I know of Elvis Costello but never have owned any of his albums. I’ve been listening to one of those throwback alternative radio stations and Costello’s music comes up often on the playlist.
I am quite familiar with the excellent Paul McCartney album Flowers in the Dirt which features Costello.
I like old school Elvis C. My favorites are Armed Forces, My Aim is True, and This Year’s Model probably in that order. Maybe, the last two are tied. But this is my own idiosyncratic taste, and you won’t go wrong with any of the three.
Tell us about the rest of your musical tastes?
Start with these, for sure. Elvis has always been, still is, a talented, clever composer. But this was the era when he was dangerous, when he had something to say that we all wanted to hear. He later became a kind of elder statesman, still talented and respected, but he no longer “mattered,” not like the early days.
All three of these are very good albums from the beginning of his career, and may be as good a place to start as any.
My own introduction to Elvis Costello was his album Punch the Clock, which I still really like.
A couple more that may not be the best starting point but should not be missed:
Imperial Bedroom is a candidate for his best album, though it may not be as immediately accessible as some of the others.
Spike is stylistically diverse and eclectic, and it includes more of his collaborations with McCartney, including one of his biggest hits, “Veronica.”
I was just about to write this exact post. I’m surprised to see this much agreement on a musician here.
As a backup plan, you could go for a “Best Of” that includes his later gems, like the McCartney collabs and of course “Every Day I Write The Book” (NOT Elvis’s favorite, but it’s fun). And my favorite, “Toledo” from the album he did with Burt Bacharach.
I went into a deep Costello dive on YouTube and found a lot of cuts from the live concert he did with Burt. And some live stuff* with Steve Nieve, his longtime keyboardist with the Attractions.
And, oddly enough, a Spanish album where he rearranged his songs and recruited Spanish musicians. I bought it, but have barely scratched the surface.
*There’s a live version of Watching The Detectives that’s addictive, and I listen to it often… it’s one of those songs that’ll get me out of any depression. As will The Angels Want To Wear My Red Shoes.
theres a album from 20 years ago that had all his important stuff from his first record contract with Columbia on it
Now if you want Modern EC play his last single on YouTube called “No Flags”
But most of his 2k and later stuff tends to be collabs and weird noodlings …
Yes! I’d say everything up to and including Imperial Bedroom (1982). Then he released a couple of clunky albums but came back strong with King of America and Blood & Chocolate (both 1986). However, since then, nothing from Elvis has made an impression on me.
(Of course, the only songs that ever got any play were “Every Day I Write the Book” and “Veronica.” But that’s because radio is in the hands of such a lot of… well, you know.)
Add me to the Old Costello list. The first three albums should really be listened to in the order of release. One reason for this is the delightful switch from the studio musicians (including the great John McFee on some great guitar) of the first album to the core Attractions on the second and third albums, which feature a lot more keyboards (by “Steve Naive”).
“Get Happy” (1980) is also very worthwhile for a huge collection of songs that didn’t make the first three albums, but are frequently just as good as those that did.
One major decision you will have to make is whether to listen to the original UK albums or the butchered US releases. There are substantial differences. I would suggest sticking with the US versions at first, then expand later to include at least a listen to the UK albums.
I do not recommend any of the collections or anthologies as being a place to start.
I really only like early EC, too. He’s not a good singer in my opinion, and in those early albums, he really snarled rather than sang and it worked well. By the fifth or sixth album, he started trying to sing (for example, the song Almost Blue) and it doesn’t work for me.
Snarly, sarcastic EC is the best!
My order would be This Year’s Model, Armed Forces, My Aim is True, Get Happy, then a big drop to Trust, Imperial Bedroom, and Punch the Clock. Then, I lost interest. He did a country album in the middle there (Almost Blue, the album, not the song), that I never listened to.
His bass player from the second album until way later may be my favorite bass player.
It helps to understand Costello’s background and style if you watch a video of his father performing.
FWIW, my favorite two EC songs are What’s So Funny About Peace, Love and Understanding and Oliver’s Army.
Once he started doing Burt Bacharach crap I was done.
Worth watching as a supplement of sorts is his interview/performance series Spectacle: Elvis Costello with…. Many of the episodes are available on youtube.
I got the shivers the first time I heard that song. I still do.
I think Oliver’s Army is my favorite, but I really love Green Shirt, too.
How to get started with Elvis Costello
Walk up to him and knock his hat off his head with a back-hand motion while claiming his wife is a No-Talent Tinkler.
Sorry. First thing that popped into my head when I saw the thread title. 
Agreed. A brilliant, multi-layered collaboration with producer Geoff Emerick. And I usually can’t stand heavily orchestrated rock.
Like any singer, he has his range. My all time favorite Costello album is ALMOST BLUE.
His voice is perfect for these old standards.
Good Year For The Roses
Yeah, Good Year is OK. It’s when he gets right up to the mic and tries vibrato, when he thinks he’s a crooner. He’s just not that.
It’s hard to recommend EC to someone, because he’s like two different artists, with a transition around Punch the Clock. His early, angry-young-man stuff is so different from his later ballads and soft rock.
I haven’t see the video of his revival of the 1986 Spectacular Spinning Songbook tour, but I imagine it would be a good sampler. The original tour was extremely fun. At one of the shows I attended “Alison” came up on the wheel 3 times, which bugged EC a little bit but he stuck with the concept. He played it with a humorous twist the last time, much to the delight of the crowd.
I think Blood and Chocolate is a fantastic album. Perhaps my favorite of his. It still shows a lot of the raw-edged punk sound.
After that, I would rate This Year’s Model, Imperial Bedroom, and Get Happy.
Haven’t paid much attention to him since he decided he was a “chanteur,” with the annoying vibrato, as noted above.
Yeah, I love Costello and Dylan, but when they try to croooon, I go back to their classics.