|
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Listen to Samples and Buy MP3s
Songs from this album are available to purchase as MP3s. Click on "Buy MP3" or
view the MP3 Album.
Special Offers and Product Promotions
- Buy a CD or a vinyl record, get a $1 Amazon MP3 Credit. Limit one promotional credit per customer. Here's how (restrictions apply)
- Includes FREE MP3 version of this album Here's how (restrictions apply)
Frequently Bought Together
Product Details
Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images? |
Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
Elvis Costello kicked off his debut album with a formal device that would also serve his next two long-players well: the first thing you hear is his voice. That opening phrase--"Now that your picture's in the paper..."--was more than sneakily, if not intentionally, appropriate, since Costello was quickly declared the second coming. It's become de rigueur to dis the pub-rock backing of U.S. band Clover, but their work here is satisfactorily edgy; guitarist John McFee makes some of the arrangements with his wailingly articulate fills. --Rickey Wright
Product Description
2007 reissue of the essential 1977 debut album featuring 'Alison' & 'Watching The Detectives'.
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
75 of 77 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
Scene One; A sixteen year old boy is happily sitting in suburban Detroit. The soundtrack to his life is what would later come to be known as Classic Rock Radio. There are rumors of punk rock and new wave from England, however these are not audible yet in the midwest. One Saturday evening, he sits down to watch SNL with special musical guest Elvis Costello. Snap! That was the sound of a dropping jaw breaking the coffee table as Mr. Costello (looking like an exhumed Buddy Holly) plays Radio Radio. Scene Two; Said boy brings home My Aim is True. His mind is blown. Every song sounds like a hit single. He is amazed. Maybe there are other unheard things out there like this. Epilogue; This album helped open my doors to Punk, New Wave, Reggae, Ska, Jazz, Blues, World Music, Country, well you get the idea. Thank you Mr. McManus. One classic album.
41 of 43 people found the following review helpful
4.0 out of 5 stars
Elvis' aim was off on earlier edition (Ryko) but not with the Rhino and this edition-Do You Need It? Read on..
September 25, 2007
Format:Audio CD
First up--until the licensing agreement with UMG ends in November of 2007, the live album portion of this release IS available at iTunes (along with the new bonus tracks)at a reasonable price ($15.99)but you have to buy the whole set to get that price.
DO YOU NEED THIS ALBUM?
Absolutely but if you've bought it before and are satisfied with the Rhino release (which honestly was the best of the four versions that have been released in the last 20 plus years outside of this reissue), then you certainly could skip this and buy new music.
WHAT'S HERE THAT WASN'T BEFORE?
This edition has an entire live performance taken an appearence at the Nashville Room in 1977 plus the five track soundcheck (which only duplicates "Alison"). The original disc is augmented by the outtakes from both the Ryko and Rhino versions plus eight demos from Pathway Studios (four of which "Blue Minute", "Call On Me", "I Don't Want To Come Home" and "I Hear A Melody" are previously unreleased songs that may have been cannibalized for other songs).
If you're an EC and The Attractions fan, I'm sure that you've often wondered what "My Aim Is True" would have sounded like recorded by The Attractions. Now you can find out but if you had the "Live At El Mocambo" you had an idea.
The live album is pretty terrific with EC and the band in top form. The Pathway tracks while not as important as the album itself are interesting.
DOES THE ORIGINAL ALBUM SOUND ANY DIFFERENT?
Maybe a tad louder than the Rhino but it appears to be the exact same mastering as before (which was done by Dan Hirsch at Digiprep). Suha Gur masters the live tracks and demos new to this edition. EC and Bill Levenson supervised the compilation which means that they tried to put out a quality release.
DOES IT LOOK ANY DIFFERENT?
Yeah it's bigger but not necessarily better. It's in the "Deluxe Edition" style with the slip cover (I hate it personally but many will love it). The booklet is missing EC's notes from the previous edition on Rhino with song lyrics and photos not in the previous edition.
As sick as I am of EC reissuing his back catalog (let's see...we had Columbia, Ryko, Rhino a single disc edition of this in a Digipak and this release)with DIFFERENT tracks, the live album is great to have as are the demos. EC please, please don't do this again. Your fans have bought this one too many times and barring the discovery of tapes you made in your previous band, there's just no reason for this terrific album to be put out again and again and again and again.
CONCLUSION: Hardcore EC fans and those who have waited to upgrade their CDs (or never replaced it on vinyl and can't find it there now) will love this edition. There are different bonus tracks however between the Rhino and this edition.
UPDATE:
My advice--go to iTunes and download the live album/new bonus tracks ONLY. At least that way you won't be springing for the whole set again. Also, the whole album is downloadable there for $15.99 for the time being much cheaper than the CD edition. While it won't be lossless quality (it'll be compressed and suffer from many of the issues that dog mp3 like releases), it'll be better than not having it.
DO YOU NEED THIS ALBUM?
Absolutely but if you've bought it before and are satisfied with the Rhino release (which honestly was the best of the four versions that have been released in the last 20 plus years outside of this reissue), then you certainly could skip this and buy new music.
WHAT'S HERE THAT WASN'T BEFORE?
This edition has an entire live performance taken an appearence at the Nashville Room in 1977 plus the five track soundcheck (which only duplicates "Alison"). The original disc is augmented by the outtakes from both the Ryko and Rhino versions plus eight demos from Pathway Studios (four of which "Blue Minute", "Call On Me", "I Don't Want To Come Home" and "I Hear A Melody" are previously unreleased songs that may have been cannibalized for other songs).
If you're an EC and The Attractions fan, I'm sure that you've often wondered what "My Aim Is True" would have sounded like recorded by The Attractions. Now you can find out but if you had the "Live At El Mocambo" you had an idea.
The live album is pretty terrific with EC and the band in top form. The Pathway tracks while not as important as the album itself are interesting.
DOES THE ORIGINAL ALBUM SOUND ANY DIFFERENT?
Maybe a tad louder than the Rhino but it appears to be the exact same mastering as before (which was done by Dan Hirsch at Digiprep). Suha Gur masters the live tracks and demos new to this edition. EC and Bill Levenson supervised the compilation which means that they tried to put out a quality release.
DOES IT LOOK ANY DIFFERENT?
Yeah it's bigger but not necessarily better. It's in the "Deluxe Edition" style with the slip cover (I hate it personally but many will love it). The booklet is missing EC's notes from the previous edition on Rhino with song lyrics and photos not in the previous edition.
As sick as I am of EC reissuing his back catalog (let's see...we had Columbia, Ryko, Rhino a single disc edition of this in a Digipak and this release)with DIFFERENT tracks, the live album is great to have as are the demos. EC please, please don't do this again. Your fans have bought this one too many times and barring the discovery of tapes you made in your previous band, there's just no reason for this terrific album to be put out again and again and again and again.
CONCLUSION: Hardcore EC fans and those who have waited to upgrade their CDs (or never replaced it on vinyl and can't find it there now) will love this edition. There are different bonus tracks however between the Rhino and this edition.
UPDATE:
My advice--go to iTunes and download the live album/new bonus tracks ONLY. At least that way you won't be springing for the whole set again. Also, the whole album is downloadable there for $15.99 for the time being much cheaper than the CD edition. While it won't be lossless quality (it'll be compressed and suffer from many of the issues that dog mp3 like releases), it'll be better than not having it.
26 of 28 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
at the time that this album came out i had just lost my little boy, my husband had left me for a woman 24 years my junior, & i had a serious rash all up & down my left side. i was DEPRESSED. then i heard this music & suddenly i wanted to wear lipstick again. i wanted to wear lipstick & i wanted to dance. what a great album. and to this day in 2006 it still is! the best elvis costello album known to man (and that's saying something).
Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
His Aim Is True
Recorded in six four-hour sessions (essentially 24 hours), no one could have predicted that Elvis Costello's debut album would go on to be considered one of rock n' roll's best... Read more
Published 1 month ago by Lunar Boulevard
5.0 out of 5 stars
Love Costello more than I did before
Read about this CD in Entertainment Weekly and bought it. Elvis Cotello is a great artist nd his early stuff is awesome.
Published 3 months ago by Siona
5.0 out of 5 stars
fantastic edition
The extra tracks are fantastic. Definately worth it to get this 93 issue of this disc. I recommend this version over other re-issues.
Published 4 months ago by Lightspeed
5.0 out of 5 stars
First Elvis Costello Album
I'd only heard a few Elvis Costello songs before I decided to go back through his catalogue and start with this inaugural album. Read more
Published 5 months ago by Kdub
5.0 out of 5 stars
greatness
true gem...This album speaks volumes when it comes to this genre.Elvis Costello sings with passion and remorse.So beautiful ..to the ears..-gary
Published 12 months ago by garyvonerich
5.0 out of 5 stars
RYKO right
Elvis Costello / My Aim Is True (Rykodisk with 9 bonus tracks on one CD): Original album is too short, the double disk is too long and too repetitive, the RYKO disk is Just Right. Read more
Published 16 months ago by J. Bynum
5.0 out of 5 stars
Fast, loose and brilliant. Elvis's best.
When I got this album in 1979 I played it repeatly for months. It was so different from any other music out at the time (middle "disco" period). Read more
Published 20 months ago by Rick Holly
5.0 out of 5 stars
Costello is Launched
It grabbed your attention then. It keeps your attention now - more than 30 years later. I've listened to this album hundreds of times over the years, and I still love it. Read more
Published on January 27, 2011 by david mcgrath
5.0 out of 5 stars
Elvis pushes all the right buttons
There's never been a better cure for disco fever than these tight, economical pop tunes from the skinny-tied poster boy for anger management. Read more
Published on September 30, 2010 by Dave Deubler
5.0 out of 5 stars
A jewel among classics
It's funny when I think that my introduction to Elvis Costello was the book "1001 albums you must listen before you die", and even though I don't praise this book too much, the... Read more
Published on September 9, 2010 by Humberto Mejia
So You'd Like to...
What Other Items Do Customers Buy After Viewing This Item?
Look for Similar Items by Category
- Music > Alternative Rock
- Music > Classic Rock
- Music > Folk
- Music > Pop
- Music > Rock
