Elvis Costello – Almost Blue (1981/2015)
FLAC (tracks) 24 bit/192 kHz | Time – 32:36 minutes | 1,26 GB | Genre: Rock
Studio Masters, Official Digital Download | Front Cover | © Hip-O/Elvis Costello
Elvis Costello’s 1981 album Almost Blue, his foray into the world of traditional country & western music, is full of covers by country legends like Hank Williams, George Jones, Charlie Rich and Merle Haggard. Warmly received by many critics who agreed that Costello and his band did a credible job interpreting this quintessential American material, the album peaked at number seven in the UK and yielded a top 10 British hit with Jerry Chesnut’s song Good Year For The Roses.
Elvis Costello’s “country record” is usually written off as a vanity project, but Almost Blue is quite a bit more than that. It’s one of the most entertaining cover records in rock & roll, simply because of its enthusiasm. The album begins with a roaring version of Hank Williams’ “Why Don’t You Love Me” and doesn’t stop. Costello sings with conviction on the tear-jerking ballads, as well as on barn burners like “Tonight the Bottle Let Me Down.” It’s clear that Costello knows this music, and it’s also clear who he learned it from: Gram Parsons. Costello covers Parsons’ “Hot Burrito No. 1” and “How Much I Lied,” and all of the music on Almost Blue recalls Parsons’ taste for hardcore honky tonk and weepy ballads. It’s to Costello’s credit that he made a record relying on emotion to pay tribute.
Tracklist:
1. Elvis Costello – Why Don’t You Love Me (Like You Used To Do)? (01:39)
2. Elvis Costello – Sweet Dreams (02:59)
3. Elvis Costello – Success (02:41)
4. Elvis Costello – I’m Your Toy (03:23)
5. Elvis Costello – Tonight The Bottle Let Me Down (02:09)
6. Elvis Costello – Brown To Blue (02:39)
7. Elvis Costello – Good Year For The Roses (03:10)
8. Elvis Costello – Sittin’ And Thinkin’ (03:02)
9. Elvis Costello – Colour Of The Blues (02:21)
10. Elvis Costello – Too Far Gone (03:27)
11. Elvis Costello – Honey Hush (02:14)
12. Elvis Costello – How Much I Lied (02:46)
