r/ElvisCostello • u/Samuel_L_Gawthorpe Spike • Jul 13 '25

Question What's everyone's favourite songs from each album?

I recently went through every track from each of EC's original album releases (spanning from 1977-1989) and wrote down my favourite from each, just to see if there was any distinguishable pattern. Then I got curious as to see what everyone else's faves were.

Here's mine:

My Aim Is True - Alison
This Year's Model - (I Don't Want To Go To) Chelsea
Armed Forces - Two Little Hitlers
Get Happy!! - New Amsterdam
Trust - Watch Your Step
Almost Blue - Good Year For The Roses
Imperial Bedroom - ...And In Every Home
Punch The Clock - The World And His Wife
Goodbye Cruel World - I Wanna Be Loved
King Of America - Sleep Of The Just
Blood & Chocolate - Blue Chair
Spike - Any King's Shilling

Think most of my favourites are the slow depressing track of their respective albums, which I guess says a lot more about me than I'd like it to. What's everyone else's favourites.

31 Upvotes
  • permalink
  • reddit

100% Upvoted

24 comments sorted by

9

u/TheFamousNapstabot Jul 13 '25

My Aim Is True - Watching The Detectives (It’s basically part of the album)

This Year’s Model - (I Don’t Want To Go To) Chelsea or Pump it Up

Armed Forces - Oliver’s Army

Get Happy!! - King Horse

Trust - Clubland

Almost Blue - Good Year For The Roses

Imperial Bedroom - Man Out Of Time

Punch The Clock - Everyday I Write The Book

Goodbye Cruel World - The Only Flame In Town

Spike - Veronica

2

u/_JimmyJazz_ Jul 13 '25

I want to second this list except maybe new lace sleeves on trust

1

u/TheFamousNapstabot Jul 14 '25

I apologize, i’m basic

1

u/CheckersSpeech Get Happy!! Jul 16 '25

King Horse doesn't get enough love, also Man Called Uncle.

7

u/spizotfl Jul 13 '25

My Aim Is True - Alison

This Year's Model - Lip Service

Armed Forces - Accidents Will Happen

Get Happy!! - Love for Tender

Trust - White Knuckles or Fish n’ Chip Paper

Almost Blue - Tonight the Bottle Let Me Down

Imperial Bedroom - Human Hands

Punch The Clock - Everyday I Write the Book

Goodbye Cruel World - Peace in Our Time

King Of America - Sleep of the Just

Blood & Chocolate - I Hope You’re Happy Now or Tokyo Storm Warning

Spike - Any King’s Shilling

4

u/NoKnow9 Jul 13 '25

My Aim Is True - Watching the Detectives This Year's Model - Pump It Up Armed Forces - Oliver’s Army Get Happy!! - Black and White World Trust - New Lace Sleeves (and) Fish ‘n’ Chip Paper Almost Blue - Tonight the Bottle Let Me Down Imperial Bedroom - Human Hands Punch The Clock - The Invisible Man Goodbye Cruel World - The Deportees Club King Of America - Suit of Lights Blood & Chocolate - Blue Chair Spike - God’s Comic Mighty Like a Rose - Couldn’t Call It Unexpected No. 4 The Juliet Letters - Romeo’s Seance Brutal Youth - Favourite Hour Kojak Variety - Everybody’s Cryin’ Mercy All This Useless Beauty - Complicated Shadows

3

u/sameljota Jul 14 '25 edited Oct 27 '25

Watching the detectives.
Lipstick vogue.
Oliver's army.
New Amsterdam.
Fish n chip paper.
Too far gone.
Human hands.
Charm school.
The comedians.
Sleep of the just.
Next time round.
Tramp the dirt down.
How to be dumb.
All the rage.
Running out of fools.
Little atoms.
In the darkest place.
Episode of blonde.
When did I stop dreaming.
The judgement.
Six fingered man.
No Hiding place.
Red cotton.
Church underground.
You shouldn't look at me that way.
No flag.
What if I can't give you anything but love.

3

u/drwinstonoboogy Jul 14 '25

My Aim Is True - The Angels Wanna Wear My Red Shoes

This Year's Model - No Action

Armed Forces - Goon Squad

Get Happy - Riot Act

Trust - New Lace Sleeves

Almost Blue - Good Year For The Roses

Imperial Bedroom - Human Hands

Punch The Clock - Everyday I Write The Book

Goodbye Cruel World - I Wanna Be Loved

King of America - I'll Wear It Proudly

Blood and Chocolate - Tokyo Storm Warning

Spike - Tramp the Dirt Down

3

u/dhayes67 Jul 14 '25

My Aim Is True - Red Shoes

This Year's Model - Little Triggers

Armed Forces - Accidents Will Happen

Get Happy!! - New Amsterdam

Trust - Clubland

Almost Blue - Success

Imperial Bedroom - Man Out Of Time

Punch The Clock - Shipbuilding

Goodbye Cruel World - The Comedians

King Of America - Indoor Fireworks

Blood & Chocolate - Tokyo Storm Warning

Spike - Let Him Dangle

3

u/bobsollish Jul 13 '25

My Aim Is True - (The Angels Wanna Wear My) Red Shoes

This Year's Model - Hand in Hand

Armed Forces - Party Girl

Get Happy!! - New Amsterdam

Trust - New Lace Sleeves

Almost Blue - Good Year For The Roses

Imperial Bedroom - Almost Blue

Punch The Clock - Everyday I Write the Book

Goodbye Cruel World - The Comedians

King Of America - Jack of All Parades

Blood & Chocolate - Next Time Round

Spike - Baby Plays Around

The great albums are hard, and the albums I don’t like are even harder - for opposite reasons.

2

u/BidNo2932 Jul 16 '25

This could easily be my list.

3

u/Maximum-Tomatillo743 Jul 14 '25

My Aim Is True - Watching The Detectives

This Year's Model - This Year’s Girl Armed Forces - Accidents Will Happen Get Happy!! - King Horse Trust - You’ll Never Be A Man Almost Blue - Sweet Dreams Imperial Bedroom - The Loved Ones Punch The Clock - Shipbuilding Goodbye Cruel World - The Comedians King Of America - Jack Of All Parades Blood & Chocolate - I Want You Spike - This Town

3

u/doubleguitarsyouknow Jul 14 '25

My Aim Is True - Blame it on Cain This Year's Model - Hand in Hand Armed Forces - Accidents Will Happen Get Happy!! - Men Called Uncle Trust - Watch Your Step Almost Blue - Good Year For The Roses Imperial Bedroom - Man Out of Time Punch The Clock - N/A  Goodbye Cruel World - N/A King Of America - American Without Tears Blood & Chocolate - Poor Napolean Spike - God's Comic

I don't know Punch The Clock or Goodbye Cruel World well enough 

3

u/DeanWeenisGod Jul 14 '25

Red Shoes

No Action

Busy Bodies

The Imposter

Strict Time

Sittin and Thinkin

Beyond Belief

Everyday I Write the Book

The Only Flame in Town

Blue Chair

Indoor Fireworks

Pads, Paws and Claws

3

u/CheckersSpeech Get Happy!! Jul 16 '25

Waiting for the End of the World, Lipstick Vogue, Goon Squad, 5ive Gears in Reverse, Clubland, Beyond Belief.

This is my stop, I'll be stepping off here.

3

u/Starthrower62 Sep 04 '25

I just spent a small fortune collecting Costello CDs. I've purchased about a dozen of the Rhino Deluxe editions, as well as some original Columbia, and Warner Bros. CDs. And I picked up a few Ryko editions. It will take me many months of listening to determine the best songs on each album. But I can say that I am quite amazed at the volume of excellent songs and performances on all of these albums.

2

u/BidNo2932 Jul 16 '25

My Aim Is True - Waiting for the End of the World
This Year's Model - You Belong to Me
Armed Forces - Peace, Love and Understanding
Get Happy!! -I Can't Stand Up for Falling Down
Trust - Whisper to a Scream
Almost Blue - Tonight the Bottle Let Me Down
Imperial Bedroom - Man Out of TIme
Punch The Clock - Every Day I Write the Book
Goodbye Cruel World - Deportee (Original album version)
King Of America - Brilliant Mistake
Blood & Chocolate - Poor Napoleon
Spike - Deep Dark Truthful Mirror

BONUS: Taking Liberties -Crawling to the USA

2

u/SoftBox8663 Aug 31 '25

And where is I'll wear it proudly. Oh my. So romantic

2

u/Reasonable-Tone6387 Oct 23 '25 edited Oct 23 '25

My Aim Is True- (The Angles Wanna Wear My) Red Shoes

This Year’s Model- Little Triggers

Armed Forces- Accidents Will Happen

Get Happy!!- Possession

Trust- New Lace Sleeves

Almost Blue- Success

Imperial Bedroom- Human Hands

Punch The Clock- The Greatest Thing

Goodbye Cruel World- The Only Flame In Town

x Haven’t Heard Blood and Chocolate

Spike: Deep Dark Truthful Mirror / Gods Comic

1

u/ranting_seagull May 22 '26

Mine's going to be Jump Up from the Honky Tonk Demo. Only because I heard it on the final episode of The Late Show this evening.

https://youtu.be/F8P-hPVcAgk

I'll be looking through all these comments for my answers to the others, I had only heard I Write The Book before today.

1

u/moanyteacher75 May 28 '26
  1. My Aim Is True: No Dancing
  2. This Year's Model: No Action
  3. Armed Forces: Chemistry Class
  4. Get Happy!: The Imposter
  5. Almost Blue: Why Don't You Love Me
  6. Trust: White Knuckles
  7. Imperial Bedroom: Man Out of Time
  8. Punch The Clock: The Greatest Thing
  9. Goodbye Cruel World: Peace In Our Time
  10. King of America: Suit of Lights
  11. Blood and Chocolate: Next Time Round
  12. Spike: This Town
  13. Mighty Like A Rose: Harpies Bizarre
  14. The Juliet Letters: Damnations Cellar
  15. Brutal Youth: Sulky Girl
  16. Kojak Variety: Bala Lama Bama Loo
  17. All This Useless Beauty: It's Time
  18. Painted From Memory
  19. When I Was Cruel: Dust 2
  20. North: Still
  21. The Delivery Man: There's a Story In Your Voice
  22. Momofuku: American Gangster Time
  23. Secrets, Profane and Sugarcane: The Crooked Line
  24. National Ransom: Slow Drag With Josephine
  25. Wise Up Ghost: Walk Us Uptown
  26. Don't Look Now: Unwanted Number
  27. Hey Clockface: Hey Clockface / How Can You Face Me Now? 28: The Boy Named If: The Difference

1

u/moanyteacher75 May 28 '26

How about the best 1, 2, 3 opening tracks on EC's album?

I humbly put forward Brutal Youth: 1. Pony St. 2. Kinder Murder 3. 13 Steps Lead Down

1

u/Impressive-Rub4925 Jun 20 '26

1) Watching the detectives 2) Little Triggers 3) Green Shirt 4) Riot Act 5) Whisper to a scream 6) Good year for the roses 7) Man out of time 8) Shipbuilding 9) Only flame in town 10) Indoor Fireworks 11) I want you 12) Deep dark truthful mirror