This Year's Model
Encyclopedia
This Year's Model is Elvis Costello
's second album and his first with The Attractions
, released in 1978 (see 1978 in music
). It was recorded mainly at Eden Studios
in West London.
It was voted the best album of the year in The Village Voice
Pazz & Jop
critics poll. In 2000, Q magazine placed This Year's Model at number 82 in its list of the 100 Greatest British Albums Ever. In 1987, Rolling Stone
magazine ranked it number 11 on its list of the best albums of the period 1967-1987. In 2003, the album was ranked number 98 on Rolling Stone
magazine's list of the 500 greatest albums of all time
.
), as was pressing "Special pressing No. 003. Ring 434 32 32. Ask for Moira for your prize" between the holding spirals on Side A. Indeed people calling the aforementioned number ("Moira" being a press agent at FBeat) would get rewarded with a badge.
Early issues of the LP came with a free 7" single, housed in a Radar house sleeve, with "Stranger In The House" on side A and a live cover of The Damned's "Neat Neat Neat
" on side B. The promotion also included a black and white sticker stuck on the LP shrinkwrap that said 'Free Album With This Single'.
The US version was a different photo from the same session and didn't feature the deliberate mis-cropping. The original American pressing on Columbia also says "Costello" instead of "Columbia" on the inner label.
"Chemistry Class" is a solo acoustic recording which was previously released on the 2002 Rhino re-issue of Armed Forces
Note: The Rykodisc version has the original tracks and bonus tracks on one CD. The Rhino version has two CDs with the original tracks on the first CD.
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Elvis Costello
Elvis Costello , born Declan Patrick MacManus, is an English singer-songwriter. He came to prominence as an early participant in London's pub rock scene in the mid-1970s and later became associated with the punk/New Wave genre. Steeped in word play, the vocabulary of Costello's lyrics is broader...
's second album and his first with The Attractions
The Attractions
The Attractions were best known as the backing band for Elvis Costello between 1978 and 1986, and again from 1994 through 1996. They also released one album as an independent entity in 1980.-History:...
, released in 1978 (see 1978 in music
1978 in music
This is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 1978.-January–April:*January 14 – The Sex Pistols play their final show at San Francisco's Winterland Ballroom....
). It was recorded mainly at Eden Studios
Eden Studios
Eden Studios was a commercial recording facility in west London. It opened in 1967, originally at 11 Eden Street in Kingston upon Thames, before moving to 20-24 Beaumont Road in Chiswick in 1972. It was started by Philip Love, Mike Gardner and Piers Ford-Crush. Love and Gardner owned the studio and...
in West London.
It was voted the best album of the year in The Village Voice
The Village Voice
The Village Voice is a free weekly newspaper and news and features website in New York City that features investigative articles, analysis of current affairs and culture, arts and music coverage, and events listings for New York City...
Pazz & Jop
Pazz & Jop
The Pazz & Jop critics' poll is a poll of music critics run by The Village Voice newspaper. It is compiled every year from the top ten lists of hundreds of music critics...
critics poll. In 2000, Q magazine placed This Year's Model at number 82 in its list of the 100 Greatest British Albums Ever. In 1987, Rolling Stone
Rolling Stone
Rolling Stone is a US-based magazine devoted to music, liberal politics, and popular culture that is published every two weeks. Rolling Stone was founded in San Francisco in 1967 by Jann Wenner and music critic Ralph J...
magazine ranked it number 11 on its list of the best albums of the period 1967-1987. In 2003, the album was ranked number 98 on Rolling Stone
Rolling Stone
Rolling Stone is a US-based magazine devoted to music, liberal politics, and popular culture that is published every two weeks. Rolling Stone was founded in San Francisco in 1967 by Jann Wenner and music critic Ralph J...
magazine's list of the 500 greatest albums of all time
The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time
"The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time" is the title of a 2003 special issue of American magazine Rolling Stone, and a related book published in 2005.Related news articles:...
.
Packaging and Artwork
Early issues of the album have an apparently misprinted sleeve, which cuts off the left side of the front cover (including the letters 'E' from 'Elvis' and 'T' from 'This') and shows a printers' color bar along the right side (see cover right). This was a deliberate mistake (a favourite technique of cover designer Barney BubblesBarney Bubbles
Colin Fulcher aka Barney Bubbles was a radical English graphic artist, whose work primarily encompassed the disciplines of graphic design, painting and music video direction. He is most renowned for his distinctive contribution to the graphic design associated with the British independent music...
), as was pressing "Special pressing No. 003. Ring 434 32 32. Ask for Moira for your prize" between the holding spirals on Side A. Indeed people calling the aforementioned number ("Moira" being a press agent at FBeat) would get rewarded with a badge.
Early issues of the LP came with a free 7" single, housed in a Radar house sleeve, with "Stranger In The House" on side A and a live cover of The Damned's "Neat Neat Neat
Neat Neat Neat
"Neat Neat Neat" was the second single by The Damned, released simultaneously with their debut album Damned Damned Damned.The single was reissued in Stiff's mail order Damned 4 Pack mail-order set...
" on side B. The promotion also included a black and white sticker stuck on the LP shrinkwrap that said 'Free Album With This Single'.
The US version was a different photo from the same session and didn't feature the deliberate mis-cropping. The original American pressing on Columbia also says "Costello" instead of "Columbia" on the inner label.
Side one
- "No Action" – 1:58
- "This Year's Girl" – 3:17
- "The Beat" – 3:45
- "Pump It UpPump It Up (Elvis Costello song)"Pump It Up" is a song by Elvis Costello. It originally appeared on Costello's second album This Year's Model which was the first he recorded with The Attractions.- Lyrics :...
" – 3:14 - "Little Triggers" – 2:40
- "You Belong to Me" – 2:22
Side two
- "Hand in Hand" – 2:33
- "(I Don't Want to Go to) Chelsea" – 3:07
- "Lip Service" – 2:36
- "Living in Paradise" – 3:52
- "Lipstick Vogue" – 3:29
- "Night Rally" – 2:41
- The US release on Columbia, two months after the original UK release, dropped "(I Don't Want to Go to) Chelsea" and "Night Rally" (reportedly as being "too English") and added "Radio RadioRadio Radio"Radio Radio" was a single by Elvis Costello and The Attractions released in the UK in October 1978. The song had already appeared on the US version of their second album, This Year's Model, released earlier that year...
" to close side two. - Some European versions of the album added "Watching The DetectivesWatching the Detectives (song)"Watching the Detectives" is a 1977 single by English singer-songwriter Elvis Costello. It was his first single that credited his backing band, the Attractions, and gave him his first UK hit single...
" at the end of side one. This non-album single released in 1977 shortly after My Aim Is TrueMy Aim Is TrueMy Aim Is True is the debut album by Elvis Costello.The album was recorded at Pathway Studios in Holloway, London Borough of Islington, over the course of 1976 during late-night studio sessions, in a total of twenty-four hours...
was already included on the US version of Costello's first album.
Bonus Tracks (1993 Rykodisc CD)
- "Radio, Radio" – 3:05
- "Big Tears" – 3:09
- "Crawling to the USA" – 2:53
- "Running Out of Angels" – 2:02
- "Green Shirt" – 2:20
- "Big Boys" – 3:00
- Tracklisting notes: The Rykodisc reissue placed "Radio Radio" after a 10-second silence following "Night Rally."
Bonus Disc (2002 Rhino CD)
- "Big Tears" – 3:12
- "Crawling to the USA" – 2:55
- "Running Out of Angels" (Demo version) – 2:05
- "Greenshirt" (Demo version) – 2:22
- "Big Boys" (Demo version) – 3:00
- "You Belong to Me" (Capital Radio version) – 1:55
- "Radio Radio" (Capital Radio version) – 3:01
- "Neat Neat NeatNeat Neat Neat"Neat Neat Neat" was the second single by The Damned, released simultaneously with their debut album Damned Damned Damned.The single was reissued in Stiff's mail order Damned 4 Pack mail-order set...
" (Brian James) (Live) – 3:16 - "Roadette Song" (Ian DuryIan DuryIan Robins Dury was an English rock and roll singer, lyricist, bandleader and actor who initially rose to fame during the late 1970s, during the punk and New Wave era of rock music...
, Russell Hardy) (Live) – 5:40 - "This Year's Girl" (Alternate Eden StudiosEden StudiosEden Studios was a commercial recording facility in west London. It opened in 1967, originally at 11 Eden Street in Kingston upon Thames, before moving to 20-24 Beaumont Road in Chiswick in 1972. It was started by Philip Love, Mike Gardner and Piers Ford-Crush. Love and Gardner owned the studio and...
version) – 2:09 - "(I Don't Want to Go to) Chelsea" (Basing Street StudiosBasing Street StudiosSARM Studios is a recording studio located in Notting Hill, London. The studios were established by Chris Blackwell, the founder of Island Records, and were originally known as Basing Street Studios...
version) – 3:00 - "Stranger in the House" (BBCBBCThe British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
version) – 4:15
Disc one
- No Action - 2:01
- This Year's Girl - 3:22
- The Beat - 3:48
- Pump It Up - 3:17
- Little Triggers - 2:43
- You Belong to Me - 2:25
- Hand In Hand - 2:38
- (I Don't Want to Go to) Chelsea - 3:10
- Lip Service - 2:39
- Living In Paradise - 3:47
- Lipstick Vogue - 3:33
- Night Rally - 2:46
- Radio, Radio - 3:12
- Big Tears - 3:12
- Crawling To The USA - 2:54
- Tiny Steps - 2:44
- Running Out of Angels (demo) - 2:04
- Green Shirt (demo) - 2:22
- Big Boys (demo) - 3:00
- Neat Neat Neat (live) - 3:16
- Roadette Song (live) - 5:40
- This Year's Girl (Alternate Eden Studios version) - 2:09
- (I Don't Want to Go to) Chelsea (Alternate Basing Street Studios version) - 2:57
Disc two (Live at the Warner Theatre, Washington, DC, February 28, 1978)
- Pump It Up 3:31
- Waiting For The End Of The World 3:59
- No Action 2:28
- Less Than Zero 4:29
- The Beat 3:43
- (The Angels Wanna Wear My) Red Shoes 2:35
- (I Don't Want to Go to) Chelsea 3:58
- Hand In Hand 2:53
- Little Triggers 3:08
- Radio, Radio 2:37
- You Belong to Me 2:54
- Lipstick Vogue 5:02
- Watching The Detectives 6:02
- Mystery Dance 3:58
- Miracle Man 4:25
- Blame It On Cain 4:05
- Chemistry Class (solo acoustic) 2:44
"Chemistry Class" is a solo acoustic recording which was previously released on the 2002 Rhino re-issue of Armed Forces
Note: The Rykodisc version has the original tracks and bonus tracks on one CD. The Rhino version has two CDs with the original tracks on the first CD.
Personnel
- Elvis CostelloElvis CostelloElvis Costello , born Declan Patrick MacManus, is an English singer-songwriter. He came to prominence as an early participant in London's pub rock scene in the mid-1970s and later became associated with the punk/New Wave genre. Steeped in word play, the vocabulary of Costello's lyrics is broader...
– guitarGuitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
, vocalsSingingSinging is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, and augments regular speech by the use of both tonality and rhythm. One who sings is called a singer or vocalist. Singers perform music known as songs that can be sung either with or without accompaniment by musical instruments... - Steve NieveSteve NieveSteve Nieve is an English keyboardist, best known for his work with Elvis Costello and the Attractions and Elvis Costello and the Imposters.-Musical career:...
– pianoPianoThe piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
, organOrgan (music)The organ , is a keyboard instrument of one or more divisions, each played with its own keyboard operated either with the hands or with the feet. The organ is a relatively old musical instrument in the Western musical tradition, dating from the time of Ctesibius of Alexandria who is credited with... - Bruce ThomasBruce ThomasBruce Thomas is best known as bassist for The Attractions; the band formed in 1977 to back Elvis Costello in concert and on record....
– bassBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick.... - Pete ThomasPete ThomasPete Thomas is best known as the longtime drummer for Elvis Costello. Tom Waits has referred to him as "one of the best rock drummers alive".-Career:...
– drumsDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person .... - Mick JonesMick Jones (The Clash)Michael Geoffrey "Mick" Jones is the former lead guitarist, secondary vocalist and co-founder for the British punk rock band The Clash until his dismissal in 1983. He went on to form the band Big Audio Dynamite with Don Letts before line-up changes led to the formation of Big Audio Dynamite II and...
- lead guitarLead guitarLead guitar is a guitar part which plays melody lines, instrumental fill passages, guitar solos, and occasionally, some riffs within a song structure...
on "Big Tears"
Chart positions
| Chart | Position |
|---|---|
| Australian Albums Chart Kent Music Report The Kent Music Report was a weekly record chart of Australian music singles and albums which was compiled by music enthusiast David Kent from May 1974 through to 1998... |
26 |
| Canadian Albums Chart RPM (magazine) RPM was a Canadian music industry publication that featured song and album charts for Canada. The publication was founded by Walt Grealis in February 1964, supported through its existence by record label owner Stan Klees. RPM ceased publication in November 2000.RPM stood for "Records, Promotion,... |
21 |
| Dutch Mega Albums Chart MegaCharts MegaCharts is responsible for the composition and exploitation of a broad collection of official charts in the Netherlands, of which the Mega Top 50 and the Mega Album Top 100 are the most known ones. Mega Charts also provides information to the Stichting Nederlandse Top 40, of which the Dutch Top... |
14 |
| New Zealand Albums Chart | 11 |
| Norwegian VG-lista Albums Chart VG-lista VG-listen is a Norwegian record chart. It is weekly presented in the newspaper VG and the Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation program Topp 20. It is considered the primary Norwegian record chart, charting albums and singles from countries and continent around the world. The data is collected by... |
15 |
| Swedish Albums Chart Sverigetopplistan Sverigetopplistan, earlier known as Topplistan and Hitlistan and other names, is since October 2007 the Swedish national record chart, based on sales data from Swedish Recording Industry Association .... |
10 |
| UK Albums Chart UK Albums Chart The UK Albums Chart is a list of albums ranked by physical and digital sales in the United Kingdom. It is compiled every week by The Official Charts Company and broadcast on a Sunday on BBC Radio 1 , and published in Music Week magazine and on the OCC website .To qualify for the UK albums chart... |
4 |
| United States United States The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district... Billboard 200 Billboard 200 The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists... |
30 |
Year-end charts
| Chart (1978) | Position |
|---|---|
| UK Albums Chart | 39 |
Certifications
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Release history (selected)
| Region | Date | Label | Format | Catalog |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| UK United Kingdom The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages... |
Radar Records Radar Records Radar Records was a UK-based record label formed by Martin Davis who had previously worked at United Artists Records, and Andrew Lauder, who had previously been head of A&R at the UK divisions of Liberty Records and United Artists... |
LP Gramophone record A gramophone record, commonly known as a phonograph record , vinyl record , or colloquially, a record, is an analog sound storage medium consisting of a flat disc with an inscribed, modulated spiral groove... |
RAD 3 | |
| U.S. United States The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district... |
Columbia Records Columbia Records Columbia Records is an American record label, owned by Japan's Sony Music Entertainment, operating under the Columbia Music Group with Aware Records. It was founded in 1888, evolving from an earlier enterprise, the American Graphophone Company — successor to the Volta Graphophone Company... |
LP | 35331 | |
| UK | F-Beat Records F-Beat Records F-Beat Records was one of the record labels set up by Jake Riviera in late 1979/early 1980, at the same time as he started Demon Records. The label's first release, I Can't Stand Up For Falling Down by Elvis Costello & the Attractions, reached number 4 in the UK charts, the highest singles chart... |
LP | XXLP 4 | |
| UK | Demon Records | CD Compact Disc The Compact Disc is an optical disc used to store digital data. It was originally developed to store and playback sound recordings exclusively, but later expanded to encompass data storage , write-once audio and data storage , rewritable media , Video Compact Discs , Super Video Compact Discs ,... |
IMP FIEND CD 18 | |
| U.S. | Columbia Records | CD | CK 35331 | |
| UK | Demon Records | CD Compact Disc The Compact Disc is an optical disc used to store digital data. It was originally developed to store and playback sound recordings exclusively, but later expanded to encompass data storage , write-once audio and data storage , rewritable media , Video Compact Discs , Super Video Compact Discs ,... |
DPAM2 | |
| U.S. | Rykodisc Rykodisc Rykodisc Records is an American record label. It is owned by Warner Music Group, operates as a unit of WMG's Independent Label Group and is distributed through Alternative Distribution Alliance.-Company history:... |
CD | RCD 10272 | |
| Worldwide | Rhino Rhino Entertainment Rhino Entertainment Company is an American specialty record label and production company. It is owned by Warner Music Group.-History:Rhino was originally a novelty song and reissue company during the 1970s and 1980s, releasing compilation albums of pop, rock & roll, and rhythm & blues successes... |
2 CD | R2 78354 | |
| Worldwide | Hip-O Hip-O Records Hip-O Records is a record label, currently part of Universal Music Group, which specializes in reissues and compilations. Their Hip-O Select label is currently in the midst of releasing the Complete Motown Singles, a series of fourteen box sets which include both sides of every 45 from Motown... |
CD | B0008638-02 | |
| Worldwide | Hip-O | 2 CD 'Deluxe Edition' | B0010681-02 |