Track Listing

Disc 1:

1. Watching The Detectives
2. I Hope You're Happy Now
3. This Year's Girl
4. Lover's Walk
5. Pump It Up
6. Strict Time
7. Temptation
8. (I Don't Want To Go To) Chelsea
9. High Fidelity
10. Lovable
11. Mystery Dance
12. Big Tears
13. Uncomplicated
14. Lipstick Vogue
15. Man Out Of Time
16. Brilliant Mistake
17. New Lace Sleeves
18. Accidents Will Happen
19. Beyond Belief
20. Black And White World
21. Green Shirt
22. The Loved Ones
23. New Amsterdam
24. Red Shoes
25. King Horse
26. Big Sister's Clothes

Disc 2:

1. Alison
2. Man Called Uncle
3. Party Girl
4. Shabby Doll
5. Motel Matches
6. Tiny Steps
7. Almost Blue
8. Riot Act
9. Love Field
10. Possession
11. Poisoned Rose
12. Indoor Fireworks
13. I Want You
14. Oliver's Army
15. Pills And Soap
16. Sunday's Best
17. Watch Your Step
18. Less Than Zero
19. Clubland
20. Tokyo Storm Warning
21. Shipbuilding

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #168879 in Music
• Released on: 1996-08-20
• Number of discs: 2
• Formats: Import, Original recording reissued

Album Description
Elvis compiled this 2 CD set himself and calls it 'An unapologetic cavalcade of hits, misses and personal favorites'. He also writes explanations, excuses and alibis for each track.

Amazon.com
Costello picks and chooses among his 1977-1986 work for a selection of cuts that, rather than tell a story, make implications and set moods. It's hardly vague, though, not with the likes of "Lipstick Vogue," "Watching the Detectives," and "Clubland" on board. The artist's liner notes are a must-read for die-hard fans. --Rickey Wright

Customer Reviews

a great compilation but ...
This is great especially since it represents his early stuff with "the Attractions" (which I like the best). I would have preferred a chronological order personally.

You cant single out the songs b/c they are all classics

Got Me By For Over A Decade
This anthology is a great start for newbies to Elvis Costello. I had his early albums on vinyl and have been a fan since 1979, this was my "budget" collection for about 10 years (along with the very best of EC) till I decided to splurge on the individual cd's. A word of warning though, this only covers his early stuff that goes back 20 years plus. Elvis is a prolific musician and has put out a lot of great material since, so my advice is to buy the original cd's that were released used on Amazon (some you can get for under 5.00 with shipping), it will run you 100.00-150.00 for about 15 cd's but you'll have 400 really good songs to listen to so it's worth it. Or get this used and if you really get into it pass it on to a freind (or resell it) and do plan B. Enjoy!

Amazing early work
This grand collection of Elvis Costello's early work includes some real dynamite. Reportedly selected by the man himself, it includes most of his early gems drawn from albums like My Aim Is True, This Year's Model, Armed Forces, Trust, his country excursion Almost Blue, and others.

There are plenty of classics like Watching The Detectives, Pump It Up, I Don't Want To Go To Chelsea, Accidents Will Happen, Black And White World and Green Shirt. Listening to this album, it is obvious that Armed Forces is my favorite Costello album for its wealth of catchy, melodic songs.

On Disc Two my favorites include the tortured ballad Alison, the pop classic Tiny Steps, the lilting ballad Oliver's Army and other masterpieces like Sunday's Best, Less Than Zero and Shipbuilding. I would have preferred the song Good Year For The Roses instead of the title track from Almost Blue, but that is a minor gripe.

There are at least two other Elvis Costello/Attractions compilations but Girls Girls Girls is my personal favorite by far, since I prefer his early period. It demonstrates just what a genius he is, a master of the intelligent lyric and the memorable tune. On these tracks he creates the perfect synthesis of clever pop, mature rock and memorable country.