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Elvis Costello's Almost Blue (F-Beat-Records XXLP13) should come as a surprise to his fans. Costello and his three Attractions (drummer Pete Thomas, bassist Bruce Thomas and pianist/organist Steve Nieve) forage in country music land. With the indispensable help of Doobie Brother John McFee on pedal steel, the band savors classics including Don Gibson's "Sweet Dreams."
The faster tracks work beater than the slower, sometimes maudlin ones but there are three "movers" out of 12 songs: Merle Haggard's "Tonight The Bottle Let Me Down," the rockabilly "Why Don't You Love Me" and "Honey Hush."
Recorded in Nashville, this album proves Costello s versatility but he is more convincing when he is rocking.
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