Elvis Costello - My Aim Is True (1977)

Elvis Costello - My Aim Is True (1977)

Tracklist front / back album covers

Elvis Costello - My Aim Is True

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Side one

1. "Welcome to the Working Week"   1:22

2. "Miracle Man"   3:31

3. "No Dancing"   2:39

4. "Blame it on Cain"   2:49

5. "Alison"   2:54

6. "Sneaky Feelings"   2:09

Side two

1. "(The Angels Wanna Wear My) Red Shoes"   2:47

2. "Less Than Zero"   3:15

3. "Mystery Dance"   1:38

4. "Pay it Back"   2:33

5. "I'm Not Angry"   2:57

6. "Waiting for the End of the World"   3:22

Elvis Costello Band Members / Musicians

Elvis Costello – vocals, guitar, piano and drumsticks on "Mystery Dance"

John McFee – lead guitar, pedal steel guitar, backing vocals

Sean Hopper – piano, organ, backing vocals

Johnny Ciambotti – bass, backing vocals

Mickey Shine – drums

Stan Shaw – organ on "Less Than Zero"

Nick Lowe – backing vocals, piano, drumsticks and bass on "Mystery Dance"

Andrew Bodnar – bass on "Watching the Detectives"

Steve Goulding – drums on "Watching the Detectives"

Steve Nieve – organ and piano overdubs on "Watching the Detectives"

Barry "Bazza" Farmer - engineer

Wendy Sherman - art direction, design

My Aim Is True is the debut album by English singer-songwriter Elvis Costello. The album was recorded at Pathway Studios in Highbury, London Borough of Islington in 1976, over the course of six four-hour studio sessions, in a total of approximately twenty-four hours. It was the first of five consecutive Costello albums produced by Nick Lowe and cost £2,000 to record. The backing band was made up of members of Clover, but they were uncredited on the original release due to contractual difficulties; some early publicity for the album identified the backing band as "The Shamrocks".

Declan Patrick Aloysius McManus, OBE (born 25 August 1954), known professionally as Elvis Costello, is an English singer-songwriter. He has won multiple awards in his career, including Grammy Awards in 1999 and 2020, and has twice been nominated for the Brit Award for Best British Male Artist. In 2003, he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. In 2004, Rolling Stone ranked Costello number 80 on its list of the 100 Greatest Artists of All Time.

Costello began his career as part of London's pub rock scene in the early 1970s and later became associated with the first wave of the British punk and new wave movement that emerged in the mid-to-late 1970s. His critically acclaimed debut album My Aim Is True was released in 1977. Shortly after recording it, he formed the Attractions as his backing band. His second album This Year's Model was released in 1978, and was ranked number 11 by Rolling Stone on its list of the best albums from 1967 to 1987. His third album Armed Forces was released in 1979, and features his highest-charting single, "Oliver's Army" (number 2 in the UK). His first three albums all appeared on Rolling Stone's list of the 500 Greatest Albums of All Time.

Studio albums (including those with the Attractions, The Costello Show, and the Imposters)

My Aim Is True (1977)

This Year's Model (1978)

Armed Forces (1979)

Get Happy!! (1980)

Trust (1981)

Almost Blue (1981)

Imperial Bedroom (1982)

Punch the Clock (1983)

Goodbye Cruel World (1984)

King of America (1986)

Blood & Chocolate (1986)

Spike (1989)

Mighty Like a Rose (1991)

Brutal Youth (1994)

Kojak Variety (1995)

All This Useless Beauty (1996)

When I Was Cruel (2002)

North (2003)

Il Sogno (2004)

The Delivery Man (2004)

Momofuku (2008)

Secret, Profane & Sugarcane (2009)

National Ransom (2010)

Look Now (2018)

Hey Clockface (2020)

Collaborative Albums

G.B.H. (1991, with Richard Harvey)

The Juliet Letters (1993, with the Brodsky Quartet)

Jake's Progress (1995, with Richard Harvey)

Deep Dead Blue (1995, with Bill Frisell)

Painted from Memory (1998, with Burt Bacharach)

For the Stars (2001, with Anne Sofie von Otter)

Piano Jazz (2005, with Marian McPartland)

My Flame Burns Blue (2006, with Metropol Orkest)

The River in Reverse (2006, with Allen Toussaint)

Wise Up Ghost (2013, with the Roots)

Lost on the River (2014, as a member of The New 

Basement Tapes)

Elvis Costello and My Aim Is True (1977): The Album That Launched a Legendary Career

Elvis Costello is one of the most influential singer-songwriters in modern music history, known for his sharp lyrics, genre-blending sound, and uncompromising artistic vision. His debut album, My Aim Is True (1977), marked a turning point in British rock and punk-influenced pop, establishing Costello as a bold new voice during the late 1970s. Nearly five decades later, the album remains a cornerstone of his extensive and critically acclaimed discography.

Mini Biography of Elvis Costello

Born Declan Patrick MacManus on August 25, 1954, in London, Elvis Costello grew up in a musical household—his father was a jazz musician and bandleader. Before fame, Costello worked various office jobs while writing songs and performing in pub rock bands. His sharp observational lyrics, combined with influences ranging from rock and roll to soul, reggae, and country, set him apart from his contemporaries.

Costello adopted his stage name as a nod to Elvis Presley and his mother’s maiden name, a choice that symbolized both reverence and reinvention. Over the years, he has earned multiple Grammy Awards, been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and collaborated with artists across genres, from Paul McCartney to Burt Bacharach.

My Aim Is True (1977): A Landmark Debut

Released in July 1977, My Aim Is True was recorded quickly and on a modest budget, yet it delivered an outsized cultural impact. Unlike Costello’s later work with The Attractions, this album featured members of the American pub rock band Clover as his backing musicians.

The album blends punk energy, new wave attitude, and classic pop songwriting, showcasing Costello’s biting wit and emotional intensity. Songs like “Alison,” “Watching the Detectives,” “(The Angels Wanna Wear My) Red Shoes,” and “Less Than Zero” became instant classics.

Lyrically, My Aim Is True explores jealousy, betrayal, love, and social alienation—topics delivered with intelligence and sarcasm that would become Costello’s trademark. Critics praised the album for its honesty and melodic strength, and it has since appeared on countless “greatest albums of all time” lists.

Elvis Costello Discography Timeline (Selected)

• 1977 – My Aim Is True

• 1978 – This Year’s Model

• 1978 – Armed Forces

• 1980 – Get Happy!!

• 1982 – Imperial Bedroom

• 1984 – Goodbye Cruel World

• 1989 – Spike

• 1998 – Painted from Memory (with Burt Bacharach)

• 2002 – When I Was Cruel

• 2020 – Hey Clockface

This diverse discography highlights Costello’s constant evolution and refusal to be confined to a single style.

Top-Selling and Most Influential Elvis Costello Albums

Some of Elvis Costello’s best-selling and most influential albums include:

• This Year’s Model (1978) – Often cited as his commercial breakthrough

• Armed Forces (1979) – Featuring the hit “Oliver’s Army”

• Imperial Bedroom (1982) – Widely regarded as his artistic masterpiece

• My Aim Is True (1977) – A consistent long-seller and fan favorite

While My Aim Is True was not his highest-charting release initially, it has enjoyed long-term sales success and enduring popularity.

Fun Facts & Trivia

• “Alison” is frequently ranked among the greatest love songs ever written—despite its dark undertones.

• Elvis Costello has written over 600 songs across his career.

• My Aim Is True was recorded in just six days.

• Costello is an accomplished author and has published his memoir, Unfaithful Music & Disappearing Ink.

• He has explored classical music, jazz, country, punk, and orchestral pop—few artists have such range.

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Legacy of My Aim Is True

My Aim Is True remains one of the most important debut albums in rock history. It introduced the world to Elvis Costello’s fearless songwriting and laid the foundation for a career defined by innovation, integrity, and lyrical brilliance. For new listeners and longtime fans alike, this album is essential listening—and a powerful reminder of how a strong artistic vision can stand the test of time. 🎶