There’s enough blame to go around these days when “Forever doesn’t mean forever anymore”: In the torch-song intensity of “Riot Act,” Costello posits “Instead of all this dumb, dumb insolence / I would be happier with amnesia” -- a psychologically tormented mission statement from hell, delivered in an amazingly vein-popping angst-ridden declaration. As the passion pours from every pore, you believe him and believe in him. He doesn’t take these things lightly, and he expects the same from others: "Don’t put your heart out on your sleeve / When your remarks are off the cuff.”
“There’s no need to be evasive / Money talks and it's persuasive,” Costello bites in the bitterly and infectiously melodic tonic “Possession,” as perfect an encapsulation of Get Happy’s wordplay legerdemain and moods for moderns:
Now you’re sending me your best wishes
Signed with love and vicious kisses
You lack lust, you’re so lackluster
Is that all the strength you can muster...
...Even when we are out of touch
Now I know that I’ve seen too much...
...So I see us lying back to back
My case is closed my case is packed
Ill get out before the violence
Or the tears or the silence.
“Forget your troubles and just get happy / Ya better chase all your cares away” goes the mood-brightening Harold Arlen song from the 1930s. There was a worse and different kind of Depression going on at that time. But try telling that to a starcrossed contrarian with pointed insights — and visions of chain-saws in his own inner lexicon of love and what comes after.
Article comments
1 - JP
Nice review, and I love this album!
2 - Vern Halen
My fave of the early Costello bunch. Running a close second, my other fave isn't even a proper album, but the compilation Taking Liberties (called something else in the UK). Both are similar in the 20 - odd song "All Different!" approach - throwing so much at the listener that in the end, the whole isi greater than the sum of the parts. The Ryko CD of Get Happy! has many of those Liberties' tunes as the bonus tracks.
Thanx for the article. Mr H. Now I'll have to go give it spin fer fun.
3 - Gordon Hauptfleisch
Thanks JP--for a long time this was my favorite EC album (still in top 3) mostly for that "sketch book" quality that showcased his restless (dare I say it?-yes) genius.
4 - Gordon Hauptfleisch
Thanks Vern--in many ways, Taking Liberties clinched the deal for me--his cast-offs and B-sides were better than most artists' best stuff. "Hoover Factory" and the great, stinging "Big Tears" especially.
5 - Vern Halen
"Restless genius?" Maybe so, but rumour was they spent a lot of time down at the pub while they were working on this(!).
6 - Gordon Hauptfleisch
Yeah, maybe off-target and may becasue its 8am here and I haven't slept yet. But maybe the pub was an inspiration for "King Horse":
"He'd seen the bottom of a lot of glasses
But he'd never seen love so near"
7 - Kevin Davis
Thanks again, Gordon. This is a great series you're running here.
Get Happy!!! is my personal favorite Costello record. The Rhino re-issue has 30 (!) bonus tracks from these sessions, including a really cool early version of "New Lace Sleeves."
8 - Glen Boyd
I agree with Kevin, this is a really cool series. Lets see we've had Darkness from Bruce, Planet Waves from Dylan, and now Get Happy from Elvis. Whats next Gordon? Maybe On The Beach from Neil Young?
Get Happy isn't my favorite Elvis album. I actually felt it was a bit of a letdown after "My Aim", "This Years Model" and "Armed Forces". But it definitely has some fine moments. I'll probably have to pull this one back out and reexamine it too.
See what you make me do?
-Glen
9 - Gordon Hauptfleisch
Thanks Kevin--As I've been buying the Rhino re-issues, I've been passing along the older CDs (not the LP versions) to friends who are not for some reason Costello fanatics like me. My indoctrination as Dr. Luther's sinister Assistant continues...
10 - Gordon Hauptfleisch
Glen--I'm thinking "Zuma" or "Live Rust"--one of the best live albums ever, especially the grouping of "Cortez," "Powderfinger," "Cinnamon Girl," and "Like a Hurricane."
11 - Sean
This is a great series you are running. Coincidentally, the discs for each of the albums you have spotlighted had been put in my car for drive time listening within two weeks before your write up. If your next album is Double Nickels on the Dime, I am going to think this is more than a coincidence and probably constitutes enemy action.
Get Hppy is my favorite EC album. The Rhino reissue is highly recommended both for the demos and alternate takes, but also for the live verions of some songs plus a bonus version of the Peter Tosh song 'Don't Look Back.' The bonus disc also includes a great radio commercial for the album.
12 - Gordon Hauptfleisch
Thanks Sean--well, my next album was going to be Double Nickels on the Dime...