Armed Forces
Encyclopedia
Armed Forces is Elvis Costello
's third album, his second with the Attractions, and the first to officially credit the Attractions on the cover. It was released in the UK by Radar Records
and in the U.S. by Columbia
in 1979 (see 1979 in music
). The American version deleted "Sunday's Best" and substituted Costello's version of "(What's So Funny 'Bout) Peace, Love, and Understanding
," which had been released the previous November as the B-side
of Nick Lowe
's "American Squirm" single, at the end of side two. The album originally had the working title Emotional Fascism.
Initial pressings of the album in the UK and U.S. included a promotional three-song single, Live at Hollywood High
, which was recorded on . The live tracks, also produced by Nick Lowe
, are "Accidents Will Happen," "Alison," and "Watching the Detectives
". The UK edition also included 4 postcards featuring pictures of the band. The sitcom
"WKRP In Cincinnati" shows the DJ playing the album in the episode "Tornado" .
In 2000 Q magazine placed Armed Forces at number 45 in its list of the 100 Greatest British Albums Ever. In 2003, the album was ranked number 482 on Rolling Stone
magazine's list of the 500 greatest albums of all time
.
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.
}
}
Elvis Costello
Elvis Costello , born Declan Patrick MacManus, is an English singer-songwriter. He came to prominence as an early participant in London's pub rock scene in the mid-1970s and later became associated with the punk/New Wave genre. Steeped in word play, the vocabulary of Costello's lyrics is broader...
's third album, his second with the Attractions, and the first to officially credit the Attractions on the cover. It was released in the UK by Radar Records
Radar Records
Radar Records was a UK-based record label formed by Martin Davis who had previously worked at United Artists Records, and Andrew Lauder, who had previously been head of A&R at the UK divisions of Liberty Records and United Artists...
and in the U.S. by Columbia
Columbia Records
Columbia Records is an American record label, owned by Japan's Sony Music Entertainment, operating under the Columbia Music Group with Aware Records. It was founded in 1888, evolving from an earlier enterprise, the American Graphophone Company — successor to the Volta Graphophone Company...
in 1979 (see 1979 in music
1979 in music
See also:Record labels established in 1979* 1979 in music This is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 1979.-January–February:*January 1...
). The American version deleted "Sunday's Best" and substituted Costello's version of "(What's So Funny 'Bout) Peace, Love, and Understanding
(What's So Funny 'Bout) Peace, Love, and Understanding
" Peace, Love, and Understanding" is a 1970s song written by English musician Nick Lowe and recorded in the best-known version by Elvis Costello....
," which had been released the previous November as the B-side
A-side and B-side
A-side and B-side originally referred to the two sides of gramophone records on which singles were released beginning in the 1950s. The terms have come to refer to the types of song conventionally placed on each side of the record, with the A-side being the featured song , while the B-side, or...
of Nick Lowe
Nick Lowe
Nicholas Drain "Nick" Lowe , is an English singer-songwriter, musician and producer.A pivotal figure in UK pub rock, punk rock and new wave, Lowe has recorded a string of well-reviewed solo albums. Along with vocals, Lowe plays guitar, bass guitar, piano and harmonica...
's "American Squirm" single, at the end of side two. The album originally had the working title Emotional Fascism.
Initial pressings of the album in the UK and U.S. included a promotional three-song single, Live at Hollywood High
Live at Hollywood High
Live at Hollywood High is a recording by Elvis Costello and the Attractions from a 1978 concert at Hollywood High School in Los Angeles, California. Three songs from the concert were originally included as a bonus 7" vinyl EP that sold with initial pressings of the Armed Forces album in 1979...
, which was recorded on . The live tracks, also produced by Nick Lowe
Nick Lowe
Nicholas Drain "Nick" Lowe , is an English singer-songwriter, musician and producer.A pivotal figure in UK pub rock, punk rock and new wave, Lowe has recorded a string of well-reviewed solo albums. Along with vocals, Lowe plays guitar, bass guitar, piano and harmonica...
, are "Accidents Will Happen," "Alison," and "Watching the Detectives
Watching the Detectives (song)
"Watching the Detectives" is a 1977 single by English singer-songwriter Elvis Costello. It was his first single that credited his backing band, the Attractions, and gave him his first UK hit single...
". The UK edition also included 4 postcards featuring pictures of the band. The sitcom
"WKRP In Cincinnati" shows the DJ playing the album in the episode "Tornado" .
In 2000 Q magazine placed Armed Forces at number 45 in its list of the 100 Greatest British Albums Ever. In 2003, the album was ranked number 482 on Rolling Stone
Rolling Stone
Rolling Stone is a US-based magazine devoted to music, liberal politics, and popular culture that is published every two weeks. Rolling Stone was founded in San Francisco in 1967 by Jann Wenner and music critic Ralph J...
magazine's list of the 500 greatest albums of all time
The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time
"The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time" is the title of a 2003 special issue of American magazine Rolling Stone, and a related book published in 2005.Related news articles:...
.
Side one
- "Accidents Will HappenAccidents Will Happen"Accidents Will Happen" is a song by Elvis Costello. It first appeared on the 1979 album Armed Forces, which he recorded with The Attractions. In reference to the song title, the cover of the single was printed inside-out...
" – 3:00 - "Senior Service" – 2:17
- "Oliver's ArmyOliver's Army"Oliver's Army" is a song written by Elvis Costello, originally performed by Elvis Costello and the Attractions and appearing on the album Armed Forces in 1979. It remains his most successful single, spending four weeks at Nº2 in the UK singles chart....
" – 2:58 - "Big Boys" – 2:54
- "Green Shirt" – 2:42
- "Party Girl" – 3:20
Side two
- "Goon Squad" – 3:14
- "Busy Bodies" – 3:33
- "Sunday's Best" – 3:22
- "Moods for Moderns" – 2:48
- "Chemistry Class" – 2:55
- "Two Little Hitlers" – 3:18
Live at Hollywood High promo single
- "Accidents Will Happen" (Live) – 3:18
- "Alison" (Live) – 3:08
- "Watching the Detectives" (Live) – 5:51
Bonus CD reissue tracks (1993 Rykodisc)
- "(What's So Funny 'Bout) Peace, Love, and Understanding(What's So Funny 'Bout) Peace, Love, and Understanding" Peace, Love, and Understanding" is a 1970s song written by English musician Nick Lowe and recorded in the best-known version by Elvis Costello....
" (Nick LoweNick LoweNicholas Drain "Nick" Lowe , is an English singer-songwriter, musician and producer.A pivotal figure in UK pub rock, punk rock and new wave, Lowe has recorded a string of well-reviewed solo albums. Along with vocals, Lowe plays guitar, bass guitar, piano and harmonica...
) – 3:31 - "My Funny ValentineMy Funny Valentine"My Funny Valentine" is a show tune from the 1937 Richard Rodgers and Lorenz Hart musical Babes in Arms in which it was introduced by former child star Mitzi Green...
" (Richard RodgersRichard RodgersRichard Charles Rodgers was an American composer of music for more than 900 songs and for 43 Broadway musicals. He also composed music for films and television. He is best known for his songwriting partnerships with the lyricists Lorenz Hart and Oscar Hammerstein II...
, Lorenz HartLorenz HartLorenz "Larry" Milton Hart was the lyricist half of the famed Broadway songwriting team Rodgers and Hart...
) – 1:28 - "Tiny Steps" – 2:42
- "Clean Money" – 1:57
- "Talking in the Dark" – 1:56
- "Wednesday Week" – 2:01
- "Accidents Will Happen" (Live at Hollywood High) – 3:18
- "Alison" (Live at Hollywood High) – 3:08
- "Watching the Detectives" (Live at Hollywood High) – 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" – 2:42
- "Busy Bodies" (Alternative version) – 3:48
- "Talking in the Dark" – 1:56
- "Big Boys" (Alternative version) – 2:56
- "Clean Money" – 1:57
- "Wednesday Week" – 2:01
- "My Funny Valentine" (Rodgers, Hart) – 1:33
- "Accidents Will Happen" (Live at Hollywood High) – 3:18
- "Mystery Dance" (Live at Hollywood High) – 2:01
- "Goon Squad" (Live at Hollywood High) – 3:42
- "Party Girl" (Live at Hollywood High) – 3:19
- "Stranger in the House" (Live at Hollywood High) – 3:52
- "Alison" (Live at Hollywood High) – 3:08
- "Lipstick Vogue" (Live at Hollywood High) – 4:26
- "Watching the Detectives" (Live at Hollywood High) – 5:51
- "You Belong to Me" (Live at Hollywood High) – 2:39
- "Chemistry Class" (Live solo) – 2:34
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 CostelloElvis CostelloElvis Costello , born Declan Patrick MacManus, is an English singer-songwriter. He came to prominence as an early participant in London's pub rock scene in the mid-1970s and later became associated with the punk/New Wave genre. Steeped in word play, the vocabulary of Costello's lyrics is broader...
– guitarGuitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
, vocalsSingingSinging is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, and augments regular speech by the use of both tonality and rhythm. One who sings is called a singer or vocalist. Singers perform music known as songs that can be sung either with or without accompaniment by musical instruments... - Steve NieveSteve NieveSteve Nieve is an English keyboardist, best known for his work with Elvis Costello and the Attractions and Elvis Costello and the Imposters.-Musical career:...
– pianoPianoThe piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
, organOrgan (music)The organ , is a keyboard instrument of one or more divisions, each played with its own keyboard operated either with the hands or with the feet. The organ is a relatively old musical instrument in the Western musical tradition, dating from the time of Ctesibius of Alexandria who is credited with...
, synthesizerSynthesizerA synthesizer is an electronic instrument capable of producing sounds by generating electrical signals of different frequencies. These electrical signals are played through a loudspeaker or set of headphones... - Bruce ThomasBruce ThomasBruce Thomas is best known as bassist for The Attractions; the band formed in 1977 to back Elvis Costello in concert and on record....
– bassBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick.... - Pete ThomasPete ThomasPete Thomas is best known as the longtime drummer for Elvis Costello. Tom Waits has referred to him as "one of the best rock drummers alive".-Career:...
– drumsDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
Chart positions
| Chart (1979) | Position |
|---|---|
| Australian Albums Chart Kent Music Report The Kent Music Report was a weekly record chart of Australian music singles and albums which was compiled by music enthusiast David Kent from May 1974 through to 1998... |
9 |
| Canadian Albums Chart RPM (magazine) RPM was a Canadian music industry publication that featured song and album charts for Canada. The publication was founded by Walt Grealis in February 1964, supported through its existence by record label owner Stan Klees. RPM ceased publication in November 2000.RPM stood for "Records, Promotion,... |
8 |
| Dutch Mega Albums Chart MegaCharts MegaCharts is responsible for the composition and exploitation of a broad collection of official charts in the Netherlands, of which the Mega Top 50 and the Mega Album Top 100 are the most known ones. Mega Charts also provides information to the Stichting Nederlandse Top 40, of which the Dutch Top... |
13 |
| New Zealand Albums Chart | 9 |
| Norwegian VG-lista Albums Chart VG-lista VG-listen is a Norwegian record chart. It is weekly presented in the newspaper VG and the Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation program Topp 20. It is considered the primary Norwegian record chart, charting albums and singles from countries and continent around the world. The data is collected by... |
12 |
| Swedish Albums Chart Sverigetopplistan Sverigetopplistan, earlier known as Topplistan and Hitlistan and other names, is since October 2007 the Swedish national record chart, based on sales data from Swedish Recording Industry Association .... |
11 |
| UK Albums Chart UK Albums Chart The UK Albums Chart is a list of albums ranked by physical and digital sales in the United Kingdom. It is compiled every week by The Official Charts Company and broadcast on a Sunday on BBC Radio 1 , and published in Music Week magazine and on the OCC website .To qualify for the UK albums chart... |
2 |
| United States United States The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district... Billboard 200 Billboard 200 The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists... |
10 |
Year-end charts
| Chart (1979) | Position |
|---|---|
| Australian Albums Chart | 32 |
| Canadian Albums Chart RPM Year-End RPM Year-End charts are a cumulative measure of a single or album's performance in Canada, based upon the RPM magazine charts during any given chart year.-RPM year-end number ones:... |
60 |
| UK Albums Chart | 13 |
Certifications
}}
}