Get Happy!! [ORIGINAL RECORDING REMASTERED] [EXTRA TRACKS] [ORIGINAL RECORDING REISSUED]

The Attractions, Elvis Costello

Product Details

• Audio CD (April 29, 1994)
• Original Release Date: 1980
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Original recording remastered, Extra tracks, Original recording reissued
• Label: Rykodisc
• ASIN: B0000009UU
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Audio Cassette
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars See all reviews (33 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #57,934 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

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Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com essential recording
Costello continued his most-prolific-man-alive act with the 20-track Get Happy!!, his fourth album in 30 months. He says what he has to say and shuts up--only a small handful of cuts approach or go over the three-minute mark--often in a pile-driving style inspired by Stax/Volt. (Sometimes loosely inspired; his version of the Sam & Dave ballad "I Can't Stand Up for Falling Down" is played in a rush.) Costello's wordplay is at a height here, but it doesn't divert the eye from the emotional wreckage behind the scenes: as he sings on "Human Touch," "What the makeup hides can't be made up with a kiss." The Rykodisc CD adds 11 bonus tracks, including a suitably fragmented (and unlisted) demo of "Love for Tender." --Rickey Wright

Product Description
Special 20bit K2 Japanese limited edition issue of the album classic in a deluxe, miniaturized LP sleeve replica of the original vinyl album artwork. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars vintage costello, January 9, 2000

By A Customer

This album found Costello at the peak of his songwriting powers. Nick Lowe's production give's the record a harsh sound when compared with Costello's first three efforts. The Attractions have never sounded better, as is apparent on exuberant 'Five gears in reverse'. Although there is plenty of up-tempo invective on display, the highlights for me are the record's more tender moments. I particularly like the uncharacteristically straightforward ballad, 'Motel Matches', where a woman gives away sex like motels give away matches. As in many of his songs, the narrator treads a fine line between revulsion and compassion for the song's female subject. This album is a study in conciseness. Costello demonstrates more songwriting talent on these twenty tracks than other artists manage over a whole career. The volume of songs here make this record one that rewards attentive, repeated listening. Treat it like a seven course meal to be enjoyed over several hours.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I can't get enough of this album..., May 17, 2002

By	David C. Mason "brauticat" (Muncie, IN United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

"Love for Tender" starts what may be the most perfect sequence of songs in all of rock and roll history. The whole album is great, but what (I'm assuming) must have been the first side of the original album, those first 10 songs, are as close to perfection as anything I have ever heard. It floors me everytime. The other "side" is fantastic too, but just the way this album kicks off and keeps coming at you...man, it kicks. This album is also the one that convinced me that Steve Nieve is one of the great keyboard players of pop music as well, since he is the drive behind all that great music, imho. (Not intended as a slam IN ANYWAY on EC, either.)

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Sheer Perfection, September 27, 2000

By	David Bradley "David Bradley" (Sterling, VA USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

Mr. Stanley is correct in one--and only one--respect: Get Happy!!! is NOT R&B.

It is a fantastic approximation, and a perfect imitation. Sleeping through this album, with all due respect to other reviewers, is simply not possible.

Elvis has said he was writing some of the lyrics for this album as the Attractions were laying down their tracks in adjoining studios. Either he's fibbing or he's even more of a genious than I already suspect. Lyrically (sp?) witty, musically groovin', a bass/drum/horn section that pounds without plodding--I simply cannot say enough about Get Happy!!!. I consider it one of the 20 or so best albums of the Rock era.

The fact that Elvis, who had been considered kind of a runty, quirky annoyance by a lot of critics since his sophomore LP was released, could put together this album--and the accompaning tour, which was closer to the TAMI Show than the typical punk rockers he was so often compared to--is, to me, one of the miracles of the age.

I'd love to pick out individual tracks and explain why I love this LP so much but, frankly, I don't know where to start. "I Stand Accused," with it's "I-S-T-A-N-D-A-C-C-U-S-E-D!" finale? The heartache of "Hi Fidelity," an ominous prelude to Elvis' later flirtation with C&W? "Riot Act," the ultimate finger pointer?

I dunno. I lose all pretense of articulation when it comes to this great, great album. Buy it early, buy it often.