Biography

When Elvis Costello's first record, My Aim Is True, was released in 1977, his bristling cynicism and anger linked him to the punk and new wave explosion. A cursory listen proves the main connection he had was his unbridled passion, as he tore through rock's back pages, taking whatever he wanted, and borrowing many other musical styles. Over his career, that musical eclecticism distinguished his records as much as his fiercely literate lyrics did. Because he supports his lyrics with his richly diverse music, he's one of the most innovative, influential, and best songwriters since Bob Dylan. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine

Top Tracks

• Click on the track to launch in Spotify

• (i Don't Want To Go To) Chelsea

• (i Don't Want To Go To) Chelsea [live At The El Mocambo]

• (the Angels Wanna Wear My) Red Shoes

• (what's So Funny 'bout) Peace, Love & Understanding

• (what's So Funny 'bout) Peace, Love And Understanding?

• ...this Town...

• 13 Steps Lead Down

• 45

• A Slow Drag With Josephine

• Accidents Will Happen

• Accidents Will Happen [live At Hollywood High]

• Alison

• All This Useless Beauty

• American Gangster Time

• At Last

• Bedlam

• Beyond Belief

• Big Sister

• Big Tears

• Brilliant Mistake

• Bring The Boys Home

• Broken Promise Land

• Button My Lip

• Clubland

• Clubland, Song

• Complicated Shadows

• Country Darkness

• Cry Cry Cry

• Days

• Deep Dead Blue

• Distorted Angel

• Do Right Woman, Do Right Man

• Down Among The Wines And Spirits

• Dr. Watson, I Presume

• Either Side Of The Same Town

• Everyday I Write The Book

• Fallen

• Flutter & Wow

• G. B. H., Television Score~another Time, Another Place

• G. B. H., Television Score~lambs To The Slaughter

• Girls Talk

• Gloomy Sunday

• Go Away

• God Give Me Strength

• God Only Knows

• Good Year For The Roses

• Heart Of The City

• He's Got You

• Hidden Shame

• High Fidelity

• Honky Tonk Girl

• Hora Decubitus, Song

• I Hope You're Happy Now

• I Just Don't Know What To Do With Myself

• I Love The Life I Live (i Live The Life I Love)

• I Thought I'd Write To Juliet

• I Wanna Be Loved

• I Want You

• I'm In The Mood Again

• I'm Your Toy

• Imagination Is A Powerful Deceiver

• In The Darkest Place

• Indoor Fireworks

• It's Time

• Jacksons, Monk And Rowe

• Just A Memory

• Leave My Kitten Alone

• Less Than Zero

• Less Than Zero (dallas Version) [live At The El Mocambo]

• Let Him Dangle

• Let's Do It (let's Fall In Love)

• Lip Service

• Little Atoms

• Living In Paradise

• London's Brilliant Parade

• Lovable

• Love For Tender

• Man Out Of Time

• Monkey To Man

• More Than Rain

• My Dark Life

• My Flame Burns Blue, Song For Voice & Instruments (after "blood Count')

• My Little Blue Window

• Mystery Dance [live At Hollywood High]

• National Ransom

• New Amsterdam

• New Lace Sleeves

• No Action

• Oliver's Army

• On Your Way Down

• Out Of Time

• Pay It Back

• Payday

• Pidgin English

• Playboy To A Man

• Psycho

• Pump It Up

• Radio Radio

• Radio Radio [live At The El Mocambo]

• Radio Sweetheart

• Radio, Radio

• Really Mystified

• Riot Act

• Seven Day Weekend

• She

• Shipbuilding

• Smile

• So Like Candy

• So Young

• Still

• Stranger In The House

• Stranger In The House [live At Hollywood High]

• Suit Of Lights

• Sulky Girl

• Sulphur To Sugarcane

• Talking In The Dark

• Tear Off Your Own Head (it's A Doll Revolution)

• Temptation

• That's How You Got Killed Before, Song

• The Birds Will Still Be Singing

• The Comedians

• The Last Time I Saw Richard

• The Long Honeymoon

• The Loved Ones

• The Only Flame In Town

• The Other End (of The Telescope)

• The Other Side Of Summer

• The People's Limousine

• The River In Reverse

• Third Rate Romance

• This House Is Empty Now

• This Year's Girl

• This Year's Girl [live At Hollywood High]

• Tokyo Storm Warning

• Toledo

• Town Cryer

• Turpentine

• Two Little Hitlers

• Uncomplicated

• Veronica

• Waiting For The End Of The World [live At Hollywood High]

• Watching The Detectives

• Wednesday Week

• Weird Nightmare

• When Did I Stop Dreaming?

• Who's Gonna Help A Brother Get Further?

• Why Can't A Man Stand Alone?

• Why Don't You Love Me (like You Used To Do?)

• Wondering

• You Belong To Me [live At Hollywood High]

• You Bowed Down

• You Hung The Moon

• You Tripped At Every Step

• You'll Never Be A Man

• You've Got To Hide Your Love Away

Discography

• Click on the album to launch in Spotify

• National Ransom

  Hear Music

  2010

• Secret, Profane & Sugarcane

  Hear Music (Starbucks)

  2009

• Momofuku

  Lost Highway

  2008

• The River in Reverse

  Verve Forecast

  2006

• My Flame Burns Blue

  DG Deutsche Grammophon

  2006

• Artist's Choice: Elvis Costello

  Universal Special Products

  2005

• Il Sogno

  DG Deutsche Grammophon

  2004

• The Delivery Man

  Lost Highway

  2004

• When I Was Cruel

  Island

  2002

• Costello & Nieve

  Warner Bros.

  1996

• All This Useless Beauty

  Warner Bros.

  1996

• Brutal Youth

  Warner Bros.

  1994

• Spike

  Rhino / Warner Bros.

  1989

• Live at the El Mocambo

  Elvis Costello Catalog

  1978