Elvis Costello – My Aim Is True

1977 – and ‘punk’ was everywhere, though I disliked much of it; it seemed that there was much hype and little talent.  It might have been Top Of The Pops when I first clapped eyes on Elvis – singing ‘The Angels Wanna Wear My Red Shoes’, which wsn’t a big hit.  An awkward, gangly bespectacled Buddy Holly lookalike strutted around the stage, but was strangely hypnotic – and the song was brilliant.  It was punky, but brilliantly played and sung, full of energy and great lyrics.  I went out and bought the album – and every song was superb – in fact, one of the best and most original debut albums of the Seventies.  Elvis has gone on to record many albums and has had a successful career and has matured now into one of the elder statesmen of rock, still with attitude – but that first album was special.  Best songs ‘Welcome To The Working Week’, ‘Blame It In Cain’ and ‘Alison’.