sorting through the vinyl#6 Spike Elvis Costello

I'm not sure if this is widely agreed as being Elvis Costello's masterpiece but for me he hasn't equalled SPIKE...he has many fine albums but for me SPIKE is the album I enjoy the most despite the fact there's the odd track(Chewing Gum springs to mind) that doesn't really excite me.

In some ways the patronage of Paul McCartney who plays Bass on the above track(alongside the Byrds Roger McGuinn on twelve string) as co-writing Veronica and Pads,Paws and Claws ensured media interest..the Costello/McCartney or rather McCartney/McManus songwriting team would also provide a couple of songs on McCartneys 'Flowers in the dirt' as well as the songs on 'Mighty like the rose' and 'Off the ground' respectively.

There's more to this album than an ex Beatle mind you..it finds Costello in political mood referencing the Derek Bentley/Chris Craig injustice on 'Let him Dangle' as well as opening further debate on capital punishment plus at that point the future demise of Margaret Hilda Thatcher on 'Tramp the dirt down'..these tracks as well as This Town recall the sneery punky Costello of yesteryear whilst other tracks show a leap forward.

Maybe off the back of his production of the Pogues'Rum Sodomy and the lash'...or maybe not it seems Costello is embracing his Irish 'McManus' heritage on SPIKE...both Any Kings Shilling and Tramp the dirt down feature folk instruments and also feature a Chieftan in Davy Spillane and also on Any Kings shilling Bodhran by no less than Christy Moore...A Pogue would also pop up in regard to Costello's then wife Cait O' Riordan who plays on this town and also co-wrote 'Baby Plays around'.

Whilst ruminating on guest appearances Chrissie Hynde of the Pretenders provides some nice backing vocals on Satellite.

It's more than the sum of players however the album embraces dementia in the case of Veronica, a dark flavour in regard 'Miss Macbeth'(which also features a Waterboy in Steve Wickham)and a wistfulness in the case of 'Gods comic and 'Baby Plays around'...all in all this feels a complete album which is varied enough to sustain interest....would Costello better this?....I haven't heard all his albums after nor before this but I have heard enough to feel this is the best I have come across so far....it is nearly bettered with his 'painted from memory' with Burt Baccarach but only nearly...SPIKE for me is the Costello album I continue to return to and although most of his material is worthy I think this one is special.