Armed Forces (Dig) (Spkg)

The Attractions, Elvis Costello | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (May 1, 2007)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Hip-O Records
• ASIN: B000OHZJKU
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Audio Cassette  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (70 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #15,154 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Armed Forces was the last title in a trilogy of albums that rank with the greatest three-LP series in pop-rock history. In retrospect, it also now appears to be the one on which the young Costello's pop tendencies peaked, right before they began to "mature" and grow less accessible. "Accidents Will Happen" features a melody line as beautiful as any ever written; "Oliver's Army" easily competes with the best of Abba and Brian Wilson among pop masterpieces. This is also where Costello's early themes--most notably romantic rejection equated with the horrors of neo-Nazism and modern politics--came together most precisely (the album's working title was "Emotional Fascism"). Rhino does its usual superb job, with wonderful remastering, in-depth liner notes by Costello himself (including a catty paragraph about famous groupie-author Bebe Buell, who often claims this album is about her), and a second disc of concurrent singles and alternate versions. Best of all are nine live tracks from the legendary June 4, 1978, Hollywood High School show, fully documenting that Costello & the Attractions were once among the all-time dynamic live rock acts. --Bill Holdship --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Description

Produced under the direct supervision of Elvis Costello. Housed in a slim-line package, each rerelease contains a deluxe 28-page booklet with brand-new liner notes by Elvis Costello, rare photos, reproductions of memorabilia, and printed song lyrics. Album includes an entire second disc of bonus material! --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

46 of 46 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars a 24 year old Elvis contemplates domination and conquest, December 2, 2002

By 

Alan Hutchins (Denver, CO United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Armed Forces (Audio CD)

Armed Forces represents an early high point to Elvis and the Attractions' late-70's progression and development. On this disc, Costello is fully mining the vein of what he had referred to as "Revenge and Guilt" song subject manner while filtering it all through the framework of a fascination he had with the topics of fascism and control. A good share of the songs either directly or indirectly feature characters or situations where corporate, military or social shackles "force" someone into doing something to someone else--usually something quite nasty. Lyrical tidbits of profound dark humor and twisted verbal brilliance are to be found all over the place in this strong set of like-minded songs. Examples include "It's a death that's worse than fate" or "They took me in the office and they told me very carefully the way that I could benefit from death and disability" (Senior Service)-or how about "Now you've given your performance/though the matinee was idle/ and you're finding that a wave of her right hand could seem so tidal" (Busy Bodies).

Though the musical stylings are still roughly defined by what became known as the 'New Wave' sound, this disc is more informed by the sounds of then-contemporary US AM radio than any other Costello disc. One cause of this was the AM radio in the station wagon the Attractions used to drive from show to show on their first US tour in 1978. You'll hear the evidence pop up in places like the piano flourishes (just like those in ABBA's "Dancin' Queen") in "Oliver's Army" , or in the four/four disco beat of "Senior Service". Disc one of this reissue set is the whole essential, verbose, witty, and ear-pleasing Armed Forces disc in both its UK/world incarnation ("Sunday's Best" included) and US version("...Peace, Love and Understanding" included.)

Disc Two is made up of non-LP/B-sides (all 5 of which were on Columbia's "Taking Liberties" collection from 1980 and on the Rykodisc reissue of Armed Forces) and two previously unissued alternate versions of two "Armed Forces" songs in addition to a whole slew of live songs. If you bought the "Armed Forces" LP right when it was released in 1979 you got a free bonus shrink-wrapped in with the album, a three song single called "Live at Hollywood High"(These three songs were also on the Rykodisc reissue). The gorgeous voice and piano version of "Accidents Will Happen" led off side A of this single, which faded abruptly as drums came bursting in before the final chords were done ringing. Next was an understated "Alison"(also with a quick fade), and on side B, a feedback whine faded in to a rather lengthy version of "Watching The Detectives". Thanks to this new bonus disc, we now can here the whole nine song live event without the fades and in the proper sequence. We can hear further evidence of the smoking power and breakneck pace of the 1978 Attractions (also portrayed on the very worthwhile Rykodisc promo CD called "Live at El Mocombo" from a March, 1978 Toronto date), but we can also glean a bit more subtlety and variety in the band's rapidly maturing approach by studying the nuances of this show. We now know that is was a direct link to "Mystery Dance" that caused the quick fade of the first song, and that it was the end of "Lipstick Vogue" that furnished the feedback link to "Watching The Detectives". A final solo "Chemistry Class" closes out this excellent bonus disc.

This wonderful reissue of a reissue should represent the last time you'll ever have to buy "Armed Forces". Get it and you may be able to fully comprehend the tagline from an early 80's Columbia ad campaign---"Elvis Costello. Four Eyes. One Vision."

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Costello takes the music world by force, November 22, 2002

By 

WTDK "If at first the idea is not absurd, the... (My Little Blue Window, USA) - See all my reviews
(TOP 50 REVIEWER)    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Armed Forces (Audio CD)

One of Costello's richest, most diverse albums, Armed Forces stands as a masterpiece full of rich melodies and witty songwriting. It's also a strong rock album that doesn't shy away from controversey. Although mired in controversey himself at the time (he got into a fight with Stephen Stills and his band over nasty comments about Ray Charles--it was Costello idiotically provoking a musical rival), Costello proved that he wasn't the racist he was accused of being and, in fact, apologized for the impetuous, stupid comments.Costello was mistakenly identified as a "racist" because of this incident. Many of the songs (particularly Oliver's Army)reflect the exact opposite. Regardless, the brilliance of the writing and production along with the sharp performances make this a classic worth keeping. This edition of Armed Forces isn't a cheat; the second disc alone has more than enough material for a new album. It includes most of the Hollywood High show (previously available as a three track EP), as well as, such minor classics as Tiny Steps. Also included are a number of alternate versions of classic songs and b-sides issued with the original singles.The sound quality is comparable (if slightly better by my estimation). The value added portion of the program is the stunning live tracks from Hollywood High on the second disc. There's also extensive liner notes explaining both the circumstances that went into the writing and making of the album. The lyrics include alternate lyrics as well for some of the demos.

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Elvis completes his trifecta, May 5, 2007

By 

Tim Brough "author and music buff" (Springfield, PA United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Armed Forces (Dig) (Spkg) (Audio CD)

"Armed Forces" was Elvis and The Attractions' claustrophobic pop masterpiece, loaded with melody and paranoia, fueled by cramped touring vans, hotel rooms and long stretches of listening to ABBA, Kraftwerk, Bowie and the Beatles while driving between gigs. It was also the last of the Elvis albums that mirrored the tightly wound image/cliched "angry young man" singer-songwriter of the new wave world. It also happens to be one of the most indispensable albums of the 70's.

Songs like "Oliver's Army" and "Two Little Hitlers" brimmed with neo-fascist imagery and highly charged sexual/emotional content, yet flourished with pop-hooks. "Accidents Will Happen" portrays a barely apologetic philanderer as he tries to explain the infidelities of his life, and uses one of early Elvis' frequent descriptions of romantic partners as a "victim." (Think of how many times that word appears on his first three albums.) Many of the songs bear unmistakable ominous threatening qualities, like the roar of "Goon Squad," the hushed fear that underscores "Green Shirt" and the implied threat of "they took me in the office and told me very carefully, the ways that I could benefit from death and disability" (from "Senior Service").

Nick Lowe deserves a good deal of the credit for keeping this album in check (and when is he going to get into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame?!?!). It is likely his pop sophistication that gave some of "Armed Forces" levity in its darkest points. It is also Lowe's one song - and the first cover to appear on a proper EC album - that brings the relentlessly downward outlook to a more optimistic close. "(What's So Funny About) Peace Love and Understanding" was the kind of song that, once Elvis claimed it as his own, provided a banner to his part during the formation of Rock Against Racism.

Unfortunately for this reissue, Rhino's 2002 double CD issue was also the CD that most justified Rhino's double disc reissues of Elvis' work. "Armed Forces" is the kind of album that more than holds its own as a singular entity, and the Ryko release that tacked the bonus selections on the same disc distracted from that sense of "piece" to me. So to have some excellent material on a bonus disc is just cream on the berry. Especially since it included the entire "Live at Hollywood High" recording as opposed to the three song bonus vinyl that was included in the original album. If it was possible to add a bonus star to an already 5 star album, Rhino managed that trick. That is the essential "Armed Forces." I understand that the rights to the EC CBS years catolog have turned over once again, but the double CD is really worth seeking out.