Almost Blue

Elvis Costello

Product Details

• Audio CD (August 30, 1994)
• Original Release Date: 1994
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Rykodisc
• ASIN: B0000009UW
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Audio Cassette
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (22 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #166,497 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

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Track Listings

1. Why Don't You Love Me (Like You Used to Do) ?

2. Sweet Dreams

3. Success

4. I'm Your Toy (Hot Burrito No. 1)

5. Tonight the Bottle Let Me Down

6. Brown to Blue

7. Good Year for the Roses

8. Sittin' and Thinkin'

9. Colour of the Blues

10. Too Far Gone

11. Honey Hush

12. How Much I've Lied

13. He's Got You [Live][*]

14. Cry Cry Cry [Live][*]

15. There Won't Be Anymore [Live][*]

16. Sittin' and Thinkin' [Live][*]

17. Honey Hush [Live][*]

18. Psycho [Live][*]

19. Your Angel Steps Out of Heaven [Live][*]

20. Darling, You Know I Wouldn't Lie [Live][*]

See all 23 tracks on this disc

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Costello's flirtation with "real" country music, this album of covers produced in Nashville by veteran Billy Sherrill was prompted by some genuinely bad feelings as his personal life fell apart. It hasn't held up well over the years since its 1981 release, but there is one brilliant moment--Costello's cracked-voice reading of hero Gram Parsons's "How Much I Lied." The Rykodisc edition adds an array of bonus tracks, including Leon Payne's apropos "Psycho," cut during the tour for the Baroque-pop Armed Forces. --Rickey Wright

From the Label

"Warning: This album contains country & western music, and may be harmful to narrow minds." ...so proclaimed a sticker on the front cover of this album's original UK release. By this time Costello's abiding love for country music was no surprise to his fans: He'd already released the country song "Stranger in the House" on a limited-edition single and praised George Jones in a number of interviews, before Jones and Costello teamed to to record "Stranger". Recorded in Nashville with legendary producer Billy Sherrill, ALMOST BLUE is the logical extension of Costello's country leanings.

With guitarist/steel player John McFee (then of the Doobie Brothers!) joining the Attractions lineup, the band takes on a surprisingly traditional sound, only revving up in earnest for Hank Williams' "Why Don't You Love Me (Like You Used to Do") and Johnny Burnette's "Honey Hush." But this setting allows Costello to deliver some of his warmest, most emotional vocal performances; notably on the Patsy Cline standard "Sweet Dreams" and a pair of Gram Parsons numbers, "I'm Your Toy (Hot Burrito No. 2)" and "How Much I Lied". Also covered twice is George Jones, whose "Good Year for the Roses" was released as a single. Despite the warning sticker, the song went Top Ten in the UK while Costello's American fans wondered what to make of it.

Rykodisc's CD edition includes enough bonus tracks to double the original album's running time. Standouts include the notorious, sick-humored "Psycho" and the gorgeous live version of "I'm Your Toy" with full orchestration.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A great Elvis Costello & country-western music album, January 23, 2000

By	beamis (Florida Panhandle) - See all my reviews

What better country is there than Britain to hail from to able to intepret American country music? The mother country is where much of southern culture originated, including it's musical heritage. Wales and West Virginia are more alike than most people care to realize. To me it's a natural. It is not uncommon to see Merle Haggard songs on jukeboxes throughout the rural counties of the U.K. Elvis Costello's "Almost Blue" ranks right up there with the splendid work of his fellow countryman, such as the "Muswell Hillbillies" by the Kinks and much of the c&w that the Rolling Stones and Faces produced circa 1969-72. So I wish Costello fans would lay off this nonsense about this supposed rocker "experimenting" in Nashville. This album is on a more emotional level than most and seems at times uncomfortably personal in the song selection. That's what makes it like classic country to me. It gives you a chill right up your spine at certain moments. A pure delight. Billy Sherrill, the producer, really tries to make it sound like a George Jones album from the early sixties, cornpone and all. That's the way country sounded before the big hats of today. His version of "Success" and "Color of the Blues" is worth the price admission. You can tell that Costello listened to this music in England as a young lad and it made a deep impression. Great first country album for the unintiated.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars this is real country ladies and gentlemen..., September 4, 2000

By A Customer

I will not lie. I grew up on country music. I use to love it. But after hearing the sound mold into something hideous such as The Dixie Chicks and Faith Hill I just lost all interest in listenin' to what they claim is country music. Elvis Costello, has done basically every type of music you can think of. This is his reworking of country music and let me tell you. it's country alright...but it's Costello for a country. everyone will admit Elvis doesn't have the right 'voice' for country music but he still succeeds. some songs on here are a bit too 'twangy' for my taste and that's the reason for the 4 stars. but it doesn't matter when or where, Elvis is excellent. he can always make you laugh, cry, break something, or just relax. So I say if you have no interest what so ever in country music...I'd stay away from this. But if you like Elvis and you're flexible...go for it.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Elvis......Costello ....... the real king of Rock n Roll...., September 5, 1998

By A Customer

Elvis? Country? Thats right! And what a Country record it is. 'Psycho' alone makes this album worth owning. I for one think Rock n Roll players play country music better than most country singers. Elvis has definitly done his homework. Covering everyone from Hank Williams and Patsy Cline to Gram Parsons and the Flying Burrito Bros. This album is not only a masterpiece, it is a history book on real CLASSIC country music. Thanks Elvis for having the guts to do something different........... like wearing your influences on your sleeve.