My Aim Is True

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. The Rykodisc CD restores the album's British sequence, adds the eternal "Watching the Detectives," and kicks in a slew of bonus tracks, including the intriguing "Honky Tonk" demos. --Rickey Wright From the Label Hard to imagine life before this album, isn't it? But yes, there was once a time when all the world knew about this guy was that he had a funny name, wore gawky glasses, and had the gall to splash "Elvis is King" all over his album cover. Once Elvis Costello was a promising new artist instead of a musical institution. And once upon a time, you really had to convince your friends that "Alison," "Less Than Zero" and "The Angels Want to Wear My Red Shoes" were great songs. Recorded in a mere 24 hours during sick time from his computer job at an Elizabeth Arden factory, MY AIM IS TRUE is one heck of a debut, boasting at least five classics (those named above plus "Mystery Dance" and "Watching the Detectives," the latter a UK single that was tacked onto the US album). And the loose, guitar-driven sound remains unique for a Costello album, since it was the only time he recorded with the band Clover (without their usual frontman, Huey Lewis). The Rykodisc edition includes a stack of bonus tracks, notably a couple of the bedroom demos that drew Stiff Records' attention in the first place.
ASIN: B0000009UR
VSKU: DBV.B0000009UR.G
Condition: Good
Author/Artist:Costello, Elvis
Binding: Audio cd
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Condition Notes: Individually inspected: Guaranteed to play perfectly or your money back. Case may show wear and may be in library packaging. Ships Fast!