Elvis Costello & The Attractions: Get Happy!! (Columbia/1980)

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?:

The Rip Chords: Sting Ray 7" (Sundazed Music/2006)

The Rip Chords were southern California surf pop band that were signed to Columbia Records. They released two unsuccessful doo-wop influenced singles (“Here I Stand” & Gone”). Columbia Record producers Terry Melcher and Bruce Johnston - also of the surf pop combo Bruce & Terry - came in shortly thereafter and took over the lead vocal duties. The band then had huge hit singles with “Hey Little Cobra” and “Three Window Coupe”. The band released two albums and subsequently had one more charting single with “One Piece Topless Bathing Suit” before calling it a day in 1965.

The always reliable Sundazed Music later reissued the bands two albums and a best of compilation that also contained a few unreleased items. Sundazed also released a single on colored vinyl on yellow wax.

“Sting Ray” is a boogie woogie rock and roll song that references The Beach Boys “Little Deuce Coupe”. “Red Hot Roadster” is a song that appeared in the motion picture A Swingin' Summer, that the band actually appeared in and the band performed said song. “Shut Down” is the a cover of the Beach Boys classic and appeared on the the Hey Little Cobra And Other Hits album. Terry Melcher went on to produce The Byrds and Paul Revere And The Raiders. Bruce Johnston joined the Beach Boys in the Spring of 1965 and is in the band to the day. And a touring version of The Rip Chords still tours the oldies circuit.

Highly recommended for fans of The Beach Boys and 60's Surf Pop. 

Here's the video review: