Elvis Costello - Top 10 Albums

[@WestleyWelinskivitch]

I was surprised that King of America didn't make your top 10.

[@etamommy]

Delightful! I agree that it is no way in the top 10

[@southsheff]

Really great that you did this Adam. I agree with you about Blood and Chocolate. My hero worship of his work has decreased over the years but I will always remember so many live performances of him at his peak and the little gems of a one off cover version like "one day I'll fly away" encore Newcastle city hall 1980/1,or the solo acoustic "The image of me" "nothing at the end of the rainbow" these would make me seek out the bootleg cassettes at old school record fairs.

[@NickLoweLife]

Good to see “Brutal Youth” get some praise.

[@kevtruth]

Wow, thanks for covering Costello on your channel. I am a huge fan of his 1977-86 albums. I must admit though I'd for the most part given up on him - until January of this year, when he and The Imposters dropped a (IMO) a real gem. My list of 10 worst to best: 10. Brutal Youth (1994) 9. The Boy Named If (2022) 8. King Of America (1986) 7. My Aim Is True (1977) 6. Imperial Bedroom (1982) 5. Blood & Chocolate (1986) 4. Trust (1981) 3. Armed Forces (1979) 2. This Year's Model (1978) 1. Get Happy!! (1980)

[@rockrecordsreviewed1880]

Nice list, quite similar to mine, wondering if I've been unfair on The Imposters...hmmm

[@kevtruth]

@@rockrecordsreviewed1880 Yeah, check out The Boy Named If. I think its the best Imposters album yet

[@rockrecordsreviewed1880]

@@kevtruth yes I've heard it, probably need to spend more time with it

[@minsterhill]

Dude you are terrific. With better video production you can blast on here!

[@chrisboerger465]

Thanks for doing this, Adam. Good to have you back so soon. I hope this means your health is improving. Elvis is my favorite artist. Instead of a top ten, I'm going to rank what I consider the great albums, the masterpieces and near masterpieces. It's still a lengthy list, so maybe that qualifies me as a fanboy. So be it. 18 The Boy Named If 17 King of America 16 Hey Clockface 15 Momofuku 14 When I Was Cruel 13 The Delivery Man 12 Brutal Youth 11 My Aim Is True 10 Imperial Bedroom 9 All This Useless Beauty 8 Blood and Chocolate 7 Secret Profane and Sugarcane 6 This Year's Model 5 Look Now 4 Get Happy! 3 National Ransom 2 Trust 1 Armed Forces Regarding the earlier albums, I'm basing my rankings on the versions that are available now, with the added tracks like Watching the Detectives. I know my list isn't in line with a lot of fans, yourself included, but it comes from the heart.

[@rockrecordsreviewed1880]

Thanks Chris.....really interesting to see a list from such a big fan..makes me wonder whether I should think again... (too late, d'oh!) ..will certainly listen again to No. 3 and 7 to see wha I've missed..thanks!

[@chrisboerger465]

I guess I find something in National Ransom that many, perhaps most, EC fans don't. It speaks to me, and I know it's pretty long, which you hate, but for me it zips along brilliantly, with one great song after another. Also one of his best albums lyrically.

[@roxannewalsh]

@@chrisboerger465 I do not rank National Ransom as high as you but I still think it is among his top 15, I just listed it outside of the top ten. Secret Profane and Sugarcane was not for me, I still find it mostly boring. Look Now is also a good one, around the same ranking as I have for National Ransom. And, yes, I should have done a top 15 or so as well, 10 cuts it off too early.

[@roxannewalsh]

A very interesting artist and I followed him since his first release in 1977. I have all of his albums and acquired them in chronological order. Means that I followed his development as he widened his scope over the years. I could connect to most of what he did but there is also stuff that I just put into a "interesting but not essential" category without further distinction. No Elvis without The Attractions (or call them Imposters at some time) - he tried it at times but paid for the mistake... My Aim is True, National Ransom, Look Now, The River in Reverse just missed the top 10: 10. Get Happy 9. The Boy Named If 8. Goodbye Cruel World 7. Imperial Bedroom 6. Blood & Chocolate 5. King of America 4. Trust 3. This Year's Model 2. Punch the Clock 1. Armed Forces

[@rockrecordsreviewed1880]

Hi Roxanne...I think a lot of his albums clearly pick themselves, but it does get messy with all his collaborations and later releases....and I think "interesting but not essential" sums them up well

[@gemes64]

A great listen. However, I adore Imperial Bedroom and would venture that Almost Blue has become something of a standard. Man out of Time, surely, takes some beating. So many words in such a short space of time. Wonderfully Beatle-like throughout. Tunes galore.

[@gemes64]

'Blood and Chocolate' is 1986, the same year as 'King of America'. What a time for Elvis songs.

[@gavinsmith9016]

I love Elvis Costello and have most of his albums..... His last three albums have all been good to excellent. 1: This Year's Model 2: My Aim Is True 3: Armed Forces 4: Get Happy!! 5: King of America 6: Imperial Bedroom 7: Blood & Chocolate 8: Punch The Clock 9: Almost Blue..... I love this album. If we're excluding a covers album then include the next two and scratch this. 10: Spike. The first EC album that I bought . A favourite of mine 11: The Boy Named If...... Great release. This will rise higher

[@roxannewalsh]

I share your view on the 2022 release Boy Named If, it is in my top 10 as well. 2018's Look Now is as well very good. I did not like 2020's Hey Clockface at all, none of its three parts. Otherwise we share most of the older stuff...My Aim is True did not make my top 10 although it is the one that put him into my life and I still like it a lot - just too many others are better.

[@PhilBaird1]

Hi Adam. I agree that the critics really made Elvis Costello. He did some great stuff but I don't think he deserved quite the level of attention and the plaudits he received. There were plenty of highlights but too many throwaway songs; too much clever lyrical wordplay; ice-cold irony and strained vocals. The genuine talent was always there but he sometimes came over as a bit too smart for his own good. Easy to admire but not an artist I really treasure.

[@rockrecordsreviewed1880]

Totally understand where you are coming from Phil....your last comment sums it up nicely, I think.

[@chuckcribbs3398]

His writing is one of the best. Pithy and totally creative. And Elvis has a great voice. He can sing live as good as in the studio.

[@paulvh84]

Ballsy choice for picking Blood & Chocolate as your #1. For me, I think it’s my #3. Imperial Bedroom is my #2. And Get Happy!! is my #1. Cheers🍺

[@davidmaholchic6146]

Was King of America On this list? Did I miss it maybe.…?

[@paulsimister944]

I find it hard to drum up a lot of enthusiasm for Elvis Costello outside his first three. I own Get Happy, Trust, Imperial Bedroom, King of America, My Flame Burns Blue and The River I Reverse, but I want to hear some Costello, my instinct is always to head towards 1977-1979. Those albums in reverse order are 3 My Aim Is True 2 This Year's Model 1 Armed Forces I suspect that Armed Forces is a nostalgic choice, as it's the only one I bought when it came out.

[@rockrecordsreviewed1880]

So interesting to read, having done this vid, that a lot of people feel the same way Paul....certainly seems his best albums are all the most obvious ones.

[@chuckcribbs3398]

Brutal Youth is a great album. I think maybe his best. Great writing, amazing voice and every song is really good. Not a fan of Spike, but your list is very good.

[@k9burnouts544]

trust has been my top album for 40 years, prior to that it was get happy . prior to that-my aim is true. He's always pretty good-just got the rhino blood'n'chocolate--some really pretty ballads on there.

[@pkmcburroughs]

I basically feel the same way about Imperial Bedroom, so I can offer you no assistance, I'm afraid. I do love Beyond Belief and The Long Honeymoon, which you mentioned. But, yeah, there's just something off about it for me. And I think you described it quite well. It's missing that punch one expects from the Attractions.

[@Shah-of-the-Shinebox]

Elvis Costello can be a hit or miss. I'm not all that familiar with his albums but i like a few songs. Always enjoy your ranking videos and look forward to who you rank next, if I may make a suggestion, I know he's not a typical rock artist but ranking 1970s Era Stevie Wonder albums.

[@rockrecordsreviewed1880]

Stevie is one of my all-time favourites.....he'll definitely get a show before too long!

[@roxannewalsh]

I am sure there is an album that we will disagree upon completely (Spike) but I foresee we will have early and maybe very late Costello in common.

[@roberthardin2133]

I applaud your #1 pick! Blood and Chocolate was the first album I bought by EC, and it remains a favorite today. I also love This Year’s Model and Armed Forces, but I’m a huge fan of Get Happy and Imperial Bedroom. not so much a fan of Spike or the debut, (Clover went on to success as Huey Lewis & the News)

[@davidmaholchic6146]

Trust my favorite good countdown

[@dice1296]

not a single mention of the bacharach collab is a travesty. juliet letters also underrated. mighty like a rose has some excellent songs. anyway, my tiers: armed forces, get happy MAIT, bedroom, B&C memory, KOA, model, trust admittedly haven't listened in full to anything recorded since river in reverse

[@pjeffries301]

KoA, no?

[@lynnefromthelake]

"Veronica" a Paul McCartney song. Though co-written with EC. If I had ever been lucky enough to have a daughter, I would have named her Veronica. I have seen Elvis Costello live at least 25 times (though I have seen every major artist live; from NIN to The Who to the Rolling Stones, etc. with enough ticket stubs to fill a large mason jar.) From first row to 25th row. His live shows are really, really great. He doesn't repeat the set list, as many artists do. Spinning Songbook tour......phenomenal. My boat was named "Clownstrike." Then EC comes out with it! "Oliver's Army" could be compared to Zevon's "Roland, the Headless..." "My Aim is True" seems to always be in the top 5. I totally dislike "Alison." Though I absolutely love the album "My Aim"

[@dice1296]

i am quite sure that all of the lyrics and probably much of the music for 'veronica' are elvis

[@lynnefromthelake]

@@dice1296 PM wrote it with him. As in co-written. Google it. They had many collaborations. EC collaborated with many artists. Great music never compromises. Oh, and yes, Veronica was about EC's grandmother, so you assume he wrote all of it?

[@Bushranger28]

Disappointed that King of America wasn't in the top 10. Elvis's best album by a fair distance.

[@dice1296]

excellent album, but c'mon

[@etamommy]

@@dice1296one of his worst in my opinion - though a couple admittedly great songs (2 to put a finer point on it).