02.16.2021
ELVIS COSTELLO’S COMPLETE ARMED FORCES SUPER DELUXE VINYL-ONLY BOXED SET (PART I)
Audiophile Review: Mark Smotroff: February 8th 2021
In 1979, composer, singer and performer Elvis Costello unleashed his third album on the universe which was to seal his status as an influential and successful artist — arguably one of the most talented of his generation — for the rest of his career. He was just 23 years old then!
Called Armed Forces, the album was exactly the powerhouse follow-on he needed after his first two tremendous albums, especially 1978’s This Year’s Model.
Bruce Springsteen once called Elvis’ initial round of albums a “perfect storm” (as a guest on Costello’s Spectacle TV show, a program I recommend highly if you haven’t seen it yet).
And storm Elvis did, across America with an aggressive concert tour that was both assaultive as it was emotional and powerful.