Spike is an Alt/Indie album by Elvis Costello, originally released in 1989. On Gatefold: 64 pressings tracked, owned by 25 collectors.
About
Elvis Costello’s 12th studio album is a stylistic buffet boasting stellar guests—Roger McGuinn, Paul McCartney, Chrissie Hynde—and songs confronting both the personal and the political. The death-row screed of “Let Him Dangle,” the deceptive anti-Thatcher beauty “Tramp the Dirt Down,” and the poppy “Veronica” (about Costello’s Alzheimer’s-stricken grandmother) all show remarkable songwriterly empathy and depth. Elsewhere, New Orleans ensemble The Dirty Dozen Brass Band enlivens the soul-deep “Deep Dark Truthful Mirror,” and traditional Irish instrumentation lifts “Miss MacBeth.” Costello’s plaintive vocal on “Baby Plays Around” is absolutely gorgeous.
via Apple Music
The Clerk says
The Clerk knows this whole record — the pressing quirks, the credits, the take.
Tracklist
Side A
- A1...This Town...4:26
- A2Let Him Dangle4:44
- A3Deep Dark Truthful Mirror4:03
- A4Veronica3:10
- A5God's Comic5:27
- A6Chewing Gum3:43
- A7Tramp The Dirt Down5:40
Side B
- B1Stalin Malone4:04
- B2Satellite5:42
- B3Pads, Paws And Claws2:54
- B4Baby Plays Around2:48
- B5Miss MacBeth4:22
- B6Any King's Shilling6:03
- B7Last Boat Leaving3:15
Sound DNA
- Alt/Indie
- Alternative Rock
- layered
- cynical
- theatrical
Notes from the original pressing. Later editions may differ.
This is the R/S Alsdorf pressing. The TELDEC pressings can be found here: Spike (UK & Europe 1989) (opens in a new tab) (without embossed number) and Spike (UK & Europe 1989) (opens in a new tab) (with embossed number).
Issued in a cardboard sleeve with a glossy finish. The Warner 'W' logo is debossed in the bottom right-hand corner of the back cover. Some copies feature a yellow or red sticker showing the artist's name and both catalogue numbers. Includes a poly-lined paper inner sleeve with lyrics and credits.
Direct Metal Mastering By credit is derived from the etched runout signature ED of Edgar Duchrow at TELDEC-Press GmbH.
Recorded at Ocean Way Studios, Hollywood; Southlake Studios, New Orleans; Windmill Lane Studios, Dublin and AIR Studios, London
Mixed at Ocean Way Studios
Additional Mixing at AIR Studios
Mastered [...] at Masterdisk, NYC
The runouts are stamped; everything behind the string is etched.
Credits
The people behind it.
Performers
- Benmont TenchPIANO, SPINET, CLAVINET ELECTRIC ORGAN , SPINET ORGAN
- Declan Patrick Aloysius MacmanusARRANGED BY COMPOSED BY, ARRANGED BY, ARRANGED BY GUITAR, ORGAN, PIANO, MELODICA, TAMBOURINE, VOCALS, WRITTEN-BY
- Elvis CostelloVOCALS VOCALS, ELECTRIC GUITAR, BASS, PIANO, MANDOLIN, ACOUSTIC GUITAR ACOUSTIC GUITAR
- Jerry MarottaDRUMS DRUM
- Jerry ScheffBASS BASS , BASS DOUBLE BASS
- John DonnellyDRUM PROGRAMMING
- Marc RibotELECTRIC GUITAR, BANJO ACOUSTIC GUITAR , BANJO BANJO
- Michael BlairBELLS, GLOCKENSPIEL, DRUM, TIMPANI, XYLOPHONE, MARIMBA, TAMBOURINE CONDUCTOR , ARRANGED BY , COPYIST CONDUCTOR , ARRANGED BY , TRANSCRIPTION BY
- Mitchell FroomELECTRIC PIANO, CHAMBERLIN, HARMONIUM CHAMBERLIN , ELECTRIC PIANO , ORGAN CHAMBERLIN , ORGAN
- Ralph ForbesDRUM PROGRAMMING DRUMS ELECTRONIC DRUMS
- T-Bone BurnettCONDUCTOR , ARRANGED BY , COPYIST CONDUCTOR , ARRANGED BY , TRANSCRIPTION BY CONDUCTOR, ARRANGED BY, TRANSCRIPTION BY
- The Dirty Dozen Brass BandARRANGED BY FEATURING
- Allen ToussaintGRAND PIANO PIANO
- Buell NeidlingerCELLO DOUBLE BASS DOUBLE BASS, CELLO
- Charles JosephFEATURING , TROMBONE TROMBONE
- Chrissie HyndeHARMONY VOCALS
- Davy SpillaneBAGPIPES , TIN WHISTLE LOW WHISTLE LOW WHISTLE, PIPE
- Derek BellHARP HARP , HAMMERED DULCIMER HARP , OTHER
25 collectors on Gatefold own this · 64 pressings tracked on Gatefold
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