Elvis Costello's second album, the first backed by The Attractions (Although not yet billed as such), was a recent internet purchase, that I was surprised to find I didn't already own. It seems to inhabit a little hideaway between the debut and the fantastic Armed Forces, and I haven't listened to it nearly as much as those two.
And that's a pity, because it's full of great songs, including two hit singles. It comes in with a bang in the lively and engaging No Action, followed by the slower This Year's Girl and The Beat, led in by Steve Nieve's organ, borrowing from Summer Holiday, and a fine listen. Hit #1 follows, Pump It Up, powerful and relentless, with a fantastic bassline from Bruce Thomas driving the song. We need a bit of a rest after that, and Nieve's piano leads into the balladic Little Triggers before the jaunty You Belong To Me ends the first half.
Hand In Hand is a little limp as a starter to the second half, but Hit #2 (I Don't Want To Go To) Chelsea follows quickly, still sounding mysterious and fantastic. Lip Service is a solid, unspectacular album track, as is Living In Paradise - nothing wrong with either, but they aren't what you remember from this album. Lipstick Vogue is a lot more upbeat before Night Rally, a sombre song, brings us to an abrupt conclusion.
This CD reissue contains a number of bonus tracks, not on the original album, and many have said their addition changes the character of the album, diluting the original finale of Night Rally. But there are some great songs - hit single Radio Radio, absolutely fantastic, the lovely Big Tears its fantastic full sound almost thrown away as a single (Pump It Up) B-side, and the strident Crawling To The USA powering its way on the Americathon soundtrack.
A more odd choice to add are the three demos, which complete the disc, two of which (Green Short and Big Boys) later appeared on Armed Forces, which don't really contribute to the album, nor sweep up non album songs which deserve to be heard.
This is a step on from the 'great in parts' My Aim Is True, and the first sound of the powerhouse that was the Attractions. For, me, a more satisfying listen than its predecessor, yet leaving the feeling (isn't hindsight wonderful) that there's plenty more greatness to come.
4* - an often overlooked album, but The Attractions' first outing is a great listen.
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