Elvis Costello - My Aim Is True

 

The first two Elvis Costello singles in 1977 passed me by, and he first only came to my attention with his debut appearance on "Top Of The Pops", playing "Red Shoes". I instantly liked the song and rushed out to buy the single, but it didn't chart, and I didn't follow up by buying the album, possibly remembering Stiff Records "Help Us Hype Elvis" campaign in the musical press.

It was only after the second LP, "This Year's Model" was released, that I went back and bought "My Aim is True", and although the sound was very different it made a big impression on me. It remains one of the very few albums where I can look at the track listing and remember what every song sounds like.

Whereas "This Year's Model" was dominated by Steve Nieve's swirling keyboards and the pumping bass of Bruce Thomas as The Attractions definitely felt like a band, "My Aim Is True" was recorded with US country band Clover as the backing musicians, who went on to find fame with Huey Lewis as the News. Clover were not credited on the album due to contractual label issues.

Whilst "This Year's Model" sounded very new wave, "My Aim Is True" contained a mixture of influences, ranging from the Buddy Holly look on the album cover to Van Morrison, Graham Parker, Brinsley Schwarz and even Bob Seger soundwise. Indeed there is a mixture of punk raw energy, new wave, hints of country ( unsurprisingly Clover's background ), a melancolic ballad ( "Alison" ), the slightly psychedelic pure pop of "Red Shoes", honky-tonk, pub-rock, and even a jazz flavour on "Sneaky Feelings". Most songs are under 3 minutes and the 12 song album comes in a shade over 32 minutes in total.

Lyrically, Elvis comes across as a big time loser in love, full of anger and a bit of a nerd. However, it is all expressed with self depreciating wit and cynical humour, bursting with so many great lines couched within some great melodies. Something which had a great impact on an impressionable 16 year old !

The opening track "Welcome To The Working Week" only lasts 1.22, but is arguably the best song on the album, setting the tone with the frustrated anger, before leading into "Miracle Man", which with a slightly slower tempo still expresses the same anger, such as "Why do you have to say that there’s always someone, who can do it better than I can?  But don't you think that walking on water won't make me a miracle man ?"

"No Dancing" has a 60's motown flavour and the jerky, toe tapping "Blame It On Cain" is another memorable tune.

The painful ballad "Alison" is next and surprisingly wasn't a hit, but the pain of heartache and rejection is evident on Elvis's shirt-sleeve. 

"Oh, it's so funny to be seeing you after so long girl, and with the way you look, I understand that you are not impressed, but I heard you let that little friend of mine take off your party dress. I'm not going to get too sentimental, like those other sticky valentines, cause I don't know if you were loving somebody I only know it isn't mine."

The side finishes with the lively "Sneaky Feelings", which wouldn't appear out of place on a Van Morrison album.

Side 2 opens with "Red Shoes", another single which surprisingly was not a chart success, despite the pure pop melody  and more great lyrics ""I said I'm so happy I could die, she said 'drop dead' and left with another guy."

"Less Than Zero" is slightly slower and indicates Elvis's obsession with Oswald Moseley, which was more obviously followed up on "Oliver's Army" on  Armed Forces.

The frantic "Mystery Dance" expresses the frustration of not being trendy - "She thought that I knew and I thought that she knew, so both of us were willing but we didn't know how to do it"

"Pay It Back" is another Van Morrison style song, well from his more jaunty era, but the ire returns with "I'm Not Angry", where he is anything but "There is not such thing as an original sin, I'm not angry !"

The closing song "Waiting For The End Of The World" is a mid-tempo song that now slightly reminds me of Madonna's version of American Pie, "dear lord I sincerely hope you are coming, cos you really started something" and "the bride, the groom, the congregation and the priest all got onto the train when we were three stations east"

The fist UK hit single "Watching the Detectives" was added to the US release of the album but didn't feature on the UK release. However, regardless of that "My Aim Is True" is an incredibly strong debut album !

Side 1

1. Welcome To The Working Week
2. Miracle Man
3. No Dancing
4. Blame It On Cain
5. Alison
6. Sneaky Feelings

Side 2

1. ( The Angels Wanna Wear My ) Red Shoes
2. Less Than Zero
3. Mystery Dance
4. Pay It Back
5. I'm Not Angry
6. Waiting For The End Of The World

Released 1977
UK Chart Position :14

Singles :

Less Than Zero ( - 1977 )
Alison ( - 1977 )
( The Angels Wanna Wear My ) Red Shoes ( - 1977 )