Almost Blue

Almost Blue is an album by Elvis Costello and the Attractions.[12][13] 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.

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
Released23 October 1981 (1981-10-23)
RecordedMay 1981, Nashville
GenreCountry[1]
Length32:35
LabelF-Beat
ProducerBilly Sherrill
Elvis Costello and the Attractions chronology
Trust
(1981)		 Almost Blue
(1981)		 Imperial Bedroom
(1982)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[2]
Blender[3]
Chicago Tribune[4]
Entertainment WeeklyB[5]
Mojo[6]
Q[7]
Rolling Stone[8]
The Rolling Stone Album Guide[9]
Uncut[10]
The Village VoiceB−[11]

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.[14]

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".

A rare promotional version exists, with plain white cover and a pencil drawing of the band by Bruce Thomas. Each cover is uniquely signed by the band members in coloured marker pen. Tracks includes a short introduction by Elvis Costello, explaining the origins of the particular song. The catalogue number is EC Chat1.

Track listing
Side one
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Why Don't You Love Me (Like You Used to Do)?"Hank Williams1:40
2."Sweet Dreams"Don Gibson3:00
3."Success"Johnny Mullins2:41
4."I'm Your Toy"Gram Parsons, Chris Ethridge3:23
5."Tonight the Bottle Let Me Down"Merle Haggard2:09
6."Brown to Blue"George Jones, Virginia Franks, Country Johnny Mathis2:40
Side two
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."A Good Year for the Roses"Jerry Chesnut3:10
2."Sittin' and Thinkin'"Charlie Rich3:02
3."Color of the Blues"Lawton Williams, George Jones2:21
4."Too Far Gone"Billy Sherrill3:28
5."Honey Hush"Lou Willie Turner2:15
6."How Much I've Lied"Gram Parsons, Pam Rifkin2:55

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) (Charlie Rich) – 2:23
  4. "Sittin' and Thinkin'" (Live) (Charlie Rich) – 2:55
  5. "Honey Hush" (Live) (Lou Willie 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) (Gram Parsons, Chris 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) (George Jones, Earl Montgomery) – 2:47
  3. "Radio Sweetheart" (Live) – 3:15
  4. "Stranger in the House" (Live) – 3:56
  5. "Psycho" (Live) (Leon 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) (Billy Sherrill) – 3:11
  11. "He's Got You" (Lost Session version) (Hank 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" (Wayne Kemp, Red Lane) – 2:37
  16. "My Shoes Keep Walking Back to You" (Lee Ross, Bob Wills) – 2:04
  17. "Blues Keep Calling" (Janis Martin) – 2.07
  18. "Tears Before Bedtime" (Early Version) – 2:27
  19. "Psycho" (Leon Payne) – 3:32
  20. "Cry, Cry, Cry" (Johnny Cash) – 2:45
  21. "I'll Take Care of You" (Brook Benton) – 3:11
  22. "Your Angel Steps Out of Heaven" (Jack Ripley) – 1:59
  23. "Brand New Heartache" (Live) (Felice Bryant, Boudleaux Bryant) – 2:29
  24. "There Won't Be Anymore" (Live) (Charlie Rich) – 2:32
  25. "Sittin' and Thinkin'" (Live) (Charlie Rich) – 2:51
  26. "Honey Hush" (Live) (Lou Willie Turner) – 2:30
  27. "I'm Your Toy" (Live) (Gram Parsons, Chris Ethridge) – 4:01

Personnel
The Attractions
Additional personnel
Technical
  • Ron "Snake" Reynolds - engineer
  • "Fast" Eddie Hudson - assistant engineer
  • Barney Bubbles - sleeve design
  • Keith Morris - photography

Charts

Album

Year Chart Position
1981 Billboard Pop Albums 50

References
  1. Hodge, Will (21 October 2016). "How Elvis Costello Outlined His Future With 'Almost Blue'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 28 May 2017.
  2. Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Almost Blue – Elvis Costello / Elvis Costello & the Attractions". AllMusic. Retrieved 19 December 2015.
  3. True, Everett. "Elvis Costello: (various reissues)". Blender. Archived from the original on 10 March 2005. Retrieved 20 September 2015.
  4. Kot, Greg (2 June 1991). "The Sounds Of Elvis, From San Francisco And Beyond". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 6 November 2015.
  5. White, Armond (10 May 1991). "Elvis Costello's albums". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved 20 September 2015.
  6. Snow, Mat (September 2004). "Elvis Costello: Almost Blue / Goodbye Cruel World / Kojak Variety". Mojo (130): 111.
  7. "Elvis Costello: Almost Blue". Q (98): 136. November 1994.
  8. Hume, Martha (10 December 1981). "Almost Blue". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 19 December 2015.
  9. Sheffield, Rob (2004). "Elvis Costello". In Brackett, Nathan; Hoard, Christian (eds.). The New Rolling Stone Album Guide (4th ed.). London: Fireside Books. pp. 193–95. ISBN 0-7432-0169-8. Retrieved 30 November 2011.
  10. Roberts, Chris (September 2004). "Fifth phase of two-disc reissue series". Uncut (88): 113.
  11. Christgau, Robert (30 November 1981). "Consumer Guide". The Village Voice. Retrieved 19 December 2015.
  12. BROWNING, BOO (6 November 1981). "Elvis Costello: 'Almost Blue,' All Country" – via www.washingtonpost.com.
  13. "Elvis Costello".
  14. Rhapsody's Favorite Covers Albums Archived 31 July 2010 at the Wayback Machine Referenced 1 August 2010
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