Get Happy!!
is the fourth album by Elvis Costello, third with the Attractions.
Unlike his other albums with The Attractions, it has a distinctly R&B
feel. It is also, in my humble opinion, Elvis' most cohesive creative
statement with The Attractions. Produced by Nick Lowe, who had
produced all of Costello's albums to date, does a wonderful job with
achieving the perfect balance of getting a suitable R&B
production on many of the tracks, while getting the best out of the
band and what makes them great.
The album contains
twenty-tracks, which is unusual for a non-double album release.
Fearing audiophile fears of “groove-cramming”, producer Nick Lowe
wrote a disclaimer instructing listeners to fear not as there is no
loss of quality as the record nears the end of each side. The album
also contains some of his best tracks; “New Amsterdam”, “High
Fidelity” and “Love For Tender”. Other standouts include
“Secondary Modern”, Riot Act” and the Sam & Dave cover of
“I Can't Stand Up For Falling Down”. Truth be told all of these
songs display Costello's seemingly easy talent of bending phrases to
phrases to perfectly fit the rhyme schemes for his always insightful
lyrics.
The sleeve has nice
retro cover art by the late, legendary artist Barney Bubbles with
some editions having ready-made ringwear on the sleeve. It peaked at
#2 on the UK charts and #11 in the US, also reaching #11 on Rolling
Stone Magazine's 100 Greatest Album Of The 1980's list in 1989.
I personally cannot
recommend this album high enough.
Video Review, anyone?:
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