![Jake's Progress [Original TV Soundtrack]](data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7 "Jake's Progress [Original TV Soundtrack]")
1996
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Jan 5, 2023 · Elvis Costello Greatest Hits. philmillar46. Play all. Share your videos with friends, family, and the world.
- The Signature Songs
- The Fan Favorites
- The Commentaries
- The Collaborations
Watching The Detectives
No matter what musical direction he heads in, there are a handful of signature songs that Costello can never get offstage without playing. “Watching the Detectives” was one of the first Elvis songs many fans ever heard, and it remains one of the most loved, with its reggae groove and guitar salute to John Barry’s Bond scores. And the storyline about zapping an indifferent date into the movie she’s watching, neatly wraps up Costello’s angry-young man days.
Alison
At the other emotional extreme is “Alison,” arguably the first great ballad to come out of the New Wave movement and a song of conflicted tenderness. Live versions have offered many variations over the years; unlike many songwriters who get sick of their early hits, Costello has continued to find new nuances in this one.
Clubland
The young Costello famously said (in the lyric of “Radio Radio”) that he wanted to bite the hand that fed him, and few songs accomplished that better than “Clubland.” A double-edged song if there ever was one, its lyrics cast a cynical eye at the excesses of nightclub culture and early-80s style – but the song was so bright and upbeat (with a reggae groove influenced by The Police) that those same nightclubs played it to death.
Man Out Of Time
Some Elvis Costello songs aren’t quite famous enough to qualify as greatest hits, but they’re the ones that fans invariably return to again and again. High on that list is “Man Out Of Time,” a highlight track from the much-admired Imperial Bedroom. His first song over five minutes, the lyrics approach Dylanterritory, a dense narrative where nobody can be trusted – least of all the narrator.
High Fidelity
“High Fidelity” earns a place here as Costello’s most danceable track. Fueled by amphetamines and vintage vinyl, he and the Attractions jumped into 60s soul for the 20-track epic Get Happy!!, and with this tune. they proved they could do a Motown groove with the best of them.
The Big Light
Nearly any track from Costello’s roots-music reinvention King of America, could be a contender for fan favorite, but “The Big Light,” is a stone-country stomp that’s about as feisty as hangover songs ever get. The song impressed Johnny Cash enough to lead off an album with it; Costello’s version also gives a tasty solo spot to guitarist James Burton, who spent years playing with the other Elvis.
’Less Than Zero’
Costello has been weighing in on societal issues since day one: his very first UK single, “Less Than Zero,” was written in disgust after seeing a notorious racist being politely interviewed on British TV. Because the meaning didn’t translate abroad, this was the song he famously cut short onSaturday Night Live,telling his band there was “no reason to do this song here.”
Shipbuilding
One of his next great protest songs was less a rant than a lament: “Shipbuilding” marked the effects of the Falklands War, specifically the revival of the shipbuilding business at the cost of their sons’ lives. A rare writing collaboration between Costello and Clive Langer, its stately melody (and Chet Baker’s jazz-noir guest solo) stood out among the otherwise raucous spirits of 1983’s Punch the Clockalbum.
Tramp the Dirt Down
Costello would take many jabs at the Thatcher era and Margaret Thatcher herself, but never with quite the venom of “Tramp the Dirt Down,” which expresses the wish that he could outlive her just to stomp on her grave. The Chieftains add a haunting touch to this Spiketrack.
Veronica
In recent decades, Elvis Costello has put much of his heart into working with other artists, and he’s challenged himself by working with the best there is. Most famously, he jumped into the ring with Paul McCartneyin the late 80s; their writing session was fruitful enough to produce standouts on two Costello and two McCartney albums. One of the first to see release, “Veronica,” was everything fans hoped for – a feast of great hooks and lyrical depth; the words tell the story of Costello’s gra...
God Give Me Strength
Modern songwriters don’t get more iconic than Burt Bacharach, and though their collaboration began by fax, it became a strong connection yielding an album full of heartfelt torch songs, Painted From Memory. The classic from these sessions was the first they wrote together, “God Give Me Strength.” Written for Allison Anders’ film Grace of My Heart – a loosely fictionalized story of the 60s songwriting hotbed the Brill Building– it seamlessly matched Bacharach’s melodic grace with the emotional...
Jacksons, Monk & Rowe
One of Costello’s biggest stretches was The Juliet Letters, a 1993 song cycle written and performed with England’s Brodsky Quartet. Neither strictly pop nor classical, it drew equally from both. One of the gems was “Jacksons, Monk & Rowe,” which resembled a vintage Costello pop tune.
- Brett Milano
- 4 min
Elvis Costello Greatest Hits. A new music service with official albums, singles, videos, remixes, live performances and more for Android, iOS and desktop. It's all here.
- Shipbuilding’ – Punch The Clock. Elvis Costello wrote ‘Shipbuilding’ in 1982 during the Falklands War and Costello wrote the words while Clive Langer wrote the music.
- Oliver’s Army’ – Armed Forces. ‘Oliver’s Army’ is Elvis Costello’s highest-charting single and it spent three weeks at number two in the UK, as well as charting in a number of other countries.
- This Year’s Girl’ – This Year’s Model. Released in 1977 on Elvis Costello and The Attractions’ brilliant first album, This Year’s Model, ‘This Year’s Girl’ received a lot of pushback for its seeming misogynistic nature.
- I Want You’ – Blood and Chocolate. ‘I Want You’ was the second single for Costello’s Blood and Chocolate. The song starts as a kind of soft and understated lullaby, presenting the song as romantic.
- “Radio Radio” This Year’s Model. Costello didn’t waste much time waggling his middle finger to the powers that be on This Year’s Model, his first album with the Attractions and second album overall.
- “Mystery Dance” My Aim Is True. In one of the first indications of his ability to pump out lyrical scorchers sans innuendo, Costello’s pleading ode to awkward sex is flanked within a super-charged blues-rock hybrid that to late ’70s audiences was probably one of the fastest songs they’d ever heard; a progenitor to the breakneck pace that many punk and new wave bands would adopt in a few short years.
- “The Scarlet Tide” The Delivery Man. Co-written by T Bone Burnett and made famous by Allison Krauss’ performance of it in the 2003 film Cold Mountain, “The Scarlet Tide” is the sound of the bridging of the gap between Costello’s early ’00s bluegrass leanings and the abstract lyrical depth that’s made him famous.
- “Sulky Girl” Brutal Youth. 1994’s Brutal Youth unveiled the even heavier melodic dedication Costello had given his focus to, and was essentially an Attractions album?featuring Pete Thomas, Bruce Thomas and Steve Nieve along with Nick Lowe.
Elvis Costello has played a vital role in rock and roll history. Our 25 Essential Elvis Costello Songs list will cover the entire 40-plus year career of Elvis Costello, picking out some of the highlights and undoubtedly missing so many because of our 25-song limit.
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Elvis Costello. The official Elvis Costello playlist featuring top hits and new tracks from 'Spanish Model.'. Listen to the new Spanish singles of "Pump It Up," "Radio, Radio" and "La Chica...
