Elvis Costello, whose real name is Declan MacManus, is an English singer-songwriter who began his artistic career in 1974 in a commercial where he played the backing vocals on a song written and performed… ..by his father, Ross MacManus. Which one is a professional musician.
He formed his first large group "Flip City" in 1974. An adventure that would last 2 years without producing brilliant results. It was around this time that he took the nickname D.P. Costello, in tribute to his father who had taken Day Costello as his stage name. The addition of the first name Elvis will come a little later (this time as a tribute to Elvis Presley).
The first Single "Less than zero" was released in 1977. Shortly followed by the album "My aim mis true". The first will only be relatively successful. The second will be a notable success. Costello first appeared on the album cover with his thick glasses. A sign of recognition that will eventually become its trademark.
The start of definitive recognition came a few months later when the Single "Watching the detectives", the artist's first top hit, was released. Costello took the opportunity to create his own group "The Attractions" with Steve Nieve, Bruce Thomas and Pete Thomas.
In 1978 the album “This year’s model” was released with less success but which produced two major hits which are “(I don’t want to go to) Chelsea” and “Pump it up”.
Back in force in 1979 with the album "Armed forces" which knows a much greater success in particular thanks to the enormous flagship title "Oliver's army" and to a lesser extent to "Accidents will happen" which is noticed by a particularly original video.
1980 in turn rhymes with notorious success thanks to the album "Get happy !", with a more cheerful tone and less gloomy atmosphere than the previous ones. Whose flagship Single will be "I can't stand up for falling down".
New album "Trust" a year later in 1981. Tensions within the group intensify and the quality of the opus is felt. Success is not there. The same year released another album "Almost Blue", a collection of covers of country music titles and which, against all expectations, achieved excellent sales scores. In particular thanks to the title "Good year for the roses".
The year 1982 saw the release of the album "Imperial bedroom", with a darker sound and which despite particularly rave reviews did not produce any major hits. Followed a year later in 1983 by the album "Punch the clock" which unlike its predecessor would produce a huge hit "Everyday I write the book", the singer's flagship Single in the discography.
Tensions within the group became unmanageable from 1984 to the point that the group broke up that year. The album "Goodbye cruel world", recorded at the same time, inevitably suffers and the result is more than disappointing.
It was not until 1986 that the artist returned with a new album "King of America", a new acoustic album with country accents and which produced the hit "Don’t let me be misunderstood". New album "Blood & chocolate" with The Attractions (!) also this year. The album works fine but doesn't produce any hits.
Three years will pass before the release of the next album "Spike". Three salutary years in terms of inspiration since the album is a real success, notably thanks to the title "Veronica". Title which even wins an MTV Award for the quality of its video clip.
The year 1991 saw the release of the album "Mighty like a rose" which had a more than honorable run and produced the minor hit "The other side of summer". This will be the singer’s last major success.
Other albums were released later without producing any notorious hits.
To discover or rediscover...
Discography (among others ...) :
70s Decade :
Less than zero 1977
Alison 1977
(The angels wanna wear my) Red shoes 1977
Watching the detectives 1977
(I don’t want to go to) Chelsea 1978
Pump it up 1978
This year's girl 1978
Radio radio 1978
Oliver’s army 1979
Accidents will happen 1979
80s Decade :
I can’t stand up for falling down 1980
High fidelity 1980
New Amsterdam 1980
Clubland 1980
From a whisper to a scream 1981
Watch your step 1981
Good year for the roses 1981
Sweet dreams 1981
I'm your toy 1982
Your little fool 1982
Man out of time 1982
From head to toe 1982
Party party 1982
Pills and soap 1983
Everyday I write the book 1983
Let them all talk 1983
Peace in our time 1984
I wanna be loved 1984
The only flame in town 1984
Green shirt 1985
The people's limousine 1985
Don’t let me be misunderstood 1986
Seven day weekend 1986
Lovable 1986
Tokyo storm warning 1986
I want you 1986
Blue chair 1987
A town called a big nothing 1987
Veronica 1989
This town 1989
Baby plays around 1989
90s Decade :
The other side of summer 1991
So like candy 1991
Jacksons, Monk & Rowe 1993
Sulky girl 1994
13 steps leads now 1994
You tripped at every step 1994
London's brilliant parade 1994
It's time 1996
Little atoms 1996
The other end of the telescope 1996
All this useless beauty 1996
You bowed down 1996
God give me strength 1997
Toledo 1999
She 1999
2000s Decade :
Tear off your own head (It's a doll revolution) 2002
45 2002
Monkey to man 2004
No hiding place 2008
Complicated shadows 2009
2010s Decade :
Jimmie standing in the rain 2010
Walk us uptown 2013
Someone else's heart 2018
Unwanted number 2018
2020s Decade :
No flag 2020
We are all cowards now 2020
Magnificent hurt 2021
Paint the red rose blue 2022
The boy named if 2022
Tracks :
1977...the very first steps. The sound is trendy, as is the style, but that's not enough for the moment to set young Declan apart from the crowd...
1977...this one won't do much better. We will have to give time and especially that the young singer manages to raise his level of play to be able to break through to the highest level...
1977...yet there is good will in all that, it's obvious. Now remains to find the little + that could make all the difference...
1977 ... the hit of the revelation. After several unsuccessful titles, here comes the time for recognition and first honors...
1978 ... the 'Costello' style gained momentum over the years. A unique look and voice that is really starting to make a difference...
1978 ... a subtle mix of rock mixed with psychedelic sounds. An explosive recipe that works for the moment of the fire of god...
1978...a title that will go somewhat unnoticed because it will only be released in the United States. It doesn't help, that's for sure to reach as many people as possible...
1978...this one will already do a little better. Four titles released just for this year 1978 and three will end up classified. A rather flattering start to his career...
1979 ... the sound has changed, that's clear. More Pop, less rock. Immediate result of the races : his biggest success to date !
1979 ... the end of the decade on the hats of wheel which allows him to garner success after success. Everything is fine !
1980 ... a new decade which rhymes with sudden and dazzling acceleration of the tempo. Good choice ? Not sure...
1980...after a succession of high-calibre successes, he fell back to a very limited level of success. Watch out for premature exit...
1980...the trend is confirmed with a sharp decline on the Charts side. However, it was all off to a good start and it's hard to understand where this sudden deceleration is coming from...
1980... now it's up to the artist to ask himself the right questions and above all to find what's wrong. Otherwise the adventure may end sooner than expected...
1981...no improvement in sight for the moment. Let's hope he finds the key to the problem soon...
1981...another title that will pass 'through' because it will only be released again in the United States. An exit strategy that is surprising to say the least...
1981... an obvious Country influence on an Intimist title which works very well in my opinion and which above all allows him to come back into the race. The essential is therefore preserved...
1981...the upturn will be short-lived, to say the least. He relapses directly behind and returns to a level of success limited exclusively to his native land...
1982... after that it's always better than nothing at all. As long as he appears in the Charts at least, there is no reason for him to throw in the towel prematurely...
1982...after an international career is always better but more than one group or artist would be content to shine in their country, that's for sure...
1982...be that as it may, the production of titles is impressive to say the least at the start of the 80s. An inspiration that is bubbling and which manages to produce titles of more than certain quality...
1982 ... he will release no less than 5 titles during this year 1982 and the 5 will be classified. A performance that is worth highlighting all the same...
1982...here he is in the soundtrack for the movie 'Party Party'. And even in this field which does not necessarily pay off, his title will not go unnoticed...
1983... a dynamic of success which does not weaken for the moment, admittedly always limited exclusively to England. But it could be that the next title brings him back in a sensational way in the spotlight...
1983... THE title of consecration. He is simply going to sign here the biggest success of his career one on a title very gently. HU-GE !
1983... this title will be unable to compete with the previous steamroller but it allows the artist to continue the adventure serenely. And above all to be able to continue to believe in the future...
1984...a new title that doesn't really resemble the previous one, to say the least. Versatility of style which is also its strength...
1984 ... he understood that frenzied rhythms do not necessarily succeed. A controlled tempo, a high level inspiration and everything is going for the best !
1984...new planetary success which once again shows the quality of what he produces. And which also reinforces its status as a safe bet of the moment...
1985...after a good and big year 1984, the year 1985 might seem a bit pale. Very few titles produced and with the most limited success...
1985 ... one of his rare titles to pass 'through' during this decade 80. It happens even to the best as they say, there is no exception ...
1986...he allows himself the luxury of covering here a now cult title by Nina Simone and which dates from 1964. The original was a huge success, the copy will do almost as well...
1986...here he arrived in the soundtrack of the film 'Club Paradise' with a totally overexcited title. All in duet with not just any artist since it's Jimmy Cliff...
1986...a title that will only be released in the United States, hence the most limited influence. Who says limited influence says very very limited success necessarily...
1986...a mid-1980s that sees the artist somewhat struggling. Nothing to worry about at this stage, but the deceleration in the charts is confirmed title after title..
1986...a title full of finesse that shows a little-known facet of the artist and yet does not lack interest. Too bad he didn't explore this path more often...
1987...the tumble in the Charts continues despite certain quality titles. The artist will therefore have to ask himself the right questions and quickly...
1987... an unclassifiable and above all indefinable title which will pass completely under the radar. Normal because it is part of a new soundtrack this time for the movie 'Straight to hell'...
1989...after 2 years where not much happened, we find him nevertheless in great shape in 1989 with this astonishing title which will be his last notorious hit...
1989 ... even if this title will not meet the same level of success, it will still make a run in the Charts of the most honorable. A beautiful and BIG year 1989...
1989...a very simple title but with obvious effectiveness. All in finesse, all in lightness, with a minimalist orchestration, sometimes it doesn't need much for a title to work...
1991 ... another decade change and still there. A title that smells of the 70s and which allows him to stay in the Charts level race. Quite a career after all !
1991...we're not going to lie to each other, the best years are now behind him. But he still has things to offer at first sight and especially to sing...
1993... nothing in 1992 and return to this year 1993 in a form that we will qualify as relative. Simple air hole or more worrying underlying trend ? The future will tell us...
1994...business will pick up somewhat in 1994, which shows that the adventure is far from over. The opposite would have been surprising...
1994...new success on both sides of the Atlantic which is rather good news. For the bad is that it will be the last time that this will happen...
1994...the success remains constant in England, which at least allows the artist to stay in contact with the best in his native land. It's already that...
1994...a year 1994 undeniably placed under the sign of sweetness. Who would complain about it, you will tell me, not many people, that's for sure...
1996...we will lose sight of him again during the year 1995 but here he is again, still as determined not to let go. And given what he continues to offer, he is absolutely right to still believe a little in the future...
1996...certainly the level of inspiration is no longer what it was during the 80s but there is no reason to worry more than that for the moment...
1996...a plethoric year in terms of titles, which shows the relative good health of the artist's career. Nothing exceptional but a good job and that's the main thing...
1996...even in the English Charts he went back down a notch but he still appears there. It should be noted that he is almost 20 years of career which is not nothing...
1996...new title to be released only in the United States. He will at least work there, which saves the essentials, as they say...
1997...a title that will pass somewhat under the radar but with more than certain quality. It would have been a shame to hide it...
1999... he ends here his 3rd decade of career on a title quite gently, my faith, not devoid of interest. It remains to be seen what he intends to offer next...
1999...new soundtrack this time on a film which will remain as one of the most glamorous films of the decade. A title just as glamorous as the film...
2002...here he begins a new decade which will prove to be more complicated to manage than expected. Complicated to manage like all the others of his generation to also try the adventure during this decade 2000...
2002...on the Singles side, this title will be his last classified in England. Times will turn out to be harder and harder for the artist...
2004... nothing in 2003 and return to this year 2004 in a form that we will qualify as relative. In any case, insufficient to bring him back to the front of the race...
2008...the big problem is that he can't manage to reinvent himself in this decade of 2010. He remains braced on his fundamentals of yesteryear and that de facto marginalizes him...
2009...he manages to exist a little bit through his albums which continue to be classified. Isn't that the main thing you will tell me...
2010... it is clear that it is not with this kind of sound that he is likely to attract the younger generations. An assumed but counterproductive bias...
2013...as long as he enjoys doing what he does, he has no reason to throw in the towel prematurely. Rightly or wrongly, that's something else...
2018... air holes follow air holles and the production of titles is obviously slowing down in this decade of 2010. So beginning of the end...?
2018...the year 2018 will escape this basic trend but it is clear that it is becoming more and more complicated for the artist to keep a minimum afloat...
2020...he will still attempt the transition to the next decade. Will this decade be that of renewal or, on the contrary, that of pure and simple disappearance ? The future will tell us...
2020... for the moment it does not take the path of a possible return to the front of the stage. Afterwards, as we know, in music, everything is always possible...
2021... he seems to want to make an effort to stick a little more to the latest musical developments of the moment. While retaining some of its fundamentals...
2022...another nice title but which once again does not correspond to what the young generation expects. Too bad he can't get up to speed as they say...
2022...it's already a little better with this title. Let's hope that the future will allow him to finally find the right way to make talking about him again in a consistent way...
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Official Website :
Greatest Hits :
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