When I Was Cruel

Last updated

When I Was Cruel
Elvis Costello - When I Was Cruel.jpg
Studio album by
Elvis Costello
Released23 April 2002
Recorded2001–2002
Genre Alternative rock
Length62:53
Label
Producer
Elvis Costello chronology
For the Stars
(2001)		When I Was Cruel
(2002)		 Cruel Smile
(2002)
Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
Metacritic 76/100 [1]
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [2]
Blender Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [3]
Entertainment Weekly A [4]
The Guardian Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [5]
Los Angeles Times Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svg [6]
NME 6/10 [7]
Pitchfork 8.0/10 [8]
Q Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [9]
Rolling Stone Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [10]
Spin 7/10 [11]

When I Was Cruel is the 19th studio album by English singer-songwriter Elvis Costello, released in the US by Island Records on 23 April 2002. Although formally credited as solo Costello album, this was the first album to feature his new band, the Imposters featuring Steve Nieve on keyboards, Davey Faragher on bass guitar and Pete Thomas on drums. Their only difference from his previous band, the Attractions (active 1977–87 and 1994–96), was Faragher replacing Bruce Thomas, with whom Costello had feuded.

Contents

The album was released with different track listings for various international versions. [12] Costello wrote two songs for the film Prison Song - "Soul for Hire", which was included with all versions of the album, and "Oh Well", which was included only in the track listing in Europe and Japan. [13] Japan also featured as a bonus track a cover of Charlie Chaplin's song "Smile", which was later released as a single. [14] When the album was released, promotional materials billed it as Costello's "FIRST LOUD ALBUM SINCE 199?".

The song "45" is about being 45 years old, Costello's age when he wrote it. The song also features Costello's penchant for multiple meanings, referencing the year 1945, .45 caliber pistols, and 45 rpm records. [4] The idea and title of "Tear Off Your Own Head (It's A Doll Revolution)" came from a set of Engrish-laden dolls in Japan. It appears in the 2003 film The Shape of Things . The Bangles covered it as the title track on their 2003 album, Doll Revolution .

Critical reception was mostly positive, citing strong songwriting and performances. When I was Cruel was also a moderate commercial success

Track listing

All songs written by Elvis Costello.

  1. "45" – 3:33
  2. "Spooky Girlfriend" – 4:22
  3. "Tear Off Your Own Head (It's a Doll Revolution)" – 3:31
  4. "When I Was Cruel No. 2" – 7:06 (featuring a sample from Mina's "Un bacio è troppo poco")
  5. "Soul for Hire" – 3:55
  6. "15 Petals" – 4:01
  7. "Tart" – 4:03
  8. "Dust 2..." – 3:21
  9. "Dissolve" – 2:22
  10. "Alibi" – 6:42
  11. "...Dust" – 3:03
  12. "Daddy Can I Turn This?" – 3:41
  13. "My Little Blue Window" – 3:10
  14. "Oh Well" – 2:51 (Europe and Japan only)
  15. "Episode of Blonde" – 5:01
  16. "Radio Silence" – 4:58
  17. "Smile" – 3:05 (Japan only)

Personnel

Additional personnel

Charts

Chart (2002)Peak
position
US Billboard 200 [15] 20

Year-end charts

Chart (2002)Position
Canadian Alternative Albums (Nielsen SoundScan) [16] 152

Related Research Articles

<i>Imperial Bedroom</i> 1982 studio album by Elvis Costello and the Attractions

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 2 July 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.

<i>Mighty Like a Rose</i> 1991 studio album by Elvis Costello

Mighty Like a Rose is the 13th studio album by the British rock singer and songwriter Elvis Costello, released in 1991 on compact disc as Warner Brothers 26575. The title is presumably a reference to the pop standard "Mighty Lak' a Rose", and although that song does not appear on the album, the words of its first stanza are quoted in the booklet of the 2002 reissue. It peaked at No. 5 on the UK Albums Chart, and at No. 55 on the Billboard 200.

<i>Spike</i> (Elvis Costello album) 1989 studio album by Elvis Costello

Spike is the 12th studio album by English singer-songwriter Elvis Costello, released in 1989 by Warner Bros. Records. It was his first album for the label and first release since My Aim Is True with no appearance by the Attractions. It peaked at No. 5 on the UK Albums Chart and also reached the Billboard 200 at No. 32, thanks to the single and his most notable American hit, "Veronica", which reached No. 19 on the Billboard Hot 100 and No. 1 on the US Modern Rock chart. In The Village Voice's annual Pazz & Jop critics poll for the year's best albums, Spike finished at No. 7.

<i>Kill the Moonlight</i> 2002 studio album by Spoon

Kill the Moonlight is the fourth album by American rock band Spoon released on August 20, 2002, through Merge Records. The album features a stripped-down, minimal sound that incorporates various different instruments such as tambourines and pianos along with an idiosyncratic production style. The album has gone on to receive critical acclaim with its lead single "The Way We Get By" being used in various television shows, and is regarded as Spoon's magnum opus.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Attractions</span> UK musical group

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Steve Nieve</span> English musician and composer

Steve Nieve is an English musician and composer. In a career spanning more than 40 years, Nieve has been a member of Elvis Costello's backing bands the Attractions and the Imposters, as well as Madness. He has also experienced success as a prolific session musician, featured on a wide array of other artists' recordings.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pete Thomas (drummer)</span> British musician

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.

Bruce Thomas is an English bass guitarist, best known as bassist for the Attractions; the band formed in 1977 to back Elvis Costello in concert and on record.

<i>Goodbye Cruel World</i> (Elvis Costello album) 1984 studio album by Elvis Costello and the Attractions

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.

<i>North</i> (Elvis Costello album) 2003 studio album by Elvis Costello

North is an album by English singer-songwriter Elvis Costello, released in 2003. Contrasting with its rock-based predecessor When I Was Cruel (2002), North is an intimate album of ballads and torch songs using classical music and jazz idioms, partially inspired by the dissolution of his marriage to wife Cait O'Riordan and his burgeoning relationship with Diana Krall. It reached No. 44 in the UK Albums Chart, No. 57 in the US Billboard 200 chart and No. 1 in the US Traditional Jazz chart.

<i>The Delivery Man</i> (album) 2004 studio album by Elvis Costello and The Imposters

The Delivery Man is the 21st studio album by Elvis Costello, released on 21 September 2004 through Lost Highway Records. It was recorded with the Imposters at Sweet Tea Studio in Oxford, Mississippi. It peaked at No. 40 on the Billboard 200.

<i>Cruel Smile</i> 2002 compilation album by Elvis Costello and the Imposters

Cruel Smile is a compilation album by Elvis Costello and the Imposters, released in 2002. It consists of B-sides and leftover material from the When I Was Cruel sessions.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Elvis Costello discography</span>

The discography of the English singer-songwriter Elvis Costello includes 33 studio albums, 6 live albums, 17 compilation albums, 6 tribute albums, 2 extended plays, 62 singles and 4 box sets. This page distinguishes between United States and United Kingdom release dates and record labels. Of note are the reissue series, Costello's back catalogue having undergone reissue three times by three different companies.

<i>The River in Reverse</i> 2006 studio album by Elvis Costello and Allen Toussaint

The River in Reverse is a collaboration album by Elvis Costello and Allen Toussaint, released in 2006. It received a Grammy nomination for Best Pop Vocal Album.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Watching the Detectives (song)</span> 1977 single by Elvis Costello

"Watching the Detectives" is a 1977 single by English singer-songwriter Elvis Costello. Inspired by the Clash and Bernard Herrmann, the song features a reggae beat and cynical lyrics.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Only Flame in Town</span> 1984 single by Elvis Costello and the Attractions

"The Only Flame in Town" is a song written by new wave musician Elvis Costello and recorded by Costello with his backing band the Attractions. The song appeared on Costello's 1984 album, Goodbye Cruel World. Originally written in the style of a classic torch song, "The Only Flame in Town" was reworked by producers Clive Langer and Alan Winstanley in a more pop-friendly style. This final version features Daryl Hall of Hall & Oates on backing vocals.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">45 (Elvis Costello song)</span> 2002 single by Elvis Costello

"45" is a song by Elvis Costello from his 2002 album When I Was Cruel, written by Costello. The second single released from the album, it reached number 92 in the UK charts. To date, it is his last single to chart in the United Kingdom.

<i>Hey Clockface</i> 2020 studio album by Elvis Costello

Hey Clockface is the 31st studio album by English singer-songwriter Elvis Costello, released on 30 October 2020 by Concord Records.

<i>The Boy Named If</i> 2022 studio album by Elvis Costello and The Imposters

The Boy Named If is the 32nd studio album by English singer-songwriter Elvis Costello and The Imposters. The album was released on 14 January 2022 by EMI Records and Capitol Records.

<i>The Songs of Bacharach & Costello</i> 2023 compilation album by Burt Bacharach and Elvis Costello

The Songs of Bacharach & Costello is a box set of recordings from American pop musician Burt Bacharach and British rock musician Elvis Costello, released in 2023. Recorded in the 1990s, it also include miscellaneous recordings of the duo's compositions by other artists and a few new tracks. Costello called the compilation "a love letter to Burt".

References

  1. ↑ "Reviews for When I Was Cruel by Elvis Costello". Metacritic . Retrieved 29 January 2016.
  2. ↑ Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "When I Was Cruel – Elvis Costello". AllMusic . Retrieved 9 May 2014.
  3. ↑ Aizlewood, John. "Elvis Costello: When I Was Cruel". Blender . Archived from the original on 4 February 2005. Retrieved 29 January 2016.
  4. 1 2 Browne, David (22 April 2002). "When I Was Cruel". Entertainment Weekly . Archived from the original on 10 April 2016. Retrieved 29 January 2016.
  5. ↑ Petridis, Alexis (12 April 2002). "Still snarling after all these years". The Guardian . Retrieved 29 January 2016.
  6. ↑ Nichols, Natalie (21 April 2002). "Elvis Costello 'When I Was Cruel' Island Def Jam". Los Angeles Times . Retrieved 29 January 2016.
  7. ↑ Mulvey, John (20 April 2002). "Elvis Costello : When I Was Cruel". NME . Archived from the original on 25 May 2008. Retrieved 29 January 2016.
  8. ↑ Bryant, Will (5 May 2002). "Elvis Costello: When I Was Cruel". Pitchfork . Retrieved 29 January 2016.
  9. ↑ "Elvis Costello: When I Was Cruel". Q (189): 111. April 2002.
  10. ↑ Walters, Barry (9 May 2002). "When I Was Cruel". Rolling Stone . Retrieved 29 January 2016.
  11. ↑ Berrett, Jesse (May 2002). "Elvis Costello: When I Was Cruel". Spin . 18 (5): 118. Retrieved 29 January 2016.
  12. ↑ "Elvis Costello - When I Was Cruel". Discogs. Retrieved 4 November 2021.
  13. ↑ Strong, Martin Charles; Griffin, Brendon (2008). Lights, Camera, Sound Tracks. Canongate. ISBN   978-1-84767-003-8.
  14. ↑ Elvis Costello – Smile (2002, CD) , retrieved 4 November 2021
  15. ↑ "Elvis Costello Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved 18 January 2024.
  16. ↑ "Canada's Top 200 Alternative albums of 2002". Jam! . Archived from the original on 2 September 2004. Retrieved 28 March 2022.
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.