Mastodawn

Elvis Costello and The Attractions, Armed Forces, 1979 on Columbia

Costello's third LP and second with The Attractions (but the first to credit them on the cover). My favorites here are "Oliver's Army" and of course "(What's So Funny 'Bout) Peace, Love and Understanding" (forgiving the lack of an Oxford comma). Produced by Nick Lowe, who famously wrote the latter. My copy—via Vinyl Vault in Littleton MA—is a Pitman pressing from 1979 with (as expected) the US cover. In the UK, the initial release (on Radar Records) has the painting of the elephants on […]

https://goatless.org/2026/05/14/elvis-costello-and-the-attractions-armed-forces-1979-on-columbia

John Eckman Apr 8

Elvis Costello and the Attractions, Get Happy!!, 1980 on Columbia

Yes, that’s “Get Happy!!” with not one but two exclamation marks. Fourth Costello studio LP and the third with The Attractions, following after Armed Forces. More influence here from R&B, soul, and even Ska.

My copy—via the Vinyl Vault in Littleton MA—is a Pitman pressing with (like most releases of this LP) the sides reversed on the rear jacket. (The tracks listed as “side one” are actually side two and vice versa – the labels are correct to the audio).

#1980 #1980s #Columbia #ElvisCostello #ElvisCostelloTheAttractions #LittletonMA #vinyl #VinylVault #vinylcollection #vinylfinds

John Eckman Mar 27

Dexy’s Midnight Runners, Too-Rye-Ay, 1982 on Mercury

Credited on the cover to “Kevin Rowland & Dexys Midnight Runners,” this was their second LP, the first with Mercury Records and the one with the massive hit “Come on Eileen.” Wonderful album – also includes “Jackie Wilson Said.”

There were plans for a 40th anniversary reissue of Too-Rye-Ay “As It Could Have Sounded” (a remix) but I don’t believe it ever came to fruition.

My copy – via Vinyl Vault in Littleton MA – is a 1982 Mercury pressing with the “SRM-1-4069” catalog number and a “Previously released as SHRM 1-4069” notation.

#1980s #1982 #DexySMidnightRunners #KevinRowland #LittletonMA #Mercury #vinyl #VinylVault #vinylcollection #vinylfinds