Trust (Elvis Costello album)
Trust | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
File:Trustelviscostello.jpg | ||||
Studio album by Elvis Costello and the Attractions | ||||
Released | 23 January 1981 | |||
Recorded | October–November 1980 | |||
Genre | New wave, power pop | |||
Length | 41:09 | |||
Label | F-Beat (UK) Columbia (US) Demon/Rykodisc (29 April 1994 Reissue) Rhino (9 September 2003 Reissue) Hip-O (1 May 2007 Reissue) |
|||
Producer | Nick Lowe, Roger Bechirian | |||
Elvis Costello and the Attractions chronology | ||||
|
Professional ratings | |
---|---|
Review scores | |
Source | Rating |
AllMusic | [1] |
Blender | [2] |
Chicago Tribune | [3] |
Encyclopedia of Popular Music | [4] |
Entertainment Weekly | A[5] |
Rolling Stone | [6] |
The Rolling Stone Album Guide | [7] |
Select | [8] |
Uncut | [9] |
The Village Voice | A[10] |
Trust is an album by Elvis Costello and the Attractions. It is Costello's fifth album, and fourth with the Attractions. It was also his fifth consecutive album produced by Nick Lowe, who handled production on all songs except "Big Sister's Clothes" (which the liner notes make clear by stating that Lowe was "not responsible" for it).
Contents
Background
Costello's original intent with Trust was to cross the melody of Armed Forces with the rhythm of Get Happy!! The songs on the album dealt with a general sense of disenchantment he felt during the time, with the recent election of the Conservative government as well as tensions within his first marriage, which gave them an overall cynical tone.[11] As a result, the general lyrical content of the songs describe a world that is essentially the opposite of what the album title implies.
The initial recording sessions were held at DJM Studios in London, but they were displeased with the results. It did not help that the bandmates were almost constantly under the influence of mood-altering drugs.[11] As Costello wrote in the liner notes of the Rhino reissue:
<templatestyles src="Template:Blockquote/styles.css" />
This was easily the most drug-influenced record of my career... It was completed close to a self-induced nervous collapse on a diet of rough 'scrumpy' cider, gin and tonic, various powders... and, in the final hours, Seconal and Johnnie Walker Black Label.[11]
Recording resumed at Eden Studios, where previous albums had been done. Although the band was no more sober, the resulting tracks were more to Costello's liking. Despite having previously expressed a desire to distance himself from the pop music mainstream, Costello revealed that a number of songs on the album were influenced by other contemporary artists. Specifically, "Clubland" incorporated the guitar style of The Police, "You'll Never Be A Man" borrowed from The Pretenders, "White Knuckles" was modelled on XTC records, and "Fish 'n' Chip Paper" was an homage to Squeeze. Lastly, "Big Sister's Clothes" had a bass line based on work by The Clash.[11]
Commercially, none of the singles on Trust entered the British top 40, the first time this had happened since My Aim Is True, his debut album. "Clubland" was a minor chart hit at # 60.
LP track listing
All songs written by Elvis Costello except as indicated.
Side one
- "Clubland" – 3:42
- "Lovers Walk" – 2:17
- "You'll Never Be a Man" – 2:56
- "Pretty Words" – 3:11
- "Strict Time" – 2:40
- "Luxembourg" – 2:26
- "Watch Your Step" – 2:57
Side two
- "New Lace Sleeves" – 3:45
- "From a Whisper to a Scream" – 2:54
- "Different Finger" – 1:58
- "White Knuckles" – 3:47
- "Shot with His Own Gun" – 3:30
- "Fish 'n' Chip Paper" – 2:55
- "Big Sister's Clothes" – 2:11
CD reissue bonus tracks (1994 Rykodisc)
- "Black Sails in the Sunset" – 2:56
- "Big Sister" – 2:11
- "Sad About Girls" (Steve Nieve as "Norman Brain", Fay Hart) – 2:48
- "Twenty-Five to Twelve" – 3:52
- "Love for Sale" (Cole Porter) – 3:02
- "Weeper's Dream" – 1:05
- "Gloomy Sunday" (Sam M. Lewis, Rezső Seress) – 3:13
- "Boy with a Problem" (solo demo version) (Costello, Chris Difford) – 2:31
- "Seconds of Pleasure" (Version 1 of 'Invisible Man') – 3:18
Bonus disc (2003 Rhino)
- "Black Sails in the Sunset" – 2:56
- "Big Sister" – 2:11
- "Twenty-Five to Twelve" – 3:52
- "Sad About Girls" (Brain/Hart) – 2:48
- "From a Whisper to a Scream" (Alternate version) – 3:27
- "Watch Your Step" (Alternate version) – 2:47
- "Clubland" (Alternate take) – 4:03
- "You'll Never be a Man" (Alternate take) – 3:10
- "Slow Down" (Larry Williams) – 2:24
- "Big Sister" (Alternate version) – 5:07
- "Black Sails in the Sunset" (Alternate version) – 3:08
- "Hoover Factory" (Alternate version) – 1:47
- "Love for Sale" (Porter) – 3:02
- "Boy with a Problem" (Single version) (Costello, Difford) – 2:31
- "Weeper's Dream" – 1:05
- "Gloomy Sunday" (Lewis, Seress) – 3:13
- "The Long Honeymoon" (Instrumental piano demo) – 1:41
Note: The Rykodisc version has the original tracks and bonus tracks on one CD. The Rhino version has two CDs with the original tracks on the first CD.
Personnel
- Elvis Costello – vocals, guitars, all instruments on "Big Sister's Clothes"
- Steve Nieve – piano, organ
- Bruce Thomas – bass
- Pete Thomas – drums
Additional personnel
- Glenn Tilbrook – vocal on "From a Whisper to a Scream"
- Martin Belmont – guitar on "From a Whisper to a Scream"
- Billy Bremner - guitar on "From a Whisper to a Scream"
Charts
Album
Year | Chart | Position |
---|---|---|
1981 | Billboard Pop Albums | 28 |
Year | Song | Chart | Position |
---|---|---|---|
1981 | "From a Whisper to a Scream" | Billboard Mainstream Rock | 46 |
References
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 11.2 11.3 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- Use dmy dates from January 2014
- Use British English from January 2014
- Pages with broken file links
- Music infoboxes with deprecated parameters
- 1981 albums
- Albums produced by Nick Lowe
- Albums produced by Roger Bechirian
- Columbia Records albums
- Elvis Costello albums
- F-Beat Records albums
- Hip-O Records albums
- Rhino Records albums
- Rykodisc albums