First posted in February of 2023.
Elvis Costello, King of America album cover
Stripping away much of the excess that cluttered Punch the Clock and Goodbye Cruel World, Elvis Costello returned to his folk-rock and pub rock roots with King of America, creating one of his most affecting and personal records. Costello literally took on the album as a return to roots, billing himself by his given name Declan MacManus and replacing the Attractions with a bunch of L.A. session men (although his old band appears on one cut), who give the album a rootsy but sleek veneer that sounds remarkably charged… – Stephen Thomas Erlewine
Tonight as I was getting ready to do chores that should have been done much earlier today, I decided to look past the usual go-to’s for listening. Starting at the “A’s” I rejected everything up until I got to Elvis Costello’s album, “King of America.” I felt almost embarrassed because I couldn’t remember the last time this was listened to. Honestly the first track, “Brilliant Mistake,” is the reason I slapped it onto the CD player, but as I’m listening to it, the pleasure is flooding back as to how eclectic and pleasant the tracks are. It was a surprise at the country flavor of at least a few of them. The rest are various genres, but all are pretty pared down, focusing on the lyrics maybe even more than the music. There is even at least one cover song, “Don’t Let Me Be Misunderstood,” a song first recorded in 1964 by Nina Simone (per wiki.)
From wikipedia:
King of America is the tenth studio album by British rock singer and songwriter Elvis Costello, credited to “The Costello Show featuring the Attractions and Confederates” in the UK and Europe and to “The Costello Show featuring Elvis Costello” in North America. Released on February 21, 1986, it peaked at No. 11 on the UK album chart and No. 39 on the Billboard 200. In The Village Voice’s annual Pazz & Jop critics poll for the year’s best albums, King of America finished at No. 2, and it was also selected as one of Rolling Stone magazine’s top twenty albums of the year. In 2000, it was voted No. 540 in Colin Larkin’s All Time Top 1000 Albums.
Released in the United Kingdom as F-Beat ZL 70946, and in the United States as Columbia JC40173, some songs have a country music feel, reflecting Costello’s interest in Americana, whilst “American Without Tears” deals with the experience of Irish immigrants in the US and “Little Palaces” references Costello’s working-class roots.
In the album credits, Costello uses three different pen names for himself: his given name of Declan MacManus; his stage name of Elvis Costello; and the nickname given him by producer Nick Lowe earlier in his career, the Little Hands of Concrete, this being a reference to his habitual breaking of guitar strings during recording sessions.
Main personnel on the album:
Elvis Costello – acoustic guitar, electric guitar, mandolin, lead vocal
T-Bone Burnett – guitars, backing vocals
Mitchell Froom – Hammond organ, harpsichord, organ, doctored piano
Tom “T-Bone” Wolk – electric guitar, piano accordion, electric bass
Jerry Scheff – string bass, electric bass
Mickey Curry – brushes, drums, sticks
there are also a large number of additional personnel that you can see here
I encourage you to listen to the whole album if you can. The rest of this post will focus on the first track, “Brilliant Mistake.”
from wiki:
Costello first came up with the title of “Brilliant Mistake” in a conversation with David Was of Was (Not Was), who Costello had collaborated with to write “Shadows And Jimmy” for the latter’s 1988 album What Up, Dog?. They had been discussing Costello’s experiences in America; he later described the track as “about being deluded or imagining a life in exile.”
Lyrically, the song continues what Costello describes as continuing the “theme of exile and a simultaneous attraction and repulsion to an ideal” that he cites as defining the King of America album. The song also contains the title lyric for its parent album, King of America; in the song, the “King” falls in love with a woman who works “for the ABC News / It was as much of the alphabet as she knew how to use.” Costello later explained the song’s meaning,
It’s a sad song, but it’s also sort of funny. It’s about America and it’s about lost ambition, not lack of inspiration. It’s about a disappointed or frustrated belief. It’s a song that people are going to read wrong. One line in it is, ‘There’s a trick they do with mirrors and with chemicals.’ It means celluloid and mirrors, movie cameras. It occurred to me the other day that people will think it’s a reference to cocaine. I could have written a big song about America, like Paul Simon’s ‘American Tune’. But I think ‘Brilliant Mistake’ is more like ‘Peace Like a River’, a personal thing in the face of a big disappointing artifice.
DAMFINE SONG, ELVIS!
He thought he was the King of America
Where they pour Coca Cola just like vintage wine
Now I try hard not to become hysterical
But I’m not sure if I am laughing or crying
I wish that I could push a button
And talk in the past and not the present tense
And watch this hurtin’ feeling disappear
Like it was common sense
It was a fine idea at the time
Now it’s a brilliant mistake
She said that she was working for the ABC News
It was as much of the alphabet as she knew how to use
Her perfume was unspeakable
It lingered in the air
Like her artificial laughter
Her mementos of affairs
“Oh” I said “I see you know him”
“Isn’t that very fortunate for you”
And she showed me his calling card
He came third or fourth and there were more than one or two
He was a fine idea at the time
Now he’s a brilliant mistake
He thought he was the King of America
But it was just a boulevard of broken dreams
A trick they do with mirrors and with chemicals
The words of love in whispers
And the axe of love in screams
I wish that I could push a button
And talk in the past and not the present tense
And watch this lovin’ feeling disappear
Like it was common sense
I was a fine idea at the time
Now I’m a brilliant mistake
Songwriter: Declan MacManus aka Elvis Costello
Glyn is the host of Mixed Music Bag. Glyn wants us to share about a musician or band that starts with the letters C or D.
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I like the way in many of his songs he spits out the lyrics to great melodies. This one you have is great. He was great in concert when I saw him. I may have told you before but I went to see Dylan and a no name opening act. All of a sudden…a guy comes out with just an acoustic unannounced…it was Elvis. He played a complete set. Later on when Dylan played…out came Jack White and he played with Dylan. Great concert.
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That was something to see!
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Max I do not remember you saying that at all and I’m sorry if I forgot. Cannot imagine a night that great — ever! Dylan, Costello, and White all in one night.
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And….that is not all…it was at the Ryman! That just made it more special. I’m going to look up to see who that opening act was.
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SUCH A GREAT EXPERIENCE FOR YOU. YOU HIT THE JACKPOT!
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Yes I did….plus Jack White came up and played…
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You know, Max, I think heaven is going to be an ongoing concert with all of the great musicians that have passed on.
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Oh yea… that would be great! I’d be looking for Lennon, Harrison, and Moon… unless Moon don’t end up there lol
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lol!
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This sounds like a good album, based on the first four tracks I just listened to. When it comes to Elvis Costello, essentially, I’ve only listened to his first two albums “My Aim Is True” (1977) and “This Year’s Model” (1998), as well as his most recent, “The Boy Named If” (Jan, 2022).
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Even though the reviewers seem to suggest its a concept album of a fashion, I don’t see it as that. It may have some continuing themes showing up (the countrification of some of the songs) and it may be introspective, but musically it’s quite eclectic and even disjointed. That said, it’s a pleasant listen as background music for most except for notable exceptions like this tune. I’ve listened to (and have) the first two albums you mention but not that last one. Did you do a review on the last one?
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I did! :-)
https://christiansmusicmusings.wordpress.com/2022/01/18/elvis-costello-revisits-his-roots-on-strong-new-album/
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Cool! Just read and listened and made comment at the post.
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Thanks! :-)
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You’re welcome!
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I really love “Suit of Lights”, but really the whole album is excellent, one of my favorites. I wonder if Green Day got the idea for “Boulevard of Broken Dreams” from this album? I always thought Elvis C. was channeling the broken spirit of Elvis P. in these songs. The epitome of the tragedy of the American Dream. (K)
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That’s an interesting question.
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Now you make me wonder about him channeling “The King.” Appreciate your insights!
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I’ve always made that association in my mind.
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I totally agree, great track, great album. Anytime you get T-Bone Burnett in the studio good things are going to happen. On the Nina Simone song you may have been thinking of the lyrics but I believe the title is “Don’t Let Me Be Misunderstood”.
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Oops on the title. I just corrected it *and* added a link to Nina’s recording. Thanks, Randy :)
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I knew it from the Animals version – should have realized they got it from a Black American (or three). I like the Nina Simone version as well.
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You mean King of America, right? Costello made two impressive albums in 1986. ‘Sleep of the Just’ is my favourite from this one.
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Another oops. Last time I try to write a post at night when tired. Thanks for the heads-up. Good cut off of a good album.
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Thanks for reposting. It’s kind of funny, when I saw the album cover, I immediately recognized it and thought I may have mentioned it on my blog as well. Then I had a “D’uh moment,” realizing the reason it looked so familiar was because I read and commented on this post when you first published it. :-)
I still fully stand behind my words I wrote a year ago! I also haven’t made much progress listening to more of Costello’s catalog. But your re-post prompted me to check whether I already featured a Costello song in my Sunday feature. It turns out I’ve only done so once, in Oct 2021, so I guess it’s time to consider an encore! :-)
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:) He’s worth the listen for sure.
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I was just listening to “All This Useless Beauty” today, another favorite. I see I commented on the earlier post, always worth listening to this song on repeat. (K)
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I hear you, K.
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Great song Lisa…I already told you my Elvis story at the bottom! lol.
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So fun to re-read it. An experience of a lifetime for you. Happy you got to experience it :)
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I adore Elvis and really enjoy when he’s performing with his wife. Great stuff, Lisa!
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His wife performs with him??? Do tell!
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Wow I didn’t know those 2 were married. <3 <3 <3 performance with Willie, Diana, and Elvis. Priceless.
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I thought you’d like it!
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I do love his work, this song in particular.
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I’ve got most of his albums on vinyl and I would have to say that ‘King of America’ is my favourite.
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Wow, Glyn, that’s high praise for the album. So cool you have most of his albums on vinyl..
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Nice choice. I got into Elvis Costello during the Gulf when I found Spike in a box of random cassettes sent over. Of course, I was familiar with some of his work, but I wasn’t aware of the depth of his lyrics. I spent much time listening to Spike and don’t regret it. He is still one of my favorite artists. Thank you for sharing!
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You’re welcome, Mangus. Spike is one I haven’t heard yet, but now I want to. Will look for it on Spotify.
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