G.O.A.T.: Alison and enjoying the Detectives by Elvis Costello (1977)

by eeajc Anime

THE greatest OF ALL TUNES (G.O.A.T.) is a series of posts, producing my 100 favorite songs of all time.  The master list is here, and I update it about every two weeks or when I have another 10 songs or so. ideal now, I’m adding my 13th and 14th songs to the list: Elvis Costello’s Alison and enjoying the Detectives.

Elvis Costello has created over a dozen songs that are a lot of excellent.  Radio Radio.  Veronica.  The Angels want to wear My Red Shoes.  Oliver’s Army.  Pump It Up.  accidents will Happen.  everyday I write the Book.  On and on.  but I’m saying these two songs, both from My goal is True.  Alison was the “B” side to the single “Welcome the working Week,” and a line from the chorus served as the album’s title.  Why did I pick this song, one that Costello himself has said is not one of his best?  because he’s wrong.  It is.

It’s a fairly standard ballad, albeit one with an opening chord that is beautiful enough to make your heart break and lyrics that still break me whenever I hear them.  “I know this world is killing you…”  It just kills me.  then when he says, “Somebody better put out the big light because I can’t stand to see you this way…”  how lots of of us put the ones we love centerstage in our lives, only to be disappointed or hurt—and then find we can’t look away?

So it may not be his a lot of influential song, and didn’t even hit the sales charts, but it’s my favorite.

And as for enjoying the Detectives, well, it’s terrific.  “She’s filing her nails while they’re dragging the lake.”  “She looks so good that he breaks down and begs.”  “You think you’re alone until you realize you’re in it/now concern is here to stay, love is here for a visit.”  Lyric after lyric.  and that bassline.  it all creeps forward with menace and gravitas.

So, where do these songs fall on my list?  Well, let’s do “Detectives” first.  ideal now, Alanis Morisette is sitting at #7, ideal below Biggie Smalls’ “Juicy.”  I’m putting Detectives between those two.  then Alison is going a little farther down, just above Clipse.  So here’s how #s 6-11 are changed today:

6. Juicy by Notorious B.I.G. (1994) (link)
7. enjoying the Detectives by Elvis Costello (1977)
8. Ironic by Alanis Morissette (1995) (link)
9. somebody told Me by The Killers (2004)(link)
10. Tonight the streets Are Ours by Richard Hawley (2007) (link)
11. Misfits by the Kinks (1978) (link); and: Covers of the top 30 Kinks songs here and here
12. Alison by Elvis Costello (1977)
13. Grindin’ by Clipse (2002) (link)

I’ll update the master list in a few weeks, after I’ve added a lot more GOATs.

Covers: