis Costello..the 2nd and welcomed British Invasion. Wasnt the backup band on My Aim is True Huey Lewis' & the News Band?

[@tomrobinson5776]

Correct. They were named Clover.

[@TerryTutor-cv3hh]

Cait O'Riorden from The Pogues and his second wife....Peace and Love, Terry Tutor

[@tomrobinson5776]

Thanks Terry 😉

[@russellcampbell3274]

Hi Tom. I'm not a huge Elvis Costello fan but bought his first 6 albums on vinyl when they came out. (UK version of "My Aim is True" doesn't contain "Watching the Detectives" which is why I suggested it in your "albums under 30 minutes" show a few months ago.) Liked the first 3 albums but didn't like "Get Happy" for similar reasons to yourself.Really liked his country album. - Feel that "New Lace Sleeves" from "Trust" would have fitted into this album among all the covers. I'm not familiar with his work after the first 6 albums apart from the odd song.

[@vinylwood]

Great 👍 job Tom. I wouldn’t move too many of those albums around, for me you’re about 80%. 1 or two different at the bottom & slightly different order in the top 3. 😊

[@danny1959]

I love your bottom two and hate Blood and Chocolate. My favorite from this era is actually Taking Liberties.

[@tomrobinson5776]

That’s a great comp. Lots of gems on that album.

[@Darrylizer1]

I like the first two. After that it's really hit or miss for me. I've always found him to be "Best Of" album artist. I'll give your top picks another listen tho.

[@karalyncarlton6151]

1. Armed Forces 2. King of America 3. Imperial Bedroom (Chelsea is pronounced chel-SEE and Nieve is pronounced like ny-EVE.)

[@chrisboerger465]

Before I get to my ranking, I'm not a fan of cover albums, so in spite of EC being my favorite artist, not only do I not own Almost Blue, I've never even heard it! But here is how I would order the rest: 10 Goodbye Cruel World, 9 Punch the Clock, 8 King of America, 7 My Aim Is True, 6 Imperial Bedroom, 5 Blood and Chocolate, 4 This Year's Model, 3 Get Happy! 2 Trust, and #1, Armed Forces. Punch the Clock is a bit underrated, but not quite great. Oddly, enough, I enjoy the album front to back, yet find Shipbuilding to be his most overrated song, though I do like it. Get Happy! just clicks with me for some reason, Clown Time Is Over would be in my top five Costello songs. The top two, two of the greatest post punk albums ever made. Delving later into his career, I would include Look Now and National Ransom in my top five of his albums, I love those records beyond measure. If you haven't explored this period of his career, I can't recommend these records enough. Thanks, Tom.

[@tomrobinson5776]

I will explore those albums. Thanks Chris.

[@sslaytor]

Chelsea is pronounced as it is spelled Chel-sea not Chel-sa.

[@tomrobinson5776]

Gotcha

[@davidgreenberg5517]

When I was in my Costello fanatic faze, scooping up every album, " Punch The Clock " sent my fanaticism screeching to a halt. I owe it a second chance, I suppose.

[@tomrobinson5776]

Or not…😉

[@kevtruth]

I dig the song Shipbuilding, but it sounds nothing like the rest of the album

[@amanuensis9873]

Is there any hope for a Tom Waits ranking? Anyway, love the list. This Year’s Model is probably the critical darling, but I’d also probably pick the debut over it. Blood and Chocolate might be my favorite though. One critic called it proto-grunge rather interestingly. Imperial Bedrooms is fantastic, one of the best Costello lyrics: “cause the high heel he used to be has been ground down…”

[@tomrobinson5776]

Those are some fine lyrics. Only own about 1/3 of Waits catalog. Could be an interesting ranking as his discography is all over the map stylistically.

[@amanuensis9873]

@@tomrobinson5776 maybe you’d have to split it up into the Asylum years and Island years. Although he has plenty of albums that aren’t with Island, so it would have to be his period starting with swordfish trombones.

[@raycochrane3971]

I find the songs on Goodbye to be fab but the performances and production don't make the mark. Shipbuilding: Wyatt's version came out 1st. GET HAPPY is AMAZING. IMP BEDROOM - the demos were more rock - the 1st listen was a shock but he was right as the final versions are stellar! I Don't Want To Go To ChelSEEE.

[@tomrobinson5776]

I’ve heard those “rock” versions of Imperial Bedroom. It was part of the Rhino double disc CD version. Hard to believe the contrast between those and the released versions.

[@simonagree4070]

Ah, a big ponder. I find it very hard to rate Costello albums, because almost all have so much to offer (I do dislike Goodbye Cruel World and Almost Blue). I'll find myself in the mood for any of them, except for my bottom two, fairly often. I probably like Blood And Chocolate, and Armed Forces, a little less than you, and Get Happy, and Punch The Clock a little more. It feels like I'd just be niggling over fine points if I was to argue about our preferences. Really wasn't in the mood to continue following his career after he left Columbia.

[@adamfindlay7091]

Lay it on me, Capo😸 I prefer the Armed Forces, beatlesque but never the less. Never understood EC until he explained he was really a songwriter. To the point, very cool. I mean to the punch...

[@marcyfan-tz4wj]

doesn't "taking liberties" have to be included just to cover the time period? i like "getting mighty crowded", "my funny valentine", "just a memory" and others that aren't included. also, i don't think "peace in our time" despite the clumsy production is a forgettable song. otherwise, this is a great video, up to your normal standards.

[@davidgreenberg5517]

I agree about " Taking Liberties " - I think it was compiled such that it works great as an album.

[@tomrobinson5776]

It’s a great compilation. A lot of gems featured. I agree it does play like a real album sort of like Hatful Of Hollow by The Smiths.

[@francisanosissi1]

No mention of 5 gears in reverse from get happy... that's why these lists are pap..

[@LuxVivens9]

🤓

[@MarkKost-m1n]

TRUST is my choice for best album period , -any artist,any music, any planet ! But the cover looks like he just farted and wonders if he shit his pants .

[@tomrobinson5776]

@@MarkKost-m1n Ha, you may be right. 😉

[@curly_wyn]

1. This Year’s Model 2. Armed Forces 3. My Aim is True 4. Imperial Bedroom 5. Get Happy!! 6. King of America 7. Blood and Chocolate 8. Trust 9. Punch the Clock 10. Goodbye Cruel World 11. Almost Blue (this album completely sucks, it’s terrible!)