Blood & Chocolate is the eleventh studio album by the English singer-songwriter Elvis Costello, released in 1986 through Demon Records (UK) and Columbia Records (US). It is his ninth album with his long-standing backing band the Attractions. After his previous album King of America (1986) with producer T-Bone Burnett had largely featured different musicians, this album reunited him with producer Nick Lowe and his usual backing group the Attractions.
The recording of Blood & Chocolate was troubled, as the relationship between Costello and the Attractions had deteriorated during sessions for King of America. The album was generally recorded live in the studio, with minimal takes and overdubs, and featured the band performing at concert-level volume in a way that Costello felt suited the material. Following the album's release and subsequent tour, the group disbanded and would not perform together again for eight years.
Background
Six months after the Los Angeles sessions for King of America, which found Costello working with new musicians outside of his backing band the Attractions, he returned to the studio with the Attractions to work on the songs for Blood & Chocolate.[6] Costello later reported the band's relationship as having "soured" at this time.[6] He explained, "The Attractions' sole contribution to that album, 'Suit of Lights,' had been made during our least successful and most bad-tempered days in the studio. The air of suspicion and resentment still lingered as King of America was released and we entered Olympic Studios, London, to make what proved to be our last record together for eight years."[7]
Recording
After the acrimonious sessions between Costello and the Attractions for King of America, the band first reconvened at Eden Studios to record "Seven Day Weekend", a song co-written by and performed with Jimmy Cliff for the film Club Paradise (1986).[8] The band then began working on Blood & Chocolate at Olympic Studios in March of 1986, which producer Nick Lowe deemed "a much more uptight situation" than on previous albums.[8] Sessions continued through March, April and May.[9]
Blood & Chocolate was recorded in a single large room at high volume, with the band listening to each other on monitor speakers and playing at stage volume, an unusual practice in the studio for its time.[6] Songs were performed through a stage PA system with no separation between instruments.[8] Costello later said that the sessions were an attempt to recapture the same "directness and rawness" with the Attractions that he had previously achieved with the session players on King of America.[10] As Costello recalled, "Nick Lowe was producing us for the first time in five years and, together with engineer Colin Fairley, agreed to an approach that would get the music recorded before the band and I fell out completely. [...] Although it is commonly thought that high volume in the studio creates an uncontrollable sonic picture, this approach seemed to suit the material entirely."[7] Bassist Bruce Thomas later deemed the sound achieved at the sessions to be "a total mess" and "a soup".[11] Additionally, writer Graeme Thomson posited that Costello deliberately "stirred up the sour atmosphere to accentuate the primitive, violent music they were making."[11]
Most of the songs were recorded in a few takes, with most overdubs completed very quickly afterwards.[6] "I Want You" was recorded in a single take,[12] while "Tokyo Storm Warning" was a first take with some elements added afterward.[6] The final minute of "I Want You" featured all instruments in the studio being recorded through Costello's vocal mike, which created, according to Thomson, "a ghostly echo behind the choked voice."[11] "Battered Old Bird" was a composite of two different arrangements of the song, edited together with "a combination of vari-speeding and bold editing".[6]
Costello later called Blood & Chocolate "a really beautiful sounding record."[10]
Composition
Thomson noted that the songs for Blood & Chocolate were a response to both the poor sales of King of America and Columbia Records' "growing indifference" to Costello as an artist, and called the compositional style of the album "brutally simple and rhythmically primal, often featuring little more than two or three chords."[13]
Several critics have likened the sound of the album to the then-embryonic grunge style: Carlo Wolf of Goldmine called it a "brash and grungy effort";[4] Garry Mullholland of Q deemed it "ferocious and grungy";[5] while Will Birch proclaimed it to be "six or eight years ahead of its time".[3] Writing for AllMusic, Stephen Thomas Erlewine categorized Blood & Chocolate as a "straight-ahead rock & roll" album, while acknowledging lesser elements of folk and country.[2]
Regarding Blood & Chocolate's lyrical content, Douglas Wolk of Blender noted the album's "blistering songs about sexual despair and disgust."[14] In Costello's words, "I Hope You're Happy Now" described a "fatal affair"; "Battered Old Bird" was "a macabre fairy tale" based on his childhood; "Home Is Anywhere You Hang Your Head" detailed "a man confirmed in his unworthiness"; "Poor Napoleon" was the "theme song" for a short story he'd written.[15] Costello referred to "Tokyo Storm Warning" as "a psychedelic travelogue",[15] as well as a "protest song", deeming it one of his favorite tracks.[10] Costello added that "The rest of the songs were like the blurred and unfortunate Polaroids that people used to keep to document their worst desires and unhappy love affairs before we had the blessing of phone cameras."[15] Thomson opined that "Elvis often undercut the songs with a degree of malevolent humor and — when it worked — it made for some exhilarating music."[9]
As on King of America, Costello uses multiple names to credit himself: his given name of Declan MacManus; his stage name of Elvis Costello; and the nickname Napoleon Dynamite, his alter ego as master of ceremonies for the Attractions' spinning songbook tour.[6] The cover art painting was credited to Eamonn Singer,[6] which was later revealed to be another of Costello's pseudonyms: "I painted another daub for the cover of the record: a tyrant with a face resembling a cold pork chop in a tricorn hat, screaming at a broken chocolate bar full of blood or Turkish delight, it was hard to tell. After all, I wasn't that adept with the brush."[12] The back cover and liner notes use the international auxiliary language Esperanto to list musician credits and LP sides.[6]
The name "Napoleon Dynamite" would later be used for a 2004 cult film by Jared Hess, who denied that the title was inspired by Blood & Chocolate.[16]
The cover design's distinctive red and gold lettering inspired the logo of the 1989 video game Mother.[17]
Release
Blood and Chocolate was released on 15 September 1986.[18]
The tracks "Tokyo Storm Warning", "I Want You", and "Blue Chair" were all released as singles, although the latter was not the recording from the album, but an earlier one made with T Bone Burnett during the King of America sessions with the Confederates band.[6] The UK CD of Blood & Chocolate included an alternative mix of "Uncomplicated" which "lacks the anvil sound after the 'horse that knows arithmetic' line and a guitar part from the guitar break near the end."[19] This version is also available on the CD-only release of Girls + Girls + Girls (1989). With the exception of a compilation released in the UK, Out of Our Idiot (1987), this album would be the final release on his Demon/Columbia contract, Costello signing with Warner Brothers for his next LP, Spike (1989).[citation needed]
In 1995, the album was reissued on CD by Rykodisc Records in the U.S. and Demon Records in the U.K., featuring six bonus tracks, including the 1987 single version of "Blue Chair" recorded during the King of America sessions.[20] A limited-edition version of this release came with a bonus disc entitled An Overview Disc, consisting of a 78-minute interview with Peter Doggett, conducted on 21 July 1995, in which Costello and Doggett discuss his career and releases up to 1986.[21][22] In 2002, Rhino Records reissued the album again, this time with a second disc of 15 bonus tracks.[23]
Tour and break-up
Immediately after the sessions for Blood & Chocolate came to an end, Costello and the Attractions appeared at the Self Aid charity festival on 17 May 1986[9] and appeared at other European festivals through early July.[24]
Afterward, the band embarked upon an ambitious and expensive U.S. tour, commencing with a five-night run at the Beverly Theater in Beverly Hills, California on 1 October.[25] In addition to performances with the Attractions, the tour consisted of solo sets from Costello, as well as performances with both T Bone Burnett and the Confederates, namely James Burton, Jerry Scheff, Jim Keltner and Mitchell Froom.[25] The centrepiece of the tour was unveiled on October 4: "The Spectacular Spinning Songbook", a carnival wheel containing different song titles that a member of the audience was brought on stage to spin to determine the next performance.[26] Guest MCs for the evening were John Doe and Tom Waits.[26] Chris Willman of the Los Angeles Times called the concert a "spectacle akin to a meeting of PT Barnum, any slick TV game show host you want to name and The Troggs."[27] Similarly, the Times' Robert Hillburn deemed the five-night run "one of the most memorable engagements ever in Los Angeles rock".[28]
The Attractions then performed three dates each in San Francisco, Chicago and Boston,[28] with MCs Huey Lewis (San Francisco), the Chicago Bears (Chicago) and Penn & Teller (New York).[29]Benmont Tench took over keyboard duties for Froom in the Confederates during the tour's Philadelphia dates.[29] Over the course of the U.S. tour, Costello performed over 125 different songs.[28]
The UK tour only featured the Attractions, commencing at the Olympia Theatre in Dublin on 2 December[29] and ending in Liverpool on 9 December, after which Costello informed the Attractions that he was disbanding the group.[30] After one final appearance, wherein the Attractions joined Costello on stage during his solo appearance at the Glastonbury Festival of 1987, the group folded.[31] It would be their last appearance together for seven years.[32]
Reception
Commercial
Blood & Chocolate peaked at No. 16 on the UK Albums Chart and No. 84 on the Billboard 200.[25] The singles "Tokyo Storm Warning" and "I Want You" peaked at Nos. 73 and 79 in the UK, respectively.[33] The non-album single "Blue Chair" peaked at No. 94.[33]
In retrospective reviews, Armond White of Entertainment Weekly praised Blood & Chocolate as a "blistering" and "wildly infectious" effort.[36] Stephen Thomas Erlewine of AllMusic lauded the album as "lively" and "frequently compelling."[2]
↑ Rowley 2018-08-22T11:58:18Z, Scott (22 August 2018). "New wave: A guide to the best albums". LouderSound. Archived from the original on 30 December 2019. Retrieved 30 December 2019.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
Declan Patrick MacManus, better known by his stage name Elvis Costello, is an English singer, songwriter, record producer, author and television host. According to Rolling Stone, Costello "reinvigorated the literate, lyrical traditions of Bob Dylan and Van Morrison with the raw energy and sass that were principal ethics of punk", noting the "construction of his songs, which set densely layered wordplay in an ever-expanding repertoire of styles." His first album, My Aim Is True (1977), is widely regarded as one of the best debuts in popular music history. It spawned no hit singles, but contains some of Costello's best-known songs, including the ballad "Alison". Costello's next two albums, This Year's Model (1978) and Armed Forces (1979), recorded with his backing band the Attractions, helped define the new wave genre. From late 1977 until early 1980, each of the eight singles he released reached the UK Top 30. His biggest hit single, "Oliver's Army" (1979), sold more than 500,000 copies in Britain. He has had more modest commercial success in the US, but has earned much critical praise. From 1977 until the early 2000s, Costello's albums regularly ranked high on the Village Voice Pazz & Jop critics' poll, with This Year's Model and Imperial Bedroom (1982) voted the best album of their respective years. His biggest US hit single, "Veronica" (1989), reached number 19 on the Billboard Hot 100.
Almost Blue is the sixth studio album by the English singer-songwriter Elvis Costello, and his fifth with the Attractions—keyboardist Steve Nieve, bassist Bruce Thomas and drummer Pete Thomas. It was recorded in May 1981 in Nashville, Tennessee, and released in October the same year. A departure from Costello's previous works, it is a covers album composed entirely of country music songs, including works written by Hank Williams and George Jones. The project originated with Costello's desire to record a collection of covers after his two previous studio albums commercially underperformed following Armed Forces (1979).
This Year's Model is the second studio album by the English singer-songwriter Elvis Costello, released on 17March 1978 through Radar Records. After being backed by Clover for his debut album My Aim Is True (1977), Costello formed the Attractions—keyboardist Steve Nieve, bassist Bruce Thomas and drummer Pete Thomas —as his permanent backing band. Recording sessions took place at London's Eden Studios in eleven days between late1977 and early1978. Nick Lowe returned as producer, and Roger Béchirian acted as engineer. Most of the songs were written prior to the sessions, and debuted live during the latter half of 1977.
My Aim Is True is the debut studio album by the English singer-songwriter Elvis Costello, originally released in the United Kingdom on 22July 1977 through Stiff Records. Produced by Stiff artist and musician Nick Lowe, the album was recorded from late 1976 to early 1977 over six four-hour studio sessions at Pathway Studios in Islington, London. The backing band was the California-based country rock act Clover, who were uncredited on the original release due to contractual difficulties. At the time performing as D.P. Costello, Costello changed his name to Elvis after Elvis Presley at the suggestion of the label, and adjusted his image to match the rising punk rock movement.
Imperial Bedroom is the seventh studio album by the English singer-songwriter Elvis Costello, and his sixth with the Attractions—keyboardist Steve Nieve, bassist Bruce Thomas and drummer Pete Thomas. It was released on 2July 1982 through F-Beat Records in the United Kingdom and Columbia Records in the United States. Recording took place at AIR Studios in London from late 1981 to early 1982 with production handled by Geoff Emerick. Placing an emphasis on studio experimentation, the album saw the group use unusual instruments, including harpsichord, accordion and strings arranged by Nieve. Songs were rewritten constantly while Costello tinkered with the recordings, adding numerous overdubs.
Armed Forces is the third studio album by the English singer-songwriter Elvis Costello, released on 5January 1979 in the United Kingdom through Radar Records. It was his second album with the Attractions—keyboardist Steve Nieve, bassist Bruce Thomas and drummer Pete Thomas —and the first to officially credit them on the cover. The album was recorded in six weeks from August to September 1978 in London under the working title Emotional Fascism. Produced by Nick Lowe and engineered by Roger Béchirian, the sessions saw Costello exert more control over production compared to This Year's Model, while Nieve contributed more to song arrangements.
Get Happy!! is the fourth studio album by the English singer-songwriter Elvis Costello, and his third with the Attractions — keyboardist Steve Nieve, bassist Bruce Thomas and drummer Pete Thomas. It was released on 15February 1980 through F-Beat Records in the United Kingdom and Columbia Records in the United States. Produced by Nick Lowe and engineered by Roger Béchirian, the sessions began in London but moved to the Netherlands after Costello found the material derivative of his previous album, Armed Forces (1979). The sessions were problematic but resulted in a large number of songs; the final album contains 20 tracks across a single LP.
Trust is the fifth studio album by the English singer-songwriter Elvis Costello, and his fourth with the Attractions—keyboardist Steve Nieve, bassist Bruce Thomas and drummer Pete Thomas. It was released on 23January 1981 through F-Beat Records in the United Kingdom. Produced by Nick Lowe, with assistance by the engineer Roger Béchirian, the album was recorded in London from October to November 1980 between DJM and Eden Studios. The sessions were riddled with alcohol and drug issues and tensions were high between the band members. Squeeze's vocalist Glenn Tilbrook and the Rumour's guitarist Martin Belmont made guest appearances on "From a Whisper to a Scream".
King of America is the tenth studio album by the English singer-songwriter Elvis Costello, released on 21 February 1986. Co-produced by Costello and T Bone Burnett, the album originated following a series of tours the two made under the name "the Coward Brothers". Recording took place in mid-1985 at various studios in Los Angeles, California, with a group of American session musicians dubbed "the Confederates". Selected by Burnett, they included Ray Brown, Earl Palmer and former members of Elvis Presley's TCB Band. Costello's regular backing band, the Attractions, were intended to appear on half of the album before poor sessions led to them appearing on only one track, "Suit of Lights".
The Attractions were an English backing band for the English new wave musician Elvis Costello between 1977 and 1986, and again from 1994 to 1996. They consisted of Steve Nieve (keyboards), Bruce Thomas, and Pete Thomas (drums). They also released one album as an independent entity, without Costello, in 1980.
Peter Michael Thomas is an English rock drummer best known for his collaboration with singer Elvis Costello, both as a member of his band the Attractions and with Costello as a solo artist. Besides his lengthy career as a studio musician and touring drummer, he has been a member of the band Squeeze during the 1990s and a member of the supergroup Works Progress Administration during the early 2000s.
Goodbye Cruel World is the ninth studio album by the English singer-songwriter Elvis Costello, and his eighth with the Attractions—keyboardist Steve Nieve, bassist Bruce Thomas and drummer Pete Thomas. It was released on 18 June 1984 through F-Beat Records in the United Kingdom and Columbia Records in the United States. Produced by Clive Langer and Alan Winstanley, who returned from 1983's Punch the Clock, the album was recorded at London's Sarm West Studios in March 1984 during a period of turmoil for the artist. The problematic sessions included disagreements between Costello and the producers over the album's direction and high tensions amongst the Attractions.
Brutal Youth is an album by English musician Elvis Costello, released in 1994. It contains the first recordings Costello made with his band the Attractions since Blood and Chocolate (1986). Brutal Youth was the third, and most recent of Costello's albums, to peak at number two in the UK Albums Chart, following on from Armed Forces (1979) and Get Happy!! (1980).
"Leave My Kitten Alone" is a song written by Little Willie John, Titus Turner, and James McDougal, first recorded by Little Willie John and released in 1959 as a single through King Records. It is an R&B song that follows a 24-bar blues format.
"Blue Chair" is a song written by new wave musician Elvis Costello and recorded by Costello with his backing band the Attractions. The song first appeared on Costello's 1986 album, Blood & Chocolate. First intended for Costello's previous album King of America, the song was scrapped during that session and reworked with the Attractions around Steve Nieve's piano part.
"I Want You" is a song written by Elvis Costello and recorded with his backing band the Attractions. It was released on his 1986 album Blood & Chocolate.
"I Hope You're Happy Now" is a song written by new wave musician Elvis Costello, recorded by Costello and the Attractions. The track was released on his 1986 album Blood & Chocolate after several failed attempts to record the song for earlier releases.
"Suit of Lights" is a song written and performed by new wave musician Elvis Costello that was first released on his 1986 album King of America. Written about Costello's memories of his father, the song includes introspective lyrics about the "dubious embrace of celebrity" while also featuring the sole performance of the Attractions on the album, who were largely supplanted by the studio professionals of the Confederates on the rest of King of America.
"Next Time Round" is a song written by new wave musician Elvis Costello and recorded by Elvis Costello and the Attractions. The track was released on his 1986 album Blood & Chocolate after an earlier attempt to record the song for his previous album King of America was scrapped.
"Jack of All Parades" is a song by English singer-songwriter Elvis Costello, which was released on his tenth studio album King of America (1986). The song was written by Costello, credited under his real name Declan MacManus, and produced by T Bone Burnett, Costello and Larry Kalman Hirsch. As a musician, Costello is credited on the track as "The Little Hands of Concrete". It is a love song, inspired by his new relationship with Cait O'Riordan of the Pogues, and is unusual in Costello's catalogue for being a positive love song.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply. Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.
