Almost Blue

Infobox Album
Name = Almost Blue
Type = Cover
Artist = Elvis Costello and the Attractions


Released = start date|1981|10|23
Recorded = May 1981, Nashville
Genre = Rock/Country
Length = 32:35
Label = F-Beat Records (UK)
Columbia (U.S.)
Demon/Rykodisc (August 30 1994 Reissue)
Rhino (August 3 2004 Reissue)
Producer = Billy Sherrill
Reviews =
*Allmusic Rating|4|5 [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:52o7gjvrj6iw link]
*Robert Christgau (B-) [http://www.robertchristgau.com/get_artist.php?id=1851&name=Elvis+Costello+and+the+Attractions link]
*"Rolling Stone" Rating|3|5 [http://www.rollingstone.com/artists/elviscostello/albums/album/191457/rid/5941667/ link]
*"Stylus Magazine" (not rated) [http://www.stylusmagazine.com/feature.php?ID=371 link]
Last album = "Trust" (1981)
This album = Almost Blue (1981)
Next album = "Imperial Bedroom" (1982)

"Almost Blue" (1981) is an album by Elvis Costello and the Attractions. It is notable for consisting entirely of covers of country songs. It originally appeared with a warning label that read "WARNING: This album contains country & western music and may cause offence to narrow minded listeners."
An alternative label read "WARNING! This album contains country & western music and may produce radical reaction in narrow minded people."

Many versions of the artwork were made, with slightly different base colours.

Track listing

ide one

# "Why Don't You Love Me (Like You Used to Do)?" (Hank Williams) – 1:40
# "Sweet Dreams" (Don Gibson) – 3:00
# "Success" (Johnny Mullins) – 2:41
# "I'm Your Toy" (Gram Parsons, Chris Ethridge) – 3:23
# "Tonight the Bottle Let Me Down" (Merle Haggard) – 2:09
# "Brown to Blue" (George Jones, Virginia Franks) – 2:40

ide two

# "A Good Year for the Roses" (Jerry Chesnut) – 3:10
# "Sittin' and Thinkin'" (Charlie Rich) – 3:02
# "Color of the Blues" (Lawton Williams, George Jones) – 2:21
# "Too Far Gone" (Billy Sherrill) – 3:28
# "Honey Hush" (Lou Willie Turner) – 2:15
# "How Much I Lied" (Parsons, Pam Rifkin) – 2:55Note: The Rykodisc version has the original tracks and bonus tracks on one CD. The Rhino version has two CDs with the original tracks on the first CD.

Bonus tracks (1994 Rykodisc)

# "He's Got You" (Live) (Hank Cochran) – 4:07
# "Cry Cry Cry" (Live) (Johnny Cash) – 2:45
# "There Won't Be Anymore" (Live) (Rich) – 2:23
# "Sittin' and Thinkin'" (Live) (Rich) – 2:55
# "Honey Hush" (Live) (Turner) – 2:31
# "Psycho" (Live) (Leon Payne) – 3:36
# "Your Angel Steps Out of Heaven" (Jack Ripley) – 1:58
# "Darling, You Know I Wouldn't Lie" (Kemp, Red Lane) – 2:37
# "My Shoes Keep Walking Back to You" (Lee Ross, Bob Wills) – 2:04
# "Tears Before Bedtime" (Early Version) (Costello) – 2:27
# "I'm Your Toy" (Live) (Parsons, Ethridge) – 3:46

Bonus disc (2004 Rhino)

# "Stranger in the House" (Costello) – 3:39
# "We Ought to Be Ashamed" (James, Montgomery) – 2:47
# "Radio Sweetheart" (Live) (Costello) – 3:15
# "Stranger in the House" (Live) (Costello) – 3:56
# "Psycho" (Live) (Payne) – 3:35
# "If I Could Put Them All Together (I'd Have You)" (Live) (Even Stevens) – 2:28
# "Motel Matches" (Live) (Costello) – 2:21
# "He'll Have to Go" (Live) (Joe Allison/Audrey Allison) – 2:51
# "Girls Talk" (Live) (Costello) – 1:46
# "Too Far Gone" (Sherrill) – 3:11
# "He's Got You" (Cochran) – 3:51
# "Honky Tonk Girl" (Loretta Lynn) – 2:26
# "That's Why I'm Walking" (Brownie McGhee, Sonny Terry) – 2:22
# "Wondering" (Joe Werner) – 2:21
# "Darling, You Know I Wouldn't Lie" (Kemp, Lane) – 2:37
# "My Shoes Keep Walking Back to You" (Ross, Wills) – 2:04
# "Blues Keep Calling" (Janis Martin) - 2.07
# "Tears Before Bedtime" (Early Version) (Costello) – 2:27
# "Psycho" (Payne) – 3:32
# "Cry, Cry, Cry" (Cash) – 2:45
# "I'll Take Care of You" (Brook Benton) – 3:11
# "Your Angel Steps Out of Heaven" (Ripley) – 1:59
# "Brand New Heartache" (Live) (Felice Bryant/Boudleaux Bryant) – 2:29
# "There Won't Be Anymore" (Live) (Rich) – 2:32
# "Sittin' and Thinkin'" (Live) (Rich) – 2:51
# "Honey Hush" (Live) (Turner) – 2:30
# "I'm Your Toy" (Live) (Parsons, Ethridge) – 3:46

Personnel

*Elvis Costello – Vocals, guitar
*Steve Nieve – piano, organ
*Bruce Thomas – bass
*Pete Thomas – drums

Additional personnel

*John McFee – lead guitar and pedal steel guitar

Charts

Album