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Spike (Elvis Costello album)

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Spike
Studio album by
Elvis Costello
Released6 February 1989
Recorded1987–1988
Studio
Genre
Length63:50
LabelWarner Bros.
Producer
Elvis Costello chronology
Out of Our Idiot
(1987) 		Spike
(1989) 		Mighty Like a Rose
(1991)
Singles from Spike
  1. "Veronica"
    Released: February 1989
  2. "Baby Plays Around"
    Released: May 1989
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[2]
Blender[3]
Chicago Tribune[4]
Entertainment WeeklyC+[5]
Los Angeles Times[6]
NME10/10[7]
Q[8]
Rolling Stone[9]
Uncut[10]
The Village VoiceB[11]

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 with no appearance by 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 Voice's annual Pazz & Jop critics poll for the year's best albums, Spike finished at No. 7.[12]

Content

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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.[13]: 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.[13]: 4  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.[13]: 25  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.[14] The song reached No. 79 on the iTunes chart following Thatcher's death in April 2013.[15] 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

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The album cover was designed by Jeri and John Heiden.[16] 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."[17]

Release history

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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.[13]: 7 

Track listing

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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

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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

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Dublin

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New Orleans

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Hollywood

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London

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Charts

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Singles

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Year Single Chart Peak
position
1989 "Veronica" Billboard Hot 100[25] 19
Billboard Alternative Songs[26] 1
UK Singles Chart[27] 31
Australian Singles Chart[28] 27

Certifications

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Region Certification Certified units/sales
United Kingdom (BPI)[29] Gold 100,000^
United States (RIAA)[30] Gold 500,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

References

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  1. ^ Floyd, John (11 July 1996). "Still the King". Miami New Times. Archived from the original on 12 October 2016. Retrieved 6 February 2016.
  2. ^ Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Spike – Elvis Costello". AllMusic. Archived from the original on 24 March 2019. Retrieved 24 April 2021.
  3. ^ Wolk, Douglas (March 2005). "Elvis Costello: Spike". Blender. Vol. 4, no. 2. Archived from the original on 4 February 2005. Retrieved 16 June 2016.
  4. ^ Kot, Greg (2 June 1991). "The Sounds Of Elvis, From San Francisco And Beyond". Chicago Tribune. Archived from the original on 28 October 2020. Retrieved 7 December 2015.
  5. ^ White, Armond (10 May 1991). "Elvis Costello's albums". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on 21 October 2015. Retrieved 20 September 2015.
  6. ^ Cromelin, Richard (5 February 1989). "Costello Opens Floodgates in 'Spike'". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on 24 April 2021. Retrieved 24 October 2011.
  7. ^ Staunton, Terry (11 February 1989). "Puncture the Clock". NME. p. 31.
  8. ^ Cooper, Mark (March 1989). "Scathing". Q. No. 30.
  9. ^ Wild, David (9 March 1989). "Spike". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on 24 April 2021. Retrieved 16 June 2016.
  10. ^ Doggett, Peter (November 2001). "Brilliant Mistakes". Uncut. No. 54. p. 110.
  11. ^ Christgau, Robert (25 April 1989). "Christgau's Consumer Guide". The Village Voice. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 16 June 2016.
  12. ^ "The 1989 Pazz & Jop Critics Poll". The Village Voice. 27 February 1990. Archived from the original on 10 August 2020. Retrieved 12 November 2020.
  13. ^ a b c d Spike (liner notes). Elvis Costello. Rhino Records. 2001. 8122-74286-2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  14. ^ "Q Questionnaire". Q. No. 88. January 1994. p. 154.
  15. ^ Sherwin, Adam (10 April 2013). "'Ding Dong! The Witch Is Dead' closer to number one spot as it reaches top five following Margaret Thatcher's death". The Independent. Archived from the original on 12 April 2013. Retrieved 12 April 2013.
  16. ^ "Elvis Costello - Spike". Discogs. Retrieved 1 August 2024.
  17. ^ Giles, Jeff (14 February 2014). "When Elvis Costello Closed Out the '80s With 'Spike'". Ultimate Classic Rock. Retrieved 1 August 2024.
  18. ^ Steffen Hung. "Elvis Costello – Spike". australian-charts.com. Archived from the original on 24 May 2018. Retrieved 12 August 2011.
  19. ^ "dutchcharts.nl Elvis Costello – Spike" (ASP). dutchcharts.nl (in Dutch). MegaCharts. Archived from the original on 16 July 2012. Retrieved 23 October 2011.
  20. ^ Oricon Album Chart Book: Complete Edition 1970–2005. Roppongi, Tokyo: Oricon Entertainment. 2006. ISBN 4-87131-077-9.
  21. ^ "charts.nz – Elvis Costello – Spike" (ASP). Recording Industry Association of New Zealand. Archived from the original on 14 December 2020. Retrieved 23 October 2011.
  22. ^ "swedishcharts.com Elvis Costello – Spike" (ASP) (in Swedish). Sverigetopplistan. Archived from the original on 11 January 2014. Retrieved 18 September 2011.
  23. ^ "Elvis Costello – Spike". Official Charts Company. Archived from the original on 5 April 2015. Retrieved 23 October 2011.
  24. ^ "Elvis Costello Chart History: Billboard 200". Billboard. Archived from the original on 30 October 2020. Retrieved 9 September 2020.
  25. ^ "Elvis Costello – Billboard – The Hot 100". Retrieved 20 June 2013.
  26. ^ "Elvis Costello – Billboard – Alternative Songs". Retrieved 20 June 2013.
  27. ^ "Elvis Costello – UK Singles – Official Charts". Official Charts. Archived from the original on 24 March 2019. Retrieved 9 September 2020.
  28. ^ "Elvis Costello - Veronica - australian-charts.com". Archived from the original on 11 January 2014. Retrieved 20 June 2013.
  29. ^ "British album certifications – Elvis Costello – Spike". British Phonographic Industry.
  30. ^ "American album certifications – Elvis Costello – Spike". Recording Industry Association of America.
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