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The British new-wave ace offers his answer to Bob Dylan's Nashville Skyline. Costello, long a fan of country music, took his band to Nashville to work with producer Billy Sherrill, who made his name producing George Jones, Tammy Wynette and Charlie Rich.
The choice of material, musicianship and production are impeccable. The Attractions did a crack job; joining them was Doobie Brothers guitarist John McFee, who had played on Costello's debut album. Costello's vocals are characteristically raw but heartfelt; The emotions are definitely right.
He's not about to convert any country fans to new wave. But Almost Blue, with interpretations of classics written by Jones, Rich, Merle Haggard and Hank Williams, could turn on some new-wave fans to country music.
A local note: Included here is "How Much I Lied," co-written by Twin Cities engineer-producer David Rivkin and the late Gram Parsons.
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