Armed Forces

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Armed Forces

Studio album by Elvis Costello and the Attractions
Released	January 5, 1979
Recorded	Eden Studios, London, August–September 1978
Genre	Rock
Length	40:05
Label	Radar Records UK Columbia Records US Demon/Rykodisc (October 19, 1993 Reissue) Rhino (November 19, 2002 Reissue)
Producer(s)	Nick Lowe
All Music Guide link Pitchfork (9.5/10) 3/3/2003 Robert Christgau (A-) link Rolling Stone 11/19/2002
Elvis Costello and the Attractions chronology
This Year's Model (1978)	Armed Forces (1979)	Get Happy!! (1980)
US 1979 and 2002 Reissue Cover

Also known as "paint spatter cover"

For the military meaning, see Armed forces.

Armed Forces (1979) was Elvis Costello's third album, his second with the Attractions, and the first to officially credit the Attractions on the cover.

It was produced by Nick Lowe at Eden Studios in West London.

Initial pressings of the US album included a promotional three-song 7" single, "Live at Hollywood High," recorded there on June 4, 1978. The three songs are "Accidents Will Happen," "Alison," and "Watching the Detectives," which are included on the Rykodisc reissue and on the Rhino bonus disk along with six more songs from the Hollywood High gig.

In 1998, the band Moods for Moderns was formed as an homage to the album's tenth track.

In 2000 Q magazine placed Armed Forces at number 45 in its list of the 100 Greatest British Albums Ever. In 2003, the album was ranked number 482 on Rolling Stone magazine's list of the 500 greatest albums of all time.

1 Track listing
- 1.1 Bonus Tracks (1993 Rykodisc)
- 1.2 Bonus Disc (2002 Rhino)
2 Personnel
3 Charts

[edit] Track listing

Note: 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.

All songs written by Elvis Costello, except as indicated.

"Accidents Will Happen" – 3:00
"Senior Service" – 2:17
"Oliver's Army" – 2:58
"Big Boys" – 2:54
"Green Shirt" – 2:42
"Party Girl" – 3:20
"Goon Squad" – 3:14
"Busy Bodies" – 3:33
"Sunday's Best" – 3:22
"Moods for Moderns" – 2:48
"Chemistry Class" – 2:55
"Two Little Hitlers" – 3:18
"(What's So Funny 'Bout) Peace, Love, and Understanding" (Nick Lowe) – 3:31

Tracklisting notes: "(What's So Funny 'Bout) Peace, Love, and Understanding?" was not on the original UK release of Armed Forces. It was first issued as a B-side on the single "American Squirm" by Nick Lowe & His Sound. The American release of Armed Forces (with the "dripping paint" sleeve) deleted "Sunday's Best" and substituted "(What's So Funny 'Bout) Peace, Love and Understanding?" at the end of side two.

[edit] Bonus Tracks (1993 Rykodisc)

Live at Hollywood High Promo Single

"(What's So Funny 'Bout) Peace, Love and Understanding?" (Lowe) – 3:31
"My Funny Valentine" (Richard Rodgers, Lorenz Hart) – 1:28
"Tiny Steps" – 2:42
"Clean Money" – 1:57
"Talking in the Dark" – 1:56
"Wednesday Week" – 2:01
"Accidents Will Happen" (Live at Hollywood High) – 3:18
"Alison" (Live at Hollywood High) – 3:08
"Watching the Detectives" (Live at Hollywood High) – 5:51

Tracklisting notes: The Rykodisc reissue placed "(What's So Funny 'Bout) Peace, Love and Understanding?" after a 15 second silence following "Two Little Hitlers."