Elvis Costello And The Attractions* – Armed Forces
Tracklist
| A1 | Accidents Will Happen | 3:00 | |
| A2 | Senior Service | 2:17 | |
| A3 | Oliver's Army | 2:57 | |
| A4 | Big Boys | 2:55 | |
| A5 | Green Shirt | 2:42 | |
| A6 | Party Girl | 3:20 | |
| B1 | Goon Squad | 3:15 | |
| B2 | Busy Bodies | 3:33 | |
| B3 | Sunday's Best | 3:23 | |
| B4 | Moods For Moderns | 2:49 | |
| B5 | Chemistry Class | 2:55 | |
| B6 | Two Little Hitlers | 3:10 | |
| Live At Hollywood High | |||
| C1 | Accidents Will Happen | 3:23 | |
| C2 | Alison | 3:06 | |
| D | Watching The Detectives | 6:07 |
Companies, etc.
- Licensed From – Riviera Global Record Productions Ltd.
- Record Company – Radarscope Records Ltd.
- Record Company – WEA Records Ltd.
- Record Company – WEA Records
- Record Company – Warner Communications
- Printed By – Garrod & Lofthouse
- Phonographic Copyright ℗ – Riviera Global Record Productions Ltd.
- Copyright © – Riviera Global Record Productions Ltd.
- Published By – Plangent Visions Music Ltd.
- Published By – Street Music Ltd.
- Pressed By – WEA Records Pressing Plant, West Drayton
Credits
- Artwork [Uncredited] – Barney Bubbles
- Band – Steve*
- Lacquer Cut By – Porky (5)
- Plated By – EG*
- Producer – Nick Lowe
Notes
Issued in a die-cut fold-out sleeve including four postcards and a 7" single 'Live At Hollywood High' which was only available as part of this package and not as a separate item in the UK. Initial copies had a red and yellow sticker stating: "FREE EP INSIDE" attached to the front cover. The packaging uses an ingenious cruciform design by an uncredited Barney Bubbles that can be folded in several alternative ways and even reversed to give a completely different front cover. The four postcards are cropped from the four corners of the complete square card, measuring approximately 62cm x 62cm.
Our Place... ...Or Yours [printed at top edges of inner sleeve]
Emotional Fascism [printed at bottom edge of inner sleeve]
[LP - RAD 14]:
Plangent Visions Music Ltd
Issued under license from Riviera Global Record Productions, Ltd.
P & C 1979 Riviera Global Record Productions Ltd
Radarscope Records Ltd trading as Radar Records
in association with WEA Records a Warner Communications Co.
Made in U.K.
NB - side A states WEA Records Ltd, whilst side B states WEA Records only
[7" E.P. - SAM 90]:
Free record - Not for sale
Issued under license from Riviera Global Record Productions, Ltd.
P & C 1979 Riviera Global Record Productions Ltd
*Plangent Visions Music Ltd
#Street Music [Alison]
Radarscope Records Ltd trading as Radar Records
in association with WEA Records Ltd a Warner Communication Co.
[Sleeve]:
Sleeve printed and made in England by Garrod and Lofthouse Ltd.
Our Place... ...Or Yours [printed at top edges of inner sleeve]
Emotional Fascism [printed at bottom edge of inner sleeve]
[LP - RAD 14]:
Plangent Visions Music Ltd
Issued under license from Riviera Global Record Productions, Ltd.
P & C 1979 Riviera Global Record Productions Ltd
Radarscope Records Ltd trading as Radar Records
in association with WEA Records a Warner Communications Co.
Made in U.K.
NB - side A states WEA Records Ltd, whilst side B states WEA Records only
[7" E.P. - SAM 90]:
Free record - Not for sale
Issued under license from Riviera Global Record Productions, Ltd.
P & C 1979 Riviera Global Record Productions Ltd
*Plangent Visions Music Ltd
#Street Music [Alison]
Radarscope Records Ltd trading as Radar Records
in association with WEA Records Ltd a Warner Communication Co.
[Sleeve]:
Sleeve printed and made in England by Garrod and Lofthouse Ltd.
Barcode and Other Identifiers
- Other (Cat # 7"): SAM 90
- Matrix / Runout (Side A label): 14A
- Matrix / Runout (Side B label): 14B
- Matrix / Runout (Side C label): SAM 90-1
- Matrix / Runout (Side D label): SAM 90-2
- Matrix / Runout (Side A etched, variant 1): S-11 RAD 14 A2 E.G.. 1[stamped]
- Matrix / Runout (Side B etched, variant 1): S-10 RAD 14 B1 E.G.. 1[stamped]
- Matrix / Runout (Side C etched, variant 1): SAM 90 A2 A2T A PORKY PRIME CUT
- Matrix / Runout (Side D etched, variant 1): SAM 90 B2 A2 X
- Matrix / Runout (Side A etched, variant 2): RAD 14 A-1 1[stamped] C[stamped]
- Matrix / Runout (Side B etched, variant 2): RAD 14 B-1 1 1[stamped] 1[stamped]
- Matrix / Runout (Side C etched, variant 2): SAM 90 A2 A1F A PORKY PRIME CUT 1[stamped]
- Matrix / Runout (Side D etched, variant 2): SAM 90 B2 A2L 1[stamped]
- Matrix / Runout (Side A etched, variant 3): S-9 RAD 14 A1 E.G.. 1[stamped]
- Matrix / Runout (Side B etched, variant 3): S-20 RAD 14 B1 E.G.. 1[stamped]
- Matrix / Runout (Side C etched, variant 3): SAM 90 A2 A2 U A PORKY PRIME CUT
- Matrix / Runout (Side D etched, variant 3): SAM 90 B2 A2 A G
- Matrix / Runout (Side A etched, variant 4): S-12 RAD 14 A1 E.G.. 2[stamped]
- Matrix / Runout (Side B etched, variant 4): S-36 RAD 14 B1 E.G.. 1[stamped]
- Matrix / Runout (Side C etched, variant 4): SAM 90 A2 A2L 1[stamped] A PORKY PRIME CUT
- Matrix / Runout (Side D etched, variant 4): SAM 90 B2 A2P 2[stamped]
- Matrix / Runout (Side A variant 5): S-5 RAD 14 A-1 E.G. 1
- Matrix / Runout (Side B variant 5): S-31 RAD 14 B1 E.G 1
- Matrix / Runout (Side A etched, variant 6): S-4 RAD 14 A₁ E.G.. 1[stamped]
- Matrix / Runout (Side B etched, variant 6): S-11 RAD 14 B₁ E.G.. 1[stamped]
- Matrix / Runout (Side C etched, variant 6): SAM 90 A2 A2 2 A PORKY PRIME CUT
- Matrix / Runout (Side D etched, variant 6): SAM 90 B2 A2B 2
Other Versions (5 of 167)
View All| Title (Format) | Label | Cat# | Country | Year | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Recently Edited
|
Armed Forces (Cassette, Album) | Columbia | PCT 35709 | US | 1978 | ||
| Armed Forces (LP, Album, Stereo, Foldout Cover) | Radar Records (5) | RAD 56 597, RAD 14 | 1979 | ||||
|
Recently Edited
|
Armed Forces (LP, Album) | Radar Records (5) | RAD 14 | UK | 1979 | ||
| Armed Forces (Reel-To-Reel, 3 ¾ ips, Album, 4 Track Stereo) | Columbia | 1R1 6944 | US | 1979 | |||
| Armed Forces (LP, Album, Stereo, Pitman Pressing) | Columbia | JC 35709, 35709 | US | 1979 |
Recommendations
Reviews
-
While I don't think it was intended to be released before 5 January 1979, I managed to buy Armed Forces round about the 28th December 1978 - before New Year for sure. I'm guessing the shop (the old Virgin Megastore in Oxford Street) already had their first copies in stock before the New Year holiday, or maybe even before Christmas - understandable enough - and weren't intimidated enough by any embargo on selling a hot new album during a big week for record buying. It would be interesting to know how many copies they sold before the official release date, and whether any other shops did this.
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I wonder, if I should add another version of this release to the Discogs database? In Bournemouth I bought a copy of this album yesterday which has the following features:
— The outer sleeve is that of a UK 1st pressing (the fold-out-variant).
— There are no postcards — they are probably lost, as there has been at least one previous owner.
— The LP is an American Columbia pressing with the etched matrices PAL 35 709-1A and PBL 35709-1B respectively.
— The promo E.P. is also an American one with white labels and etched matrices ZSM 165296-1A and ZSM 165297-1B.
— On both records there a black stickers, covering the „Columbia“-legends; a circular one on the LP that covers the label‘s rim, and just a black stripe on top of the EP-label, which means it must have been imported to the UK.
— The sleeve to the EP is the American one.
So what do you mean: does it deserve its own entry? -
If you can't get a 1st UK (fold out cover) in great condition, the only other recommendation is the early Japanese Radar Records pressings. Best dynamics from the UK, but really nice detail and HF extension on the Japanese. -
Does anyone else have a copy of the Columbia bonus 7" but with the sleeve of the Radar version? Trying to find this strange pressing that I got at a record store so I could catalogue it on Discogs -
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gah i have a sealed 1978 with ep, 2 hype stickers (one the purple 'limited edition ep, the other a big ol circle with elvis on it) - columbia 35709, riviera global - but without opening it im not sure how to tell which press it is lol Any other ways to tell without busting it open? -
Mine has matrix RAD 14 A1 / B2 with triangular placed dots both sides as if CBS pressing (?)
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At the time this was unfairly the subject of a bit of a critical backlash after Costello’s first two albums and initial singles had been lauded in the music press. However it holds its own in a Costello’s stunning run of albums with the Attractions. The production of the vinyl original, from the songwriting, the musicianship and Lowe’s production to Barney Bubbles’ sleeve art and George Peckham’s mastering are exemplary. The musical arrangements and particularly Naive’s keyboards are remarkable. Everyone should have a copy in their collection. Canon. -
Release
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