On KING OF AMERICA, the ever-restless Costello reinvented himself yet again, using his Christian name (Declan MacManus) in the credits, and employing the other Elvis' old backing band (as well as Ray Brown and Earl Palmer) for his most reflective, mature-sounding album thus far. The overall sound here is closer to Costello's folk-rock roots (The Band, the Grateful Dead) than he'd ever dared come before, and the songs trade elliptical wordplay for considered emotional statements.Though the Attractions appear only on "Suit of Lights," their influence is felt on the album's poppiest tune "Lovable." Elsewhere, Costello offers poignant country ballads ("Indoor FIreworks," also expertly covered by Nick Lowe), jazz/blues torch songs ("Poisoned Rose") and even a bit of '60s Britbeat (an effective recasting of "Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood"). In short, KING OF AMERICA contains some of Costello's finest, most understated work.
Additional Tracks
Recorded at Ocean Way, Sunset Sound Studio and The Sound Factory, Los Angeles, California in 1985. Originally released on Columbia (40173). Includes liner notes by Declan Patrick Aloysius "Elvis Costello" MacManus.
Producers: T-Bone Burnett, Elvis Costello, Larry Hirsch, The Coward Brothers.
Personnel: Elvis Costello (vocals, acoustic guitar, electric guitar); T-Bone Wolk (guitar, accordion); James Burton (electric guitar, dobro); T-Bone Burnett (electric guitar); Jo-El Sonnier (accordion); Steve Nieve (piano, Hammond b-3 organ); Tom Canning (piano); Mitchell Froom (harpsichord, Hammond b-3 organ); Michael Blair (marimba); Jerry Scheff (double bass, bass guitar); Jim Keltner, Mickey Curry, Ron Tutt (drums, percussion); Bruce Thomas (drums); David Hidalgo (background vocals).
Personnel: Elvis Costello (vocals, acoustic & electric guitars, mandolin); James Burton (acoustic & electric guitars, dobro); T-Bone Wolk (electric guitar, accordion, keyboards, electric bass); T-Bone Burnett (electric guitar); Jo-El Sonnier (French accordion); Mitchell Froom (piano, harpsichord, organ, Hammond organ); Tom Canning (piano); Michael Blair (marimba); Jerry Scheff (acoustic & electric basses); Ray Brown (acoustic bass); Earl Palmer, Ron Tutt, Jim Keltner, Mickey Curry (drums); David Hidalgo (background vocals).
The Attractions: Steve Nieve (piano, Hammond organ); Bruce Thomas (electric bass); Pete Thomas (drums).
Rolling Stone (p.83) - 4 stars out of 5 - "[N]othing else in Costello's career has the soul power of these twisted adult love ballads..." Q (9/95, p.129) - 5 Stars - Indispensable - "...its shifting corpus of US roots and rock'n'roll veterans...match Costello's comic/sardonic reflections on American Culture....Still virtually perfect." Uncut (p.132) - 4 stars out of 5 - "The lyrical directness of the material...and the band's versatility synthesised Costello's folk, country and R&B impulses." Mojo (Publisher) (p.128) - 4 stars out of 5 - "[A]n irresistible package..." NME (Magazine) (10/2/93, p.29) - Ranked #88 in NME's list of the `Greatest Albums Of All Time.'
(*) MP3 for this song is from a different CD. Listen to the sound sample to be sure this is the version you're looking for.
King Of America: Deluxe Edition Music Review
Customer King Of America: Deluxe Edition Reviews
Average Rating: (4.5 out of 5 stars)
Another Great later Costello CD This one got forgotten in the U.S. but the critics loved it, and they got that right. Costello takes a more folky, acoustic approach but still rocks with his very melodic touch. He continues his Dylanesque weave of social, political and personal poetry in the lyrics, in an almost introspective manner. Check out the simply stunning writing about domestic violence and broken homes leading to broken countries in Little Palaces. The Jack of All Parades addresses the ultimate emptiness of excess in fame and easy sex, and I'll Wear It Proudly & Indoor Fireworks are powerful, catchy love songs that speak of passion driving devotion. Costello does a great Eric Burdon cover song, and starts off the record with a rousing reflective piece on the 'brilliant mistake' of fame. Musically, the songs are built on acoustic guitars and organ riffs that recall Bob Dylan's Highway 61/Bringing It All Back Home era. You won't be disappointed with this smart, tuneful record. Submitted by Andrew M. (Santa Rosa, CA) Was This Review Helpful? YesNo
The King of Imperial ballrooms The beard years stuble, can be found here.Lsten and listen again because this is why you played "Get Happy"
a million times. Re -Invention . Submitted by excentrifigal (Brookyn NY) Was This Review Helpful? YesNo
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Another Great later Costello CD
The King of Imperial ballrooms
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