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COSTELLO GOES ON TOUR TO NASHVILLE and starts to grow up
In the late seventies, I developed a (musical) crush on Elvis Costello and bought his first albums one after the other, appreciating the fast and no-nonsense style of the productions signed by Nick Lowe, recorded with the hard and somewhat schizoid rhythm of punk rock. When I got to Almost Blue—a dozen covers in the sweet sounds of American country—I was left stunned, and after a couple of listens, the record ended up in the box of those that... "everyone occasionally makes a blunder." I was wrong: rediscovered by chance and re-listened to thirty years later, it revealed itself to me as a very respectable album, closing Costello's youthful period (the one with the Attractions) and starting to define that eclectic artistic personality we know today. It also helps that in these years, I myself have learned a bit more about the musical world revolving around Nashville/Tennessee, where Costello recorded this album, relying on the production of specialist Billy Sherrill, who was considered at the time “the most reliable hitmaker in town.” To get more specific about these songs, I would place at the two extremes the brisk version of Why Don’t You Love Me (Like You Used To Do) by Hank Williams and, at the other end, the sugary Sweet Dreams; and then in the middle and in order: the two pieces signed by Gram Parsons (I’m Your Toy and How Much I’ve Lied), the melancholic A Good Year For The Roses (by Jerry Chestnut) along with the poignant Tonight The Bottle Let Me Down (by Merle Haggard) and to conclude the pairs of my favorites, the two pieces by George Jones (Brown To Blue and Color Of The Blues). In addition to the classic lineup of the Attractions, all English like Costello, there's the contribution of former Doobie Brothers member John McFee on the steel guitar to strengthen the promised country & western sound. The graphic idea for the title is lovely with a sort of crack in the photo forming the letter L in the large word “Blue” and the amusing photo of Costello with his hands on his face, almost as if to say “…what was I thinking!” The only flaw in my edition: the song lyrics are not included, and the cover does not list the authors, who must be sought on the long-playing label. No big deal. It's a great album and, in my opinion, with today's hindsight, deserves at least FOUR STARS.
Tracklist and Lyrics
09 How Much I Lied (02:56)
Darling, there is one thing I must tell you, you must know
It's so hard to say the words I feel
This fancy that I'm on's been going on too long
It's time to stop pretending things are real
'Cause I've been living deep in sin, I've been living blind
And I just don't know what's right or wrong
To take a chance on losing you is such a silly thing to do
A chance I might wake up and find you gone
Blue, so blue, my love is burning blue
Any private flame could be a lie
Blue, so blue, my love still burns for you
But I know I'll only make you cry
A thief can only steal from you
He cannot break your heart
He can never touch the precious things inside
Someone like you should surely be
Miles and miles away from me
Then you'd never care how much I lied
So try to understand the pain
It takes so long when I explain
Please don't you forget how much I lied
How much I lied
19 Success (02:41)
We used to go out walkin' hand in hand
You told me all the big things you had planned
It wasn't long till all your dreams came true
Success put me in second place with you
You have no time to love me anymore
Since fame & fortune knocked upon our door
I spend all my evenings all alone
Success has made a failure of our home
If we could spend an evening now & then
Perhaps we'd find true happiness again
You never hold me like you used to do
It's funny what success has done for you
You have no time to love me anymore
Since fame & fortune knocked upon our door
I spend all my evenings all alone
Success has made a failure of our home
23 Tears Before Bedtime (02:27)
I know the name on the tip of your tongue
And I know that accusing look
Everybody knows I've been so wrong
That's the problem and here's the hook
Tears before bedtime
There'll be trouble tonight
I don't want to talk about it anymore
I don't want to have another fight
I don't want to talk I don't want to fight
How wrong can I be before I am right
For the tears that you boo hoo hoo hoo
There can be no defence
You say you'll forgive and forget
But it's only a pretence
Either you can leave the past behind
Or give me something to disconnect my mind
I sleep with my fists clenched tight
When I don't lie awake all night
I guess time gave up the ghost too late
And the balance of our love
Very soon turns to hate
Darling your suspiciousness
Tortures me at night
But I can't excuse the cruel words
That I use whenever we fight
(chorus)
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