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Since his emergence in 1977, Elvis Costello has released a staggering number of albums and songs, and he is undoubtedly one of rock 'n' roll's busiest men. His fame now stretches from the Atlantic to the Pacific, and his reputation as an angry young man has slowly and deservedly disappeared.
In eight years, Costello's position in rock music has changed, from his early days as one of the leaders of a new wave vanguard to his current position as a composer of mainstream music complete with FM popularity.
Now that more than a year has passed since the release of his last album, it seems the perfect time for a musical review of Costello's career. Columbia Records has happily obliged with The Best of Elvis Costello.
There is nothing new on this Best of..., it is merely a sampling of Costello's biggest, and perhaps, best songs recorded just as they sounded the first time. Some new material, or at least some new arrangements, would have made this collection more appealing — but that is not to say that it isn't enjoyable. Any Costello collection is bound to contain some classics. The Best of Elvis Costello is no exception; but it is limited, by its premise, to remain just a rehash. No new ground is broken, and there is no growth.
Side one is easily the best side, chronicling Costello's early hits. "Alison," "What's So Funny 'Bout Peace, Love and Understanding" and "Oliver's Army" are the songs of a dedicated social critic. These early songs, combining protest with new (for that time) and exciting music, were surely responsible for Costello's label of angry young man.
Costello maintained later that he wasn't the angry musician the media made him out to be in those days; and his recent recordings are partial proof of that denial. Side two casts Mr. Costello in this different, more contemporary, attitude. The songs on the second side are from Costello's last few albums and are mostly love songs. "Shipbuilding," "I Wanna Be Loved" and "Everyday I Write the Book," devoid of the protest so prevalent in his earlier works, are the songs that gave Costello access to middle-of-the-road FM and MTV.
The Best of Elvis Costello, like most collections, is a good introduction for someone who wants to get to know his music; and is a must for the person who needs everything with Costello's name on it. For the typical fan, though, there isn't anything here that is worth the price.
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