King of America
1610795
226097581
2008-07-16T20:30:52Z
Anthonylombardi
455572
{{Infobox Album <!-- See Wikipedia:WikiProject_Albums -->
| Name = King of America
| Type = Studio album
| Artist = [[Elvis Costello|The Costello Show featuring the Attractions and Confederates]]
| Cover = Elvis Costello-King of America (album cover).jpg
| Released = [[February 21]] [[1986]]
| Recorded = Ocean Way, Sunset Sound & Sound Factory Studio <br>Los Angeles, 1985-86
| Genre = [[Americana (music)|Americana]]
| Length = 57:36
| Label = [[Demon Records|Demon]] <small>([[United Kingdom|UK]])</small><br>[[Columbia Records|Columbia]] <small>([[United States|US]])</small><br>[[Rykodisc]] <small>([[September 5]] [[1995]] Reissue)</small><br>[[Rhino Records|Rhino]] <small>([[April 26]] [[2005]] Reissue)</small>
| Producer = [[T-Bone Burnett|J. Henry (T-Bone) Burnett]], [[Elvis Costello|Declan MacManus]]
| Reviews = * [[Allmusic]] {{rating-5|4.5}} [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:rm6dtrotkl2x link]
* [[Pitchfork]] (8.7/10) [http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/article/record_review/16336/Elvis_Costello_King_of_America link]
* [[Robert Christgau]] (A-) [http://www.robertchristgau.com/get_artist.php?id=1852&name=The+Costello+Show+%28Featuring+Elvis+Costello%29 link]
* ''[[Rolling Stone]]'' {{rating-5|4}} [http://www.rollingstone.com/artists/elviscostello/albums/album/229026/rid/7284840/ link]
| Last album = ''[[The Best of Elvis Costello & The Attractions]]''<br/>(1985)
| This album = '''''King of America'''''<br/>(1986)
| Next album = ''[[Blood and Chocolate (album)|Blood and Chocolate]]''<br/>(1986)
}}
'''''King of America''''' is the tenth album by the [[United Kingdom|British]] [[rock (music)|rock]] singer and songwriter [[Elvis Costello]], billed as "the Costello Show featuring the Attractions and Confederates."
At the time of this album, the recently-divorced Costello legally changed his name back to Declan Patrick Aloysius MacManus (the "Aloysius" being a new addition). Consequently, this is the first of a string of albums where the songs and production are credited to MacManus, while the album itself is credited to Elvis Costello. All of Costello's instrumental performances on this album are attributed to "the Little Hands of Concrete" (L.H.C. for short), a [[self-deprecation|self-deprecating]] reference to his guitar-playing ability.
==Track listing==
All tracks written by [[Declan MacManus]] except as noted.
===Side one===
# "Brilliant Mistake" – 3:44
# "Lovable" (MacManus, [[Cait O'Riordan]]) – 2:52
# "Our Little Angel" – 4:06
# "[[Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood]]" ([[Bennie Benjamin]], [[Sol Marcus]], [[Gloria Caldwell]]) – 3:17
# "Glitter Gulch" – 3:14
# "Indoor Fireworks" – 4:10
# "Little Palaces" – 3:51
# "I'll Wear It Proudly" – 4:21
===Side two===
# "American Without Tears" – 4:30
# "Eisenhower Blues" ([[J. B. Lenoir]]) – 3:43
# "Poisoned Rose" – 4:09
# "The Big Light" – 2:33
# "Jack of All Parades" – 5:17
# "Suit of Lights" – 4:02
# "Sleep of the Just" – 3:48
===Bonus tracks (1995 Rykodisc)===
# "The People's Limousine" (Costello, [[T-Bone Burnett]]) – 3:38
# "They'll Never Take Her Love from Me" ([[Leon Payne]]) – 3:01
# "Suffering Face" – 3:08
# "Shoes Without Heels" – 4:18
# "King of Confidence" (Costello) – 2:46
===Bonus disc (2005 Rhino)===
# "Having It All" (demo version) – 3:57
# "Suffering Face" (demo version) – 3:08
# "Deportee" (demo version) – 3:35
# "Indoor Fireworks" (demo version) (Costello) – 3:49
# "I Hope You're Happy Now" (demo version) – 3:06
# "Poisoned Rose" (demo version) – 4:12
# "I'll Wear It Proudly" (demo version) – 3:25
# "Jack of All Parades" (demo version) – 3:32
# "The People's Limousine" (Costello, Burnett) – 3:38
# "They'll Never Take Her Love from Me" (Payne) – 3:01
# "King of Confidence" (outtake) (Costello) – 2:48
# "Shoes Without Heels" – 4:20
# "End of the Rainbow" (demo version) – 3:27
# "Betrayal" (outtake) (Costello) – 2:24
# "That's How You Got Killed Before" (live) ([[Dave Bartholomew]]} – 3:13
# "The Big Light" (live) – 3:08
# "It Tears Me Up" (live) ([[Dan Penn]], [[Spooner Oldham]]) – 3:26
# "The Only Daddy That'll Walk the Line" (live) ([[Jimmy Bryant]]) – 2:42
# "Your Mind Is on Vacation" ([[Mose Allison]]) / "Your Funeral and My Life" (live) ([[Sonny Boy Williamson II]]) – 5:16
# "That's How You Got Killed Before" (Reprise) (live) (Bartholomew) – 7:00
# "True Love Ways" (live) ([[Buddy Holly]], [[Norman Petty]]) – 3:32
<small>Note: The Rykodisc version has the original tracks and bonus tracks on one CD. The Rhino version has two CDs with the original tracks on the first CD.</small>
==Personnel==
*[[Declan MacManus|Elvis Costello]] a/k/a The Little Hands of Concrete a/k/a Declan Patrick Aloysius MacManus – [[Steel-string guitar|acoustic guitar]], [[electric guitar]], [[mandolin]]s, [[singer|lead vocal]]
*[[Mickey Curry]] – brushes, [[drum kit|drums]], [[drum stick|sticks]]
*[[Jerry Scheff]] – [[double bass|string bass]], [[bass guitar|electric bass]]
*[[T Bone Wolk]] – electric guitar, [[piano accordion]], electric bass
*[[Mitchell Froom]] – [[Hammond organ]], [[harpsichord]], [[organ (music)|organ]], doctored [[piano]]
===Additional personnel===
*[[Jim Keltner]] – sticks, drums, brushes
*[[David Hidalgo]] – [[harmony]] vocal (on "Lovable")
*[[James Burton]] – electric guitar, [[Dobro]], acoustic guitar
*[[Ron Tutt]] – brushes, drums
*[[Michael Blair (musician)|Michael Blair]] – [[marimba]]
*[[T-Bone Burnett]] – electric guitar, production
*[[Jo-El Sonnier]] – French [[accordion]] (on "American Without Tears")
*[[Ray Brown (musician)|Ray Brown]] – string bass (on "Eisenhower Blues")
*[[Earl Palmer]]– brushes, drums
*[[Tom Canning]] – piano
*[[Steve Nieve]] – piano, [[Hammond organ]]
*[[Bruce Thomas]] – electric bass (on "Suit of Lights")
*[[Pete Thomas]] – sticks, drums (on "Suit of Lights")
==External links==
*[http://www.astheygo.com/ecessay05.html "The Jack of All Parades" - essay by Connor Ratliff]
{{Elvis Costello}}
[[Category:1986 albums]]
[[Category:Elvis Costello albums]]
[[Category:Albums produced by Elvis Costello]]
[[Category:Albums produced by T-Bone Burnett]]