Armed Forces
For the military meaning, see Armed forces.Armed Forces was
Elvis Costello's third album, his second with the Attractions, and the first to officially credit the Attractions on the cover.
It featured a more pop-oriented sound, which Costello has attributed to his
ABBA fandom. It was
produced by
Nick Lowe at
Eden Studios in West London.
The working title of
Armed Forces was
Emotional Fascism, and throughout the album Costello's lyrics are noticeably mired in
militaristic and
Nazi/
fascist imagery ("
Oliver's Army is here to stay," "are you ready for the
Final Solution," "two little
Hitlers," etc.). However, Elvis Costello has said that he never consciously intended the album to have a theme.
Initial pressings of the US album included a promotional three-song 7" single, "Live at
Hollywood High," recorded there on
June 4 1978. The three songs are "Accidents Will Happen," "Alison," and "Watching the Detectives," which are included on the Rykodisc reissue and on the Rhino bonus disk along with six more songs from the Hollywood High gig.
In 1998, the band
Moods for Moderns was formed as an homage to the album's tenth track.
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.All songs written by
Elvis Costello, except as indicated.# "Accidents Will Happen" â€" 3:00# "Senior Service" â€" 2:17# "Oliver's Army" â€" 2:58# "Big Boys" â€" 2:54# "Green Shirt" â€" 2:42# "Party Girl" â€" 3:20# "Goon Squad" â€" 3:14# "Busy Bodies" â€" 3:33# "Sunday's Best" â€" 3:22# "Moods for Moderns" â€" 2:48# "Chemistry Class" â€" 2:55# "Two Little Hitlers" â€" 3:10# "(What's So Funny 'Bout) Peace, Love and Understanding?" (
Nick Lowe) â€" 3:31
*
Tracklisting notes: "(What's So Funny 'Bout) Peace, Love, and Understanding?" was not on the original UK release of Armed Forces
. It was first issued as a B-side on the single "American Squirm" by Nick Lowe & His Sound. The American release of Armed Forces (with the "dripping paint" sleeve) deleted "Sunday's Best" and substituted "(What's So Funny 'Bout) Peace, Love and Understanding?" at the end of side two.Bonus Tracks (1993 Rykodisc)
|
Live at Hollywood High Promo Single |
# "(What's So Funny 'Bout) Peace, Love and Understanding?" (Lowe) â€" 3:31# "
My Funny Valentine" (
Richard Rodgers,
Lorenz Hart) â€" 1:28# "Tiny Steps" â€" 2:42# "Clean Money" â€" 1:57# "Talking in the Dark" â€" 1:56# "Wednesday Week" â€" 2:01# "Accidents Will Happen" (Live at Hollywood High) â€" 3:18# "Alison" (Live at Hollywood High) â€" 3:08# "Watching the Detectives" (Live at Hollywood High) â€" 5:51
Tracklisting notes: The Rykodisc reissue placed ""(What's So Funny 'Bout) Peace, Love and Understanding?" after a 15 second silence following "Two Little Hitlers."Bonus Disc (2002 Rhino)
# "Tiny Steps" â€" 2:42# "Busy Bodies (Alternate version)" â€" 3:48# "Talking in the Dark" â€" 1:56# "Big Boys (Alternate version)" â€" 2:56# "Clean Money" â€" 1:57 â€" # "Wednesday Week" â€" 2:01# "My Funny Valentine" (Rodgers, Hart) â€" 1:33# "Accidents Will Happen" (Live at Hollywood High) â€" 3:18# "Mystery Dance" (Live at Hollywood High) â€" 2:01# "Goon Squad" (Live at Hollywood High) â€" 3:42# "Party Girl" (Live at Hollywood High) â€" 3:19# "Stranger in the House" (Live at Hollywood High) â€" 3:52# "Alison" (Live at Hollywood High) â€" 3:08# "Lipstick Vogue" (Live at Hollywood High) â€" 4:26# "Watching the Detectives" (Live at Hollywood High) â€" 5:51# "You Belong to Me" (Live at Hollywood High) â€" 2:39# "Chemistry Class" (Live solo) â€" 2:34
*
Elvis Costello â€"
guitar,
vocals*
Steve Nieve â€"
keyboards*
Bruce Thomas â€"
bass*
Pete Thomas â€"
drumsAlbum
