|
|
||
 |
Quick Facts Recorded at Pathway Studios, Islington UK Nov. 76-Jan-77 Released on Stiff Records SEEZ 3 Sept 22, 1977 UK: Chart High at 14, Silver Record (date unknown) US: Chart High at 32, Platinum Record as of 1991 "Album Of The Year" Rolling Stone Critics Poll, Dec. 1977 |
|
|
Song List Welcome To The Working Week (1:24) Miracle Man (3:33) No Dancing (2:43) Blame It On Cain (2:53) Alison (3:26) Sneaky Feelings (2:10) Watching The Detectives (US ONLY) Red Shoes (2:51) Less Than Zero (3:15) Mystery Dance (1:39) Pay It Back (2:35) I'm Not Angry (3:02) Waiting For The End Of The World (3:23) Total Running Time: 32:56 Bonus Tracks Watching The Detectives Radio Sweetheart Stranger In The House Imagination (is a Powerful Deciever) Mystery Dance Cheap Reward Jump Up Wave A White Flag Blame it on Cain Poison moon . |
 Credits
& Liner Notes Releases, Singles, Promos Reviews PromotionsRandom Facts |
|
|
|
||
Recorded at Pathway Studios, Islington UK, Nov. 76-Jan-77
Produced by Nick Lowe. Engineered by Bazza.
All songs written by Elvis Costello, published by Plangent Visions Music Inc. (ASCAP).
Elvis Costello: Guitar and Vocals, John McFee: Guitar and Pedal Steel, Sean Hoper: Piano and Organ, Johnny Ciambotti: Bass, Mickey Shine: Drums, E.C., Nick Lowe, Sean Hopper, and Johnny Ciambotti: Backing Vocals. PLUS "Mystery Dance" Nick Lowe: Bass, E.C. and Nick Lowe: Piano and Drum Stick, "Less Than Zero" Stan Shaw: Organ, "Watching The Detectives" Steve Goulding: Drums, Andrew Bodnar: Bass, Steve Nieve: Piano and Organ, "Radio Sweetheart" Nick Lowe: Bass
Clover: The backing band for My Aim Is True
(FROM DISCOGRAPHY) Some copies (possibly Belgian) were on blue vinyl. Early LP covers had a black & white photo on the front, and many different coloured backs. Later issues had a green tint on the front picture and a green back. The Demon issue originally had a yellow tint on the photo and a yellow back, and the reissue has a green tint photo. The early covers also have different manufacturer credits on the back cover and label: "Made & manufactured by Press & Post" & "Distributed by Island Records". There are thought to be at least 11 different cover variations.
The first few UK copies came with a poster and a form asking the buyer to send in the address of a friend, who would then receive a free copy. The form read: "HELP US HYPE ELVIS In these John Denver days, people in Framptonland are loathe to shell out on new artists. As you've bought this record we assume that you groove to the Elvis GB sound. As you know there are only two Elvis. On is fat and famous, one is small and languishes in obscurity. Stiff Records, ever keen to meet the record buying public demands, have hatched a plot that allows you to become a potent factor in El's future. Here's how are See-Elvis-Go-Gold-Stiff-Go-Broke scheme works. You pay the postage. We send the album. And all you have to do is write no more than 25 words why you like the English Elvis and send this sheet (together with postage stamps to the value of 23p) to: Stiff Records, 32 Alexander Street, London W2. We will then send a free album to the person of your choice who you think can do the most for Elvis. This offer is limited to the UK only. We are only giving away 1000 albums (Jesus - only 1000!) so write off today and grab a small stake in shaping El's destiny. His meal ticket, your El Dorado. This offer does not apply to Island Records executives, groupies, liggers, Elvis Costello and employees of Stiff." .Liner Notes from Re-Release (Written By Elvis Costello)
"My Aim Is True was recorded at Pathway Studios, Islington in a total of Twenty four hours studio time and at a cost of 2000 pounds. As I still had my "day-job" these sessions had to take place on "sick days" and holidays during late 1976 and early 1977. The musicians were members of the Marin county band Clover, who could not be credited at the time due to contractual reasons. The producer was Nick Lowe, who I had met, unlikely as it may sound, in The Grapes public house, opposite The Cavern, Liverpool in 1972. After the failure of two single releases ("Less Than Zero" and "Alison"), Stiff records nevertheless decided to release the album and asked me to "turn professional" and find a band that would become the Attractions. At the subsequent auditions I was assisted by Steve Goulding and Andrew Bodnar from The Rumour, but after playing "Alison" and "Less Than Zero" for the 20th time it became essential to do something in order to relieve the boredom"."Having gone to the trouble of learning two brand new songs, it was this line up which recorded a version of "No Action" (Now sadly lost) and "Watching the Detectives" to which Steve Nieve later added Piano and Organ."
EXTENDED PLAY:
"Radio Sweetheart" and "Stranger In The House"
"Two of only three "out-takes" from My Aim Is True (The other, a version of "Living in Paradise", is also lost). "Radio Sweetheart" Was my first "professional recording", was originally picked to be my Stiff Records debut single. Having been pushed onto the b-side by "Less Than Zero", it was also left off the album due to a difference in sound: It was the only track cut at the sessions to prominently feature an acoustic guitar! The case of "Stranger in the House" is more obvious. Despite John McFee's use of a pedal steel guitar on the album, the inclusion of a "Country Song" was thought to be commercial suicide in 1977".
"Stranger in the House" was given away on a free single with the first 50000 copies of This Year's Model and was later released on the 10 Bloody Marys and 10 How's your Fathers and Taking Liberties compilations. It also served as a demonstration record for George Jones, with whom Elvis sang on George's My Special Friends album.
"IMAGINATION (IS A POWERFUL DECIEVER)"
"A "Pre-Professional Recording" made by Stiff Records co-founder Dave Robinson on the unique 7-track machine at Hope and Ancher Studios, Islinton, sometime in 1974/75. It features the band Flip City. There is no personnel listing, but it is included with thanks to all long-term band members: Mich Kent (bass), Malcolm Dennis or Ian Powling (Drums), Steve Hazelhurst (guitar), and Dickie Faulkner (percussion). (Also Mike Whelan and Ken Smith)".
"MYSTERY DANCE"
"Another "Pre-Professional Recording" made in my bedroom and later broadcast for the first time by Charlie Gillett on his BBC Radio London programme "Honkey Tonk". We discussed recording it for Charlie's Oval Records label, but before this could happen Jake Riviera heard the song on a tape which I hand-delivered to Stiff Records on the day they opened for business with the release of Nick Lowe's "So It Goes". Although it was the first (and only) demo Stiff had recieved, I became the second signing to the new label".
"CHEAP REWARD", "JUMP UP", "WAVE A WHITE FLAG", "BLAME IT ON CAIN", "POISON MOON"
"Pre-Professional recordings" from the same bedroom session as "Mystery Dance", most of which were broadcast by Charlie Gillett.
"Despite the presence of familiar titles and lyrics which re-appear in later compositions, this group of songs are in a radically differentstyle to those on My Aim Is True. With hindsight I must confess that I am uneasy with my blatant imitation of certain American singers and songwriters. However to be truthful I learned a great deal from trying (and failing) to copy such artists as Randy Newman, Hoagy Carmichael, Lowell George, John Prine and The Band. Even though some of the names became unfashionable in 1976, and I abandoned this particular borrowed style in favour of the more direct sound of My Aim Is True, I hope the listener will be amused, one way or another, by these steps in my apprenticeship."
Back To The Top
REVIEWS
New Musical Express - Nick Kent
"Its often savage extremeties of subject matter and attitude are framed around a needle-sharp sensibility for strong musical backgrops, whether it was the raging rock swagger of 'Mystery Dance' or the irrepressible rif of 'Miracle Man' straight through to Costello's oh-so-very-deft adoption of various prime mid-60's pop stylisations.
"Aim' hits you on so many levels that even if you happened to be repelled by the more extreme aspects (and I've met many who find Costello's revenge/guilt fetish persona totally unappealing), you couldn't help but be impressed by some other area of the man's astonishing talents."
Back To The Top
RELATED RELEASES
Based on information
compiled by: Paul Hosken Kirchstrasse 23, 82284 Grafrath, Germany
{paul.hosken@dlr.de} Click here the current, complete discography.
SINGLES
 Less Than Zero / Radio Sweetheart (March 1977) |
 Alison / Welcome To The Working Week (May 1977) |
 Watching The Detectives / Blame it on Cain / Mystery Dance (Sept 1977) |
 Red Shoes / Mystery Dance (France) |
 Mystery Dance / Pay It Back (Belgium) |
INTERNATIONAL RELEASES
RE-RELEASES
Back To The Top
RANDOM FACTS
Back To The Top
PROMOS