Armed Forces
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- For the military meaning, see Armed forces.
It featured a more pop-oriented sound, which Costello has attributed to his ABBA fandom. It was produced by Nick Lowe at Eden Studios in West London.
The working title of Armed Forces was Emotional Fascism, and throughout the album Costello's lyrics are noticeably mired in militaristic and Nazi/fascist imagery ("Oliver's Army is here to stay," "are you ready for the Final Solution," "two little Hitlers," etc.). However, Elvis Costello has said that he never consciously intended the album to have a theme.
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 2003, the album was ranked number 482 on Rolling Stone magazine's list of the 500 greatest albums of all time.
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" – 3:10
- "(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.
Bonus Tracks (1993 Rykodisc)
- "(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."
Bonus Disc (2002 Rhino)
- "Tiny Steps" – 2:42
- "Busy Bodies (Alternate version)" – 3:48
- "Talking in the Dark" – 1:56
- "Big Boys (Alternate version)" – 2:56
- "Clean Money" – 1:57 –
- "Wednesday Week" – 2:01
- "My Funny Valentine" (Rodgers, Hart) – 1:33
- "Accidents Will Happen" (Live at Hollywood High) – 3:18
- "Mystery Dance" (Live at Hollywood High) – 2:01
- "Goon Squad" (Live at Hollywood High) – 3:42
- "Party Girl" (Live at Hollywood High) – 3:19
- "Stranger in the House" (Live at Hollywood High) – 3:52
- "Alison" (Live at Hollywood High) – 3:08
- "Lipstick Vogue" (Live at Hollywood High) – 4:26
- "Watching the Detectives" (Live at Hollywood High) – 5:51
- "You Belong to Me" (Live at Hollywood High) – 2:39
- "Chemistry Class" (Live solo) – 2:34
Personnel
Charts
Album| Year | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|
| 1979 | Billboard Pop Albums | 10 |
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