San Francisco Chronicle, March 9, 1980

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Among Costello's best


Joel Selvin

Elvis Costello And The Attractions
Get Happy!!

In what must be something of an all-time record for a single album, Costello and producer Nick Lowe crammed no less than 20 songs on this disc, with no apparent loss in sound quality or volume level. The entire album runs slightly more than 45 minutes and contains a decidedly generous helping of Costello's distinctive songwriting.

Needless to say, the 20 songs do not represent a uniform standard of excellence, but most are good enough to be included among Costello's best. The single, dramatic signature song still eludes Costello on his fourth album, but there is still plenty of evidence of his artistic vitality.

The production by Lowe is the real star of the set. He packaged each song in a custom-made sound and arrangement, creating a sense of being both precise and off-hand.



Linda Ronstadt: Mad Love


Joel Selvin

With three songs by Elvis Costello and three more by Mark Goldenberg of the Cretones, it would appear bandwagon-jumper Linda Ronstadt just got on board the new wave ride. What's more, it is a helluva decent album. Producer Peter Asher, applying his trademark spit and polish, allowed a few of the rough edges on the instrumental tracks to hang out and forced Ronstadt into more screaming and less crooning than her usual fare contains. The results — especially when matched with particularly strong material like "How Do I Make You," "Talking In The Dark" or "Mad Love" — make for a remarkably happening rock record (although the typical Ronstadt oldie remake — Little Anthony and the Imperials' "Hurt So Bad" — is also included).


Tags: Get Happy!!The AttractionsNick LoweTalking In The DarkLinda RonstadtMad LovePeter Asher

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San Francisco Chronicle, March 9, 1980


Joel Selvin reviews Get Happy!! and Linda Ronstadt's Mad Love.

Images

1980-03-09 San Francisco Chronicle, The World page 41 clipping 01.jpg
Clipping.

Page scan.
1980-03-09 San Francisco Chronicle, The World page 41.jpg

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