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Those interested in country music, but unwilling to plunge in with Hank Williams or George Jones, might check into new releases from Elvis Costello and Joe Ely.
Costello, an English rocker, recorded Almost Blue in Nashville last May with his band The Attractions, guest John McFee on lead guitar and pedal steel, a chorus and strings, all under the production of Billy Sherrill, who's overseen many projects emanating from that city.
For the first time Costello had someone beside himself or Nick Lowe handle the production. Costello has long harbored a country streak. He's written and recorded three fine country tunes in "Stranger In The House," "Radio Sweetheart" and "Different Finger," appeared in George Jones' comeback special on HBO and, during his last tour included a dramatic version of Patsy Cline's "He's Got You" in his shows. He clearly knows the music.
Unfortunately, Costello didn't write anything for Almost Blue. The title fairly reeks with Costello-ish irony, but he decided to play it straight with a dozen songs from folks like Williams, Jones, Gram Parsons and Joe Turner. The three upbeat tunes, "Why Don't You Love Me," "Tonight the Bottle Let Me Down" and "Honey Hush" should satisfy even Costello's rock-only fans.
The Attractions punch out the time, McFee fills in the spaces with style and Elvis sings the tunes flat out with no trace of the affectation that mucks up many country music dabblers. The rest of the album, trimmed with strings and the chorus, works best in small doses. Costello's singing on the best of the slower tunes, "A Good Year For the Roses," "I'm Your Toy" and "Sweet Dreams" drip with sincerity, an amazing feat considering the games and distance in Costello's rock. Steve Nieve's spare acoustic piano work shines throughout and Bruce and Pete Thomas, on bass and drums, lay appropriately off the tricks.
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