My Aim Is True – Elvis Costello

The MARK’S VINTAGE VINYL page features something from Mark’s collection of recordings from over the years. Most of it is on vinyl – hence the name – though there will be a few entries from his CDs (remember those?).

My Aim Is True, by Elvis Costello

• Debut album by Elvis Costello, released in 1977.
• In college, as I was expanding my music taste to something more eclectic, I became interested in new wave and punk music, and soon discovered Costello as one of the innovators of the sound. This got me to the local used record store, where I purchased My Aim Is True (and eventually 8 other Costello albums). I fell in love with his quirky look and vocals.
• This album is ranked #168 on Rolling Stone’s list of the Greatest Albums of All Time – one of 4 Costello albums to make the list. It was certified platinum in 1991, and in 2007, it was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame.
• The backing band on the album is not credited. It turns out that they were known as Clover. John McFee went on to become the guitarist for The Doobie Brothers, and Sean Hopper became the keyboardist for Huey Lewis and the News. Bassist John Ciambotti became a session musician, and later a chiropractor specilizing in musicians’ injuries.
• The album did not chart highly – #32 on the Billboard 200 album chart, and none of the singles made it onto the U.S. charts. But, as Costello’s legacy evolved, several songs became recognized as classics – most notably, Alison. It is #323 on Rolling Stone’s GOAT songs list. While Costello’s version did not chart, Linda Ronstadt covered it in 1978, where it reached #30 on the Adult Contempory chart. Here is a live version of the song from 1977. The album title “My Aim Is True” is taken from the lyrics to this song.