Spike (Elvis Costello album) explained

Spike
Type:studio
Artist:Elvis Costello
Cover:Elvis Costello Spike.jpg
Released:6 February 1989
Recorded:1987–1988
Studio:
Genre:
Length:63:50
Label:Warner Bros.
Producer:
Prev Title:Out of Our Idiot
Prev Year:1987
Next Title:Mighty Like a Rose
Next Year:1991

Spike is the 12th studio album by English singer-songwriter Elvis Costello, released in 1989 by Warner Bros. Records. It was his first album for the label and first release since My Aim Is True without the Attractions. It peaked at No. 5 on the UK Albums Chart and also reached the Billboard 200 at No. 32, thanks to the single and his most notable American hit, "Veronica", which reached No. 19 on the Billboard Hot 100 and No. 1 on the US Modern Rock chart. In The Village Voices annual Pazz & Jop critics poll for the year's best albums, Spike finished at No. 7.[2]

Content

In 1987, Costello began writing with Paul McCartney for the latter's Flowers in the Dirt album. They composed a dozen songs together, which showed up on multiple albums by McCartney and Costello.[3] Two of those songs appear on this album, "Pads, Paws and Claws" and the hit single "Veronica".

As his first album for a new label, in his own words Costello had the budget of "a small independent movie", and having in mind the blueprint for five different albums, decided to make all of them.[3] He brought back his foil from King of America, T-Bone Burnett, to facilitate the sessions and produce the album. Studio time was booked in four different locations: Ocean Way in Hollywood; Southlake Studios in New Orleans; Windmill Lane Studios in Dublin; and AIR Studios in London.[3] Four different groups of musicians were assembled in each location. Writing credits on the album are given to both Elvis Costello and Declan MacManus, Costello's birth name.

The single "Veronica" peaked at No. 31 on the UK singles chart and at No. 19 in America, his best showing ever on the Billboard Hot 100. It also reached No. 1 on the US Modern Rock chart. "This Town" was also released as a single but missed both of the main singles chart in both nations. An extended play single was also released for "Baby Plays Around", peaking at No. 65 in the UK.

The second track, "Let Him Dangle", is a protest song opposing capital punishment, recounting the 1953 conviction and execution of Derek Bentley.

The seventh track, "Tramp the Dirt Down", is a fiery lament, depicting Costello's anger at the Thatcher government and its effect on Britain's society. In the song, Costello expresses his desire to live long enough to see Margaret Thatcher die and vows, "I'll stand on your grave and tramp the dirt down." "I wish I'd written 'Tramp the Dirt Down'," said singer Natalie Merchant.[4] The song reached No. 79 on the iTunes chart following Thatcher's death in April 2013.[5] In addition, he played this song at Glastonbury 2013 having previously performed it there on the Pyramid Stage in 1987.

Lyrics are given in the booklet for the eighth track, "Stalin Malone", but the album recording is an instrumental and does not include vocals. A version with a recitation of the lyrics as poetry appears on the 2001 bonus disc.

Artwork

The album cover was designed by Jeri and John Heiden.[6] Costello described the image to the BBC in 1989: "I had this image of the beloved entertainer in captivity, as we see him now hung up on the wall. That's kind of what the record companies do now; they go out and shoot their artists and hang them up like a trophy in the boardroom."[7]

Release history

The album was released initially on compact disc in 1989. As part of the Rhino Records reissue campaign for Costello's back catalogue from Demon/Columbia and Warners, it was re-released in 2001 with 17 additional tracks on a bonus disc. The bonus disc included three tracks with Nick Lowe on bass and Attractions drummer Pete Thomas for use as b-sides, recorded at Wessex Sound Studios after the Spike mixing sessions.[3]

Track listing

All tracks written by Elvis Costello, except where noted; track timings taken from Rhino 2001 reissue.

  1. "...This Town..." – 4:32
  2. "Let Him Dangle" – 4:45
  3. "Deep Dark Truthful Mirror" – 4:07
  4. "Veronica" (Costello, Paul McCartney) – 3:09
  5. "God's Comic" – 5:31
  6. "Chewing Gum" – 3:47
  7. "Tramp the Dirt Down" – 5:41
  8. "Stalin Malone" – 4:09
  9. "Satellite" – 5:45
  10. "Pads, Paws and Claws" (Costello, McCartney) – 2:56
  11. "Baby Plays Around" (Costello, Cait O'Riordan) – 2:47
  12. "Miss Macbeth" – 4:23
  13. "Any King's Shilling" – 6:07
  14. "Coal-Train Robberies" – 3:18
  15. "Last Boat Leaving" – 3:31

2001 bonus disc

Tracks 1–12 are solo demo recordings.

  1. "Miss Macbeth" – 3:51
  2. "...This Town..." – 3:50
  3. "Deep Dark Truthful Mirror" – 4:07
  4. "Coal Train Robberies" – 2:52
  5. "Satellite" – 4:50
  6. "Pads, Paws and Claws" (Costello, McCartney) – 2:08
  7. "Let Him Dangle" – 3:39
  8. "Veronica" (Costello, McCartney) – 3:03
    • B-side to "So Like Candy" single
  9. "Tramp the Dirt Down" – 5:19
  10. "Baby Plays Around" (Costello, O'Riordan) – 2:42
  11. "Put Your Big Toe in the Milk of Human Kindness" – 3:17
  12. "Last Boat Leaving" – 3:29
  13. "The Ugly Things" (Nick Lowe) – 2:56
    • B-side to "This Town" single
  14. "You're No Good" (Clint Ballard, Jr.) – 2:22
    • B-side to "Veronica" single
  15. "Point of No Return" (Gerry Goffin, Carole King) – 2:34
    • B-side to "Baby Plays Around" single
  16. "The Room Nobody Lives In" (John Sebastian) – 4:46
    • B-side to twelve-inch and CD single of "Veronica"
  17. "Stalin Malone" – 3:12 version with recitation

Personnel

Dublin

New Orleans

Hollywood

London

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (1989)Peak
position
Australian Albums Chart[8] 26
Dutch Mega Albums Chart[9] 19
Japanese Albums Chart[10] 61
New Zealand Albums Chart[11] 34
Swedish Albums Chart[12] 13
UK Albums Chart[13] 5
US Billboard 200[14] 32

Singles

YearSingleChartPeak
position
1989"Veronica"Billboard Hot 100[15] 19
Billboard Alternative Songs[16] 1
UK Singles Chart[17] 31
Australian Singles Chart[18] 27

Certifications

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Notes and References

  1. News: Still the King . . 11 July 1996 . 6 February 2016 . Floyd . John . https://web.archive.org/web/20161012015923/https://www.miaminewtimes.com/music/still-the-king-6361423 . 12 October 2016 . live.
  2. News: The 1989 Pazz & Jop Critics Poll . The Village Voice . 27 February 1990 . 12 November 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200810182939/https://robertchristgau.com/xg/pnj/pjres89.php . 10 August 2020 . live.
  3. Spike . . . 2001 . 8122-74286-2 . liner notes.
  4. Q Questionnaire . . 88 . January 1994 . 154.
  5. Web site: 'Ding Dong! The Witch Is Dead' closer to number one spot as it reaches top five following Margaret Thatcher's death . Sherwin . Adam . 10 April 2013 . . 12 April 2013 . 12 April 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20130412045527/http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/news/ding-dong-the-witch-is-dead-closer-to-number-one-spot-as-it-reaches-top-five-following-margaret-thatchers-death-8566042.html . live .
  6. Web site: Discogs. Elvis Costello - Spike. August 1, 2024.
  7. Web site: Ultimate Classic Rock. When Elvis Costello Closed Out the ’80s With ‘Spike’. Jeff. Giles. February 14, 2014. August 1, 2024.
  8. Web site: Steffen Hung . Elvis Costello – Spike . australian-charts.com . 12 August 2011 . 24 May 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180524093139/http://australian-charts.com/showitem.asp?Elvis%20Costello&titel=Spike&cat=a . live .
  9. Web site: dutchcharts.nl Elvis Costello – Spike. dutchcharts.nl. MegaCharts. nl. ASP. 23 October 2011. 16 July 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20120716011304/http://www.dutchcharts.nl/showitem.asp?interpret=Elvis+Costello&titel=Spike&cat=a. live.
  10. Book: Oricon Album Chart Book: Complete Edition 1970–2005. Oricon Entertainment. Roppongi, Tokyo. 2006. 4-87131-077-9.
  11. Web site: charts.nz – Elvis Costello – Spike. Recording Industry Association of New Zealand. ASP. 23 October 2011. 14 December 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20201214173332/https://charts.nz/showitem.asp?interpret=Elvis+Costello&titel=Spike&cat=a. live.
  12. Web site: swedishcharts.com Elvis Costello – Spike. Sverigetopplistan. sv. ASP. 18 September 2011. 11 January 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20140111093902/http://swedishcharts.com/showitem.asp?interpret=Elvis+Costello&titel=Spike&cat=a. live.
  13. Web site: Elvis Costello – Spike. Official Charts Company. 23 October 2011. 5 April 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150405231403/http://www.officialcharts.com/search/albums/SPIKE/. live.
  14. Elvis Costello Chart History: Billboard 200 . . 9 September 2020 . 30 October 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20201030060027/https://www.billboard.com/music/elvis-costello/chart-history/TLP . live .
  15. Web site: [{{BillboardURLbyName|artist=elvis costello|chart=Hot 100}} Elvis Costello – Billboard – The Hot 100]. 20 June 2013.
  16. Web site: [{{BillboardURLbyName|artist=elvis costello|chart=Alternative Songs}} Elvis Costello – Billboard – Alternative Songs]. 20 June 2013.
  17. Web site: Elvis Costello – UK Singles – Official Charts. Official Charts. 9 September 2020. 24 March 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190324035335/https://www.officialcharts.com/artist/16558/elvis-costello/. live.
  18. Web site: Elvis Costello - Veronica - australian-charts.com. 20 June 2013. 11 January 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20140111044632/http://australian-charts.com/showitem.asp?interpret=Elvis+Costello&titel=Veronica&cat=s. live.

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