Elvis Costello - what LP would you recommend?

[Johnny Vinyl]

Elvis is one of those artists who's catalogue I've never really explored. I see a lot of his albums reissued by MoFi and I'm tempted at times to pick one up, but I always back down as I'm really quite unfamiliar with his better or lesser recordings. So I'm turning to my friends here for assistance. What would you recommend?

[Analog21]

This Compilation from the UK is excellent. Also excellent sonics as well: https://www.discogs.com/Elvis-Costel...release/390341
A good place to start if you want to get into Elvis.

[Analog21]

2 other well known albums that are good starting points are: "Punch the Clock" and "Get Happy"

[Johnny Vinyl]

This Compilation from the UK is excellent. Also excellent sonics as well: https://www.discogs.com/Elvis-Costel...release/390341
A good place to start if you want to get into Elvis.

That sounds like a great starting point indeed! Thanks!

[Johnny Vinyl]

2 other well known albums that are good starting points are: "Punch the Clock" and "Get Happy"

Excellent!

[jazdoc]

My Aim is True
This Year's Model
Armed Forces
Get Happy
Trust

His first five studio albums are essential and one of the greatest album runs in pop history.

My favorite LP might be Imperial Bedroom (or Armed Forces)

King of America, Blood & Chocolate and Momofuku are worth checking out.

[Rob]

+1. doc nailed it

[Bill Hart]

John, I have not listened to any of these records in a long time, but did a quick look:
My Aim is True- bunch o' copies, including a Rhino done by Kevin Gray for Acoustech- when I got that one, I have no idea;
Armed Forces- a copy from the "Linn Selekt" series- I doubt Linn did much other than stick a tag on these, but I believe they were UK pressings sold by Linn dealers throughout the world (there was a major Linn dealer, perhaps on of the biggest in the States, in Brooklyn Heights at the time I lived there);
Girls, Girls, Girls- a comp from the late '80s, UK, but who knows about sources or process (I didn't bother to read the liner notes to see if they are informative).

He was huge in that era when music was heavily corporatized- a sort of post-punk bad boy with better production values and songs than the earlier punksters- I think his star was overtaken by the overwhelming impact of Nirvana and the switch to "grunge"- thanks for reminding me of him. I tend to think of him these days as Diana Krall's husband, but in Manhattan back in the day, he was very popular in the clubs and hang-outs. Wasn't he also the guy that hated the concept of MTV music videos- saying they robbed listeners of imagination?

[jazdoc]

The UK first pressing of Armed Forces kicks the crap out of the US release

[Johnny Vinyl]

My Aim is True
This Year's Model
Armed Forces
Get Happy
Trust

His first five studio albums are essential and one of the greatest album runs in pop history.

My favorite LP might be Imperial Bedroom (or Armed Forces)

King of America, Blood & Chocolate and Momofuku are worth checking out.

Thanks for that doc!

Looks like there are quite a few to consider. It might behove me to check out YouTube and see what I can preview before taking the plunge on a specific album or two.

[Johnny Vinyl]

John, I have not listened to any of these records in a long time, but did a quick look:
My Aim is True- bunch o' copies, including a Rhino done by Kevin Gray for Acoustech- when I got that one, I have no idea;
Armed Forces- a copy from the "Linn Selekt" series- I doubt Linn did much other than stick a tag on these, but I believe they were UK pressings sold by Linn dealers throughout the world (there was a major Linn dealer, perhaps on of the biggest in the States, in Brooklyn Heights at the time I lived there);
Girls, Girls, Girls- a comp from the late '80s, UK, but who knows about sources or process (I didn't bother to read the liner notes to see if they are informative).

He was huge in that era when music was heavily corporatized- a sort of post-punk bad boy with better production values and songs than the earlier punksters- I think his star was overtaken by the overwhelming impact of Nirvana and the switch to "grunge"- thanks for reminding me of him. I tend to think of him these days as Diana Krall's husband, but in Manhattan back in the day, he was very popular in the clubs and hang-outs. Wasn't he also the guy that hated the concept of MTV music videos- saying they robbed listeners of imagination?

Hi Bill - Thanks for some of that pressing data/label/info. I had a quick look at discogs and many albums seem to be readily available at not crazy pricing, which suits me just fine for the moment.

[Bill Hart]

Hi Bill - Thanks for some of that pressing data/label/info. I had a quick look at discogs and many albums seem to be readily available at not crazy pricing, which suits me just fine for the moment.

Nada Problemo. FWIW, it looks like the first UK was mastered by George Peckham (a/k/a "Porky") whose records tend to sound bombastic- he was pretty well known for his use of a tube Fairchild compressor/limiter in the mastering chain. Since you seem to have access to UK records, that might be one to look at: https://www.discogs.com/Elvis-Costel...release/471422
Haven't play checked my copies, so I can't tell you what sounds best, the Porky might be interesting to hear, I don't have it.

[Johnny Vinyl]

Nada Problemo. FWIW, it looks like the first UK was mastered by George Peckham (a/k/a "Porky") whose records tend to sound bombastic- he was pretty well known for his use of a tube Fairchild compressor/limiter in the mastering chain. Since you seem to have access to UK records, that might be one to look at: https://www.discogs.com/Elvis-Costel...release/471422
Haven't play checked my copies, so I can't tell you what sounds best, the Porky might be interesting to hear, I don't have it.

Being part of the Commonwealth and having so many British ex-pats living here might help a bit with access to UK copies. The Porky's aren't easy to find in the wild, but I've had some luck through the years. I hope to do a vinyl run sometime next week so I'll have a peek and see if I get lucky.

[mep]

Johnny-Start with Armed Forces. Almost every song on there is killer and it's a great way to start listening to him. I might have to listen to it tonight now that you have me thinking about it.

[Garth]

I like my aim is true the truth is this guy has a lot of good music you need more than one lp

[Goheelz]

EC (Declan Patrick MacManus) has been prolific, prodigal, and often brilliant, as we Irish tend to be. Recommend you start at the very beginning: My Aim Is True (1977). Hit us like a ton of Irish bricks (Brits?) when first unleashed.

[MylesBAstor]

Heidi and I saw Elvis C. perform two years ago at Carnegie Hall. He must have brought along 20 different guitars to play that night. He did a few of, but not all, of his hits that night. Alison and Accidents Will Happen are two hits though he played that night.