Spike (Elvis Costello album)

Spike is the 12th studio album by the British rock singer and songwriter Elvis Costello, and his first since My Aim Is True without the Attractions, released on compact disc as Warner Brothers 25848. It was his first album for the label and peaked at No. 5 on the UK Albums Chart. It also reached No. 32 on the Billboard 200 thanks to the single and his most notable American hit, "Veronica", which reached No. 19 on the Billboard Hot 100 and No.1 on the US Modern Rock chart. In The Village Voice's annual Pazz & Jop critics poll for the year's best albums, Spike finished at #7.[13]

Spike
Studio album by Elvis Costello
Released	6 February 1989 (7 February 1989 U.S.)[1]
Recorded	1987–1988
Genre	Rock, baroque pop[2]
Length	63:50
Label	Warner Bros. Rhino (11 August 2001 Reissue)
Producer	Elvis Costello, Kevin Killen & T Bone Burnett
Elvis Costello chronology
Out of Our Idiot (1987) Spike (1989) Mighty Like a Rose (1991)

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[3]
Blender	[4]
Chicago Tribune	[5]
Entertainment Weekly	C+[6]
Los Angeles Times	[7]
NME	10/10[8]
Q	[9]
Rolling Stone	[10]
The Rolling Stone Album Guide	[11]
The Village Voice	B[12]

Content

In 1987, Costello began writing with Paul McCartney for the latter's Flowers in the Dirt album. They composed a dozen songs together, which showed up on multiple albums by McCartney and Costello.[14]^:3 Two of those songs appear on this album, "Pads, Paws and Claws" and the hit single "Veronica".

As his first album for a new label, in his own words Costello had the budget of "a small independent movie", and having in mind the blueprint for five different albums, decided to make all of them.[14]^:4 He brought back his foil from King of America, T Bone Burnett, to facilitate the sessions and produce the album. Studio time was booked in four different locations: Ocean Way in Hollywood; Southland Studios in New Orleans; Windmill Lane Studios in Dublin; and AIR Studios in London.[14]^:25 Four different groups of musicians were assembled in each location. Writing credits on the album are given to both Elvis Costello and Declan MacManus, Costello's birth name.

The single "Veronica" peaked at No. 31 on the UK singles chart and at No. 19 in America, his best showing ever on the Billboard Hot 100. It also reached No.1 on the US Modern Rock chart. "This Town" was also released as a single but missed both of the main singles chart in both nations. An extended play single was also released for "Baby Plays Around", peaking at No. 65 in the UK.

The second track, "Let Him Dangle", is a protest song opposing capital punishment, recounting the 1953 conviction and execution of Derek Bentley.

The seventh track, "Tramp the Dirt Down", is a fiery lament, depicting Costello's anger at the Thatcher government and its effect on Britain's society. In the song, Costello expresses his desire to live long enough to see Margaret Thatcher die and vows, "I'll stand on your grave and tramp the dirt down." "I wish I'd written 'Tramp the Dirt Down'," said singer Natalie Merchant.[15] The song reached No. 79 on the iTunes chart following Thatcher's death in April 2013.[16] In addition, he played this song at Glastonbury 2013 having previously performed it there on the Pyramid Stage in 1987.

Lyrics are given in the booklet for the eighth track, "Stalin Malone", but the album recording is an instrumental and does not include vocals. A version with a recitation of the lyrics as poetry appears on the 2001 bonus disc.

Release history

The album was released initially on compact disc in 1989. As part of the Rhino Records reissue campaign for Costello's back catalogue from Demon/Columbia and Warners, it was re-released in 2001 with 17 additional tracks on a bonus disc. The bonus disc included three tracks with Nick Lowe on bass and Attractions drummer Pete Thomas for use as b-sides, recorded at Wessex Sound Studios after the Spike mixing sessions.[14]^:7

Track listing

All tracks written by Elvis Costello, except where noted; track timings taken from Rhino 2001 reissue.

1. "...This Town..." – 4:32
2. "Let Him Dangle" – 4:45
3. "Deep Dark Truthful Mirror" – 4:07
4. "Veronica" (Costello, Paul McCartney) – 3:09
5. "God's Comic" – 5:31
6. "Chewing Gum" – 3:47
7. "Tramp the Dirt Down" – 5:41
8. "Stalin Malone" – 4:09
9. "Satellite" – 5:45
10. "Pads, Paws and Claws" (Costello, McCartney) – 2:56
11. "Baby Plays Around" (Costello, Cait O'Riordan) – 2:47
12. "Miss Macbeth" – 4:23
13. "Any King's Shilling" – 6:07
14. "Coal-Train Robberies" – 3:18
15. "Last Boat Leaving" – 3:31

2001 bonus disc

Tracks 1–12 are solo demo recordings.

1. "Miss Macbeth" – 3:51
2. "...This Town..." – 3:50
3. "Deep Dark Truthful Mirror" – 4:07
4. "Coal Train Robberies" – 2:52
5. "Satellite" – 4:50
6. "Pads, Paws and Claws" (Costello, McCartney) – 2:08
7. "Let Him Dangle" – 3:39
8. "Veronica" (Costello, McCartney) – 3:03
   • B-side to "So Like Candy" single
9. "Tramp the Dirt Down" – 5:19
10. "Baby Plays Around" (Costello, O'Riordan) – 2:42
11. "Put Your Big Toe in the Milk of Human Kindness" – 3:17
12. "Last Boat Leaving" – 3:29
13. "The Ugly Things" (Nick Lowe) – 2:56
    • B-side to "The Other Side of Summer" single
14. "You're No Good" (Clint Ballard, Jr.) – 2:22
    • B-side to "Veronica" single
15. "Point of No Return" (Gerry Goffin, Carole King) – 2:34
    • B-side to "Baby Plays Around" single
16. "The Room Nobody Lives In" (John Sebastian) – 4:46
    • B-side to twelve-inch and CD single of "Veronica"
17. "Stalin Malone" – 3:12 version with recitation

Personnel

• Elvis Costello – vocals, acoustic guitar, bass guitar, electric guitar, mandolin, piano, bells, acoustic bass guitar, organ, melodica
• T Bone Burnett – acoustic guitar, bass, national steel guitar
• Cait O'Riordan – maracas, bells

Dublin

• Derek Bell – Irish harp, hammered dulcimer
• Frankie Gavin – fiddle
• Dónal Lunny – acoustic guitar, bouzouki, electric bouzouki
• Davy Spillane – pipe, uilleann pipes, Low whistle
• Steve Wickham – fiddle
• Christy Moore – bodhran
• Pete Thomas – drums

New Orleans

• Lionel Batiste – bass drum
• Gregory Davis – trumpet
• Willie Green – drums
• Kevin Harris – tenor saxophone
• Charles Joseph – trombone
• Kirk Joseph – sousaphone
• Roger Lewis – baritone saxophone, soprano saxophone
• Jenell Marshall – snare drum
• Allen Toussaint – grand piano
• Efrem Towns – trumpet

Hollywood

• Michael Blair – glockenspiel, marimba, tambourine, xylophone, bells, timpani, vibraphone, Chinese drums, Oldsmobile hubcap, Parade drum, anvil, whiplash, crash-box, temple bells, snare drum, "magic table", metal pipe, "Martian dog bark"
• Ralph Forbes – electric drums, drum programming
• Mitchell Froom – organ, harmonium, electric piano, chamberlin, Indian harmonium
• Roger McGuinn – twelve-string guitar, Rickenbacker bass guitar
• Jim Keltner – tom-toms, snare drum, Chinese cymbal
• Jerry Marotta – drums
• Buell Neidlinger – cello, double bass
• Marc Ribot – banjo, electric guitar, Spanish guitar, sounds
• Jerry Scheff – electric bass, double bass, fuzz bass
• Benmont Tench – piano, clavinet, spinet, Vox Continental
• Tom "T Bone" Wolk – accordion, bass

London

• Chrissie Hynde – harmony vocals
• Nick Lowe – bass
• Paul McCartney – Hofner bass guitar, Rickenbacker bass guitar
• Pete Thomas – drums

Charts

Weekly charts Chart (1989) Peak position Australian Albums Chart[17] 26 Dutch Mega Albums Chart[18] 19 Japanese Albums Chart[19] 61 New Zealand Albums Chart[20] 34 Swedish Albums Chart[21] 13 UK Albums Chart[22] 5 United States Billboard 200[23] 32

Year-end charts Chart (1989) Position US Billboard 200 82

Singles

Year	Single	Chart	Peak position
1989	"Veronica"	Billboard Hot 100[24]	19
		Billboard Alternative Songs[25]	1
		UK Singles Chart[26]	31
		Australian Singles Chart[27]	27

Certifications

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Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
United Kingdom (BPI)[28]	Gold	100,000^^
United States (RIAA)[29]	Gold	500,000^^
^^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

References

1. RIAA.com
2. John Floyd (11 July 1996). "Still The King". Miami New Times. Archived from the original on 12 March 2016. Retrieved 6 February 2016.
3. Ruhlmann, William. "Spike – Elvis Costello". AllMusic. Archived from the original on 7 May 2016. Retrieved 16 June 2016.
4. Wolk, Douglas (March 2005). "Elvis Costello: Spike". Blender. Archived from the original on 4 February 2005. Retrieved 16 June 2016.
5. Kot, Greg (2 June 1991). "The Sounds Of Elvis, From San Francisco And Beyond". Chicago Tribune. Archived from the original on 22 December 2015. Retrieved 7 December 2015.
6. White, Armond (10 May 1991). "Elvis Costello's albums". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on 21 October 2015. Retrieved 20 September 2015.
7. Cromelin, Richard (5 February 1989). "Costello Opens Floodgates in 'Spike'". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on 16 January 2014. Retrieved 24 October 2011.
8. Staunton, Terry (11 February 1989). "Puncture the clock". NME.
9. Cooper, Mark (March 1989). "Scathing". Q (30).
10. Wild, David (9 March 1989). "Spike". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on 11 May 2016. Retrieved 16 June 2016.
11. Sheffield, Rob (2004). "Elvis Costello". In Brackett, Nathan; Hoard, Christian (eds.). The New Rolling Stone Album Guide (4th ed.). London: Fireside Books. pp. 193–95. ISBN 0-7432-0169-8. Archived from the original on 13 December 2020. Retrieved 30 November 2011.
12. Christgau, Robert (25 April 1989). "Christgau's Consumer Guide". The Village Voice. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 16 June 2016.
13. "The 1989 Pazz & Jop Critics Poll". The Village Voice. 27 February 1990. Archived from the original on 10 August 2020. Retrieved 12 November 2020.
14. Costello, Elvis. Spike. Rhino Records 8122 72486 2, 2001, liner notes.
15. 'Q Questionnaire': Q, January 1994, p154
16. Sherwin, Adam (10 April 2013). "'Ding Dong! The Witch Is Dead' closer to number one spot as it reaches top five following Margaret Thatcher's death". The Independent. Archived from the original on 12 April 2013. Retrieved 12 April 2013.
17. Steffen Hung. "Elvis Costello – Spike". australian-charts.com. Archived from the original on 24 May 2018. Retrieved 12 August 2011.
18. "dutchcharts.nl Elvis Costello – Spike" (ASP). dutchcharts.nl (in Dutch). MegaCharts. Archived from the original on 16 July 2012. Retrieved 23 October 2011.
19. Oricon Album Chart Book: Complete Edition 1970–2005. Roppongi, Tokyo: Oricon Entertainment. 2006. ISBN 4-87131-077-9.
20. "charts.nz – Elvis Costello – Spike" (ASP). Recording Industry Association of New Zealand. Archived from the original on 14 December 2020. Retrieved 23 October 2011.
21. "swedishcharts.com Elvis Costello – Spike" (ASP) (in Swedish). Sverigetopplistan. Archived from the original on 11 January 2014. Retrieved 18 September 2011.
22. "Elvis Costello – Spike". Official Charts Company. Archived from the original on 5 April 2015. Retrieved 23 October 2011.
23. "Elvis Costello Chart History: Billboard 200". Billboard. Archived from the original on 30 October 2020. Retrieved 9 September 2020.
24. "Elvis Costello – Billboard – The Hot 100". Retrieved 20 June 2013.
25. "Elvis Costello – Billboard – Alternative Songs". Retrieved 20 June 2013.
26. "Elvis Costello – UK Singles – Official Charts". Archived from the original on 24 March 2019. Retrieved 9 September 2020.
27. "Elvis Costello - Veronica - australian-charts.com". Archived from the original on 11 January 2014. Retrieved 20 June 2013.
28. "British album certifications – Elvis Costello – Spike". British Phonographic Industry. Select albums in the Format field. Select Gold in the Certification field. Type Spike in the "Search BPI Awards" field and then press Enter.
29. "American album certifications – Elvis Costello – Spike". Recording Industry Association of America. If necessary, click Advanced, then click Format, then select Album, then click SEARCH.