Elvis Costello & The Attractions - Armed Forces LP Record Vinyl - BRAND NEW 180G

$

38

Brand new record.

Elvis Costello & The Attractions - Armed Forces [LP]

(180 Gram Audiophile Vinyl, numbered/limited)   

Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab    MFSL 1-331    821797133111    LP    New Wave, Pop Rock   

Elvis Costello Armed Forces on Numbered Limited-Edition 180-gram LP from Mobile Fidelity

Ranked #482 on Rolling Stone's The 500 Greatest Albums of All-Time

High Fidelity! Half-Speed Mastered LP is Definitive Version of This 1979 Pop Classic

Largely written on tour in hotel rooms and on the bus, Elvis Costello's Armed Forces takes personal politics to a new level. A supremely melodic and hook-laden record, the 1979 set is a showcase of scintillating keyboard lines, sharp guitar work, and the most cohesive arrangements of Costello and the Attractions' career. In every way, this is a pop masterpiece, defined by hits such as ''Accidents Will Happen,'' ''Oliver's Army,'' and the anthemic ''What's So Funny 'Bout Peace Love and Understanding?'' You need this record.

While less musically intense than the preceding This Year's Model, Armed Forces doesn't let up in the lyric department. Costello's narratives are loaded with paranoia, irony, bitterness, and scathing humor. Originally titled Emotional Fascism, the singer's third consecutive masterpiece is inspired by billboard sign slogans, insular observations, and social behavior that Costello found applicable to his own situation. ''Oliver's Army,'' ''Green Shirt,'' and ''Senior Service'' address systemic governmental control. ''Big Boys,'' ''Two Little Hitlers,'' and ''Accidents Will Happen'' also concern control and betrayal - but that of the interpersonal nature.

Given the luxury of six weeks in the studio, Costello and the Attractions responded with spacious arrangements and a few extra touches and instrumental colors that add to the songs' charm. Steve Nieve employs a monophonic Minimoog keyboard and pianos patterned after Abba's sweet pop; whispers are exaggerated into black comedy shouts on ''Goon Squad''; layered and echoed vocals provide the illusion of several Costello voices on multiple tracks. The band is of a piece, constantly in harmony and on the same page.

Half-speed mastered from the original tapes, Mobile Fidelity's numbered limited-edition 180-gram LP presents the vibrant dynamics of Armed Forces' timeless pop songs in the highest possible fidelity. This album has never sounded so full, rich, airy, spacious, detailed, or necessary. The textures and voicings of Nieve's keyboards are alone worth the investment. This pressing will have you dancing in the aisles and analyzing Costello's brilliant turns of phrase for years to come.

We don't need to tell you that these will not last. An acknowledged pop landmark, Armed Forces is a new-wave classic.

Elvis Costello Armed Forces Track Listing:

1. Accidents Will Happen
2. Senior Service
3. Oliver's Army
4. Big Boys
5. Green Shirt
6. Party Girl
7. Goon Squad
8. Busy Bodies
9. Sunday's Best 
10. Moods For Moderns
11. Chemistry Class 
12. Two Little Hitlers 
13. (What's So Funny 'Bout) Peace, Love And Understanding?

RECORD: M
COVER: M

////////////////////////////////////////////////

Record Grading

Mint (M): New condition.

Near Mint (NM): Nearly perfect, a record with no obvious signs of wear, a perfect sleeve with no more than the most minor defects and signs of slight handling.

Very Good Plus (VG+): A very good plus record will show signs that it was played, but was taken good care of by the previous owner. Record surface may show slight signs of wear or minor scuffs that do not affect play. Picture sleeves may have slight wear, lightly turned up corners.

Very Good (VG): A very good record will show groove wear and may have a few vinyl imperfections which will affect the sound. Picture sleeves will show slightly more wear with perhaps a frayed top edge, ring wear or seam breakdown.

Good (G) / Good Plus (G+): A good record will show significant wear and /or scratches, but will play through without skipping. It will have considerable surface noise. Picture sleeves may have seam splits @ bottom & spines, tape, writing, ring wear, stickers and other defects that will start to overwhelm the item. A good or good plus item is usually acquired to fill a hole in a collection until a better copy comes along.

/////////////////////////////////////////////////////

All vinyl records are mailed in cardboard record mailers with added cardboard for rigidity and added protection. All records in USA are shipped with delivery tracking. Thank you for your order!