Great Albums- Blood and Chocolate

Elvis Costello- Blood and Chocolate 1986

Elvis Costello used to rock hard. Some of his early stuff sounds as fresh and angry and funny and cynical and everything as it did when he was a skinny punk with big glasses, and I will no doubt be featuring a couple of those early albums here at some point in the future, as well as a bunch of his songs. First, though, this album:
Blood and Chocolate.

I start with this one rather than one of his punkier ones because unless you're an Elvis Costello fan, there's an excellent chance you've never heard any of the songs on here, which is a shame, because they're quite brilliant. His early songs were punky and fun and rocking. Here he's mature and still rocking, so you get to hear him really at his peak, after he figured out something to say but before he started doing lounge music. The bouncy music of "Tokyo Storm Warning" masks its dark lyrics, which is a great way to start this album because the whole album is pretty dark and twisted. ("I Want You" is a seriously twisted but infinitely catchy tune). This is probably not stuff you'll hear on an elevator anytime soon.

If you like Elvis Costello even a little, do yourself a favor and get this. If you want a great sample, go to iTunes and get Los Lobos' version of "Uncomplicated".



Ok, click on the album above and buy this album, because the original album that I love contains just these songs:

1. Uncomplicated
2. I Hope You're Happy Now
3. Tokyo Storm Warning
4. Home Is Anywhere You Hang Your Head
5. I Want You
6. Honey, Are You Straight Or Are You Blind?
7. Blue Chair
8. Battered Old Bird
9. Crimes Of Paris
10. Poor Napoleon

But this bonus CD also contains these:

1. Leave My Kitten Alone
2. New Rhythm Method
3. Forgive her Anything
4. Crimes Of Paris (Alt. Version)
5. Uncomplicated (Alt. Version)
6. Battered Old Bird (Alt. Version)
7. Seven Day Weekend
8. Blue Chair (Alt. Version)
9. Baby's Got A Brand New Hairdo
10. American Without Tears No. 2