Almost Blue by Elvis Costello - DeepRiffs

ALBUM

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. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine

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

by Elvis Costello

Primary Artist: Elvis Costello & The Attractions; Main Performer
Bass Guitar: Bruce Thomas; Performer
Bass Guitar: Bruce Thomas; Performer
Drums: Pete Thomas; Performer
Guitar: Elvis Costello; Performer
Organ: Steve Nieve; Performer
Performer: Pete Thomas
Bruce Thomas
Steve Nieve
Elvis Costello; Performer
Piano: Steve Nieve; Performer
Vocals: Elvis Costello; Performer
Composer: Hank Williams; Composer
Lyricist: Hank Williams; Composer
Engineer: Ron "snake" Reynolds; Production
Producer: Billy Sherrill; Production
Recording Assistant: Eddy Hudson; Production
Studio Personnel: Ron "snake" Reynolds
Eddy Hudson; Production
Composer Lyricist: Hank Williams; Other

2. Sweet Dreams

by Elvis Costello

Primary Artist: Elvis Costello & The Attractions; Main Performer
Bass Guitar: Bruce Thomas; Performer
Bass Guitar: Bruce Thomas; Performer
Drums: Pete Thomas; Performer
Guitar: Elvis Costello; Performer
Organ: Steve Nieve; Performer
Performer: Pete Thomas
Bruce Thomas
Steve Nieve
Elvis Costello; Performer
Piano: Steve Nieve; Performer
Vocals: Elvis Costello; Performer
Composer: Don Gibson; Composer
Lyricist: Don Gibson; Composer
Engineer: Ron "snake" Reynolds; Production
Producer: Billy Sherrill; Production
Recording Assistant: Eddy Hudson; Production
Studio Personnel: Ron "snake" Reynolds
Eddy Hudson; Production
Composer Lyricist: Don Gibson; Other

3. Success

by Elvis Costello

Primary Artist: Elvis Costello & The Attractions; Main Performer
Bass Guitar: Bruce Thomas; Performer
Bass Guitar: Bruce Thomas; Performer
Drums: Pete Thomas; Performer
Guitar: Elvis Costello; Performer
Organ: Steve Nieve; Performer
Performer: Pete Thomas
Bruce Thomas
Steve Nieve
Elvis Costello; Performer
Piano: Steve Nieve; Performer
Vocals: Elvis Costello; Performer
Composer: Johnny Mullins; Composer
Lyricist: Johnny Mullins; Composer
Engineer: Ron "snake" Reynolds; Production
Producer: Billy Sherrill; Production
Recording Assistant: Eddy Hudson; Production
Studio Personnel: Ron "snake" Reynolds
Eddy Hudson; Production
Composer Lyricist: Johnny Mullins; Other

4. I'm Your Toy

by Elvis Costello

Primary Artist: Elvis Costello & The Attractions; Main Performer
Bass Guitar: Bruce Thomas; Performer
Bass Guitar: Bruce Thomas; Performer
Drums: Pete Thomas; Performer
Guitar: Elvis Costello; Performer
Organ: Steve Nieve; Performer
Performer: Bruce Thomas
Elvis Costello
Steve Nieve
Pete Thomas; Performer
Piano: Steve Nieve; Performer
Vocals: Elvis Costello; Performer
Composer: Chris Ethridge
Gram Parsons; Composer
Lyricist: Gram Parsons
Chris Ethridge; Composer
Engineer: Ron "snake" Reynolds; Production
Producer: Billy Sherrill; Production
Recording Assistant: Eddy Hudson; Production
Studio Personnel: Ron "snake" Reynolds
Eddy Hudson; Production
Composer Lyricist: Chris Ethridge
Gram Parsons; Other

5. Tonight The Bottle Let Me Down

by Elvis Costello

Primary Artist: Elvis Costello & The Attractions; Main Performer
Bass Guitar: Bruce Thomas; Performer
Bass Guitar: Bruce Thomas; Performer
Drums: Pete Thomas; Performer
Guitar: Elvis Costello; Performer
Organ: Steve Nieve; Performer
Performer: Pete Thomas
Bruce Thomas
Steve Nieve
Elvis Costello; Performer
Piano: Steve Nieve; Performer
Vocals: Elvis Costello; Performer
Composer: Merle Haggard; Composer
Lyricist: Merle Haggard; Composer
Engineer: Ron "snake" Reynolds; Production
Producer: Billy Sherrill; Production
Recording Assistant: Eddy Hudson; Production
Studio Personnel: Ron "snake" Reynolds
Eddy Hudson; Production
Composer Lyricist: Merle Haggard; Other

6. Brown To Blue

by Elvis Costello

Primary Artist: Elvis Costello & The Attractions; Main Performer
Bass Guitar: Bruce Thomas; Performer
Bass Guitar: Bruce Thomas; Performer
Drums: Pete Thomas; Performer
Guitar: Elvis Costello; Performer
Organ: Steve Nieve; Performer
Performer: Bruce Thomas
Elvis Costello
Steve Nieve
Pete Thomas; Performer
Piano: Steve Nieve; Performer
Vocals: Elvis Costello; Performer
Composer: Virginia Franks
George Jones; Composer
Lyricist: George Jones
Virginia Franks; Composer
Engineer: Ron "snake" Reynolds; Production
Producer: Billy Sherrill; Production
Recording Assistant: Eddy Hudson; Production
Studio Personnel: Ron "snake" Reynolds
Eddy Hudson; Production
Composer Lyricist: George Jones
Virginia Franks; Other

7. Good Year For The Roses

by Elvis Costello

Primary Artist: Elvis Costello & The Attractions; Main Performer
Bass Guitar: Bruce Thomas; Performer
Bass Guitar: Bruce Thomas; Performer
Drums: Pete Thomas; Performer
Guitar: Elvis Costello; Performer
Organ: Steve Nieve; Performer
Performer: Pete Thomas
Bruce Thomas
Steve Nieve
Elvis Costello; Performer
Piano: Steve Nieve; Performer
Vocals: Elvis Costello; Performer
Composer: Jerry Chesnut; Composer
Lyricist: Jerry Chesnut; Composer
Engineer: Ron "snake" Reynolds; Production
Producer: Billy Sherrill; Production
Recording Assistant: Eddy Hudson; Production
Studio Personnel: Ron "snake" Reynolds
Eddy Hudson; Production
Composer Lyricist: Jerry Chesnut; Other

8. Sittin' And Thinkin'

by Elvis Costello

Primary Artist: Elvis Costello & The Attractions; Main Performer
Bass Guitar: Bruce Thomas; Performer
Bass Guitar: Bruce Thomas; Performer
Drums: Pete Thomas; Performer
Guitar: Elvis Costello; Performer
Organ: Steve Nieve; Performer
Performer: Pete Thomas
Bruce Thomas
Steve Nieve
Elvis Costello; Performer
Piano: Steve Nieve; Performer
Vocals: Elvis Costello; Performer
Composer: Charlie Rich; Composer
Lyricist: Charlie Rich; Composer
Engineer: Ron "snake" Reynolds; Production
Producer: Billy Sherrill; Production
Recording Assistant: Eddy Hudson; Production
Studio Personnel: Ron "snake" Reynolds
Eddy Hudson; Production
Composer Lyricist: Charlie Rich; Other

9. Colour Of The Blues

by Elvis Costello

Primary Artist: Elvis Costello & The Attractions; Main Performer
Bass Guitar: Bruce Thomas; Performer
Bass Guitar: Bruce Thomas; Performer
Drums: Pete Thomas; Performer
Guitar: Elvis Costello; Performer
Organ: Steve Nieve; Performer
Performer: Bruce Thomas
Elvis Costello
Steve Nieve
Pete Thomas; Performer
Piano: Steve Nieve; Performer
Vocals: Elvis Costello; Performer
Composer: Lawton Williams
George Jones; Composer
Lyricist: George Jones
Lawton Williams; Composer
Engineer: Ron "snake" Reynolds; Production
Producer: Billy Sherrill; Production
Recording Assistant: Eddy Hudson; Production
Studio Personnel: Ron "snake" Reynolds
Eddy Hudson; Production
Composer Lyricist: George Jones
Lawton Williams; Other

10. Too Far Gone

by Elvis Costello

Primary Artist: Elvis Costello & The Attractions; Main Performer
Bass Guitar: Bruce Thomas; Performer
Bass Guitar: Bruce Thomas; Performer
Drums: Pete Thomas; Performer
Guitar: Elvis Costello; Performer
Organ: Steve Nieve; Performer
Performer: Pete Thomas
Bruce Thomas
Steve Nieve
Elvis Costello; Performer
Piano: Steve Nieve; Performer
Vocals: Elvis Costello; Performer
Composer: Billy Sherrill; Composer
Lyricist: Billy Sherrill; Composer
Engineer: Ron "snake" Reynolds; Production
Producer: Billy Sherrill; Production
Recording Assistant: Eddy Hudson; Production
Studio Personnel: Ron "snake" Reynolds
Eddy Hudson; Production
Composer Lyricist: Billy Sherrill; Other

11. Honey Hush

by Elvis Costello

Primary Artist: Elvis Costello & The Attractions; Main Performer
Bass Guitar: Bruce Thomas; Performer
Bass Guitar: Bruce Thomas; Performer
Drums: Pete Thomas; Performer
Guitar: Elvis Costello; Performer
Organ: Steve Nieve; Performer
Performer: Pete Thomas
Bruce Thomas
Steve Nieve
Elvis Costello; Performer
Piano: Steve Nieve; Performer
Vocals: Elvis Costello; Performer
Composer: Lou Willie Turner; Composer
Lyricist: Lou Willie Turner; Composer
Engineer: Ron "snake" Reynolds; Production
Producer: Billy Sherrill; Production
Recording Assistant: Eddy Hudson; Production
Studio Personnel: Ron "snake" Reynolds
Eddy Hudson; Production
Composer Lyricist: Lou Willie Turner; Other

12. How Much I Lied

by Elvis Costello

Primary Artist: Elvis Costello & The Attractions; Main Performer
Bass Guitar: Bruce Thomas; Performer
Bass Guitar: Bruce Thomas; Performer
Drums: Pete Thomas; Performer
Guitar: Elvis Costello; Performer
Organ: Steve Nieve; Performer
Performer: Bruce Thomas
Elvis Costello
Steve Nieve
Pete Thomas; Performer
Piano: Steve Nieve; Performer
Vocals: Elvis Costello; Performer
Composer: Pam Rifkin
Gram Parsons; Composer
Lyricist: Gram Parsons
Pam Rifkin; Composer
Engineer: Ron "snake" Reynolds; Production
Producer: Billy Sherrill; Production
Recording Assistant: Eddy Hudson; Production
Studio Personnel: Ron "snake" Reynolds
Eddy Hudson; Production
Composer Lyricist: Gram Parsons
Pam Rifkin; Other

Technical Specifications

Volume

1 volume only

Tracks

12 tracks available

Type

ALBUM

Format

Digital Media

Duration

32 minutes and 15 seconds

Explicit

None

Coverart

Available and up to 1000x1000 px

Booklet

Not available

Max Quality

CD Quality (Lossless)

16bit / 44.1 kHz

Stereo

Audio Extension

Lossless: FLAC, M4A, WAV, WV, AIFF

Lossy: AAC, MP3, M4A, MP4, OGA, OGG, OPUS, WMA

Archive Format

Available in these formats: ZIP, TAR, RAR

Lyrics

All tracks have lyrics

Synchronized Lyrics

11/12 tracks have synced lyrics

Genres

Pop/Rock

Label

UMe - Elvis Costello

Music Distribution Service

UMG Global

Country

United Kingdom

Language

English (United States)

Popularity

Release Date

Oct 31, 1981

Track Preview

Available

Delivery Charge

Free

Delivery Method

Digital download link via Email or Personal Dashboard on this site

UPC

602517260573