The Best of Elvis Costello and The Attractions

~ Release by Elvis Costello & The Attractions (see all versions of this release, 5 available)

Tracklist

1▼12" Vinyl
#TitleRatingLength
A1Alison
producer:
Nick Lowe (UK singer/songwriter/instrumentalist/producer)
drums (drum set):
Mickey Shine (Clover drummer) (in 1976)
electric bass guitar [bass]:
Johnny Ciambotti (in 1976)
guitar:
Elvis Costello (in 1976) and John McFee (singer, songwriter, guitarist for The Doobie Brothers) (in 1976)
organ and piano:
Sean Hopper (US Keyboardist for Huey Lewis & the News) (in 1976)
background vocals:
Sean Hopper (US Keyboardist for Huey Lewis & the News) (in 1976), Johnny Ciambotti (in 1976) and Nick Lowe (UK singer/songwriter/instrumentalist/producer) (in 1976)
vocals:
Elvis Costello (in 1976)
recorded at:
Pathway Studios in Islington, London (Greater London), England, United Kingdom (in 1976)
part of:
Rolling Stone: 500 Greatest Songs of All Time (as at 2016-06-10) (number: 318) and Rolling Stone: 500 Greatest Songs of All Time: 2021 edition (number: 396)
recording of:
Alison (in 1976)
lyricist and composer:
Elvis Costello
publisher:
Universal Music Publishing International MGB Ltd.
3.853:18
A2Watching the Detectives
producer:
Nick Lowe (UK singer/songwriter/instrumentalist/producer)
bass:
Andrew Bodnar (bass player) (from 1977-05 until 1977-06)
drums (drum set):
Steve Goulding (English drummer for the Rumour, Mekons, etc.) (from 1977-05 until 1977-06)
organ and piano [overdubs]:
Steve Nieve (from 1977-05 until 1977-06)
vocals:
Elvis Costello (from 1977-05 until 1977-06)
recorded at:
Pathway Studios in Islington, London (Greater London), England, United Kingdom (from 1977-05 until 1977-06)
recording of:
Watching the Detectives
lyricist and composer:
Declan Patrick MacManus
publisher:
BMG Music Publishing Ltd., BMG Songs, Inc. and Universal Music Publishing International MGB Ltd.
3:42
A3(What's So Funny 'Bout) Peace, Love and Understanding
engineer:
Roger Bechirian
producer:
Nick Lowe (UK singer/songwriter/instrumentalist/producer)
bass guitar:
Bruce Thomas
drums (drum set):
Pete Thomas (drummer)
guitar:
Elvis Costello
organ, piano and synthesizer:
Steve Nieve
vocals:
Elvis Costello
part of:
New York Post: 100 Greatest Covers (2007) (number: 65) and Rolling Stone: 500 Greatest Songs of All Time (as at 2016-06-10) (number: 284)
cover recording of:
(What’s So Funny ’Bout) Peace, Love and Understanding
lyricist and composer:
Nick Lowe (UK singer/songwriter/instrumentalist/producer)
publisher:
Plangent Visions Music, Inc.
4.23:30
A4Oliver's Army
engineer:
Roger Bechirian
producer:
Nick Lowe (UK singer/songwriter/instrumentalist/producer)
bass guitar:
Bruce Thomas
drums (drum set):
Pete Thomas (drummer)
guitar:
Elvis Costello
organ, piano and synthesizer:
Steve Nieve
vocals:
Elvis Costello
recording of:
Oliver’s Army (from 1978-08 until 1978-09)
lyricist and composer:
Declan Patrick MacManus
publisher:
BMG Music Publishing Ltd.
4.352:57
A5Pump It Up
producer:
Nick Lowe (UK singer/songwriter/instrumentalist/producer)
performer:
The Attractions (Elvis Costello) and Elvis Costello
phonographic copyright (℗) by:
Elvis Costello (in 1978)
part of:
Indie 88: Top 500 Indie Rock Songs (number: 181)
recording of:
Pump It Up
lyricist and composer:
Elvis Costello
publisher:
BMG Music Publishing Ltd. and Universal Music Publishing MGB Australia
4.63:15
A6Accidents Will Happen
engineer:
Roger Bechirian
producer:
Nick Lowe (UK singer/songwriter/instrumentalist/producer)
bass guitar:
Bruce Thomas
drums (drum set):
Pete Thomas (drummer)
guitar:
Elvis Costello
organ, piano and synthesizer:
Steve Nieve
vocals:
Elvis Costello
recording of:
Accidents Will Happen (from 1978-08 until 1978-09)
lyricist and composer:
Declan Patrick MacManus
publisher:
Universal Music Publishing MGB Limited
43:00
A7Radio, Radio
producer:
Nick Lowe (UK singer/songwriter/instrumentalist/producer)
part of:
Indie 88: Top 500 Indie Rock Songs (number: 239)
recording of:
Radio, Radio
lyricist and composer:
Elvis Costello
premiered by:
Rangeline Hill (from 2025 to present) and Midwinter's Dream (Indy) (from 2025-05-01 to present)
53:03
A8I Can't Stand Up for Falling Down
producer:
Nick Lowe (UK singer/songwriter/instrumentalist/producer)
cover recording of:
I Can’t Stand Up for Falling Down
composer:
Homer Banks (soul singer and songwriter) and Allen Jones (producer/songwriter/musician/engineer)
4.52:05
B1Almost Blue
producer:
Geoff Emerick (British recording engineer)
recorded at:
AIR Studios (Lyndhurst Hall 1991–present) in Hampstead, Camden (London Borough of Camden), London (Greater London), England, United Kingdom
recording of:
Almost Blue
lyricist and composer:
Elvis Costello
22:45
B2Beyond Belief
producer:
Geoff Emerick (British recording engineer)
recorded at:
AIR Studios (Lyndhurst Hall 1991–present) in Hampstead, Camden (London Borough of Camden), London (Greater London), England, United Kingdom
recording of:
Beyond Belief
lyricist and composer:
Elvis Costello
3.52:31
B3Clubland
associate producer:
Roger Bechirian
producer:
Nick Lowe (UK singer/songwriter/instrumentalist/producer)
recording of:
Clubland
lyricist and composer:
Elvis Costello
43:41
B4Watch Your Step
associate producer:
Roger Bechirian
producer:
Nick Lowe (UK singer/songwriter/instrumentalist/producer)
recording of:
Watch Your Step
lyricist and composer:
Elvis Costello
3.52:57
B5Shipbuilding
producer:
Clive Langer and Alan Winstanley (English record producer)
bass guitar:
Bruce Thomas
drums (drum set):
Pete Thomas (drummer)
guitar and lead vocals:
Elvis Costello
keyboard:
Steve Nieve
solo trumpet and trumpet:
Chet Baker (American jazz trumpeter and vocalist)
recorded at:
AIR Studios (Lyndhurst Hall 1991–present) in Hampstead, Camden (London Borough of Camden), London (Greater London), England, United Kingdom
mixed at:
Genetic Studios in West Berkshire, England, United Kingdom
recording of:
Shipbuilding (in 1983)
lyricist:
Elvis Costello
composer:
Clive Langer
publisher:
Plangent Vision Music and Warner Bros. Music (publisher; do NOT use as release label)
3.254:49
B6I Wanna Be Loved
producer:
Clive Langer and Alan Winstanley (English record producer)
bass guitar:
Bruce Thomas (in 1984-02)
drums (drum set):
Pete Thomas (drummer) (in 1984-02)
guitar family and lead vocals:
Elvis Costello (in 1984-02)
keyboard:
Steve Nieve (in 1984-02)
vocals:
Green Gartside (in 1984-02)
recorded at:
Sarm West in Notting Hill, Kensington and Chelsea, London (Greater London), England, United Kingdom (in 1984-02)
mixed at:
Genetic Studios in West Berkshire, England, United Kingdom (in 1984-03)
cover recording of:
I Wanna Be Loved (in 1984-02)
lyricist and composer:
Farnell Jenkins
23:50
B7Everyday I Write the Book
producer:
Clive Langer and Alan Winstanley (English record producer)
bass guitar:
Bruce Thomas
drums (drum set):
Pete Thomas (drummer)
guitar and lead vocals:
Elvis Costello
keyboard:
Steve Nieve
background vocals:
Afrodiziak
recorded at:
AIR Studios (Lyndhurst Hall 1991–present) in Hampstead, Camden (London Borough of Camden), London (Greater London), England, United Kingdom
mixed at:
Genetic Studios in West Berkshire, England, United Kingdom
music videos:
Everyday I Write the Book by Elvis Costello
recording of:
Everyday I Write the Book
lyricist and composer:
Elvis Costello
43:47
B8The Only Flame in Town
producer:
Clive Langer and Alan Winstanley (English record producer)
recording of:
The Only Flame in Town
lyricist and composer:
Elvis Costello
publisher:
Universal Music Publishing MGB Ltd.
3:31

Credits

Release

design/illustration:Jeff Cummings (Graphic Artist)
graphic design:Jerry Evans (Graphic Design)
Discogs:https://www.discogs.com/release/581131 [info]